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China's central bank to grow financial ecosystem that supports tech innovation

Xinhua) 10:00, March 15, 2025

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China's central bank will work to cultivate a financial ecosystem that supports technological innovation, the central bank said on Friday.

The bank will provide targeted support for key national technology initiatives and small and medium-sized enterprises in the field of tech, according to a statement issued by the People's Bank of China.

It will enhance the quality and effectiveness of green financial services further, providing strong support for the green, low-carbon development of China's economy and society.

It will also enhance its capability to provide financial services for the elderly care sector, and develop digital finance actively and steadily.

Efforts will be made to defuse financial debt risks associated with financing platforms, supporting local governments to promote the market-oriented transformation of those platforms, the bank said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A Texas man lured his father into a garage by asking him to find some meat before he turned around and bludgeoned him to death with a 15-pound dumbbell.

Ryan Mitchell Smith was found guilty of murdering his own father on Tuesday, after he also allegedly stabbed a police dog days before.

The 26-year-old racked up a list of charges that all stemmed around the week of January 22, 2022 and ended with the grisly death of his father, Cameron Smith.

He admitted to killing his father on January 24 by distracting him under the guise of searching for deer meat in their garage, before whacking him with a dumbbell.

According to an arrest affidavit seen by Law&Crime, Smith then tied a plastic bag around his head and dumped his father's body into a trash can.

Just a few days previous Smith tried to unsuccessfully jack a car in Houston and was chased down a police dog, later identified as a Belgian Malinois named Nate.

He then stabbed the animal who suffered non-life threatening injuries, Houston cops said at the time.

Smith was taken to Harris County Jail after that incident where his family - including his father he killed less than 24 hours later - posted his $50,000 bond for him.

Ryan Mitchell Smith was found guilty of murdering his own father on Tuesday, after he also allegedly stabbed a police dog days before

Smith's family then reported his father missing the day after, where they found the younger Smith driving his father's GMC pickup with its plates removed and lights off.

Cops tried to pull him over but he fled the scene, leading them on a 10 mile chase that lasted 15 minutes.

Smith crashed the car and continued on foot, inside the vehicle they found a loaded hunting rifle, a black Labrador dog, and a 15-pound dumbbell covered in blood.

It was at the address that police then found the body of his father, they eventually caught up with Smith and he was formally charged with murder.

He admitted to killing his father and this week a jury convicted him of his murder, after his attorneys had used the insanity defense.

According to court documents Smith told investigators he distracted his father before striking him three times with the weight, then tying a plastic bag around his head.

His lawyers claimed their client was experiencing a manic episode at the time of his spree, according to the Houston Chronicle.

One of his lawyers, Gianpaolo Macerola, told the court that Smith didn't believe his father was human any longer, adding: 'He didnt think what he was doing was wrong.'

He admitted to killing his father, seen here, by distracting him under the guise of searching for deer meat in their garage, before bludgeoning him with a dumbbell.

In an obituary for his father, he is described as being a 'caring son, supportive brother, dedicated husband, loving father'.

It adds: 'Everyone he met was instantly a friend for life. He had a warming smile and a contagious laugh.

'You could always find him in a crowd by going to the largest group of smiling people. He loved to have a good time and lived every day to the fullest.

'If you were with Cameron, you were going to have fun. He had a tremendous zest for life!'

Smith will return to court on Monday to be sentenced.
A federal judge has sensationally thrown out a sexual assault lawsuit brought against Fox News related to allegations made against former anchor Ed Henry.

Accuser Jennifer Eckhart, a former producer at Fox News, brought her lawsuit against the network in 2020, claiming it failed to take any action after Henry allegedly raped her.

Eckhart also claimed that she was fired from Fox News in retaliation for her complaints about the alleged attack, and accused Henry of sharing explicit 'revenge porn' images of her.

But in a ruling this week, Judge Ronnie Abrams of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled in favor of Fox News as she decided the network did not act improperly.

'There is no direct evidence that Fox News was aware of Henrys alleged harassment of Eckhart before (her firing) occurred,' Abrams said in a summary first reported by The Wrap.

Fox News previously argued that when they fired Eckhart, it was not out of retaliation because she did not come forward with her claims against Henry until after she had been terminated.

The network insisted it had 'legitimate, non-pretextual reasons for terminating her.'

Eckhart maintained that although the court found Fox News was not at fault, she is intent on continuing her allegations against Henry and 'looks forward to holding (Henry) accountable before a jury', with the trial set to begin May 12.

Former Fox News anchor Ed Henry (left) faces allegations of sexual assault made by a former network producer. This week, a judge ruled that Fox News did not act improperly when handling the allegations

Accuser Jennifer Eckhart, a former producer at Fox News, brought her lawsuit against the network in 2020, claiming it failed to take any action after Henry allegedly raped her

In a statement praising the throwing out of the lawsuit this week, Fox News said it was 'pleased with the courts decision which speaks for itself.'

'Upon learning of Jennifer Eckharts allegations in 2020, Fox News promptly conducted an investigation by an outside independent law firm and terminated Ed Henry within six days,' the statement continued.

'Discovery in this matter confirmed that Fox News was not aware of their relationship or of Ms. Eckharts allegations until after she left the company. The only people who know what happened between Mr. Henry and Ms. Eckhart are the two of them.'

Attorneys for Eckhart said in response to the ruling that she is intent on bringing her allegations before a jury, and intends to 'appeal the decision as it relates to Fox News at the appropriate time.'

Eckhart accused Henry of handcuffing, beating and raping her. Henry has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted Eckhart and insisted that they had a consensual relationship.

Henry claimed they were in a kinky affair, DailyMail.com previously revealed the two were engaging in raunchy exchanges.

In her own statement, Eckhart added: 'While I am grateful that the court has recognized the need for a jury to hear my claims against my rapist Ed Henry, this fight is bigger than me.'

She said her decision to appeal is 'about changing a corporate culture that continues to enable abuse, fear, intimidation and silence.

'No corporation should be allowed to protect predators while punishing survivors who dared to speak up.'

In a ruling this week, Judge Ronnie Abrams (pictured) of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled in favor of Fox News as she decided the network did not act improperly

Henry denied Eckhart's allegations, and said the claims that he shared 'revenge porn' were not supported as many of the images were not of Eckhart and should not be considered pornography, per The Wrap.

A judge has dismissed the revenge porn claim against Henry, but has allowed claims of assault, battery, sex trafficking and harassment to stand.

The trial against Henry is set to begin on May 12.

Eckhart was an associate producer at Fox News, however her termination came as a result of 'substantial performance deficiencies', the network claimed.

The network said she was fired after being put on a 'performance improvement plan', and her eventual dismissal came before she ever made complaints of her interactions with Henry.

Eckhart's attorneys argued that 'the record is replete with disputes about whether Ms. Eckharts performance was, in fact, poor.'

Henry has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted Eckhart and insisted that they had a consensual relationship

Eckhart maintained that although the court found Fox News was not at fault, she is intent on continuing her allegations against Henry and 'looks forward to holding (Henry) accountable before a jury', with the trial set to begin May 12

She was fired in June 2020, two weeks before she made allegations against Henry through an attorney, claiming his 'improper conduct' began around 2014 and culminated in the alleged rape in February 2017.

Henry was subsequently fired after Eckhart came forward with her allegations, and Fox News announced his departure 'based on investigative findings' about his alleged 'willful sexual misconduct.'

In 2022, the same judge that ruled in favor of Fox News this week dismissed a defamation lawsuit Henry brought against the network, claiming the statement from the company was made 'publicly' to 'humiliate him in the process.'
For years, her focus was on being a world-class solo violinist but Nicola Benedetti has revealed that motherhood has let her put down her instrument more and relax.

Since giving birth to her first child nine months ago, the musician admits she has eased back on performing and even foregone daily practise.

The pressure of selling out concert halls around the world, running the Edinburgh International Festival and the Benedetti Foundation, which has inspired 100,000 young musicians, all while looking after her baby daughter means that something had to give way.

And that turns out to be the violin, for now anyway.

Benedetti has said that becoming a mother has definitely changed her and given her a more relaxed attitude to the perfectionism that drove her to international fame.

In an interview with Richard Morrison for The Times: Throughout my life I have been so concerned with what could happen, or what did happen, or what could have been done better.

'I used to analyse again and again every note of the performance Id just done, or the recording Id just made.

So I was always living either in the past or the future. Since my daughter was born, I have learnt to live in the present and just be grateful to be here.

Benedetti says motherhood has taught her 'to live in the present and just be grateful'

Benedetti and her daughter were pictured as they attended the dress rehearsal of Scottish Opera's brand-new immersive staging of Igor Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex last year

As well as her performing career, Benedetti runs the Edinburgh International Festival

She also said: Ive not done any big concerts since giving birth. Just a bit of playing in the [Edinburgh] Festival and one or two small private concerts.

And while motherhood may have relaxed the superstar violinist, just weeks after giving birth she attended events with her new-born baby in tow, including promoting Scottish Operas Oedipus Rex with her daughter in a sling.

She also took her daughter with her when she appeared on BBC Radio 4s Today Show where she discussed funding for the arts and performed violin piece Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar.

Benedetti started violin lessons aged four and at eight became the youngest ever leader of the National Childrens Orchestra and won BBC Young Musician of the Year at 16.

During a stellar career, the 37 year old has gone on tour with some of the worlds greatest orchestras and conductors and won many awards, including a Grammy.

However, she admits that for the past nine months she has not been practicing every day  and that it doesnt worry her.

She said: Its good. I think there were periods when I practised far too much, added Ms Benedetti who when performing practise between three and seven hours a day on her 2 million Stradivarius.

I should have relaxed my mind more and been more trusting that I knew what I was doing. It would have benefited my playing.

But her maternity leave will soon be drawing to an end as she looks forward to taking to the stage once more.

At the Edinburgh International Festival this year  her third at its helm  she will perform in a tribute to Yehudi Menuhin, duetting in a Bach concerto for two violins.

Discussing her upcoming schedule, she added: Im returning to performing concertos next month, including one with the London Symphony Orchestra, so daily practise will become part of my life again.
Pope Francis has entered his fifth week of treatment for double pneumonia - as he continued to work on church reforms from his hospital bed.

The Pontiff, 88, is showing signs of recovery and his health remains on a positive trajectory, the Vatican said.

Working from the Gemelli hospital in Rome, Pope Francis approved a three-year plan for his reform project that aims to make the church a more welcoming and responsive place.

The Vatican office for the synod, or gathering of bishops, released a timetable through to 2028 to implement the reforms and said Francis had approved the calendar last week.

The Holy See announced on Friday that it would provide medical updates on the pope less frequently, in what it called a positive development.

It also has ceased issuing brief morning advisories that the Pope had slept well and was starting his day.

Doctors this week said the Pontiff was no longer in critical, life-threatening condition, but have continued to emphasize that his condition remained complex due to his age, lack of mobility and the loss of part of a lung as a young man.

Francis was admitted to the hospital on February 14 after a bout of bronchitis that made it difficult for him to speak.

Pope Francis (pictured in August 2023) has entered his fifth week of treatment for double pneumonia - as he continued to work on church reforms from his hospital bed

A nun prays during a rosary prayer for Pope Francis' health in St Peter's Square in Vatican City

Worshippers gather for prays for the Pope in St Peter's Square in the Vatican

Doctors soon added a diagnosis of double pneumonia and a polymicrobial (bacterial, viral and fungal) infection.

The first three weeks of his hospitalization were marked by a rollercoaster of setbacks, including respiratory crises, mild kidney failure and a severe coughing fit.

But medical updates this week have focused on his continued physical and respiratory therapy, as well as the rotation from high-flow oxygen through nostril tubes during the day and a non-invasive ventilation mask at night to help ensure his rest.

An X-ray this week confirmed that the infection was clearing.

With little more to report, doctors on Friday cancelled a planned medical update with the next likely to be issued later today.

Doctors have not indicated how much longer Francis will be hospitalised.

The Pope this week participated in Lenten spiritual exercises from the hospital, which Vatican officials have said implied a lighter workload.

He received a cake and hundreds of messages wishing him well on the 12th anniversary of his papacy Thursday.

A nun prays as she walks in St Peter's Square and takes part in the rosary prayer service for the health of Pope Francis on March 14

Nuns and faithful pray in St Peter's Square during the rosary prayer service for the health of Pope Francis

A priest prays in St Peter's Square as he takes part in the rosary prayer service for the health of Pope Francis on March 14

The only public sign of life from the Pope since his hospitalization was a recorded audio message thanking people for their prayers for his recovery in a weak and labored voice.

It was played in St. Peter's Square for the faithful gathered for a nightly recitation of the rosary prayer.

For the last four Sundays, the traditional blessing that the pope delivers from a window overlooking St. Peter's Square has been released as a text.
Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed Ukraine has successfully combat tested its new domestically-produced Long Neptune missile with a range of 621 miles.

This puts Russian capital Moscow within its range with Zelensky saying that Kyiv has had 'significant results' on its missile programme aimed at providing its own security against the threat of Vladimir Putin.

'Long Neptune has been tested and successfully used in combat,' he said.

'A new Ukrainian missile, an accurate strike. The range is a thousand kilometres [621 miles].

'Thank you to our Ukrainian developers, manufacturers and military. We continue to work to guarantee Ukrainian security.'

Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ suggested that Friday's dramatic strike at Tuapse Oil refinery may have been by the new Neptune, which is a development of the earlier version of the weapon which sank Putin's Black Sea Fleet flagship, Moskva in 2022.

'There is an assumption that it was [the new] Neptune,' said the channel.

Ten explosions were heard when the strike came. However, there was no official confirmation, and a missile - rather than long-range drone - strike might have caused far more mayhem.

Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed Ukraine has successfully combat tested its new domestically-produced Long Neptune missile with a range of 621 miles

This puts Russian capital Moscow within its range with Zelensky saying that Kyiv has had 'significant results' on its missile programme aimed at providing its own security against the threat of Vladimir Putin

Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ suggested that Friday's dramatic strike at Tuapse Oil refinery (pictured) may have been by the new Neptune

Yet the Tuapse refinery, a key supplier to the Russian military machine, was still burning 36 hours after it was hit, as seen in dramatic footage.

The refinery is just 55 miles from Putin's 1 billion clifftop palace at Gelendzhik on the Black Sea, and the strike was a warning to him.

Another devastating hit came on Friday when Ukraine flattened the local history museum in Sudzha soon after the Kursk region town fell back in Russian hands.

It was not clear if this may have been a Long Neptune strike.

But there was also a claim in January that the new version of Neptune had destroyed a major Russian drone warehouse in the village of Chaltyr, in Rostov region, triggering a giant fireball.

Today's announcement on the Long Neptune comes amid reports that the new government in Germany under incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz is likely to approve deployment of long range Taurus missiles - each costing up to 1.25 million - to Ukraine.

It has double the range of the British Storm Shadow missile, which Ukraine has not used in recent weeks.

Yet the new Ukrainian missile has double the range of the German Taurus.

The weapon was originally designed as an anti-ship missile but has been adapted during the war to hit land targets, and now to strike at a long distance

Today's announcement on the Long Neptune comes amid reports that the new government in Germany under incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz is likely to approve deployment of long range Taurus missiles

The long-range Neptune is made by manufacturer Luch Design Bureau.

The weapon was originally designed as an anti-ship missile but has been adapted during the war to hit land targets, and now to strike at a long distance.

Earlier today, Keir Starmer said Putin will have to negotiate on Ukraine 'sooner or later' as the Prime Minister begins fresh talks with coalition partners - with military chiefs set to meet this week to discuss 'operational' plans for a peacekeeping force.

Speaking after a video call with 25 world leaders, the PM said the Russian despot would need to 'come to the table', adding: 'This is the moment - let the guns fall silent... and agree to the ceasefire now.'

He outlined the importance of Britain's interest in the ceasefire, recapping how the invasion of Ukraine had pushed up the cost of living and energy prices.

But the PM - who stood at a lectern labelled with the slogan 'Securing Our Future' - he failed to answer questions today on whether he has a 'Plan B': on what happens if Putin fails to come to the table.

Attacking the 'dithering' of Russian officials, Sir Keir said military leaders would meet in the UK on Thursday as plans for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine move into an 'operational phase' that could see British 'troops on the ground and planes in the sky'.

He told a press conference in Downing Street: 'We agreed to accelerate our practical work to support a potential deal. So, we will now move into an operational phase.

'Our militaries will meet on Thursday this week here in the United Kingdom to put strong and robust plans in place to swing in behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraine's future security.'
A gang of shoplifting yobs have been caught on CCTV attacking a London shopkeeper and stealing vapes - before returning 48 hours later to do the same thing.

The first incident occurred at the shop on Charing Cross Road, Leicester Square, at 10.31pm on March 3 and left the shopkeeper terrified after the group burst into his shop before punching and kicking him.

And the despicable group returned for a second time on March 5 at 10.05pm, barging into the man before stealing yet more vapes.

The yobs, who were seen in both incidents wearing dark clothing, hoods and balaclavas, dragged the man from behind the counter and punched and kicked him before fleeing the scene with more boxes of vapes.

In the first incident, the group can be seen walking into the shop in a hurried manner, before the seemingly tallest member of the group approaches the shopkeeper.

As the youngster towers over him, he begins approaching the area where the vapes are stored behind the counter and tells the shopkeeper that he is 'trying to see'.

But things soon escalate when another member of the group approaches, leading the gang to grab the shopkeeper from behind the counter before they start to punch, kick and push him.

With the shopkeeper out of the way, the tallest member of the group then returns and grabs the box of vapes before they all make a run for it.

As the youngster towers over him, he begins approaching the area where the vapes are stored behind the counter and tells the shopkeeper that he is 'trying to see'

Things soon escalate when another member of the group approaches, leading the gang to grab the shopkeeper from behind the counter before they start to punch, kick and push him

With the shopkeeper out of the way, the tallest member of the group then returns and grabs the box of vapes before they all make a run for it

A CCTV camera behind the counter caught the two horrific incidents on camera, and he reported it to the police.

A Met Police spokesperson said: 'We are investigating following two reports of robbery at a shop near Leicester Square, WC2.

'The report, made at 10:09pm on Wednesday, 5 March, relates to one alleged robbery that evening, and another on Monday, 3 March at the same shop on Charing Cross Road.

'Officers are potentially linking the robberies to the same group of men aged in their 20s. No arrests have been made as of yet. Enquiries are ongoing.

'If you were a witness or have any information which might help police, please call 101 quoting 7996/5MAR.'
At least 17 people have died in several states as apocalyptic storms caused tornadoes, wildfires, and dust storms across huge swaths of the country.

More than a dozen of the deaths were reported in Missouri as deadly tornadoes tore through the Midwest on Friday evening, with at least three more people losing their lives in both Texas and Arkansas.

Numerous more people are reportedly injured as huge storms flipped cars and destroyed homes, as hurricane-strength winds unleashed severe thunderstorms, whipped up deadly dust storms and fanned over 100 wildfires.

The extreme weather conditions are forecasted to affect over 138 million people, with winds gusting upwards of 100mph stretching from the Canadian border down to Texas.

Tornado warnings are in place in numerous states including Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Indiana and Kentucky, where images showed tractor-trailers toppled and entire homes flattened.

Blizzard-like conditions are set to hit colder northern areas through the weekend, while devastating wildfires and dust storms have been fueled in warmer, drier areas of the south.

On Saturday morning, the National Weather Service (NWS) said it was forecasting 'numerous significant tornadoes, some of which should be long-track and potentially violent,' that will be 'expected this afternoon and evening.'

The most serious tornado threats were to eastern Louisiana and Mississippi, Alabama, and the western parts of the Florida Panhandle and Georgia, the NWS said.

Dust storms caused mayhem on Texas roads, with Sgt. Cindy Barkley of the states department of public safety describing the damage as 'the worst I've ever seen.'

Kelsey Webb searches through the wreckage of her home inside of Harmony Hills trailer park on March 15

Wind gusts were forecast to top 100mph in some regions, causing widespread damage to homes and businesses throughout the Midwest

At least 17 people have died in severe storms as tornadoes and fires wreak havoc on dozens of states from the Canadian border down to Texas

Severe hurricane-strength winds battered numerous states, causing huge pileups and flipping tractor-trailers (seen in Missouri) as a number of fatal car accidents were reported Friday

Barkley said three people were killed Friday in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo County in the Texas Panhandle, with one pileup involving an estimated 38 cars.

'We couldnt tell that they were all together until the dust kind of settled,' Barkley said, describing the near-zero visibility conditions.

Over 130 fires were reported in Oklahoma, causing evacuations as authorities said winds were so strong they toppled several tractor-trailers.

Charles Daniel, a truck driver hauling a 48-foot trailer along Interstate 40 in western Oklahoma, told the Associated Press the severe weather conditions were 'terrible.'

'Theres a lot of sand and dirt in the air. Im not pushing it over 55 mph. Im scared it will blow over if I do,' he said.

Forecasters said the severe storm threat would continue into the weekend with a high chance of tornadoes and damaging winds Saturday in Mississippi and Alabama. Heavy rain could bring flash flooding to some parts of the East Coast on Sunday.

Experts said it is not unusual to see severe weather in March, but 'what is unique about this one is its large size and intensity,' Bill Bunting of the National Weather Services Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma told AP.

'And so what that is doing is producing really substantial impacts over a very large area,' he added.

As wildfires sparked up across the nation, Oklahoma Governor Stitt said on Saturday that 293 residences were destroyed in the state by the blazes.

Tricia Thornburgh looks over her sister's destroyed trailer on March 15, 2025 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri

Anthony Hudson, left, helps his sister, Kelsey Webb, right, search through her destroyed home

Many homes throughout Harmony Hills were damaged by the severe weather on Friday night

Wildfires broke out in several southern states (seen in Stillwater, Oklahoma) due to dry conditions, while northern states were facing winter storms

Residents in Florissant, Missouri seen inspecting damage after a tornado ripped through the town on Friday evening

Dust storms (seen in Denton, Texas) led to poor visibility and caused a number of car accidents, including three fatal ones in Texas, on Friday

Meteorologists warn that huge swaths of the nation are under severe weather warnings, with much of the Midwest and deep south hit by tornadoes and storms (seen on Friday evening)

The NWS said at least five tornadoes hit Missouri on Friday, including one in St. Louis that damaged several buildings.

The Storm Prediction Center said fast-moving storms could spawn twisters and hail as large as baseballs, but the greatest threat would come from straight-line winds near or exceeding hurricane force, with gusts of 100 mph possible.

On Saturday, authorities warned 'potentially violent' tornadoes may hit the central Gulf Coast and Deep South, stretching into the Tennessee Valley.

The weekend could also see parts of Mississippi including Jackson and Hattiesburg and areas of Alabama including Birmingham and Tuscaloosa at a high risk.

Severe storms and tornadoes were also possible across eastern Louisiana, western Georgia, central Tennessee and the western Florida Panhandle.

Debris lies around damaged houses the morning after a tornado touched down in Florissant, Missouri on Saturday morning

While thunderstorms and tornadoes hammered much of the Midwest, wildfires also raged across the Southern Plains that threatened to spread rapidly amid warm, dry weather and strong winds.

The threat of wildfires forced evacuation orders on Friday for communities in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and New Mexico.

According to officials, one blaze in Roberts County, Texas quickly spread for less than a square mile to over 32 square miles on Friday afternoon.

High winds also knocked out power to more than 300,000 homes and businesses in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, according the website poweroutage.us.
This is the chilling moment police caught the three kidnappers who lured an Israeli DJ to a remote cottage in Wales for 'his own October 7'.

The trio were found hiding in fields after the botched kidnap attempt and failed to dodge arrest.

While a red light flashed in the dark, an arresting officer said: 'The time is 22:41, you are under arrest for suspicion of GBH, of kidnap, and unlawful imprisonment.

'The arrest is necessary for a prompt and effective investigation and to protect the person from further harm.'

Faiz Shah, 23, gave the officer his name while he was lying on the ground amidst the dirt and shrubs.

The officer's body cam shows two men being cuffed on the ground before they are hauled away in the dark through the derelict field by two police men.

'Fantastic work, thank you', can be heard on the receiver of the officer's radio.

Faiz Shah, Mohammad Comrie, 23, and Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime, 20, carefully planned the kidnap of Jewish composer Itay Kashti who described the ordeal as 'my own personal October 7.'

This is the chilling moment police caught the three kidnappers who lured an Israeli DJ to a remote cottage in Wales for 'his own October 7'

The officer's body cam shows two men being cuffed on the ground before they are hauled away in the dark through the derelict field by two police men

The trio were found hiding in fields after the botched kidnap attempt and failed to dodge arrest.

It is said they had financial, political and religious motives, a court heard.

Falsely claiming to be a Polydor Records executive, the three friends invited Mr Kashti to a music event which would be attended by music producers and other musicians.

They paid for a taxi to take him to an AirBnB in Ceredigion where they were waiting in face masks and gloves and enough supplies to keep him captive for a week.

But after attacking the married composer they handcuffed him to a radiator, failing to notice he could slide along a pipe and get free.

The trio came up with a kidnap plan, described in court as 'highly sophisticated in its planning but highly amateurish in its execution.'

Prosecutor Craig Jones said: 'A Telegram group chat was set up by the defendants in which they discussed many aspects of the plot.

'They called themselves Banger, Paul Graham and Fly Adam and referred to the kidnap operation as The Lick.'

Mohammad Comrie, 23, alongside two other men have been sentenced to eight years for kidnapping an Israeli musician at a remote cottage in west Wales

Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime, 30, was also a part of the trio. They kidnapped the Jewish composer Itay Kashti who described the ordeal as 'my own personal October 7'

'There are many messages between the three defendants about how to make their dealings with Mr Kashti seem realistic and professional.'

Swansea Crown Court heard the three kidnappers made a shopping list which included handcuffs, a blinfold, gag, zip ties and ketamine to drug their intended target.

Mr Jones said: 'They emailed Mr Kashti claiming to be a fictitious A&R man from Polydor Records by the name of Lucas Winslow inviting him to a recording camp in Wales.

'They told him it was a gathering of a group of producers and songwriters for a collaboration.

'He would be picked up by a driver, given a remuneration package and they requested an invoice.

'Mr Kashti responded and said he would be happy to participate - as far as he was concerned he was attending a legitimate music recording event.'

Mr Jones said it was a 'careful and deliberate plot' to secure his attendance and the trio made their dealings with their intended victim 'realistic and professional'.

Under the made up name of James Sullivan, they rented Gate House cottage, near the town of Llanybydder for a week and stocked it with enough supplies to hold Mr Kashti until a ransom was paid.

Mr Jones said: 'Their motivation was two-fold. Firstly they intended to extort money from the individual who they perceived to be wealthy.

'But there was a clear political and religious motivation. In the discussions between the defendants they refer to him attending pro-Israeli marches in London and one of them said:"I know this guy is involved in West Bank settlements, taking Palestinians land."

Faiz Shah, 23, was also sentenced to eight years behind bars. The trio's kidnap plot was described as 'highly sophisticated in its planning but highly amateurish in its execution'

They rented Gate House cottage, near the town of Llanybydder for a week and stocked it with enough supplies to hold Mr Kashti until a ransom was paid.

The three kidnappers, who met online, planned to launder the ransom money by converting it into crypto-currency.

One message on an encrypted Telegram group stated: 'All three of us have complete, 100 per cent faith in Allah so we can't fail.'

But the kidnap on August 25 last year went badly wrong when the taxi driver who took the composer to the cottage helped him inside with his guitar and luggage and found they had walked into a 'well-laid' trap.

The driver was attacked by the gang but managed to escape and raise the alarm. By that time Mr Kashti had also been taken to the floor where he was kicked and punched and threatened with death if he tried to escape.

Mr Jones said: 'They handcuffed him to a radiator but he was able to lift himself up and free himself from a pipe.

'He took his mobile phone from a table , escaped and hid in bushes where he called his wife to tell her what had happened to him.'

The gang was rounded up in nearby fields and police found cash, mobile phones and fraudulent bank cards issued in the name of James Sullivan inside the cottage.

Comrie, from Leeds, Shah from Bradford, and Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime from Wallington, London, all admitted kidnap. They were each given sentences of eight years and one month with Ogunnubi-Sime serving his time in a young offenders' institution.

An air pistol recovered from the rural cottage where the three men kept the victim hostage

A rubber face mask which was a part of the trio's 'shopping list' was also found at the property

Mr Kashti was held at the property with the three men using cable ties to tie him to a radiator. He managed to escape and call his wife

In his personal impact statement Mr Kashti said: 'As an Israeli, this was my own personal October 7.' He added that as he was lying on the floor he thought of the six million Jews who lost their lives in the Holocaust.

He said: 'I don't know how I can go on working in the music industry, it has left me with anxiety and feelings of isolation and loss of confidence.'

Judge Catherine Richards said the offence 'involved significant and highly sophisticated planning' and they targeted Kashti 'based on your understanding of his wealth, his Jewish heritage and your racial hostility'.

Mr Kashti was supported by the Community Security Trust, a charity that protects British Jews from terrorism and antisemitism.

It issued a statement afterwards from Mr Kashti  whom it did not identify  in which he said: As an Israeli, this incident felt like my own personal October the 7th.

I was kicked to the head several times, handcuffed to a radiator and forced to lie down on the floor.

I was threatened and told if I were to try and escape, Id be killed.

The awful attack of 7th of October was flashing through my mind as I lay restrained on the floor in handcuffs.

I cant deny the strong and devastating impact this brutal and unnecessary attack has had on my life.

'The awful attack of 7th of October was flashing through my mind as I lay restrained on the floor in handcuffs,' said in a statement via the Community Security Trust

My physical injuries lasted for weeks, and I have been suffering with anxiety, which I have never experienced before.

I am so grateful to CST for all the support they have given me.

Thanking police and prosecutors for bringing the kidnappers to justice, CST Chief Executive Mark Gardner said The combination of criminality and anti-Jewish hatred could easily have resulted in a far worse, perhaps even fatal outcome.

We will continue to work with the police and all other partners to ensure the safety of our Jewish community and to bring perpetrators of antisemitism to justice.

Inspector Gareth Jones of Dyfed Powys Police said: 'This sentence today reflects the severity of this offence and the ordeal the victim suffered  and we hope it gives the victim a sense of justice.

'We thank him for his strength, bravery and patience whilst we carried out a thorough investigation into what was an extraordinary crime.'
Thousands once again took to the streets of central London today to protest over Gaza amid the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel.

A protest organised under the Palestine Coalition, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and Stop The War, gathered at 1pm in Piccadilly near Green Park station before marching to Whitehall for a rally in the sunshine.

During the march, pro-Palestinians clashed with a smaller counter-protest, organised by the group Stop The Hate, in Piccadilly Circus.

Separated by barriers, the two groups hurled insults such as 'scum' at each other and were seen making rude gestures.

Palestine supporting protesters paraded banners reading 'stop arming Israel' while chanting 'from the River to the Sea', as pro-Israelis screamed 'terrorist supporters off our streets'.

Some verbal clashes boiled over into pushing and shoving, with the police forced to intervene.

Hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers were present in central London after the force imposed conditions under the Public Order Act denying participants in both protests from assembling before 12pm or veering away from the pre-planned route.

Itai Gal, 42, who organised the Stop the Hate march, told MailOnline: 'We came today like we come to every hate march. We came out today to point out that those are not peaceful marches.

Pro-Palestinians marched from Piccadilly to Whitehall this afternoon in their latest protest

During the march, pro-Palestinians clashed with a smaller counter-protest, organised by the group Stop The Hate, in Piccadilly Circus

Itai Gal (pictured) organised the Stop The Hate march and told MailOnline that pro-Palestinian marches are 'fueling antisemitism'

'We've seen the usual hate speech, the police have done a reasonable job by police separating the marches.

'It's okay to have criticism for Israel but you can't call to destroy it.

'You have people marching under the guise of a peaceful movement but pushing ideology coming from Hamas and this shouldn't be tolerated in the streets of western cities.

'This is fueling antisemitism.'

Another pro-Israel protester, Russell Collins, 45, said: 'I'm here to stand up for the Jewish community and Israel.

'It is important to know there are people willing to stand up for themselves.

Protestors on both sides paraded signs and banners showing support for Palestine and Israel amid the ongoing conflict

Thousands of pro-Palestine flags were flown through central London this afternoon

One pro-Palestinian banner read 'Starmer has blood on his hands' as its holder marched through London

Aisha (pictured), a pro-Palestine protestor, was arrested for a public order breach for her sign at a previous march

Protestors held banners criticising David Lammy, Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden and Keir Starmer

Today's protest is the latest in a series of marches supporting both Palestine and Israel which have gone ahead in London

The pro-Israel protest, organised by the group Stop The Hate, consisted of around 200 marchers, one protestor said

Hundreds of police officers were present for the march today after imposing strict conditions on the protestors under the Public Order Act

'Stop arming Israel' read one banner held up in the protest towards Whitehall this afternoon

'There are maybe 200 people here out of a 250 thousand Jewish community because most people are scared.'

Pro-Palestine marchers waved flags criticising Donald Trump, David Lammy, Benjamin Netanyahu, Keir Starmer and Joe Biden.

One sign read: 'Stop arming Israel' and another read: 'Israel terrorists'.

Aisha, a pro-Palestine protestor, who was arrested for a public order breach for her sign at a previous march said: 'We're here because we're sick and tired of being into Zionist ethnic supremacy, genocide and crimes against humanity supported by the western world.

'I've come to every protest and we'll keep coming and we won't be intimidated by Zionists. We won't be stopped because we know we're on the right side of history.'

Another pro-Palestine demonstrator, Hannah Bobat, told MailOnline: 'I've been to about 15 marches. I always come to protests to show support for the crime and hate against Palestine.

'I come to raise awareness against people who think Israel is doing the right thing.

'A lot of people are now waking up to what they are doing. First world countries like UK and US need to stop supporting the genocide.'

'I come to raise awareness against people who think Israel is doing the right thing,' said one protestor

Palestine protesters paraded banners reading 'stop arming Israel' while chanting 'from the River to the Sea'

'Free Palestine, you'll never walk alone' read one scarf held up in central London today

Edan Alexander (pictured) is still being held hostage by Hamas

Hamas is seen handing over an Israeli hostage to the International Committee of the Red Cross on February 22, 2025 during the seventh exchange of the ceasefire deal

Today's protests in London come as Edan Alexander, an Israeli soldier who holds American citizenship, remains hostage in Gaza.

Edan, now 21, had been captured from his base on the Gaza border during the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023 and is believed to be the last living American still being held hostage in Gaza.

Hamas say they have offered to release the 21-year-old along with the bodies of four dual nationals but his release is conditional on the beginning of talks about a second phase of a ceasefire and the lifting of a total blockade imposed by Israel two weeks ago.

Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, told reporters earlier this month that Edan's safe release is a 'top priority' for the US.

Earlier today, Gaza's civil defence agency announced nine people, including journalists, had been killed in Israeli strikes in the north of the country.

Hamas denounced the attack as a 'blatant violation' of the previously agreed fragile ceasefire.

'Nine martyrs have been transferred [to hospital], including several journalists and a number of workers from the Al-Khair Charitable Organisation, as a result of the occupation targeting a vehicle with a drone in the town of Beit Lahia, coinciding with artillery shelling on the same area,' civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Bassal told AFP.

The health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory reported that 'nine martyrs and several injured, including critical cases, have arrived at the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza Strip, due to the ongoing Israeli aggression'.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it struck 'two terrorists... operating a drone that posed a threat to IDF troops in the area of Beit Lahia'.

'Later, a number of additional terrorists collected the drone operating equipment and entered a vehicle. The IDF struck the terrorists,' it added.

After the strikes, Hamas accused Israel of violating the Gaza truce deal.
Hospitals in New Jersey have asked new parents for their baby's preferred pronouns and sexual orientation.

According to a document shared by State Senator Holly Schepisi, Inspira Health have been handing out questionnaires asking parents to identify their newborns.

The form requires parents to identify their baby as either 'male', 'female', 'transgender', 'genderqueer', or 'additional gender'.

It also asks: 'Which of the following best describes your baby', with answers including 'lesbian or gay', 'straight', 'bisexual', 'self-describes', 'questioning/unsure or prefer not to answer'.

The healthcare system covers four hospitals, two cancer centers and eight health centers in South Jersey.

They made the form to comply with a new state law that required health care providers 'to collect race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a culturally competent and sensitive manner.'

Schepisi posted the form to her social media and sparked disbelief amongst users who questioned its authenticity.

The lawmaker said she would introduce a bill to revise the language in the current legislation to limit the collection of information to patients 16 and older.

The form requires parents to identify their baby as either male, female, transgender , genderqueer, or additional gender

The healthcare system covers four hospitals, two cancer centers and eight health centers in South Jersey

She said: 'Yesterday it came to my attention that medical providers, laboratories and hospitals are being forced to provide the questionnaire below to NEWBORN patients.

'While completely and utterly insane, these facilities are doing so to comply with another nonsensical law A-4385 passed by the democratically controlled legislature in 2022.

'This law mandates collection of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity data with no age threshold - hence newborn babies receiving the survey.

'I will be sponsoring legislation immediately to rescind this absurd requirement which is a waste of medical professionals time and resources.

'PS - for anyone screaming fake form my legislative office directly confirmed it is indeed real with the health network this morning.

'They had to seek a waiver from the State to discontinue using this form as they were receiving such negative feedback from their patients.

'You may not want to believe its real but it is, and on the upside at least you deep down now understand how absurd things have become in NJ.'

On her post, social media users expressed their horror over the form.

State Senator Holly Schepisi posted the form to her social media and sparked disbelief amongst users who questioned its authenticity

The form requires parents to identify their baby as either male, female, transgender , genderqueer, or additional gender

On her post, social media users expressed their horror over the form.

One commented: 'This is mental illness. What planet are we on', while another said: 'I cant even believe this is what they are pushing or worrying about'.

Another added: 'This is horrific, so now parents are assigning sexual orientation to their newborns. Talk about an agenda.'

Democratic State Senators Joseph Cryan and Angela McKnight introduced the bill in June 2022 but declined to comment when approached by The New York Post.

In a statement, Democrat Herbert Conaway, who also worked on the bill, said: 'The bill was modeled after an Indiana statute and is designed to provide public health officials with the data they need to develop public health measures that effectively serve all New Jerseyans.

'Good policy depends on the availability of complete and accurate data. Under the law, hospitals are required to collect and report demographic data on the patients they serve; however, no patient or parent is obligated to answer any question that makes them uncomfortable.

'Newborns are not subjected to this data collection because parents are not required to fill out the form. Many health decisions for newborns are left to the parents discretion.'

An Inspira Health spokesperson said the form was 'required by New Jersey law' and parents 'are permitted to decline to provide this information.'
The audio of a 911 call made after four University of Idaho students were found stabbed to death has been released.

Authorities in Idaho released the call on Friday following the quadruple homicide that happened in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022.

In the call, which appears to have been made by someone who did not live at the address, a female caller can be heard hysterically sobbing.

The woman can be heard through deep sobs saying: 'Something happened in our house'.

The phone is then passed to another person who says: 'One of our roommates is passed out, and she was drunk last night, and she's not waking up. They saw some man in their house last night.'

A male voice is also heard on the phone - before the dispatcher asks them to stop passing the phone around.

The male also told the dispatcher that the woman was not breathing. The call ended shortly afterward when police arrived.

Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee's shoulders) Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke

Bryan Kohberger, accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students, is escorted into court for a hearing in Latah County District Court, Sept. 13, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho

Bryan Kohberger, 30, is charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kayleen Goncalves.

Kohberger, a criminology PhD student, was arrested six weeks later and accused of the slayings. He denies involvement in the crime.

Investigators zeroed in on Kohberger as the suspect after his DNA was found on a brown leather Ka-Bar knife sheath found next to Mogens body at the grisly scene.

At the time of the murders, two other roommates - Mortensen and Bethany Funke - lived with Mogen, Goncalves and Kernodle in the three-story house in Moscow.

They were inside the home at the time of the murders but escaped unscathed.

Mortensen, whose bedroom was on the second floor, came face-to-face with a masked man in the immediate aftermath of the murders, according to court documents.

She told investigators that she had been woken by noises in the home at around 4am that morning and had heard a voice say theres someone here.'

She also heard what sounded like whimpering coming from Kernodle's room and a mans voice saying: Its ok, Im going to help you.

Mortensen told investigators she had opened her door and peeked outside three times.

Best friends Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen were found stabbed to death in the same bed

Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle pictured together. The young couple were staying at Xana's student home on 1122 King Road on the night of the murders

The student home where the murders took place. Surviving roommate Dylan Mortensen came face-to-face with a masked intruder moments after the murders are believed to have taken place

The third time, she said she saw a masked man with 'bushy eyebrows' and dressed in black walk past her door and head towards the sliding back doors of the home.

The defense is now asking the judge to block any evidence referencing 'bushy eyebrows' and to block Mortensen from using those words to identify Kohberger when she testifies at trial.

Touch DNA found on the sheath was traced to the 30-year-old suspect using Investigative Genetic Geneaology (IGG), according to prosecutors.

A judge previously entered a not-guilty plea on Kohberger's behalf, prosecutors have said they are seeking the death penalty if he is convicted.

In a closed-door hearing in January, Kohberger's attorneys tried to have the DNA evidence tossed from his trial by claiming the use of IGG had violated his constitutional rights and that the state neglected to document its use of the investigative method correctly in search warrants.

Kohberger looks toward his attorney, public defender Anne Taylor, right, during a hearing in Latah County District Court, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho

In February, the judge turned down the defenses request, allowing the state to present this key evidence to the jury.

Just days after the ruling was handed down, the defense underwent a major shake-up, bringing on board attorney Bicka Barlow, who is known for specializing in forensic DNA evidence.

A judge previously entered a not-guilty plea on Kohbergers behalf. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty if he is convicted.

Kohbergers trial is scheduled to begin August 11 and is expected to last more than three months.

He has so far offered up a vague alibi for the night of the murders claiming he was driving around at night looking at the stars.

No witnesses can corroborate where he was, his attorney Anne Taylor admitted in a court filing.
Bill Maher ripped into a Trump supporter guest on his show as he pressed her to admit the first seven weeks of his second term have 'gone really badly.'

The talk show host got into the fiery argument with journalist and author Batya Ungar-Sargon on his Friday night show, saying her fervent support for Trump 'makes no sense.'

'We don't have time to f*** around, I've got to go right at you,' Maher said to Ungar-Sargon as he began the panel segment of his show.

'When I first read you, you were a conservative Republican, but not crazy,' he said.

'Like I read you in Newsweek, Time magazine, and Im not saying youre crazy now, but you went from just a conservative leaning right to a Trump supporter, someplace I would never go.'

Ungar-Sargon responded, 'the night is young, Bill', to which he said: 'It is not ever going to be that young.

'And Im just wondering what you think now,' Maher continued. 'Were approaching two months in.

'I mean, you must have a feeling in your gut, look me in the eye and tell me you dont (think) that this is really going badly, and I shouldnt have thrown my lot in with this team.'

Bill Maher ripped into a Trump supporter guest on his show as he pressed her to admit the first seven weeks of his second term have 'gone really badly'

The talk show host got into the fiery argument with journalist and author Batya Ungar-Sargon on his Friday night show. Maher said her remark that she is a 'leftist Trump supporter' 'makes no sense'

Unyar-Sargon, the deputy opinion editor of Newsweek, responded to Maher's taunt that she felt 'the opposite.'

'I feel proud,' she said. 'I was never a Republican or a conservative. I was a leftist and I am still a leftist. Im just a MAGA leftist now.'

'That makes no sense,' Maher countered.

The tense exchange came after Maher welcomed Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to his show, where the comedian tried in vain to get the lawmaker to say he was running for president in 2028.

Shapiro sidestepped Maher's pressing about his presidential aspirations, saying he's 'not an expert in the DC stuff.'

'I live in the real world in Pennsylvania, where we have to balance budgets,' he said.

Shapiro was a rumored candidate to be Kamala Harris' running mate against Donald Trump, with Maher remarking: 'A lot of people said 'The only reason he didn't get it, is because he's Jewish.''

'There's a wing of this party that's very anti-Israel. The Democrats used to be a very pro-Israel, then that got switched around,' Maher said.

The governor responded that Harris' decision not to pick him was a 'deeply personal decision.'

'I love being the governor of Pennsylvania. I'm damn proud of my faith. I'm damn proud of the good people of Pennsylvania and how they received that,' he added.

Bill Maher asks Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro about the Democrats that avoided picking him for VP because he's Jewish:

Maher: "You were on the short list for VP last time. A lot of people said 'The only reason he didn't get it, is because he's Jewish.'

There's a wing of pic.twitter.com/vZGj1aWSKl  Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) March 15, 2025

The tense exchange came after Maher welcomed Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to his show, where the comedian tried in vain to get the lawmaker to say he was running for president in 2028

While not committing to a run for president in three years' time, Shapiro did criticize Democratic leadership and said he was frustrated with figures such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in their efforts to avert a government shutdown.

'I would have liked to see Schumer use his leverage to demand more from Republicans,' Shapiro said.

'Force them to meet us halfway on key issues.'

Shapiro's rumored White House ambitions come as the Democratic Party searches for a new approach following their election drubbing in November.

The Pennsylvania governor was shortlisted in a Puck News/ Echelon Insights survey after the election as a potential candidate, although Harris overwhelmingly led the field with 41 percent of the vote.

Shapiro picked up seven percent support, one point ahead of the man who Harris picked for her ticket over him, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

California Governor Gavin Newsom came in second with eight percent, with many seeing the governor as an inevitable candidate as he is term-limited and has recently launched a high-profile podcast.
A grandmother was shot dead on her couch as she watched TV with her grandson after her boyfriend suddenly burst in and opened fire.

Karol Bedoya, 44, died sitting next to the terrified two-year-old while her son, the boy's father, was in the basement and powerless to save her.

Her boyfriend of 10 years, Clemente Flores-Hernandez, 45, shot her four times at close range seconds after entering the home in Denver on February 4, 2023.

Bedoya's adult son Miguel Bedoya heard the shots and rushed upstairs in a panic about 8pm, only to be confronted by the still-armed murderer.

'I just hear them go boom, boom,' he told local media.

He told police the killer shot at him multiple times until his gun was empty but missed, and they fought hand-to-hand until Miguel was almost strangled.

Flores-Hernandez let him go before he ran out of air, then grabbed the little boy and fled into the night.

Miguel pursued, and was able to keep Flores-Hernandez in sight long enough to alert police to his location, until his car ran out of gas.

Karol Bedoya, 44, was shot dead on her couch as she watched TV with her grandson after her boyfriend suddenly burst in and opened fire

Clemente Flores-Hernandez, 45, shot her four times at close range seconds after entering the home in Denver

The killer fled police in a high-speed chase along I-70 until cops blew out his tires by deploying spikes onto the road.

Flores-Hernandez was arrested in Strasburg, a town 30 miles east of Denver, and the toddler was rescued unharmed.

He was originally charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder and first-degree kidnapping, and child abuse, but pleaded down to second-degree murder and first-degree assault.

Flores-Hernandez was still jailed for 60 years - 48 years for murdering Bedoya and 12 years for assaulting her son - to run consecutively.

Bedoya's brother-in-law Rodrigo Anguiano said she kept the relationship problems a secret, but he saw something getting to her in the last three months.

'I saw her almost every day and she didn't tell us anything. A week prior to all of this, she broke down and cried here at the house,' he told KDVR.

'She just broke down and told us that she was unhappy and wanted him to go away.'

Bedoya as a young woman with her now-adult children

Bedoya's adult son Miguel Bedoya (pictured) heard the shots and rushed upstairs in a panic about 8pm, only to be confronted by the still-armed murderer

Anguiano said she was afraid of Flores-Hernandez and trying to leave him.

Denver District Attorney John Walsh celebrated the sentence and expressed condolences for Bedoya's family and friends.

'Karol Bedoya's murder is yet another terrible reminder of the tragic toll domestic violence takes on our community and our families,' he said.

'We hope that today's guilty plea and sentence provide some measure of comfort to Karol's family and friends.'
A father diagnosed with cancer has been told he has 12 months to live - after first noticing a symptom while eating a sandwich.

Des Longstaff was tucking into the bacon and sausage sarnie at work when part of the snack became lodged in his oesophagus.

The 39-year-old landscaper was told by his doctor to have an endoscopy, before he vomited blood and noticed bleeding in his stools.

On Christmas Eve last year medics discovered a 35 centimetre tumour in his lower oesophagus.

It was later found that the stage four oesophageal adenocarcinoma had also spread to his liver, severely limiting his options for treatment.

The aggressive cancer is the most common form of the oesophagus in the UK and occurs more in men than women, according to Cancer Research. It typically cannot be cured.

Unable to have keyhole surgery, Mr Longstaff is now undergoing aggressive chemotherapy treatment as well as immunotherapy to train his body to respond to and attack the cancer.

Having been given just 12 months to live, he is looking to go to Germany for a treatment which may help give him more precious time with his five-year-old son.

Des Longstaff was diagnosed with oesophageal adenocarcinoma after feeling unusual symptoms when eating a bacon and sausage sandwich

Mr Longstaff has been given 12 months to live but is looking to go to Germany for new treatments to give him more precious time with his five-year-old son.

His family are also exploring other treatments to help shrink the tumour, including herbal medicines, vitamin C and B12 IV infusions and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

He told Bristol Live: 'The NHS has only given me 12 months to live.'

Mr Longstaff added that his immunotherapy treatment is 'palliative and it is to keep me comfortable so I dont die straight away'.

His mother Tracy has raised more than 32,000 through a GoFundMe page to send him to Germany for a new treatment which could give him more than five years to live.

She wrote: 'Our beloved Des has recently been diagnosed with advanced oesophageal adenocarcinoma (T3N3MX) which is now stage 4 , an aggressive and life-threatening form of cancer.

'This devastating news has shaken us to the core, but we are resolute in fighting this battle together.'

She added: 'Des is unable to work and will not be able to for the foreseeable future, we are exploring new treatments in Germany to give Des the best chance of a 5 year plus life expectancy.'

The ten-day procedure, costing around 42,000, would involve injecting his liver with a high dose of chemotherapy.

Doctors would then cut off the main tumour in his oesophagus from the artery and leave it to die for five days before cutting it out.

His stomach lining would be built up by putting mesh around it.

The landscape contractor first experienced symptoms after eating a sandwich which became lodged in his oesophagus, before doctors discovered a tumour

Explaining in Germany there is no such thing as 'terminal', adding 'they have one of the best treatments out there'.

While he says his cancer has stayed localised, there remain 'two small dots' which could turn into tumours without further intervention.

He said the treatment was his 'only hope' to see more of his young boy, 'the apple of his eye' .

'It is my only hope to see my five-year-old boy grow up. He is the apple of my eye', he said.
Ofsted has appointed a leader of a religious school as its chairman in what is believed to be a first for the education watchdog.

Sir Hamid Patel will enter the top board position temporarily until a replacement is found for Dame Christine Ryan, who announced her intention to step down in November last year, after a four-year tenure.

He is chief executive of the Star Academies Trust, which runs around 40 primary and secondary schools across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, the Midlands and London - many of which are rated outstanding.

Members of the multi-academy trust - which Sir Hamid has run since it was founded in 2010 - include several Islamic schools, a Christian school and grammar schools.

He has been on Ofsted's board since 2019, was knighted for outstanding services to education in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2021 and attended the King's coronation in 2023.

It is understood from inside sources that Sir Hamid has always been a balanced board member who has never stood in opposition to moves to regulate more hardline religious schools, as reported by the Telegraph.

He has previously vowed to support white working class boys, saying in 2020: 'Only one in seven white working class boys will pass their GCSE in English and maths. That is a national disgrace.'

The National Secular Society has said of Sir Hamid's appointment it is 'willing to support any chairman who upholds principles of equality, regardless of sex and religion or belief' - and Ofsted's top inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has praised him as leading 'some of the best schools in England'.

Sir Hamid Patel (pictured) will enter the top board position temporarily until a replacement is found for Dame Christine Ryan

His Majesty's Chief Inspector Sir Martyn added of Ofsted's new interim chairman: 'He is a highly respected school and academy trust leader, knighted for his contribution to education.

'After more than five years on the Ofsted Board, I'm delighted he is stepping up to lead while the secretary of state recruits a permanent chairman.'

The National Secular Society said: 'At a time when religious fundamentalism is increasingly impacting schools, were willing to support any chairman who upholds principles of equality, regardless of sex and religion or belief.

'We urge Sir Hamid to ensure that Ofsted remains committed to ensuring that religion does not impede educational standards or undermine childrens fundamental human right to a broad and balanced education.'

Sir Hamid was previously headteacher at Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School in Blackburn.

While he was in post at the 800-student state secondary, it became one of the first schools in the country to encourage pupils, in its school rules, to wear a hijab outside school as well as in the classroom.

The guidance also noted students should 'recite the Koran at least once a week' and not bring in stationery which shows 'un-Islamic images', like pictures of popstars.

The school was criticised in 2010 for allowing a Saudi Arabian cleric named Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais to pay a visit to the school, after he had described Jews as 'pigs' and prayed for God to 'terminate' the Jews.

Sir Hamid was previously headteacher at Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School (pictured) in Blackburn

The National Secular Society said: 'We urge Sir Hamid to ensure that Ofsted remains committed to ensuring that religion does not impede educational standards or undermine childrens fundamental human right to a broad and balanced education'. Pictured: File photo

Sir Hamid commented on the visit when speaking to the Sunday Times in 2013: 'The girls wanted to see this guy with five million followers. They had seen him on YouTube. He stayed 20 minutes.'

There has been no suggestion the cleric's comments were made at the school.

A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism said: 'We hope that in his new role, Hamid Patel will adopt a higher degree of scrutiny than he appeared to in his previous occupation.

'British Jews will understandably be concerned that an individual who invited a man who allegedly described Jews as "pigs" to speak to children will be responsible for assessing the performance of schools.'

Schools in the Star Academies Trust now host visiting speakers from multiple faiths, including Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.

Sir Hamid's appointment comes as teachers voice criticism of Ofsted for proposed changes to its inspection methods.

They would see one-word assessments of schools scrapped in favour of a more comprehensive report card, following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life in January 2023 after her school was rated inadequate at inspection.

But teachers worried the reforms would create more work for them - and be just as high stakes and anxiety-inducing for school management as the current one-word ratings.

In a speech yesterday, chief inspector Sir Martyn defended the proposals, which are under consultation until April 28.

Dame Christine Ryan announced her decision to step down as chairman last year following a damning independent review criticising Ofsted's response to Ruth Perry's suicide.
Girls in care should share a bedroom with boys who self-identify as the opposite gender, according to terrifying guidance issued by a watchdog.

In the latest development of Scotlands single-sex scandal, the Care Inspectorate says looked-after transgender children should not be made to use the toilet or bedroom of their sex assigned at birth.

The edict adds that trans youngsters should be able to share a room with other young people who share their gender identity.

Astonishingly, it also states there is no law in Scotland that protects single-sex spaces.

Scottish Conservative equalities spokesman Tess White said: Its frankly ludicrous that Scotlands care watchdog doesnt recognise there are legal obligations to provide single-sex spaces.

Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at human rights charity Sex Matters, called the guidance a terrifying failure of the states duty to protect some of Scotlands most vulnerable young people.

She added: This policy is grossly negligent, putting young people who deserve so much better at significant risk.

Research from the University of Stirling in 2019 showed that in Scotland, the majority of children who have been removed from their parents have endured maltreatment or neglect.

Girls in care should share a bedroom with boys who self-identify as the opposite gender, according to a Scottish watchdog. Picture posed by model

Scottish Conservative MSP Tess White says it is 'ludicrous' the Care Inspectorate said gender-specific toilets were just 'social convention'.

According to the Cass Review published last year, there is a high presentation of children who have had adverse childhood experiences and those who are looked after among the transgender population.

In light of those findings, the Care Inspectorate published updated guidance for care workers and accommodation providers in May 2024.

It said it supports schools guidance issued by the Scottish Government which states that a transgender youngster should not be made to use the toilet or bedroom of their biological sex.

It states that if a transgender young person wants to share a room with other young people who share their gender identity, they should be able to do so as long as the rights of, and risks to, all those involved are considered and respected.

In a move which critics believe displays a chilling lack of understanding of equalities legislation, it goes on to say: The provision of gendered facilities such as toilets is social convention. There is no law in Scotland about this.

Susan Smith, of campaign group For Women Scotland, said: Various pieces of legislation do mandate single-sex toilet provisions.

Care Inspectorate officials must be naive to the point of abject idiocy if they think gender identity will preclude children indulging in dangerous sexual behaviour.

Childrens human rights and physical safety matter: unless the Care Inspectorate want another child abuse inquiry on their hands, they will stop deliberately putting children at risk.

A spokesman for the Care Inspectorate said: It is for care services to decide on the appropriate provision of facilities to meet the individual needs, rights and wishes of those experiencing care.'
President Donald Trump has warned Houthi terrorists to cease their attacks against Red Sea shipping or 'hell will rain down upon you' - while also cautioning Iran to cease their support, as the US launched a series of military strikes over Yemen.

Trump ordered the 'decisive and powerful' military action over the capital of Sanaa on Saturday afternoon.

He had spent the day prior at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

At least 19 people have been killed and dozens injured so far, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.

The US President confirmed in a post on Truth Social that 'overwhelming lethal force' would be used until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor.

A US official speaking on condition of anonymity said the military action could last days or perhaps weeks.

It comes just hours after one of Islamic State's top leaders in Iraq was 'relentlessly hunted down' and killed in a US-led airstrike on Friday.

Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadijah, was considered one of the 'most dangerous terrorists in the world', according to Iraqi prime minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

On Saturday, in a determined post about the latest strikes, Trump wrote: 'To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP....'

Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by US airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen on Saturday

At least nine civilians have been killed and nine injured so far following the US strikes over Sanaa, according to the Houthi-run health ministry

President Donald Trump has warned Houthi terrorists to cease their attacks against Red Sea shipping or 'hell will rain down upon you'

Trump also warned Iran, the Houthis' main backer, that it needed to immediately halt support to the group.

He said if Iran threatened the United States 'America will hold you fully accountable and, we won't be nice about it!'

The action represents the biggest US military operation in the Middle East since Trump took office in January.

It comes in the midst of a ramping up of sanctions pressure on Tehran while the US tries to bring it to the negotiating table over its nuclear program.

Trump wrote in his statement: 'Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists' bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom', he wrote.

'No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.'

The United States, Israel and Britain have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen.

At least 13 civilians were killed and nine injured in US strikes on Yemen's capital Sanaa, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.

Six others, including four children and one woman, were killed and 11 injured in a US strike on the northern province of Saada, the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported.

Trump warned the Houthi terrorists that 'hell will rain down on you' ahead of launching US air strikes over Yemen

A view from the naval carrier as planes take off towards Huthi targets in Yemen

President Trump said that 'overwhelming lethal force' would be used until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor

Images show aircraft launching from a US carrier moments after Trump ordered airstrikes over Sanaa, Yemen

Analysts suggest the US military action could last days or even weeks in a bid to deter the Houthi rebels

On Saturday, in a determined post about the latest strikes, Trump wrote: 'To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP....'

President Trump posted this image of himself on social media watching the strikes over Yemen from the White House

A red baseball cap emblazoned with 'Trump' on the back was worn by the President as he watched the latest events from Yemen

The Houthis also reported airstrikes early Sunday on the provinces of Hodeida, Bayda, and Marib.

The Eastern Geraf is home to Houthi-held military facilities and a headquarters for the rebels' political bureau, located in a densely populated area.

The Houthis reported fresh strikes on the southwestern Dhamar province late Saturday.

They said the strikes hit the outskirts of the provincial capital, also named Dhamar, and the district of Abs.

Images online showed plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility.

Residents in Sanaa reported that the strikes hit a building in a Houthi stronghold.

'The explosions were violent and shook the neighborhood like an earthquake. They terrified our women and children,' said one of the residents, who gave his name as Abdullah Yahia.

According to Houthi-run AI Masirah TV, the strikes targeted a residential neighbourhood in the Shu'aub district, which lies just north of the capital.

AI Masirah TV, also reported that the Islamic Jihad Movement condemned the strikes, calling the 'US aggression' 'blatant support for the Zionist entity and its crimes against our Palestinian people and the peoples of the region, especially in Syria and Lebanon'.

Images show black smoke billowing into the sky over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility

Dust rises from the site of strikes in Sanaa, Yemen, pictured on Saturday evening

In a statement the Houthis' political bureau said the attacks, which it described as a 'war crime', will not go unanswered.

'Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation,' it said in a statement.

Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, said the airstrikes won't deter them and they would retaliate against the US.

'Sanaa will remain Gaza's shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges,' he added on social media.

Another spokesman, Mohamed Abdulsalam, on X, called Trump's claims that the Houthis threaten international shipping routes 'false and misleading.'

It comes after Houthi fighters fired a missile at Israel's principal airport in retaliation for the country's forces targeting a runway in Yemen earlier this week.

The rebel group responded to Thursday's strikes in Sanaa by hitting Ben Gurion Airport  which lies ten miles away from Tel Aviv.

Israeli missiles struck the Yemeni airport as the director-general of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, boarded a flight.

Smoke can be seen rising into the sky after the strikes hit what is claimed to have been a residential area near the airport

A number of explosions were reportedly heard as the strikes hit their target

Footage posted online shows a thick column of smoke billowing into the sky

According to the United Nations, three people were killed and dozens injured.

Israeli officials said the Houthi missile was intercepted, yet 18 people suffered minor injuries as they rushed to a bomb shelter and flights were delayed for half an hour.

The rebels insisted the airport was struck, adding drones also targeted Tel Aviv and a ship in the Arabian Sea.

Hamas later praised the rebels after they announced they would resume attacks on Israeli-linked shipping, calling it a demonstration of 'true commitment' to the Palestinian cause.

'It is a true commitment of support for our Palestinian people and their resistance, and it exerts real pressure to break the unjust siege on Gaza,' Hamas said in a statement.

'We call on the nations of the Arab and Muslim world, as well as all free people around the globe, to intensify their effective actions to pressure the Zionist occupation and its supporters until the aggression ends, the siege on Gaza is lifted and humanitarian aid reaches our besieged people,' Hamas added.

The Houthi said they were resuming their 'ban on the passage of all Israeli ships' in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab strait, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea after Israel failed to meet a four-day deadline they had set for Gaza aid deliveries to resume.

Israel blocked all aid into the war-ravaged Gaza Strip earlier this month in an effort to pressure Hamas into agreeing an extension to the existing ceasefire in Gaza rather than moving onto a second stage.

The air strikes come after the US President announced plans to ban people from 43 countries from travelling to the US, including Yemen.

He previewed his plan in an October 2023 speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and 'anywhere else that threatens our security.'

The Houthis have launched more than 100 attacks targeting shipping since November 2023, a campaign they say is in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza.

Iran's other allies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, have been severely weakened by Israel since the start of the Gaza conflict.

Syria's Bashar al-Assad, who was closely aligned with Tehran, was overthrown by rebels in December.

But throughout, Yemen's Houthis have remained resilient and on often the offensive, sinking two vessels, seizing another and killing at least four seafarers in an offensive that disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa.

The previous US administration of President Joe Biden had sought to degrade the Houthis' ability to attack vessels off its coast but limited the U.S. actions.

US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say Trump has authorized a more aggressive approach.

The strikes on Saturday were carried out in part by fighter aircraft from the Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, which is in the Red Sea, officials said.

The US military's Central Command, which oversees troops in the Middle East, described Saturday's strikes as the start of a large-scale operation across Yemen.

'Houthi attacks on American ships & aircraft (and our troops!) will not be tolerated; and Iran, their benefactor, is on notice,' Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X.

'Freedom of Navigation will be restored.'

Trump held out the prospect of far more devastating military action against Yemen.

'The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective,' Trump wrote.

Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Tuesday, the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli ships passing through the Red and Arabian seas, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden, ending a period of relative calm starting in January with the Gaza ceasefire.

The US attacks came just days after a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from Trump was delivered, seeking talks over Iran's nuclear program.

Khamenei on Wednesday rejected holding negotiations with the United States.

Still, Tehran is increasingly concerned that mounting public anger over economic hardships could erupt into mass protests, four Iranian officials told Reuters.

Last year, Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities, including missile factories and air defenses, in retaliation for Iranian missile and drone attacks, reduced Tehran's conventional military capabilities, according to US officials.

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 UN nuclear watchdog - the International Atomic Energy Agency - 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 and has denied wanting to develop a nuclear weapon.
The NHS boss overseeing the health board at the centre of a gender row received a pay rise of up to 10,000 last year  and now earns more than the First Minister.

Carol Potter, chief executive of NHS Fife, was handed a bumper salary boost in 2023-2024 as her pay band hit 145,000, documents seen by this newspaper show.

Her salary will be even higher this year  at least 147,700  owing to recent public sector pay increases of 5.5 per cent.

Mrs Potters new pay bracket also means she earns more than First Minister John Swinney, who is entitled to a salary of 135,605.

Since she took over at NHS Fife in 2020, the performance of the health board has repeatedly come under fire  with record numbers of patients waiting for treatment at the end of last year.

The landmark employment tribunal over the boards approach to single-sex spaces has also sparked increased scrutiny of NHS Fifes management.

Ms Potters health board is battling to retain credibility after managers suspended nurse Sandie Peggie for raising concerns about a transgender medic using the womens changing room at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

Mrs Peggie is arguing at an ongoing tribunal in Dundee that having to change next to Dr Beth Upton, who was born a biological man, broke the Equality Act.

Carol Potter, chief executive of NHS Fife, was handed a bumper pay rise and now earns more than the First Minister.

Transgender medic Dr Beth Upton is at the centre of a legal challenge brought by nurse Sandie Peggie.

The claim against NHS Fife and Dr Upton alleges that she faced sexual harassment, harassment related to a protected belief, indirect discrimination and victimisation.

The health boards handling of the crisis has drawn fierce criticism.

It initially fought to keep Dr Uptons identity a secret, a move which was rejected by a judge.

NHS Fife later refused to tell this newspaper how much taxpayer money it has spending on defending the case, despite insiders claiming costs could reach a quarter of a million pounds.

But an internal financial report that The Mail on Sunday has been able to access shows the health boards chief executive was handed a salary of 140,000 to 145,000 in 2023-24.

This was 10,000 more than in the previous financial year.

Every NHS executive and senior manager also received a 5.5 per cent pay rise last year  which means that Mrs Potters basic salary has now risen above 147,700.

By comparison, a newly qualified staff nurse earns 30,229 a year, while a nursing assistant has a starting salary of 23,362.

Nurse Sandie Peggie is taking NHS Fife to a tribunal after a row over single-sex changing room

Last night, critics demanded the Scottish Government step in to ensure the health board delivers value for money.

Roz McCall, Scottish Tory MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said: Suffering patients would expect cash-strapped NHS Fife to be prioritising investment in frontline care rather than lining the pockets of top bosses.

They will also question whether this is deserved at a time they are squandering taxpayers money on a tribunal involving one of their own employees who is standing up for womens rights.

The SNP government must ensure health boards are delivering value for money for the taxpayer at all times.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: The salaries of NHS Scotland chief executives are independently assessed and reflect their roles as leaders of complex public sector organisations providing vital services.

The guidance is clear that the pay ratio between the chief executive and median staff salaries, while not a determining factor, should be acknowledged when developing or reviewing chief executives salaries.
The father of Kaylee Goncalves, who was one of four Idaho college students murdered in 2022, has spoken out after the first 911 call from the fateful night was released.

Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were stabbed to death inside the off-campus student home in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022.

On Friday, Idaho officials released the call following the quadruple homicide that unfolded at the address.

Reacting to the call, Kaylee's father Steve appeared on NewsNation saying the family listened to it before it was released, and that it didn't give him any clarity.

He told the show: 'I always wanted it to make more sense. Your brain wants to gravitate to "make this make more sense."

'But the truth is, murder never makes sense. This is a psychopathic person who does something that breaks the norm.'

In a post to their Facebook page, the Goncalves family added: 'The 911 call? It is not the neatly rehearsed dialogue of a well-crafted story, not the polished performance you might expect from a Hollywood script.

'No. It is raw. It is jagged. A searing, unvarnished truth that no camera could ever hope to capture. Every breath. Every cry.'

Kaylee Goncalves was murdered inside the home in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022

Steve Goncalves appeared on NewsNation and said the family had got to listen to it before it was released and that it didn't give him any clarity

Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee's shoulders) Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke

The post adds: 'Every tremor in the voice reveals a reality so cruel, so brutally honest, it cuts deeper than anything fiction could devise.

'In closing let us face the uncomfortable truth: Had the 911 call been made the moment the accused left that house; it would not have saved anyone. Nothing would have changed.'

In the call, which appears to have been made by someone who did not live at the address, a female caller can be heard hysterically sobbing.

The woman can be heard through deep sobs saying: 'Something happened in our house'.

The phone is then passed to another person who says: 'One of our roommates is passed out, and she was drunk last night, and she's not waking up. They saw some man in their house last night.'

A male voice is also heard on the phone - before the dispatcher asks them to stop passing the phone around.

The male also told the dispatcher that the woman was not breathing. The call ended shortly afterward when police arrived.

A neighbor and one of Chapin's close friends Hunter Johnson were also at the scene at the time, according to Goncalves.

He said that he spoke with Johnson and thinks he had stumbled upon the bodies of the group.

Bryan Kohberger, 30, is charged with four counts of murder in the deaths the students.

Bryan Kohberger, accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students, is escorted into court for a hearing in Latah County District Court, Sept. 13, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho

Kohberger, a criminology PhD student, was arrested six weeks later and accused of the slayings. He denies involvement in the crime.

Investigators zeroed in on Kohberger as the suspect after his DNA was found on a brown leather Ka-Bar knife sheath found next to Mogens body at the grisly scene.

At the time of the murders, two other roommates - Mortensen and Bethany Funke - lived with Mogen, Goncalves and Kernodle in the three-story house in Moscow.

They were inside the home at the time of the murders but escaped unscathed.

Mortensen, whose bedroom was on the second floor, came face-to-face with a masked man in the immediate aftermath of the murders, according to court documents.

She told investigators that she had been woken by noises in the home at around 4am that morning and had heard a voice say theres someone here.'

She also heard what sounded like whimpering coming from Kernodle's room and a mans voice saying: Its ok, Im going to help you.

The student home where the murders took place. Surviving roommate Dylan Mortensen came face-to-face with a masked intruder moments after the murders are believed to have taken place

Mortensen told investigators she had opened her door and peeked outside three times.

The third time, she said she saw a masked man with 'bushy eyebrows' and dressed in black walk past her door and head towards the sliding back doors of the home.

The defense is now asking the judge to block any evidence referencing 'bushy eyebrows' and to block Mortensen from using those words to identify Kohberger when she testifies at trial.

Touch DNA found on the sheath was traced to the 30-year-old suspect using Investigative Genetic Geneaology (IGG), according to prosecutors.

A judge previously entered a not-guilty plea on Kohberger's behalf, prosecutors have said they are seeking the death penalty if he is convicted.

In a closed-door hearing in January, Kohberger's attorneys tried to have the DNA evidence tossed from his trial by claiming the use of IGG had violated his constitutional rights and that the state neglected to document its use of the investigative method correctly in search warrants.

Kohberger looks toward his attorney, public defender Anne Taylor, right, during a hearing in Latah County District Court, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho

In February, the judge turned down the defenses request, allowing the state to present this key evidence to the jury.

Just days after the ruling was handed down, the defense underwent a major shake-up, bringing on board attorney Bicka Barlow, who is known for specializing in forensic DNA evidence.

A judge previously entered a not-guilty plea on Kohbergers behalf. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty if he is convicted.

Kohbergers trial is scheduled to begin August 11 and is expected to last more than three months.

He has so far offered up a vague alibi for the night of the murders claiming he was driving around at night looking at the stars.

No witnesses can corroborate where he was, his attorney Anne Taylor admitted in a court filing.
The mystery surrounding the 2020 disappearance of U.S. Forest Service firefighter Carlos Baltazar has been tragically resolved.

A human skull, discovered by a hunter in Big Bear on October 26, 2024, has been positively identified as belonging to Baltazar.

The San Bernardino County Coroner's Office confirmed the identification on February 22, 2025, following DNA analysis.

Baltazar, 39, a member of the Big Bear Hotshots, went missing in September 2020 while battling the El Dorado Fire.

After the death of his squad boss, Baltazar was last seen speaking with coworkers at the barracks before vanishing.

His vehicle was later found crashed along Highway 18, but extensive searches yielded no results.

The cause of Baltazar's death remains under investigation.

The discovery of his remains has brought closure to a painful chapter for his family.

The mystery surrounding the 2020 disappearance of U.S. Forest Service firefighter Carlos Baltazar has been tragically resolved.

A human skull, discovered by a hunter in Big Bear on October 26, 2024, has been positively identified as belonging to Baltazar

His niece, Melinda Nadine, expressed the family's grief and gratitude, emphasizing Baltazar's dedication as a Wildland Firefighter and his commitment to his family and faith.

'Carlos was a hero to many,' she wrote on a GoFundMe page established to support his family.

'Now, we need the community's help to give him the dignified funeral he deserves.'

Nadine highlighted the emotional burden on Baltazar's 77-year-old mother, Maria, who is raising his 14-year-old son.

'He did so much for the community... always positive, always putting God and his family first,' Nadine stated.

'My uncle was a fantastic friend and colleague who was like a brother to all, constantly pushing others to always be the best.'

The family extends their deepest thanks to the community for their unwavering support and remembrance of Carlos over the years.

'We appreciate everyone who has never forgotten about Carlos through the years and has never stopped asking about him,' Nadine wrote.

Baltazar, 39, a member of the Big Bear Hotshots, went missing in September 2020 while battling the El Dorado Fire

After the death of his squad boss, Baltazar was last seen speaking with coworkers at the barracks before vanishing

'Now, we need everybody's help to unite and help bring him home to us by supporting his family.'

Those wishing to contribute to funeral expenses and support Baltazar's family can do so at the following GoFundMe page: GoFundMe: Bring Carlos Baltazar Home.

While the discovery marks the end of the search, the family remains dedicated to honoring his memory and his service.
New York, US (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General has urged everyone to speak out against xenophobia and discrimination to combat a disturbing rise in anti-Muslim bigotry
The scientific establishments in the US and the UK connived together to prevent discussion about the origin of the Covid pandemic  the most lethally disruptive social, economic and political crisis since the Second World War.

It sounds fanciful, indeed impossible, in this age of transparency and accountability. But shamefully for those involved, the evidence strongly suggests that is what happened.

Five years on, the public needs to know  and to be provided with an explanation.

Thanks to my intelligence background, and with input from a crack team of experts in virology, Big Pharma and geo-strategy, we knew the truth as early as March 2020 and alerted the Government. They cant say they did not know.

This elephant in the room has escaped most peoples attention  until now. Yet the Hallett Inquiry into the pandemic didnt even seek to investigate how it started. Isnt that strange?

By the spring of 2020, it was clear that the SARS-CoV-2 virus had been laboratory enhanced in Wuhan, China, with some American academic assistance, to make it super-infectious by what are called gain of function enhancements. A detailed paper trail in scientific publications back in 2012 recorded the linked experiments, and the virus itself showed compelling evidence of inserts into its spike protein

The stated objective of this risky joint research, financed in part by money originally from US government grants, had been to investigate infectiousness to humans  a surprising cooperation in a laboratory that also had links to the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army.

The chance that SARS-CoV-2 could be natural and had jumped species from bats to humans was many thousands to one against  quite apart from the fact it first appeared in the very spot where the Chinese laboratory carrying out these experiments was located.

By the spring of 2020, it was clear that the SARS-CoV-2 virus had been laboratory enhanced in Wuhan , China, writes SIR RICHARD DEARLOVE

A nurse wearing full PPE on an NHS Covid ward. Leading US and UK scientists set about shaping the narrative to endorse the Chinese claim that the virus had jumped species from a bat to humans

I was able to ensure that Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings, his then chief of staff, received a full virological and intelligence-style briefing in March 2020

By analysing the virus in January 2020, Birger Sorensen, a brilliant Norwegian virologist, was the first to document publicly its chimeric lab-made nature. That statement is now accepted by the vast majority of western scientific and governmental observers.

Leading US and UK scientists, being aware of the likelihood that the virus was a Chinese laboratory escapee, nonetheless set about shaping the narrative to endorse the Chinese claim that the virus had jumped species from a bat to humans.

They also went on the offensive to suppress serious discussion of the laboratory leak theory. A total of 32 leading virologists signed a letter to medical journal The Lancet rubbishing that explanation.

Most influential was a paper in Nature Medicine, claiming that the science is settled. It is known as the Proximal Origins paper. Sorensen and colleagues wrote an article demolishing Proximal Origins.

It was refused publication in Nature Medicine and in every leading scientific journal where it could have been published  with no reasoned scientific argument ever being given for the rejection.

The virological community had closed ranks. Why? Was it to protect itself from allegations of causing the pandemic by the inherent dangers of its research? Did its close links with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (fully under the control of the Chinese Communist Party), whose funding flows through the arteries of global scientific research, possibly influence its judgment?

Researchers work in a lab at the Wuhan institute of Virology. Leading scientists suppressed any serious discussion of the laboratory leak theory

Boris was persuaded by the lab leak argument, but the weight of the Government's scientific establishment prevailed, having already signed up to the Chinese narrative

Knowing what we knew, I was able to ensure that Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings, his then chief of staff, received a full virological and intelligence-style briefing in March 2020. Boris himself was persuaded by its argument.

But the weight of the Governments scientific establishment, already signed up to the Chinese narrative, prevailed.

It is clear now that the warning was correct.

In hindsight, that refusal then to listen to the team of experts with which I was associated and to even consider that we might have been have been right  blocked a proper debate about the real nature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

It also in part led to a sequence of poor policy decisions, perhaps even disastrous ones.

Today, we are still living with the consequences.
A California man who allegedly passed himself off as a 'Bitcoin billionaire' has skipped court and is now wanted in all 50 states.

Kevin Segal, 30, is facing up to 141 and a half years behind bars after he managed to swindle Wyoming businesses out of $212,000, according to prosecutors.

He is said to have pretended to be a wealthy businessman trying to purchase millions of dollars worth of real estate in the Jackson Hole area.

Authorities are now searching for Segal after he used $50,000 a local man, Jason Irvine, gave him to pay up his bond last month but failed to appear in court this week.

Speaking with Cowboy State Daily, Irvine said that Segal had promised him a large Bitcoin payout that equated to half a million dollars if Irvine posted his bond.

Irvine told the outlet: 'He explained the situation and was basically denying all the charges written in the newspaper.

'[He] said it was libel and slander; and he didnt intend to defraud anybody. He was locked up in jail, and [said] thats why he couldnt pay anybody off.'

Irvine said the two are friends, and spoke about one of Segal's family members who had vouched for him. He maxed out three credit cards to cover the bond.

Kevin Segal, 30, is facing up to 141 and a half years behind bars after he managed to swindle Wyoming businesses out of $212,000, according to prosecutors

After Irvine posted his bond, Segal was released from prison on February 14 under a strict court order to turn his passport over.

According to Park County District Court Judge Bill Simpson, Segal never handed in his passport.

A Wednesday hearing at which he was to appear went ahead but Segal never showed. The judge had to forfeit the $50,000 bond.

Due to his absence, a bench warrant has been issued over 50 states for his arrest, his next bond will be held at $750,000 cash-only if he is captured.

He is described as a white male, standing at five-foot-seven and weighing 150 pounds and having black hair with brown eyes.

Irvine told the outlet that he was now looking at his options for filing bankruptcy, and hopes the authorities can catch up with Segal.

In a text, he said to Segal: 'You really screwed me over, and now I really dont believe anything you say anymore.

'Youre a sociopath and a con man, and youre going to get what you deserve.'

Court documents say Segal had been staying at the Caldera House, a five-star hotel in Teton Village, but 'snuck out the back' without paying an outstanding bill of $14,870.30

Teton County Sheriffs Sgt. John Faicco said: 'We dont know his exact whereabouts right now.

'We want to bring him back here so we can have some type of restitution for all of our local victims.

'There were a lot of people, besides bigger companies, that have been affected.'

In January, Detective Adam Rainey testified at a hearing: 'I believe that Mr. Segal just posed to be a Bitcoin billionaire and said this to everybody just to live the high life.'

The Teton County Sheriff's Office said it started investigating Segal in March 2024 after it received a report from the Rocky Mountain Yeti car dealership in Jackson.

They said Segal agreed to wire it $159,427 for a brand new 2024 Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck, but the wire transfer never went through.

It was then discovered that Segal had been staying at the Caldera House, a five star hotel, but checked out six days before he took possession of the vehicle.

Segal 'snuck out the back' without paying an outstanding guest bill and bar tab totaling $14,870.30, an affidavit alleges.

Authorities were ultimately able to track him down using the GPS from a 2024 Ram 3500 pickup truck that he allegedly stole from a dealership

He also allegedly used fraudulent credit cards to pay bills, and racked up a tab at Mangy Moose Saloon (pictured) of $3055.28 bill that went unpaid

Further investigations found he had stayed at the luxurious Amangani resort with his mother and a friend, racking up a $2,725.76 bill that went unpaid.

At Spring Creek Ranch, three cards Segal used to pay bills of $16,509.60 and $5,728.80 also turned up fraudulent.

Officials say Segal kept at Mangy Moose Saloon racked up a $3055.28 bill that went unpaid.

Segal also allegedly deceived independent operators, including a man he hired to pick up a DJI drone.

Under their agreement, the man was to purchase the drone in Colorado and Segal would reimburse him, prosecutors say. He wrote the man a check for $3,281.46, which failed to clear.

Segal even allegedly sent a delivery man to drive his stolen Dodge back to his home in Los Angeles, where records obtained by DailyMail.com show he lives in an apartment.

The delivery man and his son then drove 'nonstop' from Wyoming to Los Angles, then went to the airport to take their return flight back to Jackson - which Segal allegedly said he would pay for.

But when the men got to the airport, they learned that Segal had not actually purchased any plane tickets for them, and they were forced to spend the night in a hotel room as Segal promised he would take care of the issue.

They ultimately had to buy their own plane tickets home, and sent Segal a bill for $3,101 - which they said accounted for the drive, fuel, airline tickets, hotel and other trip expenses.

On March 27, Segal sent the man a screenshot of a wire transfer, but nothing ever went through.

The following day, an arrest warrant was issued for his arrest, with prosecutors alleging he stole a whopping $211,852.37.

Segal had previously also faced a civil lawsuit, which alleged he told a family that he had stocks in excess of $340million and a successful company in order to lease a Los Angeles property., according to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com.

That lawsuit also accuses him of reversing wire transfers and using phony checks to pay the family. That case ended in a settlement in September 2023.
US Vice President JD Vance has launched another attack on Europe, claiming that the continent is engaging in 'civilisational suicide' caused by open borders and censorship.

Speaking on Fox News, the VP said he fears for the future of the West due to seeing many countries in Europe as 'unable or unwilling' to 'control their borders'.

He said on the network's Ingraham Angle show: 'They are unable or unwilling  too many countries  to control their borders.

'You see them starting to limit the free speech of their own citizens even as those citizens are protesting against things like the border invasion that got [US President] Donald Trump and a number of European leaders elected.

'I want Europe to thrive. I want them to be an important ally. Part of that is going to be Europe respecting its own people, respecting its own sovereignty, and America can't do that job for them.'

During this, he also credited Christian civilisation, which led to the founding of the United States, to Europe.

'The cultural bonds, the religious bonds  these things are going to last beyond political disagreements,' Mr Vance said.

Speaking on Fox News, JD Vance said he fears for the future of the West as many countries in Europe are 'unable or unwilling' to 'control their borders'

It comes after a number of rants Mr Vance launched on European countries, including the UK, during the Munich security conference

He then picked on Germany, saying 'where you have another few million immigrants come in from countries that are totally culturally incompatible with Germany, then it doesn't matter what I think about Europe.

'Germany will have killed itself, and I hope they don't do that because I love Germany, and I want Germany to thrive.'

It comes after a number of rants Mr Vance launched on European countries, including the UK, during last month's Munich security conference when he mentioned a legal case in which a former serviceman was convicted of breaching the safe zone around a British abortion centre.

In a wider attack on what he suggested is a shift away from democratic values across Europe, Mr Vance claimed the 'basic liberties of religious Britons, in particular' are under threat. Donald Trump praised this attack, calling it 'brilliant'.

These comments later sparked an emergency EU summit after Mr Vance also said that European leaders would not be part of any Ukraine peace talks.

Mr Vance later defended his remarks in the Oval Office in front of Keir Starmer and Donald Trump, saying: 'Look, I said what I said, which is that we do have, of course, a special relationship with our friends in the UK, and also some of our European allies, but we also know that there have been infringements on free speech that actually affect not just the British.'

In a wider attack on what he suggested is a shift away from democratic values across Europe, Mr Vance claimed the 'basic liberties of religious Britons, in particular' are under threat

Mr Vance later defended his remarks in the Oval Office in front of Keir Starmer and Donald Trump

However, the PM fired back saying, 'Well, we've had free speech for a very, very long time in the United Kingdom and it will last for a very, very long time.

'Certainly, we wouldn't want to reach across US citizens, and we don't, and that's absolutely right, but in relation to free speech in the UK, I'm very proud of our history there.'

Mr Vance later caused a huge backlash after suggesting Britain was a 'random country' that had not 'fought a war in 30 or 40 years', which he later denied.

The US Vice President desperately attempted to clarify his comments after he sparked a furious backlash among military veterans and MPs from all parties.

He said this while he was referring to a potential peace deal to end the Ukraine war.

Mr Vance used a Fox News interview to pile pressure on Ukraine to sign a minerals deal with US President Donald Trump.

He said this was 'a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years'.

Mr Vance later caused huge backlash after appearing to label Britain as a 'random country' that had not fought a war in 30 or 40 years'

Trump praised Vance's attack on Europe calling it 'brilliant'

Seething ex-servicemen pointed out that 636 British troops died in Afghanistan and Iraq after the UK allied with the US in military action following the 9/11 terror attacks.

Mr Vance was accused of 'erasing from history' the sacrifice of UK personnel in those bloody conflicts, with his remarks labelled 'deeply disrespectful'.

But the Vice President later strained to claw back his remarks amid the widespread anger at his intervention.

He claimed he had not been aiming his barb at Britain or France - who are the only two countries to publicly commit to a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

Yet Mr Vance failed to clarify which nations he had been referring to.

Critics pointed to the huge list of countries who lost troops after joining US military action in Afghanistan after 9/11.

Sir Keir's official spokesman saying: 'The PM and this country are full of admiration for UK troops who served in recent years in Iraq and Afghanistan alongside the US and other allies.'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Mr Vance was 'wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong'.

'For 20 years in Afghanistan - pro rata our size against America's - we spent the same amount of money, we put the same number of men and women in, and we suffered the same losses,' he told GB News, as he attended a farmers' protest in Westminster.

'We stood by America all through those 20 years, putting in exactly the same contribution.

'And, all right, they may be six times bigger but we did our bit. So, on this one, JD is wrong.'
A Labour minister was last night at the centre of an explosive row over claims he rubbished high-level intelligence pointing to Covid's origins in a Chinese laboratory.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that a former spy chief submitted a secret dossier to No 10 early in the pandemic reporting that the virus had originated with a leak from a Wuhan facility.

But Lord Vallance, the science minister who was the Government's chief scientific adviser at the time, is accused of ignoring the report, possibly for fear of offending the Chinese or jeopardising research funding.

A classified dossier compiled by Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, was passed to then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the start of the outbreak in March 2020 which stated: 'It is now beyond reasonable doubt that Covid-19 was engineered in the Wuhan Institute of Virology'.

The file, marked 'Secret  Recipient's Eyes Only' argued that Beijing was pushing a fake narrative that the virus had originated in an animal market. The dossier, compiled by a group of eminent academics and intelligence experts and seen by The Mail on Sunday, said China even retrospectively manipulated viral samples to give credence to the deception.

But the argument is said to have been dismissed by Patrick Vallance, who was a familiar face during the pandemic as he flanked Mr Johnson at No 10 news conferences.

In today's MoS, Sir Richard writes of his dossier: 'Boris himself was persuaded by its argument. But the weight of the Government's scientific establishment, already signed up to the Chinese narrative, prevailed.'

Last night, a source close to Mr Johnson pointed the finger at Lord Vallance for rubbishing the lab-leak theory in order to appease the Chinese government. The source said: 'Boris repeatedly asked the [intelligence] agencies to do more work on the origins of Covid. It struck him as simply too much of a coincidence that a mutant Covid virus appeared in a city that just happened to possess one of the only labs in the world that engineered mutant Covid viruses.

Boris Johnson and Britain's Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance leave 10 Downing street in September 2021

Chinese virologist Shi Zhengli inside the P4 laboratory in Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei province

'He was very struck by the refusal of the scientists, especially Patrick Vallance, even to contemplate this possibility. He asked again after getting the Dearlove briefing and again the agencies came back with the same answer and specifically rubbished Dearlove. Looking back, he now wonders why the scientists and the agencies were so emphatic.'

The source said the former Prime Minister is concerned that the public were deliberately misled by the scientific and intelligence community to protect research funding from Beijing and to avoid angering the Chinese regime.

Lord Vallance is facing increasing scrutiny over his role in suppressing the lab leak theory. He took part in a multinational teleconference in February 2020, after which it is alleged scientists began dismissing the Chinese lab-leak hypothesis as implausible.

Last week, former minister Steve Baker said Lord Vallance 'should be fully transparent about what he knew and why he chose to be among those who avoided inconvenient questions'.

The source said: 'Boris thinks it is possible that the scientists disliked the lab leak theory because they are wary about public hostility to science. They didn't want stories about Frankenstein viruses that would mean a threat to research funding. He also thinks they were nervous of causing offence to their international partners.

'Clearly the lab-leak theory was deeply embarrassing and painful to China. It meant that the incompetence of someone in Wuhan had caused millions of deaths and $16 trillion of damage worldwide.

'But they really didn't want to say this. Beijing is ruthless in punishing anyone who says anything hostile or disrespectful to China. The scientists were clearly nervous about triggering cuts to the huge Chinese investments in academic research of all kinds.'

The Mail on Sunday last week revealed that a senior virologist had claimed British and American intelligence agencies orchestrated a clandestine campaign to shut down concerns of a lab leak.

Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and then Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance during a press conference in March 2020

Boris Johnson gives a press conference on the ongoing situation with the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020

A classified dossier compiled by Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6 , was passed to then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the start of the outbreak in March 2020

Lord Vallance, the science minister who was the Government's chief scientific adviser at the time, is accused of ignoring the report, possibly for fear of offending the Chinese or jeopardising research funding

Robert Redfield, who was director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when the pandemic erupted, said he was '100 per cent' convinced that Covid-19 was the result of scientists becoming infected while carrying out high-risk experiments to boost the potency of bat viruses.

In April 2020, this newspaper revealed that the Government's secret Cobra committee had been told that Covid had leaked from a laboratory, only for it to then be dismissed as a 'conspiracy theory'.

It was reported last week that in 2020, Germany's foreign intelligence service put the likelihood that the virus was accidentally released from the Wuhan Institute of Virology at 80 to 95 per cent.

The Die Zeit and Sueddeutscher Zeitung newspapers said an unpublished report from Germany's spying agency BND had indications that numerous violations of safety regulations had occurred at the lab.

The source close to Mr Johnson said he suspected the scientists were also concerned about offending Anthony Fauci, the director of America's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1984 to 2022, which funded bat virus research in Wuhan.

The source said: 'The truth is that the Covid-19 virus was not just Chinese but also partly American. It was a Chimerican chimera. So Vallance and the others clung to the wet market/bat/pangolin theory long after it had begun to look ridiculous.

'They did so because they were instinctively kow-towing to China and sensitive to anti-science feeling in the wider public.

'The agencies didn't really have any good sources for their work other than the scientists who had an interest in this. Which is absurd when you consider that we must properly understand the origins of Covid to prevent another outbreak.'

The source concluded that it was 'ridiculous' that the ongoing UK public inquiry into the pandemic was not studying its origins.

Lord Vallance declined to comment last night, and a government spokesman said: 'The UK continues to support the World Health Organisation in its ongoing expert study of the origins of Covid-19 and seeks a robust, transparent, and science-led review.'
The scandal-hit Glen Sannox ferry is due to return to service today after engineers welded a crack that had been discovered in the new ships hull.

The damage had seen the vessel tied up in Brodick Harbour in Arran on Friday  just weeks after its first sailing.

Ferry operator CalMac last night said it should return to service today after the repairs were completed last night.

However, the Glen Sannoxs first sailing of the day to Troon in Ayrshire has been cancelled to allow the ship to undergo a final test. If all goes well, it shall set sail with passengers at 2.50pm.

While news that the ferry should be operational again will be a relief for islanders, critics have hit out at the fact such a new ship suffered such an issue at all.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene said: This latest fault has marked yet another unforgivable chapter in this shambolic ferry fiasco.

While its welcome that services are to resume, passengers will wonder why problems arose just weeks after it began sailings after a seven-year delay.

Long-suffering islanders deserve better and will rightly be appalled by this latest failure which left passengers stranded.

Glen Sannox, which was delivered almost seven years late and at more than four times the original cost, only began operating in January

Engineers welded a crack that had been discovered in the new ships hull

It is an absolute disgrace that not a single SNP minister has been held to account for their part in this national scandal which continues to unravel.

'Urgent clarity must be given on why a crack in the ships hull occurred in the first place and assurances must be given that its sister ship the Glen Rosa will not suffer a similar fate.

The Glen Sannox, which was delivered almost seven years late and at more than four times the original cost, only began operating in January.

But on Friday it emerged a crack had been spotted on a weld seam close to the waterline, forcing CalMac to cancel sailings while specialist divers assessed the issue yesterday.

The ferry was tied up at Brodick as engineers carried out repairs to the hull. To provide cover, the MV Alfred was brought in to offer a return sailing which CalMac said had allowed the vast majority of customers originally booked on the Glen Sannox to travel.

Last night, a CalMac spokesman confirmed a dive inspection had identified a hairline crack on a weld seam on the hull which had resulted in repairs being carried out.

They added: A preliminary test indicates the welding has been successful but a second test will be carried out in the morning when the welded area has completely cooled.

If this test is successful, MV Glen Sannox will resume service at 2.50pm from Brodick.

This means the first morning return sailing is cancelled, but all booked customers can be accommodated on other sailings with space available.

The MV Alfred was due to operate from Brodick at 12.40, but this will be brought forward to 11.20.

Yesterday, angry passengers vented their fury at the latest issue to plague the ferry.

One couple told BBC Scotland: We had to stay in a hotel overnight because we couldnt come back.

We were booked to come over on Friday so we had to stay in a hotel. Another man described the situation as a disaster.

The development marks the latest chapter in the sorry saga surrounding the beleaguered vessel and its sister ship, the Glen Rosa.

Controversy has surrounded the vessels since the 97million contact for the two boats was signed with Ferguson Marine in 2015.

The shipyard was nationalised by the SNP government in 2019.

Both ferries were scheduled to have been in service by then, but the delays only mounted while the costs spiralled to 400million.

The Glen Rosa is still not operational while the Glen Sannox only began sailing between Troon and Brodick on January 13.

However, last month it was back out of service for snagging repairs. A Transport Scotland spokesman said it was waiting on updates from CalMac and understand the operator was working as quickly as possible to restore full services.

The latest twist in the ferry farce comes just days after Ferguson Marines boss quit his role. John Petticrew, who was the interim chief executive at the Port Glasgow yard, is said to have resigned for personal reasons and will now return home to Canada.
The King is being urged to attend Canada's State Opening of Parliament as a 'show of support' against US President Donald Trump's trade wars.

King Charles has been praised by Canadians for his 'subtle diplomacy' amid the onslaught from Mr Trump to make the country the '51st state' of America.

Sources in Canada say they now expect the King to attend the opening ceremony after their federal election  which is predicted to be held this spring.

Former Conservative MP Andrew Percy, now based in Vancouver, said it would be 'a neat political move', while one insider added: 'There is precedent, the Queen attended in the past. That would . . . signal strong support to Canadians.'

The King recently donned his Canadian medals while on board HMS Prince of Wales and last week presented his Canadian personal attendant with a new ceremonial sword at Buckingham Palace  displays of unity which have attracted praise.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith also backed the calls, saying yesterday: 'He is the King of Canada, too, a country that has fought for freedom and represents our values.'

The date for Canada's next election, which must be concluded before October, has yet to be announced  but sources expect the vote to be held in the spring.

The late Queen first attended the State Opening of Canada's Parliament in 1957. George VI also made a visit to the Canadian Parliament on a royal tour in 1939.

The King is being urged to attend Canada 's State Opening of Parliament as a 'show of support' against US President Donald Trump's trade wars. Pictured: Canada's prime minister Mark Carney

The King recently donned his Canadian medals while on board HMS Prince of Wales and last week presented his Canadian personal attendant with a new ceremonial sword at Buckingham Palace  displays of unity which have attracted praise. Pictured: The King on Commonwealth Day earlier this week

King Charles has been praised by Canadians for his 'subtle diplomacy' amid the onslaught from Mr Trump to make the country the '51st state' of America

Royal biographer Hugo Vickers said: 'The King or a member of the Royal Family should definitely attend. He is the King of Canada and must do everything possible to make them feel special.'

Referring to Mr Trump receiving an invitation for a second state visit to Britain, Mr Percy added: 'It would put Trump in a really difficult position.

'He is going to accept a state visit with the King while at the same time threatening and showing disdain and disrespect for Canada  where [Charles] is the monarch.'
Australia's 'crypto king' has declared Australia is suffering an innovation 'drought' with overregulation turning the country into a nanny state.

Fred Schebesta, co-founder of finder.com.au, believes a Trump-style removal of government 'red tape' will allow people to 'hope for prosperity' again.

Mr Schebesta, who has since made a fortune on digital currencies, said his most recent dealings with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission were an example of government control gone too far.

In 2022, the watchdog sued Mr Schebesta in the Federal Court over the Finder Earn product.

The product allowed customers to convert deposited funds to cryptocurrency while offering four to six per cent interest.

The lawsuit claimed the company was operating without the necessary financial license and putting customers at risk of 'harm'. However, the case was dismissed.

'Going out and suing companies and people for cryptocurrency businesses, when there's no law, is like suing the Wright brothers before they have a pilot's licence,' Mr Schebesta told news.com.au.

Both Mr Schebesta and the government await the result of a further appeal to the case in April last year.

He hoped the Coalition was following the lead of the US President on cryptocurrencies

Mr Schebesta said it was 'refreshing' the Coalition was following the lead of Donald Trump on cryptocurrencies and vowing to be a friend of alternate wealth sources.

'It gives hope for innovation and prosperity for the future. Those things were getting crowded out for a long time,' he said.

'In America, right now, you feel hope. You feel good about the future. Australia needs that. We are lost in the sea right now. We're shipping minerals  what else?

'At least have some policy to potentially allow innovation. There's no prosperity-driven growth mindset.'

The crypto king said he was on a trip to New York in 2016 when he began digging into Bitcoin's potential.

He found himself particularly drawn to the decentralised trading nature of the currency.

Mr Schebesta purchased a significant amount of Bitcoin  although he won't disclose the exact amount  when it was priced at around $6,000 after doing some of his own research.

Bitcoin is currently valued at $123,000.

Mr Schebesta said it was 'refreshing' the Coalition was following the lead of Donald Trump on cryptocurrencies and vowing to be a friend of alternate wealth sources (stock image)

In the years since, he has sold off some of his holdings and invested in other coins.

However, now he said he tends to adopt a buy-and-hold strategy.

Mr Schebestas net worth is believed to be more than $300million.

Mr Schebesta claimed the government has been uncooperative in its approach to cryptocurrencies, as it tries to apply what he believes to be outdated legislation to the innovation.

The suit against his company is just another example of its failings, he said.

Mr Schebasta noted investors are treated under the Corporations Act 2001 for all matters concerning cryptocurrencies even though the currency was developed in 2009.

He also said Australia's laws concerning cryptocurrencies would drive home-grown entrepreneurs and investors to other countries, like the US, the world's 'most prosperous' crypto home.

Earlier in March, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile.

He hopes the move will solidify the United States position as a global leader in the governments approach to digital assets.

The Executive Order establishes bitcoin as a reserve asset. The reserve will be funded by bitcoin seized by the Department of Treasury through criminal or civil asset forfeiture actions.

Other US agencies will also review their legal authority to transfer any bitcoin they own to the reserve.
Children as young as 11 are being manipulated into carrying out vile tasks by a shadowy online network called 'The Com'.

Police have flagged concerns over the network, where entry and then progression are determined by children being willing to carry out despicable acts.

Often young British boys are encouraged to commit deeds of sexual violence against girls and upload them to The Com, which operates on encrypted sites such as Telegram and Discord.

It is made up of many sub-groupings including the Maniacs Murder Cult, the No Lives Matter Cult, Brotherhood of Blood and the Cult of White Misanthrope.

They are mostly targeted at boys aged 11 to 17.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has raised the issue with ministers, and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is understood to be concerned.

Young users are given entry after being coerced to carry out sick 'initiation' requirements such as committing criminal damage within their communities, or violence against younger siblings, classmates, pets, stray animals or themselves.

The groups then ascribe status based on the willingness of participants to engage in shocking and harmful behaviour.

Police have flagged concerns over the network, where entry and then progression are determined by children being willing to carry out despicable acts

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has raised the issue with ministers, and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is understood to be concerned

It is made up of many sub-groupings including the Maniacs Murder Cult, the No Lives Matter Cult, Brotherhood of Blood and the Cult of White Misanthrope who mostly targeted at boys aged 11 to 17 (stock image)

A source said: 'For alphas in the network, new entrants are just fodder to be persuaded to commit acts of violence, to generate more unique content for the group  some of which can be sold on to other networks  and ultimately, to be extorted for money.'

The Netflix show Adolescence  about a boy arrested for killing a classmate  is helpful in raising awareness of how bad online networks can be, the source said.

Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips told The Mail on Sunday: 'Many parents will have been watching Adolescence and asking: how real is this?

'What the experts in the Home Office warned me was that The Com is one of the biggest threats facing young boys in our country: a loose affiliation of online networks operating in the encrypted shadows of social media and instant messaging platforms.'

The NCA is working with law enforcement agencies around the world, including in the United States, the Philippines and New Zealand, to prevent material being shared and to tackle the perpetrators. The Government is also urging social media companies to clamp down on the groups.

Former deputy mayor of London and champion of women's rights Baroness Jones said: 'This is a very distressing account of practices that harm the boys themselves, as well as the animals or people who are targeted.

'It is exactly the sort of online material that needs banning immediately and the organisers prosecuted, for the possible later crimes of blackmail and extortion, but also for the crime of damaging young minds.'

Campaigner Joeli Brearley, who co-hosts the podcast To Be a Boy, said: 'It is really terrifying. It makes you feel sick to the stomach as a parent, and I feel a constant fear about where this is heading.

The Netflix show Adolescence  about a boy arrested for killing a classmate  is helpful in raising awareness of how bad online networks can be, the source said

Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips told The Mail on Sunday: 'Many parents will have been watching Adolescence and asking: how real is this?'

'Ninety-nine per cent of parents are completely unprepared and naive  they have no clue what their children are doing online.'

She urged parents to be vigilant, and to keep watch on their children's activities if they allow them access to the internet.

'You can't stop kids seeing things online, but it is important to have those conversations with them about what they are seeing, make them feel like they can come to you. And never judge them when they do  or they will stop talking to you.'

She added that more needs to be done to prevent boys feeling 'lost': 'Boys are feeling not championed.

These sites give them a sense of community, trick them into thinking this is what it means to be a man. We need to be better at filling their void.'

Adolescence is not just a TV drama, writes Safeguarding Minister JESS PHILLIPS

Adolescence is not just a TV drama  it is a disturbing glimpse into the minds of thousands of young British boys warped by the extreme violence and sexual abuse they are witnessing every day online.

This week, many parents up and down the country will have been watching the brilliant and disturbing Netflix series Adolescence and asking themselves: how real is this?

Before I became a Home Office Minister eight months ago, I had never heard of Com networks, and I would guess that only a tiny percentage of people reading this newspaper have done so either.

But what the crime experts in the Home Office warned me was that The Com is one of the biggest threats facing young boys in our country: a loose affiliation of online networks operating in the encrypted shadows of social media and instant messaging platforms, dedicated to sharing the most gruesome images of death, violence, gore and sexual assault, including against children.

Every day, members of these networks scroll through video after video of beheadings, shootings and rape in the same way that most of us would scan the news headlines or clips from TV. And in an online community where the extreme has become the norm, users have to plunge into ever more sickening depths to find content that their peers will consider worthy of watching. That includes generating imagery through AI, harming themselves and, of course, hurting others.

The UK is a world leader in detecting and tackling online child sexual abuse and exploitation, including Com networks. The National Crime Agency is collaborating with law enforcement agencies right around the globe - from the Philippines to the USA, the DRC to New Zealand - to identify vulnerable children, prevent vile material being shared and to take down the perpetrators committing these vile crimes. But we know we need to do more.

We are taking urgent action in the crime and policing bill to tackle the use of AI to create child abuse images, sometimes used to blackmail young people, or to teach others how to use AI technology to spread this kind of criminal, cruel and sadistic technology.

And our new policing performance unit will also be used to monitor how proactive police forces are being in tackling online child sexual abuse, looking across the country at how these crimes are approached from reports from victims through to conviction.

This slide into the abyss is not something any responsible government can tolerate, so as well as acting on the threats from individual youth obsessions with extreme violence or sexual abuse, we must continue to urge the tech companies and social media platforms to show some responsibility themselves about the horrors taking place inside their encrypted chatrooms.

But this has to go wider  we need a whole society approach. Each parent, and every adult in a position of influence over young people, has a role to play as well.

We can watch Adolescence, and ask ourselves all the questions we want about what weve seen. But we need to have real discussion with young men about the danger these online communities pose, about how real that threat is to them, and why  for the sake of their minds, their souls, and their futures  it must be avoided at all costs.

ENDS
Mystery grew over the death of Gene Hackman's wife Betsy last night after a doctor revealed she had called his private clinic 24 hours after police claim she died.

The Santa Fe medical examiner claimed a post-mortem examination showed Betsy died of hantavirus, a rare rat-borne respiratory disease, on February 11  a full week before her Oscar-winning husband died of heart failure combined with Alzheimer's disease.

But last night Dr Josiah Child, a former emergency care specialist who now runs Cloudberry Health in Santa Fe, New Mexico, told The Mail on Sunday: 'Mrs Hackman didn't die on February 11 because she called my clinic on February 12.

'She'd called me a couple of weeks before her death to ask about getting an echocardiogram [heart scan] for her husband. She was not a patient of mine, but one of my patients recommended Cloudberry to her. She made an appointment for herself for February 12. It was for something unrelated to anything respiratory.'

He added that two days before she was due to see him, she cancelled her appointment, saying her husband was not well.

Dr Child said: 'She called back on the morning of February 12 and spoke to one of our doctors who told her to come in that afternoon.

'We made her an appointment but she never showed up. She did not show any symptoms of respiratory distress. The appointment wasn't for anything related to hantavirus. We tried calling her a couple of times with no reply.'

The Santa Fe medical examiner claimed a post-mortem examination showed Betsy died of hantavirus, a rare rat-borne respiratory disease, on February 11 - a week before her husband

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza speaks during a press conference at the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office

The doctor's revelation that Mrs Hackman could have been alive for at least a day longer than the coroner has claimed casts further mystery over her death.

The 65-year-old was found on the bathroom floor of the couple's isolated Santa Fe home surrounded by pills with her husband on the floor of a utility room 20ft away.

His pacemaker showed he died on February 18. A post-mortem examination revealed there was no food in his stomach, and investigators believe his Alzheimer's meant he may not have realised his wife of 34 years had died.

One of their three dogs, which was in a crate recovering from surgery, died of starvation and dehydration.

Mrs Hackman, a pilates-loving 'fitness fanatic', was ruled to have died from hantavirus, which is contracted by inhaling rat or mice faeces.

Dr Child added: 'I am not a hantavirus expert but most patients who have that diagnosis die in hospital. It is surprising that Mrs Hackman spoke to my office on the phone on February 10 and again on February 12 and didn't appear in respiratory distress.'

An LA-based doctor told The Mail on Sunday: 'Medical professionals are all scratching their heads over hantavirus as the cause of death.

The 65-year-old was found on the bathroom floor of the couple's isolated Santa Fe home surrounded by pills with her husband on the floor of a utility room 20ft away

Mrs Hackman, a pilates-loving 'fitness fanatic', was ruled to have died from hantavirus, which is contracted by inhaling rat or mice faeces (Pictured: Hackman and Arakawa in New Mexico in March 2024)

'Respiratory failure is not sudden  it is something that worsens over several days.

'Most people get admitted to the ER [emergency room] because they are having trouble breathing. It's exceedingly rare for a seemingly healthy 65-year-old to drop dead of it. In fact, no one's heard of such a thing.'

Mrs Hackman was last seen 'running around' Santa Fe on February 11, visiting a chemist, pet food store and supermarket.

Mystery also surrounds who will inherit the $80 million Hackman fortune. The actor had three children but his estate was tied up in a private trust.
Israel is prepared to continue ceasefire talks based on a US proposal for the release of 11 living hostages and half of the deceased, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Saturday night.

In a statement on X, his office said: 'Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an in-depth discussion this evening on the issue of the hostages, with the participation of the negotiating team and the heads of the security establishment.

'Following the discussion, the Prime Minister instructed the negotiating team to prepare for the continuation of the talks as per the mediators' response to the Witkoff proposal for the immediate release of 11 living hostages and half of the deceased hostages.'

The latest development comes just a day after Hamas said it would release the last living American-Israeli hostage and the remains of four other dual-national hostages after receiving a proposal from mediators to continue negotiations on the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal.

Edan Alexander, 21, who has been held for 525 days, will be released along with the bodies of four other hostages who died in captivity, Hamas has claimed.

Tonight, Hamas said the release will only happen if Israel implements their ceasefire agreement, calling it an 'exceptional deal' aimed at getting the truce back on track.

A senior Hamas official said long-delayed talks over the ceasefire's second phase would need to begin the day of the release and last no longer than 50 days.

Israel would also need to stop barring the entry of humanitarian aid and withdraw from a strategic corridor along Gaza's border with Egypt.

Israel is prepared to continue ceasefire talks based on a US proposal for the release of 11 living hostages and half of the deceased, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced on Saturday night

The announcement came as dozens of Israelis gathered on Saturday night to demand the government presses for a hostage deal with Hamas and start the second round of negotiations

Hamas said it would release the last living American-Israeli hostage, Edan Alexander, 21, and the remains of four other dual-national hostages after receiving a proposal from mediators to continue negotiations on the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal

Alexander is thought to be the last living American hostage. He appeared in a Hamas propaganda video in November 2024 (pictured)

But Israel has said it would not withdraw from there, citing the need to combat weapons smuggling.

Alexander, who was just 19 when he was abducted during Hamas' October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel, is thought to be the last living American hostage. Hamas still has 59 hostages, 35 believed to be dead.

He appeared in a Hamas propaganda video in November 2024. Israel says four other American hostages died in captivity.

Having grown up in Tenafly, New Jersey, Alexander decided to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces after he graduated from high school.

Hamas' statement comes as talks continue in Doha to try to broker the next stage of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, the first phase of which ended two weeks ago.

'Yesterday, a Hamas leadership delegation received a proposal from the brotherly mediators to resume negotiations,' a Hamas spokesperson said in a statement on Friday.

The group added its reply 'included its agreement to release the Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, who holds American citizenship, along with the remains of four others holding dual citizenship.'

Hamas official Husam Badran, in a separate statement, reaffirmed what he said was the organization's commitment to fully implementing the ceasefire agreement in all its phases, warning that any Israeli deviation from the terms would return negotiations to square one.

American President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters at the White House early in March that gaining the release of Alexander was a 'top priority'.

Yael Alexander, center in grey scarf, holds a poster of her son Edan during a rally in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 for the families and supporters of hostages held in the Gaza

Hamas is seen handing over Omer Shem Tov to the International Committee of the Red Cross on February 22, 2025 during the seventh exchange of the ceasefire deal

For weeks, the soldier's mother Yael Alexander has been watching the release of hostages from Gaza, hoping she soon might see her son's name on a list of those to be freed.

'This is a critical time,' Yael said last month. 'I know my son is probably in tunnels, so I understand that he's not seeing sunlight, and the air is very thin underground.'

She added: 'It's very, very difficult for me to even think about it.'

Since his abduction, Alexander's relatives have divided their time between Israel, Washington, DC, where they meet frequently with politicians, and their New Jersey home.

Yael, who has participated in rallies demanding for the hostages to be released, previously said that Trump's commitment to her son's release sparked hope.

'Every time they say Edan's name, it's like they didn't forget. They didn't forget he's American, and they're working on it,' she said.

But speaking at a protest camp set up last week outside Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv, relatives of hostages said Netanyahu was 'violating the agreement he signed and abandoning the hostages in Gaza.'

'You want to sacrifice our children for the pleasures of power,' said Itzik Horn, father of hostage Eitan and freed hostage Iair before Netanyahu told negotiators to prepare for the continuation of talks.

The US, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to bridge differences between Hamas and Israel to restart negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire deal in order to release the remaining hostages held in Gaza and facilitate the entry of aid into the war-torn enclave.

Israel is pressing the militant group to accept an extension of the first phase of the ceasefire.

Israel blocked the entry of aid trucks into Gaza on March 2 as a standoff over the truce escalated, with Hamas calling on Egyptian and Qatari mediators to intervene.

US President Donald Trump, pictured meeting with released hostages in the Oval Office earlier this month, has previously said gaining the release of Alexander was a 'top priority'

Hamas says it wants to start negotiations on the ceasefire's more difficult second phase, which would see the release of remaining hostages from Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and a lasting peace.

Fighting in Gaza has been halted since January 19 under the first phase of the three-phase ceasefire accord.

Hamas has exchanged 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

The second phase involves talks over an agreement for the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave.

Israel demands that Hamas free the remaining hostages without beginning phase two negotiations.

The latest development comes as two Israeli airstrikes in the northern town of Beit Lahiya near the border killed at least nine people, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

The Palestinian Journalists' Protection Center, a local watchdog, said the dead included three Palestinian journalists who were documenting aid distribution.

Local health official Fares Awad identified one as Mahmoud Islim, who was operating a drone.

The Israeli military said it struck two people operating a drone that it said posed a threat to soldiers in the area.

It said it launched another strike at a group of people who came to collect the drone equipment. The army identified all of those targeted as suspected militants, without providing evidence.

The UK-based Al Khair Foundation said that eight of its workers were killed in the drone strikes in Beit Lahiya.

In a statement, Shuaib Yusaf, the charity's CEO, denied the Israeli military's allegations that the killed workers were militants or have connections to Hamas.

Hamas in a statement called the attack a 'serious escalation' showing Israel's attempts to 'sabotage any opportunity' to implement the ceasefire agreement.

Also Saturday, Israel's military said it removed a platoon of soldiers from Gaza who were seen in a video on social media opening fire during a celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim.

The video shows soldiers shooting, apparently randomly, while another performs the customary reading of the Book of Esther. The military said the soldiers 'will face disciplinary measures.'

No major fighting has occurred in Gaza since the ceasefire took hold on January 19, but Israeli strikes have killed dozens of Palestinians who the military said had entered unauthorized areas, engaged in militant activities or otherwise violated the truce.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostage.

More than half have been released in deals, while Israel rescued eight living hostages and recovered the bodies of dozens more.

Israel's military offensive has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants.

Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence.
New York, US (PANA) - Support us and include us to achieve real progress on advancing equal rights for all, young leaders told the Commission on the Status of Women, as the forum wrapped up the first week of its annual session at the UN Headquarters, in New York, on Friday
President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 on Saturday in a bold plan to crack down on the scourge of Venezuela's most notorious cartel.

The sweeping wartime authority allows the president broader leeway on policy and executive action and will enable him to speed up mass deportations of people and pushes his promised crackdown on immigration into higher gear.

Trump's declared Tren de Aragua as targets, contending it is a hostile force acting at the behest of Venezuela's government. The gang has been linked to kidnapping, extortion, organized crime and contract killings.

Trump said members of the gang were 'conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States' with the goal of destabilizing the country.

The declaration comes the same day that a federal judge in Washington barred the administration from deporting five Venezuelans under the expected order, a hint at the legal battle brewing over Trump's move.

The judge was scheduled to consider expanding the prohibition on deportation just minutes after Trump's afternoon announcement.

DailyMail.com was the first news organization in the US to report on TdA arriving in America over a year ago, however, the gang became a household name after video of them storming an apartment near Denver surfaced in August.

Veneauelan gang Tren de Aragua are operating across numerous cities in the United States

Armed men were seen at a Denver, Colorado apartment complex from the gang last year

Two of the 19 individuals arrested during the October 19 raid at the Palatia Apartments in San Antonio where authorities say Tren de Aragua had been operating

The act was last used as part of the internment of Japanese-American civilians during World War II and has only been used two other times in American history, during World War I and the War of 1812.

Trump argued in his declaration that it is justified because he contends the Tren de Aragua gang has ties to the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Trump made the threat posed by the gang a regular feature of his campaign speeches as evidence of what he called a spike in 'migrant crime.'

'Over the years, Venezuelan national and local authorities have ceded ever-greater control over their territories to transnational criminal organizations, including TdA,' Trump's statement reads.

'The result is a hybrid criminal state that is perpetrating an invasion of and predatory incursion into the United States, and which poses a substantial danger to the United States.'

Civil rights groups and some Democrats have criticized the idea of reviving it to fuel mass deportations and the move will likely trigger legal challenges.

The Trump administration in February designated Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel and six other criminal groups as global terrorist organizations.

Experts on criminal organizations say the group has not established a strong foothold in the US, where its members likely only number in the hundreds and makeup just a small fraction of the nearly 800,000 Venezuelans who live in the country.

Saturday's directive said that Tren de Aragua 'has engaged in and continues to engage in mass illegal migration to the United States to further its objectives of harming United States citizens.'

While the proclamation was released by the White House on Saturday, the wording suggests Trump signed it on Friday.

Tren de Aragua gang tattoos (pictured above) were part of a Department of Homeland Security bulletin that was recently shared with federal agents

The Prairie View Police Department arrested three suspected Tren de Aragua associates last month who were wanted for their alleged involvement in multi-state sex trafficking ring operated by Tren de Aragua

Niefred Jose Serpa-Acosta, 20, a known TdA member, presents himself to police with hands up and dressed as a woman. Officers encountered Serpa-Acosta on Dec. 16 after he took part in a vicious the kidnapping and torture of a Venezuelan couple

In September, Venezuelan authorities, under the direction of dictator Maduro, raided Tocoron Penitentiary  the gang's de facto headquarters

Trump made the threat posed by the gang a regular feature of his campaign speeches as evidence of what he called a spike in 'migrant crime'. Pictured here in October

Under Trump's proclamation, all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are found to be members of the gang, are within the United States, and are not naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the country are 'liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies.'

The Tren de Aragua gang originated in a prison in the South American country and accompanied an exodus of millions of Venezuelans, the overwhelming majority of whom were seeking better living conditions after their nation's economy came undone last decade.

Trump and his allies have turned the gang into the face of the alleged threat posed by immigrants living in the US illegally and formally designated it a 'foreign terrorist organization' last month.

Authorities in several countries have reported arrests of Tren de Aragua members, even as Venezuela's government claims to have eliminated the criminal organization.

Trump pledged to use the Alien Enemies Act during his presidential campaign, and immigration groups were braced for it.

That led to Saturday's unusual lawsuit, filed before Trump's declaration even became public.

The suit by the American Civil Liberties Union and Democracy Forward on behalf of five Venezuelans whose cases suddenly moved towards deportation in recent hours.

James E. Boasberg, chief judge of the D.C Circuit, agreed to implement a temporary restraining order preventing the deportation for 14 days under the act of the five Venezuelans who are already in immigration custody and believed they were being about to be deported.

Boasberg said his order was 'to preserve the status quo.'

'I do not believe I can wait any longer and am required to act,' he said during a Saturday evening hearing in a lawsuit brought by the ACLU and Democracy Forward.

'A brief delay in their removal does not cause the government any harm,' Boasberg added, noting they remain in government custody but ordering that any planes in the air be turned around.

Venezuela's most violent gang Tren de Aragua has moved its headquarters to just across the US border in the Mexican town of Ciudad Juarez

An FBI raid in Houston resulted in the detention of two suspected Tren de Aragua associates and the seizure of drugs and a gun

The FBI arrest a suspected Tren de Aragua member last month in Houston

Henry Carmona, 48, right, who fled Venezuela after receiving death threats for refusing to participate in demonstrations in support of the government, stands with friends to denounce changes to the protections that shielded hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans from deportation

President Donald Trump on Saturday invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1978, a sweeping wartime authority that allows the president broader leeway on policy and executive action to speed up mass deportations of people

Hours later, the Trump administration appealed the initial restraining order, contending that halting a presidential act before it has been announced would cripple the executive branch.

If the order were allowed to stand, 'district courts would have license to enjoin virtually any urgent national-security action just upon receipt of a complaint,' the Justice Department wrote in its appeal.

It said district courts might then issue temporary restraining orders on actions such as drone strikes, sensitive intelligence operations, or terrorist captures or extraditions. The court 'should halt that path in its tracks,' the department argued.

The unusual flurry of litigation highlights the controversial act, which could give Trump vast power to deport people in the country illegally. It could let him bypass some protections of normal criminal and immigration law to swiftly deport those his administration contends are members of the gang.

The DOJ released these images in 2020, as it charged top members of the Venezuela's government, including current President Nicolas Maduro, with being drug traffickers

In the superseding indictment, US prosecutors allege Venezuela's government trafficked tons of cocaine into the US. The feds claim the 'Cartel de los Soles,' which Madro leads, used an 'air bridge' to move the drugs into the US

Almost a dozen migrants with suspected links to the bloodthirsty Tren de Aragua gang were arrested following ICE raids across several states last month. Pictured, a raid in Houston

Several properties across the Denver area were raided as part of the Tren de Aragua crackdown also last month

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The White House is preparing to move about 300 people it identifies as members of the gang to detention in El Salvador.

Trump returned to the White House on January 20 vowing to deport millions of immigrants living in the US illegally but his initial deportations have lagged behind those of his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, who faced high levels of illegal immigration and rapidly deported many recent border crossers.

Trump has taken an array of actions to step up immigration enforcement, sending additional troops to the US-Mexico border and reassigning federal agents to help track down immigration offenders.

But his administration has had to contend with backed-up immigration courts and limited detention space.
Stepping out through the net curtains and on to the central balcony of Buckingham Palace has been a royal rite of passage for generations.

Just three weeks after marrying Prince Harry, the Duchess of Sussex beamed as she made her balcony debut at Trooping the Colour on June 9, 2018. But Meghan looked far less confident as she stood on the same spot for the final time a year later.

Having given birth to her first son Prince Archie less than a month prior to Trooping the Colour on June 8, 2019, which marked the late Queen's 93rd birthday, the Duchess wore a navy short-sleeved dress by Givenchy and a matching hat by Noel Stewart as she stood in front of her husband.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, body language expert Judi James said this positioning would have made her feel 'nervous', 'isolated' and as though 'she'd lost her wing man'.

'It placed him out of sight from her when it came to taking non-verbal cues to help her "get it right",' she said.

Coverage of the event shows the royals chatting amongst themselves, with Harry turning away from Meghan to speak to someone on his left. His aunt, Sophie Wessex, cousin Lady Louise Windsor and Princess Eugenie's husband Jack Brooksbank were all standing nearby.

Meghan then turns to speak to her husband, with Judi explaining that she may have been 'looking for a friendly face' during the high-profile appearance and seeking to join in on 'some of the small-talk the others, including Harry, were engaging in'.

But instead of comforting his wife with 'a loving smile' and explaining that she should not turn her back on the thousands of well-wishers gathered at Buckingham Palace, Harry appears to snap at Meghan and tell her off as though she were a 'naughty kid'.

Meghan Markle wears a navy dress by Givenchy and a matching hat by Noel Stewart for Trooping the Colour in 2019. It would be her last appearance on the balcony

Appearing on the central balcony of Buckingham Palace has been a royal rite of passage for generations

The Duchess of Sussex stands in front of her husband Prince Harry and behind James, Viscount Severn, and Isla Phillips

In the clip, the Duchess appears to say something to her husband, prompting a brief reply from Harry.

At the time, MailOnline's lip reader confirmed he said: 'Yes, that's right,' as if answering her question.

After half-turning to face the front, Meghan swings around once more, at which point Harry seemingly snaps: 'Turn around.'

When she continued to look at him, Harry added: 'Look,' while nodding pointedly towards the front of the balcony.

The national anthem begins to play as the Duchess turns to face the adoring crowds once more.

'Harrys body language seems to do little to support or protect her,' Judi said.

'He should have been the one royal responsible for hosting his wife in the UK and helping her navigate her way through the royal protocol rules.

'Instead, when she turns, his expression seems to remain impassive and at the second turn he appears to enforce royal protocol with a meaningful and rather authoritative eyebrow flash.'

At the ceremony, Prince Harry appears to snap at Meghan, telling her to 'turn around'

Body language expert Judi James said Meghan should have been able to rely on her husband to help her 'navigate her way through the royal protocol rules'

Prince William and his family watch the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony

Instead, she was left to fend for herself during one of the most public appearances a member of the Royal Family can face

As the Duchess turns away from her husband, she appears visibly unhappy.

'Meghan was a successful, confident woman,' Judi said. 'The gesture from Harry seems to look more like the way you might urge a naughty kid.

'Her facial expression looks unhappy as she turns. Her checking rituals suggest she is clearly trying to get it right but might prefer a kindly loving smile rather than the warning raise of the eyebrows here.'

After analysing the awkward footage, the body language expert said: 'Its hard to not feel some sympathy for Meghan here.

'She is still new to The Firm and the balcony moments are the most formal and globally visible appearances of the Royal Family en masse.

'Standing high on a balcony while the public watch and cheer from below traditionally emphasises the superiority and higher-class status of the royals, which is why they often go to great lengths to ensure they "get it right."'

Judi added: 'Even William has famously been told off by the [late] Queen for bending while on the balcony to talk to his small son, so the pressure on Meghan, who was the one sparking everyones interest and fascination at this stage, was intense.'

In 2016, the late Queen was seen tapping the then Duke of Cambridge on the arm as he crouched down to tend to a boisterous Prince George.

At Trooping the Colour in 2016, Prince William got a telling off from the late Queen for crouching down on the Buckingham Palace balcony

Close examination of the moment appears to show the late monarch saying: 'Stand up William' - with her words made ever more clear with an upward motion hand gesture.

William, the future King, then rose to his feet, looking rather sheepish. It seems you are never too old or important for a telling off from your gran.

Trooping the Colour in 2019 would mark Meghan's final appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

The Sussexes officially stepped down as working royals in 2020, only returning to the UK in 2022 to introduce their children Archie and Lilibet to the late Queen.
I live in the basement flat of a three-storey Victorian property in Brighton. I own the flat and have a share of the freehold. The rest of the property is a maisonette.

My neighbour bought the bulk of the property in August 2024 and he immediately ripped out the carpets on the ground floor. I think he's ripped out the carpets everywhere else in the property as well.

The noise has become unbearable, with footsteps over bare floorboards, up and down the stairs with no carpet, people wearing shoes which sound like clogs and doors constantly slamming.

It is not just these sounds. I hear everything they are saying, personal and private things about his girlfriend who lives there too. I hear all about his business which he runs from home as well. Whether his lease permits this is another thing.

I expect day-to-day noise, but these are above and beyond day-to-day noise. I contacted the council but there is nothing they can do.

I did, however, use one of the council's letter templates to send to my neighbour, but he just ignored it. I plan to send another letter to him which refers to Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

I'm at my wits' end. I can't concentrate when I am at my computer which is in the hall. I'm unable to work and am signed off sick.

I have a witness who has heard the noise and couldn't believe it. What can I do apart from going to court?

Nightmare: A This is Money reader's upstairs neighbour has ripped up all the carpets

Jane Denton, of This is Money, replies: I do not underestimate the distress and turmoil the noise from the maisonette above you is causing.

Noise at the levels you are describing, which certainly won't have been helped by ripping up all the carpets, can be extremely detrimental to people's quality of life.

Getting problems like this resolved can be a protracted and frustrating process. If you haven't done so already, keep a diary detailing all the noise incidents, including what date and time they happen and the nature and level of the noise.

You mention that you own a share of the freehold. I suspect you will also be a leaseholder, so make sure you check the contents of the lease for clauses relating to flooring changes and noise. If these exist, they could prove useful.

Do note that councils must look into complaints about noise that could be a statutory nuisance, as detailed by the Environment Protection Act 1990.

If the council determines that a statutory nuisance is happening or will happen in the future, it must serve an abatement notice.

I've talked to two solicitors to provide their views on your case.

It's important to keep a noise diary, Antony OLoughlin says

Antony OLoughlin, head of litigation at Setfords, says: If you are both leaseholders and shared freeholders, the first step is to review the lease terms for any covenants related to flooring, noise insulation, or business use.

Many leases contain clauses requiring adequate soundproofing or carpeted flooring in upper-level flats to prevent excessive noise disturbance.

If such a clause exists and has been breached, enforcement may be possible through you as a freeholder, or via legal action.

If your lease does not include such provisions, a nuisance claim may be your next legal avenue.

Noise nuisance claims can be pursued under statutory nuisance, via local authorities and courts under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, or common law nuisance, via civil court action.

In terms of statutory nuisance, under Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, individuals can apply directly to the Magistrates Court if they can prove the noise constitutes a statutory nuisance.

However, this requires the noise to be excessive, persistent, and unreasonable. General day-to-day noise does not usually meet this threshold.

To pursue this route, keep a detailed noise diary, gather witness statements, and record the noise as evidence, possibly with a professional noise assessment.

Before applying to court, send a formal notice to your neighbour at least three days in advance.

If successful, the court may issue an abatement order requiring remedial action, such as installing carpets, with fines for non-compliance.

Alternatively, if the noise is excessive and persistent, you may also bring a private nuisance claim in the County Court.

Unlike statutory nuisance, common law nuisance does not have a strict legal definition but requires proving that the noise is unreasonable under the circumstances.

If successful, the court could grant an injunction, requiring your neighbour to reduce noise via soundproofing or award damages, compensating for financial losses such as work disruption or alternative accommodation costs.

The case of London Borough of Southwark & Another v Mills & Others 1999 established that general household noise does not typically amount to nuisance unless it is excessive or unreasonable.

In that case, the court found that residents cannot be required to improve insulation.

However, if your neighbour deliberately worsened noise levels, by for instance, removing carpets in a Victorian property without soundproofing, your case could be stronger.

If the lease restricts noise or flooring, the freeholder or management company may enforce compliance.

At the same time, mediation offers a faster, less costly alternative to court by negotiating compromises such as using rugs or avoiding hard-soled shoes.

Before taking legal action, gather strong evidence and seek legal advice to assess the strength of your case.

Most leases include tenant covenants restricting alterations to the premises, Olivia Egdell-Page says

Olivia Egdell-Page, a partner and head of property at Joseph A. Jones & Co, says: Your home should be your sanctuary, and the fact that you cannot work or indeed enjoy your time there must be extremely difficult for you.

Without having sight of the leases for the properties within your building, I am not able to offer tailored advice, however I would say that most leases include tenant covenants restricting alterations to the premises.

Often residential leases, particularly where a property has been converted into two or more dwellings, will include a covenant that requires the floorboards in the property to be covered, perhaps excluding the bathroom and kitchen, or requiring soundproofing methods to be used.

The reason for this is that whilst the additional noise can clearly be problematic for those leaseholders who live below, the increased footsteps will not necessarily be considered a legal nuisance, as the disturbance caused by people walking across floors in the ordinary use of the flat will be considered every day use and not specific anti-social behaviour.

In the event of a breach of this covenant, it would fall to the freeholder, or landlord, to enforce the covenant, presuming that the provisions of the lease permitted them to do so.

With you and your neighbour being co-freeholders, together, you will be the landlords of the building.

From your query, it seems that the property comprises only your two dwellings and so the two of you may struggle to reach agreement as to how such issues can be managed.

The share of freehold structure has clear benefits in that the leaseholders who own the units within the building are entirely in control of the management and maintenance of the building, however in the event of dispute or disagreement, the absence of an independent, or at least a slightly detached third party, can bring added complexity.

In 2012 in the case of Faidi v Elliot Corporation, the Court of Appeal considered whether the landlord had waived their ability to enforce a covenant to lay carpets by granting the tenant a licence to alter.

By granting the licence, the Court held that the landlord had precluded themselves from being able to insist upon re-carpeting the flat, once the works were carried out.

While the two of you as the collective landlord would need to agree to grant any form of Licence for Alterations in respect of the works, you need to exercise caution before agreeing to anything of the sort, as it may prevent you from taking further action in the future.

The case did comment more generally on disputes between neighbours, and suggested mediation to be the most sensible approach in these cases.

The court recommended here that the parties should have attempted to resolve matters through mediation, and reaching a compromise.

Through mediation, the parties may have agreed to some carpet being laid, which would have allowed some alterations, whilst also reducing noise. This is a solution which Id hope is achievable for you.
Is there anyone more qualified than an astronaut to shed light on the existence of UFOs?

Now, in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, the wife of one Apollo astronaut has revealed the secrets her husband shared before he died.

Anita Mitchell, who was married to the late NASA pilot Edgar Mitchell, the sixth man to walk on the moon in 1971, said: 'He always felt that there were UFOs out there, because so many of the pilots and astronauts had seen something.'

She claims several of his fellow crewmates, including Apollo astronaut James McDivitt, similarly reported seeing mysterious objects during America's early space missions. Some also saw strange craft while flying conventional planes over Earth.

'I remember Gordy [Project Mercury astronaut Leroy Gordon Cooper Jr.] telling us at a dinner party in our house that he had seen something,' Mrs Mitchell told the Daily Mail.

'He said, "Listen, we have nothing that goes that fast and goes that high," she recalled.

Cooper was one of the earliest NASA pilots who took part in the program's Mercury and Gemini projects and logged thousands of hours in jet aircraft.

But despite all his experience, Mrs Mitchell said the veteran pilot had admitted that after spotting the UFO, American pilots 'just couldn't catch it'

NASA pilot Edgar Mitchell (pictured) was the sixth man to walk on the moon in 1971

Anita Mitchell said several NASA astronauts claimed to have seen UFOs during their careers with the space agency. Pictured: UFO sighting in Riverside, CA, November 23, 1951

Edgar Mitchell, a former US Navy Captain, was part of the Apollo 14 crew that flew to the Moon in 1971 - and was one of just 12 NASA astronauts to walk on it.

His former wife has shared her experiences and stories she heard from many of the early NASA astronauts in a new book 'You Don't Look Like An Astronaut's Wife'.

Mrs Mitchell said the title of her book comes from the comments people made to her in the 1970s.

The couple were married from 1973 to 1984. Edgar Mitchell died in 2016, just before the 45th anniversary of his moon landing.

Prior to his death, the former astronaut pushed for the US government to tell the public what it knew about the many reports of strange sightings and their potential ties to alien life.

In 2009, Mitchell publicly called for the release of information he believed the government was hiding about UFOs - adding that he believed extraterrestrial life was real and officials were suppressing knowledge about it.

According to the astronauts Mrs Mitchell met during her husband's tenure in the space program, they claimed there was 'something there technology-wise' beyond what humans knew about.

She has now told the Daily Mail that she shares her husband's belief that there was 'something out there.'

'Do you really think we are the only intelligence in the universe? Because if we are, the universe is in trouble,' she added.

Born in Texas ('near Roswell' as his ex-wife pointed out), Edgar Mitchell had a lifelong fascination with the paranormal and psychic phenomena

Edgar Mitchell, a former US Navy captain and NASA pilot, died in 2016, just before the 45th anniversary of his moon landing

Mrs Mitchell said that being an astronaut's wife was 'like a different universe'.

'It was a wonderful experience to grow up there... and to be just a part of that,' she continued.

'I call them the cowboys, and they were,' she added, noting that even though many of the NASA pilots went on to earn college degrees and doctorates, they all still had an adventurous 'need for speed.'

During the Apollo 14 mission, her husband was the lunar module pilot for the NASA spacecraft which carried fellow astronauts Alan Shepard and Stuart Roosa to the Moon.

According to his ex-wife, Mitchell also had a lifelong fascination with the paranormal and psychic phenomena.

After his NASA days, he founded the Institute of Noetic Sciences to investigate paranormal phenomena.

She added that her ex-husband conducted a huge number of experiments around ESP (extrasensory perception), or the paranormal ability to perceive information without using the five senses.

Mitchell also conducted experiments to see if it was possible to bend metal with mental powers.

It was during this period when Mrs Mitchell met one of the most influential people in NASA history - famed aerospace engineer Wernher von Braun, who was one of the architects of the space program.

Wernher von Braun was a former German scientist who helped to develop America's space program and the rockets that took astronauts to the Moon

Anita Mitchell believes the US is again showing the same kind of passion for space travel that the country had during the early days of NASA

A former rocket scientist in Nazi Germany, Von Braun developed the V-2 ballistic missile, which became a model for the space rockets and intercontinental ballistic missiles used by the US and Soviet Union in the decades following World War II.

Mrs Mitchell said the atmosphere and excitement around space launches today reminds her of NASA's early days of the so-called 'space race'.

She added that Von Braun used to dream of going to Mars, in the same way SpaceX founder Elon Musk does today.

'Today, it almost feels like the Apollo days again, only bigger. It's an exciting time to be alive and to witness it all,' she said.
The herpes virus can travel to the brain during oral sex, scientists warn.

They've discovered that people can contract herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in and around the nose, which provides a dangerously direct corridor to the brain.

The infection, in theory, could then cause inflammation and lead to complications such as brain damage and dementia.

The University of Chicago's Professor Deepak Shukla, who led the research, told DailyMail.com this mode of transmission could occur in the bedroom.

He said any position that makes it possible for someone's nose to come into contact with HSV-1 particles from a person who is actively shedding the virus is a risk.

Nearly four billion people worldwide carry HSV-1, the main cause of oral herpes.

The most common way it's transmitted from a carrier to someone without herpes is by touching an active sore.

For someone with oral herpes, occasionally causing blisters around the lips, this means making contact with that person's cold sore or saliva - when their body is actively producing or 'shedding' the virus.

Professor Deepak Shukla explained that one of the possible ways someone could contract a herpes infection through the nose is through oral sex on an infected partner (stock image)

However, there are cases of HSV-1 causing genital herpes, meaning that an infected carrier passed on the virus during oral sex.

Essentially, someone could inhale infectious particles when their face is pressed up against skin or sores shedding HSV-1.

For the first time, in the journal mBio, Professor Shukla revealed that there's a key enzyme in the human body that could make these herpes infections entering through the nose particularly devastating for brain health.

The enzyme is called heparanase (HPSE) and experiments revealed that it might be a hidden puppet master, amplifying inflammation and driving the long-term brain damage after HSV-1 sneaks into the brain through the nose.

HPSE is a normal enzyme in humans and other mammals, which breaks down sugar-like molecules that are part of the supportive structures of our cells.

HPSE usually acts like a cleanup crew, clearing out damaged cells so the body can regenerate injured tissues.

However, when someone becomes infected with HSV-1, the herpes virus hijacks this enzyme and causes it to produce too much inflammation.

For most of the world's population that carries HSV-1 with only the occasional cold sore, there really isn't much to worry about.

When this infection somehow reaches the brain, however, HSV-1 can cause encephalitis, a dangerous brain inflammation, or linger quietly, possibly contributing to conditions like Alzheimer's disease later in life.

Overall, cases of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE), where HSV-1 infects the brain, causing inflammation, are still rare.

In fact, HSE occurs in about two to four cases for every million people with the virus. However, Dr. Shukla told DailyMail.com that he believes the number of unreported nasal herpes cases is much higher.

The new study discovered a key enzyme that appears to make HSV-1 infections worse, leading to severe brain inflammation when the virus reaches the brain on rare occasions

Using mice that had HSV-1 dripped into their noses, Shukla's team found that animals with normal levels of HPSE suffered from more severe herpes infections, died faster, and had worse symptoms like nasal swelling and breathing problems.

After an autopsy, scientists discovered the mice with normal HPSE levels had more dead cells in their brains, more inflammation, and more immune cells (microglia) in the olfactory bulb - the brain's smell center and entry point from the nose.

'There is definitely nerve damage if you take the intranasal route, and the effects are long-term, which is alarming,' Shukla noted in a statement.

The herpes-infected mice with normal HPSE levels also displayed concerning behavioral changes while they were still alive.

The mice suffered from memory loss, showed more signs of anxiety, and lost their balance more often while walking. These symptoms appeared in less than six months.

When Shukla's team conducted these same experiments using mice that had been genetically engineered to produce less HPSE, the viral infection did significantly less damage to the brain.

The researchers noted that this seems to prove that herpes uses the enzyme to turbocharge harmful inflammation. When this takes place in the brain, it could be fatal for someone with HSV-1.

Making matters worse, there is no cure for HSV-1 or HSV-2 (the main cause of genital herpes during sex).

As for what this could mean for human patients, Prof. Shukla said that the effects on people infected with herpes through the nose would likely vary greatly from person to person.

Specifically, the symptoms would likely develop more slowly in people than in mice and their severity would depend on the strength of each person's immune system and how often they have herpes flareups.

'Our findings serve as a warning that unchecked herpes can lead to significant behavioral abnormalities, motor function issues, and coordination problems over time,' Shukla told DailyMail.com.
Scientists warn that a popular Hawaiian island is sinking 40 times faster than expected and terrible flooding could start wiping out businesses and homes within decades.

The gorgeous coastal communities on Oahu - including Honolulu, Waikiki, Pearl Harbor and Ewa Beach - will face drastic changes as rising sea levels push them underwater and will cause $12.9 billion in infrastructure costs, a new study found.

Certain areas of Oahu's South Shore are sinking at a rate of roughly 25mm a year, which is 40 times faster than the gradual sinking rate of the land.

'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,' Kyle Murray, a co-author, of the research published in Communications Earth & Environment wrote.

Major tourist area Pearl Harbor and the neighborhood of Mapunapuna could be exposed to flooding within this decade, the study found, which is up to 30 years earlier than expected for Mapunapuna.

However, areas like Downtown Honolulu, the airport, Ewa Beach, and Waikiki will start to really feel the effects by 2080, when it will be 'exposed to regular flooding.'

By 2080, the projected sea level combined with subsidence - the gradual sinking of land - will be at just under six feet, greatly affecting the coastal regions like Mapunapuna.

By the year 2100, the water levels could be up to eight feet higher, according to the study.

The gorgeous coastal communities on Oahu - such as Honolulu, Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, and Ewa Beach - will face drastic changes as rising sea levels push them underwater and threatens $12.9billion in infrastructure

Some areas of the island are already seeing great flooding during big storms, including just this past January near Honolulu

 Slide me  As sea levels continue to rise due to climate change, FEMA has issued a preliminary draft of new flood zones for the island. Beforehand, much of the island was not in a flood zone, now much of the island has been added to special zone areas

Areas, such as Pearl Harbor and Mapunapuna, could be exposed to flooding within this decade, the study found. However, areas like Downtown Honolulu, the airport, Ewa Beach, and Waikiki will start to really feel the effects by 2080

'Rising sea levels due to climate change are already increasing coastal flood risks in low-lying neighborhoods around Honolulu, and this new study shows that sinking land could significantly amplify those risks,' Dr. Kristina Dahl, vice president for science at Climate Central, told the DailyMail.com.

'Add in subsidence rates that are on par with sea level rise rates, and the threat increases substantially.'

By the beginning of the next century, Dahl predicts that 'higher annual coastal flood levels due to climate-driven sea level rise' will 'expose residents, businesses, and infrastructure in parts of Mapunapuna to potential losses.'

Some areas of the island are already start to see significant flooding during big storms, including just this past January.

Kuliouou, near Honolulu, was deluged in inches of standing water after a torrential downpour.

Every rainy season - which runs from November to March - residents of the area say they deal with flooding, which leads to home and vehicle damage, according to Island News.

As sea levels continue to rise due to climate change, FEMA has issued a preliminary draft of new flood zones for the island.

Pictured: The projected sea level and flood exposure timeline for areas in and around Honolulu

By 2080, the projected sea level with subsidence - the gradual sinking of land - will be at just under six feet, greatly affecting the coastal regions of the Mapunapuna. By the year 2100, it could be up to eight feet, according to the study

Risk strategies will have to be implemented to help protect the island, which could eventually mean relocated businesses and homes from high-risk areas

Those in designated high-risk flood zones will be required to purchase flood insurance if homeowners have a federally backed loan or mortgage.

Public comment on the proposed new zones, which will drastically change the coverage areas affecting thousands of locals, is open until June 10.

While much of the island was previously not in a flood zone with only Honolulu, Kailua, and a few of the more coastal areas facing deeper threats, now much of the island's coastline - and the thousands of homes that are situated on it - are under threat of floods.

Co-author of the study, Phil Thompson, said some areas could see a 50 percent increase in flood exposure by 2050, according to the Daily Galaxy.

Risk strategies will have to be implemented to help protect the island, which could eventually mean relocating businesses and homes from high-risk areas.

The only glimmer of hope is that the negative effects of of the sinking start to decrease by 2090 in Mapunapuna, according to the study, but by then, various coastal regions of the island will be -literally and figuratively - under water.
Although not everyone is sold on the idea of eating raw fish, for sushi lovers, there's no better way to appreciate the flavour of good quality seafood.

But scientists now warn that you might not be getting what you pay for when you splash out on sushi.

Studies have shown that tuna, salmon, and even prawns are being swapped out for cheaper alternatives and mislabelled as a premium product.

So, if you want to make sure your rolls are the real deal, here's what you need to know.

Unfortunately, once the fish has been prepped and sliced it can be extremely hard to spot the difference, so you are better off focusing on getting fish you trust from a reputable source.

Dr Marine Cusa, a marine biologist and policy expert from the Technical University of Denmark, told MailOnline: 'Because mislabelling rates depend on the species, if consumers want to avoid mislabelling then they should avoid certain species and prioritize others.

'White fish like cod, haddock, and saithe in general are rarely mislabelled in Europe apart from their geographical origin.

'But tuna, swordfish, groupers, snappers, sharks, rays, have a higher species mislabelling risk.'

Your browser does not support iframes.

How can your fish be a fraud?

The practice of mislabelling one species of fish as another is far more common than you might think.

This is legal in some cases since fish are allowed to be sold under more generic names to help consumers and sellers avoid confusion.

Professor Stefan Mariani, a marine ecologist from Liverpool John Moores University, told MailOnline: 'The diversity of traded and eaten fish is huge: far greater than consumers can cope with.

'Hence the practice of simplifying commercial names by using few, snappy, attractive names to sell products that are actually underpinned by multiple animals living in disparate regions of our globe.'

For example, 'tuna' could really refer to any one of 68 different species each with remarkably different sizes, life cycles, and conservation concerns.

However, these legal loopholes leave the door wide open for malpractice and there is widespread evidence of fish being purposely sold with misleading labels for profit.

Sometimes, sellers will hide the true geographic origin of their catch - labelling produce from an over-fished population with a more sustainable location.

Scientists warn that you might not be getting what you pay for when you splash out on sushi as studies show that premium options like tuna and salmon are swapped out for cheaper varieties (file photo)

In other cases, cheaper varieties of fish are chopped into fillets and sold under an entirely different name.

What kinds of fish are faked?

Unfortunately, the fish that appear to be the most common victims of forgery are also some of the most popular sushi choices.

Studies have shown that tuna, one of the most popular sushi options, is swapped out for cheaper fish up to 40 per cent of the time.

One 2018 study conducted by an international team of researchers sampled 545 tuna samples in six European countries.

They found that 6.7 per cent of all the tuna sampled was from a different species than what the label indicated, including 7.84 per cent of all canned products.

However, for the more expensive Atlantic Bluefin tuna the mislabelling rates ranged from 50 per cent to 100 per cent depending on the country.

Frequently this is a relatively harmless case of swapping a cheaper tuna species for a more sought-after one, but the fraud was often more dangerous.

In the UK, some studies have shown that over 40 per cent of all Atlantic Bluefin tuna (picture) is swapped out for cheaper varieties. Genetic analysis shows that this highly sought-after fish is substituted for cheaper tuna fish species or other types of fish altogether

Studies have found tuna being swapped out for escolar (pictured), a type of fish sometimes called 'white tuna'. However, escolar can produce severe laxative effects in large quantities and is banned in Italy and Japan

What are the most commonly faked fish swapped with? Tuna: Escolar or cheaper tuna species Salmon: Less sustainable populations or rainbow trout Yellowtail: Escolar or Asian catfish Red snapper: Tilapia Tiger prawns: Whiteleg shrimp Cuttlefish: Squid or Octopus Eel: Critically endangered European eel Advertisement

Many studies have noted that tuna is often substituted for a much cheaper fish called escolar.

In addition to being known as 'white tuna', escolar is also referred to as the 'laxative of the sea' due to its often intense gastrointestinal effects.

Escolar contains a high level of 'wax esters', a type of oil that humans cannot digest.

A 2015 investigation by Inside Edition even found that escolar was being sold as tuna in every restaurant they tested in New York.

The sale of the escolar is banned in Italy and Japan due to side effects including diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and headaches.

But tuna isn't the only premium fish getting swapped out in your sashimi.

Although it is less common, studies have shown that salmon can be swapped out for cheaper options.

A 2024 study of seafood products in Canada found that 18 per cent of 107 salmon products sampled weren't what they claimed to be.

Salmon is also a common target for fraud with this premium meat being substituted for salmon from over-fished populations or different species

Studies have shown that Atlantic Salmon (pictured) is the second most mislabelled fish by volume in the US

Studies have found products labelled as 'salmon' sometimes only contain much cheaper rainbow trout (pictured)

Using DNA analysis, the researchers found that nine of those 'salmon' options were actually much cheaper rainbow trout.

Other expensive options like yellowtail and swordfish also have high rates of mislabelling.

In the US, a study conducted by researchers from Harvard University in 2020 estimated that salmon was the second most commonly mislabelled fish by volume.

The researchers estimate that Americans consume over 15,000 tonnes of mislabelled 'Atlantic Salmon' each year.

Some studies have shown that up to 40 per cent of swordfish sold in the UK has been swapped with a cheaper variety.

Likewise, in a 2021 study of 427 seafood samples collected in Canada, every single sample of yellowtail turned out to be a different species.

The most common substitute fish include tilapia, escolar, and Asian catfish.

Specifically, a major 2016 study of fish fraud found that Asian catfish was the most common swap and was sold as 18 different types of higher-value fish.

The most commonly substituted fish in the UK and in many other countries is red snapper (pictured). Known as 'tai' on sushi menus, this Atlantic fish is prized for its delicate and sweet flavour but is a frequent target for fraud

Why is fish fraud a problem? Fish fraud is not just a problem for consumers who aren't getting what they pay for. Studies have found that tuna is substituted with escolar, a type of fish which can cause extreme laxative effects when consumed. Escolar is banned in Italy and Japan for this reason. Fish fraud also harms wild fish populations since animals caught in threatened populations can be labelled as sustainable. This contributes to overfishing in many areas around the world where there is not sufficient oversight. Advertisement

However, the most commonly substituted fish in almost every country including the UK is red snapper.

Known as 'tai' on sushi menus, this Atlantic fish is prized for its delicate and sweet flavour but is a frequent target for fraud.

A 2018 study conducted by Professor Mariani and his colleagues looked at 300 different 'snapper' samples from six countries.

They found that the snapper label actually concealed at least 67 different species from an array of different fisheries around the world.

In their test, the UK was one of the worst culprits with a mislabelling rate of 42 per cent and the snapper label being applied to 38 distinct species.

Globally, studies in the US and Canada have found mislabelling rates between 80 and 100 per cent for some samples of snapper products.

The most common substitute is tilapia, a large freshwater fish which is farmed around the world and sold cheaply in most markets.

Considering that red snapper retails for around 22 per kg while tilapia retails between 8-10 per kg, the financial incentives for swapping the two are clear.

Red snapper is most frequently swapped with tilapia (pictured), a large freshwater fish that can be cheaply farmed in large numbers

And it isn't just finned fish which are being swapped out so that dodgy sellers can pocket the difference as studies show that shellfish are also a target for fraud.

Prawns in particular are often missold due to the big price differences between relatively similar varieties.

Tiger prawns or giant tiger prawns are a popular topping in sushi and in a number of other cuisines.

But this expensive and sought-after species can only be caught at certain times of year in just a few places around the world such as the Exmouth Gulf in western Australia.

And once caught, de-shelled, and prepped the species is largely indistinguishable from cheaper more readily available alternatives.

The 2020 Harvard study found that tiger prawns were by far the most common mislabelled seafood product in the US by volume.

Americans purchase an estimated 20,000 tonnes of mislabelled prawns each year, which are most commonly swapped out for cheaper options like whiteleg shrimp.

Similarly, cuttlefish is a highly prized but increasingly rare delicacy as overfishing has driven wild stocks close to collapse.

It's not just fish which is at risk of being faked as researchers have shown that tiger prawns, a popular sushi topping, are one of the most common targets of seafood fraud

A study conducted by Harvard University researchers found that tiger prawns were the most commonly mislabelled seafood by volume in the US. Cheaper whiteleg shrimp were the most common species missold as tiger prawns

How to avoid fish fraud Try to avoid fish buying pre-packaged fillets of fish that are known to have a high fraud rate. This includes tuna, swordfish, and red snapper. Where possible, only buy fish where the seller can provide information about how and where it was caught. The more information the shop or restaurant can provide the better. When buying fish for yourself, look for whole fish with the heads on. Learn what fish should look like and choose species you can identify. Advertisement

To get around this issue, some fish sellers swap out cuttlefish for other cephalopod species like squid.

In fact, some studies suggest that squid, cuttlefish, and even octopus are frequently interchanged and sold under various incorrect labels.

But fish mislabelling doesn't just hurt your wallet and offend your tastebuds.

Selling fish under false names or false geographic origins makes it much harder to keep track of fishing patterns and can lead to populations being overexploited.

The most egregious example is eel, referred to as unagi on a sushi menu, which is being pushed close to extinction by overfishing.

Wild freshwater eel populations in Japan, Europe, and the UK are in critical condition due to decades of overfishing and are now strictly controlled by quotas.

To keep up with demand a 'black market' for eels has emerged with rare wild eels being caught and sold under false pretences as sustainably sourced.

In the 2024 Canadian study, two of the eel product samples were determined to be from the critically endangered European eel.

Cuttlefish (pictured) are a prized ingredient that has become rarer as wild populations dwindle. Studies show that squid and even octopus are being sold labelled as cuttlefish

Researchers have found that supposedly sustainable eel products contain illegally caught and critically endangered European eels (pictured)

Dr Cusa says: 'There is such a high diversity of species in the seafood market that, if traceability systems fail, it just leaves the door open to a lot of malpractice, whether deliberate or not.'

What can you do to avoid fish fraud?

Research suggests that deliberate fish fraud in restaurants is fairly rare, with the substitution usually happening further up the supply chain.

However, this does not change the fact that some sushi restaurants are, knowingly or not, selling mislabelled fish.

In Professor Mariani's earlier research, he found that 10 per cent of the fish at 33 sushi bars and restaurants in the UK was not properly labelled - a much lower rate than in the US.

But the harsh truth is that, once the fish is sliced up and on your plate, even a real sushi aficionado might struggle to spot they've been duped.

So, the important thing is to try and avoid species that you know are commonly mislabelled unless you trust where you are eating them.

As with most cases of fraud, you ultimately get what you pay for so a deal that seems too good to be true often is.

In order to avoid fish fraud, try to purchase your fish from a vendor you trust who can tell you where the fish was caught and give information about the catching method. If you can see the fish whole with the head on, this greatly reduces the chances of being duped (file photo)

Sushi-grade fish is a premium product that costs a lot of money to catch and prepare in a sustainable manner.

So, if you find yourself paying next to nothing for salmon or tuna, you shouldn't be surprised that some corners have been cut along the way.

Dr Cusa and Professor Mariani say that simply asking where your fish was caught, rather than just asking if it is local, can also go a long way towards ensuring you get what you pay for.

Likewise, looking for fish sold whole at the market or watching the fish being prepared, as you should be able to do at many sushi restaurants, can help you avoid fraud.

When shopping for fish yourself, the important thing is to look carefully at the label.

Dr Cusa says: 'In general, fish products that are sold in supermarket chains and that have thorough labels indicating the species, catch location and catching gear, are also good choices.

'On the other hand, processed products, canned products with little information if any are, almost by definition, mislabelled. I would avoid any product with poor labelling or where the species is not indicated.

'Perhaps finally, European-caught fish are less likely to be mislabelled than imported products.'
Solo female traveller Aleaya Duran (@aleayabella) has plenty of ideas for your bucket list if you also like travelling alone.

But first, she has a word of warning about two popular backpacking destinations she thinks solo travellers should avoid.

I had a rough time in the Philippines, specifically in Palawan,' the 22-year-old tells MailOnline Travel. 'I arrived there during typhoon season which made the experience a little difficult as flights were frequently getting cancelled.

'Aside from the natural aspect I was also worried about my safety there more than anywhere else due to the harassment I received from some of the locals.

The intrepid traveller also doesnt recommend Cambodia for female solo travellers, describing it as another country where she felt most unsafe.

So, where should budding solo travellers put on their bucket list?

Aleaya, from Oregon, explains: Switzerland, Iceland, Singapore and Japan were a dream as I felt so safe to travel there alone as a woman.

'Those were also the only countries where I went out alone at night, purely due to how safe I felt.

Aleaya Duran, 22, is a female solo traveller who has shared her recommendations with MailOnline. She's pictured above at an elephant sanctuary in Laos, one of her favourite destinations

The solo traveller explains that she had a 'rough time' in Palawan (pictured above), in the Philippines, due to bad weather and 'harrassment'

She also advises first-time solo travellers to start with 'very touristy places', as she did.

'Paris, Italy and Bali were great introductions to solo travelling,' she adds.

That doesnt mean Aleaya steers clear of more remote destinations, as she was 'pleasantly surprised by Laos'.

She explains: 'While its not as big a tourist destination as its neighbouring countries, Thailand and Vietnam, it has so much to offer.

'From the incredible locals to the nature and wildlife - it was truly one of my favourite countries.

Having grown up in a very small town, Aleaya says the desire to get out was always in [her].

She continues: I wanted to see what was out there and at some point, I got tired of waiting for someone to go with me.

'I think before you travel, it sounds so scary and intimidating. But once you get out there, you realise it would have been far more terrifying to have never taken the risk.

Aleaya describes Japan as a 'dream' and says it is one of the countries where she felt safest travelling alone (pictured above is Tokyo)

Aleaya only takes carry-on luggage on her trips and says she started travelling alone when 'she got tired of waiting for someone to go with me'. LEFT: At Machu Picchu in Peru. RIGHT: In Bruges

Aleaya says Paris is a 'great introduction to solo travelling' due to the fact it's 'very touristy'

When Aleaya first told her family of her solo travel dreams, she admits some were concerned, but she insists it's more important to 'follow your gut instincts and dont let peoples judgement stop you'.

She has a great compromise that works for her and her loved ones, which she advises others to take note of.

She explains: 'I usually use Google Docs to do a rough draft of each day and then I will put together a PowerPoint for my family so they know where I am each day and what I have planned.

'This gives them a sense of comfort and reassurance that I know what Im doing.

While solo travel can be expensive, Aleaya explains she worked a lot of odd jobs to afford it.

She says: Most people dont have extra money to be able to put towards travel and I was no exception. I found ways to make money at home, selling used clothes and working multiple jobs at a time.

'Social media has also helped fund a few of my trips and I think its such a great avenue for people to make money sharing what they love.

The budget-conscious adventurer keeps the cost of her trips down by avoiding 'the common mistake' of booking with an agency group.

Laos is one of Aleaya's top recommendations and she describes it as a 'pleasant surprise'. Pictured above is the Kuang Si waterfall in Luang Prabang

She warns: 'While thats a good idea if its your first trip or if youre nervous to travel alone, it doubles the cost.

She also only takes carry-on luggage on her trips, so always travels with extremely limited space. How does she make that work?

She says: I bring packing cubes to make my luggage more organised. I make sure to always leave for a destination with only half my bag full so I can save room for a lot of souvenirs.

'I would say the most important essential is medicine as different countries have different brands which can make it hard to find what youre looking for.

While Aleaya insists solo travelling hasnt always been glamorous, she's never looked back since doing it the first time.

She finishes: My favourite part about travelling alone is the freedom of it all. There is no one there to taint my experience or slow me down.

'Most of the time it has felt like just God and I are exploring the world.

'Im able to wander the streets and mountains and just focus on the environment around me. Its freeing and also allows me to truly be enriched in where I am.

Want more from Aleaya? Follow her on TikTok - @aleayabella or Instagram - @aleayabella for more travel tips and inspiration.
On June 26 it will be ten years since the devastating attack at the Tunisian beach resort of Port El Kantaoui, in which an Islamic State-inspired gunman killed 38 holidaymakers, 30 of them British.

Understandably, UK tourism to the North African country fell from around 420,000 a year to almost nothing at a stroke  a cruel blow for a country which prides itself on its tolerance and hospitality. Tunisias constitution is among the most liberal of Arab countries and, although a predominantly Muslim nation, there are specific legal protections for other religions.

Now the British are coming back. From just 112,000 in 2022, 327,000 made the trip last year and 2025 could see numbers back to pre-2015 levels. The Foreign Office still advises against travel to narrow strips of territory along the Libyan and Algerian borders, but these are well away from major tourist destinations.

Few countries today are entirely risk-free, but Tunisia has done its best to make visitors feel safe and secure. Here are ten things which make it a country well worth considering as a holiday destination.

1. Carthage

The Baths of Anontinus, among the Ancient Roman wonders to see at Carthage

Founded by the Phoenician queen Dido of Tyre in around 814BC, this legendary city, with its ruins of Roman theatres, baths, forum and spectacular views over the port of Tunis, give a glimpse into the ancient world. The main theatre, built under the Roman emperor Hadrian, has been restored and is used for concerts and productions.

2. Beach

The soft sandy beach at Hammamet is among the best in Tunisia

All the way down the east coast is a succession of attractive resorts with soft-sand beaches and palm trees fringing the warm Mediterranean Sea. Notable among them are Hammamet, Sousse and Monastir.

3. Value

Prices in Tunisia are extremely competitive. A good lunch in the Tunis Medina can be had for 10 to 15, imported beer is from around 1 to 2.50 a bottle and seven-day all-inclusive beach holidays with Thomas Cook (thomascook.com) or Tui (tui.co.uk) start at under 400 per person.

The Residence Tunis offers rooms froma relatively affordable 142 per night

4. Wine

The Tunisians have made wine for nearly 3,000 years  some of it exceptional. Warm Syrah-based reds and fresh dry whites and roses go down very nicely. At about 10 a bottle in a restaurant, it is also relatively affordable.

5. Museums

The Bardo in central Tunis houses the largest and most varied collection of Roman mosaics in the world. And the museum at el-Jem, a remarkable Roman city which is about a two-hour drive south from the capital, is a time capsule.

6. Sahara

Several operators offer desert tours from the southern city of Douz, normally as part of a wider holiday, including camel treks, 4x4 safaris, and quad biking. You can also have one or more nights sleeping under the stars in a Bedouin-style campsite.

7. Sidi Bou Said

Dating from the 12th century, the charming blue-and-white village of Sidi Bou Said has shades of the Cote d'Azur about it

This charming blue-and-white village, sitting high above the clamour of Tunis, has been the home of many painters, sculptors and writers. Dating from the 12th century, it has shades of the Cote dAzur  perfect to stop for a leisurely coffee or lunch. From there, take the corniche for about two miles to the coastal village of La Marsa with its elegant promenade.

8. Cap Angela

If you walk along this rocky headland to its tip at Ras ben Sakka, close to the city of Bizerte, you can say you have stood on Africas most northerly point. Across the water to the north is Sardinia, to the east, Sicily.

9. Djerba

The island of Djerba is thought to be the inspiration behind Homer's Land of the Lotus Eaters

This mainly rural island, with white sands, cobbled streets and working fishing port, is thought to be Homers inspiration for the Land of the Lotus Eaters, one of Odysseuss many diversions on his long journey from Troy. After his crew were fed lotus flowers by the friendly locals, all thoughts of returning home disappeared.

10. Connectivity

Airlines offering direct flights include EasyJet, Ryanair, Tunisair and Nouvelair, with the journey taking around three hours.
Jason Isaacs appeared on CBS Mornings on Friday, where he addressed the buzzy interest in his full-frontal nude scene in the latest White Lotus episode.

The 61-year-old entertainer has been asked about the genitalia-flashing moment in several interviews since the show aired on Sunday.

Viewers have been curious to know whether a prosthetic was used for the instant when his robe falls open, flashing his on-screen family.

Isaacs  who dished on giving Naomi Campbell a pep talk  evaded the question throughout his press day, which also included a stop at Good Day New York.

'A lot of people are debating it. It's all over the internet. And it's interesting because the best actress this year is Mikey Madison at the Oscars. And I don't see anybody discussing her vulva, which was on television all the time [in Anora],' he posited while skirting the inquiry.

He elaborated, 'I think it's interesting that there's a double standard for men. But when women are naked, Margaret Qualley as well, in The Substance, nobody would dream of talking to her about her genitalia or her nipples or any of those things. So, its odd that there's a double standard.'

Jason Isaacs appeared on CBS Mornings on Friday, where he addressed the buzzy interest in his full-frontal nude scene in the latest White Lotus episode

He acknowledged he was dodging the question, reiterating it was 'because I don't think that people really want to know how the sausage is made.

'Genuinely, I think it would be odd when there are characters  and some of the women are naked in here  it'd be odd if you were sitting here. And you would never dream of discussing their genitalia, not for a second.'

Despite co-host Gayle King pushing back and repeating twice that 'I kind of do [want to know how the 'sausage is made'],' Jason refused to divulge details.

On Good Day New York, he was forced to confront the viral television moment again, this time with journalist Rosanna Scotto.

Early in the segment she cheekily stated, 'I'm not gonna go there. I'm not gonna mention that you had a bathrobe on...'

Isaacs interjected, 'Let me ask you this: If you had a woman on here, would you be very keen on talking about her downstairs? Would you ever talk to an actress about it? I don't think you would. I think it's a terrible double standard.'

The conversation shifted as Rosanna pivoted to praising the Harry Potter star on his acting chops.

The 61-year-old entertainer has been asked about the genitalia-flashing moment in several interviews since the show aired on Sunday. Viewers have been curious to know whether a prosthetic was used for the instant when his robe falls open, flashing his on-screen family

While Isaacs has refused to entertain questions about his nude moment, his onscreen children, Sam Nivola and Sarah Catherine Hook (second from right and right) said he used a prosthetic

While Isaacs has refused to entertain questions about his nude moment, his onscreen children  Sam Nivola and Sarah Catherine Hook  said he used a prosthetic.

Sarah revealed to TV Insider: 'It was really funny. He was very excited to do it. I think he took pride in the prosthetic.'

Sam added, 'He's like, 'It's my fake d**k scene today!''

Speaking about the scene, Jason joked about having more nude acting performances.

'Yeah, it is now in my contract for every show I do, so we'll see,' he teased. 'It'll get easier, hopefully.'
The Guardian, March 15, 2025

When the Taliban began marching towards cities across Afghanistan in the summer of 2021, Alia*, a 22-year-old Afghan journalist, found herself doing some of the most important work of her short life and career.

In the weeks leading up to the Taliban takeover in August, Alias voice on the radio became familiar to many in northern Afghanistan. She reported on the withdrawal of foreign troops, the siege of government offices and on the detention of former officials in her province.

Above all, Alia reported on the situation for women and their fears and concerns  emotions she was experiencing herself. As the Taliban gradually began imposing restrictions on them, Alia was documenting history repeating itself.

I grew up with the history of the Talibans domination of women [during their first stint in power between 1996 and 2001] and a lot of my work focused on the impact such radical ideology has had on womens progress in Afghanistan, she says.

I had joined the station straight from university in 2019 and worked for two years before the Taliban takeover. In the following months, I felt the most passionate about my job and choice of career even though there was always the fear of the Taliban.

It did not take long for the Taliban to begin a crackdown on media and journalists in the country, with 336 known cases of arrest, torture and intimidation between August 2021 and September 2024, according to the UN.

It has been particularly hard for broadcast reporters who can be recognised and targeted by their face and voices. In several provinces, the Taliban have banned women from radio broadcasting.

In the early days after the takeover, amid the chaos and uncertainty and attacks by Taliban members, some journalists were forced into hiding or fleeing the country. Alias employers temporarily took her off air to protect her, but she continued newsgathering, particularly on womens issues, her stories often riling the new powers.

In 2022, after Alias employers began to receive threats from local Taliban leaders for hiring and broadcasting female journalists, they sacked Alia for their mutual safety.

I was asked to leave because of my gender. I wanted to amplify womens voices. I did not imagine that one day my own voice would be stifled.

Over the subsequent two years, women have continued to be excluded from public and the media. First there was a nationwide ban on womens voices in public and now, this month, one of the last remaining female-run media outlets has been silenced, with the offices of a Kabul-based womens radio station, Radio Begum, raided, staff arrested and the station taken off air.

While the Taliban accused Radio Begum of violating broadcast policy, Begum staff members insist they have simply been providing educational services for girls and women in Afghanistan. With recent bans on women attending higher education, platforms such as Radio Begum have been attempting to fill the vacuum for girls who wish to continue learning.

Under threats, immense pressure and even forced closures, the Afghan media has significantly shrunk in the last three years. Prior to the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan had approximately 543 media outlets employing 10,790 workers. By November 2021, 43% of these outlets were closed, with only 4,360 media workers remaining. It has been even worse for women in media.

A recent estimate by the International Federation of Journalists documented only 600 active female journalists in Afghanistan as of March 2024, down from 2,833 women in journalism before August 2021.

I cannot express the sense of hopelessness and misery I feel. You have to be an Afghan woman to truly understand how difficult it has been to give up everything you worked for. We showed to the world that the Taliban have not changed and will not change. And it scares them, says Alia.

Some female voices remain on air in northern provinces, a result of opposing views within the Taliban about excluding women from society. Alia says radio in particular remains a powerful medium in a country with widespread poverty and poor access to internet or television. Many families rely on the radio for news and information.

The media is the only source that can expose the Talibans crimes to the people and the world, to expose how they have been depriving women and other groups. And it also helps Afghans be more aware through programmes such as on Radio Begum, she says.

*Name has been changed to protect their identity
Once known as 'the bad boys of pop', Five were as well known for their rambunctious attitude as their catchy top 10 hits.

The band, formed of Sean Conlon, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson, Abz Love and Jason 'J' Brown, proved to be a pop juggernaut of the Nineties, selling more than 20 million records worldwide and making history as the only UK act to hit the Top 10 with all of 11 singles.

So naturally, fans were left devastated when the group disbanded in 2001 after a whirlwind four-year burst of fame.

In the years that followed, they went on to reform with various lineups, gigging in smaller venues in the UK but never as the five-piece that saw them hit the big time.

That is, until now.

25 years on and Five have reformed, J having made the decision to return to the band, with the group heading off on a UK tour later this year.

With it being a quarter of a century since they burst into the limelight, I'm not quite sure what to expect when Five come to the Mail offices.

Now a group of men in their late 40s, some of whom have settled down with wives and children, I'm intrigued to see where they see themselves in todays boyband landscape.

How Five Kept On Moving: In a searingly honest chat the 90s icons reveal how they came back from 'rock bottom' as they reunite after 25 years (L-R Jason 'J' Brown, Abz Love, Scott Robinson, Ritchie Neville and Sean Conlon)

Once known as 'the bad boys of pop', Five were as well known for their rambunctious attitude as their catchy top 10 hits (L-R Sean, J, Abz, Ritchie and Scott in 1999)

Arguably, the scene is dominated by older groups now anyway. Among those drawing in the biggest crowds are the likes of Take That, Blue and McFly.

So is that why Five suddenly felt the need to reform after all this time?

That's not the case, insists Scott, 45, who reveals that talks of a reunion had been happening for years but never came to fruition.

'Suddenly, we're all aligned now,' he explains. 'We're all in the same place, we all want it at the same time.

'Something clicked and we understood that any negative feelings that we had between each other were whatever.

'We were just vulnerable children, and we weren't all to blame. So we forgive each other for anything that happened.'

The chemistry between the group is undeniable.

At times I find it hard to get a word in edgewise as they crack jokes, mock one another and even start playfighting.

They may be 25 years older than when they last performed together, but it doesn't seem like much has changed between them.

With that in mind, I'm keen to know if their past experience as a band has impacted how they tackle the tour this time around.

25 years on and Five have reformed, J having made the decision to return to the band, with the group heading off on a UK tour later this year and posed for an exclusive shoot with MailOnline

It's clear they still hold the scars from their first brush with fame, with the group having touched on feeling like a product and struggling with their mental health in the documentary Boybands Forever.

Abz, 45, admits he has mixed feelings about their past, confessing: 'As controversial as it may sound, if we could do it all again, I'd do it all differently.

'I don't mean it in a bad way, I mean in the sense of why would I do it all the same?

'There's nothing I regret - I think it's made us who we are and what we are. You have to touch that rock bottom to know that the only way out is.'

It's been well documented now that boybands were worked to a point of physical and mental exhaustion in the Nineties.

Asked what 'rock bottom' meant for them, Ritchie, 45, looks pained as he explains: 'The band took so much emotionally out of us.'

While Scott adds: 'It was a very difficult psychological test.'

The band's mental health struggles have been well documented over the years.

Sean, 43, was the first member to leave in August 2001 after suffering a mental breakdown from stress and depression.

Before that, Scott secretly wanted to leave after having similar mental health issues, but stayed on until the band officially folded in September 2001.

Explaining how they've put boundaries in place to protect their mental health this time around, Scott shares: 'We have more respect for each other's feelings.

'You know, I never used to understand when Abz was quiet. One day, he'd be really loud, and we'd be like best friends, and the next day wouldn't speak to me.

'I wouldn't understand that so I'd take that to heart. Whereas now I understand Abz better as a human being, and I know that sometimes he needs that space. Now I give him that space that he deserves.'

In the Boybands Forever documentary, Simon Cowell - who signed the band - was dismissive of many of the bands' plights, with the band issuing their response

It's not just their attitude that has changed, but the world itself, as Ritchie muses: 'I feel the industry's changed. It seems a kinder place.'

'We're grown men now as well,' J, 48, says. 'We understand ourselves a lot better, and we're working on ourselves and our own minds.'

Sean, 43, is in agreeance, as he adds: 'We massively appreciate what we've got.

'It's not that we were arrogant or big headed the first time around, we were just too young.

'We never had time to stop and really embrace what we'd done and what we had, now we've had time to process it. We never thought we'd have this opportunity again.'

The dark side of Nineties boybands was explored in last year's Boybands Forever, in which Five offered up their experiences in the industry.

In the same documentary, Simon Cowell - who signed the band - was dismissive of many of the bands' plights, noting that if you didn't want to deal with the downside of fame you shouldn't get into the industry in the first place.

Hitting back at the media mogul's indifferent attitude, Ritchie muses: 'My only response to that is, how can you when you're 15. 17, or 20 years old, even conceive what those pressures could possibly be?

'All you see is the dream that you're sold, you're going to be a pop star or whatever - you can't possibly know.

'The support in those days, wasn't there - whether that's psychological support or whatever, it does seem to be there now.'

It's been well documented now that boybands were worked to a point of physical and mental exhaustion in the Nineties, with Five being no exception

Weighing in with an alternative opinion, Abz shares: 'On the flip side I think thank you for the opportunity as well.

'We're on both sides of the of the argument. But yeah, there is also that. So I don't get it from Yeah, it's just weird. It's just a strange feeling.'

Taking any criticism in his stride, Sean laughs: 'We took his advice! We couldn't take the pressure so we got out!'

It's clear that the band are in a stable place mentally and seem genuinely excited to get back out on tour.

Although of course there will be cynics who see their reunion as nothing more of a money making exercise.

Yet as J muses: 'If this was about the money, we'd have done it ages ago!'

And it's hard to argue with Scott's logic as he laughs: 'You don't wait 25 years for a smash and grab!'

Tickets to Five's Keep On Movin' 2025 Tour are available at www.itsfiveoffical.com
She is one of Hollywood's last living legends. So her recent appearance, stepping out looking frail and with reddish spots on her nose and face, has sparked concern.

The Steel Magnolias siren, who turns 91 in April, was having a late lunch and glass of red wine with one of her caretakers at her favorite haunt Kristy's Malibu cafe near Zuma Beach on Tuesday.

Photos obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail show Shirley MacLaine wearing a wide-brimmed orange hat and dark sunglasses, in an attempt to keep the sun off her fair skin as she dined on the patio.

MacLaine, who is actor Warren Beatty's big sister, awkwardly tugged at the side of the hat, pulling it down as the sun's angle shifted.

It was a scene that came in stark contrast to a trip, just eight months ago in July last year, when MacLaine was seen at Kristy's looking spry and upbeat. As the Daily Mail reported last year, MacLaine loves dining al fresco at the restaurant, which is thought to be her favorite and where she is said to particularly enjoy people-watching.

Her mood last week appeared to be more subdued.

Shirley MacLaine is one of Hollywood's last living legends. So her recent appearance, stepping out looking frail and with reddish spots on her nose and face, has sparked concern

MacLaine, who turns 91 in April, was having a late lunch and glass of red wine with one of her caretakers at her favorite haunt Kristy's Malibu cafe near Zuma Beach on Tuesday

2024: Shirley MacLaine has been spotted at Kristy's Cafe in Malibu multiple times over the past few years, such as when she went last year for the 4th of July

And it wasn't just her apparent discomfort from the sun; MacLaine appeared to be upset about the lack of customers at the restaurant.

Malibu is suffering following the closure of Pacific Coast Highway after the mass destruction caused by the Los Angeles fires in January.

On Tuesday, a waitress could be heard telling MacLaine and her female caregiver that business was down a lot.

'No one can get here!' she reportedly said.

MacLaine  who won a Best Actress Oscar for the 1984 movie Terms of Endearment after being nominated and lost five times previously  appeared to be genuinely saddened by the news, worrying about the waitstaff.

'It's just unbelievable,' she was overheard telling the waitress about the fires and subsequent desolation in her beloved Malibu.

Only two other diners were present at the restaurant on Tuesday.

After almost two hours, Shirley packed up to leave. Not one to waste, she asked to have her wine put in a plastic to-go cup along with the food she was unable to finish.

The legendary actress continues to thrive into her tenth decade.

Last year she was reported to be looking for an assistant, with the main qualification being someone who could make her a cocktail each night.

The Oscar-winning actress appeared worried about the staff at Kristy's, following a decline in footfall

She was wearing a wide-brimmed orange floppy hat and dark sunglasses, in an attempt to keep the sun off her fair skin

Over the years, MacLaine  who had an open marraige with her husband of 28 years  has claimed to have had romantic liaisons with all her leading men except the two Jacks: Nicholson and Lemmon.

She said Nicholson 'wasn't her type' despite their on-screen chemistry and Lemmon was 'like a sister to me... a darling'.

In a 2023 profile, Vanity Fair described her as 'a brave firebrand, a vulnerable mystic, and true earthy broad.'

No doubt, that strength and determination will aid her through this tough period as Malibu rebuilds.
Pete Wicks 'has moved on and couldn't care less' about ex Maura Higgins as drama surrounding her kiss with Danny Jones rumbles on.

Pete, 37, and Maura, 34, were first linked in August last year, but MailOnline exclusively revealed that the former couple went their separate ways in February, and Maura was later seen kissing McFly's Danny Jones at the BRITs.

The former TOWIE star had already booked to go on a lavish 5 star holiday in Dubai meaning he was able to escape the drama.

A source told MailOnline: 'Pete has moved on and couldn't care less about Maura. He feels indifferent about the drama currently surrounding her.

'He is focusing on himself and enjoying a break in the sun before getting back into work.'

Pete stayed at The Lana hotel, the Dorchester Collections first hotel in the Middle East, with rooms starting at 730 per night.

Pete Wicks 'has moved on and couldn't care less' about ex Maura Higgins as drama surrounding her kiss with Danny Jones rumbles on

Pete, 37, and Maura, 34, were first linked in August last year, but went their separate ways in February, and Maura was later seen kissing McFly 's Danny Jones at the BRITs

After six years of construction, the five-star hotel opened in May last year in the heart of Downton Dubai.

Inside all rooms, interiors have been influenced by modern minimalism and the bright weather of Dubai, featuring outdoor terraces and floor-to-ceiling glass windows providing plenty of natural light.

While Pete soaks up the sun, Maura has thrown herself into work as she is currently on a shoot in Los Angeles with Oh Polly.

Maura hit the headlines after she was seen 'kissing' married McFly star Danny Jones at Universal Music's BRIT Awards afterparty last Saturday.

In the wake of the scandal, both Maura and Danny have been hit by a wave of criticism, with many furious on behalf of Georgia, Danny's wife of 10 years and mother of his son.

Amid a period of silence, Danny apologised to his wife Georgia Horsley on Friday for 'putting her in the situation'.

On Instagram, two weeks after the incident took place, Danny said: 'Hello everyone. Sorry its taken me a while to post this but I've taken some time out to be with those closest to me.

'I want to deeply apologise to my wife and family for putting them in this situation. I love then so much and we'll continue to deal with this privately. I love you guys, thank you for you patience, understanding, and support. See you all soon, Danny.'

The former TOWIE star has now jetted off on a lavish 5 star holiday in Dubai meaning he was able to escape the drama

Pete stayed at The Lana hotel, the Dorchester Collections first hotel in the Middle East, with rooms starting at 730 per night

Inside all rooms, interiors have been influenced by modern minimalism and the bright weather of Dubai, featuring outdoor terraces and floor-to-ceiling glass windows providing plenty of natural light

While Pete soaks up the sun, Maura has thrown herself into work as she is currently on a shoot in Los Angeles with Oh Polly

Pete seemingly took a swipe at his former flame Maura as he joked about the 'awful lot that happened at the BRITs' during his latest podcast episode.

Hinting at the ongoing drama on his Staying Relevant podcast with Sam Thompson , Pete put on a shocked face as he joked: 'So... a LOT happened at the BRITs, an awful lot happened at the BRITs. I am probably gonna leave that there because...

'A lot happened at the BRITs but we're just gonna move on from that and we'll tell you about our BRIT's experience.'

Sam laughed as he smugly added: 'Our BRITs was great. We had a lovely BRITs experience.'

Before Pete chimed in with: 'Nothing happened there... for us. But we had a great time, Universal afterparty, we stayed there for a little beer, had a few drinks.'

Former Made In Chelsea star Sam, 32, went on the joke that they 'did it right,' before Pete put his head in his hands and quipped: 'No, no, no, it's not that other people did it wrong.'

Sam then clarified: 'What I mean is at these parties you don't want to linger for too long. We got there nice and early, we left the BRITs a little bit early, got there before the crush happens.

'Had a few drinks, had a really good time, spoke to loads of people and then left at about 1am, which is the perfect time to bounce before everything gets a little bit messy.'

It comes after the news that Pete is reportedly glad his brief relationship with Maura didn't last as he tries to avoid drama.

Sources have claimed that the 'attention' surrounding her kiss with Danny is exactly what Pete tries to avoid.

Pete took a swipe at his former flame Maura as he joked about the 'awful lot that happened at the BRITs' during his latest podcast episode

Sam laughed as he smugly added: 'Our BRITs was great. We had a lovely BRITs experience'

It comes after the news that Pete is reportedly glad his brief relationship with Maura didn't last as he tries to avoid drama

A source told OK! magazine: 'This sort of attention is exactly what Pete doesnt want.

'Hes seen this sort of media circus happen when he was on TOWIE and its not the sort of relationship he wants.

'Its a shame because it will probably bring his guard back up and he just wants to find someone he can genuinely love.'

MailOnline has contacted Pete's representative for comment.

In the wake of the kissing scandal, both Maura and Danny have been hit by a wave of criticism, with many furious on behalf of Georgia, Danny's wife of 10 years and mother of his son.

Amid a period of silence, Danny has now reposted several happy birthday messages from fan accounts on Instagram to mark his 39th birthday.

One fan message read: 'Happy birthday to someone who can light up a room with just a simple smile. Hope you have a wonderful day Danny. You so deserve it please remember especially today how loved and cared about you are by so many people hope you are well keep smiling that amazing smile.'

His supportive bandmate Tom Fletcher also shared a sweet message, penning: 'Happy birthday mush. Looking forward to standing on stage with you soon'

It comes just one day after Georgia returned to social media to share a snap of the couple's seven-year-old son Cooper.

Danny and his wife of ten years Georgia were seen for the first time since the scandal as they stepped out for a coffee together in London on Tuesday.

Maura and Danny reportedly stayed up until 6am drinking wine after their 'drunken kiss' at a BRIT Awards afterparty (pictured at the bash)

It comes just one day after Georgia returned to social media to share a snap of the couple's seven-year-old son Cooper

She posted a black and white image of their son Cooper wearing a pair of dark sunglasses while playing on a handheld device

The couple cut a casual figure as they headed out for a walk in the park, while talking and sipping on hot drinks.

Elsewhere during the day, Georgia shared a black and white image of their son Cooper wearing a pair of dark sunglasses while playing on a handheld device.

Not addressing her husband or his recent antics with former Love Island star Maura, Georgia simply captioned her image with a blue love heart emoji.

A host of Georgia's showbiz pals were quick to share their support for her in the comments.

Sarah Louise Merrygold, wife of JLS star Aston penned: 'Little dude. sending you all my love.'

Binky Felstead wrote: 'We got you girl! Adore you.'

Anna Whitehouse shared: 'Love you darling. We've got you.' Chessie King added: 'Absolutely adore you, we're alllll rallied round you.'

Despite receiving a flood of supportive comments, Georgia decided to turn off the comments on all her posts.

Georgia's husband Danny has yet to publicly comment on the scandal and has not posted on his Instagram main grid since the night of the BRITs, in which he posed for a selfie with KSI and Tom Fletcher.
What a desperate cry for help.

Justin Bieber, who has fallen apart in recent months, posted an alarming, self-loathing confessional on Thursday.

'People told me my whole life, "Wow Justin, u [sic] deserve that",' he wrote on Instagram. 'And I personally have always felt unworthy. Like I was a fraud. Like when people told me I deserve something, it made me feel sneaky like, damn if they only knew my thoughts. How judgmental I am, how selfish I really am. They wouldn't be saying this. I say all this to say. If you feel sneaky, welcome to the club. I definitely feel unequipped and unqualified most days.'

It makes you wonder if Bieber, 31, knows how much people are rooting for him.

Or if he has any sense that decent folk everywhere look at that old video  the one with a 15-year-old Bieber, formerly a small-town Canadian kid shot into stratospheric fame, beaming next to Sean 'Diddy' Combs  and have but one thought: Where were this kid's parents?

That clip, shot in 2009, shows Bieber looking even younger than his age. He comes across as childlike, very naive, despite  or, more likely, because of  his sudden fame.

Justin Bieber, who has fallen apart in recent months, posted an alarming, self-loathing confessional on Thursday.

Diddy, then around 40 years old, brags about spending an entire weekend with Bieber.

'Where we hangin' out and what we doin', we can't really disclose,' Diddy says. 'But it's definitely a 15-year-old's dream. You know, I have been given custody of him.'

This is the stuff Diddy admitted to in public, on camera.

Truly: What 40-year-old man spends 48 hours with a teenager he isn't related to?

Diddy goes on to talk about mentoring Usher and being granted 'legal guardianship' of the then-unknown performer 'when he did his first album'.

Usher was then only 13 years old, sent off to live with Diddy in New York City. Like Bieber, he was the only son of a financially struggling single mother and an absent father.

In other words, both were particularly vulnerable boys with mothers who might have done anything to vaunt their sons into fame and fortune  even if that meant leaving them alone with Diddy, who already had quite the criminal history.

In a 2016 interview with Howard Stern, Usher, now a parent himself, expressed disbelief that his mother allowed any of it.

'Hell no,' he said when asked if he would ever send his children to live with Diddy.

'I got a chance to see some things', Usher said. 'I don't know if I could indulge and understand what I was even looking at. It was pretty wild.'

He had been more specific with Rolling Stone in 2004. Diddy, Usher said then, exposed him to 'a totally different set of s***  sex, specifically. Sex is so hot in the industry, man. There was [sic] always girls around. You'd open a door and see somebody doing it, or several people in a room having an orgy. You never knew what was going to happen.'

Justin Bieber should know that public sentiment is with him. No one wants to see him cancelled. No one would blame him for anything he may have witnessed as a child left with a monster like Diddy.

Though Bieber's lawyers have denied that his recent struggles have anything to do with Diddy's arrest in September 2024, the timelines are parallel.

No one wants to see Bieber self-destruct. No one wants him to experience a Britney-like series of public meltdowns, looking gaunt, unwell, underdressed and self-medicating, as he appeared to be doing with weed in photos he posted last week.

Bieber is now married and the father of a 6-month-old boy. This should be the happiest time of his life. But, as a friend recently pointed out to me, survivors of trauma  and child stardom certainly counts  are often re-traumatized when they have their own children.

Having a baby suddenly makes a harsh truth all too clear: Why wasn't anyone around to protect me?

It makes you wonder if Bieber, 31, knows how much people are rooting for him. Or if he has any sense that decent folk everywhere look at that 2009 video - the one with a 15-year-old Bieber, formerly a small-town Canadian kid shot into stratospheric fame, beaming next to Diddy - and have but one thought: Where were this kid's parents? (Pictured: Diddy and Bieber in 2014).

No one wants to see Bieber self-destruct. No one wants him to experience a Britney-like series of public meltdowns, looking gaunt, unwell, underdressed and self-medicating, as he appeared to be doing with weed in photos he posted last week.

Bieber has spoken of being estranged at alternate points from both his mother  who cashed in on her son's fame with a book called Nowhere But Up: The Story of Justin Bieber's Mom  and his dad, who bragged about his son's penis size after nude photos of Justin leaked online.

'My boy,' he tweeted, adding a none-too-subtle cactus emoji.

Wolves would have done a better job, I think.

His father has also received severe backlash for his continued oversight of an Instagram account that shares pics of daughter and Bieber's half-sister, Bay. She is six years old.

Justin Bieber appears to have been betrayed, or let down, by nearly every adult in his life: His parents, his former management and his most important 'mentor', Sean Combs, who helped launch him to global stardom at what seems an incalculable price.

After Combs was arrested last year, an insider told Us Weekly that Bieber was 'completely disgusted' by the charges against Combs and has been 'advised to stay as far away as possible' from anything having to do with it.

Easier said than done. Who in Bieber's life will show up for him now?
Kristin Cavallari turned heads as she stepped out for a night on the town in New York City on Thursday evening.

The reality TV personality, 38, showed off her toned physique while modeling a pair of skintight, leather bellbottom pants and a sleeveless top.

She paired the chic ensemble with a matching shoulder bag with gold hardware and strutted down the street in sandal heels to add inches to her height.

The Hills alum  who recently shared which ex she would circle back to if she was forced to spend the rest of her life with one of them  accessorized with gold hoops, which peeked out from behind her blonde beach waves.

To match, she also wore a chunky chain bracelet paired with several dainty gold bands to complete her look.

The fashion designer looked sun-kissed and glowing in a fresh and radiant makeup look.

Kristin Cavallari turned heads as she stepped out for a night on the town in New York City on Thursday evening

The Uncommon James founder highlighted her beauty with dark brown eyeliner, peach-toned blush and a bright pink lip.

After exiting her car and walking down the street towards the Flaming Saddles Saloon, she appeared to be in high spirits and flashed a bright smile.

Cavallari's outing comes shortly after she was put on a spot by a fan who asked her which ex she would choose if she had to go back to one.

In response, the mother-of-three chose her 25-year-old TikToker ex-boyfriend Mark Estes.

The Let's Be Honest podcast host  who shares sons Camden, 12, Jaxon, 10, and daughter Saylor, nine, with her ex-husband Jay Cutler  gave a steamy explanation as to why she picked him.

'I would settle with Mark because I can have really good sex for the rest of my life,' she told the live audience during the Boston stop of her Honestly Cavallari podcast tour, per a recording obtained by TMZ.

Previously, she playfully joked that she would 'honestly rather f***ing die' than choose to spin the block on one of her former flames.

She also recently shared the dating advice she plans to give her nine-year-old daughter Saylor when she gets older.

The reality TV personality, 38, showed off her toned physique while modeling a pair of skintight, leather bellbottom pants and a sleeveless top

She paired the chic ensemble with a matching shoulder bag with gold hardware and strutted down the street in sandal heels to add inches to her height

Cavallari's outing comes shortly after she was put on a spot by a fan who asked her which ex she would choose if she had to go back to one. In response, the mother-of-three chose her 25-year-old TikToker ex-boyfriend Mark Estes

The Let's Be Honest podcast host  who shares sons Camden, 12, Jaxon, 10, and daughter Saylor, nine, with her ex-husband Jay Cutler  gave a steamy explanation as to why she picked him

'I would settle with Mark because I can have really good sex for the rest of my life,' she told the live audience during the Boston stop of her Honestly Cavallari podcast tour; pictured February 2024 in Nashville

She also recently shared the dating advice she plans to give her nine-year-old daughter Saylor when she gets older. 'That girl is tough,' she continued before adding that her youngest child is 'literally my mini-me'

'First of all, Saylor doesn't need advice. She's gonna be just fine,' she said at a live taping of her Let's Be Honest podcast in New York City on Thursday, per People.

'That girl is tough,' she continued before adding that her youngest child is 'literally my mini-me.'

Cavallari said, 'Dating advice for Saylor: Really listen to your gut. I think sometimes, especially when we're younger, we ignore red flags. We put up with s*** that we shouldn't put up with.

'I think it's more about teaching my daughter to really love herself so that she doesn't put up with s*** from other people.'
Fans in support of freeing Wendy Williams from her conservatorship shared their reactions to her appearance on The View this Friday.

The former talk show host, 60, has been under the guardianship of Sabrina Morrissey since 2022.

As she phoned in to chat with Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Ana Navarro, and Sara Haines this week, Williams sounded like her normal self, exhibiting the spunky personality that made her famous.

Multiple viewers used social media to express their solidarity, stressing that the mother-of-one should be freed from the restrictive legal arrangement.

In recent weeks, Wendy has spoken out about being kept on the 'memory unit' floor of an assisted living facility in New York City.

One person reacted online, 'Wendy sounds absolutely fine!!! NO person should have their human rights confiscated in the name of 'protecting money'  not Britney, not Wendy, not Mickey Rooney. #FreeWendy.'

Fans in support of freeing Wendy Williams from her conservatorship shared their reactions to her appearance on The View this Friday

The former talk show host, 60, has been under the guardianship of Sabrina Morrissey since 2022; pictured in 2018

'I want to terminate the guardianship and move on with my life,' Wendy relayed to the show's hosts and audience.

She added, 'I sound like me. You know, the thing is that Im finally out. Im finally able to speak, you know. I wish I were allowed to actually put on nice clothing and come see you in person, but I cannot.'

On X, another person added to the discourse: 'Oh my gosh I'm watching the Wendy Williams interview and I'm so horrified!!! She honestly sounds conscious and present in the interview.'

Morrissey claimed Williams is 'cognitively impaired, permanently disabled and legally incapacitated' in court documents last November.

The post continued, 'But now I'm even more confused!!! Like, is [Wendy] just having a good day? Wow.'

Someone else said plainly: 'Stop putting women in conservatorships.'

Another social media user was left perplexed, observing, 'Wendy sounds so good and aware. I thought she barely talks.'

A different person contributed, 'After watching Wendy Williams on @TheView, she sounds like her authentic self!'

One person reacted online, 'Wendy sounds absolutely fine!!! NO person should have their human rights confiscated in the name of 'protecting money'  not Britney, not Wendy, not Mickey Rooney. #FreeWendy'

On X, another person added to the discourse: 'Oh my gosh I'm watching the Wendy Williams interview and I'm so horrified!!! She honestly sounds conscious and present in the interview'

Someone else said plainly: 'Stop putting women in conservatorships'

Another social media user was left perplexed, observing, 'Wendy sounds so good and aware. I thought she barely talks'

A different person contributed, 'After watching Wendy Williams on @TheView, she sounds like her authentic self'

Elsewhere in her appearance, the former NYC radio personality her guardian's claim that she is 'incapacitated.'

'How dare they say I have incapacitation. I do not!' Wendy declared.

She also set the record straight on why she spent two days in the hospital from Monday-Wednesday, explaining that she had 'agita' and had bloodwork done in relation to her thyroid.

'Ive been doing important things all of my life and these two people dont look like me. They dont talk like me. They dont act like me. They will never be me. I need them to get off my neck!' Williams said referring to her guardian and the judge overseeing her case.

It's also been revealed this week that the star passed a new psych evaluation, which she said was her choice to take.

Williams was appointed a court-ordered guardian in 2022 after she was allegedly diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and primary progressive aphasia. However, she denies the accuracy of the prognosis; pictured in 2019

Despite the restrictions at her assisted living facility, Wendy was granted the opportunity to celebrate her dad's birthday in Miami in mid February

During her chat on The View, Wendy confessed that she had a setback last summer, relapsing on alcohol while celebrating her milestone birthday.

'Moving forward, the relationship [with drugs and alcohol] is fine and its wonderful because Ive had my devices, and I have to tell you something, I am easily going on with my life alcohol-free for the rest of my life,' she divulged.

She admitted, 'When I got from Connecticut to New York, it was my birthday, July 18, and yes, I celebrated, you know what Im saying? But no more, no more alcohol, thank you.'

Television producer Suzanne Bass vouched for Wendy in February via a video shared on Instagram.

'I hadn't heard from Wendy in years, until last week, my phone rang and it was Wendy,' she revealed. 'I cried. She cried.'

She added, 'She sounds fantastic. She sounds the best she's sounded in years. I've been learning every day since then, more and more about her story, what she's been through, what she's going through, this horrible guardianship she's in.

'And so, #Free Wendy all the way, all day, and she really just needs our love and support. Send prayers to her.'
Zinna, Gene Hackman's 12-year-old dog who was found dead in his owners' home last month, likely died from dehydration and starvation, according to a reported examination done on the deceased canine.

The Associated Press obtained a report from the state Department of Agriculture's veterinary lab which describes partial mummification on the dog and stated that - while there is a chance the severe decomposition could have concealed changes in the organs - there was no evidence an infectious disease, trauma or poisoning led to Zinna's death.

Most of Zinna's stomach was empty aside for small quantities of hair and bile, the report states.

Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, were both found dead at their home last month and their deaths were ruled to be due to natural causes. Zinna, who had recently undergone a medical procedure, was found dead in a crate in the bathroom, the same room where Arakawa was also found.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza previously said that Arakawa had picked up Zinna in a crate from a Santa Fe veterinarian on February 9, which could explain why the dog was found inside the encasement.

Arakawa is said to have died just two days later, on February 11.

Zinna, Gene Hackman's 12-year-old dog who was found dead in his owner's home last month, likely died from dehydration and starvation, according to a reported examination done on the deceased canine; the late couple pictured with their two former dogs, Maisie and Roscoe

An investigation into the deaths is still being completed by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, who are using information gained from cell phones gathered at the residence in addition to last contacts made to finish the timeline of events, according to the AP.

'The case is considered active until we have that information to tie up the timeline,' Denise Womack Avila, a spokesperson for the sheriff, said, according to the AP.

Zinna, who was once a returned shelter dog, was a loyal companion who was constantly nearby Arakawa, according to Joey Padilla, the owner of Santa Fe Tails, a pet care facility is caring for the surviving dogs.

Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found deceased in separate rooms of their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26, but investigators later determined that Arakawa died around February 11 at age 65, while Hackman died days later on February 18 at age 95.

Arakawa was found lying on her side in the bathroom, an apparent victim of the rodent-borne hantavirus, a rare disease in the US. Zinna was found dead inside a crate in the same room.

Hackman is believed to have died around a week after his wife, likely from heart disease. He also showed 'evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease.'

The couple's two other dogs, German Shepherd Bear and Akita-shepherd mix Nikita, survived.

The two dogs were found by first responders roaming freely on the couple's sprawling Santa Fe estate.

Police, paramedics and the Fire Department rushed to the home on February 26 after a caretaker made the grisly discovery of Arakawa's dead body.

However, they were then unable to immediately locate Hackman and after over 30 minutes they had still not found the Oscar winning actor.

During the first responders' search for Hackman it was one of his dogs which guided them to his body

Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found deceased in separate rooms of their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico , on February 26, but investigators later determined that Arakawa died around February 11 at age 65, while Hackman died days later on February 18 at age 95; pictured 2003

During their search one of the dogs constantly ran up to them barking and running off in different locations.

The first responders thought they wanted to play however this was not the case.

'They realized (the dog) was trying to say, "Hey, come over here! Come over here!".' Chief Brian Moya told USA Today.

Once they followed the dog it led them to Hackman's body in the mudroom which the dog then sat next to.

Hackman and Arakawa's sprawling home in Santa Fe. Their pet dogs - German Shepherd Bear and Akita-shepherd mix Nikita - were found by first responders roaming freely on the mansion's grounds

One of their dogs Nikita was 'skittish because of all the commotion' and refused to leave the sides of both of her owners, the authorities said.

Both dogs who are now in a boarding facility until the couple's wills are read and they can be rehomed.

The autopsy of the couple revealed that Arakawa died about a week before Hackman on February 11.

Her cause of death was Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome - a rare rat-borne disease that produces flu-like symptoms but can be deadly with a 38 per cent death rate according to the CDC.

Hackman died around February 18, before the couple's mummified remains were found in separate rooms of their $3.8 million home on February 26.

Both were found decomposed and partially-mummified. The cold, dry air of the New Mexico desert climate likely helped preserve their skin and tissues.

Dr. Heather Jarrell, Chief Medical Investigator for the state of New Mexico, said their deaths had both been ruled as natural, and that no signs of internal or external trauma were found.

Their dog Zinna was picked up from a veterinary hospital on February 9 after undergoing a procedure, which may explain why it was found in a kennel, according to authorities.

Jarrell said there was no reliable method to get an exact time for death, but concluded that Hackman probably died around February 18.

Hackman and Arakawa at the Academy Awards in 1993. He met Arakawa, a classically trained pianist who grew up in Hawaii, when she was working part-time at a California gym in the mid-1980s

She also said that it was likely Hackman didn't even realize his wife had died due to his advanced Alzheimer's.

In a full timeline of events, officials said that Arakawa had picked up their dog Zinna from a vet hospital after the dog underwent treatment on February 9.

On February 11, they said she had an email conversation with her massage therapist before later in the afternoon going to a farmers market.

She was caught on CVS surveillance footage shortly after the market, before then going to a local pet food store.

Her car was then seen on surveillance entering the gated community at 5:15pm on February 11.

Officials said that numerous emails went unopened on February 11, and that there was no further communication from her account after that day.

Detectives are still waiting on retrieving her full cell phone data, but said her last known activity was February 11.

Hackman was discovered lying on the ground of a mud room just off the kitchen with his sunglasses and cane nearby, indicating he may have fallen according to officials.

Jarrell said that there was no food inside Hackman, and that there was no signs of dehydration.

Hackman with his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Unforgiven. The gruff-but-beloved Hackman was among the finest actors of his generation

'Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimers disease,' Jarrell said.

'He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death.'

Hackman shared three children with his first wife Faye Maltese. He and Arakawa, a classical pianist, had been married for the last three decades.

The gruff-but-beloved Hackman was among the finest actors of his generation, appearing as villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.

He was a five-time Oscar nominee who won for The French Connection in 1972 and Unforgiven two decades later.

Hackman met Arakawa, a classically trained pianist who grew up in Hawaii, when she was working part-time at a California gym in the mid-1980s.

They soon moved in together, and by the end of the decade had decamped to Santa Fe.

A naturally private man, Hackman was labelled a recluse as he remained out of the public eye for years on end following his retirement from the movie industry. He retired from acting in 2004.
Hollywood star Channing Tatum is currently in Melbourne with his new Aussie model girlfriend Inka Williams to attend the Formula 1 at the Australian Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old model exuded old-school style as she confidently posed in a figure-hugging black one-shouldered mini-dress at an exclusive Formula 1 event on Friday night.

The bombshell's brunette hair was freshly coiffed and she accessorised with statement jewellery, and looked to be in great spirits as she mingled at TAG Heuer's celebrity cocktail party.

The stunning model, who has appeared on the cover of Harper's Bazaar magazine, arrived in Melbourne ahead of her Magic Mike star partner this week.

The two are yet to be photographed together while staying in the city, but are believed to be attending the festivities as a couple over the weekend.

On Friday, Channing was all smiles on Friday as he jetted into Melbourne Airport.

Hollywood star Channing Tatum is currently in Melbourne with his new Aussie model girlfriend Inka Williams to attend the Formula 1 at the Australian Grand Prix

'I feel like Im dating the king of England  actually hes way better,' Inka told the Herald Sun on Wednesday, as she got the full-glamour treatment in the Crown styling suite ahead of an appearance at Glamour on the Grid.

'I am very happy,' she added.

The model also made an appearance at Moet & Chandon's candlelit black tie dinner at a private trophy home in Toorak on Thursday.

She secured an invite to the exclusive and intimate event alongside the likes of former F1 world champions Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve, F1 favourite David Coulthard, models Abby Lee, Jessica Gomes, Jarrod Scott and Montana Cox.

Meanwhile, Channing flew in from the States on Friday ahead of his rumoured F1 Grand Prix outing with his new Australian girlfriend.

Channing was dressed for comfort for the hour-and-a-half flight in a plain black longline T-shirt.

Meanwhile, Inka was spotted jetting out of Sydney Airport on Wednesday.

The brunette bombshell flaunted her trim figure in a black crop top as she checked in ahead of her flight to Melbourne.

The 25-year-old model exuded old-school style as she confidently posed in a figure-hugging black one-shouldered mini-dress at a Formula 1 event on Friday night

The stunning model, who has appeared on the cover of Harper's Bazaar magazine, recently arrived in Melbourne with her Magic Mike star partner

Channing Tatum was first linked to Australian model Inka Williams in January, following his split from ex-fiancee Zoe Kravitz in October 2024. Pictured Channing and Zoe in March 2024

Channing is said to be 'happy' with his new girlfriend after they confirmed their romance at a pre-Oscars bash earlier this month.

The veteran actor was first linked to the Australian beauty in January following his split from ex-fiancee Zoe Kravitz in October 2024.

A source told People that the couple are 'seeing' each other on romantic terms.

'They met through friends. She's great. She's young, but seems older.'

'Channing's doing well. [Inka] makes him happy,' the insider continued.

'He's reuniting with Zoe later this spring for another movie project. It shouldn't be too awkward - they ended things on okay terms.'

Inka, who was born in Melbourne and raised in Bali, balances her successful modelling career with her fashion brand She Is I.

She has previously discussed growing up in Bali, telling by charlotte that it made her a 'very compassionate person'.

'I feel so connected to the culture and energy of this island. It's so sacred and deep. I think that's reflected in my day-to-day life and way of living,' she said.

Inka also explained how modelling from such a young age helped her 'build resilience and strength'.

Meanwhile, Channing's new romance came just four months after he split from fiancee Zoe Kravitz.

Channing and Zoe, 35, were romantically involved for three years and engaged for one before they called off the wedding at the end of October.

The split was a particular shock for the couple, as they had not only gotten engaged, but Channing had been spotted with fresh ink of Zoe's initials on the back of his hand in September.

The former couple were last pictured together on Channing's Instagram page in a post from September 3, which showed Zoe apparently snoozing on her then-fiance's shirtless chest as he snapped a selfie of the two.

In his caption, the Deadpool & Wolverine actor serenaded his love as he promoted her thriller Blink Twice.
Rumors are intensifying that there is a feud brewing between Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, the stars of the woke new live-action Snow White remake.

Amid the movie's spiraling PR disaster - intensified by Zegler's unfiltered public statements - she and Gadot have been trailed by a persistent stream of speculation that they do not get along behind the scenes.

American star Zegler, 23, plays the lead while Israeli actress Gadot, 39, is the Evil Queen - but their on-screen enmity appears to have spilled out into real life, owing partly to their opposing stances on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Zegler has been vocal about her support for Palestine amid the devastation in Gaza, while Gadot - who formerly served in the IDF - is staunchly pro-Israel.

From a 'secret' European premiere held in Spain with Zegler the only star in attendance to rumors of cast clashes, the promo tour has so far been a bumpy one.

Now another source has added grist to the mill, pointing out the sharp contrasts between the two women both politically and personally to People.

Rumors are intensifying that there is a feud brewing between Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, who are pictured at the Oscars earlier this month

Later this week, the cast will return to the States, with Zegler and Gadot expected attend a pre-party and screening at Los Angeles' El Capitan Theatre

The insider claimed Zegler, at her tender age, 'has nothing in common with Gal Gadot, a mom of four kids. On top of that, their political views differ, adding to the tension.'

Eyebrows were raised when Disney skipped a UK premiere in favor of a VIP event in a remote Spanish castle with limited press, at which Gadot was noticeably absent.

Zegler jetted off to a remote castle in Segovia, Spain, to perform for around 100 select 'VIPs' which included influencers.

Rather than the usual list of major news outlets flocking to the event, local Spanish influencers and families from the small city of Segovia, which boasts a population of just 51,000, were among the chosen 'VIPs' in attendance.

Zegler's co-star Gadot was also absent, with only director Marc Webb accompanying Zegler to the event.

Later this week, the cast will return to the States, with Zegler and Gadot expected attend a pre-party and screening at Los Angeles' El Capitan Theatre on March 15, where 'coverage will be limited to photographers and a house crew'.

'Disney is leaning towards having influencers to interview Rachel and Gal for promotion days on Sunday and Monday,' an industry insider told Page Six. 'They want to concentrate on the content.'

Rumors of a feud between Zegler and Gadot was sparked after the pair were both vocal in their support for opposite sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

From a 'secret' European premiere held in Spain with Zegler the only star in attendance (Pictured) to rumours of cast feuds, its promotional tour has so far been a bumpy one

It came to a head when the Snow White teaser trailer was released last summer and some fans took issue with the casting.

Some were baffled by the decision to cast a Latina actress to portray the famously 'fair-skinned' character who is known for being 'as white as snow'.

Others took issue with casting Jewish-Israeli actress Gadot amid the current war - with pro-Palestine viewers claiming her inclusion calls for a boycott while conversely pro-Israel viewers claimed it was offensive to cast her in an 'evil' role.

Flames were then fanned when Zegler shared the trailer on her own social media channels and thanked fans for sending her support.

In a follow-up tweet, she penned: 'and always remember, free Palestine.'

American star Zegler, 23, plays the titular lead in the remake while Israeli actress Gadot, 39, plays the Evil Queen

Eyebrows were raised when Disney skipped a UK premiere in favour of a VIP event in a remote Spanish castle with limited press - with Gadot noticeably absent

Zegler has publicly taken a pro-Palestinian stance since 2021, sharing several tweets and posts urging fans to donate to emergency aid for Gaza.

Speaking to Variety, Zegler previously said: 'I can't watch children die. I dont think that should be a hot take.'

Yet some Israeli publications took exception to Zegler's plea for a 'free Palestine' and suggested she had insulted Gadot.

While Gadot - who served in the IDF for two years, including during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war - did not respond publicly to Zegler's comment, she raised eyebrows with a post of her own after the trailer was released.

She posted on her Instagram story a photo of Martin Luther King Jr. with his quote: 'Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.'

Above the image, she wrote: 'Only love can save the world.'

Flames were then fanned when Zegler shared the trailer on her own social media channels and thanked fans for sending her support, adding: 'and always remember, free palestine'

While Gadot - who served in the IDF for two years, including during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war (pictured) - did not respond publicly to Zegler's comment, she raised eyebrows with a post of her own after the trailer was released

While Gadot did not respond publicly to Zegler's comment she raised eyebrows with a post of her own after the trailer was released, posting about love 'driving out hate'

Gadot appeared to make a pointed dig at Zegler with her X account briefly reposting a tweet that read: 'Trying to campaign on the head of your co-star, who actually lives through war, just so you'll look cooler with the kids, is really pathetic'

Days later she appeared to make a pointed dig at Zegler.

According to Times of Israel reporter Amy Spiro, Gadot's X account briefly reposted a tweet that read 'Trying to campaign on the head of your co-star, who actually lives through war, just so you'll look cooler with the kids, is really pathetic.'

While Gadot and Zegler have made it clear they have opposing views on Israel-Palestine they have not spoken out about any supposed feud between the pair.

Miss Israel 2004 said of the conflict earlier this month: 'None of us can ignore the explosion of Jew hatred around the world anymore.

'We have had enough of Jew hatred we will confront anti-Semitism. We will call it out, but but we will never let it, not only, defeat us but define us because our love is stronger than their hate.'

Hours later, Gadot wrote that this moment is about everyone 'refusing to be silent in the face of anti-Semitism.'

'October 7 was a wake-up call, but it also reminded us of our resilience and unbreakable bond,' the Israel Defense Forces veteran wrote on Instagram.
Rihanna enjoyed herself in her native country Barbados this week.

The 37-year-old music artist-turned-mogul attended a Fenty X Puma party while on the island, and was later seen with a group of people on a boat.

The mother-of-two  who just cancelled comeback concerts in London  flashed her busty cleavage in a $110 creamy-green Heavy Manners triangle bikini top.

Rihanna's ensemble was further elevated by the addition of a fluffy, sheer, tulle maxi skirt.

She displayed her one-of-a-kind fashion sense as she layered an oversize white and green jersey over it, letting one sleeve fall off her shoulder.

Rihanna, full name Robyn Rihanna Fenty, danced the night away on March 11, pulling her long locks into an edgy updo with a center part and various small buns.

Rihanna enjoyed herself in her native country Barbados this week

The 37-year-old music artist-turned-mogul attended a Fenty X Puma party while on the island, and was later seen with a group of people on a boat

The mother-of-two flashed her busty cleavage in a creamy-green, triangle bikini top

The Fenty Beauty founder's face was aglow in a stunning palette of makeup that including warm pink tones on her cheeks and eyelids.

According to an account from Page Six, she was decked out in the same Sabyasachi diamond chain link necklace worn by Goldie Hawn at the 2025 Oscars.

Her look was punctuated with a pair of $120 Avanti LS Stitched from her Puma collaboration.

The latest Fenty x Puma drop additionally offers up $90 jelly flip-flop cleat sandals in an eye-popping yellow-green color, and a $75 lime and orange purse.

Some of the notable attendees who celebrated the launch with the Umbrella hitmaker included Kordell Beckham, Serena Page, Rickey Thompson, Achieng Agutu, Isan Elba and Avani, per the publication.

She wore a green and blue cover-up while at sea and tied a coordinating bandana around her long, straight, black hair and added a bold red lip.

The beauty has been in a long-term relationship with rapper and businessman A$AP Rocky  with whom she shares sons RZA, two, and Riot, one  since 2020.

The hitmaker and fashion mogul changed her look as she had fun on a beach while baring her toned legs

She wore a green and blue cover-up while at sea and tied a coordinating bandana around her long, straight, black hair

This week it was reported by The Sun that Rihanna cancelled comeback shows scheduled to take place this summer, just days before they were to be announced.

She'd been rumored to be planning a six-concert residency in London in July to mark her long-awaited return to music, after she confirmed production on her first album in nine years is underway.

The musician has now pulled out of the gig, which would have been at West Hams London Stadium.

Rihanna, full name Robyn Rihanna Fenty, added a bold red lip and chunky hoop earrings

According to the outlet, she didn't think her new music was ready and bosses are now trying to change her mind.

A music insider shared: 'Rihanna hasnt toured in over eight years and the plan to get her back on stage has been ongoing for at least three. She had been eager to get back to it because the demand is certainly there, but she got cold feet.

'It doesnt feel like the right time and she dropped the bombshell last week that she doesnt want to go ahead with the concerts in July as had been planned.'
Reuters, March 15, 2025

Since seizing power in 2021, Afghanistan's Taliban administration has rolled back hard-fought rights won by Afghan women and girls during two decades of rule by American-backed governments.

The International Criminal Court prosecutor on Thursday said he had applied for arrest warrants for Taliban leaders, including supreme spiritual leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, accusing them of crimes against humanity for widespread discrimination against women and girls.

Following are details of the crackdown on rights imposed by the Islamist movement:

- Akhundzada ratified morality laws - widely criticised by rights groups as draconian - that included requiring women to cover their faces and also barring them from travelling without a male guardian.

- Taliban authorities have said Afghan women will no longer be allowed into public and amusement parks.

- Gyms and fitness centres for women have been banned across the country.

- The Taliban ordered the closing down of hundreds of beauty salons meant for women.

- Girls are allowed to go to school until the age of 12, or grade 6. Education after this has been disallowed, including for women who were already studying in universities.

- Women have been banned from most public sector jobs and employment with NGOs and are only allowed to work in certain specific situations, such as healthcare.

- The Taliban say they respect women's rights in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law and local customs and that they are internal matters that should be addressed locally.

- Their policies have been widely criticized internationally, however, including by Muslim-majority country's governments. Western diplomats have said any steps towards official recognition of the Taliban are blocked until their administration changes course on women's rights.

- The education bar on women, backed by Akhundzada and his conservative aides, is opposed by some senior Taliban leaders, who support moves to reintegrate Afghanistan into the global community.
One of Sydney's historic waterfront gems has been unveiled as the secret filming location of Channel Nine's upcoming dating series The Golden Bachelor.

The grand Tresco mansion in the harbourside suburb of Elizabeth Bay, designed by colonial architect Thomas Rowe and constructed between 1867 and 1883, has long been a symbol of elegance.

Originally Rowes private home, it later served as the official residence for Navy rear admirals for nearly 90 years before being sold into private hands in 1997 for $9m.

The lavish 1860s sandstone villa, featuring high ceilings and spacious rooms, has recently become a hive of activity with filming equipment discreetly set up on its sprawling 3300sqm grounds.

While sightings of host Samantha Armytage at the residence remain unconfirmed, local residents were quick to notice the sudden presence of production equipment.

The breathtaking property boasts a rich history that includes a notable $11m transfer in 2004 to Janette Waterhouse, wife of entrepreneur David Waterhouse.

One of Sydney's historic waterfront gems, Tresco mansion in the harbourside suburb of Elizabeth Bay, has been unveiled as the secret location of Channel Nine's upcoming dating series The Golden Bachelor. (Pictured: Series host Samantha Armytage)

Today, it stands as a seven-bedroom, four-bathroom estate and serves as David's registered address on ASIC documents.

Its breathtaking location, which is close to a variety of amenities and gorgeous oceanside views, makes it the perfect filming location for Channel Nine's new series.

Last year, the property was listed on the market for a jaw-dropping price of between $110m - $120m.

Sydney City Council was seemingly caught off guard by the development, has initiated inquiries despite the project falling within the purview of private property regulations.

A council spokesperson told The Daily Telegraph while filming on private grounds does not necessitate council consent, it does require a comprehensive filming management plan.

This includes detailing logistical specifics like crew size, temporary structures and potential impacts on the surrounding area.

Unlike The Bachelor and The Bachelorette which feature young men and women, the Golden Bachelor is targeted at a more mature audience eager to watch how those who have already experienced great love and loss are chasing companionship.

Filming is reportedly underway, with reality TV veteran Abbie Chatfield's 65-year-old mother Laura set to join the cast of matured-aged women competing to win the heart of Barry 'Bear' Myrden.

The grand Tresco mansion in the harbourside suburb of Elizabeth Bay, designed by colonial architect Thomas Rowe and constructed between 1867 and 1883, has long been a symbol of elegance and wealth

Originally Rowes private home, it later served as the official residence for Navy rear admirals for nearly 90 years before being sold into private hands in 1997 for $9m

In November, it was reported The Golden Bachelor has been scouting for contestants in a very unusual way.

A talent scout for the show was spotted handing out business cards to attendees at Royal Randwick racecourse in Sydney.

Casting agent Ivanna Tang opted for the unusual method of attempting to recruit racegoers to the upcoming spin-off show.

Nine secured the rights for The Golden Bachelor in Australia and Samantha Armytage has been signed up to host the reality dating show.

The lavish 1860s sandstone villa has recently become a hive of activity with filming equipment discreetly set up on its sprawling 3300sqm grounds

The breathtaking property boasts a rich history that includes a notable $11m transfer in 2004 to Janette Waterhouse, wife of entrepreneur David Waterhouse

Samantha got involved with the casting call, urging people to give family members 'a nudge.'

The outgoing Farmer Wants A Wife host had shocked fans when she stepped down from Seven after 21 years, sparking wild rumours about her next step.

Her new TV gig on The Golden Bachelor was revealed at Nine's Upfronts in November, where the network's schedule of 2025 programming was unveiled to invited guests.

The U.S. version of the show has been wildly successful, with its finale garnering 6.1million viewers, making it the most watched final episode of the American Bachelor franchise since 2021.
The Real Housewives Of New York City star Jessel Taank heartbrokenly announced her father Kishor Taank has died at the age of 68.

She shared the news on her Instagram page on Friday, referring to him as 'My Hero' and 'Our North Star' and revealing he lived from May 1956 to February 2025.

Amid an album of throwback photos, Jessel paid tribute to her father's international life, including his childhood in colonial Kenya with parents who came from India.

The post included pictures of Jessel and her brother Bobby as small children, cuddling cheerfully up to their father during their own upbringing in England.

Kishor was also pictured with his wife Nilam - Jessel's mother - as well as with Jessel's own husband Pavit Randhawa and their three-year-old twin sons.

'If lust for life were a person, it would be my Dad,' she wrote. 'His adventurous spirit was rooted in his beloved Kisumu, Kenya, where he spun tales of his mischievous childhood  climbing banana trees, stirring up trouble.'

Jessel Taank heartbrokenly announced her father Kishor Taank's death aged 68; she is pictured with Kishor, as well as her husband Pavit Randhawa and one of their twin sons

Jessel is pictured in a publicity shot for The Real Housewives Of New York City

She called him a 'true Tarzan,' describing him as 'fiercely passionate' and 'Loyal to a fault,' and adding that Kishor - who worked as a finance manager in the UK - 'loved talking about money  ours, other peoples  always the finance guy.'

Jessel fondly recalled: 'He interrogated us about our spending habits. You have to save your money, he warned. But thats not fun, Id argue. Being broke isnt fun, hed counter. We never listened.'

She lovingly described her mother as 'the Cindy Crawford to his bald Richard Gere' and gushed that her parents 'built a life of family, travel, and laughter.'

Kishor and Nilam, wrote Jessel, were 'my best friends  crazy, spontaneous, a little nuts,' to the point her friends remarked: 'Your parents don't act like parents.'

Jessel, the first New York City Housewife of Indian descent, shared: 'My love for India and my culture came from him. He called it my India, the land of his parents.'

Name-checking two singing stars of classic Hindi cinema, she wrote: 'He was obsessed with old-school Bollywood  Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh. Because of him, I know all the words.'

She then turned her attention to Indian desserts, dishing that her father's 'guilty pleasure was a warmed gulab jamun with gajar halwa,' before adding: 'India was his happy place. He immersed himself in its DNA.'

Jessel added: 'My dad always turned to face the sun in pictures. Now, hes in the very light he basked in. Its easy to be overcome by sadness, but sadness only serves our own selfish purpose. Instead, we move forward with gratitude. Im so grateful you were my dad. We would choose you every time.'

The post included pictures of Jessel and her brother Bobby as small children, cuddling cheerfully up to their father during their own upbringing in England

Kishor was also pictured with his wife Nilam - Jessel's mother, whom she lovingly referred to as 'the Cindy Crawford to his bald Richard Gere'

Kishor and Nilam, wrote Jessel, were 'my best friends  crazy, spontaneous, a little nuts,' to the point her friends remarked: 'Your parents don't act like parents'

Jessel, the first New York City Housewife of Indian descent, shared: 'My love for India and my culture came from him,' adding: 'He called it my India, the land of his parents'

Jesse remembered that her father, who is pictured as a young man in Italy, 'always turned to face the sun in pictures'

Her announcement was met with warm messages from her fellow Real Housewives Of New York City Ubah Hassan, Jenna Lyons and Sai De Silva

Her announcement was met with warm messages from her fellow Real Housewives Of New York City Ubah Hassan, Jenna Lyons and Sai De Silva.

'Jessel!' wrote Ubah. 'My heart aches for you and your family. May Allah surround you with strength, comfort, and peace, guiding you through this difficult time.'

'So beautiful Jessel,' wrote Jenna, as Sai chimed in that she was 'Sending you so much love my girl,' amid the flood of condolences in Jessel's comments.

Jessel has spoken about her family background before, explaining: 'My family came to London from Kenya, they were a part of the massive diaspora born out of political unrest and were forced to leave and start their lives over again,' to Vogue India.

The Indian community in Kenya - which had been brought over by the British during the colonial era - was depleted by a major exodus in the 1960s and 1970s after being targeted by the 'Africanization' policies of the new independent government.

Jessel joined the Real Housewives Of New Jersey for the 14th season in 2023, as part of the controversial first full-cast reboot.

The previous season had received a brutal reception from fans - overshadowed by controversies such as woke star Ebony K. Williams' political clashes with her castmates - after which the entire cast was replaced.
Strictly Come Dancing's Amanda Abbington has admitted that she's unsure if people still 'like' her anymore as she opens up on her future following the Giovanni Pernice bullying row.

In July last year, more than six months after she quit the BBC show citing 'personal reasons', the actress accused Pernice of 'unnecessary, cruel and mean behaviour' during their time dancing together on Strictly.

Giovanni rejected the claims immediately and a BBC investigation ruled in September that her claims of physical aggression and threatening behaviour were not upheld.

However, her complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld and she was issued with an apology from the BBC.

Despite this, Amanda faced heavy backlash from the public, with the actress noting that she was subjected to '20 to 30 death threats a day' on social media, while her fiance Jonathan Goodwin was forced to slam trolls accusing her of trying to 'ruin' Giovanni's career.

And now in a new interview with The Times, Amanda has reflected on the aftermath of the row, remarking that she was made out to be the 'villain' in it all, before insisting that she has 'no regrets' about standing up for herself.

Strictly Come Dancing's Amanda Abbington has admitted that she's unsure if people still 'like' her anymore as she opens up on her future following the Giovanni Pernice bullying row

In July last year, the actress accused Pernice of 'unnecessary, cruel and mean behaviour' during their time dancing together on Strictly

While Giovanni's career appears to be back on track, with the dancer having recently won the Italian version of Strictly, Amanda has thrown herself into a new, yet somewhat less high-profile role in the play (This Is Not A) Happy Room - playing to a more intimate audience in a theatre behind a north London pub.

Speaking to publication's Dominic Maxwell, Amanda looked forward to the future and told how she would love to continue acting and even turn to directing down the line, but she isn't sure of the public opinion of her following the tough period in her life.

She shared: 'I dont know what the industry thinks of me at the moment. Ive been immersed in the aftermath of it all for a year. I dont know whether Ive been cancelled or whether people dont like me any more, but I know I did what I did for the right reasons. I feel good about the future.'

During the chat, she looked back on being in the thick of the furore in which Giovanni accused her of trying to destroy his career, but Amanda insists she was trying to suggest that they have a 'safe space' to 'take five minutes' to ensure they were all 'happy', but yet instead she said: 'I was made out to be the villain.'

She added: 'Last year was one of the worst years of my entire life. I was very close to having a breakdown because of the constant barrage of abuse and hideousness.'

Despite the difficult time, Amanda insists she doesn't 'regret anything' and in fact was 'glad' she spoke up for herself as she had never done so before, with the situation reminding her of being bullied as a child.

She told The Times: 'The fallout from it wasnt something I was anticipating, but Im glad I did it, I am. Im glad that I stood up for myself because its the first time Ive ever really done that.'

Amanda went on to say that her years of being 'bullied extensively' as a child gave her the push to take action against Giovanni and she can see how 'introverted' people become when being bullied.

A BBC investigation ruled in September that her claims of physical aggression and threatening behaviour were not upheld. However, complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld

Despite this, Amanda faced heavy backlash from the public, with the actress noting that she was subjected to '20 to 30 death threats a day' on social media

Amanda has reflected on the aftermath of the row, remarking that she was made out to be the 'villain' in it all, before insisting that she has 'no regrets' about standing up for herself

'I dont know what the industry thinks of me at the moment. Ive been immersed in the aftermath of it all for a year. I dont know whether Ive been cancelled or whether people dont like me any more'

She added that when she made her accusations, she was thanked and hugged by 'so many women', which she quipped was a nice changed from the numerous threats on social media.

With the ordeal now behind her, Amanda told how she can finally says she's 'actually happy' now as she looks to moving on with her life, adding that she's 'learnt a lot' about herself and can now 'block certain things' that she couldn't before.

Amanda is best known for playing Miss Mardle in Mr Selfridge and Mary Watson in Sherlock, the BBC adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic detective stories

Last year, she starred in a show at the Park Theatre in North London called When It Happens To You.
Loose Women will dedicate its lunchtime programme on Monday to a special episode marking the first anniversary of its domestic abuse awareness campaign, 'Facing It Together'.

The episode, airing at 12.30pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player, will feature Charlene White in conversation with two grieving mothers whose daughters lost their lives after experiencing domestic abuse, MailOnline can reveal.

The broadcast comes as the show is nominated for an RTS Programme Award for its original campaign launch last year.

In a moving film to be shown during the episode, White will explore the link between domestic abuse and suicide.

Sharon Hollands daughter, Chloe, died by suicide after enduring coercive and physical abuse, while an inquest into the death of Phyllis Dalys daughter, Jessica Laverack, concluded that domestic abuse had contributed to her vulnerable state.

'My daughter wanted to live, but she didn't want to live the life of domestic abuse,' Daly tells White in the programme.

Loose Women will dedicate its lunchtime programme on Monday to a special episode marking the first anniversary of its domestic abuse awareness campaign, 'Facing It Together'

Sharon Holland (left), from Portsmouth, is speaking out to raise awareness of domestic abuse. Pictured with her late daughter Chloe, who died by suicide after enduring coercive and physical abuse

Denise Welch said: 'Loose Womens "Facing It Together" campaign is about showing anyone currently facing domestic abuse, and survivors, that they are not alone'

Cherie Blair, the human rights lawyer and long-time domestic abuse campaigner, will also appear on the show to discuss her work with survivors, including her involvement with the charity Refuge

Both mothers will speak about their experiences and campaign for tougher sentencing for perpetrators of abuse.

Denise Welch, a Loose Women panellist who will feature on the panel, said: 'Loose Womens "Facing It Together" campaign is about showing anyone currently facing domestic abuse, and survivors, that they are not alone.

'This special episode will continue this important conversation and highlight the help available to those living with domestic abuse, as well as the ways friends and family can support a loved one.

'Its a subject particularly close to my heart and I hope that anyone watching will realise we can face this together.'

Cherie Blair, the human rights lawyer and long-time domestic abuse campaigner, will also appear on the show to discuss her work with survivors, including her involvement with the charity Refuge.

The 'Facing It Together' campaign launched in March 2024, with Loose Women panellists Olivia Attwood-Dack, Kelle Bryan, Frankie Bridge, Charlene White, Denise Welch, Brenda Edwards, Judi Love, and Sunetra Sarker uniting for a striking photoshoot and short film, declaring: 'Whether you are a survivor or a friend, we are facing it together.'

The campaign had an immediate impact.

Respect, an organisation supporting male survivors of domestic abuse, reported an 81% increase in traffic to its Mens Advice Line website on the day of the launch.

Refuge, which operates the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, said it had to bring in extra staff to manage a surge in calls and live chat requests.

Join Loose Women on Monday 17th March, from 12.30pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player, one year since the launch of the show's 'Facing It Together' campaign.
Amanda Holden turned heads as she shared snaps from her very belated birthday party on Instagram on Saturday.

The radio host turned 54 in February, but the beauty has made sure the celebrations are far from over.

For the occasion, Amanda stunned in a Dolce & Gabbana x SKIMS leopard print satin dress featuring a daring thigh-high slit.

She paired the sizzling ensemble with matching heels and accessorised with gold jewellery.

The stunner looked completely in her element as she partied the night away with her pals at the Maine in Mayfair, London.

It comes just days after Amanda shared a glimpse of the party by posting a snap with her birthday cake.

Amanda Holden turned heads as she shared snaps from her very belated birthday party on Instagram on Saturday

The radio host turned 54 in February, but the beauty has made sure the celebrations are far from over

Posing with one arm in the air, Amanda looked happier than ever as a massive chocolate cake, topped with sparklers, was presented to her.

Captioning the snap, she wrote: 'Rinsing my birthday (a month later). Looks like I'm wearing a cake dress.'

Elsewhere, Amanda recently left her Heart Radio producer stunned when she revealed she had taken a bath with her dog.

The presenter joined co-star Jamie Theakston, 54, on their Breakfast show where she recounted her idyllic weekend in which she spent time at West Wittering beach in West Sussex with her loved ones.

She told how her adorable puppy Minnie, whom she rescued in September, enjoyed her very first trip to the beach, but was left covered in sand following the excursion.

The Britain's Got Talent star then revealed that she later drew herself a warm bath after returning home, before deciding to bring her pet pooch in with her for a good scrub down.

And while Jamie didn't appear to be fussed by her revelation, the same couldn't be said for their producer, with Amanda clocking that he was sitting with his 'head in his heads' as she told her story.

Recalling her weekend, Amanda told how Minnie 'went nuts' on the beach and had 'loved the sea', as did her other dog Rudie.

For the occasion, Amanda stunned in a Dolce & Gabbana x SKIMS leopard print satin dress featuring a daring thigh-high slit

The stunner looked completely in her element as she partied the night away with her pals at the Maine in Mayfair, London

Amanda pictured with her pals

It comes just days after Amanda shared a glimpse of the party by posting a snap with her birthday cake

But instead of giving Minnie a bath of her own, the star decided to allow her pet to join her in her bath.

She shared: 'I looked at Minnie the moocher, who's my dog, and I just thought, I'm gonna put her in with me!

'I need to wash her anyway because she's covered in sand, so I took her collar off and we had a little bath together!'

Amanda continued: 'I used all her doggie shampoo, so there were no products in the bath so please don't write in. Minnie was loving it, she was living her best life. Then I got the dog conditioner and got a brush... why has our producer got his head in his hands?'

After observing the producer's reaction to the news, Amanda went on with her story, adding: 'I started brushing out her - because she got a little bit matted from her halter under her armpits - so I gave her a good brush, a good clean, and then I got out, but then I put Rudie in the bath water.

'I just thought it saves a bit of bath water and then I gave him a good old scrub as well so everyone was clean and fluffy and lovely!'

Amanda and Jamie then put forward the question whether it is appropriate to have a bath with your dog, with Amanda adding: 'What a phoner!'

As Jamie urged people to text in with their thoughts, Amanda revealed she believed it was appropriate to bathe with your pets before insisting that she didn't want complaints.

Amanda recently left her Heart Radio producer stunned when she revealed she had taken a bath with her dog (pictured in December)

The presenter had joined co-star Jamie Theakston , 54, on their Breakfast show where she recounted her idyllic weekend in which she spent time at West Wittering beach in West Sussex

It comes after Amanda was snapped looking back on fine form last week after injuring her foot.

The star was all smiles as she wore a long, yellow coat over a matching yellow blouse and dark, floral skirt as she left Global Radio studios.

The presenter looked very much back to her usual, cheerful self after she sustained a foot injury last weekend that left her 'struggling to walk'.

Amanda said she believed her foot was not broken at the time and this appears to be the case as she was back in modestly-sized heels today.

The Britain's Got Talent presenter told fans that the injury was the result of trousers that were too long and 'massive heels'.

She explained: 'Remember when Naomi Campbell fell over on the catwalk? Well that happened to me, but I've ripped.... it's the leg that I broke.

'You know when I first joined Heart and I managed to break my leg? It's that leg and I have got nan foot

'So, all weekend I've had a blue foot and I've been in my slippers, so I'm trying to [go for] either an MRI or an X-ray.'

But while Amanda did not break her foot, she admitted the pain she was in was 'even worse than breaking it'.
Karate Kid star Martin Kove believes Hollywood has become too politicaland hes hopeful his longtime friend Sylvester Stallone can help restore its creative focus.

Kove, best known for playing John Kreese in the 1984 classic, shared his thoughts on Stallones new role as Hollywood ambassador under President Donald Trump during an interview with TMZ on Saturday.

When asked if Stallone could 'fix things' in the industry, Kove responded, 'Certainly, theres endless movies that need to be reconstructed and that everything is not so political and more artistic. The kind of stuff we voted for years ago as Academy members are missing.'

The 79-year-old actor, who has seen a career resurgence with Cobra Kai, also praised this years films for being more artistically driven, but said the industry still has a long way to go.

'This year theres been a lot of movies on the money, artistically sound, without massive political statements. Thats not what the Academy was created for.'

Kove believes Stallone, along with actors like Jon Voight and Mel Gibson, could make a difference.

Karate Kid star Martin Kove believes Hollywood has become too politicaland hes hopeful his longtime friend Sylvester Stallone can help restore its creative focus

During an interview with TMZ on Saturday, Kove, best known for playing John Kreese in the 1984 classic, shared his thoughts on Stallones new role as Hollywood ambassador under President Donald Trump

Kove believes Stallone, along with actors like Jon Voight and Mel Gibson (seen in 2016), could make a difference

'Sly knows what this town needs Sylvesters into it, and Jon Voight I really dont know Mel [Gibson] but they are on the job because we gotta improve with whats going on, as theres not a lot of production going on in L.A.'

His comments come amid ongoing debates over Hollywoods creative direction and political influence.

In January, Trump announced Stallone, Voight and Gibson as 'Special Ambassadors' to Hollywood, an apparently new post for outreach to Tinseltown.

'It is my honor to announce Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone, to be Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California,' he wrote on Truth Social.

'They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood, which has lost much business over the last four years to Foreign Countries, BACKBIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!

'These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears, and I will get done what they suggest. It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!'

All have been seen in Trump's orbit recently. Stallone introduced Trump at Mar-a-Lago for his first speech after winning the election in November.

Gibson revealed his support for Trump in a video days before the election  while also going negative and unloading on VP Kamala Harris.

Trump announced the 'Special Ambassadors' positions days before his inauguration

Kove is best known for playing John Kreese in the 1984 classic Karate Kid

The 79-year-old actor, who has seen a career resurgence with Cobra Kai, also praised this years films for being more artistically driven, but said the industry still has a long way to go

'I know what itll be like if we let her in. And that aint good. Miserable track record. No policies to speak of. Shes got the IQ of a fence post,' Gibson said.

The 'Road Warrior' and 'The Passion of the Christ' star said he was 'ashamed' of his comments after he was caught on tape giving an antisemitic rant in 2006 during a DUI arrest following a traffic stop.

Voight has been an outspoken Trump backer. Trump awarded him the National Medal of Arts during his first term.

All three provided vital Hollywood support to Trump during an election campaign where Harris was mopping up celebrity endorsements and campaign contributions.
Ben Affleck stepped out for a lowkey outing with his two eldest children Violet and Fin in Los Angeles this week.

The Oscar winner, 52 - who recently attended the SXSW premiere of his upcoming action thriller The Accountant 2 - spent quality time with the Yale student, 19, and Fin, 16, for a relaxing stroll.

He shares the teenagers, as well as son Samuel, 13, with ex-wife Jennifer Garner - whom he sparked rekindled romance rumors with earlier this month after he was seen hugging the actress while celebrating their son's birthday.

Affleck kept it casual wearing a blue button up which was paired with a pair of khaki pants and a dark navy cardigan.

He additionally opted for a white shirt underneath and slipped into a pair of comfy sneakers for a finishing touch.

Ben was seen walking alongside Violet who affectionately draped her arm over his shoulders as they got a bit of fresh air.

Ben Affleck, 52, stepped out for a lowkey outing with his two eldest children Violet, 19, and Fin, 16, in Los Angeles this week

The duo were also joined by Fin and the group was seen heading towards their next destination for the outing.

Affleck has been keeping busy and last weekend the star attended the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas for the screening of his movie The Accountant 2.

The action thriller - which is a sequel to the 2016 film - is slated to hit theaters next month on April 26.

Along with Ben, other stars that have been cast in the project include Jon Bernthal, Danielle Pineda, J.K. Simmons and Cynthia Addai-Robinson.

The premise is: 'Christian Wolff (Affleck) applies his brilliant mind and illegal methods to reconstruct the unsolved puzzle of a Treasury chief's murder,' per IMDB.

Matt Damon - who was one of the producers on the action thriller - also supported his former Good Will Hunting co-star at the premiere.

While on the red carpet, Ben opened up about his friendship with Damon and working with the star during an interview with People.

'It's a beautiful thing. You know, I don't have very many - none of us really have many friends. You don't need a million friends,' he expressed to the outlet.

Affleck kept it casual wearing a blue button up which was paired with a pair of khaki pants and a dark navy cardigan

The star has been keeping busy and last weekend the star attended the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas (seen above) for the screening of his movie The Accountant 2

'You need a few good ones. And I'm really lucky to have had a friend in Matt. I'm lucky to have friends like that in my life.'

His appearance at the star-studded event also came shortly after he was seen hugging his ex-wife Jennifer Garner during a paintball session as they celebrated their son Samuel's 13th birthday.

The former couple tied the knot in 2005 but their divorce was finalized in 2018.

Ben later married Jennifer Lopez in 2022 but she notably filed for divorce on their second wedding anniversary in August 2024.

Earlier this year in January, their divorce was settled but he wasn't declared legally single until last month on February 21 when the marriage was legally dissolved.

Both Affleck and Garner were also seen arriving to the paintball park near Los Angeles - and the actor flashed a big smile while he conversed with the 13 Going On 30 actress.

The two stars embracing during the outing soon sent the internet into a frenzy - and a source informed DailyMail.com how Garner feels about 'rekindling' her romance with Ben.

The mother-of-three is currently in a relationship with John Miller, and the couple were recently spotted spending time together after the paintball excursion with her ex.

His appearance at the star-studded event also came shortly after he was seen hugging his ex-wife Jennifer Garner during a paintball session as they celebrated their son Samuel's 13th birthday; seen in 2013 in Hollywood

The insider stated that she is 'deathly afraid of falling back in love' with Affleck and has 'trust issues' when it comes to the actor. The pair divorced after Affleck reportedly had an affair with their children's nanny Christine Ouzounian.

'She loves Ben but is worried that he will crush her all over again,' the source continued.

'She doesn't want to heal another broken heart because it is just too much drama, plus she does not want their kids to see round two of their mom in a bad place with their dad. So much could go wrong if they reunite.'

Another insider told DailyMail.com that Ben wants to possibly make a movie with Garner - after working together on Pearl Harbor (2001) and Daredevil (2003).

'Ben has so many ideas popping in his head, he feels like he knows just what to do with her.

'He feels that her true talents have not been brought to light and he is just the producer who can find her the right material. She can do both drama and comedy so he feels there are a lot of opportunities for her skills,' the source said.

Following her hug with Ben, another insider informed Page Six this month that her boyfriend John Miller has issued her an 'ultimatum.'

Earlier this year in January, their divorce was settled but he wasn't declared legally single until last month on February 21 when the marriage was legally dissolved; seen in January 2024 in Beverly Hills

The insider stated that she is 'deathly afraid of falling back in love' with Affleck and has 'trust issues' when it comes to the actor; seen in 2021 in Hollywood

'John knows there's nothing going on between Jen and Ben, but he doesn't think those photos are a good look and feels it's disrespectful to their relationship.'

The source added that the businessman 'gave Jen an ultimatum - he doesn't want to see anything like that again or he has no choice but to walk away.'

And a separate insider told DailyMail.com that Miller had also been a bit bothered by Jennifer and Ben 'being touchy-feely.'

They further expressed, 'It would get to anyone, but this is nothing new. Ben and Jen have a unique relationship, especially for exes.'

However, it seems all is well between John and Garner as the pair were recently spotted this week on a date at Brentwood Country Mart in L.A.

And a separate insider told DailyMail.com that Miller had also been a bit bothered by Jennifer and Ben 'being touchy-feely'

The couple - who began dating in 2018 - were seen 'holding hands and kissing' and were also 'very cute with one another.'

A source told DailyMail.com, 'They are still going strong and appear to be doing really well.

'They looked happy and at ease like they were a married couple that is thriving. They laughed and smiled at each other. Very cute.

'Both were dressed casually and she had no makeup on, her hair down. He had on a coat and jeans.'
Nick Lachey fans have been left baffled over the actor's appearance on the Love Is Blind season eight reunion which recently dropped on Netflix.

The TV personality, 51 - who currently co-hosts the matchmaking reality show with wife Vanessa - prompted some to question his 'different face' as the cast came together once again one year after the series completed filming.

A social media user jumped to TikTok to share a short snippet from the episode and added the caption, 'Is it just me?! what looks different here?'

Fans jumped to the comment section to offer their own thoughts on the clip - which has since raked in over 2 million views.

One penned, 'He looks like an entirely different person,' while another wrote, 'I don't know who that is, but that's not Nick Lachey..'

'It's giving Robbie Rotten from Lazy Town,' one TikTok user shared, and another added, 'Not the search bar being Nick Lachey new face and hair.'

Nick Lachey, 51, fans have been left baffled over the actor's appearance on the Love Is Blind season eight reunion which recently dropped on Netflix

The TV personality prompted some to question his 'different face' as the cast came together once again one year after the series completed filming; seen in 2020 in Miami

One fan typed out, 'Nick Lachey looks like he's wearing a Nick Lachey mask,' and another penned, 'He looks like he aged 15 years overnight.'

'Did Zac Efron and Nick Lachey see the same Doctor,' one commented, while another shared, 'the Ronald Regan mask from point break.'

A Love Is Blind viewer also wrote, 'Yall seen Santa Clause 2 where they make the toy clone version of santa? it's giving that.'

'He should have gone to whoever Lindsay Lohan went to,' another penned, and one questioned, 'Is it me or is Nick Lachey's face different at this reunion?'

However, others came to his defense with a fan writing, 'dude. he's getting older. and? no different than any of these women in Hollywood getting plastic everything. leave him alone.'

Dr. Giselle Prado-Wright also weighed in on the speculation surrounding the star's appearance on the reunion episode.

The plastic surgery expert told RadarOnline, 'On the newest season of Love Is Blind, it looks like Nick Lachey may have had too much filler, giving him a puffy, rounded appearance.

'This type of overfilled look can sometimes happen when too much volume is added to the midface, which can blur natural contours and create an almost swollen effect.'

A social media user jumped to TikTok to share a short snippet from the episode and added the caption, 'Is it just me?! what looks different here?'

One penned, 'He looks like an entirely different person,' while another wrote, 'I don't know who that is, but that's not Nick Lachey..'

'It's giving Robbie Rotten from Lazy Town,' one TikTok user shared, and another added, 'Not the search bar being Nick Lachey new face and hair'

One fan typed out, 'Nick Lachey looks like he's wearing a Nick Lachey mask,' and another penned, 'He looks like he aged 15 years overnight'

'Did Zac Efron and Nick Lachey see the same Doctor,' one commented, while another shared, 'the Ronald Regan mask from point break'

However, others came to his defense with a fan writing, 'dude. he's getting older. and? no different than any of these women in Hollywood getting plastic everything. leave him alone'

Dr. Giselle Prado-Wright also weighed in on the speculation surrounding the star's appearance on the reunion episode

Prado-Wright further expressed to the outlet, 'It's a similar change to what we've seen in celebrities like Cameron Diaz in her newest Netflix movie.'

Lachey - who is the former member of boy band 98 Degrees - has co-hosted the hit Netflix reality since alongside his wife Vanessa since its premiere back in 2020.

Season eight began airing episodes this year in February just in time for Valentine's Day - with the finale being released earlier last week.

The latest season was based in Minneapolis - and both Nick and Vanessa opened up about the recent episodes during an interview with People.

'I think this season is different because it is the Midwest. I think, as we've said before, every season takes on the personality of the city that it's based in,' Lachey stated.

'Minneapolis being in the Midwest, I think there's a certain heartfelt [sensibility] to this season that maybe we haven't seen in others. There's a certain sensitivity to everybody in the pods this season.'

Vanessa added her opinion as well and told the outlet, 'With Minnesota, it's really interesting because they're all there wanting to find love, but they definitely have had a harder time relating to issues.

Lachey - who is the former member of boy band 98 Degrees - has co-hosted the hit Netflix reality since alongside his wife Vanessa since its premiere back in 2020

'So, you see a lot more pod time on season 8, pod episodes, because there's a lot of differences people need to work out.'

Vanessa - who tied the knot with Nick back in 2011 - continued, 'Whether they're fundamental issues and beliefs, or just getting along, or confused about this one or that one person-wise, it's a different season for that aspect.

'There's a lot [of] other elements that never were factors in previous seasons, whether it be families or social media, that we're excited for people, for the fans, to see and to see how they relate to that.'

The lovebirds later shared how being on the show for five years now has helped their own marriage with Nick stating, 'I think it's great therapy almost for us.

'I think this season is different because it is the Midwest. I think, as we've said before, every season takes on the personality of the city that it's based in,' Lachey stated; seen in February in NYC

Back in 2023, a petition was created to remove Nick and Vanessa as Love Is Blind hosts and got 18,000 signatures following a 'biased' reunion at the time; seen in 2024 in Beverly Hills

'We said this before that watching these couples and specifically in pods watching the way they connect, it's a great reminder to never lose that communication in your own relationship.

He added, 'Never lose sight of what set it all off, the connection you felt, the emotions you felt in the beginning.'

Back in 2023, a petition was created to remove Nick and Vanessa as Love Is Blind hosts and got 18,000 signatures following a 'biased' reunion at the time.

However, the couple remained as hosts for the reality series and thus far, they are slated to return for the upcoming ninth season which will take place in Denver.
Kim Kardashian has been left distraught as her ex-husband Kanye West drags their 11-year-old daughter North into the Diddy scandal.

On Saturday, West posted a new song on X called LONELY ROADS STILL GO TO SUNSHINE, apparently featuring Diddy, Diddy's son Christian 'King' Combs and North.

The song opens with what sounds like Diddys voice thanking Kanye for his support, mentioning that no one else has reached out to him while he remains in jail awaiting trial on charges including sex trafficking.

Kanye responds by calling Diddy a father figure, even before they knew each other personally. North makes a brief but noticeable appearance, rapping, 'When you see me shining, then you see the light,' while Christian Combs delivers his own verse.

A source exclusively informed DailyMail.com that Kardashian took legal action to prevent the track's release and is now 'working to get the song down off of X.'

Shortly before the track was released, West posted - then deleted - screen-grabs allegedly showing a vicious text exchange between him and Kardashian in which he threatened to go 'to war' with her.

Kim Kardashian has been left distraught by Kanye West dragging their daughter North, 11, into the Diddy scandal; (from left) Pharrell Williams, West, Diddy and Jay-Z are pictured in 2019

Kardashian and North are pictured in April 2023 at the Beverly Hills Hotel

The supposed conversation makes it appear that Kim holds the copyright to North's name and was using it to try to prevent the 11-year-old from being included in a track with Diddy - provoking a furious reaction from West.

In the grabs, West texts Kardashian: 'I'm never speaking with you again,' along with a snippet of what appeared to be a legal document, including the phrase: 'participation in this project,' presumably in reference to the new song.

Kardashian allegedly shoots back: 'I asked u at the time if I can trademark her name,' alleging: 'You said yes,' and adding: 'When she's 18 it goes to her.'

The grabs then show her evidently admonishing West to 'stop,' saying: 'I sent paper work over so she wouldn't be in the Diddy song To protect her'.

Kardashian, who is an aspiring lawyer, allegedly continues: 'One person has to trademark! We agreed when they were born i would get all of our kids names and trademarks So no would else would take them.'

West is seen to be unmoved, purportedly retorting: 'Amend it or I'm going to war And neither of us will recover from the public fallout,' then darkly declaring: 'You're going to have to kill me.'

In the wake of the song's release, a source exclusively informed DailyMail.com that Kardashian 'will do whatever it takes to protect her kids from the hateful speech that Kanye continues to spur at this time.'

The insider added that Kardashian 'has requested through a judge to not allow the kids to be around that type of behavior.'

Shortly before the track was released, West posted - then deleted - screen-grabs allegedly showing a vicious text exchange between him and Kardashian

Diddy is pictured this Friday being arraigned on a superseding indictment ahead of his May trial on sex trafficking charges

According to insiders, North recently spent time in the studio with Kanyetheir first visit in weekswhere she recorded vocals for the track, via TMZ.

Kanye allegedly told her that participating in the song would lead to the release of his upcoming Sunday Service.

After learning about the track, sources claim Kardashian sent cease-and-desist letters demanding that Kanye not move forward with its release.

An emergency hearing reportedly took place, which Kanye did not attend, where he allegedly agreed to hold off on dropping the track.

Kardashian is said to be particularly concerned about Norths involvement due to the ongoing legal troubles surrounding Diddy, who is currently facing federal sex trafficking allegations.

Insiders say she has been working behind the scenes to keep North out of the situation.

Shortly before releasing the track, Kanye posted an alleged text conversation with Kim, hinting at a brewing conflict by telling fans, 'Were going to war,' per TMZ.

With the song now out, that battle seems to have officially begun.

Kanye West has released a new song featuring Diddy , Diddy's son Christian 'King' Combs, and Wests own daughter North West; (Kanye and Diddy)

The track called LONELY ROADS STILL GO TO SUNSHINE made its debut on Wests X account on Saturday.

The song opens with what sounds like Diddys voice thanking Kanye for his support, mentioning that no one else has reached out to him while he remains in jail awaiting trial; (seen in 2005)

North seemingly makes a brief but noticeable appearance , rapping, 'When you see me shining, then you see the light,' while Christian Combs delivers his own verse; (seen in 2024)

The release comes after Kanye revealed he is reviving his gospel choir, Sunday Service, but with a striking new requirement for those who make the cut.

On Thursday, the rapper took to Instagram to announce auditions for male singers in Los Angeles, inviting participantsincluding children as young as fiveto try out for the choir he originally launched in 2019.

However, those selected wont just be joining the grouptheyll also need to adopt a uniform look.

According to Kanye, while a shaved head isnt necessary for the audition, it will be mandatory for anyone who officially joins the choir.
Samantha Kenny showcased her transformative facial tweakments as she tries to reverse her 'unnatural look'.

The former Love Island star, 27, shared a series of before and after pictures after she started a journey to a more natural look.

In the clinic photographs, the ITV personality was shown having all her old filler dissolved by Dr Rosh in Manchester.

The clinician explained that during a consultation he 'recommended dissolving her lip filler as the proportions were off, and the migration created an unnatural look.

He said: 'I didnt completely dissolve every dropjust targeted the migration/ excess volume.

'You could clearly see in the before that the filler was bulging from the red to white lip, disrupting the natural contour.'

Samantha Kenny showcased her transformative facial tweakments as she tries to reverse her 'unnatural look'

The former Love Island star, 27, shared a series of before and after pictures after she started a journey to a more natural look

Earlier in July, Samantha and former Love Island winner Sammy Root were spotted putting on a cosy display at the star-studded White Fox bash in London.

The pair chatted intently and leaned into each other before the hunk wrapped his arm, which is in plaster, on the leggy stunner's waist.

They appeared on separate series of the ITV2 show with Samantha being dumped from the villa a month prior, while Sammy, 23, won the show in 2023 with ex Jess Harding.

Since, Sammy landed fifth place in the show's All Stars 2025 spin off where he left the villa alongside TOWIE's Elma Pazar, 32.

Samantha was dumped from the show after TOWIE star, Joey Essex, 33, recoupled with his ex Grace Jackson days after she entered the Mallorca villa.

Herself and Joey were coupled up for two weeks prior to Grace's entrance and the blonde beauty had clearly started to gain feelings for the star.

After being dumped Samantha fought back tears during a podcast appearance, after admitting that her co-star Joey 'hurt her'.

She and Joey were coupled up for two weeks prior to Grace's entrance and the blonde beauty had clearly started to gain feelings for the star.

In the clinic photographs, the ITV personality was shown having all her old filler dissolved by Dr Rosh

The clinician explained that during a consultation he, 'recommended dissolving her lip filler as the proportions were off, and the migration created an unnatural look

Appearing on the Reality with Will Njobvu Podcast, Samantha put on a brave face as she talked about her brief romance on the show.

At one point during the episode, host Will asked Samantha if she had watched the scenes where Joey was in the hideaway retreat with love rival Grace.

Samantha cooly responded: 'She got everything that I wanted in 24 hours and I got nothing in two weeks.'

Since Samantha has not been vocal about her dating life and has not given her fans any glimpse through social media.

After leaving the villa, the blonde has been seen frequently modelling underwear on her Instagram.
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Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot posed together at the Hollywood premiere of their 'woke' Snow White remake on Saturday, presenting a united front amid rumors they have been locked in a feud.

The West Side Story actress, 23 - who broke her silence on the controversies surrounding Disney's live-action remake - joined the Wonder Woman star, 39, at the 'scaled-back' screening at the El Capitan theater.

It has been speculated that there is a 'feud' behind-the-scenes with the two leading stars over their contrasting views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ahead of the film's release in theaters on March 21.

Zegler flashed a cheerful smile upon arriving to the venue wearing a strapless, peach-colored gown with a corset bodice and intricate butterfly embellishments at the top.

A thin belt was wrapped around her midriff as the dress contained a drop-down waist and flowy skirt that fell down towards the ground.

Rachel's dark locks were pulled back into a sleek bun, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face.

Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot posed together at Snow White's Hollywood premiere, accompanied by Marc E. Platt, Marc Webb, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Jared LeBoff

Gal Gadot e Rachel Zegler na Premiere de Branca de Neve hoje em Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/Lo20Ixuptw  Gal Gadot Brasil  Fansite (@GalGadotBrasil) March 16, 2025

She accessorized the look with a sparkling, silver necklace and matching earrings to further glam up the look.

Her makeup was classically done for the event, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a smoky shadow around her eyes.

A warm blush was added to her cheekbones for a radiant glow while a glossy nude-colored tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch.

Zegler - who took on the role of Snow White in the film - flashed a cheerful smile as she arrived to the red carpet and paused for a brief photo session at the venue.

Putting aside speculation of a rift, Rachel beamed as she posed alongside her Snow White castmate Gal Gadot - who portrayed the Evil Queen - and the film's producer Marc E. Platt.

They stood together for a group shot with Platt, the film's director Marc Webb, the songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul - who are responsible for the new numbers in the remake - and another one of the producers, Jared LeBoff

Gal showed off her chiseled physique in a sheer black lace dress that flaunted her cleavage and her impressively taut midriff.

The frock featured a black ring of frills reminiscent of a tutu, situated just below the waist to emphasize her slender frame.

She let her sleek dark hair down, tucking it behind her ears, and sharpened her unmistakable screen siren features with makeup.

Putting aside speculation of a rift, Rachel beamed as she posed alongside her Snow White castmate Gal Gadot - who portrayed the Evil Queen - and the film's producer Marc E. Platt

Zegler flashed a cheerful smile upon arriving to the venue wearing a strapless, peach-colored gown with a corset bodice and intricate butterfly embellishments at the top

A thin belt was wrapped around her midriff as the dress contained a drop-down waist and flowy skirt that fell down towards the ground

She accessorized the look with a sparkling, silver necklace and matching earrings to further glam up the look

Her makeup was classically done for the event, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a smoky shadow around her eyes

Zegler - who took on the role of Snow White in the film - flashed a cheerful smile as she arrived to the red carpet and paused for a brief photo session at the venue

Andrew Burnap, who plays Snow White's love interest Prince Charming in the film, was notably absent from Saturday's red carpet.

He was unable to attend because he is playing Cassio in a Broadway production of Othello with Denzel Washington in the title role and Jake Gyllenhaal as Iago.

Explaining his scheduling conflict on his Insta Stories, he wrote: 'so bummed to be missing our premiere of Snow White today, but a three-show weekend here at @othellobway calls  all my love and thanks to those in LA and around the world who helped bring this to life  what a joy it was to make.'

However a number of other famous faces attended the premiere, including Crazy Ex-Girlfriend star Rachel Bloom, who teamed a print trouser suit with a net veil.

Martin Klebba, who provides the voice of Grumpy in the movie, flaunted his several tattoos in a sleeveless top and accessorized with a cross.

Lorena Andrea, 30, who is playing the Good Queen in the film, was dressed to the nines in a sumptuous pink gown with a cowl and a train.

With a slit up the side that allowed her to flash her statuesque legs, the frock featured a mesh cape that Lorena lifted up to display it for the camera.

Lorena, who previously played one of Ariel's sister in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey, balanced expertly on a towering set of stilettos.

The appearance comes after Rachel broke her silence on the controversies surrounding her upcoming live-action Snow White remake which is set to hit theaters next week on March 21.

The West Side Story actress, 23 - who was recently cast in the West End musical Evita - was questioned by TMZ about the criticism towards the movie as she arrived to LAX this week on Friday.

However, the leading star of the Disney film - which is an adaptation of the classic 1937 animation - avoided giving her answer as she swiftly made her way out of the crowded airport.

Gal - who portrayed the Evil Queen - channeled her character in black

Gal showed off her chiseled physique in a sheer black lace dress that flaunted her cleavage and her impressively taut midriff

She let her sleek dark hair down, tucking it behind her ears, and sharpened her unmistakable screen siren features with makeup

The outlet asked Zegler how she felt that Snow White was finally hitting theaters and she replied, 'It feels wonderful, thank you.'

Rachel - who has also been embroiled in drama over her controversial comments on the remake - was then questioned, 'What would you say to those that are kind of just overly critiquing the film at this point? You've worked so hard on it.'

Instead of offering another response, the actress quickly walked towards an awaiting black SUV and hopped inside.

Her latest outing comes after it was revealed the U.K. premiere of Snow White will not take place followed by the Hollywood screening on Saturday also being altered by Disney to avoid anti-woke backlash.

Earlier this week, Disney chose to 'scale back' the movie's premiere in Los Angeles, per Variety.

The screening is still slated to be held at the El Capitan Theatre with both Zegler and her co-star Gal Gadot attending. However, it is reported that 'coverage will be limited to photographers and a house crew.'

Martin Klebba, who voiced the character of Grumpy, slammed Disney for choosing to scale back on the Hollywood premiere.

TMZ reported that the actor - who is also known for appearing in the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise - is 'seriously bummed and a bit pissed.'

He briefly commented on the controversies surrounding the movie, as well as the political opinions of the leading stars but said it 'shouldn't have overshadowed everyone else's hard work.'

A number of other famous faces could be spotted on the red carpet, including Crazy Ex-Girlfriend star Rachel Bloom, who teamed a print trouser suit with a net veil

Martin Klebba, who provides the voice of Grumpy in the movie, flaunted his several tattoos in a sleeveless top and accessorized with a cross

And while talking to The Hollywood Reporter, he further commented on the screening which will take place on Saturday and expressed, 'It really isn't going to be a red carpet.

'It's going to be at the El Capitan [Theatre], which is cool. But it's basically going to be a pre-party, watch the movie, and that's it.'

Martin added, 'There's not going to be this whole hoopla of, "Disney's first f***ing movie they ever made." Because of all this controversy, they're afraid of the blowback from different people in society.'

Peter Dinklage previously hit back at Disney for remaking Snow White which he labeled as a 'f***ing backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together.'

Klebba said, 'I don't usually get into the political stuff, but I [felt], "Dwarfs aren't going to go away just because you can't imagine that they're there."

'We're still going to be walking around. So I didn't get the whole stuff about not doing the dwarfs. The story's been around forever, and it's a classic.'

It has also been rumored that there is a 'feud' behind-the-scenes with Rachel and Gal over their contrasting views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A source recently told People that the two stars 'have nothing in common' and added, 'On top of that, their political views differ, adding to the tension.'

Lorena Andrea, 30, who is playing the Good Queen in the film, was dressed to the nines in a sumptuous pink gown with a cowl and a train

With a slit up the side that allowed her to flash her statuesque legs, the frock featured a mesh cape that Lorena lifted up to display it for the camera

Lorena, who previously played one of Ariel's sister in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey, balanced expertly on a towering set of stilettos

A large scale premiere would have also taken place at Leicester Square in London, but an insider informed DailyMail.com earlier this month that a decision was made to not hold one for the upcoming movie.

'Disney are already anticipating an anti-woke backlash against Snow White and have reduced the media schedule to just a handful of tightly controlled press events,' the source stated.

'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.'

Rachel has been embroiled in drama following her controversial comments on the Disney animation.

She sparked backlash after she called the storyline of the film 'weird' and also labeled the prince as a 'stalker.'

In one past interview, Zegler had revealed that the new film would be going in a different direction and said of the character of Snow White: 'She's not going to be saved by the prince and she's not going to be dreaming about true love.'

The star also faced backlash when she was first cast as Snow White as a Latina actress.

In response to the negative reception, Rachel penned in a since-deleted post: 'yes i am snow white no i am not bleaching my skin for the role (sic).'

The leading star of the film - which is an adaptation of the classic 1937 animation - avoided giving an answer to questions about the controversy as she swiftly made her way out of LAX

It was also revealed that Disney has 'zero faith' in the upcoming film and that the movie bosses simply want to get the movie's limited promo 'over with,' per The Hollywood Reporter.

A source said, 'An advance sales cycle of less than two weeks just screams, "We have zero faith in this thing." And it couldn't come at a worse point, when the industry is just trying to limp along to May.'

However, insiders for Disney expressed that they, 'always intended to hold back the film's big promotional push until the final few weeks, beginning when Zegler and Gadot presented together at the Oscars on March 2.'

On Wednesday, Rachel made an appearance at a secret premiere for Snow White which was held at a remote castle in Segovia - a city located north west of Madrid.

The lowkey European event had 100 VIP guests in attendance which included families and content creators.

Zegler had the chance to sing Waiting On A Wish for the crowd - but was not joined by any of her other Snow White castmates, such as Gal Gadot.

Sources recently informed Page Six that Disney 'doesn't know what to do' with 'out of control' Zegler.

'Disney's lead actress is out of control. They don't know what to do,' an insider told the outlet.

The screening is still slated to be held at the El Capitan Theatre with both Zegler and her co-star Gal Gadot attending. However, it is reported that 'coverage will be limited to photographers and a house crew'

'She's an outspoken 20-something and Disney chiefs have called her directly and asked her to tone down her posts. They've called her management, but she won't listen.

The insider added, 'It's been this way the entire way through filming. But it's the tying of her politics to Snow White that is upsetting.'

Late last year in November, separate sources claimed that Disney bosses viewed Rachel as a 'loose cannon.'

At the time, Zegler had slammed Donald Trump voters - but later issued an apology for hoping that 'Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace.'

An insider told DailyMail.com, 'They would love to be able to tell her to stop talking, but it is simply too late. They had talked about removing Rachel from the role several times when it was shooting in 2022.

'She is a loose cannon and caused issues during the production because she didn't agree with how the film plot strayed from the classic movie's plot.'

They added that before filming, Zegler 'read the script. If she didnt like it then she should have not taken it. It wasn't until after the film was wrapped that she really started creating drama.

'She has been a nightmare but there is nothing they can do to control what she says. Everyone is well-aware of how difficult she is.'

It was also revealed that Disney has 'zero faith' in the upcoming film and that the movie bosses simply want to get the movie's limited promo 'over with,' per The Hollywood Reporter

The source continued, 'Right now, it is way too late to shelve the film. As much as people think that her recent comments and controversies will hurt the film, it is not likely the case.

'If anything, it generates more publicity and attention to the film, which leads to increased ticket sales. The film is Snow White, and it could really sell with anyone in the lead.'

While talking to Vogue Mexico, Rachel opened up about the backlash that Snow White has received.

'I interpret peoples' feelings about this film as a passion for it. What an honor to be part of something that people feel so passionate about,' she said, per a translation from Spanish.

The actress added, 'We're not always going to have the same feelings as everyone around us, and all we can do is give the best of ourselves.'

Zegler also told the outlet, 'I understand that the community doesnt want to be seen as a monolith, but the reality of being Latino and working in this industry is that we try to represent the entire diaspora.

'I know where I have been, I represent it in my narrative and I carry it in my heart every day.'

In regards to the 1937 classic and the live-action remake, Rachel explained, 'It's very important for the public to know that Disney has found this beautiful and delicate balance between the animated classic that everyone knows and loves from 1937, and at the same time, introduces it to this new generation.'
New Yorkers, bad news  you don't have the best pizza, food critics say.

The only silver lining? Your thin slices are ranked second-best, and your archrival  Chicago  didnt even crack the top 10.

In a surprising twist, a pizzeria in Japan outranked even Italys legendary establishments as it landed in third place behind New York.

TimeOuts list of the world's top 19 pizza joints will be hard to swallow for American pizza lovers.

New York Citys Scarrs Pizza, a staple in the Lower East Side, landed the No. 2 spot, losing only to a pizzeria in Italy that hasn't changed its recipe in almost nine decades.

Scarrs earned praise for its hand-crafted ingredients, including dough made from freshly milled grain in the shops basement.

'The result is an airy, slightly tangy crust that can hold up to toppings yet is pliable enough to be folded for a slice on the go,' Morgan Carter, a food and drink editor for the publication, wrote in her review.

But Italy, the birthplace of pizza, outperformed the New York slice, the reviewers said.

Three pizza joints made their way onto the list of world's best pizzerias

A famous Italian pizzeria nabbed the top spot in the rankings (stock image)

Pizzeria da Attilio, a family-owned restaurant in Naples that sources ingredients from local vendors, makes a Margherita pie that secured the top spot.

The restaurant, which opened in 1938, has kept the same recipe in the words for 87 years.

Each slice is made with regional tomatoes, 24-month old parmesan, and fresh basil.

For pizza-lovers hoping to stay in America, a deep dish shop in Chicago, Millys Pizza in the Pan, was the 11th best slice.

A Miami pizzeria, Eleventh Street Pizza, nabbed 14th place with a hot honey Sicilian slice.

Globe-trotters should head to Asia for the third-best slice of pizza, the reviewers found.

Pizza Marumo, a shop in Tokyo, Japan, took the bronze medal with a slice of umami pizza.

The pie features some surprising ingredients, like mushroom cream sauce, mozzarella, and soy sauce.

Experts ranked the world's best pizza pies with some surprising findings

Your browser does not support iframes.

Pizza shops in Rome, Italy; Sydney, Australia; Copenhagen, Denmark; London, U.K; Cape Town, South Africa; Paris, France; and Madrid, Spain round out the top ten.

Here is the list of restaurants, per TimeOut:

Pizza Margherita at Pizzeria da Attilio in Naples, Italy Cheese pizza at Scarr's Pizza in New York City Japanese umami pizza at Pizza Marumo in Tokyo, Japan Pizza Capricciosa at 180g Pizzeria Romana in Rome, Italy Clam pizza at Bella Brutta in Sydney, Australia

Pizzas ranked... on value

Researchers have conducted more studies to find which cities have the best pizza values in the U.S.

An eight-point study  which uses data points like price, Yelp reviews, and frequency of local Google searches for nearby shops  found that pizzerias in Denver, Colorado; Buffalo, New York; and Boston are the best for pizza-lovers.

New York didn't favor too well on the list.

The pizza-mecca ranked 15th on the list, burdened by its $34 average price for a large pepperoni pie.

Richmond, Virginia had the cheapest average large pie, with $14.75 for a family-sized cheese pizza.
Whole Foods is axing a popular cost-cutting perk that pleased tree-hugging customers.

For nearly two decades, the Amazon-owned grocer has given customers a 10-cent credit for each reusable bag they used at checkout.

But as of this week, the incentive has been axed.

Whole Foods confirmed the change, stating that the initiative, first launched in 2008, had achieved its goal: making reusable bags the norm.

The grocery store's 17-year anti-plastic-bag policy was revolutionary for U.S. retailers and regulators.

In 2008, it became the first major U.S. supermarket chain to ban plastic bags at checkout.

At the time, customers lauded the decision to step away from the petrochemical-derived bags. Over time, the move away from plastic bags has become commonplace.

Major retailers  like Target, CVS, and Walmart  have all barred the production of single-use plastics for their checkout locations.

Whole Foods announced a change coming to its store this week

For years, customers have left Target stores with red and grey canvass bags instead of the old glimmering plastic bags.

CVS shoppers have carted their items in brown paper bags with sturdy handles.

Municipalities have joined in on the bag-banning: California passed state-wide restrictions on plastic, while New York City banned the bags from stores.

Still, some Whole Foods employees aren't thrilled to see the perk disappear.

Multiple spoke out about potential reactions from angry customers in a thread on Reddit.

'It's company-wide and a shame,' one poster said on the social media app.

'We will have some upset guests and the ideas that Amazon has truly "wrecked Whole Foods" and "isn't Bezos rich enough" will be heard around the world once again.'

Grocery shake-ups

Whole Foods isn't the only grocer making massive changes to its customer interactions.

New York regulators stopped stores from providing plastic bags after Whole Foods adopted the policy

Whole Foods - like many other retailers - shifted over to paper bags at checkout stations

Aldi recently confirmed plans to open 225 new stores across the U.S. this year.

The plan to open new locations is the next step after Aldi purchased southern grocery chains Winn Dixie and Harvey Supermarkets.

Also, grocery customers have seen new roll-outs of purchase limits on eggs.

Major retailers have capped the number of egg cartons customers can buy from each store per day.

Trader Joes, for example, only allows customers to buy one carton of eggs a day.

The limitations have sent shoppers rushing to stores to scoop up the largest offerings of the limited supplies.

Eggs have been a hot commodity after American farmers culled millions of egg-laying hens in early 2025.

Farmers killed the birds as a deadly bird flu surged through avian populations in the U.S.

But the preventative measure has nullified production of the eggs. The supply-side issue has inflated grocery egg prices to historic levels.
Kohl's has recently removed a popular Amazon perk from select US stores.

Store employees confirmed that select locations in Massachusetts, Washington, Missouri, and Wisconsin are no longer accepting Amazon returns, according to Modern Retail.

An employee at a store in Massachusetts said the change went into effect on Tuesday at all locations across the state, while another worker said the retail chain is redirecting Amazon customers to The UPS Store.

Shoppers had been allowed to bring Amazon returns to all Kohl's locations in US, except for its store in Anchorage, Alaska.

The retailer provided little details about the decision but confirmed the change was part of a test.

'Kohl's has been providing a service to customers by accepting returns from Amazon and select other third parties across our store fleet at our Return Drop for several years,' a spokesperson told DailyMail.com.

'To continue to learn from our customers, we are conducting a test in a handful of our stores where we will be temporarily discontinuing the third-party returns service.'

The process is part of its 'test and learn culture,' which is meant to improve store experience and understand shoppers' 'expectations and preferences.'

Kohl's employees confirmed that locations in Massachusetts, Washington, Missouri, and Wisconsin are no longer accepting Amazon returns

Kohl's and Amazon collaborated in 2017 to create the return program for stores in California and Wisconsin before its nationwide expansion in 2019.

The program was meant to help Kohl's boost sales and increase its customers while providing a return option for Amazon shoppers.

'We're really going to just continue to be focused on all of our initiatives to drive traffic, and Amazon is obviously one of those key items, Sephora being another one,' Kohl's CFO Jill Timm said at the time.

Kohl's customers who still have access to the perk can begin using it by accessing Amazon's Online Return Center.

Customers must select the Kohl's Drop-Off option.

Amazon will send the buyer a QR code via email and through the person's Amazon account, which Kohl's associates are required to check at a drop-off location.

Kohl's will then pack, label, and ship the item free of charge.

The retailer confirmed it gained two million new customers after entering its partnership with Amazon during an earnings call in 2021.

Kohl's introduced the returns option to select stores in California and Wisconsin after entering a partnership with Amazon

Shoppers still have an option to return Amazon orders at other Kohl's stores throughout the US

Despite the program's goal of boosting sales, Kohl's has suffered a significant financial decline.

The retailer confirmed it was expecting to see a 5 to 7 percent sales decline, which caused its stock to drop by more than 26 percent on March 11.

The stock drop also came after Kohl's confirmed it would close 27 stores in 15 states by April 1.

'We always take these decisions very seriously,' former CEO Tom Kingsbury said in a January press release.

'As we continue to build on our long-term growth strategy, it is important that we also take difficult but necessary actions to support the health and future of our business for our customers and our teams.'
A McDonald's employee has allegedly confirmed the return date of the beloved Snack Wrap, nearly a decade after it was discontinued.

The fast food giant teased the return of the fan-favorite item in December, and Americans have been eager for an official release date.

According to a TikTok video released on Tuesday by an employee at the chain, Snack Wraps will officially arrive on April 29.

The employee, who posts under the handle @mcdonalds_hacks101, revealed in the video what appeared to be an internal memo from McDonald's which stated the date.

'Wonder when chicken wraps/tenders return,' the caption read. 'Well here it is...'

The Chicago-based food giant has remained tight-lipped about the exact return date of the menu item.

The Snack Wrap, which debuted in 2006, featured crispy or grilled chicken, cheese, and sauces wrapped in a soft flour tortilla. The affordable snack developed a loyal following among customers before it was removed from menus in 2016.

'This has a cult following,' Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald's USA, said on ABC's Good Morning America when he announced the return of the item. 'I get so many emails into my inbox about this product.'

According to a TikTok video released on Tuesday by an employee at the chain, Snack Wraps will officially arrive on April 29

The Snack Wrap, which debuted in 2006, featured crispy or grilled chicken, cheese, and sauces wrapped in a soft flour tortilla

The resurgence of interest in the menu item comes amid growing competition.

Rivals like Burger King and Wendy's have recently introduced their own wraps.

The revival also reflects McDonald's broader strategy to expand its chicken offerings.

The chain has pledged to expand its McCrispy chicken line globally by the end of 2025, including wraps and tenders.

'We're excited about the significant opportunity we see within our chicken portfolio, and see the potential to add another point of chicken market share by the end of 2026,' CEO Chris Kempczinski told investors at the company's latest earnings call last month.

McDonald's also in October introduced the Chicken Big Mac to the US for the first time, and plans to bring it back for limited runs in the future.

It has been sold on and off in Europe for years.

It comes after McDonald's announced on Tuesday that it was creating three C-suite roles to analyze menu offerings in three categories: beef, chicken, and beverages and desserts.

Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald's USA, said the Snack Wrap has a 'cult following'

McDonald's has created new C-suite jobs that will analyze sales of expanding food categories

The Snack Wrap developed a loyal following among customers before it was removed from menus in 2016

It's a clear sign that McDonald's is done playing defense in the chicken and drinks wars - and is now taking direct aim at competitors with more specialized menus.

'We're competing against somebody like a KFC, which is single-mindedly devoted to winning in chicken,' Kempczinski said in a video on LinkedIn.

'This category team now allows us to have that same level of focus.'

McDonald's bosses are looking to take on Chick-Fil-A, KFC and Popeyes in the chicken space, and Starbucks and Dutch Bros are key rivals for drinks and desserts.

The brand recently launched its CosMc's beverage-focused concept, serving slushies, iced teas, and coffees.

Most of the drinks carry a sales price between $4 and $6.

So far, the company's launch of the concept stores have been mixed, with some locations reporting hours-long waits for customers.
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Harvest season of spring tea starts in Zhongtai, China's Zhejiang

Xinhua) 10:11, March 15, 2025

A worker fries spring tea leaves for the farmers at a workshop in Fengling Village of Zhongtai sub-district, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2025. Local farmers are busy picking fresh tea leaves as the harvest season of spring tea has started in Zhongtai. The sub-district has about 1,040 hectares of tea fields, with an annual output of about 285 tonnes of tea and an output value of 195 million yuan (about 27.09 million U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

A worker fries spring tea leaves for the farmers at a workshop in Fengling Village of Zhongtai sub-district, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2025. Local farmers are busy picking fresh tea leaves as the harvest season of spring tea has started in Zhongtai. The sub-district has about 1,040 hectares of tea fields, with an annual output of about 285 tonnes of tea and an output value of 195 million yuan (about 27.09 million U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

This photo taken on March 14, 2025 shows tea trees on a hill in Shuanglian Village of Zhongtai sub-district, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. Local farmers are busy picking fresh tea leaves as the harvest season of spring tea has started in Zhongtai. The sub-district has about 1,040 hectares of tea fields, with an annual output of about 285 tonnes of tea and an output value of 195 million yuan (about 27.09 million U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Farmers pick spring tea leaves on a hill in Shuanglian Village of Zhongtai sub-district, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2025. Local farmers are busy picking fresh tea leaves as the harvest season of spring tea has started in Zhongtai. The sub-district has about 1,040 hectares of tea fields, with an annual output of about 285 tonnes of tea and an output value of 195 million yuan (about 27.09 million U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Farmers deliver fresh tea leaves they picked to the tea factory for processing, which is convenient for sale, at a workshop in Fengling Village of Zhongtai sub-district, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2025. Local farmers are busy picking fresh tea leaves as the harvest season of spring tea has started in Zhongtai. The sub-district has about 1,040 hectares of tea fields, with an annual output of about 285 tonnes of tea and an output value of 195 million yuan (about 27.09 million U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Tourists taste spring tea in Fengling Village of Zhongtai sub-district, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2025. Local farmers are busy picking fresh tea leaves as the harvest season of spring tea has started in Zhongtai. The sub-district has about 1,040 hectares of tea fields, with an annual output of about 285 tonnes of tea and an output value of 195 million yuan (about 27.09 million U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

A worker weighs and packages freshly fried tea leaves at a workshop in Zhongtai sub-district, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2025. Local farmers are busy picking fresh tea leaves as the harvest season of spring tea has started in Zhongtai. The sub-district has about 1,040 hectares of tea fields, with an annual output of about 285 tonnes of tea and an output value of 195 million yuan (about 27.09 million U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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 ...


The mother of a young girl from County Derry who died after being struck by a car after getting off a school bus is calling for better safety measures to protect children.

Stella McMullan launched an online petition yesterday (Friday) calling for authorities to do more to save lives.

The petition, which has been signed by more than 4,500 people so far, comes just over a week after Stellas daughter Caitlin-Rose passed away.

The 11 year-old Castledawson girl, who was a year eight pupil at St Pius X College in Magherafelt, was struck by a car after exiting a bus on the Hillhead Road on March 5.

Posting on Facebook, heartbroken Stella said: As you all know we lost our baby girl on 6th March while coming off her school bus.

I feel it's my legacy to her to start getting more bus shelters, speed awareness and bus awareness before some poor family will have this tragedy happening to them.

Please spare a few minutes to help support my angel in changing the rules , all you need is a second to sign and write a comment to help me get this to the top.

Simply click the link, sign, comment and share, greatly appreciate.

Stella said more needs to be done to prevent further incidents and to raise more awareness.

I experienced a tragedy no parent should ever have to go through, her petition read.

My daughter, only 11 years old, lost her life while coming off the school bus. It's an incident that has left a lasting impression on me and my family and it is only one example of a widespread and urgent problem: the lack of effective bus safety measures in place to protect our children.

Statistics from the National Safety Council reveal that most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are 4 to 7 years old, and they're either walking or hit by another vehicle, just like my daughter (source: National Safety Council). It's evident that it's not enough to simply trust drivers to obey the laws; more needs to be done to ensure the safety of our children.

This petition is calling for the implementation of effective measures such as bus shelters, better bus codes similar to those found in countries where cars must stop by law to let children cross, and a significant increase in speed awareness around stopped buses.

The benefits of these changes are clear. By giving children a safe place to wait for the bus, providing clearer regulations for drivers, and reinforcing the need for drivers to slow down and stay alert near buses, we can help prevent tragic accidents like the one that took my daughter from me. It is time we prioritise the safety and lives of our children. Sign this petition and join the call for improved bus safety measures.

The petition can be signed here
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Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced a partnership with Washingtons historical institutions to uncover and tell stories of shared history.

During a visit to the Library of Congress in the US capital, Mr Lyons outlined the project to develop a collection of archive documents supported by an archive research placement from the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI).

He said: As keeper of the records of Northern Ireland, I recognise this fantastic opportunity to have one of our PRONI archivists working in Washington to identify, record and bring together a collection of archive documents that showcase the strong influence that people from Ulster had in shaping America.

I am also keen our shared partnership will provide the opportunity to secure original historical documents for loan and display.

Our shared stories are important and this two-month placement will help illuminate the influence and impact our local ancestors had in shaping the cultural, economic and political landscapes of modern America.

The PRONI archivist will work in partnership with the Library of Congress, National Archives and other institutions in Washington later this year.
1,070,535.44 is outstanding in Dundalk District Court office in unpaid fines since 2020, according to figures released by the Irish Courts Service under the Freedom of Information act to Ireland South MEP, Cynthia Ni Mhurchu.

The figures released show that almost 45 million in unpaid District Court fines are outstanding across Irelands District Court system since 2020.

Commenting on the figures, Ni Mhurchu said: What does this say to the victims who have been impacted by crimes such as drink driving, assault, theft, and shop lifting. We are imposing fines that a percentage of criminals are choosing to ignore and it seems there is little we are doing about it. 45 million would fund a lot of domestic violence refuges, road safety campaigns and extra Garda on our streets.

"It is time for a get tough approach to those criminals who feel they are above the law. Our road deaths have been rising in Ireland for consecutive years. How can we expect any improvement in that scenario when those fined for traffic offences may choose not to pay the fine

The Fianna Fail MEP has called for the issue of unpaid district court fines to be included in the upcoming review of the criminal justice system which was promised in the 2025 Programme for Government.
Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) on Thursday celebrated the official opening of the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE) in Dundalk, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Irelands manufacturing sector.

The state-of-the-art Centre is designed to equip the workforce with the skills and knowledge required to navigate the challenges of modern, high-tech manufacturing.

Since the establishment of the AMTCE in 2021, a total of 62.4 m to date has been invested in it, of which 7m were grants through Enterprise Ireland. Further breakdown of that figure is below.

SOLAS, under Mr. Andrew Brownlee, and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) strongly backed the concept, providing the remaining 20% match funding for both EI grants, which came to 1.4 million.

The department and SOLAS contributed more than 26m to cover the cost of purchase of the AMTCE building and capital works at Xerox Technology Park in Dundalk.

The annual operational budget of around 7m is also provided by SOLAS which has come to 28m over the past four years.

The AMTCE has catered for 5,000 learners in the past three years and in excess of 5,000 are projected for 2025 and 2026.

The event, which was attended by key figures including Mr James Lawless TD, Minister of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and distinguished guests from various sectors, highlighted the importance of collaboration between industry, education, and government in driving innovation and workforce development in Ireland.

Minister Lawless said: I am delighted to be in Dundalk today to officially open this magnificent facility and to meet the people who will benefit from the learning opportunities offered here by LMETB.

My Department approved funding for LMETB to acquire and refurbish this building, at a cost of some 26 million, with further investment in leading edge technology and equipment.

The provision of technology training at the AMTCE Campus enables LMETB to enhance their range of training and further education programmes, offering exciting new careers and employment opportunities for learners. Minister Lawless continued.

Martin G. OBrien, Chief Executive of LMETB, spoke about the journey leading up to the official opening, noting that the AMTCE represents an investment not only in infrastructure but in Irelands future competitiveness.

We are at a critical point where traditional manufacturing methods are giving way to cutting-edge technologies, OBrien said. AMTCE is designed to ensure that Irelands workforce is equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrows industries.

The AMTCE will serve as a hub for training and innovation, providing world-class education for apprentices, students, and workers at all stages of their careers. It will offer hands-on experience with the latest technologies, ensuring that learners gain the practical skills required by modern manufacturing businesses. The centre will also facilitate collaboration between industry leaders and educational institutions, fostering a culture of innovation and research.

Read Next: Speeding crackdown near Louth school sees drivers fined

The Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence will play a pivotal role in bridging the skills gap and enabling our workforce to thrive in a fast-changing landscape, said O Brien.

This facility exemplifies our commitment to building an innovative and resilient workforce that will drive Irelands future growth.

The AMTCE will cater to a broad demographic, offering training in areas such as robotics, automation, cybersecurity, and 3D concrete printing. In collaboration with local businesses, the centre will provide upskilling programs for the workforce, ensuring that Irish manufacturers can stay competitive in an increasingly globalized economy.

The centre will also work closely with third-level institutions. This collaboration underscores the centres role as a catalyst for innovation and a key player in Irelands advanced manufacturing ecosystem.
Parts of Cork citys northside may suffer overnight water supply disruptions and discolouration early next week, as Uisce Eireann carries out a targeted programme of intensive flushing works.

Ever since the then Irish Water opened its 40m Lee Road water-treatment plant in summer 2022, areas of the city, predominantly on the northside, have been affected by intermittent problems with undrinkable brown water.

According to Uisce Eireann, the combination of an adjustment of chemicals used in water preparation at the plant and increased water pressure caused rusty sediment to be stripped from the inside of the citys aging cast-iron water mains, resulting in ongoing issues with discoloured water in homes across the city.

As part of the water utility companys efforts to address the issue of water quality, it is carrying out an ongoing programme of what it called a targeted programme of intensive flushing works.

Planned flushing will take place at Ard Patrick, Mount Farran and Farran Cleary Place on the northside of Cork City from Tuesday, 18 March, and the works are expected to take up to three nights to complete.

These works, which the company said would likely occur after 10pm and into the early hours of the following day, are likely to lead to water disruption, with possible instances of water discolouration.

A traffic management plan will be in place for the duration of the works, with signage erected in the area.

Uisce Eireann said it recommended that the public should allow two to three hours after the estimated restoration time for water supply to fully return.

Updates on these works can be accessed on the Uisce Eireann website, water.ie, by entering in the search bar the reference CCI00090439.

The company has reiterated its public health advice that water is safe to drink when it is running clear.

James Goulding, Uisce Eireanns water operations lead, said the latest works were the final phase of the companys planned flushing programme in the area.

We are seeing positive benefits from undertaking this programme of flushing and we will continue to closely monitor any instances of discolouration as our crews work to tackle these incidents, he said.
Gardai and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) are appealing to drivers to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or accept lifts from anyone that they believe may be under the influence this bank holiday weekend.

The director of research at the RSA, Michael Rowland, pointed out that four people died and 12 were seriously injured in road traffic collisions over the St Patricks bank holiday weekend last year.

Ahead of the national holiday, drivers and all other road users are being reminded to plan ahead and organise a safe way home if socialising over the coming days.

Urged

Gardai urged anyone who is intending to socialise and have drinks at any point over the long weekend to leave their car at home and arrange a designated driver among friends, pre-book a taxi, use public transport where possible, or fix up a lift home from someone they trust who will not be under the influence.

At no point is it safe or acceptable to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after having an intoxicant like alcohol or drugs, a spokesperson said.

Walking home or cycling under the influence of alcohol or drugs can also put you and other road users at risk.

In the 10 weeks since the turn of the year, 33 people have been killed in fatal road traffic collisions on the roads in Ireland.

An extensive garda roads policing operation will take place throughout this St Patricks bank holiday weekend.

It got under way at 7am yesterday and will run until 7am on Tuesday, March 18.

Gardai will focus on targeting four offences that are proven to cause fatal and serious collisions: Intoxicated driving, speeding, using a mobile phone, and not wearing a seatbelt.

Priority

Transport minister Darragh OBrien said that road safety is a priority for this Government.

We are determined to reduce the fatalities and serious injuries that have devastated so many families and communities across Ireland, he said.

A range of legislative measures, including the recent reduction in speed limits on rural, local roads, and the introduction of mandatory roadside testing for drugs, as well as for alcohol in any driver involved in a serious collision, will help us progress towards the achievement of Vision Zero by 2050.

We must continue to work together to ensure the safety of all road users and all in our communities.

Chief Superintendent Jane Humphries, of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, said: On every day of 2024, gardai arrested at least one driver every hour for driving while intoxicated.

While drug driving is a major concern, the vast majority of the thousands of people detected and arrested for intoxicated driving during the past year were under the influence of alcohol.

This weekend will be a big social one for lots of people and we are here to keep the public safe, but we also need everyones help to achieve this, Chief Supt Humphries added.

Under no circumstances should you get into your car and drive if you have consumed drink or drugs.

That decision can either take your life, go on to define it, or lead to someone else losing theirs, she said.
Almost three quarters of all psychology posts in primary care within the South Lee region of Cork are vacant, according to HSE figures.

This has prompted a Cork TD to express concern that young people may be dropping out of school or turning 18 while waiting for an appointment, and are no longer eligible for services.

The HSE provided data on the funded posts for Cork South Lee and the vacancies as of February 2025, as well as details of staff on the waiting list initiative (WLI) team to Sinn Fein TD Donnchadh O Laoghaire via parliamentary question.

Vacant

It shows that three out of four child staff-grade psychologist roles are vacant, and all five psychology assistant roles are also vacant, though the HSE spokesperson said that two assistants were at an advanced stage of recruitment.

There is one whole-time equivalent (WTE) for a senior grade staff member, and there is a 0.17 vacancy rate, suggesting the person or people in the role work just four of the five days that funding is provided to cover.

There is one staff grade psychologist for adults funded, and no vacancy, meaning that overall, of 11 funded WTEs, just 2.83 posts are filled and 8.17, or 74%, are vacant.

Mari ODonovan, interim head of primary care for HSE South West, explained that the WLI staff are not specific to the region but assist with those on the wait list for over a year in Cork and Kerry.

With regards to the WLI posts, please note that these are not South Lee designated posts but are staffing for Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) wide initiatives.

The South Lee waitlist does benefit when staff are in place as these initiatives intervene with longest waiting/ those waiting over 52 weeks.

More than half of these posts are also vacant  of seven total WLI staff, 4.5 posts are vacant across both staff and assistant grades  a 64% vacancy rate.

Ongoing

Ms ODonovan said that recruitment is ongoing.

We are actively recruiting to fill long-standing psychology vacancies across all areas of Cork and Kerry and a number of posts are at various stages of recruitment, some with commencement dates between January to March 2025.

Mr O Laoghaire told The Echo that the service must be struggling to function with so few staff.

The situation in primary care for children and young people is clearly unsustainable, said Mr O Laoghaire.

Three of four staff missing is undoubtedly going to be reflected in very long waiting times, and I would imagine many children are ageing out before they are seen.

High vacancy rate

He said the service is meant to help treat people who seek help early, before their mental condition deteriorates, but that the high vacancy rate is a barrier to this.

Theres always a lot of attention focusing on Camhs, but the threshold to get into Camhs is very high, he said.

Primary care carries an awful lot of responsibility in making sure young people in our community are looked after in terms of anxiety, suicidal ideation, low mood, behavioural difficulties, ADHD, and ASD queries. But these figures show that the chance of early intervention is very, very low.

Major effort needed

He called for the ministers for health and mental health to take the issue seriously, saying: A major effort needs to go into recruitment, because if you dont have a functional primary care service, peoples needs end up escalating to a point where they need Camhs.

These young people might need assistance in education, psychological support to cope with the pressures of school, and if they are waiting too long, they might end up dropping out or practising school avoidance, which can cause massive issues for their future.
District Court jurisdiction was refused in the case against a 26-year-old man accused of arson at a house in Knocknaheeny one year ago as it emerged that the estimate for the amount of damage has now been put at more than 28,000.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis said that this estimate had now been given for the amount of the damage caused.

Judge Mary Dorgan said: Given that estimate of damage I am refusing jurisdiction.

The case now goes back to the DPP for directions, as a result of this refusal of jurisdiction.

Sgt Davis said the DPP had previously indicated summary jurisdiction but that was before the estimate for the damage was put at 28,000.

Instructed

Solicitor Frank Buttimer said on behalf of defendant Shane Hendricks: He has instructed me he wishes to enter a plea.

If that moves things along in terms of accessing directions now that he has indicated a plea.

He will consent to a four-week adjournment.

Judge Dorgan remanded Mr Hendricks in custody until April 10.

Garda Ray Costello objected to bail being granted again to 26-year-old Mr Hendricks who was arrested at Tramore Valley Park walkway near Douglas in Cork, on Wednesday night, March 5. He was given bail last year but breached it earlier this month and was remanded in custody.

Garda Costello said the accused was not living at the address specified in Farranree and was of no fixed address, not keeping a curfew, not signing on at a garda station, not staying north of the River Lee and not turning up in court when required.

Support

The accused asked Judge Mary Dorgan to bear in mind he was living in a tent with his girlfriend, who needed his support.

Last year when he was first before the court Shane Hendricks was at the address at Kilmore Heights, Knocknaheeny, Cork, where it was alleged that the arson occurred.

Garda Cillian OConnell said: Gardai attended a report of a house fire at Kilmore Heights.

On arrival, gardai were met by Cork city firefighters, who informed gardai there had been a fire set in the rear bedroom.

A petrol can had been recovered from the bedroom and there was extensive damage to the bedroom. Gardai were also made aware that there were two occupants in the house when the fire was set but were out of it when the gardai arrived.

While gardai were in attendance, Shane Hendricks of Kilmore Heights approached them and said to garda David ODonoghue: I did it, I set fire to the room.

On being searched at the scene he was found to have a burnt lighter in his pocket. He said in interview that he had consumed a number of cans of alcohol prior to setting the fire while at home and that he is currently off his medication which he is prescribed.

The arson charge relates to March 25, 2024.
HSE South West has reminded everyone in Cork to consider all urgent care options over the St Patrick's Bank Holiday weekend, following high levels of overcrowding in CUH and the Mercy after the February bank holiday.

Health services including pharmacies, out-of-hours GP services, injury units and emergency departments will be available for those who need them this weekend.

However, a HSE spokesperson explained: Emergency Departments are often busier around bank holiday weekends.

All patients will be seen and treated, with the most urgent patients being prioritised. This means that patients with non-urgent injuries may face longer waiting times and these patients may get the treatment they need faster at an injury unit.

Injury units treat injuries that are not life-threatening, such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains, wounds, scalds and minor burns.

This weekend, an injury unit will be available in The Mercy Injury Unit Gurranabraher at St Marys Health Campus Gurranabraher, open 8am to 6pm and available to those aged 10 and older.

In Cork county, there is the Mallow Injury Unit, open 8am to 8pm, and available to those aged five and older and Bantry Injury Unit, open 8am to 8pm, also available to those aged five and older.

In addition, the Irish Life Health expresscare clinic is available to treat minor injuries on the same terms as the HSE injury units, from 10am to 8pm for those aged 12 months and over.

Patients who are admitted to Cork hospitals via Emergency Departments should also be aware that they might be transferred to a HSE South West acute setting which best meets their needs  eg a move from CUH/MUH to Mallow General Hospital.

Claire Crowley, General Manager at Mallow General Hospital explained: Mallow General Hospital is a Model 2 acute healthcare facility, ideally suited for those needing in-patient care that is not life-threatening.

The teams at other Cork hospitals may decide to transfer you to us, in order to keep beds available for those who require high dependency care.

Hopefully, you won't need emergency care this weekend but patients presenting to Cork emergency departments should be aware that they may be transferred here, where we will take excellent care of you during your stay.

Dr John Sheehan, HSE GP Lead Network 8 (Central Cork/Mayfield/Montenotte/Tivoli/The Glen/Blackpool/St Patricks Carrignavar) asked people to consider their options: Bank holiday weekends put additional pressure on our emergency departments in Cork.

The sickest people will be seen first, so please stop and ask yourself: Do I really need to attend the ED? Our emergency department cares for those who are seriously ill or injured, so please consider alternative care pathways where possible.

Your local pharmacy, GP, Southdoc or injury unit are convenient options if you have a minor ailment or injury.

Dr Andy Phillips, Regional Executive Officer of HSE South West said that they are expecting a busy weekend: Our highly committed HSE staff will be working hard over the bank holiday. If you do need urgent care, there are a range of local options available to you and your family.

Our emergency departments will be very busy looking after the most seriously ill people in our communities. Please help us to provide everyone with excellent care by taking a moment to consider all your options for care that can be provided quickly, close to your home, before attending the ED.
Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould will not be addressing the Dail about allegations of fraud, as his request to make a personal statement on the matter has been declined by Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy.

Earlier this month, Mr Gould was arrested by arrangement and, after questioning in relation to alleged financial irregularities in a company where he previously worked, was released without charge.

In a statement released through his solicitor, Mr Gould said: I am entirely innocent and reject the complaint which my former employer has made against me.

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.

Mr Collins also denies any wrongdoing of any kind.

Statement

Mr Gould said in a statement issued via solicitor to The Echo: I requested to make a personal statement in the Dail as I believe in accountability and honesty. I strongly reject the allegation that has been made against me.

The Ceann Chomhairle has declined my request. Therefore I cannot make a personal statement.

Ms Murphy reportedly denied Mr Gould's request to make a statement out of concerns that it could interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation.

This follows remarks from Taoiseach Micheal Martin on the topic earlier this week, where he suggested the case was prematurely publicised.

Asked about Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald signalling a willingness to make a statement on the matter in the Dail, Mr Martin said: I would question it, frankly, because I believe that its very early days for Dail statements, where questions have just happened.

He said Mr Gould and Mr Collins had been arrested by appointment and asked questions by the gardai without any conclusion.

He added: Theres a process to be followed. We do have separation of powers, and I would have thought that the obvious thing for now would be to await the process and see what transpires.

And there can be plenty time in the aftermath of that process for questions in the Dail.
Timekeeping was top of the agenda, with heated exchanges earlier in the meeting regarding speaking time, including one between Lord Mayor Dan Boyle and Independent councillor Paudie Dineen, when he ran over his allocated speaking time on a new bus lane.

The meeting ran for four hours until 9.30pm  though they are scheduled to end at 8pm, almost all meetings run at least an hour over this.

The Green Partys Oliver Moran compiled analysis of the 2024 motions in the contentious section of the agenda and found that 65 out of 78, or 83%, of these motions last year were directly to do with Cork city.

The most frequent reason for a motion was transport issues in the city (22%), followed by a local authority matter (19%), then issues to do with Uisce Eireann (13%).

Motions

Only four motions were to do with national matters, and nine to do with international, of which six were related to Israel/Palestine.

Fine Gael were responsible for 23% of these motions, Labour 21%, Independents 12%, Green Party 10%, Rabharta (party of former councillor Lorna Bogue) 9%, People Before Profit-Solidarity 8%, Sinn Fein 8%, Workers Party 5%, Fianna Fail 3%, and Social Democrats 3%.

Thirty-five minutes was wasted by Fianna Fail debating whether we had time to agree eight motions that took 27 minutes in total when we finally got to them. And half of those were actually carried over from the previous meeting, when Fianna Fail obstructed that agenda from being completed, Mr Moran told The Echo.

There can be motions that may appear outside of the realm of Cork City Council, but thats the exception, not the rule.

Lord Mayor, councillor Dan Boyle, with Cork City Council staff giving away 1,500 native Irish trees to the public at Tramore Valley Park, Cork, on Wednesday. The same number were given away on the northside of the city at The Glen River Park with hundreds queuing at both locations. Its the second year Cork City Council have participated in the scheme during National Tree Week, in conjunction with the National Tree Council and Coillte. Picture: Larry Cummins.

A solution had been identified by the party whips ahead of the meeting that for the non-statutory items, there would be less speaking time allocated and only one contribution could be made per group  this was voted down.

The party whips are Terry Shannon for Fianna Fail, Joe Kavanagh for Fine Gael, Kenneth Collins for Sinn Fein, Mr Moran for the Progressive Alliance (Labour, Greens, and Social Democrats), and Independent Kieran McCarthy for Independents and others.

The latter group is made up of Ted Tynan of the Workers Party, Brian McCarthy of People Before Profit-Solidarity, Independent Irelands Noel OFlynn, and Independents Albert Deasy, Paudie Dineen, and Kieran McCarthy.

The group would have wildly different political views, with Mr Tynan saying some members of the group dont represent me, and that he thinks the meeting should take as long as needed.

Strong views

Its not a talking shop, we have strong views on things at a local, national and international level because the people we represent do. I believe were quite entitled to speak about issues of concern to people, he said.

Fellow member of the group Noel OFlynn said he was totally against the idea of combined speaking time for his group, explaining: It appears to me that some of us are of like mind and others are not, its not fair to any of us to have to be restricted in that way.

He also said standing orders should be amended to allow five minutes for the proposer of a motion rather than three, saying he felt the Lord Mayor had been unfair in shutting down councillors including Mr Dineen.

He must be more flexible with speakers, because hes not shouting over his own crowd as much as the independents. Thats censoring, and its not democracy.

Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Dan Boyle and Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Joe Carroll present Olympic Gold medalist Kellie Harrington with her Cork Passport and award as the Honorary Cork Person of the year at the Cork Person of the Year awards which took place at the Cork International Hotel. Picture: David Creedon

However, he said it is important that the meetings are made shorter: In the 90s wed be there until 12 without a sandwich or cup of tea. We dont want to go back.

The meeting shouldnt go beyond the 2.5 hours scheduled. We had a half hour debate on extending the meeting, and I told the councillors they could continue on but Im going away now and I did. Lots of these motions at the end have absolutely nothing to do with Cork City Council.

He proposed screening the motions to see if they are applicable or not, or starting the meeting earlier  noting that almost every other local authority conducts meetings during the day.

Fianna Fail councillors had criticised the non-statutory items and length of the meetings, but party whip Terry Shannon indicated they would not support one speaker per group, as his group was the largest.

Labours Peter Horgan was also not in favour of only one response per group, and said it was important not to stifle debates: Just because something isnt necessarily in the remit of council, doesnt mean you should ignore it  people in our constituencies feel strongly about special needs education or public transport, why shouldnt we vocalise that feeling in the peoples forum?

Last night, for all the argy bargy, there were four statutory motions to be debated, and three of those came from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

Guillotining debate

Cutting off certain motions would be guillotining debate, he said, adding: Im not in favour of shutting down meetings at an arbitrary time of 8 oclock without agendas being finished  were big enough to feed and hydrate ourselves, its one night a month.

Mr Horgan said they are planning to get a new audio visual set up including a clock, so members can see how much speaking time they have left, adding that keeping to this would help make meetings shorter.

I think there needs to be a point of conduct introduced after how certain elected members conducted themselves, if theyre intending to continue shouting down the Lord Mayor or other councillors, he said.

Fine Gaels Shane OCallaghan said: The non-statutory motions are at the end of the meeting, so I dont see what the issue is, councillors who dont want to debate them can leave, and they often do.

The solution is not to stifle debate because the meeting is going on too late, Ive no problem staying there because its an important part of a councillors role to raise issues brought up by constituents.

He added that a motion of his which saw the Michael Collins statue erected in Grand Parade was an example of a motion classed as non-statutory, along with other councillors motions which saw the CEO of the National Transport Authority and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris visit the council to answer questions on transport and policing in the city.

I think its bizarre, councilors voting to stifle their own debate is like a bunch of turkeys voting for Christmas.

Its absolutely nonsensical, the meeting ended at 9.30 after two sets of non statutory items  were it not for the debate started by people wanting to cut them, the meeting would have finished at ten to nine.

IN BRIEF

Fireman's hut costs

A Cork City councillor has been told that work on information panels for the Firemans Hut, the restoration of which cost 361,446.38, is still ongoing.

The restored 'Fireman's Rest' on Anglesea St. Picture: Darragh Kane

Sinn Fein councillor Kenneth Collins was told by chief executive Valerie OSullivan: The project was subject to a competitive tendering process and therefore prices are reflective of the market prices for such skills and experience. The refurbishment of the Firemans Hut necessitated a standard of conservation craftmanship that most general construction contractors do not possess. Procurement requirements were followed throughout. The refurbishment is now complete and it will be opened up to the public during scheduled events.

The interpretation of the history of the building, including its history as a fire-fighting asset and later as a base for city bus services, will form an important element of the project and discussions have already taken place with stakeholders. At this stage, this is a work in progress and there is no design or format for the content or its final interpretation.

Foreign travel costs

Cork City Council spent 244,215.37 on foreign travel in 2024, chief executive Valerie OSullivan has revealed.

The figures were provided in response to a question from Independent councillor for the south west ward Albert Deasy, who asked the total sum spent by Cork City Council on all foreign travel in 2024, in particular the cost of the Lord Mayor-led delegation to Shanghai, China, in November 2024.

The total sum expended by Cork City Council for the Shanghai trip, including transport, accommodation, and subsistence, was 25,870.02  while a further 218,345.35 was spent on other foreign travel during the year.

Ministers invited to council

A motion by Labour Party councillor Peter Horgan inviting three new government ministers to attend a Cork City Council meeting was passed, after a lengthy debate.

The motion that this council will seek to invite the ministers for transport Darragh OBrien, justice Jim OCallaghan, and housing James Browne for engagement on Cork City specific issues in the areas of public transport, infrastructural investment, garda support, and housing provision amongst other areas as a matter of urgency, was criticized by several councillors.

Some 15 councillors voted in favour, three abstained and nine voted against, including all the Fianna Fail councillors and Independents Albert Deasy, Noel OFlynn and Paudie Dineen, meaning the council will now write to the three TDs and invite them to the council.

Call for legal aid fee bump

Cork City Council is to write to the public expenditure minister Jack Chambers and the justice minister Jim OCallaghan following a motion by Fine Gaels Shane OCallaghan.

The council will call on them to increase the legal aid fees payable to solicitors on the District Court Family Law Solicitors Panel so as to ensure that more solicitors are able to do family law legal aid work.

This aims to clear a backlog in family law applications in the district court in areas such as applications for domestic violence orders, disputes regarding custody, and access to children and maintenance applications.
Almost five months after the Irish Prison Service (IPS) told The Echo that a decision on the future of the old Cork Prison building was as due in the coming weeks, an update on the situation has still not been forthcoming.

This is as the current Cork Prison building was operating at 120% capacity, with 356 in custody, as of Friday  meaning 60 people were sleeping on the floor.

The prison, which has a capacity of 296, has seen continuous overcrowding recently, reaching a high of 372 in custody last month.

The former prison ceased to operate in February 2016, following the opening of the new facility on the same road.

Pressure

With continued pressure on prisoner numbers nationally, the site has been identified as a possible location for additional prisoner accommodation, which local residents, politicians and the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) have objected to.

Speaking to The Echo Saoirse Brady, Irish Prison Reform Trust (IPRT) executive director, said that focusing on alternatives to custody would be more beneficial.

Evidence shows that increasing the size of and numbers in our prisons does not  and will not  reduce levels of crime. It merely serves to widen the criminal justice net, said Ms Brady.

Continuing to focus on expanding existing large-scale institutions or creating new ones, serves no ones interests and puts more pressure on already overstretched services and communities."

The old Cork Prison closed as it was deemed to be not fit for purpose and didnt have in-cell sanitation. The IPS previously told The Echo it is in poor physical state and unsuitable for use in its current form, meaning a significant amount of work would be required.

Feasibility study

A feasibility study on the condition of the buildings, with regard to its potential for use as prisoner accommodation in the short to medium term, was commissioned in 2024.

A Freedom of Information request by The Echo into the findings of the report was denied last October.

At the time a spokesperson for the Information Access Office at the IPS said: The department is in the process of considering options with regard to old Cork Prison and have not yet made a final determination in the matter. The document in question is expected to be agreed in the coming weeks.

Some 21 weeks later, an IPS spokesperson told The Echo: There is no further update available at this time.
The DPP has decided that a case against a 24-year-old man should proceed by indictment for assaults, criminal damage, and violent disorder at Sullivans Quay three years ago.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said the DPP indicated that the case should go to trial by judge and jury at the Circuit Court or that a signed plea of guilty could be entered.

Solicitor Frank Buttimer, on behalf of defendant Davin Jackson of Millrange, Ballincollig, Co Cork, asked for a summary of the evidence so that the defence could consider the possibility of entering a signed plea of guilty.

He is charged with assault causing harm to three men, causing criminal damage, and two counts of engaging in violent disorder.

The charges arose out an alleged incident at Sullivans Quay, Cork, on March 6, 2022.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said the DPP had directed trial by indictment on the charges against him. She said the criminal damage charge related to alleged damage caused to a car belonging to another man.

In respect of two counts of violent disorder it was stated that he attacked the owner of the car and another man, and did so with two other men.

He is charged with assault causing harm to these two men and to a woman.

It was also stated that all of these alleged assaults were captured on CCTV.

Judge Aine Clancy remanded Mr Jackson in custody until March 25 at Cork District Court.
According to Deadline , Humans writers Jonathan Brackley and Sam Vincent are working on an adaptation of Philip K. Dicks 1953 novella, The Variable Man. The show is being produced by Motive Pictures in a partnership with Electric Shepherd Productions, which is run by the late authors daughter, Isa Dick Hackett. The Variable Man follows a tinkerer turned accidental time traveler named Thomas Cole, who is transported from 1913 into the future and suddenly finds himself a reluctant player in an interplanetary conflict.

Its being written for a UK broadcaster, according to Deadline, but there may be hope for a US release. When youve got Sam and John doing what they did so brilliantly with Humans and exploring the modern world through a genre lens, it is something that can absolutely attract broadcasters in the US, Motive CEO Simon Maxwell told the publication. I really enjoyed The Variable Man back when I read it and Ill give any PKD adaptation a chance, so heres hoping we get another good one in this series.
SpaceX's Crew-10 mission has successfully launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:03PM Eastern on March 14. NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov are onboard and will join the ISS crew after the spacecraft docks with the orbiting lab at 11:30PM Eastern time on March 15. The new crew's arrival will allow NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to fly back home after their supposed week-long stay on the ISS had turned into a nine-month stint.

Williams and Wilmore flew to the ISS aboard the Boeing Starliner's first crewed flight meant to prove its readiness to ferry astronauts to orbit. On the way to the station, however, the Starliner started leaking helium, and some of its thrusters had malfunctioned. While the astronauts and ground engineers tried to solve the issue, NASA had ultimately decided to have the Starliner fly back home uncrewed. The spacecraft returned back to Earth in September, leaving Williams and Wilmore aboard the ISS.

Before Boeing's Starliner flew back, NASA had already decided that Williams and Wilmore will be coming home with the SpaceX Crew-9 personnel. The mission headed to the station with only two astronauts onboard to leave two seats open for its return. They were originally scheduled to fly back in February, but Crew-10's launch was ultimately delayed to give SpaceX enough time to process a new Dragon spacecraft for the mission. Williams and Wilmore are now expected to fly back to Earth with Crew-9's Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov as soon as March 19.
Saturday, March 15, 2025

Living alone can be an empowering experienceoffering freedom, self-reliance, and personal space. However, as we age, the challenge is ensuring that living independently doesnt turn into feeling isolated or neglected.

According to Next Avenue , millions of older adults live alone, and while some thrive in their independence, others struggle with loneliness, safety concerns, and access to support. A study by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) found that social isolation can increase the risk of heart disease, cognitive decline, and even mortality. But the good news? There are countless ways to maintain strong connections, stay safe, and live a fulfilling lifealone but never neglected.

More older adults are choosing to live alone than ever before. The Pew Research Center reports that 27% of adults over 60 live by themselves, a number that continues to rise. While this independence can be rewarding, it requires intentional planning to ensure safety, social engagement, and well-being.

1. Build and Maintain Social Connections

Living alone doesnt mean being alone. Maintaining strong relationships is crucial for emotional and physical health. Research from the Harvard Study of Adult Development shows that people with strong social ties live longer and report greater life satisfaction.

Ways to Stay Socially Connected:

? Join local senior or community groups through Meetup .

through . ? Schedule regular check-ins with family and friends using video apps like Zoom or GrandPad .

? Participate in virtual events or online book clubs through AARPs Virtual Community Center .

2.Ensure Home Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Living alone means having a plan for emergencies, whether its a medical issue, home repair, or unexpected situation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises older adults to have an emergency contact system and home safety modifications.

Essential Safety Measures:

? Install medical alert systems like Bay Alarm Medical for immediate assistance.

like for immediate assistance. ? Set up smart home technology with devices like Amazon Alexa for voice-activated help.

with devices like for voice-activated help. ? Use home safety checklists from AARP HomeFit to prevent falls and hazards.

3.Stay Active and Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Physical and mental well-being play a key role in maintaining independence. A study from the World Health Organization (WHO) found that regular physical activity reduces the risk of chronic disease and improves mobility.

Ways to Stay Active:

4. Explore Community and Volunteer Opportunities

Giving back to the community can provide a sense of purpose and combat loneliness. Studies from the Corporation for National and Community Service show that older adults who volunteer experience lower rates of depression and improved mental health.

Where to Get Involved:

5. Manage Finances for Long-Term Independence

Living alone means being financially prepared for healthcare, housing, and daily expenses. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) warns that many older adults underestimate their future financial needs.

Steps to Financial Security:

? Use budgeting apps like Mint to track expenses.

like to track expenses. ? Explore senior discount programs for groceries, transportation, and healthcare ( Senior Discounts Guide ).

? Consult a financial planner through NAPFA to plan for long-term stability.

1. Engage in Lifelong Learning

Keeping the mind active reduces cognitive decline and enhances mental well-being. The Alzheimers Association states that mentally stimulating activities help delay memory loss.

Where to Keep Learning:

? Take free online courses through Coursera or edX .

through or . ? Learn a new language with Duolingo .

? Try creative hobbies like painting, music, or writing.

2. Connect with Others Through Technology

If transportation or mobility is a challenge, technology offers endless ways to stay connected.

Best Digital Platforms for Social Engagement:

? Join online senior forums at Stitch .

at . ? Play games and interact socially through apps like Words with Friends .

? Use video chat apps like WhatsApp to stay in touch with loved ones.

1. Create a weekly social calendar to maintain connections.

2. Review home safety measures and set up emergency systems.

3. Find a fitness or hobby group to stay active.

4. Explore volunteer and mentorship opportunities for a sense of purpose.

5. Set up financial plans to ensure long-term independence.

Living alone doesnt mean living in isolation. With the right strategies, technology, and social connections, you can thrive, stay safe, and enjoy a fulfilling life on your own terms.

Do you or someone you know live alone? What steps have you taken to stay socially connected and independent? Join the discussion and share your experiences in our community: https://agebrilliantly.org/forum/ .
An independent commissioner has been appointed to monitor progress on the delivery of the UK Farm Assurance Review recommendations.

In January, the UK's first ever comprehensive review of farm assurance called for a 'fundamental reset' in order to rebuild confidence amongst farmers.

This 9-month review, established by the UK farming unions and AHDB, was conducted independently by four commissioners.

It was triggered by controversy over Red Tractor's Greener Farms Commitment (GFC) environmental module, which had to be scrapped following significant backlash last year.

The unions and AHDB have now appointed Dr David Llewellyn CBE to take up the sole position of an independent monitoring and reporting commissioner to track the report's recommendations.

Release on 20 January, it made nine strategic recommendations, including for all on-farm audits to be reduced, simplified and delivered more consistently.

There must be a transformational step forward in embracing technology, the review concluded, and all schemes must review and improve their communication with farmers.

The report also called for Red Tractor to complete the implementation of recommendations in the Campbell Tickell report on its governance.

Dr Llewellyn will shortly be inviting stakeholders identified in the report to submit their feedback on relevant recommendations and to set out their proposed actions for delivery.

He said: I am pleased that there will be an opportunity, over the next year, for progress in implementing the UKFAR recommendations to be formally assessed and publicly reported.

My role will be to independently monitor and report on the actions of the organisations identified in the initial farm assurance report."

The appointment of a monitoring commissioner aims to ensure transparency as the industry considers and implements the changes required to help farm assurance work better for farmers.

As well as being responsible for facilitating discussions with stakeholders, over the next year Dr Llewellyn will publish independent progress reports in autumn and spring of 2026.

"It will be for those organisations to participate fully, and transparently, in addressing the recommendations in order to contribute to the improvement of the UKs farm assurance system," he said.

I look forward to discussing progress to date with the nominated organisations over the next few months, in preparation for our first monitoring report later this year.




64th Filmfare Awards in 2019 where Alia openly confessed her love for Ranbir. He had won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) Award for Sanju whereas Alia won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) Award for Raazi.

It was thein 2019 where Alia openly confessed her love for Ranbir. He had won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) Award for Sanju whereas Alia won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) Award for Raazi. Alia Bhatt is an example of the fact that manifestations can become true. At the mere age of 11, the actress developed a crush on Ranbir Kapoor. Little did she know that down the years, she would start a family with the actor. On several occasions before they had started dating, Alia professed her admiration for Kapoor and expressed her will to marry him. Now, they are one of the most loved couples of Bollywood and are parents to a beautiful daughter, Raha. On the Gangubai Kathiawadi actress' 32nd birthday today, we recall some of her iconic moments with Ranbir Kapoor at the Filmfare Awards.





Alia Bhatt- I love you (from stage) after winning award, while Ranbir Kapoor is all smilesaAAAAAAAAAAAA#FilmfareAwards2019 pic.twitter.com/UPHZFzvV5L  Ranbir Kapoor Universe (@RanbirKUniverse) March 23, 2019



When Alia went on stage to accept her award, she went on a spree to thank everyone. The actress signed off her speech with a mention of her special one. She said, "Meghna (Gulzar), for me, Raazi is you, your blood and sweat. You are my main chick. Vicky (Kaushal), without you, the film wouldnt be complete. Thank you, my mentor, Karan (Johar) for being my mentor, father and my fashion police. Tonight, is all about love; there, my special one, I love you (pointing at Ranbir Kapoor)." The cameras focused on Ranbir who was blushing and covering his face. Later on, when it was announced that Ranbir bagged the award for Sanju, he immediately kissed Alia.





Cut to the 69th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2024, the star studded night once again saw Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor stealing the show with their chemistry.





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During Ranbir Kapoors performance, he stepped down from the stage to dance with Alia. The two grooved to Jamal Kudu from Animal with glasses on their heads. Ranbir Kapoor won Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) for his role in Animal while Alia Bhatt won Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) for Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.
How refreshing it is to see John Abraham not punching Pakistanis with a hand pump, like Sunny Deol in Gadar. His weapon of choice is a phone and hes trying to diplomatically solve a crisis. Who knew the man was capable of not using his muscles as the main tool in his skill set? The Diplomat, inspired by the real-life rescue of Uzma Ahmed, revolves around Indian diplomat J P Singh (John Abraham), who finds himself in the middle of a very uncomfortable diplomatic situation. A woman, Uzma (Sadia Khateeb), shows up at the Indian High Commission in Pakistan, claiming shes been abducted by a Pakistani man who tricked her into a marriage. Now, it's up to J P, a man of courageous diplomacy, to wade through a minefield of international tension. And no, John doesnt rip off his shirt and beats the bad guys to a pulp while enacting J P. This time, hes acting as if speaking calmly to his Pakistani counterparts could actually work. What a daring move for the action star. That he manages to pull off the role has made us realise there was an actor hidden somewhere beneath all the brawn.John Abrahams portrayal of JP Singh is a marked departure from the usual biceps-and-brooding routine. The restraint is almost so convincing that you forget hes the same guy who single-handedly takes down entire villainous organisations in his action-packed romps. The lack of his usual action-hero energy might be a shock to those expecting the typical loud, brash portrayals hes known for. But, for once, hes playing a man whose strength doesnt come from breaking bones, but from the fortitude to patiently navigate the political minefield. He holds the phone like a man who knows the power of communication. We half expected him to dramatically throw it across the room at some point, just for the old times' sake. Alas, no such luck.The film attempts to get its audience invested in the political maze while keeping the personal drama intact. The drama's heart lies in Uzmas struggle, beautifully portrayed by Sadia Khateeb. Shes someone whos truly suffering, and John is there to gently hold her hand and guide her back to India. Sadia makes Uzmas suffering look real and youre batting for her from the first frame to the last. You want her to come back home safe. The audience actually cheers when she crosses the border. Jagjeet Sandhu, who plays Uzma's brute of a husband, Tahir, is so convincingly vile that you'd love to hate him. He nails the role so perfectly, it makes you wonder how he manages to sleep at night. As for Ashwath Bhatt, well, it seems hes made a bit of a career out of playing caddish Pakistani intelligence officers. Sharib Hashmi plays Tiwari, a civil servant afraid of being posted in Pakistan and his eccentricities do bring in a laugh or two. One cannot fail to mention Revathy as the ever-gracious Sushma Swaraj, a role that she plays with the finesse of someone who knows exactly how to handle international crises. Not all Pakis are bad. Kumud Mishra plays a helpful lawyer who helps Uzma get justice in a Pakistani court.Despite the film's somewhat slow start, once it picks up the pace, it delivers some genuinely compelling momentslargely thanks to Sadia Khateebs powerful performance and the central tension surrounding the international implications of Uzmas plight. John Abraham remains committed to playing it cool, keeping the focus on diplomacy over dramatics. Who knew the man could pull that off without having to tear off his shirt and yelling Mera Bharat Mahan?might not be for the bang, boom, pow crowd, but for those looking for a diplomatic thriller that dials down the violence and cranks up the tension, it's worth a watch. Just dont expect John to pick up a hand pump anytime soon. He's too busy picking up the phone
Star Copper Corp. ("Star Copper" or the "Company") (CSE:STCU) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") dated March 14, 2025 with Alpha Copper Corp. ("Spinco"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Star Copper, pursuant to which the Company proposes to spin-out to the Company's shareholders its 100% interest in the Okeover copper-molybdenum project (the "Okeover Project"), which consists of a property encompassing 4,613 hectares (11,399 acres) located immediately north of the coastal City of Powell River, British Columbia (collectively, the "Spin-Out").

The Spin-Out will provide investors with an ownership stake in two separate specialized companies. Star Copper will continue to focus on the advancement of the Star Project and Quesnel Project, while Spinco will focus on advancing the Okeover Project. In contemplation of the Spin-Out, the Company has filed a technical report in respect of the Star Project, available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Darryl Jones, CEO, President and Director of Star Copper, stated: "We are pleased to progress with this exciting opportunity for the Company and its shareholders. Creating a standalone company focused on holding and advancing Star Copper's flagship asset, the Star Project, and a standalone focused company to pursue the Okeover Project will diversify our shareholder's investments and allow each respective company, Star Copper and Alpha Copper, to focus on advancing their respective assets."

Spin-Out

The Spin-Out will be completed as part of a strategic reorganization intended to unlock value for the Company's shareholders, by allowing Star Copper to focus on advancing the Star Project and Spinco to advance the Okeover Project.

The Spin-Out will proceed by way of a statutory plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") in accordance with the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), whereby all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Spinco (the "Spinco Shares") will be distributed to the Company's shareholders of record as of the effective time of the completion of the Arrangement (the "Effective Time"). The Spinco Shares will be distributed to Star Copper's shareholders in proportion to their respective holdings of common shares of Star Copper ("Star Copper Shares") at the Effective Time.

Completion of the proposed Arrangement requires the approval of the Company's shareholders ("Shareholder Approval"), the approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia ("Court Approval") and the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE Approval").

The Arrangement Agreement, Court Approval and Shareholder Approval

In accordance with the Arrangement Agreement, Star Copper will apply for an interim order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia authorizing Star Copper to call an annual and special meeting of the Company's shareholders to approve the Arrangement by special resolution (the "Meeting"). The Meeting is expected to take place on April 30, 2025.

The Arrangement involves, among other things, the distribution of Spinco Shares to Star Copper shareholders such that each Star Copper shareholder will receive for each Star Copper Share held immediately prior to the Effective Time: (i) one new common share of Star Copper (each, a "New Star Copper Share"); and (ii) one-third of one Spinco Share.

Immediately following completion of the Arrangement, which is expected to occur in Q2 2025, Star Copper's shareholders, other than any dissenting shareholders, will own 100% of Spinco. Stock options exercisable to acquire Star Copper Shares (each, a "Star Copper Option") which are issued and outstanding as at the Effective Time will also be exchanged pursuant to the Arrangement, such that each Star Copper Option holder will receive for each Star Copper Option held immediately prior to the Effective Time: (i) one new stock option of Star Copper (each, a "New Star Copper Option") exercisable to acquire one New Star Copper Share; and (ii) one stock option of Spinco (each, a "Spinco Option") exercisable to acquire one-third of a Spinco Share. Upon the Arrangement becoming effective, it is expected that Spinco will consolidate the issued and outstanding Spinco Options on a 3:1 basis such that each Spinco Option will then be exercisable to acquire one Spinco Share.

No fractional Spinco securities will be distributed under the Arrangement. Any fractions of Spinco Shares resulting from the Arrangement will be rounded down to the nearest whole number without any compensation in lieu of such fraction.

More detailed information regarding the Arrangement and the exchange of securities thereunder, as described above, will be set out in Star Copper's management information circular (the "Circular") that will be mailed to shareholders in connection with the Meeting.

After careful consideration, the Board of Directors of Star has unanimously determined that the Arrangement is fair to shareholders and is in the best interests of the Company. A description of the various factors considered by the Board of Directors in arriving at this determination will be provided in the Circular.

After the Arrangement is completed, it is expected the New Star Copper Shares will continue to be listed for trading on: (i) the Canadian Securities Exchange in Canada under the symbol "STCU" the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany under the symbol "PPOO" and (iii) on the OTC Market in the United States of America under the symbol "STCUF".

The Spinco Shares will not be listed on any stock exchange upon completion of the Arrangement, but Spinco will operate as a reporting issuer in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario and will comply with its continuous disclosure obligations under applicable Canadian securities laws. More detailed information regarding the Spinco Shares and post-Arrangement Spinco will be set out in the Circular.

Okeover Project

The Okeover Project consists of a property encompassing 4,613 hectares (11,399 acres) located immediately north of the coastal City of Powell River, British Columbia. Since its discovery in 1965, the Okeover Project has been explored by several companies including Noranda Exploration, Asarco Exploration, Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd., Duval International Corporation, Lumina Copper Corp, and Eastfield Resources Ltd.

The property currently exhibits eight zones of mineralization which have so far been discovered over a north-south striking trend of approximately 5 kilometers. Of note, the North Lake Zone, received a 2006 historic resource calculation with an inferred 87 million tonnes grading 0.31% copper and 0.014% MoS2, (Carter N., for Eastfield Resources Ltd., filed on SEDAR+, Nov 17, 2006). However, the North Lake historical resource estimate does not comply with CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by the CIM Council, May 19, 2014, as required by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The Company cautions that a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical resource estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The reliability of the historical estimate is considered reasonable however there can be no certainty, following further evaluation and/or exploration work, that the historical resource estimate can be upgraded or verified as mineral resources or mineral reserves in accordance with NI 43-101. The historical inferred estimate was prepared by manually calculating six drill sections based on 3819 meter of diamond drilling in 18 holes, and 180 meters of percussion drilling in three holes. Please see Section 6 of the Company's Technical Report on the Okeover Project dated January 31, 2024, available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca for more information. Between 1966 and 2008 one hundred and sixteen drill holes (116) totaling 19,000 meters have been completed.

The exploration focuses at the Okeover Project shifted to target generation aimed at evaluating probable continuation of mineralization north and south of the North Lake Zone historic resource area. This work consisted of 1,923 soil samples, with 377 rock samples collected, and 28-line kilometers of induced polarization surveying completed since 2010. No drilling was completed between 2008 and 2023, although an airborne geophysical (magnetic and radiometric) program was completed over the property in 2021. In 2023, the Company (then Alpha Copper Corp.) conducted a further 1258 meters of drilling across 4 diamond drill holes into the North Lake target to verify historic drilling and move towards completing a resource estimate.

The North Lake Zone historic resource is situated on the western side of a strong chargeability anomaly, and extends a further 250 meters westward beyond the edge of the induced polarization feature. Comparable signatures extend a further 1.4 kilometers in a northerly direction and approximately 1.0 kilometers in a southerly direction defining a target area of approximately 500 meters by 3,000 meters. Hole 72-15 (382025 mE 5545278mN 10N), with 0.29% Cu and 0.027% MoS2 over 59.5 meters,from 115.8 meters is found in this target area approximately 400 meters north of the North Lake historic resource area while hole 66-01 (382048 mE 5542521 mN 10N) contains 0.34% Cu and 0.021% MoS2 over 101 meters from 2.7 meters, and is located 1,750 meters south of the North Lake Zone.

Located just forty-five minutes by vehicle from Powell River, the mineralization at the Okeover Project shares several commonalities with the Hushamu deposit on Vancouver Island (Northisle Copper & Gold Inc.) and the Berg deposit in west-central BC (Surge Copper Corp., optioned from Centerra Gold).

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Jeremy Hanson, P. Geo., a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Star Copper Corp. (CSE:STCU)(OTC:ALCUF)(FWB:PP0)

Star Copper is focused on contributing to the green economy by finding and developing copper resource assets in stable jurisdictions. The Company is positioned to earn a 60-per-cent interest in the Indata copper-gold project located in north-central British Columbia. After the acquisition of Cavu Energy Metals, the Company has acquired 100% of the Star copper-gold porphyry project in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia (the "Star Project"), as well as the 100% owned Quesnel project in the middle of the Quesnel Trough, host to a number of alkalic copper-gold porphyry deposits running northwest across western British Columbia. The Company also holds a 100% interest in the Copper-Molybdenum Okeover project north of Powell River.

For more information visit https://starcopper.com/

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Star Copper Corp.

~Darryl Jones~

Darryl Jones, CEO, President & Director

Star Copper Corp.

Contact Star Copper

Invictus Investor Relations

+1 (604) 343.8661

walter@invictusir.com

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or" should" occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, including: completion of the Spin-Out or the Arrangement; the mailing of the Circular; the date of the Meeting; Star Copper obtaining the Shareholder Approval, Court Approval and CSE Approval of the Arrangement; the consolidation of Spinco Options by Spinco post-Arrangement; the benefits of the proposed Arrangement, including the unlocking of value for the Company's shareholders; the advancement of the Star Project or the Okeover Project; the trading of New Star Copper Shares on the CSE, FSE or the OTC Market; and, the listing status of the Spinco Shares, are all forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward- looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Star Copper, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Star Copper does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Star Copper Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 14, 2025) - Zodiac Gold Inc. (TSX.V: ZAU) ("Zodiac Gold" or the "Company"), a West-African gold exploration company, is pleased to announce that the Company intends to settle C$243,210 owing to creditors of the Company in respect of an outstanding unsecured loan and payables owing to the creditors in consideration for the issuance of 3,474,429 common shares of the Company (the "Shares") at a deemed price of C$0.07 per Share (the "Debt Settlement"). Completing the debt settlement is subject to receiving all necessary approvals, including but not limited to the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). The Company's board of directors has determined that it is in the Company's best interests to settle the outstanding debt through the issuance of Shares to preserve the Company's cash for working capital purposes.

Distribution of prior Debt Settlement Shares and Amendment of Warrants Pricing

Further to the Company's news release dated February 6, 2025, the Company has issued 2,377,504 Shares at a deemed price of C$0.07 per Share to settle a total indebtedness of C$166,425.30, to David Kol and certain service providers of the Company (the "February Debt Settlement"). In addition, the Company has received TSXV approval to amend the share purchase warrant price from C$0.15 to C$0.12, for the 1,230,000 share purchase warrants related to the December 31, 2024, non-brokered private placement.

Early Warning Disclosure

In accordance with the requirements of National Instrument 62-103, David Kol announces that he has filed an early warning report related to his debt conversion of CAD$71,280 to 1,018,286 Shares as part of the February Debt Settlement. Prior to the February Debt Settlement, Mr. Kol owned 13,670,274 Shares and 1,125,000 stock options, which represented approximately 14.6% of the then Shares outstanding on an undiluted basis and 12.8% on a partially diluted basis, assuming the exercise of the 1,125,000 stock options. Following the February Debt Settlement, Mr. Kol will own 14,688,560 Shares and 1,125,000 stock options, representing approximately 15.7% of the Shares outstanding on an undiluted and 13.7% on a partially diluted basis, assuming the exercise of the 1,125,000 stock options.

Mr. Kol's conversion of the debt to the Shares is for investment purposes. In the future, Mr. Kol will evaluate his investment in the Company from time to time and may, based on such evaluation, market conditions and other circumstances, increase or decrease his shareholdings as circumstances require through market transactions, private agreements, or otherwise.

A copy of the early warning report filed by Mr. Kol may be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR+.

About Zodiac Gold

Zodiac Gold Inc. (TSX.V: ZAU) is a West-African gold exploration company focused on its flagship Todi Project situated in Liberia, an underexplored, politically stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction hosting several large-scale gold deposits. Strategically positioned along the fertile Todi Shear Zone, Zodiac Gold is developing a district-scale gold opportunity covering a vast 2,316 km2 land package. The project has undergone de-risking, showcasing proven gold occurrences at both surface and depth, with five drill-ready targets and high-grade gold intercepts.

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.

Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation.

Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections, and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "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. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's planned exploration programs and drill programs and potential significance of results are forward-looking statements that involve various 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. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Company's expectations include actual exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital, and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials, and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events, or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and accordingly may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

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/244723

SOURCE: Zodiac Gold Inc.
As financial markets become increasingly unpredictable, investors are seeking more reliable, data-driven solutions to manage risk and optimize decision-making.

In response, IAESIR has revamped its AI-powered investment platform, integrating expanded security measures, refined AI-driven analytics, and enhanced compliance protocols to ensure greater transparency and investor confidence.

After more than a year of operation, IAESIR continues to develop its technology to support investors in analyzing market trends and managing their portfolios.

Technology and Compliance Updates

The IAESIR platform integrates AI-based models to assist in market analysis and investment decision-making. The latest updates include AI-driven market insights through data analysis tools that process financial trends to provide users with relevant information.

The platform features dedicated AI infrastructure with proprietary technology that supports data security, transaction processing, and operational efficiency. Risk management and stability are enhanced through structured asset allocation strategies designed to address market fluctuations.

IAESIR is working toward VARA licensing in the UAE and SEC compliance in the US to meet industry standards. Additionally, the platform functions within Binance's audited regulatory framework, following established security and oversight procedures.

Upcoming Feature: The IAESIR Credit Card

As part of its planned updates, IAESIR is preparing to introduce a credit card, which will provide users with the ability to access credit backed by digital asset holdings through the IAESIR ecosystem.

Users will be able to use the card for purchases at accepted merchants, expanding practical applications for digital assets.

The card will also enable users to manage liquidity and financial resources with integration into the platform's services. This feature is intended to provide users with additional financial options linked to their digital asset portfolios.

Platform Expansion and Next Steps

The revamped platform reflects IAESIR's continued focus on developing investment tools and maintaining compliance with financial regulations.

Looking ahead, the company plans to refine AI-based models to further support investment strategies, establish additional institutional partnerships to expand platform accessibility, and continue adapting compliance measures to align with evolving financial regulations.

For further details, visit IAESIR Finance .

About the Company - IAESIR Finance

IAESIR is a DeFAI hedge fund empowering wealth generation for everyone.

IAESIR redefines investment and wealth growth by integrating advanced AI-driven strategies, decentralized finance mechanisms, and exclusive community-driven benefits.

Media Contact

Organization: IAESIR Finance

Contact Person Name: Whitley Boy

Website: https://www.iaesirfinance.com/

Email: support@iaesirfinance.com

City: Dubai

State: Dubai

Country: United Arab Emirates

SOURCE: IAESIR Finance
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 14, 2025) - AJN Resources Inc. (CSE: AJN) (FSE: 5AT) ("AJN" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement offering of units (each, a Unit) in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.12 per Unit, for gross proceeds of at least $500,000 (the Offering). The Company has received a lead order from Palisades Goldcorp Ltd. Each Unit will consist of one common share and one share purchase warrant (Warrant), where each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional common share (Warrant Share) at an exercise price of $0.15 per Warrant Share for a four year period.

AJN intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for due diligence in connection with possible property acquisitions, property acquisitions, exploration on the Company's properties and for working capital purposes. A finder's fee may be payable with respect to a portion of the Offering. The securities issued and issuable pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four month and one day statutory hold period. The issuance of the Units will not result in a change of control or materially affect control of the Company.

About AJN Resources Inc.

AJN is a junior exploration company. AJN's management and directors possess over 75 years of collective industry experience and have been very successful in the areas of exploration, financing and developing major mines throughout the world, with a focus on Africa, especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this news release may include certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although AJN Resources Inc. believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, AJN Resources Inc. disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244731

SOURCE: AJN Resources Inc.
SHENZHEN, China, March 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Elegoo, a rapidly developing brand in global smart manufacturing, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the theme "Thrive, Empower, Next". This milestone moment is packed with exciting events, sneak peeks at upcoming products, and a heartfelt thank-you to the incredible community that has been part of its journey.

Thrive: a decade of thriving innovation

Since its founding in 2015, Elegoo set out with a clear mission: to provide unique and smart creative spaces for everyone. What began with the introduction of Arduino STEM kits quickly evolved as the brand relentlessly pushed forward, expanding its reach into the world of 3D printing. This journey led to the creation of the groundbreaking Centauri Carbon, a product that has made waves and cemented its place as a game-changer in the industry. Most recently, Centauri Carbon won the iF DESIGN AWARD 2025, highlighting its innovation and design excellence.

Today, Elegoo has established itself as a trusted name, with millions of products sold across more than 90 countries and regions, earning a global fanbase for its reliability, exceptional performance, and commitment to continuous improvement. To further engage and support its growing community, Elegoo has also launched a worldwide brand ambassador program, uniting passionate creators to inspire and empower fellow makers.

Empower: empowering creators and makers worldwide

Starting March 16, Elegoo will launch My ELEGOOD Moment, a community-driven initiative inviting users to share their most memorable experiences with Elegoo. Whether it's an inspiring project, a game-changing 3D print, or a story of how Elegoo made life better, these moments will be highlighted across social media. Users whose stories are featured will have a chance to win flagship printers like the Centauri Carbon and Saturn 4 Ultra 16K, along with other exclusive rewards. Additionally, a community-focused design contest is coming soon, with full details to be announced in the coming weeks.

Next: together, on the journey to the next chapter

At RAPID + TCT this April, Elegoo will debut its latest 3D printer, Jupiter 2, alongside the Centauri Carbon and other new offerings. And this is just the beginning; more exciting products and events are set to launch later this year. As Elegoo enters its next decade, it remains committed to driving innovation, empowering its global community, and exploring the future of 3D printing.

"When we started, we had a bold vision - to create the future with smart manufacturing. What began as an idea has transformed into a thriving company, empowering creators and enhancing personalized experiences for countless individuals," says Chris Hong, Founder and CEO of Elegoo. "The 3D printing industry is evolving faster than ever, and we believe that continuously improving our products based on community feedback reflects the attitude a company should have toward innovation. Together, we will keep innovating, dreaming big, and shaping the future of smart manufacturing for the next decade and beyond."

To celebrate with Elegoo and learn more about the anniversary events, please visit the Elegoo 10-Year Anniversary page for full details.

About Elegoo

Founded in 2015, Elegoo is a rapidly developing brand in the global smart manufacturing industry, specializing in R&D, manufacturing, and sales of consumer-grade 3D printers, laser engravers, STEM kits, and other smart technology products. Located in Shenzhen, the Silicon Valley of China, the company has sold millions of products across more than 90 countries and regions. In 2024, the company's total sales revenue surpassed 200 million USD, with close to 700 employees and nearly 30,000 square meters of office and manufacturing area. With a focus on programming and 3D printing technology, Elegoo provides unique and smart creation spaces for diverse consumers to enhance personalized experiences.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2641926/Elegoo_celebrates_10_years_prepares_offerings_global_3D_printing_community.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2461229/ELEGOO__1_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/create-the-future-elegoo-celebrates-10-years-and-prepares-new-offerings-for-global-3d-printing-community-302401961.html
Die Finanzwelt ist im Umbruch! Nach Jahren der Dominanz erschuttert Donald Trumps erratische Wirtschaftspolitik das Fundament des amerikanischen Kapitalismus. Handelskriege, Rekordzolle und politische Isolation haben eine Kapitalflucht historischen Ausmaes ausgelost.



Milliarden stromen aus den USA  und suchen neue, lukrative Ziele. Und genau hier kommt China ins Spiel. Trotz aller Spannungen wachst die chinesische Wirtschaft dynamisch weiter, Innovation und Digitalisierung treiben die Markte an.



Im kostenlosen Spezialreport stellen wir Ihnen 5 Aktien aus China vor, die vom US-Niedergang profitieren und das Potenzial haben, den Markt regelrecht zu uberflugeln. Wer jetzt klug investiert, sichert sich den Zugang zu den neuen Wachstums-Champions von morgen.



Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche 5 Aktien die Konkurrenz aus den USA outperformen durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter.



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At a time when Bollywood leans heavily on star power and ensemble casts, Sohum took a bold riskcarrying an entire film on his own read more

Sohum Shah has never been one to follow the crowd. He thrives on challenges, taking on unconventional roles that push the boundaries of storytelling. Whether it was bringing Tumbbad to life against all odds or stepping into deeply layered characters across genres, he has consistently proved his versatility. His latest film, CrazXy, is yet another milestone.

At a time when Bollywood leans heavily on star power and ensemble casts, Sohum took a bold riskcarrying an entire film on his own. Playing Dr. Abhimanyu Sood, a brilliant yet troubled neurosurgeon racing against time to save his kidnapped daughter, he became the heart and soul of CrazXy. The film, packed with tension, action, and emotional depth, rests entirely on his shoulders, making it Bollywoods first one-hero film. The gamble has paid offCrazXy has been winning over audiences and proving that strong storytelling and stellar performances matter more than just star-studded lineups.

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As he continues to reshape Bollywoods landscape, here are 9 times Sohum Shah left audiences in awe with his transformative performances.

1. Dr. Abhimanyu Sood  CrazXy (2024)

A film with only one actor carrying the entire story is rare in Bollywood, yet Sohum Shah embraced the challenge with CrazXy. Playing Dr. Abhimanyu Sood, he takes audiences on an intense, heart-pounding journey as a father who must use his medical expertise and razor-sharp instincts to outsmart the forces threatening his daughters life. His ability to sustain the films tension single-handedly proves his command over performance-driven storytelling. CrazXy is not just a filmits a testament to Sohums dedication to breaking norms in Indian cinema.



2. Vinayak Rao  Tumbbad (2018)

Sohums portrayal of Vinayak Rao remains one of his most celebrated performances. As a man consumed by greed and the dark secrets of a cursed village, he delivered a performance that was raw, intense, and deeply haunting. From depicting Vinayaks youthful ambition to his eventual descent into obsession, Sohum captured the characters entire arc with gripping authenticity.



3. Bheema Bharti  Maharani (2021-Present)

In Maharani, Sohum took on the role of Bheema Bharti, a shrewd politician whose journey is filled with power struggles, betrayals, and political maneuvering. He effortlessly blended charisma with an undercurrent of menace, making his character unpredictable and captivating. Whether it was his commanding presence in political rallies or his vulnerable moments behind closed doors, Sohums portrayal brought depth to the shows gripping narrative.

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4. Stockbroker  Ship of Theseus (2012)

Sohums role in Ship of Theseus was an early indicator of his ability to portray layered characters. Playing a stockbroker forced to confront the moral consequences of his actions, he delivered a subtle yet compelling performance. His ability to internalize conflict and express it through nuanced body language and dialogue made his segment of the film unforgettable.



5. Hemant  Simran (2017)

Even in a film that focused primarily on its lead character, Sohum made his mark as Hemant, the well-meaning yet traditional fiance of Kangana Ranauts Simran. His portrayal was grounded and realistic, making the audience empathize with his perspective while still rooting for Simrans independence. He proved that even in a supporting role, he could leave a lasting impression.

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6. Ajay Mehta  The Big Bull (2021)

As Ajay Mehta, Sohum played the brother of Abhishek Bachchans ambitious stock market investor in The Big Bull. While the film focused on its protagonists meteoric rise and fall, Sohums performance as the skeptical, morally upright brother provided a crucial counterbalance. He embodied the voice of reason, grounding the films larger-than-life narrative in emotional authenticity.



7. Officer Parvez Alam  Talvar (2015)

In Talvar, based on the infamous Noida double murder case, Sohum played Officer Parvez Alam, one of the investigating officers. Though the film had an ensemble cast, his performance stood out for its restrained yet powerful execution. As a cop navigating the murky waters of a high-profile case, he brought a sense of realism and conviction that added to the films gripping storytelling.

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8. Anand Swarnakar  Dahaad (2023)

Sohum Shah took a darker turn with Dahaad, playing Anand Swarnakar, a mysterious and unsettling character. His ability to shift between charm and menace effortlessly made his character all the more chilling. With a restrained yet deeply disturbing performance, he ensured that Anand Swarnakar remained one of the most memorable antagonists in recent times. Dahaad showcased yet another facet of his talenthis ability to embody roles that disturb and intrigue in equal measure.



9. Vikramjeet  Bard of Blood (2019)

In the Netflix espionage thriller Bard of Blood, Sohum played Vikramjeet, a pivotal character in a web of international intrigue. His portrayal added weight to the series, proving that he could seamlessly transition into action-packed narratives. Whether in intense combat sequences or emotionally charged moments, Sohum brought authenticity to Vikramjeet, ensuring that his presence was felt even in a fast-paced, multi-character storyline.

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A True Game-Changer in Bollywood

From historical horror to political thrillers, from psychological dramas to crime sagas, Sohum Shah has consistently reinvented himself, proving that versatility isnt just about playing different rolesits about transforming into them. With CrazXy, he has set a new benchmark for solo-driven narratives in Bollywood, proving once again that he isnt afraid to take risks. As he continues to push boundaries, one thing is certainSohum Shah is not just one of Bollywoods most versatile actors, but also one of its most fearless.
Ibrahim wrote- Tamur almost like Taimoor you got my brothers name. Guess what you dont got? His face. You ugly piece of trash. read more

While Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoors Netflix film Nadaaniyan garnered severe criticism for its performances, storyline, and dialogues, Mahima Chaudhry, who played a supporting role in the rom-com, compared it with Ranbir Kapoors starrer Animal.

Before getting into what she said, the lead actor who is Saif Ali Khans son, reportedly threatened to thrash a journalist over his review of his debut film. A screenshot is going viral on social media.

Ibrahim wrote- Tamur almost like Taimoor you got my brothers name. Guess what you dont got? His face. You ugly piece of trash. Since you cant keep your words to yourself, dont bother, theyre irrelevant just like you.

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The actor added, Ugly goddamn piece of shit I feel bad for you and your family  and if I see you on the streets one day, Ill make sure I leave you uglier than you are  you walking piece of scum.

Taimoors reply read, Hahahahaha see thats my man. This is the guy I want to see in the movie. Not that fake cornetto mushy cringy human. But hey yes that nose job comment was in bad taste. Rest I totally own up. Massive fan of your dad, dont let him down.

When asked about the negative reviews Nadaaniyan getting, Mahima, who appeared at the IIFA 2025 in Jaipur last weekend, told DNA, The negative reviews are okay. The audience is divided. Whether it was Animal or any other film in the past, they were criticised. Some people like real cinema, some like make-believe. I sometimes wanted to watch real cinema. Sometimes I want to watch something easy. It will always be divided.
Pratibha Ranta is currently basking in winning the Best Debut Award for Laapataa Ladies at IIFA 2025 read more

Hansal Mehta, one of the most celebrated filmmakers of Indian cinema, recently opined about the female power in Bollywood and spoke about their performances, substance, opportunities, and knacks. In his list, Hansal Mehta talked about the breakout star Pratibha Ranta. Beyond appreciating her commanding presence in the critically acclaimed Laapataa Ladies, Hansal Mehta also expressed thoughts on Pratibhas potential.

A part of his post read, It takes immense skill to command the screen with minimal dialogue, and Pratibha Ranta did just that in Laapataa Ladies. Her performance was all about restraint, about what was left unsaid. She made audiences root for her characters journeynot through dramatic monologues, but through presence. She deserves many more opportunities. She has the potential to be one of our most exciting actors, but will the industry let her be?

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Hansal Mehtas list is about women leading the charge in Indian cinema, and shaping the shifting narrative of unconventional storytelling. Known for spotlighting rare talents and actors, Hansal Mehtas views shed light on womens abilities to steal the cake with authentic storylines and honest performances that give food for thought.

Meanwhile, Pratibha Ranta is currently basking in winning the Best Debut Award for Laapataa Ladies at IIFA 2025. After thrilling the viewers with a sincere performance, she is gearing up for her next outing with Anubhuti Kashyap. The actress has wrapped up the shoot and will be seen sharing the screen space for the first time with Konkona Sen Sharma. While the films release date is yet to be unveiled, it is expected to be out on Netflix this year.
Leena Patil, the Joint Commissioner of Police, has said in a statement that the driver was intoxicated and was later taken into custody. More details about the case are yet to be revealed read more

An inebriated driver killed one woman and injured multiple people after his car crashed into multiple vehicles in Vadodara. The deceased woman was Hemaliben Patel. The impact of the crash left three to four others seriously injured, including Jaini (12), Nishaben (35), an unidentified 10-year-old girland an unidentified 40-year-old man.

Leena Patil, the Joint Commissioner of Police, has said in a statement that the driver was intoxicated and was later taken into custody. More details about the case are yet to be revealed.

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Patils statement read- A 4-wheeler rammed into a 2-wheeler and one woman died in the accident. The accused driver has been caught. Police are conducting further probe this is a case of drunk driving,

The Salman Khan hit-and-run case of 2002

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was drunk and driving his SUV when it ran over people sleeping on a pavement in Mumbai in 2002, the Maharashtra government told the Supreme Court back in 2016 while seeking a reversal of the Bombay High Court verdict acquitting him.

But, terming the High Court verdict as perverse, improper and complete travesty of justice, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the state, said that Khan was driving the vehicle and introduction of his driver as the person, who was behind the wheels, was an afterthought that came to light after 13 years of the incident.

While acquitting Bollywood actor Salman Khan in the 2002 hit-and-run case, the Bombay High Court also absolved him from charge of leaving the accident spot without providing aid to the victims; this was in 2015.

According to the prosecution, Khan fled from the spot after his SUV ran over people sleeping on footpath in suburban Bandra, killing one person and injuring four, on 28 September, 2002.

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Under Section 134, not only the driver but every person in charge of a vehicle which is involved in an accident is duty-bound to give medical assistance to the victims.

Considering this argument (that people armed with sticks, rods, etc., had gathered) and the factual position that the circumstances were such that in order to escape from the fury of mob and these circumstances were beyond the control of the appellant, no such appropriate steps were taken to secure the medical aid to the injured persons, the judge said.
An eight-year-old girl, who was allegedly raped by her elder sisters father-in-law last week, died of her injuries on Thursday in Bangladesh. The incident has triggered intense protests across the country, with many demonstrators calling for a reform in the laws concerning women and childrens safety read more

Students take part in a protest rally at the University of Dhaka, demanding capital punishment for the rapist following rape on an underaged girl, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 9, 2025. Reuters

The rape and death of a eight-year-old child has shocked Bangladesh. The minor who was allegedly raped by her sisters in-law last week died of her injuries on Thursday (March 13).

The incident has sparked widespread outrage in the South Asian country. Protests have erupted across Bangladesh, with many demanding the death penalty for the accused. It has also brought violence against girls and women to the spotlight.

Lets take a closer look.

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8-year-old girls rape stuns Bangladesh

An eight-year-old girl was raped while she was visiting her elder sisters house in the city of Magura in western Bangladesh on March 5.

She was allegedly raped by her sisters father-in-law, The Daily Star reported citing the police. Her sisters husband has been accused of abetting the crime, of which his brother and mother were also aware. They also reportedly tried to kill the child later to cover up the rape.

Police have arrested the four accused  the father-in-law, husband, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law of the victims sister.

Primarily, we have learned that the victims sisters father-in-law raped the girl, and the victims brother-in-law assisted the father. Well be able to give more details after further investigation, Belayet Hossain, additional deputy inspector general of Khulna Range, told The Daily Star last week.

Women activists holding posters take part in a protest in front of Bangladeshs Parliament building in Dhaka on March 7, 2025, condemning rape and violence against women in the country. AFP

The child was first admitted in an unconscious state at a hospital in Magura and later shifted to Dhakas Combined Military Hospital (CMH).

A doctor in the emergency unit of Magura Sadar Hospital had said the girl had injury marks on her neck, scratches on her body and was bleeding extensively from her private parts.

Protests over rape of child in Bangladesh

The minor rape victim died earlier this week at CMH after suffering three cardiac arrests.

Although doctors managed to stabilise the condition twice, the heart failed to restart after the third episode, a statement by the governments Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) department said. The girl was in a critical condition since being admitted to the hospital in Dhaka on March 8.

I thought my daughter would survive, her mother told local media after the minors death. If she had made it through, I would never have let her go anywhere alone again.

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As per a BBC report, the childs body was taken to Magura in an army helicopter, which landed at a local stadium amid protests.

Her death triggered fierce demonstrations and condemnation in Bangladesh. Angry locals set fire to the house of the main accused.

Thousands of people assembled at the public square in Magur for the girls namaz-e-janaza, the Islamic funeral prayer. She was later buried near her home.

Activists protest with a mock coffin at Dhaka University on March 13, 2025, following the death of an eight-year-old girl child rape victim. AFP

An absentee funeral was organised for the minor rape victim at Dhaka University, followed by protest march and speech by female students. Many protesters have called for the government to speed up justice for rape victims and reform laws related to women and childrens safety, reported BBC.

Last week, some 300 protesters, mostly women, had gathered around the varsity in the capital, holding signs and long sticks while chanting liberty from rape and oppression.

Bangladeshs Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has expressed shock over the childs death and ordered authorities for a swift trial in the case. The police Thursday reportedly banned protests around the official residence of Yunus, the secretariat and nearby locations.

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Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has demanded exemplary punishment for the culprits.

According to Legal Advisor Asif Nazrul, the trial of the rape and murder case is likely to begin within a week. DNA sample collection has been completed, we hope to get the report within the next five days, he said at a media briefing Thursday.

If we can start the trial within seven days, our judges will be able to ensure justice with the utmost speed, he added.

Bangladeshs violence against girls

Since the Magura rape case, several other rape cases have come to light across Bangladesh.

At least three rape cases involving girls aged seven, eight and nine have been reported in the country.

Bangladesh punishes rape of minors by death. The law mandates that the trial of rape cases has to be finished within 180 days.

According to the Law and Arbitration Centers data, 3,438 child rape cases have been registered in Bangladesh in the last eight years. At least 539 of the rape victims are under the age of six, and 933 are between the ages of seven and twelve.

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Nazrul has said that the Violence Against Women and Children Act will be amended to allow for the setting up of special tribunals for swift trials of child rape and assault cases.

With inputs from agencies
March 15 is associated with misfortune and doom. On this day, Roman dictator Julius Caesar was murdered at the hands of Brutus and members of the Roman senate in 44 BC. The day is also one of the darkest in New Zealand. The country witnessed a rare mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, where a gunman killed 51 people and live-streamed the massacre on Facebook read more

Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator, was assassinated on the Ides of March (15 March) 44 BC by a group of senators during a Senate session at the Curia of Pompey, located within Rome's Theatre of Pompey. Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

March 15 is associated with misfortune and doom.

Beware the Ides of March, warned Shakespeares soothsayer to Julius Caesar.

The Roman dictator was murdered at the hands of Brutus and members of his senate on March 15, 44 BC.

The day is also one of the darkest in New Zealand.

The country witnessed a rare mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, where a gunman killed 51 people and live-streamed the massacre on Facebook

If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers ongoing series, History Today, will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.

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Julius Caesar assassinated on the Ides of March

In the ancient Roman calendar, March 15 was known as the Ides of March.

On this day in 44 BCE, a group of nobles assassinated Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator who was implementing a number of political and social reforms.

In an attempt to save the Roman Republic and put an end to Caesars growingly autocratic rule, a group of about 60 conspirators, led by senators Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, fatally stabbed Caesar in the Roman Senate.

This is an undated sketch of Julius Caesar, Roman general and statesman. AP

The civil war that followed his death eventually brought his great-nephew and adopted son, Octavian, to power. In 27 BCE, Octavian became the first Roman emperor, Augustus Caesar.

In his Lives of the Caesars, the Roman writer Seutonius describes how Octavian exacted revenge for the death of Julius Caesar by sacrificing 300 Perusine War prisoners at an altar presented to Caesar on the Ides of March.

English playwright William Shakespeares tragedy Julius Caesar further immortalised Julius Caesars death.

When a soothsayer cautions Caesar to beware the Ides of March in Act I, Scene 2, of the famous drama, Caesar brushes him off, saying, He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.

The conversation reveals Caesars arrogance, the fatal weakness that results in his betrayal and demise.

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Because Shakespeares play is still so popular, the phrase Ides of March is still used today.

New Zealand mosque shooting in Christchurch

A self-described white nationalist opened fire on worshippers at Christchurchs Deans Avenue and Linwood mosques on March 15, 2019.

There were 50 fatalities and 41 injuries, including one death six weeks later.

The incident, which was livestreamed on Facebook, involved five firearms, including two semi-automatic assault rifles, and was carried out by the gunman, Brenton Tarrant.

He received the harshest punishment possible in New Zealandlife in jail without the chance of parole.

A self-described white nationalist opened fire on worshippers at Christchurchs Deans Avenue and Linwood mosques on March 15, 2019. AP

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described it as one of the countrys darkest days.

Thousands of people attended memorial gatherings across the nation in the weeks that followed. To aid the victims and their families, millions of money were also raised.

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The attacks prompted the country to quickly pass new laws which banned the deadliest types of semi-automatic weapons.

In a subsequent buyback scheme, gun owners handed over more than 50,000 weapons to police.

The attacks also prompted global changes to social media, as tech companies sought to prevent or quickly stop future attacks from being livestreamed.

Clothes rationing ends in Great Britain

In Great Britain, clothing rationing came to an end on March 15, 1949, roughly four years after World War II formally ended on September 2, 1945.

The goal of clothes rationing, which was implemented in June 1941, was to increase the availability of clothing in stores and guarantee a more equitable distribution of apparel.

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The amount of men and women wearing uniforms during World War II was one of the first obvious changes in clothing in Britain.

Around one-quarter of British citizens were eligible to wear uniforms as members of the military, womens auxiliary forces, or any of the many organisations and services that required uniforms. Britains textile and apparel industries were under tremendous strain as a result of the rising demand for uniforms.

Oliver Lyttleton, the President of the Board of Trade, decided to impose clothing rationing in June 1941. Image Courtesy: Imperial War Museums

The British government had to cut back on civilian clothing manufacturing and consumption in order to protect raw materials and free up labour and industrial space for war manufacturing.

Oliver Lyttleton, the President of the Board of Trade, decided to impose clothing rationing as a result.

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Food, petrol, and sugar were also rationed during the war and for a while after, in addition to clothing.

Even though the war ended in 1945, it took some time for the post-war economy to develop and for rationing to be lifted.

Simple, functional fashions were the standard throughout the war as a result of the clothing rationing.

New fashion trends that reflected the need for more intricate and diversified styles emerged after the war.
Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian pursuing PhD at Columbia University, self-deported from the US after her student visa was revoked last week. The US Department of Homeland Security recently launched the CBP Home app that has a self deport feature. Heres how it works read more

Ranjani Srinivasan's student visa was revoked by the US. Image Courtesy: wagner.nyu.edu

Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian PhD student at Columbia University, has self-deported after her visa was revoked by the Donald Trump administration. The scholar was targeted by the US government for participating in pro-Palestine protests at the Ivy League school last year.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked Srinivasans visa last week for allegedly advocating for violence and terrorism and supporting Hamas. Now, she has self-deported and left America.

But how did she do it? Lets understand.

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Who is Ranjani Srinivasan?

Ranjani Srinivasan is a doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University who entered the US on an F-1 student visa.

The Indian citizen earned a Bachelors in Design from CEPT University in Gujarats Ahmedabad. They also got Fulbright Nehru and Inlaks Scholarships to pursue a masters degree in Critical Conservation at the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, as per the Columbia University website.

Srinivasans research explored the continuities and transformations of caste rights within extractive economies in postcolonial India and received support from the Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute, the website mentioned.

Srinivasan also had a stint as an urban researcher for the West Philadelphia Landscape Project (WPLP) at the Department of Urban Studies and Planning, MIT, and a field researcher for international development agencies in South Asia.

According to NYU Wagners website, Srinivasan is interested in the political economy of development, the spatial politics of land, and the sociology of labour.

Ranjani Srinivasan self-deports

The US Department of Homeland Security revoked Srinivasans visa on March 5 for her alleged involvement in activities supporting Hamas, a terrorist organisation, it said in a statement.

DHS also secured footage of Srinivasan using the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App to self-deport on March 11.

Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced that one of the Columbia students who had her student visa revoked for advocating for violence and terrorism self-deported using the CBP Home App and ICE arrested a Palestinian student for overstaying her expired F-1 visa, the department said in a statement.

Columbia student, Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from the West Bank, was earlier arrested by US immigration officers for overstaying her student visa. Besides her, Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student activist at Columbia, has also been arrested for his key role in Pro-Palestinian protests at the university campus last year. He is also facing deportation.

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The Trump administration perceives campus protests at US universities against Israels war in Gaza last spring as support for Hamas.

Taking to X, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem wrote on Friday (March 14), It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the US. When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country. I am glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathisers use the CBP Home app to self-deport.

It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live & study in the United States of America.



When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked and you should not be in this country.



Im glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathizers pic.twitter.com/jR2uVVKGCM  Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) March 14, 2025

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The video posted by Noem purportedly shows Srinivasan at LaGuardia Airport in New York City.

How self-deportation works

The Trump administration launched a new app on March 10 that allows undocumented migrants to self deport.

The CBP Home app has a self- deportation reporting feature that lets illegal immigrants submit their intent to depart the US, DHS said in a statement.

The application asks migrants whether they have enough money to depart the United States and whether they have a valid, unexpired passport from your original country of citizenship.

DHS Secretary Noem said in a statement that individuals have 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 dont, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return.

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It has replaced the mobile app CBP One launched in 2020 by the previous Joe Biden administration to facilitate the legal entry of migrants at the border.

As per BBC, CBP Home also allows people to apply and pay for I-94 entry and exit cards up to seven days before travel, book scans for perishable cargo and check wait times at US border crossings.

DHS said the app, which is free across mobile application stores, is part of a $200 million domestic and international ad campaign calling for undocumented immigrants to Stay Out and Leave Now.

However, immigration lawyers have warned people from using the self deport feature of the app, saying it will likely only collect their personal data without giving a legal pathway for residency or citizenship.

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The Trump administrations approach of self-deportation will only add chaos and cruelty to an already broken system, Vanessa Cardenas, executive director of the immigrant advocacy group Americas Voice, told Axios.

Cardenas said the app has triggered fears and encouraged self-deportation among immigrants who entered the US lawfully.

With inputs from agencies
A blast occurred at Thakurdwara Temple in Amritsar on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. CCTV footage showed two men arriving at the temple on a motorcycle and hurling a suspicious object. Police suspect Pakistans spy agencys hand in the incident read more

Police personnel stand guard in front of a temple after an alleged blast here, in Amritsar's Khandwala area, March 15, 2025. PTI

A grenade attack at a temple in Punjabs Amritsar on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday is suspected to have a link to Pakistans spy agency. The Indian state has reported a dozen grenade attacks in the past four months, mostly on police targets.

The explosion in the wee hours of Saturday (March 15) is the first such attack on a religious site in Punjab in recent months. Police suggest Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) could be behind it.

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Lets take a closer look.

Explosion at Amritsar temple

A blast occurred at Thakurdwara Temple in Amritsars Khandwala at around 12.35 am Friday. No one was hurt but the incident caused panic among the residents.

Punjab Police said the explosion damaged the walls of the temple and shattered window panes, reported PTI.

CCTV footage shows two men arriving outside the Thakurdwara temple on a motorcycle and throwing a suspicious object resembling a bomb around midnight. Preliminary inquiry found that the unidentified persons carried a flag and stood outside the temple for a while before hurling the object, as per an Indian Express report.

Senior Punjab Police officials in Chandigarh said that the man who threw the grenade was struggling to take out the pin before succeeding.

Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said police were informed about the incident around 2 am by the temple priest, who was sleeping inside and escaped unhurt.

Police have launched a probe and are trying to trace the men involved in the attack.

#WATCH | Punjab: A blast occurred at Thakurdwara Temple in Khandwala, Amritsar late last night after two bike-borne men lobbed an object, suspected to be an explosive, at the temple. No injuries reported. Police personnel present at the spot to carry out an investigation. Details pic.twitter.com/mH92RqOm1L  ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2025

The grenade attack came hours after a man injured five people with a rod in the premises of the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Friday.

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Police suspect ISI link

Punjab Police suspect ISIs hand in the grenade attack at the temple in Amritsar.

We got information at 2 am. We reached the spot right away. The forensic team was called. We checked the CCTV and spoke to the nearby people. The thing is that Pakistans ISI lures our youth into creating disturbances in Punjab, Amritsar Police Commissioner Bhullar was quoted as saying by ANI.

He said the recent incidents show ISI is wooing weaker sections of society, warning people not to get tempted by money to carry out such attacks.

Bhullar also expressed confidence in solving the case quickly. We will trace this case within days and take appropriate action. I warn the youth not to ruin their lives. We will catch the culprits soon," he added.

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According to a senior Punjab Police officer, the targeting of the temple indicates an effort to stoke communal tensions in the state.

The fact that a temple has been chosen this time as a target shows that there is a change in strategy of the ISI handlers sitting in Pakistan. Till now, the targets were police posts, politically connected people and a relative of a police official. It seems there is a deliberate effort to incite communal passions in the state, the officer said, as per Indian Express.

Reactions to the grenade attack

Following the latest grenade attack, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Saturday that there were several attempts to disturb peace in the state but insisted the law and order situation is intact.

There are always many attempts to disturb the peace in Punjab. Drugs, gangsters, and extortion are part of it, and there are attempts to show that Punjab has become a disturbed state During the festival of Holi, in other states, the police had to use a lathi charge during processions. But such things do not happen in Punjab The law and order situation in Punjab is good, he said.

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The explosion at the Amritsar temple has triggered criticism against Punjabs Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said that with another grenade attack there is an atmosphere of fear in the state and concern among people. Its high time the AAP Punjab government wakes up from its deep slumber and takes action, he said in a post on X.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) said the attack on the temple was a serious and sensitive incident that hurt the religious sentiments of the people.

The SAD strongly condemned the incident of blast near Thakur Dwar Mandir in Sri Amritsar. This is the 13th such blast in the area & is proof of complete collapse of law & order in the state. It is a serious & sensitive incident which has hurt the sentiments of the people. A high level judicial inquiry should be done to identify the culprits & to expose the conspiracy behind this incident, the partys statement read.

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The SAD also alleged that Punjab was being deliberately destabilised, warning that such experiments have proved dangerous in the past and are once again pushing Punjab in the wrong direction.

Hitting out at the Mann-led government, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union minister Ranveet Singh Bittu wrote on X, I strongly condemn the bomb attack on Thakur Dwara temple, Khandwala in Amritsar. AAP government fails to check repeated incidents of blasts in border city. Deteriorating law and order in Punjab is a matter of serious concern.

I strongly condemn bomb attack on Thakur Dwara temple, Khandwala in Amritsar. AAP government fails to check repeated incidents of blasts in border city. Deteriorating law and order in Punjab is matter of serious concern.@ANI @PTI_News @CNNnews18 pic.twitter.com/caQtjnMCrn  Ravneet Singh Bittu (@RavneetBittu) March 15, 2025

Series of grenade attacks in Punjab

Punjab has witnessed at least 12 grenade attacks over the past four months.

The Ghania Ke Bangar police station in Batala was targeted on December 12 last year, followed by an attack on Wadala Bangar police post in Gurdaspur on December 20.

In January, the targets included the Gumtala police post in Amritsar, a liquor traders residence in Jaintipur, and a Congress leaders house in Batala.

As per Indian Express, these attacks are often linked to organised crime, terrorist groups, and cross-border networks.

With inputs from agencies
Jaishankar, who has now become Indias longest-serving foreign minister since the independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru, batted for a new world order, saying the liberal rules-based order is biased and needs a shake-up read more

Indias Foreign Minister S Jaishankar recently offered his unfiltered take on shifting global world order in an interview with Financial Times. This conversation came in the backdrop of Jaishankars recent grand diplomatic tour to Western capitals, giving him an opportunity to witness first-hand how the return of President Donald Trump has sent shockwaves across American allies.

Jaishankar, who has now become Indias longest-serving foreign minister since the independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru, batted for a new world order, saying the liberal rules-based order is biased and needs a shake-up.

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New world order

The top Indian diplomat said the world order would become very anarchic if not changed.

He told FT that unrestrained competition would add pressure and that India needs a system that reflects the world as it is now, rather than the post-World War II order that favoured the West. He also argued that the virtues of the old-world order are often exaggerated.

India-US relations

Trumps arrival has upended geopolitical equations around the world but Jaishankar believes the US leader is also a realist.

Even as India and US are expected to deepen their strategic ties in coming years, President Trump is often seen bashing India as worlds largest tariff abuser.

When asked how will New Delhi navigate this relationship, Jaishankar assured that the two nations will soon strike a trade deal.

He added that While Jaishankar was a strong nationalist, he was also realist about many parts of the world.

Russia

During the interview, Jaishankar made clear India wont scale back ties with Moscow owing to its own perspective.

Indias position on Russias conflict with Ukraine has frustrated the West. Despite pressure, New Delhi continues to buy oil from Moscow and has avoided directly condemning Russian President Vladimir Putins war. Jaishankar defended this stance, stating that India has its own perspective and cannot simply abandon its long-standing ties with Russia.

Ties with China

On China, Jaishankar said that you cant have bad border and good relations at the same time.

On growing ties between China and Russia, Jaishankar said ties between New Delhi and Moscow remained steady.

Jaishankar admitted that relations with Beijing havent gone so well due to ongoing border clashes between the two nations armies.

He also stated that India is prepared with its own strategy if Trump ends up striking a deal with China.

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Jaishankar also talked about his journey as a politician following a career as a diplomat and said joining PM Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was not an issue at all for him.

He added he was very comfortable with the policies of the BJP government.
Russia has the capacity to lay the table for talks to renegotiate the Iran nuclear deal to address the key US and Israeli proliferation concerns and not the maximum pressure campaign by the Trump administration read more

Whether we like it or not, President Donald Trump has remained invested in the Middle East/West Asia during both his terms. In fact, in his first term, one of the major success stories was bringing about diplomatic rapprochement between Israel and some Arab countries like the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan; however, the one-and-a-half-year-old Israel-Hamas war did have an impact on this, but the chance for future development remains.

Last time also he started off with the very first visit to Saudi Arabia, and this time as well his target is to bring about formal diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv, for which he enforced a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war before he entered the White House the second time. His Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has been consistently working on the extension of the ceasefire in the Middle East.

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President Trumps googly of taking over Gaza energised the Arabs led by Saudi Arabia, who, while pro forma condemning the insensitive intent, took a clear line of commitment against the displacement of Gazans and its reconstruction with $53 billion, which is close to the UN estimates of $50 billion. West Asia surprises with an unimpeded frequency, and so does Trump.

One of the key disruptions, in keeping with his first-term pre-election rhetoric, was to junk the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), popularly known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, which he did with great alacrityironically allowing the Iranians to go back on the enrichment levels and creating more worries for the Israelis whose strategic nuclear edge he wished to protect.

But four years of interregnum have perhaps given him a better way of renegotiating to avoid nuclear proliferation by the Islamic Republic, which is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear (NPT). If Iran becomes nuclear, the race to the bottom in the Middle East will start. Tehran is also trying to use the nuclearisation card as a negotiating tool for getting into the mainstream and to secure the removal of decades-long crippling sanctions in return.

The Iranian ambassador to the UN has been talking to the Trump team as well as with Elon Musk to stay engaged. There is a readiness on both sides to get into negotiations with other stakeholders, of course, with certain caveats, which will be difficult to comply with.

After the October 7 attacks and ensuing war in the Middle East, Iranian proxies in Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis, as well as Islamic militias in Iraq, have had a kinetic engagement leading to the decimation of Hamas and HezbollahIranian strategic arms. This also was evident in the developments in Syria with the ouster of President Bashar Al Assad. For the first time, Tehran and Tel Aviv also engaged in direct attacks and counterattacks, which were indecisive but possibly in favour of Israel.

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No wonder Benjamin Netanyahu wishes to halt the Iranian nuclear quest at any cost and has often threatened to directly attack the Iranian nuclear installation but was stopped by the Americans to prevent greater escalation of the regional conflict. Clandestine operations continue apace by both sides, who suffer from the Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) Syndrome.

On the other hand, seeing the plight of the Ukrainians, the Iranian regime would be inclined to choose nuclear deterrence over detente until and unless some kind of nuclear umbrella by its strategic partners is assured. And this is where its recent agreement with Russia and the talks between Russia and Iran in Beijing are critically important, as Moscow and Washington appear to be moving towards a much-desired strategic rapprochement.

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Russia and China, which had played a key role last time in persuading Iran to sign up for JCPOA, become stakeholders once again along with Europeans with whom Iran is already discussing the issue. At the Beijing talks, both China and Russia called for easing the sanctions on Iran while urging for reviving negotiations without threats by the US and others. All three also held naval drills recently.

President Trump had sent a letter to Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei, which was delivered by Anwar Gargash, adviser to the UAE President. However, the typical tone and tenor of threats by Trump did not go down well with the Ayatollah, who turned down talks under threats. Trust deficit is at its height. Khamenei said, 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 agenda.

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Although a lot of verbiage flew in the timing of the issue and receipt of the famous Trumpian farman, the Iranian Embassy in Washington DC did manage to comment that if the objective of negotiations is to address concerns vis-a-vis any potential militarisation of Irans nuclear program, such discussions may be subject to consideration. Iran has always maintained that its nuclear quest was civilian in nature, which its adversaries never believed. It, however, condemned the fatwa reference at the UN Security Council meeting on Irans uranium enrichment, calling it biased.

A lot will depend on the duration of the Trump-Putin bonhomie since Moscow has the capacity to lay the table for talks to renegotiate the Iran nuclear deal to address the key US and Israeli proliferation concerns and not the maximum pressure campaign by the Trump administration. While the hoary, acidic statements by both sidesthe Israel-US and Iranmight make good nationalistic sound bites, they may not necessarily derail the process.

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The author is the former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta and is currently a Distinguished Fellow with Vivekananda International Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
While Trumps tariffs arent designed to help India, they may inadvertently provide the external catalyst needed for Indias economic transformation. Sometimes, the most valuable gifts come in the most unexpected packages read more

The Donald Trump administrations recent imposition of tariffs on Indian goods could have a silver lining if India can seize the opportunity. In conditions reminiscent of the 1991 crisis that opened up Indias economy, India could use this opportunity for its long-overdue economic transformation by fostering a more export-oriented economy. This is an opportunity to shift the domestic Overton window on protectionism, albeit under pressure.

Indias Historical Inward Focus

India has a robust domestic market, which accounts for approximately 60 per cent of its GDP. This inward focus dilutes the rigorous pressure of international competition. The result has been a persistent trade deficit of about $100 billion and a global export share of just 1.7 per cent despite being the worlds fifth-largest economy.

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The electronics manufacturing sector illustrates this problem perfectly. For decades, Indias import tariffs on electronics components have been high, ranging up to 20 per cent in some cases and averaging 7.5 per cent compared to 3.5 per cent in Malaysia and 2.7 per cent in Mexico.

By 2024, electronics imports from China alone exceeded $12 billion annually, with critical components like semiconductors and PCBAs accounting for 64 per cent of automotive electronics demand. The result was a 10-18 per cent cost disability in assembly and manufacturing compared to Southeast Asian rivals, leaving Indias $500 billion electronics production target by 2030 at risk. According to McKinsey, the cost of logistics in India is about 13-14 per cent of GDP, which is significantly higher than the 8-10 per cent seen in developed countries, and manufacturing productivity lags behind global benchmarks.

This tariff policy had noble intentions. It was intended to support local industry. However, the unintended consequences are there for all to see. The incentive structure discouraged innovation and efficiency among domestic manufacturers because it made them concentrate on the domestic markets in which they had price advantages due to protections in the form of tariffs. Consequently, Indias electronics exports were a modest $20 billion in 2023-24, compared to Vietnams $55 billion in 2022, despite India being a significantly larger economy.

Low R&D: A Side Effect of Protectionism

One of the biggest problems with protectionism is the resultant markedly low research and development (R&D) investment in the sector under consideration. At just 0.64 per cent of GDP spent on overall R&D, India anyway lags far behind Chinas 2.41 per cent and Israels 5.71 per cent. The result is a lack of breakthrough innovations in advanced technologies like semiconductors, which reduces the value-addition opportunities.

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This R&D underinvestment, coupled with complex tariff structures, makes sure that the parts of the supply chain that provide the most value-add are not located in India. For instance, while Apple and Samsung expanded assembly operations in India, high-value components remain imported. This has relegated India to low-margin assembly roles. The US push for reciprocal tariffs, including threats of 16.5 per cent duties on Indian smartphones, has now made industry bodies afraid that retaliatory tariffs could erase Indias cost advantages, severely hampering its $50 billion smartphone export target.

Some Encouraging Signs and Way Forward

This pressure did have some effect. The 2025 Union Budget slashed import duties on critical inputs like Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBAs) and camera modules, taking India closer towards countries like Vietnam and Malaysia, with whom India is now competing for global manufacturing opportunities. However, there is still a long way to go. For instance, PLI schemes remain underutilised due to high capital costs for complex components.

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If India is to sustain this momentum, it needs to double down on R&D, support public-private partnerships, and integrate more with global tech supply chains. As global firms like Tesla eye India for battery manufacturing, the causal effect is clear: competitive tariffs attract foreign direct investment (FDI), which fuels scale, which funds innovation.

India should now explore free trade agreements with an open mind. Increased market access for Indian goods is an important objective. A potential India-US trade deal should work on tariff-related issues and improve market access for both countries. In an encouraging sign, India has already begun to reduce tariffs on certain products like motorcycles and alcoholic beverages as part of its efforts to ease trade tensions.

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India has also undertaken initiatives like the Export Promotion Mission and BharatTradeNet to integrate Indian businesses into global supply chains and diversify export markets. This can help India reduce its reliance on traditional trade partners and enhance its global competitiveness. India has strengths in sectors like IT and pharmaceuticals, which it can leverage towards this end.

Trumps tariffs, particularly those targeting pharmaceuticals and jewellerysectors where India has established export capabilitiescreate precisely the kind of pressure that could catalyse change. When coupled with Indias recent announcement of potential tariff relaxations, this may be the beginning of a strategic pivot in Indias economic policy.

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Evidence in Favour of Export Orientation

Historical evidence suggests that export-oriented economies typically outperform their more closed counterparts. South Koreas transformation from having a per capita GDP similar to Indias in the 1960s to becoming an economic powerhouse by aggressively pursuing export markets is very revelatory in this regard. Similarly, Vietnam has achieved remarkable growth by positioning itself as a manufacturing hub deeply integrated into global supply chains, increasing its exports from $72 billion in 2010 to over $371 billion in 2022.

Indias services sector has already demonstrated what happens when Indian companies compete globally without protective barriers. Indian IT services exports reached $194 billion in 2022-23, capturing approximately 55 per cent of the global outsourcing market. This success emerged not because of protection but because the sector was forced to meet international standards of quality and efficiency from its inception.

Policy Coordination Required

Of course, navigating this transition will require thoughtful policy coordination. Instead of viewing Trumps tariffs defensively as a diplomatic affront, Indian policymakers would do well to use this moment to accelerate structural reforms that enhance competitiveness. The reforms needed in this regard are pretty clear. India needs to address logistical bottlenecks, streamline regulations, invest in quality infrastructure, and create a predictable policy environment that attracts global manufacturers. This is all the more important in todays geopolitical climate, where countries are looking for China-plus-one strategies.

While Trumps tariffs arent designed to help India, they may inadvertently provide the external catalyst needed for Indias economic transformation. Sometimes, the most valuable gifts come in the most unexpected packageseven those wrapped in tariff measures from an ally.

The author is a research scholar at Takshashila Institution, Bangalore. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
As Mauritius seeks to solidify its position as a financial and trade hub for Africa, its relationship with India will be crucial in navigating future challenges and opportunities read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Mauritius on March 11-12 under the enhanced SAGAR doctrine of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions" (MAHASAGAR) marked a significant milestone in Indo-Mauritian relations.

The visit underscored Indias commitment to fostering deeper cooperation with its close maritime partner in the Indian Ocean. The warm reception extended to Modi by the entire Mauritian government at the airport at 6 am reflected the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and strategic bonds between the two nations. Additionally, Modis personal acknowledgement of Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam as his friend reinforced the warmth between the two leaders and the strong diplomatic ties.

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Historical and Cultural Significance

India and Mauritius share a profound historical and socio-cultural connection, largely due to the significant Indian diaspora in Mauritius. Approximately 70 per cent of the Mauritian population is of Indian descent, a legacy of the 19th-century indentured labour system under British colonial rule. This connection continues to influence the political, economic, and cultural dimensions of their relationship.

Mauritius has long accorded India a special place in its diplomatic engagements. Indian leaders have frequently been invited as chief guests for key national celebrations. Notably, Indian President Droupadi Murmu was the chief guest in Mauritius last year, marking the sixth instance when an Indian president was honoured with this recognition. Such gestures highlight the mutual appreciation and reverence between the two nations.

Economic Ties and Trade Relations

Economically, Mauritius has positioned itself as a gateway to Africa, particularly after the replacement of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) in 2021. While this agreement was expected to attract more Indian businesses, the results have been mixed. Many Indian companies still prefer direct market entry into Africa rather than using Mauritius as a conduit, thereby limiting the island nations envisioned role as a regional financial hub.

Mauritius and GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) have a growing link, with Mauritius-based funds relocating to GIFT City, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed to enhance cooperation between the two financial centres.

Trade relations between the two countries have seen a steady growth trajectory. India remains a key supplier of essential goods and services to Mauritius. However, Mauritiuss economic landscape is increasingly shaped by its trade relationships with other Asian countries, particularly China.

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In 2023, Mauritius imported goods worth $993.08 million from China, whereas its exports to China were a mere $26.32 million. This imbalance highlights the need for Mauritius to diversify its trade partnerships and explore ways to boost its exports to key economies, including India. Indian exports to Mauritius in 2023 were $646 million, including $138 million in refined petroleum products. Mauritian exports to India were $64 million, of which $24 million was scrap iron. Diversity and depth are lacking in this sector.

Defence and Security Cooperation

As part of the MAHASAGAR initiative, Modis visit reaffirmed Indias commitment to enhancing maritime security in the Indian Ocean region. Given the growing strategic competition in the region, India has been strengthening its naval and defence cooperation with Mauritius. The island nations strategic location makes it a crucial partner for India in countering external threats and ensuring maritime stability.

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During the visit, India and Mauritius signed multiple agreements aimed at bolstering security ties. These agreements encompass joint defence exercises, increased cooperation in intelligence sharing, and the provision of advanced surveillance equipment. Strengthening maritime security is a key objective, especially in light of increased Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean.

Infrastructure and Development Projects

India has played a crucial role in supporting Mauritiuss infrastructure development. Several high-profile projects were announced or reviewed during Modis visit, including the Metro Express, the Supreme Court Building, social housing initiatives, and an ENT hospital. These projects not only enhance Mauritiuss infrastructure but also solidify Indias role as a development partner.

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Additionally, India introduced the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Rupay card services in Mauritius, aiming to facilitate smoother financial transactions and boost trade and tourism. Another significant announcement was the establishment of Jan Aushadhi Kendras, ensuring affordable and quality medicines for the Mauritian public. These initiatives align with Indias broader goal of supporting economic resilience and technological advancement in partner nations.

Education, Human Capital, and Cultural Exchanges

Despite the historical ties, India faces challenges in engaging the younger generation of Mauritians. Economic prosperity has enabled many young Mauritians to pursue higher education in Western countries, leading to a decline in educational exchanges with India. Currently, the number of Mauritian students in India is significantly lower than those from Kenya, Sudan, or Ethiopia.

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Indian tourism to Mauritius has crossed pre-COVID levels, and now over 1 lakh Indians visit Mauritius annually. As many as 30,000 Mauritian visitors come to India annually. Direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai are augmented by new direct flights from Bengaluru too.

To partly address this, India has expanded its Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program slots to 400 and facilitated the arrival of 385 young Mauritians through the Know India Program. These efforts aim to familiarise the younger generation with Indian culture and education, strengthening long-term bilateral ties.

A key cultural initiative highlighted during Modis visit was the revitalisation of Ganga Talao, a sacred Hindu pilgrimage site considered the 13th Jyotirlinga by Mauritians. This project holds immense religious and cultural significance and symbolises Indias continued commitment to preserving shared heritage sites abroad.

Strategic and Diplomatic Implications

Modis visit to Mauritius was not just a ceremonial occasion; it was a strategic manoeuvre to reinforce Indias influence in the Indian Ocean and counter growing Chinese investments in the region. The geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific is evolving, and Mauritius serves as a pivotal partner in Indias broader strategy to secure its maritime interests.

The recalibration of Indo-Mauritian relations is essential for sustaining mutual growth and security. By continuing collaboration in infrastructure, defence, economic development, and cultural exchange, India and Mauritius can fortify their historical bond and ensure a mutually beneficial partnership in the years to come.

Conclusion

Prime Minister Modis visit to Mauritius under the MAHASAGAR framework was a testament to the enduring partnership between the two nations. It reaffirmed Indias strategic commitment to Mauritius, highlighting efforts to bolster economic cooperation, security collaboration, and cultural engagements.

As Mauritius seeks to solidify its position as a financial and trade hub for Africa, its relationship with India will be crucial in navigating future challenges and opportunities. The visit not only strengthened diplomatic and economic ties but also reinforced the deep-rooted cultural and historical connections that make Indo-Mauritian relations unique. Moving forward, sustained collaboration will be key to ensuring a prosperous and secure future for both nations.

The author is a former ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, ASEAN and the African Union. He tweets @AmbGurjitSingh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Starmer asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop playing games as he chaired a summit to drum up support for a coalition willing to protect any eventual ceasefire in Ukraine read more

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks at a press conference following this morning's virtual summit video conference at 10 Downing Street in London, England, March 15, 2025. AP file

UKs Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday said that military chiefs will meet in the country next week to discuss peacekeeping plans in Ukraine that will protect any future ceasefire.

We agreed to accelerate our practical work to support a potential deal, so we will now move into an operational phase, Starmer said after hosting a virtual meeting of some 25 fellow leaders.

In a statement released by Starmers Downing Street office, he added: We agreed that now the ball was in Russias court.

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President Putin must prove he is serious about peace, and sign up to a ceasefire on equal terms. The Kremlins dithering and delay over President Trumps ceasefire proposal, and Russias continued barbaric attacks on Ukraine, run entirely counter to President Putins stated desire for peace.

Putin has to come to the table

Earlier today, Starmer asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop playing games as he chaired a summit to drum up support for a coalition willing to protect any eventual ceasefire in Ukraine.

He said that President Putin would sooner or later have to come to the table about the US-proposed ceasefire deal.

While Ukraine had shown it was the party of peace by agreeing to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, Putin is the one trying to delay, he said.

If Putin is serious about peace, I think its very simple, he has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire, and the world is watching, Starmer added.

Russia, Ukraine down drones

Russia on Saturday said it brought down 126 Ukrainian drones overnight over the Volgograd and Voronezh regions while Kyiv said that 130 Russian drones have been brought down by its forces.

The defence ministry said 64 drones were intercepted over Volgograd and neighbouring Voronezh and the rest targeted border regions.

Moscow on Saturday also announced that it has regained control over two more villages from Ukrainian forces in its Kursk border region.

With inputs from agencies
Canada had entered into a contract with US defence giant Lockheed Martin in June 2023 to purchase 88 F-35 jets after several delays under a $19 billion deal read more

Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jet is displayed during the International Bali Airshow at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia. File image/Reuters

Amid tensions with Washington DC, Canada Defence Minister Bill Blair has announced Ottawa is looking to ditch a contract to buy F-35 stealth fighters from the US and is initiating talks with competitors from other nations. The announcement came Friday (March 14), hours after Blair was reappointed to the role in the new cabinet of PM Mark Carney.

Canada had entered into a contract with US defence giant Lockheed Martin in June 2023 to purchase 88 F-35 jets after several delays under a $19 billion deal.

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It was the fighter jet identified by our air force as the platform that they required, but we are also examining other alternativeswhether we need all of those fighter jets to be F-35s, Blair was quoted as saying by CBC.

According to reports, Canada has already paid for the first 16 warplanes, and their delivery is due to start next year. Blair hinted that those jets might be accepted but Ottawa may ditch the rest of the order for similar products from European manufacturers.

Swedish-built Saab Gripen is among the top alternatives that the Canadian government is looking at.

His remarks followed Portugals announcement that it might cancel its purchase of the advanced warplane.

Canada is re-evaluating its stance as it faces a heated political clash with the Trump administration over tariffs and the US presidents threats to exert economic pressure, even hinting at annexation.

The prime minister has asked me to go and examine those things and have discussions with other sources, particularly where there may be opportunities to assemble those fighter jets in Canada, Blair said.

In a statement, Lockheed Martin said it valued its partnership with the Royal Canadian Air Force and that it was looking forward to deepening cooperation.

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Lockheed Martin values our strong partnership and history with the Royal Canadian Air Force and looks forward to continuing that partnership into the future, said Rebecca Miller, Lockheed Martins director of global media relations.

Foreign military sales are government-to-government transactions, so anything further will be best addressed by the US or respective customer governments, Miller added.

(With inputs from agencies)
President Trump has pledged to transform Washington, DC, into a crime-free capital, emphasising the need for a cleaner, safer, and more visually appealing city for visiting world leaders. read more

US President Donald Trump said that he ordered the cleanup of Washington, DC, to ensure that visiting world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, did not see tents and graffiti near federal buildings.

Were cleaning up our city. Were cleaning up this great capital, and were not going to have crime, and were not going to stand for crime, and were going to take the graffiti down, and were already taking the tents down, and were working with the administration, Trump said Friday in remarks at the Department of Justice.He said so far the Mayor of Washington DC Muriel Bowser has been doing a good job cleaning up the capital.

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Trump said that tents had been set up right across from the State Department and needed to be removed. We said there are tents galore, and they have to come down. They took them down right away. So far, so good. We want our capital to be the talk of the world, he said.

He mentioned recent visits from global leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the French President, and the UK Prime Minister. They all came to see me over the last week and a half. When they arrived, I had the route cleared. I didnt want them to see tents, graffiti, broken barriers, or potholes in the roads. We made sure everything looked beautiful, Trump added.

And were going to do that for the city, and were going to have a crime-free capital. When people come here, theyre not going to be mugged or shot or raped. Theyre going to have a crime-free capital, again, its going to be cleaner and better and safer than it ever was and its not going to take us too long.Modi visited the White House for a bilateral meeting with Trump on February 13, the fourth foreign leader hosted by Trump in just weeks after his inauguration in January.

Within less than a month of the start of Trumps second term in the White House, he had hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Jordans King Abdullah II.French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are among the other foreign leaders Trump has hosted in his second term so far.

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Trump further vowed to restore law and order in Washington, promising a drastic reduction in crime rates and a safer environment for residents and visitors alike. We are going to have a crime-free capital. When people come here, theyre not going to be mugged, or shot, or raped. Theyre going to have a crime-free capital again. Its going to be cleaner, better, and safer than it ever was. Its not going to take us too long, he added.His comments come just weeks after Prime Minister Modis visit to the US, which was hailed as productive and substantive."

During his time in Washington, PM Modi held extensive discussions with Trump and other key figures, including newly confirmed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. The talks covered strategic and security cooperation, defence, trade, economic engagement, technology, energy security, and regional and global concerns.

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With inputs from agencies
Nearly 400 agency workers have been cut through the Trump reduction plan, an administration official said read more

The Grand Coulee Dam, the largest hydropower generator in North America is located in Coulee Dam, Wash., is run by the Bureau of Reclamation, is shown near the Columbia River. AP

Trump administration workforce cuts at federal agencies overseeing U.S. dams are threatening their ability to provide reliable electricity, supply farmers with water and protect communities from floods, employees and industry experts warn.

The Bureau of Reclamation provides water and hydropower to the public in 17 western states. Nearly 400 agency workers have been cut through the Trump reduction plan, an administration official said.

Reductions-in-force memos have also been sent to current workers, and more layoffs are expected. The cuts included workers at the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest hydropower generator in North America, according to two fired staffers interviewed by The Associated Press.

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Without these dam operators, engineers, hydrologists, geologists, researchers, emergency managers and other experts, there is a serious potential for heightened risk to public safety and economic or environmental damage, Lori Spragens, executive director of the Kentucky-based Association of Dam Safety Officials, told the AP.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said federal workforce reductions will ensure disaster responses are not bogged down by bureaucracy and bloat.

A more efficient workforce means more timely access to resources for all Americans, she said by email.

But a bureau hydrologist said they need people on the job to ensure the dams are working properly.

These are complex systems, said the worker in the Midwest, who is still employed but spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of possible retaliation.

Workers keep dams safe by monitoring data, identifying weaknesses and doing site exams to check for cracks and seepage.

As we scramble to get these screenings, as we lose institutional knowledge from people leaving or early retirement, we limit our ability to ensure public safety, the worker added. Having people available to respond to operational emergencies is critical. Cuts in staff threaten our ability to do this effectively.

A federal judge on Thursday ordered the administration to rehire fired probationary workers, but a Trump spokesperson said they would fight back, leaving unclear whether any would return.

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The heads of 14 California water and power agencies sent a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation and the Department of Interior last month warning that eliminating workers with specialized knowledge in operating and maintaining aging infrastructure could negatively impact our water delivery system and threaten public health and safety.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also operates dams nationwide. Matt Rabe, a spokesman, declined to say how many workers left through early buyouts, but said the agency hasnt been told to reduce its workforce.

But Neil Maunu, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, said it learned more than 150 Army Corps workers in Portland, Oregon, were told they would be terminated and they expect to lose about 600 more in the Pacific Northwest.

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The firings include district chiefs down to operators on vessels and people critical to safe river navigation, he said.

Their last day is not known. The Corps was told to provide a plan to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management by March 14, Maunu said.

Several other federal agencies that help ensure dams run safely also have faced layoffs and closures. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is laying off 10% of its workforce and the Federal Emergency Management Agencys National Dam Safety Review Board was disbanded in January.

The cuts come at a time when the nations dams need expert attention.

An AP review of Army Corps data last year showed at least 4,000 dams are in poor or unsatisfactory condition and could kill people or harm the environment if they failed. They require inspections, maintenance and emergency repairs to avoid catastrophes, the AP found.

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Heavy rain damaged the spillway at Californias Oroville Dam in 2017, forcing nearly 190,000 residents to evacuate, and Michigans Edenville Dam breached in storms in 2020, the AP found.

Stephanie Duclos, a Bureau of Reclamation probationary worker fired at the Grand Coulee Dam, said she was among a dozen workers initially terminated. The dam across the Columbia River in central Washington state generates electricity for millions of homes and supplies water to a 27-mile-long (43-kilometer) reservoir that irrigates the Columbia Basin Project.

This is a big infrastructure, she said. Its going to take a lot of people to run it.

Some fired employees had worked there for decades but were in a probation status due to a position switch. Duclos was an assistant for program managers who organized training and was a liaison with human resources. The only person doing that job, she fears how others will cover the work.

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Youre going to get employee burnout in the workers left behind, she said.

Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat who pushed a bipartisan effort to ensure the National Dam Safety Program was authorized through 2028, said, the safety and efficacy of our dams is a national security priority.

Americans deserve better, and I will work to make sure this administration is held accountable for their reckless actions, Padilla said.
Palestinian militant organisation Hamas condemned the attack, calling it a blatant violation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. A spokesperson for the group called the strikes a horrific massacre read more

Civilians walk in al-Mughraqa in the central Gaza Strip, on February 13, 2025, as displaced people move towards the northern parts of Gaza during a current ceasefire deal in the war between Israel and Hamas. Image- AFP

Gazas civil defence agency said Saturday (March 15) that nine people, including journalists, were killed in Israeli strikes on the northern town of Beit Lahia.

Nine martyrs have been transferred to the hospital, including several journalists and a number of workers from the Al-Khair Charitable Organisation," claimed Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for the agency.

The drone attack targeted a vehicle at a time when the area was facing intense artillery shelling from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

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Palestinian militant organisation Hamas condemned the attack, calling it a blatant violation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. A spokesperson for the group called the strikes a horrific massacre.

The occupation (Israel) has committed a horrific massacre in the northern Gaza Strip by targeting a group of journalists and humanitarian workers," said Hazem Qassem.

Latest on Gaza situation

The first phase of the ceasefire ended earlier this month, with negotiations still ongoing in Doha. However, violence continues despite the truce.

Last week, an Israeli airstrike killed two Palestinians in Rafah, southern Gaza, just a day after an Israeli drone strike claimed two lives in northern Gaza.

Hamas announced on Friday (March 14) that it was prepared to release an Israeli-American hostage and hand over the remains of four others, as indirect ceasefire negotiations with Israel resumed.

However, Israel stated that Hamas had not budged despite a proposal from US President Donald Trumps Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Israeli strike on Lebanon

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, an Israeli strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon killed one person on Saturday.

A strike by the Israeli enemy on a car in the town of Burj al-Muluk (near the Israeli border) led to the death of one citizen, said the Lebanese health ministry in a statement.

A truce on November 27 largely paused over a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, including two months of intense fighting when Israeli ground troops entered Lebanon. Despite the agreement, Israel has continued to launch occasional strikes on Lebanese territory.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli military confirmed an airstrike in southern Lebanon that killed a senior Hezbollah militant, reportedly in charge of the groups drone and rocket arsenal.

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(With inputs from agencies)
Elon Musks primary focus during the first seven weeks of Trumps second term has been the mass dismissal of government employees. However, his approach has been challenged by judges who have ordered the reinstatement of all the fired employees read more

US Vice President JD Vance has acknowledged that Doge chief Elon Musk made mistakes firing scores of federal employees in the name of government overspending, highlighting that there are a lot of good people working for the government.

In an interview with NBC News, Vance said, Elon himself has said that sometimes you do something, you make a mistake, and then you undo the mistake. Im accepting of mistakes.

I also think you have to quickly correct those mistakes. But Im also very aware of the fact that there are a lot of good people who work in the government  a lot of people who are doing a very good job. And we want to try to preserve as much of what works in government as possible, while eliminating what doesnt work, the vice president added.

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Elon Musks primary focus during the first seven weeks of Trumps second term has been the mass dismissal of government employees. However, his approach has been challenged by judges who have ordered the reinstatement of all the fired employees.

Collecting checks and not doing their jobs

The Vice President, however, maintained that there is an unnecessary number of employees who are working on the taxpayers dime but not doing enough work.

I think some people clearly are collecting a check and not doing a job. However big the problem is, it is a problem when people are living off the generosity of the American taxpayer in a civil service job and not doing the peoples business, he said.

At least 24,000 probationary employees have been terminated since Trump took office, the lawsuit alleges, though the government has not confirmed that number. including advance notice required for affected states.

Impeach

In San Francisco, US District Judge William Alsup found Thursday morning that terminations across six agencies were directed by the Office of Personnel Management and an acting director, Charles Ezell, who lacked the authority to do so.

In Baltimore, US District Judge James Bredar found that the administration did not follow laws set out for large-scale layoffs, including 60 days advance notice. Bredar, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, ordered the firings temporarily halted and the workforce returned to the status quo before the layoffs began.

Now, Musk wants these judges to be impeached. Without judicial reform, which means at least the absolute worst judges get impeached, we dont have real democracy in America, he said on X after the rulings.

With inputs from agencies
The US president accused the Iranian-backed militia of waging an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones. He also accused his predecessor weak Joe Biden of keeping the unrestrained Houthis going read more

US President Donald Trump on Saturday (March 15) wrote on his Truth Social media platform that he has ordered the US military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The US president accused the Iranian-backed militia of waging an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones.

He also accused his predecessor weak Joe Biden of keeping the unrestrained Houthis going.

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It has been over a year since a U.S. flagged commercial ship safely sailed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden. The last American Warship to go through the Red Sea, four months ago, was attacked by the Houthis over a dozen times. Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at U.S. aircraft, and targeted our Troops and Allies. These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk, Trump wrote.

The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective. The Houthis have choked off shipping in one of the most important Waterways of the World, grinding vast swaths of Global Commerce to a halt, and attacking the core principle of Freedom of Navigation upon which International Trade and Commerce depends, Trump wrote further.

Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom. No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World, he added.

Directly addressing Houthi fighters, Trump wrote, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DONT, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!:

Addressing Iran, the US leader wrote, To Iran: Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American People, their President, who has received one of the largest mandates in Presidential History, or Worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we wont be nice about it!

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Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched over 100 attacks on ships off Yemen in support of Palestinian militants in Gaza fighting Israel, disrupting global shipping, according to Reuters.

Soon after becoming president, Trump had signed an executive order to designate once again Houthi rebels as a foreign terrorist organisation.

When former president Joe Biden took over from Trump in 2021, he removed the designation that Trump had signed near the end of his first term.

Bidens move came in response to concern from aid groups that they would need to pull out of Yemen as they are obliged to deal with the rebels, who are effectively the government in vast areas including the capital Sanaa.

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But weeks after the war in the Gaza Strip broke out on October 7, 2023, the Huthis began launching attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in what they said was support for the Palestinians.

They also declared US and British interests to be legitimate targets.

Trumps executive order said the Huthis had launched numerous attacks on civilian infrastructure, including multiple attacks on civilian airports in Saudi Arabia, in addition to firing more than 300 projectiles fired at Israel since October 2023.
Indian national Ranjani Srinivasan, a PhD student at Columbia University, has left the United States after her visa was revoked over allegations of promoting violence and terrorism. read more

Indian PHD student self deports after US revokes visa over 'advocating terrorism.' Image: Screengrab, X

Indian national Ranjani Srinivasan, a PhD student at Columbia University, has left the US after her visa was revoked by authorities over allegations of promoting violence and terrorism.

In a statement on Friday (local time), US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said that Srinivasan, a student in Urban Planning at Columbia University, self-deported using the CBP Home App.

NEW: Columbia rioter Ranjani Srinivasan self deported after her student visa was revoked pic.twitter.com/Fnneiko5qs  End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) March 14, 2025

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Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced that one of the Columbia students who had her student visa revoked for advocating violence and terrorism self-deported using the CBP Home App, and ICE arrested a Palestinian student for overstaying her expired F-1 visa, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a press release.

The US Department of State revoked Srinivasans visa on 5 March, alleging her involvement in activities supporting Hamas.

Ranjani Srinivasan, a citizen and national of India, entered the United States on an F-1 student visa as a doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University. Srinivasan was involved in activities supporting Hamas, a terrorist organisation. On 5 March 2025, the Department of State revoked her visa. The Department of Homeland Security has obtained video footage of her using the CBP Home App to self-deport on 11 March, the release stated.

Who is Ranjani Srinivasan, why was her visa was revoked?

Ranjani Srinivasan is an Indian national. She entered the United States on an F-1 student visa as a doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University.

The DHS has alleged that Srinivasan was involved in activities supporting Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation.

Another student arrested

Another student, Leqaa Kordia, was arrested by US immigration officers for overstaying her expired student visa. Her visa was terminated on 26 January 2022 due to lack of attendance. She is a Palestinian from the West Bank.

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In April 2024, Kordia was previously arrested for participating in pro-Hamas protests at Columbia University in New York City, according to the release.
The report points out Irans escalating reliance on technology to monitor and punish women defying the mandatory dress code read more

Iranian women walk on a street amid the implementation of the new hijab surveillance in Tehran. Reuters file

Iran is using aerial drones, facial recognition systems and a citizen-reporting app to enforce its draconian and mandatory hijab laws on women. The revelations were made in a report released by the United Nations on Friday. The report points out Irans escalating reliance on technology to monitor and punish women defying the mandatory dress code.

One of the key player of this crackdown is the Nazer mobile application, which is a government-backed tool that allows citizens and police to report women for alleged violations. The report was published by investigators who were involved in a two-year fact-finding mission in the Middle Eastern nation.

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In the report, the United Nations accused Iran of systemic violation of human rights and crimes against humanity. The report slammed authorities for particularly targeting women and girls.

What does the Nazer app do?

According to the report, the Nazer mobile application enables users to upload the license plate, location, and time of a vehicle where a woman is not wearing a hijab. The app then goes on to flag the vehicle online, alerting the police.

The application also triggers a text message (in real-time) to the registered owner of the vehicle, warning them that they had been found in violation of the mandatory hijab laws and that their vehicles would be impounded for ignoring these warnings, the UN report said.

The application is accessible via Irans police, abbreviated as (FARAJA) website and expanded its operation in September 2024. The report said that the app is frequently used to target women in ambulances, taxis, and public transport.

Apart from this, the report noted that Authorities have also deployed aerial drones in the capital Tehran and southern Iran to surveil public spaces and to monitor hijab compliance in public spaces.

In addition, they are also using new facial recognition software reportedly installed in early 2024 at the entrance gate of the Amirkabir University in Tehran, to monitor such compliance by women students.

UN recalled that hundreds of people were killed in protests in 2022, against Irans mandatory hijab law and political and social issues following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police in September of that year. The Iranian authorities are yet to comment on the report.

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Baloch separatists who hijacked a Pakistani passenger train claimed to have executed all 214 military hostages after their deadline to exchange them for Baloch political prisoners expired. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) accused the Pakistani government of ignoring their ultimatum, leading to the killings. read more

Rejecting the Pakistani armys claim, the Baloch separatists who hijacked a Pakistani passenger train claimed to have killed all 214 military hostages after their 48-hour deadline to exchange them for Baloch political prisoners expired on Friday.

The Baloch Liberation Army said the governments stubbornness in not heeding its ultimatum forced their hand.

The Baloch Liberation Army had given the Pakistani army a 48-hour ultimatum to exchange prisoners of war, which was the last chance for the occupying army to save the lives of its personnel. However, Pakistan, displaying its traditional stubbornness and military arrogance, not only avoided serious negotiations but also turned a blind eye to the ground realities. As a result of this stubbornness, all 214 hostages have been executed, the statement claimed.

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The rebel group claimed they had always followed international law, but Pakistans refusal to negotiate forced them to act.

The BLA has always followed the rules of war and international law, but Pakistan chose to sacrifice its personnel instead of saving them. As a result, 214 personnel were executed, the statement said.

Militants hijacked the Jaffar Express in a remote mountain pass in Balochistan, blowing up the tracks and taking passengers hostage in a tense standoff.

Army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said soldiers killed 33 insurgents, rescued 354 hostages, and ended the siege. He also stated that there was no evidence of the BLA taking additional hostages.

The final death toll included 23 soldiers, three railway employees, and five passengers, higher than the earlier estimate of 25 casualties.

The separatist group released a statement in response to the army, saying it had killed all the hostages in its custody. Pakistani officials have accused the group of making exaggerated claims in the past.

BLA in Pakistan

The BLA is the biggest and most powerful Baloch insurgent group, fighting for decades to gain independence for Balochistan. The province is rich in minerals and hosts major China-led projects, including a port and gold and copper mines.

Pakistans long negligence in Balochistan

Though the state accounts for 44 per cent of the countrys geographical area, the region is the most underdeveloped and poverty-stricken. The Baloch have alleged that its resources are driving development in the rich states of Punjab and Sindh, while Islamabad is neglecting Balochistans development.

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Over 2,800 Chinese telecom fraud suspects who were part of gangs luring locals and foreigners to work in telecom scam centres along the Myanmar-Thailand border have been repatriated to China for trials. read more

A total of 2,876 Chinese nationals suspected of involvement in telecom fraud have been repatriated from Myawaddy, Myanmar to China as part of a joint operation involving China, Myanmar, and Thailand, the Ministry of Public Security announced on Friday.

According to the ministry, 2,255 of these suspects were recently transported back to China on chartered flights under the supervision of Chinese police.

This large-scale repatriation represents a major success in the tri-nation operation launched on February 20 and serves as a strong warning to international criminal networks, the ministry said.

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The ministry also vowed to strengthen international law enforcement collaboration and intensify efforts to combat telecom fraud, ensuring the safety and property of Chinese citizens are protected.

Last month, a Chinese court sentenced four key figures involved in cross-border telecom fraud to life imprisonment as part of an intensified crackdown on gangs operating scam centers along the Myanmar-Thailand border.

In February, an ethnic armed group in Myanmars Karen state freed hundreds of people from 20 nationalities, including Indians, who had been forced to work in these fraud centers and transferred them to Thailand.

These groups lured foreign workers with promises of high salaries or misled them into believing they would be employed in Thailand rather than Myanmar.

According to a BBC report from Thailand, scammers specifically recruited workers proficient in the languages of their cyber fraud targets, primarily English and Chinese.

These scammers posing as officials were involved in a host of banking frauds reported from India and several other countries in which victims were threatened to part with money in online calls.

These online scams in which people lost huge amounts of money created a stir in India, China and several other countries.

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The freed foreign workers were handed over to the Thai army by the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), one of several armed factions which control territory inside Karen state, BBC reported earlier.

These armed groups have been accused of allowing the scam compounds to operate under their protection, and tolerating the widespread abuse of trafficking victims who are forced to work in the compounds.

The case of a Chinese actor Wang Xing who was lured to Thailand with the promise of a film role and was then taken across the border to Myanmar and forced to take part in online scam operations went viral in China. He was later rescued by Thai authorities.

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With inputs from agencies
The United States has expelled South Africas ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, in a move that underscores growing tensions between Washington and Pretoria. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on Friday, accusing Rasool of being anti-American and hostile towards President Donald Trump. read more

'No longer welcome': US expels South African ambassador for 'hating' Trump. Image:X

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that the United States is expelling South Africas ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, in a move that underscores growing tensions between Washington and Pretoria.

He also accused the envoy of hating the country and US President Donald Trump.

South Africas Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country, Rubio posted on X.

Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS, he said. @POTUS here refers to the official X handle of the President of the United States.

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We have nothing to discuss with him, and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.

Tensions between US and South Africa.

The ambassadors expulsion is the latest sign of growing tensions between the US and South Africa.

In February, Trump froze US aid to South Africa, claiming a law there allows land to be taken from white farmers.

Last week, he escalated the issue by inviting South African farmers to move to the US, saying the government was confiscating their land. On Truth Social, he promised them a rapid pathway to citizenship.

Musk takes a dig at Ramaphosa

Trumps close ally and South African-born billionaire Elon Musk has also criticised President Cyril Ramaphosas government, calling its land policies openly racist.

Land ownership remains a sensitive issue in South Africa, as most farmland is still owned by white people, and the government faces pressure to reform.

At a G20 event last month, Ramaphosa said he had a wonderful call with Trump after he took office in January, but later, relations seemed to go a little bit off the rails.

In his X post, Rubio shared an article from the conservative news site Breitbart about Rasools comments at a foreign policy seminar on Friday.

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According to Breitbart, Rasool said white supremacy was behind Trumps disrespect for the global order. He also claimed that Trumps Make America Great Again movement was a white supremacist reaction to increasing diversity in the US.

Rasool, who was an anti-apartheid activist in his youth, has also criticised Israels actions in the Gaza war.
Starmer urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to sign up to a ceasefire in its war against Ukraine if he is serious about peace and said allies will keep the pressure on the Kremlin, including financially and militarily. read more

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts a virtual meeting with international leaders to discuss support for Ukraine inside 10 Downing street in central London on March 15, 2025.- AFP

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the responsibility now lay with Russia and that President Vladimir Putin would eventually have to negotiate, following a virtual summit aimed at rallying support for a coalition to safeguard a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.

Addressing around 26 world leaders during the call hosted by Downing Street, Starmer emphasised the need to bolster Ukraine, secure any ceasefire, and maintain pressure on Moscow.

While Ukraine had shown it was the party of peace by agreeing to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, Putin is the one trying to delay, he said.

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If Putin is serious about peace, I think its very simple, he has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire, and the world is watching, he added.

Dutch PM urges continued pressure on Russia for ceasefire

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on Saturday it was vital to keep up the pressure on Russia to come to a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.

It is now important to continue to exert pressure on Russia to come to the negotiating table, said Schoof in a message on X, formerly Twitter, after taking part in a virtual meeting with other leaders about Ukraine hosted by Britain.

Schoof said there was broad agreement among the leaders to continue military and financial support for Ukraine.

The proposals from the US and Ukraine for a ceasefire also give hope, added the Dutch PM, warning that Europe would also continue to work hard on new sanctions on Russia.

Fighting in Kursk region

As moves have gathered pace for a ceasefire, Moscow has pushed this week to retake a large part of the land that Ukraine originally captured in western Kursk.

But Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who joined the talks, denied Saturday any encirclement of his troops in the Kursk region.

Our troops continue to hold back Russian and North Korean groupings in the Kursk region, he said on social media.

The Russian defence ministry said troops took control over the villages of Zaoleshenka and Rubanshchina  north and west of the town of Sudzha, the main town that Moscow reclaimed this week.

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Kyiv meanwhile said its air force had overnight downed 130 Iranian-made Russian-launched Shahed drones over 14 regions of the country.

Putin has called on embattled Ukrainian troops in Kursk to surrender, while his US counterpart Donald Trump urged the Kremlin to spare their lives.

The Kremlins complete disregard for President Trumps ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace, Starmer said late Friday ahead of the call.

With inputs from agencies
Putin laid out his vision at the meeting and insisted that improving ties with the United States would now be one of the main agendas read more

Russian President Vladimir Putin lauded his American counterpart, Donald Trump, for doing everything to improve relations between Moscow and Washington. The remarks from Putin came during his meeting with security officials and came just days after Trump said the US has had very good and productive discussions with Putin in recent days.

According to Russian news outlet Tass, Putin laid out his vision at the meeting and insisted that improving ties with the United States would now be one of the main agendas. We know that the new administration headed by President Trump is doing everything to restore at least something of what was destroyed by the previous US administration, he said.

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As per the report, Putin also responded to an appeal by Trump to save the lives of thousands of surrounding Ukrainian soldiers and insisted that he would respect the request as long as the soldiers of the eastern European nation surrendered in Kursk. However, Kyiv has extensively denied claims that its troops have been encircled by Russian forces in Kursk.

The remarks from Putin came after Steve Witkoff, Trumps close ally and special envoy to the Middle East, held late-night talks with the Russian leader on Thursday. The American diplomat put forward the US proposal for an immediate 30-day ceasefire in the war on Ukraine. While Kyiv has already accepted the proposal, Putin listed out a series of sweeping conditions that he wants to be fulfilled before Russia agrees to the truce.

Trump & Putin are on the same page, but what about Zelenskyy

One of the conditions Putin laid out was that Ukraine should neither rearm nor mobilise during the 30-day truce. Meanwhile, in a post on TruthSocial on Friday, Trump said that there was a very good chance the war between Russia and Ukraine could finally come to an end. The president also pointed out that he had appealed to Putin to save the lives of thousands of Ukrainian troops supposedly surrounded by the Russian army.

The claim was first made by Putin earlier this week. I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II. God bless them all," Trump wrote in the post. During his address at the Justice Department, Trump chided Ukraine for seizing Kursk.

First of all, you dont want to pick on somebody a lot larger than you, even with the money, he said. Theres a lot of money that we gave them and a lot of equipment. We make the best military equipment in the world." But even with all of that, its unbelievable. Right now, you have a lot of Ukrainian soldiers that are encircled and in grave danger, and Ive asked them not to kill those soldiers, please, not to kill those soldiers. We dont want them killed," he furthered.

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The warm exchange between Trump and Putin is likely to alarm Kyiv and other European nations. In the latest meeting, Putin told the security council that he had heard Trumps appeal and said the lives of Ukrainian troops would be spared if they surrendered. Meanwhile, Kyiv continues to deny the encirclement allegations.

Ukrainian general staff wrote in a statement published on their media channels: Reports of the alleged encirclement of Ukrainian units by the enemy in the Kursk region are false and fabricated by the Russians for political manipulation and to exert pressure on Ukraine and its partners. There is no threat of encirclement of our units. Even some of the pro-Russian Telegrams have disputed the claims as well.

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The ball is in Russias court

On Friday, the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said Putin had sent Trump a message via Witkoff about his proposal for a ceasefire, maintaining that Russia has cautious optimism towards the deal. Interestingly, Peskovs statement was echoed by the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who said there were reasons to be cautiously optimistic.

Well examine the Russian position more closely, and the president will then determine what the next steps are. Suffice it to say, I think there is reason to be cautiously optimistic, Rubio said. Obviously, we will see what Russia and others are willing to do. Its not just Russia, obviously; it has to be acceptable to Ukraine," he added.

While the White House remains optimistic, US intelligence services have reportedly assessed that Putin remains committed to achieving his maximalist goal of dominating Ukraine. An intelligence report circulated among Trump officials and obtained by the Washington Post maintained that Putin remains determined to maintain control over Kyiv.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated on Friday that Russian attempts to set up conditions for the 30-day ceasefire only complicate and drag out the process. Russia is the only party that wants the war to continue and diplomacy to break down, Zelenskyy said on X after a call with the secretary of state of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Putin will not end the war on his own. But the strength of America is enough to make it happen," he added. In the post, Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine is committed to upholding the ceasefire, describing it as an opportunity to establish a lasting peace. During the period of silence, we could prepare a reliable peace plan, put it on the table, discuss the details, and implement it. We are ready, the Ukrainian president said.

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With inputs from agencies.
The leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed in a joint operation by US and Iraqi forces, Iraqs Prime Minister announced on Friday. US President Donald Trump took the credit of the elimination, saying the terrorist was relentlessly hunted down and eliminated. read more

'Relentlessly hunted down': Trump takes credit for killing ISIS 'fugitive' leader in Iraq. AP

The leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was killed in a coordinated operation involving US and Iraqi forces, Iraqs prime minister said on Friday.

US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) took credit for the elimination of the terrorist.

Trump takes credit

Today, the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed, Trump said in a social media post.

Trump said that he was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters. His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government.

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PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH! Trump posted.

One of the most dangerous terrorists: Iraqi PM

Iraqi security forces killed Abdullah Makki Muslih al-Rufayi, also known as Abu Khadija, in an operation on Friday, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced.

The Prime Minister described him as one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world.

The Iraqis continue their impressive victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism, Prime Minister al-Sudani said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

CAUGHT ON VIDEO: President Trump Terminates ISIS Leader in Targeted Strike pic.twitter.com/2tr5QQOGEk  The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 15, 2025

The White House also shared a video of the purported strike on Abu Khadija. The video was captioned as, President Trump Terminates ISIS Leader in Targeted Strike."

The announcement came on the same day as Syrias top diplomat visited Iraq for the first time. Both countries agreed to work together against ISIS.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein said they discussed the challenges posed by ISIS, including its movements along the Syria-Iraq border and inside both countries.

He also mentioned a new operations centre set up by Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon during a recent meeting in Amman, which will soon start working to combat ISIS.

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Ukraine has launched drones into Russia throughout Russias offensive and on Monday attacked the Moscow region with the largest amount of drones since the conflict began in 2022 read more

Servicemen of the 44th Separate Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine fire a Leopard 1A5 tank during a training, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine. File image/ Reuters

Russia on Saturday said it brought down 126 Ukrainian drones overnight over the Volgograd and Voronezh regions while Kyiv said that 130 Russian drones have been brought down by its forces.

The defence ministry said 64 drones were intercepted over Volgograd and neighbouring Voronezh and the rest targeted border regions.

Ukraine has launched drones into Russia throughout Russias offensive and on Monday attacked the Moscow region with the largest amount of drones since the conflict began in 2022.

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Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is in favour of the US-proposed 30-day ceasefire but added that there are serious issues that need to be discussed.

We agree with proposals to cease hostilities, but on the basis that that cessation would lead to long-term peace and addresses the root causes of the crisis, Putin told a press conference in Moscow with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

Russia retakes 2 villages

Meanwhile, Moscow on Saturday also announced that it has regained control over two more villages from Ukrainian forces in its Kursk border region.

The Russian defence ministry said troops took control over the villages of Zaoleshenka and Rubanshchina  north and west of the town of Sudzha, the main town that Moscow reclaimed this week.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin a day earlier called on embattled Ukrainian troops in Kursk to surrender, while his US counterpart Donald Trump urged the Kremlin to spare their lives.

If they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment, Putin said Friday.

Kyiv also downs Russian drones

Kyivs air force said the Iranian-made Shahed drones were downed over 14 regions and that Moscow had also attacked with two ballistic missiles.

Kyiv also said that the number of wounded in a Russian strike a day earlier on President Volodymyr Zelenskys hometown Kryvy Rig rose to 14.

With inputs from AFP
The Russian national is from Primorsky, St Petersburg and will now appear at Hull magistrates court on Saturday, Humberside police said read more

Smoke rises from damaged containers on the deck of the MV Solong cargo ship that rammed into US oil tanker Stena Immaculate on Monday, March 10, 2025, in North Sea in British waters. (Photo: AFP)

The master of the container ship the Solong, which crashed into another vessel in the North Sea, has been charged with gross negligence and manslaughter. 59-year-old Vladimir Motin was in charge of the ship when it crashed into a tanker carrying jet fuel on Monday. The incident took place about 12 miles (19km) off the East Yorkshire coast, leaving one man dead.

The Crown Prosecution Service said that a Filipino national named Mark Angelo Pernia died after the collision. The Russian national is from Primorsky, St Petersburg and will now appear at Hull magistrates court on Saturday, Humberside police said.

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An investigation by Humberside police supported by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) into the collision between a tanker and a cargo vessel in the North Sea, off the coast of East Yorkshire, has resulted in a man being charged," a statement from the authorities reads. The captain of the Solong vessel, Vladimir Motin, 59 years old, of Primorsky, St Petersburg, Russia, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and been remanded in police custody to appear at Hull magistrates court tomorrow," they added.

What happened?

The Russian vessel hit a US-flagged tanker, the Stena Immaculate, carrying jet fuel for the American military. The ship was anchored while waiting for space at a port in the Humber and was travelling from the Peloponnese region of Greece. On Monday, 10 March, Humberside police received a report at around 11 am that a collision had occurred between the two vessels, resulting in one crew member being reported missing," the Crown Prosecution Service noted.

Extensive searches were carried out by HM Coastguard to locate the missing crew member, now presumed deceased. The family are being supported by specialist-trained officers and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time," the statement further reads.

Meanwhile, the Solong was sailing from Grangemouth in Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands at a speed of about 16 knots, when it collided with the tanker. Both vessel immediately caught fire following several explosions.

36 vrew members onboard were rescued by the authorities including Americans onboard the Stena Immaculate and members of the Russian and Filipino crew of the Solong. On Friday, the chief coastguard, Paddy OCallaghan, said both vessels were stable and salvors had boarded them to continue to assess the damage caused by the accident.

There are now only small periodic pockets of fire on the Solong which are not causing undue concern. Specialist tugs with firefighting capability remain at both vessels locations," he said. Regular aerial surveillance flights continue to monitor the vessels and confirm that there continues to be no cause for concern from pollution from either the Stena Immaculate or from the Solong," he added.

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With inputs from agencies.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of not taking US-led ceasefire efforts seriously. His remarks come ahead of a key summit where leaders will discuss support for Ukraine. read more

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of not taking US efforts for a Ukraine ceasefire seriously and said he cannot be allowed to play games with the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Starmers remarks came after Putin questioned how the 30-day ceasefire proposed by US President Donald Trumps administration would work.

We cant allow President Putin to play games with President Trumps deal, Starmer said in quotes released by his Downing Street office.

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The Kremlins complete disregard for President Trumps ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace.

Starmer said that Putin is trying to delay a ceasefire.

The development came as he prepared to present proposals for a peace deal to a coalition of about 25 world leaders.

The British Prime Minister is expected to seek commitments from fellow leadersmostly from Europe and NATOon how they would contribute to supporting Ukraine during a virtual summit on the issue on Saturday morning.

Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have been leading efforts to assemble a so-called coalition of the willing ever since Trump opened direct negotiations with Moscow last month.

They say the group is necessaryalong with US supportto provide Ukraine with security guarantees by deterring Putin from violating any ceasefire.

Starmer and Macron have said they are willing to put British and French troops on the ground in Ukraine, but it is not clear if other countries are keen on doing the same.

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Turkey has indicated it could play a part in peacekeeping efforts, while Irelands Prime Minister Micheal Martin has said Irish troops would not be deployed in any deterrent force.
President Aleksandar Vucic said he had asked police to show restraint, but to detain troublemakers read more

Supporters welcome students from across Serbia as they converge in the capital Belgrade for mass protests over the fatal November 2024 Novi Sad railway station roof collapse, in Belgrade, Serbia. Reuters

Thousands of protesters, mainly students, descended on Serbias capital on Friday ahead of a planned weekend of massive anti-government rallies, many travelling hundreds of miles on foot or by bike.

President Aleksandar Vucic said he had asked police to show restraint, but to detain troublemakers. The state  will do everything to secure peace. Those who endanger peace will be arrested, he told a news conference.

Thousands of people cheered and waved Serbian flags as student columns started entering Belgrade city centre. Hundreds of bikers, parked near the parliament building, revved their engines in support. Cars honked as they drove by.

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Supporters, including students from Belgrade, laid out a red carpet for the arriving protesters along the main Terazije boulevard.

Belgraders, liberators have arrived, said Angelina, 19, a student from the northern city of Zrenjanin.

The rallies are expected to be the biggest in decades. Near daily student protests began in December following the deaths of 15 people when a roof at a railway station collapsed on November 1 in the northern city of Novi Sad, a disaster opponents blame on corruption under Vucic.

Authorities expect anywhere between 60,000 and 80,000 protesters to arrive to the capital, Vucic said. Organisers say they expect many more.

Students, teachers, farmers, and workers have joined the demonstrations in a major challenge to Vucic, a populist, in power for 12 years as prime minister or president.

Throngs of Vucic loyalists have arrived in Belgrade this week to camp near his office in the centre of the city. They brought tractors overnight to surround their camp.

Earlier, outgoing Prime Minister Milos Vucevic said police would intervene in case of violence.

Last December, students issued a set of demands that included the release of documents related to the railway station disaster and accountability for those responsible.

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Prosecutors have charged 13 people over the disaster, and the government has announced an anti-corruption campaign. Vucevic and two ministers have also resigned.
US diplomatic and security officials laid out a draft list recommending the list of countries whose nationals will be under the radar. This list is divided into three categories: Red, Orange and Yellow read more

US President Donald Trumps administration is reportedly considering targeting the citizens of as many as 43 countries as part of a new travel ban to the United States. With this, the Trump government plans to broaden the restrictions imposed during his first time. According to The New York Times, US diplomatic and security officials laid out a draft list recommending the list of countries whose nationals will be under the radar.

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This list is divided into three categories. They are as follows:

Red - All travel banned

Orange - Visas sharply restricted

Yellow - 60 days to address concerns

The red category has 11 countries whose citizens would be barred from entering the United States. These nations are; Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen. The official, who asked to remain anonymous told the New York Times that the list was developed by the US State Department several weeks ago.

The officials at embassies and regional bureaus at the State Department, security specialists at other departments and intelligence agencies are currently reviewing the draft. Hence, the list of countries and the categories they belong to might change in the future.

Pakistan is part of the orange list

The draft proposal also included an orange list mentioning 10 countries whose nationals would be restricted but not cut from travelling to the United States. As per the New York Times report, in these cases, only affluent business travellers might be allowed to enter, but not people travelling on immigrant or tourist visas.

Citizens belonging to this category would be subjected to mandatory in-person interviews to receive a visa. The nations that belong to the orange category are; Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Turkmenistan.

Interestingly, Pakistan was also named the second most terrorist-affected country in the world. The first, Burkina Faso, belongs to the yellow category in the list presented by the Trump administration. On the first day of his presidency, Trump issued an executive order asking the State Department to identify countries for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries.

He gave the department a 60-day deadline to finish the report. Hence, the list is due next week. However, it is unclear whether people with existing visas would be exempted from the ban or if their visas would be cancelled. It is also not clear whether the administration intends to exempt existing green card holders, who are approved for lawful permanent residency in the United States.

Some surprising names

While the list comprises names of nations that are already suffering from US sanctions, there were some countries whose mention came as a surprise. Bhutan, for example, was mentioned in the red category. The small Buddhist and Hindu country is sandwiched between China and India, neither of which were on any of the draft lists.

Russia is also on the red category, which is surprising since the Trump administration is trying to rebuild its ties with the Kremlin. The proposal also includes a draft yellow list of 22 countries that would be given 60 days to clear up perceived deficiencies.

The category comprises Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.

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During Trumps first stint in office, the courts blocked the government from enforcing the first two versions of his travel ban. Soon after coming to power in 2021, former US President Joe Biden issued a proclamation revoking Trumps travel bans, calling them a stain on our national conscience and inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all.

In the January order, Trump said that his government would revive the bans to protect American citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.

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Sky News earlier reported that Trumps special envoy Witkoff had to wait for more than eight hours for a meeting with Putin, who was reportedly busy meeting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the time read more

US President Donald Trump on Saturday (March 15) blasted media outlets for allegedly spreading this fake news that Russian President Vladimir Putin made his close aide Steve Witkoff wait for nine hours. Taking to his Truth Social media platform, Trump insisted there was no nine-hour wait and his highly respected ambassador and special representative had several productive meetings.

Yesterday evening I read that Russian President Vladimir Putin made my highly respected ambassador and special representative Steve Witkoff wait for more than nine hours, although there was actually no waiting, Trump wrote.

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Trumps post on Truth Social

There were other meetings with other representatives of Russia, and, obviously, they took some time, but they were very productive. From that moment on, everything went quickly and efficiently, and all signs, I hope, are very good! In conclusion, there was no nine-hour wait or any wait at all! He wrote further.

The US leader added that the media invented this story to demean and humiliate.

The only reason they made up that story is to try and DEMEAN, because they are sick degenerates, that have to start reporting the News correctly. This is why they have lost their ratings, their audience, and respect. Thank you for your attention to this matter and, GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Sky News earlier reported that Trumps special envoy Witkoff had to wait for more than eight hours for a meeting with Putin, who was reportedly busy meeting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the time.

A day earlier, on March 14, Trump criticised major news networks during a speech at the Department of Justice, suggesting their reporting should be considered illegal and investigated.

I believe that CNN and MS-DNC, who literally write 97.6% bad about me, are political arms of the Democrat [sic] party and in my opinion, theyre really corrupt and theyre illegal, what they do is illegal, Trump claimed.

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He compared media outlets to political operatives, arguing that their actions should not be allowed.

These networks and these newspapers are really no different than a highly paid political operative, Trump said, labelling CNN and MSNBC as corrupt.

And it has to stop, it has to be illegal, its influencing judges and its really changing law, and it just cannot be legal. I dont believe its legal, and they do it in total coordination with each other, he added.

(With inputs from agencies)
Unlike the first summit on March 2, the meeting of what Starmer has termed the coalition of the willing will be conducted virtually read more

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is convening a second meeting of global leaders Saturday to discuss the developments regarding the war in Ukraine, following another frantic week of diplomacy aimed at getting Russia to back a 30-day ceasefire.

Unlike the first summit on March 2, the meeting of what Starmer has termed the coalition of the willing will be conducted virtually. The call is expected to delve into how countries can help Ukraine militarily and financially as well as gauging support for any future possible peacekeeping mission.

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If Russia finally comes to the table, then we must be ready to monitor a ceasefire to ensure it is a serious, and enduring peace, Starmer is set to tell leaders, in remarks released by his office ahead of the meeting. If they dont, then we need to strain every sinew to ramp up economic pressure on Russia to secure an end to this war.

Around 25 countries are expected to be involved in the call, including European partners, and Ukraine. Leaders from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ukraine, as well as officials from NATO and the European Unions executive, are also set to take part.

Like last time, there will be no representative from the United States, which has shifted its approach on the war since the return of President Donald Trump to the White House. The change of approach relative to that taken by Trumps predecessor, Joe Biden, became particularly notable after Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Feb. 28 in the Oval Office.

Saturdays meeting takes place in the wake of a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, which Zelenskyy has backed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated that he supported a truce in principle but has set out a host of details that need to be clarified before agreeing to a ceasefire. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has voiced cautious optimism about the possibility of Putin, who met with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, on Thursday, backing a ceasefire.

Starmer appears to be less optimistic, and is set to tell leaders that concrete commitments are required now as Putin plays pointless games with Trumps peace plan.

Putin is trying to delay, saying there must be a painstaking study before a ceasefire can take place. But the world needs to see action, not a study, or empty words and pointless conditions, Starmer said. The Kremlins complete disregard for President Trumps ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace.

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Starmer has taken the lead, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, in assembling the coalition of the willing in part to persuade Trump to maintain support for Kyiv. One outcome has already been a growing acceptance from European countries in particular that they need to do more secure their own security, including by increasing their defense spending.

Macron said he had spoken Friday with both Zelenskyy and Starmer about progress at the U.S.-Ukraine talks earlier this week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which led to Trump resuming military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

Saturdays meeting, he said, will continue to work on reinforcing the support for Ukraine and toward a solid and lasting peace.

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Ukraine, under severe military pressure on parts of the front line three years after Russias full-scale invasion, has already endorsed the truce proposal. Russias army has gained battlefield momentum, and analysts say Putin likely will be reluctant to rush into a ceasefire while he feels he has an advantage.

My message to the Kremlin could not be clearer: stop the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, and agree to a ceasefire now, Starmer said.
The never-before-seen address came in the garb of a policy speech for the administration. Trump went on to laud the amount of work his government did in a short period, including combating illegal immigration and drug trafficking read more

In a fiery speech at the US Department of Justice headquarters, US President Donald Trump vented about his criminal cases and continued with his election victory lap. The never-before-seen address came in the garb of a policy speech for the administration. Trump went on to laud the amount of work his government did in a short period, including combating illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

However, the majority of Trumps remarks focused on his grievances with the department under former US President Joe Biden. Trump gave the address in the Justice Departments great hall, displacing the longstanding tradition of independence from partisan politics and instead turning it into an extension of the White House.

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In the past, the very same hall has been used for major law enforcement announcements by the Justice Department and its senior leaders. The president only delivered speeches in the area when the remarks were of a national security or non-political stripe.

Trump goes on for an hour

In his hour-long speech, Trump repeatedly strayed from his prepared remarks to assail the criminal cases against him. He called out various lawyers and former prosecutors by name and accused the Biden administration of trying to destroy him. He went on to unleash personal attacks against his predecessor and called Biden the head of a crime family.

The case against me was bulls**t, Trump said with fury, in the building where the charges were approved. The president lauded his defence lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, whom he elevated to, in effect, run the justice department as the deputy attorney general and the principal associate deputy attorney general, respectively, as well as the departments chief of staff, Chad Mizelle.

Trump also offered notable praise for the US district judge Aileen Cannon, who dismissed criminal charges against him in the classified document case. Trump insisted that criticism of Cannon made her angry, although he also said that he had never spoken to her. She was brilliant, Trump said of Cannon, the absolute model of what a judge should be.

The president said that it should be a crime to criticise judges, completely forgetting the fact that he has previously castigated judges who did not rule in his favour and sought to defend legal cases in public. It has to stop, it has to be illegal, influencing judges, Trump said as his administration now attempts to defend his policies and cost-cutting efforts amid a host of lawsuits.

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Trump concluded his address by announcing an ad campaign to combat illegal fentanyl, which often kills people because it is mixed with other drugs. He recalled that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told him about their campaign informing the public about its consequences.

They show the skin falling off and the teeth falling out and going blind and losing hair and everything these things do, Trump said, you look like you just came out of a horrible concentration camp.
The US Senate passed a Republican-led spending bill on Friday, just hours before a government shutdown. The bill, which faced strong opposition from House Democrats, now awaits approval from President Donald Trump. read more

The US Senate narrowly averted a government shutdown on Friday by passing a Republican-led spending bill just hours before the deadline.

The bill was passed amid strong opposition from Democrats in the House and now heads to President Donald Trump for approval.

A divide in Democrats

The vote, 54-46, reflected deep divisions among Democrats over how to respond to the Trump administrations efforts to cut federal jobs and services.

Some Democrats wanted to oppose the bill, arguing it neglected key priorities like health care and housing, while others feared a shutdown would be worse. In the end, enough Democrats supported Senate leader Chuck Schumers strategy to let the bill pass.

A shutdown will allow DOGE to shift into overdrive, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said. Schumer said that Donald Trump and Elon Musk would be free to dismantle vital government services at a much faster rate.

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Democrats faced a tough choiceeither let a bill pass that gives President Donald Trump broad control over spending or vote against it and trigger a government shutdown.

In the end, 10 Democrats helped move the bill forward, and two supported it in the final vote. Meanwhile, Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky opposed it.

The bill extends funding for six months

The bill, now awaiting Trumps signature, extends government funding for six more months.

The American people elected Democrats to fight against Republican dysfunction and chaos, said a letter from 66 House Democrats to Schumer.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and his team rushed back to the Capitol, urging senators to reject the bill and negotiate a fair deal with Republicans. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi called the bill unacceptable.

Some Democrats argued that if a shutdown happened, Republicans would be blamed since they controlled both Congress and the White House.

If you refuse to consider any Democratic input and dont get our votes, thats on Republicans, said Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Schumer receives Trumps praise

Surprisingly, Schumer received unexpected support from Trump, who had previously been preparing to blame Democrats for a shutdown.

Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thingTook guts and courage! Trump said in a social media post.
A representative of the US Department of Agriculture in Europe had sent formal inquiries to egg-producing European countries in late February. The department was reportedly seeking information on their ability and willingness to export eggs to the American markets. read more

Trump promised to lower egg prices on his first day in office, but prices increased 59% on a year-on-year basis in February. X

While US President Donald Trump has been repeatedly expressing his ambition to take over Greenland, reports are emerging that the United States is seeking help from Denmark and other European nations to export eggs. The request is coming at a time when egg prices are surging in the country after Trump imposed high tariffs on Canadian, Mexican and Chinese imports.

The Danish Egg Association on Friday said that the request came from the US Department of Agriculture, Reuters reported. It is pertinent to note that Trump has threatened to impose economic sanctions on Denmark as well unless the country hands over the control of Greenland to the United States. He eventually proposed the idea of annexing the island, drawing ire from the Danes. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, a member of the European Union.

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US wholesale egg prices are sky rocketting due to the factors including the outbreak of bird flu and Trumps decision to impose tariffs on the countrys top three biggest trading partners. During his first day in the office the American president had promised to lower egg prices. However, the cost of eggs increased by 59 per cent on a year-on-year basis in February, the first full month of his administration.

A letter obtained by Reuters showed that a representative of the US Department of Agriculture in Europe had sent formal inquiries to egg-producing countries in late February. The department was reportedly seeking information on their ability and willingness to export eggs to the American markets.

Europe does not have eggs to spare'

The Danish Egg Association said it would look into the request but noted that there was no surplus of eggs in Europe. There is a shortage of eggs everywhere on a global scale because consumption is increasing and many are affected by bird flu, the association said.

Were still waiting to get more guidance from Washington on the next steps, but do you have an estimate of the number of eggs that could be supplied to the United States (assuming they meet all the import requirements), a follow-up letter to the Danish Egg Association in early March said.

Washington is trying to get an estimate of the amount they could feasibly source, said the letter, received last week. A spokesperson said that the association had requested more details on the conditions of such an agreement, adding that the egg exports to the US were challenging due to regulations related to hygiene and other factors.

Last month, Turkey announced that it had started exporting about 15,000 tonnes of eggs to the US. The same month, US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the plan to seek imported eggs as part of a $1bn effort to combat bird flu.

With inputs from Reuters.
Thailands February deportation of the Uyghurs, held in detention for a decade, came despite warnings from United Nations human rights experts that they were at risk of torture, ill-treatment and irreparable harm if returned read more

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions on Friday against officials from Thailand, a U.S. ally, for their role in deporting at least 40 Uyghurs to China, where Washington says the members of the Muslim group will face persecution.

The U.S. is committed to combating Chinas efforts to pressure governments to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to China, where they are subject to torture and enforced disappearances, the State Department said in a statement.

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The move appeared intended to discourage Thailand and other countries from such deportations.

While the United States has imposed sanctions in the past on Thailand, including by suspending military aid after military coups, and has targeted Thai individuals and companies for violating sanctions on third countries, a leading Southeast Asia expert said he could not recall sanctions on Thai government officials, who were not named in Rubios announcement.

Thailands February deportation of the Uyghurs, held in detention for a decade, came despite warnings from United Nations human rights experts that they were at risk of torture, ill-treatment and irreparable harm if returned.

Reuters reported this month that Canada and the United States offered to resettle 48 ethnic Uyghurs, but Bangkok feared upsetting China.

I am immediately implementing this policy by taking steps to impose visa restrictions on current and former officials for the Government of Thailand responsible for, or complicit in, the forced return of 40 Uyghurs from Thailand on February 27, Rubio said in his statement.

In light of Chinas longstanding acts of genocide and crimes against humanity committed against Uyghurs, we call on governments around the world not to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to China, Rubio said, adding that the restrictions could extend to family members of those sanctioned.

Thailand responded on Saturday that it had received reassurances from China over the safety of the Uyghurs and will continue to follow up on the well-being of this group.

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Thailand has always upheld a long tradition of humanitarianism, particularly in providing assistance to displaced persons, the Thai foreign ministry said, adding that it values the the long-standing and close treaty alliance with the United States.

This week, the European Parliament also condemned Thailand over the deportations, calling on the EU to use free trade agreement negotiations as leverage to stop future such moves.

Murray Hiebert, an expert with the Southeast Asia program at Washingtons Center for Strategic and International Studies, said he could not recall past U.S. sanctions against Thai government officials.

He said Thailand can be sensitive to criticism, but its reaction could be tempered by President Donald Trumps tariff threats against countries that have large trade surpluses with Washington.

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They might want to lay low, he said. They already have a target on their back by having the 11th-largest trade surplus with the U.S Its not clear Thailand is out of the woods yet when Trump imposes reciprocal tariffs in early April.

Analysts say Washington has avoided taking tougher measures against Thailand in the past due to concerns that this might push its long-time ally closer to China.

The Washington-based Campaign for Uyghurs advocacy group commended Rubios move and the Trump administration in a statement, saying it sends a strong message that those who enable the Chinese Communist Partys human rights abuses will face consequences for their crimes.

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Rubio, who was a staunch advocate for Uyghurs as a U.S. senator, has reiterated that Beijings treatment of the group had amounted to genocide and crimes against humanity, a designation the U.S. first made in the waning hours of President Donald Trumps first term in 2021.

China denies allegations of abuse and forced labor toward Uyghurs, arguing it has established vocational training centers in recent years to curb terrorism, separatism and religious radicalism.
Yunus said he hoped that the minority community would get a chance to celebrate Eid next year by returning to their home in Myanmars Rakhine state read more

On Friday, Bangladeshs Interim Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, pledged to work collectively with the United Nations to deal with the Rohingya issue as he met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Yunus said he hoped that the minority community would get a chance to celebrate Eid next year by returning to their home in Myanmars Rakhine state.

The remarks from the Bangladeshi chief adviser came while he joined Guterres and one lakh Rohingyas at Camp 20 Extension in Ukhiya on Iftar, The Dhaka Tribune reported. The Nobel laureate delivered a speech in Chittagongs regional language for better communication with the Rohingyas.

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According to The Dhaka Tribune, earlier on Friday, the chartered flight carrying Professor Yunus and Guterres landed at Coxs Bazar Airport at 12:48 pm (local time). During the visit, Yunus and Guterres inaugurated a project at Coxs Bazar Airport and also inspected Kthe hurushkul Climate Refugee Centre.

Guterres shares two clear messages after the visit

After visiting the Rohingya camp in Ukhiya, Guterres said that he had two clear messages about the matter. I have received two clear messages from my visit to the Rohingya camp. First, the displaced Rohingya community wants to return to Myanmar. The international community must ensure the restoration of peace in Myanmar and guarantee the rights of the Rohingyas so that they do not face any form of discrimination," the UN chief said in a statement.

As part of my Ramadan solidarity visit to Bangladesh, I was honoured to break the fast and share an Iftar with close to 100,000 Rohingya refugees.



May this Ramadan bring peace, blessings, and renewed hope to all. pic.twitter.com/tpnVM5ZKJ1  Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) March 14, 2025

Secondly, the Rohingya refugees seek better living conditions in the camps. Unfortunately, many countries, including the United States, have recently made drastic cuts to humanitarian aid. As a result, we have had to reduce food rations in our relief efforts. I have pledged to do everything in my power. I will speak with as many countries as possible to secure funding and prevent further deterioration of the situation," he added.

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Following their visit to the camp, both the leaders returned to Dhaka together on Friday evening.

With inputs from agencies.
Moscow has pushed this week to retake a large part of the land that Ukraine originally captured in its western Kursk region last summer. read more

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pauses during a interview with Bret Baier during a taping of FOX News Channel's Special Report with Bret Baier in Washington, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied Saturday his troops were encircled in Russias Kursk region, where Moscow has regained swathes of land this week, as Russia said it took back two more villages in the border region.

US leader Donald Trump had a day earlier asked Russias Vladimir Putin on social media to spare the lives of Ukrainian troops that he said were completely surrounded by the Russian army.

Moscow has pushed this week to retake a large part of the land that Ukraine originally captured in its western Kursk region last summer.

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Zelenskyy has acknowledged that the situation in the Kursk area is very difficult for Ukraine, but contradicted Trumps comments.

There is no encirclement of out troops, he said on social media, adding that: Our troops continue to hold back Russian and North Korean groupings in the Kursk region.

Kyiv had hoped to use the Russian territories as a bargaining chip in any negotiations to end the more than three-year conflict.

The UK on Saturday hosted a virtual summit on how to protect any ceasefire in Ukraine, but Zelenskyy warned that Moscow was intent on prolonging the war and ignoring diplomacy.

He also accused Moscow of amassing troops on the border with an intention to attack our Sumy region  attacked by Moscow at the start of its 2022 invasion but since spared the worst of the fighting seen in other eastern regions.

Putin had this week not committed to an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine proposed by the US, instead putting forward conditions and raising serious questions about the idea.

The Kremlin has hailed its troops ousting Ukrainian forces from swathes of the Kursk region, with Moscow on Saturday releasing images of a destroyed centre in Sudzha  the main town occupied by Ukrainian forces for months.

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The Russian defence ministry said troops took control over the villages of Zaoleshenka and Rubanshchina  north and west of Sudzha.

Russia evacuates civilians

Sudzha was home to around 6,000 people before fighting began and Ukraine had set up a military administration there after its shock August 2024 incursion.

The Russian defence ministrys footage showed heavily destroyed houses and shops, with rubble and broken glass on the streets, and some Russian flags flying.

The acting governor of the Kursk region, Alexander Khinstein, said Russia had evacuated 275 civilians from areas it had regained since Wednesday.

Khinstein said 174 of the residents are now in temporary accommodation and that the work of evacuating our residents is continuing.

The Kremlin has hailed the Kursk operations as a major success.

Responding to Trumps call to spare Ukrainian troops in Kursk region, Putin said Friday:

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If they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment.

Russias defence ministry also said that military engineers were working to clear the areas that were held by Ukraine.

Russia oil depot fire

Russia had also deployed almost 200 firefighters to help put out a fire at an oil depot caused by a Ukraine drone strike in the southern Krasnodar region, authorities said.

The governor of the Krasnodar region Veniamin Kondratyev said in the early hours of Saturday that a petrol reserve station in the Black Sea city of Tuapse was attacked by the Kyiv regime.

Elsewhere on the front, Zelenskyy claimed the situation around the eastern city of Pokrovsk  which Russian troops have tried to capture for months  had stabilised.

Ukrainian officials also said the number sof wounded from a Russian strike a day earlier on Zelenskyys hometown Kryvy Rig rose to 14.

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Moscow has targeted the central city throughout its invasion and Kyiv said Friday it struck a residential area of Kryvy Rig, destroying large apartment buildings.

Ukrainian prosecutors said the wounded children were a two-year-old and a 15-year-old.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Full text: Joint Statement of the Beijing Meeting between China, Russia and Iran

Xinhua) 10:29, March 15, 2025

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China, Russia and Iran on Friday issued a joint statement of the Beijing meeting.

The following is the full text of the statement.

Joint Statement of the Beijing Meeting between China, Russia and Iran

The Beijing Meeting between China, Russia and Iran was successfully held on March 14, 2025. The Beijing Meeting was chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu of the People's Republic of China, with participation of Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich of the Russian Federation and Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

China, Russia and Iran engaged in in-depth discussions on the latest state of play with regard to nuclear issue and sanctions lifting. The three countries emphasized on the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions.

The three countries reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option in this regard.

The three countries emphasized that relevant parties should be committed to addressing the root cause of the current situation and abandoning sanction, pressure, or threat of force.

The three countries stressed the importance of the UNSC Resolution 2231, including its timeframes, and called for relevant parties to refrain from any action that may escalate the situation, so as to create a favourable atmosphere and conditions for diplomatic efforts.

The three countries reiterated the importance of upholding the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of international non-proliferation regime. China and Russia welcomed Iran's reiteration that its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes, and not for development of nuclear weapons, and also welcomed Iran's commitment to full compliance with its obligations under the NPT and Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement, supported Iran's policy to continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and stressed the need to fully respect Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a State Party to the NPT. The three countries stressed the necessity for all States to refrain from any action that undermines the technical, objective and impartial work of the IAEA.

Iran and Russia commended China for its constructive role and hosting the Beijing meeting. The three countries agreed to continue their close consultation and cooperation in the future.

The three countries also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, and agreed to maintain and strengthen their coordination in international organizations and multilateral arrangements such as BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Stacey Weber-Rubio, a real estate agent with Sand N Sea Properties, talks about a short-term rental that is for sale at Palisade Palms on Galvestons East End on Thursday, March 13, 2025. The propertys owner has decided to spend more time at their lake house, Weber-Rubio said. This propertys owners are like a lot of others who have decided to repurpose their equity. Vacation rentals can still be a good investment for buyers whove done their homework, she said.

Pedro Gonzalez paints the front porch of what will be a short-term rental property on Ursuline Street in Galveston on Friday, March 14, 2025.

GALVESTON

The islands residential real estate market is out of whack with an 18-month supply of houses, and a years-long oversupply of vacation rental houses is partly to blame.

Realtors will tell you a balanced market has about a six-month supply of homes for sale. Galvestons 18-month supply is attributed to many factors, including high interest rates and tax and insurance fatigue, but lately an increase in listings of properties that have been used as vacation rentals is a big driver.

Many short-term rentals coming on the market were converted to vacation rentals between 2020 and mid-2022 during the Covid-19 pandemic. That trend continued while mortgage rates were about half of what they are today.

During the buying frenzy, which was a nationwide phenomenon, so-called experts were on social media urging people to buy homes in Galveston and convert them to vacation rentals as some sort of get-rich quick scheme.

Claire Reiswerg, co-owner of Sand N Sea Properties, recalls seeing those posts at the time.

People were saying Oh yeah, buy a vacation home rental in Galveston and you will be making $5,000 a week; thats $20,000 a month and you only have a $1,000 in expenses.

Were sitting there reading that stuff and saying theyre out of their minds, Reiswerg, whose company manages scores of vacation rentals, said.

But a lot of people took the bait or stumbled into the idea on their own.

PAST THE PEAK?

Short-term rental registrations in Galveston spiked during the pandemic, rising from 2,300 in 2021 to a peak of just more than 4,900 in 2023 and continue to hover around that number, Chris Stanley, spokesman for Galvestons Park Board of Trustees, said. The board registers, tracks and collects occupancy taxes from from short-term rental operations of behalf of the city.

Before the pandemic, vacation rentals were largely concentrated on the West End. Thats where Sand N Sea manages 185 such properties.

The allure of big beachfront homes with lots of bedrooms and bathrooms has long been the West End short-term rental markets calling card. Those vacation rental owners are standing pat, Reiswerg said, noting that just five of the properties her company manages are for sale.

But big and beachfront comes with a cost and a lot of pandemic-driven buyers took their search into town, looking for smaller, more affordable cottages they hoped could make some profit with a little bit of love and elbow grease.

At the time we used to say if they cant rent one, theyre buying one because theyre so desperate to be out of their houses in Houston, Reiswerg said.

MARKET SHIFT

Fast-forward to 2025 and some fairly recent vacation-rental owners have come to the realization that its a competitive, expensive and labor-intensive pursuit and maybe theyre not cut out for it after all.

Others are moving on because of personal or professional changes taking them out of the area or they just want to repurpose their equity.

Whats fascinating is this may be the first wave of sellers that bought during the pandemic to do vacation rentals and theyre souring on vacation rentals, said David Bowers, a Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene.

Although theres no iron-clad way to know how many short-term rentals are for sale, anecdotal evidence says the number is significant, according to local Realtors.

Some affiliated businesses also are taking a hit as the demand for their services drops.

Last week, Jennifer Myers of cleaning service 3 Broads & A Broom, told The Daily News she will close shop next month after 12 years in business. The decision was made because many of her short-term rental clients are selling their properties.

SATURATION POINT

In 2020 and 2021 a lot of people took their work-from-home opportunities to Galveston, bought a house or condo and enjoyed it, figuring that when normalcy returned theyd be able to rent it out to tourists who would cover their expenses, real estate insider said.

Nearly four years on, a lot of people who were trying to manage the properties themselves have learned its not as easy as they thought, especially with as much competition as the island now offers.

Its no secret, it is well saturated, said Stacey Weber-Rubio, a Realtor at Sand N Sea Properties. Where there used to be maybe one house for rent on a block, now theres four and, just like buyers have plenty to choose from, renters do as well.

Take into consideration property taxes without the homestead exemption, hotel-occupancy tax and rising wind and flood insurance costs, as well as the fact that a saturated market has lowered nightly rates for vacation rentals of all types, and the math isnt as promising as it once looked.

A lot of these people that are just on Airbnb or on VRBO, theyve got these properties theyve bought up and theyve listed themselves and theyre having to keep up with the maintenance of the home, the yard, the cleaning, the linen and they find that its not free money, Weber-Rubio said. Its hard work. Its a real job.

CONVERSION TREND

Some former vacation rental properties are being converted to long-term leases but an increasing number are for sale.

Vacation rentals for sale are probably the largest driver of whats affecting inventory, Bowers said.

Youve got the normal situation where youve got an estate sale or youve got people relocating to another part of the country for job purposes or some people moving up, older couples downsizing, but as far as an external factor, the vacation rental scene, I think, is a major driver in the market right now.

Saturation is not affecting all neighborhoods equally. It seems more pronounced in town behind the seawall, where some neighborhoods have several short-term rentals in a single block, than on the beachy West End, sources said.

A Thursday search of the local real estate multiple listing service for homes, townhouses and condos showed 1,349 properties. Many of those have been used as vacation rentals, but the number of registered short-term rentals hasnt dropped off because many are still being rented while being listed for sale.

It makes sense for those sellers to continue to try to get income from the properties, Bowers said

Bowers said he works with three or four groups of investors that manage between 10 and 20 vacation rentals each.

Theyve told him that if a property isnt rented for the coming weekend by Tuesday, they lower the price and continue with daily price reductions in an effort to lure renters, he said.

Their attitude is that any money is better than no money, Bowers said.

MOUSE TRAP

Not that long ago, those investor-group properties were running at nearly 100 percent occupancy, Bowers said; now its more like 70 percent.

Those professional vacation rental ownership groups have access to more resources and better marketing than the average mom-and-pop operation and theyre more likely to stick with it when small operators are inclined to drop out.

But there are still people willing to pursue owning vacation rentals and discerning buyers are increasingly able to find properties that are refurbished and fully furnished at prices better than the market peak.

Lots of people are jumping into the market right now because they think they can build a better mousetrap, Bowers said.
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.
LEFT: The identities of the five men in this photograph have been disputed by a number of people, and even the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which displays the photo on its website, adds a question mark to the title: Five Members members of the Wild Bunch[?]. The names listed with the photo are clockwise, from the top left, Kid Curry, Bill McCarty, Bill (Tod) Carver, Ben Kilpatrick, and Tom ODay
One of the many creative cakes you can order from the British Baking Co. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Tomlinson)
February marked the end of former Mesa County Commissioner Janet Rowlands role on the Mesa County Board of Public Health, nearly two years after her controversial appointment.

Speaking for myself, I want to acknowledge Janet Rowlands role in the county and on the Board of Health, Mesa County Public Health Board Chair Stephen Daniels said. Her experience, judgment and friendship was very valuable to me and, I think, valuable to the board of health, the department of public health and the community.

Her position on the board is currently vacant as Mesa County Commissioners determine who they will appoint next.

THE JEFF KUHR SAGA IN SHORT:

The Mesa County Board of Commissioners appointed Rowland to a five-year term in April 2023, while Rowland was serving as a commissioner herself.

When making the decision, Commissioner Cody Davis said Rowland had a qualified resume in health care and it isnt abnormal for commissioners to serve on the board of an agency in their county.

That said, the decision followed demands from county commissioners, led by Rowland, that former Mesa County Public Health Executive Director Jeff Kuhr resign. The public health board rejected the request, stating the allegations did not warrant termination. However, the board did change how the departments finances can be accessed and appropriated.

Rowland joined the board less than a month after the county commissioners cut funding to the public health department by half. At the time, Rowland attributed the $238,997 cut to continued concerns about the departments fiscal management and the notion that it receives more than it needs.

I believe its good to see things for yourself if you have questions, which I assume is why she is choosing to join us, then board chair Will Hays told the Sentinel.

Weeks after Rowland joined, all four remaining board members resigned because of threats from the commissioners that their appointments would be revoked if they continued to support Kuhr.

The board was pieced together with new members and was increased by two additional board members between May and July 2023.

Just one week before the boards completion in late July, Kuhr resigned from his executive director role  with a $224,800 settlement from Mesa County.

The departments newest director, Xavier Crockett, was unanimously approved by the revamped public health board in November 2023.

NO RESIDENCY, NO ELIGIBILITY

Rowlands final board meeting was in late February, but there was no mention of her departure and she did not make a parting comment during the open session.

Rowland is no longer a Mesa County resident, which is required to be a public health board member.

Her move out of Mesa County followed a primary loss to JJ Fletcher, as she ran for her fourth non-consecutive term as county commissioner.

Rowland moved out of Mesa County after joining the Southwest Colorado Opioid Regional Council, which is based in Montrose, as a contract consultant. The council covers Montrose, Delta, Gunnison, Ouray, San Miguel and Hinsdale counties.

Serving on the board of health has been an honor, and I am especially thankful for Xaviers leadership, Rowland said in a statement to the Sentinel. Mesa County Public Health is in good hands. Xaviers knowledge is deep, his connections are broad, he empowers his staff and he is leading with integrity.

There is good collaboration and teamwork between the board of health and staff, and I am optimistic about a positive future with Mesa County Public Health, she added.

The board has seen other notable shifts since 2025 began.

In the boards January meeting, Daniels said former Mind Springs Health Chief Executive Officer John Sheehan had resigned from the board effective immediately.

Sheehan could not continue on the board since he also no longer resides in Mesa County.

Sheehan moved to Florida after leaving his position at Mind Springs. The exact reason for his departure is unclear, but it followed years of fiscal turmoil for the organizations psychiatric hospital and an arbitration with its own Medicaid payer.

Sheehans vacancy has not been filled yet.

OTHER BOARD CHANGES

None of the other board members appointed in 2023 have resigned, as of March, but there have been slight changes.

Daniels term as board chair ended at the conclusion of Marchs meeting, but he will remain a board member.

I really appreciate everyones support of me serving in this role. Its been an honor, Daniels said. Im happy to have someone else take over, but Ive enjoyed this immensely, and Im more than willing to stay on the board and support public health in Mesa County as long as I can go.

Replacing him is former vice board chair Marguerite Tuthill, who is also Monument Healths executive director. The vice board chair has not yet been determined.

Joseph Center Founder Mona Highline was recommended by her peers for a five-year reappointment during the March board meeting, but county commissioners have yet to make a final decision.

Having filled the slot of a board member who resigned, Highline was only appointed for the remainder of the original members term.
Sat Saturday

95 /64

More sun than clouds. Highs in the mid 90s and lows in the mid 60s.
DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE TULSI GABBARD ANNOUNCES INVESTIGATION INTO IC CHATS, LEAKS, LAUNCHES WHISTLEBLOWER HOTLINE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ODNI News Release No. 02-25

March 14, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Following the discovery of obscene, pornographic, and sexually explicit chats on Intelink, today Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Gabbard is launching a formal investigation into all Intelink Top Secret chat rooms and other Intelligence Community (IC) collaboration platforms with similar features. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) will thoroughly examine all chat-based groups across the IC's classified and unclassified systems to find additional instances of gross misconduct and unprofessionalism that were identified at the NSA.

Any IC employees or contractors that are found to have violated the terms of use during this review will be held accountable. This follows DNI Gabbard's directive from last month to the heads of the IC agencies to fire and revoke the security clearances of all IC employees who engaged in these obscene and sexually explicit chats.

"Our nation's Intelligence Community must be focused on our national security mission," said Director of National Intelligence Gabbard. "Politically motivated leaks undermine our national security and the trust of the American people and will not be tolerated. Unfortunately, such leaks have become commonplace with no investigation or accountability. That ends now. We know of and are aggressively pursuing recent leakers from within the Intelligence Community and will hold them accountable."

Some recent examples of unauthorized leaks within the IC:

A leaker who has been sharing classified information with the Huffington Post

A leaker within the IC sharing information on Iran/Israel

A leaker within the IC sharing information about the US-Russia relationship

A leaker sharing information on NCSC activities and actions

This is not to be interpreted as a statement on whether any of the information that these leakers are purporting to expose is accurate. Any unauthorized release of classified information is a violation of the law and will be treated as such.

There are many patriots in the IC that have reached out to DNI Gabbard and her team directly, explaining that they have raised concerns on these issues in the past but they have been ignored. That will no longer be the case.

As she promised during her confirmation, the ODNI has established a transparency line that comes directly to her office both classified and unclassified that the IC can email.

At her direction, DNI Gabbard will ensure the IC refocuses its mission to protecting the safety, security, and freedom of the American people and rid the IC of the DEI nonsense the Biden administration pushed for four years.

###

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Lithuania Excels as Allied Spirit '25 Concludes

By Capt. Patrick Montandon March 13, 2025

HOHENFELS, Germany -- As global conflicts become ever more complex and diverse, exercise Allied Spirit, at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC), Hohenfels Training Area, brings nations together as a cohesive military force. This is no easy task, considering over 10 different nations using different systems, equipment, tactics and languages must plan, execute and display success on the battlefield as one. Allied Spirit, a recurring exercise at JMRC, is unique in that it provides a dynamic training environment for NATO Allies and Partners to train. This year's rotation, from Feb. 22 - March 24, 2025, has tested Lithuania's Infantry Brigade - Griffin, as the primary training unit.

"We are very proud to be here in this training environment because each day our units are challenged," said Brig. Gen. Arturas Radvilas, Lithuanian Land Force Commander. Radvilas continued to describe how essential it is to coordinate defense plans, and to train hard today so we can succeed tomorrow.

Brig. Gen. Steven P. Carpenter, Commanding General of the 7th Army Training Command, which oversees JMRC, agreed with Radvilas and quoted Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, "The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war."

Carpenter referred to Radvilas as his good friend as they fielded questions from the media during the exercise. The two senior leaders have not only developed a personal bond, but Lithuania's competency on the battlefield has been clear, which Carpenter recognized.

"I'll tell you right now, the Griffin Brigade has been extremely impressive," said Carpenter. "They're learning every day and they're one of the best formations that we've seen come through this combat training center."

Col. Christopher J. Kirkpatrick, Commander, Operations Group, Joint Multinational Readiness Center, described some areas where the Lithuanian brigade has thrived as he briefed senior leaders visiting the training area. Some of these areas included relocating the tactical operations center over 30 times, rapidly securing command posts using extensive mine fields and wire, incorporating joint fires across the battlefield, utilizing close air support and attack aviation, and many other tactics and procedures.

Soldiers in various capacities, at every level, recognized the positive impact such a large-scale exercise can have on their individual and unit proficiency.

"Allied Spirit is coming together and working with our NATO alliances," described Pvt. Mason Hatton, 88th Battery, Arracan, 4th Regiment, Royal Artillery, United Kingdom. "Getting to know them, working together, and learning how we both operate... I think that's very important because if anything did happen in the world, we would need to know how to work with each other."

"It's a more real scenario, and you can experience some things that you don't usually get," described Maj. Juliana Romoslavskaja, Artillery Battalion, Chief of Staff, Lithuanian army.

She explained that this is the first time Lithuania has come with their own artillery battalion and maneuver units. This helps them train on a deeper level as they plan and execute logistical, personnel and equipment reconstitution operations. "We have to try to bring everybody to the same page. It's not easy, but it's interesting. It's challenging and I see that every day we improve. It's not perfect, but with every day of practice it gets better. This is the main goal."

Allied Spirit '25 continues to demonstrate year after year that differences are overcome when nations across Europe are united to accomplish the same mission. Commanders across nations recognize the importance of joining in a shared commitment to global security and stability. JMRC will continue to serve as a complex forward combat training location in Europe.

"We're always open here, because at the end of the day, if we can all get together and learn from each other, we'll be better as a coalition," said Carpenter.

When asked by the media about world conflicts that continue to rage and rampant rhetoric on foreign policy, Carpenter affirmed, "collectively, we'll be ready to blunt and defeat any attack... As you know, the U.S. position, the NATO position, in collective defense, it's peace through strength. And right now, we have that strength."

Allied Spirit is a recurring training exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, the U.S. Army's only forward stationed combat training center, which includes Partners and Allies in Europe. This year's rotation includes forces from the following countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom.

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US, Tunisian and Senegalese EOD teams strengthen readiness through collaborative training

By Maj. Joe Legros March 13, 2025

TUNIS, Tunisia -- A controlled detonation shakes the ground as a cloud of smoke rises over the training range. For explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians, moments like these are routine, but their impact extends far beyond the range. These small, calculated explosions translate to safer communities and stronger partnerships across Africa.

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) recently continued its long-standing collaboration with the Tunisian Armed Forces (TuAF) EOD teams, this time inviting the Armed Forces of Senegal (Forces armees du Senegal, or FAS) EOD technicians to Tunisia for a trilateral exchange. The training emphasized interoperability, knowledge-sharing, and preparing for future joint missions, including exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) coming up in April.

"This exchange was about more than just sharpening technical skills," said U.S. Army Maj. Ian Bloomsburg, counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) deputy director, SETAF-AF C-IED fusion cell. "It was about strengthening trust and reinforcing the ties between three capable and committed EOD teams."

The partnership between SETAF-AF and Tunisia's EOD forces is built on years of engagement.

Tunisian technicians have participated in multiple U.S.-based training events, including the Raven's Challenge at Camp Williams, Utah, and the 52nd Ordnance Group's "EOD Team of the Year" competition at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. These experiences provide valuable insight into advanced EOD tactics while giving Tunisian teams the opportunity to test their skills against some of the best in the world.

Bringing Senegalese EOD technicians into the fold marks a significant step forward. The inclusion of a third partner force fosters regional cooperation and ensures that African-led solutions to explosive threats remain at the forefront.



US, Tunisian and Senegalese EOD teams strengthen readiness through collaborative training

Back to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

TUNIS, Tunisia - A controlled detonation shakes the ground as a cloud of smoke rises over the training range. For explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians, moments like these are routine, but their impact extends far beyond the range. These small, calculated explosions translate to safer communities and stronger partnerships across Africa.

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) recently continued its long-standing collaboration with the Tunisian Armed Forces (TuAF) EOD teams, this time inviting the Armed Forces of Senegal (Forces armees du Senegal, or FAS) EOD technicians to Tunisia for a trilateral exchange. The training emphasized interoperability, knowledge-sharing, and preparing for future joint missions, including exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) coming up in April.

"This exchange was about more than just sharpening technical skills," said U.S. Army Maj. Ian Bloomsburg, counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) deputy director, SETAF-AF C-IED fusion cell. "It was about strengthening trust and reinforcing the ties between three capable and committed EOD teams."

The partnership between SETAF-AF and Tunisia's EOD forces is built on years of engagement.

Tunisian technicians have participated in multiple U.S.-based training events, including the Raven's Challenge at Camp Williams, Utah, and the 52nd Ordnance Group's "EOD Team of the Year" competition at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. These experiences provide valuable insight into advanced EOD tactics while giving Tunisian teams the opportunity to test their skills against some of the best in the world.

Bringing Senegalese EOD technicians into the fold marks a significant step forward. The inclusion of a third partner force fosters regional cooperation and ensures that African-led solutions to explosive threats remain at the forefront.

US, Tunisian and Senegalese EOD teams strengthen readiness through collaborative training

Both Senegal and Tunisia will serve as host nations during AL25, demonstrating each nation's commitment to promoting peace through military strength.

"We're always looking for those EOD champions within partner forcesthose who will take what they've learned and continue to build capability within their own ranks," said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Beau Martindale, in charge of the SETAF-AF Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) program.

During the exchange, participants trained on critical EOD tasks, from identifying and neutralizing unexploded ordnance (UXO) to safely disposing of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Each country brought its own expertise and perspective, making the training mutually beneficial.

"It's not just about U.S. forces coming in and teaching," said Martindale. "It's a true exchangeour partners bring real-world experience that enhances how we all approach the EOD mission."

The collaboration in Tunisia is just one example of SETAF-AF's commitment to working alongside African partners to reduce the threat of explosive hazards. The upcoming AL25 exercise will provide another opportunity for these teams to operate together in a larger multinational environment, refining their ability to respond to real-world threats.

"This exchange was a venue to show the Senegalese Directorate of Engineers how other African nations have developed their EOD training capacity; that is, to give them a non-US example to emulate," added Bloomsburg.

As SETAF-AF, Tunisia and Senegal continue building their EOD capabilities together, the impact extends beyond the battlefieldensuring safer communities and stronger regional security for years to come.

About SETAF-AF

SETAF-AF prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition, and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

Follow SETAF-AF on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn & DVIDS



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Secretary of State Marco Rubio With Rachel Campos-Duffy of Fox Noticias

US Department of State

Interview

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

March 13, 2025

(Via translation.)

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you very much for being here with us for the first time on Fox News.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you very much.

QUESTION: This is also your first interview in Spanish with the American media and for that we thank you.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you very much.

QUESTION: What are President Donald Trump's short- and long-term strategies and priorities in the Western Hemisphere?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, it's the same priority that exists all over the world, and that is to defend the national interests of the United States. Obviously, we have neighboring countries that are great friends and allies of the United States. I'm talking about the governments, for example, of El Salvador, the government of Honduras... the government, pardon me, of Guatemala. We have also had a lot of cooperation from Honduras recently, we also have a lot of cooperation from Costa Rica, and even though we have some differences with what is happening with the canal, the Government of Panama is a government that is a friend of the United States, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Paraguay. In short, I don't want to exclude anyone specifically, but the fact is that we have many alliances and we have to maintain those alliances and ensure that there is a policy in which being a friend and ally of the United States brings benefits.

Moreover, we also have specific issues such as drug trafficking, the illegal smuggling of migrants into the country, and many of these countries that I have mentioned are... well, they are either from there, it is where many of these people who come are from, or they are points of transit, and we have looked for ways to cooperate with these countries. And with regard to that, I have to say that they have all cooperated. Panama, Guatemala, even Honduras, which we have never had... under the new government we have not had very strong ties with them, but they have cooperated and they have taken steps to improve our relations with them, and we must also give credit to Mexico, even though we have differences in terms of matters of trade, without a doubt, we must also acknowledge that the Mexican government and the government of President Sheinbaum have taken very strong measures, the likes of which we have never seen in the past, to combat these cartels and, at the same time, the massive illegal immigration to the United States, which always crosses through Mexico, although obviously not all of them are Mexican, the majority are from other places.

So the strategy is to defend the national interests of the United States, working together with our allies in the region.

QUESTION: Marco, is Mexico a narco-state?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Unfortunately, we know that a large part of Mexican territory is controlled by the cartels and these criminal elements. Furthermore, in many of these places, the corruption that exists at the judicial level, for example, is very, very powerful. We saw recently that they sent us more than twenty-odd people who have been wanted for years, the most dangerous criminals, in the custody of the Mexican authorities, in an unprecedented wave of extraditions. It's a very positive step.

But we also know, and we have been told this directly from Mexico, that in many of these cases, what prevents cooperation is that there are very dangerous levels of corruption and influence over the country's legal system. We have also seen candidates, journalists murdered, politicians murdered, members of the government murdered in Mexico for taking a stand... for standing up to the cartels. That's why I have always said the same thing, that these cartels are not only a threat to the United States. They are a threat to the Mexican state. They are a huge threat to Mexican laws and to the Mexican people.

QUESTION: Yes. That's why I want to ask you this... because the real victims are the Mexican people, especially the poor, who can't defend themselves. So I want to know if you have any idea how the Mexican people feel that Donald Trump is the one saying "I want to do something against the cartels," and that Sheinbaum, in many... in many cases, she is defending them or doing... uh saying that she is going to help with the [unintelligible] and whatever. I mean, what does... what do the American people say about what Donald Trump wants to do?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, we have seen a level of cooperation from the Mexican authorities that we have never seen in the past, but it is not enough. We have to do more. We understand that there are obstacles within the Mexican [legal] system as well, but at least we have seen some willingness to address this. Furthermore, I believe that the Mexican people are aware of the threat that the cartels represent, because they live with these threats on a daily basis, and the threat that the cartels represent to the United States is massive. That is to say, the amount of drugs that are entering the United States through these cartels is killing thousands of Americans every wee... every month. That is unacceptable.

However, the Mexicans also say that the weapons these cartels are using come from the United States, and we are willing to help them control that. And we have had those conversations with them. So we have seen a response from the Mexican government that has never happened in the past, that has never happened before. And that is because of President Trump, and the pressure that President Trump has put on, and the emphasis that President Trump has placed on this issue. But there is still a lot to be done.

QUESTION: Yes, for me it's unbelievable to think that Donald Trump is more concerned about what is happening with the cartels inside Mexico than Sheinbaum is. But that's me. I would like you to explain Trump's tariffs and what the results he hopes to achieve are.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, what we've seen so far is simply based on his emergency power, and it's a power over immigration, and it's a power over the drug issue. We've seen historic border figures. It's because... we can say that in the past month the number of people crossing, coming to the United States illegally through the southern border, is almost zero. It's incredible... and it's an achievement that... that represents the pressure that Donald Trump has put through the tariffs.

However, drugs are still coming in and we know that those figures have not changed. And that has to do with those cartels, who have a powerful network that starts at the border, but they also have a presence within the United States. And the President has been clear, that although we have made progress on the immigration issue, there has not been enough progress yet on the drug issue. And that is why he has continued to threaten these tariffs as a consequence of what is happening. And I think President Trump is right in the position he has taken. We have made progress, we have seen efforts made, but we have not yet seen results on the drug issue, and that has to change, because it is a poison that is killing thousands and thousands of Americans every month in this country. Unacceptable.

QUESTION: You visited Panama and came back with a major victory. President Mulino announced that he is no longer going to renew The Belt and Road Initiative with China. Now, BlackRock says they will buy two ports in the canal. But here's what Mulino said recently about the sovereignty of Panama and the canal. Please take a listen. (A video was played.)

QUESTION: Okay. What is your reaction?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Look, President Mulino is pro-American, he's pro-United States, he's an ally, he's a friend. He has worked with us on many issues. We have a difference of opinion on the control of the canal. The president has been clear. That canal was built by the United States. That canal was given to Panama, not to the Chinese. Not to the Chinese government. Not to a Chinese company. We have great concerns about the influence that companies with links to the communist government of China have over... over the canal. It is unacceptable. We consider that the agreement between the United States and Panama has been violated, and they have taken concrete steps, in many cases, to address that.

Obviously, they have their own internal constitutional process. Control of the canal does not belong to the Panamanian government, it belongs to the authority that governs the canal. But they continue... and there are... there are differences. But at the same time, it must be acknowledged that President Mulino has taken decisive steps. The Belt and Road Initiative... it is the first country in the hemisphere to abandon that... that position with China. I think he is a president who also recognizes the links to the corruption that has existed in the past with previous administrations in Panama through Chinese money. At any rate, we have cooperated. He is still a friend. We will continue to work with them, but President Trump's position is clear. And that is that the canal cannot have the influence of the Chinese government that it has now, and we will see what steps can be taken to end that control. Because at the end of the day, we cannot allow such a key location in our hemisphere which is paid for by the United States, built by the United States to fall into the hands of a communist government in China.

QUESTION: Secretary, in this program we have spoken many times with Maria Corina Machado. She, as you already know, is a very brave woman. She is now living in hiding, in fear for her life. What do you think is the future for Maria Corina Machado?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, she's a woman... of...

QUESTION: So, is she going to stay there? Is she going to stay in Venezuela? What's going to happen?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yes. Well, I can't speak for her. I will tell you that she has incredible courage. She is one of the few... of all the great figures of the... of the Venezuelan resistance, of the opposition, she is the only one left. I don't blame anyone. I know it's difficult to live there. I am aware of the threat they face every day. But I don't... I don't say this to criticize those who have left... who have left the country. I say it to pay tribute to the courage that Maria Corina Machado is showing the world every day by setting an example.

And you have to... you have to compare that to the cowardice of the Maduro regime. A drug-trafficking regime, a regime that is friends with Iran, that has invited Iran. The Maduro regime has told Iran that it wants to be Iran's operational base in our hemisphere. A regime who threatens its neighbors in Guyana. That just a few days ago it threatened an American oil tanker belonging to an American... to an American company that is legitimately and legally exploring for oil in Guyana, it threatened them and who has also been responsible for the thousands and thousands of gang members from el Tren de Aragua, who went... who came here to the United States from Venezuela, and who have created a wave of crime in various cities in this country. That regime has an obligation... an obligation to accept its citizens who are in this country illegally.

Specifically, we have asked them to accept the return of all these gang members. Thousands of them from el Tren de Aragua that we have in our custody. And they haven't, they have not done so. They accepted two flights, less than 200 gang members, and now they are refusing to do any more. That is unacceptable. And so there are consequences. That is why the president has canceled a concession that Joe Biden stupidly gave him, he gave him millions, billions of dollars in revenue for that regime. And we have other options to continue punishing that regime. If they don't cooperate, not only on the issue of immigration, but if they don't cooperate with their own people and also don't cooperate... and they continue to invite Iran to create an operational base within Venezuela, which is not going to happen. That is unacceptable. Donald Trump, President Trump, will never accept Iran having an operational base in our hemisphere, in Venezuela or anywhere else.

QUESTION: Secretary, she clearly... or her... her opposition party clearly won the last elections in... in Venezuela. In Venezuela. Donald Trump can certainly relate to the idea of (unintelligible), and... and the fact that she was cheated out of those elections. She won... or her party won. Will we see Maduro relinquish his power in Venezuela over the next four years?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, we would like that to be the result. Unfortunately, we have a regime that has taken over Venezuelan territory, that is in business with the narco-cartels. That supports the narco-guerrillas that are also destabilizing the people of Colombia. That is also linked to Iran. Who are willing to murder and imprison, exile, more than 8 million Venezuelans who have had to leave their country, and all of those who resist his political mandate or his... sorry, his political power within the country. Ultimately, I believe that the future of Venezuela rests with the Venezuelan people, and that solution is a legitimate, democratic, observed election, and everything that has not happened, what has... Maduro cannot win. Maduro could never win a legitimate election in Venezuela. And he knows that. That's why they stole the last elections.

What we cannot do is reward him. What we cannot do is make concessions, like what Joe Biden did, giving him billions of dollars as a gift in exchange for fraud, in exchange for a lie. And after those fake elections were over? Not lifting the sanction... not imposing the sanctions, as Donald Trump has just done.

QUESTION: Washington D.C., as you know, is a very divided city. There has been a great deal of agreement, however, between both parties, that you are the right person, perfect for this job. That means there are high expectations and hopes for your success at the end of your four years as secretary. What... what do you think you want... what does success look like to you? Are there two or three specific things you hope to achieve, for example?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, we have to start by being clear. I am here to implement President Trump's policies. President Trump was elected by the American people. A massive mandate. He won all of the key states and they gave him a mandate to govern. And my role as his Secretary of State is to implement President Trump's policies. He is a president who wants peace. He does not want to start new wars and he wants to end the war currently going on in Ukraine, all of the wars that are happening, that are happening now, and to avoid war in the future.

Secondly, it is to establish and defend the national interests of the United States. I believe that the real achievement would be a world order in which the policies of US interests are paramount. If I leave here in four years' time having led a State Department that has defended the national interests of the United States and that has implemented the policies of President Trump effectively and efficiently, I believe that would be a great achievement for me. That is our role. People here sometimes make the mistake of thinking that the Secretary of State is the one who creates policy. We have no influence, we can give advice, but at the end of the day the president of the United States is the one who determines U.S. policy, and our job, as his Secretary of State in this State Department, is to implement the directives we receive from the White House.

QUESTION: Well said. Secretary Marco Rubio, thank you very much for joining our program. It has been an honor.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you very much. It has been an honor for me.

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Review of Switzerland's UN Security Council seat

Swiss Government

Bern, 14.03.2025 -- At the Federal Council meeting of 14 March 2025, the FDFA reported on Switzerland's first membership of the UN Security Council (2023-24), a two-year term of office marked by geopolitical tensions. In spite of these challenging conditions, Switzerland was able to make an impact and contribute to advancing its foreign policy goals.

The Swiss delegation to the Security Council focused on four main areas: building sustainable peace, protecting civilians, enhancing the Council's effectiveness and addressing climate security. These are the same priority fields of action as for Swiss diplomacy and peace policy.

The FDFA's overall evaluation of Switzerland's first Security Council membership is positive. As the Council is a reflection of global power politics and its growing polarisation, it is not flawless - but it is still a key instrument for maintaining international peace. Despite global crises such as the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, Switzerland was able to make an impact and contribute to the Council's ability to act.

Outcomes

The Swiss delegation introduced key initiatives and set important priorities during its Council membership, such as Resolution 2730 on the protection of humanitarian and UN personnel in conflict zones. This was tabled by Switzerland, which also chaired a Council meeting resulting in a presidential statement (PRST 2024/6) on the impact of scientific developments on peace and security. In addition, Switzerland organised a visit of Council members to Geneva to mark the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, which enshrine humanitarian protection in international law. During its membership period, Switzerland maintained its advocacy for compliance with international law, particularly international humanitarian law and human rights, in all relevant contexts.

Cooperation with Federal Council and Parliament

As agreed prior to taking up the Swiss seat on the Security Council, the FDFA ensured that all decisions of major importance to domestic or foreign policy were taken in close consultation with the Federal Council and the Foreign Affairs Committees. The FDFA also made regular reports to the Federal Council and Parliament on Security Council developments so as to ensure transparency and coordination in terms of Swiss foreign policy.

Setting the course for the future

These last two years have shown that Switzerland has the necessary skills and diplomatic experience to assume responsibility in multilateral bodies again in future. With its membership of the UN Human Rights Council (2025-27) and OSCE chairpersonship (2026), Switzerland continues to be an active voice, contributing to a rules-based world order and more peaceful future.

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Armenia and Azerbaijan: statement by Secretary General Alain Berset

Council of Europe

Secretary General

Strasbourg

14 March 2025

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, has welcomed the announcements of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the finalisation of negotiations on the draft Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations.

When joining the Council of Europe in 2001, both countries pledged to work towards peaceful cooperation. This draft Agreement is evidence of the will in both member states to fulfil this potential and build a stable and lasting peace in the region. It is now crucial to maintain this momentum and ensure the smooth completion of this process, in the spirit of good neighbourly relations and with full respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of both countries, in line with the Statute of the Council of Europe.

The Council of Europe fully supports the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and shall continue to provide its support and assistance to both member states, in particular with the aim of ensuring full respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

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Kyrgyz Republic/Tajikistan: Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on the signing of a border agreement

European External Action Service (EEAS)

14.03.2025

EEAS Press Team

The European Union welcomes the signing of a final border agreement on the delimitation and demarcation of the shared border between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan.

This is an important moment and a significant step forward based on dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes. The agreement will strengthen the resilience and stability of Central Asia.

The European Union supports regional cooperation, a principle on which it is itself founded, and stands ready to support the implementation of the agreement, in line with its Strategy for Central Asia and the Joint Roadmap for Deepening Ties between the EU and Central Asia.

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Armenia/Azerbaijan: Statement by the High Representative/Vice-President regarding the finalisation of negotiations on Armenia/Azerbaijan Peace Treaty

European External Action Service (EEAS)

14.03.2025

EEAS Press Team

The European Union welcomes the respective announcements made by Armenia and Azerbaijan on the finalisation of their negotiations on the draft Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations.

We commend both sides for their persistent work over the past few years in this direction, both on the bilateral track and with the involvement of the international community. The EU welcomes Armenia paving the way for the finalisation of the text.

The announcements represent a decisive step towards lasting peace and security in the region. It is key to keep this momentum and ensure smooth completion of this process with the same forward-looking and compromise-oriented approach, from both sides.

The EU fully supports the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation process and stands ready to provide additional support and expertise, should the sides request it.

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Tsahkna: Hungary's voting rights in the EU must be suspended

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

14.03.2025

Today, despite Hungary's opposition, the European Union decided to extend sanctions against around 2400 individuals and entities who undermine Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. However, due to pressure from Hungary, three oligarchs who directly contribute to Russia's aggression and who have close ties to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin were removed from the sanctions list.

"EU sanctions are in force for six months, which means that sanctions need to be reviewed and extended every six months. The extension calls for a unanimous decision by member states," Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said, adding that unfortunately, there is no agreement today due to Hungary. "For political reasons, Hungary made the extension of sanctions conditional on the removal of Russian businessmen Viatcheslav Kantor, Mikhail Degtyarev and Gulbakhor Ismailova from the sanctions list."

"Estonia supports the extension of sanctions. There are no grounds for easing the sanctions that have been imposed on Russia and individuals linked to its aggression. Russia's aims - subjugating Ukraine and restructuring Europe's security architecture - have not changed. Russia is continuing its war of aggression against Ukraine," Tsahkna underlined, adding that the sanctions that are the basis for freezing 200 billion worth of Russian Central Bank assets will have to be renewed as early as July. "Hungary is systematically working against the common security interests of Europe, and therefore, we must quickly take specific steps and move forward with the Article 7 procedure, that is, suspending Hungary's voting rights."

Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union allows for a suspension of certain rights (such as voting rights in the European Council), if there is a serious and persistent breach by a member state of the values that are the foundation of the EU and referred to in Article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union (respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities). Nevertheless, that country's membership obligations remain binding.

On 17 March 2014, the Council of the European Union imposed restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Since then, the EU has used this regulation to impose sanctions on around 2400 individuals in relation to Russia's aggression in Ukraine. These are individuals who undermine Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. They include Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, members of the State Duma, senior officials, military officials, entrepreneurs and oligarchs, propagandists, military industry companies, and individuals responsible for the deportation of children.

As a preventive measure, the Government of Estonia yesterday imposed a national financial sanction that freezes and makes unavailable the funds and economic resources of individuals, entities or authorities that support or contribute to the activities of the Russian Federation, and bans natural persons from entering Estonia.

"It is an important measure to counter the persistent and continued actions of the aggressor state against Estonia and Ukraine. The order allows us to impose a national sanction on individuals and entities that contribute to the actions and policies of the Russian Federation that undermine and threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, and stability and security in Ukraine," Tsahkna said. "I decided to impose the national sanction on Kantor, Degtyarev and Ismailova in response to their exclusion from the EU sanctions list."

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Undersecretary Ratnik in Yerevan: Armenia and Azerbaijan agreeing on peace is significant

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

14.03.2025

On 12 and 13 March, the Foreign Ministry's Undersecretary for Economic and Development Affairs Mariin Ratnik was accompanied by a delegation on a visit to Armenia, where she met with deputy ministers, entrepreneurs, civil society organisations and think tankers.

On the second day of her visit, it was reported that Armenia and Azerbaijan had agreed in principle on peace. "It is important for Estonia and all of Europe that the Caucasus region is stable geopolitically, and yesterday's reports about a great step towards peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan are historic," Ratnik said. "Now it is crucial for the peace treaty to be signed as soon as possible."

Her meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan covered bilateral relations between Estonia and Armenia, which have become significantly closer in the past two years. "We see Armenia taking clear steps towards Europe and pro-Western policies, and we are fully supporting them on this journey," Undersecretary Ratnik said. Ratnik also spoke about the European Union's cooperation with Armenia when she met with Vassilis Maragos, Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Armenia.

Currently, one of the most central issues for Armenia is the diversification of its economy and finding new markets for its products. "We support Armenia so you are able to reduce your economic dependence on Russia," Ratnik said when meeting Deputy Economic Minister Narek Hovakimyan. "It is up to Armenia to decide in which direction they would like to develop economically; however, we can support them with our experience in implementing necessary reforms, so that Armenia is ready to enter the European Union market. Together we are implementing projects that help to develop the economic environment and increase Armenia's export capabilities." Ratnik also discussed the diversification of the economy with local entrepreneurs.

Her meeting with deputy education minister touched on the upcoming visit of Armenia's education minister to Estonia, and areas where Estonia can share its development experience. "Estonia has engaged in development cooperation with Armenia since 2001; however, in the past couple of years, our activities have intensified, and our focus areas include education cooperation," Ratnik noted.



Her meeting with Karen Nazaryan, adviser of the deputy prime minister and coordinator for the European Union, focused on Armenia's steps towards the European Union, which requires the implementation of crucial and substantial reforms, and opportunities for Estonia to share its experiences and expertise.

The undersecretary also visited the innovative TUMO education centre aimed at young people, the Yerevan office of the Estonian Refugee Council, which has operated in Armenia since 2023, and the 42nd Taras Shevchenko Upper Secondary School.

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Finland Congratulates Armenia and Azerbaijan on the Conclusion of Negotiations for a Draft Peace Agreement

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland

Statements, 14.3.2025

Helsinki, 14 March - Finland, in its role as Chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), extends its congratulations to the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the successful conclusion of negotiations for the draft text of a peace settlement. This significant milestone reflects a shared commitment to pursue a future of peace, stability, and co-operation in the South Caucasus.

While this achievement is an important step forward, Finland acknowledges that important work remains to finalize and implement a peace agreement. As OSCE Chair, Finland stands ready to support all efforts towards a sustainable peace.

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Iran welcomes signing of a border treaty between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 14, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has welcomed the signing of the border treaty between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan.

"Success in concluding this agreement is an important step towards establishing peace and stability in the region," Baqaei said.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson while congratulating the two sides described the success in concluding this agreement as an important step towards establishing peace and stability in the region, and considered it a confirmation of the effectiveness of diplomacy in resolving disputes between countries while observing and ensuring mutual respect and benefits.

Kyrgyz President Sadr Jabbarov and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon signed an agreement on Thursday in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, to demarcate their shared borders. The agreement seeks to end a long-running border dispute that has left dozens dead in border clashes in recent years.

2050

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Iran welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 14, 2025

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has welcomed the news of an agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the terms of a peace agreement between the two countries describing it as a necessary and important step towards achieving lasting peace in the South Caucasus region.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson expressed hope that with the commitment of Azerbaijan and Armenia to resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, the world will soon witness the signing of a peace agreement between the two countries and lasting peace and stability in the region.

Baqaei described the agreement as an important step towards achieving lasting peace in the South Caucasus region.

2050

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Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan at the initiative of the Armenian side.

March 14, 2025

16:20

Nikol Pashinyan reported that the text of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan had been agreed, and Armenia was ready to sign this important document.

In this vein, Vladimir Putin emphasised Russia had always been and still was in favour of a normalisation of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations in the name of ensuring the security, stability, and sustainable social and economic development of Transcaucasia, adding that both Armenia and Azerbaijan could always count on Russia to provide any assistance necessary to achieve that goal.

Some issues pertaining to the further development of mutually beneficial relations between Russia and Armenia were also discussed.

The Prime Minister of Armenia confirmed that he accepted the invitation of the Russian President to take part in the May 9 celebrations in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

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We have no reason to assume that russia is looking to steer away from its imperialist schemes, says Minister D. Sakaliene in Poland

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2025-03-14

International cooperation

On March 12-13 Minister of National Defence Dovile Sakaliene paid a visit to Poland where she had a meeting with Minister of National Defence Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz.

The Ministers discussed security and defence topics arising from the current geopolitical situation and bilateral cooperation, transatlantic cooperation and U.S. presence in the region. Minister D. Sakaliene highlighted the strong Lithuanian-Polish partnership underpinned by both nations' commitment to strengthen defence capabilities and tackle regional security issues.

"Bilateral, regional and European cooperation are the key factors in ensuring security in this difficult time. Poland is our long-time strategic partner and together we are an example of swift cooperative action," said Minister D. Sakaliene.

Lithuania and Poland actively seek a regional decision on withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, key steps are expected in the coming days. Also, EU financial assistance instruments are planned to be used to effectively strengthen the security of the EU Northeastern border with Russia and Belarus by developing a defensive line on land, in the sea and in the air.

Minister also underscored that Lithuania and Poland cooperated to ensure a unified interpretation of the law of the sea in the region and to strengthen the Alliance presence in the Baltic Sea. The Ministers agreed that it was necessary to ensure security of the undersea infrastructure.

When addressing support to Ukraine, the Lithuanian and Polish Ministers of National Defence underscored both countries' commitment to a lasting peace in Ukraine. "Even though the ball is in the russian side after the negotiations of the U.S. and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, we have no reason to assume that the country which persistently violates international agreements will steer away from its imperialist schemes. We need to prepare for any possible scenario," said D. Sakaliene.

Minister also met with Deputy Marshal of the Eleventh Term Senate Magdalena Biejat, members of the Sejm's National Defence Committee and the Poland Cyber Command.

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Task Force 51/5 Leads Command Post Exercise as part of NAVCENT's International Maritime Exercise 25

US Marine Corps News

14 Mar 2025 | Sgt. Angela Wilcox 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION -- For two weeks in February, Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force (TF) 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade lead a Command Post Exercise (CPX) as part of International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2025, the Middle East's largest international exercise, where service members from over 30 partner nations came together to collaborate in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The team quickly integrated to plan and conducted an exercise as a Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF), standing up an Integrated Operations Center- a watch floor to support decision making for a joint and coalition operation. The CPX focused on a hypothetical real-world situation involving a notional adversary targeting a friendly partner nation.

CJTF led coalition efforts to evacuate over 145,000 total designated personnel from the partner nation. Simulated injects across all U.S. Marine Corps warfighting functionscommand and control, fires, force protection, information, intelligence, logistics, and maneuverchallenged and tested the team's ability to troubleshoot the dynamic problem set.

The integrated team developed courses of action, balancing elements of simplicity and flexibility. They expertly executed a plan involving air and maritime surface assets to evacuate refugees to a safe location.

Teams broke out daily into smaller operational planning groups and crisis action teams with their counterparts to wargame scenarios, improvising based on new information. Prior to the execution of the CPX, TF 51/5 conducted an internal staff exercise, priming and refining their preparations for the battlespace.

"It's a unique opportunity to work alongside other armed forces members," said Italian Navy Master Chief Ernesto Rocchetti, Electronic Warfare Specialist and Senior Enlisted Leader representing the 9th Cybernetic Security Regiment, Tactical Intelligence Brigade. "This opportunity has allowed me to interact with people from different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds, gaining insight into their approaches to simulated operational challenges... It was eye-opening to have various speakers, like the professor from the Naval Warfighting School, enlighten me on operational concepts and learning about the Marine Corps Planning Process."

Mid-exercise, the team calculated the daily throughputs of approximately 6,000 evacuated personnel on KC-130 Hercules aircraft, determining how many personnel could fit in an aircraft, and the wait times that designated personnel would need to wait at rally points and aerial ports of debarkation.

Medical personnel discussed appropriate actions to take regarding casualties. With the threat of the notional adversary growing in hostility and attacks, the CJTF coalition planned for a full-fledged conflict.

"This exercise allowed me to understand the planning process from another nation's perspective," said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Thomas McGrath, an infantryman and battlewatch captain for the exercise. "Since nothing out here happens in a vacuum the interagency cooperation has opened my eyes on ways to efficiently work with our neighbors. We're typically used to focusing on how the U.S. Marine Corps plans and operates so stepping outside of that box and learning how to coordinate and communicate with partnered forced nations, is eye opening."

Post exercise, the team discussed after action points to improve the scenario and exercise itself. From improving the flow of the "request for information" tracker to other communication tools, the team revealed honest and transparent lessons learned, demonstrating the thoroughness and professionalism that the militaries approach every operation.

Hosted by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), IMX 25 is a multinational engagement involving global partners and allies. The team exchanged knowledge, perspectives, and experiences across a full spectrum of defensive maritime warfare. In its ninth iteration since 2012, IMX 25 is a naval training event linked with Exercise Cutlass Express, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa.

Task Force 51/5 responds to crises and contingencies; coordinates, plans, and executes operations; conducts theater security cooperation; and advances emerging Naval concepts at sea, from the sea, and ashore in order to support U.S. Central Command, 5th Fleet, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command theater objectives.

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Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic advances ammunition stockpile management with OSCE support

OSCE | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

14 March 2025

From 3 to 14 March 2025, eight technical specialists from the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic completed a training course on propellant stability assessment. The course was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic and with support from the Austrian Armed Forces.

Participants gained hands-on experience operating specialized mobile laboratories equipped with QPAK and QPAK+ systems to evaluate the stability of nitrocellulose-based propellants, which is crucial for preventing accidental explosions at ammunition storage sites.

With the tools and knowledge acquired, Ministry staff will be able to more effectively test and monitor propellant stability, contributing to risk mitigation and enhancing the overall security of ammunition stockpiles.

"Arms control is one of our Organization's priorities. By advancing Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and Conventional Ammunition (CA) through-life management, we take a step forward in ensuring security across the broader OSCE area," noted Konstantin Bedarev, Head of the Politico-Military Department of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

This initiative is part of an ongoing series of activities within the extra-budgetary project "Improvement of SALW and CA Life-Cycle Management Capacity of the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic," supported by Austria, France, Germany, Norway, and Switzerland.

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Pakistan Welcomes the Signing of the Treaty on the Delimitation and Demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik Border.

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Pakistan Welcomes the Signing of the Treaty on the Delimitation and Demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik Border.

Pakistan congratulates the leadership and the brotherly peoples of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on this landmark agreement, which marks the end of a prolonged border dispute.

We are confident that this historical development will usher in a new era of cooperation and progress in the region.

Islamabad

14 March 2025

79/2025



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PH, Canada to beef up cybersecurity cooperation

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

March 14, 2025, 7:34 pm

MANILA -- The Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday announced that the Philippines and Canada have agreed to beef up their cybersecurity cooperation.

This came into force after DND officials led by Senior Undersecretary Irineo Espino met with Canada's Cyber Envoy, Sami Khoury of the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) on Thursday to discuss ways to further strengthen the two nations' ties on this vital defensive aspect, according to a news release from the agency.

Discussions centered on deepening cybersecurity collaboration, exchanging best practices in policy development, and exploring capacity-building initiatives to enhance cyber defense capabilities.

The Canadian delegation also noted upcoming cybersecurity engagements with the Philippines, including a potential visit by the Commander of Canada's Cyber Command.

Khoury provided insights into Canada's cybersecurity incident response framework and ongoing national threat assessments, underscoring the importance of proactive measures in mitigating cyber risks.

The Canadian and Philippine sides also explored best practices in cyber governance, particularly Canada's approach to consolidating cyber functions under a single agency, the National Cyber Center.

Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defense and security cooperation, recognizing that a secure and resilient cyberspace is essential to safeguarding national and regional stability.

Meanwhile, DND Office for Cyber and Information System Management (OCISM) Director Christine June Carino emphasized the need to strengthen cyber resilience and enhance information-sharing mechanisms to counter evolving cyber threats.

She highlighted Canada's National Cyber Threat Assessment as a valuable model for bolstering cybersecurity strategies, particularly in support of the newly established Armed Forces of the Philippines Cyber Command.

Farewell call

As this developed, DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. bade farewell to outgoing Japanese defense attache, Col. Akiba Kazuaki, and his replacement, Col. Aizawa Naoki, on March 12.

In a statement Friday, the DND said the Japanese officials' joint courtesy call took place at the DND building in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

"Secretary Teodoro expressed his appreciation for Akiba's dedicated service and valuable contributions in strengthening defense cooperation between the Philippines and Japan. Under Akiba's tenure, bilateral defense relations reached new milestones, marked by the signing of two landmark agreements: the Philippines-Japan Terms of Reference (TOR) on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) and the Philippines-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA)," DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said.

He added that the two officials also discussed the key outcomes of Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen's visit to the Philippines last Feb. 22 to 24.

"They reaffirmed both countries' commitment to further enhancing defense cooperation, particularly in addressing shared security challenges, with a strong focus on maritime security," Andolong said.

He added that Teodoro is optimistic that Philippines-Japan defense relations will retain its positive momentum under Aizawa, especially with the upcoming entry into force of the RAA.

"The call concluded with Secretary Teodoro expressing his regards and best wishes for Col. Akiba's future endeavors," Andolong said. (PNA)

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Palace: No political considerations in sending Duterte to ICC

Philippine News Agency

By Filane Mikee Cervantes

March 14, 2025, 2:59 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine government's decision to assist the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte would have been the same, regardless if there was no fallout between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, Malacanang said on Friday.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Philippines' cooperation with Interpol was a matter of fulfilling international obligations, not political considerations.

"Meron pang UniTeam, walang UniTeam, it will be the same. Hindi po tayo pwede magkaroon ng special treatment dahil lang may friendship (Whether there is still a UniTeam or not, it will be the same. We cannot have special treatment just because of friendship)," Castro told reporters.

"Of course, we will just abide by the law. 'Yun po. Kung ano po ang naging kasunduan with the Interpol. Kahit sino po 'yan (That's it. Whatever the agreement with Interpol is, that's what we will follow. Whoever it is)," she added.

Same treatment

Castro said the government would provide the same level of assistance to Interpol if a similar warrant were issued against Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, the former national police chief who oversaw Duterte's war on drugs.

"Pareho parin po. Hindi po kasi tayo pwedeng mamili. Kung ito po ay ginawa po at nakipag-coordinate at nakipagtulungan tayo sa Interpol dahil ang dating pangulo po (Duterte) ang naging subject ng warrant of arrest, hindi po tayo pwedeng mamili. Wala pong pwedeng special treatment. So kung mangyayari po ito sa iba pang mga suspect na may warrant of arrest, basta valid po 'yung warrant of arrest at ito po ay na-course through the Interpol, gagawin parin po natin kung ano ang dapat gawin ng gobyerno (It would be the same. We cannot choose. If we coordinated with Interpol because the former president was the subject of an arrest warrant, we cannot pick and choose. There can be no special treatment. If this happens to other suspects with valid arrest warrants processed through Interpol, the government will follow the same procedure), Castro said.

Castro said President Marcos and the government must uphold the law and protect the country's interests.

"Mas dapat po ang Pangulo, ang gobyerno ay hindi nagbe-betray sa batas. Hindi siya nagbe-betray kung ano ang interes ng bansa. Hindi siya dapat nagbebetray sa mga taong diumano naging biktima ng EJK [extrajudicial killings] (The President and the government must not betray the law. They must not betray the country's interests. They must not betray those who were allegedly victims of EJKs)," she said.

Castro argued that accountability should apply to everyone, regardless of political ties or personal relationships.

"Hindi po pwede na dahil lang po naging kakilala, nakasama po, kung kailangan managot dapat managot (Just because someone is an acquaintance or an ally doesn't mean they are exempt from accountability)," she said.

If Duterte and his allies believe they are innocent, Castro said they should have no problem defending themselves before the ICC.

"Sabi naman po nila sila naman po ay walang kasalanan, hindi po ba't napakabilis nilang madedepensahan ang kanilang sarili (If they truly have nothing to hide, they should be able to defend themselves easily)," she said.

President Marcos on Tuesday said Duterte's arrest was in line with the Philippines' commitment to the Interpol.

Interpol Manila received an official copy of the ICC warrant, which was served by the Prosecutor General of the Department of Justice and implemented by the Philippine National Police upon Duterte's return from a gathering with overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong. (PNA)

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Gov't obliged to ensure fair ICC trial for Duterte - Palace

Philippine News Agency

By Filane Mikee Cervantes

March 14, 2025, 1:58 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine government remains obligated to ensure that former president Rodrigo Duterte receives a fair trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC), Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Friday.

"Base po sa RA 9851, bilang Pilipino, hindi lang dahil dating pangulo si dating pangulong Duterte, kailanganin din po natin ang gobyerno na mai-sure po, masiguro natin na nagkakaroon po ng fair trial lalong-lalo na po Pilipino po ang dating pangulong Duterte (Under Republic Act 9851, as a Filipino - not just because he is a former president - the government must ensure that Duterte gets a fair trial, especially because he is a Filipino)," Castro said in a Palace press briefing.

She, however, noted that the government would not fund Duterte's legal defense.

"May kanya-kanya po silang mga abogado. Sabi nga po natin ay wala tayong responsibilidad or wala tayong hand over the ICC proceedings (They have their own lawyers. We've said that we have no responsibility or hand in the ICC proceedings)," she added.

Castro pointed out that the government has no jurisdiction over the ICC's handling of Duterte's case.

"Wala po kase tayong jurisdiction sa ano mang gagawin ng ICC, sa kanilang mga procedures. Wala pong jurisdiction at after natin madala po ang (former) pangulo sa ICC, wala na pong kamay o responsibilidad ang gobyerno kay dating pangulong Duterte (We have no jurisdiction over ICC procedures. After we bring the former president to the ICC, the government will no longer have any responsibility over him)," she said.

When asked if the government would comply with a possible ICC order to freeze Duterte's assets, Castro said any action would depend on Philippine law.

"Kung meron naman po tayong batas at ina-allow po tayo, ipakita lamang po nila, tayo po ay magco-comply dahil lagi po sinasabi natin lahat po ng gagawin natin ay dapat lamang base sa batas (If there is a law that allows it and they show it to us, we will comply because we have always said that we will act in accordance with the law)," she said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Tuesday night that Duterte's arrest was consistent with the Philippines' commitment to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

Interpol Manila received an official copy of the ICC warrant, which was served by the Prosecutor General of the Department of Justice upon Duterte's return from Hong Kong.

"Interpol asked for help, and we obliged because we have commitments to Interpol, which we have to fulfill. If we don't do that, they will no longer help us with other cases involving Filipino fugitives abroad," Marcos said.

Duterte was placed in government custody before being transferred to The Hague, Netherlands, to face charges of crimes against humanity related to his war on drugs. (PNA)

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Hamas says ready to free Israeli-US captive, bodies of four others

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 March 2025 7:00 PM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has expressed its readiness to release an Israeli-American captive and the bodies of four others, after the group and the Israeli regime resumed indirect Gaza ceasefire negotiations.

"Yesterday, a Hamas leadership delegation received a proposal from the brotherly mediators to resume negotiations," Hamas said in a statement on Friday.

The movement said its reply "included its agreement to release the Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, who holds American citizenship, along with the remains of four others holding dual citizenship".

Hamas official Taher al-Nounou told AFP that all five are Israeli-Americans.

Hamas, however, said the move is conditional on beginning of the talks on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement towards a permanent end to the genocidal war.

The statement came as a senior Hamas official announced on Tuesday that fresh talks had started in the Qatari capital, Doha, with Israel also sending negotiators.

Israel launched the campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023. It has killed over 48,500 Palestinians there so far.

In January, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas given the regime's failure to achieve any of its objectives, including the "elimination" of the Palestinian resistance movement or the release of captives.

During the first phase of the deal, Hamas exchanged 33 Israeli captives and five Thais for some 2,000 Palestinians.

The 42-day stage of the truce, which was marred by repeated Israeli violations, expired on March 1, with Israel calling for an extension of the truce to allow the release of the remaining captives. There has been no mention by the regime of any commitment to end the war or fully withdraw its troops, however.

Hamas has insisted on proceeding to negotiations on a permanent ceasefire before agreeing to any further releases.

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Iran: Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border agreement 'major step' towards peace promotion

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 March 2025 6:42 PM

Iran welcomes the presidential signing of a state border agreement by Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan following decades-long negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Friday extended his congratulations to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on signing the historic deal.

He said the success in inking the agreement was an important step towards the establishment of peace and stability in the region.

It showed the effectiveness of diplomacy in resolving disputes between countries while respecting and safeguarding mutual interests and dignity.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon signed the long-sought agreement during a meeting in Bishkek on Thursday.

The inking of the deal brought the reopening of road, rail and air links between the two countries.

They had been suspended since September 2022, when Kyrgyz and Tajik forces fought a six-day conflict of war-like proportions, leaving hundreds dead and, in Kyrgyzstan, tens of thousands displaced.

UN chief Antonio Guterres "congratulates the two countries on this historic achievement and commends their leadership, determination and political will to bring the decades-long negotiation process to a successful conclusion", his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Thursday.

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Israeli settlers set fire to homes in northern West Bank as military onslaught on Tulkarm rages

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 March 2025 3:28 PM

Hundreds of Israeli settlers, escorted by the regime troops, have stormed villages and set fire to Palestinian homes in the northern West Bank.

Media reports, quoting local sources, said settlers stormed the Palestinian village of Kifl Haris, near Nablus, on Friday.

Israeli forces sealed the village off in the early hours of this morning under the pretext of [the settlers] visiting religious sites.

Israeli settlers also stormed two other villages in the same area.

Local sources said settlers set fire to three Palestinian-owned homes and two vehicles in the village of Duma, south of Nablus.

They also sneaked their way into the village's Khirbet al-Marajim area, where they set ablaze three homes along with two vehicles.

The regime forces also fired live ammunition, tear gas, and sound bombs towards residents who attempted to reach the burning homes to extinguish the flames.

In al-Khalil, Israeli forces abducted six Palestinians while settlers attacked an archeological site and the agricultural crops.

Palestinian official news agency Wafa confirmed that settlers raided the archaeological site of Tell Ma'in, south of al-Khalil.

The Israeli military fired sound bombs and tear gas against Palestinians staging a peaceful march for the reopening of the main road in the village of Kafr Qaddum, east of Qalqilya.

The Israeli military closed the main entrance of the village that connects it to Nablus with a permanent roadblock in 2003.

Plumes of smoke were seen rising in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin as Israeli forces continued demolitions.

Elsewhere in the West Bank, the city of Tulkarm and its refugee camp remains the scene of Israeli demolition and detention campaign for 47 days in a row.

Israel's quick, deliberate destruction of the Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps has uprooted thousands of inhabitants and upended countless lives in days.

Israeli troops also stormed the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque where Palestinians gathered for dawn prayers in the holy month of Ramadan.

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says Israel's restrictions on Palestinians at Al-Aqsa mosque constitute religious escalation and systematic targeting of Muslims' rituals in the holy month of Ramadan.

Hamas has also called on Palestinians to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque co against efforts for its Judaization.

Since Israel's assaults began on the West Bank on January 21, Israeli soldiers have forced at least 40,000 Palestinians from their homes.

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US, Israel eye Africa for displacing Palestinians from Gaza: Report

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 March 2025 11:34 AM

The United States and Israel have reportedly spoken to three East African countries for the resettlement of displaced Palestinians from Gaza.

The Associated Press reported on Friday that the US and Israel have reached out to officials from Sudan, Somalia and Somaliland to check the possibility of resettling the Gazans whose homes were destroyed by the Israeli forces during the recent war.

However, reports from the three countries said their officials had either rejected the US proposal, or were unaware of any contacts or consultations in this regard.

After taking office in January, US President Donald Trump called for forcibly displacing Gazans in another country, preferably Jordan or Egypt. The Israelis quickly agreed to the plan, which ensures Gaza's ethnic cleansing. However, the plot has been widely condemned and raised serious legal and moral issues.

At a joint press conference with prime minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu last month, Trump said Washington would take over control of the Gaza Strip possibly with the help of American troops to create a "Riviera of the Middle East." He earlier suggested that displaced Palestinians could be resettled elsewhere, including Egypt and Jordan.

The plot, however, was widely slammed and rejected by Palestinians, regional countries, as well as Washington's allies, including European countries.

In the meantime, Arab leaders have approved a $53 billion plan for the reconstruction of Gaza to counter Trump's plan.

The Egyptian-proposed Gaza reconstruction plan includes establishing a management committee to facilitate the Palestinian Authority's return within six months.

The Arab proposal has been rejected by the Americans and Israelis, who are determined to push ahead with Trump's plan, which experts say cannot be achieved or implemented due to practical limitations.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as well as European countries including Britain, France, Germany and Italy have supported the Arab proposal.

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'Enough is enough': Greenland PM reacts to Trump's annexation comments

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 March 2025 9:10 AM

The outgoing prime minister of Greenland said he would summon party leaders after US President Donald Trump repeated his claim of annexing the Arctic island.

Trump repeated his goal of annexing Greenland in a meeting on Thursday with visiting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the White House Oval Office, claiming it would be necessary for "security" reasons.

Trump, who asked Rutte to help the US acquire the island, expressed confidence to the NATO chief about the US's eventual takeover of Greenland, declaring "it will happen."

"We need that for international security. Not just security, international," Trump insisted.

In response, Mute Egede, the outgoing prime minister of Greenland, denounced the statements, saying, "enough is enough." He said would summon party leaders to find ways to strengthen their rejection of Trump's plot.

"This time we need to toughen our rejection of Trump. People cannot continue to disrespect us," Egede wrote on Facebook.

"The American president has once again evoked the idea of annexing us. I absolutely cannot accept that," he wrote.

Meanwhile, in the Oval Office, Rutte refused to directly accept Trump's remarks, saying he did not "want to drag NATO" into the issue.

However, he also said that from a military point of view he acknowledged the importance of maintaining security in the Arctic region, which includes Greenland.

"We know things are changing there, and we have to be there," Rutte said.

Greenland's strategic location and untapped mineral resources caught Trump's eye during his first term in 2019 when he first suggested buying the island, an idea he has reiterated since taking office again in January.

Trump said during his address to the US Congress in early March, "We need Greenland for national security. One way or the other we're gonna get it."

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Iran welcomes draft peace deal between Armenia, Azerbaijan

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 March 2025 6:06 AM

Iran has welcomed the potential peace agreement announced by Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve nearly four decades of conflict.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Friday hailed the announcement as "a necessary and important step" to achieve "lasting" peace in the South Caucasus region.

Baghaei also expressed hope that both countries will manage to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue and sign the agreement soon.

Armenia and Azerbaijan on Thursday said they had agreed on the text of the peace deal, with Yerevan agreeing to surrender its claim to Karabakh.

"The negotiation process on the text of the peace agreement with Armenia has been concluded," Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov told reporters, adding "Armenia has accepted Azerbaijan's proposals on the two previously unresolved articles of the peace treaty."

Armenia's foreign ministry also confirmed that in a statement, saying "negotiations on the draft agreement have been concluded" and "the Peace Agreement is ready for signing."

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan praised it as an "important event," saying his country is "ready to begin discussions on the place and time for signing the peace agreement."

"We believe this text is a compromise, as a peace agreement should be," he added.

Pashinyan, however, noted that two points in the draft peace accord had remained unresolved up to now, including the "non-deployment of third-party forces" along the countries' shared border.

There were also disagreements regarding the plans for both countries to mutually withdraw their legal cases from international courts.

The long-disputed region of Karabakh was at the center of two costly wars between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2020 and the 1990s.

The region has always been internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan whose troops retook it in a 24-hour offensive.

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Panama holds 'firm' as US mulls military options for canal takeover

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 March 2025 5:50 AM

Panama City has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining independence following reports that US President Donald Trump is considering measures to "reclaim" the Panama Canal.

NBC reported on Thursday that the White House had asked the military to come up with options to "reclaim" the Panama Canal.

The American television network said the White House had directed the US military to draw up options to increase the American troop presence in Panama to fulfil Trump's desire of "reclaiming" the Panama Canal, according to two US officials familiar with the planning.

In response, Panama's government emphasized on Thursday that it would remain "firm" in defending its sovereignty and the Panama Canal.

"With respect to these statements, I have nothing more to say than that Panama remains firm in defending its territory, its canal, and its sovereignty," Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha told reporters.

"Let it be clear, the canal belongs to the Panamanians and will remain so," he added.

The Trump administration's goal is reportedly to increase the US military presence in Panama to diminish China's influence there, particularly access to the canal.

Also, in his joint address to Congress last week, Trump insisted that "to further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal."

Trump's remarks came after the US firm BlackRock and a consortium of investors announced a deal to buy two ports at either end of the canal from a Chinese firm.

Already, the US military has reportedly more than 200 troops in Panama, but the number fluctuates as troops rotate in and out.

The US formally took over control from the French of building the canal in 1904. After 10 years the US-controlled canal became operational. In 1999, the US relinquished control and the canal was formally handed over to Panama.

The artificial 82-kilometer waterway connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean.



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Hun Manet warns Thailand following confrontation at disputed ancient temple

Cambodia's prime minister says military force could be used at Ta Moan Thom temple, where border is incomplete.

By RFA Khmer 2025.03.14 -- Prime Minister Hun Manet threatened on Friday to use military force if the Thai military sends soldiers to a disputed ancient Khmer temple on the Thai-Cambodia border.

The incomplete boundary demarcation at the Ta Moan Thom temple led to a confrontation between Cambodian soldiers who visited the temple last month and Thai soldiers who are stationed nearby, according to independent online news outlet CamboJa.

The Thai military wrote a formal protest letter to the Cambodian Army following the confrontation, Thai Defense Minister told reporters on Feb. 17.

On Monday, Hun Manet said Cambodia wouldn't be afraid to fight back if the Thai military violates Cambodian sovereignty.

"As a government, our priority is to adhere to peaceful resolution, using the basis of law and negotiation and our diplomacy, international law," he said in a speech to the Cambodian Tycoon Association.

"But we will be ready at all times if there is the use of armed force to invade Cambodian territory," he said. "Cambodia reserves the right to defend its sovereignty, using all means, including armed force."

The Ta Moan Thom dispute has similarities to the decades-long disagreement over Preah Vihear temple, which was the site of deadly border clashes with Thailand between 2008 and 2011.

Ta Moan Thom is located in the border area between Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province and Thailand's Surin province and is about 140 km (87 miles) west of Preah Vihear temple.

Preah Vihear temple, located atop a cliff in the Dangrek Mountains, was awarded to Cambodia in 1962 by the International Court of Justice, or ICJ. But that decision didn't take into account the 4.6 square kilometer (1.8 square mile) area around the 1,000-year-old Hindu temple.

Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged several rounds of fire beginning in 2008 after Preah Vihear was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That dispute dissipated after the ICJ again ruled in Cambodia's favor in 2011.

Hun Manet mentioned that case on Monday, saying that Cambodia has experience in filing complaints to the ICJ and in fighting to defend its territory.

Hun Sen and the ICC

Meanwhile, Senate President Hun Sen threatened to arrest anyone who compares him to former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who was arrested this week and sent to the Netherlands where he'll face trial before the International Criminal Court, or ICC, for his bloody "war on drugs."

Speaking at the same conference in Phnom Penh, Hun Sen said people shouldn't compare him to dictators or any other national leaders who face international arrest warrants over alleged crimes against humanity.

"I don't interfere in the Philippines' internal affairs, but for Cambodia, we have strongly announced that we don't send our people to other countries for prosecution," he said. "Our Constitution prohibits us from stripping citizenships and prohibits the arrest of people on behalf of foreign countries."

Hun Sen's autocratic rule as prime minister included complaints filed to the ICC by opposition activists and international lawyers over the 2016 shooting death of government critic Kem Ley, the 2017 dissolution of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party and various land disputes prompted by mass evictions.

Hun Sen, 72, resigned as prime minister in 2023 in favor of his eldest son, Hun Manet.

Hun Sen's track record from decades in power makes it difficult to prevent people from comparing him to dictators, legal analyst Vorn Chanlout told RFA.

"He has persecuted people and politicians and innocents," he said. "People can't be banned from comparing him negatively. He would need to do good now for people to compare with good people."

Cambodia ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court - the treaty that established the ICC - in 2002. The ratification gave the court jurisdiction over crimes committed on Cambodia's territory or by its citizens.

Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed 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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Vietnam wants to boost imports of US food, gas, tech: prime minister

Pham Minh Chinh tells US ambassador Hanoi wants 'harmonious' trade, as other nations raise tariffs.

By Mike Firn for RFA

2025.03.14

BANGKOK -- Vietnam is reviewing import tariffs on U.S. goods as it seeks to avoid a costly trade war with its biggest export destination, according to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Vietnam's trade surplus with the U.S. rose to a record US$123 billion last year, figures released in February showed. Vietnam had the fourth-largest surplus with the U.S. in 2024, behind only China, the European Union and Mexico, all of which are now facing tariffs on their exports to America, imposed by the Trump administration.

"The prime minister emphasized that the Vietnamese government always pays attention to creating favorable conditions for the activities of U.S. businesses and investors in Vietnam, affirming that Vietnam wishes to build a balanced, stable, harmonious and sustainable economic-trade-investment cooperation relationship with the U.S.," Vietnam's government said, reporting on a meeting between the prime minister and U.S. Ambassador Marc Knapper in Hanoi on Thursday.

Chinh asked Knapper for U.S. help in creating "favorable conditions for Vietnam to import high-tech equipment from the U.S.," and said Vietnam was "actively reviewing import tariffs on goods from the United States, encouraging increased imports of key US products that Vietnam needs, especially agricultural products, liquefied gas and high-tech products."

The prime minister's comments build on those he made at the beginning of March during a meeting with U.S. business leaders in Hanoi. He told representatives of about 40 companies that Vietnam was considering imports of U.S. aircraft, arms and medicines, among other goods.

Vietnam and the U.S. raised bilateral relations to the highest level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2023. As part of the agreement, the U.S. committed to investing US$2 million to build up Vietnam's semiconductor industry.

Knapper on Thursday reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to training chip industry workers and said Washington was also interested in helping Hanoi access essential minerals and develop its nuclear power industry, according to the Vietnam government. The U.S. embassy did not comment on the meeting.

While cutting its trade surplus with the U.S. may help Vietnam avoid duties on its exports like those faced by China, which has been hit with 20% tariffs, it has not escaped entirely. On Wednesday, the Trump administration imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from all countries. The U.S. is Vietnam's third-biggest export market for steel.

Edited by Taejun Kang.

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Every Two Hours A Woman Dies During Childbirth In Afghanistan

By Farangis Najibullah, Mustafa Sarwar and Abdul Hamid Hakimi March 15, 2025

Every two hours.

That's how often a woman dies during childbirth in Afghanistan.

The staggering maternal mortality rate is one of the highest in the world. And under the repressive rule of the Taliban, the situation is only getting worse.

Among the victims was a young woman who died during childbirth in her village in the northwestern province of Badghis in December.

"Both my sister and her unborn child died," said Fereshta, the woman's sister. "There are no midwives or any health centers in our area."

Fereshta did not name her sister, who she said was in her 20s and had three young children.

In Afghanistan, at least 638 mothers died for every 100,000 births, according to the UN figures for 2024. The real number could be even higher as some cases go unreported, especially in remote areas.

The UN said many of the deaths were due to preventable pregnancy complications exacerbated by severe shortages in qualified birth attendants and an under resourced health-care system.

Rising Maternal Deaths

The maternal mortality rate in Afghanistan was 1,346 for every 100,000 births in 2000, during the Taliban's first stint in power. The ratio dropped to 629 in 2020 due to generous international support and development aid.

But since the Taliban regained power in 2021, the number of deaths during childbirth has increased again.

The public health-care system in Afghanistan, which was largely funded by foreign aid for nearly two decades, has been in freefall since the Taliban seized power and international donors immediately cut financial funding.

While some foreign aid organizations continue to operate in Afghanistan, many of them have been forced to curb their work as international funding diminishes.



In a major blow, the United States, the largest foreign donor, paused its humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan in January.

The UN estimates that the absence of the US aid in Afghanistan could result in 1,200 additional maternal deaths between 2025 and 2028.

Exacerbating the situation, the Taliban has banned women from attending university and severely restricted their job opportunities, including in the health sector.

In December, the hard-line Islamist group banned women from attending medical institutes that offered classes in midwifery, nursing, dental hygiene, and laboratory science.

Tom Fletcher, the UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said the ban is set to prevent more than 36,000 midwives and 2,800 female nurses from joining the country's health sector in the foreseeable future.

Taliban 'Does Not Care About Women's Health'

A midwife at Kabul, who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said the Taliban "does not care about women's health, as if this issue does not exist."

The woman, who has worked in state hospitals for more than two decades, said women's lack of access to information about maternal health is also an ongoing issue.

The high maternity rate in Afghanistan, she said, "is not only about a lack of access to a clinic or a midwife during childbirth."

"Expectant mothers should be under constant monitoring of clinics from the early stages of pregnancy," she added. "But in many cases in Afghanistan, even in big cities, pregnant women come to hospital only when they have some major health issue or only to give birth."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan- taliban-healthcare-women-childbirth/33348006.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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US Commends Armenia, Azerbaijan On Historic Peace Agreement

By RFE/RL's Armenian Service and RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service March 14, 2025

The United States has praised Armenia and Azerbaijan for concluding negotiations on a "historic peace treaty," marking a significant step toward ending decades of hostilities between the two nations.

Armenia and Azerbaijan finalized the text of a peace agreement on March 13, which is aimed at establishing formal relations.

"The United States commends Armenia and Azerbaijan for concluding negotiations on a historic peace treaty," said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a statement.

"This is an opportunity for both countries to turn the page on a decades-old conflict in line with President [Donald] Trump's vision for a more peaceful world.

Baku and Yerevan were locked in a conflict over Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh for years. Armenian-backed separatists seized the mainly Armenian-populated region from Azerbaijan during a war in the early 1990s that killed some 30,000 people.

Azerbaijan retook control of the Karabakh region from Armenian separatists in September 2023 following a lightning offensive.

In a Telegram post, the Armenian government said that the country's prime minister, Nikol Pashinian, had informed Russian President Vladimir Putin about the peace agreement during a telephone conversation.

In a statement, the Kremlin confirmed Pashinian's conversation with Putin, saying that the Russian president stressed that "Russia has always supported and continues to support the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations in the interests of ensuring security, stability, and sustainable socio-economic development in the Transcaucasian region."

Putin said that "Both Armenia and Azerbaijan can always count on any possible assistance from the Russian side in achieving these goals."

When Could The Peace Agreement Be Signed?

The key question now is when the agreement might be signed.

Azerbaijan insists that the treaty cannot be signed until Armenia amends its constitution and legal system to eliminate any mention of territorial claims over areas within Azerbaijan, primarily Karabakh.

The current Armenian Constitution's preamble refers to a 1990 declaration of independence, made while Armenia was still a part of the Soviet Union, which calls for the reunification of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, which was then a part of Soviet Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has argued that, as long as the claim to Karabakh remains enshrined in Armenian law, there will be a danger of governments after Pashinian going back on that declaration and relitigating its claims to Karabakh.

Speaking after the agreement, Pashinian played down the issue, saying that "the constitution of the Republic of Armenia does not have territorial claims against Azerbaijan or any other country." He expressed the view that "the agreed text of the peace agreement addresses and resolves all these concerns."

However, Azerbaijani political commentator Rauf Mirgadirov told RFE/RL that the peace agreement would not be signed anytime soon.

"Any full-fledged peace agreement requires the unconditional recognition of each other's territorial integrity by the states. The probability that changes will be made to the Armenian Constitution in the next month or two is zero," Mirgadirov said.

Richard Giragosian, head of the Center for Regional Studies in Yerevan, agreed that constitutional amendments were a long-term process but not impossible to achieve.

"The constitutional amendments as a legal process will not be completed earlier than June 2026," he added.

There are other outstanding issues that could prevent the treaty being signed and relations normalized: the withdrawal of both sides' legal claims from international courts, unblocking regional transport routes, and addressing the status of prisoners of war.

In his statement, Rubio urged both sides to "commit to peace, sign and ratify the treaty, and usher in a new era of prosperity for the people of the South Caucasus."

The European Union also urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to sign the treaty as soon as possible after congratulating them on the peace agreement.

Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, commended both sides for their persistent work and said that the announcement of the peace agreement "represents a decisive step toward lasting peace and security in the region."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-azerbaijan- peace-agreement/33347986.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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Bosnian Serb Leader Dodik Once Again Moves Country Closer To The Brink

By Maja Zivanovic and Predrag Zvijerac March 14, 2025

Following state prosecutors in Bosnia-Herzegovina ordering the arrest of Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik, Republika Srpska has adopted a draft of a new constitution.

The new constitution would redefine the Serb entity as a state of the Serbian people, grant it the right to self-determination, and establish its own army.

These provisions would be directly in conflict with the Bosnian Constitution and the Dayton peace accords, which established Republika Srpska as one of Bosnia's two entities.

The situation has moved what some call the world's most-complicated democracy closer to the brink, a place Dodik has brought it to before.

But it wasn't always that way.

The 66-year-old's political career began in the context of a tumultuous period marked by the breakup of Yugoslavia and the subsequent Bosnian War (1992-1995).

He was elected prime minister of the Republika Srpska -- one of Bosnia-Herzegovina's two entities, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina -- for the first time in 1998 and served until 2001.

A 'Breath Of Fresh Air'

At the time, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright called Dodik a "breath of fresh air" and "a gentleman who seems determined to do the right thing in Bosnia."

His political career has since included various roles, including the presidency of Republika Srpska from 2010 to 2018.

His rise to power is often attributed to his ability to navigate the volatile political landscape, appealing to nationalist sentiments and presenting himself as a strong advocate for Serbian interests in Bosnia.

Dodik was seen a moderate who advocated for cooperation with the international community and a supporter of the peace agreement known as the Dayton Accords.

However, as he consolidated power and faced various challenges, including economic difficulties and ethnic tensions, his stance shifted towards a more nationalist and confrontational rhetoric.

By the mid-2000s, Dodik began to embrace a more populist image, focusing on the assertion of Republika Srpska's autonomy.

His government made headlines for its increasingly defiant positions against the central authorities in Sarajevo, and he often criticized the High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina, a position established by the Dayton Agreement to oversee the implementation of peace and reforms.

Dodik's tactics included promoting the idea of a referendum on the independence of Republika Srpska, appealing to a voter base that felt marginalized in the post-war political framework.

Throughout his tenure, Dodik has faced criticism for authoritarian tendencies, undermining democratic institutions, and fostering a culture of political patronage.

His administration has been characterized by a media environment that suppresses dissent and curtails press freedoms.

Supporters argue that he has brought stability and development to the entity, while opponents charge that his leadership has deepened divisions among the country's ethnic communities and eroded the state's institutional integrity.

Over the decades, Dodik has enjoyed support from the Serbian authorities, both current and former.

Asked about his close relationship with Belgrade, Stefan Blagic from ReStart Srpska, which closely follows politics in Republika Srpska, said, "He has always been a virtuoso in that Machiavellian sense."

"That is why he has been swimming for so long and that is why he has outlived other presidents of Serbia in the political sense," Blagic added.

While he is in power, Dodik will have the support of Serbia, whoever is in power in Belgrade, Blagic said.

Support from Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, he added, means a lot to the Republika Srpska leadership and also suits Belgrade.

"I don't know what reason they would give each other up," Blagic said.

Nationalist, Populist Realignment

In recent years, as tensions have risen in the Balkans and across Europe, Dodik has increasingly aligned himself with more nationalist and populist governments, reflecting a broader shift in the region.

His rhetoric has often included threats to withdraw Republika Srpska from Bosnia's state institutions, signaling a provocative stance that raises concerns about the potential for renewed conflict. Additionally, he has formed alliances with figures like Vladimir Putin, indicating a shift towards closer ties with Russia.

The Office of the High Representative (OHR) oversees the implementation of civilian aspects of Dayton.

Dodik, who is currently under US and U.K. sanctions for actions that Western governments say are aimed at the secession of Republika Srpska from Bosnia, has refused to implement several orders from the OHR, leading to the current crisis.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bosnian-serb-leader -milorad-dodik/33346722.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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March 14, 2025: China has been declared the new technology threat to the United States and the West. American politicians claim that Chinese science is far ahead and the U.S. has to spend a lot more money to catch up. This plea ignores the problems China is having with its scientific Research and Development as well as the education of scientific and technical personnel. These claims fall apart when you get into the details.

It has also been noted that China openly boasts in unclassified military publications that the most effective way to overcome the American military advantage is by obtaining, stealing, if need be, American technology, mastering it and improving on it. This effort is multi-pronged and advancing in over a dozen areas. Here are some of the most important ones.

Operations Research, also known as OR, is the analytical application of mathematical solutions for many problems. OR first appeared in the 1930s and became crucial during World War II. OR is used for developing more effective ways to use new technology. This became particularly useful in anti-submarine warfare but eventually led to improvements in just about all aspects of naval warfare. This increased the capabilities of the US navy, playing a major role in making the USN the most powerful navy in history. OR continues to perform largely unheralded miracles by identifying elusive solutions and detecting well concealed flaws. China is trying to catch up but has a long way to go. The U.S. Navy and various intelligence agencies monitor Chinese progress and find that there isnt much.

Then there is naval technology like the gyroscopic compass. The earliest versions of this were developed by ancient Chinese navigators. The problem was that until the 20th century Chinese ships rarely left coastal waters. The gyroscopic compass was an early 20th century invention that had a far reaching impact on naval warfare. Initially it made navigation more efficient for all ships. But the gyroscope technology led to vast improvements in fire control and, eventually, inertial navigation systems. This made possible all manner of anti-ship missiles. So, if you're wondering why all the guns went away, this is the main reason why. Even the development of satellite navigation didnt completely replace gyroscopic navigation. Gyroscopic systems cant be jammed and still serve as a less accurate backup system for GPS guided weapons. Four decades ago, Chinese firms began to manufacture gyroscopic compass equipment for recreational and commercial shipping. China sought to offer the cheapest gyroscopic compass and grab as much of the market as they could.

Gas turbines are a western technology seen most commonly in military and commercial aircraft. A decade or so after jet aircraft began to replace piston powered warplanes on aircraft, the first hydrofoil ships began to use gas turbine power plants. By the late 1960s, the huge TF39 jet engine developed for the C-5 aircraft was being reworked as a LM2500 maritime power plant. Over three decades later this gas turbine ship engine is common not only in merchant ships but warships as well. The LM2500 is efficient, reliable, and capable of providing quick bursts of speed not possible with older steam or diesel power plants. Just as the revolutionary small tube steam plants went unnoticed early in the 20th century, the LM2500 also dramatically changed what a warship could expect from its power plant. Only in the last few years have the Chinese been able to build reliable gas turbine marine engines. Before that their main source of these engines was Ukraine. This was because during the Soviet period the Ukraine region was where most gas turbines were built. When Russia turned hostile in 2014, Ukraine cut off the supply of gas turbines. Russia had to design and build its own, which took about a decade to accomplish. Russia built gas turbine engines for warplanes and their commercial aircraft, but not to world standards. China is making more progress than Russia and will soon surpass Russian gas turbine tech. China still has a way to go if they want to match or surpass Western gas turbines, but at least they are making progress. Russia is not. Ukraine still manufactures this equipment in the form of helicopter and ship engines.

Battery technology made major strides in the latter third of the 20th century. This heavily influenced the design of naval weapons and equipment. Weapons like missiles, in particular, became smaller, more reliable, and deadlier because of smaller, more powerful, and longer lasting batteries. Try and run today's fleet with 1960s era battery technology and you'll find that you can't. A major aspect of this was the use of lithium based batteries and the search continues for even more efficient and safer battery materials. This is one area where China excelled as the major designer and manufacturer of lithium batteries. Currently, most of these batteries are produced in China, which has large local lithium deposits.

Servron, or Service Squadron, supply techniques were developed out of necessity during World War II because of a lack of sufficient forward bases in the vast Pacific. These service squadrons became a permanent fixture in the U.S. Navy. Ships now normally stay at sea for up to six months at a time, being resupplied at sea by a Servron. New technologies were developed to support the effective use of the seagoing supply service. Few other navies have been able to match this capability, mainly because of the expense of the Servron ships and the training required to do at sea replenishment. What made Western naval experts pay attention to the Chinese Navy expansion was the appearance of Servron type ships in the later 1990s. That trend has accelerated because China wants to eventually challenge the U.S. Navy throughout the Pacific and needs efficient Servrons to do it.

Merchant ship automation is another Chinese goal. Throughout the 20th century merchant ships have become less labor intensive. This has been due largely to market pressures. Warships have been resistant to this trend, largely because of tradition, the availability of many sailors, and damage control concerns. Lower manning will become more of a factor in the 21st century but the trend is a 20th century one. China was slow to adopt this technology because until the 1980s they did not have much of a merchant shipping fleet. Now China is the major manufacturer of merchant shipping and is seeking to become dominant in ship automation as well.

Oceanography is the study of how oceans operate and how that knowledge can help or hinder navies and commercial shipping. Navies have always taken the lead in charting the details of coastal areas, where ships operate most frequently and are in most danger from uncharted objects. But the 20th century saw an enormous growth in the study of the high seas and what lay beneath. Much of this was in support of submarine operations and anti-submarine warfare. Greater understanding of the oceans has made naval operations more effective in many ways that often go unnoticed but never unappreciated. By the end of the 20th century cheap, robotic, survey devices appeared, revolutionizing oceanography by providing more data and in a timelier manner. China is a late comer to oceanography and is trying to catch up by training more oceanography specialists and custom equipped ships for them to operate from.

Worldwide weather forecasting was never a Chinese objective until their commercial and naval ships began to operate around the globe. For centuries unpredictable weather was the greatest danger to fleets at sea. Dramatic improvements in weather forecasting, especially weather satellites, have greatly reduced the risk of weather related damage for fleets and made operations more effective. China has put several generations of weather satellites into orbit and invested heavily in weather forecasting technology and automation.

Personnel screening is something China has been interested in since the 1980s. The Chinese approach is more 1984 and Big Brother than just trying to be helpful. These practices did not help the Chinese navy to more effectively recruit sailors and officers. As warships have become more complex, so have the number and complexity of the jobs sailors have to do. The ancient practice of signing any warm body and later deciding who was trainable for complex tasks crumpled under the pressure to get the right sailor for the right job before you sent people aboard a ship full of complex and expensive gear. As navies became more of a high tech enterprise, personnel selection routines borrowed heavily from those developed in the commercial sector to solve similar problems. Without this shift in personnel policies the modern U.S. Navy would not be possible.

Unmanned vehicles, otherwise known as drones, are a work in progress for the Chinese. Unlike aircraft, which were a new vehicle, aerial, naval and underwater drones are radically new technologies. There are already examples of all three in service. There will be more and they will change everything by incorporating more powerful artificial intelligence or AI and new weapons. That said, drones were first developed in the 19th century as the torpedo and the 20th century as guided missiles. But these two weapons were not flexible enough to change as many aspects of naval warfare as unmanned vehicles will be doing. While China is the major manufacturer of quad-copter drones, they have not made a lot of progress in military applications. For this they are carefully observing what the Ukrainians are doing with drones. So are the Russians.

Super sensors like sonar which used sound detection to detect objects underwater appeared during World War I, while radar, using radio signals to detect objects in the air, was developed during the 1930s and widely used during World War II. More powerful computers and transmitting technology has since produced several generations of cheaper, more reliable, and more powerful sensors. This is continuing and the power of new sensors will make it much more difficult to hide. Stealth is still important for spoiling the aim of long range guided weapons. But the super sensors make it much more difficult to achieve surprise by coming out of nowhere. China builds a lot of the sonars used by recreational and commercial fishermen but is still catching up in military sonar and radar technology.

Artificial Intelligence or AI is a 20th century development that is expected to become pervasive in the 21st. Current examples include AI assistants built into a lot of software. For aircraft designers a long-sought goal was to be an AI assistant for pilots. Thus the computer's memory contains the experiences of numerous more experienced pilots as well as instant information on the rapidly changing situation. You can ask your electronic assistant what the options are and which one has the best chance of success. The pilot can then make decisions more quickly and accurately. When enemy aircraft are sighted the electronic assistant can suggest which of the many maneuvers available are likely to work. If the aircraft is damaged the electronic co-pilot can rapidly report what the new options are. One becomes quite fond of computers once they have saved your bacon a few times. Many of these capabilities are being installed piecemeal, as part of electronic countermeasures or radar systems. And, bit by bit, these thinking systems are being merged, producing an electronic co-pilot. Systems that completely replace pilots are in development as well. This is not radical but part of a trend. By the early 21st century many commercial and military aircraft were more effective because they used so much AI. The same applies to ground vehicles. China is making some surprising progress in laboratory demonstrations but has yet to put a lot of useful AI tech on the market.

All-electric ships have been a goal for warship builders. Commercial ship builders are more concerned with less expensive and more efficient power plants. Coal-powered ships appeared in the 19th century and oil-powered ones came early in the 20th, along with nuclear power for a few experimental vessels. The big revolution now is maximizing the amount of electrical power a ship can generate. That means an all-electric ship where the engines produce just electricity and all ship equipment is electric powered. Such a ship makes possible more powerful sensors and electrically powered weapons like lasers and electromagnetic rail guns. An all-electric ship also means more efficient use of power and lower fuel costs. There's no mystery in this technology, as commercial ships began using it in the 1980s. But for warships this will be a 21st century innovation. China is already developing commercial applications for their merchant ships and, like other navies, is trying to install this tech in warships.

Stealth is what sensor technology tries to nullify. No matter how much better sensor technology becomes, there is always an advantage to having ships that are a bit harder to detect. In the last few decades stealth technology has developed faster than sensor capabilities. The big limitation with stealth capabilities is that they tend to get very expensive. But if you can afford it, you get an edge in combat. China is not on the leading edge in this area but is waiting for someone to make a breakthrough worth copying.

Composites are what happened when materials science went on a roll in the late 20th century, and more new, non-metallic materials able to replace steel and other metals are in the works. Composites began showing up in warships in the last few decades but as the use of these materials spreads to all parts of a vessel it will increase protection, fuel efficiency, and stealth.

Networking is already underway but is becoming faster, more reliable, and increasingly includes more distant ships and shore stations. This kind of communications can give the side with faster and more completely networked forces a major edge. China seeks to become the leader in this category.

Space-based services became crucial in the late 20th century as navies began using space satellites for weather forecasting, communications, and reconnaissance. It was good, and the sailors wanted more, a lot more. To get it your space satellites will have to play defense against efforts to shoot them down. The U.S. Navy is seeking to equip its ballistic missile subs with warheads containing mini-sats to replace those shot down. American warships already have missile systems that can knock down low orbit recon satellites. China is competitive in the satellite destruction department.

Nanotech is all about ultra-tiny carbon structures that are revolutionizing everything from batteries to computers and just about every aspect of warship construction and operation. Nanotech might still turn out to be perpetually just around the corner, but so far it is a strong contender as the source of big changes. China is trying to take the lead and keep it.

Laser weapons seem ideal for warships, especially those with all-electric drive. While showing much promise, laser weapons may also perpetually be just around the corner. That's where they've been for several decades now. China is stuck in just around-the-corner land like everyone else.

Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles or ABM is a concept that existed in theory since the late 20th century. Since 2005 China has had an anti-ship ballistic missile, the DF-21D, in development. As far as anyone knows the complete system was only recently tested with interesting results. Everyone agreed it would happen once the components were available and integrated with many other technologies into a workable weapon. That means something that could attack American aircraft carriers. It's an expensive way to hit a carrier, since each of these missiles costs over $20 million. But if you have to get it done that's a reasonable price. In the future the price will come down a bit and anti-missile systems available to warships will be better at dealing with them. Guided warheads could also be launched from space satellites. You can see where this is going and there will be a lot more of it this century because so far the Chinese have been making detectable progress.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to the Press at Fairmont le Manoir Richelieu, Charlevoix, Canada

US Department of State

Remarks

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

Fairmont le Manoir Richelieu

Charlevoix, Canada

March 14, 2025

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I mean, I just have a couple points and then I'll answer your questions. Then I'm sure you're dying to get home.

So first, I want to thank Canada. They did a great job of hosting us, and Foreign Minister Joly, who had to leave here. She's going to go be sworn in, remain at her post, and she's become a friend in the last few weeks as we've worked together. I knew her a little bit before but have gotten to know her now, obviously, in this role. They did a great job of hosting. It's a beautiful place. And so, we're grateful to them.

I think we have a very strong statement from the G7; hopefully you've gotten that by now and have been able to see it. Very strong statement on a number of issues of mutual concern. We touched those topics. It was a really good engagement, and obviously there will be some follow-up. And it sort of sets up for the leaders' meeting later on this year, and we hope that will be equally productive.

But we felt really good about the statement. We worked hard on it. I think it reflects our points on a number of topics. And I would just say that one takeaway, you're going to ask me questions about things that are going on in different bilateral relationships and so forth, but I think what's important and something I said at the outset, which everybody agreed with is that we're not going to allow the things we disagree on - and we'll disagree on things - to keep us from working closely on the things we agree on, and there are a lot of those. And hopefully the statement reflects that and our actions will reflect that. And so, we feel really good about it.

The other announcement - and I think this is already reflected in the President's statements - there was what we felt was a very positive and productive engagement yesterday with President Putin and Special Envoy Witkoff. Obviously, he is on his way back. He should be back, and hopefully we'll convene this weekend. We'll examine the Russian position more closely and determine - the President will then determine what the next steps are.

Suffice it to say, I think there is reason to be cautiously optimistic, but by the same token we continue to recognize this is a difficult and complex situation. It will not be easy. It will not be simple. But we certainly feel like we're at least some steps closer to ending this war and bringing peace, but it's still a long journey. It's a journey of many steps. So - but this is positive momentum. Obviously, we'll see what Russia and others are willing to do. It's not just Russia, obviously; it has to be things acceptable to Ukraine.

But it's been a good week on that front, but there's a lot of work that remains to be done. But there's reason to be cautiously optimistic, but we'll know more once Special Envoy Witkoff, Ambassador Witkoff, returns and we have a chance to all convene and talk about it. And obviously, the President is the ultimate decider on the next steps for the United States.

Okay.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, do you trust Putin?

SECRETARY RUBIO: I think it's an irrelevant question. I think in foreign policy you really - it's not about trusting, it's about actions. It's about things that you do. So, in the end, on something like this you can't just say you want peace, you have to do peace. And that's true for both sides in any conflict, so - in any war or and in any engagement. So, I think ultimately, all these things - I would just encourage you guys, if we're going to be serious about foreign policy, to sort of navigate away from some of the - this is not a reality show. This is not about personalities. This is very simple. You either do things or you don't. There are things you are doing and things you're not doing, and that's what foreign policy is driven by and that's how our decisions should be driven by.

So, unfortunately, in foreign policy, oftentimes you will have to work with - I'm not talking about President Putin in particular, I'm talking about generally - you will have to work with people you don't like in foreign policy. And oftentimes, you will have disagreements with people you like. Sometimes you will have to figure out how to work together with nations that are not aligned with you on most issues, and in other cases you may find yourself unaligned on an issue with a nation that you work with very closely on a bunch of other things. That's not just now true today, that has been true throughout the history of mankind and certainly the relations between nation states.

So, I think it's important. I get that there's this temptation to cover foreign policy the way we cover domestic policy and the way we cover other things in our society, but foreign policy is about nation states pursing what they have interpreted to be in their national interest and balancing that is what the art of diplomacy and the work of foreign policy is all about. So, we need to be sort of be mature and open-eyed and realistic without losing our idealism, without losing what we hope the world will look like and want to shape it and be a part of. But by the same token we have to make pragmatic decisions every single day and that's not true today: that's always been true.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, do you have any toplines from Mr. Witkoff? This was a late meeting. It went hours long. Is there anything that he shared? And then when you do examine the Russian position, that the comments by President Putin were quite convoluted and tough to decipher. I wonder if you think that he's playing for time.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I think you're not going to - this is not something that's going to play out in press conferences, as I stand at a press conference. But this is - these - again, I go back to the point I just made. When you want - if you think about, when you want - if you think about the most recent example of ceasefire negotiations, which was what happened in Gaza and with Israel and so forth, yeah, there were newspaper and there were articles and there were news stories about it, but ultimately you found out what the results were after the fact. And in the meantime, you saw public statements from different sides in regards to with what they were going to do. I think this will be no different.

So certainly, we're not going to make our foreign policy decisions on the basis of what a leader says - simply says at a press conference or somebody puts up on social media posts because there's some blogger close to the Kremlin or something like that. And likewise, I don't think that they're going to do that either. So, I would just say that this is going to play out the way things of this nature and caliber have traditionally and normally played out, and that is with the leaders of individual - of the countries involved speaking - not in front of the cameras, not in front of the media - but in these negotiations that happen and in these talks that happen.

So, I don't want to - I'm not going to comment on what President Putin said other than he said he agreed with it in concept. So 

QUESTION: With lots of reservations.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, again, he'd said that at a press conference. As I said, and I'll go back to the phrase I used earlier, I think there is reason for cautious optimism that something good could come of this. Obviously, we're going to wait for Ambassador Witkoff to return. He's not back yet. We're going to reconvene. Obviously, he - I spoke to him late last night, and he spoke to the President well before that. He may have spoken to other members of our team. I've been here. But ultimately, we're going to get - we're going to reconvene, and the President will have options available to him, and decisions will be made after that. But I don't want to speculate or characterize anything beyond what I just said until we have had a chance to sit down with Ambassador Witkoff, who's still overseas and in travel.

QUESTION: On that point, though, Mr. Secretary, because on the way here you said you were seeking unconditional acceptance. I mean, clearly Mr. Putin is adding a whole series of conditions. And also, the President says this should be 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, how do you know he's adding conditions?

QUESTION: From what he said publicly yesterday 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I go back to the point I made. Let's let this thing play through, okay? And then let's figure out what - let me at least talk to - let's let the team get together on the State side of this and talk to Ambassador Witkoff and go through some of this. Again, we're not going to be involved in this process where I'm being asked to stake a position of U.S. policy on the basis of what someone said at a press conference yesterday.

So. let's - we're going to work through this thing in a normal, sane fashion. We'll figure out where we are. Based on what I know at this moment with my conversation with Ambassador Witkoff - he's not here yet - is we're going to - I feel like there's reason for cautious optimism. I think the President shared that today in his Truth Social post.

But there's a lot of work - no, I have never told anybody that this is going to be easy, fast, simple, slam dunk. It'll be hard. But it's important work. We have - we are in a better place today, I hope, I believe - we have reason to believe - than we were a week ago. But we still have a long ways to go. It could come together pretty quickly if everyone aligns, but I don't know how aligned we are yet. That's what we're going to - about to find out.

So, cautious optimism is about the best phraseology I can use at this moment based on what we know. We're going to keep working on it.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary 

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the statement that you 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Hold on, I'll get to everybody. I promise.

QUESTION: It's just the President - the fundamental element of the President's proposal was it should be an immediate ceasefire. Should 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Sure, and that's the proposal.

QUESTION: And so, the question is: How long does Putin have?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, in terms of long - for what?

QUESTION: How long does - because there are those who say he's playing for time, that this is adding conditions, adding 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, this war has been going on for three years, so I think the question - and with no end in sight at this point without this intervention by President Trump. So, I think the question is - is - the fundamental question really is not how long. I think the question is: Are we actually moving towards a ceasefire or is this a delay tactic? I'm not going to answer that because I can't characterize that for you right now. I think we'll know sooner rather than later, and a lot of that will be based on the conversation Ambassador Witkoff had yesterday and other factors that are in play, but we're not there yet. But we will get there.

We want it to be, and the President wanted it to be, yesterday and the day before, but we're certainly at least talking about peace for the first time in three years. Now we'll have to figure out how close we truly are, and that's going to take some time, and Witkoff's not here yet, so - here meaning stateside.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary 

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the joint statement says that there is a need for robust and credible security arrangements for Ukraine. How would you define that based on your conversations here at the G7? What are robust and credible security arrangements?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, that's to be determined by the negotiations that - here's what I want to encourage everybody to do: Bifurcate two things, okay? The ceasefire and the conditions for everybody to stop shooting at each other. What will it take to get everybody to stop shooting at each other and then moving to a negotiating table on settling the war with finality? Two separate processes.

Process number one is: What do we need from both sides in order to stop the shooting and the fighting, so that you can get to a negotiating table? That's the second phase. As part of that second phase, there will obviously - every country in the world has a right to security, has a right to defend itself, has a right to protect its territory. That will have to be part of that conversation and it will have to be something that involves not simply the views of the United States, but other countries that are involved.

And I repeated this over and over again: The European Union has imposed significant sanctions on the Russian Federation and on individuals inside of Russia. So, they will have to be consulted and they'll have to be engaged in this process and so forth. So, let's not predetermine or start putting everything ahead of itself here. The process of what long-term security means for Ukraine, that will be something that Ukraine will obviously have to agree with and that will have to be worked through as part of that second phase. But let's - we can't get to the second phase until we get through the first phase. We think it's very difficult, very difficult to negotiate lasting peace and security in the midst of an all-out war. And so, we have to try to lower that so that it makes it possible to move to phase two of this.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the statement that you issued a little while ago also notes that the G7 discussed ways to impose costs on Russia, should that become necessary, to include caps on oil prices, additional support for Ukraine, using seized sovereign Russian assets. Was there - but it said you discussed them, you didn't agree on them. But is there any agreement within the G7 on these particular measures, just what they should be in what order, and what might trigger them? And why did you discuss them if you're so cautiously optimistic?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, first of all, it was - they were raised, because the Europeans have their own set of sanctions and new ones they would like to impose. And certainly, the United States is not a member of the EU. We don't have a vote at the EU. And so, whatever they determine and decide to do, we can't control it. They asked us for our input. We'll give it to them, but they - that's not what's happening right now. So yes, it was discussed. As far as U.S. sanctions are concerned, the President has made clear - the President on two occasions in the past week has reminded everybody that the U.S. has these options available to it, but he doesn't want to do that right now because he's in the hopes of attracting people, both sides, to a process where we can negotiate peace. And I'll leave it at that. There really is nothing to add to that at this point.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, under 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Go on. Hold on one second. Yes.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the joint statement reaffirms unwavering support for Ukrainians' territorial integrity, which has been largely absent in various U.S. statements since January 20th. What led you to subscribe to this this time?

SECRETARY RUBIO: But I don't - that's not a change in public policy. The United States has never said that Russia - I've never heard President Trump say that Russia has a right to take all of Ukraine and do whatever they want there. So that's not inconsistent with that statement. That is separate from the issue we face today, and that is that as it stands today, there is a war going on that has no military solution to it. Neither Russia nor Ukraine can achieve its maximalist military aims.

The only way to end this war is through a process of negotiations. Negotiations - be it in business, in commerce, or in geopolitics - involves both sides giving something, both sides making concessions. That's just obvious. I'm not saying - I don't think that should be sort of a news-making statement. That's the reality of any conversations that exist in order to end wars, is that there has to be some level of concessions. What those concessions are remains to be seen. That'll have to be part of the negotiation. But it's not going to be helpful to enter into those negotiations, making blanket statements that may give an excuse for one side or the other not to participate in it. So we'll have to get to that stage where these things are discussed. And ultimately, both - whatever happens, both sides will have to agree to it, and that's true of any negotiation when you're trying to end a war.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary?

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, I understand your point about this not being a reality show or personalities. Ukraine - or anything else for that matter - your boss has, shall we say, a rather strong personality. And I'm wondering, in light of that and his repeated comments about Canada becoming - or should be the 51st state, the whole tariff situation which intensified as we were on our way here after your - the big announcement in Jeddah; did that complicate your discussions at all? Was it 

SECRETARY RUBIO: It never came up once in our - I mean, obviously with the foreign minister of Canada it has, but it was not a topic, it was not on our agenda. I told you that would not be discussed. The tariffs were.

QUESTION: Yeah.

SECRETARY RUBIO: So, let me explain on the tariffs. This is important for everybody to understand. This keeps being characterized as a hostile move against our allies. These are global tariffs on steel, on aluminum, on autos, on semiconductors eventually. The President stated this. And then a global - in April, the intention to put tariffs, assuming that the study comes back and so forth. But what they've discussed is a global reciprocal tariff. Understand what that means. That means basically whatever some country charges us, that's what we're going to charge them.

The goal the President has made very clear is he wants to reset the baseline of international trade, which he believes - and I agree - is unfair to the United States. This is not meant as a hostile move against Japan or Germany or anybody else. This is not about - this is about balancing and fairness in trade. So, he wants to reset the baseline. And once that baseline is reset, then you can enter into bilateral negotiations with individual countries about changes that can be made to our trade, our bilateral trade, so that it's fair for both sides. That's his goal. In his first administration, the President did tariffs as well. What he was disturbed by in hindsight is the fact that they included a bunch of exemptions that basically made them meaningless. And so, what he wants to get back to is basically fairness in trade. It's as simple as that.

QUESTION: Okay, so 

SECRETARY RUBIO: And we want to charge other countries what they charge us. And then, ultimately, once the baseline is reset - and then in addition to that, there are industries that are critical to the United States and to our domestic security and our future. And he's identified them: steel, aluminum, semiconductors, automobiles. These are things that we believe are in our interest to have a domestic capacity, and we have to protect these industries from what we feel is subsidization and unfair competition from abroad. This is not meant to be hostile towards anybody. It is meant to be friendly and supportive of our foreign - of our national interest as a country. Once the baseline of trade is reset in a way that's fair and equitable, then we can engage in the process of bilateral negotiations with individual countries, including our allies, to set up a more sustainable and fair long-term trade arrangement between our respective countries.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the 

QUESTION: So, this is about Canada and your meeting with Foreign Minister Joly: Do you understand why the Canadians are taking such umbrage at these comments coming from the President? Is that something that you 

SECRETARY RUBIO: She's - the Canadian Government has made their position, how they feel about it clear. The President has made his argument as to why he thinks Canada would be better off joining the United States from a - for economic purposes. There's a disagreement between the President's position and the position of the Canadian Government. I don't think that's a mystery coming in, and it wasn't a topic of conversation, because that's not what this summit was about.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the Alien Enemies 

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary? Mr. Secretary, you said that the tariff policy was not hostile. However, President Trump yesterday in his social media post said that the EU previously had been hostile and abusive towards the United States. How do you square that? And secondly, is he serious when he's talking about the 51st state being Canada?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I'm - I've already answered the question about Canada.

QUESTION: No, but is he serious?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah.

QUESTION: Do you take him seriously?

SECRETARY RUBIO: We're not discussing that here today because that's not what the purpose of this meeting is about. As far as the question that you're asking me about hostility, yeah, the - look at the EU. Okay. The EU has a GDP basically comparable to that of the United States. Their composition of their economy is similar to ours. These are not developing countries; these are developed countries. And yet they have a significant trade surplus with the United States even though our economies are pretty much the same. These are not low-wage countries. That's a problem. All the President is saying is we need to equalize treatment. Whatever they do to us, we need to do to them, in addition to pointing to certain sectors that we have to protect. Who can argue against the idea that if some country charges us X to export our products, we should charge them the same?

I get it. If you're a country or the EU that's benefiting from the status quo, you feel it is hostile to change the status quo because it's to your benefit. The problem is the President of the United States is looking out for the United States - both the national security and in economic relations. We will reset the basis of our trade relationship, and then we can enter into negotiations for something that's enduring and fair to both sides. That's what the President seeks to do and that's what - it begins by resetting, in a reciprocal way, the amount of tariffs we charge one another in our trade relations.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, I take - I take your 

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the Alien Enemies Act of 1798?

QUESTION: If I can follow up. Mr. Secretary, I know that we're not speaking about Canada becoming the 51st state at this meeting, but I'm asking you now: Do you consider what the President has said about Canada becoming the 51st state - is he serious?

SECRETARY RUBIO: I'll tell you how that came about. Okay. He's in a meeting with Trudeau, and Trudeau basically says that if the U.S. imposes tariffs on Canada, Canada couldn't survive as a nation-state, at which point the President said, well, then you should become a state. And that's where this began. That said, the President has made an argument for why - he says he loves Canada. He says - he made an argument for why Canada would be better off joining the United States from an economic perspective and the like. He's made that argument repeatedly, and I think it stands for itself.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, the President 

QUESTION: Is it - is it counterproductive?

QUESTION: The Trump Administration is expected to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Have to dust that off; a lot of people not familiar with it. Can you help us understand how the Trump Administration plans to use these powers?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, those are - that's a question for DHS. It's not a question for us. What I can tell you is, from our perspective, unrelated to that, is that we will continue to look for people that we would never have allowed into this country on student visas had we known they were going to do what they've done. But now that they've done it, we're going to get rid of them. And we are continuing to look for that, and so in the days to come, you should expect more visas will be revoked as we identify people that we should never have allowed in because they lied to us.

When they said they were coming here to be students, they didn't say they were coming here to occupy university buildings and vandalize them and tear them apart, and hold campuses hostage. If they had told us that, we would never have given them a student visa. Now that they've done it, we will revoke those visas. And as the days go on, every time we have a chance to revoke them, we will, because it's not in the national interest of the United States for them to be here.

Let's wrap up, guys, so we can get on.

QUESTION: G7 statement on China 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah.

QUESTION: The G7 joint statement has some very strong language on China. Could you please describe the sentiment of the discussion behind closed door? And also, do you have anything on a potential meeting between President Trump and CCP Secretary General Xi Jinping? Will that be in China or in the United States? Thank you.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I have no - I know - I think the President at some point will meet - they will meet. I don't know when that'll be. I don't know if there are - I don't believe there are any plans currently for that to happen, but I'm sure it will happen at some point. The President engaged with him in his first term, and I expect he will do so again. And he should. These are the leaders of two big, important, powerful countries, and the leaders of powerful countries - whether they agree on things or not - should communicate for the safety and well-being of the world.

As far as the statement is concerned, I think it reflects a growing acknowledgment that the Chinese Communist Party has pursued both economic and foreign policies that allow them to benefit from all the good things about the global order but ignore all of its responsibilities in ways that leave us in danger of being - not just us, but the broader world - of being overly dependent on China for critical supply chains, for rare earth minerals, for key technologies. In the case of Europe, you'll continue to hear a lot of frustration on their part that over - Chinese overproduction, for example, of electric vehicles are dumped into their economies. And so, guess what they have done? They have imposed tariffs. You know what Canada did? They have imposed tariffs on China as well. Because that's what countries do when they feel like they're being treated unfairly in trade, in commerce. And we support them in doing that. We think that was the right choice in that regard, and we have imposed tariffs on China as well.

All right.

QUESTION: Is there an offramp 

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Who had a 

QUESTION: Secretary Rubio?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yes, sir.

QUESTION: Would the U.S. be open to an agreement with Hamas to get American hostages released separate from the Israeli hostages, like including Edan Alexander, getting released?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I think our priority always - as the U.S. Government is always - we care about all the hostages. We want all the hostages released. We believe they should all be released, okay? And that - by the way, when you talk about hostages, we're also talking about bodies. And these trades are being made, and they're ridiculous trades. Come on. Four hundred people for three. These are nuts. And on top of that, you see the condition these people are being released in. This is a - think about what we're talking about here. I mean, we're sitting around as the world is sort of accepting that it's normal and okay for you to go into a place, kidnap babies, kidnap teenagers, kidnap people that have nothing to do with any wars, that are not soldiers, that are not anything, and taking them and putting them in tunnels for almost a year and a half. And we're acting like this is a normal exchange, this is a normal thing that happens. This is an outrage. So, they should all be released.

So, I'm not going to comment on what we're going to accept or not accept other than all of us, the whole world, should continue to say that what Hamas has done is outrageous. It's ridiculous. It's sick. It's disgusting. It should never have happened, and we shouldn't accept it as normal, as a normal negotiation. We're just dealing with some savages. That's it. These are bad people, terrible people, and we need to treat them as such.

QUESTION: So is 

MS BRUCE: One more question.

SECRETARY RUBIO: But that said, we want all the hostages out.

QUESTION: Is there an offramp for this trade war?

QUESTION: (Inaudible.) Mr. Secretary, there was a report that was required at the State Department as one of the first executive orders asking for countries to be identified that had insufficient vetting. Has that report gone over to the White House yet?

SECRETARY RUBIO: I'm not - I'm sure if it - you mean we had a deadline to meet that? I'm sure we've met the deadline, but I'll have to take that back. We can get you an answer for that specifically.

MS BRUCE: Yeah, we'll get it.

SECRETARY RUBIO: All right.

QUESTION: Is there an offramp for the trade war, Mr. Secretary?

QUESTION: Can I ask a follow-up about territorial integrity?

SECRETARY RUBIO: About what?

QUESTION: Territorial integrity for Ukraine.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, you already asked that.

QUESTION: Yeah, so you said that Ukraine would have to make concessions, both sides 

SECRETARY RUBIO: So will Russia. Right.

QUESTION: What is your description of territorial integrity when it comes to Ukraine? Is it pre-2014?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Guys, again, that's what - we're going to have - let's please - I get it, but let me - let me just put it to you this way. There's two processes here.

Process number one is: How can we get shooting to stop? Because we think it's very difficult to negotiate peace while there's still shooting going on, and attacks. What can we do to get it to stop? To the extent possible, how can we get as much hostility as possible to stop so we can get to phase two of this process, which is negotiating these things that you're asking me about?

I'm just stating the obvious. When people sit down and negotiate an end to wars, there's usually a give and take. What that give and take is depends on the parties that are at the table. We're not going to predetermine anything. But that's what it's going to take to end the war.

If there's an offramp on the - it's not about an offramp on the - there's not a trade war. This is the United States is resetting its trade relations globally, okay, and resetting relations globally to a level of equilibrium, to a level of reciprocity. And then once that's reset, we can then engage in the process of bilateral talks with Japan, with the UK, with France, with Germany, with the EU, whoever, to figure out, okay, how do we reset our trade relations so that it's fair. Because right now it's not fair, it's as simple as that. The President's stated that repeatedly.

And so these are the steps that it takes to get us to that point. You can't - if you do it the other way, which is let's renegotiate our - why would they renegotiate their trade relationship with the United States if the status quo is beneficial to them? Why would they - why would someone give up something that's good for them? You have to make it fair, and then you can negotiate out how do we get to a place that's mutually beneficial, because the current piece of it is just not sustainable. And 

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

QUESTION: (Inaudible) relationship - how is your relationship with Elon Musk?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you, guys. Thank you.

MS BRUCE: All right. Thank you everyone. Thank you.

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Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Tajani

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

March 14, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani today on the margins of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Secretary Rubio underscored the importance of the strong and enduring U.S.-Italy partnership. The Secretary and Foreign Minister Tajani discussed the need to increase burden sharing among all NATO Allies and end the Russia-Ukraine war. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to tackling a range of global challenges, including balancing trade relationships, countering authoritarianism in Venezuela, and stabilizing the situation in the Middle East.

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Time for Peace Between Armenia and Azerbaijan

US Department of State

Press Statement

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

March 14, 2025

The United States commends Armenia and Azerbaijan for concluding negotiations on a historic peace treaty. This is an opportunity for both countries to turn the page on a decades old conflict in line with President Trump's vision for a more peaceful world. Now is the time to commit to peace, sign and ratify the treaty, and usher in a new era of prosperity for the people of the South Caucasus.

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Border Agreement between the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan

US Department of State

Press Statement

Tammy Bruce, Department Spokesperson

March 14, 2025

The United States congratulates Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic on their historic agreement to delineate and demarcate the entirety of their border. This accomplishment reflects the commitment of their governments to diplomacy and regional stability.

Settling border disputes is one of the most difficult diplomatic tasks a government can undertake, and we commend the vision and determination of both governments' leaders to overcome obstacles. The United States hopes this landmark agreement opens the door to robust trade and people-to-people ties and to increased prosperity and peace for both countries and for the greater region.

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Geneva Palais briefing note: Children in Sudan: a generation at risk

UNICEF

This is an overview of remarks by UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes Lucia Elmi - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at the Palais des Nations in Geneva

14 March 2025

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 14 March 2024 - "This morning, I would like to bring your attention to Sudan's childrentrapped in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. I returned last week from a country where conflict, displacement, and hunger are destroying young lives.

"More than 16 million children in Sudan urgently need aid. Nearly 17 million children have been out of school for two years. Girls face grave risks, including sexual violence, trafficking, and forced marriage. Over 12 million people are at risk of gender-based violence.

"Children are being killed, maimed, and displaced, with grave violations reported daily. Many face recruitment and use by armed actors, child labour, and early marriage. The psychological toll is devastatingconflict, loss, and displacement have left children struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma. Urgent action is needed to protect Sudan's children.

"Reaching these children is becoming increasingly difficult. During my recent visit, I travelled to Kassala, Gedaref and Wad Medani, where I witnessed girls and boys being screened for malnutrition, mothers seeking urgent treatment for their children, and families desperate for clean water and sanitation. The need is staggering, yet aid is not available at the scale and speed required.

"At the same time, I saw something remarkable displaced and host communities coming together to contribute their skills and capacities to deliver humanitarian services; children eager to learn and play in temporary learning centres. For many children, this is their first-ever chance to go to school, as they come from areas with no prior education services. These centres are not just about learning; they offer a sense of normalcy, hope, and protection.

"I also saw buses, packed with the few possessions families could carry, heading back to areas where fighting has subsidedSeenja, Sennar, and Wad Madani. Parents are cautiously starting the journey home, hoping conditions remain stable so they can rebuild their lives. But I also met families who have no home to return to. Their villages are gone, their communities shattered. They remain stuck in limbo, with little hope for the future.

"Delivery of humanitarian assistance continues to be inhibited by bureaucratic and administrative impediments in obtaining the necessary permits for the delivery of supplies in areas affected by armed conflict. Ongoing armed conflict, ethnic-driven violence, and direct attacks on humanitarian workers and mutual aid groups are worsening an already dire situation. Looting and violence have forced operational suspensions in multiple areas.

"Last year, Sudan's food crisis spiraled into famine, something we long warned about, and now we warn the situation is worsening. Since April 2023, the number of people facing acute food insecurity has tripled. Famine conditions are occurring in at least five locations, including displacement camps in North Darfur and the Western Nuba Mountains

"Nationally, 3.2 million children under five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year, including 770,000 facing severe acute malnutritionthe deadliest form of hunger, making children 11 times more likely to die from disease.

"But this crisis is not only about food. Without safe water, sanitation, and healthcare, children will not survive. In famine-affected areas, basic services have collapsed.

"Despite immense challenges, UNICEF remains on the ground. In 2024, we were able to:

Provide psychosocial support, education, and protection services to 2.7 million children and caregivers.

Deliver safe drinking water to 9.8 million people.

Screen 6.7 million children for malnutrition and provided life-saving treatment to 422,000 of them.

"In 2025, we will continue delivering urgent assistance while also working to restore essential services and build resilience in the hardest-hit areas.

"Sudan risks losing an entire generation. We call on all actorsgovernments, donors, and parties to the conflictto act now:

Guarantee humanitarian access across conflict lines and borders.

Protect humanitarian workers and supplies.

Increase funding to match escalating needs.

End the violence.

"The children of Sudan cannot wait. The world must actnow."

#####

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No food deliveries to Gaza as border closures continue

14 March 2025 - The UN emergency food relief agency has not been able to transport any aid into the Gaza Strip, due to the ongoing closure of all border crossing points, which is now in its twelfth day, the UN Spokesperson said on Friday.

There is also a shortage of fuel, which is affecting the movement of vehicles across Gaza and slowing down first responders, Stephane Dujarric told journalists at the regular news briefing in New York.

"The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) notes that oxygen supplies and electricity generators are also critically needed to maintain life-saving operations at hospitals in Gaza," he said.

"At least two dozen additional generators are needed for health centres, as the ones currently in use need maintenance and spare parts," he added.

Rising food prices and fuel shortages

Within the enclave, the World Food Programme (WFP) has food stocks sufficient to support active kitchens and bakeries for up to one month, as well as ready-to-eat food parcels to support 550,000 people for two weeks, Mr. Dujarric said.

To stretch supplies, the agency is reducing the quantity of food parcels provided to families - a measure it had already implemented before the ceasefire, he added.

A total of 25 bakeries are supported by the agency, but on 8 March, six of these bakeries were forced to close due to a shortage of cooking gas.

The closure of border crossings has also triggered a sharp rise in food prices, with costs for staples such as flour and sugar rising, further limiting access.

Rising displacement

Meanwhile, the situation in the West Bank continues to deteriorate.

OCHA has recorded a surge in settler violence in parts of the West Bank, "causing casualties, property damage and placing communities at high risk of displacement," reported Mr. Dujarric.

The Office also noted a sharp increase in the demolition of Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank over the past week and a half, with the number of structures demolished during the first 10 days of Ramadan this year having already exceeded the total for all of Ramadan in 2024.

Since Monday, operations in Jenin city also intensified, with more than 500 people displaced from three neighbourhoods in the eastern part of the city, he added.

Urgent funding needed

WFP is supporting over 190,000 people with monthly cash vouchers and has provided one-off assistance to thousands of those most in need.

However, the agency requires $265 million in funding over the next six months to sustain operations that assist 1.4 million people in Gaza and the West Bank.

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World News in Brief: Fresh fighting in eastern DR Congo, global trade update, elections in CAR, Pakistan train hijack

14 March 2025 - Fresh fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has displaced tens of thousands of families, with children particularly at risk, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned on Friday.

Over 850,000 civilians have been displaced in South Kivu province, nearly half of them children, according to the agency.

Many are living in precarious conditions, sheltering in schools, churches or in the open, lacking clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education.

Grave violations against children have also sharply risen, including sexual violence, killings, maiming and their recruitment by armed groups.

"We are facing an unprecedented protection crisis. Children are being targeted. They are being killed, recruited, torn from their families and exposed to horrific sexual and physical violence," said Jean Francois Basse, UNICEF's acting head in the DRC.

The fighting has also disrupted vital services and humanitarian operations, with the closure of Kavumu Airport near the provincial capital Bukavu and banks delaying critical aid operations.

The region is also witnessing an uptick in cholera, measles and mpox outbreaks.

UNICEF is working to re-open schools and support health centres, urging all parties to respect international law and ensure unhindered aid access.

"We call on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities, protect children, respect international humanitarian law and guarantee rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access," said Mr. Basse.

New risks loom for global trade, warns UN body

While global trade started 2025 on stable ground, challenges are mounting, according to the UN trade and development body, UNCTAD.

In its latest Global Trade Update, which covers data through early March, the UN body reported record growth in 2024, with international trade expanding to $33 trillion, but looking to 2025, new risks loom, including trade imbalances, evolving policies and geopolitical tensions.

The trade gap between developing and advanced economies is widening. While Asia and Latin America remain key trade drivers, growth has slowed in advanced economies, UNCTAD said.

It added that nearshoring and friendshoring - business strategies where companies relocate their operations to a country geographically closer to their main market to reduce costs - reversed in 2024.

UNCTAD noted that some governments are expanding tariffs, subsidies and industrial policies, reshaping trade flows.

"The United States, EU and others are increasingly tying trade measures to economic security and climate goals while China is using stimulus policies to maintain export momentum," it added.

UNCTAD underscored the need for global cooperation and balanced policies in the face of growing trade uncertainty.

"The challenge in 2025 is to prevent global fragmentation - where nations form isolated trade blocs - while managing policy shifts without undermining long-term growth. The actions taken now by governments and businesses will shape trade resilience for years to come," it said.

Voter registration starts in Central African Republic

Meanwhile, the second and third phases of voter registrations are underway in the Central African Republic (CAR), supported by the UN peacekeeping mission there, MINUSCA.

The campaign will cover nine of the country's 20 prefectures and overseas centres.

"Our peacekeeping mission has actively contributed to the launch of the operations by providing logistical support, including the deployment of equipment by plane from Bangui to the regions as well as several hundred electoral agents," UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters at the regular news briefing in New York.

Peacekeepers are also helping secure the process by deploying to tense areas to enable all Central Africans to have access to registration centres, he added.

Mission personnel also escorted road convoys carrying registration kits as well as electoral staff. They are also working in collaboration with UN Women to increase the number of women on the voter list by facilitating the issuance of identity documents.

The voter registration exercise precedes local, legislative and presidential elections scheduled for later this year and in 2026.

The local elections - to be held for the first time in nearly 40 years - are a key component of the Central African Peace Agreement and offer a unique opportunity for enhanced governance at the local level, Mr. Dujarric said.

UN Security Council condemns Pakistan train attack

UN Security Council members condemned Tuesday's terrorist attack on the Jaffar Express passenger train, which was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar in Pakistan.

The armed group Balochistan Liberation Army attacked the train near the city of Sibi in Balochistan province and subsequently took its passengers hostages.

The standoff ended on Wednesday, with Pakistani security forces conducting an operation and killing the attackers. According to media reports, 21 hostages and four members of the security forces were also killed.

In a press statement, members of the Security Council "reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security".

They underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of such acts of terrorism accountable and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Government of Pakistan in this regard.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed," the statement added.

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US envoy says Hamas misrepresented release of hostage

By VOA News March 14, 2025

U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said a Hamas statement issued Friday announcing it had agreed to release an American-Israeli soldier was, in reality, a condition of a "bridge" ceasefire proposal offered by U.S. officials earlier this week.

Early Friday, the U.S.-designated terrorist group Hamas issued a statement saying it had agreed to release Edan Alexander, believed to be the last living American hostage held in Gaza, as well as the bodies of four other hostages after receiving a proposal from mediators to resume negotiations on the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal.

The statement said the proposal had been offered by unnamed mediators as part of the work in Qatar to restart ceasefire negotiations. The United States, Egypt and host Qatar have been mediating the ceasefire talks.

Hamas expressed its "complete readiness to begin negotiations and reach a comprehensive agreement on the issues of the second phase."

Later Friday, in a joint statement issued along with the National Security Council, Witkoff's office explained he and National Security Council Senior Middle East Director Eric Trager had presented the bridge proposal to extend the current ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover and allow time to negotiate a framework for a permanent ceasefire.

In the statement, Witkoff said that under the proposal, Hamas would release additional living hostages in exchange for prisoners, and that the extension of the phase-one ceasefire would allow more time for humanitarian aid to resume into Gaza.

He said the U.S. had its Qatari and Egyptian mediating partners convey to Hamas "in no uncertain terms" that the new proposal would have to be implemented soon and Edan Alexander would have to be released immediately.

"Unfortunately, Hamas has chosen to respond by publicly claiming flexibility," Witkoff said in the statement, "while privately making demands that are entirely impractical without a permanent ceasefire."

In a statement released on the X social media platform, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that while Israel had accepted "the Witkoff framework," Hamas "continues to wage psychological warfare against hostage families."

The statement went on to say that the prime minister would convene his ministerial team Saturday evening for a detailed briefing from the negotiating team and "decide on steps to free the hostages and achieve all our war objectives."

Hamas is believed to be holding 24 living hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered its war with Israel. The group also is holding the bodies of 34 others who were either killed in the initial attack or in captivity, as well as the remains of a soldier killed in 2014.

In comments to FOX Business news Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said she was wary of taking Hamas statements at face value but emphasized that U.S. President Donald Trump was working "diligently" to bring hostages home.

Witkoff told reporters at the White House early in March that gaining the release of Alexander was a "top priority."

A ceasefire has been in place since January. During the first phase of the three-phase ceasefire, Hamas exchanged 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Israel has been pressing Hamas to accept an extension of the first phase, which ended March 2. Hamas had said it wanted to move to the second phase of the agreement, which would involve the release of more hostages and Israel's withdrawal from Gaza.

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Earlier food security gains in Gaza at risk; food insecurity concerns grow in West Bank

World Food Programme

14 March 2025

GAZA, Palestine -- The following are the latest updates on food security and WFP operations in Gaza and the West Bank.

Gaza

In the 42 days of the ceasefire starting 19 January, WFP delivered over 40,000 metric tons of food into Gaza and provided lifesaving assistance to 1.3 million people. In addition, over US$ 6.8 million in electronic cash assistance (e-wallets) supported nearly 135,000 people (26,600 households), helping families to buy what they needed most.

Since March 2, WFP has not been able to transport any food supplies into Gaza due to the closure of all border crossing points for both humanitarian and commercial supplies.

WFP currently has sufficient food stocks to support active kitchens and bakeries for up to one month, as well as ready-to-eat food parcels to support 550,000 people for two weeks.

WFP has approximately 63,000 metric tons of food destined for Gaza, stored or in transit in the region. This is equivalent two to three months of distributions for 1.1 million people, pending authorization to enter Gaza.

In the first week of March, WFP was able to sustain its activities in Gaza using stocks brought in during the ceasefire; WFP provided food assistance to some 73,000 vulnerable people across Gaza during this period.

As it did prior to the ceasefire, WFP is reducing the quantity of ready-to-eat food parcels provided to families to stretch its supplies and serve more people in need.

Right now, WFP supports 33 kitchens across Gaza providing a total of 180,000 hot meals daily.

A total of 25 bakeries are also supported by WFP, but on March 8 six of these bakeries were forced to close due to a shortage of cooking gas.

Commercial food prices have begun to surge since the March 2 closure of border crossings. In some cases, prices on staple items such as flour, sugar, and vegetables have increased over 200 percent. Traders have begun withholding goods due to uncertainty over when new supplies would arrive.

West Bank

WFP is increasingly concerned about growing food insecurity in the West Bank, where military activity, displacement, and movement restrictions are disrupting markets and limiting access to food.

Tens of thousands of people in the West Bank have been displaced since mid-January.

These disruptions and the worsening economic conditions over the last year are putting upward pressure on prices. With rising displacement and unemployment, even basic food items have become unaffordable for many families.

WFP is supporting more than 190,000 people with monthly cash vouchers and has provided one-off assistance to 16,000 people most in need. Humanitarian cash assistance can be delivered efficiently through local supply chains and markets. It also helps to stabilize the economy.

WFP needs US$265 million in funding for the next six months for operations to assist 1.4 million people in Gaza and the West Bank.

# # #

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 15 March 2025 - Day 1116

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 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, there have been 128 combat clashes since the beginning of this day. Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively interrupt the attempts of the Russian enemy to advance into the depths of Ukrainian territory, giving him a fiery impression.

For today, Russian terrorist troops have carried out 82 aviation strikes, dropping 112 controlled aviation bombs. In addition, almost 1100 kamikaze drones were involved in impressions and carried out about five thousand shells on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the Kharkiv direction, the Russian opponent eight times stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Vovchansk and towards Petrivka. Two clashes are currently underway.

In the Kupyansky direction, Russian forces carried out offensive actions in the areas of Zagrizove, Lozova and Kopanka. Ukrainian defenders stopped four Russian attacks.

In the Lyman direction, Russian invaders 15 times attacked the positions of Defense Forces near the settlements of Balka Zhuravka, Ivanivka, Nadia, Yampolivka and Grigorivka. The two clashes are still ongoing.

Two enemy assaults were repelled by Ukrainian defenders in the Siversky direction, Russian forces tried to advance in the areas of Verkhnyokamiansky and Bilogorivka.

In the kramators komu direction Russian forces stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders near orikhovo-vasilivki. The defense forces repelled the Russian attack.

Seventeen times the Russians have advanced on the positions of Ukrainian units in the Toretsky direction in the areas of Toretsk and Friendship, currently two clashes are ongoing.

In the Pokrovsky direction, since the beginning of this day, the Russian occupiers tried 36 times to advance on the position of Ukrainian units, the enemy attacked in the areas of settlements of Sukha Balka, Oleksandropil, Novotoretske, Elizabethtivka, Svyrydonivka, Rumin, Sergiyivka, Kotline, Uspenivka, Nadiivka and Andriyivka. Ukrainian defenders have stopped 35 Russian assault actions, the battle is currently being sharpened. Air strikes were suffered by Gorihove, Oleksiivka, Leontovichi, Novopavlivka and Mirnograd.

Today, according to preliminary data, 254 Russian occupants were defecated in this direction, 136 of them - irrevocably. Also Ukrainian soldiers destroyed one combat armored car, nine units of automobile equipment, five motorcycles, one REB tool, two artillery systems, a generator and two BPLA antennas. In addition, two tanks and three artillery systems of the Russians were damaged.

In the Novopavlivs komu direction, Russian forces tried 12 times to break through the defense of Ukrainian defenders in the area of konstantinopol and rozlivu. Two clashes have not subsided so far.

In the direction of Gulyajpils komu, the Russian zagarbnik attacked in the areas of Novopol and Novosilka. Defense forces repelled two attacks, another confrontation is still ongoing.

In the Orihivsky direction, Russian forces attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders 13 times towards the settlements Stepovo, Pyatihatki, Sherbaki, Zherebyanka and Kamianske. Fighting continues in six locations.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, Ukrainian troops repelled four unsuccessful Russian attempts to attack the positions of Ukrainians.

In Kur ini since the beginning of the day, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 18 assault actions of the Russian occupiers, one of which is ongoing until now. In addition, Russian forces launched 28 air strikes, dropping 48 controlled bombs, and also carried out 219 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kharkov direction, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on formations of two mechanised brigades of the AFU close to Volchansk and Liptsy (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses were up to 45 troops, four motor vehicles, one artillery gun, and one signal intelligence station.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian troops delivered strikes at manpower and hardware of one motorised infantry brigade, one assault brigade, two territorial defence brigades close to Druzhelyubovka, Novosergeyevka, Cherneshchina, Proletarskoye (Kharkov region), Grekovka (Lugansk People's Republic), and Radkodub (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were more than 255 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, and one Austrian-made Pinzgauer Vector armoured vehicle, two pickup trucks, four field artillery guns, and three ammunition depots.

Units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops launched attacks on formations of two mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, and one airmobile brigade of the AFU near Seversk, Serebryanka, Verolyubovka, Konstantinovka, and Artema (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were more than 260 troops, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, five motor vehicles, one field artillery gun, one Croatian-made RAK-SA-12 multiple-launch rocket system launcher. Two electronic warfare stations and one ammunition depot were eliminated.

The Tsentr Group of Forces' units continued advancing into the depths of enemy defences, defeated formations of two mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade of the AFU, one marine brigade, and one National Guard brigade near Filiya (Dnepropetrovsk region), Petrovskoye, Udachnoye, Dimitrov, Shevchenko, Krasnoarmeysk, and Uspenovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 465 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, eight motor vehicles, and three artillery guns.

The Vostok Group of Forces' units improved the situation along the front line as well as defeated formations of two mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade of the AFU, and three territorial defence brigades close to Iskra, Zeleny Gai, Konstantinopol, and Fyodorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were more than 160 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, and two field artillery guns.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces engaged manpower and hardware of three coastal defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Olgovka, Nikolskoye, and Sadovoye (Kherson region).

The AFU losses were up to 80 troops and three motor vehicles.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces engaged the infrastructure of military airfields, drone manufacturing shops, ammunition and logistics depots, power facilities supporting Ukranian defence industry enterprises as well as clusters of manpower and hardware of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and foreign mercenaries in 162 areas.

One MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force was shot down.

Air defence facilities shot down seven JDAM guided bombs and three U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, 170 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles including 141 that were destroyed out of the special military operation zone.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the AFU losses amounted to: 658 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 46,776 unmanned aerial vehicles, 601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,285 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,527 MLRS combat vehicles, 22,581 field artillery guns and mortars, 32,902 units of special military vehicles.

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, units of the Sever Group of Forces liberated Zaoleshenka and Rubanshchina.

In addition, Russian troops launched strikes on formations of one mechanised brigade, two air assault brigades, two territorial defence brigades, and one assault regiment of the AFU near Gogolevka, Gornal, Guyevo, and Oleshnya.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery strikes engaged AFU manpower and hardware near Zapselye, Loknya, Aleksandriya, Basovka, Belovody, Veselovka, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, Miropolye, Mogritsa, Novaya Sech, Novenkoye, Obody, Sadki, Yunakovka, and Yablonovka in Sumy region.

The AFU losses were more than 220 troops, one tank, one infantry fighting vehicle, one armoured fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, two artillery guns, two mortars, one UAV command post, and one ammunition depot.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the AFU losses amounted to:

more than 67,630 troops, 393 tanks, 317 infantry fighting vehicles, 283 armoured personnel carriers, 2,199 armoured fighting vehicles, 2,437 motor vehicles, 555 artillery guns, 52 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and seven of MLRS made by the USA, 26 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, 56 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 15 armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle.

The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.





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March 14, 2025: In late 2024 the United States imposed a sixth round of sanctions on a Pakistani firm and three Chinese companies involved in building more of the Shaheen 3 long-range ballistic missile. This system has been operational since 2015 with a range of 2,700 kilometers. Shaheen 3 can hit any military target in India. This was the sixth round of sanctions against Pakistan and the main target is Chinese support for Pakistani weapons programs. The sanctions are ignored by China and Pakistan. The ballistic missile program continues, as does American military aid to Pakistan.

For such a small and economically weak country Pakistan has many ballistic missile types in service. Their current defense budget is $7.6 billion. Defense now consumes 12.5 percent of the government budget and 1.7 percent of GDP. Pakistan uses deceptive budget practices, like not including military pensions and research efforts in the defense budget. To compare Pakistani spending to other nations, you must apply the same accounting standards. Doing that increases the official defense spending by 50 percent. The reality is that the military gets about a quarter of the government budget and over three percent of GDP. The military also owns a growing portion of the economy and Pakistan is often described as an army with a country attached.

Pakistan is one of the top ten military powers on the planet and the only Moslem majority country with nuclear weapons. Pakistans primary foe is India, which has more than six times the population and a much stronger economy and military

Decades of large defense budgets have made it possible for Pakistan to develop, manufacture and maintain a large and diverse ballistic missile force that includes:

Hatf 1 entered service in 1992 with a range of 70 kilometers and was upgraded three years later with a better rocket motor and range of 100 kilometers.

Abdali entered service in 2002 with a range of 150-190 kilometers, later upgraded to 280-450 kilometers depending on warhead size. Only uses non-nuclear warheads. Apparently based on the Chinese M11 missile which Pakistan bought a few of to study and improve the design of Pakistani solid fuel ballistic missiles.

Nasr entered service in 2013 with a range of 90 kilometers and is carried on a TEL vehicle that holds four of these 1.2-ton missiles.

Ghaznavi entered service in 2004 with a range of 300 kilometers.

Shaheen-I entered service in 2003 with a range of 750 kilometers, later upgraded to 1,000 kilometers. Weighing ten tons, it is launched from a TEL or from fixed locations.

Ghauri entered service in 2003 with a range of 1,400 kilometers and later upgraded to 1,800 kilometers. Uses a liquid fuel motor based on North Korean technology. A few are still in service as part of a program to develop longer range ballistic missiles.

Ababeel entered service in 2017 with a range of 2,200 kilometers and can carry a warhead with three or more nuclear warheads. Only a few were built and are used mainly to develop longer range ballistic missiles.

Shaheen 2, a solid fuel missile with a range of 2,000 kilometers, also entered service in 2015.

Shaheen 3, a solid fuel missile with a range of 2,700 kilometers, also entered service in 2015.

Ghaznavi and other short-range solid fuel missiles are basically replacements for older liquid fuel Scud missiles. Solid fuel makes it possible to quickly launch the missile. Solid fuel missiles are also cheaper to maintain and use smaller crews that do not require a lot of training.

Pakistan has also developed and put into several cruise missiles since 2007. These have ranges of up to 750 kilometers. India has acquired new air defense systems with some Ballistic Missile Defense or BMD capability as well as being more capable detecting the low and slow cruise missiles. India does not have enough BMD systems to protect more than a few major cities. Pakistan still has a lot of unprotected Indian targets for the ballistic missiles.
Eight GoodFellas Gang Members and Associates Charged with Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering, Including Attempted Murder

Friday, March 14, 2025

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

An indictment was unsealed yesterday in the Northern District of Georgia charging eight members and associates of the GoodFellas Gang for their alleged roles in a criminal enterprise engaged in attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and attempted carjacking in and around Atlanta.

According to the indictment, the GoodFellas are a violent gang that heavily recruits members in Atlanta neighborhoods, local jails, and Georgia Department of Corrections facilities. Members engage in violence to enhance the violent reputation of the gang.

As alleged in the indictment, six of the defendants shot and attempted to murder four victims. Additionally, two GoodFellas members and associates allegedly attempted a carjacking and assaulted three victims with a dangerous weapon.

Frank Hubbert, also known as Capo Frank, 38; Montavis Jones, also known as Nigel Woods, Jitt, and Git, 37; Darian Sheppard, also known as Lil D, 27; De'Andre Jackson, also known as Gen, Glock, and Glizzy, 22; Ephram Marshall, also known as Lil E, 24; Tahj Rankine, also known as Biggz, 26; and Leonunte Carson, also known as Lil Tae, 22, are each charged with multiple counts of attempted murder in aid of racketeering and with using a firearm during these crimes.

Hubbert and Ahday Nelson-George, also known as Baby K, 25, are each charged with multiple counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and attempted carjacking.

Seven of the defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison; Nelson-George faces a maximum penalty of 75 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie Jr. for the Northern District of Georgia, and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Fulton County (Georgia) Sheriff's Office; Georgia Department of Corrections; and the Atlanta Police Department.

Trial Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam of the Criminal Division's Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Renaud for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Topic: Violent Crime

Components: Criminal Division

Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

USAO - Georgia, Northern

Press Release Number: 25-255

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High-Ranking Member of Violent Mexican Drug Cartel Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

Friday, March 14, 2025

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

A Mexican national and high-ranking, violent member of the Los Zetas cartel pleaded guilty today to conspiring to manufacture and distribute large quantities of cocaine and marijuana destined for the United States.

According to court documents, Eleazar Medina-Rojas, also known as El Chelelo, 53, was a member of Los Zetas, a drug trafficking organization comprised primarily of former Mexican military officers that began as an armed militaristic wing of the Gulf Cartel. Los Zetas later formed an alliance with the Gulf Cartel, and they collectively operated under the name "The Company." Medina-Rojas was responsible for enforcement actions and protection of drug trafficking routes, which he often carried out through violence, threats of violence, and the use of weapons. For example, Medina-Rojas participated in acts of violence against rival drug trafficking groups during conflicts for control over drug plazas and trafficking routes.

Medina-Rojas rose through the ranks of The Company and held important leadership roles. Between 2006 and 2007, he served as a "plaza boss" in Monterrey, Mexico, commanding dozens of members of The Company in drug trafficking activity and acts of violence. Specifically, he coordinated cocaine and marijuana loads from Mexico into the United States, shipping the drugs in box trucks and other vehicles outfitted with hidden compartments, and coordinated the repatriation of bulk cash drug proceeds to Mexico. Medina-Rojas and those under his command and control taxed other shipments of illegal drugs that crossed through The Company's territory, often en route to the United States. Medina-Rojas was personally responsible for the importation into the United States of more than 450 kilograms of cocaine and 90,000 kilograms of marijuana.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 13, 2025. Medina-Rojas faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Field Division made the announcement.

The DEA Houston Division investigated the case. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and July 2023 extradition of Medina-Rojas.

Trial Attorneys Jayce Born and Kirk Handrich and Acting Deputy Chief Melanie Alsworth of the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.

Topics: Operation Take Back America

Drug Trafficking

Components: Criminal Division

Criminal - Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

Press Release Number: 25-262

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Freedom of navigation mission protects Indo-Pacific

By Flight Lieutenant Imogen Lunny

14 March 2025

Exercising Australia's freedom of navigation, the Royal Australian Air Force successfully completed maritime surveillance missions in the Indo-Pacific region under the first iteration of regional presence deployments for 2025.

Aviators onboard 11 Squadron's P-8A Poseidon aircraft conducted maritime domain awareness operations alongside the Royal Australian Navy destroyer HMAS Hobart in the South China Sea, supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

The P-8A Poseidon is Australia's proven multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft, generating effects in anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, maritime and overland intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and search and rescue.

RAAF Deputy Detachment Commander Flight Lieutenant Johnathan Logan said the deployment of the 11 Squadron aircraft supported Australia's coordinated and near-continuous presence in the region.

"The P-8A Poseidon employs specific capabilities and mission systems that make it invaluable when conducting maritime patrols both unilaterally and when operating as a joint force," Flight Lieutenant Logan said.

Australia routinely operates within the region, and often alongside allied and partner nations.

"With regional presence deployments, we are often provided the opportunity to participate in multilateral activities with partners operating in the region, further enhancing our interoperability," Flight Lieutenant Logan said.

An earlier opportunity in the region involved the P-8A Poseidon, Hobart, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship Akizuki, Philippine Navy ship BRP Jose Rizal, and United States Navy ship USS Benfold participating in a multilateral maritime cooperative activity within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone under Hobart's Regional Presence Deployment 25-1.

"For our deployed crew, participating in these activities is a powerful reminder of our ability to project integrated power in pursuit of a stable and secure region," Flight Lieutenant Logan said.

These Defence activities form part of Australia's longstanding contribution to regional security and stability, while enhancing maritime security and upholding international law and ensuring readiness to respond to shared security challenges.

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Joint statement of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Charlevoix

Global Affairs Canada

Statement

March 14, 2025 - Charlevoix, Quebec - Global Affairs Canada

1. We the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, met in Charlevoix on March 12 to 14, 2025.

Ukraine's long-term prosperity and security

2. We reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty and independence.

3. We welcomed ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire, and in particular the meeting on March 11 between the U.S. and Ukraine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We applauded Ukraine's commitment to an immediate ceasefire, which is an essential step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with the Charter of the United Nations.

4. We called for Russia to reciprocate by agreeing to a ceasefire on equal terms and implementing it fully. We discussed imposing further costs on Russia in case such a ceasefire is not agreed, including through further sanctions, caps on oil prices, as well as additional support for Ukraine, and other means. This includes the use of extraordinary revenues stemming from immobilized Russian Sovereign Assets. We underlined the importance of confidence-building measures under a ceasefire including the release of prisoners of war and detaineesboth military and civilianand the return of Ukrainian children.

5. We emphasized that any ceasefire must be respected and underscored the need for robust and credible security arrangements to ensure that Ukraine can deter and defend against any renewed acts of aggression. We stated that we will continue to coordinate economic and humanitarian support to promote the early recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine, including at the Ukraine Recovery Conference which will take place in Rome on July 10-11, 2025.

6. We condemned the provision to Russia of military assistance by DPRK and Iran, and the provision of weapons and dual-use components by China, a decisive enabler of Russia's war and of the reconstitution of Russia's armed forces. We reiterated our intention to continue to take action against such third countries.

7. We expressed alarm about the impacts of the war, especially on civilians and on civilian infrastructure. We discussed the importance of accountability and reaffirmed our commitment to work together to achieve a durable peace and to ensure that Ukraine remains democratic, free, strong and prosperous.

Regional peace and stability in the Middle East

8. We called for the release of all hostages and for the hostages' remains held by Hamas in Gaza to be returned to their loved ones. We reaffirmed our support for the resumption of unhindered humanitarian aid into Gaza and for a permanent ceasefire. We underscored the imperative of a political horizon for the Palestinian people, achieved through a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that meets the legitimate needs and aspirations of both peoples and advances comprehensive Middle East peace, stability and prosperity. We noted serious concern over the growing tensions and hostilities in the West Bank and calls for de-escalation.

9. We recognized Israel's inherent right to defend itself consistent with international law. We unequivocally condemned Hamas, including for its brutal and unjustified terror attacks on October 7, 2023, and the harm inflicted on the hostages during their captivity and the violation of their dignity through the use of 'handover ceremonies' during their release. We reiterated that Hamas can have no role in Gaza's future and must never again be a threat to Israel. We affirmed our readiness to engage with Arab partners on their proposals to chart a way forward on reconstruction in Gaza and build a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace.

10. We expressed our support for the people of Syria and Lebanon, as both countries work towards peaceful and stable political futures. At this critical juncture, we reiterated the importance of Syria's and Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We called unequivocally for the rejection of terrorism in Syria. We condemned strongly the recent escalation of violence in the coastal regions of Syria, and called for the protection of civilians and for perpetrators of atrocities to be held accountable. We stressed the critical importance of an inclusive and Syrian-led political process. We welcomed the commitment by the Syrian interim government to work with the OPCW in eliminating all remaining chemical weapons.

11. We stressed that Iran is the principal source of regional instability and must never be allowed to develop and acquire a nuclear weapon. We emphasized that Iran must now change course, de-escalate and choose diplomacy. We underscored the threat of Iran's growing use of arbitrary detention and foreign assassination attempts as a tool of coercion.

Cooperation to increase security and resilience across the Indo-Pacific

12. We reiterated our commitment to upholding a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific, based on sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes, fundamental freedoms and human rights.

13. We remain seriously concerned by the situations in the East China Sea as well as the South China Sea and continue to oppose strongly unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force and coercion. We expressed concern over the increasing use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippines and Vietnamese vessels as well as efforts to restrict freedom of navigation and overflight through militarization and coercion in the South China Sea, in violation of international law. We emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues and reiterated our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. We also expressed support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations.

14. We remain concerned with China's military build-up and the continued, rapid increase in China's nuclear weapons arsenal. We called on China to engage in strategic risk reduction discussions and promote stability through transparency.

15. We emphasized that China should not conduct or condone activities aimed at undermining the security and safety of our communities and the integrity of our democratic institutions.

16. We expressed concerns about China's non-market policies and practices that are leading to harmful overcapacity and market distortions. We further called on China to refrain from adopting export control measures that could lead to significant supply chain disruptions. We reiterated that we are not trying to harm China or thwart its economic growth, indeed a growing China that plays by international rules and norms would be of global interest.

17. We demanded that the DPRK abandon all its nuclear weapons and any other weapons of mass destruction as well as ballistic missile programs in accordance with all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. We expressed our serious concerns over, and the need to address together, the DPRK's cryptocurrency thefts. We called on DPRK to resolve the abductions issue immediately.

18. We denounced the brutal repression of the people of Myanmar by the military regime and called for an end to all violence and for unhindered humanitarian access.

Building stability and resilience in Haiti and Venezuela

19. We strongly denounced the ongoing horrifying violence that continues to be perpetrated by gangs in Haiti in their efforts to seize control of the government. We reaffirmed our commitment to helping the Haitian people restore democracy, security and stability, including through support to the Haitian National Police and Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission and an increased role for the UN. We expressed support for Haitian authorities' efforts to create a specialized anti-corruption jurisdiction that complies with the highest international standards.

20. We reiterated our call for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela in line with the aspirations of the Venezuelan people who peacefully voted on July 28, 2024, for change, the cessation of repression and arbitrary or unjust detentions of peaceful protestors including youth by Nicolas Maduro's regime, as well as the unconditional and immediate release of all political prisoners. We also agreed Venezuelan naval vessels threatening Guyana's commercial vessels is unacceptable and an infringement of Guyana's internationally recognized sovereign rights. We reaffirmed respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations as an enduring value.

Supporting lasting peace in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

21. We unequivocally denounced the ongoing fighting and atrocities in Sudan, including sexual violence against women and girls, which have led to the world's largest humanitarian crisis and the spread of famine. We called for the warring parties to protect civilians, cease hostilities, and ensure unhindered humanitarian access, and urged external actors to end their support fueling the conflict.

22. We condemned the Rwanda-backed M23 offensive in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the resulting violence, displacement and grave human rights and international humanitarian law violations. This offensive constitutes a flagrant disregard of the territorial integrity of the DRC. We reiterated our call for M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force to withdraw from all controlled areas. We urged all parties to support the mediation led by the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community, to promote accountability for human rights abuses by all armed actors, including M23 and the FDLR, and to commit to a peaceful and negotiated resolution of the conflict, including the meaningful participation of women and youth.

Strengthening sanctions and countering hybrid warfare and sabotage

23. We welcomed efforts to strengthen the Sanctions Working Group focused on listings and enforcement. We also welcomed discussions on the establishment of a Hybrid Warfare and Sabotage Working Group, and of a Latin America Working Group.

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Defense Ministry responds to US report 'China building large nuclear-powered aircraft carrier', says it's 'purely speculative'

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun, Guo Yuandan and Li Yawei Published: Mar 14, 2025 04:47 PM

A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson on Friday called US reports claiming China is building a large nuclear-powered aircraft carrier "purely speculative," but cited China's national security needs and technology development for the country's aircraft carrier development. Chinese military affairs experts said China's aircraft carrier construction does not need to be compared with US carriers, but they remain open about the possibility of China developing new technologies for aircraft carriers.

In response to a media inquiry on reports regarding the US media claim that China may be building a large nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that would rival American vessels, Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said on Friday that the media reports are purely speculative.

It is important to emphasize that China has always considered aircraft carrier development based on national security needs and the advancement of equipment and technology, said Zhang.

The Chinese spokesperson's remarks came after the US media outlet NBC News reported on March 2 that after examining new satellite imagery on China's Dalian shipbuilding facility provided by Maxar Technologies, a defense contractor used by the US government, five analysts claimed that China is developing a new aircraft carrier that will allow fighter jets to be launched from four parts of the flight deck.

In the report, Michael Duitsman, a researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, claimed that the general consensus "is that the new carrier will have four catapults," which would allow more planes to take off and match US carriers like the USS Gerald R. Ford. To accommodate four catapults, the ship will need to be larger than the Fujian, China's third aircraft carrier, matching American tonnage and powered by a nuclear reactor.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Friday that what can be seen from satellite imagery cannot accurately reflect what is on the ground, so analyses based on satellite imagery has limits, and can only be speculative.

"The information provided by the spokespersonss is clear. China's aircraft carrier development does not need to be compared to US aircraft carriers," Zhang Junshe, another Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times, noting that reports by US media outlets are speculative and unfounded.

China currently operates three aircraft carriers: the Liaoning, the Shandong, and the Fujian. The Fujian is the nation's first fully domestically designed aircraft carrier built with catapults, with a full-load displacement of over 80,000 tons.

Zhang Junshe said that China has indeed mastered aircraft carrier construction technology and accumulated extensive experience and technical expertise. He said that from design and construction to testing, China has established a complete aircraft carrier development process and achieved breakthroughs in many areas. However, technologies required for nuclear-powered aircraft carriers are different from those needed for conventional aircraft carriers or nuclear-powered submarines, and they demand a long-term and complicated process.

Only through continuous development of carrier technology can China transform potential into reality, such as building larger carriers, should national security demands arise, Zhang Junshe said.

But both experts remain open about the possibility of China building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the future.

Song noted that China has gone from having no aircraft carrier to having three, from refitting a Soviet-era carrier to independently building carriers, from having ski-jump carriers to having a catapult-launch carrier, adding that China's aircraft carrier technologies have been progressing.

Building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has been a development trend for other major naval powers, so it is normal if China considers it, Song said. "Nuclear-powered aircraft carriers have obvious advantages, and carriers need long endurance for far seas deployment," he said.

China's shipbuilding industry now possesses robust production capabilities and technical proficiency to support the construction of large surface vessels like carriers. Meanwhile, the experience and technological reserves accumulated during past carrier projects provide a solid foundation for developing larger carriers, according to Zhang Junshe.

"Nuclear-powered carriers outperform conventional ones in terms of endurance and self-sustainability, and nuclear propulsion allows for greater aircraft and weaponry capacity, significantly enhancing combat effectiveness," Zhang Junshe said. "Such carriers can operate overseas for extended periods, better safeguarding China's overseas interests and energy supply routes."

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Joint Statement of the Beijing Meeting between China, Russia and Iran

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: March 14, 2025 17:21

The Beijing Meeting between China, Russia and Iran was successfully held on March 14, 2025. The Beijing Meeting was chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu of the People's Republic of China, with participation of Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich of the Russian Federation and Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

China, Russia and Iran engaged in in-depth discussions on the latest state of play with regard to nuclear issue and sanctions lifting. The three countries emphasized on the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions.

The three countries reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option in this regard.

The three countries emphasized that relevant parties should be committed to addressing the root cause of the current situation and abandoning sanction, pressure, or threat of force.

The three countries stressed the importance of the UNSC Resolution 2231, including its timeframes, and called for relevant parties to refrain from any action that may escalate the situation, so as to create a favourable atmosphere and conditions for diplomatic efforts.

The three countries reiterated the importance of upholding the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of international non-proliferation regime. China and Russia welcomed Iran's reiteration that its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes and not for development of nuclear weapons, and also welcomed Iran's commitment to full compliance with its obligations under the NPT and Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement, supported Iran's policy to continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and stressed the need to fully respect Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a State Party to the NPT. The three countries stressed the necessity for all States to refrain from any action that undermines the technical, objective and impartial work of the IAEA.

Iran and Russia commended China for its constructive role and hosting the Beijing meeting. The three countries agreed to continue their close consultation and cooperation in the future.

The three countries also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, and agreed to maintain and strengthen their coordination in international organizations and multilateral arrangements such as BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on March 14, 2025

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: March 14, 2025 19:18

At the invitation of Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang, Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar will visit China and the two leaders will co-chair the 12th Meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee on March 18.

Xinhua News Agency: According to what we have learned, the Beijing meeting between China, Russia and Iran on the Iranian nuclear issue was held today and a joint statement was issued. In your view, what impact will this meeting have on the resumption of dialogue and negotiation? How does China see the prospect of a political and diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue?

Mao Ning: Deputy foreign ministers of China, Russia and Iran held a meeting in Beijing. Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the heads of delegations to the meeting and put forward China's five-point proposal on the Iranian nuclear issue.

The three parties had an in-depth exchange of views on the Iranian nuclear issue and issued a joint statement. They reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue remains the only viable and practical option and called on relevant parties to abandon sanction, pressure and threat of force and refrain from any action that may escalate the situation. The three parties reiterated the importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). China and Russia welcomed Iran's reiteration that its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes and that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons and supported Iran in continuing cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and stressed the need to respect Iran's right to peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The Iranian nuclear issue is facing a serious situation and once again at a crossroads. The Beijing meeting is a useful effort by China, Russia and Iran in seeking to advance the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue. Sanction, pressuring and threat of force lead nowhere, whereas dialogue and consultation provides the right way forward. We call on parties to step up communication and dialogue and accumulate enabling conditions for talks and negotiations to resume at an early date.

China stands ready to work with other parties for a just, balanced and sustainable resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue, uphold the international non-proliferation regime and promote international and regional peace and stability.

China News Service: On March 13, the presidents of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan signed a state border treaty, resolving their border issue once and for all. What's China's comment?

Mao Ning: China congratulates Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on the signing of a state border treaty, and highly commends the two presidents' crucial role in seeking the peaceful settlement of the border issue through consultation. This is conducive to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region.

As both countries' friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner, China stands ready to work with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to continue to advance good-neighborliness and friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation across the board so as to build an even closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

AFP: Another question on the Iranian nuclear issue. Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu stressed today that it is necessary to end all illicit unilateral sanctions. What is China's position on U.S. sanctions on Iran?

Mao Ning: China always opposes illicit unilateral sanctions. Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu has shared China's position. We have also distributed the joint statement on the Beijing meeting, which you may refer to.

CCTV: According to reports, Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministries said in their statements released on Thursday that they had completed negotiations on the draft of a peace agreement, which is expected to end nearly four decades of dispute between the two countries. What's China's comment?

Mao Ning: China is glad to see positive progress in the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both countries are important nations in Transcaucasia and China's good friends and good partners. China sincerely hopes the two countries can settle differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation, and contribute to lasting peace, development and prosperity in the region.

China Daily: We noted that the Report on the Work of the Government mentions new concepts such as embodied AI and gazelle companies. It says that we need to develop new quality productive forces in light of local conditions and accelerate the development of a modernized industrial system. What's your comment?

Mao Ning: The new concepts that you mentioned are the very examples of new quality productive forces. The new quality productive forces are those driven by technological and industrial innovation. "New" is what makes them different from other productive forces. Large-scale AI model, quantum computer, humanoid robot, and unmanned new energy vehicle all bring out the charm of the new quality productive forces. China actively explores new energy, new material and new technology, and develops new quality productive forces through technological innovation. The new quality productive forces also speed up the transition from old growth drivers into new ones, enhance the efficiency of resource allocation, promote industrial transformation and upgrade, and offer fresh impetus to high-quality development.

China's new quality productive forces are also integrated into global industrial, supply, and value chains. Chinese companies have taken advanced manufacturing, clean energy, smart network and other new technologies and products to the global market, offering more choices to the world. China also shares with other countries, developing countries in particular, progress in technological innovation, and galvanizes the green transition and industrial upgrade in relevant countries.

The new quality productive forces empower China and enrich the world. As China goes forward, new quality productive forces will be important drivers for growth.

Bloomberg: The EU's top diplomat Kallas said that China is laughing at U.S. trade wars, including America's 200 percent tariff on European wine, for example. Can you respond?

Mao Ning: We have stressed on multiple occasions that tariff wars and trade wars have no winners. We have no comment on how the U.S. and the EU get along, but we oppose directing the issue at China. Both the U.S. and the EU are important economies in the world. They have a responsibility to uphold the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, rather than deflecting the tension on someone else.

Bloomberg: Putin has proposed holding talks with Trump on the proposed temporary ceasefire on Ukraine with Donald Trump. Can you give us China's viewpoint?

Mao Ning: We noted the reports. On the Ukraine crisis, China has all along followed the four points proposed by President Xi Jinping on what must be done, namely, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and all efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis should be supported. We hope relevant parties will reach a fair and durable peace deal that is binding and accepted by all the parties concerned through dialogue and negotiation. China stands ready to work with the international community and continue to play a constructive role in resolving the crisis and realizing lasting peace.

AFP: In 2023, a Chinese professor at the Kobe Gakuin University in Japan went missing when visiting his relatives in China. The university said today that he returned to Japan in January this year. There is speculation that Chinese authorities had detained him for suspected espionage. Can you share more about the case?

Mao Ning: I'm not familiar with the specifics you mentioned.

AFP: The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that the China export licenses of hundreds of abattoirs in the U.S. are due to expire this weekend. It says that China Customs has not responded to requests for these licenses to renew. So is China letting these licenses lapse deliberately as part of ongoing trade tension between China and the U.S.?

Mao Ning: I'm not familiar with the specifics you mentioned and would refer you to competent Chinese authorities.

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US sanctions Thai officials for deporting Uyghurs to China

Thai officials involved in returning Uyghurs to China have been put on a visa blacklist.

By Alex Willemyns

2025.03.14

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday announced visa sanctions against Thai government officials involved in last month's deportation of 40 Uyghurs to China, where they likely face torture as part of what American officials call an ongoing "genocide."

The men had been held in immigration detention in Thailand since escaping China's persecution in 2014. The Thai government's decision to return them to China on Feb. 27 was criticized by the United States, European Union, United Nations and global human rights groups.

Rubio said the U.S. visa bans will apply to Thai officials "responsible for, or complicit in, the forced return of Uyghurs" to China, where he said "they are subject to torture and enforced disappearances."

"In light of China's longstanding acts of genocide and crimes against humanity committed against Uyghurs, we call on governments around the world not to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to China," Rubio said in a statement issued by the U.S. State Department.

The statement also said some family members of the officials may be banned from traveling to the United States under the blacklisting.

The State Department did not respond to an inquiry from Radio Free Asia about how many officials would be subjected to the ban. Officials at the department routinely decline to identify the names of those hit with visa bans, citing U.S. immigration laws around privacy.

The United States has since 2021 described China's persecution of the mostly Muslim ethnic Uyghurs as a "genocide," leveling accusations of torture, forced sterilization and slavery against Chinese officials.

Beijing rejects the claims and says it only promotes development and vocational training in far-western Xinjiang, where most Uyghurs live.

Close alliance

The deportation of the Uyghurs and the visa sanctions is a rare case of acrimony between longtime allies in the United States and Thailand.

In the days after the Feb. 27 deportation, a State Department official confirmed to RFA that U.S. diplomats offered to resettle the Uyghurs either in the United States or a third country, while a Thai opposition lawmaker said Australia and Sweden also made similar offers.

Thai Vice Foreign Minister Russ Jalichandra eventually acknowledged that such offers had been made but said that Bangkok had finally agreed to return the Uyghurs to China to avoid inevitable "retaliation from China that would impact the livelihoods of many Thais."

Rubio had said during his Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 15 that he believed he could use America's close historical relationship with Thailand to ensure the Uyghurs were not returned to Thailand.

"The good news is that Thailand is actually a very strong U.S. partner, a strong historical ally as well, and so that is an area where I think diplomacy could really achieve results, because of how important that relationship is and how close it is," Rubio said at that time.

World Uyghur Congress executive committee chair Rushan Abbas welcomed Friday's visa bans, saying the move sent a clear warning to other governments that "they will face consequences" for working with China to return escaped Uyghurs.

"This announcement is a critical step in holding those complicit in these egregious forced deportations accountable," Abbas told RFA.

"For Uyghurs, forced return to China is tantamount to a death sentence, exposing them to torture, forced labor and enforced disappearances," she said. "This policy delivers a strong message that aiding China's crimes will not go unpunished."

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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China holds landing exercise with 'invasion barges' in South China Sea

The drills raise concerns that China is getting ready for an invasion contingency.

By RFA Staff

2025.03.14

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- China appears to be conducting amphibious landing exercises with specially built vessels at a beach on the South China Sea, the sort of practice it would conduct if it was considering an island invasion as tensions over self-ruled Taiwan grow.

Open source investigators analyzing Chinese social media this week detected the presence of a fleet of large ships, which they called "invasion barges" as they can be used to land heavy military vehicles and troops quickly onto beaches.

An analyst who used synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, satellite imaging technology, pinpointed the location of the three barges as Zhanjiang in Guangdong province, home of the Chinese South Sea Fleet.

An SAR sensor uses radar signals to capture images on the surface of the Earth, unlike optical sensors that can be blocked by obstacles such as clouds and vegetation.

Damien Symon, a geo-intelligence researcher at The Intel Lab, told Radio Free Asia that he could confirm that the exercises were held at Zhanjiang between March 4 and March 11.

It is unclear whether they are still going on.

Zhanjiang is 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) west of Taiwan and 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) northwest of the Philippines, territories whose governments have both traded barbs with Beijing as regional tensions rise.

What are 'invasion barges'?

In an image captured by Symon, three barges were seen in a long formation next to a beach.

Photos, apparently taken at the location and circulated on Chinese social media, show them lining up, forming a long "bridge" to the beach, over which tanks and other vehicles can land.

RFA was not able to independently verify the images available on WeChat and Weibo.

"By my math, they combine to about 850 meters in length," said defense analyst Thomas Shugart from the Center for a New American Security.

"Instead of three different-size mobile causeways, they are combined into one long causeway, allowing a much longer reach, and access to deeper water," Shugart said.

The barges appear to have some pillars that analysts say could be lowered to make contact with the sea floor to support the vessels, making a stable platform in poor weather.

The rear of the barges is open, allowing other ships to dock and unload onto them.

When combined with roll-on/roll-off ferries that carry military vehicles from bases to target locations, the barges serve as a solution to the challenge of landing tanks and troops at many sites, even those previously considered unsuitable such as soft sandy or rocky beaches, as they can reach further to deliver the assets.

Shugart, who examined the "invasion barges," said that China was building more of them.

There is no consensus among military strategists about if and when China would invade Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway province that needs to be 'reunified' with the mainland.

Taipei has rejected China's overtures and threats, saying Taiwan has never been part of China.

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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European Parliament resolution condemns deporting 40 Uyghurs from Thailand to China

RFA has learned that 2 Uyghurs who traveled south but abandoned plans to escape in 2014 were sentenced to 9 years.

By Eugene Whong for RFA and Shohret Hoshur for RFA Uyghur

2025.03.13

Updated on March 14, 2025, at 05:45 a.m. ET

The European Parliament passed a resolution condemning Thailand for repatriating 40 Uyghurs to China, saying the move violated international law.

Wednesday's resolution said the Uyghurs, who were deported at night on Feb. 27, are at risk of "arbitrary detention, torture and serious human rights violations," and noted that other countries had offered to resettle the refugees.

The 40 Uyghurs had been in the Immigration Detention Center in Bangkok for over a decade. They had entered Thailand in 2014 as part of a larger group of Uyghurs escaping China.

The Thai government has been criticized by the United States as well as human rights groups and opposition politicians for sending the Uyghurs back.

The Thai minister of justice, asked about the European Parliament resolution, defended the decision to send the men back, which Thailand said was only made after getting Chinese assurances on their safety.

"The ministry of foreign affairs is ready to explain that we followed the law," the minister, Tawee Sodsong, told reporters.

Over the past few weeks, Chinese and Thai authorities have been publishing videos of the deported Uyghurs, purportedly showing that they were happily reunited with their families and were not being punished.

There is virtually no way to confirm their state given the lack of access to these men from outside the country. Based accounts from Uyghurs who have attempted to escape China in the past, it is highly likely that the deportees were punished.

Radio Free Asia recently confirmed with police that two Uyghurs who had plans to flee China in 2014 -- but then later abandoned those plans and returned to Xinjiang -- were arrested and sentenced to nine years in prison.

The two men, Memet Awut and Turdi Abla, from Aksu in the western part of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, had traveled to China's southern province of Yunnan, which borders Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos, with plans to flee the country. But they returned after realizing that doing so would have put their lives in danger.

According to Aksu police, the two were among eight Uyghurs arrested at that time for trying to escape.

Six others were actually caught trying to cross the border, but Awut and Abla had no connection to this group, had never crossed the border, and returned to Xinjiang on their own. They were arrested around eight months after their return, police said.

"They were in the detention center for 22 days and later transferred to Urumqi," a police officer in Aksu told RFA Uyghur over the phone. "It's written in their verdict that it was because they went to Yunnan. They came back from Yunnan themselves."

The officer was not sure how long they stayed in Yunnan.

"The verdict mentions that they couldn't find a viable way out after moving to Yunnan and came back," the officer said. "Their crime is attempting to escape."

A member of the neighborhood committee in their hometown said that Awut and Abla's sentences should have ended last year, but they are still being held in a prison in Urumqi. Their fate suggests that the treatment currently faced by the 40 deportees may not be as rosy as depicted in Chinese media.

A spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok said that after being reunited with their families, the 40 Uyghur deportees would undergo a period of "vocational skills training."

The Chinese government has detained nearly 2 million Uyghurs in conscentration camps in Xinjiang, where they were subjected to forced labor. Beijing has claimed the camps are vocational centers where "students" voluntarily learn new skills.

Though the EU resolution condemning the return did not mention the camps directly, it did call on China to respect the rights of those returned and to "ensure transparency about their whereabouts."

It also acknowledged that Thailand was an important partner of the EU, and encouraged Bangkok to "strengthen its institutions in line with democratic principles and international human rights standards."

Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.

Updated to add Thai reaction.

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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March 15, 2025: In the Baltic Sea, the year began with a fiber optic cable between Latvia and Sweden being damaged by parties unknown. Over the last few years more than a dozen Baltic Sea underwater cables have been damaged or cut. These cables can be repaired in a few weeks, but local Coast Guard officials consider most of these incidents deliberate and that makes them criminal.

NATO countries are alarmed at the amount of damage done to underwater power and communications cables. Worse, when the culprits were identified, they were always Chinese and Russian ships. One of these ships was boarded and searched. Evidence of cable cutting was found. Chinese and Russian officials continue to profess surprise and ignorance of these acts of sabotage. Worse, all this is not new, its been going on for some time under the designation of Hybrid Warfare.

Ten years ago many Western politicians, especially in the United States, were calling on the U.S. Department of Defense to pay more attention to the new hybrid warfare that Russia is practicing in Ukraine, and that Islamic terrorists seem to be using worldwide to further their goals. Calling more attention to hybrid warfare is a good thing but assuming that the Department of Defense doesnt know about it is a dangerous misunderstanding of the situation. Since the 1970s, when the Department of Defense finally listened to its own internal critics, much more attention was paid to the lessons of the past. Not just the general history of warfare but to the American military experience during the past three centuries. This revealed the United States was born through the use of hybrid warfare and has successfully used it many times since. But this debate about new military developments has also taken place before, more than once. The missing link was an institutional effort to study, remember and use past experience.

For example in the last two decades of the 20th century the Revolution in Military Affairs or RMA was the next big thing but it glimmered in the distance, always just out of reach. To many pundits and military analysts all the new technology of the last few decades of the 20th century was seen as capable of causing a fundamental change in how wars are fought. Then came the end of the Cold War, the disappearance of the enormous Soviet army and the sudden appearance of a new military landscape. This meant there would be no clash of huge, mechanized armies in Europe, or anywhere else anytime soon. Then, unexpectedly, came the 1991 Gulf War which showed that many of the American military technologies worked quite well. U.S. troops could now see more of the battlefield, communicate better, fight faster and roll over the Russian-equipped and trained Iraqi army in record time. This was a true RMA because in the past American troops had rarely done that in the openly stages of a war against a well-armed opponent.

But the RMA that developed over the next decade had less to do with technology and more to do with the nature of future wars. With The Big One, war in Europe against the Soviet Union, out of the picture after 1991, new kinds of wars became more common. Thats because there have been three major changes since the Cold War days. First, there is a lot of expensive new technology that allows for quicker, less bloody conflicts via the use of better sensors and precision weapons that actually worked. Second, the current and future wars were smaller than what NATO and the Soviet Union were planning for nearly half a century. These 21st century wars also involved a lot more civilians getting in the way in addition to lots of politics, diplomacy and other complications. Then there is the growing media angle. Mass media has been around since the early 19th century but has grown enormously in presence and volume since the 1990s. News is now a 24 hour a day operation and reporters are everywhere. Moreover, the Internet makes it easy for anyone with a camera, or a way with words, to join the media stream and get their story out. All of this has changed the battlefield atmosphere enormously since the Cold War.

The New Wars involved smaller forces fighting more complicated, by political, diplomatic and media issues, battles. While better sensors and communications gear give troops a better view of the battlefield, the greater presence of civilians and media actually make it a more complicated place. As a result, RMA went to places its first boosters never imagined. And no one knows exactly where the final destination is.

Military analysts and planners in the major countries, especially the United States and China, agree that brute force is still important in a major war, and new technology makes the troops of major powers far more effective than in the past. But most of the wars since 1991 have involved irregular forces or nuclear armed nations confronting each other indirectly so as to not trigger a mutually destructive nuclear war. Thus intelligence, special operations forces and precision weapons become the primary tools that nations use regularly. This in itself is not revolutionary as Great Powers have for thousands of years used special operations troops, diplomacy, subterfuge and all manner of deceptions and feints to get their way. Noted military analysts from Shen Tzu to Machiavelli, Clausewitz and a dazzling array of late 20th and early 21st century pundits have recognized that operations other than war or OOTW are the way to go if you can pull it off. It still is and its not RMA or Hybrid Warfare. A lot of what is proclaimed as new is just another case of old wine in new bottles. If you want solutions, look to the ones that worked in the past. Many still work or will with a few tweaks to account for new technology.
Announcement of a Visa Restriction Policy to Address the Forced Return of Uyghurs and Members of Other Ethnic or Religious Groups with Protection Concerns to China

US Department of State

Press Statement

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

March 14, 2025

Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to current or former foreign government officials responsible for, or complicit in, the forced return of Uyghurs or members of other ethnic or religious groups with protection concerns to China. We are committed to combating China's efforts to pressure governments to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to China, where they are subject to torture and enforced disappearances.

I am immediately implementing this policy by taking steps to impose visa restrictions on current and former officials from the Government of Thailand responsible for, or complicit in, the forced return of 40 Uyghurs from Thailand on February 27.

In light of China's longstanding acts of genocide and crimes against humanity committed against Uyghurs, we call on governments around the world not to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to China.

This visa restriction policy is pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and allows the Department of State to pursue visa restrictions for current or former foreign government officials who are responsible for, or complicit in, the forced return to China of Uyghurs or members of other ethnic or religious groups with protection concerns. Certain family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions.

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DFA Statement on Recent Ballistic Missile Launches Conducted by the DPRK

Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs

MANILA 14 March 2025 -- The Philippines expresses serious concern and strongly denounces the recent ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Such provocative actions undermine economic progress, peace, and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region.

We reiterate our call on the DPRK to promptly cease these activities and abide by all international obligations, including relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and to commit to peaceful and constructive dialogue. END

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Beijing tight-lipped on reports of collision between Chinese, North Korean ships

The North Korean vessel was suspected of smuggling coal, a violation of UN sanctions.

By Taejun Kang for RFA

2025.03.14

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- China neither denied nor acknowledged reports that a North Korean cargo ship suspected of carrying coal collided with a Chinese ship and sank in the Yellow Sea last month, but said it handled foreign and maritime affairs in accordance with the law.

A North Korean ship suspected of smuggling sank in the Yellow Sea in late February after an accident with a Chinese vessel in waters near a Chinese port, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported on Thursday, citing unidentified sources.

When asked about the reports, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China was always committed to handling foreign and maritime issues in accordance with laws and regulations.

"We handle maritime accidents and search and rescue efforts in accordance with humanitarian principles, professional ethics, and international practices," she said without acknowledging any incident involving a North Korean ship.

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, said they were closely monitoring the situation, without elaborating. North Korea has not commented.

Up to 20 North Korean crew members were believed to have died in the accident despite rescue operations by Chinese authorities, South Korea said. The Chinese ship reportedly sustained minor damage.

The North Korean vessel, fully loaded with coal, had reportedly turned off its automatic identification system, which transmits location and speed data , in an attempt to evade U.N. Security Council sanctions.

UNSC Resolution 2371, adopted in 2017, imposed a blanket ban on overseas sales of North Korean coal, iron ore, other mineral resources and seafood.

In March 2017, a North Korean cargo ship collided with a Chinese vessel and sank near China's Lianyungang port. All of those on board were saved, and China's transport ministry confirmed the accident at that time.

Along with illegal coal exports, China is suspected of underreporting the amount of oil it ships to North Korea.

China exported a total of 280,928 barrels of refined oil to the country from January to November last year, surpassing the total supply of 256,861 barrels in 2023, according to the U.N. Security Council.

That was much lower than the annual import cap of 500,000 barrels set by the U.N. Security Council, but reports suggest that the actual volume of oil flowing into the North is significantly higher, as the U.N. figure only reflects the amount officially reported to it.

Relations between North Korea and China have shown signs of improvement recently, with reports showing the return of Chinese tourists and journalists to the North after it partly opened its border to foreigners following strict controls during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, speculation emerged that ties between North Korea and China had cooled after Pyongyang moved closer to Moscow in recent years, but China's foreign ministry dismissed in October any such suggestion.

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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Int'l Affairs Analyst of DPRK on Doctrine of "America First"

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, March 15 (KCNA) -- Kim Myong Chol, an international affairs analyst of the DPRK, issued the following article titled "'America first' prioritizing the U.S. exclusive interests will positively promote the whole world's multi-polarization":

The centuries-old desire of mankind to live in a just, peaceful, stable and rich world is faced with a grave challenge due to the emergence of the present U.S. administration and the whirlwind by the "America first", its political philosophy.

The unprecedented evil cycle of confusion, distrust, confrontation and contradiction, caused by the inevitable decline of U.S. imperialism and the avaricious foreign policy of the successive U.S. administrations for delaying it even a little, is being further accelerated by the reemergence of the Trump administration and the "America first".

The doctrine "America first" of the American empire, appearing to embody the universal attribute of international relations centered on national interests, has clearly revealed its peculiar high-handed, aggressive and predatory nature with the passage of time. The world progressive mankind aspiring after peace and international justice are strictly watching the hypocritical entity of U.S. imperialism wrapped in a cloth of the "America first".

Clear is the reason why the "America first" is denounced and rejected in different parts of the world.

The "America first" is, in essence, a continued and expanded version of imperialism and hegemonism pursued by the U.S. since its birth in the world. It is based on the extreme chauvinism and Yankee way of thinking that it is all right to violate the rights to sovereignty, existence and development of other countries and nations for the interests of the U.S.

When taking into consideration its inborn attribute as well as its ideological characters such as "muscle flexing" and "peace by strength", the "America first" has nothing to do with the idea of different countries and nations for preserving, promoting and developing their good qualities.

The present U.S. administration's remarks and deeds according to the doctrine "America first" make one easily understand the aggressive nature of the doctrine.

The present U.S. administration adorned the beginning of its second-term office, internally with the enforcement of extreme discrimination policy aimed at the massive deportation of "illegal immigrants" and externally with the withdrawal from international organizations such as WHO, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the UN Human Rights Council and the demonstration of its gangster-like will to annex inviolable territories of a sovereign state.

After its inauguration, the administration has further enhanced the scale and pace of its aggressive and hegemonic foreign policy based on the "America first".

It seeks exclusive economic interests by wielding an indiscriminate tariff club against neighboring countries, allies and enemy countries. And it has thrown off even its deceptive "humanitarian" mask to totally stop the "foreign assistance" to other countries. It is also pushing the international community into a great shock by repeating the unreasonable and surprising acts such as proposed "taking-over of Gaza Strip and its development as a resort".

European countries, Japan, the ROK and other allies, which have zealously followed the U.S. domination strategy for unipolar world, boasting of the "alliance" of nearly 80 years after the Second World War, are suffering "humiliation" and "contempt". This is a natural result of the "America first".

Politicians and media of Western countries, that have been so faithful to the U.S., are deploring that the present U.S. administration's blackmail policy heralds a new era of jungle law and its "America first" is not isolationism but interventionism that has put on another mask.

Even conservative media and experts of the U.S. unhesitatingly contend that definiteness and concreteness should be added to the doctrine of "America first" to make it more positively contribute to expanding the U.S. external role as "international leader".

Such comments are only a few partial examples showing that the international community has looked into the essence of the "America first" anatomically and made a correct conclusion about it.

The "American first" gives the international community and the present times a suggestion of great significance.

In conclusion, this means that one must be strong in order to defend oneself and that the promotion of self-development is just the truth and a powerful means for propelling the law-governed development of history.

The DPRK, which has emerged as the strongest anti-imperialist and anti-U.S. fortress, is bolstering up its strength with tighter grip on the treasured nuclear sword of justice, the banner of independence. This is aimed at putting an end to the hateful invasion and plunder attempt by the empire of evil and at writing a new page in the world history aspiring after independence and multipolarization.

Some countries are taking a hands-off approach towards the U.S. outrageous threat and blackmail as they have failed to build up their strength. So the U.S. is mercilessly violating their dignity and interests like their lives. This reality makes one understand once again the true meaning of the common proverb that a wolf must be tamed with a club only.

History always stand on the side of justice, and justice and conscience are the main factors that prevented the history of complicated international relations from running off the correct track of its development, braving all sorts of trials and difficulties.

The Yankees' logic of hegemony that everything in the world should be prey only for the U.S. and the anachronistic behavior of the impudent empire of evil, which imposes "the rules-based international order" on other countries, unhesitatingly neglecting the international law and international organizations for its exclusive interests, can no longer be allowed by the conscience of mankind aspiring after the era of independence, the new era of multipolarization.

The evil forces obsessed with the frantic idea of destroying global peace and security and threatening the existence of human beings will not escape from a stern punishment by history. When the world progressives united by justice bolster up their strength and fully display it, the destruction of the Yankees' hegemonism will be further hastened.

The more recklessly the present U.S. administration pursues the unilateral policy based on "America first" prioritizing the U.S. exclusive interests, the further the whole world's multi-polarization will be accelerated. This will lead to the total downfall of the U.S., the empire of evil, and imperialism. -0-

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Chinese FM outlines five-point proposal for Iranian nuclear issue, opposing use of force, illegal sanctions

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Mar 14, 2025 05:35 PM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, outlined on Friday China's five-point proposal for properly resolving the Iranian nuclear issue under the new circumstances including resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means, and opposing the use of force and illegal sanctions.

Wang made this proposal when meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who came to Beijing for attending the China-Russia-Iran meeting on the Iranian nuclear issue on Friday.

Wang said all parties should uphold a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security outlook, actively create conditions for resuming dialogue and negotiations, and refrain from actions that could escalate tensions.

China also suggested to ensure a balance between rights and responsibilities, coordinating nuclear non-proliferation with the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Iran should continue to uphold its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, while all parties should fully respect Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy as a signatory of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), according to a readout published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Wang proposed to reach new consensus based on the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). China hopes all parties will meet each other halfway and resume dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible. The US should demonstrate political sincerity and return to the negotiations without delay, Wang said.

Also, efforts should be made to promote cooperation through dialogue, opposing the forced involvement of the UN Security Council, Wang said.

Under the current circumstances, a hasty intervention by the Security Council would not help build trust or bridge differences. Triggering the "snapback mechanism" would undo years of diplomatic efforts and must be approached with extreme caution, the Chinese Foreign Minister noted.

Also, it should adhere to a step-by-step, reciprocal approach and seeking consensus through consultation, Wang said.

History has shown that the so-called position of strength will never serve as the key to solving complex issues. Only by upholding mutual respect can all parties find the broadest common ground that accommodates legitimate concerns of all parties and achieve a resolution in line with international expectations, Wang added.

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China makes five-point proposals on Iran nuclear issue, calling on relevant parties to abandon pressure, sanctions

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Mar 14, 2025 04:05 PM

Responding to a question on the impact of the China-Russia-Iran meeting on the Iranian nuclear issue, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, stated at a press conference on Friday that the situation surrounding the Iran nuclear issue is grave, once again reaching a critical crossroads. She emphasized that sanctions, pressure, and threats of force will not resolve the issue, and dialogue and negotiations are the only path forward.

The vice foreign ministers of China, Russia, and Iran held a trilateral meeting in Beijing, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with delegation heads and outlined China's five-point proposal on the Iranian nuclear issue. The three sides held in-depth discussions, issued a joint statement, and reiterated that political and diplomatic contact and dialogue is the only viable solution. They urged all parties to abandon sanctions, pressure, and threats of force, and to avoid actions that could escalate tensions, Mao said.

The three nations also reiterated the importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. China and Russia welcomed Iran's reaffirmation of the peaceful nature of its nuclear program and its commitment not to seek to develop nuclear weapons. They also expressed support for continued cooperation between Iran and the IAEA and stressed the need to respect Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, Mao said.

The Beijing meeting was a constructive effort by China, Russia, and Iran to promote a political resolution. Sanctions, pressure, and threats of force are not viable solutionsdialogue and negotiations are the only path forward, Mao noted.

We urge all parties to enhance communication and dialogue to create favorable conditions for the early resumption of dialogue and negotiations. China is ready to work with all sides toward a fair, balanced, and sustainable resolution, uphold international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and promote international and regional peace and stability, Mao said.

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China holds trilateral meeting with Russia, Iran on Iranian nuclear issue

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Mar 14, 2025 12:11 PM

A China-Russia-Iran meeting on the Iranian nuclear issue started in Beijing on Friday morning, CCTV News reported.

China's Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu chairs the meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, according to China's Foreign Ministry.

A day before the trilateral meeting, Ma met with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi, and said that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Iran relations and is willing to work with Iran to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries.

Ma also reaffirmed China's commitment to firmly supporting each other's core interests, deepening cooperation in various fields, and advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Iran.

Gharibabadi emphasized that Iran views its relationship with China from a strategic perspective and looks forward to continued mutual support and the safeguarding of shared interests.

The two sides held in-depth discussions on the Iranian nuclear issue. Ma said that China will uphold an objective and fair stance, actively promote dialogue and negotiations, and continue to play a constructive role in the political resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue.

The Iranian diplomat highly appreciated China's efforts in facilitating dialogue on the issue and expressed Iran's willingness to strengthen communication and coordination with China to advance the political resolution process.

In response to a media question about China's expectations for the meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated on Thursday that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a party to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), China calls for an appropriate resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means, and efforts of safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.

The Beijing meeting will be China's latest diplomatic effort with the aim of enhancing communication and coordination on the issue and creating conditions for resuming dialogue and negotiation at an early date, Mao said.

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China warns West about consequences of using snapback mechanism against Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 14, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned the West about the consequences of using the snapback mechanism against Iran, emphasizing that such an action could destroy the outcome of years of diplomatic efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Tehran.

Wang put forward China's five-point position on resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic and political means.

He urged all parties to look for a common, comprehensive, participatory, and sustainable security perspective.

He also called on all parties to the Iran Deal to actively pave the ground for resuming nuclear talks and avoid escalating tensions.

"Iran should continue to adhere to its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons," Wang stressed, adding that all parties should fully respect Iran's right, as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Wang stressed the importance of a step-by-step and reciprocal approach, encouraging the achievement of consensus through consultation.

9376**9417

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Iran, China, and Russia urge end to unlawful sanctions

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 14, 2025

Iranian, Chinese, and Russian diplomats in a meeting in Beijing on Friday exchanged views on Iran's nuclear program and other international issues of common concern.

In a joint statement, they stressed the necessity of lifting all unlawful, unilateral sanctions.

The meeting, presided by China's Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.

China, Russia and Iran said that the relevant parties should be committed to addressing the root causes of the current situation and abandoning sanction, pressure or threat of force.

They stressed that dialogue based on "mutual respect" is the only practical solution for the issue, urging "relevant parties to refrain from taking any action that would escalate the situation" and undermine diplomatic efforts.

Beijing and Moscow also welcomed Iran's reiteration that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes and not for the production of nuclear weapons, and the Iran's commitment to fully comply with its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Safeguards Agreement.

The statement also stressed that Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy should be "fully" respected.

Iran has long been subjected to Western sanctions over its nuclear activities and other pretexts, the latest of which was imposed on Thursday.

2050

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New sanctions against Iran demonstrate U.S. hypocrisy: Foreign Ministry spokesperson

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 14, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has strongly condemned new U.S. sanctions against Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad and some other entities and vessels involved in the country's crude exports as a testament to Washington's "infringement of the law and hypocrisy".

Baqaei's remarks came a day after the U.S. Treasury Department designated Paknejad and three entities engaged in Iran's oil trade in China, and named three shipping vessels as blocked property for their use in the transactions.

Baqaei said the new bans refute the repeated claims by American officials about their readiness for negotiations and show the U.S. hostility to the development, progress, and prosperity of the Iranian people.

The U.S.sanctions followed the delivery to Iran of a letter by President Donald Trump to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

During an interview with Fox News last week, Trump threatened military action against Tehran if it did not engage in talks on a new nuclear deal.

Baqaei said that the U.S. addiction to the policy of sanctions and pressure against independent countries violates the rule of law at the international level and poses a threat to international peace and security.

"The evil actions of the United States to disrupt Iran's economic and trade exchanges with other countries are a clear violation of the fundamental principles and rules of international law and free trade," the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran holds the U.S. government responsible for the consequences and effects of such unilateral and illegitimate actions," he said.

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March 15, 2025: In early 2025 Turkey put two more locally made 3,000 frigates into service. Turkish shipyards are building another 29 ships, including the first locally built submarines. When the new fleet is completed, it will consist of 209 ships. With a fleet this large, Turkish naval forces will dominate the Mediterranean, Black Sea, and some adjacent waters. Until recently, the navy obtained its ships from foreign suppliers like the U.S., Germany and other European shipbuilders.

Currently Turkey has the fifth largest ship building industry in the world. Turkish yards mainly produce commercial ships. Nearly twenty years ago, when the government decided to expand the fleet, there were a growing number of local shipyards available to do the work. Now there are 77 shipyards, three of them specializing in military construction as well as repairing and upgrading existing ships from countries throughout the region. Turkey has done the same thing with military aircraft, with hundreds of combat aircraft, especially F-16s, being repaired or upgraded at Turkish facilities.

Even before the Cold War ended in 1991, Turkey was seeking to become self-reliant in arms production. Turkey has even designed a fighter bomber, the twin engine, 27 ton Kaan. The engines are American, but everything else, including the bombs and missiles carried, are made in Turkey. Kaan took its first flight a year ago and mass production is to begin in the 2030s.

Meanwhile, there are so many local weapons producers that there is often competition from two or more Turkish manufacturers to supply something for local air, ground or naval forces. For example, Tubitak SAGE, a Turkish government defense research institute. has been trying to compete with Roketsan Corporation by announcing that its Bozok lightweight laser-guided missile was finally entering production. There was a similar announcement back in 2014, that was soon canceled when it was realized that the rival Mam-L was a success when carried by the then-new TB2 drone. The 2022 Bozok missile has a greater range of 15 kilometers and is smaller than the Mam-L.

SAGE was founded half a century ago to develop ballistic and other types of missiles. Fifteen years after SAGE was created, the government decided to try the market approach and took the lead in establishing Roketsan, which was a much more productive and innovative operation than SAGE. During its first two decades Roketsan concentrated on developing and producing Turkish versions of most of the weapons and munitions Turkey had to import. This was done without stealing patented tech from other nations, as Russia and China have long done. Turkey wanted Roketsan to be able to freely export its munitions, especially the innovative or less-expensive ones. The next phase was to do the same with more complex systems like guided and ballistic missiles. Bayraktar, another Turkish company, did the same thing with drones that Roketsan had done with munitions.

Early Turkish efforts to develop effective and affordable drones using government institutes and companies ran into problems. This gave Bayraktar, an entrepreneurial company, an opportunity to fill the government's need for drones and in 2014 it introduced the affordable and successful TB2 drone. Similar to successful Israeli and American drones, Roketsan already had suitable missiles and guided bombs for the TB2. The most used weapon was the Mam-L laser guided missile. This was a lightweight version of the American Hellfire missile that had been around since the 1980s and non-American versions could be developed using a lot of off-the-shelf technology. Roketsan had done this with its Mam-L missile that weighed half as much as Hellfire but had similar range of 8 kilometers and laser guided accuracy. The 25 kg Mam-L is an unpowered version of the larger 37.5 kg UMTAS rocket-powered laser-guided missile. Both have a range of eight kilometers but the Mam-L glides to the target and its range is less if the drone is at a low altitude. UMTAS is much faster and has a fire and forget feature where, once the drone laser designator identifies the target, the UMTAS will home in on it while the drone seeks other targets. Mam-L is used against smaller, unarmored and stationary targets. UMTAS is described as an anti-tank missile and effective against tanks whereas the Man-I will usually only damage a tank. Most of the targets Turkish drones attacked were troops in the open, bunkers, buildings, or unarmored vehicles. In this respect MAM-L excelled and thousands of them have been successfully used.

Mam-L was light enough for smaller drones like the TB2 to carry two of them. Mam-L and the larger UMTAS are the principal weapons of Turkish armed drones and are used regularly against PKK separatists in Turkey and Syrian forces and rebel groups in Syria. Mam-L and UMTAS are available to all customers for Turkish drones large enough to carry them and a growing number of countries, including Ukraine and Poland, have bought them. Ukrainian TB2s have been particularly effective, making the TB2 and Mam-L even more attractive to export customers.

Which brings us back to the SAGE effort to develop and sell Bozok, a competitor to the Mam-L. One reason for that is the two other Mam missiles now available. One is the 6.5 kg 70mm Mam-C, which is based on the American World War II vintage 2.8-inch unguided rocket. This weapon is still in use but for over twenty years developers in many nations have added laser guidance to the 70mm rocket. Then there is the 94 kg Mam-T that can be used on drones as well as helicopters and jet fighters. Mam-T has a range of 30-80 kilometers depending how high and fast the launching aircraft is. Mam-T uses both laser and GPS guidance.
Iran is reviewing Trump's letter: Foreign Ministry spokesperson

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 14, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- The spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry says Iran is reviewing the content of U.S. President's Donald Trump's letter, adding that a decision will be made on how to respond after a thorough evaluation and review.

In response to IRNA reporter's question about the content of the U.S. President's letter to Iran, Esmail Baqaei said, "This letter was received last night and is currently being reviewed."

Baqaei emphasized that a decision on how to respond will be made after a thorough evaluation and investigation.

On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed receipt of a letter penned by U.S. President Donald Trump and delivered by Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates.

Araqchi made the announcement on his Instagram page on Wednesday night, hours after he hosted Gargash at the Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran.

"This afternoon, I hosted Mr. Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates. In addition to talks on mutual and regional issues, a letter from the United States' president was received as well," the top diplomat said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the foreign minister told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting that a representative from an Arab country was due to deliver Trump's letter to Iran.

On March 7, the U.S. president said in an interview with Fox Business that he had written a letter to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, asking that nuclear negotiations be reopened.

On Wednesday, the Leader reiterated that Iran would not negotiate with the U.S., because it would not help resolve any problems.

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Iran and China discuss nuclear talks and removal of sanctions

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 14, 2025

Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi, who has traveled to Beijing to participate in the trilateral meeting of deputy foreign ministers of China Russia and Iran, met with Ma Zhaoxu, Deputy Foreign Minister of China ahead of the session.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the latest status of bilateral relations and explored avenues for their expansion and strengthening.

They also discussed enhancing cooperation and coordination at the international level, as well as the latest developments in nuclear negotiations and sanctions-lifting efforts.

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Iran: Government continues systematic repression and escalates surveillance to crush dissent in the aftermath of protests, UN Fact-Finding Mission says

Press releases

Independent investigation

14 March 2025

GENEVA -- Two and a half years after the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests began in September 2022, the Government of Iran continues to ramp up efforts to restrict the rights of women and girls, and others demanding human rights as part of a concerted effort to crush dissent, the UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran warned in a new report today.

These repressive measures come despite pre-election assurances by the current President Masoud Pezeshkian to ease strict enforcement of mandatory hijab laws. They involve the increased use of technology and surveillance, including through State-sponsored vigilantism, that further infringe upon women and girls' fundamental rights.

Since April 2024, the State increased policing of, and criminal prosecution against, women defying the mandatory hijab through the adoption of the so-called "Noor plan." Women human rights defenders and activists have continued to face criminal sanctions, including fines, lengthy prison sentences, and in some cases the death penalty for peaceful activities in support of human rights.

The report, to be presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 18 March 2025, found that these measures reflect the State's ongoing persecutory conduct aimed at supressing women and girls' human rights, and their right to equality.

"For two years, Iran has refused to adequately acknowledge the demands for equality and justice that fuelled the protests in 2022. The criminalisation, surveillance and continued repression of protesters, families of victims and survivors, in particular women and girls is deeply worrying," said Sara Hossain, chair of the Fact-Finding Mission.

Persecutory acts were also directed against victims of torture, use of force, and other violations during the protests and their families, who have been systematically intimidated to remain silent about the harm suffered during the protests, and against those who act in solidarity with them, such as human rights defenders, lawyers, and journalists. Many of those persecuted have been compelled to leave Iran since.

Beyond intensifying surveillance, the State has expanded restrictions on digital space, extending its repression beyond Iran's borders to silence human rights defenders, including journalists, who speak up from abroad, the report found.

So far, 10 men have been executed in the context of the protests, and at least 11 men and 3 women remain at risk of being executed, including for protected conduct, against the backdrop of serious concerns over the adherence to the right to a fair trial, including the use of torture tainted confessions, and due process violations.

The Fact-Finding Mission reviewed information provided by victims and witnesses, as well as the Government, and collected through extensive open-source investigations, regarding accountability efforts at the domestic level. It found that while some measures have been taken, including some prosecutions of law enforcement officials for unlawful use of force and instances of compensation paid to victims, these measures remain sporadic and inadequate. More fundamentally, the State has largely denied responsibility for gross human rights violations, some of which the Mission found to amount to crimes against humanity. Its judicial system lacks basic independence, and victims and families seeking accountability are not only denied justice, but are also continuously intimidated, threatened, arrested, and subjected to criminal prosecution.

"Although it is the Government of Iran's primary duty to provide redress to victims, we have heard from countless victims and survivors that they have neither confidence nor trust in Iran's judicial and legal system, to provide meaningful truth, justice and reparations," said Shaheen Sardar Ali, an expert member of the Fact-Finding Mission. "It is therefore imperative that comprehensive accountability measures also continue to be pursued outside the country."

Over the course of two years, the Fact-Finding Mission has collected and preserved an extensive body of evidence, including over 38,000 evidence items and interviewed 285 victims and witnesses.

The report reaffirmed its previous findings of gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity. The Mission also investigated more cases of rape of women protesters, including gang rape, and protester deaths characterised by the State as "suicides," as well as the widespread use of mock executions of detainees, amounting to torture.

In relation to children, the mission found that security forces made little or no distinction between adult and child protesters - subjecting them to similar treatment, including unlawful use of force, torture and a range of fair trial violations.

In strengthening the evidence underlying its previous findings, the mission found that ethnic and religious minorities, in particular Kurds and Baluchis, as well as LGBTQ+ persons were particularly targeted in the context of the protests and victims of violations and crimes, including persecution.

The Fact-Finding Mission also expanded its investigation into the roles, structures, and responsibilities of State entities such as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Basij, the Ministry of Intelligence, the Ministry of Interior, the police (FARAJA), including its special forces, and the "morality police", the provincial governors, as well as the Judiciary. It made findings on responsibility of these entities in relation to the use of force, detention, criminal trials and death penalty, and the mandatory hijab enforcement. In this context, the Fact-Finding Mission further investigated the responsibility of entities involved in the gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity, the heads of which bear responsibility in light of their roles and authority.

In the context of its preservation mandate, the Fact-Finding Mission conducted a detailed mapping of the structures of State entities. It also collected and analysed material on the identities and responsibility of alleged perpetrators, which it included in a confidential list, which will be handed over to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights at the end of the mandate.

In recognising that the human rights concerns in Iran are both complex and extensive and exceed the mandate of the current Fact-Finding Mission, the report calls on the Human Rights Council to consider appointing a new, independent body to follow-up on the Fact-Finding Mission's work. The report noted that such a body could continue investigations into allegations of serious human rights violations in Iran, both past and on-going, and their root causes, such as structural and systemic discrimination, on grounds of gender, ethnicity, religion and/or political beliefs.

"The Government's policies have denied victims in Iran the right to truth, justice, and reparations," said Viviana Krsticevic, an expert member of the Fact-Finding Mission. "Given the gravity of the violations in the country and the serious risk of recurring violence against those who express dissent or challenge the State and its policies, it is crucial for the Human Rights Council to continue supporting the victims in their search for redress and non-repetition. This includes fostering all necessary measures, in accordance with international human rights law, to prevent further violations  reinforcing the Council's vital role in prevention," she added.

Background: The UN Human Rights Council mandated the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran on 24 November 2022 to investigate alleged human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran related to the protests that began there on 16 September 2022, especially with respect to women and children. On 20 December 2022, the President of the Human Rights Council announced the appointment of Sara Hossain (Bangladesh), Shaheen Sardar Ali (Pakistan) and Viviana Krsticevic (Argentina) to serve as the three independent members of the Mission and appointed Sara Hossain as its Chair.

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China's Five-Point Proposition on the Iranian Nuclear Issue

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: March 14, 2025 17:42

On 14 March 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich of the Russian Federation and Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi of the Islamic Republic of Iran who attended the Beijing Meeting Between China, Russia and Iran, and proposed the following five points on the proper settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.

First, stay committed to peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means, and oppose the use of force and illegal sanctions. All parties should uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, work actively to create conditions for the resumption of dialogue and negotiation, and refrain from actions that might escalate the situation.

Second, stay committed to balancing rights and responsibilities, and take a holistic approach to the goals of nuclear nonproliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Iran should continue honoring its commitment to not developing nuclear weapons, and all other parties should fully respect Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a State Party to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Third, stay committed to the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as the basis for new consensus. China hopes that all parties will work toward the same direction and resume dialogue and negotiation as early as possible. The United States should demonstrate political sincerity and return to talks at an early date.

Fourth, stay committed to promoting cooperation through dialogue, and oppose pressing for intervention by the U.N. Security Council (UNSC). Under the current situation, hasty intervention by the UNSC will not help build confidence or bridge differences among the relevant parties. Initiating the snapback mechanism would undo years of diplomatic efforts, and must be handled with caution.

Fifth, stay committed to a step-by-step and reciprocal approach, and seek consensus through consultation. History has proven that acting from a position of strength would not lead to the key to resolving difficult issues. Upholding the principle of mutual respect is the only viable path to finding the greatest common ground that accommodates the legitimate concerns of all parties and reaching a solution that meets the expectation of the international community.

As a permanent member of the UNSC and a party to the JCPOA, China will stay in communication and coordination with all relevant parties, actively promote talks for peace, and play a constructive role in realizing early resumption of talks.

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China says it opposes force, sanctions against Iran, calls on US to show 'political sincerity'

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 March 2025 4:38 PM

China has put forward a five-point proposal aimed at addressing Western-fueled disputes over Iran's nuclear energy program, rejecting the use of force and illegal sanctions against the Islamic Republic and urging the United States to adopt a "sincere" political attitude towards the matter.

The initiative was announced by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a high-level meeting in Beijing on Friday, where he met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and Kazem Gharibabadi, an Iranian deputy foreign minister.

The proposal emphasizes resolving the disputes through peaceful, political, and diplomatic means, explicitly rejecting the use of coercion and unlawful coercive economic measures that the US and its allies have been indulging in.

It urges all parties to uphold "common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security" while working to create conditions for resumption of dialogue and negotiation involving all the concerned sides.

'Balance in rights, responsibilities'

Among its key points, the plan stresses the need to balance rights and responsibilities, affirming Iran's right to pursue peaceful nuclear energy as a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (NPT).

China also calls for renewed commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a 2015 nuclear agreement between the Islamic Republic and world countries, including the US, China, and Russia -- which was left by Washington in 2018 -- as the foundation for new consensus.

In the same context, Beijing urges the United States to demonstrate "political sincerity" by returning to negotiations without preconditions.

Additionally, the Chinese foreign minister warned against any hasty intervention by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), cautioning that initiating the so-called "snapback mechanism" -- whose application restores all of the UN's sanctions against Iran -- "could undo years of diplomatic progress."

Instead, he calls for a step-by-step, reciprocal approach where all sides engage in constructive dialogue and seek mutually acceptable solutions through consultation.

The proposal came amid Western sanctions against Iran, threats of military action, and threats of initiating the "snapback."

The West tries to justify the drive, which observers denounce as headstrong and irresponsible, by accusing Tehran of diverting its nuclear work towards "military purposes" and alleging lack of proper cooperation between the country and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN's nuclear agency.

The campaign comes while Iran remains the most verified Member State of the IAEA, having been subject to the agency's most comprehensive and frequent verification processes over decades.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei - through a relevant fatwa (religious decree) - has banned pursuance, acquisition, and storage of non-conventional weapons by the Islamic Republic that remains a signatory to the NPT at the same time.

Beijing's proposal came as part of its push for de-escalation and facilitation of negotiations to maintain regional and global stability.

It, meanwhile, chimed in with Russia's stiff opposition of restoration of the UN's anti-Iran sanctions.

Earlier this month, Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov had likewise condemned an effort on the part of the UK, France, and Germany -- the US's allies in the JCPOA -- to activate the "snapback."

Ulyanov had reminded that with their violations of the JCPOA, the trio had lost any right to invoke the deal's mechanisms, including the snapback provision. "We recommend that Berlin, London, and Paris abandon their illusions about the snapback and instead focus on finding a political and diplomatic way out of the situation they have created," the official had said.

Russia has also expressed strong opposition to Washington's "maximum pressure" strategy concerning Iran, under which it has returned and even intensified the sanctions and left the nuclear deal.

Moscow has argued that the American attitude undermined regional stability and diplomatic efforts, reminding that Tehran remained in compliance with its obligations under the NPT and that any alleged concerns had to be addressed through dialogue rather than forceful measures.

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Iran: Beijing meeting urges end to sanctions and pressure, calls for dialogue

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 March 2025 1:48 PM

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi has described Iran-Russia-China meeting in Beijing as an important step in resolving nuclear issue, calling the US's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal "the root cause of all problems".

Gharibabadi said on Friday that putting an end to "illegal and unilateral" sanctions against Iran was among key issues of the talks during the tripartite meeting and its joint statement.

"The joint statement emphasizes the settlement of Iran's nuclear issue through political and diplomatic dialogue and stresses [the need] to end all forms of sanctions, pressure, and threats," he added.

On Friday, diplomats from Iran, Russia and China met in Beijing for talks on Tehran's nuclear program.

In a joint statement issued at the end of the Beijing meeting, China and Russia welcomed Iran's reiteration that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes and also welcomed Iran's commitment to full compliance with its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement.

Beijing and Moscow stressed the need to fully respect Tehran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a state party to the NPT.

In 2015, Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with six world powers. However, the US's unilateral withdrawal in 2018 and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran left the future of the deal in limbo.

Gharibabadi said Tehran, Beijing and Moscow believe that the US unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA and lack of fulfillment of the European troika - France, Germany and Britain - to their obligations are the root causes of the ongoing problems pertaining to the Iranian nuclear issue.

Gharibabadi also said, "Based on UN Security Council Resolution 2231, the situation of Iran's nuclear case should be declared normal as of October, and the three countries in the meeting voiced their objection to any move that would prevent the situation from becoming normal and hinder the normalization of economic and trade contacts and cooperation with Iran."

The joint statement called for relevant parties to refrain from any action that may escalate the situation, he noted.

The Iranian diplomat said the three sides agreed to continue consultations and emphasized that in case of the involvement of other countries in any possible talks, "these negotiations will solely focus on the nuclear issue, and non-nuclear topics will not be part of these discussions."

'Countering US unilateralism'

Iran's ambassador to Beijing also said the initiative of holding the Iran-Russia-China meeting will provide a "clear path" to countering the US lose-lose unilateralism.

"The trilateral meeting in China achieved very important and valuable agreements regarding significant international issues, including the necessity for the three countries to cooperate in countering the unilateral and bullying sanctions of the United States," Mohsen Bakhtiar said.

He said the meeting was "successfully" held in Beijing based on strategic cooperation among the three countries.

He added that Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi held "very positive and constructive" consultations and discussions with other parties.

In a joint statement issued at the end of the Beijing meeting, China and Russia welcomed Iran's reiteration that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes and also welcomed Iran's commitment to full compliance with its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement.

Beijing and Moscow stressed the need to fully respect Tehran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a state party to the NPT.

Iran has long been subjected to Western sanctions over its nuclear activities and other pretexts, the latest of which was imposed on Thursday.

The new US administration at the White House has escalated these measures since taking office in January, reinstating the so-called "maximum pressure" policy, a campaign of hybrid warfare targeting the Islamic Republic.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently confirmed that Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic advisor to the UAE president, delivered a letter from Trump to the Iranian establishment.

In 2015, Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with six world powers. However, the US's unilateral withdrawal in 2018 and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran left the future of the deal in limbo.



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'Not a single word about nukes': Russia says 'nuclear-related' anti-Iran sanctions 'illegal'

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 March 2025 1:46 PM

Russia says all sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear energy program are illegal, emphasizing that Tehran has never expressed any intention to seek and develop nuclear weapons.

The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the remarks on Friday, saying Moscow firmly opposed the restrictions against Iran as they lacked legitimate ground.

"The Iranian side has never said a single word about intending to obtain nuclear weapons. In this respect, of course, all sanctions and restrictions are, in our view, illegal."

The Western camp, led by the United States, alleges that the Iranian nuclear work has deviated towards, what it calls, "military purposes."

Iran remains the most verified Member State of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN's nuclear agency, having been subject to the agency's most comprehensive and frequent verification processes over decades.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei - through a relevant fatwa (religious decree) - has banned pursuance, acquisition, and storage of non-conventional weapons by the Islamic Republic that remains a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

On Thursday, Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani underlined the heaviest IAEA scrutiny of the Islamic Republic as a member state.

"Despite these facts, certain Western countries, particularly the United States, Britain, France, and Germany, have persistently sought to create a false narrative about Iran's nuclear activities, alleging non-cooperation [with the agency] and military ambitions."

Under such pretexts, Western countries have executed numerous illegal and unilateral sanctions against Iran that have deprived the nation of direly-needed medical supplies and heavily restricted its exports, including of crude oil.

Adding to his remarks, Peskov said in light of the peaceful nature of Iranian nuclear activities, despite the Western campaign, it was necessary to continue diplomatic efforts to resolve the predicaments created by the Western states.

Peskov's remarks came as senior diplomats from Iran, Russia, and China convened in Beijing earlier on Friday to discuss the nuclear issue.

The meeting, chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, was attended by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and Kazem Gharibabadi, an Iranian deputy foreign minister.

Peskov noted that the outcome of the Beijing talks would be conveyed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, ensuring Moscow remained fully informed about ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding Iran's nuclear program.

The Russian official also reiterated that Moscow was exploring "all possible options for a peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear dossier."

'Iran entitled to peaceful energy'

The Kremlin official also underscored Russia's commitment to supporting Iran's peaceful nuclear activities, emphasizing that Moscow had been actively assisting Tehran in developing its nuclear energy sector.

"We believe that our Iranian friends have the right to develop a peaceful nuclear energy industry in their country. As you know, Russia is actively involved in this and is assisting our Iranian friends in this regard," he added.

Russia has repeatedly called for the United States to return to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Washington abandoned in 2018.

Moscow has also urged the removal of the US sanctions that it re-introduced after leaving the agreement.

Russia has recurrently reminded that the US's violations of the deal were at the core of the situation concerning Iran's nuclear program.

Russian officials have consistently rejected recurrent threats by the Western states and their ally Israeli regime of taking military action to target Iran's nuclear sites based on the unsubstantiated and false allegations.

Earlier this month, Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov cautioned against such military aggression, calling such actions "unacceptable" and highlighting the risks of regional escalation and environmental disaster.





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China, Russia urge end to 'unlawful sanctions' on Iran

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 March 2025 9:02 AM

Chinese and Russian diplomats have called for the lifting of "unlawful sanctions" imposed against Iran, reiterating Tehran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

During talks between China, Russia and Iran in Beijing on Friday, the three countries' diplomats exchanged views on Iran's nuclear program and other international issues of common concern.

In a joint statement, they stressed "the necessity of lifting all unlawful, unilateral sanctions."

The meeting, headed by China's Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, was attended by Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.

It came days after US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran calling for talks and threatening military action if Tehran declined.

China, Russia and Iran "emphasized that the relevant parties should be committed to addressing the root causes of the current situation and abandoning sanction, pressure or threat of force".

They stressed that dialogue based on "mutual respect" is the only practical solution for the issue, urging "relevant parties to refrain from taking any action that would escalate the situation" and undermine diplomatic efforts.

In the statement, Beijing and Moscow also welcomed Iran's reiteration that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes and not for the production of nuclear weapons, and the country's commitment to fully comply with its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Safeguards Agreement.

The statement also stressed that Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy should be "fully" respected.

Iran has long been subjected to Western sanctions over its nuclear activities and other pretexts, the latest of which was imposed on Thursday.

The new US administration at the White House has escalated these measures since taking office in January, reinstating the so-called "maximum pressure" policy, a campaign of hybrid warfare targeting the Islamic Republic.

The latest sanctions come after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic advisor to the UAE president, delivered a letter from Trump to the Iranian establishment.

On Thursday, Araghchi said the country will not engage in talks with the United States unless negotiations are free from pressure and threats.

In 2015, Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with six world powers. However, the US's unilateral withdrawal in 2018 and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran left the future of the deal in limbo.

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Iran: New sanctions demonstrate US 'hypocrisy, infringement of law'

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 March 2025 6:38 AM

Iran has strongly condemned new US sanctions against Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad and some entities and vessels involved in the country's crude exports as a testament to Washington's "infringement of the law and hypocrisy."

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei made the remarks on Friday, a day after the US Treasury Department designated Paknejad and three entities engaged in the Iranian oil trade in China, and named three shipping vessels as blocked property for their use in the transactions.

The sanctions followed the delivery to Iran of a letter US President Donald Trump had written to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. During an interview with Fox News last week, Trump threatened military action against Tehran if it did not engage in talks on a new nuclear deal.

Baghaei said the new bans refute the repeated claims by American officials about their readiness for negotiations and show the US hostility to the development, progress, and prosperity of the Iranian people.

He also noted that the US "addiction" to the policy of sanctions and pressure against independent countries violates the rule of law at the international level and poses a threat to international peace and security.

"The evil actions of the United States to disrupt Iran's economic and trade exchanges with other countries are a clear violation of the fundamental principles and rules of international law and free trade," he said.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran holds the US government responsible for the consequences and effects of such unilateral and illegitimate actions."

The spokesman added that "unseemly US actions" like the one targeting Iranian oil minister cannot affect the national resolve to defend the country's independence and dignity and strive for its development and prosperity.

In a statement, Iran's Ministry of Petroleum said Paknejad was sanctioned due to his extensive efforts to sell Iranian oil.

"Sanctions against Paknejad and a group of oil managers, as well as companies and individuals related to the Iranian oil industry are meant to exert maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic," it said.

"Iran has repeatedly shown its ability to circumvent sanctions over the past years and it is still selling its oil in international markets using various methods," added the statement.

The US Treasury said the imposition of new sanctions "advances" Trump's so-called policy of maximum pressure on Iran.

During his first presidential term, Trump pursued the policy of pressure against Iran, unilaterally withdrawing Washington from the 2015 nuclear deal and imposing a series of illegal sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

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Decision Time For Iran After Delivery Of Trump Letter

By Kian Sharifi March 14, 2025

What You Need To Know

 Trump's Letter To Khamenei Arrives In Tehran: US President Donald Trump's letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proposing talks over a nuclear deal was delivered this weekby an Emirati delegation. Hours before the delegation arrived, Khamenei reiterated his stance that there was no point in negotiating with Washington.

 IRGC Veteran Claims Killing Of Iranian Dissidents In Europe: Mohsen Rafiqdoost, one of the founders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), claimed this week that he had orchestrated the killings of several high-profile Iranian dissidents in Europe between 1979 and 1992. His office later attributed the comments to "extensive complications" from a brain operation, while the IRGC dismissed Rafiqdoost's comments as "his personal opinion." One dissident whose assassination Rafiqdoost claimed is Fereydoun Farrokhzad. RFE/RL's Radio Farda has produced a documentary on his grisly killing.

 Spotlight On Iran And Russia After Violence In Syria: While the eruption ofviolencein western Syria has raised questions about the transitional government's ability to control its affiliated factions, it has also brought Russian and Iranian involvement in Syrian affairs into sharp focus. Through interviews and analysis of open-source data, RFE/RL can give a clearer picture of what's happening inside Syria.

The Big Issue

Will Talks Lift Pressure On Iran? Khamenei Doesn't Think So

Khamenei on March 12 again dismissed the prospect of talks with the Trump administration, telling an audience in Tehran that "negotiating with this US administration won't result in the sanctions being removed."

As Khamenei was delivering his speech, Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, was on his way to Tehran to deliver Trump's letter to the Iranian supreme leader.

The contents of the letter have not been disclosed, but Trump said last week when he revealed he had written to Khamenei that Washington "cannot let [Iran] have a nuclear weapon", insisting that he preferred a peaceful resolution to tension over Tehran's nuclear program.

Why It Matters: Iran's economy has been reeling from years of sanctions, particularly after Trump, in his first term, pulled the US out of a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions.

But more sanctions could come if Tehran and Washington don't reach an agreement. With the 2015 nuclear deal formally expiring in October 2025, world powers only have a few months before they lose the power to "snap back" UN sanctions on Iran.

Washington's European allies have gradually begun threatening Tehran that they will trigger a return of the sanctions. Iran has threatened to leave the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if UN sanctions are reimposed.

While the Islamic republic has not formally responded to Trump's letter, the White House has warned that military action is very much on the table should Iran reject the US president's outreach.

What's Being Said: Khamenei claimed in his speech that negotiating with Trump "will cause the knot of sanctions to become tighter and pressure to increase," though he didn't elaborate further.

Shahin Modarres, an Iranian security expert based in Rome, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that the weakening of Iran's offensive and defensive capabilities, as well as the unraveling of its network of regional proxies, have left Tehran with "no leverage" at the negotiating table.

"The lack of leverage at the table leads to a kind of surrender," he said.

In an interview published on March 13, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran won't negotiate with Washington as long as Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign is in force.

"If we enter negotiations while the other side is imposing maximum pressure, we will be negotiating from a weak position and will achieve nothing," he said, adding that talks can only take place when both nations are on "equal footing."

Expert Opinion: "Negotiating with this US administration could result in some sanctions being removed. That's what negotiations address: Often they fail, occasionally they succeed. Dismissing negotiations, especially out of hand, guarantees that the knot of sanctions becomes tighter," writes Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at International Crisis Group.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/farda-briefing-trump- letter-iran-khamenei/33346745.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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China congratulates Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan on signing state border agreement

Xinhua) 10:30, March 15, 2025

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China extends its congratulations to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan for signing an agreement on their state border, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a regular press briefing, responding to reports that Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signed an agreement on the delimitation and demarcation of the Tajik-Kyrgyz border in Bishkek on Thursday.

China highly values the key role played by the leaders of both countries in resolving the border issue through peaceful consultation, Mao said, adding that this development is conducive to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

As a friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner, China is willing to make joint efforts with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to further strengthen good-neighborly relations, enhance mutually beneficial cooperation across all areas, and jointly build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future, Mao said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The legal battle between Media Matters for America and X continues, but this time, the nonprofit organization has taken against Elon Musk's social media company by suing them back.

Media Matters is now asking a San Francisco court to intervene, particularly as the nonprofit received multiple lawsuits filed in two different countries.

Its legal battle with X stems back from two years ago when the social media company filed a complaint in three different courts against Media Matters for their alleged campaign against the platform, threatening its relationship with advertisers.

Media Matters Files a Lawsuit Against X For 'Harassing' Them

Media Matters for America (MMFA) recently filed a lawsuit against X in a San Francisco court that to counter the multiple lawsuits from Musk's company that were filed in three different countries. According to the nonprofit, X is violating its terms, particularly as it is stated on their policy that lawsuits should only be field with courts located in San Francisco County, California.

When X and Musk filed the lawsuit against Media Matters, they brought the complaint to a federal court in Texas, as well as in Ireland, and Singapore, which are all outside San Francisco.

However, it seems that the Texas lawsuit will remain as X changed its terms last year and clarified that all disputes may be directed to the Northern District of Texas courts, following the social media company's move from California to Texas.

X's Multiple Lawsuits Outside the US Against Media Matters

According to The Verge, Media Matters is now actively seeking payment of damages against X for having spent millions of dollars in defending itself against X's multiple lawsuits in three different countries.

Moreover, the nonprofit organization is also seeking the help of the San Francisco court to prevent X from pursuing more litigations outside the United States, and in this case, from Ireland and Singapore.

Elon Musk, Antisemitic Posts, and Media Matters

Almost two years ago, the entire antisemitic fiasco against Elon Musk and X sparked massive outrage and public outcry against the billionaire, with many condemning him for what he said on the platform he owns.

This led to many advertisers dropping their partnerships with X, suspending their ad placements, and leaving the platform for good, with the White House also speaking out against Musk and his platform.

However, what followed was a lawsuit that X launched against Media Matters, with Musk calling them out for their actions that led to X losing millions in advertising revenue. Musk and X went as far as to claim that Media Matters is looking to destroy X by driving away advertisers from the platform.

Despite the actions done by Musk to clarify his stance on antisemitism, specifically by going to the Auschwitz concentration camp, the lawsuit remains against Media Matters.
China, Iran, Russia Demand End To US Sanctions On Tehran

By RFE/RL March 14, 2025

.China, Russia, and Iran demanded an end to Washington's "illegal, unilateral sanctions" on Tehran, after three-party talks on the Iranian nuclear issue in Beijing on March 14.

But a leading sanctions expert involved in past nuclear talks with Iran says lifting sanctions as a precursor to negotiations is neither likely nor advisable.

The meeting included Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.

"We conducted in-depth exchanges of views on the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions. We emphasized the necessity of ending all illegal unilateral sanctions," Ma said after the talks concluded.

"The relevant parties should work to eliminate the root causes of the current situation and abandon sanctions, pressure, and threats of the use of force," he added.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who welcomed the Iranian and Russian diplomats ahead of the meeting, was set to have his own meeting with them later during the day.

The Iranian position has been that it will not negotiate with the Trump as long as his "maximum pressure" campaign is in force and sanctions in place.

"I don't think there's any likelihood the Trump administration is going to drop sanctions against Iran just to talk. I wouldn't advise him to," said Richard Nephew, the lead sanctions expert for the US negotiating team that clinched a landmark nuclear deal with Iran in 2015.

"At the end of the day, that's a concession for a talk, as opposed to a concession for actual action," he added.

Tehran and Moscow have strengthened relations in recent years as Iran's disputes with the United States have mounted. Both nations have had close ties to China.

Moscow, which is engaged in efforts to normalize relations with Washington, has offered to mediate talks between the United States and the Islamic republic.

Both China and Russia have benefited from Iran's stand-off with the United States. China has been buying Iranian oil at a sharp discount while Russia has been using Iranian drones against Ukraine. But if tension with the United States spirals, it may have consequences that both Moscow and Beijing would want to avoid.

"I'm not sure that the Russians or the Chinese each have an interest in a deal. I think they have an interest in not having a bigger crisis," Nephew said.

This week, the three countries conducted naval drills in the Gulf of Oman near the strategic Strait of Hormuz in a show of force in the tense Middle East, with participating ships stopping at Iran's Chabahar Port.

Attention on Iran's nuclear issues has intensified in recent days after US President Donald Trump said he had sent a letter to Tehran urging a resumption of nuclear talks and warning of possible military action if Iran refused.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry on March 13 said it would conduct a "thorough assessment" before responding to Trump's letter.

"The letter was received last night and is currently being reviewed," spokesman Esmail Baqaei was quoted by the official IRNA news agency, adding: "A decision on how to respond will be made after a thorough assessment."

Trump, during his first term, quit the nuclear deal, which had imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. Trump said the accord was not strong enough to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and he accused Tehran of fomenting extremist violence in the region -- a charge denied by Iran.

China, Russia, Britain, France, and Germany had also signed the nuclear deal with Iran in 2015.

Following the US withdrawal in 2018, Tehran eventually started expanding its nuclear program, while efforts to reach a new accord through indirect talks have failed. Tehran claims its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes.

Iran has floated the possibility of resuming indirect talks, but Nephew dismissed its viability.

"To be clear, I think indirect talks have been a disaster. It has been both a strategic mistake...as well as something that actually limits the possibility of negotiations being successful," he said, adding that Trump's letter was unlikely to change the Iranian position.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) nations -- the United States, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan -- labeled Iran the "principal source of regional instability" in a joint statement on March 14.

They said Tehran "must never be allowed" to develop and acquire nuclear weapons, adding, "Iran must now change course, de-escalate and choose diplomacy."

The United States said on March 13 that it was sanctioning Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad and a number of Hong Kong-flagged ships that are part of a shadow fleet "on which Iran depends to deliver its oil" to China. Tehran blasted the move, calling it "'hypocrisy."

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-iran- russia-nuclear-trump-sanctions/33347041.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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Iran protests: Human Rights Council probe condemns online, app-based repression

14 March 2025 - The Iranian Government has continued to ramp up efforts to restrict the rights of civilians including young children as part of a concerted effort to crush dissent, investigators mandated by the UN Human Rights Council said on Friday.

In their latest and final report, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran alleged ongoing serious rights violations by the Iranian authorities stemming from massive protests after the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022.

Ms. Amini, from the Iranian Kurdish community, had been arrested by the country's "morality police" for allegedly not complying with rules on how the hijab should be worn.

Allegations of crimes against humanity

"In repressing the 2022 nationwide protests, State authorities in Iran committed gross human rights violations, some of which the Mission found to have amounted to crimes against humanity," said Sara Hossain, Chair of the Fact-Finding Mission.

"We heard many harrowing accounts of harsh physical and psychological torture and a wide range of serious fair trial and due process violations committed against children, including some as young as seven years old."

Since April 2024, the State has increased criminal prosecution against women who defy the mandatory hijab through the adoption of the so-called "Noor plan."

"Women human rights defenders and activists have continued to face criminal sanctions, including fines, lengthy prison sentences, and in some cases the death penalty for peaceful activities in support of human rights," the Independent Mission asserted.

Speaking in Geneva on the sidelines of the Human Rights Council, Ms. Hossain noted that Iran's ethnic and religious minorities "had been specially targeted in the context of the protests", with "some of the most egregious violations...carried out in peak protest towns in minority-populated regions".

Testimonies gathered inside and outside Iran for the report which has been shared with the Iranian Government pointed to men, women and children being held "in some cases at gunpoint" with "nooses put around their necks in a form of psychological torture".

Online surveillance

The Mission - which comprises senior human rights experts acting in an independent capacity - noted that these measures "come despite pre-election assurances" by President Masoud Pezeshkian to ease the strict enforcement of mandatory hijab laws.

This enforcement increasingly relies on technology, surveillance and even State-sponsored "vigilantism", the investigators stated.

"Surveillance online was a critical tool for State repression. Instagram accounts, for instance, were shut down and SIM cards confiscated, in particular of human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders," explained the Independent Mission's Shaheen Sardar Ali.

Vigilantes and intrusive apps

Ms. Ali pointed to the use of the "Nazer" mobile application "which is a particular app that the Government has instituted, where after vetting, sort of normal citizens can also complain - file a complaint - against someone who's just passed by and hasn't got the mandatory hijab. So, this technology that's being used for surveillance is really very far-reaching and highly intrusive."

According to the Fact-Finding Mission, 10 men have been executed in the context of the 2022 protests and at least 11 men and three women remain at risk of being executed, amid "serious concerns over the adherence to the right to a fair trial, including the use of torture-tainted confessions, and due process violations".

The Mission's report will be presented to Member States at the Human Rights Council next Tuesday.

Independent Mission

The Independent Mission was established by the Human Rights Council in November 2022, with a mandate to "thoroughly and independently investigate alleged human rights violations" in Iran related to the protests that began in September that year, especially with respect to women and children.

It was also tasked by the Council to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged violations, as well as to collect, consolidate and analyse evidence of such violations and preserve evidence, including in view of cooperation in any legal proceedings.

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China, Russia, Iran reaffirm dialogue as only viable option for Iranian nuclear issue

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:08, March 15, 2025

* China, Russia and Iran held a meeting in Beijing to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue on Friday, in a fresh bid to strengthen communication and pave the way for resumption of talks.

* In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the three countries emphasized on the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions, and reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option.

* Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister, met with the deputy foreign ministers from Russia and Iran. Wang proposed staying committed to the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as the basis for new consensus.

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China, Russia and Iran held a meeting in Beijing to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue on Friday, in a fresh bid to strengthen communication and pave the way for resumption of talks.

The Beijing Meeting was chaired by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, with participation of his Russian and Iranian counterparts Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Kazem Gharibabadi.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the three countries emphasized on the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions, and reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option.

China and Russia welcomed Iran's reiteration that its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes, and not for development of nuclear weapons, and also welcomed Iran's commitment to full compliance with its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement, supported Iran's policy to continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and stressed the need to fully respect Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a State Party to the NPT.

Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister, met with the deputy foreign ministers from Russia and Iran. Wang proposed staying committed to the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as the basis for new consensus.

"China hopes that all parties will work toward the same direction and resume dialogue and negotiation as early as possible. The United States should demonstrate political sincerity and return to talks at an early date," Wang said.

He voiced opposition to pressing for intervention by the U.N. Security Council (UNSC). Under the current situation, hasty intervention by the UNSC will not help build confidence or bridge differences among the relevant parties. Initiating the snapback mechanism would undo years of diplomatic efforts, and must be handled with caution.

The Beijing meeting was a useful effort by China, Russia and Iran in seeking to advance the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

China is ready to work with other parties for a just, balanced and sustainable resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue, uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and promote international and regional peace and stability, Mao added.

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China proposes five points on proper settlement of Iranian nuclear issue

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:21, March 15, 2025

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China proposed five points on the proper settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in Beijing on Friday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China stays committed to peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means, and opposes the use of force and illegal sanctions.

China stays committed to balancing rights and responsibilities, and takes a holistic approach to the goals of nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, said Wang.

He said that China stays committed to the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as the basis for new consensus.

China stays committed to promoting cooperation through dialogue, and opposes pressing for intervention by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Wang noted.

Wang said that China stays committed to a step-by-step and reciprocal approach, and seeks consensus through consultation.

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Iraq says key Islamic State leader is dead

By Jeff Seldin March 15, 2025

One of the Islamic State terror group's most senior leaders is dead, killed in what U.S. and Iraqi officials describe as a joint operation.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani was first to share word of the successful counterterrorism strike, announcing on social media Friday that the country's intelligence service "successfully eliminated" IS deputy caliph Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufay'i.

Sudani, posting on X, called the death a "significant security achievement."

Iraqi special forces, in a subsequent post on the X social media platform, said al-Rufay'i was killed Thursday in an airstrike targeting his location in Iraq's Anbar desert.

U.S. President Donald Trump later confirmed al-Rufay'i's killing in a post on his Truth Social platform.

"Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters," Trump wrote, using another acronym for the terror group. "His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government."

U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, said al-Rufay'i was killed in a precision airstrike Thursday, and that his body was later positively identified using DNA recovered during a previous raid in which the IS emir escaped.

Central Command also said al-Rufay'i and the second IS official had been wearing suicide vests at the time of their deaths and had been carrying multiple weapons.

Iraqi officials said the strike was the result of a two-year effort to track al-Rufay'i's location, with signifcant breakthroughs coming in the past six months.

The officials also said they arrested seven additional IS members, including two women, in a follow-up operation in Anbar. Intelligence collected at the scene of the airstrike further led to the arrest of another five people in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil.

Iraqi officials said that al-Rufay'i, also known as Abu Khadija, was the top IS official for Iraq and Syria, and that he also played a key role in the group's external operations.

A recent United Nations report, based on intelligence from U.N. member states, said al-Rufay'i ran IS operations across Iraq, Syria, Turkey and other parts of the Middle East.

Other U.N. intelligence reports have identified al-Rufay'i as a member of IS' delegated committee, viewed as the terror group's most influential executive body.

U.S. officials have yet to comment on the Iraqi claims.

Various intelligence estimates put the number of IS fighters across Iraq and Syria at between 1,500 and 3,000, with the majority operating out of Syria.

U.S. military officials warned in July of a possible IS resurgence in the region, saying the terror group was on a pace to more than double the number of attacks it had carried out in Iraq and Syria the previous year.

More recently, in December, U.S. forces carried out a series of airstrikes against IS in Syria, hitting targets in areas abandoned by counterterror forces loyal to former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

Despite those operations, intelligence shared by the U.N. indicated IS has been trying to take advantage of the fall of the Assad regime and resulting political turmoil.

The U.N. report also said IS "maintained the ability to operate and replace field commanders."

Yet while Iraq and Syria are central to IS' founding ideology, there has been a growing consensus among intelligence officials and experts that the terror group no longer sees the Middle East as its base for global operations.

Officials, including those from the U.S., have said there is growing confidence that the group is now being led by Abdul Qadir Mumin, who has been based in Somalia, where he rose to prominence as the emir of the group's Somali affiliate, IS-Somalia.

An offensive launched by forces in Somalia's Puntland region earlier this month, in part to chase after Mumin, has met with surprising success, pushing IS-Somalia out of some of its key strongholds.

But the campaign has yet to find any traces of Mumin or other top IS leaders.

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Myanmar's Karen fighters capture junta camp, soldiers flee to Thailand

The embattled junta is aiming to organize an election by January with Chinese, Russian help.

By RFA Burmese 2025.03.14 -- Insurgent forces in eastern Myanmar captured a military camp on Friday after a battle of more than two weeks and at least 11 junta soldiers fled over the nearby border into Thailand, rebel soldiers told Radio Free Asia.

The capture of the Pu Lu Tu camp in Kayin state by fighters of the Karen National Liberation Army, or KNLA, is the latest setback for the military as it prepares for an election around the end of the year that it hopes will consolidate its flagging grip on power.

"Their division commander and over 10 soldiers fled to the bank on the Thai side," said a KNLA fighter, referring to the east bank of a river that forms the border with Thailand in the area.

"There were some deaths on their side and casualties on our side as well. We're continuing to clear the camp."

A Thai army officer confirmed that the Karen fighters had captured the camp after attacking with rockets, drones and snipers, and Myanmar soldiers had fled into Thailand.

"Some Myanmar soldiers died and some fled to Thailand," Col. Nattakorn Reuntib, the commander of a task force, told reporters. He declined to say how many soldiers had fled to Thailand but said they would be sent back over a safe part of the border.

RFA tried to telephone the junta spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, for information but he did not respond by time of publication.

The KNLA is Myanmar's oldest ethnic minority insurgent force, fighting for the self-determination of the Karen people, many of whom are Christian, since shortly after the country, then known as Burma, gained independence from colonial Britain in 1948.

KNLA forces began their attack on Pu LuTu camp on Feb. 25, and they faced more than 20 airstrikes from junta jets, said another KNLA soldier, who also declined to be identified.

A spokesman for the Karen insurgent political organization, the Karen National Union, Padoh Saw Kalehsey, told RFA he could confirm the capture of the camp but said he could not provide any details as clearance operations were still going on.

At least 500 villagers fled to Thailand to escape the fighting, residents said.

More than 3.5 million people have been displaced in Myanmar by fighting and natural disasters over the past year and the country is facing its worst humanitarian crisis ever, the U.N. food agency said.

Forces of the Myanmar junta that seized power in a 2021 coup have faced unprecedented setbacks over the past year in fighting in different parts of the country, raising questions about the sustainability of military rule.

The military chief, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has in recent days secured promises of support from main allies China and Russia for an election that he has said will be held by January.

But pro-democracy and ethnic minority forces battling the junta say an election under military rule, and while the country's most popular politicians are in jail, will be a "sham".

Pimuk Rakkanam contributed to this report.

Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by RFA Staff.

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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WFP warns one million in Myanmar to be cut off from food aid amid funding shortfall

World Food Programme

14 March 2025

YANGON, Myanmar -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today warned that more than one million people in Myanmar will be cut off from WFP's lifesaving food assistance starting in April due to critical funding shortfalls. These cuts come just as increased conflict, displacement and access restrictions are already sharply driving up food aid needs.

Without immediate new funding WFP will only be able to assist 35,000 of the most vulnerable people, including children under the age of five, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people living with disabilities.

"The impending cuts will have a devastating impact on the most vulnerable communities across the country, many of whom depend entirely on WFP's support to survive," said Michael Dunford, WFP's Representative and Country Director in Myanmar. "WFP remains steadfast in its commitment to support the people of Myanmar, but more immediate funding is crucial to continue reaching those in need."

The cuts will also impact almost 100,000 internally displaced people in central Rakhine who will have no access to food without WFP assistance, including Rohingya communities in camps.

WFP urgently needs US$ 60 million to maintain its life-saving food assistance to the people of Myanmar this year.

"WFP is calling on all partners to identify additional funding to meet the needs in Myanmar as the situation across the country continues to deteriorate," said Dunford. "It is essential that the international community does not forget the people of Myanmar in their time of need, and respond immediately with adequate funding for WFP to restore life-saving aid."

WFP is also deeply concerned about the upcoming lean season - from July to September - when food shortages hit hardest. WFP's contingency planning aims to prioritise resuming life-saving support for 300,000 people who would otherwise have no access to food during these months.

A staggering 15.2 million people are unable to meet their minimum daily food needs in Myanmar, according to the Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan; this is up from 13.3 million last year. Of these, according to the plan, some 2.3 million people are facing emergency levels of hunger. Even with regular support, these families who rely solely on WFP food assistance, are already reporting skipping meals, selling properties or going into debt just to survive.

# # #

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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Military says death toll in Pakistan's train hijacking rises to 31

By Sarah Zaman March 14, 2025

Pakistan officials confirmed Friday that 31 people, including 23 security personnel, lost their lives in Tuesday's train hijacking by armed militants in the country's restive Balochistan province.

In a news briefing, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said 18 off-duty military and paramilitary Frontier Corps personnel, three railway staff and five civilian passengers were among those killed in the initial attack.

Five Frontier Corps personnel were also killed in the attack and the ensuing battle with militants.

Separatist militants from Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a designated terror group, took over the Jaffar Express near Sibi hours after it left the provincial capital, Quetta, on Tuesday.

In the clearance operation that lasted more than 30 hours, the Pakistan military said it killed 33 BLA terrorists.

Chaudhry, director general of military public relations, said 354 passengers were freed, 37 of whom were injured.

Officials also revised the tally of passengers on the train downward to 425 from 440.

Speaking alongside Chaudhry, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said 425 tickets were sold for the cross-country train. However, passengers could board at any station along the roughly 1,600-kilometer route, which, Bugti said, largely explained the gap between the number of passengers and those rescued.

"Maybe some did not travel; some were boarding later, maybe some of those who ran [from the terrorists] lost their way, and maybe some got caught [by the terrorists]," the chief minister said.

Blaming neighbors

Tuesday's attack marked a dramatic escalation in the separatist insurgency that has seen a sharp increase in violence in recent months. In 2024, the BLA and other Baloch separatist groups killed nearly 400 people in over 500 attacks.

Pakistani officials blamed archrival India, accusing it of providing support to anti-Pakistan militants in Afghanistan, a charge New Delhi quickly rejected.

"We strongly reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan," Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters.

Bugti and Chaudhry reiterated the claim that Tuesday's attack was orchestrated by militants with bases in Afghanistan, a charge Afghan foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi rejected Thursday.

Intelligence failure?

Pakistani officials acknowledged there was a security threat, but rejected questions that the brazen hijacking in the heavily militarized province was an intelligence failure.

"There was a threat in the general area," said Chaudhry, adding that it was not specifically about an attack on the train.

"There are thousands of intelligence success stories too behind [such incidents], which you don't know  incidents that did not happen because our intelligence was successfully able to detect them," he said.

The military spokesperson said law enforcement agencies have conducted 11,654 intelligence-based operations across the country so far this year. Nearly 60,000 such operations were conducted nationwide last year, he said.

Resource-rich Balochistan is Pakistan's largest and least-populated province, where members of the ethnic Baloch minority say they face discrimination and exploitation by the government in Islamabad.

In the last 15 months, 1,250 terrorists from various groups have been killed in Pakistan, along with 563 security personnel, Chaudhry said.

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Meeting with permanent members of the Security Council

Vladimir Putin held a briefing session with permanent members of the Security Council, via videoconference.

March 14, 2025

19:40

Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Secretary of the Security Council Sergei Shoigu, Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin, and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues,

Let's begin. Today, we have a planned issue on our agenda - that of restoring Russian-American relations.

We know that the new administration led by President Trump is doing everything to restore at least something of what was practically reduced to nothing, destroyed by the previous US administration. This process is not easy, if not to say very complicated. Nevertheless, as everyone is well aware, I had a telephone conversation with President Trump, our Foreign Minister had the first contacts with his American counterpart, and Yury Ushakov, Aide to the President of Russia, met with his vis-a-vis. So, on the whole, the situation is starting to move. Let's see how this will work out. This is our topic for today. We have two speakers: Mr Lavrov and Mr Naryshkin.

However, before we begin our work, I would like to say that we have noted today's appeal by the US President, Mr Trump, to spare the lives of the Ukrainian servicemen, blocked by Russian forces in the Kursk Region incursion zone.

In this context, we make it a point that Ukrainian militants have committed numerous crimes against the civilian population in the incursion zone. These acts, as I have already mentioned, are qualified as terrorism by the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation.

Still, we understand President Trump's call to be guided by humanitarian considerations in treating these service members. In that regard, I stress that if they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment as per international law and Russian legislation.

To have the US President's call effectively implemented, a relevant order is needed by Ukrainian military-political leadership to its armed units to lay down arms and surrender.

I suggest that we move on to the agenda, for which we have gathered today. Mr Lavrov, please, take the floor.

<...>

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Talks with President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro

Vladimir Putin held talks via videoconference with President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro. The consultations were timed to mark the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Venezuela.

March 14, 2025

17:45

Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, my dear friend,

I am delighted to talk with you directly via videoconference.

Our conversation is timed to mark a significant date celebrated today: the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries. Let me congratulate you and all our Venezuelan friends on this occasion.

We have exchanged messages where both sides stressed their satisfaction with the current level of Russian-Venezuelan relations and expressed their interest in further developing them in the spirit of friendship and full mutual understanding.

Russian-Venezuelan ties have a long and rich history, with many bright pages. Back in the 18th century, Venezuelan national hero Francisco de Miranda visited Russia. Empress Catherine the Great granted him the rank of colonel of the Russian army and a Russian passport.

In the mid-19th century, the Russian Empire recognised Venezuela's independence, which in fact marked the beginning of official interstate contacts.

However, it was the establishment of diplomatic relations in March 1945 that paved the way for a regular political dialogue, expansion of trade and cultural ties.

The current stage of Russian-Venezuelan cooperation is inextricably connected with the name of President Hugo Chavez. I warmly recall all our trust-based conversations with him. Largely due to his personal contribution, bright ideas and active position, cooperation between our countries saw a qualitative breakthrough.

Today, our relations have reached the level of strategic partnership. Mr President, today you carry on the Comandante's cause, upholding your country's sovereignty and steadfast course on close cooperation with Russia, which is traditionally built on the foundation of friendship, mutual trust and consideration of each other's interests.

For its part, Russia is doing and will continue to do everything possible to make our joint efforts in the trade and economic, scientific and technical, cultural and humanitarian spheres even closer and more comprehensive. I am pleased to note that the Treaty on Strategic Partnership and Cooperation between our countries has been fully agreed upon. It will create a good, solid foundation for the further expansion of our multifaceted ties in the long term. It could be signed during your visit to Russia at any time convenient for you.

I would also like to invite you to attend the May 9 celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow.

We remember that during the difficult years of the fight against Nazism, Venezuela sided with the anti-Hitler coalition. An important role was played by the supply of Venezuelan fuel and lubricants, which were sent to the USSR through the Lend-Lease system, ensuring the operation of aviation and other military equipment.

Today, we jointly oppose any manifestations of neo-Nazism and neo-colonialism. We appreciate that Venezuela supports the relevant Russian initiatives at multilateral venues.

Russia and Venezuela have similar positions on many issues on the international agenda. Together, we strive to build a more just world order, promote the principles of sovereign equality of states, and mutually beneficial cooperation without external interference in internal affairs.

No doubt, the further advancement of Russian-Venezuelan strategic partnership in all spheres complies with the interests of the harmonious development of our two nations.

Dear friend and colleague, I would like to once again congratulate you and all the people of Venezuela on the anniversary of relations between our countries.

Thank you.

<...>

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EU sanctions extended until 15 September; Fridman, Aven, Mazepin and more than 2000 other individuals remain on the list

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

14.03.2025

On Friday, 14 March 2025, in Brussels, an agreement was reached at the level of the ambassadors of the European Union (EU) Member States to extend individual sanctions against persons threatening Ukraine's territorial integrity. The talks are taking place in an in-camera format; therefore, no comments on separate details or national positions, which in classified information, are provided until the talks are finalised.

Russian billionaires Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven, Dmitry Mazepin, and more than 2000 other individuals remain on the EU sanctions list.

EU sanctions have been extended for the next six months - until 15 September 2025. The decision-making process is complicated, since decisions on the approval of sanctions at the EU level require unanimous agreement.

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Press release on the exchange of congratulatory telegrams between the Foreign Ministers of Russia and Venezuela on the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations

14 March 2025 14:06

414-14-03-2025

On March 14, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Yvan Gil exchanged congratulatory messages on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In his telegram, Sergey Lavrov underscored the unwavering strength of the Russian-Venezuelan strategic partnership, built on a solid foundation of friendship and solidarity, characterised by equal and trust-based dialogue, and mutually beneficial cooperation across trade, economic, scientific, technical, cultural, and humanitarian fields. He highlighted the close and constructive collaboration at multilateral platforms, particularly within the UN, aimed at building a multipolar international order and ensuring international stability and security. A key aspect of this partnership is the joint efforts of our countries in combatting neo-colonial practices, the distortion of historical truth, and the manifestations of neo-Nazism.

In his message, Yvan Gil highlighted key milestones in the development of bilateral relations, including the contribution of President Hugo Chavez in establishing the strategic alliance between Russia and Venezuela. He emphasised the alignment of positions of Moscow and Caracas on the international stage, noting the progress made by both countries in "neutralising the effects of instruments of aggression and pressure" while advancing toward a more just and balanced world. He reaffirmed Venezuela's commitment to continue close cooperation in both traditional and emerging areas, for the benefit of the peoples of both countries.

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Deputy Defence Minister of Russian Federation Anna Tsivileva visits Central Military District

14.03.2025 (15:30)

The military commissariat of the Central MD (Kemerovo region) witnessed a conference guided by State Secretary - Deputy Defence Minister Anna Tsivileva. There, representatives of the military commissariat, financial and social support institutions informed her about the situation regarding the implementation of social guarantees for servicemen in the region.

Military commissar of Kemerovo region, Colonel Sergei Ryazantsev reported to the deputy chef of the Russian defence department that measures to provide ID of the combat veterans for the servicemen had been organised. Same for regional-level social guarantees for the military fighting in the special military operation zone.

Moreover, issues on realisation of social support for participants of the special military operation and their family members were discussed.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Telephone conversation with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

March 13, 2025

23:50

The President of Russia wished the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia all the best on the holy Muslim month of Ramadan and conveyed his best wishes to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The leaders discussed current issues concerning the cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia within the OPEC+ framework. They emphasised the importance of this unique framework for ensuring the stability of the global oil market and maintaining a balance between supply and demand for the benefit of both oil producers and oil consumers. Special emphasis was made on the commitment of both Russia and Saudi Arabia to fulfilling the obligations assumed within the framework of OPEC+.

Concerning the recent international engagements that have taken place in the Kingdom, Mohammed bin Salman stressed the importance of resolving the Ukraine crisis and expressed willingness to continue contributing to the normalisation of relations between Russia and the United States.

In turn, the President of Russia expressed appreciation for the mediation efforts made by Saudi Arabia and, more specifically, thanked the Saudi side for creating favorable environment for holding the talks between delegations from Russia and the United States that took place on February 18 in Riyadh.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the high level of cooperation achieved between Russia and Saudi Arabia and confirmed their willingness to develop it further in the spirit of friendship and constructiveness.

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Syria: UN Commission calls for renewed commitment to peace, justice, and human rights on 14th anniversary of Syrian conflict

Press releases

Independent investigation

14 March 2025

GENEVA (14 March 2025) -- Syria stands at a crossroads on the eve of the 14th anniversary of its conflict and crisis, says the UN Syria Commission.

"As we reflect on this first commemoration following the former government's collapse and the jubilation that followed, the horrific violence of the past two weeks is a reminder of the immense challenges that lie ahead," said Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Chair of the Commission. "At this moment, Syrians need renewed commitment to peace, justice, and the protection of human rights, to break the cycle of violence and ensure accountability for violations, regardless of the perpetrator."

The Commission voiced deep concern over the recent wave of violence that engulfed the coastal areas and the reported deaths of many civilians, mostly men but also women and children, which are currently under investigation.

Witnesses have described to the UN Commission extrajudicial killings amid intense clashes in the coastal areas between armed men allegedly loyal to the former government and the caretaker authorities' security forces and affiliated groups. Hundreds of members of these forces are also reported to have been killed in combat or summarily executed after capture.

The Commission notes positive steps taken by the caretaker authorities, including the establishment of an independent inquiry into these events. This inquiry must be able to operate without interference, maintain its independence and integrity, and present its findings comprehensively to the Syrian public, setting out the sequence of events and the alleged crimes and violations committed by all parties involved.

The Commission's own investigations are ongoing and include verifying digital information. In this regard, the Commission warns of widespread disinformation online, including videos purporting to show violations committed during these events which in fact date from years ago or took place in other countries and conflicts. These, alongside incendiary and hateful speech also circulating online in relation to the recent violence, risk fuelling further tensions and fear.

"The new wave of violence must not derail Syria from its fragile path toward a stable, prosperous, and just future  a path it had only just begun to tread when violence erupted again," Commissioner Hanny Megally said. "The caretaker authorities have committed to respecting and protecting human rights for everyone in Syria, without exception. All Syrians have equal rights."

The UN Syria Commission of Inquiry was mandated in August 2011, five months after peaceful demonstrations descended into brutality as the former government unleashed a crackdown that led to mass arrests, torture, and widespread human rights abuses.

After 14 years of unspeakable suffering in one of modern times' most harrowing conflicts, recent days have seen agreements seeking to end fighting and normalize relationships with non-State armed groups and political representatives in the northeast and the south. The Commission also takes note of the new constitutional declaration, which is a step towards consolidating the rule of law.

The conflict has left Syria with a catastrophic economic and humanitarian situation, while humanitarian funding is dwindling. Economic despair is known to fuel violence. The Commission continues to urge the lifting of all sectoral sanctions and the removal of other barriers to recovery and reconstruction.

Until the recent escalation in violence, many Syrians were cautiously viewing this anniversary with hope that the brutal war was drawing to a close, and relief after decades of state-organized repression.

Urgent efforts are needed to achieve accountability for crimes committed during the Assad era and by all warring parties since 2011, also to prevent victims of atrocities from being tempted to take the law into their own hands. Evidence, including documents in prisons, courts and mass grave sites need to be preserved to support future truth and accountability initiatives by the new Syrian authorities with the support of other key actors such as Syrian civil society.

"As we mark this anniversary, we honour Syria's victims and survivors who need and deserve to see their right to truth, justice and reparation fulfilled - the truth about the fate of the disappeared, about the repression enforced by the former state authorities, about violations by non-state armed groups and Member States that have intervened, and about the most recent violence," said Commissioner Lynn Welchman. "As they process this national and generational trauma, Syrians deserve the unwavering solidarity of the international community in turning a new page toward a future of dignity, peace and justice."

Thousands of prisoners released from the former government's notorious detention facilities and torture chambers in December now require physical and psychological rehabilitation. They also need support to address the legal consequences of arbitrary measures taken against them and their families, including related to their properties.

Resolving the fate of the tens of thousands who remain disappeared will require a major effort led by the caretaker authorities, with support from Syrian civil society, family associations, the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic (IIMP), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The Commission is ready to assist, alongside the IIIM, including by sharing information from the data it has gathered since 2011.

ENDS

Background: The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic was established on 22 August 2011 by the Human Rights Council through resolution S-17/1.The mandate of the Commission is to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011 in the Syrian Arab Republic. The Human Rights Council also tasked the Commission with establishing the facts and circumstances that may amount to such violations and of the crimes perpetrated and, where possible, to identify those responsible with a view of ensuring that perpetrators of violations, including those that may constitute crimes against humanity, are held accountable. The Human Rights Council has repeatedly extended the Commission's mandate since then, most recently until 31 March 2025.

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Security Council agrees to condemn massacre of Alawites in Syria

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 March 2025 10:12 AM

The United Nations Security Council has agreed to a statement condemning widespread violence in Syria and urging the country's new administration to protect all ethnic and religious minorities, diplomats say.

The presidential statement, drafted by Russia and the US is due to be formally adopted on Friday, the diplomats said Thursday.

"The Security Council calls on the interim authorities to protect all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religion," reads the statement, seen by Reuters.

"Syria's interim authorities must hold the perpetrators of these mass killings accountable," it adds.

The statement comes after the 15-member UNSC met behind closed doors on Syria on Monday, as the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 1,300 people were killed in Syria's coastal region.

According to the UN human rights office, entire families, including women and children, were killed in Tartus and Latakia, where members of former President Assad's minority Alawite sect lived.

Fighting between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (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 Bashar al-Assad supporters.

In response, the HTS administration launched violent crackdowns in Alawite strongholds in the western coastal region.

The council statement also "reaffirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria and calls on all States to respect these principles and to refrain from any action or interference that may further destabilize Syria."

Following the downfall of Assad in December, the Israeli military has been launching airstrikes against military installations, facilities, and arsenals belonging to Syria's now-defunct army.

The strikes were accompanied by ground incursions, as tanks and armored bulldozers penetrated Syrian territory, beyond the Golan Heights to Qatana, barely 30 kilometers from Damascus.

The UNSC statement also emphasizes the significance of countering terrorism in Syria and expresses "grave concern over the acute threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters," calling on Damascus to take "decisive measures to address the threat."

The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militant group along with other militants seized control of Damascus on December 8, 2024, forcing Assad to leave the country.

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Security Council Adopts Presidential Statement Condemning Recent Violence in Syria

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9789th Meeting (PM)

SC/16020

14 March 2025

The Security Council today condemned the widespread violence perpetrated in Syria's Latakia and Tartus provinces since 6 March  including mass killings of civilians among the Alawite community  calling on the interim authorities to protect all Syrians without distinction.

Unanimously adopting a presidential statement (to be issued as document S/PRST/2025/4), the 15-nation organ also condemned attacks targeting civilian infrastructure. It called on all parties to immediately cease all violence and inflammatory activities and ensure the protection of all civilian populations and infrastructure, as well as humanitarian operations. Further, all parties and States must ensure full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to those affected and the humane treatment of all persons. The Council also urged a rapid increase of humanitarian support across Syria.

Recalling resolution 2254 (2015), the Council called on all States to respect Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity and refrain from any action or interference that may further destabilize the country. It further urged Syria to take decisive measures to address the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, underscoring its obligations under relevant Council resolutions related to counter-terrorism.

Underlining the urgency of inclusive, transparent justice and reconciliation in Syria, the Council called for swift, transparent, independent, impartial and comprehensive investigations to ensure accountability and bring all perpetrators of violence against civilians to justice. Accordingly, it took note of the Syrian interim authorities' announcement of the establishment of an independent committee to investigate such violence and identify those responsible. The Council also noted such authorities' decision to establish a committee for civil peace.

The Council further called for an inclusive political process led and owned by Syrians, facilitated by the UN and based on the principles outlined in resolution 2254 (2015). This includes safeguarding the rights of all Syrians  regardless of ethnicity or religion  meeting their legitimate aspirations and enabling them to peacefully, independently and democratically determine their futures.

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Analysts see flaws in Syria's temporary constitution

By Sirwan Kajjo March 14, 2025

Syria's newly adopted constitution is facing criticism from legal experts and political groups arguing that its loopholes could deepen division and instability in the conflict-ridden country.

Three months after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad's government, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a constitutional declaration Thursday that will serve as Syria's constitution during the five-year transitional period.

Al-Sharaa  leader of the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham that spearheaded the offensive against Assad's leadership in December 2024  said following the signing ceremony that he hoped the document would mark "the beginning of a new history for Syria, where oppression is replaced by justice, destruction by construction, ignorance by education and torture by mercy."

The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration in north and east Syria, a de facto civilian authority affiliated with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that controls nearly one-third of Syria's territory, was the first to reject the constitution, calling it exclusionary.

"The so-called constitutional declaration contains a framework and articles similar to those adopted by the Baath government," it said, referring to the ruling party that governed Syria from 1963 to late 2024.

Legal experts also argue that the 53-article document fails to adequately reflect Syria's realities, particularly its ethnic and religious diversity.

"The draft speaks generally of Syrians who resisted the regime, without distinguishing between Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians and other ethnic groups," said Jian Badrakhan, vice chairman of the Germany-based Kurdish Center for Studies and Legal Consultancy.

"However, Article 1 explicitly uses the term 'Arab' in the country's name, undermining the inclusive language found elsewhere in the document."

Badrakhan told VOA that "the absence of any reference to the Kurds, as the second-largest ethnic group in the country, or to the Assyrians, one of Syria's oldest indigenous peoples, is a clear rejection of Syria's multicultural identity."

Definition, limits

The constitution defines Syria as an Arab republic and mandates that the president must be Muslim. Additionally, it limits official recognition to "heavenly religions," referring to Abrahamic faiths like Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

"This effectively denies recognition to several long-standing religious communities in Syria, including the Yazidis and Druze," Badrakhan said. "Over time, this provision could also be interpreted as a means to exclude the Ismaili and Alawite sects [of Shiite Islam] from formal recognition."

According to the CIA World Factbook, Arabs constitute 50% of Syria's nearly 24 million people, while Alawites, Kurds and Christians make up 35%. The remaining percentage is made up of Druze, Ismaili, and other ethnic and religious groups.

There are also concerns that the temporary constitution grants vast powers to the interim president and promotes Islamist ideology. Al-Sharaa's HTS is an Islamist group that is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.

"The constitution says there is separation between government branches, but that is clearly false," said Sarbast Nabi, professor of political philosophy at Koya University in Iraqi Kurdistan.

"Article 24 stipulates that the president gets to pick 20 percent of members of the transitional parliament, which shows there is no separation between the executive and legislative branches," he told VOA, adding that the document "will not achieve stability in Syria."

The constitution justifies the inclusion of the clause "to ensure fair representation and efficiency."

Anwar al-Bunni, co-founder and executive director of the Syrian Center for Legal Studies and Research, says that while the constitutional declaration has some promising provisions - such as the creation of a commission for transitional justice and the establishment of political parties and associations - there are significant concerns.

"The declaration oversteps its role as a constitutional declaration, functioning more like a mini-constitution by predetermining the name of the republic, designating Islam as its main source of legislation and defining presidential powers - effectively undermining the will of the Syrian people," he said.

Such matters, he told VOA, should be decided through referendums.

"All ethnicities and religions in the country want constitutional guarantees," al-Bunni said. "Since this is a temporary document, the formation of a permanent constitution must include discussions over all these points and issues."

Geir Pedersen, the U.N. special envoy for Syria, said in a statement Friday that he "hopes this [constitutional declaration] will move Syria toward restoring the rule of law and promoting an orderly inclusive transition."

Since Assad's fall, the U.S. and other Western nations have repeatedly called for an inclusive government in Syria that protects the country's ethnic and religious groups.

This story originated in VOA's Kurdish Service.

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UN urges end to violence in Syria 14 years after Arab Spring protests

By Aru Pande March 14, 2025

The U.N. special envoy for Syria is calling for an end to violence and for the protection of civilians, as the country grapples with renewed violence three months after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad.

Geir Pedersen issued his appeal Friday, which is the 14th anniversary of the start of pro-democracy protests of al-Assad that led to more than a decade of civil war.

"What began as a plea for reform was met with staggering brutality, leading to one of the most harrowing conflicts of our time," Pederson said. "The conflict exposed the darkest depths of human cruelty. Families continue to mourn the loss of loved ones, communities remain fractured, millions remain uprooted from their homes, and far too many persist in their search for the missing."

The U.N. says the conflict displaced some 12 million people in Syria, including more than 6 million refugees.

Assad was ousted in December 2024 but hope for a return to stability has been shaken by deadly violence that began March 6 in Syria's coastal region, where security forces clashed with fighters loyal to the former president, leading to hundreds of deaths, including many civilians.

The fighters were members of the country's Alawite minority  the same religious group of which the Assad family is a member. Syria's transitional 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.

Pedersen said Friday that recent agreements between Syria's transitional authorities and an armed group, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), "are a positive reminder of how important it is that Syria comes together in a manner that truly restores its sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity."

He called for the creation of a "credible and inclusive transitional government and legislative body; a constitutional framework and process to draft a new constitution for the long term that is credible and inclusive too; and genuine transitional justice."

Margaret Besheer contributed to this report from the United Nations.

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KMT discusses possible referendum on military tribunal revival

ROC Central News Agency

03/14/2025 08:15 PM

Taipei, March 14 (CNA) The Kuomintang (KMT) legislative caucus discussed plans on Friday for the Legislature to propose a referendum on President Lai Ching-te's () stated goal of reinstating military tribunals, a day after Lai designated China a "foreign hostile force."

KMT sources told CNA that a referendum proposal could be subject to legislative plenary review as early as April 21.

Voters would be asked: "Given that President Lai has designated China a foreign hostile force, placing cross-strait relations in a quasi-war state, do you support following Ukraine's example by implementing martial law and reinstating military tribunals?"

According to Taiwan's Referendum Act, lawmakers can propose a referendum on major policy issues, which must be submitted to the relevant authorities within 10 days of legislative approval.

On Thursday, Lai convened a high-level national security meeting, citing five major security and infiltration threats from China and proposing 17 countermeasures, including the revival of military tribunals, which were abolished in 2013.

The plan drew criticism from opposition parties including the KMT, which accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of political maneuvering.

KMT Chairman Eric Chu () condemned the proposal, arguing that it unfairly targets military personnel and stigmatizes the armed forces, for which he demanded Lai apologize.

While reaffirming the KMT's support for military judicial reform, Chu said the party opposes portraying the military as a security threat.

Meanwhile, Premier Cho Jung-tai () said that government agencies are working to finalize an amendment plan within a month.

He emphasized that the revised system would apply only to active-duty military personnel believed to have engaged in treason, espionage, or dereliction of duty, ensuring national security without infringing on civil rights.

The proposed referendum follows a series of legislative battles between ruling and opposition parties, with the KMT also discussing a separate referendum on capital punishment.

(By Lin Ching-yin, Wen Kuei-hsiang, Teng Pei-ju and Lee Hsin-Yin)

Enditem/AW



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U.S. should help Taiwan satellite communications development: Scholars

ROC Central News Agency

03/14/2025 05:53 PM

Washington, March 13 (CNA) Two U.S. scholars urged the Donald Trump administration to "support Taiwan's development of strong satellite communications in low-earth orbit," in an article published in the "Foreign Affairs" journal Thursday.

Daniel Byman, a professor at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and Seth G. Jones, a former U.S. Defense Department official, made the call in the article titled "How to Toughen Up Taiwan -- America Must Help the Island Deal With China's Gray-Zone Tactics."

Jones is the senior vice president and Harold Brown Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where his research focuses on international security, warfare, irregular threats, and terrorism, according to Foreign Affairs.

The two scholars pointed out that Taiwan's telecommunications infrastructure is vulnerable to "subversion."

They cited two events as examples, one in February 2023, when two Chinese merchant vessels cut undersea cables connecting Taiwan's main island with the Matsu Islands, disrupting internet communications.

"This January, a Chinese-linked cargo vessel damaged another undersea fiber-optic cable -- one of only 14 such cables linking Taiwan to the rest of the world," they said.

Taiwan relies on European satellite operator Eutelsat OneWeb for low-earth-orbit satellite service and backup microwave communications, but the operator lacks sufficient bandwidth to substitute Taiwan's fiber-optic cables, Byman and Jones said.

They said Taiwan needs a powerful satellite service to reduce its reliance on undersea cable networks, suggesting that Taiwan collaborate with Amazon's Kuiper broadband internet constellation.

"Taiwanese leaders are already in discussions with Kuiper, but they need to move toward a deal more quickly, and Kuiper needs to increase its satellite launches in low-earth orbit," they said.

The two scholars also advised Taiwan to work with U.S. cloud services such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services to store backups of critical data.

While it is understandable that governments prefer to buy local, they said that important data is more vulnerable to China's cyberattacks, espionage and physical destruction or other attacks if it is all stored by Taiwanese firms.

The article also urged the Taiwanese government to issue more urgent warnings about Beijing's aggressive actions, including its cable cutting, cyberattacks, air and naval encroachments and military exercises that included a simulated blockade of Taiwan.

They acknowledged the concerns of spooking the Taiwanese public by stating the extent of China's threat, but suggested Taiwan set up a public data-driven communications platform that regularly alerts citizens about Chinese actions on or near Taiwan.

Such a system could help foster public dialogue and give citizens tools to distinguish between actual threats and misinformation.

"Taiwan should develop a more unified strategic communications campaign across its government ministries to ensure that consistent messages about the threat level are communicated to the Taiwanese people," they said.

(By Chung Yu-chen and Wu Kuan-hsien)

Enditem/AW







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Taiwan-Matsu dual submarine cable telecommunication restored

ROC Central News Agency

03/14/2025 10:09 PM

Taipei, March 14 (CNA) The second of two submarine telecommunication cables between Taiwan and Matsu Islands that suffered complete disconnections earlier this year was repaired on Friday, restoring dual-cable transmission between the two locations, the company which operates the cables said.

Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd., the largest integrated telecom service provider in Taiwan, made the announcement in a press release, saying that the restoration "ensures more stable telecommunications services for Matsu, with microwave transmission serving as a full-bandwidth backup."

Since the beginning of the year, the No. 2 and No. 3 fiber-optic undersea cables between Taiwan's main island and Matsu, its island group off southeastern China, have experienced consecutive disconnections.

The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) has attributed the damage of the cables linking Taiwan and Matsu to "natural deterioration."

In its press statement on Friday, Chunghwa Telecom said that the No. 2 cable sustained partial core fiber breaks on Sept. 22 last year and Jan. 22 this year.

On Feb. 16, the cable suffered a complete break approximately 30 kilometers off the coast of Tamsui District, New Taipei, in northern Taiwan, it said.

In response, communication between Taiwan and Matsu was automatically rerouted through full-bandwidth microwave backup to ensure uninterrupted service, the company said, adding that it also coordinated with an international submarine cable maintenance organization to dispatch a repair vessel to Taiwan.

According to Chunghwa Telecom, after completing repairs on the No. 3 cable on March 2, the repair vessel proceeded to the waters off Tamsui and Matsu's Dongyin islet to fix the No. 2 cable.

As of Friday morning, repairs at both the Tamsui and Dongyin ends of the cables have been completed, restoring dual-cable communication between Taiwan and Matsu, the company said.

(By Jiang Ming-yan and Elizabeth Hsu)

Enditem/cs

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China's top legislator stresses firm action against "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, external interference

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:50, March 14, 2025

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji on Friday stressed resolutely combating "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and curbing interference from external forces.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, made the remarks at a symposium in Beijing marking the 20th anniversary of the enforcement of the Anti-Secession Law.

Zhao, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized the importance of unswervingly advancing the cause of national reunification.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/03/14

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1. Date

6 a.m. Mar. 13 (Thu.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 14 (Fri.) (UTC+8)

2. PLA activities

12 sorties of PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 9 out of 12 sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1140314_PLA activities

1140314_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan

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Lai Ching-te's separatist statements spark widespread criticism in Taiwan

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 11:00, March 15, 2025

TAIPEI, March 14 (Xinhua) -- People from various sectors in Taiwan have expressed strong concerns over the latest statements made by Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te, warning such comments could lead to escalated tension and standstill of cross-Strait exchanges.

At a press conference on Thursday, Lai portrayed the mainland as a "hostile external force" and outlined 17 strategies to counter so-called threats facing the island.

Taipei-based The United Daily News warned in an article that Lai's latest move could push Taiwan toward "quasi-martial law" and significantly roll back cross-Strait exchanges.

"An invisible shackle has emerged when the mainland's measures about Taiwan are all labelled infiltration," the article wrote.

The Commercial Times raised concerns about heightened military risks, deepening societal divisions, and the potential erosion of Taiwan's cultural identity. The newspaper urged a more rational approach to cross-Strait relations.

Hung Hsiu-chu, former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang party, described Lai's policies as "bordering on martial law" and accused him of political manipulation.

Business leaders have also voiced concerns. Jivan Huang, a senior executive at a leading federation of industries, warned that prioritizing ideology over pragmatism would restrict Taiwan's economic flexibility.

Noting that the mainland remains Taiwan's most important investment destination and a major source of trade surplus, Huang said Lai's latest move will severely weaken the competitive edge of enterprises in Taiwan.

Lin Por-fong, chairman of the influential Third Wednesday Club, criticized excessive restrictions from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities on economic ties with the mainland, arguing they would ultimately harm Taiwan's economy and drive more local businesses out of the island.

In the tourism sector, Ringo Lee, chairman of the High Quality of Travel Association, lamented that the DPP authorities are stigmatizing those seeking cross-Strait engagement and regular cross-Strait exchanges will definitely be affected.

There seems little hope that the authorities would lift the ban on group tours to the mainland, which the tourism industry has long called for, he said.

Meanwhile, Nantou County Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua accused Lai of trying to cover up his poor performance as the region's leader by sacrificing the interests of tourism and agriculture sectors.

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PM call with President Macron of France: 14 March 2025

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, this afternoon.

14 March 2025

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, this afternoon.

The leaders began by reflecting on the significant breakthrough made by President Trump and President Zelenksyy on a peace plan this week.

President Macron then updated on the meeting of Defence Chiefs held in Paris earlier this week, and the Prime Minister welcomed the concrete steps being taken by partners and Allies to support Ukraine.

Tomorrow's meeting of the Coalition of the Willing would be another important moment to further galvanise support and maintain momentum, the Prime Minister added.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

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Putin meets with Trump's envoy, delivers message: Kremlin

Iran Press TV

Friday, 14 March 2025 4:20 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Donald Trump's envoy to deliver a message to Washington and receive "additional details" regarding this week's US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says.

Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow to inform the Russian president of a joint statement signed between the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia.

In this agreement, Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire with Russia, while the US announced the resumption of military aid and intelligence sharing with Kiev.

The document did not mention sanctions on Russia or security guarantees for Ukraine, but it did state that Ukraine's European allies would be "involved in the peace process."

On Friday, the Russian spokesman briefed journalists, stating that the Russian head of state gave Witkoff "information and additional signals for President Trump."

Putin expressed his "absolute support" for the idea of resolving the conflict with Ukraine peacefully, citing his willingness to discuss Trump's ceasefire proposal.

The Russian president suggested that dialogue could include a personal conversation with the US leader.

"There are issues that we need to discuss, and I think that we need to talk about them with our American colleagues and partners, and, perhaps, have a call with President Trump to discuss them," Putin said.

In addition to emphasizing the need to clarify all ceasefire details, Putin stressed that Moscow is not interested in a short-term solution but rather desires a lasting resolution to the conflict.

The Russian president cited the need for a system of "control and verification" to monitor any peace deal.

"We believe that this cessation should lead to long-term peace and eliminate the original causes of this crisis," he stated.

"Who will give orders to stop hostilities? ... Who will determine where and who has violated a possible ceasefire agreement across 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles)?"

Furthermore, he suggested the fact that a 30-day ceasefire could be used by Ukraine for rearmament.

"Russian troops are advancing in almost all areas of the front... So how will these 30 days be used? For forced mobilization to continue in Ukraine, for weapons to be delivered there, for the newly mobilized units to be trained? ... How can we, and how will we, be guaranteed that nothing like that will happen? How will control be organized?" he asked.

Witkoff had traveled to Russia last month to negotiate a prisoner exchange.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said that Putin had released "a very promising statement, but it wasn't complete."

Also on Thursday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Trump is "willing to apply maximum pressure on both sides," including sanctions on Russia.

Since the outbreak of the conflict in February 2022, the US and its allies have imposed at least 21,692 sanctions on Russia, targeting individuals, media organizations, the military sector, energy sector, aviation, shipbuilding, telecommunications, and other industries.

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US Weapons Still Firing On The Battlefield In Ukraine

By Maryan Kushnir and Kyrylo Lazarevych March 14, 2025

US-made weapons continue to be actively used on Ukraine's battlefields despite a temporary pause in military aid from the United States.

Deliveries of ammunition and weapons resumed on March 12 after being suspended for just over a week.

The suspension followed an Oval Office row between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 28.

RFE/RL's Maryan Kushnir met frontline troops in the eastern Donetsk region in early March.

He found them using the US Paladin howitzer and Bradley fighting vehicles, as well as the M777 howitzer, which is manufactured in the United States and United Kingdom.

The weapons were under heavy and near constant use.

"The Ukrainian troops have opened intensive fire near [the town of] Kurakhove," said Kushnir, standing next to a M777. "They've just fired more than 20 shells, and the firing hasn't stopped. This type of artillery arrived in 2022 from the United States. There are many such guns on the front line and they are used widely, as are NATO-caliber shells. The firing never stops, as you can see."

The soldiers Kushnir interviewed said they believed the suspension of military aid had had little impact so far.

"As far as I know, we are manufacturing shells now, so I don't think we will have any problems with the supply," one unnamed soldier told Kushnir. "And we will still have these guns, too. If something happens in the future, we can still repair them. They are being repaired and restored so we can use them again."

"It's not just America that's helping us," said another unnamed soldier. "We will hold out and this situation will stop."

According to the Germany-based Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the United States supplied $67 billion of military aid between the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and December 2024.

Europe provide $65 billion in the same period.

Fedir Venislavsky, who sits on the defense committee of the Ukrainian parliament, estimated in early March that Ukraine's weapons supplies would last just six months without US military aid.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-weapons-ukraine-m777- paladin/33347667.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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Russian Accused Of Ukraine War Crimes Found Guilty In Finland

By Andrey Shilov March 14, 2025

HELSINKI -- A court in Finland's capital, Helsinki, has convicted a Russian citizen on four charges of war crimes committed in eastern Ukraine in 2014.

Voislav Torden, a 38-year-old Russian ultranationalist earlier known as Yan Petrovsky, was given a life sentence.

Torden was linked to the deaths of 22 Ukrainian soldiers and the injury of four others.

Rarely does a court ruling on war crimes committed in Ukraine come from a jurisdiction outside of Ukraine.

What Crimes Did He Commit?

Torden, a former commander of the Rusich sabotage group, was fighting against Ukrainian forces in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The paramilitary unit has alleged ties to the Wagner mercenary group and embraces far-right ideology.

The Rusich group closely followed Torden's case and said it had raised money to pay for his lawyers.

According to prosecutors, in 2014, fighters led by Torden ambushed a group of Ukrainian soldiers, killing 22 and seriously injuring four.

Photos and video posted by Rusich group on social media apparently showed that some prisoners were executed. One of the prisoners had the Rusich group's symbol carved into his face.

Prosecutors accused Torden of violating the laws of war and committing acts of cruelty against both injured and deceased enemy combatants, according to the indictment.

Torden has denied all the charges and will appeal the ruling.

Why Was Torden Tried In Finland?

Born Yan Petrovsky in 1987 in St. Petersburg, Torden relocated to Oslo in 2004 with his mother. He then regularly visited Russia, where he met former paratrooper and nationalist Aleksandr Milchakov.

In 2014, they traveled to Ukraine's Donbas region to support Russia-backed separatists in their fight against Ukrainian forces.

Torden was deported from Norway to Russia in 2016, where he took the name Voislav Torden instead of Yan Petrovsky.

He entered Finland in 2023 as a family member of his wife, who had obtained a study permit.

Torden was detained at Helsinki Airport on July 20, 2023, as he attempted to board a flight to France.

Following his arrest, Ukrainian authorities sought his extradition, but Finland's Supreme Court denied the request, citing concerns over conditions in Ukrainian prisons and the potential for Torden to face humiliation in custody.

Ukraine's Prosecutor-General's Office hailed the court decision, saying the case "marks a key milestone in holding perpetrators of grave violations of international humanitarian law accountable."

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-ukraine-war- crimes-guilty-finland/33347563.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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Trump Sees 'Very Good Chance' Of Peace After 'Productive' Talks With Putin

By RFE/RL March 14, 2025

US President Donald Trump said he sees a "very good chance" for peace between Ukraine and Russia after "very good and productive discussions" between US officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a March 14 post on his Truth Social site, Trump also said the United States had urged Russia to spare the lives of "thousands" of Ukrainian soldiers that Putin has said have been isolated by Russian troops in Russia's Kursk region. Ukraine disputes that claim.

The post came just hours after the Kremlin said it was "cautiously optimistic" following a meeting late on March 13 between Putin and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

"We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end," Trump wrote.

Trump added that "thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military, and in a very bad and vulnerable position."

"I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared," he wrote. "This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II."

Putin said a day earlier that a group of Ukrainian troops were "isolated" in the Kursk region, the site of a surprise incursion by Ukrainian forces last August. Responding to Trump's plea on March 14, he said the soldiers' lives would be spared if they surrendered and urged Kyiv to order them to do so.

Officials in Kyiv have said that while Ukrainian forces have been slowly withdrawing in the Kursk region under heavy pressure from Russian troops, but the armed forces general staff said on March 14 that "[r]eports of the alleged 'encirclement' of Ukrainian units...in the Kursk region are false and fabricated."

"There is no threat of encirclement of our units," it said in a statement on social media.

Zelenskyy Challenges Putin's Motives

Earlier on March 14, Putin's spokesman said there were grounds for "cautious optimism" over Trump's 30-day cease-fire proposal, which Ukraine accepted earlier this week at talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia.

Ukraine, meanwhile, questioned Moscow's sincerity in ending the war, which is now in its fourth year since Russia's full-scale invasion on February 2022.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that Putin sent Trump a message about his cease-fire proposal after his talks with Witkoff in the Russian capital.

"When Mr Witkoff brings all the information to President Trump, we will determine the timing of a conversation (between Trump and Putin). There are reasons to be cautiously optimistic," Peskov said.

Putin said a day earlier that he agrees in principle with the US proposal for a temporary cease-fire with Ukraine, but added that "there are nuances," such as Western weapons deliveries to Kyiv, that he wants addressed first.

The Russian leader also said any agreement should lead to long-term peace that addresses the "root" reasons for the war, an apparent reference to NATO expansion and other developments Putin claims have put Russia's security in jeopardy.

In a video posted late on March 13, Zelenskyy questioned Putin's motives, saying the Russian leader was preparing to reject the proposal but was afraid to tell Trump.

"That's why in Moscow they are imposing upon the idea of a cease-fire these conditions -- so that nothing happens at all, or so that it cannot happen for as long as possible," Zelenskyy said.

He followed up on March 14 with a post on social media accusing the Kremlin of trying to "complicate and drag out the process."

"Russia is the only party that wants the war to continue and diplomacy to break down," he said on X after a call with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Putin's Response To Trump's Pressure

Kyiv agreed to Trump's 30-day cease-fire proposal at a meeting in Jeddah on March 11, putting the onus for peace in Moscow's lap. Putin's response threw the ball back into US hands, at least to some degree.

Trump called Putin's initial reaction to peace talk developments "promising" but incomplete, though he added he hoped Russia would "do the right thing" and agree to the deal.

"I think the Russians are keen not to be seen as the intransigent party as that could lead to consequences from Trump, such as sanctions. So that informed Putin's comments today," John Hardie, deputy director of the Russia Program at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank, told RFE/RL.

Trump has made ending the war in Ukraine a top priority since taking office for a second term less than two months ago, and is wielding US leverage to get both Kyiv and Moscow to the table.

On March 13, the US administration heightened pressure on Russia by increasing restrictions on the country's oil, gas, and banking sectors.

Among the measures, the Treasury Department was allowing the expiration of a 60-day exemption put in place in January by the Biden administration that let some energy transactions involving sanctioned Russian banks continue. The move would make it more difficult for other nations, especially in Europe, to buy Russian oil.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) -- which includes the United States, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan -- said they discussed imposing more sanctions on Russia and boosting support for Ukraine if the Kremlin does not agree to the cease-fire.

Among the measures discussed during the March 13-14 meeting were caps on the price for Russian oil exports, they said in a joint statement. Western nations in late 2022 imposed a $60-a-barrel price cap on the export of Russian oil using Western ships or insurance. It is unclear if the G7 discussions touched on lowering the price cap. Russia's economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, which account for a third of federal budget revenues.

In a joint statement following the meeting, the G7 said that "we reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty, and independence."

"We welcomed ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire, and in particular the meeting on March 11 between the US and Ukraine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," it added.

Putin also said there were several unanswered questions in the proposal, such as what to do about Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk region.

"If we have a cease-fire, does that mean that everyone there would leave?" Putin said. "Should we release them [Ukrainian troops] after they committed crimes against the population? Or would they surrender?"

Ukraine denies committing such crimes, saying it abides by humanitarian law and does not target civilians.

Why Should Russia Agree To A Cease-Fire?

Kyiv seized a swath of the Kursk region in a stealth incursion in August, a move seen as an effort to divert Russian forces from eastern Ukraine and use the territory as a bargaining chip in any peace talks.

That strategy is now failing as Russian forces supported by North Korean troops push the Ukrainians out of Kursk. Russia has regained more than half the territory in Kursk initially captured by Ukraine.

Zelenskyy told reporters on March 14 that the situation in Kursk was "obviously very difficult."

Among the other concerns Putin voiced about the cease-fire proposal is whether Ukraine would use the 30-day period to mobilize and train forces or rearm with the help of the West.

He also raised the question of how the nearly 2,000-kilometer front would be monitored. Zelenskyy told reporters that the front could be monitored by US satellites.

Experts had warned that Putin would likely seek to drag out cease-fire talks because his forces have the upper hand on the battlefield.

Aside from the advances in Kursk, Russia is gaining territory in eastern Ukraine -- albeit at high human and material costs -- due to its significant manpower advantage.

However, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has stopped Russian forces at the gates of Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub in Donetsk region, after months of fighting on the outskirts of the city. Zelenskyy asserted that the incursion into Kursk forced Russia to pull forces from eastern Ukraine, giving his troops time to defend the city.

Russia is seeking to capture at a minimum the entirety of the four regions of Ukraine it claims to have annexed in September 2022: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson. A cease-fire freezing the current front lines would leave them short of that goal.

"One way the Russians could slow down this process without coming out directly and saying 'no', is by dragging out those technical discussions on monitoring" the cease-fire, Hardie said.

"That could also give them ways to try to pin the blame back on Ukraine, by insisting on certain technical matters that Ukraine might find objectionable," he said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kremlin-cautious- optimism-trump-plan-zelenskyy-russia-ukraine/33347685.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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What Putin Really Means When He Talks About Long-Term Peace

By Nathan Hodge March 14, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin buried the lead about whether he would agree to a US-brokered proposal for a 30-day cease-fire in Ukraine.

Asked during a joint news conference on March 13 with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko how he viewed Ukraine's willingness to take part in a cease-fire, the Kremlin leader gave a heavily qualified answer.

"We agree with the proposals to stop the hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the original causes of this crisis," he said.

Putin then embarked on a lengthy digression about the military situation in Russia's Kursk region, which Ukrainian forces invaded seven months ago but have lost substantial ground in recent days.

The Russian Defense Ministry has claimed control there of the town of Sudzha, and Putin boasted in the news conference that Russian forces had "complete isolation and complete fire control" over Ukrainian forces in the region.

Ukraine's top commander said this week that Kyiv's troops were "maneuvering to more favorable positions if necessary" - which experts said signaled a partial or possible complete withdrawal from the region.

That situation remains fluid, but Putin on March 12 used the opportunity to travel to the region -- conspicuously, and unusually, wearing military garb -- to strike the pose of a wartime leader.

That visit sent a bellicose signal to Washington. But in his remarks on March 13, Putin was slightly more conciliatory.

"The idea itself [of a cease-fire] is correct, and we certainly support it, but there are issues that we must discuss," he said.

"I think that we need to talk to our American colleagues and partners about this, maybe call President [Donald] Trump and discuss it together," he said. "But the idea itself of ending this conflict by peaceful means is supported by us."

The devil, of course, is in the details.

And it remains to be seen what concrete issues Putin wants to raise with Trump, who said he hoped Russia would "do the right thing" and agree to the deal. He also described Putin's comments as "promising" but incomplete.

"Putin's position today rejects an unconditional cease-fire -- an uncomfortable stance that risks angering Trump and hindering the otherwise promising prospects of normalizing bilateral relations," Tatyana Stanovaya, a veteran Russian political analyst, wrote in a post to X.

"However, this rejection is not absolute; he outlines his demands. His key condition is that a cease-fire must serve as a stepping stone to substantive talks on the root causes of the conflict -- Ukraine must agree to discuss an 'Istanbul Plus' framework, which Russia views as a path to Kyiv's capitulation," she wrote.

"Istanbul Plus" is a reference to the 2022 negotiations that Russia and Ukraine held in the few weeks after the beginning of the all-out invasion, in February 2022. The negotiations led a framework agreement that observers say would have amounted to all-out capitulation by Ukraine.

"Putin also requires commitments from the US to halt military supplies, while Kyiv must pledge not to fortify its defense lines or use the pause for rearmament. Zelensky's legitimacy must also be addressed," she wrote, referring to recurring Kremlin assertions that the Ukrainian leader lacks legitimacy because martial law has prevented Ukraine from holding new elections.

Prominent Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza was more blunt, and he suggested that Putina former top officer with the KGB and its successor, the FSB -- had inadvertently let slip a fundamental truth.

"The main 'root cause' is an old, deranged KGB officer in the Kremlin who views the collapse of the Soviet empire as 'the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century,' calls his opponents 'national traitors' and Ukraine 'an artificial state,' and idolizes Stalin and Andropov'," Kara-Murza wrote in a post to X.

Andropov is a reference to Yury Andropov, who headed the Soviet-era KGB until becoming the Soviet Union's leader in 1982.

"Without 'eliminating' this 'root cause' there will not be peace not only in Ukraine, but in Europe as a whole," Kara-Murza wrote.

The next step in the process, then, may happen on a more personal level when Trump and Putin take up the conversation.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-cease-fire-putin- discussion-root-causes-ukraine-war/33347043.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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US Joins G7 Allies Expressing 'Unwavering Support' For Ukraine, Cease-Fire Effort

By RFE/RL March 14, 2025

The United States joined with its Group of 7 (G7) allies in stating "our unwavering support" for Kyiv and welcoming the ongoing efforts to reach a cease-fire as Russia intensifies attacks as part of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"We reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty and independence," the foreign ministers of the leading industrial nations said in a joint statement on March 14.

The statement was signed by host Canada and the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, along with the High Representative of the European Union.

It said the group also "welcomed ongoing efforts to achieve a cease-fire, and in particular the meeting on March 11 between the US and Ukraine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

"We applauded Ukraine's commitment to an immediate cease-fire, which is an essential step toward a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with the Charter of the United Nations," it added following the summit in Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada.

"We called for Russia to reciprocate by agreeing to a cease-fire on equal terms and implementing it fully. We discussed imposing further costs on Russia in case such a ceasefire is not agreed, including through further sanctions, caps on oil prices, as well as additional support for Ukraine, and other means."

Some members of the G7 had expressed concerns of the ability to show unity following tensions with the administration of US President Donald Trump, who has shown more willingness to negotiate with Russia and President Vladimir Putin.

"The goal was to keep strong G7 unity," Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said.

Trump on March 14 said he sees a "very good chance" for peace between Ukraine and Russia after "very good and productive discussions" between US officials and Putin.

"We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end," Trump wrote.

His social media post came just hours after the Kremlin said it was "cautiously optimistic" following a meeting late on March 13 between Putin and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

Kyiv agreed to Trump's 30-day cease-fire proposal at a meeting in Jeddah on March 11, putting the onus for peace in Moscow's lap.

Putin said he agrees in principle with the US proposal for a temporary cease-fire with Ukraine, but added that "there are nuances," such as Western weapons deliveries to Kyiv, that he wants addressed first.

The Russian leader also said any agreement should lead to long-term peace that addresses the "root" reasons for the war, an apparent reference to NATO expansion and other developments Putin claims have put Russia's security in jeopardy.

Questioning Putin's Motives

In a video posted late on March 13, Zelenskyy questioned Putin's motives, saying the Russian leader was preparing to reject the proposal but was afraid to tell Trump.

"That's why in Moscow they are imposing upon the idea of a cease-fire these conditions -- so that nothing happens at all, or so that it cannot happen for as long as possible," Zelenskyy said.

In its joint statement, the G7 said that "we emphasized that any cease-fire must be respected and underscored the need for robust and credible security arrangements to ensure that Ukraine can deter and defend against any renewed acts of aggression."

"We stated that we will continue to coordinate economic and humanitarian support to promote the early recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine, including at the Ukraine Recovery Conference which will take place in Rome on July 10-11, 2025.

The statement "condemned" the provision of military assistance by North Korea - which has supplied an estimated 11,000 troops - and Iran, which has delivered deadly drones used by Russia in Ukraine.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia-ukraine- g7-canada-war/33348260.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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Prime Minister to tell world leaders: 'The ball is in Russia's court, Putin must stop delaying tactics'

The Coalition of the Willing will meet tomorrow as world leaders drive forward action to support a just and enduring peace for Ukraine.

14 March 2025

Prime Minister Keir Starmer to host around 25 leaders for virtual call in further push for peace

Comes as President Putin tries to play games with President Trump's peace plan

Keir Starmer will say countries need to strain every sinew to further ramp up economic pressure on Russia and force Putin into negotiations

The Coalition of the Willing will meet tomorrow as world leaders drive forward action to support a just and enduring peace for Ukraine.

Around 25 countries, including European partners, the EU Commission, NATO, Canada, Ukraine, Australia and New Zealand are expected to join the virtual meeting tomorrow morning.

The Prime Minister will tell leaders that now is the time for concrete commitments as President Putin tries to play pointless games with President Trump's peace plan.

He will say that countries need to ratchet up economic pressure on Russia, to force Putin into negotiations, in the short term and be prepared to support a just and enduring peace in Ukraine over the long term and continue to ramp up our military support to Ukraine to defend themselves against increasing Russian attacks.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

We can't allow President Putin to play games with President Trump's deal. The Kremlin's complete disregard for President Trump's ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace. If Russia finally comes to the table, then we must be ready to monitor a ceasefire to ensure it is a serious, and enduring peace, if they don't, then we need to strain every sinew to ramp up economic pressure on Russia to secure an end to this war. Putin is trying to delay, saying there must be a painstaking study before a ceasefire can take place, but the world needs to see action, not a study or empty words and pointless conditions. My message to the Kremlin could not be clearer: stop the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, and agree to a ceasefire now. Until then we will keep working around the clock to deliver peace.

The call is expected to delve further into how countries plan to contribute to the Coalition of the Willing, ahead of a military planning session being held next week.

During the session tomorrow morning, leaders are expected to receive an update on progress made at a Chiefs of Defence meeting held in Paris on Tuesday, and updates from countries on efforts to unlock further military aid for Ukraine. The Prime Minister will also pay tribute to the collective European efforts to step up.

The call follows a week of intensive diplomacy by UK ministers after the Defence Secretary travelled to Paris to meet counterparts from Germany, France, Poland and Italy, and the Foreign Secretary travelled to Canada for G7 Foreign Ministers.

It also follows the Prime Minister's Lancaster House Summit held a fortnight ago, where he again made clear that we must protect our country in a dangerous new era, and deliver on the foundation of security in the government's Plan for Change.

The government has already accelerated that work, announcing an increase in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from 2027, with an ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament.

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Security Partnership for Peace: The Presidential Office Hosted a Coordination Meeting with Nordic and Baltic Countries

President of Ukraine

14 March 2025 - 21:54

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Ihor Brusylo, held a meeting with the heads of diplomatic missions and military attaches from the Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8).

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries Anna Gvozdiar, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Valerii Churkin, and a representative from the Command of the Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The key topics of discussion included strengthening international military and technical cooperation, priority areas for enhancing Ukraine's defense capabilities, and the urgent needs of Ukrainian warriors.

Ihor Brusylo thanked the diplomatic representatives for their assistance in our fight against Russian aggression.

"Your region plays an extremely important role in ensuring an effective security architecture for the European continent. Today, the support of our Northern European partners is crucial for deterring the aggressor and strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities," he noted.

The parties also exchanged views on the global situation and the agreements reached by the Ukrainian and U.S. negotiation teams in Saudi Arabia.

Particular attention was given to consolidating efforts within the framework of the UK-France initiative to establish a "coalition of the willing" - a mechanism aimed at developing effective security guarantees for Ukraine.

Representatives of the NB8 countries reaffirmed their readiness to continue supporting Ukraine both bilaterally and within multilateral cooperation formats.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy Held a Phone Conversation with U.S. Pastor Franklin Graham

President of Ukraine

14 March 2025 - 21:46

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with Franklin Graham, President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse.

The Head of State thanked Franklin Graham for his support of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, for humanitarian aid, for the important guidance and prayers.

The President shared the success of the first step toward a just and lasting peace - the meeting between the delegations of Ukraine and the United States in Jeddah. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that our state seeks peace more than anyone, which is why Ukraine accepts the U.S. proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. The Head of State described the release of military prisoners of war and civilians in captivity, as well as the return of deported children, as the next step, which will also help save lives.

According to the President, Russia is currently looking for various excuses to delay the process and avoid ending the war. However, pressure and unity from partners can change this.

Ukraine values Franklin Graham's voice and relies on his support.

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Development of the Situation, Next Steps, and Security Guarantees: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Held a Phone Conversation with Emmanuel Macron

President of Ukraine

14 March 2025 - 21:30

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with President of France Emmanuel Macron to discuss the development of the situation and coordinate the next steps.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed his counterpart about the results of the constructive meeting between the Ukrainian and American teams in Saudi Arabia. He reminded that Ukraine supported the U.S. proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. At the same time, according to him, Russia is now trying to impose conditions and wants to make the ceasefire process unstable.

Emmanuel Macron shared information about the meeting of the Chiefs of General Staff, which took place on March 11 in Paris. It focused on strengthening Ukraine both now and in the future.

A separate discussion was held on the preparation of security guarantees. The teams continue working, and soon the full vision will be clearly formulated.

The next steps and upcoming contacts were also among the key topics of the conversation.

The Ukrainian leader thanked Emmanuel Macron for his support and efforts toward achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

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President Held a Phone Conversation with the Ecumenical Patriarch

President of Ukraine

14 March 2025 - 21:23

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

The Head of State expressed gratitude for the prayers for Ukraine, its people, and its future, especially in these recent days and weeks. The Ukrainian people deeply appreciate the spiritual support from His All-Holiness.

The President shared details of the negotiations between the Ukrainian and American teams in Jeddah. Ukraine supported the U.S. proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in the sky, at sea, and on land. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the first steps toward a just and lasting peace should also include the release of prisoners of war and civilians, as well as the return of deported Ukrainian children.

The Head of State noted that Ukraine seeks peace and spares no effort to achieve it as soon as possible. Only Russia is unwilling to end the war, instead seeking conditions to prolong it.

The President thanked His All-Holiness Bartholomew for his willingness to make efforts for peace.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Pietro Parolin Discussed the Release of Ukrainians from Russian Captivity and Efforts Toward a Just and Lasting Peace

President of Ukraine

14 March 2025 - 21:12

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the prayers for Ukraine and peace, as well as for the moral support extended to the Ukrainian people; he also wished Pope Francis a speedy recovery.

Our state is also grateful to the Vatican for its assistance in facilitating the return of Ukrainian children deported by Russia and is counting on support in freeing Ukrainians held in Russian prisons and camps. The Ukrainian side has provided the Holy See with a list of those persons.

The President emphasized that the exchange of prisoners and an unconditional 30-day ceasefire are the first swift steps that can significantly bring everyone closer to a just and lasting peace. Ukraine is ready to take these steps, as the Ukrainian people want peace more than anyone. At the same time, Volodymyr Zelenskyy pointed out that Russia deliberately sets conditions that complicate and delay the processes, aiming to prolong the war and break the diplomatic efforts.

The President thanked the Holy See for its willingness to exert efforts towards establishing a just and lasting peace.

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We Continue Our Work to Unite Absolutely Everyone Who Can Truly Help, Who Can Strengthen Diplomacy and Bring Peace Closer - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

14 March 2025 - 19:55

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today has been a day full of diplomacy and negotiations that could bring us closer to peace. Now on the table is the U.S. proposal for unconditional ceasefire in the sky, at sea, and on the frontlines. Ukraine accepts this proposal, and from here, we can begin a swift move towards guaranteed security, towards the end of this war and towards a reliable peace. Our teams worked very well at the meeting in Saudi Arabia, and contacts with the American side are ongoing. We, Ukrainians, are very committed to a constructive approach. And it is still crucial to pressure Russia into being constructive. To put an end to all these Russian manipulations that could only prolong the war. I am grateful to everyone who is supporting Ukraine now, who is supporting our efforts and steps toward peace.

Today, I heard many right words about the need to end the war. I heard a lot of approval for Ukraine's position. We continue our work to unite absolutely everyone who can truly help, who can strengthen diplomacy and bring peace closer. Today, I spoke with Cardinal Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State. I thanked him for his support, and for his prayers for Ukraine and for peace. The Vatican is very supportive of the realistic possibility of saving lives through a ceasefire. We also discussed the liberation of our people from Russian captivity, the return of deported adults and our abducted children. Today, I also spoke with Patriarch Bartholomew. He also expressed his support for our state and our people. Support for our diplomacy. I thank His All-Holiness. I have just spoken with American Pastor Franklin Graham, President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. I am grateful for his support and prayers for peace, for Ukraine. He is a very wise man. And we really appreciate such voices in the United States of America - voices for peace. Today, I also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron - Emmanuel, as always, has a clear knowledge of all the details and offers good ideas. We analyzed the state of diplomacy today, the options available. We discussed the technical aspects of monitoring the ceasefire, possible next steps in diplomacy and in protecting our people and our Europe. Security guarantees, the situation on the ground, possible developments in the situation - in all of this, we have France's clear support. We are grateful. Today, I also have a scheduled conversation with President Erdogan of Turkiye - I want to inform the President about our position on the ceasefire and our readiness for quick and honest diplomacy aimed at ending the war. Tomorrow, a Summit of European partners will take place: we will present our position and real information about current developments - developments on the frontline, in the Kursk region, and in all our contacts with partners. Security is a priority. Peace is a priority. Ukraine's independence is a priority. I thank everyone who is helping! And today I honored our warriors with state awards. I am proud of all our heroes!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Andriy Yermak Held a Videoconference Meeting with National Security Advisors and Diplomatic Advisors to the Leaders of the Nordic and Baltic States

President of Ukraine

14 March 2025 - 18:46

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held online talks with national security advisers and diplomatic advisers to the heads of state and government of Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva also participated in the conversation.

Andriy Yermak informed his foreign colleagues about the results of the negotiations between the delegations of Ukraine and the United States on the restoration of a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine, which took place on March 11 in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).

The parties welcomed the strong joint statement issued on the results of the meeting and coordinated further joint steps to strengthen Ukraine's positions and bring our state closer to a just peace.

The Head of the Office of the President emphasized Ukraine's unwavering position on the need to involve European partners in the peace process, noting the important role of the Nordic and Baltic countries in it.

"Any negotiations on establishing a just peace in Ukraine must be preceded by reliable security guarantees for Ukraine. This is the cornerstone of lasting peace in Europe and an important element in deterring armed aggression against an independent state. I thank all of your countries for their substantial assistance, especially military aid. We count on its expansion to strengthen Ukraine and our collective European security," Andriy Yermak emphasized.

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Andriy Yermak had a phone conversation with the Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada

President of Ukraine

14 March 2025 - 17:00

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a phone conversation with National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada Nathalie Drouin.

Andriy Yermak thanked Canada for its consistent support of Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression. He emphasized its significant contribution to military and humanitarian aid, as well as support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The key topics of the conversation included the situation on the battlefield and Ukraine's current military and humanitarian needs.

Andriy Yermak and Nathalie Drouin focused in particular on preparations for the phone call between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, future Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The parties also agreed to coordinate efforts in cooperation with the G7 countries, where Canada currently holds the Presidency. This included the importance of joint work on key initiatives to strengthen global support for Ukraine and ensure security guarantees.

Nathalie Drouin highlighted the results of the agreements reached between Ukraine and the United States in Jeddah and stressed the importance of further efforts to engage a broad international coalition in support of initiatives aimed at establishing a just and lasting peace.

The interlocutors reaffirmed their readiness to continue cooperation and Canada's active involvement in initiatives that will contribute to Ukraine's long-term stability and security.

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Andriy Yermak Had a Phone Conversation with Adviser to the President of Turkiye

President of Ukraine

14 March 2025 - 16:46

Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak had a phone conversation with the Chief Adviser on National Security and Foreign Policy to the President of the Republic of Turkiye, Akif Cagatay Klc.

The conversation focused on bilateral cooperation and the security situation in the region.

Andriy Yermak thanked Turkiye for its continued support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for its consistent efforts to ensure a just and lasting peace.

Special emphasis was placed on the further implementation of the agreements reached during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent visit to Ankara. The parties emphasized the critical importance of further coordinating efforts in the political, security, and humanitarian spheres.

Akif Cagatay Klc welcomed the diplomatic achievements of the Ukrainian delegation during the recent talks with the U.S. side in Jeddah.

The Turkish National Security Adviser also reiterated Ankara's interest in all processes aimed at establishing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. He emphasized the importance of adhering to the principles of international law and continuing cooperation within international initiatives.

Andriy Yermak and Akif Cagatay Klc agreed on maintaining an active dialogue at all levels to strengthen the strategic partnership between Ukraine and Turkiye.

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Kremlin: Reasons to be optimistic about ceasefire deal

By VOA News March 14, 2025

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that there were reasons for "cautious optimism" regarding a proposed ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia, following talks between a U.S. envoy and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Speaking to reporters in a telephone news briefing, Peskov referenced comments from Putin on Thursday in which he expressed qualified support for a U.S. ceasefire proposal to halt Russia's war with Ukraine for 30 days but said some questions needed to be answered.

Peskov said that while much remains to be done, Putin "expressed solidarity with [U.S. President Donald] Trump's position." He said Putin held late-night talks Thursday with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, during which Putin "conveyed information and additional signals to President Trump."

The Kremlin spokesman said both sides agreed Putin and Trump should speak, adding that the timing of the conversation would be agreed upon once Witkoff had conveyed the new information to Trump.

Trump said in a post on his Truth Social website Friday morning that "there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end."

He also said he had "strongly requested" that Putin spare the lives of "thousands" of Ukrainian troops in Russia's Kursk border region who were "completely surrounded" by the Russian military.

"This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II," Trump wrote on social media.

Later Friday, Putin told the National Security Council in Moscow that if the Ukrainian troops laid down their arms and surrendered, they would not be killed.

Ukraine's military, however, denied that its forces in Kursk were surrounded by Moscow's troops and said reports to that effect were Russian manipulation.

In his nightly address to his nation Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Putin's comments to Witkoff were "very manipulative," and that he thought Putin's qualified support for the U.S. plan was an effort to lay the groundwork for rejecting it.

"He is in fact preparing a rejection at present, because Putin is, of course, scared to tell President Trump that he wants to continue this war, that he wants to kill Ukrainians," Zelenskyy said. He noted Ukraine had accepted the U.S. proposal and was ready to organize monitoring and verification.

"We are not setting conditions that complicate the process; Russia is," Zelenskyy said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday that no discussions between Trump and Putin had been scheduled, but she said that could change. She called the talks in Moscow on Thursday "a productive day for the United States of America and for the world in terms of peace."

On Thursday at the White House, ahead of talks with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said it would be "very disappointing" if Russia ended up rejecting U.S. efforts to end the fighting.

Meanwhile, Britain's Defense Ministry said Friday that Russia's prioritization of funding its war with Ukraine had likely resulted in insufficient funding for average Russians' health care, leading to shortages of medical staff and equipment.

In its Defense Intelligence report, the ministry said Russia reportedly closed at least 160 hospitals in 2024, including 18 maternity facilities and at least 10 children's clinics. The report said Russia's small towns and villages had been particularly affected.

The Defense Ministry said the 500,000 casualties Russia has sustained in the war in Ukraine most certainly continue to put a strain on all levels of care in the Russian military medical system.

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G7 urges Russia to accept ceasefire or face further sanctions

By Nike Ching March 14, 2025

Top diplomats from the Group of Seven leading democracies urged Russia on Friday to accept a U.S.-proposed ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war or face the possibility of additional sanctions.

"We called for Russia to reciprocate by agreeing to a ceasefire on equal terms and implementing it fully," the diplomats said in a joint statement from the site of their talks talks in Canada. "We discussed imposing further costs on Russia in case such a ceasefire is not agreed, including through further sanctions, caps on oil prices, as well as additional support for Ukraine, and other means."

The statement said the G7 countries affirmed their "unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty and independence."

The statement comes as the Kremlin said that much remains to be done on a Ukraine ceasefire deal, signaling its reluctance to fully endorse the U.S. proposal.

The White House said U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that U.S. officials would convene this weekend after Witkoff returns to Washington to closely examine Russia's position and determine the next steps.

"Suffice to say, I think there is reason to be cautiously optimistic. But by the same token, we continue to recognize a difficult and complex situation," Rubio told reporters following his meetings with counterparts.

On Friday, Canadian Foreign Minister Malie Joly said, "All G7 foreign ministers agree with the U.S. proposal of a ceasefire that is supported by Ukrainians," and the focus now is on Russia's response.

She added, "The ball is now in Russia's court when it comes to Ukraine."

British foreign minister David Lammy echoed this sentiment during interviews with the media, saying, "there is unity that now is the time for a ceasefire with no conditions. Ukraine has set their position out. It is now for Russia to accept it."

Lammy also noted that a "coalition of the willing" is forming to provide Ukraine with the necessary "security architecture" and monitoring mechanisms to support the ceasefire.

The G7 joint statement comes as the Kremlin said that much remains to be done on a Ukraine ceasefire deal, signaling its reluctance to fully endorse the U.S. proposal.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Putin still awaits answers after raising several questions about the ceasefire's implementation.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Putin's response as "deliberately" setting conditions that complicate and "drag out the process."

"An unconditional 30-day interim ceasefire is the first crucial step that could bring us significantly closer to a just and lasting peace," Zelenskyy wrote Wednesday in a post on the social media platform X.

The G7 talks in Charlevoix, Quebec, brought together ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

Position on China

Beyond Ukraine, G7 foreign ministers also discussed China's role in global security, stability for the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions, and maritime security behind closed doors.

On Friday, G7 foreign ministers held a session focused on strategic challenges posed by China, North Korea, Iran and Russia. Many foreign policy analysts and military officials refer to these four nations as the "Axis of Upheaval," describing their growing anti-Western collaboration.

The G7 joint statement said the group remains "concerned with China's military build-up and the continued, rapid increase in China's nuclear weapons arsenal." They called on China "to engage in strategic risk reduction discussions and promote stability through transparency."

The foreign ministers also reaffirmed their serious concerns over the situations in the East and South China Seas, strongly opposing any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo, particularly through force or coercion.

G7 members also emphasized the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, reiterating their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.

On Friday, Secretary of State Rubio told VOA during a press gaggle that he believes leaders from the U.S. and China will meet at some point.

"Whether they agree on things or not, they should communicate for the safety and well-being of the world," Rubio said after wrapping up meetings with G7 foreign ministers.

A potential ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war could affect the U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific, as officials and analysts suggest that ending the conflict would allow Washington to redirect resources toward addressing challenges in the region.

"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," Rubio told VOA earlier this week during a briefing aboard a military plane.

"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," the top U.S. diplomat noted.

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US envoy to relay Putin's stance after meeting in Moscow; Evolving battlefield dynamics complicate cease-fire plan: expert

Global Times

By Wang Qi Published: Mar 15, 2025 12:08 AM

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff late Thursday to discuss the details of an American-proposed 30-day ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, asking him to relay Moscow's perspectives to Washington, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Friday, the Associated Press (AP) reported. This follows Putin's remarks Thursday that Russia is "in favor" of the 30-day ceasefire plan proposed by the US and Ukraine, but nuances exist.

Peskov indicated that a potential phone call between Putin and US President Donald Trump to address unresolved ceasefire issues could be arranged once Witkoff delivers Moscow's messages to Washington, according to the AP report.

He [Witkoff] was received by President Putin late last night, providing additional information to Russia. Through Witkoff, Putin conveyed messages and further signals to President Trump, Peskov explained, as reported by TASS. However, the Kremlin spokesman refrained from disclosing the specific topics covered during the meeting.

A TASS source noted that Witkoff departed Moscow around 11 a.m. local time on Friday.

Witkoff landed in Moscow for talks and presented the ceasefire plan on Thursday. The ceasefire proposal gained traction earlier this week when Ukraine, following talks with a US delegation in Jeddah, expressed support for an "immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire," according to a joint statement released on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin remarked, "We agree with the proposals to stop hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be one that would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the original causes of this crisis," according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Putin highlighted the difficulty in monitoring ceasefire violations along the 2,000 km contact line of the conflict and raised the issue that Ukraine might use the temporary ceasefire for mobilization and weapons supplies, according to the report.

Putin also indicated that he might call Trump to discuss the issue, adding that Russia will negotiate the next steps to end the conflict and reach acceptable agreements based on the situation "on the ground," according to Xinhua.

Wan Qingsong, an expert at the Center for Russian Studies at East China Normal University, told the Global Times that Putin's statement continues Russia's previously expressed openness to peace talks while reaffirming that any negotiations must address the root causes of the conflict. Furthermore, Putin is also signaling an intent to sustain the thawing momentum of Russia-US relations that has already begun.

Mixed reactions

US President Donald Trump said on social media Friday that "We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday," and there is a very good chance that "this horrible, bloody war" can finally come to an end.

Also in response to Putin's statement, President Trump said earlier that there have been "good signals" coming out of Russia. Speaking at the White House alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said, "Putin put out a very promising statement, but it wasn't complete," the AP reported.

"Now we'll see if Russia follows through. If they don't, it'll be a deeply disappointing moment for the world," Trump reiterated, stressing the urgency of ending the conflict, according to AP.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky struck a "pessimistic tone" in his evening address to Ukrainians on Thursday, the New York Times said.

Zelensky said Putin's response to the ceasefire proposal was "very predictable." He added that Putin has set so many preconditions "that nothing will work out at all, or that it will not work out for as long as possible," according to the media report.

Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that all parties are exercising diplomatic flexibility to signal to their domestic populations and the international community that they are not the ones impeding peace or exacerbating the conflict.

Nevertheless, their reactions also underscore profound disagreements over arrangements for enduring security, presenting formidable obstacles to a comprehensive resolution of the Ukraine crisis, Li said.

Li noted that the peace plan put forward by the US does not adequately account for the demands of all stakeholders. The ceasefire proposal, laden with temporary measures, lacks the foundation for long-term stability, raising the risk of a superficial "ceasefire for ceasefire's sake."

According to Wan, the parties involved may still be engaged in a phase of mutual probing. "Within the US-Ukraine joint statement issued Tuesday, the US pledge to resume military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine stands in apparent contradiction to the very objective of securing a ceasefire."

The UN Secretary-General's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday that the UN will welcome any potential ceasefire in Ukraine, hoping that it will be concluded and lead to a lasting peace, according to Tass.

"On the Ukraine crisis, China has all along followed the four points proposed by President Xi Jinping on what must be done, namely, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and all efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis should be supported," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday.

"We hope relevant parties will reach a fair and durable peace deal that is binding and accepted by all the parties concerned through dialogue and negotiation. China stands ready to work with the international community and continue to play a constructive role in resolving the crisis and realizing lasting peace," Mao said.

Based on 'new realities'

Meanwhile, ministers from G7 countries are holding meetings in Canada, seeking unity amid both US tariff pressure and the followup of the Ukraine crisis.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, who opened the formal G7 meeting, said she hoped to find ways to "continue to support Ukraine in the face of Russia's illegal aggression." Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged the G7 to avoid "antagonistic" language toward Russia, saying it would hinder US diplomacy that could end the conflict, according to Deutsche Welle.

According to a communique draft seen by Reuters, there is no mention of possible new sanctions on Russia. However, it stressed the need for "robust and credible security guarantees" so that a ceasefire would be respected and that Ukraine would be able to "deter and defend itself against future aggression."

As the US envoy landed in Moscow on Thursday for talks on an American-proposed 30-day ceasefire, Russia's Defense Ministry announced the same day that its forces had retaken the key town of Sudzha in Ukraine-held Kursk region, following President Putin's visit to Kursk.

Putin said on Thursday that Russia is in full control of the situation in the Kursk Region and the Ukrainian combat group is completely blocked, per TASS.

Earlier on Thursday, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told media that the ceasefire plan proposed by the US and Ukraine is a "temporary respite" for Ukraine's military, according to Xinhua. Ushakov said in a TV interview that Moscow is striving for a "long-term" peaceful settlement that takes into account Russia's legitimate interests.

Negotiations with Moscow are unlikely to yield progress if the US and Ukraine fail to take into account the new battlefield realities and Russia's core demands for resolving the conflict, Wan said.

Territorial issues will clearly influence whether peace negotiations can achieve substantive progress, noted Wan, adding that as Russia gains the upper hand on the battlefield, its demands are likely to escalate, leaving less room for compromise, rather than merely accommodating US' preferences.

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NEW YORK CITY, March 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Expert Consumers has named Easy Spirit as one of the best footwear brands for nurses. Known for its commitment to comfort, durability, and support, Easy Spirit continues to provide essential footwear solutions for healthcare professionals who spend long hours on their feet. With over 35 years of innovation, Easy Spirit has been engineering footwear that prioritizes both function and style, making it a go-to footwear brand for those in demanding professions.

Best Shoes For Nurses

Easy Spirit - a footwear brand dedicated to providing innovative, comfortable, and supportive shoes designed to simplify life and enhance everyday mobility.

Nurses require footwear that offers all-day comfort, stability, and ease of movement, and Easy Spirits nursing-friendly designsincluding the Khari, Keagen, and Rowan sneakersare an ideal choice. These shoes provide superior comfort with wide toe beds, orthotic-friendly removable footbeds, and arch support that reduce strain on feet and joints and help minimize discomfort during long shifts. Lightweight and breathable materials enhance ventilation and reduce foot fatigue, while the slip-resistant soles help prevent slips and falls in fast-paced healthcare environments where spills and slick surfaces are common.

Easy Spirit also offers a wide selection of shoe widths, including narrow and wide options, with prices ranging from $25 to $100. This range ensures a tailored fit for different foot shapes, which is crucial for nurses who need proper support and stability throughout demanding workdays. By catering to varying widths, Easy Spirit helps prevent pressure points and discomfort, offering nurses footwear that truly supports their every move.

Easy Spirits Top Picks for Nurses



The Khari sneakers are built with ultra-flexible soles that promote natural foot movement, helping nurses stay light on their feet during long hours. The insoles feature arch support that reduces strain on the feet and joints and improves balance and stability during physically demanding shifts. The removable footbeds offer a personalized fit for those who require custom orthotics.



The Keagen sneakers are great for nurses who prioritize a precise fit. Available in extended widths, these sneakers accommodate various foot shapes for enhanced comfort. Like the Khari sneakers, the Keagen features arch-supporting insoles that promote balance and reduce foot fatigue during busy shifts. The ultra-flexible soles improve mobility, while the orthotic-friendly removable footbeds let nurses customize their support as needed.

The Rowan sneakers offer everything a nurse needs for high-performance footwear. These sneakers feature Easy Spirits exclusive EMOVE Technology, designed to enhance support and shock absorption during long shifts. Arch support and orthotic-friendly footbeds provide stability and options for customization. Similar to the Keagen sneakers, the Rowan sneakers also have ultra-flexible soles to promote natural foot movement. Extended widths are also available to ensure nurses find the right fit for their specific foot shapes.

Nurses can also take advantage of Easy Spirits 20% discount, making high-quality, comfortable footwear more affordable.

Commitment to Comfort and Innovation

Easy Spirit has built its legacy on creating simple solutions to everyday footwear challenges, all while keeping comfort and functionality at the forefront of its designs. The brands philosophy also highlights its commitment to comfort. Every shoe is engineered to provide lasting support and ease of wear. Versatility is another key factor, as Easy Spirit creates styles that cater to real-life needs and active lifestyles. The brands ingenuity shines through its footwears enhanced mobility and long-term wearability. With a focus on value, Easy Spirit delivers quality footwear that prioritizes both performance and durability.

Transparency and honesty also shapes its design and function, which helps the brand reinforce a sense of trust with its customers. Easy Spirit is dedicated to building strong connections and fostering meaningful relationships with both its customers and the broader community.

These principles are reflected in every Easy Spirit product, ensuring that nurses and other professionals have reliable, high-performance footwear they can trust.

Women's Health and Community Engagement

Beyond designing footwear, Easy Spirit actively participates in charitable efforts and health initiatives. The brands Move for Pink campaign, launched in support of breast cancer awareness, features a limited-edition walking shoe, with proceeds donated to breast cancer research. In addition to this initiative, Easy Spirit frequently donates to hospitals for causes that are close to their community, proving its commitment to supporting healthcare professionals and promoting womens health.

Click here to browse Easy Spirits collection of womens footwear. For a more in-depth review of Easy Spirit shoes, please visit the Expert Consumers website.

About Easy Spirit

Easy Spirit, a brand synonymous with comfort and innovation in women's footwear, continues to evolve after 35 years of delivering simple yet effective solutions for everyday wear. With a commitment to making life easier for women, the company remains dedicated to its core values of comfort, versatility, ingenuity, value, truthfulness, and meaningful customer connections.

About Expert Consumers: Expert Consumers provides news and reviews of consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Expert Consumers may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided.




Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Venture To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or otherwise acquired stock of Venture pursuant and/or traceable to Ventures registration statement for the initial public offering held on or about January 24, 2025 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 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Venture Global, Inc. (Venture or the Company) (NYSE: VG) and reminds investors of the April 18, 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.

Venture is currently facing legal challenges from existing large clients, such as BP and Shell, due to delays in supply contracts as Venture commissions its projects. Given the fact that defendants ability to deliver liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the world and to continue development of Ventures five natural gas liquefication and export projects depends on customer contracts, defendants failure to account for and address these issues caused statements in Ventures registration statement to be false and/or materially misleading at the time of the initial public offering.

Venture completed its initial public offering on January 27, 2025, selling 70 million shares at $24.00 per share. On February 5, 2025, TotalEnergies, an energy company that was a target customer of Venture, rejected opportunities to become a long-term customer of Venture, citing lack of trust. In particular, Patrick Pouyanne, TotalEnergies CEO, stated that he was approached by Venture to see if the company would be interested in a long-term supply contract for liquefied natural gas from the Calcasieu Pass terminal in Louisiana, but he rejected the offer because of what they are doing.

In response to the news, Ventures stock price declined from $19.68 per share on February 5, 2025 to $17.48 per share on February 6, 2025.

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 Ventures conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Venture Global, Inc. class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/VG 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/f08ef15c-387e-4214-8ce6-30cbdada61ea
London, UK, March 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As Ethereum continues to dominate the blockchain space, investors are searching for the safest and most profitable way to generate passive income. Traditional staking and trading methods often come with market volatility and liquidity risks, making cloud mining the best way to invest in Ethereum in 2025.

As a leading cloud mining platform, ICOminer offers stable daily returns with a principal refund guarantee, making it the top choice for investing $100,000 to earn passive income.





Why Cloud Mining is the Best Way to Invest in Ethereum?

Ethereum powers decentralized finance (DeFi), smart contracts, and institutional blockchain adoption. However, traditional Ethereum investment methods such as staking and trading come with market risks and liquidity limitations.

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ICOminer Ethereum Cloud Mining Plans (Supports Principal Refund)

ICOminer offers various cloud mining plans designed for both small and large investors. Each plan ensures daily passive income and a full principal refund at the end of the contract, reducing investment risk.

Plan Investment Duration Daily Payout Total Earnings + Principal Net Profit Return Rate Ethereum Classic $600 3 days $10.20 $630.60 $30.60 5.1% Litecoin $1,200 5 days $22.80 $1,314.00 $114.00 9.5% Dogecoin $3,800 7 days $83.60 $4,385.20 $585.20 15.4% Bitcoin $8,800 10 days $220.00 $11,000.00 $2,200.00 25% Alephium $16,000 12 days $432.00 $21,184.00 $5,184.00 32.4% Ethereum+ $66,000 5 days $2,970.00 $80,850.00 $14,850.00 22.5% Bitcoin+ $100,000 2 days $8,000.00 $116,000.00 $16,000.00 16%

Recommended Plan: Ethereum+ Cloud Mining ($66,000 / 5 Days)

Investment Amount : $66,000

: $66,000 Contract Duration : 5 days

: 5 days Daily Payout : $2,970.00

: $2,970.00 Total Earnings + Principal : $80,850.00

: $80,850.00 Net Profit : $14,850.00

: $14,850.00 Return Rate: 22.5%

Why Choose ICOminer Ethereum Cloud Mining?



High-Yield Passive Income  22.5% profit in just 5 days, outperforming staking and DeFi investments.

Principal Refund Guarantee  Ensures $66,000 is fully refunded, minimizing investment risk.

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ICOminer vs Traditional Ethereum Investment Methods

Investment Type Risk Level Liquidity Profitability Ease of Use ICOminer Cloud Mining Low High (Daily Payouts) High (22.5% in 5 Days) Very Easy Ethereum Staking Medium Low (Funds Locked) Moderate (5%-10% Annually) Requires Technical Setup Ethereum Trading High High High (Market Dependent) Complex, Requires Experience

Unlike staking and trading, ICOminer cloud mining offers stable returns with full principal security, making it ideal for both new and experienced investors.

Conclusion: Best Way to Invest $100K in Ethereum for Passive Income

For those wondering how to invest in Ethereum, ICOminer cloud mining is the most profitable and secure option in 2025. The Ethereum+ plan ($66,000 investment) provides potential 22.5% profit in just 5 days, with daily payouts and a principal refund guarantee, making it the best way to invest $100K for passive income.

Investment Breakdown for $100K

Investment Type Amount Projected Returns Cloud Mining (Ethereum+ 5 Days) $66,000 22.5% in 5 Days Additional Mining (Bitcoin+ 2 Days) $34,000 16% in 2 Days

By choosing ICOminer cloud mining, investors can turn their Ethereum investment into a potential passive income stream without the risks of traditional crypto markets.

ICOminer Cloud Mining: The Future of Ethereum Investment Starts Here.



Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risk. There is potential for loss of funds. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.
Regents Park Road, Londo , March 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Technology should drive business success, not create roadblocks. Yet many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in London find themselves held back by unreliable IT support. Unexpected downtime, security risks, outdated systems and poor communication frustrate teams, drain resources, and make it harder to stay competitive. When IT isnt working, neither is the business, and thats where Ratcliff IT steps in.

For the seventh consecutive year, Ratcliff IT has been recognised as one of Britains 50 Best Managed IT Companies. This achievement reinforces its reputation as a trusted provider of IT support in London, helping businesses optimise operations, minimise disruptions, and protect their digital assets.



Ratcliff IT

Londons SMEs operate in an environment where every second counts. Without a structured and proactive approach to IT management, they risk inefficiencies, cyber vulnerabilities, and costly downtime.

Ratcliff IT provides managed IT services in London to SMEs who value a dependable technology and security partner, where privacy and confidentiality are key. They take the hassle out of technology so businesses can focus on growth. Their proactive technology management ensures round-the-clock system monitoring, preventative maintenance, and background security updates, fixing issues before they cause disruption.

When businesses need support, their London-based service desk delivers fast, expert help from professionals that get to know each clients systems and team inside out. Clients can reach out via web portal, email, or phone, with additional access to guides and advice from a friendly team that will always call back - keeping operations smooth and stress-free.

Their approach isnt just about keeping up with industry changes. Its about staying ahead, outpacing competitors, and using technology as a tool for success. Ratcliff ITs IT consultancy in London starts with a comprehensive IT audit, assessing infrastructure and workflows to uncover opportunities for greater efficiency, security, and risk reduction.

Businesses receive a clear IT roadmap and budget plan, giving them full visibility and control over their technology investments. With quarterly strategic planning meetings, Ratcliff IT keeps businesses aligned with their goals, ensuring technology evolves alongside their success.

As businesses grow, so do the risks they face. Many businesses lack the in-house expertise to defend against cyber attacks, leaving them vulnerable to data breaches and financial loss. Ratcliff ITs cyber security consultancy London means clients get the right cyber security solution for their business needs, with end-to-end protection including risk assessments, security audits and advanced threat mitigation strategies. Their inclusive security support offers real-time monitoring, proactive threat detection, and compliance management, ensuring businesses stay protected while building trust with customers.

What truly sets Ratcliff IT apart is its people-first approach. Ratcliff IT believes IT support should be simple, straightforward, stress-free, and most importantly, based on building great relationships. Their no-jargon approach, combined with their can-do attitude and commitment to fairness and transparency, means all clients get the same honest advice, clear solutions, and IT that works consistently - all at a fixed monthly fee.

Their seventh consecutive win as one of Britains 50 Best Managed IT Companies confirms what their clients already know. Ratcliff IT is continuing to deliver expert solutions that make businesses more resilient, competitive, and ready for whatever comes next.

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About Ratcliff IT

Ratcliff IT is a leading provider of IT support in London. They specialise in managed IT services, cybersecurity, and consultancy for SMEs. With a strong reputation as one of Britains 50 Best Managed IT Companies, Ratcliff IT provides expert solutions tailored to business needs.

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Media Contact

Ratcliff IT

1st Floor, 314 Regents Park Road, London, N3 2JX

07815 042884

https://www.ratcliff.it/



Ratcliff IT 1st Floor, 314 Regents Park Road, London, N3 2JX

























Attachment
TONALE PASS, Italy, March 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It was already clear that the competitive aspect was once again the beating heart of this fifth edition of the Coppa delle Alpi by Mille Miglia. The drivers deserve credit for having offered an exciting race, which in today's leg saw Alberto Aliverti and Francesco Polini, in their 1937 508 C, take first place in the standings, ousting rivals Matteo Belotti and Ingrid Plebani, second across the finish line in their 1927 Bugatti T 37 A. Third place went to Francesco and Giuseppe Di Pietra, also in a Fiat 508 C, but from 1938.

The snow was a much-appreciated companion of this edition of the Coppa delle Alpi, perhaps contributing to making the re-enactment of the speed race even more challenging and authentic. In 1921 a group of daring drivers travelled 2300 kilometres through the dangers of the alpine territory, pushing the drivers to show the bold spirit that represents the true essence of the Red Arrow.

This afternoon, after the restart following the lunch stop at Baselga di Pine, the rain continued to fall heavily until the arrival at the Tonale Pass, where it turned to snow. Snow that also fell heavily at the first leg arrival in St. Moritz and yesterday morning, on the Fuorn Pass.

After approximately 880 kilometres crossing the borders of Italy, Switzerland and Austria, the 40 teams in the race finally crossed the finishing line at 5:30 this afternoon at the entrance to the Pista Ghiaccio Val di Sole, where they completed the thirteenth and final Time Control of the event.

The last sporting activity of the event was the race around the circuit, in which the cars competed in a series of three Time Trials on fresh snow for the Ponte di Legno Trophy, won by Francesco and Giuseppe Di Pietra. The other special trophy, the Citta di Brescia Trophy, a 1 vs 1 direct knock-out challenge on Wednesday evening in Piazza Vittoria, was also won by Aliverti-Polini.

Press Office

+39 3316133162

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ae928776-4c03-4f88-9f5f-3e3c938332df
NEO Battery Materials Ltd. ("NEO" or the "Company") (TSXV: NBM) (OTC: NBMFF), a low-cost silicon anode materials developer that enables longer-running, rapid-charging lithium-ion batteries, announces the grant of incentive stock options (the "Options") to certain directors and officers to acquire an aggregate of 510,000 common shares, in accordance with the Company's 10% rolling stock option plan.

Subject to the terms of the stock option agreement and vesting provisions, all Options were granted at an exercise price $0.78 with an expiry date on March 14, 2030.

About NEO Battery Materials Ltd.

NEO Battery Materials is a Canadian battery materials technology company focused on developing silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, electronics, and energy storage systems. With a patent-protected, low-cost manufacturing process, NEO Battery enables longer-running and ultra-fast charging batteries compared to existing state-of-the-art technologies. The Company aims to be a globally-leading producer of silicon anode materials for the electric vehicle and energy storage industries. For more information, please visit the Company's website at: https://www.neobatterymaterials.com/.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Spencer Huh

Director, President, and CEO

For Investor Relations, PR & More Information:

info@neobatterymaterials.com

T: +1 (437) 451-7678

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified notably by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: volatile stock prices; the general global markets and economic conditions; the possibility of write-downs and impairments; the risk associated with the research and development of advanced and battery-related technologies; the risk associated with the effectiveness and feasibility of technologies that have not yet been tested or proven on commercial scale; manufacturing process scale-up risks, including maintaining consistent material quality, production yields, and process reproducibility at a commercial scale; compatibility issues with existing battery chemistries and unforeseen the risks associated with entering into and maintaining collaborations, joint ventures, or partnerships with battery cell manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, and various companies in the global battery supply chain; the risks associated with the construction, completion, and financing of commercial facilities including the Windsor and South Korean facilities; the risks associated with supply chain disruptions or cost fluctuations in raw materials, processing chemicals, and additive prices, impacting production costs and commercial viability; the risks associated with uninsurable risks arising during the course of research, development and production; competition faced by the Company in securing experienced personnel and financing; access to adequate infrastructure and resources to support battery materials research and development activities; the risks associated with changes in the technology regulatory regime governing the Company; the risks associated with the timely execution of the Company's strategies and business plans; the risks associated with the lithium-ion battery industry's demand and adoption of the Company's silicon anode technology; market adoption and integration challenges, including the difficulty of incorporating silicon anodes within battery manufacturers and OEMs systems; the risks associated with the various environmental and political regulations the Company is subject to; risks related to regulatory and permitting delays; the reliance on key personnel; liquidity risks; the risk of litigation; risk management; and other risk factors as identified in the Company's recent Financial Statements and MD&A and in recent securities filings for the Company which are available on www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to, continued R&D and commercialization activities, no material adverse change in precursor prices, development and commercialization plans to proceed in accordance with plans and such plans to achieve their stated expected outcomes, receipt of required regulatory approvals, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's business, operations, research and development, and commercialization plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is made as of the date of this presentation, and the Company does not undertake to update such forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

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.


Toronto, March 14, 2025 - Kuya Silver Corp. (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya Silver") announces it has closed the first tranche (the "First Tranche") in its non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") by issuing 3,815,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") at CAD$0.25 per Common Share for gross proceeds of CAD$953,750. The First Tranche had one insider subscribe, David Stein, President, CEO and a director, which is considered a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.5(a) and the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.7(1)(a) in respect of such insider participation as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves the interested party, will not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for general working capital. All securities issued under the First Tranche, will be subject to a hold period expiring July 15, 2025, in accordance with the rules and policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange and applicable Canadian securities laws, except for those issued to investors in foreign jurisdictions. In connection with the First Tranche, the Company paid $35,500 in finder's fees to certain eligible finders.

About Kuya Silver Corporation

Kuya Silver is a Canadianbased, growth-oriented mining company with a focus on silver. Kuya Silver operates the Bethania silver mine in Peru, while developing district-scale silver projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions including Peru and Canada.

For more information, please contact:

Reader Advisory

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information," including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may," "would," "could," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "must," "next," "propose," "new," "potential," "prospective," "target," "future," "verge," "favourable," "implications," and "ongoing," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing statements, any discussion regarding the proposed use of the proceeds of the Offering, is forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that statements including forward-looking information are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including but not limited to fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, and business conditions. There can be no assurances that such forward-looking information will prove accurate, and therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of the risks and uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the CSE nor the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244703
Vancouver, March 14, 2025 - Zodiac Gold Inc. (TSX.V: ZAU) ("Zodiac Gold" or the "Company"), a West-African gold exploration company, is pleased to announce that the Company intends to settle C$243,210 owing to creditors of the Company in respect of an outstanding unsecured loan and payables owing to the creditors in consideration for the issuance of 3,474,429 common shares of the Company (the "Shares") at a deemed price of C$0.07 per Share (the "Debt Settlement"). Completing the debt settlement is subject to receiving all necessary approvals, including but not limited to the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). The Company's board of directors has determined that it is in the Company's best interests to settle the outstanding debt through the issuance of Shares to preserve the Company's cash for working capital purposes.

Distribution of prior Debt Settlement Shares and Amendment of Warrants Pricing

Further to the Company's news release dated February 6, 2025, the Company has issued 2,377,504 Shares at a deemed price of C$0.07 per Share to settle a total indebtedness of C$166,425.30, to David Kol and certain service providers of the Company (the "February Debt Settlement"). In addition, the Company has received TSXV approval to amend the share purchase warrant price from C$0.15 to C$0.12, for the 1,230,000 share purchase warrants related to the December 31, 2024, non-brokered private placement.

Early Warning Disclosure

In accordance with the requirements of National Instrument 62-103, David Kol announces that he has filed an early warning report related to his debt conversion of CAD$71,280 to 1,018,286 Shares as part of the February Debt Settlement. Prior to the February Debt Settlement, Mr. Kol owned 13,670,274 Shares and 1,125,000 stock options, which represented approximately 14.6% of the then Shares outstanding on an undiluted basis and 12.8% on a partially diluted basis, assuming the exercise of the 1,125,000 stock options. Following the February Debt Settlement, Mr. Kol will own 14,688,560 Shares and 1,125,000 stock options, representing approximately 15.7% of the Shares outstanding on an undiluted and 13.7% on a partially diluted basis, assuming the exercise of the 1,125,000 stock options.

Mr. Kol's conversion of the debt to the Shares is for investment purposes. In the future, Mr. Kol will evaluate his investment in the Company from time to time and may, based on such evaluation, market conditions and other circumstances, increase or decrease his shareholdings as circumstances require through market transactions, private agreements, or otherwise.

A copy of the early warning report filed by Mr. Kol may be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR+.

About Zodiac Gold

Zodiac Gold Inc. (TSX.V: ZAU) is a West-African gold exploration company focused on its flagship Todi Project situated in Liberia, an underexplored, politically stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction hosting several large-scale gold deposits. Strategically positioned along the fertile Todi Shear Zone, Zodiac Gold is developing a district-scale gold opportunity covering a vast 2,316 km2 land package. The project has undergone de-risking, showcasing proven gold occurrences at both surface and depth, with five drill-ready targets and high-grade gold intercepts.

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.

Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation.

Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections, and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "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. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's planned exploration programs and drill programs and potential significance of results are forward-looking statements that involve various 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. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Company's expectations include actual exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital, and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials, and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events, or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and accordingly may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

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/244723
Alonso shuts down for Aston Martin transition year

Fernando Alonso amused a throng of journalists in Melbourne by refusing to tell them what he had learned at the wheel of his Aston Martin in practice.

Fernando Alono

 Aston Martin Racing

Nothing. But if had learned anything, I wouldn't tell you, he smiled.

Alonso, 43, was half-joking - but he also made clear that he was also half-serious.

"We (drivers) come here because it's mandatory. We just got out of the car, like always

It will be 24 Fridays like this where you can ask whatever you want, I just won't answer at all.

Alonso said he would be discussing the behaviour of his car privately with his team.

We did laps, the car is running, the engine is working, the brakes are good, the gearbox shifts up and down, so we're fine, the two-time world champion smiled again.

Aston Martin is very much braced for a 'transition' year as Adrian Newey works quietly away in the background on the all-new project for 2026.

Personally, I have no idea where we'll be, team ambassador Pedro de la Rosa told DAZN. "There are four very strong teams - the same as last year - then a midfield with a lot of equality.

At first glance, I think the first races this year will be quite similar to the end of last year, as Fernando said.

De la Rosa confirmed that Newey is focusing on the 2026 project with the new regulations and the Honda engine, but also to help us develop tools like the new wind tunnel, which will also be used to develop the 2025 car .

Meanwhile, Alonso sided with his protege Gabriel Bortoleto, after Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko described the Brazilian rookie as a B-grade driver.

I think Helmut wanted to defend his drivers, but the facts matter a little more than his words, he said.

Look at last year's Formula 2 season - Bortoleto and (Isack) Hadjar finished first and second. They are both incredibly talented and have now made the leap to Formula 1.

(GMM)
Briatore admits Doohan review looming soon

Flavio Briatore is openly admitting he will soon "review" Jack Doohan's performance.

Jack Doohan, Australian;oam GP 2025

 Alpine

The charismatic and commercially-appealing Argentine reserve Franco Colapinto, on a $20m loan to Alpine from Williams, is in Melbourne amid swirling rumours about how many races he will have to sit out before taking over fellow rookie Doohan's seat.

Jack didn't impress in his first race in Abu Dhabi, noted Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko in an interview with Kronen Zeitung newspaper.

There's talk of six races where he has to prove himself, he added.

And in his latest interview, published on Friday by Italy's Corriere della Sera, Alpine advisor Briatore is not hiding that Doohan's future is in doubt.

Doohan starts, he said, "then there will be a review of where we are.

"I see the drivers as the CEOs of the team - the ones who bring the results. A thousand people work for them, so they must feel responsible.

In Formula 1, the balance sheets are made every Sunday.

Briatore seems happier with Pierre Gasly at present, but Marko thinks the Frenchman is also being put under pressure by Briatore.

It's not just Colapinto, he confirmed, but also Paul Aron in the background.

Australian Doohan, 22, agrees with Marko that he and Gasly are under pressure this season.

I have one guy chasing my seat, but we actually have four now - we have four reserves, he said in Melbourne. "All four of them, not just Franco, probably want my seat, and if not mine, Pierre's as well.

So, to be honest, I'm going to enjoy every race as if it's my last.

(GMM)
Red Bull keeping close eye on McLaren wings

Red Bull is keeping a "very close eye" on McLaren's bendy wings.

Oscar Piastri, Australian GP 2025

 McLaren

As the action kicked off in Melbourne, the pundits' predictions proved true - McLaren is ahead of the field while Red Bull is struggling.

Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko declared this week that it's insane the FIA is only clamping down hard on front wing flexibility from the Spanish GP in June.

However, excessive rear wing flexibility - like McLaren's ingenious 'mini DRS' solution of 2024 - has been made immediately illegal. In response, 50-gram, ultra-HD FIA cameras have been installed on the cars in Melbourne to monitor the bending at speed.

Teams have been told that if the video footage shows a gap open up wider than 2mm, a FIA reprimand may be issued. However, disqualification is not possible, Germany's specialist Auto Motor und Sport reports.

FIA sources say that if there are too many violations, the rules could be tightened at short notice, similar to those for the front wing, correspondent Michael Schmidt added.

Otherwise, the evaluations will be used to refine the rules for the 2026 season.

When asked if he thinks pacesetter McLaren in particular is already bending the rules in Australia, Marko told Kleine Zeitung newspaper: We will definitely keep a very close eye on it.

Clear tension still exists between the two teams, particularly amid the newest wild rumours that Lando Norris might be a candidate for Red Bull in 2026 if Max Verstappen decides to jump ship.

Marko mischievously noted that Norris may not even be McLaren's preferred driver already.

After (Oscar) Piastri's long-term contract extension, I would say McLaren is banking on him, said the Austrian.

Meanwhile, Verstappen also grinned when asked about revelations that McLaren CEO Zak Brown recently called his management team to explore the market .

When he knew how much he had to pay, it was immediately over, the Dutchman told Viaplay.

I am really not concerned with speculation, Verstappen added. "I am entering my eleventh season, so I am not wasting my energy on that.

I am in a good place here and I am doing my best. Of course we want to go a bit faster, but everyone wants that as well.

In other news, the FIA ruled in Melbourne that conversations between drivers and teams on the radios will be exempt from the 'swearing ban' in 2025.

(GMM)
BBL without brain is disaster  Mary Njoku advises women to focus on skills

Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Mar - 15 - 2025 , 01:36 1 minute read

Nigerian actress Mary Njoku has advised young women to prioritize self-development over cosmetic procedures.

While noting that beauty is no longer uncommon, the actress pointed out that people can now enhance their looks.

In an Instagram post on Friday, March 14, Njoku emphasized the need for women to prioritize investing in their brains over Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) and other surgeries.

Speaking further, she described body enhancement without brain or skills growth as a disaster.

But heres the thing: Beauty isnt rare anymore. It is not a big deal to be beautiful. Anyone can alter their look with money. What will truly make you stand out is your mind. Develop your brain, invest in your skills, and build your knowledge.

While you can buy a new body, you cant buy a new brain. BBL is basically buy one, get one free. You cannot alter your brain, but you can develop it.

So while you are busy getting a nose job and buying new boobs, make sure you set aside some budget for personal growth. Because a BBL without a brain? That is a disaster waiting to happen. SUBSTANCE over SURFACE.

Source: DailypostNgr
National Film Authority's new leadership holds first industry stakeholder engagement

Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Mar - 15 - 2025 , 00:44 3 minutes read

The National Film Authority (NFA) has reiterated its dedication to developing a vibrant and globally competitive film industry in Ghana.

To achieve this goal, the NFA hosted a high-level stakeholder engagement meeting at the Accra Tourist Information Centre(ATIC) on Wednesday, March 12, marking the first official gathering between the newly appointed leadership and prominent industry stakeholders.

This meeting provided a platform for in-depth discussions on the challenges facing the industry, exploration of innovative solutions, and strengthening of collaborative ties.

The engagement was led by Madam Kafui Danku-Pitcher, Executive Secretary of the NFA, and Mr. James Timothy Gardiner, Deputy Executive Secretary.

Kafui Danku-Pitcher is the Executive Secretary of the NFA

The discussions focused on introducing the new leadership, gaining insights into the needs of the industry, and laying the groundwork for policies that will drive sustainable growth in Ghanas film sector.

Representatives from major industry associations, including the Ghana Actors' Guild (GAG), Film Producers' Association of Ghana (FiPAG), Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts (GAFTA), Women in Film and Television, Audio Visual Rights Society of Ghana (ARSOG), Film Crew Association of Ghana (FiCAG), Film Distributors and Marketers, Animators Association of Ghana (AAG), Film Directors Guild of Ghana (FDGG), Northern Region Filmmakers Association, and Silverbird Cinemas (Exhibitors), were in attendance.

Their participation underscored the significance of the dialogue and the industrys collective interest in shaping its future.

During the discussions, stakeholders raised key challenges affecting the sector, including limited financing for film productions, weak copyright enforcement, inadequate capacity-building programs, and the need for stronger legislative support.

Industry representatives emphasized the urgency of implementing the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) to provide legal backing for film sector regulations, including tax incentives and funding structures. Mr. George Bosompem, PRO for GAFTA, highlighted that policy reforms must cater to these concerns to ensure a more structured and enabling environment for filmmakers.

Another pressing issue discussed was the need for a more streamlined structure for film guilds and associations. Ken Fiati, Technical Committee Chairman of the Ghana Actors' Guild (GAG), stressed the importance of creating a more unified industry with clear operational guidelines.

He also advocated for regular training and capacity-building programmes to enhance the skills of actors, producers, and other industry professionals.

Addressing these concerns, Madam Kafui Danku-Pitcher reiterated the NFAs commitment to open dialogue, strategic policymaking, and fostering an environment where all industry players can thrive. She emphasized that stakeholder engagement would remain a priority, ensuring that industry professionals are actively involved in shaping policies and initiatives.

Mr. James Timothy Gardiner, Deputy Executive Secretary, assured stakeholders of the NFAs dedication to advocating for policies that address their needs. He highlighted the importance of partnerships, investment, and infrastructure development in positioning Ghana as a leading film production hub in Africa.

James Timothy Gardiner, Deputy Executive Secretary of NFA

The National Film Authority (NFA) has promised to work more closely with stakeholders in the film industry.

They plan to set up a system for regular meetings and collaborations to help grow Ghana's film sector. This includes improving rules and regulations, and creating more opportunities for local filmmakers.
Next article: National Film Authority's new leadership holds first industry stakeholder engagement

Previous article: BBL without brain is disaster  Mary Njoku advises women to focus on skills

Rex Omar seeks scholarship quota for creative players

Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Mar - 15 - 2025 , 01:11 1 minute read

Renowned musician and Presidential Staffer for The Black Star Experience, Rex Omar, recently visited the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat to discuss an exciting initiative.

He met with Mr. Alex Asafo Agyei, the Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, to explore allocating scholarships to Ghanaian creatives and entrepreneurs.

This move aims to boost their skills and knowledge, enabling them to thrive in their craft and contribute to Ghana's growth.

By offering scholarships to talented but underprivileged creatives, the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat will play a vital role in nurturing the next generation of artists, musicians, writers, sound engineers, production experts, and other creative professionals, including entrepreneurs.

Mr. Asafo Agyei pledged his outfits support for deserving students, particularly those pursuing careers in the creative arts.

The Secretariats efforts have been instrumental in expanding access to quality education and promoting human capital development in Ghana.

As the creative industry continues to grow and evolve, it is essential for Ghanaian creatives to be equipped with the necessary skill set and knowledge to compete on the global stage.
Weekend Talk: True love hurts

Lawrence Darmani Features Mar - 15 - 2025 , 09:45 5 minutes read

A lawyer wanted to know what the greatest commandment was.

Jesus told him, First, love God; second, love your neighbour.

Still not satisfied, the lawyer asked, So who is my neighbour?

In answer, Jesus told him the story of the Good Samaritan who risked his life to save someone who had been injured by robbers and left to die.

Do likewise!

Go and do likewise, Jesus told the lawyer, who was most likely not going to do likewise.

Doing likewise meant bringing himself into harms way for the sake of loving a neighbour.

We are able to do likewise only if we are willing to risk our life for loves sake, and that is hurting.

The robbers could have been hiding in the bushes ready to pounce on whoever might help the injured person.

Understand that Jesus is the Good Samaritan who gave his life to rescue us from Satan the robber who injured us with sin and left us to die.

We cannot take the place of Christ to die for others to give them salvation; but by our sacrifice of love, we can die for others in order to help them.

In fact, to love your neighbour as yourself is a call to die, which is why love hurts.

An Akan proverb says, Trees that are close are the ones that rub against each other.

Rub here means scrape, squeeze, or irritate; and that hurts.

This proverb is often quoted to counsel quarrelling friends or lovers.

Love is deadly

Whenever love occurs, it can be deadly if not maturely handled.

Jealousy, an offshoot of love, has turned some lovers into murderers, causing them to languish in prison due to love that went amiss.

For example, in Greek mythology, the Trojan War between the Greeks and Troy was the result of a crooked love affair.

Falling headlong in love with Helen the Queen of Sparta (the kings wife), Paris the Prince of Troy eloped with her.

The result was that bloody Greek-Troy war, leading to thousands of innocent soldiers perishing.

Again, William Shakespeares play, Romeo and Juliet, is a tragic love story about two teenagers who fall in love but cannot be together because their families are enemies.

Tragically, the two lovers ended up taking their own lives.

Love hurts and hurts badly.

That is why Solomon says, Do not arouse love until it pleases (Song of Solomon 3:5).

In other words, do not enter into a romantic relationship wrongly because it has serious consequences.

God in love

Love hurt the Creator of the universe. After putting all there was into creating humans, the behaviour of people hurt God so much that he said, I regret that I made man! (Genesis 6:6).

Gods own tribe, the Israelites, caused him much pain when they deserted him and went prostituting after idols and other gods.

And when it was time to bring salvation to all humanity, Gods love for us caused him even more pain.

So, it was love for us, not the nails and the ropes, that kept the Lord Jesus on the cross.

True love hurts severely.

Another way to read John 3:16 is, For God so loved the world that he killed his only Son for us.

Or going deeper into the mystery of salvation, you could say, For God so loved the world that he died for us.

Whichever way you look at it, Gods love for humanity hurt him badly.

It hurt him when he watched his only begotten Son being flogged like a criminal.

It hurt him when he looked aside while the Roman soldiers drove rugged nails through his Sons body.

And it hurt him when, because Jesus carried humanitys sin, he had to look away from him.

And when the Son cried, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? it hurt God deeply.

Love is said to be blind because it covers a multitude of wrongdoing.

That is another reason why it hurts.

It hurts to forgive and foster a good relationship.

Imitating the Lord and his love for us, may we be urged to do likewise for others in demonstration of our love for the Lord.

Missions hurt

In the 1980s, Basel missionaries in Switzerland left the comfort zones of their homes and arrived in the Coast to spread Christianity.

The health conditions were so harsh that they all, except one, perished.

Constrained by their love for the Lord Jesus and missions, others followed them and served under serious health hazards.

All, except one, died.

Even then, others followed.

Their love for Gods work hurt, but they didnt give up.

In our walk with God, true love constraints us, urging us to do what is right in order to know him and serve him better.

That is why it is love, not lust, that is capable of enduring lifes challenges.

The writer is a publisher, author, writer-trainer and CEO of Step Publishers.

E-mail: lawrence.darmani@gmail.com
Next article: Take note of your strengths, dear leader!

Vanuatu Kava: Natural remedy for stress, anxiety

Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu Features Mar - 15 - 2025 , 08:57 5 minutes read

Recently, I wrote extensively on how Sobolo could be developed to improve heart health and also generate revenue for Ghana.

In this article, I present how Vanuatu is cashing in on their kava.

Kava, scientifically known as Piper methysticum, is a tropical plant native to the Pacific Islands.

Traditionally integral to cultural and ceremonial practices, kava has earned international acclaim for its ability to foster relaxation, reduce stress and enhance overall mental well-being.

As natural remedies gain global popularity, kava stands out due to its long history of use and scientific validation of its benefits.

History, cultural significance

Kavas use spans over 3,000 years, predominantly in the Pacific Islands, including regions such as Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and Samoa.

Kava Bar in Vanuatu

In these societies, kava holds significant social, spiritual and medicinal importance.

The name kava comes from the Tongan and Marquesan word meaning bitter, referencing the earthy flavour of its root.

While Captain Cook named the plant intoxicating pepper, he did not discover it, as its use was long-established among Pacific Islanders.

Traditionally, the root of the plant was ground or chewed, mixed with water, and consumed as a ceremonial drink during religious rituals, social gatherings and key events such as weddings and peace negotiations.

These practices were believed to promote harmony, reduce conflict and facilitate communication.

Kavas symbolism is deeply embedded in Pacific Island mythology. For example, in Vanuatu, it is considered a sacred gift from the gods meant to bring people together.

Over time, it became a symbol of respect and hospitality, with its consumption marking culturally significant moments.

By the 18th century, European explorers such as Captain James Cook documented kavas use, introducing it to the Western world.

Kava's calming properties sparked widespread interest, eventually leading to the development of kava-based products for international markets.

Today, kava remains central to social life in the South Pacific, akin to alcohol in Western societies, and retains a role in rituals and ceremonies.

One study observed that in Tongan culture, kava drinking is strongly linked to social and ceremonial obligations, fostering male bonding and reinforcing relationships.

However, there are also noted negative effects, such as feelings of laziness or excessive tiredness.

Despite these challenges, kava is a cornerstone of Melanesian societies.



What is Kava?

Kava belongs to the pepper family, with its roots providing calming effects when prepared into drinks or extracts. The active compounds, known as kavalactones, interact with GABA receptors in the brain, playing a key role in reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation.

Market value

Kava has seen growing demand as a natural remedy in international markets, particularly in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, where it is marketed as a supplement for stress relief and mental wellness.

The global kava market is estimated at USD 250 million annually, with expectations for continued growth as consumers seek natural alternatives for managing anxiety, stress and sleep disorders.

Kava is available in various forms, such as powders, capsules, tinctures and teas, making it accessible to a diverse range of users.

Economic impact

As the heart of kava cultivation, Vanuatu is one of the largest producers and exporters of the plant. Kava plays a crucial role in the nations economy, supporting thousands of local farmers and contributing significantly to the GDP.

The countrys kava exports generate about USD 12 million annually (Vanuatu Ministry of Agriculture, 2020), making kava one of its most valuable agricultural exports, alongside copra and vanilla.

While the market is subject to fluctuations due to factors such as international regulations and export restrictions, Vanuatu remains a leading player in the global kava market.

Safety, precautions

While kava is generally safe when used responsibly, excessive or prolonged use may lead to liver toxicity in rare cases.

To minimise risks, always choose high-quality kava products from trusted sources and avoid combining kava with alcohol or other liver-affecting substances.

Additionally, kava can impair the ability to operate machinery or drive safely. It is important not to consume kava before engaging in such activities.

Kava vs. Kratom

Kava and kratom, two herbs often compared due to their relaxation effects, differ in their mechanisms of action.

Kava is known for its euphoric and calming effects, primarily influencing GABA receptors, while kratom has stimulating effects in small doses and sedative effects in larger doses, acting on opioid and serotonin receptors.

Both herbs induce euphoria, promote contentment, reduce stress and improve alertness.

However, due to their distinct modes of action, combining them may offer enhanced effects.

Conclusion

Kava is a powerful natural remedy with a variety of health benefits, from alleviating stress and anxiety to improving sleep quality and potentially fighting cancer.

With its rich cultural history and growing presence in global wellness markets, kava offers an effective and holistic solution for those seeking a calmer, more balanced life.

When used responsibly, it can be a valuable ally in promoting mental and physical well-being.

The writer is a Professor of Naturopathy, lawyer (Gambia Bar)/chartered health economist.

E-mail: [email protected]
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Previous article: 'I was duped into leaving London for school in Ghana - but it saved me'

South African ambassador to Washington 'no longer welcome' in US

bbc.com International News Mar - 15 - 2025 , 16:24 3 minutes read

The US is expelling South Africa's ambassador to Washington, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing him as a "race-baiting politician".

In a post on X, Rubio accused Ebrahim Rasool of hating the US and President Donald Trump, and said the ambassador was "no longer welcome in our great country".

The office for South Africa's president on Saturday called the decision "regrettable", adding that the country remained committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the US.

The rare move by the US marks the latest development in rising tensions between the two countries.

While lower-ranking diplomats are sometimes expelled, it's highly unusual in the US for it to happen to a more senior official.

In his post on Friday, Rubio linked to an article from the right-wing outlet Breitbart that quoted some of Rasool's recent remarks made during an online lecture about the Trump administration.

At the event, Rasool said Trump was "mobilising a supremacism" and trying to "project white victimhood as a dog whistle" as the white population faced becoming a minority in the US.

"We see it in the domestic politics of the USA, the Maga movement as a response not simply to a supremacist instinct, but to very clear data that shows great demographic shifts in the USA in which the voting electorate in the USA is projected to become 48% white," he said.

He suggested that South Africa was under attack because "we are the historical antidote to supremacism".

In response, Rubio called Rasool "PERSONA NON GRATA", referencing the Latin phrase for "unwelcome person".

Ties between the US and South Africa have been deteriorating since Trump took office.

An executive order last month - which froze US assistance to South Africa - cited "unjust racial discrimination" against white Afrikaners, largely descended from Dutch settlers who first arrived in the 17th Century.

It references a new law, the Expropriation Act, that it claims targets Afrikaners by allowing the government to take away private land.

"As long as South Africa continues to support bad actors on the world stage and allows violent attacks on innocent disfavoured minority farmers, the United States will stop aid and assistance to the country," a statement from the White House said at the time.

South Africa's 2022 census noted that white people - including Afrikaners - made up 7.2% of the population. However, according to a 2018 land audit by the South African government, white farmers owned 72% of the country's individually-held farmland.

South Africa's government, which is made up of 10 parties led by the African National Congress (ANC), said earlier that the US president's actions were based on "a campaign of misinformation and propaganda aimed at misrepresenting our great nation".

It added no land had been seized without compensation and said this would only happen in exceptional circumstances, such as if land was needed for public use and all other avenues to acquire the land had been exhausted.

A fact sheet from the White House states the country "blatantly discriminates against ethnic minority descendants of settler groups".

Rasool - who previously served as US ambassador from 2010 to 2015 - was himself forcibly removed from his home in Cape Town's District Six as a child after it was declared a white area under the Apartheid government.

He would later describe the eviction as a significant moment in his upbringing which guided his future.

Rasool became Pretoria's ambassador to the US again in 2024.

Unnamed sources in the South African government told online news site Daily Maverick at the time that he was thought to be well placed to deal with a Trump administration because of the experience and contacts he had acquired during his first stint as ambassador.
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13 out of 100 Ghanaians have some form of kidney disease  Dr Tannor

GNA Mar - 15 - 2025 , 13:42 3 minutes read

There is a growing concern about the increasing rate of kidney diseases in Ghana with 13 out of 100 people believed to be having some form of kidney disease.

This translates to about four million of the over 30 million Ghanaians living with kidney diseases, a situation that requires urgent attention from all stakeholders.

A Consultant Nephrologist at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Elliot Koranteng Tannor, who made the disclosure said the danger is that people are getting kidney diseases at younger ages in Ghana.

Our average age of people with kidney failures and on dialysis is about 46 years which is worrying, he said at a public lecture in Kumasi to commemorate World Kidney Day.

The public lecture was put together by the Ghana Kidney Association in collaboration with PATH Ghana.

The theme for this years celebration is, Are Your Kidneys Ok? Detect Early, Protect Kidney Health which focuses on the importance of early detection and intervention to prevent kidney disease.

Dr Tannor, who is also a Senior Lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), said the major conditions driving kidney diseases including hypertension and diabetes were on ascendancy.

He bemoaned the wanton abuse of herbal medications and pain killers without knowing how they were affecting kidneys.

He advised the public not to wait to get symptoms before seeking medical attention because it would have been too late to salvage the situation, stressing the importance of checking the health of their kidneys periodically.

Unlike malaria and other diseases you can have kidney disease for five years without any symptom and you will look ok until you check, he cautioned.

In the Ashanti Region, Dr Tannor revealed that kidney disease burden had increased by four times over the last ten years per a study conducted by KATH.

He said about 70 per cent of people who reported to the facility with kidney related conditions were either on the verge or already having kidney failures.

The worrying aspect is that majority of them end up dying on admission according to the data we have in Komfo Anokye, he noted.

He reiterated that picking patients with kidney disease early gave room for controlling their risk factors, thereby preventing the disease from progressing and eventually saving their lives.

According to him, when patients come in late, the options are dialysis or transplantation at a huge cost.

Dr Robert Yeboah, Programme Director, Healthy Heart Africa Programme, PATH Ghana, said the theme for the celebration also focused on combating low awareness rates on chronic kidney diseases worldwide, especially among high risk populations.

He said chronic kidney disease is estimated to affect approximately 850 million people across the world and if left undetected and treated timely, could progress to kidney failure, leading to severe complications and premature mortality.

By 2040, chronic kidney disease is projected to become the 5th leading cause of years of life loss with less than 10 per cent of people with chronic kidney disease aware of their disease, he pointed out.

Despite the significant disease burden, Dr Yeboah said chronic kidney disease was under-prioritised on global and national health agenda, highlighting the urgent need for global strategies to combat the disease.


41 to undergo free hydrocele surgery in Upper East

Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Mar - 15 - 2025 , 19:11 3 minutes read

Forty-one persons living with various forms of hydrocele disease in the Upper East Region are expected to benefit from a free hydrocelectomy (surgery to remove a hydrocele, a fluid-filled sac inside the scrotum).

The move is intended to bring to an end their many years of battling the disease.

Hydrocele occurs when abdominal fluid fills a sac in a man's scrotum, causing it to swell, and leading to discomfort and pain.

Hydrocele is more common in infants than adults and they often go away on their own.

However, one may need surgery if it does not go away on its own.

The free surgery forms part of an ongoing five-day intensive practical hydrocelectomy training of trainers for selected medical officers from seven English-speaking countries in Africa.

The beneficiary countries are South Africa, Liberia, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Ghana and Guinea Bissau.

The training is being implemented by Sightsavers, an international development organisation working with governments in Africa and Asia to eliminate neglected tropical diseases and prevent avoidable blindness, among others, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

The participants will be exposed to the latest surgery techniques for hydrocelectomy surgery, to be able to conduct surgeries in their respective countries and train others as well, thereby playing a vital role in fighting lymphatic filariasis in general.

After this training, there would be another cascading training for 10 additional Ghanaian medical officers, which would also lead to the conduction of another surgery for 28 more hydrocele patients.

Build capacity

Opening the training at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital last Monday, a Senior Programme Manager at Sightsavers, David Agyemang, said the move was to build the capacity of the participants to deal with the situation.

This is to ensure that there is the needed capacity in all the beneficiary countries to help in battling lymphatic filariasis and hydrocele, leading to its reduction to the barest minimum, he said. He added that it was the expectation that the medical officers would gain the skills to enhance their work.

As an organisation, we are committed to supporting the governments of the beneficiary countries to conduct regular hydrocelectomy for persons living with hydrocele, Mr Agyemang pointed out.

While appealing for stronger partnership with the GHS to foster continuous innovation, excellence and a shared vision of quality healthcare delivery for all Ghanaians, he stated: Together, we can build a future where neglected tropical diseases are eliminated.

Identification of cases

Speaking at the ceremony, the Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Samuel K. Boakye-Boateng, said during morbidity mapping for lymphatic filariasis in 2022 in the region, 2,373 cases of lymphedema and 1,315 suspected hydrocele cases were identified.

Currently, he indicated that 154 validated hydrocele cases were awaiting surgery scheduled for March/April this year, saying:

We hope this training workshop will address most of these cases in the region.

He stressed that hydrocelectomy is a valuable treatment option for individuals suffering from hydrocele, offering relief from discomfort and improving the quality of life of the affected persons.

Procedure

By understanding the procedure and recovery process, Dr Boakye-Boateng said patients can approach the surgery with confidence and take the necessary steps to ensure a successful outcome, and, therefore, lauded the intervention which is tailored towards improved access to hydrocelectomy.

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by hydrocele in the region and other beneficiary countries, he stated, and further used the occasion to express appreciation to Sightsavers and other partners for their invaluable support in the management of hydrocelectomies and lymphedema in the region.

In a remark made on his behalf, the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, welcomed the intervention by Sightsavers, saying it would go a long way to augment the governments efforts towards combating lymphedema and hydrocele in the region.

Writers email: [email protected]
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Four immigration officers, two civilians remanded for murder

Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor Mar - 15 - 2025 , 10:02 2 minutes read

FOUR officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) stationed at the Nadowli-Kaleo District office and two civilians have been remanded into police custody by the Wa District Court for their alleged involvement in the death of a 38-year-old farmer, Patrick Banoebuuri.

While the immigration officers were charged for murder, the two civilians were charged for abetment of crime.

Their pleas were not taken, and they are to reappear on March 17, 2025.

The four immigration officers are Senior Inspector Philip Adjei Boadi, 36; Assistant Immigration Control Officer (AICOII) Abdul Rawuf Abubakar, 22; AICOII Alex Nkrumah, 33; and AICO II Philip Oppong, 28, who were all charged with murder.

The two civilians are Pogee Antaa Julius, age not indicated, and Logu Seidu, 49, who have been charged with abetment of crime, to wit murder.

The court presided over by Maxwell Maxibriant Titriku, remanded them into police custody and adjourned the case to March 17, 2025 to allow the prosecution more time to complete its investigation.

Facts

The facts as presented to the court by the prosecution were that on March 6, 2025, Mr Banoebuuri, was alleged to have stolen 18 sheep and was arrested by members of the community.

The prosecution said 14 out of the 18 sheep were recovered, and he was thus set free.

However, on March 7, 2025, Pogee Antaa Julius, who is the Unit Community Chairman, led a group of people from Naro to the house of Mr Banoebuuri at Peeri-Kaangu, both communities within the Nadowli-Kaleo District, to apprehend him for failing to produce the remaining four sheep.

He was handed over to the four immigration officers who were on duty at the Naro checkpoint.

They received him in good health and took him through frog jump in the course of which he died, said the prosecution.

The complainant in the case, Richard Banoebuuri, reported the case to the police for investigation, and the police proceeded to the scene and found the lifeless body lying at the GIS checkpoint at Naro covered with tent fabric and kept behind a zinc bathroom.

The body was conveyed to the Wa Regional Hospital for preservation and autopsy.
Previous article: 13 out of 100 Ghanaians have some form of kidney disease  Dr Tannor

Ghana, Japan sign $13.44 million Grant agreement to improve power supply in Tamale

GNA Mar - 15 - 2025 , 13:25 2 minutes read

Ghana and Japan have signed a $13.44 million grant agreement aimed at improving power supply stability in Tamale and its surrounding areas.

The funding will be used to construct a primary power substation, which will help stabilize the power supply in the region.

The two-year project will also involve building a control room, installing transformers, and setting up interconnected sub-transmission lines.

The Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson signed on behalf of the Government of Ghana while the Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ghana Office, Suzuki Momoko, signed on behalf of her government.

During the signing ceremony in Accra on Friday, Dr Forson expressed his appreciation to the Japanese government for its support, emphasizing the importance of the grant in stabilizing power distribution in the Tamale Metropolis.

He also affirmed the Ghanaian governments commitment to collaborating with JICA and Japan to launch projects that will accelerate the nations development.

We are committed to strengthening our relationship with Japan and are open to working closely together to build on our strong bilateral ties, he stated.

Dr Forson also appealed to the Japanese government for support in the construction of the Volivo Bridge in the Volta Region, a project he described as a priority for President John Mahama Dramani.

He urged that all necessary preparations be completed to ensure the project is included in the 2026 budget and can begin next year.

Suzuki Momoko, in her remarks, highlighted the significance of the power supply project as a testament to the strong diplomatic ties between Ghana and Japan.

She confirmed that the project would be managed by the Northern Electricity Company Limited (NEDCo).

Ms. Momoko noted that this is the second project funded by Japan following the 2015 Power Distribution Project in Tamale and Sunyani.

The new project, which is expected to be completed within two years, will enhance power reliability for key areas in Tamale, including the Central Market, Central Business District, Central Hospital, educational institutions, and nearby rural communities.

She explained that the project will reduce both the frequency and duration of power outages in the region, leading to a decreased reliance on generators.

This, in turn, will lower fuel costs and CO2 emissions, contributing to a more sustainable environment.
56 Arrested for involvement in galamsey

George Folley Mar - 15 - 2025 , 09:57 2 minutes read

Fifty-six individuals were last Thursday arrested and handed over to the Western Regional Police Command for their involvement in illegal mining activities in Kadadwen and its environs in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.

The exercise forms part of a targeted operation being carried out by the Western Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to combat illegal mining activities in the region, and was jointly carried out by personnel of the security services led by Brigadier -General Musah Whajah(rtd), the Liaison Officer of National Security.

Those arrested were made up of 47 males and nine females.

In addition to the arrests, about 25 changfang machines, used for washing and trapping gold, were seized in the process and destroyed by the security forces.

The operation, according to Brigadier-General, Whajah (retd), marked a significant step towards addressing the issue of illegal mining in the Western Region.

GREL

He said the operation targeted illegal miners in specific areas, including the farmlands of Ghana Rubber Estate Company Ltd (GREL), Norpalm oil plantation, Kadadwen and parts of the Mpohor District.

Additionally, he said , the security personnel successfully burnt 25 changfang machines and seized various equipment, including three motorbikes, nine pumping machines, three excavators and three pay-loaders from the Ahanta West Municipality and Mpohor District.

He expressed concern about the devastating impact of illegal mining activities and vowed to take action, on the orders of the minister, against its spread in the region.

"We made some arrests during today's operation.

This time, we're taking a different approach.

The suspects will be screened by the police, and those found culpable will be put before court",he stated.

In a separate operation, a joint Rapid Response Team from the Tarkwa and Takoradi Forest District of the Forestry Commission arrested eight illegal miners and seized seven motorcycles and three tricycles from the Subri Forest Reserve last Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

RM

Meanwhile the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson,has given the assurance that the Regional Coordinating Council would leave no stone unturned in dealing decisively with perpetrators of these land degradation and pollution of water bodies in the region.

He called on Ghanaians to help fight the menace of illegal mining in the country because of its devastating effect on the environment.
Next article: Four immigration officers, two civilians remanded for murder

Police need urgent reforms - President Mahama

Kester Aburam Korankye Mar - 15 - 2025 , 10:19 5 minutes read

President John Dramani Mahama has called for urgent reforms within the Ghana Police Service to address rising crime and to restore public trust in law enforcement.

The President emphasised the critical role of the police in maintaining national security and democracy.

The Ghana Police Service is the bedrock of our nations stability, he stated, adding, however, that the increasing incidents of violent crime, cybercrime and other security threats demand a radical transformation in how we approach policing.

President Mahama made the remarks during the swearing-in ceremony of the new Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday.

The President highlighted the need to modernise the police service, citing outdated equipment, inadequate training and poor working conditions as major challenges.

Our police officers are often overstretched and under-resourced, President Mahama said, adding that if we are to effectively combat crime and protect our citizens, we must invest in cutting-edge technology, enhance intelligence capabilities, and provide our officers with the tools they need to succeed.

President Mahama further stressed the importance of community policing, urging the new IGP to prioritise building trust between the police and the communities they serve.

Policing cannot be effective without the cooperation of the public, he said.

We must bridge the gap between law enforcement and citizens to create a safer environment for all, he added.

Professionalism

In his acceptance speech, Mr Yohuno vowed to uphold professionalism, transparency and community-driven policing during his tenure.

He expressed profound gratitude to the President for the trust placed in him, describing the appointment as both an honour and a solemn responsibility.

Your Excellency, being entrusted with such a pivotal role signifies a personal milestone. It acknowledges the dedication, hard work and commitment to excellence that have formed the bedrock of my policing career since I joined the service as a recruit in 1985, he said.

Mr Yohuno emphasised that his leadership would focus on transforming the Ghana Police Service to meet the aspirations of Ghanaians.

He pledged to align his administration with President Mahamas reset agenda, ensure discipline, respect for seniority and a renewed focus on professionalism.

I assure you, Your Excellency, that professionalism, transparency, accountability and fairness shall underpin my administration. We will focus on renewing attitudes and performance, thereby positioning the service to meet the aspirations of our people and foster peace and security in our country, he stated.

The IGP further highlighted the importance of community engagement in policing, describing it as a shared responsibility.

Policing is a shared and collective responsibility. Consequently, community engagement, community policing, and partnerships will be essential strategies for communities to participate in crime prevention and fighting, he said.

Mr Yohuno acknowledged the support of his family, colleagues and loved ones, crediting them for his success.

He also paid tribute to his predecessors, whose contributions he said, laid the foundation for the current achievements of the service.

To the courageous policemen and policewomen who believe in my ability to lead, I commit to remaining diligent and transparent in all pursuits to collectively build the service we aspire to for our beloved nation, he stressed.

Profile

Mr Yohuno, with Police Service Number PO 001731, was born on December 27, 1965, and was enlisted into the Ghana Police Service as a lance corporal on August 1, 1985.

He rose through the ranks to become a Commissioner of Police and subsequently occupied the high office of Deputy IGP in charge of Operations before his latest elevation last Thursday, March 13, 2025, exactly 33 years after he was commissioned into the officers corps.

He is a seasoned law enforcement officer with four decades of service in the Ghana Police Service, having established himself as a dedicated and professional leader committed to ensuring the safety and security of Ghanaian citizens.

Mr Yohunos educational background include an Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Project Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration (Human Resource Management) from the University of Ghana Business School.

He holds a Diploma in Police Administration from the Ghana Police College, and was commissioned into the officer corps on March 13, 1992.

He graduated as a Chief Inspector, General Policing, on August 1, 1986.

The new IGP obtained General Certificate of Education (Advance Level) in 1982, and General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level) in 1980.

His professional career spans public safety, crisis management, strategic communication and team leadership.

Over the years, Mr Yohunu earned several accolades for his service, including the State Honour, Grand Medal, awarded for his meritorious contributions to combating armed robbery and other criminal activities.

He has also received special promotions to the ranks of Deputy Commissioner of Police and Commissioner of Police in recognition of his distinguished service.

Career

Throughout his career, Mr Yohuno is credited with a strong ability to manage complex security challenges, both nationally and internationally.

His work has been characterised by a focus on crime prevention, intelligence-led operations and public safety.

One of his notable contributions is the establishment of the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID) which has played a critical role in preventing and detecting serious crimes across the country.

Under his leadership, the PID developed actionable intelligence that led to the arrest of numerous notorious criminals.

Another significant achievement of his is the creation of the Informant Reward System, an initiative designed to encourage civilians to provide valuable information to the police.

This system has proven effective in solving high-profile cases and reducing crime rates.

Mr Yohuno has also led several successful operations targeting armed robbers, carjackers and international criminal syndicates, earning him widespread recognition for his efforts in combating organised crime.

In addition to his national contributions, Mr Yohunu has served in United Nations peacekeeping missions in East Timor and Bosnia Herzegovina.

In those roles, he was responsible for conducting investigations, gathering intelligence and ensuring community safety, further showcasing his expertise in maintaining peace and security in challenging environments.

As Deputy IGP, he was focused on transforming the Ghana Police Service into a world-class institution capable of delivering democratic, protective and peaceful services in line with international best practices.

Beyond his professional achievements, Mr Yohuno is a devoted family man.
Next article: Mahama calls for better welfare for Police officers at IGP swearing-in

Help build an inclusive digital Ghana - Communications Minister urges MAG officials

Beatrice Laryea Mar - 14 - 2025 , 17:50 3 minutes read

The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Sam Nartey George, has called on members of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) to ensure inclusive participation as they work to reset Ghana's digital agenda.

Mr Nartey George emphasized that Ghana's digital transformation cannot be achieved in isolation and that it requires a shared responsibility, demanding collaboration from all stakeholders.

He made these remarks in a speech read on his behalf by IT Specialist, Dr Mark Oliver Kevor at the press launch and inauguration of the of the 2025 IGF MAG in Accra on Wednesday, March 5.

The Ghana IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group is a collaborative body formed to guide and support the planning and implementation of the countrys internet usage policies.

It includes a diverse group of stakeholders from government, the private sector, civil society, academia, and technical communities, all of whom play a key role in fostering inclusive dialogue on internet governance issues.

Resetting agenda

"We find ourselves at a defining moment in Ghana's digital transformation journey, where it is stricter to not just move forward but also to pause, reflect and also reset. Today, as we launch this important platform and initiative, we are also resetting Ghana's digital agenda," he said.

Dr Tanko Rashid Computer is Co-Chair of the Ghana IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group

"As we inaugurate the Ghana IGF Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group and officially launch it, we need to look at all that come out with policies governing the internet. Let us face forward, united in purpose, as we reset and build a digital Ghana that is inclusive, innovative and ready to embrace the future," he stressed.

Sustainable development

The Minister further highlighted the need for sustainable development through technology as the nation tackles emerging challenges such as cybersecurity. He urged the MAG to work toward creating opportunities for all Ghanaians.

"The theme for todays event, Building an Inclusive Digital Future Together, is both a guiding principle and a call to action. In this context, we look to you for leadership, as your efforts will help us reset and redefine Ghana's digital agenda, focusing on policy cohesion, innovation, and inclusion," he stated.

"With the inauguration of the MAG today, we are taking an important step toward a more inclusive, equitable, and forward-thinking digital agenda for Ghana."

Dr Mark Oliver Kevor read the speech on behalf of the Minister of Communications

"As we reset our digital agenda, we must remember that this journey will require patience, dialogue, compromise and most importantly, bold action. To the advisory group, I urge you to be bold in your recommendations and inclusive in your outreach," he added.

Globalisation

The Member of Parliament for Tempane, Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, stated that globalization has brought nations closer together, making it essential to have conversations about the most visible aspects of the world in ways that drive meaningful change.

She acknowledged that while the internet has been a blessing to humanity, it also comes with its challenges, providing opportunities to discuss how to secure the sustainability of the digital space.

"The visibility and impact of globalization in nearly every aspect of life can largely be attributed to the rise of the internet."

She continued, "This forum offers an opportunity to propose ideas for ensuring the sustainability of digital policies, while also exploring innovative strategies to minimize inefficiency, promote digital inclusiveness, and build capacity to address the challenges posed by the internet."

Madam Akanvariba, who chairs the MAG, emphasized their vision for the country: to establish a strong, inclusive digital ecosystem in Ghana, where all citizens can actively participate and benefit from the internet.

"This initiative will focus on bridging the digital divide, promoting responsible online behavior, and empowering Ghanaian stakeholders to shape the nation's digital future through open dialogue and policy engagement," she assured.
Previous article: See the full details of Ken Ofori-Atta's suit against the Special Prosecutor over 'wanted' declaration

Ken Ofori-Atta takes legal action against OSP for declaring him wanted

Beatrice Laryea Mar - 15 - 2025 , 19:39 2 minutes read

Former Finance Minister Mr Ken Ofori-Atta has filed a lawsuit against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and its head, Kissi Agyebeng, accusing them of unlawfully declaring him a wanted person.

The lawsuit, submitted to the Accra High Court on Thursday, March 13, 2025, seeks compensation and a declaration that the OSPs actions infringed upon his fundamental human rights.

Ofori-Attas legal team argues that the public declaration has caused significant and irreparable harm to his reputation and has led to undue stress, particularly as his details reportedly remain listed on the OSPs website as a wanted individual.

The OSP had announced on February 12, 2025, that Mr. Ofori-Atta was a fugitive from justice, citing his failure to respond to invitations for questioning related to ongoing corruption investigations.

The anti-graft agency justified the move by stating that his absence was obstructing its work and necessitated a public notice to assist in his apprehension.

However, Mr. Ofori-Attas lawyers contend that the declaration was both unjust and arbitrary.

They further contend that their client, a respected investment banker and former minister, had not deliberately evaded the OSP but was dealing with serious health challenges, including preparations for a major medical procedure.

His legal team insists that these health issues were formally communicated to the OSP prior to the declaration.

Though the OSP, on February 18, 2025, announced that it had removed Mr. Ofori-Attas name from the wanted list following assurances of his return to Ghana, his legal representatives are dissatisfied.

Mr. Ofori-Atta is asking the court to rule that the Special Prosecutors conduct breached his rights to dignity, fair treatment, and administrative justice. He is also demanding compensation for the damages caused by the OSPs announcement.

The suit filed at the High Court, Human Rights Division calls for several declarations, including:

1. The OSP has no legal mandate to use media briefings to declare an individual wanted. Ken Ofori-Atta argues that such declarations fall under police jurisdiction and must be done with court approval.



2. By declaring him wanted without proper legal basis, the OSP allegedly exceeded its authority under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Operations) Regulations, 2018 (LI 2374).

3. The alleged unlawful declaration infringes on his personal liberty (Article 14) and freedom of movement (Article 21) as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution. It also violates international human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and People's Rights (AfCHPR).
Next article: One person dead, another rescued from fatal accident at Gomoa Assin

Tourism Minister urges Queenmothers to drive socioeconomic development

GNA Mar - 15 - 2025 , 18:37 2 minutes read

The Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MoTAC), Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has urged queenmothers across the country to become key agents of development and help bring about the needed socioeconomic growth in their communities.

She encouraged them to see themselves not only as kingmakers and custodians of tradition and folklore but also as nation-builders who promote culture, peace, human dignity, and development, with a special focus on women, girls, and children.

Madam Dzifa Gomashie made this call during a meeting with leaders and members of the Ghana National Association of Queenmothers, also known as Unity Queens, in Accra, where they discussed issues related to womens empowerment, growth, development, and violence against women.

The Minister highlighted the significant role queenmothers have played over the years in advocating for the elimination of harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, child marriage, and the removal of taxes on sanitary pads, among others, through their platforms.

As a member of the association herself, Madam Dzifa Gomashie stated: We want to promote the 16 Regions, and what queenmothers can do for us is to be the vehicle through which all communications are disseminated among our people.

She also emphasized that Ghanas strength in the tourism sector has been rooted in its rich culture, traditions, and creative artselements that have become the countrys tourism products. She called on everyone, including the queenmothers, to help promote and showcase these unique aspects of Ghanas heritage.

Our strength is really in our culture and heritage so as custodians who are better to advance these processes than our Queenmothers, Madam Dzifa Gomashie added.

She further encouraged the queenmothers to pass down tradition and culture to the younger generation. Additionally, she noted that the Ministry of Tourism would collaborate with the Ministries of Trade, Education, Local Government, and Chieftaincy to empower the queenmothers in promoting women and girls in business and education.

Nana Adwoa Ankyaa Awindor, Founder of the Ghana National Association of Queenmothers, praised the Minister for her unwavering support over the years and congratulated her on her appointment as Minister for Tourism.

She highlighted the significant role the association has played in shaping Ghanas social landscape, particularly in advocating for critical issues affecting children, women, and youth.

The association has also been instrumental in providing solutions to challenges such as child marriage, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, human trafficking, and menstrual hygiene.

Our commitment remains steadfast, we are poised to championing socioeconomic growth, financial empowerment, community development, preserving tradition and culture to ensure they remained relevant and dynamic in todays world, she said.
2025 Budget: A shift towards youth empowerment, fiscal discipline amidst growing deficit?

Dr Samuel Kofi Darkwa Politics Mar - 15 - 2025 , 09:57 4 minutes read

Resident John Mahamas 2025 budget aims to focus on fiscal discipline, youth empowerment and social interventions, while also addressing Ghanas rising debt and fiscal deficit.

The budget presents a bold attempt to realign the country's economic trajectory, with a focus on reducing government expenditure, expanding youth-focused programmes, and increasing funding for social services. However, some of the government's decisions, particularly around tax reforms, have sparked debate about their long-term sustainability.

The 2025 budget reflects a notable reduction in government expenditure.

Total spending is projected at GH269.1 billion, down from GH279.2 billion in 2024.

This cut is part of the governments broader plan to stabilise the economy and reduce the fiscal deficit.

The deficit is projected at GH43.8 billion (3.1 per cent of GDP), a significant improvement compared to the previous years GH56.9 billion (4.1 per cent of GDP).

Despite these cuts, the government has focused on expanding social interventions, particularly those targeting the youth.

Youth-centred policies

The 2025 budget places significant emphasis on policies aimed at benefitting the youth. GH3.5 billion has been allocated to sustain the Free-SHS programme, providing tuition, boarding and other expenses for students.

Additionally, a new No-Academic-Fee Policy will waive academic fees for first-year public tertiary students, with GH499.8 million set aside for this initiative.

Further, gender-focused policies include GH292.4 million for providing free sanitary pads to girls in primary and secondary schools, and GH1.788 billion for the School Feeding Programme, which will serve approximately 3.5 million students.

There is also a focus on vocational training and job creation, with GH300 million for the National Apprenticeship Programme and GH100 million for the National Coders Programme, helping to address the high youth unemployment rate.

Tax reforms

A major aspect of the 2025 budget is the abolition of certain taxes, most notably the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) and the betting tax.

The E-Levy, introduced in 2022, was widely disliked for its negative impact on mobile money transactions.

Its removal is seen by many as a victory for ordinary Ghanaians.

Similarly, the betting tax abolition has been welcomed, although some experts argue it could have been maintained, or even reduced, to help curb youth gambling, which is an emerging problem.

However, the governments decision to retain the COVID-19 Levy, with a promise to phase it out later in 2025, has sparked criticism.

Despite efforts to consolidate the countrys fiscal situation, the high deficit and mounting debt have led many to question the wisdom of tax cuts at this stage.

The projected fiscal deficit of GH43.8 billion raises concerns over Ghanas ability to maintain fiscal discipline while cutting taxes.

Meanwhile, the decision to abolish taxes has drawn comparisons to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government's 2017 move to cancel certain taxes, only to later reintroduce new ones.

Like Mahamas government, the NPP promised during its 2016 campaign to abolish certain taxes, which it did, but later reintroduced others to cover government spending.

Many experts speculate that President Mahama's government could face a similar situation and may eventually have to reintroduce some of these taxes if revenue mobilisation falls short.

Given the country's high debt and fiscal deficit, the long-term sustainability of these tax cuts remains uncertain.

Debt management and balancing social investments

Ghana's public debt remains a major concern, with a substantial debt overhang. While the government is working on restructuring the debt and reducing domestic borrowing, the sheer scale of the debt presents a significant economic challenge.

The fiscal deficit, coupled with the need to service debt obligations, has raised doubts among critics about the government's ability to meet its fiscal targets and fulfil its promises to the public.

The budgets focus on improving revenue mobilisation through enhanced compliance and tax reforms is crucial.

However, without significant improvements in these areas, it is unclear how the government will reduce the fiscal deficit without reintroducing some of the taxes it has abolished.

The 2025 budget represents a complex balancing act for President Mahamas government.

While the focus on youth empowerment, education and social interventions is commendable, the abolition of taxes and the growing fiscal deficit pose significant risks.

The government must strike a delicate balance between maintaining fiscal discipline and delivering on its promises to the youth and vulnerable groups.

The challenge will be in ensuring that fiscal consolidation efforts continue while fulfilling social promises.

Whether the tax cuts will remain permanent or be reversed in the future remains to be seen, but the governments ability to navigate these economic challenges will define its legacy in the years to come.

In conclusion, while the 2025 budget offers hope for a more inclusive economy with a strong focus on the youth, the sustainability of the tax cuts and the high fiscal deficit are major concerns.

The government's ability to meet its fiscal targets, reduce the deficit and manage its debt will determine the long-term success of the budget.

The writer is a Political Scientist
COCOBOD  State control or full liberalisation?

Dr John Osae-Kwapong Politics Mar - 15 - 2025 , 09:57 5 minutes read

The cocoa sector highlights in the just-presented Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget are extremely worrying.

It reiterates what the President also said in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on February 27, 2025.

The cocoa sector, according to the SONA and FY 2025 budget, is characterised by high debt.

Several factors may explain this but the lack of operational efficiency may also explain the current situation COCOBOD finds itself in.

The revelations about COCOBOD are not new though.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme highlighted the challenges facing the sector.

The promised COCOBOD Turnaround Strategy was never delivered.

And with a new government in place, it remains to be seen whether this legacy problem will be taken up.

Whatever the case is, sooner rather than later, what to do about the organisations debt and its operational efficiency would need an answer.

What are the viable options?

Option 1  Maintain state control?

The State exercises different levels of control across the cocoa value-chain in terms of all the key decision points.

Who does what, when and how varies depending on where the decision is being made.

At the stage of ownership (who do cocoa farms belong to, for example) and the production phase (growing, harvesting, drying the beans, etc.) the level of state control is almost non-existent.

The answer to who does what, when, and how, is left largely to private actors  cocoa farmers.

Even at the production phase where there is state involvement, it is not to control the decision-making points but to provide support to a sector.

This changes though when it comes to the decision point of marketing and export.

Here, The State flexes its full muscle and enjoys an almost monopoly over the marketing and export of cocoa [PNDC Law 81, Under S.4 (6)] In particular, the State determines the producer price of cocoa, an exercise which in the 4th republic has been subjected to our partisan politics over the question of a fair and adequate price.

Is the current fiscal situation the result of an institutional arrangement that gives the State this marketing and export monopoly?

Is the lack of operational efficiency simply a matter of poor corporate practices? Is it possible to maintain state control and improve operational efficiency, including turning around the fiscal situation of COCOBOD?

These are questions that must be answered earnestly.

Option 2  Full liberalisation

The solution, often proffered, when public corporations such as COCOBOD appear to face the kind of challenges described in both the SONA and FY 2025 budget is privatisation. In the coca sector, the debate has been whether to fully liberalise in a way that allows private actors to participate not just at the point of production (growing and harvesting cocoa) but also during the marketing and export.

There are private actors involved, but that is restricted to the internal marketing of cocoa. Essentially, private buyers (Licensed Buying Companies) can purchase cocoa directly from the farmers but on behalf of the State.

The law also states that it is cocoa which is the property of COCOBOD; or

It is cocoa which has been graded and sealed, the export of which has been authorised in writing by the certifying authority of the Board.

But it is also clear that the State still exerts control.

What will a fully liberalised sector look like? The State will cede control over the marketing (internal or external) and export of cocoa.

More importantly, the practice of the State determining the producer price of cocoa will cease.

Price determination will be based purely on market factors.

Which way forward?

During my dissertation research, I spoke with policy makers including a former minister of finance who made it very clear to me that they did not foresee a future where the State completely gives up control of the cocoa sector.

I have come to believe over the years, with governments changing, that what I discovered during my research is true.

The State is unwilling to cede control over the cocoa sector, especially when it comes to the entire marketing and export value chain. I am therefore very skeptical that Ghana will see a fully liberalised cocoa sector.

But that still leaves the problem of how to improve COCOBODs efficiency unresolved.

What about a competitor to COCOBOD? By that I mean, changing the rules of marketing and export to allow a private entity to emerge, independent of state control and is legally permitted to set price, buy, and export cocoa, etc.

This gives farmers a choice of not only selling to state-approved license buying companies but also of price options.

Maybe, opening the sector fully where there is real market competition is the jolt COCOBOD needs to improve operational efficiency and turn its fortunes around.

The writer is the Project Director, Democracy Project

Pull Quote: The promised COCOBOD Turnaround Strategy was never delivered.

And with a new government in place, it remains to be seen whether this legacy problem will be taken up.
Lenovos Idea Tab Pro tablet is now available in India. The device was originally announced during CES 2025 and features a 12.7-inch LCD with 2,944 x 1,840px resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. There are four JBL speakers with Dolby Atmos and you also get support for stylus input via Lenovos Tab Pen Plus, which is included in the retail box.



Lenovo Idea Tab Pro

The tablet is equipped with MediaTeks Dimensity 8300 chipset and paired with 8GB RAM and 128/256GB storage. You can also expand the storage via the microSD card slot. Theres a 13MP rear-facing camera and an 8MP module on the front.

The slate ships with Lenovo ZUI 16 based on Android 14 and is promised two Android version updates and four years of security patches. You also get Google Gemini AI features, circle-to-search as well as Lenovo Smart Connect for file sharing to PCs and smartphones. Idea Tab Pro features a 10,200mAh battery with 45W charging.

Lenovo Idea Tab Pro comes in a single Luna Grey color and starts at INR 27,999 ($322) for the 8/128GB trim. The 12/256GB version is priced at INR 30,999 ($356). The device is on open sale from Lenovo India and Amazon.

Source
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This week brought us the first look at the Google Pixel 10 series, which is expected for the early fall. It seems like Google will keep the design mostly intact and that both the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro will retain the 6.3-inch display size. The same goes for the Pixel 10 Pro XL, which has a 6.8-inch display

The most interesting bit in these renders is the fact that the vanilla Pixel 10 has a third camera on the back! The lack of a zoom camera was the biggest differentiator to the Pro models. We don't know what camera Google will use for the vanilla, though.

The Galaxy S25 Edge will have a battery rated at 3,786 mAh, which will translate into a marketed typical capacity of 3,900 mAh. Galaxy S25 Edge will allegedly start at KRW 1,500,000 ($1,030) in its 256GB trim, while the 512GB variant will go for KRW 1,630,000 ($1,120). According to past rumors and leaks, the S25 Edge will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, paired with 12GB of RAM. It will have a 120 Hz refresh rate screen and support for 25W wired charging. There will only be two cameras on the rear, of which the main one will have 200 MP resolution.



CAD renders for the Google Pixel 10 show a third camera, 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL also with three The renders show the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL - there are no images for the next Pixel Fold just yet.





Galaxy S25 Edge pricing information leaks It should slot in between the S25+ and S25 Ultra, as previously anticipated.



The European prices of Motorola's upcoming phones leaked this week. The Edge 60 Fusion will be the cheapest of the trio at 350, followed by the Edge 60 at 380, while the Edge 60 Pro will allegedly go for 600. The Moto G86 will start at 330. Finally, the Moto G56 is said to cost 250.

Realme's P3 series will launch in India on March 19. The P3 Ultra will be equipped with MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Ultra chipset. The chip is apparently good for an AnTuTu score of 1,45 million and will be paired with LPDDR5x RAM. P3 Ultra also has a massive 6,000 mAh battery, which will support 80W wired charging. The device will also get bypass charging and a 6,050mm VC cooling system. Realme P3 5G will debut Qualcomms new Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chip in India. It will also get a 120Hz AMOLED display, a 6,000 mAh battery with 45W wired charging and IP69 ingress protection.



Realme P3 5G and P3 Ultra launch date confirmed We also get some key specs for both upcoming P3 series.





Xiaomi 15T and 15T Pro are on the way The Pro could be reminiscent of a certain Redmi model headed to China soon.



Check out our detailed comparison between the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, as well as our versus between a pair of Galaxies - the S25+ and the S25 Ultra.



Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review Xiaomi ironed out all of the mishaps from the Buds 5 while delivering better sound and battery life.


The Office of the Governor didn't get a response back from Attorney General Doug Moylan over a request for a special prosecutor to investigate his more than 70 alleged hiring and promotion violations and will file a request for a declaratory judgment "in due course," Adelup spokesperson Krystal Paco- San Agustin said.

Adelup legal counsel Jeffrey Moots last week alleged over 70 hiring and promotion violations involving the attorney general and his chief deputy, and said Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero planned to have a special assistant attorney general and prosecutor appointed to investigate the matter.

Attorney General Douglas Moylan has called it retaliation, pointing out that the governor has a conflict of interest because the AGs office is challenging the Mangilao hospital project and pursuing several government corruption cases against the administration.

Moylan has asked lawmakers to intervene and conduct their own investigation of the unfounded allegations from Adelup, and to pass a measure setting clear terms for when and how a special prosecutor should be appointed.

However, earlier this week Speaker Frank Blas Jr. said the Legislature would not get in the middle of things between the governor and the attorney general.

Im not getting involved in that, Blas told the Pacific Daily News on Monday, adding that its the role of the courts, not the Legislature, to settle disputes over the law.

Moots asked AG Moylan to respond to the governors request by March 12, 2025.

Should he decline, the governors office has said it will seek a declaratory judgment in accordance with Supreme Court of Guam guidance.

Paco-San Agustin said the AG did not respond by the March 12 deadline and the governor's office would file in due course.

The governor's office in response to the AG requesting the Legislature to investigate said Moylan should welcome a special prosecutor's investigation if he has nothing to hide.

"If his conduct was lawful, he should present his arguments to the court, which has the last word on the meaning of Guam law," Adelup said.

Moylan has defended the legality of hiring and promotion practices at his office, and repeatedly denied nepotism and involvement in the hiring of his brother and fiancee, who are among the highest paid personnel at the office.

The Pacific Daily News reached out to Moylan for comment, but didn't get a response as of 6 p.m. Saturday.
Hundreds of family members, friends and dozens of uniformed personnel of the Guam Fire Department dressed to the nines and converged on the Dusit Thani Hotel Guam to witness 32 men and women change their lives.

On stage was the newest cohort of island protectors, graduates who arrived as the Guam Fire Departments fire recruits of Cycle 23. After six months of pushing their bodies past known physical limits, plus filling and re-filling their heads with critical first-responder knowledge and application, they were proud to leave the hotel on Saturday as bona fide firefighter Is.

They will have about a week before reporting to their duty stations, announced for the first time at the end of the graduation ceremony. They will assist the department as a whole during Fire Prevention Week before heading to their assignments.

Firefighter I Caleb Dixon learned his platoon  B  and that he will be working at Station 6 in Inalahan. Dixon lives in Yigo.

Its a long drive for me, but I wont complain, he said. I want to go further. I want to know what other certificates or academies I can go to, get more stuff under my belt. I want to go as far as I can possibly can.

Saturday marked the start of his fulfilling a childhood dream, for he has wanted to be a firefighter for as long as he can remember. He said he was fortunate to be inspired by a man who is approaching three decades with GFD.

The Guam Fire Department is a very proud organization, and so once you feel that pride, you definitely want to pass that on. So I am extremely proud tonight, said Cpt. Bradley Dixon, Calebs father.

Firefighter I Aniceto C. Iglopas had a roller-coaster six months. He was named class commander at first, was relieved for a few months, and then he reclaimed his role as class commander for the final two months. Along the way, he was ranked first in physical fitness and then traded leads with a classmate for the duration of the academy  but eventually lost to class winner Jeremiah Sablan, whom he said will be an amazing firefighter.

He also spent some time at the top academically, but Jeff Aggabao leapfrogged him as the cycles honor graduate. For the hose drag champion, he was no match for clear winner Jose San Nicolas, who pulled 17 sections of fire hose from a truck, dragging more than 600 pounds on the ground before he stopped.

Iglopas, a first lieutenant in the Guam Army National Guard and leader of the Scout Platoon, finished at the No. 2 spot physically and academically and was presented with the Chiefs Coin, bestowed by Fire Chief Daren Burrier. He admitted being class commander may have taken away from finishing at the top in either category, but his response showed why he was named commander.

I am super grateful that I can take the burden of leadership and let my peers succeed so they can go up there first. I will always place them before myself, he said. I will definitely retire here but I will elevate it to another level. I hope to be an LT one day, eventually a captain and hopefully a chief so one day I can address any changes I feel the department needs, and also train the next generation.
An $8.2 million grant for expansion of the Guam Veterans Cemetery, announced by the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio Administration in 2022, was never received by the government, according to a Friday oversight hearing of the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs.

GovGuam can still secure funding to expand the cemetery, according to Guam OVA Director Jose San Agustin. But it may not come until fiscal year 2026.

Adelup on Oct. 21, 2022 announced the $8.2 million was awarded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration to expand the local veterans cemetery.

The funds were supposed to be used for the construction of above-ground crypts, grading, drainage, irrigation, landscaping, and supporting infrastructure starting in January 2023 at the Guam Veterans Cemetery, according to the press release from Adelup.

But the government never got that money, San Agustin, who was not in charge of the office at the time, clarified on Friday.

He said his office is still going through the process of getting funding through the VA cemetery administration.

It was never awarded, San Agustin said, in response to questioning from Sen. Shawn Gumataotao.

Gumataotao replied that veterans were told the cemetery would get a big infusion of money, today youre saying that does not exist?

San Agustin clarified that his predecessor, former director P. Tim Aguon, had gone after a grant opportunity to the funds.

But the project still had to go through a pre-application process with the VA cemetery administration to determine eligibility, San Agustin told Gumataotao.

You guys misrepresented that the infusion of money into that cemetery, the senator replied. When veterans are every day dying and looking for a place to where their families will lay them to rest.

Senator, let me remind you, Im a veteran. I will not let that happen, San Agustin replied.

At a different point during the oversight hearing, the OVA director shared that his office is still seeking about $13.6 million under the same grant to expand the cemetery, which he believes can be secured by next fiscal year.

He said his office submitted a packet for the grant last July, and was informed that Guam ranked 14th among applicants, high enough to be considered Priority I.

Back in 2023, San Agustin told the Pacific Daily News that the cemetery was still considered Priority III, meaning the expansion wasnt needed to avoid burial disruption.

It was not made clear at the time that the grant money was not actually awarded to GovGuam.

San Agustin on Friday called the improved priority for the local vet cemetery a significant achievement, but said there are still other steps the government has to clear.

He said the OVA still has to get an environmental assessment ready for the site. The office is finalizing a bid for architectural and design work, San Agustin said, and OVA plans to re-submit an application for the grant money by July.

Sen. Chris Barnett at one point remarked that it was San Agustins hard work that had raised the priority level for the cemetery, and got Guam closer to an expansion.

The former director or the administration may have been overzealous in announcing that we actually got this $8 million grant becauselets be honestit was an election year in 2022, Barnett said.

The 2022 announcement of the award from Adelup came about two weeks before a contested gubernatorial election.

Expansion

San Agustin on Friday said if the office secures the $13.6 million grant in fiscal 2026, the funding can be used to remove a hill in the center of the veterans cemetery, where a crypt with another 1,200 burial spaces can be built, San Agustin told senators.

He said the vet cemetery has enough burial space for about another four years, but the extra 1,2000 crypt spaces will add about 12 years onto the lifespan of the cemetery.

Further down the road, What I should be doing  start looking for another property to open a new veterans cemetery, San Agustin said.

There wasnt enough space to expand the cemetery in the same area, the director said. Down the road, there may be a 10-acre plot the government owns in Santa Rita-Sumai which could be used to expand the cemetery further.

Besides the expansion, San Agustin shared that a renovation of the cemetery chapel is about 80% completed. The project got $816,680 for mitigation and repairs, and the chapel is now just waiting on cosmetic work.
Roland Junior Guzman  the man accused in and arrested for three separate crimes in January, was the only suspect on this weeks court calendar who was listed as the defendant in three separate trials.

One of those three is already over, and the second one will end soon. All of his cases stem from a search warrant by local and federal law enforcement around 5 a.m. Jan. 10, 2025.

Two days earlier, Guzman was the target in a controlled buy operation by the Guam Police Department. During that purchase, police learned of a gun on the premises, according to the complaint.

Federal agents joined local police in executing the warrant, where they found 174 gross grams of suspected methamphetamine, as well as a firearm, drug paraphernalia and one of the bills used in the controlled buy two days earlier, according to court documents.

Police found Guzman in a bedroom and found a black handgun on a cabinet next to the bed. Also on the cabinet was a GoPro case where they found 174.6 grams of suspected methamphetamine as well as a bundle of plastic resealable bags and a digital scale, the magistrates complaint states.

Guzman told police he didnt live at the residence, but did stay in the bedroom sometimes. He said his uncle owned the residence and that he didnt know his uncles last name and denied ownership of any illicit items, the complaint states.

He was arrested and charged with two counts of drug possession with intent to distribute, and firearms possession.

While there, police also found a Nissan Frontier in the garage that was reported stolen in June 2024, according to another complaint.

A man told police he fell asleep at the site of a house he was building and left the key fob near where he was sleeping. He woke up to the sound of engine starting and observed his vehicle reversing out the driveway, court documents state.

Guzmans girlfriend told police that Guzman had won the truck in a dart game sometime around Thanksgiving. The trucks registered owner told police the truck was his, but it had been heavily modified with a lift kit, new tires, new lights and stickers inside and out.

Guzman was charged with theft by receiving in that case.

For his third case, Guzman was also charged with multiple felony counts related to a family violence case. Guzmans girlfriend had reported to police that in August 2024, Guzman had beaten her severely, resulting in multiple bruises on her face and body.

The theft by receiving charge and family violence charges were handled in two separate trials in Superior Court of Guam Judge Maria T. Cenzons courtroom.

On Wednesday, a jury acquitted Guzman of the theft by receiving charge, for the earlier mentioned Nissan Frontier. According to co-defense attorney Peter J. Santos, the government could not prove that Guzman knew it was stolen because he did, as his girlfriend told police, win the truck in a dart game.

Later that day, trial commenced for Guzman in the family violence case. The victim testified that she had lied to police when she filed the report in August 2024.

On the witness stand, the victim was shown pictures from her initial claim that Guzman had beaten her. She told the court that she had lied to police and the injuries actually came from multiple falls from her practicing dancing on a pole.

She said that earlier this year, she had written a letter to the attorney general recanting her police report and described in the letter how she got the bruises.

That case is ongoing and continues Monday morning.

The third case, the drugs and firearms charges, is presided over by Judge Vernon P. Perez and it has pretrial conferences scheduled for 9 a.m. March 18, and 1:30 p.m. March 19.

He is also represented by the Alternate Public Defender in the last case. In the first two, he was represented by Tyler Scott and Santos from the Alternate Public Defenders office.
Senators have reached out to Guam Del. James Moylan over concerns of funding for Guam and possible cuts to the U.S. Department of Education staffing that could impact the local Guam DOE.

Sens. Chris Barnett and Vince Borja both sent separate letters voicing their concerns about what's been happening on the federal level in Washington, D.C.

Barnett sent a March 11 letter to Moylan asking for answers over funding cuts and what he is doing to restore them. The senator said instead of responding, Moylan released vague statements about filing amendments to the budget without mentioning that those amendments failed.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1968 on Tuesday, setting the federal budget through September 30, 2025.

While key national programs such as Medicare, Social Security, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program were funded, Guam was left behind losing much needed funding for law enforcement, public safety, and community services, Barnett said.

Barnett said Moylan hasn't provided clear answers.

Congressman Moylans amendments failed because he did not garner supportnot even from his own party. Was this a real fight or just political theater? Barnett said in a statement. Last year, Congressman Moylan was quick to take credit for funding winsso where is he now, while Guam loses? Our people expect results, not more excuses.

Borja, who has oversight over education, voiced concerns to Moylan over possible cuts to the U.S. DOE where over 1,300 employees have been advised they will be laid off in a March 13 letter.

He said it confirms the attempts of the Trump administration to drastically reduce the workforce levels of the federal entity.

"While we recognize that objectives of the administration are to shift many of the functions and responsibilities of the department to the state and territorial levels, our concern is how this will impact Guam and our ability to secure much needed federal funding for education," Borja wrote to Moylan.

Senators met Moylan and his team last weekend, who assured senators that no adverse impacts were forthcoming with education funding, Borja said. The senator said that was why the Guam Legislature canceled an emergency session to discuss his legislation to provide an emergency revolving fund for GDOE.

But with the mass layoffs, there are now many questions and the challenge of possibly navigating these unanticipated changes and their potential repercussions, the senator wrote.

He said the layoffs at U.S. DOE could threaten to disrupt critical operations and funding streams that are vital for the functioning of GDOE.

"Therefore, it is imperative that we receive timely and accurate information from your office to help mitigate these impacts, if there are any," Borja wrote to Moylan.

The senator postponed a planned town hall meeting on education at Captain H.B. Price Elementary School for Thursday as they wait for more information about policy changes from U.S. DOE.

While we are eager to engage with students, parents, faculty and the broader community on critical educational matter, it is important that we have the most accurate and up-to-date information available, Borja said in a statement. This postponement allows for a more productive discussion and ensures that GDOE has time to implement necessary process improvements.

A new date for meeting will be announced in the coming weeks.

Working meeting

Borja and other senators on Tuesday met with GDOE, Department of Administration and Bureau of Budget and Management Research and the Guam Board of Education to collaborate on viable solutions to address GDOE's fiscal challenges.

The working meeting was productive and underscored the Guam Legislatures commitment to supporting GDOE in its mission to serve our islands students, Borja said. We are exploring immediate solutions, including reallocating unspent funds already available to GDOE, as well as the possibility of advancing allocations through the Department of Administration.

Sen. Chris Duenas, chairman of the Committee on Finance & Government Operations, emphasized the importance of fiscal responsibility and timely action.

Ensuring that our children continue to receive a quality education is our highest priority. We are working diligently to identify financial pathways that will stabilize GDOEs operations without causing further disruptions," he said.

Speaker Frank Blas Jr. reaffirmed the Legislatures commitment to working with all stakeholders to find solutions.

Education is a cornerstone of our islands future. We will continue to engage with our federal partners, the administration, and GDOE leadership to ensure that the necessary funding is available to meet the needs of our students and educators. I will ensure that we exhaust all options first before convening an emergency session, GDOE has their work cut out and I look forward to hearing from them in the next coming days," the speaker said.
The University of Guam is seeking certification that would help fund tree planting efforts in southern Guam.

As part of its Guam Restoration of Watersheds Initiative, the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant is seeking Gold Standard carbon credit certification for its tree planting efforts in southern Guam.

Carbon credit certification will provide a revenue generating method to support the planting of trees, reduction of land erosion, protection of freshwater sources, and the improvement of downstream coral reefs and essential fish habitat, UOG said in a release.

UOG CIS& SG will hold a community meeting to share about the process of obtaining Gold Standard Carbon Credit Certification and invite community input. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. April 7 at the Hyatt Regency Guam as a pre-meeting of the 16th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability.

The GROW Initiative restores eroding hillsides in southern Guam, known as badlands. Over 16,800 native and culturally significant trees were planted in the past six years to improve watershed ecosystems.

"Tree planting efforts are important for our community, ecosystems, and economy," said Austin Shelton Ph.D., director of UOG CIS & SG, in a statement. "Through seeking Gold Standard carbon credit certification, we are working diversify funding sources beyond grants to ensure this important work can always continue. Please join us at the community meeting to learn, engage, and help shape the future of this important project."

Through this certification process, the project will establish measurable carbon sequestration benefits that will generate income that will support local conservation and sustainability efforts.

"This project is a model for community-driven conservation," said Fran Castro, associate director for operations and development of UOG CIS & SG. "By securing carbon credit certification, we are not only protecting Guams natural resources but also creating long-term financial sustainability for this initiative. The input from this meeting will be essential to ensure the project benefits both the environment and the community."

Ha Sustainability, a Hawaii-based consulting firm specializing in environmental and climate initiatives, is guiding UOG CIS & SG through this process. Funding for this project is provided from the U.S. Climate Alliance.

The event is free and open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend. Registration is encouraged to secure your seat as space is limited.

Attendees can register at https://bit.ly/UgumCarbon.

For more information, contact Clementine Schnabel at schnabelc@triton.uog.edu.
The Canadian manufacturer D-Wave Quantum Inc. announced on Wednesday that it had solved a useful problem for the first time with a quantum computer that surpasses the capabilities of conventional supercomputers.

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The D-Wave machine is said to have run a simulation in just a few minutes that would take a supercomputer almost a million years and more energy than the entire world population consumes in a year. The results were presented by the international research team led by D-Wave in a paper published am Wednesday in the journal Science. The research builds on prework from 2023.

Quantum computer vs. supercomputer

In of its press release, the company calls its experiment a demonstration of quantum superiority. This term usually refers to the point at which quantum computers solve problems that no classical supercomputer could solve in a realistic amount of time. Other researchers prefer the less politically charged term quantum advantage.

Manufacturers of quantum computers repeatedly claim to have beaten classic supercomputers. Just last December, Google claimed to have provided just such proof with its new quantum chip Willow. Google's first Behauptung of quantum superiority from 2019 was disproved after a short time. The core problem with these experiments so far has been that the problems solved were highly academic and had no practical use whatsoever.

Simulation of magnetic materials

The current case should be different. Our demonstration of the superiority of quantum computing on a useful problem is an industry first. All other claims that quantum systems outperform classical computers have been disputed or involved the generation of random numbers with no practical value, says D-Wave CEO Alan Baratz.

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The D-Wave Advantage2 quantum annealer has more than 1,200 qubits and is said to offer a significant performance improvement over the previous generation. (Image: D-Wave)

This is highly exciting work that looks for quantum advantages in the right place, explains Jens Eisert, quantum researcher at Freie Universitat Berlin. In their experiments, the D-Wave researchers simulated the behavior of magnetic materials.

They investigated the behaviour of so-called spin glasses, materials with a complex magnetic order that are relevant for research, but also for solving optimization tasks. For example, scientists hope to be able to research new materials using such simulations. These are not overly important model systems for solid-state issues, but they are plausible candidates for exploring a paradigmatic test case, says Eisert.

Quantum computers and quantum annealers

Traditionally, such optimization issues are simulated using supercomputers. However, the qubits of a quantum annealer already have quantum mechanical properties that a classical computer must first simulate. This makes quantum computers particularly suitable for simulating quantum systems.

However, Eisert explains that the D-Wave machine is not yet a full quantum computer, but a quantum simulator that can very accurately simulate model systems from solid-state physics. A quantum annealer is a specialized machine designed to solve optimization problems, such as in materials research, the financial market and machine learning.

While other manufacturers are still creating prototypes of quantum chips, D-Wave is already selling its quantum annealers commercially. For example, a D-Wave device has been in Forschungszentrum Julich since 2022. In the past, D-Wave has often attracted attention due to exaggerated claims and otherwise there is a certain basic scepticism towards this company, notes Markus Heinrich from the University of Cologne. Nevertheless, the latest publication has been well received by the specialist community.

Quantum annealer In the case of only two freely selectable parameters, an optimization problem can be imagined as a hilly landscape. The task is to find the lowest point in the landscape. However, real problems usually depend on far more parameters: The fastest route from A to B depends not only on the road layout, but also on traffic lights, speed limits, traffic conditions and so on. While this is a very difficult task for classical computers, quantum annealers are particularly good at finding the optimum for such multidimensional problems. A quantum annealer consists of quantum objects, for example atoms or tiny circuits. First, the optimization problem is translated into the structure of the quantum objects. Then energy is supplied to the particles. Put simply, they are then in all possible states at the same time. Then the quantum system is slowly cooled down and it slips into the most energetically favorable state on its own. This corresponds to the sought-after, optimal solution to the optimization problem.

The D-Wave researchers simulated their chosen problem both on their D-Wave Advantage1 and Advantage2 machines and on the Frontier supercomputer at the United States Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory. On the supercomputer, the team used various algorithmic methods to solve the problem. It started with an arrangement that is known to be easy to simulate classically, gradually increased the complexity, and finally reached the point where the supercomputer could no longer solve the problem in a realistic amount of time.

But no quantum advantage

However, Eisert warns that the claim of quantum superiority is dangerous. Because it's not just quantum simulators that are evolving, but also classical simulation methods. A few days ago, contrary to D-Wave's expectations, a research team from New York and Trieste simulated the issue under consideration on a classical computer.

This result came about a year after D-Wave had published his results on the pre-print server arXiv in advance. A second team from Lausanne demonstrated a similar result only a little later. Both manuscripts follow different paragraphs and appeared on arXiv, so they have not yet been reviewed by independent experts.

Nevertheless, Heinrich considers the original comparisons between D-Wave and classical algorithms to be fair. I believe that the estimates were made very conscientiously. However, such figures should always be considered a challenge to adapt and improve existing classic algorithms, he says.

Eisert also says: The race between quantum and classical computers is healthy, good, and important. It develops both fields further. However, researchers should better refrain from making statements about a quantum advantage. The field of quantum computing, however, can make good use of calm method development  without excitement and hype .

(spa)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
Migrant women are playing a key role in shaping Finlands future, bridging labour shortages and contributing to industries from healthcare to education and integration services. Despite facing challenges, many have built successful careers and are now creating opportunities for others.

Starting as a cleaner while studying, she became a daycare director and later launched her own business. When I struggled to find new opportunities, I created my own, she said. She now runs a business summit celebrating migrant entrepreneurs and is standing in municipal elections to challenge perceptions of what migrants can achieve.

Aziza Hossaini, originally from Afghanistan, arrived in Finland as a quota refugee at age 12. Losing her parents at a young age, she found strength in writing and advocacy. Instead of dwelling on challenges, I focus on finding solutions, she said. Now a legal interpreter and integration expert, she helped shape Finlands new integration law by advocating for civic orientation courses in migrants native languages.

Shielou Ann Tervonen came to Finland as a nurse from the Philippines, helping to address Finlands healthcare labour shortage. After retraining to meet Finnish qualifications, she returned to working in operating rooms. She now recruits Filipino nurses to Finland, ensuring they receive support throughout their journey. Helping others is incredibly rewardingwhether its caring for patients or guiding new arrivals, she said.

These women highlight how migrant professionals strengthen Finlands workforce and economy. Their efforts not only fill critical gaps but also inspire future generations to pursue careers and leadership roles.

HT

Source IOM Finland
In Helsinki, Toolo and Lauttasaari held their top positions, while Ullanlinna overtook Punavuori for third place.

Toolo in Helsinki and Tapiola in Espoo continue to be the most searched neighbourhoods for home buyers, according to data from Etuovi.com covering searches from 1 January to 11 March 2025. The rankings show minimal changes from the previous year, with only a few areas moving up or down the list.

Laajasalo re-entered the top 10, replacing Kallio. Despite dropping off the list, Kallios average listing time was 67 days, faster than Laajasalos 82 days. The average marketing time for all Helsinki listings was 91 days, with Munkkiniemi seeing the shortest at 48 days.

Espoos ranking remained stable, with Tapiola leading the list and Matinkyla following. Haukilahti moved up to third place, surpassing Westend. The citywide average listing time was 101 days, but Mankkaa properties sold the fastest, with an average of 50 days.

In Vantaa, the top 10 neighbourhoods remained unchanged, with Tikkurila as the most searched area. The average listing time in the city was 109 days, but homes in Kartanonkoski and Ylasto sold significantly faster, in 43 and 53 days, respectively.

Tamperes rankings were largely unchanged, with Keskusta, Kaleva, and Pyynikki forming the top three. Pyynikki moved up, pushing Vuores to fourth place. Pispala had the shortest listing time, averaging 62 days.

Turkus most searched neighbourhoods remained the same at the top, with Keskusta, Itainen Keskusta, and Hirvensalo leading. Port Arthur was the only newcomer to the top 10. The citys fastest-selling properties were in Vasaramaki and Kupittaa, with listing times of 50 and 54 days, respectively.

In Oulu, Haukipudas, Oulunsalo, and Metsokangas maintained their lead. Kivikkokangas and Jaali saw the largest growth in search volume. The city's average listing time was 77 days, but Kivikkokangas homes sold in just 26 days.

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NINE soloists and two groups played for one another at Henley Youth Festivals Music Makers day.

A choir and recorder ensemble and individual performances featuring an array of classical, soul and popular music was staged in the Rupert House School hall on Sunday afternoon.

Each act was introduced by Alfie Hay, the co-founder of the festival. After their performances, Maureen Idowu, a musician and teacher, gave the children feedback.

The children were given a chance to practise beforehand in music rooms around the school before they performed in front of their family members and peers.

Elin Johnston played How Far Ill Go from Moana followed by Robin Sibley, who played Sherpherds Hey, a traditional Morris dance tune, both on the piano.

Ottilie Lamb, seven, did two performances, one where she played an aria from The Marriage of Figaro on the trumpet and for the second, she sang Youre Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile, from Annie.

The Rupert House pupil said: I felt happy. I like when I perform in front of people. But she admitted that sometimes when she plays it can be difficult to hit the right note. Her mother Georgina said Ottilie has been playing the trumpet since she was four and has been playing the aria for two months, which is also one of her grade two pieces.

She said: She practises her trumpet every week and then for her singing, she sings all the time and shes in a production of Annie.

I think this event is a really lovely way for the children to gain the experience of performing but in a relaxed environment.

Ottilie does quite a lot of exams and dance shows that are all being judged competitively but its lovely to come together in a relaxed way and enjoy listening to people and for children to get a chance to show what they can do.

Eva Henshall played Intervals by Michael Finnegan on the piano and 17 pupils from Valley Road school sang Pharaohs Story and Close Every Door from Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

The Sonning Common recorder ensemble was encouraged by their teacher Pip Marples, retired, who goes into the school every week to teach three levels of ability. The beginner group played Londons Burning while the intermediate group played Indian Warriors and Skye Boat Song. The advanced group closed the show with Kookaburra and Martin said to his Man.

Scarlett Holland, 10, was part of the group. She said: I felt nervous and excited. I was shaking quite a lot and my hands were sweating but it was fine once Id played the first few notes.

Mr Marples, 75, said he was impressed with how well they did as they dont usually perform Martin said to his Man until the summer term.

He said: I fast-forwarded it by about three months and thats quite a wodge of time and we did it at short notice and it wasnt perfect but it was close.

I was very proud of them and all the other pieces were very well played. The festival gives them teamwork skills.

Joanna Kosicka, from

Henley, played Minuet in C composed by Alexander Reinagle and Sophia Mul played Ode to Joy by Beethoven. This was followed by Claudia Armitage, from Rupert House, who played Annies Song by John Denver on the flute.

Lotte Groh, from Ancastle Green, played Go and tell Aunt Rhody on the violin. She said: Ive performed quite a lot of times with my piano but never really with a violin so that was quite nerve-racking.

Ive been playing for less than a year. Im glad it worked out. I did switch teachers and my first teacher taught me differently.

Her mother Johanna said: I was super proud. Shes working really hard and I know that she can be really nervous so to see her do so well is lovely.

Shanaya Yasin performed for the second year running on piano and she played Allegro.

The Valley Road choir comprised Alana Gove, Alyssa Atkins, Amelie Brewster, Betsy Burfitt, Caitlyn Meli, Daisy Cunningham, Darcey Watts, Emily Rosam, Frankie Holmes, Georgina Rosam, Joanna Brewster, Lacey Chester, Leah Welburn, Lucy Holmes, Melia Drummond, Olive Meli and Sophie Canning.

The Sonning Common recorder ensemble were Emma Windsor, Hazel Bowker-Meyer, Isabella Barker-Lyons, Isabelle de Savoye, Jack Geleta, James Boichat, Jessica Cottrell, Mia Hawkins, Myles Sturgess, Phoebe Hopson, Robin Bowker-Meyer, Sam Parslew, Samuel Wilson, Scarlett Holland, Sophie Balcon, Teddy Cottle, Toby Jones, Toby Telford and Zach Smith.
FOUR dogs brought up by a retired dog breeder from Sonning Common received rosettes at the worlds biggest dog show.

Cheryl Biddlecombe, 77, took her two French shepherd dogs to Crufts at the Birmingham NEC last week.

The mother of the Briard duo, Fergie, aged seven-and-a half, was very highly commended in the veteran class.

She is recognised as a Kennel Club champion after she won four challenge certificates in shows across the country

Frankie, who is 23 months, was from Fergies second litter and was awarded first place in the limit class. He won best in puppy class for his breed in the competition last year.

Mrs Biddlecombe, who has owned Briards for more than 50 years, was also successful with three other puppies who are now owned by Alexa Taylor, Jackie Skeggs and Pat Hartwell.

Maisie, who is three and a half, is owned by Mrs Hartwell. She is from Frankies first litter and won first place in the good citizens class and third place in the open class. She also won Best of Breed at Crufts in 2023. Purdy, 23 months, is owned by Ms Taylor and is Frankies sister. She placed third in the post-graduate class and Sansa, who is also 23 months, is owned by Ms Skeggs, won first place in the limit class.

Mrs Biddlecombe, who described the day as magical, set off from home at 3.30am to meet up with the owners of her former puppies.

She said: When we arrived we made sure that the dogs were comfortable and had some exercise after the long drive before we went in and then it was time for the humans to have coffee and a chat.

Then it was getting the dogs ready to go in, each of them looking their part. Then you stand and watch and keep your fingers crossed.

Mrs Biddlecome said she was very proud of her dogs and happy for the owners, two of which had never entered a show before.

She said: To have just one dog at Crufts is fabulous but to have five there is truly remarkable and just makes me very proud that I have done something right with my breed plans.

We go with hopes and dreams, and we hope they come through, and, for me, they did. Even though Frankie and Fergie live here with me it was super cool to see the other three that I bred do so well. It was a magical day.

Its amazing to see my dogs do so well. The girls had big classes and the owners said that we might have to make do but I said You never know and look what happened. They are all thrilled to bits.
Chinese vice premier calls for greater cooperation with Laos on AI, digital economy

Xinhua) 10:34, March 15, 2025

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Beijing, capital of China, March 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Beijing on Friday, calling on both countries to expand cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence and the digital economy.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that as socialist comrades and brothers, China and Laos should earnestly implement the important consensus reached between the top leaders of the two parties and countries, intensify high-level exchange, deepen political mutual trust, and work together to safeguard security and development interests.

Ding called on both countries to strengthen their development strategy alignment, advance the construction of the China-Laos Economic Corridor, and improve the quality and efficiency of the China-Laos Railway.

Thongsavanh congratulated China on its successful convening of the "two sessions," noting that Laos firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests. Laos is willing to deepen its comprehensive, practical cooperation with China and push the construction of a Laos-China community with a shared future to a new level.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Beijing, capital of China, March 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Australia used to be a global leader when it comes to vehicle safety standards, but now we're lagging desperately behind.

Vehicle safety standards are slipping in Australia, falling far behind our European counterparts when it comes innovative technology advancements that have not only been proven to save lives, but have already been in place for many years.

While we are making some progress, in order to combat the soaring number of fatalities taking place on our roads, drastic measures are urgently needed, including among both vehicle manufacturers and government divisions.

Dr Ingrid Johnston, CEO of the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS), said Australia "used to be a leader" in this space, but in recent years, has trailed behind many other developed countries. Speaking to Yahoo, she said we can do much better and called for authorities to "catch up".

"Vehicle safety standards (known as the Australian Design Rules) are falling well behind the highest in the world, which is Europe," she said. "And what that means is that we have vehicles which are legally allowed for sale in this country that get a zero safety star rating.

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"In fact, we've had a model that arrived in our country having had safety features removed, because they're not required here. So you might think that you've got an identical vehicles to what's being sold in Europe, but the Australian version is going to have had safety features removed. It's just not acceptable."

In order to combat the soaring number of fatalities taking place on our roads, drastic measures are urgently needed Source: TfNSW

Europe's technological advancements see Australia lag shamefully behind

When it comes to advanced technology in the Northern Hemisphere, there's a whole range of initiatives that can easily be implemented on home soil, Johnston said.

"There's a lot that Europe is doing that we are nowhere near talking about," she said. "Europe, for many, many years, has had what they termed eCall  which means if your vehicle is in a crash, it will automatically call the emergency services with a geo-locator.

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"This saves incredibly valuable time in letting the emergency services know that there's a crash they need to attend and letting them know exactly where it is. We could implement that, but we haven't."

Similar technology already exists in many smart phone models, meaning it's readily available, but just inadequately used.

Not only that, there's also equipment that can detect drowsiness in drivers by monitoring eye movement. "When you're driving your car it will be monitoring if your eyes are maintaining contact with the road the way they should be and whether you're holding the steering wheel properly," Johnston said.

"It alerts you if it thinks that your attention is distracted, or it thinks that you might be tired. Again, we don't mandate those things. We just rely on them filtering through from other countries.

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"But the manufacturers don't always do that. They say it's not mandatory. In Australia, they'd rather save a few dollars and leave it out."

Johnston said as other nations push forward with stricter regulations and advanced technology, Australia continues to fall behind. The consequences of this lag are becoming increasingly evident, with road fatalities rising at an alarming rate.

The reality is that without urgent action, she said, more lives will be lost unnecessarily. Strengthening vehicle safety standards, enforcing smarter road policies, and ensuring that cutting-edge technology is implemented should not be optional  it should be a national priority.

"There's a lot that we could be doing, absolutely, a lot. But there just hasn't been the leadership shown from state and federal governments around the country to make it happen, and there needs to be."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Some drivers believe Australia's road toll is just due to population growth, but experts warn that's really not the case.

Road deaths are rising in Australia, despite the misguided belief that's only due to a population increase. Source: Queensland Police/Getty

A collaborative effort from both the public and the authorities is desperately needed to curb the skyrocketing number of deaths on Australian roads, one of the country's leading safety experts has urgently warned.

It's a widely held belief in the country among some drivers that Australia's death toll on roads is merely a reflection of our rising population. Many have argued that as our population increases, it's only natural that more people will be killed on roads as a result.

And while it's true that population increases do in part contribute to official figures, the argument oversimplifies the issue and ignores key statistical and contextual factors.

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Dr Ingrid Johnston, CEO of the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) said that if road deaths were purely a result of population growth, the rate of deaths per 100,000 people would remain steady.

More Australians are dying on our roads with every year that passes. Source: Fire and Rescue NSW

Expert debunks 'myth' that deaths are rising due to population

However, Australias road toll is rising at a faster rate than population growth, meaning something else is driving the increase. "Since 2020, the death rate per 100,000 people has gone from 4.3 to 4.4 to 4.5 to 4.7 to 4.8 and for the year to date, in 2025, it's 4.9," she explained.

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"It's been consistently trending upwards for the last four years, and it's looking like it's going to be another year again."

Johnston said the situation hasn't been this bad since the 1960s, which is particularly troubling given the fact that was prior to compulsory seat belts and random breath testing. "It was before improvements in vehicle standards, before we really started getting serious about this whole problem," she said.

Victorians could soon see 30km/h speed zones rolled out across suburban areas in a bid to increase pedestrian safety. Source: The City of Yarra Council/Bicycle Network

"We made really good progress for a few decades, we were implementing really big changes, and Australia was even a world leader. We were the first ones to bring in a lot of really fundamental things.

"But in the last decade or so, it started to plateau, and now we've seen a consistent increase for the first time since the 60s. People sometimes say, 'oh, maybe it's something to do with Covid, maybe it's a bit of a blip'  no, we're way past that. Now, something really serious is going on, and it needs to be taken seriously if it's going to be addressed."

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Several complicated factors driving road tally in Australia

As to what's the driving force behind these fatalities, Johnston said it's "complex".

"There are always multiple reasons for any crash occurring," she said. "We also know that enforcement levels in some jurisdictions are down on what they used to be, and you're constantly getting a new lot of drivers coming through." Johnston said new drivers who rarely encounter roadside breath tests or speed cameras may not develop the mindset that safe driving is always necessary.

We must reinforce the message that checks can happen anytime, and it's crucial to improving road safety, she added. "There's a statistic that's often thrown around that says, if you survey people, 80 per cent of us think we are above-average drivers," she said.

"Now, if you think that through, it's impossible, and it means that we'll often look at crashes or community awareness campaigns and think, 'those bad drivers really need to lift their game, lucky that's not me'.

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"We all think that we are better at driving than we actually are, and I think we see driving as a right in this country, but we need to be considering it much more as a privilege and as a massive responsibility."

Johnston called for lower speed limits in areas with high pedestrian and cyclist activity, noting that fatalities are increasing in these areas. She also stressed the need for Australia to "catch up" to Europe in vehicle safety standards, where cars come equipped with life-saving features like automatic crash alerts and driver drowsiness detectiontechnologies still lacking in many Australian vehicles.

Additionally, she called for tougher penalties for offenders, greater public awareness and education, and a stronger focus on pedestrian-friendly spaces and improved public transport.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
A group of divers have spoken to Yahoo News about staring into the eyes of a majestic ocean predator.

Fabian Clinton watched in awe as a 5-metre-long great white shark swam towards him off the coast of Penida. Source: @foffo4/Instagram

Complete shock was just one of the emotions a group of divers felt when a five-metre-long great white shark eyed them in waters off the coast of Bali.

Video of the encounter shows the lone predator swimming passively beside the group 22 metres below the surface. But it suddenly becomes curious and swims directly at the camera.

The GoPro was attached to divemaster Fabian Clinton, who was part of a group led by Scuba Junkie Penida this week which conducts tours to see marine life including sunfish, manta rays and turtles.

They were exploring deep blue waters off Penida island, when he first spotted a dark shadow in the great blue expanse of the ocean. Initially he wasnt sure what it was, only that it was big, and so he began to follow it.

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Immediately after realising it was a great white, Clinton began making noise and gesturing to the others to take a look. Then it swam towards him, time slowed down, and he rapidly became aware of his mortality.

My first thought was oh f***, sorry mum, I shouldnt be here, the 31-year-old Swede told Yahoo News.

Related: Sharks found bitten in half close to popular Aussie beaches

Fabian and the shark stared at each other for around 20 seconds. Source: @foffo4/Instagram

Dutch national Amber Doornekamp was swimming close by and feared for her life when the animal turned. The size of the shark was like nothing Id ever seen before. It reminds you of how small people are, she said.

Sudden moment diver no longer fearful of shark

What happened next shifted the entire groups feelings from fear to an even stronger emotion.

Dive leader Reynold Kaheming from Scuba Junkie Penida had never seen a great white shark in the wild before, and said it didnt seem real. I recognised that this was the shark from the movie. I was pretty nervous as it got closer to me and then turned to [Clinton], he said.

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Related: Angler reveals major detail missed in jaw-dropping video of 'legendary' predator

Over the next 20 seconds Clinton and the shark calmly faced off. Then, his diving training kicked in, helping him hold his nerve.

I swam backwards slowly and kept eye contact with it. I tried to have an upright upper body position, he said. The last thought I had was I might have to put my fin on the nose to make it go away. But then just before that I had a crazy relief and it turned.

If you listen closely while watching the video, you can hear the group's excited screams as the shark swims away. Photos taken after the group returned to their boat highlight their excitement at the encounter, with everyone beaming from ear to ear. Most divers only experience seeing great whites from inside protective cages  seeing one up close was a thrilling experience, Kaheming said.

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He called it the perfect dive. It was the most amazing dive of my life. Everyone is going to be jealous, he said. Doornekamp, who had only seen great whites in documentaries, described the thrill of seeing one in person as exciting.

After this experience I dont think anything is going to top it I am super impressed by nature, she said.

Great white encounters increasingly rare as numbers fall

Clintons video has been viewed thousands of times since he uploaded it to his @foffo4 Instagram account. In his accompanying post he described the encounter as beyond the holy grail of diving.

The shark appears to be a pregnant female, and her scar-covered body indicates shes lived a long life. People watching the video at home were thrilled by Clintons video, which shows her in close-up detail.

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Wow, beautiful. You must have been in shock, one person wrote. I dont know what you felt when he turned his face towards you, but now you are the happiest guy in the world, another said.

When Clinton spoke to Yahoo on Friday, two days after seeing the shark, he confessed he's still struggling to keep his "feet on the ground" and "be humble" after having such a rare experience.

Im still shaking as were talking about it, he said.

White sharks are listed globally as vulnerable to extinction, largely due to overfishing from trophy hunters who value their teeth and fins. Shark and ray numbers have dropped by a staggering 71 per cent over the last 50 years due to overfishing, and many species are seldom spotted in the wild.

Ive always had respect for sharks, and Ive dived with other types of sharks. But this has to be the craziest experience of my career, he said.

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During the summer, these birds inhabit coastal mudflats in Australia, where they feed and build up energy reserves. Then, in March, they begin their treacherous northward migration.

Excited conservationists watched on in awe as 120 far eastern curlews took flight from Western Australia this week. Source: Jamie Van Jones

Conservationists watched in awe this week as a breathtaking and rare spectacle unfolded  120 endangered far eastern curlews soared into the twilight sky, embarking on their epic annual migration from Australias west to the distant breeding grounds of China and Russia.

The sight of the worlds largest shorebirds taking flight in unison was a powerful reminder of both the beauty and fragility of this endangered species, the Broome Bird Observatory told Yahoo News Australia.

The Far Eastern Curlew is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with its population declining rapidly due to habitat loss  especially along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, a vital stopover for refueling during migration.

The Broome Bird Observatory's Migration Watch branded the incredible sight, which took place on the shores of Roebuck Bay in the Kimberley, a "true spectacle". "For the last week and a half, we have been on watch at a spot on the cliffs that looks south and as the migratory birds leave," Migration Watch's Jamie Van Jones told Yahoo News.

In March and April, they begin their long northward migration, travelling thousands of kilometres along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Source: Jamie Van Jones

Their first major stopover is in China, Korea, and other parts of East Asia, where they rest and refuel on intertidal mudflats. From there, they continue north to breeding grounds in eastern Russia. Source: Jamie Van Jones

Incredible spectacle not just impressive, it's important for conservation too

Jamie explained that the event started with 120 curlews lining up side by side at the waters edge."We were holding our breaths that maybe they would finally go, and go they did  they took to the sky in a flock and gained altitude quickly. The photos just didn't do it justice," he said.

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"This is one of the best places in the world to witness the shorebirds leaving on migration. There are 41 species in Australia that convene here in Roebuck Bay before migrating to the far north."

During the summer, far eastern curlews inhabit coastal mudflats in Australia, where they feed and build up energy reserves. Then, in March and April, they begin their long northward migration, travelling thousands of kilometres along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Their first major stopover is in China, Korea, and other parts of East Asia, where they rest and refuel on intertidal mudflats. From there, they continue north to breeding grounds in eastern Russia.

By July and August, after raising their young, they make the return journey south, arriving back in Australia around August to September, where they spend the non-breeding season before the cycle repeats. Jamie said this knowledge made the scene even more thrilling.

During the summer, far eastern curlews inhabit coastal mudflats in Australia, where they feed and build up energy reserves. Source: Jamie Van Jones

"The excitement was in the air when we noticed the line cross the bay and everyone got a view of them in the birding scopes," Jamie recalled. "It was truly amazing to witness, particularly because these birds have lost 80 per cent of their population and are critically endangered. The population estimate range between 22,000 to 24,000 breeding individuals."

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Habitat destruction is one of the main factors impacting the impressive birds, particularly mudflats in China and South Korea, where many curlews stop to feed. Watching migration patterns helps scientists track population numbers, detect changes in migration timing and identify potential threats like habitat destruction or climate change.

Additionally, these events are rare to see because they require perfect conditions for the birds to take flight  factors like wind direction, food availability and body condition all influence their departure.

The journey itself is an incredible feat of endurance, as the birds fly thousands of kilometers nonstop, relying on stored energy to survive. Since they only migrate twice a year, witnessing such a mass departure is an extraordinary and fleeting moment in nature.

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Many people agree that reducing road trauma is important but argue that lower speed limits shouldn't come at the expense of increased congestion.

Tugun in the Gold Coast has reduced its local speed limit to 30 kilometres an hour. Source: Getty/Gold Coast Bulletin

When Australian councils announce they're considering lowering speed limits in areas with high pedestrian activity, there's often immediate backlash from the public.

Many people, while agreeing more needs to be done to minimise road trauma, argue it shouldn't come at the cost of increasing congestion, which they say can happen as a result of lower speeds.

In recent times, numerous local governments across the country have reduced limits in areas popular with pedestrians, cyclists and children, in a bid to increase safety. The City of Yarra council in Melbourne, for example, reduced local limits to 30 kilometres per hour, around several popular suburbs including Fitzroy and Collingwood, just this month.

With the country's population steadily growing, some say slower speeds will simply add to the problem. But according to Dr Ingrid Johnston, CEO of the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS), that simply isn't the case.

Almost 2000 roads could see speed limits reduced in Western Australia under a new proposed changes to be voted on next month. Source: Getty/City of Vincent

Higher chances of crash survival at slower speeds

Speaking to Yahoo, Johnston debunked this common misconception and reiterated the fact that the lower speeds mean higher chances of survival in crashes.

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"We know very clearly that to avoid people being killed or seriously injured in a crash, or better still, to avoid the crash happening in the first place, you need to be controlling the amount of energy which is in that crash," she said.

"We know that if a vehicle collides with the pedestrian, then if that vehicle is going at any more than about 30 kilometres per hour, that pedestrian's chances of survival plummet. And actually, if you've got reasonably heavy traffic, and if you slow that traffic down, it can travel more smoothly overall  and that's actually more efficient."

Infrastructure Victoria chief executive Dr Jonathan Spear cited the fact that a pedestrian struck by a car travelling at 50km/h has an 85 per cent chance of dying. However, at 30km/h, the risk drops to 10 per cent, he said.

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According to Transport Accident Commission data, 48 pedestrians and 12 cyclists lost their lives in road accidents in the state last year  grim figures mirrored all over the country. Older people continue to face a higher risk of fatal traffic accidents, while road trauma remains a leading cause of death for children aged one to 14.

Recently, the City of Sydney introduced default limits of 40km/h, following similar decisions in the Inner West and on the North Shore. Source: City of Sydney

Reduced speed increases traffic flow, despite the opposite belief, expert says

Slowing down traffic can reduce stop-and-go driving, which in turn minimises fuel consumption and emissions. It also ensures vehicles move at a steady, consistent pace, making the journey safer and reducing wear and tear on both vehicles and road infrastructure.

While it may seem counterproductive, Johnston pointed out that this approach actually leads to faster travel times overall. "When you look at the difference in travel times, it's usually only a matter of secondssomething that isnt consequential, but it feels counterintuitive, so people dont realise the benefits," she said.

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Johnston emphasised that across the country, people of all ages walk to school, parks, shops, and bike to work, creating a mix of traffic. In these areas, it's essential to prioritise safety for everyone, not just drivers. "We've built our system on cars," she said.

"In new suburbs, roads are the first thing to be constructed  if you're lucky, there might be footpaths, but rarely bike paths, bus stops, or train stations. We design for cars, and that's what we need to stop doing, because we don't only and always travel in them."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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China to host SCO military meeting

Xinhua) 10:36, March 15, 2025

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China will host the first meeting of International Military Cooperation Organs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States for 2025 on March 26 and 27, a defense spokesperson said Friday.

The meeting will be held in Qingdao in Shandong Province, east China, said Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense, at a press conference.

Representatives from defense ministries of the SCO member states and the SCO secretariat will attend the meeting to exchange views on future defense and security cooperation, Zhang said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Mixed reactions emerge from the US and Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia is "in favor" of the 30-day ceasefire plan proposed by the US and Ukraine, but nuances exist.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin remarked, "We agree with the proposals to stop hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be one that would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the original causes of this crisis," according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Putin highlighted that the difficulty in monitoring ceasefire violations along the 2,000 km contact line of the conflict and raised the issue that Ukraine might use the temporary ceasefire for mobilization and weapons supplies, according to the report.

Putin also indicated that he might call Trump to discuss the issue, adding that Russia will negotiate the next steps to end the conflict and reach acceptable agreements based on the situation "on the ground," according to Xinhua.

The ceasefire proposal gained traction earlier this week when Ukraine, following talks with a US delegation in Jeddah, expressed support for an "immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire," according to a joint statement released on Tuesday.

Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff landed in Moscow for talks and presenting the ceasefire plan on Thursday. Meanwhile, the US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told Fox News that the US administration is discussing various options with Russia and Ukraine to resolve the conflict.

Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who landed in Moscow for talks and presenting the ceasefire plan on Thursday, told Fox News that the US administration is discussing various options with Russia and Ukraine to resolve the conflict.

In response to Putin's statement, President Donald Trump said that there have been "good signals" coming out of Russia. Speaking at the White House alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said, "Putin put out a very promising statement, but it wasn't complete," the Associated Press (AP) reported.

"Now we'll see if Russia follows through. If they don't, it'll be a deeply disappointing moment for the world." Trump reiterated, stressing the urgency of ending the conflict, according to AP.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky struck a "pessimistic tone" in his evening address to Ukrainians on Thursday, the New York Times said.

Zelensky said Putin's response to the cease-fire proposal was "very predictable." He added that Putin has set so many preconditions "that nothing will work out at all, or that it will not work out for as long as possible," according to the media report.

Earlier on Thursday, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told media that the ceasefire plan proposed by the United States and Ukraine is a "temporary respite" for Ukraine's military, according to Xinhua. Ushakov said in a TV interview that Moscow is striving for a "long-term" peaceful settlement that takes into account Russia's legitimate interests.

UN Secretary-General's Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday that the UN will welcome any potential ceasefire in Ukraine, hoping that it will be concluded and lead to a lasting peace, according to Tass.

"We would, of course, welcome a ceasefire in Ukraine, given the tremendous amount of suffering that we have seen in that conflict. We very much hope that it will materialize. It'll pave the way for a just peace and a just and sustainable peace," he said.



Global Times
The consultant on the other end of a state-funded contract that sparked splintering investigations into Sen. Jason Ellsworth declined a legislative ethics committee's request for his testimony on Friday, prompting lawmakers to issue a subpoena to the Ravalli County Sheriff's Office.

Bryce Eggleston, the owner of Agile Analytics, notified the committee of his decision minutes before the Senate Ethics Committee's hearing kicked off on Friday morning, special counsel Adam Duerk told the committee.

In response, Duerk requested the four-member, bipartisan committee issue a subpoena for Eggleston's testimony, escalating the matter from a request to a civil matter. If he declines to abide by the committee's subpoena and appear on Saturday, a judge may be able to order his arrest.

Eggleston is the friend and business associate of Ellsworth, a Hamilton Republican who signed the state into a $170,100 contract in the waning hours of 2024 to analyze the implementation of the GOP's judicial reform agenda.

Ellsworth is accused of violating ethics rules by not disclosing his relationship with Eggleston en route to contracting with him for work that legislators declined to seek a vendor for, largely because staff already conducts that sort of analysis. A legislative audit report determined in January that Ellsworth abused his government position in arranging the contract into two separate documents in a manner that unlawfully avoided the procurement process.

Friday was the second day of witness testimony before the Senate Ethics Committee, where lawmakers are on a fact-finding mission to synthesize information and testimony into a report for the Senate, which will decide whether, and to what extent, Ellsworth should be punished.

Department of Administration Director Misty Ann Giles on Friday outlined the "unusual" circumstances under which her office learned of the deal with Agile Analytics. Ellsworth had initially presented two signed contracts to legislative finance services, with invoices, ready to be paid before any work had been completed, she said. That set off a series of government staff decisions to reject the two contracts and work to "perfect" them into a single, workable document on which Giles eventually signed off.

Ellsworth had, Giles testified Friday, indicated in that process that he had the support of the Senate Select Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform to seek out the vendor to perform this work. Ellsworth last year was president of the Senate and assembled the select legislative committee, but when he proposed approaching a vendor to track those bills during the 2025 Legislature, the committee ultimately rejected the idea.

As for post-session analysis of those bills  the work specified in Eggleston's contract  the committee never discussed the matter on the record during its hearings.

"He (Ellsworth) just mentioned that the committee wanted to hire someone out to track these bills and implementation in a post-session environment to be sure they were being implemented in the judicial branch," Giles told the committee Friday.

Legislators told the Montana State News Bureau after the initial news story about the contract that they did not approve of or support Ellsworth's venture with Eggleston.

Giles also noted it was Ellsworth's responsibility, not Eggleston's, to disclose the personal relationship.

While state law does not forbid any government contracts between personal acquaintances, Giles added that it is considered a best practice in the field.

"If you do know a vendor, even if it's a personal relationship, a friendship, anything like that, it doesn't necessarily kick you out" of that business opportunity, Giles said. "I just think its best practice to disclose that  just because you never want the appearance that you're trying to do something inappropriate and put your thumb on the scale for someone you may know outside of that business context."

The committee also heard from Legislative Auditor Angus Maciver, whose office conducted the preliminary investigation that led to both the ethics committee proceedings and a criminal referral to the Montana Department of Justice.

Maciver was unable to speak with Ellsworth prior to submitting the initial report containing his office's findings, he said, because the senator appeared to be uninterested in answering the auditor's questions.

"He was reluctant to speak with us and answer questions," Maciver said. "He told us essentially was that he felt President (Matt) Regier accused him of crimes and that he felt that he needed legal representation. I told him that we did not accuse him of crimes and typically legal representation was not something we would expect for these kinds of situations."

Maciver tried again the next day by sending Ellsworth an email, through which Ellsworth could work up responses with an attorney. He said Ellsworth came to his office to complain to him about that email.

"He was pretty agitated," MacIver said. "I think he was annoyed at me that I had sent the email because it would be something that could be publicly accessible."

Duerk wrapped his witness list with Maciver on Friday. Ellsworth's attorney, Joan Mell, began calling her witnesses Friday afternoon.

Regier is expected to testify next when the committee meets on Saturday.
Nearly six months after Burleigh County commissioners approved the county's budget for 2025, it's finally on the county's website for residents to view.

But why the delay happened remains unclear after Commissioner Wayne Munson and county Auditor/Treasurer Mark Splonskowski gave conflicting explanations for why the budget posting was hampered for so long.

Munson last week criticized Splonskowski for failing to post the final 2025 budget on the website. The $80 million budget, approved by the County Commission at its Sept. 16, 2024, meeting and further clarified during meetings in October and December, was not posted on the website until late last week.

While counties are not required to post final approved budgets on their websites, it has been common practice in Burleigh County to do so. The county currently has each of its final budgets dating to 2019 posted.

The budget outlines how the county will allocate funds in the upcoming year and helps property owners determine the amount of tax the county will collect. The budget includes breakdowns of the general and special revenue funds and also requests a tax levy for the year. State law requires each political subdivision in the state to create a budget annually.

Why the delay?

Munson's criticism came during a March 3 public hearing on whether the county should convert its auditor/treasurer position from an election office to an appointed one. The hourslong meeting, the first of several the Commission plans to host on the matter, sparked heated debate and at times became personal.

Before the public spoke, Munson raised concerns with Splonskowski, including Munson's frustration with the delay in posting the budget online.

"Thirty percent of the auditor's responsibility is to act as the chief financial officer. As of today, Burleigh County still does not have posted the 2025 final budget that was approved by this board five months ago. I don't know where it is, but it's not online for our residents to go view," Munson said during the hearing.

Splonskowski this past Monday told the Tribune that the delay in posting the budget was due to his office needing to ensure "they got everything entered into the county's accounting system." He said that his office needed to verify the accuracy of the information before it was posted online. Splonskowski submitted the final budget to the county's IT department on March 5 to be posted online, he said.

"I want to make sure everything was absolutely correct before I make sure it was going on the website, especially since this is the first year that my position has done this process, really, for the last many, many years," he said.

Historically, the county Finance Department has assisted the Auditor/Treasurer's Office during the budget-making process. In a preliminary budget hearing last July, Splonskowski claimed that the portfolio holder for both departments had "expressly forbidden" the Finance Department from assisting with the 2025 budget. Commissioner Brian Bitner holds the finance and auditor/treasurer portfolios.

Under state law, the county auditor is responsible for crafting a county's annual budget.

Splonkskowski on Monday pushed back against Munson's criticism. He encouraged the Commission to start communicating better with his office.

"It would have been much better if these commissioners, (who) are talking about that -- they want an increase in communication -- that they start doing it themselves," Splonskowski told the Tribune.

But Munson claimed that the delay was due to a different reason. He told the Tribune on Monday that Splonskowski could not find the final approved budget, which Munson called his "biggest concern." When staff asked the auditor about submitting the budget, Splonskowski was uncertain which version was the approved one, Munson said.

"It had been requested multiple times from staff to get the budget submitted so that we could get it online and quite honestly, he didn't know which one was the final approved budget," Munson said.

Munson also claimed that he spoke with Splonskowski about the budget being posted online, telling him that it "needed to be done." Splonskowski said Munson never communicated concerns directly to him.

The Tribune on Monday filed a request under North Dakota's open records law for any correspondence between Splonskowski and county staff regarding the posting of the county's budget online. The request, initially sent to County Human Resources Director Pamela Binder, was forwarded to Splonskowski. Binder said she passed along the request because she did not have access to the records.

Late Wednesday, Splonskowski responded, attaching a March 5 email he sent to County Emergency Manager Mary Senger asking for the budget to be posted online. In response, the Tribune clarified that text messages were also included in the request and asked for those to be provided.

The request was also expanded to include any correspondence between Splonskowski and county commissioners regarding the posting of the budget. Thursday evening, Splonskowski responded to the request saying he has no email or texts that "pertain to your request other than the ones I sent to you."

Final budget details

The $80.32 million 2025 budget is a $2.71 million increase from the 2024 budget, which totaled $77.61 million.

The General Fund is $40.67 million, which covers items such as county operations, health and law enforcement, serving as the main operating budget for the county. The General Fund for the 2024 budget was $34.88 million.

The county will receive $29.86 million from property taxes, which is a small increase from $29.51 million collected in 2024. Burleigh County taxes are only a portion of a Bismarck resident's property tax bill. Property valuations, along with the budgets for the city, public schools, and Parks and Recreation also factor in. Property valuations increased an average of 5% compared to 2023.

Commissioners voted to reduce several items from the final budget during the final budget hearing. The first was a $114,220 cut to the Veterans' Service Office due to a recently vacated position the office chose not to refill. A $3,000 duplicated line item was cut from the Missouri Valley Complex Fund. The Senior Citizens Center budget was reduced by $56,640.

The budget includes four full-time positions out of the six requested by the budget committee. These include one position in the Planning Department and three in the State's Attorney's Office. The Commission last July voted to cut a proposed position for the auditor's office and a county administrator prior to approving the preliminary budget.

Four positions in the sheriff's department, previously paid through federal American Rescue Plan Act pandemic relief funds, were also added to the General Fund.

County workers will receive a cost-of-living adjustment at 2% and a two-step raise, totaling about a 7% raise, according to Splonskowski. The aim is to enhance employee recruitment and retention while remaining competitive with other political subdivisions.

The full budget can be viewed at https://bit.ly/3XD1WC4.
The Facebook summation from Melissa Poleon was brief. Her thought was built upon a few messages sent back and forth in recent days, but in five words she captured the entire point I hope to make today.

Yes, he was a hero, she said of her dad, John Poleon.

The past week marked five years in Western New York since the start of the pandemic, the isolating and emotionally jagged span of time after Covid-19 shut down everyday life in this nation.

The virus soon ignited sweeping, angry and often unresolved divisions throughout the country, but it seems to me that our five-year moment of reflection should not end without acknowledgment and gratitude for a bedrock truth:

In the weeks and months after the pandemic began  as many of us settled in to work behind closed doors  there were countless people who did not have that choice. Instead, these essential workers left the house every day to do their jobs.

Many  in professional tiers that ranged from physicians to cleaning people, earning minimum wage  provided intimate service of lifesaving importance that also put them at high risk of getting sick.

Some, like John Poleon, went to work and didnt come home, said Denise Abbott, quoting the entire theme of the Buffalo Central Labor Council AFL-CIO Workers Memorial she oversees at Chestnut Ridge Park, where workers lost to Covid-19 will soon have their names engraved in stone.

Poleon, a beloved X-ray technologist and a devoted grandfather, died from the virus in April 2020 at the Buffalo General Medical Center, the same place he had worked for decades.

He is believed to be the first Western New York front-line medical worker lost to Covid-19. His friends described Poleon, 63, as a high-energy, upbeat and compassionate legend at the hospital, an Army veteran who was the kind of guy quick to step in to give a fellow worker a break.

Poleons co-workers say he never liked to casually use sick time, so he accumulated a mountain of it. It would have been easy for him to use those hours to stay home and relax during the early and frightening months of the pandemic.

Instead, only two years after successful treatment for prostate cancer, he kept going to work. His colleagues recall how he volunteered to help clean the halls, or to do whatever job  beyond his official duties  was needed most.

Once he contracted the virus, his struggle to breathe soon put him in the hospital. Because of quarantines, his wife, Cindy, and their daughters, Janice and Melissa, could not visit him.

In classic Poleon fashion, he insisted to a co-worker  who wore protective gear at his bedside  that the nurses ought to let him get up and help them work.

Im just sitting here, he told his friends. They wont let me do nothing.

His death touched off a wave of grief and disbelief. Five years later, in recognition of that ethic  and above all else, to honor Poleons integrity  his name will soon be added at Chestnut Ridge.

According to Buffalo Labor Council records, so will the name of Jorge Negron, an environmental service worker at Mercy Hospital who died of Covid-19 during the pandemic.

They will be joined on the wall by Dr. Corstiaan Brass, a physician fiercely devoted to his patients who died in December 2020 from the virus.

The list will include Adrienne Johnson, a cook at two nursing homes who contracted Covid and really gave his life serving people, said the Rev. Darius Pridgen, the former Common Council president who knew Johnson as an usher and choir member at True Bethel Baptist Church.

Honored, too, will be James McDuffie, a Mercy environmental services worker. His warm, outgoing nature made a lasting impression on legions of people that included Amy Dickinson, the internationally known advice columnist, who met him years ago while visiting her dying father.

Their names  with eight others who died for work-related reasons from the virus  will all go up on the memorial by summers end. Abbott, who oversees the monument, said Western New Yorkers who have lost relatives at work over the years for any reason, and did not know of Chestnut Ridge, are welcome to email her at dabbott@cwa1168.org about eventually adding those names.

Theres no words to describe the meaning of it, said Abbott, speaking of how it feels to watch the quiet reaction of families visiting this shrine to labor in greater Buffalo, a town eternally identified with a gritty, get-up-and-do-your-job daily ethic.

In time of Covid-19, cleaning people earn gratitude too long deferred Men and women who clean for a living make it possible for nurses and physicians to do their jobs. As for those in the larger community? They are also doing health care, in the most direct of ways, Kirst

Abbott organizes an annual Workers Memorial Day ceremony at the memorial, set for 6 p.m. April 29. She said the 12 workers who died of Covid-19  their names usually collected through their unions or federal OSHA lists  will be among a larger group of names from the past five years added at Chestnut Ridge in coming months.

Once that engraving is done, the list of workers on the memorial will climb to 163, with the earliest one going back to 1909.

Abbott is an emergency room nurse at DeGraff Memorial Hospital in North Tonawanda. Her dad was a union man at the old Westinghouse plant, and Abbott  still director of health and safety for CWA Local 1168  is also a former president of the Labor Council, which cares for the memorial.

She went there Thursday with John Mudie, a former Labor Council president who oversaw maintenance of the site for years. The point of it, Mudie said, is both remembrance and the idea they didnt die in vain  that every workplace-related death should lead to intense review of why it happened, and what ought to change.

Abbott remembers the early panic as the pandemic began, how all the unknowns about the virus led countless people to strip off their clothes after their shifts, before entering their homes.

For thousands  often in low-paying jobs  the simple act of going to work equated to a risk taken on behalf of the larger community.

'One of our own': Covid-19 claims Buffalo General X-ray technologist who put colleagues first At 63, John Poleon was beloved for his workplace selflessness, for the way he would always do a little extra to allow his co-workers to stretch out lunch or leave on time.

The monument at Chestnut Ridge represents the sacrifice made by ordinary working-class people, every day, on the job, said Richard Lipsitz, president emeritus of the Western New York Labor Federation and a guy who played a key role, years ago, in revitalizing the meaning of the site.

We live today in a harshly divided nation, where it seems as if almost anything and everything can be turned into them against us. But maybe if we collectively look back over five years, to the beginning of the pandemic, we all can remember how people in New York City would cheer as their neighbors in scrubs left for work each day in hospitals or health care.

At the time, we swore we would never forget how cleaning people, direct-care providers, social workers and health care aides  all represented on this list of names on the monument  offered a powerful reminder of the way thankless jobs, then and now, are the backbone of a nation.

That appreciation lasted what  maybe a year or two?  before we fell back into a squabbling and bitter focus on other things. But Abbott said it is impossible, if you stand at Chestnut Ridge, to forget how the meaning of that shrine now includes 12 people who went to work in the pandemic, and in the end did not come home.

Melissa Poleon  in her five-word eulogy for a selfless father  got it right, for all of them.
The presidents of Russia and Venezuela announced plans to increase energy cooperation on Friday after Washington ordered US oil giant Chevron to pull out of the Caribbean country.

In a video call with his Venezuelan counterpart that was broadcast by Venezuelan state TV, Russia's President Vladimir Putin said the two countries were "strategic partners" and plan to expand ties.

Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, whose claim to have won a third term in July 2024 elections has been rejected by much of the international community, said the two countries had taken their ties "to the highest level in several domains," including energy cooperation.

Last month, US President Donald Trump revoked a sanctions waiver permitting Chevron to operate in Venezuela, removing a crucial source of revenue for the country's sanctions-hit economy.

Trump accused Maduro of failing to live up to his promise to a US envoy, who visited Caracas in January, to take back deported Venezuelans.

The envoy's visit had been welcomed by Maduro's authoritarian leftist administration as a sign of a possible reset of relations with Washington under Trump's second presidency after years of tensions.

Trump poured cold water on those hopes by tightening sanctions he had imposed on Venezuela during his first term that had been partially softened by his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden.

Putin is one of the few world leaders to have recognized Maduro's re-election.

The United States and several other world powers have said they believe the opposition's candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia was the rightful winner of the vote, which triggered riots that were harshly suppressed by Venezuelan security forces.

Venezuela's late leftist anti-US firebrand Hugo Chavez cultivated close ties with Moscow during his 1999-2013 presidency, which Maduro has expanded.

He has notably refused to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Putin on Friday invited Maduro to visit Moscow on May 9, when Russia celebrates victory over Nazi Germany in World War II with a huge military parade.
The death of a survivor of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting who was paralyzed from the waist down, has been officially ruled a homicide, with the injuries she sustained in the shooting contributing to her death.

On April 20, 1999, two students opened fire at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, killing 13 people and injuring 21 others, the New York Times reported. Anne Marie Hochhalter, a 17-year-old student at the time, was paralyzed after being shot twice in the chest and back.

Though she lived for another 26 years, Hochhalter's life was marked by ongoing medical complications stemming from her injuries.

Hochhalter died in February 2025 from sepsis which was later officially linked to her injuries from the shooting, with a coroner ruling her death a homicide. Hochhalter had endured numerous health challenges due to her spinal cord injury and spent much of her life advocating against gun violence.

Despite her struggles, she maintained a high degree of independence, living alone, driving, and attending school.

The Hochhalter family, particularly Anne's brother Nathan, has expressed mixed feelings about the classification of her death. While Nathan acknowledged the difficult years Anne faced, he pointed out that she had lived over two decades longer after the shooting.

Originally published on Lawyer Herald
Western New York high schools are struggling with a basic challenge: Getting students to come to class every day.

Ken-Ton Superintendent Sabatino Cimato told families last fall that chronic absenteeism is far higher than its ever been in the district.

In Williamsville, Superintendent Darren Brown-Hall took a moment during the passionate debate over school starting times at last months School Board meeting to warn that attendance is lagging even at high schools in the highest-performing districts like theirs.

And Niagara Falls Superintendent Mark Laurrie recently said that after school safety, making sure students show up each morning is the districts most pressing concern.

This is a crisis, Laurrie said. Its the pandemic of today.

Statewide, 34% of students at public high schools were chronically absent during the 2022-23 school year. Thats up nearly 10 points from 2018-19, the last full school year before the pandemic.

In Western New York, some area high schools had chronic absenteeism rates in 2022-23 that were more than double the state and regional average.

District officials and academic experts say economic and social factors, student mental health issues and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown that broke the routine of in-person instruction all drive down attendance.

Administrators say they try to identify why students arent coming to school consistently and then work with teenagers  and their families  to overcome those obstacles. Its a data-driven exercise that can lead to nudging letters from the school, home visits or rewards for students who make the effort to get to class.

We cant teach em if theyre not there, said Michael Cornell, executive director of the Erie-Niagara School Superintendents Association and recently retired Hamburg superintendent.

Stubbornly high

Federal and state educational guidelines say students who miss at least 10% of school days, for any reason, are considered chronically absent. That would be one day every two weeks or 18 days over the course of the school year in New York.

State report on chronic absenteeism cheers Buffalo's plan to improve, but numbers still bleak The greater the school district's needs, the higher the rate of chronic absenteeism. Buffalo Schools, despite efforts praised by the state, has a mountain to climb.

The State Comptrollers Office published a report, Missing School, in October that warned of stubbornly high absenteeism rates statewide.

During the 2022-23 school year, about one in three students at all New York public schools was chronically absent, the office found. High schools had higher absenteeism rates than middle or elementary schools.

The chronic absenteeism rate is highest in poorer urban, suburban and rural districts  especially Buffalo and other large-city districts  and lowest in wealthier districts, the data show.As schools transitioned back to in-person instruction, chronic absenteeism rates increased sharply and have remained high, especially among vulnerable student populations and in the states high-needs schools, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in the document.

The chronic absenteeism rate rose by an average of 10 percentage points between 2018-19 and 2022-23 at Western New Yorks public high schools, according to state Education Department data reviewed by The Buffalo News. Of 117 high schools, all but nine saw a rate increase over the four years and 60 saw a double-digit increase.

By 2022-23, 19 area public high schools reported at least half their students were chronically absent. Two Buffalo schools  McKinley and South Park high schools  reported rates above 80%.

Conversely, five high schools reported chronic absenteeism rates below 15%, with just Friendship Central High School, in rural Allegany County, in single digits at 8% that year.

Experts say attendance correlates strongly with academic performance: Students who make it to class consistently do better on standardized tests and, naturally, are more likely to graduate and succeed in college. The alternative is bleak.

Its foundational, said Jeff Smink, deputy director of the Education Trust-New York. Its almost like reading in the sense that if you dont figure this out, youre not going to get the school outcomes or community outcomes. Youre not going to learn, not going to graduate.

A roller coaster

Managing a classroom with students who are chronically absent is an exhausting, relentless task, said Tammy Curry, a fourth-year teacher of career and financial management at Lafayette International High School in Buffalo Public Schools.

When students miss school, it creates a bevy of classroom challenges.

Should teachers move forward with lessons to not penalize the students in attendance, or should instruction slow down so those absent do not fall drastically behind? As students fall behind to varying degrees, Curry tries to find opportunities outside of her classes  like before school, lunchtime or after school  to catch them up without having to repeat instruction in the classroom.

Its definitely a roller coaster at times, Curry said earlier this month. Its a balancing act that I just have to do. Social-economic issues, learning disabilities, transportation issues  there are just so many things that factor into why they dont come. She prioritizes checking in with absent students and giving grace for missed deadlines, with an additional focus on motivation and inspiration.

Back to school in Buffalo: Will students show up? Chronic absenteeism runs rampant in Buffalo schools and across the country. Can more welcoming school cultures and attendance teachers' Saturday home visits help alleviate the issue?

Buffalo Schools has taken steps to reverse an acute trend: The five area high schools with the largest increase in chronic absenteeism between 2019 and 2023 are from the district.

Superintendent Tonja M. Williams Knight has retained attendance teachers  most hired initially with Covid-19 relief funds  in the district budget even as the federal money expired. She took a further step this year, scheduling many attendance teachers to work Saturdays to visit homes of students who have missed 20 consecutive days of school. Over the last two years, she has emphasized the importance of seniors attending school.

Nationally, senioritis is a real factor that I know has been around for decades, where 12th graders feel that theyve already accomplished what is needed for high school completion and are so focused on their next step of college or career pursuit that they lose interest in school, Williams Knight said. I need for school staff and families to be aware that in order to graduate, students must complete their senior year completely.

Outside the district, Health Sciences and Maritime in Buffalo, Global Concepts in Lackawanna and Charter School for Applied Technologies in the Town of Tonawanda are among charter schools with chronic absentee rates over 50% in 2023.

Curry said the pandemics remote learning did not significantly change why students werent attending school, but softened standards did appear to affect student attitudes.

Requirements were lax during Covid-19, the Lafayette teacher said. You didnt have to achieve as much to be successful. I feel like it did make students a little complacent.

Student incentives





'It had to be done': Lackawanna principal reflects on bell-to-bell cellphone ban Jennifer Springer has already felt the nerves that administrators across New York will likely experience in September. The Lackawanna High School principal has had a six-month head start enforcing a bell-to-bell ban on student cellphone use.

Lackawanna and Dunkirk were the only urban high schools to see their chronic absentee rates improve in 2023 compared to 2019. In Lackawanna, the subject has been an ongoing focus of the districts school board, with buy-in from Superintendent Nadia Nashir.

Its at the forefront of what were doing in all the buildings, said Jennifer English, Lackawannas principal of extended learning and community engagement.

English pointed to several effective strategies she believes turned the tide. Growing student groups such as the Black Student Union, as well as others centered on volunteering, fishing, karaoke and Dungeons & Dragons, have given students additional incentive to attend school.

Data cleanup, although tedious, has been key.

Administrators have tracked down the new schools of students who left the district during the pandemic, a requirement to remove them from Lackawannas roster. Otherwise, students with unknown locations are marked absent.

And staff have used a tiered approach for students with attendance troubles, with one-on-one meetings, mentorship programs and incentives such as pizza parties as tools to help those struggling the most.

Niagara Falls hopes federal grant helps curb student absences, 'acting out' Absenteeism and student suspensions caused by acting out have been a perennial problem in Niagara Falls public schools, Superintendent Mark R. Laurrie said Tuesday. But he hopes 75 new social workers, counselors and psychologists will help curb the problems. Rep. Brian Higgins on Tuesday announced the district will receive nearly $2.5 million over the next five years to try

Niagara Falls High School saw its rate worsen by less than 6 percentage points, and while its superintendent is not satisfied, Laurrie said hes proud of the strategies implemented.

The district uses a digital data tool called EveryDay Labs to meticulously track student attendance and identify trends. Leaders can pull specific information, such as how many low-income white students missed school on Tuesdays in January. Each Wednesday, Laurrie meets with principals to assess their progress.

Niagara Falls Family Support Center has had a side benefit of improving attendance, Laurrie said. Located in Bloneva Bond Primary School, the center doles out necessities such as food and clothing to families in need. It helped 97 families in January, the superintendent said.

The students in those families will reciprocate by coming to school, Laurrie said. Its made school a more welcoming place.

Mental illness crisis

Cornell, who stepped down in January after a decade as Hamburgs superintendent, said the effect of the mental health crisis on student attendance was clear.

School can be a minefield for a child struggling with mental illness, for a million reasons, he said.

School employees held a lot of elbow-to-elbow, knee-to-knee conversations with students and their families to try to individually address those concerns, Cornell said.

Financial stability goes hand in hand with mental health, he said, because research has shown that growing up in poverty can have a traumatizing effect on children.

Then Covid-19 came, with schools closed or operated on a hybrid basis long enough to break students habit of going into the building each day, said Cornell, who voiced concerns about this at the time. Hamburg High Schools chronic absenteeism rate rose from 13% to 21% between 2018-19 and 2022-23.

'Loved every day': Hamburg superintendent Cornell reflects on ups and downs "I loved every day of this job," Michael Cornell said. "On the hard days it's good, on the good days, it's hard. I don't sit here and look back and regret being 100% responsible for every one of those days. I've loved every single one. I've been honored to do it in Hamburg." The outgoing superintendent of the Hamburg Central School District reflects on his 10-year tenure, which included managing the Covid-19 pandemic challenges, as well as improving education and morale in the district.

What that did was it just provided the perfect cocktail for kids, either those with a mental illness and those without, to start making very different choices with respect to school attendance, Cornell said.

Grand Island High School saw one of the smaller increases during this four-year period, with chronic absenteeism rising by 3 points, to just under 15% in 2022-23.

Superintendent Brian Graham said crafting a supportive relationship among teachers, other school employees, students and their families  and making school a welcoming place  is crucial.

I think early intervention is key to establishing those attendance habits, Graham said, as early as our universal prekindergarten classes.

If a student is out for an extended period, staff will work to verify whether its a serious medical issue or whether theres no good reason for the absences, he said.

Typically, if there just seems to be some chronic absenteeism, at the five-day mark we send out a letter, Graham said. At the nine-day mark, our folks are instructed to call parents. Fifteen days or more, its a phone call-slash-meeting with parents and a home visit. And then, at the 20-day mark, if were not seeing success through all of those interventions we may consult with our child protective services.

Positive messaging

Cimato, the Ken-Ton superintendent, sends a weekly newsletter to the district community. His Nov. 1 message about chronic absenteeism was stark.

The increase that weve seen in Ken-Ton is astronomical, Cimato wrote, with absenteeism far higher than it has ever been.

The rate at Kenmore East High School rose from 9% to 25% over the four-year period, while the rate at Kenmore West rose from 13% to 34%.

Frank Spagnolo, Ken-Tons director of data and accountability and district attendance officer, said the rates fell slightly in 2023-24.

Spagnolo said he became concerned about attendance levels as remote and hybrid instruction gave way to full, in-person schooling. The district formed a committee in 2021-22 that used data to help administrators, social workers and teachers focus on the students who most needed extra attention.

Officials emphasized positive messaging, outreach to families and reassurance that school was the safest place for their children.
Big Y Donates to American Red Cross for California Wildfire Relief

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Big Y Foods, Inc. has donated $75,000 to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts for those affected by the California wildfires.

The funds were raised through customer and employee donations collected from January 17-31, 2025, at Big Y registers, online, and through the myExpress Checkout Mobile app. Big Y also provided additional support to reach the total donation amount.

The American Red Cross will use the funds to provide humanitarian relief to those impacted by the wildfires.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe has been included on a proposed American travel ban list, which could impose significant restrictions on the ability of Zimbabwean passport holders to travel to the United States. The list, which categorizes countries based on various criteria, is being prepared for submission to the White House by the U.S. State Department.At the heart of the proposed ban are several concerns raised by the U.S. government, including Zimbabwe's failure to adequately share traveller information with American authorities, insufficient security measures in its passport issuance process, and the alleged sale of citizenship to individuals from countries subject to U.S. sanctions or restrictions.According to reports, Zimbabwe will have 60 days to address these issues following the signing of the proposed order. Should the Zimbabwean government fail to resolve these concerns within the given timeframe, it could face severe consequences, including a partial suspension of U.S. visa issuance for Zimbabwean citizens.The U.S. government has expressed the need for Zimbabwe to take immediate action in improving its border security and governance procedures related to passport issuance. This includes ensuring that appropriate information about travellers is shared with the U.S., as well as taking stronger measures to prevent the sale of citizenship to those from restricted countries.Failure to address these deficiencies could result in even stricter travel restrictions for Zimbabwean passport holders, affecting both individuals wishing to travel to the U.S. for business, tourism, or other purposes.The proposed travel ban list is part of ongoing efforts by the U.S. State Department to enhance national security and streamline travel protocols. If Zimbabwe does not comply with the requirements set out by the U.S., the country could face a deterioration of diplomatic relations and a significant reduction in travel opportunities for its citizens.
The only book Martin Bell published in his lifetime was his Collected Poems, a hardback between mustard-coloured paper covers with a wood engraving showing a contemplative puritan poet. There was nothing else until 10 years after his death when, in 1988, Bloodaxe published the Complete Poems, edited by Peter Porter.

It is unusual to publish nothing but your Collected Poems. Your productive life appears to be over the moment it begins: the rest is, by implication, a kind of coda. So it was in some ways, but not all. I met Bell in 1969, two years after his annus mirabilis, as a first-year art student at Leeds where he ran a weekly poetry group that I attended. He had been a Gregory Fellow at the university, awarded in 1967. He would have left London just as his book was appearing to vanish into his hated North.

A shilling life will give you all the facts, wrote WH Auden in his poem Whos Who. Bell has never had a shilling life but the poems remain original and full of energy. Al Alvarez said he wrote a rather bitter, tensely colloquial verse based, it seems, on a radical dislike for both himself and pretty much everything else, but that does him no justice at all. The poems glitter with laughter and desire.

His Ode to Groucho begins with an invocation whose first two lines are, Pindarick, a great gorblimey Ode/ Soaring on buzzard wings, ornate and continues in the same high spirits, through a back-cloth rattled by oom-pah into a celebration of the anarchic. There is, it is true, self-hatred and self-mockery but they are part of a comedy that comprises terrors left over from the war and mischief aimed at the controllers of life: headmasters, mayors, all the snobbishly high-minded.

Italian opera was his love. The great tragic aria combined with the buffoonery of below stairs was his natural metier. That strange unwritten shilling life should tell how he is represented in Philip Larkins The Oxford Book of Twentieth Century English Verse by a single poem, a translation, the only translation in the book. It is Winter Coming On, subtitled A caricature from Laforgue. It is a magnificent poem in which Bell turns Jules Laforgue into a heartbreakingly yearning opera buffa. Together with Larkins own The Whitsun Weddings it is one of the two great poems of post-war England, not written from Larkins train but by a demob from the platform, the B&B and the park bench.

I always return to him. To him and Eliot. There hasnt been anyone like Bell since.
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Jimmy Carr has reflected on the time Elon Musk attended one of his comedy shows with a group of heavily armed men.

Musk is no stranger to comedians having had run-ins with the likes of Bill Burr, Kathy Griffin and Chloe Fineman as of late.

Although he appears to be at odds with some people in the comedy world the same cant be said for Carr. Shortly after Musks Nazi salute controversy at Donald Trumps inauguration celebration, Carr defended the Tesla CEO during a stand-up gig in Washington DC.

For the record, Elon Musk is not a f**king Nazi. Its just the internet goes hes a Nazi almost immediately. Hes a f**king genius. And Neal Brennan, my friend pointed this out brilliantly, if youre a genius...theres a little Salt Bae of f**king crazy that comes with it. Hes maybe a little bit crazy but hes not a f**king Nazi. Hes alright. Ive met him. Hes a very nice fella. Great sense of humour.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Carr recalled an encounter with Musk when the billionaire attended a television performance of his in Los Angeles in 2016.

Carr explained: Elon came along as a friend of a friend, which caused some consternation even then. Because I said to Comedy Central, Im bringing some guests. And they went, Oh, thats fine. And I went, hes got some security, and then eight guys with AK-47s rolled up.

I didnt realise [until] I was chatting to him that hes the biggest kidnap threat in the world. Because there are three billion-dollar companies that all go to zero if he gets popped.

Its not like guarding the president, where they can take an afternoon off every now and then. Theyve really got to take this seriously. Theres money at stake.

Jimmy Carr attends the Last One Laughing photocall at Underbelly Boulevard Soho on March 10, 2025 in London ( Getty Images )

Elsewhere, Carr opened up about getting Botox, admitting it never stops.

The 52-year-old 8 out of 10 Cats host is currently promoting his new Prime Video series, Last One Laughing, in which several comedians are forced to stay in a house together. Theyre challenged not to laugh at all through the course of each day.

Contestants, which include Joe Lycett, Bob Mortimer, Judi Love, Daisy May Cooper, Rob Becket and more, are handed a yellow card if they fail to keep a straight face, and a red card if they fail twice.

Carr, who is hosting the show, was asked if hed considered participating.

I think, technically, the amount of Botox Ive had is cheating, he said. Questioned about the work hed had done he quipped: A little bit? Christ, Im like the Forth Bridge, it never stops.
Opinion / Columnist

Maskandi music, a genre deeply ingrained in the rich cultural heritage of the Matebele people of Zimbabwe, has long been dominated by male artists from the Matebeleland region. The likes of Zinjaziyamluma, Majozi, and Amachwane Amahle have made significant contributions to the genre, garnering widespread recognition and acclaim.However, despite the success of their male counterparts, female Maskandi artists in Zimbabwe have been scarce. The pioneering efforts of Igqishamkantsha, one of the first female Maskandi artists in Zimbabwe, paved the way for others to follow. UMazakhel'okwakhe has also made notable contributions to the genre.In recent times, a new generation of female Maskandi artists has emerged, bringing with them a fresh wave of energy and talent. Intombi Yabelungu, with her dedication and passion, has shown great potential and promise. Shun Yengwayo is another artist to watch, with her unique sound and style.Despite these successes, there is still a long way to go. Many female Maskandi artists have released one album only to disappear from the scene, leaving fans and supporters wondering what could have been. Artists like Khwezelihle and izintombi zeSbanie are examples of this trend.But there's a darker side to the story. Rumors have been circulating that some male Maskandi artists have been sabotaging their female counterparts, using their influence and power to undermine their success. Stories have emerged of broken hearts, false recording deals, and exploitation. Some female artists have reported being promised record deals or collaborations, only to be left in the lurch. Others have spoken of being belittled, mocked, or even bullied by their male peers.These allegations are disturbing and unacceptable. It's time for the Maskandi music industry to take a hard look at itself and address these issues. We need to create a safe and supportive environment for all artists, regardless of gender.As we celebrate the achievements of our female Maskandi artists, we also issue a call to action. We encourage more women to join the Maskandi train, to share their stories, and to showcase their talents. We aspire to see successful female Maskandi groups emerge, similar to South Africa's Izingane Zoma and Amatshitshi Amhlophe.The time is ripe for female Maskandi artists to take center stage and make their mark on the music industry. With dedication, hard work, and passion, we have no doubt that they will rise to the challenge and make their voices heard.Let us support and celebrate our female Maskandi artists, and encourage more women to join the movement. Together, we can create a vibrant and inclusive Maskandi music scene that showcases the talents of all Zimbabweans.
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Blake Livelys latest legal request in her ongoing legal battle against her It Ends with Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni has been granted, marking one of her first major victories in the case.

The 37-year-old Gossip Girl star is suing Baldoni for alleged sexual harassment on set and for later allegedly orchestrating a smear campaign intended to destroy her reputation in the months following the films release. Baldoni, who denies the allegations, has filed a $400m countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.

Lively recently submitted a request that certain discoveries made in the case be available for their attorneys eyes only to protect against any leaks of sensitive information.

There is an insatiable appetite for any information about this case, no matter how benign it is, Livelys attorney, Meryl Governski, told New York Judge Lewis Liman during a telephone conference earlier this month. The defendants have bragged in text messages about being able to publish information without fingerprints.

Governski said one category of information that needs to be kept between lawyers related to medical information, including mental health, and that personal and intimate conversations with unrelated third parties must be kept out of the public eye because  while the public relations value would be high  the evidentiary value would be virtually nonexistent.

Liman went ahead and ruled in favor of Livelys request on Thursday, agreeing that highly personal and intimate information about third parties will only be seen by lawyers. Neither Lively nor Baldoni will have access to the information, which includes details about the actors, such as medical records, trade secrets and security measures taken by each.

A judge has granted Blake Lively's legal request that certain materials discovered in her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni remain only for their attorneys' eyes ( Getty Images )

The risk of disclosure is great, Liman said of the potential for gossip and innuendo to spread if the sensitive information was somehow leaked.

While Baldonis lawyers did not object to certain material being kept from the press and public, they argued that being unable to share the findings with their clients would make it difficult to litigate the case and potentially lead both sides to raise additional legal arguments.

Liman limited the attorneys eyes only material to information that was highly likely to cause a significant business, commercial, financial or privacy injury. He noted that confidentiality would speed up the discovery process.

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Early last month, Baldonis legal team launched a website containing documents and text messages linked to the case. Lively later requested that certain material be categorized as attorneys eyes only after she said she received violent, profane, sexist, and threatening communications after speaking out.

Baldonis legal team then accused Lively of trying to shield, from public view, documents and information exchanged herein for the sake of her reputation.

Given how actively the Lively Parties have publicized and litigated Ms. Livelys claims in the media, we are surprised to now learn how vehemently she wants to prevent the public from accessing material and relevant evidence, Baldonis legal team wrote in a letter to the judge.

A trial date is set for May 29, 2026.
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Brenda Song has recalled the first time she rewatched Home Alone with her fiance Macaulay Culkin.

Culkin, who shot to fame for his portrayal of Kevin McAlister in the 1990 holiday classic and its 1992 sequel, and Song, 36, have been dating since 2017.

During a recent appearance on the Jennifer Hudson Show, Song recounted their first Christmas spent together.

When we started dating almost eight years ago now, Christmastime came around  and its a tradition, Ive always watched Home Alone every Christmas, the Suite Life of Zach & Cody alum said.

He hadnt seen the movie in almost a decade  he didnt want to watch it  and I forced it. I was like, We have to.

She remembered that once the movie began, Culkin started telling me all the behind-the-scenes stories. And I was like, Stop. Stop. Youre ruining it for me.

Brenda Song said she forced her fiance Macaulay Culkin to rewatch 'Home Alone' during their first Christmas together ( Getty Images )

The movie holds such a special place in obviously so many peoples hearts. Its just hard for me, thats all, she explained.

Song also grew up in the business, landing her breakout role in the Disney Channel sitcom The Suite Life of Zack & Cody when she was only 16.

However, the two could not have been raised more differently.

Mac is a very unique human, being like the most famous child actor in the world, she told Hudson. He lived and grew up in hotels.

As a result, she said he had never really done laundry.

And I was shook-eth! she exclaimed. I have been doing laundry since I was like 10, helping my mom.

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Song said that in addition to teaching Culkin how to do laundry, shes also tried to teach him how to drive.

I took him out to drive in our neighborhood. I was terrified, let me tell you. Im like this 44-year-old man driving for the first time; I was like nope. I gotta hire someone to do that, she quipped.

The couple first met in 2014 at the house of actor Seth Green following the cancelation of Song and Greens short-lived Fox sitcom, Dads.

[Culkin] was trying to be funny about our show being canceled and I was not having it, Song recalled in her January Cosmopolitan cover story.

They eventually reconnected in 2017 while co-starring in Greens comedy-drama, Changeland. They got engaged in January 2022, in between the births of their two sons, Dakota (April 2021) and Carson (December 2022).

While they have kept their relationship mostly out of the spotlight, save for a few red carpet appearances, Song and their two sons supported Culkin at his Hollywood Walk of Fame star dedication ceremony in December.

Id like to thank Brenda. Youre absolutely everything. Youre my champion. Youre the only person happier for me today than I am, the My Girl actor said in his acceptance speech. Youre not only the best woman Ive ever known, youre the best person Ive ever known.

Youve given me just all my purpose, youve given me family. After the birth of our two boys, youve become my three favorite people. I love you so much, Culkin added.
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A necropsy report has revealed that dehydration and starvation likely led to the death of one of actor Gene Hackman and his wifes dogs, found alongside the deceased couple in their New Mexico home.

The Santa Fe County animal control agencys report, obtained by The Associated Press, details partial mummification of the dog and notes the absence of signs indicating infectious disease, trauma, or poisoning.

While severe decomposition may have obscured changes to the dogs organs, its stomach contained only small amounts of hair and bile.

The dog, a kelpie mix named Zinna, was one of three owned by the couple. Two other dogs survived.

Zinna was discovered deceased in a crate inside a bathroom closet, near the body of Hackmans wife, Betsy Arakawa.

Authorities confirmed last week that Hackman died from heart disease complicated by Alzheimers disease.

His death followed that of his wife, who succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare rodent-borne illness, approximately a week earlier. Hackman, in the advanced stages of Alzheimers, may have been unaware of his wifes passing, medical examiners said.

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa in 1993 ( AP )

Hackman was found in the homes entryway, while Arakawa was located in a bathroom. Similar to the dog, their bodies exhibited decomposition and some mummification, a result of body type and the arid climate of Santa Fe, situated at an elevation of nearly 7,200 feet.

Zinnia went from being a returned shelter dog to an incredible companion that was always at Arakawa's side, said Joey Padilla, owner of the Santa Fe Tails pet care facility that was involved in the surviving dogs care.

Arakawa, born in Hawaii, studied as a concert pianist, attended the University of Southern California and met Hackman in the mid-1980s while working at a California gym.

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Hackman, a Hollywood icon, won two Oscars during a storied career in films including The French Connection, Hoosiers and Superman from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.

The pair led a private life after moving to Santa Fe decades ago. A representative for the couple's estate has cited that privacy in seeking to block the public release of autopsy and investigative reports related to their deaths, especially photographs and video.

It will be up to a state district judge to consider that request.
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Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has extended a playful invitation to newly minted Polish citizen and Jesse Eisenberg, offering military training that could, he said, land him the new James Bond role.

The lighthearted exchange stemmed from Eisenberg's recent appearance on NBC's The Tonight Show, where he recounted his experience of gaining Polish citizenship.

The Hollywood actor joked that the day after receiving his citizenship, the top news story was Poland requiring mandatory military training for all men.

Tusk responded to Eisenberg's quip with a video posted on X, reassuring the actor, "Dear Jesse, there's really nothing to be afraid of!"

He clarified that military training in Poland was voluntary, not mandatory.

The Prime Minister's video included a clip of Eisenberg's The Tonight Show appearance.

So come over to Poland! Tusk said.

And we'll give you such a training that, the new James Bond role? It's yours!

open image in gallery Jesse Eisenberg, right, and Kieran Culkin in A Real Pain, which was set in Poland ( AP )

Eisenberg's Polish citizenship was officially conferred earlier in March by Poland's President Andrzej Duda, recognising the actor's Polish heritage.

It came shortly after his film set in the country, A Real Pain, won an Oscar.

The drama-comedy follows two mismatched cousins, played by Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, who travel to Poland following the death of their beloved grandmother, who was a Holocaust survivor.

Eisenberg said it was the honour of a lifetime to become a Polish citizen.

Tusk said on March 7 that his government was working on a plan to prepare large-scale military training for every adult male in response to the changing security situation in Europe.

He said that there was a need for an army of 500,000 soldiers, more than double the current number, which would include reservists.

On Tuesday, he said the government intended to put 100,000 volunteers through military training each year starting in 2027 as it sought to build an army of reservists.

He said he was "convinced that there will be no shortage of volunteers.
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Stephen Graham thanked Robert De Niro during a heartfelt moment on The One Show for kickstarting his love of acting and film at an early age.

The two heavyweight actors appeared on the BBC show on Thursday (13 March) to promote their new projects.

Graham is currently earning rave reviews for his gripping new Netflix drama Adolescence. Meanwhile, fresh off the heels of Zero Day, De Niro is returning to the gangster genre with the movie The Alto Knights.

The pair have previously starred alongside one another in Martin Scorseses acclaimed The Irishman but Graham revealed on The One Show that De Niro holds a special place in his heart beyond sharing a screen.

Graham recalled when he was a teenager and his father asking him when he was 14 if he was serious about becoming an actor. When Graham said yes his father decided to take him to the local video store where they rented three movies: The Godfather, Taxi Driver and The Deer Hunter.

Then we went home and we watched these three films and we watched them all over the weekend, Graham said. And, you know, it was just You were the beginning of my whole love of favourite films, really."

Turning to De Niro, he added: I dont think I ever told you that. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

De Niro, 81, stars in Taxi Driver and The Deer Hunter, both of which earned him an Oscar nomination.

The One Show has since shared the interaction on Instagram and the post has been flooded with warm responses by viewers.

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One person said: I think there's probably a young boy saying the same thing to his dad about Stephen Graham. He's a brilliant actor.

Another wrote: A legend being thanked by a future legend.

A third added: Stephen is so humble. A brilliant actor, a true gentleman and icon .. a true inspiration.

Stephen Graham in Adolescence ( 2024 Netflix, Inc. )

Speaking to The Independent about Adolescence, Graham issued a warning to parents about the dangers of the internet.

Shot in one-take, each episode follows characters in real time as they attempt to get to the bottom of the incident. Exploring topical issues including incel culture, misogyny and the online manosphere, Graham was inspired by news reports of stabbings of young girls.

I read an article about a young boy stabbing a young girl, the A Thousand Blows star said. And then maybe a couple of months later, on the news there was [another] young boy who'd stabbed a young girl, and if I'm really honest with you, they hurt my heart.

He explained that the storyline explores a complexity of topics and that parents need to be mindful of the external influences working on their children.

It's just being mindful of the fact that not only we parent our children, and not only the school educates our children, he said. But also there's influences that we have no idea of that are having profound effects on our young culture, profound effects, positive and extremely negative. So its having a look at that and seeing that were all accountable.
Last May, I sat in a Utah coffee shop with Chad Franke, the son of the infamous momfluencer turned convicted child abuser Ruby. Once regarded as Americas mom, Ruby and her familys former counsellor Jodi Hildebrandt are now both serving up to 30 years in prison for aggravated child abuse on Rubys young children. My mom would always tell me Id end up in prison, Chad says casually, then turns to look out the window. Which is kind of ironic, when you think about it.

Eight months earlier, Chad and his family had become headline news all across the US and beyond. Theirs was a dark tale of a spectacular fall from grace, with Rubys mugshot appearing on magazine front covers and branded a Monster Mom after her 12-year-old son was found in the haze of the Utah desert begging for food and water.

He was emaciated and covered in deep wounds, and would lead police to discover his youngest sister  mute and similarly malnourished  in a closet at the home of the family therapist. Medics later determined that the young boy would have died within two weeks had he not unlocked his own handcuffs and heroically sneaked out an unlocked door to get help. His actions undoubtedly saved his and his sisters life.

Questions about what had happened behind the facade of this perfect Mormon family still remained unanswered, and Chad, his sister Shari and their dad Kevin were keen to give their first, detailed account of what really went on behind closed doors and when the cameras were turned off.

As we speak, I can see Chad turning events over in his head, still incredulous at what had happened. Our conversation that day marks the beginning of a long process that would uncover a series of unknown and remarkable details of a story many of us thought we knew.

For the next few months, I shuttled back and forth to Utah, partly to prepare for filming, but chiefly to spend time with Chad, Shari and Kevin (who was never charged with any crime). These many hours of pre-interviews would lay the groundwork for almost nine days of intense, filmed testimony for my miniseries Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke.

There was only one question on my mind: how could a happy, religious, Mormon family that seemed to have it all end up in a world of horror and delusion; one in which some of them genuinely believed they were being visited by Satan himself? The question was simple. The answers were sometimes overwhelmingly complicated.

To help explain the road theyd each been down (and, I realised, were still travelling), the family handed me four dusty computer hard drives containing over 1,000 hours of raw, unseen footage filmed over almost a decade by Ruby, Kevin and sometimes the kids. It would be a remarkable archive for any family, but for the Frankes, it unlocked a story of how a family that had projected an image of perfection on social media could have masked a horrifying reality.

But although the crime of abuse was at its heart, this felt like much more than just a true crime story. Talking to Chad that day, it was clearly a complex family tragedy that they were all still struggling to comprehend. These family archives would help me understand not just the details of the crimes, but the extraordinary path that had led there.

open image in gallery Many moments of Sharis life were broadcast on YouTube for millions to see ( Olly Lambert )

Much has been made of Rubys sometimes harsh parenting style, with online commentators pointing to times when Ruby withheld food from her children as punishment for minor transgressions, and once threatening to cut off the head of the youngest childs most precious toy as hints at the dark heart of what was truly going on.

Unpicking it was going to be hard. It quickly became clear that there were so many forks in the road, so many choices, relationships and beliefs that each paved the way to a shocking end. Not least was the hard-wired Mormon culture of striving for perfection in life and showing this life to the world as a kind of missionary work. There was their belief in a literal God and a literal Satan that walked amongst them, and their faith in the imminent Last Days, beliefs that would be ultimately weaponised against them, and which the turmoil of the pandemic only seemed to confirm.

But there were also the unique personalities of Ruby, Kevin and their rogue counsellor Hildebrandt to consider too. They had aligned in a kind of folie a trois, propelling each other into delusions that would rip the family apart, and nearly kill some of them. So many illogical and neglectful decisions were made along the way, decisions that were seen by some family members as being not just rational but wholesome.

None of these elements alone could ever result in the abuse of children at the hands of their mother and her therapist in a remote and soulless desert mansion. But each one of them became a pivotal stepping stone that would lead them there. And among all these factors, perhaps the first perilous threshold they crossed was the decision to launch 8 Passengers, a YouTube family vlogging channel that quickly became a global hit.

open image in gallery Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt have both been sentenced ( Washington County Attorney's Office )

Starting in 2015, the Frankes became pioneers of a new generation of families that began posting regular, candid online videos about their seemingly ordinary, daily life. The channel quickly built an audience, with 2.5 million subscribers at their peak, with videos being posted daily and often getting over 50 million views. Suddenly, their six children  especially Shari and Chad  were at the vanguard of a new and growing generation who would come of age after a childhood of globally scrutinised and unrequested intimate online exposure.

Many young people right now are posing serious and difficult questions to their own parents about what choice they had been given, what consent they could ever have made, and what compensation they should receive from such a profitable enterprise. (Kevin admitted to earning up to $100,000 per month from YouTube ads alone, and additional sponsorships and brand deals could sometimes double that.) Isnt this a type of child exploitation?

At first, it was fun, says Chad, and I could use it. Ruby was normally a strict and controlling figure in the household, tightly governing the kids access to games consoles, TVs and phones. But the camera could change that. For example, when Chad was about 14, he wanted to go with some friends to a theme park in nearby Salt Lake City, but knew that his mum would likely say no. But when he suggested that this day out could make a good online video, she didnt just agree  she gave him the 8 Passengers company credit card to use. She knew a video wouldnt just bring in income; all rides, food and candy would be expenses that were tax deductible.

open image in gallery Ruby Franke during her interrogation by police ( Washington County Attorney's Office )

For Shari, now 22, the on-camera Ruby was often gentler and kinder than the one she knew when the camera wasnt on. When filming, she recalls mum Ruby having a softness that could be both inauthentic but comforting, briefly turning her mother into a person who showed something close to love. She was just a bit nicer with the camera on, Shari tells me.

Her father Kevin initially seemed the least comfortable presence on camera. He tells me he was a nerd and not at all the strong, even-keeled patriarch of the family that Ruby wanted him to be. But being part of the narrative gave him license to perform with a strength of character that had eluded him in real life.

Within the unseen family archive is an excruciating moment where Ruby is urging Kevin to join her in an upbeat conversation on camera, only for him to withdraw and shut down, meekly saying that he just likes to listen to Ruby talk.

At these words, Rubys face drops into bitter and scathing disappointment and, seeing this disdain, Kevin quickly switches into character, faking a bright smile and talking confidently to viewers. Its an unguarded moment that lasts a matter of seconds, but as a piece of observational footage, it is potent. It is both a vivid portrait of a marriage and also a jarring glimpse of how the camera was directing their lives.

open image in gallery Kevin and his wifes vlogging channel had more than two million subscribers ( Disney )

Within a year, the income from the channel began to rival Kevins salary as a tenured engineering professor at nearby Brigham Young University. The money may have been flowing to the parents, but the stars were the kids  particularly the two eldest, Chad and Shari. All of that money came for one reason and one reason only, Kevin tells me. My kids. And Ruby, he says, exploited that.

Did you exploit it? I ask him.

Absolutely, I did.

Aged just 11 and 13, the two siblings were quickly prioritised for content in the family channel. No domestic or family moment was deemed too personal to be exploited for content: teenage acne, bra shopping, bed wetting, even the onset of puberty or periods were all fair game.

Their home became more a set than a house, according to Shari, with enforced and regular cleaning, and the bulbs changed to a cold white to make the house more camera ready.

The success of 8 Passengers was staggering, but even when the channel was bringing them wealth and reputation, it was providing Ruby with something far deeper and more primal.

Kevin, Shari and Chad all say to me that Ruby would regularly refer to her own fervent desire to be seen as the perfect mom. Within the Mormon church, this aspiration is freighted with meaning. Congregations are taught that to get to the highest degree of glory in the eyes of God, they should strive for perfection, and it would be a form of missionary work if they were able to show the world how finessed and wholesome their lives were.

Its probably no coincidence that Utah is both the capital of the Mormon church and has also been home to one of the highest proportions of family vloggers. For Ruby, what YouTube offered wasnt material, but almost spiritual: it was the possibility that by showing the world her perfect family life, she could get closer to God. For her, it could literally mean heaven.

open image in gallery Chad Franke: My mom would always tell me Id end up in prison, which is kind of ironic ( Disney )

The wealth that flowed into the family from their work on YouTube only served to cement this idea in both Kevin and Ruby that they were doing Gods work.

I was raised on the idea of the cosmic vending machine, Kevin says. Its this idea that I can do business with God. We believed that we were sharing Christianity with the whole world. And in return, God was blessing us.

And so when big brands came calling, offering five-figure sums in return for scripted plugs for products, Kevin and Ruby saw it as further evidence of God rewarding them for their good works.

But Chad hated it: When it came to brand deals and the sponsorships, it felt like a script, it felt like I was being controlled. He began deliberately disrupting videos, pulling faces and veering off script, ruining footage and igniting the fury of Ruby and Kevin. As the months went by, his disruptive behaviour spilled out into his school and social life. He got expelled, and began sneaking off in the night and making out with girls behind his parents backs, all regarded as particularly sinful by his religious, conservative parents.

It was then that Ruby sought help from Jodi Hildebrandt, a counsellor who had previously been recommended by the Mormon church. Ruby hoped that her reputation for no-nonsense parenting advice could be the solution they needed to get the family and its YouTube channel back on track, but she was perhaps the very worst person they could have turned to.

There was only one question on my mind: how could a happy Mormon family that seemed to have it all end up in a world of horror and delusion; one in which some of them genuinely believed they were being visited by Satan?

For years, Hildebrandt had been building up a large therapy practice in Utah, recruiting her clients from the communities and congregations of the Mormon church and tailoring her unique form of robust relationship advice to their particular beliefs and anxieties.

The root of most problems, she would tell her clients, was almost always men  even their most fleeting lusts and desires were addictions that needed to be cured, often through the practice of separation, with husbands and fathers banished and ostracised from the family home for months and sometimes years at a time in order, she said, to purge them of sinful thoughts and lead them to a life of truth.

Within a few months of first meeting Chad, Jodi was having sessions with him twice a week. She quickly scaled up, convincing Ruby and Kevin that their marriage was in danger, their kids were on a path to destruction and only she and her system of intense therapy could rescue them.

She preached a strange form of therapy, all carefully coded with Mormon scripture to appeal to her clients. She presented a binary choice of living either in truth or in distortion, and only she seemed qualified to define what this really meant, with the criteria confusingly fluid. She promised that her teachings offered a chance to perfect ones life on earth, which to members of the Mormon church was itself a gateway to heavenly glory.

By promising a shot at perfection, she was setting her clients an impossible task. But as a business model, it was a stroke of genius, as by proxy she was locking her clients into a potential lifetime of expensive therapy. Whats more, many Mormons believe both God and Satan are physical presences on Earth, and that any obstacle or hindrance on the path to goodness is likely engineered by Satan himself.

open image in gallery Rubys family all say that she was obsessed with becoming the perfect mom ( Instagram )

And so like many of Jodis clients, Ruby and Kevin quickly became convinced they were embroiled in a cosmic battle with evil, and, more dangerously, saw any life imperfection as evidence of their own sin or evil forces. Those imperfections could be the most minor of transgressions, including those seen in her young children. For Ruby, bad behaviour or talking back would ultimately come to be seen as evidence that her children were possessed, and needed to be purged through punishment and pain.

Chads teenage antics were seen as inviting evil spirits into the house, and at age 17, he was evicted from the family home and sent to fend for himself in student housing. Kevin, too, was told to move out as punishment for his sin of selfishness. Remarkably, he agreed immediately to this invitation to move out, and lived alone for over a year with no contact with his wife or any of his children. Meanwhile, Hildebrandt and Ruby began to exert increasing control over the remaining four young children.

I interviewed Kevin on camera for four long days, pressing him on the choices he had made and what he understands of them now. At first, he was lofty and thoughtful, then defensive, then hostile. But as the hours ticked by, our conversations would usually end in him hunched and silent, almost physically unable to confront the role he had played, and only able to hold tightly to the love he still has for Ruby and the memories of better times. Many do not agree, but Kevin sees himself as a victim in this story, and the documentarys audience will be wise enough to make up its own mind.

Many of the details of the abuse of the children that occurred during Kevins year-long absence have not been publicly disclosed, to protect their privacy and welfare. But some details were released after both Hildebrandt and Ruby pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse. Increasingly isolated, the children aged 8 to 15 were pulled out of school but then left home alone for days.

In the summer of 2023, at least two of the children were moved down to Hildebrandts vast, luxury home 270 miles away in the desert of southern Utah. For months, they were rarely seen, until the youngest boy, 12, escaped and begged a neighbour to call the police. Police would later discover a lengthy and detailed journal in which Ruby had described what she thought was her battle to exorcise demons from her children, but was in fact grotesque evidence of the most distressing child abuse. They had been denied food and water, left in the desert sun for hours and days at a time, were locked in closets and shackled with handcuffs on wrists and feet. These are just some of the publicly available details. Reading the full journal left hardened prosecutors in tears.

The family that Hildebrandt fatefully crossed paths with in 2019 was already uniquely and profoundly vulnerable, and privately at war with itself in ways it couldnt fully understand. They were already fertile ground for Hildebrandts unique brand of manipulation and malevolence. It was ultimately turning to her therapy which turned a questionable parenting choice of making family life into content for millions into a dangerous territory where a perfect mother ultimately came within days of killing her own children.

Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, produced by Passion Pictures, is now available on Hulu and Disney+
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Jason Isaacs has shut down speculation about whether he wears a prosthetic penis in The White Lotus.

The 61-year-old actor plays Timothy Ratliff, patriarch of a wealthy family and father of Saxon Ratliff (played by Patrick Schwarzenegger). The new season of the dark comedy is set in another luxury hotel - this time in Thailand.

Viewers were left shocked when an episode of the show featured a full-frontal nude scene starring the Harry Potter actor.

A lot of people are debating it. Its all over the internet, Isaacs said on CBS Mornings when asked if he was wearing a prosthetic in the scene.

Explaining why he refused to answer the question, he said: Ill tell you why because the best actress this year is Mikey Madison at the Oscars and I dont see anyone discussing her vulva, which is on television all the time and Im not talking about Swedish cars.

He added: I think its interesting that theres a double standard for men, but when women are naked, Margaret Qualley in The Substance, no one would dream of talking to her about her genitalia or her nipples or any of those things. So, its odd that theres a double standard.

Although he continued to be pressed by hosts Gayle King and Nate Burleson, he admitted dodging the question as he said: Because I dont think that people really want to know how the sausage is made.

open image in gallery Isaacs called out the double standard for men ( CBS Mornings )

I genuinely think it would be odd when there are characters - and some of the women are naked in here - itd be odd if you were sitting here. And you would never dream of discussing their genitalia, not for a second.

As he continued to be asked, Isaacs quipped: What is your obsession? Mike White is a brilliant writer, its the best series on television for a long time. And what is the obsession with penises? Its an odd thing.

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open image in gallery Isaacs in 'The White Lotus' ( HBO/Sky )

After the scene aired for the first time, viewers at home couldnt hide their disbelief at what they had just seen.

I did NOT have Jason Isaacs full-frontal on my White Lotus S3 bingo card lmaooo, wrote one person.

Using a Harry Potter reference (Isaacs played Lucius Malfoy in the film franchise), one viewer joked: Well, I didnt expect White Lotus to show Lucius Malfoys wand tonight, but here we are.
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Adolescence s Stephen Graham has issued a warning to parents about the dangers of the internet.

The 51-year-old is the star and co-writer of the new acclaimed Netflix series, which follows the family of 13-year-old schoolboy, Jamie Miller, who is accused of the brutal murder of a young girl. Graham plays Jamies father, Eddie.

Shot in one-take, each episode follows characters in real time as they attempt to get to the bottom of the incident. Exploring topical issues including incel culture, misogyny and the online manosphere, Graham was inspired by news reports of stabbings of young girls.

I read an article about a young boy stabbing a young girl, the A Thousand Blows star told The Independent. And then maybe a couple of months later, on the news there was [another] young boy who'd stabbed a young girl, and if I'm really honest with you, they hurt my heart.

He explained that the storyline explores a complexity of topics, and that parents need to be mindful of the external influences working on their children.

It's just being mindful of the fact that not only we parent our children, and not only the school educates our children, he said. But also there's influences that we have no idea of that are having profound effects on our young culture, profound effects, positive and extremely negative. So its having a look at that and seeing that were all accountable.

Graham wanted to explore the wider influences affecting young boys from ordinary backgrounds.

open image in gallery Graham plays father Eddie Miller who is dealing with his son being accused of the brutal murder of a young girl ( Courtesy of Netflix )

We wanted him to come from an ordinary family, he said. We wanted to be mindful from the very beginning that there was no way you could point the finger. Dad wasn't particularly violent in the house and didn't raise his hand to mum or the boy or his daughter. Mum wasn't an alcoholic. Jamie wasn't abused sexually or mentally or physically.

He said the series then asks the question: Who is to blame? Who is accountable?, and the answer is not straightforward. Maybe we're all accountable family, school, society, community, environment.

The Boiling Point actor went on to unpack the microcosm of the home and the macrocosm of the world outside, explaining that the separation no longer existed.

open image in gallery Adolescence deals with the issues faced by young boys ( Netflix )

When we were kids, if you got sent to your room or if Kenny Everett was on the telly, and it got a bit racy, you'd be sent to your room and then you couldn't watch it, he reflected. But today even within the context of that home, when lads and girls go to their bedrooms, they have the world at their fingertips.

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Adolescence does not deal with Andrew Tate or incel culture directly, an intentional decision by writer Jack Thorne to shed light on the complex influences impacting young people and explore male rage.

The kids aren't watching Andrew Tate, he said. They're watching a lot more dangerous stuff than Andrew Tate. We were trying present a portrait of complexity of this kid that had been made by all sorts of different influences and the thing about incel culture is there's a logic to it.
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China lashed out at G7 countries for accusing it of endangering maritime safety, saying that they were filled with arrogance, prejudice and malicious intentions.

Even for Chinas generally overheated diplomatic language, the statement issued on Saturday was unusually vitriolic, though it did not threaten any retaliation.

In a statement on Friday that prompted the Chinese response, the G7 said: We condemn Chinas illicit, provocative, coercive and dangerous actions that seek unilaterally to alter the status quo in such a way as to risk undermining the stability of regions, including through land reclamations, and building of outposts, as well as their use for military purpose.

We reaffirm that our basic policies on Taiwan remain unchanged and emphasise the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as indispensable to international security and prosperity, the statement by the groupings top diplomats continued, referring to the waterway separating China from the island republic it claims as its own territory.

In the response issued through its embassy in Canada, where the G7 meeting was held in Quebec, China said the statement repeated the same old rhetoric, ignored facts and Chinas solemn position, grossly interfered in Chinas internal affairs, and blatantly smeared China.

The statements are filled with arrogance, prejudice and malicious intentions to suppress and attack China, it added. China strongly deplores and opposes this and has lodged solemn representations with the Canadian side.

Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning carries out a formation exercise in the South China Sea in October 2024 ( Xinhua )

China is not a member of the G7 but follows all comments and references to its international status made by international organisations or in foreign countries, responding to criticism with caustic language.

China claims a vast expanse of the South China Sea, through which passes around $5 trillion in global trade. It occasionally clashes with other countries that claim parts of the sea, especially the Philippines, a US treaty partner.

Beijing has routinely sent ships and warplanes into the airspace and the waters near Taiwan, built military bases on artificial islands in the South China Sea, and recently staged surprise live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand.

Australias aviation authority said it learnt of the drills just 30 minutes before they began, not from Beijing but from a pilot flying in the area, and 49 commercial flights were forced to alter their flight paths in response.

The G7 didnt mention the exercises in its statement. We share a growing concern at recent, unjustifiable efforts to restrict such freedom and to expand jurisdiction through use of force and other forms of coercion, including across the Taiwan Strait, and in the South China Sea, the Red Sea, and the Black Sea, it said.

China has the worlds largest navy, including three aircraft carriers, with a fourth on the way. It has a base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa and has consistently expanded the range of the force.
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Pakistans military accused neighbouring India on Friday of sponsoring insurgents in a restive southwestern province, where an unprecedented attack by armed separatists this week killed 26 passengers aboard a hijacked train.

The scope of the attack underscored the struggles Pakistan faced in efforts to reign in militant groups as attacks across the country surged in recent years.

Accusing India and neighbouring Afghanistan has been Pakistan's go-to strategy in the past.

The military provided no evidence of its claim. The accusation was promptly rejected by New Delhi.

In the attack on Tuesday, fighters of the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army ambushed a train in a remote area in Balochistan, took about 400 people onboard hostage and triggered a firefight with security forces.

The standoff lasted until late Wednesday, when the army said 33 hijackers were killed.

The BLA has been fighting for more autonomy if not outright independence from the government in Islamabad and a greater share of the province's resources.

At a news conference in Islamabad, army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif said on Friday that in this terrorist incident in Balochistan, and others before, the main sponsor is your eastern neighbour, referring to India, without providing proof to back up the claim.

When asked by a reporter, he acknowledged that most of the fatalities on the train were security forces protecting the passengers and troops traveling to their home cities.

It was the first time the BLA had hijacked a train, although it had attacked trains before. Some assailants escaped, and a search operation was underway to find them, he said.

Also speaking at the news conference, Sarfraz Bugti, the chief minister of Balochistan, claimed Pakistan had solid evidence of Indias involvement in attacks in the province. He didn't share any specifics.

The military spokesman added that an Indian naval officer arrested in 2016 and convicted of espionage in Pakistan had worked for Indian intelligence to help the Baloch separatists and other militant groups.

The officer, identified as Kulbhushan Jadhav, was subsequently sentenced to death. Sharif did not link him to the train attack.

Pakistan and India are nuclear-armed rivals with a history of bitter relations. They have fought three wars since they gained independence in 1947 from colonial power Britain.

We strongly reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan, Indias foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.

Earlier, Pakistans foreign ministry claimed the train attack was orchestrated from Afghanistan. Kabul denied the accusation and said the BLA had no presence in Afghanistan.

Lt Gen Sharif, however, claimed the train attackers had been in contact with handlers in Afghanistan. He praised the military for the 36-hour rescue mission and claimed that the attackers' weapons originated from both India and Afghanistan.

Both he and Mr Bugti claimed that Indian media outlets aired fake footage of the hijacked train and used images generated by artificial intelligence to conduct information warfare against Pakistan.

Pakistan has suspended all train services to and from Balochistan since the attack. Sharif Ullah, a railway official, said repairs on the tracks, which were blown up by insurgents to stop the train, have not yet started.

Survivors have recounted their harrowing ordeal. Muhammad Farooq, a resident of Quetta, described how the BLA stopped the train and ordered passengers to disembark.

They checked identity cards and started killing people who worked for the armed forces, Mr Farooq said. Many passengers, he said, fled successfully while the hijackers were exchanging fire with Pakistani troops.

Oil- and mineral-rich Balochistan is Pakistans largest and least populated province. Ethnic Baloch residents have long accused the central government of discrimination  a charge Islamabad denies.
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Former president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte rose to power saying he "would be happy to slaughter" the millions of drug addicts that he said were destroying his country through crime.

During his presidency from 2016 to 2022, Duterte styled himself as an anti-drug crusader, whose ruthless "war on drugs" saw thousands killed.

Dubbed The Punisher, Duterte bragged about a violent past. Now he is appearing in front of The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

open image in gallery CPI-FILIPINAS-DUTERTE ( AP )

Dutertes anti-drug campaign raised global alarm over allegations of extrajudicial killings as police launched a crackdown on suspected drug users and dealers.

Duterte has repeatedly denied the allegations and said the drugs problem was a national security issue. Duterte has said he instructed police to kill only in self-defence.

From prosecutor to Davao death squads

Duterte was born in Maasin city to politician and lawyer Vicente Duterte and teacher Soledad Roa.

By 15 years old, he carried a gun. At 16, he claims he stabbed someone to death, although he has become known for his dubious boasts.

Despite being kicked out of schools, Duterte went on to study law. He spent a total of 20 years as a prosecutor, vice-mayor and then mayor of southern Philippine city of Davao.

The ICC has been investigating allegations mass killings in crackdowns overseen by Duterte in Davao and later as president. Estimates of the death toll of the crackdown during Duterte's presidential term vary, from the more than 6,000 that the national police have reported up to 30,000 claimed by human rights groups.

In 2015 Human Rights Watch described Duterte as the death squad mayor over his alleged tactics in dealing with violent crime in Davao, with more than 1,000 people being killed.

open image in gallery Philippines Duterte ICC Explainer ( Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

License to kill

Am I the death squad? True. That is true, Duterte told television that year, but he has dismissed the allegations. During his presidency such comments would bring his aides out to say such remarks should not be taken literally and that they were a joke.

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... I will really kill you, Duterte told a huge crowd in a campaign stop in Manila. I have no patience, I have no middle ground. Either you kill me or I will kill you idiots.

He also compared himself to Adolf Hitler, saying he would be happy to slaughter three million drug addicts in an analogy between the holocaust and his war on drugs.

He also bragged about looking for the criminals to kill while riding around on a motorbike.

His boasting about violence extended to attacks on women and the press. Perhaps most notably, he joked on the campaign about the rape of an Australian missionary killed in a 1989 prison riot in Davao. He later apologised.

open image in gallery Philippines Duterte ( Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Anti-drug operations 2016 to 2022

Duterte won the 2016 presidency race by a wide margin.

Shortly after being elected, Duerte offered security officers bounties for the bodies of suspected drug dealers and protection to police over the crackdown.

Between 12,000 and 30,000 civilians are believed to have been killed in connection with anti-drugs operations during his presidency, according to data cited by the ICC.

The deaths are believed to have mainly been men from low-income and urban regions shot by both police and unidentified assailants.

Duterte has remained defiant. "Show to me now the legal basis for my being here," Duterte asked police during his arrest, in remarks captured on video by his daughter, Veronica Duterte and posted on social media. "You have to answer now for the deprivation of liberty."

In a brief statement after the plane had taken off, the ICC confirmed that one of its pre-trial chambers had issued an arrest warrant for Duterte on charges of "murder as a crime against humanity allegedly committed in the Philippines between Nov. 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019."
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The former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, appeared before judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on Friday, days after his arrest in Manila on murder charges linked to the deadly war on drugs that he oversaw while in office.

The 79-year-old, who arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday after being arrested in Manila on charges of crimes against humanity, sounded frail as he spoke via video link from the detention centre about a mile away where he is being held.

For families of victims of the drugs crackdown, Mr Duterte's appearance in court was a long-awaited sign of hope.

"This is the first step to attaining justice, lawyer Gilbert Andres, representing those families, said outside the court.

open image in gallery ICC judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc ( EPA )

But Mr Duterte's many vocal supporters say the arrest was illegal. His lawyer, Salvador Medialdea, used the hearing to decry his arrest in Manila as a pure and simple kidnapping. He said Mr Duterte was denied all access to the legal recourse in the country of his citizenship, and this all in the nature of political score-settling.

Presiding judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc set a pre-trial hearing date of 23 September to establish if the prosecutions evidence is strong enough to merit sending the case to trial. If a trial does go ahead, it could take years, and if Mr Duterte is convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Estimates of the death toll during Mr Duterte's presidency vary, from the more than 6,000 reported by the national police to 30,000, as reported by human rights groups.

The ICC judge said that Mr Duterte had been allowed to participate in his first hearing by video link because of the long flight from Manila.

Mr Duterte, wearing a jacket and tie, listened to the hearing through headphones, often with his eyes closed. He spoke in English to confirm his name and his date and place of birth. He was not required to enter a plea. The hearing, which started about half an hour late, lasted around 30 minutes.

Mr Medialdea said that Mr Duterte had been under observation in hospital because of health problems.

The judge, addressing Mr Duterte, said: The court doctor was of the opinion that you were fully mentally aware and fit.

Mr Duterte was arrested on Tuesday amid chaotic scenes in the Philippine capital after returning from a visit to Hong Kong. He was swiftly put on a chartered jet and flown to the Netherlands.

His daughter, Sara Duterte, who is vice president of the Philippines, visited him in the court's detention centre on Friday and met supporters outside the court. Ms Duterte is a political rival of the current president.

She said her father was in good spirits and was being well taken care of, and added that his only complaint about the conditions in which he was being kept was that he misses Filipino food.

There will be a day of reckoning for all, she said.

open image in gallery Protesters in Manila call for the conviction of Duterte ( EPA )

Meanwhile, activists marched in Manila to demand justice for the thousands of suspects killed in Mr Duterte's brutal crackdowns. Families of those killed watched the ICC proceedings on screens set up around the country, some of them holding portraits of their dead loved ones, as they listened to charges read out against Mr Duterte in a courtroom on the other side of the world.

Prosecutors accuse Mr Duterte of involvement as an indirect co-perpetrator in multiple murders, amounting to a crime against humanity, for allegedly overseeing killings from November 2011 until March 2019, first while he was mayor of the southern city of Davao and later as president of the Philippines.

According to the prosecution request for his arrest, Mr Duterte, as Davao mayor, issued orders to police and other hitmen who formed the so-called Davao Death Squads, or DDS.

Human rights groups and victims' families have hailed Mr Duterte's arrest as a historic triumph over state impunity, while the former president's supporters have slammed what they call the government's surrendering of a political rival to a court whose jurisdiction they dispute.

We are happy and we feel relieved, said 55-year-old Melinda Abion Lafuente, mother of 22-year-old Angelo Lafuente, who she said was tortured and killed in 2016.

open image in gallery Sara Duterte addresses supporters outside the International Criminal Court in The Hague during Friday's hearing ( AFP via Getty )

Mr Duterte's legal team say the administration of current president Ferdinand Marcos Jr shouldn't have allowed the global court to take custody of the former leader because the Philippines is no longer a party to the ICC.

Mr Medialdea said that two troubled entities struck an unlikely alliance. An incumbent president who wishes to neutralise and choke the legacy of my client and his daughter, and a troubled legal institution subject to delegitimisation.

Judges who approved Mr Duterte's arrest warrant said the court has jurisdiction because the crimes alleged in the warrant were committed before Mr Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the court in 2019.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report
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Singapore has banned a Malaysian-made coffee product after authorities found it contained a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said it detected tadalafil, a potent medication requiring medical supervision, in the instant coffee mix Kopi Penumbuk, which was being sold on local e-commerce platforms. The product was advertised with claims of enhancing male sexual performance.

SFA has worked with various online e-commerce platforms to remove listings of the product and issued warnings to the respective sellers to refrain from selling the product with immediate effect, the agency said in a statement.

Tadalafil is a prescription drug that, if misused, can cause severe health complications, including heart attack, stroke, migraine, and priapism  a painful and prolonged erection.

The drug is particularly dangerous for individuals with heart conditions, as it can lead to a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when taken alongside nitrate-based heart medications, the agency warned.

Consumers who have purchased Kopi Penumbuk have been advised not to consume it.

The agency has also directed those facing health concerns after consuming the coffee product to seek medical attention.

Consumers should also exercise caution and be mindful of the risks associated with consuming food bought from unknown or unverified sources, and are advised to seek more information before making any purchase, it said.

Under Singapores Sale of Food Act, selling unsafe food products can result in a fine of up to S$5,000 (2,890). Repeat offenders face steeper penalties, including fines of up to S$10,000 (5,781) or a jail term of up to three months or both.

The SFA has previously flagged several Malaysian-made food products over safety concerns.

In February, a weight-loss drink was removed from online platforms after it was found to contain sennosides, a laxative that can cause abdominal pain and cramps, reported the South China Morning Post. Last year, two types of candy were also pulled from the market for containing medicinal ingredients banned in food.

In 2022, Singapores Health Sciences Authority reported that two individuals were hospitalised after consuming a sexual enhancement coffee product containing tadalafil, suffering from migraine and priapism.
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At least 32 people across five states have died and dozens more are injured after a violent storm system swept across the country, slamming the Mississippi Valley and Deep South.

A brutal combination of tornadoes, severe storms and whipping winds has left at least 12 dead in Missouri, the Associated Press reports. Another eight died in Kansas on Friday in a highway pile-up involving 50 vehicles amid a dust storm. Mississippis governor also reported six dead after the state was rocked by tornadoes, severe storms and even an earthquake late Saturday.

The Texas Department of Public Safety reported three deaths in three separate car crashes due to low visibility and high winds after a dust storm ripped through the state Friday. Another three people also died in Arkansas amid the storms.

One man was killed after a tornado tore apart his home.

"It was unrecognizable as a home. Just a debris field," Butler County, Missouri Coroner Jim Akers told the Associated Press. "The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls." A woman in the home was saved by rescuers, the outlet noted.

Governors of Arkansas, Georgia, and Mississippi have each declared states of emergency.

open image in gallery Debris covers the road during a severe storm slams the area north of Seymour, Missouri late Friday, March 14, 2025. (Trooper Austin James/Missouri State Highway Patrol via AP) ( AP )

The Carolinas

Nearly 250,000 Americans are without power across as of Sunday morning, according to poweroutage.us.

North Carolinians went to sleep Saturday night with the threat of damaging winds, tornadoes and large hail, the states emergency management team predicted. More than 44,000 in the state are without power as of Sunday morning, with Duke Energy reporting 200 outages across 16 counties, according to Fox Carolina.

Tornado watches were still in effect Sunday morning in counties across North and South Carolina through Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Strong winds are expected to whip throughout the day Sunday into the evening, with gusts of up to 45 mph.

Texas

Three have died in Texas in car crashes as a result of the dust storm, with one car pileup including an estimated 38 vehicles, AccuWeather reported.

In Amarillo in the Texas panhandle, a video posted by the National Weather Service captured 83 mph winds dust to swirl and lamp posts, flag poles and trees to shake. Dangerous winds and blowing dust are causing LOTS of issues out there, including accidents, downed power lines and low visibility. Take extreme caution out there! the government agency wrote.

Many others are under threat as wildfires tear across the northern part of the state. As of Sunday morning, nine wildfires were raging across the state, most of which were more than 65 percent contained. Fire weather watches and red flag warnings are expected to take effect early this week.

open image in gallery A blaze overtakes a home in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Friday as wildfires in the state destroy more than 200 homes ( REUTERS )

Fires are also devastating Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Kansas. In some Oklahoma communities, officials ordered locals to evacuate as more than 130 fires were reported across the state, the Associated Press reported.

At a press conference Saturday, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said nearly 300 homes were damaged and more than 170,000 acres had burned due to the fires.

---

Additional reporting by AP.
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The Russian captain of the container ship that crashed into an oil tanker in the North Sea has been remanded in custody after being charged with gross negligence manslaughter.

Vladimir Motin, 59, of Primorsky, St Petersburg, in Russia, appeared at Hull Magistrates Court on Saturday, Humberside Police said.

The Crown Prosecution Service said that Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, died following the collision between Motins vessel, the Solong, and the Stena Immaculate oil tanker off the east coast of Yorkshire.

Motin stood in the glass-front dock at Hull Magistrates Court for the 35-minute hearing. The court heard how all 23 people on the tanker were rescued along with 13 of 14 crew members from the Solong but Mr Pernia could not be located.

There was no application for bail and Motin was remanded in custody by deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram, who appeared by videolink. No pleas were entered.

Motin will appear next at the Old Bailey on 14 April.

open image in gallery Solong collided with Stena Immaculate, which was at anchor and carrying aviation fuel ( Reuters )

The defendent was flanked by one security guard and had the help of a Russian interpreter at Hull Magistrates Court.

Sporting short black hair, parted on the left, the defendant was wearing a grey T-shirt under a blue checked shirt and an unzipped black fleece jacket. He was clean-shaven and wearing glasses.

He spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and that he did not have an address in the UK.

Prosecutor Amelia Katz, who also appeared by videolink, said the 140m-long Solong was Portuguese-registered and was carrying about 157 containers.

Ms Katz said the Stena Immaculate was 183m long and was carrying jet fuel. She added the Solong was travelling at about 15 knots when it directly impacted on the port side of the other vessel.

Mr Pernia was working in the forward deck part of the ship, in the area where there was an explosion, she said.

Andrew Havery, defending, said he is hoping to apply for bail next week when accommodation for his client has been secured.

Mr Havery said: Mr Motins employers are fully supportive of him.

The Stena Immaculate is still at anchor at the point where the collision happened, which is about 12 miles off the East Yorkshire coast, near Withernsea.

The Solong drifted south of this location, to a point where it could be seen off the Lincolnshire coast.

On Friday, the force confirmed magistrates had granted a further extension to the time detectives could hold the captain due to the complexities of the incident.

Later that day, police said he had been charged.

On Friday, chief coastguard Paddy OCallaghan said the vessels are stable and salvors have boarded them both to continue damage assessments.
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Scientists have warned that raw fish such as tuna, salmon and prawns are being swapped out for cheaper alternatives and being mislabelled as premium products.

Studies have shown that customers may not be getting what they pay for when it comes to sushi, with it being virtually impossible to spot the difference once the fish has been prepared and sliced.

Dr Marine Cusa, a marine biologist and policy expert from the Technical University of Denmark, told MailOnline: Because mislabelling rates depend on the species, if consumers want to avoid mislabelling then they should avoid certain species and prioritize others.

White fish like cod, haddock, and saithe in general are rarely mislabelled in Europe apart from their geographical origin.

But tuna, swordfish, groupers, snappers, sharks, rays, have a higher species mislabelling risk.

open image in gallery Studies have revealed widespread evidence of mislabelling within the industry ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

In many cases, fish are sold under more generic terms to avoid confusion, such as the name tuna covering 68 different species.

However, this leaves a legal loophole which can be exploited for malpractice, with scientists warning that there is widespread evidence of fish being marketed with misleading labels.

The most commonly substituted fish in nearly every country where studies have been conducted is the red snapper, which is frequently targeted for fraud.

In a 2018 study, the UK was found to be one of the worst culprits with a mislabelling rate of 42 per cent, while in the US and Canada it ranges between 80 to 100 per cent. It is usually substituted by tilapia, which is farmed around the world and sold cheaply in markets.

Another commonly found cases of forgery include tuna, which is swapped for cheaper fish up to 40 per cent of the time.

open image in gallery A study showed that tuna is swapped for cheaper fish up to 40 per cent of the time ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

In 2018, a team of international researchers sampled 545 tuna samples in six European countries, with the results indicating that 6.7 per cent was a different species than what the label had advertised.

It is often substituted for the cheaper escolar, which is also known as the laxative of the sea due to its gastrointestinal effect.

The sale of the escolar is banned in Italy and Japan due to side effects including diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and headaches.

Salmon is also swapped out for cheaper options, with a 2024 study of seafood products showing that the labelling of 18 per cent of 107 products was misleading.

DNA analysis found that nine of those options were in fact the much cheaper rainbow trout, while another study by Harvard University in 2020 found that salmon was the second most commonly mislabelled fish.

Other pricier fish products such as yellowtail and swordfish are also often mislabelled, with some estimates showing that up to 40 per cent of the latter has been swapped with a cheaper alternative when sold in the UK.

Americans are also believed to purchase an estimated 20,000 tonnes of mislabelled prawns each year, which is usually replaced with whiteleg shrimp, while tiger prawns are commonly mislabelled.

Selling fish under false names or listing them as having false geographic locations makes it harder for scientists to keep track of fishing patterns.

While the research shows that deliberate fish fraud in restaurants is rare, as the swapping of products happens further up in the supply change, the mislabelling of fish in sushi is a common issue.

Dr Cusa says: 'In general, fish products that are sold in supermarket chains and that have thorough labels indicating the species, catch location and catching gear, are also good choices.

'On the other hand, processed products, canned products with little information if any are, almost by definition, mislabelled. I would avoid any product with poor labelling or where the species is not indicated.

'Perhaps finally, European-caught fish are less likely to be mislabelled than imported products.'
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A coalition of leading charities has urged Labour to introduce new rental laws which will ensure poorer tenants are not filtered out of the housing market.

Unfair guarantor rules are allowing landlords to discriminate against undesirable tenants, they say, and should be changed as part of Labours forthcoming renters bill.

Research from Shelter has found that one in three renters who are asked for a guarantor struggles to provide one, meaning around 600,000 renters have struggled to secure a home in recent years.

In an open letter to housing secretary Angela Rayner, 28 organisations including Shelter and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation say that this issue will only grow worse if not brought in alongside other anti-discrimination measures set to come into effect as part of the bill.

This is because landlords, will simply switch to further abusing their power to request a guarantor, even when there is very little danger that a tenant will not pay rent, the letter said.

open image in gallery Angela Rayner said the Governments plans would unleash the biggest building boom in a generation (Leon Neal/PA) ( PA Wire )

Co-ordinated by the Renters Reform Coalition, the letter asks the deputy prime minister to make an amendment to the Renters Rights Bill, currently being considered by the House of Lords, which she is spearheading.

The signatories do not call on the government to scrap guarantors entirely. Instead they ask Labour rules out demands for a guarantor where tenants income is sufficient to cover the rent, or where the landlord has insurance to cover any non-payment, and limit guarantor liability to six months rent.

If unchanged, these rules are likely to become more discriminatory against poorer tenants and those in receipt of benefits, they write, as they will be less likely to be in a position to know a high-earning homeowner well enough for them to offer to guarantee rent

open image in gallery Kelly, 41, said: I feel like this is discrimination against people who receive housing allowance. ( Supplied )

Kelly, 41, a mother-of three from Leeds, currently lives in a home with severe damp and mould issues which have been exacerbating her familys medical problems.

She is looking to move, but has found it impossible due to letting agents insisting she must have a guarantor who earns at least 38,000. This is despite her having enough income, with her housing benefit, to cover rents in her area.

She said: Even though I could afford the rent, guarantor requests have repeatedly stopped me from renting a home as I am not in a position to appoint someone earning that sort of money.

I feel like this is discrimination against people who receive housing allowance. Why shouldn't I be able to find a home like everyone else?"

open image in gallery Sean, 55, says he was refused six rentals in six months due to unfair guarantor rules ( Supplied )

Sean, 55, from Glasgow, recently faced a similar experience. Despite working as a senior copywriter and earning up to 50,000 a year, he was rejected from multiple rental properties in Newcastle, Coventry and Birmingham as his required guarantor, his 80-year-old mother, was a pensioner.

This happened to Sean six times in six months, he says. The situation left him with no choice but to rent Airbnbs and sleep on friends couches until he was finally able to find a spare room with a relative.

Sean said:"I had a good job, well paid and with three months' worth of bank statements and I was refused rental(s), owing to my required guarantor being a pensioner.

Other letting agents wanted six months' rent up front, three years' worth of bank statements (which my bank refuses on security grounds and I agree) AND a guarantor (again, refused on age grounds, my mother being a pensioner).

Dan Wilson Craw, Deputy Chief Executive of Generation Rent, said: Everyone needs a safe, secure, and affordable home. Unfortunately, many tenants face discrimination from landlords when searching for a place to live. Even if you can afford the rent, if youre self-employed or relying on benefits, landlords can demand multiple months rent upfront, or that you get a homeowner to guarantee your rent.

While the Government's move to limit rent in advance is a positive step towards ending discrimination while renting, it will continue through excessive guarantor demands. The Government must act to close this loophole. If you can afford the rent, there should be no need for a guarantor."

open image in gallery Housing minister Matthew Pennycook has said the rules are under review (Jessica Taylor/PA) ( PA Media )

Labour MP for Leeds Central and Headingley Alex Sobel introduced an amendment during an earlier stage of the bill which would have prevented landlords from requiring a guarantor providing a tenant could pass an affordability check, but this was not voted on.

Addressing the amendment, housing minister Matthew Pennycock said there was a strong case, adding: I appreciate fully that obtaining a guarantor can be difficult for some prospective tenants, and I understand the reasoning behind his amendment.

However, I am also mindful that in some instances the use of guarantors can provide good landlords with the assurance necessary to let their properties to tenants who may otherwise find it difficult to access private rented accommodation.

The minister concluded that the matter remains under review and that there will be more discussion on it in the weeks and months to come.

A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: We have no plans to restrict the use of guarantors, but we are clear landlords should not discriminate against any prospective tenants and consider them on a case-by-case basis.

Our Renters Rights Bill will create a fairer housing market by stopping landlords from demanding large amounts of rent in advance, while the reforms will further strengthen tenant rights and protections by abolishing section no fault 21 evictions, empowering tenants to challenge excessive rent hikes, and ending unfair bidding wars.
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The Russian captain of container ship Solong has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter over the North Sea collision with a US oil tanker on Monday.

Humberside Police say they have charged Vladimir Motin, 59, over the dramatic and costly collision, which left a Filipino sailor thrown overboard and declared dead after a frantic search.

Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, has been named as the crew member who is still missing after the crash between the Solong container ship and the US oil tanker, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Thirty-six people from both vessels made it ashore.

open image in gallery The US oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate which was struck by the Solong container ship, in the Humber Estuary, off the east coast of Yorkshire ( PA Wire )

Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: We have authorised Humberside Police to charge a Russian national in relation to a collision involving two vessels in the North Sea off the east coast of England.

Vladimir Motin, 59, from St Petersburg, Russia, who was the vessels captain, is due to be charged with one count of gross negligence manslaughter.

The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and that he has the right to a fair trial.

It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.

open image in gallery The damaged Solong vessel in the sea of Yorkshire ( AP )

A Humberside Police spokesman said Mr Motin from Primorsky in St Petersburg will appear at Hull Magistrates Court on Saturday.

He added: Extensive searches were carried out by HM Coastguard to locate the missing crew member, now presumed deceased.

The family are being supported by specialist trained officers and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.

The Stena Immaculate is still at anchor at the point where the collision happened, which is about 12 miles off the East Yorkshire coast, near Withernsea.

The Solong drifted south of this location, to a point where it could be seen off the Lincolnshire coast.

open image in gallery Tug boats shadow the Solong container ship as it drifts in the Humber Estuary, off the coast of East Yorkshire ( PA Wire )

On Friday, chief coastguard Paddy OCallaghan said the vessels are stable and salvors have boarded them both to continue damage assessments.

He said: There are now only small periodic pockets of fire on the Solong which are not causing undue concern.

Specialist tugs with firefighting capability remain at both vessels locations.

Regular aerial surveillance flights continue to monitor the vessels and confirm that there continues to be no cause for concern from pollution from either the Stena Immaculate or from the Solong.

open image in gallery Smoke rises from damaged containers on the deck of the MV Solong cargo ship ( AFP via Getty Images )

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), which will lead the safety probe into the incident, has said that the Solong altered course at about 1.30am on Monday, as it passed to the east of Longstone lighthouse, on to a heading of approximately 150 degrees, which is a south-east direction.

The crash happened eight hours and 17 minutes later.

The ship was travelling at about 16.4 knots, the MAIB added, the equivalent land speed for which is 18.9mph.

The Solong frequently travelled between Grangemouth in Scotland and Rotterdam and regularly used the route it took on the day of the collision, the statement added.
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The Education Secretary has said smartphones have no place in schools as she warned of the damage caused by social media and technology.

Bridget Phillipson told school and college leaders that they have the Governments full backing on removing disruptive phones from classrooms.

Addressing the annual conference of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) in Liverpool, the Education Secretary said she had tasked officials to explore how to more effectively monitor what is happening in schools across England around the use of smartphones.

It comes after Manny Botwe, president of the ASCL, said smartphones and social media are increasingly being weaponised against schools.

The school leader in Macclesfield called for an end to the chaos caused by social media as he said it was time to bring social media platforms to heel.

In her speech to around 1,000 school and college leaders on Friday, the Education Secretary said: You know, we all know, that phones are disruptive, distracting, bad for behaviour. They have no place in our schools.

And the Governments position is clear, you have our full backing in ridding our classrooms of the disruption of phones.

I know that will be the case in the overwhelming majority of all classrooms, but I expect it to be true in all classrooms.

So I tasked my officials to look at how we can more effectively monitor whats happening on the ground.

Schools in England were given non-statutory guidance under the former Conservative government in February last year intended to stop the use of mobile phones during the school day.

Speaking to the media at the conference in Liverpool, Ms Phillipson said phone use can be a driver of poor behaviour within classrooms and she called on school leaders to enforce existing guidance on phones.

She said: The Conservatives brought in this policy, I think it was the right approach to take, what we need to ensure is that its being enforced right across the country, in every classroom.

So well be looking into what more data we need to gather in order to identify if its not happening, what more schools need to do to take action.

When asked whether parents should be stricter on restricting phone use at home, the Education Secretary said: I know lots of parents are worried about access to inappropriate material online and what children can be exposed to. Thats why we are taking action through the Online Safety Act.

She added: I think the evidence is increasingly clear that we shouldnt be allowing children unrestricted access to harmful content.

Theres a role for government in that, there is a role for parents in that, and as I said in my speech, schools have a role to play during the school day.

During her speech to headteachers on Friday, Ms Phillipson also called for schools to catch up fast to improve pupil attendance and said she would not accept the damage caused by children missing school.

The Education Secretary said some schools were not making enough progress on absences as she called for old-fashioned graft.

During a Q&A session at the conference in Liverpool, Ms Phillipson said people will need to think very differently about the system to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).

The Education Secretary said: I think we need to take a step back from the system that we have right now  the system that came from the 2014 reforms  and start to think very differently about what that system will look like.

And thats a conversation that in the months to come well be having with parents, but also with the profession, because this is complex.

When asked by the media if the Governments plans included making it harder for children to secure extra support through an education, health and care plan (EHCP), Ms Phillipson said: I understand the anxiety that parents feel, not least because the system weve got at the moment is so adversarial, so pressured, where parents have to fight really hard.

What I want to get to is a system where actually support is put in place far more quickly for children [with Send] who need additional support, much earlier identification of need, much more timely attention and support. Thats a world from where we are at the moment.

During her speech, the Education Secretary announced that Tom Rees, who is leading the Governments expert advisory group on inclusion, will launch a call for evidence on Saturday about effective inclusion in mainstream schools.
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Rachel Reeves reportedly accepted free tickets to a Sabrina Carpenter concert last week, in a move which threatens to reignite the freebies row that rocked the government last year.

According to the The i Paper, the chancellor sat in a corporate box last weekend to watch the O2 arena show, for which some resale tickets cost almost 1,000, as the cabinet geared up to announce sweeping cuts to disability benefits.

There is no suggestion the chancellor broke any rules, as it is not against lobbying rules for ministers to accept free tickets if declared in the normal way.

open image in gallery Chancellor Rachel Reeves ( Yui Mok/PA )

But it comes after months of criticism levelled at the government over accepting freebies, with critics arguing the gifts were an insult to the public during an ongoing cost of living crisis.

Labour MP Rachael Maskell said reports of Ms Reeves accepting Sabrina Carpenter tickets are deeply troubling.

I thought that this issue had been settled, and ministers would not be accepting free hospitality for personal benefit, she told The i.

So to hear of a repeat, should it have occurred, is deeply troubling, not least at a time when many disabled people are worried sick about having their lifeline of support reduced under the Get Britain Working reforms.

There are fears that as many as a million face having their benefits reduced as part of an overhaul of the welfare system, which the government argues is essential to improve incentives to find a job.

Last year, a number of cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, accepted tickets to the Taylor Swift Eras tour, at a total value in excess of 23,000.

In October, after weeks of criticism for accepting multiple freebies, the prime minister attempted to draw a line under the escalating row by repaying 6,000 for hospitality and gifts he had received since entering Downing Street.

open image in gallery Rachel Reeves reportedly sat in a corporate box at the Sabrina Carpenter concert ( Ian West/PA )

Sir Keir announced he would cover the cost of six Taylor Swift tickets, four to the races and a clothing rental agreement with a high-end designer favoured by his wife.

He also announced that the rules on declaring donations and gifts would be tightened up.

But the latest allegations raise questions over the governments commitment to changing its approach to accepting gifts.

A Treasury spokesman said: All declarations will be made in the usual way.
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Sir Keir Starmer has warned Vladimir Putin to get serious about peace in Ukraine as he urged Western leaders to ramp up economic pressure to force him to the negotiating table.

The prime minister accused the Russian leader of playing games over peace talks, as he prepared to host a virtual summit of around 25 countries on Saturday.

The countries in the coalition of the willing, which include Britain, France, Australia and Canada, will discuss how to help Kyiv deter future Russian aggression in the event of any peace deal.

open image in gallery Starmer has accused Putin of playing games ( Getty )

The meeting comes as Putin continues to resist a ceasefire in the bloody three-year war, which began when his troops invaded Ukraine.

But senior figures in the US sounded a note of hope, with secretary of state Marco Rubio saying he was cautiously optimistic a cessation in the fighting could be agreed.

During his meeting, Sir Keir will also call on Western leaders to make concrete commitments, including to ramp up economic pressure as well as military support to Ukraine to defend itself against increasing Russian attacks.

Ahead of the summit, the PM accused Putin of trying to delay and play games with his conditions for any deal - and said the Kremlins complete disregard for Donald Trumps ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace.

In what will be seen as a warning to the West, he added: If Russia finally comes to the table, then we must be ready to monitor a ceasefire to ensure it is a serious, and enduring peace  if they dont, then we need to strain every sinew to ramp up economic pressure on Russia to secure an end to this war.

He added: My message to the Kremlin could not be clearer: stop the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, and agree to a ceasefire now. Until then we will keep working around the clock to deliver peace.

The meeting will look at how countries plan to contribute to the coalition of the willing, ahead of a military planning session next week.

open image in gallery Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian leader was too afraid to tell Donald Trump he wants to continue the war ( AP )

The PMs national security adviser Jonathan Powell is also expected to meet his American counterpart Mike Waltz in Washington this weekend, as the UK continues to pitch for the Anglo-French idea of a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine in the wake of any deal.

On Friday, allies united to call for a ceasefire with "no conditions" to halt the fighting. Mr Trump also said the US had "very good and productive" discussions with Putin, claiming there was a "very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end".

Kyiv has already backed proposals from Washington for a 30-day ceasefire to the conflict.

Mr Putin has said the idea is correct, and we certainly support it" but questioned the details of the plan and indicated that a series of conditions would have to be met.

Mr Trump also claimed that thousands of Ukrainian troops were surrounded by the Russian military and that he had strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II.

In his nightly address in Kyiv, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian leader was too "afraid" to tell Mr Trump he wants to continue the war.

Meanwhile, Mr Waltz has suggested Russia could get the Donbas region of Ukraine as part of any peace deal.

In 2022, Moscow illegally annexed the Donbas, although Russian forces do not fully control the area.

In an appearance on Fox News, during which a series of suggestions about the shape of any peace deal were put to Mr Waltz, including that "maybe the Donbas region in particular... that would go to Putin", he replied: "You're not wrong in any of that. What's important is we are discussing those things with both sides."
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Sir Keir Starmer has declared that plans to put a peacekeeping force in Ukraine have now entered an operational phase, as Britain prepares to host military chiefs from a group of Western countries ready to support a ceasefire.

Sending the strongest signal yet that the coalition of the willing is pressing ahead with the pledge to back a ceasefire deal with troops on the ground, the PM said allies would be prepared to help secure Ukraine on the land, at sea and in the sky.

We wont sit back and wait for Putin to act, the prime minister warned, vowing to keep pushing forward with the plan for peace.

open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer said planning for a peacekeeping force would move to an operational phase ( Leon Neal/PA )

Speaking from Downing Street, Sir Keir said military chiefs from across the world will meet on Thursday and put in place strong and robust plans... to swing in behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraines future security.

The PM also piled pressure on Vladimir Putin to accept peace proposals and attempted to draw a clear dividing line between Donald Trump and the Kremlin dictator, warning that Russia was trying to delay Mr Trumps plan for peace in the region.

Despite the US president saying he held good and productive talks with Russia on Friday, Putin has been accused of using delaying tactics to stall the negotiations.

Sooner or later, Putin will have to come to the table, Sir Keir warned. This is the moment, let the guns fall silent, let the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, stop, and agree to a ceasefire now.

In the hours after Sir Keirs Downing Street press conference, Volodymyr Zelensky warned Russia was planning a fresh ground assault into eastern Ukraine and accused Putin of lying to everyone about the situation.

Posting on Twitter/X, he warned that a ceasefire could have already happened, but Russia is doing everything to prevent it.

I would like all partners to understand exactly what Putin is planning, what he is preparing for, and what he will be ignoring, he said.

Sir Keir also said new commitments had been made on tightening sanctions on Russia, warning that Russias appetite for conflict and chaos undermines our security back here at home.

His address came after a virtual meeting with 26 other world leaders, including Mr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron. Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary general, and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, also took part in the call.

The group that met this morning is a bigger group than we had two weeks ago, there is a stronger collective resolve and new commitments were put on the table this morning, both in relation to the coalition of the willing in terms of defending the deal, also in relation to the wider point, which is the collective defence and security of Europe, said Sir Keir.

So, more commitments on the table this morning and an agreement that we now move to the operational phase, which is why the talks on Thursday, the military talks, will become the next focal point.

Questions remain, however, over which countries have made concrete commitments to a peacekeeping force, how large the force will be and whether or not it will have a clear basis in international law.

Asked about what action a peacekeeping force could take, Sir Keir said this would be a subject of discussion between military chiefs on Thursday.

He said: There are different capabilities from different countries, but those are the operational discussions that are going on in relation to what this coalition of the willing will be able to provide.

Among the other participants at Saturdays meeting were Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who had been reportedly considering not joining the call due to scepticism about Anglo-French peacekeeping proposals.

As well as European nations, the leaders of Australia, Canada and New Zealand joined the call, as did Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte.

Saturdays meeting followed an intense week of diplomacy in which American officials put a US-Ukraine proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire to Russia.

But the Kremlin has so far resisted the proposal, saying it would only agree to a ceasefire if Ukraine also agreed to abandon its aim of joining Nato and gave up some of its territory to Russia.

open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer hosts a video conference call with international leaders to discuss support for Ukraine ( Leon Neal/PA )

Speaking from the cabinet room in No 10 on Saturday, Sir Keir told world leaders they could not sit back and wait for a ceasefire in Ukraine, adding: We have to keep pushing ahead, pushing forward and preparing for peace, and a peace that will be secure and that will last.

Earlier on Saturday, Putins first prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov, who now opposes the Russian president, said his former boss would not accept Nato or European troops being deployed to Ukraine but might agree to soldiers from friendly countries such as India and Brazil.

Following the meeting, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey urged the prime minister to seize Russian assets and use them to fund more support for Ukraine, saying this was the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace.

Asked about whether he had discussed seizing Russian assets with his counterparts, Sir Keir said it had been discussed, but added it was a complicated question.

Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine launched drone attacks overnight, each reporting more than 100 enemy drones entering their respective airspace.

No casualties have been reported and both countries defence ministries claimed to have shot down around 130 enemy drones.
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The United States has expelled South Africas ambassador after accusing him of being a race-baiting politician who hates America and president Donald Trump.

Secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Friday that the envoy was no longer welcome in our great country.

Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS. We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.

Mr Rubio reposted an article from the right-wing website Breitbart that quoted the envoy saying in a webinar that Mr Trump was leading a white supremacist movement.

Since Mr Trump returned to the White House, ties between the two countries have reached their lowest point, according to Patrick Gaspard, former US ambassador to South Africa.

The president cut US financial aid to the country because he disapproved of its land policy, which aims to expropriate land and even out racial disparities, and its genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Israel.

South Africas presidency noted the regrettable expulsion of Mr Rasool in a statement.

The Presidency urges all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter.

South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States of America.

Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for South Africas Department of International Relations and Cooperation, posted on Twitter/X that the government will engage through the diplomatic channel.

open image in gallery This was Mr Rasool's second time working as the ambassador to the US ( EPA )

It was Mr Rasools second stint in the role as ambassador after he initially held the role between 2010 and 2015.

He returned to the position on 13 January while Joe Biden was still in office, but news website Semafor reported that he had been unable to secure routine meetings with State Department officials and key Republican figures since Mr Trump returned to power.

Mr Gaspard said: Theres too much at stake to not work towards the repair of this partnership.

Mr Trump accused South Africa of confiscating land and treating certain classes of people ... very badly without citing evidence.

open image in gallery South African native Elon Musk has criticised the countrys racist ownership laws ( Getty Images )

Pretoria-born billionaire Elon Musk, who works closely with the president, has also criticised his home country, saying that white South Africans were victims of racist ownership laws.

In January, South Africas president Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law a bill that aims to make it easier for the state to expropriate land in the public interest, sometimes without compensating the owner.

He defended the policy and said it was created to even out racial disparities in land ownership.
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A catastrophic acid spill from a Chinese-owned copper mine in Zambia has contaminated a major river, sparking fears of long-term environmental damage and potential harm to millions of people.

The spill, which occurred on February 18, has sent shockwaves through the southern African nation.

Investigators from the Engineering Institution of Zambia revealed that the incident stemmed from the collapse of a tailings dam at the mine.

This dam, designed to contain acidic waste, released an estimated 50 million litres of toxic material into a stream feeding the Kafue River, Zambia's most important waterway.

The waste is a dangerous cocktail of concentrated acid, dissolved solids, and heavy metals.

The Kafue River, stretching over 930 miles (1,500 kilometres) through the heart of Zambia, supports a vast ecosystem and provides water for millions. The contamination has already been detected at least 60 miles downstream from the spill site, raising serious concerns about the long-term impact on both human populations and wildlife.

Environmental activist Chilekwa Mumba, working in Zambia's Copperbelt Province, described the incident as "an environmental disaster really of catastrophic consequences".

The spill underscores the risks associated with mining, particularly in a region where China holds significant influence over the copper industry.

Zambia ranks among the world's top 10 copper producers, a metal crucial for manufacturing smartphones and other technologies.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has appealed for expert assistance to address the crisis. The full extent of the environmental damage is still being assessed.

open image in gallery The tailing dam has breached, pouring millions of litres of acidic waste into the river ( AP )

A river died overnight

An Associated Press reporter visited parts of the Kafue River, where dead fish could be seen washing up on the banks about 60 miles downstream from the mine run by Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, which is majority owned by the state-run China Nonferrous Metals Industry Group.

The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation said the "devastating consequences" also included the destruction of crops along the river's banks. Authorities are concerned that ground water will be contaminated as the mining waste seeps into the earth or is carried to other areas.

Prior to February 18 this was a vibrant and alive river, said Sean Cornelius, who lives near the Kafue and said fish died and birdlife near him disappeared almost immediately.

Now everything is dead, it's like a totally dead river. Unbelievable. Overnight, this river died.

About 60 per cent of Zambia's 20 million people live in the Kafue River basin and depend on it in some way as a source of fishing, irrigation for agriculture and water for industry. The river supplies drinking water to about five million people, including in the capital, Lusaka.

The acid leak at the mine caused a complete shutdown of the water supply to the nearby city of Kitwe, home to an estimated 700,000 people.

open image in gallery Dead fish in the river following the dam breach ( AP )

Attempts to roll back the damage

The Zambian government has deployed the air force to drop hundreds of tons of lime into the river in an attempt to counteract the acid and roll back the damage. Speed boats have also been used to ride up and down the river, applying lime.

Government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said the situation was very serious and Sino-Metals Leach Zambia would bear the costs of the cleanup operation.

Zhang Peiwen, the chairman of Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, met with government ministers this week and apologized for the acid spill, according to a transcript of his speech at the meeting released by his company.

This disaster has rung a big alarm for Sino-Metals Leach and the mining industry, he said.

It will go all out to restore the affected environment as quickly as possible, he said.

open image in gallery The entrance to the Sino-Metals Leach Zambia mine ( AP )

Discontent with Chinese presence

The environmental impact of China's large mining interests in mineral-rich parts of Africa, which include Zambia's neighbors Congo and Zimbabwe, has often been criticised, even as the minerals are crucial to the countries' economies.

Chinese-owned copper mines have been accused of ignoring safety, labour and other regulations in Zambia as they strive to control its supply of the critical mineral, leading to some discontent with their presence.

Zambia is also burdened with more than $4 billion in debt to China and had to restructure some of its loans from China and other nations after defaulting on repayments in 2020.

A smaller acid waste leak from another Chinese-owned mine in Zambia's copper belt was discovered days after the Sino-Metals accident, and authorities have accused the smaller mine of attempting to hide it.

Local police said a mine worker died at that second mine after falling into acid and alleged that the mine continued to operate after being instructed to stop its operations by authorities. Two Chinese mine managers have been arrested, police said.

Both mines have now halted their operations after orders from Zambian authorities, while many Zambians are angry.

It really just brings out the negligence that some investors actually have when it comes to environmental protection, said Mweene Himwinga, an environmental engineer who attended the meeting involving Mr Zhang, government ministers, and others.

They dont seem to have any concern at all, any regard at all. And I think its really worrying because at the end of the day, we as Zambian people, (it's) the only land we have.
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A man who asked to be put to death for the rape and murder of a woman will get his wish in April.

Alabama prisoner James Osgood will be executed by lethal injection on April 24, the states Governor Kay Ivey has announced.

Osgood, 55, was convicted in 2014 of the 2010 murder of Tracy Lynn Brown in Chilton County and sentenced to death.

Prosecutors said Osgood cut Browns throat after he and his girlfriend sexually assaulted her.

Over the summer, Osgood dropped his court appeals, asking the state to set a date for his execution.

I no longer feel as if Im even existing. Im tired. I want to complete my sentence, Osgood wrote in a letter to his attorney in July 2024.

An appeals court originally threw out Osgoods 2014 sentence, ruling that a judge gave improper instructions to jurors.

But at his resentencing in 2018, Osgood asked for the death sentence to be imposed.

open image in gallery Alabama Governor Kay Ivey ( AP )

He believed in an eye for an eye, he told the judge.

A couple of years ago I really screwed up. Im guilty and I deserve death. Thats what I want, Osgood said.

Osgood renewed his appeals after his sentencing until dropping them this summer.

Brown was found dead in her home on October 23, 2010, after her employer became concerned when she did not show up for work.

Prosecutors said that Osgood told police that he and his girlfriend sexually assaulted and attacked Brown after discussing how they had fantasies about kidnapping and torturing someone.

In the 2018 sentencing order handing down the death sentence, a judge noted that Osgood had a difficult childhood that included sexual abuse, abandonment and a suicide attempt.

His brain development was potentially hindered because of malnutrition he suffered as an infant, the judge found.

But the judge also said it was Osgood who cut Browns neck and stabbed her during the attack in which Brown begged them not to hurt her.

Osgoods girlfriend, the other person charged in the murder, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.

The execution authorization by Ivey comes two weeks after the Republican granted clemency to another death row inmate, commuting the death sentence of Robin Rocky Myers to life in prison. The governor said there were enough questions about his guilt that she could not move forward with his execution.

It was the only time Ivey has granted clemency. The last time an Alabama governor commuted a death sentence was in 1999.
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The family of a homeless woman who suffered fatal injuries in a crash by a drunk driver as she slept in her van is suing the city of San Diego after her body was left undiscovered in an impound lot for over a month.

Monica Cameroni De Adams, 65, was sleeping in her parked van when 25-year-old Jordan Lopez plowed into the vehicle in the early hours of November 5, 2023. The damaged vehicle was later towed  with De Adams body inside.

Her family is convinced she was alive for a time and desperately needed medical attention  not to be towed in her van to an impound lot.

It wasnt until weeks later that a towing company employee noticed a foul smell coming from the van, and De Adams badly decomposed body was discovered.

The last place you would think to look for a missing person was inside of a car, her familys attorney, John Carpenter told KMFB, apparently sarcastically.

De Adams family has now filed a $50 million claim against the city for failing to find her inside the van at the scene of the crash before towing it away.

According to KMFB, an autopsy report showed De Adams died from blunt force trauma injuries sustained in the crash.

Her family believes she was badly injured and needed medical help following the crash, but was simply hauled to the tow yard instead.

The injuries, the claim states, were severe but survivable.

Her death was proximately caused by leaving her alone, struggling with her injuries inside of her car, entombing her in her car, taking her car to the tow yard and leaving her there to die, Carpenter said, KMFB reported.

open image in gallery Monica Cameroni De Adams suffered fatal injuries while sleeping in her van when it was struck by a drunk diver in November 2023. Her body wasnt discovered inside her towed vehicle for over a month, prompting her family to file a $50 million lawsuit against the city of San Diego ( KMFB/ De Adams family )

De Adams disappearance was first flagged after she did not respond to birthday messages her family sent on November 13, 2023, leading her daughter to file a missing persons report with police.

Just because someone is homeless doesnt mean that they dont have a family that loves them. Things are difficult. Its easy to overlook people who are homeless, but they do have loving families and they do matter. This story exemplifies that, Carpenter said.

Its incredibly difficult for [the family] to know that their mother passed this way, she added in a statement to McClatchy News. And to find out that their mother died in a car that was locked away like a piece of garbage left there to die by our government, by the city of San Diego.

The Independent has reached out to San Diego officials for comment on the lawsuit.

Lopez, was arrested at the scene of the crash with a blood alcohol level of more than three times the legal limit. According to court records obtained by KMFB, he was charged with vehicular manslaughter. He later agreed to a plea deal on a charge of driving under the influence causing bodily injury.

He is due to be sentenced on March 19, and faces up to six years in prison.
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A delivery driver who had needed skin grafts after being seriously burned when a Starbucks drink spilled on his lap was awarded $50 million dollars in a lawsuit on Friday.

A lawsuit claimed that a Starbucks barista had negligently failed to secure one of three venti-sized Medicine Ball tea drinks before handing the order to Michael Garcia, who was working for Postmates at the time, the firm representing him, Trial Lawyers for Justice, said.

One of the drinks fell on Garcias lap, causing third-degree burns to his penis, groin and inner thighs, leading to hospitalization and multiple skin grafts, his attorney said.

A Los Angeles County jury awarded Garcia, who has suffered suffered permanent and life-changing disfigurement, according to his attorneys, $50 million.

open image in gallery A delivery driver won a huge pay out from Starbucks after one of their baristas failed to properly secure the lid on a hot tea, a jury found. ( AP )

This jury verdict is a critical step in holding Starbucks accountable for flagrant disregard for customer safety and failure to accept responsibility, one of Garcia's attorneys, Nick Rowley, said in a statement.

Starbucks said it sympathized with Garcia but planned to appeal.

We disagree with the jurys decision that we were at fault for this incident and believe the damages awarded to be excessive," the Seattle-based coffee giant said in a statement to media outlets, adding that it was committed to the highest safety standards in handling hot drinks.

U.S. eateries have faced lawsuits before over customer burns.

In one famous 1990s case, a New Mexico jury awarded a woman nearly $3 million in damages for burns she suffered while trying to pry the lid off a cup of coffee at a McDonalds drive-through. A judge later reduced the award, and the case ultimately was settled for an undisclosed sum under $600,000.

Juries have sided with restaurants at times, as in another 1990s case involving a child who tipped a cup of McDonald's coffee onto himself in Iowa.

---

Additional reporting by AP.
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Amid heightening tensions with its neighbor to the south, Canada is reconsidering a multi-billion dollar defense deal with the U.S.

Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said late on Friday that the government is looking at possible alternatives to the American-made F-35 stealth fighter and that they will speak to other aircraft manufacturers.

Blairs comments came just hours after he was reappointed as defense minister by new Prime Minister Mark Carney. One day previously, Portugal indicated that it was planning on backtracking on its acquisition of the fighter jet.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to annex Canada by economic force, and frequently referred to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as governor as he argued that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.

Canadians are now increasingly supportive of ditching the $19 billion deal with the U.S. and find alternative aircraft to those made and maintained across its southern border.

In June 2023, after years of delay, the Liberal government signed a deal with the U.S. defense behemoth Lockheed Martin to buy 88 F-35s.

Blair told the CBC that the discussions with the military regarding whats best for Canada are ongoing.

It was the fighter jet identified by our air force as the platform that they required, but we are also examining other alternatives  whether we need all of those fighter jets to be F-35, said Blair, according to CBC.

open image in gallery The Canadian government is looking at alternatives to the American-made Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft amid ongoing disputes with President Donald Trump. ( Getty Images )

Canada has already paid for the first 16 jets, set to be delivered in early 2026.

The defense minister suggested that the first batch of the American-made fighter jets may be accepted but that the rest may come from European manufacturers, such as the Swedish-made Saab Gripen, which came in second in the bidding war for the Canadian contract.

The prime minister has asked me to go and examine those things and have discussions with other sources, particularly where there may be opportunities to assemble those fighter jets in Canada, said Blair.

The Swedish proposal did state that the assembly would take place in Canada and there would be a transfer of intellectual property, meaning that the aircraft would be maintained in Canada. Meanwhile, significant maintenance and software upgrades of the F-35 take place in the U.S.

open image in gallery Swedish Air Force Saab JAS 39 Gripen jetfighters could provide an alternative for the Canadian government. However, running a mixed fleet could prove to be too complicated. ( AFP via Getty Images )

However, the air force has been resistant to fly a mixed fleet of aircraft, despite doing so until the 1980s when the current CF-18s were bought, CBC noted. Two different training schemes would be needed, different hangars would be required, and the supply chains for the planes would vary. Defense planners have stated for decades that such a model would be too expensive.

Before Blair came out in favor of looking elsewhere, Lockheed Martin was asked about Portugals departure from the program and if it would impact Canada.

Lockheed Martin values our strong partnership and history with the Royal Canadian Air Force and looks forward to continuing that partnership into the future, a spokesperson for the company said in a statement, according to CBC. Foreign military sales are government-to-government transactions, so anything further will be best addressed by the U.S. or respective customer governments.

The spokesperson, Lockheed Martin's director of global media relations, Rebecca Miller, responded to online misinformation that the F-35s have a kill switch which would allow the U.S. to turn off aircraft bought by allies or restrict their capabilities if the U.S. government ordered Lockheed Martin to do so.

As part of our government contracts, we deliver all system infrastructure and data required for all F-35 customers to sustain the aircraft, said Miller. We remain committed to providing affordable and reliable sustainment services to our customers that enable them to complete their missions and come home safely.
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The Trump administration has issued an unprecedented ultimatum to Columbia University, threatening to permanently revoke federal funding unless the institution relinquishes control of its international studies department and enacts sweeping policy changes.

In a letter sent on Thursday night, federal officials demanded Columbia immediately place its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department under "academic receivership for a minimum of five years."

The administration also stipulated a ban on masks intended to conceal identity or intimidate others, the adoption of a new definition of antisemitism, and the abolishment of the university's current student disciplinary process.

These demands, described as "preconditions," are necessary, the letter stated, to initiate "formal negotiations regarding Columbia University's continued financial relationship with the United States government."

Officials from the Department of Education, General Services Administration, and Department of Health and Human Services emphasized the urgency of the situation, writing, "We expect your immediate compliance with these critical next steps."

This action marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration's campaign to reshape academic institutions.

It coincides with federal immigration officials targeting specific student protesters, including Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist arrested over the weekend for his involvement in demonstrations against Israel at Columbia University.

New York police enter Hamilton Hall on Columbia Universitys campus amid student protests ( AP )

In a notice to the student body on Thursday, Columbia University officials said that agents with the Department of Homeland Security had searched two additional university residences with a warrant.

No one was arrested or detained, according to the universitys interim president, Katrina Armstrong, who said that she was heartbroken by the news.

Columbia continues to make every effort to ensure that our campus, students, faculty, and staff are safe, Armstrong said in a statement.

Columbia is committed to upholding the law, and we expect city, state, and federal agencies to do the same.

The university did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the Trump administration's demands.
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The Department of Justice announced it will investigate recent events at Columbia University for potential terrorism offenses that occurred over the last two years during campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war.

Let me be clear: Hamas is a terrorist organization. It has the blood of American citizens on its hands, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said during a speech to the Justice Department on Friday. Any person engaging in the material support of terrorism will be prosecuted. This includes those who threaten acts of violence on behalf of Hamas in the United States or even pay Hamas in the United States.

The official also mentioned a Thursday search at the university by Department of Homeland Security agents in an immigration investigation, and added that we are also looking at whether Columbias handling of earlier incidents violated civil rights laws and included terrorism crimes.

The Independent has contacted Columbia for comment.

open image in gallery Campus protests at Columbia, including a student encampment and the occupation of a university building, could be the subject of a newly announced terrorism investigation from the Justice Department ( 2024 Marco Postigo Storel 2024, All Rights Reserved )

Its unclear precisely what conduct the Justice Department is reviewing for terror crimes.

During protests on campus that began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, student activists formed an encampment in a central quad and later occupied a university building. The demonstrations were later dispersed by scores of riot police.

The university has been under intense scrutiny as part of the White Houses push to combat antisemitism on campus, and recently lost $400 million in federal funding on allegations its not doing enough to stop campus hate.

Last week, ICE agents arrested recent graduate and protester Mahmoud Khalil in a university-owned apartment, after Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined the leaders actions were a threat to U.S. foreign policy interests.

Thus far, the White House has cited pro-Hamas fliers it says are linked to a protest group Khalil helped lead on campus, though it hasnt produced public evidence the activist created, was aware of, or distributed such materials.

Khalil, a legal U.S. permanent resident, has challenged the arrest, alleging hes being targeted for protected First Amendment activity.

Last week, it also revoked the visa of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian doctoral student who the administration alleged was advocating for violence and terrorism, though officials didnt immediately make public what evidence these claims were based on. Srinivasan self-deported this week, according to the White House.

Previously the White House gave a reprieve to individuals accused of more directly violent conduct , pardoning more than 1,000 people over their participation in the pro-Trump, January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol that sought to stop the certification of the 2020 election, a demonstration linked to five deaths and over 100 injured police officers.

open image in gallery The White House has put Columbia at the center of its crackdown on campus antisemitism, arresting graduate Mahmoud Khalil on vague allegations his campus activism harmed U.S. foreign policy ( REUTERS )

Charging American activists with domestic terrorism is highly controversial.

Civil rights advocates have expressed concern over Georgia officials filing terrorism charges against activists who protested the development of a police training center outside of Atlanta.

The movement against the Cop City project has largely remained peaceful and used traditional methods of non-violent civil disobedience, though activists in some cases have damaged police vehicles and construction equipment.

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib in 2023 called the conspiracy and terror charges against the activists dangerous and dystopian, while the American Civil Liberties Union warned such charges might have snuffed out past efforts like the Civil Rights Movement, which involved sit-ins and other protests that involved occupying physical spaces.

On the right, meanwhile, commentators and officials have been pushing for a more aggressive response to campus protests and other recent activist demonstrations.

A recent opinion piece in the Manhattan Institutes City Journal argues that recent protests ranging from blocking highways to campus encampments represent a new form of civil terrorism, led by activists who seek the demise of the West through organized criminal mayhem.
China urges Japan to exercise prudence in military security

Xinhua) 10:47, March 15, 2025

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Friday urged Japan to draw lessons from history and exercise prudence in the field of military security.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a press conference when responding to a media inquiry concerning Japan's disclosure of its development of a new ballistic missile with a range of 3,000 kilometers.

In recent years, Japan has moved further down the path of military expansion, which is dangerous and goes against the will of the people, Zhang said.

Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Zhang urged the Japanese side to do more for regional peace and stability, and to earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions.

He was also asked about a Japanese vessel's recent navigation in the Taiwan Strait, as well as Japanese defense officials' recent remarks on "serious concerns" about Chinese military activities near Japan.

"We firmly oppose any country stirring up trouble in the Taiwan Strait, undermining China's sovereignty and security, or sending erroneous signals to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces," Zhang said.

He also voiced firm opposition to Japan's groundless accusations concerning China's regular military exercises.

The activities of the Chinese military in relevant maritime and airspace areas are legitimate, reasonable and beyond reproach. They are entirely in line with international law and international practices, the spokesperson said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
After a prosecutors retirement, Albemarle Countys commonwealths attorney has reorganized his workplace and lured an office veteran to return as the point man on guns.

Jordan McKay, who most recently served as a federal prosecutor, will rejoin Commonwealths Attorney Jim Hingeley to focus on gun violence and gun possession prosecutions in the county.

I saw the opportunity to consolidate functions that had been spread around the office into one position, Hingeley told The Daily Progress, to give that position a focus on gun violence and gun violence prevention in our community.

Hingeley said that McKay will not only prosecute gun cases but will also serve as the Albemarle County representative to the federally funded Project Safe Neighborhoods program and serve as the offices primary contact for local law enforcement requests for emergency substantial risk orders, also known as red flag orders.

Local law enforcement recently was criticized for declining to issue a red flag order for 28-year-old Justin Barbour, who shot and killed two people in the parking lot of a Crozet Harris Teeter grocery store last month before he was shot and killed by an off-duty federal agent who happened to be shopping that day.

Barbours family has said they approached law enforcement with worries about his deteriorating mental health about two months before the Feb. 17 tragedy. However, Hingeley downplayed any connection to his new hire.

It was not at all a result of the Crozet situation, said Hingeley. There are a lot of specific instances and cases that that come to mind, but theyre part of the big picture.

After the fatal rampage last month, the Albemarle County police chief revealed that Barbour arrived at the Harris Teeter with four firearms and 374 rounds of ammunition, enough to have perpetrated a massacre of national or international notoriety. The chief said, however, that there was insufficient evidence, despite his mothers desperate plea for help in December, to separate the mentally troubled Barbour from his firearms. While declining comment on that case, Hingeley expressed optimism about the new position.

I can see, he said, where it may address the issue of having a person who is familiar with red flag proceedings also be the person whose principal focus is gun violence.

In the wake of the Crozet shooting, the family of Peter Martin, one of the victims, launched a fundraising appeal to create a foundation to address mental health and gun violence. Martins father-in-law, Bob Rowan, said he found some encouragement in the new prosecutorial position.

Its too late for Peter, Rowan told The Daily Progress, but its the kind of thing were interested in.

Rowan said he has gotten the sense that police are attempting to place the blame on Barbours mother for her failure to separate her son from his guns. Rowan said that she should not be blamed, even if she did not use words like threat and violence when speaking with authorities.

Laypeople dont know that there are magic words under the statute, said Rowan.

Rowan said that the way police are currently interpreting the red flag law needs improvement.

I see the appointment of Jordan McKay as a step in right direction, he said, provided he puts some energy and teeth into this.

Citing a family vacation, McKay declined a Daily Progress interview request.

McKay previously worked in Hingeleys office from January 2020 until May 2023. Most recently, he served nearly four years as an assistant United States attorney in Charlottesville at the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. Hingeley said the experience will prove valuable.

He has the connections with federal law enforcement, said Hingeley.

McKay is a 2010 graduate of the University of Virginia Law School, where he edited the Virginia Journal of Social Policy and the Law. After graduation, he clerked for a Washington, D.C., judge and spent more than six years in private practice at the Charlottesville-based MichieHamlett law firm.

McKays new duties, Hingeley said, include serving as the offices representative to Compstat, a regional crime statistics-sharing effort aimed at combating gun violence.

We need to do a lot more to to combat gun violence, said Hingeley, and I want to be a part of it, and reorganizing this position to focus on gun violence in the community is part of that.

The retiree is Alicia Milligan, who largely prosecuted crimes of sexual violence against juveniles as the chief deputy commonwealth attorney.

Milligan said she plans to remain in the community and maintain some involvement in criminal justice but that she hasnt made any plans yet.

Im excited for Jordan, she told The Daily Progress.

McKay is slated to begin his new work as an assistant commonwealths attorney on March 24.
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Donald Trump on Sunday explicitly threatened Iran with war unless Tehran comes to the table and hammers out a new agreement on nuclear weapons with Washington.

The president spoke with NBCs Kristen Welker in an early-morning phone call and told the host of Meet the Press that there would be bombing if Iran did not negotiate with the US, or if a deal was not reached as a result of those talks.

If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing, said the US president. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.

His remark comes as the Trump administration has stated publicly its goal of reaching a new agreement with Tehran that would lead to the total shutdown of Irans nuclear weapons program. The president sent a letter to Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, reportedly urging the Iranian government to begin negotiations with the prospect of significant sanctions relief and international cooperation on the table.

But Iran formally declined to begin those direct negotiations on Saturday, according to the countrys president. Masoud Pezeshkian said the message was delivered to US negotiators through the Omani government. He said that the official response from Iran left open the possibility for continued indirect negotiations, but added that the US must regain trust with Iran in order for formal diplomacy to resume.

We dont avoid talks; its the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far, Pezeshkian said at a televised Cabinet meeting, according to the AP. They must prove that they can build trust.

Donald Trump said on Sunday that there would be bombing if Iranian negotiators refused to come to the table ( AP )

The State Department previously issued a response early Sunday warning of very bad consequences should Iran refuse to negotiate an end to its nuclear weapons program. Development of nuclear materials has accelerated in Iran within recent months, according to a February report from the UNs nuclear watchdog agency. The first Trump administration pulled out of a deal reached between the Obama administration, Iran and a number of European countries with that same goal in 2017, calling it ineffective and blaming Iran for repeatedly violating it.

President Trump has been clear: the United States cannot allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.

The president expressed his willingness to discuss a deal with Iran, it added. If the Iranian regime does not want a deal, the president is clear, he will pursue other options, which will be very bad for Iran.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have been high for more than a year now as the US and its ally Israel have clashed with several groups the two countries accuse the Iranian government of funding and supporting through intelligence sharing and other cooperation. Conflict against one of those groups, the Houthis, resumed last weekend with a US strike in Yemen while Houthi forces target US military vessels and trade ships in the Red Sea.

Iran also launched a direct missile ballistic strike against Israel, causing minimal damage, in October of 2024 after a Hamas leader was assassinated in Tehran.

While military operations have resumed against the Houthis in Yemen, the State Department on Monday moved to up the pressure on Irans neighbor, Iraq, to combat Tehrans influence over militant groups within its borders. In recent months, the Iraqi government has considered new national security legislation aimed at curbing the strength of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a Shia militant group with dozens of battalions around the country. Those forces include the Kataib Hezbollah, which traces its origins back to militant groups that fought US forces during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and still clash with US forces today.

To strengthen Iraq's sovereignty, the government of Iraq must ensure it has command and control of all security forces within its borders, to include the PMF, press secretary Tammy Bruce said at her Monday briefing. These forces must respond to Iraq's commander-in-chief, and not to Iran.
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Tesla, whose CEO Elon Musk is a senior adviser to President Donald Trump, has written a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative voicing concerns over retaliatory tariffs.

In recent weeks, Trump has fueled a trade war with Canada, Mexico and China by imposing tariffs on the U.S.s largest trading partners. These countries have imposed retaliatory tariffs in response.

Its not immediately clear if Musk, who as the Department of Government Efficiency boss has been carrying out mass layoffs and slashing government contracts, was involved in the letter. The Independent has reached out to Tesla for comment.

In the unsigned letter on Tesla letterhead, dated March 11, the electric vehicle manufacturer wrote to Ambassador Jamieson Greer about its concerns that it could be exposed to retaliatory tariffs.

While Tesla recognizes and supports the importance of fair trade, the assessment undertaken by [the U.S. Trade Representative] of potential actions to rectify unfair trade should also take into account exports from the United States. U.S. exporters are inherently exposed to disproportionate impacts when other countries respond to U.S. trade actions, the letter said.

For example, the letter continues, past trade actions by the United States have resulted in immediate reactions by the targeted countries, including increased levies on electric vehicles imported into those countries.

Tesla, led by Trumps senior adviser Elon Musk, sent the Trump administration a letter raising concerns about retaliatory tariffs ( AP )

Trump initially imposed 25 percent tariffs earlier this month against Mexico and Canada in an effort to curb the flow of drugs entering the U.S. He also announced an additional 10 percent tariff on China. This week, the presidents 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports took effect. Each of these levies has prompted the targeted countries to impose retaliatory tariffs.

Past tariff actions have raised Teslas costs for vehicles made in the U.S. and raised costs for those vehicles when exported from the U.S., resulting in a less competitive international marketplace for U.S. manufacturers.

The electric vehicle giant urged the U.S. Trade Representative to consider the downstream impacts of certain proposed actions taken to address unfair trade practices.

"Trade actions should not (and need not) conflict with objectives to further increase and support domestic manufacturing, the letter added.

The letter comes the same day that the White House lawn transformed into a Tesla showroom. Trump and Musk sat inside a red Tesla Model S on the White House driveway Tuesday before the president announced he would buy the electric vehicle.

Earlier that day, Trump shared his plans in a Truth Social post: Im going to buy a brand new Tesla tomorrow morning as a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.

Since Trump took office, shares in Tesla have plummeted by about 43 percent. Tesla products and owners have also been targeted since Musk has gotten close to Trump: charging stations have been torched, Tesla Cybertrucks have been vandalized, and protests against the electric vehicle company have cropped up across the country.
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President Donald Trump is underwater on everything when it comes to his approval ratings, a Fox News host declared Thursday.

Jessica Tarlov pointed to a new Quinnipiac poll released this week that found 53 percent of voters disapprove of the presidents second term performance.

Voters responded to questions about trade policies with China and Canada, immigration issues, foreign policies, military issues and Trumps handling of the economy and federal workforce.

Since the start of his second term, the stock market has been tumbling, thousands of federal workers are unemployed and Trump has threatened chaos with the countrys strongest trade partners.

The Democratic messaging actually has been going pretty well, Tarlov said on The Five, despite another recent poll that showed Democrats dont have a handle on their response to Trumps policies. So, talking about theyre trying to cut your healthcare while giving tax breaks to the rich.

Theres over 50 percent disapproval of Trump himself, how hes handling the economy, how hes handling the federal workforce, how hes handling Ukraine-Russia, how hes handling trade with Mexico, how hes handling trade with Canada, Tarlov said. So basically, hes underwater on everything.

Trumps polling has struggled since before his joint session of Congress address on March 4. Another Quinnipiac poll from last month determined 45 percent approved of Trumps performance and 49 percent disapproved.

Meanwhile, a similar CNN poll released this week found 54 percent of voters disapprove of Trump, while 45 percent approve. One Reuters poll determined voters thought Trumps economic policies had become too erratic.

Tarlov blamed part of Trumps failing poll numbers on recent town halls held by both Democrat and Republican congressional members, in which thousands attended to get clarity on the Trump administrations new policies, particularly those pertaining to cutting swaths of the federal workforce.

On the Republican side, social media videos have shown members coming under fire for supporting the Department of Government Efficiency, which has been tasked with making the cuts.

And we know about the Republicans having town halls and then having to run away or asking questions like, What do you think of DOGE? and expecting people to say something positive and then they are screaming, Tarlov said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has baselessly suggested angry community members are paid actors.

Just this week, North Carolina Republican Representative Chuck Edwards was confronted by angry constituents demanding to know how he could justify cutting parts of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. He was booed and ultimately escorted out of the meeting.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio is seeking to expel South Africas ambassador to the U.S., Ebrahim Rasool, after the official criticized Donald Trump during a forum early on Friday.

South Africa's Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country, Rubio wrote on X later that day.

He accused Rasool of being a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates [the president of the United States] @POTUS.

We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA, Rubio added.

The Independent has contacted the South African Embassy in Washington for comment.

Rubio, in his announcement, pointed to remarks from Rasool at a recent panel hosted by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, a South African think tank.

open image in gallery Under ambassadors tenure, U.S. has cut aid to South Africa and countries have sparred over genocide allegation against Israel in international court ( Getty Images )

During his comments, Rasool argued that Trumps Make American Great Again movement, as well as Elon Musk and JD Vances efforts this year boosting right-wing parties in the UK and Germany, were part of a global movement catering to the anxieties of white communities.

It may not be true, it may not make sense, but that is not the dog whistle that is being heard in a global, white base, the ambassador said.

The ambassador, who served the same post in the Obama administration, had already reportedly been struggling to get meetings with Trump administration figures and top Republicans in Washington.

A man named Ebrahim, who is Muslim, with a history of pro-Palestine politics, is not likely to do well in that job right now, a South African diplomat told Semafor.

open image in gallery South African official said Musk and Vances effort to boost Germanys AfD and other right-wing parties is part of global movement based on white grievance ( Getty )

The expulsion effort is the latest a swift deterioration thats taken place in the U.S.-South Africa relationship during the opening months of the Trump administration.

Last month, the White House said it would cut off U.S. aid to South Africa in protest of the country accusing Israel of genocide in the International Court of Justice.

The Trump administration also cited opposition to a land expropriation law meant to remedy the countrys history of racial inequality and past forced displacement of Black families.

The White House has accused the law, which in some cases allows expropriation without compensation, of being racist against white Afrikaners in South Africa.

South Africa has also announced plans to spend more on health, with cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development. The country cares for the worlds largest HIV population and has over 5 million of people on antiretroviral drugs supported by the U.S. in the past.
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Fed-up Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, who was scorched as a traitor for visiting wounded soldiers in Ukraine by DOGE hatchet man Elon Musk, has dumped his Tesla.

For one thing, he doesnt want to drive a care designed by an a**hole, Kelly, a former astronaut and Gulf War Navy pilot, emphasized in a videotaped statement posted Friday on social media.

For another, its supporting a man who is taking a wrecking ball to the nation, he noted.

Kelly said he initially purchased his Tesla because it was fast like a rocket ship. He said he had no idea how much of a political issue the car would become.

Every time I get in this car in the last 60 days or so, it reminds me just how much damage Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing to our country, talking about slashing Social Security, cutting health care benefits for poor people, for seniors [and] firing veterans. Its one bad thing after the next, he emphasized.

Now every time I drive it, I feel like a rolling billboard for a man dismantling our government and hurting people, he added.

So Tesla, youre fired! This is going to be my last trip in this car, Kelly said.

New ride coming soon.

He later rolled up to the Senate in his new 2025 Chevy Tahoe Z71.

I bought a Tesla because it was fast like a rocket ship. But now every time I drive it, I feel like a rolling billboard for a man dismantling our government and hurting people. So Tesla, youre fired!



New ride coming soon. pic.twitter.com/N4Anmsi6cH  Captain Mark Kelly (@CaptMarkKelly) March 14, 2025

So far no new word from the tech billionaire.

Musk last Sunday slammed Kelly, as a traitor for his recent visit in Ukraine with soldiers wounded battling the Russian invasion. In normal times, cozying up to Russia or praising Vladimir Putin would be the more suspicious behavior.

Musk responded to Kellys post about the trip on X: You are a traitor.

You are a traitor  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 10, 2025

Kelly quickly lashed back Tuesday on the MSNBCs Rachel Maddow Show..

The former Navy captain said that when he enlisted in the Navy, I swore an oath to our Constitution, to protect and defend the Constitution. I have lived that oath my entire life.

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, he added.

The senator said Musk should go back to his rockets. He shouldn't be focused on this slash-and-burn of the federal government, Kelly added.
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The head of Donald Trumps task force on antisemitism has shared a white nationalists quip about the president revoking Jew cards.

The startling share comes even as Trump threatens to deport or arrest university students protesting on behalf of war-torn Gaza, implying such actions are antisemitic.

Former Fox News contributor Leo Terrell, who now heads the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, shared the post by white nationalist Patrick Casey earlier this week chortling that Trump can revoke someones Jew card.

open image in gallery Head of Trump's antisemitic task force shares antisemitic tweet ( Screen shot of Patrick Casey's tweet by Leo Terrell )

The Anti-Defamation League has identified Casey as the head of the now defunct alt right white supremacist group American Identity Movement.

He was referring to Trump on Wednesday mocking Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as a Palestinian instead of a Jew, which he is, because he supports human rights in Gaza.

Youre going to have some very bad things happen and people are going to blame the Democrats. And Schumer is a Palestinian as far as Im concerned, Trump said derisively in an attack widely criticized as both racist and antisemitic.

You know, hes become a Palestinian. He used to be Jewish. Hes not Jewish anymore. Hes a Palestinian, Trump added.

Terrell could not immediately be reached for comment.

Critics on social media slammed both the post and Terrells championing of it as antisemitic.

Oh, so Trump has divine authority now? Hes out here revoking religious identities like theyre expired drivers licenses?



This is straight-up unhinged. Jewish identity isnt a subscription service that Trump gets to cancel when someone disagrees with him. And calling a Jewish   R Saddler (@Politics_PR) March 12, 2025

A non Jew telling a Jew he is not Jewish (enough) is the height of anti-semitism  VictoriaDCharlotte #FBPE (@victoriadonnac1) March 13, 2025
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President Donald Trumps failed plan to detain up to 30,000 migrants at Guantanamo Bay has cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

Trumps administration has detained just 300 migrants at the U.S.-operated facility in Cuba over the last two months. But now, all migrants detained at the facility have since been flown out, The Independent learned.

The failed operation cost taxpayers at least $16 million, Representative Sara Jacobs told ABC News after visiting the site.

"It was clear that this was entirely for optics and the fact that Donald Trump wanted to be able to say that he was sending immigrants to Guantanamo Bay, with all of its history of human rights abuses and with no actual operational value," Jacobs said.

Newly built tents pictured at Guantanamo Bay late last month. The administration cost taxpayers $16 million by detaining some 300 migrants at the facility before flying them back to the US ( via REUTERS )

The government spent $3 million alone to construct tent structures, which are still not functional and were never used, CNN reports.

Federal officials told ABC News that 195 tents were built, which could house up to 500 migrants. The tents, however, lacked necessities required by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, such as air conditioning.

Theyre now expected to stay up for potential use during hurricane season.

Shipping all immigrants out does not necessarily mean the operation is over; two federal officials told the Associated Press that the s that the administration may use the facility again in the future. For instance, Trump has vowed to send migrants who have been deemed dangerous to the facility, such as members of criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, CNN reports. But presumably millions of dollars more would be required to make the facility ususable.

For now, further use of Guantanamo Bay isnt a primary course of action and officials are looking to use US military bases to house migrants, according to CNN.

Civil rights groups have been fighting the Trump administration over treatment of immigrants, with one lawsuit alleging migrants were mistreated and subjected to a living hell while they were detained at Guantanamo Bay.

Jennifer Babaie, director of advocacy and legal services with Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, said last month Guantanamo is a breeding ground for violence, abuse and neglect.

Many of these men have already been subjected to countless human rights abuses and due process violations, she said.

Keeping them in Guantanamo without regular access to lawyers and loved ones while at the same time spreading unfounded accusations against them all on the basis of what they look like and where they come from, is dangerous, violent, and completely unacceptable, she added.

Before they were removed, more than 100 migrants who were considered higher-threat were detained inside Camp IV. The facility resembles those used to house prisoners of war, according to sworn statements from Homeland Security and U.S. Army personnel. Other lower-threat detainees were held in and around a barracks-like Migrant Operations Center.

The American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups also argued this week that moving migrants to Guantanamo Bay violates the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Associated Press reports. Meanwhile, the White House has maintained it has the authority to do so.

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.

With reporting from Alex Woodward.
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Donald Trumps Oval Office attack on Ukraines president last month appeared to mark a very public realignment of Americas sympathies - away from Europe and towards Russia in a manner that few could have imagined during the Cold War years.

The Republican Party, now dominated by Trumps America First MAGA movement, once considered the former Soviet Union the evil empire under Ronald Reagan and relished its collapse.

Today, the GOP stands accused of parroting Vladimir Putins rhetoric and some even refuse to admit the plain fact that Moscow began the war by invading its neighbor.

open image in gallery Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump argue in the Oval Office of the White House in February ( AFP/Getty )

The White House itself has even been branded an arm of the Kremlin by Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, a dramatic about-turn just weeks into the luxury real estate moguls second presidency.

Every single day, you hear from the national security adviser, from the president of the United States, from his entire national security team, Kremlin talking points, Murphy told CNNs State of the Union in the wake of the Zelensky episode.

Perhaps even more damning was the assessment of Putins own spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, who said with a grin on state television: The new administration is rapidly changing all foreign policy configurations. This largely aligns with our vision.

With hindsight, the break with Zelensky  which was swiftly followed by the White House cutting off all American aid to Ukraine and demanding a public apology in exchange for peace negotiations on Trumps terms  was a culmination, not a sudden new development.

This president has consistently celebrated authoritarians like Putin, Xi Jinping of China, Viktor Orban of Hungary and North Koreas Kim Jong-un as tough and smart, recognising their shared taste for power and similarly transactional approach to international relations. But it is the Russian leader who has cast the longest shadow over Trumps political project.

open image in gallery Trump has been accused of being too supportive of Russian President Vladimir Putin ( Sputnik/AFP/Getty )

The likes of Steve Bannon, Trumps one-time chief strategist and a key influence over MAGA thinking to this day, has long seen in Putins Russia not a repressive and corrupt gangster state bent on weakening democratic institutions, but rather a fellow white, Christian, conservative objector to the socially progressive values being championed by the liberals of western Europe and Democratic America.

Bannon said so as long ago as 2014, telling an audience that while Putin may be a kleptocrat and an imperialist, traditionalists like himself believe that at least [he] is standing up for traditional institutions, and hes trying to do it in a form of nationalism  and I think that people, particularly in certain countries, want to see the sovereignty for their country. They want to see nationalism for their country.

Putin was evidently listening and moved to actively court the American right, welcoming a visiting delegation from the National Rifle Association in 2015, for instance.

Russias influence on the world stage was a dominant theme of the 2016 presidential race between Trump and Hillary Clinton  two years on from Putins first incursions into Ukraine  with the Kremlin accused of attempting to groom Republican operatives in the interest of getting Trump elected and the notorious Steele Dossier, alleging the existence of a kompromat on the candidate, eventually published.

open image in gallery The US president has long admired the likes of authoritarian leaders like North Koreas Kim Jong Un ( Getty Images )

Those suspicions were compounded when, not long after Trump entered the White House, it emerged that his son Donald Trump Jr, son-in-law Jared Kushner and campaign manager Paul Manafort had attended a meeting at Trump Tower in June 2016 with a Russian lawyer offering dirt on Clinton.

FBI Special Counsel Robert Mueller was duly appointed to investigate the campaigns rumored ties to Moscow, ultimately producing a report that stopped short of explicitly calling for the presidents indictment but did not exonerate him, an ordeal Trump recalled during the scolding of Zelensky.

Let me tell you, Putin went through a hell of a lot with me  we went through a phony witch hunt when they used him and Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia, he fumed.

[Putin] had to go through that. And he did go through it. We didnt end up in a war. And he went through it. He was accused of all that stuff. He had nothing to do with it.

As early as July 2017, just a month into the Mueller investigation, James Kirchick of the Brookings Institution was pointing to a Morning Consult poll revealing that 49 percent of Republicans considered Moscow an ally.

open image in gallery Trump and Putin at their joint press conference after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, during the formers first term ( AP )

Kirchick accused the party, under Trump, of becoming Putins willing accomplice, expressing disdain for the GOPs apparent refusal to reflect on what it was about their impressionable leader that made him quite so attractive to the Kremlin.

His point was aptly illustrated when Trump and Putin met at the Helsinki summit in July 2018, at which the Russian successfully convinced his counterpart that he had played no part in election-meddling, leading the commander-in-chief to publicly side with the ex-KGB man over his own intelligence agencies.

Like George W Bush before him, Trump had looked Putin in the eye and seen a man with whom he thought he could do business.

Zelensky also played an important, albeit inadvertent, role in Trumps first term. The Americans first impeachment was sparked by a whistleblower reporting on him presenting the Ukrainian with a quid pro quo, asking him to launch a nuisance investigation into Joe Biden and Hunter Bidens activities in his country or else a congressionally-approved $400m military aid shipment would be withheld.

The president insisted he was blameless but clearly never forgot nor forgave Zelenskys part in the affair, just as MAGA has never gotten over its fixation with Hunter-related conspiracy theories.

open image in gallery Conservative pundit Tucker Carlson speaks to Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, in a widely-derided interview ( EPA )

The seeds of Trumps personal identification with Putin, born out of admiration and resentment, may have been sown between 2016 and 2019 but the Republicans Russophilia pre-dated his ascendancy and carried on without him, only growing with the outbreak of the war when Trump was holed up in Mar-a-Lago following his 2020 election defeat and the disgrace of January 6.

Ex-Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, now Trumps director of national intelligence, tweeted in 2022 that the conflict would never have started had Biden and Nato simply acknowledged Russias legitimate security concerns, future VP Vance expressed indifference over Kyivs possible defeat, Tucker Carlson flew out for a softball in-person interview with Putin and Georgia populist Marjorie Taylor Greene praised his regime for protecting Christianity.

With the last of the Never Trumpers like Liz Cheney, Mitt Romney and Adam Kinzinger driven from the GOP, MAGAs takeover is complete and there appears to be no one left to question the pro-Russia mood.

In the case of Trumps dressing down of Zelensky, a democratic ally more commonly heralded as a hero, the likes of Lauren Boebert, Ted Cruz, Tim Burchett and Lindsey Graham all applauded, as did the friendly pundits on Fox News, with no dissenting voices heard from the Republican side.

The truth is that MAGA rejects modern America, Alexei Bayer wrote in The Globalist last year, rubbishing the movements claims to patriotism. It hates its diversity, minority rights and permissiveness and looks back to some mystical past.
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President Donald Trump appears to have expanded the scope of the travel ban from his first term to include 43 countries, according to a report.

Although Trump failed to reintroduce the travel ban on day one of his second term, as he promised, he did issue an executive order on January 20 directing cabinet members to draft a list of countries that should face full or partial travel restrictions because their "vetting and screening information is so deficient" within 60 days.

Now, with that deadline approaching, a draft list of proposed countries banned from traveling to the US is circulating, the New York Times reported.

A White House official told The Independent no decision has been made.

It was developed by the State Department weeks ago, officials familiar with the matter told the outlet, who cautioned it will likely undergo changes by the time the White House gets ahold of it.

The Independent has reached out to the State Department for comment.

open image in gallery President Donald Trumps administration has proposed a three-tier ban on citizens from certain countries from entering the US ( AFP via Getty )

The draft list was separated into three sections  red, orange, and yellow  to denote the level of restriction, according to the outlet.

The red list includes 11 countries whose citizens would be entirely forbidden from entering the US: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

Ten countries whose citizens will be limited from entering but not entirely banned, meaning they are required to have specific visas, were on the orange list. People of Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Turkmenistan will have to sit for in-person interviews to obtain a visa, the outlet reported.

The yellow list contains 22 countries, mostly African nations, that the Trump administration is giving 60 days to address its concerns over alleged deficiencies. If these nations dont comply, they risk being placed on the red or orange lists, the Times reported.

This list includes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.

open image in gallery Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20 directing cabinet members to draft a list of countries that should face full or partial travel restrictions because their vetting and screening information is so deficient within 60 days ( AP )

Security specialists and embassy officials at State Department regional bureaus are reviewing the proposal and providing comments as to the accuracy of the so-called deficiencies or whether there are policy reasons to avoid certain categorizations, the outlet reported.

In his January 20 executive order, Trump said the travel ban would protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.

On former President Joe Bidens first day in office in 2021, he issued a proclamation to terminate Trumps travel bans. He said Trumps bans were a stain on our national conscience and [were] inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all.
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Heavy rainfall across Italy's Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna regions has triggered flood warnings, prompting school closures and evacuations.

Several major rivers surpassed alert levels on Friday, raising concerns of widespread flooding.

In Tuscany, schools in several cities, including Florence, were closed, as red alerts were issued.

Several campuses of the University of Florence were also shut.

The city also saw the closure of museums, cinemas, and theatres as a precautionary measure.

The A1 motorway was partially closed and Florences residents warned not to travel as fallen trees and floodwater blocked roads.

Authorities closely monitored the Arno River, which flows through Florence and Pisa, anticipating it to crest later on Friday.

Regional governor Eugenio Giani reported a particularly critical situation in Sesto Fiorentino, near Florence, where the Rimaggio stream overflowed, inundating streets.

The national fire brigade said it had received dozens of calls for help after that incident.

Local media reported that a family of four was rescued from a landslide in the town of Badia Prataglia, on the edge of the Casentino valley.

open image in gallery Emily-Romagna was hit hard by Storm Boris in 2024 ( LaPresse )

Florence saw 53mm of rain fall on Friday morning  more than its average March rainfall in just six hours.

It came after 36mm fell overnight.

Emilia-Romagna also experienced intense rainfall, impacting Forli, Ravenna, Bologna, and Ferrara.

Rivers in the Apennine mountains swelled above alert levels. In Bologna, authorities ordered evacuations from the ground floor of buildings on Thursday in anticipation of potential flooding.

The Emila-Romagna region has been particularly hard hit by extreme weather in recent years, with devastating floods in the past two years causing significant loss of life and damage to agricultural businesses.

In 2023, 13 people died after six months worth of rain fell in 36 hours.

There were nearly 300 landslides and 20 rivers burst their banks.

In September 2024, Storm Boris saw more than 1,000 people evacuated from their homes.
With the clock ticking toward a potential federal government shutdown at midnight, Virginias two Democratic senators say they will not support a stopgap spending plan that Republicans in the House of Representatives adopted to run the government for the next six months instead of passing a full budget.

Sen. Mark Warner, who faces reelection next year, and Sen. Tim Kaine, who just won a third term in November, said Thursday that they strongly oppose the continuing resolution that the House adopted on Tuesday before leaving town.

The Virginia senators stance puts them at odds with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat who said on the floor on Thursday night that he will vote for the stopgap. He said he thinks a potential shutdown would be worse than what he called the House GOPs very bad bill.

Warner and Kaine argued instead for a 30-day stopgap spending bill that Senate Democrats proposed to allow time to adopt a full budget instead of extending a short-term funding solution through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. The government is already operating on a continuing resolution Congress adopted in December that will expire on Friday.

We should just do a normal budget, Kaine said during a media briefing on Thursday. If we just vote on the House CR, we will have done something that we have never done, which is operate the government for a year on a continuing resolution.

The choice isnt between catastrophic and half-assed  I mean, we can do something better, he said.

Warner, talking to media later on Thursday, was not confident that Democrats would persuade enough Republicans to vote for the 30-day spending bill. But he said he will not support the House proposal because of the damage it would do to services for military veterans, ship construction and repair at shipyards in Hampton Roads, and what he called a gratuitous, mean-spirited cut of $1.1 billion in spending by the District of Columbia midway through the citys budget year.

Those cuts to the D.C. budget would come from funding for police officers, teachers and public transit, including the Washington Metro system serving Northern Virginia, he said.

If you have those kinds of cuts, youre going to have cutbacks [in service] at Metro, he said.

House votes

The House adopted the stopgap budget resolution by a 217-213 margin on Tuesday, with only one Democrat voting yes and one Republican voting no. All six Democrats in Virginias delegation voted no, and all five Republicans voted yes.

Rep. John McGuire, the 5th District's newly elected Republican congressman, declared his support for President Trumps vision for the country and endorsed the attacks on federal spending and employees by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which Trump ally Elon Musk is leading.

McGuire and Rep. Ben Cline, R-6th, are members of the fledgling DOGE Caucus in the House. McGuire said he supports taking a tactical approach when stopping the taxpayer-funded gravy train and rooting out waste, fraud and abuse.

Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, called funding the government a constitutional duty, although he acknowledged that he does not think a continuing resolution is the best way to do it.

A continuing resolution is not what I wanted, but shutting down the government is irresponsible and wastes taxpayer dollars, Wittman said after the vote on Tuesday. I remain committed to fixing our broken government funding process, which is why Ive continued to introduce legislation to prevent Congress from resorting to these completely avoidable crisis situations.

But Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-4th, said she voted against handing a blank check to Elon Musk and the Trump administration to continue traumatizing federal workers and raiding essential government services in order to fund tax cuts for billionaires.

Many House and Senate Republicans asserted that Senate Democrats would be responsible if there is a government shutdown.

Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-2nd, posted on X, If Senate Democrats vote to shut down the government, our servicemembers will be forced to work without pay. Kiggans touted her Pay Our Troops Act that would ensure they get paid in a shutdown.

Budget bill

House Republicans proposed the lengthy stopgap funding measure to set the stage for a massive budget reconciliation bill that would pay for tax cuts by increasing the national debt by trillions of dollars and making deep reductions in spending on domestic programs. Democrats assert that those cuts would inevitably slash funding to states for Medicaid and other safety net programs.

With statewide elections in Virginia this year, Democrats are focusing on the pain that Musks slash-and-burn approach to cost-cutting is inflicting on federal workers, contractors and other businesses that depend on them in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads and other parts of the state. DOGE has already fired an estimated 300,000 federal workers, most of them probationary employees whom a federal judge in California ordered the Trump administration to reinstate.

What I have heard from Virginians of every stripe, particularly our federal workforce is, You need to stand up to this, in many ways, unlawful activity," Warner said.

Among them are federal contractors, who are a major driver to the economy of Northern Virginia and the state budget. The U.S. Supreme Court this month upheld a lower court order to require the Trump administration to pay $2 billion to contractors for the U.S. Agency for International Development for work they had already performed under existing contracts.

I think the contractor community is terrified, Warner said.

Kaine, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Department of Defense officials have acknowledged that the House stopgap spending bill would harm national defense, including maintenance of U.S. Navy ships and submarines in Hampton Roads shipyards.

They all say the House [continuing resolution] will hurt national security, he said.

Both senators also said adopting the House spending resolution would reinforce the administrations assault on the federal government, which Musk has celebrated by waving a mock chainsaw at a recent summit.

It would keep the chainsaw massacre going with Elon Musk and Donald Trump, Kaine said.

Warner also questioned whether Trump would honor what Congress decides, having already flouted its power of the purse under Article I of the U.S Constitution.

Regardless of what happens tomorrow, this is going to continue to be a rocky period, he said. If Virginians and Americans dont like that, they need to remember whos responsible.
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Pope Francis has initiated a new three-year reform process for the Catholic Church, signalling his intention to continue his papacy despite recent health concerns.

The Vatican announced on Saturday that the 88-year-old pontiff, currently hospitalised with double pneumonia, had approved the extension of the Synod of Bishops.

The initiative, a hallmark of his 12-year tenure, will engage in global consultations with Catholics over the next three years, culminating in a summit in 2028.

This synod has already tackled potentially significant reforms, including the role of women as deacons and greater inclusion of LGBTQ+ people within the Church.

An initial summit held in October 2024 at the Vatican yielded inconclusive results, prompting the extended process.

The timing of the announcement is noteworthy, given Francis's recent hospitalisation and prolonged public absence.

Speculation has arisen regarding a potential resignation, mirroring the path of his predecessor, Benedict XVI.

open image in gallery Pope Francis has no intention of stepping down, close associates say ( AFP via Getty Images )

However, close associates and biographers have maintained that he has no intention of stepping down.

The commitment to a three-year reform process reinforces this stance, suggesting his determination to continue leading the Church, even as he faces a potentially challenging recovery.

The Vatican said that Francis approved the new process on Tuesday from his hospital bed in Rome's Gemelli hospital.

"The Holy Father ... is helping push the renewal of the Church toward a new missionary impulse," Cardinal Mario Grech, the official leading the reform process, told the Vatican's media outlet.

"This is truly a sign of hope."

Bringing church up to date

Francis, who has been pope since 2013, is widely seen as trying to open up the staid global Church to the modern world.

However, the pope's reform agenda has upset some Catholics, including a few senior cardinals. They have accused him of watering down the Church's teachings on issues such as same-sex marriage, and divorce and remarriage.

Massimo Faggioli, a US academic who has followed the papacy closely, said the new reform process is a way for the pope to signal that he is still the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

open image in gallery A message for Pope Francis outside the Gemelli hospital ( AP )

"Francis' pontificate is not over, and this decision he just made for what happens between now and 2028 will have an effect on the rest of (it)," said Mr Faggioli, a professor at Villanova University.

After last October's inconclusive Vatican summit, which yielded no concrete action on possible reforms, Francis had faced questions of whether his papacy was running out of steam.

Vatican officials had said at the time that Francis was still considering future changes, and was waiting to receive a series of 10 expected reports about possible reforms this June.

The latest medical bulletins from the Vatican on the pope's condition in hospital have said he is improving and is no longer in immediate danger of death.

They have not said when he will be discharged from hospital.

Well-wishers have been gathering to offer support for Francis outside the hospital each day during the pope's recovery.

Stefania Gianni, an Italian being treated for cancer at the facility, said on Saturday that Francis "has taken great steps to bring the Church up to date with the times".

"He is a great man and a great pope, and the Church still needs him," she said.
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North Korean troops have been sent in suicidal attacks involving waves of men to overrun Ukrainian troops during Russias offensive to retake its border region of Kursk.

The launch of the Kursk operation was marked by attempts to break through Ukrainian lines outside the salient of land captured by Kyiv in a surprise assault in August.

Likening the North Korean tactics to a cyber attack that can crash a website with mass attempts to access it, a Ukrainian military officer told The Independent: [We faced] human waves like DDOS attacks on our positions... we killed eight out of 10 North Koreans.

But in some areas we had only small numbers of troops and so they killed and killed until they were overrun, the senior officer commanding a reconnaissance unit added.

open image in gallery Russia's President Vladimir Putin visits a command point for the Kursk group of troops involved in the counteroffensive in the Kursk region ( KREMLIN.RU/AFP via Getty Images )

Ukraine has now been forced out of almost all of Kursk. The assault accelerated when Ukraine was cut off from using US intelligence feeds following a row in the Oval Office between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky two weeks ago.

Russian troops are also using long-range drones controlled by fibre optic cables that spool out of them making them immune to electronic counter-warfare signal blocking. Thirty to 40 per cent of drones are fibre optic, the Ukrainian officer said. The range of the drones is also unprecedented, reaching up to 25 kilometres (15 miles), he added.

The human wave assaults involving North Korean soldiers were part of the shaping operations for the Russian counteroffensive, allowing them to force Ukrainian troops out of small villages inside Russia, like Sverdlikovo  but only after hundreds of North Koreans had been killed.

As US negotiators arrived in Moscow for talks with Russia over the ceasefire proposal agreed between Washington and Kyiv, Ukrainian forces withdrew to their border, with orders to hold the Russian advance there.

open image in gallery Putin's forces have been pushing to retake Kursk ( Supplied )

The Russians are trying to move south into Ukrainian territory to try to cut the main Ukrainian supply routes. Theyre not getting anywhere vas we now no longer have to expose ourselves inside Russian territory and hold a wide area of land, the Ukrainian officer told The Independent. So we are able to inflict heavy casualties.

The officer said that across the last three days the Russian forces, who have deployed their most elite units of special forces, marines and paratroopers into Kursk, have been operating with completely different tactics to those used by the North Koreans in the first wave of assaults.

The Russians are approaching in very small numbers carrying a lot of supplies and trying to sneak into our territory and remain there to build up their forces. Some are using thermal masking techniques which makes them very hard to find, he said.

open image in gallery Russia has retaken large chunks of land from Ukraine in its western Kursk region over the past week ( Russian Defence Ministry/AFP via )

Others have tried to get across the border using quad bikes. We had attacks like that yesterday using 18 quads with three men on each  only three squads escaped back to their lines. We destroyed the rest with drone and artillery, the officer added.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukrainian forces said in a Facebook statement: Despite the increased pressure of the Russian and North Korean army, we will hold the defence in Kursk region as long as it is appropriate and necessary.

It was once a necessary part of Ukraines negotiation platform in any future peace talks for Kyiv to control some Russian territory. But as Ukraine has taken heavy casualties and is being driven out of the territory it had seized, it is now deemed appropriate that Ukrainian troops pull back.

Heavy fighting is continuing and Sudzha  the largest town taken by Ukraine forces  is in the hands of the Kremlins troops, Moscow claimed. Syrskyi said that the town had been heavily bombarded and we as now in ruins.

open image in gallery Footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry on Thursday shows troops in the destroyed town of Sudzha ( Russian Defence Ministry/AFP via )

He added that units were manoeuvring to "more favourable positions" to save soldiers' lives  but that Ukraine was fighting on with drones and artillery.

Videos and stills sent from the battlefield directly to The Independent show Ukrainian successes  not the losses that soldiers privately admit have been extremely heavy. They give some credibility to Syrskyis claims that dozens of Russian armoured vehicles and hundreds of other pieces of equipment have been destroyed and show Ukrainian hits against vehicles, bunkers, and North Korean troops advancing through woods.

If we speak about Korean tactics, the Ukrainian officer said. The question is how many they are ready to sacrifice for this movement forward.
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Ukraine has drawn up a series of red lines as the US tries to hammer out a ceasefire deal with Russia, The Independent understands.

After three years of war, the world is waiting to see if the 30-day plan accepted by Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday will find common ground with Vladimir Putin.

High-level Ukrainian sources briefed on the ongoing talks are warning there is little trust that Russia will accept a reasonable deal, adding: We expect another trick.

Despite Donald Trump describing good and productive talks with Russia on Friday, Putin has been accused of using delaying tactics by raising nuances and further questions, as well as suggesting that Ukraine would not be permitted to rearm, mobilise or receive Western military aid during the truce.

But Ukraine is understood to be clear on several key areas of negotiation if the war is to stop. They include:

No further territory to be ceded, despite Putins desire to take four Ukrainian regions partially occupied by the Russian military since 2014

The return of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia

The return of thousands of civilians illegally held by Russia, who are not considered Prisoners of War and so would not be included in PoW exchanges

A need for international security guarantees, should Putin infringe any ceasefire deal

Ukrainian officials are concerned that Russias stalling is nothing more than a game from their side.

We are really willing to make peace, but we need a long-lasting peace, not a short ceasefire. We do not want our children fighting this battle, said the senior source, who cannot be named as they are not permitted to speak to the media.

Putin is playing games. We have made a strong move  now it is his turn.

We have proved we are reasonable; we are willing to have peace  if Russia doesnt agree, the whole world will see they are liars.

One key point of contention is the return of tens of thousands of children, whom Ukraine says have been abducted to Russia as part of an effort to erase the countrys identity.

open image in gallery Russian service members walk along a street in a part of the Kursk region, which was recently retaken by Russia's armed forces ( Reuters )

Kyiv claims that it knows of at least 20,000 children who have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without the consent of family or guardians since the war began, calling the abductions a war crime that meets the UN treaty definition of genocide.

Another issue is Putins demands that in any deal, Ukraine cede the entirety of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk, which have been partially occupied by the Russian military since 2014.

In the months after the full-scale 2022 invasion, Moscow annexed these regions by holding referendums in the areas they occupied, which were widely dismissed by the international community as illegal and coerced.

The US secretary of state Marco Rubio said there had been talk of territorial concessions in the negotiations with Ukraine this week and has previously said Kyiv must expect to give up land.

Ukrainian officials told The Independent they had come to terms with the current battle lines freezing, with Russia holding on to some territory for now for a ceasefire to work, but ceding any additional territory would be a red line.

It is not reasonable to demand that, for example, Zaporizhzhia or Kherson be fully handed over  that sounds like a f*** off to us.

They said fate of these territories held by Russia since the invasion in February 2022 was not sealed.

We will do our best to retake it with diplomacy.

open image in gallery A view shows a site of a Russian military strike in the frontline city of Pokrovsk ( Reuters )

At his news conference on Thursday, Putin said Russia supported the idea of a ceasefire, but with the caveat that it should lead to long-term peace and eliminate the root causes of the conflict.

He also suggested there were a number of nuances, including in Kursk, where a truce would be very good for the Ukrainian side.

The Kremlin later said Putin was cautiously optimistic after holding late-night talks in Moscow with Steve Witkoff, Trumps envoy, on the US proposal.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Mr Zelensky, echoed the distrust of Putin, saying his words looked like a direct desire to continue the war.

He said it effectively forced Ukraine to give up its weapons, army, mobilisation, and supplies of equipment, and simply silently watch as [Russians] continue to peacefully fire along the entire front line

President Zelensky said on Friday that while he saw a good chance to end the war with Russia, he feared Putin would try to drag the ceasefire proposal into endless discussions. He urged the US and Ukraine's other allies to apply pressure on Russia.

On Friday, the G7 nations, including the UK, warned Moscow to follow Kyiv in agreeing to the US-proposed 30-day ceasefire or face further sanctions, according to a draft statement.

Mr Trump again pressed Russia to sign and complete "a ceasefire and final agreement", saying on his private social media platform on Friday that he would extract the U.S. from what he called a "real 'mess' with Russia".

open image in gallery Vladimir Putin is cautiously optimistic about a truce after holding late-night talks with the US in Moscow ( AP )

In Ukraine, there are deep concerns about the impact of a ceasefire and freezing of lines on the fate of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children, who they say have either been forcibly taken to Russia or swallowed up into occupied territories during the full-scale invasion.

One of the key demands for the deal is that these children be retrieved and that the policies of Russification  including forced passport adoption and re-education camps  be stopped.

The UK Ministry of Defence said this week that Russia has issued 3.5 million passports to Ukrainians living in illegally Russian-occupied territory, leaving them at risk of conscription into its army.

While Ukraine fights for survival, Russia is building its army not just with soldiers but with stolen children, said Mykola Kuleba from Save Ukraine, an organisation that has managed to locate and retrieve over 600 children since the start of the full-scale invasion, including three teenagers in the last week.

Over the past 11 years, 1.6 million Ukrainian children have been trapped in Russian-occupied territories. Many have been forcibly taken to Russia. They are indoctrinated in new schools. Their Ukrainian identity is erased, and their minds are filled with hatred for us, the West, the US, and its allies.

Ukrainian civil society is also concerned about Ukrainian PoWs and civilians held in Russian detention centres.

The Centre for Civil Liberties, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 for its work, said since the full-scale invasion they know of at least 8,000 civilians in 70 different Russian detention centres in occupied territories and Russia itself.

The release of civilians should be without conditions as part of the agreement, said Vyacheslav Likhachev, from the centre, adding that the truce was one of the only chances to retrieve people.

For more than three years, nothing has been really effective in making Russia release civilians or act in line with international humanitarian law. No sanctions should be lifted without the release of civilians.
 Close Zelensky condemns Russian strikes on hometown: Diplomacy means nothing to them

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A Ukrainian team will visit Washington this week for crunch talks on a minerals deal, the first visit since the deal collapsed in dramatic fashion five weeks ago.

Volodymyr Zelensky was set to sign a framework agreement in late February before he was booted out of the White House, when a furious Donald Trump berated the Ukrainian president for not being thankful enough for US war assistance.

Since then, teams from Kyiv and Washington have been working to hash out a revised agreement - and to rebuild a broken relationship.

Washington has proposed a more expansive minerals deal which could give it access to valuable mineral resources, including titanium, lithium, and uranium, according to economy minister Yuliia Svyrydenko.

But the deal has not yet been agreed by Ukraine and it is unclear exactly how close the two sides are to reaching an agreement.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump has urged Russia to stop bombing Ukraine, after a ballistic missile strike in Kryvyi Rih killed 20, including nine children.,

We are talking to Russia. We would like them to stop, Trump told reporters onboard Air Force One. I dont like the bombing, the bombing goes on and on, and every week thousands of young people being killed.
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Ukrainian forces are rapidly losing ground in the Kursk region amid a major Russian offensive to recapture land which Kyiv hoped could be a crucial bargaining chip in peace negotiations.

In an attempt to divert Russian forces from the brutal frontlines in eastern Ukraine  and embarrass Vladimir Putin  Ukraine smashed across the border into the Kursk region in August, the biggest attack on Russian territory since the Nazi invasion of 1941.

Putin visited the western region for the first time since its seizure on Wednesday, in a sign of the confidence Moscow has that they will retake complete control of the region.

Moscow claims that recent advances from its forces have left Ukrainian troops with less 200 square km (77 square miles) in Kursk, down from 1,300 square km (500 square miles) at the peak of the incursion.

Ukraine's top army commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said on Wednesday that Kyiv's troops would keep operating in Kursk as long as needed.

The Independent details how and why Ukraine seized Kursk, and what will happen if Russia retakes the entire territory.

When did Ukraine seize Kursk?

In early August 2024, reports emerged that a few hundred Ukrainian troops had staged an incursion into Russias Kursk region.

Within days, the Ukrainian operation went far beyond anyones expectations, was far bigger than anyone had expected, extending to a pocket of territory which Kyiv said measured 1,376 sq km (530 sq miles) at its peak and included about 100 towns and villages.

One of those towns was Sudzha, the largest town captured by Ukraine in the offensive. Commander Syrskyi, said on Wednesday that Kyiv's troops are still fighting in and around the town, despite the Kremlin claiming that Russian forces have retaken control.

Why was the land important for Ukraine?

Seizing much of Kursk had a number of strategic benefits for Ukraine.

Although a tiny fraction of the area which Russia has captured from Ukraine since 2014, the attack on Kursk gave Ukraine its largest gains against Russian forces for two years  when its forces retook swathes of territory in Ukraine in a summer 2022 offensive.

It also proved a major morale boost for Ukrainian troops, wearied by years of battling Russias invasion. The operation had stunned Russia and proved Kyiv could still seize the initiative in what was becoming a gruelling war of attrition.

open image in gallery Vladimir Putin in Kursk ( Russian Presidential Press Service )

Kyiv also hoped it would slow Russias advances in its eastern regions, forcing Moscow to redirect troops to defend its own territory.

Perhaps most crucially, President Volodymyr Zelensky had hoped the pocket of land could be used as a bargaining chip for peace negotiations, saying as recently as last month that the territory could be traded for Ukrainian territory under Russian control.

How has Russia responded?

The invasion was humiliating for president Vladimir Putin, who desperately tried to play down its military impact.

Since then, Russian forces  bolstered by thousands of North Korean troops sent by Putin-ally Kim Jong-un  have sought to claw back most of that land. The North Korean troops began arriving in Kursk from late October as part of a mutual defence pact agreed between Putin and Kim.

Putin has never acknowledged their role on the battlefield but Ukraine and its allies say the North Koreans have played an active part in fighting and sustained heavy casualties.

Deep State, an authoritative open-source intelligence site that charts the frontlines of the war, updated its battlefield map to show Ukrainian forces were no longer in control of Sudzha, the biggest town Ukraine controlled in Kursk. Fighting continued on the outskirts, DeepState said.

open image in gallery A drone view shows men dressed in military uniform waving flags, including the state flag of Russia, and standing on a water tower in the centre of Sudzha town in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict ( via REUTERS )

Ukrainian sources said that Donald Trumps pause in military intelligence sharing with Kyiv after a clash with Mr Zelensky at a White House meeting two weeks ago may have contributed to the accelerating Russian gains. Speaking to The Independent, a senior ministerial advisor said: Kursk shows what happens when we dont have [US intelligence].

The US agreed to resume the intelligence sharing on Tuesday, after talks between officials from Washington and Kyiv in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Putin arrived in Kursk on Wednesday, paying his first visit since Kyivs lightning offensive last August.

"Our task in the near future, in the shortest possible timeframe, is to decisively defeat the enemy entrenched in the Kursk region," he told generals in televised remarks, dressed in green military gear. It is a rarity to see Putin in military fatigues.

What happens next?

Losing territory in Kursk could damage both the morale of Ukrainian troops and be detrimental to its bargaining power round the negotiating table.

It would also intensify pressure on Mr Zelensky as he attempts to navigate a turbulent relationship with the Trump administration - which is pushing Ukraine to accept long-term peace with Russia.

But there is also pressure on Putin, as the United States urges him to join a proposed 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine told Washington on Tuesday it was ready to support.

Putin's surprise visit to Kursk in combat gear appears aimed at sending a signal of military resolve to the West, while making clear to his own forces to ensure the ejection of Ukrainian forces before entering any negotiation to end the war.
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At least five Palestinians were killed after the Israeli military launched renewed attacks in Gaza City, in its latest violation of the ceasefire.

A medical worker at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital confirmed receiving the bodies of four Palestinians who were killed in an Israeli drone strike on the Zeitoun neighbourhood, Anadolu Agency reported.

The Palestinians were collecting wood when they were struck by the drone, the news agency quoted eyewitnesses as saying.

They were collecting firewood as Israels siege of the Palestinian territory had caused a shortage of cooking gas over the last two weeks, Al Jazeera reported.

In a separate attack, a Palestinian fisherman was killed after an Israeli gunboat opened fire near the northern shore of Gaza City.

Zakaria Bakr, an advocate for fishermens rights in Gaza, confirmed to Anadolu that Mohammed Riyad Siyam, 22, was killed by rocket fire from an Israeli gunboat while he was working meters off the coast of Al-Sudaniya, in the northwest of the city.

Israel last week cut off electricity and blocked aid supplies of food, medicine and fuel to the war-ravaged territory, claiming it was doing so to pressure Hamas to extend the first phase of the ceasefire.

Israel cut the power supply at the start of the war, and on Sunday, energy minister Eli Cohen said he had instructed the Israel Electric Corporation not to sell electricity to the Palestinian territory in what he described as a bid to put pressure on Hamas to free hostages.

open image in gallery Displaced Palestinians burn waste in central Gaza Strip on Friday ( AP )

A ceasefire brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt came into effect on 19 January and saw Hamas exchange 33 Israeli and five Thai hostages for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

The 42-day first stage of the truce has ended and Hamas and Israel have been at loggerheads over the second and third phases, which tackle the post-war governance of Gaza and the future of Hamas itself. The subsequent phases originally envisaged Israel pulling out all its troops from the besieged territory.

The situation is catastrophic in the literal sense. The existing generators are worn out and the fuel isnt enough. Theres no potable water. The simplest necessities of life are not available, Sohaib Al-Hams, director of the Kuwaiti Hospital, said.

He said that ambulances had stopped working after Israel almost completely blocked the entry of fuel into the territory.

Israel launched a war on Gaza after Hamas carried out an attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that saw around 1,200 people killed and 251 taken hostage.

Israels onslaught has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, and left most of Gazas people displaced and destitute.

open image in gallery Palestinians gather for a communal iftar meal to break their fast amid the devastation in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Friday ( AFP via Getty )

An investigation by UN experts found that Israel carried out genocidal acts against the Palestinians in Gaza and employed sexual violence as a strategy of war. Israeli authorities have destroyed in part the reproductive capacity of the Palestinians in Gaza as a group, including by imposing measures intended to prevent births, one of the categories of genocidal acts in the Rome Statute and the Genocide Convention, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory concluded.

These actions, in addition to a surge in maternity deaths due to restricted access to medical supplies, amounted to the crime against humanity of extermination, the commission said in its report.

Israels permanent UN mission in Geneva dismissed the reports conclusions as unfounded, biased and lacking credibility.

Israeli forces have concrete directives and policies which unequivocally prohibit such misconduct, the mission said in a statement, adding that its review processes were in line with international standards.
This is the moment a "career criminal" was arrested in Leeds after dragging an Amazon delivery driver to his death with his own van last year.

Claudiu-Carol Kondor, a "hard-working" delivery driver, was killed while trying to stop Mark Ross, 32, from stealing his van. Ross had jumped in and driven off.

As Kondor clung to the van, Ross drove recklessly at 60mph, crashing twice before causing Kondor's fatal injuries.

Police bodycam footage shows Ross's arrest on August 21, after detectives tracked him down through house-to-house enquiries and CCTV footage of the theft.

On Wednesday (March 12), a jury found Ross guilty of murder, and he was jailed for a minimum term of 30 years on Friday (March 14).
CCTV footage shows a thief's movements before he murdered a hard-working Amazon delivery driver who was trying to stop him stealing his van.

Claudiu Carol Kondor, 42, was delivering parcels in Leeds in 2024 when Mark Ross, 32, climbed into his van and started to drive away, a court heard.

Mr Kondor clung onto the vehicle for half-a-mile as the defendant hit speeds of up to 60mph and swerved from side to side before hitting two parked cars.

Mr Kondor died from head and chest injuries from the second crash, the court heard.

On Friday, 14 March, Ross was jailed at Leeds Crown Court for a minimum term of 30 years.
Sir Keir Starmer maintained that Donald Trump is absolutely committed to lasting peace in Ukraine, while urging allies to move forward together to achieve an end to Russias invasion of the country.

After praising the close relationship between the two nations, Sir Keir reiterated the need for As many countries as possible, thinking together, discussing together, and moving forward together as a group in a speech on Saturday, 15 March.

Mr Trump described US talks with Putin as very good and productive and said there was a very good chance that Russias invasion could finally come to an end.

It follows his chaotic Oval Office meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, during which he and JD Vance shouted over the Ukrainian president.
As congressional Republicans eye $230 billion in cuts to the farm budget that funds food stamps, Tamika Spears of Richmond worries how shes going to feed her three kids if her $262-a-month Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit gets cut again  or goes away.

Sate Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, is thinking about how or if the state can make up the difference if Congress asks states to pick up some of the cost of a nearly 9-decade-old part of the social safety net, one that has been a path out of poverty for millions.

It is difficult to feed the family, because everybody eats differently, said Spears, who relies on Medicaid because of a disability and struggles to pay rent, electricity and other bills.

And to be honest, you can go to the store now and you can get like, 40 items, and that's going to be $150. There's 30 days in a month, and $262 is not going to carry over," she said. "I have to pull from this bill, or pull from that bill, just to make sure I have enough food to maintain for the month."

Locke remembers worries like that  and remembers that getting help with getting groceries can be a first step out of poverty.

It's my story. Growing up, I remember food stamps when they were paper, you know, because that was me, she said.

So you know, I resent ... folks going around saying ... people really aren't in need, because people are in need, Locke said.

And it's the responsibility of us in positions to make these decisions to ensure that those who are in need get the resources that they are entitled to ... and it is not that 1% ... who are getting these tax breaks that congressional Republicans spending cuts are meant to pay for, she said.

Republicans on Capitol Hill and in Virginia say Americans voted for spending cuts and lower taxes in 2024.

Taxes, however, will not be only a Capitol Hill issue if federal spending cuts hit SNAP, Locke said. She serves on the state Senate Finance Committee and is one of the conferees who negotiate a compromise between Senate and House versions of the state budget.

State legislators are also going to have to rethink who pays how much to cover public services in Virginia that rely on federal funds, she said. These include SNAP benefits that some 828,000 Virginians rely upon, and Medicaid, which pays for health care for low-income Virginians and people with disabilities, and the money that helps pay for state highways and transportation improvements.

U.S. Rep. Glenn T. Thompson, R-Pennsylvania, chair of the House Agriculture Committee, has said the farm budget will not cut SNAP benefits. The budget resolution sets 10-year goals, without detailing specific cuts.

But Congress could ask states to pick up part of the bill for SNAP, so the national total might stay the same, but the cost to the federal budget would go down.

If even the lowest sum for state contributions for SNAP benefits  5% of what is now the $1.77 billion-a-year cost of Virginians SNAP benefits  goes through, it would blow a $352 million hole in the states two-year budget, Locke said.

The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington think tank that researches and advocates on state and federal spending and tax initiatives, says there has been talk in Washington of 10% or 25% state contributions, summing up several news reports from Capitol Hill.

Over the recent budget resolution's 10-year time frame, that would translate to somewhere between $1.67 billion and $4.19 billion that Virginia would have to pick up just to maintain the current benefit, the center estimates.

Del. Bonita Anthony, D-Norfolk, a member of the House of Delegates tax-writing Finance Committee as well as the Virginia Commission to End Hunger, said that even requiring the state to pick up 5% of the bill could force Virginia to make painful cuts to SNAP benefits.

And, she said, it would have impacts beyond just the more than 800,000 who rely on SNAP to put food on the table. She said the program, which comes under the federal agriculture budget, supports farmers as well as lower-income families.

SNAP is not just a safety net, she said. This is not just about numbers, right? It is about people."

Anthony said that from 2015 to 2019, SNAP lifted an average of 104,000 Virginians out of poverty, including 42,000 children.

"Cutting these benefits will [mean] more children going to bed hungry, more seniors struggling to make ends meet and more families forced to choose between food, rent or medicine," she said.
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
A Eurovision Song Contest entrant has used the voice of BBC economics editor Faisal Islam on her track, after being forced to redo her song due to a word in the lyrics and title sounding similar to an English swear word.

Islam interviewed Malta representative Miriana Conte on BBC late-night current affairs programme Newsnight about having just a few days to change the words of her song Kant, the Maltese word for singing, following a complaint.

On Friday, the contest put out her official Eurovision music video for the updated track, retitled Serving, and with similar lyrics but without the controversial word.

The video sees lots of commentators appearing to talk about her in a documentary-style, along with the voice of Islam from the Newsnight interview, giving a suggestion of how to re-do her song.

Islams voice says: Serving brunch, maybe, I dont know.

Earlier this month, Conte told Newsnight she was not trying to offend anyone and the word means different things to different people, and to her it means Im serving singing.

She previously expressed her frustration at Eurovision organisers, the European Broadcasting Union, in an Instagram post.

Conte wrote: Weve just been notified that (the EBU) has decided against using the Maltese word Kant in our entry in the Eurovision Song Contest.

While Im shocked and disappointed, especially since we have less than a week to submit the song, I promise you this: the show will go on  Diva NOT down.

Local media outlets in Malta reported that the BBC were the ones to lodge a complaint with the EBU.

The word serving, sometimes used with a swear word, has been popularised in the LGBT+ community and reality shows such as RuPauls Drag Race, where contestants use it to refer to stylish outfits.

Faisal reacted to Conte using his voice in her official music video with a laughing emoji and well well well comment on X.

At the close of Fridays Newsnight programme, they played Contes music video over the credits.

Last week, the BBC confirmed that all-female trio Remember Monday will represent the UK at Eurovision 2025 with What The Hell Just Happened?.

Remember Monday are the 2025 UK Eurovision entrant (Ben Whitley/PA)

Last year, the EBU faced controversy over the inclusion of Israel amid the war in Gaza, and complaints from contestants over duty of care.

Israeli entrant Eden Golan was asked to redo her song October Rain, which appeared to be a reference to Hamas launching an attack on Israel in October 2023, and she entered the competition with Hurricane.

The organisers subsequently announced an internal review and a code of conduct that will help protect the wellbeing of artists for this years contest.

Following a win by Switzerlands Nemo with the operatic-dance track The Code, the contest is being held in Basel this year.

The grand final of Eurovision will take place in St Jakobshalle on May 17, with the semi-finals on May 13 and 15.
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
The principal of a Dublin school has said it will have to close because it can no longer afford to pay basic bills.

Sacred Heart Junior School in the Killinarden area of Tallaght is said to have "suffered massive underfunding for many years" due to cuts from the Department of Education.

In a letter to parents, principal Orla McLoughlin outlined what she described as the school's "major financial crisis".

She said the school had informed the Department of Education that it no longer has money "to pay our basic bills" from April 1.

Ms McLoughlin said the school "will have to close" and "teach remotely" if it does not receive emergency funding.

Local People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy said he had spoken to a number of parents about the lack of funding at the school.

Stock image of a primary school classroom.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 15th March 2025

He said: "The responsibility for this crisis lies with the government who have massively underfunded our schools, to the point where they are now on the brink of having to close their doors.

"Parents, teachers and the community deserve better. The Government's priorities are all wrong, they are talking about tripling military spending yet refuse to provide schools with enough funding to keep the lights on and the doors open.

"We need emergency action from the minister now to guarantee funding for the schools.

"I met this morning with the principals and some parents of the school to discuss how we can fight for the funding we need to save our schools."

Mr Murphy said he will raise the matter in the Dail next week.

The Department of Education said it was committed to "offering all available and appropriate supports to the school".

However, it said it first requires additional information from the school before assistance can be provided

A spokesman said: "The department will continue to liaise with the school and the patron so that support can be provided as quickly as possible to the school.

"The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU) can offer support and advice to school boards of management in relation to school accounts and funding generally."
Gardai are investigating an alleged antisemitic incident in which an Israeli man was spat on by a woman in Dun Laoghaire earlier this week.

In a video that has been widely shared on social media, Tamir Ohayon, a 26-year-old from Tel Aviv, is confronted by two women who shout at him Zionists are not welcome in Ireland. F**k you and f**k Israel.

The incident happened on the evening of March 12 in Hardys Bar in the Royal Marine Hotel.

A garda statement said: Gardai were alerted to a public order incident at a commercial premises in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin at approximately 9:30pm on Wednesday, 12th March 2025. No injuries were reported. Investigations are ongoing.

In the video, the women are shown each provocatively displaying their middle fingers to Mr Ohayon. When he says I love you too, one of the women spits at him and says I did not miss.

One of the women in the video, not the one who is seen spitting, is Lena Seale, a model and creative who was a People Before Profit candidate in last years local elections in Cabra-Glasnevin.

Ms Seale told The Journal, that Mr Ohayon has shared a story on Instagram about Gazans.

She told the website that she and her friend Zeina Ismail, a former Tik Tok moderator who is seen spitting in the video, were not violent in the incident and it was just a conversation.

She claimed they found Mr Ohayon through posts on his social media.

In her statement to The Journal, Ms Seale said that no Israeli soldiers or agent of Zionism is welcome in Ireland and actionists have a duty to expose and confront them if an opportunity arises.

A PBP spokesman said: Lena resigned from People Before Profit several months ago.

A screengrab from the video, posted to Instagram by Tamir Ohayon

In his Instagram post, Mr Ohayon said his heart was broken over the clash with the two women.

During my business trip to Dublin, me and my co-worker were assaulted by an organised group of girls for simply being Israelis, he wrote. Previous to me filming the video, one of the girls approached me with camera to my face saying my name and basically all the intel she had about my stay in Dublin (the hotels I moved, the reason I came). It had been going like that for more than a couple minutes, with no one intervening. I had to film them so I could use that as evidence to the local police. Sadly, the police only came to the hotel two hours after the incident and didnt seem to care at all about the matter. This was an act of pure terrorism, and everyone was silent.

Mr Ohayon said he could not sleep after the incident and locked himself in his room all night before moving to another hotel the following day.

The Royal Marine Hotel has been approached for comment.

Jim OLeary, the Fine Gael Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, responded to Mr Ohayons post and said he wanted to apologise for the shocking antisemitic behaviour of these people.

I am genuinely upset that Irish people would behave like this to you and your colleague in my home town, he said.

Ms Ismail and Ms Seale were approached for comment by this newspaper.

File image of a restaurant.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 15th March 2025

A spokesperson for the Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan said: The Minister notes that a Garda investigation into the incident is ongoing. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to comment on this case.

In relation to the concerns of Jewish groups about anti-Semitism generally, the Government is determined to stamp out hate-motivated crimes and to protect vulnerable communities.

The Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024 was commenced in full on 31 December last. The new legislation provides for increased prison sentences for certain crimes, where proven to be motivated by hatred, or where hatred is demonstrated, based on protected characteristics. The protected characteristics in the Act include among others, descent, ethnic origin and religion, which ensure protection against hate crimes of an anti-Semitic nature targeting members of the Jewish community, the statement said.

Maurice Cohen the chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland said they are deeply concerned by the recent incident in a hotel bar where two pro-Palestinian activists harassed Israeli tourists and business professionals.

This incident reflects the growing hostility fuelled by one-sided rhetoric in Ireland, and we urge all leaders to promote respectful dialogue rather than division. The incident also reflects our belief that language and words matter. We call on the Gardai to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism, as endorsed by the Irish Government, to ensure that such incidents are properly recognised and addressed.

"The current situation has put the whole country under the spotlight world wide once again for the ever increasing numbers of antisemitic incidents, resulting especially in the US where the corporate world is rethinking either investment in Ireland or its current position here. However, I welcome the beginning of dialogue this coming week with the Taoiseachs office to discuss ways to implement the IHRA definition as well as discussions regarding fostering Jewish Life in Ireland, Mr Cohen said.
Stella McMullan, whose daughter Caitlin-Rose died after being struck by a car last week, wants authorities to address safety issues at bus stops

The mother of an 11-year-old girl who died after being struck by a car after she got off her school bus in Castledawson, Northern Ireland last week has called for greater safety measures to protect children.

Caitlin-Rose McMullan, a first-year pupil at St Pius X College in Magherafelt, died on March 6, and now mum Stella McMullan has started a campaign urging the authorities to do more to save lives.

She says she believes a stop arm system, which is used successfully in school transport in the US and elsewhere around the world, could have prevented her daughters death, and she is urging those responsible for overseeing the NI school transport system to do everything they can to prevent further tragedies.

I experienced a tragedy no parent should ever have to go through, she said, launching a change.org petition which thousands have already supported.

My daughter lost her life while coming off the school bus. Its an incident that has left a lasting impression on me and my family and it is only one example of a widespread and urgent problem  the lack of effective bus safety measures in place to protect our children.

I feel its my legacy to her to start getting more bus shelters, speed and bus awareness before some poor family will have this tragedy happening to them.

Stella McMullan with her daughter Caitlin-Rose

Today's News in 90 seconds - 15th March 2025

Stella revealed that her daughter had died at the scene at Hillhead Road in Castledawson, close to her family home, before amazing doctors helped to bring her back, but unfortunately she later died following her injuries.

Those actions allowed Stella to fly home from abroad to spend precious last moments with her daughter before life support was switched off at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

Having suffered a heartbreaking family tragedy, Stella now wants to ensure no other family suffers the same pain.

She believes all buses being used to transport children to and from school should be fitted with a US-style stop arm, a stop signal which flashes amber or red when a bus pulls over to let children off.

It is treated as a motoring offence in many US states for a driver to pass while the red light is displayed.

Statistics from the National Safety Council reveal that most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are 4-7 years old, she said.

Theyre either walking or hit by another vehicle, just like my daughter.

Its obvious that its not enough to simply trust drivers. More needs to be done to ensure the safety of our children.

This petition is calling for the implementation of effective measures such as bus shelters, better bus codes similar to those found in countries where cars must stop by law to let children cross, and a significant increase in speed awareness around stopped buses.

By giving children a safe place to wait for the bus, providing clearer regulations for drivers, and reinforcing the need for drivers to slow down and stay alert near buses, we can help prevent tragic accidents like the one that took my daughter from me. It is time we prioritise the safety and lives of our children.

Caitlin-Rose McMullan

She added: I hope as many people as possible sign this petition and join the call for improved bus safety measures.

Ive had a lot of people contact me already, so with the help of everyone, I believe something can be done and we can all work together across all departments to take the best action we can to protect all our children.

Stella said many MLAs and MPs had reached out to her in the days since Caitlin-Rose passed away and said that she was especially touched to receive a letter from First Minister Michelle ONeill on Thursday.

Caitlin-Rose McMullan

Stellas campaign is being supported by local SDLP councillor Denise Johnston, who said: As a result of this tragic incident, a beautiful young child, Caitlin-Rose McMullan, died. Her death was avoidable. We must do everything we can to protect our children.

We should be assured that when our children go out to school in the morning, they come home in the evening.

As always, my thoughts and prayers are with the family. But thats not enough. Words arent enough. We need action.

St Pius X College said Caitlin-Rose was a very popular pupil, always smiling. Her form teachers described her as a joy to teach due to her kind and fun-loving nature. She was an outgoing, bubbly and caring child, who will be greatly missed by fellow pupils and staff alike.

Over the course of Year 8, Caitlin-Rose earned numerous accolades for excellent effort and outstanding classwork, approaching every assignment with interest and enthusiasm.

Caitlin-Roses friends and classmates are heartbroken by her untimely passing.

Education Minister Paul Givan said he was deeply shocked to hear the tragic news, adding: As a parent, when we set our children off to school in the morning, none of us ever expect to receive such devastating news.

Caitlin-Rose McMullan

A spokesperson for the Education Authority (EA) said: The safety of children and young people is EAs highest priority and we are fully committed to working in collaboration with all partner agencies to inform and improve safety measures on our roads.

A Department of Education spokesperson said: The thoughts and condolences of the Department of Education are with the family and friends of Caitlin-Rose at this very difficult time.

While responsibility for road safety legislation falls outside of the remit of the Department of Education, the Department fully supports a cross-departmental approach on developing any measures which would improve the safety of children on our roads.

The Department for Infrastructure said: Too many lives are being lost on our roads and our thoughts are with Caitlin-Roses family and friends at this very difficult time.

Improving road safety is a priority for the Minister and she has asked her officials to consider what measures can be implemented to improve road safety around buses.

The Minister is also exploring wider road safety measures, such as speed limit reductions, including 20mph zones in residential areas and outside schools. The Ministers predecessor John ODowd reinstated funding for road safety adverts and published the Road Safety Strategy to 2030.

Young people are among our most vulnerable road users, which is why the Highway Code emphasises the need to drive slowly and carefully around schools, and when passing a stationary bus carrying school children.

The petition can be found at change.org by searching for Stella McMullan.
Jury failed to reach unanimous verdict in the trial of Sanusi Sadiq for the manslaughter of carpenter Barry Whelan

Barry Whelan (right) and brother Darren with their mother, Valerie

Carpenter Barry Whelan was looking forward to going out for a couple of pints on St Patricks Day two years ago in Boston, but by 9pm that night, the 46-year-old lay on the ground after a one-punch assault as he went to use an ATM. He died three days later.

John Marsoobian, his former boss and friend, told the Sunday Independent: He was working with my son that day, talking all about St Patricks Day, how he was looking forward to a pint of Guinness.

He was a quiet, unassuming guy, he said.

We loved him. Like a lot of our employees, we considered him part of our family. He was one the most respectful, decent and hard-working men Ive ever known.

He was found on the ground on March 17. He didnt officially die until days later in hospital, but he never woke up after he was attacked. Barry died on that pavement, really.

After emigrating to the US from Dublin in 2002, Mr Whelan had been working as a carpenter and was living in Woburn, north of Boston.

Sanusi Sadiq (30), a bouncer with an address in Quincy, Massachusetts, was later charged with his manslaughter.

A fortnight ago on March 4, the criminal case against Sadiq was declared a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict.

Barry Whelan

Mr Marsoobian, owner and founder of Twin Peaks Construction in Boston, attended every day of the three-week trial alongside Mr Whelans younger brother Darren, who had travelled from Ireland.

Late last year, their mother Valerie died. The only surviving member of the extremely talented carpenters immediate family is Darren, as the mens father died eight years ago.

Darren is a great guy. I feel like I got to know Barry better through his brother since this tragedy, Mr Marsoobian said.

Barry was a wonderful guy, he had a great sense of humour. Everyone loved working with him and a lot of people miss him

He came over after Barrys attack, and again for the trial, and weve tried to be here to support him in every way we can.

Barry was a wonderful guy, he had a great sense of humour. He was smart too. He wouldnt be the sort to be talking politics, but he was very clued in. He kept himself to himself, he wasnt the type to be out every night or anything like that.

He was a gentle guy, he absolutely wasnt a person to cause trouble. Barry would show up to work half-an-hour before everyone else. He was a fast learner and so, so talented.

Everyone loved working with him and a lot of people miss him. On a professional level, he was easily one of my most trusted and hard-working guys.

After being taken to Tufts Medical Centre, Mr Whelan died from his injuries.

He had suffered a skull fracture and brain haemorrhage, according to prosecutors, who said Sadiq struck Mr Whelan in the head.

After the mistrial was declared, a hearing to potentially schedule a new trial date was set for April 15.

The court heard the two men were strangers who interacted on the street for seven minutes. Sadiq then struck Mr Whelan, who fell and hit his head, the court heard.

Sadiqs attorney, Michael Chinman, argued that Mr Whelan had racially abused his client.

He said Sadiq was not trying to cause injury and Mr Whelan fell because he was drunk.

The court heard there was video of the exchange, but no audio.

Barry Whelan's boss in the US, John Marsoobian

Assistant District Attorney Jillian Bannister said the allegation of racism was a convenient interpretation.

She told the jury that Sadiq had looked both ways making sure the coast was clear before he struck Mr Whelan.

The defence is asking you to disbelieve what you can see with your very eyes, Ms Bannister said.

Mr Marsoobian said the allegation that Mr Whelan would use racial slurs was completely untrue, in his view.

When this narrative came from the defence attorney, and the accused, I just sat there in disbelief. I have no doubt it is nonsense, he said.

Unfortunately, Barry is not here to defend himself. He was absolutely not a racist man, I never heard a racist word come out of his mouth. He just was not that guy. He used to live with three black guys. As far as Im concerned, what they claim is not believable. Its just bullshit.

Mr Whelan was a keen cyclist and not a big drinker, his boss said, despite the picture the attorney for the accused had tried to paint.

Barry worked six days a week. I went to his apartment after this happened, Mr Marsoobian said.

He lived very humbly, but took care of his place. He just worked hard and saved his money  he had a lot of money in the bank.

Mr Whelan was not scheduled to work the morning after he was attacked two years ago.

The guy who did this, he needs to spend some time in jail for what he did. Not the rest of his life, but he does deserve jail

But when an email Mr Marsoobian sent him the next day about a job went unanswered, his boss wondered about it. He was also uncontactable the following day.

He had no obligation to respond to my email on a day off, but generally he always would, Mr Marsoobian said.

He also didnt respond the next day. Then, when he didnt show up to work on Monday, I got really worried.

Fearing the worst, his boss began calling around all the local hospitals in Boston as well as law enforcement.

Eventually, a homicide detective phoned Twin Peaks Construction, confirming Mr Marsoobians worst fears. The officer said Mr Whelan was critically ill and a an investigation was under way. His brother was by now on his way to Boston.

Darren, he hopped on a plane. I met him up at Barrys apartment. It was a really tough time for him, Mr Marsoobian said.

We tried to support him and have since tried to help him out with the financial aspect of things.

Barry had a 41K account [a company-sponsored retirement account]. Weve always just tried our best to help the family figure out all of that stuff, because its difficult coming from another country.

There is a solid friendship there now between us. We dont even know for sure if there will be a new trial. We will find out in April.

The guy who did this, he needs to spend some time in jail for what he did. Not the rest of his life, but he does deserve jail. Id just like to see some justice for Barry. He didnt deserve what happened to him.
Though the former is public and the latter private, Virginia Military Institute and Sweet Briar College have a lot in common.

Their roots  reaching back, respectively, to the mid-19th century and the early 20th century  are in single-sex education. VMI was males-only until 1997. Sweet Briar was  and remains  a school for women. Both are still perceived and, to some degree, thrive as emblems of old times not forgotten.

VMI and Sweet Briar  as small colleges that rely on their intimate scale to attract students otherwise drawn to behemoths such as the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason and Virginia Tech, that may seem more amusement parks than academic centers  risk sowing the seeds of their destruction by attempting to resist rather than adapt to forces remaking the world beyond their walls: population and demographic change.

Higher education in 2025 is expected to face the so-called demographic cliff, when  because birth rates have been falling since 2007  the population of high school graduates is expected to begin a long decline. That will mean keener competition for the most desirable students, amid a glut of openings at colleges and universities that could augur a decline in admissions standards as schools scramble to fill seats to cover their bills.

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that even before this projected downturn, which could continue until 2041, enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities had tumbled 15% between 2010 and 2021, the first full year of the coronavirus pandemic from which some campuses are still reeling.

Virginias four-year, taxpayer-supported institutions generally weathered COVID-19 well, with an overall decline of 0.1%, though historically Black schools saw steep drops and enrollment at two-year community colleges hit its lowest level since 2002, according to the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia.

But now schools such as VMI and Sweet Briar, in filling their classes, face a different kind of virus  one thats political  and signals that they, as they enter a period when they can least afford it, are unwelcoming.

As a public entity that lost in the U.S. Supreme Court its battle to remain all-male, VMI is powerless to erect legal barriers to admission. As a private entity  and because of a loophole in federal civil rights law  Sweet Briar is empowered to affirm gender restrictions.

In firing its first Black superintendent, Cedric Wins, a retired two-star Army general and VMI alumnus, because he committed the unpardonable sin in the Trump era of elevating sensitivities to race, gender and culture, VMI risks telegraphing to prospective students beyond its traditional constituency  conservative, white male bros who have come to believe they comprise a disparaged, neglected class  that there is no place for them on post, as the schools crenelated campus in Lexington is called.

And at Sweet Briar, saved in 2015 from closing because loyal alumni immediately donated millions of dollars, President Mary Pope Hutson, backed by the board of trustees, has said the college outside Lynchburg will limit admissions to students who are biological women, barring transgender women. Trans students already enrolled at Sweet Briar will be allowed to continue their studies.

This is perilous messaging made more so by parallel events in Washington, D.C.

Donald Trump dismissed the nations first Black Joint Chiefs chairman, Gen. CQ Brown Jr. of the Air Force, as part of the presidents promised anti-woke purge of the federal government. Trumps selection of a VMI guy as Browns successor, retired Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, class of 1990, aligns the institute with a MAGA mentality that recalls the bubba-ism synonymous with the school not long ago.

That Trump is hostile to transgender rights  he is moving to kick trans people from the military and prohibit transgender care for minors  means Sweet Briar, though it adopted its disputed policy months before the 2024 election, when few were paying attention, believes, through an act that can be described as institutional discrimination, that it can thrive on divisiveness.

Backlash to Wins supposed wokeism  in a stunning post-dismissal statement, he all but said his effort to blend the principled old traditions of VMI with powerful new ones was thwarted by conservative white resentment  was amplified by what qualified as revenge for the shabby treatment of his predecessor, Binford Peay, a four-star Army general and 1962 graduate of VMI who commanded the 101st Airborne during the two Persian Gulf wars.

Though he resigned in 2020, Peay was, in effect, run off by Gov. Ralph Northam, a VMI alumnus who was nearly forced from office because of a blackface calamity in 2019. Peay was seen as balking on burying the schools Confederate past and addressing alleged racism toward Black students, who make up about 7% of the corps of cadets, or student body, and were first enrolled at VMI in 1968  the last public college in Virginia to do so. Thirteen percent of VMIs students are women.

Wins ouster after five years  enabled by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who mimics Trumps anti-DEI-ism through political appointments to the institutes governing body  seemingly had more to do with the anger of the Old Corps, shorthand for those who matriculated to and/or were graduated from VMI before the arrival of women, than his performance as an administrator, fundraiser and recruiter.

Benefactors and other VMI supporters with ties to both parties said Wins was broadly effective, though some of his hires, if only because they knew little of VMI beforehand, irritated faculty, administrators and alumni.

The tragedy of VMI and Sweet Briar  both of which, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia data suggests, were meeting enrollment goals before taking controversial steps that could soon handicap them  is that the Virginia system of higher education is better because of them. These schools speak to the impressive array of options  public and private  available here.

Preserving that, if only to save VMI and Sweet Briar as educational businesses, requires faith in the future rather than a love affair with the past.
Willie Mullins reigns supreme as champion trainer but a man called Cromwell conquers the Gold Cup to bring it back to Limerick for trainer JP McManus

There were thrills, spills and upsets on what was a phenomenal final day for the Irish at Cheltenham yesterday  as a man named Cromwell reigned supreme to bring the Gold Cup back to Ireland.

It all got under way in dramatic fashion with a 100/1 long shot winning the first race.

Later in the day the feature race of the national hunt festival, the Gold Cup, would be taken back to Limerick by owner JP McManus, as Inothewayurthinkin romped home past the hotly fancied Galopin Des Champs.

It was heartache for the owners of the Willie Mullins-trained odds-on favourite, who was attempting to win the race for the third time in a row.

I didnt expect that

However, Kildare jockey Mark Walsh steered home his trusty steed in the famous green and gold McManus silks.

Im dancing inside. Its unbelievable. Hes home-bred too, which makes it extra-special. Gavin Cromwell is a genius, Walsh said of the Meath trainer.

Jockey Mark Walsh, owner JP McManus, left, and Frank Berry, manager for JP McManus, right, after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Inothewayurthinkin. Photo: Sportsfile

Magnanimous in victory following his fourth win of the week, Walsh thanked billionaire Mr McManus for the ride on what was the Limerick horse owners second-ever Gold Cup winner.

It wasnt the first upset of the day though, as the Mullins-trained debutant Poniros won at odds of 100/1, ridden by Jonjo ONeill Jr, equalling a previous Cheltenham record, last reached in 1990.

After the race, Mullins admitted: I didnt expect that.

The outsiders shock victory over the favourite in the final strides set punters hearts pounding and caused bookies to sweat.

The horses billionaire owner Tony Bloom also watched the nailbiting finish.

Mr Bloom is the majority owner and chairman of Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion, and is known as a big-money punter.

However, Mullins, who finished the week on 113 Cheltenham wins for his career, conceded he didnt even advise Mr Bloom to back the horse.

While it may have been a big day on the field for billionaire owners, it was a victory in itself for one 71-year-old Cork farmer who got her first Cheltenham showing. Eleanor Broderick  a third-generation Fermoy farmer  said: I have always been interested in horses. I started with ponies, hunting, point-to-pointers, you name it.

Galopin Des Champs, with Paul Townend on board, jumps the last, second time around in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but finished second in the end. Photo: Sportsfile

Broderick ticked off a bucket-list item yesterday, when her horse, Lisleigh Lad, which she bred, raised and trained on her farm, competed at Cheltenham.

He raced in the Festivals penultimate showdown at 4.40pm.

Broderick started training in 2006, but gave it up for a while, until seven years ago, when she bred Lisleigh Lad, who she described as a bit of a monkey.

He was born out in the field, his mammy is 20 and he had his problems, but this year he has just become a man, he grew up, she said.

Broderick had always dreamed of entering the hunters chase, and in November, at the age of 70, it became a reality, when Lisleigh Lad won at Fairyhouse in Co Meath to ensure her horse qualified for the race.

It marked her first-ever win under horse-racing rules, having previously enjoyed success both as an amateur jockey and trainer in her earlier years.

Jonjo O'Neill Jr aboard Poniros after winning the JCB Triumph Hurdle on day four of the Cheltenham Festival at odds of 100/1. Photo: PA

We are here in Cheltenham. It is overwhelming, very overwhelming, is how she described being at the biggest stage of them all in national hunt racing.

It is a privilege to be able to get here, I never thought I would. I am a very small trainer. I have three horses. I started off with eight or nine. But I ended up with three. It is a hard life and it is hard to get people to ride out with you, she said, adding she is lucky to have a great team with her.

Watching the action, which ended yesterday with Ireland claiming 20 wins to Britains eight, was Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon.

This is the Olympics of national hunt racing

Mr Heydon, who took office in January, credited Cheltenham and horse racing for putting Ireland on the map and boosting tourism.

He said the industry, which employs more than 30,000 people in Ireland, has some remarkable people achieving great things on the world stage.

This is the Olympics of national hunt racing and where we get to display the best of the Irish racing and breeding industry, he said from Prestbury Park.

In his early 20s Mr Heydon worked in Punchestown Racecourse on the track as a course builder for four years.

Jockey Mark Walsh kisses the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup after his triumph. Photo: Sportsfile

He said it was during that time that he saw the number of jobs that there are for people in Kildare and across Ireland in the horse racing and breeding industry.

That is why we support it in Government, because it is real economic activity that is worth over 2.5bn to our economy, Mr Heydon said.

That is why we will continue to back this industry that puts Ireland on the world map, he added, reiterating the special occasion that is Cheltenham.

Ahead of the St Patricks Day weekend, all in all, it was a very green Friday at Cheltenham, with Ireland taking home the Prestbury Cup, despite the British leading the charge on the first day.

Ireland won all seven races yesterday, with Paul Townend finishing as top jockey and the Mullins claiming the champion trainer title again, with 10 wins.
Less than two months ago, it was a joke. Toward the end of a conversation with two Canadian ministers visiting Washington, I raised an idea floated in an Economist op-ed that had caused a bit of a stir.

It argued, in somewhat tongue-in-cheek fashion, that Canada should join the European Union. I asked Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canadas minister for innovation, science and industry, and defence minister Bill Blair if, rather than becoming the 51st state as president Donald Trump had urged, Canada should be the 28th member of the European Union.
Donald Trump's praise of the MMA fighter was an insult to all survivors of sexual violence

Nikita Hand speaking to the media outside the High Court in Dublin after winning her civil case against Conor McGregor. Photo: PA

At this weeks meeting with Taoiseach Micheal Martin in the Oval Office, the leader of one of the most powerful countries in the world revealed that his favourite Irish person is someone who has recently had a judgment against him in a civil sexual assault case.

Mr Martin looked uncomfortable when he realised who US president Donald Trump was describing  the Irish fighter, all the tattoos, someone called Conor, a great guy, Mr Trump said.

A great guy?

Its remarkable how many perpetrators of sexual violence are great guys.

Recently the wife of a great guy told the court what a great guy her husband was.

Not only was he a member of An Garda Siochana, but someone she had only ever known to be a kind, calm, caring, unassuming, gentle, reliable, selfless family man who means so much to so many people.

Not the same guy that was found guilty of sexually assaulting and falsely imprisoning a woman at a Wicklow garda station, then.

The great guy who is Trumps favourite Irish person lost a civil sexual assault case and was ordered to pay damages to Dublin woman Nikita Hand.

By now, many people know what Nikita suffered, including the paramedics testimony that she had not seen someone so bruised in a long time and the doctor at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit listing her severe internal and external injuries.

When Ms Hand won her civil case last November, the then-taoiseach Simon Harris spoke to her and praised her courage.

He said to her that she had the support of the Irish people and that the case had prompted an increase in women coming forward to ask for support through the National Rape Crisis Helpline, which we in Dublin Rape Crisis Centre run.

Its 16 weeks since that civil-case verdict and that phone call. One-hundred and 13 days. Now the defendant in that case is the American presidents favourite Irish person.

Conor McGregor. Photo: Getty

Mr Martin was in a very difficult position in a crucial meeting, and the moment passed quickly.

But nevertheless, in the eyes of those who are influenced by Mr Trumps words and actions, those short sentences normalised sexual violence and redeemed the perpetrator.

For the community of survivors we work with, it sent a chilling message.

At the time of the trial, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre received a deluge of contacts from members of the public asking what they could do to stand with Ms Hand and other survivors of sexual violence.

In response, we urged people to challenge negative attitudes to victims of sexual violence in their friend and family groups.

We asked them to be an ally for anyone who has experienced sexual violence.

We encouraged them to examine whether the brands they associate with or follow are consistent with their own values and are firmly opposed to violence against women.

We asked them to stand up, speak up and show up for survivors.

Mr Martin and the wider Government have stated in the Programme for Government that tackling the epidemic of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence will remain a major priority for Government.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has welcomed this and we believe that an important signal of the Governments commitment to this issue must be to take every opportunity to publicly stand in the survivors corner.

Each of us has an important role in calling out those who try to redeem the great guys. Leadership comes with the weight of responsibility to challenge what is wrong and stand up for what is right.

It is the belief in truth and justice that Ms Hand showed and why so many of us cheered her courage and bravery in November.

In the face of great intimidation and power, she stood up for herself, for whats right and whats true.

These are Irish qualities to be truly proud of.

In marking our national day, St Patricks Day, the president of the United States identified someone who has none of these qualities.

Survivors of sexual violence demonstrate those qualities time and time again and it is this community that needs to be celebrated, cherished and defended at every opportunity

Rachel Morrogh is chief executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. It offers support after sexual violence on its 24-hour National Rape Crisis Helpline 1800 77 8888
In this handout photo released by Russian Presidential Press Office, Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands prior to their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, March 20, 2023. (Russian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Russia's President Vladimir Putin reacts during a press conference following a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow, Russia, March 13, 2025. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/Pool

Vladimir Putin, pictured in Moscow this week, can veto Irish peacekeeping missions while the triple lock is in place. Photo: Reuters

I am a pacifist. I look on escalating militarisation in Europe with dismay. Hundreds of billions spent on weapons instead of infrastructure, housing, climate change transition or reducing poverty is a tragedy. From Ukraine to Gaza to savage conflicts in Africa that grab only seconds of our attention, one wonders if the arc of moral progress is a myth.

But war comes to our friends, and Ireland has no right to tell them on what terms they should make peace. A time may come soon when we are asked to help them keep that peace. If so, how should we respond, and in what manner do we make any such decision?

I wanted to state clearly my pacifism at the outset, because the minute some of us start talking about the triple lock, others lose the head. A discussion about international protocols results in two versions of ridiculous reaction and wild exaggeration.

The first claims that on removal of the triple lock, Ireland is one short step from joining Nato. It further claims that this is the true objective of people like me who favour ending the legal protocol.

No, I dont think we should join Nato, and no, Im not promoting a hidden militaristic agenda. Put the Nato red herring back in the box, please.

Irish soldiers with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) at Camp Shamrock. Photo: PA

The second reaction, usually following swiftly on the first, conjures up a picture of our sons being conscripted into a European army and marched off to war against their will. It is deliberately emotive and deeply stupid. Russian tanks are not about to show up in Rosslare. The world is changing fast, but that scenario still appears unlikely.

Conscription is a burden that those with Russian borders bear, so lets give thanks for our fortunate neighbourhood and get a grip.

With all those caveats, lets get to this famous triple lock.

It was only agreed in 2001 after the defeat of the Nice referendum. Opponents of the Treaty claimed it would force Ireland to join a European army. The treaty said no such thing, but to nail down the opposition, the other 14 EU member states (there are 27 EU members now) accepted an Irish declaration that our participation in any EU military operation would require three authorisations: the Security Council or the General Assembly of the UN, the Irish government and the Dail.

It was, to my mind, a superfluous political exercise, but it did the job and the second Nice referendum was passed.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian president Vladimir Putin. Photo: Getty

This means that despite what anyone tells you, we dont need a referendum to remove the triple lock. The government of Ireland simply declared it in 2001. The Government of today can un-declare it.

Lets take a look at our so-called neutrality. I say so-called because of course we are not an internationally recognised neutral country like Switzerland. We are non-aligned, which means we can take sides on a case-by-case basis.

We are siding with Ukraine, and given that we recognised the state of Palestine in the middle of the current conflict, that looks a lot like taking sides too. However, these are political positions, and Ireland holds back on putting our Defence Forces in the field unless its part of a peacekeeping exercise.

We have a long and proud history in this regard, hampered in recent decades by miserable investment in the Defence Forces, while the gardai who threatened to strike are swimming in overtime payments.

The good behaviour of the Army has been rewarded with penury.

Irish neutrality is not a permanent opt-out  its a means by which we and we alone decide to opt in

So what our neutrality really means is sovereignty. We want to decide from one conflict to the next how we should react, free from obligations to organisations like Nato, which requires members to defend one another.

Irish neutrality, therefore, is not a permanent opt-out  its a means by which we and we alone decide to opt in, depending on the circumstances. And thats OK.

I think most Irish people are happy enough to go along with that. Except now we come to the great paradox of the triple lock.

If the fundamental point about our freelancing neutrality is that we get to choose, then there is no possible way we can suffer the triple lock a day longer than necessary.

Thats because any one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council  the US, China, Russia, the UK and France  can veto any decision to mandate a UN peacekeeping mission.

Firefighters tackle a blaze in an apartment building after a Russian strike in Donetsk, Ukraine. Photo: AP

Why on earth would we allow our decisions to be vetoed by Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping?

If a ceasefire is negotiated in Ukraine, there may be a need for peacekeeping troops to be sent there.

Providing the Dail agreed to this, it would be despicable if Irelands sovereign decision was nullified by a warmongering, land-grabbing, child-stealing murderer like Putin.

The actions of China and Xi elsewhere in the world may not be as noticeable to us as Russias, but try telling that to the people of Taiwan.

The point is this: who gets to decide whether or not Ireland decides to take part in a peacekeeping mission? Our Government or Putin?

Removing the triple lock does not damage our neutrality. It takes our neutrality back from Putins grasp. Our sovereignty demands that the Irish people and no one else decides who and where our troops serve.

We cannot turn our backs on those who need peace. The triple lock must go.
The New York St Patrick's Day parade will again be in full flow this year. Photo: Getty

St Patricks Day parades have long been celebrated in the US. Canada has an equally strong tradition. Its 2016 census recorded 4.6 million Canadians with Irish ancestry  about 12pc of the population.

March is Irish Heritage month in Canada, as it is in the US. Two years ago, Canadas minister for diversity and inclusion encouraged all Canadians to participate in events taking place across the country and to learn more about the rich heritage and culture of the Irish community here in Canada.

The first Irish emigrant from Ireland to Canada (then known as New France) was recorded in 1661. Tadhg OBrennan was 29 when he left the oppressive colonial regime in Ireland via France. He married Jeanne Chartier in 1670 in Quebec. They had seven children.

Canadas oldest and biggest St Patricks Day parade is in Montreal, which was first held in 1824. Since 1929, the parade has been arranged by the United Irish Societies.

Toronto had a difficult history in terms of St Patricks Day parades. They were banned in 1878 because of recurring violence between the mainly Catholic participants and some Protestant protesters.

The parade returned to Toronto in 1988. There were occasional protests, but they seem to have settled down.

Vancouver city has Irish and Celtic festivities for St Patricks Day, as does Newfoundland and Labrador.

A Canadian commentator described St Patricks Day parades as a cultural phenomenon that are welcoming to people from all backgrounds.

Mary Sullivan, College Road, Cork

Taoiseach managed tricky White House assignment with the delicacy required

While I disagree with many of Micheal Martins policies, he must be commended for how he handled the White House visit. Engaging in petulant, kindergarten-style politics was never going to work.

Had he, as some commentators seemed to suggest, gone into the meeting with spurs clinking, ready for an OK Corral-style showdown, the Taoiseach would have been sent back across the Atlantic quicker than a cannonball from one of the howitzers at the front of the White House.

One must act based on the facts at hand, not on delusional notions of influence over foreign conflicts  notions that would amount to nothing more than national self-sabotage.

Seamus Hanratty, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan

Critics who believe Martin was weak fail to grasp how sour it could have turned

After 50 minutes in the Oval Office with US president Donald Trump, I think the Irish side will be happy enough with Taoiseach Micheal Martins performance. They will be satisfied that he held his nerve and remained calm.

But our Government will be fully aware that they have a mammoth amount of work ahead with Mr Trump in the White House.

I have listened to some commentators saying that the Taoiseach should have been more assertive.

Some felt that he shouldnt have been as happy and free-smiling as he was with Mr Trump.

Some critics believe that he did not push the Gaza and Ukraine issues enough. I would speculate that overall, the Irish delegation were happy and relieved that it didnt turn out like the fiasco we saw involving Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

John OBrien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary

Praise of US peacekeeping efforts flies in the face of sustained terror in Gaza

I may, at times sound, like a lone voice crying in the wilderness. When serious injustices are being perpetrated involving the killing tens of thousands of women and children in Palestine, our silence makes us complicit.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin is understandably being widely praised for his diplomatic performance in defending Irish economic interests in his meeting with US president Donald Trump in Washington.

Some news outlets have subsequently reported that Martin praised President Trump for his peacekeeping efforts in Gaza and Ukraine.

While all efforts to promote peace in Ukraine are very welcome, only time will tell how effective or genuine the US governments peace intentions are in relation to Ukraine.

The killing of Palestinians by Israeli forces in Gaza and the West Bank continued as the Taoiseach was praising Trump for his peacekeeping efforts in Gaza.

The Israeli government and its military forces are being actively supported by the US government.

This is happening through supply of weapons and munitions that are killing Palestinians.

Edward Horgan, Castletroy, Co Limerick

Free speech is not what some think it to be, but our choice of words is the key

Numerous letters remarking on free speech and how it is under attack are now the order of the day.

Is free speech simply what someone desires it to be? Or is it a mechanism that allows them to attack a credo or political belief that does not conform to their personal views?

Suppression of free speech is nothing new in the world, as those who study history know only too well.

One example is the 17th-century philosopher Baruch Spinoza, who had his writings suppressed by both Jewish and Catholic leaders.

He responded through nuanced language which his readers understood. Nuanced language has been a characteristic of many people whose free speech was denied by those wanting only their truth, as they perceived it, to be permitted.

Knowledge through learning will always break through suppression, as will respect for your neighbours way of life.

Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia

Even in times of despair, take a tea break and feel yourself calming down

I am proud to be Irish because we understand that there is no crisis so great, no heartbreak so deep and no ailment so dire that it cannot be improved by a cup of tea (Wit, kindness and storytelling: 18 celebrities on the things that make them proud to be Irish, Irish Independent, March 13).

Lost your job? Put the kettle on. Roof blown off? Sure, well sort it after a brew. Feeling too unwell to go to school or work? Ah now, get up and have a cup of tea  youll be grand.

While other nations turn to therapy, strategy or, God forbid, mindfulness, we know the answer has always been found at the bottom of a well-stewed mug. And if its really bad? Sure, well make it a strong one.

Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh
Last Wednesday, the US president was likely to be in foul form. Wall Street was in freefall and Europe had just announced tit-for-tat tariffs against the US. As bad luck would have it, the Taoiseach was the first European leader in the White House since US-European relations tanked.
Cllr Dan Boyle says sub-national links are more important given the changed international political situation

The Lord Mayor of Cork says he has few fears over jobs in the citys booming pharmaceutical sector, despite threats from US President Donald Trump over tariffs.

President Trump met Taoiseach Micheal Martin on Wednesday at the White House during the annual St Patricks Day visit, where he repeatedly took aim at Irelands low-tax policies, which has ensured a number of major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, Boston Scientific and Eli Lily continue to employ thousands in the manufacturing of medicinal products around Cork harbour.

We do have a massive deficit with Ireland, said Trump during the meeting at the Oval Office, because Ireland was very smart. They took our pharmaceutical companies away from presidents that didnt know what they were doing. Its too bad that that happened.

The Irish are smart, yes, smart people, Trump said. You took our pharmaceutical companies and other companies. This beautiful island of five million people has got the entire US pharmaceutical industry in its grasps.

The US President has been threatening a 25% tariff on EU products, with high tariffs already affecting steel manufacturers in Canada. During the meeting with the Taoiseach, Trump said that he would have applied a 200% tariff to combat Irelands low corporate tax rate, but its not clear what his plans are now to try and take the industry back.

Cork Mayor dismisses tariff concerns

However, the Lord Mayor of the city, Dan Boyle  who recently visited San Francisco as part of the councils overseas St Patricks Day programme  says he is not concerned about the Presidents threats.

It's hard to know. He has a particular belief in tariffs, but he, in his first few weeks, put them on and took them off, and there doesn't seem to be a particular strategic approach to using them. I think it's the threat of using them he sees as being a policy call.

But at the end of the day, the companies that have established here, and whoever we can attract in the future, they come for a number of reasons, one of which is access to the European market, and manufacturing in the United States, would, I think, remove that. They've already invested heavily here already, so to try to attract people back to America and incur additional costs, I think they're going to think long and hard having those options put in front of them.

So I think since we were getting the companies who are here and those who have invested is they're very happy with the investment they've made, they're very happy with the quality of the workforce, they're very happy to be able to access the European market, and those things will still stay in their favour I believe.

Building relationships in Silicon Valley

The Lord Mayors recent trip to San Francisco was more focused on the tech sector  from a business point of view  with the city hosting the European headquarters of many of Silicon Valleys big players. Boyle says it was a worthwhile trip, and a relationship thats worth continued investment.

We have a fairly intense itinerary, and I think we ticked a lot of the right boxes. There was a mixture of meeting with the San Francisco authorities, meeting with their police department, and we also had contact with the Irish community, but I found most useful was the commercial side.

We visited NetApp, who have established a presence here in Cork, in the Docklands, and employ around 100 people and hope to employ 400. As well as an amazing visit to the Apple headquarters in Cupertino, 14,000 people working in this amazing building.

I felt that we benefited. We a good team with us in terms of the Universities, the Gardai, the Cork Chamber, so we were we're trying to hit as many targets as possible in terms of maximizing the relationship we have with San Francisco.

Boyle says the mood music among American multinationals is that they still want to do business in Cork, and that regardless of the Presidents remarks, the city can still count on employment from abroad

We're kind of gratified here that it's relatively solid, he said about the business relationship between the two cities.

NETApp are a recent investor in Cork, and they outlined what attracted them, what they like about the place, what they like to see happen, and how the relationship might develop, so that was all very encouraging.

Apple has a long-standing relationship - it's 45 years old now - and I suppose a sub-theme we were investigating was that we want to make sure that the investment is ongoing, particularly in the light of the changed international political situation.

We were reassured that very much is the case, that there is a stronger benefit - particularly now - to have this sub-national relationship between cities and regions, rather than depending on a nation-to-nation contact. And I'd be very much in favour of that.
The rapper plus his Kabin Crew will be Grand Marshalls at Cork's St Patricks Day Parade

Members of the Kabin Studio have been announced as the Grand Marshal of the Cork St. Patricks Day Parade which will take place at 1pm on Monday March 17. Picture by Clare Keogh

Garry McCarthy says, after more than 20 years producing local rap, it will be such an honour to act as Grand Marshall at this years Cork St Patricks Day Parade.

The rapper and producer, whose hit Not Tonight (The Bouncer Song) was in the charts over 20 years ago, has since gone on to viral success, with The Kabin Crews song The Spark igniting across social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Its seen the group perform at a number of festivals, both at home and abroad, win an RTE Music Choice Award for best song, and this Sunday lead the citys parade in front of tens of thousands of people.

What an honour it is for all of us and the kids and their families; the community, the tutors, everyone who's involved in the cabin, behind the scenes, just to get the opportunity to lead the parade, said Garry, who founded the Kabin from a repurposed metal container in Knocknaheeny on the citys northside in 2012.

It's just on top of all the other amazing, positive news stories that are coming out of The Kabin and coming out of Knocknaheeny. We had the Civic reception with the Lord Mayor there a couple of weeks ago. There's just loads of amazing positive, positive things happening. And we're super grateful because for years we've been doing this work, and we know how important the work is.

People might have originally thought that's the place where they just teach kids how to rap, but it's a lot more than that, you know? You really get to know the young people and get to know what it is they need for creative supports and how important creativity and expression and music, songwriting, rap performance is.

It's building friendships, it's building communities, it's building identity, and hopefully building more pride in where they're from. And just to show that Knocknaheeny is full of amazing, talented, funny, legends and characters, and that's kind of what we're all about, just amplifying that.

The selection is the latest in a whirlwind for the kids, who originally dreamed up the song to be professionally videoed as part of last years Cruinniu na nOg, but from there went viral, being used as the background music in hundreds of thousands of social videos, amassing billions of hits.

I spotted a clip of the kids performing in May 2024, and then watching a clip of them performing at one of the festivals in like August or September 2024 and just the growth and the development and their confidence on stage within that time is just incredible, said Garry, who himself is a native of Carrignavar.

Their level of maturity as well and responsibility, they are like, and I say it always, they are legends. And they're turning into real mature, respectful, friendly legends in the process. They're the people who are going to be taking over the cabin when I'm retiring, they're the future tutors, they're the future leaders of the city.

We will continue to be doing workshops for the kids in the community, and whether you are involved in a song that has a billion views, or you're involved in a song that has 10 views on SoundCloud, you are no better or worse than the other kids. If a kid is performing for the first time in Hollyhill Library across the road, or they're performing on stage at Pukkelpop in Belgium, like they're all equally big moments for that child.

The success of The Spark is the latest in a revival of hip-pop in Ireland, accelerated by the new Black Irish movement which includes artists like Denise Chaila. However, when Garry started under his name GMC, the public were less receptive to the idea of Irish people recording rap music.

Its 20 years ago when I released Not Tonight (which peaked at 12th in the Irish charts, a stand-out record for Irish rap music at the time). Thank God there was no social media back then because, like, I would have been very focused on the negative comments as opposed to the positive comments.

I remember seeing comments on forums be like, oh, I hate the Cork accent or Why is he sounding like a bogger? or, you know, Irish people shouldn't rap and, oh man, it used to kind of knock me back a lot.

We're all used to hearing the American accents, the English accents, with the media that we consume, but I think people want to hear something different, you know? They want to hear different accents and local accents.

There's still a little bit of the people kind of putting on fake accents when they're rapping. But you can, you can smell it a mile off that its not really authentic. I think people appreciate authentic stuff because there's a lot of fake stuff online. There's a lot of like, people being, I don't know, just focused on material things, and there's just a lot of fake things on Instagram and Tiktok.

I think that's why The Spark took off, because it was just the kids at their ultimate feckin performance abilities, being their natural selves, their amplified natural selves, with their own Cork accents, you know? It just goes to show that - I remember people saying before The Irish accent, or the Cork accent, you can't really do it, or you can't really have it on an international scale, and it just proved it wrong!

For McCarthy, despite his background in IT, he was never going to do anything other than produce music, and despite all of the recent success, The Kabin wont be changing its core function, as a community hub that helps disadvantaged people.

It's not everywhere you have a space that's completely dedicated to rap and songwriting and making songs. And it's kind of like halfway between the studio, halfway between a youth project, without kind of fully being either. I think it's unique.

And it's in a part of the city that I think needs youth voices to be amplified, hopefully we get to do it for many years to come.
Irish News

Is it time for Ireland to copy other visitor hotspots with a tourist tax?

Hoteliers hate them. Governments, particularly local governments, love them. Do tourists mind or do they even notice? The names, the rates and the faces might change, but the debate on tourism and visitor taxes follows a similar pattern worldwide.
Kerry rose Emer Dineen showcasing her outfit for St Patrick's day in New York designed and created by Deirdre Burke of deBurca Designs and Alternations in Beaufort.

This years Kerry rose Emer Dineen will look more than glamorous as she parades down 5th Avenue for St Patricks Day festivities in New York and it is all thanks to Deirdre Burke from Beaufort whose talents created a stylish and unique outfit for the celebrations.
Disability Minister Norma Foley says the programme should be replicated across the country

At the official launch of the SKDP/HSE School Leaver Programme Rachel Evans, Killian Sugrue(Programme Participant)Gene Evans (Host Farmer, Minister Norma Foley TD(Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth) and Catherine Evans. Photo by Michael G Kenny.

Gathering of participants, stakeholders,families and local representatives taking part in the School Leaver Programme led by South Kerry Development Partnership in conjunction with HSE.Photography by Michael G Kenny

Minister Norma Foley(Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth) pictured with three participants of The SKDP/HSE School Leaver Programme at its official launch on the farm of Gene Evans Dromavalla Killorglin on Friday morning.Cormac Daly,Pa Moriarty,Minister Norma Foley,Killian Sugrue.

Programme participant Killian Sugrue making a special presentation to John and Tim Mulvihill of The Red Fox on Friday at the launch of The SKDP/HSE School Leaver Programme.

Attending the official launch of School Leaver Programme by The SKDP in conjunction with The HSE at the farm of Gene Evans Dromavalla Killorglin on Friday morning Lucy Heenihan Tech Amergin Waterville,Ashling McKenna School Leaver Programme Facilitator.

Evelyn O'Connell (Kerry Social Farming)Killian Sugrue,Catriona Flynn,Tim Flynn at the official launch of The SKDP/HSE School Leaver Programme on Friday morning at the farm of Gene Evans Dromavalla Killorglin.

Deputy Michael Cahill TD, Elaina Golden, Joe McCrohan(SKDP) and Cllr Tommy Cahill, Cathaoirleach of the Kenmare MD at the launch of the SKPD/HSE School Leaver Programme. Photo by Michael G Kenny.

Angela O'Neill National Disability Specialist with the HSE Community Operations Team speaking at the official launch of the SKDP/HSE School Leaver Programme at The Red Fox in Glenbeigh on Friday. Photo by Michael G Kenny.

Attending the official launch of SKDP/HSE School Leaver Programme at the farm of Gene Evans Dromavalla Killorglin on Friday morning Toddy Doyle Muckross Traditional Farms and John Lynch Kerry Social Farming. Photo by Michael G Kenny.

At the official launch of the School Leaver Programme by SKDP in conjunction with the HSE at the farm of Gene Evans Dromavalla Killorglin on Friday morning Julie Brosnan and Lisa Murphy from South Kerry Development Partnership. Photo by Michael G Kenny.

At the official launch of SKDP School Leaver Programme at the farm of Gene Evans Dromavalla Killorglin on Friday morning L-R: Killian Sugrue,Pa Moriarty,Mattie Murphy,Joan O'Sullivan,Breeda O'Sullivan and Breeda O'Sullivan. Photo by Sinead Kelleher

Minister Norma Foley TD pictured with the Evans family at the official launch of the SKDP/HSE School Leaver Programme on their farm on Friday morning left to right: Rachel Evans,Gene Evans, Minister Norma Foley, and Catherine Evans. Photo by Michael G Kenny.

Minister Norma Foley Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth speaking at the official launch of the SKDP/HSE School Leaver Programme at The Red Fox Glenbeigh on Friday. Photo by Michael G Kenny.

The Mulvihill family welcoming guests at the official launch of The SKDP/HSE School Leaver Programme at The Red Fox Bog Village Glenbeigh L-R:John and Olive Mulvihill, Minister Norma Foley,Cllr Tommy Cahill MCC Cathaoirleach of the Kenmare MD, Tim Mulvihill and Deputy Michael Cahill TD. Photo by Michael G Kenny.

Such has been the success of the Kerry Social Farming initiative that it has transformed the lives of those with disabilities.

And now South Kerry Development Partnership (SKDP) are going one with step further with the launch and development of their School Leavers programme.

This unique project has created a programme to provide employment and education for those with disabilities after they leave school.

The Kerry Social Farming Project Kerry offers a sustainable long term social farming opportunities to people with physical, intellectual disabilities and/or people with autism throughout Kerry for all ages while the new programme focuses those with the same disabilities just leaving school and looking to work in any area, not just farming, and create a future for themselves in their community.

It is far more than just a token job for a young person with a disability but an educational and long-term project to help them develop the skills they need.

While the school leavers programme is its infancy it is already has achieved a lot and Minister Norma Foley said this week that it should be replicated across Ireland.

The new disability Minister was on hand to launch the SKDP/HSE school leaver programme on Friday last at the Farm of Gene and Catherine Evans, Killorglin and at the Red Fox Glenbeigh.

"It endeavours to promote, facilitate and support social inclusion, education needs and well-being of school leavers who are interested in working in farming, in community projects and with local employers, explained Joe McCrohan of SKDP.

It offers full-time support services for young people who are referred through HSE Disability Team of Ashling Howard, Mary Keane and Patrice O Neill.

The programme provides one-to-one mentoring provided by professional staff to help each school leaver achieve their personal goals as well as work experience on host farms, local businesses and community projects.

It also provides education and training courses, skills development and well-being and group sessions with other school leavers, including social gatherings such as open days and farm walks, attending social gathering and sporting events.

Joe says they are now urging families and school leavers to come on board and sign up for this initiative which is hoped will replicate what has been achieved with Kerry Social Farming.

"When children leave school it can be a traumatic time for parents but imagine when they is no clear place for them to go, said Joe.

This new programme provides that path and helps them to build a future for themselves.
Its a luxury that perhaps people in Wexford take for granted. With a proliferation of award-winning amateur drama groups its expected that the annual Wexford Drama Festival will be a predominately homegrown affair. But, as chairperson Rachel Hickey explains, this is not the case in the rest of the country.

We have eight groups performing this year, seven are from Wexford and one is from Tinahely which is just over the border and has members living in Co Wexford, says Rachel. Theres no festival in the country which can say their whole line-up is made up of groups from within their own county, this only happens in Wexford. Were in a very unique position, not just for the Drama Festival but the whole theatre scene  Wexford is a really special place for drama.

Running from March 21-28 in the Jerome Hynes Theatre in the National Opera House, this years event sees groups from Blackwater, Enniscorthy, Kilrush, Kilmuckridge, Ballycogley, Castlebridge, and Wexford town participate in what is the 61st iteration. While some of those performing have already tasted success on the festival circuit and have ambitions of reaching the All-Ireland finals, Rachel says the feedback provided to all groups will enhance their future performances whether they take home awards or not.

Paddy Farrelly is the adjudicator this year and Im really excited we have him, she says. He was previously a festival director in Co Cavan, hes always been on stage; been a director, involved in lighting, hes seen it from every single angle. Hes going to be exceptional, groups will like him, hes very fair and will have a lot to add; if theres small issues on stage he will have solutions. Some adjudicators can give you a solution at the start of a circuit which can make all the difference.

A non-profit organisation consisting of a voluntary board, the Wexford Drama Festival wouldnt exist without the support of its sponsors says Rachel.

Having sponsors like the Riverbank and Lamberts allows us to keep the ticket price quite low. We dont receive any formal funding even though the amateur drama movement is the second-largest volunteer movement in the country, second only to the GAA  we can apply for grants and funding, and we may or may not get them. We get what were given if were given anything, so we really rely on our sponsors. There wouldnt be a festival without them.

Rachel Hickey presenting the Best Director Open Section award to Pat Whelan of Ballycogley Players at last year's Wexford Drama Festival.

Although the festival has settled in nicely at the Jerome Hynes Theatre and the committee is full of praise for staff at the National Opera House, both Rachel and fellow committee member Mairead Sinnott say there is pressing need for a new venue in Wexford town, one capable of hosting a variety of events.

A 300-400 seater is badly needed in this town, Rachel says. Im like a broken record but Im obviously not saying it to the right audience because anyone in theatre or the arts knows this, they feel it, they want it, there is an appetite for it. We have shows that are sold out where we could have sold twice as many tickets. Capacity for the Drama Festival is 170 and some of the groups are putting on extra nights because they have sold out with us.

We would have sold 300-400 for Bridge Drama and The Ballycogley Players, adds Mairead. We have people ringing us who are very irate because they didnt get a patrons ticket, some nights are sold out so they cant get them. Were a victim of our own success, weve moved from the Dun Mhuire which could take multiples of what we could do in the Jerome Hynes, so we do have a lot of disappointed people."

Willing to discuss this issue with anyone wholl listen, Rachel says any new venue could be utilised in a number of ways.

A venue can be more than thing, weve seen venues which can cater for lectures, business meetings, and music, theatre. So a multi-purpose venue is the solution. Its not like we dont have the space. Id love to know who the right person is to ask (about this), because Im not afraid to ask.

Some shows for this years festival have already sold out but tickets do remain for others, and Mairead is urging anyone whos never been to the theatre before to avail of the accessible prices on offer.

Come along to one or two nights, you might just get hooked, you might want to get involved with the committee or a drama group next year; she says. There are a lot of people who transit through Wexford and itd be nice to see new people getting involved, its a great way to meet people.
Members of the Arklow and South Leinster Manchester United Supporters Club celebrate their 30th anniversary at Old Trafford.

Members of the Arklow and South Leinster Manchester United Supporters Club celebrate their 30th anniversary at Old Trafford with Denis Irwin.

The Arklow and South Leinster Manchester United Supporters Club celebrated its 30th anniversary in style when they embarked on a memorable trip to Old Trafford, where they mingled with club legends and received a presentation from Irelands Denis Irwin.

A 52-strong contingent from the Arklow-based club made the trip to Manchester to take in the Red Devils home tie against Arsenal, but not before attending a monthly function for fans known as The Warm Up.

Supporters of all ages met former United players like David May and Wes Brown, posed for photographs with FA Cup trophies and were invited out onto the hallowed Old Trafford pitch to meet Cork man Irwin, who presented the club with a commemorative jersey signed by the current squad.

The once-in-a-lifetime experience added to the legacy of the historic club, which boasts around 350 members from across Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford, who meet for regular game screenings at The Old House in Arklow and Shay Doyles in Rathnew.

Still on cloud nine after the stellar weekend, club co-founder James Cullen said it was the perfect way to celebrate their birthday and will live long in the memory of club members, both young and old.

The trip was something Manchester United do for official supporters clubs to mark big anniversaries, where they invite you over for a pre-match function to meet former players and receive a presentation, he said.

We got to meet David May and Wes Brown and had plenty of time to take photos with trophies. Then we met Denis Irwin out on the pitch, where he presented us with a commemorative, framed jersey that was signed by the whole team  which was a fantastic experience, especially for the younger members.

After all that, we still had the match against Arsenal to look forward to, which was a decent game with some good goals, and we were happy enough with the 1-1 result.

It was a great way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the club, which was established by Tony Dunne, Brendan Earls, Shane Heeney, Ciaran Furlong, the late Tommy Doyle and myself, he added.

There were 52 members on the trip, but we have around 350 members in total, ranging in ages from 5 up to 105!

Wed have a fair few members in the club from the start, who have been to European Cup finals and Champions League finals, then we have the new breed, including my own two kids.

I suppose, over those 30 years, weve seen the highs and lows with United, the good times and the bad. But, as they say, well always keep that red flag flying.

Membership for The Arklow and South Leinster Manchester United Supporters Club opens on April 4. Contact James Cullen at 086 2327859 or Seamus Doyle at 0862022461 or any existing member to express your interest.
One of Lorraine Whelans works exhibited at the exhibition. She has been based in Bray since 1988.

An Irish-Canadian visual artist based in Bray is holding an exhibition at Pearse Museum, St Endas Park, Rathfarnham, which runs until June 22.

Lorraine Whelan works in a variety of media, including painting and drawing, ceramics, bookbinding and printmaking. Her prose, poetry, and art criticism has appeared in Ireland, Canada, USA, Luxembourg and online.

Since her first solo show at Temple Bar Gallery and Studios in Dublin in 1989, she has shown her work throughout Ireland, in France, China, and the UK. Her artwork is included in public, private and corporate collections in Ireland and internationally, and was supported by an Arts Council Agility Award in 2022.

In addition to a painting purchased last century, the OPW bought a self-portrait for the State Art Collection in 2022.

She has been living in Bray since 1988.

Lorraine explained: My parents were Bray residents till they were part of the emigrant drain in the late 50s, when they settled in Toronto with their six young children.

They had a further four children in Canada, of which I am one. My parents always wanted to return home, which they did in the early 80s after they both retired.

A few years later I followed, and have now been a resident for many years.

For the most part, I have built my art career in Ireland, looking abroad when the opportunity arises, in the same way that other Irish artists do. I am well settled here in Bray with a husband and adult child.

This exhibition at Pearse Museum is an archive of memory. Both Whelans personal life and the museums exploration of the life of Patrick Pearse often deal with children, the relationships between children and adults, and the relationships between people, places, and things. The specifics of identity and memory are of interest to everyone. Lorraines work is universal in its approach to memory, moments, time and loss.

Her works featured in the exhibition are based on drawings created from snapshots of people, places, and moments that are no longer in Lorraines life.

This absence can be due to death or distance but this work is not exclusive to lost people: it includes other things or concepts  such as lost homes, lost youth or a lost country.
Irish company specialised in creating animated films from classic books, including Ben Hur, The Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist

It is a basic human urge, something that people have aspired to since we first daubed the walls of our cave home with simple graphics. The desire to draw, to take a pencil or a stick of charcoal and produce the likeness of a face, or of a cat, or of a flower, is built into our psyche. Yet could it be that we are losing touch with our artistic impulses as the citizens of the 21st century can summon up computer programmes and telephone apps to make our pictures for us?

Not if Nicola Sedgwick has her way! The Kilcoole resident has taken it upon herself to teach anyone who wants to learn how to turn pencil and paper into a creative playground that has no need of mere words. She teaches drawing in her home village. She teaches drawing in Dublin. And anyone who cannot catch up with her in person may avail of her book You Too Can Draw  a 184-page production which is sub-titled a guide to achieving a lifelong skill. Now into her sixties, Nicola has been drawing for decades. She remains as enthusiastic as ever about an interest that gifted her a career as well as a hobby.
Relatives hold pictures of drug war and extrajudicial killing victims as watch the initial appearance of Rodrigo Duterte at the ICC. Photo: Reuters

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte was abducted before being taken to The Hague to face murder allegations and is too ill to give evidence, his lawyer told International Criminal Court judges at his initial appearance yesterday.

Mr Duterte  who arrived in the Netherlands on a flight from Manila on Wednesday after being arrested on an ICC warrant on charges of crimes against humanity  sounded frail as he spoke via video link from a detention unit, confirming his name and date of birth for the court.
Hamas said it had agreed to free an American-Israeli dual national if Israel begins the next phase of ceasefire talks towards a permanent end to the war, an offer Israel dismissed as psychological warfare.

Hamas said it had made the offer to release New Jersey native Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old soldier in the Israeli army, after receiving a proposal from mediators for negotiations on the second phase of a ceasefire deal, which has halted major fighting since January 19 but has been in limbo for two weeks.
Pope Francis approved a new three-year process to consider reforms for the global Catholic Church, the Vatican said on Saturday, in a sign the 88-year-old pontiff plans to continue on as pope despite his ongoing battle with double pneumonia.

Francis has extended the work of the Synod of Bishops, a signature initiative of his 12-year papacy, which has discussed reforms such as the possibility of women serving as Catholic deacons and better inclusion of LGBTQ people in the Church. The synod, which held an inconclusive Vatican summit of bishops on the future of the Church last October, will now hold consultations with Catholics across the world for the next three years, before hosting a new summit in 2028.
Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community!

Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region.
K-drama actor Kim Soo-hyun has been at the center of controversy after initially denying, then later admitting to dating the late actress Kim Sae-ron. In an official statement via GOLD MEDALIST, the actor confirmed their relationship but maintained that it lasted from the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020when both were consenting adults.

However, according to Kim Sae-ron's bereaved family, who, through the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, presented conflicting claims. They stated that the relationship began much earlier, in November 2015, when she was just 15. With such discrepancies in the timeline and no one to clarify these claims, legal experts were asked if Kim Soo-hyun could face legal repercussions.

Could Kim Soo-hyun face legal action?

Despite public calls for legal action, attorney Lee Go-eun said, "The fact that they were in a relationship alone would not be sufficient for prosecution," according to YTN Korean news channel.

While Kim Sae-ron reportedly claimed in an unreleased statement that she and Kim Soo-hyun began dating on November 19, 2015, South Korean law at the time did not classify a 15-year-old as a "minor" in cases of consensual relationships, making legal action uncertain.

Understanding South Korean law on minors and consent

The attorney added, "Before the 2020 revision, the law only applied to minors under the age of 13. This means that in 2015, when Kim Sae-ron was 15-years old, the previous law was still in effect. Because the previous laws only applied to minors under the age of 13, the fact that they were simply in a relationship at the time would not be sufficient grounds for legal punishment."

According to the attorney, "Because she was 15 at the time, in order to legally punish Kim Soo-hyun for a sexual offense involving a minor, there must be proof of sexual contact or relations. Given what information has been revealed so far, it seems difficult to press criminal charges against him for a sexual offense involving a minor."

She concluded saying, "Therefore, it would be difficult to establish criminal liability under the current legal framework unless there is concrete evidence of sexual acts. Simply being in a relationship with a minor is not enough to bring charges against Kim Soo-hyun under the old law".

Conflicting claims on the relationship timeline

While Kim Sae-ron's alleged family members claim the relationship began in November 2015 and lasted until July 2021, Kim Soo-hyun's side insists they dated between summer 2019 and autumn 2020, after she had reached legal adulthood. As the debate unfolds, the public awaits further clarification and potential legal action.

Amid the controversy, Kim Soo-hyun, who was the face of 19 brands, is now losing endorsements one by one as companies distance themselves from the scandal.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Holi 2026 date & timing: Holi, also known as the festival of colours, is a major Indian festival celebrated with great joy every year. It marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil, along with celebrating love and unity. As per the Hindu calendar, Holi in 2026 will take place on Wednesday, March 4 2026, while Holika Dahan will be observed on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. People across India celebrate this festival with a lot of excitement and happiness.

Holi 2026 Date & Importance

Holi is a two-day festival that symbolises the victory of good over evil. It also marks the arrival of spring and the end of winter, bringing in a season of fresh harvest. The celebrations start on the evening of Purnima (full moon night) in the Hindu month of Phalguna.

In 2026, Holi will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 4. This festival is known by different names in various parts of India, such as Dol Purnima, Rangwali Holi, Dhulandi, Dhuleti, Manjal Kuli, Yaosang, Ukuli, Jajiri, Shigmo, and Phagwah.

Holika Dahan 2026 Date and Time

Credit: Freepik

In 2026, Holika Dahan will be performed on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. The best time for the ritual (Muhurat) will be from 6:22 PM to 8:50 PM. The main day of Rangwali Holi will be on March 4 2026.

Holika Dahan 2026: Rituals and Significance

Holika Dahan is an important part of Holi celebrations. People prepare a bonfire using wooden logs and wrap it with a sacred white or red thread (Mauli) three or seven times. The bonfire is then worshipped with holy water, Kumkum (red powder), and flowers before being set on fire.

This tradition is linked to the story of Prahlad, a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu, who was saved from his cruel father Hiranyakashyap and his aunt Holika. Holika had a special power that made her immune to fire, but when she tried to trick Prahlad into sitting with her in flames, she was burned while he remained unharmed. This victory of good over evil is celebrated as Holika Dahan.

Many people believe that performing Holika Puja brings prosperity, happiness, and the strength to overcome fears.

Holi 2026: History and significance

Holi is one of Indias most joyful festivals, often called the "Festival of Love" or the "Festival of Colours." It brings people together, allowing them to forget past conflicts and enjoy life.

The festival has deep roots in Hindu mythology, especially the legend of Prahlad and Holika. It reminds people that truth and goodness always triumph over evil. The first day of Holi, Holika Dahan, symbolises this victory, while the second day is all about fun, colours, and togetherness.

(Note: Dates/timings may be subject to change; details mentioned here are as per the information available.)

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
Bollywood debut gone wrong or a classic case of starry tantrums? Just days after his much-anticipated Netflix debut in Nadaaniyan, Ibrahim Ali Khan has found himself neck-deep in a spicy controversy. The actor allegedly lashed out at Pakistani film critic Tamur Iqbal via Instagram DMs, and the internet, as expected, is losing it.

Ibrahim Ali Khans alleged DM to Tamur, a film critic from Pakistan

Tamur Iqbal, known for his unfiltered, no-nonsense reviews, recently took to Instagram to share a screenshot of what he claims is a DM from Ibrahim. In the supposed message, Ibrahim didn't hold back  throwing jabs at Tamur's appearance, calling him a "walking piece of sc*m" and warning him to watch his words. Ouch!

All started after Tamur reviewed Ibrahim Ali Khans debut film Nadaaniyan

Tamur's initial review of Nadaaniyan seems to have struck a nerve. While the exact words of the critique remain a mystery, Tamurs response to Ibrahims alleged DM reveals that he may have taken a swipe at Ibrahim's appearance, possibly a nose job comment that has since been edited out. If this isn't messier than a Bigg Boss fight, what is?

The message attributed to Ibrahim read, Tamur almost like Taimoor you got my brothers name. Guess what you dont got? His face. You ugly piece of trash... If I see you on the streets one day, Ill make sure I leave you uglier than you are  you walking piece of sc*m." Dramatic much?

In response, Tamur appeared unfazed, responding with a mix of humour and self-reflection. He admitted his nose job comment was in bad taste but maintained his critique of Ibrahims performance. While some called it a savage clapback, others thought Tamur was baiting the actor for clout.

Tamurs revelations about Ibrahim Ali Khan

Tamur soon revealed that Ibrahim had blocked him on Instagram, further fueling the chaos. Reddit is buzzing with debates  some feel Tamur's approach was a desperate attempt for 2 minutes of fame, while others believe Ibrahims fiery reaction was an overreaction. A Redditor commented, "If hes this thin-skinned, Bollywood might not be for him!"

Credit: Instagram

Meanwhile, Nadaaniyan, which follows a privileged South Delhi girl hiring a fake boyfriend to get back at her family and classmates, isn't exactly winning hearts. Released on March 7, 2025, the film faced brutal criticism on social media, with memes and sarcastic reels overshadowing any genuine appreciation. Looks like Ibrahim's debut might be remembered for this DM drama more than anything else.

Can Ibrahim Ali Khan handle the heat?

The big question  Is Ibrahim Ali Khan ready for the brutal scrutiny that comes with Bollywood fame, or will he be remembered for clapping back harder than he acted in Nadaaniyan? The jury is still out, but one things for sure  the internet is watching every move he makes.
Moodys has upgraded Greeces credit rating to investment grade, marking the end of the countrys financial crisis era.

The agency raised Greeces long-term credit rating to Baa3 from Ba1, with a stable outlook.

Moodys was the last major rating agency recognized by the European Central

Bank to grant Greece investment-grade status

Moodys cited Greeces improved fiscal resilience, stating, Public finances have improved faster than anticipated.

The agency noted a stable political environment, institutional advancements and prudent fiscal policy.

Greeces debt has fallen nearly 50 percentage points since 2020, reaching 156.1% of GDP by the end of 2024. Moodys projects further reductions.

Key factors behind the upgrade include public finance reforms, digital tax administration, targeted tax reductions, consistent primary surpluses and effective use of EU recovery funds.

Outgoing Minister of National Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis called the rating a historic moment.

The last five and a half years were not easy, Mr. Hatzidakis said. This is not just a success for the government but for all Greeks.

Mr. Hatzidakis emphasized the upgrade signals Greeces return to European economic normalcy.

Greeces recent 3 billion bond issuance attracted record-high bids, underscoring investor confidence.

Moodys cautioned Greece still faces long-term challenges, including completing institutional and structural reforms.

   iefimerida.gr
Supporters of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio have berated Kogi lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over the ongoing crisis rocking the Red chamber.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the demonstrators were spotted at the entrance of United Nations office in Abuja on Friday.

They displayed several banners that read; We believe in actual victims of sexual harassment, not people who weaponise it and The burden of proof lies with the accuser.

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The protesters challenged Senator Natasha to provide evidence of the alleged sexual harassment she accused Akpabio of.

READ MORE: Natasha: Senate Passes Vote Of Confidence In Akpabios Leadership

Speaking on behalf the protesters at the UN in Abuja, the leader of the protesters, Irene Umoh, explained that the womens group decided to petition the UN on Friday following the manner in which Akpoti-Uduaghan has been trying to play the victim on the international stage.

She said: This is not the first time Senator Natasha has made serious allegations against a prominent figure. Such actions risk becoming a weapon she wields against men in power, undermining the core principles of our fight against sexual violence.

As mothers and members of the Women for Change Vanguard, we are acutely aware of the implications of false accusations. Such claims not only harm the accused but also diminish the experiences of genuine survivors.

We call on Senator Natasha to provide concrete evidence of her claims against Senator Godswill Akpabio. Should credible evidence be presented, we will stand firm in our commitment to ensuring that justice is served.
President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians over his commitment in tackling insecurity challenges facing the country.

Tinubu debunked viral report claiming that insecurity is only targeted against Christians, saying that he will never address the situation with bigotry approach.

The President led this out when he received Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the State House in Abuja on Friday.

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He said: This insecurity, everyone is affected, Christians, Muslims alike. I have no religious bias; I wont be a bigot. My wife is a pastor of Redeemed Christian Church.

But we have to think of our country; this country must develop and must stand beyond religious bigotry.

And Im here open to you, ready to listen. Weve been together for some time. We have an open-door policy. I will not shut my door.

READ MORE: Minister Hails Tinubus Reforms, Urges Nigerians To Be Patient

Tinubu also assured Nigerians of hope, reiterating his commitment to running a government that listens to the needs of Nigerians.

He added: Yes, removing the fuel subsidy was hard, tough for me, but its a hard choice that Nigeria must face. We are not going to bankrupt our country.

There is hope; people are coming in to invest. They are saying good things about Nigeria.

I am very proud of that. What seems to be a very difficult beginning is now showing us hope. And we are not half-time yet. Im happy to see this period alive and healthy, and I am thankful to all of you for your prayers.
Nasir El-Rufai, the former Kaduna State Governor, has denied betraying Atiku Abubakar, the ex-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party

El-Rufai, who recently joined the Social Democratic Party, urged opposition leaders, including Atiku, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, to join the SDP.

He expressed disappointment with the current administration, citing unfulfilled expectations, particularly in replicating the successes seen in Lagos.

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In an interview with BBC on Saturday, El-Rufai clarified that he didnt betray Atiku, stating that they didnt meet in politics, but rather at work, and he would speak out if he saw something wasnt done well.

What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence in has failed to deliver, despite our high expectations. We believed in President Tinubus ability to lead the country, given his impressive track record in Lagos, where he overcame numerous challenges to achieve success. Unfortunately, his government has not lived up to our hopes.

We all know about his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his work in Lagos for Nigeria, lets support him. However, he failed.

Addressing allegations of betrayal, El-Rufai stated, I never betrayed Atiku Abubakar because we didnt meet in politics; we met at work. At work, if I see that he didnt do well, whoever he is, I will tell him. I told Buhari, and I even took Buhari to court on the new naira issue.

He recalled the political feud between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku, stating that those who worked with Obasanjo at the time believed he was right.

It was not about north and south; Obasanjo was right. Atiku and I are now together, and if I betrayed him, why are we together now?

El-Rufai concluded by reaffirming his call for unity among opposition figures, saying, What I want and pray for is for all opposition leaders Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola to join the SDP.
Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Afe Babalola has called on women to ensure they fight for their rightful positions in politics.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti during commemoration of the 2025 International Womens Day on Thursday, the legal luminary decried over long discrimination against women in key leadership positions.

Mr. Babalola said that some beliefs and known ways of life have eroded the need to ensure that women are at par with their male counterparts in politics and places of authority.

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He also added that in his capacity as the founder of ABUAD, he tries his best to make sure that women are appointed to important positions.

Babalola said: It is such that at a time, it once occurred to me that I should change the university to girls only.

READ MORE: Afe Babalola Urges FG To Halt Japa Trend With Salary Increase For Doctors, Nurses

As a matter of fact, as I speak, I made sure the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar, the Librarian, among several others, are all women.

And the good news is that they are all performing very well.

He also noted that there is a need to draft a constitution that would guarantee equity, fairness and justice to all Nigerians, irrespective of sex or religion.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has made a startling allegation against the Nigerian government, claiming a plot to persecute opposition figures, particularly targeting Nasir El-Rufai.

According to the SDP, the ruling party intends to restrict El-Rufais movement, preventing him from leaving Nigeria.

This move, the SDP believes, aims to instill fear in opposition members and curb further defections. The SDPs accusation highlights the escalating tensions between the ruling party and other opposition forces

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In a statement by The National Publicity Secretary on Friday, Ambassador Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP claimed that the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government has concluded plans to file criminal charges against former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

The statement further alleged a plot by the ruling party to restrict El-Rufai from leaving Nigeria, stating that the move was intended to instill fear in the opposition and prevent further defections.

Part of the statement reads: The SDP has received reliable information that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is concerned about the momentum of our party.

In response, the APC has leveraged its governmental control to fabricate criminal charges against our members.

Our sources revealed that the persecution will commence with one of our prominent leaders, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

The government is planning to file multiple charges against him in Abuja and Kaduna imminently.

In preparation for this, we have also learned that the federal government has instructed its agencies to prevent Mallam Nasir El-Rufai from leaving the country.
A youth coalition within Social Democratic Party has rejected the arrival of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai over what its described as anti-democratic behavior.

The group also said that El-Rufais history is littered with disregard for inclusivity, saying that he has only come to hijack the party for personal gain.

Recall that the former governor of Kaduna State dumped rulling All Progressive Congress and officially joined SDP earlier this week.

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Reacting to El-Rufais defection in a statement on Friday, SDP youths, led by its President, Comrade Abdulsamad Bello, said that the former APCs Chieftain is unfit and morally unqualified to be part of the SDP.

Bello said: We reject El-Rufais entrance into our party in its entirety. He has come not as a reformer but as an undertaker, seeking to bury the SDP before it even has the chance to grow.

El-Rufai has never believed in democracy. His history of suppressing opposition voices, sidelining party members, and enforcing his will through coercion is well known.

READ MORE: I Had Consent Of My Godfather, Buhari Before Leaving APC  El-Rufai

It is shocking that the leadership of our party would allow itself to be infiltrated by someone whose tenure in office was marked by impunity, authoritarianism, and disregard for democratic values.

Barely days after joining our party, El-Rufai is already pushing for a leadership change. He is demanding that Olu Agunloye resigns, even when the party has its own internal mechanisms for handling such matters.

This is a clear sign of his desperation to control the SDP and mould it in his own image.

El-Rufais resignation from the APC and his calculated entry into the SDP is nothing but a desperate attempt to reinvent himself politically.

The same man who once insulted opposition leaders and dismissed them as irrelevant is now seeking refuge in their midst. His hypocrisy knows no bounds.
A banner from the Asian Americans for Jesse Jackson campaign welcomes visitors to Crescendo, an ongoing archival exhibition at Asian Arts Initiative. The 1988 presidential campaign banner sets the tone for the show as it documents and explores intersectional activism in Asian American communities through the 1990s and 2000s.

Campaign fliers and photographs from Jesse Jacksons Rainbow Coalition remind us how Asian American activists participated in this multiracial political movement, with community organizers rallying diverse neighborhoods across California.

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But Crescendo is not all about this one presidential campaign. The exhibition unfolds in three sections featuring major collective projects: Asian Improv aRts/Records, the Afro Asian Music Ensemble, and the Far East Side Band. The artist-activists involved in the featured projects used music to bridge racial and generational divides, shaping the sociopolitical landscape of their time. Vinyl records such as Fred Houn and the Afro-Asian Music Ensembles We Refuse to be Used and Abused and Tomorrow is Now! hang on a wall above glass cases of well-preserved archival materials.

In one of the glass cases sit newspaper clippings from the 1985 publication Unity/La Unidad, featuring an article titled National Student anti-apartheid conference. The papers faded photograph of a young boy, masked and holding a flower, sits above a blurb for an interview with a Palestinian National Council member. This bimonthly publication (1978-1990), translated in three languages, English, Spanish, and Chinese, and published in San Francisco, was a key connector for communities of color and immigrants and provided information on workers rights, womens liberation, and social justice.

Curator Joyce Chung, with assistants Cole Roberts and Liz Karceswki, collected more than 400 archival materials, many of which had never been archived or digitized, from the artists who preserved their movement documentation. That includes yellowed programs and newspaper articles detailing the work of a group called Asian American Artists Against Apartheid, who performed during events that campaigned to end apartheid in South Africa, standing with other activists worldwide.

Philadelphian Theodore Harris, renowned for his collage work and poetry, is a part of the exhibit. His collaboration with Amiri Baraka, founder of the Black Arts Movement, pairs Harris collages with Barakas prose, which serves as captions to the images. Philadelphias deep history of activism and artistic innovation is deeply woven throughout the archives, proving that art has long served as a catalyst for social change in the citys legacy of resistance.

Among other featured artists is Fortune, a local artist collective whose Annotated Readers (2021) project explores queer movements, affordable housing, and civil rights through community reflections.

Crescendo reinforces that social movements do not happen in isolation, but with resonance and visibility. Asian Americans have long pushed back against the model minority stereotype, with a history of active involvement in civil rights activism, labor movements, anti-war protests, and community organizing. They have built alliances with other marginalized groups and used culture to showcase the diversity of their experiences.

We often look at the accomplishments, but we arent aware of the struggle thats involved, Jon Jang, an American jazz pianist and composer whose collaborative work with Francis Wong for Asian Improv Records/aRts (AIR) is featured in the exhibition, said during a press event preceding the opening. Jangs contributions to the exhibit include his 1999 album Self Portrait, a poster promoting Tiananmen!, his collaborative project with the Pan Asian Arkestra, program brochures, and a copy of the ImprovisAsians! Zine.

Listening stations allow visitors to experience the groundbreaking sounds of the Far East Side Band, which fused Chinese classical instruments with jazz, and the Afro Asian Music Ensemble, which blended traditional Asian scales with African polyrhythms.

Through its retrospective approach and deep appreciation for these creators contributions, Crescendo seeks to inspire future generations of activists. Tucked in the back room of the exhibition is a resource library of catalogs, artist monographs, and scholarly texts, inviting visitors to engage more deeply with the artworks. Guests are encouraged to borrow materials and leave their thoughts within them for others to discover.

Crescendo: How Art Makes Movements (1981-1999) is on view at Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine St., Phila., asianartsinitiative.org.
Artist William Villalongo in front of his mixed-media paintings "Zero Gravity 1" (top) and "Zero Gravity 2." The exhibit "William Villalongo: Myths and Migrations" runs May 15 through Aug. 31 at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Read more

Much has been written about Henry Box Browns body. The 33-year-old enslaved man from Virginia was 510 and around 200 pounds in the spring of 1849 when he forced himself into a wooden box not much bigger than an oven. It was addressed to the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society in Philadelphia, where he re-emerged 27 hours later as a free man.

The story of Browns extraordinary escape to freedom has been retold for generations through books, films, and stage productions (including a play by Tony Kushner). Few works, however, have captured the depth and defiance of Browns eyes like artist William Villalongos portrait, 27 Hour Cargo Piece.

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Within the confines of the crate, Browns body is an abstract amalgamation of cuts. Just his eyes are visible in a swirl of white slices that Villalongo cut out of black velvet, using a method called flocking. The brown concentric circles stare out, arresting and haunting amid the swooshes and hearts that loosely outline Browns face and knees. His arm and feet are the only parts of his body that Villalongo painted with realistic detail, folded and cramped inside.

I was thinking a lot about Blackness and movement, and the ways in which Black people, particularly in this country, have to move, change, and shift almost all the time in order to navigate racism and the types of systemic inequalities that are baked into the society we live in, said Villalongo, who was raised in Bridgeton, N.J., and now lives in Brooklyn.

The piece is one of approximately 35 artworks that will go on display at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in May for Villalongos retrospective, Myths and Migrations. The show marks the first touring solo exhibition of his work, spanning his 20-year career, including painting, sculpture, sketches, and a video installation.

An alum of Temple Universitys Tyler School of Art and Architecture, where he earned his masters in fine art, Villalongo considers the forthcoming show a homecoming. He grew up taking field trips to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Barnes Foundation, eventually participating in an impactful and intensive summer program at the University of the Arts in high school. Today, hes a professor at his alma mater, Cooper Union School of Art in New York.

Villalongo has spent his career making work that criticizes the erasure of Black people throughout art history. Using motifs from African mythology and folklore, he took inspiration from his childhood home in South Jersey, where his mother had a collection of art and tchotchkes  like a velvety painting of a Black woman riding a Pegasus with an afro  that he describes as Afrocentric 70s kitsch. Bringing that imagery into his practice, he embraced velvet flocking to create textured works focused on the Black body.

Hes giving us much more than meets the eye, an opportunity to iterate on a subject in a few different ways  its not prescribed, said curator Leah Triplett, PAFAs director of exhibitions and contemporary curatorial initiatives. The velvet flocking is just such a sumptuous texture.  It really is work that you need to see in person.

Art lovers will recognize some of Villalongos references, from Edouard Manet in Olympias Window to Pablo Picasso in the collage Re: History  Affinities (Picasso, Dan). His interpretations are satirical, entrancing, and fascinatingly speculative. The Thirsty Laborer (If You Build It), the sole Villalongo work in PAFAs permanent collection, is an especially intriguing triangular work that invites viewers to linger. In it, in a beautiful grassy landscape, women take apart canvases and easels representing Western artworks and use the material to build a home. Like Villalongo, they create a world for themselves to exist, to be seen, and to thrive in spite of the constraints placed on them.

William Villalongo: Myths and Migrations runs May 15 to Aug. 31 in the Fisher Brooks Gallery at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad St., Phila., 215-972-7600 or pafa.org.
The sun is setting on Joann, which is closing all 800 of its stores nationwide, including 14 in the Philadelphia area. Read more

All Joann stores, including 14 in the Philadelphia region, are closing as the 80-year-old fabric and craft company goes out of business.

The news came two months after Joann filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in a year and about two weeks after the Ohio-based retailer was auctioned off to the financial services company GA Group.

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Like many companies, Joann has struggled with flagging consumer demand, as well as inventory issues and competition from the likes of Target, Amazon, and Hobby Lobby.

As the winding-down process begins, going-out-of-business sales of up to 40% are underway at all stores. Joann.com and its app are still functioning, but all purchases must be made in person, the company said in an FAQ on its restructuring website. On Monday, a note on Joanns website alerted customers that due to high demand, we can no longer fulfill online orders.

It was unclear when stores would close for good. Joann executives said in the FAQ that sales would run through the end of May, while supplies last.

Any dates for store closures or changes to the website and app will be communicated as soon as possible, they wrote in the FAQ.

The retailer  which had previously said it was closing more than half its 800 stores nationwide  is no longer accepting gift cards or returns.

In a statement last month, Joann executives thanked its customers for their decades of unwavering support.

Formerly known as Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores, the chain is well-known among parents, teachers, and other craft- and art-inclined consumers, who shop there for the wide selection of fabric, yarn, school-project necessities, scrapbooking materials, holiday decor, baking and kitchen essentials, and storage supplies.

If customers want to snag discounts on these items before stores close, Joann has the following locations in the Philly region:

Pennsylvania

931 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown 320 Commerce Blvd., Fairless Hills 600 Town Centre Dr., Suite D-108, Glen Mills 45 E. Germantown Pike, Norristown 1200 Welsh Rd., North Wales 11000 Roosevelt Blvd., Philadelphia 351 W. Schuylkill Rd., Pottstown 1465 W. Broad St. #20, Quakertown 400 S. State Rd., Springfield 397 Easton Rd., Warrington 153 Swedesford Rd., Wayne

New Jersey
File photo of Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, speaking to reporters before presiding over the annual shareholders meeting in Omaha, Neb., in 2019. Read more

The chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners on Friday sent a letter to Warren Buffett asking the billionaire investor for financial assistance to help workers facing layoffs at SPS Technologies, the aerospace parts manufacturer in Abington that suffered a devastating four-alarm fire last month.

The fire, which took five days to extinguish, triggered school closures, a voluntary evacuation order, and eventually, parts of the facility to be demolished. No deaths or serious injuries were reported.

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The 105-year-old company produced specialized metal bolts and fasteners for clients such as Boeing, NASA, and the military. It stored chemicals used in its manufacturing processes that raised significant concerns, but no contaminants from the blaze have been found in the air or water supply, according to government environmental tests.

Buffett is the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, which owns Precision Castparts, the parent company of SPS Technologies.

After decades of service  the average worker has been at SPS Technologies for about 25 years  SPS management offered its employees four weeks of compensation. And, as it stands today, it appears that approximately half  250 employees  are facing immediate layoff, Neil K. Makhija, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, said in his letter.

SPS workers have taken great pride in the company as the sole supplier of fasteners for Blackhawk helicopters, F-15 fighter jets, other military aircraft, as well as the Boeing 737 and 787. It was a great business  and still can be. But it needs substantial investment to recover, and so does the immediate surrounding community, Makhija said.

Makhija pointed out that Berkshire Hathaway has a reported cash stockpile of $334 billion.

As you look for meaningful ways to invest Berkshires substantial cash reserves, I would suggest you could do so right here: in your own company, in the workers of SPS Technologies, and in Montgomery County, PA, Makhija said.

Makhija later added more specifically, I hope you will also provide longer-term, temporary pay and benefits for these employees who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

In an emailed statement Friday evening, SPS Technologies acknowledged that it had decided to make employment adjustments and that employees were notified earlier in the day. The company did not say how many employees were affected.

Nearly a month after the devastating fire at our plant and after intense analysis of what areas of the location were severely impacted, SPS Technologies has a clearer picture of our personnel needs, the company said.

Regretfully, we will have to make employment adjustments to align with those product lines and volumes the Company can still support. We notified our employees on a call earlier today, SPS Technologies said.

We also let the employees know that the Company will be extending full base pay to all active employees through May 18, 2025, and health and welfare benefits will be extended through the end of May. We continue to work with state and local resources to offer career fairs and other support in the weeks ahead. We appreciate the support of the community and offers of assistance, the company said.

Makhija said in his letter to Buffett that Montgomery County has been working daily with your SPS subsidiary to support its employees and help with relocation. We are prepared to continue doing so with your cooperation. But we also hope for deeper investment, knowing that a rounding error in Berkshires portfolio could mean everything to the families affected by this tragedy.
Rutgers University is among more than 50 colleges nationally under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights for alleged racial discrimination. Read more

U.S. Department of Education officials said Friday that they had opened investigations into more than 50 universities, including Rutgers University, for alleged racial discrimination.

Most of the investigations initiated by the Office for Civil Rights relate to the universities partnership with a program for doctoral students that limits eligibility based on race, according to the Education Department.

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The Education Department, which said it was investigating 45 universities in connection with that program, also said it was investigating six universities for allegedly awarding race-based scholarships, and another university for allegedly administering a program that segregates students on the basis of race.

Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. We will not yield on this commitment.

The new investigations come as President Donald Trumps administration is seeking to end diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at schools nationwide, while also laying off Education Department employees and shutting down Philadelphias Office for Civil Rights.

A Rutgers spokesperson said Friday the university would respond to the Office for Civil Rights.

Rutgers will always strive to strengthen and enforce our policies and practices that support our students, faculty, and staff, said the spokesperson, Dory Devlin. Like universities across the nation, we are reviewing our existing programs to ensure compliance with federal and state law and will make adjustments when appropriate.

Devlin added that as we assess the potential impact of all federal actions, the university remains committed to building and supporting an inclusive community.

Along with colleges like Duke, Georgetown, and New York Universities, Rutgers is being investigated for its partnership with the PhD Project  a program that says it supports the creation of business PhDs from historically underrepresented groups and tries to increase workplace diversity by increasing the diversity of business school faculty.

The PhD Project said in a statement Friday that it had worked for 30 years to create a broader talent pipeline of business leaders, and this year, we have opened our membership application to anyone who shares that vision.

Last month, the Education Department sent a Dear Colleague letter to schools nationwide, condemning practices that have discriminated against students on the basis of race, including white and Asian students and describing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts as smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming, and discipline. The letter cited the U.S. Supreme Courts 2023 ruling striking down affirmative action in college admissions, arguing that the courts ruling applied more broadly than just in college admissions.

In addition to targeting diversity initiatives, Trumps administration has been focused on antisemitism on campuses. On Monday, the department announced probes into 60 colleges  including Temple, Drexel, Swarthmore, and Rutgers  for alleged antisemitism.

The administration has threatened to cut federal funding for educational institutions found in violation of the Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. The University of Pennsylvania has scrubbed mentions of diversity initiatives from its website to comply with Trumps orders.

Advocates say the Trump administrations directives are not enforceable. On Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and Education Law Center of Pennsylvania sent a letter to Pennsylvania school districts, accusing the Education Department of flouting long-standing civil rights protections that neither the department nor the president has authority to overrule.

The departments Dear Colleague letter cannot alter schools legal obligations, nor subject schools to loss of federal funding without the opportunity to defend their policies, ACLU and Education Law Center lawyers said in the letter.
Jefferson Health and Cigna failed to reach a new contract covering people with insurance through their employers, which means that Jefferson's hospitals and doctors are now out of network for Cigna members. Negotiations will continue, Jefferson said. Read more

Jefferson Health, the Philadelphia regions largest health system, is out-of-network for people with Cigna insurance through their employers after the two parties failed to agree to a new contract, Jefferson said Saturday in an online announcement.

We understand that this news may cause concern, and we want to reassure our patients that we remain committed to providing high-quality care. We continue to negotiate in good faith with Cigna to reach a resolution that is fair and sustainable for our patients, providers, and community, Jeffersons statement said.

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Jefferson blamed the impasse on economics. It said Cignas rates have increased only by roughly 3% since 2020, while wages paid to health-care workers have increased by about 20% over the same time period. Rising costs for labor, medical supplies, and operations make it unsustainable to continue at these below-market rates, Jefferson said.

Cigna said in a statement Monday that Jefferson was asking for unreasonable increases. Almost all our employer clients benefits plans are self-funded, which means any increase in cost of care is paid directly by local employers, their employees and their families, Cigna said.

Cigna has 38,000 people in Medicare Advantage plans in the Philadelphia area, according to federal data. People in those plans who rely on Jefferson doctors are not affected by Saturdays announcement.

It is not unusual for contract talks between insurers and health systems to go down to the wire. Last month, Main Line Health warned patients that it might go out-of-network with Cigna, but reached a last-minute deal on a new multiyear contract.

Sometimes health systems go out-of-network but subsequently reach a new contract. Tower Health hospitals and doctors were out-of-network for Cigna members for four months early last year until a new contract was reached.

Editors note: This article was updated with a comment from Cigna.
The Navy & Marine Corps 250th Celebration in October will be a week-long event. Ten Navy and Coast Guard vessels will dock along three historic Philly ships, including the cruiser Olympia in Penn's Landing. Read more

When George Leone began thinking about Americas 250th birthday in 2026, the retired New Jersey Superior Court judge and former Philadelphia assistant district attorney did not want to see Philly blow its chance in the spotlight.

So, the South Jersey native and son of a World War II naval officer started planning a party of his own. One that could jump-start Philadelphias celebrations of the semiquincentennial, as the national milestone is called, while honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans everywhere.

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That weeklong bash, a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, both founded in Philly in 1775, is now a reality.

Known as Homecoming 250  and running from Oct. 9, 2025 to Oct. 16, 2025  the event will serve as a grand inaugural for Philadelphias 250th celebrations. Festivities will include a grand parade of ships on the Delaware River, ship tours, balls, concerts, commemorations, and family events.

There will be historical symposium on naval and Marine Corps history hosted by the University of Pennsylvania and Rutgers University and a special preview screening of filmmaker Ken Burns forthcoming documentary, The American Revolution.

As of now, Leone anticipates eight visiting Navy vessels and two Coast Guard cutters to dock alongside the three historic ships anchored along the Philly and Camden waterfronts, which together will represent nearly every American war. Scores of military brass  including every living secretary of the Navy dating back to President Lyndon Johnson  and as many as 300,000 people are expected to attend Homecoming 250.

The event that Leone, 67, of Haddonfield, and a dedicated band of dozens of veterans and volunteers began organizing from scratch five years ago, is planned as the largest semiquincentennial event honoring the military and veterans in the nation.

Its been a wonderful experience to see how people can come together for an event that reminds us what unites us, Leone said.

The event

After parading up the Delaware, some of the visiting naval and Coast Guard ships will moor alongside the cruiser Olympia and submarine Becuna in Penns Landing and the battleship New Jersey in Camden. Other ships will berth at the Navy Yard and the Holt Logistics Corp. shipyard in Gloucester City.

There will also be replicas of Revolutionary War ships, including the one Gen. George Washington used for his Delaware River crossing. Leone is hoping to fund the construction of a temporary replica of a naval ship from the Civil War.

It will be a tremendous display of naval history, he said.

The week will also feature flyovers by the U.S. Navys Blue Angels, an Independence Hall ceremony to commemorate the official founding of the Navy, a United States Navy Band concert, and a Navy gala.

Leone, who also sits on the board of a nonprofit rebuilding the Old City tavern known as the Tun, said the October events will be followed by a Nov. 10 celebration marking the official founding of the Marines, including a Marine Corps ball. A portion of Second Street, near Market, will likely be closed for the party because the bar itself may not yet be completed, he said.

Leone said he hopes Homecoming 250 can seize the semiquincentennial spotlight for Philadelphia.

So that when people think about the semiquincentennial, they think of where the nation got started, he said.

Back to 1775

The Navy was founded twice  both times in Philly.

The Second Continental Congress, meeting at Independence Hall, founded a Continental Navy in October 1775. Deemed too expensive, it was disbanded after the Revolutionary War. The founders again formed a National Navy in 1794 to deal with Barbary pirates.

The U.S. Marine Corps was founded on Nov. 10, 1775, and traces its roots to its first recruiting station: the Tun.

By 2023, Leone had garnered the support of the Navy and Marine Corps leadership, the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware congressional delegations, and the states governors and state legislatures.

Earlier this month, as part of a larger package supporting the semiquincentennial, Philadelphia City Council approved $500,000 in funding for Homecoming 250. That money matched a grant by the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial. The Homecoming 250 Navy & Marine Corps nonprofit has raised over $4 million.

We have an opportunity to roll out the red carpet for veterans and military members and set the stage for Americas 250th, said Michael Newmuis, Philadelphias 2026 director. For a week in October, all eyes will be on us.

How it came together

Leone only embarked on his legal career after vision problems kept him from following in the service of his father, Joseph Leone, who hunted German submarines as a Navy flier in World War II.

After graduating from the University of Chicago Law School in 1982, George Leone clerked for Judge James Hunter III, a WWII veteran, who sat on the U.S. Court of Appeals in Camden.

It was clear that even though he was just below the Supreme Court, the most important thing he had ever done was be a Marine Corps officer, said Leone.

After retiring from the New Jersey Superior Court in Camden, Leone was teaching law at Rutgers University-Camden in 2020 when he and other volunteers began organizing Homecoming 250.

I have managed to create a full-time unpaid job for myself, he joked.

He began by calling past Secretaries of the Navy, including John Lehman Jr., a Philadelphia native who served in the post from 1981 to 1987, under President Ronald Reagan.

Lehman, who lives in Bucks County, quickly signed on.

It was time to remind people of the history of Philadelphia and the key role it played in the founding of our military, said Lehman. Both naval and Marine Corps history is woven into Philadelphia.
The iconic view of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater in Fayette County, Pa., has a different look these days. Read more

When Americas most famous architect built one of the worlds most iconic homes atop a waterfall in Western Pennsylvania, he didnt leave behind a repair manual.

Frank Lloyd Wrights 1936 masterpiece, Fallingwater, is a work of art after all, more sculpture than summer house, and its brought 6.3 million visitors to rural Fayette County, including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Tom Hanks, since it opened for tours in 1964. The work was deemed the best all-time work of American architecture in a poll of members of the American Institute of Architects.

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A home built atop a stream, that cascades down a mountainside, deep in the woods, at high elevation is bound to need some complicated TLC, though, and when that time arrives, custodians cant just run to Home Depot.

Frank Lloyd Wright was pushing all conventional notions of building and living and stretching materials and technologies to their limits when Fallingwater was designed in the 1930s. It stretches every notion of what a house could be, said Justin Gunther, Fallingwaters director. Almost 90 years later, that creates some preservation challenges.

On a recent, sunny Monday morning, the home was still impressive, even under a massive cocoon of scaffolding, wood framing, and plastic sheeting meant to keep construction workers warm in winter. The ubiquitous sounds of Fallingwater  the waterfalls of Bear Run  was accompanied by the sounds of generators and the beeping alarms of construction vehicles driving in reverse.

Fallingwater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, never underwent a makeover, but restoration and preservation initiatives are constant and, ideally, seamless with the original design. In 2019, Gunther said Fallingwater began fundraising for repairs to stone walls, flat roofs, flagstone terraces, steel window and door frames, and concrete. Many of those terraces are roofs for other levels of the house, Gunther said, so vigilance against water is ever-present.

Part of being listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list is that youre held accountable to preserve at the highest standards, Gunther said. If you dont, then youre in danger of being removed from that list and losing that designation.

The price tag for the multiyear project, Gunther said, is $7 million, a number that grew substantially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Considering the level of work being done, its reasonable, he said.

While many contractors are from the Pittsburgh area, others came in from Maryland and New York. Nick Rothmeyer, owner of Allegheny Roofing & Sheet Metal Co. Inc. in Pittsburgh, said its both exciting and challenging to work on Wrights most recognizable home.

He was definitely ahead of this time, Rothmeyer said. Theres sections of this house that are cantilevered so far out, it wouldnt seem possible. Theyre actually part of a hillside. Nothing in this house was premanufactured in a factory.

Rothmeyer said original lumber from Wrights era was replaced with pressure-treated wood, and his work would advance on that.

Well use marine-grade wood, he said.

The restoration will also include some newer technologies  liquid grout injection  that will be unseen to visitors. That grout will be injected into the walls, Gunther said, to fill up all the empty spaces between stones and, ideally, keep water out.

One way, water finds its way through those voids, down into the walls and into the house, he said.

The Kauffman family, which operated a successful department store in Pittsburgh, owned the land in Fayette County and used it as a summer getaway for family and employees. The waterfalls of Bear Run were a favorite vantage point for the Kauffmans, and when they commissioned Wright to build a summer home on the property, they imagined scenic views of the falling stream, not being a part of it.

They did give Wright free rein, though, and he convinced them to trust his vision, Clinton Piper, Fallingwaters director of special projects, said at the site.

In an era when most new homes cost less than $5,000, Fallingwaters final tally cost the Kauffmans a little over $150,000, which would equate to millions in todays market. Gunther doubts it could be built today.

They were using local farmers that they trained on the job, and you just wouldnt be able to do that, and, plus, youd probably never get the building permits anyway, he said.

Fallingwater embraces the preservation as part of the experience, updating its blog frequently.

The scaffolding, which took nearly three weeks to complete, creates a safe, level area for the preservation crews to waterproof and reroof much of the Main House, the team wrote in December.

Gunther said most of the restoration work at Fallingwater is done in the winter, and the scaffolding will remain for a few more weeks while the last seasonal work continues. That doesnt mean you shouldnt visit.

Were calling them preservation-in-action tours, Gunther said. People will get to the house, will have full access, but you know, therell still be some work going on, and itll be a great opportunity for our visitors to see preservation and progress and learn about what it takes to preserve a building like Fallingwater. Its a unique opportunity.
Emine Emanet is reunited with her husband, Celal Emanet, (right) as she leaves the Elizabeth Detention Facility on Wednesday, two weeks and a day after the couple were arrested at their Haddon Township restaurant. At left are their son Muhammed Emanet (center) and family friends Abdullah Sezikli (left) and Mustafa Tug (second from left). Read more

President Donald Trumps myopic military intervention that has successfully slowed the flow of undocumented migrants into the United States does not mean he has fixed the mess this countrys outmoded immigration system has become.

If lapdog Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth werent so busy restoring the discarded names of military bases that humiliatingly honored traitorous Confederate Civil War generals, maybe he would find the spine to tell his boss that highly trained soldiers and Marines shouldnt be used as border guards.

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About 1,600 federal troops have been deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border, most of them Army military police who will be used primarily to enhance surveillance efforts. About 500 Marine engineers will repair and reinforce fences and other physical barriers. They will perform their duties as required, but thats not what they signed up for.

Its not even clear their presence is needed. The monthly number of illegal border crossings had already plummeted from a record high of nearly 250,000 in December 2023 to less than 60,000 in August 2024. Thats a 77% decline during the Biden presidency. Trump says about 8,000 migrants were caught illegally crossing the border in February. Thats a 14% decrease from last August.

Mexico has also stepped up its efforts to reduce illegal border crossings. Trump credits his tariff threats for Mexico doing more on this, but our southern neighbors deployment of nearly 15,000 federal and state forces at 301 border checkpoints actually began in 2023. From January to August 2024, Mexican authorities detained more than 950,000 undocumented migrants, a 132% increase from the same period in 2023.

But reducing illegal crossings is only one aspect of our immigration crisis. We also must address the daily arrest  and potential deportation  of hundreds of people, many of whom have lived quietly and productively in this country for decades. There are better ways to treat people the Trump administration indiscriminately refers to as criminals. Immigration reform shouldnt mean flattening the degree and severity of the offense within Americas system of justice to make one punishment fit all.

Consider the case of Emine and Celal Emanet, two undocumented Turkish nationals who have lived in the United States since 2008. They were handcuffed and arrested in February at their popular kebab restaurant in Haddon Township because their visas to be in this country expired years ago. My dad, hes never gotten a parking ticket, said their son, Muhammed Emanet.

The couple has since been released, but cases like the Emanets could be resolved before they become calamitous if Congress under the leadership of a committed president would break through this nations crippling partisan divide to overhaul our archaic immigration regulations.

Congress must pass comprehensive legislation that would make the borders more secure, speed up the judicious handling of immigration applications, and also provide a sensible path to citizenship for otherwise law-abiding residents of this country.

That task would be easier if Republicans and Democrats would stop treating immigration as an election season dog whistle and start treating it as a concern best resolved through bipartisan collaboration. Theres a model they could follow. Twenty years ago, Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy wrote the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act, which covered almost every immigration concern we are confronting today.

Their bill failed, as did similar legislation in subsequent years, but even after Kennedy died in 2009, McCain didnt give up. In 2013, he was among a group of senators dubbed the Gang of Eight (four Democrats and four Republicans, including Sens. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) and Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.)) that won Senate passage of a border security bill that included a path to citizenship for most persons living in this country without authorization, if they paid a fine and followed other stipulations that were spelled out in the bill.

There are better ways to treat people the Trump administration indiscriminately labels criminals.

Unfortunately, the Republican-controlled House accused Democrats and the Gang of Eight of trying to grant amnesty to lawbreakers who didnt deserve it, and Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) never brought the legislation up for a vote. That was during Barack Obamas presidency when House Republicans considered any bill he supported dead on arrival.

That toxic relationship between Democrats and Republicans hasnt gotten any better.

So far in his second term, Trump has not encouraged bipartisanship. Instead, he has used the GOP majority in both houses of Congress to place henchmen in charge of vital federal departments where they can better ensure his way is the only way.
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I am with a friend, watching clips of Andrew Scott on the red carpet.

I bet hes totally sound in real life, she says, as on screen, Scott hops from one foot to another, his eyes bright and crinkly, engaging enthusiastically with the interviewer. Clip after clip, hes there, with his eyebrows waggling, always in motion, always doing his best to make the person with the microphones job a little bit easier.

Still, hes an actor  he can make us believe what he wants us to, right? So, Im a bit nervous about interviewing the Bafta winner, Golden Globes, and SAG nominee. The interview is on Zoom, but when we link up, its a blank screen. I curse under my breath  being able to see each other adds a whole other dimension to the experience. Especially since, just last night, I was watching him as Ripley, trying on some teeny swimming togs in sultry Italy.

Ah Andrew, I lament, staring at a black screen. Can I not see you?

Sadly not, he says, his voice husky, a little hoarse. Im in a very strange place.

Ooh, tell me more, says I, picturing sexy confession boxes with Phoebe Waller-Bridge or a flat in an isolated tower block with Paul Mescal.

Alas, no. Hes just off a long redeye flight, and video isnt an option. I tell him I wouldnt have bothered putting on makeup if Id known, and he laughs and apologises. Pretty sound so far.

Andrew Scott: I won a prize at the Berlin Film Festival. And my first instinct, of course, was to call my mum. Picture: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

Scott grew up in Dublin, the middle child in a close-knit family. His beloved mum, Nora, an art teacher, passed away around this time last year. I ask him what his family think of his rise to fame.

Well, you know, my family have been so great over the years, he says.

They were up at the Edinburgh Festival, when I was doing little plays. They were always so supportive, right from the very start. And my sisters came over to the Emmys this year, and it was great to be able to show them all that kind of stuff and to be able to see it through their eyes as well, you know?

My sisters are the best. My mum was always such an incredibly supportive mum, not just to me, but to my two sisters as well.

So we all miss her beyond words, he pauses for a couple of beats and continues, its been, if Im honest... its been tough, you know, because a lot of the sadness hits you when the good things happen.

Even last week, I won a prize at the Berlin Film Festival. And my first instinct, of course, was to call my mum. I wanted to share that with her. And you know, its bittersweet, but I hope, I do hope shes watching from somewhere.

Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley in Ripley. Picture: Cr. Stefano Cristiano Montesi/Netflix

His sisters, he tells me, are his best friends.

We are very, very close, myself and my sisters. I love them so much. My older sister and I are kind of Irish twins  there are only 11 months between myself and Sarah. Im in the middle. Hannah then is seven years younger than me. So its great; we are always there for each other.

I ask him if they have fun with the more glamorous part of his job.

When we went to the Emmys actually, Simone Rocha dressed us, that was great fun. I adore Simones designs, she creates such beautiful stuff. Her team were so incredibly kind to my sister too, she looked so beautiful.

I think Simone Rocha is just a wonderfully inventive designer. So, I was delighted to wear her the other day too at the Independent Spirits Awards in California.

Scott enjoys fashion and isnt afraid to experiment.

I feel its important to be a bit playful on the red carpet, not to be too buttoned up, to play around with it a bit.

Eva Birthitle and Andrew Scott at the Iftas. Picture: Andres Poveda

Does he really enjoy the red carpet as much as he appears to in all those clips online?

I see it as a celebration, really, once you can get past the intimidating thing of 50 cameramen shouting at you, and of course theyre just doing their job. Its really important to me to have fun, to enjoy it. I have an amazing team; were all part of the same thing, we spend a lot of time together and we all do this extraordinary thing; its important we dont take it all too seriously and to enjoy the process as much as the product.

I can't talk to Andrew Scott without asking him about the Hot Priest he played in Fleabag. He has said in past interviews that he didnt create a name for the tortured priest. Phoebe Waller-Bridge and he just focused on the connection and chemistry that their two characters had. I ask him if he feels any regret in how the show ended  Fleabag confessing her feelings to the priest at a bus stop. I love you, she says. He looks at her for what feels like an eternity and then delivers the devastating line: It will pass.

Oh yes! he laughs. Thats what people like, though, isnt it, the exquisite agony of that. The audience might think, Oh, we wanted them to get together, but that scene is what makes it really memorable. I love that show, and I love the fact that it sort of ended that way. You couldnt change it. You couldnt!

Andrew Scott as 'The Hot Priest' in Fleabag

Scott has partnered with Redbreast Irish Whiskey and SXSW Film & TV Festival to shine a spotlight on Irish films and filmmakers. Well-established as one of Irelands most versatile and skilful actors, Scott says he remains deeply connected to the emerging talent that is flourishing in Irish film and television.

I love the idea of finding new voices, he says. Especially in relation to young filmmakers. Weve been speaking with a lot of emerging filmmakers, and theres a prize for them. Ive spent time talking to them, and its been really inspiring to see such genuine, beautiful movies. It feels very, very positive.

Its an exciting time for Irish creatives; you can hardly go to an awards ceremony without tripping over Irish talent. Why does he think that is?

Well, its hard to put a finger on it, really, I guess the world, in some ways, is a smaller place than it used to be. Studios can look at peoples screen tapes from all over the world. If they like somebody, theyre able to bring them into town and try and make that work. Thats not to underestimate the individual talent, of course.

I was at the Iftas recently, which was such a special evening. I loved seeing everybody. I was sat beside Saoirse Ronan and her beautiful mum, and we were just saying exactly that, you know, we felt so proud. And so many up-and-comers! I love seeing Kneecap doing so brilliantly. Its a really confident time for the Irish, and Im so proud to be part of that.

Cillian Murphy, Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal at the 2024 Baftas. Picture: Carlo Paloni/BAFTA via Getty Images

Does he have the cupla focal himself?

I think its great, that pride in our language. I have a bit of Irish, but I let it slide. But sometimes, its very handy. Like when youre on the tube in London and you want to talk in code, if you want to say: Ce he an fearr seo? or something, it can come in handy.

Is there anyone Irish, I ask him, that he would love to work with?

Wouldnt it be great if there was a script to put all the Irish talent together in one film? So, a big epic Irish like maybe a big Irish superhero movie! he says laughing.

I still have that scene from Ripley in my head, and I silently congratulate myself for not blurting out that he could play Captain Underpants.

Instead, I tell him any star worth their salt has a house in Cork at the moment, and ask if we can expect to see him holidaying in Schull with his All of Us Strangers co-star, Paul Mescal?

I need to get myself an invite! he laughs.

Cork is such a beautiful part of the world. We actually used to go down to Kinsale a lot, Ill definitely have to get down there again soon. If yell have me! If yell have a Jackeen? I assure him he will be made most welcome. Saoirse Ronan, of course, also has a place in Ballydehob.

Id love to do something with Saoirse, Id love to work on something with her. I think shes a genius, he says.

Andrew Scott as Adam in All Of Us Strangers. Picture: Searchlight Pictures

While were waiting for Saoirse to sort her schedule out and for her people to call his people, Scott has recently finished work on Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Rian Johnsons thriller headlined by Daniel Craig, and also starring Josh OConnor, Cailee Spaeny, and Kerry Washington as well as eight-time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close. When I ask him what it was like working on that movie, I dont need to see him to know hes smiling.

Certainly, the cast was pretty undeniable. On the first day, I was intimidated, he admits. Youre working with some incredibly iconic people, also some very exciting young people, and so it just provided this absolutely extraordinary atmosphere.

Theyre all amazing actors, but my God, what a brilliant group of people, we just really gelled right from the beginning. I think, because its an ensemble youre sitting around in between takes, and nobody has too much of the burden themselves. So it just provides a, you know, they have an atmosphere there where you dont go back to your trailer and go on your phone, you sit around and talk to each other and have a laugh. And they were incredibly kind to me, he says. I had an absolute ball.

Andrew Scott launches Redbreast Unhidden at The Roxy Cinema in New York. Picture: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Redbreast Irish Whiskey

I wonder was there anyone he was star struck by, or is that a thing that doesnt happen anymore?

Do you know what, he confides, l thought like when youre working with Glenn Close because, shes just somebody whos just such a cinematic giant, I thought I might be a little bit in awe.

But right from the beginning, you realised that shes just an actor to her fingertips, and shes so funny and so generous and brilliant, we all absolutely adored her. She was lovely.

Earlier, when Scott was sharing about missing his mum, and hoping she was watching him, I said to him that I was sure she was enormously proud of her son.

I hope so, was his reply.

A gifted actor, on screen and stage, an ambassador, and advocate for new talent, Andrew Scott is, as Mescal so perfectly described him, an extraordinary human being. Plus, my friend was right. He is so sound. What mum wouldnt be proud?
President Michael D Higgins has thanked the Irish people for the trust they placed in him as he signed off with his final St Patricks Day address to the nation.

The President will exit Aras an Uachtarain at the end of this year after 14 years and two terms in office.

President Higgins said: To the people of Ireland, muintir na hEireann, may I thank you for the trust you have placed in me over these past 14 years.

He said that it remains the greatest honour and privilege to serve you, to meet so many of you in your communities, to witness your compassion, empathy and kindness in so many different ways.

The President said he remains convinced beyond any doubt that Irish people retain a commitment to seeing the other as a friend, the principles of generosity, decency and care for one another.

Speaking in Aras an Uachtarain, President Michael D Higgins prompted the people of Ireland to 'invoke the spirit of St Patrick' by 'reaffirming our commitment to the dignity and wellbeing of all'. Picture: Maxwells

With his address delivered at a time of great global uncertainty, the President suggested that the Irish invoke the spirit of St Patrick by reaffirming our commitment to the dignity and wellbeing of all.

The President said that, in approaching the end of his final term, he had come to reflect on the themes he had addressed during his tenure:

I would like to repeat my belief that words and how they are used matter, and furthermore, that the ideas which they draw on matter.

He said that, for him, criticism of his outspoken nature has often boiled down to it being interests that matter as opposed to values, but that in his opinion Irishness is at its best when values are given equal weight.

Commenting once more on current events, the President said that at present internationally we see borders closing to those who flee in desperation, the cruel withholding of aid from those most in need.

I remain convinced that there are alternative ways of living together on this fragile planet, he said.

All of this is possible by us working, in our different ways, together.

"Let us resolve to forge together a renewed sense of solidarity, reaffirming our commitment to the dignity and well-being of all, in building a just and compassionate world, one which reflects the best instincts of our humanity."
Gardai have no specific intelligence to suggest there is a threat from any extremist group  whether from jihadists, the far-right or the far-left  to the St Patricks Day parade in Dublin.

Gardai are continuing to monitor online traffic and the activities of a small number of individuals over the weekend. It comes as Garda HQ announced that an extensive policing operation is in place across the city centre between Friday and Tuesday.

Approximately 1,000 gardai will be out on the beat throughout the long weekend to ensure everyone has a safe an enjoyable time", the Garda Press Office said in a statement.

The parade will start at 12pm on Monday at Parnell Square North and finish at Kevin Street Lower. There will be a number of public order units on standby, with probably one on either side of the city centre and a third in the suburbs.

Garda HQ has previously said that a policing plan was also in place over the long weekend in Cork, with Chief Superintendent Tom Myers reminding people that "drinking alcohol in public is illegal and wont be tolerated".

Garda Security and Intelligence was alerted last January to a poster that circulated online, including in the German Bild newspaper, of a threat purported to be from an offshoot of the so-called Islamic State terror organisation, highlighting 10 cultural events in Europe, including St Patricks Day, as potential targets.

Bild said the poster was published on the ISPK platform "Al Azaim Media." The ISPK, or IS-K, stands for the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, with was responsible for the March 2024 terror attack in Moscow, leaving over 140 concertgoers dead.

In August 2024, the CIA tipped off Austrian authorities about an IS-K inspired terror plot targeting Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna, which intended to cause "mass casualties".

Germany has seen a number of individual attacks, including at Christmas markets, in recent months, many involving the use of a car to strike pedestrians, but there appears to be a mix of motivations. In some cases across Europe the attackers were known to intelligence services in the past.

Security sources believe the poster that emerged in January was part of a propaganda effort to create fear and said that none of the recent attacks across Europe appeared to have been part of a co-ordinated campaign to target certain cultural events.

An early St Patrick's Day Parade took place in Dublin today with people from Northwall Community Centre marching through the IFSC and Sherrif Street. Photo: Leon Farrell /  RollingNews.ie

Gardai continue to monitor a small number of individuals from a radical Islamist perspective, but they do not see an intent or capability to act. But sources do point out that these are the people gardai know about, and that there are going to be people who self-radicalise online who have not yet come to their attention.

As previously reported in the Irish Examiner one murder and one attempted murder in recent years is believed to have been motivated by online jihadist radicalisation.

In terms of other threats, gardai assess that the threat from far-right individuals has abated.

But gardai have been concerned about far-right vigilante patrols in certain areas - in which they harass homeless asylum seekers and certain foreigners in general - including along Dublins Boardwalk and in Dundalk, along with thuggish behaviour in Athlone.
When Otzi 'The Iceman' was discovered in the Tyrolean Alps in 1991, one of the most remarkable things about him was the 61 inkings on his body. Thought to have been done with a single-point puncture tool tipped with carbon pigment, the find shows that tattooing was as popular with our ancestors 5,000 years ago as it is today.

But while permanent body art is nothing new, Cork tattoo artists say people are increasingly opting for the more unusual  and even the downright bizarre.

For their more "daring" customers, the Black Poppy Tattoo Parlour on Winthrop Street in Cork City is offering a 'lucky dip'. They have installed an American-style gumball machine where, in return for a fee, clients are given a quarter to activate the device and receive a preview of a random design they have never seen before.

Of course, clients have the option of backing out should they experience cold feet. Nonetheless, co-owner of the Black Poppy Tattoo parlour, Jake Stahlecker, who originally hails from Arizona, says they are yet to come across a customer with a change of heart.

Jake Stahlecker and Gin with the permanent and visiting Tattoo artists that form the creative team on Winthrop Street. Picture: Chani Anderson

Its slightly cheaper than our shop minimum and they are set and ready. You take a bit of a risk I guess. Its very much a gamble. People just tend to get what they get and away they go. For many people, a tattoo is a story but not everyone has that.

"To say 'I walked into a tattoo shop and put a quarter into a machine to get this design' is as good a story as any other. Its just really different.

Jake, who co-owns the business with his wife Gin, admits however that even tattoo artists have their limits.

Two people came to us to get tattoos on a first date. They decided they were in love and wanted to get each others names tattooed. Of course, we said no. Even if a couple has been together for a long time we still try to talk them out of it or at least get them to agree that its a really bad idea.

Im not sure if the couple who came to us during their first date were after a few, but I would hope so considering that this was such a crazy idea.

Then there was the customer who visited the shop for her first tattoo at the age of 93 - only to return for another three months later.

We had a bench outside where people could sit when they were tired. One day a 93-year-old sat down there. We thought she just wanted a glass of water as we often offer people that. She was sitting there for about five minutes before saying that she wanted to talk about the tattoo she was getting.

He said the team was touched when they heard what was motivating her.

A close friend of hers had died. That same friends daughter was coming with her so they could both get memorial tattoos together. It was quite emotional and there were a few tears at the end. This was her first tattoo at 93 years old. If you saw this woman walking down the street you would never guess she had a tattoo like that.

"Three months later she came back to us and got her second tattoo.

Things are different to how they were 50 years ago when you only saw tattoos on bikers or sailors. We cant judge. People from all walks of life are getting tattoos now.

Another touching request was the man who got his son to draw the design.

We had a man with a son of about four or five come into us. He asked for a piece of paper and a pencil. The boy drew up a picture of the family and his dad had it tattooed onto his own body there and then. It had all the same dimensions that the kid had drawn and turned out really nice.

Andy May was being tattooed with a barn owl at the back of his head during his exchange with the Irish Examiner. He told of his reasons for selecting the design.

It takes three years for my hair to grow out properly, he explained. Every few years I have it shaved for a good cause. It all depends on which charity catches my eye but I like to support as many of them as I can.

"I was thinking it would be quite cool and quirky for the tattoo to finally be revealed again in three years after my head gets shaved. Also, we often have barn owls passing the house which is why I decided on this particular design.

Andy May recently shaved his head to raise money for animal charities which are close to his heart and is adorning his skull with an owl tattoo before re-growing his hair. Picture: Chani Anderson

Trisha OCallaghan from Lose this Skin on MacCurtain Street also offers a specialist tattoo service. One of her most special inking sessions to date happened to be a tribute to her favourite tattoo artist whose daughter popped in for a memorial tattoo.

Basically, you can have some of the ashes mixed in with the ink and tattooed, Trisha explained. Theres not really anything that special about it, except for the sentiment to the person, obviously.

Trisha OCallaghan in her tattoo parlour, Lose This Skin, on MacCurtain Street in Cork City where she has been creating original ink designs for over 30 years. Picture: Chani Anderson

"The person who died had been a famous tattoo artist who I looked up to very much. It was because of him that I got my obsession with tattooing. His work was amazing.

Trisha said the tattoo industry has come a long way since she started in the business 30 years ago.

In those days you had the choice of a butterfly, dolphin or a little rose that looked like a cabbage, but that was it. There werent many female tattooists back then. Id say I was probably the first in Cork.

"You couldnt really get an apprenticeship back then if you were female. People just laughed at you because it was so unheard of. Now, the ratio is probably more women to men if not 50/50.

Tattooist Trisha OCallaghan discusses designs with Kelly in her tattoo parlour. Picture: Chani Anderson

Over the last three decades, she says one of the strangest tattoos she has done was a bee made to look like it had landed on a persons nose.

"Some people just like to get silly tattoos after a while and I have a lot of fun with those. At the moment Im working on a bunch of drunken animals including cats and dogs and all sorts of creatures. You never know what you're going to be doing next.
MONDAY: THE CHICKEN FILLET

What is your chicken fillet order? asked moderator Stephanie Mehta.

Huh? Micheal Martin replied, looking a bit miffed on stage at the South by Southwest festival.

It was 4pm in Austin, and already the Taoiseach had visited Dell HQ, announced new jobs for Cork while at the Tricentis tech firm, stopped by a pop-up Gaeltacht, met Fis Eireann representatives and had a bilateral meeting with controversial Texas governor Greg Abbott at his mansion.

Martin is a man who makes the most of every moment, even his officials were giving silent knowing nods when the week's demanding schedule was raised in conversation with them.

After touching down in Austin at 3am Irish time on Monday morning, the Taoiseach met embassy staff before heading to bed.

His first engagement of the day just before 9am was to take questions from the waiting media. Perhaps feeling the jet-lag, he asked that the light on RTEs camera be dimmed slightly before launching into questions.

Of course, the impending Trump meeting was raised.

Im taking one day at a time, said Martin, detailing the list of events he had planned while in the lone star state.

Journalists following the Taoiseach on any foreign trip always manage to get their daily steps in but rarely get a chance to take in the sights.

Some of us took the opportunity to walk to the first event, crossing by the capitol building and strolling (at speed) up the expansive boulevard cordoned off to traffic for SXSW events. But the remainder of the day was a combination of taxis, official mini bus, along with one frightening but memorable ride in a driverless Uber, rushing from one event to the next.

Back on stage at the festival, Mehta was adamant to get a reply despite Martins growing puzzlement: Okay, mayonnaise or spicy?

No, no mayonnaise, no spice, Im a salad kind of guy, a purist on food," Martin responded.

TUESDAY: THE BURKES TAKE WASHINGTON

News that the infamous Burke family were Washington-bound broke on a group WhatsApp set up among journalists covering the Taoiseachs trip.

Some of the Irish media contingent had opted to just take the Washington leg and by pure happenstance had booked the same flight as the Burkes that was now hurtling towards the US capital.

Messages were sent trying to ascertain how many family members were on board, what was their movie of choice (no screens in fact), and what was the purpose of the trip?

Dancers perform Riverdance at the Friends of Ireland luncheon hosted by speaker of the United States House of Representatives Mike Johnson on Wednesday: Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

It meant when the Taoiseach arrived into suite 555 of the JW Marriott for a 9am doorstep, I had no choice but to ask him about the family and whether he was aware if they were on the guest list for the Shamrock ceremony.

I'm not familiar with the travel arrangements of any particular family, and I'm not aware of any issues around that. I mean, people are free to travel, he said.

As the Taoiseach hastily left to attend an event at the state capitol, further queries were made with embassy staff and any officials who might know if the Mayo family were, in fact, due to be guests of Trump.

The day was due to end with the annual St Patricks reception at the Ambassador's residence in Washington. Would the Burkes turn up and put on a show in front of hundreds of invited guests as they queued to get into the mansion?

The answer for a group of disappointed Irish media was no. But Steve Bannon was there to provide a diversion in a pair of bright green and white shamrock trousers.

WEDNESDAY: THE TRUMP SHOW AND SNIFFER DOGS

It was a 6.30am start for reporters ahead of a long day of sham-rockery, which started at vice-president JD Vances official residence.

Martin must have been hoping the unseasonably sunny morning was a good omen.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin presents US president Donald Trump with the traditional bowl of shamrock. Photograph: Government of Ireland

Even Vance, who just two weeks ago acted as attack dog, pouncing on president Volodymyr Zelenskyy , was in a bright mood as he greeted the Taoiseach before breakfast.

The weather cooperated, unusual in DC," Vance said with a smile and a handshake.

Just moments later, with guests seated for fresh berries, poached eggs benedict and roasted potatoes, Vance showed off his shamrock-themed socks to the Taoiseach.

Relief, as the first event of the day went off without a glitch, even RFK who was in attendance, was perfectly behaved.

It was then onto the White House for yet another sniffer dog security check before the media were let into wait for the arrival of the Taoiseach.

Waiting forms a significant part of what is a frantic day for Irish media. Shuffling from the White House to the Capitol onto Blair House and back over to the White House happens in waves of almost panicked speed, when staffers order the pack to immediately move, only then to tell us to wait in corridors, outside doors or in hallways.

But the wait for the Oval Office was worth it as Trump engaged in a question-and-answer session for 50 minutes before the journalists were once against abruptly ushered out.

After viewing lunch, the Capitol (journalists never to get to actually sit down and eat at these events and instead awkwardly stand around the edges) it was back on a minibus for a quick doorstep with the Taoiseach before the shamrock ceremony.

But there was a diversion between both scheduled events when word spread the Burke family were holding a protest past the security barricades. A quick sprint down to take footage and it was straight back to the White House gates for the final dog sniff of the day.

THURSDAY: THE BURKES ARE AT AGAIN

It was a subdued start to the day, with a Taoiseach's press conference in the Omni Shoreham hotel ahead of a busy schedule of business briefings and IDA events for Martin.

Many journalists, myself included, took the afternoon to catch up on getting longer-reads and work for the weekend out of the way before getting ready for the annual black tie Ireland Funds event, which we do get fed at!

Standing silently with placards, the Burkes greeted those arriving guests in their finery, who had paid $1,000 to attend the gala.

All progressed as normal and attendees were almost finished their steak dinner when the commotion started.

Martina Burke and her children Ammi and Isaac entered the Ireland Fund's event and began shouting at the Taoiseach, who was seated right in the centre of the room.

My son is in prison, Burke repeatedly shouted before being pulled out.

Journalists sprung up to capture the action as shoes were lost and two police officers plunged to the ground as they struggled to get the screaming trio out of the venue.

At the band started up and people got onto the dance floor, laptops were opened on trestle tables as the pack of Irish journalists sent back the latest chaos from Washington  it was well past 2am back home.

FRIDAY: AN END TO THE MADNESS

Reporters gathered for the fifth and final doorstep of the week, with the Taoiseach at 9.40am in the Dupont Hotel.

Everyone was exhausted but there was still plenty to be written and reported on, the most obvious question for Martin was his view of the Burke madness the night before.

"First of all, I think it didn't significantly in any way kind of disrupt the event. I think it was regrettable that that incident happened.

"People have a right to protest in a proper way and that is not a proper way, you know, to attempt to maybe disrupt an event that was to honour people who have been of such service to Ireland in the US, and people of the Irish American diaspora who really are not involved in anything to do with this issue."

We had all survived the annual trip to Washington... just about.
When will the Burke family just go away?

Micheal Martin may have come out unscathed from the Oval Office encounter with US president Donald Trump, but the well-known Christian fundamentalist family has managed to embarrass the country.
The replacements for Nasas two stuck astronauts have launched to the International Space Station, paving the way for the pairs return after nine months.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams need SpaceX to get the relief team to the space station before they can check out. Arrival is set for late Saturday night.

Nasa wants an overlap between the two crews so Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams can fill in the newcomers on happenings aboard the orbiting lab.

That would put them on course for an undocking next week and a splashdown off the Florida coast, weather permitting.

The rocket lifts off on a mission to the International Space Station (John Raoux/AP)

The duo will be escorted back by astronauts who flew up on a rescue mission on SpaceX last September alongside two empty seats reserved for Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams on the return leg.

Reaching orbit from Nasas Kennedy Space Centre, the newest crew includes Nasas Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, both military pilots, and Japans Takuya Onishi and Russias Kirill Peskov, both former airline pilots.

They will spend the next six months at the space station, considered the normal stint.

Spaceflight is tough but humans are tougher, Ms McClain said minutes into the flight.

As test pilots for Boeings new Starliner capsule, Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams expected to be gone just a week or so when they launched from Cape Canaveral on June 5.

A series of helium leaks and thruster failures marred their trip to the space station, setting off months of investigation by Nasa and Boeing on how best to proceed.

Eventually ruling it unsafe, Nasa ordered Starliner to fly back empty last September and moved the astronauts to a SpaceX flight due back in February.

Their return was further delayed when SpaceXs brand new capsule needed extensive battery repairs before launching their replacements.

To save a few weeks, SpaceX switched to a used capsule, moving up Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams homecoming to mid-March.

Retired Navy captains who have lived at the space station before, the pair have repeatedly stressed that they support the decisions made by their Nasa bosses since last summer.

Astronaut Anne McClain greets friends and family before lift off (John Raoux/AP)

The two helped keep the station running  fixing a broken toilet, watering plants and conducting experiments  and even went out on a spacewalk together. With nine spacewalks, Ms Williams set a new record for women  the most time spent spacewalking over a career.

A last-minute hydraulics issue delayed Wednesdays initial launch attempt.

Concern arose over one of the two clamp arms on the Falcon rockets support structure that needs to tilt away right before liftoff. SpaceX later flushed out the arms hydraulics system, removing trapped air.

The duos extended stay has been hardest, they said, on their families  Mr Wilmores wife and two daughters, and Ms Williams husband and mother.

Besides reuniting with them, Mr Wilmore, a church elder, is looking forward to getting back to face-to-face ministering and Ms Williams cannot wait to walk her two Labrador retrievers.

We appreciate all the love and support from everybody, Ms Williams said in an interview earlier this week. This mission has brought a little attention. Theres goods and bads to that. But I think the good part is more and more people have been interested in what were doing.
An appeals court has lifted a block on executive orders seeking to end US government support for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes.

Fridays ruling gave the Trump administration a win after a string of setbacks defending president Donald Trumps agenda from dozens of lawsuits.

The decision from a three-judge panel allows the orders to be enforced as a lawsuit challenging them plays out. The appeals court judges halted a nationwide injunction from US District Judge Adam Abelson in Baltimore.

Two of the judges on the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals wrote that Mr Trumps anti-DEI push could raise concerns about First Amendment rights, but said the judges sweeping block went too far.

My vote should not be understood as agreement with the orders attack on efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, Judge Pamela Harris wrote. Two of the panels members were appointed by President Barack Obama, while the third was appointed by Mr Trump.

Judge Abelson had found the orders likely violated free-speech rights and are unconstitutionally vague since they do not have a specific definition of DEI.

Mr Trump signed an order on his first day in office directing federal agencies to terminate all equity-related grants or contracts. He signed a follow-up order requiring federal contractors to certify they do not promote DEI.

The city of Baltimore and other groups sued the Trump administration, arguing the executive orders are an unconstitutional overreach of presidential authority.

The Justice Department has argued that the president was targeting only DEI programmes that violate federal civil rights laws. Government attorneys said the administration should be able to align federal spending with the presidents priorities.

Abelson, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden, agreed with the plaintiffs that the executive orders discourage businesses, organisations and public entities from openly supporting diversity, equity and inclusion.

Efforts to increase diversity have been under attack by Republicans who contend the measures threaten merit-based hiring, promotion and educational opportunities for white people. Supporters say the programmes help institutions meet the needs of increasingly diverse populations while addressing the lasting impacts of systemic racism.

Their purpose was to foster equitable environments in businesses and schools, especially for historically marginalised communities. Researchers say DEI initiatives date back to the 1960s but they expanded in 2020 during increased calls for racial justice.

In addition to the mayor and the Baltimore City Council, the plaintiffs include the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors and the Restaurant Opportunities Centres United, which represents restaurant workers across the country.
Hamas said it would only release an American-Israeli hostage and the bodies of four other hostages if Israel implements the existing ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, calling it an exceptional deal aimed at getting the truce back on track.

A senior Hamas official said long-delayed talks over the ceasefires second phase would need to begin the day of the release and last no longer than 50 days.

Israel would also need to stop barring the entry of humanitarian aid and withdraw from a strategic corridor along Gazas border with Egypt.

The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza, displaced most of the population and left nearly everyone dependent on international aid to survive (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

Hamas would also demand the release of more Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages, said the official.

Edan Alexander, 21, who grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey, was abducted from his military base during Hamass attack on October 7, 2023 that ignited the war and is the last living American citizen held in Gaza.

There was no immediate comment from Israel, where government offices were closed for the weekly Sabbath.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office on Friday accused Hamas of manipulation and psychological warfare when the offer was initially made, before Hamas spelled out the conditions.

The United States said it presented on Wednesday a proposal to extend the ceasefire for a few more weeks as the sides negotiate a permanent truce.

It said Hamas was claiming flexibility in public while privately making entirely impractical demands.

Yael Alexander holds a poster of her son, Edan, who was taken hostage by Hamas militants (Maya Alleruzzo/AP)

Negotiations continued in Egypt after senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo on Friday.

Egypt and Qatar served as key mediators with Hamas in reaching the ceasefire and have continued to host talks aimed at getting it back on track.

There was no immediate comment from the mediators.

Under the ceasefire agreement reached in January, Israel and Hamas were to begin negotiations over a second phase  in which Hamas would release all of the remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting truce  in early February, but so far, only preparatory talks have been held.

After the first phase ended at the beginning of this month, Israel said it had agreed to a new US proposal in which Hamas would release half of the remaining hostages in return for a vague commitment to negotiate a lasting ceasefire.

Hamas rejected that offer, accusing Israel of backtracking on the signed agreement and trying to sabotage the truce.

Israel has barred the delivery of food, fuel and other supplies to Gazas roughly 2 million Palestinians and cut electricity to the territory to pressure Hamas to accept the new proposal.

Israels military offensive has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

The first phase of the truce, which took hold on January 19, saw the release of 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli forces pulled back to a buffer zone along Gazas border and allowed a surge of humanitarian aid.

An Israeli official said last month that Israel will not withdraw from the so-called Philadelphi corridor, along the Gaza-Egypt border, as called for in the ceasefire agreement.

They have cited the need to combat weapons smuggling.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostage.

Palestinians walk amid the rubble of destroyed homes and buildings (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

The group is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were freed in ceasefire agreements.

Israels military offensive has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants.

Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza, displaced most of the population and left nearly everyone dependent on international aid to survive.
Russia and Ukraine traded heavy aerial blows overnight on Saturday, with both sides reporting more than 100 enemy drones over their respective territories.

The attack comes less than 24 hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss details of the American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Ukraine.
Tens of thousands of people have descended on Belgrade for a mass rally in protest against Serbias populist President Aleksandar Vucic and his government.

Large crowds of flag-waving protesters clogged the central area of the capital despite occasional rain, with people hardly able to move and many stuck hundreds of feet away from the planned protest venue.

Demonstrators converged after meeting up at several pre-arranged protest venues in various parts of the capital, which was placed on high alert. All public transport has been cancelled.

Ahead of the demonstration, Mr Vucic repeatedly warned of alleged plans for unrest while threatening arrests and harsh sentences for any incidents.

A deafening sound of whistles, drums and vuvuzelas filled the air on Saturday during the demonstration. Some protesters carried banners that read: Hes Finished!

Police are braced for unrest (AP)

Crowds also chanted Pump it Up, a slogan adopted during past four months of student-led protests.

The rally  which is expected to be the biggest anti-government protest ever held in the Balkan country  comes after more than four months of anti-corruption demonstrations that have posed the biggest challenge to Mr Vucics grip on power after 13 years in charge.

University students have led the nationwide anti-corruption movement, which started after a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station and killed 15 people in Serbias north on November 1.

Many in Serbia blamed the crash on rampant government corruption, negligence and poor adherence to construction safety regulations.

On Friday evening, tens of thousands of people staged a joyous welcome for the students who have been marching or cycling for days from across Serbia toward Belgrade.

There is widespread unrest over Mr Vucics government (AP)

Interior minister Ivica Dacic told state RTS broadcaster that 13 people were detained overnight. He said police detained six opposition activists for allegedly plotting to stage a coup and stir unrest.

By Saturday morning people were assembling in various parts of the city as they marched toward the centre. The entire central zone was flooded with people hours before the scheduled start of the gathering.

Reflecting the tensions, police said they arrested a man who rammed his car into protesters in a Belgrade suburb, injuring three people. Hundreds of policemen were deployed inside and around government buildings and in front of the presidential palace.

The Belgrade authorities have cancelled all public transport, including intercity railway and bus links, in an apparent effort to prevent people from attending the rally. The transport company said the cancellation was made for security reasons.

Protesters have blocked streets (AP)

Several reporters from neighbouring Croatia as well as Slovenia have been turned back from Serbias border under explanation that their presence at the rally represents a security risk.

Mr Vucic has rejected earlier proposals for a transitional government that would prepare an early election. Fuelling fears of clashes, Mr Vucics supporters have been camping in central Belgrade in front of his headquarters.

They include ex-members of a paramilitary unit involved in the assassination in 2003 of Serbias first democratic Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, as well as football hooligans who are known for causing violence.

Mr Vucic has been claiming that Western intelligence services were behind almost daily student-led protests with an aim to oust him from power.

Students have struck a chord among the citizens who are disillusioned with politicians and have lost faith in the state institutions. Previous student-led rallies in other Serbian cities have been peaceful while drawing huge crowds.
US President Donald Trump launched the start of large-scale military strikes against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis on Saturday over the group's attacks against Red Sea shipping, warning that "hell will rain down" on them if they don't stop.

Trump also warned Iran, the Houthis' main backer, that it needed to immediately halt support to the group. He said if Iran threatened the United States "America will hold you fully accountable and, we won't be nice about it!"

The unfolding strikes - which one official said would last days and maybe even weeks - represent the biggest US military operation in the Middle East since Trump took office in January. It came as the United States ramped up sanctions pressure on Tehran while trying to bring it to the negotiating table over its nuclear program.

At least 13 civilians were killed and nine injured in US strikes on Yemen's capital Sanaa, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.

The Houthis' political bureau described the attacks as a "war crime" and said the US strikes also extended to the northern province of Saada.

"Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation," it said in a statement.

Residents in Sanaa said the strikes hit a building in a Houthi stronghold.

"The explosions were violent and shook the neighbourhood like an earthquake. They terrified our women and children," one of the residents, who gave his name as Abdullah Yahia, told Reuters.

The Houthis, an armed movement that took control of most of Yemen over the past decade, has launched more than 100 attacks targeting shipping since November 2023, disrupting global commerce and setting the US military on a costly campaign to intercept missiles and drones that burned through stocks of US air defences.

The Houthis say the attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza.

Iran's other allies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, have been severely weakened by Israel since the start of the Gaza conflict. Syria's Bashar al-Assad, who was closely aligned with Tehran, was overthrown by rebels in December.

But throughout, Yemen's Houthis have remained resilient and often on the offensive, sinking two vessels, seizing another and killing at least four seafarers in an offensive that disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa.

The previous US administration of President Joe Biden had sought to degrade the Houthis' ability to attack vessels off its coast but limited the US actions.

US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say Trump has authorized a more aggressive approach.

Mr Trump issued a new warning to Iran (AP)

STRIKES ACROSS YEMEN

The strikes on Saturday were carried out in part by fighter aircraft from the Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, which is in the Red Sea, officials said.

The US military's Central Command, which oversees troops in the Middle East, described Saturday's strikes as the start of a large-scale operation across Yemen.

"Houthi attacks on American ships & aircraft (and our troops!) will not be tolerated; and Iran, their benefactor, is on notice," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X. "Freedom of Navigation will be restored."

Trump held out the prospect of far more devastating military action against Yemen.

"The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective," Trump wrote.

Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Tuesday, the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli ships passing through the Red and Arabian seas, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden, ending a period of relative calm starting in January with the Gaza ceasefire.

The US attacks came just days after a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from Trump was delivered, seeking talks over Iran's nuclear program.

Khamenei on Wednesday rejected holding negotiations with the United States.

Still, Tehran is increasingly concerned that mounting public anger over economic hardships could erupt into mass protests, four Iranian officials told Reuters.

Last year, Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities, including missile factories and air defences, in retaliation for Iranian missile and drone attacks, reduced Tehran's conventional military capabilities, according to US officials.

Iran has denied wanting to develop a nuclear weapon. However, it is dramatically accelerating the enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% weapons-grade level, the UN nuclear watchdog - the International Atomic Energy Agency - 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 has denied wanting to develop a nuclear weapon.
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Special investigation sustains Kiang protection in China's Qinghai

Xinhua) 10:50, March 15, 2025

This aerial photo taken on June 4, 2023 shows Kiangs (Equus kiang) passing by a power transmission tower at Tanggulashan Township of Golmud City in the Mongolian-Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Haixi, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang)

XINING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- A special winter investigation on Kiang living in northwest China's Qinghai Province has been completed, aiming to better protect this endemic species of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

This was the first round of a province-wide Kiang investigation undertaken by the Qinghai provincial forestry and grassland bureau and Qinghai Normal University.

"Kiang plays a very important role in the whole ecosystem here on the plateau. By carrying out this investigation, we aim to better understand how the population of this species interacts and uses its habitat," said Zhang Yu, director of the wildlife conservation department of the Qinghai provincial forestry and grassland bureau.

Qinghai Province is one of the major areas where Kiang is distributed. The current investigation will gather data on the population size, density, distribution, habitat status of Kiang, as well as its shared grasslands with domestic ungulates such as yak and Tibetan sheep.

The investigation will provide a scientific basis for the continued efforts to strengthen the Kiang protection, Zhang added.

Six teams with 24 members participated in this winter investigation. They traveled about 17,000 kilometers across Qinghai, covering all distribution areas of Kiang in the province.

A total of 13,060 Kiangs were recorded in the area such as the Qilian and Kunlun mountains, as well as Sanjiangyuan, where the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers originate.

Kiang, a large herbivorous mammal, normally lives on plateaus, alpine desert grassland and mountain desert areas. It often has a reddish brown coat, with white hair on the chest, belly and legs. Its body length can reach more than 2 meters.

It is categorized as a national first-class protected wildlife species in China.

Kiang conservation is significant as the species plays a vital role in the ecological chain of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, according to Zhang.

Following this winter investigation, two more investigations will be carried out in the Kiang breeding in August and the mating season in November this year.

Then, the population density and size of Kiang in Qinghai will be estimated based on the investigations and ecological modeling, according to the Qinghai provincial forestry and grassland bureau.

Once the population size, density and distribution of Kiang in Qinghai are confirmed, suggestions will be proposed to balance the relationship between Kiang protection and husbandry grassland utilization in the province, the bureau added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
WASHINGTON  The Senate passed a six-month spending bill Friday hours before a government shutdown, sending it to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.

The essentially party-line vote, 54-46, didn't give the full picture of Democratic angst over how to confront the Trump administration as its Department of Government Efficiency fires federal workers and dismantles operations. Democrats argued over whether to fight even risking a shutdown and fumed that Republicans drafted a measure that included little of their input, shortchanging health care, housing and other priorities.

In the end, enough of the Democratic senators decided a government shutdown would be even worse, and backed Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer's strategy to allow the bill to come forward.

A shutdown will allow DOGE to shift into overdrive, Schumer said. Donald Trump and Elon Musk would be free to destroy vital government services at a much faster rate.

Democrats were confronted with two painful options: allowing passage of a bill they believe gives Trump vast discretion on spending decisions or voting no and letting a funding lapse ensue. All told, 10 Democrats voted to break the partys filibuster. On final passage, two Democrats supported the bill, and one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, opposed it.

Schumer gave members of his caucus days to vent their frustration about the options before them, but abruptly switched course and made clear on the eve of voting that he would not allow a government shutdown. His move outraged many in the party who want to fight the Trump agenda, but gave senators room to side with Republicans and allow the continuing resolution, often described as a CR, to advance.

Democrats from all corners looked to pressure senators to kill the bill. House members wrote letters, posted on social media and held news conferences in the hours before the vote.

"The American people sent Democrats to Congress to fight against Republican dysfunction and chaos," said a letter from 66 House Democrats to Schumer.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and his team dashed back to the Capitol urging senators to block the bill and negotiate a true compromise with Republicans.

Some Democrats also argued that Republicans would take the blame for a shutdown, given they controlled all the levers of power in Congress and the White House.

"If you refuse to put forward an offer that includes any Democratic input and you don't get Democratic votes, that's on Republicans," said Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

In contrast, Schumer picked up a nod of support from Trump himself, who just a day earlier geared up to blame Democrats for a shutdown.

"Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing  Took 'guts' and courage!" the president posted on his social media account.

Schumer acknowledged the difficult choice, but insisted Democrats would not allow a government shutdown.

Congress was unable to pass the annual appropriations bills designed to fund the government, so they've resorted to passing short-term extensions instead. The legislation before the Senate was the third such continuing resolution for the current fiscal year, now nearly half over.

The legislation funds the federal government through the end of September. It would trim nondefense spending by about $13 billion from the prior year and increase defense spending by about $6 billion, which are marginal changes when talking about a topline spending level of nearly $1.7 trillion.

The Republican-led House passed the spending bill Tuesday and then adjourned, leaving senators with a decision to either take it or leave it.

While Democrats pushed for a vote on a fourth short-term extension, GOP leadership made clear that option was a nonstarter.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and others made the case that any blame for a shutdown would fall squarely on Democrats. "Democrats need to decide if they're going to support funding legislation that came over from the House, or if they're going to shut down the government," he said.

Progressive groups urged Democratic lawmakers to insist on the 30-day extension and oppose the spending bill, saying business as usual must not continue.

But Schumer said Trump would seize more power during a shutdown, because it would give the administration the ability to deem whole agencies, programs and personnel nonessential, furloughing staff with no promise they would ever be rehired.

Spending bills typically come with specific funding directives for key programs, but hundreds of those directives fall away under the continuing resolution passed by the House. So the administration will have more leeway to decide where the money goes.

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.

Democrats also object to clawing back $20 billion in special IRS funding, on top of the $20 billion rescission approved during Joe Biden's presidency.

Senators also unanimously approved a separate bill to fix a provision in the package that would have required the District of Columbia to revert to 2024 budget levels, a cut of about $1.1 billion, even though the district raises most of its own money. The bill, which now goes to House, would allow spending at 2025 levels.

The spending bill the Senate approved is separate from the GOP effort to extend tax cuts for individuals passed in Trump's first term and to partially pay for them with spending cuts elsewhere in government. That package will be developed in months ahead.
Expanding a business internationally comes with significant legal, HR, and payroll challenges.

An Employer of Record (EOR) service simplifies global hiring by handling employment compliance, payroll, and benefits administration, allowing businesses to focus on growth. In this article, we compare the top 5 EOR providers based on features, pricing, compliance, and ease of use.

Read also: The talent battle: Winning strategies to attract and keep top employees

1. Multiplier

Free Demo & Special Offer 

Ratings

Gartner: NA

NA Capterra: 4.7 / 5 (41)

4.7 / 5 (41) Trustpilot: 4.9 / 5 (1357)

4.9 / 5 (1357) G2: 4.7 / 5 (1220)

4.7 / 5 (1220) HRStacks: 92.5%

Multiplier at a Glance

Multiplier is a leading Employer of Record (EOR) solution designed to simplify global hiring, payroll, and compliance management. With its robust platform, businesses can seamlessly onboard international employees, handle multi-currency payroll, and ensure legal compliance across 150+ countries.

Headquarters: New York, United States

New York, United States Founded: 2020

2020 Company Size: 501-1000 employees

Key Features of Multiplier

Global Payroll Management  Pay employees in their local currency while ensuring compliance with regional tax laws.

 Pay employees in their local currency while ensuring compliance with regional tax laws. HR Lifecycle Management  Manage employees from onboarding to offboarding with a centralized system.

 Manage employees from onboarding to offboarding with a centralized system. Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)  Offer equity-based compensation to attract top global talent.

 Offer equity-based compensation to attract top global talent. Hire & Onboard Freelancers  Manage international contractors and process payments seamlessly.

 Manage international contractors and process payments seamlessly. Global Compliance Management  Ensure compliance with labor laws across multiple jurisdictions.

 Ensure compliance with labor laws across multiple jurisdictions. Expense & Leave/PTO Management  Automate leave tracking and expense approvals.

 Automate leave tracking and expense approvals. Self-Service Portal  Empower employees with easy access to payslips, tax documents, and leave requests.

Pricing Details

Free Version: No

No Free Trial: No

No Starting Price: $40/month

Multiplier Pros & Cons

Pros:

 Quickly generates legally compliant contracts for different countries.

 Streamlines global payroll and handles tax calculations automatically.

 Supports multi-currency payments for employees and contractors.

 Simplifies expense and leave management.

 Provides insurance for both full-time employees and contractors.

Cons:

 Lacks AI-driven analytics for advanced insights.

 Can be costly for small businesses.

 No free trial available.

Who Should Use Multiplier?

Multiplier is ideal for medium to large businesses looking to scale internationally while ensuring full legal compliance. Its a great fit for companies that want a single platform to handle HR, payroll, and compliance for both employees and freelancers across multiple countries. However, smaller businesses with budget constraints may find its pricing on the higher side.

2. Rippling

Free Demo & Special Offer 

Ratings

Gartner: 4.6 / 5 (4)

4.6 / 5 (4) Capterra: 4.9 / 5 (3615)

4.9 / 5 (3615) Trustpilot: 4.4 / 5 (1084)

4.4 / 5 (1084) G2: 4.8 / 5 (6795)

4.8 / 5 (6795) HRStacks: 93%

Rippling at a Glance

Rippling is a powerful, all-in-one platform that integrates HR, payroll, IT, and finance management, making it a standout EOR solution for businesses with both in-house and remote employees. With its automated workflows and centralized dashboard, Rippling simplifies global workforce management while ensuring compliance across multiple regions.

Headquarters: California, United States

California, United States Founded: 2016

2016 Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees

Key Features of Rippling

Human Resource Management  Manage employee records, benefits, and compliance from one platform.

 Manage employee records, benefits, and compliance from one platform. Global Payroll Management  Automate payroll processing across multiple countries.

 Automate payroll processing across multiple countries. IT Automation  Assign and revoke software access, manage security settings, and provision devices automatically.

 Assign and revoke software access, manage security settings, and provision devices automatically. Time & Attendance Management  Track employee working hours, PTO, and absences with built-in reporting.

 Track employee working hours, PTO, and absences with built-in reporting. Performance & Learning Management  Streamline employee performance reviews and training programs.

 Streamline employee performance reviews and training programs. Policy Creation & Compliance Management  Ensure legal and company policies are properly implemented.

 Ensure legal and company policies are properly implemented. PEO Services & Global Employment  Outsource HR, benefits, and compliance with its Professional Employer Organization (PEO) model.

Pricing Details

Free Version: No

No Free Trial: Yes

Yes Starting Price: $8/user

Rippling Pros & Cons

Pros:

 Quick onboarding and offboarding process (under 90 seconds).

 Automatic syncing of employee updates to payroll.

 Centralized dashboard for easy employee data access.

 Includes a built-in Rippling library with HR and IT resources.

 All-in-one platform for managing HR, payroll, and IT operations.

Cons:

 Limited third-party integration capabilities.

 No 24/7 live customer support.

Who Should Use Rippling?

Rippling is an excellent choice for businesses that want a single platform to handle HR, payroll, IT, and compliance. Its especially useful for companies with remote or hybrid workforces that need seamless onboarding and automation. However, organizations that require extensive integrations or round-the-clock support may find Ripplings limitations challenging.

3. RemoFirst

Free Demo & Special Offer 

Ratings

Gartner: NA

NA Capterra: 5.0 / 5 (2)

5.0 / 5 (2) Trustpilot: 4.0 / 5 (10)

4.0 / 5 (10) G2: 4.5 / 5 (147)

4.5 / 5 (147) HRStacks: 92.25%

RemoFirst at a glance

RemoFirst is a full-service Employer of Record (EOR) and HR platform designed to simplify global hiring and compliance for businesses. It offers a wide range of features to manage payroll, tax compliance, recruitment, and employee performance, making it an efficient solution for companies expanding internationally.

Headquarters: California, United States

California, United States Founded: 2021

2021 Company Size: 11-50 employees

Key Features of RemoFirst

Global Payroll Management  Automate payments and tax compliance for international employees.

 Automate payments and tax compliance for international employees. Time & Attendance Tracking  Monitor employee working hours, absences, and time-off requests.

 Monitor employee working hours, absences, and time-off requests. Recruitment & Onboarding Management  Streamline hiring and documentation for remote workers.

 Streamline hiring and documentation for remote workers. Performance & Workflow Management  Oversee employee performance and optimize workflows.

 Oversee employee performance and optimize workflows. Compliance & Tax Management  Ensure regional employment compliance and handle tax filings.

 Ensure regional employment compliance and handle tax filings. Billing & Invoicing  Simplify payments and contractor management.

 Simplify payments and contractor management. Self-Service & Document Management  Give employees access to manage their records and documentation.

Pricing Details

Free Version: No

No Free Trial: Yes

Yes Starting Price: $25/month

RemoFirst Pros & Cons

Pros:

 Offers a wide range of HR and compliance features.

 Simplifies hiring and managing global employees.

 User-friendly interface with intuitive navigation.

 Responsive customer support.

 Competitive pricing compared to other EOR providers.

Cons:

 Occasional issues and delays in updating employee data.

 Limited features compared to some larger competitors.

Who Should Use RemoFirst?

RemoFirst is a great choice for startups and small businesses looking for a cost-effective EOR solution with a strong set of HR and compliance features. However, businesses requiring more advanced analytics and automation may find its capabilities somewhat limited.

4. Velocity Global

Free Demo & Special Offer 

Ratings

Gartner: NA

NA Capterra: NA

NA Trustpilot: 3.7 / 5 (1)

3.7 / 5 (1) G2: 4.7 / 5 (286)

4.7 / 5 (286) HRStacks: 91%

Velocity Global at a glance

Velocity Global is a global employment and HR solution designed to help businesses seamlessly hire, manage, and pay employees across different countries. With its robust Employer of Record (EOR) services, global payroll, and compliance management, Velocity Global simplifies international workforce expansion while reducing operational risks.

Headquarters: Denver, Colorado, United States

Denver, Colorado, United States Founded: 2014

2014 Company Size: 501-1000 employees

Key Features of Velocity Global

Global Payroll Processing  Manage multi-country payroll with automated tax filing and compliance.

 Manage multi-country payroll with automated tax filing and compliance. Employer of Record & Agent of Record Services  Hire international employees without setting up a legal entity.

 Hire international employees without setting up a legal entity. Immigration & Visa Management  Handle work permits and visa applications for global hires.

 Handle work permits and visa applications for global hires. Compliant Contractor & Freelancer Management  Manage and pay contractors while ensuring legal compliance.

 Manage and pay contractors while ensuring legal compliance. Custom Compensation & Benefits  Offer localized benefits, pay structures, and payroll schedules.

 Offer localized benefits, pay structures, and payroll schedules. HRIS & Employee Record Management  Centralize employee records for efficient workforce management.

 Centralize employee records for efficient workforce management. Audit Preparation & Tax Compliance  Ensure accurate filings and minimize legal risks.

 Ensure accurate filings and minimize legal risks. Global Expenses & Invoices  Simplify international payment processing for employees and vendors.

 Simplify international payment processing for employees and vendors. Seamless API Integrations  Connect with existing HR, accounting, and finance tools.

Pricing Details

Free Version: No

No Free Trial: No

No Starting Price: Custom Pricing

Velocity Global Pros & Cons

Pros:

 Strong global reach with localized expertise.

 Reduces compliance risks and simplifies international hiring.

 Offers expert immigration guidance for employees.

 Provides tailored benefits and payroll solutions worldwide.

 Streamlined workforce and HR operations.

Cons:

 Custom pricing may make budgeting difficult for some businesses.

 Third-party service dependencies can add unpredictability.

 May not be the best fit for highly niche industries.

Who Should Use Velocity Global?

Velocity Global is ideal for businesses looking for a scalable and compliance-driven EOR solution to expand globally. Its particularly beneficial for companies that need immigration support, contractor management, and flexible payroll solutions. However, businesses with niche industry requirements or those preferring fixed pricing models may need to evaluate other options.

5. Deel

Free Demo & Special Offer 

Ratings

Gartner: 4.3 (4)

4.3 (4) Capterra: 4.8 (2515)

4.8 (2515) Trustpilot: 4.8 (6476)

4.8 (6476) G2: 4.8 / 5 (6955)

4.8 / 5 (6955) HRStacks: 93%

Deel at a glance

Deel is a leading HR and Employer of Record (EOR) solution that streamlines global workforce management, payroll, compliance, and HR automation. With robust features and a user-friendly interface, Deel helps businesses hire and manage remote employees and contractors across 150+ countries while ensuring legal and financial compliance.

Headquarters: California, United States

California, United States Founded: 2018

2018 Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees

Key Features of Deel

Employer of Record (EOR) Services  Hire and pay international employees without legal entity setup.

 Hire and pay international employees without legal entity setup. HR Automation & Workforce Management  Manage onboarding, payroll, and compliance in one platform.

 Manage onboarding, payroll, and compliance in one platform. Self-Service Portal  Employees and contractors can access payment details, benefits, and contracts.

 Employees and contractors can access payment details, benefits, and contracts. Compensation & Benefits Management  Handle salaries, equity, and perks in compliance with local laws.

 Handle salaries, equity, and perks in compliance with local laws. Global Compliance Management  Ensure contracts, tax filings, and employment regulations are met.

 Ensure contracts, tax filings, and employment regulations are met. Leave & Time-Off Tracking  Manage employee vacation and PTO seamlessly.

 Manage employee vacation and PTO seamlessly. Automated HR Workflows  Eliminate manual errors and streamline HR processes.

 Eliminate manual errors and streamline HR processes. Merger & Acquisition Support  Manage workforce transitions smoothly.

 Manage workforce transitions smoothly. Multiple Payment Options  Supports 15+ global payment methods for employees and contractors.

Pricing Details

Free Version: Yes

Yes Free Trial: No

No Starting Price: $49/Month

Deel Pros & Cons

Pros:

 Cuts onboarding time to just 5 minutes.

 Automates payroll for employees and contractors.

 Eliminates duplicate work and reduces errors.

 Provides real-time insights into employer costs, churn, and headcount.

 Supports 15+ global payment options.

 Instant access to legal and compliance expertise.

Cons:

 No free trial is available.

Who Should Use Deel?

Deel is perfect for companies expanding their global workforce, especially startups and enterprises looking for a reliable and automated EOR solution. Its fast onboarding, compliance management, and multiple payment options make it a great fit for businesses hiring internationally. However, those looking for a free trial may need to explore other options.

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Activists Rally Outside London Tesla Showroom to Advocate for Boycott

Demonstrators assembled outside a Tesla dealership in London to advocate for a boycott of the electric car manufacturer owned by Elon Musk.

Event organizers are urging Tesla owners to sell their vehicles and for individuals to divest from the companys stock.

The electric vehicle giant has already experienced a decline in shares since the beginning of the year, facing mounting pressure from competitors in China, alongside calls for a boycott due to Mr. Musks close affiliations with former US President Donald Trump and far-right movements.

A small contingent of protesters at the Tesla location in Park Royal, west London, held signs that read Honk if you dislike Tesla and Enough fascist nonsense.

On Wednesday, two activists from Just Stop Oil were apprehended after splattering orange powdered paint on a robot inside a Tesla showroom in Shepherds Bush, west London, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Catherine Rennie Nash, a 74-year-old retired teacher, and 63-year-old former tax adviser Nigel Fleming climbed onto a podium display in the retail space.

The duo then drenched the robot in paint and unfurled a Just Stop Oil banner, stating that their actions were a protest against Mr. Musk and billionaires who are jeopardizing climate science and threatening democracy.

Tesla has faced protests and vandalism incidents in the United States in recent weeks.

Authorities in Oregon reported they are collaborating with the FBI to investigate gunfire directed at a Tesla dealership.

This incident followed a week after federal prosecutors in Denver charged a woman for vandalism at a Tesla dealership in Colorado, which included throwing Molotov cocktails at vehicles and spray-painting the phrase Nazi cars on the building.

Elon Musk and Donald Trump engage with the media beside a Tesla

In a demonstration of support for Mr. Musks company, former President Donald Trump explored a new Tesla at the White House driveway on Tuesday, opting for a shiny red sedan.

Wow, Mr. Trump exclaimed while seated in the drivers seat of a Model S. Thats beautiful.

Mr. Musk continues to oversee Tesla, as well as the social media platform X and the aerospace manufacturer SpaceX, while also serving as an advisor to Mr. Trump.
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was unable to attend in person at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the commencement of the crimes against humanity hearing concerning his lethal anti-drug campaign.

The 79-year-old, who is the first former Asian head of state to face charges at the ICC, participated via videolink during a brief session to inform him about the crimes he is accused of committing and his rights as a defendant.

Appearing frail in a blue suit and tie, he spoke briefly to confirm his name and date of birth. Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc permitted him to follow the proceedings in absentia due to the extensive flight he took to reach The Hague.

Dutertes attorney, Salvador Medialdea, asserted in court that his client had been abducted from his country.

Mr. Medialdea also stated that Duterte was experiencing debilitating medical issues, adding: Other than to identify himself, he is unable to contribute to this hearing.

Duterte appeared drowsy during the proceedings, frequently closing his eyes for extended periods.

However, Judge Motoc reassured Mr. Duterte, saying: The court doctor was of the opinion that you were fully mentally aware and fit.

She scheduled the next phase of the process, a hearing to confirm the charges, for 23 September.

Supporters of Rodrigo Duterte gathered outside the court in The Hague.

Mr. Duterte faces charges of murder as a crime against humanity linked to his lethal war on drugs.

The ICC sought to charge Duterte for his lengthy campaign against drug dealers and users, which rights organizations claim resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands.

Upon his arrival in The Hague, the former leader seemed to take responsibility for his actions, stating in a Facebook video: I have been telling the police, the military that it was my job and I am responsible.

His arrest in Manila occurred amid a breakdown in relations between his family and the Marcos family, which had previously collaborated in governing the Philippines.

Current President Ferdinand Marcos and Vice President Sara DuterteMr. Dutertes daughterare in conflict, with the latter facing an impeachment trial over allegations, including a purported assassination plot against Mr. Marcos.

Ms. Duterte is in The Netherlands to support her father, calling his arrest oppression and persecution.

Meanwhile, victims of the war on drugs hope for justice regarding his alleged crimes.

Gilbert Andres, a lawyer for the victims, remarked: My clients are very thankful to God because their prayers have been answered.

The arrest of Rodrigo Duterte is a significant signal for international criminal justice. It indicates that no one is above the law, Mr. Andres added.

This high-profile case comes at a pivotal time for the ICC, as it experiences unprecedented pressure from various fronts, including sanctions from the US.

Last month, US President Donald Trump implemented sanctions against the court, calling its actions illegitimate and baseless and targeting America and its close ally, Israel.

The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza war.

The Hague Penitentiary Institution where Rodrigo Duterte is currently detained.

Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan hailed Mr. Dutertes arrest as a critical moment for both victims and international justice as a whole.

Many argue that international law is not as robust as we would like, and I concur. However, as I have often reiterated, international law is not as feeble as some may assume, Mr. Khan stated following Mr. Dutertes transition to ICC custody.

When we unite  when we forge partnerships, the rule of law can prevail. Warrants can be executed, he added.

During the initial hearing, a suspect can request temporary release pending trial, as per ICC regulations.

Following this initial session, the next step will be a gathering to confirm the charges, during which a suspect can contest the prosecutors evidence.

Only after this hearing will the court determine whether to proceed with a trial, a process that could extend for several months or potentially years.

Its crucial to emphasize that as we commence this new stage of proceedings, Mr. Duterte is presumed innocent, asserted Mr. Khan.
President Vladimir Putin urged the beleaguered Ukrainian forces in the Russian region of Kursk to surrender, while Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Russian leader of attempting to sabotage a ceasefire initiative.

US President Donald Trump called on Putin to save the lives of the Ukrainian troops, stating that his envoy had engaged in productive conversations with the Russian leader regarding a proposed 30-day ceasefire.

In the past week, Russia has launched a swift counteroffensive in the western border region of Kursk, reclaiming much of the territory previously captured by Ukraine during a surprise incursion last August.

A school was destroyed by Russian bombing in Krasnopillia.

A defeat in Kursk would significantly hinder Ukraines strategy to leverage its control over the region as a bargaining tool in peace negotiations for the war that has been ongoing for three years.

If they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be ensured life and dignified treatment, Mr. Putin stated.

Mr. Trump remarked that thousands of Ukrainian soldiers were completely surrounded by the Russian military and in a very precarious and vulnerable position. He added, I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would lead to a horrific massacre, one that hasnt been seen since World War II.

Ukraines military leadership refuted these claims, asserting through social media that there is no threat of our units being encircled, according to Ukraines General Staff.

An infographic depicting recent advancements of the Russian army in Kursk.

In comments to reporters in Ukraine, Mr. Zelensky provided a more cautious evaluation, stating, The situation in the Kursk region is undeniably very challenging, while maintaining that the campaign still held strategic significance.

He pointed out that Russia had been compelled to withdraw troops from other areas along the front lines, alleviating some of the pressure on Ukrainian forces striving to maintain control over the eastern logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

Trumps latest remarks followed an update on a meeting between his envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin regarding a US-Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day cessation of hostilities.

We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a strong possibility that this horrific, bloody war can finally conclude, Trump said through his Truth Social platform.

Ukraine losing grip.

On Thursday, Mr. Putin expressed that he had serious questions regarding the proposal and mentioned that developments in Kursk would influence future decisions related to a ceasefire.

Read more: Putin sabotaging diplomacy over ceasefire conditions, says Zelensky.

Mr. Zelensky accused the Russian leader of attempting to undermine the ceasefire initiative.

He is currently doing everything possible to sabotage diplomacy by imposing extremely difficult and unacceptable conditions right from the outset, even before a ceasefire, Mr. Zelensky posted on X.

The Kremlin expressed cautious optimism about the potential for a deal but indicated that direct discussions between Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin were necessary for progress to be made.

In a Fox News interview, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz remarked that the United States was feeling some cautious optimism following Mr. Witkoffs visit.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated at a G7 meeting in Canada that both parties must be willing to make concessions.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky accused President Vladimir Putin of seeking to undermine the ceasefire initiative.

The G7 foreign ministers cautioned Russia of new sanctions unless it accepted a ceasefire on equal terms, noting that potential sanctions might include caps on oil prices, additional support for Ukraine, and other measures.

France and Germany accused Russia of obstructing a ceasefire, and support for Ukraine was set to be discussed again in a video conference involving some European leaders and Mr. Zelensky today.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer remarked yesterday that Russias total disregard for President Trumps ceasefire proposal only illustrates that Putin is not genuinely committed to peace.

Diplomatic sources indicated that EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas would propose that the 27-nation bloc allocate up to 40 billion ($43.5 billion) in new military aid to Ukraine.

Ukraine anticipated that its control over Kursk could serve as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Russia, with aspirations for a potential land swap, especially considering that Russia has occupied roughly a fifth of Ukraine since seizing Crimea in 2014 and initiated its military offensive in February 2022.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  The 27 countries of the European Union, with a population of about 450 million, produce 3.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide every year, helping heat up and destabilize the global climate. This is according to the new EU report on energy dated 2025.

But the good news is that European carbon dioxide production has fallen precipitously over the past 15 years.

On the other hand, the proportion of Europes energy consumption that comes from renewables has skyrocketed from 9% in 2010 to over a quarter today. Energy is more than just electricity, including for instance the heating of homes, offices and factories.

If we just look at electricity, about 47% or nearly half of Europes electricity consumption now comes from renewables  solar, wind, water, battery.



Photo by Daniele La Rosa Messina on Unsplash

The report notes, In 2023 in the EU, the different had the following shares in final energy consumption: transport (32% of final energy consumption in rail, road, domestic aviation, and inland shipping) had the highest share, followed by energy consumed by private households in citizens dwellings (26%), industry (25%), commercial and public services (14%), and agriculture, forestry and fishing (3%).

Since transportation is so crucial, it is worth noting that over 13% of new car registrations are electric in Europe, down slightly from 14% in the previous year. But about a third of new car registrations are hybrid.

Unfortunately, Europe imports 58 percent of its energy, and it imports a lot of fossil gas, which makes its grid dirtier than it would be if all the energy came from Europe itself, since 40% of European-produced energy is green. Politically, Europe still needs to ween itself off Russian fossil gas if it is to adopt and more independent and active role in defending Ukraine from Moscow.

In contrast, only a little over 20% of electricity in the United States is generated by renewables, less than half the proportion in Europe. Under Trump the discrepancy could accelerate, though solar in particular is an extremely robust industry in the US and even Trump may not be able to stand in its way.

The difference is visible with regard to emissions, as well. The United States, with a population of 340 million, puts out 4.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide every year from energy generation, so Europe is obviously much greener with regard to energy than the United States. It is greener both in absolute terms and on a per capita basis. CO2 missions have also fallen in the U.S. in the past 15 years, from 5.5 bn. metric tons per year to 4.3 bn metric tons per year.



Find more statistics at Statista

But emissions havent fallen as low as Europes and that could be a problem. I think countries will gradually bring pressure to bear on climate scofflaws like Trumps America  lawsuits in international venues, boycotts and sanctions will increasingly be applied. Goods may be taxed on the carbon emissions produced to make them. Since Europe is doing a better job with the green energy transition, these actions could bring wealth to Europe and cause it to flee the United States.
By Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Rice University

(The Conversation)  Saudi Arabia is 2,000 miles from Ukraine and even more politically distant, so at first glance it might seem like it has nothing to do with the ongoing war there. But the Gulf state has emerged as a key intermediary in the most serious ceasefire negotiations since Russia invaded its neighbor three years ago.

While it is U.S. officials who are undoubtedly leading the efforts for an agreement, it is the Saudi capital of Riyadh that has been staging the crucial talks.

In a flurry of diplomatic activity on March 10, 2025, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the countrys top political authority, hosted separate meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a U.S. delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz.

The following day, senior Saudi officials facilitated face-to-face meetings between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations.

The resulting agreement, which is now being mulled in Moscow, is all the more notable given that it followed a diplomatic breakdown just weeks before at the Oval Office between Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Whether the proposed interim 30-day ceasefire materializes is still uncertain. On March 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he agreed with the proposal in principle, but he added that a lot of the details needed to be sorted out.

Should a deal be reached, there is every reason to believe it will be inked in Saudi Arabia, which has hosted not only the latest U.S.-Ukrainian talks but earlier rounds of high-level Russian-U.S. meetings.

But why is a Gulf nation playing mediator in a conflict in Eastern Europe? As an expert on Saudi politics, I believe the answer to that lies in the kingdoms diplomatic ambitions and its desire to present a more positive image to the world. And in the background is the goal of better positioning the nation in the event of diplomatic maneuvers in its own region, notably in regards to any talks between U.S. and Iran.

The diplomatic convertion of MBS

Saudi Arabias growing diplomatic role has been a feature of the kingdoms foreign policy since 2022.

Crown Prince Mohammed, who that year succeeded his father as prime minister, views Saudi Arabia as the convening power in the Arab and Islamic world.

Accordingly, officials in the kingdom have been directed to lead regional diplomacy over a number of pressing issues, including the conflicts in Gaza and Sudan.

At the same time, Saudis have started the process of reconciliation with Iran, which has long been perceived as the chief regional rival to Saudi influence.

This turn to diplomacy marks a shift away from the confrontational policies adopted by the crown prince during his rise to power in Saudi Arabia between 2015 and 2018. Policies such as Saudi Arabias military intervention in Yemen, its blockade of Qatar, the detention of Lebanons Prime Minister Saad Hariri and the conversion of the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh into a makeshift prison all fed an image of the young prince as an impulsive decision-maker. Then in 2018 came the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

This approach brought little in the way of stability. Rather, it left the country ensnared in an unwinnable war in Yemen, a fruitless row with Qatar, and diplomatic isolation by Western officials.

A friend to Ukraine and Russia

In regards to the war in Ukraine, Saudi Arabias intermediary role is helped by a perception of the kingdom as a neutral nation on the conflict.

Saudi officials, in common with their counterparts in the other Gulf states, have long sought to avoid taking sides in the emerging era of great power competition and strategic rivalry. As such, the kingdom has maintained working relations with both Russia and pro-Western Ukraine since the outbreak of war in Europe.



Riyadh Skyline, Digital, ChatGPT, 2025

In 2022, for example, Saudi Arabia and Russia  both leaders of OPEC+  coordinated oil production cuts to cushion Moscow from the effects of global sanctions the West imposed after it invaded Ukraine. Yet just months later, Saudi Arabia invited Zelenskyy to address an Arab League summit in the Saudi city of Jeddah.

It was a prelude to a 2023 international summit, also in Jeddah, which brought together representatives from 40 countries to discuss the ongoing war.

Despite failing to produce a breakthrough, the meeting illustrated the convening reach of the crown prince and his intention to act as a diplomatic go-between in the Ukraine-Russia war.

Saudi Arabia and neighboring United Arab Emirates later facilitated occasional prisoner exchanges between the two countries  rare diplomatic successes in three years of conflict.

Staging ground for diplomacy

Direct engagement in high-stakes international diplomacy over the largest war in Europe since 1945 is undoubtedly a step up in Saudi ambitions. But the countrys efforts arent purely altruistic. Riyadh believes theres mileage to be gained in such diplomatic endeavors.

The advent of a Trump presidency has fit Saudi desires. Trump has made his desire to be seen as a dealmaker and peacemaker clear, but he needs a neutral venue in which the hard work of diplomacy can flourish.

Just weeks into the new U.S. administration, the Saudi capital hosted the first meeting between a U.S. secretary of state and Russian foreign minister since Russia invaded in 2022.

It yielded an agreement to re-establish the bilateral relationship and establish a consultation mechanism to address irritants in ties.

The two rounds of dialogue in Riyadh  first with Russia, then Ukraine  have positioned the Saudi leadership firmly in the diplomatic process. It has also gone some way to rehabilitate Mohammed bin Salmans image.

The sight of the crown prince warmly greeting Zelenskyy contrasted sharply with the images from a fractious White House meeting that went around the world, presenting the crown prince as a statesmanlike figure.

Turning to Tehran

Such positive optics would have seemed inconceivable as recently as 2019, when the crown prince was shunned and then presidential candidate Joe Biden labeled the country a pariah state.

Changing this negative global perception of Saudi Arabia is crucial if the kingdom is to attract the tens of millions of visitors that are pivotal to the success of the giga-projects  sports, culture and tourism events that the Saudis hope will drive its economy and allow the kingdom to be less economically dependent on fossil fuel exports.

Whereas easing tensions with Iran and supporting Yemens fragile truce are about derisking the kingdoms vulnerability to regional volatility, facilitating diplomacy over Ukraine is a relatively cost-free way to reinforce the changing narratives about Saudi Arabia.

After all, any breakdown in the Russia-U.S.-Ukraine negotiations is unlikely to be blamed on the Saudis.

Indeed, Saudi officials may view their engagement with U.S. officials over Ukraine as the prelude to further diplomatic cooperation. And this will be especially true if Crown Prince Mohammed is able to establish himself as an indispensable partner in the eyes of Trump.

Saudi officials were excluded from the last major talks between Iran and the U.S., which also involved several other major world powers and led to the 2016 Iran nuclear deal. Trump withdrew from the deal shortly after assuming office for the first time in 2017, and U.S.-Iranian relations have been moribund since then.

The U.S. administration has already mooted the idea of a resumption of negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear capabilities.

Placing Saudi Arabia in the middle of any attempts to secure a new nuclear agreement that would replace or supersede that earlier deal would be a high-risk move, given the intensity of feeling on both the U.S. and Iranian sides and the uneasy coexistence between Tehran and Riyadh.

But doing so would give the kingdom what it most desires: a seat at the table.

Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Fellow for the Middle East at the Baker Institute, Rice University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.






Saturday, March 15, 2025 - Gunmen believed to be members of Somalias National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) on Friday launched an armed assault against Kenyan police officers stationed along the Mandera border, resulting in the fatal shooting of one officer and the injury of another.

The attack occurred at approximately 11:20 am on March 14th, when a group of about 20 heavily armed NISA personnel opened fire on five officers from the Border Police Unit (BPU) who were manning Border Point 4 along the Kenya-Somalia frontier.

During the ambush, police constable Dennis Omari sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the stomach, while his colleague, Wright Mokua, was shot in the left upper arm.

Mokua was rushed to Mandera Referral Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.

The assailants seized two rifles belonging to the officers before fleeing.

They took a G3 rifle (serial number A00708) loaded with 60 rounds of ammunition from the slain officer and an AK-47 rifle (serial number 5501352) with 30 rounds from NPR officer Sadam Salat.

According to intelligence reports, the attack was reportedly orchestrated as an act of retribution for a previous security operation in which Kenyan authorities arrested terror suspects involved in an attempted abduction of Chinese nationals working on an infrastructure project in Mandera.

Information gathered from Somali authorities indicates that the assault was coordinated by a NISA officer who is the brother of one of the suspects arrested in connection with the foiled kidnapping.

The Kenya-Somalia border has long been a volatile region, with security operations frequently disrupted by armed militants, cross-border criminal networks, and allegations of covert operations by Somali security personnel.

The latest attack has heightened tensions in the area, with security forces now on high alert amid fears of further hostilities.

Senior police officials, led by the County Police Commander, visited the crime scene and have launched an investigation into the incident.

The case has been taken up by the Police Unit of Inquiry (PUI) and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) in Mandera, who are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the ambush.

Authorities are now under pressure to respond to the incursion, with questions being raised about the implications of recent policy changes affecting the regions security landscape.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, March 15, 2025 - The High Court in Eldoret has sentenced a 53-year-old police officer, Benard Ndege, to 30 years in prison for fatally shooting his wife during a dispute over a wallet and an ATM card.

The tragic incident occurred on March 9th, 2019, at the Soy police lines in Uasin Gishu County.

Justice Reuben Nyakundi, who delivered the ruling, stated that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

He condemned Ndege for breaching public trust by misusing a Government-issued firearm in a domestic altercation.

The court heard harrowing testimony from the couples nine-year-old son, who was present during the shooting, as well as five police officers who lived nearby.

One officer recounted witnessing Ndege and his wife arguing outside their home before hearing threats and gunshots moments later.

Despite Ndeges claims that an unknown attacker was responsible, forensic evidence, including ballistic analysis and eyewitness accounts, linked him directly to the murder.

The postmortem revealed that the victim had been shot more than nine times in the head and chest.

Justice Nyakundi highlighted the alarming rise in femicide cases in Kenya and underscored the need for strict legal action.

Ndege has the right to appeal the sentence.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, March 15, 2025 - Controversial Mumias East MP, Peter Salasya, is once again making headlines after sharing a playful video with a stunning lady he claims is from Greece.

The clip, which has since gone viral, shows the lawmaker bidding her farewell while thanking her for visiting Kenya.

Posting the video on his socials, Salasya wrote: I will miss my friend as she goes back to Greek land in Greece, Athens city. I have wished her a safe journey as I head to Mumias today from Kisumu.

Netizens were quick to react, with many speculating about the nature of their relationship.

Salasya, who has never shied away from social media theatrics, also mentioned that Kisumu residents were happy with his oversight role in the broad-based Government.

Whether this was just friendly banter or something more, one thing is certain - Salasya knows how to keep people talking!Bottom of Form

Watch the video and reactions.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, March 15, 2025 - The passing of a Nigerian expatriate working for Teleperformance Kenya has reignited discussions on employee welfare in the content moderation industry.

The deceased, identified as a content moderator, reportedly fell ill in late February, was granted sick leave, and later missed work before being found unresponsive at her residence.

The incident has caused unease among employees, with some expressing concerns about how the situation is being handled and what it could mean for their job security.

In the wake of growing public debate, one colleague who worked closely with the deceased shared a note offering personal reflections on the demands of content moderation, the pressures of the job, and the uncertainty now facing employees.

"Content moderation is not an easy job. Even for myself, I dont plan to stay here for more than two years, Im saving to start my own business or maybe get another better job. That said, Teleperformance is a great company to work for, better than my previous employer who didn't pay us any close to what I earn today. As for Ladi, she got unwell due to a personal matter she didnt want to disclose to other colleagues. Its unfortunate that some are using this case to jeopardize our jobs and opportunities," the colleague stated.

Teleperformance, which is contracted by TikTok to provide content moderation services, issued a statement saying it had been in close contact with the deceased's family and authorities.

The company called for privacy and stated that it had answered all questions from the relevant officials.

"We have been in contact with the employee's family, and our priority is to provide all the necessary support to them as well as our employees in Nairobi, who may be affected by this tragedy," Teleperformance stated.

Addressing concerns raised by some employees and advocacy groups, the company denied claims that Ladi had been denied leave, terming such allegations as baseless.

"We have been in close communication with local authorities. While we understand that curiosity and speculation can arise from such unfortunate circumstances, we are unable to provide further details and instead ask that interested parties reach out to the authorities. Any claims that the employee was denied leave are baseless and not true," the company added.

Teleperformance also rejected suggestions that employees had been prohibited from discussing the matter.

The company stated that it had only urged them to avoid speculation and to respect the familys privacy.

It reaffirmed that it had expanded access to counselling and emotional support, allowing affected employees to seek assistance.

The company also announced plans to commission an independent review of its Nairobi operations to examine workplace matters.

It stated that the process would be handled by a third party.

"We will launch an independent investigation into our operations in Nairobi to better understand these issues and implement appropriate solutions," the company said.

Teleperformance reaffirmed its commitment to employee wellness, pointing out its 24/7 counselling services, wellness breaks, and a counsellor-to-moderator ratio of 1:38, which it stated was better than the industry average of 1:75.

The company, recently listed among Fortunes Top 5 Best Workplaces, also pointed out that its pay scale was four to five times higher than Kenyas statutory minimum wage.

While concerns over mental health in the content moderation industry continue, the company insists that its wellness programmes meet and exceed industry standards.

Labour advocates have called for stronger protections, and the incident has reignited broader discussions on how best to safeguard workers in this field.

Investigations are ongoing, as authorities await confirmation on whether the family of the deceased will consent to the release of post-mortem results issued by the police.

Colleagues of the deceased gathered for a memorial on Friday evening to pay their last respects.
ELKO  The science of plastics and the reliability of artificial intelligence detectors won three Elko High School students grand prizes at the Elko County STEM Fair.

Avery Sholty, Max Fraley and Erika Lopez took top honors in the annual event that showcases science, technology, engineering and math projects from students throughout the Elko County School District.

Organizers said a final total of 326 projects were entered, which were exhibited throughout the Elko Convention Center.

In all, 119 of those projects were from high school students, 101 from fifth through eighth graders and 106 from elementary schools. There were 102 first-, second- and third-place ribbons awarded.

Thanks to community supporters, including the Elko County Robotics League, Empire CAT, Nevada Department of Transportation, Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital, Desert Research Institute, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada Outdoor Schools and PACE Coalition, students and families who visit the STEM Fair can also get hands-on experience in STEM-related fields, said STEM co-director Anita Collins.

It provides more to students than just coming in and seeing the projects, which are always fantastic. But the hands-on experience and the way the community uses STEM, were getting more vendors all the time, bringing that outreach to the community, Collins said.

The STEM Fair also thanked its sponsors, including the Elko County School District, Nevada Gold Mines, Picture This, Knight Piesold, Canyon Construction, Nevada Bank and Trust, Richard and Lisa Perry, Jesse and Denise Lopategui, LP Insurance, Total Eye Care, Wells Rural Electric Co. Wilson, Barrows, Salyer and Jones, Print N Copy, Elko Tool and Fastner, ECSD Administrators Association, McConnell Law Office, Carlin Trend Mining Services. Dr. Sergio Guzman OD, Boss Tanks, Julian Tomera Ranches, Elko County Cattlewomen, Friends of the STEM Fair, Maggie Creek Ranch, Family Dental Care, Gaser Land and Livestock, The Star Hotel and Accelerated Medical.

Avery Sholty, first grand prize

Avery Sholty, a freshman at Elko High School, took first grand prize honors with her project Biodegradable Algae Plastic.

This is a cool example of how we can create things we have from the earth, and I think its interesting, Sholty said.

Her idea came from finding a solution to plastic pollution, which is one of the biggest problems we have currently, and its not slowing down anytime soon, she explained. Plastic consumption is used daily, if we want to eliminate the use of plastic itself, we need to come up with a proper alternative.

Her research, which took a couple of months, led her to discover how different vegetables and starches could be turned into plastic, but I specifically decided to use algae because its high in biopolymers, which will apply structure to whatever its mixed in with, she said.

It took me six hours to prepare all three batches, it took about a week to cure, and testing was pretty straightforward.

Looking ahead to next year, Sholty said she was looking at all options, including expanding on this years project. I think I could go either way. There are a lot of different things Im interested in the STEM field, but I think theres definitely a lot to improve with this design. This was only a baseline prototype, and I have so many ideas on how this could be improved.

This was the second STEM Fair she entered. She will consider pursuing a career in s STEM field as she progresses through high school. Its very high on the list.

As a first-place grand prize winner, Sholty will compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair in May.

It will be super cool to travel, but I think the big thing is getting to look at what all the other young minds are conjuring up, she said.

Max Fraley, second grand prize

Max Fraley, a freshman at Elko High School, looked at creating plastics from milk.

He said his research showed him that plastics were comprised of polymers that could be simple or complex. Looking at simple polymers, he saw that milk, when heated up to its boiling temperature with an acidic solution, such as vinegar, added to it, creates plastic.

Fraley then wondered what kind of milk  0%, 1%, 2% or whole milk, would make a better plastic, testing for extension, stiffness and elasticity.

He found that fat-free milk produced a stiff and crumbly material, while the others were stretchy and soft.

Fraley called the project fun and thrilling to figure out all these different milks and which was better or worse in certain categories. He said he was also inspired by observing the thickness of the material.

There are so many different plastics such as plastic bags that are stretchy, while other plastics are rock hard and are sometimes harder than metals, he said. Why are they so different, and what makes them different? I tested that through the different milks.

This is Fraleys third time entering the STEM Fair, and he said he might continue his project next year using other liquids, such as applesauce, to be turned into a solid component.

If milk can be turned into a plastic easily, maybe others can be turned and it could be a good solution for our limited plastic reserves, Fraley said.

He said hes excited about competing in the International Science and Engineering Fair. Its a great opportunity. I think Ill have a great time and it will probably the highlight of my year.

Fraley said his dream job is being an EMT. I love the medical field in general, especially when it comes to emergency care. I know my project isnt dedicated to that, but I do want to go into the medical field.

For those who struggle trying to figure out a STEM project, he advised leaning into their ideas and making them work.

Its easy to create and discover things you love. You should never think, this idea is silly or this is stupid, he said. I think any idea is a smart idea especially if you delve deep into it and you get the information you need to help the world.

Erika Lopez, third grand prize

Erika Lopez, a junior at Elko High School, focused on the reliability of artificial intelligence detectors in her project.

She said reports of college students who had been negatively affected by AI-generated text and how detectors came up with false positives gave her the idea to develop a hypothesis and design her experiments.

Lopez had eight participants write a minimum of two paragraphs with five sentences on the effects of television violence with ChatGPT and without. She ran the writing samples and AI-generated responses through three AI detectors she found online for free.

She said results were mixed, with human-written samples coming back as AI-generated and AI samples returned as human.

In conclusion, I found that AI detectors were unreliable, given the fact that the results varied and none of them were consistent throughout all three AI detectors, Lopez said.

Lopez, a first-time STEM Fair entrant, said she took a week to get her project together.

Next year, she said she might continue the project, allowing participants to use other AI assistants from Instagram or Snapchat. She would also like to use another AI detector, TurnItIn, that is used by educators.

She said she hoped that educators would learn from her project that some AI detectors are deemed as unreliable.

As AI detectors are trying to crack down and become more advanced, the artificial intelligence is advancing more. Its something were going to have to cope with and find a solution instead of just relying on these AI detectors.

At the International Science and Engineering Fair, Lopez will not compete but will observe and volunteer during the event and be able to interact with people from around the world.

Ill be looking at other peoples projects, and I feel like I can be gaining inspiration from that, Lopez said.

Lopez said she was interested in the medical and pediatric field after high school.

STEM poster contest winners

Artists also have an opportunity to participate in the Elko County STEM Fairs poster contest. All four winners expressed their love for design and using STEM icons and symbols to bring their ideas to life.

Katie Joggerst, a third grader at Spring Creek Elementary and first-time entrant, said she was excited about winning. I love art so much. I thought of STEM and art [and putting them] together.

Taya Besendorfer, a sixth grade student from Spring Creek Middle School, who also loves art, focused on the law of conservation of momentum for her poster, drawing a visual pendulum model, which she was learning in class. I thought it was interesting.

Sariah Knotts, who attends Elko Institute of Academic Achievement, said her poster took a lot of time and she was grateful for winning in her age group.

Knotts explained added things she loved in her poster, which featured a chicken in a space helmet along with a magnifying glass focused on the earth, chemical symbols and beakers. I love chickens. I have a lot of them at home.

Her chicken also had a message: Its 2025, Elko County STEM Fair is here. Do not cluck out.

Makayla Benavides, a freshman at Spring Creek High School, was really excited about winning the poster contest in her age group. Its such an honor.

She combined math and chemistry symbols with lots of things that meant something to me. I threw it in there and tried to find any way to incorporate it that I could,. She also included a small self-portrait of her listening to music on her headphones.

The poster contest winners each received a $25 cash prize from Friends of the STEM Fair. Picture This also donated framing and matting of the artists work.






Saturday, March 15, 2025 - President William Ruto has once again set social media abuzz after making yet another ambitious promise - this time, vowing to transform Nairobis Eastlands skyline into a replica of New York and London.

Ruto, who has earned the nickname Kaongo (meaning liar) due to his long list of unfulfilled pledges, made the bold declaration during his week-long Nairobi tour to cement his political pact with ODM leader, Raila Odinga.

However, Kenyans arent buying it.

Social media is flooded with sarcastic memes and witty reactions, as many mock the Presidents habit of making extravagant promises unprovoked.

Future generations will be wondering how their parents condoned this nonsense pic.twitter.com/DIiMqOrJx1  Ohta Ryota  (@Ohta_Ryota) March 14, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Cork former hurling great Sean Og O hAilpin didn't mince words when describing the toughest opponent he ever faced on the pitch.

Speaking on Off the Ball's The Hurling Pod Live (alongside Kilkenny People contributor Paul Murphy), Sean Og briefly said for many years, it might have been DJ Carey, but when it came down to it, the honour went to none other than Henry Shefflin.

"Henry Shefflin was a pretty face on a pitbull," he said, prompting laughs from the audience. The teak-tough Corkman described Henry as 'vicious, and an unbelievable competitor'. He had nothing but the height of praise for the former Kilkenny sharpshooter, with whom he had many great tussles over the years.

"I would have said DJ Carey...but..."



"A pretty face on a pitbull."



"Fuck me....he was vicious."



"You're like a langer then..."@OfficialCorkGAA's Sean Og O hAilpin describes the toughest hurler he ever had to mark.



The Hurling Pod Live with @BGEGAA pic.twitter.com/b1PYuqwnSQ  Off The Ball (@offtheball) June 20, 2024

"He loved to engage physically on an opponent. Many nightmares I've had of Shefflin getting the ball and his arm, he's ramming it past your chest, as if he's going past, running into space - but he's really giving you a message. He's ghosting by in play, mastery," he said.

Sean Og praised the longevity of his career and his big match temperament, before acknowleding the effect of Kilkenny's dominance in that era.

"When it was a rivalry for about two years between us and Kilkenny - because after that it didn't become a rivalry, they just hammered us out of sight - I'd honestly say it's because the likes of the Kilkenny players and Henry Shefflin that made you go back that winter to train harder, be better," he said.

"You had just tunnel vision, fixated. Because if you didn't they would f***in eat you without salt."
A lucky Irish punter has won a whopping 500,000 in Friday night's EuroMillions draw.

The player matched all five numbers in Friday nights EuroMillions Plus draw to become Irelands latest top prize winner, and now Lotto bosses are urging players to check their tickets.

The winning numbers in Friday nights (March 14) EuroMillions Plus draw were: 7, 20, 25, 37 and 40.

The player purchased their Quick Pick ticket on the day of the draw from Tesco Express Kimmage, Kimmage Road, Dublin 6.

The National Lottery is urging all players in the Dublin area to check their tickets carefully and to contact the National Lottery if theyre holding the winning ticket.

A Dublin player has become the latest winner of the EuroMillions Plus top prize, winning an incredible 500,000 after matching all 5 numbers in last nights draw," said Darragh ODwyer, National Lottery spokesperson.

"This is Dublins 2nd EuroMillions Plus win of 2025, and the 9th EuroMillions Plus win so far this year. While there was no winner of last nights EuroMillions Jackpot, in total over 62,000 players across Ireland won prizes in the EuroMillions and EuroMillions Plus draws, including our top prize winner in Dublin.

This latest win marks an impressive start to 2025 for Irish players, with nine top-prize winners in the EuroMillions Plus so far this year.

READ MORE | Gardai launch urgent search appeal to locate teenage girl who may have travelled to Dublin
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 early with some clearing expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Fourteen civilians were injured as a result of a missile attack on Kryvyi Rih on Friday evening, Head of the Defense Council of Kryvy Rih Oleksandr Vilkul reported on Saturday morning.

"Fourteen people were injured, all civilians, including two children aged 2 and 15 and four women. Three people are currently in hospitals. One 64-year-old man is in serious condition, the others are not in serious condition. Doctors are providing them with all the necessary assistance," Vilkul said.

According to the Defense Council, the enemy used two ballistic missiles to strike a nightclub in a densely populated residential area and a civilian infrastructure facility.

"As a result of the strikes, in addition to the destroyed club, 15 apartment buildings, about 10 private houses, a high-speed tram station, four educational institutions, five business facilities, heating network communications, a pharmacy, and cars were damaged. The information is still being clarified. The aftermath is being eliminated, all necessary services, utility teams, and equipment are involved," Vilkul added.

Two aid headquarters have been set up in the city, which have been working all night and will continue to work until 6:00 p.m.
The Camden County Commission declared a state of emergency Friday night due to the "historic" wildfire outbreak and severe weather that impacted the area.

According to a Facebook post from the Camden County Emergency Management Agency, initial damage estimates found that at least 30 structures were either damaged or destroyed.

Multiple people were displaced after fires in the area, according to the Southwest Camden County Fire Protection District. An evacuation order went into place earlier in the day after the fires began spreading.

Multiple families displaced after Camden County fires Natural cover fires have occurred throughout the southwestern part of Camden County in Missouri.

In the emergency response, the Camden County Emergency Operations Center was activated and heavy equipment was provided by Road & Bridge company.

The County Sheriff's Department also provided intelligence and reconnaissance for the United Command, according to the post. The Region F Fire Mutual Aid system requested strike teams from throughout the state to help with assisting other crews.
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KOMU 8 First Alert Weather was tracking a line of strong to severe thunderstorms moving into mid-Missouri.

Fire evacuation order lifted for Hartsburg residents

The Southern Boone Fire Protection District lifted the evacuation order for Hartsburg residents at 7:55 pm., and said residents can return to their homes.

According to the Fire Protection District's Facebook, crews are still at the scene.

How to report severe weather damage in Boone County

Email em@boonecountymo.org to report damage from severe thunderstorms in Boone County. The Boone County Office of Emergency Operations Center has been elevated to a level 2 activation for the severe weather.

The Boone County Emergency Operations Center has been elevated to a level 2 activation for the severe weather. We are actively coordinating with partners to support the incident. Please report any damage to em@boonecountymo.org.Stay tuned to your local news to stay weather aware. pic.twitter.com/yvq1gAwz6w  BooneCountyOEM (@BooneCountyOEM) March 15, 2025

Hartsburg residents issued evacuation order due to fire

A natural cover fire is blowing and growing in the 1900 block of Mackie Road in Hartsburg, and nearby neighborhoods are being told to evacuate, according to the Boone County Office of Emergency Management.

The evacuation covers from River Road to Cedar Tree Lane.

Evacuees are being told to go to the Ashland Optimist Club.

Missouri State troopers are advising that some Camden County residents in evacuate their homes and businesses for safety reasons.

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The Cooper County Emergency Management director spoke to KOMU 8 News about what you need to know in instances of severe weather, and what your safety plan should be.

Have an evacuation plan, pack an emergency bag, know where to shelter in place, and access local media for updates.

Many in mid-Missouri are without power on Friday afternoon due to high winds.

Eight units responded to the fire on U.S. 63 near Missouri 163, the deputy chief of the Southern Boone County Fire Protection District told KOMU 8.

The fire burned for about five minutes before units arrived, and it took about 10 minutes to put the fire out.

Sturgeon Baptist Church will no longer offer its basement as a storm shelter for the community, the Sturgeon mayor announced on social media Friday.

Mayor Seth Truesdell wrote on Facebook that the deacons of the church made this decision.

Gov. Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency in Missouri Friday due to expected severe weather. Kehoe issued an executive order to activate the Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan and enable state agencies to coordinate directly with local jurisdictions to provide assistance.
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Mail is seen at the United States Postal Service (USPS) Dulles Processing and Distribution Center in Dulles, Virginia, in December 2023. US Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has agreed to let DOGE work with USPS.
SpaceXs Crew-10 launches, paving the way for NASAs Wilmore and Williams to return home
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

US President Donald Trump promised that news about ceasefire talks with Ukraine and Russia would be released on Monday, March 17. He said this in an interview with journalist Sharyl Attkisson, answering a question about his communication with Putin.

We are dealing with him and I think its going reasonably well. Its very complex situation, its a bloody, terrible war. And I do think its going well. As you know, we have a ceasefire agreement with the Ukrainian group. And we are trying to get that with Russia too. And I think its gone so far ok. Well know a little bit more on Monday. And itll be hopefully good, Trump said.

In addition, speaking at the Justice Department, Trump assured the audience that he had found convincing arguments in negotiations with Moscow.

We're looking for the ceasefire now with Russia, and we've had some very good talks about it. We've had some very good responses  I used to speak to President Putin a lot about it. I said: don't do it. Don't do it. I won't tell you what the consequence was. I won't tell you what he said, but if he believed even 5% of what I said, then he would say, I'm not going to do it, Trump stated.

And I think he did  I haven't wanted to say it until just before I came here. I got some pretty good news. So but we have to see what happens, Trump said.
A member of the Iraqi forces walks past a mural bearing the logo of the Islamic State (IS) group in a tunnel that was reportedly used as a training centre by the jihadists, on March 1, 2017, in the village of Albu Sayf.
Over the past 24 hours, the aviation, missile forces and artillery of the Defense Forces hit 11 areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment, a command post, as well as an air defense system of the enemy.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on Telegram in operational information about the Russian invasion as of 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.
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Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua

Over the course of 24 hours, the occupiers' losses amounted to 1,180 units of manpower and 148 units of equipment, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a report as of 7:00 a.m. on Saturday.

In particular, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed two tanks, 15 combat armored vehicles, 28 artillery systems, one MLRS unit, 102 units of automotive equipment and tanker trucks.

Air strikes cost the enemy 97 operational-tactical level UAVs.
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2025 China Medical Equipment Conference & Medical Equipment Exhibition held in Chongqing

Xinhua) 10:55, March 15, 2025

A visitor experiences surgical robot system during the 2025 China Medical Equipment Conference & Medical Equipment Exhibition held at Chongqing International Expo Center in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 14, 2025. The four-day exhibition kicked off here on Thursday with a total of 34 professional exhibition areas, including medical imaging, radiotherapy, medical examination, surgical equipment, hospital Internet of Things construction, artificial intelligence and medical robots, etc., showcasing over 10,000 new products, new technologies, new applications and new methods in the field of medical equipment. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

Visitors view an intelligent wheelchair during the 2025 China Medical Equipment Conference & Medical Equipment Exhibition held at Chongqing International Expo Center in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 14, 2025. The four-day exhibition kicked off here on Thursday with a total of 34 professional exhibition areas, including medical imaging, radiotherapy, medical examination, surgical equipment, hospital Internet of Things construction, artificial intelligence and medical robots, etc., showcasing over 10,000 new products, new technologies, new applications and new methods in the field of medical equipment. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

This photo taken on March 14, 2025 shows a surgical robot demonstration during the 2025 China Medical Equipment Conference & Medical Equipment Exhibition held at Chongqing International Expo Center in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. The four-day exhibition kicked off here on Thursday with a total of 34 professional exhibition areas, including medical imaging, radiotherapy, medical examination, surgical equipment, hospital Internet of Things construction, artificial intelligence and medical robots, etc., showcasing over 10,000 new products, new technologies, new applications and new methods in the field of medical equipment. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

Visitors view a radiosurgical robot during the 2025 China Medical Equipment Conference & Medical Equipment Exhibition held at Chongqing International Expo Center in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 14, 2025. The four-day exhibition kicked off here on Thursday with a total of 34 professional exhibition areas, including medical imaging, radiotherapy, medical examination, surgical equipment, hospital Internet of Things construction, artificial intelligence and medical robots, etc., showcasing over 10,000 new products, new technologies, new applications and new methods in the field of medical equipment. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

A visitor experiences surgical robot system during the 2025 China Medical Equipment Conference & Medical Equipment Exhibition held at Chongqing International Expo Center in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 14, 2025. The four-day exhibition kicked off here on Thursday with a total of 34 professional exhibition areas, including medical imaging, radiotherapy, medical examination, surgical equipment, hospital Internet of Things construction, artificial intelligence and medical robots, etc., showcasing over 10,000 new products, new technologies, new applications and new methods in the field of medical equipment. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

This photo taken on March 14, 2025 shows a surgical robot demonstration during the 2025 China Medical Equipment Conference & Medical Equipment Exhibition held at Chongqing International Expo Center in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. The four-day exhibition kicked off here on Thursday with a total of 34 professional exhibition areas, including medical imaging, radiotherapy, medical examination, surgical equipment, hospital Internet of Things construction, artificial intelligence and medical robots, etc., showcasing over 10,000 new products, new technologies, new applications and new methods in the field of medical equipment. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

People visit the 2025 China Medical Equipment Conference & Medical Equipment Exhibition held at Chongqing International Expo Center in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 14, 2025. The four-day exhibition kicked off here on Thursday with a total of 34 professional exhibition areas, including medical imaging, radiotherapy, medical examination, surgical equipment, hospital Internet of Things construction, artificial intelligence and medical robots, etc., showcasing over 10,000 new products, new technologies, new applications and new methods in the field of medical equipment. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

This photo taken on March 14, 2025 shows a "drone medical transport" demonstration during the 2025 China Medical Equipment Conference & Medical Equipment Exhibition held at Chongqing International Expo Center in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. The four-day exhibition kicked off here on Thursday with a total of 34 professional exhibition areas, including medical imaging, radiotherapy, medical examination, surgical equipment, hospital Internet of Things construction, artificial intelligence and medical robots, etc., showcasing over 10,000 new products, new technologies, new applications and new methods in the field of medical equipment. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Germany is back - Merz on plans for radical spending on Germany's defense, EUR 3 bln in aid to Ukraine

Photo: https://www.facebook.com/MerzCDU

Germany's likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said he had secured the backing of the Green Party for his radical plan to boost defense and infrastructure spending, Deutsche Welle reported on Friday.

The conservative CDU/CSU bloc, which won last month's election, and the Social Democrats, who are negotiating a new government, have proposed a deal that would ease Germany's tight debt restrictions, allowing for increased defense spending and a EUR 500 billion "special fund" to be set aside for infrastructure reform.

"According to Merz, an incumbent German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed that if this package is approved in parliament, he is ready to free up an additional EUR 3 billion to support Ukraine," Deutsche Welle said.

"Germany is back," Merz said in Berlin on Friday. "Germany is making a major contribution to the defense of freedom and peace in Europe," the ezine quoted the likely new chancellor as saying. The Green Party's support, which would give Merz the two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution, is tantamount to him being able to seal the deal.
Waltz on talks in Jeddah: At one point we even broke map and started drawing on it on how were going to end this war

Talks between Ukrainian and American delegations in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) on Tuesday included a discussion of the demarcation line where the Ukrainian-Russian war should end, said a participant in the talks, White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

They [the Ukrainian delegation] were very forthcoming. We had very good conversations. At one point we even broke a map and started drawing on it on how were going to end this war, Waltz said on Fox News on Friday.

According to him, the Ukrainians agreed that they need to move to a ceasefire. All sided need to move to a ceasefire.

Of course, both sides are going to have their demands. Of course, both sides are going to have to make some compromises and show up diplomacy, Waltz said.
A SPEEDING motorist who was stopped by gardai on the M7 at Morette was found to be under the influence of drugs. Gardai subsequently found drugs and cash in his car.

Arising from the incident, which took place on 6 June last year, Liam Donnelly, Kippure Park Finglas, Dublin 11 pleaded guilty to drug-driving, possessing cannabis for his own use, possessing cannabis for sale or supply, being an unaccompanied learner driver, failing to provide a driving licence, failing to provide a driving licence to gardai within ten days, driving while uninsured and failing to provide an insurance certificate.

Giving evidence at Portlaoise District Court, Garda Roy Cooper said that he stopped Mr Donnelly after he detected him driving over the permissible speed limit.

While speaking to the defendant, the garda said he got a strong smell of cannabis from his car.

A further search of the car we found four bags of cannabis herb valued at 254 and 4,000 in cash, said Garda Cooper.

The court was told that Mr Donnelly had 19 previous convictions.

Defending barrister Brian Mallon said that his 27-year-old client had lost family members and a close friend last year.

He said: His family put him on a plane to Spain, where they had family members to give him head space and to get himself together following all the bereavements and hes willing to forfeit the money the gardai seized.

Garda Cooper asked that the money be donated to BUMBLEance, the Children's Ambulance Service.

Mr Mallon said that his client, who is currently in custody, is a qualified plumber and has an offer of employment on his release.

He said that Mr Donnelly has assured me that he will never come before the court again. He wants to start afresh and become a contributing member of society.

Judge Andrew Cody said: A significant amount of cash was found on him. While the value of the cannabis was very small, it points to drug dealing on a modest scale.

He went on to convict the defendant of possessing cannabis for sale or supply and imposed a six-month sentence; a two-month sentence, to run concurrently, for driving while uninsured; and disqualified him from driving for four years. The defendant was also convicted of driving while under the influence of an intoxicant, fined 100 and disqualified from driving for four years.

Mr Mallon asked the judge not to impose the custodial sentences and to instead consider imposing suspending the sentences, due to the tragic circumstances that he had been through.

In reply, Judge Cody said: He was charged with the offences on 6 June last year and skipped to Spain. It has taken six bench warrants since then to have him here, which demonstrates very little remorse.

Mr Mallon again asked the judge to reconsider his decision, saying: His family sent him away to get his head in a fit condition, to which Judge Cody replied: He should have instructed his solicitor about his situation. He didnt turn up (to court) or instruct his solicitor.

Judge Cody went on to fix 2,000 own bail with a 1,000 cash lodgement in the event that Mr Donnelly wishes to appeal.
A driver who was being chased by gardai became airborne after crashing into a roundabout and then drove against traffic on the motorway in the overtaking lane.

Patrick Casey (32) of Bay 6, Longpavement Road Halting Site, Limerick admitted to dangerous driving and having no licence or insurance on the M7 at Cappakeel on April 16, 2024.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby told a sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the defendant was driving an 08KY registered Nissan Qashqai on the M7 Motorway and it sped up in an effort to evade gardai on the date in question.

The driver cut across a lorry went onto the slip road basically lost control and crashed into a roundabout becoming airborne with gardai following. The driver then continued back down the slip road and did a u-turn into lane two, the overtaking lane and at this stage it was facing the opposite direction, said Sgt Kirby. He said the car then drove against the flow of traffic out of sight.

Sgt Kirby said the car had initially been travelling with traffic in the direction of Dublin from Limerick. However, after trying to evade gardai and colliding with the roundabout, the car went back onto the motorway in the wrong direction and was travelling back towards Limerick in the wrong direction. He was coming up against traffic on the motorway, he said.

Twenty minutes later this car was located at the side of the Montague Hotel, he said.

Sgt Kirby said the defendant escaped on foot. He said a female passenger in the car identified the accused and said he had run because there were warrants for his arrest. He said the man had 145 previous convictions including 16 for dangerous driving, 18 for no insurance and two for endangerment.

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick acknowledged her clients appalling driving record but asked the court to take account of his early plea. She said he was serving a sentence and had a release date of November 2025.

Ms Fitzpatrick said the man had been driving without tax or insurance and had panicked when he saw gardai. I appreciate that he should not be behind the wheel of a car again, she said.

She said her client was from Limerick and while he has a number of previous convictions, she noted there was no real history of drink or drug abuse.

He is asking the court to do the best they can for him, she said.

Judge Susan Fay said this is a truly shocking offence. It is nothing short of a miracle that you are not looking at fatalities here.

She noted there are so many aggravating factors in the facts and said it would have been very frightening for the motorists he was driving towards who were coming from Limerick.

Ms Fitzpatrick said I hear everything the court is saying and thankfully there was nobody injured.

Judge Fay told the court that the defendants actions warranted a custodial sentence and she said I am not going to have this concurrent.

Ms Fitzpatrick asked Judge Fay to take into account the three weeks the defendant had already spent in custody on the charges.

Judge Fay said she had intended to impose a five month prison sentence but would reduce it to four due to the time already served.

She then imposed a four month sentence for dangerous driving which is due to commence on the expiry of the sentence already being served by the defendant, who she said was very lucky.

This could have ended with multiple tragedies. It is just pure luck that you did not cause a pile up on that motorway, she told him.

She said utter devastation was miraculously avoided and it was pure luck saved you from dealing with that for the rest of your life.

Judge Fay disqualified him from driving for 20 years on the dangerous driving charges and sentenced him to three months in prison for not having a licence, three months in prison for having no insurance and she gave him another 20 year disqualification on the insurance charge.
A man who rented out properties across rural Ireland under false pretences and used them as brothels was found with child abuse material on his phone when arrested at Dublin Airport.

Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro (54) was arrested by investigating gardai from the Garda Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit when he returned to Ireland from his native Brazil after a period of time abroad, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Ribeiro, of Rua Nely Augusta Gomes, Goais, Brazil, had been under investigation after a number of rental properties being used as brothels around the country were linked to him, along with nearly 800,000 in proceeds of crime across multiple Irish bank accounts.

He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 19 sample counts, including using false instruments, inducing landlords to rent properties to him and possession of the proceeds of crime.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material, known in law as child pornography, on his phone when he was arrested at Dublin Airport on November 16, 2023.

The offending on the 60-count indictment spanned from 2010 to 2023, the court heard. Ribeiro has been in custody since his arrest.

Detective Garda Vanessa Stafford of the Garda Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that the charges against Ribeiro were part of a wider investigation after two women came forward to gardai with allegations of trafficking.

These two women identified some rental properties around rural Ireland which were being used as brothels while others were linked to Ribeiro's email address and phone number, the court heard.

When investigating gardai knocked on the doors of some of these properties, the women who answered identified themselves as sex workers, the court heard.

Gardai linked 10 rental properties to Ribeiro, who used a different name from a fake Italian passport and fake utility bills to rent out the property from unsuspecting landlords and, in one case, a property agent.

The court heard the landlords told gardai that they would never have rented the property to Ribeiro if they had known what it would be used for.

The properties which were used as brothels were located in Longford town, Kildare town, Ballyconnell in Co Cavan, Enniscorthy in Co Wexford, Ballymahon in Co Longford, Ballaghadereen in Co Roscommon, Carrick on Shannon in Co Leitrim, and Tullow, Co Carlow. A further two were located in Roscommon town. The properties were rented out for varying periods between 2018 and 2023.

Bank accounts in Ribeiro's name or under his control were forensically analysed and found to contain a total of 788,982 which was deemed to be the proceeds of crime.

READ MORE CRIME AND COURT.

The court heard Ribeiro was out of the country for some years between 2021 and 2023, but was arrested upon flying back in November 2023.

The child abuse material on his phone comprised nine images and 16 videos, mostly of pre-pubescent girls and boys being made to engage in sexual activity with adults.

Padraig Dwyer SC, defending, told the court his client arrived in the country in 2009. The case was adjourned to March 21, when a plea of mitigation is expected to be heard.
US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that Ukraine may have to make certain territorial concessions to Russia.

During an interview on Fox News, in response to the host's suggestion that Ukraine would not become a NATO member and that Donbas or areas that are largely populated by people from Russia will go to Putin in any settlement, Waltz answered in the affirmative.

You are not wrong. And whats important is that we are discussing all of those things with both sides. We are having those discussions with our counterparts, with the Russians. We are having those discussions with our counterparts, with the Ukrainians. And we are pushing both sides together with President Trump, the deal maker the chief, that is determined to end this war, he said.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said that the oppositions criticism to his comment on housing in the White House was over the top.

During a meeting between Mr Martin and Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday, the US president was asked about Irelands housing crisis.

Mr Trump replied that the housing crisis was because Ireland is doing so well.

They cant produce houses fast enough. Thats a good problem, not a bad problem, he added.

READ NEXT: 'Get that eejit' - Woman told to collect 'gunman' after man pushing pram shot dead

Leaning back in his chair and laughing, Mr Martin said: Thats a very good answer, president.

Asked about the comments on Thursday, Sinn Fein finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said people had said they felt insulted by the Taoiseach.

Its not a good look for the Taoiseach to be laughing about a housing crisis when we have record numbers of homelessness, including child homelessness, when we have such a scandal that hasnt transpired because of the booming economy, it has transpired because the government has deliberately decided not to build houses during much part of the previous decade.

Mr Martin said on Thursday that during the Oval Office press conference, he was also asked what he would wish for Ireland.

He said: I equally said in the press conference, very emphatically, when I was asked What was the number one issue or what would I really wish for Ireland, and I said The number one issue in Ireland is housing, and we need to build as many houses as we can, as quickly as we can, for young people in Ireland to be able to afford to buy or affordable rent.

Its classic (for the) opposition to do that, and I think that was an over the top reaction.
Jewish representative groups have addressed antisemitism and vilification of Israel in Ireland with premier Micheal Martin.

Mr Martin attended a meeting with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in Washington DC on Friday.

The engagement came as the Irish leader utterly rejected claims reportedly made by Israels ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, that he was antisemitic.

Mr Martin said it was absurd to label him antisemitic and added: I think theres an element of deliberate undermining of Irelands position and distortion of Irelands position in respect of this.

He said he wanted to have the meeting to present the prism through which Ireland has looked at the Middle East.

Senior figures in Israels government have accused leaders in the Irish coalition of encouraging antisemitism, with the Israeli embassy in Dublin announcing last year that it would close.

Israeli politicians have criticised Irelands decision to intervene in South Africas case against Israel, with Dublin asking the International Court of Justice to broaden its interpretation of what constitutes genocide.

In addition, Israel foreign minister Gideon Saar called Mr Martins predecessor, Simon Harris, antisemitic.

Mr Harris, who is now deputy premier as part of coalition arrangements with Mr Martin, has also rejected the characterisation.

After the meeting, the AJC said the groups wanted to directly address concerns about antisemitism and the demonisation of Israel in Ireland.

It said Ireland is seen as one of the most problematic countries in Europe.

AJC director of international Jewish affairs Rabbi Andrew Baker said: Antisemitism is pervasive in Ireland, posing serious risks for its 3,000 Jews, many of whom hold Israeli citizenship.

Alongside physical harassment and attacks, widespread anti-Israel sentiment  including in parts of the government  affects daily life. Jewish school children face bullying, university students encounter hostility, and workplaces are increasingly unwelcoming.

In the meeting, Mr Baker expressed AJCs grave concern over Irelands vilification of the State of Israel, in particular joining the South African case in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

It also raised Irish President Michael Higgins attacks on Israel, and Mr Martins own deeply problematic remarks.

The AJC said Mr Martin had accused Israel of committing war crimes, pursuing collective punishment of the Palestinian people, as well as using starvation as a weapon of war.

The group said that Mr Baker explained that these statements are contributing to antisemitism facing Irelands Jews and urged him to pull back from its engagement with the ICJ.

The ACJ said if such action and statements continue, it will advocate for the US government to take serious action in response.

The representative group announced that Mr Martin said Ireland would soon appoint a national coordinator to oversee efforts to counter antisemitism as well as develop a national strategy.

Mr Baker also asked Mr Martin not to pursue the countrys Occupied Territories Bill, which would ban the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.

The group said that the Taoiseach had informed them that the bill was no longer on the legislative calendar.

The existing Bill is not in the Governments published legislative schedule but Mr Martin previously signalled the Government was instead likely to seek to create a new Bill with its required changes.

He had explained that the Governments position was explained and that the bill will be reviewed. The spokesman said the Government is committed to the bill but it will not be brought forward this term.

In a statement, ADL senior vice president for international affairs Marina Rosenberg said the groups met Mr Martin to address the challenges facing the small Irish Jewish community, including an atmosphere of antisemitism and anti-Israel bias.

Ms Rosenberg added: We urged concrete steps including the implementation of the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism and the appointment of a National Coordinator for government policies against antisemitism.

We expect the Irish government to act swiftly and will be closely monitoring the situation.

A spokesman for Mr Martin said the engagement was very positive and included discussion on the impact of rising antisemitism on Jewish communities around the world.

Earlier, the Taoiseach said that Irelands approach to the conflict in Gaza is consistent with how it responded to humanitarian crises in Ethiopia, Syria and Lebanon.

I went to Israel after October 7 in solidarity with the people of Israel, given what happened with that horrific and barbaric attack by Hamas, Mr Martin said.

We have consistently condemned Hamas. Ive called for the unconditional release of hostages from the very beginning.

We called for an immediate ceasefire, which Israel didnt like, but as far as we were concerned, the conduct of modern warfare is such that in urban conurbations, it leads to the killing of innocent people and innocent civilians to a degree that was not tenable.

It was beyond the moral compass that so many families and children were losing their lives, and therefore we wanted a ceasefire as urgently as possible. We wanted a surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza, which is still required.

It is hell on earth in Gaza and the Irish position is fundamentally a humanitarian one, which is consistent with how we responded to Ethiopia, consistent with how we responded to Syria, consistent with how weve always responded to Lebanon.

So theres a consistency of approach in the Irish position, and to label it as antisemitic is wrong, false and a deliberate distortion of the truth.
A JURY took 53 minutes to find a man not guilty of engaging in violent disorder with members of a Traveller family in a city pub.

Daniel Kelly, aged 28, of Inch St Lawrence, Caherconlish, County Limerick had pleaded not guilty to violent disorder in Alfie Earls Bar, Lower Hartstonge Street, Limerick city on June 26, 2022.

Mr Kelly also pleaded not guilty to three counts of producing an article namely a metal object, bar stool and glass.

A jury of six men and four women was sworn in before Judge Colin Daly at Limerick Criminal Circuit Court.

John OSullivan BL, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, represented the State. Mr Kelly was defended by Kenneth Kerins BL, instructed by solicitor Michael ODonnell.

Judge Daly, in his charge to the jury, said violent disorder is when three or more persons who are present together at any place use or threaten to use unlawful violence.

The judge said the alleged offences were against members of a Traveller family in Alfie Earls Bar.

Judge Daly said the CCTV played in the court largely speaks for itself.

The judge said the three charges in relation to a metal object, bar stool and glass refer to the production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury.

Judge Daly said Mr Kellys legal teams defence to the charges was one of self defence.

They argued the violence he used was in self defence to protect himself and people he was with, said Judge Daly.

The judge said it is up to the jury to decide if it was reasonable.

Every accused person that comes before the court has the presumption of innocence, concluded Judge Daly in his charge to the jury.

READ MORE: Motorbike rider mowed down by van driver in 'tragic' Limerick collision

The jury retired to begin their deliberations at 11.33am. They returned 53 minutes later with unanimous verdicts of all four counts of not guilty.

Mr Kelly jumped out of the dock to shake hands with his barrister Mr Kerins.

Judge Daly thanked the jurors for their service and excused them from jury duty for a period of three years.
A NEW study of junior infant teachers by Mary Immaculate College (MIC) Academics offers stark insight into the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on young children, five years on.

The study from MIC has found that current classes of junior infants may not be faring as well as children born before the pandemic, according to their teachers.

The survey aimed to find out if experiencing the pandemic during infancy might have influenced later development when starting school.

The teachers were asked questions about how their current class of junior infants (aged 4-6 years) were faring, and how they compared with previous classes they taught before the pandemic.

These children spent the early months of their lives in the Covid-19 pandemic, with the resulting lockdowns and social restrictions.

Conducted by MIC academics, Dr Suzanne Egan and Dr Jennifer Pope, the research, Infants of the Pandemic: Teacher Perspectives on the Early Development and School Readiness of Children Starting School in September 2024, revealed that the 81% of teachers surveyed said they have more pupils now with emotional and behavioural issues compared to pre-pandemic times.

The online survey was completed by 107 junior infant class teachers from around Ireland - teaching over 2,000 pupils overall - during December 2024.

Overall, the findings suggest the teachers felt there may be differences in the skills and capabilities of children starting school in September 2024 compared with those who started school before the pandemic.

Where differences were noted, they tended to highlight more difficulties for the children now, suggesting that the current cohort of junior infants were less ready to start school than previous cohorts.

In relation to social and emotional issues, teachers described this academic years junior infants as having more separation anxiety from their parents, more anxiety in general and less emotional regulation.

Around 42% of teachers also highlighted issues relating to more children starting school without being able to manage personal care.

READ MORE: More bus lanes planned for Limerick

One teacher noted Children are far less independent coming to school than before the pandemic. Teachers also noted considerable speech, language and communication difficulties with the children, as well as some difficulties with fine motor control. According to one teacher: it has been the most challenging class I have had in 27 years of teaching.

Results also highlighted some of the challenging classroom circumstances that many junior infant teachers are currently facing with over half of junior infant class teachers reported having three children or more in their class with an emotional or behavioural issue (73%), a learning or intellectual disability (52%) or a limited knowledge of the main language of instruction (56%).

Many teachers reported having more than five children in their class with these difficulties, with a large percentage of teachers indicating numbers have increased since before the pandemic.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Suzanne Egan of the Department of Psychology at MIC said: It may be that the changes in social contacts or family life in the early months of childrens lives, and since the pandemic, have contributed to the situation.

Report co-author, Dr Jennifer Pope of the Department of Reflective Pedagogy and Early Childhood Studies, noted that Through this research, teachers have expressed significant concerns and challenges that require further investment and supports to ensure that schools are also ready for young children.
Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/13559

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy listened to the report of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky and once again stated that there is no encirclement of Ukrainian troops in Kursk region (Russian Federation).

"The operation of our forces in certain areas of Kursk region continues. The units are performing tasks exactly as needed. Thanks to the Ukrainian forces in Kursk region, a significant number of Russian forces were pulled back from other directions. Our troops continue to deter the corresponding groups of Russia and North Korea in Kursk region. Our troops are not surrounded," the president said in a message on his Telegram channel.

He also added that the situation in Pokrovsk direction has stabilized.

In addition, Zelenskyy said that the war was being dragged out by the Russian Federation, reporting the accumulation of enemy forces along the eastern border.

"We also see directions along our eastern border of Ukraine, where the Russian army is amassing forces. This indicates a desire to strike at our Sumy region. We understand this and will counteract it," he wrote.

The president said that the buildup of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to ignore diplomacy in the future.

"Russia's dragging out of the war is obvious. We are ready to provide our partners with all the real information about the situation at the front, in Kursk region and along the border," the note says.
OUTGOING Limerick IFA chair Sean Lavery, in one of his last acts, helped present Tom Cooke with Honorary Life membership of the IFA.

Honorary Life Membership was established to recognise the work and contributions of members of the IFA.

Mr Lavey said the IFA could not work without members who take on branch officer positions, go to meetings and communicate their opinions on farming issues. Mr Cooke, a dairy farmer and agricultural contractor in Bottomstown, Hospital, epitomises this.

Mr Cooke has at one time, or another, been chair and secretary of Hospital branch. He was also Limericks representative on the National Dairy Committee for six years.

Tommy Cooke was always someone whose opinion I valued when I needed to get a sense of what the county felt on a particular issue, said Mr Lavery.

New Limerick IFA chairperson Louise Crowley congratulated Mr Cooke on being their Honorary Lifetime Membership recipient for this year.

Tom has served Limerick farmers for many decades whether within IFA itself, or his own local community. Tom took over his family farm at a young age, and while milking cows also ran a successful agricultural contracting business. He now runs both enterprises with his sons.

Tom has been an encouraging influence and has welcomed many new faces to our county executive over the years, including his wife, Peggy, who is currently our Limerick Farm Families Committee representative, said Ms Crowley.

She thanked Tom for all his contributions over the years and continued hard work within our farming sectors and our organisation.

READ MORE: Young Limerick student recognised with prestigious farming scholarship

Mrs Cooke, originally from Kilmallock, also received presentations recognising her contribution in recent times. She recently retired as a home economics teacher in John the Baptist Community School, Hospital.

The couple have five children. Nicholas is a veterinary surgeon who is assisting his dad running the dairy operation. Kevin has taken over the farm contracting business, doing silage, slurry spreading and hedge cutting.

Ciarain is a mechanical engineer who has recently returned from Australia. Fearghal is an actuary in London and Sarah Jane is training to be a veterinary surgeon in Poland.
NEWCASTLE West and Limerick Shows will receive a combined total of 18,345 as part of 1 million funding announced this week for agricultural shows nationwide.

Newcastle West Agricultural Show, taking place on Sunday, June 22, will receive 8,350, while the Limerick Show, on Sunday, August 24, will get 9,995.

In welcoming the news, Minister Patrick O'Donovan highlighted the importance of agricultural shows.

"These events play a vital role in community life and are crucial in raising awareness of the significant contribution agriculture makes to our lives and to rural Ireland, said Mr ODonovan.

READ MORE: Limerick farmer and contractor receives Honorary Life Membership of the IFA

A total of 123 shows nationwide benefitted from the fresh round of funding. Grants range from 4,000 to over 11,000, depending on the size of the show.

The funding announcement brings the total allocated to shows since 2018 to over 5.3 million.

Minister for Rural and Community Development Dara Calleary said:  Although farming practices have changed, agriculture is still the backbone of life in rural Ireland and plays a vital role in our national economy.

The local show is also one of the best days of the year for meeting neighbours and friends.
Patrick Kielty has dedicated the latest episode of The Late Late Show to his mother, following her funeral earlier in the week.

The Northern Irish TV presenter and comedian, 54, who fronts RTEs flagship TV programme, addressed the audience on Friday night.

Referencing Irelands annual holiday on Monday, Kielty said: When youre called Patrick, St Patricks Day is always special, and the person I have to thank for that and so much more is my mum.

Sadly, we lost her last week and I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who took care of her and took care of our family this week.

He added that his mother, Mary Kielty, whose funeral was held at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Dundrum this week, watched this show religiously.

Kielty said: She loved it so much she still kept watching even after I got the gig.

In over 50 years, Mary never missed a Late Late Show and there was no way shed want me to miss this one for her tonight.

So, I couldnt be prouder to stand here and say this ones for you, Mary. Welcome to The Late Late Show.

He then appeared to break down and was applauded by the crowd.

His mother  whose husband Jack was shot dead by the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) in 1988  died peacefully at home in Dundrum, Co Down, last Saturday aged 84.

Kielty replaced Ryan Tubridy as host of the popular Irish chat show, who stepped down in 2023 following a more than 10-year stint on the Irish talk show.

The comedian is married to This Morning host Cat Deeley and they have two sons, James and Milo.
LONDONIn court this past week, a lawyer asked former Barclays Chief Executive Jes Staley: Do you accept you had sex with a woman at Jeffrey Epsteins brothers apartment on East 66th Street in New York?

Yes, Staley replied.

The woman was a member of Epsteins staff, he said. Oftentimes I would go to Epsteins apartment and he would be late and this individual and I got to know each other. And we had, much to my embarrassment today, we had one encounter," said Staley, who also said that it was consensual and that he doesnt think Epstein knew about it.

The exchange left many in the City of London asking why Staley, 68, chose to put himself through this ordeal. Instead of retiring to his yacht, Staley decided to try to clear his name by appealing a ban and a fine by U.K. regulators. Britains freewheeling press feasted on details aired in court this week of the American executives yearslong dealings with Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

I put my marriage at risk in the last two days to be honest and straightforward with you," Staley said in court. I have never shied away from telling the truth about all this."

His lawyer, Robert Smith, said being asked about the affair in open court without warning humiliated his client.

Staley was enjoying a gilded career when, in the summer of 2019, Epstein was charged with sex trafficking, unleashing scrutiny of his deep bench of Wall Street associates. When British regulators asked Barclays about its CEOs reported ties to Epstein, the banks chairman sent a letter saying Staley had told him they werent close.

The Financial Conduct Authority, the U.K.s finance watchdog better known as the FCA, later ruled Staley had acted without integrity by approving misleading statements, and banned him from holding powerful positions in U.K. finance. The regulator doesnt argue he had anything to do with Epsteins misconduct. Even so, the investigation cost him his job, his good name and more than $20 million in compensation.

Beyond vindication, victory could have financial upside. Staley wouldnt have to pay a 1.8 million pound ($2.3 million) fine and might have a case that Barclays should give him the pay it withheld, according to lawyers not involved in the case.

A Barclays spokesman declined to comment.

Staley grew up in Philadelphia and joined Morgan Guaranty Trusts Latin American division after studying economics at Bowdoin College in Maine. Married with two daughters, Staley spent 34 years at JPMorgan Chase, and got to know Epstein when he ran its private bank and asset-management arm in the 2000s. On Wall Street, he was once seen as a possible successor to JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon. But when he left the finance giant in 2013 for a hedge fundafter narrowly missing out on the top job at Barclayshis career at the pinnacle of finance seemed to be over.

Barclays came knocking again two years later. The bank was in a bad place. It was failing," Staley told the court. He joined as CEO in 2015 and sold extraneous businesses and fought an activist investor who wanted Barclays to scale back its ambitions on Wall Street. A different probe by the regulator, into Staleys handling of a whistleblower, landed him with a fine in 2018.

The case involves a quintessentially British collision of tabloid hacks, royals, arcane disputes over 19th-century legal precedents and a clubby elite that initially rallied to Staleys defense before turning on him.

The crux of Staleys argument in court: The letter to the FCA was meant to convey he wasnt in a position to know of Epsteins alleged crimes and was never supposed to be a definitive account of their relationship.

Staley described the letter as a collective endeavordrafted by the banks top lawyer at the time and signed by Chairman Nigel Higgins, both of whom hed briefed on some aspects of his ties to Epstein. He said he relied on others to make a record of their relationship because he is dyslexic. Writing is very hard for me and so it wouldnt be my natural course to sit back and put pen to paper," he said.

Sporting a dark suit, a salmon-pink tie and black shoes with a gold buckle, Staley took the oath Monday after watching a troupe of boldfaced namesincluding Higgins and Bank of England Gov. Andrew Bailey, who previously ran the FCAtestify about their roles in the letter and subsequent investigation. A gaggle of photographers snapped the former CEO entering the courthouse, flanked by his legal team, and U.K. news outlets have run daily recaps of the proceedings. During a break, he flicked through a book about a lawyer who prosecuted Nazis after World War II.

For more than three days, he fielded questions from the FCAs lawyer, many of them about emails he exchanged with Epstein. The FCA painted the men as deep friends whose intimacy went beyond the bounds of a normal commercial relationship. Epstein died in jail in August 2019 before a trial, in what medical examiners ruled was a suicide.

They had a close professional relationship, Staley kept respondingpredicated on his own work at JPMorgan, where Epstein was a client and his Rolodex a prize asset.

You called him uncle Jeffrey" in an email to your daughter, said Leigh-Ann Mulcahy, the FCAs lawyer. That is not a typical way you refer to a business associate, is it?"

It was a professional relationship," Staley replied.

Epstein sent you a photo of a woman he said he had to put up with," Mulcahy said. It is an image that would be sent between two people who were personally close, isnt it?"

Or professionally close, you know, if youve ever worked on a trading floor on Wall Street," said Staley. His lawyer had said the picture, which hasnt been published in court filings, was of a lady in an evening gown."

Around midday Wednesday, Staleys deadpan demeanor cracked when Mulcahy asked about Epsteins efforts to introduce the bankers daughter to scientists at Columbia and Harvard universities when she was pursuing a Ph.D. in physics.

This is an invasion of my family that youre persecuting here and I resent it," he said, shaking his head and asking the judge for a break. I find it amazing youre bringing all this in."

Epstein, Staley told the court, opened doors to powerful people in business and government, gave valuable information and brokered the most important deal of his career, JPMorgans purchase of a majority stake in hedge fund Highbridge Capital for more than $1 billion in 2004. Visits to Epsteins propertiesincluding one in which Staleys family flew out on the financiers private plane to his Caribbean island in the mid-2000swere brief and sometimes involved other rich people, Staleys lawyer said. Staley said he never hosted Epstein at his home.

Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution.

Free and home," Epstein emailed four people, including Staley, on his release from jail the next year. I toast your courage!!!!!" Staley responded.

I was loyal to him and obviously spending time in prison is a tough thing," Staley told the court.

Mulcahy read aloud a now-infamous message that Staley sent Epstein in 2010: That was fun. Say hi to Snow White." Epstein responded asking which character hed like next. Beauty and the Beast," Staley sent back.

In interviews with investigators, the court heard, Staley said he had no idea what the emails referred to. Could he now remember, Mulcahy asked.

No," Staley said, taking off his glasses and pursing his lips. Mulcahy pressed him. I dont recall the emails," Staley answered four times.

Just before Staleys appointment at Barclays, Epstein forwarded an email hed received from a British tabloid reporter asking to speak about the banker. Staley told Epstein he would play it safe if the journalist contacted him as well, according to court filings. Ive known you as a client," Staley emailed.

Staley agreed with Barclays he should cut off contact, the court heard. Over the next 3 years, the banks performance perked up under his watch. The FCA alleges Staley stayed in contact with Epstein using Staleys adult daughter as a go-between, which Staley denies.

Higgins, the Barclays chair, was walking in the Romanian mountains a few weeks after Epsteins arrest in the summer of 2019 when the FCA official who supervised the bank asked to speak. The only record the authority has of their seven-minute call is a summary of a conversation the FCA official had with his assistant the next day, saved in her email drafts.

Higgins sent the letter saying Staley had confirmed to board members and the banks general counsel that he wasnt close with Epstein.

In late 2019, JPMorgan handed the FCA a trove of Staleys emails with Epstein. The regulator started an investigation.

You have destroyed him," Higgins at the time told Bailey, then head of the FCA, the court heard. Staley resigned in 2021, and the FCA banned him in 2023.

Closing arguments will be heard in April. If he loses, Staley could appeal all the way to the U.K.s Supreme Court.

For more than three days, Staley fielded questions from the FCAs lawyer about emails he exchanged with Epstein.
THE ACTION that is needed has to be bold and determined," declared Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, this week. She was talking about how the European Union should respond to Donald Trumps habit of tearing up supposedly ironclad commitments", thereby threatening European values". Extraordinary times," she averred, call for extraordinary measures."

So far, the EUs response to Mr Trump has been fairly ordinary. After America imposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminium on March 12th, it said it would charge punitive levies on 8bn ($9bn) of American imports from April 1st and on a further 18bn of imports from mid-April. Despite Mrs von der Leyens fighting talk, Europe does not want its row with America to escalate and hopes Mr Trumps worst instincts can be moderated. But were the EUs disputes with America to intensify, it does have a surprising number of ways to exert pressure on its wayward ally.

The EUs most obvious geopolitical asset is the size of its market. Together with Britain, Norway and Switzerland, the continents GDP reaches $24.5trn, almost as big as Americas $29trn. American firms, from brewers to banks, would like to continue doing business in that market. That is the premise of Europes retaliatory tariffs, which will fall initially on easily substitutable luxury goods, such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles and whisky.

The hitch is that tariffs or other restrictions on imports from America hurt European consumers as well as American exporters. A case in point is Europes biggest import from America, energy. Last year it gobbled up 35% of Americas exports of crude and refined oil. More than half of Americas LNG went to Europe, too. Demand from the bloc, which may well keep rising long into the 2030s, underwrites many of the multibillion-dollar gas-export projects under development in America. Were Europe to curtail LNG purchases from America, many American energy firms would be in trouble. But it is hard for Europe to do this without crippling its already limping economy or again becoming dependent on Russia, an alarming predicament from which it has only just escaped.

Tech bruise

A more plausible, albeit for the moment entirely hypothetical, target is Americas tech giants. Europe can probably do without Instagram, a social network owned by Meta, for instance, but Meta would be hit hard by the loss of European revenue. Europe has lots of ways to make life difficult for such firms short of banning them from European markets, including taxation and competition policy. This allows it to calibrate the torment, gradually tightening the screws if need be.

The fact that these digital giants pay little tax in Europe has been a sticking-point in the transatlantic relationship for years. In part, low tax revenues are Europes own fault, since it has allowed Ireland and others to operate as tax havens within the EU. European countries answer has been taxes on online advertising and other digital services, which allow governments to get their hands on some of the web titans revenues. The effort to reach a global deal on such taxes is in abeyance, since Mr Trump does not support it. So individual European countries could raise their tax rates or the EU as a whole could dust off a proposed levy that it had shelved. An EU-wide tax would require unanimity among member states, which is usually a tall order but which might materialise if the diplomatic weather became stormy enough.

The European Commission also has enormous regulatory power over American tech firms. It can curb anticompetitive behaviour, order the removal of harmful content and stringently enforce privacy laws. Fines for firms that violate these rules can run into the billions of euros. Although European authorities will be keen to show that they still adhere to the rule of law and therefore do not initiate politically motivated prosecutions, a more exacting stance by regulators across the board could still have the desired effect.

American financial firms are also at the mercy of European institutions. In fact, some of the tools at the EUs disposal are so potent they could probably never be used. For example, the central nervous system of global payments is SWIFT, a co-operative based in Belgium which transmits some 8bn electronic messages among 11,000 financial institutions every year. European regulators have great sway over SWIFTs operations. But interfering with American banks access to the system would be financial Armageddon, hobbling global transfers in a manner as calamitous to European banks as to American ones.

Competition rules provide a less cataclysmic way of needling American financial firms. Regulators in the EU and Britain are already investigating the dominant position of Mastercard and Visa, two American firms, in Europes payments market. Prudential regulation is another lever. Foreign banks and asset-managers might be required to provide more capital to fund their European operations. There could be tighter local storage requirements for sensitive data and so on, notes a forthcoming report from the European Council on Foreign Relations, a think-tank.

Although America could retaliate in similar vein, it stands to lose more from a fight over services. Overall it exports about 100bn more in services to the EU than vice versa. That is the inverse of the trade in goods, in which Europe posted a surplus of almost 200bn last year. (Britain is different: it runs a surplus in services with America but a deficit in goods.)

Moreover, Europes market heft is not its only source of economic leverage. It could also curb Americas access to goods or services that it dominates. A recent report by CEPII, a French think-tank, identifies many categories of goods that are produced mainly in Europe and that America imports lots of, chiefly in pharmaceuticals and chemicals. The EU will not bring America to its knees by restricting sales of Wegovy, a weight-loss drug made by Novo Nordisk, a Danish firm. But there is at least one critical input to a strategic industry over which the EU has a near-total lock: the machines used to make the most sophisticated computer chips.

ASML, based in the Netherlands, is the only firm in the world to make devices that can produce chips of seven nanometres or lessthe sort used for cutting-edge artificial intelligence. Even for machines to make slightly chunkier chips, of 14 nanometres, ASML has a 90% market share.

Restricting ASMLs exports would not be unprecedented. In 2023 the Netherlands barred it from selling its most sophisticated kit to China. But Americas relations with Europe would have to become extremely frosty for it to receive the same treatment as China. What is more, much as with SWIFT, disrupting the semiconductor supply chain could have horrific and unpredictable consequences that might hurt Europe just as much as anywhere else.

An alternative choke-point might be Europes domination of another industry: the global commodities trade. Europe is not nearly as big an exporter of most raw materials as America, but it is an indispensable middleman. Its scant natural resources, central location and long history of relatively open trade have helped to foster all the activities that are crucial to the movement of goods, such as shipping and insurance. A grave rift with Europe could make it much harder for America to sell its resources anywhere, not just in Europe.

Europe is the home of the worlds biggest commodity traders. Switzerland alone counts around 900 such firms, including giants such as Glencore, Gunvor, Mercuria and Vitol. Its share in global trading is estimated at 35% for oil, 60% for metals, 50% for cereals and 40% for sugar. Britain and the Netherlands are also big trading hubs, reinforcing Europes dominance.

Over the decades Europes trading houses have established a vast web of suppliers, storage facilities, transport infrastructure and banking relationships that allow them to link producers to consumers in every part of the globe. Connecting remote mines and farms to distant cities and factories in this way is a complicated task that is not easily replicated.

Bulk bulk

The largest container-shipping firmsMaersk, MSC and CMA CGMare European. Oldendorff, the worlds biggest bulk-shipping company, is German. Greek companies own more than 30% of all oil tankers and more than a fifth of the worlds LNG fleet by capacity. Although many Asian countries also have big shipping industries, Europe enormously exceeds Americas market share (see chart).

View Full Image (The Economist)

Europes financial firms, meanwhile, lubricate the commodity trade in a way that Americas do not. London, with its network of brokers, underwriters and reinsurers provides more than 40% of the worlds marine and offshore-energy insurance. The 12 protection and indemnity clubs" that form Britains International Group insure the overwhelming majority of the global oil-tanker fleet. European banks loom large in commodity-trade financea market from which American ones are mostly absent. On March 10th Trafigura, a commodity trader based in Singapore, said it had raised $5.6bn to fund its operations. European lenders made up five out of the seven banks that arranged the deal. ING, a Dutch one, led the group.

Europe has recently tried to put this clout to use to punish Russia for its war on Ukraine. It has banned European commodity traders from dealing in Russian oil, European banks from financing trade in it, European ships from carrying it and European insurers from underwriting it unless the oil is sold for less than $60 a barrel. Although Russia has found ways around this price cap, the mechanism has raised costs for Russian firms and thus succeeded in sapping Russias oil revenues.

Whether Europe would ever want to use such tactics against America is another matter. It is possible to imagine a system of surcharges or levies of a less draconian nature than the Russian sanctions which would make it more expensive for American firms to trade internationally. But it would be such a sweeping and hostile step that it seems conceivable only in the midst of an across-the-board breakdown in relations. Even in response to a no-holds-barred Mr Trump, Europe would surely not treat America as it does Russia, no matter how vicious any trade war might become.

The most lopsided facet of the transatlantic relationship is defence. Europe relies heavily on Americas military support. It has far more to lose from any breakdown of this arrangement than America, which is, as Mr Trump pointed out recently, protected by a big, beautiful ocean". But that protection is not absolute. And the fact that Europe has more to lose does not mean that it has no leverage at all.

Start with that big beautiful ocean. America cannot protect it without European help. Russian submarines entering the North Atlantic from their Arctic bases must pass through a series of choke-points known as the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom (GIUK) gap. For decades America and its allies have jointly monitored this zone with a string of underwater acoustic sensors connected to onshore facilities, as well as radar-towing frigates and maritime-patrol aircraft flying out of Britain, Iceland and Norway. Much of the data gathered by these missions is thought to be processed at NATOs maritime headquarters in the suburbs of London.

If these arrangements were to fall apart, it would be far harder for America to track Russian submarines. It would have much less chance of detecting them on their way to Americas east coast. That would allow Russia to put many more missiles within range of American targets. Even if Mr Trump got his wish and America were somehow to annex Greenland, which is currently a self-governing dependency of Denmark, American forces would not be able to plug the geographic gap fully. And if American naval vessels were to be sent to the Pacific to cope with a crisis or war there, Americas dependence on collaboration with Europe could grow deeper still.

The GIUK gap is an illustration of a wider phenomenon: American military power depends on access to European territory. At Pituffik Space Base on Greenland, for instance, Americas Space Force maintains a radar station to track Russian missiles which would approach North America over the North Pole. Without access to that radar, America would have less warning and a poorer understanding of missile threats. On NATOs southern flank, in the Mediterranean, the US Air Force has been pondering whether to expand an air base on Cyprus. It has been vital for American operations in the Middle East, such as its recent delivery of aid to Gaza.

Whos helping whom?

Perhaps Americas most important foothold in Europe is in Germany, which hosts more than 50,000 American troops. The Pentagons European and African commands, which oversee every soldier, tank, warplane and naval vessel in their domains, are located in Stuttgart. The US Armys European headquarters are in Wiesbaden, and Germany hosts five of its seven European garrisons, including Grafenwohr, its largest base outside America. Ramstein, a large airbase, was for many years a hub for directing drone strikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen. The Landstuhl military hospital treated 95,000 American soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. At least 40% of American activity in Germany is thought to support operations in other parts of the world. The American special forces team that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011, for instance, flew to Pakistan via Ramstein.

Europes leverage comes not only from access to its territory. European firms are integrated into American defence supply chains. About a quarter of the F-35 jets components are made in Europe. Britain provides niche capabilities in Americas nuclear programme. Then there is intelligence. Britain is a member of the Five Eyes spy pact, in which America, Australia, Britain, Canada and New Zealand collect and then share signals intelligence, such as intercepted communications. America generates around 75-80% of the intelligence; it is clearly the first among equals. But the 20-25% produced by allies is still valuable, allowing American spies to be more efficient, to run operations around the clock and to snoop from places that would otherwise be inaccessible, such as British bases in Cyprus. British findings often feature in the Presidents Daily Brief, an intelligence summary produced by Americas spies.

American spies also work closely with continental Europeans. In the early 2010s, for instance, Americas National Security Agency collaborated with Denmark to spy on prominent European politicians by tapping the fibre-optic internet cables that pass through Danish territory. In 2015 it was the Dutch intelligence service that alerted America to the fact that Russian hackers had penetrated the Democratic National Committee with the aim of interfering in the presidential election of 2016. To be sure, much of this collaboration would survive even a serious transatlantic breach. Intelligence services work with everyone, even adversaries, in areas such as counter-terrorism. European spies would resist political demands to cut ties; indeed covert contacts and co-operation could become all the more important in a period where overt diplomacy had become toxic.

Europe could, however, make use of its leverage over America without a full breakdown in transatlantic ties. It has done so before. In 1973 Britain refused to allow America to fly U2 spy planes from bases in Britain and Cyprus during the Yom Kippur war. In 1986 France, Spain and Italy all barred America from flying over their territory or using their air bases during a bombing raid on Libya. That forced American jets to take a longer and more convoluted route. And in 2003 Turkey prevented America from using its territory to launch an invasion of Iraq, preventing America from attacking Baghdad from the north.

These sorts of irritants are routine in any alliance. But in a world where allies themselves choose to mirror Mr Trumps transactionalism, such acts of veto might introduce considerable friction into the cogs of American power. As with its economic might, Europe is likely to shrink from exerting its military leverage to the full. Almost all the steps it could take would be self-harming, even if they inflicted even greater damage on America. For that reason among others, getting European leaders, a fissiparous bunch at the best of times, to agree on a concerted response to American bullying would be a feat. But if they resolved to fight back, they have plenty of ways to do so.

 2025, The Economist Newspaper Ltd. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
In August 2024, Madhabi Puri Buch, then-chairperson of Indias market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), was on a long-overdue vacation in Turkey when a crisis erupted.

Hindenburg Research, the now-defunct US short seller, alleged that Sebis probe into its January 2023 report on the Adani Group was compromised. The firm claimed that Buch had stakes in offshore entities linked to Adanis alleged stock manipulation and accused her of a conflict of interest stemming from her ownership of consulting firms.

Read this | To whom is Madhabi Puri Buch really accountable?

Buch wasted no time. From Turkey, she worked with colleagues in India to formulate Sebis response, as her deputies scrambled to contain the fallout in Mumbai. The incident offered a glimpse into the latter half of her tenuremarked by both regulatory ambition and relentless controversy.

Appointed in March 2022, Buch was a first in many ways: Sebis first woman chairperson, its first leader from the private sector, and its first chief in decades without a government background. Her career spanned three decades, including stints at ICICI Bank, private equity, and the New Development Bank in Shanghai.

Yet, her tenure, which ended on 28 February, was dogged by allegations that tested Sebis credibility. The Adani-Hindenburg episode was a defining flashpoint, with critics accusing Sebi of slow and ineffective oversight. While Buch denied any conflict of interest, the scrutiny over Sebis regulatory lapses lingered, eroding investor confidence.

While Buch denied any wrongdoing, such allegations, even if unproven, raised questions about the regulators impartiality and eroded public trust," said Zubin Morris, partner at law firm Little & Co.

Buch's Sebi tenure and controversies

The Adani-Hindenburg crisis was the most contentious episode of Buchs tenure. Critics argued that Sebis response was sluggish and ineffective, exposing cracks in its monitoring mechanisms.

While Buch rejected claims of bias, the controversy reinforced doubts about the regulators ability to act decisively in high-stakes cases.

Read this | Sebi chairperson Buch refutes Hindenburg's allegations as 'character assassination'

Political heat followed. Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned Buchs compensation from ICICI Bank, alleging she held an office of profit and received substantial post-2017 benefits. Both Buch and ICICI denied the claims, but the accusations added to the growing perception of Sebis credibility crisis.

Former finance secretary Subhash Chandra Garg suggested that the controversies made Buch a liability for the government. Amid intense speculation about her extension, the Union Cabinet on 27 February 2025 appointed finance secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey as her successor.

Ruffling feathers in Indias markets

Beyond the Adani crisis, Buchs decisions rattled market intermediaries. Brokers and investment firms pushed back against what they saw as overregulation, arguing that Sebis frequent policy shifts drove up compliance costs.

Some regulatory actions, though well-intended, led to unintended consequences, particularly for smaller players struggling with compliance burdens, said Sumit Agrawal, founder of Regstreet Law Advisors and a former Sebi officer.

Sebis regulatory moves increasingly clashed with judicial interpretations. The Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) and the Supreme Court intervened in high-profile cases, including Reliances corporate disputes, the NSE co-location scandal, and the Adani-Hindenburg fallout. Legal setbacks called into question Sebi's decision-making and regulatory consistency.

At the same time, there was a perception that Sebis approach sometimes hurt market players more than it helped," Agrawal noted, opining that most of the orders issued by Sebi during her time adversely affected financial institutions, brokers, and investors.

This perception of bias was troubling for market participants."

Resistance within Sebi

Internally, Buchs aggressive management style led to tensions within Sebi. Employees resisted her push for a corporate-style performance evaluation system, which linked career growth to rigid Key Result Areas (KRAs).

Critics said the new system ignored external constraintsparticularly in legal departments, where case outcomes often depended on factors beyond employees control. Some former Sebi officers claimed that previous leadership had taken a more balanced approach to performance reviews.

Resentment grew over strict monitoring measures, including geo-tagging employees office hours and a leadership style some described as high-handed.

She had a highway or my way attitude, which signalled mistrust in her employees, said a former Sebi official. That hurt morale."

People Mint spoke to, who had previously worked with Buch, unanimously described her brusque manner in professional settings, saying it deterred whatever good she could have done. Others noted that she lacked empathy for employees, which further alienated Sebis workforce.

Garg commented that the employee protests reflected a broader reluctance to work under her leadership style, rather than mere resistance to policy changes.

Still, with Indias markets seeing a surge in trading activity, some insiders argued that Sebis workload had naturally increased and employees would eventually adapt.

With hundreds of IPOs coming in, methods of data collection and processing had to evolve. Employees recognized this shift," said Sidharth Kumar, a senior associate at law firm BTG Advaya.

Kumar also pointed out that Sebi had historically acted with urgency when necessary. He cited how, under former Sebi chairman Ajay Tyagi, the regulator had swiftly operationalized 15 special courts to handle securities-related offenses within four monthsa contrast to the legal bottlenecks seen under Buchs tenure.

While Buchs private-sector background at ICICI Bank brought a results-driven mindset, some said Sebi wasnt ready for her pace. People struggled initially, but many eventually adapted," said a senior Sebi official. She was a great listenerprovided your ideas were backed by data."

Buchs data-driven approach also set her apart in public engagements. Unlike her predecessors, she didnt stick to prepared speeches. Instead, armed with a wireless slide presenter, she paced the stage, using graphs and data-heavy slides to drive home her points.

That approach changed after Hindenburgs allegations in August 2023. Buch largely avoided public appearances until December 2024. However, after the Ministry of Finance advertised the Sebi chairperson vacancy, she resumed engagements, focusing on financial inclusion initiatives.

Buch also sought to modernize Sebi, pushing for fintech adoption and tighter market regulation. Under her leadership, Sebi saw an influx of committees, working groups, and consultation papers," said Agrawal. In just three years, over 800 amendments and regulatory changes were introduced.

But the rapid pace overwhelmed the market. Even Sebi staff struggled to keep up," said Sidharth Kumar, a senior associate at law firm BTG Advaya. Frequent regulatory changes created uncertainty, making it difficult for firms to adapt."

Buchs policies also fuelled employee unrest. Protests erupted over Sebis rigid performance metrics, prompting the regulator to initially dismiss the dissent as external influenceonly to backtrack after silent protests gained traction.

Efforts to push a private-sector culture where performance was closely monitored clashed with Sebis long-standing bureaucratic style," said Kumar. Career officials, he added, struggled to adapt to the sudden cultural shift.

Buch's legacy: Investor protection and market overhaul

Despite the backlash, Buchs tenure saw major policy reforms.

Buch pushed for market modernization, most notably implementing the T+1 settlement cycle in January 2023 and advancing to T+0 by 2024making India one of the first countries globally to adopt such rapid transaction settlements. The move aimed to improve liquidity and reduce settlement risks, strengthening Indias appeal to both domestic and foreign investors.

She also prioritized regulatory simplification, particularly for startups and alternative investment funds (AIFs), streamlining compliance norms to encourage growth in these sectors. At the same time, she cracked down on market malpractices.

One of Sebis most decisive actions under her leadership was in the NSE co-location scam, where certain brokers gained unfair access to trading data.

She was determined to make an impact," said Morris of Little & Co. Her handling of the NSE case showed Sebis willingness to take on powerful market players."

Buch also introduced stricter disclosure norms for IPO-bound companies, requiring large investors to wait longer before offloading shares. Investors could sell only 50% of their holdings after a 30-day lock-in period, with the remaining half subject to a 90-day wait. These measures, aimed at protecting retail investors, sought to prevent pre-listing hype from leading to sudden post-listing exits by institutional players.

While her tenure was marked by regulatory intensity, some insiders noted improvements in Sebis operational efficiency. A lawyer closely working with the regulator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that law firm bills were cleared far more quickly under Buch than in previous years, when payments would often take years.

In her final weeks as chairperson, Buch appeared to focus on investor protection, launching initiatives aimed at retail participation. The microSIP scheme, allowing investments as low as 250, was positioned as a game-changer for financial inclusion. She also introduced programmes like Chhoti SIP, JanNivesh SIP, and the Sachetization of Mutual Funds, engaging directly with retail investors to promote awareness.

Read this | Whats Sebis score: Increasing investor complaints test regulators redressal system

Buch personally attended investor outreach events, including one at a government-aided school in Maharashtra, where she introduced Tarun Yojana, an initiative designed to promote financial literacy among students.

All these initiatives seemed aimed at leaving behind a legacy of being pro-investor and driving innovation.

Whats next under Pandey?

New Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey aims to restore stability, emphasizing trust, transparency, teamwork, and technology. Unlike Buchs aggressive regulatory push, Pandey favors measured reforms, seeking a balanced approach to market oversight.

Kunal Vyas, partner at Gandhi Law Associates, said that the ministrys decision to appoint Buch, a professional with a non-governmental service background, was a significant departure from tradition.

However, bureaucratic appointees often bring a broader administrative experience that could align with the governments regulatory goals," he noted.

Pandey is expected to engage with foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and alternative investment funds (AIFs) to address concerns and streamline regulations. His focus on optimum regulation" signals a shift toward simplification and voluntary compliance, moving away from Buchs rapid-fire rule changes.

Also read | How Sebis serial crackdown crimped F&O volumes and crashed broking-firm stocks

Even after her exit, Buch remains in the headlines. A recent legal petition attempted to drag her name into fresh controversy, though the courts dismissed it.

Still, her tenure will be remembered as one of bold transformationa chairperson who sought to shake up Indias financial markets but, perhaps, moved too fast for her own good.
While flagship smartphones follow an annual refresh cycle, vivo is hyperactive in the mid-premium segment with quicker releases. With two generations of V-series smartphones launched in 2024, we already have the next onevivo V50 (starting at 34,999).

There are a few refinements, but it is also quite similar to its predecessor. Of course, the focus is on its photography chops and myriad camera featuresa posturing that mid-range smartphones rarely go for.

I tried the vivo V50 for two weeks to see if the upgrades are exciting enough and if theres more to the phone than its camera unit.

A conversation-starter design

The vivo V50 largely inherits the design language of its predecessor, the V40, and thats a good legacy to bank on. But it goes for an even slimmer profilevivo has shaved down the thickness from 7.6mm to 7.39mm.

The slim profile, the curved display on the front, and the glass back panel together enhance the overall ergonomics of the smartphone and makes for a reliable in-hand feel.

Also read: The best non-mobile phone gadgets from MWC Barcelona

The vivo V50 offers a unique flair when it comes to the design department. If you prefer a subtle, understated look, go for the Titanium Grey" variant. But vivos aesthetic distinction shines in the other two variants. The vibrant Rose Red" offers a bold aesthetic while the Starry Night" one that shimmers with holographic dots when light hits the back panel is really eye catching.

In terms of durability, vivo has upped its game this time around. Instead of just the IP68 protection, it also boasts of IP69 certification which makes the device more resistant to water and dust, even under harsher conditions. This is one of those phones that you can take in the showernot sure why thoughas well as in the pool for underwater shots.

Look at the curves

The vivo V50 embraces a curved display which makes it look as premium as much more expensive smartphones. The curvature along with narrow bezels make for an immersive viewing experience, even though some people arent fans of curved displays.

Otherwise, it sticks to the similar 6.77-inch AMOLED display as the V40, with a 120Hz refresh rate. For some reason, vivo has dropped the pixel density from 453ppi to 387ppi. The downgrade is hardly noticeable in everyday usage unless one is pixel-peeping, but the choice is puzzling.

The display is bright, sharp, and vividyou can switch to more natural colors from the settings, though. The AMOLED panel offers vibrant colors and deep blacks, and the peak brightness of 4500 nits ensures clarity even in direct sunlight outdoors.

ZEISS camera

For a while now, smartphone camera capabilities have been vivos marquee pitch. The company also decided to democratize the fruits of its collaboration with German optical systems company, ZEISS, by bringing their co-developed features to the mid-range V series apart from the flagship X series which is known for its photography exploits.

The V50 also has vivos signature Aura Light instead of the conventional LED flash, which is brighter and softer than its predecessor.

The result is a reliable point-and-shoot cameras in its class. The 50-megapixel primary camera offers lively photos when shooting in daylightthe colors pop with punchy saturation and the dynamic range and the details are pretty good. The skin tones appear to be slightly smoothened, due to the processing. In low light conditions though, there is a noticeable drop in quality as the photos tend to lose sharpness and details. But it isnt a showstopper.

Even the wide-angle camera captures sharp images without any major shift in colors when compared to the primary camera.

By the way, the V50 also has vivos signature Aura Light" instead of the conventional LED flash, which is brighter and softer than its predecessor. Aura Light lights up the subject with a soft, natural glow instead of a harsh glare to enhance portrait shots. I almost dismissed the feature as gimmicky when it was first introduced, but it really helps in certain conditions.

View Full Image The camera captures natural portraits

Its portrait photography where the vivo V50 truly excels. The phone doesnt pack in a dedicated telephoto lens, but the 50MP wide-angle lens features in-sensor crop support that enables 2x zoom. The V50 allows you to shoot at different focal lengths23mm for landscapes, 35mm for everyday portraits, and 50mm for focused portraits.

As weve seen in the V series and X series before, the portrait mode comes with a slew of options to choose colors, tone, and types of bokeh. Theres also the India-exclusive" wedding portrait mode that vivo thinks has many takers in the land of big fat weddings (the media briefing for the smartphone was hosted at a popular wedding venue in Delhi).

The result is impressive, detailed portraits with solid edge detection, on-point sharpness levels, and accurate skin tones. The background blur is neat as well with natural separation from the background.

While shooting photos, the image processing sometimes takes an extra beat. Its not killjoy, but definitely noticeable. The reason is the internals it packs.

Dated internals

While vivo doesnt bill the V50 as a performance phone, but packing a dated Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset that also powered not just its predecessor but also the one before it  the vivo V40 and V30. The base variant of the vivo V50 offers 8GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, while a 12GB RAM and 512GB storage variant is also available.

The choice of processor aside, you wouldnt notice any major lags or jitteriness in casual everyday use. And therefore, it should just be fine for most average users. But frame drops while playing graphic-intensive games or a certain drag during high-performance usage bares the choice of the processor. While vivo stands by the processor, the V50 does fall short compared to some of its rivals in the same category.

The V50 is powered by Funtouch OS 15, the companys customized UI layer based on Android 15. While not the best software experience out there, the improvements and refinements to the OS in the last couple of years is quite evident. As is hygiene these days, the phone has a bunch of AI-powered utilities for things like image editing, audio transcribing, and translation as well as marquee Android features like Circle to Search.

vivo continues to be conservative with its update promises. The V50 will receive three Android OS updates along with four years of security updates.

Solid battery life

Battery life is a highlight of vivo V50. It can easily deliver over a day and a half of battery life with heavy usage. No battery anxiety!

From 5500mAh battery on the vivo V40, the battery on the V50 has been upgraded to 6000mAh, which is remarkably packed in a slim chassis. Thankfully, it supports 90W fast charging, so charging the mammoth battery isnt much of a worry. It takes just under an hour to charge the phone from zero to hundred percent with the bundled fast charger, which is impressivethe vivo V50 not only lasts long but also gets ready for the job quickly.

Should you buy it?

The vivo V50 is a compelling offering, but I have mixed feelings about it. Hands down, it is one of the best mid-range shooters, especially when it comes to portraits. But it also skips a telephoto sensor. For the most part, the core experience is pretty good, but the performance skips a beat.

These misses aside, there is significant merit to this device. Its well-designed and remarkably stunning, packs in dual ingress protection, helps evade battery anxiety, and ekes out consistent camera performance.

Starting at 34,999, vivo V50 is a reliable smartphone and a pretty good option on the table. It builds on the strengths of its predecessor with certain meaningful upgrades. Yet there are other options in the market within the same segment that could appeal to those who prefer raw horsepower. Even within its stable, theres last years vivo V40, with little compromises, that you can pick at a cheaper price or go for V40 Pro which has better photography chops than the V50.

Also read: Nothing Phone 3a, 3a pro: Nothing boring about this design
Yashwant Sinhas tenure as finance minister is remarkable, particularly because of the nature of the equation he had with his prime minister. Remember that Sinha first became the finance minister under the Chandra Shekhar government in November 1990. At that time, Sinha was a member of the Samajwadi Janata Party or Janata Dal (Socialist). He switched over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1992. The choice of Sinha as the finance minister, just six years after joining the party, came as a surprise to many political observers within the BJP and outside. The first Vajpayee government, which lasted just sixteen days in 1996, had appointed Jaswant Singh as the finance minister. Sinha was a member of the BJP then but was not even among the eleven ministers who were part of Vajpayees council of ministers.

Indeed, Sinhas elevation as the finance minister just two years later was a surprise even for him as well. After being sworn in as a minister and before the allocation of ministries, Sinha had approached Vajpayee to seek permission to visit Hazaribagh, the constituency that had elected him to the Twelfth Lok Sabha. An apparently amused Vajpayee had asked Sinha if he were to leave for Hazaribagh, who would prepare and present the Budget? That was Vajpayees way of informing Sinha that he would be the next finance minister. And that was also how Sinha learnt that Vajpayee would like him to steer the finance ministry. The style and manner in which the prime minister chose to tell Sinha about his decision also showed how the relationship between the two had remained a little uncertain and tentative.

Also read: How to tame the spoilt brats of India's business families

During his over four-year-long stint as the finance minister, there were many ups and downs in this relationship. Once, Sinha would even check with Vajpayee if he enjoyed his leaders confidence and the prime minister would assure his finance minister that there was no lack of any trust or confidence. But that did not fully allay Sinhas apprehensions. He would be troubled by charges from leaders from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that his Budget had departed from Swadeshi (nationalistic) economic policies. His decisions on expenditure management would face resistance from his own ministerial colleagues. Essentially, Sinhas relationship with his prime minister was a factor behind the curtailment of his tenure as finance minister in 2002.
One of the worst curses of modern life is sleep deprivation, leaving hundreds of millions bleary eyed every single day. Sleep plays a critical role in our lives as our brains and bodies reset, recover and replenish so that we may function glitch-free- every day. The latest research and studies on sleep have uncovered irrefutable evidence that inadequate and poor sleep have a devastating impact on our health, emotions and social skills as well as increase the risk of several diseases and death. Little wonder then that anyone remotely concerned about their health has started paying more attention to sleep. At a time when there is as much information as there is misinformation, we turn to medical experts to address some of the most common questions about sleep.



Q. Is sleep a luxury?

Sleep is a fundamental biological necessity, not a luxury. It is essential for overall health and well-being, regardless of socioeconomic status, insists Dr Vikas Mittal, director (pulmonology), CK Birla Hospital, New Delhi. However, this is true only in an ideal world, counters Dr Shaunak Ajinkya, consultant psychiatrist, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai. In reality, wealth and privilege often determine who gets better sleep quality and who struggles with sleep deprivation. Wealthier people often have jobs with flexibility, allowing them to prioritise sleep. They can afford high-quality mattresses, blackout curtains, sleep tech and access to quiet neighbourhoods. Lower income individuals often face sleep challenges such as long hours at work, multiple jobs or frequent night shifts that disrupt circadian rhythms. Financial worries can be highly stressful and interfere with falling and staying asleep. Noisy, overcrowded living conditions can make it harder to sleep," notes Ajinkya, adding that regardless of wealth, modern life makes it harder for people to get proper sleep.

Q. Adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep. What if you cant?

If you are unable to get the prescribed amount of sleep, then focus on sleep quality, says Ajinkya. There has been a sharp rise in sleep disorders in India. Meta-analysis studies indicate high prevalence rates for insomnia (25.7%), obstructive sleep apnoea (37.4%), and restless legs syndrome (10.6%), he adds.

Sleep and wake up at the same time every day. Reduce exposure to blue light (shut down all screens about 30 minutes before bedtime. Create a sleep-friendly environment. Practice relaxation techniques like mindfulness, breathing, self-hypnosis or meditation regularly. If sleep deprivation builds, allow yourself to recover by taking an extra days rest whenever possible. A well-planned recovery period can help reset the sleep cycle," says Ajinkya.

Q. Does late evening exercise hamper sleep?

While some people may sleep well after an evening workout, intense late-night exercise can elevate heart rate, body temperature, and adrenaline levels, making it harder to fall asleep, says Ajinkya. It does depend on the intensity levels of the exercise. It is good practice to finish high-intensity workouts at least 3 hours before bedtime. You can opt for low-intensity activities at night like yoga, stretching, or light resistance training, which promotes relaxation," he adds. Studies show that people who exercise regularly fall asleep faster, wake up less often at night and enjoy improved sleep quality.

Q. Do naps count?

Yes, naps do count and are beneficial but they are no substitute for a full nights sleep, say sleep experts and doctors. Naps between 10 and 30 minutes are ideal as they can improve alertness, mood, and productivity without leading to grogginess or disrupting nighttime sleep, says Mittal. Ajinkya says that naps may also enhance cognitive function, creativity and decision-making.

The brain consolidates information during rest and thus a nap enhances problem-solving and creativity. A nap also reduces burnout and helps employees recharge better, so there is less fatigue and better overall health," explains Ajinkya. It is perhaps time to carve in a nap room in organisations that do not already have them. Several organisations across the globe, including Google and NASA, have embraced workplace nap rooms or even nap-friendly seating arrangements to support employee wellbeing as they have realised that a rested employee equals better performance.

Q. Is our sleep impacted by what we eat and drink?

Yes. What we eat and drink can significantly impact our sleep quality. Herbal tea, warm milk, bananas, nuts and lean proteins are all good for sleep, while caffeine, alcohol, sugary, spicy and greasy foods are bad for sleep, says Ajinkya. Caffeine blocks adenosine, a sleep-inducing chemical in the brain, which can lead to trouble falling asleep, lighter sleep, or waking up frequently during the night. Coffee is best avoided 6 hours before bedtime. Alcohol disrupts REM sleep, increases the risk of snoring and worsening of sleep apnoea. Stop drinking 4 hours before you sleep. Large or fatty meals can lead to abdominal bloating, hyperacidity, acid reflux and heartburns, all leading to disturbed sleep at night. Eat your last big meal 3 hours before bedtime," advises Ajinkya.

Q. Must I track sleep?

Tracking sleep can be helpful, but its not necessary for everyone, agree Mittal and Ajinkya. If you sleep well and wake up refreshed, you do not need tracking. But if you struggle with sleep, tracking can offer insights into patterns, habits, and issues affecting your sleep," says Ajinkya, adding that sleep trackers are not 100% accurate and cannot fix the underlying issues that disrupt ones sleep.

In some cases, says Mittal, tracking sleep may cause anxiety, leading to over-monitoring and stress about sleep quality. In the long-term, the best way to improve sleep is not necessarily through tracking but by adopting good sleep hygiene, regular physical activity, exposure to sunlight, maintaining a consistent bedtime, and avoiding stimulants (caffeine, alcohol) before bedtime," advises Mittal.

Q. Sleep vacations, really?

Sleep vacations are predicted to be one of the top travel trends of 2025. These are vacations that people take, not for sightseeing or enjoying cultural and culinary delights, but for sleep. Mittal says this is a growing trend where people travel specifically to improve their sleep with customised sleep plans and tech-driven sleep interventions. Ajinkya adds that these breaks are designed by sleep specialists based on personal sleep patterns, include yoga, meditation, sound therapy, massages and encourage people to avoid screens and blue light. Special meals are also tailored to promote relaxation.

While Ajinkya thinks sleep vacations are a good idea for sleep-deprived, overworked professionals and frequent travellers who struggle with jet lag, Mittal is more skeptical dismissing them as more of a marketing strategy than a scientifically validated solution." Mittal reasons, Sleep vacations focus on offering temporary relief. Sustainable sleep improvement comes from long-term practices like maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, exercising, and managing stress effectively."

If sleep deprivation builds, allow yourself to recover by taking an extra days rest whenever possible. A well-planned recovery period can help reset the sleep cycle

Q. Does magnesium deficiency cause sleep disruptions?

Magnesium deficiency can contribute to poor sleep as it plays a key role in relaxing the nervous system, regulating melatonin and supporting deep, restorative sleep. If you are low on magnesium, you may experience difficulty falling or staying asleep, restlessness in legs during the night, muscle cramps, fatigue, anxiety or worsening of depression," warns Ajinkya. Magnesium supplements help in such cases when combined with overall good sleep hygiene. Magnesium is found naturally in foods including dark leafy greens, almonds, pumpkin seeds, bananas, avocados and dark chocolate. Do consult your doctor before starting any supplements.

Q. Whats a sleep pod?

Since the Paris Olympics last year, interest in sleep pods has been growing. They are becoming increasingly popular among elite athletes, high-performance professionals, and corporate wellness programmes. Sleep pods are capsule-like structures designed to provide a dark, quiet and comfortable environment for rest. Some pods have built-in soundscapes, calming lights, and temperature controls to create a perfect sleep environment. The enclosed design of the sleep pod blocks out light and noise and makes it easier to fall into deep sleep," says Ajinkya. These pods are designed for short, restorative naps rather than a full nights sleep making them ideal for midday rest, adds Ajinkya.

Q. Can temperature controlled beds and neurological gadgets help us sleep?

New-age interventions like temperature-controlled mattresses and neuroscience-based gadgets such as NuCalm are designed to enhance sleep quality, particularly for individuals dealing with anxiety, stress, or sleep disturbances, says Mittal.

Many people wake up feeling too hot or too cold. Temperature-controlled beds adjust temperature dynamically based on sleep stages and biometrics assisting the bodys natural sleep response. NuCalm is a sleep aid which involves binaural beats and neuro-acoustic software (via an app) with a biosignal processing disc (a sticker placed on the wrist) claiming to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and an eye mask for complete darkness. The use of low-frequency sound waves helps with relaxation," adds Ajinkya.

While these innovations are promising and backed by some scientific research, most studies so far have focused on their effects on anxiety and stress-related disorders rather than sleep improvement alone, argues Mittal, adding, Yoga, meditation, and good sleep hygiene can also provide similar benefits without the need for expensive gadgets."

Shrenik Avlani is a writer and editor and the co-author of The Shivfit Way, a book on functional fitness.
Indias Mutual Funds Sahi Hai campaign was meant to revolutionize investing. But in Manipur, the countrys least-penetrated mutual fund market, it barely registered.

For Maibam Nirbuala Devi, financial literacy came too late. Together with her family, she invested 48 lakh in a local scheme promising 5% monthly returnsonly to find out it was a Ponzi scam.

In channels around here, the ads were about the schemes I invested in," said Devi, who now faces mounting family tensions over the lost money. My friends talked about them, and their ads popped up frequently."

Now, the scam operator is in jail, and her money is gone.

Read this | India's stock market rally looks like a self-sustaining Ponzi scheme

Manipur has the lowest mutual fund penetration in India. Here, informal chit fundsknown as marupand high-return unregulated deposit schemes dominate investment conversations. Devi knows the difference nowbut with her savings wiped out, investing in mutual funds is no longer an option.

Her case is far from unique. According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the scheme Devi invested in collected 580 crore from depositors. For perspective, the entire mutual fund industry in Manipur holds just 1,600 crore in assets. One Ponzi scheme alone is believed to have raised 2,000 crore, defrauding thousands, including homemakers and rickshaw pullers.

Key Takeaways Manipur investors put just 4,970 on average into mutual fundsfar below Mumbais 2.21 lakh and Delhis 2.72 lakh.

Out of 43,826 investor education programmes nationwide, Manipur accounted for just 21the lowest in the country.

The only Sebi-registered investment advisor (RIA) in Manipur told Mint that he has zero clients.

A single Ponzi scheme defrauded depositors of 2,000 crore, exceeding Manipurs entire mutual fund industry AUM of 1,600 crore.

The absence of AMC and RTA branches forces distributors to send paperwork to Guwahati, complicating KYC updates and investments.

Many investors mistake insurance-linked products (ULIPs) for mutual funds, often locking up their money with limited liquidity options.

A state trapped in financial illiteracy

The problem runs deeper than misplaced trust. A Crisil report ranks Manipur as having the lowest financial literacy among Indias small states. But efforts to fix this remain insufficient.

Regulators and asset management companies (AMCs) have conducted 43,826 investor awareness programmes nationwide. Manipur accounted for just 21. Even when awareness events are held, they are often in English or Hindilanguages few locals understand.

Many of these events were useless here," said a mutual fund distributor (MFD) who requested anonymity.

This knowledge gap translates into staggering disparities in investment behaviour. The average Manipur investor puts just 4,970 into mutual fundscompared to 2.21 lakh in Mumbai and 2.72 lakh in Delhi. As a percentage of GDP, Manipur ranks second-lowest in mutual fund participation.

View Full Image (Mint Graphics)

A shrinking pool of mutual fund distributors

Toijam Meitei, among the few mutual fund distributors in Manipur, says most locals prefer chit funds, real estate, and traditional banking products over mutual funds. The 2008-09 market crash and the Securities and Exchange Board of Indias (Sebi) ban on upfront commissions led many MFDs to exit the business.

Read this | This 23-year-old distributor is making mutual funds sahi for the hearing impaired

I have around 800 clients, most investing 2,000 to 10,000 per month in SIPs," said Meitei. But the ongoing communal violence has put even this at risk. Many have paused fresh SIPs, but thankfully, most haven't redeemed their investments."

For Romen Ningthoujam, operations head of Aspire Alive Alpha Ltd, the only corporate MFD in Manipur, mutual fund distribution alone doesnt generate enough revenue. His firm relies on stockbroking and insurance to stay afloat.

The only Sebi-registered investment advisor (RIA) in Manipur told Mint that he has zero clients.

Scams in absence of regulated players

Unregulated players dominate stock market investments in Manipur. Khwairakpam Umananda, a 28-year-old pig farm owner, invested 10 lakh in a non-Sebi registered entity that promised 7% monthly returns through stock market trading.

He realized it was a scam only after an FIR was filed against the schemes operator, who had amassed luxury cars and bikes before vanishing.

The person absconded after getting bail and is nowhere to be found, Umananda said. He and about 5,000 others are still waiting to recover their money.

While some locals do invest in regulated products, most prefer going through banks, where they are often mis-sold insurance schemes disguised as investments, said Meitei, a mutual fund distributor.

To be sure, selling insurance earns far higher commissions than mutual funds.

I had a young client walk into my office, thinking he had invested in mutual funds," Meitei recalled. But when I checked, it was actually a ULIP. In tough economic times like these, you can pause or redeem a mutual fund investmentbut if your money is in a ULIP, youre stuck."

What should the authorities do?

Mutual fund distributors believe asset management companies must step up local-language advertising to build trust among Manipurs investors.

When you see unregulated schemes dominating local media instead of regulated products, people start trusting them," said Ningthoujam. If AMCs advertised in local channels or newspapersespecially during festivals like Cheirouba or Yaoshangit could shift investor confidence toward legitimate financial products."

Read this | Small-cap funds face a higher liquidity risk, show latest stress test

Another major hurdle is the absence of AMC and Registrar & Transfer Agent (RTA) branches in Manipur.

Meitei, a mutual fund distributor, said he onboards most clients via physical forms and cheques since many investors are not tech-savvy. Each new clients Know Your Customer (KYC) documents and cheques must be sent to Guwahati, adding delays and logistical challenges.

While mutual fund onboarding can be done online, updating old KYCs or transferring units after an investors death still requires physical paperwork.

Its not just about submitting forms," Ningthoujam pointed out. People here trust financial services more when they can walk into an office and resolve issues face to face."

Investor education efforts have also stagnated.

Ningthoujam noted that the last Sebi-led investor awareness programme in Manipurorganized in partnership with AMCs like Nippon and HDFCwas before the pandemic. Since then, no such initiatives have taken place.

Also read | How Indias youngest pension fund gamed a falling market to outdo its older rivals

Meanwhile, a recent Association of Mutual Funds in India report highlights that women in India's northeast play an active role in financial decision-making. But many have now suffered severe financial setbacks due to investments in fraudulent schemes.

Despite this, there has been little government effort to educate the public on the risks of unregulated investments.
Zelenskyy reports on successful strike by new Long Neptune missile on enemy at range of 1000 km

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the successful combat use of the Long Neptune missile at a range of 1,000 km.

The long Neptune missile was tested and successfully used in combat. A new Ukrainian missile, precise strike. The range of one thousand kilometers, Zelenskyy said on X.

Zelenskyy thanked Ukrainian developers, manufacturers and the military.

He also briefed on the report of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine regarding new support packages from partners. We are securing artillery supplies. I am grateful to all the partners who are helping, the President said.
Air Indias journey under the Tata group has been replete with mis-steps. The latest was on 5 March when an Air India aircraft headed to Delhi had to fly back to Chicago as eight of the 12 lavatories in the aircraft had become unserviceable.

In February, Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan joined a long line of passengers complaining about the quality of seats on Air India aircraft. In a post on X, Chouhan said the seat allocated to him by Air India was broken". The airline apologised to the minister and Indias Directorate General of Civil Aviation is looking into the matter.

Theres also the instance of an octogenarian Air India passenger who did not get a wheel chair and had to be hospitalised because of a fall.

Air Indias response to these incidents has been unbecoming. It empathised" with the octogenarian passenger and said its investigation had found that the said passenger travelling with family members had arrived at the departure terminal much later than the recommended two hours before departure".

As for the Chicago-Delhi flight, Air India said polythene bags, rags, and clothes flushed down the aircrafts toilets had got stuck in the plumbing. We take this opportunity to urge passengers to use lavatories only for the purposes that they are meant for," the airline said in a statement.

Also read | Air India, IndiGo ramp up loyalty programmes. But they have a lot to catch up

Instead of taking some of the blame for the shoddy maintenance work on the aircraft, Air India put the blame on its passengers. It is evident that the aircraft was not serviced properly in Chicago. Otherwise, why were eight of its 12 lavatories unserviceable soon after the aircraft took off.

Before a flight takes off, pilots are required to sign a minimum equipment list of all the equipment on board. The list includes lavatories and seats electrical systems, which are important for passenger comfort, particularly on an ultra-long route. Air Indias time table shows an aircraft is typically on the ground for four hours and 35 minutes, which should be enough time to check and ensure the lavatories are functional.

While all these recent incidents are damaging for Air Indias reputation, the Chicago-Delhi flight incident could persuade some global passengers to skip the airline.

Also read | Class wars: Air India plans premium makeover to extend luxury lead over IndiGo

How long can the Tata group-run Air India hide behind the excuse that the aircraft it inherited are old or blame supply chain problems and vendors who are no longer in business? These will not cut ice with Indian flyers, who are now very discerning.

Instead, Air India should put its house in order. The Tatas knew what kind of fleet they were inheriting. Perhaps they should have made contingency plans for addressing issues that could surface from such aircraft.

Even now, it can take newer aircraft on lease, something that IndiGo has done, so that passenger comfort is taken more seriously. Air India has already benefitted from sanctions on Russia and China, which ended up diverting aircraft deliveries meant for airlines of these two countries to join the Indian carriers fleet.
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them. But the truly unfortunate are those who have greatness snatched away.

Take Purshottamdas Thakurdas, the Gujarati cotton trader and industrialist from Bombay. Had the Indian government followed the blueprint set out in the Bombay Plan of 1944, Thakurdas might have been remembered as the architect of an economic revolution.

Read this | Vikram Sarabhai, the cosmic capitalist whose vision encompassed Indian industry

The 15-year investment strategy, outlined in January 1944 and initially meant for private circulation, had the potential to set India on a vastly different economic trajectory. Thakurdas, who condensed it into two pamphlet-sized volumes and published them as A Brief Memorandum Outlining a Plan of Economic Development for India in 1945, could have been hailed as one of its founding fathers.

Instead, the Indian government, in its wisdom, chose a different pathone that condemned the country to a miserly rate of growth, later derisively dubbed the "Hindu rate of growth," for the first four decades of independence.

The other signatories of the almost-forgotten documentindustrialists like J.R.D. Tata, G.D. Birla, Lala Shriram, and Kasturbhai Lalbhai, as well as public figures like A.D. Shroff and John Mathaimoved on to their primary vocations and earned their spurs in business and finance. Thakurdas, however, became a footnote.

This, despite his many achievements.

Born in May 1879 into a wealthy Gujarati bania family that had moved from Surat to Bombay, he lost his father at a young age. A kindly uncle raised him as his own, absorbing him into his cotton and oilseeds trading firm after he graduated from Elphinstone College and attained his law degree.

Thakurdas went on to become president of the East India Cotton Association and, in 1927, along with G.D. Birla, co-founded the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci). Historian Bipan Chandra, in India Wins Independence, notes that Ficci was part of the efforts to establish a national-level organization of Indian commercial, industrial, and financial interests, in contrast to the already well-organized European business lobbies in India.

Though a die-hard nationalist, Thakurdas also earned the respect of the British, who conferred on him the titles of Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire and Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Recognizing his meticulous attention to detail and sense of fair play, the colonial government appointed him to several committees, including one entrusted with apportioning public holidays among various Indian communitiesa shrewd and calculated move.

Read this | Cotton King Govindram Seksaria: The Marwari maven of pre-Independence trade

In his PhD thesis, The Politics of Moderation: Britain and the Indian Liberal Party 1917-1923, scholar Philip Graham Woods writes: It was increasingly important for the British, therefore, not to alienate the middle-ground of Indian economic interests, represented by industrialists like Purshottamdas Thakurdas and others."

Yet Thakurdas also enjoyed the confidence of the Indian National Congress, despite his well-articulated misgivings about Gandhis Civil Disobedience movement. His ability to command trust on both sides allowed him to arbitrate on key national issues. He pressed for a strong and autonomous central banking system, playing an influential role in the formative years of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He was also a founding member of the Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (formerly the Indian Institute of Bankers) and served on its Council until his death on 4 July 1961.

As a successful businessman, Sir PT, as he was known, firmly believed in free enterprise and the power of market forces to allocate resources efficiently. Yet he was unlike the extractive capitalists who hijacked the economies of many newly independent nations.

In his authoritative biography of Thakurdas, Dom Moraes writes: Despite their large stake in private enterprise, the Bombay planners, mainly under the initiative of Sir Purshotamdas, followed a middle course in the larger national context. Indeed, they conceded without reservation that the existing economic organization of the country, based on private enterprise and ownership, had failed to bring about a satisfactory distribution of national income."

Also read | How Manu Manek aka Black Cobra went from college trader to market marauder

History may have relegated him to the margins of India's economic narrative, but in his commitment to both free enterprise and social welfare, Thakurdas charted a balanced pathone the country would eventually adopt decades later. It was a testament to the enduring wisdom of a man who saw far beyond his time.
Chickamauga Police Officer Charles "Chuck" Dunn died from the injuries he sustained from Saturdays murder-suicide in Rock Spring.

This is a huge loss for the community, said Chickamauga City Manager Micheal Haney.

UPDATE: Funeral being held for Chickamauga officer who died after murder-suicide Chuck Dunn was initially the sole survivor of a murder-suicide shooting that killed his family friends, Jack Denny and his daughter Jacklyn Payne on March 8.

Jacklyn Payne and her father Eugene Denny were killed by her husband, Russell Payne, over the weekend. Dunn was at the home, off-duty, when investigators say the suspect shot him.

"From my understanding, it was not uncommon for him to be over there regularly having dinner with them, said Haney.

Many people showed up at the hospital to celebrate his life before his organs were donated.

"I do know the nurse came in and told us they'd never had that many people show up for an honor walk before," said Haney.

Dunn's organs have gone to 8 people, and his tissue donation will help 75 more. Organ donation is a rare, lifesaving opportunity. Less than 1% of people die in a way that allows for deceased donation, according to Tennessee Donor Services.

"He still continues to live in our hearts. He'll still continue to live in a different way and help save lives even as he has passed, said Haney.

Unwavering support for the off-duty Chickamauga officer Charles Chuck Dunn There has been unwavering support for the off-duty Chickamauga officer Charles Chuck Dunn and his recovery on social media after the weekends murder-suicide incident in Rock Spring, Georgia.

Current city manager and former police chief Micheal Haney says Dunn had a major impact on the community.

"He was definitely one of a kind. He would talk with anybody, cut up with anybody. He could really take a bad situation and turn it into a good situation, said Haney.

Haney says people have been sharing stories to remember him, including talking about his love for animals. He was routinely rescuing animals and taking them to a nearby veterinary clinic.

"It was not uncommon to see him with a different dog in his car, said Haney.

He also directed traffic, mainly at the local elementary school, Haney remembering he always had a bright smile on his face.

"He was definitely, just always smiling. Why? I don't know. It's either cold or it's hot, and you feel like you're going to get run over half the time. Nobody is happy when you're out there, because you've got to make them stop or something different, but he always had a smile on his face, said Haney.

Dunn dedicated his life to service, including other law enforcement agencies, and the U.S. Navy Reserves.

He did not have any living family during his last days, and so first responders took turns visiting his hospital room.

"We were his family. We were the only people he had, said Haney.

A donation fund can be found here. Funeral details will be released later.

"Right now, we are trying to get through and be strong for him. Get his funeral taken care of. And make sure he has a good burial and that he is honored, said Haney.

Approximately 3,000 people are waiting for transplants in Tennessee and Georgia. Anyone who is interested can sign up to be an organ donor here.
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.
Residents inspect the damage after a tornado touched down in Florissant, Missouri, on March 14.
Ahmad Sharawi joins Bill for an update on Syrias ongoing conflict, including: the recent Alawite insurgency against the government led by Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, the role of jihadist groups and involvement of the Syrian National Army and Syrian Democratic Forces, Israels position on minority protection in Syria, and the feasibility of military action in the region.

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Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.
The aftermath of the airstrike that killed Islamic State leader Abdallah Makki Muslih al Rifai, also known as Abu Khadijah. (CENTCOM)

A March 13 airstrike in Iraqs Anbar province by US Central Command (CENTCOM) eliminated Abdallah Makki Muslih al Rifai, a senior leader of the Islamic State (IS) who may have served as the groups overall leader. Rifais position within the Islamic State is in dispute, as some intelligence services believe he was the emir of ISs General Directorate of Provinces, while others think he may have been the caliph of the global terror group.

CENTCOM said in a statement on March 15 that Rifai, also known as Abu Khadijah, was killed alongside another IS member in the strike. CENTCOM described Rifai as the Chief of Global Operations for ISIS and the Delegated Committee Emir, and the second in command of the group. The Chief of Global Operations is another term for the emir of the Islamic States General Directorate of Provinces (GDP). The head of the GDP is responsible for coordinating the activities of the 12 provinces the jihadist group operates in Asia and Africa, present in countries such as Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Nigeria, Mali, and the Philippines.

Rafai maintained responsibility for operations, logistics, and planning conducted by ISIS globally, and directs a significant portion of finance for the groups global organization, CENTCOM reported. After the strike, DNA analysis was used to identify the jihadist leader.

President Donald Trump announced that the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani issued a statement saying Rifai was considered one of the most dangerous terrorists in the world, noting the IS leader held several key positions within the organization. These duties appeared to combine coordinating operations abroad with running IS in Iraq and Syria. One man having so many responsibilities could indicate how few key leaders the group can rely on today.

None of the statements about Rifais death indicated the status of the jihadist organization, which many analysts claim is largely defeated in Iraq and Syria. However, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, speaking at a press conference in Jordan, said that IS continues to pose an increasing threat.

The Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) noted that the strike on the IS leader came after years of investigation and relied on information collected by Kurdistan Regional Government security sources. The KRSC critiqued Sudanis office for not mentioning the autonomous regions role.

This oversight is not a good indication for the future of cooperation between the regional and federal [Iraqi] institutions. The institutions affiliated with the Kurdistan Region Security Council have played an influential role in confronting the threat of terrorists in this region and will continue to effectively perform this duty. It would be better for the federal government to create a more favorable environment for cooperation and coordination for the sake of maintaining peace and stability throughout Iraq. In contrast, Trumps statement mentioned the role of the Kurdistan region.

Second in command or caliph?

United Nations Member States have disputed Rifais position within the Islamic State. The latest report from the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team on February 13 notes the disagreement.

Member States hold divergent views as to the identity of ISIL (Daesh) leader Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, the Monitoring Team reported, referencing the nom de guerre of the Islamic States caliph. Among possible candidates [for caliph], Abdallah Makki Mosleh Al-Rafii [] and Abdul Qadir Mumin [the head of ISs Karrar office in Somalia] have been identified, owing to their key positions in the General Directorate of Provinces and overall direction of the group.

The Islamic State has traditionally appointed its caliphs who hail from the Qurashi tribe, which descends from the Prophet Mohammad. Since Mumin is a Somali, some Member States contested the possibility of a core leader from outside the Iraqi-Syrian region, emphasizing its strategic and ideological importance.

The Monitoring Team report noted that the two top [IS] positions are caliph and General Directorate of Provinces head, and the above-mentioned candidates could occupy either.

Targeting Islamic State senior leaders

The strike on Rifai is one of several blows to the jihadist group in recent years. Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al Hashimi al Qurayshi was killed in a 2022 strike in Syria. In April 2023, CENTCOM also eliminated Abd al Hadi Mahmud Haji Ali, a senior leader in Syria. Other key IS members have been killed over the last two years by US forces in Syria and Iraq. For instance, Shahadhah Allawi Salih Ulaywi al Bajjari, one of the groups leaders in the Kirkuk region, was killed in October 2024.

Fridays strike is the latest CENTCOM operation targeting terrorist threats in Iraq and Syria. It comes a week after the head of CENTCOM, General Michael Erik Kurilla, visited the region, traveling to Syria but not Iraq. Islamic State cells continue to operate in both countries. On March 6, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces captured an IS cell leader in Syria. In recent months, the US has also conducted several airstrikes against Hurras al Din, Al Qaedas affiliate in Syria.

The war against IS in Iraq has become less intense over the last several years, consisting primarily of targeted raids against the jihadist groups cells. Iraqi forces take the lead on these operations, sometimes with US support. On February 12, Iraqi Security Forces conducted an airstrike that eliminated five Islamic State operatives, CENTCOM said at the time, while noting it helped enable the strike. CENTCOM continues to characterize IS as a threat to the region and beyond.

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). Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua

The Ukrainian Defense Forces have left the regional center of Sudzha in Kursk region and moved closer to the Russian-Ukrainian border, according to a map of Kursk direction published on Saturday morning by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"In Kursk direction, 20 armed clashes occurred over the past 24 hours. The enemy carried out 19 air strikes, dropped 28 guided bombs, and carried out 232 artillery attacks, including three from multiple launch rocket systems," the information as of 8:00 reads.

The day before, the General Staff reported repelling 22 attacks and 37 enemy air strikes in Kursk region using 54 guided bombs, as well as 203 artillery shellings, including three from multiple launch rocket systems.

According to the updated map, the settlements of Oleshnia and Hoholivka remain under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the direction of Sudzha, at a distance of up to 5-6 km from the border, while Rubanschyna is no longer there. The main attacks of the Russian troops are concentrated in this direction and from Kurylivka in the direction of the border.

The area of the advance to the south, in the direction of Guyevo, remains the same as in previous days, as does the small penetration to the north near Mykolayive-Daryine, where the General Staff also reported enemy attacks.

As reported, the day before, US President Donald Trump twice claimed that part of the Ukrainian troops had allegedly been surrounded in Kursk region, but the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine denied this information and stated that it was being created by the Russians for political purposes and to put pressure on Ukraine and its partners.

"The situation has not significantly changed in the last 24 hours. Combat operations in the operational zone of Kursk group of troops continue. Units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces have regrouped, retreated to more advantageous defensive lines and are carrying out assigned tasks in Kursk region. Our soldiers are repelling the enemy's offensive actions and inflicting effective fire damage on them from all types of weapons," the message posted at about 17:00 on Thursday reads.
Ahead of the Luxembourg City Film Festivals awards ceremony on Saturday 14 March, the Luxembourg Times spoke to members of this years international jury.



Paul Laverty, a scriptwriter and frequent collaborator with director Ken Loach, noted the duty of filmmaking to confront current injustices.

Mohammad Rasoulof, an exiled Iranian filmmaker whose film The Seed of the Sacred Fig won multiple awards at last years Cannes Film Festival, spoke of his leaving the Islamic Republic, his personal approach to confrontational film, and how film festivals have the power to unite diverse viewpoints in a single, cinematic language.

Paul Laverty

Laverty is best known for his screenplays directed by legendary British filmmaker Ken Loach. The pairs collaborations are often politically charged, dealing with issues of inequality, social injustice, and poverty from a left-wing perspective - resulting in films in an unabashed, social-realist mode.

Lavertys perspective on cinema, as a screenwriter and as a member of LuxFilmFests jury, are clear. Artists, he said, have responded to what is going on around them. But the big question for film, of course, is that its an expensive medium. It begs the question of who commissions the scripts, who greenlights the projects, and who are the gatekeepers.

Also read: Magic moments, fab films, delightful discoveries: 15 LuxFilmFest highlights

The Scot harbours no doubts that young writers and directors are motivated to respond to the world as they see it. But for the screenwriter of I, Daniel Blake, which won the Palme Dor at Cannes in 2016, a question remains: Do they get the chance?

So I think we have to be more inventive. You tell stories that are really truthful, really funny, really insightful - so that people do want to see them Paul Laverty Screenwriter and member of LuxFilmFests 2025 international jury

Ive been very very lucky because of my association with Ken Loach, he continued, and also Rebecca OBrien, our producer. It took the three of us to make these films. Talking to friends, its getting harder and harder to make independent films. But the times cry out for it. And I must mention this: the elephant in the sitting room now is whats been happening in Gaza.

Laverty, whose career has been continuously based on uncovering historical injustices, cites  A Cartography of Genocide , a recent digital platform produced by Forensic Architecture, a multidisciplinary research group based at Goldsmiths, University of London.



With all the skills and all the rigour of architects, Laverty emphasised, they bring their skills to whats been happening in Gaza, and they published an 823 page report.

Theyll look at the question of food in Gaza and assemble tens of thousands of information points, videos, and incidents, and theyll geolocate it, so they know the exact time and place, he explained.



This documentation of events in Gaza since Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, to Laverty, represents one of the most pertinent issues of our time.



Ill challenge anyone to look at that document and the platform. Theyre absolutely transparent in their methodology. To me that is proof that a genocide is taking place, he said.

Uncovering such injustices, to Laverty, is hampered by the material reality of filmmaking. But he hopes that young artists get their chance. Even if you got through and commissioned a writer, and even if you get the money to make the film. The next leap: how are you going to distribute it? Under who and what circumstances and what conditions? It goes back to power and politics.

Paul Laverty (left) with director Ken Loach, winner of the Palme dOr, and producer Rebecca OBrien at the winners photocall at the 69th Festival de Cannes back in 2016  Photo credit: Shutterstock

So I think we have to be more inventive. You tell stories that are really truthful, really funny, really insightful - so that people do want to see them. Because Brecht said: theres no fun, theres no show!

Mohammad Rasoulof

When asked what had kept him going during his years of imprisonment and repression, Mohammad Rasoulof leant back in his seat, put his hands on his head, and thought for a moment. Hope, he finally replied. And this surviving, unexpected new generation in Iran.

Also read: Tim Roth: Grieving is as random as a fingerprint

The Iranian filmmaker was forced to flee Iran last year when authorities demanded he withdraw his latest film, The Seed of the Sacred Film, from the official competition at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Facing years in prison and the prospect of never making another film again, Rasoulof chose to escape.

Now, nearly a year later, the exiled director is the president of the Luxembourg City Film Festivals international jury. But speaking to the Luxembourg Times and Luxemburger Wort with the help of a translator, the Oscar nominee nevertheless said that he would eventually return to Iran to face his sentence. Hope had kept him going until now; but a love for Iran and its people pulls him back.

But before he returns, the FIPRESCI Prize winner said he plans to produce more films.



The new developments in my life will have an influence on my language, the director said, but what will remain is my attachment, my belonging that goes with the state of mind of my culture.



I think your culture and language are nothing but an entry to the wide world, so this is just the window from which you discover the world and describe. The window wont change; Ill still belong to the same culture, the same mindset, the same language, and Ill go on trying to renew my expression, he added.

Also read: Luxembourg City Film Festival returns for 15th edition

Rasoulof had faced repression in Iran before, having been arrested in 2010 for allegedly filming without a permit. The visceral reaction to his films, he believes, goes beyond the political dimensions of authoritarianism.

Its a question of distance, the Iranian director elaborated. In our cultures, we are used to wait and see; to take some distance before being able to report something or analyse something; to let time give us sufficient distance.

When you make a work of art in the middle of the chaos, as if you had put a camera in a volcano, then all of a sudden its something unexpected, something brutal. Its only justified by this aspiration, this need, this urge for freedom, which is not just mine, he said. It takes a whole group of people who stand for their artistic freedom and create together.

How would his cinematic outlook, coupled with his recent life experiences, translate into his gaze as jury president? For Rasoulof, theres a joy in diverse perspectives - or windows - through which we see the world.

All the joy and excitement of being a jury member, Rasoulof said, is to be surrounded by very interesting people and people who come from different backgrounds, with different experiences, with different social lives and gazes on cinema. We put in common our windows on the same object, the same film, and try to understand how others feel.

Laverty has described Rasoulof as a remarkable man; very funny, very smart, very humane. Rasoulof, only last month, cited Ken Loachs film I, Daniel Blake (for which Laverty served as a screenwriter) as one of his favourite films of all time .

When he learnt that Laverty would be on the jury with him, he was ecstatic: You cannot imagine my joy when I found out he was going to be a part of this jury. Just this experience of being able to meet these people and talk with them, to have this connection and this empathy; that shows the power of cinema.
Measles cases in Europe surged last year to the highest level since 1997, pointing to gaps in vaccination coverage, according to the World Health Organization.

Measles is back, and its a wake-up call, said Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe. Every country must step up efforts to reach under-vaccinated communities.

Some 127,350 measles cases were reported in the region for 2024, double the number for the year before, according to an analysis by the WHO and the United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund published on Thursday.

Cases had generally been declining since 1997, but have seen a recent resurgence. Vaccination rates in many countries have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, increasing the risk of outbreaks, the WHO and UNICEF said in a statement.

Children under five accounted for more than 40% of reported cases in the region  which for the study comprised 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia. A total of 38 deaths have been reported, based on preliminary data received as of 6 March, the statement said.

In Luxembourg, health authorities have recorded four cases of measles in the past five years: three were reported last year, and one this year.

All four patients were not vaccinated, and two of them were children, a spokesperson for the Luxembourg health ministry said.

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses affecting people. It can lead to hospitalisation and death caused by complications, including pneumonia and diarrhoea. It can also cause long-term problems such as blindness and can leave survivors vulnerable to other diseases.

There has been a trend of declining routine childhood immunisation coverage, said Ben Kasstan-Dabush, assistant professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Many people may not have a memory of the consequences of infections like measles.

The virus has also popped up in the US, where an un-vaccinated child died in Texas last month, marking the first such death in the country in a decade. The outbreak has since continued to spread in the state.

In the European region, Romania reported the highest number of cases in 2024, followed by Kazakhstan. Less than 80% of eligible children in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Romania were vaccinated against the virus in 2023, below the 95% coverage rate required to retain herd immunity.

The two bodies called on governments with active outbreaks to urgently intensify case finding, contact tracing and conduct emergency vaccination campaigns.

Reaching hesitant parents and marginalised communities and tackling inequitable access to vaccines must be central to all efforts, the WHO and UNICEF said.

Luxembourgs health inspectorate follows all confirmed cases of measles, and carries out contact tracing, the ministry said. In principle, all potential contacts of confirmed cases are called and are recommended to get vaccinated, if they arent vaccinated yet or immune to the virus, a spokesperson said.

In the event of a rising number of declared cases in Luxembourg, the ministry said it would run an awareness campaign both among doctors, to encourage them to test any suspicious cases, and among the general public, urging them to check their vaccination status and get a shot if needed.

(With additional reporting by Tracy Heindrichs)
Luxembourg parliament rejects petition for sanctions against Israel

A petition that sought sanctions against Israel for its policies in Palestine was rejected by a Luxembourgs parliament committee on Wednesday, despite having obtained the required 4,500 signatures to be debated among lawmakers.

It is the first time that the Chambers Petitions Commission has refused to approve a petition that has reached the required threshold, amid a row over the use of parliaments logo in posts on Facebook and other social media sites promoting the petition.

Vast majority of Luxembourgers think USA is not a reliable partner

A new poll indicates that 80% of Luxembourgers no longer think that the United States is a dependable partner. Just 8% of the local population view the USA as a country that can be counted on as a partner.

The poll also found that an overwhelming majority are also in favour of Luxembourg continuing to support Ukraine in some form or other. 45% of those surveyed said that both military and financial support should continue to be provided, with that figure rising to 55% among those aged over 55.

Europe should not diminish itself, says former Luxembourg PM Juncker

The European Union should not be afraid of Donald Trumps actions as it is a strong political entity, but should be wary of the voices within that question the existence of the bloc, former European Commission president and Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker told the Luxembourg Times.

At the start of Trumps presidency in January, Juncker told news site Euractiv the bloc should not be afraid of the president and tech billionaire Elon Musk. Two months later, he stands by his stance.

Nearly 1 in 5 at risk of poverty in Luxembourg

Despite its reputation as one of Europes wealthiest nations, Luxembourg continues to grapple with a high poverty risk. The latest household income and living conditions survey, conducted in 2024, underscores persistent socio-economic disparities in the Grand Duchy.

Children under 18 remain particularly vulnerable, while older residents (65+) face a significantly lower poverty risk. Luxembourgs income inequality remains stark. The wealthiest 20% of residents enjoy a standard of living 4.7 times higher than the poorest 20%.

Luxembourg expats: Does the Grand Duchy feel like home to you?

To mark the Festival of Migrations on 15 and 16 March, The Luxembourg Times took to the streets to ask immigrants how Luxembourg life is treating them and to what extent they feel Luxembourgish.

Luxembourg is well-known for its vibrant blend of cultures, with half of its population born abroad, a figure which rises to 70% in the capital. But do immigrants consider themselves Luxembourgish after years living in the country, or is there something still holding them back? This video tries to find out.
Aliyah Warren is still trying to piece together how her big sister ended up in handcuffs in a Boston courtroom to answer for a murder charge.

The last time Warren saw Nora Nelson, the 24-year-old woman charged with killing a lawyer she was dating, she wore a wig and a dress. Warren found that odd.

And Nelsons eyes, usually bright with ambition, looked dead to Warren last summer as the pair sat across from each other in a Memphis restaurant.

Im very confused, Warren, 22, of Memphis, Tennessee, told MassLive.

I never would have thought, in my wildest imagination, that she could do something so gruesome ... I just dont understand, and Ive been trying to figure out what happened, Warren said.

Nora Nelson  or Andi, as Warren knew her growing up  was charged with murder on Feb. 6, in connection with the death of Joseph Donohue, 65, of Charlestown.

Nelson appeared in court on March 14 wearing a green cardigan and pink sweatsuit set, alongside her attorney Ian Davis. Prosecutors asked for a further date for a probable cause hearing, which was scheduled for April 10.

Nelson and Donohue had a longstanding intimate partner relationship, Davis said, and she was living with Donohue at the time of his death.

Nora "Andi" Nelson, of Boston, appeared in Boston Municipal Court on Feb. 4, 2025, for her arrangement on domestic violence charges. Irene Rotondo

Miss Nelsons very adamant [about] maintaining her innocence. She wants to present her defense as soon as possible, Davis said outside the courtroom on Friday.

This is a serious charge and its going to go to Superior Court  at that time, theres going to be a much fuller presentation of that defense," he said.

On the night of Feb. 2, Donohues body was found wrapped inside a duct-taped tarp on the patio of his Charlestown houseboat. One of his dogs was also dead in the water alongside the boat.

Nelson had greeted police at the door that night, after family members requested a well-being check for Donohue when they couldnt reach him for 48 hours.

Joseph Donohue, 65, of Charlestown, was identified as the homicide victim of an incident on a houseboat on Feb. 2, 2025. Donohue family

Nelson lied about her name and Donohues whereabouts and, at one point, asked an officer, Can I tell you something? according to court documents.

The young woman was taken into custody at the scene for unrelated warrants on domestic violence charges against another Boston man in his 60s, whom Nelson had previously dated and lived with.

The ex-partner told police Nelson threatened his life in November 2023.

Nelson was charged with murder in connection with Donohues killing on Feb. 6. In court, prosecutors said she was evasive and unresponsive, her statements were contradictory, and frankly, she lied.

As questions about Donohues death continue to swirl, Nelsons loved ones, too, are looking for answers about the determined woman they knew.

Who is Nora Andi Nelson?

Leaving Memphis to travel the world  and specifically, to Boston  was all Nelson talked about when she and Warren were growing up.

The two met in 2016 when they took the same classes at the New Ballet Ensemble & School in Memphis. At the time, Nelson was 15 and introduced herself as Andi. She told Warren, then 13, that Nora was a middle name.

They became inseparable friends after Nelson, who was very trained in several styles of dance, asked Warren to learn a routine with her at the studio.

Nora "Andi" Nelson (right) and her friend Aliyah Warren (left) as teenagers during dance class in Tennessee. (Aliyah Warren)

My mom was strict about the people we were hanging out with, but when it came to Andi, she never had a bad thing to say about her, Warren said.

She recalled how theyd get food or spend time at each others houses and said, Once Andi got her car, we were everywhere.

If I told my mom Andi wants to pick me up, shed just let me go, because she knew I was with Andi and we were safe, she said.

In high school, Nelson had lots of friends from dance and school and was known as a kind, respectful and friendly girl, Warren said. Many of Nelsons high school friends were upperclassmen, she added, because Nelson was on track to graduate early.

Warren said her best friend had an entrepreneurial mindset, with big dreams of moving far from Memphis. Nelson was interested in pursuing a career in the engineering field, Warren said, and used to sell brownies in the hallways at school just to make a quick buck.

She carried herself richly and wore upper class clothes  Gucci was Nelsons favorite, Warren said. The then-teen always had her nails done and made sure her hair was in perfect braids or a sew-in.

Nora "Andi" Nelson (left) and Aliyah Warren (right) as teenagers. (Aliyah Warren)

I used to love it when she would let me go through her closet when she didnt want to wear things anymore because I got to get all the fancy stuff ... I like to call her bougie, Warren said.

When it came to boyfriends, Warren said Nelson always dated older guys who were in their 20s and 30s  but she wasnt sure when Nelson started dating men over the age of 40.

Over the years of high school, Nelson became a big part of Warrens family. She often babysat after school for Warrens younger sister and stayed for dinner after Warrens mom got home.

There were nights when Nelson and Warrens mother sat in long talks at the table, well after the food was put away.

She leaned on my mom a lot for the serious life stuff, whatever she was going through ... I know her and my mom had some good, deep conversations because she just couldnt have that with her mom, Warren said.

MassLive was unable to reach Nelsons mother for comment on this story.

Nora "Andi" Nelson (left) and Aliyah Warren with others on a couch as teenagers. (Aliyah Warren)

Warren characterized some of Nelsons family relationships as strained and distant. Nelson and her mother just didnt click, Warren said, and Nelson felt she didnt receive as much motherly attention as her older brothers.

While Warren said Nelson spoke often with her father and that he always seemed like a nice guy, Warren said he just wasnt around that much. Nelson adored her oldest brother, Warren said, but communication for them was hard with his military enlistment.

When Nelson graduated high school, she immediately set off to fulfill her goals of traveling the world as a businesswoman  and thats when she started to lose contact with people back home.

What happened in Boston?

Nelson and Warren kept in contact over the years, while Nelson traveled around the United States, even continuing to dance in Maine for some time, but their calls became fewer as Nelson started her adult life, Warren said.

Ultimately, Nelson is believed to have moved to Boston sometime after the pandemic. She was living at the apartment of the aforementioned domestic assault victim since at least the fall of 2023, court documents showed.

Warren did not know what Nelson did for work in Boston or otherwise, and said Nelson called herself an entrepreneur, and that she had colleagues.

Nora Nelson, 24, is arraigned in Boston Municipal Court in Charlestown on Feb. 7, 2025, in connection with the stabbing death of Joseph Donohue, 65. (Libby ONeill/Boston Herald)

According to Nelsons defense lawyer during her arraignment, Nelson is a current Harvard technology intern. Her attorneys also said she previously worked as a naval contractor and created missile technology at Fort Meade in Baltimore for four years.

A Harvard spokesperson told MassLive the institution has not been able to confirm that she has held an internship.

Donohues family issued a statement after he was identified in February, but has declined to comment further since.

Our family is heartbroken by this unimaginable loss. Joe was a wonderful family member, a cherished friend and a trusted colleague. Always generous and kind, he dedicated his life and career to helping others, the statement read.

He is loved and will be deeply missed. Were grateful for the love and support weve received, and we kindly ask for privacy during this difficult time.

When MassLive visited the Charlestown Marina houseboats, a man who said he was a friend of Donohues said he was a great guy who always shared his Red Sox tickets, but declined to comment further. He said he did not know Nelson.

The last time

It was a hot day in August 2024, the last time Nelson came home to Tennessee.

Warren drove Nelson to get some groceries and go out to eat. While the two caught up, Warren couldnt help but notice her bubbly and bright best friend wasnt herself.

She just wasnt my sister ... it was kind of hard to sit there, her eyes were just dead, Warren said. Nelson was wearing odd clothes, too, she said, and seemed like she wasnt there.

But Andis never been that person we would think to just fall off ... shes never been the type of person to ask for help when shes going through something, Warren said.

Nora "Andi" Nelson (right) and her friend Aliyah Warren as teenagers. (Aliyah Warren)

Despite her appearance, Nelson never mentioned there was anything wrong that day, and so as not to make her uncomfortable, Warren didnt pressure her on how she was feeling.

When Warren dropped Nelson at her home in Tennessee, Nelson asked Warren to text if you want to hang out again  which Warren did, but Nelson never texted her back.

I just thought maybe shes just on another streak of just not talking to us  it didnt register in my brain that something might be wrong for real," Warren said.

But in the face of it all, Warren said she still loves her best friend.

I still love her the same and everything ... Im going to keep loving my sister because thats what she needs. She needs love, Warren said.

But at the same time, I have to let the system do their job and just pray that they give her a mental evaluation so they can see that something is wrong ... I cant sit here and say if she did it, but the way that she was the last time we saw her, I know something is wrong, she said.
Kristaps Porzingis could make his long-anticipated return to the court, though its not 100% certain hell suit up yet. But ahead of the Celtics' game against the Nets at 6 p.m. Saturday in Brooklyn, the big man was upgraded on the injury report.

Porzingis was listed as probable with his illness, so it looks like theres a good chance he could play. The big man has missed the past eight games as the illness has sidelined him. But he went through shootaround Friday in Miami in a positive step.

The Celtics also have four other players listed on the injury report aside from Porzingis as theyll get some guys their rest. Al Horford (big toe sprain) and Derrick White (knee) are both doubtful, so theyll likely sit the second game of the back-to-back. Jaylen Brown (knee) and Jayson Tatum (knee) are also questionable.

Tatum played in the Heat win Friday while Brown sat, so theres a chance those guys could flip that for the Nets game. If Porzingis is able to go, all eyes will be on him as he makes his return to the court. The illness has had some unknowns behind it, which Porzingis himself mentioned, but now he could be back on the court soon.

The Celtics face the 22-44 Nets, who are in rebuild mode currently. So its also a good chance for Porzingis to get some minutes back in his return without having to go all-out in a high-stakes game.
Kimberly Sullivan stands next to her attorney Jason Spilka, during a bond hearing on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at Waterbury Superior Court in Connecticut. (Jim Shannon/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool)

Kimberly Sullivan, who is accused of holding her stepson captive for 20 years, was released from custody on Thursday after posting $300,000 bail, according to the Associated Press.

Sullivan faces charges of first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint in the first degree, cruelty to persons and reckless endangerment in the first degree.

Her release followed an appearance in Waterbury Superior Court, where her lawyer, Ioannis Kaloidis, confirmed the bail posting to the Associated Press. Kaloidid added that Sullivan denies any wrongdoing.

I would encourage people not to rush to judgment, Kaloidis told the Associated Press in a phone interview. This woman is presumed innocent.

Sullivan is scheduled to appear in court again on March 26.

The arraignment stems from a Feb. 17 incident where a 32-year-old man set fire to the home he shares with Sullivan at 2 Black St. in Waterbury, Connecticut. He ignited the blaze in a desperate attempt to gain his freedom, claiming he had been held captive by Sullivan for over 20 years, according to police.

Sullivan safely exited the home when the fire broke out while her stepson remained inside, according to the Waterbury Police Department. Firefighters rescued him, and medical first responders treated him for smoke inhalation and fire exposure.

I wanted my freedom, the man said to the first responders. He then said Sullivan had been holding him captive since he was about 11, according to police.

Authorities discovered the man had endured prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment, the police department said.

He was thin and hadnt received any medical or dental care during his time being held captive, the department said. He was only given small amounts of food and water, which led to his malnourished condition.

During a press conference Thursday, Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said the man was about 5-foot-9 inches tall and weighed about 68 pounds, according to Boston 25 News.

The man was confined in a small room with conditions worse than a jail cell, Spagnolo said, according to Boston 25 News. Several locks were on the outside of the door to the room.

If the man wanted to go relieve himself, hed urinate in a bottle that had straws connected to the bottom, Spagnolo told Boston 25 News. He put the straws through a hole he found in the storm window frame.

The man said he started getting locked in his room when he was 3, when his family caught him sneaking out of his room at night for food and water because he was hungry, according to an affidavit obtained by the Boston Globe. He said he had to drink toilet water since he was only getting about two cups of water a day.

Connecticuts Department of Children and Families said on Thursday that they have not found records of agency involvement with the family but were continuing to look, the news outlet reported. Reports of neglect or abuse deemed unsubstantiated are erased five years after investigations are complete, the AP added. Records are also being sought after by investigators from Waterbury schools.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/KeirStarmerLabour/

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on world leaders to keep up pressure on Vladimir Putin for an unconditional ceasefire.

As Sky News reports, he said this at the beginning of a video conference he convened, which was attended, in particular, by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

"My feeling is, sooner or later he's [Putin] going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussion," Starmer said.

"But we can't sit back and simply wait for that to happen. We have to keep pushing ahead, pushing forward, and preparing for peace - a peace that will be secure and that will last."

That means strengthening Ukraine's own defences, "being prepared to defend any deal ourselves through a coalition of the willing", and keeping "the pressure on Putin to come to the table".
Market Basket fire at 101 Gloucester Crossing Road in Gloucester on March 14, 2025. Gloucester Fire Department

Two separate fires at a Market Basket in Gloucester led to the removal of food and packaging inside the store, according to the citys police department.

The two-alarm fire happened around 8:23 Friday night at the Market Basket located at 101 Gloucester Crossing Road. Firefighters discovered a fire in the stockroom and inside the cardboard compactor, the statement reads. The fires were knocked down by 9 p.m.

Market Basket fire at 101 Gloucester Crossing Road in Gloucester on March 14, 2025. Gloucester Fire Department

The store reopened on Saturday after passing multiple health and building department inspections. The grocery store was also cleaned thoroughly and disinfected overnight.

Ensuring our residents have access to safe and quality food remains a top priority ..., Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga said in a statement. I am relieved that the store has quickly met the health departments requirements and is back open.

Market Basket fire at 101 Gloucester Crossing Road in Gloucester on March 14, 2025. Gloucester Fire Department

No injuries were reported, and the fire remains under investigation by Gloucester police, the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshals Office.

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A man from Rochester was sent to state prison on Friday after he was found guilty of fatally shooting his sisters boyfriend in 2023, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruzs office announced.

Cody Perry, 36, was convicted on Wednesday in Plymouth County Superior Court of voluntary manslaughter and assault and battery with a deadly weapon in the fatal shooting of Justin Doberck, 41, the statement reads.

He was sentenced to 8 to 10 years in state prison.

On Apr. 7, 2023, Rochester police officers and Massachusetts State Police troopers responded to reports of a shooting at 259 New Bedford Road. They found Doberck suffering from a gunshot wound. He was brought to St. Lukes Hospital in New Bedford, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Perry and Doberck spent the evening together at a bonfire in the woods behind the New Bedford Road property, according to police. The pair got into a disagreement, which escalated when Perry grabbed a firearm from the home and shot Doberck. Perry was subsequently arrested.

Prosecutors requested Perry receive an 18-to-20-year state prison sentence during a sentencing hearing on Friday, Cruz said in a statement.

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U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, holds a town hall for constituents at Masconomet High School in Boxford, Massachusetts, on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (John L. Micek/MassLive)

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is cutting a destructive path through the middle of the federal government, and the damage will take a deadly toll on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton told constituents at a town hall on Saturday.

Musk is killing veterans with his cuts, Moulton, a former Marine, told a constituent whod asked whether the tech billionaire and his quasi-governmental Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has the legal authority to cut and slash and burn the way he has been.

No, he does not, Moulton, D-6th District, told a capacity crowd of about 600 people whod gathered at Masconomet High School in Boxford on Saturday afternoon.

The VA is set to shed some 80,000 workers as it seeks to return to 2019 staffing levels of just under 400,000 employees.

The move drew the ire of veterans' groups and Democrats in Washington and on Beacon Hill, including Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey.

I made a commitment to continue going to the VA for my own health care, which I still do today, Moulton told the crowd. There are veterans who will die on waiting lists again because of what Musk is doing. Musk is killing veterans with these cuts. And Im going to do everything in my power to stop it.

Last week, Moulton and U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general, sent a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, seeking clarity on the reductions and their potential impact on workers who staff the Veterans Crisis Line, which assists veterans in their darkest moments.

In a statement, VA spokesperson Pete Kasperowicz told MassLive that all 300,000-plus VA mission-critical positions  including all Veterans Crisis Line positions  are exempt from the federal hiring freeze and layoffs, and hiring for all open mission-critical positions continues."

All things considered, it might have been one of the easier questions that Moulton faced Saturday.

The 60-minute gathering was interrupted more than once by constituents demanding more actions and straight answers.

That tone was reflective of Democratic voters who have complained that their representatives on Capitol Hill arent doing enough to counter President Donald Trumps radical government downsizing as he seeks to pay for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts.

One audience member wearing a Trans Lives Matter T-shirt was escorted from the room as Moulton began his remarks. Another stood up repeatedly to demand action.

Weve asked you, really calmly, to follow some basic ground rules, Moulton told the crowd. Other people who are here for the first time, students, a few. It matters to participate in democracy. So, I want to, first of all, thank you for showing up. And we do have a great turnout. And we will get to your questions.

Those critics were, at times, also matched with applause, as when Moulton stressed that it was not enough for Democrats to match Trumps rhetoric  they also needed to win elections.

One of those students whom Moulton mentioned was Dania Delacruz, 17, a senior at Lynn English High School, who identified herself as the proud daughter of Guatemalan immigrants.

On Friday night, Delacruzs mother cleaned the very school auditorium where Moulton gave his remarks, she said, asking the Salem lawmaker what he was doing to protect the rights of children of immigrants?

And what are you doing to change the conversation surrounding immigration? Delacruz asked.

Moulton said his office has been working along parallel tracks.

One involves making sure that only the people who deserve to be deported get deported ... and the people who [have the] right to stay here, stay here. And we have intervened in many cases in the past, and we will continue to do so, despite the threats from the administration to the contrary.

Moulton said hes also talking with my colleagues to try to get some sense into them about having good immigration policy.

Dont forget, there was a bipartisan, an imperfect, but bipartisan immigration bill in the Senate, largely negotiated by Republicans but supported by both sides of the aisle, that was ready to get passed when one man, Donald Trump, said, No, I want to make this an election issue, Moulton said referring to last years scuttled immigration reform measure.

With Republicans unwilling to step up, " we need Democrats who are willing to work on immigration, not deny it, not refuse to talk about it."

In an interview after the town hall, Delacruz said her parents, who came to the U.S. in the early 2000s, are documented but are not yet American citizens.

Delacruz was born after their arrival. And she is one of the millions of American young people whose legal standing is in jeopardy as Trump seeks to end birthright citizenship for the American-born children of immigrants.

Im really proud of being American, she said. I want to see change. But it cant be done by questioning the citizenship of millions of American children.
LONGMEADOW  In the auditorium of the Springfield Jewish Community Center in Longmeadow, state legislators, invited speakers and members of the local Jewish community gathered for a hearing by the states Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism.

It was the commissions fifth meeting, and the first to be conducted outside the State House. The commission was established in 2024 to examine the rise of antisemitic hate speech and incidents throughout the commonwealth and make recommendations of how that trend and the issues that have given rise to it can be addressed.

In December 2024, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Securitys released an annual report finding that 2023 saw a 70% increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes as compared to the previous year, which had been an eight-year high for the state.

While the work of the commission will tackle all aspects of antisemitism, this hearing focused on antisemitism in K-12 schools. For more than four hours, the commission heard testimony from rabbis, leaders in the Jewish community and officials from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Antisemitism

Commission co-Chair state Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield) remarked that antisemitism long preceded the creation of Israel. It mutates and shapeshifts and is so pervasive. He asked Rabbi Amy Wallk of Temple Beth El what she believed was the origin of antisemitism. She said it is rooted in hating the other and hating those who are different. In todays world, she said, antisemitism comes from people who think that Israels actions are horrific.

Wallk responded that the answer is to educate them. She spoke at length about the damage of framing political and social issues as being between the oppressor and the oppressed. She said Jewish people are often misunderstood to be white and they are part of the oppressing class. Instead, she said, We dont fit neatly in a box.

Velis agreed and said it is easier to hate someone if you believe they are an oppressor.

Wallk also said that antisemitism is not the same as other hate, because antisemitism is the oldest form of hate and, historically, societys ills have been blamed on Jewish people. She shared a statistic that 2% of the U.S. population is Jewish, but 68% of hate crimes target Jewish people.

After Commissioner Peggy Shukur recalled that an improvised explosive device was placed in front of JGS Lifecare, a senior living facility in Longmeadow in 2020, Wallk, speaking about those who want to hurt Jewish people, cited David Berenstein of the North American Values Institute. She paraphrased, Antisemitism that comes from the right is the form of a heart attack  its abrupt, you see it, its lethal, youre dead  and antisemitism that comes from the left is a kind of cancer, and its growing and its not so terrible ... but the cancer can spread.

Velis commented, It is incumbent upon people to look in the mirror.

Pattern of behavior

Rabbi Jodie Gordon of Havre of Southern Berkshires in Great Barrington spoke about the ways antisemitism affects small communities. We all have the same problems that you see in larger places, she said, but we do have far fewer resources. Due to the intimate size of the communities she serves, she said, incidents, when they do happen, are often magnified by a background of relative calm.

Gordon spoke about a 15-year-old Southern Berkshire Regional School District student who recently wrote a manifesto that was full of explicit antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ sentiment and threats. In a separate incident, an educator suggested that two high schoolers lead a conversation about the Israeli-Hamas War because they were Jewish.

Molly Parr, first vice-president of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, said antisemitic incidents are rampant in Northampton.

Similarly, Wallk shared stories about teachers and students who left their schools due to what she described as hostile environments. A teacher saw a fellow educator crumple an Israeli flag and [throw] it in the corner of the room while using expletives to describe the flag of oppression. Their colleagues cheered at the action, she said. Wallk also said she knew of a middle schooler who was told all Jews should die.

Considering the proliferation of antisemitic acts, Wallk said Holocaust education is not working. Rather than there not being enough education around the Holocaust, she said the problem is that it only teaches the universal lessons, rather than seeing the particularity of our people, past and present and to see the uniqueness of Jew hatred that keeps us demonized, delegitimized and held to a double standard.

To address this, Wallk plans to take a group of about six Longmeadow educators to Israel over the summer to teach them the complexity of the Jewish people and understand Israels unique story. She said teachers should know material completely and be open to having their minds changed.

DESE testifies

Continuing on the topic of education, the commission heard from Acting Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Russell Johnston and Erin Hashimoto-Martell, associate commissioner for DESEs Center for Instructional Support. Johnston said DESE, which oversees education for 950,000 students in the state, must ensure that decision it makes are scalable to all Massachusetts public schools. He also said the department is obliged to uphold laws, including a 2021 law concerning genocide education and a 2024 amendment that required materials and evidence-based curricula on antisemitism and societal bias be made available, as well as professional development on antisemitism, ethnic, racial and religious hate and discrimination.

Hashimoto-Martell continued by explaining that the department has rolled out guidance on preventing and addressing incidents of bias and hate and embedding tools in the frameworks that already exist to provide safe and supportive schools. Additionally, Jewish history and culture has been added to the history and social studies curriculum framework for grade 6 and in high school.

Johnston added that DESE has created a grant to help districts with their genocide education curricula and materials. An analysis of 111 districts in the 2022-23 school year found that 76% of districts offer at least one of the required courses on genocide. Of those, 89% had made it a requirement, while 40% offer it as an elective. The Holocaust is the most common genocide covered, however some courses cover other genocides, such as the ones in Rwanda and Cambodia. World History II classes, for example, tackle multiple atrocities, Hashimoto-Martell said.

Cataldo questioned whether the depth of instruction in such a class aligns with the DESEs guidance. Hashimoto-Martell responded that districts that have received DESE grants for genocide education must provide detailed plans for how the funding will be used, including which curriculum provider is contracted and what genocide they will cover.

Cataldo also pushed back on the fact that 24% of districts were not offering the required classes. Johnston told him, Were not satisfied with that. He explained that the analysis was conducted to see the status of the implementation.

MTA controversy

Several times throughout the hearing, people expressed concern regarding materials that, until recently, had been offered to educators by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the largest teachers union in the state. The materials, which included an image of dollar bills folded to resemble a Star of David, a poster reading Zionists f*** off and another that depicted a Muslim woman with a gun and read, What was taken by force can only be returned by force, have been condemned by many in recent weeks as antisemitic. The commission previously questioned union President Max Page about the materials at the commissions previous meeting.

Reflecting on the issue, Commissioner Aaron Polansky said, At no point in our schools should anything divide us. Our job is to think about the complexities of what were faced with, to make decisions about how we present materials in a fashion that is informative, but never divisive.

Gordon said, I want to know that my state is upholding their mandate to provide an education to all children that engages with the world and teaches them to be critical thinkers. So, my concern with a pro-Palestine educational curriculum is not wholly unlike the concern I would have if I learned that there [was] a pro-Israel curriculum. It should be noted that the MTA does not set curriculum.

Velis said that most of the actions DESE has taken on antisemitism are proactive and asked whether the department serves a reactive or defensive role to safeguard against outside influence.

Johnston explained that aside from the states legal education standards, DESE can only issue guidance on vetting curriculum and professional development. He went on to say that DESE has been given the power to investigate complaints by students, parents or school districts that a matter violates the law.

Velis asked if resources, such as those provided by the MTA, could be the subject of a complaint. Johnston said it could, but only if it violates the law. DESE would need to be given more authority by the Legislature to provide more than guidance on other matters.

Different perspectives

Commissioner Robert Leikind asked Gordon if she thinks people understand what constitutes antisemitism. She said that it varies. Some people feel any critique of Israel is antisemitic, when she might see it as being critical of a government. Alternatively, people may think they are condemning Israels government but do so in a way that confuses Israel and Jewish identity. She said educators should be teaching the history and context of Israel so people can think critically about what is antisemitic.

Rabbi Ariela Rosen of Congregation Bnai Israel also cautioned against conflating antisemitism and critiques of Israel. There are people in her community, both Jewish and non-Jewish, she said, who hold critical positions on Israel with both integrity and love. Rosen went on to say, Protest against the actions of the state of Israel or in support of Palestinian rights and safety is not inherently antisemitic but can become so through hateful imagery, language or targeted harm.

When speaking about Judaic teaching Rosen said people are commanded dont be brutal and dont be naive. She said, This duality is so important for navigating being Jews in our time. While she said, The threat to Jewish safety is real and exists across the political spectrum, she added, Let us not allow the tactics that have been used against us to be used in our name.

Rosen said learning, education and conversation are key for affecting stable, lasting change. She urged expanding discourse among people and working with educators to achieve understanding. Let us allow diverse perspectives to help us develop a more expansive toolkit, to fight antisemitism, Rosen said.

Solutions

The commission is tasked with recommending solutions. As such, they asked those who gave testimony for their thoughts. Gordon pointed to education, outreach and building relationships locally as a first step in combatting antisemitism.

In keeping with that idea, Cataldo said school leadership should reach out to the Jewish community when incidents happen. He added that he knows of rabbis who are consciously avoiding being the party to reach out in those situations. Gordon said she would like to see multifaith clergy included in those conversations.

This practice occurred in Longmeadow, Wallk said, explaining that Longmeadow High School Principal Tom Landers recommitted to teaching about antisemitism beyond the Holocaust when he noticed the school climate had been deteriorating and asked her for help. The school has worked with an outside educator to provide professional development on antisemitism and Zoom into some classes.

Commissioner Dara Kaufman said those relationships should be created before antisemitic incidents happen so that the social infrastructure is already established. She also said there needs to be an emphasis on the mental and emotional well-being of targets of antisemitism, instead of focusing solely on the person responsible for the act.

Henia Henny Lewin is an educator and public speaker who survived the Holocaust as a toddler by being smuggled out of a Lithuanian Jewish ghetto in a suitcase and being taken in by farmers, who pretended she was their child. About her work speaking in schools, she said that she tells students that 95% of Jewish Lithuanians were killed in the Holocaust because most people looked the other way. She urges students not to be a bystander and dont let [a] bully influence others. When people ask her about the ongoing war, she tells them Jewish people are not responsible for the actions of the Israeli government, just as Americans are not responsible for the actions of the United States government.

As a testament to the work Lewin does, Kaufman said her daughter had heard Lewin speak at her high school, and again when she was in college. She said Lewin had had a large impact on her daughter.

Educators should become more involved and be empowered to have hard conversations and present students with multi-narrative view of history and political events, Gordon said.

Meanwhile, as the commission was taking testimony, a letter to families was sent out by Longmeadow Public Schools about an incident at Williams Middle School, two miles from the Springfield Jewish Community Center. Superintendent M. Martin OShea reported that the words, Heil Hitler, which he described as antisemitic hate speech, were found scrawled in large letters on the outside of a bathroom stall.

The letter went on to detail the steps being taken by the School Department to create a school environment that is free of such incidents. These included allowing middle school student leaders to plan schoolwide events that encourage a safe, supportive school climate, a seminar for teachers on manifestations of antisemitism and how to address them in the classroom, a refresher course for educators on the departments bullying policy and their legal responsibilities regarding hate and bias, and an anonymous See Something, Say Something reporting tool.
Peace through strength means full compliance with international law, Ukraine needs a strong army, a powerful defense industry and clear security guarantees, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda emphasized at a meeting of the Coalition of Will on Saturday, initiated by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Lithuania is committed to long-term military support - at least 0.25% of GDP for Ukraine, Nauseda said on X.

He added that 3.5% of GDP for defense should become the new NATO standard, where the norm currently in effect is 2% of GDP.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, March 14, 2025

Google has decided to dump Google Assistant for Gemini as more people adopt the platform. The company also began a movement to change AI policies in response to the Trump administrations call for a national AI Action Plan.

In February, the White House released an AI Action Plan to define priority policy actions that enhance "Americas position as an AI powerhouse and prevent unnecessarily burdensome requirements from hindering private sector innovation."

Google on Thursday published a policy proposal that endorsed weaker copyright restrictions on AI training, as well as balanced data-export controls that protect national security while enabling U.S. exports and global business operations.

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The U.S. needs to pursue an active international economic policy to advocate for American values and support AI innovation internationally, Google wrote in the document.

The paper outlines AI policymaking and how it has received disproportionate attention to the risks, often ignoring the costs that misguided regulation can have on innovation, national competitiveness, and scientific leadership.

According to the paper, the U.S. stated three changes, including the need to champion market-driven and widely adopted technical standards and security protocols for frontier models, building on the Commerce Departments leading role with the International Organization for Standardization.

During the coming months, Google will upgrade more users to Gemini on mobile devices, and toward the end of the year, it will sunset Google Assistant.

Upgrades will also occur on tablets, cars and devices that connect to phones such as headphones and watches. The new experience, powered by Gemini, will come to home devices like speakers, displays and TVs. Until then, Google Assistant will continue to operate on these devices.

The Gemini app is now available in more than 40 languages and 200 countries. The app has been updated to support more of the most requested features, such as playing music, setting timers, or taking action from your lockscreen.

Google said Geminis capabilities go far beyond what Google Assistant did, and can provide an entirely new kind of help, with features like Gemini Live for free-flowing, multimodal conversations and Deep Research, which can transform Gemini into a personal research assistant and are only possible with AI.

Gemini can understand natural language and have a conversation with the technology. It's built on large and sophisticated AI models, which means that in some instances simple requests might take longer than with Google Assistant, but this is something the company is working to fix.

While Gemini can answer many more questions than Google Assistant, Gemini may not always get it correct. Users can check Geminis responses with Google's double-check feature, review the sources that Gemini shares in many of its responses, or use Google Search for critical facts.

The most-used features for Gemini include checking the weather, event reminders, Maps, Gmail, Drive, playing music, access information about hotels, setting alarms, making calls, and many more.




by Colin Kirkland , March 14, 2025

According to Somebody Digital, a marketing agency based in London, endless social-media scrolling is reshaping the way brands engage with consumers.

The agencys newest report compiles research from various sources, including the University of California and the Journal of Behavioral Neuroscience, which shows that the average person spends up to 3 hours per day scrolling social media.

Considering the widespread popularity of short-form video features across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and other major social platforms, 1 in 4 adults admit they struggle to stop scrolling.

With consumer behavior now largely rooted around the digestion of nonstop bite-sized video content, Somebody Digital has tips for brands that want to stand out amid the noise.

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Scrolling through social media platforms elicits the same neural pathways as addictive substances in the human brain, creating a psychological dependency, according to research by the Journal of Behavioural Neuroscience.

Due to the proliferation of shorter video-based content assembled in endless mobile feeds, the average attention span has shrunk to 1.2 seconds for the average Gen Z consumer -- a 40% decrease compared to 5 years ago.

It is understandable why in 2024, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, along with 42 attorneys general, suggested that Congress require cigarette-like Surgeon General warning labels of social-media apps to help raise awareness surrounding an ongoing mental health crisis, especially among children, teens and young adults.

For brands wanting to break through to consumers on social media apps, Somebody Digital says that brands should utilize unexpected visuals or animations to disrupt automatic scrolling behavior. For example, animations that move in the opposite direction of a user scrolling upwards, sudden changes in color or the use of parallax effects.

This pattern interruption is meant to activate the brains reticular activating system (RAS), which decides what information reaches consciousness. Unexpected elements can prompt ones RAS to flag content as important.

Because users often flock to social media platforms as a way to unwind or escape their daily stresses, Somebody Digital suggests that a brands content be easily comprehensible and require minimal concentration.

Additionally, brands should reward signalling.

As soon as the content begins, users should be made aware of the benefits of watching, the report reads. Ultimately, a brand must immediately ignite the brains reward system.

Somebody Digital says that this tactic allows brands with lower budgets to stand out by creating an emotional impact with clarity, not elaborate design or complicated messaging.
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APA Dr. Pavithra. (2025, March 15). When Stress Hits Twice: Lasting Effects of Childhood Trauma . Medindia. Retrieved on Jul 05, 2025 from https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/when-stress-hits-twice-lasting-effects-of-childhood-trauma-219216-1.htm.

MLA Dr. Pavithra. "When Stress Hits Twice: Lasting Effects of Childhood Trauma". Medindia. Jul 05, 2025. <https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/when-stress-hits-twice-lasting-effects-of-childhood-trauma-219216-1.htm>.

Chicago Dr. Pavithra. "When Stress Hits Twice: Lasting Effects of Childhood Trauma". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/when-stress-hits-twice-lasting-effects-of-childhood-trauma-219216-1.htm. (accessed Jul 05, 2025).

Harvard Dr. Pavithra. 2025. When Stress Hits Twice: Lasting Effects of Childhood Trauma. Medindia, viewed Jul 05, 2025, https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/when-stress-hits-twice-lasting-effects-of-childhood-trauma-219216-1.htm.
The government has announced a stipend revision for MBBS interns in central institutions, ensuring better financial support for budding doctors.

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Going for Broke: The Impact of Cost of Living on Surgery Resident Stipend Value



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(MoHFW) Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has announced a stipend revision for MBBS interns in central institutions. Interns will now receive 26,300 per month, while AIIMS interns will get 30,070. This move aims to provide better financial support and recognizes the crucial role of interns in healthcare ().Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) has officially revised the MBBS intern stipend to 26,300 per month, effective from January 1, 2020. The order was issued on March 4, 2024, following approval from the Finance Department. This revision aims to provide better financial support to medical interns across central institutions.Stipend hike is a welcome relief for thousands of MBBS interns in government medical colleges. It acknowledges their crucial role in hospitals while easing their financial burden. However, the revision currently applies only to central institutions, raising questions about whether state governments will follow suit.With this revision, medical interns expect further updates on stipend structures across state-run institutions. There is growing demand for academic resources and clinical equipment stipend policies nationwide. While this move benefits central institution interns, many are looking forward to similar initiatives in state medical colleges as well.Source-Medindia
Photo: https://x.com/MinPres

Participants in a video conference convened by British Prime Minister Keir Stramer reached broad agreement on continuing military and financial support for Ukraine, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said.

"The proposals of the US and Ukraine regarding a temporary ceasefire also sound encouraging. Now it is important to continue to put pressure on Russia so that it sits down at the negotiating table," he wrote on the social network X on Saturday.

Schoof said it was necessary to continue working hard on new European sanctions.

"At the same time, it is good to prepare for a possible next step, such as the meeting of military planners in London next Thursday, where the Netherlands will also join in the context of security guarantees," he wrote.
The Rays long-term home is in doubt after the team pulled out of plans for a $1.3 billion new stadium in St. Petersburg. The future is unclear, as St. Petersburg and Pinellas County officials have expressed frustration with Rays owner Stuart Sternberg.

John Romano and Colleen Wright of The Tampa Bay Times report that the Rays, within the past month, have floated the idea of renovating Tropicana Field beyond the roof repair. Under that plan, the team, city and county would contribute an equal sum  reportedly $200MM each  for large-scale renovations of their longtime home park. According to the report, the Rays would have agreed to a 10-year lease extension to remain at the Trop through 2038 in that scenario.

The city and county were not immediately keen on the idea. The Rays lease at Tropicana Field runs through 2028. It had initially been scheduled to expire in 27, but it was extended by a year after hurricane damage left the stadium unplayable this season. The city, as lessor, is responsible for fixing the Trop after the hurricane ripped off its roof. The Rays are hopeful those repairs will be complete in time for the 2026 season. The city estimated the repair costs at $55.7MM.

Clearly, a $600MM renovation would go far beyond that. It makes little sense for anyone involved to make that commitment for three years, so itd necessarily be paired with a lease extension. St. Petersburg mayor Ken Welch said yesterday that he (has) no interest in working with this ownership group after their decision to pull out of the stadium deal. Regarding the idea of a lease extension, he told The Tampa Bay Times that the city is looking at a number of options but I dont want to talk about, at this point, this notion of a 10- or 15-year extension at the Trop.

Welch left the door open for reconsidering that idea in the future, saying hed talk with the council and with the community about the paths forward once the Rays officially decline the current stadium deal. While the team has already made clear itll do so, the Rays need to sign an official termination letter on that project or wait for the bond approval to expire on March 31 (the date for the team to hit construction benchmarks to keep the public funding alive).

Rays team president Matt Silverman reiterated yesterday that the team is not for sale. He said they could reopen discussions with the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County after March 31. Silverman told Romano and Wright today that a lease extension at the Trop was also one of many possibilities that has been discussed with the city and the county since the hurricanes. The Rays have played at Tropicana Field since their founding in 1998. They will play this season at Tampas George M. Steinbrenner Field.
GENESEE COUNTY, MI - Dubai chocolate has taken social media by storm, with viral videos showcasing its oversized bars, rich textures, and tasty flavors.

While many fans have wanted to get their hands on the sought-after treat, one Genesee County market is now bringing the trend closer to home.

At Sahara Food, 5542 Fenton Road in Mundy Township, owner Waleed Elshaarawi crafts his own version of the Dubai chocolate, offering customers an authentic taste of the internet sensation.

The base of the sweet treat is made of milk chocolate, but what sets it apart from ordinary chocolate bars is the addition of Middle Eastern ingredients that add layers of flavor.

Tahini, a creamy sesame paste, is mixed in along with butter, while crushed pistachios provide a crunch and sweetness.

Sahara Foods Dubai chocolate features Knafeh, a crispy traditional Arab dessert made with kadayif layered with cheese and soaked in syrup.

The largest portion is the size of an arm, with a price tag of $27.99.

I also put my own touch of recipes to it, Elshaarawi said.

This blend of flavors is what makes Sahara Foods Dubai chocolate a customer favorite.

The chocolate bar is so evenly distributed and you get a good amount of filling with each bite, said Madison Chambers, a customer at Sahara Food. Theres a nice little crunch to it. Its very lovely and I recommend it all the time to people.

Sahara also offers bite-size strawberry pistachios blended between chocolates in a small container, which has become very popular.

It tastes amazing, its one of the best things Ive had in a while, Chambers said. I love how he broke down the strawberries into bite-size pieces.

Sahara Food opened in 2024 and offers Turkish, Palestinian, Lebanese, Indian, Pakistani products, along with German offerings.

Elshaarawi, an Egyptian-American, originally lived in New York and New Jersey before moving to the Flint area 15 years ago.

The chocolate here is very authentic and rich, he said. Were trying to make people happy about it. Its hard work to make it, but seeing peoples smiles on their faces is worth it.

Featuring unique ingredients, and the personal touch of Elshaarawi, Sahara Foods Dubai chocolate isnt just a viral trendits a taste of Middle Eastern tradition thats found a home in Genesee County.
ESSEXVILLE, MI  Wondering where you can find holiday or seasonal themed homemade desserts?

Petit 4 Pastry, 1600 Woodside Ave., has offered just that, plus a whole lot more since opening in 2005.

Owners Rachel and Tyler Cathel took over the bakery about five years ago after Rachel Cathel had worked for the previous owner, she said.

Driving from Bad Axe to Essexville for work each day, Rachel Cathel said she knew she found a special bakery where the owners proudly offered the community from-scratch, delicious desserts.

Thats what drew me to this place  everything was homemade, and it was like a quality I could stand behind, she said. My favorite part of it is doing everything from scratch and, like, putting myself into everything.

Rachel Cathel said she was always drawn to baking wedding cakes and decorating cakes, so she knew the bakery route was the one to take.

Their bakery offers a variety of sweet treats regularly, such as carrot cake, fruit tarts, tiramisu, black forest cake, cinnamon rolls and fruit breads.

Some of the other items are themed around holidays or seasons, such as the Irish soda bread, mimosa cake, Hawaiian bar or a summer berry cheesecake.

They also offer take-and-bake items, such as mac and cheese, and a small lunch menu that changes each week, usually featuring a soup and a sandwich, salad or pasta special.

Rachel Cathel said they usually keep a few simple prepared and iced cakes in the cooler for birthdays or events, but customers can also place special orders. They highly recommend ordering at least two weeks prior to the event and much earlier for a more detailed dessert, like a wedding cake.

Weve done big, extravagant quinceanera cakes and weddings and cookies, Rachel Cathel said.

The Cathel family is growing as they are expecting their first child, so they arent accepting special decoration orders at this time.

Petit 4 Pastry is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. They will be open on Saturdays at some point this summer.

For more information, check out their Facebook page here.

Would you like MLive to feature your favorite restaurant in Michigans Best Local Eats? Send the details, including business name, address and best menu item, to Kaytie Boomer at kboomer@mlive.com.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Juice by J offers visitors a personal, curated dine-in experience that starts with a prompt greeting and ginger shot for first-timers.

The juice bar, located at 12 Oakes St. SW in downtown Grand Rapids, serves fresh-pressed, raw juices and whole foods using locally sourced ingredients from Michigan farms.

Owner Joan Byj, a licensed nutritionist, opened the bar five years ago with a concern for healthy eating habits. Shes worked to remain a fixture in the West Michigan health food scene, weathering financial challenges and adapting to changing trends.

Vegan Waffle Burger, which costs $22.50, at Juice by J, at 12 Oakes St. SW, in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Isaac Ritchey | iritchey@mlive.com

Healthy eating was instilled in Byj as a child by her grandfather who cooked curated meals to suit her needs. Byj, who was born with celiac disease and later survived childhood cancer, knew then that shed one day cook for others in a similar way.

Healthy eating habits start young. Milk in a carton at school is not really good enough. One apple a day is not really good enough. Some kids grab it, they bite and throw it out, Byj said Study a little bit and watch what you eat for one week. Go to the grocery and buy organic. Youre gonna feel a difference in your body.

Juice by J offers a rotating menu of whole foods like Radishing Tacos, Vegan Waffle Burger and Waffle Carrot Cake.

All meals cost $22.50. They showcase a creative blends of organic seeds, fruits, root vegetables and other plant-based ingredients.

Radishing Tacos are the newest addition to the rotation and took about 20 years of experimentation to formulate. The chicken is a flavorful mixture of lentil, jackfruit, garbanzo beans and beets, offering a familiar taste and satisfying texture. Its served on a crunchy radish shell and topped with savory date sauce and fresh microgreens.

Radishing Tacos, which costs $22.50, at Juice by J, at 12 Oakes St. SW, in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Isaac Ritchey | iritchey@mlive.com

All juice is freshly squeezed using a hydraulic cold press, preserving natural flavors and nutrients from the pulp. The current menu features a variety of options, including earthy Rockin' Beets, refreshing Celery Detox, Avid Apples and Cool Cucumbers, and tropical Hawaiian Hula. A 16-ounce bottle costs $12.50 each.

Booster Shots, like Ginger and Tumeric or Cherry and Ginger, come in 2-ounce glasses for $5.50 each. Matcha lattes, beet lattes and espresso shots without the crash are also available.

Byj also offers group juice cleanses that start at $1,250 per person. They require a 45-minute consultation.

The eatery is open from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Its closed Tuesday and Sunday.

For more information or to check for daily offerings, visit the juice bars Facebook here or call (616) 240-0889.

The interior of Juice by J, at 12 Oakes St. SW, in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Isaac Ritchey | iritchey@mlive.com

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FILE - A vial of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is on display at the Lubbock Health Department Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon, File) AP

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI  The first case of measles in Michigan in 2025 has been confirmed in Oakland County.

Health officials say the measles case was detected in an Oakland County adult who recently returned from international travel. The individuals vaccination status is unknown.

This is the first confirmed case of measles in Michigan since July 2024.

Health officials said in a news release that the period of infectiousness for the individual ran from March 3 until March 11. The individual first exhibited a rash on March 7 and sought medical care on March 8 and 10.

The period of infectiousness typically begins four days before the rash shows and remains active for four days after it shows, Oakland County Health Officer Kate Guzman said.

Possible exposure locations where others may have come in contact with the individual include:

Kruse and Muer on Main family restaurant, 327 S. Main St., Rochester, between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. March 3.

Henry Ford Rochester Hospital Emergency Department, 1101 W. University Drive, Rochester, between 3:40 a.m. March 8 and 9:32 a.m. March 9; as well as from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. March 10.

Guzman said that if anyone believes they may be symptomatic that they should notify their healthcare provider before going to the hospital.

It is important proper isolation protections are in place to help protect the public and other patients and staff prior to the person arrives at the facility, she said.

Symptoms for the disease include a fever which may spike above 104 degrees; respiratory issues like runny nose, cough or pink eye; and tiny white spots that may develop on inner cheeks, gums or the roof of the mouth.

Three to five days after symptoms begin people may also experience a red, raised and blotchy rash. The rash typically begins on the face and spreads to the trunk, arms and legs.

Measles is not only highly contagious, but considered to be among the most infectious diseases in the world.

RELATED: Low vax rates make Michigan susceptible to measles outbreak

As of March 13, prior to the Michigan case being reported, the CDC had confirmed 301 cases of measles in 2025 across 15 states.

That number is up from 2024s 12-month total, which saw 285 cases across 33 states over the entire year.

There has been one confirmed death as the result of the disease in 2025 and a second is under investigation. In 2024, there were zero deaths as a result of the disease.

Health officials encourage anyone who may have been exposed and is not considered immune to be vaccinated with the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine.

A person who has received two doses of the MMR vaccine is considered immune, as are adults born before 1957, or those who have shown evidence of prior measles illness.

Henry Ford Health issued the following statement on the announcement:

The health and wellbeing of our patients, team members and community is our absolute top priority, and we are working alongside the health department to ensure anyone who might have encountered this individual while they were in our facility has the necessary guidance and support.

Vaccinations are our best protection against infectious diseases like measles, and we urge anyone who hasnt been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible. We also encourage anyone with questions about their vaccination status to reach out to their healthcare provider or the health department.
Von der Leyen: We will support strengthening Ukraine, its Armed Forces following our porcupine strategy

Following a virtual meeting of world leaders organised by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed support for the ceasefire agreement and the course towards strengthening Ukraine and its Armed Forces.

We reiterate our support to Ukraines agreement to a ceasefire. Now Russia has to show that it is willing to support a ceasefire leading to a just and lasting peace, she said on X.

At the same time, the President of the European Commission noted that in the meantime, we will support strengthening Ukraine and its Armed Forces following our porcupine strategy."

Finally, we will step up Europes defence efforts through ReArm Europe, boosting defence spending, she added.

Also, von der Leyen expressed gratitude for hosting the leaders' meeting today.

Earlier it was reported that a virtual meeting of world leaders to discuss support for Ukraine was held on Saturday, March 15, and was organized by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The Porcupine Strategy involves building a country's defense capability so that it is as difficult and costly as possible for an aggressor to invade.
MANCHESTER, MI  A long-awaited brewery and taqueria has arrived in downtown Manchester.

Manchester Brewing opened its doors in late February, revealing a fully remodeled interior in the space that was once home to a local bakery.

The tacos-and-beer concept has been in the making since 2022, when owner and homebrewing enthusiast Jason Cooper first pitched his plan to revitalize the space at 118 E. Main St., once home to Manchester Bakery.

Cooper and chef James Armour settled on a Mexican-inspired menu in order to bring a new style of cuisine to the main strip of the small town.

There are already some decent places here if you want a burger, theres a place for a burger, if you want a grinder or a pizza theres a place for that, Cooper said. We just looked at the community and said What else would work? and we settled on tacos... were very happy that we can offer something different.

So far, top sellers include a la carte tacos from house-braised steak barbacoa to Mojo-marinated pork carnitas alongside rice bowls and a rotating Mexican-inspired chefs special.

Cooper and Armour built the concept as a scratch kitchen, focusing on fresh, seasonal and house-made ingredients sourced locally.

Were able to provide fresher options, scratch-made salsas, sauces, guac, Cooper said. Overall, just high-quality food thats still approachable.

Manchester Brewing sources its all-corn tortillas from Titas Tortillas in Wayne, Michigan.

Its a small family company, they source non-GMO corn and hand-mill everything, Armour said. We make everything in-house  aside from these tortillas  but they make them in-house, too.

On the beer side, Coopers homebrewing enthusiasm shines through in a rotating tap list. The brewerys flagship beer is an easy-drinking cream ale, which can be combined with lime juice and salt for a Margarita-style Cerveza Ale.

Other highlights of the rotating taps include a River Raisin Red Ale, a rotating IPA and more. Guests can also order a house-made seltzer tailored to taste with a rotating selection of fresh house-made fruit syrups.

Customers enter the space through a narrow hall lined with booths, which opens into the full bar and a separate lounge-style room decorated with hop vine murals by local artist Aleza Daluz. A rotating collection local artwork will hang on the brewery walls.

Sustainability has been another focus for Cooper and Armour  the pair partnered with Wixom-based Spurt Industries to offer fully home-compostable plates and flatware.

Cooper made a point to reference the buildings history as a bakery  a massive wheel from the original oven decorates the Founders Wall, where customers can have their name permanently painted along with a lifetime $250 Mug Club membership. Annual Mug Club memberships can be purchased for $50 per year and include beer discounts, a free birthday meal and a merchandise credit.

So far, business has been good: locals whove long anticipated the opening of the brewery are giving praise to the food and beer, and the restaurant is beginning to draw a following on social media, according to general manager Carley Burkett.

Ninety percent of people who are coming in say Hey, we saw your open sign was finally on, Burkett said, Its been a lot of word-of-mouth, weve been getting progressively busier and busier.

Manchester Brewing, 118 E. Main St. is open Thursday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

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A 25-year-old man was fatally stabbed Friday evening inside a McDonalds in Flint. (MLive file photo) Jake May

FLINT, MI  A 25-year-old man was fatally stabbed Friday evening inside a McDonalds in Flint.

Michigan State Police said a 53-year-old man has been arrested in connection to the homicide.

The fatal stabbing happened around 5:40 p.m. Friday, March 14, when Flint police officers were called to investigate a disturbance inside the McDonalds in the 1800 block of S. Dort Highway, state troopers said.

Officers arrived to find the 25-year-old man with fatal stab wounds. Michigan State Police said the man had been involved in an altercation with the 53-year-old man.

State police did not provide further details about the altercation.

The older man was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and then arrested, state troopers said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Michigan State Police Detective Trooper Casey McLaughlin-Smith at 810-241-2117. People can also submit tips anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-422-JAIL (5245).

The Flint Major Case Unit continues to investigate the homicide.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  New location, same luck: Thousands filled Calder Plaza on Saturday for the rebranded and relocated Irish Off Ionia, previously Irish On Ionia.

People covered head to toe in green reveled in the Irish spirit, and some held spirits for Michigans largest St. Patricks Day street festival.

Brenden Pelton drank from a melting ice sculpture that doubled as a funnel for ones desired beverage. He appreciated the how organizers summoned their inner-leprechaun and propped the sculpture with boards and tape to keep the festivities alive.

Temperatures started in the 60s as both the festival and the 46th annual St. Patricks Day Parade started at 11 a.m. As the day went on, the forecasted high was 71, one of the warmest days to date in Grand Rapids in 2025.

The prime weather brought out the people, enjoying an array of music, Irish dancers, food and beverages.

The festival started with music from Kyndred, and eleven other performances were to follow with DJ Malky capping off the night, ending at 9 p.m.

Attendees could be seen singing and dancing along, even joining in with an impromptu Irish jig.

Some people had more than one reason to dance.

Liz Starnes was celebrating her bachelorette party at the festival with friends and family.

It was Starnes' first time at Irish Off Ionia. She came from Detroit because of the live music and friendly people.

I think its a blast. I think the entire energy is electric today and the weather it beautiful. You couldnt ask for a better day, Starnes said.

Starnes said she would come back again, even if the weather was bad, giving credit to the fun crowd.

Late morning, community members lined the streets downtown for the parade.

Floats mirrored the spectators as green, shamrocks and red beards celebrating Irish America and culture went down Monroe Center Street.

For Patrick Cairoli, the yearly tradition keeps him coming back, but the bag pipes takes the cake... or gold if your a leprechaun.

The way the music sounds off the buildings, it just kind of stirs the Irish soul a bit, Cairoli said.

In addition to the festival and parade, Grand Rapids was host to several other St. Patricks Day celebrations Saturday including a 5K, a workshop for a St. Patricks charcuterie and a bar crawl.

The party didnt stop on Saturday. The St. Moscattys Comedy Drag Show at General Wood Shop is 6:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday, March 16.
Two men were killed in a crash early Saturday on U.S. 12 near the Indiana border. (Photo provided by the Berrien County Sheriff's Office) Berrien County Sheriff's Office

BERRIEN COUNTY, MI  Two people were killed in a crash early Saturday on U.S. 12 near the Indiana border.

Those killed in the crash were a 19-year-old man from Iowa and a 36-year-old man from Edwardsburg, according to the Berrien County Sheriffs Office.

The crash occurred around 1:15 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, near the intersection of U.S. 12 and South Redbud Trail, just south of Buchanan.

Berrien County sheriffs deputies believe the Iowa man was traveling southbound on Redbud Trail in a Chrysler sedan when he failed to yield at the intersection to a Jeep Wrangler that was eastbound on U.S. 12.

The two vehicles collided, with the Jeep Wrangler coming to rest on top of the Chrysler sedan.

Deputies and medical first responders found the Iowa man trapped inside his vehicle. Deputies said he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Jeep Wrangler, the Edwardsburg man, was found ejected from his vehicle. He was transported to a hospital in Niles where he was later pronounced deceased, according to deputies.

Deputies say it appears neither driver was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Alcohol is being investigated as a possible contributing factor in the crash, they said.

The crash remains under investigation.

The Berrien County Sheriffs Office was assisted by Michigan State Police, the Bertrand Township Fire Department, Southwest Michigan Community Ambulance Service, WMed Office of the Medical Examiner and the Berrien County Public Safety Dispatch Center.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- Homeless individuals in downtown Kalamazoo have a new resource for seeking medical care.

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine has opened the WMed Firehouse Clinic at 526 N. Burdick St. to treat homeless and economically disadvantaged patients in downtown Kalamazoo.

The clinic is inside a former fire station, Old Fire Station No. 4.

Its led by WMeds Community Health Interest Group and has a partnership with the Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries homeless shelter.

The clinic opened in August, said Dr. Cheryl Dickson, associate dean for Community Education and Engagement at WMed. The grand opening was Friday, March 14.

Inside Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine's new "firehouse clinic" at 526 N. Burdick St. The clinic will help provide more specialized medical services to homeless and economically disadvantaged individuals in downtown Kalamazoo. Aya Miller

Dickson and Dr. Mark Schauer, a WMed associate professor, work with medical students to provide checkups and take medical histories of patients. The students are volunteering through WMeds Community Health Interest Group and arent paid, Dickson said.

All of the services offered at the clinic are free.

In the past, WMed has conducted weekly health screenings at shelters across town, Dickson said. There, students and physicians can take blood pressure and do examinations. That will continue.

The new clinic will create a designated space where patients can come for more private screenings. Taking patients' histories will also help provide more comprehensive care, Dickson said.

We can go through and really look at all of their issues, all of their problems in more detail, Dickson said. (Then), we can help them understand their medications, treat what we need to treat while theyre safe and then connect them with navigation (resources).

Inside the firehouse, there are two exam rooms and another room for small procedures like removing sutures. When the clinic launched, theyd see one person a day, Dickson said. Now they see about five people a day.

Homeless individuals face more barriers to accessing medical care than others, said Claire Kalina, a fourth-year WMed student.

They dont have to put so much effort in coming to the clinic and making an appointment months in advance when they dont know what their tomorrow is going to look like, Kalina said.

Inside Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine's new "firehouse clinic" at 526 N. Burdick St. The clinic will help provide more specialized medical services to homeless and economically disadvantaged individuals in downtown Kalamazoo. Aya Miller

Many homeless individuals already have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, Dickson said. But even with insurance patients still often have to pay some out-of-pocket costs at other providers.

There can also be a stigma against homeless individuals seeking medical care, Dickson said. Providers may make patients feel embarrassed or less than, so people wait until they need emergency services, Dickson said.

One time while providing screenings, Kalina assisted a woman whose home burned down. The woman and her partner werent able to find another place to stay and ended up living on the street.

She started crying when I was providing care to her and was thanking me, Kalina said. It was the first time that she felt like she wasnt untouchable or dirty by a health care provider.

The clinic is two blocks from the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, 448 N. Burdick St. and Ministry with Community, 500 N. Edwards St., Dickson said. If patients need medications, someone at the clinic can pick up the medications so the individual can get them.

Coming to them and meeting them where theyre at, I think that makes a huge difference, Dickson said.

Kalina said they see a lot of homeless individuals with diabetes and high blood pressure. Some patients will also have skin rashes and psychiatric conditions, Kalina said.

But when people need to find essentials like food, water, clothing and where to stay, accessing medical resources isnt always a priority, Dickson said.

The clinic will be open the first and third Friday of every month from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

It may expand to open more frequently and expand services offered in the future, Dickson said.

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KALAMAZOO, MI -- Fifth graders skipped into the halls of Edison Academy, folders in hand, on Saturday, March 8.

They were going to Saturday school, a Kalamazoo Public Schools program for students underperforming in math and English. This year, 100 fifth graders and 100 eighth graders are participating.

Students are separated into eight classes, each with a mix of students from different schools. Students arrive at 8:45 a.m. for breakfast in the cafeteria then go with teachers to respective classrooms for lessons.

MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette sat in on Saturday school on March 8 to learn more about the second-year program.

Stacey Pruett, a third grade teacher at Edison, was teaching her students about themes. Pruett taught at Saturday school last year and enjoyed it so much, she applied to teach again this year.

Teachers apply to be a Saturday school teacher and are paid for the time they teach, a KPS representative said.

Scenes from Saturday School in Kalamazoo held at Edison School, 831 Lake St. Aya Miller

Pruett explained what themes are from the front of the room, writing in a notebook projected onto the whiteboard as she spoke.

As students prepared to read a story about birthdays, she asked students how they celebrate their own birthday.

Scenes from Saturday School in Kalamazoo held at Edison School, 831 Lake St. Aya Miller

Weekends are often reserved for Saturday-morning cartoons and video games. But believe it or not, not all of the attendees are disappointed about waking up for more school. A group of students from El Sol Elementary School laughed together during breakfast before heading to classes.

The kids were really excited to come in on a Saturday, Pruett said. We have really hard working students.

Last year, Pruett taught third graders in Saturday school, including some of her own third grade students at Edison.

That extra day allowed me to be intentional about looking at interventions using our curriculum, Pruett said. Filling in these missing gaps of foundational skills.

After a few Saturday school sessions, Pruett saw more growth and progress in attendees then those who didnt have the extra help. The Saturday schoolers were also more positive when going to classes during the week, Pruett said.

Pruett has taught for 19 years. She notices when students start to fall behind.

Sometimes teachers dont have enough time to return to skills students may be missing during the regular school day, said Frank Rocco, principal at Woodward School. Rocco stopped by to make sure the program was running smoothly and help where needed.

Its the No. 1 thing I think any educator would bring up is time, the demands, the expectations that they want us to get accomplished and the amount of time that we have to do it, Rocco said. Its not always reasonable.

Scenes from Saturday School in Kalamazoo held at Edison School, 831 Lake St. Aya Miller

Early signs of progress

Last year, Saturday School was hosted with students in third through fifth grades. The district will likely return to that model next year, KPS Superintendent Darrin Slade said.

Early signs are positive, for Saturday school.

For example, performance among fifth graders on the M-STEP improved last spring after the implementation of Saturday school.

In 2022-23, 61.2% of fifth graders were not proficient in math on the M-STEP. The percentage not proficient dropped to 56.2% in 2023-24 (these are students currently in sixth grade).

On the reading M-STEP, 47.5% of fifth graders performed not proficient in 2022-23. The percentage dropped to 40.9% of fifth graders in 2023-24.

Eighth grade was a new target, this year.

Participation among eighth graders wasnt as high as the district was hoping for, Slade said. The goal was to enroll 300 eighth graders this year in Saturday school.

Filling pandemic gaps

Students who are in elementary school now were just entering school during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Julie McDonald, principal of Edison Academy. McDonald also serves as the principal of Saturday school.

Because students were learning virtually during the pandemic, some foundational skills slipped through the cracks.

What we see is, they have some solid knowledge and they can do fifth grade work and fifth grade expectations, but they might have missed one of those foundational skills, McDonald said. Thats going to stop them from really being able to do the next level work.

Saturday school gives teachers the opportunity to circle back and strengthen those skills.

On March 8, Pruett also worked on long division with her students because they were struggling with that. They started with baby steps, like mastering multiplication and division, then transitioned into dividing with four-digit numbers.

Becoming lifelong learners

Beyond the academic and social aspects of Saturday school, McDonald said theyre also teaching students to become lifelong learners.

Sometimes students are afraid to ask for help when theyre falling behind, McDonald said. But at Saturday school, they learn its OK to seek assistance if theyre struggling with learning a concept.

Its a life skill that is hard for kids, McDonald said. They sometimes feel like they cant speak up and say, I need this or I need that, and a lot of times we have to help them do that.

Pruett recommended parents take the leap and enroll their students in Saturday school if they receive an invitation. Aside from developing a greater understanding of material, they also meet other students from different schools.

They get a different perspective and teaching than what they do here in the week, Pruett said.

In the coming years, the district will have to decide whether to keep Saturday school at the district level or have individual schools host Saturday classes, McDonald said.

One barrier to growing the program is transportation, she said. The district distributed 400 invitations to Saturday school, but only 200 signed up, Slade said. Some students who signed up havent made it to the classes yet, McDonald said.

Edisons kind of centrally located, but its still hard for some (parents), Rocco said.

Saturday School lasts for five weeks, ending on March 22. Last year, Saturday school ran for nine weeks but some Saturday classes needed to be canceled, Slade said. Students who attend 75% of classes earn a free trip to Michigans Adventure and Craigs Cruisers.

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BANGOR TOWNSHIP, MI  Vice President JD Vance hailed an American comeback for businesses at a Friday, March 14, visit to a Bay County plastics manufacturer.

The former Ohio senator championed the economic policies of President Donald Trump during the 2-hour stay in Michigan, a state that favored the Republican ticket in the 2024 presidential election.

Vance brought company from Washington D.C. with him Friday. He also attracted the company of opponents to the site of his Bangor Township gathering.

Here are 5 takeaways from Vances visit to mid-Michigan:

Tariff talk

Vances visit to Vantage Plastics came during a period of nationwide economic angst, inspired in part by a series of tariffs Trump has threatened and imposed against nations such as Canada and Mexico.

Such measures threaten the economic stability of American businesses that rely on trade agreements with neighboring allies, opponents of Trumps policies have argued. Addressing a crowd of workers and politicians inside a Vantage Plastics facility on Friday, Vance defended the presidents strategy.

You hear people say, Well, how dare Donald Trump impose tariffs on foreign countries that have been taking advantage of us for four years?, Vance said.

And the answer is that, unless youre willing to use American power to fight back against what those countries have been doing for a generation, you are never going to rebuild American manufacturing.

The opposition

Dozens of protesters gathered outside Bay Countys UAW Local 362, near Vantage Plastics, to offer a cold welcome for the V.P.

People with signs reading Tariffs hurt USA and No Fascists lined the streets as Vances motorcade approached the Bay County site. Many shouted insults and obscenities at the long lineup of Secret Service-led vehicles that pulled into the factorys parking lot about 11:30 a.m.

Karen Tighe, a former Chair of the Bay County Democratic Party, was there. The 75-year-old said the Trump and Vance administrations policies represented a threat to federal programs such as Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare.

Its personal to us and thats why were here, Tighe said. We want him to know that the economic policies of the Trump administration are hurting local people.

During his event inside the facility, Vance delivered a verbal jab, directed at the protesters.

Its a little after noon on a Friday: Dont you all have jobs?, he said, sparking a round of laughter from the crowd of his supporters indoors. We want those people to get off the streets and back to work.

Criticizing the governor

The vice president seemed to reference Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who met with Trump at the White House one day earlier. The Michigans Democratic governor had called the gathering a productive meeting.

Vance, though, seemed to offer a different view of the meet-up between Trump and Whitmer, political rivals who have exchanged verbal spars over the years.

Its kind of funny to see some of our Democratic governors  I dont want to mention which states exactly  coming to the Oval Office and begging for economic development under Trumps leadership that they knew they would never get under Bidens leadership, Vance said.

Looking ahead

Whitmer and the protesters werent the only focus of Vances criticism Friday.

In advocating for the Trump administrations policies, Vance took shots at the presidents predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden.

Were not going to be able to fix everything that Joe Biden broke, but I think, after seven weeks, the progress is pretty good, Vance said.

The vice president, though, warned supporters of a long road ahead as the Trump administration replaces Biden-era economic policies.

Last November, America reelected a president with a simple goal: to power our nations industrial comeback and once again, make the U.S. the worlds manufacturing superpower," Vance said. And that is exactly what President Trump has sought out to do.

Familiar territory

Vances visit to Michigan Friday marked his first return to Michigan since a busy fall presidential election campaign season, when the Trump and Kamala Harris campaigns visited the state about 80 times in 2024.

Vance last visited Michigan during a campaign event at the FIM Capitol Theatre in Flint on the day before Election Day.

While Vance campaigned in neighboring Saginaw County last year, Friday represented his first political venture into Bay County.

The community was pro-Trump territory in November. Bay County favored the Republican ticket in the 2024 presidential election. Trump and Vance received 34,792 votes, compared to 25,767 votes for then-Vice President Harris.
A room in the emergency department the at Helen Devos Childrens Hospital in Grand Rapids on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Neil Blake | MLive.com

Four adults stood in line, each with a jacketed young child in tow, just inside the emergency room double doors at Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital.

A little girl wiped her runny nose with one hand, holding a tablet in the other. Her mother spoke to the receptionist about the reason for their visit that Thursday morning.

The little boy behind them let out a series of bark-like coughs, turning the heads of a few more parents sitting with their children in the nearby waiting room.

Looks like we already have a line, said Dr. Erica Michiels, noting Thursdays are among the least busy days for the pediatric ICU.

A relatively bad flu season has kept Grand Rapids' childrens hospital busy this year, with typical daily patient totals exceeding 200. Michigans flu-like illness levels remain very high according to the CDCs surveillance system.

Related: Michigan emergency room sees the scary side of vaccine hesitancy

Its common for physicians to see the same patients a few times over the course of their illness, even if they arent admitted, Michiels explained.

When youre sort of walking that fine line between is this still OK or is this too much in a disease that changes hour by hour, you often have to see those kids a few times and spend a lot of time educating them, she said.

There are three main symptoms of a bad respiratory illness that signal its time to bring your child to be seen by their primary care physician, or a trip to the emergency room or urgent care. They include:

1. A fever lasting five days or longer.

While you may think the greater number on the thermometer signifies a more significant illness, Michiels said thats not necessarily the case.

During flu season we see kids with fevers of 105 or 106 every day, she said. That doesnt portend that they are sicker or more at risk. Its just that influenza can cause really high fevers.

When their fever goes down, are they acting more like themselves? Are they more active and playful?

We care much less about the number on the thermometer and we care much more about how your child is looking.

A good rule is to schedule an appointment to have your child looked at if their fever lasts five days or longer.

2. Struggling to breathe

If your child is showing signs of difficulty breathing, its a good time to seek medical care.

That may look like rapid or labored breathing, grunting or wheezing while breathing, bluish or pale skin color (especially around the lips or fingertips), ribs pulling in or chest sinking in while breathing, or an inability to talk or eat/drink due to shortness of breath.

Difficulty breathing is one of the more common reasons for a child with the flu or another respiratory illness to be admitted to the hospital. If necessary they can provide various levels of breathing assistance.

3. Signs of dehydration

Physicians will want to know if your child is drinking fluids and regularly urinating.

For school-age children, that means ideally peeing at least three times every 24 hours. For babies in diapers, its more like four or five wet diapers per day.

The younger you are, the more output we want to see, Michiels said.

Persistent vomiting or an inability to drink fluids may cause dehydration. In some cases, physicians may recommend an IV to help with hydration.

Beyond the big three, there are of course other reasons to seek medical attention, including seizures, unresponsiveness, and chest or severe muscle pain, according to the CDC.

While its difficult to avoid getting sick this time of year, there are ways to reduce viral spread and your likelihood of getting sick or needing medical care for severe illness.

Doctors recommend washing your hands regularly throughout the day and avoiding touching your mouth and nose. Parents should keep their kids home from school or daycare if theyre sick, and consider getting them vaccinated against the flu and other diseases.
China's BRI truly changes lives, destinies of people around world: Cambodian senior minister

Xinhua) 10:57, March 15, 2025

PHNOM PENH, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has truly changed the lives and destinies of many people across the world, a Cambodian senior minister said here on Friday.

Speaking in a speech at the opening ceremony of the Shapingba Hotpot Carnival in Phnom Penh, Ly Thuch, a Cambodian senior minister in charge of special missions, said the BRI is a global initiative that has provided mutual benefits, win-win cooperation, and shared prosperity for all participating countries.

"The BRI has truly changed the lives and destinies of many people around the world, and Cambodia is one of the countries that has greatly benefited from this initiative," he said.

He added that the BRI has not only boosted the development of connectivity infrastructure, but also promoted people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

Meanwhile, Thuch expressed his heartfelt congratulations and appreciation to the Chinese government and people for all the great progress and achievements that China has achieved so far.

He said China has played a greater role on the international stage in ensuring peace, security, stability, common development, and shared prosperity toward building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Speaking of Cambodia-China ties, Thuch said the two countries have an "unbreakable" ironclad friendship and both sides are working together to build a high-quality, high-standard and high-level community with a shared future.

He was also grateful to the government and people of China for having provided assistance to Cambodia for economic, social, trade, and physical infrastructure development.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
There is no encirclement of Ukrainian military personnel in Kursk region, however, the Russian Federation wants to encircle Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers on Ukrainian territory, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"There is no encirclement of Ukrainian military personnel on the territory of Kursk region ... I believe that it is the Russian side that wants to encircle Ukrainian military personnel in the same direction, but on the territory of Ukraine," Zelenskyy told journalists during a briefing on Saturday.

According to him, Ukrainian troops "know this, the command knows this and we clearly understand this."

Zelenskyy noted that Russia is doing this because it wants its maximum presence on Ukrainian territory and "there is nothing new here."
Zelensky: There has always been shortage of SAMP/T missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that there has always been a major shortage of missiles for the SAMP/T missile system.

"There is one problem with these systems. A major shortage of missiles. And it has been constant. I don't want to say how many of these missiles we have, what's wrong with them. This is a constant problem," Zelenskyy told reporters during a briefing on Saturday.

The President thanked Italy and France for providing these systems.

"And these are complex systems. They are good. You can't say that they are an analogue of Patriot, they are cool, they shoot down, but not everything that Patriot shoots down," Zelenskyy added.

He also recalled that he wanted to receive licenses for the production of Patriot, SAMP/T, HAWK, but this did not happen.
Zelenskyy on Trump's promise regarding news on talks: Id draw attention to fact that ICC issued arrest warrant for Putin on March 17, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not rule out the possibility of a conversation between the USA and Russia on Monday, and also drew attention to the fact that it was on March 17, 2023, that the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin.

"I would draw your attention, if we are not mistaken, to the International Criminal Court, which it did on March 17 the year before last. It issued an arrest warrant for Putin," Zelenskyy commented to journalists on US President Donald Trump's statement that news about negotiations with Ukraine and the Russian Federation would appear on March 17.

Zelenskyy also admitted "the probable possibility of some kind of conversation between the USA and Russia on Monday," but stressed that he does not know for sure.

In addition, the president said that in the near future there will be coordination between the United States and Ukraine regarding the next steps.

Earlier, it was reported that US President Donald Trump promised that on Monday, March 17, there would be news regarding ceasefire talks with Ukraine and Russia. He said this in an interview with journalist Sharyl Attkisson, answering a question about his communication with Putin.
Zelenskyy on Witkoff's visit to Moscow: It can't be 100% known what was discussed there

Photo: president.gov.ua

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was unaware of what was discussed in Moscow during talks with US Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

"What was happening in Moscow, I understand ... we cannot know 100% what these people were talking about. But we understand that there will be many different (...) to put Ukraine in a more difficult situation. And America's position is very important here," Zelenskyy told reporters during a briefing on Saturday.

According to the President, the ceasefire must be complete "without any buts." "Everyone's position must be clear, transparent, truthful, without loss of dignity of the parties," Zelenskyy noted.

As reported, on March 13, US Special Representative for the Middle East Witkoff held talks in Moscow.
Aamir Khan's girlfriend Gauri Spratt on how she fell in love, says, I wanted someone who was kind

Gayatri Rani

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Happy birthday Alia Bhatt: Tracing the evolution of the actress from a star kid to Bollywoods powerhouse performer

Gayatri Rani

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Hrithik Roshan pens emotional message to ex-wife Sussanne Khan as she expands her business: I was shocked to my bones...

Palak Vij

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Kajol shares cryptic note following the loss of uncle and veteran actor Deb Mukherjee, says "Grief is the price we pay for..."

Palak Vij

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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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Yes Bank-DHFL case: Court refuses to take cognisance of CBI's chargesheet against Goenka, Balwa

101Reporters

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Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official

At the current pace, Ukraine and Europe can be strengthened in five years, but this is long and dangerous, partners agree that this can be done in three years, but we need to "move very quickly," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Everyone understands that at today's pace it is possible to strengthen Ukraine and Europe in five years. We believe that this is a very long time. And we believe that it is dangerous, we have shown that during the war it can be done faster, partners agree with us that it can be done in three years, but everyone needs to move very quickly," Zelenskyy told reporters during a briefing on Saturday.

According to the president, it is necessary to significantly increase production in all allied countries in order to make security guarantees for all of Europe real.
Manjiri Patil

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Clash in Birbhum during Holi celebrations, BJP says 'West Bengal is increasingly resembling Bangladesh'

Chhabi Kala

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Smriti Mishra

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Gold smuggling case: Ranya Raos stepfather, DGP Ramchandra Rao sent on compulsory leave with immediate effect

Tamal Nandi

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Had jail food for seven days and was beaten up by Congress govt in Assam: Amit Shah

Tamal Nandi

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Amit Shah Assam Visit Live: First taught about Lachit Barphukan when I was seven, says Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah, while inaugurating the Lachit Barphukan Police Academy in Dergaon, highlighted the need to popularise the Assamese warrior's legacy across India.

Shah said, "I was just seven years old when I was first taught about Lachit Barphukan. However, after that, I read nothing about him until my graduation. He was restricted just to Assam. But today, his biography is available in 23 languages, and he continues to inspire children across the country."
India tears into Pakistan at UNGA: 'Kashmir was, is, and will always be part of India'

101Reporters

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Maldives national carrier to introduce two flights per week between Bengaluru, Hanimaadhoo island

Sonalee Borgohain

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Zelenskyy calls for using contacts around the world to force Russia to take steps for peace

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for using links around the world to achieve peace at a video conference hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

"We need to unite not only Europe and the G7, but all other countries in the world for the sake of peace. Many of you have connections all over the world: in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Pacific region. We want to end this war fairly and finally, and we have intensified diplomacy to the maximum to achieve this," he said.

Zelenskyy stressed that Russia is the only obstacle that prevents peace, and the world must understand this.

"I ask you to talk to everyone, from Brazil to China, from African countries to Asian countries, about the need for real peace. Peace through force. Peace through forcing Russia to take all necessary steps for the sake of peace," the Ukrainian president said.
Sonalee Borgohain

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Arishaa Izaj

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Pawan Kalyans hypocrisy dig at Tamil Nadu: Why oppose Hindi but benefit from dubbing movies in it?

Smriti Mishra

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Prakash Raj slams Pawan Kalyan over 'dubbed movies' remark, says 'don't impose your Hindi language on us'

Tamal Nandi

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Chhabi Kala

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Trump on Washington DC cleanup: 'Did not want PM Modi, other world leaders to see tents, graffiti, potholes'

Deblina Halder

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Who is Ranjani Srinivasan, Indian scholar self-deports after US visa revoked over 'advocating terrorism'

Smriti Mishra

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Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus review: The one that strikes the right balance

Ankita Chakravarti is a seasoned journalist with nearly a decade of experience in media. She specializes in technology and lifestyle journalism. She has worked with top Indian media houses like India Today, Zee News, The Statesman, and Millennium Post. Her expertise spans tech trends, phone launches, gadget reviews, and entertainment news. Ankita holds a Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication along with a degree in English Literature. She can be reached out at ankita.chakravarti@nw18.com

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Ankita Chakravarti

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. Director of the Culture and Emergencies Section of the UNESCO Culture Sector Krista Pikkat, speaking at the international conference "Protection of Ancient Human Settlements: Threats and Current Approaches" in Baku, highly appreciated the Culture for Climate (C4C) initiative put forward by Azerbaijan during its presidency of COP29, Trend reports.

She noted that UNESCO is proud to participate in the dialogue of culture ministers held within the framework of COP29 last November, and considers the Culture for Climate initiative put forward by our country during the conference an important step in overcoming the consequences of climate change.

The Culture for Climate initiative put forward by Azerbaijan within the framework of COP29 is aimed at forming a positive agenda in this area by applying the norms of a culture of behavior sensitive to climate change. C4C aims to transform culture into an effective force for positive climate action through the promotion and presentation of traditions, arts and heritage.
Aishwarya Dabhade

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'Filled with arrogance': China lashes out at G7 over statements on maritime security

101Reporters

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Deblina Halder

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JD Vance says green card holders dont have indefinite right to stay in US: 'Americans will decide...'

Smriti Mishra

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Starmer tells global leaders to 'keep the pressure' on Putin over ceasefire in Ukraine

101Reporters

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. Azerbaijan is Latvia's strongest and most reliable partner in the Caucasus region, and it ought to remain so, Artis Pabriks, Latvia's former defense minister, said in an interview with Trend.

During a peripheral discourse at the XII Global Baku Forum, Pabriks articulated his anticipations regarding the outcomes of the forum.

"I am looking forward to this forum since I believe it will provide me with great insights. The ability to analyze and contrast various viewpoints and philosophies is a great benefit.

Moreover, it opens doors to building new relationshipsones that are stronger and more impactful than the old ones.

I can confidently assert that our collaboration is exceptional in relation to the relationship between Azerbaijan and Latvia. I must emphasize our strategic partnership, which has been in effect since 2017.

Azerbaijan is the strongest and most reliable partner for us in the Caucasus region, and it should remain so.

We are actively cooperating in three key areaseconomy, politics, and, of course, culturealong with all matters that concern our people.

Baku plays a crucial role in this forum. It is Azerbaijan that puts on this event, and without Azerbaijan, there would be no forum. For this reason, we are deeply grateful to Azerbaijan," the former minister explained.

The XII Global Baku Forum has started on March 13 and will continue until March 15, 2025.

The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center and will be held under the theme "Rethinking World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities."

Discussions focus on key global issues, including geopolitical shifts, multilateralism, the global health crisis, recovery and regional stability, COP29, and more.

The forum has brought together over 300 world leaders from more than 60 countries, including more than 25 former presidents, over 15 former prime ministers, around 10 UN and international agency heads, and over 25 former ministers and deputy ministers.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Putin calls on Ukrainian army to surrender in Kursk as Trump makes 'strong' appeal to spare lives

Chhabi Kala

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Trump says he was being 'bit sarcastic' when he promised to end Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours

Smriti Mishra

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Why Trump is singling out South Africa and accusing it of being anti-white and anti-American

101Reporters

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. Croatia welcomes the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a significant step towards stability and reconciliation in the South Caucasus, the Croatian Foreign Ministry wrote on its X page, Trend reports.

"We commend both sides for their commitment to dialogue and a peaceful resolution, paving the way for enhanced cooperation, regional security, and long-term prosperity.

As a strong advocate of international law and conflict resolution through diplomacy, Croatia remains committed to supporting all efforts that contribute to a just and lasting peace," the publication says.
Once a proud fortress of civilization, Europe now resembles an aging castle  its walls cracked and crumbling, its watchmen nervously scanning the horizon. The days when the Old Continent could confidently lean on its transatlantic ally are slipping away, and the chill of uncertainty is seeping through the halls of European capitals.

For decades, NATO seemed like an unshakable rock standing firm against the storms of geopolitical turmoil. The Stars and Stripes flew high above Europe, a symbol of unwavering security. But now that rock is starting to crumble, and NATO's European members are realizing just how much of their shield depended on one key pillar  the United States.

Friedrich Merz, Germany's potential next chancellor, rang the alarm bell loud and clear. His call for Europe to break free from American military dependence hit like a slap in the face  a jolt for those who had long taken U.S. military backing for granted. Merz didnt just toss words into the wind; he voiced a growing fear that's been simmering in the corridors of power from Berlin to Paris, from Warsaw to Rome: Europe may soon find itself defenseless against the dark clouds gathering in the east.

Washington has been steadily shifting its focus to the Indo-Pacific, where a new superpower rivalry is brewing. With the U.S. doubling down on its China strategy, Europe feels increasingly sidelined  a forgotten player on the global stage. The same America that once served as Europe's ultimate guardian is now signaling that its priorities have changed.

And Europe's military power  as impressive as it may seem on paper  is increasingly revealing itself as a fragile facade. Armies that look formidable on parade are often little more than knights in shining armor whove misplaced their swords. Without U.S. intelligence, without American logistical muscle, without Washingtons crucial air refueling systems, Europes defenses look like a fortress filled with empty armories.

NATO  once a clenched fist ready to strike  is starting to resemble a fractured shield, held together more by anxiety and wishful thinking than by real strength. Europe's leaders now face a daunting question: can they build a credible defense on their own, or will they remain hostages to Washingtons shifting whims?

This question now looms over Europe like a sword dangling from a thread. The answer will determine more than just the continents security  it could decide the fate of European independence itself, increasingly fragile in a world spinning off its axis.

Europe's Air Power: Strength or Mirage?

If Europe has a trump card, it's in the skies. European air forces are often seen as the strongest piece of the continents defense puzzle. As one senior American officer bluntly put it, They dont have much of an army, and their navys a joke  but at least theyve got some serious airpower.

But if you strip U.S. air support out of NATOs arsenal, that strength starts to look far less intimidating. Former Royal Air Force commander Greg Bagwell argues that Europe's air forces are still modern, well-trained, and capable of holding their own in the right conditions. But there's a catch  those conditions hinge on American support.

European NATO members boast an impressive array of advanced fighter jets  from Frances Rafales and Swedens Gripens to the highly versatile Eurofighter Typhoons. These aircraft are designed to work together seamlessly, forming a powerful strike force. Even Canadas modest air force punches above its weight in terms of operational readiness.

Yet for all that hardware, the cold truth remains: over half of NATOs fighter jets are American-made, and much of the rest still carries U.S.-built components. F-16s are still the backbone of Europes air power, though many nations are scrambling to replace them with fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighters. As of now, 20 nations  including 12 European NATO members  have committed to buying F-35s, but deliveries are still underway, leaving Europe in a precarious transition phase.

Britains Royal Air Force currently has 159 combat jets, including 32 F-35Bs. Italy fields 195 aircraft, including 24 F-35As and two F-35Bs. The Netherlands has 40 fighters, all F-35As. Meanwhile, Canada maintains 89 strike jets.

As aviation expert Douglas Barrie points out, American-built aircraft form the backbone of NATOs air strike capability. U.S. jets carry the bulk of NATOs air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. Without those American platforms, NATOs ability to wage a sustained air campaign would be dangerously weakened.

Worse still, Europe faces a gaping hole in its supply chains. In the event of a major conflict, European defense industries would struggle to replenish their air-to-ground munitions. As military analyst Justin Bronk warns, Europe would have a tough time establishing air superiority over Russias formidable air defenses without American reinforcements.

Washington has traditionally supplied Europe with missile defense systems like the vaunted Patriot batteries  but even those are in short supply. Bagwell insists that Europe urgently needs to ramp up investment in its own air defense capabilities to plug these gaps.

So far, no European NATO member has managed to build a truly independent air power structure. While some countries are making strides, these efforts remain fragmented and inconsistent.

Another major shortfall? Europe's air refueling fleet. Without sufficient aerial tankers, Europes air forces will struggle to sustain prolonged missions far from home  a potentially catastrophic vulnerability.

In response to these concerns, Britain, Italy, and Japan have teamed up on the ambitious "Global Combat Air Program," an initiative aimed at developing a sixth-generation fighter jet by 2035. But skepticism runs high  the program faces budget uncertainties, and Britains Strategic Defense Review is up for revision, casting further doubt on its future.

As Bagwell points out, the F-35s stealth capabilities remain unmatched, and non-U.S. developers are nowhere near replicating them. Even as stealth technology loses some of its strategic dominance, European-built fifth-generation fighters are still playing catch-up.

If Europes reliance on F-35s falters, the continent may be forced to fall back on aging fourth-generation jets  platforms that, while still capable, would leave Europe dangerously exposed in a future conflict.

In the end, Europe's air power may prove far less potent than it appears  a powerful-looking sword thats dangerously dull at the edge. The clock is ticking, and NATOs European members must decide: will they build a defense worth trusting, or continue gambling on a security guarantee that may one day vanish like smoke in the wind?

Russias Air Power: A Resilient Force Despite Heavy Losses

Despite suffering significant losses during the war in Ukraine, Russias air force remains a formidable threat. The Kremlin still commands a fleet of 449 fighter jets and strike aircraft, including the Su-34 and a limited number of its cutting-edge Su-57 stealth fighters. While the Su-57 boasts advanced stealth capabilities, Moscow has been notably reluctant to deploy them in active combat zones.

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Russias air force also maintains an arsenal of 220 additional fighters and 262 strike aircraft. While the Ukraine conflict has undoubtedly inflicted damage on Russian airpower, much of Moscows tactical air fleet remains intact, held in reserve far from the frontlines. As General Christopher Cavoli, head of U.S. European Command, recently warned, Russias air force remains a serious threat  setbacks notwithstanding.

The Ground Game: Russian Armor Under Fire

The war in Ukraine has dealt a crushing blow to Russias ground forces. According to IISS data, Moscow lost approximately 1,400 main battle tanks and 3,700 other armored vehicles in 2024 alone. Since the start of the conflict in February 2022, Russias total tank and armored vehicle losses are estimated to be around 14,000 units  a staggering figure that analysts have called nothing short of "mind-blowing."

That said, estimates on Russian losses vary significantly. The Dutch military analysis platform Oryx, which only tracks visually confirmed losses, reports that Russia has lost at least 3,786 tanks. The vast discrepancy between these figures underscores how much Western assessments of Russian losses remain speculative at best.

In an effort to offset its battlefield losses, Russia has leaned heavily on Soviet-era hardware, refurbishing and modernizing older machines. At times, reports have claimed that Moscow has even pulled vintage tanks from museums to bolster its frontline forces  a claim thats been met with widespread skepticism and dismissed by some as Western propaganda.

The IISS reported that in 2024 alone, Russia restored and produced over 1,500 tanks and 2,800 armored vehicles. Yet Russias stockpiles of Cold War-era armor are not infinite, and reviving these aging machines demands substantial time and resources. Analysts predict that while Russias stored hardware may allow it to sustain losses in the short term, the long-term viability of this strategy hinges on extensive  and costly  upgrades.

Even if Russia eventually burns through its older stockpiles, Moscows defense industry has demonstrated an ability to replenish its tank fleet. In early 2024, the British government estimated that Russia was producing roughly 100 new tanks per year. However, President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russian tank production had increased fivefold  a figure Western analysts have challenged, doubting that newly manufactured tanks are meeting modern battlefield standards.

The Numbers Game

According to IISS data, Russia maintains a fleet of roughly 2,730 operational main battle tanks, ranging from aging T-55 models to upgraded T-80 variants. Additionally, Russia has nearly 3,000 more tanks in varying states of readiness, stored in reserve.

By comparison, Western Europe's combined armored forces are considerably smaller. The United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Germany collectively field fewer than 900 main battle tanks. Poland, rapidly emerging as a regional military heavyweight, commands a force of roughly 660 tanks. Greece holds around 1,400 armored vehicles, while Romania, which shares a border with Ukraine, possesses just 377. Canadas armored force is even more modest, with only 74 main battle tanks.

European nations have also depleted their own arsenals by supplying Ukraine with armor to support its war effort. Germany, for example, has sent Kyiv 140 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 66 armored personnel carriers, and over 100 Leopard 1 tanks as part of a joint program with Denmark. Berlin has also shipped several Leopard 2 tanks  among the most modern Western-made armored vehicles  to Ukraine.

The Race to Rearm

Faced with mounting security concerns, the European Union has committed to dramatically increasing defense spending and investing heavily in its domestic defense industry  a clear move to reduce reliance on the U.S. security umbrella. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently unveiled the Rearmament of Europe initiative, a sweeping plan designed to bolster the continents military capabilities.

Yet Western Europe faces another daunting challenge: manpower. Chronic personnel shortages continue to undermine efforts to expand and modernize armed forces across the continent. Without adequate recruits to fill the ranks, even the most advanced weaponry risks being rendered ineffective.

As Europe scrambles to close these gaps, Russias military  battered yet resilient  continues to loom as a major force. Moscows ability to sustain its war machine through rapid production, stockpile restoration, and battlefield adaptation shows that the Kremlin isnt backing down anytime soon.

Russias Naval Power: A Force Built on Nuclear Submarines and Cold War Legacy

Russias navy remains one of the most formidable branches of its armed forces, despite suffering notable setbacks during the war in Ukraine. With four major fleets and the Caspian Flotilla, the Russian Navy still projects considerable power. However, the conflict in Ukraine has dealt a heavy blow to Russias Black Sea Fleet, significantly limiting its operational reach.

According to military analysts, Russias navy includes 51 submarines, among them 12 ballistic missile subs and 10 cruise missile submarines. The bulk of these vessels are concentrated in the Northern Fleet, where Russia maintains its strategic naval presence. Meanwhile, Russias surface fleet presents a far less intimidating picture  Moscow's sole aircraft carrier remains inoperable and sidelined by constant maintenance issues.

Yet Russias greatest maritime strength lies beneath the waves. Nuclear-powered submarines are arguably Moscows most potent asset. As Dutch defense analyst Frederik Mertens points out, Russias Yasen-class cruise missile submarines represent a serious threat. These stealthy, fast, and heavily armed subs are manned by elite crews  the cream of Russias naval forces. Fortunately for Western militaries, these formidable vessels are few in number. The bulk of Russias submarine fleet still relies on aging Soviet-era designs.

Historically, Russias shipbuilding industry was heavily dependent on Ukraine, where much of the Soviet fleet was constructed. Since the fall of the USSR, Moscow has struggled to fully restore its naval production infrastructure. Yet despite these challenges, Russias nuclear submarine force continues to be the backbone of its maritime power  a strategic deterrent capable of threatening NATO's dominance in critical waterways.

The U.S. Navy: Unmatched Global Dominance

While Russias submarine fleet remains a powerful force, the United States continues to hold undisputed superiority at sea. The U.S. Navy commands 65 nuclear submarines and an unparalleled 11 aircraft carriers, dwarfing the capabilities of any rival fleet. With American warships operating across the globe, the U.S. Navy maintains the logistical reach and firepower unmatched by any other power.

However, the strain on the U.S. fleet is growing. Operating such a massive naval force demands constant maintenance, a steady flow of resources, and significant manpower  all of which are increasingly stretched thin.

Europes Naval Dilemma

In theory, NATOs European members could develop a formidable naval presence by pooling their resources  but the numbers tell a different story. Germany and Norway each maintain just six submarines, while Greece commands 10. Italy has eight submarines, the Netherlands has three, and Sweden four. Poland has only one operational submarine, while Canada maintains four. While these vessels are effective in regional conflicts, their limited numbers raise doubts about Europes ability to match Russian naval power in a protracted conflict.

Adding to this uncertainty is the unclear role of maritime aviation and coastal missile systems, especially if hostilities break out in waters far from Russias immediate coastline.

The Nuclear Factor

Among NATO members, only the United States, the United Kingdom, and France possess nuclear arsenals. France operates four ballistic missile submarines armed with nuclear warheads, while the British Royal Navy also maintains four such vessels. The UK is in the process of replacing its aging Vanguard-class submarines with a new fleet of Dreadnought-class boats, slated for deployment in the early 2030s.

Yet Britains nuclear deterrent faces serious challenges. As British analysts point out, the Royal Navy is struggling with personnel shortages and a lack of experienced submarine crews. Additionally, maintenance delays have kept several British vessels docked for extended periods, raising concerns about the fleets operational readiness.

Russia faces similar challenges. Mertens notes that Moscows ability to sustain its powerful submarine fleet is increasingly strained by aging equipment, funding concerns, and maintenance backlogs  making it difficult for Russia to maintain its edge under growing pressure.

The Uncertain Balance

While Russias navy lacks the global reach and projection capabilities of the U.S. fleet, its nuclear-powered submarine force remains a wildcard. With a fleet designed for stealth, precision strikes, and long-term deterrence, Russias submarines present a persistent challenge for NATO  one that European navies alone are poorly equipped to counter.

In the event of a serious conflict, the balance of power at sea may ultimately hinge on the resilience of NATOs collective capabilities  and whether Europe is prepared to stand on its own should Americas strategic focus continue shifting toward the Indo-Pacific.

In an increasingly uncertain world, the quiet menace of Russian submarines lurking beneath the waves is a reminder that Europe's security cannot be taken for granted.

Europes Nuclear Dilemma: A Gamble Between Security and Uncertainty

The British government proudly labels its nuclear deterrent as wholly independent. Rooted in the controversial Trident program, Britains nuclear shield has long been a subject of heated debate  both within the UK and among NATO allies. Yet many experts argue that Britains nuclear independence is more an illusion than reality.

Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists has questioned just how "independent" Britains nuclear forces really are. According to Kristensen, while London retains the technical ability to launch its missiles without U.S. approval, those missiles  and the critical components they rely on  are manufactured in the United States. This dependence, he warns, casts serious doubt on Britains ability to act entirely on its own in a nuclear crisis.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has stepped into the spotlight with a bold proposal: extending Frances nuclear umbrella to cover all of Europe. The idea gained traction in Poland and the Baltic states, where concerns about potential Russian aggression remain high. Yet the Kremlin wasted no time in condemning Macrons initiative as "blatantly confrontational," branding it a reckless move that risks escalating tensions across the continent.

Adding to the debate, German politician Friedrich Merz weighed in last week, calling for NATO-wide discussions about shared nuclear deterrence. Merz stressed that while Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security, NATO allies should not be left vulnerable by weakening Americas nuclear commitment. In light of changes to the global security landscape, Merz warned, we Europeans must come together to address this question as one.

A Stark Choice for Europe

For Europe, nuclear deterrence is no longer just a strategic calculation  its a choice that cuts to the heart of the continents future. This is no longer a numbers game played out in classified briefings or quiet discussions in NATO headquarters. Its a crossroads moment  a decision between hope and fear, between security and chaos.

The continent stands at the edge of uncertainty, where the delicate balance of global power is shifting in unpredictable ways. Americas once unwavering support  the bedrock of European security for decades  now seems increasingly unsteady, like a foundation starting to crack beneath Europes feet. Meanwhile, proposals for an independent European nuclear deterrent stir both hope and anxiety. Can Europe truly build a fortress on shifting sands? Can centuries of reliance on American strength be replaced by hurriedly constructed defenses?

Once again, the European Union finds itself torn  caught between its desire for autonomy and its dependence on foreign protection. France, bold and defiant, offers its nuclear arsenal as a shield. Germany, cautious and pragmatic, urges careful deliberation and firm guarantees. Yet as uncertainty grows, storm clouds continue to gather on the geopolitical horizon.

The world is entering an era where war  once seen as a distant threat  now looms dangerously close. The nuclear arsenal that once seemed a Cold War relic is once again becoming a central piece of the security puzzle  a loaded weapon on the negotiating table, where miscalculations can have catastrophic consequences.

But Europe must remember one fundamental truth: weapons alone dont win wars. History proves that no army  no matter how powerful  can triumph without unity, resolve, and the unwavering will to defend freedom.

If Europe hopes to survive the coming storm, it must do more than build missiles and stockpile warheads. It must find its voice  a strong, confident voice that commands respect on the world stage. A continent that once gave birth to the Enlightenment, humanism, and democracy cannot allow itself to become a mere bystander in the unfolding drama of global power.

Todays European leaders must understand that Europes greatest weapon isnt buried in missile silos or patrolling the depths aboard nuclear submarines. Its greatest weapon is the collective strength of its people, its values, and its ability to stand united in the face of rising threats.

That unity  not warheads or warships  is the ultimate shield that no missile can pierce.

Baku Network
Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" hits Japan screens

Xinhua) 11:01, March 15, 2025

TOKYO, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2," the highest-grossing animated film of all time, hit Japanese movie screens on Friday, attracting a large crowd of moviegoers.

At the premiere in Tokyo, many showed up early and queued up to take photos with the movie poster prior to the highly anticipated screening.

The animated epic fantasy film was screened in 32 theaters in more than 20 cities in Japan on the day with Chinese and English subtitles. The Japanese subtitled version will be released in the country on April 4.

After watching the film, Japanese moviegoer Keiji Miyamoto told Xinhua that "Ne Zha 2" was more exciting than expected, especially the exquisite and delicate visuals and creative character settings, which made the whole film more fascinating.

Japanese film and music producer Yutaka Kitamura said that although he did not understand Chinese and could only understand the content of the film through English subtitles, works that truly connect the world can transcend language.

Noting that "Ne Zha 2" excelled at visual, sound and many other aspects, Kitamura said Chinese films are very impressive.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 15. Kyrgyzstan welcomes the conclusion of negotiations on the text of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan said in a statement, Trend reports.

We express our support for the efforts of both sides in concluding a peace agreement, which should become a historic event in the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The Kyrgyz Republic stands for the establishment of long-term peace and stability in the South Caucasus and, in this regard, notes with great optimism the constructive nature of the normalization process between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, the statement said.

Earlier, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the completion of negotiations on the draft text of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"At the same time, we once again reaffirm Azerbaijans long-term and principled position that the main condition for signing the agreed text is the amendment of Armenia's constitution to remove claims to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We also stress the need for the official dissolution of the outdated and non-functional OSCE Minsk Group and related structures. We are ready to continue bilateral dialogue between the two countries on these and other issues related to the normalization process," the Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs stated.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Bulawayo  A builder from Ntabazinduna, in Umguza District, Matabeleland North Province, is seeking a divorce from his wife of eight years, citing a bizarre and deeply troubling reason: he claims she demands payment for sexual relations, using his outstanding lobola debt as justification.

Evans Banda, a self-employed builder, has filed papers at the Bulawayo Customary Court, stating that he no longer sees the benefits of being married to her due to the alleged sexual extortion. According to Banda, his wife, Angela Mpofu, consistently denies him conjugal rights unless he pays her, a claim that, if true, would represent a profound breakdown of trust and intimacy within the marriage.

In his court documents, Banda details a disturbing pattern of behaviour. My wife is denying me conjugal rights. We have not slept together for almost 11 months, and she says if I want to sleep with her, I should pay her, he stated.

He further alleges that Mpofu has been explicit about the reason for her demands. She has consistently told me that if I want to sleep with her, I should pay her since I have not finished paying lobola. I cant do that right now; I cant afford it.

Lobola, the traditional bride price paid by a groom to his wifes family, is a deeply ingrained custom in Zimbabwean culture. While it symbolises respect and appreciation, Bandas claims suggest a twisted interpretation of the tradition, where it is being used as a tool for sexual coercion.

Banda paints a picture of a marriage devoid of intimacy and respect. He claims that Mpofu often enters the bedroom naked after bathing and applies lotion in his presence. However, when he attempts to touch her, she allegedly refuses and pushes him away.

Whenever I try to touch her, especially when she comes from bathing while naked, she refuses and pushes me away, Banda stated in his court papers.

The situation reportedly escalates at night, with Banda claiming that Mpofu screams loudly enough for the children to hear whenever he attempts to initiate intimacy. At night, when I also try to touch her, she screams loudly enough for the children to hear, which I find humiliating, he explained.

Banda laments that despite his efforts to provide for his wife, including financing her business ventures, she continues to deny him sex, insisting on payment due to the outstanding lobola. I no longer see the benefits of being married to her, he concluded.

Adding another layer to the already complex situation, Banda claims to have intercepted text messages sent by Mpofu to other men, allegedly expressing her sexual desires. He alleges that his wife would be sending messages to other men, telling them she was feeling a strong urge for sex.

Banda states that he cannot force his wife into sexual relations, as she currently has a protection order against him. This adds another layer of complexity to the case, suggesting a history of conflict and potential abuse within the marriage.

I cannot force her, as she currently has a protection order against me, Banda explained.

The case highlights the complexities and potential pitfalls of traditional marriage customs in modern Zimbabwe. While lobola remains an important cultural practice, its misuse can lead to exploitation and marital discord. The court will need to carefully consider the evidence presented by both parties to determine the validity of Bandas claims and whether the marriage has indeed irretrievably broken down.

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Yves here. To be clear, I added to Rajiv Sethis headline to make the core issue explicit. JD Vance at least once described long form how universities needed to be taken over and remade to promote conservative values (does that include discouraging the education of women?) From Politico this week in Republicans have hated universities for years. Anti-war protests gave them a reason to punish them:

In 2021, JD Vance proclaimed the universities are the enemy. This week, the White House declared war against them. President Donald Trump and his administration are escalating their attacks on higher education, intensifying a yearslong effort to hobble the campuses they say breed progressive ideology by casting them not as spaces of innovation, but as hotbeds of hate. Republicans have long blamed college campuses for being ground-zero for a number of woke culture war issues to which theyre now taking an ax, including diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and academic frameworks like critical race theory. The protests that roiled college campuses last spring in the midst of the Israel-Hamas war gave Republicans fuel to go after the schools over concerns about antisemitism, and since taking office, Trump has swiftly taken actions designed to punish higher education. The Trump administrations effort pulls levers of power across the federal government. The Department of Education on Monday warned 60 universities under investigation for antisemitism that they could face penalties, reminding them that taxpayer support is a privilege.

Sethi describes what is happening at Columbia, at the forefront of the Administrations ideological purge.

By Rajiv Sethi, professor of economics at Barnard College. Originally published at his website

When the federal government announced the cancellation of 400 million dollars in grants and contracts to Columbia earlier this month, the rationale given was the schools continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students. Further cancellations were promised, with five billion dollars in existing commitments at risk.

President Armstrongs response appeared to take this rationale at face value. In a message to the community, she stated that combating antisemitism was her number one priority and that under her leadership, the university had transformed its approach to managing demonstrations, built and put into action disciplinary processes that previously existed only on paper, created collaboratives across our campuses to provide relevant education and training, implemented new anti-discrimination policies and trained our entire community on those policies, changed our protocols for campus access, and redesigned our leadership structures to more swiftly respond to incidents of antisemitism and discrimination on campus.

If the eradication of antisemitism really were the goal of the federal authorities in squeezing Columbia financially, one might have expected the pressure to ease. Instead, as a precondition for any conversation on the restoration of funds, a further set of demands was announced. These include the abolition of the university judicial board, the adoption of a definition of antisemitism that has raised serious concerns among individuals and groups across the ideological spectrum, the granting of law enforcement powers to public safety officers, the placement of an academic department under receivership, and comprehensive admissions reform.

Over the past year and a half, many Barnard and Columbia faculty have strenuouslyobjected to the erosion of shared governance on their respective campuses. The letter from the federal authorities reveals that there is now little governance to share.

The Columbia administration faces a very difficult choice between complete capitulation and costly conflict with a much stronger adversary. If the university were to accept all demands made in the letter, there would be more demands made, and more again once those are met. My guess is that these would grow to include changes in hiring practices and the shuttering of departments perceived to be ideologically captured. Only when the entire organization itself is in receivership, with an administration loyalist installed at the helm, would any restoration of funding be contemplated.

The only other option on the table is to seek intervention by the courts. This carries a different set of costs and risks. Open conflict with the federal government is likely to lead to a further tightening of the screws, quickly reaching the full five billion dollars of grant commitments. Litigation will be protracted, devastating in the interim, and may end in failure. That said, this is the only path that allows for the preservation of institutional autonomy.

Back in 2021, JD Vance described American universities as the enemy, and arguedquite explicitly that they had to be either taken over or destroyed. This was long before the October 7 attacks and the war in Gaza, and thus long before the encampments, building occupations, classroom disruptions, and sit-ins to which the federal government claims to be responding.

Does this mean that charges of antisemitism are an opportunistic excuse to force long-desired changes in American higher education? What if there had been no unauthorized protests at all, and no trace of antisemitic rhetotic or imagery? Would similar demands have still been made and similar financial pressures applied?

I think that the answer to this question is yes, but Columbia would not have been first in line to face the fire. It would probably have been Harvard, with an endowment four times the size and a global reputation even more formidable. The protest activity placed a target on our backs, and the trigger has now been pulled.

Nils Gilman observed several months ago that Germanys hegemonic position atop the global academic research hierarchy before 1933 was arguably as dominant as that of the U.S. since 1945. The Nazi regime destroyed it in short order, by persecuting Jewish and left-wing academics. Thousands of scholarsincluding Albert Einstein, Max Born, Erwin Schrodinger, Hannah Arendt, John von Neumann, Hans Krebs, and Albert Hirschmanfled to more welcoming shores.

This exodus has been described as Hitlers gift to the allies, and the US took full advantage. Large scale federal funding of academic research led to groundbreaking advancements: radar, jet engines, early computers, mass-produced penicillin, and, in the basement of Pupin Hall, a little something known as the Manhattan Project. American higher education became a magnet for global talent, and waves of aspiring scholars came knocking at our doors. It also became a major export engine, providing a service for which there was seemingly insatiable global demand, and generating revenues that brought a bit more balance to our international transactions.

I dont think that this system is at risk of imminent collapse, although such things happen with such ferocious suddenness that they are hard to predict. I do think its our responsibility as participants in the system to fortify it, and this must begin with an understanding of why we have lost the public trust.

Gilman has argued that we have strayed from our three core competencies, the things that we are uniquely good at producing. These are educating a broad population to a high level of technical competency creating the conditions for the discovery of new facts about and conceptions of the world [and] maintaining the knowledge already created. He argues that a ruthless focus on eliminating anything and everything that stands in the way of these three things is our only hope for survival. I think this diagnosis is correct, and there is little time to lose.

The Thinker (Le Penseur) by Auguste Rodin (Photo by Eileen Barroso)

______

I say appeared to take because it might have been a strategic decision made from a weak position, based on the belief that it was the only path to a prompt restoration of funding.

I had serious reservations about these initiatives for reasons explained here.

I use the term adversary here in recognition of the fact that this is how American higher education is viewed by the Vice President and many others in the administration.

Before he fled, Hirschman fought with the French resistance (under an assumed name) and helped many others escape. He then joined the US Army and returned to Europe as part of the war effort. He was among the most original economists of his era, and I was honored to speak at his memorial service.
Biological warfare and superbugs: The hidden dangers lurking in our midst

In the late 20th century, tuberculosis (TB) re-emerged as a major health threat in New York City, driven by socioeconomic disparities, a fractured healthcare system and the rise of drug-resistant strains like the "W" strain, which originated in Russia and posed significant treatment challenges.

The TB resurgence was exacerbated by inadequate healthcare access for the underprivileged, overcrowded prisons and defunding of public health systems since the 1980s, highlighting systemic inequities and mismanagement in healthcare.

The 1971 smallpox outbreak in Aralsk, Kazakhstan, linked to a Soviet biological weapons test site, underscored the dangers of bioterrorism and raised concerns about the effectiveness of vaccines against weaponized pathogens.

The misuse of antibiotics in both human medicine (e.g., premature discontinuation of treatments) and livestock farming has fueled the evolution of drug-resistant superbugs, posing a growing threat to global health.

Gary Null advocates for a paradigm shift in healthcare, emphasizing the need for a collectivist, community-centered approach to address systemic failures, improve public health infrastructure and build resilience against epidemics and bioterrorism.

In the bustling streets of New York City, an old nemesis has resurfaced with a vengeance, challenging the very foundations of modern healthcare. The resurgence of tuberculosis (TB) in the late 20th century, as detailed in Gary Null's eye-opening book "Germs, Biological Warfare, Vaccinations: What You Need to Know," serves as a stark reminder of the fragile state of global health and the urgent need for systemic reform.

The story of TB's resurgence in New York City is a complex tapestry of socioeconomic factors, healthcare failures and the emergence of drug-resistant strains. In the 19th century, TB was a relentless killer, claiming millions of lives and forcing many into remote sanitariums for costly treatments. The advent of antibiotics in the mid-20th century seemed to signal the end of TB's reign of terror. However, this optimism was premature. By the late 20th century, TB was making a comeback, particularly in New York State, where the number of cases began to rise dramatically after 1975, peaking in 1989.

The resurgence was no mere coincidence. It was a product of a fractured healthcare system, particularly for the underprivileged. The poor, often relying on emergency rooms or going untreated due to lack of insurance, were disproportionately affected. Overcrowding in prisons, where conditions were ripe for the spread of infectious diseases, and a weakened public health system, systematically defunded by Republican administrations since the 1980s, further exacerbated the problem. The most alarming development, however, was the emergence of a new, drug-resistant strain of TB, known as the "W" strain. This strain, originating in Russia, was so resistant to conventional treatments that it took labs at least six weeks to determine effective drug combinations, and even then, success was not guaranteed.

The TB crisis in New York City is just one chapter in a larger narrative of global health threats. In 1971, in the town of Aralsk, Kazakhstan, then part of the Soviet Union, an outbreak of smallpox occurred under mysterious circumstances. According to a 2002 report by the Monterey Institute of International Studies, a ship conducting ecological research sailed too close to Vozrozhdeniye Island, the Soviet Union's primary biological weapons test site. The release of a deadly plume of smallpox from the island infected a crew member, who then carried the virus back to Aralsk. The result was tragic: two children and a young woman died, and several others fell ill, including those who had been vaccinated. This incident not only underscored the terrifying potential of biological weapons but also raised questions about the effectiveness of existing vaccines against weaponized pathogens.

Laurie Garrett, in her book "Betrayal of Trust: The Collapse of Global Health," provides a broader context for the emergence of new, treatment-resistant germs. She argues that this phenomenon is not solely a product of bioterrorism but is also a result of the natural evolution of pathogens, fueled by mismanaged healthcare and the misuse of antibiotics. In the former Soviet Union, the collapse of the medical system led to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, creating superbugs that are now more challenging to treat. Similarly, in the United States, the premature discontinuation of antibiotic treatments and the decline of strict control laws over carriers of contagious diseases have contributed to the rise of resistant strains. The 1989 New York TB outbreak, where patients stopped taking antibiotics as soon as they felt better, is a prime example of how such practices can have dire consequences.

The global health crisis is further compounded by the widespread misuse of antibiotics in livestock. The routine feeding of antibiotics to animals, often used as growth promoters, allows bacteria to develop resistance and subsequently enter the human food chain through poorly cooked meat or eggs. This practice has created a reservoir of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that pose a significant threat to human health.

Null's book also highlights the shortcomings of the U.S. healthcare system in addressing these new threats. Many healthcare providers are ill-prepared to diagnose and treat diseases that have been eradicated or controlled for decades. For instance, a 1999 experiment by Dr. John Bartlett at Johns Hopkins University found that none of the doctors consulted could correctly identify a patient with inhalational anthrax.

Null's book calls for a radical rethinking of human approach to health. He advocates for a dual strategy: refurbishing the neglected public health system and improving overall public health to enhance the resilience of individuals and communities in the face of epidemics. This shift involves moving away from the traditional, individualistic view of health to a more collectivist approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of individual and community well-being.

Null draws on the philosophical insights of Emile Durkheim and Blaise Pascal to support his argument. Durkheim's concept of the collective nature of society and Pascal's reflections on the dual nature of humanity provide a theoretical foundation for this paradigm shift. Pascal's own transformation from a leading scientist to a religious philosopher, sparked by a mystical experience, serves as a metaphor for the current shift in medical thinking. The old model of battling pathogens is giving way to a more holistic approach that considers the complex interplay between pathogens, the human body and the environment.

Watch this video about Gary Null's book "Germs, Biological Warfare, Vaccinations: What You Need to Know."

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
Civilian death toll from Syrian government massacres surpasses 1,300 as bodies continue to be found

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reports over 1,383 civilians killed in recent massacres on Syrias coast.

Videos circulating on social media show mass graves and unarmed civilians, including women and children, being executed.

Syrias de facto President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former Al-Qaeda commander, admits the violence was seen as an opportunity for revenge.

Thousands of Alawite Muslims, a religious minority, have fled to Lebanon amid the ongoing violence.

Foreign fighters and Syrian security forces are implicated in the killings, with evidence captured on video by the perpetrators themselves.

The Syrian coast has become a blood-soaked battleground as the civilian death toll from government-led massacres has surged past 1,300, with bodies still being discovered in mass graves and scattered across villages. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based war monitor, reported on March 12 that the killings, primarily targeting the Alawite Muslim minority, have reached a staggering 1,383 victims. The numbers are expected to rise as more bodies are uncovered.

The massacres, carried out by forces aligned with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-led government, have been described as systematic and brutal. Videos circulating on social media show dozens of bodies strewn across the ground, with some being buried in mass graves in villages like Sanubir in the Jableh countryside. The majority of the victims are Alawites, a religious minority to which former President Bashar al-Assad belongs.

A history of hatred and revenge

The violence erupted after heavy clashes between security forces and cells affiliated with the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) last week. What followed was a wave of organized attacks by HTS-aligned factions, including foreign fighters from Chechnya, Uzbekistan, and China, who were integrated into Syrias new security forces after Sharaa took power in December. These groups went door to door, executing unarmed civilians and looting homes.

Syrias de facto President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former Al-Qaeda commander, addressed the massacres in an interview with Reuters, admitting that the violence was seen as an opportunity for revenge stemming from 14 years of civil war. Syria is a state of law. The law will take its course on all, Sharaa claimed, though he declined to confirm whether his own security forces were involved.

Local sources, however, have no such doubts. Speaking to The Cradle, a source stated, Its clear that official Syrian security forces, as well as affiliated armed factions, took part. Videos show uniformed members of the General Security and Ministry of Defense participating in the killings. The shocking thing is that in the videos of the killing weve seen, they are being filmed by themselves, not other people. Its the people who are doing the killing who are filming, the source added.

Fleeing for survival

The massacres have sparked a mass exodus of Alawite Muslims, with thousands crossing the border into north Lebanon in recent days. Families are fleeing in fear for their lives, leaving behind homes and communities that have been decimated by the violence. The Alawite minority, long associated with the Assad regime, has become a target for revenge attacks, further fracturing Syrias already fragile social fabric.

Sharaas claims of launching an investigation into the massacres ring hollow to many observers. His refusal to acknowledge the involvement of his own forces, coupled with his history as a former Al-Qaeda commander, raises serious questions about his commitment to justice. We fought to defend the oppressed, and we wont accept that any blood be shed unjustly or goes without punishment or accountability, even among those closest to us, Sharaa told Reuters. Yet, the evidence suggests that those closest to him may be among the perpetrators.

The international community has remained largely silent, with no significant condemnation or action taken to address the atrocities. The lack of accountability has allowed the cycle of violence to continue, with civilians paying the ultimate price.

As the death toll climbs and the world looks away, one must ask: How many more must die before the international community takes meaningful action? The massacres on Syrias coast are not just a tragedy for the Alawite minority; they are a stark reminder of the human cost of unchecked power and the dangers of allowing hatred to fester.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

TheCradle.co

Enoch, Brighteon.ai
Democrats slowly warming up to the idea of Free Speech, after Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil gets detained and protests build

Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil was arrested by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents on March 12, 2025, in New York City. Khalil, a U.S. legal permanent resident, has not been charged with any crime, yet remains in indefinite detention . While a handful of progressive Democrats have voiced their support for Khalil, the broader Democratic response has been notably muted, raising concerns about the erosion of constitutional protections and the chilling effect on political dissent.

Key Points:

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University student, was arrested without charges by DHS agents.

Only 14 out of 220 House Democrats signed a letter demanding his release, despite widespread criticism of the Trump administrations actions.

Khalils arrest is seen as a politically motivated attempt to silence pro-Palestinian activism.

Prominent Democrats, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, initially hesitated to support Khalil, citing logistical reasons.

Critics argue the arrest violates First Amendment rights and sets a dangerous precedent for targeting immigrants based on political speech.

A chilling precedent for free speech

The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil has drawn comparisons to the McCarthy era, when individuals were targeted for their political beliefs. Khalil, a vocal critic of Israels policies in Gaza, was reportedly detained for his role in organizing protests at Columbia University. His arrest has been condemned as an act of anti-Palestinian racism and an attempt to criminalize political dissent.

Congressman Jerry Nadler, a New York Democrat and Columbia University alumnus, called the arrest chilling and McCarthyesque. In a statement on X, Nadler emphasized the importance of due process, stating, The warrantless arrest of any legal permanent resident seemingly solely over their speech is a chilling, McCarthyesque action.

Senator Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish lawmaker in the U.S., also urged due process but distanced himself from Khalils views. I abhor many of the opinions and policies that Mahmoud Khalil holds and supports, Schumer wrote on X. But if the administration cannot prove he has violated any criminal law to justify taking this severe action, then that is wrong.

A divided democratic response

The muted response from Democrats has left many questioning the partys commitment to free speech and civil liberties. While progressive lawmakers like Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Al Green signed the letter demanding Khalils release, others, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, hesitated. AOCs chief of staff later claimed she would have signed the letter if it hadnt been closed prematurely, citing logistical issues.

Kevin Rachlin, Washington director at The Nexus Project, described the Democratic response as measured and correct. However, he warned that deporting someone for their political opinions would be a scary and dangerous move and an omen for things to come.

Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut took a stronger stance, posting a three-minute video on X condemning Khalils arrest. Hes in jail because of his political speech, Murphy said. Even if youre a hardened Trump supporter, this practice should cross the line for you.

Are Democrats slowly warming up to the idea of Free Speech, and are they doing so now because it is politically expedient?

A turning point for public opinion?

The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil comes amid a broader shift in public opinion regarding U.S. support for Israel. Over the past 16 months, protests against Israels actions in Gaza have gained momentum, with students and activists demanding accountability from universities and governments.

Public opinion has rapidly shifted on this issue, a Democratic strategist told Middle East Eye. The Democratic Party hasnt caught up to that. But this is the first maybe real instance that weve seen, of the signs that it is starting to catch up.

As Khalil remains detained in an ICE facility in Louisiana, over 1,300 miles from his home, his case has become a flashpoint for debates over free speech, immigration, and the role of political dissent in a democracy. Will this arrest serve as a wake-up call for lawmakers to defend constitutional rights, or will it mark the beginning of a new era of political repression?

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

X.com

CityandStateNY.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. The panel discussion on "New Technologies for New World" is held at the XII Global Baku Forum, Trend reports.

The discussion includes Susan Ness, member of the US Federal Communications Commission (1994-2001), Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Director General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Sam Dows, Senior Advisor to the Oxford Martin Artificial Intelligence Management Initiative, founder of Multilateral AI, - George Papandreou, Prime Minister of Greece in 2009-2011, Bernardo Mariano, Director of Information Technology, Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, Rosen Plevneliev, President of Bulgaria in 2012-2017, Milica Pejanovic-Durisic, former Minister of Defense of Montenegro, and others.

Addressing the participants, founder and CEO of Multilateral AI Sam Daws noted that current regulatory mechanisms for artificial intelligence (AI) have not kept pace with its rapid development, which creates risks of fragmentation and increased national control.

"We are moving towards a concept of 'AI sovereignty' by 2025, where states will intensify control over hardware, models, and data, integrating AI into national security. Global regulation must adapt to these changes," he said.

In turn, the deputy director-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Tomas Lamanauskas emphasized that artificial intelligence (AI) carries inherent risks, making it essential to find a balance in its application.

"The potential of AI is indeed vast. However, like any technology, it comes with its own risks and challenges. It is crucial to find a balance where the opportunities outweigh the risks. We live in a world where misinformation and deepfakes threaten public discourse and the understanding of reality. This requires attention," he stated.

Furthermore, Information Technology Director, UN Assistant Secretary-General Bernardo Mariano stressed the importance of preparing the public sector for the changes in AI. He emphasized that AI has great potential for society: fighting inequality, protecting children, preventing crime, solving the climate crisis, and preserving endangered languages.

However, like any other technology, artificial intelligence has a dark side. Autonomous weapons and other possible threats require special attention from the international community, he emphasized.

Former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said in his speech that cooperation between the U.S. and China in AI and advanced technology is critical to global security.

One of the key questions today is who controls AI and advanced technologies? Is the power over AI concentrated in the hands of a narrow circle of people, or are these technologies managed in the public interest? In Western countries, especially in the US, we are seeing an increasing concentration of control in the hands of techno-oligarchs. The power over advanced technologies is becoming less and less distributed and more and more closed to public scrutiny, he said.

The XII Global Baku Forum will be held from March 13 through 15 this year under the motto Rethinking the World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities.

The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

The event will discuss key global issues such as geopolitical changes, multilateralism, global health crisis, reconstruction and regional stability of the world, COP29, and others.

The Forum will bring together more than 300 world leaders from more than 60 countries, including more than 25 former presidents, more than 15 former prime ministers, about 10 heads of UN and international agencies, and more than 25 former ministers and deputy ministers.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Trump reverses course on Gaza plan, says nobody is expelling Palestinians

Trump reversed his stance on Gaza, stating "nobody is expelling any Palestinians" despite earlier comments about population removal.

The president's original "Riviera" plan faced widespread condemnation for promoting forced displacement of Gaza's 1.8 million residents.

Arab states recently proposed a $53 billion reconstruction plan for Gaza that wouldn't displace Palestinians.

The White House rejected the Arab proposal while maintaining Trump's vision for a Hamas-free Gaza.

Tensions are growing between the U.S. and Israel over direct American negotiations with Hamas.

President Donald Trump made a significant policy reversal Wednesday, declaring that "nobody is expelling any Palestinians" from Gaza, seemingly abandoning his controversial proposal from earlier this year that had sparked international condemnation for what critics called ethnic cleansing rhetoric.

The president's remarks came ahead of a White House meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, where Trump firmly stated, "We are not expelling anyone from the Gaza Strip." This statement marks a departure from his February comments alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when Trump proposed that the U.S. "take over" Gaza, saying "we will flatten it; 1.8 million need to leave."

Trump's previous vision  transforming Gaza into what he called a "Riviera of the Middle East" after relocating its population  had drawn fierce criticism from humanitarian organizations, international allies, and Arab nations. The plan was widely condemned as promoting forced displacement of an entire civilian population, which would constitute a serious violation of international law.

Arab nations propose alternative reconstruction plan

The president's apparent reversal follows a recent summit in Cairo where Arab states endorsed a $53 billion Egyptian-led reconstruction plan for Gaza. That proposal envisions rebuilding the enclave over six years without displacing Palestinians.

However, the White House rejected the Arab plan last week, with National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes claiming it "does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable." Hughes maintained that Trump "stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas."

The conflicting statements have created confusion about the administration's actual policy position on Gaza's future. In recent weeks, Trump has alternated between forcefully advocating for his "Riviera" plan and suggesting it was merely a recommendation.

"The way to do it is my plan. I think that's the plan that really works. But I'm not forcing it. I'm just going to sit back and recommend it," Trump told Fox News in February after receiving pushback from Egyptian and Jordanian leaders.

Tension with Israel over direct Hamas negotiations

Trump's policy reversal comes amid growing tension with Israeli officials over Washington's direct ceasefire negotiations with Hamas. These talks, led by U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler, have reportedly angered Tel Aviv.

In remarks that particularly provoked Israeli officials, Boehler told CNN, "Look, they don't have horns growing out of their heads; they're actually guys like us; they're pretty nice guys. We're the United States, we're not an agent of Israel. We have specific interests at play."

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded sharply on Israel's Army Radio: "[Boehler] attempted to negotiate the release of American hostages. We made it clear to him that he cannot speak on our behalf, and if he wishes to negotiate on behalf of the United States, then good luck to him."

Despite the diplomatic friction, Netanyahu has previously described Trump's Gaza vision as a "revolutionary, creative vision," suggesting the Israeli leader may have been supportive of the original displacement plan.

Trump's latest position shift has been cautiously welcomed by Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasem, who told CNN the statement is welcomed if it represents a "reversal of the idea of displacing the people of the Gaza strip."

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues with nearly 50,000 Palestinian deaths reported by Gaza's health ministry, Trump's policy reversal represents a significant shift away from what many international observers had condemned as a dangerous proposal that appeared to advocate for the ethnic cleansing of an entire population from their homeland. Though Israel's horrific and inhumane military operations continue with U.S. support, the president's latest statement suggests at least some recognition of the limits of American power to unilaterally reshape the region's demographic landscape.

Sources for this article include:

TheCradle.co

CNN.com

FoxNews.com

NBCNews.com
Jacky Laws Big Pharma examines the pharmaceutical industrys practices and their impact on global health

The pharmaceutical industry has revolutionized healthcare with life-saving treatments but is often criticized for prioritizing profits over public health, as explored in Jacky Law's book "Big Pharma: Exposing the Global Healthcare Agenda."

The book highlights the AIDS epidemic as a turning point, showcasing how patient activism, exemplified by Stewart Anderson, reshaped healthcare by demanding patient involvement in treatment decisions and challenging the medical establishment.

Law exposes how the industry prioritizes blockbuster drugs over more effective but less profitable treatments, citing examples like the delayed acceptance of Helicobacter pylori as the cause of ulcers due to cheaper antibiotic treatments.

The book critiques the close ties between regulatory bodies and pharmaceutical companies, as well as the practice of "disease mongering," where companies broaden disease definitions to expand markets, leading to over-reliance on medications.

The book advocates for greater transparency in clinical trials, stricter regulation of drug marketing and a shift toward patient-centered care, urging readers to demand a healthcare system that prioritizes public health over corporate profits.

In a world where medical advancements are celebrated as the triumph of human ingenuity, the pharmaceutical industry stands as a double-edged sword. On one hand, it has revolutionized healthcare, bringing life-saving treatments to millions. On the other, it is a realm where profit often trumps public health. This complex reality is the subject of Jacky Law's eye-opening book, "Big Pharma: Exposing the Global Healthcare Agenda," which offers a critical examination of the industry's practices and their impact on global health.

The book begins by taking readers back to 1981, a pivotal moment in medical history marked by the emergence of AIDS. The first official report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) described five young men in Los Angeles with inexplicably depressed immune systems, diagnosed with a rare parasitic lung infection. This moment marked the beginning of a global health crisis that would claim millions of lives. Stewart Anderson, one of the world's longest surviving AIDS patients in 1987, provided a powerful human face to this crisis. Despite the fear and misinformation that permeated the era, Anderson became a beacon of hope and a fierce advocate for patient involvement in treatment decisions.

"Stewart's story is a testament to the human spirit," said Law. "He was one of the first to challenge the medical establishment, advocating for patient involvement in treatment decisions. His message was clear: 'When you look in the mirror and see marks all over your body, it's hard to feel good about yourself. But the key to feeling in control is how you feel about yourself.'"

Stewart's journey was not unique. As journalist Sharon Begley noted in a 2001 Newsweek report, "People with AIDS stormed scientific conferences, banded together in ways no other patients ever had, helped revolutionize the process of testing experimental drugs, and they inspired others." This grassroots activism laid the foundation for a more patient-centered approach in healthcare, a theme that resonates throughout Law's book.

However, AIDS is just the tip of the iceberg. "Big Pharma" delves into a broader array of issues, exposing the uncomfortable truth that the pharmaceutical industry is driven by profit margins and market forces. One illustrative case is the discovery of Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium responsible for ulcers. Despite the groundbreaking research by Australian scientist Barry Marshall in the 1980s, it took years for the medical community to accept this finding. Why? Because the treatment  antibiotics  was far cheaper than the blockbuster drugs that had dominated the market.

This theme of prioritizing blockbuster drugs over more effective but less profitable treatments is a recurring one in "Big Pharma." Law explores the widespread use of statins, cholesterol-lowering drugs that have become a staple in modern medicine. While these drugs have been shown to save lives, their ubiquity is partly attributable to aggressive marketing and efforts to expand the market.

The book also scrutinizes the murky world of drug regulation, highlighting the often-cozy relationship between regulatory bodies and the pharmaceutical industry. One example is the FDA's top lawyer, Dan Troy, who was criticized for inviting drug companies to inform him of lawsuits against them so the FDA could assist in their defense. This raises serious questions about the independence of these agencies and the potential conflicts of interest they face.

Perhaps the most alarming revelation in "Big Pharma" is the industry's role in shaping human understanding of illness. The book argues that pharmaceutical companies actively work to broaden the definition of disease, a practice known as "disease mongering." This has led to an over-reliance on medication and a growing skepticism about the true value of many drugs. For instance, the quest for a pharmacological solution to obesity has spawned a multibillion-dollar industry, despite limited success and significant side effects. The real solution  healthy eating and regular exercise  is often overlooked in favor of quick fixes.

"Big Pharma" offers several recommendations to address these issues, including greater transparency in clinical trials, stricter regulation of drug marketing, and a reevaluation of how people assess the value of new drugs. Law emphasizes the importance of patient involvement in treatment decisions, advocating for a shift from compliance to concordance.

Ultimately, "Big Pharma" is a call to action. It urges readers to rethink their relationship with the pharmaceutical industry and to demand a healthcare system that prioritizes public health over profit. As the book concludes, "The human race can survive perfectly well without an endless supply of new drugs, but the corporations that produce them can't."

By shedding light on the hidden agendas and complex dynamics within the pharmaceutical industry, Jacky Law's "Big Pharma" serves as a crucial guide for anyone interested in the future of healthcare. It challenges readers to stay informed, ask critical questions and advocate for a system that truly serves the common good.

Watch this video about Jacky Law's book "Big Pharma: Exposing the Global Healthcare Agenda."

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
Houthi rebels resume Red Sea attacks, blaming Israels Gaza blockade

Yemens Houthi rebels announced renewed attacks on Red Sea shipping, citing Israels blockade of Gaza and expired ceasefire terms.

The group accuses Israel of a genocidal campaign and warns of escalating maritime hostilities if aid restrictions persist.

Over 100 missile and drone attacks since November 2023 have disrupted global trade, targeting Israeli, U.S., and U.K.-linked vessels.

The U.S.-led naval coalitions efforts have failed to deter the Houthis, raising concerns about regional security and trade routes.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with severe shortages of food and supplies, remains central to the conflict and Houthi justifications.

Yemens Houthi rebel group, Ansar Allah, announced on Tuesday that it will resume attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea, citing Israels continued blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Iran-backed Shia group, which had paused its maritime assaults during the temporary Hamas-Israel truce, declared that the countdown to renewed hostilities had begun. The move threatens to destabilize one of the worlds most critical shipping routes, raising concerns about global trade and regional security.

The Houthis, who have been at war with Israel since Hamas October 7, 2023, attack, accuse Israel of waging a genocidal campaign against Palestinians in Gaza by cutting off electricity and aid. Any escalation will be the responsibility of the Israeli and American enemies, warned Ansar Allah spokesman Mohamed Ali Al-Houthi in a statement on X. The groups leadership has given Israel a four-day deadline to lift restrictions on Gaza, which expired Tuesday evening, paving the way for renewed attacks.

A failed ceasefire and renewed threats

The Houthis decision to resume attacks comes after a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel collapsed, with Israel continuing its military operations in Gaza and blocking aid shipments. The rebels had previously halted their campaign of targeting commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea during the truce, but now vow to escalate their efforts. Only hours separate us from announcing the closure of the sea to Zionist navigation if the efforts of the mediators fail to pressure the Zionist enemy to adhere to the agreement and lift the siege on Gaza, said Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of Ansar Allahs Media Authority.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched over 100 missile and drone attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors. Their campaign has expanded beyond Israeli-linked ships to include vessels connected to the U.S. and U.K., as well as any ship passing through the region. Despite a U.S.-led naval coalitions efforts to counter the threat, including multiple bombing raids on Yemen, the Houthis remain undeterred.

The resumption of Houthi attacks threatens to disrupt global trade, particularly through the Suez Canal, a vital artery for goods moving between Asia and Europe. The U.S. Navys 5th Fleet, based in Bahrain, has been on high alert, with the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group currently operating in the Red Sea. However, experts warn that military action alone is insufficient to address the crisis.

The decision to resume attacks renders bare the inability of the U.S. and the international community to meaningfully impact Houthi capabilities and intentions, said Behnam Taleblu, an Iran expert at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy that includes political, economic, and military measures to counter the Houthis growing influence.

A humanitarian crisis in Gaza

At the heart of the conflict lies the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where over 2 million Palestinians face severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. Israels blockade has drawn widespread international condemnation, with critics accusing the Israeli government of using starvation as a weapon of war. The Houthis frame their maritime campaign as a response to this crisis, claiming their actions are driven by a deep sense of religious, humanitarian, and moral responsibility toward the oppressed Palestinian people.

Yet, their tactics have drawn criticism for endangering civilian sailors and disrupting global commerce. The maritime security firm Ambrey warned that the Houthis ambiguous targeting criteria could put even more ships at risk, including those partially owned or operated by Israeli entities.

As the Houthis prepare to unleash a new wave of attacks, the Red Sea is once again poised to become a flashpoint in the broader Middle East conflict. The groups defiance underscores the limitations of U.S. and international efforts to contain the crisis, while Israels blockade of Gaza continues to fuel regional tensions. With no end in sight to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza or the Houthis maritime campaign, the countdown to renewed hostilities ticks away.

Sources for this article include:

SHTFPlan.com

APNews.com

News.USNI.org
Report: NASA prioritized WOKENESS over space research during Bidens presidency

NASA allocated over $2.3 million since 2021 to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including $100,000 to enhance diversity in planetary science and $2 million to integrate DEI principles into its culture. A 22-page guide on workplace gender transition policies was also created.

Despite heavy DEI investments, NASA faced budget cuts, leading to the layoff of 530 employees, many working on critical projects like the Mars Sample Return program and a multibillion-dollar space telescope.

The EPA meanwhile prioritized DEI initiatives, such as "de-gendering" bathrooms, adding gender-neutral honorifics, and increasing gender-neutral restrooms to 140 across facilities, costing taxpayers millions in man-hours.

Critics argue that both NASA and the EPA diverted millions from their core missions  space exploration and environmental protection  to fund divisive DEI programs under the Biden administration.

With President Donald Trump's return, NASA refocused on its core mission, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin canceled millions in DEI spending, placing 171 DEI and environmental justice employees on administrative leave, signaling a reversal of Biden-era priorities.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) prioritized woke initiatives over space-related research during the term of former President Joe Biden, squandering taxpayer dollars in the process.

A report shared by a whistleblower revealed the full extent of this wasteful endeavor. NASA  an agency tasked with advancing space exploration and scientific discovery  has spent more than $2.3 million on contracts related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives since 2021. The whistleblower also shared a 22-page guide titled "NASA Guidance for Supporting Gender Transition/Affirmation in the Workplace," which outlines policies for employees undergoing gender transitions.

The report showed NASA awarding $100,000 to the Planetary Science Institute to enhance diversity within the planetary science workforce. The agency also shelled out more than $2 million to firms like LMI Consulting to integrate DEI principles into its culture.

The whistleblower's revelations weren't the only reports that exposed NASA's wanton spending. A Daily Signal report from October 2024 revealed that the agency allocated roughly $10 million since 2020 for environmental justice and DEI grants. Included in the grants were $150,000 to Columbia University for environmental justice work in New York City and $250,000 to Los Angeles for air pollution data dissemination. (Related: Report finds cash-strapped NASA still spending MILLIONS on grants to DEI and "environmental justice" initiatives)

While NASA invests heavily in DEI, it has simultaneously faced significant budget constraints. The agency previously laid off 530 employees, many of whom were working on the Mars Sample Return program that seeks to uncover evidence of past life on the red planet. NASA is also struggling to fund a multibillion-dollar space telescope.

EPA's DEI push: Millions spent on pronouns and gender-neutral bathrooms

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has followed a similar path during the Biden administration, prioritizing DEI initiatives over its environmental protection mandate. Internal documents reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon reveal that the agency's LGBTQIA+ Workgroup focused on "de-gendering" bathrooms, adding gender-neutral honorifics like "Mx.," and incorporating pronouns into email signatures.

The workgroup, composed of highly paid employees earning up to $168,400 annually, successfully increased the number of gender-neutral restrooms across EPA facilities to 140 and ensured future renovations would include all-gender restrooms. Former EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe emphasized the importance of the workgroup's efforts in a 2023 memorandum, stating they would "advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in our writing."

The EPA's DEI efforts, which likely cost taxpayers millions in man-hours, were part of a broader Biden administration push to "embed" DEI across the federal government. However, critics argue these initiatives represent a misuse of taxpayer funds.

Under the Biden administration, the EPA and NASA have diverted millions of taxpayer dollars away from their core missions to fund divisive and wasteful programs. But now that President Donald Trump has returned to office for a second term, the two agencies have scaled back their DEI programs  if not dropping them entirely.

NASA has shifted focus back to its core mission, while EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has canceled millions in DEI spending and placed 171 DEI and environmental justice employees on administrative leave.

"The previous administration used DEI and environmental justice to advance ideological priorities, distributing billions of dollars to organizations in the name of climate equity," said Zeldin, a former U.S. representative for New York state. "This ends now."

As NASA and the EPA refocus on their original mandates, the Biden administration's legacy of prioritizing woke initiatives over practical outcomes serves as a cautionary tale. Taxpayer dollars should fund scientific discovery and environmental protection, not ideological experiments that divide rather than unite.

Watch this Fox News report about President Donald Trump ending DEI initiatives through his executive orders.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

EPA advisor admits panic-funneling billions to climate organizations ahead of Trump presidency.

EPA using federal money to fund "climate justice" group heavily engaged in Middle East political action.

DEMOCRAT GOVERNMENT DO-NOTHINGS: Why so many government-employed Democrats and Liberals are freaking out over Trump win

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

DailySignal.com

FreeBeacon.com

Brighteon.com
USDA cuts $1 billion in school lunch and local food programs: A blow to kids, farmers and communities

The USDA eliminated two key programs  Local Food for Schools (LFS) and Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA)  which provided over $1 billion to schools and food banks for purchasing local farm produce. This decision has sparked widespread concern over childrens health, local economies and food security.

The programs ensured access to fresh, nutrient-dense meals for vulnerable populations, including 30 million children who rely on school lunches. Critics argue that the cuts undermine efforts to combat childhood obesity, diabetes and malnutrition, with school meals often being the healthiest option for many students.

Small-scale farmers, who relied on these programs as a stable market, face significant losses. The programs supported local economies by connecting schools and food banks with local producers, providing additional revenue streams for farmers and fishermen.

Testing has revealed alarming levels of heavy metals, pesticides and toxins in school lunches. The elimination of these programs risks exacerbating the reliance on processed, less nutritious meals from large food-service companies, further compromising childrens health and development.

Advocacy groups, educators and health experts are urging the government to reinstate the programs, emphasizing their role in promoting food security, health equity and sustainable agriculture. Critics argue that cutting these programs contradicts the USDAs mission and undermines the future of Americas children and local food systems.

In a move that has sparked outrage among educators, farmers and health advocates, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has axed two critical programs that provided over $1 billion to schools and food banks to purchase food from local farms and ranchers. The decision, announced last week, has left states scrambling to fill the gap and raised concerns about the long-term impact on childrens health, local economies and food security.

The Local Food for Schools (LFS) program, which allocated $660 million to schools and childcare facilities, and the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program, which supported food banks, were both eliminated. These programs were designed to strengthen local food systems, provide fresh, nutrient-dense meals to vulnerable populations and support small-scale farmers.

This is 100% not in line with the MAHA [Make America Healthy Again] agenda and must be reinstated, said pediatrician Michelle Perro of GMO Science. Access to healthy, nutrient-dense meals is essential for proper growth and cognitive development, especially for vulnerable students who rely on school meals.

A lifeline for schools and farmers

The cuts come at a time when food prices have risen 31% since 2019, making it increasingly difficult for schools and families to afford healthy meals. Nearly 30 million U.S. children eat school lunch every day, according to the School Nutrition Association (SNA). For many, these meals are the most nutritious they receive.

In Minnesota, the Farm to School program used LFS funds to add fresh, locally sourced food to school lunches. State lawmakers called the cuts catastrophic, noting that the program also provided additional revenue streams for farmers. Similarly, in Maine, the RSU 23 school district used the funds to purchase food directly from local fishermen, dairy producers and farmers.

I think everyone can say that they want kids at school to receive the healthiest meals possible, said Caroline Trinder, the districts food and nutrition services director. Its the least processed, and were helping our local economy, were helping farmers that may be the parents of our students.

For small farmers, the loss of these programs is devastating. Berenika Byszewski, who runs a small organic farm in Albuquerque, New Mexico, explained that programs like these provide a reliable market for small-scale producers. A lot of small farmers depend on farmers markets to sell their produce, but farmers markets are mostly only accessible to more affluent people, she said. There are a lot of great programs that let people use SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] money at farmers markets, some even doubling the value of the credits, but it is still hard.

A step backward for food security

The Biden administration had expanded funding for these programs to build a more resilient food supply chain that didnt rely solely on major food companies. Last year, the USDA announced more than $1 billion in additional funding for the initiatives. However, the Trump administration has now reversed course, citing the programs as pandemic-era measures that no longer effectuate the goals of the agency.

A USDA spokesperson stated, With 16 robust nutrition programs in place, USDA remains focused on its core mission: strengthening food security, supporting agricultural markets and ensuring access to nutritious food. But critics argue that the cuts undermine these very goals.

Our childrens health and access to whole, non-toxic, local foods should be a priority for any administration, said Zen Honeycutt, founder of Moms Across America. Diabetes and obesity are not Democratic or Republican. Cancer is not choosy. Poison is not partisan.

Honeycutts organization has tested school lunches across the country and found alarming levels of heavy metals, pesticides and other toxins. We call on this administration to re-fund the USDA program for local, organic food in schools and food banks, supporting our local farmers, children and the future of America, she said.

The ripple effect on health and education

The quality of school meals has far-reaching implications for childrens health and academic performance. Research has shown that school meals are often the healthiest meals many children eat, yet current guidelines allow for ultraprocessed foods as long as they meet certain nutritional criteria.

Testing commissioned by Spotlight on America in 2024 found that school lunches in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., contained heavy metals, including lead, and roughly 50 pesticides. Among the detected chemicals was carbendazim, a fungicide banned in most European countries that can cause infertility and endocrine disruption.

John Fagan, co-founder of the Health Research Institute (HRI), emphasized the importance of nutrient-dense meals for childrens development. School lunch is probably the best meal many of those kids have during the day, he said. And yet it doesnt give them the essential nutrients they need for their brain to grow and be healthy and strong.

The cuts also threaten to exacerbate existing inequalities. Many school districts rely on large food-service companies like Aramark and Chartwells, which often supply processed, less nutritious meals. In contrast, programs like LFS and LFPA provided an opportunity to source fresh, local ingredients that benefit both students and farmers.

A call to action

As states and advocacy groups push back against the cuts, the broader question remains: What kind of future do we want for our children and our food systems? The elimination of these programs represents a step backward in the fight for food security, health equity and sustainable agriculture.

Congress needs to invest in underfunded school meal programs rather than cut services critical to student achievement and health, said SNA 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.

For now, the fight continues. But one thing is clear: The health of your children, the livelihoods of farmers and the resilience of communities depend on programs like these. As Honeycutt aptly put it, Supporting our local farmers, children and the future of America is not a partisan issueits a moral imperative.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

Politco.com

NewsNationNow.com
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. Saudi Arabia welcomes the completion of negotiations on a draft peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, Trend reports.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's welcome of the completion of negotiations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and their reaching of a peace agreement, hoping that the agreement will lead to a new phase of stability and prosperity," the statement reads.

Earlier, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the completion of negotiations on the draft text of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"At the same time, we once again reaffirm Azerbaijans long-term and principled position that the main condition for signing the agreed text is the amendment of Armenia's constitution to remove claims to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We also stress the need for the official dissolution of the outdated and non-functional OSCE Minsk Group and related structures. We are ready to continue bilateral dialogue between the two countries on these and other issues related to the normalization process," the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. Azerbaijan warmly welcomes the signing of the agreement on the delimitation and demarcation of the border between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, Trend reports.

"This historic agreement is an important step that will further strengthen the friendly ties between the two nations, and stability as well as prosperity of Central Asia.

We wholeheartedly congratulate both brotherly countries on this significant achievement," the statement reads.

On March 13, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon signed a treaty on the delimitation and demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border in Bishkek.
23% of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 between 2021 and 2023 developed long-COVID, and in more than half of them the symptoms persisted for two years. These are the main conclusions of a study conducted by ISGlobal, a centre supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation, and in collaboration with the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), as part of the European END-VOC project. The risk of developing long-COVID depends on several factors, according to the results published in BMC Medicine.

After overcoming an initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, some people develop long-COVID. It manifests itself with symptoms that persist for at least three months, including respiratory, neurological, digestive or general symptoms, such as fatigue and exhaustion. Most studies of long-COVID have been conducted in a clinical context, which may not fully capture its impact on the general population.

A population-based cohort study allowed us to better estimate the magnitude of long-COVID and identify risk and protective factors." Manolis Kogevinas, ISGlobal researcher and lead author of the study

The study followed 2,764 adults from the COVICAT cohort, a population-based study designed to characterize the health impact of the pandemic on the population of Catalonia. Participants completed three questionnaires - in 2020, 2021 and 2023 - and provided blood samples and medical records.

Risk and prevention factors

"Being a woman, having experienced a severe COVID-19 infection and having a pre-existing chronic disease such as asthma are clear risk factors," says Marianna Karachaliou, co-author of the study and researcher at ISGlobal. "In addition, we observed that people with obesity and high levels of IgG antibodies prior to vaccination were more likely to develop long-COVID," she adds. The latter factor may reflect hyperactivation of the immune system after the initial infection, which in some cases may contribute to the persistence of long-term symptoms.

The analysis also identified protective factors that could reduce the risk of developing the condition. These include vaccination before infection and a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular physical activity and adequate sleep. In addition, the risk was lower in people who were infected after the Omicron variant became dominant. This could be explained by the tendency for infections to be milder or by greater general immunity to COVID-19.

Three subtypes of long-COVID

Based on the symptoms reported by the participants and their medical records, the researchers identified three clinical subtypes of long-COVID. They were classified according to whether the symptoms were neurological and musculoskeletal, respiratory, or severe and involved multiple organs. In addition, the researchers found that 56% of people with long-COVID were still experiencing symptoms two years later.

"Our results show that a significant percentage of the population has long-COVID, which in some cases affects their quality of life," says Judith Garcia-Aymerich, ISGlobal researcher and last author of the study. "Establishing collaborations with other countries will be key to understanding whether these findings can be extrapolated to other populations," she concludes.

"On the fifth anniversary of COVID-19, significant progress has been made in understanding the disease. However, as this study shows, the pandemic's impact on mental health, work, and quality of life remains profound. While this research is a step forward, much remains to be done to fully understand this invisible illness," says Rafael de Cid, scientific director of GCAT at IGTP. "The COVICAT cohort has been instrumental in advancing research, and we need to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of volunteers and the Blood and Tissue Bank team, particularly during the challenging times of 2020", he adds.

About COVICAT

The COVICAT cohort is a GCAT nested cohort designed to characterize the health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population in Catalonia, Spain. Baseline data comes from the GCAT|Genomes for Life population-based cohort at the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP).
A research team from the Medical University of Vienna has made further progress in the treatment of intestinal inflammation. A study shows that the semi-synthetic bile acid NorUDCA inhibits in the intestine the formation of pro-inflammatory T helper 17 cells (T H 17) and at the same time promotes the generation of anti-inflammatory regulatory T cells. This could be a promising new therapeutic option for patients with T H 17-mediated intestinal diseases. The results were recently published in the journal Gut.

NorUDCA (24-nor-ursodeoxycholic acid) is a chemically modified bile acid that has already shown promising results in the treatment of liver diseases such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and is being tested in clinical studies. As PSC is often associated and potentially causally linked with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, a MedUni Vienna research team, jointly led by Michael Trauner (Clinical Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology) and Wilfried Ellmeier (Institute of Immunology), has now investigated the effect of NorUDCA on the intestinal immune system. It was shown that NorUDCA not only inhibits pro-inflammatory T H 17 cells, but also favors their conversion into regulatory T cells (Tregs).



Various mouse models that mimic intestinal inflammation were used to investigate the effect of NorUDCA. These included a model in which certain immune cells (CD4+ T cells) were transferred into immunocompromised mice to analyze the role of T H 17 cells. Another mouse model used human immune cells from PSC patients to transfer the results to humans. State-of-the-art analytical methods such as multicolour flow cytometry, RNA sequencing and metabolic analyses using mass spectrometry helped to uncover the mechanisms behind the anti-inflammatory effects of NorUDCA. The results in the models show that NorUDCA also has an effect on human immune cells.

We were able to confirm the anti-inflammatory effect of NorUDCA not only in mouse models, but also in a humanized mouse model with cells from PSC patients, which indicates that this effect could also work in the human intestine." Ci Ashley Zhu, senior postdoc and first author of the study

This study provided new mechanistic insights into the signaling action of bile acids in the gut-liver axis.



Wilfried Ellmeier explains: "The results of our study provide new insights into the regulation and modulation of T H 17 cells and show how metabolic processes in immune cells can be specifically influenced by NorUDCA in order to treat T-cell-mediated inflammatory diseases. The result of this research is the outcome of a successful collaboration between basic immunological research and clinical gastroenterology and hepatology at MedUni Vienna."



Michael Trauner adds: "The fact that NorUDCA has a significant immunomodulatory effect not only in the liver, but also in the intestine, could lead to the development of new therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease in the future, in addition to its importance for the treatment of PSC. The preclinical data also indicate that these immunomodulatory processes could even influence neuroinflammatory processes in the brain, i.e. outside the gut-liver axis."



The research, which was initiated during a retreat of the Immunology Research Cluster of the Medical University of Vienna, was supported by funding from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).
In one of the first studies of its kind, a team of researchers from Keck School of Medicine of USC has found that proteins and pathways involved in inflammation are associated with changes in bone mineral density (BMD) over time. Findings from the study were published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

The research, which was supported by the National Institutes of Health, could potentially lead to the identification of biomarkers that would serve as early indicators of a person's risk for bone health issues later in life.

Bone mineral density is a measure of bone strength quantified by the amount of minerals in bone tissue. It peaks during young adulthood and slowly declines over the rest of the life cycle. BMD serves as an important marker for bone health and is commonly used to predict the risk of osteoporosis and other bone health conditions.

Proteins are also substantial in the formation and maintenance of bone, and recently more studies have been trying to identify individual proteins associated with bone health." Emily Beglarian, lead author and epidemiology doctoral candidate, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine

The study followed 304 obese/overweight Latino adolescents between the ages of 8 to 13 at baseline from the Study of Latino Adolescents at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes over an average period of three years. The researchers examined associations between over 650 proteins and annual measures of BMD, making this one of the first studies to evaluate these associations over years of follow-up. The proteins found to be associated with BMD were then inputted into a protein pathway database.

"The software determined what pathways the proteins were involved in within the human body. Our primary findings were that many of the proteins associated with BMD were involved in inflammatory and immune pathways in adolescent populations. There are other studies that found some of these same pathways were associated in older adult populations," says Beglarian.

Existing studies suggest chronic inflammation can disrupt normal bone metabolism leading to lower BMD.

Importance of inclusive research

Currently, there are millions of adults in the US living with diseases characterized by low bone mass, and the prevalence is increasing due to our aging population. Childhood is a critical period for the development of BMD and this period can predict lifelong bone health.

"Until now, existing studies have centered on very specific populations. Most of them have small sample sizes, include either Chinese or non-Hispanic white populations, and focus on older adults-primarily on women because osteoporosis is four times more common in women than men," says Beglarian.

"This is one of the first studies to investigate associations between proteins and BMD in younger populations. Investigating bone mineral density in early stages of life is important to determine how to address factors that may prevent people from reaching their potential peak bone density," says Beglarian.

Advancing the understanding bone health biomarkers

Additionally, Beglarian examined associations between BMD and a subset of protein markers from the initial proteins, in a separate cohort of young adults. Here she found that several proteins had similar associations with lower BMD. Low BMD is a risk factor for development of adulthood osteopenia and osteoporosis.

The study's findings could potentially inform the development of biomarkers of bone health to identify people at risk that might benefit from intervention.

"It was interesting to see the way in which our study overlapped and differed with existing studies. Previous research was investigating BMD at the end of life when levels are already much lower," she says. "Through my research I hope to address factors that decrease BMD earlier in life to help people get to their highest potential peak density, so they are set up over the rest of their lifetime to have a higher BMD."

About this study

Additional co-authors include Jiawen Carmen Chen, Zhenjiang Li, Elizabeth Costello, Hongxu Wang, Hailey Hampson, Zhanghua Chen, Sarah Rock, Wu Chen, Max T Aung, Frank D Gilliland, Rob McConnell, Sandrah P Eckel, David V Conti, Jesse A Goodrich, Lida Chatzi from USC; Tanya L Alderete from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Damaskini Valvi from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Nahid Rianon from UTHealth McGovern Medical School; Michael I Goran from The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and Miryoung Lee from University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

This work is primarily supported by grant R01ES029944 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS], the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant R01DK59211 (PI MG), the Southern California Children's Environmental Health Center grants funded by NIEHS (5P01ES022845, P30ES007048, 5P01ES011627), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (RD83544101), and the Hastings Foundation.
What Happens If A Plane's Wheel Falls Off? Explaining PIA Aircraft's Miraculous Landing Amid Scare

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 15:57 IST

The PIA flight PK-306, which departed from Karachi, and was reaching to Lahore, witnessed a critical situation mid-flight. The aircraft reported a missing rear wheel after landing safely.

Representational image. (File photo)

A jaw-dropping incident has been reported from Pakistan, where Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) landed in Lahore without the rear wheel. Yes, you read it right! Ever since the news was confirmed by an official, it has created a buzz on the internet.

The incident that could have taken a lot of lives, ended on a positive note, a big thanks to the skilful pilot and advanced technology. Are such events can be deadly? Lets explore.

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Main Work Of Landing Wheels

Before diving inside the topic of what could happen if an aircrafts wheel falls off, it is important to know the actual work of this element. In case you are not aware, aircraft wheels are not just responsible for making it move on the runway but also play a major role in facilitating smooth landings and take-offs.

The landing gear is equipped with multiple wheels and is usually designed in such a manner that it could take immense pressure during takeoff and landing. Talking about big models and commercial airliners, these models come with robust wheels in their landing gear configuration.

These components are connected to the landing gear assembly and are linked to the aircrafts fuselage. These wheels help the plane to move effortlessly during takeoff and landing, allowing it to absorb all the pressure at the time of touchdowns.

Missing Wheel Can Be Deadly?

Can the loss of wheel be deadly? Well, no. Nowadays, technlolgy has been improved massively and the aeroplanes are designed with multiple safety redundancies. It can fly safely with one wheel missing as well as it can rely on the other wheels for a safe landing.

Why Do Boeing Aircrafts Wheels Fall Off?

Talking about the rear wheels on aircraft, especially of the large models like Boeing 737s or 777s, they take massive stress during takeoff, landing, and taxiing. Due to heavy pressure, any mechanical fault issues with the landing gear assembly or hydraulic system can create the problems in the wheel system, making them malfunction or even can make them detached.

Similar Incidents

 According to the reports, the PIA flight PK-306, which departed from Karachi, and was reaching to Lahore, witnessed a critical situation mid-flight. The aircraft reported a missing rear wheel after successfully landing at the Lahore airport.

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 This is not the first time such an incident grabbed the attention of the internet. In 2024, multiple incidents have come into the limelight, where aircraft successfully landed on a runway with bursting tyres or without wheels mid-flight.

 According to the reports, a 757-200 flight, operated by United Airlines witnessed the same situation. It lost its wheel during takeoff and sucesfully landed on the runway with a massive bounce. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

About the Author Shahrukh Shah Shahrukh Shah, Sub-Editor at News18, loves to write about everything that moves on wheels. With years of experience and the required skill sets, he is contributing to the auto section, where he let people know ... Read More Shahrukh Shah, Sub-Editor at News18, loves to write about everything that moves on wheels. With years of experience and the required skill sets, he is contributing to the auto section, where he let people know ... Read More

Get the latest updates on car and bike launches in India  including reviews, prices, specs, and performance. Stay informed with breaking auto industry news , EV policies, and more, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location : Lahore, Pakistan

First Published: March 15, 2025, 13:03 IST
Infosys Settles Lawsuits Against US Unit Over Cyber Incident For $17.5 Million

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 08:39 IST

Infosys McCamish Systems has agreed to pay $17.5 million into a fund to settle all the pending class action lawsuits and resolve all allegations made in the incident.

In November 2023, Infosys had disclosed that Infosys McCamish Systems was impacted by a cyber security event, resulting in the non-availability of certain applications and systems.

IT services provider Infosys on Friday said it had reached an agreement with the plaintiffs of lawsuits pending against its U.S. unit over the 2023 cyber incident. Infosys McCamish Systems has agreed to pay $17.5 million into a fund to settle all the pending class action lawsuits and resolve all allegations made in the incident.

In November 2023, Infosys had disclosed that Infosys McCamish Systems was impacted by a cyber security event, resulting in the non-availability of certain applications and systems.

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In April last year, Infosys said McCamish, in coordination with its third-party vendor eDiscovery, identified up to 6.5 million individuals whose information was subject to unauthorized access and data exfiltration in the incident.

First Published: March 15, 2025, 08:39 IST
ESIC Recruitment 2025: Applications Open For 113 Professor Posts, No Written Exam

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 12:05 IST

ESIC Recruitment 2025: A total of 113 posts are going to be filled through this recruitment of ESIC. The recruitment process will be done through walk-in interview

The application process will continue till March 20, 2025. (Representative image)

The Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has released the recruitment notification for the posts of Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, and Senior Resident in various departments. Interested and eligible candidates can apply by visiting the official website of ESIC, esic.gov.in. The application process will continue till March 20, 2025.

A total of 113 posts are going to be filled through this recruitment of ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Indore. The recruitment process will be done through a walk-in interview. Candidates will be selected on the basis of their qualifications and performance in the interview. Selected candidates will be recruited for a period of one year (contract) or attainment of 70 years, whichever is earlier.

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ESIC Recruitment 2025: Eligibility Criteria

The maximum age limit for the posts of Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor is 69 years. For senior residents, it is 45 years. Age relaxation will be given to reserved category candidates as per Government of India rules.

ESIC Recruitment 2025: How To Apply?

Candidates have to apply by mailing the scanned copy of the filled registration form along with supporting documents to dean-indore.mp@esic.gov.in. Furthermore, they must carry all the supporting documents along with the original demand draft of the interview fee and submit the same at the following address on March 26:

Dean, ESIC Medical College and Hospital,

6th Floor, Nanda Nagar,

Indore (MP)-452011

Interested and eligible candidates have to appear at the above address with all the required documents and the original application form on March 27 for the interview process. The application fee is Rs 500 for general category candidates. SC, ST, ex-servicemen, PH candidates, and regular ESIC employees need not pay any interview fee.

ESIC Recruitment 2025: Salary Details

Professor: Rs. 1,23,100 (Level-13, as per 7th Pay Commission) and other allowances

Associate Professor: Rs. 78,800 (Level-12, as per 7th Pay Commission) and other allowances

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Assistant Professor: Rs. 67,700 (Level-11, as per 7th Pay Commission) and other allowances

Senior Resident: Rs. 67,700 (Level-11, as per 7th Pay Commission) and other allowances

About the Author Sukanya Nandy Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More

First Published: March 15, 2025, 11:57 IST
Maharashtra HSC Exam Answer Sheets Destroyed By Fire At Teacher's Home, Case Registered

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 10:28 IST

The Maharashtra State Board prohibits moderators from carrying answer sheets to their homes. An investigation is underway.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of March 10 when the teacher's house caught fire (Representative image/File)

A fire at a teachers residence in Maharashtras Virar has resulted in the destruction of 175 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) answer sheets. The incident occurred on the afternoon of March 10 when the teachers house caught fire, reported Times of India. Although neighbors extinguished the fire before the fire brigades arrival, many answer sheets were irreparably damaged.

The affected answer sheets belonged to students from the commerce section, specifically the class 12 Organisation of Commerce and Management exam held on February 15. The teacher, Priya Rodrigues, who works at Utkarsh Vidyalaya and Junior College in Virar, had reportedly taken the papers home.

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Fire personnel from the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation confirmed that the fire originated on a sofa where the answer sheets were kept. The police were informed and a case has been registered against Rodrigues and the school principal, Mugdha Lele, for violating exam protocol by taking the papers home.

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education prohibits moderators from removing answer sheets from designated locations. An investigation is underway.

The HSC exams are being conducted from February 11 to March 18, 2025.

Meanwhile, there has been confusion regarding the minimum passing marks for class 10 Mathematics and Science. As per the latest information by the Maharashtra board, students must secure 35 marks in each subject to pass in the current academic session.

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While the Final State Curriculum Framework (SCF-SE) for School Education previously lowered the minimum passing marks from 35 to 20 as per the National Education Policy (NEP) guidelines, this change will not apply to the current year.

Over 15 lakh students, including 8,10,348 boys, 6,94,652 girls, and 37 transgender individuals, have registered for the MSBSHSE HSC and SSC exams this year. It is being held across 3,373 centres statewide. The exams are being conducted in two shifts: the morning shift from 11 AM to 2 PM, and the afternoon shift from 3 PM to 6 PM.

About the Author Sukanya Nandy Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More Sukanya Nandy is a sub-editor at News18.com. She has been writing and reporting for the education and careers section of the website since 2021. She completed her graduation in English followed PG in Journalism... Read More

First Published: March 15, 2025, 10:04 IST
Beware Ides Of March: The Curse Of March 15 Explained Through Horrors Of History

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 16:48 IST

March 15 is no ordinary day. A date steeped in history, it has been marked by betrayal, disasters and events that changed the course of the world.

On the Ides of March, Brutus and the other conspirators intended to assassinate Julius Caesar. The Roman Empire is thrown into chaos after they stab Caesar in the Senate.

The Ides of March refers to the 15th of March in the ancient Roman calendar. Originally, it was simply a way to mark the middle of the month, with Ides signifying the 15th in March, May, July and October and the 13th in other months. However, the date took on a much darker meaning after the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. The phrase Beware the Ides of March" became forever linked with betrayal and ominous warnings, thanks to William Shakespeares play Julius Caesar. Over time, the date has been associated with misfortune and significant historical events that have reshaped the world.

Why Do We Still Observe It?

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Despite its ancient origins, the Ides of March remains relevant today, not just for history buffs or literature enthusiasts but for anyone intrigued by superstition and fate. The assassination of Caesar marked a turning point in Roman history, leading to the rise of the Roman Empire. Shakespeares dramatisation cemented its place in cultural memory and each year, historians, writers, and curious minds revisit the date as a reminder of how ambition, power and political intrigue can shape the world.

Whether through historical reflections, themed events, or just a nod to the ominous warning, the Ides of March continues to be a day people recall, if not to beware, then at least to remember.

Also read: Virat Kohlis Instagram Account Or New Yorks Times Square? The Silent Outrage By Fans Explained

A Date That Echoes Through History

Over the centuries, this date has gained a reputation for calamity, betrayal, and bloodshed. The most infamous of all? The brutal assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. The phrase Beware the Ides of March" has become synonymous with impending doom, thanks to William Shakespeares haunting portrayal of the event in his tragedy Julius Caesar. A soothsayers warning, ignored by the overconfident ruler, became a prophecy fulfilled when conspirators plunged their daggers into the Roman leader on the fateful day.

But the Ides of March isnt just about Caesars downfall. Throughout history, 15 March has seen events that have shaken nations, ended lives and set off devastating chain reactions.

Lets take a look at five of the worst things that have ever happened on this date.

1939  Hitlers Troops Seize Czechoslovakia

The world was on edge. Hitler had already annexed Austria and many hoped he would stop there. But on 15 March 1939, German forces marched into Czechoslovakia, officially dissolving the country and establishing the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. This was the moment appeasement was exposed as a failed policy. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who had previously sought to maintain peace by negotiating with Hitler, realised that war was inevitable. By the end of the year, Europe was plunged into World War II, changing the course of history forever.

1941  A Deadly Blizzard Hits North Dakota And Minnesota

Natures fury struck without mercy. In the early hours of 15 March 1941, a monstrous blizzard roared through North Dakota and Minnesota, bringing with it hurricane-force winds and temperatures that plummeted by 20 degrees in just minutes. There were no proper warnings. People were out and about, driving, working, and going about their daily lives. Then suddenly, they were caught in a whiteout, stranded as massive seven-foot snow drifts buried everything in sight. Many froze to death in their cars, unable to escape. By the time the storm cleared, 151 lives had been lost.

Also Read: Et Tu Brute? Still True Today: How Julius Caesar Plays Out Into Our Lives

1986  Singapores Hotel New World Crumbles

It happened in seconds. One moment, the six-storey Hotel New World stood tall in the heart of Singapore. The next, it was nothing but rubble. On 15 March 1986, the entire building collapsed, trapping 50 people inside. It housed a bank, a nightclub, and dozens of hotel rooms. The cause? A fatal flaw in its design  structural miscalculations that had weakened the building from the start. Rescue teams worked around the clock, but for 33 people, it was too late. The disaster became one of the deadliest in Singapores post-war history, leading to stricter building regulations to prevent future tragedies.

2003  The World Health Organisation Declares SARS A Global Threat

A silent killer was on the loose. By early 2003, a mysterious illness was spreading fast across Asia. It had started in Chinas Guangdong province, but by March, the virus had crossed borders. People were falling ill in Vietnam, Singapore, Canadathere seemed to be no stopping it. On 15 March, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a dire warning: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was now a worldwide health threat. The disease swept across continents in a matter of weeks, infecting over 8,000 people and claiming 774 lives before it was finally contained.

For the modern world, it was a chilling reminder of how quickly an outbreak could spiral out of controlsomething that would foreshadow the COVID-19 pandemic years later.

Also Read: Reena Dutta, Kiran Rao, Gauri Pratt: Bollywood Perfectionist Aamir Khans Old And New Relationships Revisited

2011  The Syrian Civil War Begins

It started with graffiti. Three teenagers, their names unknown to the world, scrawled a message on a school wall in the city of Deraa: The people want the fall of the regime." The response was brutal. The boys were arrested and tortured by government forces, sparking outrage. By 15 March 2011, protests had erupted in Damascus and Aleppo. People took to the streets, demanding reforms. What began as a series of protests soon escalated into a full-blown conflict. Syria descended into civil war, a brutal struggle that has lasted over a decade, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives and displacing millions.

So, Should You Beware the Ides of March?

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Is it all just coincidence? Maybe. Or perhaps theres something eerie about this date that keeps drawing disaster to it. Whatever the case, history has proven that the Ides of March isnt just a relic of ancient Rome, its a day that has seen some of humanitys darkest moments.

So, if someone whispers Beware the Ides of March" to you today, maybe, just maybe, you should listen.

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 15, 2025, 16:46 IST
On Camera, Bike-Borne Men Hurl Explosive At Amritsar Temple, Police Suspect Pakistan Link

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Aveek Banerjee



Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 21:08 IST

Two persons arrived at the Thakur Dwara temple complex on Saturday and hurled an explosive at the building. Police are tracking the suspects and claim Pakistan's involvement behind such attacks.

CCTV footage caught two suspects hurling an explosive at the temple in Amritsar. (PTI)

Amritsar Temple Attack: An explosion took place outside a temple in Amritsar, damaging its walls and shattering its window panes, according to officials on Saturday. A CCTV footage purportedly showed two young men carrying out a grenade attack on the Thakur Dwara temple complex.

As per a viral video on social media, two unidentified persons arrived at the temple on a motorcycle. After waiting for a few seconds, one of them threw some explosive material towards the temple and fled from the spot. As soon as they fled, a large blast occurred at the temple.

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The incident took place at 12:35 am, as per reports. No one was hurt in the incident, but it has caused panic among the residents in the Khandwala area of Amritsar. The police have started an investigation based on the CCTV footage to identify the attackers and understand the nature of the attack.

Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu condemned the incident, blaming the Bhagwant Mann-led government for the failing law and order situation in Punjab. AAP government fails to check repeated incidents of blasts in border city. Deteriorating law and order in Punjab is matter of serious concern (sic)."

I strongly condemn bomb attack on Thakur Dwara temple, Khandwala in Amritsar. AAP government fails to check repeated incidents of blasts in border city. Deteriorating law and order in Punjab is matter of serious concern.@ANI @PTI_News @CNNnews18 pic.twitter.com/caQtjnMCrn Ravneet Singh Bittu (@RavneetBittu) March 15, 2025

At around 12 am, two people came on bike, stopped outside the Thakur Dwara Mandir, conducted a recce and threw a grenade at the temple. The blast was so powerful that is also affected the nearby buildings, breaking their windows and all. The police later reached the spot. As per the evidence, this was a grenade attack," said advocate Kiranpreet Singh.

Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said police were informed about the incident around 2 am by the temple priest. He said he and other senior officials reached the spot. He said police teams were trying to trace the men involved in the blast.

Without taking any names, Punjab CM Mann said, From time to time, there are attempts to defame Punjab, but our Punjab Police constantly take timely action against anti-social elements. On the occasion of Holi, where violent incidents took place in different parts of the country, everyone in Punjab played Holi together. Punjab is completely safe from law and order point of view."

Haryana Minister Anil Vij said, Some people keep trying to break India. But India has that factor because of which its existence can never be erased India will keep moving ahead under the guidance of PM Narendra Modi"

Amritsar Police Claims Pakistani Involvement

Bhullar claimed that Pakistani intelligence agency ISI was involved in such attacks as the bomb attack outside the Amritsar temple. He said the Pakistani agency is constantly provoking the youth from poor families to carry out such acts.

The forensic team has also reached the spot and I have spoken with the people here. Efforts are being made by Pakistan to disturb the atmosphere here, and some local youths are involved in this. I urge our youths not to get involved in such activities," he told news agency PTI.

Recent incidents have made it clear that the ISI is targeting weaker sections of society, Bhullar added, warning of serious consequences for people who get tempted by money to carry out such attacks.

ALSO READ: Rod-Wielding Man Assaults Devotees In Amritsars Golden Temple, 5 Injured

According to top intelligence sources, the latest incident is in sync with the recent wave of violence in Punjab by pro-Khalistan elements.

Groups Babbar Khalsa International has strong backing of ISI and they have claimed January 2025 explosion at the Gumtala checkpoint in Amritsar. They also also targeted police posts with the backing of ISI," sources said.

According to the agencies, there is a possible shift in attacks on security forces and installations. These groups have started attacking temple, and this is the first incident.

The second possible reason is that ISI hired some people in Punjab and attacked the Hindu temple when Holi celebrations were going on. This shift is an attempt to escalate tensions," sources said.

The selection of a temple suggests to divert attention and attack a place where maximum casualties can be done in future," they added.

Recent Attacks In Amritsar

At least 13 bomb attacks have taken place in Punjab in the last few months, heightening concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, particularly as they have been targeting religious places and temples. In other districts of Punjab, most explosions have taken place near police stations and police checkpoints.

On February 14, a blast took place outside the house of a policeman in the Gurudaspur districts Dera Baba Nanak area. Prior to that, alleged terrorists targeted the closed police checkpoint on Fatehgarh Churiyan Road in Amritsar.

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In January, a blast occurred at the Gumtala checkpoint in Amritsar, for which the pro-Khalistani group Babbar Khalsa International took responsibility for this explosion. The group was also behind a blast at the Bangi Wadala village police checkpoint in Gurdaspur on December 21, 2024.

(with PTI inputs)

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Amritsar, India, India

First Published: March 15, 2025, 12:17 IST
Pawan Kalyan's 'Oppose Hindi But Dub Movies' Jab At Tamil Nadu Adds Fresh Spark, Prakash Raj Reacts

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 13:40 IST

Pawan Kalyan criticised Tamil Nadu politicians for opposing Hindi but allowing their movies to be dubbed in Hindi for financial gain. He called for embracing linguistic diversity in India.

Actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan backed BJP in the language war between DMK and Centre. (PTI/File)

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Janasena Party chief Pawan Kalyan backed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the ongoing language, criticising Tamil Nadu politicians for opposing Hindi while allowing their movies to be dubbed in Hindi for financial gain.

Kalyans remarks come in the wake of a huge language war between the MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government and the Centre. The DMK has accused the Hindi language in the state through the three-language formula as proposed in the new National Education Policy.

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While commemorating the 11th formation day of his party on Friday, the actor-turned-politician called for the need to embrace linguistic diversity to maintain the integrity of the nation and foster love and unity among the people. India needs multiple languages, including Tamil, and not just two," he said.

Slamming the DMK government, Kalyan said, I do not understand why some criticise Sanskrit. Why do Tamil Nadu politicians oppose Hindi while allowing their movies to be dubbed in Hindi for financial gain? They want money from Bollywood but refuse to accept Hindiwhat kind of logic is that?"

During the event, Kalyan also called for debates on delimitation amid worries among some politicians who argue that some states will lose their MP seats in the Lok Sabha, while asserting his credentials as a Sanatan Dharma champion and his partys success against several odds.

ALSO READ: Jabs Galore In Tamil Nadu Budget Speech Amid DMK Vs BJP Hindi Row: Centre Cheated Us

BJP Lauds, Prakash Raj Frowns

Kalyans remarks were lauded by the BJP. Taking to X, former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, No dynast including @mkstalins posse of crooks, will and should be allowed to divide indians bcoz of their opportunistic politics. (sic)."

This type of #INDIalliance divisive politics is only to distract people from asking the important questions  what did @arivalayam DMK to improve peoples and families lives in last 5 years ? NOTHING," he added.

Agree++ @PawanKalyanNo dynast including @mkstalin s posse of crooks, will and should be allowed to divide indians bcoz of their opportunistic politics. This type of #INDIalliance divisive politics is only to distract people from asking the important questions  what did https://t.co/nCGmm04BkY  Rajeev Chandrasekhar  (@RajeevRC_X) March 15, 2025

BJP spokesperson Rachna Reddy said Kalyan made it clear that multiple languages are needed to foster young minds. Why does Tamil Nadu have this insecurity that no other state seems to have? We always had the three-language system in schools."

Why is Tamil Nadu okay with the children being trained in foreign languages like French and German and not Hindi? Do they think they are a separate state?" she added.

BJP leader Vikram Randhawa said Hindi was Indias national language and the government was working to ensure that the language reached the masses. Unfortunately, the previous governments always tried to suppress the culture of nationalismThe use of Hindi should be implemented strongly in the South as well. People living in South India should think that they are earning crores of rupees from North India by dubbing movies in Hindi, but when it comes to speaking and teaching Hindi, they have problems," he added.

However, actor-politician Prakash Raj slammed Kalyans remarks, saying, To say Dont impose your Hindi language on us is not hating another language, it is Protecting our mother tongue, our mother, with pride. Please tell this to Pawan Kalyan, someone"

MK Stalin Govt Replaces Rupee Symbol

Tamil Nadus ruling DMK, led by M K Stalin, has taken a bold stance against the NEP. In a symbolic move, the state government has replaced the official Indian rupee symbol () with the Tamil letter Ru in its 2025-26 Budget. The move has sparked widespread criticism from the BJP.

The Tamil letter originates from the word rubai, meaning rupees in Tamil. This unprecedented action marks the first time a state has rejected the national currency symbol, signifying a new level of resistance against the NEP.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the move is secessionist" and signals a dangerous mindset to weaken Indian unity under the pretext of regional pride". Tamil Nadu BJP Chief Annamalai called it a stupid" move by Stalin.

ALSO READ: What Is NEP 2020s Three-Language Formula? How Tamil Nadu Has Protested Hindi Imposition For Years | Explained

DMK vs Centre In Parliament

The language row between the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government intensified after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhans recent remarks on Stalins opposition to the NEP during Question Hour in Parliament on Thursday.

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. Stalin condemned his remarks and called them an insult to the people of Tamil Nadu."

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Moreover, the delimitation row is the heart of the controversy, in which the Tamil Nadu government is apprehensive about losing the number of seats in the Parliament if the process is executed on the basis of the new population data.

(with agency inputs)

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 : Andhra Pradesh, India, India

First Published: March 15, 2025, 08:11 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. States of the Global South are focused on solving past problems, while the challenges of the future remain neglected, said Bernardo Mariano, Information Technology Director, UN Assistant Secretary-General during a panel discussion on New Technologies for a New World at the XII Global Baku Forum, Trend reports.

If we do not start addressing these challenges now, the world will face a double crisis. The rapid development of technology requires governments to respond quickly. For example, the real breakthrough of artificial intelligence (AI) occurred in 2022 with the emergence of generative AI such as ChatGPT, he said.

According to him, progress in this field is happening at an incredible speed. From a model equivalent to a 17-year-old student, the world is moving towards autonomous AI capable of solving complex problems. The public sector must be ready for this change. Bernardo Mariano emphasized that AI has great potential for society: fighting inequality, protecting children, preventing crime, solving the climate crisis, and preserving endangered languages.

However, like any other technology, artificial intelligence has a dark side. Autonomous weapons and other possible threats require special attention from the international community, he emphasized.

The XII Global Baku Forum will be held from March 13 through 15 this year under the motto Rethinking the World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities.

The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

The event will discuss key global issues such as geopolitical changes, multilateralism, global health crisis, reconstruction and regional stability of the world, COP29, and others.

The Forum will bring together more than 300 world leaders from more than 60 countries, including more than 25 former presidents, more than 15 former prime ministers, about 10 heads of UN and international agencies, and more than 25 former ministers and deputy ministers.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Assam Congress Spokesperson Arrested Over Social Media Post Targeting BJP Leaders

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 18:59 IST

Assam Congress Spokesperson Reetam Singh was on Saturday arrested for a social media post enquiring about the status of cases registered against three senior BJP leaders, including a former state chief and two serving MLAs.

Assam Congress Spokesperson Reetam Singh was on Saturday arrested. (X)

Assam Congress Spokesperson Reetam Singh was on Saturday arrested for a social media post enquiring about the status of cases registered against three senior BJP leaders, including a former state chief and two serving MLAs.

He was arrested from his home in Guwahati by a team of Lakhimpur district police with assistance from the Guwahati Police.

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Lakhimpur Superintendent of Police Mihirjit Gayan told PTI that Singh was arrested after a complaint by the wife of BJP MLA Manab Deka for a post on X two days ago.

"We have arrested him under relevant sections of law. He is being brought to Lakhimpur now," he added.

Singh made a post on X on March 13 with a news report about three individuals being convicted by a court for a rape case in the Dhemaji district in 2021.

"These culprits got the punishment they deserved. But what @BJP4Assam r@pe accused Ministers and MLAs like Manab Deka, Ex Party President Bhabesh Kalita, ex Minister Rajen Gohain? Is the law equal for all?" the Congress leader had asked in his post.

These culprits got punishment they deservedBut what @BJP4Assam r@pe accused Ministers and MLAs like Manab Deka, Ex Party President Bhabesh Kalita, ex Minister Rajen Gohain? Is law equal for all? pic.twitter.com/h8qe9FgPEY  Reetam Singh (@SinghReetam) March 13, 2025

Kalita, who was the BJP Assam president till January this year, is an MLA with Deka, while Gohain was the Union Minister of State for Railways during Prime Minister Narendra Modis first term.

During the arrest of the Congress leader, a lot of drama unfolded at the apartment of the accused in the Ulubari area, with Singh initially claiming that no warrant or notice was served on him.

Hours later, Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi reached Singhs house and alleged that his colleague was dragged by police on a day when Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in the state.

"A team of Lakhimpur police have come to Guwahati to take custody of Congress spokesperson @SinghReetam. When I went to his residence. I saw how he was brutally dragged away and was not allowed to speak to me," Gogoi said in a post on X.

A team of Lakhimpur police have come to Guwahati to take custody of Congress spokesperson @SinghReetam . When I went to his residence I saw how he was brutally dragged away and was not allowed to speak to me.Home Minister Amit Shah is in Assam inaugurating a police academy. I  Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) March 15, 2025

Referring to Shahs official visit to Lachit Barphukan Police Academy in Golaghat district, the MP asked if the Union Home Minister was aware of the "misuse of police" under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

"Is Home Minister Amit Shah aware that BJP thugs have brutally beaten up two Assam constables in broad daylight a few days ago and yet they have not been arrested," he said.

The chief minister is allegedly forcing the state police to adopt illegal activities, which conflict with the law and the High Court, Gogoi claimed.

"The track record of police officers is being spoiled by the political motivations of Himanta Biswa Sarma. People are watching," he added.

Earlier, Singh shared a few photographs, on X, of a strong posse of policemen outside his home and claimed that they came to arrest him without warrant and notice.

The @assampolice are threatening force and entry. When I have repeatedly stated that I want to see the Notice or Search Warrant under BNSLet these tweets be evidence that I had notified @lakhimpurpolice @DGPAssamPolice of the High Court Order dated 07.03.2025 pic.twitter.com/xyNZi7oJeS  Reetam Singh (@SinghReetam) March 15, 2025

"I showed them the recent Gauhati High Court Judgment, making it compulsory for police to give a notice. I am an advocate and I will comply with any investigation. But I wont go with the police if they are here without arrest or warrant simply on instructions of @himantabiswa," he said.

Singh also said that any arrest of him without warrant or notice would be contempt of Justice Mridul Kumar Kalitas Judgment on March 7 in Sakib Chowdhury vs State of Assam.

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"More police are here. No one is saying a word as to why I need to be taken away by the Lakhimpur Police. I am a lawyer. Where will I run away? Why such harassment and pressure on an officer of the court?" Singh said in a series of posts.

"On repeated requests to produce a warrant or a notice, they said they wont. Is this law and order @DGPAssamPolice @HardiSpeaks," he asked in another post, tagging DGP Harmeet Singh.

Location : Guwahati [Gauhati], India, India

First Published: March 15, 2025, 18:59 IST
EAM S Jaishankar Weighs In On India-US Relationship, Trump

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 15:41 IST

Jaishankar asserted that India and US are 'traditional allies' and their bond is getting tighter than ever before.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar (File image/Reuters)

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar recently touched upon the ongoing tariff debate between India and the United States, asserting that both the countries are traditional allies" and Indias bond with the US is getting tighter than ever before. Speaking of US President Donald Trump, Jaishankar said hes a very strong nationalist and in pursuit of his nationalist goals hes very realist about many parts of the world."

Terming both Trump and PM Modi like-minded nationalists, Jaishankar shared his views on the ongoing tariff issue, with the US President warning several countries, including India, of reciprocal trade tariffs.

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We have our issues," said Jaishankar while talking to Financial Times. I can see he [Trump] has his concerns," the Foreign Affairs Minister added.

When asked if Trump is also a realist, Jaishankar answered in affirmative, according to the interview. He added that but because youre a realist doesnt mean you dont have beliefs and convictions and feelings. They coexist. I do think hes a very strong nationalist and in pursuit of his nationalist goals hes very realist about many parts of the world."

Trump Threatens India With Reciprocal Tariffs

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Last week, US President Donald Trump claimed India had agreed to lower its import duties against the US because he had exposed" the country, saying India charges US massive tariffs massive". You cant even sell anything in IndiaThey have agreed, by the way, they want to cut their tariffs way down now because somebody is finally exposing them for what they have done," the US President said.

However, India later said that New Delhi is still negotiating with the United States and has not made any commitments so far.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 15, 2025, 11:24 IST
Congress's Nana Patole Invites Shinde, Ajit Pawar To Join MVA & Topple Fadnavis: 'Bura Na Mano...'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 15:18 IST

Patole's offer to Shinde and Pawar has exposed the growing rifts within the Maharashtra government, while also sending a clear signal that the Congress is poised to seize a pivotal role if the state's political landscape undergoes a significant shift.

Former Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole. (ANI)

Adding political colours to Holi, former state Congress chief Nana Patole invited Maharashtra Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde, the Shiv Sena leader and Ajit Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party chief to join the Maha Vikas Aghadi and form a government without CM Devendra Fadnavis, if they faced suffocation under his leadership.

Patole on Friday claimed that the opposition would give both Shinde and Pawar the position of chief minister if they join the opposition in toppling the government.

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If Devendra Fadnavis is troubling you, we are ready to stand with you and form a govt together," he declared, signalling a potential shift in Maharashtras political landscape.

However, while speaking to the Times Of India (TOI), Patole said the statement was made in a lighter vein for Holi.

I made a statement telling them Bura Na Mano Holi Hai. However, if Shinde and Ajit Pawar want to come, we will embrace them," he said.

Patoles calculation is based on the fact that the Maharashtra opposition, comprising the Congress, Sharad Pawars NCP, and Uddhav Thackerays Sena, collectively holds 50 seats. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (Shinde) has 57 seats and Ajit Pawars NCP has 41 seats. When combined, these parties have a total of 148 seats, which surpasses the halfway mark.

Patoles offer to Shinde and Pawar has exposed the growing rifts within the Maharashtra government, while also sending a clear signal that the Congress is poised to seize a pivotal role if the states political landscape undergoes a significant shift.

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Meanwhile, BJP state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule refuted any internal rift between the ruling government saying that their leaders will not be listening to the opposition.

They (the opposition) have a mandate to remain in the opposition. This is what they should do. Our leaders (in our alliance) will not be listening to them," he said.

First Published: March 15, 2025, 13:53 IST
Delhi Man's Throat Slit With Broken Liquor Bottle While Returning From Holi Celebrations

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 19:01 IST

The man was allegedly hit on the head with a liquor bottle, and then the broken bottle was used to slit his throat. This happened following a heated argument after a motorcycle collision

The victim has been identified as 24-year-old tea-seller Ashish Kumar. (Representational image)

A man was killed in a road rage incident in east Delhi following a heated argument after a motorcycle collision on Friday.

The victim has been identified as 24-year-old tea-seller Ashish Kumar. The incident took place near NH-24 in Kalyan Puri, when Ashish was returning home with friends after celebrating Holi.

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According to the police, the collision led to a heated argument between Ashishs group and the two men on the other motorcycle. The situation escalated when one of the men pulled out a liquor bottle and struck Ashish on the head, shattering the bottle. The assailant then used a shard of broken glass to slash Ashishs throat before fleeing the scene with his companion.

Following the incident, police teams arrived at the location and discovered that the victim had been rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead.

On March 14, a PCR call was received at the Kalyan Puri Police Station regarding an attack near NH-24. The caller reported that two bike-borne men assaulted another man with a bottle, slashing his throat before fleeing towards Raj Nagar, Ghaziabad," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (East), Abhishek Dhania.

The officer further said that Vikas, who was with Ashish during the incident, stated they were heading home to Khoda after playing Holi.

As they crossed the NH-24 turn, their motorcycle was hit by a motorcycle carrying two people approaching from Mandawali. A heated argument followed during which one of the bikers took out a liquor bottle from his pocket and struck Ashish on the head," the DCP explained.

Dhania further revealed that the accuseds movements were tracked by analysing CCTV footage and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data, as well as scrutinising call records. This led to the arrest of two prime suspects, 30-year-old Pankaj Kumar Sinha from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, and 27-year-old Jeetu from Mandawali, Delhi. Both men have previous criminal records.

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The officer confirmed that a case had been registered and an investigation was underway. Multiple teams were formed to investigate the matter.

(With inputs from PTI)

First Published: March 15, 2025, 19:01 IST
Ranya Raos Associate, Arrested In Gold Smuggling Case, Played Lead Role In 2018 Telugu Film

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 09:41 IST

Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengaluru International Airport after arriving from Dubai on an Emirates flight, carrying 14.2 kg of gold worth Rs 12.56 crore.

Ranya Rao was arrested from the Kempagowda International Airport.

Tarun Konduru Raju, associated with Kannada film actress Ranya Rao, who was arrested for alleged gold smuggling, has been identified as an actor. Reports reveal that the 30-year-old has also played a prominent role in a 2018 Telugu film, The Indian Express reported.

Raju, 30, the scion of a prominent business family in Bengaluru with interests in the hospitality sector, was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on March 9 in the wake of information gathered from Rao during the investigation into a gold smuggling syndicate.

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The arrest occurred six days after Ranya Rao was detained at Bengaluru International Airport. Rao was found carrying 14.2 kg of gold, valued at Rs 12.56 crore, upon her arrival from Dubai on an Emirates flight.

According to the Indian Expresss sources in the Karnataka Police department Raju goes by the screen name of Virat Konduru in the Telugu industry. He is the grandson of a prominent businessman, with roots in Andhra Pradesh, who has diverse business interests in hospitality, energy, cable TV and education sectors.

Konduru starred in the 2018 Telugu film Parichayam". Following the films release, his acting career seems to have slowed down. In pre-release interviews, Konduru expressed his passion for cinema and mentioned that his family has ties to Bengaluru.

Data extracted from a mobile phone and laptop seized from the actress revealed Kondurus links to the smuggling racket, the DRI has indicated in court filings.

Konduru is reportedly a longtime associate of Ranya Rao. During investigations, he allegedly stated that they were business partners in a UAE-based firm. He reportedly claimed Rao funded his travels on multiple occasions and that they previously attempted to source gold from Africa. Additionally, it is reported that Konduru traveled to Dubai around the same time as Rao in early March.

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Ranya Rao alias Harshavardini Ranya who is the stepdaughter of a senior IPS officer in Karnataka allegedly used the VIP channel to smuggle the gold. She smuggled the gold in the form of ingots strapped on her body with tape and crepe bandages. The actress is alleged to have travelled to Dubai 27 times in the last six months.

The DRI said that the seizure of gold worth Rs 12.56 crore from her on March 3 is one of the largest such seizures at the Bengaluru airport.

First Published: March 15, 2025, 08:12 IST
India Saw Over 2.5 Times Jump In Rabies Deaths Since 2022, More Than 4 Deaths Per Month In 2024

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 14:00 IST

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India is endemic for rabies and accounts for 36 per cent of the worlds rabies deaths

Of the 54 deaths reported in 2024, 14 were from Maharashtra. The state has been the biggest contributor to the figure every year since 2022, data shows. (Shutterstock)

Of the 54 deaths reported in 2024, 14 were from Maharashtra. The state has been the biggest contributor to the figure every year since 2022, data shows.

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The increase in rabies cases in 2024 becomes significant in light of the number of cases of dog bites reported in the country. In 2022, as shown in the graph, across the country there were 21.80 lakh cases of dog bites and 21 deaths due to rabies. However, in 2024, with 21.95 lakh cases of dog bites, the number of deaths due to rabies reached 54. In 2023, there were 30.43 lakh cases of dog bites and 50 deaths due to rabies.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India is endemic for rabies and accounts for 36 per cent of the worlds rabies deaths. It also said that about 30-60 per cent of reported rabies cases and deaths in India occur in children under the age of 15 years as bites that occur in children often go unrecognised and unreported.

In the calendar year 2024, there were 5.19 lakh cases of dog bites where the victims were below the age of 15 years.

The government, in a statement, said it is aware of the fact that the presence of unvaccinated street dogs in human settlements is a significant contributor to the high incidence of endemic rabies in the country.

In India, human rabies is classified as a notifiable disease in 26 states/UTs following an advisory by the ministry of health and family welfare which is aiming to make India rabies-free by 2030.

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The ministry launched the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030 (NAPRE) in September 2021.

According to Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023, mass dog vaccination and dog population management are being done by the animal husbandry department in collaboration with local body authorities.

About the Author Nivedita Singh Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived... Read More Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived... Read More

First Published: March 15, 2025, 14:00 IST
'Interfaith Couple Reconciled Differences By Getting Married': Orissa HC Quashes POCSO Charges Against Muslim Man

Reported By :

LawBeat

Last Updated: March 16, 2025, 01:57 IST

The accused contended that the FIR stemmed from opposition by their families due to religious differences

The court further underscored that same-age adolescents falling in love, eloping, and marrying shouldn't be criminalised. (Representational Image)

The Orissa High Court recently quashed criminal proceedings under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against a Muslim man, Fayazuddin Khan alias Badal Khan, accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor Hindu girl.

The court, presided over by Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra, ruled that the prosecution served no further purpose, as the parties, the accused petitioner and the victim, had reconciled their differences and were now living together as husband and wife.

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The court observed: Running a trial against the petitioner in this case would amount to an abuse of the process of law, particularly given the fact that the victim and the petitioner have entered into a marital relationship and are living together in harmony. Sending the man to prison would not only be unjust but would also work against the best interests of the victim, as it could disrupt the peaceful life they have built together."

The court made the observation in a case arising from a first information report (FIR), registered on May 10, 2022, alleging that the petitioner kidnapped the minor girl on May 9, 2022, and also took gold ornaments and Rs 8,000 in cash from her home. Based on this complaint, the accused was charged under Sections 363, 366, and 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with Section 6 of the POCSO Act. Upon investigation, a chargesheet was filed, and the trial court took cognisance of the offences.

During the pendency of the proceedings, the petitioner and the victim got married after she attained majority. It was argued before the High Court that the couple is now happily married and that the victim is unwilling to pursue the case further. The petitioner also contended that the FIR stemmed from opposition by their families due to religious differences.

The court was informed that the victims family has also accepted the marriage and no longer wishes to prosecute the petitioner.

Examining the distinction between sexual exploitation" and adolescent love affairs", the court emphasised that in cases involving sexual exploitation, there is no question of quashing the proceedings; as such offences have serious implications for both the victim and society. However, where an adolescent love has evolved into a relationship that is now recognised and approved by societal norms, as seen in this case, the situation differs significantly. The fact that the victim and accused have entered into a marital relationship and are living a happy and peaceful life reflects a genuine reconciliation, which can be seen as a natural progression in such circumstances. In such instances, where the relationship has been matured to marriage and accepted by society, quashing the proceedings is not only justifiable but may also be in the interest of upholding the principles of reconciliation and personal autonomy"

The court further underscored that same-age adolescents falling in love, eloping, and marrying shouldnt be criminalised.

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The court concluded that The continuation of legal proceedings under these circumstances serves no legitimate purpose and would only perpetuate unnecessary hardship to both the parties," and it would be more appropriate to quash the proceedings, allowing them to move forward with their lives without the burden of legal interference.

Resultantly, the court quashed the criminal proceedings against the man.

First Published: March 16, 2025, 01:57 IST
Local BJP Leader Shot Dead By Neighbour In Sonipat Over Land Dispute

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 10:58 IST

The accused, whose identity has not been disclosed, was allegedly enraged over a property dispute involving land Jawahar had purchased in the name of the suspects aunt.

Local BJP Leader Shot Dead By Neighbour In Sonipat

A local leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was shot dead on Friday night in Haryanas Sonipat district over a land dispute, police said.

According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Surendra Jawahar. He was the BJPs Mundlana Mandal president, and was killed around 9:30 pm on Friday in Jawahar village when a neighbour fired three bullets at him.

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The accused, whose identity has not been disclosed, was allegedly enraged over a property dispute involving land Jawahar had purchased in the name of the suspects aunt.

The police said that the accused had given a prior warning to Jawahar to stay off the disputed land. However, when Jawahar arrived at the site on Friday night to clear the land, the suspect confronted him and opened fire.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Crime Rishikant said that the FIR has been registered into the case ensuring that the accused will be arrested soon.

We received information yesterday that there had been firing in Jawahra village and nambardar (village headman) Surendra, had been shot. FIR has been registered and three teams have been formed The accused will be arrested soon The reason behind the death is a land dispute with a neighbour," Rishikant told to news agency ANI.

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#WATCH | Sonipat, Haryana: On BJP leader Surendra Jawahras murder in Gohana, ACP Crime Rishikant says, We received information yesterday that there had been firing in Jawahra village and nambardar (village headman) Surendra, had been shot. FIR has been registered and three https://t.co/4fjXa6CNgY pic.twitter.com/NQt1CQUEDb ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2025

Jawahar succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Police have launched an investigation into the killing.

Location : Sonipat, India, India

First Published: March 15, 2025, 10:37 IST
Meet JP Singh, Man Behind John Abraham's The Diplomat, Who Rescued Uzma Ahmed From Pakistan | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 11:58 IST

Singh, then the Deputy High Commissioner, not only saved Ahmed who was forced into marriage at gunpoint but successfully averted a diplomatic crisis between India and Pakistan

JP Singh with actor John Abraham who will play him in the movie The Diplomat. (News18)

John Abrahams latest movie The Diplomat shines a light on the career of JP Singh, a seasoned Indian Foreign Service officer, by depicting one of his most challenging cases: the Uzma Ahmed case.

In 2017, Uzma Ahmed, a young woman from Delhi, found herself trapped in a dangerous situation in Pakistan after traveling there to meet Taher Ali, a man she had met online. Uzma alleged that Taher forced her into marriage at gunpoint, held her captive, and subjected her to harassment and drugging. Her harrowing ordeal took an even darker turn when she discovered that Taher was already married.

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Desperate and fearing for her life, Uzma managed to escape and sought refuge at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Sources reveal that she arrived at the High Commissions doorstep, pleading for help. This was a critical moment for JP Singh, then Deputy High Commissioner, who made the crucial decision to provide Uzma with refuge inside the embassy, a space considered sovereign Indian territory. Providing her with a safe haven, CISF protection, and ensuring her well-being became his top priority.

Uzmas case quickly escalated into a diplomatic crisis due to the historically fraught relationship between India and Pakistan. Accusations against a Pakistani citizen had the potential to ignite tensions between the two nations. Singh found himself walking a tightrope, balancing Uzmas safety and rights with the need to maintain diplomatic channels. He remained in constant contact with his Pakistani counterparts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, navigating the complexities of the situation.

Meanwhile, Taher Ali petitioned the Islamabad High Court, demanding Uzmas presence in court and claiming she was his wife. From the safety of the Indian High Commission, Uzma filed a counter-petition, alleging she was coerced into the marriage and requesting permission to return to India.

During this high-stakes legal battle, Singh proved instrumental. He oversaw Uzmas legal representation, appointed Pakistani lawyers, and meticulously prepared documentation to assert her rights. His presence at court hearings provided Uzma with much-needed moral and official support, ensuring a fair trial and keeping the international spotlight firmly on the case.

After weeks of tense legal proceedings, the Islamabad High Court ruled in Uzmas favour, granting her permission to return to India. Singh orchestrated her safe passage back home, coordinating with Pakistani authorities to prevent any interference and ensuring a smooth transition. On May 25, 2017, Uzma crossed the Wagah border back into India.

Singhs skillful handling of the Uzma Ahmed case highlighted his diplomatic acumen in navigating a politically sensitive situation and ensuring the safe return of an Indian citizen. His commitment to Uzmas well-being under immense pressure is a testament to his dedication to serving his country.

When Singh returned to Delhi, he got a crucial posting as JS, PAI, in the Ministry of External Affairs where his role included starting backchannels with Taliban among other responsibilities.

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Now, as the Indian Ambassador to Israel, Singh remains a key figure in international diplomacy, his career marked by his ability to navigate complex geopolitical challenges with both resolve and grace.

The diplomat, however, has refrained from commenting on the latest movie.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: March 15, 2025, 11:58 IST
PM Modi To Be On 'Epic Podcast With Lex Fridman: One Of The Most Powerful Conversations

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 23:19 IST

Lex Fridman while sharing the news on X (formerly Twitter), said that he had an epic three-hour conversation with the Prime Minister.

PM Modi With Lex Fridman. (X)

US podcaster Lex Fridmans podcast with Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be released on Sunday, Mar 16, 2025 at 5:30 pm (IST).

Fridman while sharing the news on X (formerly Twitter), said that he had an epic three-hour conversation with the Prime Minister. He further said that the conversation was one of the most powerful conversations in his life."

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I had an epic 3-hour podcast conversation with @narendramodi, Prime Minister of India. It was one of the most powerful conversations of my life. Itll be out tomorrow," he said on X.

Podcast should be published tomorrow (Sunday) around 8am EST / 5:30pm IST. Lex Fridman (@lexfridman) March 15, 2025

PM Modi further replied to Fridmans post and said that it was a fascinating conversation covering diverse topics including childhood and journey in public life.

It was indeed a fascinating conversation with @lexfridman, covering diverse topics including reminiscing about my childhood, the years in the Himalayas and the journey in public life. Do tune in and be a part of this dialogue!" he said on X.

It was indeed a fascinating conversation with @lexfridman, covering diverse topics including reminiscing about my childhood, the years in the Himalayas and the journey in public life.Do tune in and be a part of this dialogue! https://t.co/QaJ04qi1TD  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 15, 2025

The podcaster arrived in India last month to interview PM Modi. Ahead of his visit, Fridman had expressed his joy and eagerness to interact with PM Modi for hours on a range of topics including Indias history.

PM Modi is one of the most fascinating human beings" I have ever studied, Fridman had said.

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I cant wait to talk to him on podcast for several hours in a few weeks," he had added.

Earlier on January 19, through a post on X, Fridman had announced his plans to interview PM Modi. He had said, I will be doing a podcast with Narendra Modi (@narendramodi), Prime Minister of India, at the end of February. Ive never been to India, so Im excited to finally visit and experience many facets of its vibrant, historic culture and its amazing people as fully as I can."

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

First Published: March 15, 2025, 17:53 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. The future of relations between Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina may be further strengthened through gas supply, Mladen Ivanic, the former president of Bosnia and Herzegovina, told Trend.

Speaking on the sidelines of the XII Global Baku Forum, Ivanic recalled the strong ties between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan and evaluated future cooperation opportunities.

"Azerbaijan provided significant assistance to Bosnia after the war. We faced similar challenges, as both Bosnia and Azerbaijan went through the same war. Overall, our countries enjoy very good, friendly relations," he said

Ivanic went on to note the potential for further strengthening bilateral ties through gas supply.

"In the future, I would like to highlight that our relations will be further solidified through gas supply. Bosnia currently depends heavily on Russian supplies. Therefore, we are looking for alternative energy sources. I hope that our gas supply will come from Azerbaijan, via a pipeline passing through Albania.," he added.

The former president also shared his impressions of the Global Baku Forum.

"The Global Baku Forum has been excellently organized, especially in such challenging times. Because in todays world, everything can change unexpectedly, and anything is possible. Being together and sharing experiences with like-minded people is highly beneficial for the world. Perhaps, in this forum, we can find real solutions to the challenges we face," the former president concluded

The XII Global Baku Forum will be held from March 13 through 15 this year under the motto Rethinking the World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities.

The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

The event will discuss key global issues such as geopolitical changes, multilateralism, global health crisis, reconstruction and regional stability of the world, COP29, and others.

The Forum will bring together more than 300 world leaders from more than 60 countries, including more than 25 former presidents, more than 15 former prime ministers, about 10 heads of UN and international agencies, and more than 25 former ministers and deputy ministers.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Slapped 10-15 Times, Denied Sleep & Food: Ranya Rao Claims Torture In DRI Custody

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Ashesh Mallick



Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 17:24 IST

Kannada actor Ranya Rao has claimed assault, forceful denial of sleep and food since her arrest by the DRI in connection with the gold smuggling case.

Kannada actor Ranya Rao was arrested from Bengaluru Airport (Image: X)

Ranya Rao, who was arrested and accused of allegedly smuggling 14.2 kg of gold worth Rs 12.56 crore, has made some explosive claims in a letter to the Additional Director General of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

In the letter dated March 6, she claimed she was physically assaulted, slapped 10-15 times, and repeatedly slapped on her face for refusing to sign the statements they had prepared.

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Ranya Raos Explosive Letter

Rao also claimed she is innocent, and said that she has been falsely implicated, and was hit by officers whom she can identify.

Rao also claimed that she was denied food and threatened. One of the officers said that if youre not signing the papers, we will expose your fathers name and identify him, even though we know he is nowhere involved," she claimed in the letter.

The actor claimed that she had signed 50-60 typed pages and around 40 pages of blank paper as she was under immense pressure, stress, and subjected to physical assault; only by force by the DRI officers," she alleged in the letter.

Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of serving Karnataka DGP K Ramachandra Rao.

The letter stated that she was arrested directly from the aircraft and not from the airport terminal, as claimed in the documents by the DRI.

She went on to state, They apprehended me from inside the aircraft, and from the time of my apprehension till I was produced in court, substantially, I was hit and slapped on my face 10-15 times by the officers, whom I can identify."

Claiming that all the documents signed by her were under duress, she alleged that the DRIs version of events was not how it actually took place.

No Mahazar, as is being stated, was ever drawn, nor was my search conducted, nor was anything recovered from me. Some persons from Delhi who claimed to be officers clearly warned me to protect some other passengers and have falsely implicated me," she said in the letter.

This letter gains significance as it surfaces just a day after the special court in Bengaluru denied her bail request.

Ranyas Picture With Swollen Eyes Goes Viral

Recently, a picture of her went viral on social media, showing her swollen eyes, sparking speculations of assault in custody.

Reacting to the viral image, Karnataka State Commission for Women Chairperson Nagalakshmi Chaudhary had earlier said that the womens panel could not take action until a formal complaint is filed in this regard.

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If she submits a written request to the commissioner or directly to me, we will reach out to the relevant authorities to assist her, support her, ensure a thorough investigation, and obtain a report. That is the extent of the commissions role. However, since she has neither requested our intervention nor filed a complaint, I have no further comments," she said earlier.

Whoever committed the assault should not have done sotheres no doubt about that. No one has the right to take the law into their own hands. The investigation must proceed, and the legal process should unfold as it should. Assaulting anyone, whether a woman or anyone else, is completely unacceptable, and I strongly oppose it," Chaudhary added.

About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More

First Published: March 15, 2025, 17:12 IST
Ranya Rao's Stepfather, DGP Ramachandra Rao, Sent On 'Compulsory Leave' Amid Gold Smuggling Probe

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: News Desk



Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 20:57 IST

Actor Ranya Rao was arrested at the Bengaluru Airport for allegedly smuggling gold from Dubai.

Ranya Rao was arrested from the Kempagowda International Airport.

Kannada actor Ranya Raos stepfather, DGP Ramachandra Rao, was sent on compulsory leave", officials said on Saturday.

Rao is being investigated in the gold smuggling case in which his stepdaughter, Ranya, was arrested at Bengaluru Airport earlier this month.

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Sri KV Sharath Chandra, IPS (KN-1997)) Additional Director General of Police, Recruitment is placed in Concurrent Charge of the post of Chairman & Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, Bengaluru with immediate effect and until further orders, vice Dr. K. Ramachandra Rao, IPS sent on compulsory leave," an official order read.

Ramachandra Rao, DGP of Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation sent on compulsory leave; KV Sharath Chandra, Additional Director General of Police, Recruitment, is placed in Concurrent Charge of the post of Chairman & Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing & pic.twitter.com/33JM8dUJro ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2025

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The protocol officer who assisted Kannada actor Ranya Rao, recently arrested for gold smuggling, has alleged that Karnataka DGP Ramachandra Rao had explicitly instructed him to provide assistance at Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport, according to reports.

Basavaraj, a constable stationed at the airports police station, claimed that he was acting under direct orders from Ramachandra Rao. His responsibilities included facilitating Ranya Raos arrivals and departures, as per instructions from senior officials.

About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More

First Published: March 15, 2025, 19:52 IST
Samay Raina's Unfiltered Delhi Shows Cancelled Amid 'India's Got Latent' Row

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 23:15 IST

Ticketing platform BookMyShow informed the attendees that the event has been cancelled and they would receive refunds within seven to ten working days.

Samay Raina is mired in a controversy regarding India's Got Latent episode.

Indias Got Latent Controversy: Amid the ongoing controversy over his YouTube show Indias Got Latent, stand-up comedian Samay Rainas upcoming live shows at Delhis Talkatora stadium on March 21 and 23 have been cancelled.

Ticketing platform BookMyShow informed the attendees that the event has been cancelled and they would receive refunds within seven to ten working days.

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Raina was scheduled to perform the shows, Unfiltered on March 21 and 23 at the venue. Both the shows were shown to be sold out on BookMyShow. However, just a few days before the shows, the ticketing app on Saturday sent out a message to the attendees, informing them about the cancellation.

Your Samay Raina Unfiltered  Talkatora Stadium Show scheduled on Fri Mar 21 2025 (or Sun Mar 23 2025) 7:00 PM at Talkatora Stadium Delhi has been cancelled. Sorry for the inconvenience caused. We have processed the refund for the amountThe refund should reflect in 7 to 10 working days," the message sent by the ticketing platform read.

Earlier, Raina reportedly cancelled his Gujarat shows after the controversy over influencer Ranveer Allahbadias recent comments on Rainas show, Indias Got Latent, got escalated.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) had claimed that the stand-up comedian is no longer scheduled to perform in Gujarat and his show tickets have been taken down from BookMyShow. VHP spokesperson Hitendrasinh Rajput had claimed that Raina had planned four shows in the state. Reportedly, he was supposed to perform in Surat on April 17, in Vadodara on April 18 and in Ahmedabad on April 19 and 20.

A massive row got triggered after Allahbadia, also known as Beerbiceps, asked a contestant about the size of his p****" and even offered Rs 2 crore if he sucked his d***". But he didnt stop there. He went on to pose an outrageous question lifted from a recent episode of a YouTube show. The question was: Watch your parents have sex every day for the rest of your life. Or would you join in once and stop it forever?"

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court came down heavily on Raina for speaking out about the ongoing controversy, saying that the young generation thinks it is oversmart" and they know more".

The top courts remarks came while hearing a petition by Allahbadia, whose remarks sparked massive outrage across the country.

There are some people who are writing articles on free speech etc. We know how to handle them also. Every fundamental right is followed by duty. There are restrictions also," Justice Surya Kant said.

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The judge noted that there was a commentary made on the case by one of the accused abroad.

Raina, who was on the Canada tour last month for Samay Raina Unfiltered, had addressed the controversy around his show and had said to the crowd, Thanks for paying my lawyers fees".

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

First Published: March 15, 2025, 23:15 IST
Several Injured, Shops Torched As Holi Procession Turns Violent In Jharkhand's Giridih | On Cam

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 10:09 IST

The incident took place during the passing of a Holi procession in Ghodthamba when it was opposed by a group, leading to a clash.

Jharkhand: Vehicles torched after a scuffle broke out between two communities during Holi celebration in the Ghorthamba area. (Image: ANI)

Several people were injured after a clash broke out between two groups during a Holi procession in Jharkhands Giridih district on Friday, police said. At least three shops were allegedly torched during the incident.

Police forces have been deployed and the situation is under control, a police officer said.

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Giridih, Jharkhand: A stone-pelting incident and arson occurred between two groups in Ghorthamba during a Holi procession. Police, led by SP Bimal Kumar, controlled the situation after an hour of clashes. Several shops, vehicles were set on fire(14/03/2025) pic.twitter.com/AWvyg9yyNB  IANS (@ians_india) March 15, 2025

The incident took place during the passing of a Holi procession in Ghodthamba when it was opposed by a group, leading to a clash. Reportedly, both sides pelted each other with stones.

#WATCH | Jharkhand: Vehicles torched after a scuffle broke out between two communities during Holi celebration in the Ghorthamba area (14/03) pic.twitter.com/Ao1Sn2WBGh ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2025

A large police contingent was deployed to restore peace in the area. The situation is under control and is being monitored closely," Khorimahua Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Rajendra Prasad said.

Supintendent of Police Dr Bimal informed that action has been taken against the cuprits and once identified, strict action will be taken. Right now, the situation is under control and no one has suffered any major injuries. Some vehicles were also set on fire," he added.

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Responding to the incident, the JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) has stated that such incidents are condemnable and have no place in a civilised society. They also mentioned that the government is serious about the matter and has instructed for action, which is already visible as the administration is taking steps.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Jharkhand, India, India

First Published: March 15, 2025, 08:25 IST
Shiv Sena Leader Chased On Bike While Grocery Shopping, Shot Dead In Punjab; Minor Boy Injured

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 07:23 IST

Mangat Rai alias Manga was the Moga district president of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. He was grocery shopping when three unknown people fired at him, injuring a minor boy in the process.

Mangat Rai Manga was shot dead while grocery shopping in Punjab's Moga. (Representative Image)

A Shiv Sena leader was shot dead here late on Thursday night while a boy was also injured in the attack, police said.

The deceased, Mangat Rai alias Manga, was the Moga district president of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena," a police official said.

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The incident occurred when Manga (52), who had stepped out of the house to buy groceries, was attacked by three unknown persons at around 10 pm.

VIDEO | A Shiv Sena leader, Mangat Rai Manga, was shot dead by some assailants in Punjabs Moga district on the intervening night of March 13 and 14 during Holi celebrations. More details awaited. Visuals from outside the district hospital.(Full video available on PTI pic.twitter.com/vbI4e3VKqE  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 14, 2025

The bullet initially missed Manga and hit a 12-year-old boy who was passing through the area, he said.

Manga then immediately fled the area on a two-wheeler, but the assailants chased him.

During the chase, the attackers fired at Manga again, this time successfully, and ran away from the spot.

Manga was taken to a hospital by police, where he was declared dead by doctors. The injured child was initially admitted to the Moga Civil Hospital and later referred to another hospital for better treatment, according to an official.

On the basis of a complaint lodged by his wife, six accused and some unknown individuals have been booked, and an investigation is underway, the police official said.

While police said the incident could be a fallout of a personal rivalry, the deceaseds family said he did not have enmity with anyone.

Some outfits and family members of the deceased held a protest at Pratap Chowk here, demanding the arrest of the accused.

Slogans were raised against the AAP government, alleging a complete breakdown of the law and order situation in Punjab.

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Earlier, Mangas daughter told PTI Videos that her father left the house at around 8 pm on Thursday to get milk. At 11 pm, someone informed us that my father was shot dead. We want justice and will do whatever we have to do for that," she said.

In another incident on the same night, three motorcycle riders entered a salon in Bagiana Basti around 9 pm on Thursday for a haircut and fired two shots at the owner, Devender Kumar. One bullet hit Kumar in the leg, and he was taken to Moga Civil Hospital for treatment and later referred to another hospital, police said. A probe is underway.

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 : Moga, India, India

First Published: March 15, 2025, 07:22 IST
Tensions Erupt In Bengal's Birbhum After Violence On Holi, Internet Suspended Till March 17

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 13:14 IST

In the notification, the state government clarified that the decision to ban internet services was taken based on information regarding unlawful activities.

A clash took place during Holi in Birbhum district. (Image: X)

After tensions erupted on violent clashes between two groups in Bengals Birbhum district on Holi, the government suspended internet services till March 17. In addition to this, a huge contingent of security forces have been deployed to maintain law and order in the area.

21 people have been arrested in connection with the incident, police said.

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The clash took place after a verbal altercation broke out between a group and some intoxicated individuals in Sainthia town on Friday. The two groups also reprotedly hurled stones at each other and engaged in fisticuffs, with some locals suffering injuries in the brawl.

However, in the notification issued from the office of the Principal Secretary to the State Home & Hill Affairs Department regarding ban on Internet services, the mention of the clashes has been carefully avoided.

According to IANS, the decision on the internet services suspension has been taken in view of the recent events in some areas". The ban on internet transmissions and voiceover internet telephony was imposed on Friday.

In the notification, it has also been clarified that the ban has been imposed in apprehension that such services might be used for unlawful activities in the geographical area" of the Sainthia town area and its adjacent areas.

The state government clarified that the decision to ban internet services was taken based on information regarding unlawful activities.

And whereas, examination of information received gives reason to believe that such unlawful activities are likely to occur in the absence of preventive measures," the notification read.

By night, the clashes spread to some other pockets in Sainthian and adjacent areas prompting the administration to ban internet services.

BJP Attacks TMC Over Law & Order

Launching an attack on TMC led government in Bengal, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari said that the restriction on Internet services is not only evidence of the deterioration" of the law and order situation in the state but also an acceptance of incapability" on the part of the administration to control the situation. According to him, skirmishes also took place in Tamluk and Nandakumar in his native district of East Midnapore and various other places across West Bengal.

He also accused the state government of trying its best to hide the events of communal flare-ups to save face. Adhikari also urged the Union Home Ministry to seek a report from the state Chief Secretary.

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The chief secretary must send an appropriate report to the Union Home Ministry and the Governors Office that chronicles the actual and honest events that are taking place across West Bengal for the last couple of days," Adhikari said.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : West Bengal, India, India

First Published: March 15, 2025, 12:32 IST
They Would Suffer In Competitive World: Man Drowns Sons In Bucket For Poor Academics, Kills Self

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 16:34 IST

A man allegedly killed his two sons for their poor academic show and then hanged himself in Andhra Pradesh's Kakinada.

Andhra man kills his sons over poor academic performance (Representative Image)

A 37-year-old Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) employee allegedly killed his two sons for their poor academic performance and then died by suicide in Andhra Pradeshs Kakinada, the police said on Saturday.

The incident took place at around 10 pm on Friday when the man drowned his children in a bucket of water after being disappointed with their academic results.

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The incident came to light when the mans wife found him hanging in the bedroom and her children were found lifeless in a bucket.

The police said that the man killed his sons as he feared his sons would struggle and suffer in a competitive world if they did not excel in their studies".

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Unable to bear this thought, he took the extreme step," the police added.

A suicide note was also recovered from the spot and the police are examining its content. The authorities have also deployed forensic teams and launched an investigation to ascertain the situation leading to the crime.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

Location : Kakinada, India, India

First Published: March 15, 2025, 16:34 IST
UP Man Thrashed, Forced To Consume Poison By Ex-Girlfriend & Associates, Police Launch Probe

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 14:03 IST

Shailendra Gupta demanded that his ex-girlfriend return the cash and jewellery worth lakhs gifted by him during the relationship. He was beaten and forced to consume poison by her and her associates.

The victim was beaten and forced to drink poison by his ex-girlfriend and her associates. (Representative Image)

A man from Uttar Pradeshs Hamirpur has been hospitalised after he was allegedly beaten up and poisoned by his former girlfriend and her associates.

Shailendra Gupta, who works as a medical representative in Mahoba, was reportedly attacked after demanding the return of cash and jewellery given to his ex-girlfriend during their four-year live-in relationship, according to a report from NDTV.

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As per reports, Gupta met the woman from Kalipahari village four years ago and soon entered into a romantic relationship with her. He provided her with lakhs of rupees worth of jewelry, along with approximately Rs 4 lakh in cash and online transfers during their relationship. However, the relationship soured, and the couple eventually separated.

The girl began seeing another man and distanced herself from him. The situation escalated when Gupta visited their former rented accomodation to retrieve his belongings and requested the return of the money and jewellery.

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He was then allegedly assaulted by the woman and three associates identified as Sadab Beg, Deepak, and Happy, who also allegedly forced him to ingest poison. He was rushed to the district hospital in a critical condition.

In addition to the assault, Gupta has accused his former partner and her associates of blackmail, claiming they threatened to falsely implicate him in a case if he continues to demand the return of his money and valuables. The accused are currently in hiding. Police have launched an investigation into the matter.

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 : Hamirpur, India, India

First Published: March 15, 2025, 14:03 IST
Wifes Vulgar Chatting With Other Men Is Mental Cruelty Towards Husband: HC

Reported By :

LawBeat Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 15:53 IST

The court underscored that spouses must maintain dignity in their conversations with others after marriage

The court observed that after marriage, both husband and wife have freedom to have a conversation with friends but the level of conversation should be decent and dignified, especially when it is with the opposite gender. (Pixabay)

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has dismissed a womans appeal challenging the dissolution of her marriage, ruling that her vulgar conversations with other men constituted mental cruelty towards her husband, justifying the grant of divorce on grounds of cruelty.

Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Gajendra Singh, presiding over the Indore bench of the High Court, observed: No husband would tolerate that his wife is in conversation through mobile by way of these type of vulgar chatting. After marriage husband and wife both have freedom to have a conversation by way of mobile, chatting and other means with friends but the level of conversation should be decent and dignified, especially when it is with an opposite gender, which may not be objectionable to the life partner. If despite objection husband or wife continues with such activity or activities, then certainly it causes mental cruelty."

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The couple got married in December 2018 under Hindu customs. The husband (respondent), a bank manager with partial hearing impairment, alleged that his wife (appellant) mistreated his mother and used to address her as mother of deaf. It was also alleged that the wife left the matrimonial home within 1.5 months and refused to return.

The husband further accused his wife of having explicit WhatsApp conversations with former lovers, discussing past physical relations. He claimed that she had threatened to implicate him in false cases. In support of his claims, the husband presented WhatsApp chat transcripts, a police complaint, and a written admission from the wifes father, who stated that his daughters conduct had brought shame to the family. The family court, after evaluating the evidence, ruled in the husbands favour, granting him divorce on grounds of mental cruelty on June 24, 2023.

The wife, in response, denied all allegations, claiming her husband has violated her right of privacy by procuring the chats from her mobile. She further alleged that her husband hacked her phone and fabricated evidence. She accused him of domestic violence and dowry demands of Rs 25 lakh. However, during cross-examination, she admitted submitting an apology at Neelganga police station on September 2, 2020. Her father, a senior advocate, did not dispute his earlier statement confirming her frequent chats with male friends.

The high court upheld the family courts ruling, emphasising that it is not expected from a wife or husband to indulge into in to the undignified or indecent conversation by way of chatting with a male or female friends as the case may be that too after marriage."

The court further held that continuing such conduct despite objections amounts to mental cruelty, warranting the dissolution of marriage. The respondent has certainly made out the case by way of evidence that the appellant committed mentally cruelty upon him," the court stated.

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Conclusively, the court held that the appeal was liable to be dismissed stating that the appellant has failed to point out any perversity in the findings recorded by the family court."

Accordingly, the court affirmed the family courts ruling and dismissed the wifes appeal, upholding the divorce decree.

Location : Indore, India, India

First Published: March 15, 2025, 15:53 IST
Dealing With Hair Loss? Here Are Some Expert Advices That You Can Follow

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 10:18 IST

A topical medication called minoxidil stimulates hair follicles and encourages hair growth.

Choosing the right remedies requires determining the underlying reason.

Hair health is a vital component for self-esteem and personal grooming. Common problems like hair loss and breakage can have an impact on peoples self-esteem and general well-being. It is essential to know how these issues might be effectively treated. Read on to find out the reasons for hair loss and breakage, along with effective therapies for promoting hair growth and health.

Understanding Hair Loss and Breakage

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Anyone can experience hair loss, which is a natural occurrence. You can lose 50 to 100 hairs every day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Given that you have 100,000 hair follicles on your head and that hair usually regrows, this might not seem like much. However, depending on the underlying cause, you can lose your hair more quickly. Hair loss can sometimes be irreversible. Your health may not be directly impacted by hair loss, but it could have a big emotional impact.

Split ends and shorter strands are the result of hair breakage, which happens when the hair shaft breaks. Environmental factors, chemical treatments, over-washing, and excessive heat styling are some common factors. Alopecia, or hair loss, can be caused by autoimmune diseases including alopecia areata, hormonal fluctuations, genetic predispositions, and medical problems. Choosing the right remedies requires determining the underlying reason.

Hair Loss Treatment

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr. Kashish Kalra, MBBS, MD, a dermatologist, hair transplant surgeon, head of department at Max Hospital, and founder of Dr. Kalra Skin Clinic, shared three primary ways to cure hair loss. Some drugs have been clinically shown to be effective in treating hair loss. Among the most widely utilised are:

Minoxidil- A topical medication called minoxidil stimulates hair follicles and encourages hair growth.

A topical medication called minoxidil stimulates hair follicles and encourages hair growth. Finasteride- By inhibiting the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is connected to hair thinning, finasteride is an oral drug that helps stop hair loss.

By inhibiting the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is connected to hair thinning, finasteride is an oral drug that helps stop hair loss. Peptides- Treatments based on plant-derived peptides like Redensyl and Capixyl are showing promise as treatments for hair loss.

Although studies on these components are still under progress, they have demonstrated promise in strengthening hair strands and lowering severe hair loss.

Regenerative Treatment

Through the improvement of scalp conditions and follicular health, regenerative treatments aid in the stimulation of natural hair growth. These consist of:

Mesotherapy- It is the process of utilising fine needles or microneedling to inject a mixture of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids into the scalp. It increases hair density and enhances follicular nutrition.

PRP- Platelets are taken from the patients blood, concentrated, and then injected into the scalp as part of a process known as platelet-rich plasma, or PRP. PRP promotes the regeneration of hair follicles, increasing hair density by about 2030%. For noticeable results, this treatment necessitates several sessions.

Growth Factor Concentrate- GFC is a platelet-derived treatment that stimulates follicular activity to promote hair growth, much like PRP. Although it may have a more concentrated effect, it functions via the same method as PRP.

AMT- The process known as autologous micrografting, or AMT, entails taking growth factors and stem cells from the patients hair follicles, typically found in the back of the scalp, and reintroducing them into places where hair is thinning. For obvious improvement, AMT usually only takes one session, as opposed to PRP or GFC.

Exosome therapy- It is a novel treatment that uses microneedling to introduce exosomes made of DNA. By assisting in the regulation of the hair growth cycle, these exosomes support stronger and healthier hair. For best outcomes, several sessions might be required, similar to PRP and GFC.

Surgical Methods

A hair transplant is the most dependable alternative for people with advanced hair loss when non-surgical treatments are not working. Hair follicles from a donor area, usually the back of the scalp, are transferred to bald or thinning areas during a hair transplant.

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Other concealment techniques, such as scalp micropigmentation or hair patches, can offer cosmetic alternatives when hair transplantation is not an option.

A complete strategy that incorporates good hair care habits, the use of efficient products, and, where required, medical interventions is needed to address hair breakage and encourage hair growth. Treatments including minoxidil, finasteride, and hair transplantation are effective options for those who are losing their hair. There is yet hope for more sophisticated and successful treatments in the future. To choose the method for each patients needs, it is advised to speak with dermatologists or other medical specialists.

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 15, 2025, 10:18 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has awarded military personnel of the State Agency for Protection of Strategic Objects for their distinguished service, Trend reports.

The head of state signed a decree granting various honors to military personnel of the Agency who have shown exceptional performance in the execution of their duties.

Following the decree, the following military personnel of the State Agency for the Protection of Strategic Facilities of the Republic of Azerbaijan have been awarded the "For Service to the Homeland" Order, 3rd degree, in recognition of their exceptional service in the fulfillment of their duties:

The "For Service to the Homeland" Order of the Third Degree:

Asgarov Vasif - Lieutenant Colonel

Mirzayev Ruslan - Lieutenant Colonel

The "For the Homeland" Medal:

Ismayilov Ramin - Lieutenant Colonel

Behbudov Nofel - Major

The "For Military Services" Medal:

Abbasov Hafiz - Lieutenant Colonel

Alekperov Eldaniz - Lieutenant Colonel

Abdullayev Tural - Major

Eyvazli Parviz - Major

Mayilov Elmaddin - Major

Musayev Ilgar - Major

Heydarov Fuad  captain

Najafov Fadig  captain.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
From Czech Republic To USA: Check Top 5 Countries With Most Bald Men

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 17:36 IST

Hair loss can be due to factors like excess pollution, lack of sleep, unhealthy eating habits and others. It can also be a result of hormonal changes and heredity.

The Czech Republic ranks at number 1.

Baldness or hair loss is one of the most common health issues, particularly in men, worldwide due to factors like excess pollution, lack of sleep, unhealthy eating habits and others. It can also be a result of hormonal changes and heredity. Male pattern baldness affects millions of men globally, yet certain countries have a far larger percentage of bald men than others.

Hair loss can vary significantly between different geographical locations due to factors such as genetics, lifestyle and the impact of the environment. Take a look at the top 5 countries with the most number of bald people.

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Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has the greatest percentage of men losing their hair. Almost 43 percent of males here have lost or are losing their hair, which usually starts during their 20s or 30s. While baldness or hair loss can have numerous causes, in the Czech Republic, a large percentage of males develop male pattern baldness, which is frequently related to a combination of genetics, hormonal elements (particularly androgens), and possibly nutritional factors.

Spain

Next on the list is Spain. The country is not far behind the Czech Republic, with a similar about 43 percent of its male residents losing their hair as well. Although it is difficult to measure exactly how many people are losing their hair, it is evident that Spain and the Czech Republic are quite high on the list. The major reason for baldness in men here is androgenetic alopecia, a genetic and hormonal condition, with other factors like stress and lifestyle also playing significant roles.

Germany

Following both of them, its Germany in Europe at number 3, with almost 41 percent of male citizens losing their hair. In Germany, like elsewhere, common causes of baldness include heredity, hormonal changes, certain medical conditions, and lifestyle factors such as stress and food.

France

Although French men are known for their charismatic flair, France still comes in the top 5 list of most-bald male residents with an average of 39.24 percent. Similar to all the aforementioned countries, the reason behind baldness here is also due to genetics, hormonal changes, stress, and certain medical conditions. However, many are also seeking effective treatment to address baldness, with a significant number of people opting for solutions like hair transplants.

United States of America

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The United States also has a comparatively high percentage of male individuals who lose their hair. In the US, around 39 percent of males have lost or are losing it. Some are due to hereditary causes, while others may have developed a medical condition that causes hair loss.

If youre also dealing with hair loss or baldness, there are a number of treatment options available for them. Also, there are specialist doctors who help in assisting patients in replacing lost hair.

About the Author Lifestyle Desk Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi... Read More Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi... 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!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: March 15, 2025, 17:36 IST
World Consumer Rights Day 2025: Theme, History, And Global Consumer Rights

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 07:00 IST

World Consumer Rights Day, on March 15, promotes consumer protection. Inspired by JFK's 1962 speech, it began in 1983.

World Consumer Rights Day 2025 theme is, A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles. (Image: Shutterstock)

World Consumer Rights Day is marked on March 15 globally to promote consumer protection and increase awareness of consumer rights. This day is also commemorated to raise awareness about global market inequities. It is an annual occasion that honours the worldwide consumer movements unity and crucial right.

People around the world are raising their voices against the exploitation of consumers basic rights. Consumers demand that the authorities protect and respect these rights at any cost. From history to its significance, heres everything you need to know about the day.

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World Consumer Rights Day 2025: History

World Consumer Rights Day was inspired by US President John Fitzgerald Kennedys speech to the US Congress on March 15, 1962. Later, after almost two decades, the day was first commemorated on March 15, 1983. Kennedy became the first global leader to discuss consumer rights, addressing the topic and highlighting its significance.

Numerous organisations, such as Consumer International, celebrate the date annually by launching campaigns and activities to protect consumer rights.

World Consumer Rights Day 2025: Significance

The primary goal of celebrating World Consumer Rights Day is to ensure that consumers are not exposed to commercial exploitation or injustice. In the money-centric world, consumers rights could be compromised easily. This international event also provides a platform to raise awareness about customers rights and how to use them in their daily lives.

World Consumer Rights Day 2025: Theme

In 2025, World Consumer Rights Day will be observed under the theme of A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles". This particular theme highlights the importance of making sustainable options available, affordable, and accessible to all consumers while respecting their needs and rights.

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Common Consumer Rights Around the World

The right of safety guarantees protection from dangerous goods and services to consumers all around the world. The Right to Information is a must for all the customers. They should have access to accurate and transparent information about goods, including details on ingredients, costs, guarantees and possible hazards. This stands against dishonest and misleading advertising. The customers also have the freedom to choose. This allows them to make wise judgments in a competitive market that offers a wide range of possibilities. This right protects against discriminatory corporate practices that restrict options. The customers are allowed to express their worries and honest opinions about the product. To make sure that the consumers are heard, they are provided with this right to speak, all around the world. The customers are also provided with the right to redress. This makes sure that customers are entitled to a just resolution, including repairs, replacements, reimbursements, or compensation if they experience an issue with a purchase. For consumers to make wise decisions in the marketplace, they should have access to resources and knowledge. Hence, they are provided with the right to education.

About the Author Nibandh Vinod Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... 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 15, 2025, 07:00 IST
Aamir Khan Reveals How He Kept Relationship With Gauri Spratt Hidden For 18 Months: 'Mere Ghar Pe Focus Kam Hai'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 07:50 IST

Aamir Khan said he would often fly to Bangalore as the media scrutiny is less there.

Aamir Khan and Gauri Spratt have known each other for 25 years.

Aamir Khan confirmed his relationship with Gauri Spratt ahead of his 60th birthday. He introduced Gauri to the media at an informal pre-birthday celebration and revealed that his family also liked his new girlfriend. He had recently made her meet Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan as well. As per reports, they have been together for 18 months now. How did Aamir manage to keep his relationship private?

At his pre-birthday event, Aamir joked, Dekha kuch bhi pata nahi chalne diya maine tum logo ko (See, I did not let you get wind of this)." But how did Aamir Khan keep his relationship hidden from the media? The actor said, For one, she lives in Bangalore, or lived there till recently. So, I would fly down to meet her, and the media scrutiny is less there. So we stayed under the radar."

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As for when Gauri flew to Mumbai to meet Aamir and his family, the star alluded to the other Khans and said, Mere ghar pe focus thoda kam hai. Aap log miss kar dete ho (The focus is not as much on my house. You guys miss things)." Aamir Khan decided to make his relationship public as he feels secure now. He said, We are committed now, and we felt we were secure enough in each other to tell you guys. And this is better, I wont have to hide things now."

Gauri also spoke about meeting Aamirs family and said they welcomed her with open arms. As per the Deccan Herald, Gauri said she felt very welcomed" by Aamirs family. She mentioned that they met her with open arms" and were very warm towards her. Aamir Khan revealed that he has known Gauri for 25 years, and the two recently reconnected.

Gauri Spratt hails from Bengaluru and is currently working at Aamir Khan Films. She has a professional background in hairdressing and holds an FDA in Fashion, Styling, and Photography from the University of Arts, London. Gauri has a Tamilian mother and an Irish father, and her grandfather was a freedom fighter. She is also a mother to a six-year-old son.

About the Author Kashvi Raj Singh Kashvi Raj Singh is a News Trainee at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in lon... Read More Kashvi Raj Singh is a News Trainee at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in lon... Read More

First Published: March 15, 2025, 07:50 IST
Aamir Khan's Girlfriend Gauri Spratt Reveals What Made Her Fall In Love With Him

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 07:31 IST

Aamir Khan's girlfriend, Gauri Spratt, isn't a Bollywood fan and has seen only two of his films. They reconnected two years ago after meeting 25 years ago.

Aamir Khan is dating Gauri Spratt.

Bollywoods Mr. Perfectionist has found someone who doesnt need to binge-watch his blockbuster hits to fall for him! Aamir Khans girlfriend, Gauri Spratt, recently spilled the beans on what truly won her heartand no, it wasnt 3 Idiots or Dangal. In fact, Gauri isnt much of a Bollywood buff and has only watched two of Aamirs films. So, what exactly made her swoon over the superstar?

While introducing Gauri to the media at his pre-birthday celebration, the duo opened up about their relationship. Aamir Khan and Gauri Spratts love story is straight out of a Bollywood scriptminus the dramatic twists! While talking about their connection, Aamir revealed that they first crossed paths 25 years ago but lost touch, only to reconnect two years ago. I was looking for someone I can be calm with, who gives me peace. And there she was," Aamir shared.

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Gauri, on the other hand, opened up about what she wanted in a partner and why she liked Aamir. I wanted someone who was kind, a gentleman, and just caring," she said. To which Aamir cheekily responded, And after all that, you found me?"

Gauri wasnt too familiar with Aamirs films or his work since she doesnt watch a lot of Hindi movies. When asked by the media to name some of Aamirs favorite films, she candidly admitted that she hadnt watched many. Aamir explained, She grew up in Bangalore, and her exposure was to different kinds of films and arts. So she doesnt watch Hindi films. She has probably not seen much of my work, too." Gauri said that she had watched Dil Chahta Hai and Lagaan, but years ago.

When asked if Gauris unfamiliarity with Aamirs work helped their relationship, both agreed that it actually does! She doesnt see me as a superstar but as a partner," Aamir shared.

However, theres one film Aamir would really love for Gauri to watchTaare Zameen Par! And with the film re-releasing in theatres as part of his Cinema Ka Jadugar festival, Aamir hinted that they might just catch it on the big screen together.

Gauri Spratt may not be a Bollywood buff, but shes got quite an interesting story of her own! Hailing from Bangalore, shes the daughter of Rita Spratt, who owned a salon in the city. Having spent most of her life there, Gauri has now made a mark in Mumbai tooher LinkedIn profile reveals that she currently runs a BBlunt salon in the city.

She also has a six-year-old child and has known Aamir for 25 years! However, their love story officially began just 18 months ago.

First Published: March 15, 2025, 07:31 IST
Aamir Khan's Girlfriend Gauri Spratt's New Pic From Pre-Birthday Meet Goes VIRAL | Check It Out

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 18:06 IST

Aamir Khan introduced his girlfriend, Gauri Spratt, at his pre-birthday celebration on March 13. Spratt's photo from the event is going viral.

Aamir Khan admitted to dating Gauri Spratt.

Aamir Khan recently hosted a pre-birthday celebration with paps and the media on March 13. Known as a person who is fiercely protective of his personal space, Aamir surprised everyone by introducing his girlfriend, Gauri Spratt, to his media friends. And thus, the whole attention shifted to finding out more about the superstars new ladylove. Amid this, a new photo of Spratt from the pre-birthday meet has emerged and it is going viral on the web.

Dressed in a simple blue kurta with blue leggings, Gauri Spratts new photo is breaking the Internet. She carried a simple black bag and wore her glasses to the pre-birthday meet. The photo was posted by pap Yogen Shahs page on Instagram. Take a look:

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by yogen shah (@yogenshah_s)

Aamir Khan and Gauri Spratt have reportedly known each other for 25 years. Based in Bengaluru, she works with the actors production house and is mother to a six-year-old boy from her previous marriage. Recently, the Lagaan actor admitted to preparing Spratt for the media madness". He further said that although she feels ready to face the media now, he urged everyone to be kind to her.

I have tried to tell her how it will be, the media madness, and prepare her somewhat for it. She isnt used to it. But we are hoping that you guys will be kind," Aamir told Hindustan Times.

The actor further said that though a third marriage isnt on his mind at the moment, he feels steadiness in his relationship with Spratt. I dont know at the age of 60, mujhe shaadi shobha deti hai ki nahi (if marriage suits me)." He also said that his children are happy with their relationship, adding, I am very fortunate to have such great relationships with my ex-wives."

Previously, Aamir Khan was married to Reena Dutta for 16 years, before parting ways in 2002. They are parents to Junaid Khan and Ira Khan. He married Kiran Rao three years later, in 2005. They announced their divorce in 2021. The former couple co-parent their son, Azad Rao Khan.

First Published: March 15, 2025, 18:06 IST
Jason Isaacs Faces Backlash For Calling The White Lotus Nude Scene Discussion Double Standard

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 16:59 IST

The 61-year-old actor compared his scene to that of actresses Mikey Madison and Margaret Qualley, saying that no one questions female actors about their genitalia after their nude scenes.

Jason Isaacs is currently seen on The White Lotus season 3. (Photo Credit: Instagram)

Jason Isaacs has been making waves with a full-frontal nude scene in the ongoing season of The White Lotus. In the fourth episode, his character, Timothy Ratliff, was seen spiralling over an FBI investigation into his multi-million dollar business. He struggles to keep the news away from his family when he puts other things on display, which has now caused a widespread social media debate.

The English actor, who recently appeared on CBS Mornings, addressed the controversy surrounding the scene. During the interview, Jason was asked if he used prosthetics for the nude scene, but he swiftly redirected the conversation to a broader issue of difference when male and female nudity is discussed in Hollywood.

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When the co-host Gayle King brought up the speculation that he used a prosthetic penis, the 61-year-old actor said, A lot of people are debating it. Its all over the internet."

However, when pressed for a more definitive answer by the shows host, Jason challenged the nature of the discussion without confirming or denying the speculations circulating on social media. He compared his nude scene to that of actresses Mikey Madison and Margaret Qualley and argued that there is a difference in how male and female nudity is discussed.

The Harry Potter star explained, Ill tell you why because the best actress this year is Mikey Madison at the Oscars, and I dont see anyone discussing her vulva, which is on television all the time, and Im not talking about Swedish cars." Jason further went on to call out the double standards," saying, I think its interesting that theres a double standard for men, but when women are naked, Margaret Qualley in The Substance, no one would dream of talking to her about her genitalia or her nipples or any of those things. So, its odd that theres a double standard."

The 61-year-old actor acknowledged that he knowingly sidestepped the hosts query about using prosthetics because he thought people dont want to know how the sausage is made."

Jason further remarked that if actresses were naked in a show, no one would dare to discuss their genitalia, not for a second." His remarks did not go down well with people on the Internet.

Many lashed out at him, calling the actor tone deaf."

W** kind of warped bubble is he in?! Women get dissected and scrutinized all of the time, asking about their weight, bra size, and are made into sex objects for male consumption. This is so off-base, out of touch, and tone-deaf. But sure, your prosthetic penis is an albatross," said a user.

Another added, Out of touch and a bit aholish. Mildly disappointing."

This is wild because actresses get asked about their bodies ALL THE TIME," said a different user.

The White Lotus 3 premiered on HBO on February 16.

About the Author Yatamanyu Narain Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, hes always on the hun... Read More Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, hes always on the hun... Read More

First Published: March 15, 2025, 16:59 IST
Sambhavna Seth Mourns The Loss Of Her 16-Year-Old Pet Dog, Cherry: She Took A Part Of Us With Her

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 19:08 IST

Sambhavna Seth is mourning the loss of her 16-year-old pet dog, Cherry, whom she considered family. Sharing an emotional note on social media, she revealed Cherrys final moments and the deep void left behind.

Sambhavna Seth mourns the loss of her 16-year-old pet dog, Cherry. She shares a heartfelt tribute, saying, She gave us a lifetime of love.

Former Bigg Boss 2 contestant Sambhavna Seth is grieving the loss of her beloved 16-year-old pet dog, Cherry. Taking to social media on Saturday, she shared an emotional note, reflecting on Cherrys final moments and the deep void left behind.

We did everything we could, held onto hope, prayed, and stayed by her side. But sometimes, love isnt enough to keep them with us. In her final moments, she looked at us as if trying to say something. We held her close she opened her mouth a few times, and then she left. Peacefully. Silently. Taking a part of us with her," Sambhavna wrote, alongside heartfelt pictures of Cherry.

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She expressed how Cherry was more than just a petshe was family. She was 16 but she gave us a lifetime of love. More than we took care of her, she took care of us. The house feels empty. Our hearts feel hollow. We cant believe shes gone. We gave her a farewell with all the love in the world, with prayers, and with her favourite balls, just the way she would have wanted."

The actress also extended gratitude to those who had loved Cherry, urging them to keep her in their prayers. To everyone who loved Cherry, we know this is hard for you too. All we can pray for is that, in her next life, she chooses us again. Cherry, our baby, you will always be with us. Please keep her in your prayers. May her soul rest in peace."

On the professional front, Sambhavna was last seen in the 2019 television show Gudiya Hamari Sabhi Pe Bhari and made a special appearance in the Bhojpuri film Nirahua Chalal London, featuring in the song Pandit Ji Ka Beta Hai.

About the Author Yatamanyu Narain Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, hes always on the hun... Read More Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, hes always on the hun... Read More

First Published: March 15, 2025, 19:08 IST
Soni Razdan's Bold Wish For Daughter Alia Bhatt On Her Birthday: 'May Audacity Be Your Friend'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 15:59 IST

Soni Razdan wrote a heartfelt poem for daughter Alia Bhatt's birthday, expressing pride and love.

Soni Razdan shared a heartwarming birthday wish for Alia Bhatt.

Soni Razdan wrote a beautiful poem wishing daughter Alia Bhatt on her birthday today, March 15. She personified audacity, writing how she wanted it to be Alias friend. The Raazi actor also added how Alia adds glow to their lives. Razdans poem spoke volumes about how proud she is of her birdie" and her achievements.

Dearest Alia, A little wish for you," began Razdans wrote. She continued, You perhaps do not know. How you make all our lives glow. Hope you have a smashing year."

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Her poem then took a bold turn. The next few lines read: And live it without any fears. May audacity be your friend. And your triumphs never end. May your troubles melt away (And not come back another day)."

Expressing love for her daughter, Razdan added, I know my poems not that great, But its hearts in the right place. All that Im trying to convey. Is I love you more than words can say." She concluded her note with the words, Happy Birthday birdie. Keep on flying." Take a look at her post here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soni Razdan (@sonirazdan)

Neetu Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoors mother and Alias mother-in-law, also wished her bahu on social media. Calling the Highway actor her gorgeous friend", she posted one of their first selfies together. Happy birthday my gorgeous friend. This pic is precious as its one of our first. Stay happy and blessed. Love love and more love @aliaabhatt," she wrote, while sharing the photo.

Meanwhile, Alia recently hosted an informal meet-and-greet with paps and the media to celebrate her birthday. She sat beside Ranbir Kapoor, who also took part in the celebrations. There, the actor reflected on her career, Cannes debut slated to take place in May this year, her life and more.

On the work front, Alia Bhatt will be next seen in Alpha. She will star alongside Sharvari in YRFs first female-led film in their spy universe. Apart from this, she is shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Love & War, co-starring Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.

First Published: March 15, 2025, 15:53 IST
Opinion | Democracies Must Coordinate To Dismantle Yunus-Islamist Linkages In Bangladesh

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 16:57 IST

The progressive-minded citizens of Bangladesh need to be vigilant about the Islamist linkages of the Yunus regime. It is in Bangladesh's overall interest to be close to secular India. India has always been behind the people of Bangladesh

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif (L) and Bangladesh interim leader Muhammad Yunus. File pic/AFP

History bears out that the course of diplomacy is too strange to visualise. Relations between no two states have ever been permanent; friends today can be foes tomorrow, and vice versa. This historical truism finds yet another manifestation in the newly emerging relationship between Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Observers say that since the overthrow of the democratically elected Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh last year, the interim regime led by Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh has been moving rapidly to improve the countrys ties with Pakistan, for long its sworn enemy.

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During the meeting between Yunus and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the D-8 Summit in Cairo in December 2024, Yunus called for a resolution of the contentious issues between them. On his part, Sharif called for more strategic relations between the two brotherly nations".

In January this year, a delegation of senior Bangladeshi military officers visited Pakistan. The Bangladeshi navy participated in Pakistans annual multilateral naval exercise. There have also been reports that a delegation led by the director general of Pakistans notorious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) General Asim Malik, recently visited Dhaka.

Besides, the Yunus regime has lifted traditional restrictions on the hitherto banned organisations, such as Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT), Hamas, al-Qaeda, ISIS, Hefazat-e-Islam (HeI), and Ansar al-Islam. These organisations are now expanding their networks in the country. They have intensified their persecution of Hindus, Christians, and all other religious minorities.

Bangladesh today is a haven for activists of the Hizb ut-Tahrir. They can be seen chanting Khilafat, Khilafat" at the countrys famous Baitul Mukarram Mosque. Dilly Hussain of HuTs UK chapter is very active in the country. He has visited Bangladesh. He has been in constant touch with the leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP), formed by some Yunus loyalists.

Needless to mention, Hussain is a British-born citizen of Bangladeshi origin. He is a deputy editor of the Islamist website 5 Pillars. Hussain has a history of propagating anti-India and anti-Hindu rhetoric. Such elements are roaming free in the country. The Yunus regime has systematically placed Islamist radicals in key government, judicial, and military positions to shield them.

The Pakistani army and ISI provide the radical Islamists in Bangladesh financial and logistical support. The Yunus regime has lifted mandatory post-landing inspections for cargo arriving from Karachi.

The observers warn New Delhi must remain vigilant about the activities of the Yunus regime. This regime has released many radical Islamist elements from the countrys prisons. These elements have been notorious for their anti-India sentiments. Given the pattern of the Pakistani establishments behaviour, the current regime in Islamabad might use these anti-India elements based in Bangladesh to destabilise our north-eastern region.

Indias political command could direct its highly professional intelligence and security agencies to coordinate with their counterparts in the US, Israel, and other advanced democracies and dismantle the linkages the Yunus regime has with radical Islamists. All democracies are sure to come along in combating such linkages, for radical Islamism is a common threat to their shared values.

It would be naive on the part of any democratic state to view the March 7 police-governmental crackdown" on the HuT in Bangladesh as the Yunus regimes intention to keep the radical Islamists away from itself. The crackdown was just a staged spectacle to hoodwink the advanced democratic world into believing that the current regime in Dhaka is civilised and it has no links to any radical Islamists.

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The observers add that the progressive-minded citizens of Bangladesh need to be vigilant on the Islamist linkages of the Yunus regime. It is in Bangladeshs overall interest to be close to secular India in its neighbourhood. India has always been behind the people of Bangladesh. The citizens of Bangladesh today could see in Indias friendship their future and multifaceted development. India has provided billions of dollars in loans to Bangladesh. It has provided Bangladesh food and power. It has provided Bangladesh raw materials for the garment industry, the mainstay of its economy.

The author is a senior journalist based in New Delhi. He is also a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute, New York. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: March 15, 2025, 16:57 IST
Opinion | India Has Reinforced A Mauritius Advantage In The Indian Ocean

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 16, 2025, 00:44 IST

The relationship has just been upgraded to an enhanced strategic partnership with maritime and defence cooperation as its cornerstones

PM Modi welcomed in Mauritius. (File pic/News18)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly received in Mauritius for its 57th National Day celebrations and awarded the countrys highest civilian award during his recent two-day state visit. At least eight MoUs were signed. They covered space research, AI, digital health, the ocean economy, pharmaceuticals, ICT, FinTech, cybersecurity, and maritime security. India announced a rupee-denominated credit to replace the water pipelines in Mauritius. India has a satellite tracking space station located in Mauritius.

The relationship has just been upgraded to an enhanced strategic partnership with maritime and defence cooperation as its cornerstones. India will continue to extend technology sharing and offering concessional loans and grants. Prime Minister Modi called Mauritius a bridge between India and the Global South and family".

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The aerial distance between India and Mauritius is 5,247 km and requires a flight that could take 6 to 8 hours. Its Agalega Islands, north and south, however, are almost half the distance, at 3,000 km from southern India. This is comparable to that between India and the Maldives (2,200 km), also strategically important to India.

The two Agalega islands, about 25 sq km in total area, are 2,500 km southwest of Male in the Maldives, where China has made substantial inroads.

India has built a long 3,000-metre runway on Agalega, after an MoU was signed in 2015, and heads of both countries inaugurated it in 2024. A substantial jetty has also been built. Both Mauritius and India deny that the Agalegas, population under 400, dependent mostly on fishing and coconuts, with other supplies coming in by ship, are being developed as an Indian military base. But it certainly helps the marine surveillance of the southwestern part of the Indian Ocean, both from the air and via radar installations set up by India, as in the Port Louis area of the main Mauritius island.

Mauritius has been close to India, even since the British transported a large number of Indians in 1834 to work on the sugar plantations there. Prior to 1810, the French controlled Mauritius, and they also took Indians from their holdings in Pondicherry (Puducherry today), and then there were the Dutch before the French. MK Gandhi also stopping by in 1901, and the Mauritius National Day chosen (12th March) coincides with the start of the Dandi March.

Mauritius gained its independence from Britain in 1968 and has a population of 1.2 million people, largely of Indian origin. Both French and Creole are spoken on the island. This, in addition to English, Hindi, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. Diwali and Holi are celebrated on the island.

Mauritius has had a defence treaty with India from 1964, and the Mauritius national security adviser (NSA) to date is an Indian national.

France, over and above the QUAD countries, also regularly patrols the Indian Ocean Region.

And since 2015, when the Prime Minister last visited the island nation, India has done a good deal to ramp up its infrastructure via soft loans and grants of over $1 billion. These include a metro system, a hospital, and even a new parliament building presently under construction.

Mauritius is famous in Indian financial circles because a great deal of the FDI (foreign direct investment) into India is routed via the island nation owing to its favourable tax laws and treaties with India. In fact, after Singapore, international companies registered in Mauritius account for the second biggest chunk of FDI.

Mauritius, in turn, seeks much greater commercial interest as FDI from other countries, including India.

Even as China wants to dominate the Indian Ocean with a massive blue-water navy, India has strong inherent geographical advantages. Peninsular India not only borders both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal but abuts the Indian Ocean at Kanyakumari.

China has a long way to come from its home bases on the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea. However, it has indeed created a number of perchesin Sri Lankas largely deserted Hambantota, while India is also prominent on the island, on the Cocos Islands, ironically gifted to Myanmar by Indias then Prime Minister Nehru. Lately, it has made inroads into the cash-strapped Maldives. China has built yet another largely unused port at Gwadar in Balochistan, now under threat of the latters independence movement. Earlier, it had set up a base in Djibouti on the Red Sea. It is currently angling for a port in turbulent Bangladesh as well.

India, on its part, has been modernising its existing ports on both seaboards, building new greenfield and sometimes contiguous ones, including transshipment ports, and setting up state-of-the-art ship repair and shipbuilding facilities.

Some of this has been extended to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as well, alongside tourism infrastructure, particularly as some of them, the Nicobar Islands, are very near the Malacca Straits, used extensively by Chinese shipping. The Andamans also overlook busy international shipping lanes.

Indias Lakshadweep Islands are just 820 km from the Maldives, and are now being developed by India both as a naval base and for tourism. The British-American base at Diego Garcia, nominally owned by Mauritius, occupied by Indias QUAD partners, is roughly 1,796 km southwest of India. The rest of the Chagos Islands, owned also by Mauritius, have just been returned to it. India has been diplomatically assisting this restoration for a long time.

The Indian ship repair and refurbishment facilities are routinely offered to Indias QUAD partners and other friendly countries active in the IOR (Indian Ocean Region). This is very useful for American and European ships operating in the region but far away from their home bases.

Indias shipbuilding expansion and modernisation includes submarine and aircraft carrier manufacturing, specialised vessels, ones for the coast guard, and last but not least, in-demand commercial tonnage.

All this capacity is developing rapidly, with an eye on bolstering both Indias commercial shipping status, incorporating the use of India-owned and manufactured ships, as well as for military purposes.

This activity is being fast-tracked in response to the rapid expansion and size of the Chinese capabilities, which are also being extended by China to assist Pakistan in our littoral.

The part that the India-Mauritius relationship plays in the stability and prosperity of the Indian Ocean Region cannot be overemphasised.

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Also, as India marches on towards becoming the third largest economy in the world, its engagement with the outside world and how it is viewed by it, is also changing fast. This may increasingly take the shape of outsize alliances with friendly countries farther away, and mergers of those countries and regions that are contiguous for mutual benefit.

The writer is a Delhi-based political commentator. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: March 16, 2025, 00:44 IST
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. President Ilham Aliyev signed a law on Azerbaijan's accession to the Charter of the Economic Cooperation Organization of Eight Developing Countries (D-8), Trend reports.

According to the law, the Republic of Azerbaijan joined the Charter of the Economic Cooperation Organization of Eight Developing Countries signed on November 22, 2012, in Islamabad.
Opinion | Time Is Ripe For A Delhi-NCR Drive To Deport Illegal Bangladeshis, Rohingyas

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 16, 2025, 01:44 IST

Currently, the BJP has a government in every state in NCRDelhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. It runs the national government at the Centre. All this makes coordination between the police and agencies in all these states much easier

The Modi government and the BJP as a party have been unwaveringly vocal about this demographic takeover. Representational image: PTI

Every time the debate about demographic change and deportations rages in India, it is invariably centred on Bangladeshis and Rohingyas.

By the Narendra Modi governments own admission in 2016, there were around two crore Bangladeshis illegally living in India. The actual figure is likely to be much higher. The Rohingya population has swollen from about 40,000 to a few lakhs.

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The Modi government and the BJP as a party have been unwaveringly vocal about this demographic takeover.

Which is why the Ministry of Home Affairs data on deportations, which were reported about in the media last week, seem somewhat odd.

It shows Nigerians have topped the list of deportees from India since 2017. In the financial year 2024, Nigerians accounted for a surprising 63 per cent of total deportations, a rise from 41 per cent in FY 2021. Of the 2,331 people India deported in the previous financial year, 1,470 were from Nigeria, 411 were from Bangladesh, and 78 were from Uganda.

Only about two lakh Nigerians live and work in India, less than a hundredth of the illegal Bangladeshi population. Ugandans are even more microscopic, with over 800 students studying in India and a few hundred more doing jobs.

The second quirk in the figures is how India deported less than 15,000 between 2014 and 2024, but about 30,000 in the UPA years between 2010 and 2013.

The findings raise some questions.

Why did the Narendra Modi government not deport Bangladeshis and Rohingyas in far greater numbers despite its strong ideological stance?

Does the government lack the courage to do it?

Or is there far greater scrutiny and legal resistance during Modis tenure because these illegals are overwhelmingly Muslim?

Does the law lack teeth to deport illegals?

Why couldnt India push back illegals even when we had the friendly Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh?

While debates and deliberations on the subject will give us insights into the problem, this particular moment presents India and the BJP government at the Centre with a rare opportunity to flush out infiltrators and crack down on the agents of demographic change.

There are three broad reasons for that.

First, the Donald Trump administrations aggressive push against illegals and a spate of ongoing deportations create the perfect global climate for India, Americas ally, to do a flush-out of our own. The US is sending back even illegal Indians handcuffed in the planes. India needs to do the tough talk with Bangladesh and Myanmar and start sending batches.

Second, the Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025 tabled in Parliament could be a gamechanger. It could become the main legislation on this subject, subsuming older laws like the Foreigners Act 1946, the Passport Entry into India Act 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act 1939, and the Immigration (Carriers Liability) Act, 2000.

The Bill aims to establish an overarching Bureau of Immigration with a commissioner heading it. He or she will be assisted by Foreigners Regional Registration Officers, Foreigners Registration Officers, Chief Immigration Officers and other Immigration officers designated by the Centre. The Bureau will report to the Centre and regulate the entry and exit of foreigners.

This, along with the announcement of a nationwide NRC, could give serious impetus to correcting demography.

Third, Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) have become a ripe case for the Centre and the BJP to create a test case for detection, detention, and deportation of illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas.

Currently, the BJP has a government in every state in NCRDelhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. It runs the national government at the Centre. All this makes coordination between the police and agencies in all these states much easier.

The BJP has accused the AAP government in Delhi of welcoming illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas and putting them on election rolls to shore up Muslim votes. AAP counters it, accusing Home Minister Amit Shah of settling Rohingyas in Delhi. After communal clashes in Jahangirpuri in 2022, AAP leader and former chief minister Atishi blamed illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas for the rioting.

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It is an issue on which the BJP can put the opposition AAP on the defensive and enact its own agenda. It will set the tone for deportations and demographic clean-up nationwide. It just needs large quantities of the elusive political will.

Abhijit Majumder is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: March 16, 2025, 01:31 IST
'His Clandestine Trips...': .BJP Says Rahul Gandhi Visiting Vietnam Frequently

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 20:19 IST

Ravi Shankar Prasad quipped Gandhi and said that the latter needs to explain his extraordinary fondness for Vietnam. The party further pointed out that such undisclosed trips are unbecoming of the LoP and raised concerns about "national security".

Former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (File)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday took a sharp dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his recent reported visit to Vietnam without public disclosure, saying that the Lok Sabha LoP is spending more time in Vietnam than his constituency.

While addressing a press conference, former union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad quipped Gandhi and said that the latter needs to explain his "extraordinary fondness" for Vietnam. The party further pointed out that such undisclosed trips are unbecoming of the LoP and raised concerns about national security".

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One heard Rahul Gandhi was in Vietnam during Holi after being there during the New Year as well. He is spending more time in Vietnam than in his constituency. What is the reason of his so much love for Vietnam suddenly. He needs to explain his extraordinary fondness for Vietnam. The frequency of his visit to that country is very curious," he said as quoted by news agency PTI.

Gandhi is the Leader of Opposition and should be available in India", Prasad added.

Gandhis foreign trips have long been a source of BJPs political attacks on him as the ruling party has sought to paint him as a unserious politician unfit for the cut and thrust of domestic politics.

Additionally, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya also questioned the grand-old-party to clarify the issue as the details of Gandhis frequent foreign travels are neither disclosed to Parliament nor made public.

"As the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi holds a crucial position, and his numerous clandestine trips abroad  especially while Parliament is in session  raise serious questions about propriety and national security," he said in a post on X.

It is important that the Congress clarifies Rahul Gandhis frequent foreign travels, the details of which are neither disclosed to Parliament nor made public. Udit Raj, a senior party spokesperson, confirms his latest trip but only speculates on the reasons. As the Leader of the https://t.co/2MjN0cPAmq Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) March 15, 2025

Meanwhile, the Congress has accused the BJP of politicising his private visits, and has said that Gandhi as an individual has a right to travel abroad.

Gandhis recent trip to Vietnam comes amid the ongoing Budget session in Parliament.

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Earlier, he left for the country during the seven-day mourning period following the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on December 26 last year. This visit also drew criticism with the BJP saying that while the country was mourning Singhs demise, Gandhi had flown to Vietnam to ring in the new year.

The BJP had further accused the LoP of using Singhs death for expedient politics" while choosing to be away during the mourning period.

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

First Published: March 15, 2025, 20:10 IST
'Not Only For Muslims': DK Shivakumar Backs 4% Quota In Karnataka Govt Contracts

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 21:59 IST

DK Shivakumar has come out in support of Siddaramaiah over the announcement of 4% quota for minorities in government contracts.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar (PTI Image)

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday extended support to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the 4% reservation row. This came as the BJP alleged that the Congress government was introducing the quota for Muslim appeasement".

Denying claims, the Deputy CM said that the 4% quota was not only for Muslims but for all minorities and backward classes.

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Siddaramaiahs Budget Announcement

Siddaramaiah announced reservations in the government contracts in the state Budget 2025 on Friday, in which an allocation of Rs 42,018 crore was made for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

While addressing the Assembly, though he did not name any community, the Budget mentioned category 2B, which includes only Muslims.

Under the provisions of Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act, the reservation provided to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Category-I, Category-IIA and Category-IIB contractors in works will be increased to Rs 2 crore," Siddaramaiah said.

The Karnataka government has amended the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, allowing reservations in the procurement of goods and services for SC, ST, Category 1, Category 2A, and Category 2B suppliers for contracts up to Rs 1 crore.

Following demands from minority leaders to allocate 4% of contract works for Muslims, a cabinet meeting was held under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to discuss the proposal. The Finance Department had prepared the blueprint, and the amendment was approved with the consent of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil.

BJP Slams Congress Over Reservation

The BJP slammed the Congress government over the issue, dubbing it as the peak of appeasement politics". The party claimed that the state government was acting against the spirit of the Consitution.

State BJP president BY Vijayendra criticized the Congress government, alleging that it was pushing Karnataka towards strife. He claimed that the state government had not released any funds for MLAs, and with no tenders called or work allotted, the proposed reservation was meaningless.

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Does the grand old party think that only Muslims constitute the minority group? If Chief Minister Siddaramaiah truly considers himself an Ahinda leader, he should focus on empowering all marginalized communities and strengthening them economically," Vijayendra said.

Communities like Madivala, Savita, and many others also exist and require state support. However, the government is failing to bring them into the mainstream and is instead focused on appeasing Muslims. The people will have to teach them a lesson," he said.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

First Published: March 15, 2025, 21:59 IST
'Where's Paltu Chacha': Tej Pratap Yadavs Bike Ride To Nitish Kumars Residence | Watch

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 22:52 IST

A video of Yadav riding the two-wheeler has been shared on social media, where the RJD leader can be seen riding the two-wheeler with another man drenched in colours riding the pillion, towards the Chief Ministers residence.

Tej Pratap Yadav riding a scooter with a pillion rider. (ANI)

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav has made the headlines after he took a two-wheeler ride to Chief Minister Nitishs Kumars residence followed by a bold political taunt.

A video of Yadav riding the two-wheeler has been shared by news agency ANI, where the RJD leader can be seen riding the two-wheeler with another man drenched in colours riding the pillion, towards the Chief Ministers residence.

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#WATCH | Bihars former health minister & RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav took a scooty ride earlier today from outside of the CMs residence in Patna while celebrating #Holi pic.twitter.com/WIysHInGCn ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2025

As they reach the gate, Yadav can be heard screaming, Paltu chacha kaha hai" (Where is paltu uncle). The video further showed the party workers following him on other two-wheelers, and raising slogans as the ride continued.

The term Paltu" is a colloquial Hindi term for someone is frequently changes his stance and sides. The term is often used by opposition leaders to mock Nitish Kumar ever since he broke the alliance with the RJD and Congress, only to later rejoin the BJP and form a new government ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Earlier today, a video of Lalu Yadavs eldest son made the headlines in which he was seen ordering a police official in uniform to dance to a song during Holi celebration at his residence, and threatening with suspension.

In the now viral video, the RJD leader can be seen saying, Ay sipahi, ek gaana bajayenge uspe tumko thumka lagana hai. Bura na mano holi hai. Thumka lagao nahi toh suspend kar diye jaaoge" (I will play a song, and you have to shake a leg. dont feel bad, its Holi. Dance or else you would be suspended.)

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Leaders from ruling JDU and BJP reacted to the incident and condemned his behaviour.

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

First Published: March 15, 2025, 22:51 IST
Indian-Origin FBI Director Kash Patel's Holi Post Fails To Strike A Chord With Internet

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 12:27 IST

The response to Kash Patels Holi post was mixed. Many embraced the sentiment, showering the comments section with love.

Kash Patel was born in New York on February 25, 1980, to Gujarati immigrant parents. (Photo Credit: Instagram)

Festivals have a way of sparking conversations and this time, it was Holi that set social media abuzz. FBI Director Kash Patel, of Indian origin, took to X to share his festive spirit, posting a vibrant photo alongside a cheerful Happy Holi" message. But what was meant to be a simple celebration of colours soon ignited a debate. Most users welcomed Patels post, appreciating the cultural recognition and joining in on the festive cheer. However, not everyone was thrilled. A small section of X users argued that government officials should stick to celebrating only American holidays.

Happy HoliThe Festival of Colors," Patel wrote. Along with his message, he shared a striking image of a person dressed in white, now drenched in vibrant gulal. It ended up dividing opinions online.

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Happy Holi- The Festival of Colors pic.twitter.com/3pbKWd0hNb Kash Patel (@Kash_Patel) March 14, 2025

The response to Patels Holi post was mixed. Many embraced the sentiment, showering the comments section with love. One user enthusiastically wrote, Now this is a holiday I could get to like Especially the GOOD over EVIL part. Holi marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil, rooted in the legend of Holika and Prahlad. Its a time for people to come together, forgive past grievances and renew relationships. The festival is famous for its playful traditions, people throw coloured powders (gulal) and water at each other, sing, dance and feast. Bonfires are lit the night before (Holika Dahan) to symbolise burning away negativity."

Another user joined in and wrote, Happy Holi! A beautiful celebration of colour, joy, and renewal." A third added, Wishing everyone a joyful and vibrant Holi!" Others kept it short and sweet: Wishing you a colourful, blessed Holi."

But while many joined in the festivities, some werent as accepting. One user bluntly stated, I wish my government workers only celebrated American holidays." Another was even more direct: Cringe. You realise we dont celebrate this holiday in America. Read the room. We dont want to hear about this."

Kashyap Pramod Patel, 44, was born in New York on February 25, 1980, to Gujarati immigrant parents. He has always stayed connected to his heritage. When he was sworn in as the ninth Director of the FBI, he took his oath on the Bhagavad Gita, a moment that resonated with many in the Indian-American community. In a past viral video, Patel was also seen touching his parents feet  a traditional gesture of respect in Indian culture.

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This is   surely this is for the first time that anyone inside that Congressional hearing chamber touched anyones feet to pay his/her respects notice how @Kash_Patel touched feet of his parents as soon as he entered for his confirmation hearing! Sanskaar! pic.twitter.com/tIDqS3WVB0  Alok Bhatt (@alok_bhatt) January 30, 2025

That small act had won him admiration before and now, his Holi post was doing the same  though not without stirring controversy along the way.

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 15, 2025, 12:27 IST
Mumbai Entrepreneurs Post On AI Can 'Hit 40-50% Of White-Collar Jobs' In India Sparks Debate

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 12:27 IST

Although he expressed optimism for sustained GDP growth, Arindam Paul cautioned that an AI-driven employment crisis is the most likely scenario unless India dramatically grows its manufacturing sector.

Shared on March 12, the post has racked up over 700 likes and several comments. (Photo credits: Linkedin)

Mumbai-based entrepreneur and the founder of Atomberg, Arindam Paul, recently generated a contentious debate on LinkedIn about his opinions on how artificial intelligence (AI) could affect Indias white-collar job sector. He cautioned that the countrys economy would face serious challenges if AI was to significantly weaken employment in the BPO and IT services industries.

In his LinkedIn post, Arindam Paul voiced his worry that the lack of well-paying jobs being created by Indias manufacturing sector could make the issue worse. I dont think most people, including our leaders, still understand how big a threat AI could be to our economy. Our manufacturing is nowhere close to where it should be when it comes to generating jobs that pay 3-6 lakhs per year. Our IT services and BPOs will see a significant reduction in manpower, and in many cases, in their business," Arindam Paul wrote in his long post.

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The Mumbai-based entrepreneur conceded that big IT companies like Infosys would change and even prosper, but he maintained that their workforce would shrink. While I think companies like Infosys etc will survive and some might even thrive, but, even in that case, they wont be employing nearly as many people as they do. Almost 40-50 percent white collar jobs that exist today might cease to exist. And that would mean the end of the middle class and the consumption story," Arindam Paul further added.

The Mumbai-based entrepreneur chastised companies who are excited about AI-driven cost-cutting but ignore its wider economic implications. While all corporates are today happy that AI will reduce manpower and increase efficiency and improve bottomline, they forget that without jobs and money in consumer hands, there will be no topline," he went on to warn in his post.

Although he expressed optimism for sustained GDP growth, Arindam Paul cautioned that an AI-driven employment crisis is the most likely scenario unless India dramatically grows its manufacturing sector.

Shared on March 12, the post has racked up over 700 likes and several comments.

A user said, Youve stated the inevitable. Unless todays white-collar jobs are replaced with an AI-driven profile, we are heading towards a crisis."

Another commented, I feel this mostly applies to digital or IT-related jobs. But non-digital and manufacturing roles wont be impacted as much. In fact, AI might even create new jobs in research-driven sectors."

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We have a low-skilled, low-productivity workforce that doesnt understand global competition. Automation will eliminate repetitive, low-skill jobs first and replace them with scalable, high-quality outputs," an individual wrote.

AI will disrupt jobs, but history shows that every major shiftwhether the Industrial Revolution or the rise of IThas both displaced and created jobs. The challenge is whether were creating new opportunities fast enough," a user put out a more optimistic view and 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 15, 2025, 12:27 IST
New Nostradamus Made Chilling Prediction Days Before Cargo Ship Collided With Oil Tanker

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 17:30 IST

The New Nostradamus, a psychic from the United Kingdom, foretold a maritime catastrophe just days before an oil tanker and a cargo ship collided.

Craig Hamilton-Parker is known as New Nostradamus. (Photo Credits: YouTube)

A UK psychic who earlier foresaw Donald Trumps assassination attempt has once again drawn attention for a terrifying prophecy that appears to have come true. Craig Hamilton-Parker, popularly referred to as the New Nostradamus" or the Prophet of Doom," issued a warning about a ship-related maritime tragedy and possible environmental harm just days before a devastating cargo ship collision occurred in England.

In a March 4 YouTube video, Craig Hamilton-Parker gave his predictions for the month. I saw a ship or something in trouble, and I felt as if there would be an oil tanker problem coming up soon," he said in the clip. It was a ship of some sort in trouble. It could be an oil tanker, maybe its a passenger, but I felt as if there was some sort of pollution thing," the psychic added.

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Watch the video here:

A week later, on March 11, the cargo ship MV Solong collided with the US-flagged oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate, which was transporting 18,000 tonnes of jet fuel.

The incident, which happened off the coast of England, resulted in both ships catching fire and led to a massive rescue effort. One Solong crew member was reported missing and subsequently assumed dead, while the other thirteen were saved. On the other hand, the Stena Immaculates 23 crew members were all saved.

The 59-year-old Russian captain of the Solong was also arrested as a result of the incident on accusations of gross negligence manslaughter. Authorities are looking into what caused the incident, and Ernst Russ, the parent company of the ship, has confirmed that the captain is assisting with the investigation.

Considering environmental group Oceanu UK earlier warnings about the possible destruction from the Stena Immaculates jet fuel spilling into the ocean, Craig Hamilton-Parkers remark about pollution" seems even more concerning.

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Experts worry that fish stocks and marine life could suffer significant damage as a result of such an event.

Craig Hamilton-Parkers predictions have garnered attention before. Two days before an attempted assassination in July 2024, he warned of a possible attack on Donald Trump. In the past, he has also predicted the COVID-19 pandemic and the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

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 15, 2025, 17:30 IST
Steel Man Of India Vispy Kharadi Holds Hercules Pillars For Over 2 Minutes, Sets World Record

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 15:33 IST

The pillars, inspired by Greek architecture, stood at 123 inches in height with a 20.5-inch diameter. It weighed 166.7 kg and 168.9 kg, respectively.

Vispy Kharadi held the pillars for an impressive 2 minutes and 10.75 seconds. (Photo Credit: X)

Indian athlete Vispy Kharadi, also known as the Steel Man of India, has once again etched his name in the Guinness World Records. The athlete has set a new record for holding the Hercules pillars the longest. The record-breaking feat took place in Surat, Gujarat, and was officially documented. The footage demonstrates Kharadis remarkable strength and unmatched endurance by holding the Hercules pillars for an impressive 2 minutes and 10.75 seconds.

The pillars, inspired by Greek architecture, stood at 123 inches in height with a 20.5-inch diameter. It weighed 166.7 kg and 168.9 kg, respectively. In the accompanying text, GWR stated, Longest duration holding Hercules pillars (male), 2 mins 10.75 seconds by @VispyKharadi."

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Longest duration holding Hercules pillars (male)  2 mins 10.75 seconds by @VispyKharadi  pic.twitter.com/JxFFSU4xGv Guinness World Records (@GWR) March 13, 2025

Elon Musk reshared the incredible feat of Indian athlete Vispy Kharadi on his social media and celebrated the extraordinary accomplishment. Overwhelmed by the recognition from tech billionaire Elon Musk, Kharadi took to X, expressing, It was indeed a good surprise when I got to know that @elonmusk shared my Guinness World Record Video on X. Feeling so happy and on cloud 9. Moreover, it gives me immense pride that an Indian is being praised worldwide in the field of strength."

It was indeed a good surprise when I got to know that @elonmusk shared my Guinness World Record Video on X. Feeling so happy and on cloud 9. Moreover it gives me immense pride that an Indian is being praised worldwide in the field of strength. @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/EmAw0viG2a Vispy Kharadi (@VispyKharadi) March 13, 2025

Kharadis achievement did not go unnoticed by social media users, prompting several comments. You are a true champion. Dont wait for someones recognition! Keep shining," a user wrote.

Another added, Making India proud! Congratulations @VispyKharadi for an insane featholding 160 kg Hercules pillars in each hand for 2 mins 11 secs! True strength, true inspiration!"

Awesome, the strength required to pull this off is truly fire," said a user.

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A few echoed, Insane grip, strength, and endurance. Holding the Hercules Pillars for over two minutes is next-level strength."

Vispy Kharadi consistently shares motivational content to inspire his fans. As per his bio on X, he holds 13 Guinness World Records and is also credited with several other strength-related feats. Some of his existing GWRs include crushing the maximum quantity of drink cans by hand in one minute and bending the maximum number of iron bars with his head in 1 minute, which were 24. In addition to this, he trains Border Security Force (BSF) commandos in unarmed combat.

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 15, 2025, 15:33 IST
Woman Who Survived Murder Attempt By Husband Finds Out Newborn Has Heart Disease

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 18:06 IST

In June 2019, Wang Nans husband, Yu Xiaodong, attempted to take her life by throwing her off a cliff in Thailand.

She announced the birth of her son in September. (Representative Image)

A 38-year-old Chinese woman has shown unwavering strength and perseverance after surviving a horrific attempt on her life by her husband in Thailand in 2019. Despite suffering 17 fractures and losing her unborn child, the woman defied all odds and gave birth to a son via IVF in September last year. Wang Nan, known to her online followers as Wang Nuannuan, has now revealed her newborns health battle, who was born with congenital heart disease.

In June 2019, Wang Nans husband, Yu Xiaodong, attempted to take her life by throwing her off a cliff in Thailand. This heinous act was committed by Yu in desire to inherit Wangs wealth and pay off his substantial gambling debts. This left Wang with 17 fractures. Doctors had to insert 100 steel pins in her body to stabilise her. Wang also lost her unborn child in the fall, reported the South China Morning Post.

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Despite being warned by doctors that natural conception might never be possible, Wang defied the odds. After years of intensive rehabilitation and multiple surgeries, she announced the birth of her son via in vitro fertilization (IVF) in September last year. This moment of joy was celebrated by her millions of online supporters.

The child has undergone regular checkups, surgery and rehabilitation since he was three months old. As a first-time mother, she was overwhelmed with anxiety and powerlessness, but she is determined to be strong for her child. I want to assure my baby, do not be afraid, Mummy is always here, and I will be by your side as you grow up healthy," Wang said.

Her story has inspired countless individuals, particularly mothers who have navigated similar challenges. One woman, moved by Wangs resilience, shared her own experience, Nuannuan, my child also had a severe heart issue. At seven months, he underwent a 16-hour surgery in Shanghai, and now he is seven years old and thriving."

Another wrote, You have endured so much, but brighter days lie ahead. Keep holding on, Wang."

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She has started a new chapter in Hangzhou, eastern China, and shares her life on social media with her 4.6 million followers on Douyin.

She disclosed in December 2024 that she and Yu had not yet finalised their divorce, as he requested 30 million yuan (approximately Rs 35 crore) in compensation, claiming emotional distress and loss of youth while in prison. Yu was sentenced to 33 years and four months in jail by a Thai court. Her lawyer in January claimed that authorities in both China and Thailand are actively working on the divorce case.

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 15, 2025, 18:06 IST
BLA Claims Execution Of 214 Jaffar Express Hostages, Vows Continued Attacks

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 10:15 IST

The Balochistan Liberation Army accused Pakistan of prioritising stubbornness and military arrogance over negotiation, leading to the deaths of the hostages

People gather next to an ambulance carrying the bodies of people, who were killed after a train was attacked by separatist militants in Bolan, during the funeral in Quetta, Pakistan. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claims to have executed 214 hostages aboard the Jaffar Express after the Pakistani army disregarded a 48-hour ultimatum to exchange prisoners of war.

The BLA  which bombed a remote railway track in mountainous southwest Balochistan and stormed a train with around 450 passengers on board  accused Pakistan of prioritising stubbornness and military arrogance" over negotiation, leading to the deaths of the hostages.

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The group also honoured" 12 of its fighters who died in the clashes, including three killed on Wednesday night and four on Thursday. They also recognised the sacrifices" of five fighters from the Majeed Brigade, a BLA wing known for suicide attacks.

ALSO READ | Deep Dive Into ZIRAB, Baloch Liberation Armys Shadowy Intelligence Network | Exclusive

The outfit also described a previous operation titled Darra-e-Bolan where they claim to have ambushed and captured Pakistani military personnel. They allege that Pakistani SSG commandos attempted and failed to rescue the hostages, resulting in significant casualties. After a prolonged battle, the remaining hostages were reportedly executed.

Furthermore, the BLA refuted the Pakistani armys claims of a successful hostage rescue from Jaffar Express, asserting that the hostages were released on the first day under rules of war". They deemed Pakistans military operation a failure despite its military and intelligence superiority".

The BLA emphasised that the battle was ongoing, with their fighters continuing to target Pakistani forces through ambushes. This follows earlier reports by CNN-News18 detailing how hostages were taken to various locations immediately after the attack.

In a statement earlier, the Baloch rebels said the Pakistani army is hiding the real number of casualties in a bid to not hurt the morale of the forces and urged international media to probe instead of reporting the narrative peddled by the Pakistani state and media.

HOW THE ATTACK UNFOLDED

On March 11, 2025, the Jaffar Express was targeted in the Mushqaf area of Bolan district, Balochistan province, a region with 17 tunnels that provide natural barriers. The attackers detonated explosives at Tunnel Number 8, causing the train to derail and trapping it inside. This strategic move allowed them to take control of over 400 passengers, including military personnel, who were their primary targets for high-value hostages.

Following the derailment, the militants opened fire, engaging security forces onboard while securing their hold over the train. Pakistani intelligence sources reveal that BLAs success in this hijacking came from precise timing, local knowledge, and prior experience in targeting the same train.

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The bodies of at least 25 people, including 21 hostages, were retrieved from the train hijack site.

The Pakistani army claims that it freed more than 340 train passengers in a two-day rescue operation that ended late on Wednesday. It also said that 28 soldiers died, including 27 off-duty soldiers.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: March 15, 2025, 10:13 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. The panel discussion on Gender-Security-Climate Nexus started at the XII Global Baku Forum, Trend reports.

Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Co-Chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center and president of Latvia from 1999 through 2007 emphasized that women play an important role in addressing gender, security, and climate issues.

According to her, any changes in the world affect women as they make up half of the world's population. In the context of climate change, she emphasized that women are at risk and are more affected by climate change.

An important step in addressing the problem is the collection and analysis of data that will help to more accurately assess the risks and develop strategies to minimize the impact of climate change on women, especially in those regions that are most vulnerable to climate change, Vike-Freiberga added.

In turn, the Prime minister of Greece in 2009-2011, George Papandreou stated that women have a key role to play in initiating and leading processes to improve the environment.

It is important that environmental policies, the big changes we need to make in our society, are led by women in our communities and families, he emphasized.

Montenegro's former Minister of Defense Milica Pejanovic-Durisic noted that more attention needs to be paid to the implications of new technologies, and today's panel provides useful ideas for thinking about this.

"At the recent summit in Paris, issues related to innovation, development, and technology were discussed. However, unfortunately, issues of security, privacy, and risks associated with AI took a backseat. This is concerning, as it is necessary to find a balance between innovation and protecting society from potential negative consequences," Pejanovic-Durisic mentioned.

The discussion features prominent figures including the President of the UN Association in Hungary, the founder of Women4Diplomacy, and the former President of the 36th General Conference of UNESCO, Katalin Bogyay. Other key participants include Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Co-Chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center and former President of Latvia, Farida Allaghi, former Libyan Ambassador to the EU and Senior Advisor to Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, George Papandreou, former Prime Minister of Greece, and Moushira Khattab, former Minister of Family and Population Affairs in Egypt and President of the National Council for Human Rights of Egypt.

The XII Global Baku Forum will be held from March 13 through 15 this year under the motto Rethinking the World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities.

The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

The event will discuss key global issues such as geopolitical changes, multilateralism, global health crisis, reconstruction and regional stability of the world, COP29, and others.

The Forum will bring together more than 300 world leaders from more than 60 countries, including more than 25 former presidents, more than 15 former prime ministers, about 10 heads of UN and international agencies, and more than 25 former ministers and deputy ministers.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
'Didn't Want PM Modi, Other Leaders To See Tents, Potholes': Trump On Washington DC Cleanup

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 14:24 IST

In his remarks at the Department of Justice, Trump said he wanted to build a cleaner and crime-free capital. Trump hosted PM Modi, French President Macron and UK PM Starmer last month.

Under the Trump 2.0 administration, PM Modi became one of the first dignitaries to visit Trumps Oval Office within months of his second term. (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump said he did not want Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other world leaders who visited him to see the tents and graffiti near federal buildings in Washington DC and has ordered the cleaning up of the American capital.

Were cleaning up our city. Were cleaning up this great capital, and were not going to have crime, and were not going to stand for crime, and were going to take the graffiti down, and were already taking the tents down, and were working with the administration," Trump said Friday in remarks at the Department of Justice.

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He said so far the Mayor of Washington DC Muriel Bowser has been doing a good job cleaning up the capital.

We said there are tents galore right opposite the State Department. They have to come down. And they took them down right away. And so so far, so good. We want to have a capital that can be the talk of the world," Trump said.

When Prime Minister Modi of India, the President of France, and all of these people Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, they all came to see me over the last week and a half. And when they come inI had the route run. I didnt want to have them see tents. I didnt want to have them see graffiti. I didnt want to have them see broken barriers and potholes in the roads. And we had it looking beautiful," Trump said.

#WATCH | US President Donald Trump says, " We are cleaning up our city, this great capital, we are not going to have crime, we are going to take graffiti down, we have already taken tents down, we are working with administrationPM Modi of India, French President, UK PM, pic.twitter.com/hlA5DiXyDB ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2025

And were going to do that for the city, and were going to have a crime-free capital. When people come here, theyre not going to be mugged or shot or raped. Theyre going to have a crime-free capital, again, its going to be cleaner and better and safer than it ever was and its not going to take us too long." Modi visited the White House for a bilateral meeting with Trump on February 13, the fourth foreign leader hosted by Trump in just weeks after his inauguration in January.

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Within less than a month of the start of Trumps second term in the White House, he had hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Jordans King Abdullah II.

French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are among the other foreign leaders Trump has hosted in his second term so far.

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 15, 2025, 12:45 IST
Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 20:27 IST

US President Donald Trump admitted that his repeated campaign promise to end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours, even before taking office, was a little bit sarcastic."

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In an interview for Full Measure," Trump, now in his second term, acknowledged his past claims while his administration continues to seek a resolution to the ongoing conflict.

Well, I was being a little bit sarcastic when I said that. What I really mean is Id like to get it settled andI think Ill be successful," he said while he was asked about the vow he repeatedly made on the campaign trail.

This admission contradicts Trumps previous assertions, including his statement at a May 2023 CNN town hall where he insisted on ending the war within 24 hours. Theyre dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And Ill have that done  Ill have that done in 24 hours," Trump had said.

He had reiterated the claim during his September debate with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, when he emphasised his plan to mediate between Russia and Ukraine.

That is a war thats dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president. If I win, when Im president-elect, and what Ill do is Ill speak to one, Ill speak to the other. Ill get them together," he had said.

US Presidents special envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently concluded talks in Moscow regarding a US-proposed ceasefire, which Ukraine has accepted.

When questioned about Russian President Vlaidmir Putins potential refusal of the ceasefire, Trump expressed concern for the loss of life and expressed confidence in Putins eventual agreement, citing his understanding of the Russian leader.

Bad news for this world because so many people are dying. But I think, I think hes going to agree. I really do. I think I know him pretty well and I think hes going to agree," he said.
UKs Starmer Warns Global Leaders: Dont Let Putin Play Games Over Ukraine Ceasefire

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 16:15 IST

The call is expected to delve into how countries can help Ukraine militarily and financially as well as gauging support for any future possible peacekeeping mission.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer (IMAGE: REUTERS)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told global leaders to keep the pressure" on Russian President Vladimir Putin to back a ceasefire in Ukraine.

In his opening remarks Saturday to a virtual gathering of what he has termed the coalition of the willing," Starmer said Putin will sooner or later" have to come to the table."

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The call is expected to delve into how countries can help Ukraine militarily and financially as well as gauging support for any future possible peacekeeping mission.

Location : London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: March 15, 2025, 16:07 IST
Mahmoud Khalil, Pro-Palestine Student Who Led Anti-Israel Protest, Arrested; Columbia Journalism School Reacts

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 20:11 IST

Donald Trump had vowed to crack down on the students who were involved in "pro-Hamas protests" on the university campuses in the United States.

Pro-Palestine student Mahmoud Khalil arrested in US (AP Image)

A Columbia University graduate and Palestinian activist, Mahmoud Khalil, was arrested last week for his role in the protests against Israel on campus, drawing criticism from the worlds leading educational institution.

Khalil, a recent graduate of Columbias School of Public and International Affairs, was arrested from his university-owned apartment on Saturday night by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, according to his attorney, Amy Greer.

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Why Was Mahmoud Khalil Arrested?

Greer was told by the ICE agents on a phone call that they were executing the orders by the State Department to revoke Khalils student visa. As she said that Khalil was in the US as a permanent resident with a green card, they said that they were revoking that instead.

Department of Homeland Security later said that the arrest was being made in support of President Trumps executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism".

Donald Trump, during his campaign trail, had vowed to act against the students who protested in support of Hamas on the university campuses and the latest arrest is being seen as a crackdown on the same.

On last Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the Trump administration will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported".

Columbia University Issues Statement

The university released a statement on the first arrest being seen as the first publicly known deportation bid by the Trump administration.

The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism faculty released the statement on March 14, defending press freedom, and said that it was under threat in the US.

We are witnessing and experiencing an alarming chill. We write to affirm our commitment to supporting and exercising First Amendment rights for students, faculty, and staff on our campus  and, indeed, for all," a lengthy statement read.

The university said that several of their international students have been forced to skip classes and events on campus due to anxieties relating to possibilities of being arrested without being charged with a crime.

They are right to be worried. Some of our faculty members and students who have covered the protests over the Gaza war have been the object of smear campaigns and targeted on the same sites that were used to bring Khalil to the attention of Homeland Security. President Trump has warned that the effort to deport Khalil is just the first of many," the university said.

These actions represent threats against political speech and the ability of the American press to do its essential job and are part of a larger design to silence voices that are out of favour with the current administration. We have also seen reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is trying to deport the Palestinian poet and journalist Mosab Abu Toha, who has written extensively in the New Yorker about the condition of the residents of Gaza and warned of the mortal danger to Palestinian journalists," it added.

The university cited Khalils instance and said that the 13 million green card holders in the country will now live in fear that if they dare speak up or publish something that runs afoul of government views".

The use of deportation to suppress foreign critics runs parallel to an aggressive campaign to use libel laws in novel  even outlandish ways  to silence or intimidate the independent press," it said.

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The government, however, said that Khalil was involved in the distribution of pro-Hamas propaganda with the logo of Hamas".

I have those fliers on my desk, they were provided to me by the Department of Homeland Security," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 15, 2025, 20:03 IST
Marco Rubio Says There Is No 'Military Solution' To Ukraine War: 'Only Way It Can End Is...'

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Ashesh Mallick



Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 16:13 IST

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that both Russia and Ukraine have to get to the negotiating table to end the war.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (AP Image)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has apparently echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modis sentiments over how the Russia-Ukraine war could be brought to an end  away from the battlefield.

Rubio said what PM Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow during his visit in July last year that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way forward and no solutions can be found on the battlefield.

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Rubio On How Ukraine Conflict Could End

The US Secretary of State, while responding to questions from reporters, said that the first step towards peace between Ukraine and Russia  who have been fighting for over three years now  is to accept that there is no military solution to the conflict".

I think the first step in all this is the acceptance that there is no military solution to this conflict. Neither side can militarily achieve their maximalist gains  their maximalist goals. I mean, theyre just not going to achieve them through the military side. The only way this conflict can end is through negotiation. Thats the only way youre going to have peace is through negotiation," he said. The remarks reiterated PM Modis stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict in which he said that it is not an era of war and solutions can only be found through dialogue and diplomacy and not on the battlefield.

And so we need to start that process. And it is hard to start a process when people are shooting at each other and people are dying. And so our hope is that we can stop that, all these hostilities, and get to a negotiating table where both sides  over some period of time with a lot of hard work  can find a mutually acceptable outcome that, in the case of Ukraine, obviously secures their long-term prosperity and security," Rubio added.

Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks

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The United States has proposed an unconditional 30-day ceasefire between the two warring countries. Ukraine has agreed to the US proposal, whereas Russia has not yet confirmed its response. Putin, however, raised some doubts over the implementation of the ceasefire. He also expressed concerns that the halt in fighting could allow Zelenskyys forces to regroup.

US President Donald Trump said that he spoke to Putin and urged him to spare the Ukrainian lives, after which the Russian President asked the Ukrainian troops to surrender.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 15, 2025, 16:05 IST
Meet The 2 Indian-Origin Women Who Are Now Part Of New Canada Cabinet

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Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 21:33 IST

Mark Carney, a Liberal Party member and former central banker, was sworn in as Prime Minister alongside members of the 30th Canadian Ministry on Friday at a ceremony.

Kamal Khera and Anita Anand. (X)

Two prominent Indo-Canadian politicians, Anita Anand and Delhi-born Kamal Khera, have secured positions in new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carneys cabinet.

Carney, a Liberal Party member and former central banker, was sworn in as Prime Minister alongside members of the 30th Canadian Ministry on Friday at a ceremony presided over by Governor General Mary Simon in Ottawa.

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Canada, meet your new cabinet. Weve built a smaller, focused, and experienced team that is made to meet this moment," Carney said in a post on X along with the photo of his cabinet after the swearing in ceremony.

Canada, meet your new cabinet. Weve built a smaller, focused, and experienced team that is made to meet this moment. pic.twitter.com/30ynczRnyh Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) March 14, 2025

Anand, 58, assumed the role of Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, while 36-year-old Khera, one of the youngest women ever elected to the Canadian Parliament, became the Minister of Health.

Both the leaders are among the few retaining their ministerial posts, albeit with different portfolios, from former Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus cabinet.

Who Is Kamal Khera?

Khera, born in Delhi, moved to Canada with her family during her school years and later obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from York University in Toronto.

Her political journey began in 2015 when she became one of the youngest women elected to Parliament as the representative for Brampton West.

Throughout her career, she has served as Minister of Seniors, held various Parliamentary Secretary roles, and worked as a registered nurse specializing in oncology.

As a nurse, my top priority is to always be there to support my patients and thats the same mentality Ill bring every day to the role of Minister of Health. Extremely grateful for the confidence of PM @MarkJCarney. Now, its time to roll up our sleeves and get to work," she said in a post on X.

As a nurse, my top priority is to always be there to support my patients and thats the same mentality Ill bring everyday to the role of Minister of Health.Extremely grateful for the confidence of PM @MarkJCarney Now, its time to roll up our sleeves and get to work.  pic.twitter.com/aEdtq47XPs  Kamal Khera  (@KamalKheraLib) March 14, 2025

Who Is Anita Anand?

Anand, who initially considered running as Trudeaus replacement, withdrew from the race and reversed her decision not to seek re-election, citing Canadas critical juncture.

Elected in 2019 as a Member of Parliament for Oakville, she has held positions as President of the Treasury Board, Minister of National Defence, and Minister of Public Services and Procurement.

Her background encompasses scholarship, law, and research, including a professorship at the University of Toronto.

I am honoured to be sworn in as the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development in @MarkJCarneys Government. We know that negativity wont pay the rent or the mortgage. Negativity wont bring down the price of groceries. Negativity wont win a trade war. We are united and strong and we will immediately get to work, to build the Canada and the Canadian economy of tomorrow," she said in a post on X.

I am honoured to be sworn in as the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development in @MarkJCarneys Government. We know that negativity wont pay the rent or the mortgage. Negativity wont bring down the price of groceries. Negativity wont win a trade war.Were pic.twitter.com/CKlYavCPAG  Anita Anand (@AnitaAnandMP) March 14, 2025

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Carneys cabinet comprises 13 men and 11 women, a smaller group compared to Trudeaus 37 members, reflecting a focus on experience and efficiency.

(With inputs from agencies)

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 : Ottawa, Canada

First Published: March 15, 2025, 21:31 IST
More Shots Fired At Oregon Tesla Dealership In Ongoing Vandalism Since Musk Began Advising Trump

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 07:49 IST

Around 4:15 a.m., more than a dozen shots were fired around the electric vehicle dealership in the Portland suburb of Tigard.

Gunshots were fired at a Tesla dealership in Oregon on Thursday.

Gunshots were fired at a Tesla dealership in Oregon on Thursday for the second time in a week in ongoing vandalism and protests around the country since CEO Elon Musk became a key figure in the Trump administration.

Around 4:15 a.m., more than a dozen shots were fired around the electric vehicle dealership in the Portland suburb of Tigard, according to the Tigard Police Department. The shooting caused extensive damage to cars and showroom windows, police said. No one was hurt.

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A similar shooting happened on March 6 at the same location. Police said they continue to work with federal partners at the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives to thoroughly investigate. An ATF explosive detection dog has been used after both shootings to help search for shell casings, police said.

Tesla has been a target for demonstrations and vandalism in the U.S. and elsewhere this year. People have protested Musks Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which has been moving to slash the size of the federal government.

Police said over the weekend that six Tesla Cybertrucks at a dealership in the Seattle suburb of Lynnwood were spray painted with swastikas and profanity directed at Musk, KING-TV reported.

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On Sunday, four Cybertrucks were destroyed in a blaze in Seattle, but investigators have not said if the fire, or fires, were intentionally set. On Tuesday, the Seattle Police Department said it was working with federal partners to investigate the incident.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he was buying a new Tesla to show his support for Musk as the billionaires company struggles with sagging sales and declining stock prices.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 15, 2025, 07:49 IST
NASA, SpaceX Launch Much-Awaited Crew-10 Mission To Bring Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore Home

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Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 07:20 IST

SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center carrying four astronauts who will replace Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stuck in space for nine months.

SpaceX's much awaited Crew-10 mission lifts off, carrying NASA astronauts, who will replace Williams and Wilmore. (Reuters Image)

Elon Musks SpaceX and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched a much-awaited Crew-10 Mission aimed at bringing back astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months.

The launch went off smoothly at 7:03 pm ET (4:33 am Indian time), with control center staff breaking into applause as the Falcon 9 rocket, carrying four astronauts, passed each of its flight checkpoints without issue.

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Have a great time in space, yall!#Crew10 lifted off from @NASAKennedy at 7:03pm ET (2303 UTC) on Friday, March 14. pic.twitter.com/9Vf7VVeGev NASA (@NASA) March 14, 2025

NASA had earlier predicted that the two astronauts are expected to leave the International Space Station by March 19 at the earliest. The duo, who had initially planned to stay at the ISS for eight days, have been stuck in space for nine months after technical issues developed on Boeings Starliner spacecraft.

During their approach to the ISS, five of the 28 thrusters of the Starliner spacecraft carrying Williams and Wilmore failed, which extended their trip from days to months in space. Their extended delay fuelled health concerns as pictures showed Williams undergoing a drastic weight loss.

ALSO READ: Is Sunita Williams Nine-Month Stay In Space As Risky As It Is Made Out To Be? | Explained

Who Will Replace Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore?

Williams and Wilmore would be replaced by four astronauts who boarded SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket  Cosmonaut Mission Specialist Kirill Peskov of Roscosmos of Russia, Pilot Nichole Ayers and Commander Anne McClain of US, and Mission Specialist Takuya Onishi of Japans JAXA.

Their trip to the International Space Station was expected to take about 28 hours, meaning that they will reach the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday. As the spacecraft entered orbit, ground crew wished the astronauts well, and one by one the astronauts expressed thanks and greetings to family, friends and launch staff on Earth.

Earlier on Thursday, the mission managers decided to wave off a launch attempt due to high winds and precipitation forecasted in the flight path of Dragon. Crew-10 is the 10th crew rotation mission of SpaceXs human space transportation system and its 11th flight with crew aboard, including the Demo-2 test flight, to the space station through NASAs Commercial Crew Programme.

ALSO READ: Woman With Wild Hair: Trumps Epithet For Astronaut Sunita Williams In ISS Evacuation Plan Update | Video

Politics In Sunita Williams Extended Stay?

US President Donald Trump and his close ally Elon Musk have repeatedly asserted that the two astronauts were left stranded at the ISS by the previous Joe Biden administration for political reasons.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News last month, Trump said, Joe Biden was going to leave stranded NASA astronauts, including Sunita Williams, in space, to which Musk was quick to add that the reason was political".

At the Presidents request, or instruction, we are accelerating the return of the astronauts, which was postponed, kind of, to a ridiculous degree," Elon Musk said on being asked about the return of the two astronauts. Yes, they were left up there for political reasons, which is not good."

However, Wilmore said politics did not play any role in the crews extended stay in space. I can tell you at the outset, all of us have the utmost respect for Mr Musk and obviously, respect and admiration for our president of the United States, Donald Trump," he said.

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In another recent post on X, Musk said the station should be brought down earlier: It is time to begin preparations for deorbiting the @Space_Station. It has served its purpose. There is very little incremental utility. Lets go to Mars." Williams disagreed with the view, saying, Were actually in our prime right now".

(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 15, 2025, 06:46 IST
News18 Afternoon Digest: Trump Takes Credit For Killing ISIS Leader In Iraq, Indian Student Self-Deports & Other Top Stories

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Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 13:21 IST

We are also covering: India Slams Pakistan For 'Unjustified' Reference To Jammu & Kashmir In UNGA, Elderly Couple In Bengaluru Dragged, Kicked By Daughter-In-Law & Children, and BCCI Backs Rohit Sharma As Captain For England Test Series

Trump took credit for the elimination of the ISIS leader in Iraq. (Reuters/White House)

In todays afternoon digest, News18 brings the latest updates on US President Donald Trump taking credit for the elimination of a senior ISIS terrorist leader, Indian doctoral student voluntarily left the United States after her visa was revoked for allegedly supporting Hamas, and India slammed Pakistan for its unjustified" reference to J-K in the UN General Assembly.

Miserable Life Ended: Trump Takes Credit For Killing ISIS Leader In Iraq, White House Shares Video

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US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) took credit for the elimination of a senior ISIS terrorist leader, who was killed in a coordinated operation involving US and Iraqi forces on the previous day. Read More

Who is Ranjani Srinivasan? Indian Student Self-Deports After US Revokes Her Visa For Supporting Hamas

The US Department of Homeland Security has announced that an Indian doctoral student from Columbia University, whose visa was revoked for allegedly supporting Hamas, has voluntarily left the United States. Read More

Fanatical Mindset: India Slams Pakistan For Unjustified Reference To Jammu & Kashmir In UNGA

India on Friday came down heavily on Pakistan for its unjustified" reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the UN General Assembly, calling out the neighbouring countrys fanatical mindset" and a record of bigotry". New Delhi also stressed that the Union Territory has always been an integral part of India. Read More

Elderly Couple In Bengaluru Dragged, Kicked By Daughter-In-Law & Children, Chilling Video Surfaces

A horrifying video of a doctor and her children seemingly assaulting her aged in-laws in Karnataka has surfaced on social media, sparking widespread outrage as netizens demanded stern action against her. Read More

Trump Administration Considers Expanding Travel Ban To 41 Countries, Including Pakistan, North Korea

The Trump administration is considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo seen by Reuters. Read More

After Champions Trophy, BCCI Backs Rohit Sharma As Captain For England Test Series: The Right Candidate

The best thing about time is, it changes. The popular phrase rings true for Rohit Sharma who a couple of months ago had dropped himself from Indias playing XI in a stunning move during the fifth Test of the Australia tour following a run of low scores amidst murmurs over his red-ball future. Fast forward to today, hes reportedly earned the BCCI, and the selection committees backing to continue as Team India captain for the five-match Test tour of England later this year. Read More

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Aamir Khans Girlfriend Gauri Spratt Reveals What Made Her Fall In Love With Him

Bollywoods Mr. Perfectionist has found someone who doesnt need to binge-watch his blockbuster hits to fall for him! Aamir Khans girlfriend, Gauri Spratt, recently spilled the beans on what truly won her heartand no, it wasnt 3 Idiots or Dangal. In fact, Gauri isnt much of a Bollywood buff and has only watched two of Aamirs films. So, what exactly made her swoon over the superstar? Read More

First Published: March 15, 2025, 13:21 IST
Ranjani Srinivasan Case: What Is Self-Deportation? How Is It Different From Voluntary Departure? Explained

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Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 16:05 IST

Indian student Ranjani Srinivasan left the US voluntarily through the 'CBS Home' app amid a crackdown on pro-Palestine protesters. However, the US also has a provision for 'voluntary departure'.

Ranjani Srinivasan self-deported after her visa was revoked by the Trump administration for supporting pro-Palestine protests. (X/Reuters)

On March 10, the Trump administration launched the CBP Home app, an overhaul of the CBP One App, to encourage migrants to self-deport" rather than face possible arrest or detention. Days later, Indian doctoral student Ranjani Srinivasan left the US voluntarily after her visa was revoked following her support for pro-Palestinian protests.

The US Department of State confirmed that she self-deported on March 11, 2025, using the CBP Home App, and video footage of the process has been obtained. US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem confirmed the self-deportation. Ranjani Srinivasan was accused of supporting Hamas as a wave of pro-Palestinian protests swept the Columbia University and other US campuses last year during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

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The self-deportations are a unique element to US President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown. Trump has vowed to deport record numbers of migrants in the US illegally, with about 37,660 people deported during the presidents first month in office, according to Reuters. However, the US also has an option for voluntary departures, which differ from self-deportations.

Lets take a closer look at self-deportations and voluntary departure in the United States and how they work:

What Is CBS Home App?

The US Customs and Border Protection app, called CBP Home, is a replacement for the CBP One app that was launched under former President Joe Biden, which earlier allowed immigrants to schedule an appointment to request entry at a legal border crossing.

After vehement criticism from Republicans, who said the app facilitated mass migration to the United States, Trump shut down CBP One hours after taking office. He revamped the app to CBP Home, which offered migrants to voluntarily self-deport from the country rather than being deported formally.

This is part of a $200 million Stay Out and Leave Now" ad campaign by the Trump administration, with warnings from Homeland Security that those living illegally in the US should depart voluntarily, otherwise they will be caught and permanently barred from returning.

Why Was CBP Home Launched?

Trumps extensive mass deportation plan faces logistical and financial limits as he is appealing to Congress for more funding to deport illegal immigrants. The wave of deportations has slowed down since January, and this initiative is an effort to convince migrants to leave themselves rather than face arrest and detention.

The CPB Home strengthens our mission to secure the border and provides illegal aliens with a straightforward way to leave now before facing much harsher consequences later," White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing.

How Does The Self-Deportation App Work?

The app has a new feature that allows people to announce their intent to depart" from the US. The app also asks users to confirm whether they have enough money to depart the United States" and if they possess a valid, unexpired passport from your original country of citizenship."

The app also allows users to apply and pay for I-94 entry and exit cards up to seven days before travel, schedule inspections for perishable cargo, and check wait times at US border crossings, according to a report by the BBC.

What Is Voluntary Departure?

In the case of a voluntary departure, an immigration judge decides whether or not any person can stay in the US or not, and only this judge can give an order for voluntary departure, according to the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project.

However, not everyone would be able to ask for voluntary departure. For example, any person who has committed an aggravated felony like murder, rape or sexual abuse of a minor can not avail voluntary departure and is likely to be deported. Those who tried unsuccessfully to enter the US before or who applied for voluntary departure earlier would also not be able to avail this.

A voluntary depature is a lengthy process encompassing a few hearings and a verdict, while self-deportations have been made easier through the app.

It is important to keep in mind that even if the person has not committed an aggravated felony, the judge can deny their request for voluntary departure. The person has to pay for their bus and plane ticket.

How Is Voluntary Departure Different From Self-Deportations?

A voluntary departure is different from self-deportation in some key aspects. A voluntary depature is a lengthy legal process encompassing a few hearings and a verdict, while self-deportations are more of an informal choice made by an individual.

Voluntary departure generally happens when an individual is detained by the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and is facing removal, where they can choose to leave the country on their own accord. Self-deportations can happen anytime without any intervention from authorities.

A voluntary departure includes an immigration judge, while self-deportations are based on a persons personal choice without any formal involvement. A person is given a limited time period to leave the US in the case of a voluntary departure, while in case of self deportations that person can leave immediately.

How Does Voluntary Departure Work In US?

The concerned person will have to attend a few hearings, known as master calendar hearings, where they will be in court with a group of other detainees. The judge will decide the case for a voluntary departure.

The judge will consider several factors, such as immigration history, criminal record, length of stay, ties to the US and humanitarian factors before granting voluntary departure. If the government attorney representing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) does not object, the judge may allow a request for voluntary departure.

However, if the attorney does object, the judge can ask the person to either accept deportation or go for a contested hearing. It is important for the person to have all required documents, including letters of support and give a truthful and sincere testimony during the contested hearing. If they opt for deportation straight away, they will never be able to opt for voluntary departure again.

Is Voluntary Departure Better Than Self-Deportation?

The consequences of voluntary departures and self-deportations depend upon the individuals history. In most cases, a voluntary departure is a better option as it does not carry the stigma or penalties of a formal deportation and allows people to avoid the lengthy bans  which can be 5, 10 or 20 years  on their re-entry to the US. These people can also apply for waivers on re-entry bans.

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In the case of self-deportations, the person may be able to avoid the humiliating process of a formal deportation and maintain control over the procedure without the hassles of any legal intervention. However, they still have a record of leaving the US and may be subject to longer re-entry bans and restrictions from applying for future immigration applications. In short, it does not offer the same legal protections as a voluntary departure.

Self-deportations are the best sought after measure if an individual wants to leave the US quickly, but voluntary departure provides of a more favourable immigration record.

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 15, 2025, 16:03 IST
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. The Charter of Azerbaijan's Shusha City State Reserve Administration has been amended, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree in this regard.

The decree outlines new responsibilities and tasks for the administration, which now include:

- Organizing the construction of multi-apartment buildings and private houses in response to the return of residents to the Shusha district (and corresponding areas).

- Temporarily managing the multi-apartment buildings it constructs until the apartments are fully handed over to residents.

- Participating in the implementation of state policies related to housing and communal services in the district and corresponding areas, while managing communal services.

- Organizing landscaping and greening of the district and relevant areas.

- Organizing the management, repair, maintenance, and protection of urban roads under its responsibility within the district and relevant areas, and overseeing their condition.

Additionally, the decree expands the duties and rights of the Shusha City State Reserve Administration. These include:

- Acting as the contractor for the construction of residential buildings (both multi-apartment and private) for returning residents, and ensuring the protection and maintenance of these buildings.

- Ensuring the operation and maintenance of elevators in the multi-apartment buildings under its management, monitoring their use.

- Taking necessary measures related to the relocation of residents into newly constructed multi-apartment and private homes.

- Participating in the implementation of state policies concerning housing and communal services and overseeing the development of housing and utility infrastructure, including the repair and maintenance of engineering systems.

- Monitoring the quality and volume of utility services provided to the population.

- Coordinating the continuous operation of drinking water, sewage, electrical, and gas networks in the district and relevant areas.

- Organizing preparations for the winter season for the multi-apartment buildings it manages, and other facilities under construction, as well as socio-cultural objects in the relevant areas.

- Overseeing the maintenance of public lighting systems, including streets, parks, and green spaces within the district and relevant areas.

- Organizing public events in the district to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and memorial days, including decorative work and necessary activities.

- Providing organizational support for construction works commissioned by other state bodies related to the resettlement of citizens in the area.

- Offering organizational assistance in the conservation, repair, restoration, and reconstruction of historical and cultural monuments in the district that are under state or municipal ownership.

11:36

The Charter of Azerbaijan's Shusha City State Reserve Administration has been amended, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree in this regard.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Trump Administration Considers Expanding Travel Ban To 41 Countries, Including Pakistan, North Korea

Last Updated: March 15, 2025, 12:03 IST

The memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups.

US President Donald Trump (IMAGE: REUTERS)

The Trump administration is considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo seen by Reuters.

The memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups. The first group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea among others, would be set for a full visa suspension.

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In the second group, five countries  Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar and South Sudan  would face partial suspensions that would impact tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions.

In the third group, a total of 26 countries that includes Belarus, Pakistan and Turkmenistan among others would be considered for a partial suspension of U.S. visa issuance if their governments "do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days", the memo said.

A U.S. official speaking on the condition of anonymity cautioned there could be changes on the list and that it was yet to be approved by the administration, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The New York Times first reported on the list of countries.

The move harkens back to President Donald Trumps first term ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the U.S. to detect national security threats.

That order directed several cabinet members to submit by March 21 a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their "vetting and screening information is so deficient."

Trumps directive is part of an immigration crackdown that he launched at the start of his second term.

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He previewed his plan in an October 2023 speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and "anywhere else that threatens our security."

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 15, 2025, 11:57 IST
Chinese spelling bee contest held at Kenyan varsity to promote cultural exchanges

Xinhua) 11:08, March 15, 2025

NAIROBI, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The United States International University-Africa (USIU-A), a private university located on the outskirts of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, hosted the sixth edition of the Chinese Spelling Bee Competition on Friday.

More than 100 students from primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions participated in the competition, showcasing their skills in written and spoken Mandarin (standard Chinese language). The event also featured speeches by invited dignitaries as well as martial arts and dance performances.

Anthony Karanja, a representative of the Kenya-China Alumni Association, said the annual competition has provided a platform to foster Kenya-China cultural diplomacy and mutual friendship.

The sixth edition of the Chinese Spelling Bee Competition was themed "Simple Words: Big Connections," with the support of Confucius Institutes based in several local public universities and private entities promoting the Chinese language and culture in Kenya.

It was started in 2020 by two local Chinese language teachers, Wanjiku Mbugua, a Mandarin teacher at the USIU-A, and Faith Mworia, director of the Nairobi-based Discovery Chinese Cultural Training Center.

The Chinese spelling bee contest has evolved from an obscure online event during its formative stages to a grand occasion where local youth immerse themselves in the rich culture of the Asian country, according to Wanjiku.

"The spelling bee is actually an edutainment session. We learn and also have fun at the same time," said Wanjiku.

She added that the annual event has brought the Kenyan and Chinese communities closer, while also demonstrating the enthusiasm of local youth to improve their proficiency in Mandarin.

Mworia, who is also the chairperson of the Chinese Language Teachers Association of Kenya, said the number of local children and youth keen to participate in the competition has grown, with many attuned to various aspects of Chinese culture, including cuisine and costumes.

Catherine Ichung'wa, a journalism student at the USIU-A who is also studying the Chinese language, said she was inspired to participate in the competition to interact with fellow students and tutors as well as improve her syllables and intonation.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. Amid todays complex geopolitical shifts and global challenges, the need for cooperation and mutual understanding among nations has never been more critical, the political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend.

"In this context, international forums that foster dialogue and promote solutions to pressing issues have become increasingly vital. The Global Baku Forum has emerged as a key platform on the world stage, drawing leaders from around the globe to engage in discussions on the most urgent global matters.

The Global Baku Forum, first held in 2013 under the auspices of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center and with the support of Azerbaijans government, was created to promote dialogue between civilizations and cultures, seek solutions to global challenges, and address international issues such as security, human rights, and development. Over the years, the forums scope has broadened, drawing an increasing number of high-level participants, including officials from global institutions like the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU), as well as world leaders," he said.

Garayev noted that Azerbaijan is seen globally as a key advocate for international dialogue through the forum, positioning itself as a promoter of intercultural understanding and sustainable development.

"Azerbaijan is showcasing its growing influence on the international stage through the Global Baku Forum. The forum highlights Azerbaijan's balanced foreign policy and its commitment to addressing pressing issues such as the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), energy security, climate change, global security, and humanitarian crises. This event also reflects Azerbaijans multi-vector foreign policy, demonstrating its role as a reliable and neutral platform for global dialogue," he added.

The political analyst emphasized that the XII Global Baku Forum, which launched on March 13 under the patronage of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, is being held successfully. The forum's theme, "Rethinking the World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities," has drawn considerable attention.

The current forum has brought together around 400 influential political figures from various regions, including at least 50 current and former heads of state, prime ministers, UN leaders, scholars, and experts. The forum, which will conclude today, will feature a series of panels covering pressing global issues, including 'Geopolitical Shifts: Responsible Partnerships versus Rivalry,' 'Reimagining Multilateralism for a Multipolar World,' and 'The UN Pact for the Future: Building a New Global Consensus.'

In addition, there will be discussions on 'Path to Peace,' 'Middle Powers in the New World Order,' and ' Rebuilding for Peace-Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Regional Stability.' The event will also include lunch sessions focused on the Middle East and Ukraine-EU issues. Evening discussions will explore 'COP29: Breakthrough to Belem - Accelerating Transformation' and 'The Future of Europe.' The forum will also address critical issues such as new technologies, gender security, climate change, and global health crises. Panels such as 'New Technologies for New World,' 'Gender-Security-Climate Nexus,' and 'Global Health in Crisis: New Frontiers in Preparedness and Equity' will delve into these vital subjects, Garayev added.

The political analyst also highlighted President Ilham Aliyevs remarks at the opening ceremony of the XII Global Baku Forum.

"As the President pointed out, Azerbaijan takes pride in the Global Baku Forums status as one of the leading international platforms for addressing pressing global issues. 'As always, I'm sure the forum and its members will generate ideas and approaches, especially now when the forum takes place after this dramatic geopolitical change,' the President stated. He also underscored the Forum's importance in his interview with Euronews on March 13. 'I hope that, as usual, the participants will share their views, opinions, and approaches to the issues on the global agenda, especially now when the situation on the international stage is changing dramatically. The potential of the forum is actually reflected in the names of the participants. As I said in my introductory remarks, we have more than 50 incumbent and former heads of state and government from different countriespeople with great experience, knowledge, and expertise.

As we can see even from the opening session, there is a combination of opinions. They do not coincide, which is good. I'm sure that at the panels, the discussions will be even hotter. So, the forum always generates ideas and is very instrumental in elaborating new approaches to international issues,' the head of the state stated.

The Forums continued success, along with the hosting of other high-level events in Azerbaijan, underscores our countrys role as a pivotal platform for addressing critical global issues,' he added.

Garayev also pointed out that the Global Baku Forum is now widely recognized by the international community as a reliable and authoritative platform for dialogue. "The Forum further strengthens Azerbaijan's position in promoting peace, multiculturalism, and sustainable development on the world stage. The XII Forum demonstrated that Azerbaijan is not only a key player in the region but also in the broader global cooperation landscape. Baku continues to be acknowledged as a neutral and constructive space, facilitating dialogue between states and leaders with differing political perspectives," the political analyst concluded.

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In what could be a serious indictment of poor investigations by ZRP, the Zimbabwe Military Police (MP) on Tuesday nabbed a wanted international drug baron and his accomplice in Harare, barely days after Police had given up the search for them. Reliable sources told The Mirror that Military Police arrested Ali Allan Mamudu (55) at his house at number 440 Kairezi Street, Marimba, Harare on Tuesday after CID Harare indicated that they had failed to find him. Military Police also apprehended the suspected accomplice Khumbo Njima of Blantyre, Malawi almost at the same time.

Mamudu escaped Police arrest in Masvingo on Sunday morning after he was allegedly found with a consignment of 175kg of mbanje worth US$22 000. The consignment was coming from Eswatini and passed through Beitbridge Border Post enroute to Malawi. Both suspects appeared in court on Wednesday after Military Police handed them over to Police. It is the State case that Mamudu, Limbikani Mwanandi and Njima were on an FA Roadlink Bus on their way from South Africa. The bus which carried the consignment in a trailer passed through Beitbridge Border Post on Saturday and had a breakdown at the Bulawayo turnoff in Masvingo at 1 am on Sunday. Acting on a tip-off Police officers in plain clothes waylaid the bus until a Nissan NV 350 commuter omnibus arrived from Harare and the suspects started offloading the sealed mbanje into the commuter omnibus.

Detectives moved in and Mamudu, his son Joel and Njima allegedly escaped in a VW Polo registration number JJ20NW GP. Mwanandi and Speakmore Mhonda (39) of 663 New Marimba, Harare, a soldier with the Zimbabwe national Army were arrested at the scene. Speakmore who is understood to be a son to Brigadier General Fidelis Mhonda, the Presidential Guard commander said in his warned and cautioned statement that he lives in the same neighbourhood with Mamudu. On the fateful day, Mamudu phoned his son to bring their Nissan NV 350 to collect a consignment in Masvingo where he had a breakdown. Joel who does not have a licence then asked Mhonda to drive him to Masvingo.

It was just after they arrived at the place where the bus had a breakdown that Police moved in and arrested him. Mhonda says he didnt even know the contents of the consignment as he was just assisting a neighbour. Some suspects also concurred in warned and cautioned statements that they saw Mhonda for the first time at the scene of the arrest. The Mirror established that CID then prepared a docket that implicated Speakmore. Police indicated that it could not find Mamudu and that is when the Military Police supposedly trying to assist its member moved in to account for the other suspects.

On Tuesday the Military Police is said to have nabbed Mamudu and Njima and handed them over to Police. Interestingly the CID docket at the courts doesnt give details or circumstances on how Mamudu and Njima were arrested or who arrested them. However, sources said the Military Police had to move in and apprehend the two. There was significant Military Police presence at the court when Mhonda appeared before Magistrate Elizabeth Hanzi for bail ruling on Thursday. He was denied bail. The source also said it raised eyebrows that the CID failed to account for the main suspect in the case when the Military Police merely pulled him out of his house. Magistrate Hanzi denied Mhonda bail after classifying him as a flight risk because he allegedly ran away from the scene when detectives identified themselves and only stopped after they fired warning shots. Mhonda who is represented by Collen Maboke of Ruvengo Maboke Legal Practitioners will be applying for bail at the High Court on Monday. Joel is still at large. Masvingo Mirror




The murder case of Karen Read has made headlines well beyond Boston, where police officer John O'Keefe died in 2022. Prosecutors say Read intentionally hit boyfriend O'Keefe with her SUV and left him to die in the cold. She faces a retrial later this year after the first go-round ended in a mistrial. A lengthy Atlantic story digs into all the particulars of the case, but its focus is on a full-time local blogger named Aidan Kearney, better known to his many fansand many detractorsas Turtleboy. Kearney has been making the case, in his proudly brash and profane style, that Read has been framed. He maintains that other cops actually killed O'Keefe that night, then pinned the blame on her. Kearney, however, does more than merely profess his views: He organizes protests on Read's behalf and tries to make life miserable for those he sees as the real culprits.

That's understating things, actually: Kearney has been charged with multiple felony counts of witness intimidation after stunts in which he confronted those he views as guilty with his cameras rolling. Kearney faces prison time if convicted later this year, though he says he's done nothing wrong and hasn't stopped his advocacy. "Karen Read is a completely innocent woman, wrongly charged by corrupt cops who would see her rot in prison in order to cover up a murder of a fellow officer," he tells the magazine's Chris Heath.

The story notes that Kearney had been in direct contact with Read, regularly, as her case unfolded in 2023, though he initially denied any such contact publicly. He defends the lie, likening himself to a journalist protecting a source. The piece also makes clear that Kearney makes a nice living off his polarizing blog, with Boston magazine estimating up to $50,000 a month. (Read the full story.)
The best city when it comes to celebrating St. Patrick's Day isn't a big surprise: Boston comes in No. 1 in a WalletHub ranking, thanks to its huge parade and vibrant Irish tradition. The second- and third-place finishers, however, might surprise those who aren't locals: Reno, Nevada, and Savannah, Georgia. Both cities go big on Irish festivities on and around March 17Reno has an annual "Leprechaun Crawl," for instance, while Savannah typically welcomes 500,000 out-of-towners and has the nation's seventh-oldest parade. A look at the top 10 cities, and their overall scores:
Aviation officials on Friday announced permanent curbs on helicopter traffic near Reagan National Airport, the site of a collision involving an Army Black Hawk and American Airlines flight that killed 67 people in January. The portion of the route taken by the Black Hawk will be closed, and restrictions on helicopter traffic put in place temporarily after the accident will become permanent, the Washington Post reports. The National Transportation Safety Board had issued safety recommendations on Tuesday based on its investigation, calling them urgent.

The FAA said it will allow a few exceptions for helicopter flights, including those for the president travel, law enforcement operations, and lifesaving missions, per the AP. Two runways will be closed when a helicopter is in flight in the area, the agency said, per the Post. The Army said it will use "alternative routes to mitigate impacts on training and readiness," a spokesman said. Until the collision occurred, 28 government agencies were authorized to fly helicopters near the airport, including the Defense Department.
In an extraordinary speech to the Justice Department on Friday, President Trump delivered a fiery condemnation of the "weaponization" of the department that has indicted him twice while calling his adversaries "scum." As the New York Times reports, while the speech was meant to serve as major policy address to renew the department's focus on crime, punishment, and fighting drugs, Trump frequently deviated from his prepared remarks to air his grievances against the lawyers and prosecutors that worked to indict him twice. He accused the department's previous leadership of attempting to destroy him while calling former President Biden the head of a crime family.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told allies to "keep the pressure" on Russian President Vladimir Putin to back a ceasefire in Ukraine , hailing Ukraine as the "party of peace." The AP reports Starmer said In his opening remarks during a virtual summit of the "coalition of the willing" on Saturday that Putin will "sooner or later" have to "come to the table." The call is expected to delve into how countries can help Ukraine militarily and financially while gauging support for any future possible peacekeeping mission in the event Putin backs a cessation of hostilities. Around 25 countries and officials from NATO and the European Union are set to take part.

"My feeling is that sooner or later, he's going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussion, butthis is a big but for us this morning in our meetingwe can't sit back and simply wait for that to happen," Starmer said. "I think that means strengthening Ukraine so they can defend themselves, and strengthening, obviously, in terms of military capability, in terms of funding, in terms of the provision of further support from all of us to Ukraine." Saturday's meeting takes place in the wake of a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has backed. Putin has indicated that he supports a truce in principle but has set out a host of details that need to be clarified before agreeing to a ceasefire. After the meeting, Starmer said, "We agreed that now the ball was in Russia's court, and President Putin must prove he is serious about peace and sign up to a ceasefire on equal terms."

The US, which has shifted its approach on the war since the return of President Trump to the White House, is not represented at the meeting. The change of approach relative to that taken by former President Biden became particularly notable after Trump clashed with Zelensky on Feb. 28 in the Oval Office. Trump voiced optimism Friday that Putin, who met with a US envoy earlier in the week, will back a ceasefire. "I'm getting from the standpoint about a ceasefire and ultimately a deal some pretty good vibes coming out of Russia," he said. But Starmer said that if Putin wants peace, he needs to "stop his barbaric attacks" on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire.
The US has expelled South Africa's ambassador, described by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a Friday post on X as "a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS." South Africa's presidential office on Saturday called the decision "regrettable," the BBC reports, and said the country still wants to have a good relationship with the US after Rubio announced "we have nothing to discuss with" Ebrahim Rasool.

The trigger for Rubio seemed to be remarks Rasool delivered remotely to a Johannesburg think tank earlier Friday. A Breitbart News article referred to in Rubio's post said Rasool accused Trump of "mobilizing" white supremacy in the US and abroad, per the Washington Post. The speech also mentioned Vice President JD Vance's support for Germany's right-wing party, Alternative for Germany, and Elon Musk's role in the Trump administration. Musk is a South African by birth who has also backed AfD and far-right movements elsewhere.

US-South Africa relations have been tense since Trump accused the government of confiscating land from white farmers. He signed an executive order in February freezing assistance to South Africa and accusing the government of "unjust racial discrimination"; South Africa denies the accusations. Trump has also invited white Afrikaners to come to the US as refugees. President Cyril Ramaphosa's statement Saturday urged everyone involved to maintain "the established diplomatic decorum," per NPR.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked Canada's defense minister to review the planned purchase of America's F-35 fighter jet to see if there are other options "given the changing environment"an apparent reference to President Trump's trade war and talk of absorbing the longtime US ally. The defense ministry said that the contract to purchase Lockheed Martin's F-35 currently remains in place, a deal made two years ago for 88 jets, the AP reports. Carney, who was sworn in on Friday, asked Bill Blair to work with the military "to determine if the F-35 contract, as it stands, is the best investment for Canada, and if there are other options that could better meet Canada's needs."

"To be clear, the F-35 contract has not been canceled, but we need to do our homework given the changing environment," a defense spokesman said. The government had budgeted about $13 billion US for the purchase in what is the largest investment in the Royal Canadian Air Force in more than 30 years. A Lockheed Martin spokesperson said the company values its history with the air force and referred questions to the Canadian and US governments. The agreement to buy 88 jets was struck in 2023 as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was about to meet with President Joe Biden.

The CBC reports a wave of popular support in Canada for canceling the deal and instead buying aircraft made elsewhere. Portugal's defense minister said in an interview published Thursday that US actions have caused his nation to reconsider purchasing F-35s. Nuno Melo said the US has become unpredictable, per the AP, and can't be counted on to not impose limits on the jets' use or maintenance.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. The panel discussion on Global Health in Crisis: New Frontiers in Preparedness and Equity has started at the XII Global Baku Forum, Trend reports.

The discussion is attended by Teymur Musayev, Minister of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Susan Greenfield, member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom, first woman director of the Royal Institution of Great Britain; co-chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center; Ismail Serageldin, former vice president of the World Bank; Dalia Itzik, president of Israel in 2007, former speaker of the Knesset, chair of Hadassah Medical Organization; Amir Dossal, president and CEO of Global Partnerships Forum, prime minister of Moldova in 2015; Chiril Gaburici, general director of the International Center for the Advancement of Human Rights and Human Rights of the Republic of Moldova, Hadassah Medical Organization CEO Yoram Weiss.

The XII Global Baku Forum is being held from March 13 to 15 this year under the motto Rethinking the World Order: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities.

The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

The event discusses global geopolitical changes, multilateralism, global health crises, global recovery and regional stability, COP29, and other important global issues.

Will be updated
The US carried out sweeping air and naval strikes Saturday in Yemen, warning that Houthi targets will be pounded until the attacks on Red Sea shipping stop. "The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated," President Trump posted on social media, Axios reports. "We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective." Top US officials said the attack kicked off a new offensive against the Houthis intended to send a message to Iran, which backs the militants, while Trump pursues a nuclear deal with that nation, per the New York Times .

In an attempt to open international shipping lanes in the Red Sea, US warships and jets struck radars, air defenses, and missile and drone systems; the Houthi attacks have disrupted commercial traffic for months. The Biden administration conducted several strikes that did not result in stability in the area. The bombardment Saturday represents an escalation, per the Washington Post.

Trump ordered the Pentagon to prepare military plans against the Houthis after restoring the terrorist organization designation on the Houthis, a US official said, per Axios. His Truth Social post addressed Iran's government, as well. "Support for the Houthi terrorists must end immediately," he wrote, adding that "America will hold you fully accountable and, we won't be nice about it!"
President Trump on Saturday invoked the seldom-used Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a law giving the president broad power to detain or deport nationals of an enemy nation in wartime. Trump said the US is being invaded by a Venezuelan gang in a proclamation on using the law to order the deportation of five men, the AP reports. Legal scholars said the administration could use the authority against immigrants in the US legally, as well, per the Washington Post , as it carries out Trump's promise of mass deportations. Use of the law "may be the administration's most extreme measure yet," an ACLU lawyer said.

A federal judge in Washington had issued a preemptory temporary restraining order to prevent the five quick deportations. Chief US District Judge James Boasberg ordered the government to not deport the men for at least 14 days to allow a lawsuit by the ACLU and Democracy Forward against the move to be heard, per USA Today. The Justice Department appealed the decision. The US contends the five men are part of a prison gang that the Trump administration has labeled a terrorist organization; the ACLU says they have no such connection.

Trump said during his campaign that he would invoke the act, which has not been used since World War II. The law allows for deportations with little due process, per the New York Times. Legal experts said any use of the law is likely to face more court challenges, since the US is not at war. Only Congress can declare war.
Bahrains locally developed satellite, Al Munther, also known as the Made in Bahrain satellite, is set to launch today (March 15) as part of SpaceXs Transporter-13 mission. The launch is scheduled for 9:39 AM Bahrain time from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA, though the exact timing may be subject to changes due to weather conditions and other external factors.

Al Munther will be aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, sharing the mission with approximately 40 other payloads from various international entities. The mission will involve three key stages: the rockets takeoff, the deployment of its payloadsincluding Bahrains satelliteand the final positioning of Al Munther into a sun-synchronous orbit 550 km above sea level. Once in orbit, the satellite will begin data collection and space exploration activities.

Strengthening Bahrains Space Capabilities

Al Munther is expected to revolutionize Bahrains space capabilities with its advanced technology, incorporating artificial intelligence for high-precision data analysis and imaging. The satellites mission will support environmental monitoring, disaster management, and enhanced research capabilities. This project further cements Bahrains growing role in the regional space sector, bolstered by its collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the UAE.

The initiative is also a significant step in Bahrains broader space ambitions, aiming to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa highlighted that the project marks a major milestone in the Kingdoms space sector, supporting national efforts toward sustainable development through space technology.

A Fully Bahraini Endeavor

Al Munther is being designed and developed entirely by a Bahraini team, reinforcing the countrys commitment to fostering homegrown expertise in space sciences. HH Shaikh Nasser emphasized that the project builds on the success of Bahrains first satellite, Light-1, and is aimed at optimizing national capabilities in satellite design, construction, testing, and operations.

The satellite will provide crucial data on Bahrain and its regional waters, with Bahraini innovations forming part of its payload for in-orbit testing. This will allow for further refinement of these technologies before they are implemented in future space projects.

HH Shaikh Nasser praised the National Space Science Agency (NSSA) for its continuous efforts in advancing Bahrains scientific research, space technology, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity sectors. He also acknowledged the Bahrain Space Teams dedication, noting that their work showcases the talent and determination of Bahraini youth in pushing the Kingdom toward greater technological achievements.

With the successful launch of Al Munther, Bahrain is poised to strengthen its position in the global space sector, paving the way for future innovations and scientific breakthroughs.
TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

The National Space Science Agency (NSSA) has successfully launched "Al Munther," the nations first domestically designed and built satellite. The historic launch took place aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-13 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA.

The successful deployment of "Al Munther" marks a significant milestone in Bahrains space ambitions, reinforcing its commitment to becoming a regional leader in space technology and innovation. The satellite entered its designated orbit at an altitude of 550 km above sea level and will now undergo a series of orbital tests before commencing full-scale operations.

Equipped with advanced technological payloads, "Al Munther" is set to revolutionize Bahrains capabilities in space science. Its features include a medium-resolution space camera (20 meters/pixel) for high-quality imaging of Bahrain and its territorial waters, an artificial intelligence (AI) system for real-time image analysismaking it the first nanosatellite in the region with such AI capabilitiesa cybersecurity payload with advanced encryption technologies to protect its data, and a radio broadcast payload that will transmit the Bahraini national anthem along with a special message from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to radio enthusiasts worldwide.

One of the satellites most unique features is its ability to broadcast the Bahraini national anthem and a royal message via digital signals, which can be received by amateur radio operators and space enthusiasts around the globe. This initiative aims to enhance Bahrains presence in the global space community and highlight its technological advancements.

Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Aseeri, Chief Executive Officer of NSSA, described the launch as a historic moment for Bahrain. The successful launch of Al Munther represents an unprecedented milestone for Bahrain in space science. This achievement is a testament to the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the unwavering support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Prime Minister, and the guidance of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, National Security Advisor, Royal Guard Commander, and Secretary General of the Supreme Defence Council. It underscores Bahrains dedication to advancing its capabilities in space technology and innovation.

The "Al Munther" project has also provided invaluable hands-on experience to young Bahraini engineers, allowing them to be directly involved in various aspects of satellite development, from mission concept and engineering design to software development and environmental testing.

Dr. Al Aseeri further emphasized the long-term impact of the project: This initiative represents a forward-looking national vision and a significant step towards localizing space technology in Bahrain. It has empowered our young engineers and laid the foundation for future space projects led by Bahraini professionals. This is a proud moment for our nation and a testament to the capabilities of Bahraini talent.

The NSSA continues to spearhead Bahrains space sector, fostering innovation in space science and technology while contributing to the Kingdoms sustainable development and economic diversification. With "Al Munther" now in orbit, Bahrain takes a bold step forward in establishing itself as a key player in the regional and global space industry.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo.  The coming of spring brings expanded opportunities for hikers and bikers on the trails in and around St. Joseph.

Jeff Atkins, the newly appointed director of the St. Joseph Parks Department, said hiking and biking trails around St. Joseph have garnered national attention. He said that while most trails are accessible all year long, weather can be a deterrent.

Now that temperatures are bringing many outside, Atkins said that assessing your physical preparedness is important before hitting the trail.

Keep in mind first and foremost theyve been shut in all winter, Atkins said. So it could be that their muscles may not be as ready to go as their minds are when the weather gets warm. So, take it easy at first.

Beyond that, Atkins said to find trails that are clear and dry, since the weather is just beginning to warm up.

We have so many miles of paved hike and bike trails throughout the system, there are plenty of areas to walk, even if some of the off-road trails are a bit wet or slick, Atkins said.

He said that within the month most of the trails should be dry, which will provide even more opportunities for off-road hiking and biking.

The bike trails at River Bluffs in particular are gaining a national reputation. Atkins shared a story about an air guard unit that flew in from another country and brought their mountain bikes because they had heard about the new trails.

In the Midwest region, were kind of the go-between point between the trails down in northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, where theyre huge, and people up north where theyre traveling back and forth, Atkins said. Were a good stopover point, and theyll stop and spend a day or two on our trails.

Atkins said that mountain bikers, like hikers, should investigate the trails closely, especially this time of year, before trying them. He said that most of the bikers who come to the trails treat the trails with respect, keep them clean and communicate well with other bikers about any issues that arise.

For more information on all of the hiking and biking opportunities in St. Joseph, visit www.stjosephmo.gov.
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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. Although there is currently no collaboration between Azerbaijan and Ireland in the field of renewable energy, the possibility of future cooperation in this area has not been ruled out, Denis Naughten, former Minister of Communications, Climate Action and Environment of Ireland, said in an exclusive interview with Trend.

Speaking on the sidelines of the XII Global Baku Forum, Naughten highlighted that Ireland has made significant strides in the development of offshore renewable energy.

"While we have made progress in renewable energy on land, we are applying more technological solutions in this sector offshore," he said.

Ireland is currently collaborating with several countries in North-Western Europe in the renewable energy sector.

"We are working on new technologies that will address energy demands for the coming decades," he added.

"While we do not have any current plans for cooperation with Azerbaijan in this field, we do have joint activities with our European colleagues in the application of wind energy technologies. However, we are open to exploring opportunities for future cooperation in renewable energy.

The former minister also expressed his satisfaction with participating in the Global Baku Forum and shared his expectations.

"I am participating in the forum this week as a guest of the World Academy of Art and Science. During these three days, I have had the opportunity to meet leaders from many countries around the world. Important global issues are being discussed here, and very interesting debates are taking place. Former and current leaders are exchanging ideas about the challenges, particularly the current global geopolitical challenges. They are demonstrating how we can work together to create a more constructive world order and develop new mechanisms. It is not just about networking with colleagues from around the world and listening to presentations, but also seeing how we can work together more constructively for the betterment of the people we represent or have represented in our countries," he concluded.

The XII Global Baku Forum will be held from March 13 through 15 this year under the motto Rethinking the World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities.

The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

The event will discuss key global issues such as geopolitical changes, multilateralism, global health crisis, reconstruction and regional stability of the world, COP29, and others.

The Forum will bring together more than 300 world leaders from more than 60 countries, including more than 25 former presidents, more than 15 former prime ministers, about 10 heads of UN and international agencies, and more than 25 former ministers and deputy ministers.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. Public health is not limited to private medicine, but requires a systemic approach that includes prevention, monitoring and global coordination, Co-chairman of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, former Vice President of WB Ismail Serageldin said, Trend reports.

He made the remark during the panel discussion on Global Health in Crisis: New Frontiers in Preparedness and Equity at the XII Global Baku Forum.

According to him, public health not only encompasses the treatment of individual patients but also the overall health status of a country or region's population. This requires different approaches and statistical data.

"One of the most important achievements in the history of public health was the contribution of engineersthe creation of clean water and sanitation systems in cities. This saved millions of lives, especially among children," he noted.

Serageldin emphasized that prevention is a very important factor. Among the key areas, he highlighted mass vaccination, which has virtually eliminated diseases such as measles, rubella, and mumps.

"We must also promote proper nutrition, especially among low-income mothers in remote areas. This contributes to the birth of healthy children with normal weight, ensures breastfeeding, and supports the childs development during the critical first months of life," he added.

Another important element of public health, he called primary healthcare at the community level.

"It is there that the first signs of diseases appear, and today, thanks to telemedicine and artificial intelligence, we can create effective communication networks, which was impossible before," he explained.

The XII Global Baku Forum is being held from March 13 to 15 this year under the motto Rethinking the World Order: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities.

The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

The event discusses global geopolitical changes, multilateralism, global health crises, global recovery and regional stability, COP29, and other important global issues.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Isaiah Stokes attends the world premiere of "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" at the Hammerstein Ballroom on Thursday, July 15, 2021, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

Isaiah Stokes, an actor who made appearances in shows like Law & Order: SVU and Blue Bloods was recently found guilty of murder.

Stokes was convicted of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon in connection to the murder of a 37-year-old New York man, Tyrone Jones, in 2021. A press release from the Queens District Attorneys Office was released Monday.

Prosecutors said Stokes was seeking revenge for being kicked out of a club after an altercation occurred during Jones' birthday party in October of 2020.

Stokes attached a GPS tracking device on Jan. 29, 2021 to Jones' car to surveil the victim, according to the release.

The former actor tracked Jones down Feb. 7, 2021 in Queens and fired 11 shots toward the mans vehicle. Jones suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Queens District attorney Melinda Katz said the shooting was a calculated murder.

The defendant, a part-time actor, stewed for months after being thrown out of a birthday party for his own inappropriate behavior, Katz said.

Stokes, 45, now faces a sentence of up to 25 years to life. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 21.

Stokes began acting in the mid-2000s and made appearances on episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Blue Bloods, Boardwalk Empire, Power, and The Mysteries of Laura.

More entertainment news:

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Christopher Burch can be reached at cburch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SwishBurch. Find NJ.comon Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. International cooperation plays a crucial role in addressing global health challenges, especially in the context of pandemics and climate change, said Dalia Itzik, former Speaker of the Knesset and former Acting President of Israel, Trend reports.

Speaking at a panel discussion titled "Global Health in Crisis: New Frontiers in Preparedness and Equity" at the XII Global Baku Forum, Itzik emphasized that borders cannot halt the spread of viruses, making the exchange of knowledge and expertise between countries essential.

"It is crucial to share medical technologies, research, and innovations, as international collaboration strengthens global health systems," Itzik stated.

Itzik highlighted Israels significant experience in handling emergencies, noting that the country's healthcare system quickly adapted to challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our medical teams are highly skilled, and thanks to the flexibility of Israel's healthcare system, we were one of the first countries to begin mass vaccination campaigns. This success was made possible by the coordinated efforts of specialists and the efficient organization of medical services," she added.

The XII Global Baku Forum will be held from March 13 through 15 this year under the motto Rethinking the World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities.

The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

The event will discuss key global issues such as geopolitical changes, multilateralism, global health crisis, reconstruction and regional stability of the world, COP29, and others.

The Forum will bring together more than 300 world leaders from more than 60 countries, including more than 25 former presidents, more than 15 former prime ministers, about 10 heads of UN and international agencies, and more than 25 former ministers and deputy ministers.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Celal and Emine Emanet's son, Muhammad, said that he hopes his family does not have to uproot their lives in American to return to Turkey. Matt Enuco

U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross on Friday met with two restaurant owners who were detained by ICE last month and took aim at President Donald Trumps administration immigration policies.

Celal and Emine Emanet, who were detained despite having an open residency application for almost 10 years, stood behind Norcross, D-1st Dist., as he spoke at a news conference held two days after Emine was released from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention Center in Elizabeth.
Stockton University Police Chief Tracy Stuart leads her K-9 partner Freya through a series of vehicles to detect explosives. provided

Police officers from across New Jersey came to Galloway Township this week for a statewide certification event for K-9 police dogs in explosives detection that also served as a qualifier for the 2025 National Detector Dog Certification Trials in Oklahoma in June.

But police at the event said it was much more than that. It was an example of the steps police departments take to ensure public safety, they said.

They do things that people can never do, Tracy Stuart, the Stockton University police chief, told NJ Advance Media on Friday. They play such an important role in keeping the public safe.

Stuart, a three-time national detector dog competition winner, competed this week. Other participants included police and dogs from Bayonne and the Monmouth, Morris, and Passaic county sheriffs offices.

The event was sponsored by Region 15 of the United States Police Canine Association, which covers the entire state.

K-9s have different roles in law enforcement. Some are patrol dogs, others search for drugs or explosives. German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Labradors are frequently used for law enforcement, officials said.

Stuarts current partner is a Golden Retriever. Certification events are often held for each type of service dog, officials said.

On Wednesday, each team completed four separate tests to identify explosive odors in a designated time limit. Judges scored each team on determining where the K-9 found the material, how quickly the dog worked, and what the dogs response was to the material. They also judged how easily the handler recognized the dogs reaction, the leash skills of the officer, and the overall teamwork of the handler and the dog.

Its not an easy thing, said Thomas Conroy, the Region 15 executive director and retired chief of Stafford Police in Ocean County. Only the most committed come out for this kind of stuff.

Conroy said it takes a 24-7 commitment for officers to team with dogs. The dog lives with most officers and forms a life-long bond.

Kids and dogs can read you, Conroy said. You cant fake it.

Stuart has won national detection dog titles in 2022 with her current K-9 partner, Freya, and in 2018 and 2019 with her previous partner, Hemi, a Chocolate Labrador Retriever.

Hemi continued to live with her after he was taken out of service. Stuart choked back emotion Friday when she said Hemi died in her arms in her backyard two years ago.

Nothing is like losing a K-9 partner, Stuart said.

She said in addition to patrols on campus, service dogs like hers are also recruited for special events in the region. Stuart said she and Hemi worked the 2014 Super Bowl at Metlife Stadium at the request of the State Police.

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Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com.
A 56-year-old woman shot at the Jersey Shore by her neighbor Monday pled for help as she frantically called 911, telling the dispatcher her husband was also wounded at least three times by gunfire, according to audio released by officials.

The woman and her husband were shot by John Adamo, their neighbor in Berkley Townships Bayview section on Monday evening, prompting heavily armed police to swarm the area.

The Ocean County Prosecutors Office on Friday said that as of Wednesday evening, the wounded man was listed in critical but stable condition, and the woman was listed in stable condition, both at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.

SWAT Teams on Monday eventually stormed Adamos home, finding him dead in an upstairs bedroom from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Meanwhile, the couple, audio reveals, panicked as they called for help.

My husband, I think hes dead outside, and my leg is killing me, the woman tells the dispatcher. Audio of the 911 call was obtained by NBC New York.

Residents of the tranquil neighborhood said the couple and Adamo were in a long-standing feud, the television station reported. Authorities have not revealed a motive for the attack.

The police response provoked a standoff between Adamo and police around 4:45 p.m. Monday. Minutes before, the woman was heard shouting for help while the dispatcher worked to relay information to police.

Weve been shot by our neighbor...please hurry, she shouted, according to the 911 call. After being asked where she was shot, the woman explains her husband was working outside when Adamo began shooting.

I cant move my leg, she said, her tone appearing to grow faint. Theres blood everywhere.

Dont try to move it, we have help on the way, the 911 dispatcher replied.

During their conversation, she told 911 that the gun appeared similar to a rifle. Seconds later, she expressed fears of a grim outcome if the police cant reach her and her husband quickly.

Im bleedin' to death; I cant leave my kids, she said. If I do, please tell them that I love them.

Police negotiated with Adamo for about two hours after he barricaded himself in his home, authorities said.

Police were called to the homes at least a half-dozen times in the past year, NBC reported.

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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard speaks to reporters during a visit to the U.S. border with Mexico Wednesday, March 5, 2025 in Eagle Pass, Texas, with Vice President JD Vance. (Brandon Bell/Pool via AP) AP

President Donald Trumps director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, says shes rooting out leakers within the federal government.

Gabbard took to X to declare she will go after politically motivated leaks that she said undermine our national security and the trust of the American people.

She claimed undisclosed leakers shared classified information with several news outlets on various dates.

Our nations Intelligence Community must be focused on our national security mission. Politically motivated leaks undermine our national security and the trust of the American people, and will not be tolerated.



Unfortunately, such leaks have become commonplace with no  DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) March 14, 2025

Any unauthorized release of classified information is a violation of the law and will be treated as such.  DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) March 14, 2025

Gabbard was an unconventional pick to oversee and coordinate the countrys 18 intelligence agencies, given her past comments sympathetic to Russia, a meeting she held with now-deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad and her previous support for government leaker Edward Snowden.

A military veteran and former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard was confirmed on last month by a 52-48 vote, with the Senates slim Republican majority beating back Democratic opposition. The only no vote from a Republican came from Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created to address intelligence failures exposed by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Republicans have increasingly criticized the office, saying it has grown too large and politicized. Trump himself has long viewed the nations intelligence services with suspicion.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 16. The private investment in healthcare should be increased, Former Prime Minister of Moldova Chiril Gaburici said during the panel discussion on Global Health in Crisis: New Frontiers in Preparedness and Equity at the XII Global Baku Forum, Trend reports.

"We need to attract more private investment into the healthcare sector. Where the private sector is involved, processes move faster. However, government institutions must support the private sector  whether it's in licensing, reducing bureaucracy, or providing tax incentives. We must work together to find a solution," he mentioned.

Gaburici also noted that it is necessary to increase investment in healthcare. However, in recent years, investment in this sector has decreased.

"One of the key problems is the illusion that we live or exist in isolation, that the interests of individual nations are separate from the overall well-being of the world. This mindset only leads to increased division and competition. Its not just about the lack of medical resources. We went through COVID-19. But were we able to learn the lessons? Will we act differently if something like this happens again? Are we ready to ensure that logistics and infrastructure can handle a new crisis?" he added.

The XII Global Baku Forum is being held from March 13 to 15 this year under the motto Rethinking the World Order: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities.

The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

The event discusses global geopolitical changes, multilateralism, global health crises, global recovery and regional stability, COP29, and other important global issues.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Louisiana's largest teachers' union has come out in support of Amendment 2, a change to the state's constitution backed by Gov. Jeff Landry that would dissolve three longstanding education trust funds to pay for $2,000 salary increases for teachers. Residents will vote to approve or reject the measure on March 29.

Pictured: Tatyana Foster, a fifth grade teacher at Atkins Elementary School in Shreveport, La., assists a student Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. The National Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan sent a letter of protest to the European Parliament in connection with the resolution of the European Parliament adopted on March 13, 2025, Trend reports.

"We strongly protest against the unfounded, biased and prejudiced resolution of the European Parliament on the "Illegal detention of Armenian hostages and so-called trials" adopted on 13 March 2025. The resolution, which does not take into account the principles of sovereignty, the rule of law and justice, does not recognize the legitimate right of Azerbaijan to prosecute those involved in serious crimes. Moreover, the resolution deliberately ignores the historical circumstances that have existed for the past thirty years and the enormous suffering that the Azerbaijani people have endured as a result of Armenia's illegal actions.

Armenia has occupied the internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan for almost 30 years, committing countless war crimes against peaceful Azerbaijani citizens. These crimes include ethnic cleansing, serious human rights violations and the systematic destruction of Azerbaijani heritage. The European Parliament has chosen to remain silent about these atrocities, including the Khojaly genocide. During this act of genocide, the Armenian armed forces brutally killed 613 innocent people, including children, women and the elderly. The fate of nearly 4,000 missing Azerbaijani civilians remains unknown, but the European Parliament, in a selective and biased manner, ignores these crimes, preferring to make unfair and false accusations against Azerbaijan," the statement said.

It is noted that Azerbaijan, which has restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, has every legal right to prosecute individuals found guilty of committing serious crimes, including armed separatism, crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes and terrorism.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. The Chairman of the State Committee for Diaspora Affairs, Fuad Muradov, met with members of the Azerbaijani community and the Morocco-Azerbaijan Friendship Association in Rabat, the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Committee told Trend.

The meeting began with the playing of the national anthems of both the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Azerbaijan, followed by a moment of silence to honor the memory of those who gave their lives for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.

"Our country's diaspora policy, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, has gained new dimensions, and thanks to Azerbaijanis living abroad, it has become even more intensive," Muradov remarked during his meeting with the Azerbaijani community.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Kingdom of Morocco, Nazim Samadov, emphasized the importance of further strengthening friendly relations between the two countries and acknowledged the contribution of the Azerbaijani community in Morocco in this regard.

Mohammed Fakiri, President of the Morocco-Azerbaijan Friendship Association, expressed gratitude to the Committee for organizing the meeting and expressed confidence that the association's ties with the Azerbaijani community would deepen following the event.

The State Committee for Diaspora Affairs presented detailed insights into its ongoing multilateral projects, which include the establishment of Houses of Azerbaijan abroad, coordination councils, weekend schools, and other key initiatives. Videos of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs speeches celebrating the victory in Karabakh were also showcased during the event.

Moroccans educated in Azerbaijan expressed their appreciation for the gathering with the Azerbaijani community, emphasizing their readiness to support the strengthening of state-public relations.

Azerbaijanis residing in Morocco thanked the Azerbaijani government for its continued attention to diaspora communities. They shared ideas for enhancing diaspora activities, raising awareness of Azerbaijans realities among the local population, and providing suggestions for further collaboration.

The meeting concluded with an iftar organized by the State Committee, in partnership with the Azerbaijani Embassy in Morocco.

In line with the directives and recommendations of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the State Committee for Diaspora Affairs has notably broadened the scope of public meetings held abroad in recent years, playing a crucial role in advancing the development of diaspora activities.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
"Slavery is the Baskin Robbins of tragedy," author Percival Everett said. "There are 31 flavors."

This pithy quip is indicative of the wit and darkly ironic commentary Everett brings to his novels, including his latest, "James," which won the National Book Award last year.

Everett spoke (via Zoom) during a Q&A conversation at Indiana University Northwest on Thursday about "James," the writing process and his career as an acclaimed novelist.

The decision to invite Everett to discuss "James" was a serendipitous one by IUN Faculty, who had selected the book as their One Book, One Campus, One Community selection for this year.

"Every year we ask for a nomination book that will inspire conversations about critical issues and urgent ideas," said Douglas Swartz, IUN professor and director of the writing composition program. "This is the first year we nominated a book pre-publication. We took a gamble and I think it was a spectacular choice."

"James," unlike Everett's previous works, is a literary response of sorts to "Huckleberry Finn," reframing that narrative from the perspective of the runaway slave, Jim ("James"), who plays second fiddle and is sometimes a source of ridicule in the original work.

Everett described a complicated opinion of Mark Twain's work, suggesting Twain was a "great writer" but that "he could not fill the psychic space" required to fully realize Jim's character.

Although Everett would not say his book was an improvement or replacement for "Huck Finn," he did critique the original novel as being "uneven" and falling apart towards the ending; the final quarter of the book was written after a long hiatus and some decisions, such as the re-insertion of Tom Sawyer to torment Jim, may have been more for marketability than literary merit.

One notable aspect of "James," apparent early on, is the character's use of perfect English - near modern vernacular - that he teaches to his children and uses among fellow slaves, who then code switch to a coarser 'slave' vernacular in the presence of whites.

That James from the get-go is a learned, scholarly presence who imagines conversations with Voltaire, among others, makes the novel feel almost allegorical, more a meta-commentary on African American identity (and what is allowed to pass as such) past and present.

But Everett defended this aspect of his interpretation of "James" as more closely based in reality than one might imagine.

"The WPA (Work Progress Administration) collected testimonies from people who, at one time in their life, had been enslaved," Everett said. "These recordings exist, and if you listen to them, these people do not sound so different from me."

In a somewhat sinister twist, Everett noted that transcribers added a "slave dialect" to the written version that doesn't correlate to the actual audio, suggesting that the (white) transcribers' were making inappropriate racialized additions, or more troubling, were actually hearing the conversation differently than what was in the literal audio.

"Where racism affects how transcribers were hearing these people, or they made a conscious effort to hide these speakers' humanity by translating their testimony into dialect to satisfy audience expectations, neither is good," Everett said, suggesting that depictions of African Americans, including Twain's Jim, may have contributed to the latter.

Swartz said that after returning to "Huck Finn" 40 years after reading it the first time, he was shocked by how "awful" the ending was and agreed with the interpretation that Jim was underwritten compared to the white characters.

"James is constructed as a simple-minded character," Swartz said. "James and Huck have an intense relationship, but it takes most of the novel for Huck to realize that Jim loves and misses his family."

There is a lot of irony at play in both Twain's and Everett's versions. In "Huck Finn," for instance, Huck's slow realization Jim's humanity and (some of) the evils of slavery is meant to come well after the reader's own grasp of the dynamics at play in the novel.

That many 19th century African American characters were written by white authors, including Twain or Harriet Beecher Stowe, is deemed problematic today for a number of reasons, including the often thin characterizations.

Everett said he thought it was important for white authors to write about slavery, then and now, but that many attempts by authors to "inhabit" characters across cultural extremes can ring false or exploitative.

"Slavery is as much the history of white Americans as it is African Americans," Everett said. "How they (white authors) write about it can be interesting. It has shaped white lives. Perhaps more so, because of the psychic negativity of slavery."

A short drive north up Broadway from IUN into downtown Gary can demonstrate to anyone that such problems reverberate to this day, in segregation, urban decay and racialized policing.

Everett is at once both sharp in his critiques and convictions of historic portrayals of African Americans, and self effacing in describing his work.

"I'm only an artist," Everett said when asked about his book's role in advocacy. "And it's not what I did that excites me but what readers do (with the ideas). I can sometimes stare like a deer in the headlights when somebody asks me about my book. Readers often come up with (an interpretation) smarter than what I came up with!"

Everett's humility was tried when he was asked what is was like to work on the film version of "James," a project that currently has Steven Spielberg and Taika Waititi attached.

Despite dropping those names, Everett seemed bemused and irreverent about the project.

"At my age I just want it to be fun," Everett said of a possible film. "I'm excited to blow up a riverboat."
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Opinion Musk Said No One Has Died Since Aid Was Cut. That Isnt True. Roda Abdullay, 14, holds her 8-month-old brother who is suffering from malnutrition.

As the worlds richest men slash American aid for the worlds poorest children, they insist that all is well. No one has died as a result of a brief pause to do a sanity check on foreign aid funding, Elon Musk said. No one.

That is not true. In South Sudan, one of the worlds poorest countries, the efforts by Musk and President Trump are already leading children to die.

Peter Donde was a 10-year-old infected with H.I.V. from his mother during childbirth. But American aid kept Peter strong even as his parents died from AIDS. A program started by President George W. Bush called PEPFAR saved 26 million lives from AIDS, and one was Peters.

Under PEPFAR, an outreach health worker ensured that Peter and other AIDS orphans got their medicines. Then in January, Trump and Musk effectively shuttered the U.S. Agency for International Development, perhaps illegally, and that PEPFAR outreach program ended. Orphans were on their own.

Without the help of the community health worker, Peter was unable to get his medicines, so he became sick and died in late February, according to Moses Okeny Labani, a health outreach worker who helped manage care for Peter and 144 other vulnerable children.

The immediate cause of death was an opportunistic pneumonia infection as Peters viral load increased and his immunity diminished, said Labani.

If U.S.A.I.D. would be here, Peter Donde would not have died, Labani said.

We worked with experts at the Center for Global Development who tried to calculate how many lives are at risk if American humanitarian assistance is frozen or slashed. While these estimates are inexact and depend on how much aid continues, they suggest that a cataclysm may be beginning around the developing world:

An estimated 0 people could die within a year without American foreign aid for H.I.V. prevention and treatment.

Achol Deng, an 8-year-old girl, was also infected with H.I.V. at birth and likewise remained alive because of American assistance. Then in January, Achol lost her ID card, and there was no longer a case worker to help get her a new card and medicines; she too became sick and died, said Labani.

Yes, this may eventually save money for United States taxpayers. How much? The cost of first-line H.I.V. medications to keep a person alive is less than 12 cents a day.

I asked Labani if he had ever heard of Musk. He had not, so I explained that Musk is the worlds wealthiest man and has said that no one is dying because of U.S.A.I.D. cuts.

That is wrong, Labani said, sounding surprised that anyone could be so oblivious. He should come to grass roots.

Another household kept alive by American aid was that of Jennifer Inyaa, a 35-year-old single mom, and her 5-year-old son, Evan Anzoo, both of them H.I.V.-positive. Last month, after the aid shutdown, Inyaa became sick and died, and a week later Evan died as well, according to David Iraa Simon, a community health worker who assisted them. Decisions by billionaires in Washington quickly cost the lives of a mother and her son.

Many more children will die in the coming weeks, said Margret Amjuma, a health worker who confirmed the deaths of Peter and Achol.

On a nine-day trip through East African villages and slums I heard that refrain repeatedly: While some are already dying because of the decisions in Washington, the toll is likely to soar in the coming months as stockpiles of medicines and food are drawn down and as people become weaker and sicker.

Two women, Martha Juan, 25, and Viola Kiden, 28, a mother of three, have already died because they lived in a remote area of South Sudan and could not get antiretroviral drugs when U.S.A.I.D. shut down supply lines, according to Angelina Doki, a health volunteer who supported them.

Doki told me that her own supply of antiretrovirals is about to run out as well.

I am going to develop the virus, Doki said. My viral load will go high. I will develop TB. I will have pneumonia. She sighed deeply and added, We are going to die.

In South Africa, where more than seven million people are H.I.V.-positive, the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation estimates that ending PEPFAR would lead to more than 600,000 deaths over a decade in that country alone.

Some of you may be thinking: This is very sad, but why is it our job to keep kids alive in poor countries?

There are two answers to that. The first is that U.S.A.I.D. was established to advance our national interests as well as our values, and its demolition means that the United States loses soft power and China gains. Already, China has moved to replace the United States as the most visible supporter of Cambodia, and well see the same elsewhere, particularly in Africa and the South Pacific.

Antiterrorism programs in Syria and West Africa are faltering and may lead to new attacks on Americans. Surveillance for early detection of avian flu and Ebola is weakened, and an epidemic of either disease could reach America and cost billions of dollars. Trumps defunding of the polio eradication effort may lead, by one U.S.A.I.D. officials estimate, to 200,000 cases of paralytic polio each year.

The same official warned that the aid stoppage could lead to nearly a one-third increase in tuberculosis cases. Some of those will reach the United States and lead to enormous expense  a single case of extensively drug-resistant TB can cost $500,000 to manage.

The second answer to that query reflects not a calculation of self-interest but the moral code we live by. In this century, we are all blessed with miraculous, almost biblical powers: We can heal the sick and save childrens lives, all inexpensively: America spends just 0.24 percent of gross national income on humanitarian aid. We properly honor a firefighter who saves a single child, but three cheers for us as taxpayers for rescuing millions of children around the world from AIDS, starvation and disease.

That is, until January.

An estimated 0 people could die within a year without American funding for vaccines.

You never forget the sight of children starving to death, so I wish White House officials could have been with me on this trip to South Sudan, where 70 percent of nutrition assistance has come from the United States. Malnutrition is common in poor countries  more than one-fifth of young children worldwide are stunted from malnutrition  and near the Sudan-South Sudan border, I dropped in on the remote Upper Nile town of Bobonis, where many children are affected. Staff members of a nonprofit supported by U.S.A.I.D. used to visit weekly to provide an emergency high-nutrition paste to save the lives of young children with severe acute malnutrition  but that program was ended by the Trump administration last month.

So now children in the village are starving. I quickly found a half-dozen children with severe acute malnutrition and getting no help.

Fatima Abdulai, 14, held her niece, Nadia, a severely malnourished 2-year-old, and said the household has been reduced to one meal a day of sorghum mush. It was midafternoon when I met them, and nobody in the family had had a bite to eat that day, including Nadia.

Sometimes she cries from hunger, Fatima said. Then we give her water to drink.

Some of these severely malnourished children will survive, perhaps with cognitive impairments, and others will die, especially if the malnutrition is complicated by some other ailment. At any one time, half of South Sudanese children suffer from malaria, diarrhea or upper respiratory infections, according to UNICEF.

Civil war and famine in neighboring Sudan have sent refugees fleeing that country into South Sudan. Some are unaccompanied children, such as a 10-year-old girl who arrived recently on her own. The United States had supported a program to assist such children near the city of Renk and ensure they are not trafficked. That is one of the programs that has been canceled.

Many of the refugees from Sudan are raped along the way by soldiers or bandits, and upon arrival in South Sudan they used to receive free medical care from a nonprofit supported by the United States. Their sexually transmitted infections were treated, and they were protected from H.I.V.

When I visited, those rape victims were on their own. Sexual assault survivors told me that it was now difficult or impossible for them to get medicines. After my visit, the nonprofit was able to reopen the clinic for the time being and serve these women, but there is immense uncertainty among aid groups about whether they will be paid for their work and whether such operations can continue.

The bludgeoning of PEPFAR and U.S.A.I.D., one of the most eloquent expressions of American values ever created, might be Americas most spectacular act of self-sabotage in generations, the musician Bono, a longtime leader in campaigns against global poverty, told me. U.S. development assistance had its flaws, as its recipients often pointed out, but it was as close to poetry as policy gets.

An estimated 0 people could die within a year without American funding for food aid.

South Sudan is one of the most dangerous places in the world to become pregnant, with women mostly giving birth in their huts, without medical care or trained assistance. While the statistics are uncertain, a girl in South Sudan thus appears more likely to die in childbirth than to graduate from high school. So on the other side of the country, in the northwest, I visited a maternity clinic that opened in December in Aweil East County with funding from the United Nations Population Fund. Until then, there was no health care available in the area, and moms and babies died regularly during unassisted childbirth in the home.

The clinic is a triumph: Since it opened with a trained midwife, Susan Ikoki, not one mother or baby has died.

During my visit, Adeng Dong, 21, was in labor. She was malnourished and severely anemic, like so many women here, and would have been at risk of hemorrhaging and dying. But Ikoki was able to deliver the baby safely, and Adeng was soon nursing her new daughter.

Abuk Makak, 18, eight months pregnant with her first child, told me she is thrilled that when the time comes she will be able to deliver in a clinic, assisted by a trained midwife. When people delivered at home, babies died and some mothers died, she said. So I want to deliver here with the midwife.

Makak did not realize that unless her baby arrives early, that will not be possible.

The Trump administration has abruptly cut all funding, $377 million, for the U.N. Population Fund. As a result, the clinic is now scheduled to close this month, along with many Population Fund programs around the world.

How many women will die worldwide from hemorrhage, sepsis or eclampsia as a result of this rash decision in Washington? One gauge is that the Population Fund estimates that American financial support over the last four years prevented 17,000 maternal deaths, so that may be a plausible estimate of how many moms will die unnecessarily in the coming four years as American aid is withdrawn.

When I arrived at the clinic to ask questions about it, villagers mistakenly assumed I was somehow responsible for its opening/operation, and were exceedingly grateful. Dong, the new mom, wanted to name her newborn for me. Village leaders assembled under a giant tree outside to show their appreciation. We want to thank you, said the towns chief, James Garang Deng. Women are safe here now. Everyone then cheered Americas generosity.

They were unaware that the clinic was closing because Americas leaders have already taken actions to let impoverished women bleed to death in the dust here.

Trump and Musk are right that U.S.A.I.D. needed reforms. It was endlessly bureaucratic, and much of the money went not to the needy but to American companies that knew how to work the system. Yet what Trump and Musk undertook was not reform but demolition.

The future of aid will be fought over in the courts, and some remnants may survive, perhaps in the State Department and Agriculture Department. But its hard for much to continue when Musk ridicules U.S.A.I.D. as evil and a criminal organization, adding: Time for it to die.

An estimated 0 people could die within a year without American funding for malaria prevention.

South Sudan is particularly hard-hit by U.S.A.I.D. cutbacks because it is so fragile, but in Kenya as well I found gaps emerging from the collapse of American assistance. In the Nairobi slum of Mathare, Zilpha Adoyo, a widow, told me that she has been able to find new suppliers of her basic tuberculosis medicine, but not for a secondary medication that relieves its side effects. So Adoyo struggles with painful legs and is no longer able to wash clothes to earn $1.50 a day to support her children. One child dropped out of school last month to help support the family.

Adoyo worries that medicine shortages will now worsen and that she will follow her husband to the grave. I fear for my kids, she told me, and the interview dissolved into tears.

An estimated 0 people could die within a year without U.S. funding for tuberculosis prevention.

For those readers wondering how they can help, let me offer two suggestions. One is to check out Helen Keller Intl, which does outstanding work in nutrition and blindness. The other, for those focused on advocacy to reverse these American government decisions, is to engage with the ONE Campaign.

I recognize we cannot save every hungry child around the world. I agree that U.S.A.I.D. is imperfect and should be reformed. I appreciate that helping people is harder than it looks. I understand that there are difficult trade-offs in allocating tax dollars.

Yet I think most Americans would both welcome some reforms and also be proud to see how we save the lives of hungry children and sick orphans around the world by allocating just 24 cents of every $100 of national income to aid. And I find it odious when the worlds richest man cackles about America shoving programs for needy children into the wood chipper.

When you meet those dying children and look into their eyes and hold their hands and feel faint heartbeats flutter, you cant bear the gleeful laughter. You see children just like your own and hang your head in shame.
KHANKENDI, Azerbaijan, March 15. A delegation of more than 30 Turkmen Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from Turkiye, Iraq, and Syria has begun its visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

The delegation includes NGO chairmen, public figures, and media representatives.

The visit is being implemented through the Agency for State Support to NGOs of Azerbaijan.

The guests' visit to the liberated territories has begun today.

The delegation first got acquainted with the Asgaran fortress.

Then they visited Khojaly city.

Currently, they are getting acquainted with Karabakh University.

The delegation was given detailed information about the university.

Then, the delegation is scheduled to visit Shusha, and tomorrow, Fuzuli.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
An Offaly man has been honoured for 25 years of loyal service to a local company.

John Reddin was the toast of the town this month when he was presented with a special award to mark over 25 years of distinguished service as a driver with local fuel supplier Certa.

Certa, which is part of DCC plc, operates Irelands largest network of pay@pump forecourts and home heating depots, including Certa forecourts in Tullamore and Edenderry and a Certa depot in Shinrone.

John is a familiar face to Certa customers having serviced the Birr town area for more than 25 years. He started working with the company in the Birr depot in 1999 when it was known as Three Rivers Oil under the management of Ger Boylan.

READ NEXT: Driver caught without insurance in Offaly disqualified from driving for twenty years

Presenting the award, Orla Stevens, Managing Director of Certa, commended Garrett for achieving the milestone of 25 years service with Certa and applauded his unstinting commitment to delivering a high standard of customer service during that time.

John is well known for the excellent service that he provides to Certa customers in Offaly. He is based in the Shinrone depot where he delivers to a loyal customer base. His service over the past 25 years has been exceptional and we are delighted to recognise his great work as a local face of our business, said Ms. Stevens.

READ NEXT: Eight months prison sentences for Tullamore man for stealing from local stores

Certa is committed to continually enhancing the service that we offer domestic, commercial and industrial customers and we value the great service that colleagues like John deliver each and every day as we continue to pursue our ambition of becoming Irelands most progressive energy company, she said.
Two men admitted stealing baby formula worth hundreds of euro from a shop and groceries from a second shop in Laois.

Dafin Rostas (49) and Nedeu Rostas (31) both of 17 North Circular Road, Dublin 7 admitted taking 20 units of Aptamil valued at 329.80 from Mulhalls Supervalu, Lyster Square, Portlaoise and groceries valued at 329.76 from Lidl, Portlaoise on December 17 last.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the men walked into Supervalu and took the baby milk formula and left the store without paying. They were captured on CCTV and during a patrol of the area the two males were identified. He said both men had no previous convictions and they made admissions when arrested.

The goods were recovered and in a resalable condition, said Sgt Kirby.

On the same date, the two men went into Lidl and stole shampoo and washing liquid tablets valued at 329.96. The property wasnt recovered on this occasion, said Sgt Kirby.

READ NEXT: Six month prison sentence for man who stole diesel and groceries in Offaly

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said the date of the offence is relevant as it was close to Christmas and the mens financial circumstances were strained. He said both men were parents and the elder man was a grandfather of 13.

Mr Fitzgerald said there was no pattern of this type of behaviour before the incident.

In relation to Mulhalls, he said, due to the good detective work the goods were recovered.

He acknowledged that the same couldnt be said for the theft at Lidl.

Judge Susan Fay ordered a probation services report on each of the two men and certified for a Romanian interpreter . She also requested a community service suitability assessment and adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on June 23.

READ NEXT: Judge puts Offaly woman in custody until agreement on compensation reached
Councillors in Offaly and Tipperary have criticised the proposed speed limit change for national secondary roads, pointing out that it could in fact cause, not reduce, traffic accidents.

Later in 2025, the speed limit in some urban locations called urban cores, which include built-up areas, housing estates and town centres, will go down to 30kph.

The speed limit on national secondary roads will reduce from 100km/h to 80km/h.

Cllr Joe Hannigan told the February meeting of Nenagh Municipal District that while the various speed limit changes make sense for a lot of the road network, they don't make sense for a number of national secondary roads that he is familiar with in the Midlands.

"Changing the national secondaries from 100kph to 80kph often doesn't make sense. I am thinking of roads such as the old N7 from Nenagh to Limerick or the N52 from Birr to Tullamore.

"These are good roads on which many drivers will find it difficult to maintain a speed of 80kph. Do the local authorities have any say in these instances? Because they don't make sense.

"In fact, sometimes driver frustration could cause more accidents because they would be making more overtaking manoeuvres, sometimes at inappropriate points in the road. Safety is of course very important but common sense should also apply."

Cllr John Carroll agreed.

"The residents in the Ballywilliam area south of Nenagh in the old N7 (now R445) area are very worried about reducing the speed limit from 100kph to 80kph because they believe it will lead to an increase in dangerous overtaking.

In a letter written to the Council they point out that the road has a good safety record but that could change because of the new speed limit.

During another Municipal District meeting recently, Birr Municipal District, Cllr Peter Ormond, Cathaoirleach, told the meeting that he and the other councillors had received a lot of phone calls from members of the public concerned about the new speed limits.

Cllr Hughie Egan said there are a number of speed limit anomalies in the District.

"For example, when you are leaving Ballinahown, heading towards Clonmacnoise it is 60kph, but nearing Clonmacnoise the road is 80kph.

"What this means is that the best part of the road is 60kph and the worst part is 80kph."

The acting Area Engineer Pat Dermody replied that in that particular instance the Local (60kph) road is better than the Regional (80kph) road.

The entirety of the Rural Road network now has a new speed limit of 60kph as compared to the previous speed limit of 80kph.

The change became effective on February 7th 2025 last, after the Statutory Instruction to implement Section 7 in the Road Traffic Act 2024 which legalised the reduction in the default speed on rural local roads on February 7th 2025, was signed by the Minister of Transport on November 6th 2024.

Pat Dermody told the recent Birr MD meeting that during the end of January, beginning of February, the Council's crews installed or replaced 650 signs, and erected 220 new poles in the MD (South Offaly) area.

During the recent meeting of Offaly County Council the Chief Executive Anna Marie Delaney told the Councillors that 672 new poles had been installed throughout Offaly and 1,292 new speed limit signs had been erected.
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Washington: The Trump administration is considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo seen by Reuters.



The memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups. The first group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea among others, would be set for a full visa suspension.

In the second group, five countries -- Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar and South Sudan -- would face partial suspensions that would impact tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions.

In the third group, a total of 26 countries that includes Belarus, Pakistan and Turkmenistan among others would be considered for a partial suspension of US visa issuance if their governments "do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days", the memo said.

A US official speaking on the condition of anonymity cautioned there could be changes on the list and that it was yet to be approved by the administration, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The New York Times first reported on the list of countries.

The move harkens back to President Donald Trump's first term ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the US to detect national security threats.

That order directed several cabinet members to submit by March 21 a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their "vetting and screening information is so deficient."

Trump's directive is part of an immigration crackdown that he launched at the start of his second term.

He previewed his plan in an October 2023 speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and "anywhere else that threatens our security."

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
Islamabad: At least 31 people were killed during a two-day train siege in southwestern Pakistan carried out by militants, the country's army spokesman said on Friday. Eighteen soldiers and paramilitary personnel, three railway employees, and five civilians were killed during the hostage situation that lasted over 30 hours, lieutenant general Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said during a presser.



Additionally, five soldiers died as "part of the operation" launched by security forces to retake control after Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) separatists stopped the Jaffar Express train with a bomb, Chaudhry added. "There are many injured and the death toll may rise," he said.

Authorities announced on Wednesday evening that "33 terrorists" who participated in the assault were also killed. "More than 340 passengers were freed," Mir Sarfraz Bugti, the chief minister of Balochistan said during the presser in Islamabad.

Islamabad accuses neighbouring Afghanistan of allowing militant groups safe haven to plan and launch attacks on its soil, a charge Kabul denies. "The militants were in contact with their handlers in Afghanistan," Sharif added.

BLA claims execution of 214 hostages

The separatist BLA, which claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attack, released a statement saying its fighters had escaped with 214 hostages and since executed all of them, without giving any evidence to back that up.

Militants took over the Jaffar Express in a remote mountain pass in Balochistan province, blowing up train tracks in the attack then holding passengers hostage in a day-long standoff.

The separatist group released a statement in response to the army, saying it had killed all the hostages in its custody. Pakistani officials have accused the group of making exaggerated claims in the past. "This battle is not over yet but has intensified," the BLA said in its statement.

The BLA is the largest and strongest of several ethnic Baloch insurgent groups which have been fighting for decades to win independence for the mineral-rich province, home to major China-led projects including a port and gold and copper mines.

(With inputs from AFP and Reuters.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. The Azerbaijan Chess Federation (ACF), with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, will once again host the "Baku Open - 2025" International Chess Festival, a source in ACF told Trend.

According to the source, before the festival, one of the legendary figures in the chess world, the 15th World Champion Viswanathan Anand, will visit Baku. The Indian chess player will face Azerbaijan's last national champion, Rauf Mammadov, in rapid and blitz games. The match between Anand and Mammadov is planned to take place on April 27-30.

The "Baku Open - 2025" International Chess Festival will be held at the Baku Crystal Hall from April 27 (arrival day) through May 6 (final round and closing), with chess players competing in three groups under the Swiss system in nine rounds (A, B, and C).

The total prize fund of the festival is $55,000.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
In his first term as president, Donald Trump picked to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a virulent anti-EPA figure, Scott Pruitt. As the International Bar Association said back then, Pruit had been "the scourge of the EPA" as attorney general of Oklahoma "abolished his office's environmental unit" and, on a national level "sued the EPA 14 times.".

Moreover, the association that describes itself as the "foremost organization for international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies", added: "As a candidate for Oklahoma AG 'Pruitt was bankrolled by the fossil fuel and power sectors, and by the Koch family of energy billionaires'".

Succeeding Pruitt as EPA administrator under Trump was Andrew Wheeler, whose background was as a lobbyist for major coal, chemical and uranium companies.

EPA standards were eliminated wholesale under Pruitt and Wheeler.

Now in his second term, Trump has appointed Lee Zeldin, a former congressman from Long Island, as EPA administrator. More of the same is happening-- and worse is anticipated, especially regarding climate change.

Sierra, the magazine of the Sierra Club-- which notes that it is "the most enduring and influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States" with 3.8 million members --reported last week that Zeldin "is ready to lead" a "far more radical retreat on climate change" than made in Donald Trump's first term as president.

And other environmental and health necessities are also threatened.

The Sierra piece said the EPA, "the federal watchdog tasked with safeguarding the environment and human health is facing 'unprecedented' attacks under the new Trump administration, putting Americans' ability to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and healthy lives at risk, experts say".

"These attacks," it continued, "from mass terminations of employees to axing programs and funding intended to address pollution and advance clean energy, are part of a sweeping effort". At the EPA, there has been an exodus of employees, a freeze on funding disbursement-- including funds already authorized by Congress-- as well as a dismissal of scientific advisory boards and a removal of climate change references from the agency's website. Trump is installing industry lobbyists in key leadership posts, while his pick to head the agency-- former New York Republican Congress member Lee Zeldin-- has announced a set of five pillars to guide the EPA's work, most of which "deviate from the agency's core mission to protect human health and the environment."

The daily newspaper on Long Island, N.Y.-- Zeldin is from the hamlet of Shirley on Long Island-- covered its front page last week with the headline: "Zeldin's Push to Shrink EPA".

The two-page article by Tom Brune began: "EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has begun to do what President Donald Trump wanted to do in his first term but couldn't: Shrink the Environmental Protection Agency and cut its regulations on energy and business."

It noted that in the previous week "Zeldin announced he would seek to slash EPA spending by 65%, twice the 31% proposed by Trump in his first term, and"recommended the repeal of a 2009 landmark EPA finding that greenhouse gasses endanger the public health and welfare".

This move to undo what is called the "endangerment finding" was also focused upon in a New Yorker magazine article by Bill McKibben, a leader in challenging climate change. He wrote "the reversal of the long-standing federal position" as Zeldin "recommended" would be truly and deeply disgraceful-- not just climate denial but basic-science denial... true '1984' stuff... equivalent of 'War is peace' and 'Freedom is slavery'". It would be "an explicit repudiation" of the understanding of "the role of carbon in our atmosphere".

The publication Inside Climate News said that Zeldin "recommended to the White House that the agency [EPA] should rescind its 16-year-old finding that greenhouse gases endanger human health and the environment... the foundation of all EPA's actions on climate change under the Clean Air Act". This, if done, would eliminate "the agency's mandate to regulate carbon pollution from power plants, vehicles, landfills and oil and gas infrastructure".

This article by Marianne Lavelle said: "Scientists and environmentalists say the effort to revoke the endangerment finding flies in the face of reality in the wake of 2024, the hottest year on record", happening as related "disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion hit the United States".

The Newsday article concluded with comments by two Long Island figures-- Congressman Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, and Adriene Esposito, executive director of the group Citizens Campaign for the Environment-- both of them having said they were hopeful when Zeldin was nominated by Trump. Suozzi now says: "Gutting the EPA won't save money, it will cost Americans their health, safety, clean air, clean water and the future of their children." And Esposito was quoted as saying: "If the promise by the president and Lee Zeldin was to fight for clean air and safe water, this is really a broken promise. It clearly seems that Mr. Zeldin is carrying water for the president and abandoning his own personal beliefs and his own legacy."

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Daiso is opening its latest store in the Portland metro. Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Popular Japanese retailer Daiso is opening its fourth Portland-area store  this time in Gresham.

The store opens March 22 at 2041 N.E. Burnside Road in the Oregon Trail shopping center.

Known for stationery, snacks, household goods and cosmetics, Daiso has three stores in the Portland metro: the Sunset Esplanade in Hillsboro, as well as Fishers Landing and Hazel Dell Marketplace in Vancouver, Washington.

The stores carry a legacy of affordability from their founding. Hirotake Yano started the Yano Shoten street vendor to sell products for 100 yen apiece in 1972. He then opened Daiso in 1977, which expanded to thousands of stores worldwide.

Company officials are excited to introduce Daisos budget-friendly offerings to the Gresham community, Jack Williams, chief retail operations officer for Daiso USA, said in a news release.

For the grand opening, the first 100 customers on March 22 and 23 who buy at least $30 of product will get a special goodie bag from the store.

The Oregon Trail store will be open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

--Jonathan Bach; jbach@oregonian.com
Officials have not yet confirmed Dominique Ware's cause of death. Courtesy of Floyda Ware

By the time his family arrived at OHSUs intensive-care unit on Feb. 13, Dominique Ware was unresponsive. The 35-year-old was suffering from organ failure, and he would die the following evening, two days after being rushed to the hospital from downtown Portlands jail.

No one could tell Wares parents and siblings what had happened.

A month later, the family remains in the dark  not just about his shocking death but also about his arrest the day before he died.

U.S. Marshals took Ware into custody on Wednesday, Feb. 12, and he landed at the Multnomah County Detention Center. But the following day, while he was still in custody, he suffered a medical emergency from what doctors told the family was likely a fentanyl overdose. He died the next day.

Multnomah County Sheriffs officials said a court ordered Wares release the same day he collapsed, but they didnt say whether the order came before or after he was rushed to the hospital.

Wares siblings and other family members told The Oregonian/OregonLive they werent aware of Ware ever using fentanyl, a cheap, highly dangerous synthetic opioid, or any other drugs.

They were saying it was fentanyl, but he didnt do fentanyl at all, his brother, Charles Ware, said. We dont understand how that was in his system, and they just really didnt provide any type of clues.

A spokesperson for the Multnomah County Medical Examiner said that Wares death is still under investigation.

Ware is the second person to die this year from a medical emergency while in custody at the Multnomah County Detention Center. Coming out of the pandemic, deaths of people in custody in the county spiked, with seven in 2023 alone.

The jail deaths were caused by drug overdoses, preexisting medical conditions or suicide.

Last month, two Multnomah County Sheriffs deputies who tried to cover up their failure to make mandatory jail rounds pleaded no contest to official misconduct. In both of their cases, an inmate under their watch died.

Ware was a warehouse worker, as well as a hip-hop and R&B musician, his family said. He was living in Portland, where he was born, at the time of his arrest.

His sister, Floyda Criglar, said he was a caring sibling to her and their three brothers, adding that he had a big personality.

You always have that one person in the group who is full of life and they just migrate toward people, Criglar said of her brother. He was that person.

His unexpected death has left his family with questions about how and why it happened. So far, those questions have stubbornly remained unanswered.

They just tell us that theyre not sure how any of that happened, Criglar said. I dont know anything about why he was (in jail), or how it ended up this way.

The circumstances even of Wares arrest are murky. Criglar, Charles Ware and Charles wife Stephanie Yates said no one has told them why Dominique Ware ended up at the county jail in downtown Portland.

Jail booking records dont list any charges, which is not unusual when a local jail is temporarily holding someone for the U.S. Marshals.

Ware did have a years-old criminal record. Court documents show that he was convicted of second-degree assault with sexual motivation and possession with intent to deliver in 2008, when he was 18 years old. He was released from prison a few years later.

In 2017, he was convicted of unlawful use of a firearm in Washington.

I dont know that version of my brother, Criglar said when asked about Wares past convictions.

A search of court-record databases in Oregon and Washington didnt bring up any active cases against Ware at the time of his February arrest, and federal court filings also dont show any recent criminal cases against him.

The judges order to release him is not available in online court databases or at the Multnomah County Courthouse, and so its not clear even which judge issued the order.

A spokesperson for the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office said Ware was a federal prisoner and referred The Oregonian/OregonLive to the U.S. Marshals for more information. The U.S. Marshals said Ware was arrested on a felony warrant out of Washington state and directed the news organization back to the sheriffs office.

Criglar and Charles Ware said detectives have not told the family why Ware was arrested.

Theyre frustrated at their inability to learn anything about their brothers arrest and death, and they dont know where to turn.

Were really kind of in the dark on this one, and we really want justice and want to know what happened, Charles Ware said. It doesnt add up.

 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 48-year-old Klamath Falls man died after the electric bicycle he was riding collided with an SUV in Klamath County on Wednesday morning.

According to Oregon State Police, the crash happened Wednesday morning at the intersection of U.S. 97 Business and Shasta Way.

A preliminary investigation indicates that Douglas Duane Robinson was traveling westbound on his electric bicycle when he entered the intersection against a red light. He was then struck by the driver of a southbound Subaru Outback, 64-year-old Mary Jane Richardson of Chiloquin.

The e-bicyclist was taken to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Richardson was not physically injured in the crash.

The highway was impacted for about an hour while authorities investigated the scene. Oregon State Police were assisted by the Klamath County Sheriffs Office, Klamath County Fire 1 and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

This story was drafted with the assistance of generative AI based on data from Oregon State Police and reviewed by Oregonian editorial staff.
Demonstrators gathered at Floyd Light City Park located at SE Stark St. and 111th Ave. and to Portland Police Bureau's East Precinct just a few blocks away on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2020. The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that police's livestream of protests in the summer of 2020 violated state law.

The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled on Wednesday that it is illegal for law enforcement to record demonstrations unless to document criminal activities.

The three-judge panels decision upheld a lower court ruling that determined Portland polices livestream of 2020 racial justice demonstrations  which were later deleted  violated state law that says police may not collect or maintain information about protesters unless it is tied to criminal activity.

The ruling from the state appeals court originated from a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon against Portland police that challenged its livestreaming of 2020 protests. A day after the suit was filed, a Multnomah County judge granted a temporary restraining order barring police from collecting audio and video of protesters unless its tied to some criminal action. Before then, police had broadcasted 10 public protests in June and July.

Although the livestreams were not permanently archived, the transmissions  both to the public and to the Police Bureaus incident command center  collected information about protesters political views and activities.

Livestreaming creates a digital reproduction of an individuals lawful protest that is then accessible to any member of the public, the appeals court opinion stated. To put it simply, even if the digital reproduction is deleted after it is made, the statute prohibits law enforcement from creating the reproduction in the first place.

The city had argued to the panel that the livestreams broadcasted to the public and polices incident command centers contained uninterpretable data and was not the same as building a file on protesters political views. The judges disagreed.

In making their ruling, the judges interpreted a state law passed in the 1980s before computers were widely used. Although the Legislature may have not contemplated livestreams, the judges wrote that the laws broad language reflects an intent to encompass the use of technology in collecting and maintaining information.

In 2021, Multnomah County Circuit Judge Thomas Ryan ruled that although police did not maintain the streamed footage, its actions violated state law and a 1988 agreement between the city and ACLU.

The appeals court ruling upheld Ryans decision but disagreed on the second part, writing that the contract between the city and ACLU did not obligate the city to comply with state law. Instead, police only promised to amend its internal policies, the panel of judges wrote.

In a statement, Kelly Simon, ACLU of Oregons legal director, said the appeals court got it right.

Police across Oregon are on notice yet again that protesting does not justify police surveillance in any form, whether it be a livestream, video recording, social media monitoring, or the like, she said.

Its not clear if the city will appeal the latest ruling. Portland City Attorney Robert Taylor said in a statement Friday that his office is reviewing the opinion to assess the impacts on the city and possible next steps.

 Zaeem Shaikh covers the Portland Police Bureau and criminal justice issues for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-221- 4323, zshaikh@oregonian.com or on X @zaeemshake
Portland Police Chief Bob Day shared the statistics Thursday, March 13, 2025, in a joint meeting of the Oregon House and Senate judiciary committees. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

Portland police recovered far more firearms used in crimes last year than two other major West Coast cities, Seattle and Oakland.

In 2024, Portland police recovered 1,642 guns, compared with 942 in Seattle and 1,386 in Oakland, according to Portland Police Chief Bob Day.

Day shared those details Thursday in Salem in a joint meeting of the Oregon Senate and House judiciary committees.

The seizure data is particularly startling given that Seattle has about 120,000 more people than Portland.

READ MORE: Portland recorded more homicides than Seattle in 2024. Whats behind the violence?

During his testimony, Day highlighted the fact that many of the guns can be traced back to in-state dealers. The Alliance for a Safe Oregon had noted in a past report that almost 75% of roughly 26,000 guns recovered in crimes from 2017 to 2021 were bought from in-state dealers.

The vast majority came from Oregon gun dealers most within 25 miles of where they were originally sold, Day said.

Day said frequent instances of straw-gun purchases  when someone buys a firearm on behalf of another person  coupled with risky and illegal behaviors and retail theft of gun shops provide a steady stream of firearms into the illegal market. He said weak federal oversight of gun dealers means only 2% to 3% of the states 2,100 such businesses are inspected each year.

 Zaeem Shaikh covers the Portland Police Bureau and criminal justice issues for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-221- 4323, zshaikh@oregonian.com or on X @zaeemshake
Oregon opened Big Ten play with its first run-rule win over Washington since 2021.

Katie Flannery went 2 for 3 with two home runs and five RBIs and Lyndsey Grein struck out 11 and allowed just two hits to lead the No. 8 Ducks to a 9-0 win over the Huskies in six innings Friday night at Husky Softball Stadium.

Stefini Maake got the scoring started with a sacrifice fly in the second.

Flannery hit a two-run home run and Kedre Luschar (2 for 4) added an RBI single to give Oregon (25-2, 1-0 Big Ten) a 4-0 lead through three.

In the fifth, Flannery hit another two-run shot and Rylee McCoy (3 for 3) followed with a blast. They each drew RBI walks in the sixth to invoke the run-rule.

Grein (14-0) held Washington (20-8, 0-1) to just two hits, three walks and a hit batter.

Its UO third straight win in the series and its first run-rule win over UW since April 17, 2021.

The teams play again at noon Saturday.
Kayakers, canoers and even a paddleboarder gathered to hit the waters of Oswego Lake, which is now open to the public. Destiny Johnson

Lake Oswego residents who have long fought to restrict public access to the citys lake have flooded city officials with hundreds of emails pleading with them to join a recent legal challenge to once again privatize access to the water.

The barrage of messages came after the Lake Oswego Corporation, which represents more than 4,000 households who pay for lake maintenance, this week filed notice it would appeal a Clackamas County judges March 3 ruling that requires Lake Oswego to end its policy of restricting public access. In response to the appeal and resident pressure, the Lake Oswego City Council held an executive session Friday to discuss whether to join the legal effort. Its unclear when the council will make its decision.

Meanwhile, more than 140 individuals have emailed members of the Lake Oswego City Council to express their thoughts, according to 400 unduplicated emails the City of Lake Oswego provided The Oregonian/OregonLive through a public records request. (Some residents sent the same message more than once.)

Some warned of dire consequences, including at city-owned Millennium Plaza Park.

[T]he fountain area below Millennium Park, which is now a serene area to view the lake, will become nothing short of a carnival act on a hot summer day, with paddleboards and inner tubes prepping to go in the water, wrote Mark Dunham, who identified himself as a 30-year resident. The last thing the city (and taxpayers) need is public access to the lake, which will ultimately spoil the lake, the Millennium Park area, and strain the citys resources.

Another pair of residents likened open lake access to socialism. You cannot live in the Governors mansion just because you want to, and you think it is your right, wrote John and Kathy Willis. None of us can live in the White House just because we feel we are entitled to do so because we are taxpayers in this country.

They added: When those who work the hardest must give to those who did not make the same commitment, you have socialism.

Some warned of possible injuries, though private lake access has not prevented raucous parties in the past, as evidenced by a 2019 YouTube video.

As a frequent user of the lake for the past two years for paddle boarding and powerboating, I personally know how dangerous it can be to enter the lake without the right knowledge and preparation, wrote Neil Potter. Without more regulations, It will only be a matter of time before a member of the public is seriously injured, or dies in the lake.

The vast majority of the emails express support of the city joining the legal battle to restrict water access.

Prior to the judges order, members of the public who were not members of the Lake Oswego Corporation were allowed to access a park on the lake but not allowed to swim, fish, kayak or engage in other water-related activities.

Lake Oswego resident Thomas Moore wrote that it is completely irresponsible and totally unfair for the city to allow the public the same access as corporation members.

Others agreed.

We find it appalling that any judge would deem it responsible for others to use the lake we have spent over a decade and thousands of dollars to maintain; when any non-resident can now use it for free, wrote Ashley and Charles Miller.

But not every resident asked city officials to join the legal battle.

For too long, Lake Oswego has carried the unfortunate perception of being exclusive and closed off, wrote city resident Ken Carpenter. This moment offers us the opportunity to change that narrative, to act with generosity and fairness, and to welcome more people to responsibly enjoy the lake. Lets lead by example.

The flurry of emails is the latest in a long-simmering feud between city residents with exclusive access to the lake and critics of the lakes private status. Just days after the judges order, one of the plaintiffs in the legal challenge reported that someone had keyed his car while he was kayaking in Oswego Lake. He said he believed it had been a targeted attack.

Some residents who emailed city officials offered alternatives to restricting access to the water. Valerie Jaster floated the idea of Lake Oswego selling the bank of the water at Millennium Plaza Park to the Lake Oswego Corporation.

Then while the lake remains public, people would have to trespass private property to access it, she wrote.

At least one nearby business owner wrote to city officials, saying that the influx of lake visitors has negatively affected their patrons.

We are very concerned for the impact this will have on our already full parking lot, wrote Kara McClaskey, manager of nearby shopping center Oswego Village. This is a huge concern for us, and we are very worried.

-- Data journalist David Cansler contributed to this report.

 Carlos Fuentes covers state politics and government. Reach him at 503-221-5386 or cfuentes@oregonian.com.

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Former Grand Coulee Dam worker Stephanie Duclos sits in front of the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. She was terminated from her job under the Trump administrations federal workforce reduction plan. Martha Bellisle | AP

COULEE DAM, Wash.  Trump administration workforce cuts at federal agencies overseeing U.S. dams are threatening their ability to provide reliable electricity, supply farmers with water and protect communities from floods, employees and industry experts warn.

The Bureau of Reclamation provides water and hydropower to the public in 17 western states. Nearly 400 agency workers have been cut through the Trump reduction plan, an administration official said.

Reductions-in-force memos have also been sent to current workers, and more layoffs are expected. The cuts included workers at the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest hydropower generator in North America, according to two fired staffers interviewed by The Associated Press.

Without these dam operators, engineers, hydrologists, geologists, researchers, emergency managers and other experts, there is a serious potential for heightened risk to public safety and economic or environmental damage, Lori Spragens, executive director of the Kentucky-based Association of Dam Safety Officials, told the AP.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said federal workforce reductions will ensure disaster responses are not bogged down by bureaucracy and bloat.

A more efficient workforce means more timely access to resources for all Americans, she said by email.

But a bureau hydrologist said they need people on the job to ensure the dams are working properly.

These are complex systems, said the worker in the Midwest, who is still employed but spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of possible retaliation.

Workers keep dams safe by monitoring data, identifying weaknesses and doing site exams to check for cracks and seepage.

As we scramble to get these screenings, as we lose institutional knowledge from people leaving or early retirement, we limit our ability to ensure public safety, the worker added. Having people available to respond to operational emergencies is critical. Cuts in staff threaten our ability to do this effectively.

A federal judge on Thursday ordered the administration to rehire fired probationary workers, but a Trump spokesperson said they would fight back, leaving unclear whether any would return.

The heads of 14 California water and power agencies sent a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation and the Department of Interior last month warning that eliminating workers with specialized knowledge in operating and maintaining aging infrastructure could negatively impact our water delivery system and threaten public health and safety.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also operates dams nationwide. Matt Rabe, a spokesman, declined to say how many workers left through early buyouts, but said the agency hasnt been told to reduce its workforce.

But Neil Maunu, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, said it learned more than 150 Army Corps workers in Portland were told they would be terminated and they expect to lose about 600 more in the Pacific Northwest.

The firings include district chiefs down to operators on vessels and people critical to safe river navigation, he said.

Their last day is not known. The Corps was told to provide a plan to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management by March 14, Maunu said.

Several other federal agencies that help ensure dams run safely also have faced layoffs and closures. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is laying off 10% of its workforce and the Federal Emergency Management Agencys National Dam Safety Review Board was disbanded in January.

The cuts come at a time when the nations dams need expert attention.

An AP review of Army Corps data last year showed at least 4,000 dams are in poor or unsatisfactory condition and could kill people or harm the environment if they failed. They require inspections, maintenance and emergency repairs to avoid catastrophes, the AP found.

Heavy rain damaged the spillway at Californias Oroville Dam in 2017, forcing nearly 190,000 residents to evacuate, and Michigans Edenville Dam breached in storms in 2020, the AP found.

Stephanie Duclos, a Bureau of Reclamation probationary worker fired at the Grand Coulee Dam, said she was among a dozen workers initially terminated. The dam across the Columbia River in central Washington state generates electricity for millions of homes and supplies water to a 27-mile-long reservoir that irrigates the Columbia Basin Project.

This is a big infrastructure, she said. Its going to take a lot of people to run it.

Some fired employees had worked there for decades but were in a probation status due to a position switch. Duclos was an assistant for program managers who organized training and was a liaison with human resources. The only person doing that job, she fears how others will cover the work.

Youre going to get employee burnout in the workers left behind, she said.

Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat who pushed a bipartisan effort to ensure the National Dam Safety Program was authorized through 2028, said, the safety and efficacy of our dams is a national security priority.

Americans deserve better, and I will work to make sure this administration is held accountable for their reckless actions, Padilla said.

 By MARTHA BELLISLE, Associated Press

Associated Press White House reporter Chris Megerian contributed from Washington, D.C.
Inside Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. The Oregon Department of Corrections has hired a recruiter to help bring in doctors and nurses to work in its prisons and is hosting town halls with prisoners to learn more about health care gaps, an agency leader told lawmakers this week. Beth Nakamura
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), will visit Bulgaria and Romania next week to meet with government officials and business representatives, Trend reports.

The visit comes as the bank prepares new five-year strategies for both countries, which will be subject to public consultation later this year.

EBRD investments in Bulgaria more than doubled last year, reaching 272 million euros, while in Romania, investments increased to 707 million euros. The banks focus remains on supporting the green economy transition, decarbonization efforts, capital market development, and economic growth in both countries.

In Bulgaria, Renaud-Basso will meet with President Rumen Radev, Prime Minister Rosen Jeliazkov, Minister of Finance Temenuzhka Petkova, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov, and the Governor of Bulgarias National Bank, Dimitar Radev. She will also hold discussions with business leaders and diplomats.

In Romania, she will meet with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, Minister of Finance Tanczos Barna, and Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja, along with representatives from the private sector and civil society.

Renaud-Basso will be accompanied in Bulgaria by EBRD Managing Director for Central and South-Eastern Europe Charlotte Ruhe and EBRD Head of Bulgaria Manuela Naessl. In Romania, she will be joined by EBRD Director and Head of Romania, Victoria Zinchuk.

To date, the EBRD has invested more than 4.7 billion euros in Bulgaria, with a focus on competitiveness, sustainable infrastructure, and financial sector development. In Romania, total investments exceed 11.6 billion euros, targeting green infrastructure, corporate resilience, and capital market development.
Jackie Keller, 65, leans against a wooden entryway that her brother built in the yard of her manufactured home in Otis. Keller fears shell lose the house to pay the $71,000 that the Oregon Department of Human Services insists she must fork over to cover Medicaid-funded health care her mother received in the final years of her life. Sami Edge

Jackie Keller scattered the ashes of her stepfather, her brother and her mother at the base of a 15-year-old cherry tree in the yard of her Otis home. All three of them died in the modest manufactured home with pale walls and blue trim.

Now Keller and her Lhasa Apso, Audrey, are its only residents.

This piece of property is the only thing my family owns. Me and my daughter, which is my family, this is it, said Keller, who is 65.

But Keller doesnt know if shell be able to keep the house, which first belonged to her mother. Shes mired in a monthslong battle with the Oregon Department of Human Services, which says Keller must pay back $71,734 for the Medicaid-funded health services her mother, Wynne Dilworth, received in the last two years before she died.

The Department of Human Services likely will come after the house, it said in a letter, unless Keller finds another way to make the payment.

Keller and her attorney argue that she should qualify for a federal and state exemption because she spent years taking care of her mothers medical needs.

Low-income seniors can tap Medicaid to help pay for long-term supports like nursing facilities or in-home care. But rules for who qualifies are strict. And the care isnt necessarily free. Once those seniors die, the state will nearly always come after any assets they left behind to recoup costs.

But the rules allow some leeway for adult children who acted as caregivers for their parent. If a child moved in with a parent to provide intensive, unpaid care, ultimately delaying the parents need to access high-cost Medicaid services, both state and federal rules allow seniors to transfer their homes to that child before they die, leaving them the property in return for their help.

Attorneys say that many eligible caregivers dont know about this rule until its too late. Oregons standards for qualifying are stricter than the federal standard, they say, and hard to navigate without a lawyers help. And even when attorneys believe a client  like Keller  qualified for the exemption, some say Oregon has tried to take their homes anyway.

Elder law attorneys are urging Oregon lawmakers to make it easier for such caregivers to earn the keys to their parents homes in return for their years of help.

These child caregivers are often adults over the age of 50, who have given up their own jobs, health care and retirement to care for their parents, attorney Rebecca Kueny said at a legislative hearing in early March.

The entire goal of this rule is allowing family members to provide care in hopes that it is extending the need and time before we need Medicaid benefits, Kueny said. Its a win-win, really, for everyone.

Senate Bill 1029, proposed by the Senate Committee on Human Services, would prohibit the state from seeking reimbursement for long-term care from the homes inherited by caregiving children, even if the child inherits the home after the parent dies.

Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, a Corvallis Democrat who chairs that committee, called it a common sense way to ensure that people can provide care to their loved ones without dooming themselves to a future of poverty and lack of housing.

The Department of Human Services agrees with the goal of providing relief to caregiving children, department spokesperson Jake Sunderland said, though the agency is not taking an official position on the bill.

The department would like to see the bill narrowed to specify that caregiving children can inherit the home, not other assets, Sunderland said.

Currently, Oregon allows low-income seniors to transfer homes to caregiving children without losing their eligibility for Medicaid if that child lives with them and provides evidence they care for the parent at least 20 hours each week for two years, without being paid by the state. But the state has no such rule to allow caregiving children to keep homes they inherit after the parent died.

The state can  and does, lawyers say  come after homes that otherwise might have been safely transferred to a child caregiver, if only they had known about the rule.

Salem attorney Jennifer Smith recently helped a client who had spent nearly a decade taking care of their parent, she wrote in a letter to lawmakers. But the parent didnt transfer the home before they died, so the state filed a claim against it.

Her client had to look for alternate housing with no recent employment, credit or rental history, Smith wrote.

The rule perpetuates a cycle of poverty, Smith wrote, and creates a two-tiered system, where individuals with the help of an attorney are treated differently than individuals without.

Jackie Keller, perched in a chair that she used to sleep in while taking care of her brother and aging mother, holds a picture of mom, Wynne Dilworth. Sami Edge

Maybe Im supposed to be here

For the first year after Keller moved into her mothers Otis home in 2017, she slept on a fluffy, beige armchair pushed up against a wall in the living room.

On the other side of the wall was her 60-year-old brother, Mike Alexander, who had been disabled at 17, when he fell from a tree on a job as a trimmer, injuring his spine. The doctors took a bone out of his hip, but as he aged, his nerves regrew, causing unimaginable pain, his sister said.

He would lay in his room and wail all night long, Keller said.

In the room across from Kellers sleeping chair lay her mother, who at nearly 80 years-old had ruptured her abdominal aorta. Keller rose frequently to help clean her sheets, while her mother learned to live with an ileostomy bag.

Keller, who grew up in Portland and had spent years in California working for a chain of boutiques, was living in Las Vegas when her brother called to tell her about their mothers declining health.

I saw I had to come here, and so I did, Keller said.

She took over Dilworths role as a paid caregiver for Alexander, helping dress his wounds and get him in the tub, taking care of meals and laundry and housekeeping. She cared for her mother without pay. Keller grew closer with her mother as the pair learned how to take care of her condition together, and Dilworth fought through the embarrassment of needing such intimate help, Keller said.

There were wonderful things and there were really horrible things, Keller said. But there was tremendous healing in this family.

In the summer of 2020, Keller and her family were forced out of their home by the Echo Mountain fire, which burned over 2,500 acres. It came to their driveway, Keller said, but spared the manufactured house with the blue metal roof. The family was evacuated for nearly three months, Keller said, and the experience left them shaken. Shortly afterward, Dilworth transferred the home to Keller, to ensure she would have a stable place to take care of her brother if Dilworth died.

But it was Alexander who died, just three months later. Dilworth was devastated. As was Keller.

We were like this, Keller said, crossing her fingers. Her brother was funny and handy, she said. Hed mow the neighbors lawns on a riding mower and built their mother an ornate wooden entryway to the back yard.

For the next few years, Keller stayed at her moms side as Dilworths condition worsened. She started experiencing temporary strokes and had trouble walking. In 2021, she applied for Medicaid services, allowing Keller to quit the job shed taken to pay the mortgage and get paid to be her caregiver. Dilworth died in 2023, about six months after she took a bad fall, which caused a brain bleed.

It never occurred to me that I would be the recipient of this home or that people would die here, Keller said.

Keller decided to stay in Otis. She tried her hand at being a caregiver for other people and started working toward her goal of teaching yoga to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

I thought, Okay, maybe Im supposed to be here, Keller said. Maybe this is where Im needed.

In June of 2024, after switching the home mortgage into her name, Keller got a letter from the Medicaid asset recovery unit. It alleged that she had actively concealed the 2021 transfer of the Otis home and had not disclosed it to the state when her mom was qualifying for Medicaid later that year. Medicaid guards against people giving away their assets for the sake of qualifying  though under Oregon rules, transferring a home to a caregiving child is supposed to be an exception.

But Keller couldnt claim to be a caregiving child, the state wrote, because the state hadnt evaluated that at the time her mom qualified for Medicaid. The Department of Human Services questioned whether Keller could have cared for her mother, since she was also being paid to care for her brother. The department planned to reverse Kellers house transfer or come after her directly for her moms Medicaid bills of $71,734, the letter said.

At the advice of a friend, Keller looked for a lawyer and found Julie Meyer Rowett at the Oregon Elder Law office in Portland.

I didnt understand, really, what was happening, Keller said.  I didnt understand that it was wrong on different levels. I didnt understand that it happened to other people.

Keller doesnt remember being asked specifically about the home transfer during her mothers Medicaid intake appointment, which took place over the phone at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regardless, Meyer Rowett argued in a fiery letter back to the state, Dilworth wasnt considering Medicaid services at the time of the transfer, didnt know about Medicaid recovery and did not intend to hide any transfer.

I cannot emphasize how strongly I feel about the misdirection Oregon is taking in pursuing such an aggressive stance, Meyer Rowett wrote.

The pair have been fighting the states claim for almost a year.

I really am broken from all of this, to tell you the truth, Keller said. It is so emotionally, physically draining.

Jackie Keller and her mother, Wynne Dilworth, are pictured here in Keller's favorite photo from the early 2000s. Keller cared for her mother for the last six years of Dilworths life, following a rupture of her abdominal aorta. Sami Edge

Equity concerns

In 2021, a non-partisan federal agency recommended that Congress stop requiring states to collect Medicaid repayment from the estates of low-income seniors.

The brunt of estate recovery falls on seniors with modest means, the federal report by the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission found. Three-quarters of seniors who qualified for the Medicaid services had a net worth of less than $50,000 when they died. Collecting from modest estates contributes to generational poverty and wealth inequity, placing particular burdens on people of color, the report cautioned.

In return, states recoup only about 0.55% of Medicaid spending, it found.

Though recovery amounts may be consequential for states, particularly when budgets are tight, overall the data do not indicate that the program is having its intended effect, the report said.

The commission suggested Congress make it optional for states to recover assets and bar them from going after homes that are valued below half of the national home average price or properties like farms and family businesses that are the only income-producing asset of an heir.

Congress has not taken up the commissions suggestions, though politicians in both parties have proposed bills to end, or limit, estate recovery.

States retain some control over deciding how hard they push to recover assets from the dead, and policies vary from state to state.

A 2024 Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that most states recover assets beyond what the federal government requires. Thirty-two states try to recoup the costs of all Medicaid benefits used by seniors who accessed long-term care, the survey found, Oregon included.

Some states, including Maine, Massachusetts and Nebraska have specific waivers prohibiting recovery from caregiving children, Sunderland, the human services department spokesperson, said. If Oregon lawmakers were to approve something similar, Sunderland said, the federal government would need to sign off on the change.

Between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, Oregon collected $48 million from the estates of 2,200 dead Medicaid recipients, Sunderland said. That represented about 2% of the $2.3 billion state and federal government spent on long-term care for Oregons Medicaid patients that year.

However, its challenging to say how frequently the state recoups the money from estates that could involve a caregiving child because the department doesnt track that data.

Meyer Rowett and Lake Oswego attorney Darin Dooley say Oregon is becoming more aggressive with caregiving children. Sunderland, the agency spokesperson, said nothing has changed.

Between Kellers case and another that Dooley recently settled, the two lawyers see the state trying to reclaim homes that Medicaid recipients had given to their caregiving children before they died  as, the lawyers say, rules allow.

I dont believe any other state is seeking to claw back assets that were validly transferred under the caregiving child rule, Meyer Rowett said. The state does not have to do this. Theres no federal mandate that they have to pursue this. And so it becomes a policy question: Should they?

The Department of Justice, which represents state agencies in court, declined to comment on whether it has stepped up estate recovery efforts against caregiving children. The agency is limited in what it can say, communications director Jenny Hansson said, because the Department of Human Services is its client.

Dooley recently helped a family obtain a conservatorship for an elderly woman, granted when a judge agrees a person can no longer manage their own affairs. The court signed off on the conservators decision to transfer the womans home to her son, who was already living there and had taken care of his mom.

I thought it was almost a no-brainer under caregiving child rules, Dooley said.

But when the parent died, and Dooley filed the paperwork to end the conservatorship, the Oregon Department of Justice intervened. It filed a civil lawsuit against the son, Dooley said, trying to move the house back into the mothers estate, so the state could reclaim $50,000 for the mothers Medicaid expenses.

Dooleys client decided to settle with the state out of frustration, fear and uncertainty, Dooley wrote in a letter to lawmakers. He sold the house and agreed to give the state $50,000.

I really, really dont understand what Oregon (Department of Human Services) is doing. I dont understand their public policy. I think its a bad look for them, Dooley said.

Go down fighting

Keller decided to fight for her home.

Its not a mansion. The three-bed, two-bath, 1,300 square-foot house was built in the late 1980s, almost 20 years before her mom moved in. But its accumulated decades of Kellers familys memories.

It was in the hot tub on the back porch that Keller first remembers thinking that she, her mother and brother could be happy together living in their Otis house. She and Alexander built a set of wooden steps into the tub, since they couldnt afford a chair-lift to help him get in.

In the yard, the cherry tree that Kellers mother and stepfather planted  now fertilized with their ashes  is just starting to bud. Alexanders favorite spruce towers over the gravel driveway.

The state of Oregon values Kellers house at around $340,000, it told her. Shes on a fixed Social Security income and cant refinance the mortgage, she said. So if shes forced to sell, after paying off the mortgage and the Medicaid bill, shell be left with just over half of the homes value to start a new life.

She and Meyer Rowett have argued that forcing Keller to cover the Medicaid bill creates an undue hardship. Shed likely have to apply for subsidized or low-income housing, but the state has an acute shortage of those options, Meyer Rowett argued.

The state rejected that claim. To qualify for a hardship waiver, Keller has to demonstrate shed likely be eligible for public assistance and become homeless, the Department of Human Services letter said. The state wasnt convinced of both.

Keller has appealed that decision. She and Meyer Rowett dont know how long that might take or what the result might be.

But Keller hasnt let herself get to the what-ifs yet. She isnt sure what shell do if she loses the house and said, Ill cross that bridge if Im there.

If it doesnt turn out completely in my favor, I am in this position to possibly help somebody else, said Keller, who shared parts of her story with the Legislature, urging lawmakers to stop Medicaid collections against caregiving children.

So Ill go down fighting, she added. I would like to keep this home.

Sami Edge covers higher education and politics for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430.
An American Airlines jetliner that caught fire after landing Thursday at Denver International Airport sits near a hangar at the airport Friday, March 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) AP

Passengers on an American Airlines plane that diverted mid-flight and landed at Denver International Airport report feeling a strong vibration upon takeoff and then smoke coming from a wing.

Passengers fled onto a wing in a fraught evacuation amid billowing clouds of smoke. Airport officials said 12 people were taken to hospitals with minor injuries. It was the latest in a series of air safety incidents.

Passenger Hani Levi said she felt a very strong vibration after the plane took off, followed later by an announcement that there would an emergency landing in Denver because of an apparent engine problem.

As the plane taxied to the gate, the former military airplane mechanic from Las Vegas who was sitting in a window seat, saw smoke coming from the wing and then fire. A passenger said to evacuate, but Levi said some people were panicking and a mother screamed that she needed to get off with her two children, one of whom tried to run toward the front of the plane, she said.

Black smoke filled the cabin as people crowded the exit, but Levi had to remain seated because a handicapped woman was between her and the aisle. As they waited for a wheelchair, Levi watched black smoke and flames spitting from the wing just feet from her seat. People could be heard jostling to get off the plane in videos Levi took, with one person saying orderly, orderly and another saying go go.

I chose to stay calm, said Levi, who said she tried not to breathe deeply to avoid inhaling the smoke.

Flight 1006 was headed from the Colorado Springs to Dallas Fort Worth on Thursday but diverted to Denver after the crew reported engine vibrations. It landed safely around 5:15 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. An engine on the Boeing 737-800 caught fire as it taxied to the gate, the FAA added.

Passengers described people exiting the plane onto its left wing, as an engine beneath the right wing burned and black smoke surrounded the aircraft. They lined up and got to the ground using slides and ladders brought over by ground crews, according to the FAA, video footage and passenger interviews.

All 172 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated, authorities said. American Airlines referred questions about the 12 people taken to hospitals to local officials.

The damaged plane was seen parked behind a hangar at the airport Friday.

The country has seen a recent spate of aviation disasters and close calls stoking fears about air travel, though flying remains a safe way to travel. Recent on-the-ground accidents included a plane that crashed and flipped over upon landing in Toronto and a Japan Airlines plane that clipped a parked Delta plane while it was taxiing at the Seattle airport.

Passenger Daniel Friedman said he started thinking about writing a eulogy as the chaotic evacuation unfolded. He described people pushing and shoving to get off.

Really I just wanted to make sure we got here safe and didnt know if it was going to happen or not, Friedman told WRAL-TV, I dont wish that upon anybody.

Twelve people were treated at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora Thursday night and released, the hospital said Friday.

A replacement plane and crew took passengers to Dallas-Fort Worth, the airline said. The flight landed Friday around 5 a.m. local time, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.

How common are airplane engine fires?

American Airlines said in a statement that the flight experienced an engine-related issue after taxiing to the gate. There was no immediate clarification on exactly when the plane caught fire.

Engine fires are rare, and crews trained to deal with them, aviation expert Steven Wallace said. They typically are not catastrophic even if they occur in the air because planes can fly with a single engine, he said.

A pilot going to work for an airline today could likely fly for 30 years and never experience an engine failure, said Wallace, a former director of the FAAs accident investigations office.

Two engine fires made news in recent weeks: a fire on a United Airlines flight Feb. 2 as it was preparing to take off from Houston and a March 1 fire on a FedEx cargo plane that made an emergency landing in New Jersey following a bird strike.

Former National Transportation Safety Board Chairman James Hall said the reported engine vibrations on the American flight were unusual but a slew of problems could have caused them and a fire, making it difficult to speculate on.

As for the recent spate of aviation incidents, given the past history, you can classify it as unusual, said Hall, but I dont know if you have enough information to draw any conclusions.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board said they will investigate.

The plane was built in 2012 with an engine from CFM International. Boeing declined comment, and CFM did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a statement, American Airlines thanked its employees and first responders for their quick and decisive action following the accident.

Colorado resident Ian Paisley was flying from Denver to Hawaii on Friday with his family and heard about Thursdays fire but didnt think that it would change their plans.

We can have confidence that even though these are terrible things that happen and very frightening for people, that for most of us its not going to be something that affects our lives, he said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. The European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide advisory support to the Romanian municipality of Ploiesti for green transport projects, Trend reports.

EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris and Ploiesti Mayor Mihai Politeanu signed an agreement formalizing the partnership.

The initiative aims to help Ploiesti upgrade its transport infrastructure in line with economic growth and emission reduction goals. EIB experts and external consultants will assist with financial and project management, as well as guidance on securing EU funding under the Just Transition program. Additional support may be considered in the future.

Ploiesti, an industrial hub and Romanias ninth-largest municipality, plays a key role in the oil refining and petrochemical sectors. Its strategic location enhances its potential as a transport and economic corridor.

The EIB provides advisory services across Romania, helping authorities and businesses develop sustainable infrastructure and improve access to funding.
Contributors to this report: OU Daily's editors Peggy Dodd, Ismael Lele and Ana Barboza; reporters Natalie Armour, Keaton Shaffer and Macey Thaxton; photo editor Annie Davenport; and videographers/photographers Willie Gillespie, Evan Rebhorn and Bob Nguyen.

The National Weather Service issued an evacuation order Friday for residents in East Norman due to wildfires.

NEWSLETTERS * required Thank you for subscribing! Email * Please enter a valid email address First Name Last Name When major news breaks + a few times a week FREE SIGN UP Subscribing...

Norman residents can sign up for emergency alerts via text, email or call. Please call 911 for emergencies only. Don't return to an evacuated area until an all-clear is issued.

Evacuation shelter locations

 Little Axe Community Center, at 1000 168th Ave. NE.

 CrossPointe Church, at 2601 24th Ave. SE.

Mapping fire locations; routes to avoid

According to the Weather Channel, residents should avoid areas along and east of 108th Avenue to 132nd Street and north of Post Oak Road to Highway 9.

A high wind warning was issued for portions of Oklahoma and northern Texas until 10 p.m.

A blowing dust advisory is also in effect until 9 p.m.

Scene at CrossPointe Church shelter site

8:25 p.m.

Evacuees quietly spread throughout CrossPointe Church as the sun set Friday evening after six fires burned across East Norman. Families, kids, friends and pets sat among Pop-Tarts and tote bags filled with assortments of belongings.

One woman, who sat on a bench next to two young boys on the side of the church auditorium, told OU Daily she had fled a domestic violence situation. When the womens shelter they were staying at was placed under an evacuation order, and everyone else had left, she had nowhere else to go.

Were here from elsewhere, so we don't have any family nearby. My car is in the shop, so luckily I looked on the news and saw that this was open, she said.

Across from a ledge piled with bottled water and packaged food, Carolyn Nelson waited to hear when she could go home. Next to her, in a pet carrier, was her cat, Sassy. When she was told to evacuate in the afternoon, she set out for a friends house east of her home on 108th Avenue, but they were soon evacuated again.

Nelson said the last time she had to evacuate due to a fire was over a decade ago, but she had family in the area at the time. Now, it's just her and Sassy, and she has to lean on friends.

At the church entrance, Red Cross volunteers and CrossPointe Church staff readied to receive supplies and more evacuees.

We were prepared, as far as the facility availability to opening, said Trey Roberts, a representative for CrossPointe Church. It's been a great outreach from those businesses in the community.

While more evacuees trickled in, volunteers prepared to set up overnight resources and cots, while Normanites prayed, ate and wondered when the all-clear would come.

Areas under evacuation orders

As of 8:20 p.m., several areas of East Norman are still under evacuation orders:

 108th Avenue Southeast and Post Oak Road.

 108th Avenue Northeast and Tecumseh Road.

 120th Avenue Southeast and Tucker Trail.

 192nd Avenue Northeast and Spencer Circle.

 192nd Avenue Northeast and East Robinson Road.

 120th Avenue Southeast and Etowah Road.

 120th Avenue Southeast to Lake Thunderbird between Rock Creek Road and Franklin Road.

 Etowah Road to State Highway 9 between 84th Avenue and 144th Avenue Southeast.

OG&E reported 62 outages across the Norman area, with 2,407 customers affected or without electricity.

Latest updates

7:55 p.m.

OG&E reported 42 outages across the Norman area, with 1,266 customers affected or without electricity.

7:09 p.m.

Thank you to the incredible firefighters and first responders battling an outbreak of fires.



Oklahomans be safe, be smart! Watch for evac notices, tune into local news, and follow guidance from local officials. https://t.co/RNbuP7PGb3  Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) March 14, 2025

6:59 p.m.

OG&E reported 38 outages across the Norman area, with 2,342 customers affected or without electricity.

6:29 p.m.

OG&E reported 30 outages across the Norman area, with 1,771 customers affected or without electricity.

5:44 p.m.

Norman Police Department announced two new areas under evacuation due to large and quick moving fires.

 120th Avenue Southeast to Lake Thunderbird between Rock Creek Road and Franklin Road.

 Etowah Road to State Highway 9 between 84th Avenue and 144th Avenue Southeast.

ALERT (5:41PM): Residents in the following areas are asked to EVACUATE immediately to the west due to large and quick moving fires in the area.



 120th Ave SE to Lake Thunderbird between Rock Creek & Franklin Rd

 Etowah to SH-9 between 84th Ave SE & 144th Ave SE



EVACUATION pic.twitter.com/vqeq5a5r8X  Norman Police (@normanokpd) March 14, 2025

5:40 p.m.

OG&E reported 54 outages across the Norman area, with 2,047 customers affected or without electricity.

5:35 p.m.

5:23 p.m.

OG&E reported 31 outages across the Norman area, with 3,719 customers affected or without electricity.

5:15 p.m.

5:05 p.m.

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NPD announced 120th Avenue Southeast and Etowah Road is under evacuation due to a large fire in the area.

ALERT (5PM): Evacuations are occurring in the area of 120th Ave SE & Etowah (2 miles north; 2 miles east) due a large fire in the area. Residents are asked to evacuate immediately. MORE INFO: https://t.co/0JoD1TXJJF pic.twitter.com/pBzZJQj5YM  Norman Police (@normanokpd) March 14, 2025

4:56 p.m.

OG&E reported 41 outages across the Norman area, with 4,297 customers affected or without electricity.

4:44 p.m.

ALERT (4:32PM): All evacuation orders remain in effect. Residents are asked to remain out of the area and off the roadways to allow emergency crews to respond until an all clear is issued.



ACTIVE EVACUATION INFO: https://t.co/0JoD1TXJJF pic.twitter.com/3fGF5t3F15  Norman Police (@normanokpd) March 14, 2025

4:32 p.m.

OG&E reported 39 outages across the Norman area, with 2,498 customers affected or without electricity.

4:21 p.m.

Norman residents living on Spencer Circle congregated at the end of their street watching fires engulf the area. According to one homeowner, firefighters knocked on their doors to notify them of the evacuation but left the area soon after.

One man watched as his house went up in flames, quickly spreading to every room of his home. Trees, grass and plants surrounding the home caught the flames.

My to-do list around the house just got a whole lot shorter, the man said.

Despite the devastation, residents talk and laugh amongst themselves, saying they were thankful to have had time to grab pets and loved ones.

Some home owners searched for lost pets, others walked toward the devastation to see if they could assist. Many residents dont know whether their homes are on fire or not. One home owner said he has lived in Norman since 1992 and worries his beloved home will burn down.

4:20 p.m.

OG&E reported 56 outages across the Norman area, with 5,643 customers affected or without electricity.

3:56 p.m.

There are about 20 Norman residents being sheltered at CrossPointe Church due to the fires.

According to a CrossPointe Church disaster relief member, Red Cross is offering water and snacks for people seeking shelter. Crest Foods will donate food to residents at the shelter.

3:44 p.m.

The city of Norman reported 108th Avenue Northeast and Spencer Circle is under evacuation.

3:39 p.m.

Norman resident Jacob Childress talks about being evacuated.

3:33 p.m.

OG&E reported there are currently 31 outages in Norman, with 4,012 customers affected or without electricity.

3:22 p.m.

OG&E reported 61 outages in Norman, with 4,296 customers affected or without electricity.

3:19 p.m.

According to fire updates from the city of Norman, East Rock Creek Road at 120th Avenue Northeast is closed and under evacuation.

3:13 p.m.

According to fire updates by the city of Norman, 120th Avenue Southeast and Tucker Trail is currently under evacuation.

The website also added CrossPointe Church, at 2601 24th Ave. SE, as an evacuation shelter.

Other major fires reported and under evacuation in the Norman area include:

 108th Avenue Southeast and Post Oak Road.

 108th Avenue Northeast and Tecumseh Road.

 192nd Avenue Northeast and East Robinson Road.

3 p.m.

NPD announced evacuations are taking place at 192nd Avenue Northeast and Robinson Street due to fires in the area.

ALERT (3PM): Evacuations are occurring in the area of 192nd NE & Robinson (3 mile north; 3 mile east) due fires in the area. Residents are asked to evacuate immediately. MORE INFO: https://t.co/0JoD1TYhzd pic.twitter.com/9AGUI3Dg8i  Norman Police (@normanokpd) March 14, 2025

2:57 p.m.

WX ALERT (2:50PM): The fire threat will continue over the next several hours.



Sign up for emergency alerts via AlertNorman at https://t.co/6UrX1RBUcc. #okwx https://t.co/jf2nNbEKqP  Norman Police (@normanokpd) March 14, 2025

2:44 p.m.

OG&E reports 35 outages in Norman, with 4,209 customers affected or without electricity. The first outage was reported at 10:38 a.m.

2:30 p.m.

2:29 p.m.

NPD announced additional evacuations at Tecumseh Road.

ALERT (2:24PM): Evacuations are occurring in the area of 108th and Tecumseh (3 mile north; 3 mile east) due fires in the area. Residents are asked to evacuate immediately to the south. MORE INFO: https://t.co/0JoD1TYhzd pic.twitter.com/nA0K8MQczA  Norman Police (@normanokpd) March 14, 2025

2 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

Copy editing during this breaking news event: Mary Ann Livingood, Grace Rhodes, Sophie Hemker, Avery Avery, Geethika Kollu and Ryan Little.
Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an executive order Saturday morning declaring a state of emergency in 12 counties, including Cleveland County, following devastating fires across the state.

On Friday, wind-driven wildfires blew across the state with authorities reporting more than 130 wildfires were reported in 44 counties across Oklahoma.

The National Weather Service issued an evacuation order Friday for residents in East Norman due to wildfires. According to the city of Norman, it's estimated that seven homes and 20 outbuildings have been lost to fire. There are no reports of civilian injuries.

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A state of emergency has been declared in Cleveland, Creek, Dewey, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, Oklahoma, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills and Stephens counties.

"Due to impacts from Dangerous wildfires and straight-line-winds beginning Friday, March 14 and continuing including damage to power lines and infrastructure, it is necessary to assist and expedite all efforts of relief," the order reads.

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The declaration temporarily suspends requirements for size and weight permits of oversized vehicles transporting materials and supplies used for emergency relief and power restoration.

As of Saturday morning, the city of Norman reported that all fires are contained and emergency management officials are actively coordinating damage assessment.

The fire and wind damage led to widespread power outages. As of 7:30 p.m. Friday, OG&E reported approximately 24,800 customers without power due to high winds. There are currently 68 outages in Cleveland County, according to OG&Es outage map.

According to the citys website. Resources remain available at CrossPointe Church, 2601 24th Avenue SE, for individuals in need. Those wishing to apply for recovery assistance can also contact the Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS.

The executive order will remain in effect for 30 days.
WASHINGTON  The University of Oklahomas Tulsa medical school is under federal investigation for alleged race-based practices in its admissions process.

However, the initial announcement coming from the Department of Government Efficiency listed a nonexistent University of Tulsa Medical School as under investigation. The release was later corrected to read, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa School of Medicine, a reference to the OU-Tulsa School of Community Medicine. That program has a total of 119 students and an average of 30 per graduating class.

Last month, universities received a letter from the civil rights division of the federal Department of Education instructing them to cease using race preferences and stereotypes as a factor in their "admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all aspects of student, academic, and campus life.

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It is unclear which OU scholarships or admissions processes violate this order.

A spokesperson from OU said, We are aware of the announcement from the Department of Education and are looking into the matter.

Additionally, OU has released directives to students and faculty regarding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to comply with executive orders from President Donald Trump and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt.

NO PAYWALL, NONPARTISAN Students pay about $14 in fees that support the Daily. If you're not a student, please join those invested in OU and Norman who have given more than $110,000 to support our trustworthy, independent journalism. SUPPORT OUR LOCAL JOURNALISM

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in the release, The agency has already launched Title VI investigations into institutions where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported and Title IX investigations into entities which allegedly continue to allow sex discrimination; todays announcement expands our efforts to ensure universities are not discriminating against their students based on race and race stereotypes.

The Trump administration is using federal grants as leverage to enact these discrimination changes, with $400 million in grants retracted from Columbia University earlier this week as a result of this policy.

McMahon said, Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment.

These policy changes also come on the tail of a sweeping layoff for the Department of Education and speculation over an executive order that would dismantle the department to its barest of obligations. However, only an act of Congress can fully close a cabinet-level department.

Gaylord News is a reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. For more stories by Gaylord News, go to GaylordNews.net.
This came about in an exchange with (I think) a Lutheran; some sort of Protestant, at any rate, in a Protestant venue.

*****

The Pharisees are usually regarded by Christians of all stripes as the bad guys in the New Testament. In many respects they were. But they remained the mainstream Jewish tradition, and they accepted the view that Moses received oral tradition from God on Mt. Sinai in addition to the written law, and many other theological views that Christianity inherited.

Both Jesus and Paul assumed and followed various pharisaical customs and practices. The biggest problem of all for those who want to say they are all bad, is that Paul called himself a Pharisee twice at his trial (Acts 23:6; 26:5) and again in Philippians 3:5 (the first instance clearly in the present tense). That doesnt harmonize well with the attempt to completely demonize the Pharisees.

Our friend argued that Paul saying I am a Pharisee during his trial (Acts 23:6, RSV) is essentially nullified because in context he also mentioned his past life as a Pharisee (a son of Pharisees). He was basically accusing St. Paul of lying and sophistry: pretending to be a Pharisee as a methodological tactic to cause division between the Pharisees and Sadducees who were present at his trial. But he didnt have to pretend or lie in order to do that. The division remained, and by his identifying himself as of one of the two parties, this would cause division between them.

My father wasnt Catholic; he was a Methodist. But if he were a Catholic, I could state, I am a Catholic, the son of a Catholic. The fact that I mentioned that my father also was has no bearing whatsoever on whether I am one or not today. It merely strengthens the statement by placing it in the context of a familial, upbringing tie as well as a theological one.

Ellicotts Commentary for English Readers (not Catholic; nor are any of the other commentaries I will cite) makes a great comment on the passage:

Was St. Paul at that time really a Pharisee? Was he not, as following in his Masters footsteps, the sworn foe of Pharisaism? The answer to that question, which obviously ought to be answered and not suppressed, is that all parties have their good and bad sides, and that those whom the rank and file of a party most revile may be the most effective witnesses for the truths on which the existence of the party rests. The true leaders of the Pharisees had given a prominence to the doctrine of the Resurrection which it had never had before. They taught an ethical rather than a sacrificial religion. Many of them had been, like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimatha, secret disciples of our Lord. At this very time there were many avowed Pharisees among the members of the Christian Church (Acts 15:5). St. Paul, therefore, could not be charged with any suppressio veri in calling himself a Pharisee. It did not involve even a tacit disclaimer of his faith in Christ. It was rather as though he said, I am one with you in all that is truest in your creed. I invite you to listen and see whether what I now proclaim to you is not the crown and completion of all your hopes and yearnings. Is not the resurrection of Jesus the one thing needed for a proof of that hope of the resurrection of the dead of which you and your fathers have been witnesses?

Gills Exposition of the Entire Bible concurs:

He was not only brought up in that sect from his youth, and lived according to it before his conversion, but he was still a Pharisee; wherefore he does not say, I was, but I am a Pharisee; for whatever distinguished the Pharisee from the Sadducee, whether in principle, or in practice, and manner of living, which agreed with Christianity, the apostle still retained; as the belief of the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the dead, and a future state, and strict holiness of life and conversation.

Meyers NT Commentary agrees, too:

He designates himself as a Jew, who, as such, belonged to no other than the religious society of the Pharisees; and particularly in the doctrine of the resurrection, Paul, as a Christian, continued to defend the confession of the Pharisees (in opposition to all Sadduceeism) according to its truth confirmed in the case of Christ Himself (Acts 4:1 f.). His contending against the legal righteousness, hypocrisy, etc., of the Pharisees, and his consequent labouring in an anti-Pharisaical sense, were directed not against the sect in itself, but against its moral and other perversions. Designated a Jew, Paul still remained what he was from his birth, a Pharisee, and as such an orthodox Jew, in contrast to Sadducean naturalism.

Likewise, Expositors Greek Testament:

It is difficult to see why the Apostle should not describe himself as a Pharisee in face of the statement, Acts 15:5, that many members of the sect were also members of the Christian Church. They, like St. Paul, must have acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah. But that Messiahship was attested by the avowal of the resurrection of Jesus, and the resurrection was a prominent article of the Pharisees creed. In the acceptance of this latter doctrine St. Paul was at one not only with the Pharisees who believed, but with the whole sect, and that he used the title in this limited way, viz., with relation to the hope of the resurrection, is plain from the context, which fixes the limitation by the Apostles own words.

As to Acts 26:5, its true that it isnt technically present tense. But since it has to be harmonized with Acts 23:6 which is present tense, it harmonizes (as all Scripture does). Paul states, according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. Note the our religion. He doesnt consider that Christianity is a separate religion from Judaism, but rather, is an extension of it, harmonious with it, or a consistent development of Judaism (which indeed it is).

I could say, I have lived as a Catholic [since 1990, in my case]. That statement alone doesnt necessarily imply that I have since ceased to live as or be a Catholic, though it might. I could also say, I have lived as a pagan occultist [which was true from 1970 or so through to 1977]. In that case it did cease. But since we have to harmonize 26:5 with 23:6, we see that it is consistent with a continued allegiance.

In Philippians 3:3-10, he never states that he has ceased to be a Pharisee. He couldnt, because that would contradict Acts 23:6 and it would 1) make him a liar or equivocator, and 2) make the Bible contradict itself, which inspired revelation cannot do. And so its saying the same thing. Paul writes in 3:5: of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee. He was still an Israelite, still from the tribe of Benjamin, still a Hebrew, and still a Pharisee.

As two of the commentaries I cited noted, Acts 15:5 refers to some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees. There is, therefore, nothing intrinsically inconsistent for a Christian to continue to be a Pharisee (whereas there are no Christian Sadducees, because they were basically the theological liberals of the time). Paul was a Pharisee, and so was, in fact, Jesus.

*

***

*

Photo credit: Saint Paul Writing His Epistles (c. 1618-1620); attributed to Valentin de Boulogne (1591-1632) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]

Summary: Reply to a Protestant who disputed that St. Paul called himself a Pharisee in the present tense (Acts 23:6; cf. Acts 26:5; Phil 3:5). Acts 15:5 also refers to Christian Pharisees.
A friend just pointed me to this article I wrote for Huffington Post in 2013.

I thought it might be worth sharing again

Ive had a brief exchange of notes with someone concerned about the large number of scandals related to Zen teachers. He suggested the ratio is almost one to one. A bit of an exaggeration, but a real question. He also puffed me up a bit suggesting that Barry Magid and I were among the few sane teachers he was aware of, so he was addressing this burning question to me. Flattered at being thought one of the sane ones, but also knowing I better fess up quickly, heres my response, slightly modified and with a couple of expansions here and there that I realized I needed to add after I sent the note off

Dear one,

Thank you for the kind words and clearly articulated concern.

But fair warning, I do not claim to be a sane Zen teacher.

Like you, I had to work my way through the mythic structures of Zen.
Officials examine the aftermath of a fatal crash on I-35 southbound near Parmer Lane Friday March 14, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) AP

A man was charged Friday with intoxication manslaughter after five people were killed and several injured in a late-night wreck in Austin, Texas, that involved over a dozen vehicles on Interstate 35, authorities said.

Authorities said that the five people killed in the crash that involved 17 vehicles Thursday just before 11:30 p.m. included three adults, a child and an infant. First responders said that 11 people were taken to hospitals.

Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37, was arrested on five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault, after a deadly car crashed killed at least five people on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Photo: Austin Police Department.) Austin Police Department

Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37, was charged with five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault after the crash, Austin police said Friday. Police said he was in custody in Travis County Jail. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney. Jail records did not list an attorney for him.

Police have not detailed the circumstances that led to the wreck. Police said in an email Friday that they were still early in the investigation and had no further information available to release.

The southbound lanes of I-35 were closed following the crash, and they remained closed into Friday before reopening at about 1 p.m. The wreck left a stretch of the interstate littered with mangled vehicles and debris.

Officials examine the aftermath of a fatal crash on I-35 southbound near Parmer Lane Friday March 14, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) AP

Officials examine the aftermath of a fatal crash on I-35 southbound near Parmer Lane Friday March 14, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) AP

The crash was very large and very complex, police Officer Austin Zarling said at an early morning news conference.

Edgar Viera told the KXAN television station that he was at a nearby store when he heard the crash and went to try to help those involved.

We didnt have the proper tools to open the vehicles, so we just did what we could, Viera told the station. It was hard to see this.
Mehmet Oz is the nominee to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services but paid no Medicare taxes the past few years. AP

Celebrity doctor and former Pennsylvania Senate candidate Mehmet Oz told senators he has the experience and reform ideas necessary to bring down the cost of health care and make Americans healthier in a hearing on Capitol Hill that showcased the former TV hosts penchant for charismatic salesmanship.

My TV audience has heard me say this many times, but many of you are too busy to watch television so Ill repeat it, Oz said in a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee on Friday. I believe that a physician has the responsibility to tell patients what they need to know, even if the message is uncomfortable.
FILE - People look at broken glass from a rear door of the Everhart Museum, Friday, Nov. 18, 2005, in Scranton, Pa. (Mike Mullen/The Times-Tribune via AP) AP

HARRISBURG  A Pennsylvania man who was part of a group that stole paintings by Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock among other valuables was sentenced to eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to theft of major artwork.
Karl Singleton, Harrisburg's Chief Equity and Compliance Officer, second from right, died Friday, city officials confirmed. In this picture, Singleton is at Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams' first State of the City address alongside members of her administration. October 20, 2022. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Karl Singleton Jr.  Harrisburgs Chief Equity and Compliance Officer and a 2025 candidate for city council  died in his home Friday at the age of 52, city officials confirmed.

His unexpected death sent shock waves through city and county government circles as he was well known and liked by many.

Harrisburgs Communications Director Mischelle Moyer and Mayor Wanda Williams both confirmed Singletons death to PennLive on Friday.

His cause and manner of death are unknown as of Friday evening. Moyer said he died around 1:45 p.m.

Police Commissioner Thomas Carter, who has known Singleton and worked with him closely over the years when reached Friday said he was still reeling from the shocking news. He noted Singletons lengthy public service.

He loved the city, Carter said. He just wanted the best for the city and especially for our youth.

Singleton  a 1999 graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania  was involved in politics and Harrisburg government for years. He first worked as a senior advisor to Mayor Eric Papenfuse from January 2014 to January 2018.

Prior to that, Singleton founded the nonprofit Singleton Education & Community Resources, Inc. in 2012, and acted as the CEO until January 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Singleton Education & Community Resources was a human and social services organization that aimed to promote strong educational foundations and help people become and remain self-sufficient.

Singleton was set to appear on the ballot for the upcoming primary on May 20, 2025, where he was among 13 candidates running for the Democratic nomination for one of four open city council seats.

Singleton also was well known for his work as the president and CEO of The Pennsylvania Diversity Coalition (PADC), positions he held until January 2022, his LinkedIn profile said.

The PADCs mission is to ensure resources are challenged equitably to positively impact historically and socially disadvantaged/ hard to place minorities in efforts to become self-sufficient through education, economic development, contracting, transportation, professional services, and other business opportunities.

Karl Singleton, President & CEO of The Pennsylvania Diversity Coalition in Harrisburg on July 14, 2020. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

In 2020, PennLive published a column written by Singleton during his time with the PADC.

It is our belief that meaningful inclusion, at its core, must be the foundation of successful business models in todays markets; as non-traditional business ownership demographics continue to evolve, Singleton wrote.

Since January 2022, Singleton worked Mayor Wanda Williams as Harrisburgs Chief Equity and Compliance Officer, a role that reports directly to the mayor and helps with the planning, organizing and management of all equity efforts within city government.

Singletons 2025 campaign for city council is not the first time his name has appeared on a ballot. He previously ran twice for a seat in the state House of Representatives, in 2010 and 2012, but ultimately lost to Ron Buxton and Patty Kim.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Singleton worked with Penn State Health to educate city residents about the vaccine, a topic he covered on his podcast A Seat at the Table with Karl Singleton.

Singletons Facebook page included a description that said, 2018s Most favorably blessed Son, Dad, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, Nephew and Friend!

He leaves behind his mother and children, among other relatives.

Staff writer Christine Vendel contributed to this report.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, March 15. Just like in Ashgabat and Astana, my day here in Dushanbe was filled with meetings dedicated to strengthening cooperation between the EU and Tajikistan under the Global Gateway strategy, wrote European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Sikela, on X, Trend reports.

In the course of the visit, Sikela met with the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon. During discussions on sustainable development, both sides focused on the development of renewable energy sources, especially hydropower. According to Sikela, this will provide clean electricity to millions of people and turn Tajikistan into a regional energy exporter.

"We discussed how to develop renewable energy sources to provide the country with clean electricity and elevate Tajikistan to a new level as an important player in the energy market," he noted.

In addition, the European Commissioner held meetings with Tajikistans Deputy Prime Minister Usmonali Usmonzoda, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirodjidin Muhriddin, and Minister of Energy Daler Juma. The sides discussed ways to stimulate regional trade and improve infrastructure to strengthen Tajikistan's connections with neighboring countries and global markets.

The signing of an agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to modernize Tajikistan's energy system to the tune of 20 million euros was an important outcome of the visit. The following project, Sikela explained, will focus on improving the productivity and sustainability of the cotton industry. The program, funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) with a $20 million budget, also aims to boost the country's efforts to adapt to climate change.

This visit marked an important step in fostering cooperation between Tajikistan and the EU, especially in the field of energy and sustainable development.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was a guest Friday on HBOs Real Time with Bill Maher, and he was asked the big question.

Will he be running for president in 2028?

He didnt say, yes. He also didnt say, no.

Im not an expert in the DC stuff, Shapiro told Maher. I live in the real world in Pennsylvania, where we have to balance budgets.

Maher also noted that Shapiro was on the short list for vice president in the latest presidential election.

And a lot of people said, Well, the only reason he didnt get it is because hes Jewish, Maher said. And theres a wing of this party that is very anti-Israel now, which is a big change in my lifetime because the Democrats used to be a very pro-Israel place and then it all got switched around.

Do you think thats true? Maher continued. And if you ran  if  somebody, sort of, like has to defend the Jews like outright. Because, I just feel theres a lot of tip-toeing back from this issue, like, we just dont want to go near it as opposed to saying this is our friend in the middle east who lives a life  go ahead 

I mean, look, one quick thing on that whole vice president thing, I said all along that Kamala Harris had a deeply personal decision to make in that process, Shapiro said. In the end, so did I. I love being governor of Pennsylvania, and I love charting my own course and being able to serve the people on my own terms. That is point number one.

Point number two is, as it relates to faith, as it relates to my Judaism, Im damn proud of my faith, he continued. And Im damn proud of the good people of Pennsylvania and how they receive that.

While he side-stepped the talk of potentially running for president, Shapiro did tell Maher that he was disappointed in the way the Democrats failed to use any leverage when it came to preventing the government shutdown.

I would have liked to see (Chuck) Schumer use his leverage to demand more from Republicans, he said. Force them to meet us halfway on key issues.

Mahers questioning of Shapiro about a potential presidential run came just two weeks after he pushed on his show for the Democrats to run Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman in 2028.

To everyone who has been stopping me lately and asking, Bill, if by some weird fluke Stephen A. (Smith) doesnt run for president, who are we going to get? Well, Im going to tell ya, Maher said. But first a word from common sense.

The Democratic Partys current approval rating is only 21%, which is only slightly more popular than Kanyes swastika shirts, he continued. Maybe thats why, according to a new Gallup poll, 45% of Democrats want the party to move to the center, which is up 11 points from four years ago. Now, whenever a political party finds a real star president, the other side always says, Well we have to find our Bill Clinton. Our Reagan. Our Obama. Well, the Democrats need to find their Trump. Not the authoritarian part, but the part where a politician bonds with everyday Americans because he talks like them.

Thats when he pivoted to the senator from Pennsylvania.

And the good news for Democrats is, they have that guy, Maher said. And his name is John Fetterman.

The crowd applauded before Maher continued on.

After the election, instead of curling up in a ball, Fetterman went to Mar-A-Lago where Trump assumed he was one of the guys from January 6, he said tossing in the joke as he showed a photo of Fettermans attire for the trip to see the president. And afterwards, Trump said, Hes not liberal or conservative. Hes just a common-sense person which is beautiful.

Maher joked about how that was typically the kind of love that Trump reserved for Putin.

Trump and Fetterman actually have a lot in common, Maher said. They are both plain spoken, anti-elitist, who come from money, married exotic immigrant ladies, went to Ivy League schools and arent afraid to take on their own party. And when the wind catches Trumps hair just right, theyre both 6-foot-8.

Maher wasnt done. While the comedian mixed in jokes, he made it clear that he was serious about Fetterman being a real candidate.

Look, heres the thing, voters arent really savvy about the issues, but they have made it clear what is important to them  authenticity, balls and charisma, he said. Trump has that package and so does Fetterman. Hes only been a senator two years, and he is already more famous than most of his colleagues. You cant teach charisma or balls. Fetterman is that rare Democrat who is not afraid to put the woke nonsense peddlers in his own party in their own place, saying things like, Wanting a secure border and realizing that it was out of control, that doesnt mean you are a xenophobe or a racist. Hes been unequivocally pro-Israel, as are most Americans, and when pro-Palestinian protesters showed up at his home, he went up on the roof and waived an Israeli flag.

Fetterman says the four words that strike fear in the heart of every Republican that wants to hang onto power: I am not woke, Maher continued. Thats why Trump won. Not because Americans were clamoring for tariffs on margarita mix. Going where the American people are on crime and immigration, gosh, its so crazy it might just work. See, thats how you get these things called votes, and once you do, you can take office. I know its more fun to make memes of Trump sucking Elons toes, but John Fetterman doesnt play that game. He says, I dont give a (expletive). I left all my (expletives) in my other pants, and I dont wear pants.

Maher addressed Fettermans dress, too, saying that he, like Trump, also understands the importance of a distinctive look.

I think Fettermans look works for him, he said. Its a look that says, Im just like you, Ive given up. Johns the only person in America that goes to CVS for the clothes. When the fashion police see him, they say we are going to need backup.
By John A. Tures

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came out in opposition to his states Red flag law, passed with bipartisan support in the wake of the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. But it might be better for him to probably take credit for its success, as the Sunshine State has the lowest number of gun deaths in the Southeast.
I was heartened to see Gov. Josh Shapiros statement supporting Ukraine and denouncing Donald Trump and J.D. Vances abhorrent and disrespectful treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The televised Oval Office meeting had the appearance of a publicity stunt designed to create a pretext for walking away from Ukraine and aligning the United States more closely with Vladimir Putins interestssomething that Trump has been signaling for some time. This outcome is not in the interest of our country; Putin was the only winner on Friday.

It is vital to our national interest and other democracies around the world that the United States take a principled stand against Putins aggression, and that we stand with our NATO allies and with the democratic government of Ukraine and its people. So much is at stake: the lives of millions of Ukrainians living in their war-torn but sovereign nation, as well as our credibility and standing as the leader of the free world.
By STEPHEN GROVES, MATT BROWN and STEVE PEOPLES, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Democratic Party was fracturing Friday as a torrent of frustration and anger was unleashed at Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Chuck Schumer, who faced what they saw as an awful choice: shut the government down or consent to a Republican funding bill that allows President Donald Trump to continue slashing the federal government.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, file) AP

After Schumer announced that he would reluctantly support the bill, he bore the brunt of that anger, including a protest at his office, calls from progressives that he be primaried in 2028 and suggestions that the Democratic Party would soon be looking for new leaders.

Nine other members of the Democratic Caucus  a contingent of mostly swing-state and retiring senators  eventually joined Schumer in voting to advance the Republican funding proposal, providing crucial support to bring it to a final vote. It passed late Friday with Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Angus King of Maine voting with Republicans in favor.

Since their election losses, Democrats have been hunkered against a barrage of Trumps early actions in office, locked out of legislative power and left searching for a plan to regain political momentum. But as Schumer let pass one of the rare moments when the party might regain leverage in Washington, the Democratic Party erupted in a moment of anger that had been building for months.

Many in the party felt the New York Democrat was not showing sufficient fight, arguing that a government shutdown would have forced Trump and Republicans to the negotiating table. Yet for Schumer, who has led Senate Democrats since Trump took office in 2016, the choice ultimately came down to preventing a shutdown that he believed would only hand Trump more power and leave his party with the blame for disruptions to government services.

A shutdown would allow DOGE to shift into overdrive, Schumer warned on the Senate floor Friday, referring to the Department of Government Efficiency effort led by Elon Musk.

Schumer voted no on the final vote for the funding bill, which only needed a simple majority to pass. Nonetheless, House Democrats released a stream of angry statements and social media posts aimed at Schumer.

Democratic Rep. Troy Carter of Louisiana shared a photo of Trump and Schumer engaged in conversation with the caption, A picture is worth a thousand words!

Even in the Senate, hardly any Democrats were speaking up in support of Schumers strategy Friday. It was a remarkable turn for the longtime Democratic leader, leaving him standing practically alone.

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, his longtime ally and partner in funding fights of the past, said in a statement, Lets be clear: neither is a good option for the American people. But this false choice that some are buying instead of fighting is unacceptable.

Pelosi added that the senators should listen to the women who lead appropriations for Democrats, Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Sen. Patty Murray of Washington. They had proposed a 30-day stopgap plan instead of the Republican proposal that provides funding until September. The Republican bill will trim $13 billion in non-defense spending from the levels in the 2024 budget year and increase defense spending by $6 billion.

As House Democrats, who almost all voted against the bill earlier this week, concluded a retreat in northern Virginia Friday, they also called for their Senate colleagues to show more fight. House Democratic leadership rushed back to the Capitol to hold a news conference and urge senators to reject the bill.

We do not want to shut down the government. But we are not afraid of a government funding showdown, Jeffries said.

He also repeatedly declined to answer questions about whether he had confidence in Schumer.

Other Democrats, such as Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who is seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2028 and also visited the Democratic retreat, called for a broader movement. He mentioned the recent 60th anniversary of peaceful civil rights protests in Selma, Alabama, and argued that Democrats need to find collective courage.

When those individuals marched, there wasnt one voice, Beshear said. There was a collective courage of that group that changed the world. That day opened up the eyes of the country to what was really going on.

Some were ready to start marching.

Were ready to get out of this building and head back to the Capitol at any moment and prevent the government from shutting down, said Rep. Greg Casar of Texas, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Now is the moment for Democrats to draw a line in the stand and say that we stand very firmly on the side of working class people and against the ultra-rich that are trying to corrupt our government for themselves, he added.

Meanwhile, some of the nations most influential progressive groups warned of serious political consequences for Senate Democrats and predicted a fierce backlash when members of Congress return home next week.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. Cooperation between the US and China in the field of AI and advanced technologies is crucial for global security, the Prime minister of Greece in 2009-2011, George Papandreou said at a panel discussion on "New Technologies for New World" at the XII Global Baku Forum, Trend reports.

One of the key questions today is who controls AI and advanced technologies? Is the power over AI concentrated in the hands of a narrow circle of people, or are these technologies managed in the public interest? In Western countries, especially in the US, we are seeing an increasing concentration of control in the hands of techno-oligarchs. The power over advanced technologies is becoming less and less distributed and more and more closed to public scrutiny, he said.

Papandreou emphasized that the main thing is how these technologies will be used: to increase the power and influence of elites, to control citizens or for the benefit of society, for example, to cure diseases, improve diagnostics, develop education and fight climate change.

According to him, geopolitical competition has already turned technology into a tool in the struggle for world leadership, and this is extremely dangerous. The nexus of AI and technologies of mass destruction could get out of control.

We don't always fully understand how these systems work, which means the risks increase. This is why international cooperation, including between the US and China, is so important. Regardless of political differences, collaboration in AI and advanced technology is essential, he emphasized.

The official also noted the importance of preventing an even greater gap between the global South and developed countries.

Education and access to technology should contribute to the development of the poorest regions, he added.

The XII Global Baku Forum will be held from March 13 through 15 this year under the motto Rethinking the World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities.

The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

The event will discuss key global issues such as geopolitical changes, multilateralism, global health crisis, reconstruction and regional stability of the world, COP29, and others.

The Forum will bring together more than 300 world leaders from more than 60 countries, including more than 25 former presidents, more than 15 former prime ministers, about 10 heads of UN and international agencies, and more than 25 former ministers and deputy ministers.
Ryan Depaulo Exposes Costly Poker Dealer Error in Borgata Tournament

Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S. Copy link

Poker vlogger Ryan Depaulo claims he was "scammed and robbed" out of a pot that should have been chopped during a tournament at Borgata in Atlantic City.

The former ACR Poker pro's recent video exposes a second potential major dealer error during a tournament in the past couple of weeks. Maurice Hawkins won his 18th World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOP) ring earlier this month for $140,752. But the event is most remembered for an infamous hand in which the dealer didn't realize the player who busted in third place  Divyam Satyarthi  went out with the best hand.

Depaulo has 117,000 YouTube subscribers, may have been the latest victim of a dealer error.

Poker Vlogger Shares Details

Ryan Depaulo

Depaulo, as he explained in a recent video, entered a $600 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament at Borgata that featured a $1 million guaranteed prize pool. He noticed upon registering that his starting flight already had 600 entrants. The vlogger hadn't applied for a media pass, so his ability to film his play during the tournament was limited. But he recorded one controversial clip.

The self-proclaimed "degenerate gambler" said his stack had fallen to 40,000 with the blinds at 1,500/2,500 (2,500 big blind ante). He was seated in the big blind with J6. He called a raise and then saw a flop of Q72. Both players checked the flop before the 2 paired the board on the turn. Two checks occurred again, and the 10 appeared on the river.

This time, Depaulo, figuring his opponent's hand wasn't strong given that he'd checked the flop and turn, over-bet the pot for 18,000. His opponent, however, hero called with J9, good for a chop. Or, so he thought.

"And now you're about to see me get scammed and robbed of a chop pot," Depaulo told his audience.

Depaulo then shared audio of a conversation he had with the dealer, who pushed the entire pot in the direction of his opponent. The dealer did not realize that the best five-card poker hand was actually 2x2xQxJx10x, meaning the 9x kicker didn't play.

"Nine plays," the dealer says.

"How does the nine play?" Depaulo asked.

"It's no two pair on the board, it's only one pair," the misinformed dealer responded.

Depaulo then turned his focus to the player who called him with a weak holding, jokingly asking if he's Robbi Jade Lew and "you call me down with jack-high."

The vlogger then suggested his opponent "had to have misread his hand." His opponent, however, claimed he just somehow knew jack-high was good. But the issue with this hand is that the pot, assuming Depaulo recalled the board correctly, should have been chopped.

Depaulo then asked the dealer to call the floor because he "made a mistake." But the dealer explained to him that "it's too late" as the table had already moved on to another hand. He then became irritated with the dealer for refusing to admit he'd made a mistake or to call the floor manager over to investigate.

A frustrated Depaulo said he wouldn't let something like this happen again and that he'd make sure to speak up immediately. He'd double up his stack, but didn't last much longer before busting with a min-cash.

Player Busts in Third Place with the Best Hand

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Tom Goldstein Lost Big in Poker Matches at Actor Kevin Hart's Birthday Bash

Connor Richards Senior Editor U.S. Copy link

Indicted lawyer Tom Goldstein allegedly "lost a substantial sum of money" in high-stakes poker matches at actor Kevin Hart's 2024 birthday bash in Greece, and it has landed him in hot water with the US Department of Justice.

In documents filed in a Maryland federal court last week, prosecutors alleged that Goldstein, who in January was charged with tax fraud related to high-stakes poker matches, had access to "unknown wallets" that made him a "serious" flight risk. To back up this assertion, they referenced a trip Goldstein made to a July 2024 multi-day birthday party in Mykonos, Greece that was "attended by other ultrahigh-stakes poker players."

Court documents say Tom Goldstein lost big in poker games at a July 2024 birthday party.

Prosecutors say Goldstein lost big at the party and settled up using an unidentified cryptocurrency wallet. Goldstein allegedly sent $200,000 from the wallet to the "game runner" whose responsibility it was "to coordinate the process of settling wins and losses among the players."

The government argued that the crypto transaction "only underscores the importance of continuing to monitor (Goldstein's) electronic devices to prevent him from using cryptocurrency transactions to attempt to flee or ... to interfere with the investigation or potential witnesses to his criminal conduct."

Though prosecutors didn't say whose party it was, PokerNews learned from someone who was at Hart's party, speaking on the condition of anonymity, that Goldstein was in attendance alongside other high-stakes poker players.

Tom Goldstein Won $51M Gambling Against Single Player

High-Stakes Poker Players at Massive Birthday Celebration

Hart, an A-list actor and former PokerStars ambassador, celebrated his 45th birthday in July 2024 in Mykonos, Greece with a multi-day celebration. Instagram posts show the party was attended by high-stakes poker players including Bill Perkins, Andrew Robl, Antonio Esfandiari and Edwin Ting.

"One heck of a Bday Celebration in Mykonos !," Esfandiari wrote in a July 9, 2024 Instagram post. "Monster thank you to @cowboyeddie888 for making it all happen. Happy bday to @kevinhart4real . A week that will never be forgotten!!!"

Photos show a rowdy scene at the multi-day bash at Nammos Beach Bar restaurant, a hot spot for Hollywood actors and other wealthy celebrities. The party, which made headlines when Hart left staff with a $40,000 tip, featured countless champagne bottles, uptempo DJ sets and dancing in waist-high water on the Aegean Sea shore.

Antonio Esfandiari Andrew Robl, & Bill Perkins at Kevin Hart's July 2024 birthday party in Greece.

And, as prosecutors allege, there was also high-stakes poker being played. "During the party, (Goldstein) played in a series of poker matches with other attendees," they wrote.

Attorneys for Goldstein did not respond to a request for comment from PokerNews. Assistant US Attorney Patrick Kibbe referred PokerNews to the public affairs officer of the US Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland, who did not respond to a request for comment.

Perkins, a Texas-based hedge fund manager, has a documented friendship with Goldstein and spoke to Bloomberg Law News about the charges against his poker friend. Im a betting person, Perkins told the outlet in February. Im willing to bet theres no conviction.

Bill Perkins

Robl, one of the top high-stakes cash game players in the world, also has a connection to Goldstein. He and Phil Ivey famously bailed out Macau businessman Paul Phua for $2.5 million after his 2014 arrest in connection with an alleged illegal betting operation at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Goldstein represented Phua in the high-profile case, which was later dismissed.

Ting, meanwhile, has had his own share of legal trouble related to high-stakes poker games. In 2014, a federal judge in Manhattan sentenced the New York poker player to five months in prison and ordered him to forfeit $2 million for running illegal high-stakes poker games from 2010 to 2013.

Edwin Ting at Kevin Hart's July 2024 birthday party in Greece.

Goldstein Goes Hollywood

Hart is a well-known high-stakes poker enthusiast and notably played in the 2017 $300,000 buy-in Super High Roller Bowl. He's also played in high-stakes cash games with players like Robl, Jean-Robert Bellande and Rob Yong.

Kevin Hart

The Get Hard and Jumanji star has stayed close to poker over the years. Weeks before his own party, Hart attended Perkins' 55th birthday celebration on Moskito Island in the British Virgin Islands, according to a video posted to YouTube in March 2024.

This isn't the first we've heard of Goldstein rubbing elbows with the Hollywood elite. The indictment against him states that he once helped an unnamed Hollywood actor recover $15.6 million in poker winnings when his Texas billionaire opponent refused to pay out.

Goldstein, the founder of SCOTUSblog and a prominent US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) attorney, faces charges related to tax evasion, preparing false and fraudulent tax returns, and making false statements on mortgage applications. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Kevin Hart's July 2024 birthday party in Mykonos, Greece

Tom Goldstein Says He is More Than $3.3M in Debt

Tom Goldstein Case Timeline Jan. 16, 2025 - Federal grand jury charges Tom Goldstein with 22 counts related to tax evasion, preparing false and fraudulent tax returns, and making false statements on mortgage applications.

Jan. 21, 2025 - Goldstein revealed to be "best friends" with social media playboy Dan Bilzerian, who called him a reckless gambler.

Jan. 28, 2025 - Goldstein pleads not guilty and is ordered to stop playing poker while awaiting trial.

Feb. 10, 2025 - Tom Goldstein is arrested after prosecutors accuse him of making transactions from undisclosed cryptocurrency wallets.

Feb. 11, 2025 - Goldstein denies ownership of the wallets and demands release.

Feb. 13, 2025 - Goldstein is released from custody as Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan found the government hadn't proved by "clear and convincing evidence" that he violated pretrial release conditions. Judge Sullivan orders that Goldstein have his electronic devices monitored and be prohibited from using cryptocurrency.

Feb. 27, 2025 - Goldstein appeals release conditions and calls device monitoring "drastic."

March 7, 2025 - Government responds to Goldstein's appeal and reveals that he won $51 million gambling against a single player from May 2022-May 2024.

*Photos courtesy Kevin Hart & Thomas H. via Instagram & WikiCommons

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Day 1a of the $600 Main Event for the RunGood Poker Series has wrapped up at Horseshoe Tunica, drawing 146 entrants, with 18 players making the money and bagging for Day 2. Michael Johns emerged as the chip leader, finishing the night with an impressive 840,000 in chips.

Johns, fresh off winning his sixth RGPS ring just one night ago in the Tag Team event, is looking to add to his collection after bagging a sizable chip lead. A RGPS regular, Johns is just shy of $200,000 in career tournament earnings, according to Hendon Mob. Sitting second in chips is Matthew Higgins (583,000), an accomplished player with over $2 million in poker earnings, while LaShun Wallace rounds out the top three, securing 496,000 for Day 2.

Top 10 Chip Counts from Day 1a

Place Player Country Chip Count 1 Michael Johns United States 840,000 2 Matt Higgins United States 583,000 3 LaShun Wallace United States 496,000 4 Mark Lafata United States 325,000 5 Adam Watson United States 266,000 6 Maggie Fox United States 260,000 7 Justin Kelley United States 235,000 8 Ryan Garren United States 214,000 9 Aaron McIntosh United States 206,000 10 Mike Cordell United States 168,000

Several RGPS ambassadors took their shot in the field, including defending Tunica Main Event champion Preston McEwen. However, McEwen was unable to advance to Day 2 after losing the majority of his stack when he flopped a set of deuces, only to see his opponent turn a flush and put him on the brink of elimination. Fellow ambassadors Cody Stanford, Caitlin Comeskey, and Michael Sanders also competed in Day 1a, but had a similar fate as McEwen, as they were unable to secure a bag. Theyll have another chance to make Day 2 as they return tomorrow for the remaining Day 1 flights.

The 18 remaining players secured a spot in the money and advanced to Day 2 after a dramatic hand on the stone bubble, courtesy of Matt Higgins and his pocket kings. Higgins opened from the hijack before the player on the button moved all in with king-queen for nearly 200,000 chips, despite several shorter stacks still in play. When the board ran out, Higgins cowboys held up, bursting the bubble and bringing Day 1a to a close as the remaining players bagged their chips for the night.

Matt Higgins

Two final Day 1 flights are set to take place on Saturday March 15. Players will start the event with 30,000 chips, playing 30-minute levels during Day 1 flights before levels increase to 40 minutes on Day 2. Blinds will begin at 100/200 with a 200 big blind ante. There will be a 15-minute break after every four levels of play.

This event features unlimited reentries, with late registration open until the start of Level 9. Play will continue until only 12.5% of the field remains, at which point players will reach the money, bag their chips, and return for Day 2.

Remaining $600 Main Event Schedule

Date Day Time 3/15/25 Day 1b 11:00 a.m. 3/15/25 Day 1c 6:00 p.m. 3/16/25 Day 2 12:00 p.m.

Be sure to follow PokerNews for live updates and coverage of 2025 RGPS Mission RunGood Tunica until a champion is crowned.
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Business Reporter

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. Azerbaijan has started cooperation with the Coursera platform, Executive Director of the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the IV Industrial Revolution (C4IR) Fariz Jafarov said at a panel discussion on New Technologies for a New World at the XII Global Baku Forum, Trend reports.

He noted that as a result of this partnership, more than 100,000 citizens of Azerbaijan will have free access to over 8,000 online courses.

Jafarov emphasized that the implementation of new technologies will create millions of jobs, but will also lead to the reduction of 92 million jobs. Therefore, it is important to prepare the country's citizens by equipping them with the necessary skills so that they can adapt to changes in the labor market. In this context, the project with Coursera will be an important step in the education and upskilling of citizens.

As part of digital initiatives, Azerbaijan is actively working on the creation of large language models in the Azerbaijani language, which will be a significant step towards strengthening the countrys digital sovereignty, he said.

According to him, the implementation of AI technologies based on digital twins in various sectors, such as agriculture and education, will allow for the prompt resolution of tasks related to planning and infrastructure development.

"Such projects will help entrepreneurs, government agencies, and citizens to accelerate processes and improve the quality of life," he added.

The XII Global Baku Forum will be held from March 13 through 15 this year under the motto Rethinking the World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities.

The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

The event will discuss key global issues such as geopolitical changes, multilateralism, global health crisis, reconstruction and regional stability of the world, COP29, and others.

The Forum will bring together more than 300 world leaders from more than 60 countries, including more than 25 former presidents, more than 15 former prime ministers, about 10 heads of UN and international agencies, and more than 25 former ministers and deputy ministers.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. Women should play a pivotal role in initiating and leading efforts aimed at improving environmental conditions, the former Greek Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou said at a panel discussion on Gender-Security-Climate Nexus at the XII Global Baku Forum, Trend reports.

"It is crucial that environmental policies and the major changes we need to make in our societies are led by women in our communities and families," he said.

Papandreou also highlighted that environmental issues disproportionately affect women and other vulnerable groups, making them even more susceptible due to their position in society.

"At the local level, specific measures should be implemented, not only to ensure women have opportunities to take leadership roles but also to support their work. It is often women who support communities, provide education, and raise children," he added.

The XII Global Baku Forum will be held from March 13 through 15 this year under the motto Rethinking the World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities.

The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

The event will discuss key global issues such as geopolitical changes, multilateralism, global health crisis, reconstruction and regional stability of the world, COP29, and others.

The Forum will bring together more than 300 world leaders from more than 60 countries, including more than 25 former presidents, more than 15 former prime ministers, about 10 heads of UN and international agencies, and more than 25 former ministers and deputy ministers.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 15, 2025 / Leading securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces that a lawsuit has been filed against Atkore Inc. (NYSE:ATKR) and certain of the Company's senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws.If you invested in Atkore, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/atkore-inc Investors have until April 23, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors who purchased Atkore stock. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and is captioned Westchester Putnam Counties Heavy & Highway Laborers Local 60 Benefits Fund v. Atkore Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-01851.Why was Atkore Sued for Securities Fraud?Atkore manufactures electrical, safety, and infrastructure products including polyvinyl chloride water and electrical conduit pipes ("PVC Pipe"). During the COVID-19 pandemic, shipping costs rose dramatically, leaving foreign PVC Pipe manufacturers unable to profitably sell PVC Pipe in the U.S. As shipping prices returned to normal when the pandemic subsided in 2022, foreign PVC Pipe manufacturers gradually returned to the U.S. market. Shortly thereafter, in late 2022, the price of PVC Pipe began to decline.As alleged, Atkore repeatedly misrepresented that post-pandemic PVC Pipe price declines were the result of "pricing normalization" that reflected "competitive dynamics" and assured investors that the Company would continue to successfully compete in the post-COVID-19 market.On July 24, 2024, an activist investor named ManBear published a report titled "Pipe Price Fixing" which accused Atkore and three of its competitors of using the commodity pricing service OPIS to coordinate pricing actions and fix the price of PVC Pipe.In truth, it is alleged that Atkore engaged in an anticompetitive price-fixing scheme that artificially inflated the price of PVC Pipes.The Stock Declines as the Truth is RevealedOn February 4, 2025, Atkore announced disappointing earnings and reduced guidance, disclosing that the "plastic pipe and conduit product category declined mid-single digits during the quarter" compared to "high single digits in the prior year," and largely attributed the guidance reduction to Atkore's PVC Pipe business, stating, "roughly $75 million or 3/4 [of the guidance reduction] is on the PVC side." This news caused the price of Atkore stock to decline nearly 20%, from $79.72 per share on February 3, 2025 to $64.13 per share on February 4, 2025.On February 14, 2025, Atkore disclosed that it received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division seeking the "production of documents relating to the pricing of the Company's PVC pipe and conduit products." Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/atkore-inc What Can You Do?If you invested in Atkore you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212-789-3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP
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DUBAI, AE / ACCESS Newswire / March 14, 2025 /As financial markets become increasingly unpredictable, investors are seeking more reliable, data-driven solutions to manage risk and optimize decision-making.In response,IAESIR has revamped its AI-powered investment platform, integrating expanded security measures, refined AI-driven analytics, and enhanced compliance protocols to ensure greater transparency and investor confidence.After more than a year of operation, IAESIR continues to develop its technology to support investors in analyzing market trends and managing their portfolios.Technology and Compliance UpdatesThe IAESIR platform integrates AI-based models to assist in market analysis and investment decision-making. The latest updates include AI-driven market insights through data analysis tools that process financial trends to provide users with relevant information.The platform features dedicated AI infrastructure with proprietary technology that supports data security, transaction processing, and operational efficiency. Risk management and stability are enhanced through structured asset allocation strategies designed to address market fluctuations.IAESIR is working toward VARA licensing in the UAE and SEC compliance in the US to meet industry standards. Additionally, the platform functions within Binance's audited regulatory framework, following established security and oversight procedures.Upcoming Feature: The IAESIR Credit CardAs part of its planned updates, IAESIR is preparing to introduce a credit card, which will provide users with the ability to access credit backed by digital asset holdings through the IAESIR ecosystem.Users will be able to use the card for purchases at accepted merchants, expanding practical applications for digital assets.The card will also enable users to manage liquidity and financial resources with integration into the platform's services. This feature is intended to provide users with additional financial options linked to their digital asset portfolios.Platform Expansion and Next StepsThe revamped platform reflects IAESIR's continued focus on developing investment tools and maintaining compliance with financial regulations.Looking ahead, the company plans to refine AI-based models to further support investment strategies, establish additional institutional partnerships to expand platform accessibility, and continue adapting compliance measures to align with evolving financial regulations.For further details, visitIAESIR Finance .About the Company - IAESIR FinanceIAESIR is a DeFAI hedge fund empowering wealth generation for everyone.IAESIR redefines investment and wealth growth by integrating advanced AI-driven strategies, decentralized finance mechanisms, and exclusive community-driven benefits.Media ContactOrganization: IAESIR FinanceContact Person Name: Whitley BoyWebsite: https://www.iaesirfinance.com/ Email: support@ iaesirfinance.com City: DubaiState: DubaiCountry: United Arab EmiratesSOURCE: IAESIR Finance
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 14, 2025 / Star Copper Corp. ("Star Copper" or the "Company") (CSE:STCU) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") dated March 14, 2025 with Alpha Copper Corp. ("Spinco"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Star Copper, pursuant to which the Company proposes to spin-out to the Company's shareholders its 100% interest in the Okeover copper-molybdenum project (the "Okeover Project"), which consists of a property encompassing 4,613 hectares (11,399 acres) located immediately north of the coastal City of Powell River, British Columbia (collectively, the "Spin-Out").The Spin-Out will provide investors with an ownership stake in two separate specialized companies. Star Copper will continue to focus on the advancement of the Star Project and Quesnel Project, while Spinco will focus on advancing the Okeover Project. In contemplation of the Spin-Out, the Company has filed a technical report in respect of the Star Project, available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca Darryl Jones, CEO, President and Director of Star Copper, stated: "We are pleased to progress with this exciting opportunity for the Company and its shareholders. Creating a standalone company focused on holding and advancing Star Copper's flagship asset, the Star Project, and a standalone focused company to pursue the Okeover Project will diversify our shareholder's investments and allow each respective company, Star Copper and Alpha Copper, to focus on advancing their respective assets." Spin-OutThe Spin-Out will be completed as part of a strategic reorganization intended to unlock value for the Company's shareholders, by allowing Star Copper to focus on advancing the Star Project and Spinco to advance the Okeover Project.The Spin-Out will proceed by way of a statutory plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") in accordance with the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), whereby all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Spinco (the "Spinco Shares") will be distributed to the Company's shareholders of record as of the effective time of the completion of the Arrangement (the "Effective Time"). The Spinco Shares will be distributed to Star Copper's shareholders in proportion to their respective holdings of common shares of Star Copper ("Star Copper Shares") at the Effective Time.Completion of the proposed Arrangement requires the approval of the Company's shareholders ("Shareholder Approval"), the approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia ("Court Approval") and the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE Approval").The Arrangement Agreement, Court Approval and Shareholder ApprovalIn accordance with the Arrangement Agreement, Star Copper will apply for an interim order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia authorizing Star Copper to call an annual and special meeting of the Company's shareholders to approve the Arrangement by special resolution (the "Meeting"). The Meeting is expected to take place on April 30, 2025.The Arrangement involves, among other things, the distribution of Spinco Shares to Star Copper shareholders such that each Star Copper shareholder will receive for each Star Copper Share held immediately prior to the Effective Time: (i) one new common share of Star Copper (each, a "New Star Copper Share"); and (ii) one-third of one Spinco Share.Immediately following completion of the Arrangement, which is expected to occur in Q2 2025, Star Copper's shareholders, other than any dissenting shareholders, will own 100% of Spinco. Stock options exercisable to acquire Star Copper Shares (each, a "Star Copper Option") which are issued and outstanding as at the Effective Time will also be exchanged pursuant to the Arrangement, such that each Star Copper Option holder will receive for each Star Copper Option held immediately prior to the Effective Time: (i) one new stock option of Star Copper (each, a "New Star Copper Option") exercisable to acquire one New Star Copper Share; and (ii) one stock option of Spinco (each, a "Spinco Option") exercisable to acquire one-third of a Spinco Share. Upon the Arrangement becoming effective, it is expected that Spinco will consolidate the issued and outstanding Spinco Options on a 3:1 basis such that each Spinco Option will then be exercisable to acquire one Spinco Share.No fractional Spinco securities will be distributed under the Arrangement. Any fractions of Spinco Shares resulting from the Arrangement will be rounded down to the nearest whole number without any compensation in lieu of such fraction.More detailed information regarding the Arrangement and the exchange of securities thereunder, as described above, will be set out in Star Copper's management information circular (the "Circular") that will be mailed to shareholders in connection with the Meeting.After careful consideration, the Board of Directors of Star has unanimously determined that the Arrangement is fair to shareholders and is in the best interests of the Company. A description of the various factors considered by the Board of Directors in arriving at this determination will be provided in the Circular.After the Arrangement is completed, it is expected the New Star Copper Shares will continue to be listed for trading on: (i) the Canadian Securities Exchange in Canada under the symbol "STCU"; the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany under the symbol "PPOO"; and (iii) on the OTC Market in the United States of America under the symbol "STCUF".The Spinco Shares will not be listed on any stock exchange upon completion of the Arrangement, but Spinco will operate as a reporting issuer in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario and will comply with its continuous disclosure obligations under applicable Canadian securities laws. More detailed information regarding the Spinco Shares and post-Arrangement Spinco will be set out in the Circular.Okeover ProjectThe Okeover Project consists of a property encompassing 4,613 hectares (11,399 acres) located immediately north of the coastal City of Powell River, British Columbia. Since its discovery in 1965, the Okeover Project has been explored by several companies including Noranda Exploration, Asarco Exploration, Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd., Duval International Corporation, Lumina Copper Corp, and Eastfield Resources Ltd.The property currently exhibits eight zones of mineralization which have so far been discovered over a north-south striking trend of approximately 5 kilometers. Of note, the North Lake Zone, received a 2006 historic resource calculation with an inferred 87 million tonne
Sometimes a woman finds herself at a destination she did not plan for, a place where she neither bargained for nor boarded a bus or plane to. She just wakes up and finds herself there, a totally new place where she has to learn a new language, new coping skills, a different way of life. What is she supposed to do especially when the new place brings with it both fortune and challenges?

Let us start with a woman who married a young brilliant middle-income man when they were both junior executives in a bank, and then 20 years later, he becomes a traditional ruler! Two decades in the banking sector means they had gone really far, travelled wide and were already looking at soon becoming executive directors or even something bigger on the directors floor. Who has an idea what becoming a traditional ruler in Nigeria, Africa entails? The difference between being a regional manager of a bank and becoming a wife, mother and queen is like the distance between Lagos and Australia.

Taiwo is overwhelmed. Yes, she knew her husband was a prince but she never thought the royal rotation would swing that fast in their lifetime. But two kings died in quick succession and just like that, her husband was chosen by the royal house and the oracle to go step into his ancestors shoes.

We were both just building our careers and minding our business in our corner of the banking world. We had had our share of couples trouble but nothing close to that weekend when the elders of the family and kingmakers came to deliver their royal message. Of course, we started with shock, denial, resistance. Then when they left, the arguments started, followed by tension, confusion, more arguments and even ultimatums.

Why you?

Couldnt they have chosen your uncle, a more elderly prince?

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What is going to happen to our plans? Are you actually going to accept it, leave Lagos and move to your hometown?

What about the children, their schools?

Must I follow you home?

Taiwo was faced with the option of staying back in Lagos and losing her place and position in her husbands life. A Yoruba king is incomplete without his queen or queens. That last part was a major concern, major trouble. Yoruba Oba tend to keep harems. First. He traditionally inherits the wives of the late kings, that is if they are alive and living in the palace. The details of the inheritance are royal secrets, as many as he wants. Then he can marry more, , after all he is the husband of the town and second-in-command to the creator.

Anyway, here is a banker, now an Olori, faced with tough life-changing decisions. She does not want to stop working or end her career. She does not want her husband to turn his back on his heritage but she does not look forward to becoming the iya wa or Senior Olori with young Oloris prancing up and down the palace and stealing the home she built.

Yours sincerely has two friends who are Oloris. I also have friends who are traditional rulers, two of whose wives opted to live outside the palace, ceding their queen thrones to new queens. It is a tough choice for a woman. Our traditional stools are tasking and some of them do not want to share the occupiers of the stools with their wives. So, what is your advice for a doctor, banker, politician whose husband suddenly becomes a king? How does one move from city life to the slow and quietness of the countryside and bed-sharing?

A friends marriage just graduated from separation to divorce because her husband decided to obey the call upon his life to move into full-time ministry. Yes, I am a Christian but I am not ready to be a Pastors wife or Mummy G.O. We had been on this matter for years and I had always told him that the rigours of following a pastor all over the place was not one that I wanted. He could be a pastor but a full-time one? No. It would mean me picking the family bills, dropping certain ways of life I am already used to, being constantly under scrutiny, fasting and almost permanently living in the church but he insisted that the call had become too loud to be ignored. That was how my friend moved abroad. He is miserable. She is miserable. The marriage is almost over. How does one counsel a woman in a case like this?

What about where the struggling young man you married makes good quickly. One year, you are scrimping and saving to make rent and in just five years, you have moved into a five-star estate and driving luxury cars? A wife should be happy and thank her stars, right? Well, that comes with its own challenges too. This rich husband is hardly ever at home and the women winking and blinking at him are a different story. Those who are not doing juju are using every known and unknown feminine whiles to take him away from you. Then the poor wife wakes up one morning and there are love children in the mix and curvaceous women are parading themselves as the other Mrs. To worsen an already bad case, a couple of those desperate women are daughters of the husbands benefactor or business partners, men he does not want to wrong. Well, the wife is feeling wronged and oppressed.

What should a wife expect if her husband finds wealth early? What should she not do, think or consider? How does she enjoy that wealth without depression and high blood pressure?

The politicians wife. Sounds already like the title of a book or a movie, a life of drama. Are you smiling or shaking your head? She is the envy of many women, even men. Her husband is powerful, connected, influential. She is the grand hostess whose home is haven for men and women who are movers and shakers in her community, state or in the country. But there is the private pain, the tears she wets her pillows with because of who her husband is. Her husband is busy, hardly ever available even when he is sitting right beside her. His libido is down because he is preoccupied, he says but she believes it is because he is servicing many websites outside.

How exactly do you counsel a woman whose husbands changed status throws her into the deep end of the pool when she never thought she would ever need to swim?

Please share your thoughts via email, Facebook and Whatsapp.

==========

Re  The problem with the whole truth

I agree 100% with the article. Men flaunt their previous escapades (my children told me it is currently called body count) as validation of their ability to engage. Unfortunately, they also love a tear leather virgin or manage a lady who can pretend that no man has climbed them but lost their virginity during the final tournament a long-jump Olympics.

Women should be wise. Please dont tell in graphic details your past even if your man has given a 10-page detail of his. Unfortunately, it is mens world. His own previous escapade is termed a badge of honor while your own is a shameful past!

Men are selfish. A widower on the average remarries two or three years after the passing of his wife.

Unfortunately, a widow may not have another opportunity, unless God intervenes.

Our women should be wise.

-Tunde

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Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai launched a personal account on TikTok days after resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joining the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

In a video announcement on Wednesday, Mr El-Rufai stated that he created the TikTok page to engage with Nigerians on political matters and the activities of his new party. He invited users to interact with him through videos and discussions.

This is my only official TikTok page. Please join me for videos, comments, conversations on Nigerian politics, and the activities of our new party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Welcome on board, the politician said.

Mr El-Rufais entry into TikTok has gained rapid traction. His announcement video has also recorded 1.9 million views and more than 34,000 user engagements.

Further PREMIUM TIMES checks show that the former Federal Capital Territory ministers follower count currently stands at 223,000, with 259,000 profile likes as of press time.

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In his TikTok bio, the former governor described himself as an accidental public servant, certified ruffler of feathers, and deliberate SDP member.

His presence on the platform marks a rare move among Nigerian politicians, many of whom have yet to embrace video-sharing social media for direct engagement.

Party fallout

Mr El-Rufais debut on TikTok comes after his public departure from the APC. He cited disillusionment with the partys leadership and direction.

He resigned on Monday, declaring that the APC had strayed from its founding principles. I did not leave the party; the party left me, he stated.

Expressing frustration over the state of affairs, he accused the party of abandoning the values that once defined it.

The APC has abandoned the principles that led to its establishment. It has abandoned the community, he alleged. Everyone is doing their own thing. Everyone is looking for money. The government has become a business government.

Following his resignation, Mr El-Rufai urged his supporters to join the SDP and called on other opposition leaders to unite in challenging the APC in future elections.

With his new TikTok presence, Mr El-Rufai appears to be tapping into the power of digital engagement as he navigates his next political chapter.

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Director: Stanley Obi

Cast: Uzor Arukwe, Amanda Iriekpen, Thelma Chukwunwen, Susan Jimah, Bam Bam Olawunmi Adenibuyan, Osereme Inegbenebor and DanielRocky Obiora.

Running Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

Release Date: 7 March

Streaming platform: YouTube

Executive Producer: Omoni Oboli and Tomi Adeoye

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For the past few days, social media has been awash with comments about filmmaker Omoni Obolis newly released movie, Love in Every Word.

The film took social media by storm and ignited conversations about love, chemistry, and the impact of a soft-spoken yet captivating lead actress: former BBNaija star Bam Bam (Bamike Olawunmi), who starred alongside Nollywood actor Uzor Arukwe.

Produced by Omoni Oboli, the film aligns with the adage that many women often try to avoid ending up with a man who reminds them of their fatherespecially if his flaws once turned their home into a battleground. But sometimes, love has other plans.

Filmmaker Omoni Obolis Love in Every Word vividly explores this emotional dilemma, weaving a tale of unexpected romance, a toxic workplace, and the undeniable pull of the heart.

The film follows Chioma, a beautiful and ambitious working-class woman in Lagos, who falls for Obioraa man who possesses none of the qualities she desires in a partner but instead mirrors the traits she resents in her father.

Love in Every Word boasts a stellar cast, including Uzor Arukwe, Amanda Iriekpen, Thelma Chukwunwen, Susan Jimah, Adenibuyan, Osereme Inegbenebor and DanielRocky Obiora. It offers a refreshing take on love, personal preferences, and the complexities of a workplace ruled by a domineering boss.

Plot

While the storyline follows a familiar rom-com structure, the execution, especially the performances that have made it stand out, was seen from the movies start to the end.

The movie opens with Chioma ending her two-year relationship with Davies (DanielRocky Obiora) after he loses $5,000 in a forex business. Frustrated by his inability to make her proud, she requests he returns the belongings she had bought for him. Still nursing her heartbreak, she faces added pressure at work when her toxic boss shows up at her office, forcing her to take on a client project that she had retrieved from a colleague.

As she struggles with her bosss relentless demands, she receives a call from her mother (Thelma Chukwunwen), reminding her about her cousins introduction ceremony in Anambra State. She travels to Anambra for the event, where she unexpectedly crosses paths with a man (Obiora) with the exact physique she desires in a partner. However, she has already sworn off love.

Determined to avoid both this intriguing stranger and the man her mother is trying to match her with, Chioma steps outside for some air. Ironically, she ends up running into the same man (Obiora). They converse, during which Obiora confidently expresses his intent to marry her.

After the introduction ceremony, Chioma returns to Lagos without exchanging contact information with Obiora. To her surprise, he later appears at her office, purchasing the entire building to obtain her contact details. Their bond grows stronger as Obiora showers her with gifts, but Chioma hesitates to embrace the relationship due to his accentbeing an Igbo man.

Her hatred for Igbo men stems from their tendency to spoil their wives, the challenges of long-distance relationships, and other issues that make her want to send Obiora away.

The climax builds to a heart-pounding confrontation as Chioma loses focus and resigns from her job when loveunpredictable, as they saycatches up with her.

In a moment of reckoning, she must decide whether to embrace love or push away a good man because of her fathers influence, which continues to haunt her. Fortunately, her friends, Ify (Osereme Inegbenebor) and Ivie (Amanda Iriekpen), stand by her side.

Character analysis

Chioma

Ms Adenibuyan, who plays Chioma, perfects her role as a classy Lagos babe, focusing on leaving no space for a man who lacks the qualities she desires.

Her soft-spoken, elegant presence, which she is known for as a housemate on BBNaija, helps her master the character.

Her composure and elegance make her performance outstanding and crucial. They bring life to the movie and raise whether another actress could perfectly exemplify the role.

Obiora

Mr Arukwe portrays Obiora, a typical Igbo man who knows what he wants and goes for it. His blend of Igbo language and business-oriented mindset makes him perfect for the role.

With his composure, walk, and Odogwu-like vibes, his performance keeps viewers glued to the screen. He remains determined to marry Chioma and will sacrifice anything for it. His role adds authenticity and stability to the story.

Themes

Aside from the love theme, the film explores the implications of a toxic workplace and a boss who believes they are next to God, treating employees poorly simply because they receive a monthly salary.

The movie also highlights the importance of parental responsibility, as seen in Chiomas life. She hates Igbo men, whether rich or poor, because her father treats her mother like a rag.

The film further explores the theme of not judging the present or future based on past experiences, as seen in Obiora, who has pure intentions toward Chioma.

Furthermore, the film emphasises the importance of friendship. Ify and Ivie take it upon themselves to help Obiora understand why their friend, Chioma, is acting strangely toward him.

Review

The Igbo direction is commendable, especially in addressing marriage stereotypes. The cinematography is top-notch, marking an improvement in Nollywoods technical standards.

The sound, camera angles, and costumes used in the movie make it more resonant with viewers. Scenes like Obiora meeting Chioma, dressed in full Igbo attire, showcase creativity and stay true to the films cultural direction.

Aside from Obiora, who wears Igbo attire, Chioma and her friends outfits reflect typical Lagos fashion styles, immersing viewers in the films world.

However, the narrative sometimes weakens, especially when Chiomas friends recount her past to Obiora. A flashback would better connect the present with the past, showing whether her father looks, talks, and behaves like Obiora.

Another significant issue is the failure to mention Chiomas fathers name despite establishing that he is from Imo State.

Despite these minor shortcomings, the films strengths far outweigh its flaws. The strong performances from the ensemble cast elevate Love in Every Word as a standout rom-com.

Verdict

The films compelling narrative, strong performances, and high production values make it a significant achievement for Nollywood.

Though not without flaws, it remains profoundly engaging and visually striking, leaving a lasting impression long after the credits roll.

Love In Every Word is rated 8/10.

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Zainab Aliyu is the CEO & Creative Director of AABOUX, a stylish, luxurious leather brand founded in 2017.

Mrs Aliyu is also a Finance Professional and a UK-qualified Fellow of the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants (ACCA) with over 15 years of experience, mainly in the oil and gas sector, across five continents.

In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mrs Aliyu discusses her journey from finance to fashion, the challenges of being a woman in leadership, and her insights on empowering the next generation of female entrepreneurs.

PT: Can you tell us about your professional journey and how you became a CEO?

Mrs Aliyu: My professional journey has been one of evolution, driven by curiosity, passion, and a desire to create something unique. I started my career in audit where I trained at a big four accounting firm in the UK, and subsequently in finance, which laid a strong foundation in business strategy, governance, and leadership. However, my deep-rooted passion for creativity and design led me to pivot into the world of luxury fashion  founding AABOUX in 2017, a brand that blends artistry, functionality, and timeless craftsmanship.

Becoming a CEO wasnt something I set out to achieve overnight  it was the result of years of learning, adapting, and consistently pushing the boundaries of what was possible. It required technical knowledge and emotional intelligence  balancing vision with execution and creativity with business acumen.

Today, as the CEO & Creative Director of AABOUX, I find fulfilment in building a brand that represents African excellence on a global stage while creating opportunities for women in the creative economy. I also serve on the boards of Leadway Pensure, Interconnect Clearing House, and Robert & John, which gave me a deeper understanding of corporate governance and decision-making at the highest levels.

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PT: In your opinion, how do women leaders inspire and empower others around them, especially other women?

Mrs Aliyu: Women leaders inspire others by leading with empathy, resilience, and inclusivity. Ive found that the most impactful women in leadership uplift others by creating spaces where women feel seen, heard, and supported.

Empowerment comes not only from what we achieve but how we bring others along the journey  whether through mentorship, knowledge-sharing, or simply by showing that its possible to lead authentically without compromising ones values.

For me, empowering others means being intentional about opening doors, especially for younger women navigating their careers and entrepreneurship. Its important that women see diverse representations of leadership and understand that success doesnt have to fit into a singular mold.

PT: What do you think is unique about women in leadership roles compared to men?

Mrs Aliyu: Women bring a multidimensional perspective to leadership  blending strength with emotional intelligence, intuition with strategy, and collaboration with decisiveness.

I believe women leaders tend to approach leadership in a more holistic and inclusive way, recognising that the success of a team is not just about performance but about the overall well-being of the people within it.

Our ability to lead with both head and heart  balancing results with humanity  creates environments where people feel more connected, motivated, and inspired to thrive.

PT: What challenges did you face as a woman in your industry, and how did you overcome them?

Mrs Aliyu: One of the challenges Ive faced is leading and managing a team of men in a space where women in leadership roles are still often questioned. I recall having to let go of a team member who struggled with taking orders or direction from me simply because I was a woman. It was a difficult decision, but it taught me the importance of setting clear boundaries, standing firm in my authority, and prioritising the collective vision over individual egos.

Another unforgettable experience was walking into a factory to source materials, only for the owner to size me up  both as a woman and because of my small frame  and dismissively tell me that they only sold in dollars, implying that I couldnt afford it. I laugh about it now because today, AABOUX sources materials from across the world, is stocked in five countries, and sells to customers in over 20 countries.

These experiences have reinforced my belief that underestimation can be a powerful fuel for success  if you choose to let your work speak louder than the doubts others place on you.

PT: Can you share one of the most rewarding moments in your career that solidified your passion for leadership?

Mrs Aliyu: One of the most rewarding moments was being entrusted with board roles at Leadway Pensure and Interconnect Clearing House. Sitting at the table where key decisions were made  in industries where women are often underrepresented  reinforced my passion for advocating for more women in leadership.

Another defining moment was the launch of AABOUXs collection at Bloomingdales  a milestone that showed how African luxury can take its place on the global stage. Each achievement reminds me that leadership is about creating pathways for others while staying true to your purpose.

PT: What advice would you give to young Nigerian women aspiring to become leaders in their fields?

Mrs Aliyu: Young Nigerian women aspiring to leadership should embrace their journeys as unique assets.

Every experiencewhether transitioning between industries or starting from scratchadds value. Its important to show up with confidence, own your narrative, and let your work speak for itself rather than waiting for external validation.

Continuous learning is key. Staying curious, investing in education, seeking mentorship, and asking the right questions can open unexpected opportunities. Leadership also thrives on relationships, making it essential to build and nurture a strong network.

Setbacks are inevitable, but they offer valuable lessons. Some of the greatest insights come from mistakes that force a shift in perspective or approach. Instead of dwelling on failures, learn from them, adapt, and keep moving forward.

Finally, true leadership is about lifting others as you grow. Success is more meaningful when it creates opportunities for others, so sharing knowledge, supporting womens voices, and fostering inclusivity should always be part of the journey.

PT: How do you balance the demands of being a CEO with other aspects of your personal life?

Mrs Aliyu: Balance is a continuous journey, not a destination. Ive learned that the key is prioritisation and boundaries.

Im very intentional about carving out time for family, self-care, and personal passions  knowing that I cant pour into others if my own cup is empty. Ive also learned the power of delegation  trusting my team and leaning on systems that allow me to focus on what matters most. Ultimately, balance is about giving yourself grace  knowing that you can have it all, just not all at once.

PT: This years theme for International Womens Day is Accelerate Action. What does this theme mean to you and how does it reflect your leadership approach?

Mrs Aliyu: Accelerate Action is a powerful reminder that progress happens when we choose to move forward  not when everything is perfect, but in spite of the challenges around us. For me, it means showing up every day with intention, consistency, and the courage to create the future I want to see for myself and my children.

My journey across different industries  from finance to fashion  has shown me that action isnt always about grand gestures. Whether it was stepping into board roles or launching AABOUX, the common thread has been the willingness to take the first step, learn along the way, and keep pushing forward.

Building AABOUX has taught me that action is often about taking small, consistent steps  from turning an idea into a prototype, to pushing through setbacks, to knocking on doors until the right one opens. Ive learned that success doesnt always come from one big breakthrough, but from the daily decision to keep going, even when the odds are stacked against you.

The theme also speaks to the power of community and collaboration. I believe that when women come together  whether through mentorship, partnerships, or simply amplifying each others voices  we can accelerate action far beyond what any of us can achieve alone.

Finally, accelerating action means not waiting for permission. Its about betting on yourself, taking the first step, and trusting that the path will unfold as you move forward.

This interview was conducted in partnership with Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ), a Nigerian non-profit organisation committed to advancing and empowering women in leadership. Mrs Aliyu is also a member of WIMBIZ.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. Women, as citizens, mothers and representatives of their countries, play a key role in overcoming climate challenges, President of the National Council for Human Rights, Minister of Family and Population of Egypt (2009-2011) Moushira Khattab said at a panel discussion on Gender  Security  Climate: Nexus at the XII Global Baku Forum, Trend reports.

"Without peace and respect for human rights, including women's rights, there will be no peace. On a global level, there will be no peace without justice and without adherence to international human rights law," Khattab mentioned.

She also noted that the climate crisis is no different from the COVID-19 crisis the world faced earlier.

"We saw how severely women were affected by this crisis, but it was women who became the main drivers of the solution to this problem, and we overcame it," added Khattab.

According to her, in order to successfully overcome the climate crisis, it is important for women to hold leadership positions in decision-making processes.

The XII Global Baku Forum will be held from March 13 through 15 this year under the motto Rethinking the World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities.

The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

The event will discuss key global issues such as geopolitical changes, multilateralism, global health crisis, reconstruction and regional stability of the world, COP29, and others.

The Forum will bring together more than 300 world leaders from more than 60 countries, including more than 25 former presidents, more than 15 former prime ministers, about 10 heads of UN and international agencies, and more than 25 former ministers and deputy ministers.

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Traditional medicine has been an integral part of Nigerian culture for centuries, yet it continues to face scepticism by millions of citizens. Several reasons have been adduced for this, including the absence of standards, weak regulation and a colonial mindset.

In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the Director General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), Martins Emeje, discusses traditional medicine, the agencys efforts to standardise and regulate the field, and how innovations like nanotechnology are transforming herbal treatments.

Mr Emeje, a professor of drug delivery/nanomedicine, also discusses the potential of traditional medicine to create millions of jobs, the need for academic recognition, and his vision for its integration into Nigerias

healthcare system.

PT: Traditional medicine has been a part of Nigerian culture for centuries, yet it has faced scepticism from many, especially in the medical community.

What would you say is the biggest challenge facing traditional medicine today?

Mr Emeje: This is the first time a journalist has framed the question this way, acknowledging that scepticism primarily comes from the medical community rather than saying most people. That distinction is important.

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The people who hold these misconceptions are what I call the minority elite of this country. Studies have shown that at least 80 per cent of Nigerians patronise traditional medicine. If Nigeria has a population of about 218 million, and we estimate 80 per cent of 200 million, that means around 160 million Nigerians use traditional medicine. The remaining 40 million are mostly eliteseducated individuals who live in places like Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. They have access to foreign drugs, private hospitals, and allopathic medicine because they can afford it. These are the same people who get appointed as consultants by organisations like the UN, WHO, UNICEF, and UNESCO. They sit in hotels, write reports, and spiral-bind documents about what is happening in my village, Agaliga, without going there.

The issue is largely colonial mentality. Many in this elite group refuse to liberate themselves from the shackles of colonialism. They badmouth traditional medicine not because it is ineffective but because they rely on foreign funding.

This is not to say that traditional medicine is perfect, far from it. But neither is allopathic medicine. Im a pharmacist, and I can confidently say that many diseases cannot be cured by modern drugs, yet traditional

medicine has solutions for them, and vice versa.

For those of us deeply involved in this fieldby experience, study, and passionwe know what needs to be done. Thankfully, I have been given the privilege by President Bola Tinubu to do just that, and I am fully committed to the task.

PT: One of the major concerns about traditional medicine is the lack of standardisation and regulation. What are you doing to address this?

Mr Emeje: First of all, those who truly understand traditional medicine know that standardisation is not an issue.

The idea that traditional medicine lacks dosage comes from applying foreign parameters to judge it, which is incorrect. People who are not familiar with traditional medicine often assume it does not have proper dosing, but that is simply not true.

A dose does not have to be defined strictly by colonial curricula. As people trained in modern medicine, pharmacy, and other health sciences, our role is to apply our knowledge to improve traditional medicine  not to dismiss its existing principles. Currently, traditional medicine is not taught in universities as a standalone discipline. That is why we are advocating for full academic programmes, including bachelors degrees, masters degrees, PhDs, and professorships in Nigerian traditional medicine. Once we have graduates who specialise in this field, they will be able to define and explain traditional medicine dosing scientifically.

For now, the assumption that traditional medicine lacks dosage only comes from a lack of understanding. Traditional medical practitioners do provide dosing instructions. Some may say, Take a cup, just as some foreign

medicines require drinking a specific liquid quantity. Others use natural indicators, such as the suns position, to determine when a dose should be taken. These are legitimate dosing methods.

Where do modern scientists come in? Our role is to collect, study, and document these practices properly to ensure they are well-understood and applied effectively.

At NNMDA, we have taken concrete steps toward this. We run a four-year college where students earn a National Diploma in Natural Medicine.

Recently, we were also designated as the official awarding body for traditional medicine certifications in Nigeria.

The federal government recognises that traditional medicine is affordable, accessible to people, and resonates with our culture.

PT: How is NNMDA working with regulatory agencies like NAFDAC to prevent misinformation, protect public health, and ensure that only safe, regulated traditional medicines reach the public?

Mr Emeje: Our relationship with NAFDAC is excellent. The Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, is one of the strongest advocates for traditional medicine in Africa, even though she doesnt publicly emphasise it. I call her my Mama because of her commitment to this field.

NNMDA and NAFDAC were the first two public institutions in Nigeria to collaborate and win a competitive grant for research in traditional medicine. We are continuing this work with another major project planned for 2025. If you listened to her 2025 press conference, you would have heard her mention at least three projects she intends to carry out with NNMDA.

Beyond NAFDAC, we also work closely with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, led by Ahmed Babashehu. These are the two most important regulatory agencies in Nigeria when it comes to medicine, and we collaborate effectively to ensure standards are met.

When discussing substandard and counterfeit medicines, its important to note that the issue isnt limited to traditional medicine. In fact, there are far more fake and substandard foreign medicines circulating in Nigeria

than traditional remedies. We all remember the late Dora Akunyili, who almost lost her life while fighting against fake drugs. Her battle wasnt against traditional medicineit was against counterfeit foreign pharmaceuticals. So, the problem of substandard medicines is largely a foreign one, not just an issue within traditional medicine.

PT: Recently, you recommended the introduction of traditional medicine into schools. How do you envision this working? Will it be a standalone course, or will it be integrated into medical and pharmaceutical education?

Mr Emeje: Traditional medicine will stand as an independent discipline, offering degrees at all academic levels: Bachelors, Masters, and PhDwith professors specialising in Nigerian traditional medicine. It is not about

merging it with medicine, pharmacy, or other healthcare courses. Instead, those pursuing careers in medicine, nursing, and medical laboratory science can take elective courses in traditional medicine to gain a formal understanding of the field.

There is often a colonial mindset that places Western medicine above traditional medicine, leading some to argue that traditional medicine should be integrated into modern medical education. But why not the other way around? Traditional medicine is vast and deeply rooted in our indigenous knowledge systems. In fact, it should not even be taught in English.

Across Asia, students studying traditional medicine do so in their native languages. If a foreigner wants to study traditional Chinese medicine or Ayurveda, they first learn the language for six months. Yet here, we insist that students must have five credits in English to study traditional medicinewhy?

This is why I supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubus idea of establishing a university of languages. Unfortunately, the idea faced criticism, mostly from people whose expertise is criticism. If we truly value our heritage, we should embrace education in indigenous languages, particularly in fields like traditional medicine.

Look at the mass migration of Nigerian healthcare professionalsdoctors, pharmacists and nurses are leaving the country in large numbers because their training aligns with foreign healthcare systems. That tells us

something is wrong with our curriculum. If we trained people for Nigerias healthcare system, they wouldnt be in such high demand abroad. Graduates of Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine dont japa because their expertise is primarily useful in their home countries, helping to develop local healthcare.

Many traditional medical practitioners today should be university lecturers, but the system does not recognise their knowledge. If you are a professor of medicine or pharmacy, you may know little about traditional medicine, yet traditional practitioners can diagnose and treat conditions in ways that modern medicine sometimes cannot. For instance, a traditional healer may use specific plant mixtures and techniques to restore mobility to an injured leg that Western medicine would have amputated. This depth of knowledge deserves academic recognition.

PT: You projected that just one of NNMDAs 27 new products could generate up to 3.8 million jobs. Which specific sectors will benefit the most from this job creation?

Mr Emeje: That estimate is a modest one. Every white powder imported into Nigeria, by pharmaceutical companies, originates from plants, and in other countries, the entire process of cultivation, harvesting, transportation, extraction, purification, and formulation creates massive employment opportunities. But here, we simply import the finished product, paying not just for the powder but also for the salaries of those who processed it abroad. Essentially, we are outsourcing jobs that should be created within our economy.

With this initiative, we are reversing that trend by producing medicinal products locally, creating employment across multiple sectors. Agriculture will see a major boost because medicinal plants are the raw materials.

Large-scale farming will be essential, and we already have farms in 14 states with plans to expand to over 8,600 medicinal farms nationwide. Every community has diseases and local plants traditionally used for treatment, and cultivating these plants will generate significant employment for farmers and agricultural workers.

Transportation will also be heavily involved. Moving raw materials from farms to laboratories and production facilities require a strong logistics network. We will need transporters at every stage, just as INEC partners

with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) during elections. We will also collaborate with transport unions, creating employment opportunities for drivers, logistics coordinators, and other transport

workers.

Education and skills training will play a crucial role. To sustain this industry, we must train professionals in traditional medicine. Thats why we have established a college and are launching a National Skills Acquisition Programme to certify traditional medical practitioners. This will open up jobs for educators, researchers, and trainers.

The healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors will benefit as well. Once raw materials reach the lab, we need highly skilled professionalschemists, pharmacists, medical doctors, clinical trial experts, and analyststo ensure product safety and efficacy. The demand for healthcare workers, including nurses and laboratory scientists will increase as more products are developed.

Marketing and distribution will also see significant job creation. After production, the medicines must reach consumers, requiring marketers, distributors, and retailers to ensure accessibility and public awareness.

All these sectors combined contribute to our job creation estimate.

Currently, we have 27 products, with five already approved by NAFDAC and others in the final stages. We are proud to be the only public institution in Nigeria conducting healthcare research with NAFDAC-approved products and facilities.

PT: NNMDA is applying nanotechnology to traditional medicine, which is quite fascinating. Can you explain how this innovation is improving the safety and effectiveness of herbal treatments?

Mr Emeje: Im smiling because this is my area of expertisenanoscience.

Its something Im very passionate about. When people criticise the development of natural products, I simply laugh because we have moved far beyond basic preparation and delivery. At this agency, we have a fully equipped nanotechnology laboratory, and Im already pushing to expand it into a pico-technology laboratory. In fact, we have already launched some nanotechnology-based products.

Nanotechnology allows us to improve the precision and effectiveness of herbal treatments through targeted drug delivery. For example, take a common medication like paracetamol, which is usually given as a 500mg dose. The body doesnt need the entire 500mg; only a fraction of it is needed.

The rest is lost through metabolism and waste removal. With nanotechnology, we can deliver only the exact amount needed directly to the target area in the body. This enhances efficiency, reduces waste, and minimises potential side effects.

Beyond that, we are also advancing machine learning applications to improve our research. In the next two years, our data will demonstrate just how much progress weve made. Additionally, our nanotechnology is

environmentally friendlyit falls under green technology. We dont use harmful chemicals in our processes; instead, we rely on natural compounds, ensuring that our innovations align with global efforts to combat climate change.

PT: Looking ahead, what is your ultimate vision for traditional medicine in Nigeria? Where do you see its place in our healthcare system and economy?

Mr Emeje: Whether I achieve it or not, my vision is clearI want to be at the forefront of transforming traditional medicine in Nigeria. I envision a future where traditional medicine is respected, recognised, and formally integrated into our healthcare system. I want Nigerians to see it as a viable career path, with structured educational programmes leading to degrees, masters, and even PhDs in traditional medicine.

More importantly, I want these studies to be conducted in our local languages, eliminating the barrier of English proficiency. My goal is for people to confidently walk into licensed traditional medical facilitiesjust as they do with modern hospitalswhere they can receive trusted, professional healthcare.

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A university don, Ibrahim Sani Kaita has described the launching of animal rearing programme by the government of Katsina state as a bold move to stimulate economic growth and development.

It would be recalled that recently Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State launched an innovative project  the distribution of goats to less privileged members of the community.

In a statement, Mr Kaita who is the administrative secretary at the Institute of Education Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria explained that this initiative aims to empower the most vulnerable segments of society, promoting self-sufficiency and financial stability.

Mr Kaita, a renowned development expert and University Administrator hailed the project as a game-changer, capable of lifting the state out of abject poverty. This programme will not only create employment opportunities for women and youth but also help eradicate social vices that have plagued our communities for far too long, he remarked.

Animal rearing has long been recognised as a vital component of economic growth and development. In India, for instance, the livestock sector has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9% during 2014-15 to 2020-21, contributing significantly to the countrys GDP . Similarly, in Katsina State, the distribution of goats is expected to have a ripple effect, stimulating economic activity and improving the overall well-being of the population.

The importance of animal rearing cannot be overstated. It provides a source of income, employment, and food security, particularly for rural communities.

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In addition, Mr Kaita noted that animal rearing promotes biodiversity, helps maintain ecosystem services, and supports sustainable agriculture practices.

However, he advised that as the state embarks on this ambitious project, it is essential to acknowledge the challenges associated with animal rearing, including diseases, feed and fodder scarcity, and inadequate policy support. He suggested that government must ensure that careful planning, effective implementation, and stakeholder engagement be strictly adhered to for the success of the project.

According to him the benefits of animal rearing can be harnessed to drive economic growth and development.

Mr Kaita pointed out that there has been a ready made market at the global market especially in Africa and the middle east.

He commended the initiative saying that the distribution of goats to less privileged members of Katsina State is a visionary step towards promoting economic growth and development.

As the state embraces animal rearing, it is poised to unlock the potential of this vital sector, improving the lives of its citizens and securing a brighter future for generations to come, he concluded.

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A prosecution witness, simply identified as ABC, on Friday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja how the notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Halilu, purchased a gun truck from Niger Republic to perpetrate terrorist acts in Nigeria.

ABC, who is the 1st prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of four suspects linked to fleeing bandit leader, Bello Turji, made the revelation while being led in evidence by federal governments lawyer, David Kaswe.

Mr Turji is a notorious bandit leader operating in North-western Nigeria, particularly Zamfara, Sokoto and Niger states.

In December 2024, the Nigerian Army announced that it had arrested a woman who allegedly supplied arms and ammunition to Mr Turji.

The announcement came about a week after the army announced the detention of some of Mr Turjis suspected lieutenants.

PREMIUM TIMES reported, however, that the terrorist released a video on Christmas Day, saying those arrested were innocent elderly people in his ancestral community

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on 23 December 2024, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) arraigned four suspected lieutenants of Mr Turji being tried in Abuja on 11 counts of terrorism.

The suspects  Musa Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor; Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma  pleaded not guilty to the counts and the court subsequently ordered their remand in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.

Testimony

Giving his testimony on Friday in Hausa language, the first prosecution witness said out of the four suspects in the dock, he only knew Musa Kamarawa, who he called his childhood friend.

Sometimes between 2021 and 2022, Musa is my childhood friend. He called me on the phone and told me that he wanted me to accompany him to Kano for the wedding fathia (ceremony) of the daughter of DSS (SSS) Director of Sokoto Command.

I prepared myself on Friday and I met him in his house. When I went to his house, I met him with one of his friends called Sani Lawal Jibia (8th defendant).

Musa told me that we are going together with Sani. We used Musas Honda Accord 2018 model car. Sani Jibia was the one that drove us to Isa Local Government Area in Sokoto State.

We went to the local government chairmans house and we met him in his house.

Musa and the local government chairman excused themselves. I didnt know what they were discussing.

When they finished their discussion, Musa brought the key of the Hilux car.

He told us that we are going with the Hilux and leaving his car in the chairmans house. We left around 4 p.m. for Katsina State.

When we arrived in Katsina the same day, we proceeded to Kano.

We arrived in Kano in the night and we started looking for a hotel, he said.

The witness said he and Sani Jibia lodged in the same hotel while Musa went and rented an expensive hotel in Kano.

We slept in the hotel and left there around 11:30 in the morning and went to the venue of the wedding fathia.

After the wedding, we left the place around 12 noon. We proceeded to the wedding reception, ABC said.

Meeting at the bush, military checkpoint encounter

The witness further said after the wedding, they left for Sokoto State but had a stopover in Katsina.

When we arrived in Katsina, we decided to sleep there because we could not make it to Sokoto that very day.

In the morning around 10 a.m., we started our journey to Sokoto.

We followed the road to Jibia, to Zurmi, from Zurmi to Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.

When we went to Kaura Namoda town, Musa told us that he wanted to go and bring something.

We went to their house  I, myself, Musa and Sani Lawal. We greeted his in-law. From Kaura Namoda, we started our journey to Shinkarfi Local Government Area.

On our way to Shinkarfi Local Government, Musa started calling unknown persons.

He told us that he was talking with Kachalla Halilu. He said he wants to go and receive message from Kachalla Halilu, he said

The prosecution witness said when they got to Shinkarfi Local Government Area, they stopped and prayed.

We stopped at one Alhaji Lawali Shop. We prayed there and drank water, then we started our journey again, he added.

He said after Shinkarfi, they got to a village called Galadi where they met a military checkpoint.

Musa told Sani to stop at the checkpoint because Sani was the one that drove the car, he said.

He said after they left the checkpoint, Musa called Kachalla Halilu and asked him where to stop.

He said Mr Kachalla told Mr Musa that they should pull up where they normally stopped.

When we arrived at the place, Musa told Sani to stop since he is the one driving.

We were there for some time; Kachalla came out from the forest with his boys.

We were less than 100 metres away and Kachalla called Musa when he had arrived. Musa went and met him but I didnt know what they discussed.

According to him, after they finished their discussion, Mr Musa came back with money inside a black nylon bag.

Kachalla and his boys were well armed with guns and masked themselves (they covered their faces) and went back to the forest.

But Kachalla was the only person that did not cover his face.

After that, we turned back to the military checkpoint. Musa stopped there and gave some money to the military men.

From there, we started our journey to Sokoto, he said.

Planning to buy vehicles from Cotonou

ABC said on their way, Musa told them that he and Sani Lawal would accompany him to Cotonou in Benin Republic to buy a Peugeot 406 car.

He said Musa told them they would go by flight.

He told us that we would go to Lagos first before going to Cotonou.

The two of us agreed that there is no problem since we are going by flight. After 6 p.m., we arrived in Sokoto and went to Musas house directly.

After eating food in Musas house, I went to my house. I left Musa in his house together with Sani Lawal because Lawal used to sleep in Musas house, he said.

He said Musa called him after some days and when he got there, he met him together with Sani in his parlour.

He said Musa told him he would be going to the Old Market to confirm the exchange rate naira to CFA.

After he called, he said it was expensive.

He then called Ilela, a border town between Nigeria and Niger Republic. He said the price there was cheaper than the Old Market price.

He called one of his nephews, Abdulmalik, who stays in the house.

He told Abdulmalik that he would send him to Ilela and that he would give him someones number so that when he gets there, he should call him.

Musa went to his room and brought the money that he received from Kachalla, he said.

When the prosecuting lawyer asked him the currency of the money, he said it was in naira.

He did not tell us the amount of the money. He gave Abdulmalik the money and transport fare for him to go to Ilela.

From there, I wanted to go home; and he gave me N20, 000 that I should go and buy food.

I didnt know when Abdulmalik came back from Ilela, he said.

The witness said Mr Musa called him and told him that they would be going to Cotonou on Friday and that the naira had been converted to CFA.

The trip to Cotonou

He said Mr Musa, however, told him that they would be going by road because the flight was expensive.

Musa called Aminu (7th defendant), his elder brother, because Aminu used to go to Cotonou all the time.

Aminu came from Kamarawa to Sokoto. In the morning when we were going to Cotounu, we went to where we usually got cars to Kamba Local Government Area in Kebbi State.

He said he, Messrs Musa, Aminu (7th defendant) and Sani (8th defendant) went together.

When we arrived in Kamba, we arrived at a village called Doli Kaila. From Doli, Kaila, we entered a canoe to Lolo in Benin Republic.

From there we chartered a car to Malabe, from Malabe, Musa Chartered a car to Cotonou directly.

We arrived at Cotonou around 9 p.m. We went and looked for a hotel. Musa told the driver that we would hire his car back to Malabe when going back to Sokoto.

That night, Aminu, elder brother to Musa, called one agent. In the morning, the agent came. We rode on a motorcycle to where they sell the cars.

We went there to check the 406 ash colour car. We went to the owner of the car. He was Lebanese.

They agreed to sell the car at 1.8 million CFA. The Lebanese gave us 200 as our shares.

I, Sani Lawal, and Amina Muhammed shared the money, he said.

Going for gun truck

The witness said Mr Musa then asked the agent where they could get a gun truck, also called Koke or Buffalo.

We were taken to a place where the car was sold.

We saw the car (gun truck). We asked for the price, and we were told the price was 25 million CFA. Musa told us that it was too expensive, so we couldnt buy it.

Musa asked Aminu to call one of his friends so that they do business together to ask him where we could get the car.

That person, I didnt know him, told Aminu that we could get the car in Libya.

That Libya car has a serial number, so that Nigerian Customs (officers) dont allow such a car (gun truck) to enter Nigeria when they see it, the witness said.

Desperate search for gun truck to Niger Republic

He, however, said Mr Aminus friend told them that they could get new gun truck in Gaya, Niger Republic.

All these discussions happened in Cotonou before we came back, he said.

According to him, Mr Musa called Mr Aminu, his elder brother, to call somebody that could drive the 406 car to Gaya, and from Gaya to Nigeria.

The lawyer asked the witness to tell the court what happened in Niger Republic.

He said, We arrived there on Sunday and it was a work=-free day. When we entered, we saw the cars (gun trucks), many in Gaya, Niger Republic.

He said Musa called someone they did not know.

He met us at Malabe and we went to Gaya together.

Musa entered the front seat of the car, I, Sani Lawal and Aminu entered the back seat.

They called the owner of the car. Musa and his elder brother and the person that took us there started discussing the price with the owner of the car.

They left me and Sani Lawal because they didnt want us to know the price of the car.

After they finished discussing about the car, Musa came to the car and took the money. He counted the money. The money was not complete, he said.

When Mr Kaswe asked if Mr Musa later bought the gun truck, the witness said: Yes, he bought the gun truck.

Delivering gun truck and celebration that followed

On how the gun truck was delivered to Mr Musa, the witness said, We left Aminu, Musas elder brother there, because he is the one that knows the road.

Aminu was the person that delivered the car to Nigeria, he said.

On what Mr Musa did with the gun truck when it arrived in Nigeria, the PW-1 said: He called me that I should come and escort him, that he wanted to go and greet his mother and he would also deliver the gun truck to Kachalla Halilu.

He said when they got to Kachalla Halilus camp at Sububu Forest, they (Kachalla and his boys) started shooting guns into the air in celebration mood.

They started shooting guns, that their car had arrived,

I was afraid, and Musa started laughing, wondering why I was afraid, and I told him that I was not used to hearing the sound of guns like this, he said.

When the lawyer asked him what happened next, the witness said the bandits started taking photographs with the gun truck.

They delivered the gun truck to him (Kachalla) and stood by the car (gun truck) to start snapping pictures, he said.

He said he took pictures with Kachalla Halilu, Musa and the gun truck.

Sani Lawal snapped pictures with Kachalla Halilu again; I snapped together with someone who I didnt even know.

After the photograph, we left the forest and went to Shinkarfi and entered a Hilux car to Sokoto.

On our way, Musa gave me N200, 000 and also gave Sani N200, 000, he said.

Arrest

When the lawyer asked him how he got to the police station when he got to Sokoto, the witness said: When we arrived in Sokoto, I went to my house and Musa went to his house and Sani Lawal went to Musas house.

After some months, I was told that Musa was arrested.

Musas wife called me and said Musa told her that I should switch off my phone before the police would come and arrest me.

On how he got to the police station, the witness said: In the morning, I reported myself to state CID, Sokoto Command. I went to the states CID Command, where I met a police man where I was investigated.

Trial judge, Mr Nwite, adjourned the matter until 23 and 26 May for cross examination and continuation of trial.

Charges

In the case filed on 16 December 2024, the federal government charged four defendants  Musa Muhammad Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor; Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma  with various terrorism offences. The Director, Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, M.B. Abubakar, signed the filing on behalf of the federal government.

Four others  Bashir Abdullahi, Mr Turji, Aminu Muhammad and Sani Lawal  said to be at large were charged in the case as the 3rd, the 6th, the 7th and the 8th defendants, respectively.

In count one, the prosecution alleged that Musa Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, aka Doctor; Bashir Abdullahi; Samuel Chinedu; Lucky Chukwuma; Bello Turji (at large); Aminu Muhammad (at large) and Sani Lawal (at large), conspired among themselves to commit the terror act.

They were alleged to have provided material services to terrorists groups led by Turji, Kachalla Halilu, Danbokolo, Lawali, Atarwatse, Buderi and others, by procuring and supplying illicit drugs, including penta injections and cannabis plants (aka indian hemp); food items; military and police uniforms, camouflage.

They were also alleged to have supplied boots, caps and building materials, including bags of cement, cover zinc, bags of nails, M.M. iron rod, etc., to terrorist camps in the forests located in Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna States.

The offence acts were said to be contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

In count four, the prosecution alleged that sometime in 2021 in Sokoto State, Kamarawa, Muhammad (at large) and Lawal (at large) aided and abetted the commission of acts of terrorism by acquiring a military gun truck from Libya and supplying same to a terrorist, Kachalla Halilu, at a cost of approximately N28.5 million .

They were alleged to have paid for the gun truck partly in cash and partly via electronic transfer.

The offences, the federal government said, were contrary to sections 8 (1) (b) and 18 (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013.

(NAN)

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The Kaduna State Police Command says there is no kidnapping gang within the police.

The commands spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, made this known in a statement on Friday in Kaduna.

The attention of the command has been drawn to Malam Nasir El Rufais statement on his X handle, wherein he alleged that one of his former Commissioners, Jafaru Sani, was abducted by what he referred to as Uba Sanis  kidnapping gang, which he claimed to be the police.

He said the former governor of Kaduna State further stated that Mr Sani was remanded in custody by a magistrate without any police First Information Report or charges by the State Ministry of Justice.

To put the records straight, there is no kidnapping gang within the Nigerian Police Force.

The Nigerian police is an institution created by the 1999 Constitution and the Police Act. These two statutes mandate it to maintain law and order.

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According to him, in the discharge of this constitutional duty, the police have the legal, legitimate, and constitutional right to arrest and investigate anyone suspected of having committed an offence.

Individuals, corporate organisations and governments have the constitutional right to lodge formal complaints to the police.

The police also have the mandate to investigate such allegations and when its believed that an offence has been committed, such matter will be prosecuted or referred to court.

Mr Hassan urged members of the public, especially individuals who have held positions of authority, to exercise caution and desist from malicious allegations against any security agency.

We urge individuals to always verify allegations before making public statements. Making unverified allegations against security agencies not only mislead the public but also has the potential of undermining law enforcement agencies.

Citizens are encouraged to seek legal redress if they feel aggrieved rather than resort to inflammatory comments that will heat up the polity, Mr Hassan stated.

(NAN)

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The police in Gombe have confirmed that a 16-year-old girl, Maryam Samuel, committed suicide at Kaltungo in Kaltungo Local Government Area of the state.

The police spokesperson in the state, Buhari Abdullahi, who confirmed the incident on Saturday in Gombe, said the girl committed suicide by hanging on a tree.

He said the incident occurred on Friday, hours after the deceased left home to fetch firewood.

On Friday, at about 9 a.m., a case of suicide was reported at Kaltungo Divisional Headquarters by the village head of Kalarin.

The deceased, later identified as Maryam Samuel, 16 years old from Kalarin ward, was seen hanged with rope on a tree at Kalarin mountain without any marks of violence found on her body, he said.

Mr Abdullahi said the corpse had been deposited at the General Hospital Kaltungo.

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He said that preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased left home on Thursday to fetch firewood from the nearby bush, adding that further investigation would unravel the root cause of the unfortunate incident.

However, a source at the deceaseds family, who pleaded anonymity, alleged that the girl was pregnant by her boyfriend, a development which enraged her parents.

The source said the girl was discovered to have been visiting her lover and was revealed to be pregnant during an interaction between the parents and the boyfriend.

(NAN)

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President Bola Tinubu says he fully understands what Nigerians are going through but that the present economic reform is necessary to build a resilient country and guarantee the future of children.

President Tinubu said this when he received the organisers of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday.

Yes, removing the fuel subsidy was hard, tough for me, but its a hard choice that Nigeria must face. We are not going to bankrupt our country.

We were spending the investment of the future of our children yet unborn; we were spending their rights, and poverty has no religious basis.

Theres no religious colouration, no identity. It affects all, and we must fight it together, the president emphasised.

On the request to return mission schools that governments had taken over, Mr Tinubu said such schools were subnational entities, not owned by the federal government.

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Ive been a good example as the governor of Lagos State. I returned all the mission schools, he said.

The president commended the Catholic bodys commitment to education and healthcare.

He added that he set up NELFUND to ensure that no student dropped out of school due to lack of funds for tuition fees, and promised to look at ways to help students of private institutions that NELFUND did not cover.

Mr Tinubu noted that the security agencies were already curtailing the nations insecurity, stressing that adherents of all religions felt the impact of the efforts.

He highlighted the competition among operators in the petroleum sector, the bountiful harvest enjoyed by farmers, and the lower prices of commodities, adding that investments were flowing into the country.

There is hope; people are coming in to invest. They are saying good things about Nigeria. I am very proud of that.

Most Reverend Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, the Archbishop of Owerri and the CBCN President, who led the delegation of 20 Bishops from across the country, said they were at the State House to congratulate President Tinubu on his victory at the polls.

Your governments policy mantra is anchored on the principles of Renewed Hope.

In this regard, we are pleased to inform you that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has declared this year as the year of hope, the Jubilee Year of Hope, a theme we adopted for our conference.

We came with the final fruits of our deliberations and will share them with you, said Mr Ugorji.

He stated that the removal of fuel subsidies had undoubtedly affected the people and commended the tax reform initiative, which he believes will generate, in the long run, more resources for advancing the common good.

He acknowledged the efforts of security agencies to curtail insecurity in the land.

He called for more concerted efforts to rekindle hope and inspire confidence in the hearts of our people.

The bishops called for a well-defined vision of religion as a force for moral integrity and patriotic unity without necessarily infringing on individuals fundamental rights.

According to them, efforts should be made to ensure that religious practice in Nigeria fosters unity rather than division.

On religious pilgrimages, the body said that the government should hands-off sponsorship to curtail waste and corruption.

The government should allow religious groups to take full responsibility for organising pilgrimages.

In their current structure, the national and state pilgrims boards serve neither their adherents nor the broader interest of the nation.

Youre undoubtedly aware of the instances of corruption that have led to the removal of some board executives to ensure greater efficiency and accountability.

We would propose that public funds be redirected towards pressing national needs, the CBCN President said.

Mohammed Idris, the minister of Information and National Orientation, who was also at the event, recalled his attendance at the Charismatic Bishop Conference in 2024.

He emphasised the need for the nation to remain together, to be united, to be focused, and to maintain support for the government, even in the face of temporary hardship.

Mr Mohammed said security had greatly improved in the nation.

In 2023, I know how difficult it was to move from Abuja to Kaduna; it is almost impossible just to take your car, fuel it, and begin to go on that road.

Today, this is not the case. We know that farmers used to find it extremely difficult to go to the farms.

We know that this has not completely gone away, but it is a reality that today, no one asks questions to move from Abuja to Kaduna or any part of the North.

He said the national value charter that the president championed in his 2025 New Year message would soon be launched to ensure that Nigerians came together to reclaim lost values.

According to him, the National Orientation Agency is working to ensure that both religions teach the Bible and the Quran in schools and the return of civic education.

Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, also attended the event.

(NAN)

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The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has called on the National Assembly to halt the passing of bills for the establishment of new universities.

Speaking at the ministerial briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Mr Alausa bemoaned the proliferation of universities while the existing institutions struggle with funding challenges.

I want to use this opportunity to talk to our legislators, members of the National Assembly, please we need to stop this flood gate; they are passing a lot of bills he said.

Today, I can tell you that there are almost 200 bills in the national assembly for new universities to open. We cant continue like this. Even the ones we have, we dont have enough infrastructure there. The capacity for our universities to admit is not there. What we need to do now is to rebuild the capacity so that we can offer more viable courses to our citizens.

The minister said the government is becoming over burdened with funding of the new universities being introduced.

He, therefore, advocated for the standardisation of existing universities rather than establishing new ones.

What we now need to do is to now begin to mobilise more resources to develop infrastructures; more engineering workshops, build laboratories, recruit international standards teachers so that we can begin to get these universities to develop to deliver high quality education that weve been known for as a country, he added.

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Mr Alausa explained that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) grants to universities also reduces per institution as more universities are established and thats why we have to stop this deluge of just opening universities.

He said President Bola Tinubu has approved a tentative plan and that his ministry is working on a document to address the proliferation of universities.

We have a clear plan. The president has given tentative approval. We are working on a document to address that, he said.

Proliferation amid funding challenges

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Mr Tinubus administration established 12 tertiary institutions including eight universities in less than two years despite funding challenges crippling existing ones.

In the early days of his administration, Mr Tinubu-led federal government postponed the take-off of some federal universities approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari, over funding concerns.

However, his government has gone ahead to establish more universities, polytechnics and colleges of education without providing an alternative source of funding.

Nigeria currently has 64 federal universities, 67 state universities and 148 private universities.

The government recently placed a temporary ban on the establishment of new private universities, citing the need for a comprehensive review of regulatory guidelines.

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The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has outlined strategies and reforms to tackle Nigerias learning poverty and out-of-school crisis under President Bola Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda.

At the 2025 Ministerial Briefing on Thursday in Abuja, Mr Alausa described Nigerias education crisis as a major obstacle to national development.

He said 45 million Nigerians are learning poor, unable to read age-appropriate texts and that the country has the second-highest number of out-of-school children worldwide.

We need to know our problems so that we can solve them. To clearly and meticulously address this problem, 50 million people are out of school, and 50 per cent of them have never been enrolled. Five per cent of them are dropouts, he said.

To tackle these challenges, he noted that the government is implementing a three-pillar approach: equitable access to basic education, improved learning outcomes, and stronger governance in the education sector.

Bridging the access gap

Mr Alausa emphasised that beyond enrollment, the focus is on equipping children with foundational literacy, numeracy, and life skills.

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He noted that a key intervention is the expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

He added that under the plans, young Nigerians will receive hands-on training in CNG conversion and maintenance, solar technology, electric vehicle assembly, mechanised farming, and livestock production.

We are not going to be training people arbitrarily. We have mapped industries to vocational education centres to ensure we are providing the right skills for the job market, he said.

He added that the government will pay stipends and accommodation for students, fund training centres, and offer entrepreneurial grants to graduates in order to encourage participation.

We want to create a new value chain in technical and vocational education. We are ensuring that these training schools have the resources to build workshops, hire teachers, and expand infrastructure, he said.

Improving learning outcomes

Beyond expanding access, Mr Alausa said Nigeria must enhance the quality of education to prepare students for a knowledge-based economy.

He noted that one major reform is quadrupling admissions into medical schools by 2027, focusing on disciplines such as medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and dentistry.

Today, we dont have enough nurses in the country. Even if we train two million nurses, there are still job opportunities for them, both at home and abroad, he said.

He said in order to support this initiative, funding will be directed to 18 selected schools across the six geopolitical zones, investments will go into upgrading classrooms, laboratories, and student accommodations to increase enrollment capacity.

We are also building world-class simulation labs in six medical schools. This will help us expand training capacity without compromising quality, he said.

Mr Alausa also announced the expansion of nursing and community health training programmes through new monotechnic nationwide.

READ ALSO: Education Minister urges National Assembly to halt new university bills

Data and digitalisation

The minister stressed that effective governance is critical to ensuring these reforms succeed.

He noted that the ministry is developing the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, a digital platform that will house data from primary to tertiary education levels.

We are working closely with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, as well as NITDA, to roll out a unified digital infrastructure. This will allow us to track educational progress in real-time and make data-driven decisions, he said.

He also highlighted enhanced collaboration with state governments and private sector players to drive sustainable reforms.

Mr Alausa added that the ministry has engaged the Nigerian Governors Forum and revived the State Commissioners of Education Forum.

He said the goal is to align federal and state policies for a more cohesive education system.

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In early 1995, Bisi Abidoye attended the Sunday service of a church in Abuja for the first time. The officiating minister asked the first-timers to stand up for recognition and then ushered them to new seats at the front. Alas! When he returned to his original seat at the end of the service, he discovered that his bag was missing.

I think the thief was attracted to the bag itself. It was a beautiful bag I bought during a trip to South Africa, Mr Abidoye recounted the event more than 30 years later.

While members of the church were stunned by the audacity of the theft in the house of God, Mr Abidoye had something different to worry about. Inside the stolen bag was a 840,000 bank draft drawn in the name of an estate agent for a property his company had agreed to lease. Mr Abidoye, a senior journalist, had travelled to the companys headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State, to collect the bank draft and was scheduled to conclude the transaction with the agent the following Monday.

After all efforts at the church to trace the bag failed, Mr Abidoye rushed off to his office to call his headquarters so they could alert the issuing banks branch in Ibadan the next day to flag the draft and prevent it from being cashed at any of its branches.

The bank took three months to reissue the draft, during which it held on to the 840,000.

When you compare the banking system now, you marvel at the progress that has been made. No one needs to travel to cash a cheque or a bank draft anymore. You can transfer millions on your phone from your bedroom, and the beneficiary receives it instantly. That would have sounded like fiction to anyone in 1995, Mr Abidoye said during an interview in his office.

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The journalists experience highlights what people endured in the past. Money transfers used to be a Herculean task, and there are countless stories similar to his.

The journey so far

Have you ever wondered how you can send money from one account to another in a separate bank within seconds?

In 2024 alone, over 12 billion instant money transfers were completed in Nigeriathe highest volume on the African continent.

To put this in context, banks, fintech companies, mobile money operators, and others process over 12 billion instant transfers, with most transactions completed in seconds.

But it was not always this way. Years ago in Nigeria, such transactions would have taken days for the recipient to receive the money.

How did Nigerias banking system move from a two-to-three-day transfer process to the current system of instant transfers within seconds? The answer lies in the NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) system, a payment service used by banks and other financial institutions.

What is NIBSS?

The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS) was incorporated in 1993, and owned by all licensed banks, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It commenced operations in June 1994. The Bankers Committee needed a settlement house to centralise payment and settlement activities among banks and other financial institutions.

When NIBSS started, it managed cheque payments and bank settlements manually.

In 2011, NIBSS launched the NIBSS Instant Payments (NIP), a digital clearing system that operates in real time. NIP is an account-based, online, real-time Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) platform that enables financial institutions to provide instant fund transfer services to their customers through electronic channels.

Before then, several events in the banking sector facilitated the creation and adoption of NIP. After the 2005 bank recapitalisation, the CBN appointed NIBSS as the National Central Switch (NCS), with the mandate to link all CBN-licensed banks, switches, and mobile money operators in Nigeria.

A major event also occurred in the banking sector in 2010 when the CBN made it mandatory for banks to use a uniform account number system.

In August 2010, the CBN introduced the Nigeria Uniform Bank Account Number (NUBAN) scheme, a 10-digit account numbering system. Many of these reforms laid the foundation for introducing the NIP system.

To understand NIP, it is important to examine how money transfers worked before its introduction.

Money transfers before NIP

In the past, to transfer money from Bank A to Bank B, a customer had to physically visit a bank to fill out forms. When the transfer was executed, the money did not move automatically.

To reconcile the transaction, the sending and receiving banks had to physically go to the NIBSS, which served as the clearing house.

Clearing is the process of sending, reconciling, and confirming payment requests, while settlement is the process of making the funds available to the recipient.

Essentially, banks had to settle payments manually on their ledgers.

That process used to take a day or two. When you initiated a transfer, the senders account would be debited, but the beneficiary wouldnt get the money immediately. The transaction would only be completed once the banks had settled at the NIBSS, said Hakeem Abdulkareem, a tech expert who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES.

At a point, the NIBSS had to create two settlement sessionsmorning and afternoon. So customers had to time their transfers carefully to ensure they were processed within the designated session.

Over time, efforts were made to digitise the process. The CBN introduced the Central Inter-Bank Funds Transfer Service (CIFTS) and the Real-Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS). However, these platforms were expensive and catered to only a select few.

The NIBSS Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) was introduced in 2004, but a transaction took about 24 hours to complete.

Everything changed with the introduction of NIP in 2011. This platform serves as a digital clearinghouse that enables banks to transfer money across institutions in real time, completing transactions in less than a minute.

The platform is not just a digital clearing house but a technology platform on which most banks now build their mobile apps.

When a bank transfer is initiated through NIP, the request is sent instantly to the recipients bank, and funds become available almost immediately. It performs the traditional clearing and settlement functions within seconds.

Heres how it works: When a transfer of 1,000 is initiated from Bank A, the bank sends a signal to the NIP platform, providing details such as the amount, the beneficiarys account, and the receiving bank.

The NIP platform, which hosts a digital ledger for all banks, records the transaction as a debit for Bank A and a credit for Bank B. Once this is noted, Bank B receives the notification and instantly credits the beneficiarys account. The process typically takes less than a minute, with clearing and settlement completed later. It is not as if money is physically transported between banks in bullion vans.

This transaction is similar to the old method, except that it is conducted in real-time at a much faster pace. It also serves as a trusted platform.

According to a report by AfricaNenda in 2022, NIBSS operates a central processing hubthe Nigerian Central Switchwhich connects directly to all commercial banks, microfinance banks, and mobile money operators (MMOs) in Nigeria. Direct participants consist of banks, while indirect participants include microfinance banks (MFBs), mobile network operators (MNOs), and super agents.

Transactions are settled in batches on a deferred net basis four times per day via the NIBSS platform.

Here comes the Moniepoint, OPay, and Others

While commercial banks have significantly improved the instant payment system, fintech companies have also developed solutions that have made transfers even faster.

On many fintech platforms, beneficiaries receive transfers within seconds, even when transactions involve multiple parties.

Across Nigeria, even market traders now accept transfers, a trend that gained momentum during the Naira scarcity of 2022/2023, when businesses needed instant payment solutions without delays. Several fintech firms provided alternatives faster than most commercial banks.

As stated earlier, fintech companies operating as Payment Service Banks (PSBs) also have access to NIP but often prefer to use Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)software that enables seamless real-time transactions between financial institutions.

The API used by PSB also belongs to the NIBSS. Here is how it works: most PSBs have accounts in all commercial banks and other PSBs.

When a customer transfers money from Bank A to Bank B, the funds do not physically move between banks. Instead, Payment Service Banks (PSBs) are crucial in the process.

READ ALSO: Allegations of fraud unfounded and false

Since PSBs already hold accounts in all commercial banks, the transaction is handled internally through an API. When the transfer is initiated, the senders account in Bank A is debited, and the corresponding amount is credited to the PSBs account within the same bank. The API then instructs Bank B to credit the beneficiary from the PSBs account in that bank.

This process occurs within seconds. Because the funds remain within the same banking system rather than moving between banks, there is no need for traditional clearing and settlement.

The PSBs are registered with the CBN, and section 6.6 of the PSB guidelines mandates a 5 billion minimum deposit to guarantee operations.

With these innovations, money transfers in Nigeria have been transformed. Had Mr Abidoyes incident occurred in 2025, multiple trips to the bank would have been unnecessaryone instant transfer would have solved the problem.

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday said it has arrested a suspect for allegedly defrauding foreign companies of thousands of dollars.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this at a news conference in Lagos.

Mrs Adeyeye said the suspect, the leader of a syndicate, was arrested on 7 February at Ogbor Hill, Aba in Abia State.

She said the case was reported by Thani Almaeeni Trading Group, Abu Dhabi, UAE, following their application to register Dry Fish (Seafood).

She noted that the company and other companies from various countries fell victim to the suspect and his gang.

A petition from Thani Almaeeni Trading Group to NAFDAC reported possible impersonation by the fraudster as NAFDACs official, using the agencys letterhead and name, she said.

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The syndicate, headed by the suspect, had duped the company and other foreign companies of thousands of dollars and millions of naira. The suspect, whose level of education is SSCE, deals in clothing materials and is presently in our custody and also cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

Syndicate operation

According to the NAFDAC boss, the syndicate operates in a three-pronged scheme involving the buyer, bank and lawyer.

She explained that investigations revealed that the syndicate operated 15 domiciliary and five local accounts in seven Nigerian banks.

According to her, the account in one of the banks had a Bank Verification Number (BVN) that is being used by the suspect and BVN of another suspect.

Initially, the buyer contacts foreign companies to purchase and import goods into Nigeria and subsequently, they introduced these companies to any of these banks for payment, she said.

The bank then declares that due to the lack of NAFDAC approval, the foreign companies are unable to export to Nigeria. Afterwards, a legal counsel is introduced to the companies, claiming that they can obtain NAFDAC Certificate through the lawyer.

The lawyer then receives payments in stages and issues fraudulent receipts and counterfeit of NAFDAC certificates to the companies, she said.

Mrs Adeyeye added that the tentative cumulative inflow from different victims into the domiciliary accounts in Nigeria was estimated to be over $950,000.

She added that $450,000 was the estimated inflow into accounts held offshore in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

Mrs Adeyeye further disclosed that the unsuspecting foreigners were still sending money into the accounts, noting that $75,000 was received in one of the domiciliary accounts, before the news conference.

She revealed that one of the documents allegedly used by the syndicate to receive money from the companies was purportedly signed by a former director, who had retired a year earlier as director-general, dated 3 December, 2024.

According to her, some of the companies scammed by the syndicate included Vicky Sales Assistant, Japan Long Tie (China) Co Limited, 245 Jingliu Road, Jinan, China for importation of Condom and BEYOND- Korea 711, Julie Rivers DR. USA.

Also scammed were Aquaforest SP, Brzesko, Poland for registration and importation of drinks and vegetable oil, Vincenzo Frecentese CEO, Nomea srl for registration of products with NAFDAC.

She also listed Tianyan Filter Cloth Co. Ltd, Gonghexin Road, Jingan District, Shanghai, China and Siam

Canadian China Ltd, Frozen Onion Spices, Zhanjiang Guangdong, China, as victims.

READ ALSO: Education Minister urges National Assembly to halt new university bills

She added that the case would be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigations.

Mrs Adeyeye said the agency has strengthened activities of its investigation and enforcement, as well as the Federal Task Force, by reconstituting and changing its architecture.

The agencys boss, however, urged the public to desist from transacting business with any company parading itself as a consulting firm for registration of products in NAFDAC.

The public is advised to visit https://registration.nafdac.gov.ng/ for products registration and verification of any suspected registered NAFDAC regulated product, she said.

(NAN)

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. One of the main initiatives is the creation of a large database in the Azerbaijani language, which will serve as the foundation for developing artificial intelligence (AI), Fariz Jafarov, Executive Director of the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR), told reporters, Trend reports.

In his statement to the media on the sidelines of the XII Global Baku Forum, Jafarov emphasized that the structure he represents is working on over 52 projects related to technological solutions.

"Our collaboration with the World Economic Forum continues. There are more than twenty centers of the Fourth Industrial Revolution worldwide. We study their experiences, offer support to stakeholders in Azerbaijan, and share the knowledge gained. We assist universities, entrepreneurs, and government institutions with new technological solutions. For example, an AI project has already been implemented in the Ministry of Economy's call center," said Fariz Jafarov.

The XII Global Baku Forum will be held from March 13 through 15 this year under the motto Rethinking the World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities.

The forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

The event will discuss key global issues such as geopolitical changes, multilateralism, global health crisis, reconstruction and regional stability of the world, COP29, and others.

The forum will bring together more than 300 world leaders from more than 60 countries, including more than 25 former presidents, more than 15 former prime ministers, about 10 heads of UN and international agencies, and more than 25 former ministers and deputy ministers.

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The US government under President Donald Trump is considering a new travel ban targeting 22 African countries and 21 others.

However, Nigeria is not on the list.

This proposed ban is expected to be broader than the restrictions imposed during President Trumps first term.

New York Times reported Friday that US diplomatic and security officials developed the draft list of 43 countries, some of which were included in the travel ban imposed during President Trumps first administration. The draft suggests a red list of 11 countries, an orange list of 10 countries, and a yellow list of 22 countries.

Ccitizens of countries on the red list would be flatly barred from entering the United States.

Those whose countries on the orange list will face travel restrictions. Affluent business travellers from such countries might be granted entry in these cases, but individuals arriving on immigrant or tourist visas would be denied access.

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Countries on the yellow list will be given a 60-day window to address concerns before a verdict is reached.

Out of the 43 countries, 22 are African nations.

The red list has three African countries  Libya, Somalia, and Sudan. The rest of the countries from other continents on the red list are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

There are also three African countries  Eritrea, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan  on the orange list. The rest are Belarus, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, and Turkmenistan.

With 16 counties, Africa dominates the yellow list. The 16 African countries on the yellow list are Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, and Zimbabwe. The remaining six countries on the list are Antigua and Barbuda, Cambodia, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and Vanuatu.

The New York Times report, citing an official speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that the list could be changed as it has yet to be approved by the administration.

Previous Travel Ban

President Trump sanctioned some countries on the draft red and orange lists in his first-term travel bans.

Additionally, the new countries on the list share characteristics with the previous listsgenerally Muslim-majority or otherwise non-white, developing countries.

Nigeria was not included in the initial travel ban implemented under Mr Trumps first administration. The ban had targeted seven predominantly Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

Subsequent revisions to the travel ban occurred, but Nigeria was not affected until 2020, when the administration announced an expansion of the travel restrictions to include Nigeria and five additional countries.

This expansion specifically targeted immigrant visas, restricting permanent residency applications from the country.

The ban was reversed in 2021 under Joe Bidens administration.

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Airstrikes by the Nigerian militarys Operation Fansan Yamma have killed over 20 terrorists at their hideouts in Unguwar Goga Hill-Forest in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Deputy Director, Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Kabiru Ali, on Saturday in Abuja.

Mr Ali, a NAF group captain, said the airstrikes were executed in the early hours of Thursday following actionable intelligence.

He said the operation destroyed the fortified camps of notorious bandit kingpins, Gero (Alhaji) and Alhaji Riga; and caused additional casualties in the surrounding rocky hills.

According to him, the assessment of the full extent of the damage was still ongoing.

Riga and Gero were key enablers of banditry, sheltering terrorist elements responsible for relentless ambushes along the Funtua-Gusau Road, particularly between Yankara and Sheme villages.

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Their elimination marks a major breakthrough in the ongoing military campaign to restore peace in the North-West.

The NAF, in coordination with ground forces, remains relentless in its mission to eradicate all threats and dismantle bandit strongholds, he said.

(NAN)

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In the heart of Nigerias Niger Delta, where the air is thick with the acrid smell of burning gas and the night sky is illuminated by the eerie glow of perpetual flares, communities are living a nightmare.

This nightmare, marked by environmental devastation, health crises, and economic hardship, was at the centre of discussions during a hybrid workshop that brought together stakeholders from oil and gas communities across the region.

Themed; Capacity-Building Sessions on Methane Emissions Reduction for Fenceline Communities, the workshop was organised by Policy Alert, in collaboration with the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) and We The People, in Port Harcourt, River State capital, on Wednesday.

For the communities, the workshop was not just a platform for dialogue but a call to action against the invisible yet deadly threat of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that continues to wreak havoc on their land and people.

Everyone in this hall is connected by common fabric and that is the fact that we either live, were born or work with communities that are impacted by the fallout of oil and gas extraction in our backyards. And that being the case, we are first-line observers and even very well impacted by the kind of contradictions that we have seen in the region over the past few decades, said Tijah Bolton, the Policy Alerts Executive Director.

Mr Bolton explained that for decades, weak and captured regulatory practices and corporate actions have turned the Niger Delta into a veritable crime scene, noting that very few people at the community level know about the impacts of methane emissions.

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Yet methane emissions constitute a huge proportion of the Green House Gas components of gas flare and other fallouts of extractive activities, he noted.

Methane  The invisible threat

Greenhouse gases drive climate change, and methane is one of the most significant contributors. Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon, comprising one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. It is colourless, odourless, tasteless, and highly flammable, making it both useful and dangerous.

What makes methane unique is its exceptional ability to trap heat in the atmosphere. Unlike other greenhouse gases, methane is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide, making it a critical target in the fight against global warming.

It traps heat, leading to rising global temperatures, melting ice caps, and rising sea levels. These changes threaten coastal cities like Lagos and Bayelsa, where rising ocean levels could displace millions of people.

For decades, global efforts to combat pollution have focused on carbon dioxide. However, as the world began to understand methanes disproportionate impact on global warming, attention shifted to this potent gas. While carbon dioxide remains a long-term threat, methanes short-term impact is far more severe. Major sources of methane include agriculture and land use, but in the Niger Delta, the primary concern is oil and gas activities.

The oil and gas sector is one of the largest industrial contributors to methane emissions and gas flaring, in particular, releases methane into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and directly harming local populations.

In Nigeria, methane is a major component of natural gas, however, the extraction and flaring of methane during oil and gas operations have had devastating consequences, particularly in the Niger Delta. The industry flares over 5 billion cubic meters of gas annually, and unburned methane escapes into the atmosphere, along with other harmful pollutants.

For the people of the Niger Delta, the impact of methane emissions is not abstract, it is a daily reality. The unsafe practice of gas flaring is mostly done close to peoples homes, farms and schools. Associated consequences include respiratory illnesses, failing crops, and dying fish and these communities have lived with the consequences for generations.

Beyond the human cost, methane emissions also cause biodiversity loss which affects fisheries, food security, and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Jude Samuelson, the Head of Environment at Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), in his presentation, noted that mangrove forests are increasingly affected by frequent erosion due to rising sea levels.

He explained that temperature changes also disrupt marine ecosystems, stating that many aquatic species have specific temperature ranges in which they thrive. However, when ocean temperatures rise sharply, these species are forced to migrate, often becoming stranded and dying. This has contributed to a progressive decline in aquatic life, posing a significant threat to local livelihoods and biodiversity.

The broken promises

For Tengi George-Ikoli, Senior Officer and lead of the NRGI programme in Nigeria, the workshop provided the opportunity to explore how oil and gas extraction has affected the communities historically and most importantly, how recent decisions around energy transition, betting big on gas for domestic utilisation, gas for power and non-power uses, clean cooking and transport, impact these communities.

She said: Gas flaring is not a new issue for oil and gas communities. Some of you can see these flares from your homes. The government has proposed many targets over the years to reduce and eliminate gas flaring without success.

Ms George-Ikoli noted that despite Nigerias commitments to the Global Methane Pledge and its goal to reduce methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, progress has been slow.

In 1984, the government set an initial ban to eliminate routine gas flaring. In 2010, a fresh deadline was set to end routine gas flaring in alignment with the National Gas Master Plan. As part of Nigerias commitment to the World Banks Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative, the country aimed for a Zero Routine Flaring Target by 2020.

According to her, more has to be done to hold the government accountable for its commitments. Methane emissions impact on the economy, environmental impacts, air pollution, health impacts, respiratory issues and otherwise should all be minimised with the government holding to its global and national commitments.

The role of traditional rulers

Reducing methane emissions is not just an environmental imperative, it is a matter of survival for communities on the frontlines of climate change. It is a fight for health, livelihoods, and a sustainable future.

Because gas flaring occurs mostly at the frontline communities, traditional leaders, who play a critical role in the survival of their communities, remain unaware of the full extent of the environmental and social challenges caused by oil and gas activities.

The challenges faced by traditional leaders are multifaceted, as noted by the Royal Highness, the Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro, Oba Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, whose community has persistently suffered devastating losses of its homes and land to severe coastal erosion.

Mr Ojagbohunmi said: Many traditional leaders remain uninformed about the deeper issues affecting their communities. Instead, discussions often revolve around short-term relief efforts, such as distributing bags of rice from oil companies, rather than advocating for corporate accountability and sustainable environmental practices.

There are also forces at play such as contracts, intimidation, and other pressures that prevent these critical issues from being prioritised in official meetings.

To empower traditional leaders, the monarch said Civil Society Organisations must actively engage them, offering support and encouragement. Many leaders have been silenced, either through economic incentives or direct threats, making it crucial for advocacy groups to bridge this gap.

Civil society must find ways to bring traditional leaders out of the comfort of their palaces and into critical discussions, or take the conversation to them, he emphasised

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One of the greatest legacy of the State-driven development of the 1960s to the early 1980s was that it took education, at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, seriously. Nigerian universities competed with the best universities in Western Europe, North America and Asia. They attracted the best scholars all over Africa and the world, who also contributed to Nigerias development.

Thus, when Nigeria witnessed its first major post-colonial economic crisis in the early 1980s, the universities and other tertiary institutions were hotbeds of intense debates on the causes of, and solutions to, the economic crisis. A forefront participant in this debate was the Sierra Leonean Dr Yusuf Bangura, who taught and researched in the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Mainstream economists, largely comprising of Keynesians and monetarists, recommended high-level support for the manufacturing sector and increase in government expenditures, as well as regulation of money supply, curtailment of government expenditures, and drastic reduction of public borrowings, etc.

Radicals like Dr Yusuf Bala Usman and Balarabe Musa recommended the complete elimination of the contract system, or, at best, a rationalised contract system. They also demanded the nationalisation of the commanding heights of the economy, optimum utilisation of raw materials, and national/state control of the economy, etc.

Right-wingers like Generals Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon, stood for a proper management of the economy, a rationalised contract system, war against discipline and corruption, as well as decisive confrontation with the forces opposed to governments measures to resolve the crisis.

Since 1984, various government have implemented these and other recommendations, including the use of local raw materials, sectoral linkages, rationalisation of imports, control of public expenditures, foreign exchange control, rationalised contracts system, devaluation, imports control, cuts in social services and welfare, removal of state subsidies, tax increases, etc., as measures to resolve the crisis.

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Bangura, in his 1984 article, Overcoming Some Basic Misconceptions of the Nigerian Economic Crisis foresaw the limitations and dangers of these recommendations. To him: anybody interested in finding out solutions to the crisis should subject the capitalist economy to a rigorous critique instead of isolating its parts. Besides, the recommendations only favoured the owners of capital, whereas the working peoples are most affected by the crisis.

Fourty-one years of implementing these recommendations, the State has only succeeded in antagonising and agonising the working people, empowering and enthroning the private sector, and producing a few people who are stupendously rich  with global business operations  and all sorts of scandalously rich lumpen politicians, without any productive base.

But for the working people, it has been massive unemployment, bastardization of the naira, collapse of social institutions, elimination of welfare services, elevation of poverty, the elimination of the middle classes, demobilisation of labour movement, abuse of human, civil and democratic rights, and enthronement of lumpen democracy, amongst others.

The mainstream economists recommendations were drawn largely from the the neoclassical works John Maynard Keynes, and/or monetarists like Milton Friedman. To Bangura, their entire methodology is empiricist; it places emphasis on consumer sovereignty and subjective factors like demand as prime determination of value, savings and investment ratio. By so doing, they ignore the roots of the social relationships, contradictions and struggles that informs the general movement of the economy and the character of savings and investments.

Also, they are fascinated with equilibrium in a world economy that has shown an incredible capacity for change; thereby ignoring the fundamental conflicts in production and the way in which the working class surplus is used to provide an income structures which is weighted against latter.

Further, they take a highly simplistic position on savings by maintaining that only the rich and powerful can save and invest, thus the encouragement given to them by government policies. By so doing, they ignore the struggles of the state and various arms of capital to control the wealth created by the working people.

By seeing economic crisis in simple statistical forces of oil gluts (low prices) and depressions (low demand), these economists ignore the forces that created the statistics and graphs. In so doing, they bury the forces creating the crisis and makes it difficult to hold any one responsible.

Most significantly, they stand for expanded capitalist accumulation as a solution to the crisis and yet blame the crisis on the working class, the source for the generation of surplus, even though this class does not control the state and social surplus.

Bangura equally criticised those left and right-wing forces, who argued that the economic crisis was caused by the specificity of mismanaged nature of the economy, the high level of indiscipline and corruption in the society and the proliferation of middlemen, the contract system and consultancy. While the radicals focused on contractocracy, and the right-wingers concentrated on indiscipline and mismanagement of the economy.

Bangura agreed that the Nigerian economy is among the most mismanaged in the world which has certainly made matters worst. Yet, he emphasised that: there can never be a perfectly managed capitalist economy that will be permanently crisis-free; for capitalism is a system of competitive centrally-planned autonomous corporate units in an anarchical environment.

He emphasised that corruption, looting, and illegal transactions surely aggravated the crisis, more so, as the looted funds are repatriated to the metropolitan economies for investment and squandering, and not used in the circuit of the reproduction of the local economy. But, underscored that these cannot on their own constitute the cause of the crisis. In any casecorruption is an integral part of the accumulation process, especially at its most primitive stage.

Thus, that while these problems and illegalities should and must be checked, so doing will never prevent the occurrences of economic crisis. For these problems, if anything, only show the contradiction between national and international systems of accumulation and the structure of production and exchange relations that tie the Nigerian economy to the world capitalist economy.

Bangura accepted that consultancy and contractocracy have been tremendously abused in Nigeria, but insisted that these, in themselves, were not responsible for crisis. Countries like United States, Western Europe, and Japan, where contracts and consultancy are rationalised and well-valued, periodically experience economic crises.

He maintained that contractocracy is at the heart of capitalism; it is a reflection of the complex and expanding nature of market relations. Therefore, the role of contractors and consultants in the crisis can only be understood when located within the context of the general dynamics of the world capitalist economy.

Banguras paper is a demand that attention must equally be paid to the repressive capitalist order by focusing on the concrete problems of the working people in their struggles against retrenchment, job insecurity, non-payment of salaries, and repressive labour and civil law, amongst others.

Further, it is a call for the proper management of the economy, rational valuation of contracts and consultancies, decisive confrontation of corrupt practices, outright looting, and the need to expand Nigerias low organic composition of capital.

But, most importantly, the paper is, a clarion call that the capitalist system which gives rise, nourish, reinforce, sustain and reproduce economic crises must be decisively confronted, dealt with, and qualitatively transformed to put people first over and above profit.

Ahmed Aminu-Ramatu Yusuf worked as deputy director, Cabinet Affairs Office, The Presidency, and retired as General Manager (Administration), Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NiMet). Email: [email protected]

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Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda has extended his warm felicitations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it marks its 70th anniversary.

In his congratulatory message, Governor Radda praised media practitioners for their vital role in Nigerias democracy and national development over the past seven decades.

For 70 years, the NUJ stood firm as a pillar of accountability and information dissemination in our nation. This milestone does not only celebrate longevity but also sustained commitment to the noble ideals of journalism, Mr Radda stated.

The Governor charged media professionals to embrace solution-oriented journalism to address Nigerias multi-pronged challenges.

While holding power accountable remains crucial, I encourage our esteemed journalists to dedicate more attention to solution journalism that spotlights viable pathways to resolving our national issues, he said.

Mr Radda also emphasised the importance of objectivity and balance in reporting, noting that responsible journalism strengthens democratic institutions and promotes national unity.

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Our administration recognises the indispensable role of a free press in good governance. We remain steadfastly committed to supporting the journalism profession in Katsina State and creating an enabling environment for media practitioners to thrive, he stressed.

Mr Radda further pledged to continue fostering a productive relationship between the government and the press based on mutual respect and the shared goal of building the future of Katsina State.

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The Katsina State Government says the winner of the Quranic recitation competition, Abdulsalam Rabiu-Faskari, his father and brother are still alive, but in the custody of their abductors.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Bala Salisu-Zango, on Friday in Katsina.

The victims were abducted two days ago on their way to Faskari from Katsina, after they were honoured by Governor Dikko Radda for Abdulsalams outstanding performance during the National Quranic recitation competition held in Kebbi.

Abdulsalam had said he would represent Nigeria in the recitation of the whole Quran at the forthcoming international edition of the competition.

The attention of Katsina state Government has been drawn to the recent media reports and condolence messages contained in a press statement signed by Special Advisor to Kebbi Governor on Media and Publicity.

It was to the effect that the kidnapped winner of National Quranic recitation competition, Hafizul Quran and ABU final year Medical student from Katsina State, Abdussalam Rabiu-Faskari was killed by his abductors.

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We appreciate the kind gesture, concern and compassion shown by the Kebbi Government over the unfortunate incident,

We, however, wish to state that the Quranic recitation competition winner, Rabiu-Faskari, his father and brother were really abducted by bandits.

But information reaching the government indicates that they are still alive and healthy in the custody of their abductors, he said.

Mr Salisu-Zango further said that as of Friday, their abductors were demanding a ransom of N30 million from their family.

The commissioner quoted Governor Radda as describing the kidnapping of the young talented student, alongside his father and brother, as unfortunate.

READ ALSO: Angry mob attack police constable in Akwa Ibom

My heart is with the victims, their family, relatives and friends, and we pray they safely regain freedom.

Government will take concrete actions to rescue and ensure the safe return of all the abducted victims, as rescue effort is being put in place, Mr Radda said.

The governor then urged the security agents to put all hands on deck to ensure the safe rescue of the victims.

Mr Radda reiterated the commitment of his administration to addressing the prevailing security challenges in the state.

He further called on the people to fervently pray for the safety and freedom of Abdulsalam and all others in the hands of the kidnappers.

(NAN)

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Neda Imasuen, a Nigerian-trained lawyer and senator, is yet to react to his being barred from practising law in the US, about a week after the Nigerian media broke the news.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Imasuen was disbarred from practising law in the US in 2010 following a petition from an American, Daphne Slyfield, who accused him of failing to represent him in a court case after he hired and paid him for it.

According to the document, Mr Slyfield had petitioned the Supreme Court of New York on the matter.

The Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts of the Court handled the matter.

The petitioner accused Mr Imasuen of professional misconduct.

George Friedman, as special referee, was referred to hear and report on the issues raised.

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After being served with the petition in July 2009, Mr Imasuen was asked to file a response within 20 days.

The committee had informed him that failure to file his response would compel it to deem the charges against him, as outlined in the petition, established.

The document said Mr Imasuen failed to respond to the petition within the permitted time or apply for an extension of time.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Mr Imasuen returned to Nigeria in 2010, the same year he was disbarred.

He would later work as a consultant for the European Unions State Reforming Institutional Programme, serving as the Jigawa State coordinator.

However, in 2023, Mr Imasuen, an indigene of Edo State, emerged as a senator representing Edo South District at Nigerias upper legislative chambers.

The senator is a member of the Labour Party, one of Nigerias opposition political parties.

The All Progressives Congress is the countrys ruling political party.

According to our findings, an attorney suspended or disbarred, or whose name was stricken from the Roll of Attorneys and Counselors-at-Law upon conviction of a felony, may apply to be reinstated to practice.

Such an application for reinstatement after disbarment or removal may not be made until the expiration of seven years from the entry of the order of disbarment.

It is unclear if Mr Imasuen applied for reinstatement after his disbarment. If he did not, his disbarment remains active.

Silence

The story of Mr Imasuens disbarment in the US has been trending in Nigeria since Sunday with many of the countrys media outlets- broadcast, print and digital media- reporting it.

Like other media outlets, PREMIUM TIMES contacted the senator multiple times without getting a response.

Our reporter, for instance, phoned Mr Imasuen on Sunday via his known mobile number and sent text messages, but did not get a response.

On Wednesday, we also phoned Mr Imasuen multiple times via another of his known mobile line. He did not respond to the calls.

A text message sent to the senators mobile line the same day was delivered to him, but he was yet to respond, days after.

On Thursday, our reporter also sent enquiries to the senator via his official email. But as of the time of filing this report, he was yet to respond.

Akpoti-Uduaghans suspension

Mr Imasuen, the chairperson of the Senate ethics committee, was involved in the recent suspension of the Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment.

After receiving a report from Senator Imasuen-led committee, the Senate, presided by Mr Akpabio, suspended Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged misconduct and refusal to comply with the chambers sitting arrangement during the plenary on 20 February.

Mr Akpabio referred the senators sexual harassment petition to the Senate ethics committee.

The chairperson of the committee, Mr Imasuen, ruled that the petition was dead on arrival and would not be entertained by the Senate.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. Cooperation and partnership between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan within the framework of the Middle Corridor are crucial, said former Uzbek Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov in an interview with Trend on the sidelines of the 12th Global Baku Forum.

"The strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan is built on a high level of mutual trust and the strong friendship between the leaders of both countries," he said.

He pointed to the joint textile project in Khankendi as a notable example of successful cooperation.

Norov also highlighted the key role of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan in improving infrastructure, particularly by developing ports in Aktau (Kazakhstan), Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan), Baku, and Alat (Azerbaijan).

"Uzbekistan is also focusing on the construction of ferries on the Caspian Sea, even though it doesn't have a direct border with it. This initiative demonstrates the country's commitment to participating in major transport projects," he added.

According to Norov, Central Asia is landlocked, and Uzbekistan, situated at the center of the region, is doubly so. For Uzbekistan, finding access to global seaports has always been a priority, shaping its foreign policy. This is why the Middle Corridor, as part of the historic Silk Road, holds immense significance. Activating it could restore the economic prosperity of countries along the route.

"The President of Uzbekistan has been working closely with neighboring countries, including Kyrgyzstan, and succeeded in convincing China to begin building the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. This railway will reduce the distance by 900 kilometers, allowing goods to reach Europe in just five to seven days," Norov explained.

He also mentioned that other countries, such as Georgia, will benefit from these projects. For the region to prosper, it is essential to fully implement all initiatives within the Middle Corridor, including the Zangezur Corridor, for the benefit of all countries involved.

"In order for the countries of the region to thrive, they need to build more roads and further develop their transportation infrastructure," Norov concluded.
LOS ANGELES, March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CASEKOO recently hosted an enchanting "Tarot and Tea" soiree in Sai Wan, Hong Kong, to celebrate the grand launch of its collaborative collection, The Luminous Enigma series. This exquisite line of four phone cases, crafted in partnership with COCORRINA and renowned Tarot Reader Peter, draws inspiration from the celestial symbolism of the Sun and Moon tarot cards. The event welcomed passersby with open arms, offering each guest a comforting cup of spiced apple cinnamon tea upon entering the park. While many attendees were newcomers to the world of tarot, they were captivated by the intricate designs of the phone cases and the mystical allure of tarot itself. CASEKOO also unveiled the stories behind the collection, sharing the profound insights and intentions the designers imbued into each piece, hoping to inspire those who carry these cases to connect with their deeper meanings.

The Helios and Celene cases were born from the breathtaking beauty of Kefalonia, an island that holds deep personal significance for Corina, the visionary designer behind COCORRINA. Each morning, she finds herself nourished by the Sun's radiant energy, feeling a harmonious connection with the natural world. By night, she is guided by the Moon's gentle glow and the vast expanse of the sky, navigating life's ebbs and flows with grace. Through these meticulously crafted cases, Corina invites consumers to experience the celestial wonders that illuminate her daily life, offering a glimpse into her world with every creation.

Meanwhile, the Illuminating Sunlight and Midnight Moonlight designs were inspired by Tarot Reader Peter's profound connection to the Sun's boundless warmth and the Moon's quiet magic. The phrase "Let the sun shine heal you" encapsulates the Sun's restorative power, encouraging resilience and positivity in the face of life's challenges. Conversely, the Moon-inspired designs whisper "Embrace the Unknown," a gentle reminder to trust one's intuition, while "You look so beautiful tonight" celebrates the profound beauty found in darkness and the depths of emotion. Each piece in the collection pays homage to the enchanting interplay between the Sun's life-giving energy and the Moon's captivating mystique, offering a timeless connection to the cosmos and its profound duality.

Both designers, Corina and Peter, wish for more people to experience the breathtaking and awe-inspiring sights of the sun and moon that they cherish. They hope that whoever carries these cases will be enveloped in the sun's positive energy and drawn to the moon's enchanting gravity, finding inspiration and balance in their celestial harmony. Together, CASEKOO hopes that the owners of these cases will embrace the beauty of tarot, feeling their mysterious power and carrying it with them wherever they go.

SOURCE CASEKOO
SHENZHEN, China, March 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Elegoo, a rapidly developing brand in global smart manufacturing, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the theme "Thrive, Empower, Next". This milestone moment is packed with exciting events, sneak peeks at upcoming products, and a heartfelt thank-you to the incredible community that has been part of its journey.

Thrive: a decade of thriving innovation

Elegoo celebrates 10 years and prepares new offerings for its global 3D printing community.

Since its founding in 2015, Elegoo set out with a clear mission: to provide unique and smart creative spaces for everyone. What began with the introduction of Arduino STEM kits quickly evolved as the brand relentlessly pushed forward, expanding its reach into the world of 3D printing. This journey led to the creation of the groundbreaking Centauri Carbon, a product that has made waves and cemented its place as a game-changer in the industry. Most recently, Centauri Carbon won the iF DESIGN AWARD 2025, highlighting its innovation and design excellence.

Today, Elegoo has established itself as a trusted name, with millions of products sold across more than 90 countries and regions, earning a global fanbase for its reliability, exceptional performance, and commitment to continuous improvement. To further engage and support its growing community, Elegoo has also launched a worldwide brand ambassador program, uniting passionate creators to inspire and empower fellow makers.

Empower: empowering creators and makers worldwide

Starting March 16, Elegoo will launch My ELEGOOD Moment, a community-driven initiative inviting users to share their most memorable experiences with Elegoo. Whether it's an inspiring project, a game-changing 3D print, or a story of how Elegoo made life better, these moments will be highlighted across social media. Users whose stories are featured will have a chance to win flagship printers like the Centauri Carbon and Saturn 4 Ultra 16K, along with other exclusive rewards. Additionally, a community-focused design contest is coming soon, with full details to be announced in the coming weeks.

Next: together, on the journey to the next chapter

At RAPID + TCT this April, Elegoo will debut its latest 3D printer, Jupiter 2, alongside the Centauri Carbon and other new offerings. And this is just the beginning; more exciting products and events are set to launch later this year. As Elegoo enters its next decade, it remains committed to driving innovation, empowering its global community, and exploring the future of 3D printing.

"When we started, we had a bold vision - to create the future with smart manufacturing. What began as an idea has transformed into a thriving company, empowering creators and enhancing personalized experiences for countless individuals," says Chris Hong, Founder and CEO of Elegoo. "The 3D printing industry is evolving faster than ever, and we believe that continuously improving our products based on community feedback reflects the attitude a company should have toward innovation. Together, we will keep innovating, dreaming big, and shaping the future of smart manufacturing for the next decade and beyond."

To celebrate with Elegoo and learn more about the anniversary events, please visit the Elegoo 10-Year Anniversary page for full details.

About Elegoo

Founded in 2015, Elegoo is a rapidly developing brand in the global smart manufacturing industry, specializing in R&D, manufacturing, and sales of consumer-grade 3D printers, laser engravers, STEM kits, and other smart technology products. Located in Shenzhen, the Silicon Valley of China, the company has sold millions of products across more than 90 countries and regions. In 2024, the company's total sales revenue surpassed 200 million USD, with close to 700 employees and nearly 30,000 square meters of office and manufacturing area. With a focus on programming and 3D printing technology, Elegoo provides unique and smart creation spaces for diverse consumers to enhance personalized experiences.

SOURCE ELEGOO
NEW YORK and NEW ORLEANS, March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into CS Disco, Inc. ("the Company") (NYSE: LAW).

On August 11, 2022, the Company released disappointing financial results for the second quarter of 2022, disclosing that revenue growth had decelerated drastically over past quarters and that it would no longer be including in its guidance any revenues attributable to its largest customers for the entire year, shocking investors and analysts alike. Then, on September 11, 2023, the Company disclosed that "Kiwi Camara, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, has decided to step down from his roles as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors."

Thereafter, the Company and certain of its executives were sued in a securities class action lawsuit, charging them with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period in violation of federal securities laws, which remains ongoing.

KSF's investigation is focusing on whether CS Disco's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to its shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.

If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of CS Disco shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-833-938-0905 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-law/ to learn more.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, 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, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner

[email protected]

1-877-515-1850

1100 Poydras St., Suite 960

New Orleans, LA 70163

SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
RADNOR, Pa., March 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed against Edison International ("Edison") (NYSE: EIX) on behalf of those who purchased or otherwise acquired Edison securities between February 25, 2021, and February 6, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lead plaintiff deadline is April 21, 2025.

CONTACT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP:

If you suffered Edison losses, you may CLICK HERE or copy and paste the following link into your browser: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/edison-international?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=eix&mktm=r

You can also contact attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. by calling (484) 270-1453 or by email at [email protected].

DEFENDANTS' ALLEGED MISCONDUCT:

The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Edison's claim that Southern California Edison Company used its Public Safety Power Shutoffs 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 times.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS:

Edison investors may, no later than April 21, 2025, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Edison investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE OR GO TO: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/edison-international?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=eix&mktm=r

ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP:

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT:

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

Jonathan Naji, Esq.

(484) 270-1453

280 King of Prussia Road

Radnor, PA 19087

[email protected]

May be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
ICEYE's latest SAR satellite innovation, the Generation 4 satellite, brings unique imaging capabilities for enhanced target detection and classification, serving the need for space-based technology in the global defense and ISR markets.

HELSINKI, March 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ICEYE, the global leader in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imaging for high-fidelity Earth Observation, persistent monitoring, and natural catastrophe solutions, has successfully launched four new 25 cm resolution satellites, strengthening the company's SAR satellite constellation, the largest in the world. Among the satellites was ICEYE's Generation 4 satellite ("Gen4"), marking another leap in the company's rapid innovation in SAR technology. These satellites will extend ICEYE's leadership in imaging for the most challenging applications in natural catastrophe response and national security.

ICEYEs latest SAR satellite innovation, the Generation 4 satellite, brings unique imaging capabilities for enhanced target detection and classification, serving the need for space-based technology in the global defense and ISR markets.

The satellites were integrated via Exolaunch and successfully lifted off on March 15, 2025, aboard the Transporter-13 rideshare mission with SpaceX from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. Each spacecraft has established communication, and routine commissioning operations are underway.

ICEYE's Gen4 satellite provides the best SAR image quality available and marks a significant breakthrough in SAR satellite technology and in the industry. This groundbreaking technology advancement builds on ICEYE's space heritage and doubles both the size of the SAR antenna and radiated SAR power. This enables Gen4 satellites to more than double the imaging area, ranging from 150 km to 400 km swath width. The images contain 30% greater information density. The improvements also include advanced orbit control for target imaging, and more imaging capacity for congested areas in a single satellite pass.

This new generation will empower customers with enhanced situational awareness, faster decision-making capabilities, and improved mission outcomes. Detection and classification of vessels, vehicles, or aircraft will be much easier, which is key in demanding defense and intelligence environments. ICEYE will release further details about the full suite of Generation 4 technology improvements and customer applications in the coming weeks.

"With the launch of the Generation 4 satellite, ICEYE continues to lead the innovation in the SAR satellite industry. As we aim to be the primary provider of critical infrastructure for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to allied nations, our SAR development serves the growing demand for space-based technology in the global defense markets," said Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE.

With today's launch, ICEYE has launched 48 SAR satellites into orbit for the company and its customers since 2018 and plans to launch more than 20 new satellites annually in 2025, 2026, and beyond. ICEYE's first launch of the year in January 2025 successfully deployed four new satellites.

About ICEYE

ICEYE delivers unparalleled persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth, faster and more accurately than ever before.

Owning the world's largest synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation, ICEYE provides objective, near real-time insights, ensuring that customers have unmatched access to actionable data, day or night, even in challenging environmental conditions. As a trusted partner to governments and commercial industries, ICEYE delivers intelligence in sectors such as defense and intelligence, insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, security, maritime monitoring, and finance, enabling decision-making that contributes to community resilience and sustainable development.

ICEYE operates internationally with offices in Finland, Poland, Spain, the UK, Australia, Japan, UAE, Greece, and the US. We have more than 700 employees, inspired by the shared vision of improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation.

Media contact: [email protected]

Visit www.iceye.com and follow ICEYE on LinkedIn and X for the latest updates and insights.

SOURCE ICEYE
WASHINGTON, March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Four crew members of NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 mission launched at 7:03 p.m. EDT Friday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a science expedition aboard the International Space Station.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Dragon spacecraft into orbit carrying NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. (Credit: NASA)

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Dragon spacecraft into orbit carrying NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. The spacecraft will dock autonomously to the forward-facing port of the station's Harmony module at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 15. Shortly after docking, the crew will join Expedition 72/73 for a long-duration stay aboard the orbiting laboratory.

"Congratulations to our NASA and SpaceX teams on the 10th crew rotation mission under our commercial crew partnership. This milestone demonstrates NASA's continued commitment to advancing American leadership in space and driving growth in our national space economy," said NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro. "Through these missions, we are laying the foundation for future exploration, from low Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars. Our international crew will contribute to innovative science research and technology development, delivering benefits to all humanity."

During Dragon's flight, SpaceX will monitor a series of automatic spacecraft maneuvers from its mission control center in Hawthorne, California. NASA will monitor space station operations throughout the flight from the Mission Control Center at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

NASA's live coverage resumes at 9:45 p.m., March 15, on NASA+ with rendezvous, docking, and hatching opening. After docking, the crew will change out of their spacesuits and prepare cargo for offload before opening the hatch between Dragon and the space station's Harmony module around 1:05 a.m., Sunday, March 16. Once the new crew is aboard the orbital outpost, NASA will broadcast welcome remarks from Crew-10 and farewell remarks from the agency's SpaceX Crew-9 crew, beginning at about 1:40 a.m.

Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.

The number of crew aboard the space station will increase to 11 for a short time as Crew-10 joins NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Don Pettit, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Aleksandr Gorbunov, Alexey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner. Following a brief handover period, Hague, Williams, Wilmore, and Gorbunov will return to Earth no earlier than Wednesday, March 19.Ahead of Crew-9's departure from station, mission teams will review weather conditions at the splashdown sites off the coast of Florida.

During their mission, Crew-10 is scheduled to conduct material flammability tests to contribute to future spacecraft and facility designs. The crew will engage with students worldwide via the ISS Ham Radio program and use the program's existing hardware to test a backup lunar navigation solution. The astronauts also will serve as test subjects, with one crew member conducting an integrated study to better understand physiological and psychological changes to the human body to provide valuable insights for future deep space missions.

With this mission, NASA continues to maximize the use of the orbiting laboratory, where people have lived and worked continuously for more than 24 years, testing technologies, performing science, and developing the skills needed to operate future commercial destinations in low Earth orbit and explore farther from our home planet. Research conducted at the space station benefits people on Earth and paves the way for future long-duration missions to the Moon under NASA's Artemis campaign and beyond.

More about Crew-10

McClain is the commander of Crew-10 and is making her second trip to the orbital outpost since her selection as an astronaut in 2013. She will serve as a flight engineer during Expeditions 72/73 aboard the space station. Follow McClain on X.

Ayers is the pilot of Crew-10 and is flying her first mission. Selected as an astronaut in 2021, Ayers will serve as a flight engineer during Expeditions 72/73. Follow Ayers on X and Instagram.

Onishi is a mission specialist for Crew-10 and is making his second flight to the space station. He will serve as a flight engineer during Expeditions 72/73. Follow Onishi on X.

Peskov is a mission specialist for Crew-10 and is making his first flight to the space station. Peskov will serve as a flight engineer during Expeditions 72/73.

Learn more about NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 mission and the agency's Commercial Crew Program at:

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

SOURCE NASA
Varda aims to have a monthly launch and reentry cadence, developing a foundation layer for a thriving orbital economy

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., March 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Varda Space Industries, Inc., a microgravity-enabled life sciences and reentry company, today announced the successful launch of its third orbital processing and reentry capsule, W-3, just 15 days after the reentry of the company's second mission, which landed in Australia on Feb. 27, 2025.

The W-3 vehicle, supported by a Rocket Lab-developed Pioneer satellite like its predecessors, lifted off aboard the Transporter-13 rideshare mission with SpaceX from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

W-3's payload is an advanced navigation system called an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) developed by the US Air Force and Innovative Scientific Solutions Incorporated (ISSI). This payload will be tested at reentry speeds it was designed to withstand but has never encountered before.

IMUs are electronics that can measure an object's motion, orientation, and velocity. For example, everything from cars to wearable fitness trackers have similar devices to tell their computer the orientation and location without the aid of an external signal like a GPS, though commercial IMUs are notoriously inaccurate at high-speed conditions. Varda's capsule can help test these devices for our government and commercial partners to advance research into high-hypersonic technologies.

"The need for robust, plug-and-play IMU technology is a growing capability area that will significantly advance the current state-of-the-art for domain awareness and control of future systems," said Dr. Steve NeVille, senior scientist at ISSI. "The W-3 reentry flight test with Varda provides an exciting and unique proto-qualification platform to rapidly advance our IMU technology readiness level in a relevant reentry environment, which is the pinnacle of early development testing."

Varda's capsule reenters the Earth's atmosphere at speeds exceeding Mach 25, a unique environment that offers researchers a chance to gather data for multiple applications, expanding the possibilities for the orbital economy and supporting US national security interests in low Earth orbit.

"Varda's commercial dual-use reentry capability is a game-changer for enabling rapid technology maturation for future systems," said Technical Lead for AFRL's Prometheus reentry testbed program, Dr. Erin Vaughan. "Affordable, frequent reentry flight test opportunities support S&T development for early risk reduction studies, reducing cost and schedule for novel technologies."

The W-3 capsule's payload is funded through the Prometheus program, an initiative from AFRL in partnership with Varda. The program addresses a national security need to accelerate testing and modernization of high-hypersonic systems and reentry technologies through a low-cost, high-cadence commercial flight testbed.

"High-cadence, routine operations is our goal. We are working to make reentry as commonplace as launch," said Varda Vice President for Mission Management, Brandi Sippel. "We are looking forward to the day when sending capsules into orbit and back to Earth is seen as routine."

W-3 will spend a few weeks on orbit before reentering and landing safely at the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia, operated by Southern Launch. Varda's second capsule, W-2, was Australia's first-ever commercial land reentry.

Distribution Unlimited; Approved for Public Release. Public Affairs Release # AFRL-2025-1094

About Varda

Varda Space Industries is making reentry as common as launch. We are building the infrastructure for a thriving orbital economy, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. The company operates out of El Segundo, California with office and industrial production space. Follow Varda on X (@vardaspace), Instagram (@vardaspaceindustries), and LinkedIn.

For Investor Inquires: [email protected]

For Media Inquiries: [email protected]

SOURCE Varda Space Industries Inc.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. The connection of the railroad networks of Iran's East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan provinces through the Urmia-Tabriz railway is considered a vital issue, said Farzaneh Sadegh, Irans Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Trend reports.

Speaking during a visit to the Urmia-Tabriz highway in West Azerbaijan province, where she spoke to journalists on March 15, Sadegh emphasized that the construction of the Urmia-Tabriz railway line should be planned near the ongoing highway construction between the two cities. Further research will be conducted in the next phase to facilitate this project.

The Minister also noted that the completion of the Urmia-Tabriz highway will address several issues, including the expansion of sections one and two of the highway and the addition of more lanes.

The Urmia-Tabriz highway in Iran is being developed as part of the East-West corridor project. Spanning a total length of 164 kilometers, the highway's construction is divided into six sections. To date, 71 kilometers of the highway have been completed, including the first section (24.5 km), the second section (15.5 km), and the fourth section (31 km). Construction is currently underway on sections three, five, and six. A bridge over Lake Urmia will also be constructed as part of this route.
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Washington, March 15 : US President Donald Trump said he had appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the lives of thousands of Ukrainian troops "completely surrounded" by the Russian military be "spared"." Washington, March 15 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said he had appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the lives of thousands of Ukrainian troops "completely surrounded" by the Russian military be "spared"."

Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform, that he made this appeal on a phone call with Putin on Thursday, which he described as "good and productive".

Trump did not specify, but he was referring to the Russian military's advance on a Russian territory in the Kursk region which had been seized by Ukraine. The Russian president visited that area on Thursday to mark the progress of the military there.

"We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end  BUT, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION," Trump wrote in the post. "I have strongly requested President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II."

Ukraine's top commander denied Ukrainian troops were being encircled in Kursk, as reported by Reuters, and insisted they were adopting better defensive positions.

President Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff reached Moscow for talks Thursday, the day the Russian leader announced his in-principle agreement to the ceasefire plan offered. But he had made clear his conditions will have to be met before he signed off on it, chiefly that Ukraine must not be allowed to use the pause to mobilize troops and not be supplied with weapons.

The US proposed a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine accepted at a meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz and Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
United Nations, March 15 : India has called for a more inclusive fight against bigotry that takes on religiophobia, targeting hatred of all religions.

Expressing concern over violence against places of worship and religions, India's Permanent Representative P Harish said on Friday, "We strongly believe that the path to meaningful progress [in fighting bigotry] lies in acknowledging that religiophobia in its various forms threatens the fabric of our diverse, global society".

It is "imperative to recognise that religious discrimination is a broader challenge that affects followers of all faiths", he said at a General Assembly commemoration of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

"As we observe this day, let us remember that the fight against Islamophobia is inseparable from the broader struggle against religious discrimination in all its forms", he said.

In keeping with the day's theme, Harish also said, "We stand united with the UN membership in condemning incidents of religious intolerance against Muslims".

"With over 200 million of its citizens practising Islam, India is home to one of the largest Muslim populations in the world", he said.

Virtually every major faith has a home in India, which is the birthplace of four world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Harish said.

"Fostering a world free from religious discrimination, hatred and violence has been a way of life for India since time immemorial", he said.

This historic tradition was behind India signing on to the more expansive "Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief" adopted by the General Assembly in 1981.

Emphasising the need for inclusivity in combatting bigotry by making it a campaign for the defence of all religions, he said, "In an increasingly fractured world, the United Nations is envisaged as an entity that rises above differences".

In keeping with its core agenda of promoting peace and security, growth and development, "any deliberation on issues of faith must seek to unite, not divide", he added.

Harish warned about the "disturbing rise in violence targeting places of worship and religious communities" and said, "All countries must commit to equal treatment of all their citizens and not practice policies that promote religious discrimination".

"We must also ensure that the education system does not perpetuate stereotypes or encourage bigotry", he said.

The UN and its officials focus their campaigns against religious bigotry on only the three religions that claim their lineage to the Jewish Patriarch Abraham  Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which takes centre-stage.

India in the past has directly raised the exclusion of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism.

Even Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has mentioned specifically only the attacks on the three Abrahamic religions.

Guterres, who is in Bangladesh for an iftar with Rohingya refugees, said in a message, "As Muslims around the world come together to mark the holy month of Ramadan, many do so in fear  fear of discrimination, exclusion, and even violence".

But, he added without naming other religions, "This is part of a wider scourge of intolerance, extremist ideologies, and attacks against religious groups and vulnerable populations".

"When one group is attacked, the rights and freedoms of all are at risk", he said.

General Assembly President Philomen Yang drew attention to the danger to Islam that comes from Muslim extremists and inflames Islamaphobia.

"Extremists are weaponising Islam, spreading fear and hatred to achieve their malicious aims", he said. "This has dangerous impacts for the vast majority of Muslims and other peaceful worshipers".

"We cannot accept the misuse of Islam for malicious intentions", he said.

"Nor can we allow Islamophobia to incite unjustified hatred and violent attacks against an entire community", he added.

Yang also said, "Today, we see a disturbing rise in discrimination and violence, not only against Muslims but many religious communities around the world".
Jerusalem, March 15 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu filed a complaint with the police against the former chief of the Israel Security Agency (ISA), Nadav Argaman, according to Israel's state-owned Kan TV News.

Netanyahu's attorney claimed in a letter to Israeli police chief Daniel Levi on Friday that Argaman was attempting to extort him "with methods used by criminal organizations," based on remarks Argaman made during a television interview on Thursday night.

In the interview, Argaman said that if he concluded the prime minister was acting unlawfully, he would reveal everything he knew, though he had refrained from saying these things "to keep the importance of the relationship between the ISA chief and the prime minister."

He added that any information threatening Israel's national security would be shared according to law, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the complaint, Netanyahu claimed that "all red lines were crossed when Argaman chose to threaten and to blackmail a sitting prime minister with threats, using methods and forms common to criminal organizations, as if the head of Israel's intelligence service were a mafia man, using practices from the criminal world and completely crossing the lines."

On Thursday, after the interview was broadcast, Netanyahu claimed in a statement that "this crime joins a whole campaign of extortion with threats through media briefings in recent days, conducted by the current ISA chief Ronen Bar."

"The sole goal is to try to prevent me from making the decisions necessary to rehabilitate the ISA after its searing failure on October 7. Let it be clear: the criminal threats in the mafia style will not deter me. I will do what is necessary to ensure Israel's security," said Netanyahu in the statement.

The ISA responded in a statement that the accusations against Bar were baseless, with the current ISA chief focusing solely on national security and efforts to bring home the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza while safeguarding democracy.

Following the complaint, Israeli police said that Levi had instructed the head of the investigation and intelligence department to examine Argaman's statement.

Tensions between Netanyahu and the ISA have escalated since the Hamas surprise attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Disputes have arisen over handling the conflict, negotiations for hostage release, leaks of classified documents, and investigations into private business connections between employees at the prime minister's office and the Qatari government.

Netanyahu's critics claim his decisions are driven by political survival, while his allies argue that the ISA is interfering in his decisions and attempting a coup.
New Delhi, March 15 : The Mumbai police have dismantled a high-profile sex racket operating out of a hotel in the Hiranandani area. They arrested 60-year-old, Shyamsunder Arora and rescued four models from the hotel who work in the film industry.

The rescued women have been sent to a shelter home for support and assistance.

According to information received from the Police, authorities were alerted to a sex racket operating out of a hotel in Hiranandani, Powai. As a result, the police reached out to a 60-year-old man named Shyamsunder using a fake customer identity.

Shyamsunder demanded between Rs 70,000 to Rs 1 lakh per model, with the models reportedly aged between 26 and 35 years.

The police contacted Shyamsunder, posing as a customer in need of girls. He subsequently sent pictures of four women, claiming they were associated with the film industry, and informed the fake customer that he would bring all four women to the hotel.

The police set a trap outside the hotel, and as Shyamsunder allegedly arrived with the women, the fake customer notified the police. They quickly raided the hotel, rescuing the four women and arresting Shyamsunder in the process.

During the raid, authorities seized eight mobile phones and Rs 3 lakh in cash from the hotel rooms.

Upon interrogation, Shyamsunder revealed that another individual residing in the Charkop area was also involved in the racket. The police are currently searching for this additional suspect.

The Powai Police have registered a case against Shyamsunder Arora under Section 143(2) of the Bombay Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and Sections 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) and have arrested him.
Indian student 'self-deports' from US after visa revoked over Palestine protests. Image Source: IANS News

New York, March 15 : An Indian student who participated in pro-Palestine protests in the US has "self-deported" herself after her student visa was revoked, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced.

New York, March 15 (IANS) An Indian student who participated in pro-Palestine protests in the US has "self-deported" herself after her student visa was revoked, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced.

The Department said on Friday that Ranjani Srinivasan "was involved in activities supporting Hammas, a terrorist organization" and left the US on March 11 after her student visa was revoked by the State Department.

A citizen of India, she was a doctoral student in urban planning at Columbia University, the Ground Zero of student protests in support of Palestine and against Israel over Gaza that swept the US last year.

The university saw the violent takeover of a campus building, and scores of students were arrested when the university called in the police to quell the protests.

Noem said that it was "a privilege" to study in the US, but "when you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country".

Homeland Security Department said that it obtained a video of Srinivasan using an app of the Customs and Border Protection (CPB) agency to "self-deport".

"I am glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathisers use the CBP Home app to self-deport", Noem said.

She posted a video of Srinivasan at an airport.

It was not clear if Srinivasan had been arrested in the protests or if she had expressed sympathy for Hamas because many of the protesters were only against Israel's attack on Gaza in retribution for the Hamas terrorist attack on it.

Self-deporting  or leaving voluntarily before authorities take action  avoids the risk of her being put on a US military aircraft and sent home like the three planeloads of deportees who arrived in India.

Srinivasan was doing research at Columbia's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.

According to the school, she has a bachelor's degree from CEPT University in Ahmedabad and got her master's degree from Harvard with Fulbright Nehru and Inlaks Scholarships.

On the school website, she is shown with the gender-neutral "they" pronoun rather than she.

The site said that she had received support from the Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute at Harvard for her research, "Gold & Cyanide: Family, Caste, and the Post-extractive Landscape at Kolar Gold Fields".

She had also worked for an environmental advocacy nonprofit in Washington on "frontier communities at risk from climate change" and as a researcher for the West Philadelphia Landscape Project (WPLP) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

President Trump's administration has trained its sights on the Ivy League university, accusing it of failing to stem the protests that it said veered into anti-Semitism and threatened Jewish students and faculty.

It has cut off $400 million in federal funds to the university.

Last week, a former Columbia student of Palestinian descent who was involved in protests there last year and in the affiliated Barnard College last week was arrested by immigration officials and is in custody, pending deportation.

Mahmoud Khalil, however, has a green card, which Secretary of State Marco Rubio said has been revoked.

His deportation has been temporarily put on hold by a federal judge.

Noem said that a Palestinian student at Columbia was arrested by an immigration official for overstaying her student visa.

Leqaa Kordia had a prior arrest record from joining the Gaza protests in the city.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department and Homeland Security are investigating whether Columbia was "harbouring and concealing illegal aliens on its campus".

University Interim President Katrina Armstrong said immigration agents armed with court warrants raided two hostel rooms, but no one was arrested at that time.

The university also said that several students who participated in the occupation of the campus building were expelled.

These developments have sent a chill among students and faculty, who have held protests outside the campus against the crackdowns, including at the Trump Tower.
Baghdad, March 15 : Iraqi leaders met with Syria's chief of foreign affairs authority, Asaad al-Shaibani to discuss bilateral relations and anti-terrorism cooperation.

During a meeting on Friday with visiting al-Shaibani, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani reaffirmed Iraq's firm and consistent stance in respecting the will of the Syrian people, stressing the need for an inclusive political process that safeguards Syria's diversity and social cohesion, Xinhua news agency reported quoting a statement by al-Sudani's media office.

He also reiterated Iraq's support for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting any external interference in Syria's internal affairs, particularly in light of the ongoing Israeli occupation of swaths of Syrian lands.

Additionally, al-Sudani highlighted the need for close coordination between the two countries in combating terrorism as a crucial step toward achieving stability.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein emphasized the importance of enhancing joint action in combating the terrorist group Islamic State.

During his talks with al-Shaibani, Hussein stressed the need to form an operations room comprising five members of Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon to confront the IS group, according to a statement by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.

Hussein highlighted the importance of military and intelligence coordination and comprehensive regional security cooperation to this end.

He also expressed Iraq's support for the breakthrough pact reached between Syria's interim government and Syrian Kurds on Monday to merge all civil and military institutions in Syria's Kurdish-controlled region under the central government in Damascus.

For his part, al-Shaibani expressed Syria's readiness to form joint security committees and to benefit from neighbouring countries' experience in combating terrorism, the statement added.

The Syrian official also stressed Syria's political will to strengthen relations with Iraq, adding that the recent understanding with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces will contribute to controlling the border between the two countries.
United Nations, March 15 : Denouncing Pakistan's "fanatical mindset", India's Permanent Representative P Harish has told Islamabad that ranting about Kashmir in international forums will not justify cross-border terrorism or change the reality of the region being an integral part of India.

United Nations, March 15 (IANS) Denouncing Pakistan's "fanatical mindset", India's Permanent Representative P Harish has told Islamabad that ranting about Kashmir in international forums will not justify cross-border terrorism or change the reality of the region being an integral part of India.

He was reacting on Friday to Pakistan's former Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua bringing up Kashmir during an informal meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

"As is their habit, former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan today has made an unjustified reference to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir", Harish said. "Frequent references will neither validate their claim nor justify their practice of cross-border terrorism".

"The fanatical mindset of this nation is well known, as also its record of bigotry", he said of Pakistan.

"Such efforts will not change the reality that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will always be an integral part of India", he declared.

Pakistan has been a voice in the wilderness at the UN when it comes to Kashmir.

While it raises Kashmir at almost any chance its representatives get a chance to speak, no other country has taken up the cause.

Janjua, who was Pakistan's foreign secretary from 2017 to 2019, spoke as one of the invitees to the meeting and not as a representative of Islamabad.

She tried to link Kashmir to Gaza  a tactic of Pakistan  and asserted, "Islamophobia is a significant driver of the horrific killing killings of Muslims in occupied territories, such as in Indian occupied Kashmir, and in Palestine."

She also obliquely mentioned "lynchings" linked to "Love Jihad" and "cow vigilantes".
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 15. The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has approved an agreement on strategic cooperation with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the development and export of clean energy, Trend reports via the Uzbek Ministry of Justice.

The relevant decree was issued on March 14.

Thus, the Ministry of Energy has been designated as the primary body responsible for the implementation of the international agreement. The implementation will be monitored by the Cabinet of Ministers and the heads of relevant ministries and agencies, following established procedures, once the document comes into force.

On November 13, 2024, a meeting was held between the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. As a result of the meeting, the "Agreement between the Governments of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan on Strategic Partnership in the Development and Transfer of Green Energy" was signed.

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Seoul, March 15 : Samsung SDI Co., South Korea's second-biggest battery maker, said it will raise 2 trillion won ($1.37 billion) through a stock sale as part of its broader growth strategy.

Its board of directors approved the capital increase aimed at "preemptively" securing a capital to prepare for a rebound in the car battery market, the company said in a press release.

Samsung SDI said it will issue some 11.82 million common shares at 169,200 won per share, with the final stock price set to be decided on May 22, reports Yonhap news agency.

The newly issued shares will be initially sold to the firm's existing shareholders, with their listing scheduled for June 19 after subscription rounds from May 27 to June 3, the company said.

Samsung SDI plans to utilise the proceeds from the rights issue to invest in a joint venture with General Motors Co. in the United States, expand output capacity at its plant in Hungary and invest in facilities for its solid-state battery line in Korea.

Furthermore, the company will review various financing options, including utilizing its existing assets, to overcome the electric vehicle (EV) "chasm," which occurs before the widespread adoption of EVs.

Samsung SDI's facility investments jumped to 6.6 trillion won last year from 1.7 trillion won in 2019 despite the EV chasm.

Global market research firms expect an average of 20 percent growth each year in the car battery market during the 2025-2030 period, the release said.

Meanwhile, Samsung SDI signed an initial pact with Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia to jointly develop robot-specific batteries.

Samsung SDI has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the two carmakers to develop high-performance batteries specifically for robots, with an aim to significantly increase energy density, output and usage time, the company said.

"Through this collaboration, we will introduce differentiated technologies and high-quality products in the robot battery market," Samsung SDI Executive Vice President Cho Han-jae said.

a"IANS

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United Nations, March 15 : UN humanitarians said that 63,000 metric tonnes of food await an end to the Gaza aid blockade, enough for 1.1 million people for two to three months.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the 12-day aid blockage hinders relief operations, Xinhua news agency reported.

"This means, for example, that the World Food Programme (WFP) has not been able to transport any food supplies into Gaza due to the closure of all border crossing points for both humanitarian and commercial supplies," OCHA said. "WFP has about 63,000 metric tonnes of food destined for Gaza, stored or in transit in the region."

WFP said it has enough stocks to support active bakeries and community kitchens for up to one month and can also provide ready-to-eat food parcels for more than 500,000 people for two weeks. However, before the ceasefire, WFP reduced the quantity of ready-to-eat food parcels so that families could stretch their supplies and serve more people.

It isn't just a shortage of food. A lack of fuel affects vehicle movements across Gaza and slows first responders.

OCHA said oxygen supplies and electricity generators are also critically needed to maintain life-saving operations at hospitals in Gaza. At least two dozen additional generators are in short supply for health centres, as the ones in use need maintenance and spare parts.

In the West Bank, the humanitarian office warned that settler violence is escalating in certain areas across the region, causing casualties, property damage and placing communities at high risk of displacement.

Over the past two years, OCHA has documented the displacement of more than 2,000 Palestinians across the West Bank due to heightened settler violence and access restrictions.

In the northern West Bank, the Israeli military operation entered its eighth week.

The office said people continue to be displaced, and last week Israeli forces raided at least 10 mosques across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

"Since Monday, operations in Jenin city have intensified, with more than 500 people displaced from three neighbourhoods in the eastern part of the city, according to the municipality," OCHA said. "The UN and its partners warn that food insecurity is rising, as operations by Israeli forces, displacement, and movement restrictions limit access to food."

Also, OCHA said there was a sharp increase in the demolition of Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank over the past week and a half. The number of structures demolished during the first 10 days of Ramadan this year exceeds the total for all of Ramadan in 2024.
Los Angeles, March 15 : Hollywood star Will Smith has announced that his first album in 20 years titled "Based on a True Story" will be arriving on March 28.

Los Angeles, March 15 (IANS) Hollywood star Will Smith has announced that his first album in 20 years titled "Based on a True Story" will be arriving on March 28.

"Been working on this project for a minute and I'm itchin' to get it out to y'all," Smith wrote on Instagram, alongside a number of promotional photos for the album, as well as the full tracklist, reports billboard.com.

The 14-track album features previously released singles including "First Love," "Beautiful Scars," "TANTRUM," "Work of Art," and "You Can Make It," as well as collaborations with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Teyana Taylor and Jac Ross.

In January, Smith talked about his decision to release an album two decades after his last record, 2005's Lost and Found.

"A well opened up inside of me, a well of understanding of art and pain  all kinds of things that I didn't even know were in there," he said.

"Then after the Oscars, that spiritual investigation continued and a whole world woke up inside that I didn't even know was there. Dreams, visions; parts of my inner landscape that I had no awareness of prior to three years ago. And that opened up this bubbling to share what I'm seeing and experiencing, to explore."

He said that a big part of his music now "is about that: the ecstatic kind of joy I remember from church when I was growing up; the ability to try to make this place more bearable."

"You know, I've always had a wild imagination; that's part of who I am. But there's something new happening with me that's demanding I explore musically."

Meanwhile, on March 11, Smith shared a picture of himself enjoying 'National Napping Day'

The Hollywood star shared a picture on his social media, reported 'People' magazine.

"Someone say it was National Napping Day?", the Academy Award winner, 56, captioned an Instagram post, where he was seen relaxing as his loved ones gathered around, standing behind him including his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow, 24 and Jaden, 26, while his former wife, Sheree Zampino, stood next to their son, Trey, 32.
New Delhi, March 15 : In a horrifying incident on Holi that left people shaken, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) local leader, Surendra Jawahar was shot dead on Holi over some land dispute with his neighbour in Haryana's Sonipat, police said on Saturday.

The accused was identified as Monu, who pumped three bullets into the BJP's Mundlana Mandal president Jawahar's body on Friday night at Jawahar village.

Gohana ACP Rishi Kant said police got information about the killing of Surendra Jawahar by his neighbour Monu at 9.30 pm on Holi night.

Based on the information, the police reached Jawahar village and formed three teams to investigate the incident.

A preliminary investigation revealed that Surendra Jawahar had bought land from Monu's uncle and aunt and the property dispute was related to that, the ACP added.

The leader's body has been sent for post-mortem and the accused will be arrested soon.

Monu reportedly had warned Surendra Jawahar not to set foot on his land. However, the BJP leader arrived at the spot to clear the land, enraged by which, Monu chased him and killed him by firing at him from point blank range, police said.

CCTV footage of the incident showed Surendra Jawahar entering a shop shouting "Maar diya maar diya (I have been killed)". However, Monu chased him and pumped three bullets into Surendra Jawahar from point-blank range. The local BJP leader died on the spot due to the bullet wounds.

Sadar Police Station is conducting an investigation into the case.
Bhopal, March 15 : The Madhya Pradesh government has commenced wheat procurement at designated mandis across the state from today. The crop will be procured at the newly announced Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2600 per quintal, which includes additional assistance of Rs 175 per quintal.

Madhya Pradesh is known for its high-protein wheat varieties, like Sharbati and Durum, which are in demand both domestically and globally. According to official sources, around 4,000 centres have been set up across the state to facilitate procurement.

Initially scheduled to begin on March 1, the procurement process was delayed due to incomplete wheat harvesting and high moisture content in the arriving crop.

State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Govind Singh Rajput had earlier stated that wheat with excessive moisture would not meet fair average quality standards and would fetch lower prices for farmers.

Wheat procurement will begin with early arrivals in Indore, Ujjain, Bhopal, and Narmadapuram divisions, followed by other regions. Farmers have been urged to register for procurement at the designated centres before the March 31 deadline.

The government has sent SMS notifications to registered farmers and enabled online registration via a dedicated web portal and mobile app.

Additionally, registration facilities are available at Gram Panchayats, Janpad Panchayats, and Tehsil offices.

The state government anticipates procuring approximately 80 lakh tonnes of wheat this rabi season. Official statistics indicate that wheat sowing in Madhya Pradesh ranges between 6.4 million and 9.5 million hectares annually.

According to the second advance estimate for 2022-23, the sown area was 7.15 million hectares.

In 2018-19, about 73.16 lakh tonnes of wheat were procured at Rs 11,298.21 crore; in 2019-20, about 73.64 lakh tonnes were procured at Rs 13,560.59 crore; in 2020-21, about 129.42 lakh tonnes of wheat were procured at Rs 24,806.91 crore; in 2021-22, about 128.15 lakh tonnes were procured at Rs 25,301.62 crore; and in 2022-23, 46.03 lakh tonnes at Rs 9,271.42 crore.
Kolkata, March 15 : Internet services have been suspended till March 17 at Sainthia town in Birbhum district of West Bengal following clashes between two groups.

However, in the notification issued from the office of the Principal Secretary to the State Home & Hill Affairs Department, barring suspension of internet service at Sainthia, the mention of the clashes has been carefully avoided.

Instead, the notification, a copy of which is available with IANS, has claimed the decision on the internet services suspension has been taken "in view of the recent events in some areas".

The ban on internet transmissions and voiceover internet telephony was imposed on Friday.

In the notification, it has also been clarified that the ban has been imposed in apprehension that such services might be used for "unlawful activities in the geographical area" of the Sainthia town area and its adjacent areas.

In the notification, the state government clarified that the decision to ban internet services was taken based on information regarding unlawful activities.

"And whereas, examination of information received gives reason to believe that such unlawful activities are likely to occur in the absence of preventive measures," the notification read.

Although the administrative officials are tight-lipped on the reasons behind the internet services ban at Sainthia, local sources said the tension erupted following the clash between two groups over the celebration of Holi festival, which is popularly known as Dolyatra in West Bengal.

By night, the clashes spread to some other pockets in Sainthian and adjacent areas prompting the administration to ban internet services.

According to the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, the restriction on Internet services is not only evidence of the "deterioration" of the law and order situation in the state but also an "acceptance of incapability" on the part of the administration to control the situation.

According to him, skirmishes also took place in Tamluk and Nandakumar in his native district of East Midnapore and various other places across West Bengal. He also accused the state government of trying its best to hide the events of communal flare-ups to save face.

Adhikari also urged the Union Home Ministry to seek a report from the state Chief Secretary.

"The chief secretary must send an appropriate report to the Union Home Ministry and the Governor's Office that chronicles the actual and honest events that are taking place across West Bengal for the last couple of days," Adhikari said.
Bengaluru, March 15 : The Karnataka government has decided to provide a 4 per cent reservation to Muslims in government contracts, along with oppressed and backward classes. Sources confirmed that the Cabinet has approved the proposal, and a Bill in this regard will be presented before the state legislature during the ongoing Budget Session.

The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, 1999, after amendment aims to provide 4 per cent reservation in tenders to Muslim contractors in government contracts up to Rs 1 crore, the sources stated.

The Cabinet has also approved the limit for the SC, ST community which has been extended from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore.

Minority leaders had submitted a request to reserve 4 per cent of contract works for Muslim contractors, similar to the reservations provided for SC, ST, and other backward communities.

Considering the request, the government has decided to implement the reservation. A Cabinet meeting was held under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, where discussions were conducted regarding the introduction of the Bill.

The Karnataka government has been contemplating introducing a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in civil contracts on lines with the reservation provided to the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Communities and Backward Classes.

The CM Siddaramaiah-led government is all set to bring an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act, 1999. The Finance Department has already prepared the blueprint and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil has also agreed to the amendment, the sources said.

However, slamming the state government, the BJP had stated that the move was against the spirit of the Constitution and nothing but the "peak of appeasement politics".

State BJP President, B.Y. Vijayendra, claimed that the Congress was leading the state towards strife.

Vijayendra said the state government has not released any funds for legislators and when no tender has been called and work allotted, what's the use of reservation?

Hitting out at the Congress, Vijayendra said: "Does the grand old party think that only Muslims constitute the minority group?"

"I urge CM Siddaramaiah, if he is real Ahinda (a Kannada acronym for Alpasankhyataru or minorities, Hindulidavaru or backward classes, and Dalitaru or Dalits) leader, he should have enabled marginalised communities and strengthened them economically," the BJP leader said.

"Madivala, Savita and many communities also exist and need support from the state. The government is not bringing these communities into the mainstream. Instead, the government is all set for Muslim appeasement, the people will have to teach them a lesson," he stated.

"Muslims alone have been granted reservations in education and employment based on religion, which goes against the constitutional spirit. Now, the government is planning to introduce a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims even in government contracts, which is the peak of appeasement politics," Vijayendra charged.

"If it was for all minority communities, we have no objections," he said.
Chennai, Mar 15 : Well known comedian and actor Daniel Annie Pope, whose film 'Robber' has just hit screens, has now disclosed that he has shed 15 kilos for his role in director A R K Saravan's upcoming film 'Maragadha Naanayam 2', featuring Aadhi Pinisetty in the lead.

Talking exclusively to IANS, Pope, who plays a character with shades of grey in it in 'Robber', said, "I have lost this weight for my role in director Saravan's Maragadha Naanayam 2 and for another film that I am now doing."

It may be recalled that Maragadha Naanayam 2 is the sequel to the hit film 'Maragadha Naanayam', which revolved around a precious emerald stone believed to be cursed.

Giving details of how the sequel will be, Pope said, "The sequel will be a proper continuation of the first part. Most characters that featured in the first part will be there in the sequel as well. The sequel's story takes place some years after the Maragadha Naanayam story happens. In the sequel, all our characters are married."

Stating that he will begin shooting for his portions in the film from the mid of April, Pope says he expects the film's shooting to get over before July end this year.

Maragadha Naanayam, which was written and directed by A RK Saravan, emerged a huge success when it first released in June 2017. The film featured actress Nikki Galrani as the female lead and had a big star cast, that comprised of several comedians including Anand Raj, Daniel Annie Pope, Munishkanth, M S Bhaskar, Kaali Venkat, and Brahmanandam among others. Veteran actor Kota Srinivasa Rao and character artiste Mime Gopi too played pivotal roles in the film.

The film, which was produced by the late producer G Dilli Babu, had cinematography by Shankar and music by Dhibu Ninan Thomas. Editing for the film was by Prasanna G K.

--IANS

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Mumbai, March 15 : As they celebrate their first wedding anniversary, actors Kriti Kharbanda and Pulkit Samrat said that their life has been nothing short of a party ever since they got married.

To mark their one-year milestone, Kriti and Pulkit shared a heartwarming video on their social media, capturing their beautiful journey together and captioned: "Our wedding was emo, but life since then has been nothing short of a party! Happy to Us!"

The couple exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony in Manesar, Haryana in 2024 after being in a relationship for five years. They had worked together in the films such as Veerey Ki Wedding, Pagalpanti and Taish.

On the professional front, both Kriti and Pulkit are set to make their individual debuts on OTT platforms. Kriti will be seen in the crime drama series "Rana Naidu Season 2". She will also star in the neo-noir comic tragedy "Risky Romeo" alongside Sunny Singh.

Directed by Abir Sengupta, Risky Romeo promises a perfect blend of dark humor and eccentric characters.

Recently Kriti's film "Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana" re-released in the cinemas.

Kriti talked about her casting in 'Housefull 4' and she shared that "Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana" played a pivotal role in her being offered the Akshay Kumar-led comedy franchise.

Talking about her work in the film, she said, "This is one film where I didn't care about what anyone else thought. I watched myself and said, 'Damn, Kriti, you nailed it! I'm so proud of you!" she shared.

"For the first time, people spoke about my performance, not just about how I looked. They appreciated the depth I brought to the role, and that, for me, was the biggest win".

Sharing what led to her casting in 'Housefull 4', the actress said that filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala watched 'Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana', and that's how she llanded Housefull 4.

Meanwhile, Pulkit, who was last seen in "Fukrey 3", will be seen in the sports-action-drama "Glory," where he will play a powerful boxer for the role.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 15 : Veteran Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, a towering figure in Kerala's politics, is widely recognised for his contributions to the party. However, a lesser-known facet of his work is his long-standing commitment to Dalit and Adivasi upliftment.

Thiruvananthapuram, March 15 (IANS) Veteran Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, a towering figure in Keralaas politics, is widely recognised for his contributions to the party. However, a lesser-known facet of his work is his long-standing commitment to Dalit and Adivasi upliftment.

Fifteen years ago, Chennithala embarked on a unique initiative -- spending New Yearas dawn with the poorest of the poor. While many dismissed it as a political gimmick, he remained steadfast in his mission.

Speaking to IANS, the four-time Lok Sabha MP and five-term legislator said his greatest satisfaction comes from this initiative, which he believes embodies the true spirit of Congress leadership.

"For the past 15 years, I have spent every New Yearas Day with the most underprivileged communities. This has been my most fulfilling achievement, giving me immense joy," said Chennithala, who also served as Keralaas Home Minister from 2014 to 2016.

After closely working with marginalized communities for over a decade, Chennithala now envisions expanding his movement nationwide.

"The time has come for a nationwide Dalit revolution. As a first step, we are organizing the Dalit Progressive Conclave 2025 under the Gandhigramam initiative," he told IANS.

The conclave, scheduled for March 23 in Thiruvananthapuram, will be inaugurated by Kerala Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar. The event will bring together prominent voices from across the country to discuss strategies for Dalit empowerment and social justice.

Among the key attendees are Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar (Grandson of Dr B.R. Ambedkar; MP Thol Thirumavalavan; Telangana Minister Dansari Anasuya; Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge; Former Union Minister Mukul Wasnik; Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor; leader of the opposition V.D. Satheesan; Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh; Jignesh Mevani and many others.

With 16.6 per cent of Indiaas population -- over 25 crore people -- still marginalized, Chennithala stresses the need for a strong Dalit movement.

"Through this conclave, we aim to transform this initiative into a national movement. We will engage with governments to ensure the most disadvantaged sections of society receive the care and support they deserve," he told IANS.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 15. The delegation of the Committee visited the headquarters of the organization in Lyon, France, as part of the implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the Asset Recovery Committee of the Prosecutor General's Office and the Kazakhstan Bureau of Interpol, Trend reports via Asset Recovery Committee of the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Throughout the visit, bilateral meetings were held with the heads of the Global Information and Outreach Management and Regional Support Division, Abdulaziz Obaidalla, as well as the Center for Financial Crime and Corruption Combat (IFCACC), Theos Badage.

Topical issues were discussed with Interpol representatives and measures were outlined to organize training events and field missions to exchange experience in asset recovery, as well as to intensify efforts to combat financial and corruption crimes, the information notes.

In the course of the meeting, INTERPOL General Secretariat staff also presented the new "Silver Notice" and the digital and operational capabilities of the Financial Crime and Corruption Combat Center (IFCACC), the criminal analysis division, and the command coordination center.

Meanwhile, the parties agreed to use the potential of Interpol to search for, seize, confiscate and return illegally acquired assets taken out of Kazakhstan.

Following the meeting, the Chairman of the Committee, Nurdaulet Suindikov, thanked the representatives of the General Secretariat for the invitation and emphasized that cooperation with the world's largest law enforcement organization, which unites 196 countries, will enhance Kazakhstan's capacity to search for and return assets.

INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization) is an international organization that unites law enforcement agencies from countries to combat transnational crime. It provides support in investigations, information exchange, and coordination of actions between police services of different countries. The main goal of INTERPOL is to assist in solving crimes such as terrorism, drug trafficking, cybercrime, corruption, and other forms of criminal activity that transcend national borders.
Quebec, March 15 : The Foreign Ministers of the Group of 7 (G7) countries blasted China's dangerous manoeuvres in South China as they wrapped up a three-day meeting in Quebec, Canada.

The G7 welcomed ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire deal after Ukraine recently announced support for the deal proposed by the US. It took a firm stance against China's assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

The G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and the High Representative of the European Union, met in Charlevoix, Quebec, from March 12 to 14, 2025.

The Joint Statement of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Charlevoix stated that the foreign ministers reiterated their commitment to upholding a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific based on sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes, fundamental freedoms and human rights.

They condemned China's "militarisation and coercion" and opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force and coercion.

"We remain seriously concerned by the situations in the East China Sea as well as the South China Sea and continue to strongly oppose unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force and coercion," it read.

"We expressed concern over the increasing use of dangerous manoeuvers and water cannons against Philippine and Vietnamese vessels as well as efforts to restrict freedom of navigation and overflight through militarisation and coercion in the South China Sea, in violation of international law," the statement added.

The G7 Foreign Ministers also emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. They also raised concerns about China's military build-up and the continued, rapid increase in Beijing's nuclear weapons arsenal.

"We called on China to engage in strategic risk reduction discussions and promote stability through transparency," the statement further added.

They also voiced their support for Ukraine during their three-day meeting.

The statement read that the G7 welcomed ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire, in particular, the meeting on March 11 between the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia.

It called for Russia to reciprocate by agreeing to a ceasefire on equal terms and implementing it fully.

"We discussed imposing further costs on Russia in case such a ceasefire is not agreed, including through further sanctions, caps on oil prices, as well as additional support for Ukraine and other means," the statement added.
Addis Ababa, March 15 : The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the international medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) have called for concerted efforts to contain the rapidly spreading cholera outbreak in western Ethiopia.

The MSF, in a statement issued on Friday, said a cholera outbreak is "rapidly spreading" across western Ethiopia's Gambella Region, endangering thousands of lives, as regional health authorities reported over 1,500 cases and 31 deaths.

Noting the worsening violence in South Sudan's Upper Nile State, it warned that thousands are being displaced, losing access to healthcare, safe water, and sanitation.

In a statement issued late on Wednesday, the WHO also raised the alarm over the rapid spread of the disease, noting that the outbreak, which was first detected in Gambella's Akobo District early last month, has since spread to eight districts and four refugee camps, Xinhua news agency reported.

The WHO said it has intensified response efforts by deploying a surge team of experts to provide on-site support on outbreak coordination, surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, risk communication, and community engagement, as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene support.

Highlighting that unsafe water and lack of hygiene and sanitation are fueling cholera's rapid spread in the region, the two organisations called for urgent support to health facilities, and the provision of safe water. They stressed that a cholera vaccination campaign is needed in the affected areas to stop the spread of the disease.

The escalating clashes between the government forces and armed groups in South Sudan's Upper Nile State have led to increased cross-border movements with refugees and injured people fleeing to Ethiopia, further exacerbating the cholera outbreak in Ethiopia's Gambella Region.

The WHO said it has initiated cross-border engagement efforts in cooperation with concerned authorities in South Sudan and Ethiopia to review progress in the cholera response and strengthen cooperation.
Abidjan, March 15 : Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira visited Cote d'Ivoire and had talks with his Ivorian counterpart Leon Kacou Adom at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cote d'Ivoire in Abidjan.

A key focus of their discussions on Friday was the signing of an aviation cooperation agreement aimed at establishing direct flights between the two countries, which will likely be operated by one of the two countries' airlines, Xinhua news agency reported.

Beyond aviation, the ministers explored opportunities for collaboration in education and diplomatic training. Vieira emphasised the strong social and cultural ties between Brazil and Cote d'Ivoire, noting significant potential for growth in bilateral trade.

"We aim to strengthen cooperation and provide more opportunities for young Ivorian diplomats to study at Brazil's diplomatic academy," he stated.

Adom highlighted the economic similarities between Cote d'Ivoire and Brazil, particularly in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries. He mentioned the potential for development and optimisation of these resources through South-South cooperation and mutually beneficial partnerships.

"We plan to sign a strategic partnership agreement to identify key areas for collaboration and inject new momentum into our bilateral relations," he added.

The two officials also exchanged views on multilateral issues, including the reform of the United Nations Security Council, and the upcoming COP30 set to take place in Brazil in November 2025.

During the meeting, Vieira extended a formal invitation to Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara and his Ivorian counterpart to visit Brazil.
Patna, March 15 : A property dispute turned violent in the East Champaran district on Friday night, leaving one person dead and three others seriously injured.

The incident took place in Bakhri Panchayat under the jurisdiction of Kalyanpur police station during a feast hosted by village head (Mukhiya) Jagarnath Rai as part of Holi celebrations.

According to police, an old property dispute between two groups escalated into a violent confrontation, culminating in a knife fight. Upon receiving information, police arrived promptly, rescued the injured, and launched an investigation.

"We have recovered the body and sent it to Sadar Hospital, Motihari, for post-mortem. Thirteen people, including Mukhiya Jagarnath Rai, have been arrested in connection with the incident," said Jitendra Kumar, SHO of Kalyanpur police station.

The deceased has been identified as Rohit Kumar, who succumbed to multiple stab wounds. The injured are undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Authorities are working to maintain peace in the village.

In a separate incident in Munger district on Friday night, a youth was shot dead and another sustained gunshot injuries following a dispute over Holi songs.

The incident occurred in Shankarpur Milki village under the jurisdiction of Mufassil police station. The deceased, identified as Bhola Kumar, died on the spot after being shot, while his friend, Golu Kumar, was seriously injured.

According to police, the altercation began when a group led by Mantu Yadav, Fuko Yadav, Anil Yadav, and Prashant Yadav objected to Bhola and Golu playing Holi songs near their house. When the duo refused to stop, the confrontation escalated, leading to the shooting.

Golu Kumar, who sustained a gunshot wound to his waist, was initially treated at Munger Sadar Hospital before being referred to a higher medical center. Police are investigating the incident and searching for the accused.

Munger MLA Pranab Kumar Yadav visited the hospital, assured the victims' families of strict action, and urged authorities to restore peace in the area.
New Delhi, March 15 : Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande on Saturday strongly criticised AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi for his remarks on Vinayak Savarkar, accusing him of repeatedly insulting the freedom fighter.

Speaking to IANS, Kayande said, "Some people in the country have made it a habit to insult Savarkar, to make him controversial, and tarnish his image. Owaisi and his party should study history so that they can come to their senses."

Kayande also pointed out that a case is currently underway against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Savarkar.

She added, "Uddhav ji should make it clear that by making such remarks, he has distanced himself from the Congress."

Owaisi, the President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Member of Parliament from Hyderabad, had made contentious remarks earlier on Friday.

He claimed that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had mistreated Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Owaisi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking if he agreed with the views of RSS ideologue M.S. Golwalkar.

He said, "Savarkar and Golwalkar insulted Sambhaji Maharaj. So, why does the Prime Minister say that the film 'Chhawa' is good, even though he considers Golwalkar his guru?"

In another political development, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut made a controversial statement comparing the current BJP government to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, claiming that the current regime is even worse.

Manisha Kayande said, "Sanjay Raut must have watched the film Chhawa. If he studied history, he would know that Aurangzeb was a cruel ruler. Under his reign, anyone who spoke against the government had their tongue pulled out. But today, despite saying inappropriate things, Sanjay Raut is safe and sound. He should read history again."
Tumakuru, March 15 : Five people were arrested on Saturday in connection with pelting stones at the girls' toilet of a government school in Karnataka and assaulting a schoolboy who questioned their act.

The accused have been identified as Mehboob Sharif, Shamshuddin, Irfan, Mubaraq, Muddassir, Yasin, and Tazim, all residents of Huliyar city.

Police have launched a search for two more suspects.

According to the police, the incident occurred at the Government School in Huliyar town in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk of Tumakuru district on Friday.

Yashwanth, a school student, noticed the group hurling stones at the girls' toilet and confronted them, warning them to stop.

Enraged by this, the group chased him onto the school premises and brutally attacked him with sticks.

The head teacher and school staff rushed to the spot and rescued the boy from the attackers. As teachers and other students gathered, the accused fled the scene.

The student sustained injuries in his back and head and has been admitted to the government hospital in Chikkanayakanahalli town.

The school management lodged a complaint with Huliyar police station regarding the assault on the student and pelting stones at the girls' toilet.

Notably, Tumakuru is the hometown of Home Minister G. Parameshwara.

The BJP has repeatedly accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of appeasement politics, claiming that "miscreants from the minority community have no fear of the law in the state".

Former CM and BJP MLA Basavaraja Bommai, while criticising the case of the murder of a nurse in Haveri district, had charged that the 'love jihad' network is actively operating in the state, and the rising number of such incidents is due to the "lack of fear" among criminals.

CM Bommai said: "The rise in such crimes is due to the lack of fear among criminals and emphasised that only strict punishment for the guilty can curb such incidents."
New Delhi, March 15 : The Delhi Traffic Police prosecuted 1,213 motorists for drunken driving during Holi celebrations in the national Capital on Friday, an official said.

Dinesh Kumar Gupta, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic, said on Saturday that during a special drive between 8 a.m. to midnight on Friday, as many as 2,376 two-wheeler riders were prosecuted for driving without helmet.

For triple riding, the traffic police prosecuted 573 vehicle owners. Apart from these, 3,068 other tickets were issued for various traffic rule violations, he said.

"A total of 7,230 traffic rule violations were reported on Holi day," said Gupta.

Keeping in view Holi (Dhulendi) celebration on Friday, the Traffic Police had deployed 84 special teams to check drunken driving with alcometer, he said.

Another 40 joint checking teams of Traffic Police and local police were deployed at major intersections and vulnerable points for the Holi celebration to detect and prosecute traffic violations.

The police had made elaborate arrangements to ensure the safety of pedestrians and motorists on roads and check incidents of drunken driving, triple riding, driving by minors, without helmet and performing stunts on two-wheelers.

In a separate case, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police on Saturday announced the arrest of a woman drug peddler, along with heroin worth Rs 20 lakh, from Bhopura in Uttar Pradesh.

Twenty six-year-old Vandana alias Pooja used to source the contraband from a dealer Sachin, who is already in custody, and sell it in small quantities in Northeast Delhi's Nand Nagri, Sundar Nagri and Rajender Nagar.

Vandana, 26, wife of Akash, was arrested based on secret information that was technically developed and verified by Inspector Vivekanand, Cyber Cell, Crime Branch.

On February 20, the Crime Branch had nabbed Vandana's supplier Sachin, 36, a resident of Nand Nagari, and bust an interstate supply network of contraband heroin.

A total of 601 gm fine quality of heroin was recovered from his possession, the police said.

Vandana's name surfaced in a disclosure statement of accused Sachin, who was booked under Sections 21 and 25 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 that deal with preparing drugs and using a property for the offence.
Mumbai, March 15 : Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has shared heartfelt birthday wishes for her "favourite superstar," Alia Bhatt, as she celebrates her 32nd birthday today.

On Saturday, Bebo took to her Instagram stories and dropped a candid photo of her with the birthday girl. In the image, Kareena is seen making a pout, while Alia flaunts her radiant smile. The two can be seen dressed in traditional outfits as they pose together for the picture perfect.

Alongside the photo, the 'Heroine' actress wrote, "Happy Birthday to my favourite girl superstar love you tons." Kareena also added read heart emojis to the post.

Veteran actress Neetu Kapoor also shared a heartfelt post featuring a cherished picture of herself with Alia. She described her daughter-in-law Alia as a "gorgeous friend" in her caption. Sharing their smiling photo, Neetu wrote, "Happy birthday my gorgeous friend this pic is precious as it's our first. Stay happy and blessed love love and more love."

Alia's sister Pooja Bhatt also showered birthday love on the 'Raazi' actress by sharing her priceless childhood photo. The rare black-and-white throwback photo shared a heartwarming moment between the siblings, with a young Pooja tenderly holding toddler Alia in her arms. Both are smiling softly at the camera, with little Alia looking irresistibly cute as she leans into her older sister.

Sharing the adorable click, Pooja Bhatt wrote in the caption, "Happy Birthday @aliaabhatt May you always be childlike & true."

Alia Bhatt received heartfelt birthday wishes from several stars, including sweet posts from Rakul Preet Singh, Ananya Panday, and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, among others.

Interestingly, Alia kicked off her birthday festivities a little early this year. On Thursday, she and her husband, actor Ranbir Kapoor, hosted a pre-birthday celebration with the media. During the event, the 'Rockstar' actor showered Alia with affectionate kisses on her forehead.

Following the celebration, the couple planned to head to Alibaug for a more intimate celebration of both Holi and Alia's birthday. However, their plans were abruptly changed when they received the tragic news of the passing of their close friend and filmmaker Ayan Mukerji's father, Deb Mukerji.
Washington, March 15 : Pledging to continue efforts to have a cleaner and safer Washington, US President Donald Trump on Saturday, India time, said that he had a "route run" around White House and the headquarters of the United States Department of State ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US capital to make sure that a cleanliness drive is carried out throughout the area to make it look nice and tidy.

"We said there are tents galore right opposite the State Department. They have to come down and they took them down right away. And, so far, so good. We want to have a capital that can be the talk of the world," Trump said while delivering a speech from the Department of Justice (DoJ).

"When Prime Minister Modi of India, when the President of France, and all of these people, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, they all came to see me over the last week and a half. When they come in, I had the route run. I didn't want to have them see tents. I didn't want to have them see graffiti. I didn't want to have them see broken barriers and potholes in the roads. And we had it looking beautiful," Trump stated.

The US President emphasised that his administration will make sure that the American capital is cleaned up completely.

"We are cleaning up our city. We are cleaning up this great capital and we are not going to have crime, and we are not going to stand for crime, and we are going to take the graffiti down, and we are already taking the tents down, and we are working with the administration," Trump added while praising Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, who he said has been doing a "good job".

The US President hosted PM Modi for an Official Working Visit in Washington, DC on February 13 which took place within three weeks of Trump beginning his second term at the White House, showcasing the priority that both leaders attached to the India-US relationship.

During the two-day visit, Prime Narendra Modi stayed at the Blair House -- the historic guest house which is a 70,000-square-foot extension of the White House.

As he welcomed PM Modi at his Oval Office, Trump stated that he was "thrilled" to welcome "friend Narendra Modi" back to the White House.

The US President also gifted a signed copy of his book 'Our Journey Together' to PM Modi when the two leaders met at the White House and wrote "you are great".
Geneva, March 15 : India came out strongly in favour of advancing labour welfare, quality employment and social justice worldwide at a meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) being held here from March 10 to March 20.

The Indian delegation, led by Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, made several interventions on key issues, showcasing India's achievements, learnings and perspectives to advance the shared agenda of promoting labour welfare, social justice and quality employment generation globally.

Social protection, responsible business conduct, living wages, AI and future of work, and fair global migration emerged as key areas of India-ILO collaboration.

The ILO's 353rd Governing Body meeting brings together representatives from governments, workers and employers, to discuss crucial matters relating to the world of work and the governance of ILO.

India extended its support to ILO on the organisation of the UN led Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar later this year, as it aims at reinforcing the social dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Social Development.

India's inspiring progress in promoting social justice and development was highlighted, as India has doubled its social protection coverage to 48.8 per cent, increasing the average global social protection coverage by over 5 per cent.

The contribution of India's flagship institutions and schemes such as EPFO (7.37 crore contributing members), ESIC (14.4 crore beneficiaries), e-Shram Portal (30.6 crore registered unorganised members), PM Jan Arogya Yojana (60 crore beneficiaries) and Targeted PDS (food security to 81.35 crore beneficiaries) was acknowledged in this context,

India, as one of the largest countries of origin of migrant workers and recipient of highest remittances, reiterated its support for greater global cooperation in promoting well-managed, skills-based migration pathways.

ILO was urged to enhance efforts towards generating global momentum for securing social protection and rights for migrant workers through bilateral labour migration and social security agreements. Support was extended for ILO's proposal to convene the first Tripartite Global Forum on Migration under the ILO based Global Coalition for Social Justice, by India as a leading partner of the Global Coalition.

India also reaffirmed its commitment towards playing a leading role towards ensuring a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste, safeguarding workers, communities and the environment. The actions being undertaken by ILO in the follow up to the Bonn Declaration were acknowledged.

Besides, the Indian team also highlighted key initiatives taken by the country towards safeguarding the health and safety of workers and communities including Factories Act, and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code and the capacity-building measures under the Viksit Bharat 2047 Action Plan towards ensuring workplace safety in Major Accident Hazardous (MAH) units.

The Indian delegation also held several bilateral discussions with the Director General and senior experts of ILO, and representatives of other countries on labour and employment matters of keen interest to India.

Sumita Dawra met Gilbert F. Houngbo, the DG-ILO and congratulated him for his flagship initiative the Global Coalition for Social Justice, which has emerged as a robust platform for global collaboration to promote social justice. She also reiterated the need for ILO to consider in-kind benefits while assessing social protection coverage.

This assumes significance as India has commenced a State Specific Data Pooling exercise in collaboration with ILO to get a more accurate assessment of India's social protection coverage.

DG-ILO appreciated India for playing a leading role in the Global Coalition by championing the key Coalition intervention "Responsible business for sustainable and inclusive societies," and successfully organising the first ever "Regional Dialogue on Social Justice" at New Delhi last month.

"This has inspired other countries to enhance their contribution to the coalition's agenda," he remarked.

Houngbo invited India to participate pro-actively in the upcoming Annual Forum on Social Justice, and showcase best practices of Indian industry in terms of Responsible Business Conduct, payment of Living Wages, and harnessing AI for a socially just Future of Work.

The DG also expressed his appreciation for India's first ever voluntary financial support to ILO towards conduct of a feasibility study on development of international reference classification of occupations by ILO and OECD. This India led initiative will facilitate in galvanising global employment opportunities for Indian youth through benchmarking, and mutual recognition of skills and qualifications. Development of the international classification is a historic commitment made by the G20 leaders under India's G20 presidency of 2023.

India also discussed future collaborations in pipeline with ILO on shared priorities including determination and operationalisation of living wages, gig and platform workers' welfare and decent work in value chains.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 15. The Counselor of the Embassy of Turkmenistan highlighted the countrys commitment to strengthening cooperation with Belgium and the EU in trade, logistics, and industry during the Team Belgium Global Gateway event, Trend reports.

The event, organized by Belgium's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and leading economic agencies, brought together government officials, business leaders, and experts to discuss investments and partnerships in Central Asia, including the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor.

The Counselor of the Embassy of Turkmenistan provided a detailed overview of the countrys dynamic economic development, advantageous strategic location, and favorable investment climate.

The presentation of the Turkmen side focused on the development of transport and logistics infrastructure. The Embassys representative noted that the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, with an annual cargo turnover exceeding 17 million tons, is becoming a vital link in Eurasian trade. He also highlighted opportunities for Belgian companies in railway expansion, terminal upgrades, and digitalization in the transport sector.

Another key topic of the presentation was Turkmenistans energy policy. The diplomat stressed the strategic importance of the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline for EU energy security, as well as the East-West Gas Pipeline as a crucial component of the national gas transportation system.

In addition, information was provided on the active development of green energy in the country, including solar and wind power plant projects and the concept of a smart city in Arkadag.

The roundtable discussed investment opportunities in Turkmenistans construction and industrial sectors, including high-tech industrial zones, modern mineral processing, and sustainable mining. A major project highlighted was the 600-kilometer AshgabatTurkmenabat expressway to improve regional connectivity.

The participation of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Belgium in this roundtable reaffirmed the countrys commitment to strengthening trade and economic relations with Belgium and the European Union.

Belgium plays a key role in the EUs economic policies and has strong trade relations with Turkmenistan. The total trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Belgium amounted to about 17 million euros in 2023, which is twice as much as in 2018 (8.13 million euros).
Aden, March 15 : Several Yemeni banks headquartered in the capital city of Sanaa have decided to relocate their operations to the temporary capital, Aden, to avoid sanctions imposed by Washington on the Houthi group, the Central Bank of Yemen said Saturday.

In a statement, the Central Bank welcomed the commercial banks' relocation decision, noting that it is ready to provide all possible support and protection to ensure the continuity of their services to Yemeni citizens at home and abroad.

The Central Bank expressed its readiness to work with all international and regional financial and relief institutions to safeguard the country's banking system and enable their smooth operation.

Acknowledging the complexities of the situation, the Central Bank said it is dealing with it cautiously and responsibly to avoid any repercussions that could harm the interests of citizens and the national economy, particularly the banking sector.

In May last year, the Central Bank suspended dealings with six major commercial banks in the country due to their failure to relocate from the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa to Aden and their cooperation with the militant group, Xinhua news agency reported. However, the decision was cancelled later following external mediation.

On March 4, the US State Department designated the Houthis as a "Foreign Terrorist Organisation", under an order announced by President Donald Trump upon taking office in January.

UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg on Wednesday had emphasised the necessity of coordinating regional and international efforts to decrease tensions and advance an inclusive political process in Yemen.

Grundberg made the remarks during a visit to Saudi capital Riyadh, where he met with Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber, UAE Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al-Zaabi, ambassadors of the permanent members of the Security Council, and other senior officials, the UN envoy's office said in a statement posted on social media platform X.

"Discussions focused on Yemen and regional developments, including key political dynamics," the statement said.

"He stressed the importance of unity and collective action in achieving a sustainable and peaceful resolution to the conflict," it added.

Yemen has been mired in a devastating military conflict between the Houthi group and the internationally recognized government for more than a decade.
Agartala, March 15 : For the first time, nine youths from Tripura have got jobs in Japan as nursing caregivers and 60 more candidates would go to the East Asian country in the next financial year (2025-26) for work, officials said here on Saturday.

A Tripura government official said that of the nine youths, who got jobs in Japan with a monthly salary exceeding Rs one lakh, three candidates have already joined there as nursing caregivers under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) scheme and six more candidates would be going there by July.

He said that under the Mukhya Mantri Dhakhyata Unnayan Prakalpa (MMDUP), the state Directorate of Skill Development would send 60 candidates to Japan in the fiscal 2025-26 for jobs.

The official said that the Indian and Japanese governments had signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to promote the SSW programme. To enhance global employment development and opportunities for nursing students, the Directorate of Skill Development, in collaboration with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) International, has successfully facilitated the recruitment of nursing candidates in Japan.

SSW is a new residency status which allows Indian candidates to work in Japan for the long term. The enrolled candidates would undergo full-time residential Japanese language training and other nursing inputs for 9 months at an institution (empanelled by NSDC International) in Greater Noida. Upon passing the language exams, they would be placed in Japan. The official said that this initiative marks a significant milestone in the state's commitment to skill development and international employment opportunities for youths. With financial support from the North Eastern Council (NEC), the selected candidates completed a nine-month Japanese language training programme in Greater Noida.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday felicitated the six nursing caregivers who have got jobs in Japan.

"Under the Mukhyamantri Dakhyata Prakalpa and the MoC with Japan and Skill Development, Tripura is paving the way for more opportunities in the global workforce. A proud moment as our talented youth take their skills to the international stage !" Saha said in a post on X.
Sindh, March 15 : Protests erupted in the Sindh province of Pakistan against the construction of canals on the River Indus, with echoing demands to "let the water flow."

A seminar titled 'Indus River: The lifeline of Sindh under Threat' by the National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) and the youth organisation was conducted on Friday at the press club in Karachi. It coincided with 'International Action Day for Rivers.'

Speakers at the seminar highlighted the growing ecological and socio-economic challenges posed by the degradation of the Indus River, local media reported.

At the same time, a large number of fisherwomen and men, along with political and human rights activists, participated in the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum's rally against the Cholistan project and other canals on the Indus River.

The demand of the rally was 'No Canals, No Dams, and No Cuts' on the Indus River.

Protests and rallies taken out across the province saw an unusually wider participation of the people, who called for an end to the project of building six more canals on the river, reports the leading Pakistani newspaper, The Express Tribune.

Earlier this week, rejecting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari's speech in a joint session of parliament on the construction of six new canals, the Save Indus River Movement (SIRM) announced province-wide protests against what it called "unconstitutional projects."

Criticising President Zardari for allegedly approving the canal projects, the SIRM leaders at a press conference demanded that the Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) quit the federal government.

SIRM Convener Syed Zain Shah warned that Sindh's agriculture would be destroyed, cities would face a severe water crisis, the ecosystem would collapse due to the drying up of the Indus River, and underground water resources would deplete benefiting only corporate interests.

He rejected President Zardari's statement on the canal projects and demanded that instead of making vague statements, the President should revoke the notification approving the new canals.

Syed Zain Shah stated that the Pakistani government's highly unjust decisions had put the existence of the state at risk, making justice almost impossible to attain, leading daily Dawn reported.

In February, with vocal expressions of disapproval being reiterated time and again against building six new canals on the Indus River, the nationalist parties of Sindh organised protests and blocked highways in different parts of the province.

Pakistan has witnessed a series of protests in recent days, with citizens raising their voices against what they describe as "anti-people policies" and "violation" of Sindh's rights.
Hyderabad, March 15 : At least 60 Maoists laid down their arms and surrendered before the police in Bhadradri Kothagudem district of Telangana on Saturday, officials said. The district shares its border with the insurgency-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.

The mass surrender took place at the Kothagudem Superintendent of Police (SP) office in the presence of the Inspector General (IG) of Police, Multi-Zone 1.

Senior police officials, including SP Rohith Raju and Bhadrachalam Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), also attended the press conference where the surrender was formally announced.

According to the police, the surrendered Maoists belong to various cadres and include individuals holding significant positions within the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist).

Among those who surrendered, at least 16 are women. The police further revealed that several of the surrendered Maoists hail from the Bijapur and Sukma districts of Chhattisgarh, known as hotbeds of Maoist activity.

Officials attributed the surrender to the government's sustained efforts to encourage Maoists to abandon violence and reintegrate into mainstream society.

The police said that the insurgents were persuaded to surrender after being made aware of the various welfare measures and rehabilitation packages being offered by the state government.

"It is encouraging to see these individuals choose to leave the path of violence and return to society," SP Rohit Raj said while addressing the media.

"One of the surrendered Maoists held a high-ranking position," he added.

This mass surrender comes on the heels of a similar event on March 4, when 14 Maoists laid down their arms in the same district.

Earlier on February 13, at least 19 CPI (Maoists) from Chhattisgarh surrendered before the Bhadradri Kothagudem police.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said time and again that Maoists will be eradicated by March 2026 and then no citizen will have to lose his life due to this.
New Delhi, March 15 : In a road rage incident on the day of Holi, a motorcyclist was murdered in cold blood on a busy road by another biker who smashed a bottle on his head and slit his neck with the glass after their vehicles grazed each other in east Delhi's Kalyanpuri area.

The assailant Pankaj, 25, a Ghaziabad resident who works as a salesman in a coffee company Sleepy Owl, and his co-rider Jeetu, a resident of Mandawali, were arrested for the murder of Ashish, 25, within four hours of the incident at 6.30 p.m. on Friday, said a police official.

The victim was rushed to a hospital after the clash by his friend accompanying him on the vehicle but he died on the way, the police said.

Ashish, a resident of Ghaziabad, was a tea stall vendor who also owned an outlet in Noida's Sector 9, police said.

Additional DCP, East, Vineet Kumar, said Pankaj and Jeetu have been arrested on murder charges.

"Their medical report is awaited to confirm if they were drunk at the time of the incident," he said, adding that witnesses claimed that Pankaj appeared to be under the influence of alcohol when the fight took place.

The police were informed about the killing by the hospital where Ashish was rushed after the incident.

A senior official said several teams were formed to trace the accused and using the registration number of Pankaj's bike they zeroed in on his home in Ghaziabad and arrested him.

On the day of Holi, the Delhi Traffic Police prosecuted 1,213 motorists for drunken driving during celebrations in the national capital, an official said.

Dinesh Kumar Gupta, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic, said that during a special drive between 8 a.m. to midnight on Friday, 2,376 two-wheeler riders were prosecuted for driving without a helmet.

For triple riding, the traffic police prosecuted 573 vehicle owners. Apart from these, 3,068 other tickets were issued for various traffic rule violations, he said.

"A total of 7,230 traffic rule violations were reported on the day of Holi," said Gupta.
Mumbai, March 15 : Maharashtra Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and MLA Abu Azmi on Saturday advocated for Hindi as a unifying language across India.

His remarks come amidst Tamil Nadu government's decision to replace the official rupee symbol with its Tamil script equivalent in the state's Budget 2025-26, a move that has sparked sharp political reactions.

"India is a large country. There should be a language that is acceptable to all, and I believe that Hindi is that language," Azmi told IANS.

"There is a parliamentary committee for this also, and I feel that from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Hindi should be given the recognition. What someone wants to do in their state is their call," he added.

The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government's move to replace the rupee symbol has drawn strong criticism from various quarters.

Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande termed it "unconstitutional" and a violation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines.

"The Tamil Nadu government has no authority to change our national rupee symbol to any local language," she told IANS.

Calling the move a "political stunt," Kayande accused the DMK of deliberately challenging the Centre.

"The three-language policy has been accepted in India for a long time. Hindi is a common language. They give recognition to English but not to Hindi. They love speaking and learning English but do not like Hindi, even though it is an Indian language. This is just an attempt to create hatred among the people," she said.

Speaking to IANS, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam called the DMK's decision "treasonous" and "anti-national."

He reminded that when the rupee symbol was introduced during the Congress-led UPA era, the DMK was part of the government.

"The rupee symbol is the pride of this country. Changing it and using Tamil letters instead is unacceptable," he said.

Nirupam also accused the Dravidian parties of using anti-Hindi sentiments for political gain.

"The Stalin government is pushing an anti-Hindi agenda, which is objectionable and shameful. This phase of extreme opposition to Hindi could lead to Stalin's downfall. The entire country is united today, unlike the 1960s when such movements took place. Hindi has gained respect nationwide as an effective communication language," he said.

He further emphasised that Tamil Nadu's resistance to Hindi could prove detrimental.

"People from Tamil Nadu do business in Hindi-speaking states and use Hindi for communication. If they continue this extremist attitude, they may end up isolating themselves, which would not be in Tamil Nadu's best interest," Nirupam warned.
Chandigarh, March 15 : The Shiromani Akali Dal SAD) on Saturday strongly condemned the incident of a blast near the Thakur Dwara Mandir in Amritsar and demanded a judicial probe to identify the perpetrators.

In a statement here, Akali Dal leader Daljit Cheema said the incident, which hurt the sentiments of the people, seemed to be part of a plan to disturb peace and communal harmony in Punjab.

"This is the 13th such blast in the area and is proof of the complete collapse of law and order in the state," he said.

"Both the Union and state governments should take moral responsibility for these incidents and should desist from interfering in the religious affairs of Sikhs and stop provoking forces who want to illegally take control of Sikh institutions. Such experiments have proved to be dangerous in the past and are again taking Punjab in the wrong direction. So both state and Union governments should learn from history," Cheema added.

In a daring incident, two bike-borne assailants hurled a hand grenade at a temple, triggering a powerful blast. However, no one was injured in the explosion.

The CCTV footage showed the attackers arriving at the location on a bike with a flag mounted on it. After waiting for a few seconds, one of them threw a grenade, and both fled the spot. Police believe the attack was carried out as part of a planned strategy to trigger fear amid the Holi festivities. The templeas wall was damaged in the explosion. Fortunately, a priest and his family, who were residing on the upper floor of the temple, were unharmed.

Area resident Kiranpreet Singh, who is an advocate by profession, said: "At around 12 a.m., two people came on a bike, stopped outside the Thakur Dwara Mandir, conducted a recce and threw a grenade at the temple. The blast was so powerful that it also affected the nearby buildings, breaking windowpanes. The police later reached the spot. As per the evidence, this was a grenade attack."

Amritsar Police Commissioner, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, told the media that efforts "are being made by Pakistan to disturb the atmosphere here, and some local youths are involved in this. I urge our youths not to get involved in such activities".

State minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said some miscreants hurled a grenade at a temple after midnight. "The situation is under control. Two people have been identified. They will be caught within a day," he added.
Patna, March 15 : Four people were arrested on Saturday in connection with the murder of Munger ASI Santosh Kumar Singh.

During the brief chase to arrest the accused, four policemen, including police station chief Chandan Kumar, inspector Shriram Kumar, constable Saif Ali and one other policeman, were injured.

Munger SP Syed Imran Masood confirmed that the police acted swiftly and managed to nab four criminals.

While transporting an arrested accused, Guddu Yadav, to Bakarpur village under Mufassil Police Station to nab other accused, the police vehicle overturned while trying to avoid hitting a goat. Seizing the opportunity, Guddu Yadav grabbed a rifle from Jawan Saif Ali and attempted to fire at the police team to escape from the scene.

The police warned him and initiated retaliatory firing on him in self-defence.

"Guddu Yadav sustained a bullet injury in his right leg while resisting arrest. Four police personnel suffered injuries in the chase. Raids are ongoing to track down other absconding accused," Masood said.

Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Singh, who sustained critical injuries during a scuffle with villagers in Munger, succumbed to his injuries on Saturday morning.

The incident occurred at Nandlalpur village under the jurisdiction of Mufassil police station in the district on Friday night when a team of DIAL 112 received information about one Ranveer Kumar was creating a ruckus in an inebriated state in the village.

Accordingly, a DIAL 112 team, led by ASI Singh, was sent to control the situation. When he reached there and tried to intervene in the matter, Ranveer, Guddu and his family members attacked the police team with sharp-edge weapons, leaving Santosh with serious skull injuries.

Later, ASI Singh, a resident of Mohania block, Kaimur, succumbed to his injuries.

Masood said that the post-mortem of Santosh was completed, and the body will be sent to Kaimur from Munger shortly.

Munger range DIG, District Magistrate, and Superintendent of Police paid tribute to ASI Singh.

He was also given a guard of honour at the police line.

Earlier on March 12, an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) was killed during the violent clash in Biharas Araria district. The deceased has been identified as Rajiv Ranjan Mall, an ASI posted at Fulkaha police station in Araria.
Johannesburg, March 15 : The Presidency of South Africa has expressed regret over the expulsion of South African Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the presidency, it has noted the regrettable expulsion of the South African ambassador and urged all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter.

"South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States," said the presidency.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Rasool "persona non grata" on the social media platform X on Friday, following an earlier address by the South African ambassador in which he criticized US President Donald Trump.

In the address, Rasool accused Trump of "leading a global white supremacist movement" and breaking down established norms and practices when it comes to diplomacy, Xinhua news agency reported.

Trump signed an executive order in February to cut financial assistance to South Africa, citing disapproval of its land policy and accusing the country of "seizing ethnic minority Afrikaners' agricultural property." The move also came amid South Africa's genocide case against Washington's ally, Israel, at the International Court of Justice.

On March 10, South Africa's Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) had expressed regret over the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

In a statement released on Monday, the PCC voiced "disappointment" over the US decision to exit the International Partners Group (IPG) and the Board of the Loss and Damage Fund, which were established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at COP27.

The commission noted that the US withdrawal from the JETP with South Africa had reduced international Just Energy Transition pledges from 13.8 billion US dollars to 12.8 billion dollars.

"South Africa regards the UNFCCC and its mechanisms as central to tackling climate change and the only credible platform which brings together all countries at the highest level to discuss and collaborate on climate action and in keeping multilateralism alive," said Dorah Modise, PCC Executive Director.

Modise reaffirmed the government's commitment to mobilizing both global and domestic action on climate change and urged development partners to stay the course.

"South Africa remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving a just and equitable energy transition and has made significant strides on this journey, and we call upon all other IPG partners to remain committed to supporting South Africa's decarbonization efforts," Modise said.

Modise emphasised that building resilience in climate-vulnerable urban areas and integrating mitigation strategies with economic development remain top priorities for the PCC this year.

US President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order reprioritizing US climate policy, revoking the International Climate Finance Plan issued by the previous administration, including commitments related to the JETP.
Baramati, March 15 : Amid talk of a deteriorating law and order situation in Beed, especially after several cases came to light following the brutal killing of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in December last year, the NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday dared the Maharashtra government to take stern action against those who are taking the law into their hands, notwithstanding their political affiliations.

"I have known Beed district for many years. But the situation in Beed was never like this. I have many years of experience with Beed district, which is peaceful and known for its cordial and harmonious atmosphere. When I was paying attention to that area myself, six members of my party were elected from Beed and there was a harmonious atmosphere there," said Sharad Pawar during a media interaction.

Sharad Pawar added that the Maharashtra government should take due steps so that Beed regains its past glory.

"Unfortunately, some people took a stand to misuse power and we have been seeing its consequences in Beed for the past few months.

"I am of the clear opinion that the state government, regardless of who is involved, needs to formulate a very strict policy regarding anyone who takes the law into their own hands and spoils the atmosphere," said Sharad Pawar.

The senior Pawar also commented on the raging controversy over BJP minister Nitesh Rane's initiative to issue Malhar certification to 'jhatka' mutton shops to help Hindus identify mutton shops owned by people from the community.

"Are there other issues before the state or not? Are these national issues?" he asked.

Sharad Pawar said there were some elements who were taking advantage.

"The Maharashtra government should take a decision to deal firmly with such people. Strict action should be taken. If they are abusing power and trying to widen the gap between people on the basis of caste and religion, action should be taken against them," Sharad Pawar added.

On the surge in farmers' suicides in Maharashtra, Sharad Pawar said that the Centre should formulate a policy to address the issue.

On the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture, Sharad Pawar said that AI is being used in Baramati Agriculture Development Centre to increase the per acre production of sugarcane that will lead to increase in sugar output.

"I am happy that many sugar factories in South Maharashtra have shown their willingness to apply AI technology. It will be implemented after seeking their views," he added.

On media reports about state unit chief Jayant Patil being upset, the senior Pawar said, "Jayant Patil has already clarified his stand."

Patil has made it clear that he is not deserting Sharad Pawar nor does he have any plans to leave NCP(SP) and join another party.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 15. The Director of the Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, Bekhzod Musayev, and the Mayor of Ulsan, South Korea, Kim Doo-gyum, have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, Trend reports.

According to the document, candidates wishing to work in Ulsan, South Koreas economic capital, will undergo a three-month professional training and language course at the newly established Ulsan Professional Training Center in Fergana.

Graduates of the center will receive a work visa directly from the Ulsan city administration and will be employed at Hyundais shipbuilding plant.

The official opening ceremony of the center will take place in Fergana on March 18, after which training sessions will commence.

This initiative is being introduced exclusively for Uzbekistan among the 17 countries supplying labor to South Korea.

In general, Uzbekistan and South Korea have strengthened economic ties, particularly in sectors like manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure. Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover reached $54.3 billion from January through October 2024, showing a 6.7% increase compared to $50.9 billion for the same period in 2023.
Vadodara, March 15 : In a crackdown on illegal drug trafficking, the Special Operations Group (SOG) raided a residence in Vadodara and seized a cache of codeine-based cough syrup worth Rs 5.78 lakh.

Two suspects, Vipul Satishbhai Rajput, and Keyur Rajput, were apprehended during the operation.

Acting on a tip-off, the SOG team conducted a raid at Ratilal Park near Kaladarshan Crossroad, where the accused had been storing and selling the contraband. The authorities discovered 2,570 bottles of cough syrup, each containing 100 ml, with and without stickers. The operation also led to the seizure of empty boxes, mobile phones, cash, and a vehicle, bringing the total value of the confiscated items to Rs 7.89 lakh.

An FIR has been registered against both suspects under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Pani Gate police station.

Notably, Keyur Rajput already had a prior NDPS case filed against him at the Bhalaj police station in Anand.

In recent years, Gujarat has witnessed several significant seizures of illegal codeine-based cough syrup, highlighting a growing concern over the misuse of such medications. In June 2018, a joint operation by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) led to the confiscation of over 42,000 bottles of Safecod Cough Syrup in Patan.

Valued at approximately Rs 52 lakh, this seizure was one of the largest in the state. The syrup, containing codeine phosphate, was illegally stocked in a godown near Rajpur bus stand.

Investigations revealed that the suspect had procured the drug from a manufacturer in Himachal Pradesh and had already sold around 12,900 bottles illegally. In September 2020, the FDCA and the State Monitoring Cell of Gujarat Police seized 4,942 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup worth Rs 5.72 lakh in Bavla. The syrups, classified as Schedule H drugs requiring a prescription, were being sold on the black market.

The operation uncovered stocks in both a godown and a residential apartment, leading to the booking of two individuals under the NDPS Act.

More recently, in March 2024, the Local Crime Branch of Morbi police seized 90,000 bottles of codeine-laced cough syrup, valued at Rs 1.84 crore. The syrup had been trafficked from Jharkhand and was intended for distribution across the Saurashtra region.
Seoul, March 15 : Tens of thousands of supporters and protesters gathered in South Korea's Seoul on Saturday, either opposing or demanding the ouster of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ahead of the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling.

Candle Move, an anti-Yoon civic group, hosted rallies near the Constitutional Court in central Seoul, possibly for the last weekend before the court's impeachment ruling on Yoon.

The court is currently deliberating whether to reinstate or remove Yoon from office after he was impeached over his short-lived martial law declaration on December 3. It has yet to announce the date of the ruling, though many expect it to take place next week.

"Some argue that if Yoon is lucky, he could be reinstated and act recklessly, but it would be futile," Kim Min-woong, a leader of the civic group, said during the rally.

"To anyone's eye, Yoon's ouster is obvious."

The rally was followed by another mass protest in the nearby Gwanghwamun area, joined by a group of opposition lawmakers marching from the National Assembly, as well as a separate demonstration in central Seoul by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the country's biggest umbrella labour union.

"We know all too well why Yoon Suk Yeol must be ousted ... Now is the time to protest most vehemently, since he walked out of jail smiling," KCTU Chairman Yang Kyung-soo said, referring to the court's recent decision to release him.

Police estimated that nearly 20,000 people participated in the rallies.

In Gwanghwamun, an estimated 35,000 people gathered, waving the Taegeukgi and the Stars and Stripes, and chanting for Yoon's "immediate reinstatement" and the dissolution of the National Assembly.

A rally host read aloud a letter from former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who was indicted over the martial law turmoil, quoting him as demanding to "thoroughly reveal the crimes of the evil forces and punish them in the name of the people".

Some of Yoon's supporters staged a protest in front of the Constitutional Court, briefly clashing with opponents, Yonhap news agency reported.

Save Korea, a conservative Christian civic group, held a separate prayer rally near the National Assembly in western Seoul, attended by around 3,500 people, who sang hymns and called for the cancellation of Yoon's impeachment.

Around 3,600 police personnel were mobilised across central Seoul, with walls of police buses lining the streets to prevent violence.

A notice at Anguk subway station, the nearest station to the Constitutional Court, said it would be closed from the day of the impeachment ruling until the situation stabilises.
Chennai, Mar 15 : The makers of director Arvind Rajagopal's crime investigation thriller, 'Asthram', featuring actor Shaam in the lead, have now announced that their long-awaited film will hit screens on March 21 this year.

Chennai, Mar 15 (IANS) The makers of director Arvind Rajagopalas crime investigation thriller, aAsthrama, featuring actor Shaam in the lead, have now announced that their long-awaited film will hit screens on March 21 this year.

The film was originally supposed to release on March 7. The unit had even gone to the extent of screening the film to the media ahead of its release.

However, with nine films being scheduled for release that particular weekend, the makers felt that they would not be able to get the number of screens they desired to showcase their film. Hence, they decided to postpone the release of their film without announcing a date.

Now, the unit has announced that the film will finally hit screens on March 21 this year.

The film created a buzz when its Tamil Nadu theatrical rights were acquired by Five Star, a distribution house riding high on the success of its recent films like aParkinga, aMaharajaa, and aGarudana.

The film, which has been produced by Best Movies Dhana Shanmugamani, is a crime-investigation thriller featuring actor Shaam in the lead role and model-turned-actress Niranjani as the female lead.

Shaam plays a police officer in this film which has been shot for 30 days across Chennai and the exotic locales of Kodaikanal.

The movie is a racy and engaging thriller, with the story having been penned by Jegan M.S. The movie will also feature includes versatile actors like Nizhalgal Ravi, Aroul D Shankar, and Jeeva Ravi in pivotal roles along with a newcomer called Ranjith DSM.

The movie has a strong technical team. Sundaramoorthy, known for his work in aAiraaa, a8 Thottakkala, and aBommai Nayagia has scored the music for this film, which has cinematography by Kalyan, who is best known for his work in the film aJackson Duraia. Boopathy, who previously worked as an associate editor on acclaimed films such as aIrudhi Sutrua and aSoorarai Pottrua is the filmas editor.

--IANS

Mkr/
Bengaluru, March 15 : Karnataka JD(S) staged a protest on Saturday opposing the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill and alleged that it aimed to benefit the real estate mafia and divide Kannadigas for political control.

JD(S) workers held the protest at Freedom Park opposing the formation of Greater Bengaluru.

The police detained the protestors when they tried to come onto the road and transported them in a bus to an undisclosed locality.

The party has also declared that it will submit a petition to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, urging for rejection of the Bill.

The JD(S) has accused the Congress government of attempting to divide BBMP into seven zones under the name of Greater Bengaluru to benefit the real estate mafia and marginalise Kannadigas in the city.

Leading the protest, JD(S) city unit president H. M. Ramesh Gowda alleged that the government's intention behind the Greater Bengaluru plan is to "facilitate land scams and turn Kannadigas into outsiders in their city".

He demanded the state government withdraw the Greater Bengaluru Bill immediately.

If the Bill is not withdrawn, JD(S) will ensure that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, and Congress MLAs are unable to hold public events in the city. The party will stage protests with black badges at every such event," he warned.

"Even before summer has fully begun, Bengaluru is already facing a severe water crisis. The cost of a single water tanker has skyrocketed to Rs 5,000-6,000. People in the city are struggling to survive daily, and the Congress government's misgovernance is to blame," he alleged.

Slamming the government, he said: "Since coming to power, this government has imposed an additional financial burden of Rs 43,000 crore, which is highly unjust."

MLC T. A. Javarayi Gowda, former MLC K. A. Tippeswamy, Bengaluru JDS womenas wing president Shailaja Rao, and leaders including Nagesh Rao, Venkataswamy, Venugopal, Mangalamma, Praveen Kumar, Samuel, and Aproz Beg participated in the protest along with party presidents, leaders, and workers from all Assembly constituencies in the city.

The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill 2024, which aims to decentralise governance of Bengaluru city by forming multiple corporations, was passed in the Legislative Assembly amid the walkout by the opposition.
Jammu, March 15 : The Jammu and Kashmir government has formed a committee to rationalise new subjects taught in government degree colleges, the Assembly was told on Saturday.

Education and Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo also told the house that no timeline has been fixed for the committee examining reservation rules for submitting its report.

In reply to a question by National Conference member Sheikh Khursheed, she said that 58 subjects are currently being offered in government degree colleges, and a committee, constituted under Government Order No 229 JK(HE) of 2023, dated August 16, 2023, has been tasked with assessing, recommending and rationalising the introduction of new subjects along with intake capacity as per the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) under the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020.

The minister emphasised that the committeeas recommendations will streamline subject offerings and ensure alignment with evolving academic needs.

Sometimes new subjects introduced in the syllabi of colleges and universities have triggered controversies by certain religious groups or sections of society alleging that such a topic taught in the syllabus has hurt religious or sectarian sentiments.

It is for this very reason that the academicians tasked with the introduction of new subjects or topics have to exercise caution while recommending the introduction of a certain subject or a topic to be included in an already existing syllabus of a particular subject.

In a written reply to a question by Peoples Conference member, Sajad Gani Lone, Itoo informed the house that no specific timeline has been fixed for submitting a report by the committee set up to examine the reservation rules in J&K.

"The Cabinet Sub-Committee stands constituted vide Government order No. 2061- JKGAD of 2024, dated December 10, 2024, to examine the grievances projected by a section of aspirants for various posts regarding reservation rules. However, no specific timeline has been fixed for submitting the report, Itoo said.

Lone had asked whether a 6-month timeline has been granted to the ministerial panel for submitting the report.

The minister informed the House that over 5.26 lakh certificates under Schedule Castes/Schedule Tribe categories have been issued in the Jammu region since April 1, 2023, while the number of such certificates issued in the Kashmir region during this period is 79,813.

The government also revealed that 2,198 villages in Jammu are benefitting under the Actual Line of Control (ALC), the International Border (IB) and the Reserved Backward Area (RBA) rules in Jammu region while the number is 1,245 in Kashmir.

The government also revealed that 29,963 certificates under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) have been issued in J&K since April 1, 2023. Of this, 27,420 have been issued in the Jammu region and a mere 2,273 in the Kashmir region.
New Delhi, March 15 : India's automotive sector is expected to witness positive growth in the coming year, driven by supportive government policies and a growing job market, according to a report.

The primary reason behind the growth is the impact of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME II) scheme, which has been in effect since April 2019.

This policy encourages states to offer financial and non-financial incentives to boost the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), contributing to the sectoras expansion.

According to data analytics firm GlobalData report, about 24.7 per cent of these cities are likely to experience strong growth in the automotive sector, while 49.5 per cent are expected to see moderate growth.

Cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Pune are among those projected to thrive. On the other hand, about 7.5 per cent of cities may see stagnant growth, while 9.7 per cent and 15.5 per cent could experience moderate and pessimistic declines, respectively.

Chandigarh is one of the cities expected to face challenges in automotive growth. Hyderabad and Mumbai, in particular, are well-positioned for expansion due to their growing service sector and job opportunities.

Hyderabad has seen a surge in employment, supported by government initiatives promoting start-ups and entrepreneurship.

The state governmentas focus on information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services (ITES) has played a crucial role in job creation.

Additionally, continuous improvements in infrastructure, including roads, transportation, and power supply, have made the city attractive for businesses and workers.

The survey, conducted across 31 major cities, found that the increase in the workforce has, in turn, driven demand in the automotive sector.

"While the overall growth of the automotive sector is promising, regional dynamics greatly influence the trajectory of the market," Madhuchhanda Palit, Automotive Analyst at GlobalData, said.

She added that factors such as advancements in the service sector, the availability of job opportunities, industrialisation, and state government initiatives play pivotal roles in shaping the growth of the sector across different regions.
Hyderabad, March 15 : Former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday congratulated renowned surgeon Dr P. Raghu Ram who achieved the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest views of a breast cancer awareness lesson on YouTube in 24 hours.

"Congratulations to Dr Raghu Ram, a renowned surgeon and a Padma Shri awardee for achieving a record as recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records for empowering over 11,000 people within 24 hours on the landmark 50th anniversary of International Women's Day, both at an in-person venue in Brahma Kumaris and online through YouTube," Venkaiah Naidu posted on X.

He earlier attended an event where the Guinness Book of World Records certificate was presented to Dr Raghu Ram.

This was the second Guinness Book of World Records for Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation and KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases along with Brahma Kumaris.

The onsite 'Largest Breast Cancer Awareness Lesson' was the other record achieved a few days ago, where a record 5,020 people were empowered about various aspects of breast cancer in a simple easy to understand format.

"This feat is also a jewel in the crown of Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation and KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases at KIMS Hospitals as also for Brahma Kumaris. With 200,000 new cases being diagnosed every year and 100,000 deaths per annum, for every two women diagnosed with breast cancer, one succumbs to this dreaded disease in India," said Venkaiah Naidu.

"Dr Raghu Ram has been championing an inspiring breast cancer advocacy campaign in the Telugu States for the past many years. He has been driving an awareness campaign on the importance of early detection of breast cancer through a number of innovative initiatives. Many of Dr Raghu Ram's initiatives, including a largescale population-based breast cancer screening programme spread across 4000 villages in both Telugu states has paved the path for early detection, translating to saving scores of lives in the region," wrote the former Vice-President.

Dr Raghu Ram dedicated the recognition to his mother, Dr Ushalakshmi, a breast cancer 'conqueror' who passed away five months ago. "She was the major inspiration behind this innovative and impactful Breast Cancer advocacy campaign at Brahma Kumaris. Due to lack of awareness, absence of a robust population-based Screening Programme and inequitable cancer care, more than 60 per cent of Breast Cancers in India present in advanced stages," he said.

Dr B. Bhaskar Rao, Chairman, KIMS Group of Hospitals, commended Dr Raghu Ram for achieving another milestone in his career.

K. Padmanabhaiah, Chairman, the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) also paid rich tributes to Dr Raghu Ram's mother.
Bengaluru, March 15 : Launching a scathing attack on the Congress-led Karnataka government, Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, said on Saturday that "this step reeks of populism".

Taking to social media platform X, the Union Minister also charged, saying: "The Congress government in Karnataka is necessarily indulging in anti-constitutional policies. The state government is promoting a single religion due to its votebank politics and has easily forgotten its duty to protect all communities."

The Congress government has already pushed the state towards economic distress but now is indulging in such anti-constitutional policies at the cost of the overall development of the state, Union Minister Joshi said.

Congress practiced appeasement politics for six decades putting votebank politics above national development, he added.

And even today, Congress is proving that their name is synonymous with appeasement, he underlined.

The Karnataka government has decided to provide a four per cent reservation to Muslims in government contracts, along with oppressed and Backward Classes.

Sources confirmed that the Cabinet has approved the proposal, and a Bill in this regard will be presented before the State Legislature during the ongoing Budget session.

The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, 1999, after amendment aims to provide four per cent reservation in tenders to Muslim contractors in government contracts up to Rs 1 crore, sources said.

The State Cabinet has also approved the limit for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) community which has been extended from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore.

Minority leaders had submitted a request to reserve four per cent of contract works for Muslim contractors, similar to the reservations provided for SCs, STs, and Other Backward Communities.

Considering the request, the state government has decided to implement the reservation.

A Cabinet meeting was held under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, where discussions were conducted regarding the introduction of the Bill.

The Karnataka government has been contemplating introducing a four per cent reservation for Muslims in civil contracts on lines with the reservation provided to the SCs, STs and Other Backward Classes.

The CM Siddaramaiah-led government is all set to bring an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act, 1999. The Finance Department has already prepared the blueprint and the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil has also agreed to the amendment, sources said.

However, criticising the state government, the BJP had said that the move was against the spirit of the Constitution and nothing but the "peak of appeasement politics".

State BJP President, B.Y. Vijayendra, claimed that the Congress was leading the state towards violence.

Vijayendra said: "The state government has not released any funds for legislators and when no tender has been called and work allotted, what's the use of reservation?"

Hitting out at the Congress-led state government, the State BJP President said: "Does the grand old party think that only Muslims constitute the minority group?"

"I urge CM Siddaramaiah, if he is real 'Ahinda' (a Kannada acronym for Alpasankhyataru or minorities, Hindulidavaru or backward classes, and Dalitaru or Dalit) leader, he should have enabled marginalised communities and strengthened them economically," the BJP leader said.

"Madivala, Savita and many communities also exist and need support from the state. The government is not bringing these communities into the mainstream. Instead, the government is all set for Muslim appeasement, the people will have to teach them a lesson," Vijayendra added.

"Muslims alone have been granted reservations in education and employment based on religion, which goes against the constitutional spirit. Now, the government is planning to introduce a four per cent reservation for Muslims even in government contracts, which is the peak of appeasement politics," he charged.

"If it was for all minority communities, we have no objections," he added.
Mumbai, March 15 : Actress Kajol arrived at Ayan Mukerji's house with her son Yug to pay condolences after the demise of his father and veteran actor Deb Mukherjee.

Kajol's actor husband Ajay Devgn, his mother, and sister also visited Ayan's house.

Additionally, Mom-to-be Kiara Advani, Anil Kapoor and filmmakers Karan Johar, Kiran Rao and Ashutosh Gowarikar were also spotted at Ayan's Mumbai residence.

Earlier, Kajol revealed that she is 'still adjusting to the thought of a world without' her uncle.

She shared a throwback picture with her uncle on social media, along with a nostalgic note that read, "Tradition said that every Durga Puja we would click pictures together. When we were all dressed up and looking good. Iam still adjusting to the thought of a world without him. To one of the finest men that Iave ever known. Rest in peace. You will be loved, remembered, and missed every day of my life."

Ayan's father passed away yesterday on March 14, at the age of 83.

His funeral was held at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in the Juhu area of Mumbai. Many members of the film industry arrived to pay their last respects to the veteran actor.

Ranbir Kapoor, who is considered Ayan's best friend even stepped forward to shoulder the bier during the final rites.

Ranbir and wife Alia Bhatt decided to cut their Alibaug trip short to support Ayan during these difficult times.

Deb Mukherjee's mother, Satidevi was the only sister of Ashok Kumar, Anup Kumar, and Kishore Kumar. Actor Joy Mukherjee and filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee were his brothers.

The veteran actor was married twice. He has a daughter, Sunita from his first marriage, who is married to director Ashutosh Gowariker. Ayan is his son from his second marriage.

Deb Mukherjee was seen doing supporting roles in movies such as "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander" and "King Uncle".

He was last seen doing a cameo appearance in Vishal Bhardwaj's 2009 drama "Kaminey".
Mumbai, March 15 : Senior Maharashtra Congress leader and former Member of Parliament Husain Dalwai has come out in strong support of Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, over his recent remarks against RSS.

Speaking to IANS, Dalwai said, "I have said it before, and I reiterate it today -- RSS is a terrorist organisation. All kinds of wrong things are taught in their shakhas. In these shakhas, they even shoot at photographs of Mahatma Gandhi. Tushar Gandhi has not said anything inappropriate."

Dalwai even urged the authorities to provide him with security. "Tushar Gandhi's life is in danger. The police must ensure his protection," he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Tushar Gandhi courted controversy at the unveiling of a statue of the late Gandhian P. Gopinathan Nair at Neyyattinkara in Thiruvananthapuram by referring to the BJP and the RSS as "dangerous and insidious enemies" who have entered Kerala.

On the proposed Waqf Bill, Dalwai accused the government of using it as a tool to target the Muslim community. "This bill is being introduced to deprive Muslims of their mosques and properties. The government's intention is to seize land and homes belonging to Muslims. Many opposition parties, including the INDIA bloc, are united in opposing this bill," he told IANS.

Dalwai also backed AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's criticism of the bill, saying, "We firmly oppose this bill and stand with Owaisi's views on the matter," he asserted.

Responding to Owaisi's recent remarks attacking the RSS and BJP, particularly concerning Veer Savarkar, Dalwai reiterated allegations against the Hindutva ideologue. "Owaisi's comments are true. Veer Savarkar wrote many objectionable things about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and even about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. When Jawaharlal Nehru became aware of these writings, he took steps to remove them. Why is Devendra Fadnavis not doing the same today?" Dalwai questioned.

He further alleged that the RSS does not hold Shivaji Maharaj in high regard. "The people of RSS never considered Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a king; they view him merely as a professional," he claimed.

Addressing the issue of historical figures, Dalwai cautioned against glorifying the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Criticising Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi, Dalwai remarked, "Muslims should not praise Aurangzeb. He was a cruel ruler. Abu Azmi should read history and understand this."

Dalwai also supported Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's controversial comparison between the current BJP-led government and Aurangzeb's regime. "Aurangzeb's rule was tyrannical, but it was the rule of a monarch. Today, we live in a democracy, yet the BJP government behaves as if it is above democratic norms. Their governance is worse than Aurangzeb's rule," Dalwai told IANS.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. The Czech Republic is open to share its expertise in the field of renewable energy with Azerbaijan, a source in the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade told Trend.

The source noted that the prospects for cooperation in the technology and innovation sectors between the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan are promising. The Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Azerbaijan has shown significant interest in collaborating with Czech partners, particularly in knowledge transfer and adopting advanced technologies, added the source.

"As Azerbaijan is focusing on the development of renewable resources, Czech companies can take advantage of this by supplying components such as turbines for hydroelectric power plants.

The Czech Republic is open to share its expertise and technologies in field of renewable energy, including bioenergy and waste utilization. There is also a prospect of cooperation in developing hydrogen and green ammonia production and usage, together with the exchange of experiences in crafting hydrogen strategies. This all provides further space for our collaboration," the source added.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Luanda, March 15 : Joao Lourenco, Angolan President and current African Union (AU) chair, on Saturday urged all parties involved in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to cease hostilities starting midnight local time on Sunday, according to a statement released by the Angolan Presidency.

Lourenco emphasised that the ceasefire is essential to create a climate of de-escalation that favours the upcoming peace talks between the DRC government and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, set to take place in Luanda, Angola's capital.

"The ceasefire must include all hostile actions against civilians and any attempts to seize new positions in the conflict zone," the statement said.

Angola announced on Wednesday that it would host direct peace talks between the DRC government and the M23 rebels in Luanda on March 18.

The DRC government has not officially confirmed its participation yet. The M23 told the media that it welcomed Angola's initiative, but called on DRC President Felix Tshisekedi to publicly commit to direct negotiations with the group.

Fighting between the DRC government and the M23 has intensified in recent months, with the rebels launching major offensives in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, capturing several key towns, Xinhua news agency reported.

The ongoing violence has displaced thousands, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the eastern DRC. Despite diplomatic and military efforts, the conflict persists.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) announced on Thursday that it will terminate its military mission in the DRC amid ongoing hostilities by the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels.

During an extraordinary virtual summit attended by several heads of state of its member countries, the SADC decided to end the mandate of the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) and ordered a phased withdrawal of its troops.

The SADC is a regional economic community comprising 16 member states: Angola, Botswana, the Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Deployed in December 2023, SAMIDRC comprises military personnel from Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania, who have been supporting the DRC military in combating armed groups in the eastern region. However, the mission has suffered casualties, raising concerns about its ability to achieve its objectives amid escalating violence.

The SADC paid tribute to fallen soldiers from the DRC, South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania who lost their lives in the mission. The decision to withdraw marks a shift in the bloc's approach to the conflict. While reaffirming its commitment to peace and security in the DRC, the SADC signaled a move away from direct military intervention, emphasising the need for political and diplomatic solutions involving both state and non-state actors.
Chennai, March 15 : If sources in the industry are to be believed, well known Malayalam actor Basil Joseph has now joined the sets of director Sudha Kongara's eagerly-awaited period action drama, 'Parasakathi', featuring Sivakarthikeyan in the lead.

Chennai, March 15 (IANS) If sources in the industry are to be believed, well known Malayalam actor Basil Joseph has now joined the sets of director Sudha Kongaraas eagerly-awaited period action drama, aParasakathia, featuring Sivakarthikeyan in the lead.

Pictures of Basil Joseph, who is both a successful director and actor in Malayalam, seated alongside Ravi Mohan on the sets of Parasakthi in Sri Lanka have also begun doing the rounds on social media.

Basilas inclusion in the unit of the already strong cast of the film has only gone on to add to the excitement of fans and film buffs.

Sources also say that the unit of Parasakthi has erected a set resembling the Madurai railway station in Sri Lanka.

It was actor Ravi Mohan, who plays the antagonist in director Sudha Kongaraas upcoming period film, aParasakathia, featuring Sivakarthikeyan in the lead, who had disclosed 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.

aParasakthia 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 Pachaiyappaas 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 aStudents - do not toucha. Incidentally, the teaser shows this order printed on a wall changed to aDo not touch studentsa.

The teaser has disclosed that Ravi Mohanas character is intent on killing Sivakarthikeyanas character.

Parasakthi, which was tentatively being referred to as #SK25 as it is Sivakarthikeyanas 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/
Chennai, March 15 : Union Minister for Electronics & IT Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday announced the development of two major Electronics Manufacturing Clusters in Tamil Nadu.

These clusters, with an approved investment of Rs 1,112 crore, will be established at Pillai Pakkam and Manallur.

The initiative aims to strengthen Indiaas position in the global Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector.

The announcement was made during the inauguration of Zetwerk Electronics' new manufacturing facility in Chennai.

"Spread across 15 acres, this facility will play a key role in boosting Tamil Naduas electronics manufacturing industry and supporting Indiaas ambition of achieving a $500 billion ESDM market," Minister Vaishnaw said.

The Union Minister also highlighted how Tamil Nadu has emerged as a major hub for electronics manufacturing, benefiting from increased government support and a railway budget exceeding Rs 6,000 crore.

"Indiaas electronics manufacturing sector is growing rapidly. Thanks to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are positioning India as a global manufacturing hub. Tamil Nadu is a key beneficiary of this growth," he added.

According to Tamil Nadu's Industries Minister, Dr T.R.B. Rajaa, the state accounts for 36 per cent of Indiaas electronics exports.

He expressed confidence that such investments will help the state achieve its target of $100 billion in annual electronics exports.

The new Chennai facility will focus on manufacturing control boards for home appliances and IT hardware.

It is equipped with advanced production capabilities, including Surface-Mount Technology (SMT) lines, Manual Insertion (MI) lines, and rigorous testing processes.

Once fully operational, the facility will employ around 1,200 skilled professionals, according to a statement.

Zetwerk CEO & Co-founder Amrit Acharya described the new factory as a step towards making India a global manufacturing powerhouse.

"This facility will enhance India's high-value electronics manufacturing capabilities and contribute to global supply chains," he said.

"We are committed to innovation, sustainability, and workforce development," Acharya added.
Lucknow, March 15 : Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister and NISHAD Party leader Sanjay Nishad has sharply criticised Asaduddin Owaisi, the AIMIM chief and Lok Sabha MP, in response to the latter's recent statements regarding the Muslim community's strength and its response to Holi celebrations. Nishad accused Owaisi of distorting history and delivering divisive messages.

Lucknow, March 15 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister and NISHAD Party leader Sanjay Nishad has sharply criticised Asaduddin Owaisi, the AIMIM chief and Lok Sabha MP, in response to the latteras recent statements regarding the Muslim community's strength and its response to Holi celebrations. Nishad accused Owaisi of distorting history and delivering divisive messages.

Sanjay Nishad slammed Owaisi for claiming to be a "pahalwan" (warrior), asserting that such statements were not only irresponsible but failed to recognise the true history of India's Partition.

Speaking with IANS, Sanjay Nishad said, "India was divided on the basis of religion. Those who followed religion moved to Pakistan, but those who cherished Indiaas culture, traditions, and heritage stayed in India."

"I want to remind Owaisi and his followers about their history -- how many were forced to convert at the point of a sword. Many changed their religion out of fear, but my ancestors accepted death rather than submit to conversion. I am immensely proud of their courage," he added.

Nishad's comments were a direct response to Owaisias recent speech in Hyderabad, where he asserted the community's strength, claiming Muslims would not "run" and were not "cowards."

Owaisias comments came after officials suggested that Muslims stay indoors or cover themselves during Holi celebrations to avoid being coloured, sparking outrage in some quarters.

Owaisi said, "Those who migrated to Pakistan were cowards. We will not run. We are not cowards. Who is anyone to tell us what we can and cannot do?" He was also responding to a remark by the Uttar Pradesh Circle Officer, who had advised Muslims to stay inside during Holi if they didnat want to be coloured.

Nishad, however, rejected Owaisias divisive rhetoric, saying that Indiaas true strength lies in its rich cultural history and that those who left the country during Partition are now seeking to return.

He emphasised that the Indian Muslim community, despite challenges, had benefited under the current NDA government, as evidenced by their support in elections.

Nishad further accused those exploiting communal divides of being responsible for rising poverty and unemployment in the nation.

"In the past, during the Partition, people were given a choice. Those who went to Pakistan now cry to return, but they are the ones who abandoned the values of this land," Nishad said.

"Our ancestors were resilient, and we are working to improve our countryas economic status, not create divisions," he concluded.
Jaipur, March 15 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, on Saturday, defended the concept of "One Nation, One Election", addressing concerns raised by some political parties that it threatens federalism.

Speaking on the issue, Union Minister Meghwal questioned the Opposition's stance, stating, "When Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were held simultaneously in 1952, 1957, 1962, and 1967, was that not an attack on the federal structure? Elections were conducted smoothly back then without any issues. Now, with PM Modi bringing improvements, why should it not be considered an election reform?"

His remarks come amid an ongoing debate over the feasibility and impact of synchronising elections across the country, a proposal that has been actively discussed by the Central government.

"Elections were held at that time, there was no problem. Now PM Modi is improving it, why should it not be considered an election reform," the Union Minister asked.

Minister Meghwal, who came to attend the inauguration of the new Law Building (Academic Block-3) at the Manipal University in Jaipur, said: "The new criminal justice system implemented on July 1, 2024, includes many important aspects related to spiritual and moral values. Keeping this in mind, value-based education should also be an important part of the educational institutions. Manipal University has taken a step in this direction, I have come to Jaipur to attend this session."

Indiaas democratic framework thrives on the vibrancy of its electoral process, enabling citizens to actively shape governance at every level.

Since independence, more than 400 elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies have showcased the Election Commission of Indiaas commitment to fairness and transparency.

However, the fragmented and frequent nature of elections has sparked discussions on the need for a more efficient system. This has led to the resurgence of interest in the concept of "One Nation, One Election."

The idea, also known as simultaneous elections, proposes aligning the election cycles of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. This would allow voters to cast their ballots for both tiers of government on the same day in their constituencies, though voting could still occur in phases across the country.

By synchronising these electoral timelines, the approach aims to address logistical challenges, reduce costs, and minimise disruptions caused by frequent elections.
Chandigarh, March 15 : Punjab Police's State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) of Mohali has arrested three more operatives of Pakistan-based, ISI-backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Harvinder Singh, alias Rinda, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said here on Saturday.

Those arrested have been identified as Jagjit Singh, alias Jaggi, and Shubham Khelbude, both residents of Nanded in Maharashtra, and Gurdeep Singh, alias Deepa, a resident of Ropar.

Police teams have also recovered two weapons, comprising a 12-bore pump-action gun with 15 cartridges and a .32-bore pistol with eight cartridges.

This development follows the earlier arrests of Jagdish Singh, alias Jagga, Shubhdeep Singh, alias Shubh, and Sachindeep Singh, alias Sachin, in connection with the Nanded murder case.

With these latest arrests, the total number of individuals apprehended in the case has risen to six.

DGP Yadav said the preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested accused Jagjit played a critical role in facilitating logistics, safe houses, and coordination for the shooters involved in the murder case, masterminded by Rinda from across the border.

Investigations have also uncovered the role of jailed gangster Dilpreet, alias Baba, an old associate of Rinda, who arranged safe shelters in Punjab for the accused.

He said the arrested operative Jagjit Singh is wanted in cases related to murder, attempt to murder, threat and intimidating for extortion, while Khelbude is wanted in threat and extortion-related cases in Nanded and came to Punjab to evade their arrest. Accused Jagjit Singh and Khelbude were actively involved in coordinating various illegal activities, including the procurement of weapons, collection of extortion money, logistics support, and shelter for their other operatives in Nanded on directions of Rinda, he said.

The DGP said the third arrested individual Gurdeep Singh was arrested for providing shelter and logistical support to the fugitives Jagjit Singh and Khelbude. He also played a crucial role in enabling the escape and continued activities of the accused, the DGP added.

--IANS

vg/vd
Jaipur, March 15 : Rape convict Asaram arrived in Jodhpur on Saturday after being released on interim bail. The Rajasthan High Court granted him bail on February 14, allowing him 75 days of release on medical grounds.

Convicted of sexually assaulting a minor student at a Gurukul, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Upon his arrival in Jodhpur from Indore, Asaram avoided speaking to the media at the airport. Following his release, Asaram (86) reached his ashram in Pal village under heavy security.

Besides the High Court, the Supreme Court had earlier also granted him interim bail on January 7 on medical grounds while imposing several conditions including a bar on meeting followers in large numbers. He was undergoing a life sentence in a 2013 rape case registered in Gujarat. To be out of jail, he required a similar order in a Rajasthan case where he was undergoing life term for raping a minor girl.

"He is in his last leg," noted a bench headed by Justice MM Sundresh that agreed to consider his request for temporary suspension of sentence purely on medical grounds without going into the merits of the allegations against him.

Noting his advanced age of 86 years with 99 per cent heart blockage and a history of suffering heart attacks, the court said, "He is on his deathbed. Whatever the nature of the crime, when it comes to the health of the convict, the burden rests on the state and the court. Let him get this facility, nobody will blame you or us."

Senior advocate Devadatt Kamat appearing for Asaram along with advocate Rajesh Inamdar pointed out that his client's condition is such that chances of survival are bleak. He objected to the facility of armed constables being provided to the convict apprehending that they may interfere with his choice of hospital or treatment.

Before his release, Asaram was receiving treatment at Indore's Government Super Specialty Hospital. A team of specialist doctors conducted his medical checkups and recommended additional tests to assess his medication requirements. During this period, he resided in his ashram on Khandwa Road, Indore.

As per the court's conditions, Asaram was prohibited from meeting his devotees or followers during his bail period. He was also barred from making any statements to the media. Despite this, a video recently surfaced on social media, allegedly showing Asaram delivering a sermon in Indore.

Asaram has filed a petition in the Gujarat High Court to extend the period of interim bail. At present, he is on bail till March 31.
Raipur, March 15 : Senior Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday hit out at the Enforcement Directorate (ED), stating that its investigation itself amounts to punishment.

Baghel claimed that his son, Chaitanya Baghel, had not received any summons from the ED regarding the alleged liquor scam, despite reports suggesting he would be questioned on March 15.

"We have not received any notice. If there is a notice, we will definitely comply. It is the ED's job to create media hype. Agencies are being misused to defame people. This is a conspiracy by the BJP," Baghel alleged at a press conference in Raipur.

He asserted that his son would cooperate with the investigation if a formal notice was issued. "Chaitanya Baghel will appear as soon as we receive the ED's notice. We respect their authority," he said.

Baghel also accused the central agency of spreading misinformation. "A video of a note-counting machine inside my house was made viral. Our phones were seized by the ED. Who recorded the video and leaked it to the media? The ED is working to malign our image," he claimed.

Questioning the prolonged investigation, Baghel remarked, "Is the ED probe itself a punishment? The case has been under investigation since 2021 -- four years have passed now. The trial has not yet started, and no final report has been filed. This delay makes it clear that the investigation is a form of harassment."

On March 10, the ED conducted raids at 14 locations linked to Chaitanya Baghel and others in Chhattisgarh's Durg district under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The raids were part of a probe into the alleged Rs 2,161 crore liquor scam in the state.

ED teams searched Chaitanya Baghel's residence and properties linked to his associates, including businessman Laxmi Narayan Bansal, also known as Pappu Bansal.
New Delhi, March 15 : BJP leader G. V. L. Narasimha Rao sharply criticised the Congress-led Telangana government and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, for involving French economist Thomas Piketty in the state's caste census study.

Rao accused Congress of endangering India's sensitive demographic data and questioned the motive behind involving a foreign economist in such a significant matter for just political benefits.

In a video message, Rao slammed the Telangana government's decision to include Piketty in an expert committee to analyse the caste census.

"While this may seem like an academic exercise, it is not. The move is part of a sinister agenda. By placing sensitive caste and demographic data in the hands of a foreign economist, the Telangana government risks fitting this data into Western narratives that undermine Indiaas image," he said.

Rao further stated that such actions could destabilise the country, warning that the data could be misused to defame India on the global stage.

He further raised concerns about how this could be part of a broader effort to push political narratives, using foreign expertise to validate ideas that align with Congress' political goals.

He also directed his criticism towards the LoP, asking, "Rahul Gandhi, will you compromise Indiaas demographic data for political gain? Will you endanger the countryas future just to serve your political interests?"

Rao accused Gandhi of using every opportunity to criticise India, both domestically and abroad, including seeking foreign assistance to undermine the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He claimed that Congress leaders had even gone to Pakistan seeking help to unseat Modi.

The BJP leader also criticised Pikettyas involvement due to his advocacy for a minimum income guarantee in Congressas 2019 manifesto, arguing that this proposal, like the caste census, served the partyas political interests.

"This French economist has his own agendas, which align with Congress' political strategy," Rao stated.

Rao demanded that the Congress party apologise to the people of India for jeopardising sensitive national data.

He urged the party to stop handing over crucial demographic and social data to foreign economists simply to fit their political narratives.

"Rahul Gandhi has been spreading lies and dangerous, untrustworthy narratives," Rao said, calling for an immediate retraction of such actions.

The BJP leader concluded by accusing Gandhi of seeking foreign validation for his politically motivated theories.

"Itas clear that Rahul Gandhi now needs foreign validation to support his concocted ideas," he stated.

He called on the Congress party to acknowledge its mistake and correct its actions, warning that failing to do so would lead the people of India to view this as another attempt by the Congress to destabilise the country.

The Congress-led Telangana government has roped in French economist Thomas Piketty as a member of an 11-member expert committee to analyse and interpret the data collected during the recent caste census in the state. The expert group will submit its report to the Telangana government within a month.
Chandigarh, March 15 : Posing question marks over the manner the delimitation process is being implemented in the country, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday accused the Union government led by the BJP of trying to eliminate its political opponents through this faulty execution.

Interacting with the media on the sidelines of flagging off a batch of 72 teachers to Finland, the Chief Minister said the undemocratic methodology adopted by the Union government raises suspicions about the intent of the BJP.

He claimed that tactically the seats of states where the BJP and its allies are weak are being reduced whereas the seats in those states where the BJP's divisive agenda is blooming are being enhanced. Mann said all the like-minded parties would join hands against this repression of the Union government aimed to muzzle democracy.

Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said being a border state, a number of forces inimical to Punjab have been chalking out nefarious designs to disturb its hard-earned peace.

However, he said the vigilant Punjab Police has always foiled such attempts as the police force has been updated as per advanced requirements in the field of investigation, science and technology.

Mann expressed hope the Punjab Police would uphold the legacy of serving the people with utmost professional commitment to protect the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country.

The Chief Minister said the Amritsar grenade attack incident is also the handiwork of the fissiparous forces that want to destabilise the peace, progress, and prosperity of the state. He said the government would never allow these forces to succeed in their nefarious designs and all their conspiracies will be foiled.

Mann said the law and order situation in Punjab is much better than other states as Punjab Police is keeping an eagle eye over the matter.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab had always remained a victim of cross-border terrorism and has been fighting the nation's war against drugs and terrorism. He said the drones had been frequently used to smuggle drugs, weapons and other things into the state from across the border.

However, Mann said it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that smuggling through drones has been checked ever since the state embarked on the mass movement against drugs in the form of 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh'.
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New Delhi, March 15 : Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President Devender Yadav on Saturday accused the BJP's 'double engine' government in the national capital of failing to deliver its election promises of Rs 2,500 per month honorarium to women and free cooking gas cylinder.

He also demanded that the BJP government in Delhi should also implement a scheme like the Congress government in Telangana wherein Rs 25,000 crore interest-free loans are provided to empower women entrepreneurs.

Yadav said that this decision highlighted the Telangana government's dedication to making the state a leader in women's empowerment, while the "double engine" BJP government in Delhi is yet to fulfil any of its election promises.

He said that the BJP government should make a provision for such a scheme in the coming Delhi Budget.

Yadav said that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has been holding meetings with women, traders and farmers but nothing concrete has emerged for the benefit and welfare of the people.

The Delhi Congress chief said that before the Delhi Assembly elections, BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had asserted that in its very first Cabinet meeting, the BJP Government will announce Rs 2,500 per month honorarium to every woman, free cooking gas cylinder on Holi and subsidised cylinder for Rs 500 to households, and would table all the pending 14 CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) reports in the very first Assembly session to expose the corruption of the Arvind Kejriwal Government.

However, none of these promises were fulfilled as only two of the CAG reports were tabled in the five-day Assembly session.

Yadav said that the Congress governments in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana have fulfilled all election promises on a priority basis while the BJP government in Delhi is dithering about fulfilling its election promises.

The delay in fulfilling the poll promises has proven that the BJP was no different from the corrupt AAP Government which only looted the taxpayers' money in 11 years of misrule after making many hollow promises to the people.
Bengaluru, March 15 : The Karnataka Police have arrested two more accused persons on Saturday in connection with the murder of a young woman Swati Ramesh Byadgi, reported from the Haveri district, police said.

Hindu activists and the BJP have alleged that it is a case of "love jihad".

Swati, a nurse and a resident of Masur village, had gone missing on March 3.

Her body was recovered from the Tungabhadra river on March 6.

The investigations revealed that Swati was strangulated to death and then dumped into the river.

The police had already arrested the main accused, Nayaz, on Friday.

The two newly arrested suspects have been identified as Vinay and Durgachari, both of whom are said to be close friends of Nayaz.

According to the police, the accused trio murdered Swati on March 3.

Swati and Nayaz were in a relationship, but Nayaz later broke up with her after his family arranged his marriage with another girl from the Muslim community.

Enraged by this, Swati warned Nayaz that she would not remain silent if he married someone else.

Fearing trouble, Nayaz decided to kill Swati and discussed his plan with Vinay and Durgachari. The trio then conspired to kill her.

On the pretext of talking to her, Nayaz called Swati and took her to Swarna Park in Ranebennur town.

Later, the accused drove Swati to Rattihalli in a car, where they strangled her to death inside an abandoned school building using a saffron-coloured towel. Later, they placed her body in the trunk of the car and dumped it into the Tungabhadra river, police said.

Meanwhile, former Minister and senior BJP leader B.C. Patil visited Swati's mother at her residence in Masur village on Saturday to console her. He gathered details from the family and urged the state government to ensure strict punishment for all those involved in the murder of Swati.

Swati was passionate about attending bull-taming sports, a traditional event in Haveri district. It was during one such event that she met the accused Nayaz and fell in love with him.

However, the Hindu activists and former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai alleged that Swati's murder is a case of "love jihad".

After searching for Swati, her family lodged a missing person complaint with the Hirekerur police station.

On March 6, Swati's body was found in the Tungabhadra river near Pattepura village, located nearby Ranebennur town in Haveri district, within the jurisdiction of the Halageri police station.

The Halageri police, upon recovering the body, initially buried it, assuming it to be that of an orphan.

However, the deceased woman's post-mortem revealed that it was a murder case.

Later, the identity of Swati was established as the missing case was lodged, police said.

Swati did not have a father, and her mother and other family members initially had no suspicions regarding her death.

She was working at a hospital in Ranebennur town.

When Swati's family and police inquired with her colleagues and friends, they learned that she had been in a relationship with a man named Nayaz.

Villagers and Hindu activists suspect that this is a case of "love jihad" and have started a signature campaign, urging the police to take action against Nayaz.

Swati's family and relatives claimed that if she had belonged to a different community, justice would have been served more swiftly.

Former CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai on Friday condemned the murder of Swati Ramesh Byadgi, a young woman from Masuru village in Rattihalli taluk, Haveri, and alleged that the 'love jihad' network is actively operating in the state, and the rising number of such incidents is due to the lack of fear among criminals.

In a post on X, former CM Bommai said that ever since the Congress government came to power in Karnataka, the safety of women has deteriorated.

It is quite shocking that there have been rising incidents where young women are deceived and murdered in the pretext of love, he added.

The former Chief Minister said that before the Neha Hiremath's murder in Hubballi could subside, another horrifying incident has taken place with the murder of Swati Ramesh Byadgi in Haveri district.

Reports suggest that this, too, could be linked to love jihad, Bommai added.

The BJP leader said that nearly a week after the incident, efforts to protect the main accused, Nayaz, seem evident.

Reports indicate that Nayaz pretended to be in love with Swati, later rejected her for being from a different religion, and decided to marry another woman from his own community. When Swati confronted him about this, he allegedly killed her.

Bommai also alleged that the 'love jihad' network has been actively functioning in the state in recent times.

The rise in such crimes is due to the lack of fear among criminals and emphasised that only strict punishment for the guilty can curb such incidents, he said.

"The police must act without succumbing to any pressure and to take stringent action against those responsible, including those supporting such acts. However, the authorities concerned often fail to handle such cases seriously, allowing them to fade from public memory," Bommai added.

He urged the state government to provide appropriate compensation to Swati's family and ensure justice is served.
New Delhi, March 15 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday took suggestions on Delhi Budget 2025-26 from farmers and later in the day attended an Iftar party hosted by the Haj Committee, calling for collective progress.

Soon after her meeting with farmers, the CMO said, "The government is committed to an inclusive budget keeping in mind the needs and suggestions of farmers."

In a message on the X handle of CMO Delhi, the CM wrote, "The overall development of Delhi, strengthening the infrastructure and providing better facilities to the citizens are priorities of the government."

She said the upcoming Budget of Delhi will fulfil the expectations of all sections of citizens.

In the evening, CM Gupta visited the India Islamic Cultural Centre to attend an Iftar party hosted by Delhi State Haj Committee chairperson Kausar Jahan.

As she hugged Jahan, CM Gupta said, "The country has space for all in its heart. I wish the country moves forward and progresses with social harmony. India is a large democracy, and we should all move ahead with peace and harmony."

Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta greeted the Haj Committee chairperson for hosting the event and said the Iftar party was an example of the government's plans to move forward collectively.

Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht said Holi and Ramzan promote brotherhood.

He hit out at AAP leaders who have been targeting the Delhi government for delay in delivering poll promises like Rs 2,500 for women and free LPG cylinders on Holi.

Those who failed to work for citizens over the 11 years are trying to seek a report card from us within one month of our government's formation, he said.

Bisht also criticised the AAP for its corrupt governance. "Even the courts have agreed with contentions that the AAP leaders were involved in corruption," he said, pointing to CAG reports and the poor condition of schools and hospitals.
Addis Ababa, March 15 : Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has called on African Union (AU) members to intensify their collective support in elevating the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) as a premier public health institution.

Abiy made the remarks in a statement after meeting with Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya on Friday at the headquarters of the AU's specialised healthcare agency in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

The Prime Minister said the Africa CDC's advanced laboratory facilities and research capabilities play a crucial role in disease prevention and in coordinating continental responses to epidemics and pandemics.

Noting that the East African country is "proud to host the Africa CDC", Abiy called on African countries to bolster their collective commitments toward advancing the Africa CDC as a premier public health agency.

"It is incumbent upon us to strengthen this institution in collaboration with partners. I call upon fellow African leaders to join efforts in establishing our continental public health agency as a premier institution, fully committed to advancing health across the continent," he said.

The Africa CDC, which was established in January 2016 by African leaders and officially launched one year later, has gained acclaim for its contribution to bettering public healthcare in Africa. The Chinese-built Africa CDC headquarters in the southern suburb of Addis Ababa, which is regarded as a flagship project in China-Africa public health cooperation, was officially inaugurated in January 2023, Xinhua news agency reported.

In November 2023, the Africa CDC unveiled a China-aided reference laboratory at its headquarters. The agency said the completion of the laboratory marks a milestone in its pursuit of a strong continental public health institution that will support AU members in improving disease diagnosis, surveillance, and outbreak response.

After meeting with the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Kaseya underscored the agency's resolve to drive sustainable solutions for a healthier Africa.

"At the Africa CDC, we look forward to continuing to work closely with Ethiopia to tackle major health challenges, fortify systems, and drive sustainable solutions for a healthier Africa. Together, we are building resilience and safeguarding the future," Kaseya said.

As the African continent battles various disease outbreaks and public health challenges, including the ongoing mpox outbreak, the Africa CDC has emerged as a major public health agency supporting public health initiatives on the continent and strengthening Africa's capacity to detect, prevent, control, and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats.
Patna, March 15 : Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, on Saturday, launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of failing to maintain law and order in the state.

"Criminals are rampaging across Bihar while the government is sleeping. The Chief Minister is unconscious, and lawlessness is at its peak. Police personnel themselves are becoming victims of crime," he said, while highlighting the murder incidents of Munger and Araria districts in a week.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader questioned CM Nitish Kumar, who is also holding the Home Ministry of Bihar, saying: "Frequent crimes like murders, rape, gang rape, loot, robberies in jewellery showrooms, banks and others are happening, and victims' families are not getting justice."

He accused the state Police investigations are weak, leading to criminals securing bail due to lack of evidence.

He also levelled allegations against the ruling parties' leaders for not visiting the family members of the victims to console them.

"Despite major crimes happening here, ruling parties' leaders are not even visiting the victims' families. Nitish Kumar is only concerned about securing the Chief Minister's chair, not about governance," Yadav said.

The death of AssistantSub-Inspector (ASI) Santosh Kumar Singh in Munger has turned into a political flashpoint, with the Opposition blaming CM Nitish Kumar for Bihar's deteriorating law and order.

ASI Santosh Kumar Singh, who sustained critical injuries during a scuffle with villagers in Munger, succumbed to his injuries on Saturday morning.

The incident occurred at Nandlalpur village under the jurisdiction of Mufassil police station in the district on Friday night when a team of 'DIAL 112' received information about a person named Ranveer Kumar creating a ruckus in a drunken state in the village.

Accordingly, a 'DIAL 112' team, led by ASI Santosh Kumar Singh, was sent to control the situation.

When the ASI reached there and tried to intervene in the matter, Ranveer, Guddu and their family members attacked the police team with sharp edge weapons, leaving Santosh Kumar Singh with serious skull injuries.

The police officer was brought to a private hospital where doctors referred him to Patna during he succumbed.

ASI Santosh Kumar Singh, a resident of Mohania block in Kaimur, was posted at Mufassil police station for a year.

The post-mortem of ASI Santosh Kumar Singh was completed, and the body was sent to Kaimur from Munger.

Munger range DIG, District Magistrate, and Superintendent of Police paid their homage to ASI Santosh Kumar Singh.

The slain police officer was also given a guard of honour at the police line.
Chandigarh, March 15 : BJP national General Secretary Tarun Chugh on Saturday condemned the grenade attack on the Thakurdwara temple in Amritsar and demanded a CBI investigation to expose the forces attempting to disturb law and order in Punjab.

Expressing serious concern over the repeated grenade attacks in the state, Chugh said the AAP government, led by Bhagwant Mann, has completely failed to control disruptive elements. Chugh pointed out that while such attacks earlier targeted police stations, the targeting of a Hindu temple with a grenade attack "is a serious and alarming development".

He said there appears to be a deliberate attempt to create communal and social divisions in the state. Demanding that the state police be given a free hand to tackle such elements, Chugh reiterated his call for the CBI investigation into the series of grenade attacks occurring in Punjab.

He criticised the AAP government, stating that instead of addressing law and order concerns, it seems more preoccupied with entertaining party leaders from Delhi. As a result, the government has completely failed, leading to a growing sense of insecurity among the people of Punjab.

In a daring incident, two bike-borne miscreants hurled a hand grenade at the temple and triggered a powerful blast. However, no one was injured in the explosion.

This was the 12th such incident in the past four months in Punjab which shares a long border with Pakistan. On previous occasions, the attacks were on police establishments, mainly comprising police stations. The CCTV footage showed the miscreants arriving at the location on a bike with a flag mounted on it. After waiting for a few seconds, one of them threw a grenade, and both fled the spot.

The attack took place on Friday night in the Khandwala area of Amritsar. The temple's wall was damaged in the explosion. Fortunately, a priest and his family, who were residing on the upper floor of the temple, were unharmed.

Local resident Kiranpreet Singh, who is an advocate by profession, said, "At around 12 a.m., two people came on a bike, stopped outside the Thakur Dwara Mandir, conducted a recce and threw a grenade at the temple.

"The blast was so powerful that it also affected the nearby buildings, breaking windowpanes. The police later reached the spot. As per the evidence, this was a grenade attack."

Amritsar Police Commissioner, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, told the media that efforts "are being made by Pakistan to disturb the atmosphere here, and some local youths are involved in this. I urge our youths not to get involved in such activities".
Chandigarh, March 15 : In a "first attack" on a religious place in Punjab's Amritsar city, close to the border with Pakistan, two assailants hurled an explosive at the Thakurdwara Temple complex, damaging its walls and shattering its window panes.

Police are tracking the suspects and claim Pakistan's involvement behind the attack.

The CCTV footage showed the attackers arriving at the location on a bike with a flag mounted on it.

After waiting for a few seconds, one of them threw a grenade, and both fled the spot.

Police believe the attack was carried out as part of a planned strategy to trigger fear amid the Holi festivities.

The temple's wall was damaged in the explosion.

Fortunately, a priest and his family, who were residing on the upper floor of the temple, were unharmed.

Lashing out at the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, the Shiromani Akali Dal sought judicial probe into the incident, while BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh demanded a CBI investigation to expose the forces attempting to disturb law and order in Punjab.

Expressing serious concern over the repeated grenade attacks in the region, Chugh said the AAP government, led by CM Bhagwant Mann, has completely failed to control inimical elements in the state.

Akali Dal leader Daljit Cheema said the incident, which hurt the sentiments of the people, seemed to be part of a plan to disturb peace and communal harmony in Punjab.

"This is the 13th such blast in the area and is proof of the complete collapse of law and order in the state," he added.

"Both the Union and state governments should take moral responsibility for these incidents and should desist from interfering in the religious affairs of Sikhs and stop provoking forces who want to illegally take control of Sikh institutions. Such experiments have proved to be dangerous in the past and are again taking Punjab in the wrong direction. So both state and Union governments should learn from history," Cheema said.

Area resident Kiranpreet Singh, who is an advocate by profession, said: "At around 12 a.m., two people came on a bike, stopped outside the Thakurdwara Mandir, conducted a recce and threw a grenade at the temple. The blast was so powerful that it also affected the nearby buildings, breaking window panes. The police later reached the spot. As per the evidence, this was a grenade attack."

Amritsar Police Commissioner, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, told the media that efforts "are being made by Pakistan to disturb the atmosphere here, and some local youths are involved in this. I urge our youths not to get involved in such activities".

Responding to the incident, Chief Minister Mann said being a border state, a number of forces inimical to Punjab have been chalking out nefarious designs to disturb its hard-earned peace.

However, he said the vigilant Punjab Police has always foiled such attempts as the police force has been updated as per advanced requirements in the field of investigation, science and technology.

CM Mann expressed hope that the Punjab Police would uphold the legacy of serving the people with utmost professional commitment to protect the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country.

The Chief Minister said the Amritsar grenade attack incident is also the handiwork of the fissiparous forces that want to destabilise the peace, progress, and prosperity of the state.

He added that the government would never allow these forces to succeed in their nefarious designs and all their conspiracies will be foiled.

Mann claimed the law and order situation in Punjab is much better than other states as Punjab Police is keeping an eagle eye over the matter.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab had always remained a victim of cross-border terrorism and has been fighting the nation's war against drugs and terrorism.

He added that the drones had been frequently used to smuggle drugs, weapons and other things into the state from across the border.

In a statement, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said this incident had further shaken the faith of people in the AAP government.

"There is an atmosphere of fear and terror in the state due to such attacks," he said, while pointing out so many similar grenade attacks have taken place in the border areas targeting police stations.

He said the government was trying to play down the incident which must be taken seriously.

He added that the attack appears to have been deliberately planned on a temple to create fear among people.

He warned that Punjab cannot afford another dark era of terror and it must be nipped in the bud.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, sought the resignation of Chief Minister Mann, who also holds the Home Ministry portfolio.

"This is the 13th such incident in the border belt of Punjab since mid-November. In the previous incidents, the police stations and police personnel were targeted. In this incident, two bike-borne men hurled explosives toward the Thakurdwara temple, which could potentially create communal tension in the state," Bajwa said.

The temple grenade attack comes a day after three motorcycle-borne assailants shot dead Mangat Rai Manga, the district president of Shiv Sena, in Punjab's Moga district, owing to "personal rivalry".

Two others, including an 11-year-old boy, suffered injuries in the firing.
Dhaka, March 15 : As many as eight student organisations - demanding removal of Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the Home Affairs Advisor in the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, for prevailing lawlessness in the country - called off their planned march in Dhaka on Saturday amid threats and intimidation, local media reported.

Highlighting the prevailing lawlessness in the country, the student bodies had announced a "mass procession" for Saturday to demand justice for victims of murders, rapes and harassment.

However, they were called off amid threats and instead a brief rally was held.

"Every murder committed under this interim government must be accounted for. Our fight will intensify in the coming days," Bangladesh Students' Union President Mahir Shahriar Reza was quoted as saying by BDNews24.

Tensions rose as an anti-Awami League activist called for turning the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) office in Dhaka into the "headquarters of the revolutionary student-people's uprising" as a counter to a mass rally organised by eight organisations.

The law enforcement agencies were later stationed around the CPB office amid threats.

The CPB leaders later gathered in front of the office to deliver speeches condemning rape and violence against women.

"The brutal abuse of the child in Magura has left a stain on the entire nation. Law and order has deteriorated to the point where the government cannot control it. Incidents are happening one after another," the Bangladeshi media outlet quoted CPB President Shah Alam as saying.

Several political parties and students are calling out the interim government for failing to curb gender-based violence as the protest against the death of Magura rape victim intensifies.

Earlier this week, several student organisations staged a torch procession at Dhaka University demanding justice for the growing incidents of rape across the country, the removal of the Home Affairs Advisor, and justice for the rape and murder of the eight-year-old child in Magura.

During the procession, protesters chanted slogans such as "We must fight to survive", "Stop killings, rapes, and harassment, rise up, Bangladesh", "Where there is murder and rape, there will be resistance", among others.

"Today an eight-year-old child has died after falling victim to rape. We will not betray her. We will not stop until we ensure the resignation of this Home Affairs Advisor. A Home Affairs Advisor who cannot provide security to the people of this country has no reason to remain in office," said a student leader.

Earlier, radical outfits and banned terrorist organisations have taken out rallies defying rules and regulation, spotlighting the panic that has gripped the country since Yunus-led interim government came to power in August 2024.
Taipei, March 15 : Pledging to work towards upholding the free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday welcomed and appreciated the Group of 7 (G7) Foreign Ministers' communique that reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

"Taiwan sincerely appreciates the G7 Foreign Ministers for reaffirming the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and supporting Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations. We stand ready to work with G7 and like-minded partners to uphold a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific," Taiwan's Foreign Affairs minister posted on X.

Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, met in Charlevoix, Quebec, from March 12 to 14.

The Joint Statement of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Charlevoix emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

"We encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues and reiterated our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. We also expressed support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in appropriate international organisations," read the statement.

The Foreign Ministers of G7 reiterated their commitment to upholding a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific based on sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes, fundamental freedoms and human rights. They also condemned China's "militarisation and coercion" and opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force and coercion.

Commenting on the joint statement of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the G7 Foreign Ministers' declaration on maritime security and prosperity, the Chinese Embassy in Canada also issued a statement on Friday.

The spokesperson of the embassy stated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and the Taiwan question is purely an internalaaffair of China, which brooks no external interference. "The key to upholding peace and stabilityaacross the Taiwan Straits lies in abiding by the one-China principle, and firmly opposing Taiwanaindependence. The Taiwan region's participation in the activities of international organisations must and can only be handled in line with the one-China principle," the spokesperson said.

Earlier this week, Taiwanas President William Lai had labelled China a "foreign hostile force" and ramped up national security measures in the face of growing threats and a string of spying cases.

In recent years, Beijing has increased military exercises in the Taiwan Strait to intensify pressure on Taiwan. Beijing opposes any kind of patrolling in the Taiwan Strait and perceives it as a security threat. Meanwhile, the US and its allies consider the Taiwan Strait as an international waterway and routinely send warships through the strait, asserting their influence in the Indo-Pacific region and countering the growing influence of China.
Canberra, March 15 : Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday reiterated strong and steadfast support for Ukraine, stating that the country will stand for Ukraine as long as it takes as it is in their national interest. Albanese joined a 'Coalition of Willing' virtual meeting hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, along with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders from Europe, Canada, and New Zealand.

Following the meeting, Albanese issued an official statement, asserting that the leaders agreed to continue working on delivering concrete actions to support Ukraine, now and into the future. He stated that Australia stands with Ukraine because what happens in the Euro-Atlantic has serious implications for the Indo-Pacific and vice versa. He referred to this as a struggle not just for Ukraine and its national sovereignty but for the international rule of law.

Australia further extended support towards all meaningful progress for a just and enduring peace in Ukraine and broader security in Europe. Albanese stated that pressure will need to be applied on Russia to engage in good faith. Australia is always open to considering any new proposals to support Ukraine based on Australia's capacity and comparative strengths, he said.

"Australia has committed 1.5 billion dollars to help Ukraine defend itself, including 1.3 billion dollars in military support and through vital equipment and training of Ukrainian forces. Australia is open to considering any requests to contribute to a future peacekeeping effort in support of just and lasting peace we all want for Ukraine. We have a proud tradition of supporting peace through eighty years of contribution to international peacekeeping missions. Of course, peacekeeping missions by definition require a precondition of peace," Albanese stated.

Albanese's signal of openness to support Ukraine has created a bipartisan fissure in the country. Addressing reporters on Friday, Opposition leader and Prime Ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections in Australia, Peter Dutton said that Australia should not be involved, accusing PM Albanese of "shooting from the hip".

"It just doesn't make any sense. Our job is to take care of our country and make sure we are safe in our region. We have supported Ukraine from day one. But not with troops on the ground. This was a thought bubble by the Prime Minister," Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported Dutton as saying.

Recently, the Russian Embassy in Canberra had also 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. "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 Russian Embassy in Canberra stated.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to eliminate seven additional federal agencies, including the one overseeing Voice of America and other government-funded media outlets worldwide, the White House website said, Trend reports.

The order specifically affects the US Agency for Global Media, which funds media outlets such as Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Radio Free Asia.

Additionally, the order mentions the US Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which is the primary source of federal funding for museums and libraries in the US.

Trump directed the heads of these agenciesmostly lesser-known organizations dealing with labor mediation and homelessness preventionto eliminate any functions not mandated by law. According to the order, their activities and staffing levels should be reduced to the minimum necessary for fulfilling the legal functions assigned to them.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Agartala, March 15 : The Ministry of Development of North East Region (DoNER) has set up a five-member task force to boost investment in the northeastern states with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha as its convener.

A senior Tripura government official said that during the 72nd plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) held on December 21 last year in Agartala, it was decided to constitute a high-level task force on investment promotion in the northeastern region involving Chief Ministers of the states.

Accordingly, the DoNER Ministry has constituted a task force with Saha, DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Chief Ministers Conrad K. Sangma (Meghalaya), Neiphiu Rio (Nagaland), and Prem Singh Tamang (Sikkim) as members.

The task force, which would submit its report to the NEC within six months, would assess the existing investment ecosystem, including policies, incentives, and infrastructure in the northeastern region and develop a strategic roadmap to position the region as a preferred investment destination for priority sectors such as agriculture, tourism, logistics, IT, and renewable energy.

The task force would highlight high-potential sectors and regions within NER to create focused investment clusters for the promotion of sectoral hubs such as agro-processing zones, tourism circuits, IT parks, renewable energy corridors etc. It would suggest developing strategies to attract both domestic and international investments in the priority sectors, with emphasis on public-private partnerships (PPPs), the notification of the DoNER Ministry said.

It said that the task force would also recommend policy reforms to streamline approvals, enhance ease of doing business, and address investor concerns.

Meanwhile, the DoNER Ministry has already organised eight aNortheast Trade and Investment Roadshowsa in different parts of the country including Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Kolkata to highlight the resources and potentiality of the northeastern states. The DoNER Ministry hosted the last aNorth East Trade and Investment Roadshowa in Chennai on February 5 with DoNER Minister Scindia inaugurating the roadshow and inviting investors and industrialists to join the transformative journey of the aAshtalakshmia region as it charts its path to becoming a leading engine of India's growth.
London, March 15 : British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his commitment to securing lasting peace in Ukraine as Britain hosted a virtual meeting with more than 25 political leaders on Saturday. However, no detailed or updated defence measures were announced.

At the press conference after the virtual meeting, when asked whether any concrete commitments emerged from it, Starmer said the meeting had helped build political and military momentum, with participating countries agreeing to increase collective pressure on Russia. However, he stopped short of disclosing what specific measures would be taken at the "operational phase."

Joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and leaders from Canada, Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union, Starmer urged Russia to "come to the table to negotiate a deal", Xinhua news reported. He also announced plans to host a military meeting next Thursday.

The British Prime Minister reiterated his country's stance on securing US involvement in Ukraine's future defense, emphasising that discussions with the United States are ongoing "on a daily basis."

He also suggested that US President Donald Trump is committed to achieving lasting peace in Ukraine, adding that the close relationship between Britain and the US is "the base on which we are planning."

Starmer reaffirmed Britain's willingness to take a leading role in the "coalition of the willing," a post-conflict arrangement that he announced two weeks ago during a London Summit. He said Britain is willing to deploy troops on the ground and aircraft in the sky. However, he did not specify how other nations would contribute to the coalition.

He also told reporters that leaders at the meeting had discussed tightening sanctions on Russia, including potential measures to freeze Russian assets in the future.
Moscow, March 15 : Russian engineering units have started demining operations in reclaimed border areas of the Kursk region, the Russian Defence Ministry said Saturday.

The efforts are aimed to facilitate the restoration of essential infrastructure and the resumption of economic activities following intense combat, the ministry said in a statement.

It added that the engineering units have discovered munitions banned by the Geneva Convention.

Over the past weeks, Russian troops have retaken a large part of areas that Ukraine captured after its surprise cross-border attack in the Kursk region in August last year.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday denied claims that Ukrainian forces had been encircled in Russia's western Kursk region.

"The operation of our forces in certain areas of the Kursk region continues," Zelensky said in a Telegram post, adding that the Ukrainian troops were not surrounded.

He said that thanks to the Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, a significant number of Russian forces were withdrawn from other directions.

Zelensky also warned that Russia is amassing its troops along Ukraine's eastern border and planning to attack Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had on Friday confirmed that Ukrainian soldiers that are currently in the Kursk region will be guaranteed life if they surrender, Xinhua news agency reported.

"If they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment in accordance with the norms of international law and the laws of the Russian Federation," he said during a meeting with members of the Russian Security Council.

US President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration "had very good and productive discussions," with Putin yesterday, adding that there is a very good chance that the "horrible, bloody war" can finally come to an end.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that thousands of Ukrainian troops were currently surrounded by the Russian military, adding that he urged Putin to spare their lives.

Putin noted that in order for Trump's call to be carried out, Ukraine's leadership must order its troops to surrender.

In an earlier statement on Friday, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces denied the reports that Ukrainian troops had been encircled in Russia's western Kursk region.

The Ukrainian army launched an offensive into Russia's Kursk region in August, seizing about 1,300 square kilometers of land. As the Russian army intensified its counterattack in recent weeks, the situation for the Ukrainian forces in the region is reportedly deteriorating rapidly.
Mumbai, March 15 : Vicky Kaushal has created a new benchmark of success with his latest release, "Chhaava". He brought Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to life on screen with his impeccable performance.

Vicky took to his Instagram handle and dropped a couple of stills from his look tests for "Chhaava".

The first picture of the post showed Vicky giving a side profile dressed as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Up next was a picture of him drenched in blood, wearing nothing but a dhoti. This was followed by an image of Vicky's blooded face, which is sure to give you chills. The last pic featured him standing tall as the Maratha ruler.

"Some stills from the look tests of #Chhaava! These look tests were the first step in bringing Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to life. Every scar, every detail a"crafted with deep respect for his legacy. Honored to walk this path. Har Har Mahadev!", Vicky wrote in the caption.

Vicky has received a lot of praise for his performance in "Chhaava".

Acknowledging the nationwide buzz surrounding the film, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked, aIn dino to Chhaava ki dhoom machi hui hai (Chhaava is making waves throughout the country these days)"

Addressing the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, PM stated, aIt is Maharashtra and Mumbai which has given a new height to Marathi as well as Hindi cinema. These days, Chhaava is making waves throughout the country (In dino to Chhaava ki dhoom machi hui hai). The introduction of Sambhaji Maharajas valour in this form has been made by Shivaji Sawantas Marathi novel"

Additionally, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis praised the makers for sharing the true tale of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj through "Chhaava".

He said, "Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj knew 11 different languages. He was a poet, and a writer as well. From the 'Chhaava' movie, many people in India have come to know more about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and I thank the 'Chhaava' crew members and the whole team. They perfectly portrayed the history in the film. I thank producers, directors, distributors, actors, and actresses. This team brought Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj into our lives. Thanks to Aditi Tatkare for the wonderful arrangements."
Kolkata, March 15 : Trinamool Congress General Secretary and Lok Sabha member, Abhishek Banerjee, on Saturday, directed two separate micro-level tiers of committee at the district levels in West Bengal to be constituted to identify the bogus voters in the state.

He issued this direction at a virtual meeting with the party leadership at different levels.

The prime issue of the virtual meeting was the identification of bogus voters in West Bengal.

One of the two micro-level tiers will be one at the panchayat level, which has been christened as the Panchayat Level Electoral Supervisory Committee.

The second tier will be at the town-level, which has been christened as the Town Level Electoral Supervisory Committee.

The formations of the committees will have to be completed by next month and they will start functioning by April 16 and continue to operate till the Assembly election next year.

The necessary training for that purpose to the members of the committee will be provided by Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), the Prashant Kishor-founded vote-strategy agency, that had been associated with Trinamool Congress since the 2021 West Bengal election.

These two micro-level tiers will be in addition to the existing-level committee in the same matter constituted and announced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee last month.

Abhishek Banerjee's name is second in the list of members of the state-level committee, which is headed by the party's state president, Subrata Bakshi.

A party leader aware of the proceedings of the virtual meeting, said that Abhishek Banerjee also directed that the members of the two tiers will meet on a monthly basis, discuss the progress in the identification of the bogus voters, and update the state-level committee in the matter.

aThe Trinamool Congress General Secretary at the virtual meeting said that BJP made a similar forgery in the electoral lists in Maharashtra before the Assembly elections there, by including voters from other states in the list. He also said that the opposition parties in Maharashtra were unable to identify the forgery in time, which our Chief Minister has been able to do. He also cautioned that in West Bengal, BJP's target is to delete the names of 25 lakh existing voters and replace them with the same number of new voters," the Trinamool Congress leader said.
Jammu, March 15 : The J&K Assembly on Saturday passed grants amounting to Rs 7,050.86 lakh for the Mining Department, Rs 108, 603.20 lakh for the Industries and Commerce Department, Rs 528, 374.63 lakh for the Public Works Department, Rs 35,344.46 lakh for the Labour and Employment Department and Rs 22,561.03 lakh for the Skill Development Department.

The grants were passed by voice vote after a daylong detailed discussion in the house.

Winding up the discussion on Demands for Grants, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said that currently, the Public Works Department is maintaining an extensive road network of 40,000 km with priority to provide high-quality roads and connectivity to the last unconnected village.

"In 2025-26, we are targeting 4,000 km of road blacktopping under various schemes such as PMGSY, Cities & Towns, CRIF and NABARD, significantly improving travel conditions for the people of J&K," he added.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the department receives funding from three main sources; Centrally Sponsored Schemes like the PMGSY and the CRIF, NABARD Loan Assistance and UT Sector Funding for roads and bridges.

"Through PMGSY, which started in 2001, we have successfully connected 2,132 out of 2,140 identified villages, laying down 17,585 km of roads, and constructing 210 bridges at an investment of Rs 10,939 crore. The remaining work will be completed by 2025-26. Under PMGSY Phase II and III, we have upgraded 1,927 km of roads and constructed 9 bridges, while the remaining 505 km of roads and 64 bridges will be completed soon," he said.

To further strengthen rural connectivity, Choudhary said that the Centre has approved PMGSY-4 (2024-29), which will connect habitations with 250+ population, as per the 2011 Census.

This included special provisions for tribal-majority villages and Aspirational Districts.

He also said that 1,098 projects have been sanctioned under NABARD and 213 projects have already been completed in 2024-25, marking the highest-ever achievement for the department in a single year.

To attract businesses, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the government has introduced 14 policies and schemes that provide financial support, tax benefits and land for industries.

A major initiative, the New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS) 2021, was launched with Rs 28,400 crore to help industries set up and grow. This scheme offers investment incentives, tax relief and interest support, he said, adding that the response has been positive with 971 industrial units approved, bringing in Rs 10,471 crore of investment and creating 51,897 jobs.

Noting that Jammu and Kashmiras industries are mainly driven by small and medium enterprises which provide the highest employment in the region, he said that there are 7.10 lakh MSMEs in J&K, of which, 4.47 lakh have been registered on the Udyam Portal.

"Supporting MSMEs further will help create more local jobs and boost the economy," he maintained.

To provide more space for industries, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the government is building 46 new industrial estates in addition to the 64 existing ones, and these will be ready from March 2025 onwards.

He said that land for 15,994 additional industrial plots has also been identified for future development.

On investment in industries, the Deputy Chief Minister said that in 2023-24, investments worth Rs 3,389 crore were made, creating 1,46,317 jobs, which is a 57 per cent increase from the previous year.

He added that in 2024-25, 381 new units have started production, adding Rs 3,887 crore of investment and 10,715 more jobs.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the handloom & handicrafts sector is backbone of J&Kas economy, employing 4.22 lakh artisans who make world famous products like Pashmina shawls, Kashmiri carpets, Basohli paintings, walnut wood carvings, and embroidery items.

aTo protect and promote these crafts, the government has introduced QR code-based certification, allowing the buyers to verify the authenticity of J&Kas handicrafts. Ten handicrafts including Pashmina, Kani Shawls and Sozni Embroidery have received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Eight more crafts are in the pipeline while eleven new crafts are set to be registered in 2025-26," he said.

To improve governance in the mining sector, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the implementation of an e-auction system has made allocation of mining blocks more transparent and competitive.

Additionally, procedural reforms under the Ease of Doing Business initiative have simplified the process of obtaining mining leases and approvals, making it easier for businesses and entrepreneurs to participate in legal mining activities.

He also noted that environmental compliance remains a top priority with strict regulations in place to mitigate the impact of mining on forests, rivers and biodiversity.

To tackle the issue of illegal mining, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the government has established Multi-Departmental District-Level Task Force Cells, headed by the respective Deputy Commissioners, with District SSPs as key members.

Besides, penalties for illegal mining have been made stringent with first-time offenders being fined ten times the cost of the mineral extracted illegally, along with additional fines and royalties.

Choudhary said that the government has focused on addressing unemployment, which remains a major challenge due to the limited presence of large industries in J&K.

"A new initiative, Mission Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (YUVA), is all set to be launched to support young entrepreneurs and create employment opportunities," he added.

"In the upcoming financial year, 27,400 new enterprises are expected to be created, generating 85,000 jobs," he maintained.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the J&K Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board was established to protect the rights of construction workers, ensure their safety and provide financial assistance for their well-being.

"A total of Rs 5,903.25 lakh has been disbursed among 70,323 beneficiaries under various welfare schemes," he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that one of the major achievements of the Skill Development Department is that 83 trade units, previously affiliated only with the State Council for Vocational Training, are now being recognised by the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT).

He said this change makes 1,800 additional students eligible for the National Trade Certificate (NTC), which is valued worldwide. Now, 50 out of 53 Government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in J&K are NCVT-affiliated and more than 9,000 ITI trainees have been successfully migrated to the Skill India Digital Hub Portal, he added.

To boost employment opportunities, placement drives were organised in various polytechnics, where 15 companies visited and 261 students received job offers.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the Government ITI Srinagar has been upgraded to a Model ITI, where existing trades have been modernised and new trades such as Solar Technician (Electrical), Smartphone Technician cum App Tester, and IoT Technician (Smart City) have been introduced to keep pace with evolving industry demands.

aLooking towards the future, the Food Craft Institute Jammu is set to be upgraded to the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), allowing it to offer a three-year degree in Hotel and Hospitality Administration," he said.

aA new initiative focused on global employment opportunities is also being launched in collaboration with NSDC International to provide specialised training for overseas jobs, while 3,000 women from Self-Help Groups will be trained in entrepreneurship to improve their financial status," he added.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 15 : A Lithuanian man, wanted in the US for cryptocurrency fraud and arrested in Kerala early this week, had been living at the picturesque tourist destination in Varkala, a very miserly life.

46-year-old Aleksej Besciokov was arrested on Tuesday from Varkala by the Kerala Police, hours before he was getting ready to fly out of the country.

According to his landlord, Aleksej had been living in his house at Varkala for the past eight years and keeps coming and going.

He, according to the landlord, was a miser and it was after several years he agreed to increase the annual rent and he was driving an old two-wheeler costing Rs 12,000.

Aleksej in order to save money from the local workshop mechanics used to repair his two-wheeler by himself.

On Monday, a day before he was arrested, his family returned to their home country.

The locals also are amazed that they are yet to come to terms that Aleksej was someone dealing in crores and they recall him being a quiet personality.

While Varkala is home to numerous foreign tourists and most of them are boisterous while celebrating on the beach, Aleksej and those who occasionally used to visit him were quiet.

Meanwhile, an alert police official found something amiss when he arrived at the rented home of Aleksej acting on a directive from the Patiala House Court in New Delhi, on Tuesday.

Seeing the police officer, Aleksej offered the inspector a bunch of Rs 500 currencies which was later identified as Rs 50,000.

Soon the official informed the matter to the higher-ups and within no time, a bigger force of police arrived and he was taken into custody.

On Saturday, Aleksej who was under judicial remand in the state capital district was taken by air to New Delhi by a group of Kerala Police officials and CBI sleuths.

After reaching Delhi, he was produced before the Patiala House Court which sent him to judicial custody.

Aleksej had US sanctions against him from 2022, had set up a cryptocurrency exchange 'Garantex', and according to the US Secret Service documents, he is alleged to facilitated money laundering to the tune of at least $96 billion (over Rs 8 lakh crore) in cryptocurrency transactions by transnational criminal organisations (including terrorist organisations) and violated sanctions.

The sudden action that led to his arrest arose after the Ministry of External Affairs received a provisional arrest warrant at the request of US officials and that was effected by the Kerala Police at Varkala on Tuesday.
Bengaluru, March 15 : The Karnataka government has placed jailed actress Ranya Rao's father, DGP K. Ramachandra Rao, on compulsory leave with immediate effect and until further notice in connection with a gold smuggling case.

DGP Rao was serving as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.

Ranya Rao has been sent to jail in the gold smuggling case.

The Karnataka government had assigned senior IAS officer Gaurav Gupta, the Additional Chief Secretary, to start an investigation immediately against DGP Ramachandra Rao.

DGP Rao is expected to be asked to appear before Gupta for questioning at any time.

Besides, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are investigating the case.

The Karnataka government on March 11 ordered a probe against jailed actress Ranya Rao's father DGP K. Ramachandra Rao in connection with the gold smuggling case.

The state government has sought a report within one week.

Actress 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.

Gupta has been tasked with examining the circumstances that led to Ranya Rao availing the protocol facility and the role of his father in it.

The order states: "Over the past week, reports have emerged regarding the violation and misuse of protocol by Ranya Rao to facilitate gold smuggling. It has also been reported that she misused the name of her father, senior IPS officer and DGP and MD of Karnataka Housing Corporation Limited and Infrastructure Development Corporation, K. Ramachandra Rao, to access the protocol privileges granted to high-ranking officers."

The order further alleges that Ranya Rao used her father's name to bypass security checks and commit the crime.

The state government has deemed it necessary to investigate Ramachandra Rao's role in enabling Ranya Rao to avail of the protocol facility at the airport, the order states.

The Investigating Officer has also been directed to obtain all necessary documents and assistance from the State Police Chief and the Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms.

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.

Gold smuggling-accused actress Ranya Rao has alleged that the DRI officials repeatedly slapped and hit her during custody, and demanded she sign statements under threats that they will "expose" her stepfather, DGP K. Ramachandra Rao.
Bhopal, March 15 : In yet another horrifying incident, stray dogs were seen carrying the remains of a newborn human baby into the government hospital in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district, police said.

This is the second such case in three days.

According to reports, on Saturday noon, in a disturbing incident at Khargone District Hospital the stray dogs were seen carrying the dead body of the neonatal.

More distressing part in the incident is that the infant's body was discovered with a leg, a hand and neck severed.

The dogs might have consumed the body parts of the infant.

Speaking to IANS, Rohit Lakhare, Sub-Divisional Police Officer told that a thorough investigation has been launched.

Teams have been deployed to gather information, and all records of baby deliveries at the hospital over the past week have been summoned.

Authorities are also reviewing CCTV footage from the hospital and surrounding areas.

The police official dismissed the possibility that the infant was a result of an abortion, or foeticide citing the full development of the body, and confirmed that doctors and hospital staff are being questioned.

Preliminary inquiries suggest that the infant may have been delivered in the hospital's maternity ward before a family member abandoned the lifeless body in an open area.

The officer said the stray dogs were seen carrying the body at around 3:30 p.m. and upon receiving this harrowing information, the Jaitapur police quickly reached the scene and secured the body in the post-mortem room.

A panel of doctors will conduct the autopsy of whatever remains in the body to uncover further details.

A similar incident occurred in Rewa town when a stray dog was seen carrying body of a newborn human baby with its lower limbs missing.

The police had suspected the body might have been digged out by dogs from nearby cremation area of Beehar river in Rewa.

The police and the hospital staff in this case have informed the local municipal authorities to tackle the menace of stray dogs.
Gurugram, March 15 : A Cyber Crime team of the Gurugram police have arrested two criminals for allegedly providing bank account to cyber fraudsters, who cheated victim in the name of taxi booking in Mahakumbh, police said on Saturday.

The victim in his police complaint said that he was cheated of Rs 24,000 in the name of taxi booking for Mahakumbh.

Upon receiving this complaint, a case was registered under the relevant sections in Cyber aaCrime (South) police station, Gurugram.

During the investigation, a police team led by Inspector Naveen Kumar nabbed the accused in Sadarpur, Sector-45 in Noida on Thursday, police said.

The accused were identified as Raj and Raja, residents of Sadarpur Colony, Sector-45, Noida.

The police investigation revealed that the amount defrauded in this case had come into the bank account of the accused Raj, and the SIM card used to carry out the fraud was in the name of the accused Raja.

The accused Raj had sold the SIM card and bank account to another accused Raja.

The accused had sold the SIM for Rs 1,000 and the bank account for Rs 10,000.

In the wake of increasing cyber crimes, Gurugram police took immediate action against the cyber criminals.

Gurugram police is working with dedication to stop the increasing cybercrimes and catch the criminals.

"We appealed to the public to steer clear of such dubious callers and advised caution in sharing personal details with strangers stalking them online," Priyanshu Diwan, ACP (Cyber Crime), said.

"The cyber fraudsters commit fraud by luring people with good profits, investing in the stock market, reducing electricity bills, in the name of buying/selling cheap goods online, sextorting through video calls on WhatsApp, morphing, sending links through various means, posing as a customs officer/police officer in the name of implicating a false case, in the name of issuing a No-Objection Certificate, digitally arresting people by showing the fear of implicating them in a criminal case, etc.," he added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15. Pavel Durov, founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, has left France and relocated to Dubai following approval from a French court, Trend reports.

Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport outside Paris in August 2024 and charged with a litany of violations related to the popular messaging app he founded. He had been banned from leaving the country.

After days of questioning, he was charged with several counts of failing to curb extremist and terrorist content and released on $5.6 million bail.
New Delhi, March 15 : In a video shared on Modi Story, a popular handle on X, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, the chief priest of Bageshwar Dham, shared his heartfelt reflections about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The remarkable spiritual side of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was evident during his visit to Bageshwar Dham. When he met my mother and presented her with a gift he had brought from Delhi, it revealed the affectionate son within him. It was a truly heart-warming moment. A successful leader like him is a blessing for the nation. May the blessings of the saints always remain with him," Dhirendra Shastri said.

Last month, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art cancer hospital in Garha village near Bageshwar Dham, Bundelkhand -- a region that has long suffered from economic neglect under successive Congress governments.

For decades, Bundelkhand's healthcare needs were overlooked, leaving its people without access to essential medical facilities. In stark contrast, Modi's initiative promises a 100-bed cancer treatment centre offering free care to underprivileged patients -- a transformative step that has garnered widespread acclaim.

During his visit, PM Modi's personal touch shone through as he met Shastri's mother, presenting her with a thoughtful gift from Delhi. Shastri, affectionately known as Bageshwar Dham Sarkar, praised PM Modi's leadership, even remarking, "Since you assumed the position of Prime Minister, Modi ji, even those in Pakistan are saying, 'Take us back.'"

This bold statement underscored the PM's growing influence, both domestically and internationally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a gathering of thousands of devotees of Bageshwar Dham made a veiled attack on opposition leaders, accusing them of "mocking" and "ridiculing" Hindu religion, faith and beliefs with the backing of foreign powers, besides ignoring Bundelkhand region for years.

The Prime Minister had said that the leaders, who hate "Hinduism" while living in our country, are "shackled by slave mentality" and attack our culture, traditions, festivals, and progressive philosophy. Prime Minister Modi praised Shashtri for promoting the message of unity and commended his commitment to developing the Bageshwar Dham medical facility, which will now provide both medical and spiritual healing at no extra cost.

While the Modi government continues to champion development and inclusivity, Congress' legacy tells a different story. The neglect of regions like Bundelkhand and the lack of visionary projects during Congress' tenure stands in stark contrast to PM Modi's proactive governance.

Shastri, at the age of just 26, has become a spiritual icon, bridging caste divides and supporting underprivileged communities. Following PM Modi's visit, even President Droupadi Murmu visited Bageshwar Dham, further highlighting the significance of Shastri's work. Through his unique blend of tradition and modernity, Shastri inspires millions, while PM Modi's leadership sets a new standard for inclusive development -- something Congress failed to deliver.
Aizawl, March 15 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Saturday said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah significantly supported the transfer of the Assam Rifles' land to the state government and stated that his (Shah) name shall be remembered and engraved in the history of Mizoram.

Aizawl, March 15 (IANS) Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Saturday said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah significantly supported the transfer of the Assam Riflesa land to the state government and stated that his (Shah) name shall be remembered and engraved in the history of Mizoram.

Addressing the function, organised to handover the Assam Rifles land to the Mizoram government and shifting of the Assam Rifles establishments from Aizawl to Zokhawsang, the Chief Minister said that that the relocation of the Assam Rifles complex from Aizawl is a long-awaited step that would significantly impact the cityas development.

He acknowledged the contributions of Lt. Gen. Vikas Lakhera, Director General of Assam Rifles, for ensuring the success of the relocation. Lalduhoma also extended his gratitude to Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Tapan Deka, Director of the Intelligence Bureau, for their roles in this initiative.

The Chief Minister emphasised that Mizoram, as a mountainous state, faces unique challenges in urban planning, and Aizawlas rapid expansion necessitates infrastructural improvements. He expressed confidence that the relocation of Assam Rifles is a step towards making Aizawl a more liveable and well-planned city. Lalduhoma also assured that Mizoram continues to recognise the vital role of Assam Rifles and will maintain cooperation for the security and well-being of the state.

The Chief Minister earlier said that a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Assam Rifles and the Mizoram government was signed on October 23, 2024, at Mizoram House, New Delhi. The MoU outlined the relocation process and the terms of the land transfer. The relocation programme was inaugurated by the Union Home Minister with a ceremonial lamp-lighting and he addressed the function.

In 1988, the then Mizo National Front (MNF) government headed by former Chief Minister Laldenga first raised the demand for relocation of the Assam Rifles complex from Aizawl to Zokhawsang after the paramilitary force allegedly killed 11 civilians in a violent clash.

In February 2019, the Union Home Ministry directed the paramilitary force to shift its complex to Zokhawsang by May 31 of that year. However, the relocation was delayed after Assam Rifles claimed that the infrastructure was not ready by that time. The Zokhawsang complex was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Shah in April 2023.
New Delhi, March 15 : Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena on Saturday attended the launch of Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri's book 'Swallowing the Sun' becoming a national bestseller, which was hosted at the Partition Museum, Dara Shukoh Library Building in the national capital.

The book launch of Lakshmi Puri was hosted in the presence of L-G Saxena as the Chief Guest.

The event, organised by The Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust in collaboration with The Lalit, highlighted the novel's historical significance and themes.

L-G Saxena spoke about the significance of the Partition Museum, saying: "The Partition was a huge tragedy. It saw the dislocation of more than 20 million people and transformed the demographics of Delhi. As such, the Partition Museum in Delhi is both a memorial and a museum -- preserving not only the people's history of a very traumatic time but also displaying their oral histories, documents, photographs, objects, and personal narratives."

Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson and Managing Director of The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, was also present, reinforcing the importance of preserving historical narratives through literature.

The discussion was moderated by Kishwar Desai, author, playwright, and founder of the Partition Museums in Amritsar and Delhi.

The conversation explored the inspiration behind the novel, the role of literature in keeping history alive, and the continued impact of Partition on generations today.

The Delhi L-G also highlighted the importance of the venue, saying: "Indeed, the location of this function at this historical building is riveting. We are right now at a very historic space -- Dara Shukoh Library Building -- where the Partition Museum has been founded by the NGO led by Kishwar Desai. This award-winning museum is an excellent example of a public-private partnership."

'Swallowing the Sun' follows Malati, a fearless young girl navigating the challenges of pre-Independence India.

During the discussion, Lakshmi Puri shared her motivations for writing the book, the challenges of crafting historical fiction, and its relevance in today's world.

Speaking at the event, Lakshmi Puri remarked, "I'm delighted to be here at the Partition Museum, a museum which is a lasting and living monument to one of the most traumatic episodes in our recent history, but which needs memorialising because we must never forget and we must make sure that history does not repeat itself. And I pay rich tributes to the founder and the director of this museum, Kishwar Desai, whose vision, commitment and passion have made this possible. Here, we see how the Partition happened, what was the human tragedy that unfolded, and how people pulled themselves back, showing resilience and humanity."

Jyotsna Suri reflected on the novel, stating: "Lakshmi Puri's "Swallowing the Sun" is a testament to resilience, courage, and the pursuit of equality against the backdrop of India's Independence struggle. Through the eyes of a young girl, the novel explores sisterhood, friendships, and revolution, capturing the essence of her journey. This book is not just a storya"it is a beacon of hope, inclusion, and empowerment."

During the event, Lakshmi Puri presented a copy of the Refugee Rehabilitation Law drafted by her father, B.G. Murdeshwar, to the Delhi L-G.

A copy of this historic document will also be preserved in the Gallery of Rehabilitation at the Partition Museum, Delhi.

B. G. Murdeshwar played a pivotal role in the resettlement of Partition refugees by drafting and advocating for a policy that froze evacuee properties for rehabilitation purposes.

His efforts, which were later adopted by multiple provinces, saved the governments of Punjab and India hundreds of crores of rupees while ensuring a structured resettlement process.

Kishwar Desai remarked on the refugee rehabilitation process, saying, "There is a connection to why we chose the Partition Museum for the celebration of Lakshmi's booka"her father had a major role to play in the refugee rehabilitation process."

The panel discussion also highlighted 'Women in Power', showcasing the leadership of Lakshmi Puri as a diplomat, author, and former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations; Jyotsna Suri as a business leader shaping the hospitality industry; and Kishwar Desai as an award-winning author, playwright, and the driving force behind the Partition Museums in Amritsar and Delhi, ensuring that the stories of Partition survivors are preserved for future generations.

The event concluded with a Q&A session, where attendees inquired about Lakshmi Puri's research process and the historical context behind the book "Swallowing the Sun".
Patna, March 15 : A viral video of Tej Pratap Yadav, former Bihar minister and elder son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, asking a police constable to dance in uniform, has stirred controversy.

In the video, Tej Pratap, sitting on a stage during Holi celebrations, instructs a uniformed policeman to dance, saying: "Hey constable, hey Deepak, we will play a song, you have to dance. If you don't, you will be suspended. Don't mind, it's Holi."

Tej Pratap Yadav celebrated the Holi in Patna on Saturday. He brought the famous Kurta Far Holi to carry forward the legacy of Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The video has triggered sharp criticism from NDA leaders.

Sanjay Jha, the JDU Working President and Rajya Sabha MP told IANS, "You can imagine the state of that party (RJD). The people of Bihar are watching everything."

Rajiv Ranjan, JDU Chief Spokesperson stated, "Earlier, RJD leaders used to make officers prepare khaini (chewing tobacco), now they are making them dance."

"Tej Pratap has forgotten that Bihar is no longer under his parents' Jungle Raj but under Nitish Kumar's good governance. If RJD leaders treat security personnel this way, maybe they don't need security at all. If this continues, RJD won't remain the main opposition party for long," Ranjan said.

BJP also slammed Tej Pratap Yadav over the video. They accused RJD of continuing its past "Jungle Raj" practices.

Kuntal Krishna, a BJP spokesperson said, "Tej Pratap Yadav has acted exactly according to RJD's culture. During the Jungle Raj of his parents, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, security personnel were made to do the same kind of work. Back then, RJD leaders forced security officers to sing and dance. Today, Tej Pratap is doing the same."

This controversy has further intensified the political rivalry between RJD and NDA in Bihar. Ruling parties are using this incident to question RJD's governance record ahead of the upcoming elections.

The incident has reignited the Jungle Raj vs Good Governance debate, with JDU attacking RJD's past record of allegedly misusing government officials.
Bengaluru, March 16 : As the ruling Congress in Karnataka remains committed to providing 4 per cent reservation in government tenders to Muslims in the state, the BJP has come down heavily on the decision by the government.

The BJP on Saturday stated that reservation for Muslims in government tenders will have national implications and the party also reminded of such matters leading to the Partition of the country during Independence.

Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, addressing a press conference on Saturday, stated that "The Karnataka government's 4 per cent reservation for Muslims has been passed with the full patronage of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi."

"We are making this statement with full responsibility," Prasad said.

"The Karnataka government's move was reflective of the "mentality of Rahul Gandhi".

The issue was not limited to Karnataka but had "nationwide implications. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah neither has the courage nor the political capital to announce the reservation on his own. The vote bank politics is at play," Prasad charged.

"During the freedom struggle, small issues such as separate universities, separate electorate led to eventually division of India during Independence," emphasised Prasad.

National President of BJP Yuva Morcha and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, taking to social media X, stated, "Cabinet nod by Congress government to hand out 4 per cent of quota for Muslims in government tenders is an attack on the constitution and act of incentivising conversion."

"Social and economic backwardness, rather than religion, has always been the norm. This new gimmick for electoral gains is equal to undoing the very purpose of reservation," Surya slammed.

"This government is misusing power, and public resources for vote bank politics and turning our economy into a playground for political opportunism," Surya stated.

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress-led Karnataka government, Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, said on Saturday that "this step reeks of populism".

Taking to social media platform X, the Union Minister also charged, saying: "The Congress government in Karnataka is necessarily indulging in anti-constitutional policies. The state government is promoting a single religion due to its vote bank politics and has easily forgotten its duty to protect all communities."

The Congress government has already pushed the state towards economic distress but now is indulging in such anti-constitutional policies at the cost of the overall development of the state, Union Minister Joshi said.

Congress practised appeasement politics for six decades putting votebank politics above national development, he added.

And even today, Congress is proving that their name is synonymous with appeasement, he underlined.

State BJP President, B.Y. Vijayendra, claimed that Congress was leading the state towards violence.

Hitting out at the Congress-led state government, the State BJP President said: "Does the grand old party think that only Muslims constitute the minority group?"

Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka stated that the Congress government has granted Rs 150 crore for Waqf Property restoration, Rs 500 crore for Urdu Schools, and Rs 1,000 crore for Minority Colony Development. Along with these allocations, reservation has also been provided to Muslims based on religion. However, the Constitution drafted by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar does not permit such provisions, he underlined.

Additionally, Minister Zameer Ahmed has been making efforts to increase reservations. Opposing this, the Jain community is preparing to protest, Ashoka stated.

"Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh communities have been allocated only Rs 10 crore in total. This has been criticised as discrimination within the minority communities," he stated.

The Karnataka government's decision to provide a four per cent reservation to Muslims in government contracts has stirred a huge controversy. Sources confirmed that the Cabinet has approved the proposal, and a Bill in this regard will be presented before the State Legislature during the ongoing Budget session.

The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, 1999, after amendment aims to provide four per cent reservation in tenders to Muslim contractors in government contracts up to Rs 1 crore, sources said.

The State Cabinet has also approved the limit for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) community which has been extended from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore.

Minority leaders had submitted a request to reserve four per cent of contract works for Muslim contractors, similar to the reservations provided for SCs, STs, and Other Backward Communities.

Considering the request, the state government has decided to implement the reservation.

A Cabinet meeting was held under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, where discussions were conducted regarding the introduction of the Bill.

The Karnataka government has been contemplating introducing a four per cent reservation for Muslims in civil contracts on the lines of the reservation provided to the SCs, STs and Other Backward Classes.
Rewa, March 16 : An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) was killed while a couple of more policemen were severely injured as they were attacked by villagers in Mauganj district of Rewa division in Madhya Pradesh, police said on Saturday.

The incident occurred in Gadara village under Shahpur police station in Mauganj, around 70 km from Rewa.

Attackers, who belong to the tribal community, also held hostage an administrative official.

However, the official was rescued safely after additional police personnel reached the spot.

According to information, local area police reached the Gadara village after a man was allegedly kidnapped and killed by a tribal family on Friday night.

The deceased person has been identified as Sunny Dube, a local resident.

The alleged murder incident led to tension as people from both sides came face-to-face.

However, the situation was brought under control after the district administration imposed Section 144 in the village.

On Saturday, when police team went there again, the tribals attacked the police team and the officials from Mauganj administration.

The tribals chased the police team with axe and other weapons, pelted stones, among other materials.

Several police personnel, including Traffic Inspector Sandeep Bharti and Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ankita Sulya, were injured during the attack.

SDPO Sulya had locked herself in a room and she was rescued after additional police team along with senior police officers reached the spot late on Saturday night.

Police personnel were also sent from adjoining police stations and the neighbouring Rewa district.

Mauganj has been under Rewa district and it was carved out as a seperate district in 2023.

According to the police, the incident traces back to the death of tribal man named Ashok Kumar in an alleged road accident few months ago.

According to police, Kumar died in a road accident, however, his family had then alleged that he was killed by Sunny Dube.

On Friday, when the tribals found Sunny Dube alone, they kidnapped him and locked him in a room.

On Saturday evening, when police reached there to rescue Dube, he was dead till then.

The incident has sparked political controversy as the Opposition Congress raised questions on the law and order situation in the state.

Responding on the matter, State Congress President Jitu Patwari said, "Law and order situation in Madhya Pradesh has become worse than 'jungle-raj'. Even the police is not safe."
Bengaluru, March 16 : Under attack by the BJP for providing a 4 per cent quota to Muslims in government tenders, the ruling Congress in Karnataka confirmed that it is all set to provide the reservation for Muslims.

Speaking to the media in Bengaluru on Saturday, Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar responded to various questions giving clear hints about the government's move in this regard. Earlier, sources stated that the cabinet had approved the proposal to provide reservations for Muslims after CM Siddaramaiah made an announcement in the budget.

When asked about the government's decision to provide 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in government contracts, he clarified, "Approval has been given only for contracts worth up to Rs 2 crore. No work exceeding this amount will be allocated under this quota. We are not taking away anyone's rights."

"Don't they also deserve a livelihood?" Shivakumar questioned.

He further maintained, "Who said that 4 per cent reservation is only for Muslims? The government has decided to provide it to minorities and backward communities. Minorities include Christians, Jains, Parsis, Sikhs, and others. Previously, we had amended the law to provide contract reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes," said Shivakumar.

Responding to the BJP's claim that contract reservations are a vote-bank strategy, he remarked, "They must be constantly thinking about us. That makes us even stronger."

CM Siddaramaiah-led government is all set to bring an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act, 1999 and present the bill in the ongoing budget session, sources stated.

When asked about allegations that some MLAs are blackmailing officials regarding garbage disposal contracts, Shivakumar said, "Go and see for yourself where the garbage is piling up, and you'll understand."

When asked whether the government is ready for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections, Shivakumar firmly stated, "Definitely, we are ready. How long can we keep delaying it?"

"A meeting has been called on Saturday for candidates contesting the BBMP elections. Later, a meeting will be held with representatives of all parties. Some unauthorised suggestions have already been given regarding BBMP elections, but now we will officially collect feedback," he said.

When asked about participation in the meeting opposing constituency delimitation, he said, "Both the Chief Minister and I were invited by the Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin. The high command and the Chief Minister have directed us to attend the meeting in Tamil Nadu on March 22."

"Due to the Chief Minister's knee pain, doctors have advised him not to travel, so he will not be attending. On behalf of the party and the government, I will be present at the meeting. I will discuss the party's stance with the high command and convey it," he added.

"A major discussion is happening across the country. We are not ready to give up our rights or numbers. On March 18, we will discuss the party's position and announce our stand," he said.
This years Bologna Childrens Book Fair, which runs March 31April 3, continues the shows expansion into two ancillary events: BolognaBookPlus, which was launched in 2020 and offers programs for general trade publishing, and the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair for childrens brands, which has grown significantly since the pandemic. The idea has been to make Bologna a vital center for the copyright and licensing business, says Elena Pasoli, director of the BCBF. These three events dont simply take place in the same area, in the same days; they are intended to strongly interact with and enhance each other.

Approximately 1,500 exhibitors from 90 countries are expected at this years fair, with first-time participants from 13 nations including Albania, Ecuador, Georgia, Iceland, North Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. The Rights Center at the fair, which is open to both childrens and adult publishers, is expected to top out at 200 tables.

The TV/Film Rights Centre also returns, following its debut last year, and is dedicated to adapting stories from books to screens and vice versa. And this year, in collaboration with the Frankfurt Book Fair, Bologna is launching a Games Business Centre, focused on connecting publishing professionals with the gaming industry.

Initially, digital products were far from the quality of book illustrations, but over the past 1520 years, the quality has improved dramatically, Pasoli says. Many illustrators familiar with books have become acquainted with the digital world, opening new business opportunities for publishers while also improving the quality of video games. Illustrators will be able to have their portfolios reviewed by games experts, as well as by TV and film producers.

There will be additional opportunities for networking at the Licensing Trade Fair, which will itself feature several new components, including a matchmaking service and a Arts Licensing Area for illustration and licensing professionals. The space will host panel discussions on industry trends, alongside the Bologna Licensing Awards ceremony.

These additions complement BCBFs established business areas, which include the Comics Corner, with approximately 80 exhibitors, including several from the Philippines, the guest of honor nation at this years Frankfurt Book Fair; the Translators Centre; the Audio HQ; and PublisHer, an initiative offering programming intended to address gender imbalances in the industry.

Sustainability and development

Sustainability remains a central theme, with the fair continuing its collaboration with the United Nations to promote the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Last year we started talking about environmental sustainability, Pasoli says. This year, with the partnership with the United Nations, we launched sustainability as the main topic of the fair, covering all 17 goals, with a special focus on gender equality, right to education, and poverty.

A special sustainability category has been added to the BolognaRagazzi Awards, and the BRAW Amazing BookshelfSustainability: 17 Goals for a Better Future exhibition will display 150 nominated titles. This collection will be exhibited at the UN headquarters in New York City in early 2026.

For the first time, a panel organized jointly by BCBF and BBPlus will discuss industry sustainability practices at the Sustainability Summit: Taking Stock and Reviewing the Roadmap to a Sustainable Future in the Book Industry. The panel will feature Anne Bergman-Tahon from the Federation of European Publishers, Rachel Martin from Elsevier, Cristina Mussinelli from the International Publishers Association, and representatives from DK, the Korean Publishers Association, and major international printing companies. Weve tried to include voices from around the world, says Jacks Thomas, director of BBPlus. No stone will be left unturned on the subject of sustainability.

Several panels will also address gender representation in childrens publishing, including Transcendent: Embracing Inclusive Gender Expression Beyond Tokenism or Issue Books and a session featuring Italian author Francesca Cavallo, whose Stellar Stories for Boys of the Future looks at what Pasoli calls a key issue for the future of publishing: How will we educate young boys and raise a new generation of men to be readers and leaders?

Following the three-year Spotlight on Africa initiative that brought 100 African publishers to BCBF, the fair has shifted to training the next generation of African illustrators and has offered an online course with Mimaster, an international school of illustration in Milan. The final picture book projects will be exhibited at this years fair.

Were also continuing our focus on minority languages, which was a big success last year, Pasoli says. Well have representatives from the Sami community in Norway, an author specializing in Native Mexican languages, and an illustrator from Morocco discussing how childrens books represent migrations.

The fair will also host a video program featuring 29 translators from 20 countries reading out the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child, echoing an event from last year that featured a group reading of the UN Convention of Human Rights. Its meant to be a kind of shared prayer for a better world in this time, Pasoli says. Last year it was human rights, this year is childrens rights. Maybe we can do it every single year, because its so important to put together people speaking so many languages.

BolognaBookPlus Highlights

Returning for its fifth year, BBPlus will feature exhibitions, awards for book design, and professional training courses. Unsurprisingly, two of the hottest topics in trade publishing will share the spotlight: audiobooks and AI. The Listen Up! Conference will include presentations about the international market from Michele Cobb of the Audiobook Publishers Association and Marco Ferrario of Bookrepublic, as well as presentations from Audible, Mondadori, Penguin Random House Audio, and Storytel.

An AI Summit will address copyright protection, creative work, and regulatory developments, while exploring how the technology can enhance industry processes like distribution and targeting. Among the participants will be Chantal Restivo-Alessi of HarperCollins, Giacomo DAngwelo of StreetLib, Raul Perez of Planeta, and Guarav Sabharwal of Prakash Books. The program will close with a town hall, giving attendees a chance to voice their concerns about the transformative technology.

British author Tom Benjamin, who lives in Bologna and has set his series of mystery novels starring sleuth Daniel Leicester in the city, is serving as Author Ambassador, and new for 2025 is the Illustration Ambassador initiative, with Polish artist Joanna Karpowicz serving as the inaugural ambassador. The Talking Pictures award will spotlight visual books from Estonia, the fairs guest of honor.

Other BBPlus highlights include celebrations of the centenaries of Andrea Camilleri and F. Scott Fitzgerald, with a special Jackets Off! exhibition analyzing different international cover interpretations of The Great Gatsby. The Folio Society will also present a major retrospective of 70 years of illustration from the publisher in an exhibit that is scheduled for later this year at the Society of Illustrators in New York City.

Reflecting on the development of the BBPlus program, Thomas says, Weve moved beyond the early stages now and have a mature conference. We have returning exhibitors and returning participants, and are building on some really solid foundations.

Beyond the BCBF

As in previous years, the fair will extend beyond the exhibition halls into cultural venues throughout Bologna via the Boom! Crescere nei libri (Growing up in books) program, which includes more than 40 exhibitions and 150 events. Highlights include a site-specific exhibition by illustrator Paul Cox at Palazzo Paltroni featuring a nearly 250-foot painting, and a tribute to illustrator Katsumi Komagata, one year after his death, at the Testoni Ragazzi Theatre,

This year marks several significant milestones that will be celebrated at BCBF, including the 60th anniversary of the BolognaRagazzi Awards; the 50th anniversary of the Italian comic strip Pimpa, whose creator Altan will attend the fair; Pippi Longstockings 80th anniversary, which will be celebrated with a panel featuring Donatella Di Pietrantonio; and the 10th anniversary of the Strega Ragazze e Ragazzi prize.

Pasoli and Thomas have worked hard to extend the presence of BCBF beyond the run of the show, and have been undertaking an annual world tour that sees them participating in various other book fairs, from London to Guadalajara, as well as the Shanghai Childrens Book Fair, which Bologna partners with.

Reflecting on the anxieties of the current historical moment, Pasoli and Thomas see the fair as a kind of oasis. If you think of a fair, one that can gather people from 100 countries in the same place for three days, this is something special, something apart from political discussions, Pasoli says. These are people eager to share ideas with peers from other countries and celebrate the joy of childrens books.

Thomas agrees, adding, In times like these, book fairs become ever more relevant as cultural spaces in which to get many nations together. The message from Bologna is that its in the heart of Europe and is a one-stop fairand Americans are very welcome. If we stand for one thing its this: make words, not war.

Read more from our Bologna Book Fair Preview Feature.

Bologna 2025: BCBF Welcomes Guest of Honor Estonia

Estonia will serve as Guest of Honor at the 2025 Bologna Childrens Book Fair, marking the Baltic nations first time in this prominent role at the worlds largest childrens publishing event.
Estonia will be the guest of honor at the 2025 Bologna Childrens Book Fair, marking the Baltic nations first time in the role. A comprehensive program will showcase Estonian childrens literature and illustration through exhibitions, panels, and author presentations.

This constitutes a rare opportunity to exhibit Estonian authors and illustrators work on such a grand scale and garner significant international attention, says Triin Soone, director of the Estonian Childrens Literature Centre.

Estonias Childrens Literature Centre in Tallinn is an institution integral to the literary life of the country. Located in a distinctive yellow villa near the medieval Fat Margaret tower in Tallinns Old Town, the Centre dates back to 1933 when it was first established as the Youth Library at the Tallinn City Library. It persisted through years of war and later Soviet rule and Estonias independence, until it was established in 2007 as a comprehensive hub for childrens literature.

The three-floor facility houses Estonias most extensive childrens book collection, a museum chronicling the history of Estonian childrens literature, illustration galleries featuring domestic and international talent, and the Edgar Valter Gallery dedicated to one of the nations most beloved illustrators.

The Centre organizes numerous programs including the annual Read Aloud Day and the Hunger for Reading initiative aimed at children ages five through 13. Beyond its domestic role, the Centre serves as Estonias primary ambassador for childrens literature on the international stage, supporting translation grants and representing Estonian literature at global book fairs, including in Bologna.

While Estonia has maintained a joint stand at the Bologna fair for 15 years, 2025 marks its first opportunity to present a comprehensive program as Guest of Honor, with funding provided by the Estonian Ministry of Culture.

The Guest of Honor program will feature two major exhibitions: one at the fairgrounds focused on Estonian childrens books and illustrations, and a themed exhibition in the city of Bologna. According to event organizers, the primary objectives include supporting and amplifying the export of Estonian childrens literature and establishing contacts with foreign publishers for the translation and publication of books in foreign countries.

The four-day program opens with a ceremony to be attended by Estonian president Alar Karis and minister of culture Heidy Purga, followed by the unveiling of the Estonian illustration exhibition Hello!/Tere! featuring work from 40 artists, including Regina Lukk-Toompere, Anne Pikkov, Ulla Saar, Pamela Samel, and Kertu Sillaste.

Notable panels include Boys Will Be Boys? exploring gender differences in reading habits, and John the Skeleton: An International National Treasure, examining the challenges of translating from a language spoken by relatively few people and focusing on a picture book by Triinu Laan, illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats, and translated into English by Adam Cullen. John the Skeleton was published in the U.S. by Yonder Books, an imprint of Restless Books, and won the 2025 Batchelder Award, given to the most outstanding childrens book originating in a language other than English.

The program also includes discussions on digital literacy, and one on folklore featuring Estonian writer Reeli Reinaus.

Multiple Meet the Author sessions will be held at the Estonian stand throughout the fair, offering attendees opportunities to connect with creators including Laan, Kristi Kangilaski, Anu Kalm, and Pille Kannisto.

Estonias illustration community received recent international acclaim when Joonas Sildre won the Gold Award in the graphic novels and manga category at the 2024 PubWest Book Design Awards for Between Two Sounds: Arvo Parts Journey to His Musical Language. The book is translated by Cullen and published by Plough. Sildre will participate in the fair as part of a panel discussing The Big Book of Pi.

The guest of honor status gives us a main stage and greater focus, thus providing broader opportunities for promoting childrens literature and authors, Soone says.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 16. The US military has launched a large-scale operation against the rebel movement Ansar Allah (Houthis) in Yemen, the US Central Command said, Trend reports.

The operation includes a series of precision strikes on Houthi targets "across Yemen to defend American interests, deter enemies, and restore freedom of navigation," the statement said.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump ordered the US military to begin military action against the Houthis. He noted that rebel attacks on US ships must stop.
Romania has fallen to the status of a 'hybrid regime,' the only one in the European Union, and we have EU politicians and corrupt bureaucrats to thank for it.

On March 11th, the Romanian Constitutional Court banned the most popular candidate from running in the May presidential election. The Court unanimously rejected Calin Georgescus appeal after the Central Electoral Bureau invalidated his candidacy late last week.

This scheme to block Georgescus pro-peace, EU-skeptic run didnt simply appear overnight; it was a calculated and precise plan to deplatform the most popular candidatewho garnered almost 40 percent of the vote according to a February AtlasIntel pollfrom running for president. Romanias Constitutional Court annulled the December 2024 election results after Georgescu plainly won the first round with almost 23 percent of the vote. In what appears to be an almost identical strategy to how the Democrats attempted to oust Donald Trump, the Court alleged widespread Russian interference which compromised the election results, and then subsequently canceled the second round of voting.

Romania is not known for its political or legal transparency. With a Transparency.org rating of 46 out of 100, Romana is considered one of the most corrupt countries in Europe. It should come as no surprise that, by merely suspecting Russian interference and fraud, the countrys top court was able to outright cancel the presidential elections, and with it, the peoples voice.

Since December, Romania has been hard at work to silence Georgescu. The countrys government has been actively raiding and harassing his supporters and is now threatening to arrest people for spreading fake news and inciting violence and supporting actions against the constitutional order, if they dare share videos of the ongoing protests and instances of police brutality against Romanian demonstrators.

"We are faced with a communist regime as well," Calin Georgescu told Fox News, [t]hey are trying to destroy democracy. They could not accept to lose the power and access to the money."

Prosecutors even launched a criminal investigation into Georgescu, citing various potential criminal violations like hate speech, anti-constitutional acts, and misreporting finances. Despite lacking any evidence tying Georgescu himself to these allegations, the 62-year-old politician was put on judicial control, is banned from leaving the country, and is forbidden from creating any additional social media accounts.

In an X post, Georgescu called out the European Unions election interference: [T]he masters have decided: no equality, no freedom, no fraternity for Romanians. Long live France and Brussels, Long live their colony called Romania!

The EU Is No Friend Of Liberty

Leaders in the European Union have been cheering on the blatant destruction of Romanias democratic process. An Austrian MP openly celebrated Georgescus police detainment and is confident that other countries will follow in persecuting public figures who speak out against the EUs Orwellian laws and regulations. Meanwhile, Romanian authorities and the European Commission have been meeting with NGOs to restrict and censor illegal content on online platforms like Google, Meta, and TikTok ahead of Romanias re-run election in May.

Elon Musk criticized these disinformation roundtables, saying: "NGOswill work with authorities and social media platforms to flag and remove content they label as 'disinformation.

Unfortunately, this sort of authoritarian behavior is now the norm throughout Europe. European countries actively prosecute their citizens for offensive online contentwhich includes reposting or even liking joke posts deemed problematic or toxic.

In England, people are barred from silently praying in certain public spaces, The Metropolitan Police are actively searching for hateful online speech outside of the UK as well. Police Commissioner Mark Rowley issued this foreboding threat: We will throw the full force of the law at people, and whether youre in this country committing crimes on the streets or committing crimes from further afield online, we will come after you. If only the UK police put as much effort into protecting the victims of Englands notorious grooming gangs as they do policing speech.

Similarly in Germany, the police are legally allowed to show up to your home unannounced, confiscate all your electronics, and fine or arrest you for criticizing politicians on platforms like X or Facebook.

The hypocrisy of European democracy is on full display. While the European Commission labels Romanias decision to cancel its presidential election as protecting democracy, it eagerly invites Syrias new Islamic government to its donor conference in Brussels; the same Syrian government that has been torturing and executing hundreds of Christian and Alawite minorities in the past few days. Instead of condemning the new government for this ongoing genocide, the EU quickly blamed pro-Assad elements, despite all evidence pointing to the contrary.

Romania is the canary in the coal mine for the future of European democracy. It is clearer now than ever before that if you speak out against the machine, the machine will make an example of you. Under the guise of protecting democracy, EU leaders have silenced political opposition, threatened arrest, and fined average citizens for their own personal speech. It appears Brussels has successfully achieved its own Iron Curtain in 2025.

Will Europeans wake up, or will they continue to kneel under the boot of authoritarianism? They need to decide quickly before its too late.

Connor Vasile is a political commentator and analyst. He is the author of "The State Knows Best" and "I'm Joe Biden: In His Own Words." You can find him on X @connor_vasile.
Music is the heartbeat of Athens. With bands such as The B-52s and R.E.M. getting their start here, the city has become a staple of music culture. Artists such as Megan Moroney and Riley Green continue to add Athens, Georgia, to their tour routes for a reason, performing at iconic venues like the Georgia Theatre, 40 Watt Club and the newest addition, Akins Ford Arena. But, there are still artists who have yet to perform in the Classic City.
The clocks have jumped forward, giving us plenty of sunlight to reset, refocus and move with the new seasons energy. The shift in time and light might leave you feeling a little off balance, but its also the perfect opportunity to embrace change and set new intentions. See what the stars have planned for your week ahead.
European Union (EU) companies operating in India want New Delhi to streamline or remove non-tariff barriers such as Quality Control Orders (QCOs), complex Customs procedures; simplify labelling, testing, and import procedures; and facilitate cross-border digital transactions without data localisation constraints.

These are results of a Business Sentiment Survey, 2025 conducted by the Federation of European Business in India (FEBI) ahead of resumption of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between both the sides scheduled to be concluded by year-end.

The EU-India FTA is expected to create a favorable business environment, ensuring a level-playing field for EU companies in India, with 92 per cent of respondents anticipating a positive impact.

"Among them, 72 per cent plan to increase their investment in India within the next two years, demonstrating strong confidence in the agreements success, the survey said. However, the survey highlighted that complex visa and work permit processes hinder talent mobility, affecting workforce availability.

Weak intellectual property enforcement, the prevalence of counterfeit goods, and insufficient protection of confidential data add to the risks faced by EU businesses, the survey added.

The survey provides an outlook and overview of evolving EU-India bilateral trade and investment ties as well as offers an insight into the opportunities and challenges faced by European businesses in India.

EU is Indias largest trading partner, accounting for 12.2 per cent of Indias goods trade in 2023 while India is the EUs ninth-largest trading partner, accounting for 2.2 per cent of total EU trade in goods during the same year.

The survey said EU investors are expected to increase their presence, particularly in technology-driven and sustainable industries, as India continues to enhance its business environment and trade policies.

The primary driver of these welfare gains would be the expansion of trade in goods and services, reinforcing the case for a comprehensive trade agreement, it added.

While 22 per cent EU companies plan to maintain their current investment levels, 76 per cent of EU firms surveyed aim to increase their investments compared to pre-2025 levels.

EU businesses increasingly see India as a key driver of overall growth, with 80 per cent viewing it as an expanding sales market, 61 per cent recognising it as an emerging hub for production, and 49 per cent seeing it as a location to manufacture for exports.

"Investment decisions are driven by Indias strong political stability (66 per cent), confidence in its position amid evolving global geopolitics (60 per cent), and the availability of a skilled workforce (60 per cent).

"Most respondents (59 per cent) find the ease of doing business in India increasingly favourable, reflecting confidence in the countrys business environment, the survey said.

The survey was conducted among 51 FEBI member companies across 11 sectors, covering business outlook, market access, regulatory challenges, and investment climate, alongside business expectations from the EU-India FTA.

Even amid favorable investment plans, EU businesses in India encounter multiple challenges, with taxes and tariffs being the most significant, affecting 51 per cent of respondents.

About 83 per cent of respondents rated Indias digital and technology ecosystem as excellent or adequate, highlighting the countrys advancements in digital infrastructure, e-governance, and tech-driven services, and 69 per cent expressed confidence in the availability of skilled labour, recognising the countrys strong talent pool, particularly in engineering, IT, and manufacturing.

However, Indias supply chain infrastructure and taxation policies remain two challenging areas for EU businesses in India.

"More than 60 per cent of respondents expressed the need for improvements in the supply chain and around 75 per cent in taxation, the survey said.
Retail investors have been the hardest hit in the recent market downturn, with stocks where they hold over 20% falling 45% from their 52-week highs.

Retail investors have been hit hard amid the recent market fall, as their favourite bets have fallen the most compared to other stakeholders such as foreign investors and domestic institutions.

In the NSE 500 universe -- a mix of large, mid, and smallcaps -- stocks where retail shareholders have a stake of over 20 per cent have dropped 45 per cent from their 52-week highs, according to Bloomberg data.

Meanwhile, stocks with over 20 per cent holdings by domestic institutional investors (DIIs) have fallen by 34 per cent, while global funds with such stakes have slipped 29 per cent.

During this period, Indian benchmark indices -- Nifty 50 and Sensex -- have fallen by 14.3 per cent and 13.6 per cent, respectively, from their previous peak.

The mid and smallcap benchmarks are testing bearish territory after falling nearly 20 per cent from their peak.

Since September 26 last year, the market capitalisation (mcap) of stocks in which retail investors hold more than 20 per cent has fallen by 26.6 per cent, while that of stocks held by DIIs and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) has declined by 15.1 per cent and 15.2 per cent, respectively, according to data compiled by Business Standard.

Stocks such as Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy, Adani Green Energy, and Honasa Consumer saw the steepest declines in mcap.

Whirlpool of India, IndusInd Bank, and Tanla Platforms were among the other major losers.

Higher losses for retail investors could largely be due to panic selling, margin calls, and the absence of institutional support, according to Ajit Mishra, senior vice-president for research at Religare Broking.

"In contrast, stocks with strong DII and foreign institutional investor ownership tend to hold up better, as institutions step in to buy during corrections," he observed.

Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Given that smallcaps have fallen the most, retail investors have not stopped being aggressive.

The value of retail investors' investments in smallcap companies as of the October-December 2024-2025 quarter stood at over 10.3 trillion, the highest apart from the promoter category.

Most investors tend to get influenced by stock momentum during a bull market, according to Chokkalingam G, founder and head of research at Equinomics Research.

This trend has been observed globally across different market cycles, affecting both high-quality and inferior stocks.

He pointed out that historically, during every market downturn, retail investors tend to suffer the most.

This is because, in many cases, valuations are stretched, profits and growth are weak, businesses lack durability, and there are governance issues within companies.

While market-wide corrections occur, Chokkalingam noted that quality stocks typically decline less compared to inferior ones.

In the smallcap category, which excludes the 100 largecap stocks and the next 150 midcap stocks, foreign investors hold a 21.36 per cent stake, while domestic institutions hold a 24.95 per cent stake.

Small investors, however, hold nearly an all-time high of 26.56 per cent, according to Primeinfobase.com.

This trend does not apply to largecap companies, where domestic and global institutions hold a considerably larger share than retail investors.

These institutions account for over 35 per cent of the stake, while retail investors hold only 12.25 per cent.

Market strategy

Regarding the current market downturn, Kranthi Bathini, director of equity strategy at WealthMills Securities, suggests that recovery in these counters depends on the type of stocks retail investors are holding.

"Ultimately, stock prices are slaves to earnings," he said, adding that if earnings outlooks remain positive, stock prices are likely to rebound.

However, if earnings visibility is unclear, retail investors must carefully assess their positions.

For traders, he stressed the importance of setting stop-loss levels as a crucial risk management strategy.

Such market corrections, Bathini said, are a natural part of a bull market, and long-term investors should take advantage of market dips to accumulate quality stocks.

Mishra echoed similar views. If a stock has strong fundamentals and long-term growth potential and is only down due to market sentiment, it may be worth holding or even averaging down, he said.

"However, if the company has weak financials, high debt, or poor management, it's better to cut losses and shift to stronger stocks."

If a stock is fundamentally strong and the dip is market-driven rather than company-specific, it can be a great opportunity, he said.

In 2025, FPIs were net sellers of 1.4 trillion, marking the worst start to any year, according to data from the National Securities Depository.

During the same time, domestic institutions continued to buy on dips worth 1.7 trillion.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
'If we truly wish to understand and apply Marx's insights today, we must reject the rigid dogmas that later 'Marxists' imposed in his name.'

On Karl Marx's 142nd death anniversary, Utkarsh Mishra discusses how his critical and analytical theories have been transformed into rigid doctrines and dogmas.

IMAGE: A statue of Karl Marx. Photograph: Kind courtesy Pixabay.com

A day after Karl Marx's death in London on March 14, 1883, his closest companion Friedrich Engels wrote to their comrade Friedrich Adolph Sorge in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Apart from his deep anguish at the demise of his lifelong friend and 'the greatest living thinker', Engels also expressed apprehensions that Marx's ideas might now be interpreted, modified, or even distorted by others in ways that he might not have approved. Apprehensions that proved to be awfully prescient in time.

Driven by this concern and alarmed by the attempts to distort Marx's legacy by rival socialists, Engels set out to interpret and defend his friend's work.

Historians like Maximilien Rubel argue that by doing so, Engels transformed a critical, evolving method into a fixed system. That he unintentionally contributed to the rigidification of Marx's ideas by introducing deterministic elements, making it seem like socialism was inevitable.

However, it would be unfair to blame Engels for the later dogmatisation of Marx's ideas -- most of which occurred after the formation of the Second International and on a global scale after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia.

While it is true that in his works like Anti-Duhring, Engels frames socialism as a scientific, law-governed process, unlike those who called themselves 'Marxists', he did not insist on a single universal revolutionary path.

In fact, in his 1895 introduction to Marx's Class Struggles in France, Engels acknowledges that in certain advanced capitalist societies, the proletariat could potentially achieve socialism through electoral means rather than relying solely on revolutionary upheaval.

It is important to recognise that Engels was primarily attempting to make Marx's ideas more accessible and systematic rather than deliberately distorting them. Later Marxists misused this systemisation to claim inevitability.

Writing to German Marxist politician Eduard Bernstein, who was a prominent member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, in November 1882, Engels quoted Marx saying: 'If anything is certain, it is that I myself am not a Marxist'.

Marx made this famous remark in response to French socialist Jules Guesde's rigid, dogmatic interpretation of the 1880 French Workers' Party programme, which they had jointly drafted.

While Marx saw the demand for immediate political and economic reforms -- such as universal suffrage, the eight-hour workday, and union rights -- as practical steps emerging from the workers' movement itself, Guesde dismissed them as mere bait to expose capitalism's inability to reform, believing that their rejection would radicalise the proletariat. Marx rejected this 'revolutionary phrase-mongering,' criticising Guesde for disregarding the importance of real struggles for workers' rights.

In Aspects of International Socialism 1871-1914, French historian Georges Haupt provides a brief history of how the terms 'Marxism' and 'Marxist' entered our lexicon in the way they are understood today.

Haupt writes that these terms originated not from Marx's supporters but his opponents, who used them as polemical labels to attack him and his followers. Initially, during the 1840s and the Communist League's dissolution, critics spoke of 'Marx's party', and by the 1850s, terms like 'Marxian' emerged.

Later, Russian revolutionary Mikhail Bakunin and his anarchist allies popularised 'Marxist' as an accusation, portraying Marx and his followers as authoritarian and sectarian.

However, after the split of the International Workingmen's Association at the Hague Congress in 1872, the term 'Marxist' began to spread with a slightly different meaning.

As per Haupt, the terms fully shed their pejorative connotation and became 'positive concepts' after the leaders of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) started using them during the years 1881 to 1884.

Haupt calls leading SPD theorist Karl Kautsky as 'the father of the terms 'Marxist' and 'Marxism' in the meaning they have assumed in our vocabulary'.

Kautsky used them as polemic against his rivals in the SPD like Ignaz Auer and Carl August Schramm, so much so that Schramm remarked 'Kautsky is preaching a religion of Marx', while Auer declared that he is 'not a Marxist in the sense in which the thing has gradually been developed by the fathers of the Marxist church'.

In the 1880s, the terms 'assumed such an international resonance that Engels, although he did not actually endorse their usage, accepted them without ever really using them himself', writes Haupt.

Nevertheless, Engels was still wary of the connotation that these terms assumed. He was quoted as saying in 1893 that 'he would prefer the Russians -- and everybody else too -- to stop fishing around for quotations from Marx and Engels and begin thinking instead in the way that Marx would have thought in their position'.

In his later years, Marx himself was critical of rigid, dogmatic interpretations of his work and rejected the idea that his theories should be turned into a fixed doctrine.

Although his remark that 'I am not a Marxist' could have come from his well-known wit, his correspondence during the final years of his life suggests his discomfort at his theories being treated as 'recipes for the cook-shops of the future'.

In his book The Last Years of Karl Marx: An Intellectual Biography, York University Professor Marcello Musto mentions Marx's letter to English writer and politician Henry Hyndman.

In June 1881, Hyndman had published a book heavily drawing ideas from Marx's Capital, without giving any credit to its author. Marx wrote to Hyndman to register his displeasure, but also mentioned that 'to have named the Capital and its author would have been a big blunder. Party programs ought to keep free of any apparent dependence upon individual authors or books'.

Musto argues that the 'chief motive for Marx's anger was not that he had not been credited by name but his concern that Capital should not be used for a political project so clearly at odds with the ideas contained in it'.

Similarly, in his correspondence with Russian revolutionary Vera Zasulich, Marx challenges the assumption that all societies must follow the European path of capitalist development, and says that his theory was 'specific to Western Europe' while other nations like Russia can take different, unique paths to socialism.

In effect, he distanced himself from the rigid 'stages of history' interpretation of his theory.

Writing the Afterword to the Second German Edition of Volume 1 of Capital in 1873, Marx rejected Hegelian 'mystification' of the dialectic in favour of a scientific, materialist analysis of history.

Marx, therefore, was far from the rigid determinist that his later followers portrayed him as. Author-polemicist Christopher Hitchens, even when he was a young university student, disagreed with a giant like Isaiah Berlin on this question.

Hitchens writes in his memoirs Hitch-22: 'Berlin clearly didn't know very much about either Marx or Marxism. He woodenly maintained that Marx was a historical "determinist." It's true that the old boy sometimes spoke of "history" itself as an actor, but he actually stressed human agency more than almost any other thinker.'

Musto also says that 'it would be wrong to attribute to Marx any idea that advent of socialism is a historical inevitability He spurned any rigid linking of social changes to economic transformations alone'.

In 1881, Dutch socialist politician Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis wrote to Marx, asking him what 'legislative measures of a political and economic nature would a revolutionary government have to take after it came to power in order to guarantee success of socialism?'

Marx said he was opposed to answering such questions with a general formula. '...what is to be done, and done immediately at any given, particular moment in the future, depends wholly and entirely on the actual historical circumstances in which action is to be taken,' he said.

Notwithstanding all efforts of Marx, 'a belief in automatic advance of history took roots between First and Second International'. As seen above, this belief was also subsequently described as Marxist.

Although in the late 19th century, Eduard Bernstein, German Marxist theorist and a prominent member of the SPD, posed a challenge to orthodox Marxism, which is now popularly known as the 'revisionist crisis'.

Bernstein argued that capitalism was adapting and that socialism could be achieved through gradual reforms rather than violent revolution, and questioned the rigid determinism that many Marxists had embraced -- particularly the idea that capitalism was inevitably collapsing. Ironically, his revisionism was closer to the later writings of Marx and Engels both, where they acknowledged the possibility of different socialist paths, including democratic means in some countries.

Nonetheless, Bernstein's challenge forced orthodox Marxists to harden their positions, leading to more rigid definitions of Marxism that insisted on class struggle, capitalist breakdown, and revolutionary necessity.

As Musto writes, 'the dogmatic reduction of Marx's quintessentially critical theory resulted in the unlikeliest paradoxes'.

In the run-up to the Russian Revolution of 1917, Vladimir Lenin and his Bolsheviks developed a more deterministic and authoritarian interpretation of Marxism. While Marx predicted the collapse of capitalism on its own, Lenin reinterpreted his ideas to argue that a vanguard party must lead the working class, dismissing spontaneous worker movements as insufficient.

Lenin's emphasis on party discipline, centralisation, and strict adherence to 'correct' Marxist doctrine laid the foundation for Marxism-Leninism, which, under Stalin, became an unquestionable State ideology.

Polish-German revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg wrote to Lenin in 1918, criticising him for 'abandoning democracy and imposing a rigid, top-down model of socialism'. Luxemburg wrote that she supported the revolution but Lenin and the Bolsheviks 'are destroying democracy, which is essential for socialism to thrive'.

In the letter, Luxemburg famously wrote: 'Without general elections, without unrestricted freedom of press and assembly, without a free struggle of opinion, life dies out in every public institution... It is a mere bureaucracy with a veneer of socialism.'

Her words turned out to be prophetic when, in the 1930s under Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Union introduced the policy of Stakhanovism. Named after coal miner Aleksei Stakhanov, who reportedly mined 102 tonnes of coal in less than six hours, the policy, promoted hyper-productivity and encouraged workers to surpass production quotas.

This was in stark opposition to Marx, who consistently advocated for workers to enjoy material benefits and shorter working hours, viewing these as essential components of their emancipation and well-being.

Similarly, in Communist Cuba, industries minister Che Guevara sought to promote socialist consciousness by encouraging workers to labour for moral incentives rather than material rewards.

And today, we read about workers 'being rescued from slavery-like conditions in Chinese factories'.

As Musto writes, 'thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, it has become possible to read a Marx very unlike the dogmatic, economistic, and Eurocentric theorist who was paraded around for so long'.

If we truly wish to understand and apply Marx's insights today, we must reject the rigid dogmas that later 'Marxists' imposed in his name.

Rather than treating Marxism as a set of fixed doctrines, we should return to Marx's own approach -- one rooted in critical inquiry, adaptability, and historical context.

Hence, if we endeavour to conduct a 'Marxist analysis' of our times or the future, we ought to first free Marx from the clutches of 'Marxism'.
The Bharatiya Janata Party claimed on Saturday that Rahul Gandhi is spending more time in Vietnam than his constituency, and said the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha needs to explain his 'extraordinary fondness' for that country.

IMAGE: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session, in New Delhi. Photograph: Sansad TV/ANI Photo

"Where is Rahul Gandhi? I heard he has gone to Vietnam," BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a press conference where he attacked the Karnataka government for its decision to give four per cent quota in government contracts to Muslims.

Prasad said Gandhi was in the Southeast Asian country during the new year as well, claiming that he has spent nearly 22 days there.

"He does not spend so many days in his constituency. What is the reason of his so much love for Vietnam suddenly," the BJP leader asked.

Gandhi is the Leader of Opposition and should be available in India, he said.

He added, "Rahul Gandhi needs to explain his extraordinary fondness for Vietnam. The frequency of his visit to that country is very curious."

Gandhi's foreign trips have long been a source of BJP's political attacks on him as the ruling party has sought to paint him as a unserious politician unfit for the cut and thrust of domestic politics.

The BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya noted that the details of Gandhi's frequent foreign travels are neither disclosed to Parliament nor made public, as he asked the Congress to clarify the issue.

In a post on X, he said, 'As the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi holds a crucial position, and his numerous clandestine trips abroad -- especially while Parliament is in session -- raise serious questions about propriety and national security.'

The Congress has, in turn, accused the BJP of politicising his private visits, and has said that he as an individual has a right to travel abroad.

Gandhi's visit to Vietnam following the death of former prime minister and Congress leader Manmohan Singh on December 26 last year had also drawn criticism from the BJP.

Malviya had then said that while the country was mourning Singh's demise, Gandhi had flown to Vietnam to ring in the new year.
The next madness from Chronometrie Ferdinand Berthoud is gradually taking shape through photos and sketches. The outlines of Naissance d'une Montre 3 are emerging.

Its now been 6 years since Ferdinand Berthoud announced the detailsor rather, the very special conditionsof Naissance d'une Montre 3, the one that will be its new collection. Despite the secrecy still surrounding it, some details have already been revealed, which the brand is unveiling with caution and patience. This teasing campaign tells us that Naissance d'une Montre 3 will be produced in a limited edition of 11 pieces. It will be unveiled in 2025, after Watches & Wonders Geneva, an event at which the brand will participate. It will feature a flared, deeply notched crown. Its display will be off-center, with hours and minutes at 1:30 (which is likely to be inherited from one of Berthouds historical clocks). Its hands will be blued by flame. It will feature a chain and fusee powertrain equalizer. And it will be the product of a reconstruction of skills, expertise, and techniques brought together in the Ferdinand Berthoud manufacture, which is housed within Chopard's facility in Fleurier.

Naissance d'une Montre 3  Ferdinand Berthoud

Handcrafted, and Only by Hand

Strangely, the core principles of Naissance d'une Montre 3 have been decided for years, as it follows the same guidelines as the two previous editions. This project, which started in 2007 under the aegis of the Time Aeon Foundation, established a specification document that governs all watches bearing its name. Everything revolves around one idea, simple to state, but horrifically complex to execute: Naissance d'une Montre 3 will be made entirely by hand!

Of course, this doesn't mean without tools. After all, one doesn't attack brass with their teeth, nor maillechort with their nails. However, the tools cannot be automated, programmed, or operated by a computer. Lathes, mills, files, punching tools, pantographs, and other extensions of the hand must be guided by it. They can be motorized, since it's hard to drill steel with a hand tool. But the ubiquitous help of CNC tools is strictly prohibited.

Naissance d'une Montre 3  Ferdinand Berthoud

A Herculean Task Ahead

That distinction aside, its important to grasp the difficulty of the very principle. A watch has at least 200 components, and knowing Ferdinand Berthouds ambitions, it will be far more. The brands first teaser indeed showcased a chain and fusee system, which is their technical signature. But a chain requires a minimum of 600 parts. A conservative estimate would be around 800 components.

Furthermore, these parts vary greatly in size and type. They require a vast array of manufacturing techniques depending on whether their shape is round and suitable for turning, long and requiring milling, or irregular, which complicates things even further. These operations, once performed to near perfection by machines, have become lost arts, forgotten, or even considered obsolete by over 99% of the watchmaking industry. How has Ferdinand Berthoud learned them? Relearned? Reconstructed? The answer has not been revealed yet, but its easy to imagine that this is a project of monumental scale.

Naissance d'une Montre 3  Ferdinand Berthoud

And the Finishes?

Manufacturing is just the first step. Its followed by a vast range of finishing techniques. Polishing, sandblasting, satinizingFerdinand Berthouds finishing workshops already operate largely using manual processes. But these will certainly need to be taken even further than before.

Especially since manual manufacturing does not allow for the easy production of long series of parts, with the easeand even carefreenessthat automation allows. Every component that leaves the workshop is inherently rare. Mistakes, burrs, and defects, which are already poorly tolerated, will become nearly taboo within the specifications of Naissance d'une Montre.

Naissance d'une Montre 3  Ferdinand Berthoud

But these are general principles. The specific case of Naissance d'une Montre 3 is still unknown. At most, the brand has released a few sketches, a form of expression it has favored since its beginnings, as the hand-drawing recalls the touch of its inspirer, Mr. Berthoud, and the level of care the brand applies to its creations.
A blast occurred outside a temple in Amritsar around midnight when an unidentified attacker who came on a motorcycle hurled an explosive device towards the building, damaging a portion of its wall and shattering window panes, officials said on Saturday.

IMAGE: Thakurdwara Temple in Khandwala, Amritsar. Photograph: ANI on X

Punjab Police said it suspects the role of Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the attack on Thakur Dwar temple and vowed to apprehend the culprits soon.

There have been many incidents of explosions targeting police posts in Amritsar and Gurdaspur in the past four months but this is the first such attack on a temple.

While no one was hurt in the incident, which was captured on CCTV, the explosion caused panic among residents in the Khandwala area of Amritsar.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the Amritsar incident was a handiwork of fissiparous forces that want to destabilise the peace but they will never succeed in their design.

Opposition parties alleged that it was proof of the 'collapse' of the law and order under the Aam Aadmi Party government.

The Bharatiya Janata Party sought a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the incident while Congress leader Partap Bajwa demanded the resignation of CM Mann who holds Home portfolio.

Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the police were informed about the incident at around 2 am on Saturday by the temple priest.

CCTV footage of the incident showed two unidentified persons coming to the temple on a motorcycle which had a flag. One person got down and, after a while, hurled a explosive device towards the temple. The two then fled from the site and the blast occurred.

Security has been stepped up around the explosion site and the police have covered the damaged wall with a green net.

Bhullar said police teams were trying to trace the men involved in the blast and they would be nabbed soon.

"Our teams are following them. Like we had traced earlier incidents, this incident will also be traced," he said.

He suspected the role of Pakistan's ISI behind the incident.

"I want to warn all the youths not to fall into the trap of Pakistan's ISI. All the previous incidents have been traced and the accused have been arrested. It came to the fore that the accused belonged to economically weaker families and they did all for the money.

"I want to warn them not to destroy their lives. The police will take strictest action against them," said Bhullar.

Unconfirmed reports claimed that a grenade was used in the attack.

A forensic team has collected samples from the spot, Bhullar said, adding the nature of explosives will be ascertained after necessary examination.

Bhullar said the police have taken CCTV footage from nearby cameras.

At the time of the attack, the priest of the temple was sleeping inside the temple and woke up to the sound of the explosion.

Chief Minister Mann said many attempts have been made from time to time to disturb Punjab but the state police has taken timely action against such elements.

"Punjab is completely safe in terms of law and order," he told reporters in Chandigarh.

He stressed that mutual brotherhood and peace would be maintained in the state.

Being a border state, a number of forces inimical to the state have been chalking out nefarious designs to disturb the hard-earned peace of Punjab, Mann later said in a statement.

However, he said that the vigilant Punjab Police has always foiled such attempts.

Mann said the Amritsar incident was also the handiwork of the fissiparous forces that want to destabilise the peace, progress and prosperity of the state.

He said that the state government will never allow these forces to succeed in their nefarious designs and all their conspiracies will be foiled.

Mann also stressed that the law and order situation in Punjab is much better than in other states.

The Congress, the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal targeted the AAP government after the incident.

'I strongly condemn the bomb attack on Thakur Dwara temple, Khandwala in Amritsar. AAP government fails to check repeated incidents of blasts in the border city. Deteriorating law and order in Punjab is a matter of serious concern,' Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu said on X.

Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring also condemned the incident, saying this time a temple was targeted.

'Yet another grenade attack in Amritsar, this time targeting a temple in the Khandwala area. There is an atmosphere of fear prevailing in Punjab, and people are genuinely feeling insecure. It's high time the @AAPPunjab government wakes up from its deep slumber and takes action,' said Warring in a post on X.

Senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia said it was a 'law and order failure'.

Another Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema sought a judicial probe into the incident to identify the perpetrators and unearth the conspiracy, aimed at disturbing peace and communal harmony in the state.

"This is the 13th such blast in the area and is proof of the complete collapse of law and order in the state", said Cheema.

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh sought a CBI investigation to expose the forces attempting to disturb law and order in Punjab.

Expressing serious concern over the repeated attacks, Chugh said the AAP government has 'completely failed to control disruptive elements in the state'.

While police stations were attacked earlier, the targeting of a Hindu temple with a grenade is a serious and alarming development.

He said there appears to be a deliberate attempt to create communal and social divisions in the state.

Meanwhile, referring to the problems of drugs, gangsters and calls for ransom, Chief Minister Mann said that these are also attempts to disturb Punjab to show it as a disturbed state.

But our Punjab Police constantly takes timely action against anti-social elements.

He said the Border Security Force (BSF) has informed the state government that ever since an anti-drugs drive has been initiated in the state, the drone movement from across the border has reduced by 70 per cent.
Police have registered a case over the open offering of namaaz at a private university during Holi celebrations after a video of the incident surfaced on social media, officials said on Saturday.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Ganga Nagar Station House Officer (SHO) Anoop Singh said the case was lodged based on a complaint by Kartik Hindu.

IIMT University spokesperson Sunil Sharma said an internal investigation found that the namaaz offering in an open area and its video were intended to disrupt communal harmony.

"The university had requested police and administrative action against Khalid Pradhan, who had uploaded the video" Sharma added.

A case has been filed under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 299 (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008, he said.

The incident gained attention after a video, allegedly uploaded by student Khalid Pradhan (Khalid Mewati), showed students offering namaaz on the university campus.

The video triggered protests from local Hindu groups.

Following the incident, the university administration suspended Pradhan and three security personnel.

Local Hindu groups have demanded the arrest of those involved, citing the large number of students participating and the timing of the video's circulation during Holi.
The Iraqi Prime Minister said that personnel of the country's national intelligence service, working with coalition forces commanded by the United States, had killed the head of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, as reported by CNN citing the Associated Press.

IMAGE: An Iraqi Army helicopter flies during the 'Solid Will' military operation against Islamic State terrorist in the desert of Anbar, Iraq on April 23, 2022. Image used only for representation. Photograph: Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters

'The Iraqis continue their impressive victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism,' Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement posted on X.

Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, or 'Abu Khadija', was 'deputy caliph' of the terrorist group and 'one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world', the statement said, as reported by CNN.

On his Truth Social platform Friday night, US President Donald Trump said, 'Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters' in coordination with the Iraqi government and the Kurdish regional government.

'PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!' Trump added.

As per a report by CNN, a security official said the operation was executed by airstrike in the western Iraqi province of Anbar.

According to a second official, al-Rifai's death was verified on Friday, but the operation happened Thursday night. They were not permitted to make public comments, so they talked on condition of anonymity.

The announcement came on the same day as the first visit by Syrias top diplomat to Iraq, during which the two countries pledged to work together to combat IS.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein, according to the report, said at a news conference that 'there are common challenges facing Syrian and Iraqi society, and especially the terrorists of IS'.

He said the officials had spoken 'in detail about the movements of ISIS, whether on the Syrian-Iraqi border, inside Syria or inside Iraq' during the visit.

Hussein further referred to an operations room formed by Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon at a recent meeting in Amman to confront IS and said it would soon begin work.

The relationship between Iraq and Syria is somewhat fraught after the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Al-Sudani came to power with the support of a coalition of Iran-backed factions, and Tehran was a major backer of Assad.

The current interim president of Syria, Ahmad al-Sharaa, was earlier reportedly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani and fought as an Al Qaeda terrorist in Iraq after the US invasion of 2003 and later fought against Assad's government in Syria.

The US and Iraq had announced an agreement last year to wind down the military mission in Iraq of an American-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group by September 2025, with US forces departing some bases where they have stationed troops during a two-decade-long military presence in the country.

Iraqi political officials declared that the threat posed by IS was under control and that they no longer required assistance from Washington to defeat the residual cells after the coalition's mission in Iraq was agreed to terminate.

But the fall of Assad in December led some to reassess that stance, including members of the Coordination Framework, a coalition of mainly Shiite, Iran-allied political parties that brought current Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani to power in late 2022, according to the report.
Kannada actress Ranya Rao's stepfather, Director General of Police Ramchandra Rao, has been sent on compulsory leave.

Photograph: Courtesy, Ranya Rao/Facebook

The actress was arrested in a gold smuggling case last week.

'Sri K V Sharath Chandra, IPS (KN-1997) Additional Director General of Police, Recruitment is placed in Concurrent Charge of the post of Chairman & Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, Bengaluru with immediate effect and until further orders, Dr K Ramachandra Rao, IPS sent on compulsory leave,' said a Karnataka Government order issued on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Ranya Rao approached a Sessions Court in Bengaluru for bail.

Her move came after the Special Court for Economic Offences here denied her bail on Friday.

While denying the bail to Ranya Rao, the Special Court for Economic Offences said that the charges against the actress were serious.

She 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.

The CBI has filed an FIR in the gold smuggling case on the complaint of Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI.

The FIR has been registered under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) on the complaint of Abhishek Chandra Gupta.

The complaint discloses the cognizable offences U/s 7 and 12 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 20148) r/w 61(2) of BNS.

According to the complaint, after Ranya Rao's arrest on March 3, two foreign nationals were also arrested on March 6 from Mumbai airport for attempting to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold into India worth Rs. 18.92 crore, as per the complaint.

Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI, in his complaint, has said that these cases involving passengers making trips from Dubai and attempting to smuggle gold in large quantities point to a 'possible nexus' with a coordinated smuggling syndicate, possibly operating from Dubai (UAE).

In Ranya Rao's case, she travelled to Dubai multiple times while the two arrested foreign nationals have previously in arrived Mumbai airport multiple times.

Gupta in his complaint has also suspected the possibility of the involvement of public servants and others.

'The above two cases detected in quick succession involving passengers making trips from Dubai, the attempted smuggling of large quantities of gold into India and the high frequency of these visits involving Indian and foreign nationals, points to a possible nexus with coordinated smuggling syndicate, possibly operating from Dubai (UAE). This may have larger national and international ramifications. The possibility of involvement of unknown public servants of the Government of India and unknown others, with such coordinated network, needs to be investigated,' the complaint said.
Recalling his detention during Hiteshwar Saikia's tenure as Assam Chief Minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that during the Congress government in Assam, he was beaten up and had jail food for seven days in the state.

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah receives a warm welcome from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, at the Airport in Jorhat on Friday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Lachit Barphukan Police Academy in Dergaon, Shah attacked Congress and said that the Congress did not allow peace in Assam.

"I have also been beaten up by the Congress government in Assam. Hiteshwar Saikia was the Chief Minister of Assam and we used to raise slogans against former PM Indira Gandhi that 'Assam ki galiyan suni hai, Indira Gandhi khooni hai'. I too had jail food for seven days in Assam and people from all over the country came to save Assam. Today Assam is moving ahead on the path of development," Shah said.

Hiteswar Saikia served as the chief minister of Assam for two terms from 1983 to 1985 and then from 1991 to 1996.

He further said that Assam's Lachit Barphukan police academy will become the top one in the country in the next five years.

"In the coming five years, the police academy will become the best police academy in the whole country. I thank Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for naming it after Lachit Barphukan. Brave warrior Lachit Barphukan helped Assam to be victorious against the Mughals... Lachit Barphukan was limited to the state of Assam only but today the biography of Lachit Barphukan is being taught in 23 languages and is inspiring students," he added.

Shah further said that Assam's conviction rate up from 5 per cent to 25 per cent in three years and will cross the national average soon.

"Modi government to bring in Rs 3 lakh crore infra projects in Assam in addition to Rs 5 lakh crore proposed investment at recent biz summit," he said.

Shah inaugurated the first phase of the revamped police academy named after Lachit Barphukan in Assam's Golaghat district.

The home minister was accompanied by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal, among others.

Sarma said, "Taking forward Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji's focus on SMART policing, the Lachit Barphukan Police Academy will house a weapon simulator to prepare our forces for real world combat scenarios without the hazards & costs involved and ensure their basic training.

Shah arrived in Dergaon on Friday evening for a three-day tour of two northeastern states -- Assam and Mizoram.

The home minister will attend the final session of the 57th Annual Conference of the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) in Kokrajhar of Assam on March 16.

The Annual Conference of ABSU will be taking place from March 13 to 16 at Bodofa Fwthar area in Kokrajhar district.
SpaceX and NASA have launched a mission to bring back United States astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS), where they have been stranded for nine months.

IMAGE: NASA and SpaceX launched a fresh crew to the International Space Station. Photograph: @SpaceX/X

The lift-off took place at 7:03 ET on Friday, with a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon spacecraft on the Crew-10 mission.

The mission also launched four crew members to the ISS: NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov

Crew-10 is the 10th crew rotation mission under SpaceX's human space transportation system and the 11th flight with a crew aboard to the ISS station through NASA's Commercial Crew Program, including the Demo-2 test flight.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stranded on the ISS for nine months after reaching there in June last year. They were supposed to stay there for about a week.

Ahead of the launch, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth shared a video message expressing support for NASA's SpaceX Crew-10.

In a video posted on X, Hegseth stated, "I just want to take a brief moment to say we are praying for you." He added, "We wish you Godspeed, and we look forward to welcoming you all home soon."

"President Trump said to Elon Musk, 'get the astronauts home and do it now' - and they're responding," Hegseth said.

"And they're bringing NASA astronauts, [who] also happen to be retired US Navy Capt. Butch Wilmore and retired US Navy Capt. Suni Williams, home," he added
United States President Donald Trump said he did not want Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other world leaders who visited him to see the tents and graffiti near federal buildings in Washington, DC and has ordered the cleaning up of the American capital.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are pictured as they attend a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 13, 2025. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters

"We're cleaning up our city. We're cleaning up this great capital, and we're not going to have crime, and we're not going to stand for crime, and we're going to take the graffiti down, and we're already taking the tents down, and we're working with the administration," Trump said Friday in remarks at the Department of Justice.

He said so far the Mayor of Washington DC Muriel Bowser has been doing a good job cleaning up the capital.

"We said there are tents galore right opposite the State Department. They have to come down. And they took them down right away. And so so far, so good. We want to have a capital that can be the talk of the world," Trump said.

"When Prime Minister Modi of India, the President of France, and all of these people, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, they all came to see me over the last week and a half. And when they come in, I had the route run. I didn't want to have them see tents. I didn't want to have them see graffiti. I didn't want to have them see broken barriers and potholes in the roads. And we had it looking beautiful," Trump said.

"And we're going to do that for the city, and we're going to have a crime-free capital. When people come here, they're not going to be mugged or shot or raped. They're going to have a crime-free capital, again, it's going to be cleaner and better and safer than it ever was and it's not going to take us too long."

Modi visited the White House for a bilateral meeting with Trump on February 13, the fourth foreign leader hosted by Trump in just weeks after his inauguration in January.

Within less than a month of the start of Trump's second term in the White House, he had hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Jordan's King Abdullah II.

French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are among the other foreign leaders Trump has hosted in his second term so far.
Two things as different as a tomb and a suitcase have caused a jolt of pleasure among lovers of Ancient Egypt in recent days. The discovery of the long-sought tomb of Thutmose II coincided with the recovery of Howard Carters suitcase. The latter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. Both finds come just a few months ahead of the July opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.

The tomb of the pharaoh  also known by its tomb number Wadi C-4  has been identified in a valley in the ancient Theban necropolis (modern-day Luxor), while the suitcase came to light when it was auctioned off at the Elstob house in Ripon, UK, by it current owner. For years, it was forgotten under a bed in a North England village. It was sold to an anonymous buyer, who bid by telephone on February 27 for 12,000 ($15,500), or 11 times the starting price.

Curiously, both the tomb and the suitcase were relatively empty. In the former  badly damaged by flooding over the centuries  its owners remains werent present. The mummy of Thutmose II was found with those of many other kings back in 1881, in Deir el-Bahari, a complex of mortuary temples. Its currently on display in Cairo.

The newly-discovered tomb contained only a few vestiges of the pharaohs funerary trousseau. Meanwhile, inside the suitcase  which has been battered by time, travel and the sand of Egypt  there was only an old guidebook, a worn copy. Titled The Nile, Notes for Travelers in Egypt (1890), it belonged to Carter and was dedicated to Harry Burter, the photographer of Tutankhamuns tomb. The book was auctioned off along with the suitcase.

The tomb, which is still being studied, has yielded highly relevant information, specifically about a very complex moment in the 18th dynasty, which marked the start of the New Kingdom of Egypt 3,500 years ago. This was the moment when one of the most important and revolutionary women in Ancient Egypt and in world history emerged: Queen Hatshepsut, half-sister and royal wife of Thutmose II, who herself reigned as pharaoh. The inscription on the tomb indicates that Hatshepsut conducted the funeral of Thutmose II, something that only a successor could do, which legitimized her in this role.

Entrance to the tomb of Thutmose II. New Kingdom Research Foundation

But whats more, the director of the British-Egyptian team that discovered the tomb (which was found back in 2022, but was only recently identified as that of Thutmose II), Piers Litherland, claims that theyre on the verge of discovering the pharaohs second tomb. This is where his belongings and mummy would have been placed, after the first one was flooded.

Litherland affirms that this second tomb is likely intact, possibly with the real mummy of Thutmose II inside. He feels that the mummy found in the cachette at Deir el-Bahari, and which can currently be viewed at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, isnt the authentic one. The Egyptologist thinks that this mummy is too old to be that of Thutmose II, who may have died at an even younger age than the 30 years attributed to the mummified body in the museum. Litherland believes that the unusual layout of Wadi C-4, with an extra corridor linking the most important chamber (the largest of the four and the only one thats decorated) to the main entrance passage, is because this corridor was used to remove the pharaohs mummy and valuable items when the tomb was flooded shortly after it was closed. He estimates that the move occurred six years after the initial entombment.

The Egyptologist argues that the lack of objects retrieved from the burial of Thutmose II on display in museums and collections (except for the few remains now found in Wadi C-4) proves that the real final tomb is yet to be found and remains intact. He claims that its located under 75 feet of limestone chunks, rubble and mud that were dumped on it, so as to keep it hidden. The story  the stuff of dreams, as hailed by a British media outlet  is almost as good as the theory that Nefertitis tomb was hidden behind the wall of Tutankhamuns burial chamber (a theory developed by Nicholas Reeves, which has kept the world in suspense since 2015).

Its a wonderful find, says Jose Manuel Galan, director of the Djehuty Project, when asked about the discovery of the (first) tomb of Thutmose II. He speaks with EL PAIS via Viber from Cairo, where he has concluded his own excavation season in the Dra Abu el-Naga necropolis, located on the West Bank of the Nile at Thebes, Egypt. For Galan  a passionate epigraphist (an expert who studies inscriptions)  the most wonderful thing is the inscription that shows Hatshepsut as the one in charge of her husband and brothers funeral and, therefore, as his legitimate heir. Its the same thing Ay (the penultimate pharaoh) did with Tutankhamun, the Egyptologist recalls. He points out that this is another of the very few cases in which we have evidence of a transfer of power between pharaohs, so to speak.

Galan is less enthusiastic about the second tomb. It sounds strange to me, we all need a good [story] to continue excavating anyways, the [site] is very cool and hes a good Egyptologist. Lets see what happens.

Salima Ikram, the renowned Egyptologist, is also excited about the discovery of the tomb of Thutmose II. But she also points out her reservations about the idea of a second tomb. Theres no basis for it, she shrugs. Mari Carmen Perez Die, the veteran director of excavations at Heracleopolis Magna, a site located in Beni Suef, Egypt, joins in the enthusiasm for the fantastic discovery. However, she has criticized the Egyptian authorities for wrongly announcing it as the first discovery of a royal tomb since that of Tutankhamun (1922), ignoring the discoveries of Pierre Montet in Tanis in 1939 and others. Perez Die also calls for recognition of the subsequent discoveries of tombs of queens and princesses, which she considers equally important. In any case, she stresses, enthusiasm for Ancient Egypt is always welcome.

What Carters suitcase can contribute is of a different nature. Its an element of another type of history, one thats different from the modern science that is Egyptology. Beyond the emotional chill that comes from imagining what Howard Carter must have carried in that leather suitcase (in addition to his underwear, there must have been some of the pieces that he took from Tutankhamuns tomb), the story of the bag perhaps offers a glimpse into something almost more mysterious than a closed Egyptian tomb: the heart of an Egyptologist.

The mummy of Thutmose II.

Howard Carter was a sickly, private person. He never married, had no children and isnt known to have had any romantic relationships. T. G. H. James  author of his landmark biography, titled Howard Carter: The Path to Tutankhamun (1992)  admits that the Egyptologist was a difficult person, with an irascible shyness. In fact, Carters life shows no sign of any close relationship, either with women or men. It has been suggested that he may have had a French lover, but this is nothing more than a rumor. And the story that he may have had a romantic relationship with Lady Evelyn Herbet, the daughter of his boss, Lord Carnarvon, has been exploited in some novels and films, but this has been ruled out by James.

Carters behavior and reserve in this aspect of his life has led to speculation about whether he was homosexual, something that would have needed to be kept a secret, given the times. Some believe that his complex relationship with Carnarvon hints at this orientation.

The suitcases history may provide a glimpse into a genuine sentimental connection. Carter had acquired it in 1920 and  marked with his initials  used it on all his travels. Each year, following excavations, he returned to his London home in Kensington. When he left Egypt for the last time, in 1939, he gave it to a friend, John Tim Healey, who used it until he retired to Northern England, in 1970. It remained in his home until his death.

Derek Healey, Johns son, inherited the suitcase after his father passed away. It remained under his bed until he decided to sell it earlier this year. He contacted a local antiquities expert and BBC contributor, David Harper. He authenticated the suitcase and saw its full importance and its evocative power as a true time machine, skillfully highlighting the connection with Tutankhamun. In conversation with the BBC, he highlighted the glamor, the glory and the intrigue behind the suitcase.

Harper noted that he doesnt believe that the suitcase contains the supposed curse of Tutankhamun, as it would have already affected Derek Healey after 50 years of sleeping above it. However, he suggests that the suitcase probably carried Carters important documents and, surely, objects from Tuts tomb.

Carter's open suitcase, in a photo from the auction house.

The suitcase had no such use when it was in John Healeys hands. But, in a sentimental sense, the item retained all of its importance for the friend of the famous Egyptologist. Healey and Carter met when the former was working in Luxor for the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. Healey, a mechanical engineer, joined the institutions Epigraphic Survey in 1932 as superintendent in charge of maintaining its headquarters, Chicago House. For eight months a year, he was a jack-of-all-trades and an occasional archeologist between 1932 and 1970. Healey was regarded as an indispensable character, as his skill and efforts  sometimes heroic, notes a memoir of that period  were valued in keeping the institution running flawlessly.

According to his son, who visited his father in Egypt with his mother Doris and sister Val, John and Carter became good friends and spent evenings together in the bars of Luxor. Carter had stopped working on Tutankhamuns tomb in 1931 and spent much of his time at Medinet Habu (where the Epigraphic Survey was based), or on the terrace of the Winter Palace discussing future explorations, such as the search for the tomb of Alexander the Great, which he would never undertake. The late 1930s were a period of inactivity and decline for Carter, culminating in his death in 1939 from Hodgkins lymphoma. Healey was one of the few people who attended his burial in Putney Cemetery, London.

If I had known the story of the suitcase and Healey before, I would have incorporated it into my novel about Carter, says writer Luis Melgar, author of The Valley of the Kings Conspiracy (2022), a highly entertaining thriller about the discovery of Tutankhamuns tomb and the death of Carnarvon. The fictionalized work presents Howard Carter as a tormented man who cannot stand to be touched.

Melgar is passionate about Ancient Egypt (hes published three novels on the subject already) and hes enthusiastic about the discovery of the tomb of Thutmose II. Hatshepsut, the central character of my novel, You Will Not Forget My Name, would be delighted if they had found the tomb of her poor Tuty, a minor pharaoh, certainly, but whose grave was one of those that remained to be identified from the New Kingdom.

Salima Ikram finds the idea that the suitcase could shed light on Carters alleged sexual identity to be far-fetched and sensationalist. Galan, however, is more open to the idea. Im a fan of Carter and the truth is that Egypt is full of stories to tell. The stories are cool. The one about the suitcase is romantic and dramatic and invites you to let your imagination run wild why not? Not everything has to be pure science. Its suggestive that he gave his friend something as personal as his suitcase. And that [his friend] used it and kept it.

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Every two hours. That's how often a woman dies during childbirth in Afghanistan.

The staggering maternal mortality rate is one of the highest in the world. And under the repressive rule of the Taliban, the situation is only getting worse.

Among the victims was a young woman who died during childbirth in her village in the northwestern province of Badghis in December.

"Both my sister and her unborn child died," said Fereshta, the woman's sister. "There are no midwives or any health centers in our area."

Fereshta did not name her sister, who she said was in her 20s and had three young children.

In Afghanistan, at least 638 mothers died for every 100,000 births, according to the UN figures for 2024. The real number could be even higher as some cases go unreported, especially in remote areas.

The UN said many of the deaths were due to preventable pregnancy complications exacerbated by severe shortages in qualified birth attendants and an under resourced health-care system.

Rising Maternal Deaths

The maternal mortality rate in Afghanistan was 1,346 for every 100,000 births in 2000, during the Taliban's first stint in power. The ratio dropped to 629 in 2020 due to generous international support and development aid.

But since the Taliban regained power in 2021, the number of deaths during childbirth has increased again.

The public health-care system in Afghanistan, which was largely funded by foreign aid for nearly two decades, has been in freefall since the Taliban seized power and international donors immediately cut financial funding.

While some foreign aid organizations continue to operate in Afghanistan, many of them have been forced to curb their work as international funding diminishes.

In a major blow, the United States, the largest foreign donor, paused its humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan in January.

The UN estimates that the absence of the US aid in Afghanistan could result in 1,200 additional maternal deaths between 2025 and 2028.

Exacerbating the situation, the Taliban has banned women from attending university and severely restricted their job opportunities, including in the health sector.

In December, the hard-line Islamist group banned women from attending medical institutes that offered classes in midwifery, nursing, dental hygiene, and laboratory science.

Tom Fletcher, the UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said the ban is set to prevent more than 36,000 midwives and 2,800 female nurses from joining the country's health sector in the foreseeable future.

Taliban 'Does Not Care About Women's Health'

A midwife at Kabul, who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said the Taliban "does not care about women's health, as if this issue does not exist."

The woman, who has worked in state hospitals for more than two decades, said women's lack of access to information about maternal health is also an ongoing issue.

The high maternity rate in Afghanistan, she said, "is not only about a lack of access to a clinic or a midwife during childbirth."

"Expectant mothers should be under constant monitoring of clinics from the early stages of pregnancy," she added. "But in many cases in Afghanistan, even in big cities, pregnant women come to hospital only when they have some major health issue or only to give birth."
BELGRADE -- Tens of thousands of people jammed the streets of central Belgrade, the largest in a wave of student-led demonstrations demanding Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's government be held accountable for a deadly canopy collapse at a railway station in November.

Protesters skirmished with riot police at several locations in Belgrade late March 15, throwing fireworks and bottles. No arrests were reported immediately.

Earlier, flag-waving demonstrators gathered at several locations and converged outside parliament, in what appeared to be one of the country's biggest protests in decades. Speakers later addressed the crowd at a square hundreds of meters away.

"Look how many of us there are," one student told protesters. "Let your voice wake up Serbia."

Participants had streamed into the capital from across the country on foot, bicycles, and motorcycles ahead of the demonstration. Supporters and fellow protesters, including students from Belgrade, laid out a red carpet and cheered as people entered the city center.

The atmosphere among protesters was upbeat, but security was tight and there were scattered incidents of violence ahead of the main rally.

The November 1 collapse of the canopy at the railway station in the northern town of Novi Sad has led to what may be the biggest challenge yet to Vucic's political power. Fifteen people were killed.

At a news conference a day earlier, Vucic said he had asked police to show restraint but that "those who endanger peace will be arrested."

Student protests over the accident have evolved into a broader movement opposing what demonstrators say is the crumbling rule of law and systemic corruption under Vucic, the president since 2017 and prime minister for three years before that.

Student protesters have been demonstrating and blocking their university departments for over three months. Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets to demonstrate in over 200 cities and towns.

Ljiljana Kovacevic, a teacher from the northern town of Vrbas, told RFE/RL that she came to Belgrade to support the students, her former pupils.

"We hope everything will go smoothly and the students will achieve their goals -- along with us," she said.

The parliament speaker announced a day before the protest that the parliament building would remain closed until March 17 for security reasons.

Government officials accused the protest organizers of planning violence and announced arrests. Students denied the authorities' claims and called for a peaceful gathering.

Large groups of Vucic supporters camped in a park near across from parliament, and tractors were brought in overnight to surround their camp. By morning, however, many of the tractors tires were deflated and some of the vehicles bore stickers depicting a bloody hand and a call to protests.

Police said some of the tractors had suffered other damage such as windows smashed or doors torn off. The Interior Ministry said two people had been arrested on suspicion of violating public order.

Police in riot gear blocked entrance to the park, and security guards from the ranks of the students were positioned between police and protesters.

Separately, footage posted online showed a car driving amid a crowd in a Belgrade suburb and a woman falling to the ground off the vehicle's hood. Police said three people were injured and the driver was arrested after exerting "active resistance."

A group of men injured a student and a university lecturer in an attack in central Belgrade early in the day, police said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that aims to reduce seven federal agencies  including the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and other federal broadcasters.

The order, signed late on March 14, also targets agencies that deal with homelessness, labor disputes, and community development.

Within 7 days of the date of this order, the head of each governmental entity listed [in the order] shall submit a report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget confirming full compliance with this order and explaining which components or functions of the governmental entity, if any, are statutorily required and to what extent, the order says.

Hours after the executive order was published, media reports circulated a letter from the USAGM saying the Congress-approved grant that funds RFE/RL had been terminated.

The letter was signed by Kari Lake, who lists her title as senior adviser to the (USAGM) acting CEO with authorities delegated by acting CEO.

Lake has been nominated by Trump to take over as head of Voice of America, though her nomination must still be approved by the International Broadcasting Advisory Board.

RFE/RL President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Capus said cancelling the grant agreement would be "a massive gift to Americas enemies."

"The Iranian Ayatollahs, Chinese communist leaders, and autocrats in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate the demise of RFE/RL after 75 years. Handing our adversaries a win would make them stronger and America weaker," he said in a statement.



"Weve benefitted from strong bipartisan support throughout RFE/RLs storied history. Without us, the nearly 50 million people in closed societies who depend on us for accurate news and information each week wont have access to the truth about America and the world, Capus added.

The USAGM is an independent US government agency that oversees the broadcasting of news and information in almost 50 languages to some 361 million people each week.

The total budget request for the USAGM for Fiscal Year 2025 was $950 million to fund all of its operations and capital investments.

This includes media outlets such as RFE/RL, Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio Marti), Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) and the Open Technology Fund.

According to media reports, VOA employees were informed early on March 15 that they had been put on administrative leave with pay, though if they are asked to work, they must do so.

The situation at the other broadcasters was not immediately clear.

It is outrageous that the White House is seeking to gut the Congress-funded agency supporting independent journalism that challenges narratives of authoritarian regimes around the world, Carlos Martinez de la Serna, program director at the Committee to Protect Journalists, said in a statement on March 15.

We call on congressional leaders to protect this critical agency, which provides uncensored news in countries where the press is restricted.

Trump, who has taken several moves to slash government spending since taking office for a second term in January, clashed with the USAGM over editorial independence and the direction of programming during his first term.

He has reiterated those concerns again since retaking office. Supporters of the broadcasters say they are an important arm of US diplomacy.

In addition to the USAGM, the order targets Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund; and the Minority Business Development Agency.
France's president said Russia should not have a veto of any deployment of foreign peacekeepers to Ukraine as part of a cease-fire deal.

Speaking in an interview with several French newspapers, Emmanuel Macron also said any peacekeeping force would consist of "a few thousand troops per country" to be deployed at several locations. Several European and non-European countries had expressed interest, he said.

"Ukraine is sovereign. If it asks for allied forces to be on its territory, it's not something for Russia to accept or not," Macron said in the interview published late on March 15.

Macron's comments come as European leaders struggle to reach an agreement on the contours of a possible peacekeeping mission.

After holding talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian and US officials announced on March 11 that Kyiv had agreed to a 30-day cease-fire proposal, contingent on Russia's agreement.

Moscow has so far reacted coolly to the idea, with President Vladimir Putin suggesting additional conditions, including a freeze on US weapons supplies to Kyiv.

Putin also said questions that must be addressed include what happens in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have been losing ground in recent weeks after a surprise incursion last August, and who might monitor the cease-fire.

Russia has said the deployment of NATO troops would be unacceptable, casting a shadow over Western plans for a potential deployment.

Earlier on March 15, British Prime Minister Keir pledged a "willing" coalition of Western countries would also draft plans to protect Ukraine.

At a news conference after a virtual meeting with leaders from 25 other countries and entities, Starmer said Putin's "yes, but" response to the US cease-fire proposal is "not enough."

"If Putin is serious about peace, it's very simple: He has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a cease-fire," Starmer said on the video call, which included leaders of European nations as well as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, but not the United States.

"If Russia finally comes to the table, then we must be ready to monitor a cease-fire to ensure it is a serious and enduring peace," Starmer said in a statement. "If they don't, then we need to strain every sinew to ramp up economic pressure on Russia to secure an end to this war."

After the video call, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urged Ukraine's Western backers to set out "a clear position on security guarantees," including a potential force to be deployed.

"Peace will be more reliable with European contingents on the ground and the American side as a backstop," he wrote on X.

Overnight, Ukraine and Russia battered each other with drones and missiles, while on the battlefield Russian troops continued their drive to push Ukrainian forces out of Russia's Kursk region.

At least three people were injured in the Russian border region of Belgorod when Ukrainian drones hit a private home in the town of Gubkin, igniting a fire at the site, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

Voronezh Governor Aleksandr Gusev said air-defense units in three districts had destroyed more than 15 Ukrainian drones. There were no immediate reports of casualties, he said.

Meanwhile, in the Ukrainian town of Nikopol, a 70-year-old woman was killed by artillery, local military administrator Serhiy Lysak reported.

In Chernihiv, local authorities said Russian drones had hit a five-story building, destroying the top two floors. Casualty figures were not immediately available, with officials saying rescue services were at the site.

Ukrainian media also reported a number of explosions were seen near the capital, Kyiv, after authorities issued a warning of possible drone attacks in the region.

Ukraine's biggest private energy provider, DTEK, said on March 15 that Russian air strikes caused "significant" damage to its energy facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions and that some consumers in both regions were left without power.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, after seizing Crimea and fomenting war in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region eight years earlier.

President Donald Trump, who has made ending the war a prominent goal, dispatched a key envoy, Steve Witkoff, to meet with Putin in Moscow days after the US-Ukrainian talks in Riyadh.

Speaking on CNN on March 16, Witkoff described his meetings with Putin, which he said lasted around three to four hours as "a solutions-based discussion." He also said he expected Trump and Putin to speak on the phone in the coming week.

"The two sides are today a lot closer," he said. "We've narrowed the differences."

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Reuters
The US military has launched a large-scale attack against Iran-linked Huthi fighters in Yemen and warned Tehran that it must immediately cease support for US-designated terrorist group.

The March 15 attack -- conducted by warplanes from a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea -- came after President Donald Trump warned the Huthis that "hell will rain down upon you" if they do not stop their extremist actions, including attacks on shipping in the Gulf region and missile launches against Israel.

Trump also warned Iran that "America will hold you fully accountable and, we won't be nice about it!" as it ratchets up pressure to force Tehran back to the negotiating table over its nuclear program.

Trump posted on his social media platform that he had "ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Huthi terrorists in Yemen."

"They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, shops, aricraft, and drones."

The US president referred to the Huthi as "thugs" who are "funded by Iran."

US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken by phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and informed him of the military operation.

The strikes in Yemen appear to be the largest US military operation in the Middle East since Trump took office on January 20. Media outlets quoted US officials as saying the strike is not a one-day event -- this is the first of many days if not weeks of strikes."

Huthi officials said at least 12 civilians were killed and another nine injured in the US attacks, but the claims could not be independently confirmed. The officials vowed revenge, without being specific.

Reuters quoted a resident, who gave his name as Abdullah Yahia, as saying that "the explosions were violent and shook the neighborhood like an earthquake."

Huthi rebels have launched dozens of attacks on shipping over the past 18 months, claiming they are in support of Palestinians over Israel's war in Gaza with Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.

The Huthis have also struck shipping vessels, claiming they are only targeting Israeli ships but hitting a number of others registered elsewhere. Many shipping firms have been forced to change their courses to longer and more expensive routes to avoid the violence.

The US Central Command said the action was the beginning of large-scale "operation consisting of precision strikes against Iran-backed Huthi targets across Yemen in order to restore freedom of navigation."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X: "Huthi attacks on American ships & aircraft (and our troops!) will not be tolerated; and Iran, their benefactor, is on notice."

"Freedom of Navigation will be restored," he added.

Meanwhile, Trump wrote on social media that "we will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective."

The Huthis on March 11 warned they would resume attacks on Israeli ships in the region, ending a period of relative calm that followed the January cease-fire agreement reached by Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The action also comes as Washington steps up pressure on Iran to reenter talks over its nuclear program.

The White House on March 9 warned Tehran that it can be dealt with either through military means or by negotiating a deal regarding its nuclear program, remarks that came hours after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected a US proposal for negotiations between the two bitter rivals.

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.

Huthi rebels in 2014 seized much of Yemen's northwest and its capital, Sanaa, leading to a war that has killed tens of thousands of people and created a humanitarian nightmare in the Arab world's poorest country.

Many observers described the hostilities as a "proxy war" between Saudi- and Iranian-led groups. Saudi Arabia supports the nationally recognized government that the Huthi rebels seek to overthrow.

With reporting by Reuters
In the photo, Ukrainian Ivan Frankiv, who has withheld his real name for security reasons, appears as a schoolboy who was very good at radio frequency. So good that he won a prize. Almost two decades later, someone remembered that and asked him a question: could he make a drone detector? Everything had developed a lot since school, admits Frankiv, now 31. But in a month I created my first detector.

It was spring 2023 in Ukraine, which was entering the second year of the large-scale Russian invasion. The invention worked. Frankiv began working with the National Guard and set up, together with several partners, the company Kara Dag Technologies. Last September they received a $500,000 grant from a U.S. investment fund. A successful venture that joins hundreds of small Ukrainian entrepreneurs who have supported the countrys military industry to mitigate Russias superiority on the battlefield, and with an innovative inertia that can withstand the ups and downs of major allies like the United States.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made this clear on February 24 at the meeting of international allies in Kyiv: This is a technological war, he said. There are infantry battles between the lines of trees that divide the terrain; there are tanks, guns, artillery, ballistic missiles and fighter jets. But the application of technology in this war is historic, and this is where Ukraine has tried to gain some advantage. According to a report by the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), in 2022 there were no state investments in defense-specific startups; a year later the sum received by such startups was already $5 million; in 2024 it climbed to $50 million. And it continues to grow. Brave1, the government platform that facilitates the financing of defense technology, has supported some 1,500 companies and 3,200 projects with military applications in two years.

Frankivs life did not use to be like this. Before the Russian offensive, he worked in financial marketing. His dream was to live in Switzerland. For many months, that job allowed him and his colleagues to finance the production of drone detectors (at $400 a unit): a device the size of a cell phone, with a long antenna that can record the signal of a drone and neutralize it. When it passes, the enemy operator loses the first-person view he had on his monitor and the device falls or crashes. His clients say that 10 units can save the lives of 100 soldiers in a year. With the injection of the investment fund, they have quadrupled production. Their goal is to reach 300 units a month.

And they are not stopping there. The engineers at this company, with offices and laboratories in Kyiv and Rivne, are working on a device (a laser camera that scans the sky and interprets variations through artificial intelligence) to locate the latest challenge on the front: fiber-optic drones. We were first told about them by a soldier from Zaporizhzhia, says Frankiv. This is one of the small revolutions in the Ukrainian defense industry: like Frankiv, there are many entrepreneurs in this army of start-ups who maintain direct contact with the brigades at the front to produce according to the needs of combat.

The injection of these small private projects is part of a radical change in Ukraine from the outdated military industry model, in which only the state-owned Ukroboronprom manufactured, burdened by bureaucracy and corruption. This giant from the time of the USSR was transformed into the joint-stock company Ukrainian Defense Industry, with two objectives: to increase production through local arms companies  according to official data, there are 500 operating arms producers in the country, employing around 300,000 people  and to reduce corruption.

Two ministries are working in parallel: the Ministry of Strategic Industries and the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Furthermore, the demand for arms, driven by the Russian invasion, has required purchases and financing from overseas, which was absent in the past: the local platform Zbroyari attracted a total of $1.5 billion from nine donor countries in 2024 to finance national arms producers.

But if there is one mainstay that the entrepreneurial sector in Ukraine has taken advantage of, it is the production of drones (four million units in 2024, according to the KSE), a weapon used on the frontlines like never before in the history of conflict. At least now, three years after the start of the Kremlins major offensive; at the beginning, the manuals of conventional warfare were dusted off. At that time, after the start of the large-scale invasion, says Vasil, 40, the Russians did not pay much attention to drones.

Like many others, Vasil  the name he has chosen to protect his identity  had neither experience nor interest in military matters. What he did have was training in information technology, which he worked in. He realized that these unmanned aircraft could make a difference, but also that there was little training. He found instructors among operators in the film world, accustomed to handling these devices; he looked for land and asked the army for permission. In April 2022, together with several colleagues, Vasil started a drone school. The price for students: zero. The financing: their own funds, donations from individuals, and contributions from technology companies.

Our motivation, he explains, was to protect people. His school quickly became a popular center. And more sprang up to meet the demand. We might not have been able to teach military tactics, but we could teach how not to waste a drone, he notes. The school grew to train an average of 100 students a month. But the success of these devices in warfare has been such that many well-trained military instructors now teach in the field.

With less demand at schools, a new field of action is emerging: while Frankivs engineers are trying to figure out how to neutralize a fiber optic drone (guided via cable, these devices do not emit radio frequency signals that allow them to be rendered useless by technological means), Vasils partners have immersed themselves in the production of these very devices. They cost almost $1,000, more than double the price of conventional models, but their impact on the front is notable.

Shortly after Zelenskiy made those remarks about the technological nature of the war, the Ukrainian president took the group of international leaders visiting Kyiv to a small arms fair. Among the guests at the exhibition, on the business side, was Mikhail Rudominski, 25, founder of Himera, a company that makes tactical communications systems. Before the war, the young man says, I considered myself a pacifist. I never thought I would do something like this. With the invasion underway, Rudominski set out to create radio sets that were affordable for the brigades, that could be manufactured on a large scale, and that were safe from Russian electronic warfare. He succeeded in doing so in just two months. In the past year, Himera has raised more than $500,000 in funding from the local United Angels Network alone.

Rudominski says that one of the keys to success, as with Frankiv and his drone detectors, is getting closer to the front. I have about 200 contacts in the army, he says, I ask them what they need and that way we are more efficient. Employees of his company, which has around 50 workers, have travelled to within nine miles of the fighting to show their products. It is a way of telling the military that we are here to help and not to make money, he stresses. However, the success of these communications systems has already sparked the interest of several NATO allies, including the United States.

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By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

A man has appeared in court charged with attempting to murder two women who were stabbed in Co Down.

Jason Rhodes, 26, of Stream Street in Downpatrick, was charged with a number of offences when he appeared in the dock at Belfast Magistrates Court on Saturday.

The offences relate to an incident at a property in Stream Street on Friday.

The defendant was charged with two counts of attempted murder, possession of cocaine, possession of cannabis, assault on a police constable and possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence.

The court was told that the weapon was a zombie knife.

Rhodes nodded when asked if he understood the charges.

A detective constable told the court that she could connect Rhodes to the charges.

No application for bail was made and he was remanded in custody until April 10th.

During the incident on Friday, a 35-year-old woman sustained a serious knife wound to her neck and other lacerations to her head and face, while a second woman, who is in her 50s, also sustained stab wounds.

Police said the injuries sustained by the women were serious but not life-threatening.
A Transition Year (TY) student from Roscommon is a Solicitor of the Future after successfully completing the Law Society of Irelands innovative TY Programme.

Sarah Reilly from Mercy College Roscommon was one of 40 TY students that attended the popular week-long Solicitors of the Future programme at the Law Society in Dublin.

The programme aims to teach students about the law and to consider a future legal career.

Facilitated by Law Society staff, trainee solicitors, and expert practitioners, the activity-based programme featured expert-led workshops, guest speakers, courtroom activities, a careers seminar and a mini mock trial. In total, 40 students from schools across 13 counties participated.

President of the Law Society, Eamon Harrington, said: Solicitors of the Future encourages TY students to consider a career in law while offering an insight into the role of a solicitor in practice. The programme is carefully planned to give students a holistic understanding of a legal career, and the many different forms this can take."
Outsourced Workers Hunger Strike in Chandigarh Reaches 6th Day, Accuse Administration of Negligence

The workers claim they are on the brink of starvation and vow to continue their protest until their demands are met.

Chandigarh, March 15, 2025  The hunger strike by outsourced workers under the Coordination Committee of Government and Municipal Corporation Employees and Workers, UT Chandigarh, has entered its sixth day, with workers accusing the administration of neglect and irresponsibility.

The workers, who have not received their wages for the past three months, claim they are on the brink of starvation and vow to continue their protest until their demands are met.

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Protest at Sector-16 Maintenance Booth

Nine employees from various departments are participating in the hunger strike, including:

Rahul Kumar (Water Supply, Municipal Corporation)

Talib Hussain (GMCH-32 Security Union)

Akashdeep Sharma (Electrical Admin)

Ashok Kumar (Public Health Admin)

Gursevak Singh (Building Maintenance)

Sanju Singh (Building Maintenance)

Sandeep Kumar (Sewer, Municipal Corporation)

Gurpreet Singh (Electrical)

Vipan Kumar (Electrical)

Workers Demands and Administrations Alleged Neglect

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Union leaders Satinder Singh (President) and Rakesh Kumar (General Secretary) have accused the administration of repeatedly ignoring their requests to release the unpaid salaries of workers from various sectors, including the Electrical Circle, Public Health Circle, and Construction Circle of the Engineering Department.

They further claimed that the administration is violating labour laws by disregarding directives from the Labour Department, failing to ensure timely payment of wages, and neglecting to provide essential facilities for outsourced workers.

The workers' primary demands are:

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Immediate payment of three months' overdue wages

Strict enforcement of labour laws

Timely salaries and benefits for outsourced employees

Upcoming Steps in the Protest

The hunger strike will continue until March 28.

A workers convention is scheduled for March 29.

A march to gherao the Chandigarh Secretariat is planned for April 8.

Call for High-Level Talks

The protesting workers have called for a high-level meeting with senior officials to address their grievances and ensure a transparent dialogue between the employees and the administration, aiming to improve employer-employee relations and resolve the ongoing issues.
Indian Student Self-Deports After US Revokes Visa Over Alleged Hamas Support

An Indian student studying at Columbia University has voluntarily left the United States after her student visa was revoked for allegedly supporting Hamas. Ranjani Srinivasan, a doctoral student in urban planning, had her visa canceled on March 5, 2025, by the US Department of Homeland Security, which accused her of "advocating violence and terrorism."

According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, Srinivasan was involved in activities linked to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. Authorities stated that video footage obtained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) showed Srinivasan using the CBP app to self-deport on March 11, 2025.

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Self-deportation allows individuals to leave voluntarily, avoiding the risk of being forcibly removed from the country, as has happened with other deportees recently sent back to India.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared a video of Srinivasan at the airport, emphasizing that anyone advocating violence and terrorism has no place in the United States. "It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America. When you advocate for violence and terrorism, that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country," Noem said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "I am glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathizers use the CBP Home app to self-deport."

Srinivasan was a doctoral student at Columbia Universitys Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, conducting research in urban planning. She holds a Bachelor's degree from CEPT University in Ahmedabad and a Master's degree from Harvard University, with Fulbright Nehru and Inlaks Scholarships. Her professional experience includes work with an environmental advocacy nonprofit in Washington and research with the West Philadelphia Landscape Project at MIT.

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Columbia University has been a focal point for pro-Palestine student protests amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Recently, former Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, who led pro-Palestinian protests on campus last year, had his green card revoked, though a federal judge has temporarily halted his deportation. Additionally, student Leqaa Kordia was arrested for overstaying her visa, linked to her involvement in pro-Palestinian protests in New York.

The Justice Department and Homeland Security are investigating whether Columbia University is "harboring and concealing illegal aliens" on its campus, according to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Punjab CM Mann Accuses BJP of Using Delimitation to Target Political Opponents

The Chief Minister highlighted the ongoing security challenges faced by Punjab as a border state.

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has raised serious concerns about the ongoing delimitation process, accusing the BJP-led Union government of using it as a tactic to eliminate political opponents. Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Mann criticized the execution of the delimitation exercise, suggesting that it was being carried out in a manner that undermines democracy.

The Chief Minister, who was addressing the media on the sidelines of a ceremony to send off 72 teachers to Finland, emphasized that the approach adopted by the Union government raises doubts about the BJPs true intentions. According to Mann, the delimitation process appears to be designed to reduce the number of seats in states where the BJP and its allies are weak, while increasing the number of seats in regions where the partys divisive agenda is gaining traction.

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Mann stated that political parties with shared values and interests would come together to oppose what he termed as the Union government's "repressive" actions aimed at stifling democratic processes.

Security Concerns in Punjab

In response to another question, the Chief Minister highlighted the ongoing security challenges faced by Punjab as a border state, citing the efforts of hostile forces trying to disrupt the peace and stability of the region. However, he reassured the public that the Punjab Police, which has been modernized with advanced investigative techniques and technology, continues to thwart such attempts.

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Mann expressed confidence that the Punjab Police would maintain its strong tradition of professional service and uphold the state's unity, integrity, and sovereignty.

He also referred to the recent incident in Amritsar, attributing it to forces seeking to destabilize the state. He assured the people of Punjab that the state government would not allow these forces to succeed, and all such conspiracies would be thwarted. The Chief Minister further asserted that the law and order situation in Punjab remains far better than in many other states, due to the vigilance of the Punjab Police.

Efforts Against Drug and Terrorism Challenges

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Mann also noted that Punjab has long been a victim of cross-border terrorism and has been on the front lines in the national battle against drugs and terrorism. The use of drones to smuggle drugs, weapons, and other contraband into the state from across the border has been a growing concern.

However, the Chief Minister proudly stated that the states aggressive anti-drug campaign, Yudh Nasheyan Virudh, has significantly curtailed smuggling activities through drones. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made in this fight, noting that Punjabs proactive stance against drug trafficking is yielding positive results.

The event was also attended by Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains and other dignitaries.
Amritsar Grenade Attack: Two Bike-Borne Assailants Attack Temple, CP claims 'Pakistan's conspiracy'

The attack took place at the Thakurdwara temple in the Khandwala area around 12:35 am on the night of March 14-15.

Amritsar Grenade Attack Latest News Today, CP claims 'Pakistan's conspiracy': In a disturbing turn of events, two individuals on a motorcycle launched a grenade attack on a temple in Amritsar.

CCTV footage of the incident shows the attackers arriving at the temple with a flag mounted on their bike. After waiting briefly, one of the miscreants hurled a grenade at the temple, causing a large explosion before both quickly fled the scene.

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In the meanwhile, CP Gurpreet Bhullar stated that it is Pakistan's conspiracy behind the attack and that the accused won't be spared.

The attack took place at the Thakurdwara temple in the Khandwala area around 12:35 am on the night of March 14-15.

The blast sent shockwaves through the local community, triggering widespread panic. Fortunately, the temple priest, who was sleeping inside at the time, narrowly escaped injury. Authorities have initiated a probe into the incident to identify and apprehend the culprits.

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(For more news apart from Amritsar Grenade Attack Latest News Today, CP claims 'Pakistan's conspiracy', stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Nanded Murder Case: Punjab Police arrests 3 more operatives of BKI Terror Module

The AIG said that further investigations are on and more arrests are expected in coming days.

Nanded Murder Case: In yet another major breakthrough in the ongoing Nanded murder case, Punjab Polices State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), SAS Nagar has arrested three more operatives of Pakistan based Babbar Khalsa International ( BKI) terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda backed by Pakistans ISI, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday.

Those arrested have been identified as Jagjit Singh alias Jaggi and Shubham Khelbude, both residents of Nanded in Maharashtra and Gurdeep Singh alias Deepa, a resident of Raipur in Ropar. Police teams have also recovered two weapons including one 12 bore pump-action gun with 15 cartridges and one .32 bore pistol with eight cartridges.

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This development follows the earlier arrests of Jagdish Singh alias Jagga, Shubhdeep Singh alias Shubh, and Sachindeep Singh alias Sachin in connection with the Nanded murder case. With these latest arrests, the total number of individuals apprehended in the case has risen to six in this case.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigation has revealed that arrested accused Jagjit alias Jaggi played a critical role in facilitating logistics, safe houses, and coordination for the shooters involved in the Nanded murder case, masterminded by Rinda from across the border. Investigations have also uncovered the role of jailed gangster Dilpreet alias Baba, an old associate of Rinda, who arranged safe shelters in Punjab for the accused, he said.

He said that the arrested operative Jagjeet alias Jaggi is wanted in cases related to murder, attempt to murder, threat and intimidating for extortion, while Shubham is wanted in threat and extortion related cases in Nanded, Maharashtra and came to Punjab evading their arrest. Accused Jaggi and Shubam were actively involved in coordinating various illegal activities, including the procurement of weapons, collection of extortion money, logistics support, and shelter for their other operatives in Nanded all on directions of Harvinder alias Rinda, he said.

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The DGP said that the third arrested individual Gurdeep alias Deepa was arrested for providing shelter and logistical support to the fugitives Jaggi and Shubam. Accused Gurdeep Deepa also played a crucial role in enabling the escape and continued activities of the accused, he added.

Sharing more details, AIG SSOC SAS Nagar Dr Simrat Kaur said following a reliable input, team of SSOC SAS Nagar launched an intelligence-led operation and arrested Shubham Khelbude along with Gurdeep alias Deepa from Sri Anandpur Sahib where he was taking shelter at a sand crusher owned by the latter. Further swift action on the leads obtained from the interrogation of arrested accused paved way for the arrest of third accused Jagjeet alias Jaggi from district Tarn tarn late night on the same day, she added.



She said that during the operation the police recovered a .32-bore pistol from Shubham and a Pump Action Gun from Gurdeep, which were intended for use in furthering illegal operations in Punjab and other regions.

The AIG said that further investigations are on and more arrests are expected in coming days.

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In this regard, a case FIR no 1 dated 21.02.2025 has already been registered under section 25(1) B of the Arms act and sections 249 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station SSOC, SAS Nagar.
Mark Carney Sworn in as Canadas Prime Minister, Announces New Cabinet

Carney takes office in the midst of escalating trade tensions with the United States

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Mark Carney has officially assumed office as Canadas 24th Prime Minister, succeeding Justin Trudeau after his nine-year tenure. In his inaugural address, Carney underscored the significance of his new role, stating, "It is a solemn duty to serve as Prime Minister at this time of great consequence." One of Carneys initial acts as Prime Minister was unveiling a streamlined 24-member cabinet, signaling a shift in leadership while ensuring continuity in key sectors.

Key Cabinet Appointments and Changes

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Francois-Philippe Champagne is promoted to Finance Minister, taking over from Chrystia Freeland.

Chrystia Freeland moves to the role of Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, with the Deputy Prime Minister position being eliminated.

Melanie Joly remains as Foreign Affairs Minister.

Dominic LeBlanc is appointed Minister of International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Anita Anand assumes the position of Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry.

Steven Guilbeault transitions from Environment Minister to Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity.

Carney also brought in several fresh faces:

Arielle Kayabaga is appointed Government House Leader.

Ali Ehsassi is named Minister of Public Services and Procurement.

Kody Blois takes on the role of Agriculture Minister.

Major Departures and Demotions

Several prominent Trudeau-era ministers have been removed from cabinet, including Jean-Yves Duclos, Karina Gould, Mark Holland, Ahmed Hussen, Marc Miller, and Diane Lebouthillier.

Carneys decision to eliminate the Deputy Prime Minister role and downsize the cabinet reflects his intention to streamline government operations and focus on decisive action.

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Strategic Priorities and Challenges Ahead

Carney takes office in the midst of escalating trade tensions with the United States, particularly in light of President Donald Trumps aggressive rhetoric. His governments primary focus will be on:

Stimulating economic growth through the creation of higher-paying jobs and promoting innovation.

Enhancing affordability by revising taxation and addressing cost-of-living issues.

Strengthening national security in response to shifting U.S. policies.

In his speech, Carney declared that Canadas government will be "action-oriented to meet the moment," positioning his cabinet as a wartime team ready to tackle the countrys economic and geopolitical challenges head-on.
People observe while the Chicago River is dyed green, on March 11, 2023, to celebrate the upcoming St. Patrick's Day parade.

St. Patricks Day has become one of Americas favorite holidays. While in the past it was exclusively a religious celebration of Irelands patron saint celebrated mostly by Irish immigrants many now see it as the perfect excuse to drink alcohol, but also to enjoy one of the worlds largest parades and other eye-catching tributes to Irish culture.

During a pre-St. Patricks Day celebration at the White House, President Donald Trump accused Ireland of taking advantage of the United States, particularly for its tax policies that attract U.S. pharmaceutical companies. Irish taoiseach Micheal Martin spoke about the mutually beneficial trade relationship, including Irish companies creating jobs in the U.S. and significant aircraft purchases of Boeing. Martin returned to the White House in the evening to present Trump with a bowl of shamrocks. They also attended an annual luncheon on Capitol Hill as part of the festivities.

This year, St. Patricks Day will be celebrated on Monday, March 17. Below, we clear up some of the most common questions about the holiday and talk more about the New York parade and the dyeing of the Chicago River.

When is St. Patricks Day?

St. Patricks Day is celebrated on March 17 each year, being the traditional date of the death of St. Patrick, Irelands best-known patron saint.

How was St. Patricks Day established?

According to the Church of Ireland, St. Patricks Day became a Christian holiday during the 17th century. Originally, it was observed only by the Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Lutheran church, but now it is a general holiday that does not necessarily involve religion.

St. Patricks Day Parade in New York

The New York City St. Patricks Day Parade is the oldest parade in the world and one of the most crowded. The first was held on March 17, 1762, 14 years before the U.S. Declaration of Independence was signed.

The parade is held on the same day as St. Patricks Day. If March 17 falls on a Sunday, the parade is moved to Saturday the 16th, to avoid crossing with religious ceremonies.

The parade is held in honor of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and the Archdiocese of New York. From its earliest days to the present day, the parade is made up entirely of volunteers, many of whom are from families who have spent generations devoting months to organizing the parade, which is billed as the largest and oldest in the world.

According to the parades official website, the largest parade in history was held in 2002 in honor of the heroes who responded to the attack on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. That year, 300,000 people attended, and three million spectators watched across Fifth Avenue. That was also the first time the parade was overseen by Irelands then-President Mary McAleese.

What time does the St. Patricks Day parade start in New York?

The parade starts at exactly 11 a.m., and its route runs along Fifth Avenue, beginning at East 44th Street and ending at East 79th Street. On its way it passes by St. Patricks Cathedral, where Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, attends the event.

According to the official website, approximately 150,000 people march in the parade, which also attracts the attention of about two million spectators around the world.

Where is the best place to stand during the New York St. Patricks Day Parade?

The parade can be viewed from anywhere along Fifth Avenue. The closer you are, the better you will be able to see the parade. For this, it is recommended to arrive early. There is no specific time, but it is best to arrive during the early hours of the day.

Can the parade be cancelled due to bad weather?

Throughout its history, the parade has never been cancelled due to weather conditions and has marched in different types of weather. If bad weather is forecast, it is recommended to come prepared.

What streets are closed during the St. Patricks Day Parade?

Fifth Avenue between 42nd and 86th Streets

Madison Avenue between 63rd and 64th Streets

Madison Avenue between 78th and 86th Streets

Vanderbilt Avenue between 43rd and 46th Streets

43rd Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and Sixth Avenue

44th Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and Sixth Avenue

45th Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and Sixth Avenue

46th Street between Vanderbilt Avenue and Sixth Avenue

47th Street between Park Avenue and Sixth Avenue

48th Street between Park Avenue and Sixth Avenue

62nd Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue

63rd Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue

64th Street between Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue

72nd Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue

78th Street between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue

79th Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue

80th Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue

81st Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue

82nd Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue

83rd Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue

84th Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue

85th Street between Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue

Chicago River Dyeing

While in New York the focus is on the parade, in Chicago people look forward to seeing how the Chicago River is dyed green during this celebration, resulting in its waters being an emerald green.

The Chicago River dyeing began in 1962 at the suggestion of a local plumbers union, and has become one of the most famous local events. This is usually done on the Saturday before St. Patricks Day, using a special paint that lasts only a few hours (as opposed to the beginning, when it lasted up to a month).

It is not known precisely what the formula for dyeing the water consists of, as the organizers keep it a secret. However, it is said to be environmentally friendly and does not affect the water.
Donald Trump

Trump is may impose travel restrictions on as many as 41 countries.

The Trump administration is reportedly considering a large-scale travel ban, though the exact number of countries affected remains uncertain.

According to Reuters, the New York Times reported that a leaked Trump administration memo suggests plans to impose travel restrictions on as many as 41 countries. However, in the original New York Times report, the number is stated as 43. The nations are categorized into three groups: the Red List, the Orange List, and the Yellow List.

Red List (Absolute Travel Ban): Countries placed on the Red List face a complete ban on travel to the U.S. These include Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. Notably, Bhutans inclusion on the list has come as a surprise.

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Orange List (Partial Travel Suspensions): Countries on the Orange ListBelarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistanwill face partial travel suspensions. Affluent business travelers might be allowed to enter, The New York Times has noted. These restrictions would impact tourist and student visas, as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions, according to Reuters. Additionally, citizens of these countries would be required to undergo mandatory in-person interviews to obtain a visa.

The New York Times has reported that while some countries on the draft Red and Orange Lists were sanctioned under Mr. Trump's first-term travel bans, many others are newly added.

Yellow List (Conditional Restrictions): The Yellow List consists of over 20 countries that could be moved onto Red or Orange list if their governments fail to address certain deficiencies within 60 days.

Countries in this category reportedly include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Republic of Congo, Dem. Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.

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However, a U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that the list had been developed by the State Department several weeks ago and is subject to change and has yet to receive final approval from the administration.

During his first term, former President Trump imposed travel restrictions on several Muslim-majority countries, a policy that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. President Joe Biden later revoked the ban, calling it a stain on our national conscience and inconsistent with Americas long-standing tradition of welcoming people from all backgrounds. However, The New York Times reported that in an executive order issued in January, President Trump stated that he would revive the bans to protect Americans from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks.

No official bans have been announced yet.

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Further developments on the new travel restrictions are awaited as the administration finalizes its decision.
Janet Murguia, 64, likes to acknowledge that she has lived the American dream. The daughter of immigrant parents, she was born in Kansas City and grew up in a Latino neighborhood there.

After holding various positions in politics  serving as an advisor to Bill Clinton during his presidency  and in academia, she became the president and CEO of UnidosUS (formerly the National Council of La Raza, NCLR) in 2005.

Under her leadership, she has focused on empowering the Latino community by increasing Hispanic voter registration and participation. Her name is consistently listed among the 100 most influential Latinos. In an interview with EL PAIS, she criticizes the direction of Donald Trumps presidency, which she believes has been centered on anti-immigrant policies rather than addressing the economic issues that mobilized many Latinos to support him in the last election. An optimist by nature, Murguia believes the American dream is still alive, despite the many challenges it faces, including combatting the rise of racism.

Question. What did you think of President Trumps speech to Congress?

Answer. It was no big surprise. President Trump did not address what the vast majority of Latinos and millions of Americans are experiencing today. Despite being the longest presidential address in the history of our country before Congress, he said absolutely nothing about rising prices, the stock market crash, the threat to programs like Medicaid and Medicare, and the cuts to many essential programs like nutrition and education. As Hispanics in the United States, we were left very frustrated and disillusioned.

Q. There has been much talk about how decisive the Latino vote was in the last elections. Do you think that the measures approved in the first few weeks of Trumps presidency have satisfied these voters?

A. The truth is that many Latino voters voted for someone who they thought was going to focus on the economy. That was their priority, but we are waiting for actions to address it. This administration has taken measures that have created uncertainty, making us feel more insecure. And by every major economic indicator, we are worse off than we were a year ago.

Q. What do you think when Trump insults immigrants and says they are murderers, drug dealers, gang members and patients in psychiatric hospitals?

A. Many are already familiar with President Trump and his extreme way of speaking. We agree that those who endanger our public and national security must be deported, but we do not support cruel immigration policies such as family separation and mass deportation. They are contrary to the values of the majority of the population. What the Hispanic community is looking for are solutions and for the federal government to act against human and drug traffickers, but also to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have lived here for decades.

Q. Do you think racism has increased among the U.S. population?

A. Because of the extreme rhetoric of President Trump and his MAGA party, many more people are now feeling emboldened. That is translating into more racism, in various policies at the state and local level and in incidents where we have seen cruel treatment of people in our community.

Q. Thanks to Latinos, there is demographic growth in the country. Their economic activity exceeds $3 billion a year. Are they recognized for the contribution they make to the country?

A. The fear-driven immigration policy of this Trump administration has negative consequences for the entire country. Not just for Latino families or those who have been separated or deported. Approximately 11 million American citizens, including 5 million children (8% of all children in the United States), live in a household where at least one family member is undocumented. Most of whom have been in the United States for a decade. These actions are going to impact the economy of the entire country. We represent the economic power that is going to move the economy of this country forward and the workers we need to have a strong economy.

Q. Many measures against immigration have been approved: the cancellation of TPS (Temporary Protected Status), asylum and humanitarian parole, raids, the decree that cancels birthright citizenship, the Laken Riley law. Which one do you think has the worst consequences?

A. I think that the mass deportation policy is going to be the most damaging because of the effect it will have on the economy and because it will be felt throughout the country. It is instilling fear in many families and in many workers and businesses. We have already seen that there are children who have stopped going to school, and people who do not go into businesses because they are afraid that someone will go there and deport a member of their family.

Q. What advice would you give to Latinos who are afraid of going to work or taking their children to school?

A. UnidosUS and many other organizations have tried to educate all the families and individuals who may be affected so they know their rights, because here, everyone has rights. They need to understand what federal and local authorities can do. There are lawyers who have volunteered to help families. However, they must be careful because, unfortunately, this is the consequence of the elections, and we cannot fully protect our families, although we strive to do so. Additionally, we are filing lawsuits in the courts, as there are some policies from this administration that are unconstitutional or illegal.

Q. What do you think about the decision to declare English the official language of the U.S.?

A. There is no doubt that English is already recognized as the language of this country, but we must be aware that the vast majority of immigrants are trying to learn it. We have affiliates who offer English classes to the community, but we must remember that several languages are spoken in this country, and they help strengthen the economy. We should not underestimate the importance of knowing more than one language in a world that is becoming smaller, and take advantage of the gift of knowing other languages. Declaring English as the official language is an unnecessary act, and Im not sure that it will have much impact, other than giving President Trump something to support his MAGA party.

Q. As the leader of one of the largest organizations serving the Latino community, what have been your priorities?

A. UnidosUS' priority is to protect and defend our community in every way possible, and to seek to advance it economically and socially in this adverse climate.

Q. What have you found most difficult in these years?

A. The fact that many of our citizens in the United States still do not recognize the value of the Latino community. We are vital to the future of this country, and knowing that there is no such recognition is something that still disappoints me. But I know that the role that we are going to play in the future of this country is going to be very positive.

Q. Is the American dream still alive?

A. We will always strive to ensure that every person can pursue their own American dream. That is part of who we are. People like me who have benefited from seeing the American dream realized will continue to work to help others achieve it.

Q. What do you expect from the next four years?

A. I am an optimist, but also a realist. Thats why I think what lies ahead is going to be difficult, but if we come together as a community and if we remain dedicated to moving forward with our values and the truth, we can get through this.

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On March 12, 2025, Hera  ESAs first Space Safety mission  came to within 5,000 km of the surface of Mars and 1,000 km of Deimos. While performing the flyby, the spacecraft made the first use of its payload for scientific purposes beyond Earth and the Moon. Activating a trio of instruments, Hera imaged the Martian surface as well as the face of Deimos.

Launched on October 7, 2024, Hera is on its way to visit Dimorphos, the first asteroid to have had its orbit altered by human action.

By gathering close-up data about this asteroid, which was impacted by NASAs DART spacecraft in 2022, Hera will help turn asteroid deflection into a well understood and potentially repeatable technique.

Heras flyby of Mars was an integral part of its cruise phase through deep space, carefully designed by ESAs Flight Dynamics team.

By coming as close as 5,000 km away from Mars, the planets gravity shifted the spacecrafts trajectory towards its target.

Moving at 9 km/s relative to Mars, Hera was able to image Deimos from as close as 1,000 km away, surveying the less-seen opposite side of the tidally locked moon from the red planet.

Our Mission Analysis and Flight Dynamics team at ESOC in Germany did a great job of planning the gravity assist, said ESAs Hera spacecraft operations manager Caglayan Guerbuez.

Especially as they were asked to fine-tune the maneuver to take Hera close to Deimos  which created quite some extra work for them!

Three Hera instruments were used during the flyby:

 Heras Asteroid Framing Camera, used for both navigation and scientific investigation, acquires images in visible light;

 Heras Hyperscout H hyperspectral imager observes in a range of colors beyond the limits of the human eye, in 25 visible and near-infrared spectral bands, to help characterize mineral makeup;

 Heras Thermal Infrared Imager, supplied by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), images at mid-infrared wavelengths to chart surface temperature, in the process revealing physical properties such as roughness, particle size distribution and porosity.

These instruments have been tried out before, during Heras departure from Earth, but this is the first time that we have employed them on a small distant moon for which we still lack knowledge  demonstrating their excellent performance in the process, said ESAs Hera mission scientist Michael Kueppers.

Other Hera instruments we will utilize once we reach the Deimos and Dimorphos asteroids were not activated, either because they are not usable at such long range and rapid speed from a target  such as our PALT laser altimeter, possessing a maximum range of 20 km  or because they are hosted aboard Heras pair of CubeSats which will only be deployed at the asteroids, said Hera principal investigator Patrick Michel, director of research at Observatoire de la Cote dAzur, CNRS.
New Delhi's air pollution is more severe than previously estimated with particles absorbing atmospheric water vapour leading to particulate matter levels across the city being underestimated by up to 20%, a new study reveals.

Hygroscopic growth causes fine particulate matter (PM1) to swell, reducing sampling devices efficiency and leading to underestimation, with greatest underestimation in estimated concentrations happening during winter morning rush hours, when humidity is highest and pollution is most severe.

In contrast, research shows that the monsoon season shows negligible bias due to the washout of hygroscopic particles by heavy rainfall -- the bias is more pronounced during high pollution episodes, with underestimation increasing exponentially with humidity.

Publishing the findings today (12 Mar) in NPJ Clean Air, study author Dr Ying Chen, from the University of Birmingham, concludes that PM1 pollution in the city is worse than previously thought, but provides correction tools for future studies to better estimate particulate levels.

Dr Chen commented: "This study highlights the true extent of air pollution in New Delhi and offers a framework for more accurate future assessments that better inform public health strategies and mitigation efforts. When carrying out air quality assessments, it is crucial to consider hygroscopic growth and the potential for significant underestimation of pollution levels in humid conditions."

Biased measurements due to hygroscopic growth are significant in New Delhi due to the high-water content of its aerosol particles, which can contain up to 740 g/m of water and is the highest in megacities all over the world.

The study suggests that controlling emissions from biomass burning and residential sources, which emits highly hygroscopic chlorine species, could effectively improve air quality and reduce this bias, therefore improve air quality understanding as well. Dr Chen calls for more in-situ observations of PM2.5 and PM10 to gain a more rounded understanding of air pollution in New Delhi.

There are several seasonal variations identified in the study:

Winter (December to January): The most significant underestimation (up to 20%) occurs during the morning rush hour (8-9 am) due to high humidity (90%) and a shallow planetary boundary layer -- the lowest part of the atmosphere, where the surface of the Earth affects the wind, temperature, and moisture.

Spring (February to March): The second highest variance occurs during the morning rush hour with an average relative humidity (RH) of 80%, leading to an 8.6% underestimation.

Monsoon (July to September): Despite high humidity (85%), bias is minimal due to the washout of hygroscopic particles by frequent rain.

Summer (April to June): The driest season with RH between 28% and 50%, resulting in negligible bias due to limited hygroscopic growth.

New Delhi is recognized as the world's most polluted capital city, with severe air quality issues threatening the health of its 33 million residents. Particulate matter is the dominant pollutant, responsible for approximately 10,000 premature deaths annually. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that New Delhi's PM1 levels are 24 times higher than recommended safe levels, even though based on the underestimated observations.
Surgical adhesions -- common, sometimes life-threatening complications that arise after open or laparoscopic abdominal surgery -- can be prevented in mice and pigs by a gel impregnated with a molecule that blocks a key signaling pathway in the formation of scar tissue.

The gel can be applied as a spray or a wash to the inside of the abdominal cavity immediately after surgery. Over a period of two weeks, the gel releases a small molecule, T-5224, that blocks the activation of adhesion-forming cells called fibroblasts without affecting normal wound healing.

A practical, simple way to prevent or reduce the formation of post-surgical abdominal adhesions in humans, which are currently unpreventable and largely untreatable, could save billions of dollars in health care costs each year and significantly reduce the incidence of chronic pain, infertility and bowel obstructions that arise when adhesions are severe, the researchers believe. Showing success in large animals such as pigs is a key step toward human clinical trials.

"Adhesions happen primarily when you injure or interact with the bowel during surgery, whether the surgery is open or laparoscopic," said professor of surgery Michael Longaker, MD. "This gel reduces the likelihood of adhesions without compromising the ability of the animal to heal after surgery. And, as a surgeon, I'm already used to washing out the surgical site at the end of the procedure, so this would be easy to incorporate into our normal workflow."

Longaker, the Deane P. and Louise Mitchell Professor in the School of Medicine, and assistant professor of surgery Daniel Delitto, MD, PhD, are the senior authors of the study, which was published March 12 in Science Translational Medicine. Former postdoctoral scholar and surgical resident Deshka Foster, MD, PhD, and postdoctoral scholar Jason Guo, PhD, are the lead authors of the research.

The problem with scar tissue

Abdominal adhesions form in the weeks after surgery as the body heals. Between 50% and 90% (depending upon the type and location of the surgery) of abdominal surgeries result in adhesions, characterized by excessive scar tissue that tethers organs and tissues to one another or to the abdominal wall.

Although many adhesions cause no symptoms, between 5% and 20% are severe, causing chronic pain, infertility and life-threatening bowel obstructions. There is no reliable method to prevent or treat them, and complications from abdominal adhesions are estimated to cost billions of health care dollars each year.

Longaker, Foster and their colleagues have been studying scar formation and adhesions for many years. In 2020 they identified the biological pathway responsible for adhesion formation in mice and humans and showed that inhibiting the activity of a protein called c-Jun -- produced by fibroblasts in response to injury -- substantially reduced the formation of adhesions in laboratory mice.

The inhibitory molecule, called T-5224, had been identified for its ability to modulate the excessive scarring and inflammation, and has been tested in clinical trials as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and in animal models of cancer metastasis and inflammation.

"We wanted to learn whether we could deliver this small molecule inhibitor directly to the abdominal cavity over a period of several days and, if so, whether it would impact adhesion formation," Longaker said.

The researchers collaborated with study co-author and associate professor of materials science and engineering Eric Appel, PhD, to design a biomaterial called a shear-thinning hydrogel that flows like a liquid under pressure -- such as being forced through a syringe -- but stabilizes when the force is removed. When the gel is impregnated with T-5224, it slowly releases the small molecule over 14 days.

When tested in mice and minipigs, the T-5224-impregnated gel significantly reduced the formation of adhesions -- scored from 0 to 5 by the degree of contact between neighboring tissues -- by nearly 300% in response to abdominal surgery compared with animals that received a saline wash of the surgical site or application of the gel without T-5224.

"The sustained release formulation of T-5224-hydrogel and the ability to easily apply it to the abdominal cavity are ideal qualities for a potential clinical therapy for adhesions," Foster said. "We are eager to take the next steps to bring this approach into the clinic."

"It's great to find a treatment to block adhesions," Longaker said. "But more importantly, we saw no effect on wound healing. If we prevent adhesions, but the bowel falls apart or the abdominal opening doesn't close properly because of the treatment, it wouldn't be usable. Now we have enough data in a large animal model showing that this is a safe and effective treatment to talk about launching trials in people."

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grants 1F32CA239312-01, 1F32HL167318, 1R01GM116892, 1R01GM136659 and T32GM008412), the National Science Foundation, Stanford SPARK Program, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, the John and Marva Warnock Faculty Scholar Award, the Emerson Collective/Goldman Sachs Foundation, Stanford's Child Health Research Institute, Stanford's Transplant and Tissue Engineering Center of Excellence, the Gunn/Olivier Fund, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance.

Longaker, Foster and other study co-authors are inventors on patents held by Stanford University covering the use of the inhibitor molecule in hydrogels to prevent adhesions. Appel is a cofounder, equity holder and advisor for Appel Sauce Studios LLC, which holds an exclusive license from Stanford University to a patent application describing the hydrogel materials reported in this work.
TOKYO - The Japanese government is set to introduce new standards on evaluating the durability of wooden buildings with the aim of significantly extending their legal longevity for easier financing and promoting decarbonization through the increased use of timber.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism plans to evaluate the waterproofing of wooden buildings via third party agencies which, if the new criteria are met, could double the service life of such buildings to 50 years or more.

Longer lifespans are expected to make it easier for building owners to secure loans, with repayment terms typically set based on the longevity of properties.

Applications to undergo evaluations under the new standards, which will apply to nonresidential buildings such as offices, are set to open from April, the ministry said.

Rainwater is the leading cause of damage to beams in wooden buildings. The standards will evaluate a building's ability to withstand water penetration.

The service life of wooden commercial buildings, set for tax purposes, is currently 24 years, while that of reinforced concrete buildings is 50 years.

According to ministry data on buildings that began to be constructed in fiscal 2023, 88.4 percent of residential buildings with one or two stories, and 55.7 percent with three stories, were made of wood based on a floor space basis.

Nonresidential buildings accounted for 17.1 percent of one- and two-story wooden buildings and 3.9 percent of three-story buildings. For projects of four stories or more, wooden construction was below 1 percent for both residential and nonresidential buildings.

The wood utilization promotion act that came into effect in 2021 encourages the use of wood not only for public facilities but also for private buildings for businesses.

Related coverage:

Osaka Expo roof recognized as world's biggest wooden structure
A nine-year study comparing a typical two-year corn and soybean rotation with a more intensive three-year rotation involving corn, cereal rye, soybean and winter wheat, found that the three-year system can dramatically reduce nitrogen -- an important crop nutrient -- in farm runoff without compromising yield.

The new findings are detailed in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science.

"Subterranean drainage pipes called tiles transport nitrogen, in the form of nitrate, from fields to streams, impairing downstream surface waters," the scientists wrote. Nitrate runoff from farms pollutes streams and lakes, some of which supply drinking water for nearby communities. Nitrates also are carried down major rivers like the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, contributing to a vast oxygen-starved "dead zone."

"For maximum crop production we need artificial drainage, in the form of tiles and ditches, across much of Illinois. Unfortunately, nitrate can be lost from the rooting zone with tile water," said Lowell Gentry, a researcher in natural resources and environmental sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who led the new study with Eric Miller, a grower and landowner in Piatt County, Illinois, where the research was conducted. "Our study was designed to see if a more diverse crop rotation could reduce tile nitrate loss and still be competitive with the conventional system of corn and soybean."

From 2015 to 2023, the researchers determined crop yield and monitored nitrate loss from tile-drained fields on a working farm. Their "control treatment" consisted of two conventionally managed fields under a corn and soybean rotation. The more intensive three-year crop-rotation system was employed on an adjacent field. This field was planted with corn, followed by a full season of soybeans, then winter wheat. A summer harvest of the wheat was followed by a second crop of soybean the same year, or double-crop soybean. Between corn and soybean, a winter cover crop of cereal rye was grown to protect the soil. The cereal rye was terminated with herbicide prior to soybean planting and allowed to decompose on the soil surface, delivering nutrients to the next crop.

A key difference between the rotational systems was the amount of tillage. The control fields were fully tilled in the fall and spring, but the researchers strip-tilled only a narrow swath of the cornfield in the three-year rotation, minimizing the area tilled to one-third of the total field every third year. "By strip-tilling only about a third of the soil at a time, it takes us nine years to fully till the field," Gentry said. This enhances soil stability.

Crops like cereal rye and winter wheat are planted in the fall after corn and soybean crops are harvested. These crops keep the soil intact, helping reduce erosion and nutrient runoff, Gentry said. Tilling the soil and leaving it bare for the fall, winter and spring increases soil erosion and boosts the growth of oxygen-loving microbes that consume soil-organic matter, releasing more nitrate.

Growers, policymakers and scientists have spent decades looking for ways to reduce the loss of nitrate from agricultural lands. Some approaches involve using woodchip bioreactors or installing wetlands to capture the runoff. But those approaches mean growers lose the fertilizing power of the nitrate.

"It's very expensive to make fertilizer, and so I think it's much more strategic to try and conserve the nitrogen, meaning keep it in the field, don't let it leave in the first place," Gentry said. "And that's what the cereal rye and the winter wheat can do. They suck up enough nitrogen during the fall, winter and spring to lower the soil nitrate level. That reduces the tile nitrate level."

The researchers saw a 50% reduction in tile nitrate losses in the three-year rotation when compared with the normal rotation. This was accomplished without compromising yields, the team found.

The long-term experiment, made possible with continuous funding from the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council, allowed the team to learn some important lessons. One year, wet weather prevented early termination of the cereal rye cover crop, allowing it to grow too tall. The added biomass reduced tile nitrate runoff by 90% -- a positive outcome -- but the excess rye also undermined soybean productivity, lowering yields by 10% that year. Another year, an early killing freeze of the double-crop soybean reduced crop yield and increased tile nitrate loss the next spring.

Gentry also noticed over time that the conventionally managed fields sometimes held standing water after heavy rains, while the experimental fields did not.

"I think that's the result of much less tillage in the experimental field, and the fact that earthworms are now abundant in the diverse crop rotation," he said. "It's interesting to note that both rotations used a conventional herbicide regime, so we know it's not the herbicides that kill the worms; it's the tillage."

Early indications are that the economics of the two systems are comparable, Gentry said.

"This study is a proof-of-concept that a more diverse rotation can achieve this sustainable intensification, reducing nitrate losses while also improving soil quality. Hopefully, recreating conditions that promote the natural processes of soil generation will improve soil quality and soil health, reversing the decadeslong trend of declining organic matter across our agricultural soils."
University of Liverpool researchers have worked with global partners to identify and successfully implement an intervention package that has significantly improved the diagnosis and management of brain infections in hospitals across Brazil, India, and Malawi.

The study, published in The Lancet, was coordinated by researchers at the University of Liverpool in collaboration with international partners and implemented across 13 hospitals in three low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The intervention included:

 A clinical algorithm which offered a flowchart of guidance for clinicians on how to manage the first crucial hours and days of suspected brain infections, including which tests (blood tests, lumbar puncture, brain scans) and treatments to administer.  A lumbar puncture pack, providing clinicians with sample containers, equipment, and guidance to ensure proper cerebrospinal fluid collection and testing, addressing challenges like knowing how much fluid to take and which tests to request.  A panel of laboratory tests to enable correct and timely testing for a wide range of pathogens, addressing gaps in availability and sequencing of tests, with the main goal of identifying the cause of infection.  Training for clinicians and lab staff to enhance their knowledge and skills in diagnosing and managing brain infections, including proper use of the new intervention tools.

These measures led to significant improvements in diagnosing patients with suspected acute brain infections, such as encephalitis and meningitis. Both conditions cause significant mortality and morbidity, especially in LMICs, where diagnosis and management are hindered by delayed lumbar punctures, limited testing, and resource constraints. Improved diagnosis and optimal management are a focus for the World Health Organization (WHO) in tackling meningitis and reducing the burden of encephalitis.

As a result of the intervention package, the proportion of patients receiving a syndromic diagnosis (confirming they had a brain infection) increased from 77% to 86%, while the microbiological diagnosis rate (identifying the exact pathogen) rose from 22% to 30%. In addition to improving diagnosis, the intervention enhanced the performance of lumbar punctures, optimised initial treatment, and improved patients' functional recovery after illness.

Lead author Dr Bhagteshwar Singh, Clinical Research Fellow, Clinical Infection, Microbiology & Immunology said: "Following patients and their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples through the hospital system, we tailored our intervention to address key gaps in care. The results speak for themselves: better diagnosis, better management, and ultimately, better outcomes for patients. Unlike most studies, we embedded improvements into routine care, so the impact continues well beyond the study."

Corresponding author Professor Tom Solomon, Chair of Neurological Science at the University of Liverpool and Director of The Pandemic Institute, added: "We increased microbiological diagnoses by one-third across very diverse countries, which has profound implications for treatment and public health globally. As we scale this up in more hospitals and feed it into national and international policy, including WHO's work on defeating meningitis and controlling encephalitis, the potential impact is enormous."

The intervention was co-designed by clinicians, lab specialists, hospital administrators, researchers, and policymakers in each country, ensuring it was feasible and sustainable. Professor Priscilla Rupali, lead researcher from Christian Medical College, Vellore, India, also commented: "The co-design process ensured that the intervention would work within local healthcare settings and could be sustained beyond the study. We are already incorporating the findings into India's national Brain Infection Guidelines, ensuring long-term benefits for patient care."

The intervention package is freely available as a toolkit for adaptation in different settings: https://braininfectionsglobal.tghn.org/resources/brain-infections-global-tools/.

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), this study was part of the Brain Infections Global programme, a 2 million initiative launched in 2018 to enhance brain infection diagnosis and management in resource-limited settings. Partners included: The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Brazil; the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, India; The Christian Medical College, Vellore, India; the Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme; and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi. UK partners also included the University of Birmingham, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and Encephalitis International.
In a new study, an international team of neuroscientists led by the University of Vienna has shown that experiencing nature can alleviate acute physical pain. Surprisingly, simply watching nature videos was enough to relieve pain. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the researchers found that acute pain was rated as less intense and unpleasant when watching nature videos -- along with a reduction in brain activity associated with pain. The results suggest that nature-based therapies can be used as promising complementary approaches to pain management. The study was recently published in the journal Nature Communications.

"Pain processing is a complex phenomenon" explains study lead and doctoral student Max Steininger from the University of Vienna. In order to better understand it and identify treatment options, Steininger and his colleagues investigated how nature exposure influences pain: participants suffering from pain were shown three types of videos: a nature scene, an indoor scene, and an urban scene. The participants rated the pain while their brain activity was measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging. The results were clear: when viewing the nature scene, the participants not only reported less pain but also showed reduced activity in brain regions associated with pain processing.

By analyzing the brain data, the researchers showed that viewing nature reduced the raw sensory signal the brain receives when in pain. "Pain is like a puzzle, made up of different pieces that are processed differently in the brain. Some pieces of the puzzle relate to our emotional response to pain, such as how unpleasant we find it. Other pieces correspond to the physical signals underlying the painful experience, such as its location in the body and its intensity. Unlike placebos, which usually change our emotional response to pain, viewing nature changed how the brain processed early, raw sensory signals of pain. Thus, the effect appears to be less influenced by participants' expectations, and more by changes in the underlying pain signals," explains Steininger.

Claus Lamm, head of research in the group, adds: "From another ongoing study, we know that people consistently report feeling less pain when exposed to natural environments. However, the underlying reason for this has remained unclear -- until now. Our study suggests that the brain reacts less to both the physical source and the intensity of the pain."

The current study provides important information on how nature can help alleviate pain and highlights that nature-based therapeutic approaches can be a useful addition to pain treatment. The fact, that this effect was observed by simply watching nature videos suggests that taking a walk outdoors may not be necessary. Virtual nature -- such as videos or virtual reality -- appears to be effective as well. This opens up a wide range of possible applications in both the private and medical sectors, providing people with a simple and accessible way to relieve their pain.

The study was conducted at the University of Vienna in collaboration with researchers from the Universities of Exeter and Birmingham (UK) and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development.

Researchers from the fields of neuroscience and environmental psychology worked together on this research topic for the first time at the University of Vienna. Claus Lamm and Mathew White are also members of the interdisciplinary Environment and Climate Research Hub (ECH) at the University of Vienna. The ECH brings together researchers from a wide range of disciplines to produce outstanding scientific knowledge that can provide solutions to pressing problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution.
Researchers have advanced a decades-old challenge in the field of organic semiconductors, opening new possibilities for the future of electronics.

The researchers, led by the University of Cambridge and the Eindhoven University of Technology, have created an organic semiconductor that forces electrons to move in a spiral pattern, which could improve the efficiency of OLED displays in television and smartphone screens, or power next-generation computing technologies such as spintronics and quantum computing.

The semiconductor they developed emits circularly polarised light -- meaning the light carries information about the 'handedness' of electrons. The internal structure of most inorganic semiconductors, like silicon, is symmetrical, meaning electrons move through them without any preferred direction.

However, in nature, molecules often have a chiral (left- or right-handed) structure: like human hands, chiral molecules are mirror images of one another. Chirality plays an important role in biological processes like DNA formation, but it is a difficult phenomenon to harness and control in electronics.

But by using molecular design tricks inspired by nature, the researchers were able to create a chiral semiconductor by nudging stacks of semiconducting molecules to form ordered right-handed or left-handed spiral columns. Their results are reported in the journal Science.

One promising application for chiral semiconductors is in display technology. Current displays often waste a significant amount of energy due to the way screens filter light. The chiral semiconductor developed by the researchers naturally emits light in a way that could reduce these losses, making screens brighter and more energy-efficient.

"When I started working with organic semiconductors, many people doubted their potential, but now they dominate display technology," said Professor Sir Richard Friend from Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory, who co-led the research. "Unlike rigid inorganic semiconductors, molecular materials offer incredible flexibility -- allowing us to design entirely new structures, like chiral LEDs. It's like working with a Lego set with every kind of shape you can imagine, rather than just rectangular bricks."

The semiconductor is based on a material called triazatruxene (TAT) that self-assembles into a helical stack, allowing electrons to spiral along its structure, like the thread of a screw.

"When excited by blue or ultraviolet light, self-assembled TAT emits bright green light with strong circular polarisation -- an effect that has been difficult to achieve in semiconductors until now," said co-first author Marco Preuss, from the Eindhoven University of Technology. "The structure of TAT allows electrons to move efficiently while affecting how light is emitted."

By modifying OLED fabrication techniques, the researchers successfully incorporated TAT into working circularly polarised OLEDs (CP-OLEDs). These devices showed record-breaking efficiency, brightness, and polarisation levels, making them the best of their kind.

"We've essentially reworked the standard recipe for making OLEDs like we have in our smartphones, allowing us to trap a chiral structure within a stable, non-crystallising matrix," said co-first author Rituparno Chowdhury, from Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory. "This provides a practical way to create circularly polarised LEDs, something that has long eluded the field."

The work is part of a decades-long collaboration between Friend's research group and the group of Professor Bert Meijer from the Eindhoven University of Technology. "This is a real breakthrough in making a chiral semiconductor," said Meijer. "By carefully designing the molecular structure, we've coupled the chirality of the structure to the motion of the electrons and that's never been done at this level before."

The chiral semiconductors represent a step forward in the world of organic semiconductors, which now support an industry worth over $60 billion. Beyond displays, this development also has implications for quantum computing and spintronics -- a field of research that uses the spin, or inherent angular momentum, of electrons to store and process information, potentially leading to faster and more secure computing systems.

The research was supported in part by the European Union's Marie Curie Training Network and the European Research Council. Richard Friend is a Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge. Rituparno Chowdhury is a member of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.
TOKYO - Coupled shinkansen bullet trains returned to full service in northeastern Japan on Saturday morning, the operator said, following an incident earlier this month in which cars separated while in motion.

The move marked the return of normal operations on the Tohoku, Yamagata and Akita shinkansen lines. On Friday, JR East said safety checks were completed after the incident on March 6 that affected many travelers.

JR East, the only operator that connects different types of shinkansen, had a similar case in September 2024. It said metal fittings will be used to secure coupling levers in drivers' compartments to prevent a repeat.

Recently, shinkansen services in Japan, which are known for their punctuality and reliability, have frequently been delayed or halted.

On Friday, services on the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line between Tokyo and Osaka were interrupted three times due to system issues at the same station in central Japan, causing disruption for around 200,000 people, according to the operator, JR Central.

Related coverage:

Suspended bullet trains in Japan restart after decoupling incident

All Tohoku Shinkansen services halted after person hit by train

Hokkaido Shinkansen Line extension to be pushed back to 2039
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been honored with the Digital Transformation Award 2025 by Central Banking, London, in recognition of its groundbreaking digital initiatives, Pravaah and Sarthi. Both platforms were developed by RBIs in-house tech team, reflecting the banks commitment to innovation and operational efficiency.

Launched in January 2023, Sarthi digitised RBIs internal workflows, enabling secure document storage, enhanced record management, and advanced data analysis through custom dashboards and reports. This shift significantly reduced paper-based submissions and streamlined internal processes across departments.

In May 2024, RBI introduced Pravaah, a digital portal allowing external users to submit regulatory applications online. The system seamlessly interlocks with the Sarthi database, allowing applications to be processed digitally at RBI offices with centralised cybersecurity and real-time monitoring. Pravaah has digitised more than 70 categories of regulatory applications since its introduction, receiving over 2,000 submissions by the end of 2024 an 80% boost in monthly applications, courtesy of the platform's simplicity.

The success of these initiatives was bolstered by the IT teams collaborative approach. They worked closely with staff to understand their needs and appointed senior nodal officers to guide departments through the transition. This hands-on support ensured smooth adoption and optimised the platforms for RBIs unique operational requirements.

Sarthis automation capabilities have enhanced the banks efficiency by enabling task tracking, fostering better collaboration, and integrating with other RBI systems. It has replaced a fragmented mix of manual and digital processes with a unified, centralised information repository.

RBIs cybersecurity specialists monitor the system continuously, safeguarding against potential threats. These digital advancements not only modernise RBIs operations but also set a new benchmark for regulatory bodies worldwide. Additionally,monitor the system continuously, safeguarding against potential threats. These digital advancements not only modernise RBIs operations but also set a new benchmark for regulatory bodies worldwide.

With Pravaah and Sarthi, the RBI illustrates how digital revolution can propel institutional advancement, achieving richly deserved international acclaim for its visionary programs.
TOKYO - The leader of a Japanese political group, Takashi Tachibana, was slashed and attacked by a man on Friday while in Tokyo's government district for a stump speech, although his injuries were not life-threatening.

Police arrested 30-year-old Shion Miyanishi at the scene on suspicion of attempting to murder Tachibana, the 57-year-old head of "NHK Party" that campaigns against Japan's public broadcaster and known as a controversial figure with a strong social media following.

Miyanishi, from western Tokyo, has told the police that he "intended to kill him" with the sharp weapon. The suspect aimed near Tachibana's head, causing bleeding including from his ear, according to the police.

The incident took place at around 5:10 p.m. in front of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Miyanishi was lining up to take a photo with Tachibana and attacked the politician when his turn came. The weapon with a 16-centimeter blade was found at the scene.

A man in his 30s was cut in his left knee as he tried to restrain Miyanishi.

Tachibana had said through social media that he would deliver a speech in front of the industry ministry on Friday.

He is a former House of Councillors member and is known for his controversial remarks and political activities, such as in last November's Hyogo gubernatorial election campaign when he disseminated unverified information in an apparent effort to benefit the incumbent.

In the past, he had suggested that genocide is the solution to overpopulation.

Related coverage:

FOCUS: Social media changing Japan election landscape with risks
Attendees of the mezuzah dedication ceremony at the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook pose for a photo. (Courtesy of the JCC) (Courtesy of the JCC)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Jewish students on Staten Island seeking out a place to embrace their heritage need not look far.

Hillel of Staten Island, an organization aimed at enriching the lives of Jewish college students on the Island, now has dedicated spaces at both of the boroughs college campuses.

In February, Hillel of Staten Island, along with community partners, held two mezuzah dedication ceremonies; one at the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook and the other at Wagner College on Grymes Hill. These ceremonies signaled the official opening of the revamped spaces dedicated to Jewish students on the respective campuses.

A mezuzah dedication ceremony was recently held at Wagner College in Grymes Hill. (Courtesy of the JCC) (Courtesy of the JCC)

The spaces include redecorated common areas for students to gather and private offices where students can meet individually with Hillels social worker to discuss matters of mental health.

These spaces are a reflection of our valuesinclusivity, community, and Jewish pride," Hillel Director Rachel Vaynshteyn said. Since we revamped the rooms, weve seen their impact, with more students coming here to unwind, study, and build friendships that will last beyond their college years. These spaces are a true home for Jewish life on campus.

The new spaces come on the heels of a partnership between the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island and Hillel back in 2023. This management agreement resulted in a unique model in which Hillel is able to serve both of the Staten Island college campuses and other college-aged students throughout the borough.

A speaker addresses the crowd at the dedication of the mezuzah at Wagner College on Grymes Hill. (Courtesy of the JCC) (Courtesy of the JCC)

The collaborative effort aims to integrate a sense of belonging to the Jewish community through the development of such dedicated spaces. Activities facilitated by Hillel include Challah Bakes, concerts, day trips and Shabbatons.

Our vision is to create a community for all Jewish young adults to engage, thrive, and grow, Orit Lender, JCC and Hillel CEO, said. With this unique model, we hope to empower young adults on Staten Island to become the leaders of the next generation of Jewish life for our community.

None of this would be possible without our partner organization, UJA-Federation of New York, our JCC and Hillel Boards, and our other funders who support the mission of Hillel, added Lender. I am also so grateful to the administrations of both colleges, who have been true partners with us every step of the way as we created this new model.

Orit Lender, JCC and Hillel CEO, speaks at the mezuzah dedication ceremony at Wagner College on Grymes Hill. (Courtesy of the JCC) (Courtesy of the JCC)

UJA-Federation of New York and Jewish Communal Fund provided funding for the rooms. Many rooms at Wagner College such as the multi-faith space were made possible through funding by the Avis Family.
Laila Rose Pena-Arias, 9, of Todt Hill, middle/second row, is pictured with actress Selena Gomez, far left, and her two friends. (Courtesy Vickiana Arias-Pena) Courtesy Vickiana Arias

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  It was a day to remember for Staten Island mom Vickiana Arias-Pena, her two young daughters and their two friends, as the Todt Hill residents got a surprise meet-and-greet with the stars of the hit Hulu show Only Murders in the Building.

Arias-Pena and her daughters, Laila Rose, 9, and Lucia Rose, 4, were thrilled to meet the iconic actors Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, who were filming on Longfellow Avenue, just a two blocks away from their home.

Martin Short was spotted filming of "Only Murders in the Building" on Longfellow Avenue, near Ocean Terrace, on March 6, 2025. (Courtesy of Dennis Rees for the Staten Island Advance) Courtesy of Dennis Rees for the Staten Island Advance

We were so excited to come across the cast of Only Murders in the Building last week, Arias-Pena said, still buzzing from the moment. They were the sweetest. My girls and their friends took a photo with Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short.

Although she did not get a photo with stars herself, Arias-Pena relished the unforgettable moment nonetheless. She said Martin and Short were so happy and sweet.

Selena Gomez was spotted filming of "Only Murders in the Building" on Longfellow Avenue, near Ocean Terrace, on March 6, 2025. (Courtesy of Dennis Rees for the Staten Island Advance) Courtesy of Dennis Rees for the Staten Island Advance

It all happened so fast, I didnt even get a chance to take a photo with them. But honestly, its more about the experience, she said. I got to meet them and talk to them, and that means so much more to me.

On March 6, the Advance/SILive.com reported that the show was filming on Staten Island, on Grymes Hill.

The show, which follows three neighbors obsessed with true crime podcasts, has a seriously awesome cast  Martin, Short, and Gomez play the quirky trio solving a murder in their Upper West Side building while dealing with their own weirdness.

Between takes during filming of "Only Murders in the Building," Martin Short and Steve Martin, middle and far right, respectively, is pictured with Todt Hill residents. (Courtesy Vickiana Arias-Pena) Courtesy Vickiana Arias

For Arias-Pena, meeting Selena Gomez was a total highlight.

She came out, said hi to us, asked how we were doing, and then said if we wanted to take a picture, Arias-Pena shared.

She was like, Thank you so much for coming to see me. She was so sweet! It was so amazing to meet her, it made my night. Shes really cool!

Selena Gomez was spotted filming of "Only Murders in the Building" on Longfellow Avenue, near Ocean Terrace, on March 6, 2025. (Courtesy of Dennis Rees for the Staten Island Advance) Courtesy of Dennis Rees for the Staten Island Advance

Fans were also abuzz on social media when Steve Martin shared a pic from his Staten Island adventure on Instagram. The post showed him with Selena and Martin, along with the crew from the Staten Island Ferry.

The Father of the Bride star captioned it: Just got off the Staten Island Ferry, along with the sensational marine crew, Selena and Marty. A spectacular drone shot for OMITB!

The post had fans hyped up, with one commenting: Hail, Hail the gang is back!! Good news!!

Fans of Only Murders in the Building on Staten Island are still buzzing about the surprise celebrity sightings, the newest addition to Staten Islands rich history of serving as a backdrop for major film productions.

One of the most notable films shot on the Island is the 1972 Academy Award-winning gangster classic The Godfather, which featured stars like Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, and Diane Keaton. Several scenes from the film were filmed across Staten Island.

The famous Corleone Mansion, located at 110 Longfellow Avenue in the Emerson Hill was used for several iconic moments, including the wedding reception scene of Connie Corleone.

Martin Short was spotted filming of "Only Murders in the Building" on Longfellow Avenue, near Ocean Terrace, on March 6, 2025. (Courtesy of Dennis Rees for the Staten Island Advance) Courtesy of Dennis Rees for the Staten Island Advance

Just next door, at 204 Douglas Road, was the setting for some of the most pivotal scenes in the film, including the bloody finale with Michael Corleone, portrayed by Pacino.

Check out Only Murders in the Building" on Hulu.
Scratch-off tickets are shown at Honeybee Convenience store on Forest Avenue in Port Richmond Monday, April 3, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

A weekly paycheck worth thousands of dollars would be a big win for most New Yorkers, and the states lottery system offers just that.

Top prizes for three for life games range in value from $1,000 a week for life to $10,000 a week for life, and all three games have top prizes still in circulation.

Heres a bit about each game using New York Lottery data from Friday, March 14, 2025:

$10,000 A WEEK FOR LIFE

Ticket cost  $20

Winning tickets in circulation  2,598,499

Top prize tickets in circulation  one worth $10,000 a week for life

Low prize tickets in circulation  978,953 tickets worth $20

SET FOR LIFE

Ticket cost  $10

Winning tickets in circulation  11,723,897

Top prize tickets in circulation  six worth $5,000 a week for life

Low prize tickets in circulation  4,310,336 tickets worth $10

WIN FOR LIFE

Ticket cost  $2

Winning tickets in circulation  13,672,872

Top prize tickets in circulation  10 worth $1,000 a week for life

Low prize tickets in circulation  4,588,327 worth a free Cash for Life quick play

For more information about the New York Lotterys scratch-off games, visit nylottery.ny.gov/scratch-off-games.

The New York Lottery continues to be touted as North Americas largest and most profitable lottery, contributing $3.7 billion during fiscal year 2022-2023 to support education in New York state.

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school districts size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of lottery school funding.

New Yorkers struggling with a gambling addiction, or who know someone who is, can find help by calling the states toll-free, confidential HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (467369).

You can also contact your regional Problem Gambling Resource Center or recovery center directly for a referral to treatment services (state-certified or private) in your area.
Bird flu detections in two New York City cats has been linked to a brand of raw pet food. (Getty Images) Getty Images

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City pet owners are urged to avoid one specific pet food brand that has been linked to two confirmed cases of bird flu in cats.

On Saturday, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene advised residents to avoid feeding their pets food from raw pet food company Savage Cat Food.
208 Benzinger Ave. in New Brighton, which was the scene of a fatal fire in 2023, is to be demolished by the city, according to a spokesman from the Dept. of Buildings. (Staten Island Advance/Scott R. Axelrod) Scott R. Axelrod

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A New Brighton home that was the scene of a fatal inferno days before Christmas nearly two years ago is slated for demolition, according to a notice posted online by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.

It was just before 10 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, when the three-story residence located at 208 Benzinger Ave. near the intersection of Bismark Avenue and Jersey Street, became engulfed in a roaring two-alarm blaze that spread to the second and third floors of the house.

The homeowner, Doris Quinones, believed to be in her 70s, was removed from the building and rushed in critical condition to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, where she succumbed to her injuries two days later.

A GoFundMe established in the days after the fire, said her son, Carlos Morales, was able to escape with his life. The fundraiser also described Quinones as a beautiful mother and claimed, the home and all therein were destroyed.

The house today sits silent high above the quiet residential street, a monument of loss frozen in sadness as it did in the hours following the dousing of the final flames. Charred, peeling, windowless, broken and boarded up, it remains an uninhabitable memory consumed in and by tragedy.

A spokesman for the Department of Buildings told the Advance/SILive.com that the building owner has not indicated that they plan on hiring contractors to perform the demolition. Therefore, Housing Preservation and Development will be managing the operation, but has yet to obtain the necessary permits, and a timeline for when the deconstruction is set to take place has not yet been determined.
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - Takuya Onishi and three fellow crew members embarked Friday on a mission to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX rocket launched from Florida.

Onishi, traveling in SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule with American and Russian colleagues, is making his second trip to the ISS as part of NASA's mission, having last participated in 2016. This time, he is scheduled to orbit the Earth for around six months.

"Thank you to everyone in Japan for your support. I'm savoring the feeling of weightlessness for the first time in nine years. I hope to keep enjoying my space journey," Onishi said aboard the spacecraft.

The crew will conduct experiments on carbon dioxide removal technology necessary for Gateway, a space station that will orbit the Moon as a centerpiece of the U.S.-led Artemis Moon exploration program.

The 49-year-old former All Nippon Airways pilot will assume the post of ISS commander, making him the third Japanese astronaut to lead a mission. Koichi Wakata led the ISS in 2014 and Akihiko Hoshide in 2021.

It was the second launch attempt by the spacecraft after its initially scheduled departure Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida was aborted due to a ground system malfunction.

Two astronauts from the United States who arrived aboard a new spacecraft in June 2024 under former President Joe Biden's administration have been stranded on the ISS for about nine months because of a defect in the vehicle.

President Donald Trump instructed Elon Musk, head of SpaceX, to return the two astronauts as soon as possible, meaning Onishi's departure, originally planned for late March, was brought forward. The two are set to return to Earth after a few days of handover.

Related coverage:

Japan firm's rover ends mission on Moon, gives up surface exploration

ispace to attempt June Moon landing, would be 1st by Japan firm

FEATURE: Japanese firms aim for one giant leap in space development
Friends help each other out. Teslas boss, Elon Musk, may well have been grateful when Donald Trump said he would buy one of its electric vehicles (EVs) on March 11. Yet that was the least the president could do for his bureaucracy-basher-in-chief. The day before, Trump had helped bring on a fall of more than 15 per cent in Teslas share price, amid a wider sell-off sparked by his trade policies and his warning that Americas economy faced a period of transition. The subsequent Trumpian endorsement will not be enough to apply the brakes to Teslas declining sales and slumping share price.

Donald Trump (right) said he would buy a Tesla in a show of support for the electric car-marker led by Elon Musk (left). Credit: AP

Musks backing for Trumps second presidential run once looked like a clever business move. His reward was to run the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), boosting what Barclays, a bank, calls the Elon premium. Investors clearly thought his political sway would do Tesla good. Its market value hit a record $US1.5 trillion ($2.4 trillion) in December.

Since then, his closeness to Trump and support for far-right causes have prompted a backlash. Protests against Musks role at the heart of the administration and DOGEs mass firings of civil servants have gathered steam in America. Picketing of Tesla showrooms has turned ugly, with windows smashed and vehicles vandalised; a Tesla charging station was attacked by arsonists. Outside America, Musks actions have also provoked protests against the carmaker. So closely are the man and brand intertwined that embarrassed owners are resorting to anti-Musk bumper-stickers to distance themselves from him.

But Musks politics only partially explain Teslas troubles. Sales were falling before he took a chainsaw to Americas public sector. Last year Tesla dropped a long-standing aim to be making 20 million cars annually by 2030 and reported its first decline in annual sales for many years  a fall of 1 per cent, to 1.79 million cars.
St Joseph, the husband of Mary, mother of Jesus, exerts a powerful and enduring influence on the Christian imagination. His feast day is celebrated this Wednesday, March 19. We know little of this man who lived 2000 years ago, except that he was righteous in the Lord and was a descendant of the royal line of David.

The gospels mention him, but we do not hear his own words. His actions speak of his character, a man who devoutly and courageously follows his Jewish faith. He accepted his role as father, protector and provider in a world where life was often short and brutish under the oppressive rule of the Pax Romana.

All fatherhood is shaped differently through the unique and irreplaceable domestic intangibles and intimacies of family life. As the patron saint of fathers, Josephs example heralds the ideal of fatherhood: faithful, firm, fair  and fun.

As the patron saint of workers, Joseph understood what it was to work hard at his trade, carpentry, to do his best, to take pride in his ability, to provide for those who depended on him. He understood the dignity of work and its value in providing meaning and purpose.
From as far back as she can remember, breast cancer has been part of Rachel Morisons life. A high school science teacher from Sydney, Morison, 34, watched on as her grandmother was diagnosed with a form of breast cancer, and then her mother, who is now in remission. Her aunt died from the disease earlier this year.

Its had a huge impact. All throughout my life Ive basically had someone dealing with it, she says.

And given the type of breast cancer the women in her family suffered from is genetic, she has also grown up knowing it may one day affect her, her sister, her niece or her nephew.

34-year-old science teacher Rachel Morison has included a gift to breast cancer research in her will. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

The idea of legacy  what we inherit from those before us (willingly or unwillingly), and what we might pass on  is something shes had a lot of time to think about. Morison, who is single, has known from a young age that she doesnt want kids but would like to leave her mark nonetheless. She is among a growing cohort of people without offspring who are giving careful consideration to what they will leave behind when they die.
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 A dripping tap in the city is an annoyance. Something too small to fix, often put on hold until something bigger goes bang. But in the dry season in the outback, a single leak from a bore can keep 1000 cane toads alive until the next big wet. Stop a drip from an irrigation pipe and cane toads will perish within three days in the dry, says Professor Ben Phillips, a specialist in population biology and invasive species at Curtin University who is leading an $18 million project to stop the spread of cane toads in Western Australia. Plug leaks in 150 agricultural water points down a long dry strip of land south of Broome bordered by the sea and the Great Sandy Desert, and the cane toad invasion will come to a stop  90 years and 200 million toads after it began. Ronald Yanawana leads a group of Karajarri and Nyangumarta rangers as they move through the tall grass, simulating how they would search for cane toads in the area. Credit: Tamati Smith Thats the promise of the Toad Containment Zone Investment Prospectus released this month by a group Phillips leads that is seeking government and industry support.

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Im 99 per cent confident it will work, Phillips said. The solution comes down to plumbing, fences and understanding the amphibians Achilles heel  water. Map of the Toad Containment Zone. Green dots shows waterpoints (natural and artificial) within the toads potential distribution in Australia. The red line shows the approximate current distribution. The cane toad containment zone is exploiting a naturally dry, arid area with far fewer water points than to the south in the Pilbara. Credit: Cane Toad Containment Zone The waterless barrier would stop the toads from descending on the Pilbara and invading 27 million hectares, threatening six species of national importance, including the northern quoll, and affecting Indigenous homelands. The toads could disrupt Australias $136 billion iron ore industry, which accounts for a third of WAs revenue. Phillips is racing to implement the program before the toads arrive at the beginning of the 2027-28 wet season. At 66 a hectare, Phillips says it is the best deal in conservation. It is backed by an alliance of Indigenous landowners: Karajarri, whose land is south of Broome, and Nyangumarta to the south, with six properties. They are working with scientific advisers, including Professor Tim Dempster from Deakin University and Rangelands NRM.

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Its such a different conservation project, Phillips said. We are going to manage this piece of land to deliver a benefit elsewhere. Most agricultural infrastructure leaks. Until now, Phillips said, there has been little incentive to fix it. David Stoates family owns Anna Plains cattle station at the narrowest and driest part of the zone, where the sea and desert create a potential bottleneck. Despite their name, Bufo marinus, the toads cannot survive in seawater nor survive on land without water. Its a pretty unique place from that point of view, he said. There are no rivers; it is pancake flat, with no natural water sources, and those that here are more ephemeral. About 90 agricultural water-points across Stoates 300,000-hectare property will need to be made toad-proof, including sprinklers and air-conditioners. Where you have people, theres going to be toads, so you have to secure the homes, he said.

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Whats been a challenge for Anna Plains  its lack of natural water sources  is the key to success. A tank overflowing to a soak is like an artificial lake  we wouldnt worry about it now, but that will be cane toad paradise, he said. Dempster said landholders such as Stoate wont benefit much financially from the project because the upgrades wont increase the number of cattle they can run. Standing in the long grass near a dam in the Aboriginal community in Bidyadanga last month, Ronald Yanawana, a ranger from Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation, said the water attracted goannas and birds. Karajarri and Nyangumarta rangers had been meeting to discuss the programs implementation and will be employed to monitor the water-points. The rangers said they couldnt stop the toads from arriving in Bidyadanga, about two hours drive south of Broome, but they could stop them from destroying country and species further south. The unstoppable, undefeatable cane toad

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Nearly a century ago, the entomologist Walter Froggett warned against introducing South American cane toads to eat the beetles eating Queenslands sugar cane. Dr Jodi Rowley, a lead scientist at the Australian Museum and a co-founder of FrogID, said Australians loved to hate cane toads, but the animals were objectively impressive creatures that had managed to survive in their new land, adapted to a huge range of terrain, and had been found in the most unlikely of spaces. This has had devastating consequences for native wildlife. It was not their fault that we moved them across the world, she said. There are an estimated 200 million in Australia, and females lay as many as 30,000 eggs a year. Front-line toads are bigger than others, have longer legs, carry more poison in the paratoid glands near their ears and are more determined. They have a behavioural tendency to go in a straight line, Phillips said. These are crazy toads.

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Before the pandemic, working from home was a rare exception in most workplaces ( Working from homes now a culture war, and Duttons drawn the battle lines , March 9). During COVID, many businesses and governments organisations could only operate due to staffs willingness to operate from home when they were basically directed to do so. For many, WFH has been an excellent work/family compromise and many would like those arrangements to continue. Many workers are willing to return to the office full-time. However, all employees deserve the right to negotiate WFH arrangements and for employers to reasonably consider such arrangements. The Coalition needs to be reminded that this is 2025, not 1955. Tony Heathwood, Kiama Downs

Self-professed diversity hire Parnell Palme McGuinness offers up the most embarrassing assessment of Donald Trump and geopolitics to hit the pages of any Australian newspaper since 2016 ( Trumps madness makes world safer , March 9). To believe McGuinness, Trump is playing three-dimensional chess. A man making the world safer with tough love for allies by sucking up to Vladimir Putin on their behalf, to teach them to fend for themselves for the greater good. McGuiness even ponders a thoughtful Trump reflecting on Winston Churchills place in history as he lovingly admires his bust. Who would put their name to such a facile article? Paul Davies, Crows Nest

Sinodinis insights

The brilliant summary of the Trump revolution given by Arthur Sinodinos (In the Oval Office with disrupter and radical president, March 9) ought to be compulsory reading. Summary: neither side of Australian politics is willing to face the need for real change in our resource allocation; they only do it when there is no other choice (sorry Arthur, I mean it when I say compulsory reading). We have seen this again and again, and no doubt the same will play out here. Australia has a tax to GDP ratio of about 26 per cent. It rose to that under Gough Whitlam because he decided to reform our education and health systems, and those are the big spending items in a modern society, before the change in the life expectancy resulted in a lot more social security spending. Unfortunately, the first oil crisis also disrupted the cost of energy: its amazing how often that has happened in the last 50 years. So now we have three pending crises: the national security crisis that could demand 5 to 10 per cent of GDP; the energy transition and climate change adaption crisis, which is not the cost of renewables, but the threat to our exports of iron ore, coal, gas, agricultural products, and education; and, of course, our ongoing crisis of the bottom 20 per cent living in poverty, which includes the public housing crisis. These are really serious issues, and I dont think people like Angus Taylor have a serious word to say about them. But if we think that we can trade off climate change and water and koalas to pay for drones, we really will suffer, eventually.

Noel Thompson, Riverview

Arthur Sinodinos suggests that Australia impress on Trump that he needs us. That may well be true, but more than that it needs to be impressed on Trump that he needs all of his friends. The way he has been treating the likes of Canada, the UK and Europe suggests that friendship doesnt matter to him, which makes sense if everything is just a transaction to him. Whatever Australia does in those circumstances would seem futile. The assumption that Sinodinos makes is that America will remain a democracy. There seems to be some doubt about that. So, is it best to act as if that assumption is certain? Or would we be better to somehow hedge our bets in case the assumption doesnt hold? Our best interests may not necessarily be to always side with the US.

David Rush, Lawson

To submit a letter to The Sun-Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.
A Sydney GP administered an adult vaccine to a newborn baby months after health authorities discovered her medical centre had been incorrectly storing vaccines for years, potentially leaving more than 1000 patients without protection against serious infectious diseases.

Dr Randa Selim, owner of The Holy Family Medical Practice in Dulwich Hill, injected the infant with the RSV vaccine Abrysvo  used for pregnant women and people over 60  instead of the infant-approved RSV immunisation nirsevimab (Beyfortus).

Holy Family Medical Centre at Dulwich Hill, in Sydneys inner west. Credit: James Brickwood

First-time mother Freya, who requested her surname not be published to not identify her child, took her seven-week-old son to the medical practice in Sydneys inner west on March 6 to receive his RSV immunisation, which is free for Aboriginal infants whose mothers were not vaccinated against RSV during pregnancy.

She was rushing around and didnt make it clear what she was giving him, Freya said. It was all a bit confusing.
At least six people have been hospitalised, and two teenagers charged after a reportedly stolen car crashed into another vehicle in Coomera late on Friday night.

Police said PolAir had been tracking a silver Toyota Camry travelling southbound on the Pacific Motorway from Runcorn to Coomera and along the Old Pacific Highway.

The car  which had been reported stolen at Balmoral address on March 10  reportedly crashed into a Toyota Rubuk between 9pm and 10pm at a roundabout near Foxwell Road and Whitewater Way, near the entrance of WhiteWater World.

Police charged two teens with a collective eight offences following a two-car crash involving a reportedly stolen vehicle on Friday night. Credit: QPS

Police reported five teenagers aged between 13 and 17 were travelling in the Camry.
LA MALBAIE, Canada - The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven democracies agreed Friday on tough language aimed at China's aggressive maritime actions and warned Russia it will face additional sanctions if it does not accede to an immediate cease-fire on "equal terms" with Ukraine.

In a joint statement, released after their talks this week in the Canadian resort town of La Malbaie, the ministers also emphasized the need for "robust and credible security arrangements" for Ukraine to enable it to defend its territorial integrity from any acts of aggression in the future.

The meeting took place at a pivotal time for the fate of Ukraine and tested the unity of the world's major industrialized countries, which have promoted shared values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

The 50-year-old grouping had operated with broad consensus before the rise of U.S. President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January.

While Trump's apparent affinity for Russian President Vladimir Putin and tariff threats have raised tensions between the United States and other G7 members, the ministers ultimately managed to reaffirm "unwavering support" for Ukraine's freedom and independence.

The top diplomats of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, plus the European Union, welcomed a cease-fire proposal brokered by the United States for Russia's three-year-old invasion of Ukraine.

They also denounced China, Iran and North Korea for helping Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters after the G7 meeting, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said he told his counterparts that U.S. involvement in the peace process for Ukraine is crucial, and the way Russia's invasion ends will impact the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere.

"I strongly felt that there is already a shared understanding that the security of the Euro-Atlantic is inseparable from that of the Indo-Pacific and Asia," Iwaya said. "We must not allow any false lessons to be drawn from this (peace process)."

The ministers met after Ukraine said earlier this week it was ready to accept an immediate 30-day cease-fire with Russia, as proposed by the Trump administration.

Following hours of talks between the United States and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the administration agreed to resume its provision of military aid and intelligence to Kyiv, which was paused after Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy clashed in the Oval Office in front of reporters two weeks ago.

On China, the G7 ministers said they remain "seriously concerned" over its activities in the East and South China seas, saying they "continue to oppose strongly unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force and coercion."

As China has been locked in territorial disputes with the Philippines and Vietnam, they also raised concerns about dangerous maritime maneuvers in the vicinity of vessels from the Southeast Asian countries.

"We emphasized that China should not conduct or condone activities aimed at undermining the security and safety of our communities and the integrity of our democratic institutions," the statement said.

Additionally, they issued a declaration on maritime security and prosperity with even harsher criticism of Beijing, saying, "We condemn China's illicit, provocative, coercive and dangerous actions" to change the status quo, in reference to land reclamations, the building of outposts and their use for military purposes.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, who hosted the event that began on Wednesday evening, told reporters on its closing day, "I can say that through our long conversations, we were able to find strong G7 unity on a variety of issues that were discussed."

"One that I would like to highlight in particular is the one linked to Ukraine," she said, adding that the group is now watching for Russia's response to the proposed cease-fire.

Although the statement called on Russia to "reciprocate by agreeing to a cease-fire on equal terms and implementing it fully," it left out the harsher phrasing often adopted by the G7 prior to Trump's return to office, such as condemning Moscow for launching an "illegal, unjustifiable and unprovoked" war of aggression.

On Thursday, Putin reacted to the U.S.-led proposal for the first time, saying he is in favor of the plan in principle, but there are many important issues that need to be sorted out, hinting that the Kremlin will not stop fighting without conditions.

Reflecting the current status of U.S.-led negotiations, seemingly focused on securing compromise from both Russia and Ukraine, the G7 statement stopped short of demanding that Moscow accept an unconditional halt to hostilities.

Ukraine continues to seek guarantees for its future security from the United States, but Trump has been openly dismissive of such requests from the war-torn country.

While many other European countries have also pursued U.S.-backed security guarantees for Ukraine, the foreign ministers could only agree to the extent that they "underscored the need" for strong "security arrangements."

Throughout his stay in the wintery Canadian town, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not hold a press conference, speaking only to a group of selected reporters, and in his public statements he never expressed any frustration with Russia.

Rubio said on social media, "Working with our G7 partners is key to solving the world's challenges. We must support a swift and durable end to the Russia-Ukraine war."

Related coverage:

G7 foreign ministers set to condemn China's maritime actions

G7 foreign ministers gather to discuss Ukraine, China

G7 members discussing leaders' statement over Ukraine after summit
Andrew was only found because they were looking for another young man, she said. Lachlan Griffiths is still missing. His parents dont have the closure that we were able to get. Dewald De Klerk (left) and Joshua Searston have been sentenced for killing Andrew Walsh. Credit: Nine News So if anyone has information, please speak with the investigators. Griffiths was last seen alive in Brisbanes CBD on January 16, 2022. His mother reported him missing 10 days later, on Australia Day.

Crown prosecutor Chris Cook told Searston and De Klerks trial they assaulted and stabbed Walsh believing hed drugged and sexually abused someone. Chief Justice Helen Bowskill said the pair shared a chilling phone conversation in which they laughed about the killing and showed contempt over their treatment of Walshs corpse. Searston will serve 20 years without parole and De Klerk 22. Walshs father, Patrick, said the verdicts provided a measure of comfort. We extend our sincere gratitude to her Honour and the jury for their time and dedication and careful consideration of the evidence, he told reporters.

Andrew Walshs body was found encased in concrete. Credit: Nine News We also wish to thank Queensland police for their tireless and thorough investigation. Our deepest appreciation goes to the prosecution team. De Klerk initially pleaded guilty to interfering with a corpse, while Jessica Noy was convicted of being an accessory after the fact. She later testified as a prosecution witness. The verdicts for Searston and De Klerk bring to a close a three-year legal saga involving multiple court cases around the two men murdered at the same warehouse just over nine weeks apart.

Detectives charged a total of six people over one or both murders, but there is still the unanswered question of what happened to Griffiths body. His family appealed for public assistance late last year following the last of multiple legal proceedings. Billy Lee Bornstein was sentenced in October after pleading guilty to Griffiths manslaughter. At the time, Cook told Justice Frances Williams the 30-year-old decided to take part in retaliation after claims a person close to his friend, Filip Grbavac, had been abused by Griffiths. Instead of letting authorities deal with any allegations, Grbavac and Bornstein thought they would get involved themselves, that they could play God, Cook said.

He said Bornstein told Griffiths to travel to the warehouse to be paid for a drug deal. Griffiths last communication was a text message sent at 3.03am the next day: Bro, I think Im being set up. Attached was a link to his phones location. The body of Andrew Walsh was found at the commercial premises during a three-week excavation. Credit: Reece DAlessandro, Nine News Twitter Cook said police had obtained a photo of Griffiths body wrapped in plastic. What occurred was a brutal, and must have been prolonged, attack to kill Mr Griffiths, Cook said.

He said Bornstein was not present when Griffiths was killed but had known Grbavac intended to cause serious harm. Described as the prime offender, Grbavac died of critical head injuries after a confrontation with another prison inmate in February 2024. Bornstein was sentenced to nine years jail. Outside court, Griffiths mother, Bernie, issued a plea for help so his remains could be buried at their local church. We beg anyone who may know where he is to come forward and give us this small measure of peace, she said.

Loading The warehouse where Walsh and Griffiths were killed was connected to a transport business owned by David Lee Tan. Just days before he was due to stand trial in October, the 42-year-old pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Griffiths and to being an accessory after the fact to the Walsh murder. Justice Williams said Tan provided significant assistance in the cover-up after Walsh was killed, helping to place his body at the bottom of an oil drainage pit and weighing him down with a wooden pallet. Cleaning products and chemicals were used to try to melt the deceaseds body, Williams said, causing Walshs family members to gasp.

You knew Mr Griffiths was being assaulted and in pain. You were aware of this and did nothing, Williams told Tan and Bornstein at the sentencing in November. Tan was jailed for 15 years. Prisoners in Queensland can be denied parole if a victims body has not been located and the applicant is uncooperative. Francescos Sebastian Giorgi, 43, pleaded guilty to deprivation of liberty and assaulting Griffiths. He was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment but was released on parole due to time served.
He was flabbergasted to discover someone was using his registration with Engineers Australia, which confirms an engineers qualifications and issues a membership number used by states for registration, had certified a multi-storey carpark in WA. Barraclough became aware of the fraud in December, when the surveyor  a person responsible for documentation on building projects  contacted his firm with concerns about the structural design of a multi-storey carpark slated for Perths CBD. Dr Andrew Barraclough, a structural engineering business owner whose qualifications were stolen and used by a fraudster on Airtasker to sign off on a number of structures. Credit: Justin McManus An Airtasker user had removed Barracloughs name from his qualifications and inserted his own. It looks like something a kindergarten kids done a bit of white-out over, Barraclough said.

The immediate reaction is just, do you want to ring him up and say, what the hell? While the scammer earning an income off [his] bat irked Barraclough, he was overwhelmingly concerned about the safety of designs someone without relevant certification had approved. Beyond the multi-storey carpark, which has since been properly certified, Airtasker reviews show Jacobus has completed more than 40 jobs. While some of the jobs pertain to his professed expertise in resume writing, research and web development, a Victorian woman who saved for years to build her children a pool will be forced to demolish the decking because its certification is useless. She spent money for which she has not received a valid product, and she will need now to go and spend more money to have the matter rectified, Barraclough said. Christopher was great

The person bidding for the Airtasker work appeared not to be the person certifying the projects. Loading The since-removed Airtasker profile was in the name of Jacobus, with the accompanying phone number connected to someone by the same name in a Queensland town. But then there is another gentleman called Christopher Reynolds who, within that same profile, is getting reviews, Barraclough said. Christopher was great, Christopher did our job very quickly.

Airtasker requires that users verify their identity with government-issued photo ID, the company said in response to questions. [This] is cross-checked with a live biometric scan to ensure authenticity. At Airtasker, trust and safety are our top priorities, it said. Questions to numerous emails used by the account received no response. Airtasker said it takes all reports of misrepresentation very seriously, and noted that Barraclough was ultimately satisfied with the companys response, which Barraclough says improved dramatically after a co-worker with knowledge of board governance contacted the ASX-listed companys board and audit chairs. I could probably advertise myself as a dermatologist

Airtasker validates people through their government ID but doesnt cross-check that licence or passport with their engineering qualifications, Barraclough said. They do checks for things like electrical contractors and plumbing contractors. But they dont do it yet for engineers. You can be ID verified in that I am a real person, but then I can advertise myself as anything. I could probably advertise myself as a dermatologist. As Joe Public, you go to Airtasker knowing that they should have some, or with some confidence that theyve already verified these legitimate people. Airtasker is exploring the addition of verifying those qualifications for engineers, it said.

We encourage users to verify the necessary qualifications and experience. Loading Further exposing the public to uncertified construction is a loophole where state bodies charged with regulating engineers are unable to discipline or regulate people who are not members, such as Jacobus, but are signing off on buildings. Correspondence from Board of Professional Engineers Queensland and Victorias Business Licensing Authority seen by this masthead shows both organisations were aware of the fraudulent misuse of Barracloughs qualifications. None of that appears to have fazed Jacobus, who as recently as February was accepting engineering work for a small Victorian warehouse via WhatsApp.
A group of offenders are on the run after a man was stabbed to death during a vicious brawl involving young men armed with machetes in a shopping centre car park in Melbournes south-east.

Police were called to a car park at Marriot Waters Shopping Centre in Lyndhurst after reports that a group of men were fighting at about 8.30pm on Friday night.

Police at the scene of a stabbing out a Lyndhurst shopping centre. Credit: Nine

The 24-year-old man from nearby Clyde received serious stab wounds and was taken to the Alfred Hospital, where he died before he was due to have surgery.

Victoria Police Detective Inspector Adam Tilley said about 10 men who appeared to be of African descent were involved in the incident, which he described as a targeted attack against someone known to the group.
When Nagle started in 2020, bushfires were ripping through East Gippsland, burning 1,363,100 hectares, killing four people and destroying hundreds of houses. The army and firefighters took over the school as a base. Before I even had the keys to the school, the army wanted to occupy the school. They could use it as a place to rest and be fed, she said. The Australian Defence Force set up an operation base at Bairnsdale Secondary College in 2020. Credit: Joe Armao In a very backhanded way, [the fires] almost kind of brought the school community together a little bit. The 1158-strong student cohort is diverse: more than 100 are Indigenous, an increasing number dont speak English as a first language, and many come from varying degrees of socioeconomic disadvantage. Students travel from as far as Dargo and Lakes Entrance to attend the school.

Nagle and Roberts  who was a senior education improvement leader with the Department of Education at the time  put together the 2019-2023 School Strategic Plan. They used surveys of student, parent and staff satisfaction, as well as VCE, NAPLAN and Compass data to build a dispiriting picture. They found student attitudes towards the school were the worst in Victoria and teacher efficacy was in the lowest 10 per cent in the state. Defence force personnel at Bairnsdale Secondary College during the fires in 2020. Credit: Joe Armao Students had low expectations of themselves and the school. Compass data showed attendance in individual classes among the lowest levels in Victoria, and capable students entering year 7 had become failing students by year 10. Staff felt helpless and had become despondent due to poor student outcomes.

It was most definitely the most challenging school that Ive ever worked in, said Nagle. Changing a culture is the most difficult thing to do at any school. But Nagle and Roberts, who took over as principal at the start of 2024, did it. After the smoke had cleared from Black Summer, Nagle ran community round tables at the school, welcomed feedback and acted on it. She and Roberts opened the school up to community criticism, acknowledged their failures and were collaborative about a way forward. Principal Tony Roberts says ground zero is for every student to have someone who believes in them. Credit: Simon Schluter Nagle said it was not easy. Staff needed to know she had their backs, as she rebuilt the struggling welfare team and recruited staff with a focus on teaching and learning. A positive behaviour program was established, student-teacher relationships prioritised, and the school cracked down on poor classroom behaviour.

We did a lot of work in that area, to be very clear and consistent in what we were doing and the way we were approaching things. And again, you never do that sort of work without upsetting some people, the former principal said. Loading Its very slow, but the culture began to build and change. Australian Catholic University Associate professor of educational leadership Paul Kidson said tensions were felt keenly in regional school communities where people could not avoid each other. He said behavioural issues continued to be a huge issue in schools and that parents were increasingly prepared to be abusive, threatening or aggressive towards teachers or principals.

But understanding that some parents held trauma from their schooldays could help in restoring relationships, the academic told The Age. Its a courageous leader to say, you know what, not everythings going quite as well as we would like, and now we need to fix some stuff up, Kidson said. And that should be applauded, because its naive to assume that any school and every school has no problem. The state Department of Education back the efforts of Nagle and Roberts with intensive school support, which helps plan strategy and turn plans into actions. The program has given Bairnsdale access to experts in things like transformative leadership and connected the school with high-performing colleges across the state. There is capacity for 225 schools to get intensive school support between 2024 and 2027. While we have improved since 2019 we have a long way to go, and we need to engage in that process with rigour and our eyes and ears open to better ways of doing things, Roberts said.

Bairnsdale almost doubled the number of year 12 students accepted into university between 2019 and 2024, from 31 to 54, as well as the number of year 12 students accepted into apprenticeships from 29 to 58. Roberts said every number, every VCE score or NAPLAN result, reflected someones life. Every time that improves, a group of students feel more confident, they feel more successful. Its like a tidal wave thats gaining momentum. Maddison Flynn is a senior student leader and is proud to be a student at Bairnsdale. Weve come a long way since that initial [TV report]. In a way, its laughed at now. Thats not the case at all.

Flynn said relationships between students and teachers were now respectful, and she herself benefited from the schools wellbeing team. It really helped me want to stay in school, she said. In a cacophony of teenage quips, with ping pong balls flying and students grabbing bread rolls for lunch, Will Maynard, an operations officer at Indigenous empowerment organisation Clontarf, describes how the program helps engage Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander boys to finish school. Students names are listed in black on a whiteboard, with percentages for attendance next to them. If they meet their benchmarks they get rewards like going on school camps. Student support officer Latrell Harrison, 18, said he wouldnt have made it so far in his schooling without the program. If I had a bad day they encouraged me to keep going. Its pretty important. They just encourage me to be the best version of myself.

Loading Society, says Roberts, can be quick to judge students. While he has zero tolerance for physical violence or bullying, there is a symbiotic relationship between wellbeing and learning. You can become a better person. That starts with every student here feeling like an adult believes in them. Thats the ground zero, he said. Learning specialist Mills said teachers werent just someone students saw in their school day. You are someone who is going to have an impact on them for the rest of their life, she said.
What are the boundaries of acceptable free speech? And do those boundaries change if there is money on the line?

The answer depends on who you are and which side you fall on any given divisive debate  the Gaza-Israel conflict, trans issues, whether you are pro or anti-affirmative action.

Freedom of speech issues affect us all. Credit: Michael Howard

These issues are tortured and difficult but none of us can really escape them. Not any more.

We live in an extraordinary moment in history in which boundaries of free speech have to be set and policed by ordinary people all the time. We do this while being pulled from two directions. On the left, there is strong ideological pressure from a loosely grouped collection of activists who regularly call for the de-platforming of controversial views, and who include psychological and emotional harm in their definition of what constitutes dangerous speech. On the right, we have, at least in the United States, an increasingly authoritarian approach to free speech under the cover of radical libertarianism, which ends up giving open licence to bigots.
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 At the end of a week when Jacinta Allan made one of her most consequential decisions since becoming Victorian premier, she confesses to being momentarily confused about what day it is. Weve all been there, especially in weeks starting with a public holiday. For Allan, Police Minister Anthony Carbines, Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny, Department of Justice Secretary Kate Houghton and a dozen or so ministerial and departmental advisers, it was a long weekend of a very different kind. All day Saturday, Sunday, Labour Day Monday and right up until midday on Tuesday when cabinet was due to meet to consider proposed changes to Victorias bail laws, this working group was sweating over the final shape and details of the reforms. Urgency and clarity: Jacinta Allan explains the imperative for her proposed changes to bail laws. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui The intense, closed-door deliberations reflect two things. The most obvious is the political imperative for Allan and her government to send the right public message after being bludgeoned for months over surging crime rates in Melbourne suburbs and regional centres. The more far-reaching is the long-term impact of getting it wrong. A Labor government, led by a woman of the Left, in what former premier Daniel Andrews often claimed to be Australias most progressive state, is legislating with the explicit intention of putting more kids behind bars.

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In an interview with this masthead, Allan describes it as a necessary intervention. It was done with a sense of urgency, but it was also done with a sense of clarity, she says. Allan promised a jolt to the bail system, and for people and organisations who have spent years advocating for better outcomes from the way police, courts and corrections intersect with young offenders, the sense of whiplash is palpable. A current Senate inquiry into youth justice cites Victoria as an exemplar jurisdiction because it incarcerates children at a lower rate than any other state in Australia. The inquiry heard evidence that on any given night, there were on average 88 children in detention in Victoria, compared to 240 in NSW and 317 in Queensland. In Victoria, about half the young people in detention are serving sentences and half are on remand. Loading Allan accepts that, as a direct consequence of her governments proposed changes to bail laws she will this week introduce to parliament, Victorias numbers will rise. It is my expectation that there will be more people on remand, she says. That is because we have to intervene. Repeat bail is not creating the change we need to see. This will be welcome news for Victoria Police, victims of crime campaigners, the Herald Sun newspaper, FM radio station The Fox and social media influencer Bec Judd, who have pushed for months for a tougher government response to youth crime. Submissions to the Senate inquiry underscore why legal and human rights groups, Aboriginal and womens rights groups and juvenile justice experts are dismayed.

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The Australian Medical Association told the inquiry there was clear evidence that jailing harms children mentally and impairs their physical development and that governments should be focused on preventing child offenders, most of whom have experienced violence, disability, homelessness and substance abuse, from coming into contact with the justice system. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, while accepting that locking up children who commit serious crimes is sometimes necessary to support community safety, submitted that youth justice programs focused on rehabilitation, rather than incarceration were, the more effective at stopping young people from offending again. Approaches that are purely punitive result in increased contact with the justice system over the long term and fail to protect the health and wellbeing of the young person ... are also likely to fail to meet the needs of the broader community, it noted. The Australian Human Rights Commission submission could have been written with the Victorian governments Tough Bail Bill in mind. Despite evidence of the social determinants that are the root causes of offending behaviour, policy responses to these children are often only tinkering with the symptoms, with tougher policing, stricter bail laws, and more incarceration. This is done under the guise of keeping the community safe but are often counterproductive ... The solutions lie in transformational thinking and action to address systemic disadvantage. The Allan governments proposed changes prompted Victorias Principal Commissioner for Children and Young People, Liana Buchanan, and Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People Meena Singh to take the unusual step of issuing a joint statement. Victorian Childrens Commissioner Liana Buchanan. Credit: Justin McManus We understand that Victorians want to feel safe and that particular cases profiled in the media have impacted that sense of safety, they said. However, we are concerned the bail reforms proposed by the Victorian government will radically increase the number of children remanded in custody and will not make the community safer.

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Instead of sweeping laws to toughen bail tests, we want to see investment in assessments, interventions and supports that will tackle the drivers of each childs offending and effectively support rehabilitation. Why is Allan staking her leadership on a policy prescription that, on the evidence before the Senate inquiry and in the view of the Victorian Aboriginal Service, the Australian Lawyers Alliance and Liberty Victoria, will harm more children and not make us safer? The premier invites us to consider more closely the problem her government is trying to fix and the people she says the proposed laws will target. Victorias rising crime rate and in particular a sharp spike in property crime is being driven by a group of predominantly young, highly recidivist offenders. They are known to police and mostly on a first-name basis with court officers. Armed with machetes or knives, they break into peoples homes and steal their car keys. They break in, steal, get arrested, get bail, break in and steal again. Allan puts the total number of target offenders at about 300. She says their crimes are having a profound impact on their victims, and she is personally shocked by the apparent consequence-free thinking that fuels their repeat offending. Premier Jacinta Allan says she is shocked at the consequence-free thinking of recidivist home invaders and car thieves. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Those crimes are going into the heart of the suburbs, into the heart of streets and the heart of homes, she says. If you look at where these offences are taking place it is widespread. There is a core group, but it is clear, there is a pattern of behaviour emerging statewide. We dont want these young kids going on a lifetime of crime because they have committed a crime as a young person. You would hope that all young people have an opportunity to go to school and have a stable life and go on to engage in community in a productive way. Of course that is our preference. That is a good, functioning society. But we have, at the moment, an issue for some where they are engaging in this really high-risk behaviour for them and their victims, and there needs to be a circuit breaker.

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There are circuit breakers already in the system not being used. One is the option open to police, when they have evidence that a young offender has breached bail conditions, to return to court and apply to have bail revoked. Police command privately admits not enough of their officers are willing to do the paperwork required. Another is the use of ankle bracelets to monitor young offenders in the country. Victoria announced a pilot program last year but is yet to fit a bracelet on any young offender. The bracelets have hit a bureaucratic tangle, and Allan wont brook any criticism of police. Police are working flat out, she says. What we needed was to have the laws strengthened and toughened in areas to support the work they are focused on. Which brings us back to bail laws. To compel magistrates and judges to give greater consideration to remanding more young offenders rather than bailing them, the government will introduce two small but significant changes to the Bail Act. The first removes a clause that requires remand to be a last resort when dealing with children charged with a crime. This is a principle of the United Nations Conventions of the Rights of the Child, which Australia has ratified, and was added to the Bail Act two years ago. The remaining section of the act dealing with children will still require courts to impose on the child the minimum intervention required in the circumstances and consider a range of other factors, including the childs age and maturity, their home life and the risk that incarceration will make it more likely they become adult criminals. Loading When weighing these matters, judges and magistrates can also consider changes to the states youth justice system introduced last year which give young people on remand access to rehabilitative programs previously only offered to those serving custodial sentences. Access to these programs are one of the reasons that Allan argues that remand, rather than repeated bailing, offers a meaningful intervention. The second change is more sweeping. It elevates community safety to the overarching principle for bail decision-making for offenders of all ages. The Bail Act currently lists community safety as one of four guiding principles, along with the presumption of innocence and right to liberty, fairness, transparency and consistency in bail decisions and promoting public understanding of how the bail system works.

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I dont know how far shell get, thats the only thing I dont know, but shell be winning more group 1 races. The good fillies weve had just keep getting better and better. Shes already there, so our job was to try to get her to that next level again. Some of those great horses weve had were later maturers, so I dont like to compare, but Winx wasnt doing this at this age. Skyhook flies high for McEvoy Kerrin McEvoy looks likely to partner Skyhook in next weeks Golden Slipper after riding both winners in the final group 3 qualifiers for the $5 million race at Rosehill on Saturday. Skyhook gave trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou a second Slipper runner when he led easily then kicked clear in the straight for a three and a quarter-length domination of the group 3 Pago Pago Stakes.

McEvoy then took Peter Snowden-prepared filly Memo to a breakthrough victory in the Magic Night Stakes with a swooping finish for a long neck margin over Ryan and Alexious Dream Side. Kerrin McEvoy rides Skyhook to victory in the Pago Pago Stakes. Credit: Getty Images The maiden win in the $250,000 race took Memo to over $750,000 in prizemoney after four placings in five previous starts, including second in the Magic Millions Classic. As he told the Herald midweek, Snowden said Memo was unlikely to back up in the Slipper. I dont think so, Snowden said of a Slipper start.

Look, its too early to make a call yet. Ive got to talk to the owners, but in my mind, the Percy Sykes, shes probably a chance of getting there. Shes had a long season, shes been to every dance, so to back up again after a week and a very hot day might be one bridge too far for her, but shes done a great job. Snowden already has colt Quietly Arrogant in the Slipper, where Tommy Berry was set to ride. McEvoy, meanwhile, was eyeing the ride on Skyhook, if the Written Tycoon colt backs up. Obviously a really warm day, he got a bit sweaty, which is a concern if he comes back in a weeks time, but the stable will know whether he can, McEvoy said.

I think so [riding Skyhook], but I havent spoken to Gerald. He said a few days ago hell have to wait and see. It wasnt set in stone that he was going to back up. Both winners on Saturday were into $8 for the Slipper. Theres no standouts, so its barrier draws and luck in running, McEvoy said. Skyhooks win follows last Sundays impressive Black Opal Stakes victory for Ryan and Alexious King Of Pop, which was safely into the Slipper field on prizemoney and was a $15 chance. I think both are live chances and thats all I can ask, Alexiou said.

Weve had quite a few runners over the years who you could say were making up the numbers, but I think well have two live chances this year, in what looks a pretty even year. King Of Pop is a real sort of natural two-year-old, running sort of horse. This horse is probably more of a three-year-old, but hes probably just doing it on raw ability at the minute. Hawkes-trained favourite West Of Swindon was scratched from the Pago Pago on vets advice with lameness after pulling his near fore plate. Skyhook was cleared on race morning after slipping over and scraping a knee. Rachel King-ridden Eagle Nest later gave Ryan and Alexiou a stakes double when she produced a fighting finish to edge out Time To Boogie in the group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m). Bjorn Baker-trained Iowna Merc, under Josh Parr, lifted late to defeat Willaidow in the group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) by a nose.

Zac Lloyd was suspended for five meetings for his ride on Willaidow, after he was charged with shifting in on Pericles at the 1100m. Lloyd, who is currently second behind James McDonald in the Sydney Jockeys Premiership, will be outed from March 23-April 3  meaning he is free to ride in the Golden Slipper but will miss Tancred Stakes day at Rosehill on March 29. Vauban handles heat Two-time beaten Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban is on target for the group 1 Tancred Stakes after making a stunning debut for his new Australian connections to win the group 2 Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill. The seven-year-old was a reported $2 million buy for Australian Bloodstock and trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott after finishing 11th in the 2024 Melbourne Cup. Vauban has a history of getting worked up pre-race but on a day when temperatures soared into the mid-30s, he came with a flying finish to down Arapaho in a photo. Hes got a few little quirks that were going to work through and I think hes just going to continue to adapt, Bott said.

But obviously hes an older horse now and hes set in his ways also, so we dont want to change too much also. Lazzura delivers for Waller Master trainer Chris Waller was eyeing the group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes on April 12 with Lazzura after she gave him an eighth group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) with a powerful finish at Rosehill. Tommy Berry raced Lazzura outside leader Flying From Above, and she quickly took over on the home turn and sprinted home for a one and three-quarters of a length win over Wonder Boy with a last 600m of 32.73 seconds. Its been a good race to us and its a stepping stone for some futures, Waller said of the $300,000 feature for three-year-olds.
Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared that South Africas ambassador is no longer welcome in the United States, in the latest Trump administration move targeting the African nation.

Rubio, in a post on X, accused Ebrahim Rasool of being a race-baiting politician who hates President Donald Trump and America, and declared the South African diplomat persona non grata.

Marco Rubio described Ebrahim Rasool (pictured) as a race-baiting politician. Credit: nna\NPearson

Neither Rubio, who posted as he was flying back to Washington from a Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers meeting in Canada, nor the State Department gave any immediate explanation for the decision.

But Rubio linked to a Breitbart story about a talk Rasool gave earlier on Friday as part of a South African think-tanks webinar, in which he spoke about actions taken by the Trump administration in the context of a United States where white people soon would no longer be in the majority.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The government of Sint Maarten will continue to operate under the 2024 budget following the recent decision regarding the final text of the National Ordinance Budget 2025. As indicated by the response from Parliament, the 2025 budget in its current form requires corrective measures due to issues with the alignment of budget amendments and the budget itself. This has led to an extraordinary situation where the entire budgeting process must start over.



Because of these alignment issues, Parliament and government entities will revert to using the previously approved 2024 budget until all necessary corrections have been adequately addressed. Consequently, Sint Maarten may operate for a substantial part of 2025 without a newly approved budget, relying instead on the existing framework established for the previous year. Many promised payments and allocations scheduled for 2025 will either not happen or will be delayed until the new budget process is finalized.



The revised 2025 budget, which will incorporate the required corrections, is set to enter the legislative review process simultaneously with the previously submitted version. This 'novelle mechanism' will require both the original and corrected budget versions to be reviewed concurrently, effectively restarting the comprehensive budgeting procedure from scratch.



Under this novel mechanism, the revised budget is expected to undergo thorough evaluations by the Committee for Financial Supervision (CFT) and the Council of Advice and eventually require approval from the Governor. Parliament will likely engage in renewed debates, ultimately leading to a final vote.



This unprecedented development highlights the intricate and meticulous nature of the budgeting process in Sint Maarten, which aims to ensure strict compliance with legal, economic, and administrative standards. Consequently, the government and parliamentarians now face the unique challenge of potentially managing two separate budget debates and approval processes within the same fiscal year.



Additionally, these developments mean significant delays for budget amendments that include vital revenue-generating measures crucial to Sint Maarten's financial health and stability.

It is also noteworthy that Aruba currently faces budgetary instructions from the Netherlands, reflecting broader regional concerns regarding fiscal management within the Dutch Caribbean.
Cai Guiyang, the leader of the 22nd batch of the Chinese medical team, prepares to perform a surgery on a patient at an operating room of Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul, capital of Gambia, on March 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)

by Si Yuan

BANJUL, March 14 (Xinhua) -- At the rehabilitation clinic of Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, a patient winced briefly when thin acupuncture needles were eased into her legs.

This was the patient's first acupuncture treatment, but the relief was almost instant.

"My mother-in-law is 63 years old. She used to suffer from severe knee pain, sometimes making it impossible for her to walk," said Ebrima Bah, the patient's son-in-law. "Since receiving acupuncture treatment, her pain has significantly reduced, and walking has become much easier."

The acupuncturist, 38-year-old Gao Shiqi, is a member of the Chinese medical team in The Gambia, a country known as the "Smiling Coast" of West Africa.

Bah is grateful to Chinese doctors for also treating his son, who suffered almost constant back pain. The boy, now 18, is back in school after acupuncture sessions greatly improved his condition.

At Edward Francis Small, Gao and nine other members of the 22nd batch of the Chinese medical team work with Gambian colleagues in consultation rooms and operating theaters, providing health and warmth to locals with professionalism and compassion.

China dispatched its first batch of medical professionals to The Gambia in 1977.

Since their arrival last July, Gao and his Chinese colleagues have treated over 2,000 patients and performed more than 200 surgeries and surgical training sessions. They have also promoted traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) techniques like acupuncture.

"Their performance is exemplary," said Mustapha Bittaye, the hospital's chief executive officer (CEO).

Bittaye, himself an obstetrician-gynecologist, praised the Chinese colleagues for their diligence, saying that beyond providing medical services, they also train local healthcare workers, donate medical equipment, and help enhance the hospital's capabilities.

He said that laparoscopic surgery, once unavailable in The Gambia, has now become a routine procedure at Edward Francis Small, thanks to the Chinese team's support.

At one operating room, Cai Guiyang, the leader of the current Chinese medical team, was performing a laparoscopic surgery on an infertility patient, with the assistance of local colleagues.

Under bright surgical lights, Cai maneuvered the endoscopic devices with precision, looking at images on the monitor. Surrounding him, Gambian medical students watched intently, occasionally whispering to each other and taking notes as Cai explained the procedure and guided them in handling the instruments.

"Our goal is not only to provide medical care for Gambian patients but also to equip the local healthcare system with sustainable development capabilities through technical training, talent cultivation, and equipment support," said Cai, 42.

Over the past eight months, in addition to routine clinical work, Cai and his team have conducted multiple outreach programs, bringing free medical services to both urban and rural communities across The Gambia. More than 700 people have benefited from these initiatives.

Furthermore, Edward Francis Small has established a partnership with Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University. The collaboration includes academic exchanges and remote training sessions.

"This partnership is extremely beneficial. We have learned a great deal about advanced medical techniques and hospital management from our Chinese colleagues," said Bittaye, the hospital's CEO. 

This photo provided by the 22nd batch of the Chinese medical team shows members of the medical team offering free medical services in Banjul, capital of Gambia, on Sept. 13, 2024. (Xinhua)

Gao Shiqi, a member of the 22nd batch of the Chinese medical team, performs acupuncture at the rehabilitation clinic of Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul, capital of Gambia, on March 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)

An aerial drone photo taken on March 12, 2025 shows a view of Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul, capital of Gambia. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)
Former Meta employee barred from promoting explosive memoir



San Francisco, March 15 (AFP) Mar 15, 2025



Facebook parent company Meta is seeking to silence a former employee who has made scandalous allegations in a new tell-all book, obtaining a ruling to temporarily bar her from promoting the memoir or bad-mouthing the tech giant.

In "Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed and Lost Idealism," released on Tuesday, Sarah Wynn-Williams recounts working at the tech titan from 2011 to 2017.

Her book includes claims of sexual harassment by longtime company executive Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican and ally of President Donald Trump who took over as head of Meta's international affairs team early this year.

She also wrote of Meta, then known as Facebook, exploring the possibility of breaking into the lucrative China market by appeasing government censors there.

"The suggestion was that as part of the negotiations for the company to enter into China, the data of users in Hong Kong could be put in play," Wynn-Williams said in an interview with NPR.

An idea was to flag content in Hong Kong or Taiwan that went "viral" and refer it to a censorship body for review, according to Wynn-Williams.

Meta quickly took the matter to arbitration, contending the book violates a non-disparagement contract signed by Wynn-Williams when she worked with the company's global affairs team.

An arbitration court this week granted Meta's request to bar Wynn-Williams from promoting the book or making derogatory statements about the company

She also must retract previous critical comments about Meta or its executives, according to the ruling, which will remain in place until the dispute is settled in a private arbitration process.

"This ruling affirms that Sarah Wynn-Williams' false and defamatory book should never have been published," Meta communications director Andy Stone said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"It's no secret we were interested in China; we explore lots of ideas," Stone said.

"You know what didn't happen? We didn't start offering our services in China."



- Talk nice -



Stone said Wynn-Williams was "fired for poor performance and toxic behavior," having made a series of unfounded allegations that the company investigated.

The order by the arbitration body, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution, does not however stop Macmillan Publishers from distributing copies of the memoir.

Macmillan said it was "appalled by Meta's tactics to silence our author through the use of a non-disparagement clause in a severance agreement," adding it would "absolutely continue to support and promote" the book.

Emergency arbitrator Nicholas Gowan noted that Wynn-Williams failed to appear for a hearing in the case, but also that the ruling did not address the merits of the case.

Meta has recently been criticized for stepping back from workplace diversity efforts and from battling misinformation in what critics say appears to be an alignment with Trump.

Meta early this year announced it was replacing its fact-checking program, of which AFP was a part, with "community notes."
Musk says Starship to depart for Mars at end of 2026



Washington, March 15 (AFP) Mar 15, 2025



SpaceX founder Elon Musk said Saturday its massive Starship rocket would leave for Mars at the end of 2026 with Tesla humanoid robot Optimus onboard, adding that human landings could follow "as soon as 2029."

"Starship departs for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus. If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely," Musk said on his X social network.

Musk, who is also the Tesla CEO, brought out the company's Optimus robots at an event last year.

He said the dancing robots would one day be able to do menial tasks, as well as offer friendship, and expected them to retail for $20,000 to $30,000.

Starship -- the world's largest and most powerful rocket -- is key to Musk's long-term vision of colonizing Mars.

Standing 403 feet (123 meters) tall -- about 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty -- Starship is designed to eventually be fully reusable.

NASA is also awaiting a modified version of Starship as a lunar lander for its Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade.

But before SpaceX can carry out those missions, it must prove the vehicle is reliable, safe for crew, and capable of complex in-orbit refueling -- critical for deep space missions.



- Setback -



SpaceX faced a setback this month when its latest test flight of the Starship prototype ended in a fiery explosion, even as the booster was successfully caught in its orbital test.

It was a near replay of the previous attempt.

Minutes after liftoff and booster separation, a live video feed showed the upper stage tumbling uncontrollably before the signal abruptly cut.

Dramatic footage circulating online showed red-hot debris raining down over the Bahamas.

It marked its eighth uncrewed orbital test.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said SpaceX will be required to conduct an investigation before it can fly again.

Despite the setback, SpaceX's "fail fast, learn fast" approach has helped it become the world's dominant launch services provider.

But Musk's status as one of President Donald Trump's closest advisors, and his influence over federal regulators, are raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

During Joe Biden's presidency, Musk frequently clashed with the FAA, accusing it of over-regulating SpaceX over safety and environmental concerns.

Trump vowed in his inauguration speech in January "to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars."

bur-amj/mtp



OPTIMUS
Telegram founder Durov allowed to temporarily leave France: sources



Paris, March 15 (AFP) Mar 15, 2025



Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been allowed to temporarily leave France, where he is charged with multiple infractions linked to allegedly enabling organised crime, sources told AFP.

"He departed France this morning," a source familiar with the case told AFP, adding Durov had left with the authorities' permission.

According to another source, an investigating judge had authorised him to leave France for "several weeks."

A third source said Durov had departed for Dubai.

A Telegram spokeswoman declined to comment when reached by AFP, saying the company would later issue a statement.

The investigating judge accepted Durov's request to modify conditions of his supervision several days ago, said the source close to the case.

Durov, now 40, was sensationally detained at Le Bourget airport outside Paris in August 2024 and charged with a litany of violations related to the popular messaging app he founded. He had been banned from leaving the country.

After days of questioning, he was charged with several counts of failing to curb extremist and terrorist content and released on a five-million-euro ($5.6 million) bail.

Durov -- who holds Russian, French and United Arab Emirates passports -- initially criticised his arrest, but he has since announced steps appearing to bow to Paris's demands.

In January, the Telegram founder told investigating magistrates in France that he "realised the seriousness of all the allegations", according to a source.
'You may have to serve' in army, Polish PM jokes to new citizen Eisenberg



Warsaw, March 14 (AFP) Mar 14, 2025



Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday jokingly suggested US actor and producer Jesse Eisenberg, freshly given Polish citizenship, may have to undergo military training in line with a new law.

"Dear Jesse, get ready! I'll have news for you tomorrow," Tusk posted on social media site X after Eisenberg, 41, recently told NBC's The Tonight Show he was honoured to have had the nationality of his great-grandparents bestowed on him.

Eisenberg earned an Oscar nomination for best original screen play for "A Real Pain", which was filmed in part in Poland.

The film, which Eisenberg wrote, directed and starred in, recounts the story of Poland's Jewish population, focusing on two American cousins who travel there to honour their grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, based on Eisenberg's own great aunt.

Eisenberg himself played one cousin, with Kieran Culkin securing a best supporting actor Oscar for playing the other.

The actor and director had for some time expressed his desire to take Polish nationality and Polish President Andrzej Duda duly granted his wish last week during a visit to New York.

At the ceremony, Eisenberg said he realised how his family felt they had lost their connection to Poland after the tragedy of World War II and the Holocaust, which claimed the lives of several family members.

His great aunt Doris managed to flee in 1938 to the United States.

Alongside his social media post, Tusk also liked a video of Eisenberg's appearance on The Tonight Show where the actor said he was aware of the new law.

He said that the day after receiving citizenship he saw the "top news was that Poland now requires all males to participate in military training".

Poland has sent several years modernising its armed forces to counter a perceived threat posed by neighbouring Russia after the latter invaded Ukraine three years ago.

Tusk said on Tuesday that his government wanted to provide military training to 100,000 volunteers annually.

sw/liu/cw/bc
Iraq says kills senior Islamic State group leader



Baghdad, March 15 (AFP) Mar 15, 2025



Iraqi security forces have killed a senior Islamic State (IS) group leader responsible for foreign operations, according to the country's prime minister, with US President Donald Trump saying later Friday his "miserable life was terminated".

Although Iraq had proclaimed in 2017 the defeat of the jihadist group on its territory, IS cells have remained active and carry out sporadic attacks against Iraq's army and police.

Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufayi "was considered one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world", Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said on social media platform X.

The jihadist, sanctioned by the United States in 2023, was IS's so-called governor of the group's Syrian and Iraqi provinces, according to the Iraqi premier.

Rufayi was also "responsible for the foreign operations offices", Sudani said.

He did not say when Rufayi was killed but applauded the operation by Iraqi intelligence that was carried out in cooperation with the US-led anti-jihadist coalition in Iraq.

"Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

"He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters. His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government."

The US Central Command posted on X what appeared to be a video of the strike, which it said "killed the Global ISIS #2 leader... and one other ISIS operative."

It said that both fighters had been wearing unexploded "suicide vests" and that it had identified Rufayi through a DNA match.



- Lingering presence -



Last October, Baghdad said Iraqi forces had killed nine IS group commanders. They included the so-called governor of Iraq for IS, Jassim al-Mazrouei Abu Abdel Qader, Iraq's Joint Operations Command said at the time.

IS in 2014 declared a "caliphate" after capturing large parts of Iraq and Syria, beginning a rule marked by atrocities.

Iraqi forces backed by the international coalition defeated IS in late 2017. The group lost its last territory in Syria two years later.

The group has, however, maintained a presence in Syria's vast desert, and in Iraq largely carries out attacks in rural areas.

About 2,500 American troops are deployed in Iraq, which now considers its security forces capable of confronting the jihadists.

The US and Iraq announced in late September that the international coalition would end its decade-long military mission in federal Iraq within a year, and by September 2026 in the autonomous Kurdistan region.
Chinese military jet crashes, pilot safely ejects



Beijing, March 15 (AFP) Mar 15, 2025



A Chinese naval fighter jet crashed on Saturday during a training exercise but its pilot successfully ejected from the plane, the military said.

The fighter jet, from the Chinese military's Southern Theater Command, crashed in an open area in the southern island province of Hainan, the navy said in a statement on social media.

The southern command oversees some of the country's most sensitive areas including the South China Sea, where there has been a spate of violent clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels in recent years around disputed reefs and islands in the area.

"The pilot successfully ejected, and no collateral damage was caused on the ground," the statement said.

An investigation into the cause of the crash has been launched and the navy is organising efforts to handle the aftermath, it added.

China has for years sought to expand its presence in contested areas of the sea, brushing aside an international ruling that its claim to most of the waterway has no legal basis.

In recent months, Beijing has more firmly asserted its territorial claims in the South China Sea, where countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines are defending their own claims.

Last month, the Philippine Coast Guard condemned "dangerous" manoeuvres by a Chinese Navy helicopter it said had flown within metres of a surveillance flight carrying a group of journalists over the contested Scarborough Shoal.
Guinea ex-president says junta trying to suppress political parties



Conakry, March 15 (AFP) Mar 15, 2025



Former Guinean President Alpha Conde, who was overthrown in a 2021 coup, said Saturday that the ruling junta was trying to "subjugate" the opposition after the military suspended his party.

The military government led by General Mamadi Doumbouya said Friday it was suspending 28 political parties for three months, including two of the country's leading formations: Conde's Rally of the People of Guinea (RPG) and the Union of Republican Forces (UFR) party of Sidya Toure, who like Conde is living abroad.

The military government claims these parties failed to meet their obligations to provide bank accounts or hold a congress over the past three months.

The military also dissolved 27 parties and placed four other political groups under observation.

It authorised 75 parties to continue political activities, including that of exiled opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, on the condition that they hold a congress within the next 45 days.

These decisions come amid a tense climate marked by the disappearance of several opposition leaders and severe restrictions on freedoms.

"The junta wants to silence you. It is trying to impose on you a choice that is not yours: that of submission and renunciation," Conde wrote in a social media post.

On Friday, a grouping of opposition parties said in a statement the junta wants to "weaken or even eliminate from the political scene the most representative parties in the country."

Guinea's military leaders initially pledged under international pressure to hand over power to elected civilians before the end of 2024, a promise it has not kept, though Doumbouya promised in his new year's address that 2025 will be "a crucial electoral year to return to the constitutional order."
Serbian goods which will soon be available in Chinese market are pictured at a logistic park near Stara Pazova, Serbia, March 14, 2025. Serbian officials and businessmen on Friday staged a sendoff event for a container of Serbian products to China, which will soon be available on Chinese store shelves under the free-trade agreement between the two countries. (Xinhua/Shi Zhongyu)

STARA PAZOVA, Serbia, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Serbian officials and businessmen on Friday staged a sendoff event for a container of Serbian products to China, which will soon be available on Chinese store shelves under the free-trade agreement between the two countries.

The sendoff for the container, in the village of Krnjesevci near Stara Pazova, bound for the city of Xiamen via Milsped transport services, was attended by Serbia's Minister of Economy Adrijana Mesarovic, Chinese Ambassador to Serbia, Li Ming, Assistant Secretary-General of the Government of Serbia, Danijel Nikolic and representatives of companies.

The shipment includes confectionery products, rakija fruit brandy, wine, baby food, honey, fruit products, and dairy products.

Mesarovic emphasized the strong demand for Serbian goods in China and the readiness for deeper cooperation. "Our task is to seize this opportunity and enter a market of more than 1.4 billion consumers," she said.

She also praised the impact of the China-Serbia Free Trade Agreement and announced plans for even more intensive cooperation aimed at boosting business success, increasing company revenues, and expanding employment opportunities.

"The container we are sending off today to friendly China is not just a container of goods - it is a symbol of hard and persistent work and another confirmation of our ironclad friendship," Mesarovic said.

Li underscored the symbolic importance of the shipment, highlighting Serbia's role as China's first free trade partner in Central and Eastern Europe.

"More and more Serbian wines, dairy products, fruits, and nuts are appearing on the tables of Chinese consumers. Today, we also see many products at the stands that have attracted attention, demonstrating that the highest-quality Serbian agricultural products will bring unique flavors and experiences to the Chinese people," Li said. 

Serbia's Minister of Economy Adrijana Mesarovic (front) speaks during a sendoff event for a container of Serbian products to China at a logistic park near Stara Pazova, Serbia, March 14, 2025. Serbian officials and businessmen on Friday staged a sendoff event for a container of Serbian products to China, which will soon be available on Chinese store shelves under the free-trade agreement between the two countries. (Xinhua/Shi Zhongyu)
Amid tensions, Canada says reviewing purchase of US jets



Montreal, March 15 (AFP) Mar 15, 2025



Canada is reviewing a major purchase of US-made F-35 combat planes amid serious tensions with the Trump administration, a spokesperson for the Canadian defense ministry told AFP on Saturday.

That announcement came two days after Portugal said it too was reexamining a possible purchase of American F-35 fighter jets amid rising international anger over the tariff war President Donald Trump has launched and his wavering support for the Atlantic alliance.

Trump rattled America's northern neighbor by imposing 25 percent tariffs on all Canadian products before agreeing to suspend levies on Canadian exports covered by a North American trade pact.

And he has regularly infuriated Canadians by suggesting their country become the 51st US state.

In one of his first official acts since taking office Friday, Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked the defense ministry "to determine if the F-35 contract, as it stands, is the best investment for Canada, and if there are other options that could better meet Canada's needs," according to an email from Laurent de Casanove, the ministry spokesperson.

The Canadian government in January 2023 signed a contract with giant US defense company Lockheed Martin to purchase 88 F-35s for a total of Can$19 billion ($13.2 billion).

It has already paid for a first shipment of 16, set for delivery early next year.

The deal has not been canceled, but "we need to do our homework given the changing environment, and make sure that the contract in its current form is in the best interests of Canadians and the Canadian Armed Forces," the statement said.

Portugal indicated Thursday that it was studying both American F-35s and European aircraft as it looks to replace its air force's aging F-16s.

Outgoing defense minister Nuno Melo raised those options in an interview Thursday in the daily Publico, referring to the "predictability of our allies" and "the recent position of the United States, in the context of NATO and on the level of international geostrategy."

amp/eml/bbk/md
Burkina military denies accusations of attacks on civilians



Abidjan, March 15 (AFP) Mar 15, 2025



Burkina Faso's military rulers on Saturday dismissed accusations that the army had committed abuses against civilians in the west of the country earlier this week.

"The government regrets and condemns the spread on social media of images inciting hatred and communal violence, and of false information aimed at undermining social cohesion and the peaceful coexistence of our country," government spokesperson Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo wrote in a statement.

Earlier in the week, social media accounts had carried videos showing dozens of bloodied bodies strewn on the ground, with no apparent signs of life, their hands and feet bound. Most of them appeared to be women, children, and elderly people.

According to a local source contacted by AFP, "entire families" of ethnic Fulanis were killed in the Solenzo area between March 10 and 11 by soldiers and allied civilian militias.

The Fulani community is regularly stigmatised in the Sahel, accused of joining jihadist groups or of collaborating with them.

On Friday, Human Rights Watch called on the military leaders who seized power in Burkina Faso in September 2022 to investigate the killings.

It counted 58 bodies in the videos, but believes the death toll could be higher.

But the government spokesman insisted that jihadists had attacked positions of a local civilian militia, and that some hundred "terrorists" were killed in the ensuing gunfight.

He said the militia members later discovered civilians that the jihadists had sought to use as human shields, and had taken them to safety.

"This vast disinformation campaign follows the recent events in Solenzo, which were misrepresented to the utmost extent, to discredit our valiant fighters and frighten the peaceful population," he said.

Burkina Faso has been caught in a spiral of jihadist violence since 2015, which has left more than 26,000 dead, half of them since a military coup in 2022, according to Acled, which records victims of conflicts around the world.




Spoilers ahead!





9-1-1 has always flirted with the horror genre; there are plenty of moments in the first seasons that could be part of a Final Destination movie. With the show recently leaning toward a comedy direction, especially in this eighth season, Voices continues the trend that started with Sob Stories last week, delivering a thriller with some unexpected slasher moments.





After Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) is kidnapped by Amber (Abigail Spencer,) Chimney (Kenneth Choi) and Athena (Angela Bassett) have to work together to figure out what happened. Considering that Maddie is pregnant with their second child and she went missing during her first postpartum, Chimney is worried that something similar might be happening again  especially with Amber doing anything in her power as a detective to give the impression that it was Maddies choice to leave. But Athena isnt convinced, joining forces with Rick Romero (Danny Nucci) to discover if what happened to Maddie is connected to the Weepy Killer case. Meanwhile, Maddie is fighting for her life using her most powerful weapon, her communication abilities, to connect with Amber and escape.





Voices  9-1-1. Pictured: Jennifer Love Hewitt as Maddie, Abigail Spencer as Amber . Photo: Christopher Willard/ABC  2025 Disney. All rights reserved.





Its always a pleasure for me when 9-1-1 goes crazy and delivers thrilling moments. As a horror fan, theres so much here to be delighted with, especially considering that this show is giving us eighteen episodes a year  the whole episode is filmed and directed to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, biting nails of anxiety. The last ten minutes are especially insane; when Amber slashed Maddie's throat with a knife in true horror movie fashion, I gasped out loud, then jumped out of my seat speechless. Chimney just arrived at Ambers home, Athena just discovered everything that Amber did, and all of this leads to a tense ending.





But (almost) everythings fine in the end. Amber is killed by Athena, Maddie, and Chimney are alive, their unborn child (a boy!) is fine, but her voice, her most powerful weapon, the thing she uses the most to work and to connect with people (and to a certain point, to connect with us, the audience, too) is mostly gone by now, which means that at least for a while, Maddie might not be a dispatcher anymore. The episode also deals with Maddie's new pregnancy in a way that makes a callback to the first one; all this horror is supposed to be about Maddie dealing with her past and fighting once again to stay in the lives of the ones she loves. Meanwhile, Chimney is also dealing with what happened after Jee-Yun was born, tormented by the possibility of Maddie leaving them again but refusing to give up on her.





Voices  9-1-1. Pictured: Kenneth Choi as Chimney, Abigail Spencer as Amber . Photo: Christopher Willard/ABC  2025 Disney. All rights reserved.





A lot is happening here, and I think the episode suffers from it a bit. Amber was just introduced in the previous episode, which means that Voices serves both as her backstory (she has multiple personalities due to a kidnapping she suffered when she was a teenager, and apparently her mom didnt give her enough love) and her final moments. Maybe thats too much for the time given; its easy to connect with what Maddie and Chimney are going through because weve known them for years and we love and root for them, but its hard to connect with Amber  which is in no way Abigail Spencers fault, who delivers some powerful moments with what shes given. Kenneth Choi and Jennifer Love Hewitt also deliver some amazing, riveting scenes, and I love that they both had some time to shine this season. After everything that happened to Maddie in this episode, I hope theres more to come for Maddie and Chimney soon.





Finally, a huge (even if short in time) moment of Voices happens when Eddie (Ryan Guzman) leaves L.A. and says goodbye to Buck (Oliver Stark.) That one is huge because Buck and Eddie spend the whole episode with this tension between them; Buck is stressed because Maddie is missing but also because of everything changing in his life, including Eddies departure. And while Eddie drives them to places so maybe they can find her somewhere, this tension between them grows. In their final scene, not much is said, as theres this feeling that both of them are keeping what they want to say under lock and key.





Voices  9-1-1. Pictured: Ryan Guzman as Eddie, Oliver Stark as Buck . Photo: Christopher Willard/ABC  2025 Disney. All rights reserved.





And while Buck is the one who seems more explicitly devastated by Eddie moving to Texas, its clear to me that Eddie is the one repressing things and trying to convince himself that everything is fine  not because he doesnt want to stay, but because he cant allow himself to let whatever hes got going on with Buck keep him from making amends with his son. From Its not nothing to This thing between us has been messy and hard, but I hope you know, you do matter to me, Eddie does anything in his power to tell Buck that he cares for him and for what he feels, even if he cannot let it get in his way back to Christopher (Gavin McHugh). I also loved Buck's nervous scratching and Eddie's anxious swinging arms during this scene, combined with the way Eddie looked back to Buck before getting in his car  so many nice, tender details added by Guzman and Stark to this whole thing going on between Eddie and Buck.





9-1-1 delivered Buddie storylines with explicitly romantic implications two episodes in a row  two episodes of them arguing like a married old couple followed by a goodbye hug on a rainy, cloudy afternoon, in a storyline that has some callbacks to the Abby one in the first season. If anything romantic related to Buddie was arguably subtext in earlier seasons, since season seven their relationship has leaned towards a big change, and all signs point to this change finally happening before this season ends.





All in all, Voices is a good, surprising episode, even when it tries to tell too many things in such a short time. It features some sort of Jee-Yun (Bailey Leung/Hailey Leung) team-up with Mara (Askyler Bell) to deliver important information about Maddies kidnapping to the adults, which means that Karen (Tracie Thoms) is also back to a small but heartwarming special appearance. And the way Hen (Aisha Hinds) and Chimneys friendship was highlighted here was so beautiful; theres a scene in which Chimney tells Hen that should go and be with her family, and she replies to him something along the way Im already with my family and that was so cute and important. After this, we return next week with a Bobby (Peter Krause) focused episode directed by Aisha Hinds, and Im excited about this one.





Now tell me how you feel about this episode! Feel free to leave a comment with your impressions and theories, and thanks for reading!
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
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seen on a screen in a courtroom of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands, March 14, 2025. Duterte did not attend in person his initial appearance hearing at the ICC here on Friday afternoon but appeared via video link. The hearing, which was scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) in the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber I, was delayed for some 30 minutes. The Chamber is composed of three judges, presided over by Iulia Antoanella Motoc. (ICC/Handout via Xinhua)

THE HAGUE, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte did not attend in person his initial appearance hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) here on Friday afternoon but appeared via video link.

The initial hearing, which was scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. local time in the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber I, was delayed for some 30 minutes. The Chamber is composed of three judges, presided over by Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc.

Motoc explained that the former president was allowed to follow the hearing remotely from the ICC Detention Center because he had just made a long flight journey involving a considerable time difference. The court proceeded to confirm his identity.

Duterte's lawyer, Salvador Medialdea, said at The Hague-based court that his client had been "abducted from his country."

"He was summarily transported to The Hague. To us lawyers, this would be called an extrajudicial rendition. To the less legally inclined, it's a pure and simple kidnapping," he said.

He also said that Duterte was experiencing "debilitating medical issues."

"Other than to identify himself, my client is not able to contribute anything to this hearing," he stated.

At the end of Friday's hearing, the court scheduled the confirmation of charges hearing to commence on Sept. 23 this year.

The confirmation of charges procedure determines whether sufficient evidence exists to establish substantial grounds that the accused committed the alleged crimes. If the charges are wholly or partially upheld, the case will proceed to a Trial Chamber for the next phase, "the trial", according to ICC.

Duterte, 79, was detained on Tuesday morning upon his return to Manila from an overseas trip, following an arrest warrant issued by the ICC over his controversial "war on drugs" campaign, a move he has challenged.

He was subsequently transferred to ICC custody on Wednesday after being flown from Manila to the Netherlands. 

This photo taken on March 14, 2025 shows an outside view of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands. Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte did not attend in person his initial appearance hearing at the ICC here on Friday afternoon but appeared via video link.

The hearing, which was scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) in the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber I, was delayed for some 30 minutes. The Chamber is composed of three judges, presided over by Iulia Antoanella Motoc. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)

This photo taken on March 14, 2025 shows a view of a courtroom in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands. Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte did not attend in person his initial appearance hearing at the ICC here on Friday afternoon but appeared via video link.

The hearing, which was scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) in the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber I, was delayed for some 30 minutes. The Chamber is composed of three judges, presided over by Iulia Antoanella Motoc. (ICC/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on March 14, 2025 shows an outside view of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands. Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte did not attend in person his initial appearance hearing at the ICC here on Friday afternoon but appeared via video link.

The hearing, which was scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) in the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber I, was delayed for some 30 minutes. The Chamber is composed of three judges, presided over by Iulia Antoanella Motoc. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
KABUL, March 15 (Xinhua) -- A total of 18 million SIM cards have been registered in Afghanistan since August 2021, said a spokesman for the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology of the Afghan interim government on Saturday.

"The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has initiated the process of registering SIM cards in collaboration with communications companies, with a total of 18 million SIM cards registered to date," Enayatullah Alokozay, spokesman for the ministry, told Xinhua.

There are currently 26 million active SIM cards operating across Afghanistan, Alokozay said.

Five mobile phone companies, including four private and one government-run, provide communication services throughout the country, according to the official. 
Acting President Ilie Bolojan on Saturday participated in the online meeting convened by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in which context he pointed out Romania's commitment to continue supporting Ukraine and the efforts to ensure a lasting and just peace, Agerpres reports.

"Our close coordination in this process remains essential. I stressed Romania's commitment to continuing support for UA & for the efforts to ensure a lasting and just peace. An unconditional ceasefire is a first step toward this goal, and RU must agree to it," Ilie Bolojan wrote on X platform.





Russian President Vladimir Putin, "sooner or later, is going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussion," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in the opening of the online meeting of about 25 European leaders and other allies of Ukraine, according to AFP and Reuters.
Acting President Ilie Bolojan sent a message on Saturday on the occasion of the Day of Hungarians Everywhere, saying that unfortunately, extremist manifestations exist all over the world, pointing out that "we have a shared responsibility to firmly oppose ideologies that fuel divisions and distrust", Agerpres reports.

"Unfortunately, everywhere in the world, we are confronted with extremist manifestations that fuel discrimination, hatred, exclusion and violence in the public space. The crises we are going through, at the societal level, show us even more that we have a shared responsibility to be solidary with one another, to promote the values that ensure peace and natural development, and to firmly oppose ideologies that fuel divisions and distrust. In Romania, Hungarians have contributed to cooperation between communities, encouraging a peaceful, balanced and pluralistic climate. Unity in diversity is a valuable principle that defines our society and leads to the appreciation of all contributions for ensuring the well-being and dignity of every citizen, regardless of ethnicity," says President Ilie Bolojan in his message, according to the Presidential Administration.





"On this festive day for the Hungarian minority, I send my warm greetings to all Romanian citizens of Hungarian ethnicity who celebrate their identity, traditions, and cultural and historical belonging, while also highlighting the harmonious coexistence between Romanians and Hungarians, which is essential for enriching the dialogue with national minorities in our country. I congratulate the Hungarian minority in Romania, which, in this important and challenging year, has reaffirmed its European orientation, supporting our path alongside our strategic partners in the European and North Atlantic space," says Ilie Bolojan.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the Trump administration's import taxes on Australian steel and aluminium as "entirely unjustified" and an act of "economic self-harm." #GLOBALink
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu sent a message on Saturday for the Day of Hungarians Everywhere, in which he says that Romania is internationally recognised as a model of good coexistence and intercultural dialogue, underlining that the Hungarian community is also part of this success story, Agerpres reports.

"Today, Romania, an EU and NATO member state with high standards regarding human rights protection and a solid legislative framework concerning the rights of national minorities, is internationally recognised as a model of good coexistence and intercultural dialogue. The Hungarian community is part of this success story and contributes to the development of our country, whether we talk about the economy, education, culture, or administration. The presence of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania in the current governing coalition is yet another proof of this," says Ciolacu in the message sent by the Government.



On the occasion of the Day of Hungarians Everywhere, the prime minister congratulates the Hungarian community in Romania and expresses his appreciation for its contribution to the development of our country and to political stability.



Marcel Ciolacu says that March 15 is a celebration that gives us the opportunity to look not only to the past but also to the future.




The financial rating agency Moody's Ratings confirmed on Friday Romania's rating at "Baa3" but changed the outlook associated with the rating to "negative" from "stable," according to a press release from Moody's, Agerpres reports.

The decision to change the outlook to negative reflects the risk that, in the absence of additional fiscal consolidation measures, Romania's fiscal strength could significantly weaken in the coming years, the rating agency said.





According to the rating agency, the confirmation of the "Baa3" rating for Romania reflects the size and moderate growth potential of the economy. On the other hand, Romania's credit profile is constrained by its high vulnerability to a risk event, given its increased exposure to geopolitical risks due to its proximity to the war in Ukraine.
NEW YORK  The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether Columbia University concealed "illegal aliens" on its campus, one of its top officials said Friday, as the Trump administration intensified its campaign to deport people who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the school last year.

Agents with the Department of Homeland Security searched two university residences with a warrant Thursday evening. No one was arrested, and it was unclear whom the authorities were searching for, but by Friday afternoon U.S. officials announced developments related to two people they pursued in connection with the demonstrations.

A Columbia doctoral student from India whose visa was revoked by the Trump administration fled the U.S. on an airliner. A Palestinian woman who was arrested during the protests at the university last April was arrested by federal immigration authorities in Newark, New Jersey, for overstaying her student visa.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, speaking at the Justice Department, said it was part of the president's "mission to end antisemitism in this country."

Blanche didn't say what evidence agents had of wrongdoing. It was unclear whether he was accusing the school itself of "terrorism crimes" or saying that people involved in the protests committed such crimes.

The Associated Press left messages seeking comment from the university Friday. In a statement following the searches Thursday night, interim university president Katrina Armstrong said the school was "committed to upholding the law."

Meanwhile, the Trump administration delivered an extraordinary ultimatum to Columbia, threatening to permanently end federal funding to the Ivy League school unless it cedes control of an international studies department and implements sweeping changes to other campus policies.

In a letter sent Thursday night, federal officials said the university must immediately place its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department under academic receivership for a minimum of five years.

It must also ban masks on campus meant to conceal the wearer's identity or intimidate others, adopt a new definition of antisemitism, abolish its process for disciplining students and deliver a plan to reform undergraduate admissions, international recruiting, and graduate admissions practices."

The letter described those changes and others as preconditions in order to begin formal negotiations regarding Columbia University's continued financial relationship with the United States government."

It did not elaborate on why it was targeting the Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department or what the process of receivership would entail.

We expect your immediate compliance with these critical next steps, officials from the Department of Education, General Services Administration and Department of Health and Human Services wrote.

More than 50 universities are also being investigated for alleged racial discrimination as part of Trumps campaign to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs that his officials say exclude white and Asian American students.

The Education Department announced the new investigations Friday, one month after issuing a memo warning Americas schools and colleges that they could lose federal money over race-based preferences in admissions, scholarships or any aspect of student life.

Columbia has come under immense pressure from the Trump administration in recent weeks, with the U.S. government canceling $400 million in federal funding for the school, much of it for medical research, as punishment for not cracking down harder on students and faculty who criticized Israel's military action in Gaza.

Trump and other officials accuse the protesters as being "pro-Hamas," referring to the militant group that controls Gaza and attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The Trump administration said it revoked the visa of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian citizen and doctoral student at Columbia University, for allegedly "advocating for violence and terrorism." Srinivasan opted to "self-deport" Tuesday, five days after her visa was revoked, the department said. Officials didn't say what evidence they had that Srinivasan advocated violence.

The woman who was arrested in Newark, Leqaa Kordia, was charged with failing to leave the U.S. after her visa expired. Columbia said it had no record of Kordia ever being a student there, or being arrested on the campus. However, there were numerous protests and arrests in the streets outside of the university at the same time.

Kordia previously received a student visa, but it was terminated in 2022 for "lack of attendance," the department said. She is being held in an immigration detention center in Alvarado, Texas, according to a government database.

Columbia University's campus has been in crisis since immigration authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a well-known Palestinian activist who helped lead last spring's protests, last weekend. He hasn't been charged with a crime and is held at a detention facility in Jena, Louisiana.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Friday the Trump administration expects to revoke more student visas in the coming days.

Lawyers for the Justice Department said in court papers that Kahlil, a lawful U.S. resident with no criminal history, was detained under a law allowing Rubio to remove someone from the country if he believes their presence or activities would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences.

Famous student protests from around the world Famous student protests from around the world 1901: Wrzesnia School Strike in Poland 1924-25: Fisk University protests 1930s: UCLA anti-establishment protests 1942: White Rose Society resistance in Germany 1956: Hungarian Revolution student marches 1960: Japan's Anpo protests 1960-68: American civil rights protests (Greensboro to Columbia) 1962: Rangoon University protests in Myanmar 1965-75: US Vietnam War protests (SDS Teach-ins to Kent State) 1968: Tlatelolco Massacre in Mexico City 1968-1974: LGBTQ+ protests throughout the US 1973: 'Take Back The Night' protests against sexual violence 1973: Athens Polytechnic uprising 1976: Soweto Youth Uprising in South Africa 1989: Tiananmen Square occupation in China 1989: Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia 1998: Trisakti shootings in Indonesia 1999: Iran student protests over free speech 2006: 'A Day Without Immigrants' demonstrations 2010: London tuition protests 2011: Arab Spring fueled by youth 2011-13: Student education reform protests in Chile 2013: Black Lives Matter demonstrations 2013: Student debt protests at New York universities 2014: Jadavpur University protests against sexual violence 2014: Hong Kong's Umbrella Revolution 2016: Uganda's Makerere University protests 2016: 'Love Trumps Hate' student rallies 2017: #MeToo movement against sexual harassment 2018: 'March For Our Lives' against gun violence 2019: Global climate strikes 2020: Protests against police brutality 2021: #FeesMustFall movement in South Africa
The U.S. Capitol building in Washington. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  The Senate on Friday passed a stopgap funding bill that averts a government shutdown and provides $6 billion in new spending for defense and another $6 billion for veterans health care through Sept. 30.

The 54-46 vote came two days after the vice chiefs of all the military services warned lawmakers that a temporary funding extension of last years funding levels, even with a $6 billion increase, will hurt readiness and slow modernization efforts.

Senators adopted the legislation, known as a continuing resolution, despite fierce resistance from Democrats, who argued it would give President Donald Trumps administration wide latitude to continue dismantling the federal government.

Members of both parties said they were reluctant to vote for the spending measure due to the harm it would cause the military. This is the first time the Defense Department will operate under a full-year continuing resolution after lawmakers failed to agree on appropriations for fiscal 2025, which began Oct. 1.

This is a shame on our process and it is not in keeping with what the founders intended, said Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

He said the legislation does not provide adequate support for a military that is contending with multiple adversaries who are working together to bring us ill. But he said he would nonetheless support the bill because the alternative of a shutdown was so unpalatable, so dangerous.

The government would have shut down at midnight Friday had the measure failed.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., on Thursday urged senators to pass a one-month continuing resolution to buy more time to hammer out a traditional appropriations bill, citing concerns in congressional testimony by senior service leaders earlier this week.

Adm. James Kilby, vice chief of naval operations, said the Navy will need to make hard choices this year due to the six-month stopgap measure and predicted slowed progress in shipbuilding, maintenance and fleet modernization.

Gen. Michael Guetlein, vice chief of space operations, said the Space Force will face a huge challenge because it is the smallest force with the smallest budget. Several service leaders said they would be unable to start new contracts.

Ultimately, the Army can afford a large, ready or modern force, but with the current budget, it cannot afford all three, said Gen. James Mingus, vice chief of staff of the Army. Either we provide soldiers the capabilities needed to win or accept greater risks in other areas.

The $6 billion increase in extra military funding included in the continuing resolution will bring total defense spending for the current fiscal year to about $847 billion, about $3 billion less than what defense budget planners had hoped for.

The additional money will fully cover a historic pay raise for junior enlisted troops, as well as weapons purchases and operations and maintenance. Another $6 billion is being allocated to the Department of Veterans Affairs Toxic Exposures Fund to cover a budget shortfall.

An effort by Democrats to reinstate veteran federal employees who had been fired through billionaire Elon Musks government efficiency initiative failed in a 47-53 vote on Friday.
A photo of Section 43 of Arlington National Cemetery, Va., in 2017. The cemeterys 651 acres is the final resting place for more than 400,000 service members, veterans and their families. (Arlington National Cemetery)



Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place of presidents, generals, Medal of Honor recipients and more than 400,000 service members and their families, has purged its website of material focused on Black, Hispanic, and female troops buried there, officials confirmed Friday.

The purge was a response to President Donald Trumps executive order to remove materials related to DEI diversity, equity, and inclusion  from government websites, Arlington officials said. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later issued an order to remove materials highlighting race and gender as part of a Pentagon digital content refresh.

However, Arlington officials also said materials could be restored after review and possible revision to meet the requirements of Trumps and Hegseths orders.

We remain committed to sharing the stories of military service and sacrifice to the nation with transparency and professionalism, while continuing to engage with our community in a manner that reflects our core values, a statement from Arlington officials read.

The changes to the website were first brought to light this week in Civil War Memory, a newsletter published on the Substack social media site by historian Kevin Levin.

Among some of the changes were modules dealing with the Civil War, African-American history and womens history.

Before January, the website included lists of prominent Black people and famous women buried at Arlington. While the individual graves still turn up on website searches, lists grouping the dead by race or gender do not.

The webpage citing Notable Graves had subsections, including one for African Americans. The link to the list has been taken down.

Famous Black Americans buried at Arlington include Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell, champion boxer Joe Louis, assassinated civil rights activist Medgar Evers, and several Tuskegee Airmen  the first group of Black combat pilots in World War II.

The webpage on womens history has been taken down, which featured more than a dozen women, including First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and World War II combat photographer Marguerite Higgins.
Protesters listen to a speaker on March 14, 2025, during a rally on the National Mall in Washington to protest cuts to veterans jobs, services and benefits. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  Disabled veteran Don Carter rode shotgun in his sons Chevy pickup truck for 11 hours from Illinois to the nations capital to take part in a political protest for the first time in his life.

Carter, a 92-year-old Korean War veteran, and his son, Larry, joined a crowd of nearly 3,000 for a two-hour national veterans rally Friday on the National Mall to protest cuts by President Donald Trump to veterans federal jobs, services and benefits.

The pair watched as fellow veterans waved American flags and speakers rallied support for the 30,000 federal workers fired by Trumps administration. With chants of Lock him up, the crowd called for Trump to be removed from office for his actions.

Similar protests were held at state capitols across the nation, according to Fourteenth Now, the event organizer.

Two billionaires, Trump and Musk, are gutting the VA and purging veteran employees  bankrupting war heroes while cashing in on their sacrifice, said Michael Embrich, a Navy veteran and political commentator for Rolling Stone, who rallied protesters from a small stage.

Speakers also included representatives from Free the People, Sons of Liberty and other self-described progressive groups and movements.

But many veterans who attended said their participation had nothing to do with political affiliation.

A lot of the veterans here voted for Trump, said Rebecca Logan, 38, a former Air Force staff sergeant. She and her husband drove with their daughter from South Carolina to participate.

Logan, who is 100% disabled, said she feels Trump is abandoning his commitment to veterans and views their benefits and services as dispensable.

Whats happening in this country to our veterans is not right, she said.

Logan said she worries Trump considers the services and benefits that she and other veterans receive as fraud and waste to be cut or eliminated.

She served from 2005 to 2011 with deployments to Iraq and Kazakhstan and developed a debilitating neurological condition connected to her exposure to burn pits. Her job in the military was to manage the disposal of hazardous materials.

Carter, who uses a walker, said he and his son did not make the arduous trip only to protest cuts to veterans programs but they also wanted to register their dissent of Trumps actions and policies in view of the White House.

Jobs, services and benefits are being taken from veterans, said Seth Burgess, who traveled from North Carolina in support of a friend back home who is an Army veteran.

Seth Burgess of North Carolina attends a rally on the National Mall in Washington on March 14, 2025, to protest cuts to veterans jobs, services and benefits. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



He said his friend  who left military service a year ago  has post-traumatic stress disorder and would not be able to tolerate the crowd and noise.

So Burgess, who is not a military veteran, said he offered to make the trip for him.

He said he shares his friends concerns about toxic statements by Trump and his administration about veterans and the services that they receive.

Hes trying to divide this nation, Burgess said.

The rally Friday was touted by organizers on social media as a protest of the purging of veteran employees, part of Trumps cost-cutting measures, led by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency.

But speakers representing Fourteenth Now, the event organizer, also called for the removal of Trump from office during the rally.

The group said the date of the rally  March 14th  was symbolic as it represents Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which states that a person engaged in insurrection or rebellion after taking an oath of office to support the Constitution should be barred from holding office again, according to the groups posts on social media.

Resting on the foldout seat of his red walker, Carter held up a poster scrawled with the message, Im not a sucker. Im not a loser. Im a 92-year-old proud Navy veteran.

His sign referred to statements about service members attributed to Trump in 2020 in a story published in The Atlantic magazine. Trump denied making the remarks.

Carter, who served in the Navy nearly 75 years ago, said he worries America is on the verge of losing its democracy.

Carter, a petty officer second class during the Korean War, said he does not see himself as an outsider but as a veteran with concerns about the nations future.

I served this country, and it was important for me to come here today, he said. Its my duty.
BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te recently unveiled 17 strategies to counter so-called "threats" from the Chinese mainland facing the island. The latest move once again revealed the authoritarian nature behind his "Taiwan independence" attempts and his stance against cross-Strait communication, peace and democracy.

Such remarks, together with other separatist attempts by Lai and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, would lead to nothing but a bubble that will undoubtedly burst.

It is worth noting that during his campaign for Taiwan's leadership, Lai repeatedly claimed that he does not oppose healthy and orderly exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.

However, his latest statements, oozing with clear malice, tell a totally different story -- an evident intent to expand restrictions or even close the door on cross-Strait exchanges.

By referring to the mainland as a "hostile external force," Taiwan authorities led by Lai are making an unscrupulous provocation. This raises questions about how it could be possible for him to define the mainland as a "hostile force" and still maintain peace across the Strait.

This move further testifies that the Lai-led authorities are an out-and-out troublemaker and saboteur for cross-Strait peace. If left unchecked, it could only push Taiwan to the perilous brink of war.

Since its inception, the DPP has portrayed itself as "democratic" to reap electoral benefits. However, with this latest move, the DPP's hypocritical disguise was eventually stripped away by Lai himself, exposing its anti-democratic and authoritarian nature to the world, making many in the island doubt whether Taiwan is stepping toward a state of "quasi-martial law."

The public in Taiwan mocked the DPP-claimed "democratic rule" is actually the Democratic Progressive Party's autocracy.

Looking back on the years of cross-Strait relations, despite the DPP's regressive attempts, the momentum of the forward-moving waves of cross-Strait ties has never been stopped, and any temporary turbulence, like Lai's hysterical "Taiwan independence" farce, will ultimately burst and dissipate like bubbles. 
The pilot considered aborting the landing when Andris Ekis (42) would not stay in his seat despite requests from cabin crew, a court heard.

An air passenger who refused to follow instructions not to use the toilet during an approach to Dublin Airport has been fined and convicted for offensive conduct.

The pilot considered aborting the landing when Andris Ekis (42) would not stay in his seat despite requests from cabin crew, a court heard.

Judge Treasa Kelly fined him 300 at Dublin District Court.

Separately, he was jailed for four months for motoring offences and banned from driving for six years.

Ekis, a father of four with an address at Burnaby Park, Greystones, Co Wicklow, pleaded guilty to offensive conduct on board an aircraft.

Dublin District Court heard the incident happened while a flight was approaching Dublin Airport at 12pm on March 2. On the planes final approach, the fasten seatbelt lights were on when Ekis left his seat and went to use the toilets. Cabin crew requested him to remain seated, but he refused and went into the toilet.

Read more Gang leader who smuggled Irish people into US cuts plea deal

The captain was notified and consideration was given to aborting the landing and putting the plane into a holding pattern.

When Ekis came out of the cubicle, the staff smelled smoke and saw a cigarette butt in the toilet.

He returned to his seat and the plane landed safely.

In a separate incident, the accused was stopped driving in Dublin on September 24, 2023, when he had no insurance and refused to provide a sample for gardai.

He drove uninsured again on December 28, 2023. He was previously banned from driving.

Ekis had 40 previous convictions, for public order, drugs, motoring and other offences.

On the flight, Ekis had been asleep for three hours and when he woke up he felt the need to use the toilet, his solicitor Murrough ORourke said.

He accepted we all know to stay seated on planes when told to do so.

Fortunately, the aircraft did not have to carry out any special procedures, Mr ORourke said.

Ekis insisted he was not smoking in the toilet.

The accused was from Latvia and had been in Ireland for 10 years. He had developed a heroin problem here and was not working.

It seems you have no regard for court orders, and you dont take instructions from cabin crew when told not to use the facilities, Judge Kelly said. You were told not to and refused to stay seated.

The judge made the fine payable forthwith, sentencing the accused to two days in jail in default.
Kenneth Philpott described being terrified of the people he was working for.

A terrified Kildare man who was caught in chance encounter with gardai holding over 200,000 of cannabis in an attempt to pay off a 2,000 gambling debt has been jailed for three years.

Kenneth Philpott (64) was pulled over after being spotted by gardai driving in a bus lane,

Philpott of River Forest, Leixlip, Kildare, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs on April 10, 2024. He has no previous convictions.

Passing sentence yesterday, Judge Martin Nolan said certain parties had taken advantage of his gambling debt to traffic these drugs. He said Philpott had made a huge misjudgement in agreeing.

The judge took into account the mitigation in the case including his co-operation, good history, work record and the level of fear and coercion involved.

Judge Nolan said drugs offences such as this were well trodden ground for the court.

He said this was a very normal type of case where obligations were created through a parties behaviour before taking advantage of the obligation. He said Philpott was a mature man who made a very bad decision.

Judge Nolan said he could depart from the mandatory minimum sentence of ten years due to the circumstances of the case, but said it was a substantial amount of drugs.

He set a headline sentence of six years imprisonment, but said as there was very good mitigation, he would cut that in two and imposed a sentence of three years imprisonment.

Garda Ronan Doolin outlined to the court that gardai stopped a car observed going into the bus lane. The driver, Philpott, was co-operative but very nervous prompting suspicion and a search of the car.

Philpott told gardai there were packages in the car and gardai recovered 7kg of cannabis in taped packages, valued at 140,000.

During a follow up search of his home gardai recovered a further 80,000 worth of cannabis.

Philpott gave gardai admissions in relation to his own role only. He said he had worked most of his life working and managing casinos but suffered a stroke two years previously so had to slow down.

He was working as a croupier across Dublin but had built up a gambling debt of 2,400 from playing cards.

Philpott, described as a working man from a good family with a grown daughter, had not been put under any pressure to repay the debt until one week before this offence.

He described being terrified of the people he was working for.

The court heard there were threats made against his family and home and he felt he had no choice.

He travelled from his home to pick up the drugs, dropped some to his house and shed and then returned to pick up a second load. He was on his way home with the second load when he was stopped by gardai.

Defence counsel said Philpott was a good family man whose wife and daughter have always been his priority.

He has been getting counselling from Gamblers Anonymous and was remorseful for his involvement in this offence. He handed up a letter from the accused to the judge.

He said Philpott had been very successful in martial arts in his earlier life and represented Ireland in many tournaments.

He asked the court to take into account that he was someone who had lived his entire adult life as a constructive and productive member of society and his community.

He had been completely self-sufficient his entire life, worked hard and brought up his daughter.

He said his client had made immediate admissions and gardai did not dispute the threats he outlined. He did not anticipate him coming before the courts again.

Counsel said his client shouldnt be here, but he is here and is taking full responsibility for the reasons he is before the court.
Kevin Quinn had been struggling significantly with homelessness and addiction issues

A grandfather whose head was completely fried from personal problems when he shoplifted groceries has been jailed for four months.

Kevin Quinn (45) was struggling significantly at the time of three thefts from two Dublin stores, his defence said.

Judge John Hughes sentenced him to four months, with another two months suspended on the condition he goes into rehab and stays out of the shops he stole from.

Quinn, of Galtymore Road, Drimnagh, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court.

Read more Gang leader who smuggled Irish people into US cuts plea deal

The court heard he stole 66 worth of goods from Tesco, Hillcrest, Lucan, on December 12, 2023. He returned to the same shop four days later and took another 231 worth of groceries. That time, he was stopped and the goods were recovered and saleable.

Quinn also admitted stealing 120 worth of goods from Centra, Drimnagh Road, on February 24 last year.

The accused had been struggling significantly at the time with homelessness and addiction issues, his barrister Kevin McCrave said.

He suffered a loss, his head was completely fried and he turned to drugs to deal with this, the court heard.

Quinn, already in prison serving a sentence when he appeared in court, had four children and three grandchildren and wanted to be there for them when he gets out.

Mr McCrave asked the judge not to add to his clients time in jail.

Judge Hughes said the repetitive nature of the thefts were an aggravating factor.
I broke it and got inside, and then I realised, ah f***, that's not my house

A 93-year-old pensioner was traumatised" after waking up to a violent struggle with an intruder in his bedroom in Killiney, south Co Dublin, a court heard.

Father-of-three Aaron Waddington, 35, was refused bail by Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court today after being charged with burglary of the pensioner's home in the early hours of Friday.

Mr Waddington of Loughlinstown Park, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin, was remanded in custody pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

In evidence, Garda Andrzej Kufel said the unemployed defendant made no reply when charged.

The officer objected to bail due to the seriousness of the case. He alleged at about 3.30am, the accused broke into the house by smashing a front room window.

Garda Kufel claimed the senior citizen "woke to find the suspect in his bedroom rummaging through his bedside locker".

The court heard a "physical altercation between the old man and the accused ensued, and the suspect fled from the property."

"The elderly man was left shaken and traumatised," Garda Kufel said.

The complainant did not attend the contested bail hearing. It emerged that there was significant damage to the house front window, and a trail of blood droplets went from the front room, up the stairs, into the office, and the bedroom.

The garda alleged the accused was found nearby just under an hour later, bleeding from his left leg with his trousers ripped.

Judge Hughes heard that when asked what happened, he told the garda, "I made a stupid mistake getting into the house."

When cautioned, Mr Waddington purportedly told the officer: "I was walking through Loughlinstown. I know the window was closed. I broke it and got inside, and then I realised, ah f***, that's not my house."

It was alleged that the accused had two watches identified by the injured party, and his clothes matched the description given by the pensioner.

DNA samples from the accused and crime scene were sent for analysis, but the court heard that the results were not yet available.

The garda estimated that the man was arrested a few hundred metres from the house. However, using Google maps, defence solicitor Colleen Gildernew showed it was 2.8km away but the garda believed that was the driving distance.

Following his arrest, the defendant was not interviewed and had to be sent to hospital for emergency surgery for a "significant" leg injury.

Mr Waddington was using crutches when he was brought to court.

His solicitor also contended her client was "delirious" when arrested. She said he had no recollection of making the comments mentioned earlier during the hearing, which may be challenged later.

Mr Waddington did not address the court.

Pleading for bail the defence submitted that the accused would obey a suite of conditions including a curfew and a independent surety could be offered.

Gardai expected the case to be sent forward to the Circuit Court, and Ms Gildernew submitted that her presumed innocent client would face a lengthy period in custody while awaiting trial. She also said he had a close family member recovering from a serious injury and depended on him for care.

He also had seven other charges before the court yesterday/today for thefts of cosmetics, alcohol, groceries, and hair clippers at several shops, worth 1,363 in total, in Ballybrack and Dun Laoghaire between May 2024 and March 1.

The defence argued that the charges went back almost a year and did not demonstrate a spree. But the garda replied that some of them were in more recent months.

Judge Hughes, noting the strength of the evidence, denied Mr Waddington bail.

His case resumes at Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday. Legal aid was granted.
Bobby Griffin, of Eugene Street, Dublin 8 is charged with causing serious harm to a woman at Thomas Court Bawn, Dublin 8 on March 6, 2024.

A MAN has been refused bail as he awaits trial for causing serious harm to a woman who was stabbed in the groin at a Dublin apartment complex.

Bobby Griffin (21) was remanded in custody after a court heard the alleged victim was suffering lasting injuries and complications following the alleged attack a year ago.

Judge Martin Nolan refused him bail at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and remanded him in custody.

Mr Griffin, of Eugene Street, Dublin 8 is charged with causing serious harm to a woman at Thomas Court Bawn, Dublin 8 on March 6, 2024.

Objecting to bail, Garda Colm Carroll said gardai on patrol heard a commotion on the third floor of an apartment block and stopped the accused and three other men fleeing down the stairwell.

Further up the stairs, they met the alleged victim who had severe bleeding to her leg and vaginal area and she said she had been attacked by a number of males, one of whom had stabbed her with a white-handled knife.

A knife was recovered from the top of the stairs.

The woman told gardai she had been stabbed in the groin and vaginal area.

Mr Griffin was arrested and a mobile phone was found in his possession. On it, gardai found a snapchat voice note allegedly sent by Mr Griffin stating:

Im on my way back up with the blade. Hes getting butchered. Theyre all getting it. (The alleged victim) is getting butchered on them stairs as well. Little rats.

As well as being stopped, it was alleged the accused was identified on excellent CCTV footage from the area.

Gardai had serious concerns that he would interfere with the alleged victim if granted bail.

A medical report on the woman outlined lasting injuries and complications.

Applying for bail, defence barrister Keith Spencer said the accused would abide by conditions. He said the application was also on compassionate grounds as two members of the accuseds family were ill

Ill take any bail conditions, Mr Griffin told the court, saying he would sign on twice daily at a garda station if needed and could provide an address he was welcome at. He would surrender his passport and take a tag if I have to.

Judge Nolan said the charge was serious and the states objections were well made. He refused bail.
It emerged during his trial that Randi Gladstone had 19 previous convictions from the UK, which included rape, kidnapping, robbery and false imprisonment

Randi Gladstone (41) from Guyana pictured leaving the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) on Parkgate Street in Dublin. PHOTO: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

A serial offender who raped a young woman just days after arriving in Ireland had previously been jailed for rape and kidnap in the UK while still in his teens.

Randi Gladstone (41), from Guyana, was jailed for 10 years this week for the rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment of a young woman in Co Dublin on August 25, 2023.

It emerged during his trial that Gladstone had 19 previous convictions from the UK, which included rape, kidnapping, robbery and false imprisonment.

One of those included the robbery and then kidnap and rape of a 25-year-old woman in June 2001, when Gladstone was just 18-years-of-age

He was one of three men who was jailed after a judge at Isleworth Crown Court heard how the defendants jumped the terrified victim as she was walking home just after midnight on June 8.

According to a report in This is Local London at the time, the three dragged the woman to the floor, stole her jacket and rucksack and started to move towards their car.

When they saw the her writing down the number plate, they returned and dragged her into the vehicle.

They demanded her cashcards as they drove to an underground car park in Copley Close where they took turns to rape her, before driving to Rectory Park, in Ruislip Road, Northolt and raping her again.

The woman managed to flag down a night bus and the men were arrested 10 days later with the help of DNA tracing and intelligence.

Gladstone was handed down a 10 year sentence while the other two will serve eight.

DCI Michael Murphy, of Ealing police, said he was delighted that these three have been taken out of circulation and will remain on the sex offenders' register for life.

Gladstone has been in custody since August 2023 for the rape on the woman here that had a profound impact on her and her family, Mr Justice Patrick McGrath said.

In passing sentence, the judge noted that she has suffered significant emotional distress and is nervous and anxious when out.

Judge McGrath agreed with the Director of Public Prosecutions that this offending falls in the 10 to 15 year sentencing category and said Gladstone preyed on this young vulnerable woman.

He said: This is a very serious offence with a considerable breach of trust. The defendant took advantage of this young woman's young age, vulnerability and inexperience.

The judge rejected the defence claim that this was opportunistic and said Gladstones actions clearly show cunning and planning.

The judge said: I cannot ignore the defendants appalling previous convictions.

He noted that Gladstone has no migrating factors except that he is a foreign national serving time in an Irish prison.

Judge McGrath sentenced Gladstone to ten years in prison and said, there is no reason to consider suspending any portion of this sentence.

Judge McGrath said, I was particularly impressed in the manner in which the young woman gave her evidence and how she and her family approached the case.

Detective Garda Carol Corrigan told Patrick Gageby SC, prosecuting, that the victim, who was aged 18 at the time, had been staying in the accommodation for several days prior to the assault.

Gladstone had interacted with her and members of her family.

On the day in question, the victim stood outside her hotel room dictating a message to her friend when Gladstone approached her. He asked her what she was doing and what age she was, and she told him she was 18.

The court heard that Gladstone asked the girl to step into his room so he could ask her something.

She did so but immediately knew something was not right.

He asked her if she had a boyfriend and told her she was beautiful.

He then asked her to hook up.

She did not know what that meant, and when he explained it to her, she said no. He told her that he would take care of her and that he loved her.

Det Gda Corrigan said Gladstone then asked if he could kiss her and also offered to give her money, and again she said no.

The victim then went to leave, and Gladstone kissed her.

The girl then froze, and Gladstone began to kiss her body and unbuckle and remove her shorts and underwear.

He told her to relax before digitally penetrating her and then raping her.

The court heard the young woman did not fight back due to fear.

When Gladstone was finished, he told her, to come back later for more.

He then looked up and down the corridor before the young woman ran to her room.

She took a shower in the dark and then called her mother and told her what happened.

Her mother was extremely angry and confronted Gladstone, who denied all misconduct.

He then left the accommodation and, at 7.30am the following morning, bought a ferry ticket to the UK.

However, he was unable to board the ferry as he was barred from entering the UK, and was refunded the cost of the ticket.

Gladstone was arrested a short time later.

He was questioned but denied the allegations and said that the activity was consensual.

A victim impact statement read to the court by the victim's brother described the profound effects this crime has had on my life, my family and my future.

The Director of Public Prosecutions placed this offence in the ten to 15 year bracket on the grounds of the young age of the woman, the breach of trust and the facts and nature of Gladstone's previous convictions.
ADEN, Yemen, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni security forces on Saturday detained 194 migrants from the Horn of Africa who were attempting to enter the country illegally via the coast of southeastern Shabwa province, the Yemeni Interior Ministry said.

Local police intercepted the migrants when they approached Yemen's shores aboard a vessel in the Radhum district of Shabwa province, the ministry said in a press statement, adding that the among the detained are 121 Ethiopians -- 70 women, 46 men, and five children -- as well as 73 Somalis, predominantly men.

Yemen's security authorities have initiated legal proceedings against the individuals for illegal entry into the country, the ministry said.

The maritime route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen is extremely risky, with migrants often traveling in overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels operated by smugglers. Migrants taking this route typically aim to reach Gulf countries in search of employment opportunities.

According to previous UN reports, 60,897 African migrants entered Yemen last year after undertaking hazardous sea journeys. 
Police brand disgraced teacher a cold, calculating child predator

A teacher starting a jail sentence after she admitted grooming and having sex with a teenage pupil has been branded a cold, calculating child predator by investigating police officers.

Judith Evans worked at the Belfast Boys Model School when her crimes against the 14-year-old pupil occurred.

The 33-year-old from Newtownabbey  who falsely claimed she was raped by her victim  wept as she was sentenced for eight offences at Belfast Crown Court on Friday.

She was jailed for two years, and will spend two years on licence.

In an impact statement, read by Judge Smyth, the victim spoke of the fear he felt at school, saying that he is forced to live a lie.

He also described having to live forever with regret and shame, and is concerned about trust issues.

The victims mother spoke of shame and her own guilt due to failing to protect her son.

The victims father noted the burden he felt when he learned the truth about why his son wanted to kill himself. He said that he felt that he needed the mental health team for himself.

Afterwards PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Jill Duffie praised the young victim for showing immense bravery in bringing her to justice.

Evans is a cold, calculating child predator who abused her position of trust by taking advantage of a young boy, she said.

She preyed on his vulnerabilities and built an inappropriate friendship with the boy before then further grooming him and sexually exploiting him.

The messages exchanged between her and her underage pupil were highly sexual and nothing short of sickening.

As a result of the abuse he was subjected to, the victim has suffered greatly with mental health struggles and has shown immense bravery to bring her to justice today.

Judith Evans outside court at an earlier hearing.

Pervert NI school teacher Judith Evans jailed for two years

Evans was sentenced for sexual communication with a child, three counts of meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual activity with a child involving penetration, causing a child to watch a sexual act and possessing indecent images of the schoolboy.

The offences were committed between March 1 and May 17, 2024, including an incident at Black Mountain with two further meetings taking place outside school where sexual activity occurred.

Evans also admitted a charge of perverting the course of justice between June 13 and 27, 2024 by making a false allegation that she was sexually assaulted by the teenager.

There is no question that the defendants behaviour and the aftermath of the discovery of these offences have had a profound effect on this young victim and his family, said Her Honour Judge Patricia Smyth.

It is impossible to gauge what impact this abuse will have in the future in terms of psychological harm.

Teenagers need protection because their immaturity prevents them from appreciating the long-term harm caused by inappropriate sexual activity.

In this case, the offending only came to light because of the serious impact, which necessitated input from mental health professionals. The harm done in this case must not be underestimated.

Evans was first arrested on May 17 last year, interviewed under caution, and answered no comment to all questions.

She was interviewed for a second time on June 14 under caution, and detailed an account that the victim had threatened her, that he had shown her a photograph of him in army gear and holding a rifle, and that his dad was connected to the UDA.

She said: It was no relationship, he is in complete control.

She ultimately claimed that the victim had raped her during a sexual encounter between them in the car, and described in great detail how he had directed her driving and pulled her into the back of the car.

Every aspect of that account was false, stated Judge Smyth.

The Belfast Recorder later commented that in truth, there is no explanation other than a selfish desire for attention and intimacy which she [Evans] considered was lacking in her relationship at that time.

Evans closed her eyes for the majority of the sentencing remarks, but broke down in tears when the judge recalled that the disgraced educator said that her false allegations were an attempt to protect her family from her actions, trying to delay the hurt and pain to her husband and family and due to the shame and guilt she experienced.

As well as her jail sentence, Evans will be placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and is subject to a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) for five years.

A spokesperson for the Belfast Boys Model School said they recognise what a difficult and distressing time this has been for the young person.

We fully understand the impact this has caused throughout the wider school community and would reassure all pupils and staff that the protection, safety and wellbeing of our pupils continues to be our highest priority.

They added that the school has robust safeguarding processes.
The details of Maurice Fehilly and Tom Traynors lives heard in the victim impact statements were in sharp contrast to the stories of Phillips and Stanners.

TWO innocent motorbikers were mowed down when they ran into a car chase between two men caught up in Limericks lethal underworld.

Maurice Fehilly died at the scene of the crash in 2020 and his friend Tom Traynor two years later after going through multiple surgeries.

They had been on trip from Clonmel with another friend Tom Conway to look at motorbike for sale in Limerick.

It should have been straight forward spin but then they encountered Daniel Phillips driving his van on the wrong side of the road being pursued by Michael Stanners.

This week Daniel Phillips who pleaded guilty to dangerous causing death and serious harm and Michael Stanners who was found guilty of endangerment after a trial faced a sentence hearing at Limerick Circuit Court.

Michael Stanners

The details of Maurice Fehilly and Tom Traynors lives heard in the victim impact statements were in sharp contrast to the stories of Phillips and Stanners.

Phillips was lucky to survive after being shot in the head and chest by a notorious gangland thug in 2010 as he sat in a car.

Shane Mason, who is a cousin of the Collopy brothers, got a 16-year- sentence in 2012 for the shooting in which Phillips was left for dead.

During that case it was heard how Phillips had spent a month in a coma after bullet fragments were removed from his skull and chest.

Then in 2021 Phillips pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to a charge of possessing an improvised handgun and 88 bullets.

The weapon and ammo were found on the Ennis Road on March 26, 2020 after gardai found a package which was thrown from a car during a pursuit which involved members of the Armed Response Unit.

Crash victims Maurice Fehilly and Tom Traynor

Stanners, a relative of gangland killer David Frog Eyes Stanners who died in prison, also has a dark past connected to the dangerous feuding in Limerick city that has claimed at 19 lives.

As a much younger man he was found guilty of taking part in a 2003 petrol bomb attack on a house in County Clare where an innocent relative of murdered gang boss Kieran Keane lived.

The target who was in the house at the time told how the petrol bomb smashed through his window in the attack for which Stanners got a 12-year sentence.

In contrast a picture of Maurice Fehilly and Thomas Traynor emerged as family men who shared a passion for motorbikes.

Dozens of bikers performed an escort for Maurice Fehillys remains when he was laid to rest five years ago.

The PARC Road Safety Group posted a tribute last January to mark the fifth anniversary of the tragedy.

Maurice was killed in the crash and his friend Tom sadly died two years later. May they rest in peace.

Our thoughts are with both families and all of Maurice and Tom's large circle of friends.

In her victim impact statement, as reported by the Limerick leader, Maurices wife Loraine asked how to explain the tragedy to their son with multiple disabilities.

Every occasion that should be celebrated is an occasion now tinged with sadness because he is not here. This is something we will all continue to suffer through the rest of our lives.
Photos posed on the prison services social media pages show the red-coloured drone and a pile of drugs alongside mobile phones

Drugs and mobile phones that were seized by prison staff

The drone that was seized

The Irish Prison Service has released images of a drone that had been intercepted while delivering a large quantity of contraband to Wheatfield Prison in Dublin earlier today.

Photos posed on the prison services social media pages show the red-coloured drone and a pile of drugs alongside mobile phones.

The high-level engagement and sharing of intelligence with gardai on a regular basis had resulted in the seizure of contraband, arrests and significant disruption to organised crime involved in smuggling contraband into Irish prions, they posted.

An Garda Siochana continues to support the Irish Prison Service operationally with ongoing operations in each relevant Garda Division, they added.

This includes Operation Throwover which is intended to disrupt, interdict and prosecute attempts to introduce contraband into prisons.

Prison staff have increased the use of random and intelligence led cell searches on a daily basis, the service added.

Our Canine Unit carry out searches around the prisons, including a greater focus on searching deliveries into prisons.

Prisoners, visitors, staff or members of the public with information on the trafficking of prohibited items into prisons can pass it on in the strictest confidence.

There is a free confidential telephone line (1800855717) and text line (0861802449) which is operational.

Just last month, a Dublin man became one of the first people arrested in a crackdown on criminals using drones to smuggle drugs into jails.

He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale and supply after being caught with a drone and heroin that he was intending to fly into a Dublin prison.

Drugs and mobile phones that were seized by prison staff

Wayne McDonnell, with an address at St Finians Avenue, Lucan, Dublin, was charged under section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act that he had in his possession a drone with the intent to fly drugs into Cloverhill Prison.

The 39-year-old was arrested in a field near the remand prison in west Dublin on February 12 of last year in possession of the drone and 1,400 worth of heroin, following a reported flight over the jail.

He appeared before the Courts of Criminal Justice on February 13, when he entered a plea of guilty to the charge.

McDonnell was arrested as part of Operation Throwover  a joint initiative by gardai and the Irish Prison Service to keep drugs out of prison facilities.

He will now be sentenced on March 24.

Blanchardstown District Court heard previously that the incident happened on February 12 last year.

Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan said gardai got a call at 6.45pm on the day about a drone flight over Cloverhill prison.

On searching the area, the accused was allegedly located in a field adjacent to the prison.

Gardai conducted a search and found a container with 1,400 worth of suspected heroin inside. McDonnell was arrested.

At that sitting, Judge David McHugh said having considered the evidence that a drone was allegedly seen over the prison and the quantity of drugs involved, he was refusing jurisdiction.

The matter was then sent forward, with McDonnell accepting his guilt on February 13 this year.

A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service said they were committed to preventing the access of contraband into prisons and that this continues to be a high priority for the Irish Prison Service.
Gardai attached to the Divisional Armed Support Unit carried out a search of a vehicle in Cavan town while on routine patrol shortly before 8pm

Four teenagers have been arrested after armed gardai stopped a stolen car last night following a series of raids on businesses in counties Cavan and Monaghan.

Gardai attached to the Divisional Armed Support Unit carried out a search of a vehicle in Cavan town while on routine patrol shortly before 8pm.

The occupants of the car, four male juveniles aged in their late teens, were arrested with assistance from gardai in Cavan Community Engagement and Crime Units.

Gardai say a number of items were recovered from the vehicle that had been the subject of an unauthorised taking earlier in Dublin 22.

Three of the four arrested males have been released pending referral to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, a Garda spokesperson said.

The fourth juvenile male remains in custody at a Garda station in the Cavan/Monaghan Division.

Gardai added that investigations are ongoing.
He was part of a criminal gang that smuggled between 25 and 99 aliens during October and November 2024.

THE organiser of an Irish people-smuggling ring into the United States is facing up to five years behind bars after cutting a plea deal with prosecutors.

AJ Oshier pleaded guilty to four counts of people smuggling and conspiracy which carried a minimum mandatory five-year sentence.

He was part of a criminal gang that smuggled between 25 and 99 aliens during October and November 2024.

One Irish citizen caught by Border Patrol agents near the border in New York state told officers had paid Can$3,500 to get into the country from Canada.

After his initial arrest Oshier refused to name the person referred to in court documents as Co-conspirator 1 but was listed on his phone as Elevated Siding and Roofing.

Under the plea agreement filed early this month prosecutors agreed not to bring any further federal charges against him from this investigation.

In return, Oshier loses his right to appeal against any sentence that is five years or less.

In the agreement document the case against Oshier was laid out.

The defendants role was to coordinate the smuggling events with Co-conspirator-1 and hire people to transport the aliens from Canada to the Northern District of New York and then further into the United States.

The defendant received cash payments for his role from other co-conspirators.

He is now due for sentence in July this year after a pre-sentence report has been made available to the court.

The indictment against him was made public last December after the operation by Border Patrol agents.

After his arrest he told arresting officers he had been involved in smuggling Irish people after being approached in October 2024.

He also admitted that he believed some of Irish were involved with criminal activity who mostly went to New York city.

One group arrested on 7 November as they tried to cross included a man named Andrew Cash who admitted to agents he had just crossed into the US with his family.

The family group had set off cameras as they walked to the rendezvous and were later stopped in an SUV with the driver and another man.

Cash said he got the drivers phone number from AJ who was co-ordinating the operation but deleted the phone details when stopped by border agents out of fear.

He said he was travelling with his family to look for work in New York or Boston and was on the way AJs house in Massena to pay.

Both Cash and the woman with him said they were born in Ireland and were Irish citizens while two of the children had US passports and the third a Canadian one.

It was also stated in the criminal complaint that it was discovered there was an outstanding arrest warrant for Cash from Boston.

One of the men hired to do the pick-up said he was paid 250 by AJ and was also paid with crack cocaine which he and the other man smoked before smuggling the group.

The other man said he was separately paid Can$1,000 by Cash to drive him to New Jersey.

Oshier was also linked to another incident in which a boat on the St Lawrence river got in trouble with four people on board two of whom were illegal immigrants.

The smugglers told border agents they were paid in cash and drugs including fentanyl for making the smuggling trip.

Then on 8 November agents got information that Oshier was going to attempt to bring in 15 people by boat and set up surveillance on his home.

Two people who went out in boat got into trouble and had to be rescued which left Oshier distraught according a source of information.

The origanal criminal complaint sated how Oshier feared law enforcement would be onto him as a result and he wanted to leave town as soon as he had enough money.

The following day 14 people were successfully landed from across the river and got away in multiple vehicles.

Then on 11 November another group of nine linked to Oshiers operation were caught near the river and told agents they were UK citizens.

Two days later officers swooped Oshiers home in Masseda, New York and in an interview he admitted his involvement in the smuggling ring.
The 26-year-old is charged with attempting to murder the two women at a bungalow on Stream Street in the town on Friday morning

This is the man accused of attempting to murder two women and having a zombie knife following an incident in Co Down.

Jason Rhodes stood in handcuffs in the dock of Belfast Magistrates Court on Saturday following his arrest in Downpatrick on Friday.

The 26-year-old is charged with attempting to murder the two women at a bungalow on Stream Street in the town on Friday morning.

He is also accused of having a zombie knife with intent to commit murder, possession of cocaine and cannabis and assaulting a police constable.

Police at the scene on Stream Street in Downpatrick

Flanked by two prison officers, Rhodes nodded to confirm he understood the charges.

No application for bail was made and District Judge George Conner adjourned the case to April 10.

Rhodes, whose address was given as Stream Street in Downpatrick, was led back into custody and will appear via videolink at the next hearing.

One of the victims was a 35-year-old woman who suffered a serious knife wound to her neck, and other cuts to her head and face.

A woman in her 50s also suffered stab wounds.

Both were taken to hospital from the scene, one by air ambulance. Their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Jason Rhodes

Watch: Forensics at the scene of stabbing in Co. Down
Curtis Johnson has been jailed for drug-related charges relating to his deals on behalf of the prolific prison gang

A repeat offender is back behind bars for selling meth for the notorious Irish Mob in the US.

Curtis Johnson has been jailed for drug-related charges relating to his deals on behalf of the prolific prison gang.

Johnson admitted to selling meth for the Irish mob after he was stopped by Oklahoma City police on Reno Avenue with a bag of meth in his pocket and $1,500 in his car.

According to cops, as they carried out the traffic stop, a high-ranking member of the Irish mob, who is currently in federal prison, repeatedly called Johnson's phone.

Johnson who has had prior convictions for burglary, identity theft, and grand larceny, was on probation at the time of his arrest.

He now faces drug trafficking as well as illegal proceeds charges and is being held in the Oklahoma County jail on a $100,000 bond.

Last year, an Oklahoma man linked to the Mob was sentenced to life in prison for ordering the murder of a fellow gang member from behind bars.

Zachary Millard (37) was convicted on multiple charges including murder earlier in October for the death of Mitchell Roberts in Tulsa three years previously.

Roberts died during a home invasion in September 2021, when three men forced their way into his house and shot him to death.

According to court documents, the Tulsa Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) collaborated on the investigation.

Investigators discovered that Millard, an inmate at the Dick Conner Correctional Center, had used a contraband cell phone to orchestrate Robert's murder from prison.

A Osage County judge sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the murder charge, 30 years for burglary, one year for conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor, and five years for gang-related offenses.

The alleged shooter, Christopher Taylor, died before charges could be filed.

However, Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has stated that six co-defendants who are also associated with the Irish Mob, have already pleaded guilty to various charge related to this crime.

"This conviction sends a strong message that prison gang members will be held accountable for their activities to perpetrate violence inside or outside prison walls," Brett Mize, first assistant District Attorney, District 10, said, according to KTUL NewsChannel 8.

"I am grateful for the coordinated efforts in the investigation between the Tulsa Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security along with the meticulous prosecution prepared by Heather Anderson and the Attorney General's Office."

Attorney General Gentner Drummond added: "This incident highlights how critical it is to keep contraband from entering correctional facilities.

"When inmates gain access to prohibited items like cell phones, it undermines the safety of both prison staff and the public."
It all just happened in the blink of an eye, the roof just collapsed on us, it felt so scary

Revellers react in horror as the roof falls to the street (in the background)

Students pictured on the roof moments before it collapsed

The frightening moment a roof collapsed as St Patrick Day revellers celebrated on a house in Pittsburgh has been caught on camera.

The footage shows crowds of people gathered on the roofs of houses as a party-goers dance on the street below.

As the camera pans over the scenes of jubilation, in the back ground a porch suddenly gives way.

There are screams of horror from those witnessing the scenes unfold.

According to local media reports, the celebration was taking place near the University of Pittsburgh in the Oakland aera of the city.

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Sixteen people suffered injuries and were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Three of the victims were reportedly in serious condition while 13 others sustained minor injuries.

Pittsburgh Public Information Officer Emily Bourne told CBS News there were hundreds of University of Pittsburgh students in the area at the time the roof collapsed.

Authorities say it was lucky no one who was harmed in the incident died.

Students who were at the scene told how they had to help pull others out by lifting part of the porch that had collapse on tip of them.

Dave Rentzel, who was at the party, told KDKA-TV: "I was just scared for everybody that was down there.

"I was just sitting to the side and I saw it fall down."

Michael Estocin who was on the roof when it fell, added: It all just happened in the blink of an eye, the roof just collapsed on us, it felt so scary, I really don't have the words to comprehend how I felt in the moment."It just fell," said Carlton Gbur, who was under the roof when it fell. "Everyone was having fun and then no one was having fun."

Pittsburgh Public Information Officer Emily Bourne told CBS News there were between 300-500 students in the courtyard at that time of the incident.

The scene has since been cleared and the rest of the building has been declared stable.

She also said the students should feel lucky it wasn't worse.

Meanwhile university has sent out a memo urging students to stay off of roofs as they celebrate this weekend.
We wish to make clear that the people of Ireland stand with the Palestinians in their search for peace and justice in their homeland

The Honorary President of the Cork Council of Trade Unions, Joe Kelly, presents a bowl of shamrock to Kanan, a young representative of the Palestinian community, outside Connolly Hall, Lapps Quay, Cork City

A bowl of shamrock was presented to the Palestinian community in Cork yesterday as an Occupied Territories Bill banner was unveiled in the city.

The Cork Council of Trade Unions made the presentation at an event as the new banner was hung from the SIPTU headquarters at Connolly Hall on Lapps Quay.

The banner calls on the Government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill, which would ban the import of Israeli goods produced in certain areas.

The Honorary President of the Cork Council of Trade Unions, Joe Kelly, alongside the Mayor of Cork, Dan Boyle, and President of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions, Finbar Geaney all attended the unveiling.

They presented a bowl of shamrock to Kanan, a young member of the Palestinian community, at a lunchtime ceremony outside Connolly Hall.

Mr Kelly said the bowl of shamrock symbolises the continuing solidarity between the people of Ireland and Palestine.

Just as we have strong links to the people of America, through our shared history of oppression and long search for peace, our people are now similarly linked to Palestine, he said.

Cork Council of Trade Unions spokesperson and SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Adrian Kane, added: This week, the Taoiseach Micheal Martin handed a bowl of shamrock to Donald Trump in Washington

While we understand the political necessity in the Taoiseach maintaining what is a several-decades long tradition, we feel it is equally essential that we mark the continuing oppression of the Palestinian people by Israel with the backing of the USA.

Mr Kane refereed to US President Donald Trump who has threatened to remove the Palestinian population from Gaza and turn the area into some form of holiday resort, in what would amount to the largest case of ethnic cleansing of a population since World War Two.

He added: By our symbolic presentation of a bowl of shamrock to the Cork Palestinian community we wish to make clear that the people of Ireland stand with the Palestinians in their search for peace and justice in their homeland.

The Government must live up to its commitment to the people of Ireland and Palestine by enacting the Occupied Territories Bill immediately.

We cannot accept products or services in Ireland which are produced on land illegally stolen from the Palestinian people.

Also in attendance at the ceremony was the SIPTU Honorary President, Mary OSullivan, Senator Laura Harmon and several Cork City councillors.
The low-cost airline collected the most complaints for baggage-related issues, with a total of 248

Ryanair is being sued in Spain over its abusive charging policy for hand luggage.

The Spanish Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) has filed a lawsuit with the countrys Court of Appeals seeking precautionary measures against Ryanair and other low-cost carriers, it has been reported.

The Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and the 2030 Agenda has already sanctioned the Irish airline and four other low-cost airlines with a 179 million fine, according to local media.

Now, the consumer group has appealed to the National Court to adopt measures so that the sanctioned airlines will temporarily stop charging for carry-on baggage and other abusive practices, according to a statement.

It has recommended that consumers complain about "the inappropriateness of these supplements".

It has also urged those who have already filed complaints about the practise to keep the documents that "reflect these abuses in order to pursue them in court if necessary.

In 2024, the OCU received 1,139 complaints through the online platform Reclamar, El Diario Cantabria reports, with Ryanair being the airline that collected the most complaints for baggage-related issues, with a total of 248.

The consumer rights group has also reminded the public that it has launched campaign to inform and facilitate consumers' complaints about airline abuses.
An Israeli takes part in a parade celebrating the Jewish holiday of Purim near Modi'in, Israel on March 14, 2025. Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman's plot during the reign of the ancient Persian Empire, according to the Biblical Book of Esther. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Israelis take part in a parade celebrating the Jewish holiday of Purim near Modi'in, Israel on March 14, 2025. Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman's plot during the reign of the ancient Persian Empire, according to the Biblical Book of Esther. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)
Do you dream of seeing your stories come to life on screen?

Tauranga Tablereads, a dynamic new initiative, is helping turn that vision into reality.

Born from the Film Bay of Plenty Screenwriters group, Tauranga Tablereads aims to foster local talent and create opportunities in the film industry.

Launched in March 2020 as New Zealand went into lockdown, the group connected via Zoom for weekly meetings that featured guest speakers, workshops, table reads, and peer support on screenwriting projects.

When the country moved to Level 1, the group moved to in-person meetings, holding monthly screenplay table reads with the support of Priority One and Film Bay of Plenty.

This led to exciting collaborations, including short films, Taurangas first full-length documentary, Taking Back Our Beach, and the development of ideas for TV series and films.

In early 2025, a renewed focus on establishing a viable local film industry led to an emphasis on monthly table reads.

These sessions, typically held on the last Sunday of each month, offer an opportunity for screenwriters to see their work performed by actors and discuss ideas with filmmakers.

The first session of the year, held in January, featured a screenplay by Mana Davis, drawing actors and filmmakers even from the Waikato.

Helping to support the running of the screenwriters group and holding regular table reads is about more than just developing scripts, said Tauranga Tablereads co-founder Sarah Oemcke.

Its about building momentum for local production and fostering a thriving creative community.



Papamoa writer/producer and makeup artist Sophie Garth. Photo/Supplied.

The next monthly table read will take place on Sunday afternoon, March 23, showcasing two compelling screenplays: Lighter by Papamoa writer/producer Sophie Garth and Tuesday at Barrys by Oemcke.

Lighter is a poignant story about grief and self-reinvention, set in a single night at a Papamoa Beach bar. The screenplay follows Daisy, a grieving young mother who is struggling to navigate life after loss.

What begins as a simple search for a lighter evolves into a profound journey through shifting friendships and the unexpected bond Daisy forms with a woman who understands survival in a way no one else does.

Garth, who has spent 15 years as a makeup artist, draws on her experiences hearing personal stories from people from all walks of life, creating deeply personal, character-driven narratives.

Tuesday at Barrys is a character-driven comedy series that explores the life of an anxious, reclusive man who starts an astronomy club in his backyard.

When his chaotic sister and her children move in, his carefully controlled world is turned upside down.

Set in suburban New Zealand, the series explores unlikely friendships, family dysfunction, and the beauty of connection, all wrapped in dry humour and heart.

Tauranga Tablereads welcomes actors, filmmakers, crew members, artists, and writers to participate in the table reads.

Listening to actors bring their words to life sharpens the script, sparks collaboration, and inspires action, Oemcke said.

If we want to see more stories told from this region, it begins by bringing people together into the same room; sharing ideas, supporting one another, and laying the foundation for a stronger, more connected filmmaking community.

If youre interested in participating in Tauranga Tablereads, contact the organisers at taurangatablereads@gmail.com or via Facebook.
Libelle Groups Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches operation is set to be sold to Compass Group New Zealand Ltd under a conditional agreement.

The Liquidators of Libelle Group, Robert Campbell and David Webb, have agreed to a conditional sale of the companys Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches programme to Compass Group New Zealand.

Libelle had been contracted by Compass to deliver around 125,000 meals daily under the government-funded initiative before the company was placed into liquidation on March 11.

To maintain meal supply, the Liquidators entered an operational services agreement with Compass.

This will remain in place until the final conditions of the sale are completed.

The Liquidators are pleased to have been able to reach an agreement with Compass that will see the continuity of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches programme, Webb said.

We appreciate the combined efforts of the Compass and Libelle teams in continuing to provide school lunches with minimal disruption while we negotiated a solution for the business, he said.

Paul Harvey, Managing Director of Compass Group New Zealand, welcomed the acquisition.

Our teams are united in our commitment to providing lunches every school day to tamariki in our communities, Harvey said.

Since the unexpected announcement on Tuesday, we have ensured continuity of operations, with over 500,000 meals delivered this week and 97.3% delivered on time.

This demonstrates how resilient our people are. We are now looking forward, ensuring everyone is supported through this transition, he said.

Employees were notified of the conditional sale this afternoon, and the Liquidators are discussing ongoing arrangements with them today.

Meanwhile, the Liquidators have determined that Libelles Champion Tuckshops division is no longer viable.

As a result, these business units will close, effective immediately.

The affected employees were informed yesterday.

We appreciate this was very difficult news for the Champion Tuckshops and other non-school lunch business employees to hear, Webb said.

We also know the decision to close this part of the Libelle business will impact the schools who rely on the service.

However, we have been heartened by the offer from two businesses to continue providing food supplies to those schools.

Affected schools have been given the details of those suppliers, he said.

The Liquidators continue to work with relevant parties on the permanent transition of Libelles Ka Ora, Ka Ako business to Compass and will keep stakeholders updated.
Dear reader,

You should consider yourself lucky if you dont know what its like to wait for hours for treatment in a hospital emergency room. At the end of 2022, I spent several days in Upstate University Hospitals emergency room after my mom had a stroke and the hospital had no rooms available for her. I saw firsthand the overcrowding and chaos in the hallways and waiting room that weve been reporting on for several years.

Last week, reporter Doug Dowty and video journalist Scott Trimble gave readers a rare, inside look at what its like for both patients and the medical staff inside the regions only Level 1 trauma center. Doug says the hospital has known for a decade that it needs a bigger, more modern emergency room and this is a crucial time for its future.

There is momentum from the state legislative delegation, the State University of New York and even Gov. Hochul, to set aside an historic amount of money -- $450 million  in this years budget, Doug said. Syracuse.coms coverage of the ER over the last several years has been instrumental in raising concern here and in Albany. This story was intended to keep the spotlight on our dangerously overwhelmed ER to get it fixed as soon as possible.

In their reporting, Doug and Scott had to take particular care to protect the patients privacy while still giving readers an accurate view of the situation at Upstate. Our work over the past several years definitely helped build the trust needed for that level of access.

Syracuse.com has been at the forefront in raising alarm over the state of the ER. Last year, we wrote a story detailing their behind-the-scenes efforts to win support for a new ER annex. In December, we broke a story about the regions state legislators joining the cause, Doug said. Two years ago, reporter Jim Mulder wrote an extensive account of the problems at Upstate and other ERs.

Scott added, I earned a lot of trust with the hospital administration and media relations team over the years covering sensitive stories at Upstateincluding documenting their battle on the frontlines of COVID nearly 5 years ago. They knew they could trust my approach to being sensitive to patient privacy. I looked at the mass of people in the hallways, the waiting room, and went for angles to best represent that without identifying them. Tricks of lighting, tight angles, and thoughtful compositions were all key in conveying the situationthe hospital emergency center is overwhelmed and out-of-date.

Dougs reporting detailed the real-life implications of the inadequacies of the emergency room. Last year, 1 in 7 adult patients left without being seen due to the long wait times. While Doug and Scott were there, they witnessed scary situations: A baby struggled to breathe and had to be treated in the adult space because there wasnt time to get him to the pediatric emergency room. That pushed more adult patients out into the already crowded hallway.

Its shocking that the regions most highly trained trauma team spends half its working day moving people around, or basically playing a grim game of Tetris, as the head ER nurse put it. Think how much time and energy could be redirected to patient care if Upstate had an adequate ER, Doug said. Everything about the ER is unfathomable to those (like me) who dont work under the incredible pressure of saving lives every day. The pivot nurses made to save the babys life after he stopped breathing is something Ill remember my entire career.

Scott was also impressed by how well the doctors and nurses worked in such crowded chaos. The halls are narrow and crammed with hospital beds of patients, with medical staff trying to weave in and around them. Sadly, every patients personal business on display for all the hospital to see. Prisoners are sharing the hallways, handcuffed to beds. It was all a very uncomfortable situation. But despite it all, there was a communal hive mind that worked with the medial team that seemed to keep them on top of it all so well, he said.

Doug says it is looking good for this years state budget to allocate hundreds of millions of dollars to give Upstates ER the upgrade it needs. The bad news is that will take years to complete. In the meantime, Doug offers this advice to Central New Yorkers who find themselves in need of a trip to the emergency room: Upstates ER provides the most advanced care to the sickest in the Syracuse area and beyond. But those who dont need such specialized services may not get prompt care. Unless a life is in immediate danger, consider going to a different ER, if possible.

If you have any feedback or questions for Doug and Scott you can reach them directly at: ddowty@syracuse.com and strimble@syracuse.com
Manlius, N.Y.  A long line of over 350 people carrying signs crowded the road near the Tesla service center in the town of Manlius Friday to protest against Elon Musk.

Hey, hey, ho, ho, Elon Musk has got to go, people chanted.

Passing cars honked, many in support of the protesters. At least one car with a Trump bumper sticker drove by, receiving a middle finger from the crowd. A handful of Tesla cars passed by as well, most not honking in support.

The protest was part of a nationwide response to President Donald Trumps federal cuts and Musks leadership role in the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

The crowd of protesters arrived at 4 p.m. and within minutes stretched from the Tesla service center at 5427 N. Burdick St. to the edge of the Carrabbas in the Towne Center at Fayetteville.

Throughout the country there have been anti-Tesla protests since DOGE pushed for the federal government to lay off thousands of workers.

Most of the protests have been peaceful. In a few cases, there has been vandalism at the billionaires electric vehicle dealerships, fires at Tesla charging stations and more acts of outrage, sometimes ending in arrest.

The protest was initially shared as a Tesla takedown, said Steve Simon, 71, who helped organize the protest. But it became more than just calling out Musk, he said.

People who normally wouldnt show up at a protest, people who normally wouldnt call their senator or their Congress person are taking action because regular people who may not even be political or who voted for him, are seeing impacts and potential impacts to Social Security, to the federal workforce, to Medicaid to Medicare, to school lunches, to the Department of Education and so on down the line, he said.

Musks actions are alarming because hes a businessman, not an elected official, said Sarah Pralle, a public policy professor at Syracuse University.

Running a business is very different from running a government and I think hes doing a lot of disruption, she said. Were going to be paying for this years down the road in terms of cutting all these government agencies and services.

Word spread about the protest, and the number of people who showed up means many feel hurt by Trump and Musks decisions, Simon said.

As a retiree, Simon collects Social Security. He said hes concerned Social Security offices could close or be slower due to job cuts.

Simon fears that Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP and many other federal assistance programs might be next on the chopping block.

I need that check, he said. Im not ashamed to say that I dont have a lot of other money. If they take that away or mess with that money, Im hurt personally.

Each sign held by a protester pointed out something disliked about the recent presidential administration. Some called out Musks behavior, like his hand gesture at Trumps 2025 inauguration rally.

Other signs focused on the elimination of diversity initiatives.

I support democracy and equality, so I want to see us all come together like today and push back, said Scott Rudy, 38.

Laura Ryan, 56, has lived in Syracuse for over 30 years. She and her partner, Cabrina Gilbert, 58, have been attending protests for years, including the Equality March in Washington, D.C. in 2009.

Coming out and showing support was nothing new, Gilbert said. But seeing the crowds of people who also feel uncomfortable or hurt by the current administration may help others voice how they feel, she said.

Theres a lot of people that drove by today that may not have had an opinion, or they did have an opinion, and when they saw all the people lined up here that strengthened whatever opinion they had. It may have even changed it a little bit, like if that many people will line up along this street and hold signs, then I can do it, or I can do better, Gilbert said.

The protest remained peaceful as Manlius police asked attendees to stay on the shoulder of North Burdick Street as there are no public sidewalks near the area and they could not be on private property.

People here, you notice, arent destroying the Tesla property, Simon said. Theyre respecting the property line. Theyre not hurting anyone. Its a symbol. Elon Musk made billions of dollars with that business, and he now wants to hurt average Americans and poor Americans.

Staff writer Timia Cobb covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at tcobb@syracuse.com.
Binghamton Firefighter John JR Gaudet died in the line of duty while fighting a fire in downtown Binghamton, N.Y. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. Provided by the Binghamton Fire Department

Binghamton, N.Y.  A man has been charged with murdering a firefighter who died battling a blaze last month in Upstate New York.

Patrick K. Shea has been charged with intentionally starting the fire that killed Binghamton Firefighter John JR Gaudet. The 36-year-old man has been charged with murder and arson.

Officials announced the arrest this afternoon  just over one month after Gaudet, a husband and father, died in the line of duty.

The deadly fire at 1 and 3 Main St. in downtown Binghamton was reported around 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 12. When Binghamton firefighters arrived at the scene, the vacant building in the Southern Tier was engulfed in flames, Mayor Jared M. Kraham said during todays news conference.

While battling the blaze, part of the burning building collapsed  trapping Gaudet beneath the debris, Kraham said.

Other Binghamton firefighters on scene quickly jumped into action and were able to free a fellow brother from that rubble, the mayor said. And tragically, as our community knows, Firefighter Gaudet was later pronounced dead at Wilson Hospital.

Gaudet was 40 years old. He is survived by his wife, three young children, and many other loved ones.

After a dogged, very extensive investigation, Binghamton detectives determined the fire inside the vacant building was started by human involvement, the mayor said. Hours of surveillance video and interviews led police to a suspect: Shea.

Shea, who the mayor said has no permanent address, was indicted this week by a Broome County grand jury and charged with second-degree murder and fourth-degree arson, both felonies.

He was arrested at a home in Kirkwood and arraigned Friday in Broome County Court. He is now being held in the Broome County Correctional Facility without bail.

Binghamton Police Detective Capt. Cory Minor declined to specify how the fire was started. While the case remains under investigation, he said he doesnt expect anyone else to be charged.

The mayor thanked every agency who helped investigate the case  from the fire investigators with the states Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to Binghamton police Sgt. Jon Keller, who Kraham said did not let this case rest.

Kraham also praised the still-grieving Binghamton Fire Department.

These last few weeks have been, without question, incredibly challenging for the department, the mayor said.

I am so proud of their resilience, the way that theyve stepped up for each other, and the way that theyre stepping now to stand shoulder to shoulder with law enforcement as we announce this indictment and allow the prosecution to move forward.
Drifting snow piles up at the Constableville home of Stan Kraeger on the Tug Hill Plateau in the winter of 2024-25.

Sylvan Beach, NY -- A flood watch will be in effect Sunday for a wide swath of Central New York due to the combination of rapid snow melt and forecasted rain.

The biggest chance of flooding could be around Fish Creek and the Erie Canal in Sylvan Beach, according to the National Weather Service. A huge amount of snow is melting off the Tug Hill Plateau, which could overwhelm the tributary to Oneida Lake.

We have already begun preparing for the worst, including the establishment of staging and evacuation areas, the Sylvan Beach Fire Department wrote on Facebook. We will elaborate upon this when the official forecast is made.

Between 0.75 and 1.25 inches of rain is expected to fall Sunday near Sylvan Beach, the weather service noted in the alert.

Theres a similar concern along the east and west branches of the Mohawk River, and downstream toward Delta Lake.

More generally, the weather service also issued a flood watch from Sunday morning through Monday evening for all of Oswego County due to similar concerns with snow melt and rain.

There is no rain expected until Sunday. But the Sylvan Beach fire department said its not too early to begin taking precautions for those along the waterway.

You need to begin begin packing things like family photos, documents (birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards), heirlooms and valuables in a waterproof and/or fireproof container in a location thats unquestionably safe from water, the fire department posted. A pallet or a few cinder blocks on your basement floor will not be sufficient under these conditions."
The big picture: With at least one court ruling that AI training does not qualify as fair use, OpenAI is looking to the Trump administration's upcoming AI Action Plan to help resolve ongoing copyright disputes. Due out in July, the plan could potentially classify AI training as fair use, granting AI companies unrestricted access to critical training data. OpenAI argues that such a move is essential for the US to maintain its competitive edge in the AI race against China.

US courts are currently grappling with whether AI training qualifies as fair use, with rights holders arguing that AI models pose a market threat by potentially replacing them and diluting creative output. OpenAI and several other AI companies are embroiled in multiple lawsuits, contending that AI transforms copyrighted works rather than serving as a direct substitute. However, a landmark ruling has already favored rights holders, with a judge determining that AI training does not constitute fair use, citing its direct threat to Thomson Reuters' legal research firm, Westlaw.

The debate is also unfolding internationally, as countries seek to balance copyright protections with the growing demand for AI training.

OpenAI asserts that its models do not replicate copyrighted works for public consumption but instead extract patterns and insights to generate new and distinct content. The company argues that this approach aligns with the fundamental principles of copyright and fair use doctrine.

"OpenAI's models are trained to not replicate works for consumption by the public. Instead, they learn from the works and extract patterns, linguistic structures, and contextual insights," OpenAI explained. "This means our AI model training aligns with the core objectives of copyright and the fair use doctrine, using existing works to create something wholly new and different without eroding the commercial value of those existing works."

During a public comment period, OpenAI urged the US to shift its copyright strategy to promote the AI industry's "freedom to learn," warning that restricting American companies from accessing copyrighted data  while Chinese firms face no such limitations  could cost the US its AI leadership.

"The federal government can both secure Americans' freedom to learn from AI and avoid forfeiting our AI lead to the PRC by preserving American AI models' ability to learn from copyrighted material," OpenAI stated.

The company also called for legal protections for AI firms, citing the strain caused by a patchwork of state regulations. As of 2025, legislative tracker MultiState has flagged 832 AI-related laws. OpenAI warned that mirroring the European Union's strict regulatory approach could stifle innovation, impose burdensome compliance costs, and weaken economic competitiveness and national security.

Instead, it proposed a federal law that preempts state regulations, offering a voluntary public-private partnership where AI companies share industry knowledge in exchange for liability protections.

OpenAI further urged the US to lead global discussions on copyright and AI to prevent less innovative countries from imposing restrictive legal frameworks on American firms. This includes assessing data availability and ensuring US companies retain access to critical training inputs. With China's rapid AI advancements, such as the open-sourced DeepSeek model, OpenAI cautioned that the US lead in AI is narrowing and requires urgent action to maintain.

Additionally, the company stressed that national security depends on unfettered access to AI training data and called for a balanced approach that fosters innovation while safeguarding intellectual property rights. As the US Copyright Office prepares to release further guidance on AI training in its upcoming report, the stakes are high for both AI firms and copyright holders.
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Rumor mill: Samsung's entry into 1.4nm-class manufacturing with its SF1.4 node would have represented a significant technological leap, offering enhanced power efficiency and performance over previous generations  a particularly crucial advancement for high-performance computing and AI applications. To gain a competitive edge, Samsung designed SF1.4 with a cost-effective approach to lower production costs, aiming to help them capture more market share.

Samsung Foundry had originally planned for the SF1.4 node to enter high-volume manufacturing by 2027 alongside other specialized nodes like SF2A  designed for automotive applications  and SF2Z, the company's first to incorporate backside power delivery technology.

But a recent rumor suggests that Samsung's ambitious 1.4nm node may be scrapped entirely. This speculation comes from trusted leaker @Jukanlosreve, casting doubt on the future of the process.

The potential setback is part of a broader series of challenges the company is facing.

Urgent: Samsung's SF1.4 might be canceled.



Are they planning to shut down Samsung Foundry?  Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) March 14, 2025

Samsung Foundry has struggled with subpar yields from its SF3 process, resulting in a delayed launch of the Exynos 2500. Additionally, the company has had to scale back parts of its older 5nm and 7nm nodes due to low demand.

Despite these setbacks, Samsung is reportedly continuing to develop the Exynos 2600 on its SF2 process and is working on AI chips for PFN. Furthermore, some of its 4nm nodes have received fresh orders from Chinese fabless companies affected by sanctions, according to Chosun.

However, major industry players continue to favor competitors like TSMC and Intel over Samsung. The Korea Economic Daily notes that Samsung Foundry's market share of 8.2 percent pales in comparison to TSMC's dominant 67.1 percent, which could lead to a significant overhaul within the company. Furthermore, Business Post suggests that the Exynos department may be transferred to Samsung MX, giving it more control over future smartphone system-on-chip designs.

Samsung's struggles in the semiconductor sector are compounded by broader challenges across its business divisions. The company recently reported a decline in market share across several key sectors, including smartphones and memory chips. Samsung's Mobile Division saw its market share drop to 28.3 percent in 2024, down from 30.1 percent in 2023, while its DRAM market share slipped to 41.5 percent from 42.2 percent.

The company is also facing geopolitical risks and raw material price volatility, which further complicate its operations.

In response to these challenges, Samsung is slashing its foundry investments for 2025 by more than half, reducing them to KRW 5 trillion ($3.5 billion), compared to KRW 10 trillion in 2024.
A pedestrian with an umbrella walks through a wood in the snow in Haidian District of Beijing, China, March 15, 2025. It snowed in Beijing along with a significant drop in temperature on Saturday. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Beijing experienced a sharp temperature drop on Saturday with multiple areas seeing snowfall. In response, municipal authorities decided to extend the heating season by two days, pushing it until Monday.

Zhao Wei, chief forecaster at the Beijing Meteorological Observatory, said a cold front caused rain-snow transitions, with moderate to heavy snow in western and northern mountainous areas and rain turning to sleet or snow in plains from Friday to Saturday.

Zhao added temperatures are expected to range from 6 degrees Celsius during the day to minus 2 degrees Celsius at night on Saturday, about 5 degrees Celsius lower than the levels on Friday.

As of 1 p.m. Saturday, the northern districts of Huairou, Yanqing and Miyun had issued a yellow alert for icy roads, forecasting snow in the daytime and the evening.

China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system for strong winds, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. 

This photo taken by a mobile phone shows pedestrians taking photos in the snow in Xicheng District of Beijing, China, March 15, 2025. It snowed in Beijing along with a significant drop in temperature on Saturday. (Xinhua/Xiao Xiao)

Pedestrians with an umbrella walk near Xuanwumen in Beijing, China, March 15, 2025. It snowed in Beijing along with a significant drop in temperature on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

This photo taken on March 15, 2025 shows a snow scene in Chaoyang District of Beijing, China. It snowed in Beijing along with a significant drop in temperature on Saturday. (Photo by Liu Jiaqi/Xinhua)

A pedestrian catches falling snowflakes near Xuanwumen in Beijing, China, March 15, 2025. It snowed in Beijing along with a significant drop in temperature on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Tourists visit the Temple of Heaven Park in the snow in Beijing, China, March 15, 2025. It snowed in Beijing along with a significant drop in temperature on Saturday. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Snowflakes fall on winter jasmine in Xicheng District of Beijing, China, March 15, 2025. It snowed in Beijing along with a significant drop in temperature on Saturday. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

This photo taken by a mobile phone shows tourists visiting China Aviation Museum in the snow in Changping District of Beijing, China, March 15, 2025. It snowed in Beijing along with a significant drop in temperature on Saturday. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

People walk in the snow at Civil Aviation Museum in Chaoyang District of Beijing, China, March 15, 2025. It snowed in Beijing along with a significant drop in temperature on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li He)
Google has unveiled an update to its artificial intelligence chatbot, Gemini, introducing a personalized experimental version known as "Gemini with Personalization." This new feature allows the chatbot to access users' search history to provide more personalized results and recommendations.

In a recent press release, Dave Citron, the product director of Gemini, shared the company's vision for the AI assistant. "With Gemini, we are creating an AI personal assistant that is not limited to answering general questions, but understands you," said Citron. He added, "All these updates are designed so that Gemini feels less like a tool and more like a natural extension of you."

Google emphasized that user privacy remains a priority with the new feature. The company clarified that Gemini will ask users for permission before connecting to their search history or other applications, and users can easily disconnect this connection whenever they want, according to ABC Color. CNET further reports that the personalization feature is activated only if the user agrees to personal data collection, applying an opt-in method.

The integration of search history enables Gemini to analyze queries more effectively. ABC Color explains that when a user asks a question, the chatbot will determine if their search history can improve the response. This approach allows Gemini to provide "insightful and directly needs-meeting answers," tailoring its responses to individual preferences.

Looking ahead, Google plans to expand Gemini's access to other applications. In the coming months, the chatbot will gain access to services such as Photos, Calendar, Notes, and YouTube, enhancing its ability to understand user activities and preferences, as reported by ABC Color. This expansion aims to further personalize the user experience by drawing from a broader understanding of individual interests.

The rollout of the personalized features is gradual. ABC Color notes that the mobile version is being released progressively and will be available in more than 40 languages in most countries. However, availability on the mobile app often lags behind the web version by a few days. The personalization feature will initially launch as an experimental option for Gemini and Gemini Advanced subscribers, web-only for now, in over 45 languages, and will expand to mobile over time.

Early testers have found the personalized Gemini helpful for brainstorming and getting tailored recommendations. Users can now ask prompts like "Where should I go on vacation?" or "I want to start a YouTube channel but need content ideas," where Gemini could tie the response to what it already knows about the user's interests.

The integration of the new Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking model enhances the chatbot's reasoning capabilities. With this model powering the chatbot, Deep Research now lays down its thought process and reasoning. This pairing is part of Google's effort to enhance the quality of its reports and provide more transparent responses.

Google also addressed potential privacy concerns. "This will enable Gemini to provide more personalized insights, drawing from a broader understanding of your activities and preferences to deliver responses that truly resonate with you," stated the company in a blog post. Hyper-personalization is an important trend among AI this year. Additionally, Google assures users that it will only reference a user's search results when it determines they can meaningfully improve the output.

Users can enable the personalization feature from the Gemini app in the browser if they are Gemini or Gemini Advanced subscribers. While some may feel uneasy about the AI reading search history, the utility it provides may alleviate privacy concerns over time.

Moreover, Gemini is set to improve at handling cross-app requests between Google's different services. Gizmodo reports that the AI assistant will enhance its integration with applications like Calendar and Photos, further enriching the personalized experience.

Google's updates to Gemini arrive shortly after competitive movements in the AI industry. ABC Color notes that these updates come just a month after the Chinese AI DeepSeek shook the U.S. tech market with its low costs.
Dozens evacuated in Italy's flood-hit Tuscany



Florence, Italy, March 14 (AFP) Mar 14, 2025



Italian authorities ordered dozens of people in Tuscany to leave their homes on Friday after heavy rains swelled rivers and flooded streets near the historic cities of Florence and Pisa.

Regional chief Eugenio Giani said a red weather alert demanded that people should exercise "maximum care and attention" amid "intense and persistent rain".

Several dozen people were told to evacuate with the help of firefighters from low-lying villages and a floodplain near Pisa, according to the ANSA news agency.

In Florence, the Uffizi Galleries -- the world-famous art museum -- closed early, as did the Duomo cathedral.

The fire service published images of cars partially submerged in the town of Sesto Fiorentino, north of Florence, as Giani told residents to keep clear of ground floors and basements.

"My thoughts go to the populations affected by the bad weather that is hitting various areas of Italy, causing serious damage and difficulties to citizens," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted on X.

The government would "guarantee all necessary support", she said.

More than 500 firefighters were working across Tuscany, the interior minister said, with more than 300 interventions either carried out or planned.

Bernardo Gozzini from the Tuscan weather service, Consorzio Lamma, told the Corriere della Sera newspaper that 60 millimetres (2.4 inches) of rain had fallen in the area around Sesto Fiorentino between 6:00 am and noon.

"In Florence, in the month of March, we usually have 70 millimetres of total precipitation," Gozzini said.

"In practice, it is as if a month's worth of rain had fallen in six hours."



- Floodgates opened -



Schools, parks and cemeteries in Florence and nearby Prato were already closed after an order on Thursday.

Giani said floodgates and expansion tanks had been opened to ease the pressure on the Arno, the river that runs through Florence and Pisa.

In Florence, the Arno swelled to its highest level in the early evening, Giani said, without breaking its banks. It was expected to reach its peak level in Pisa overnight.

Three people and their dog were hoisted to safety by helicopter in Gattaia, northeast of Florence, while in Fucecchio to the west, authorities set up beds for evacuees in a local gym.

Alessio Mantellassi, mayor of Empoli, said in a live post on Facebook that the situation "is worse than in 2019", when the town flooded.

"It's one of the hardest moments in recent history," he said.

In Pisa, army soldiers placed sand bags behind a barrier lining a swollen river, while the city's Mayor Michele Conti said the situation was "very complex" and urged residents to stay at home.

Across Tuscany's border in Emilia Romagna, where devastating floods left 17 people dead two years ago, authorities also issued a red weather warning.

Some rivers in the region, which includes the historic city of Bologna, were already swollen by previous downpours.

Michele de Pascale, president of Emilia Romagna, said there had been "very violent" weather on Friday morning.

"We must pay great attention, it is a basin that has been hit several times in recent years by floods," he said in a statement.

Scientists have repeatedly warned that man-made climate change amplifies the risk of natural disasters such as floods.
Mine operator ready to halt arbitration against Panama



Panama City, March 14 (AFP) Mar 14, 2025



The Canadian-owned operator of Central America's biggest copper mine on Friday signaled that it was ready to suspend multibillion-dollar arbitration proceedings against Panama over its closure.

The offer from Cobre Panama, which is controlled by Canada's First Quantum Minerals, came after it was authorized to export copper extracted before the open-pit mine was shut by the courts in 2023.

Following weeks of crippling protests over the Cobre Panama mine's environmental impact, Panama's Supreme Court in November 2023 ruled that a concession contract signed by former president Laurentino Cortizo's government was unconstitutional.

In response, the company initiated international arbitration proceedings seeking $20 billion in compensation.

"We have instructed our lawyers to meet with the government's legal team to work on suspending the arbitration," a Cobre Panama statement said Friday.

A day earlier, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino announced that he had authorized the firm to export the copper concentrate it had already extracted.

The decision was welcomed by Facundo Acosta, leader of a community near the mine, where dozens of people lost their jobs due to the work stoppage.

"This represents a very significant step forward for everyone: for the company, for the community members, for the workers," Acosta told AFP.

But Mulino's announcement was criticized by the national construction workers' union, Suntracs, one of the organizations that called for protests against the mine in 2023.

"He's trying to impose the opening of a mine that's opposed by the people. What's happening is unacceptable," Suntracs leader Saul Mendez said.

The mine had produced about 300,000 tons of copper concentrate a year, representing 75 percent of the country's exports and about five percent of its national economic output.

Cobre Panama, which has operated the mine on Panama's Caribbean coast since 2019, said it was satisfied with the government's decision.

"We reaffirm our willingness to engage in dialogue and find the best solution together, always with the goal of contributing to the well-being of the country and all Panamanians," it said.

Mulino said that the issue of possibly reopening the mine would "be addressed very responsibly," taking into account Panama's national interests.

fj-dr/sst
Florence out of danger thanks to key floodgate



Rome, March 15 (AFP) Mar 15, 2025



Florence was out of danger due to the "decisive" role of a key floodgate that prevented the Arno river from bursting its banks after heavy rains, Italian authorities said.

Dozens of people were evacuated from their homes Friday after the equivalent of a month's worth of rain fell in six hours, flooding streets and swelling waterways in Tuscany, the region where Florence is located.

"The important flood peak of the Arno passed along the entire length without any critical issues," Tuscany's president, Eugenio Giani, wrote on social media Saturday.

Giani said the region's floodgate and expansion basins were "decisive" in lowering the threat to the famous Renaissance city and surrounding areas, including Pisa.

"In these difficult hours, the hydraulic safety system of the region has made the difference despite the intense and persistent rainfall," he said.

On Saturday morning, the level of the Arno was at 3.87 metres (12.7 feet) and slowly receding, said Florence mayor Sara Funaro, who added that the levels of all tributaries had fallen below warning levels.

On Friday evening, the river had surpassed four metres.

A red weather alert remains in effect Saturday till 1400 GMT, with parks, cemeteries, markets, museums and libraries closed.

The Arno, which runs through Florence and Pisa, is prone to flooding in spring and fall.

A floodgate located between Pisa and Florence, which authorities ordered opened Friday afternoon, "literally knocked down the Arno flood wave that was rising," Giani said.

Construction of the floodgate began after a devastating flood in 1949. But it was not completed in time to help avert another massive flood in 1996 which killed over 100 people and destroyed or damaged countless works of art.

Approximately 500 firefighters worked over the past 24 hours to carry out 430 interventions in the provinces of Florence, Prato, Pisa and Livorno, including rescues, due to flooding, landslides, the fire service said.

Authorities were still responding to "critical issues" in certain towns outside Florence, he said.

Friday's red weather alert caused Florence's world-famous Uffizi Galleries to close early, along with the Duomo cathedral.

ams/ach




JOHANNESBURG, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The Presidency of South Africa has expressed regret over the expulsion of South African Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the presidency, it has noted the regrettable expulsion of the South African ambassador and urged all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter.

"South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States," said the presidency.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Rasool "persona non grata" on the social media platform X on Friday, following an earlier address by the South African ambassador in which he criticized U.S. President Donald Trump.

In the address, Rasool accused Trump of "leading a global white supremacist movement" and breaking down established norms and practices when it comes to diplomacy.

Trump signed an executive order in February to cut financial assistance to South Africa, citing disapproval of its land policy and accusing the country of "seizing ethnic minority Afrikaners' agricultural property." The move also came amid South Africa's genocide case against Washington's ally, Israel, at the International Court of Justice. 
Greek PM promises bold action after train disaster anger induces reshuffle



Athens, March 15 (AFP) Mar 15, 2025



Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted a stable-outlook economy, the disaster-hit transportation sector and migration as key areas of action for his new government sworn-in Saturday.

At the first cabinet meeting of his new team Mitsotakis stressed that the motto for their efforts is "faster and bolder".

The prime minister reshuffled the Cabinet Friday amid falling approval ratings, a week after the government overcame a no-confidence vote over its handling of a deadly 2023 train disaster, which has sparked protests in Athens and other cities since January.

Mitsotakis changed the heads of several top ministries including finance, transport, migration and civil protection.

The foreign and defence ministers were unchanged.

Regarding the economy, Mitsotakis emphasised a Moody's upgrade on Friday amid "international volatility and great economic uncertainty"

"At this juncture, Greece still has one of the highest growth rates in Europe. It is first in employment growth among the 27 (EU) countries," said Mitsotakis.

"I think it is also proof of the importance of stability in the country, but also of the right course that our government has set", he said.

Moody's on Friday upgraded Greece's credit rating, pulling the country out of junk territory.

Along with the ratings elevation from Ba1 to Baa3, Moody's changed its outlook for Greece from positive to stable.

The other two major ratings agencies, S&P and Fitch, elevated Greece above junk status last year for the first time since 2010.

The prime minister said the new ministers tasked with infrastructure and transportation have made a personal commitment to drive major change.

The government has blamed state and human errors for the February 28, 2023 train crash when a train travelling from Athens to Thessaloniki carrying more than 350 passengers collided with a freight train at Tempe, near the central city of Larissa.

The two trains had travelled towards each other on the same track for miles without triggering any alarms. The disaster was blamed on faulty equipment and human error.

A protest held on the second anniversary of the tragedy drew hundreds of thousands of people nationwide, and has been described as the biggest demonstration in Athens since the fall of the Greek dictatorship in 1974.

An experts' report funded by the victims' families has claimed the freight train was carrying an illegal and unreported load of explosive chemicals, contributing to the high death toll.

Greece's state aviation and railway safety investigation agency last month said there was a "possible presence" of an "unknown fuel" at the scene which killed some survivors of the collision by triggering an "enormous ball of fire".

The train's operator, Hellenic Train, has denied knowledge of any illegal cargo.

Recent polls have found a broad majority of Greeks suspect the government is trying to cover up the case for which more than 40 people have been prosecuted.

A trial is not expected before year's end.

Speeding up migrant returns

Regarding migration policy, Mitsotakis said Saturday priority would be given to the return of undocumented migrants who do not have asylum.

"These developments require new measures requiring very correct and 'heavy' legal preparation. At the same time, legal, controlled migration must be given a more functional framework", Mitsotakis stressed.

Greece has seen a 25 percent increase in 2024 in the number of migrants arriving, with a 30 percent increase to Rhodes and the southeast Aegean, according to the migration ministry.

kan/cw



MOODY'S CORP.
Florence averts disaster thanks to key floodgate



Rome, March 15 (AFP) Mar 15, 2025



Florence was out of danger due to the "decisive" role of a key floodgate that prevented the Arno river from bursting its banks after heavy rains, Italian authorities said Saturday.

About 250 people were evacuated from their homes Friday after the equivalent of a month's worth of rain fell in six hours, flooding streets and swelling waterways in Tuscany, the region where Florence is located.

"The important flood peak of the Arno passed along the entire length without any critical issues," Tuscany's president, Eugenio Giani, wrote on social media Saturday.

Still, Giani said he would ask the government to declare a national emergency.

Rescue teams were still responding to various critical situations in towns outside Florence, and further west towards Pisa.

A newborn baby and two elderly people were among seven people near Pisa blocked in their homes by the flooding and rescued by firefighters Saturday, Giani said.

Firefighter videos taken from helicopters showed muddy, churning water flowing in the swollen Arno, and one area where a hillside had washed out from the rains.

Light rain on Saturday was expected to taper off by evening.

- 'Made the difference' -



Giani said the region's floodgate and expansion basins were "decisive" in lowering the threat to the famous Renaissance city of Florence and surrounding areas along the Arno's path.

"In these difficult hours, the hydraulic safety system of the region has made the difference despite the intense and persistent rainfall," he said.

On Saturday morning, the level of the Arno was at 3.87 metres (12.7 feet) and slowly receding, said Florence mayor Sara Funaro, who added that the levels of all tributaries had fallen below warning levels.

On Friday evening, the river had surpassed four metres, still below the 5.5-metre threshold that would have activated a further alert.

A red weather alert for the Florence area remained in effect until midday Saturday, with parks, cemeteries, markets, museums and libraries closed.

In other nearby areas, the red alert was extended until midnight.

The Arno, which flows west through Florence and Pisa, is prone to flooding in spring and fall.

A floodgate located between the two cities, which authorities ordered opened Friday afternoon, "literally knocked down the Arno flood wave that was rising," Giani said.

Construction of the floodgate began after a devastating flood in 1949. But it was not completed in time to help avert another massive flood in 1966 which killed over 100 people and destroyed or damaged countless works of art.

Approximately 500 firefighters worked over the past 24 hours to carry out 430 interventions in the provinces of Florence, Prato, Pisa and Livorno, including rescues, due to flooding, landslides, the fire service said.

As of Friday evening, 248 people had been evacuated from nine different communities, the regional authorities said.

Friday's red weather alert caused Florence's world-famous Uffizi Galleries to close early, along with the Duomo cathedral.

ams/ach/gv




Oil spill in Ecuador river brings emergency declaration



Quito, March 15 (AFP) Mar 15, 2025



An oil spill in northwestern Ecuador has turned a river black, prompting authorities to declare an environmental emergency amid "unprecedented" damage and to order residents to ration drinking water, officials said.

The spill, believed caused when a landslide ruptured a major oil pipeline, has turned waters black in a section of the Esmeraldas River, in the province of the same name.

The Emergency Operations Committee in the provincial capital, also called Esmeraldas, declared the environmental emergency.

Vilko Villacis, mayor of the city of more than 200,000 inhabitants, said the leak had caused "unprecedented" damages. His office halted the diversion of river water to an aqueduct supplying the city, and urged citizens to ration water.

On Friday, state-owned Petroecuador said it was working to address the emergency at the pipeline, part of the Trans-Ecuadoran Pipeline System (SOTE) which transports crude oil from the Amazon.

The company has not estimated the volume of oil spilled.

Ecuador last year produced 475,000 barrels of crude a day, exporting 72 percent of the total.

The SOTE is the most used pipeline system in the country, with the capacity to transport 360,000 barrels per day on the 500-kilometer (310-mile) journey from the Amazon to the Pacific coast.
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Kim Kardashian has received criticism over one of her most recent posts on Instagram.

On Friday, the Skims co-owner shared a series of photos from a shoot she did with Perfect Magazine, including one which shows her posing on a Tesla Cybertruck, while others show her embracing the companys robot.

Many fans were quick to turn to the comments section, highlighting how people are currently boycotting Tesla due to their opinions of the companys CEO, Elon Musk, who is currently assisting President Donald Trumps dismantling of the federal government.

She definitely picked a side, one person wrote in the comments with a red flag emoji.

Another commenter agreed, writing, Iconic! (If that truck was on fire!)

Well that's a very clear side just picked, the same one that sides with Russia. Not great, a third person wrote in the comments.

However, some of her fans were focused less on the Cybertruck and more on the reality stars physical appearance as they called her beautiful or stunning.

open image in gallery Kardashian shared photos from a photo shoot with Perfect Magazine ( Getty )

Kardashian does not appear to have been using the shoot to make a political statement, telling Perfect: I think the big joke of me even doing the shoot with the robot is that I feel like Im so robotic.

Although The Kardashians star did not publicly endorse a candidate during the presidential election, she sparked backlash in January after she appeared to show support for Melania Trump.

At the time, Kardashian shared a photo on Instagram from Donald Trumps inauguration. In the snap, Melania could be seen getting out of a car to attend the event wearing an overcoat and wide-brimmed hat.

Although Kardashian didnt include any caption when sharing the picture, fans on X quickly took it as an endorsement for the Republicans.

Successful billionaire, Kim Kardashian, has posted Melanie Trump on her Instagram story, one person wrote. We know who she voted for.

She definitely voted for her husband, another agreed.Kim Kardashian is really not hiding that she voted for Trump, a third wrote. In May 2018, Kardashian spoke to Trump in the Oval Office to specifically advocate for him to commute Alice Marie Johnsons sentence.

However, Donald has previously criticized Kardashian. In a rambling Truth Social rant, shared in November 2023, he called reality TV star-turned-social justice campaigner the worlds most overrated celebrity.

He also acknowledged that he helped with prisoner commutation, but only if deserving, and much more so for Kanye West, Kims ex-husband, than for Kim, who probably voted for Crooked Joe Biden.

open image in gallery The controversy around Teslas continued this week as Donald Trump turned the White House into a showroom for the electric vehicles. ( AP )

Earlier this week, Trump turned the White House into a Tesla showroom in support of Musk, who he branded a truly great American.

Teslas shares have plummeted by about 43 percent since Trump took office, while Tesla owners have been targeted and had their cars vandalized. To help arrest the slide, the president announced he would purchase a red Tesla Model S.
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When Kim Kardashian traveled with her sister Khloe to India last July for the wedding of Anat Ambani, shed assumed the experience would remind her of Disneys Aladdin  but to her surprise, it didnt.

In the most recent episode of The Kardashians on Hulu, cameras followed Kim and Khloe as they set off to Mumbai, India, on a quick 48-hour trip to celebrate the son of Mukesh Ambani, the wealthiest man in Asia, getting married to Radhika Merchant.

The two Los Angeles-based reality stars arrived in India for the first time at midnight. Before they went to sleep, Kim and Khloe did a fitting for their ceremonial looks, hoping to make the most of their short time overseas.

Were only here for 48 hours, and we do have a schedule, Khloe explained in her confessional with the shows producers. Were planning to go to some of the local markets before we have to go to the wedding so we can enjoy as much of India as possible.

open image in gallery Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian traveled to India for 48 hours to celebrate the wedding of Anat Ambani, the son of the wealthiest man in Asia, back in July 2024 ( Instagram/Kim Kardashian )

The 44-year-old Skims co-founder seconded her sisters statement, noting how she wanted to explore the city too.

The pair would be disappointed though, as, according to Kim, they thought the markets they were visiting would be similar to those seen in the 1992 Disney animation, which is set in the fictional Middle Eastern city of Agrabah, not India.

I thought it was going to be like the marketplace, Kim said. This is like the streets.

What you see Aladdin going through and stealing some bread from. This is where I thought we were going, she added.

It wasnt the only shock they were in for. The duo, who are used to being driven around L.A., were told they would be walking to the street sellers rather than being escorted by car or rickshaw.

The walk was less than pleasant for Kim, who was startled by everything around her, from the car horns to a stray dog.

open image in gallery Kim assumed her experience in Mumbai would be similar to what she saw in the 1992 Disney film Aladdin ( Hulu )

Oh! I dont do random dogs! she exclaimed, to which Khloe quipped: At least theres a Starbucks here.

In her confessional, Khloe joked: Were not in Calabasas anymore.

Theres rickshaws going by, everyone was so surprised, like: What the f*** are these people doing here? she added.

Kim described the setting of the street vendors as mayhem.

Online, viewers were appalled by Kims unrealistic expectations for what her time in India would look like, especially because the Disney picture is trying to depict an entirely different culture.

One commenter wrote: Agrabah and Aladdin isnt even based in India, its supposed to be the Middle East and is a fictionalized portrayal of Middle Eastern culture (or at least an attempt). They should have tried the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.

Spoiler: it wasnt a magic carpet ride! Guess she was expecting more, a second joked on X/Twitter.
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Meghan Markles upcoming podcast has been called out for its similarities to another podcast.

On Thursday, the Duchess of Sussex announced on Instagram that she would be launching a podcast starting on April 8, titled Confessions of a Female Founder. On it, she plans to speak to other female business owners about how they became successful, as Meghan plans to do the same with her own business.

However, people were quick to turn to X to point out that there is a podcast called Confessions of a CEO, on which Kelci Borges talks about her experience of being a female founder. There is also another podcast called Confessions of a Founder by Alysha M. Campbell and a YouTube series titled Confessions of a Female Founder by YouTuber Kady Meite.

Stealing ideas again, someone wrote on X, alongside a screenshot of one of Meites videos.

Another person agreed, writing, Well That didnt take long to figure out where Meghan Markle STOLE the idea for @LemonadaMedia. Shame on Meghan Markle for always STEALING ideas from Women & passing it off as her own.

Meghan Markles podcast was compared to other podcasts with similar names that all featured female CEOS and founders discussing their business success ( Netflix )

More like I confess from who I stole my business ideas, a third person posted on X.

However, speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle Meite acknowledged that while she appreciates her fans looking out for her, she acknowledges that coincidences also happen. I completely understand why people are drawing connections, and I truly appreciate the support and understand their intention. But I also understand coincidences as well, she said. It is highly unlikely Meghan even came across my channel but I am flattered by the thought.

What does concern me is how quickly this is turning into another reason to drag a woman down. Thats not something I want to contribute to. I know firsthand what it feels like to have my work actually copied...this isnt that, she added.

This isnt the first time Meghan has been accused of reusing brand names and logos that another company previously had.

Last month, she was accused of copying a small Majorcan towns coat of arms in her rebrand, As Ever, but the villages mayor confessed they couldnt afford to sue her. The news came shortly after she announced the relaunch of her lifestyle business after running into difficulties with the former American Riviera Orchards trademarking.

In addition to changing her brands name, she also introduced a new logo for the company comprised of a palm tree with two hummingbirds flapping their wings on either side of it.

However, a small Majorcan village, Porreres, in Spain, spoke out about Meghans logo, mentioning similarities with the towns official symbol. Porreres coat of arms also features a palm tree, with two swallows on each side.

Speaking to El Pais, the mayor of the municipality, Xisca Mora, claimed that As Evers logo is a total copy of Porreres coat of arms. Mora then also met with the legal service of the city council to discuss the next steps to handle the situation.

However, she confessed that Porreres does not have the financial backing to sue Meghan over the logo.

Reporting plagiarism is complicated and expensive, and a small town hall like ours is not in a position to fight against the English crown, she explained.

Mora said she planned to ask Meghans company to remove the logo as the design has been a meaningful symbol for Porreres since 1370. The mayor also noted that their coat of arms has been carved into many different buildings in the small town.

Speaking to The Independent, a representative for Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, defended her brands decision to use the logo.

The logo incorporates a palm tree as a nod to The Duke and Duchesss home in California, along with two hummingbirds  a favorite of Prince Harrys, they said in the statement.

The distinct shape enclosing the birds and tree was intentionally designed to create a unique and personal emblem. As part of the process, comprehensive global searches of registered trademarks were conducted.
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Tens of thousands of dollars have poured in to support a Connecticut man who police say recently escaped his father and stepmothers captivity of 20 years.

The 59 man, whose name has not been released, weighed just 70 pounds when he was rescued last month after setting the Waterbury home ablaze to save himself.

The 32-year-old, who estimates his alleged ordeal began when he was 11, had been confined in a tiny room with no heat or air conditioning, no bathroom access, and limited food and water for two decades.

In the weeks since the tragic story surfaced, donations have flowed into a GoFundMe page to support the victim. As of Saturday morning, the fundraiser had garnered more than $53,000 in contributions, and its goal is $70,000.

After first responders rescued him from the fire, he was treated for smoke inhalation and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. The funds will go toward his healthcare, therapy, housing, daily living expenses, and legal fees, according to the page that the nonprofit Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury set up.

Every donation, no matter how small, will help give this survivor a chance to heal, rebuild, and find peace. Please consider supporting him in his journey toward recovery and freedom, the fundraiser states.

open image in gallery The home that was set on fire by a man who wanted his freedom after allegedly being held captive for 20 years by his stepmother and father ( AP )

Officials say he was pulled from his school in fourth grade, and police conducted a welfare check in 2005 after his classmates expressed concern for his whereabouts.

After hearing the disturbing allegations, police launched an investigation, which revealed he had endured prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment, while a prosecutor this week referred to the man as being akin to a survivor of Auschwitzs death camp.

The man told police he set the blaze using hand sanitizer, an old lighter and some printer paper. He lit that fire knowing he very well could have died, a prosecutor told the court Wednesday.

I wanted my freedom, the man said, according to police.

open image in gallery Kimberly Sullivan, his stepmother, faces numerous charges after being accused of holding her stepson in captivity for two decades. She has denied the allegations against her ( Waterbury Police Department )

After his father died in 2024, the victim said his treatment worsened, citing having to use used bottles and newspapers to go to the bathroom.

When rescued, the man was emaciated, his hair was matted, and his teeth appeared to be rotted, an arrest warrant, obtained by the CT Post, stated. Authorities took note of a slide lock outside his room, allowing it to be secured from the outside. After learning of the scene, Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said they were worse than the conditions of a jail cell.

His stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, 56, is now facing counts of kidnapping, unlawful restraint, and cruelty, among other charges. She has denied the claims against her, with her attorney saying she was stunned to hear the allegations.

Her lawyer told People that the mans late father called the shots. He was in control, the attorney said, noting his client was only carrying out his orders. Sullivan never locked him in the room and encouraged him to bathe, the lawyer added: He could have just walked away then if he wanted to leave.

She was released from custody after posting $300,000 bail on Thursday. The police investigation is still ongoing.

The suffering this victim endured for over 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable, Spagnolo said in a statement.
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South Carolina authorities arrested two former corrections staff members and one former inmate Friday on charges ranging from sexual misconduct to conspiracy.

Antoinette Briana Crawley, 33, a former nurse assistant at Lee Correctional Institution has been charged with criminal conspiracy, providing contraband to an inmate and first-degree sexual misconduct, while Shontell Patrice Gamble, 31, a former corrections officer at Turbeville Correctional Institution has been charged with misconduct in office and ethics violation for allegedly accepting a bribe.

A former inmate, Quinzell Robinson, 46, of Sumter, has been charged with operating a drone near a prison, attempting to furnish contraband to prisoners, criminal conspiracy and resisting arrest.

State Department of Corrections officials say Crawley was involved in a sexual relationship with an inmate from August 2023 to October 2024. She allegedly provided the inmate with narcotics, SIM cards, TCH gummies and unapproved clothing items. She resigned in January before an investigation was complete.

Meanwhile, Gamble allegedly communicated with an inmate using an illegal cell phone and accepted money from him on Cash App. Supervisors dismissed her from her post on an unknown date.

Officials say Robinson, the former inmate, tried flying a drone carrying contraband to Lieber Correctional Institution but dropped the package in the woods before the drone could reach the prison.

The arrests come a day after another employee, Kevin Leroy Howard, 37, pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamines, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, misconduct in office and providing contraband to inmates.

He was arrested in July 2023 after officials caught him attempting to bring cylinders filled with drugs into Tyger River Correctional Institution that had been concealed in his dinner.

Hes been sentenced to four years in prison.

In another case this week, two former officers at McCormick Correctional Institution, Dontai D Parks and Brandon C Taylor, pleaded guilty to misconduct in office after being accused of drug trafficking. The men were sentenced to seven years in prison each suspended upon serving five years of probation.

Officials did not provide additional information about the alleged crimes. Its not clear when Robinson, Crawley and Gamble will appear in court.

While these arrests are at different institutions and are unrelated, they have one thing in common: If you commit crimes at SCDC, you will be arrested and held accountable, the department said in a social media post.
TEHRAN, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp on Saturday held a phone conversation to discuss bilateral ties and developments in West Asia.

The two sides also exchanged views on international issues of common interest, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Araghchi underscored the Iranian government's approach of pursuing "good" diplomatic relations with other countries, stressing that Iran is ready for interaction and dialogue with European countries based on mutual respect and interests, said the statement.

Veldkamp, for his part, noted the long history of bilateral relations and Tehran's important role and position in regional developments, read the statement.

He also stressed the necessity to use all diplomatic capacities to enhance understanding among different governments and resolve differences, said the statement. 
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This story is part of the March 15 edition of Good Weekend. See all 15 stories .

Whats it like to move back to your home  if you still have one  when the landscape around it has turned to ashes? Thats what intrigued photographer Jonathan Browning when he visited the Spanish island of La Palma, off the Moroccan coast, more than two years after the Cumbre Vieja volcano spewed lava and ash for 85 days over the southern part of La Isla Bonita, destroying thousands of homes and buildings in the path of its fiery flows. Browning arrived in January last year to find houses that had been swallowed entirely left untouched; others that had been spared were looted, or access to them blocked.

The lava field, although solidified, is unstable; its forbidden to walk on it, Browning says. There may be lava tunnels which you could fall into, and the rock is sharp. There were acres and acres of banana plantations and pretty houses, but this huge area is now a completely unusable and worthless black land mass.

Browning cycled on a new road carved across the blackened landscape and says he could feel the eerie heat from deep below: Theres very much a Mordor feel to it. The island features in a recent Norwegian drama series about the disaster on Netflix  and visitors can now take guided tours of the volcano and lava fields.

See more of Jonathan Brownings work here.

To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding

To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.

Lapdog land

Is our government really so weak that its willing to accept the status of Americas lapdog, tolerating any abuse without response other than some low-level whining?

Diplomacy is clearly failing, basic self-respect (never mind international respect) demands that we respond forcefully. Jacqui Lambies idea of booting the Americans from Pine Gap and Darwin deserves serious consideration, as its entirely justifiable  we dont share classified intelligence with a hostile government, nor do we allow their military in.

Further reasonable measures could be withdrawal from AUKUS, cancellation of the submarine deal that isnt guaranteed anyway, and putting 25 per cent tariffs on all US goods imports containing steel or aluminium, such as cars from Tesla, Ford and Chevrolet and technology from Apple and Google etc.

Damien Calcutt, Wyndham Vale

Take on the bully

Columnist Peter Hartcher begs the question when he bluntly rejects Jacqui Lambies suggestion that Australia could retaliate against Trumps tariffs by threatening the tenancy of US military bases here (15/3).

He asserts The reason Australia hosts US facilities is because theyre designed for our collective defence. But this shibboleth is precisely one of the issues now under consideration. There is no treaty to this effect. Where in an America First posture does coming to the defence of Australia fit in? How certain can we be that the US would come to Australias defence if it might not even come to Europes?

The insistence we must find positive (read, non-threatening) ways to deal with Trumps attacks on our exports, universities and culture flies in the face of the evidence. He didnt respond to our paper bag full of AUKUS dollars. It is now clear the only thing he responds to is muscular threats. The US bases here mean we have the capacity to defend our interests in terms he will understand, but our leaders seem collectively too timid to take on the bully.

Bill Garner, Maldon

Billionaire buddies

If Peter Dutton becomes prime minister will Gina Rinehart become his version of Musk, Bezos or Zuckerberg? And, is the recent mural of the two of them together a portent of the future?

Irene Wyld, Cape Schanck
A heritage-listed shopping strip in Melbournes east has become a test of the Victorian governments recent push to intensify development around train stations under a new high-rise plan that has divided locals.

Glen Eira City Council has objected to the height of a proposed eight-storey, 110-dwelling building on a narrow strip of Crown land on Neerim Road alongside the elevated Murrumbeena train station.

Eddie Solomon (left) and Patrick Davis (right) have different views on a proposed high-rise near Murrumbeena station. Credit: Chris Hopkins

The project, proposed by MAKE Property Group, was advertised for public consultation last month under the state governments housing statement scheme to expedite developments that include at least 10 per cent affordable housing. It features a supermarket planned at ground level and 88 car parks underground.

But some local traders and residents worry about the loss of an existing public carpark, and the development overshadowing the Murrumbeena Village shopping strip, which was listed for heritage protection in 2021.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In this series, The Age asks a diverse group of people aged 19 to 29 to reveal what challenges and rewards they face as young Melburnians. See all 5 stories . Housing is a topic so divisive it can imperil even the most civilised Australian dinner party. So when The Age hosted a dinner for a diverse group of five young Melburnians and asked them about the housing crisis, opinions were split and disagreement was stark. They agreed on one thing: that affordability  or the lack of it  had created enormous problems for their generation. But how they could respond to the challenge, or even how to feel about it, was up for debate. Over two hours, five people aged between 19 and 29  an artist, an actor, a youth worker and two university students who work in construction and financial services  debated and contested the challenges and rewards of being young and living in Melbourne for an Age series. Housing is the issue through which almost all the others are seen. Perhaps surprisingly, around this table at least, theres little anger at older generations and politicians who have overseen an era of skyrocketing home prices. But some shots were fired at what our diverse cohort described as land barons  people who own several rental properties  and at the failure of governments to create housing with sufficient access to local services such as public transport. Figures released by Canstar last year suggest single-income buyers looking to buy a house in Melbournes inner suburbs, inner south and inner east would need an annual income north of $200,000 and a 20 per cent deposit to be able to service a home loan. Despite the steep prices, 19-year-old Liberal Party member Jenson Galvin is optimistic that hell be able to buy in his local area of Brighton within a decade.

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Its harder now [than in the past], so thats very difficult, says Galvin, a financial services worker and university student, who also hosts a community radio show. But through hard work  Im confident I will, and hopefully its soon. Home ownership v public housing In Galvins family, home ownership has been a priority. When his grandparents migrated to Australia from Mauritius in the 1950s, they quickly bought a house. His parents married young and built a home soon after. Undeterred by the steep prices, this Brighton Grammar alum who exudes maturity and confidence cant see why his experience should be different. (His confidence, he says, comes after a lot of failure.) Galvin believes the outlook for young people in the housing market would be better under Liberal governments. He thinks immigration should be reduced, medium-density buildings prioritised and government spending on infrastructure projects  like the Suburban Rail Loop  cut, to free up money. Despite his support for medium-density housing, when the state government announced Brighton as a new activity centre where apartments could be fast-tracked and built taller, Galvin took to the streets to protest. The buildings permitted under Labors plan were just too high and would put too great a strain on Brightons local amenities, he says.

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Even so, he will consider buying an apartment when the time comes  hes spent most of his life living in apartments, and is renting a townhouse. Across the table, Galvin finds agreement with Abdulmalik*, 27, a construction administrator who insists determination and grit is the key to owning a home. Abdulmalik grew up in a public housing estate in Collingwood and sees the disadvantage of his upbringing almost like a motivator. By his estimation, if you put your head down, set goals and network, theres a place for you in the private market. But there are shades of grey. It needs to go back to where [housing] was government-owned, built by the government  Im talking about public tenants, says Abdulmalik. I voted for Labor, but the last 13, 14 years now, of the Labor government  I think they established just a lot of waste. Though Abdulmalik and Galvin agree on hard work being the bedrock of home ownership, there is much they disagree on. On Galvins point about capping immigration, Abdulmalik, the child of African migrants, argues there is enough room in Victoria, especially in outer suburbs and regional towns.

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Hes aware of far greater population density in his parents birth country than in Melbournes suburban sprawl. We should be able to bring people in [to Australia] says Abdulmalik. Loading Listening to Galvin and Abdulmalik talking, 29-year-old non-binary performer Ryan Stewart feels compelled to speak. You guys have been going on about working hard. I work f---ing hard, they say. Stewart works two jobs and sinks endless hours into their creative work, but, I probably make the least amount of money in this room, just because none of my creative labour is paid.

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Stewart was 10 when their parents divorced in 2006, so their family went from a double-income home to two single-income households during the global financial crisis. I was exposed to a lot of things like the social service industry and stuff like that quite early  and that  definitely opened up my eyes to the sorts of areas that people with lower incomes have to navigate. It makes them prickly to any suggestion that low-income earners who cant afford to buy their own homes are lazy or rorting the system  a view they believe comes down to privilege. Stewart was also socialised as a male before coming out as non-binary, and was then excommunicated from the church theyd grown up in. This, they say, forced them to accept a certain degree of a loss of that privilege. The evenings wearing on. The sparkling waters lost its fizz and the pizzas getting cold when Galvin, the Liberal member and Bayside resident, comes back to the idea of government ownership of housing, saying its the wrong model. That prompts Mia Boe, a 27-year-old contemporary artist, to speak up. I think the exact opposite.

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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 From Panama to outer space, we examine the impacts of the US Presidents second administration. See all 13 stories . It was dubbed the Winter War for good reason. In November 1939, months into World War II and almost completely overshadowed by events elsewhere in Europe, the Soviet Union invaded its neighbour Finland. Like Russias recent incursion into Ukraine, it didnt go quite to plan. Soviet forces greatly outnumbered the Finns but were not prepared for the harsh conditions: snow, ice and temperatures of minus 45 degrees. Many Soviet troops suffered from frostbite (as would the Nazis in Stalingrad in 1942). The Finns, meanwhile, put up a stubborn resistance. They camouflaged themselves in white, skied about, dragged supplies on sleds pulled by reindeer, dug foxholes in snowdrifts and fought with whatever came to hand, including an improvised grenade they named after Soviet minister Vyacheslav Molotov  the petrol bomb known today as the Molotov cocktail. They fought like white demons, to the last frayed nerve of resistance, recalled a photographer for Life magazine in January 1940. It was a brutal, bloody conflict. After just 105 days, the Finns had suffered 100,000 casualties, the Soviets close to 400,000. But Russian air support proved overwhelming as did waves of troops that Life called the Red juggernaut. Backs against the wall, the Finns were forced to sign a peace deal with Moscow and had to cede a tenth of the territory along their 1300-kilometre border. Finnish soldiers train in the snow during war against Russia in 1939. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted And so the scene was set for Finlands complex relationship with its belligerent neighbour. After WWII, when Europes biggest security pact, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, formed at the beginning of the Cold War, Finland stayed neutral, hoping to diplomatically negotiate its own path with the Soviet Union (now Russia) rather than hide beneath NATOs skirt. The Finns have tried to cultivate a relationship with Russia, Professor Juhana Aunesluoma tells us from the University of Helsinki. As long as you have dialogue, as long as you have meetings between the governments, the border authorities collaborate, everything works. That was until 2022, when it all got a bit too real with Russias full-scale invasion of another of its neighbours, Ukraine. In Finland, sentiment towards NATO flipped overnight. It became the newest member of the alliance, soon followed by Sweden. Now, the script has flipped again. With the ascension of US President Donald Trump, Europes main strategic partnership seems increasingly less assured. NATO, under US leadership, has so far guaranteed defence for Europe. But, if you take Trump at face value, it might be in jeopardy. How reliable the Americans are is now the talk of town, says Aunesluoma. People are discussing whether, in a conflict, would the Americans still be supplying rockets to the rocket launchers that we have here in Finland?

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How has Europe defended itself so far  and how will that change? What role has NATO played, and can it continue? Whats the new coalition of the willing? US president Harry Truman signs the North Atlantic Pact creating the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as foreign diplomats watch, on August 24, 1949. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted How has Europe defended itself so far? The fiery Oval Office meeting is now infamous: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky trying to school Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance as the American leaders laid bare that they would not support Ukraine against Russia as enthusiastically as president Joe Biden had for almost three years. The attitudes need to change, Trump told the onlooking media. Days later, he reiterated the US might not play its historic role protecting European members of NATO unless they were prepared to pay more for their own defence. Exactly what Trump was threatening was, typically, slightly opaque. Nevertheless, he prompted a panicky response in Europe, where NATO member states are now figuring out how to fund more of their own defence and even to take the lead to support peace in Ukraine. In the background of this shift in Europes security architecture sits NATO: the North Atlantic Treaty alliance, responsible for protecting most (but not all) European nations (plus the US and Canada) from hostile forces (for a long time, the Soviet Union). A meeting of NATO heads in 1957 with Britains Harold Macmillan second from right and US president Dwight Eisenhower far right. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted The alliance was established after World War II when 12 founding parties signed the Washington Treaty in 1949 as a way to counter the Soviet Unions expansion beyond Eastern Europe. As the Cold War escalated in the 1950s, more nations joined, especially those at risk of Soviet invasion or communist takeover, such as Greece and Turkey in 1952. West Germanys entry in 1955 spurred the Soviets to bind satellite socialist states through the Warsaw Pact, joining Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania and East Germany in a collective defence treaty.

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Scares such as the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 put NATO forces on high alert: US president John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev faced off over Soviet nuclear missiles pointed at the US from communist Cuba, placed there after NATO installed its own missiles in member nation Turkey. (Khrushchev dismantled the Cuban sites after NATO secretly agreed to remove its weapons from Turkey.) Fast forward, and Soviet invasions of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and then Afghanistan in 1979 were seen by the West as evidence of continuing aggressive ambitions. US president John F. Kennedy with generals in the White House during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted By the 1980s, the prospect of Soviet tanks roaring across Western Europe or even all-out nuclear war seemed frighteningly real. Lined up on the borders of East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and the rest of the Iron Curtain nations were at least 4 million Warsaw Pact troops, supported by 60,000 tanks and nearly 13,000 aircraft. Staring back across the barbed wire, NATO forces numbered nearly 2.6 million troops backed by 2000 nuclear-ready planes and missiles: not enough to hold back the hordes but probably sufficient to delay them until reinforcements could arrive from the US  or the conflict escalated into Armageddon. Popular culture reflected this anxiety: in 1984 alone, the BBC screened Threads, a shockingly realistic film depicting the aftermath of an atomic strike on a British city; Tom Clancy published The Hunt for Red October, a tale of a Russian nuclear submarine gone rogue (whose captain was later played in the film adaptation by Sean Connery); ABBA alumni Benny and Bjorn launched the chess-tournament musical Chess, an allegory for the Cold War; and the band Frankie Goes to Hollywood had a No.1 hit with Two Tribes, which opened, alarmingly, with the sound of the siren that would accompany an imminent nuclear attack. Sean Connery, as the rogue commanding officer of a Soviet submarine, in a scene from the 1990 film The Hunt For Red October with co-stars Alec Baldwin and Scott Glenn. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted By the end of the decade, though, fears of this existential threat had somewhat diminished. Under a critical arms treaty signed in 1987, the US and the USSR agreed to ban shorter-range missiles. The Berlin Wall came down in 1989, East and West Germany reunified in 1990, and in 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed. For NATO, having deterred warfare for all those years, this was equivalent to victory: job done. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, NATO lost its rational purpose as a deterrent to Moscow, says Benjamin Abelow, author of How the West Brought War to Ukraine. NATO did intervene in its first conflict in a non-NATO country from 1992, when it sent air support and then peacekeepers into the Bosnian conflict. And NATO troops went to Afghanistan in 2001 (more on which below). But much of the discussion about NATOs role centred more on appropriate levels of funding than the need to stay battle-ready at all times.

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In Europe, an alliance goal was building a community among nations, says Sten Rynning, a war professor at the University of Southern Denmark and author of NATO: From Cold War to Ukraine, A History of the Worlds Most Powerful Alliance. It moved outside of NATO into the European Community, now the European Union. Today, you have to understand that the European Union is a child of NATO. (Most EU members are in NATO, but not all: Cyprus, Ireland and Malta are not, nor is Austria, whose constitution prohibits it from joining any military alliance. Most NATO members are in the EU but some are not: apart from the US and Canada, theres Albania, Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway and Turkey. Britain used to be in both but isnt now, thanks to Brexit. Finally, not in either camp is perma-neutral Switzerland.) A young couple celebrate the opening of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted Meanwhile, of course, Russia was licking its wounds, and under Vladimir Putin, it was reviving its territorial ambitions. Putins actions should be viewed in a historical context, says Gorana Grgic, a senior lecturer in US politics and foreign policy at the University of Sydney. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine is not an abrupt shift but rather the culmination of years of failed attempts to reassert Russian control over Ukraine and Russias near abroad. And Russias so-called grey-zone activities, those below the threshold of outright military conflict, have been prolific for much of the past two decades, notes Grgic, including assassination plots, sabotage, information operations and political interference. Says Abelow: Many still view NATO through the prism of its early days, when it confronted a Soviet Union that proclaimed an expansionist communist ideology. But to Russia, during the period after the end of the Cold War, things began to look very different. Keep in mind that NATO is the most powerful military alliance in the history of the world. Russia came to perceive it as a threat, especially when it carried out military exercises on or near Russias borders. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a parade marking the Victory Day in Sevastopol, Crimea, on May 9, 2014. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted NATO members are bound to mutual obligations detailed in 14 articles, of which Article 5 is the best known. Its simplest definition is that it considers a military attack on any individual member nation to be an attack on all. It is commonly misunderstood as requiring all of NATO to immediately go on a war footing if a single member is attacked. In fact, the obligation is a little looser, expecting each member to take such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area. In practice, this means allies can provide any form of assistance they deem necessary to respond to a situation. (When the treaty was drafted in the 1940s, European countries wanted to guarantee that the US would automatically come to their assistance, the Nazis being a recent memory, while the US wanted the option to decide for itself how it might intervene.) NATOs Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) is in Belgium while its air force HQ is in Germany, land forces in Turkey and maritime forces in Britain  yet these forces are not its own. Instead, it has the capacity to bring national forces under its command, equating to some 3.4 million troops across the alliance.

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In more than 70 years, Article 5 has been invoked just once, when NATO sent troops to Afghanistan, triggered by al-Qaedas attack on the US on September 11, 2001. At one stage, there were more than 130,000 NATO troops on the ground. Curiously, it was not invoked when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982, an attack on founding member Britain. This was because of the lesser-known Article 6, essentially a fine-print addendum to Article 5, which, among other conditions, limits NATO obligations to attacks that occur only above the Tropic of Cancer, thus excluding the Falklands. A woman gazes at a police line from a barricade during the Maidan Revolution, an uprising in Kyiv in 2014. Credit: Getty Images Why isnt Ukraine in NATO? While members can invite into NATO any European state that is in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area, politics plays a role. Turkey and Hungary, for example, initially blocked Finland. Eventually, probably because of pressure from the United States, they came on board, says Christian Reus-Smit, a professor of international relations at the University of Melbourne. But if the US isnt going to be a party to it, its not going to happen. In the late 1990s, NATO began to promote an open door policy for new members after inviting in Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. In 2008, US president George W. Bush said he strongly supported Ukraines and former Soviet republic Georgias bids to join NATO, but France and Germany resisted, saying the moves risked needlessly angering Russia. Four months later, Russian troops invaded Georgia. Ever since the ensuing conflict, which was over in days, the question of Georgias membership has been on hold. Meanwhile, support to join grew among Ukrainians. The US told Kyiv the pathway to membership would involve democratic, economic and military reforms. And then-NATO secretary-general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said Ukraine could join eventually, without specifying a timeframe. In 2010, Ukraine opted to pursue a non-alignment policy, choosing not to join any military alliances, but there was a groundswell for joining the European Union. In 2013, Ukraines pro-Russia president, Viktor Yanukovich, refused to sign an agreement with the EU, and civil unrest took hold in Kyiv, later known as the Maidan Revolution, which ultimately led to Yanukovichs overthrow in 2014. NATO was never on the table at that point, says Steven Horrell, a senior fellow at the Centre for European Policy Analysis in Washington, DC. After Russia (or its unbadged little green men) annexed Crimea, a peninsula in Ukraine on the Black Sea in 2014, Ukraine abandoned its non-alignment policy. Then, after the start of the all-out war in 2022, support for NATO membership rose to 80 per cent, according to the Kyiv Independent. In 2023, NATO jettisoned the need for Ukraine to follow a membership plan, ensuring it could join in the future in a one-step process. NATOs website states: Ukraines future is in NATO.

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ADEN, Yemen, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Several Yemeni banks headquartered in the capital city of Sanaa have decided to relocate their operations to the temporary capital, Aden, to avoid sanctions imposed by Washington on the Houthi group, the Central Bank of Yemen said Saturday.

In a statement, the central bank welcomed the commercial banks' relocation decision, noting that it is ready to provide all possible support and protection to ensure the continuity of their services to Yemeni citizens at home and abroad.

The central bank expressed its readiness to work with all international and regional financial and relief institutions to safeguard the country's banking system and enable their smooth operation.

Acknowledging the complexities of the situation, the central bank said it is dealing with it cautiously and responsibly to avoid any repercussions that could harm the interests of citizens and the national economy, particularly the banking sector.

In May last year, the central bank suspended dealings with six major commercial banks in the country due to their failure to relocate from the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa to Aden and their cooperation with the militant group. However, the decision was canceled later following external mediation.

On March 4, the U.S. State Department designated the Houthis as a "Foreign Terrorist Organization," under an order announced by President Donald Trump upon taking office in January. 
ANKARA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said Saturday that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) must dissolve "as soon as possible" and surrender its weapons unconditionally in all regions.

Addressing a ceremony in Ankara to mark the 110th anniversary of the Canakkale Naval Victory during World War I and March 18 Martyrs' Remembrance Day, Guler said, "Our ultimate goal is the complete elimination of terrorist organizations."

He stressed that the process would not be allowed to be sabotaged, abused, or prolonged, and a cautious and rational approach would be adopted.

The minister's remarks follow the PKK's March 1 announcement of a unilateral ceasefire after a call from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan. On Feb. 27, Ocalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999, urged the PKK and its affiliated groups to disband and lay down their arms.

The Turkish government has been engaged in a 40-year-long conflict with the group, which has claimed over 40,000 lives. 
A Croatia-based expert has criticized the Trump administration's tariff policy for leading to a trade war in which there will be no winners. #GLOBALink




JERUSALEM, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Nine miniature satellites designed and developed by Israeli high school students were launched into space on Saturday, the Israel Space Agency (ISA) said.

Calling it "the largest Israeli satellite constellation built by students in nine municipalities," the ISA said on social media platform X that the satellites were launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The satellites were launched at 8:43 a.m. local time (0643 GMT), according to SpaceX.

The satellites, including the first-ever Druze satellite developed by students from the Druze community, were deployed into an orbit about 500 km above Earth, where they will remain for about three years with the mission of measuring cosmic radiation and its effects on electronic components, the ISA said in a separate statement on its website.

The development of the satellites was part of the Tevel 2 national project led by the ISA and Tel Aviv University, at a cost of 10.5 million shekels (about 2.88 million U.S. dollars), the statement said.

The project aims to connect different Israeli communities and promote equal opportunities in science and technology education, the statement said. 
Visiting Syria's chief of foreign affairs authority Asaad al-Shaibani (L) meets with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 14, 2025. Iraqi leaders met with Syria's chief of foreign affairs authority, Asaad al-Shaibani, here on Friday to discuss bilateral relations and anti-terrorism cooperation. (Iraqi Foreign Ministry/Handout via Xinhua)

BAGHDAD, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi leaders met with Syria's chief of foreign affairs authority, Asaad al-Shaibani, here on Friday to discuss bilateral relations and anti-terrorism cooperation.

During a meeting with visiting al-Shaibani, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani reaffirmed Iraq's firm and consistent stance in respecting the will of the Syrian people, stressing the need for an inclusive political process that safeguards Syria's diversity and social cohesion, according to a statement by al-Sudani's media office.

He also reiterated Iraq's support for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting any external interference in Syria's internal affairs, particularly in light of the ongoing Israeli occupation of swaths of Syrian lands.

Additionally, al-Sudani highlighted the need for close coordination between the two countries in combating terrorism as a crucial step toward achieving stability.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein emphasized the importance of enhancing joint action in combating the terrorist group Islamic State.

During his talks with al-Shaibani, Hussein stressed the need to form an operations room comprising five members of Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Turkiye, and Lebanon to confront the IS group, according to a statement by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.

Hussein highlighted the importance of military and intelligence coordination and comprehensive regional security cooperation to this end.

He also expressed Iraq's support for the breakthrough pact reached between Syria's interim government and Syrian Kurds on Monday to merge all civil and military institutions in Syria's Kurdish-controlled region under the central government in Damascus.

For his part, al-Shaibani expressed Syria's readiness to form joint security committees and to benefit from neighboring countries' experience in combating terrorism, the statement added.

The Syrian official also stressed Syria's political will to strengthen relations with Iraq, adding that the recent understanding with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces will contribute to controlling the border between the two countries. 

Visiting Syria's chief of foreign affairs authority Asaad al-Shaibani (L) addresses a joint press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 14, 2025. Iraqi leaders met with Syria's chief of foreign affairs authority, Asaad al-Shaibani, here on Friday to discuss bilateral relations and anti-terrorism cooperation. (Iraqi Foreign Ministry/Handout via Xinhua)

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein addresses a joint press conference with visiting Syria's chief of foreign affairs authority Asaad al-Shaibani (not in the picture) in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 14, 2025. Iraqi leaders met with Syria's chief of foreign affairs authority, Asaad al-Shaibani, here on Friday to discuss bilateral relations and anti-terrorism cooperation. (Iraqi Foreign Ministry/Handout via Xinhua)

Visiting Syria's chief of foreign affairs authority Asaad al-Shaibani attends a joint press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (not in the picture) in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 14, 2025. Iraqi leaders met with Syria's chief of foreign affairs authority, Asaad al-Shaibani, here on Friday to discuss bilateral relations and anti-terrorism cooperation. (Iraqi Foreign Ministry/Handout via Xinhua)
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LOS ANGELES, March 14 (Xinhua) -- NASA and SpaceX launched a new crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, a critical step to bring home NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore who have been stranded in space since last June.

The spacecraft took off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:03 p.m. Friday Eastern Time, according to NASA live broadcast.

About two and half minutes later, SpaceX confirmed Falcon 9 first stage separation. The first stage booster has landed at Landing Zone 1 near the launch pad.

The spacecraft is on its way to ISS, and is expected to dock with the space station on Saturday. 
Automaker Kia on Friday appointed Song Ho-sung to the companys chief executive officer (CEO) position for another three-year term through an approval at the companys shareholders meeting in Seoul.

Since leading Kia from 2020, Song has overseen the record-breaking performance of South Koreas No. 2 automaker during his past two terms, including the feat of achieving 100 trillion won (US$68.7 billion) in annual sales for the first time last year, reports Yonhap news agency.

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At the meeting, Song outlined Kias strategic direction for the year, emphasising the companys commitment to accelerating electric vehicle (EV) adoption and expanding its purpose-built vehicle (PBV) business.

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Shareholders also approved an increase in the maximum board member compensation limit from 8 billion won to 17.5 billion won.

The company said the increase was made to accommodate the salary of Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung.

While Chung has previously received compensation from Hyundai Motor Co. and Hyundai Mobis Co., he had not received any compensation from Kia despite serving as a registered executive.

According to a Hyundai Motor regulatory filing, Chung received around 11.5 billion won in compensation from Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Mobis together last year.

Additionally, shareholders approved an amendment to Kias articles of incorporation, adding real estate development to the companys business objectives. Kia said the amendment was reflective of its plan to construct flagship stores.

Kia also said it will buy back 3.49 million common stocks worth 350 billion won during the trading hours from March 20 through June 11 to enhance shareholder value.

The company plans to cancel all of the stocks during the third quarter.

Kias monthly sales for February rose 4.5 per cent from a year before, as the company saw increases in demand both at home and abroad.

Kia, an affiliate of local industry leader Hyundai Motor Co., sold 253,850 vehicles last month, up from 242,917 units in the same month last year, the company said.
The fourth edition of the Mega Brahmin Business Meet is set to take place on Saturday at the Vigyan Bhavan in Science City of Ahmedabad in Gujarat.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Minister C.R. Paatil will inaugurate the grand event, which is expected to attract around two lakh attendees over three days till March 17.

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The event will feature participation from a large number of Brahmin businessmen, cultural artists, and motivational speakers.

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While the meet is open to all, the participating artists and businessmen will exclusively be from the Brahmin community.

A special Saint Sammelan will also be held during the summit, where resolutions aimed at the welfare of the Brahmin community are expected to be passed.

Free meals will be provided to all attendees throughout the event, and 200 stalls run by Brahmin businessmen will showcase their products and services.

Additionally, 600 Brahmin businessmen will actively participate in the summits programmes.

BJP leader and chief organiser Yagnesh Dave, who is overseeing the events arrangements, briefed the media about the upcoming summit during a press conference held at the Vidyan Bhavan in Science City.

According to the Shree Samast Gujarat Brahm Samaj, there are nearly six million Brahmins in Gujarat, comprising around 1.5 million families, which accounts for about 9.5 per cent of the states population.

However, its important to note that these figures are estimates provided by community organisations and may not be officially verified.

The Brahmin community in Gujarat is diverse, encompassing various sub-castes such as Nagar Brahmins, who have historically held significant roles in the regions political, economic, and social spheres.

Despite their traditional association with priesthood, many Gujarati Brahmins have ventured into various professions, including business, arts, and academia.
The Delhi Police have arrested three individuals for allegedly kidnapping a juvenile from Saket area in South Delhi, officials said on Saturday.

Additional Commissioner of Police Dinesh Kumar Gupta stated that a distress call was received around 5:45 AM regarding a kidnapping for ransom.

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The caller, a 29-year-old resident of Sangam Vihar, reported that his 17-year-old cousin had gone to Saket Metro Station with a friend to meet an acquaintance he had connected with on Instagram.

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While waiting, three unidentified individuals forcibly took him away on a scooter. Shortly thereafter, a ransom demand of 50,000 was made via a WhatsApp call.

Upon receiving the complaint, a police team was immediately dispatched to the reported location, Gupta added.

During the investigation, the team meticulously analyzed CCTV footage and questioned the complainant to gather key details. They also examined the Instagram ID through which the victim had been contacted and obtained relevant information.

Additionally, they accessed login details of the victims WhatsApp account, which had been used by the kidnappers to demand ransom. Further inquiries revealed that the ransom request was linked to a bank account in Andhra Pradesh.

However, the last known mobile location of the victim was traced to Sangam Vihar, prompting further field inquiries and intelligence gathering in the area.

Through surveillance and technical analysis, police identified the whereabouts of the accused in Sangam Vihar, but they kept changing locations frequently. Eventually, the kidnappers were intercepted while attempting to flee from the Tughlakabad area, Gupta stated.

The victim was safely rescued and reunited with his family.

During interrogation, the accused revealed that they had kidnapped the victim to settle the outstanding payment for a newly purchased scooter. They had used a fake profile with a girls picture to lure the victim into a meeting.

Investigations also found that one of the kidnappers was illiterate and relied on Google Translate for typing and listening while chatting with the victim.

Gupta confirmed that a case has been registered under the relevant sections of the BNS, and further investigations are underway.
Recently, police complaints were filed against YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia aka BeerBiceps, influencer Apoorva Mukhija who goes by the name Rebel Kid, and comedian Samay Raina. The ongoing row is over their comments on Indias Got Latent show. The police booked them for using offensive and abusive language on the show, which sparked a massive outrage.

Amid the controversy, Apoorva Mukhija has been away from social media or making appearances. She also did not promote the film Nadaaniyan in which she had a supporting role. Moreover, she was absent from the films premiere.

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Instagram influencer, Sufi Motiwala posted a reel critiquing Apoorvas performance and fashion choices in Nadaaniyan. While praising her acting skills, Motiwala noted the difference in her on-screen styling and her real-life wardrobe. He dubbed the contrast jarring. Apoorva Mukhija took notice and responded with a comment. She wrote, Got hated so hard that now even Sufi Motiwala doesnt say hateful things about me.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Apoorva (@the.rebel.kid)



While she did not mention the ongoing row, fans speculate it to be a reference to the Indias Got Latent controversy. Following the massive backlash, the influencer has been keeping a low profile.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Apoorva also addressed her supporters through her Instagram broadcast channel. She dropped a cryptic post reading, Diwaaron ke bhi kaan hote hain. (Even walls have ears). The remark seems to address the ongoing scrutiny and discussions about her.

Also Read: Ibrahim Ali Khan threatens journalist for criticising his nose in Nadaaniyan

Earlier this month, both Apoorva and Ranveer visited the National Commission for Women (NCW) office. There the two submitted written apologies. Meanwhile, last month, ANI shared a video featuring Apoorva leaving the Khar police station. During her visit, she avoided media interactions while covering her face with a mask.
Following the completion of his military service, BTS J-hope kickstarted his awaited tour at the end of February. The Hope on the Stage tour is covering major cities in Asia and North America. The first show took take place in Seoul, South Korea. During his Brooklyn show on March 13, he performed his unreleased track Mona Lisa. Now, the K-pop idol is gearing up to officially release his next digital single titled Mona Lisa. On March 15, J-hope revealed the date of launch along with a concept teaser. This announcement comes two weeks after J-Hope dropped the first single Sweet Dreams featuring Miguel, from his upcoming album.

On March 15, BIGHIT MUSIC announced that BTS J-hope will release his next track Mona Lisa on March 21. The agency issued a statement making the announcement. MONA LISA is a hip-hop and R&B track that celebrates a captivating person by playfully comparing them to the iconic masterpiece Mona Lisa, which has charmed the world for centuries. Through this song, j-hope conveys that true allure lies not in ones external beauty but in the unique qualities that make the person special.

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BIGHIT MUSIC added, This digital single is a heartfelt surprise gift from j-hope to his fans in appreciation of their unwavering love and support. As this release is j-hopes way of expressing his gratitude, we kindly ask for your enthusiastic support and interest and j-hopes future endeavors.

Meanwhile, during his performance in Brooklyn, the K-pop idol played the unreleased track on stage. Before revealing the song, he shared the endearing meaning behind Mona Lisa. Addressing his fandom, J-hope said, This song is just me expressing my love; simply put, you are my masterpiece. My own Mona Lisa.

OMGGGG THIS VIEW FROM J-HOPES NEW SONG  MONA LISA pic.twitter.com/Hd48gRcw0P  Do you know BTS ?! is seeing HOBI (@BTS_7soulmates) March 14, 2025

Also Read: BTS Jimin breaks PSYs Gangnam Styles Billboard record with Who

Meanwhile, his tour, Hope on Stage kicked off in Seoul on February 28 and concluded on March 2. Post the March 13 and 14 Brooklyn shows, he will perform at the remaining venues across North America, Latin America, and Asia. His next stops include Chicago on March 17-18 and Mexico City on March 22-23. Subsequently, he will also dazzle fans in San Antonio, Oakland, and Los Angeles. Following this, he will head to Asia for Manila, Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok, Saitama, Macau, Taipei and Osaka.
Hollywood star Cate Blanchett doesnt have too many photos from her wedding to Andrew Upton, but she affirms that she has great memories.

Appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show to discuss her upcoming thriller Black Bag, the 55-year-old actress revealed why theres only one photo in existence from her 1997 wedding, reports People magazine.

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When I got married, which is a very long time ago, 27 years ago, Blanchett began before getting distracted by a more recent photo of herself and Upton, 59, that appeared on the studio screen.

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Why, why am I doing it like that?, she jokingly asked, looking at the image of her laughing with her husband.

As per People, iIn the picture, captured in March 2024, Blanchett is sitting down as she leans into Upton with a smile. Getting back on track, the Borderlands actress called it a miracle to be married to the same person for so long.

The Australian actress continued, Im still married for 27 years. When we got married we had absolutely no money. We couldnt have a photographer and we had two friends who were photographers.

One guy who got so drunk he forgot to load film in the camera and the other one had such a good time that he didnt take any pictures, and as a result, we have one picture of our wedding, the actress told Barrymore, 50. She then described the one wedding photo they do have, which is a blurry picture of the two of us getting in the car, but I really remember the night as a result.

The Disclaimer actress admitted she wasnt always as happy discussing the moment as she is now. I was so sad and so upset and I wept at the time that we didnt have any pictures, but in the end Im kind of quite pleased that I dont have any pictures because I then constantly try and recall the evening, she added.
UNITED NATIONS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming Global Summit of Women, set to take place in Beijing in the latter half of this year, holds great significance for advancing the spirit of the 1995 World Conference on Women, a Chinese official has said.

Huang Xiaowei, deputy head of the National Working Committee on Children and Women of the State Council, made the remarks on Monday at the ongoing 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York.

Marking the 30th anniversary of the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing, China will co-host the Global Summit of Women with UN Women later this year, Huang told the CSW69.

"This is not only a tribute to and continuation of history, but also a commitment to and innovation for the future," she said, highlighting the summit's crucial role in fostering global solidarity, carrying forward the legacy of the 1995 conference, and accelerating the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Huang noted that as the host country of the 1995 conference, China has consistently honored its commitments to promoting the synchronized development of women alongside economic and social progress.

Huang underscored the historic achievements of Chinese women, sharing insights into the country's efforts to advance gender equality. She also outlined China's comprehensive policy framework and implementation strategies, which focus on strengthening institutional support, increasing investment and empowering women.

Over the past 30 years, China has made remarkable strides in poverty alleviation, healthcare, education, and other key areas concerning women's well-being, reflecting the rapid progress of women's development in the modern era.

During discussions at the UN session, representatives from various countries expressed confidence that the upcoming Global Summit of Women will help forge consensus, accelerate tangible action, and inject fresh momentum into global efforts for women's advancement.

They also voiced hope that China would continue to play a leadership role, particularly as the global push for gender equality faces mounting challenges.

Beyond her participation in multilateral activities, including a general debate, a ministerial roundtable, thematic side events and a Chinese-hosted reception, Huang also held several meetings with Sima Bahous, UN under-secretary-general and executive director of UN Women, as well as senior officials from various countries.

CSW69, the UN's largest annual event dedicated to gender equality and women's empowerment, is expected to conclude on March 21. 
Launching a scathing attack on the Congress government in Karnataka over its decision to grant 4 per cent reservation for Muslim contractors in government projects, the BJP on Saturday asserted that it is completely against religion-based reservation and will continue to oppose this.

Reacting sharply to the Karnataka governments decision, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad while addressing a press conference at the partys headquarters here said, People who talk about the Constitution must understand that reservations are granted based on social and educational backwardness. Religious-based reservations are not permissible under the Indian Constitution.

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Prasad alleged that the BJP would like to emphasise that the 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in Karnataka was extended with the full approval of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

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Mr. Siddaramaiah (Karnataka Chief Minister) lacks the courage and political capital to announce it on his own, the senior BJP leader said.

He further accused Rahul Gandhi of fueling vote bank politics, saying that Rahul Gandhi thinks he can lead with this competitive politics of votebank. The new standards the Congress is setting in appeasement and votebank politics are harmful to the nation.

Hitting out the grand old party, Prasad said the Congress is not learning its lesson despite losing multiple elections.

Speaking on the matter, Prasad said, This issue is of Karnataka, but it has nationwide implications. This also signals the mentality of Congress and Rahul Gandhi. The Karnataka Government in the budget has publicly announced a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in government contracts.

He further questioned the expansion of reservation policies beyond employment, saying, Till now, we used to think only about jobs, but now reservation is being done even in government contracts. And in that too, 4 per cent has been reserved for Muslims.

The BJP is against this, and we will keep opposing itReligion-based reservation is not permissible under the Indian ConstitutionReservation on government contracts is completely unconstitutionalIt can be allowed on the basis of social backwardnessbut it is not permissible (to provide) directly to a religious community, the former Union Minister added.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday clarified that the state governments decision to provide a four per cent reservation in government contracts is not exclusive to Muslims but extends to all minority communities and backward classes.

Four per cent reservation is not just for Muslims but all minority communities and backward classes, he told a news agency.

The Karnataka Cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act that aims to provide a four per cent reservation in tenders to Muslim contractors.

The decision was taken on Friday in a meeting held at the Cabinet Hall of the Vidhan Sabha, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The official sources added that the amendment will be done after the KTPP act is tabled in the ongoing assembly session.

The Cabinet has approved the presentation of the obedience in the same session, likely on Monday.
Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday paid homage to late Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram on his birth anniversary, acknowledging his contribution to social justice and the uplift of marginalised communities.

Kanshi Ram, also known as Bahujan Nayak, was born on March 15, 1934, in Pirthipur Bunga village, Ropar district, Punjab, in a Ramdasia Sikh family that belonged to the Scheduled Caste.

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A prominent social reformer, he dedicated his life to the political mobilisation of Bahujans, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and other historically-marginalised communities.

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He established several key organisations to strengthen the rights of these groups, including the All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) in 1971, the Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti (DS-4), and later, in 1984, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

Kanshi Ram eventually passed on the leadership of BSP to Mayawati, who went on to serve four terms as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Marking his birth anniversary, LoP Gandhi took to X and wrote, Respectful tributes to the great social reformer, Honourable Kanshi Ram ji on his birth anniversary. His struggle for the rights of Dalits, the deprived, and the exploited will continue to guide us at every step in this fight for social justice.

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge also paid homage, stating, We pay our humble tribute to the great social reformer, Honourable Kanshi Ram ji, on his birth anniversary. He made a significant contribution in connecting Dalits, the deprived, the exploited, and Backward Classes with the mainstream of Indian politics. He has left an indelible mark as a pioneer of equality and social justice.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also remembered Kanshi Rams contributions, posting on X, Respectful salutations to the strong voice for the rights of Dalits, the deprived, the exploited, and Backward Classes, pioneer of social justice and Bahujan leader, Honourable Kanshi Ram ji, on his birth anniversary. Through his thoughts and social movements, Kanshi Ram ji gave new heights to social justice and constitutional values. His thoughts will continue to inspire generations.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday extended his support to the conference organized by his Tamil Nadu counterpart and DMK supremo MK Stalin in Chennai against the proposed delimitation of parliamentary constituencies.

Chief Minister Vijayan has accepted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalins invitation to participate in the March 22 meeting. Tamil Nadu IT Minister P Thiaga Rajan and South Chennai MP Dr Thamizhachi Thangapandian personally met CM Vijayan at his official residence and handed over the invitation.

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It has been reported that CM Vijayan assured the delegation of Keralas commitment to the cause. However, it remains uncertain whether he will attend the conference.

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Following the meeting, Minister P Thiaga Rajan stated on X that the proposed delimitation exercise was an undeniable assault on federalism and the rightful representation of our states.

On behalf of Honble Chief Minister Thiru. @mkstalin, I, along with Honble MP (South Chennai) Dr. @ThamizhachiTh, met with Honble Kerala Chief Minister Thiru. @pinarayivijayan in Thiruvananthapuram today, he posted on X.

We extended our Chief Ministers invitation for the Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting to be held in Chennai on March 22, 2025, to collectively oppose the unfair delimitation exercisean undeniable assault on federalism and the rightful representation of our states, he added.

The conference, spearheaded by Stalin, will bring together key leaders from South Indian states to collectively oppose the proposed delimitation of parliamentary constituencies, which is seen as a potential threat to their parliamentary representation.
Aleksej Besciokov, 46, a Lithuanian national wanted by the US Department of Justice for financial fraud, was arrested by Kerala Police in Varkala near Thiruvananthapuram.

His arrest followed a Red Corner Notice issued by Interpol, and he was detained based on a warrant issued by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM), Patiala House Court, at the request of U.S. authorities.

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Thiruvananthapuram Range DIG Ajeetha Begum confirmed that Besciokov had been a frequent visitor to Varkala. When Jojin Raj, a civil police officer with the Tourism Police, knocked on his door, Besciokov allegedly attempted to bribe him with a bundle of cash, which the officer refused. He was arrested shortly after.

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Besciokov had been residing in Varkala with his wife, two daughters, and an unidentified individual. His family left India on Monday, and he was scheduled to leave the country on Tuesday before his arrest at a homestay.

In 2023, three Russians, including a woman who had lived with him, were deported from Varkala. However, at that time, investigations did not lead to Besciokov.

Local residents were shocked to learn that a man accused of defrauding hundreds of millions had lived among them for years. Though he occasionally traveled abroad, he kept to himself and spent most of his time at his homestay with his family and Russian associates.

Police had previously raided this homestay two years ago in connection with a drug trade, leading to the deportation of three Russians.

At the time, the deportation notice listed the homestay, called Zoya, as their address, but the investigation did not link Besciokov to any crimes. Only after receiving the Interpol notice did authorities realize the extent of his criminal activities.

Besciokov, who faces multiple charges, including money laundering in the United States, was arrested in a coordinated operation between Kerala Police and the CBI.

Though he is a Lithuanian citizen, he is a permanent resident of Russia. The Varkala police officially recorded his arrest, and he was handed over to the CBI on Saturday. Reports indicate that he is refusing to provide the password to unlock a seized laptop.

Besciokov is one of the co-founders of Garantex, a cryptocurrency exchange sanctioned by the U.S. government in 2022. Authorities allege that he played a key role in laundering billions of dollars for transnational criminal and cybercriminal organizations.

On March 7, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an indictment against him, and he is currently listed on the U.S. Secret Services Most Wanted list. The indictment also names Aleksandr Mira Serda, a 40-year-old Russian national based in the United Arab Emirates, as a co-founder of Garantex.

Additionally, Besciokov is accused of hacking the servers of 600 major corporate entities worldwide and defrauding them. His most recent fraud targeted water and electricity distribution companies across Europe, North America, and Australia.
At least five devotees were injured when a man attacked them with an iron rod inside the holy Golden Temple on Friday. According to police, the attack took place near the community kitchen of Sri Darbar Sahib.

In another incident, a blast in the wee hours of Saturday at Thakur Dwara temple in Khandwala area of Amritsar left people in a state of panic.

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According to police, the assailant and his aide, allegedly involved in the attack on devotees, have been arrested. Their identity is yet to be established.

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The injured were rushed to Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences & Research at Vallah. The condition of one of them is said to be critical.

As per media reports, two of the injured are attendants of the Golden Temple, while the other three are devotees from Mohali, Bathinda, and Patiala.

Expressing concern over the mishap, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) said the police administration must take immediate and stringent action against the culprits and disclose their identities to the public.

SGPC secretary Partap Singh said that a thorough police investigation should be carried out to uncover the truth, adding that attempts are being made to instil fear among global Sikh devotees.

About the explosion which took place outside Thakur Dwara Temple in Khandwala area of Amritsar, police said no one was injured. Investigation is underway.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday said that the explosion in Amritsar is also the handiwork of fissiparous forces that want to destabilise the peace, progress, and prosperity of the state.

He said that the state government will never allow these forces to succeed in their nefarious designs and all their conspiracies will be foiled.

Mann said that the law and order situation in Punjab is much better than other states as the Punjab Police is keeping an eagle eye over the matter.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab had always remained a victim of cross-border terrorism and has been fighting the nations war against drugs and terrorism.

He said drones are being frequently used to smuggle drugs, weapons, and other things in the state from across the border.

However, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that smuggling through drones has been checked ever since the state embarked on the mass movement against drugs in the form of Yudh Nasheyan Virudh.
A man has been arrested for allegedly giving death threats to Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah on phone and social media.

According to the police, the accused has been identified as Mukesh Darbar, a resident of Harsud area in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh.

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According to Khandwa SP Manoj Kumar Rai, a case was registered at the Harsud police station against Mukesh Darbar under relevant sections for issuing threats, abusing the minister and sharing the message on social media.

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The SP said that a police team tracked down Mukesh Darbar and arrested him from near the Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan border on Friday. The police are interrogating Darbar.

Police stated that Darbar has seven criminal cases registered against him, and preventive action is being taken.

In response to the threats, security for the minister has been tightened.

According to information, Darbar has a longstanding dispute with the minister. Darbar had even contested the election for the post of District Panchayat Vice President in the past against Vijay Shahs son. Darbar had lost the poll.

Mukesh Darbar initially called the minister on the latters mobile phone but when the minister did not take his call, Darbar called up the ministers supporter and BJP Corporator, Golu Borasi.

Darbar allegedly told Borasi that Vijay Shah and his family would be eliminated in three days. Darbar also posted a threat message against the minister on social media.

Kunwar Vijay Shah is the Tribal Affairs Department and Bhopal Gas Tragedy Department Minister in Madhya Pradesh. He is an MLA from Harsud Assembly seat in the state continuously for eight terms.
Police personnel across several districts of Rajasthan boycotted Holi celebrations this year to draw attention to their demands.

Traditionally, police officers from constables to Superintendents of Police (SPs), Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), and Inspectors General (IGs) celebrate Holi at district police lines, usually the day after Dhulendi.

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However, this year, no celebrations took place on Saturday in many districts, including Jaipur, Udaipur, and Ajmer.

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Authorities had arranged colors, gulal, sweets, and snacks for the event, but in many places, these remained unused.

In contrast, police personnel in some districts, such as Bharatpur and Karauli, were seen celebrating, applying gulal to each other and enjoying sweets.

The protesting police officers are demanding corrections to anomalies in their pay scales, seeking parity with other state government departments. They are also advocating for regular and time-bound departmental promotions.

An official spokesperson stated that there was no official call for a boycott, though social media messages encouraging it were circulating.

Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, BJP leader and Agriculture Minister Dr Kirodi Lal Meena, and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Tika Ram Jully have urged Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to consider the police personnels demands. They also appealed to the police to participate in Holi celebrations.

Dr Meena encouraged the police to celebrate the festival with traditional enthusiasm and assured them that he would take up their demands with the Chief Minister.

Congress leaders Gehlot and Jully emphasized that their party has raised the issue in the ongoing budget session of the state assembly.

In the future, we will continue to stand by them and support their demands, they added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday attended the land transfer ceremony between Assam Rifles and the Mizoram government.

The event marked the official relocation of Assam Rifles establishments from the heart of the city to Zokhawsang, fulfilling a demand that has persisted for nearly 35 years.

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Addressing the gathering, Shah underscored the importance of the decision, stating, This programme is not just about the transfer of Assam Rifles; it is a very important step. For about 35 years, due to topography and dearth of space, there was a demand to shift the Assam Rifles camp. These constraints were a major hurdle in developing Aizawl city. Today, with an important decision by PM Modi, this long-pending demand has been fulfilled.

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The relocation of Assam Rifles from Aizawls urban core has been a topic of debate and demand since the late 1980s.

The paramilitary force, Indias oldest unit and often referred to as the Sentinels of the Northeast, was stationed in the centre of Aizawl city, significantly limiting urban expansion. The mountainous terrain of Mizoram, coupled with the densely populated cityscape, made land availability a persistent issue.

Over the decades, civil society organisations and political leaders in Mizoram had voiced their concerns over the Assam Rifles camp obstructing urban planning and infrastructure development. The demand to shift the camp to a more suitable location became increasingly pressing as Aizawl continued to grow and modernise.

Shah highlighted that the relocation is not merely an administrative move but a reflection of the Government of Indias commitment to the people of Mizoram.

The relocation of Assam Rifles is not just about shifting a camp; it is about facilitating growth, addressing the demands of the people, and prioritising development, Shah remarked. He further added that this step would pave the way for urban expansion and infrastructural growth, while the Assam Rifles continue to function effectively from their new location.
Commuters using Rohtak Road, a crucial route connecting Outer North Delhi and neighboring Haryana, can now expect some relief as the Delhi government has transferred its redevelopment project from the Public Works Department (PWD) to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma, who inspected the road, stated that the decision was made after receiving multiple complaints from local residents and to ensure the timely completion of construction work.

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Notably, the road has been in a deteriorated state due to persistent waterlogging, even beyond the monsoon season, primarily caused by sewer overflow. This has severely damaged the surface, resulting in large potholes and making the road a nightmare for commuters.

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The 18-kilometer stretch from Peeragarhi Chowk to Tikri Border is set for redevelopment, including drainage construction at an estimated cost of approximately 115 crore. The project is scheduled for completion within 14 months, Verma announced during his visit.

Since the project involves areas where Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) and three Delhi Metro stations are located, necessary permissions will be required, he added.

Verma directed officials to expedite the approval process to avoid unnecessary delays, emphasizing that delays lead to increased project costs and should be avoided.

Furthermore, the PWD Minister criticized previous administrations for neglecting the roads condition.

Rohtak Road was in an extremely poor state, and residents frequently complained that no government representative had ever visited. Now, drainage work has commenced, and the entire road has been handed over to NHAI. The PWD and Flood Control Department are working together on this project, he said.

He also highlighted that poorly maintained roads contribute to rising pollution levels and assured residents that the Delhi government is committed to constructing durable, high-quality roads. He reiterated that the road and drainage work would be completed within the given timeframe, ensuring smoother connectivity between Delhi and Haryana.
With the assembly elections scheduled for early next year, the Tamil Nadu Budget for the financial year 2025-26, presented by the DMK government led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, stays on expected linesprioritizing Tamil language development, womens welfare, and the upliftment of weaker sections.

Amid noisy scenes and a walkout by the opposition AIADMK over the alleged multi-crore scam in the state-owned liquor retailer TASMACunearthed by recent Enforcement Directorate raidsFinance Minister Thangam Thennarasu presented the budget in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday.

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The budget holds significance as it comes amid a politically charged atmosphere, with debates over the contentious delimitation exercise and the National Education Policy (NEP) and its three-language formula. Notably, this is the last full-fledged budget of the current government.

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Reiterating the governments firm stance on Tamil language policies, Thennarasu emphasized that Tamil Nadu would not compromise its two-language policy or accept Hindi imposition. He pointed out that despite the Union Government withholding funds under the SSA program due to the states refusal to implement the NEPs three-language policy, Tamil Nadu would bear the expenses from its own resources to ensure student welfare and teacher benefits.

Even after losing 2,000 crore, our Chief Minister firmly upholds the two-language policy and refuses to compromise, he asserted.

The budget continues to allocate substantial funds for Tamil development and archaeological excavations to uncover the antiquity of Tamil culture and civilization. Thennarasu announced that excavations would be carried out at eight sites in Tamil Nadu and at three locations outside the statePalur (Odisha), Venki (Andhra Pradesh), and Maski (Karnataka).

Additionally, to promote Tamil language and literature, 500 selected books will be translated into other languages. Book fairs will be organized in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Thiruvananthapuram, as well as internationally in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

The celebrated Sangam-era classic Thirukkural will be translated into 43 more languages, ensuring its availability in all 193 languages recognized by the United Nations. The government also plans to host a World Tamil Olympiad annually.

The budget provides substantial allocations for flagship welfare schemes, including the 1,000 monthly assistance for women, free bus travel for women in city buses, housing for weaker sections, and laptops for college students.

For 2025-26, 3,600 crore has been earmarked for the free bus travel scheme, which has seen female ridership increase from 40 per cent to 65 per cent.

On average, 50 lakh women travel daily in buses operated by the State Transport Corporation. The number of trips has increased to 643 crore, allowing women to save 888 per month, the minister stated, citing a study by the State Planning Commission.

Similarly, the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam, which provides 1,000 per month to 1.15 crore women heads of families, has been allocated 13,807 crore. The minister announced that those previously excluded from the scheme would get another opportunity to apply.

Expanding the Thozhi (Friend) Working Womens Hostel Project, the government plans to open 10 more hostels with modern amenities, including one in Coimbatore, at a cost of 77 crore. Currently, 13 hostels are operational in Chennai and its surrounding areas.

The budget also emphasizes infrastructure expansion, particularly in transportation. A new airport will be constructed in Rameswaram, a major coastal pilgrimage site, to accommodate the rising influx of tourists. Additionally, Chennais Metro Rail network will be expanded at an estimated cost of 27,858 crore.

With a strategic focus on education, womens welfare, Tamil heritage, and infrastructure, the Tamil Nadu government has positioned its budget as a roadmap for both development and electoral success.
LUSAKA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed in a road accident in southern Zambia's Monze District when a bus and a truck collided head-on, police said on Saturday.

Rae Hamoonga, spokesperson for the Zambia Police Service, said in a statement that the accident occurred in the early hours of Saturday when the bus, traveling from north to south on a major highway, collided with an oncoming truck.

He said two people from the truck and one from the bus sustained fatal injuries and died on the spot.

The police spokesperson also said the driver of the truck and eight passengers from the bus were seriously injured, while eight other passengers from the bus sustained minor injuries.

"Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver of the bus was improperly overtaking an unidentified vehicle when he collided head-on with the oncoming truck," he said, adding that the bus was extensively damaged.

Road accidents involving public buses are common in Zambia, mainly due to careless driving. 
Just like his father Lalu Prasad Yadav, RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav also celebrated the festival of colours, Holi, with great pomp and show with the party workers in Patna on Saturday. He also revived Lalu Yadavs famous Kurta Phaad Holi where peoples clothes are torn after applying colour on them.

However, he crossed the line when he instructed a police constable in uniform to dance to a song, warning that he would be suspended if he refused.

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In a video that went viral on social media, Tej Pratap said, Ay sipahi, Ay Deepak, ek gaana bajaaenge, tumako thumaka lagaana hai. Thumaka nahin lagaoge to suspend kar diye jaoge. Bura na maano, Holi Hai.

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The constable followed the instruction.

This incident has received sharp criticism from the ruling parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United). Attacking Tej Pratap Yadav for compelling a police constable in uniform to dance, they said that he has not only revived Lalu Yadavs Holi traditions but also revived memories of the misuse of power during the RJD Supremos rule.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Senior BJP leader Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal said, Time can change but not the character of Lalus family. Lalus son presents a sample of hooliganism, anarchy and crime on Holi. Today he is forcing a constable to dance, what will they do if they get power by mistake tomorrow?

BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna said that Tej Pratap Yadav has just followed the culture he has imbibed from his parents.

The BJP leader said, When there was misrule of his parents in Bihar, they also used to ask government officials to follow their weird orders. But Tej Pratap must remember it is the BJP-Nitish government. The government should assess whether the MLA really needs a police team for his safety and security.

JDU spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said, The era of Jungle Raj is over. The Lalu family must realise that Bihar has changed now. There is no place for such actions in the changing Bihar.
After a long wait and days of suspense for the party workers and leaders, the Uttar Pradesh BJP is set to announce district and city presidents of the state on Sunday.

After the announcement of district presidents, UP BJP will get a new state president.

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BJP state election chief and former Union Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey announced here on Saturday that the district and city presidents would be named at a function in each district at 2 pm on Sunday.

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Except for Lucknow and Ghaziabad, every district will have one function to announce the presidents. In Lucknow and Ghaziabad, there will be two separate programmesone for the district president and another for the city president.

Dr Pandey has instructed that all district party officials be invited to the programme.

From the organisations perspective, the party has 98 districts.

Party sources said that the list of new BJP district presidents was approved in a meeting with senior BJP leaders, including national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh, in Delhi recently after the same was discussed with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The announcement of district presidents names will clear the decks for the election of the state president, sources said.

The BJP is adopting consensus as a tool to elect divisional and district chiefs as well as the state president, avoiding holding voting for the same.

The BJP district organisation was slated to be revamped in January but was delayed due to the Delhi assembly polls.
In a remarkable medical achievement, an eight-year-old boy suffering from hydronephrosis underwent a successful robotic surgery. The operation was performed at the Fortis Hospital and Kidney Institute (FHKI), Rashbehari, under Dr R. K. Gopala Krishna, Director, Urology. This marks a significant milestone, as the condition caused by a blockage in the urinary pathway was treated using the Mantra Robot  Indias first indigenous robotic system.

Initially, the boy from Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, experienced abdominal pain on his left side. After seeking medical attention, he was diagnosed with left hydronephrosis, characterised by swelling of the left kidney due to build up of urine caused by a blockage or obstruction in the urinary tract. Without timely interventions, the condition could have caused irreversible kidney damage.

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After a thorough evaluation, the medical team at FHKI chose robotic pyeloplasty to correct the blockage. Equipped with multi-arm dexterity, high-definition 3D vision, and AI-powered precision, this cutting-edge robotic system enables surgeons to operate with greater accuracy and minimises tissue trauma. The 90-minute procedure was carried out with minimum blood loss and no complications. The efficient surgery facilitated the rapid recovery of the child, enabling him to return to normal life within days.

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Providing insights into the case, Dr R. K. Gopala Krishna stressed the role of robotic surgery in simplifying the procedure, Robotic surgery enabled us to perform the procedure with exceptional precision, ensuring minimal discomfort and a faster recovery. This was the first time robotic pyeloplasty was performed on a child at FHKI, marking a significant milestone in pediatric urological care, Dr Krishna said, adding, For a child, a quick return to normalcy is crucialhad he undergone open surgery, recovery would have taken at least a month, with significant pain and potential complications like hernia. Instead, robotic pyeloplasty allowed for a rapid discharge, and he was back to school and normal activities within a week.

Mr Giri, the father of the patient, expressed his heartfelt gratitude, saying, We are extremely grateful to Fortis Hospital for the successful treatment of our child. The operation was conducted on time and went smoothly, and our child is making excellent progress. He was discharged just two days after the procedure, and since then, his recovery has been remarkable. He is eating well and experiencing no pain  even his ulcerative colitis is under control. We truly appreciate the medical teams expertise and care in ensuring such a smooth recovery.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on Friday dismissed speculation that Greenland might become part of the United States, following remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting a potential US annexation of the island.

Speaking about the recent election in Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, Rasmussen said that it would be incorrect to interpret the results as a sign of imminent independence or any intention to join the United States.

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If I read the Greenlandic election correctly, I believe that Greenland will remain part of the Danish Commonwealth for quite some time, Rasmussen said. This is a Commonwealth that needs to be renewed and modernized, and I hope we will work together to strengthen the Greenlandic economy even further.

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He also dismissed any suggestion that Greenlanders wished to abandon their ties with Denmark. I do not see any indication from the Greenlandic election that there is a desire to leave the Commonwealth in favour of becoming American, he said.

Trump, speaking on Thursday during a meeting with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, claimed that he believed the United States would eventually annex Greenland, calling Denmark very far away from the territory despite its status as an autonomous region within the Danish Kingdom.

In response, Rutte distanced himself from the issue, stating that discussions regarding Greenlands status fell outside his purview and that NATO should not be involved, Xinhua news agency reported.

Greenland, the worlds largest island with a population of around 60,000, was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became an integral part of Denmark with Greenlanders given Danish citizenship. In 1979, Greenland achieved home rule, gaining greater self-governance while Denmark retained authority over its foreign and defence policy.
Denouncing Pakistans fanatical mindset, Indias Permanent Representative P Harish has told Islamabad that ranting about Kashmir in international forums will not justify cross-border terrorism or change the reality of the region being an integral part of India.

He was reacting on Friday to Pakistans former Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua bringing up Kashmir during an informal meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

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As is their habit, former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan today has made an unjustified reference to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Harish said. Frequent references will neither validate their claim nor justify their practice of cross-border terrorism.

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The fanatical mindset of this nation is well known, as also its record of bigotry, he said of Pakistan.

Such efforts will not change the reality that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will always be an integral part of India, he declared.

Pakistan has been a voice in the wilderness at the UN when it comes to Kashmir.

While it raises Kashmir at almost any chance its representatives get a chance to speak, no other country has taken up the cause.

Janjua, who was Pakistans foreign secretary from 2017 to 2019, spoke as one of the invitees to the meeting and not as a representative of Islamabad.

She tried to link Kashmir to Gaza  a tactic of Pakistan  and asserted, Islamophobia is a significant driver of the horrific killing killings of Muslims in occupied territories, such as in Indian occupied Kashmir, and in Palestine.

She also obliquely mentioned lynchings linked to Love Jihad and cow vigilantes.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on Friday that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) will maintain its presence at five strategic locations in southern Lebanon indefinitely, regardless of ongoing negotiations over 13 disputed border points.

During a security assessment on Thursday with IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other senior military officials, Katz emphasised that the IDF will continue to hold these five positions, which control the buffer zone in Lebanon, as a measure to safeguard northern Israeli communities.

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This decision is entirely independent of any future negotiations concerning disputed border points, his office stated in an announcement, adding that Katz has instructed the IDF to reinforce its positions at these strategic sites and prepare for an extended deployment.

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Since November 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon has been in effect, bringing an end to prolonged clashes between Hezbollah and Israel triggered by the Gaza war.

Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said that Israel has agreed to release five Lebanese nationals held in Israeli jails, following quadrilateral talks involving Israeli, Lebanese, French, and US officials.

The meeting took place on Tuesday in Naqoura, Lebanon.

Officials agreed to establish three joint working groups aimed at stabilizing the region. The groups will discuss disputes over the Blue Line, the UN-recognised land border between Israel and Lebanon; disputes over five locations in Lebanon where Israeli troops remain despite a November 2024 ceasefire requiring a full withdrawal; and Lebanese detainees held by Israel.

No details were provided in the statement concerning the identities of the five detainees.

Israels Army Radio reported that the five, who were held in Israel for several months, would be transferred to Lebanon via the Red Cross later on Tuesday, following US-mediated negotiations.

Lebanese media said that Israel will release four civilians and a Hezbollah member, while Lebanon has committed to negotiating with Israel regarding the 13 contested border locations.
Pakistan has tightened security around an Afghan refugee detention centre in Rawalpindi even as the operation to detain Afghan refugees in the country continues. The Pakistani government has set a deadline of March 31 for Afghans with legal documents to voluntarily leave the country while the process of detaining Afghan refugees in Rawalpindi and Islamabad has been underway, local media reported.

The Afghans who are being detained in Rawalpindi are held at a camp near Golra Mor. The Rawalpindi Police have rounded up about 820 Afghan nationals from different parts of the garrison city over the past week and deported 114 so far. 140 Afghan nationals are still detained at the camp under tight security due to a lull in deportations. It has been learned that due to the closure of the border for the past few days, the process of deporting Afghans has also stopped, reported Pakistans leading Newspaper Dawn on Friday, quoting sources.

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The refugees have been asked to leave Pakistan before March 31, which has been set as the deadline to leave Pakistan voluntarily. In case if any illegal foreigner was found in the district, he/she would be rounded up and deported back to their home countries. Yes, all Afghans who are legal will be relocated from Rawalpindi-Islamabad after the deadline, the newspaper quoted one official as saying.

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Last week, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Refugees in Pakistan, an advocacy group based in Karachi and Islamabad working for the rights of Afghan Refugees, released a statement demanding an end to arrests, illegal detention, and harassment of Afghan refugees in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

JAC alleged that directions were made to police stations in Pakistan to arrest all refugees, despite the Pakistan Governments deadline of March 31 and regardless of whether they possess a Proof of Registration (PoR), an Afghan Citizen Card (ACC), or a valid visa. JAC for Refugees condemned this action as a gross violation of fundamental rights.

Earlier this month, a coalition of human rights organisations and refugee advocacy groups wrote an open letter to the Pakistani government asking it to immediately halt the forced deportation of Afghan migrants.

The situation of Afghan refugees in host countries, especially Pakistan, is extremely concerning. The current Afghan government, the United Nations, and international aid organisations must address the conditions of Afghan refugees in these countries, said Mohammad Khan Talebi Mohammadzai, a refugee rights activist.

Several incidents have been reported in Afghan media earlier that highlight plight of the Afghan migrants, including hundreds of women and children, as they are being arrested by police in various Pakistani cities and forcibly deported. Fleeing from war and conflict in their country, migrants from Afghanistan have been taking refuge in Pakistan for decades now. Afghan media has reported that refugees who are either expelled or forcibly deported have faced severe abuse and harassment, especially in Pakistan.
US President Donald Trump said he had appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the lives of thousands of Ukrainian troops completely surrounded by the Russian military be spared.

Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform, that he made this appeal on a phone call with Putin on Thursday, which he described as good and productive.

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Trump did not specify, but he was referring to the Russian militarys advance on a Russian territory in the Kursk region which had been seized by Ukraine. The Russian president visited that area on Thursday to mark the progress of the military there.

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We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end  BUT, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION, Trump wrote in the post. I have strongly requested President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II.

Ukraines top commander denied Ukrainian troops were being encircled in Kursk, as reported by Reuters, and insisted they were adopting better defensive positions.

President Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff reached Moscow for talks Thursday, the day the Russian leader announced his in-principle agreement to the ceasefire plan offered. But he had made clear his conditions will have to be met before he signed off on it, chiefly that Ukraine must not be allowed to use the pause to mobilize troops and not be supplied with weapons.

The US proposed a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine accepted at a meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz and Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
A group of 14 Finnish college students have praised China's booming cosmetic industry after visiting laboratories, research institutions and companies in the sector in east China's Shandong Province this week. #GLOBALink






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Popular culture and big-banner Bollywood films are still fixated on weaving the narrative around the big fat weddings and fairy-tale romances, often neglecting the stories of the underrepresented communities. As a result, mainstream Indian cinema fails miserably in depicting the realities of those who exist on the borderline of society. But the stories exist  and the reality of these places is beyond imagination, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recognising this gap, the Nomad Film Festival has created a platform for stories the mainstream media ignores. The festival is screening films on March 15 and 16 at the Arthsila, Delhi giving space for indigenous voices and artistic expression. Through screenings, workshops, and conversations with filmmakers and community members, it is opening up dialogue and reflection on pressing social and cultural issues.

The festival's name itself reflects its commitment to showcasing the stories of marginalised communities and denotified Tribes, as very few people in India are making films about these communities that are very isolated from the mainland.

Dakxin Chhara who is associated with the festival said, The main objective of organising this film festival is to train the community people not just to make the film but how to present the film and how to face the audience. This festival is the result of two years of hard work. This festival is the space for the marginalised community to present their film and their stories.

One such film shown was Bahurupi, directed by the Buddha Theatre. This short film captured the lives of the Bahurupi community who are performers and make a living by entertaining people and making them laugh. Once esteemed as spies and entertainers under royal patronages are now being called imposters.

The COVID-19 pandemic deepened their struggle, leaving them without an audience and livelihood. As the performances came to a halt due to COVID lockdowns, the women of the community had to beg for food and money to feed their families. The police were not of much help and the governments were unable to reach them.

Dakxin further added, The mainstream media complains about the shortage of stories. But for me in India, we have 140 crore stories. Every man walking on the street has a story but we lack that perspective. These stories are good content and the original entertainers (Bhurupi) should occupy the space in the mainstream media.

During the pandemic, media platforms did not cover the stories of marginalised communities like the Bahurupi during the pandemic and their everyday hardship. In response, the Buddha Theatre took it upon themselves and gave life to several such unheard stories, which were screened in the Nomad Film Festivals.

However, such stories often struggle to reach the common masses, getting lost in the YouTube algorithm. Films that narrate the hardship of Indigenous communities do not reach their audience. To bridge this gap, the festival showcases films that are made by first-time filmmakers from such communities, especially those using community-led methodologies, alongside works by more established filmmakers. The festival addresses the invisibility of, and the harmful stereotypes about these groups in mainstream films, which reinforce the stigma of criminalisation.

Beyond storytelling, the festival fights against the harmful stereotypes and stigmas surrounding these communities, particularly the unjust criminalisation of denotified tribes. By giving these voices a platform, the Nomad Film Festival is not just screening films it is changing narratives, giving voices to the unheard, and giving recognition to stories and cultures that mainstream media often erases.
The Reserve Bank would like to state that the bank is well-capitalised and the financial position of the bank remains satisfactory. This statement by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was the latest in the saga of heightened scrutiny of Indias central bank on major lenders. All of it was triggered earlier this week, when IndusInd Bank posted an estimated 2,100 crore discrepancy in accounting, sending its shares on a freefall on Tuesday.

The accounting lapse, noted by the bank during the September-October period last year, was officially updated to the RBI last week. The central bank, in turn, told the lender that remedial action needed to be completed before the end of March.

By Monday, IndusInd filed with the stock exchange informing the markets about the accounting discrepancy while stating that it had enough reserves and the capital needed to tide over.

The lapses were in its derivatives portfolio, which could adversely impact the banks net worth by about 2.35 per cent, the lender noted. But the markets werent kind.

IndusInd bled on Tuesday, when its shares plunged 27.17 per cent to close at 655.95 per share after hitting a year-low of 649 apiece during the day.

The stock traded below 700 for the rest of the week, closing at 672.65 on Friday.

"There has been some speculation relating to IndusInd Bank Ltd. in certain quarters, perhaps arising from recent events related to the bank," said RBI in an official statement under Chief General Manager Puneet Pancholy.

"The Reserve Bank would like to state that the bank is well-capitalised and the financial position of the bank remains satisfactory, the apex bank added, in a move to assure investors and lenders alike.

As per auditor-reviewed financial results of the bank for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, the bank has maintained a comfortable Capital Adequacy Ratio of 16.46 per cent and Provision Coverage Ratio of 70.20 per cent. The Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) of the bank was at 113 per cent as on March 9, 2025, as against regulatory requirement of 100 per cent, RBI further stated.

This costly accounting discrepancy is expected to eat into IndusInds fourth-quarter profit to the tune of 1,500 crore, as per reports. Analysts estimate the discrepancy to be around 2,100 crore. IndusInd Bank CEO and MD Sumant Kathpalia, however, told investors that the banks profitability and capital adequacy remain healthy to absorb this one-time impact.

Kathpalia also delved into the nature of the lapse in Mondays analyst call, stating that the derivative portfolio discrepancy was accumulated in the book over five to seven years, before April 1, 2024.

The Reserve Bank, on Saturday, also noted that IndusInd assigned an external audit team to comprehensively review their current systems, and to assess and account for the actual impact expeditiously as per the regulatory filings during the week.

The RBI further urged the board and management of IndusInd Bank to complete the remedial action in full during the current quarter (Q4 of FY2025), after making required disclosures to all stakeholders.

As such, there is no need for depositors to react to the speculative reports at this juncture. The banks financial health remains stable and is being monitored closely by [the] Reserve Bank," the RBI further stated.

This event has led to the apex bank looking into the exposure of derivatives of certain private and state-run lenders, according to recent reports. This could mean that the RBI could ask banks in India to disclose details of overseas lending and deposits, including forex hedge positions.
Nearly two weeks after the arrest of Ranya Rao in connection with gold smuggling, the actress has levelled physical abuse allegations against the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), responsible for detaining her on March 3. According to reports, in a letter to the Additional Director General of DRI, the actress claimed that she was slapped multiple times and coerced into signing documents by the authorities, including blank pages.

"From the moment of my apprehension until I was presented in court, I was physically assaulted, slapped 10-15 times by officers whom I can identify. Despite repeated assaults, I refused to sign the statements they prepared," Rao said.

"Under immense pressure and physical assault, I was forced to sign 50-60 typed pages and around 40 blank white pages prepared by the DRI officers," the letter continued.

The actress also accused the authorities of withholding food and denying sleep since she was detained at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport.

Earlier, an image of Rao had gone viral, sparking concerns over her situation in custody. The photo shows the Kannada actress with bruises on her face, particularly noticeable under her eyes. The image has raised worries about her well-being while in custody, with questions about whether she is receiving adequate care and if she may be subject to physical abuse.

Furthermore, Rao, the step-daughter of Karnataka DGP K. Ramachandra Rao, alleged that she was arrested on the Emirates aircraft, outbound from Dubai, and taken into custody by the DRI upon her arrival, giving her no chance to explain herself.

The letter to the senior DRI official comes a day after the actress was denied bail by a special Bengaluru court.
The recent documents from the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) supported hospitals in Afghanistan revealed an alarming surge in measles cases. The facilities in Balkh, Herat and Helmand Kabul have reported a rise in measles cases.

According to MSF, at least one child in Afghanistan has died from measles every day so far in 2025. MSF in a statement said that it is almost three times as many deaths as were witnessed during the same period last year.

Officials have urged for rapid vaccination action as immunisation coverage remains low in Afghanistan.

These are preventable deaths. Measles can be a deadly disease, particularly for children with underlying health conditions like malnutrition or congenital heart defects. It can also be prevented by a vaccine, but the immunisation coverage remains low in Afghanistan, says Mickael Le Paih, Country Representative with MSF.

The measles outbreak is not just a concern in Afghanistan alone. World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned about the spread of the virus across Europe and America. Over 1,27,000 cases were reported across the European region last year. It is a high number since 1997.

Community-level rapid and targeted vaccination in the districts, with measles outbreaks, would help reduce the number of measles cases.

In three hospitals across Afghanistan, over 4,700 children were suspected of having measles in the first eight weeks of this year.

We are dedicating additional resources, but we are already running out of space for patients suffering not just from measles, but seasonal illnesses as well, says Le Paih.

The measles outbreak is taking its toll on children and parents. It requires collective decisive efforts to implement targeted vaccinations and enable wide access to measles treatment kits. MSF runs seven projects in Bamyan, Helmand, Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif, Kandahar, Khost and Kunduz, with a particular focus on delivering secondary healthcare services.

What is measles?

Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that can lead to severe complications even resulting in death. It is a disease preventable by vaccination. Though the virus can affect anyone, it is mainly seen in children.

What are the symptoms?

Early symptoms of measles include:

Running nose

Cough

Watery eyes

White spots

Complications can include blindness, severe diarrhoea, ear infections and breathing issues including pneumonia.
A blast occurred outside Thakur Dwar temple in Punjabs Amritsar during the early hours of Saturday. Punjab police have identified the motorcycle-borne miscreants and have launched a massive search to nab the accused.

The explosion took place outside the temple located in the Khandwala area of Amritsar, damaging the temples walls and shattering window panes. However, none suffered injuries in the blast. Police have collected CCTV footage from the premises.

#WATCH | Punjab: A blast occurred at Thakurdwara Temple in Khandwala, Amritsar late last night after two bike-borne men lobbed an object, suspected to be an explosive, at the temple. No injuries reported. Police personnel present at the spot to carry out an investigation. Details pic.twitter.com/mH92RqOm1L  ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2025

According to police, as per the footage, two unidentified persons are seen approaching the temple on a motorcycle. After waiting for a few seconds, one of them threw an explosive material towards the temple and fled the spot. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said they were alerted about the incident at around 2am and they rushed to the spot. A forensic team visited the blast site and collected evidence from the premises. Commissioner added special teams have been deployed to nab the accused.

Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also visited the temple and interacted with authorities. Dhaliwal said, The situation is under control. Two people have been identified and the police is in action; they will be caught within a day, ANI reported.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagawant Singh Mann condemned the incident and said stern action will be taken. Mann said attempts are being to project law and order situation has deteriorated in Punjab. There are always attempts to disturb the peace in Punjab. Drugs, gangsters, extortion are part of it and there are attempts to show that Punjab has become a disturbed state, he charged.
GAZA/JERUSALEM, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Nine people were killed and several others injured on Saturday by Israeli drone attacks in northern Gaza, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

WAFA said the drone attacked a group of citizens in Beit Lahia and bombed a vehicle, leading to the death of nine citizens, including two journalists.

The Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza received the bodies of the victims and a number of injuries, some of whom were in serious condition, WAFA said.

Meanwhile, Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses reported that the drone targeted a team from the Al-Khair Foundation, while it was carrying out a relief mission.

Among the dead were photojournalists, a media spokesperson, and a driver, according to workers at the foundation, an international Muslim aid non-governmental organization based in Britain and Turkiye.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed its attack on Beit Lahia in a statement, saying the targeted were "terrorists," two of whom "operated a drone that posed a threat to IDF troops," and a few others "collected the drone operating equipment and entered a vehicle."

Earlier on Saturday, the IDF said in a separate statement that it struck three militants in the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza who allegedly attempted to plant explosive devices on the ground.

The IDF did not mention the physical condition of the three targeted.

So far, there have been no reports from authorities in Gaza regarding the attack in central Gaza.

Israeli forces have recently intensified airstrikes in Gaza amid uncertainty over the durability of a phased ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas in January. The first six-week phase of the deal expired on March 1, and negotiations on the second phase remain stalled.

The death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza since the start of the war on Oct. 7, 2023, has topped 48,000, with more than 111,000 others injured, according to the latest data from the Gaza-based health authorities. 
Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party president K. Annamalai dubbed the proposed unified resistance of southern states against the delimitation as "drama".

"The March 22 meeting of representatives from southern states as part of the unified resistance against delimitation led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is only drama. DMK is only using delimitation as a diversionary tactic," said Annamalai in Bengaluru on Friday.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai says, "We have to understand that delimitation is a non-issue...Like One Nation One Election, we are talking to the people now. A committee has submitted a report before the Parliament and we all know the way forward. When delimitation pic.twitter.com/MYXXlmb1gb  ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2025

Arguing that the proposed delimitation would not alter the proportional representation of states in the Parliament, Annamalai said, "No state will lose or gain as the delimitation will be pro rata. For instance, Tamil Nadu has 39 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, which is 7.2 per cent of the seats. After delimitation, it will still have the same proportion of seats."

He also criticised the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government for rejecting the National Election Policy and also changing the rupee symbol to Tamil alphabet, and slammed Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for agreeing to attend the March 22 meeting in Chennai.

Its been nearly two years since forming government, yet @siddaramaiah has never shown the same urgency when it comes to fighting for Cauvery & addressing Bengalurus drinking water crisis - even during last summers peak shortage.



Did @siddaramaiah ever protest against pic.twitter.com/lPU9xPJ2o9  Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) March 13, 2025

Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra reiterated his Tamil Nadu counterpart's argument that the DMK government in Tamil Nadu was "anti-Centre" and it did not augur well for a federal system of democracy.

"The Tamil Nadu government is opposing the proposed delimitation, NEP and has also changed the rupee symbol and adopted an anti-Centre strategy for political reasons. It is unfortunate that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has extended support to Stalin (in the unified resistance) as the people of Karnataka will suffer due to the conflict between the Centre and the state," said Vijayendra, adding that the two chief ministers should instead discuss the contentious Cauvery water sharing issue and resolve it.

Vijayendra also claimed that J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had the "right approach" and the people of J&K would greatly benefit from it. The BJP leader was referring to Abdullah expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for extending the Central assistance to his state in the Union budget.

Vijayendra, in an X post, condemned the Tamil Nadu government's move to remove the 'rupee symbol', stating, "The rupee symbolizes India's economic power. By despising the rupee symbol, Tamil Nadu government has demonstrated its separatist attitude and creating a rift in the unity of the country."

The BJP leader condemned the Congress party's silence over the "anti-national" move (changing the rupee symbol) of its ally stating that the Congress party prioritised power politics above the nation's unity, though the rupee symbol was adopted during the UPA regime.

He also alleged that the DMK government and Stalin were trying to sow seeds of "hatred" in the minds of the people of Tamil Nadu ahead of the upcoming state assembly polls. "People of Tamil Nadu will not fall for this diversionary tactic as Stalin is using regionalism and language issue to divert attention for the lack of development in the state," said Vijayendra.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has snubbed Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan over his comments questioning Tamil Nadus opposition against the National Education Policy and Hindi imposition. DMK charged Kalyan was making these statements to gain the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: On the statement of Andhra Pradesh DCM Pawan Kalyan, DMK leader TKS Elangovan says, "We have been opposing Hindi since 1938...We had passed legislation in the state assembly that Tamil Nadu will always follow the two-language formula because of the pic.twitter.com/bHvjKZgDF1  ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2025

DMK leader T.K.S. Elangovan said, We have been opposing Hindi since 1938. The state has passed legislation in the state assembly that Tamil Nadu will always follow the two-language formula based on the advice and suggestions of the experts in education and not actors, ANI reported. Elangovan said the bill was passed in 1968 and this was not the first time Tamil Nadu opposed Hindi imposition in the state. We feel that education in the mother tongue is the best, he added. Pawan Kalyan is making these statements to garner support of the BJP, he charged.

The DMKs attack comes after Pawan Kalyan targeted the former for opposing the National Education Policy and three-language formula on Friday. Addressing his party cadres on Friday, during the anniversary celebration of Janasena Party, Kalyan said, I do not understand why some criticize Sanskrit. Why do Tamil Nadu politicians oppose Hindi while allowing their movies to be dubbed in Hindi for financial gain? They want money from Bollywood but refuse to accept Hindi; what kind of logic is that? ANI reported.

DMK spokesperson Dr Syed Hafeezullah said Kalyan made the comments due to his "hollow understanding" of the issue. Hafeezullah told NDTV, Tamil Nadu has never opposed individuals learning Hindi or any other language. What we oppose is the imposition of Hindi or any language on the people of our state.
A court in Srinagar has issued a legal notice to fashion designers Shivan & Narresh, the Editor-in-Chief of ELLE India, and unnamed models over allegations of obscenity, offending religious sentiments during Ramadan, and public alcohol consumption at a fashion show in Gulmarg.

The controversy arose after a ski-wear fashion event was held on March 7 in the snow-covered meadows of Gulmarg to mark the 15th anniversary of the Delhi-based designer brand. The complainant has sought legal action under Sections 296 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 50-A of the Jammu and Kashmir Excise Act, 1958.

#WATCH | Srinagar, J&K: On the case filed against the organisers of the Gulmarg Fashion Show, Advocate Naveed Bukhtiyar says, "... Recently, an obscene fashion show was organised in Gulmarg and there was public consumption of alcohol. It hurt the religious sentiments of the pic.twitter.com/tssumfJPiP  ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2025

Before proceeding with the case, the court has asked the accused to respond, as required under Section 223(1) of BNSS 2023. The matter will be reviewed on April 8.

The fashion show has sparked widespread criticism from the public and political circles. The issue was also raised in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly.

We have already launched an inquiry. However, initial findings show that it was a private four-day event held at a private hotel in Gulmarg, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the Assembly. The fashion show took place on March 7 and certain aspects of it have understandably hurt peoples sentiments.

Speaking after Question Hour, which was disrupted for nearly 30 minutes over the fashion show and the recent killing of three civilians in Kathua district, Abdullah acknowledged that the concerns raised by members were valid.

However, Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma, a senior BJP leader, criticised Abdullah, accusing him of feigning ignorance about the event despite it being held at a hotel owned by his relatives.

The show provoked sharp reactions, with religious leaders condemning it for disrespecting local traditions, particularly during Ramadan.

Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also criticised the event, calling it an insult to Kashmiri culture and religious values.

The Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) also strongly objected, describing the show as a disregard for local customs and beliefs. They demanded a thorough, time-bound investigation into what they termed a semi-nude fashion show.

The sight of scantily dressed models and open alcohol consumption in Gulmarg has deeply hurt the religious and cultural sentiments of locals. We strongly condemn this act, the association said in a statement.
If everything progresses as planned, simultaneous elections could be implemented across India by 2034. The 'one nation, one poll' reform is not an imposition but a democratic initiative aimed at national development, said Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai, in Bengaluru on Friday.

The former Karnataka cadre IPS officer, while speaking at a seminar, highlighted that 16 political parties supported the ONOP proposal in 2019, while only three, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), opposed it.

"NITI Aayog and the Law Commission have favoured the idea and committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind has already submitted a report on its feasibility. The proposal is now under review by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). If all goes well, the country try will see a unified elections by 2034," said Annamalai, adding that unified elections could bring both economic and political stability for Indias future.

It was a pleasure to throw insights on the topic Youths for One Nation One Election among the scintillating young students of Jain University, in Bengaluru today along with eminent guests Thiru Jitendra Mishra avl, Registrar, Jain University, Thiru @CKRBJP avl, Jayanagar MLA, pic.twitter.com/Hl9G9fWBvF  K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) March 14, 2025

Advocating for a single election, he said it would boost GDP, increase voter participation, and create a more sustainable democratic system as it reduced government expenditure to free up funds for developmental activities.

"The common election would compel the regional parties to think about national issues and the national parties to focus on regional concerns. A single election cycle encourages higher voter turnout, particularly among young voters, as it helps combat voter apathy and creates a more engaged and responsible electorate," said Annamalai, urging the youth to take a more active role in the democratic process.

Stating that Indias staggered election process was resulting in a prolonged electoral cycle, Annamalai noted that election-related activities, including the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), voter list preparation, and security deployment, consumed significant administrative resources.

"States lose at least 7.5 months due to election-related processes. A single election can help save up to 4.5 lakh crore and contribute significantly to India's GDP. By cutting election costs, more funds could be allocated for infrastructure and public welfare projects," Annamalai said, citing the data from the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where candidates had collectively spent 1.74 lakh crore.

Annamalai recalled that simultaneous elections were not new and were held in 1952, 1957, 1962, and 1967. However, political instability in the 1970s, including the dissolution of the Lok Sabha in 1970 and the imposition of Presidents Rule in Kerala, had disrupted this practice. He also pointed out that during the Emergency period, several non-Congress governments were dismissed.
The Karnataka government's decision to provide four per cent reservation in government contracts is not exclusively for Muslims, but for all minority communities and backward classes, said Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

"Four per cent reservation is not just for Muslims but all minority communities and backward classes," he told news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Bengaluru | Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar says, "Tamil Nadu (DMK) delegation came to meet me... My Chief Minister directed me to participate after speaking to our party's high command as he couldn't travel due to his leg injury..."



On Karnataka government clears 4% pic.twitter.com/pOXKPrC5uz  ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2025

The state government's decision has sparked off a political storm in the state with the BJP accusing the ruling Congress of Muslim appeasement.

BJP leader and former law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Rahul Gandhi was behind the Karnataka government's move, adding that such decisions may seem small but would have serious national implications.

Taking a jibe at the Siddaramaiah government, he wondered whether the next step would be separate queues for Muslims in buying cinema and train tickets.

The state cabinet on Friday gave its nod for amending the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act to provide four per cent reservation in government tenders to Muslim contractors.

The cabinet decision came days after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while presenting the budget, announced that four per cent of public works contracts would be reserved for Muslims under a category called Category-II B.

Reservation will be provided in the procurement of goods and services under various government departments, corporations, and institutions for suppliers belonging to SC, ST, Category-I, Category-II A, and Category-II B, up to Rs 1 crore, in which Category-II B refers to Muslims.

Prasad noted that the Supreme Court has emphatically spoken against religion-based reservations and that the Constitution makes provision for reservation on the ground of social and educational backwardness.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's foreign trips have always been a political weapon for the BJP to target the opposition party.

Now senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has raked up this issue again, questioning the "frequency" of Gandhi's visit to Vietnam.

"Where is Rahul Gandhi? I heard he has gone to Vietnam," Prasad said at a press conference in Delhi.

He also claimed that the Congress leader had visited the Southeast Asian country during the new year as well and spent nearly 22 days there.

Gandhi is the Leader of the Opposition and should be available in India, he said.

"He does not spend so many days in his constituency. What is the reason for his so much love for Vietnam suddenly," Prasad asked, adding that the frequency of his visits to that country is "very curious".

"Rahul Gandhi needs to explain his extraordinary fondness for Vietnam," he further said.

The BJP had earlier targeted Gandhi for going abroad on New Year, days after the passing of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

While the country was mourning Singh's demise, Gandhi had flown to Vietnam to ring in the new year, the party had said.

The BJP had earlier alleged that Gandhi undermined and tarnished India's democracy and image during his speeches in foreign countries.

He goes on a foreign trip every 3-4 months. After returning to India, his tone changes. Whenever he returns, his attacks on PM Modi, India and the countrys development increase. He is trying is trying to weaken the country. They are working against the country by inviting foreign interference and weakening our foreign image, Prasad had earlier said.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has convened a meeting with senior officials from home and legislative ministries on Tuesday to discuss the seeding of voter identity cards with Aadhar. The CECs move comes amid oppositions accusation of the Election Commission fudging the electoral roll in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The CECs has convened a meeting with the Union home secretary, legislative secretary and CEO of UIDAI on Tuesday to discuss the linking of voter IDs with Aadhar. As per law, voter IDs can be voluntarily linked with the Aadhaar database. The Centre recently informed Parliament that the Aadhaar-voter card seeding exercise did not have any specific timelines.

The opposition has been accusing the Centre of using the Election Commission for its political gains. The opposition INDIA bloc charged electoral roll is being manipulated for election wins. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also raised the issue in the Parliament and sought discussion.

Earlier, soon after the Maharashtra assembly polls, Rahul Gandhi charged the electoral roll for Maharashtra assembly polls was fudged and several names were added to the roll before the election. Aam Aadmi Party Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also levelled similar charges.

On charges of similar EPIC numbers for electors in different states, the Election Commission recently clarified that similar number could be due to the use of similar alphanumeric series by different states. Election Commission in a statement said, While EPIC numbers of some of the electors may be identical, the other details including demographic details, Assembly Constituency and polling booth are different for the electors with the same EPIC number.
Iraq Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani on Friday revealed that a top commander of the terrorist outfit, Islamic State, was killed by the security forces of the country.

The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service received the support of the Iraqi intelligence and the US-led coalition that includes the Kurds.

Who was Abu Khadija?

Born in 1991, Abu Khadija aka Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufayi was considered "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world," according to the Iraqi premier. He was regarded as the "Deputy Caliph" of ISIS.

                                 ( )      (        (@mohamedshia) March 14, 2025

Khadija who joined al-Qaeda in 2009 was arrested two years later. However, he managed to escape from Tasfirat prison. He made headlines again when the Islamic State conquered Saladin province in 2014.

Khadija was part of the Saad bin Abi Waqas Brigade and later joined the al-Qadisiyyah Division of Third Brigade, Abu Abdulla al-Ansari Battalion. He then became the Kirkuk security chief before being appointed the "Wali of the Wilayat Iraq and Al-Sham, Blessed Land."

Khadija's influence within the group's hierarchy meant that he was poised to become the next Islamic State caliph. Hence, the death of the would-be ISIS chief is seen as a huge blow to the group.

Trump confirms death of Abu Khadija

Confirming the death of Abu Khadija, US President Donald Trump said the ISIS commander and another operative of the terror outfit were killed in a joint operation carried out by the American, Iraqi and Kurdish forces.

Today, the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters, Trump posted on Truth Social. "His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS... PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!"

Notably, former ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed during the first Trump administration in a 2019 raid by US special forces. Trump back then said Baghdadi died "like a coward and a dog" after being chased into a dead-end tunnel, claiming he was crying and screaming before his death.
In a significant development, NASA and Elon Musks SpaceX successfully launched a much-awaited crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, thus paving the way for the return of US astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded on the ISS for nine months.

The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying a Dragon spacecraft on the Crew-10 mission, and a crew of four astronauts  Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov  lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Have a great time in space, y'all!

#Crew10 lifted off from @NASAKennedy at 7:03pm ET (2303 UTC) on Friday, March 14. pic.twitter.com/9Vf7VVeGev  NASA (@NASA) March 14, 2025

The spacecraft will dock at the ISS on March 15, and once the four astronauts are acclimatised, they will take over the operations from Crew-9, which is set to depart on March 19, along with the veteran NASA astronauts.

The Crew-9 mission, launched in September last year, had only two astronauts  NASAs Nick Hague and Roscosmoss Aleksandr Gorbunov - to keep two seats for Williams and Wilmore on their return. However, a replacement crew had to arrive to replace them before they could leave. Hence, the Crew-10 mission was assigned, but it was delayed multiple times due to technical issues and bad weather.

Wilmore and Williams were the first to fly Boeing Starliner capsule to the ISS in June last year. A spacecraft malfunction resulted in the eight-day mission being extended for months. The duo were set to return to earth in February, but it was delayed yet again.

Politics over Sunita Williams-Butch Wilmore return

The matter turned political after US president Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO and Trumps adviser Elon Musk accused former president Joe Biden of abandoning Williams and Wilmore on the ISS intentionally, and that he rejected a plan to bring the duo back sooner.

Sunita Williamss Indian connection

Williams has always been connected to her Indian roots. Born to Indian American neuroanatomist Deepak Pandya, who hails from Gujarat, and Bonnie Pandya, Williams was raised in the US, and is married to Michael J Williams, a federal marshal in Texas.

Interestingly, she carried the Bhagavad Gita and samosas to the ISS, and also celebrated Diwali there.
A joint declaration by China, Russia and Iran on Irans nuclear issue issued from Beijing on the same day that a naval war-game concluded between the three countries near the strategic Chabahar port south of Iran may have been a coincidence.

But it would not surprise keen watchers of geopolitics.

Unwittingly, the Ukraine war that began in 2022 has unleashed forces the US-led West did not foresee. It brought Russia and Iran much closer than before. And with China traditionally having good relations with both these countries, it was only a question of time before the three got even closer.

WATCH to find out what #China's Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu had said at the #China-#Russia-#Iran trilateral meeting on the Iranian nuclear issue. https://t.co/rcXNnf32ps pic.twitter.com/z8WfpT1Nz9  ShanghaiEyeofficial (@ShanghaiEye) March 15, 2025

A significant fallout of the growing relationship was Irans supply of Shahed drones to aid the Russian war effort in Ukraine. These cheap drones were effective in Ukraine expending expensive missiles and other projectiles supplied by the western countries. So much so that Russia is producing its own version of the Shahed in Tatarstan with active Iranian collaboration.

On Friday, after the Beijing meeting attended by Chinas Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iran Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, a joint declaration emphasised on the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions.

Minister Ma, flanked by ministers Alexeevich and Gharibabadi, read out: The three countries reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option in this regard.

China and Russia welcomed Irans reiteration that its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes, and not for development of nuclear weapons.

It is widely believed that Iran has been trying to develop nuclear weapons and trying to achieve the enrichment of uranium up to the weapons grade level of about 90 per cent.

What also binds the three countries together is the worlds biggest energy guzzler Chinas need for Iranian and Russian energy supplies.

Very significantly, the three countries are also members of the BRICS multilateral grouping that has been seeking to provide an alternative to the US-led West controlled dominance of the world economy.

US President Donald Trump has been vehement in his criticism of BRICS, especially for the groupings purported aim to create a currency as an alternative to the US dollar which continues to dominate global trade.

BRICS was set up in 2009 with Brazil, Russia, India and China as the founding members while South Africa joined in 2010.

Very significantly, Iran was admitted as a full member to BRICS in 2024. The other members are Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.

With 10 full members and nine partner countries, BRICS makes up for 54.6 per cent of the world population and 42.2 per cent of the global GDP (PPP).

On Wednesday, the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), a leading Chinese state-controlled think-tank published its findings where it stated that BRICS should raise its strategic profile on the world stage, working together to tackle external shocks including western sanctions against founding member Russia that were imposed following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
MOSCOW, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Russian engineering units have started demining operations in reclaimed border areas of the Kursk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday.

The efforts are aimed to facilitate the restoration of essential infrastructure and the resumption of economic activities following intense combat, the ministry said in a statement.

It added that the engineering units have discovered munitions banned by the Geneva Convention.

Over the past weeks, Russian troops have retaken a large part of areas that Ukraine captured after its surprise cross-border attack in the Kursk region in August last year. 
US President Donald Trump on Friday revealed at the Department of Justice that he directed officials to keep Washington, DC clean for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders.

"We're cleaning up our city. We're cleaning up this great capital, and we're not going to have crime," Trump said, adding that the authorities took down the tents and grafitti.

Praising Mayor Muriel Bowser, the president said, "And so so far, so good. We want to have a capital that can be the talk of the world."

Donald Trump says he ordered Washington, D.C., to be cleaned to prevent PM Modi from seeing tents, graffiti, and potholes during their visit!@narendramodi @PMOIndia @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/RxyziUqMkX  DD News (@DDNewslive) March 15, 2025

Trump recounted that when PM Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer came to meet him, his team ensured that the US capital looked beautiful. "I didn't want to have them see tents. I didn't want to have them see graffiti. I didn't want to have them see broken barriers and potholes in the roads," he added.

The President went on to explain his plans to make Washington, DC a crime-free capital, promising that it would not take long.

Besides Modi, Macron and Starmer, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Jordan monarch King Abdullah II and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have also visited White House.

PM Modi was at the White House on February 13 where he discussed with Trump their mission to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. They also discussed deepening defence ties as the US hopes to make India less dependant of Russia for weapon imports. The PM had also met billionaire Elon Musk to discuss the India entry of Starlink and Tesla.
The Donald Trump administration is set to intensify its crackdown on illegal immigration, with his team now mulling to ban citizens from 41 countries from travelling to the US.

Among these India's neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan could face ban in the coming days, according to sources quoted by Reuters. Pakistan has, however, rejected reports that suggested US travel ban as "speculative". Besides Pakistan and Afghanistan, the list also includes two other neighbouring countries of India: Myanmar and Bhutan.

In the draft proposal, 10 countries have been included in the list of nations facing full travel ban. These include:

Afghanistan

Cuba

Iran

Libya

North Korea

Somalia

Sudan

Syria

Venezuela

Yemen

In the second list, five nations could face restriction of tourist and student visas. These include:

Eritrea

Haiti

Laos

Myanmar

South Sudan

In the third list, 26 countries will be given two months to rectify concerns. Further action will be taken against these countries if they fail to "address deficiencies within 60 days". These include:

Angola

Antigua and Barbuda

Belarus

Benin

Bhutan

Burkina Faso

Cabo Verde

Cambodia

Cameroon

Chad

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Dominica

Equatorial Guinea

Gambia

Liberia

Malawi

Mauritania

Pakistan

Republic of the Congo

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

Sao Tome and Principe

Sierra Leone

East Timor

Turkmenistan

Vanuatu

The affected people would include refugees from Afghanistan as well as those on Special Immigrant Visas after working for the US against the Taliban.

On January 20, Trump inked an executive order that sought extensive vetting of any foreigners entering the US to detect security issues.

A US official, who spoke to the news agency anonymously, said the list could be altered based on discussions pending final approval by the Trump administration. The deadline for cabinet members to submit their suggestions in March 21.

Following the Hamas attack on Israel, Trump said in an October 2023 speech that he will restrict people from Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and "anywhere else that threatens our security".

In his first term, Trump had banned travellers from seven Muslim-majority nations. The policy that was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018 was repealed by former President Joe Biden in 2021. Biden said it was "a stain on our national conscience."
Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian citizen studying at the Columbia University in the United States, self-deported after her visa was revoked.

The Department of State revoked her visa on March 5 for allegedly "advocating for violence and terrorism" and for being involved in activities supporting Hamas.

Ranjani used the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App to self-deport on March 11, according to the video footage obtained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Who is Ranjani Srinivasan?

Ranjani came to the US on a F-1 student visa as a doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University.

EXCLUSIVE: FOX News obtains video of Columbia protester/student Ranjani Srinivasan, a national from India, self-deporting to Canada using the CBP Go App... seen here in the black hoodie.



DHS sources confirm her F-1 Visa has been revoked..



DHS Sec Noem says in a statement:

It pic.twitter.com/hdtvjntW71  Griff Jenkins (@GriffJenkins) March 14, 2025

According to the NYU Wagners official website, she is a Doctoral Candidate in Urban Planning from Columbia Universitys Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP). Ranjani is a Fulbright recipient and also holds an M.Phil in Urban Planning from GSAPP. She has also done her Masters in Design from Harvard Universitys Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) in Design from CEPT University.

DHS said that Ranjani became involved in activities which were deemed to support the officially designated terrorist organisation, Hamas.

US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, in a statement issued, said: It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America. When you advocate for violence and terrorism, that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country. I am glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathizers use the CBP Home App to self-deport.

What is the CBP Home app Rajani used to self-deport?

The CBP Home app was launched by the Department of Homeland Security on March 10 with a self-deportation reporting feature.

Those staying illegally in the US can use the CBP Home app to submit their application to leave the country voluntarily. Self-deportation gives the individual a chance to return to the US legally in future, which is not the case if Department of Homeland Security finds him or her and deports the person.
With the Donald Trump administration cutting financial aid to South Africa, the diplomatic ties between the two nations have hit a low. This has now deteriorated with the expulsion of South African ambassador to the US.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday announced that the South African envoy, Ebrahim Rasool, was a persona non grata, saying he hates President Donald Trump and America.

Rubio posted on X that Rasool is no longer welcome to the US. "We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA," he said.

South Africa's Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country.



Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS.



We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.https://t.co/mnUnwGOQdx  Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 14, 2025

Rasool's short stint in Washington comes after just two months after he presented his credential to Trump's predecessor Joe Biden on January 13. This was his second tenure as US envoy.

Trump has repeatedly slammed the South African government over its genocide case against Israel at the Internation Court of Justice over the Gaza conflict against Hamas. Rasool has been a vocal supporter of the case against Israel, a contentious issue that put him in the bad book of US officials.

In a September 2023 post on Facebook, Rasool uploaded a photo showing a scarf signed by then Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. A month later, Hamas attacked Israel, killing several thousands and taking hundreds as hostages. Israel and Hamas are currently negotiating the extension of their existing ceasefire deal mediated by the US, Egypt and Qatar.

Another contentious issue that has worsened the diplomatic ties is South Africa's land policy, which Trump ally Elon Musk said is against white people in the country. Born in South Africa, Musk said white people in the country have been victims of "racist ownership laws". The land bill was signed into law by president Cyril Ramaphosa in January, allowing the government to expropriate land, even without compensating the owner.

Though there are no evidences, Trump has alleged that South Africa is "confiscating land" and treating "certain classes of people very badly."
Uzma, a single mother of one from Delhi, meets Tahir, a Pakistani, in Malaysia and strikes a bond. Unflinchingly, she crosses the Wagah border into Pakistan and sets off for the volatile Buner, where even Pakistanis think twice before going. All this in pursuit of a man, but what awaits Uzma is torturemental, physical, and sexualwho is married off to Tahir at gunpoint.



With trickery, she reaches the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and thus unfolds tight diplomatic manoeuvring in a mission headed by the then Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh to bring Uzma back home.

This might read like a Bollywood script, but is the real-life story of Uzma Ahmed, which made headlines in 2017 in both India and Pakistan and is now the premise of a film aptly named The Diplomat.

Starring John Abraham in the leading role of Singh, the film recreates the events but from the point of view of the diplomat who spearheads Uzmas tricky homecoming.

Diplomacy baaki deshon ke saath hoti hai, yahan ice-skating (Diplomacy happens with other countries, here we do ice-skating), says Abraham as Singh, declaring the nature of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

While, over the past decade, there has been a swift rise in films riding on jingoistic nationalism, director Shivam Nair and writer Ritesh Shah delicately steered clear of it.

While there is Pakistan-bashing here and there, the focus is tightly held and is thrilling to make you suspicious of Uzma at first but keep you at the edge till she doesnt cross the Wagah border back to India.

While Abraham, who has also backed the project, is fabulous as Singh, bringing out the right amount of sharpness and balance required of a diplomat, Sadia Khateeb as Uzma takes the cake.

From naive to afraid and tortured, to strong and resilient, she portrays the myriad states Uzma goes through with much honesty. As Uzmas shauhar (husband), Jagjeet Sandhu is excellent as Tahir. While not as towering in build as his cruelty, he makes you flinch throughout.

Although a short appearance, Revathy is charming as the late Sushma Swaraj, the then minister of external affairs. There is also Kumud Mishra, as a helpful lawyer, and Sharib Hashmi, as an Indian official, who brings a sense of lightness to the otherwise serious premise.

While a good thriller and a one-time watch, The Diplomat suffers from some glaring flaws. While based on real-life events, the makers merely scratch the surface and stick to the sarkari version.

For example, how love blossomed between Uzma and Tariq is glaringly missing, and so is the motivation behind Tariqs savagery. The case remains murky, straddled with gaping holes, which the film doesn't address and thus loses on impact.

Ashwath Bhatt plays an ISI agent whose whole intention is to stop Uzma from leaving the border. Why? one wonders and is left wondering till the end. Even Tariqs entire clan is reduced to women-beating savages, with no explanation for their acts whatsoever.

Having said that, in times when, in the name of films, the audience is largely offered mediocrity week after week, The Diplomat makes for a decent watch.

Film: The Diplomat

Director: Shivam Nair



Cast: John Abraham, Sadia Khateeb, Revathy, Kumud Mishra, Ashwath Bhatt, Jagjeet Sandhu

Rating: 3 out of 5
Diversification will become the paramount objective of investors, with 21 days to go until this year's Isa deadline.

The global stock market turmoil sparked by Donald Trump's trade wars makes it more important than ever to cast your net wider.

So should the unloved UK stock market be the home for some of your individual savings account (Isa) allowance this year?

Already there are signs of change of heart towards UK plc. The US S&P 500 index has fallen by 5 per cent this year, while the FTSE 100 has risen by 4 per cent.

But learning to love Britain again will need steady nerves, especially after the dip in gross domestic product (GDP) suggesting that the economy has been hard hit by the Budget tax rises and reigniting talk of recession.

Such has been the clamour for America Inc that 20,000 invested in the US stock market in January 2005 would have given a total return (including income) of 229,484 by January 2025.

Over the same period, the same sum staked on UK shares would have produced 78,676, according to Fidelity International data.

Tough task: Learning to love Britain again will need steady nerves, especially after the dip in gross domestic product

This difference in outcomes highlights the extent to which British shares have been overshadowed by the US tech razzle-dazzle.

The obsession with American tech has enabled UK companies to be snapped up on the cheap  by US predators looking beyond their nation for bargains. In 2024 there were 105 takeover bids for UK names worth 63billion.

The activity has continued this year, underlining the allure of British enterprises of every type.

If this has made you wonder whether the UK could be a land that you could explore, here are your options.

Room for improvement? How some of the UK stock market's famous names have performed

Think big: How to back the UK market and its giants

The FTSE 100 is the UK's blue chip index but its members earn 80 per cent of their profits from overseas  and they are also a rich source of income.

Broker AJ Bell forecasts that FTSE 100 companies will pay out 83.6billion in dividends this year, with billions more in share buybacks which should give a boost to share prices.

The more domestically focused FTSE 250 is predicted to distribute 10billion in dividends. Index funds provide a low-cost route to exposure to these indices.

AJ Bell recommends the iShares FTSE 100 ETF (exchange traded fund) and Vanguard FTSE 250 ETF.

> The best and cheapest stocks and shares Isa platforms

Broker Interactive Investor suggests Fidelity UK Index which covers the whole market. Active funds (where a professional picks the stocks) that appear in several best buy lists include City of London, Jupiter UK Dynamic Equity and Liontrust UK Growth.

Interactive Investor reports that Isa investors who prefer to make their own choices are going for BAE Systems and Rolls Royce to benefit from higher increased defence spending and BP, in the belief that the energy titan will turn around or be taken over.

Another favourite is the North Sea oil services engineer John Wood which is, once more, in bid talks with the UAE-based Sidara.

Maybe Isa investors should also be buying the High Street banks, a sector which investment firm Lansdowne Partners likes.

Think smaller: How to back medium and small caps

If you want to take a long-term gamble on a reassessment of the UK's strengths, smaller and medium-sized companies may offer the most potential.

It is trickier to check out the credentials of these businesses, but there are well-regarded funds and trusts that target this sector.

Financial advisors Birkett Long say that the Mercantile trust should be well-positioned. The trust has stakes in the homeware retailer Dunelm and Warhammer maker Games Workshop.

Fidelity Special Values also holds a mix of mid-tier and household names including NatWest. You could also think even smaller. The junior market Aim is languishing, bringing calls for its closure.

But Ken Wotton, manager of the Baronsmead VCT (venture capital trust) says that there is a disconnect between share prices and the fortunes of some Aim companies, presenting the possibility that there may be some hidden gems.

Discover the UK tech stars

A lack of tech players of the stature of Amazon, Apple, or Microsoft lies behind some of the UK market's underperformance.

But the UK has stars in this field. Credit data giant Experian, London Stock Exchange, data group Relx and software giant Sage should suit investors.

One route to exposure to these Brit tech names is the Finsbury Growth & Income trust whose share price is at an 8 per cent discount to its net asset value (NAV).

The Lindsell Train UK Equity fund has an almost identical portfolio. Their manager Nick Train has lost his reputation as a star in his field. But perhaps this could be restored with a new appreciation of Experian and the rest.

Anne Ashworth: I'm backing the UK but caution is advisable

What Anne Ashworth is doing with her Isa

Finsbury Growth & Income also holds the iconic British fashion brand Burberry whose designs made it one of the stars of the recent London Fashion Week.

Beleaguered Burberry was one of my UK plc bets last year.

The outcome has been gratifying, but I am staying put as this may only be the beginning of the revival of the label and its shares.

I am going to be adding to my UK Isa holdings in the hope that the trajectory for our stock market is also upwards. But I will be making monthly contributions to funds and trusts, so lessening my gamble.

The tax-free allowance is 20,000 and you use it or lose it. But at this testing geopolitical time, some caution is advisable.
Rachel Reeves has been urged to scrap the tourist tax and stamp duty on share trading to boost the economy.

Lobby group BusinessLDN, which seeks to promote London as a place to do business, yesterday called on the Chancellor to 'prioritise growth-enhancing' policies.

The comments came after figures showed the economy shrank by 0.1 per cent in January as business reeled from the 40billion of tax hikes announced in the Budget.

Muniya Barua, deputy chief executive at BusinessLDN, said: 'Reinstating tax-free shopping for international visitors and scrapping stamp duty on share transactions would help kick-start the economy quickly by sending a clear message to shoppers and investors alike that the UK is open for business.'

Objection: Burberry has called for the tourist tax to be axed

Britain axed VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors following Brexit  hammering demand for expensive goods among affluent tourists.

A host of firms from Burberry and Rolex-seller Watches of Switzerland to Heathrow and hotelier Sir Rocco Forte have opposed the tourist tax.

The Chancellor is also facing calls to axe the 0.5 per cent stamp duty levy on buying UK-listed shares. There is no such charge when buying US equities.
Shein boss Donald Tang has confirmed he wants to list the fast fashion firm on the stock market.

The tycoon said he wants to be 'in the fish tank for everybody to examine in the public square'.

Shein, which was set up in China and is based in Singapore, is known to have been in talks about an initial public offering (IPO) in London for months.

But Tang, 62, only spoke about his plans publicly for the first time yesterday. He said: 'We want to be a listed company.' He added that Shein wanted to 'embrace the accountability and transparency of being a public company'.

Speaking out: Shein boss Donald Tang has confirmed he wants to list the fast fashion firm on the stock market

The Shein executive chairman did not confirm if London is the favoured destination.

But he told The Times: 'London has super-high, very respectable regulatory standards. And we admire that very much.'

Shein has been accused of sourcing cotton from Xinjiang in China where it is claimed Uyghur minorities suffer forced labour and genocide. Tang rejected the claims.
The boss of Asda has warned there is no quick fix at the crisis-hit supermarket as sales continue to fall after its private equity takeover four years ago.

Executive chairman Allan Leighton said profits will be 'materially' lower this year as he prepares to plough millions of pounds into a turnaround plan.

The profit warning sent shares in listed rivals sharply lower with Tesco down 8.7 per cent and Sainsbury's off by 7.8 per cent.

Despite Asda's troubles, Leighton insisted the grocer is in no rush to fill the chief executive position  which has been vacant since 2021  as he set out a rescue strategy.

US retail giant Walmart sold Asda to the billionaire Issa brothers and private equity firm TDR Capital for 6.8billion four years ago.

The supermarket chain was saddled with billions of pounds of debt and has seen its market share eroded. And it risks losing its spot as the UK's third-biggest grocer to German discounter Aldi.

Struggle: US retail giant Walmart sold Asda to the billionaire Issa brothers and private equity firm TDR Capital for 6.8billion four years ago

Retail veteran Leighton, 71, was parachuted in last year to replace Stuart Rose, who had taken on day-to-day running of the chain after co-owner Mohsin Issa stepped down.

He was Asda chief executive between 1996 and 2001  introducing its Rollback and Asda Price initiatives and overseeing its sale to Walmart for 6.7billion in 1999. He went on to lead the boards of Co-op, Royal Mail and Brewdog.

Asda sales last year were 'disappointing', Leighton admitted yesterday, as the grocer reported revenue dipped 0.8 per cent to 21.7billion in 2024. The supermarket is yet to hire a chief executive and there is no formal recruitment process underway. Leighton dismissed talk that Asda has been unable to fill the role because nobody wants to take on the job.

He said he could have a new boss 'tomorrow', adding that the company has been approached by 'five or six' people interested in the role.

Admitting there are no easy answers to the difficulties, he said: 'While regaining customers' trust will take time, we will undertake a substantive and well backed programme of investment in price, availability and the shopping experience to deliver this.'

The company's adjusted earnings before tax and other costs, and after rent, came in at 1.14billion for the past year  up 5.8 per cent on 2023.

Asda said it ended the year with net debt of 3.8billion, and about 800,000 cash on its balance sheet.
BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Two decades ago, China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), voted to adopt the Anti-Secession Law with an overwhelming majority.

It was a milestone event in mainland-Taiwan relations as the law embodies both the will of the state and the common interests of Chinese people across the Taiwan Strait, and codifies the fundamental policy to foil "Taiwan independence" and advance national reunification.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the law's enforcement, a symposium was held in Beijing on Friday, stressing firm action against "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference.

Against the backdrop of the current situation in the Strait, the symposium has sent a clear signal and offered an important guide for compatriots across the Strait to press forward together on the right path.

Since it took effect, the law has achieved remarkable results in safeguarding China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, in cracking down on separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence" and in guarding against foreign interference, among others.

It is emphasized in the law that both sides of the Strait belong to one and the same China, and that resolving the Taiwan question is China's internal affair. The law also clearly draws a legally-binding red line, stipulating the use of force to foil separatist forces and their activities seeking "Taiwan independence" if such a red line is breached.

The law has brought powerful deterrent effect on separatist forces. Over the past 20 years, they have not dared to cross the red line, though they have tried various plots and tricks. In recent years, the mainland has further enriched the legal framework for punishing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, forming an even stronger deterrent to separatist forces aimed at "Taiwan independence."

The law also envisions vast space and prospect for the peaceful reunification of the motherland and the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. However, for some time, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities and the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces have propagated secessionist fallacies, pushing Taiwan to the brink of perils.

The mainland is willing to strive toward peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost efforts. Meanwhile, it will leave no room for any separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence" in any form.

The separatist forces should wake up to the fact that the Anti-Secession Law is neither a "scarecrow" nor an ornament, and their provocative acts to test or even cross the red line will be met with resolute countermeasures. 
John Mutorwa (5th L), Namibia's deputy prime minister and minister of works and transport, and representatives from both China and Namibia, cut the ribbon at the official opening of the Chinese-constructed John Mutorwa Road in Rundu, Namibia, on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Musa Kaseke/Xinhua)

RUNDU, Namibia, March 15 (Xinhua) -- John Mutorwa Road, located in Rundu, in the Kavango East Region of northern Namibia, is celebrated as a major development that improves connectivity and boosts economic activity across local communities.

The road, constructed by China Henan International Cooperation Group (CHICO), was officially opened on Friday by its namesake, John Mutorwa, Namibia's deputy prime minister and minister of works and transport, marking a milestone for the region.

The Namibian government-funded project was completed last year and has since been lauded for its immediate impact on residents and businesses.

Jerry Kauyu, a consignment controller at the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency (AMTA), which is responsible for the management of fresh produce business hubs, highlighted the road's role in facilitating accessibility and bridging previously separated communities.

"I'm an employee of AMTA, one of the beneficiaries of this newly opened road. We've been here since 2013, and this road is very significant because it has increased our traffic in terms of the people visiting the fresh produce hub and the community," said Kauyu in an interview with Xinhua. "We really appreciate this development, and it comes at a time that is very much needed for this dire industry."

Beyond improving transportation, the project has also created local employment opportunities.

Speaking at the official opening, Mutorwa noted that 61 unskilled workers from local communities had been employed during the construction phase, a testament to the government's commitment to building roads and creating economic opportunities for its people.

"This investment ensures that the community benefits from an all-weather reliable road that requires less maintenance while improving overall quality of life," he added.

Kennedy Chigumira, regional engineering manager at Roads Authority of Namibia, commended CHICO's efficiency and commitment to high standards. "Look at the quality of the work, and the adherence to engineering standards within specified timelines. CHICO managed to do it," Chigumira said.

Cui Yunke, managing director of CHICO in Namibia, told Xinhua that although the John Mutorwa Road project is modest in scale, it is one of the "small and beautiful" projects that have brought tangible benefits to local communities.

Wei Jinming, counselor for economic and commercial affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Namibia, noted that the smooth completion and successful handover of the road mark another achievement in China-Namibia cooperation and will effectively benefit local people.

"China will, as always, further strengthen cooperation between the two countries in various fields and promote the continued development of bilateral relations," he said. 

People attend the official opening of the Chinese-constructed John Mutorwa Road in Rundu, Namibia, on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Musa Kaseke/Xinhua)

John Mutorwa, Namibia's deputy prime minister and minister of works and transport, speaks at the official opening of the Chinese-constructed John Mutorwa Road in Rundu, Namibia, on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Musa Kaseke/Xinhua)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in Beijing, capital of China, March 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

* China, Russia and Iran held a meeting in Beijing to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue on Friday, in a fresh bid to strengthen communication and pave the way for resumption of talks.

* In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the three countries emphasized on the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions, and reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option.

* Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister, met with the deputy foreign ministers from Russia and Iran. Wang proposed staying committed to the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as the basis for new consensus.

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China, Russia and Iran held a meeting in Beijing to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue on Friday, in a fresh bid to strengthen communication and pave the way for resumption of talks.

The Beijing Meeting was chaired by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, with participation of his Russian and Iranian counterparts Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Kazem Gharibabadi.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the three countries emphasized on the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions, and reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option.

China and Russia welcomed Iran's reiteration that its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes, and not for development of nuclear weapons, and also welcomed Iran's commitment to full compliance with its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement, supported Iran's policy to continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and stressed the need to fully respect Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a State Party to the NPT.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in Beijing, capital of China, March 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister, met with the deputy foreign ministers from Russia and Iran. Wang proposed staying committed to the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as the basis for new consensus.

"China hopes that all parties will work toward the same direction and resume dialogue and negotiation as early as possible. The United States should demonstrate political sincerity and return to talks at an early date," Wang said.

He voiced opposition to pressing for intervention by the U.N. Security Council (UNSC). Under the current situation, hasty intervention by the UNSC will not help build confidence or bridge differences among the relevant parties. Initiating the snapback mechanism would undo years of diplomatic efforts, and must be handled with caution.

The Beijing meeting was a useful effort by China, Russia and Iran in seeking to advance the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

China is ready to work with other parties for a just, balanced and sustainable resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue, uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and promote international and regional peace and stability, Mao added. 
LANZHOU, March 15 (Xinhua) -- A recent study has made significant progress in uncovering the microscopic mechanism behind heavy-ion cancer therapy, which is expected to optimize cancer treatment strategies and promote the development of new radiotherapy technologies.

The findings, led by researchers from the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and their collaborators, were recently published as a highlighted paper in the journal Physical Review X.

Heavy-ion therapy, a cutting-edge radiotherapy technique, uses heavy-ion beams to destroy cancer cells. Since the concept was proposed in 1946, over 50,000 patients worldwide have undergone heavy-ion treatment.

"Under the same radiation dose, heavy ions exhibit two to three times greater cancer-cell-killing efficiency than traditional X-ray radiotherapy," said Xu Shenyue, a researcher with the IMP.

Heavy ions can more efficiently cause DNA double-strand breaks in tumor cells, resulting in stronger biological effects. But the specific microscopic mechanism underlying these effects had long been unclear, Xu said.

Researchers conducted experiments at the heavy-ion research facilities in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, to address this question. For the first time, they observed an intermolecular energy and proton transfer cascade mechanism triggered by heavy-ion irradiation in biomolecular clusters.

"The observed mechanism sheds light on the molecular mechanisms of radiation damage, and may play an essential role in optimizing radiotherapy techniques in the future," said Ma Xinwen, another researcher with the IMP.

The study was conducted by scientists from the IMP, in collaboration with researchers from Russia's Irkutsk State University, Germany's Heidelberg University, the University of Science and Technology of China, Xi'an Jiaotong University and Lanzhou University. 
BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China has released a set of guidelines on labeling internet content that is generated or composed by artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which are set to take effect on Sept. 1.

The guidelines, issued by authorities including the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), are aimed at promoting the healthy development of the AI sector and helping internet users spot false information.

With the rapid development of AI technology in recent years, a vast amount of online content has been produced or composed in various forms through the assistance of AI, before being spread in cyberspace.

Simultaneously, the abuse of AI technology and the distribution of fake information have emerged and aroused social concern, prompting the need to standardize how such content is identified, according to the CAC.

The misuse of AI technology has sparked widespread discussions about improving the regulation of the sector. In one example, AI-generated images of a famous Chinese actor were used to defraud members of his fan base last year.

In response, the guidelines regulate the labeling of AI-generated online content throughout its production and dissemination processes, requiring providers to add visible marks to their content in appropriate locations.

They also stipulate that no organization or individual is permitted to delete, tamper with, fabricate or conceal such identifying labels, the CAC said. 
Lots of stuff to consider tonight for our late evening lurkers or early morning news junkies who enjoy our collection of pop culture, community reporting and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Downtown Springtime Blows . . .

VIDEO: Wind blows over KC heart outside T-Mobile Center Friday's wind has already impacted things outside the T-Mobile Center downtown.

Inferno On The Prairie

Traffic scoots by in 1 lane as crews clear grass fire along eastbound K-10 Traffic continues to scoot by along eastbound K-10 near Kill Creek Rd. in De Soto after a collision caused a grass fire.

Local Lockup No Go . . .

CoreCivic withdrawing application for ICE detention center in Leavenworth City of Leavenworth officials confirmed CoreCivic has withdrawn its application to operate an ICE detention facility at the location for the former Leavenworth Detention Center.

Show-Me Guv In Action

State of emergency declared by Missouri governor ahead of severe storm threat Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an executive order declaring a State of Emergency as the state anticipates severe weather Friday evening.

Cowtown Celebrates First Responder Tradition

Kansas City Fire Department celebrates 157th anniversary The Kansas City Fire Department is celebrating 157 years of serving the metro since their establishment in 1868.

Pro Hottie Retrospective Exposed

5 Times Paige Spiranac's Bikini Body Made Instagram Sweat Paige Spiranac has endless bikini photos that have racked her up Instagram followers, and we've found the best five.

MAGA Words Rock Beltway

Trump vents fury about his criminal cases in extraordinary speech at DoJ In hourlong victory lap, president railed against Biden officials and their 'bullshit' case while boosting his lawyers

Prez Puts Opposition On Notice

'Scum,' 'crooked' elections and 'corrupt' media. What Trump said inside the Justice Department President Donald Trump delivered what sounded like one of his typical meandering, grievance-laden campaign speeches on Friday, but it was where he did it - inside the U.S.

Progressives Putter Around

Democrat Party infighting exposes struggle to unite against Trump Sharp divides over how to push back against Trump and Republicans have been laid bare in Congress, writes Anthony Zurcher.

Politicos Deal With Cuts

US Senate passes bill to avert shutdown, House Democrats turn on Schumer The U.S. Senate on Friday passed a stopgap spending bill, averting a partial government shutdown, after Democrats backed down in a standoff driven by anger over President Donald Trump's campaign to slash the federal workforce.

Latest Life Lesson

ICE arrests another Columbia University student who participated in pro-Palestinian protests Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested a second Columbia University student who participated in the pro-Palestinian protests.

Critics Unwelcomed

Rubio boots South African ambassador from US: 'persona non grata' South African Ambassador to the U.S. Embrahim Rasool was criticized by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday over his remarks about President Donald Trump.

Congress Confronts Allegedly Lesser TV Personality

Dr. Oz, Trump's nominee to lead Medicaid and Medicare, to face Senate grilling Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Trump's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, faces a confirmation hearing Friday before the Senate Finance Committee.

Holy Land Relocation?!?

AP Exclusive: US and Israel look to Africa for moving Palestinians uprooted from Gaza The U.S. and Israel have reached out to officials of three East African governments to discuss using their territories as potential destinations to move Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

Globe Against Trump Destiny?!?

Trump-Greenland row: Politicians unite against Trump's 'unacceptable behaviour' In an unusual show of unity, party leaders say they "cannot accept the repeated statements about the annexation of Greenland."

Even More Trouble In Europe

Thousands converging on Serbia's capital for a major rally that tests Vucic's populist government Tens of thousands of people have swarmed the streets in Serbia's capital Belgrade. They're staging a euphoric prelude to a major anti-government rally on the weekend and dealing a major blow to populist President Aleksandar Vucic.

Tradition Around The World

Water Balloons and Bollywood, India covers itself with color on Holi festival NEW DELHI - There's no way to avoid getting smeared with colored powder, hosed with water guns or hit with sparkle-filled water balloons if you venture out of your home in India on Friday.

Social Media Clap Back Against Wildlife Endangered

A U.S. influencer outrages Australians by snatching a baby wombat from its mom Outdoor enthusiast Sam Jones left Australia after posting a video of herself separating a baby wombat from its mom on a dark road. Australians are cheering her departure and worrying about the animal.

'He strangled me without asking': The dangers of choking during sex Experts say it is increasingly filtering into real life as a result of frequent depiction in porn.

Home Team Enjoys Bounce

Local Lady Kickoff

Friendly international match coming to CPKC for the first time For the first time since the opening of CPKC Stadium, an international friendly match will take center stage at the first stadium built for a women's professional team.

About Time Off

Thirteen Things To Do In KC This Weekend, March 13-16 Here are thirteen things to do in KC this weekend, March 13-March 16, including Snake Saturday, KC Current vs. Portland Thorns and Bonnie Raitt.

EPIC End Of Line . . .

Is 2025 Salvy's swan song with the Royals? With only a club option left on his contract, 2025 could be Perez's last as a Royal.

More Gusts For Weekend

Kansas City weather: Wind will stick around through Saturday Winds will start to ease up into Saturday morning and temperatures will feel chilly, which will be normal for this time of year.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Right now we want to feature A REALLY DUMB MOVE by Kansas prog bloggers who expose themselves as hypocrites when they rant against political violence and bullying.

To wit . . .

MORE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST REP. CARR SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY & NOT DISMISSED AS 'RACIALLY CHARGED' POLITICS!!!

A quick refresher . . . Just this year:



Rep. Carr was named in a notable pub ruckus that resonated across the state.

And then . . .

A Kansas House floor debate had to be paused after emotions over gun safety education reached a level too high to continue.

And then . . .

We covered some of the reaction to the ruckus . . . But the conclusion from conservatives was misguided and sophomoric . . .

Instead of holding a Democratic Party Rep. accountable . . . The Kansas Reflector attempts to turn the ruckus into racially charged nonsense that doesn't take complaints seriously and downplays legit concerns about PREVENTING any potential political violence.

In fairness . . . Here's their side of the story that kind of speaks for itself . . .



Kansas Republicans sent an unmistakable message to Democratic Rep. Ford Carr this week: Mess with us, and well destroy you.



The Wichita-based representative, who is Black, filed a complaint in February against Republican Rep. Nick Hoheisel, who is white. This week a disciplinary panel deadlocked along party lines when considering Carrs complaint. But members had a new issue to consider: Republican Rep. Leah Howell of Derby lodged allegations against Carr.



Howell claimed that the Democrat showed patterns of violent rhetoric, physical violence, intimidating behavior and derogatory language which is unbecoming of any Kansan, much less a member of the Kansas House. House Majority Leader Chris Croft endorsed the complaint.



Ill tell you what this looks like to me. It looks as though Kansas Republicans have decided to teach Carr a lesson. After not being able to shut him up on the floor, they are now determined to go after his reputation. Im not saying the Carr is a perfect person. I dont know him and cant say. But I also know that in any workplace with 165 people, youre going to see a variety of personalities and approaches.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Friday followup in one of the most tragic situations Kansas City has witnessed in recent years.

For the most part, TKC blog commenters and a significant contingent of residents contend that the tragic shooting was "justified" given the mom pulled a HUGE knife and lunged at officers with the baby in her arms.

Here's the main quote and a link to a statement from Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson . . .



We did not arrive at this decision lightly. The loss of a young mother and her infant are devastating and tragic, said Prosecutor Johnson. However, as prosecutors, we are bound by an oath to apply the law and analyze facts without being guided by the sympathy we feel for all those impacted. Our purpose is to determine if what was done was reasonable, defined by Missouri law, and not whether it was the best course of action.

The summary hitting newscasts tonight . . .

A police officer who fatally shot a woman and her infant daughter at an apartment complex will not face criminal charges.



Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced on Friday evening that her office would not pursue charges following her investigation.



The afternoon of Nov. 7, 2024, officers with the Independence Police Department responded to the Oval Springs Apartments for a physical domestic disturbance. Law enforcement stated they had enough evidence to make an arrest based on injuries suffered by a witness, later determined to be the childs grandmother.



Family had previously said they thought 34-year-old Maria Pike would be arrested and given help, as she had been diagnosed with postpartum depression. Her daughter, Destinii Hope, was 2 months old.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Prosecutor will not file charges against officer in fatal shooting of woman, infant Maria Pike, 34, and her 2-month-old daughter, Destinii Hope, died in the shooting.

Jackson County prosecutor declines to charge officer involved in death of Independence woman, child Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson will not file charges against the officer involved in the death of an Independence woman and her child.

Prosecutor: Independence officer will not face charges in deadly shooting of mom, baby An Independence, Missouri, police officer who shot and killed a mom and baby after the woman brandished a knife will not face charges, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced Friday.

Developing . . .
Critics of the current White House administration are capitalizing on this dire headline:

U.S. stock market loses $5 trillion in value in three weeks

That's not good news and spinning it too hard will expose the economic ignorance of most keyboard warriors given that even the best educated Ivy League elite have a hard time beating Mr. Market.

In the meantime . . . Here's a peek at Missouri Republicans holding tight behind the White House.

Check-it . . .



So far, Missouri Republican leaders remain squarely on Trump's side even as the GOP chief executive's second administration produces near-hourly controversy over spending cuts and drastic shifts in foreign policy.



On Saturday morning, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley opened his annual Lincoln Days breakfast expressing relief that Trump was back in office.



We have a window of opportunity now to save the soul of this country, Hawley said. The American people, they don't want what they had shoved down their throat the last four years. The American people want to protect our children. They want our streets to be safe. They want our border to be closed. They want our towns to thrive again.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Lou Wenlong, a former vice president of the Agricultural Bank of China, has been indicted on charges of taking bribes, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate Saturday.

Lou is accused of taking advantage of his various posts, including those at the then China Banking Regulatory Commission and the Agricultural Bank of China, to seek benefits for others and illegally accepting a huge amount of money and gifts in return.

The case is filed at a court in Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province. 
At the local level, check MAGA policy pushing back against higher education trends . . .



The colleges under scrutiny include dozens of state schools such as the University of Kansas. The U.S. Department of Education claims the schools violated civil rights laws because of programs aimed at fixing longstanding racial disparities in their graduate programs.



The U.S. Department of Education has launched investigations into 52 universities in 41 states, accusing the schools of using "racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities."



On Friday, the department's Office of Civil Rights said that 45 schools, particularly their graduate programs, violated the 1964 Civil Rights Act by partnering with The PhD Project, a nonprofit that helps students from underrepresented groups earn doctoral degrees in business. The program focuses on supporting Black, Latino and Native American students.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
KIGALI, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Serge Brammertz, chief prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), held talks with Rwandan officials aimed at strengthening cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of individuals responsible for crimes committed during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, according to a statement issued in the Rwandan capital of Kigali on Friday.

Brammertz, who concluded his visit on Thursday, held high-level talks with Rwandan Minister of Justice Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, Minister of State for Regional Integration in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs James Kabarebe, Prosecutor General Angelique Habyarimana, and Deputy Secretary General of the Rwanda Investigation Bureau Consolee Kamarampaka.

"The Office of the Prosecutor obtained evidence and information on the current whereabouts of eight fugitives, and offered its assistance to secure the arrest of these individuals. Prosecutor Brammertz and interlocutors discussed future cooperation and collaboration to secure more justice for more victims and survivors," the statement said.

Rwandan authorities "reaffirmed their strong support" to the office of the prosecutor for its work to assist prosecutors in Rwanda and other countries to locate fugitives, complete investigations, and bring perpetrators to justice, it added.

The IRMCT was set up by the United Nations Security Council in December 2010 to take over and finish the remaining tasks of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. 
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'Be careful...': Indian student self-deported over support to Palestinians writes

In an essay going viral after her decision to self-deport herself, Ranjani Srinivasan has asked the Indians back home to be careful of sending their children to the United States for higher studies

Saturday March 15, 2025 12:40 PM , ummid.com News Network

Columbia University: Ranjani Srinivasan, a PhD student at Columbia University, instead of pleading with the U.S. self-deported herself after her visa was cancelled over support to Palestinians.

Ranjani Srinivasan had entered the United States on an F-1 student visa as a doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement Friday.

Stating that Srinivasan was involved in activities supporting Hamas, the Department of State revoked her visa on March 5.

Instead of filing appeal and pleading with the Trump administration, Ranjani Srinivasan, decided to self-deport.

Ranjani used the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App to self-deport on March 11.

Ranjani Srinivasan has not revealed where she is headed for. However, according to some media outlets, she has travelled to Canada.

"Be careful of sending your kids to US universities"

In an essay going viral after her decision to self-deport herself, Ranjani Srinivasan has asked the Indians back home to be careful of sending their children to the United States for higher education.

Be careful of sending your kids to US universities for these word salad courses. You never know what will the long term outcome of this education, the essay purportedly written by Srinivasan said.

ummid.com could not indepently confirned the veracity of the essay and when she had wtitten it lambasting the Hindu caste system.

 and there tends to be a cultural tag once major alterations have occurred in the social fabrics of human affairs. It is difficult to transgress from these Brahminical constructions of the KGF landscape, she wrote.

Many of the family members I interviewed lauded advances in Dalit emancipation such as entry into temples and affirmative action. Many of them have directly challenged discriminatory treatment of Dalit domestic workers. It would be too simplistic to deem them as intentional oppressors, but it is necessary to deconstruct these nostalgic imaginations of a place inextricably linked to caste experience, she wrote.

Columbia University Protest

Columbia University students had staged massive protest in April 2024 in support of Palestinians and in protest against the genocide of Palestinians by the Israeli Zionist occupation forces in Gaza.

In a rare show of crackdown against the students, the university allowed use of brutal force against the peaceful protesters.

The move was denounced by the scientists and academics associated with universities and institutions spread across the world who in turn said Columbia should be proud of the pro-Palestine protest on its campus.

Donald Trump, however, after winning the 2020 U.S. elections announced to deport students who participated in the pro-Palestine rallies and protests.

Continuing the crackdown on the students, the Trump administration has detained two students, including Mahmoud Khalil. Khalil, a prominent figure in the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, was arrested last week by federal immigration authorities under the Trump administration.

The move has sparked widespread condemnation from free speech advocates, who accuse the government of suppressing political dissent.

A large number of protesters Thursday gathered at Trump Tower in Manhattan to demonstrate against the detention of Palestinian activist. Police said it has arrested around 100 of them.

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

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Weaponizing Holi for Communal Polarisation

The BJP and Hindu nationalists use Holi - the festival of colours, to communally polarize people and assert dominance of Hindus

Saturday March 15, 2025 6:35 PM , Irfan Engineer

Following the advice of Dy. Superintendent of Police in Sambhal Anuj Kumar Chaudhary asking Muslims to stay indoors if they felt uncomfortable with Holi colours being sprinkled on them  as the festival comes only once a year, whereas Jumuah Namaz takes place 52 times in a year  it appears that the Muslims might have heeded his advice and remained indoors.

There are no reported complaints from any Muslim that they were on streets  with or without any work  and got coloured.

Muslims also changed the timing of their congregational Jumuah Namaz in the Holy month of Ramazan  to accommodate the Hindus observing their festival  and some might have decided to forgo their obligatory prayers.

The Hindu nationalists in Sambhal (UP), and in other BJP ruled states, had the streets entirely to themselves till they wanted. Chaupai, a Holi procession passed peacefully through 10 mosques in Sambhal, including the border wall of Shahi Jama Masjid (Pragynesh, 2025).

The BJP MLA from Bihar  Haribhushan Thakur Bachol  made a similar appeal on the legislative assembly premises, asking Muslims to stay indoors on the day of Holi (Pandey, 2025). No one from the BJP or their alliance partners in Bihar, including JD(U), condemned the statement.

Hansraj Meena (25) in Dausa (Rajasthan) ventured out and despite his objection, colour was forcibly applied on him. He died after being assaulted by three persons who applied colour on him. Meena should have remained indoors but he ventured out to go to a library to prepare for his state civil service exams. He did not heed the advice of Dy.S.P. Chaudhary (Khan, 2025).

Provocative slogans were raised during Shimga festival on 13th March, 2025, when Madachi miravnuk, an old Konkani ritual, when tree trunks are carried to the Dhopeshwar temple in Rajapur (Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra) on the eve of Holi. Those carrying the tree trunk rammed into the mosque gate several times while raising provocative slogans (Express News Service, 2025). Muslims staying indoors did not protect this mosque.

UP police had to baton charge the traditional laat sahab procession in Shahjahanpur district as those participating in the procession threw brickbats on the police, injuring three of them. Trouble started when those playing Holi threw footwears at the police (Rozana Sahafat, 2025).

In Unnao (UP), drunk Holi revelers threw brickbats at the police in which three police officers were injured. To control them, police used their batons to disperse them. In the baton charge, many revelers were injured (Rozana Sahafat, 2025).

In the traditional Phag procession in Gunj Muradabad village, on 14th March 2025, they were singing objectionable songs. At the conclusion of the procession, some drunk youth started teasing and playing mischief. When police resorted to mild baton charge, they started throwing brickbats at police. At least three police personnel were injured due to the brickbats thrown at them (Roznama Sahafat, 2025). Muslims remaining indoors did not save the police or the drunken brawls resorted by the revelers.

On 13th March 2025, on the eve of Holi festival, a man in Dombivili, a distant suburb of Mumbai, attacked a 17-year-old boy when a water balloon allegedly thrown by him landed on the man (Press Trust of India, 2025). This man in Dombivili did not heed the advice of the Dy.S.P. of Sambahal resulting in unnecessary conflict.

Does policing and maintaining law and order mean asking law abiding citizens from marginalized communities to remain indoors, while the potential law breakers from more powerful and dominant sections of the society have the freedom to indulge in revelry even in violation of law endangering peace? In the same vein, women are asked to remain indoors if they do not want to be sexually assaulted.

This approach also encourages those who believe in might is right doctrine to be law unto themselves. The Dy.S.P. of Sambhal Anuj Kumar Chaudhary is seen in the viral video taking note of the fact that during the Holi festival people consume bhang (cannabis) and therefore mishaps of forcibly applying colours on Muslims might occur. However, he does not warn the consumers of cannabis. Will the police advice Indians who do not want to be killed in a potential road accident to remain indoors on the eve of new year celebrations as the likelihood of drunken driving increases?

Muslims are not the only victims during the Holi festival. Many Hindus do not like to be coloured. Women also are vary of Holi festival as they too are targeted by strangers against their wish on the pretext that everything is permissible during Holi. They say bura na mano Holi hai.

The BJP and Hindu nationalists use the occasion to communally polarize people and assert dominance of Hindus. However, the moot question is, shouldnt we take note of what damage such an approach will do to the Hindu religion and ethics? Not long ago, these festivals were celebrated peacefully with participation of people from all communities.

This writer has also enjoyed playing Holi in his school days, and indeed taking part in all other festivals of all religious communities. The unprecedented and massive deployment of police force now necessary since a decade tells its own story.

Holi is such a beautiful festival in which one reminds oneself to burn all negative feelings and instincts like acquisitive desires, selfishness, jealousy, fear, hatred into the Holi fire. Mughal emperors too played Holi with their durbaris for days together and called it Eid-e-Gulabi. Amir Khusro and many Muslim poets have composed beautiful verses on Holi.

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China is rich in marine resources with a coastline stretching 18,000 km. In recent years, China has been actively transforming and upgrading its marine aquaculture industry, turning the vast ocean into a thriving "blue granary." #GLOBALink
HARARE, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean government said Friday that it will boost health funding to cover a gap left by the reduction of U.S. support.

Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora said Zimbabwe has incurred a huge health funding gap after the U.S. government recently canceled the funding for some health programs in the country.

"The funding gap that has been created is huge. We are talking of between 300 and 400 million U.S. dollars and we are working toward covering that gap gradually," he told a press conference.

The affected areas include HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. However, services such as medical drug transportation and clinical staff contracts have been reinstated, he said.

Mombeshora said that current supplies of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV treatment will last until June and that the government has started procurement to sustain supplies up to the end of September.

"We can assure everyone in Zimbabwe who is on ART that they will not miss their medication. There will be no shortages," Mombeshora said.

He added that the Zimbabwean government had also started the process of taking over the responsibility for its health employees who were previously paid through U.S.-supported programs, including village health workers. 
Federal judges in two separate cases ruled this week that recent mass firings of employees as part of President Donald Trumps push to cut the size of the federal workforce were illegal and ordered thousands of probationary employees to be reinstated  at least for now.

The Trump administration pushed back, filing appeals in both cases.

"This injunction is entirely unconstitutional," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday.

"You cannot have a low-level district court judge filing an injunction to usurp the executive authority of the president of the United States," she added.

In the suit filed by federal employee unions, U.S. District Judge William Alsup of the Northern District of California said that the process had been a sham, as some employees were told they were being fired for poor performance.

Just before issuing his ruling Thursday, Alsup said, "It is sad, a sad day. Our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that's a lie."

The departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Treasury and Veterans Affairs were ordered to immediately rehire the employees. Alsup, however, noted that federal agencies may still proceed with reductions in force, following proper procedure.

Later Thursday, U.S. District Judge James Bredar also ruled that probationary employees must be reinstated after finding that 18 agencies had acted illegally in firing them. Democratic attorneys general representing the District of Columbia, Maryland and 18 other states argued that agencies failed to follow proper procedures for mass layoffs, including providing states with 60 days' notice.

"Lacking the notice to which they were entitled, the states weren't ready for the impact of so many unemployed people. They are still scrambling to catch up," Bredar wrote in his memorandum explaining his decision.
The Native American Church is considered the most widespread religious movement among the Indigenous people of North America. It holds sacred the peyote cactus, which grows naturally only in some parts of southern Texas and northern Mexico. Peyote has been used spiritually in ceremonies, and as a medicine by Native American people for millennia.

It contains several psychoactive compounds, primarily mescaline, which is a hallucinogen. Different tribes of peyote people have their own name for the cactus. While it is still a controlled substance, U.S. laws passed in 1978 and 1994 allow Native Americans to use, harvest and transport peyote. However, these laws only allow federally recognized Native American tribes to use the substance and don't apply to the broader group of Indigenous people in the United States.

The Native American Church developed into a distinct way of life around 1885 among the Kiowa and Comanche of Oklahoma. After 1891, it began to spread as far north as Canada. Now, more than 50 tribes and 400,000 people practice it. In general, the peyotist doctrine espouses belief in one supreme God who deals with humans through various spirits that then carry prayers to God. In many tribes, the peyote plant itself is a deity, personified as Peyote Spirit.

Why was the Native American Church incorporated?

The Native American Church is not one unified entity like, say, the Catholic Church. It contains a diversity of tribes, beliefs and practices. Peyote is what unifies them. After peyote was banned by U.S. government agents in 1888 and later by 15 states, Native American tribes began incorporating as individual Native American Churches in 1918.

In order to preserve the peyote ceremony, the federal and state governments encouraged Native American people to organize as a church, said Darrell Red Cloud, the great-great grandson of Chief Red Cloud of the Lakota Nation and vice president of the Native American Church of North America.

In the following decades, the religion grew significantly, with several churches bringing Jesus Christ's name and image into the church so their congregations and worship would be accepted, said Steve Moore, who is non-Native and was formerly a staff attorney at the Native American Rights Fund.

"Local religious leaders in communities would see the image of Jesus, a Bible or cross on the wall of the meeting house or tipi and they would hear references to Jesus in the prayers or songs," he said. "That probably helped persuade the authorities that the Native people were in the process of transformation to Christianity."

This persecution of peyote people continued even after the formation of the Native American Church, said Frank Dayish Jr. a former Navajo Nation vice president and chairperson for the Council of the Peyote Way of Life Coalition.

In the 1960s, there were laws prohibiting peyote in the Navajo Nation, he said. Dayish remembers a time during that period when police confiscated peyote from his church, poured gasoline on the plants and set them on fire.

"I remember my dad and other relatives went over and saved the green peyote that didn't burn," he said, adding that it took decades of lobbying until an amendment to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act in 1994 permitted members of federally recognized Native American tribes to use peyote for religious purposes.

How is peyote used in the Native American Church?

Peyote is the central part of a ceremony that takes place in a tipi around a crescent-shaped earthen altar mound and a sacred fire. The ceremony typically lasts all night and includes prayer, singing, the sacramental eating of peyote, water rites and spiritual contemplation.

Morgan Tosee, a member of the Comanche Nation who leads ceremonies within the Comanche Native American Church, said peyote is utilized in the context of prayer  not smoked  as many tend to imagine.

"When we use it, we either eat it dry or grind it up," he said. "Sometimes, we make tea out of it. But, we don't drink it like regular tea. You pray with it and take little sips, like you would take medicine."

Tosee echoes the belief that pervades the church: "If you take care of the peyote, it will take care of you."

"And if you believe in it, it will heal you," he said, adding that he has seen the medicine work, healing people with various ailments.

People treat the trip to harvest peyote as a pilgrimage, said Red Cloud. Typically, prayers and ceremonies take place before the pilgrimage to seek blessings for a good journey. Once they get to the peyote gardens, they would touch the ground and thank the Creator before harvesting the medicine. The partaking of peyote is also accompanied by prayer and ceremony. The mescaline in the peyote plant is viewed as God's spirit, Red Cloud said.

"Once we eat it, the sacredness of the medicine is inside of us and it opens the spiritual eye," he said. "From there, we start to see where the medicine is growing. It shows itself to us. Once we complete the harvest, we bring it back home and have another ceremony to the medicine and give thanks to the Creator."
On March 12, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke with American bloggers Mario Nawfal, Larry C. Johnson and Andrew Napolitano in Moscow.

When asked whether the U.S. administrations efforts to normalize relations with Moscow are just to use Russia "cynically against the Chinese," Lavrov rejected such possibility.

He described Russia-China relations as long-term, stronger and more confidential, based in deep trust and mutual understanding, and he emphasized widespread public support in both countries.

That is misleading.

The claim overlooks the underlying complexities and skepticism in the Russia-China relationship.

Underlying tensions: Despite the appearance of a strong partnership, ongoing tensions underlie the relationship. This includes skepticism on both sides, especially about economic stability, military strength and the extent of mutual trust.

Economic imbalance: China has become a dominant economic partner for Russia, but many Russians are concerned about China's increasing influence and the lack of substantial Chinese investment in Russia.

Military relations: Unlike the strong military alignment seen in the Sino-Soviet alliance of 1950, today's cooperation is not as deeply integrated, particularly in military terms. China has not provided direct military aid to Russia in the Ukraine conflict, which would have been expected in a deeply allied relationship.

Public sentiment: There is skepticism about the partnership in both Russia and China. Russian citizens are not entirely supportive of Chinese products or investments, and many Chinese question the long-term economic and military viability of Russia.

Historical context

Sino-Soviet Alliance (1950s): This period marked a high point of cooperation, with the Soviet Union providing substantial economic, technological and military support to China. Yet, the alliance ended with the Sino-Soviet split by the late 1950s. This contradicts Lavrov's characterization that current relations are unprecedented in their depth.

Strategic Partnership (1996-2014): The strategic partnership strengthened after the Cold War, especially under Vladimir Putin and Jiang Zemin. However, China still balanced its relations with the West, highlighting that the partnership was pragmatic, not based purely on mutual trust.

Anti-Western Alignment (2014-2025): The relations have become closer since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the Ukraine invasion. China has been providing crucial economic support. Beijing, however, avoids direct military aid to evade Western sanctions and maintains neutrality. This signals that the cooperation is based on shared opposition to the West, not genuine trust or an alliance akin to that of the 1950s.

Current economic dependence

Moscow is now heavily dependent on Beijing: China has become Russias largest trading partner, and Russia plays a key role in supplying China with oil and gas.

The economic relationship has its imbalances, however. China's total investments in Russia remain relatively low compared with its global investments.

China still prioritizes its global economic ties, while Russia has become increasingly dependent on Beijing.

Vedomosti, Russias leading business daily, reported that China rarely invests directly in Russia, noting that while Russia seeks high-tech investments, China prioritizes mining, real estate, and banking.

Since 2023, China has been Russias largest trading partner, whereas Russia ranks only sixth among Chinas top trade partners.

Skepticism in both countries

Russians question Chinese investment and the long-term benefits, while many Chinese doubt Russias economic resilience and military strength.

In February 2025, FilterLabs released the results of research that used its Talisman data tool to analyze Chinese and Russian news and social media.

Talismans analysis reveals deep skepticism about Russia among Chinese social media users, many of whom question whether Russias economy is truly as resilient as Moscow claims, whether its military strength matches its rhetoric, and what its long-term intentions are. These doubts suggest that despite official narratives of strong ties, public confidence in Russia within China is far from unanimous.

The research also shows that online sentiments in Russia toward economic cooperation with China are more negative than official narratives suggest.

International sanctions have pushed many Western products out of Russia, allowing Chinese goods to fill the gap in sectors such as automobiles and technology. While their market share grows due to affordability and geopolitical shifts, many Russians remain skeptical and dissatisfied with Chinese products, FilterLabs reported.

In both countries, social media discussions are consistently less positive than mainstream press coverage, which itself was not uniformly supportive, revealing underlying skepticism about the partnership.

"Their partnership is vulnerable," FilterLabs founder Jonathan Teubner told VOA.

Conclusion

While Lavrovs statement reflects an official narrative of a strong and enduring partnership, the truth is more nuanced. Relations are indeed closer than at any point since the 1950s, but they are shaped more by pragmatism, economic necessity and shared opposition to Western influence than by deep trust or historical affinity. In both countries, public opinion reveals skepticism, and the economic and military cooperation, while growing, is not without concerns.
U.S. President Donald Trump promised to seek accountability for those who pursued legal cases against him when he was out of office, speaking Friday at the Justice Department.

"Our predecessors turned this Department of Justice into the Department of Injustice. But I stand before you today to declare that those days are over, and they are never going to come back. They're never coming back," Trump said.

During his years out of office, the department twice indicted Trump on charges that he illegally stored classified documents at his Florida estate and that he worked to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Both cases were dismissed after Trump won election in November, with the department citing a long-standing policy of not prosecuting a sitting president.

"Now, as the chief law enforcement officer in our country, I will insist upon and demand full and complete accountability for the wrongs and abuses that have occurred. The American people have given us a mandate, a mandate like few people thought possible," Trump said.

Trump has fired prosecutors who investigated him during the Biden administration and scrutinized thousands of FBI agents who investigated some supporters of the president who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Representative Jamie Raskin, the senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, called Trumps speech a "staggering violation of [the] traditional boundary between independent criminal law enforcement and presidential political power."

Speaking outside Justice shortly after Trump spoke, Raskin said, "No other president in American history has stood at the Department of Justice to proclaim an agenda of criminal prosecution and retaliation against his political foes."

Trump has long been critical of both the department and the FBI. He has installed political allies into top leadership positions at both of those agencies. FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi attended Fridays talk.

In introducing Trump, Bondi said, "We all work for the greatest president in the history of our country. ... He will never stop fighting for us, and we will never stop fighting for him and for our country."

During his speech, Trump promised "historic reforms" at the agencies and said, "Under the Trump administration, the DOJ and the FBI will once again become the premier crime fighting agencies on the face of the Earth."

His speech had echos of his campaign rallies, with music blaring from speakers before Trump entered the departments Great Hall and his address hitting on some of the main themes from his campaign, including border security and fighting violent crime.

On crime, Trump said that homicides, property crime and robberies rose during the Biden administration.

"I have no higher mission as president of the United States than to end this killing and stop this law breaking and to making America safe again. And that's what you're all about in this room. We want to protect Americans, and we protect everybody that's in our country," he said.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Friday that South Africa's ambassador to Washington had been declared persona non grata, signaling worsening relations between the two countries.

In a post on X, Rubio said South Africa's ambassador to the U.S., Ebrahim Rasool, was "no longer welcome in our great country."

"Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS [President of the United States]."

There has been no immediate response from South Africa's embassy in Washington.

Rubio's move came amid tense relations between the U.S. and South Africa. President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order suspending aid to South Africa over a controversial land expropriation act that Trump said would lead to the takeover of white-owned farms. Trump also said that South African farmers were welcome to settle in the United States.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a post on X, defended his government's measure.

"We are guided by the Constitution, which places a responsibility on the state to take measures to redress the effects of past racial discrimination," he said.

"We have expressed concern about the mischaracterisation of the situation in South Africa and certain of our laws and our foreign policy positions," Ramaphosa said after Trump signed the executive order in early February.
The Saudi crown prince plans to discuss reducing the hours of fasting for Muslims during Ramadan. However, the Kurdistan Regional Government Fatwa Committee says it is not right to follow political decisions on fasting. On the other hand, the former director of the Ministry of Religious Affairs told VOA that if Saudi Arabia makes such a decision, others should consider following it, because Saudi Arabia is still seen as the center of important religious decisions.

Click here for the full story in Kurdish.
Despite numerous threats from the security institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in recent days, Nowroz celebrations are taking place in many cities on Friday across Kurdish regions, two Kurdish human rights groups said.

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Despite widespread protests, Syrias newly signed interim constitution is raising deeper concerns about the countrys future. Experts warn that its provisions could form the basis of Syrias permanent constitution in five years. And many fear the constitution will lead to sectarian rule and threaten Syrias stability.

Click here for the full story in Kurdish.
BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Generous childcare subsidies have been reported across China as part of the country's holistic efforts to boost birth rates, making news headlines and sparking heated discussions.

The latest news came from Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The city announced this week that it will offer a one-time subsidy of 10,000 yuan (about 1,394 U.S. dollars) to couples having their first child. A second child will receive 10,000 yuan per year until he/she reaches five years old.

For the third child or more, the annual subsidy is 10,000 yuan until the child turns 10, with the total amount reaching 100,000 yuan, a relatively high amount compared with other cities and roughly twice the annual income of local citizens.

Official statistics show that the per capita disposable income in Hohhot stood at 49,200 yuan in 2024. The generous cash reward is believed to become a relief for couples who are hesitant to have children due to financial concerns.

"The policy made us more assured in making our mind to having a second child. The subsidies can reduce the financial costs, especially for maternity and childcare," said Yang Lixin, 30, who works at a private firm in Hohhot and already has a five-year-old.

The policy came on the heels of the recent conclusion of the annual national legislative session, during which the government work report was adopted and, for the first time, vowed to "provide childcare subsidies."

"We will formulate policies on boosting birth rates, provide childcare subsidies, vigorously develop integrated nursery and childcare services, and increase public-interest childcare services," the report reads.

Also during the legislative session, Director of the National Health Commission (NHC) Lei Haichao said that the commission was working with relevant departments to draft a childcare subsidy operational plan, and the public would see direct, beneficiary measures and corresponding policy arrangements in due course.

The inclusion of childcare subsidies in the government work report signals China's commitment to supporting fertility intentions with tangible financial assistance, said political advisor Ni Bangwen. He called for further efforts to issue comprehensive measures to support childbearing families.

Local governments have put into action. More than 20 provincial-level regions in China had explored offering childcare subsidies at different levels, according to earlier data from the NHC.

For instance, Shenyang, the capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, provided a monthly subsidy of 500 yuan to local families for their third child until the child turns three, according to a document issued in 2023.

Many Chinese people have expressed their expectation for such policies to be expanded to their hometowns. "Hope it can be spread across the country as soon as possible," a netizen from south China's Guangdong Province commented.

The birth incentives have proved feasible and effective in Tianmen, a fifth-tier city with a population of 1.6 million in Hubei Province. Since the city implemented birth-boosting measures, which include childbirth and childcare subsidies, housing rewards as well as maternal leave allowances, the number of newborns rose by 17 percent last year after declining for eight consecutive years.

As one of the world's most populous countries, China faces profound demographic challenges due to a dwindling number of newborns and a growing aging population. The country's birth rate and number of newborns both dropped for seven consecutive years before reporting rises in 2024, while the population aged 60 and above reached 310 million last year.

To boost its birth rate, China has implemented a slew of supportive policies in recent years. It phased out its one-child policy by allowing married couples to have two children in 2016 and announced support for couples looking to have a third child in 2021.

In addition to financial support, other incentive measures include increased childcare services, extended maternity leave, and strengthened support in education, housing and employment, all aimed at fostering a birth-friendly society.

Childcare services have been improved nationwide to create better situations for parents. In Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, community-based childcare centers launched full-day care, half-day care, temporary care, and hourly care for infants and children, providing convenient and reliable childcare options for residents.

Moreover, maternity leave in China has been generally extended to over 158 days, along with spousal paternity leave and parental leave, making new mothers feel increasingly supported.

Longer maternity leave as well as additional spousal leave and parental leave could enhance family cohesion and alleviate caregiving burdens. Meanwhile, economic subsidies eased the financial pressure on families raising children, thereby boosting their willingness to have more children, said Mi Hong, director of the Institute for Population and Development Studies at Zhejiang University.

Providing childcare subsidies is also relevant to enterprises. "A significant portion of our key employees are of childbearing age. Childcare subsidies will help retain talent and enable the company's sustainable development," said Sheng Jing, the human resources chief of a data-tech company in north China's Tianjin Municipality.

"Enterprises should provide heartfelt support to employees who raise children and explore a new way to balance working and child-rearing," said Wang Zhen, a lawmaker and entrepreneur of Inner Mongolia. 
The families of political prisoners executed in the 1980s held a commemoration ceremony on Friday. The families of the prisoners wrote a letter to Irans president saying they considered the "right to mourning" a basic right, but they received no response other than the continued closure of the Khavaran cemetery's doors.

Click here for the full story in Persian.
Contribute: Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it. Flag as inappropriate. Mark as helpful or interesting. Send your own user report!

User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale

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cacalote, oaxaca, mexico (297.5 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s : Moderate Shake. I was sitting on the desk of massive wood and everything was shaking ad rattling. Even my chair. It did feel like it went from left to right. Parallel to the ocean. The dog woke up barking and running out. | 3 users found this interesting.

Colonia Luces en el Mar, Coyuca de Benitez, Guerrero (278.2 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s : In the kitchen cleaning up when it came. Heard a sudden rumble in conjunction with the shake. Normally the rumble is well before the shake. Not this time. Far away and still felt it. Partner up stairs also felt it. | 2 users found this interesting.

Oaxaca de Juarez (79.9 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : It made us quickly pack go bags so we are more prepared if there is one more serious | 3 users found this interesting.

Puerto Escondido,Oaxaca. (292.7 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / single lateral shake / 10-15 s : It felt strong from the beggining. I was expecting to end but it continue with the same intensity. And it felt like a short second one. | One user found this interesting.

Oaxaca Centro, Oaxaca Mx (80.3 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Immediately recognized as earthquake on second floor of house | 2 users found this interesting.

Puerto Escondido,Oaxaca. (297.5 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / single lateral shake / 10-15 s : It felt strong from the beggining. I was expecting to end but it continue with the same intensity. And it felt like a short second one.

Puerto Escondido,Oaxaca. (297.5 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / single lateral shake / 10-15 s : It felt strong from the beggining. I was expecting to end but it continue with the same intensity. And it felt like a short second one.

San Augustin Etla (79.9 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s : Das Haus hat kurz vibriert | One user found this interesting.

Oaxaca City, Mexico (85.3 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 1-2 s : Animals sensed it. Shaking of short duration. | One user found this interesting.

ciudad de Mexico al norte en lomas de cuautepec (310.4 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) estoy en el trabajo ligero moviendo de colgantes | One user found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

Puerto Escondido (165.3 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / complex motion difficult to describe / 5-10 s : Sitting, sofa shook for 5-6 seconds.

Casa colonial Oaxaca city / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Heard the rumbling

Austin, Travis, Texas / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Tehuacan / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / very short

San Salvador Tizatlalli, Metepec, Mexico (316.2 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Guadalajara, Jalisco (729 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt : I

Tlaxiaco, oaxaca / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Huejotzingo, Puebla (230.2 km NNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt

Guadalajara, Jalisco (729 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt : I

Resting on bed. / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 20-30 s : Quite a moderate shake for about 30 seconds.

Zipolite (205.6 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 30-60 s : Woke up to the bed shaking

totutla, Veracruz (238.7 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 15-20 s ich lag im Bett und es fing an zu wackeln (reported through (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 15-20 s

Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico (290 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt

Santa Cruz Xoxocotlan, Oaxaca (80.5 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating

Oaxaca de juarez (76.5 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 2-5 s : Weak shaking

Ooxaca. City. ITS somthing wow (80.1 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : The bed was mouving very scare

Oaxaca de Juarez (77.7 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s se sintio una primera sacudida y despues unos 10 seg mas fuertes . (reported through (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Crucecita, Santa Maria Huatulco, Oaxaca (219.5 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt

Centro Oaxaca (78.9 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s

e (73.1 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s : First I heard the shaking before feeling it

Ciudad de Mexico (308 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake Movimiento moderado de objetos colgantes (reported through (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake
Former number 2 of Daesh and current self-proclaimed president of Syria Ahmad al-Shareh said on March 9: We must preserve national unity, civil peace as much as possible, and, God willing, we will be able to live together in this country as much as possible.

The new regime increased the humiliations of the Alawites (Nucairis). They are fired from their jobs without being paid. In the street, the jihadists arrest them, and force them to bray like donkeys, or bark like dogs, before beating them in public. In three days, one to three thousand of them were murdered in pogroms, first on the Mediterranean coast, then throughout the country.

Thousands of Alawites took refuge in the Russian military bases in Tartus and Hmeimim where they were welcomed.

With all the jihadists currently grouped on the coast and in Damascus, the rest of Syria is free of fighters. The Turkish army took advantage of this to attack the cities of the north.

 Takfiri groups (i.e. those who seek to designate and kill heretics), which had been expelled in Idlib during the war against the Syrian Arab Republic, have returned to useful Syria. They were able to pass the roadblocks of the forces of the new government without any problem until they reached the coast and massacred the heretics. The Syrian population gave up its arms when President Bashar al-Assad fell. It is therefore defenseless in front of the army and the current security forces that are made up of former jihadists, generally Turkish-speaking, often Chechens, Uzbeks or Tajiks, supervised by Turkish officers.

Historically, massacres of Alawites have always been followed by massacres of Christians.

 The Alawite community was formed in the ninth century around Muhammad ben Nusayr al-Namiri.

It considers Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammads son-in-law, to be God, and Jesus and Muhammad to be his prophets. However, according to Rene Dussaud, who was curator of the Department of Oriental Antiquities at the Louvre Museum and private secretary to Anatole France, this community did not arise from nothing. It is said to have been constituted during antiquity, to have converted to Christianity, then to Islam, without abandoning its previous faith, such as the belief in reincarnation. It is this French theory that Israeli researchers have explored and developed.

The Alawites do not worship in public. They refer to three reference books: their Fatihat al-Kitab (catechism), the Gospels (not the Bible) and the Quran. For them, only the principles present in each of these three books should be considered revealed.

They were enslaved over the centuries before they were recognized as Muslims by Ayatollah Khomeini and considered equal.

Today, culturally, it is the religious group closest to Europeans, particularly in terms of womens rights.

 The Assad family is Alawite. Presidents Hafez and Bashar el Assad often chose their advisers from among their close friends, i.e. from this community, but not senior civil servants who were systematically appointed with due respect for a community balance. Alawites enlisted massively in the armies, a poorly paid and dangerous profession, which other communities neglected.

 Ahmed el-Shareh, arguing that it was an insurrection orchestrated by General Ghiath Dalla, Maher al-Assads former right-hand man (now exiled in Iraq with several thousand of his men), presents these pogroms as political revenge, which makes no sense, as this community has never linked its fate to that of the Assads. This lie makes it possible to hide the resumption of the religious war that has swept across the Middle East since the Anglo-Saxons relied on the political branch of the Muslim Brotherhood to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan (recall that in Germany, the Nazis ransacked Jewish businesses and killed many of them during Kristallnacht while claiming to avenge the murder of a diplomat with no connection to their victims).

Last month, General Ghiath Dalla founded Awli el-Bas (Islamic Resistance Front in Syria), a militia close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. He is in no way the representative of the Alawite community, but of the fallen regime. He managed to mobilize many supporters of a secular and egalitarian state and to successfully attack several police stations and jihadist barracks.

 How can we not wonder about the considerable quantity of weapons and ammunition that the takfirists have today? Similarly, how can we ignore the fact that Daesh is reconstituting its forces on the Syrian-Iraqi border?
Voltaire, International Newsletter is a weekly newsletter on international politics. It features 10 to 15 pages of contextualized, sourced news items. Its aim is to enable you to follow the decline of the unipolar world and the emergence of a multipolar system.

The newsletter is published in several languages. Several foreign ministries from different countries have already subscribed.

Our director of publication and editor-in-chief directed French magazines several years ago, and has won journalism awards abroad. He has regularly contributed to some fifteen major dailies and magazines around the world.

Voltaire, International Newsletter is available by subscription for 500 a year, is published 42 times a year (not in July-August, nor during the Christmas holydays). Its an indispensable tool for any professional in international relations or defense.

Whats more, 10 times a year, subscribers are invited to Zoom virtual meetings with publications director Thierry Meyssan.

Contents of issue N124

EDITORIAL

 3032 "Kristallnacht" against the Alawites in Syria

AMERICAS

 3033 Trilateral Commission member Mark Carney succeeds Justin Trudeau

 3034 Washington opposes Canadian proposal against Russia

 3035 Customs Duties on Steel and Aluminum

 3036 Elimination of Federal Grants to Columbia University

 3037 Elon Musk does not have a function According to Congress

 3038 Bernie Sanders against the Trump administration

 3039 The White Houses First Steps Towards Cryptocurrencies

 3040 Should DeepSeek be banned for civil servants?

 3041 Hunter Biden is ruined

 3042 Attacks on Tesla dealerships labeled as domestic terrorism

 3043 Who Is Funding the Attacks on Tesla Dealerships?

 3044 Major decline in the "Magnificent Seven"

 Contradicting the prejudice that the Trump Administration is born out of and serves the US

 3045 The real figures for the expulsion of migrants

 3046 The United States could rescind its entire regulation limiting the production of greenhouse gases

 3047 Lawsuit against Greenpeace

EUROPE

 3048 The Paris Defense and Strategy Forum

 3049 Francois Hollande criticizes Donald Trumps policies

 3050 Sen. Claude Malhuret vs. Donald Trump

 3051 France admits to mistreating its prisoners in French Guiana and Guadeloupe

 3052 Flemish students will be trained in war medicine

 3053 Italian government condemned by court for its treatment of migrants

 3054 Germany forces Afghan criminals to join Ukrainian neo-Nazis

 3055 Controversy between Radosaw Sikorski and Elon Musk

 3056 According to Ursula von der Leyen, the Trump administration threatens democracy, freedom and the rule of law

 3057 EU Responds to US Tariffs

 3058 Division of the European Council on Ukraine

 3059 ECHR definitively rejects Calin Georgescus complaint

 3060 Council of Europe calls on Russia to consider Crimea as an occupied Ukrainian region

 3061 Ukrainian-US negotiations in Jeddah

 3062 Attempt on the life of Metropolitan Tikhon

 3063 Details of the Istanbul negotiations

 3064 The End of the Siege of Leningrad, "Day of Military Glory"

 3065 Contact between Russian and U.S. spymasters

AFRICA

 3066 Angola holds direct negotiations between DRC and M23

ASIA

 3067 Israeli government deprives Gaza of electricity

 3068 Secret US-Hamas negotiations

 3069 IDF Attacks Mosques in Nablus

 3070 France organizes a donors conference for Lebanon

 3071 Ahmed al-Shareh integrates Kurdish mercenaries into the state

 3072 Ansar Allah resumes war in support of Palestinian civilians

 3073 Saudi Arabia imposes itself as mediator

 3074 Donald Trump confirms secret negotiations with Iran

 3075 Terrorist Operation in Pakistan

 3076 Rapprochement between the states of the Fergana Valley

 3077 Rodrigo Duterte arrested

 3078 Beijing Responds to Ottawas Tariffs

 3079 China acquires 4th generation radars
Photo: Apple TV+

Watching the sharply written, chummily acted, assertively detailed Dope Thief is like stepping into a time machine transporting us back to the early days of FXs golden age. Fuckup men having feelings, what a concept!

Fifteen or so years ago, the channel was the place for just-guys-being-dudes masterpieces like The Shield, Sons of Anarchy, Justified, and Terriers, series in which mens personal and professional relationships were given distinct texture and emotional depth amid backdrops of organized crime, drug wars, and land grabs. Glossy prestige TV was in its heyday, but an FX show usually felt more grimy, violent, and vulgar than those of its basic-cable peers, with a distinct sense of place and guiding theories about how the American experiment is bound to grind the lower classes into dust. Apple TV+, which trends more toward big-budget sci-fi, earnest masculinity, and girlboss-y prestige, is a surprising place to find Dope Thief, but thank you to the streamer for housing this nostalgia! This series, the first two episodes of which premiere today, isnt just an homage to a particular kind of aggro programming. Dope Thief enlivens the formula with a pair of performances from Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura that plunge us into the depths of male loneliness, then pull us out of the dark with a tender, vulnerable friendship that is as gooey and soft as the show surrounding it is bleak and bloody.

Adapted from the book of the same name by Dennis Tafoya (whose specialty is thrillers and noirs set in Philadelphia, reminiscent of Dennis Lehanes bond with Boston, S. A. Cosbys with Virginia, and Jordan Harpers with California), Dope Thief immediately drops us into its North Philly setting. The premiere, directed by executive producer Ridley Scott, sets the series drafty, desaturated palette; introduces its use of black-and-white flashback sequences; and lays out most of the crime storys main players, starting with longtime best friends Ray (Henry) and Manny (Moura). For 14 months, the two have been posing as DEA agents to rip off low-level drug dealers, pocketing the stolen money and flipping the product through their boss, Son (Dustin Nguyen, in a delightful against-type casting choice given his 21 Jump Street history). Being around drugs is personally dangerous for both Ray and Manny: Rays father, Bart (Ving Rhames), was an addict who ruined Rays childhood with his using, while Manny has a weakness for heroin. But the trade is seemingly North Phillys only economy, and Dope Thief treats that as matter-of-factly as The Wire did. Onetime industrial towns are dying, and this is their rebirth, through other peoples ruin  do you have any better ideas?

It all seems to be going well for Ray and Manny until, of course, one last job pulls them in. Rays adoptive mother, Theresa (Kate Mulgrew), needs $10,000 for a mysterious reason she wont share, but she raised him after Bart went to prison and hell do anything for her; Henry and Mulgrew gnaw at each other with brittle affection. Manny wants to get engaged to his girlfriend, Sherry (Liz Caribel Sierra), despite Rays dislike of her, because he wants the consistency of a settled-down life. So the two end up in a meth kitchen in rural Pennsylvania, where everything about their faux-bust goes wrong. After a shoot-out and an explosion, now-murderers Ray and Manny have two enemies on their tail: undercover DEA agent Mina (Marin Ireland), furious and heartbroken over the pair ruining her bust, and a mysteriously Boston-accented villain who threatens everyone Ray and Manny love if they dont give back the $400,000 in cash and gallons of liquid meth they stole. As the best friends are squeezed on both sides  by the government thanks to Mina, and racist biker gangs and cartel assassins thanks to the Voice  Dope Thief follows their volatile friendship, which inches closer and closer to total collapse once it becomes clear that they may need to turn on each other to survive.

This is a genre work and ticks all the genre boxes. Ray and Manny have allies they cant trust, the DEA has its own selfish agenda, and Ray has a dead girlfriend haunting his conscience. Relapse is alluring, Bart is intimidating, and Son is mysterious. Flashbacks fill us in on the police brutality Bart endured, and an episode in which Ray has a drug freakout is shot with blurry fuzziness and a shaky cam. Dope Thief knows the formula its working with, and it solves that math problem like its Cady Heron realizing the limit does not exist. All of that is to say the series specialness isnt in its plotting or even its many action sequences, which are cogently edited to convey the increasingly high stakes. (For all my Guy Ritchiecoded freaks, theres a moment when Son wears a track suit and a signet ring and takes out some baddies with an AK-15; it is very attractive in that This would be repellent in real life, but its fun onscreen way.) Instead, what sets Dope Thief apart is its crackly dialogue, which fizzes with cultural references and nods to characters hidden desires.

Most of these details are ancillary to the main narrative, such as Rays irritation that he cant identify the song used for a dead thugs ringtone, Barts admission that he hasnt tasted fresh zucchini in a decade, and Sons sharing that his uncle was killed in Vietnam for cooperating with the CIA. But these moments give the actors a chance to explore their characters internal lives and pad out their relationships so all the drama of this drug deal gone wrong has personal weight. Theresa snapping at Ray that hes not like Robin Hood because he didnt give away his stolen money, and his exasperated reply that I give it to you, and you are very, very poor, has all the bluster of a mother-son duo who spend too much time together. Rhames has a perfect deadpan for lines like Casual Friday when Ray asks why hes wearing a robe during their prison visit. The series most revealing dialogue is tucked inside Ray and Mannys endless bickering, whether theyre arguing about which one has taken care of the other for longer or scoffing at a group of white Pennsylvania Dutch farmers calling them, a Black man and a Brazilian immigrant, English. Henry and Moura are usually yelling at each other, but the former is so good at being simultaneously exasperated and concerned, and the latter so skillful at veering between freneticism and compassion, that their antagonism always comes off as a form of love.

As in so many shows about big conspiracies, Dope Thiefs pacing gets a bit jagged toward the end of its eight episodes. A couple of major twists seem to come out of nowhere, and Minas plan for how to work with Ray and Manny gets fairly convoluted. (To be fair, though, that just makes Dope Thief even more evocative of an FX joint; what was every Sons of Anarchy finale if not an onslaught of surprise reveals that somehow neatly tied up all the preceding drama?) But Dope Thiefs cast is so strong, and their handling of the series innate tonal conflict so masterful, that the pacing issues dont overwhelm. I dont know whats worse, old wounds or new wounds, Ray says in one of the shows best hard-boiled lines, evoking Dope Thiefs greatest appeal: how it makes those old wounds feel new.
Its the morning after Ray and Mannys fateful robbery gone wrong. Theyve torched their van and now theyre hucking the license plates into the river. Ray evokes a bonding ritual from their shared formative years: Bet you I could throw mine further than you. The levity is brief: a humble filling of the canteen of the found family before heading out on the next stretch of road crumbling beneath your feet.

Dope Thiefs opening credit sequence elaborates on this theme: A lone, hooded kid rushes through the streets of Philadelphia on a bike. His pace is quick and his gait is straight and true, but the world around him is changing at an accelerated pace. Potholes morph and change places in the blink of an eye  shoes pop into existence on a telephone wire overhead  gas prices fluctuate in a frenzy on a Gas Station sign. The streets are in constant, violent flux, and Ray Driscoll is riding like the wind, not only from his past but also to stay ahead of an ever-encroaching present thats slipping into the future faster than he can pedal.

Now we just gotta put our heads down and hide everything we love, Ray tells Manny at the bridge. And the first order of business on that front is getting Theresa out of her house and somewhere safe. In an anxious fury, Ray storms through her house under the auspices of winning her a free trip to Atlantic City from a radio contest. Theresa never fully buys it, but her bigger concern is that shes paid a retainer to some lawyers for Rays imprisoned father (presumably with the $10,000 he lifted for her), and shes got an appointment with them that afternoon. Quick on his feet, Ray says hell go to the appointment with little intention of making sure it happens. More, uh, mortal tasks are on the priority list, you know?

With a shitting Shermy the dog in tow, Rays next stop is the beautiful upscale home of Son Pham (Dustin Nguyen), a well-to-do Vietnamese career criminal with whom Ray and Manny occasionally do business  eliminating some of his competition via their fake-DEA smash-and-grab jobs. Ray takes a moment to soak in the warm, comfortable house and bustling family breakfast table and scarfs down a couple of stray pieces of bacon  scarcity mindset of the all-American lone wolf.

You went for a capillary; you got an artery, Son tells Ray in his office. The Aloe Vera bottles they made out with are full of liquid meth, dissolved at the conversion lab they blew up to sell in bulk, to then be converted to crystal for street distribution. Once again, the rug has been pulled from under Rays feet before he could brace himself for the fall. Life is a shapeshifting organism whose constant movements will not be wrangled by mortal hands. That means all youve got is your heart and your wits, elaborates Son. And your family.

That last part is the real stinger. It turns out that Rays father, Bart (Ving Rhames), isnt just inflicting pain on him from the past. He might also be the loose lip that sank their good ship of a hustle. While moving their liquid meth and bag of money into Rays storage unit, Manny sees Barts old chair and realizes he may have been in the joint with Rick. And the look on Rays face when he realizes hes gonna have to pay his old man a visit in jail is classic Brian Tyree Henry.

So is the next scene where hes playing opposite Rhames like gangbusters. I didnt address this in the first recap, but theres a definite FX-show tone to this shows drama and humor.

This isnt the first scene where Peter Craigs writing infuses a weighty dramatic scene with a jarring yet wholly appropriate accent of comedy, but its certainly the starkest so far  showcasing Henrys signature dramatic application of the Paper Boi pathos and cadence. Youre welcome for them cigarettes, smoke all them other fuckers at once. (The classic Alfred exasperation and rapid-fire delivery had me cackling.) Ving Rhames makes a great scene partner and more than believable absent father to Henrys Ray  an old ghost of the young father who hurt his son. Ray shakes his fist at the ghost of his old man and it jogs loose a memory. Bart did say something about his sons line of work at an AA meeting where the only non-long hauler in attendance was a white guy named Danny Loebsack.

Apparently there are a lot of Loebsacks in the greater Philadelphia area or something because it seems like quite the chore for Ray and Manny as they drive all over creation peeking at Loebsack addresses. We come upon them just as they find the right Loebsack house, though, and our second drug-house shootout goes down. Good thing our guys were wearing the Kevlar vests on loan from Son, not that it saves them from the crypto-Boschian scene of slit throats and pale corpses (even more like something out of a William Friedkin joint than our debut Ridley Scottdirected episode).

The shootout is also a bit more action-y than the one in the first episode, culminating in our first no-holds-barred fuck-yeah moment when Ray shoots the guy whos about to shoot Manny through both windows of a truck. Queue smoking-gun money shot. Manny shows his Catholic underbelly again under pressure, yammering about closing the eyelids of and properly burying the Nazi bikers theyve just blown away, but Ray shuts it down. Sherry is right about you, he tells Ray later on at the car wash. She says you have the need to control everything.

Do I look like Im in control, Manny? Ray replies. And there is a slight misdiagnosis there on Sherry and Mannys part. Ray is motivated less by a desire to control than by a desire to fake control until you make it. Stay on top of everything the best you can. Sift through the elusive sands beneath your feet with an ever-keener eye for the shiny kernels. Fight or flight, always. Never known or given the opportunity to know another way.

As if on command to add to Rays ultimate bad day, Manny isnt answering his phone, and hes nowhere to be found when Ray goes by his place. Has Manny already been apprehended? Instead, Ray is greeted by more Nazi biker thugs and escapes their grasp via foot chase and a gnarly run-in with a garbage truck. Props to director Jonathan van Tulleken for exceeding the bar of the first episode in the action sequence department.

After all that, Ray still has an appointment to keep. Sorry, I got stuck in traffic, Ray says when he catches Theresas lawyer, Michelle Taylor (Nesta Cooper), on her way out of the office. Her warm welcome back into the office gives him his first beat to think in what feels like ages, and amid his uncontrollable sobs, he finds out this whole thing is about securing a compassionate release for an allegedly cancer-ridden Bart. The irony of the $10,000 being for his father runs even deeper and crueler than he thought. If life in the hollowed-out cities of America isnt one long, arduous day with Bat Out of Hell screeching from your phone every 20 minutes, I dont know what it is.

Report from the Crime Scene

 Better check in on the feds real quick before next week. Mina is still stuck in a hospital bed but no less, uh, vocal about the case. Agents Nader (Amir Arison) and Marchetti (Will Pullen) return to her bedside fresh from the latest crime scene with little to show for it except a goofy exchange with two mouth-breathing local cops for our viewing pleasure. Her demands remain as emphatic as ever, even when spoken through the voice of a comedically timed autocorrecting iPad: She wants to keep her cover and continue the plan set forth by her departed undercover partner. And maybe track down Ray and Manny from the cloaked vantage point of an assumed criminal identity.

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Will he get by with a little help from his (famous) friends? Ahead of the release of Jonathan Majorss long-delayed film Magazine Dreams, some celebrities seem hopeful that hell make a Hollywood comeback. A new profile of Jonathan Majors in The Hollywood Reporter  which marks his first comprehensive interview since he was sentenced last year to a batterers intervention program after being convicted of assaulting and harassing ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari in a criminal domestic-violence case  includes statements in support of the actor from three of his former co-stars. You dont get to say sorry these days, Whoopi Goldberg, who has worked with both Majors and his Coretta Scott King of a fiancee, Meagan Good, told THR. He was arrested. He went to court. He did what he was supposed to do. Im not sure what else there is. Michael B. Jordan, who directed and co-starred alongside Majors in Creed III, expressed a desire to continue collaborating with him, telling THR over email, I would love to make Creed IV together  among other projects. Matthew McConaughey, who starred alongside Majors in White Boy Rick, also vouched for the actor. Ive known and know him as someone who is continuously striving to improve as a human, a man and an actor, McConaughey wrote in a statement. I believe in him.

Majors pleaded not guilty in the criminal case involving Jabbari, whose legal team reportedly did not respond to THRs requests for comment. After he was convicted, she also filed a civil lawsuit against him that was ultimately dropped in November 2024. The settlement presumably restricts what both of them can say about the domestic-violence case; Majors, who has previously denied ever hitting a woman, said he is unable to comment directly on her allegations.

Maura Hooper, one of two other exes who have publicly accused Majors of abuse, suggested to THR that she is dubious about this comeback campaign. I dont really care that his movie is coming out, she said. What do you get at the end of a 52-week domestic violence course? Do the victims get a debrief? How could I know if hes changed? I dont see redemption happening here. For his part, Majors acknowledged that he doesnt know whats going to happen with his career moving forward. Do I hope to make more movies? Absolutely. That is my intention, he said. But thats not my call. I dont have a studio. And Ive given up control.
WASHINGTON, March 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday declared South African Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool as persona non grata.

In a post on social media platform X, Rubio called Rasool a "race-baiting politician" who hates America and President Donald Trump.

"We have nothing to discuss with him, and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA," wrote Rubio.

Rubio did not provide a specific reason for the move but linked his post to a Breitbart article titled "South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool: Trump is Leading Global White Supremacist Movement."

U.S. media outlet CNN pointed out that the declaration against Rasool "is the latest chapter in the plummeting relationship" between the two countries.

The report noted that tensions existed under the Joe Biden administration. Since Trump began his second term, Washington has taken a series of punitive measures against South Africa.

According to the report, both Trump and South African-born Elon Musk have alleged that white farmers in South Africa are being discriminated against under land reform policies that South Africa's government says are necessary to remedy the legacy of apartheid. 
Italy to hold five referendums on 8-9 June 2025.

The Italian government has set the date for five referendums, including a landmark vote on easing Italy's strict citizenship rules, to be held on 8-9 June.

The referendums, which include four questions relating to work and the Jobs Act, will be held in parallel to a run-off in Italy's 2025 municipal elections whose first round will be held on 25-26 May.

The citizenship referendum aims to reduce from 10 to five the number of years of continual legal residence in Italy required to apply for Italian citizenship which, once obtained, would automatically be passed on to the citizen's children.

Under the current 1992 legislation, non-EU nationals are required to be legally resident in Italy for 10 years before they can apply for citizenship, and children born in Italy to foreigners cannot apply for citizenship until they turn 18.

The other four referendum questions that will be put to the public vote in June were promoted by the CGIL trade union and concern issues related to the world of work.

These include a push to abolish the Jobs Act, the labour reform implemented by the Renzi government in 2016, and to modify some regulations on workplace safety and severance pay in small businesses.

Citizenship referendum

Italy's constitutional court in January gave the green light to the referendum that aims to make it easier for foreigners to claim Italian citizenship, a move opposed by the right-wing government of prime minister Giorgia Meloni.

The final approval from the consitutional court came after the court of cassation ruled in favour of the referendum bid which was the result of an online petition that surpassed its goal of half a million signatures.

Riccardo Magi, leader of the centre-left +Europa party, who was the driving force behind the referendum bid, hailed the January ruling as "a first victory for democracy and participation, a historic step for an Italy that recognises the rights of those who live, love and build it every day."

However on Friday Magi expressed his dissatisfaction with the summer referendum date chosen by the government "because it is evidently afraid of popular participation and is counting on abstentionism rather than discussing the merits".

Magi had requested that the citizenship referendum be held on the first round of the administrative elections, on 25-26 May.

A statement issued by Meloni's cabinet, however, said the date was chosen "in consideration of the need to reconcile the widest possible possibility of citizen participation with the need for continuity of teaching activities in schools where the polling stations are located".

Magi said he was satisfied that the government had accepted a request to guarantee voting for "non-resident citizens" who for reasons of study, work or health live in a municipality other than their home.

For a referendum result to be valid in Italy, voter turnout will need to exceed 50 per cent.

Photo credit: Massimo Todaro / Shutterstock.com.
The family of a man injured in Japan have launched a GoFundMe page to bring him home.

Ryan Cullen was injured in a road traffic accident in Osaka on Saturday, February 15.

Ryan's brother-in-law Dylan Hayden, from the new MugShot cafe in Waterford City, told the Waterford News and Star that he suffered serious injuries as a result of the accident.

"He is going to go through months and months, even years of recovery, and we have to try to raise money to pay his hospital bills and help the solicitors who are fighting the legal system over there for us and also flights home and rehabilitation when he returns to Ireland," said Dylan.

Ryan has undergone two surgeries, which involved inserting a metal plate and pins to stabilise his hips.

Ryan's family say they need the money for his ongoing treatment, rehabilitation and the cost of navigating the legal system in Japan.

The fundraising goal is 20,000, and the page has received 2,836 in donations so far.

Ryan's mother Kathryn wrote on the GoFundMe page that all donations, big or small, help.

"I am not someone who asks for help easily. But today, I am pleading. Not just as a mother, but as a mother desperate to give her son the chance he deserves to heal.

"I know times are hard for everyone, but if you can - if this story has touched your heart in any way - please, help us. Every single bit of support means the world to us.

"Whether its a donation, sharing our story, or simply keeping Ryan in your thoughts, it all makes a difference," wrote Kathyrn.

Ryan's brother Deanie wrote that his brother was the kind of person that helps others and now he needs their help.

"Ryan is strong, but he shouldnt have to fight this alone. And I wont stop fighting for him.

"Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for listening. For caring. For standing with us," said Deanie.

If you would like to make a donation you can do so from the Bring Ryan Home GoFundMe page.
For millions of Australians, buying a home isnt just another rite of passage to tick off the list after getting your drivers licence or getting drunk on a backpacking holiday.

For better or worse, the so-called great Australian dream of owning a home is etched deeply into our cultural psyches as the sign of success.

Longer loan terms mean lower repayments and you can borrow more. These arent necessarily upsides. Credit: Dionne Gain

But as property prices have soared, consistently outstripping inflation and salary growth over the past decade, weve seen it become more common for people to turn to inventive or desperate measures to get onto the property ladder.

Most commonly, this has included getting help from the so-called bank of mum and dad in the form of a deposit or mortgage guarantee, living at home longer to save a deposit, awaiting an inheritance, or purchasing with smaller deposits and subsequently taking out lenders mortgage insurance.
If youve been watching the markets lately  and thinking about retirement at the same time  you might be clutching your super statement with a rising sense of dread.

The ASX200 has tumbled more than 9 per cent in the past month, and headlines are screaming about a punishing rush for the exits. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is riding high, rattling global markets with new nationalist tariffs and rhetoric that sounds a lot like a return to trade wars. For retirees and pre-retirees, its a nerve-wracking time.

Local markets have fallen 9 per cent in the past month as the world reacts to Donald Trumps latest round of tariffs. Credit: AP

Ive been flooded with messages from people who are either planning for retirement or in the early days of what should be the most exciting time of their lives  only to find themselves gripped with fear that were staring down four years of turbulent, unpredictable financial markets.

The questions keep rolling in: Should I drop my investments back to more conservative levels? , Should I pull my super out and put it all in cash? and Is this going to be another GFC-style hit to my retirement?
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The finishing touches are yet to be put on the house, says Doug Richardson. Theres painting and other bits and pieces to do at the Brunswick Street property. Part-worksite, part-home, it contains a mix of newly bought furniture and building materials, symbols of the road back to normality following the 2022 floods. More than three years have passed since the Wilsons River climbed over Lismores levee and inundated Richardsons home, minutes from the city centre. Now, the end of the gruelling rebuild is in sight. But Richardson and his wife, Alyse Dorbis-Richardson, were in the same situation as many Lismore residents still rebuilding from the devastation of 2022 recently: spending days expecting the worst as ex-tropical cyclone Alfred approached. Doug and Alyse (pictured in March 2022) are considering their future in Lismore after years of rebuilding their home. Credit: Elise Derwin Angst brought by the threat of a repeat of that disaster, and the possibility that their unfinished home would go under again, prompted the two to consider their future in the Northern Rivers town. What happens if we keep getting smashed? Alyse says.

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Lismore and other parts of northern NSW were spared major damage when Alfred was downgraded as it approached the coast, but the near-miss left many locals on edge about the citys vulnerability. History repeating: Alyse Dorbis-Richardson and husband Doug Richardson outside their Lismore home this week. Credit: Louise Kennerley Planning for the future is not the only challenge that people in Lismore face. Like others in the city, the two have fought with their insurer over how damage to their home of more than a decade should have been covered, and say they have been left out of pocket. Loading I had to fight them all the way, Doug says. At the peak of the 2022 flood, water in the house rose a metre high and left the property almost destroyed. It was a year before Doug and Alyse could start rebuilding, while their insurance claim was processed. In May 2023, after a conciliation process through the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, Doug and Alyse settled with their insurer, NRMA.

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Our aim is always to support our customers recover from extreme weather events as quickly as possible, and we apologise for any delays during the claims process, an NRMA Insurance spokesperson said in a statement. Weve long advocated for greater investment in disaster mitigation initiatives. NRMA Insurance is committed to working with governments at all levels to protect communities from the impacts of extreme weather and natural disasters and weve welcomed progress on this front. Doug and Alyse, who own a waterproofing business, have since renewed their insurance with NRMA and taken the precaution of more than tripling the insured value of their home. The extra safeguard has doubled their insurance premium. Next-door neighbour Harry Freeman, 81, has had a closer view of Lismores transformation than most. Freeman ventured to the Northern Rivers for Nimbins Aquarius Festival in 1973 and, with other members of the growing counter-culture movement that would shape modern Lismore, never left. Harry Freeman says Lismore is dying as residents relocate from the citys most flood-prone areas. Credit: Louise Kennerley After more than 50 years in his home, which has been spared any flooding, Freeman cant imagine a life anywhere else.

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But the flood-ravaged town faces a reckoning, he says. Its a dying town, Freeman says from his front deck, a stones throw from the banks of the still-swollen Wilsons River. Its really in a bad way. As homes in Lismores most flood-prone areas are bought by the NSW government and slated for relocation through a $900 million buyback scheme, Freeman predicts a bleak future for the city. I cant imagine whatll happen once all of the people who are in flood [zones] have to move, he says. They dont want to leave Lismore, they also dont particularly want to live up on the hill, so I cant see any solution to the problem. He fears that Lismore will shrink if more people decide to relocate from harms way. Lismore mayor Steve Krieg is doing all in his power to stop that from happening.

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Lismores mayor, Steve Krieg, remains optimistic about the citys future. Credit: Louise Kennerley Im a strong believer that Lismore has a very bright future, and I dont want people to leave, Krieg says. I want to see people come and make this their home. I want to see our population grow and see new businesses set up, and I want to see Lismore become that regional centre that its always been for the Northern Rivers. Krieg, who lost his home in the 2022 floods, has become an ever-optimistic face of Lismores resilience, but even he has considered whether he and his family should stay or go. Loading You dont ever want to put your family, put your business, put your livelihood in any danger, so its very much front-of-mind, Krieg says. You want people to be safe.

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Australias main political leaders have adjusted their positions at speed this week as Trumps tariffs cut in. Dutton, who has had words of praise for Trump until recently  shrewd, a big thinker  twice this week distanced himself. And Albanese found his voice in denouncing the US tariffs. Trump is bound to dominate the weeks and months ahead. Even as the two Australian leaders wage a domestic political contest, the news cycle from abroad will keep intruding. Albanese and Dutton will be forced, again and again, to answer questions about Trump. They need to be extremely careful in positioning themselves. Getting it right could be a decisive advantage. Getting it wrong could be fatal. Loading Dutton first. To be fair to him, hes never been a carbon copy of Trump. He wants to cut immigration, but he doesnt propose mass deportations; he remains committed to free trade, not tariffs; he remains committed to supporting Ukraine, not Russia. But hes flirted with Trumpism. Most recently the Coalition thought it would be brilliant to mimic Trumps move in January to order all federal public servants to abandon working from home and return to the office five days a week. Dutton said it was unacceptable that public servants were refusing to go back to work. But the Coalition already had promised to get rid of 36,000 public servants if elected. They already had the base. It was Trump-inspired overkill to go the next step. All that Dutton achieved was to signal that he was uninterested in flexibility for working women.

The ACTU promised to campaign against the policy because it was an attack on flexible work arrangements, and it will hurt working women the most, according to president Michele ONeil. After just a week, Dutton started softening the policy. He didnt want to ban working from home, merely return it to its pre-COVID status as an exception rather than the rule. With Australia under attack from Trump, it will only become more politically dangerous for the Coalition to mimic his ideas. Trumps tariff decision was a dramatic moment; Dutton responded with a bet each way. He said he had a better chance of success because he would have a better relationship with Trump. It would be a respectful relationship mutually. So thats one bet  claiming a special relationship with Trump. But twice this week he distanced himself from the US leader. Asked whether he was a Temu Trump or a cut-price Trump, Dutton told podcast The Pay-Off with Sylvia Jeffreys that: Im my own person. The biggest influence in my political life has been John Howard and Peter Costello.

And he told Michelle Grattan for The Conversation: I was able to stand up to Trump on Ukraine and I think thats one of the important qualities in the next prime minister of our country. I want to make sure that I stand up for my values. More accurately, Dutton differed with Trump on Ukraine; he didnt actually speak with him. Thats his second bet  claiming he is a traditional Australian conservative who will stand to Trumps populist nationalism. Loading As for Albanese, hes been at pains to refrain from criticising Trump. He doesnt want to provoke him. For months, hed maintained the line that he wouldnt conduct a running commentary on the president. Two things happened. First, Trumps betrayal of Ukraine moved Albanese to differ with the US policy. Not by critiquing Trump directly but by offering a potential Australian contribution to any peacekeeping mission to separate Ukraine from Russia. Dutton declined to support this.

Second, the tariffs decision forced Albanese to find his voice: This is against the spirit of our two nations enduring friendship. He kept cool and declined to retaliate in kind. Retaliatory tariffs would only harm Australian consumers by increasing the price of imports from the US. But he added: Australians can have an impact by buying Australian goods. You buy Bundy soft drinks rather than some of the American products. Albanese is not the only leader to err on the side of sensible restraint. Some US allies, substantial powers like Japan and Britain, are doing exactly the same. But it will grow more and more difficult for Albanese to exercise restraint. Trumps administration will seek to act against Australian farm products, pharmaceuticals, social media regulation and university policies, just for starters. Public resentment will demand that Albanese channel national outrage. And that Dutton cut dead any flirtation with Trump policies. The independent Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie, a reliable outrage barometer, provided a foretaste of a sentiment that will only grow during the election campaign to come. The tariffs were a kick in the guts, said Lambie. Theyre showing that friendship doesnt matter any more. Its time to let him [Trump] know were not going to put up with this nonsense, she told Nines Today.

She urged the closure of US military facilities: Pine Gap  they need it like no tomorrow. Just tell em were going to switch it off in seven days. Give em a real boot up their backsides. Tell em youve got seven days to get your marines off our soil. Stop mucking around. This is emotionally satisfying but itd be self-harming. The reason Australia hosts US facilities is because theyre designed for our collective defence. So Albanese and Dutton will need to find positive ways to demonstrate Australian independence and assert national pride without verging on the vengeful. As the pollster for this masthead, Jim Reed of Resolve Strategic, says: Trump has always been disliked in our Australian polling. The fact that Dutton has assiduously distanced himself from Trump tells you that the same attitudes, behaviours and policies wont fly here. If anything, Australian politicians can learn something from Trumps election win. He made it clear he stood for the majority and that he would act as an agent for change for them. Our major parties need to cater for that desire or they will continue to lose votes to minor parties and independents.

However, two of those minor parties showed even less comprehension of how the world has changed this week. Pauline Hanson actually endorsed Trumps decision to apply tariffs to Australia. I believe in tariffs, put em on, she told Sky News. Theyd be good for America, she said. Loading Clive Palmer, chief Trumpet of Parrots, boasting of his success in persuading Australians to refuse vaccinations, trumped Hanson. He gleefully announced that hed be bringing an extraordinary talent to his election rallies via video link  the Trump sycophant Tucker Carlson. Carlson was sacked by Fox News when his hatefulness became commercially intolerable as advertisers deserted the network; he went on to even greater lows with a sycophantic interview with Vladimir Putin. Lately, hes back doing yet more slavishly toadying interviews of Trump. Palmer seemed to think hed scored a great coup. The conga line is getting shorter, but Pauline and Clive are still dancing to Trumps tune. No one has told them that the music has changed.
The characters involved, and the method of manipulation of the EBA process, are indicative of broader corruption in the CFMEU in Victoria. This single instance is better seen as being part of a larger problem, of what I believe amounts to a pattern of conduct. This pattern of conduct will be addressed in further case studies. Irvings administration is struggling to assert control over the union and to combat corruption in the wider industry with an unresolved High Court challenge undermining its push for reform and to remove unwanted players. Orman, a close associate of underworld figure Mick Gatto, is best known in Victoria as a man whose 2009 conviction over the gangland murder of Victor Pierce was quashed as a result of the Lawyer X scandal. That long-running saga saw Victoria Police admit to using lawyer Nicola Gobbo as an informant. Late last year police agreed to pay Orman up to $1 million in compensation.

Watson claims in his report that Orman used a days-old company with no assets or employees, ZK Civil Infrastructure, to deceive the Fair Work Commission into believing he was seeking a union-endorsed agreement for a business that would employ workers, particularly Indigenous people, on the Melbourne Metro project and other civil infrastructure projects. The agreement was a special type of wage deal known as a greenfields agreement, which is only granted to people and companies that do not have an existing enterprise bargaining agreement. Kayne Pettifer is embroiled in a controversial industrial relations deal. Credit: Getty Images As previously revealed by this masthead, within 24 hours of obtaining Fair Work Commissions approval on the agreement, Orman flipped his business, transferring his shares to the contractors, Cameron Buzzacott and former AFL forward Kayne Pettifer, who then took over the company and the agreement. Much of Watsons report is supported by interviews and responses to questions by Orman, Buzzacott, Pettifer, Myles and other union officials. Orman and Buzzacott issued statements on Friday strongly disputing Watsons conclusions and complaining they had been denied procedural fairness.

The report is also supported by a new witness  given the pseudonym Athens in Watsons report  who said Buzzacott had confessed to the scheme, telling Athens the money was paid in a (metaphorical) brown paper bag. Watson alleges that by agreeing to deceive the Fair Work Commission and the union into believing the deal was a greenfields agreement, Orman, Buzzacott and Pettifer were all potentially complicit in the crime of obtaining a financial advantage by deception. Watson has also raised questions about who at the union knew about the arrangement, stating in the report he believed Orman leaned on his and Gattos connections with Myles, who then directed an employee of the union to facilitate Ormans agreement. Watsons report states that Myles denied approving the EBA, saying he was merely copied into relevant emails and that the agreement was approved by other senior CFMEU staffers. In response to that claim, Watson says in his report: I do not believe Joe Myles. Myles position was hard to assess, according to Watson, and there was no evidence he made any personal gain.

Watson said it was likely that Myles was acting at the direction of Gatto, adding that Myles conduct could amount to misconduct in office because he did did not care about union rules. But that is no excuse  he was obliged in his role as an official of the CFMEU to exercise care and diligence, act in good faith, and not to improperly use his position to gain an advantage for himself or someone else, Watson said in the report. In response to questions, Myles said he had not been made aware of any report. This masthead is not suggesting the conclusions in Watsons report mean that there is sufficient evidence of wrongdoing to support a criminal charge.

Loading The report questions how the CFMEU was able to approve the Orman agreement for ZK so quickly, given it has 169 pages and such deals usually take several weeks to be brokered and then approved. Instead, the ZK agreement was approved in five days. Watson notes that while a template EBA common in the civil contracting industry was used in the ZK agreement, there were a number of bespoke elements included in the Orman deal. The idea that the CFMEU could undertake the necessary enquiries to determine if the applicant (ZK), as an entirely new entrant into the field, was a suitable recipient of a CFMEU EBA in such a short period is quite impossible, he said. The idea that an agreement of this length and complexity could be negotiated, drafted, considered, possibly re-negotiated, and approved in such a short period is not feasible.

The only sensible conclusion is that the terms of these EBAs were regarded as a mere formality: the deal is everything, the details are unimportant. The rushed-through agreement was signed despite Orman having no qualifications or experience in civil constructions. Neither Orman nor any of ZKs staff held the licences necessary for the difficult and dangerous work involved in civil contracting. According to the report, former CFMEU Victorian secretary Derek Christopher told Watson that Orman had no industry background. Watson notes that while he has drawn on document evidence such company records and witness statements, the investigation was hampered by the CFMEUs lack of paperwork about the striking of the agreement. The only CFMEU records are two brief emails and the EBA itself. This is disconcerting. There is no record of any checks conducted. Even if checks were by-passed, the initial proposal should have been recorded. It was not. It would be expected that there would be some record of the CFMEUs assessment of the applicant. There is none.

He said that if the CFMEU was discharging its duty to members, there should have been thorough checks to ensure that this was the type of employer the CFMEU sought to engage with. Faruk Orman in the hours after he walked from court a free man in 2019. Credit: Justin McManus Apart from the involvement of Joe Myles  there is no record that any other CFMEU official was even aware this was happening, he said. Buzzacott told Watson he had struggled to get a CFMEU agreement in the past, and he took ownership of the group because he believed a union EBA would assist the operation of my business interests in Victoria. Buzzacott, according to Watson, said in a statement that he wrote to then premier Daniel Andrews as well as then infrastructure minister and now Premier Jacinta Allan in May 2022 pleading for assistance given the serious financial difficulties his business was facing without the support of the CFMEU and a union-backed agreement.

My request for urgent meetings elicited no response, he said. Buzzacott, an Indigenous labour hire-owner, maintained to Watson, as he had done so previously to this masthead, that he only discovered that ZK was once registered to Orman after he took over the company. He said he did not know Orman. When contacted by this masthead this week, Buzzacott strenuously denied making any confession about ZK to anyone. I never made a payment to Faruk Orman for any shares in any company whatsoever, he said. Buzzacott said he had never obtained any financial advantage through the transaction let alone in a manner that was deceptive and dishonest.

Loading I do not consider that I have acted in any way improperly or unethically, he said. He said he not had any opportunity to respond to Watsons conclusions, including possible criminality, and had not been given a copy of the report. It is grossly unfair for Mr Watsons findings to be published without my having been given the opportunity to properly respond to him, he said. Pettifer did not contribute to Watsons report but has previously confirmed that he knew Orman via a safety training business.

Orman has long maintained he did not receive any money as a result of the transaction and claimed still to have some ownership or control over the company and that behind the scenes there are other agreements in place, in between various shareholders and directors. In a statement to this masthead, he too said he had not seen the report and that Watsons claims were untrue and would not withstand scrutiny. The allegations are false and the statements from the so-called report set out in your questions are each wrong and defamatory, Orman said. There is no reasonable basis for any report (which I have not seen) to contain the statements or recommendations or for the investigator to have rejected the comprehensive evidence I have provided.
Itoman: Takamatsu Gushiken turns on a head-torch and enters a cave buried in Okinawas jungle. He gently runs his fingers through the gravel until two pieces of bone emerge. These are from the skulls, he says, of an infant and possibly an adult.

He carefully places them in a ceramic rice bowl and takes a moment to imagine people dying 80 years ago as they hid in this cave during one of the fiercest battles of World War II. His hope is that the dead can be reunited with their families.

Takamatsu Gushiken leaves a cave after a session of searching for the remains of those who died during the Battle of Okinawa, in Itoman, Okinawa archipelago, southern Japan. Credit: AP

The remains of some 1400 people found on Okinawa sit in storage for possible identification with DNA testing. So far just six have been identified and returned to their families. Volunteer bone hunters and families looking for their loved ones say the government should do more to help.

Gushiken says the bones are silent witnesses to Okinawas wartime tragedy, carrying a warning to the present generation as Japan ups its defence spending in the face of tensions with China over territorial disputes and Beijings claim to the nearby self-governing island Taiwan.
LUANDA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Joao Lourenco, Angolan president and current African Union (AU) chair, on Saturday urged all parties involved in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to cease hostilities starting at 0:00 local time on Sunday, according to a statement released by the Angolan Presidency.

Lourenco emphasized that the cease-fire is essential to create a climate of de-escalation that favors the upcoming peace talks between the DRC government and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, set to take place in Luanda, Angola's capital.

"The cease-fire must include all hostile actions against civilians and any attempts to seize new positions in the conflict zone," the statement said.

Angola announced on Wednesday that it would host direct peace talks between the DRC government and the M23 rebels in Luanda on March 18.

The DRC government has not officially confirmed its participation yet. The M23 told the media that it welcomed Angola's initiative, but called on DRC President Felix Tshisekedi to publicly commit to direct negotiations with the group.

Fighting between the DRC government and the M23 has intensified in recent months, with the rebels launching major offensives in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, capturing several key towns.

The ongoing violence has displaced thousands, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the eastern DRC. Despite diplomatic and military efforts, the conflict persists. 
London: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared Australia must stand up to bullies like Russian President Vladimir Putin as Britain said planning for a future peacekeeping effort in Ukraine was entering an operational phase.

After a two-hour video call with Western allies, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer challenged Putin to end his dithering and delay and sign up to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States if he was serious about peace, saying the ball was now in Russias court.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks with other world leaders during Saturdays video conference. Credit: Getty Images

We agreed we will keep increasing the pressure on Russia, keep the military aid flowing to Ukraine, and keep tightening restrictions on Russias economy to weaken Putins war machine and bring him to the table, he told reporters after the meeting.

Without providing precise details, Starmer said there was a stronger collective resolve and new commitments were put on the table at the virtual meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing  some 30 Western leaders, including from Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Turkey, NATO and the EU. Many more countries were involved this time than at a previous meeting on March 2.
ADDIS ABABA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has called on African Union (AU) members to intensify their collective support in elevating the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) as a premier public health institution.

Abiy made the remarks in a statement after meeting with Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya on Friday at the headquarters of the AU's specialized healthcare agency in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

The prime minister said the Africa CDC's advanced laboratory facilities and research capabilities play a crucial role in disease prevention and in coordinating continental responses to epidemics and pandemics.

Noting that the East African country is "proud to host the Africa CDC," Abiy called on African countries to bolster their collective commitments toward advancing the Africa CDC as a premier public health agency.

"It is incumbent upon us to strengthen this institution in collaboration with partners. I call upon fellow African leaders to join efforts in establishing our continental public health agency as a premier institution, fully committed to advancing health across the continent," he said.

The Africa CDC, which was established in January 2016 by African leaders and officially launched one year later, has gained acclaim for its contribution to bettering public healthcare in Africa. The Chinese-built Africa CDC headquarters in the southern suburb of Addis Ababa, which is regarded as a flagship project in China-Africa public health cooperation, was officially inaugurated in January 2023.

In November 2023, the Africa CDC unveiled a China-aided reference laboratory at its headquarters. The agency said the completion of the laboratory marks a milestone in its pursuit of a strong continental public health institution that will support AU members in improving disease diagnosis, surveillance, and outbreak response.

After meeting with the Ethiopian prime minister, Kaseya underscored the agency's resolve to drive sustainable solutions for a healthier Africa.

"At the Africa CDC, we look forward to continuing to work closely with Ethiopia to tackle major health challenges, fortify systems, and drive sustainable solutions for a healthier Africa. Together, we are building resilience and safeguarding the future," Kaseya said.

As the African continent battles various disease outbreaks and public health challenges, including the ongoing mpox outbreak, the Africa CDC has emerged as a major public health agency supporting public health initiatives on the continent and strengthening Africa's capacity to detect, prevent, control, and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats. 
A drone photo taken on March 8, 2025 shows the restoration site of the eastern causeway of Beng Mealea temple in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. Archaeologists have been restoring the eastern causeway of the centuries-old Beng Mealea temple in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in northwest Cambodia, the APSARA National Authority (ANA) said in a news release on Saturday.(ANA/Handout via Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists have been restoring the eastern causeway of the centuries-old Beng Mealea temple in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in northwest Cambodia, the APSARA National Authority (ANA) said in a news release on Saturday.

The restoration project was funded by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund, the news release said. The fund, initiated by China in March 2016, aimed to support small- and medium-sized cooperation projects put forward by six LMC countries.

ANA engineer Boeut Sopak said the project aimed to revitalize the eastern causeway of the temple, which had suffered considerable damage.

She added that the restoration work began on July 20, 2024, and was projected to be completed by August 2025.

"The restoration team has successfully repaired various structural elements of the causeway, including pillars, beams, Naga balustrades, and Naga heads on both sides," Sopak said.

"They have also addressed a substantial portion of the collapsed causeway floor. Currently, efforts focused on installing Naga heads on the southern side and repairing the damaged stones of the causeway," she added.

Sopak said the restoration team was also replacing eroded soil with laterite, a material believed to enhance the stability and longevity of the structure, particularly in areas affected by water runoff.

"Beyond preserving this vital piece of Khmer heritage, the project has also provided employment opportunities for local residents, fostering a sense of community involvement in heritage preservation," she said.

Built in the middle of the 12th century, the layout and style of the temple are very similar to those of the iconic Angkor Wat temple, the ANA said.

Made of blue sandstone, the temple is one of the key temples in the 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province.

The Angkor Archaeological Park, which is the most popular tourist destination in the Southeast Asian nation, is home to 91 ancient temples built from the ninth to the 13th centuries. 
GARDEZ, Afghanistan, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The counter-narcotics police have seized illicit drugs, including 452 kg of hashish, and arrested one alleged drug trafficker in east Afghanistan's Paktia province, said a statement of provincial police office on Saturday.

The contraband was discovered in a car in the provincial capital Gardez city on Friday, the statement said.

According to the statement, operations against illegal crops, including hashish and poppy, would continue until the province is cleared of the menace. Efforts are underway to find alternative crops for farmers to replace illegal crops with legal ones.

The Afghan caretaker government has vowed to fight against illegal crops, drug production, and drug trafficking until the country gets rid of the drug menace. 
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David Young in Washington DC

Jewish representative groups have addressed antisemitism and vilification of Israel in Ireland with Taoiseach Micheal Martin.

Mr Martin attended a meeting with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in Washington DC on Friday.

The engagement came as the Taoiseach utterly rejected claims reportedly made by Israels ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, that he was antisemitic.

Mr Martin said it was absurd to label him antisemitic and added: I think theres an element of deliberate undermining of Irelands position and distortion of Irelands position in respect of this.

He said he wanted to have the meeting to present the prism through which Ireland has looked at the Middle East.

The Israeli Embassy in Dublin said it would close last year. Photo: Cillian Sherlock/PA

Senior figures in Israeli politics have accused leaders in the Government of encouraging antisemitism, with the Israeli embassy in Dublin announcing last year that it would close.

Israeli politicians have criticised the States decision to intervene in South Africas case against Israel, with Dublin asking the International Court of Justice to broaden its interpretation of what constitutes genocide.

In addition, Israel foreign minister Gideon Saar called Mr Martins predecessor, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, antisemitic.

Mr Harris, who is now Tanaiste as part of coalition arrangements with Mr Martin's Fianna Fail, has also rejected the characterisation.

After the meeting, the AJC said the groups wanted to directly address concerns about antisemitism and the demonisation of Israel in Ireland.

It said Ireland is seen as one of the most problematic countries in Europe.

AJC director of international Jewish affairs Rabbi Andrew Baker said: Antisemitism is pervasive in Ireland, posing serious risks for its 3,000 Jews, many of whom hold Israeli citizenship.

Alongside physical harassment and attacks, widespread anti-Israel sentiment  including in parts of the government  affects daily life. Jewish school children face bullying, university students encounter hostility, and workplaces are increasingly unwelcoming.

In the meeting, Mr Baker expressed AJCs grave concern over Irelands vilification of the State of Israel, in particular joining the South African case in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

It also raised President Michael Higgins attacks on Israel, and Mr Martins own deeply problematic remarks.

Tanaiste Simon Harris. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

The AJC said Mr Martin had accused Israel of committing war crimes, pursuing collective punishment of the Palestinian people, as well as using starvation as a weapon of war.

The group said that Mr Baker explained that these statements are contributing to antisemitism facing Irelands Jews and urged him to pull back from its engagement with the ICJ.

The ACJ said if such action and statements continue, it will advocate for the US government to take serious action in response.

The representative group announced that Mr Martin said Ireland would soon appoint a national coordinator to oversee efforts to counter antisemitism as well as develop a national strategy.

Mr Baker also asked Mr Martin not to pursue the countrys Occupied Territories Bill, which would ban the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.

The existing Bill is not in the Governments published legislative schedule but Mr Martin previously signalled the Government was instead likely to seek to create a new Bill with its required changes.

In a statement, ADL senior vice president for international affairs Marina Rosenberg said the groups met Mr Martin to address the challenges facing the small Irish Jewish community, including an atmosphere of antisemitism and anti-Israel bias.

Ms Rosenberg added: We urged concrete steps including the implementation of the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism and the appointment of a National Coordinator for government policies against antisemitism.

We expect the Irish government to act swiftly and will be closely monitoring the situation.

A spokesman for Mr Martin said the engagement was very positive and included discussion on the impact of rising antisemitism on Jewish communities around the world.

President Michael D Higgins. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

Earlier, the Taoiseach said that Irelands approach to the conflict in Gaza is consistent with how it responded to humanitarian crises in Ethiopia, Syria and Lebanon.

I went to Israel after October 7th in solidarity with the people of Israel, given what happened with that horrific and barbaric attack by Hamas, Mr Martin said.

We have consistently condemned Hamas. Ive called for the unconditional release of hostages from the very beginning.

We called for an immediate ceasefire, which Israel didnt like, but as far as we were concerned, the conduct of modern warfare is such that in urban conurbations, it leads to the killing of innocent people and innocent civilians to a degree that was not tenable.

It was beyond the moral compass that so many families and children were losing their lives, and therefore we wanted a ceasefire as urgently as possible. We wanted a surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza, which is still required.

It is hell on earth in Gaza and the Irish position is fundamentally a humanitarian one, which is consistent with how we responded to Ethiopia, consistent with how we responded to Syria, consistent with how weve always responded to Lebanon.

So theres a consistency of approach in the Irish position, and to label it as antisemitic is wrong, false and a deliberate distortion of the truth.
The 'Kneecap effect' has been credited with boosting Irish language popularity, with 68 per cent of sixth-year students reporting a love and appreciation for the language in a new survey.

The survey from online study tool Studyclix also revealed that 81 per cent of them believe the way the language is taught is outdated.

Many who learned Irish in school would agree with this, and blame the teaching methods for their inability to retain a good standard of Irish in their adult lives.

So, how confident are you in your Irish language ability? And do you know much about the history of the language? Take our quiz to test your knowledge!
Opels all-new Grandland SUV, already a Golden Steering Wheel award-winner, has added to its trophy list, honoured with a prestigious Driving Vision News Award 2025 in the 'Best Front Lamps' category.

Philipp Roeckl, Global Lead Complex Lighting at Stellantis, accepted the award on behalf of Opel at the DVN awards ceremony in Munich last month.

"With the adaptive, glare-free Intelli-Lux HD light, we have developed a pioneering system for the new Opel Grandland. For the first time, the headlights have more than 50,000 individual elements, enabling high-resolution light distribution that is always appropriate to the situation. This not only increases comfort for the driver, but also the safety of all road users. We are delighted that the DVN community has honoured this with the DVN Award 2025," said Mr Roeckl.

Driving Vision News is a network of leading experts in the fields of lighting technology, driver assistance systems, lidar and vehicle interiors. In newsletters, reports and workshops, it regularly provides information on technological developments and innovations in this specialised field. At this year's DVN Awards, numerous lighting innovations were up for election in six categories.

The Opel Grandlands ultra-modern Intelli-Lux HD light turns night into day for the driver and precisely illuminates the route and surroundings. Depending on the prevailing traffic situation, the camera detects road users in front and oncoming traffic and the Intelli-Lux HD light cuts them out even faster and more precisely than previous matrix light technologies. The light tunnel, i.e. the area left out by the light beam, is narrower than before, while the rest of the street and the surrounding area is better lit. In this way, the system delivers even brighter and more even light distribution without dazzling others.

Your local Opel dealer is Rochford Motors in Ballyhaunis.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

A teacher who groomed and sexually abused a teenage pupil has been described as a cold, calculating child predator.

Judith Evans was jailed for two years at Belfast Crown Court on Friday for a series of sexual offences against a schoolboy and placed on the sex offender register for life.

The court heard that when Judith Evans was confronted with her crimes by police, she had falsely claimed that her teenage victim had threatened and raped her.

Judge Patricia Smyth said there had been close to 10,000 text messages exchanged between the teacher and pupil.

The judge said the teacher had basked in her victims adolescent attraction towards her.

Evans (33), from Elmwood Grove in Newtownabbey, was a teacher at Belfast Boys Model School when the offences occurred.

Detective Chief Inspector Jill Duffie outside Laganside Crown Court, Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

Following sentencing, PSNI detective chief inspector Jill Duffie said: Evans is a cold, calculating child predator who was in a position of trust and abused that position by taking advantage of a young boy who was her pupil at the time.

She preyed on his vulnerabilities and built an inappropriate friendship with the boy before then further grooming him and sexually exploiting him.

The messages exchanged between her and her underage pupil were highly sexual and nothing short of sickening.

Evans had initially denied the charges but the mother-of-two later pleaded guilty to a total of eight sexual offences committed against the teenage boy.

The charges she admitted include sexual communication with a child, meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual activity with a child involving penetration and possessing indecent images of the schoolboy. These offences were committed between March 1st and May 17th, 2024.

She further admitted a charge of perverting the course of justice.

Delivering sentence, Judge Smyth told the court Evan had groomed the child who was vulnerable because of family circumstances.

After giving him her email address and mobile phone number text communications followed.

The judge said: From an early stage they contained inappropriate sexual suggestions.

She told the court that during the Easter holidays in 2024 the communications escalated to sexual photos being sent to the boy.

She added: Within a matter of weeks the defendant was inviting the victim to meet her.

The defendant met the victim on two occasions outside school where sexual activity occurred.

She said on a third occasion the boy would not get into a car with Evans because it belonged to her husband and did not have blacked out windows.

The judge said there were also references within text exchanges to sexual contact at school, but said this had not been proven.

The court heard that Evans phoned the victims mother on a regular basis to discuss his demeanour and said she wanted to keep him after class for revision.

The judge added: The mother recalled her son returning home looking dishevelled on one occasion with his tie undone and his shirt buttons opened after apparently having stayed behind for revision.

After the schoolboys girlfriend found a text message on his phone, he admitted that he had cheated on her and said he wanted to run away and kill himself because he knew police would be involved.

Detective Chief Inspector Jill Duffie (right) and Detective Constable Walls outside Laganside Crown Court. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA

The court was told his father took him to hospital where he disclosed the sexual activity with his teacher.

When interviewed by police, Evans claimed the boy had threatened and raped her and that his dad was connected to the UDA.

The judge said: Every aspect of that account was false.

She added: There is no question that the defendants behaviour and the aftermath of the discovery of these offences have had a profound effect on this young victim and his family.

Judge Smyth then told the court that sexual communication had last over five months with nearly 10,000 texts sent over a period of a month.

The judge said Evans is a mother of two and she accepted that she is suffering distress because of the offending.

Evans was sentenced her to four years, with half of the term to be spent in custody.

The judge said Evans would be disqualified from working with children and would be on the sex offender register for life.

Speaking outside court, Ms Duffie added: As a result of the abuse he was subjected to, the victim has suffered greatly with mental health struggles and has shown immense bravery to bring her to justice today.

There is still a societal stigma surrounding male victims of abuse, especially that of a sexual nature.

I hope todays court outcome will showcase that young boys are just as vulnerable and that there is no shame for them to carry.

Suffering in silence is never the answer, abuse is never the victims fault.

We will continue to work around the clock to bring child predators before the courts and would encourage anyone who may have been abused in a similar way to come forward. The passage of time doesnt matter.

Child abuse cannot continue in Northern Ireland, we will do everything in our power to stop predators in their tracks and get victims the justice they deserve.

If there are any young people out there who have been targeted and abused in a similar way, please come forward to us. We will help and support you.

A spokesperson for Belfast Boys Model School said: Following todays sentencing, we recognise what a difficult and distressing time this has been for the young person and their family and our sincere thoughts go out to them.

We fully understand the impact that this has caused throughout the wider school community and would reassure all pupils and staff that the protection, safety and wellbeing of our pupils continues to be our highest priority.

We have robust safeguarding processes in place and, where concerns are raised, appropriate action is taken in conjunction with the relevant authorities.

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. Alternatively, the contact information for a range of mental health supports is available at mentalhealthireland.ie/get-support
David Young in Washington DC

The threat of US tariffs on alcoholic drinks from the EU is a very serious issue, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has warned.

The Taoiseach said Irish whiskey products had benefited from extraordinary growth in the US market, and that a tariff dispute could damage parts of the Irish economy.

He warned Europe has to be strategic in how it responds in the tit-for-tat trade dispute with US president Donald Trump.

Irish whiskey has enjoyed an extraordinary growth into the American market, Mr Martin said on Friday.

Were going to engage strongly now with the Commission in respect of that issue, because it is a serious issue, not just for Ireland, but indeed for other European member states as well.

Mr Martin was speaking on the last full day of the annual US trip to Washington DC for St Patricks Day.

The diplomatic event this year was overshadowed by the looming threat of an EU-US trade war.

There is heightened concern in Ireland that the new US administrations protectionist approach could pose a risk to an Irish economy which is significantly sustained by long-standing investment from US multinationals.

Micheal Martin speaking to the media in Washington DC. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

During a meeting with Mr Martin at the White House on Wednesday, Mr Trump both shared his love for Ireland and said Dublin is of course taking advantage of the US.

The US president said he does not want to do anything to hurt Ireland, but added that the trade relationship between the countries should be focused on fairness.

As the Taoiseach met Mr Trump on Wednesday, the European Commission announced its retaliation against 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imposed by the US.

Previously suspended tariffs would affect a range of US goods including boats, bourbon whiskey and motorbikes from April, it said.

Vice president JD Vance joins Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a bilateral meeting with Donald Trump. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

Mr Trump responded with the threat of a 200 per cent tax on imported alcoholic drinks from the EU, which has caused concern among the Irish drinks industry.

I think Europe has to be strategic in this, because Europe actually enjoys a surplus in these products, in terms of the trade in spirits, Mr Martin said.

I stand to be corrected, but it could be a three-to-one in favour of the European Union products. So Europe needs to be strategic in terms of how it approaches this.

He added: None of this is easy, in the sense that once tariffs and counter tariffs start, its not good, and it can damage certain sectors of the economy.

Given the strength of Irish spirits in the market, that is a concern for us, and I know for other countries, they will have other products for whom it will be a big concern.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin and US president Donald Trump. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

In relation to domestic issues, Mr Martin also called for a step up in investment on artificial intelligence (AI) in Ireland as he said there needed to be less demonisation of data centres.

Mr Martin said surges in AI created a requirement to have a more mature debate around data centres.

While acknowledging there are challenges in pursuing that goal in a way that is consistent with the Governments climate agenda, Mr Martin said significant numbers in Dail Eireann are completely disconnected from the reality of economic life.

He told reporters: I understand the data centre issue  its consuming huge amounts of energy and we have a problem between 2025 and 2030. I think our problems will ease with the offshore wind that will come on stream in significant critical mass in the early 2030s.

We can see where the end game or the promised land is in respect of offshore wind, and that would give us really a sufficiency of energy to deal with the AI revolution, to deal with the energy demands that would come from that.

He added: We have a challenge in the intervening period between 2025 and 2030, but I think we need to stop the demonisation of data centres.

Fridays engagements wrap up a week of diplomatic efforts in the US by Mr Martin, along with other Irish ministers, to coincide with St Patricks Day.

The Taoiseachs visit included a Friends of Ireland luncheon at the US Capitol and a breakfast meeting with JD Vance at the US vice-presidents official residence.

At the start of the week, he took part in a fireside chat at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas.

Mr Martin attempted to emphasise the two-way nature of trade between Ireland and the US during the trip, as he sought to develop positive relations with the new US administration.

The biggest disruption of the trip came at the Ireland Funds gala dinner on Thursday night where members of the Burke family, Evangelical Christians from Co Mayo, briefly disrupted proceedings before being ejected from the venue.

Mr Martin also rejected comments reportedly made by Israels ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, who labelled the Taoiseach as antisemitic and commended Jewish leaders who cancelled a meeting with him.

Its just absurd that you would label someone antisemitic for being in favour of the principles of the UN in respect of their application to the Middle East, the Taoiseach said.

After meeting the Jewish representative groups, Mr Martin travelled to offices of Enterprise Ireland client company Hanley Energy in Virginia.

Following a series of remaining private engagements in Washington, DC on Saturday, the Taoiseach will return to Ireland.
Claremorris Gallery is hosting a new solo exhibition by internationally renowned Irish artist Donald Teskey, entitled 'A Wave from the Hill'.

Running from March 22 to April 19, this captivating show brings together a collection of Teskeys latest works, featuring an evocative mix of coastal scenes and riverscapes that explores the beauty and raw power of the Irish landscape.

Known for his masterful command of texture and light, Teskeys paintings capture the shifting moods of water, sky, and land. 'A Wave from the Hill' showcases a dynamic range of works on both canvas and paper, varying in scale from intimate studies to large-scale immersive compositions on canvas.

The title 'A Wave from the Hill' evokes both the ceaseless motion of ocean waves and a familiar, personal connection to the land, as though the artist himself is greeting a landscape he knows intimately. A landscape always evolving and adapting. This deep connection with the landscape and with the artist's materials is echoed in Aidan Dunne's comments about Donald Teskey's work: "Teskey's method is instinctive and gestural. Rather than slavish, detailed descriptions, information is imparted via touch, but never in an overbearing way."

Teskey takes inspiration from a poem by Lebanese-American writer, poet and visual artist Kahlil Gibran entitled, Fear which begins: It is said that before entering the sea, a river trembles with fear.

The poem about a rivers journey to the ocean explores the themes of transformation, movement, and the powerful relationship between nature and self, resonant in Teskeys work. Teskeys paintings conjure the pull of the sea, suggesting in their gaze the enhancement of life experience through an acceptance of our mortality.

The river needs to take the risk

of entering the ocean

because only then will fear disappear

because that's where the river will know

it's not about disappearing into the ocean,

but of becoming the ocean.

In this light, Teskeys work carries a kind of quiet acceptance - perhaps even a reverence - for the ephemeral nature of existence. His landscapes are not static - they breathe, they shift, they hold both the memory of what was and the inevitability of whats to come. They suggest that embracing change - rather than fearing it - leads to a fuller, more profound engagement with life itself.

Teskey, whose career spans several decades, is widely recognised for his distinctive approach to landscape painting. His work has been exhibited extensively in Ireland and internationally and is held in major public and private collections.

'Shout Out to Spring' is another of the beautiful paintings in the exhibition.

'A Wave from the Hill' is an opportunity to experience and acquire Teskeys latest interpretations of Irelands coastal and riverine landscapes, offering both long-time admirers and new audiences a chance to engage with his powerful, meditative paintings.

'A Wave from the Hill' opens on Saturday, March 22nd, at Claremorris Gallery and will be on view until April 19th. The gallery is open from 1 to 6pm, Wednesday to Saturday, or by appointment. For more information, visit Claremorris Gallerys website at www.claremorrisgallery.ie.
LONDON, March 15 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his commitment to securing lasting peace in Ukraine as Britain hosted a virtual meeting with more than 25 political leaders on Saturday morning. However, no detailed or updated defense measures were announced.

At the press conference after the virtual meeting, when asked whether any concrete commitments emerged from it, Starmer said the meeting had helped build political and military momentum, with participating countries agreeing to increase collective pressure on Russia. However, he stopped short of disclosing what specific measures would be taken at the "operational phase."

Joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and leaders from Canada, Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union, Starmer urged Russia to "come to the table to negotiate a deal." He also announced plans to host a military meeting next Thursday.

The prime minister reiterated Britain's stance on securing U.S. involvement in Ukraine's future defense, emphasizing that discussions with the United States are ongoing "on a daily basis."

He also suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump is committed to achieving lasting peace in Ukraine, adding that the close relationship between Britain and the U.S. is "the base on which we are planning."

Starmer reaffirmed Britain's willingness to take a leading role in the "coalition of the willing," a post-conflict arrangement that he announced two weeks ago during a London Summit. He said Britain is willing to deploy troops on the ground and aircraft in the sky. However, he did not specify how other nations would contribute to the coalition.

He also told reporters that leaders at the meeting had discussed tightening sanctions on Russia, including potential measures to freeze Russian assets in the future. 
This photo released by the Hungarian Prime Minister's Press Office shows Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaking on the occasion of Hungary's national holiday in Budapest, Hungary, March. 15, 2025. (Vivien Cher Benko/MTI via Xinhua)

BUDAPEST, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vowed to defend Hungary's sovereignty and resist external control, describing the European Union (EU) as an empire seeking domination, like past foreign powers.

Speaking to supporters in Budapest on Hungary's national holiday, Orban criticized Brussels for overstepping its authority, comparing it to the historical rulers of Hungary. "There is always an empire that covets the freedom of Hungarians. Right now, it is Brussels," he said.

Orban rejected the idea of leaving the EU, instead advocating for internal reform. "We must take it and change it," he declared.

Highlighting Hungary's economic independence, Orban pointed to the country's patriotic national economy, with efforts to regain control over its energy sector, regulate multinational corporations and banks, and resist financial dependency on external institutions. 

This photo released by the Hungarian Prime Minister's Press Office shows Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaking on the occasion of Hungary's national holiday in Budapest, Hungary, March. 15, 2025. (Vivien Cher Benko/MTI via Xinhua)
To write or not to write? Reflections on decolonising knowledge production from the margins

When: Wednesday, 19 March 2025 Where: Online Event



Wits Centre for Diversity Studies, 13th floor Eskia Mphahlele Building. Start time: 14:00 Enquiries: ditebogo.kalauba@wits.ac.za RSVP: https://wits-za.zoom.us/j/96019095750?pwd=LFPxpLMioh0AhfikJjTMXaxwA9bp4q.1

Join us for another exciting seminar online or in person.

Researching about peoples lives is an exercise often met with suspicion due to how knowledge may be perceived as extractive and potentially exploitative. As African scholars interested in writing about the lived experiences of marginalised people, we are beleaguered amid calls for decolonising research epistemologies. What constitutes a decolonial approach of doing such studies? What struggles remain visible? Who are we to decide, and does this process not often betray who we are doing it for? If our answers to both these questions come from our positionality, could it not be that we are speaking for others, simply because some have spoken for them before us, in ways that we have decided were not humane? Today, we are compelled to return to questions of the agency of those we write about in negotiating their own lives in-between allegedly marginalising situations. In this seminar inspired by his forthcoming book Can Migration Studies be Decolonized? (Bristol University Press), Dr Kudakwashe Vanyoro comes into conversation with Dr Duduzile Ndlovu and Dr William Mpofu. He invites us to reflect on the idea of decolonising knowledge production from the margins and engage in necessary self criticism about limitations and drawbacks of a decolonial vocabulary and praxis, as we seek to locate ourselves in ongoing debates about what it means to write and think from the margins.
Greece's new cabinet is sworn in at the presidential mansion in Athens, Greece, on March 15, 2025.

Greece's new cabinet was sworn in on Saturday at the presidential mansion in Athens, following a ministerial shake-up announced a day earlier. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

ATHENS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Greece's new cabinet was sworn in on Saturday at the presidential mansion in Athens, following a ministerial shake-up announced a day earlier.

Shortly after the cabinet's inaugural meeting, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the reshuffle as a move toward "renewal and action to improve citizens' lives."

He emphasized that in the coming months, the government will prioritize reforms in key areas, including the economy, infrastructure and transportation, migration and asylum policy, and shipping.

New ministers have taken over all four ministries. The new lineup includes seasoned politicians from the ruling conservative New Democracy party and new faces from younger generations.

The shake-up came after the government survived a censure motion in parliament last week, triggered by criticism over its handling of a fatal train accident two years ago. The tragedy, linked partly to longstanding railway safety failures, ignited widespread protests across Greece.

The current government's term ends in June 2027. 

Greece's new cabinet is sworn in at the presidential mansion in Athens, Greece, on March 15, 2025.

Greece's new cabinet was sworn in on Saturday at the presidential mansion in Athens, following a ministerial shake-up announced a day earlier. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

Greece's new cabinet is sworn in at the presidential mansion in Athens, Greece, on March 15, 2025.

Greece's new cabinet was sworn in on Saturday at the presidential mansion in Athens, following a ministerial shake-up announced a day earlier. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

Members of the new Greek cabinet pose for a group photo after a swearing in ceremony at the presidential mansion in Athens, Greece, on March 15, 2025.

Greece's new cabinet was sworn in on Saturday at the presidential mansion in Athens, following a ministerial shake-up announced a day earlier. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)
by Xinhua writers Deng Xianlai, Xu Yuan

WASHINGTON, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The United States blaming China for its domestic fentanyl crisis -- the excuse for additional tariffs -- lacked "any justification," said a U.S. expert.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, William Jones, an international relations expert and former White House correspondent for U.S. publication Executive Intelligence Review, said he did not see "any justification" in the U.S. administration's act of "setting blame on China for the fentanyl problem in the United States."

"They are doing everything, as far as I can see, to reduce the flow of fentanyl," Jones, who has been tracking U.S.-China relations for decades, said of the Chinese government.

China took the lead in including the entire category of fentanyl-related substances in a controlled regulatory list as early as in May 2019, a step conducive to preventing illicit manufacturing, trafficking and abuse of the substance.

Jones said he thinks that China has done things "in whatever way they could" to help the United States deal with its fentanyl crisis.

On March 4, China's State Council Information Office released a white paper titled "Controlling Fentanyl-Related Substances -- China's Contribution," highlighting the country's rigorous control over the chemicals.

"China has achieved notable successes in in-depth cooperation with countries concerned, including the United States, in addressing problems with fentanyl-related substances and their precursors," the white paper said.

As far as the United States is concerned, Jones said that the fentanyl issue is "a red herring" used by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to pass to others what should otherwise be the U.S. government's responsibility to solve its own problem.

Claims that China has "in any way supported" the exacerbation of the fentanyl problem in the United States are unjustified, Jones said, adding that China is "being used as a scapegoat." Enditem

(Xinhua reporter Hu Yousong also contributed to this story.)
Carney won the race to become leader of Canada's ruling Liberal Party on March 9.
Guests, including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk, arrive before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) [Photo by AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool]

The second Trump administration marks a fundamental and violent realignment of the American political system to serve the interests of the corporate-financial oligarchy. Trump embodies the logic of a ruling class that sees no way out of the deepening crisis of American and world capitalism except through authoritarian rule, militarism and ruthless class war.

At the center of this fascist program is tech oligarch Elon Musk, overseeing the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to slash federal spending by $2 trillion, dismantle essential social programs and erect an AI-driven mass surveillance regime targeting opponents of the Trump administration.

Musks elevation to such a position underscores the deep integration of the tech billionaires into the far-right political apparatus, as they seek to preserve their immense wealth and power by aligning themselves with authoritarian and fascist forces. The convergence of Silicon Valley and the most reactionary elements of the ruling class is not only an American phenomenon, but part of a broader global trend.

A February 20 Jacobin article, Tech Workers Can Still Fight Silicon Valleys Overlords, distorts the historical background of these phenomena and presents yet another example of the bankrupt reformist politics of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). The piece, written by Hagen Blix and Ingeborg Glimmer, is based on their recently published book, Why We Fear AI, whose title indicates the one-sided, anti-Marxist approach taken by the authors towards the revolutionary advances associated with artificial intelligence (AI).

Written with the characteristic pessimism of the upper-middle class left, the piece wrings its hands over the growing integration of Silicon Valley with the fascist Republican wing of the American political establishment, only to offer tepid, reformist prescriptions that do nothing to address the root cause of the crisis: capitalism itself.

At no point does the article mention anything about the need to develop an independent movement in the working class, guided by Marxist principles, to prepare workers for the expropriation and nationalization of these tech conglomerates. In fact, the article entirely omits the terms working class, class struggle, exploitation, surplus value, revolution, expropriate and socialism, among other basic precepts of socialist politics.

The central argument of the Jacobin piece is that tech workers must somehow reclaim the industry from the clutches of billionaires and reactionary politicians. But reclaim it for whom? The articles proposed solutiona nostalgic appeal to the collective bargaining power of tech workersbetrays the class orientation of the DSA and its milieu. In reality, the history of Silicon Valley is one of deep ties to the US military-industrial complex, financial speculation and ruthless labor exploitation. It is delusional to assert that these corporations, which have amassed trillions of dollars by surveilling and exploiting workers across the globe, can somehow be pressured into moral enlightenment.

This kind of left criticism is typical of the DSA and its publications. Its aim is not to expose capitalism as a system that cannot be reformed, but to divert working class anger into the safe channels of the Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party, Big Tech and the capitalist state

Bemoaning the fact that Big Tech has increasingly aligned itself with Trumpian reaction, the article conceals the reality that Silicon Valley was built with the full backing of the Democratic Party. The authors write:

For a while, it seemed like the workers demands for equity and progressive change could be squared with capitals desire to increase its supply of capable workers. Back in the Obama years, Googles corporate motto was still Dont Be Evil, reflecting this sense that the drive for profit and progressive values could coexist.

In fact, the Obama administration oversaw the unbridled consolidation of corporate power within the technology sector, granting the major monopolies free rein to entrench their dominance over both the economy and the state.

It was under Obama that tech conglomerates vastly expanded their mass surveillance programs, in collaboration with the intelligence agencies, epitomized by the 2013 secret contract between the CIA and Amazon Web Services, a landmark moment in the fusion of Silicon Valley with the military-intelligence apparatus. This was accompanied by ever-deepening internet censorship by Google, Facebook, Twitter and the other tech monopolies, which above all targeted left-wing websites.

NSA headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland [Photo by Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs Office / CC BY 4.0

Obama also oversaw the creation of the US Digital Service in 2014, a development now bearing bitter fruit as Musk exploits the agency to staff DOGE, firing workers in the process.

At the same time, Obamas record was defined by ruthless attacks on those who sought to expose the crimes of American imperialism. His administration waged an unrelenting campaign against whistleblowers and journalists, including Edward Snowden, Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning, while driving Aaron Swartz to suicide in 2013. The myth of Obama as a progressive stands in stark contrast to the reality of his administration: an era of intensified state surveillance, corporate dominance, and imperialist criminality.

These processes only deepened during the first Trump administration and then under Biden, with Google playing a central role in aiding Israels genocidal assault on Gaza through Project Nimbus. Far from being a departure from the policies of its predecessors, the Biden administration represented their seamless continuation.

An analysis rooted in anti-Marxism

Jacobins analysis is defined by a refusal to acknowledge the fundamental nature of the capitalist state. The authors treat the turn toward fascism as an aberration rather than the inevitable result of deepening economic crisis and social inequality.

The growth of far-right tendencies within the ruling class is not merely a question of bad actors; it is a reflection of a social system in terminal crisis. The unity of Silicon Valley executives with Trump and his fascist movement is not simply about policy preferences, but class interests.

Blix and Glimmer repeatedly refer to a class compromise that until now has supposedly held sway in Silicon Valley, writing:

Alas, the support for H-1B visas may just be the swan song of that older unstable and uneasy class compromise, this constraining force on Silicon Valleys most reactionary tendencies, that is now fracturing.

Later on, referring to tech executives deploying AI to purge their workforce, they claim, And in their bet on AIs deskilling power, they are ready to break free from the class compromise that they clearly experienced not as peace but as a shackle.

This assertion that a class compromise previously governed Silicon Valley but has now unraveled under the pressures of a second Trump administration is a complete distortion of history.

The period of class compromise in the United States did not end in 2024 or with the rise of Trump, but with the offensive launched by the Reagan administration in the early 1980sa counterrevolution against the working class that continues to this day. The smashing of the PATCO strike in 1981 signaled an epochal shift: from this point onward, the American ruling class abandoned even limited compromise and pursued unrelenting class warfare against workers, with the full collaboration of the trade union bureaucracy.

The Reagan class-war offensive, it must be added, was prepared by the anti-working-class policies of the previous, Democratic, administration under Jimmy Carter, who unsuccessfully sought to force striking coal miners back to work with a Taft-Hartley injunction during their historic 111-day national coal strike in 1977-78.

The Jacobin article obfuscates the basic Marxist conceptions of labor and exploitation by treating skill as a commodity. It claims that when any commodity, including skills, is scarce and thus expensive, capitalists who depend on that commodity will try to increase its supply.

This formulation conflates labor and labor powera fundamental error from the standpoint of historical materialism. Marx demonstrated that labor itself is not a commodity, but rather the ability to labor, or labor power, is what workers sell to capitalists. Therefore, a skill is not itself a commodity, but rather a characteristic of a particular form of labor power that tends to endow it with a higher-than-average price on the labor market, i.e., a relatively higher wage.

Furthermore, the value of labor power is not determined by scarcity in the simplistic manner the article suggests, but by the socially necessary labor time required to reproduce this labor power.

The limited expansion of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, which the article cites as an example of capitalists responding to skill scarcity, is bound up with an objectively progressive development of the productive forces, which requires a development in the education and skill level of tech workers. Insofar as this remains within the confines of the historically outmoded and crisis-ridden profit system, however, this development is doomed to be turned by the ruling elite against the working class and the broad mass of the population.

For tech workers it means a corporate offensive to drive down wages and increase exploitation through the mass production of trained but disposable employees. This is the real content of the previous alliance between Silicon Valley and the Democratic Party, based not on an uneasy compromise, but on the shared aim of subordinating workers to the dictates of capital and the state.

The entire framework of the Jacobin article is designed to obscure the central reality of our time: that class struggle, not compromise, is the fundamental dynamic of capitalist society. The task of socialists is not to lament the end of a mythical class peace, but to arm workers with an understanding of their historical position in society and the revolutionary implications of their struggles.

Jacobin promotes the trade union bureaucracy

Jacobin, as always, seeks to prevent any revolutionary response by the working class, including tech workers. The magazine exists to contain social discontent within the framework of Democratic Party politics. In this framework, the piece by Blix and Glimmer presents the trade union bureaucracythoroughly integrated into the structures of corporate management and the capitalist stateas a potential counterforce to Big Tech. They specifically state their agreement with a 2024 Jacobin op-ed by Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers (UAW), writing:

First, tech workers tend to lean toward left and liberal political positionsjust as the working class in general is, in the words of United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain, the arsenal of democracy, and just as organizations of the working class have generally been the major historic driver of democratization.

This is a fraud. Parroting Biden, Fains invocation of the arsenal of democracy revives the World War II-era slogan of the unity of capital and labor in wartime, which has always been aimed at covering up the historic crimes of American imperialism in the interests of facilitating its modern-day wars and the genocide in Gaza. Fain explicitly stated that American workers should return to building aircraft carriers and tanks as they did in the 1940s.

Shawn Fain wearing a sweatshirt with a bomber logo in a recent livestream. [Photo: UAW]

Jacobins promotion of the union bureaucracies as organizations of the working class is a grotesque distortion. Increasingly, over decades, the nationalist union bureaucracies, whether in auto, rail, healthcare, education or tech, have functioned dutifully as enforcers of corporate demands, suppressing strikes, sabotaging struggles, and imposing sellout contracts. Today, under explosive conditions, they are doing everything in their power to stifle the class struggle and prevent any break with the capitalist two-party system.

Fain himself is the embodiment of these tendencies. Under Biden, Fain and the UAW bureaucracy suppressed all opposition among autoworkers and graduate students to the Gaza genocide. Fain headed up the fraudulent stand-up strike of 2023 that kept most of the Big Three plants open and imposed a sellout contract that paved the way for mass layoffs and plant closures. Now he has completely accommodated himself to Trumps fascist program, endorsing his tariff policies, which are leading to global trade war and ultimately world war, while doing nothing to mobilize opposition to the illegal detention of former UAW member Mahmoud Khalil.

The revolutionary potential of AI

A critical feature of the Jacobin piece is that the authors view AI solely through the lens of job loss, surveillance and corporate control. While these evils are real, this approach is one-sided. It presents AI entirely as an instrument of oppression, rather than a technological development thatunder the control of the international working classcould serve as a powerful tool for the abolition of wage labor and the rational planning of production.

The authors write that the tech oligarchs are hoping that AI will help them to massively deskill their own workforce and myriad workers beyond that. They add, Certainly, Big Tech seems dead set on making this bet on wage suppression through AI.

Ignoring the increasing sophistication of the most advanced large language models (LLMs) and associated AI tools, they write stupidly, But even if these models will forever remain crappy alternatives to competent humans, they may still prove their worth in lowering wages.

The working class cannot afford to adopt the fatalistic attitude of Jacobin, which sees technological progress as an existential threat while omitting its revolutionary potential.

As with all technologies, AI is not, in and of itself, the enemy. Its use is determined by the class that controls it. In the hands of capitalist oligarchs, AI is deployed to maximize profit, speed up automation, impose mass layoffs and expand surveillance. But under the democratic control of the working class, AI could help eliminate drudgery, reduce the work day and expand leisure time for the masses, vastly expand access to knowledge, and lay the foundation for a planned socialist economy based on human need rather than private profit.

A reflection of middle-class interests

What is Jacobins real social base? Its political outlook is rooted in a privileged layer of the upper middle classacademics, NGO operatives, professionals, and aspiring union bureaucrats and Democratic Party politicianswho are not opposed to capitalism but merely seek a more comfortable position within it.

Their greatest fear is not the rise of fascism but the emergence of an independent movement of the working class. Hence their relentless efforts to tie workers to the Democratic Party.

A genuine fight against the growing alliance between Silicon Valley and the far-right cannot be waged through the Democratic Party or its pseudo-left satellites. The working class must build its own independent organizations of strugglerank-and-file committees in workplaces and neighborhoodsto unite across industries and national borders, a movement that is spearheaded by the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC).

This is the urgent task facing tech workers, who, despite their often specialized skills and relatively higher wages, are not a separate social force, but an integral component of the present-day international working class. The exploitation of tech workers through the relentless drive for automation, now accelerated by AI, has produced mass layoffs affecting over 500,000 workers globally since 2023. This stems from the same fundamental contradictions of capitalism that confront all workers.

The task is not to reform Big Tech, but to expropriate the vast wealth of the corporate-financial oligarchy and nationalize these major corporations, placing the vast and potentially liberating resources of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and automation under the democratic control of the working class.

The Marxist movement has always understood that technology is shaped by the mode of production under which it develops. The fundamental question is which class will control this technology: the capitalist ruling elite, which seeks to use it to erect a fascist dictatorship, or the working class, which must employ it as part of the struggle for world socialism.

The struggle over AI, like the broader class struggle itself, will not be resolved within the confines of capitalist politics. It requires an independent, revolutionary movement of the working class, led by a socialist party that is not beholden to the interests of the ruling class. The only party building such a movement is the International Committee of the Fourth International, which alone fights to arm the working class with the program of international socialist revolution.
Kerala ASHA strikers demonstrating on International Womens Day [Photo: Bombay Rosie/Instagram]

Some 26,000 rural public health workers in Kerala have been on strike since February 9 to press their demands that the state government, led by the Stalinist Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM, provide them a living wage and, on retirement, a rudimentary pension.

Popularly known as ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers, the rural public health workers provide frontline public health services in rural areas where there are few if any doctors, and no hospitals or other health care facilities.

Nationally there are more than a million rural ASHA workers, the overwhelming majority of them women. All are extremely poorly paid, although they perform vital functions, including providing vaccinations and advice on nutrition and family planning and help in monitoring pregnancies. Due to the absence of health facilities and personnel, they are also often compelled to provide preliminary medical diagnoses.

Although the ASHA workers are treated abysmally by Indian authorities, they have at times been lauded by the media and government officials as frontline warriors, because of their role in combatting major health crisesabove all the COVID-19 pandemicbut also outbreaks of the Nipah virus and dengue, and disasters like last years landslide in Keralas Wayanad district.

The Kerala ASHA workers strike has won widespread support, with workers, along with prominent artists and intellectuals, voicing their support.

The CPM-led state government, meanwhile, has responded with smears and is now threatening to hire 1,500 apprentice health workers in a bid to break the strike.

Currently, the Kerala ASHA workers receive a monthly stipend of just 7,000 rupees (US$80), and a further 3,000 rupees in allowances. All told, this amounts to compensation of roughly 420 rupees, or $4.80, per workday.

The striking workers primary demands are for a monthly wage of 21,000 rupees, permanent employment and retirement compensation of 500,000 rupees. Their salaries have stagnated in recent years, even as prices for food, energy and other essentials have spiked.

The strike is being led by the Kerala Health Workers Association (KHWA), which claims to be an independent union. The union has received support and, no doubt, advice from both the Congress Party, the official opposition in the state legislature, and the Stalinist Communist Party of India (CPI), which is itself a junior partner in Keralas CPM-led Left Democratic Front government.

By posturing as supporters of the strike, the Congress and CPI are trying to make political capital at the CPMs expense, while working to ensure that the ASHA workers struggle is kept under the KHWAs control and within the confines of establishment politics and pathetic appeals to the CPM to be more reasonable.

Of Indias 28 states, Kerala is currently the only one to have a purportedly left, CPM-led government. While the CPM claims to prioritize people over profit, it and the CPI have for decades functioned as an integral part of the Indian political establishment. In the states where they have held officeKerala, West Bengal and Tripurathey have implemented what they themselves call pro-investor policies. Nationally, over the past three decades, they have supported, in the name of opposing the far-right Hindu BJP, a succession of right-wing governments that imposed the bourgeoisies neo-liberal agenda and forged a strategic partnership with US imperialism.

Leaders of the CPM-affiliated Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the CPM have harshly denounced the striking ASHA workers. They have accused them of being anarchists and seeking to spread the strike infection among workers.

Seeking to isolate and browbeat the strikers, Kerala Health Minister and CPM leader Veena George has asserted that Keralas ASHA workers are the highest paid in the countryimplying that they should be content with a monthly stipend that leaves them mired in poverty.

The CPM Stalinists are also using the phony statements that the opposition parties, including the Hindu supremacist BJP, have made in support of the strike in an effort to discredit the ASHA workers struggle. They are smearing the strike as an opposition plot to destabilize Indias only left government.

These are transparent lies.

The Stalinist CPM is attacking the ASHA workers because they fear their militant struggle could become a catalyst for a broader movement of the working class. Such a movement would undercut the efforts of Kerala Chief Minister and CPM Politburo Member Pinarayi Vijayan to woo global investors by promoting Kerala as a haven for cheap-labour production.

In late February, Vijayan hosted a two-day Invest in Kerala Global Summit, which attracted more than 3,000 delegates and reportedly garnered investment pledges of over 1.5 trillion rupees ($17.2 billion) from as many as 374 companies, both foreign and domestic. Prior to and during this summit the LDF government promised to enhance the ease of doing business, a euphemism for gutting environmental and other regulations. Vijayan is also seeking to sell off public assets, by adopting a public-private partnership (PPP) model for state-owned enterprises, including the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) that provides relatively low-priced inter-town bus service for villagers and lower-income city dwellers.

If they are to prevail in their struggle, the ASHA workers need to take it into their own hands and out of those of the establishment-aligned KHWA union officials. They also urgently need to broaden it, by fighting to make their struggle the spearhead of a working class mobilization against the evisceration and privatization of public services, the proliferation of contract labour, and the slashing of social supports.

The KHWA leadership is adamantly opposed to mobilizing the strong support for the strike among workers and the rural poor, as well as sections of the middle class, as indicated by the messages of support from the award-winning novelist Arundhati Roy, actress Kani Kashruti and Malayalam writer P. Geetha.

The KHWA has made no attempt to spread the strike to ASHA workers in other states, or to tie it to a broader working class challenge to the deplorable state of public healthcare. For decades, under both Congress Party and BJP-led national governments, the Indian state at all levels has spent no more than 2 percent of GDP on healthcarethat is, generally less than what it funnels into its massive nuclear-armed military.

On March 8, International Womens Day, the union organized a token protest outside the state government Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, Keralas capital. The KHWA is now calling for a larger protest at the same venue on Monday, March 17, which will mark the strikes 36th day. However, its aim is not to mobilize broader working class support, but rather to maintain control over an increasingly restless rank and file.

The striking ASHA workers should form rank-and-file committees independent of the KHWA union apparatus, its Congress Party and Stalinist CPI allies, and all representatives of the rival capitalist parties and their trade union lackeys.

Workers can only assert their class interests and mobilize their social power insofar as they break free of the entire capitalist political establishment, and consciously repudiate its various reactionary nationalist, communalist and ethno-regionalist appeals.

Even as the CPM and Congress Party trade accusations against each other in Kerala, they are working together on the national stage to tie the mounting social anger against the Narendra Modi-led BJP government to the opposition INDIA alliance. Led by the Congress Party and including a wing of the fascistic Shiv Sena, the INDIA alliance aims to replace the current government with one no less committed to big business policies and the India-US anti-China Global Strategic Partnership.

A critical task of an ASHA workers rank-and-file committee would be to broaden the struggle, seeking to mobilize support from and develop a working class counter-offensive, involving all workers, public and private sector alike, in Kerala and across India. This should include direct appeals to ASHA workers across India for a joint struggle for permanent jobs and common terms of employmentincluding a 21,000 rupee minimum monthly salaryfor all, and a vast infusion of state funds into expanding public health care, through the seizure of the ill-gotten wealth of the Ambanis, Adanis and other billionaires. It should also include forging fighting ties with healthcare and other workers around the world through the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC).
Since the start of 2023, the big story on Wall Street has been technology. The boring consumer staples sector has lagged far behind both the tech sector and the broader S&P 500 index (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) over the past three to five years. Since the start of 2024, however, there's been a shift in the mood on Wall Street, with investors moving back toward boring, conservative investment choices. That's boosted consumer staples companies across the board.

However, there are two Dividend Kings that are still trailing their peers and, potentially, offering long-term dividend investors a lot of opportunity.

What's so special about consumer staples stocks?

Technology stocks are largely a growth story, with the hot theme right now being artificial intelligence (AI). That's all well and good, but hot investment themes generally lead to extended valuations. And when investors turn cautious, those valuations can compress quite quickly. It looks like that is what has happened over the past month or so, with a steep drop in the technology sector dragging the S&P 500 index lower.

During periods like this, investors often shift toward more conservative investments, like stocks in the consumer staples sector. Consumer staples are, basically, products that people buy on a regular basis even if the economy has fallen into a recession. Think toilet paper, toothpaste, and food. You might be able to put off the purchase of Apple's next iPhone, but you can't stop buying Procter & Gamble's bathroom tissue, Unilever's toothpaste, or General Mills' soups and cereals.

Basically, the consumer staples sector is filled with reliable and slow-growing companies. Two that are worth looking at right now are Dividend Kings PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) and Hormel Foods (NYSE: HRL). Both have lagged behind the broader consumer staples space and offer historically high dividend yields today.

What's wrong with PepsiCo?

From a business perspective, there's nothing wrong with PepsiCo. It managed to grow organic sales by 2% in 2024 and adjusted earnings increased by 9%. Those are solid numbers in the consumer staples space. Looking out to 2025, management projects low single-digit organic sales growth and mid-single-digit adjusted earnings growth, also solid numbers.

But 2024 and 2025 are both slower than what PepsiCo achieved when it was able to push through large price increases thanks to the inflation coming out of the worst parts of the coronavirus pandemic. The slowdown led some investors to abandon the company's stock, which still trades off by around 20% from its most recent peak. It also offers a historically high 3.5% dividend yield.
Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, has taken pole position within the trade union bureaucracy in advocating for the Labour governments militarist agenda.

Graham welcomed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmers February 25 announcement in Parliament of an increase in military spending from 2.3 percent to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027 through diverting 6 billion from overseas aid. This was rushed through before Starmers visit to the White House to reassure President Donald Trump of Britains continued role as a junior partner of US imperialism.

Unite leader Sharon Graham speaking at a Trades Union Congress rally in London on June 18, 2022

Starmers hike was greeted with an unprecedented show of unanimity with the Conservatives, with the caveat that it was only a down payment. Rather than alerting the working class to the dangers posed by the nationalist war frenzy gripping the British ruling class, Graham joined in.

Whilst we welcome the increase in defence spending to 2.5 percent and the PMs promise around investment, growth, jobs and skills, this needs to be matched with action, she insisted. There is an immediate decision to be made on the replacement of aging RAF [Royal Air Force] fighter jets with British made Typhoons. This decision needs to made [sic] in the UKs favour.

Any thought of wooing Donald Trump by selling our defence jobs abroad and replacing the RAF fleet with US made F35s will be resisted and would be an act of self-harm.

Grahams remarks were delivered on February 26 at a Unite lobby of Parliament to demand the government purchase Typhoon fighter jets and sign a contract for a new medium-lift army and RAF helicopter that is to be produced by Leonardo in Yeovil, in order to back Britain.

Grahams statement mirrors Trumps economic nationalism and militarism. Unites US counterparts such as United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain are fully lined up behind Trumps tariff measures, pitting workers against each other in a trade war at the expense of jobs and living standards.

Grahams claim that support for the arms industry is based on national security and the defence of manufacturing jobs is a lie. Unite, one of the largest trade unions in the UK and Irelandwith over a million membershas colluded with the Labour government since it came into office last July to ram through mass job losses in key industries.

The suppression of industrial action at Tata Steel in Port Talbot, South Wales followed the veto of a strike mandate and paved the way for 2,800 job losses.

At the Vauxhall van plant in Luton facing closure in April with the direct loss of 1,200 jobs, Unite blocked any action with Vauxhall workers at Ellesmere Port from day one. The livelihoods of workers in these sectors are deemed expendable in pursuit of the corporate bottom line, so long as Unite are partners in the redundancy programme.

Unite on March 8 issued another statement, couched as an appeal to the government to rethink its cuts to overseas aidbut only to double down on the demand for additional military expenditure: Unite has welcomed the increase in defence spending and supports a further increase to three percent as soon as possible.

The Labour government knows it will encounter mass opposition within the working class over its rearmament program being funded through an assault social spending and the National Health Service, surpassing anything under the Tories. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has earmarked 6 billion worth of cuts to welfare benefits in the upcoming Spring Statement, with the disabled and sick vilified as a scourge on society.

Starmer is turning to his bureaucratic partners in the trade unions to suppress the class struggle in the name of national unity. The government has already handed over the keys of Royal Mail to the oligarch Daniel Kretinsky and is working with Dave Ward of the Communication Workers Union to block opposition from postal workers to the takeover and dismantling of the mail service.

The position of Graham is not the exception, especially among trade union leaders directly connected to the industrial military complex such as the GMB. The 2022 annual meeting of the Trades Union Congress saw a GMB motion backed by Unite that supports affiliated campaigns for immediate increases in defence spending in the UK. The GMB hailed contracts for the building of a new range of nuclear submarines through the AUKUS military pact against China.

Invocations of national security and the prioritisation of defence jobs are meant to delegitimise opposition to war. This has found its most grotesque expression in Grahams hostility to any industrial action by Unite members to halt British arms supplies to Israel during its genocidal war against the Palestinians in Gaza.

Graham suspended Unites affiliation to the Stop the War Coalition (STWC) in February citing protests outside BAE Systems sites which produces arms components sold to Israel. BAE Systems produces 15 percent of the parts for the F35 Lockhead Martin stealth combat aircraft that have rained down death on Gaza.

The defence by Starmer of the genocidal methods employed by Israel against the Palestinians as acts of self-defence has not stood in the way of Graham continuing to hand over 1.7 million of her members dues to the Labour Party between October 2023 and September 2024, as the Skwawkbox website points out.

A WSWS article last April explained that Unite was bitterly hostile to any action by workers that would cut across its long-established corporatist relationsalongside the GMB and Prospect unionswith BAE Systems. Through the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering, the three unions enjoy full-time convenors paid for by the company and are part of the Corporate Consultative Committee, working together on shared interests regarding ethical issues, financial performance and political issues.

Based on reports by Skwawkbox, the article also reviewed the methods used by Graham to witch-hunt union members calling for industrial action to boycott arms supplies, and her defiance of policies adopted by the membership at conference such as support for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel. This included banning union executive members from marching under Unite banners at national Gaza protests.

An email from Graham denounced actions that actively work against our members and their jobs by groups that look to build networks inside trade unions to undermine the defence industry or demand the disbandment of NATO and AUKUS (the Australian, British and US military alliance against China). Whatever anyone may think personally about those objectives these are irrelevant.

It is worth noting that while Graham has opposed any industrial action to stop the genocide in Gaza, the opposite is true in regard to NATOs proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. She personally backed unofficial action at British ports to block the unloading of oil and gas from Russian tankers.

The emergence of Graham as an advocate for a wartime economy and partner of the Starmer government is an indictment of the pseudo-left groups such as the Socialist Workers Party and Socialist Party. They hailed the election of this seasoned union bureaucrat as general secretary in August 2021 as a game changer in a supposed rejuvenation of the trade unions, in opposition to the development of a rank-and-file movement against the union bureaucracy.

Grahams brand of non-political trade unionism was always aimed squarely at securing corporatist relations with the employers and the government. Her playbook has been to ensure that strikes within critical branches of industry do not break out of locally sanctioned action, based on a leverage campaign to win a seat at the corporate table by selling out wage demands and agreeing cuts to jobs, terms and conditions.

The fight against austerity and war means the working class mobilising its strength as part of a unified socialist struggle of workers across Europe and internationally, against the rule of the financial oligarchy and to put an end to social inequality and war. This perspective can be fought for through the building of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees.
Timothy McCree Johnson's parents Melissa Johnson, center, and Timothy Walker, left, address reporters along with attorney Carl Crews, right, outside Fairfax County Police headquarters, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Fairfax, Virginia after viewing police body camera video of their son's shooting death at the hands of police. [AP Photo/Matthew Barakat]

On March 2, Republican Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin commuted the sentence of a former Fairfax County police sergeant Wesley Shifflett, who fatally shot an unarmed man suspected of shoplifting sunglasses in 2023.

The victim, 37-year old Timothy Johnson, was suspected of shoplifting, a nonviolent misdemeanor, from a Nordstrom store at Tysons Corner Mall in Northern Virginia. Shifflett was given a wrist-slap sentence of three years for the crime of recklessly handling a firearm only two days before the sentence was tossed out.

After commuting the officers sentence, Youngkin said in a statement: I am convinced that the courts sentence of incarceration is unjust and violates the cornerstone of our justice systemthat similarly situated individuals receive proportionate sentences.

For law enforcement, this tells them theyve got a governor who has their back, said Caleb Kershner, Shiffletts attorney. During Shiffletts trial, Kershner advanced the claim that police should be given the right to shoot first and ask questions after: A police officer is authorizedand trainedto use lethal force when he reasonably believes that he is in jeopardy of serious bodily harm or death. And that is exactly what happened in this incident.

The prosecutor in Shifflets trial, Steve Descano, denounced Youngkins decision, stating, This is an insult to all Virginians who value an untainted justice system. The shooting was more accurately called an execution by Johnsons family attorney, Carl Crews, who said, He could have been apprehended without a shot being fired. There were several police officers present. This could have been done.

Shifflett and two other officers pursued Johnson through a parking garage and later the woods. Both Shifflett and another officer shot at Johnson, with one bullet hitting him in the torso and eventually killing him. Audio of the incident shows the horrific moments before Johnsons execution, who screams as Shifflett aims his gun that he was not reaching for nothing. I dont have nothing.

Youngkin narrowly won Virginias gubernatorial race in 2021. He ran on a thoroughly reactionary platform, opposing limited public health measures to combat COVID-19 and the teaching of critical race theory in schools. He also campaigned on a ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

During his State of the Commonwealth speech in January to the General Assembly, Youngkin called for tax cuts and dismantling the states environmental laws. He endorsed Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election.

Youngkin has supported President Trumps ongoing assault on federal workers jobs. He and other Republican governors signed a letter stating that the federal government needs to be cut down to size. We stand ready to help. Virginia had the second most federal workers in the country before the mass firings.

Youngkins clemency for Shifflett is part of a larger nationwide pattern. In January, Trump pardoned two D.C. officers who were convicted and suspended for their roles in the death in a car chase of 20-year old Karon Hylton-Brown. The two officers, Terence Sutton and Andrew Zabavsky, were sentenced in 2023 to four and five-and-a-half years in prison, respectively. On March 3, they were both reinstated to full police duties, according to the department.

Trump has also pardoned or commuted the sentences of all individuals who stormed the Capitol building on January 6, 2021 in support of his attempt to overturn Joe Bidens election as president in 2020. He has absurdly framed the rioters as hostages who are in reality his fascist shock troops.

On Monday, the Washington Post reported several pardoned rioters have successfully sought to extend the sway of their pardons to include the dismissal of charges unrelated to their participation in the January 6 coup attempt. This occurred even as federal authorities found vast amounts of drugs and weapons in their possession in some cases.

The police fatally shot 1,164 people in 2023, the most recent year for which reliable numbers are available. This is an increase from 1,097 the year before. The number of killings by police has continued to climb during both Democratic and Republican administrations.

During his time in office, President Biden increased funding for police departments across the country, after cynically exploiting the popular outrage surrounding the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. He later stated in 2022, The answer is not to defund.

The Republican Partys unabashed support for police departments across the country is in line with Trumps efforts to establish a presidential dictatorship.
Palestinians walk amid the rubble of destroyed homes and buildings in Jabaliya, northern Gaza Strip on Friday, March 14, 2025. [AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi]

The US and Israeli governments have opened up discussions with officials from Sudan, Somalia and the internationally unrecognized breakaway Somaliland over the mass expulsion of Palestinians in Gaza and their forcible relocation to those countries.

The talks were first reported by the Associated Press (AP) Friday and separately confirmed in a report in the Financial Times.

The ongoing discussions mirror the Madagascar Plan, the proposal by officials of Nazi Germany to resettle Europes Jews to Madagascar, the then-French island colony just off Africas southeast coast. The plan marked a key transition point to the Holocaust, in which the leaders of Nazi Germany carried out the mass extermination of the Jews instead of merely deporting them.

Somalia has one of the lowest Human Development Index rankings in the world, with widespread poverty, food insecurity and lack of access to healthcare and education. Sudan has experienced decades of civil war, triggering ethnic killings, sexual violence and mass displacement affecting millions of people.

The AP reported that The contacts with Sudan, Somalia and the breakaway region of Somalia known as Somaliland reflect the determination by the US and Israel to press ahead with Trumps plan to ethnically cleanse Gaza.

Asked to comment on the revelations by the AP, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel was building a very large emigration department within the Ministry of Defense.

In February, Trump announced his plan to ethnically cleanse and annex Gaza for the United States. Were going to have Gaza, Trump said. We dont have to buy. Theres nothing to buy. We will have Gaza. ... Were going to take it, Trump said on February 11.

The AP reported that separate outreach efforts by the United States and Israel to the three potential destinations began last month, shortly after Trump and Netanyahu introduced the Gaza plan. The officials also noted that Israel was primarily leading these discussions.

The AP reported:

Two Sudanese officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive diplomatic matter, confirmed that the Trump administration has approached the military-led government about accepting Palestinians. One of them said the contacts began even before Trumps inauguration with offers of military assistance.

Trumps plan to displace the people of Gaza is a flagrant violation of the prohibition under the Fourth Geneva Convention of the forcible transfer of civilians during armed conflicts. And his plan to steal their land violates the 1970 United Nations treaty, ratified by the United States, which stipulates that The territory of a State shall not be the object of acquisition by another State resulting from the threat or use of force.

Michele Zaccheo, a UN spokesperson in Geneva, responded to the APs report by saying:

Any plan that could or would lead to the forced displacement of people or any type of ethnic cleansing is something that we would obviously be against, as it is against international law.

Last weekend, Finance Minister Smotrich said the Israeli government was 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 and defense minister, he said.

Endorsing Trumps proposal for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, 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.

The ongoing preparations for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza take place as Israel continues its total blockade of food, water and electricity into Gaza, which is aimed at either starving the population of Gaza to death or forcing it to relocate through famine. For 13 days, no food or water has entered Gaza, and food insecurity and starvation are spreading.

Gazas government media office reported that 80 percent of its citizens have lost access to food sources, and 90 percent of the population is without reliable access to clean water. A quarter of Gazas remaining bakeries have been forced to shut down due to shortages of supplies, while others are on the verge of closing. The office reported that 150,000 people are suffering from either chronic disease or war wounds and are facing major shortages of medical supplies.

Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told Al Jazeera that there is fear, alarm and concern that supplies are running out.

She continued, The water and sanitation situation was already dire with most of the facilities destroyed during the months of fighting. She added that the Israeli cutoff of electricity to Gaza reduces access to drinking water to about 600,000 people.

On Thursday, the UNs Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the Occupied Palestinian Territory accused Israel of genocidal acts targeting the reproductive rights of Palestinians. The report was the first time that a UN committee officially and formally asserted that Israel has committed genocidal acts.

The commission declared:

Israeli authorities have destroyed in part the reproductive capacity of the Palestinians in Gaza as a group, including by imposing measures intended to prevent births, one of the categories of genocidal acts in the Rome Statute and the Genocide Convention.

The report explained:

Sexual and reproductive healthcare facilities have been systematically destroyed across Gaza, including maternity hospitals and maternity wards of hospitals and Gazas main in-vitro fertility clinic.

The mounting evidence of Israels plans to ethnically cleanse Gaza and systematically exterminate the Palestinian population only underscores the criminality of the drive by the Trump administration to persecute opponents of the Gaza genocide, including Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, who was arrested this week and is being held incommunicado and facing deportation for opposing the Gaza genocide.
Join the upcoming online meeting of the Educators Rank-and-File Committee (US), Free Mahmoud Khalil! Mobilize the working class against Trumps dictatorship! Defend the right to public education! on Saturday, March 15, at 12:00 p.m. EDT. Register here.

Protestors gather during a demonstration at the headquarters of the Department of Education, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein]

Trumps national school voucher proposal represents an unprecedented diversion of public funds into private hands. It is part of an overall plan to dismantle the right to public education, being spearheaded through the destruction of the Department of Education.

The plan offers a 100 percent federal tax credit for donations to school voucher programs, creating the largest tax incentive for any charitable contribution in US history.

The school voucher proposal being promoted by Congressional Republicans is not about expanding educational opportunities but about funneling billions of public dollars into private hands while creating a tax shelter for the ultra-wealthy. This scheme is a backdoor maneuver to privatize education while allowing corporations and wealthy individuals to avoid taxation.

The plan offers a 100 percent federal tax credit for donations to school voucher programs, meaning that every dollar contributed is fully reimbursed by the government. This ensures that public education funding is directly converted into subsidies for private institutions and homeschoolers.

The federal government would effectively be funding a parallel private education system, draining billions from public schools. Unlike tax deductions, which merely reduce taxable income, this program ensures that every dollar donated to private school scholarships is fully reimbursed by the federal government.

The policy does not simply divert resources from public schools; it actively redistributes wealth upward, allowing high-income earners to exploit tax loopholes while working class families are left with underfunded public schools.

The voucher system would double as a tax shelter for the ultra-rich. The plan allows for donations of stock instead of cash. Donors avoid capital gains taxes when stocks increase in price, then receive a tax credit for the full amount of the stock price come tax time.

According to the Washington Post analysis, this loophole could cost the government an estimated $134 billion over 10 years, further deepening economic inequality by depleting federal funds that would have otherwise paid for public educationespecially for those serving low-income communities.

This corporate welfare masquerading as school choice will not improve education for working class families. It will simply allow the elite to extract even more wealth from the public sector.

One version of the proposal would cost the federal government $5 billion per year, enough to fund about 500,000 private school vouchers at $10,000 per student. Another version, at $10 billion annually, would expand eligibility to higher income families, extending federal subsidies to those earning up to three times the area median income. For example, families making over $450,000 in some districts would qualify.

The push for school vouchers has deep historical ties to reactionary efforts to resist public school integration following the Supreme Courts 1954 landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, which ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the separate but equal doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and mandating desegregation of schools across the country.

In response to federal desegregation mandates, states introduced early forms of school vouchers to allow white families to withdraw from integrated schools and attend private segregation academies using public funds.

One of the most infamous examples occurred in Prince Edward County, Virginia, where officials shut down the entire public school system in 1959 rather than allow black students to integrate. White families were given publicly funded tuition grantsearly school vouchersto attend all-white private academies, while black students were left without access to formal education.

In the late 1950s, white segregationists in states like Virginia and Alabama developed tuition grantsearly versions of school vouchersto allow white students to attend newly created private segregation academies, funded by taxpayer money. These schools maintained racial exclusion while public schools were left to integrate.

This segregationist strategy was later refined into a broader economic ideology by Milton Friedman, the libertarian economist who helped bring about the overthrow of democratically elected governments and advised authoritarian regimes, including the Chilean dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Friedman introduced the concept of school choice in 1955.

Friedman argued that competition between public and private schools would improve education quality, a theory that ignored the historical and systemic inequalities in American schooling. His free market ideas were instrumental in the drive to defund public schools and undermine teachers unions.

In Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee successfully pushed through a sweeping voucher expansion bill, making it one of 16 states with near-universal voucher access. Despite fierce opposition from educators, parents and local officials, the bill was passed using political coercion and financial incentives in January.

A key strategy involved tying a $2,000 teacher bonus to school board approval of the voucher program. Local school boards were forced to opt into the legislation or risk being blamed for denying educators a much-needed pay increase. The bills passage was further secured by threats from the conservative Club for Growth, which warned Republican lawmakers they would face well-funded primary challengers if they opposed the plan.

Of the 162 schools that have opted into the voucher program, the majority are religious institutions, reinforcing concerns that public funds are being redirected into sectarian and unregulated education systems. Unlike public schools, these institutions can reject students based on religious beliefs, disabilities or academic performance, exacerbating inequalities rather than providing meaningful choice.

The anti-immigrant policies of the Trump administration are a continuation of a longstanding xenophobic legacy within the school choice agenda. Tennessees voucher program excludes undocumented immigrants.

Further, proposed legislation in the state would allow public schools to deny enrollment to undocumented children.

Currently, Oklahoma is seeking a legal pathway to challenge Plyler v. Doe (1983), which guarantees undocumented immigrant children the right to enroll in public schools, by leveraging Trumps executive order banning federal funds for undocumented immigrants. Both states exemplify a broader right-wing effort to erode public education and scapegoat immigrant communities to justify privatization policies.

Trumps national voucher push represents a direct attack on public education and social equality. These policies are designed to benefit the wealthy, defund public institutions and exclude marginalized communities, all while being framed as school choice.

In its recent Perspective, the WSWS noted:

The working class did not receive public education as a giftit fought for it. However, as American capitalism has plunged into crisis, waged endless wars and fostered skyrocketing social inequalityespecially over the past three decadesboth corporate-controlled parties have systematically defunded public education.

The fight for public education is inseparable from the broader struggle against inequality and the dismantling of democratic rights.

The working class must mobilize against this assault by forming independent rank-and-file committees to organize mass opposition to school vouchers, budget cuts and the privatization of education. Educators, parents and students must demand the full funding and expansion of public education as a fundamental social right, rejecting the false promises of school choice.
Members of Columbia University's student workers union and their supporters protest the detention of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil and recent actions taken by the Trump administration against the university, Friday, March 14, 2025, in New York. [AP Photo/Jason DeCrow]

On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it had arrested a second student at Columbia University for speaking out and protesting against the ongoing US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza, which has officially killed over 47,000 Palestinians, the majority being women and children.

The agency said that Leqaa Korida, a Palestinian from the West Bank, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) after allegedly overstaying her F-1 student visa. DHS claims that the visa was terminated on January 26, 2022 and that Korida had been arrested while participating in the April 2024 protests at Columbia university.

The latest arrest follows last Saturdays kidnapping of Mahmoud Khalil, a 30-year-old graduate student at Columbia and green card holder. Khalil was taken by DHS thugs who quickly whisked him over 1,300 miles away to a private detention facility in Louisiana, separating him from his American wife who is eight months pregnant with their child.

On April 17, 2024, students at Columbia University established the Gaza Solidarity Encampment, which called on the university to divest from companies linked to the Israeli government and military. The encampment movement spread to over 120 universities in the US and internationally, with thousands of students and teachers participating in the protests.

In the subsequent weeks, hundreds of students peacefully occupied Columbias Hamilton Hall, renaming it Hinds Hall in honor of six-year-old Hind Rijab, one of the thousands of children murdered by the Israeli military in the last 18 months of carnage.

Despite the overwhelmingly peaceful character of the student protest, the New York Police Department, under orders from the Biden administration and former cop Mayor Eric Adams, conducted mass raids on the encampment, arresting hundreds of students. This crackdown was extended to encampments across the country.

In the same statement announcing Koridas arrest, the DHS announced that it had revoked the visa of another student at Columbia, Ranjani Srinivasan, a citizen of India, for being involved in activities supporting Hammas [sic], a terrorist organization.

The DHS has provided zero evidence that Srinivasan was in contact with or provided any material support to Hamas. According to the agency, after having his visa revoked the student used the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App to self-deport on March 11. Ginning up fascists and Zionists, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted footage obtained from an airport security camera allegedly showing Srinivasan leaving the country.

Noem captioned the footage: When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked and you should not be in this country. Im glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathizers use the CBP Home app to self deport.

On Friday, lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing Khalil, released video footage from the arrest last week. In the video, plain-clothed DHS thugs refuse to provide their names, agency or a warrant to Khalil or his wife.

The government agents put Khalil in handcuffs despite the fact he obeyed all their commands and posed no threat to the agents. In the video, Khalils wife repeatedly asks for the agents to identify themselves, only to be told, We dont provide names.

Khalil is still incarcerated at an immigrant detention center in Jena, Louisiana while his case continues to be heard by US District Judge Jesse Furman in New York. Furman has temporarily barred Khalils deportation pending further court action slated to take place next week.



Khalils kidnapping and ongoing detention have provoked mass outrage in the United States and internationally.

On Friday, hundreds of students and community members protested on the Columbia campus calling for Khalils release and an end to US support for Israel.

In Ann Arbor, Michigan over 100 protesters marched to the home of University of Michigan President Santa Ono and demanded the college stop cooperating with immigration police.

Protesters in Ann Arbor, Michigan hold a banner that calls for Mahmoud Kahlil's release and ICE off campus, March 14, 2025.

Underscoring that the recent attacks against immigrants and the First Amendment are part of a concerted effort by the Trump administration, and ruling class as a whole, to suppress and criminalize any opposition to US foreign policy and war crimes, in an extraordinary press conference Friday, Trumps Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche claimed that students protesting against the genocide may have violated federal terrorism laws and that the Department of Justice would pursue investigations against students and schools.

Under the guise of combating antisemitism, Blanche claimed that the Trump administration, full of fascists and neo-Nazis, would no longer stand by while universities tolerate and facilitate antisemitism and support of terrorism on their campuses.

Blanche hailed the kidnapping of Khalil, boasting that the DoJs recent actions at Columbia University are part of the administrations mission to end antisemitism in this country.

A protester in Ann Arbor, Michigan holds a sign that reads: "If you were ever curious about what you would have done if you lived in 1930s Germany... You're doing it now."

He accused Columbia of harboring and concealing illegal aliens on campus and promised an ongoing investigation into the universitys handling of earlier incidents, which he said may have violated civil rights laws and included terrorism crimes.

In a statement to the Guardian on Friday, Daniel Levy, spokesperson for Betar US, a far-right Zionist organization, confirmed that the organization had submitted thousands of names of students and faculty to the Trump administration for possible deportation for the crime of participating in protests against the Israeli genocide.

In opposition to the Trump administrations attacks on free speechwhich have gone virtually unmentioned by the Democratic Partyon Saturday, teachers and students with the Educators Rank-and-File Committee will be holding an online meeting aimed at organizing the working class in defense of democratic rights.

All those eager to fight for free speech and against fascism should attend Saturdays online meeting, titled, Free Mahmoud Kahlil! Click here to register for the online meeting.
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) calls on the working class in Sri Lanka to politically organise to fight the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-dictated austerity measures of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National Peoples Power ((JVP/NPP) government.

The 2025 budget presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in parliament on February 17 marks an intensification of the war on the living conditions of millions of workers and rural masses. It was a budget prepared under the scrutiny of the IMFs managing directors.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivering his budget speech in parliament [Photo: X/Anura Kumara Dissanayake]

Dissanayake pledged to international capital and big business that his government would implement the IMF austerity program completely. He had lied to working people during last years elections that he would renegotiate the austerity program so that they would get relief.

President Dissanayake and his government have begun carrying out the IMF and big business agenda. This program is mainly directed at putting the burden of economic crisis on the backs of the masses and extracting revenue to restart the large debt repayments halted by Colombo amid the 2022 economic collapse.

What are the newly announced attacks?

The budget slashed the allowances of state employees while offering only a small wage increase. As real wages have declined, these allowances, won in past struggles, have been an essential income support to maintain living conditions. Other measures such as a property tax will be implemented next year.

State sector restructuring including of state-owned enterprises (SOE) will take place by establishing a State Holding Company which will pave the way for public-private ownership and privatisation. Dismantling the public sector is a key IMF demand to allow international investors to exploit labour and other resources. More than half a million jobs will be destroyed and wages slashed resulting in intensified exploitation and pushing working people further into poverty.

Industrial zones will be established under the cover of a new investment act, which will protect investments and ensure profit reparation.

Workers are starting to resist but the trade union are scuttling these struggles

In recent weeks, about 13,000 non-academic workers have held lunch-time protests.

Around 100,000 health employees including doctors, nurses and paramedics attempted to fight cuts into their allowances. The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) and the Health Trade Union Alliance (HTUA) called limited one-day strikes, but abandoned any action after the governments call to wait a week.

Non-academic workers picketing at the University of Moratuwa against attacks on university employees salaries and rights, March 4, 2025

The trade unions heeded the IMFs warning that labour unrest would hamper the countrys economic recovery. After treacherously halting the industrial action, the union leaders now lament that the government has not offered anything!

Similarly, the postal unions have announced protests and a two-day token strike for March 17 and 18 against the slashing of allowances and the demand to end salary anomalies.

The union leaders are compelled to call these limited protests amid rising anger among workers. They are seeking to contain and derail the mass opposition by making futile appeals to the government. The JVP trade union bureaucrats have openly declared their opposition to any action.

The SEP emphasises that it is urgent for workers themselves to take up the fight to defend their social and democratic rights. They cannot rely on the trade union apparatuses. This can only be done by forming independent action committees, democratically elected by workers, in every workplace, plantation and other major economic centre.

What have the trade unions done during the past two years?

When the previous government of President Ranil Wickremesinghe began unleashing the IMFs harsh austerity measures, hundreds of thousands of workers took action to demand higher wages and pensions, a lessening of heavy workloads, and to oppose taxes on essentials and privatisation. Working people were already suffering great hardships after facing the brunt of the 2022 economic collapse.

The trade unionsjust to name a few, the HTUA, postal and telecom unions, port and railway unions, and Ceylon Electricity Board Trade Union Alliancederailed these struggles by making useless appeals to the government. The government responded by rejecting the demands, invoking essential services laws and mobilised the police and security forces to crush the protests.

By mid-last year, as the presidential and national elections were called, the trade unions rallied to their respective capitalist parties, including the JVP/NPP and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). They halted all action by saying workers would get a better future under a government of their party. The JVP/NPP publicly opposed any struggle declaring it would be harmful to its coming to power.

What underpins the treacherous role of all the trade union bureaucrats is their pro-capitalist politics and their direct and indirect support for the IMF austerity policies.

The trade unions are bitterly opposed to any independent, united action of workers, and worked might and main to limit and scuttle any struggle. They feared that a confrontation with the government and its IMF agenda would raise the necessity of overthrowing capitalist rule.

In doing so, union leaders enabled the JVP/NPP to come to power by exploiting the mass opposition against the discredited United National Party of Wickremesinghe, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) of the Rajapakses and Sirisenas Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

What are these parties doing now?

On February 27, when the vote was taken on the budgets second reading the SJB opposed it. To say the least, this is outright hypocrisy, as this party in 2022 pressed the former Rajapakse regime to seek IMF assistance to save the economy. The SJB directed its trade unions to collaborate with other unions to suppress workers struggles.

The plantation unions, which also operate as political partiesCeylon Workers Congress and the Tamil Progressive Alliance, a front of unionsare openly supporting the IMF program.

The Tamil bourgeois partiesthe Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi and Tamil National Peoples Front MPshave declared their support for IMF austerity. But they voted against the budget to express displeasure over the fact that the government has ignored their demand for greater powers in the North and East.

Nurses picketing at Matara General Hospital on February 27, 2025 against budget cuts

Working people: Learn the political lessons of the 2022 mass uprising!

The global capitalist crisis, greatly intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic and the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, precipitated a profound economic collapse in Sri Lanka in 2022.

Confronting unbearable shortages of food, medicine and fuel, and without electricity and transportation, the masses came onto the streets. The trade unions observed deadly silence about the plight of the masses. As anger grew among workers, they called two one-day strikes on April 28 and May 6 in which millions took part.

Fearing the eruption of revolutionary struggles, the opposition JVP/NPP and SJB, along with their trade unions, subordinated workers to parliament and the call for a capitalist interim regime. The fake-left Frontline Socialist Party actively supported this fraud.

The result was a shameful betrayal of the mass movement. Although Gotabhaya Rajapakse fled the country, he and his SLPP installed pro-US Wickremesinghe as president. He struck a loan deal with the IMF and immediately began introducing its austerity demands, which the JVP/NPP government is now continuing and intensifying.

Last week IMF mission chief Peter Breuer warned of potential labour unrest in Sri Lanka against its austerity programin effect, telling the government that industrial action cannot be tolerated. The Dissanayake regime, which has already condemned strikes and protests, will, in the face of mass opposition, soon turn to fundamental attacks on democratic rights and dictatorial forms of rule.

What should be the program for the working class?

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) proposes the following program on which to fight to defend living conditions, jobs and pensions:

All workers, in the private and state sectors, must have a wage increase to compensate for the erosion of real wages! It must be indexed to the cost of living! Pensioners must receive a similar increase!

Tea plantation workers must be paid a monthly wage indexed to the cost of living, with paid leave and pension!

No to pro-market restructuring of state owned enterprises (SOEs)! Defend all jobs and conditions! Put all SOEs under the democratic control of the working class!

Immediately bring down the prices of food and essential items. End the VAT and other taxes on such items!

Provide jobs with decent wages for the 40,000 unemployed graduates and other unemployed!

Repudiate all foreign debts! Rather than repayments to international loan sharks, the money funds must be used to develop social welfare programs and to expand free public education and health services!

Place all banks, big companies and plantations under workers democratic control and reorganise production and distribution for the benefit of workers and the poor!

Seize the assets of the wealthy few and use the funds to provide for the pressing needs of the majority!

Abolish all repressive laws, including the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), emergency and essential services regulations!

To mobilise their political and industrial strength and fight for these demands, it is essential that workers and the rural masses build their own action committees throughout the country, completely independent of the trade union bureaucracy, capitalist parties and their hangers-on.

There is no progressive solution for the working people within the framework of the capitalist system or the nation-state.

The SEP is calling called for the establishment of a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses (DSC), assembling democratically-elected delegates from the action committees in workplaces and rural areas.

This Congress can and must discuss a program of socialist policies and the fight for a workers and peasants government.

The Sri Lankan working class is not just fighting against the JVP/NPP government and the capitalist class in this country. They confront international finance capital and its agencies. The government and ruling elite here are their lackeys.

In many countries, such as Kenya and Zimbabwe, workers are in continuous struggles against similar savage IMF austerity measures. In the US and other imperialist countries, workers face attacks on their social rights and have already begun to engage in major strikes and protests.

Sri Lankan workers must unite with international class brothers and sisters in a common struggle. The imperialist powers and their lackeys in poorer countries are responsible for intensifying social inequality and a continuing pandemic and are driving towards dictatorship and world war.

Sri Lankan workers must unite with the international working class by coordinating their action committees with the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) and build it as the coordinating centre of a global fightback by workers.

Above all, we call on workers to join and build the SEP as the necessary revolutionary leadership for the immense struggles ahead.
A Macquarie University Rank-and-File Committee (RFC) member was prevented from moving a resolution in defence of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah at a National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) online meeting at the university on Thursday.

Randa Abdel-Fattah [Photo: X/Randa Abdel-Fattah]

The RFC resolution called for an urgent campus meeting and rally of staff and students to fight moves to sack Abdel-Fattah, a widely respected Macquarie University academic who is being targeted because of her high-profile opposition to the ongoing US-backed Israeli genocide and ethnic cleansing in Palestine.

Like a growing number of academics and journalists, Abdel-Fattah has been falsely branded as antisemitic for denouncing the criminal atrocities being committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, which are now escalating with the full backing of the Trump administration.

Urgent action is essential because Abdel-Fattahs employment is directly threatened by a decision of the Australian Research Council (ARC), acting at the behest of Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses federal Labor government, to freeze her ARC Future Fellowship research grant.

About 240 staff and students attended Thursdays meeting to discuss the threat to jobs, course offerings and employment conditions posed by the university managements Blueprint for Academic Workforce Planning, as well as the defence of Abdel-Fattah.

NTEU branch president Nick Harrigan had written to Macquarie RFC member Chris Gordon on Wednesday to assure him that he could move the RFC resolution that Gordon had sent to the NTEU branch committee on Tuesday. The resolution stated:

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.

Harrigan wrote: We will be debating motions on Randas situation in the last 15-20 minutes of the meeting. I will put your motion into the slides and you will have a chance to speak to it.

At Thursdays meeting however, Harrigan declared that the resolution would not be put to a vote. He claimed that this was because this is an all-staff meeting, not an NTEU members meeting and there was a debate about whether motions are allowed or not.

Harrigan said: We have decided to not have motions until we can resolve this debate in the next week or two.

That means seriously delaying any real action to defend Abdel-Fattah, despite numerous participants in the meeting posting comments in the chat voicing support for her.

Gordon posted the Macquarie RFC resolution in the chat but Harrigan, who chaired the meeting, refused to allow Gordon to move it.

Toward the end of the meeting, Gordon was able to speak briefly on the resolution. This is a test case for trampling over both employment and democratic rights, including academic freedom and free speech, he warned.

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.

Clearly Abdel-Fattah has been targeted because she has been falsely branded as antisemitic for denouncing the criminal atrocities being committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

Gordon said: There is support for the defence of Abdel-Fattah, but it must be mobilised. A legalistic behind-the-scenes approach doesnt expose the agenda against Abdel-Fattah for what it is, nor connect it to the many others who are under attack.

He concluded: We do need to pass a resolution and hold a meeting. We need to hold a public rally at Macquarie and other campuses to defend Abdel-Fattah, as soon as possible!

The decision to block the resolution flies in the face of a unanimous vote by a lunchtime meeting of some 70 educators, students and workers organised by the Macquarie RFC on February 21 to call for a campaign throughout the universities and the working class as a whole for the defence of Abdel-Fattah.

The refusal to allow Thursdays meeting to vote on the resolution is in line with the NTEUs role throughout the genocide. As well as Abdel-Fattah, other anti-genocide academics are known to have been targeted, but the NTEU has not made a single public statement in their defence, let alone organise any campaign against the witch hunt. Those victimised include University of Sydney academics John Keane and Nick Riemer and the same universitys sociology professor Sujatha Fernandes.

There was determined opposition by NTEU branch officials when rank-and-file committee members and supporters successfully moved similar resolutions at NTEU branch meetings last month at the University of Sydney and Western Sydney University, as they had earlier done at Footscray High School in Melbourne.

As is clear from Clares intervention, the Labor government is centrally involved in the witch hunt, which is being mounted by the corporate media, the political establishment and Zionist groups. Labor MP Josh Burns, the chair of the Labor governments antisemitism parliamentary committee, publicly demanded to know why Macquarie University had not already sacked her.

This offensive is intensifying. On Wednesday, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), the governments university regulator, named Macquarie University, together with the Australian National University, Queensland University of Technology and the University of Sydney, as targets of live compliance processes relating to unspecified complaints of antisemitism.

TEQSA also told a Senate committee inquiry into university governance that it wanted stronger punishment powers to obtain warrants, fine universities and suspend courses for regulatory breaches, including supposed failures to ensure student safety from campus protests like last years anti-genocide encampments.

Earlier in Thursdays NTEU meeting, Gordon warned that the Macquarie managements Blueprint was also part of a wider attack spearheaded by the Labor government.

University managements across the country are pushing ahead with over 2,000 job cuts, 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.

The government is using this financial pressure to enforce its Universities Accord, which ties funding for both teaching and research to meeting the needs of employers and the military, including the AUKUS preparations for a US-led war against China.

Despite warning of a likely wave of cuts at Macquarie, the NTEUs response to the managements Blueprint is to engage with the process and propose a petition with an alternative vision for the university. That amounts to accepting the Labor governments agenda and assisting management to implement it.

To see it as a Macquarie problem is to miss the point, Gordon told the meeting. And if we stay within a Macquarie framework, we are going to be defeated. We need to conduct a fight of staff and students across the sector

No mention has been made of the Labor Party. They are leading the attack. We must have a political fight against them.

We need to build rank-and-file committees across the sector to represent our interests.

To break out of the NTEU straitjacket, we appeal to educators, students and workers to make statements or pass resolutions calling for action 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, contact the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), the rank-and-file educators network:

Contact the CFPE:

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/commforpubliceducation

Twitter: CFPE_Australia

Facebook: facebook.com/groups/opposeaeusellout
Join the rank-and-file rebellion to save the Post Office! Join the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee by filling out the form below.

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]

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has signed an agreement with Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to help slash spending and assist with job cuts, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced in a letter to Congress Thursday. The letter announced a plan to cut 10,000 jobs over the next 30 days, primarily through early retirement.

The move underscores the expansion of the Trump White Houses attacks on public services and social programs. Urgent action is required by the working class to halt this, up to and including strike action. The Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee must be built as an alternative leadership to the sellout union bureaucrats.

DOGE is the spearhead of a massive looting operation of federal funds, grabbing everything not bolted down to redirect funds to Wall Street and the military. Musk earlier called specifically for the privatization of USPS and everything we possibly can. USPS vast operations, encompassing more than 600,000 workers and extensive physical infrastructure, are a potentially lucrative prize for investors, so long as its operating deficit, unfunded pension obligations and other financial issues are dealt with.

That grabbing USPS is on the mind of the financial oligarchy was shown by a recent Wells Fargo report laying out five required steps for the post offices privatization, including the repeal of the 1970 Postal Reorganization Act, which established it in its current form, the splitting of mail from the more lucrative parcel business, the selloff of $85 billion in real estate and price increases of between 30 and 140 percent (this would be positive for [private competitors] Fedex & UPS, the report notes).

Other countries have already privatized their post offices with disastrous results, such as Royal Mail in Britain and Deutsche Post in Germany.

The move is the next step in Trumps bid to privatize the post office, which his camp pledged to do before it even took office. Last month, it was reported that Trump was considering illegally axing the USPS Board of Governors and shifting USPS to the Commerce Department through an executive order.

In addition to setting the stage for more cuts, the move, which may still take place, raises democratic issues. Trumps personal control over USPS, currently operated as an independent agency, would give him access to the processing of mail-in ballots and other sensitive mail.

But the privatization of the post office has been a bipartisan goal for decades. The support of both parties for austerity was underscored Friday by the Democrats caving in the Senate to Trumps government funding extension, which paves the way to hundreds of billions in cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps and other programs.

USPS is already four years into the misnamed Delivering for America (DFA) program, aimed at reorganizing it along the lines of Amazon into a highly concentrated, automated system. The plan entails the destruction of tens of thousands of jobs, the elimination of thousands of routes and the closure of local post offices.

In the letter, DeJoy, who is stepping down at the end of the year, bragged that the program has already claimed 30,000 jobs, not counting the 10,000 to be cut in the next month, and the elimination of 20 percent of its headquarters staff in the so-called Friday Night Massacre.

While generating increased revenues, DFA has been a disaster for the public at large, with mail lost or delayed for weeks in many areas of the country.

Pensions, workers comp under fire

DeJoys letter takes aim in particular at pension costs and the USPS Workers Compensation program, indicating that USPS intends to enlist DOGEs help in slashing benefits. DeJoy had earlier harped on similar themes in a recent congressional hearing.

He pointed out in particular that the retirement program is handled through the federal Office of Personnel Management, which has already been effectively taken over by DOGE. OPM was the conduit for the distribution of a DOGE email last month demanding every federal worker justify their continued employment.

In particular, DeJoy complains that the workers comp program costs USPS $400 million per year more when compared to private industry practices. This is especially ominous because the state-run workers compensation systems are used to systematically deny care to workers injured on the job. The World Socialist Web Site has reported on horror stories such as Amazon workers being made homeless after their claims were denied.

USPS wants the same efficiency in kicking its own injured workers to the curb. Given the fact that surveillance programs like TIAREAP [Technology Integrated Alternate Route Evaluation and Adjustment Process] already enforce dangerous speedup, leading to preventable tragedies such as the death by heatstroke of Dallas letter carrier Eugene Gates, this will lead directly to more injuries and deaths as workers try to push through injuries rather than roll the dice with workers comp.

DeJoys letter also singled out for attack regulations and legally mandated service standards which he claimed were burdensome and anachronistic, denouncing in particular the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) as an unnecessary agency. In a series of highly critical reports on the implementation of DFA, the PRC has cited USPSs degradation of service for rural customers, violating its mandate to provide equal service to all Americans. This requirement in particular appears to be a major target.

Union bureaucracy offers its services

In response to DeJoys letter, the postal unions issued separate statements making clear they are prepared to give everything USPS administrators and DOGE want. They singled out for criticism the possibility of Musks access to private data through USPS, a serious issue, but one they raised to the exclusion of all others.

Even on this point, the union bureaucrats have threatened only to take legal action, without even raising the possibility of a strike, the only way this and other attacks can be stopped. In 1970, postal workers carried out a wildcat strike against measures by president Nixon which pale in comparison to what is being considered now.

The unions continue to insist that workers obey sweeping, undemocratic laws banning them from striking even as Trump deliberately violates the law and the Constitution and is working to set up a dictatorship. Appeals to the courts are a dead end, as they know full well, because the Supreme Court is in the hands of Trumps collaborators.

Statements by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), which covers city carriers, and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association explicitly declared that they are prepared to help USPS find areas to cut costs. These policy changes are needed to improve the Postal Services financial viability, and we welcome anyones help who can influence Congress and the Administration to finally enact them, NALC wrote.

Such a statement amounts to a declaration that they are prepared to work with an emerging dictatorship to attack their own membership.

They even suggest in particular that USPS retirement funds be reinvested away from Treasury bonds into the stock marketwhich is down more than 4,000 points off of recent highs due to Trumps trade war measures.

This shows that a fight has to be coordinated by new leadership drawn from the rank-and-file, combining opposition to Trump with a struggle to transfer power out of the bureaucracys hands. Last month, the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee held a meeting with 150 postal workers and their allies which passed a key resolution, which declared:

The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees condemns the mass purge of federal workers by the Trump administration and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and calls for the mass mobilization of federal employees, including mass meetings, demonstrations and collective strike action, to stop it. Hundreds of thousands of workers across federal agencies face immediate termination, in flagrant violation of contracts and civil service protections. The destruction of federal jobs is part of a broader corporate drive to gut public services and strip workers of all protections, including the assault on postal workers and the plans for privatization of the postal service. This attack goes beyond Reagans 1981 PATCO firings, which destroyed 11,000 jobs and marked the beginning of decades of union-busting. Now, the scale is even greater. Any federal agencies that provide social services or regulate corporations are being hollowed out or destroyed. The USPS, already targeted for privatization, is next. If these firings proceed, it will mean the elimination of social programs and mass job losses across the public sector. This will encourage state and local officials and private employers to escalate their attack on jobs and rights of workers. This meeting condemns the cowardice and complicity of the trade union bureaucracy, which has proposed no action to oppose this historic assault on the working class. The AFL-CIO has limited itself to appeals to the media and the Democrats. AFGE merely promises to challenge unlawful terminations. This is not simply a legal issueit is a political war on the working class. If the union leadership will not fight this, they will fight nothing. The time for empty statements is over. The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees and Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee call for immediate preparations for mass resistance, up to and including strike action. Postal workers must join with federal workers, logistics workers, and all workers to stop this purge. We reject the dismantling of public services and demand workers control over critical sectors like the USPS. The only way forward is through the independent organization of the working class, in opposition to both corporate-backed parties and their enforcers in the trade union apparatus.
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Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (Democrat-New York), flanked by Senators Dick Durbin (Democrat-Illinois), Cory Booker (Democrat-New Jersey) and Amy Klobuchar (Democrat-Minnesota) on Capitol Hill. [AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib]

On March 23, 1933, just seven weeks after Hitler became chancellor of Germany, the Reichstag passed what came to be known as the Enabling Act, granting him the power to rule by decree. The vote took place under conditions of terror: The Reichstag was surrounded by armed SA and SS troops, and the Reichstag Fire was used as a pretext to ban the Communist Party (KPD) and imprison its deputies. With the acts passage, the Weimar Constitution was nullified, giving Hitler unchecked power to enact laws without parliamentary approval.

Just over seven weeks after his own election, Trump did not need to employ such measures. Given the opportunity to cut off funding for Trumps government on Friday, the Democrats instead ensured that it remained fully operational. The vote shatters the myth that the Democratic Party is an opponent of the Trump administration, demonstrating that it is instead its enabler and collaborator.

The Senate, with the support of top Democrats, passed a Republican spending bill funding the government for the next six months, through September. The bill removes all congressional spending directives, giving Trump and Elon Musk a blank check to slash social programs, purge federal employees and lay the groundwork for a police state.

The bill was passed late on Friday, following a vote earlier in the day that blocked a filibuster, which would have led to a government shutdown. Ten Democrats voted with the Republicans against a filibuster. After an empty show of opposition early in the week, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer completely reversed himself, and the requisite number of Democrats (plus two additional) were assigned to ensure the bills passage.

Schumer justified the Democrats actions by claiming, I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option. He stated that there would be no off-ramp in the event of a shutdown, which the Trump administration would use to decimate the federal government.

This is an absurd lie. In reality, the bill itself hands Trump the power to decimate social services, with no strings attached. When Schumer speaks of an off-ramp, his real concern is that a shutdown of the government could become a catalyst for mass opposition to Trumps government, which the Democrats are determined to prevent.

The Senate vote comes amidst a full-scale rampage by the Trump administration against the working class and democratic rights.

This week, the Department of Education laid off 1,300 workershalf its staffin preparation for its dissolution. Congresss next priority is passing a budget that includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts for the rich and $2 trillion in cuts to social programs, gutting $880 billion from Medicaid, which provides healthcare for 80 million people. Overseeing these cuts through his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk has made clear that Social Security and other so-called entitlement programs are next.

Trump is systematically violating laws and basic constitutional rights. He is ruling by decree, issuing illegal executive orders to purge government workers, expand federal law enforcement and carry out mass deportations.

The administration is seizing political opponents, including Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, for opposing the genocide in Gazaa test case for what is to come. He is preparing to invoke the Alien Enemies Act, a law used to intern Japanese Americans during World War II, to justify mass political repression and the transfer of tens of thousands to Guantanamo Bay.

These are the actions the Democrats have chosen to fund.

The Democrats were given their marching orders by the financial oligarchy. Schumer, the senator from Wall Street, embodies the Democratic Partys role as a party of the financial oligarchy. He intervened to pass the spending bill on the orders of the gigantic banks and hedge funds.

From 2019 to 2024, Schumers largest industry backer was Securities & Investment, according to Open Secrets, while his single largest contributor was private equity giant Blackstone Group. Blackstone is headed by Stephen A. Schwarzman, worth $53.3 billion as of November 2024. Schwarzman, a close ally of Trump who served as chairman of the Strategic and Policy Forum during Trumps first term, recently referred to Trumps economic policies as a good thing for the world.

A significant element of the Democrats calculations is that a government shutdown would lead to a further sell-off on the financial markets, following declines over the past week driven by the impact of escalating global conflicts and Trumps trade war measures. Moreover, Wall Street is demanding a raid on the Treasury to prop up its bets and pay for the massive accumulation of debt produced by endless bailouts of the banksthat is, precisely the policies that Trump is implementing.

It is impossible to explain the actions of the Democratic Party purely in terms of cowardice. The Democrats are not an opposition party. They agree with the essential elements of Trumps social and domestic policy. The differences that do exist are largely tactical, not fundamentalfocused primarily on foreign policy, where the Democrats favor continued escalation of the war in Ukraine.

In the media, the Democrats vote is being presented in the context of a supposed bitter internal conflict, pitting, in the words of the New York Times, an old guard committed to bipartisanship with a younger generation advocating a more confrontational approach.

This is a fraud. The role of figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is to provide a left cover for the Democrats. Ocasio-Cortez spent the day on social media urging her followers to call Senate Democrats and beg them not to pass the bill. This was nothing but political theater, as she knew full well that the Democrats would ensure it went through.

Ocasio-Cortez and the DSA are not mobilizing workers and students in mass resistance. They are working to contain growing anger, keeping it trapped within the Democratic Party and preventing the emergence of an independent movement against war, dictatorship and capitalism.

The Democrats vote confirms the assessment made by the Socialist Equality Party and the World Socialist Web Site. Just one day before the bills passage, WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North wrote:

Far from opposing Trump, [the Democratic Party] is collaborating with him. Whatever its verbal declarations of opposition, the Democratic Party, which is funded by and subservient to the same oligarchs and devoted to the defense of capitalism, shares large portions of Trumps agenda.

On Friday, the Democrats demonstrated the truth of this assessment.

Opposition will not come from the Democratic Party, Congress, the courts or the corporate-controlled media. The working classthe vast majority of the population and the source of all wealthis the only force capable of stopping Trumps dictatorship.

This must take the form of industrial action. The World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality Party call for the building of independent rank-and-file committees in workplaces and neighborhoods across the country. These committees will serve as centers of resistance, uniting workers and youth in opposition to Trumps authoritarian rule, the complicity of the Democratic Party, and the broader attacks on democratic rights and living standards. They will provide the framework for organizing mass actions, including strikes and protests, to mobilize the immense social power of the working class against the corporate and financial oligarchy.

This industrial action must be infused with a socialist political program. The fight against Trumps dictatorship is inseparable from the fight against the system that has produced itcapitalism. The Socialist Equality Party advances a socialist program to expropriate the wealth of the financial oligarchy. The imperialist war machine must be dismantled, ending US-led wars and redirecting military spending toward rebuilding society. A workers government must be established, placing political and economic power in the hands of the working class, not the capitalist oligarchy.

This is the necessary and only viable response to the Trump administration. We call on those who agree to make the decision to join the Socialist Equality Party.
The federal Labor government, together with its counterpart in the state of New South Wales (NSW), has ruled out repealing or amending hate speech laws rushed through parliament last month, even though the pretext for the legislative changes, a spate of antisemitic attacks, has been exposed as a hoax.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, accompanied by NSW Premier Chris Minns (front left), shakes hands with police outside Maroubra childcare centre. [Photo: X/Anthony Albanese]

The refusal is an extraordinary display of contempt for basic legal and democratic rights. On the most dubious basis, the governments implemented sweeping attacks on civil liberties. Now that their justification has been exposed as a lie, they simply double down and insist that the changes will remain.

The governments are responding to an announcement by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the NSW Police last Monday. They confirmed that a caravan packed with explosives, discovered on the outskirts of Sydney in January, had nothing to do with antisemitic terrorism, as governments and the media claimed at the time. Instead, the caravan was a set-up by alleged criminals, seeking to use it to barter with the police for changes to their criminal status.

The announcement went further, revealing that an entire wave of supposed antisemitic attacks in Sydney between November and January, had been organised by the same criminal network as was behind the caravan. Those incidents, generally involving crude anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli graffiti and some acts of arson, were also not motivated by racial or religious bigotry.

The police have claimed that the criminals perpetrated those attacks to sow chaos and divert attention from other illegal activities. That claim is unconvincing. As the WSWS previously reviewed, there are questions about the potential role of the Israeli state and its agencies in the fake attacks. The Israeli government followed the relatively minor incidents at the highest level, and invoked them to demand a tougher pro-Zionist line from Australian governments.

The police announcement has also raised major questions about the role of Australian governments. At the very least, it is clear they invoked the attacks to pass legislation, when they already knew that the incidents were not what they seemed.

The caravan was discovered by police on January 19. In their announcement, the AFP stated that it made the determination that the caravan was a terror hoax within hours. There was no attempt to conceal the decades-old explosives. They were inexplicably left unattended with a target list including the Holocaust museum and Sydneys largest synagogue.

The existence of the caravan was leaked to the Daily Telegraph, which presented it as an incipient terrorist attack, on January 29. The next day, NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns told a media interviewer: This is the discovery of a potential mass casualty event. Theres only one way of calling it out and that is terrorism. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese concurred. Both rushed their respective hate speech laws through the NSW and federal parliaments within weeks.

Since the Monday announcement, there have been questions about whether Minns and Albanese deliberately misled the public, given that Minns in particular had categorically stated that he was briefed by the police on the caravan before its discovery was publicly revealed. For several days, Minns dodged the questions.

On Thursday, Minns broke his silence with comments that doubled down, even while coming very close to an admission that he lied to the public. He told the media that he had been informed by police in the earliest stages of their investigations into the caravan that it could be the work of organised criminals.

He has tried to hedge, stating that the police briefing would not have been a categorical declaration that the caravan was a set-up, and that he could not reverse his public statements because of the impact they could have on covert investigations. But Minns, it appears, was told that the caravan was likely not related to terrorism, before he made his own categorical declaration that it was.

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley has simply refused to say when she was informed that the caravan was a hoax.

Albanese has also been evasive. Asked by an interviewer when he found out, he replied I have known for some time what the AFP thought and what ASIO and the security agencies thought about the events that occurred, including the caravan. If a witness were asked in a court of law when they found out about something, some time would not pass muster.

In a belligerent statement on Thursday night, Minns declared: I want to make clear the NSW government will not be repealing hate speech laws passed in Parliament last month. He repeated stock talking points about the impermissibility of hatred and the need for social cohesion.

Minns bizarrely wrote: While the caravan was part of a criminal conspiracyand not the plot of a terrorist organisationit was still appalling racial hatred. It had targeted the Jewish community and sought to instill terror. But for the Daily Telegraph article and then the statements of Minns, Albanese and co. no one would have been terrified, and the caravan would have remained what it was, an abandoned vehicle with useless old explosives.

Minns is responding, not only to popular outrage, but demands from several independent and crossbench parliamentarians for the laws to be reconsidered by parliament, in light of the revelations.

The laws provide for a maximum penalty of two years in prison or fines of up to $11,000 for intentionally inciting racial hatred. But, as with similar federal legislation also rammed through in February, that is defined so vaguely that it could be used against political dissent, particularly opposition to the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

The passage of the laws at the NSW and federal levels has gone hand in hand with a campaign by the governments, police, Zionist lobbyists and universities, to depict strident condemnations of Zionism as the equivalent of a hate crime, even though Zionism is a reactionary, imperialist political ideology, not a race or religion.

The NSW laws include a vague and broad prohibition on protests near places of worship. That is supposedly to protect synagogues, though there have been hardly any demonstrations called at such places of worship during the genocide. The couple that were called were in response to political events at synagogues, promoting the Israeli government and its mass murder of Palestinians.

As civil liberties advocates have noted, places of worship are so ubiquitous that the law could be invoked to ban virtually all rallies. There is a church next door to Sydney Town Hall, one of the citys main rally spots, and one across the road from Hyde Park, another site of demonstrations.

The aim of the lies about the caravan and the associated antisemitic attacks was clearly to ram through measures directed, not at hate speech or racism, but at mass popular opposition to genocide and war.

Throughout the Israeli war crimes, the Labor governments have stood full square behind the Zionist state, aiding it politically, diplomatically and materially, through weapons export permits. They have repeatedly sought to shut down protests, with court actions and police attacks, but have been stymied by pubic hostility and the few remaining legal protections of civil liberties. Now, they are overturning even those limited protections.

In addition to questions about the potential role of the Israeli state in the incidents, there are obvious questions about the role of the Australian governments and the police. The criminals involved in perpetrating the hoax attacks were small-time and amateurish. One asked in a public Facebook group if anyone could lend her a jerry can, before allegedly embarking on an attack that involved misspelled graffiti and minor arson.

Police agencies and governments have vast mechanisms of surveillance, as well as informants within criminal groups. Was a decision made to allow the hoax attacks to run their course, lest their premature exposure obstruct the anti-democratic laws and the broader atmosphere of confected national hysteria, within which the legislation was passed?
Net-demand energy forecasts are critical for competitive market participants, such as in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and similar markets, for several key reasons. For example, accurate forecasting helps predict when supply-demand imbalances will create price spikes or crashes, allowing traders and generators to optimize their bidding strategies. Its also important for asset optimization. Power generators need to know when to commit resources to the market and at what price levels. Poor forecasting can lead to missed profit opportunities or operating assets when prices dont cover costs. The ERCOT region, specifically, has massive wind and solar capacity. Net-demand forecasts (total demand minus renewable generation) help predict when conventional generation will be needed to fill gaps from variable renewable resources. Market participants also use forecasts as a risk management tool. Accurate projections allow participants to hedge their positions through bilateral contracts or financial instruments, protecting against volatile market conditions. Meanwhile, forecasts can provide insight for operational planning. Having market predictions for up to 15 days can help managers with unit commitment decisions, maintenance scheduling, and resource allocation across a portfolio of generation assets. In Texas, the competitive energy-only market design places even greater importance on forecasting, as there are no capacity paymentsgenerators earn revenue solely when they produce energy. The states isolated grid, extreme weather events, and high renewable penetration make accurate forecasting both more challenging and more financially consequential than in many other markets. Fortunately, artificial intelligence (AI) is now capable of producing highly accurate forecasts from the growing amount of meter and weather data that is available. The complex and robust calculations performed by these machine-learning algorithms is well beyond what human analysts are capable of, making advance forecasting systems essential to utilities. Plus, they are increasingly valuable to independent power producers (IPPs) and other energy traders making decisions about their positions in the wholesale markets. Sean Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Amperon , a company that provides AI-powered forecasting solutions, said using an Excel spreadsheet as a forecasting tool was fine back in 2005 when he got started in the business as a power trader, but that type of system no longer works adequately today. Now, were literally running at Amperon four to six models behind the scenes, with five different weather vendors that are running an ensemble each time, Kelly said as a guest on The POWER Podcast . So, as it gets more confusing, weve got to stay on top of that, and thats where machine learning really kicks in.

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Wholesale Prices Can Cripple Retail Electricity Providers

The consequences of being ill-prepared can be dire. Having early and accurate forecasts can mean the difference between a business surviving or failing. Effects from Winter Storm Uri offer a case in point. Normally, ERCOT wholesale prices fluctuate from about $20/MWh to $50/MWh. During Winter Storm Uri (Feb. 1317, 2021), ERCOT set the wholesale electricity price at its cap of $9,000/MWh due to extreme demand and widespread generation failures caused by the storm. This price remained in effect for approximately 4.5 days (108 hours). This 180-fold price increase had devastating financial impacts across the Texas electricity market. The financial fallout was severe. Several retail electricity providers went bankrupt, most notably Griddy Energy, which passed the wholesale prices directly to customers, resulting in some receiving bills of more than $10,000 for just a few days of power. Brazos Electric Power CooperativeTexass largest and oldest electric cooperativefiled for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after facing a $1.8 billion bill from ERCOT. Rayburn Electric Cooperative faced more than $1 billion in energy costs during the storm. CPS EnergySan Antonios municipal utilitysued ERCOT over excessive prices and faced $1 billion in storm-related costs. Our clients were very appreciative of the work we had at Amperon, Kelly recalled. We probably had a dozen or so clients at that time, and we told them on February 2 that this was coming, he said. With that early warning, Kelly said Amperons clients were able to get out in front of the price swing and buy power at much lower rates. Our forecasts go out 15 days, ERCOTs forecasts only go out seven, Kelly explained. So, we told everyone, Alert! Alert! This is coming! Dr. Mark Shipham, our in-house meteorologist, was screaming it from the rooftops. So, we had a lot of clients who bought $60 power per megawatt. So, think about buying 60s, and then your opportunity is 9,000. So, a lot of traders made money, he said. All LSEsload serving entitiesstill got hit extremely bad, but they got hit a lot less bad, Kelly continued. I remember one client saying: I bought power at 60, then I bought it at 90, then I bought it at 130, then I bought it at 250, because you kept telling me that load was going up and that this was getting bad. And theyre like, That is the best expensive power Ive ever bought. I was able to keep my company as a retail energy provider. And, so, those are just some of the ways that these forecasts are extremely helpful.

Changes Made, but Accurate Forecasts Are Still Vital

Following Winter Storm Uri, the Texas Legislature passed bills allowing utilities to securitize their Uri debts through ratepayer-backed bonds, spreading the costs over decades. That may have saved some companies from bankruptcy, but didnt eliminate the financial burden. Some city-owned utilities received financial support from their municipal governments. Many cooperatives and other utilities eventually passed costs on to customers through rate increases spread over years. The crisis exposed significant vulnerabilities in ERCOTs market design, particularly how financial risk is allocated during extreme weather events, and led to regulatory reforms regarding weatherization requirements and market rules. Still, accurate forecasting continues to be vital for the power industry. With more and more renewables being added to the grid, Kelly said he sees the market going binary. Its going to be a zero or its going to be a one. And by that, I mean, its going to be a $10 power or its going to be $1,000 power, he explained. This job is getting harder and harder by the dayboth for the software companies, but really for those load serving entities, Kelly said. So, thats where weve got to adopt new technologies and always continue to better ourselves, better our knowledge of the new things coming down the pipe, and just work together to make the grid a much more stable place. To hear the full interview with Kelly, which contains more about how power markets work; changing market dynamics; other examples from Australia, California, and Winter Storm Elliott; challenges to accurate forecasting; how AI is improving the process; and more, listen to The POWER Podcast. Click on the SoundCloud player below to listen in your browser now or use the following links to reach the show page on your favorite podcast platform:

The POWER Podcast  185. AI-Powered Energy Forecasting: How Accurate Predictions Could Save Your Power Company

For more power podcasts, visit The POWER Podcast archives. Aaron Larson is POWERs executive editor (@AaronL_Power, @POWERmagazine).
A spokesperson for Cupertino, California-based Apple declined to comment on the meeting, which was put on the schedule last week.

On Feb. 14, Bloomberg News reported that Apple was struggling with bugs and engineering problems on its planned artificial intelligence tools for Siri. At the time, the company postponed the release from April to May, aiming to include the features in its iOS 18.5 operating system. Now its looking to add them as an update as early as the iOS 19 software cycle next year.

Apple shares had fallen 16% this year through Thursdays close, part of a broader stock rout that has walloped tech companies. The stock rebounded Friday, but pared gains during the afternoon. Apple was up 1.4% at $212.58 as of 2:18 p.m. in New York.

Still, he praised the team for developing incredibly impressive features and vowed to deliver an industry-leading virtual assistant to consumers.

During the all-hands gathering, Walker suggested that employees on his team may be feeling angry, disappointed, burned out and embarrassed after the features were postponed. The company had been racing to get the technology ready for this spring, but now the features arent expected until next year at the earliest, people familiar with the matter have said.

The frank discussion shows the extent of Apples crisis in the field of artificial intelligence, where its struggling to catch up with peers. Siri  less advanced than rival systems  has become a symbol of Apples AI challenges. And the companys woes boiled over last week, when it acknowledged publicly that critical features would be delayed indefinitely.

Robby Walker, who serves as a senior director at Apple, delivered the stark comments during an all-hands meeting for the Siri division, saying that the team was facing a bad period. Walker also said that its unclear when the enhancements will actually launch, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified because the gathering was private.

(Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc.s top executive overseeing its Siri virtual assistant told staff that delays to key features have been ugly and embarrassing, and a decision to publicly promote the technology before it was ready made matters worse.

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The features  unveiled last June at Apples Worldwide Developers Conference  are fundamental to making Siri a more effective personal assistant. The technology will allow the software to tap into users personal data to better respond to queries. Siri, which was first introduced in 2011, also will be able to more precisely control apps and analyze content thats on a users screen.

But when Apple demonstrated the features at WWDC using a video mock-up, it only had a barely working prototype, Bloomberg has reported. Walker told staff in the meeting that the delays were especially ugly because Apple had already showed off the features publicly. This was not one of these situations where we get to show people our plan after its done, he said. We showed people before.

To make matters worse, Walker said, Apples marketing communications department wanted to promote the enhancements. Despite not being ready, the capabilities were included in a series of marketing campaigns and TV commercials starting last year.

Apple touted the features as a key selling point of the iPhone 16 line, which otherwise lacked major changes. And its part of a broader AI push called Apple Intelligence.

Walker also raised doubts about even meeting the current release expectations. Though Apple is aiming for iOS 19, it doesnt mean that were shipping then, Walker said. The company has several more priorities in development, and trade-offs will need to be made, he said.

We have other commitments across Apple to other projects, Walker said, citing new software and hardware initiatives. We want to keep our commitments to those, and we understand those are now potentially more timeline-urgent than the features that have been deferred. He said decisions on timing will be made on a case-by-case basis as work progresses on products planned for next year.

Customers are not expecting only these new features but they also want a more fully rounded-out Siri, he said. Were going to ship these features and more as soon as they are ready.

Walker said that there is intense personal accountability about this effort shared by his boss John Giannandrea, the head of AI at Apple, as well as software chief Craig Federighi and other executives.

As of Friday, Apple doesnt plan to immediately fire any top executives over the AI crisis, according to people with knowledge of the matter. That decision could theoretically change at any time. In any case, the company is poised to make management adjustments. It has discussed moving more senior executives under Giannandrea to assist with a turnaround effort. Already, the company tapped longtime executive Kim Vorrath  seen as a project fixer  to assist the group.

Walker said the decision to delay the features was made because of quality issues and that the company has found the technology only works properly up to two-thirds to 80% of the time  which is to say it doesnt work every one out of three times. He said the group can make more progress to get those percentages up, so that users get something they can really count on.

In recent weeks, Federighi voiced concerns to other senior executives that the features werent working as advertised, ultimately prompting the decision to delay, Bloomberg reported. Issues with Apple Intelligence were clear from the start, with the company postponing the first batch of features last year and providing vague timelines during its launch event.

Walker defended his Siri group, telling them that they should be proud. Employees poured their hearts and souls into this thing, he said. I saw so many people giving everything they had in order to make this happen and to make incredible progress together.

But Apple wants to maintain a high bar and only deliver the features when theyre polished, he said. These are not quite ready to go to the general public, even though our competitors might have launched them in this state or worse.

Walker compared the endeavor to an attempt to swim to Hawaii. We swam hundreds of miles  we set a Guinness Book for World Records for swimming distance  but we still didnt swim to Hawaii, he said. And we were being jumped on, not for the amazing swimming that we did, but the fact that we didnt get to the destination.

He showed examples during the meeting of the technology working: It was able to locate his drivers license number on command and find specific photos of a child. He also demonstrated how the technology could precisely manipulate apps via voice control. It embedded content in an email, added recipients and made other changes.

Walker told staff that they should feel really proud of innovative work done to develop the personal search feature, despite saying it doesnt always work sufficiently.

Still, the company has met other goals for Siri. That includes bringing a Type-to-Siri interface to iOS 18, as well as adding Apple product knowledge to the platform and an improved understanding of customers. Its planning to offer Apple Intelligence in several new languages next month and is working overtime to enable the features for China as part of partnerships with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Baidu Inc.

Walker said that some staffers may feel relieved over the delays. If you were using these features in the build, you were probably wondering: Are these ready? How do I feel about shipping these to our customers? Is this the right choice?

He added that some employees might be feeling embarrassed.

You might have co-workers or friends or family asking you what happened, and it doesnt feel good, Walker said. Its very reasonable to feel all these things. He said others are feeling burnout and that his team will be entitled to time away to recharge to get ready for plenty of hard work ahead.

The executive said he didnt want things to get worse before they got better, saying that special attention will need to be paid to the integration of existing features into iOS 19.

Walker ended the meeting upbeat, saying that Apple will ship the worlds greatest virtual assistant.

But theres still a long road ahead. The delayed Siri features are just the first step toward modernizing the software. Apple has been planning upgrades for 2027 that will make Siri more conversational, letting it better compete with other AI chatbots, Bloomberg has reported.

This will require a new infrastructure. Theres much we will be keeping and there are meaningful things we will be changing, Walker said.

The team has learned a lot together, he said. Well make the adjustments that we need to have a better outcome going forward.

(Updates shares in sixth paragraph and adds more on Siris history in ninth paragraph.)

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2025 Bloomberg L.P.
(Reuters) -Australia will provide ANZ with a decade-long loan guarantee of A$2 billion ($1.26 billion), to ensure the bank maintains the branch network across the Pacific, a move seen as a diplomatic win amid growing regional competition with China.

The federal government considers the likelihood of the guarantee being called is "very low", and the agreement stipulates an annual fee payable by ANZ to Canberra.

Under the terms of the deal, ANZ will also invest an additional A$50 million into its Pacific banking operations to support ongoing services and expand its digital banking capabilities, the bank said in a statement on Friday.

The move comes as Australia and the United States intensify efforts to bolster financial connectivity in the Pacific.

In July 2024, officials from both nations pledged to enhance banking services in the region, as policymakers gathered with regional leaders to address the challenges Pacific Island countries face in maintaining access to global financial systems.

Many small Pacific nations have been grappling with the consequences of Western banks winding down long-term relationships and closing operations, which has severely restricted access to U.S. dollar-denominated accounts. This void has created an opportunity for Chinese financial institutions to expand their presence in the region.

ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott told Reuters in July 2024 that the bank's Pacific operations  while the largest network in the region  were not profitable, prompting discussions with the Australian government about their future.

The company expects the loan guarantee to take effect in the second half of 2025.

In 2024, Bank of China signed a deal with Nauru to explore financial opportunities, underscoring Beijing's strategic push in the region.

ANZ's shares are currently trading 0.1% lower against a flat broader financials sub-index.

($1 = 1.5911 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Alan Barona)
By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - Berkshire Hathaway said on Friday longtime Director Ronald Olson will be leaving its board because of a policy change requiring directors, except for Warren Buffett, to step down after turning 80.

In a proxy statement for its May 3 annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, Berkshire also said its board unanimously urged the rejection of seven shareholder proposals, including three on its subsidiaries' diversity and anti-discrimination efforts.

Berkshire also said Buffett's compensation was $405,111 in 2024, comprising his usual $100,000 salary plus personal and home security.

Vice Chairman Greg Abel, who is expected to succeed Buffett as chief executive, and Vice Chairman Ajit Jain saw their compensation grow $1 million to $21 million each.

Abel, 62, oversees non-insurance businesses such as the BNSF railroad and Berkshire Hathaway Energy, while Jain, 73, oversees insurance businesses such as Geico car insurance.

Olson, 83, is a partner at the law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson, and has been a Berkshire director since 1997.

He is leaving Berkshire's 14-member board because of the new age limit in its corporate governance guidelines. All other directors apart from Buffett are 75 or younger.

Olson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Buffett is excused from the age limit because he controls 30.3% of Berkshire's voting power, triggering an exception for people who control at least 5%.

The 94-year-old billionaire also owns about 14.4% of Berkshire stock. He would be allowed to remain a director upon retiring, if the independent directors want him to stay.

Shareholder proposals include resolutions by conservative investors that Berkshire report on how its business practices affect employees based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin and political views, and on risks from its subsidiaries' race-based initiatives.

Berkshire's board called both reports unnecessary, saying subsidiaries set their own policies and "Berkshire's approach is simple - follow the law and do the right thing."

The board also opposed a proposal to create a committee to oversee diversity and inclusion, saying its audit committee already oversees diversity matters.

It also said a proposal to have independent directors oversee risks associated with artificial intelligence was unnecessary and inconsistent with Berkshire's decentralized culture.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Richard Chang)
GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN)  Authorities are still searching for the man wanted for homicide after his wife died in Gallatin last week, but another individual has been taken into custody amid the investigation.

The Gallatin Police Department said officers responded to a home at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 6 after a relative found Lisa Drakes body. Law enforcement described the incident as a domestic shooting death.

Officials initially said they wanted to find Little Page Drake III for a welfare check and information about the situation, but a few hours later, they announced he had active warrants for criminal homicide.

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ORIGINAL STORY: Man wanted for homicide after deadly shooting reported in Gallatin

Little Page Drake III (Courtesy: Gallatin Police Department)

On Friday, March 7, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) added Little  who was Lisas husband, according to loved ones  to the states Most Wanted list, saying he should be considered armed and dangerous. He has yet to be found.

The TBI described Little as 5-feet 9-inches tall, 165 pounds, and bald with brown eyes. Authorities reported last week the 57-year-old was believed to be driving a black 2007 Honda Ridgeline truck with Tennessee license plate 727BNDY, but that vehicle has since been recovered.

On Friday, March 14, police announced 41-year-old Stephen Grant Mosley Jr. was taken into custody for accessory to criminal homicide and evidence tampering in connection with Lisas case.

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PREVIOUS: Man added to Tennessees Most Wanted list after deadly shooting in Gallatin

Officials said charges are pending for those who have helped Little avoid apprehension. However, no additional details have been released about this investigation, including where in Gallatin the shooting took place or the circumstances that led to Mosleys arrest.

If you see Little or have any information regarding his whereabouts, youre asked to call the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND or Gallatin Police Department Investigator Jody Starks at 615-452-1313, ext. 3264. A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information leading to Littles arrest.

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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.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CROCKETT, Texas (KETK)  A man who allegedly impersonated a federal agent and then shot around 30 bullets from an AR-15 outside of the Houston County Sheriffs Office was arrested on Saturday.

UPDATE: 1 arrested after Crockett woman found dead inside apartment

A man, officials identified as Clifford Heniser, 34 of Lovelady, came into the Houston County Sheriffs Office lobby at around 7 a.m. on Saturday and claimed to be a federal agent who was there to inspect their records.

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The dispatcher Heniser was speaking with, told him that a deputy was on the way as all other deputies were on patrol at that time, according to a post from the sheriffs office.

Heniser then allegedly left the lobby and retrieved an AR-15 style rifle from his vehicle. Officials said he went back into the lobby to call dispatchers but all the dispatchers were now hiding under their desks and calling for help.

The above video shared by the sheriffs office shows Heniser leaving the lobby and shooting around 30 shots from his AR-15 directly into the air.

According to the sheriffs office, Heniser had reloaded and walked around the parking lot by the time that two Crockett police officers and a Texas DPS trooper arrived to confront him.

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Heniser followed their commands to lay his rifle down and was then placed under arrest. The sheriffs office said that a Colt pistol and two magazines were found on him along with four more rifle magazines. An additional 300 to 500 rounds of rifle ammunition were found in Henisers truck.

Heniser was arrested and charged with impersonating an officer, unlawfully carrying of a weapon by felon, criminal trespassing and deadly conduct, according to a post from the sheriffs office.

The sheriffs office said that Heniser was also arrested on Wednesday for disorderly conduct in the Houston County Sheriffs Office lobby.

Chief Deputy Ryan Martin accessed the lobby to ascertain this mans complaint, Houston County Sheriff Zak Benge said in a post on Wednesday. The suspect immediately became verbally aggressive and used profanity to find out what we are doing about all the illegals. Chief Deputy Martin tried to answer his questions but could not get past the profanity being used in a public place.

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The sheriff said that Heniser is in custody of the Houston County Sheriffs Office as of Saturday but hell be transferred to another county for his safety and the safety of sheriffs office staff after seeing a magistrate judge.

The Crockett Police Department is investigating this case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Benge added that their lobby will now be closed starting at 5 p.m. each night until 8 a.m. and all day on the weekends. The front door to their office has a call button to reach dispatchers who can also be called at 936-544-2862 no matter the time of day.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A suspect has been arrested in connection to a case involving an incendiary device being thrown at a Colorado Tesla dealership earlier this month, according to police.

On Friday, Loveland police announced the arrest of 24-year-old Fort Collins resident Cooper Jo Frederick in connection to a March 7 incident, when police said an incendiary device was ignited and thrown at the Tesla building, landing between two vehicles.

Tesla dealership in Loveland target of crime yet again, fifth time in over five weeks

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A Loveland police officer responded and extinguished the fire just after midnight while people were inside cleaning. Loveland Police Department Chief Tim Doran previously told FOX31s Kasia Kerridge it appeared that rocks had been thrown at the building and several vehicles, and police presumed that the suspect attempted to break the glass and place the device inside.

The arrest was based on probable cause obtained through a continued investigation concerning repeated criminal acts at the Loveland Tesla, LPD wrote in a press release.

Frederick was booked into the Larimer County Jail on several charges, including:

Explosives or incendiary devices use during felony, class 2 felony

Possess explores or incendiary device, class 5 felony

2nd degree arson  business  $5,000 to <$20,000, class 5 felony

Criminal mischief $5,000 < $19,999 business, class 5 felony

Criminal attempt to commit class 5 or 6 felony, class 6 felony

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The dealership. located at 1606 N. Lincoln Avenue in Loveland, has been in headlines multiple times this year after incidents of vandalism and the discovery of incendiary devices were reported. In late February, police arrested 40-year-old Lucy Grace Nelson, whose alias includes Justin Thomas Nelson, in connection to previous incidents.

Previous: Incendiary devices discovered at Loveland Tesla dealership, suspect arrested

The police department said its Criminal Investigations Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in the investigation.

Police ask anyone with information about the incident or Frederick to call the LPD Tip Line at 970-962-2032 or Larimer County Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A Baker shooting Friday night left one person dead.

A spokesperson for Baker Police confirmed one person was killed and two were hurt in a shooting before 11 p.m. after a dispute at a motel near Main Street.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroners Office identified the person killed as Jaden Honore, 20.

Police said an investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators at 225-775-6000.

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This is a developing story.

Baton Rouge man faces attempted murder, drive-by shooting charges

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A group of 10 Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), on Friday voted to advance a Republican-crafted bill to fund the government through Sept. 30, taking a crucial step toward avoiding a government shutdown while infuriating many within their party.

The pivotal procedural vote, which passed 62-38, puts the bill on a glide path to pass the Senate sometime Friday afternoon, despite fierce opposition from many Democrats.

The Democrats who voted to advance the measure also included Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Angus King (Maine), an independent who caucuses with Democrats.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) announced an agreement shortly before 4:30 p.m. EDT Friday to vote to immediately advance the House-passed funding bill and consider four amendments to the legislation.

One amendment sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) would reinstate veterans who were fired from their federal jobs under Trump. Another, sponsored by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), would eliminate the Department of Government Efficiency. A third, sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), would codify the cuts to foreign assistance recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency.

All of the amendments are expected to fail.

Schumer opened the door for some Democratic colleagues to vote to advance the bill by announcing Thursday he would do so to avoid a government shutdown.

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He warned a shutdown would give Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk  Trumps chief budget cutter  tremendous leverage to keep federal employees out of work and to keep federal agencies shuttered for weeks or even months.

Government funding expires at midnight tonight. As I announced yesterday, I will vote to keep the government open. I believe it is the best way to minimize the harm that the Trump administration will do to the American people, Schumer said on the floor before the vote.

Fetterman, who represents Pennsylvania, a state Trump carried in 2024, said he would vote to advance the House GOP bill because he feared a government shutdown would hurt too many people.

Im going to stand on what I happen to believe is the right thing to do, he said. Whats the exit plan once we shut the government down? What about the millions of Americans who are going to have their lives damaged?

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But Schumers decision to vote to advance the bill, which he acknowledged Thursday is a very bad bill, has sparked an angry backlash from Democratic progressives and House leaders.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) warned that Schumer would be making a tremendous mistake.

After learning of Schumers decision, Ocasio-Cortez told reporters there is a deep sense of outrage and betrayal.

And this is not just about progressive Democrats. This is across the board, the entire party, she said.

Ocasio-Cortez said Schumer betrayed House Democrats in districts that Trump won in 2024 who took very tough votes against the bill earlier this week. Only one Democrat voted for the measure in the House.

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She said those vulnerable House Democrats took a tough vote to defend the American people, in order to defend Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, just to see some Senate Democrats acquiesce to Musk.

I think it is a huge slap in the face, she said.

House Democratic leadership had also spent the week pressing Senate Democrats to hold firm and block the bill.

Were standing on the side of working families, and thats why our message to the Senate is also: Stand with us on that side, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (Mass.) said earlier this week. And we think that our vote gives the Senate the strength and the message that they need to stand up as well.

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Asked repeatedly Friday before the vote whether he had lost confidence in Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) demurred.

Next question, he said.

And several vulnerable Democratic senators came out against the bill as well, including Sens. Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) and Jon Ossoff (Ga.), who announced Thursday they would oppose the House bill.

This bill is bad for Michigan. It makes significant cuts to Michigans key infrastructure projects, cuts the [Department of Veterans Affairs] and harms our Great Lakes, Slotkin said.

Ossoff argued the House bill irresponsibly fails to impose any constraints on the reckless and out-of-control Trump administration.

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The Democratic activists group Pass the Torch on Friday called for Schumer to resign as Senate minority leader.

But Schumer argued that as bad as Democrats think the House-passed bill is, it is a better option than letting the government shut down at midnight.

Schumer called it a Hobsons choice, in other words a seeming choice where in reality theres only one viable option.

The CR is a bad bill, but as bad as the CR is, I believe that allowing Trump to take more power is a far worse option, he said Friday morning. A shutdown would allow [the Department of Government Efficiency] to shift into overdrive.

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Schumer has battled with progressives in his caucus as well, such as Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who have called on colleagues to push for a 30-day clean stopgap funding measure and to oppose the House-passed bill.

Sanders argued on the Senate floor that passing the House GOP-drafted funding bill would worsen the crises facing the nation.

It makes a bad situation much worse, he said. It makes the financial struggles of working people even more difficult than they are today. And it does all of that  to lay the groundwork for massive tax breaks for Elon Musk and the billionaire class.

Merkley told CNN in an interview that he was hell no on the House bill.

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He argued that accepting the House GOP bill would only embolden Trump and Musk.

You dont stop a bully by handing over your lunch money, and you dont stop a tyrant by giving him more power, he said.

Sen. Andy Kim (D), a first-term lawmaker from New Jersey, said he understood why Schumer and other Democratic colleagues voted for the House-passed bill, but he argued that Democrats need to send a message by standing up to Trump and his GOP-allies.

I understand these concerns about a government shutdown, he said. Its a real no-win situation for America  not just for Democrats in the Senate but for the country. Either way, people are going to get hurt. I understand the concerns about the potential for a shutdown. I dont want it.

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But I disagree in terms of how this is unfolding, he said of the expectation the House bill would advance with some Democratic support.

A shutdown does give a tremendous leeway to [the Office of Management and Budget] to determine how limited resources are prioritized and triaged. There is no one in this administration more dangerous than [OMB Director] Russell Vought right now, Kim acknowledged.

But he argued that Trump, Musk and Vought are already taking such actions to shut down the government.

I personally believe you need to stand up to that type of action, he said. I understand theres deep uncertainty about what would have happened next but I, for one, was willing to go down that path.

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By Tom Polansek, Mei Mei Chu and Laurie Chen

CHICAGO/BEIJING (Reuters) -Hundreds of U.S. meat plants granted access to China in a 2020 "Phase 1" trade deal with President Donald Trump are set to lose export eligibility on Sunday, threatening roughly $5 billion in trade to the world's largest meat market amid a renewed trade war.

Losing access to China would deal a fresh blow to American farmers after Beijing earlier this month imposed retaliatory tariffs on some $21 billion worth of American agricultural goods, including 10% duties on U.S. pork, beef and dairy imports.

Beijing requires food exporters to register with customs to sell in China. Registrations for almost 1,000 beef, pork and poultry plants, including some owned by Tyson Foods and Cargill Inc, are set to expire on Sunday, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) records and Chinese customs data. That's roughly two-thirds of all those registered.

The companies declined to comment or did not respond to Reuters questions.

China has not responded to repeated requests from U.S. agencies to renew plant registrations, the USDA said in a report last week, potentially violating an obligation under the Phase 1 deal.

Registrations for some 84 plants lapsed in February and while shipments from affected plants continue to clear customs, the industry doesn't know for how long China will allow imports.

"The risk involved in shipping product with a looming expiration date is high," Joe Schuele, spokesperson for the U.S. Meat Export Federation told Reuters.

"The situation is certainly dire if [registrations for] these plants are not renewed. The situation has the attention of every exporter."

The USDA has made the expirations a priority issue in discussions with Beijing, Schuele added.

Shanghai port has also imposed stricter inspections and documentation for U.S. meat cargoes, the Federation told members in a bulletin seen by Reuters, with some containers subject to full unpacking and inspection, raising processing time and additional fees.

To be sure, there are no signs to suggest that Beijing is imposing a blanket ban. Several hundred plants have had their registrations renewed until 2028 or 2029, according to a senior diplomat based in Beijing.

The U.S. was China's third largest meat supplier last year after Brazil and Argentina, accounting for 590,000 tons or 9% of total imports.

The USDA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative did not respond to questions from Reuters on Thursday. China's Commerce Ministry and customs department did not respond to faxed questions.
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey is responding tonight after Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala told 11 Investigates that an investigation into no-bid city contracts is still active and ongoing.

The mayor also said he stands by his campaign comment where he called the district attorney a racist.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Mayor Ed Gainey posts video calling DA Stephen Zappala racist, local leaders respond

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He did not provide details about why he believes Zappala is a racist.

Gainey also said he has nothing to hide and will provide whatever information the DA needs.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> 11 Investigates: DA accuses mayor of lying, Investigation into City Hall continues

Earle: He (the District Attorney) did say yesterday he was continuing an investigation into no-bid contracts? Are you concerned about that? Is there anything to hide?

Mayor Gainey: No, I think everything, you know this Rick, you already know this, everything hes ever asked of us, weve given him.

Mayor Gainey responded Friday to Zappalas comments Thursday about an ongoing investigation into no-bid contracts, including a $180,000 police staffing study that Zappala said lacked substance.

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Zappala also questioned the findings of the staffing study that suggested Pittsburgh had enough police officers.

Im not done with the no-bid contracts. I just have, this is much more important than that. Anything thats a financial issue, theres always a paper trail, you know, its not, its there, said Zappala.

Gainey, whose campaign has struggled to raise money, also addressed $30,000 worth of payments from his campaign account to a law firm for legal services and compliance.

While campaigns frequently rely on attorneys, political observers say these payments are high for a Pittsburgh mayoral race.

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Earle questioned Gainey about the payments.

Earle: Your campaign paid a law firm $15,000 two separate times. What was that for?

Gainey: Im just making sure that were doing everything thats necessary to be in the right. We want to make sure we are in the right on everything, you know that, Rick, you know Im always making sure of that. Im dotting my is and crossing my ts, and I think thats something thats critical for us to be able to do.

Gainey also addressed a recent comment he made about Zappala on the campaign trail.

I told the DA hes a racist. I aint support the DA, said Gainey, during a campaign appearance that was posted to social media.

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Earle asked Gainey about his comment that was made prior to Zappalas interview on Thursday.

Earle: Is the district attorney a racist?

Gainey: I said what I said and Im going to leave it at that Rick. I appreciate it.

Earle: Why would you go after the DA at this point? Is there anything that promoted or provoked that because he hasnt talked about you in a while?

Gainey: I mean, Rick, we made a statement and Im going to leave it there. It was about 2023, it was about 2023, and I was supporting Matt, Mr. Dugan, and I believe theres a lot of democrats in this region, at the end of the day, that understand where Im coming from and appreciate that.

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On Thursday, Earle asked Zappala about the Mayors comment.

Im in politics. This is politics. Im a public figure so you can lie about me. I mean I get it. I get it. Its tougher on my wife, said Zappala, who has clashed with Gainey before over downtown public safety and the declining number of Pittsburgh police officers.

Zappala also told Earle that he never had a conversation about that with Gainey.

Last week after the mayors comment came to light, his campaign issued a statement, providing more context about the comment.

Its no secret the Mayor and many, many Western Pa. Democrats have long disapproved of the Republican DAs actions  and campaigned for Democratic nominee Matt Dugan over him. At a time where Trump is rolling back civil rights protections cheered on by white supremacists, Democrats cant be afraid to call a spade a spade and stand up for the constitutional rights of our constituents.

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Its been a difficult couple of months for Gainey as hes facing a tough re-election challenge from Allegheny County Controller Corey OConnor, who has raised substantially more money and also leads by double digits in some of the polls.

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Allegheny County Democratic Committee endorses Corey OConnor in Pittsburgh mayoral race

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HILO, Hawaii (KHON2)  Hawaii Island and federal officials are offering rewards of up to $21,000 for anyone with information that can lead to the capture and arrest of attempted murder suspect, Christopher Lucrisia.

Big Island police said they have bumped the total reward for information from $11,000 to up to $21,000. The FBI and the U.S. Marshalls Service are each offering a reward of $10,000, while Hawaii Island Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000.

Island wide search for man who allegedly shot Big Island police officer continues, getaway driver arrested

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The island-wide manhunt continued into its second day and officials urge the community to keep an eye out for Lucrisia, who allegedly shot a Big Island police officer twice at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo.

Before the shooting, Hawaii police said Lucrisia was wanted for breaking into a Mountain View home, where he threatened a bedridden 75-year-old woman with a firearm and threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend.

On Friday, March 14, Hawaii police investigators searched the Puainako area after receiving information that Lucrisia was there.

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He was found in the front seat of a white Chevy pickup truck in the parking lot of a financial institution.

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When officers approached the truck, Lucrisia allegedly pointed a handgun at police and fired it twice, hitting one officer in the right forearm and the head.

He then fled the scene with the getaway driver, 23-year-old Silas Zion of Pahoa. Zion was later located and arrested without incident.

The FBI, HSI, Marshalls Service, Sheriffs and DLNR have joined the search.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

Police advise the Big Island community that Lucrisia is still at large and considered armed and dangerous. The public should not approach him if spotted.

Tips can be reported by calling(808) 835-3311. Anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers can be reported at (808) 961-8300.

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PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WJW)  More than a dozen people were injured Friday evening after a roof collapsed during a large gathering of people reportedly celebrating St. Patricks Day near the University of Pittsburgh.

According to a press release from the Pittsburgh Public Safety Department, first responders were sent to the 300 block of Semple Street in Central Oakland for reports of a porch collapse. At the scene, officers located the collapsed porch at the back of the residence that was playing host to a large crowd gathering.

Weather cancels annual St. Malachi Run

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Witnesses reported that several hundred individuals had converged in the communal courtyard space behind the residence. They also reported that people had been on the roof of the porch, as well as on the porch itself when it collapsed, the press release stated.

According to WTAE, as many as 500 people had gathered for the party. More than a dozen decided to climb onto the residences back roof which collapsed onto the porch directly below it after about 20 minutes, the Pittsburgh news outlet reported.

Credit: Pittsburgh Public Safety Department

A total of 16 people were taken from the scene by EMS. Thirteen were listed in stable condition. Three were listed in serious but stable condition.

Officials said most people suffered minor arm and leg injuries and concussions, and one person is believed to have suffered a leg fracture.

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Local law enforcement cracking down on drunk driving this weekend

At least a dozen more people were treated at the scene for minor abrasions, the press release said.

In a Friday evening post on X, University of Pittsburgh police wrote As a reminder, it is never safe to be on rooftops.

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Six years after LA County's Woolsey fire, many destroyed homes haven't been rebuilt.

Rebuilding is costly, emotionally taxing, and often delayed by complex red tape.

Two families say they might not have rebuilt their homes if they'd understood how hard it would be.

Thousands of homeowners in Los Angeles are figuring out a way forward after the Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed 16,000 homes and properties across the county. But some of their neighbors who lost their homes in past fires warn that rebuilding will likely be harder than expected.

Two families whose Malibu homes burned down in the 2018 Woolsey fire told BI they might have sold their properties and moved on if they'd known how lengthy, complicated, expensive, and emotionally taxing the rebuilding process would be.

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That might be why, more than six years after the Woolsey fire destroyed more than 1,600 structures and burned 97,000 acres, only about 40% of the homes that were lost have been replaced.

Construction costs will likely be even higher for victims of LA's most recent fires, as the scale of the destruction far outstrips past fires and will squeeze a building industry already facing a labor shortage, elevated building material costs, and overwhelming demand.

Losing a home filled with art

Jon Krawczyk always knew there was a chance he could lose his Malibu home to a wildfire. But he didn't really believe it until it happened.

"They say there's a reason young men go to war because they don't think they're going to die, right?" he told BI. "I left thinking I'll come back tomorrow, and it'll be here."

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It's been two and half years since Krawczyk, a metal sculptor, and his wife, an art consultant, finally broke ground on rebuilding their home of 18 years. That came after a seemingly endless back-and-forth with government officials over permitting and approvals for their project. Krawczyk said authorities required them to rebuild the same structures they had before, even though they wanted one building instead of three, and less square footage.

Krawczyk, who lost his studio and all his equipment on the property, said he initially thought rebuilding would cost about $1.6 million and take about three years, but it's ended up costing north of $2.2 million and taken close to six years.

The Krawczyks had paid off the mortgage on their home six months before the fire and were able to evacuate with their two teenage kids to a family home. A few months later, they used their insurance payout to buy a home in nearby Thousand Oaks, where they've lived since 2019.

While they received their maximum insurance payout and money from a $2.2 billion settlement with Southern California Edison, they lost their insurance provider and had to resort to California's FAIR Plan, the state's insurer of last resort. The plan has high premiums and caps payouts at $3 million.

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The couple hopes to get the final occupancy permit and move into their new house this spring in time to host their son's wedding. But if Krawczyk could turn back time, he's not sure he would've gone through with rebuilding.

"If I knew then what I know now, I may have just walked away," he said, "because it is not fun."

Krawczyk and his wife hope to move into their new home this spring, six and a half years after they lost their old one. Courtesy of Jon Krawczyk

Leaving Malibu

Bill and Leslie Bixler had lived in their home in the Malibu hills for about 20 years when the Woolsey fire reduced it to ash.

It didn't take long for the couple to get their first payout from their insurance company, but it took about two years to get the permits and other approvals they needed to begin construction on the new, more fire-resistant home.

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"The initial shock of losing material possessions is rough," Bill said. "But the roughest part, actually, for me anyway, was getting the permits and getting through the bureaucracy."

But the couple was determined to rebuild, so they pushed ahead and completed the home about four years after the fire.

While the rebuild made sense financially, the Bixlers said that with the benefit of hindsight, they might not have done it.

"It wasn't worth the pain," Leslie said. "Looking back on it, I wouldn't do it again, I don't think."

Bill and Leslie Bixler's rebuilt home in Malibu. Courtesy of Bill Bixler

But years later, the new house still doesn't feel like home.

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They miss Bill's 70-year-old teddy bear and Leslie's mother's Steinway grand piano, which they lost in the fire. Without many of its old trees, the property has lost some of its spirit. "We had to put so much concrete in to make it fire-safe that we feel like we're in a Lexus commercial," Leslie said. "It's just not the folksy place it was."

The Bixlers are also traumatized by their experience  and fearful of future fires, so they moved out of Malibu for the time being and leased their home to victims of the most recent LA fires. They're living in a rental home in Fresno as they decide what to do next.

"This last fire was so horrific, and we've just been so stressed out and traumatized from the experience, even though we've done everything in our power to fireproof our house," Leslie said. "We went through all that heartache, but it still didn't take away the pain and the fear of this happening."

Many of the Bixler's neighbors never rebuilt their homes, so their neighborhood still "looks like somebody who's lost half their teeth," Bill said. The couple said they know many others who also fear future fires and want to leave Malibu.

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But if you're determined to rebuild, you can, Bill said.

"You can't get beaten down," he said. "You can always do it, just when you think it's over, it's not."

Has your home been impacted by a wildfire or other natural disaster? Contact this reporter at erelman@businessinsider.com .

Correction: March 24, 2025  An earlier version of this story misspelled the Bixlers' last name. It's Bixler, not Bixley.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Mar. 14Two Pittsburgh residents pleaded guilty Friday to their role in a drive-by shooting more than two years ago in Arnold.

The incident ended with a high-speed chase through part of the Alle-Kiski Valley and a collision with a police vehicle.

Tishan Lowe Jr., 33 and Imani Patterson, 27, were charged in connection were charged with 10 counts each in connection with the Oct. 17, 2022 shooting and subsequent chase.

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According to court records, surveillance video showed Lowe and Patterson get out of a sport utility vehicle on Kenneth Avenue around 11:30 a.m. and fire multiple shots at two passengers in another vehicle as it drove by.

Officers said they heard the shots fired and followed a speeding vehicle through Arnold and into New Kensington, East Deer, Tarentum, Brackenridge and Harrison's Natrona neighborhood at speeds that at times exceeded 100 mph.

Police said the vehicle swerved through traffic before spike strips were deployed to halt the chase and ultimately caused the suspects to crash into a New Kensington police vehicle.

Lowe was captured as he attempted to hide in the vehicle's back seat. Police said Patterson was found in the vehicle lying under a blanket. A third person, the driver, fled from the scene, police said.

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Police said no injuries were reported as a result of the shooting.

Both Lowe and Patterson pleaded guilty to multiple felony counts, including three charges of aggravated assault, conspiracy, weapons offenses, tamping with evidence and reckless endangerment.

Prosecutors dismissed two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears said Lowe and Patterson face sentences of up to 20 years in prison for the aggravated assault and conspiracy convictions. Both have been in jail since their arrest and will be sentenced in about three months, the judge said.

Rich Cholodofsky is a TribLive reporter covering Westmoreland County government, politics and courts. He can be reached at rcholodofsky@triblive.com.
Residents in one Ohio city should soon expect to see robots in the city.

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The Dublin Police Department said it will be putting two robots in the city, according to our news partners at WBNS.

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One robot will be placed at Riverside Crossing Park Plaza and the other will be in a parking garage near a library branch.

Greg Lattanzi, deputy chief of police, told WBNS the robots will help maximize the departments resources.

Both of these robots have 360 camera footage that will record as the robot patrols the designated pathway. They will also have a two-way communication feature, light and a call box feature, Lattanzi said.

WBNS reported that the department is leasing the robots and that theyll be able to roam for 12 hours before needing to charge.

Lattanzi said the robots could be used to get eyes on a situation before an officer arrives on the scene.

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The deputy chief also said that hes excited to see how the robots and their technology serve the community.

We hope the robot brings a sense of security through presence and routine patrols. The robot will also supplement current staff, Lattanzi said.

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A pair of hospitals and a college were recipients of threats of violence on back-to-back-to-back days this week in Southern California.

Now, officials are investigating all three incidents and are being extra vigilant in the event that more cases like the three that took place over the last few days are reported.

Wednesday: Loma Linda Childrens Hospital

The first incident occurred on Wednesday evening at Loma Linda Childrens Hospital.

In this case, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department stated that they had been made aware of reports of a possibl[y] armed individual around 6:35 p.m.

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Shortly after, a hospital official confirmed that authorities were responding to the scene as part of an active investigation that involved hundreds of law enforcement officers.

Big Bear bald eagle chick still missing; experts debunk inaccurate information

Video footage from Sky5 showed a very large police presence outside the hospital as dozens of police cruisers, armed vehicles and heavily armed officers wearing tactical gear responded to the scene.

A massive law enforcement presence surrounds Loma Linda hospital following reports of an armed shooter on March 12, 2025. (KTLA) A massive law enforcement presence surrounds Loma Linda hospital following reports of an armed shooter on March 12, 2025. (KTLA) A massive law enforcement presence surrounds Loma Linda hospital following reports of an armed shooter on March 12, 2025. (KTLA) San Bernardino County Sheriffs deputies on the scene of a swatting call at Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital on March 12, 2025. (OnScene.TV) San Bernardino County Sheriffs deputies on the scene of a swatting call at Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital on March 12, 2025. (OnScene.TV) San Bernardino County Sheriffs deputies on the scene of a swatting call at Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital on March 12, 2025. (OnScene.TV) San Bernardino County Sheriffs deputies on the scene of a swatting call at Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital on March 12, 2025. (OnScene.TV)

Authorities warned the public to avoid the area while the investigation on the hospital campus was active, and potential patients were encouraged to visit other local medical centers.

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The scene was cleared around 9 p.m.

In the wake of the threat, the sheriffs department took to social media to declare that no shots were heard and no injuries reported.

Woman shot by unknown masked suspects in the San Fernando Valley: LAPD

They later stated that the initial reports of an active shooter stemmed from a swatting call, which is a dangerous, illegal prank in which a caller claims there is a life-threatening emergency at a specific location, eliciting a massive police response.

Authorities confirmed that they are already pursuing a lead on the possible source of the hoax.

Thursday: Claremont McKenna College

Less than 24 hours after the Loma Linda incident, students and faculty at Claremont McKenna College were forced to shelter in place while police responded to reports of a possible shooter on campus.

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The universitys student-run newspaper, The Student Life, reported that campus safety officials notified the school community just before 5 p.m., saying there was police activity and a potential shooter. The shelter in place warning followed shortly afterwards.

Monster storm across the US sparks threat of tornadoes and fire, killing at least 17

The caller told dispatch that they were in a restroom at Claremont McKenna College Campus, holding someone captive and threatening to harm them, officials with the Claremont Police Department said in a news release. They also stated that they had a bomb and were going to walk around with a rifle and shoot anyone they saw on the campus.

Police on the scene at Claremont McKenna College after reports of a shooter on campus on March 13, 2025. (Inland News) Police on the scene at Claremont McKenna College after reports of a shooter on campus on March 13, 2025. (KTLA) Police on the scene at Claremont McKenna College after reports of a shooter on campus on March 13, 2025. (KTLA) Police on the scene at Claremont McKenna College after reports of a shooter on campus on March 13, 2025. (KTLA) Police on the scene at Claremont McKenna College after reports of a shooter on campus on March 13, 2025. (KTLA) Police on the scene at Claremont McKenna College after reports of a shooter on campus on March 13, 2025. (KNN News)

Sky5 footage showed that a SWAT Team responded to the area along with dozens of officers from different departments, including the Claremont, La Verne, Ontario and Upland police departments. Students were seen being escorted out of at least one campus building with their hands on their heads.

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Thursday evening classes were canceled due to the incident. Classes resumed on Friday morning, according to The Student Life.

An all clear was given and the shelter-in-place order was lifted two hours after the threat was first received. No person with a weapon or victims were located.

Police force open burning garage to save man in Orange County

Further investigation into the incident led authorities to determine that it was a swatting call that required the deployment of extensive resources, but no further information was immediately released.

KTLA has put in a request for comment with the Claremont Police Department for more details on the case.

Friday: Huntington Hospital

This weeks third incident occurred at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena on Friday.

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A spokesperson for the City of Pasadena told KTLA that a 33-year-old man called in a threat of a violent attack to the hospital around 2 p.m., which caused it to go into lockdown.

The man had been admitted to the medical center earlier in the day, officials stated.

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Hospital employees received a text alerting them of a Code Silver threat, which indicates a possible active shooter or hostage situation. Incoming ambulances were redirected to other nearby hospitals and both patients and visitors were not permitted to enter the hospital during the lockdown, which lasted for hours and affected the emergency room.

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Multiple police squad cars were seen outside the hospital as officers began investigating.

A suspect was arrested after Huntington Hospital in Pasadena went on lockdown following a credible threat of violence on March 14, 2025. (KTLA) A suspect was arrested after Huntington Hospital in Pasadena went on lockdown following a credible threat of violence on March 14, 2025. (KTLA) A suspect was arrested after Huntington Hospital in Pasadena went on lockdown following a credible threat of violence on March 14, 2025. (KTLA) Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, California. (KTLA) A suspect was arrested after Huntington Hospital in Pasadena went on lockdown following a credible threat of violence on March 14, 2025. (KTLA) A suspect was arrested after Huntington Hospital in Pasadena went on lockdown following a credible threat of violence on March 14, 2025. (KTLA)

Authorities quickly launched a probe into the incident and determined it was not a swatting call but was a legitimate threat.

The man was later taken into custody by police in Los Angeles, officials said. Media reports identified him as Jose Jurado.

The line-swapping hack at Disney, Universal and Six Flags that parents need to know

On Saturday, a Pasadena city official told KTLA that they could confidently say that the two incidents in Loma Linda and Claremont are not believed to be related to this one.

The Department of Homeland Security has released guidelines that detail what a swatting call is, what to do if a threat is received and steps to take after an incident. Click here to view them.

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Sofia Pop Perez contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Editors note: This story has been corrected to clarify which car failed to yield.

BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN)  Two people were taken to the hospital Saturday afternoon after a three-car crash in Boardman.

According to Boardman police, it happened around 2 p.m. in the Tiffany Square Plaza after a driver attempted to drive from one businesss parking lot on the east side of Tiffany Boulevard to another business on the west side of Tiffany Boulevard.

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While crossing, the car failed to yield at a stop sign and was then hit by another driver traveling south on Tiffany Boulevard, causing the car that didnt yield to flip on its side and then hit a driver waiting at a stop sign on the west side of Tiffany Boulevard, police said.

The conditions of the individuals taken to the hospital are currently unknown. The intersection was temporarily closed.

Wilson Corbisello contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH)  A 20-year-old man pleaded guilty to murder on Tuesday, according to the division of criminal justice.

Meriden deadly stabbing suspect appears in court

In June 2023, police found 44-year-old Justin Sloan, Sr. suffering from multiple stab wounds. He later died. Josue Ortega-Torres, of Meriden, was found following Sloan as he drove toward his home. When he arrived, Ortega-Torres stabbed him several times and then fled the scene.

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The investigation led police to a home in Meriden where officers were met with an hours-long standoff by Ortega-Torres, who refused to leave his home before surrendering to Meriden police.

He will be sentenced to 25 years in prison on May 8.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
As the U.S. Department of Education shrinks following massive layoffs at the agency, President Donald Trump and his allies continue to make dubious claims about the agency and education in the country.

ABC News examined some of President Donald Trump's common complaints about the Department of Education and the state of education in the United States.

MORE: 'Upsetting': Civil servants across the US part of Department of Education's mass layoffs

Spending vs. outcomes

Trump has repeatedly claimed that the U.S. ranks last in the world in education among developed countries while spending the most per pupil.

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"So they rank the top 40 countries in the world, we are ranked No. 40th, but we are ranked No. 1 in one department: cost per pupil," Trump said at the White House last month. "So we spend more per pupil than any other country in the world, but we're ranked No. 40."

PHOTO: The headquarters of the U.S. Department of Eduction, which were ordered closed for the day for what officials described as security reasons amid large-scale layoffs, is seen Mar. 12, 2025, in Washington. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

This claim is not true based on data reviewed by ABC News. The U.S. is not ranked last in education nor does it spend the most per pupil.

The White House didn't respond to ABC News' request for information about Trump's claim. It's unclear which data Trump used to base his claims.

Even though the country spends a lot per pupil, the Education Data Initiative found an average of $20,387 per year of federal, state and local spending. The amount is the third-highest per pupil (after adjusting to local currency values). The country is not last in any education statistic that ABC News has reviewed.

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The U.S. is above average in reading and science, and about average when it comes to scores in math, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). PISA is the industry standard for ranking students from different countries, according to education experts. There are roughly 40 member countries and economies in the OECD and about 40 more countries have participated in the last three assessments. It varies by year -- in 2015, 70 countries and economies participated; in 2018, 78 participated.

In 2022, the most recently released data, roughly 81 countries took part in OECD's PISA assessments, which measure 15-year-olds' ability to use their reading, mathematics and science knowledge. The U.S. ranked ninth out of 81 in reading, 16th/81 in science, and 34th/81 in math, according to the 2022 PISA results.

The PISA results debunk Trump's long-standing claim that "we're at the bottom of every list."

The next PISA data collection is taking place in 2025 -- and is expected to be released in September 2026, according to an OECD spokesperson.

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MORE: Department of Education lays off nearly 50% of its workforce

However, this is not to say American students are always high achievers. Some results on nationally administered exams have shown concerns as of late.

America's fourth- and eighth-grade students' sliding reading scores worsened in 2024, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, dubbed the nation's report card, which is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics under the Department of Education. Compared to 2022, this year's average reading scores dropped by 2 points for both fourth- and eighth-grade assessments, according to the NCES data conducted between January and March 2024. That adds to the 3-point decrease for both grades in 2022.

Despite the decline in reading, there was some recovery in math in 2024, but the increase has not returned students to pre-pandemic levels.

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And NCES also found nearly one third of U.S. students ended the 2023-2024 school year behind grade level in at least one academic subject.

It is unclear whether this data will be collected in future years if the DOE is eliminated.

State and local education agencies

The Trump administration has stated that through cuts at the Department of Education, they want to return education to the states.

"The president wants to return education back to the states, empower those closest to the people to make these very important decisions for our children's lives. And ... this is a first step in that process," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said to ABC News' Selina Wang when asked about the cuts at the DOE.

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Education is a local level-issue already as the federal education department only administers roughly 10% of public school funds nationwide, according to multiple education experts.

PHOTO: Chloe Kienzle of Arlington, Va., stands outside the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Eduction, which were ordered closed for the day for what officials described as security reasons amid large-scale layoffs, Mar. 12, 2025, in Washington. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

The Department of Education does not administer curriculum or create lessons for the nation's students. It also does not set requirements for enrollment and graduation or establish or accredit schools or universities.

In fact, curriculum comes from the states and local school districts. The education department doesn't teach the students taking standardized exams and assessments. The states already do that.

MORE: When will the Department of Education be dissolved? Secretary Linda McMahon says she doesn't know

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The education department does hold schools accountable for enforcing non-discrimination laws based on race, gender and disability.

The agency also administers funds for K-12 education support programs such as the Rural Education Achievement Program, which supports rural districts that may lack personnel and resources; Title I, which funds programs aimed at improving the performance of low-income and low-achieving schools; and grants for Individuals with Disabilities including the Transition and Postsecondary Programs for students.

Not only does the department administer K-12 assistance, it also helps students pursue higher education through the office of Federal Student Aid through grants, work-study funds and low-interest loans.

MORE: Fired Education Department worker: 'We got the sense that we were disposable.'

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Finally, the DOE holds schools accountable for student achievement through the Every Student Succeeds Act, which requires each state to provide data on subject performance, graduation rates, suspensions, absenteeism, teacher qualifications and more.

The Education Department's mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access, according to ed.gov.

DOE employees showing up to work

Trump has claimed, without evidence, that many Department of Education employees weren't going to work or doing a good job.

"Many of them don't work at all. Many of them never showed up to work. Many of them, many of them never showed up to work," Trump said at the White House on Wednesday.

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The White House did not respond to ABC News' request for comment about where Trump got this information.

Based on dozens of interviews, ABC News reporting has not found any evidence of employees "never" showing up to work, as Trump claimed.

ABC News has spoken to employees tasked with everything from conducting critical research projects to enforcing anti-discrimination laws for students based on race, gender and disability, among other characteristics.

When the Department of Education cut nearly 50% of its workforce earlier this week, an email to those who remained employed said, "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."

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Joe Murphy, whose position as a management and data analyst was eliminated at the Department of Education earlier this week, said on Wednesday that he felt "disposable."

"We got the sense that we were disposable in a certain sense, especially those of us in the data space," he told ABC News.

Victoria DeLano was an Equal Opportunity Specialist in the education department's Office for Civil Rights serving people with disabilities. DeLano said she believes she was the sole employee within the OCR who was stationed in Alabama.

"It's horrifying that the Office for Civil Rights, to begin with, is understaffed, but then, when I was locked out of access to work last week, to think, OK, one more person that was taken out of the equation," Delano said.

"These students have no one else. They can still file complaints with OCR. Please understand OCR is understaffed at best, and OCR right now does not have external communication with you all. So I don't know where they turn," she added.

A regional Department of Education employee, who received the reduction in force email on Tuesday and spoke to ABC News on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said their civil rights office was abolished.

Offices in major cities including San Francisco, New York, Cleveland, Boston, Chicago and Dallas have shuttered, and the three U.S. Department of Education buildings in D.C. will eventually be consolidated, according to senior department of education officials.

"All those disabled kids, which is the bulk of our docket, will not be helped," the employee said.

3 claims about the Department of Education and what it really does originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
BEIJING (Reuters) -CATL reported 15% growth in 2024 net profit, the slowest pace in six years, as a prolonged price war in China's electric vehicle market put pressure on the Chinese EV battery giant.

Net profit rose 15% to 50.7 billion yuan ($7.01 billion), according to a stock filing on Friday, versus the company's forecast of 11.1%-20.1% growth. Revenue came in at 362 billion yuan, down 9.7%, the first annual revenue fall since CATL started releasing its operating figures in 2015.

Adjusted product prices for declining costs of raw materials such as lithium carbonate resulted in a fall in operating income despite rising sales volume, the company said in January.

Fourth-quarter net profit was up 13.6% year-on-year to 14.7 billion yuan, slowing from 26% growth in the third quarter, while revenue shrank by 3.1% to 103 billion yuan, narrowing from a 12.5% slide in the previous quarter and the fifth consecutive quarterly decline.

A prolonged price war in China has pressured EV makers to lower costs of components, forcing CATL to lower battery prices to defend its market share.

This was partly offset by a decline in battery material costs for CATL, and the company saw a 17.6% slide in the cost of power battery business over last year, faster than a 11.3% fall in revenue from the biggest source of its revenue.

CATL further extended its lead in the global market of batteries for both EVs and energy storage systems with a 38% share, up from 36% in 2023, according to SNE Research. BYD held the second place with 15% in both 2023 and 2024, while LGES saw its share dip to 10% from 13%.

CATL saw faster growth in deliveries of batteries for energy storage systems, which accounted for 22.4% of its total battery shipments in 2024 compared to 19.4% in 2023, data from SNE Research showed.

The EV battery specialist has been pushing beyond batteries, unveiling a new EV chassis in December and envisioning a pivot to power grids.

Additionally, it's pursuing investments abroad, including a 7.3 billion euro battery plant in Hungary to supply the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW, along with a new jointly-owned battery plant with Stellantis in Spain.

The company filed an application last month for a listing in Hong Kong that will partially fund its Hungarian plant, in a deal expected to raise at least $5 billion.

($1 = 7.2324 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; editing by David Evans and Mark Potter)
(Bloomberg) -- In the early hours of Friday, Germanys Greens were given a choice: Would they veto a game-changing spending plan over grievances with chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz, or back the radical shift they themselves had been demanding for months?

Most Read from Bloomberg

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They were seven hours into talks at that point, following days of intense negotiations, and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, a senior party figure, was in regular touch on the phone from Canada. With concessions from Merzs conservative bloc such as extra climate protection funding, the Greens were in.

The decision to unleash the power of the federal balance sheet to transform Germanys military and revamp its infrastructure is a watershed moment. It calls time on an era of budget restraint thats hobbled the economy for years and could kickstart broader European resurgence.

But the path to this victory has been strewn with mistakes that highlight the 69-year-olds personal flaws and raise questions about how Merz will manage once he seals the coalition deal he needs to take office. Before then, he still has to negotiate a formal vote in parliament on Tuesday to lock in his fiscal revolution.

This story is based on conversations with people within the main political parties and close to Merz and other senior politicians. They requested anonymity discussing internal matters.

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Rapid Reaction

Merz was set up to become chancellor when his conservative CDU/CSU bloc won last months elections. But coalition talks in Berlin take months. And Donald Trumps tariff offensive and the US retreat from European security mean that Germany didnt have the time to wait.

Merzs response was nothing less than seismic.

In lightning negotiations with his prospective coalition partners, the Social Democrats, he agreed on a 500 billion ($543 billion) infrastructure fund and an escape clause that takes defense spending outside of Germanys tight constitutional restrictions on borrowing. The aim is to jumpstart the economy through more investment and get Europe ready to counter Russian threats and fill the gap left by the US.

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The market reaction was dramatic, with a comprehensive repricing across the European financial system. German borrowing costs jumped, while the euro and German stocks rose.

Big Spender

It was never going to be easy for Merz to upend years of German caution about money and get it to spend big.

There was a party on March 4 when the CDU/CSU and the SPD announced their breakthrough on the finance packages. Staff had dressed as pirates, kings and clowns to celebrate Germanys Carnival, a traditional end-of-winter festival. Many had painted faces, and there was no shortage of beer.

Merz was in celebratory mood too as he traveled to Brussels on March 6 and was garlanded by European leaders, before returning to work on coalition talks.

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But hed overlooked a crucial detail.

While its the Social Democrats who are in talks to govern alongside Merzs bloc for the next four years, he also needs the Greens for the two-thirds majority required to push through a constitutional reform. And at that point, he hadnt locked in their support.

An episode the following Saturday illustrates his apparent inability to communicate with people and parties in a way which might convince them to work with him. He called Green caucus co-leader Britta Hasselmann to tell her about the coalition talks and that he would need their votes in parliament for his packages.

Hasselmann, a 63-year-old Green veteran, was hiking in the Teutoburger forest in western Germany, posting pictures of flowers on social media. Merz got her voicemail and left a clumsy message.

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Hasselmann didnt need to worry, Merz told her, hed add the word climate somewhere to the legislation for the infrastructure fund so that her lawmakers would be happy.

The condescending tone so enraged Hasselmann, a party moderate, that she didnt even bother to relay the message to her more hardline co-leader.

The following Monday they called a press conference to announce that they were planning to vote down Merzs plan, rocking financial markets.

We need no lecturing from Mr. Merz, Hasselmann said.

With his plans, perhaps even his chancellorship, in jeopardy, Merz pleaded with conservative lawmakers in a closed-door meeting to avoid provoking the Greens, a comment especially directed at CSU leader Markus Soeder who had been goading the environmentalist party ever since the election.

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The Greens are gone. Goodbye, good journey, hope to never see you again, Soeder said at a post-election meeting in Passau.

On Monday evening, Merz headed over to the Greens office in the Bundestag in an attempt to make peace. The meeting ended inconclusively after 80 minutes.

Within the conservative bloc, doubts were emerging about Merzs negotiating strategy.

His inexperienced team was being exposed for its lack of preparation, some officials said. The Greens should have been brought in earlier and Merz should have spent his time courting them rather than taking a victory lap in Brussels, they added.

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And Merzs patronizing tone continued to be an issue.

Some of his prospective coalition partners in the Social Democrats watched in dismay as his hectoring tone continued to alienate the Greens.

At the same time, the intense back and forth reflected a tectonic shift that left many people across the political map unsure of exactly where they stand.

Merzs CDU/CSU have been the guardians of fiscal prudence for generations, the flagbearers of the so-called Black Zero policy which fixed balance budgets as a major economic objective.

The debt brake was brought in by Merzs conservative predecessor as chancellor, Angela Merkel, in 2009. It limits the amount of debt the government can raise and helped bring Germanys debt pile down to 63% of GDP at the end of 2024.

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Now they are suggesting spending and borrowing on a scale that the more progressive Greens and Social Democrats would never have dared to propose.

Free Democrats leader Christian Duerr, due to be ejected from parliament when the new legislature comes in later this month, said the plan was nothing but subsidies, nothing but new debt, without a real economic reform.

That is left-wing economic policy and that cant be the answer to the problems of Germany, he said.

Fast Track

Adding to the controversy, Merz is trying to force the deal through before the new parliament is sworn in because hell struggle to reach that crucial two-thirds threshold later, after a surge in support for the far-right Alternative for Germany.

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On Thursday, as politicians debated Merzs plans, AfD leader Alice Weidel accused him of staging a fiscal coup detat. The AfD and The Left Party went to court to stop the fast track of the spending plans, but the bid was rejected on Friday.

As Merz fended off attacks from one part of the chamber, he continued to show little nous in how to win over others.

Right after making concessions to the Greens by announcing that a part of the money would be spent on climate protection, Merz blurted out, his hands folded in front of his chest: What do you actually want in such a short time, more than what we have proposed to you over the last few days? What more do you want?

Among the ranks of Greens, lawmakers shook their heads.

I simply doubt the negotiating skills of some colleagues, Hasselmann said, when it was her turn to speak.

But late on Thursday, as Merzs aides conceded to their key demands, the Greens finally came around.

Funds earmarked for climate protection in the new fund will be doubled to 100 billion and a 2045 climate neutrality target will be put into the constitution.

Hasselmann insisted that her partys lawmakers are fully on board, giving Merz a buffer of 31 when the package goes to parliament on Tuesday. That should be enough to ensure that any dissenters either among the conservative or the SPD ranks cant defeat the plan.

--With assistance from Petra Sorge.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI)  Three contractors were taken to the hospital Friday afternoon to be treated for carbon monoxide poisoning, 12 News has learned.

Cranston Battalion Fire Chief Christian Lamothe told 12 News officers were initially called to an Auburn Street home for two workers who had fallen down the stairs.

First responders quickly discovered that the contractors didnt fall down the stairs, but had actually passed out after becoming overwhelmed by carbon monoxide, according to Lamothe.

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We believe it was their equipment that caused the carbon monoxide leak, he explained.

Lamothe said the contractors had been using a gas-powered saw in the basement prior to passing out.

There was a third worker who wasnt overcome, but wasnt feeling good, Lamothe explained.

The three workers were brought to the hospital for treatment, according to Lamothe. Their conditions are unknown at this time.

Lamothe said the family who lives in the home was alerted to the danger by their carbon monoxide detectors and evacuated before feeling sick.

Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.

Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app.

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HILO, Hawaii (KHON2)  The man who was found guilty of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a teenager in 2022 was sentenced on Friday morning.

Prior to sentencing Duncan Mahi, Judge Wendy Deweese said that she had reviewed the investigation and found that the behavior described in the pre-sentence investigation and by the victims, evidence is that your actions were planned and predatory and not spur-of-the-moment driven by your drug use, the judge told Mahi. And while Im sure drugs played a role, you cannot blame your actions on drug use.

Man in 2022 Big Island kidnapping, assault case faces minimum 20 year sentence

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The victims agreed to allow a plea deal for Mahi, which likely allowed him to avoid life in prison for forcing the teenage girl to restrain her boyfriend before abducting her from a beach in Waikoloa.

The case spurred the use of the Maile Alert system and was only the second time it had been used in its nearly, at that time, 20-year history.

10 facts about Obamas $18M Hawaii beachfront mansion

Mahi was found guilty on three counts. Count one, kidnapping, a class A felony; count two, kidnapping, a class B felony; and count eight, sex assault.

Judge Deweese sentenced Mahi to 20 years with a mandatory minimum sentence of 13 years and four months for count one; 10 years with a mandatory minimum six years and eight months for count two; and 20 years with a mandatory minimum of 13 years and four months for count eight.

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Hawaii residents urged to make sure they receive Amber Alerts on their phones

Counts one and two will run consecutively and the sentence in count eight will run concurrently with count one, totaling 30 years with a mandatory minimum of 20 years.

Mahi was also charged $1,010 to be added to the crime victims fund.

Mahi declined to address the court.

Once I sentence you in this case this will be over for you. But the victims and their families will continue to suffer the consequences of your selfish and cruel actions.

The victims family expressed relief after the hearing but mostly praised the victim for her smart and quick thinking which allowed for her escape when she told Mahi that she was hungry and asked him to take her to Cafe Pesto, where she was freed.

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I really want to commend her for really saving herself in this situation. She was so smart, so brilliant. She manipulated and outsmarted her abductor and she is her own hero, the victims mom said. We would also like to thank Cori Takaki and Bridge Hartman who assisted in her rescue at Cafe Pesto. Wonderful people. Thank you so much.

She also thanked Hawaii police and fire departments, the prosecutors, family, friends and Judge Deweese.

Yeah, I feel a lot of closure and I think shes the bravest one here, Bridge Hartman said of the victim. Bridge was the man who recognized the victim at Cafe Pesto and aided her in escaping from Mahi.

As for the victim, shes headed to college and is glad to have this behind her.

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DENVER (KDVR)  One juvenile and three drivers 21 years old and younger were cited during Denver police street racing enforcement efforts over so far this month.

During two targeted enforcement efforts over the past two weeks, the Denver Police Department cited four drivers for things like speed contest and exhibition of speed, and all four vehicles were impounded per Denvers Public Nuisance ordinance.

Southbound I-25 to close near Lone Tree for several hours Saturday

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Police said an 18-year-old driver of a white Dodge Charger was seen drag racing near East 53rd Avenue and North Jackson Street. He was cited for exhibition of speed.

According to police, officers saw the drivers of two vehicles drag racing near West Mississippi Avenue and South Platte River Drive. One of the drivers, a 21-year-old man driving a white Mercedes Benz C300, was stopped and cited for speed contest, no proof of insurance and expired license plates.

Another two vehicles were seen drag racing near West Mississippi Avenue and South Santa Fe Drive, according to police. A 20-year-old woman who police said was driving a blue Ford F-150 was cited for speed contest and arrested for an unrelated outstanding warrant

The department said police saw the drivers of two more vehicles drag racing near North Vasquez Boulevard and East 48th Avenue. Police stopped one of the drivers, identified as a juvenile male driving a gray Chevrolet Silverado, and cited him for speed contest.

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Police did not specify the time the incidents occurred or how fast the vehicles were traveling.

The department said it regularly conducts street racing enforcement as part of an effort to curb street racing.

Street racing is not only dangerous for the involved drivers, but also increases the chances of harm or death to others who are not involved. Possible penalties the driver faces are jailtime and court costs, along with having their vehicle impounded, the police department said in a press release Friday.

DPD reminds drivers, especially parents of young drivers, that if police see drivers in an exhibition of speed, participating in a speed contest or drag racing, their vehicle could be impounded.

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Denverites can report street racing at reportstreetracing.com. Police said witnesses should call 720-913-2000, or in the case of an emergency call or text 911.

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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  March 15 marks five years since former San Francisco Mayor London Breed issued the order to shelter-in-place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed reflects on her historic tenure

The decision sparked a lot of controversy, and the city is still feeling the effects.

KRON4s Vicki Liviakis had a chance to sit down with the former mayor to talk about her decision and whether or not she would have done anything different.

Watch the entire interview in the player above

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control officials said this week that more than 50 establishments were caught on various violations  facing more than $62,000 in fines or suspensions.

The violations are for businesses that are licensed to sell alcohol across North Carolina  including bars, clubs, restaurants or stores.

Each month, The North Carolina ABC Commission holds a meeting and lists various establishments that officials say violated rules.

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The businesses then decide to either pay fines and/or accept having their licenses suspended for various days.

Earlier this week, the ABC Commission made available the list of more than 50 new hearing cases. (pdf document)

In the commissions Wednesday meeting, the group ratified the 52 hearing cases resulting in penalties over $62,400 and/or suspension of permits for at least three days. The actual list of violations for each business is not yet available.

Meanwhile, the suspension date starts this weekend for various businesses facing fines or suspensions from the previous month.

The list of violations from the previous month is now available from 45 hearing cases with penalties over $54,000 and/or at least three days of permit suspensions.

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In some cases, businesses chose to pay a partial fine and have a few days of suspension.

The suspensions were set to go into effect starting Friday. Nine businesses will undergo suspensions with an average of about 2 weeks each, the ABC Commission said.

The ABC violations include:

selling to or allowing consumption by an intoxicated person

selling or giving alcoholic beverages to an underage person

not purchasing only from wholesalers

failing to deface a tax stamp once the liquor bottle was empty

failing to post ABC permits

failing to maintain invoices of alcoholic beverages purchases

failing to clear tables and counters of all alcoholic beverages by 2:30 am

failing to destroy unconsumed alcoholic beverages

transferring spirituous liquor between commonly owned business locations

failing to maintain the minimum food inventory required for off-premises fortified wine permits

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Some of the businesses in central North Carolina in the list of 45 include Dueling Piano Bar in downtown Raleigh, Walgreens and Aldi in Wake Forest, the Blue Horn Lounge in Chapel Hill and La Cacerola and Chili Bee Cafe and Grille in Durham.

Others in North Carolina include Four Points by Sheraton Fayetteville Fort Bragg and the Commodore Club in Wrightsville Beach.

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Jessie Hoffman is schedule to die by nitrogen hypoxia Tuesday, March 18, 2025, for the 1996 kidnapping, rape and murder of Mary "Molly" Elliot in St. Tammany Parish. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals removed a district judges injunction that was blocked Hoffman's execution. (Photo courtesy Hoffman's defense team)

NEW ORLEANS  A federal appeals court Friday overturned a district judges order that had blocked Louisianas first planned execution using nitrogen gas, allowing the state to carry out the death sentence Tuesday barring a last-minute reversal.

An attorney for convicted killer Jessie Hoffman said she will take the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Louisiana last put a condemned person to death in 2010 using lethal injection, and 56 people currently await execution.

Hoffman was found guilty of the 1996 murder of Mary Molly Elliot, 29. Investigators said Hoffman kidnapped Elliot after she left work in downtown New Orleans the day before Thanksgiving, drove her to a remote area near the Pearl River, raped and shot her. A hunter found her nude body the next day.

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State lawmakers and Republican Gov. Jeff Landry approved a switch to nitrogen gas as Louisianas preferred execution method in 2024 after the state failed for years to acquire the drugs needed for lethal injections. Under public pressure, major pharmaceutical companies have stopped making the medications available for the death penalty.

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Attorneys for Hoffman argue that death by nitrogen hypoxia, in which the subject is deprived of oxygen, is a form of cruel and unusual punishment that is prohibited under the U.S. Constitution.

The three-judge 5th Circuit panel ruled 2-1 to reverse the preliminary injunction U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, issued Tuesday. Her order followed a 12-hour hearing last week during which Hoffman, who is on death row at Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, requested he be put to death by a firing squad or a physician-administered drug cocktail.

The preliminary injunction is not just wrong. It gets the Constitution backwards, because its premised on the odd notion that the Eighth Amendment somehow requires Louisiana to use an admittedly more painful method of execution  namely, execution by firing squad rather than by nitrogen hypoxia. That cant be right, 5th Circuit Judge James Ho wrote in his prevailing opinion.

President Donald Trump appointed Ho to the appellate court in 2017, a year before he nominated the third member of the panel, Judge Andrew Oldham, to the 5th Circuit.

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Judge Catharina Hayes, a 5th Circuit appointee of former President George W. Bush, dissented, agreeing with the district judge that Hoffman has not been given enough time to challenge Louisianas new form of execution.

On Feb. 10, the governor made the formal, legally required announcement that he had established the states protocol for carrying out the death penalty with nitrogen. St. Tammany-Washington District Attorney Collin Sims obtained a death warrant for Hoffman two days later, setting his execution date for March 18. Details in protocol werent made public until March 5.

The timeline in which [Hoffman] could challenge it and the setting of his execution date  all happened within the last month, Hayes wrote in her opinion. As the district judge thoroughly discusses, there are issues that need more time to be resolved and decided. Obviously, that cannot be done once he is dead.

Cecelia Koppel, one of Hoffmans attorneys, told the Illuminator before Friday evenings 5th Circuit ruling she was prepared for the case to go up to the Supreme Court regardless of decision.

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Attorney General Liz Murrill has represented the state in challenges to its death penalty method.

This is justice for Mary Molly Elliot, her friends, her family, and for Louisiana, Murrill said in a statement after the 5th Circuit ruling.

Murrill has previously told the Associated Press that Louisiana intends to execute at least four people this year. It would become the second state to carry out nitrogen executions, following Alabama where the method has been used four times since February 2024.

Some witnesses to those executions have said the condemned men went through significant distress, and that their deaths were not instantaneous. Dr. Joseph Antognini, a California anesthesiologist, has countered those claims. Murrill called on him as an expert witness for last weeks hearing before Judge Dick.

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In Fridays interview, Koppel questioned the integrity of the information Murrills expert provided.

Dr. Antognini, who is a hired hand by the state, has testified in at least 20 different cases around the country, basically rubber stamping the states execution methods in each and every one of those cases, Koppel said.

Dick put more credence in the defenses hypoxia expert, Dr. Philip Bickler also of California, according to Koppel. But in his majority opinion, Ho dismissed any notions that nitrogen hypoxia involves suffering, and he noted Louisiana has modeled its protocol after Alabamas.

Breathing 100% pure nitrogen causes unconsciousness in less than a minute, with death following rapidly within ten to fifteen minutes, Ho wrote. And it does not produce physical pain.

Hoffmans death was scheduled for the day after the execution of Christopher Sepulvado, who had been sentenced to die for the 1992 murder of his 6-year-old stepson, Wesley Allen Mercer, in DeSoto Parish. But Sepulvado, 81, died Feb. 22 at Angolas infirmary. He had been in failing health for months, which his lawyers said made his pending execution pointless.

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The last person Louisiana put to death 15 years ago was Gerald Bordelon, 47, who gave up the right to appeal his execution for the rape and murder of his 12-year-old stepdaughter Courtney LeBlanc.

Prior to Bordelon, lethal injection had been most recently used in 2002 for Leslie Dale Martin, who had contested his execution for the rape and murder of 19-year-old McNeese State student Christina Burgin in 1991.

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CLEVELAND (WJW)  Cuyahoga County authorities have identified the suspects in eight sexual assault cold cases  including one case that is more than 30 years old  using the latest forensic techniques, according to a Friday news release.

The Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Offices Genetic Operations Linking DNA Unit identified the seven suspects as Douglas Freeman, Ellis Williams, Darian Eiland, Gary Tennyson, Vinson Miller, Bruce Williams and Edmund Scott Sr. Those who are still alive have been arrested  one as recently as Friday, March 14.

Beloved pilot, mentor, friend lost in helicopter crash

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I would like to thank the G.O.L.D. Unit investigators and prosecutors, the Ohio Attorney Generals Office and the Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Department for their hard work in helping to solve these cases and arrest these violent offenders, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalley is quoted in the release. Victims of crime will not be forgotten in Cuyahoga County and my office along with our law enforcement partners will continue to fight every day to provide answers and justice to them.

John Doe No. 18: Bruce Williams

A break in two of the oldest cold cases  both linked to the same suspect  came through the use of forensic genetic genealogy, according to the release.

Its a relatively new process that references commercial DNA databases  like 23andMe  and employs genealogy techniques often used by adoptees to find their birth parents, according to The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education.

On Jan. 29, 1994, a 21-year-old woman got off a bus near East 131st Street and Corlett Avenue in Cleveland, on her way to start her new job. An unknown man forced her at knifepoint into the former Alexander Hamilton School near Kinsman Avenue and East 130th Street, where he sexually assaulted her, according to the release. The woman then walked to work and reported the assault to police.

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On Sept. 25, 1995, a 27-year-old woman was waiting to get into a shelter near East 30th Street and Euclid Avenue in Cleveland when an unknown man grabbed her and forced her into his vehicle, holding her at knifepoint. He drove to an area near East 32nd Street and Cedar Avenue, where he sexually and physically assaulted her, according to the release. He then pushed her out of the car and fled.

A rape kit was performed in both cases. Male DNA collected did not provide a lead, so the suspect in both incidents remained unidentified. But he was indicted as a John Doe on 10 counts including rape, attempted rape and kidnapping.

Genealogy lab testing later identified the man as Bruce Williams, who died on Sept. 30, 2017, at the age of 53. The charges were dismissed.

John Doe No. 95: Darian Eiland

The suspects in several other cold cases were identified through familial DNA searching, in which the suspect is identified through shared genetic characteristics of relatives, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance.

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On Oct. 4, 1995, a 19-year-old woman was walking near East 110th Street and St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland when two unknown men approached in a vehicle and ordered her into the car at gunpoint, according to the release. They drove to a Euclid Avenue motel, where one of the men sexually assaulted her in a motel room. They then robbed her and fled the scene.

Using unidentifiable DNA evidence, the unknown man was charged as a John Doe with five counts including rape, aggravated robbery and kidnapping. The Ohio Attorney Generals Office later used familial DNA searching to identify the man as Darian Eiland, 54, of Dayton.

West Chester police and Cuyahoga County sheriffs deputies arrested Eiland on Dec. 2. Court records show he posted a $50,000 bond days later and is under electronic monitoring. Hes due back in court on March 24.

The other suspect, who is charged with complicity in the rape, remains unidentified.

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Missing woman survives 6 days trapped in wrecked car as drivers pass unaware

John Doe No. 100: Edmund Scott Sr.

On. Nov. 13, 1995, a 28-year-old woman was walking near East 105th Street and St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland when an unknown man pulled up in a vehicle, got out and asked to walk with her. He then grabbed her by the throat, pushed her down, sexually assaulted her, then fled, according to the release.

The John Doe was indicted on counts of rape and kidnapping. The attorney generals office connected the DNA profile to Edmund Scott Sr., 54, of Ravenna, who was arrested by Cuyahoga County sheriffs deputies on Friday, March 14.

Cuyahoga County court records show Scott is now in jail, awaiting arraignment on March 27.

John Doe No. 112: Douglas Freeman

On June 11, 1996, an 18-year-old woman waiting for the bus near West 98th Street and Lorain Avenue in Cleveland was approached by two unknown men who offered her a ride. She accepted, asking to be driven to a specific location. They instead drove her to an abandoned house near Rutland Avenue and Hazeldell Road in Cleveland, where they sexually assaulted her.

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One of the men was previously identified as Steven Ward, now 53, who was prosecuted in 2017.

The second man was identified through familial DNA searching as Douglas Freeman, now 61, of Cleveland. He was arrested by Cuyahoga County sheriffs deputies on Nov. 8.

Cuyahoga County court records show Freeman earlier this month pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual battery, which had been downgraded from a rape charge. His remaining charges were dismissed. Hes due for sentencing on April 28.

John Doe No. 134: Gary Tennyson

On May 17, 1998, a 26-year-old woman was walking along Old River Road in the Flats when an unknown man grabbed her and forced her into a semi truck, where he beat and sexually assaulted her, according to the release.

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Using unidentifiable DNA evidence, John Doe was indicted on five counts including rape, kidnapping and aggravated robbery.

The attorney generals office used familial DNA searching to link the rape to Gary Tennyson, who died in a crash the following September, at 28 years old. His charges were dismissed.

John Doe No. 180: Ellis Williams

On April 13, 2012, a 22-year-old woman who was at a party with her friends near Denison Avenue and West 69th Street in Cleveland took a drink from two unknown men that made her feel paralyzed, according to the release. They then sexually assaulted her.

The two unidentified suspects were charged with six counts, including rape and gross sexual imposition.

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Familial DNA searching by the attorney generals office identified one of the two suspects as Ellis Williams, now 35, of East Cleveland. Cuyahoga County sheriffs deputies arrested him on Nov. 18.

Court records show Williams posted a $25,000 bond on Thursday, March 13, and will be subjected to electronic monitoring. His trial is set for June 9.

The second suspect in the rape remains unidentified.

Mother of 3, a travel influencer, dies after burned by hot asphalt in multi-vehicle crash

John Doe No. 188: Vinson Miller

On Aug. 15, 2012, a 24-year-old woman was out with family at an establishment near Urbana Road and Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. The woman later fell asleep in the back seat of her car. An unknown man got in and sexually assaulted her, then fled the scene, according to the release.

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The unknown man was charged as a John Doe with four counts of rape. Familial DNA searching identified the man as Vinson Miller, 40, of Cleveland, who was arrested by Cuyahoga County sheriffs deputies on Dec. 9.

Court records show Miller posted a $50,000 bond. He was placed under electronic monitoring, which was later terminated over prosecutors objections. Hes due back in court on March 25; his trial is set for June 23.

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Heartbreaking audio from the 9-1-1 call placed shortly after the Idaho college murders took place in November 2022 has been released ahead of Bryan Kohbergers trial.

The call was placed the morning of November 13, 2022, the day that the victims were discovered, and a young woman can be heard frantically trying to explain to a 9-1-1 dispatcher what she had found in her home in Moscow, Idaho.

Something just happened in our house. We dont know what, the woman said in the audio obtained by E! News.

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After the dispatcher managed to get the address from the woman, a second woman got on the phone to describe the scene.

One of our roommates has passed out, and she was drunk last night, and shes not waking up, the second woman explained. Oh, and I saw some man in their house last night.

Authorities eventually arrived at the scene and the call was ended as the dispatcher let the police take over.

The murders of Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, rocked the small town of Moscow in 2022. Police located the bodies of the victims on the second and third floors of the house and on November 14, 2022, their deaths were ruled as a homicide. Each victim had been stabbed multiple times with a large fix-blade knife, and a knife sheath was left at the scene.

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While officials believed that the victims had been asleep at the time of the attacks, one person was noted to have defensive wounds and may have attempted to fight off their attacker. There was no evidence of sexual assault.

On December 7, 2022, police announced that they were looking for a white Hyundai Elantra that was seen near the scene and said they believed that the cars occupants had critical information. The vehicle was later revealed to be registered to Kohberger.

Idaho College Murders: 9-1-1 Call Audio Released Before Trial

Kohberger was arrested later that same month on December 30, 2022, after he was located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was charged with first-degree murder, and in May 2023, a not guilty plea was entered on Kohbergers behalf after his lawyer stated that his client was standing silent.

On March 6, court documents containing text messages between surviving roommates Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke were unsealed. In the conversations, Mortensen and Funke became increasingly concerned after their roommates failed to respond to their texts and calls.

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"No one is answering," Mortensen wrote in a message to Funke at 4:22 a.m. "I'm rlly confused rn."

Ten minutes later, Mortensen messaged Goncalve, "Pls answer.

Mortensen then told Funke said that she saw a man wearing what she described as a ski mask.

Like he had soemtbinf [sic] over is for head and little nd mouth, Mortensent wrote to Funke. Im not kidding [I] am so freaked out.

Funke replied, Come to my room. Run. Down here.

Prosecutors in the case have argued that the text messages establish a timeline of the morning and should not be considered hearsay.

Kohbergers trial is set to begin in Boise, Idaho, on August 11, 2025
They werent the final days of the legislative session in Frankfort, but in many ways they might as well have been.

Over the course of the last week, the GOP-led General Assembly moved fast to pass priority legislation on topics including flood relief, higher education and abortion.

Though the legislature doesnt adjourn until March 28, Friday was the last day for bills to pass with time for the legislature to override a veto from Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.

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Beshear has not vetoed any bills as of 1:30 a.m. Saturday, but is widely expected to reject several pieces of Republican priority legislation, as he has in years past.

So many legislators, who have made it a joyous routine to override Beshears vetoes with their four-to-one majorities in the House and Senate, scurried Thursday and Friday to grant their bills final passage.

Dozens were passed in the final days, but these 9 bills stand out for their wide-ranging impact on the commonwealth and its citizens.

House Bill 6: Limiting Executive Branch regulations

This years marquee anti-regulation legislation, House Bill 6, would block executive branch agencies like the Energy & Environment Cabinet from taking action that isnt explicitly authorized by the Kentucky General Assembly if it costs more than $500,000 over two years.

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Republicans framed it as an important step to combat government overreach and to assert the legislatures authority. One legislative leader said it makes clear that the legislature is the most powerful branch of government.

It is about a reset to make sure and remove all doubt that the most powerful branch of government is the branch that has the most elected people in it  that power that this country was founded on is spread across 138 individuals, House Majority Floor Leader Steven Rudy, R-Paducah, previously said.

Cabinet heads under Beshear spoke out against the bill.

Though sponsor Rep. Wade Williams, R-Earlington said he only believes six current regulations would be nixed by the bill, Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman wrote that the $500,000 would apply to the majority of regulations promulgated by the Cabinet.

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Public Protection Cabinet Secretary Ray Perry also had concerns.

Although HB 6 accounts for emergent issues related to the public health, safety, and welfare, (it does) not address expensive but slow-developing problems that still require timely regulatory intervention. Such issues include, but are not limited to: new financial industry risks, food safety concerns, and environmental contamination, Perry wrote.

The bill passed with unanimous GOP support in both chambers. Just one Democrat, Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, voted in favor.

House Bill 544: Flood relief cap lift

The effects of last months historic flooding in both parts of the state will be felt for years, especially in Eastern Kentucky, which was still recovering from even worse flooding in 2022.

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House Bill 544, from House Appropriations & Revenue Chair Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, responds to a long-held concern from Beshear: that the legislature barred him from accessing needed disaster funds during the last budget cycle. The bill would raise the $50 million cap over the current two-year period on such emergency spending to $100 million.

The bill also allows $48 million left over from a previous emergency response fund to be carried over into a new one created by the bill.

Beshear called the bill not nearly enough to respond to potential future emergencies and recover from the last one, but said he intends to sign it.

House Bill 424: Tenure changes

House Bill 424 from Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, would require public colleges and universities to implement a performance evaluation system that critics have said could threaten the role of tenure in Kentucky higher education.

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The bill would require public university presidents and faculty members to undergo a performance evaluation at least once every four years.

It gives schools the ability to fire employees who fail to meet performance and productivity standards, and applies to all public universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

Tipton has repeatedly said the bill is not about tenure, but about giving universities the ability to remove under-performing employees.

House Bill 208: No cell phones in classrooms

Though a similar bill didnt cross the finish line last year, Mt. Vernon GOP Rep. Josh Brays House Bill 208 sailed through both chambers with bipartisan cheer this time around.

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Brays bill cracks down on cell phone use in Kentuckys K-12 public schools.

The bill would require all school districts in Kentucky to adopt a policy that would, at a minimum, prohibit the use of cell phones during instructional school hours except in the case of emergencies. It also would prohibit social media from being accessed on school devices.

Though some Democrats did not like the idea last year, comments on the floor showed a growing bipartisan consensus around the issue.

Every state that has passed this bill has seen an improvement in education, an improvement in student development and improvement in student-teacher relations, and improving student student relations, a lessening and a weakening bullying, harassment, suicide, mental health, Sen. Reggie Thomas, D-Lexington, said.

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This is the best bill that were going to pass in 2025.

Senate Bill 89: Relaxing pollution restrictions in KY waterways

Presented as a means of protecting business and development groups from unnecessary red tape, Senate Bill 89 benefits the coal industry and other polluters by making it easier to contaminate water sources without getting in trouble.

The bill from Sen. Scott Madon, R-Pineville, reduces Kentucky Division of Waters regulatory authority by narrowing the definition of protected waters in order to mirror a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys ability to enforce the federal Clean Water Act. It has the backing of the Kentucky Coal Association.

Environmentalists, including the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, say it has high potential to imperil Kentuckys drinking water.

House Bill 90: Freestanding birthing centers, clarity abortion ban

In a committee substitute Wednesday, two days before the veto period began, Republicans added and attempted to clarify statutory language in the bill to give doctors more leeway in treating patients with severe pregnancy complications, including medically necessary abortions.

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The bill from Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, also clarifies that doctors who make these decisions using their reasonable medical judgment would not be subject to a criminal penalty.

We wanted to make sure were protecting doctors making decisions to protect the patient, Nemes said.

Doctors have demanded more clarity from Republicans since Kentucky enacted its strict abortion bans in 2022, which has up to this point included vague life of the mother exceptions.

Not all women who require medically-necessary abortions are immediately at risk of dying, but fear of being charged with a felony has pushed doctors to refer patients with nonviable pregnancies, for instance, out of state for that type of care.

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Nemes presented the bill addition along with Brandenburg Republican Rep. Nancy Tate, Kentucky Right to Life Executive Director Addia Wuchner, and Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg, a gynecologic oncologist in Louisville and legislative advocacy chair for the Kentucky Chapter of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, also helped draft the legislation.

Even though Goldberg said this latest provision will give providers greater autonomy in deciding how to treat their high-risk patients, most Democrats and reproductive rights advocates werent convinced. They said the bill didnt go far enough in giving doctors more control, or in reinstating the right to elective abortion.

Tamarra Wieder, Kentucky director of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, accused Republicans of trying to inject fake medical terminology in a desperate attempt to mask the deadly impact of their anti-abortion bans.

Senate Bill 19: Mandating a moment of silence, moral instruction in KY schools

The original rendition of Senate Bill 19 from Sen. Rick Girdler, R-Somerset, requires public schools to facilitate a moment of silence each day, during which students would stay seated, undistracted, free to exercise his or her individual choice to medicate, pray, or any other silent activity that doesnt interfere with other students, not to exceed two minutes.

Schools already have the option of offering a moment of silence each day. This bill makes it mandatory.

A late addition committee substitute to the bill also requires schools give students the option to travel off campus one hour each week to receive moral instruction with permission of their parents or guardians. The final version of the bill does not define what is considered moral instruction, but it requires districts to excuse those temporary absences.

Democrats took issue with the lack of definition for moral instruction and accused Republicans of making a veiled attempt to incorporate religion into public education.

The definition of moral is what you believe to be right or wrong, and instruction is what someone tells you to do. I have a problem with that as a parent, Webb, the Eastern Kentucky Democrat, said on the Senate floor Friday.

We constantly in this body talk about not delegating and pushing more things down for our schools to do, Lebanon Republican Sen. Jimmy Higdon said before voting against the bill.

I fundamentally disagree with forcing more things down on our schools to do. Im all for prayer, he said, but we dont need to mandate our schools do additional duties.

House Bills 196 & 398: Rolling back worker safety standards

House Bill 196 reduces the number of mine emergency technicians in coal mines from two to one. METs, trained and certified to provide basic medical care, must be present in coal mines when there are 10 or fewer miners working.

Opponents say it puts mine workers at greater risk in the event of an accident.

House Bill 398, championed by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, shrinks the regulatory authority of the Kentucky Department of Workplace Standards, which monitors most private employers

, so it mirrors the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Under the bill, Kentucky cant adopt new workplace safety rules that are more strict than federal law, and state officials cant enforce existing state standards more stringent than any federal provision enforced by OSHA.

The bill also establishes a de minimis violation, which is a violation that has no direct or immediate relationship to safety or health.

Kentucky Education and Labor Secretary Jamie Link said he has grave concerns about the measure.
A subsidiary of Daimler Truck North America said it faces catastrophic disruption to its manufacturing operation unless a federal court intervenes to keep its Mexico-based supplier from stopping parts shipments.

Detroit Diesel Corp. (DDC) filed an amended complaint to its existing lawsuit against Martinrea Honsel Mexico SA de CV on March 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

The complaint asks the court to order Martinrea Honsel to keep shipping transmission housing parts DDC said it needs to produce heavy-duty trucks.

Martinrea International sent a letter to DDC Feb. 10 stating that Martinrea Honsel would stop sending parts after March 7.





Inasmuch as the parts supplied by Martinrea pursuant to the [long-term agreement] are specially manufactured for DDC, and it is not commercially feasible for DDC to source these parts from an alternative supplier, the stop shipment threatened by Martinrea would have a catastrophic effect on DDCs operations, those of its original equipment manufacturer customer, and those of DDCs other suppliers, resulting in massive lost production, layoffs, and supply chain disruption, in addition to other irreparable harm, DDC said in the March 4 complaint.

Martinrea Honsel Mexico is an automotive parts supplier with a factory in Queretaro, Mexico. The company is a subsidiary of Martinrea International Inc., a Canadian auto parts manufacturer based in Vaughan, Ontario.

The company cited a recent court ruling regarding release-by-release contracts, under which each release or order constituted a separate offer that the seller was free to accept or reject.

The parties Amended and Restarted Long Term Agreement states that DDC will purchase 1 part to 100% of DDCs needs for the parts. Under a recent decision by the Michigan Supreme Court, that does not obligate DDC to buy any precise share of its requirements from Martinrea Honsel. Instead it is a release-by-release contract.  Martinrea Honsel is free to stop accepting releases at any time, and it is exercising that right now, according to a letter Martinrea International sent to DDC.





DDC sued Martinrea Honsul in June, alleging Martinrea is in breach of a parts contract to supply transmission housings DDC uses to manufacture vehicles. The two companies signed a long-term agreement in 2013 and extended the agreement in 2020.

Martinreas failure to keep up with orders caused DDC production losses of more than $18 million, DDC said.

Martinrea began falling behind on its supply obligations in 2020, failing to meet the transmission housing volumes ordered by DDC and thereby breaching the [long-term agreement], according to court filings.
Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) shared his insight on what might be coming for Republicans whose angry constituents are slamming them over their support for President Donald Trump amid his second term.

Kinzinger told a CNN NewsNight panel that he hated doing town halls as an elected official when he faced people upset with him. But, he added, its not only OK for constituents to criticize or compliment their representatives  its their right.

The reality is this, this is scaring Republicans, and it should, because this mimics what happened in 2010 when you saw the Tea Party rise up, Kinzinger argued.

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Kinzinger later took to X, formerly Twitter, where he urged Americans to keep up the demands for town halls to hold Republicans accountable as it really is making them nervous.

The Tea Party movement sparked protests back in 2009 in response to policies during then-President Barack Obamas first term.

Republicans would go on to take control of the House in 2010, grabbing 63 seats as part of a red wave.

Kinzinger, in his CNN appearance, recalled facing criticism at Tea Party meetings where he was asked why both he and Obama were shredding the Constitution.

Over recent weeks, Republicans have been hit with rage from constituents at chaotic town hall events amid billionaire Elon Musks chainsaw-like attitude toward federal agencies and Trumps trade war with foreign countries, including Americas neighbors.

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Party members have been advised to steer clear of town halls by both House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) as well as Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

At a contentious town hall meeting highlighted by CNN on Thursday, U.S. Army veteran Jay Carey was escorted out after he shouted down Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) for not giving a fuck about him.

The Trump administration looks to slash more than 80,000 jobs from the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to an internal memo detailed by The Associated Press last week.

Kinzinger, later in the CNN panel, predicted that the GOP will face growing pressure due to the town halls.

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And I would say, if your congressman isnt doing a town hall, I demand one, he advised.

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NEW YORK  New York City Mayor Eric Adams has named an interim first deputy mayor, a crucial position left vacant Friday in a wave of departures roiling City Hall.

Camille Joseph Varlack will maintain both her deputy mayor for administration and chief of staff titles while also assuming the role left vacant by former First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, whose resignation took effect Friday evening, according to mayoral spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus.

Joseph Varlack will serve in the role until Torres-Springers replacement is named.

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Her successor is widely anticipated to be white-shoe attorney and Giuliani-era deputy mayor Randy Mastro, whose pole position for the job was reported by the Daily News last week.

Torres-Springer and three other deputy mayors put in their resignation papers Feb. 17 after expressing alarm at the mayors coziness with President Donald Trump and the leverage White House officials held over him on account of his criminal bribery case. Trumps Justice Department is seeking to dismiss that case, while federal border czar Tom Homan has made publicly clear he expects Adams full cooperation on the presidents deportation agenda.

Should the mayor select Mastro, it would mark a dramatic turnaround after the notoriously aggressive litigator. Last year, Adams sought to nominate him for corporation counsel, despite early signs from the City Council he would fail an advice and consent vote. City Hall proceeded anyway, driving the King & Spalding attorney onto the shoals of the 51-member body in a brutal and lengthy confirmation hearing that resulted in his rejection.

Jeff Coltin contributed to this report.
(KRON)  An Alameda County fire captain was one of 21 people arrested in a crackdown on child sex predators by the Modesto Police Department, KRON4.com has confirmed. According to Modesto PD, Kip Weber, 48, of Cameron Park, was arrested and charged with attempted lewd acts on a child under 14.

Weber, according to police, also allegedly engaged in lewd communication with a minor, distributed harmful material to a minor, and possessed child pornography. Weber was among 12 people identified in an investigation launched in May 2024 by Modesto PDs Special Crimes Unit, which includes Special Victims Detectives and Hi-Tech Crimes personnel.

Weber was promoted to captain by ACFD in 2020.

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The operation, which targeted people attempting to engage with minors for sexual purposes, utilized undercover chatting operations. Weber was among the 12 people identified who sent explicit images, videos and messages to people they thought were minors.

Man suspected of masturbating bites San Jose police officer: SJPD

Several of the suspects arranged in-person meetings with the intent to commit sexual acts, police said. In some instances, police said, the content they sent or the acts they committed warranted charges of attempting lewd acts with a child.

The Alameda County Fire Department confirmed that it was aware one of its members had been taken into custody. Without naming him, ACFD said the employee had been placed on administrative leave.

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Our department supports our law enforcement partners and fully cooperates with all agencies involved while the investigation continues, said Alameda County FD Chief William McDonald. I want to ensure you that the members of ACFD will remain committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and accountability.

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Alan Simpson, the former three-term U.S. senator from Wyoming known for his humor, plain-speech and willingness to work through partisan differences, died in hospice care in Cody, Wyoming. He was 93 years old.

Al Simpson was an amazing friend, an incredible statesman, a thoughtful courageous politician, and a wonderful human being who brought humor, wisdom, and razor-sharp insight to any situation, wrote Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon. Wyoming has lost a true light.

He was a member of the prolific and influential Wyoming Simpson family and the second son of Milward Simpson, a well-known lawyer and one-time governor of Wyoming. Following a struggle to recover from a hip broken in December, he died surrounded by his family and friends early Friday morning, according to a published statement from his family and The Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

The Senate Budget Committee hears testimony from the co-chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, former Sen. Alan Simpson, right, and former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, left, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 8, 2011. | J. Scott Applewhite

Simpson was a gigantic figure in American politics both figuratively and literally, standing 6-foot-7 and wearing size 15 shoes. He was first elected to public office in 1964 as a member of the Wyoming House of Representatives, where he served until 1977. The following year he was elected to the U.S. Senate, which was a seat he held for 18 years until 1997, which included a decade-long run as Republican Whip. In 1985, he worked closely with democratic colleagues to put together the Immigration Reform and Control Act, which is lauded today as a benchmark of bipartisan cooperation. In 2022, Simpson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden.

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Former President George W. Bush wrote that he was one of the finest public servants ever to have graced our nations capital, in a statement released Friday. Bush quoted the eulogy Simpson gave for his father to celebrate the humble, funny, strong man he was. Those who travel the high road of humility in Washington, D.C., are not bothered by heavy traffic.

He was known for his folksy language and acerbic wit. During negotiations over The Clean Air Act in 1990, he referred to his democratic colleague, Henry Waxman, as being tougher than a boiled owl. Another time, he said that we have two political parties in this country, the Stupid Party and the Evil Party. I belong to the Stupid Party.

While he believed that humor is the universal solvent against the abrasive elements of life, he also said that telling the truth is the essence of leadership. If you have integrity, nothing else matters. And if you dont have integrity, nothing else matters.

Simpson is survived by his wife Ann, whom he was married to for 70 years; brother Peter; and children William, Colin and Susan; as well as grandchildren.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph Biden, D-Del., center, sits between Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., left, and Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., as he speaks at the Judiciary meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, August 1, 1989. The committee refused to recommend confirmation of William Lucas as the nation's top civil rights enforcer. Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, right and Alan Simpson, R-Wyo., center, are in foreground. | John Duricka

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee confer during hearings before the committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, Oct. 12, 1991 to investigate the allegations of sexual harassment by Clarence Thomas brought by Anita Hill. From left are: Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, Alan Simpson, R-Wyo, Arlen Specter, R-Pa., Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Strom Thurmond, R-S.C. | John Duricka

Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger chats with Senate majority Leader Howard Baker of Tenn. and members of the Senate prior to a closed secret briefing on the MX missile on Capitol Hill in Washington on Friday, Oct. 2, 1981. From left are: Weinberger; Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; Alan Simpson, R-Wyo.; Jake Garn, R-Utah; Baker and Mack Mattingly, R-Ga. | Ira Schwarz

Debt Commission co-chairmen Erskine Bowles, left, and former Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson speak during a meeting of the commission on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010. | Alex Brandon

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Republican congressional members hold a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Aug. 12, 1994, to discuss the crime bill and health reform. From left are Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas; Rep. Bill McCollum, R-Fla., obscured; Senate Minority Whip Alan Simpson of Wyo.; Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich of Georgia.; Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa; and Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C. | John Duricka

Former Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo, speaks during the State Funeral for former President George H.W. Bush at the National Cathedral, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018, in Washington. | Andrew Harnik

Alan Simpson, co-chairman of the president's deficit reduction commission, leaves the White House in Washington, April 14, 2011, after a meeting with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office. Simpson has died at age 93. | Carolyn Kaster

President Joe Biden awards the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to retired U.S. senator from Wyoming Alan Simpson during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, July 7, 2022. Simpson has died at age 93. | Susan Walsh

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TIRANA, Albania (AP)  Albania's opposition Saturday protested the left-wing government's decision to shut down TikTok, calling the move censorship ahead of May 11 parliamentary elections.

Last week, the Albanian Cabinet decided to shut down TikTok for 12 months, blaming the popular video-sharing platform for inciting violence and bullying, especially among children.

The center-right Democratic Party called on citizens, especially younger ones who are the main users of TikTok, to protest against a corrupt government that aims to keep under control the information received from the citizens, according to its leader Sali Berisha on Friday.

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Hundreds of Democrat protesters gathered in front of the main government building in the capital Tirana, shouting Democracy and Berisha's name. Many held placards including some that read: Censorship, corruption, not TikTok.

Only young supporters held speeches, not members of the party's leadership or Berisha himself.

The protesters accuse Socialist Party Prime Minister Edi Rama and his Cabinet of corruption, manipulating elections and usurping the powers of the judiciary.

The protest ended peacefully after one hour.

TikTok will be back May 12," Berisha told journalists after the protest.

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Albania will hold parliamentary election on May 11 when voters living abroad will for the first time be able to cast ballots from overseas.

Domestic polls show a major victory for the governing Socialists, who are seeking their fourth governing term since 2013.

Opposition Democrats were involved in internal disagreements after the United States government in May 2021 and the United Kingdom in July 2022 barred Berisha and close family members from entering their countries because of his alleged involvement in corruption.

Many of the Democrats' senior leaders created their own parties dividing the number of opposition supporters.

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Berisha was released in November from 11 months of house arrest imposed after he violated a court order. Berisha is charged with corruption, but he says the charges are politically motivated.

In October, Tirana entered talks with the EU on alignment on issues including the rule of law, tackling corruption, foreign policy, security and defense. Rama has said he hopes to complete the negotiating process by 2027 and for Albania to become a bloc member by 2030.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Its a unique partnership. A Canadian police department is turning to Albuquerque police for tips on solving crimes faster, while the Albuquerque Police Department is turning to them for help tackling our homeless problem.

Story continues below

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Theres an open willingness across different organizations to work together. We all recognize the challenges are similar, said interim chief of Edmonton police, Warren Driechel.

Albuquerque police invited the police chief from Edmonton, the capital of Alberta in Canada, for a meeting to exchange ideas on how police do their work. The Edmonton chief was looking for tips on using technology to fight crime, something APD is known for. The Edmonton team toured APDs Real Time Crime Center, a staple in the departments toolkit that has helped solve hundreds of crimes.

So weve got some really great technology. How do we optimize that? And those are the things that we can share back and forth together, said Chief Driechel.

Chief Driechel added that he learned a thing or two from APD on how to piece together crimes faster. Theyre aggregating all that data together. So very quickly, you can do a search and youre getting a return back from multiple data sources. So that creates a ton of time savings as well as an effectiveness in terms of the members getting the information or the police officers getting the information sooner to be able to react, said Chief Driechel.

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In exchange, APD turned to Edmonton police for help handling the homeless. And so where we had hundreds and literally thousands of kind of encampment complaints weve reduced that to almost none. And so the real benefit of that is from a public perception piece, less encampments, less disorder, but less people were being harmed that were living in those encampments, said Chief Driechel.

He said Edmonton, with double the population of Albuquerque, still faces the same kind of calls. What might be interesting to the community is the problems that law enforcement faces nationally and internationally, is almost the same, said Deputy Chief of Albuquerque Police Cecily Barker.

APD announced earlier this year that crime is down across the city, crediting the work of its officers and the technology like the Real Time Crime Center.

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A group of high-profile men accused of buying sex at a high-end brothel near Cambridge, Massachusetts has officially been unmasked.

In 2023, federal authorities shut down a brothel ring that shuttled sex-trafficked women between luxury apartments in Cambridge, Watertown, and the Washington suburbs of Boston.

The case gained national attention after authorities revealed that the brothel ring's thorough and extensive bookkeeping allowed investigators to identify many of the men who had bought sex there.

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Authorities say the list included public officials, military officers, and government contractors with security clearances, as well as others in positions of responsibility, power, or wealth, such as doctors, professors, and corporate executives.

Now, a dozen of those men were named after Clerk Sharon Casey agreed to file charges.

According to a report from the Boston Globe, the names of the accused men included Patrick Walsh, Pinhao Chao, John J. Doran, David LaCava, of Waltham, Jason Han, of Concord, Jonathan P. Lanfear, of Winchester, Pablo Domingo Maceira, Peter H. MacGillivray of Boston, Kerry Wu, Boya Zhou, Mark Zhu of Lincoln, and Yihong Zou.

During the proceedings, Cambridge Police Lt. Jarred Cabral gave a rundown of the police reports for each man, which gave an idea of how the high-end brothel runs.

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Through text message, men made requests for women, often by name. The men then placed their orders, agreeing to spend hundreds of dollars for various services that were represented by anagrams, like "gfe" for the "girlfriend experience." Cabral said they typically called the payment a donation, as is common in the sex trade.

After that, the men were each directed to come to the entrance of a high-end apartment complex and to send a text message to be buzzed in. The men were told to go straight to the room and were warned against making off-the-books deals with the women, otherwise they would be banned.

It's worth noting that the charge of paying for sex is a low-graded charge that typically does not result in jail time, even if the person is convicted.
Altamonte Springs Police are actively searching for a who allegedly has been preying on women in late-night attacks.

The wave of fear has gripped Altamonte Springs as police intensify their search heading into the weekend hours near the intersection of Waymore Road and State Road 436.

With me having a child so young Its not something I am comfortable with happening in my area, said Shauna Brownlowe, an Altamonte Springs Resident.

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Police urge the community to remain vigilant after three women were assaulted in separate incidents, all occurring between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.

The latest attack happened Sunday night outside Fiesta Cancun, where employees who did not want to be named said a female DoorDash driver fell victim to the violent ambush.

The employee said the woman grabbed her order, walked out the front door, and was attacked. They said her attacker was a young Caucasian man wearing dark-colored clothing.

Surveillance video from outside the restaurant showed the unsettling moments leading up to the assault. The assault, not in view of the camera, showed the man pacing anxiously outside the entrance, waiting for his target. As soon as she stepped outside, he struck.

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This is the third reported incident of its kind, with two other women attacked in recent weeks under eerily similar circumstances. Investigators are working to determine whether the suspect is deliberately stalking his victims before launching his assaults.

Residents we spoke with said they are increasingly alarmed as police urge women, especially those out during late hours, to take extra precautions.

Altamonte Springs Police said it is reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses along Waymore Road, State Road 436, and Douglas Avenue to track down the suspect before he strikes again.

Police said the suspect is described as a possible White or Hispanic male with dark hair, wearing dark clothing and white shoes. Witnesses advised he is approximately 6 feet tall with a slim build. He appears to be in his 20s or 30s.

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Anyone with information regarding these incidents or who can identify the suspect should contact the Altamonte Springs Police Department at (407) 339-2441 or dial 911. Anonymous tips go through Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.









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By Samuel Shen and Vidya Ranganathan

SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer's use of artificial intelligence in trading markets has spurred an AI arms race among mainland asset managers that could shake up the country's $10 trillion fund management industry.

Quant fund High-Flyer not only deployed AI in its multi-billion dollar portfolio, it also built China's most notable AI start-up DeepSeek whose cost-effective large language model stunned Silicon Valley and undermined Western dominance of the AI sector.

In its wake, aspiring Chinese hedge fund managers such as Baiont Quant, Wizard Quant and Mingshi Investment Management are stepping up AI research, while dozens of mutual fund companies are rushing to incorporate DeepSeek into their investment workflow.

FILE PHOTO: Illustration shows message reading "AI artificial intelligence", keyboard and robot hands

"We are in the eye of the storm" of an AI revolution, said Feng Ji, chief executive of Baiont Quant, which uses machine learning to trade markets with no human intervention.

"Two years ago, many fund managers would look at us AI-powered quants with mockery or disbelief," said Feng. "Today, these sceptics could be out of business if they don't embrace AI."

Most of these funds use AI to process market data and generate trading signals based on their investors' risk profiles, rather than produce DeepSeek-like models.

And as more home-grown versions of U.S. systematic trading firms such as Renaissance Technologies and D.E.Shaw are born, fund managers expect competition for "alpha", or outperformance, to intensify.

Wizard Quant advertised last month to recruit top AI researchers and engineers for a lab to "reshape the future of science and technology".

Demand for coding talent is heating up. Mingshi said its Genesis AI Lab is hiring computer scientists to support research and investment.

In a recent roadshow, asset manager UBI Quant told investors it had already set up an AI lab several years ago to explore the use of AI in investment and elsewhere.

The race to generate better trading strategies using AI requires huge computing power and high-performance chips, and local authorities said they are ready to help.

For example, the government of the southern city of Shenzhen has vowed to raise 4.5 billion yuan ($620.75 million) to subsidise hedge funds' consumption of computing power, in support of their AI development.

DEEPSEEK SCRAMBLE

China's mutual fund industry is also scrambling to embrace AI.

More than a score of retail fund companies, including China Merchants Fund, E Fund and Dacheng Fund, have completed local deployment of DeepSeek.
Romania, a country on Europes eastern fringe, is perhaps a surprising focus of attention for a new US administration whose foreign policy priorities include ending the war in Ukraine, reshaping the Middle East and expanding American territory.

Accustomed to flying under the radar, many in the country have been stunned by the Trump administrations interest in its politics, which rarely garners international attention.

Its been unprecedented, said Oana Popescu-Zamfir, director of the GlobalFocus Center, a think-tank in the capital, Bucharest. She said she cannot recall a time in Romanias post-Soviet history that its affairs have been so closely scrutinized from afar.

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The attention has centered on Calin Georgescu, a Kremlin-friendly ultranationalist candidate in Romanias abruptly aborted presidential election last year, and Andrew Tate, a manosphere celebrity charged with rape and human trafficking by Romanian authorities, allegations that he denies.

The two men have little in common, but their claims to have both been subjected to a witch hunt by corrupt liberal institutions  a la President Donald Trump  have helped turn them into cause celebres in conservative American circles and made an enemy of the Romanian state.

In Georgescu, the online right sees a politician with unorthodox views being denied an election victory on flimsy claims of foreign interference. In Tate, it sees an influential man facing trumped-up charges to cut him down. And in Romania, it sees the grossest case of what JD Vance called Europes threat from within.

The two men have amplified the US vice presidents claim. Since Romania lifted travel restrictions on Tate  reportedly following US pressure  the self-proclaimed misogynist influencer has stressed that the charges against him were fake, comparing his legal troubles to those of Trump.

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Remember what they did to Trump. Remember his accusations. Remember calling him a convicted felon he was innocent, Tate said in a video recorded from a sunlounge in Florida. The greatest men in history have suffered this law fare [sic] and slander, he said in a post, listing Trump alongside Nelson Mandela and Malcolm X.

Georgescu, who was virtually unknown before Romanias election, has also compared claims made about his election campaign to those about Trump.

Georgescu waves to supporters after leaving a Bucharest courtroom, March 5, 2025. - Vadim Ghirda/AP

The 62-year-old former soil scientist  who opposes sending aid to Ukraine, calls Russian President Vladimir Putin a patriot and has voiced sympathy with Romanias fascist leadership during World War II  unexpectedly won the first-round vote in November. But the constitutional court annulled the election after declassified intelligence reports uncovered possible Russian interference in Georgescus TikTok-fueled campaign, which Moscow denied.

After prosecutors charged him with establishing a fascist group and other crimes, which he denies, the electoral bureau banned Georgescu from standing in Mays re-run, outraging American conservatives and causing violent protests in Bucharest.

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It has nothing to do with [Russia], Georgescu told Fox News last week. Its just a copy-paste of the accusations made against Donald Trump.

While Tate has long championed Trump, Georgescu is a newer convert. As recently as last summer, Georgescu publicly disparaged the US president and spread conspiracy theories about Vance.

But Georgescu soon sensed an opportunity to ride the Trump wave, said Corneliu Bjola, professor of digital diplomacy at the University of Oxford.

[Georgescu] drew inspiration from a style of political discourse that seems to operate without rules  marked by conspiratorial thinking, disinformation and personal attacks against opponents, Bjola told CNN.

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Trumps apparent legal immunity, despite his association with the January 6 insurrection and numerous political and personal scandals, further inspires [him and] reinforces a victimhood narrative, he added.

Red meat to the base

But while courting the Trump administration has seemed to benefit both men, it is less clear why some of Trumps deputies have tried to propel Georgescu to power and, reportedly, used diplomatic capital to free Tate and his brother, Tristan.

Last month, the Financial Times reported, citing sources, that Trumps special envoy Richard Grenell had pressed Romanias foreign minister to ease restrictions on the Tate brothers during talks at the Munich Security Conference. Romanias foreign ministry told CNN there was no pressure, no solicitations in the talks. Grenell has also denied pressuring Romanian officials.

Less than two weeks after the conference, Romanian authorities lifted a travel ban on the Tates. The pair had been charged with forming a criminal gang and human trafficking, and Andrew has been charged with rape. In another probe, both are under investigation for money laundering. They have denied wrongdoing.

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Why would you release these people? They are accused of horrible things, Bjola asked, saying it was a bad look for both countries. The US used to defend Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Lech Walesa, these types of people  and all of a sudden its defending alleged sexual predators.

When asked about the Tates return to the US, Trump said he knew nothing about it.

Andrew and Tristan Tate arriving in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 27, 2025. - Marta Lavandier/AP

Others have said they were not surprised by the Trump administrations reported efforts to free the Tates.

Trump and MAGA are a very transactional group. If you do something to help them, theyll do something to help you, said Jamie Tahsin, a documentary maker who has reported on Tate for years.

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Its red meat to the base, Tahsin told CNN. They can say, Look, heres another example of where the mainstream media, the legal system and governments have weaponized the law against an individual because they dont like the things he says  just like what happened with Trump.

The Tates are expected to return to Romania for their next court appearance later this month, but some doubt whether they will do so voluntarily, or whether Washington will force them to.

Theres this general understanding in America right now that if youre on Trumps side you will be OK, regardless of what youve done, Tahsin said.

Standoff with Brussels

Georgescu has also proved valuable to the Trump administration, analysts say. In his blistering Munich speech, Vance singled out Romania as an instance of democratic backsliding in Europe.

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If your democracy can be destroyed by a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from a foreign country, then it wasnt very strong to begin with, Vance said, pillorying Romanias decision to annul its election.

Marietje Schaake, a fellow at Stanford Universitys Cyber Policy Center, told CNN the American right had turned Georgescu into a symbol of whats wrong with European democracy that fits into their broader agenda of weakening the European Union.

Vance addresses a stone-faced audience at the Munich Security Conference, February 14, 2025. - Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Having shown little interest in the bloc in his first term, Trump has claimed the EU was created solely to screw the US and threatened the bloc with huge tariffs.

The Euroskeptic Georgescu has been lionized by American conservatives who share Trumps ire towards Brussels. While interviewing Georgescu on a podcast, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones said the election annulment was one of the most naked coups Ive seen in the last 100 years  and I study history.

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Mario Nawfal, another manosphere influencer who interviewed Georgescu, said the authorities attempts to stop him running was the EXACT playbook they tried against Trump.

As well as undermining trust in elections, Popescu-Zamfir said Georgescu helps the Trump administration because the more the world looks like its ideologically aligned with their beliefs and practices, the more (Trump) gets reconfirmed back home.

Calm after the storm?

The intense online scrutiny and chaos after postponing its election has left Romania reeling. Many are outraged that Georgescu cannot run in May, while others are dismayed that the Tates might not face justice.

The experience of being caught in the crosshairs of the online US right has led to a strange irony, Popescu-Zamfir said.

Georgescu supporters clash with police outside the Central Election Bureau in Bucharest, March 9, 2025. - Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty Images

Since the collapse of Communism in 1989, Romania has often needed steering from Washington to stay its Euro-Atlantic course. But now, this is the first time in 35 years, since the regime change, that the Romanian state decided to keep to the pro-European, pro-democratic path, not because of external pressure, but despite it, she said.

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While the countrys institutions may have weathered the storm for now, Bjola, the Oxford professor, said Romanian politicians have yet to explain satisfactorily why Georgescu has been banned from running, which could provide fertile ground for conspiracies.

[Their silence] has tremendous cost in a digital age, because if you dont speak about what happened, this vacuum is going to be filled by Russian and domestic actors who have a different agenda, he said.

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DENVER (KDVR)  An announcement was made on American Flight 1006 before it made an unscheduled landing at Denver International Airport on Thursday.

American Airlines passengers were told there was a problem before the plane landed at DIA and a fire started. Once the plane was at the gate, around 5:15 p.m., smoke and fire could be seen coming from under the aircraft.

A cell phone video was captured of hectic moments as passengers evacuated the jet, which had left Colorado Springs and was headed to Dallas-Fort Worth.

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12 taken to hospital after fire seen under American Airlines plane at DIA

Pamela Watson was on the plane with her sister and her 75-year-old mother.

They came on the speaker and said they had vibrations, so we were going to have to slow the plane down and divert it back to Denver, Watson said.

Watson was sitting behind the right wing but did not see any fire while in the air. She had no idea there was a possible serious, life-threatening problem until the plane had come to a complete stop.

It was just a mess. No one realized the plane was on fire from the wing forward, so they were just getting their luggage like a normal exiting of a plane. When my window started melting, I started screaming, The plane is on fire! Get off the plane! Watson said.

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Watson temporarily lost contact with her sister and 75-year-old mother as she evacuated on to the wing and to safety amid the fire and smoke.

Air travel woes? Out-of-state, international destinations you can bus to from Denver

FOX31 Aviation Expert, Steve Cowell, said he has seen nothing to indicate the fire started in the engine. Cowell said its possible the fire could have been caused by some kind of leak.

The fire seemed to have caught many people by surprise in the terminal, too.

Erik Moon took pictures and video.

I think the thing that was most surprising to me was little awareness there in the B concourse that anything was happening over there, Moon said.

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The airline said the pilot landed safely and taxied to the gate before the plane experienced an engine-related issue.

Joshua Sunberg, who lives near Fort Collins, was at the airport and couldnt believe what he was seeing.

All of a sudden, I look over, and I watch a plane come in and didnt think much of it. It comes in, and once it gets in the bay, it just boom starts on fire, Sunberg said.

4 cited during Denver street racing enforcement: Police

12 people were taken to hospitals with minor injuries.

The NTSB said it had no new updates on Friday. A preliminary report is expected in 30 days

On Friday afternoon, Pamela Watson was still trying to fly out of Denver back to Oklahoma.

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This is the most traumatic experience Ive ever been through, Watson said.

Shes thankful she, her sister and her mother are okay.

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Red Cross Month is observed annually throughout March. All month, 10 On Your Side will be sharing inspiring stories that highlight how the humanitarian organization is making a difference.

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  The American Red Cross will be introducing a new, noninvasive way to screen blood beginning in April.

The the Red Cross is going to a new noninvasive health screening, said Jenny Lester, regional philanthropy officer for the American Red Cross. So instead of the old needle stick, which actually does kind of hurt more than the actual the blood drawing itself, well be going to a monitoring system. So itll just be a little device that goes on your finger and checks for your hemoglobin levels and health screens.

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The American Red Cross is hopeful the new process will help increase blood donations, especially with the partnership it has with Virginia Oncology Associates, with a unified goal to help save lives.

Red Cross Month: How its animal visitation program brings comfort to military

This ongoing work aids the community in dozens of stem cell transplants. And without this joint effort many patients would have no access to this form of care, according to Virginia Oncology Associates Physician Dr. Gary Simmons.

It helps collect the stem cells out of our patients and the cellular therapies out of our patients, Simmons said. And they work with manufacturing and cell processing and storage in the cells.

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There is ongoing shortage for blood donations nationwide, including in Hampton Roads.

I cant express the the need for blood, Lester said. And with the weather we just had the snowstorm, hundreds of blood drives were canceled. So were kind of trying to catch up from that.

You can donate blood as young as 16 years old with parental consent.

If you would like to donate blood to the Red Cross, click here for more information to sign up.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
For much of our history Americans have been enchanted by a fable of their own invention: that we are one people, that America means more or less the same thing to us all. If it has done nothing else, the political turmoil of the past decade has revealed the hollowness of that notion. In fact, polarization is fused into the very foundation of the American project.

In the late summer of 1664, an English military officer named Richard Nicolls led a flotilla of four warships across the Atlantic with the intention of transforming the nascent American colonies. After a long and bloody civil war that had pitted the religious militants known as the Puritans against the Stuart monarchy, the royals were once again in power in England, and Charles II and his brother James, the Duke of York, were eager to begin building an empire.

Nicolls, their dutiful operative, had two missions. The first was to wrest Manhattan Island from the control of the Dutch, whose colony of New Netherland had existed for 40 years. Nicolls was armed and ready for battle  the two nations were bitter rivals. Surprisingly, however, he engaged Peter Stuyvesant, the Dutch leader, in negotiation. They discovered they had much in common. The royalist faction in England were essentially moderates, who believed in religious liberty, wanted global trade and founded the Royal Society to advance science. The Dutch were all about those same things. Rather than fight, Nicolls and Stuyvesant effected a merger. Under their agreement, the city of New Amsterdam would keep its mixed population and the Dutch features of capitalism and relative tolerance, but the settlement and its inhabitants would transfer to English rule. Nicolls proudly wrote James that he had renamed the city with one of his titles: I gave to this place, the name of N. Yorke.

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Then Nicolls turned to his other mission. Decades earlier, the Puritans had planted colonies in New England, with Boston as their base. Nicolls and his emissaries were to bring the Puritans there to heel, to compel them to put aside recent differences and respect the king and his government. But the Puritans had established a powerful theocratic rule, crushing political opposition and religious diversity with violence. They considered the Stuarts and their followers to be godless and corrupt, while they saw themselves as the chosen people. Nicolls got nowhere with them.

Few Americans have heard of Richard Nicolls, but today we are living with the fallout from his two missions. New York and New England went on to become competing centers of power and ideology: one pluralistic and globally-minded; the other moralistic, monocultural and, well, puritanical. The geography shifted over the centuries, but these ideologies each grew along with the nation. Indeed, you can read American history  from the Civil War to Reconstruction to the civil rights movement to the age of Trump  as a long, Manichaean struggle between two opposing belief systems.

The creation of the American republic was a valiant attempt at uniting the two sides, but the founders themselves were well aware of the gulf, and of how differently each saw the new nation. The philosophical descendants of the Puritans believed the call to freedom that was embedded in the founding was meant for white Christians. As it evolved in the 19th century, this ideology held that the country was a promised land, the city upon a hill that Puritan leader John Winthrop of Massachusetts spoke of. This America had a theological destiny  a manifest destiny, as it was termed in the 19th century by a pro-expansion, pro-slavery champion  to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federated self-government entrusted to us.

The rival ideology, meanwhile, viewed the cry for freedom in the Declaration of Independence as only a first step. Over time, its adherents pushed for the abolition of slavery, for womens suffrage, for civil rights for all, for same-sex marriage. As the left has ventured into new territory  trans rights, Black Lives Matter, land acknowledgments  the right has shifted in the other direction, embracing racist and tradwife tropes that no politician would have dreamed of employing a decade ago. Then, finally, a dam burst and, in the eyes of millions of latter-day Puritans, one man stepped forward who was brave enough to speak the truth.

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Republicans were the first to realize the hollowness of the myth of one America, and to act. Wokeness woke them, led them to see the other side as beyond their moral boundaries. Some on the right were goaded by media outlets that used wild exaggerations and downright lies to portray people on the left as cartoon effigies of evil secular impulses, but setting aside the lies and distortions, a great many people felt a genuine abhorrence for pluralistic, secular society and a government that based policy on cold scientific studies and New Agey concepts of radical equality rather than on biblical or other traditional precepts.

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Some on the left are shocked by the willingness of Republicans to follow President Trump into anti-constitutional territory, but for the Puritans descendants the system of government that was forged in the 18th century was only ever a vehicle to get to the promised land. America as a joint project was useful while the myth held. Todays Puritans have shown in innumerable ways that they have seen through the myth and have moved on: from refusing to consider Barack Obamas Supreme Court nominees to rejecting the results of the 2020 election to redefining the Jan. 6 insurrection as an act of patriotism to Vice President JD Vances recent reprise of Trumps enemy within trope to the moves the Trump administration is now taking toward autocracy.

Democrats still havent fully awakened from the dream of America as a joint project  think of Joe Bidens quaint-sounding use of the phrase my Republican friends  though they are now tossing and turning in their sleep. What you might call an inherited trauma has defined us from the start. Unless Republicans have a radical change of heart and find that they would rather work alongside their ideological adversaries for the good of both than follow their president into a strange future of chaos and despotism, the non-Puritans among us need to accept that an accidental experiment, which began nearly four centuries ago with Richard Nicolls twin missions and which was rooted in the European struggle between faith and reason, is at an end.

Like an otherwise sturdy building with a flawed foundation, the myth of one country held for a good long time then collapsed in a rush. We dont know what the new structure will look like yet or who will build it, but one side already has its blueprints and has started hammering.
Mark Baltzell had seen the writing on the wall, but that didnt make losing his dream job easy.

Baltzell knew that he might get swept up in the flurry of federal firings executed by the administration of President Donald Trump. A single dad in Olympia, hed worked in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as a fishery management specialist, teaming up with tribes and states on managing salmon and steelhead fisheries on the West Coast.

Then on Feb. 27, Baltzell received a termination email.

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I had 68 minutes to pack my office and walk away, Baltzell said Thursday. The email was the same email that was sent to hundreds of my fellow employees.

Baltzell was one of four former NOAA workers who shared their stories during a March 13 press conference hosted by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat. In recent weeks, Murray has sounded the alarm about the mass federal layoffs  terminations that critics have classified as unnecessary, dangerous and cruel.

Such firings have reached the federal workforce in the Pacific Northwest, including folks whod been employed with the National Parks Service, the Bonneville Power Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Roughly 650 NOAA employees have been dismissed without reason, Murray said Thursday, including dozens in Washington state. Another round of expected cuts could target an additional 1,000-plus NOAA employees as part of actions taken by Trump and X owner Elon Musk, de facto head of the new federal Department of Government Efficiency.

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In the weeks leading up to his termination, Baltzell was preparing himself for the worst. And although he wasnt surprised when he got the email, he was still sad and angry to have his job taken away  not for performance reasons, but because of seemingly arbitrary decisions made by an unelected bureaucrat in D.C.

Its a tough pill to swallow when you know none of the reasons for your termination were legal or right, Baltzell said.

Whats at stake with the NOAA cuts?

NOAA employs more than 700 people in Washington, according to Murrays office. The agency provides key weather forecasts and helps protect marine resources critical to the states culture and economy.

Batzell noted that tens of millions of federal dollars are funneled through NOAA for salmon recovery, monitoring, habitat restoration and hatchery improvements, as well as supporting tribal fisheries. The future of that funding is at risk.

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Rick Spinrad also recently lost his job as a NOAA administrator under the Trump cuts. He said the loss of qualified NOAA employees could lead to eliminated or degraded forecasts, including for extreme weather watches, seasonal flood outlooks and tsunami warnings.

Then there could be commercial fishing closures and the shuttering of critical salmon hatcheries, hurting a $320-billion-annual industry, Spinrad said. Delivery of some goods and products at the ports could be delayed or even canceled because of compromised abilities to map the harbors and sea lanes for safe navigation.

American lives will be threatened, property damaged and economic losses incurred in virtually every business sector, every geographic region of the country and every component of American society, Spinrad said.

Very dark clouds coming

When a wildfire flares up, NOAAs National Weather Service deploys incident meteorologists who offer on-site support. Murray explained that theyll notify firefighters about wind direction, for instance, helping to predict where the fire will spread.

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NOAA also tracks critical climate-change data, Murray said. Sea-Tac airport pilots and boat captains consult agency-supplied information to prepare for safe travel. And Yakima Valley farmers rely on its seasonal outlooks for crop advice, affecting consumers groceries too.

Todays forecast, she added, warns of very dark clouds coming if Trump and Musk do not reverse this course and reverse the unthinkable damage they are doing to NOAA.

In one case, a NOAA employee-of-the-year had been fired because she was recently promoted, Murray said. A few years back that employee had aided orcas by diverting them away from a San Juan Island-adjacent oil spill.

Many folks might not realize how important NOAA is, Murray said. But theyll feel it when their weather report is less accurate  or when a fire blazes and theres nobody there at the site.

What Im trying to do right now is raise the specter, have people understand it, and to raise their voices and to let their members of Congress know we need this information back, the senator said. Its critical to us, our safety, our security and our way of life.
Four brown bears line up at the top of the falls on the Brooks River on Sept. 6, 2021, to fish for salmon. Brooks Falls draws bears from around the region, as well as Katmai National Park and Preserve tourists who travel there to view the bear crowds. (Photo by L. Law/National Park Service)

The Alaska Department of Fish and Games decision to kill almost 200 brown bears in order to boost a struggling caribou herd violated due process and was unconstitutional, an Anchorage Superior Court judge ruled Friday.

Judge Andrew Guidis 10-page decision means at least a temporary end to the states controversial bear-killing program, which was intended to aid the struggling Mulchatna caribou herd.

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Unless they want to seek a stay of this decision, theyve got to stop killing bears, said attorney Joe Geldhof, who represented the Alaska Wildlife Alliance in a lawsuit that prompted Fridays decision.

The Alliance sued the state in 2023 to challenge the application of Alaskas intensive management project in Southwest Alaska.

Originally designed to kill wolves in order to boost the populations of prey species that hunters pursue, the program was expanded in 2022 to cover bears that have been preying on the Mulchatna caribou herd.

That herd, which contained 200,000 animals at its peak in 1997, has declined to about 13,000 animals and is closed to hunting.

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Anchorage attorney Michelle Bittner filed a separate lawsuit, also challenging the states bear-killing program.

Both lawsuits argued that the states Board of Game failed to follow adequate due process standards before beginning the program.

Before a judge could consider the merits of either case, state attorneys argued that Bittner did not have the standing to bring a lawsuit on the issue. That argument went all the way to the Alaska Supreme Court, which ruled in February that Bittner could bring her case.

That cleared the way for the Alaska Wildlife Alliances lawsuit to advance as well, with oral arguments taking place in March.

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Ruling Friday on the merits, Guidi concluded that the Board of Game violated due process and did not provide adequate public notice when it began its bear-killing program.

The notice provided by the BOG contemplating extension of an existing wolf control program to lands managed by the federal government that was altered to include a bear removal program on state lands substantially changed the subject matter of the proposal, Guidi wrote. These changes went far beyond varying, clarifying or altering the specific matter of the proposal addressed in the original notice. As a result, the BOG failed to adhere to mandatory due process standards.

Guidi also found that the Board of Game violated the Alaska Constitutions principle of sustained yield because it valued the sustainability of caribou herds but didnt adequately study what would happen to bear populations.

The issue of the bear population and distribution is an obvious salient issue touching on sustainability, he wrote. Addressing the sustainability of a constitutionally protected resource like bears almost certainly requires the BOG to engage in more than a rudimentary discussion about a bear population or engage in conclusionary opinions when considering a proposal to initiate a program calling for the unrestricted killing of bears.

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A spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Law, which represented the Board of Game in the lawsuit, said the state is reviewing the order and considering its options for how to proceed.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Its a common question everyone is asked at some point in their lives while driving a car that nobody ever really knows how to answer correctlyand now, one state is working to make sure its never asked again.

The question, of course, is: Do you know why I am pulling you over?

Its regularly asked by police officers at a traffic stop and is a pain for drivers who arent sure how to respond for fear of incriminating themselves.

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A bill has been introduced into the Colorado legislatureHB25-1243that would prohibit officers from asking this very question and would instead have them tell the driver why they are conducting the traffic stop.

If the bill passes, Colorado would become one of just a handful of states that have outlawed the question over the past couple of years.

Were my rights just compromised? Why police dont always read Miranda Rights

The first state to prohibit officers from asking drivers why they were pulled over was Connecticut, back in 2023. California soon followed in 2024 as well as Minnesota in the same year.

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One of the reasons for the bill is for officer safety. Skyler McKinley, regional director of public affairs for the American Automobile Association, said simply limiting time during the stop could make all the difference.

Law enforcement, drivers, folks like tow drivers would tell you the difference between losing your life at the roadside and the difference between a near miss is milliseconds. Sometimes its fractions of a millisecond, he said. The more we can do to streamline these transactions at the roadside, the better.

Data: These areas had the deadliest roads in Colorado in 2024

Safety is a priority for law enforcement, but sponsors of the bill said drivers rights are also on the table.

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Many of my constituents dont know that when you get pulled over, you dont have to answer the question of, Do you know why I pulled you over?' said Sen. Faith Winter, a Democrat who is a co-sponsor of the bill.

Winter said the bill is also a way of adding more transparency with law enforcement involved in traffic stops.

All were asking for is transparency and I think especially right now its really important that the community builds trust with our peace officers. I think this is one easy step to do that, she said.

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The moon hangs low over the Capitol in Frankfort as lawmakers worked until almost midnight Friday, the last day before the veto break begins. The General Assembly will return March 27-28. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

This story mentions suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 988.

FRANKFORT  House Republicans cut off debate Friday night as Democrats begged them to reject a Senate provision that would end Medicaid coverage of hormone treatments for transgender adults in Kentucky.

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I couldnt live with myself if I went home knowing that I cast a vote that will lead to somebodys child not getting lifesaving health care, said Rep. Joshua Watkins, D-Louisville, who said he was thinking of a family in his district and their transgender son who depends on Medicaid.

I dont have to agree with it, Watkins said. This is about whats right.

Rep. Joshua Watkins, D-Louisville, talked of meeting a family who has a transgender son while he was campaigning for state representative. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)

Republicans, who control the legislature, also cut off debate as House Democrats urged defeat of Senate Bill 2 which will end hormone treatments for 67 transgender inmates in Kentucky prisons. The bill, which was approved 73-12, also bans elective surgeries for inmates.

Democrats said ending Medicaid payments for gender-affirming care, which the Senate attached to a House bill Wednesday, would put Medicaid patients at risk of suicide by abruptly ending their hormone therapy. The provision was added to a House bill canceling Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears restrictions on conversion therapy, a practice discredited by psychologists that tries to change a young persons sexual orientation. The House went along with the Senate changes and on a 67-19 vote approved the bill.

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Friday was the last day for the Republican supermajority to pass bills that can withstand Beshear vetoes. Leaders moved voluminous legislation, and both chambers were on the floor until almost midnight. The session will resume March 27 and 28 when lawmakers return to override gubernatorial vetoes and complete any unfinished business.

Barge bills

Earlier in the day, lawmakers swapped metaphors to describe one of two bills  House Bill 775 and Senate Bill 25  that had metastasized into what Louisville Democrat Mary Lou Marzian suggested might be called a Christmas tree.

House Republican Floor Leader Steven Rudy, of Paducah, replied with an image from his district along the Ohio River.

I like to prefer to call these type of bills barge bills  tugboats if you will, picking up several barges, pushing wonderful legislation through just because the clock is ticking. Were running out of time.

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HB 775 and SB 25 began as shell bills or placeholders that lawmakers use as vehicles to quickly move significant legislation after the deadline for filing bills has passed. The use of shell bills is among the fast-track legislative maneuvers criticized by open-government advocates for excluding the public from the legislative process.

HB 775  which grew from a four-page shell bill at the beginning of the week to 147 pages  had provisions ranging from taxes on hemp-derived beverages to tax incentives to spur plans for a private resort near the Red River Gorge. It also would make it easier for lawmakers to reduce the personal income tax in the future.

Republicans began the 2025 session by shaving another half percentage point from the personal income tax rate, the third such cut since 2022, bringing the rate to 3.5% effective Jan. 1. Beshear signed the measure in early February.

House Majority Floor Leader Steven Rudy, R-Paducah, with House Speaker Pro Tem David Meade, R-Stanford, on the House floor on the final legislative day before the 10-day veto period. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)

In addition to establishing a Medicaid advisory board and ordering an audit of Kentucky Wired, SB 25 also includes detailed instructions about where the governor should receive bills passed by the legislature, prompting House Democratic Floor Leader Pamela Stevenson of Louisville to call SB 25 a garbage disposal of many bills stuffed in here without allowing the public or lawmakers time to sort through it.

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Democrats also objected to a Senate rewrite that added a Medicaid work requirement to a House bill. Senate budget committee chair Chris McDaniel defended the requirement. The intent is that if you are an ablebodied adult, that you have to demonstrate some kind of a work effort, be that school, be that child care, be that community involvement job, whatever the case is, right, the intent is that you have to execute some type of task like that.

Most adults covered by Medicaid already work; opponents of work requirements say they increase bureaucratic costs and create paperwork burdens that cause people to lose coverage.

House Speaker David Osborne won House approval for an amendment that would preempt ordinances in Lexington, Louisville and Covington aimed at limiting the proliferation of short-term rentals such as Airbnb and Vrbo in neighborhoods. Osborne attached the amendment to Senate Bill 61 which would exempt some swimming pools from regulation. The Senate would have to approve the amendment on one of the final legislative days later this month.

Lawmakers from the three cities opposed the change, saying short-term rentals are displacing permanent residents by driving housing prices beyond their means. Osborne said the measure was necessary to protect the rights of property owners and that cities could still regulate short-term rentals though not solely by limiting their density in an area.

Rep. Rachel Roarx, D-Louisville, spoke against a bill that would preempt local laws aimed at protecting neighborhoods from being overrun by short-term rental properties. House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, at left, who carried the bill, said it would protect property rights. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)

Whats in big shell bills

Among the notable provisions in HB 775:

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Easing the fiscal requirements to trigger decreases in the states personal income tax rate. The legislature would be allowed to lower the rate by either 0.25% or 0.5% for the next two fiscal years depending on by how much General Fund revenues exceed state expenditures. After those two years, the legislature could potentially lower the income tax rate anywhere between 0.1% to 0.5% each fiscal year.

Creating statewide tax breaks for data centers. (The tax incentives for data centers are currently available only in Jefferson County.)

Levying a tax on intoxicating hemp-derived beverages and requiring their manufacturers to get a permit from the Kentucky Department for Public Health and get licenses from the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, similar to distilled spirits.

Declaring that alternative fuels including ethanol, soybean-derived biodiesel and other fuels are vitally important because they reduce pollution and improve energy security.

Providing tax incentives potentially geared toward a proposed luxury resort in the Red River Gorge area and the Bourbon and Beyond music festival in Louisville, according to reports from the Lexington Herald-Leader and Louisville Public Media.

Among provisions in the final version of SB 25:

Create a Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board to look for ways to contain Medicaid costs.

Would make the Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman an office within the State Auditors Office  as opposed to an independent office.

Give the state auditor $750,000 to conduct a special audit of the Kentucky Communications Network Authority, the government agency overseeing the statewide Kentucky Wired broadband network.

$30 million to Elizabethtown for the Valley Creek Treatment Expansion Project, along with many other local water and building projects.

Headed to the governors desk

House Bill 495 would undo Gov. Andy Beshears 2024 executive order limiting the use of conversion therapy on minors. After edits made by the Senate, the bill would prohibit the use of Medicaid dollars for gender-affirming hormone treatments for transgender Kentuckians. The House voted 67-19 to agree with the Senates changes around 11:30 p.m. The vote came despite unsuccessful pleas from Democrats to at least strike down the Medicaid portion of the bill added by the Senate.

Senators voted 37-0 to concur on House edits to Senate Bill 1 on Friday night. This high priority bill will establish the Kentucky Film Office with the goal of attracting film production to the state.

Senate Bill 2, a high-priority bill to ban the use of public funds for elective medical care for inmates, including ending hormone treatments for 67 transgender inmates, received House approval around 11:40 p.m.

House Bill 695, which Republicans have referred to as a triage bill to keep Medicaid from expanding. The bill would prohibit the Beshear administration from making changes to the Medicaid program without permission from the General Assembly, unless the federal government requires them to do so. During the roughly 30-minute debate, Democrats complained that Senate changes to the bill, which passed through a committee around 9 p.m., rushed the legislative process. They also argued it would hurt the people on Medicaid. Republicans argued the Medicaid portion of the state budget is too large not to have more oversight of the program. It passed the Senate 29-7 around 10:30 p.m. The House concurred just after 11 p.m.

The Senate voted 26-10 on House changes to Senate Bill 19, which not only mandates a moment of silence at the beginning of school days, but also allows public schools to give students leave for an hour a week for moral instruction. The latter stems from a House bill that never got a hearing before it was added to the Senate bill in a House committee Thursday morning.

With a vote of 35-0, the Senate passed House Bill 208, which would require boards of education to adopt a school district policy to prohibit students from using cell phones during schools, though some exceptions may be allowed, like if a teacher gives a student permission to use their phone for an educational purpose.

The Senate rejected an amendment that open government advocates feared could make it easier for law enforcement to withhold investigative records. Instead, the Senate approved the original version of HB 520 regarding public release of police records. The Kentucky Press Association isnt taking a position on the bill. The Senate approved it 25-12.

When lawmakers return to Frankfort on March 27-28, they can continue to pass bills. Those bills, however, will no longer be veto-proof.

This story has been updated.

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Saying the restriction is consistent with our historical tradition of firearm regulation, a federal appeals court on Friday upheld the constitutionality of a Florida law that raised the minimum age to purchase rifles and other long guns from 18 to 21.

The 8-4 ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came after seven years of legal wrangling in the National Rifle Associations challenge to a 2018 law passed after a mass shooting at Parklands Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 students and faculty members.

Nikolas Cruz, who was 19 at the time, used a semiautomatic rifle to gun down the victims at his former school. The NRA filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the gun-age restriction shortly after the law passed.

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Fridays ruling by the full Atlanta-based appeals court upheld a three-judge panels decision and outlined the history of the nations gun laws, from its founding to recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions setting guidelines for determining how to apply the Second Amendment. While the law barred people under 21 from buying rifles and long guns, they still can receive them, for example, as gifts from family members.

From this history emerges a straightforward conclusion: the Florida law is consistent with our regulatory tradition in why and how it burdens the right of minors to keep and bear arms, Chief Judge William Pryor wrote. Because minors have yet to reach the age of reason, the Florida law prohibits them from purchasing firearms, yet it allows them to receive firearms from their parents or another responsible adult.

Judges Adalberto Jordan, Robin Rosenbaum, Jill Pryor, Kevin Newsom, Britt Grant, Nancy Abudu and Charles Wilson joined the majority opinion. Judge Andrew Brasher wrote a dissenting opinion, which was joined by Judges Elizabeth Branch, Barbara Lagoa and Robert Luck.

The majority ruling relied heavily on U.S. Supreme Court standards, established in recent cases, saying that Second Amendment restrictions must be rooted in the prevailing understanding of gun rights from the nations founding era.

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The founders generation shared the view that minors lacked the reason and judgment necessary to be trusted with legal rights, William Pryor wrote.

The chief judge noted that, at the time of the founding, minors generally could not purchase guns because they were deemed to lack the judgment and discretion to enter contracts and that minors were subject to the power of their parents.

The opinion noted that the Florida law also is consistent with the countrys regulatory tradition because it allows minors to possess rifles and long guns although they are prohibited from purchasing them.

The 2018 law burdens the right no more than  historical restrictions because it prohibits purchase but preserves access to firearms with parental consent, William Pryor wrote.

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From the founding to the late-19th century, our law limited the purchase of firearms by minors in different ways. The Florida law also limits the purchase of firearms by minors. And it does so for the same reason: to stop immature and impulsive individuals, like Nikolas Cruz, from harming themselves and others with deadly weapons. Those similarities are sufficient to confirm the constitutionality of the Florida law, the majority ruling said.

But Brasher, in a dissent, disputed the historical roots of the age restriction.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  An appeals court on Friday lifted a block on executive orders seeking to end government support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, handing the Trump administration a win after a string of setbacks defending President Donald Trumps agenda from dozens of lawsuits.

The decision from a three-judge panel allows the orders to be enforced as a lawsuit challenging them plays out. The appeals court judges halted a nationwide injunction from U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson in Baltimore.

Two of the judges on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote that Trumps anti-DEI push could eventually raise concerns about First Amendment rights but said the judges sweeping block went too far.

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My vote should not be understood as agreement with the orders attack on efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, Judge Pamela Harris wrote. Two of the panel's members were appointed by President Barack Obama, while the third was appointed by Trump.

Abelson had found the orders likely violated free-speech rights and are unconstitutionally vague since they dont have a specific definition of DEI.

Trump signed an order his first day in office directing federal agencies to terminate all equity-related grants or contracts. He signed a follow-up order requiring federal contractors to certify that they dont promote DEI.

The city of Baltimore and other groups sued the Trump administration, arguing the executive orders are an unconstitutional overreach of presidential authority.

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The Justice Department has argued that the president was targeting only DEI programs that violate federal civil rights laws. Government attorneys said the administration should be able to align federal spending with the presidents priorities.

Abelson, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden, agreed with the plaintiffs that the executive orders discourage businesses, organizations and public entities from openly supporting diversity, equity and inclusion.

Efforts to increase diversity long have been under attack by Republicans who contend the measures threaten merit-based hiring, promotion and educational opportunities for white people. Supporters say the programs help institutions meet the needs of increasingly diverse populations while addressing the lasting impacts of systemic racism.

Their purpose was to foster equitable environments in businesses and schools, especially for historically marginalized communities. Researchers say DEI initiatives date back to the 1960s but they expanded in 2020 during increased calls for racial justice.

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In addition to the mayor and the Baltimore City Council, the plaintiffs include the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors and the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, which represents restaurant workers across the country.

___

Associated Press writer Lea Skene contributed to this story.
A federal appeals court Friday reinstated portions of President Trumps executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs that were blocked by a lower court.

The unanimous three-judge panel on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the administration is likely to succeed in its February appeal, though the two judges appointed by Democratic presidents made clear a challenge could still succeed in the future.

But my vote to grant the stay comes with a caveat, wrote U.S. Circuit Judge Pamela Harris, an appointee of former President Obama. What the Orders say on their face and how they are enforced are two different things. Agency enforcement actions that go beyond the Orders narrow scope may well raise serious First Amendment and Due Process concerns.

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U.S. Circuit Judge Albert Diaz, another Obama appointee, said he agreed and raised concerns about the recent attacks on DEI, saying such programs seem to be (at least to some) a monster in Americas closet.

And despite the vitriol now being heaped on DEI, people of good faith who work to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion deserve praise, not opprobrium, Diaz wrote in a separate opinion.

But the third judge on the panel, U.S. Circuit Judge Allison Jones Rushing, a Trump appointee, chastised her colleague for praising DEI, saying it should play absolutely no part in deciding this case.

We must not lose sight of the boundaries of our constitutional role and the imperative of judicial impartiality, Rushing wrote. Any individual judges view on whether certain Executive action is good policy is not only irrelevant to fulfilling our duty to adjudicate cases and controversies according to the law, it is an impermissible consideration.

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The lawsuit was filed by Baltimores mayor and city council alongside three national associations in early February, shortly after Trump signed a series of anti-DEI orders during his first days in office. Friday marks the first time an appeals court has weighed in on the orders, though several other lawsuits remain in earlier stages.

A spokesperson for the Democracy Forward Foundation, a left-leaning legal organization that represents the plaintiffs and has filed many lawsuits against the new administration, said the group was reviewing the decision.

The Justice Department appealed after U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson, an appointee of former President Biden, blocked certain provisions of the executive orders, including ones that ensured federal grants do not go toward efforts viewed as DEI-related.

Abelson found the challenged provisions were likely to violate both free speech protections under the First Amendment and due process protections under the Fifth Amendment.

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The new ruling lasts until the 4th Circuit can fully resolve the Trump administrations appeal in full.

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Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a small child in a popular national park, according to a government report.

The chilling discovery was made in the Tham Din Cave within Thailands Tham Pha Tup Forest Park. The cave first came onto scientists radar in 2020, when archaeologists identified several ancient paintings on the chambers walls. Some of these paintings depicted scenes of humans hunting animals such as deer with advanced weapons, indicating the region was one of the earliest occupied by human beings.

By 2022, the search had yielded an abundance of artifacts such as pottery, stone tools, and bones. An analysis determined that they were somewhere between 10,000 and 29,000 years old, confirming the theory that the cave was inhabited by prehistoric humans for thousands of years.

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As the investigation moved to the cave floor, scientists discovered a well-preserved skeleton which appeared to have been buried with ritualistic elements, which indicated a sophisticated cultural practice. After further analysis from U.S.-based labs, which found the skeleton to be fairly well preserved, scientists determined the bones likely belonged to a child aged between six and eight. The body was found face up, lying amongst stones with red pigment covering its face. The presence of charcoal and ash around the body indicates to researchers that the childs remains may have been smoked, or lightly charred, before the burial.

Related: Archaeologists Find Remains of Six-Fingered Shaman in Ancient Grave

"It is believed that the way the body was treated involved rituals, including a theory that this was one way to keep it from being eaten by wild animals, excavation leader Kannika Premaj explained to the Bangkok Post. We have learnt from the position and direction in which the body was placed that it was a ritual, meaning the community living here had their own culture and way of living.

The remains, named Pangpod after a popular Taiwanese childrens TV character, illuminate a previously untold segment of history. The childs fossil may provide insight as to how prehistoric humans in the Paleolithic era adapted to changes in their environment.

"The Din Cave site offers a unique window into the past, documenting the evolution of human societies over thousands of years," a representative for Thailands Fine Arts Department told Thai PBS World.
Architect Ubaldo Garcia recently finished designing two projects that will add extra homes to single-family lots.

On one, I was able to fit six, Garcia told The Bee. On another one, I was able to fit eight total units.

He is doing this in the city of Madera with accessory dwelling units, known as ADUs.

ADUs, also referred to as in-law units, are essentially smaller homes other than the primary house on a residential lot. They are often built by homeowners looking to create more living space for their families, or to generate income by renting out extra units on their property.

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A detached ADU unit, right, is seen behind the main home on a property Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 in Madera County.

In recent years, the number of ADUs has skyrocketed across California. About one-fifth of all home building permits issued in 2023 were for this type of home. In the Central Valley, the trend is evident in Clovis and Fresno  two cities that have encouraged ADU construction by providing builders with pre-approved designs and streamlining the permitting process.

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Thats not to say these homes are always affordable to working class renters. But local officials are hoping that some ADUs will be affordable in Madera, which is currently experiencing a shortage of proposals for affordable housing projects.

We have received no applications for a true affordable housing project in the last three years, Will Tackett, the citys director of community development, told The Bee in December. What were trying to do is incentivize affordable investments in our city.

Thats why the Madera City Council approved zoning code changes in January aiming to encourage homeowners to become developers.

Maderas initiative  a bonus ADU program  intends to do that by allowing single-family lot owners to build two bonus market-rate units, one for each affordable ADU they build. If builders satisfy affordability requirements and a list of ADU standards, those who have the space could fit a total of eight units, including the primary residence, on their single-family lots.

An ADU design fit for Madera

Unlike Madera County, the city of Madera does not currently offer pre-approved ADU designs to prospective builders.

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But Garcia, who owns Madera-based Villa Di Ubaldo Architecture, said he has developed a standard plan that will work anywhere in the city. Its a 750-square-foot structure with three bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen and a dining/living area.

He said hes often asked how thats even possible.

And I always say the same thing: Its just good design, Garcia said. If you dont waste space and hallways with awkward shapes, you end up with 750 square feet.

Garcia has designed a one-acre, 29-apartment project in Madera that he said uses the same concept.

An ADU is just a Lego, he said. Its a living unit that comes with everything you need. But its incentivized for us to keep it at 750 square feet.

Architect Ubaldo Garcias standard ADU plan for the city of Madera is for a 750-square-foot home with three bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen and dining/living area.

State law mandates that ADUs include bathrooms and kitchens. In the city of Madera, ADUs must be connected to utilities and have permanent foundations, among other requirements.

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Any ADU still has to comply with the city standards, just as if it were a 4000-square-foot house, Garcia said.

The architect already has a design for eight units on a single-family lot  the first of its kind in Madera, he said  making its way through the citys permitting process. His design for this lot is proposing two bonus ADUs, meaning that at least two of the other units will have to qualify as affordable.

In order to qualify for a bonus unit in Madera, an ADU on a single-family lot must be reserved through a legal deed as affordable to either very low-income and low-income households for no less than 10 years, or moderate income households for no less than 15 years.

Could the bonus ADU program work?

Madera modeled its initiative after San Diegos bonus ADU program, which launched in 2020.

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Researchers have found that San Diegos program produced a substantial amount of new construction proposals: About 1,300 ADUs were proposed under the program by February of last year, with half being pitched as affordable.

But its the depth of affordability that was at issue, said Karen Chapple, a professor at the University of Toronto. She was part of the UC Berkeley team that in December published a report about California ADUs that analyzed the San Diegos program.

That program defines affordability as rent costs affordable to households that earn 110% or below of San Diego Countys area median income (AMI). Chapple said the numbers showed the San Diego program hasnt led to very deep subsidies for very low income households.

Alex Salazar of The Salazar Group describes the features of a detached ADU unit on a property Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 in Madera.

Instead, most ADUs built under San Diegos program were concentrated right around the median income level. That doesnt mean the program is not helpful, she noted.

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Thats still affordability, Chapple said. We still we need tons of housing at the median income level because thats working class housing. If we dont provide housing for people at middle income, they will take up and gentrify the housing for the lower income.

Real estate agent Enrique Arias said he is confident the bonus ADU program will create developers out of residents in Madera  where the poverty and Latino population percentages are more than double what they are in San Diego.

Ninety-nine percent of my clients are Latino, said Arias, who has also started investing in ADU construction.

Some of those clients who own homes have adult children who do not yet have the income to qualify for a home purchase, he said.

But if they have the land and they have the equity to fund the construction, Arias said, its a no-brainer for a homeowner who could use (an ADU) for their family or rent it out for extra income.

Madera-based Architect Ubaldo Garcias design for a project in the city of Madera will feature eight living units on a single-family lot, including two bonus accessory dwelling units and at least two that are considered affordable.

The kitchen area is seen inside an ADU that architect Ubaldo Garcia designed in Madera. He has designed a standard ADU plan that he says will work anywhere in the city.

A detached ADU unit is seen behind the main home on a property in unincorporated Madera County on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025.

A detached ADU unit, right, is seen behind the main home on a property Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 in Madera County.

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The Arizona Highway Patrol carried out a major enforcement operation along a section of Loop 101 in the Mesa area on Wednesday, resulting in more than 400 vehicle stops within nine hours.

The heightened enforcement comes amid ongoing concerns about an understaffed and underfunded Arizona Department of Public Safety. Last summer, Jeff Hawkins, president of the Arizona State Troopers Association, told The Arizona Republic that the department had just one officer for every 16,000 motorists, despite state law requiring no more than one highway patrol officer per 2,500 motorists.

This week's maximum enforcement operation, carried out by highway patrol motorcycle troopers, covered a 17-mile stretch of Loop 101 in the Mesa area. Among the 406 vehicle stops, officers issued 183 speeding citations, 142 HOV violation citations, 43 cellphone citations, and 11 seat belt citations, while also making four arrests.

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"These operations happen periodically based on the crash rate of any given stretch of the state highway system." Bart Graves, spokesperson with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, told The Republic.

The agency cited speeding as the biggest contributing factor toward crashes in Arizona.

"State troopers are cracking down on unsafe driving statewide. Driving is a privilege  if you violate the law, expect to be issued a citation. Expect to go to jail if you are criminally speeding (more than 20 mph over the posted limit) or driving recklessly," Highway Patrol Division Lt. Col. Daven Byrd said in a statement from DPS.

Fatal weather: Vehicle pileup on I-40 near Williams kills 2 as winter storm delays emergency response

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Highway Patrol detail in Mesa area results in 400 stops
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  After storms passed through the Natural State Friday night into Saturday morning, many Arkansans were left with damage from the storm and multiple people were dead or injured.

On Saturday, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin issued a statement that he will be enforcing Act 367 of 1997, which punishes business who practice price gouging during a state of emergency.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders declares state of emergency in Arkansas after deadly Friday night storms

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Griffin said he is praying for those that were impacted by the storms and mourning those that were lost and aims to protect residents from being scammed by quick repair jobs.

Unfortunately, unscrupulous people may already be preying upon our neighbors with offers of quick repair jobs, Griffin said. Arkansans should call their insurance company first and not be pressured into paying a quick deposit to someone who will take off with their money just as quickly.

Cave City under state of emergency due to damage from Friday night storm

The issuing of Act 376 prohibits businesses from charging more than 10 percent above the pre-disaster price of the following goods or services:

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Repair or reconstruction services, including services performed by any person for repairs to residential or commercial property of any type that is damaged as a result of a disaster

Services, including any work, labor, or services including services furnished in connection with the sale or repair of goods or real property or improvements

Griffin reminds homeowners that insurers will honor their home policies and there is no need to rush into or be pressured to sign a contracting agreement.

In the statement, Griffin also offered additional tips:

Get more than one estimate.

Demand references and check them out.

Never let a contractor pressure you into hiring them.

Never sign a contract with blanks to be filled in later.

Never pay a contractor in full until the work is finished.

Never let a contractor discourage you from contacting your insurance company.

Make sure you review and understand all documents sent to your insurance company.

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Three dead, multiple injured after Friday night storms across Arkansas

After the declaration of emergency by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders Saturday morning, Act 376 prohibits businesses from charging more than 10 percent above the pre-disaster price of these goods or services:

Building materials, including lumber, construction tools, windows, and anything else used in the building or rebuilding of property

Consumer food items, including any article that is used or intended for use for food, drink, confection, or condiment by a person or animal

Emergency supplies including, but not limited to, water, flashlights, radios, batteries, candles, blankets, soaps, diapers, temporary shelters, tape, toiletries, plywood, nails and hammers

Gasoline or any fuel used to power any motor vehicle or power tool

Any rental housing and includes any housing provided by a hotel or motel

Medical supplies, including, but not limited to, prescription and nonprescription medications, bandages, gauze, isopropyl alcohol and antibacterial products

Transportation, freight, and storage services, including any service that is performed by any company that contracts to move, store, or transport personal or business property or rents equipment for those purposes

Tornado Watch issued across parts of Arkansas

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A violation of Act 376 is a violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which carries a fine of up to $10,000, Griffin said. Additionally, a person who is found to have violated this act shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Price gouging will not be tolerated.

The ban on price gouging remains in effect for at least 30 days and can be extended another 30 days if necessary to protect the lives, property and welfare of Arkansas residents. For home repairs, the law remains in effect for 180 days.

For more information on Act 376, visit ArkansasAG.gov.

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The Arlington National Cemetery has removed key information from its website about prominent Black, Hispanic, and female service members as well as historical topics like the Civil War.

The moves are part of a broader initiative by the Department of Defense to do away with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the Washington Post reported .

A spokesperson for the cemetery confirmed on Friday that, in compliance with new Pentagon directives, internal links leading to webpages about notable veterans who were minoritiessuch as Gen. Colin Powell, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and members of the all-Black, all-female 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalionwere taken down.

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Educational material on the Civil War and Medal of Honor recipients has also been completely removed, leaving only a brief mention of the cemeterys connection to the conflict.

TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump walks past tombstones during an unscheduled visit to Arlington National Cemetery on December 15, 2018 in Arlington, Virginia. / ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images

These deletions follow a series of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump banning DEI across the federal government. In accordance with the directives, Pentagon leaders have been tasked with purging content that promotes DEI on military websites.

We are proud of our educational content and programming and working diligently to return removed content to ensure alignment with Department of Defense instruction 5400.17 and Executive Orders issued by the President, a cemetery spokesperson told the Post in a statement.

They added: We remain committed to sharing the stories of military service and sacrifice to the nation with transparency and professionalism, while continuing to engage with our community in a manner that reflects our core values.

A delegation of Native Americans arriving to honour the Unknown Soldier in the Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, United States of America, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XLVIII, No 49, December 4, 1922. / DeA / Biblioteca Ambrosiana

Historian Kevin M. Levin first noted the removals in his Substack,  Civil War Memory , which was further reported on by military news site Task & Purpose . The removals have drawn sharp criticism from educators and historians, who argue that the changes erase vital pieces of American history.

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Levin, a Boston-based author and former teacher, expressed disappointment over the loss of accessible material about influential individuals like Captain Joy Bright Hancock, one of the militarys first woman officers, and Major General Marcelite Jordan Harris, the Air Forces first female, African-American general officer.

Its incredibly unfortunate. This is just the kind of history that we want students to be learning, a history that allows students from different backgrounds to make a meaningful connection with one of our sacred sites, Levin told the Post.

ARLINGTON, VA - JUNE 05: Period Re-enactors attend an event at the gravesite of Buffalo Soldier Col. Charles Young, at Arlington Cemetery, June 5, 2013 in Arlington, Virginia. / Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Some of the removed content is still accessible through active links to pages on Prominent Military Figures and U.S. Supreme Court, but the categories African American History, Hispanic American History, and Womens History no longer appear prominently on the site.

The cemeterys website , a key resource for educators and visitors, once provided lesson plans, walking tours, and detailed profiles of military heroes. Now, many of these resources have been scrubbed.

This is a place where history comes alive, and you feel it when youre there, Levin said. Even if you cant bring your students there, you can bring the stories to them in the classroom. Theres a story there for everyone to connect to.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Spray-painted vandalism was reported at a brewery in Norfolk on Tuesday afternoon.

At around 4:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Norfolk police responded to a report of vandalism at Armed Forces Brewing Company, located at 211 W 24th Street.

The business had reportedly been vandalized with spray paint on March 9 that reads GH3NT WOK3 MOBB.

In a statement released on March 6, CEO Alan Beal announced it was closing its Norfolk location. He blamed what he described as the local woke mob for making the taproom and brewing facility unable to operate profitably in the city.

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Armed Forces Brewing Company leaving Norfolk, to relocate elsewhere

The investigation is ongoing. There are no further details at this time.

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By Wen-Yee Lee and Yimou Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's Foxconn,the world's largest contract electronics maker, said on Friday that solid demand from its tech clients would drive strong revenue growth in the first quarter.

The upbeat forecast contrasts with a cautious note struck by many other businesses, rattled by U.S. President Donald Trump's tumultuous trade policy, and underscores that booming demand for artificial intelligence is not over yet and would further drive hardware sales.

"We have not seen CSP (cloud service providers) demand slowing down. There are (market) rumours that CSP demand will peak this year, and then it will go down next year. But we are not seeing that ... at least for Foxconn," Chairman Young Liu told analysts on a conference call.

He said AI servers would account for more than half of the company's total server revenue this year, as it expands production for Nvidia.

"For the first quarter, we expect AI server revenue to grow by more than 100%, both quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year," Liu said.

Foxconn, which also makes iPhones for Apple, booked an October-December net profit of T$46.33 billion ($1.41 billion), missing the T$54.4 billion average of 15 analyst estimates compiled by LSEG. Net profit declined by 13% compared to T$53.15 billion in the same period a year earlier.

The profit decline was Foxconn's first since the second quarter of 2023, when it fell 0.9%, and largely stemmed from an investment loss in Japan's Sharp and currency exchange losses. Foxconn did not provide a breakdown of its non-operating income and expense account.

In January, Foxconn said October-December revenue jumped 15.2% to a record for that quarter on strong AI server sales.

The company, formally Hon Hai Precision Industry, said on Friday that first-quarter revenue from consumer electronics is likely to grow significantly and that sales from cloud and networking products would grow strongly, without giving numerical guidance.

It expects its first-quarter performance to be better than the average level of the past five years.

Analysts' average estimate for Foxconn's first-quarter net profit is T$43.56 billion, according to an LSEG SmartEstimate drawn from 15 analysts. That would represent a 98% increase from the same period a year ago.

An escalating global trade war has complicated prospects as Foxconn has a major manufacturing presence in China and Mexico, two of the biggest U.S. trading partners facing increased import tariffs under Trump's administration.
(KRON)  The Pinole Police Department said officers responded Friday to the report of a Pinole Valley High School student with a firearm.

Google dumping Assistant for AI-powered Gemini

The incident unfolded at the schools campus located on the 2900 block of Pinole Valley Road.

Pinole PD said it was able to identify the student with the help of school staff, but the student took off and fled campus when approached by officers.

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Police confirmed officers quickly located the student close by the school. A canvas of the area by police upturned a loaded firearm that is pictured below.

Photo courtesy of the Pinole Police Department.

It is not clear what led to the student bringing the gun to school. It was not mentioned in a Facebook post by the Pinole Police Department if the students parents were notified of the incident or what charges the student may face.

Pinole police said in the post, This incident highlights the strong collaboration between our officers and school staff and reinforces our commitment to keeping our schools and community safe.

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FAIRMONT  As Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed the first bill to define gender into state code, Ash Orr packed his belongings into boxes, ready to move away from West Virginia.

Deciding to leave was a difficult decision for Orr and his spouse. But the environment in West Virginia was no longer safe for him, he said. Especially after what happened to him while attending a speaking engagement in January.

I was assaulted in the mens bathroom while washing my hands, Orr wrote in a January Instagram post. Simply because Im a trans man. My assaulter attacked me after I ignored his questions about my gender. He saw my silence as a threat.

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Orr suffered minor injuries and crippling anxiety, but the next seven weeks didnt get any easier.

Orr was also in the process of updating his name and gender marker on his passport, which he had for 20 years. After President Donald Trump took a second term, Orr saw the need to update his federal IDs to accurately reflect who he actually is. He filed an application to make the change on Jan. 16, but, on Jan. 24, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the State Department to suspend all passport applications seeking to change a sex marker.

Rubios own directive acknowledged the difference between sex and gender, since it ordered sex, and not gender, would be used in official documents.

One week after the assault, the passport agency told Orr they have no guidance on Rubios suspension, but that Orr should assume his passport had been set aside.

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This is what its like being trans in America right now, Orr wrote in a post about his passport application.

Orr declined to comment for this article, since he is currently pursuing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the passport. However, he verified the events and gave permission to use posts from his Instagram account for the article. Orr said in a post that the Trump administration wants to isolate and erase trans folk, and that having his documents in the hands of the administration was terrifying.

While Orr coped with the consequences of anti-trans bigotry, the West Virginia Legislature considered 22 bills related to LGBTQ rights. Effectively, several of those laws would function to erase trans people from public view. House Resolution 6 labeled transgenderism as a mental disorder, while citing God and the Bible.

Sen. Joey Garcia, D-Marion County, viewed two bills that passed the senate as an attack on really vulnerable people. Senate Bill 299 and Senate Bill 154 passed the Senate and moved on to the House of Delegates. Senate Bill 299 closed an exemption that allowed children at risk for self harm or suicide to receive gender affirming care in a state that otherwise banned it. Senate Bill 154 outs children who may not be ready to disclose they are questioning their gender to parents.

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The ACLU reported in a 2024 report citing FBI crime data that anti-trans legislation results in an uptick of violence against LGBTQ people. Orr posted that West Virginias Republican Party and Gov. Morrisey were pushing the anti-trans bills as a way to distract from the real issues impacting all West Virginians, such as expanding health care, the states broken foster care system or addressing failing infrastructure.

Marshall Szary, president of Fairmont Pride, said hes seen a healthy mix of fear and keeping to oneself among trans members of Fairmonts queer community. Theyre doing what they can to avoid drawing attention to themselves, he said. The environment even has Szary, who is not a trans individual, questioning if this is the best place for him to be in the foreseeable future. West Virginia is home for Szary.

On its face, its abhorrent from someone who has a psychological background, Szary said. I cant imagine what some of these folks are feeling, thinking. I hate to think that the thought it would come to the worst in some of those circumstances, but unfortunately, thats the truth. Peoples lives are going to be impacted. Its more than just a bathroom to folks. Its dehumanizing individuals and putting them into this small, little box that a bunch of people down in the capital feel like they fit in.

On Feb. 18, Orr was finally able to regain some agency. He filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for withholding his passport. The suit argued the policy under which Orrs passport was taken was arbitrary and capricious.

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Many previously have had harmful experiences as a result of identity documents inconsistent with their gender identity, the suit states. All fear for their safety if they were to try to travel with a passport with the wrong sex designation. For example, Orr was accused by the TSA of presenting false identity documents because his passport, which had a female sex designation, did not match his appearance or drivers license. Which has a male designation.

The suit argues the executive order from which Rubios policy came relies on inaccurate descriptions of biology and seeks to deny the existence of transgender, intersex and nonbinary people.

On March 12, Orr posted that he had been without his passport, marriage license or birth certificate for 55 days, all because hes a trans man. He had to cancel multiple international trips, including one to Ireland for gender affirming care. Thousands of dollars have been placed into limbo. In over 10 days, he will have his first court date.

I dont know what the coming weeks will bring, Orr wrote. But I remain hopeful that we, as plaintiffs and Trans Americans, will soon have access to accurate passports.
International law is not all its cracked up to be.

Most democracies around the world will readily resile from their international obligations if it suits them. They recognise, unlike the British government, that international law is secondary to national interests.

This is why Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, deeply fearful of Russian aggression, has recently said that Poland will withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Convention which bans the use of anti-personnel mines. Poland will become the first EU state to withdraw from this treaty. The Poles intent is probably to place landmines along the Polish borders with Russia, Belarus and Kaliningrad to deter a Russian invasion. Lithuania has also said in the last few days that it will leave a 2008 convention which bans cluster munitions.

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When the future of their country is at stake, leaders quickly wake up to the irrelevance of international law. If the bad guys are paying no attention then the good guys cant afford to do otherwise.

Its not just withdrawals from international law obligations that highlight its irrelevance. Its the actual misuse of international law which has discredited and devalued it.

And that brings us to the European Court of Human Rights. Its time for the UK to take our leave. Yes, the left will squeal and portray the UK as falling into despotism  but they will be wrong. The ECHR is not sacrosanct, it isnt the high priest of jurisprudence, whose words will be imparted through the Eons like the wisdom of Solomon. Its a body that has badly lost its way. It protects not the rights of society but those of the antisocial. It damages respect for the law with its offensive and highly damaging rulings.

Withdrawal from the ECHR will not be a panacea to the UKs problems with international law. Our lexocracy (my word for the rule of lawyers, rather than the rule of law) also includes our own Human Rights Act, as well as a rather out of control concept of judicial review and other problems which have allowed our judges to become a law unto themselves. These things will all have to be addressed  but withdrawing from the ECHR would be an important first step.

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Beyond that, the Government should seriously reconsider its current slavish obedience to international law generally. There are many examples in which international legal forums have been misused for nakedly political purposes.

The Swiss, for instance, had until quite recently been planning a conference in Geneva of something called the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, which has only convened three times in the past 26 years (all of them of course in relation to Israel). The plan was to alter the Geneva Conventions to make things harder for Israel  making this a rather blatant politicization of the Conventions. Fortunately the project failed.

Meanwhile there is the wilful blindness of so-called international law to enormous and genuine atrocities elsewhere.

Thousands of Tibetans seek refuge in India whilst their unique culture is destroyed in their ancient homeland. The Uighurs are forced by the Chinese communist party into re-education camps. Buddhist militias have driven out Rohingya people from Myanmar and into Bangladesh. Russia steals Ukrainian children to force their adoption into Russian families.

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So-called International Law is deafeningly silent on these issues.

Meanwhile the United Nations elects Iran, that renowned beacon of justice, to chair its regional group on the United Nations Human Rights Council. This is like electing the Imperial Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan to chair the Equal Rights Commission.

Its time to start treating international law like the ass it is, and begin by leaving the ECHR.

Sir Michael Ellis served as Attorney General of England and Wales in 2022

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Mar. 14OREGON  The attorney for a Rochelle man charged with indecent solicitation of a child and violating the Sex Offender Registration Act told an Ogle County judge Wednesday that he doubts his client is mentally fit to stand trial.

Timothy J. O'Dell, 28, of Rochelle, was arrested by Rochelle police after the department was contacted at 9:45 p.m. March 6 about an adult male trying to meet with a minor for sex in Rochelle. He was arrested after an investigation by the Rochelle Police Department Patrol Division.

O'Dell, who already had a pending charge of violating the Sex Offender Registration Act in Ogle County, was sentenced in 2023 to probation for the same offense.

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The Ogle County State's Attorney's Office filed three felony charges against O'Dell on March 7: one count of violating the Sex Offender Registration Act and two counts of indecent solicitation of a child.

According to court documents, O'Dell failed to report to the Rochelle Police Department "any instant messaging identities, any internet communication identities" that he uses or planned to use, or other internet sites "to which he has uploaded any content or posted any messages or information."

In the solicitation charges, he is accused of intending to commit aggravated criminal sexual abuse when he "knowingly solicited one whom he believed to be a child to perform an act of sexual penetration or sexual conduct," discussing the meeting on the internet.

In October, Judge John Redington, who is now retired, found O'Dell fit to stand trial on a previous charge of violating the terms of his probation sentence when he allegedly failed to register as a sex offender with the Rochelle Police Department. That case still is pending.

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In Illinois, individuals convicted of certain sex offenses must register as sex offenders with the local law enforcement agency in the community they reside.

On Wednesday, Ogle County Assistant Public Defender Michael O'Brien requested that O'Dell be evaluated by Jayne Braden, a forensic and clinical psychologist in Sycamore.

"I have a bona fide doubt as to his fitness," O'Brien told Judge Anthony Peska as he asked for the court-appointed evaluation.

Assistant State's Attorney Matthew Leisten did not object.

O'Brien said the evaluation process usually takes up to 60 days. Peska set the next hearing for 10 a.m. May 21.

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Peska denied O'Dell's request to be released from custody as his case proceeds through the court system.

"That request is denied to ensure the safety of this community and other communities," Peska said.

O'Dell has been held in the Ogle County Jail since his arrest March 6.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  President Donald Trumps efforts to shrink federal funding is sending shockwaves to communities across the country including those in Kern County.

Federal grants fund projects in Bakersfield, such as the Southeast Strong initiative, to rebuild and revitalize one of Bakersfields poorest communities.

We have been notified from the federal government that, that was one of the projects on their initial lists to be looked at, but there has been a court injunction put in place that does not allow the federal government to stop those funds from going forward, said Christian Clegg, Bakersfields city manager.

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On March 6, a Rhode Island judge blocked the Trump Administrations cutbacks, securing federal funds for 22 states and the District of Columbia.

California kept grant funds for local projects.

Firefighters put out fire to hangar at Tehachapi Airport

The Southeast Strong Initiative is funded by a $22 million state grant, as well as a grant through the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which adds an additional $20 million.

Eight projects in the initiative were funded by the EPA national grant, from installing solar panels on the Friendship House Community Center to road projects like 4th and P street improvements and Safe Routes to School improvements, to community outreach and workforce development.

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Clegg said the city is moving swiftly on these projects while the injunction is in place.

Were trying to move quickly to do as much as we can on that project, said Clegg. But importantly, that state funding we do not anticipate to be at risk.

That state funding is putting in place one of the most expensive projects in the initiative: rebuilding and revitalizing the Bakersfield Senior Center.

The 50-year-old building is going to be torn down and completely built up with multiple floors.

Affordable housing for seniors, as well as also provide services and programs for our seniors, said Lilli Parker, the centers executive director.

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There are also cottages being built next to the center for affordable housing,

If you can beautify an area, everything changes, so those are just some of the few changes thats going to occur, said Parker.

If grant funding is taken away, Clegg explained how the city will manage.

Well look for other grants to fund them, and if not, it would just take a lot longer time that we can slowly fit those into our annual road projects, said Clegg.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A Baton Rouge man convicted of second-degree murder in a 2016 nightclub shooting has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of probation or parole.

Court records show Horace Smith, 45, was sentenced Thursday to life at hard labor with credit for time served.

2016 nightclub shooting

Horace Smith (Baton Rouge Police Department)

Smith was convicted in January for the Oct. 23, 2016, shooting at a nightclub on N. Foster Drive that left Christopher Edwards dead and a woman injured. According to police, security footage showed Smith and his brother, Mack Smith, 46, in a verbal confrontation with Edwards inside the nightclub before the shooting.

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Authorities say the Smith brothers were removed from the club by security but later confronted Edwards outside as he was leaving. Edwards was fatally shot, and the suspects were seen fleeing the scene while holding guns, according to an arrest warrant.

Co-defendant awaits trial

Mack Smith, who was also charged in connection to the shooting, is scheduled to go to trial on May 19. He has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, court records show.

Sentencing details

During Thursdays sentencing hearing, the victims family gave a statement, which was read into the record by Assistant District Attorney Schyler Brooks.

Smith was advised of his right to post-conviction relief within two years and was informed that any motion to reconsider his sentence must be filed within 30 days.

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The court ordered the life sentence to be served without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension.

East Baton Rouge grand jury indicts 7 suspects in murder of 8-year-old boy

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Donald Trump has been upending the world order since his return to the White House in January. In this three-part series, we look at the implications of Trump's foreign policy - starting with the competition between the US and China for critical minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The tussle playing out between Beijing and Washington over the sourcing and processing of critical minerals might not have been so intense had the United States not sold two of the world's biggest cobalt mines to China.

Both cobalt-copper mines are located in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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American mining giant Freeport-McMoRan sold its stake in the Tenke Fungurume Mine to CMOC Group - then known as China Molybdenum - for US$2.65 billion in 2016. Four years later, it also offloaded its share of the Kisanfu mine to the Chinese miner for US$550 million.

The two acquisitions more than doubled CMOC's cobalt supply and it became the world's largest producer of the mineral in terms of output in 2023.

DR Congo, or the DRC, is by far the world's biggest source of cobalt - a mineral needed for making the batteries used in phones and electric vehicles - accounting for about 70 per cent of global production. It is also a key source of copper and a dozen other critical metals and rare earth minerals.

US mining giant Freeport-McMoRan sold its stake in the Tenke Fungurume Mine to Chinese firm CMOC in 2016. Photo: Reuters alt=US mining giant Freeport-McMoRan sold its stake in the Tenke Fungurume Mine to Chinese firm CMOC in 2016. Photo: Reuters>

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That has drawn multibillion-dollar Chinese investments to the Central African nation as part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative. They include a US$7 billion Sicomines resource-for-infrastructure deal under which a consortium of Chinese firms, led by Sinohydro and China Railway Engineering Corporation, will build roads, power transmission lines and hydro dams. The Chinese firms are to be repaid in minerals or income generated from them.

Chinese state-owned creditors approved 19 loan commitments worth about US$12.85 billion for cobalt-copper mines in DR Congo between 2000 and 2021, according to research published in February by AidData, a research lab at the College of William & Mary in the US.

Political turmoil in the mineral-rich east of DR Congo has complicated the situation for investors, with militant groups led by M23 capturing Bukavu, capital of South Kivu, on February 14 after they took Goma, capital of North Kivu, the previous month.

Last month, President Felix Tshisekedi offered the US direct access to strategic minerals if it intervened to end the conflict, according to a post on X by the president's spokeswoman, Tina Salama.

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On February 20, Washington imposed sanctions on a Rwandan government minister over his alleged support for the M23 armed group fighting in the east of DR Congo.

According to a Financial Times report last week, the US is also engaged in "exploratory talks" with DR Congo on a deal that would see the African nation grant access to its critical minerals in exchange for military support.

Observers say the Donald Trump administration might be able to leverage the situation in DR Congo to apply pressure on Kinshasa so that it does not approve new acquisitions by Chinese companies. But they note that Chinese investors have already firmly established a presence in the country.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi wants the US to intervene to end the conflict. Photo: AP alt=Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi wants the US to intervene to end the conflict. Photo: AP>

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Christian-Geraud Neema, a Congolese mining and policy analyst and non-resident scholar with the Carnegie Africa Programme, said the "US doesn't offer a real, credible and viable alternative to the Chinese investments in the DRC".

"The DRC wants an option but doesn't want to align to just one side," said Neema, the Africa editor of the China-Global South Project.

He said Washington might want to stymie further Chinese investment in Congolese mines "but to kick the existing ones out just isn't feasible and that's not an option for the DRC".

According to Neema, the US needs to put an offer on the table.

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"They have already cut USAID funding from which the DRC was receiving US$1 billion, but that is a broader move not targeted at the DRC specifically," said Neema, referring to Trump's move to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development.

America's National Association of Manufacturers last year said the price of buying a company like Congolese cobalt miner Chemaf Resources - whose deal to sell its assets to Norin Mining has stalled - was significant. It said some investors were waiting for the US government to offer support before pursuing such a deal.

"It has been difficult for the US government to interest American investors in any sector in Congo because of the country's poor infrastructure, limited skilled labour, resource nationalism and reputation for government corruption," the association said in a statement.

Last month, the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs said critical mineral security was national security. It said if China increased its control over these supply chains it would be detrimental to both DR Congo and the US.

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"The DRC government must ensure that Norinco's bid remains blocked. Don't give the PRC another inch," the committee said in a post on X last month responding to Norinco's offer to buy copper and cobalt assets owned by Chemaf.

But as demand for cobalt and other critical minerals skyrockets, there is wide bipartisan consensus in Washington on the US strategic interest in Africa - especially for gaining access to those minerals, and especially in DR Congo.

The previous Joe Biden administration in 2022 signed a memorandum of understanding with DR Congo and Zambia - another resource-rich African nation - to provide funding and expertise for their mining industries.

To help it gain access to minerals, the US is funding the building of its first megaproject in Africa in decades, the Lobito Corridor - a railway and logistics project connecting Angola with Zambia and DR Congo. The project is expected to help the US and its allies secure critical and strategic minerals that are central to their green-energy plans. However, it is not clear whether the Trump administration will back the project given the freeze on US foreign assistance.

DR Congo produces about 70 per cent of the global supply of cobalt. Photo: AFP alt=DR Congo produces about 70 per cent of the global supply of cobalt. Photo: AFP>

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Kai Xue, a Beijing-based corporate lawyer who advises on foreign direct investment and cross-border financing, said given DR Congo's position as the world's primary cobalt supplier, "the Trump administration will likely continue to view the DRC as a strategic battleground".

Xue noted that the Biden administration had intervened to pressure DR Congo into blocking a Chinese state-owned entity's acquisition of a cobalt and copper miner in 2024 - referring to the stalled Chemaf deal with Norin Mining, a unit of defence giant China North Industries Corporation.

The Wall Street Journal reported last year that Washington had also initiated discussions with a number of American companies to buy Chemaf.

Meanwhile, there is concern in Beijing that its belt and road infrastructure and investment strategy will become more of a US target after the Trump administration pressured Panama to quit the initiative - something it could repeat in other places where Washington wants to counter Chinese influence.

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In response, China's assistant foreign minister Zhao Zhiyuan accused the US of "wantonly undermining China-Panama relations and smearing and sabotaging belt and road cooperation through the means of pressuring and threatening".

Chris Berry, who heads US-based commodities advisory firm House Mountain Partners, said while Trump wanted to "bring industries home" it was unclear how he intended to do so, aside from the use of tariffs.

And he did not see any change to the dynamic in DR Congo.

"Chinese companies are so entrenched in the DRC that I'm not sure what leverage the US or other Western nations have in the country currently to shift this dynamic in the near term," Berry said.

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He noted that there had been progress on the Lobito Corridor but the freeze on US aid put the timing and pace of the project in question - opening the door for Chinese interests to strengthen their supply chains and invest more in the country.

Seifudein Adem, a global affairs expert and research fellow at the JICA Ogata Research Institute for Peace and Development in Tokyo, said China had every reason to be concerned about Trump's next move in DR Congo given his transactional approach to foreign policy.

Adem said competition between the US and China for critical raw materials in DR Congo was likely to intensify.

"As we have seen in the opening weeks of the Trump administration in connection with some other countries - including America's own allies - for him what is good for America, however he defines it, is good for the world," Adem said. "That may be his global expectation."

According to Neema, "US companies might be a bit more interested to go back to the DRC" after Trump halted enforcement of an anti-corruption law - the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act - that bars Americans from bribing foreign government officials to win business.

Trump said "overenforcement" of the law put US businesses at a disadvantage in international markets.

DR Congo is poorly ranked at 163 out of 180 countries on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index for 2024.

Cobalt is needed to make the batteries used in electric vehicles and phones. Photo: TNS alt=Cobalt is needed to make the batteries used in electric vehicles and phones. Photo: TNS>

But as far as critical minerals are concerned, China has "a virtual monopoly on copper and cobalt production", according to Joseph Cihunda, from the University of Kinshasa's law faculty.

Noting that there were no American mining companies operating in DR Congo at present, he said Chinese had also invested in the country's lithium, diamonds, gold and 3T ores - tin, tungsten and tantalum.

Cihunda, who is also a project officer at the Congolese office of Southern Africa Resource Watch, said he did not see how the US could catch up with China on critical minerals investment in the country.

"Pressure on the Congolese government, or in the worst case, changing it, won't be enough given that Congolese public opinion considers the US to be the one pulling the strings in all the murderous wars the DRC has experienced since 1996," he said.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  The wine industry is bracing for a possible 200 percent tariff on wine, champagne, and spirits imported from Europe. Its the latest in an ongoing trade war between the U.S. and its trading partners, in response to the European Unions threat to put a 50 percent tax on American whiskey.

Jury finds ex-Antioch K-9 officer Morteza Amiri guilt

The European Union proposed the 50 percent tax on American whiskey to retaliate against President Trumps tariffs on steel and aluminum that went into effect Wednesday. Now, the Bay Area wine industry, which is already playing catch-up from the pandemic, is caught in the middle.

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Couples, friends, and colleagues capped off their workweek at San Francisco Wine Society Friday night with a glass of red or white. But how much they drink may soon depend on possible price increases linked to impending tariffs.

Danielle Kuzinich, owner of San Francisco Wine Society, said, The argument of these tariffs is that, Oh if European wines get too expensive, then people will just drink more California wines, but I think youre going to see an increase on European wines and then you might end up seeing an increase on California wines as well because of the supply and demand.

With hundreds of European labels in stock, Kuzinich said the trade war couldnt have come at a worse time.

Kuzinich added, In California, the two biggest retailers just laid off hundreds of people because people are drinking less as it is, and if these taxes come into play at a large number, it could shut down import companies.

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On busy Polk Street in San Franciscos Russian Hill neighborhood, William Cross Wine Merchants and Wine Bar is also worried about how the new tariffs would affect prices.

Steven Sherman, owner of William Cross Wine Merchants and Wine Bar, said, A Sancerre that was $20 would now be $60. People come in every day to buy their wine for dinner, so by doing that, it would really affect us greatly because then all of a sudden, the prices of everything are now almost triple.

Sherman hopes they wont have to pass on the price increase, but he said it all depends on how long the tariffs will be in place.

Is it a short-time effect where we can get past it, or if its a long-time effect, I really dont know what I would have to do, said Sherman.

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The California Wine Institute said in a statement, The current dispute has never been about wine, and these tariffs will only hurt the broader wine sector, including farmers, vintners, distributors, retailers.

Fingers crossed that its a scare tactic, but who knows, added Sherman.

The 200 percent tariff is expected to go into effect in April.

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BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  The Florida Department of Health in Bay County is monitoring rabies among wild animals in the area.

According to a news release, this is in response to a single confirmed case of rabies in a skunk that was captured in the Magnolia Hills area off Alva Thomas Road in Bay County on March 11, 2024.

All residents and visitors should be aware that rabies may be currently present in the wild animal population. People and domestic animals should always avoid physical contact with wild animals, like raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, and coyotes.

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Panama City Beach woman arrested for human trafficking of a minor

If you are exposed to rabies, health officials say receiving appropriate treatment after exposure will protect you from the risk of rabies.

Here are some precautions to prevent rabies exposure:

Immunize your pets based on your veterinarian

Keep your pets under direct supervision and on a leash, and keep livestock secured on your property. If an animal bites your pet, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact Bay County Animal Control at (850)-767-3333 or Lynn Haven Police Department at (850)-265-4111.

Avoid contact with wild or stray animals. Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract them with outdoor pet food or open garbage cans.

If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal, report the injury to DOH-Bay at (850)-872-4455.

Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home; instead, call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood.

Prevent wildlife, including bats, from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, schools, and other similar areas where they might come into contact with people and pets.

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Franklin Templeton, which manages $27.7 billion in 74 ETFs, has applied to issue a fund offering investors exposure to the spot price of the XRP cryptocurrency, the fourth-largest digital coin by market cap, which has tripled in price over the past year.

The filing came a day after the Securities and Exchange Commission delayed its review of Grayscale Investments XRP application, saying it needed more time. The new deadline is May 21.

The delay was triggered by the SEC nearing an agreement with XRP founder Ripple Labs, Fox Newss Eleanor Terrett posted on X. Ripple, sued in 2020, was fined $125 million in August when a court determined the company sold unregistered securities. The company has pushed back, and the SEC, more accommodating toward crypto markets under the Trump administration, is said to be negotiating a settlement more favorable to the company.

The XRP ETF is among a slew of spot crypto ETFs that issuers have applied to create since the election of President Donald Trump last year. XRP, approved for trading in a Hashdex ETF in Brazil last month, joins Hedera and Solana among digital coins seeking to be traded as ETFs. So far, only Bitcoin and Ethereum have been approved for trading as ETFs.

Franklin Templeton Explores XRP, Bitcoin

Franklin Templeton, which filed Tuesday to launch its XRP fund, has been known for its relatively conservative ETFs. Its largest is the $2.4 billion Franklin U.S. Core Bond ETF (FLCB) followed by the $2.2 billion Putnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF (PVAL). Still, its $426 million Franklin Bitcoin ETF (EZBC) was among the original spot bitcoin ETFs approved in January 2024. That funds price has dropped 17% over the past three months.

XRP, launched in 2012 as the token of the XRP Ledger, aims to be used in cross-border transactions. Its said to be faster and cheaper than other cryptocurrencies.

In the U.S., the SEC is reviewing XRP applications from Grayscale, Bitwise, CoinShares, Canary Capital and WisdomTree.

Bloombergs Eric Balchunas posted on X that applications covering 64 cryptocurrencies have been submitted to the SEC.





Permalink |  Copyright 2025 etf.com. All rights reserved
Related video: KNWA/FOX24s coverage of the Beaver Lake wildfire on Mar. 14.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A wildfire that burned for three days near Pine Creek Hollow and crossed Beaver Lake has now been contained, according to the Piney Point Fire Department.

The fire spread into an area near Hickory Creek, close to the end of East Highway 264.

WATCH: Forest fire breaks out at end of Highway 264

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Fire crews from multiple departments, including Piney Point Fire Department, Highway 94 East Fire Department, Hickory Creek Fire Department, Lowell Fire Department, Rogers Fire Department and Gravette Fire Department, worked to control the blaze.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, and no injuries have been reported so far.

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Two of the country's most well-known progressive politicians will hold a political rally in Arizona next week, mobilizing their supporters around "fighting oligarchy" at a time when Democrats are struggling to mount a resistance against President Donald Trump's second-term agenda.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., will appear at Arizona State University's Mullett Arena at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The event is part of Sanders' tour that will take him through a number of other swing states, including Michigan, Wisconsin and Nevada.

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Sanders says he isn't planning to run for president, like he did in 2016 and 2020. Rather, he has promoted the tour as an effort to rally the public against Trump and coalesce Democrats around an alternative political vision.

The mobilization effort comes at a time when Democrats are still reeling from their weak performance in last year's elections, when voters handed Republicans unified control over the federal government.

The Democrats' losses sparked a heated round of finger-pointing within the party.

Moderate voices blame members of the party's left flank, such as Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, for alienating centrist voters.

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Progressives argue Democrats are sticking too much to the status quo at a time when voters want change.

Other observers disagree over how much campaign strategy and messaging issues contributed to the party's 2024 losses versus the substance of their platform.

Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist who caucuses as an Independent, argued in a scathing November memo that the Democrats have failed to deliver for working-class voters.

He noted that low-earning voters and minority groups increasingly picked Trump in last year's elections, continuing trends seen in prior election cycles.

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"It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them. First it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and Black workers as well," he wrote.

"Will the big money interests and well-paid consultants who control the Democratic Party learn any real lessons from this disastrous campaign? Probably not," Sanders continued. "In the coming weeks and months those of us concerned about grassroots democracy and economic justice need to have some very serious political discussions."

Who to watch: Who might run to succeed the late Rep. Raul Grijalva?

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Bernie Sanders, AOC will hold anti-oligarchy rally in Tempe next week
COURTESY HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT Christopher Lucrisia COURTESY HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT Christopher Lucrisia A convicted felon on Hawaii island allegedly shot a police officer in the head and arm Friday morning after an attempted arrest in Hilo, triggering an islandwide manhunt while the officer, in serious but stable condition, was airlifted to Oahu for surgery.

Hawaii Police Department officials announced shortly before noon that the suspect is Christopher Lucrisia, 39, who allegedly fired a gun into the ground in front of his 39-year-old ex-girlfriend outside her home in Mountain View early Monday morning.

Lucrisia also is accused of returning to the womans home Wednesday while she was out, and threatening a bedridden 75-year-old woman with a firearm, stealing a bag from her bed and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend.

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Lucrisia was still at large as of Friday evening. But 23-year-old Silas Zion of Pahoa, who police said was with Lucrisia during the shooting incident that involved at least two officers, was arrested without incident shortly after 6 p.m. in Puna. He faces a potential charge of being an accessory to attempted first-degree murder for the shooting that hospitalized an officer.

According to Hawaii Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz, officers searching to arrest Lucrisia on Friday morning on reckless-endangering and firearm charges relating to the earlier incidents in Mountain View spotted Lucrisia in a white Chevy pickup truck registered to Zion outside a bank near the Prince Kuhio Plaza shopping center in Hilo shortly before 11 a.m.

But as the officers wearing equipment identifying them as police approached the truck and demanded that the vehicles occupants not move, Lucrisia fired a gun at least twice, striking one officer, Moszkowicz said.

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A second officer fired back three times, but it was not known at the time whether those shots struck Lucrisia or the trucks driver, according to Moszkowicz.

At a Friday evening news conference, Moszkowicz said he wishes for a full recovery for the injured officer, a nine-year veteran assigned to the East Hawaii Vice Unit, and urged the suspects to surrender peacefully.

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We dont need any more violence in this case,  he said. Nobody else needs to be hurt. We just want to make sure justice is done, and well let the criminal justice system play out.

Moszkowicz also said that two neighbor island police departments and the state Department of Law Enforcement have offered to help in the search if it continues today.

Hawaii island Mayor Kimo Alameda said during the news conference that the two suspects would be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.

Its a sad day for us here on the Big Island,  Alameda said. But I want you to know that our Police Department is doing a really, really good job, and I commend them for their service.

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In the immediate aftermath of Fridays shooting, police officials believed Lucrisia was on foot in a Hilo neighborhood in the vicinity of Manono and Leilani streets, and advised the public to avoid the area and contact police if they saw Lucrisia, who is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall and 250 pounds, with green eyes and black hair.

By 3 p.m. the department announced that police had completed their search of homes in the neighborhood and that their search had been expanded islandwide.

Around 4 p.m., police identified Zion as the driver of the getaway pickup truck and described him as 5 feet 6 inches tall, 110 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes.

Both men should be considered armed and extremely dangerous, Moszkowicz said, and should be reported to police and not approached if seen by the public.

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The injured officer was initially taken to Hilo Benioff Medical Center, then airlifted to Oahu and transported to The Queens Medical Center for surgery.

The detective who fired his firearm is a 17-year department veteran assigned to the East Hawaii Vice Unit, and has been placed on administrative leave to ensure he is mentally, emotionally and physically able to return to work, according to Moszkowicz.
Unless you live in the Detroit metro area, youre probably not an avid consumer of that citys CBS station, News Channel 3. So you likely missed some reporting last week from reporter Jack Springgate, in which one area resident spoke out about a matter near and dear to their heart: President Donald Trumps decision to impose stringent spending caps at the National Institutes of Health, which will cut lifesaving medical research by billions of dollars. That didnt sit well with Elliot Stephens, who was identified as a cancer survivor. Theyre cutting childrens cancer research and the NIH and also interfering with grant funding rules for medical research, he said. I have a daughter with cancer, and that for me is unforgivable.

Stephenss testimony is an important on-the-record account of Trumpian corruption and misrule. But whats equally important is how Stephenss account ended up being covered by the news at all. As TNR contributor Aaron Regunberg reported this week, this chance meeting between a local resident and a local news reporter came about because Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has lately been barnstorming some of the Rust Belts red-district redoubts, campaigning against the oligarchic takeover of the U.S. government. Sanders has rightly been getting national attention for drawing huge crowds in these MAGA strongholds, amplifying a message that all Democrats should be sending. But theres an added benefit to his lions den tour: It was at one such rally that this connection between Stephens and Springgate was madeputting a human face on the harms of Trumpism.

As I noted two weeks ago, Trumpism isnt working. Democrats have essentially staked their future on proving this beyond a shadow of a doubt. At the same time, they are largely locked out of meaningful policymaking in Washington, so theyre stuck in the position of finding alternate means to use politics to construct a majority. What Sanders has been doing recently is highly instructiveand Democrats dont need to be die-hard enthusiasts of his particular policy portfolio to extract the key lesson and act on it: Identify the victims of Trumpism, give them a voice, and get their stories told.

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One thing that Sanders seems to understand is that Democrats are, at least in part, fighting a content-creation war. Politics is being fought in a skewed information environment that favors people who can reliably feed the beast with conflict and controversy. There is probably no quicker path to good, cheap conflict than, President Deals and his ketamine-addled freak sidekick are screwing you over. And Sanders is not the first liberal lawmaker to note that GOP lawmakers have been ordered to retreat from their own town halls after they got shouted down by their own voters. Expect to see more of this: As Democrat Maxwell Frost recently vowed, Were filling a void.

That void exists because Republicans dont actually govern: They dont pass laws, dont earmark funds, and have given up the power of the purse to an executive branch that isnt spending money on anything besides a single Tesla for a president who doesnt drive. So when Republican electeds end up in a room full of people who cant pay their bills with whatever notches their representatives have carved into their ideological bedposts, things turn south and Republicans turn tail. Democrats can fill this vacuum by taking over these spaces. As they say, when theres blood on the street, buy property.

But once this unclaimed territory is seized, theres one other obligation that Democrats have to fulfill: finding those Elliot Stephenses in the crowd, and giving them a spotlight. If you intend to build the case that Trumpism is doing harm to people, then you must find proof of that in the form of the harmed.

Democrats have two advantages. First, in Trump and Musk, theyve drawn some of the least subtle villains in human history; the damage theyre doing to the country is manifold and constantly escalating. And as Ive noted before, Democrats may have a paucity of parliamentary options, but theyre resource-rich if they want to raise rhetorical hell: They have experts they can call on, a constellation of nonprofits and policy organizations, wealthy donors to direct funds.

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Beyond that, they have an intimate awareness of the potential damage being done by every dollar that DOGE strips from the government, and the flesh-and-blood humans who are on the receiving end of every bit of punishment that Trump doles out. Today it might be families with loved ones who desperately need the fruits of cancer research. Tomorrow it might be vulnerable families who depend on the government to provide affordable housing. Next week it could be communities impacted by foodborne illnesses that arise from a decimated FDA. This is an administration thats pursuing criminal charges against Habitat for Humanity, while letting measles go untamed.

And if Democrats need help finding the victims of Trumpian chaos, theres an app for that: your news browser. At TNR, putting a human face on the policies imposed by Washington lawmakers is part of our bread and butter. In recent weeks, my colleague Grace Segers has tracked the impact of the Trump administrations policies on public health, rural economies, and food prices, to name a few. The Washington Post recently featured a story about a park ranger who, having voted for Trump after hearing him promise to make her desperately needed IVF treatments free, was fired by his administration instead.

As the Columbia Journalism Reviews Lauren Watson wrote last week, some of the stories about the damage of Trumps slash-and-burn policies are finding their way into local newspapers all across the country. While the DOGE story may have taken root in the public consciousness because of the experiences of federal workers in and around Washington, D.C., she writes, over 80 percent of the federal workforce lives and works outside the greater DC area, doing jobs from monitoring nuclear facilities to researching plant diseases, which means that the fallout from DOGE has been a local story, too.

In other words, this is a good time for Democrats to get outside their Capitol Hill bubble and seek out the people and the communities who have been most affected by Washingtons Trump-minted chaos. Republicans are certainly doing a lot of damage close to homeand theyre planning to gut the District of Columbias budget at the same time that theyre putting the local economy under strain through mass government layoffs, but there are less resilient economies beyond the Beltway that are being hit just as hard, and too many stories that too often dont get told by the national media.

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Theres another reason this is a ripe time for Democrats to rediscover the rest of the country: The Democratic base is getting angrier by the day at their own partys lawmakers. Polling numbers have led Split Tickets Lakshya Jain to surmise that voters are increasingly dissatisfied with how relatively quiet Democrats have been in organizing public opposition and sense a sort of Tea Party moment brewing, in which the base breaks against incumbents for their lack of combativeness. The New Yorkers Jay Caspian Kang warned recently of radical change coming down the line in the form of new candidates pulled from the ranks of ordinary citizens who are fed up with the feckless and do-nothing politics of the Democratic establishment. Some of my own sources have recently told me that the fired federal worker to pissed-off Democratic primary challenger pipeline is a very real thing.

If that kind of rage is building outside Washington, then Democrats had better make it right. And lets face it: If the base is asking for a little more combativeness against a president whom Democrats have long characterized as an existential threat to democracyand who has, since reassuming his reign, gone wildly out of his way to demonstrate that Democrats were right to brand him in this waythen these demands are not unreasonable. The quickest way to bring the fight to Trump is to force him to face the people hes harmed.
A Nebraska bill that would have benefited immigrant DACA recipients won't move forward, sponsors said. Shown here, supporters of the DACA program rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court. (Robin Bravender/ States Newsroom)

LINCOLN  A proposed Nebraska law that had bipartisan support and would have benefited immigrant Dreamers has been crushed under the weight of a Trump administration threat that the state could lose hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid.

Legislative Bill 299, in part, sought to align Nebraska with what advocates said already had been the practice of most, if not all, other states: allowing immigrants who have legal permission to work in the U.S. but lack permanent residency access to the unemployment insurance benefits their employers pay into.

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Before the bills sponsors backed off Thursday, LB 299 had cleared a few key hurdles, including a March 6 vote by the Legislatures Business and Labor Committee that poised the measure for debate by the states full lawmaking body.

But a Feb. 19 executive order from President Donald Trump titled Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders has since come into play.

Outraged

State Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner withdrew her name Thursday from the bill. Co-sponsor State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha said she saw no alternative but to drop the effort this year.

State Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Proponents said they were maddened by the latest twist for the proposed law that had gained support from a range of business and civic groups.

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A leader of the religious coalition Omaha Together One Community told the Nebraska Examiner on Friday that its members are outraged.

The fact that the federal government would swoop in and block a bill that clearly represented the will of Nebraskans is a blatant insult to our state and should not be tolerated, said Kathleen Grant.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillens spokesperson, Laura Strimple, said Friday that the governor was pleased with the recent turn of events.

Governor Pillen strongly opposes giving taxpayer benefits to illegal aliens and is pleased the Legislature will not act on this bill further this session, she said.

Technical problem

LB 299 sponsors said the bill primarily would have impacted so-called Dreamers, who grew up in the U.S. after being brought here illegally as minors by their parents and who obtained legal permission, under the Obama administrations Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, to work and live in the country.

State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

DACA recipients dont have permanent residency, and the program has been challenged in court.

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LB 299, they said, also was designed to benefit asylum-seekers who have been granted work authorization while their requests are reviewed and others with Temporary Protected Status, which is granted when returning to a persons home country is unsafe due to natural disaster, extraordinary conditions or war.

While advocates have mostly focused on opening the door to unemployment benefits, the bill called for eligible aliens who are employed in Nebraska to have access to the same public employment benefits offered to any other similarly situated employee, with a few exceptions. Access included participation in certain public retirement and deferred compensation programs.

Theres no way I can fight a threat like that.

 State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha

The 6-0 legislative committee vote that pushed the bill to the debate stage came after state and federal labor officials had resolved what Ibach described last week as a technical problem with the bill.

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The concern was raised during a Feb. 10 public hearing. Nebraska Labor Commissioner Katie Thurber told lawmakers that LB 299, as then drafted, could cost the state more than $400 million in federal tax credits.

She said the original language was too broad, created a new state definition for eligible alien and would allow benefits even if the immigrant lost legal authorization to work in the U.S.

Ibach and Juarez believed that the path had been smoothed  until, they said, a federal labor official reached out to the state Labor Department and Pillens office this week, bringing up the Feb. 19 executive order.

Juarez said she was caught off guard and was told that millions of dollars were at risk. Theres no way I can fight a threat like that.

Situation grew complicated

Thurber, in a statement to the Examiner on Friday, said that while an amendment addressed an initial concern, the situation has become complicated with recently proposed federal actions.

Katie Thurber, Nebraska Labor Commissioner. (Courtesy of Governors Office)

She said, for example, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on March 10 issued a proposed rule removing DACA recipients from the definition of lawfully present for the purposes of eligibility under the Affordable Care Act. This coupled with the executive order from President Trump  makes it clear that extending benefits to illegal immigrants, including DACA recipients, is in direct conflict with federal policy.

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Thurber said the bill poses significant risk that Nebraskas unemployment insurance system could face consequences if it goes against federal directives aimed at illegal immigration.

The Trump order, citing a 1996 federal law, said the law generally prohibits illegal aliens from obtaining most taxpayer-funded benefits.

The directive gave federal agencies and the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, 30 days to identify federally-funded programs that permit illegal aliens to obtain any cash or non-cash public benefit.

Ibach said she retreated from LB 299 after Pillens staff alerted her to the executive order and potential fallout.

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We were disappointed but thankful the Governors Office called our attention to the reality of how LB 299 was going to be framed going forward, she said.

Nick Grandgenett, an attorney with Nebraska Appleseed, views the executive order as applicable to federal public benefits and said the proposed legislation pertained to state employment benefits.

It really is outside the scope of that executive order, he said.

But adding the Trump order to an already complex marriage of immigration and employment systems muddies the waters, he said.

I dont think there is truly a problem with the bill, Grandgenett said. The confusion is kind of winning the day.

Really bad place

State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha said the situation signals trouble for Nebraska. She characterized LB 299 as an important bill with bipartisan support and challenged Nebraska Republican officials at all levels of government to stand up.

Event outside the U.S. Capitol last June called on the Biden administration to use executive authority to protect DACA recipients. (Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom)

When we have people in leadership not standing up for vulnerable populations like those covered in this bill, then we are going to be in a really bad place, she said.

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Representatives of organizations such as the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nebraska Catholic Conference, and the Nebraska Alliance for Thriving Communities spoke in support of the bill during the public hearing. The alliance is a coalition that includes labor unions, hospitals, banks, cattlemen and pork producers.

Ibach sees the effort as dead for now, unless labor officials can find a path forward. She said shed continue to work on immigration and DACA reform.

Juarez said she had made LB 299 her priority bill because she felt strongly that the targeted immigrant populations working with U.S. authorization deserved access to benefits  and that Nebraska businesses needed their talent.

She said she is left extremely frustrated, but wont give up and hopes for a revival during a different legislative session.

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Republicans in the US House of Representatives introduced a blunt and far-reaching bill on Friday that would block Chinese citizens from getting student visas, drawing backlash from Asian American groups and House Democrats.

Representative Riley Moore of West Virginia was the original sponsor of the "Stop Chinese Communist Prying by Vindicating Intellectual Safeguards in Academia Act", which would prevent Chinese nationals from getting any of three main types of student visas issued by the US.

The bill's cosponsors included Republican Representatives Addison McDowell of North Carolina, Andy Ogles of Tennessee, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and Brandon Gill and Troy Nehls, both of Texas.

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Moore's bill goes further than most previous legislation to restrict Chinese students, which have targeted narrower groups like Chinese graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and other "STEM" fields. It would have to pass the full House and Senate, both Republican-controlled, before it could be signed into law by US President Donald Trump.

"Every year we allow nearly 300,000 Chinese nationals to come to the US on student visas. We've literally invited the CCP to spy on our military, steal our intellectual property, and threaten national security," Moore said on Friday.

"It's time we turn off the spigot and immediately ban all student visas going to Chinese nationals."

Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. The bill would apply to all Chinese students, regardless of their field or level of study. Photo: Shutterstock Images alt=Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. The bill would apply to all Chinese students, regardless of their field or level of study. Photo: Shutterstock Images>

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Moore cited three cases of Chinese students in Illinois, Michigan and Virginia accused of gathering sensitive information, two of which led to convictions.

The House Judiciary Committee, which would likely take up the bill for consideration, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Chinese citizens make up the second largest group of foreign students in the US, after Indian nationals. According to the Institute of International Education (IIE), 277,398 Chinese studied in the US during the 2023-24 academic year, a figure that has steadily declined since the 2019-20 school year.

Some of the states represented by the bill's cosponsors, including Pennsylvania and Texas, are home to significant foreign student populations. According to Statista, both ranked among the top six states hosting international students in the 2022-23 academic year.

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Both Democrats and Republicans have sounded alarm in recent years about the role that non-traditional actors like students and researchers can play in gathering intelligence about sensitive information and technologies. But Republicans have been the primary advocates of blanket bans on Chinese students.

Moore's proposal applies to all Chinese students, regardless of their field or level of study. It targets the three main types of US study visas - F, J and M visas - which are used, respectively, for studying at US universities and English language institutes; exchanges at the high school and university level; and non-academic and vocational training or study.

Some Democrats took issue with the bill's premise that all Chinese students were suspect.

"Our strategic competition is with the Chinese Communist Party, not the Chinese people," said Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, the senior Democrat on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, just ahead of the bill's formal introduction.

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"Research security must be achieved with a scalpel, not a bludgeon," he added.

"Our strategic competition is with the Chinese Communist Party, not the Chinese people," said US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, Democrat of Illinois. Photo: Reuters alt="Our strategic competition is with the Chinese Communist Party, not the Chinese people," said US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, Democrat of Illinois. Photo: Reuters>

And Democratic Representative Grace Meng of New York, who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said that "cultural exchange through university programmes has made our economy stronger and more competitive on the global stage".

"While we must remain vigilant in protecting our national security, banning only Chinese students from studying in the US is xenophobic and wrong-headed," she said.

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Asian-American groups also expressed opposition to the bill.

"The Asian-American community is a predominantly immigrant population, and for many of our most esteemed scientists, researchers, and scholars, the journey began with a single step onto a college campus," said Gisela Perez Kusakawa, executive director of the Asian American Scholar Forum.

"We cannot afford to cut off this pipeline of talent and exclude such an integral part of our American community," she said on Friday.

Reactions on Chinese social media to Moore's bill were swift.

"I can't see it happening because the universities make too much money off international students," said a US-based user on RedNote.

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"I don't think they have the votes for this, but the fear that allowed the TikTok ban to pass surprised me," said another.

In 2020, during his first term, Trump signed a proclamation that led to the cancellation of over 1,000 visas for Chinese nationals deemed "high-risk graduate students and research scholars".

Since then, Trump has expressed admiration for China's education system, as well as voiced support for H-1B visas, a temporary visa that employers use to hire foreigners for "specialty occupations" like engineering for which there are not enough skilled American workers.

According to IIE, 50.4 per cent of the Chinese students in the US during the 2023-24 school year studied STEM subjects.

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This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
After a week of even greater political brinksmanship at home and abroad from Donald Trump, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Friday weaved around admitting to Bill Maher if he is running for president in 2028.

Im not an expert in the DC stuff, Shapiro said on Real Time as the latest leading Democrat getting exposure off Maher. I try and stay as far away from that as I can. I live in the real world in Pennsylvania, where we have to balance budgets.

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However, often channeling Barack Obama, the first-term Keystone State governor was clear that he felt Sen. Chuck Schumer and top Democrats in the Senate blew it today. Shapiro was dismissive of their strategy of voting to move forward the GOPs Trump-approved six-month spending measure and avert a federal government shutdown starting this weekend.

I would have liked to see when Chuck Schumer had leverage here, to say we need A, B, C and D for the Democratic Party, and force the Republicans to meet him halfway on those issues and deliver something for the folks who are worried now, Shapiro told Maher of some realpolitik the Senate Minority Leader could have demanded from the GOP in exchange for relinquishing its filibuster power.

I hope folks in DC are listening to these people that I heard at the store, that I see every day, the governor said a bit later of a recent trip he made to a Dicks Sporting Goods store recently and constituents coming up to him to ask about about Democrats tepid responses to Trump, Elon Musk and what seems to be the gutting of the government.

With that, the chaos of attacking Canada and Mexico with tariffs and being hit back with counter tariffs, mass civil service firings and resident aliens being plucked up off the street for their politics, Shapiro has emerged asa strong voice of centrist opposition in the galling absence of Obama, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden.

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Theyre worried, Shapiro insisted of those everyday citizens he said came up to him at that Dicks. They want to see action. There was an opportunity for more action here.

More on point of late than most of the anchors youll see on cable news right now, Maher tried to nail down Shapiro on if part of the reason the swing-state governor wasnt picked by then-VP Kamala Harris to be her running mate last year was because he is Jewish.

Look, Ill just say one quick thing on that whole vice president thing, Shapiro said on this Shabbat. I said all along that Kamala Harris had a deeply personal decision to make in that process. In the end, so did I.

Waiting with a dramatic pause, one of the frontrunners for 2028 then went into what would be the beginning of a stump speech. I love being governor of Pennsylvania, and I love charting my own course and being able to serve the people on my terms, he said. Thats point number one. Point number two is, as relates to faith, as it relates to my Judaism. Im damn proud of my faith, and Im damn proud of the people of Pennsylvania, and how they received that.

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Im inspired every day by the way my outward expression my faith is received by the people I serve, Shapiro went on to say this Purim holiday, sounding just like a presidential candidate.

Still, Shapiro wouldnt directly take the 2028 bait tonight.

The MAGA despising Maher wont be on any ballot soon, but he leapt straight into the fray once again Friday. Slashing Trump as the Ozempic of the economy in his opening monologue Friday, Maher lamented the loss of $5 trillion due to market downturn from the administrations erratic tariff policies and Musks DOGE slashing government agencies. Mocking a subservient level of North Korea from the Republican Party, he went on to pile on the already failing economic and diplomatic moves by MAGA and Project 2025 less than two months after the ex-Celebrity Apprentice host returned to power.

Along with the sit-down interview with the potential 2024 VP pick and the likely 2028 contender Shapiro, tonights Real Time also featured The Bulwark managing editor and MSNBC pundit Sam Stein, and self-described MAGA leftist Batya Ungar-Sargon, author of Second Class: How the Elites Betrayed Americas Working Men and Women.

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The main topic? Donald Trump, of course. Which is all the 45th and 47th POTUS really cares about.

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Its been a wild and scary week in America in a lot of ways, perhaps most notably the economy which, thanks directly to the policies of Donald Trump is declining rapidly. Thats what Bill Maher chose to focus on at the start of Fridays Real Time, devoting his entire monologue to dragging Trump for all the damage hes causing.

We got to start our St Patricks Day celebration weekend right I already saw a guy puking in the street. It was my stockbroker, Peter. I said, whats the matter? He said, Im sick of winning, Maher said at the start.

Yeah, the stock market. Stock market has lost $5 trillion in three weeks. Yes, Trump, hes the ozempic of the economy, he added. Today, Greenland offered to buy us. There are CEOs out there begging Luigi Mangione to shoot them in the back of the head.

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It turns out that the stock market has really kind of rejected the notion that if we turn on our trading partners chickens would lay more eggs here. When Biden was president, everything was about the eggs, the price of eggs. We got to lower the price of eggs. And now Trump retweeted somebody last week who said, shut up about the eggs. And Americans like, but we need eggs. What else are we going to throw at the teslas?' Maher continued.

We have only ourselves to blame, Maher went on as he mentioned the stock market losses again. Trump said this would happen if we re elected Biden. Oh, that didnt happen. This is happening because Trump wants to bring back manufacturing and to get the ball rolling, he is manufacturing a recession.

Maher discussed the chaotic, beliggerent and nonsensical way Trump keeps wielding tarrifs, and after noting how other countries are reacting, he mentioned the level of North Korea, shall we say, that the responses from the Republican Party is doing, just pretending its not happening, or its a good thing, or the euphemisms here, $5 trillion in three weeks, and they said its going through the stock market, the economy is going through a period of transition. Its yes, were our economy is transitioning, and our pronouns are, what, the and fk.'

Trump said the other day, you cant really watch the market. Its just a number. Yeah, just a number that indicates the amount of how much less money you had

than last week, Maher said as he started to wrap the monologue up.

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Heres the big headline in this: Americans, just regular, regular, everyday Americans, including a lot of people who voted for this administration, are now starting to lose their faith in this administration, Maher said, referencing increasingly bad polling. I talked to a guy the other day. He used to be out there singing YMCA, and now hes living there.

At the end of the episode, Maher devoted his New Rules segment to complaining about the term sex worker, which he argued is a euphemism that hides a somewhat grim reality, and also that the term is too new for people to act like everyone should use it. You can watch that segment below:

The post Bill Maher Jokes Trumps Messed Things Up so Bad, Greenland Offered to Buy Us: The Ozempic of the Economy appeared first on TheWrap.
Despite Bill Mahers best efforts, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stopped short of confirming a 2028 presidential run on Fridaybut his appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher felt like a dress rehearsal of sorts for future engagements. When Maher pressed him about presidential aspirations, Shapiro refused to take the bait but he didnt rule it out either.

Im not an expert in the D.C. stuff, Shapiro told Maher, sidestepping the question of whether hes gearing up for a run in 2028. I live in the real world in Pennsylvania, where we have to balance budgets. But his frustration with Washingtons leadership, particularly Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, was evident as he criticized the lack of strategic leverage when it came to preventing a government shutdown.

I would have liked to see Schumer use his leverage to demand more from Republicans, Shapiro said. Force them to meet us halfway on key issues.

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Shapiro also expressed growing concern among his constituents about the state of politics, referencing a conversation he had at a local Dicks Sporting Goods. Theyre worried, Shapiro explained, They want to see action.

Bill Maher asks Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro about the Democrats that avoided picking him for VP because he's Jewish:

Maher: "You were on the short list for VP last time. A lot of people said 'The only reason he didn't get it, is because he's Jewish.'

There's a wing of pic.twitter.com/vZGj1aWSKl  Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) March 15, 2025

The governor did not shy away from discussing his identity and faith. Im damn proud of my faith, he said, addressing his Judaism. Which may or may not have been a factor in Kamala Harris overlooking him as her running mate. Ill just say one quick thing on that whole vice president thing, Shapiro said. Kamala Harris had a deeply personal decision to make in that process. In the end, so did I.

Meanwhile, Maher used the opportunity to lash out at President Donald Trump, calling him the Ozempic of the economy in a scathing monologue. He mocked Trumps erratic economic policies, especially the damage caused by tariffs and cuts to federal agencies. In his own, reserved way, Shapiro might be positioning himself as an alternative.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Two Democratic lawmakers are taking aim at deep-pocketed real estate investors they say are buying up properties in Tennessee, taking a bite out of the housing inventory and causing skyrocketing rental and home prices.

The Homes Not Hedge Funds Act, sponsored by Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) and Rep. Aftyn Behn (R-Nashville), would block real estate investors from buying homes to rent in counties with more than 150,000 people if they already own 100 or more rental homes in similarly-sized counties.

Its not retroactive, but its trying to look towards the future and stabilize the market and hold those accountable that have led to this housing crisis in Nashville and Tennessee, Behn said.

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Social media posts dont accurately reflect lunch options at Tullahoma High School, system says

The bill would also establish an up to $50,000 fine for real estate investing companies who break the rules and allow prospective homeowners to sue those companies.

According to the CBREs 2024 Investor Intentions Survey, commercial real estate investors ranked Nashville #4 in the nation for U.S. metro investment targets. In addition, a 2024 study by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency found 7% of Davidson County home sales from 2018 to 2022 were investor purchases; the number spiked to 20% in 2020.

Behn told News 2 big investors are making it more difficult for individuals to become homeowners in the Volunteer State.

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I hear from constituents all the time that living is simply unaffordable. The dream of American home ownership is unattainable in Nashville and Tennessee, Behn said. It really is a testament to the unbridled access that these companies and corporations have over our housing market.

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Not only do large real estate investors have plenty of cash to spend, Rutherford Countys property assessor, Rob Mitchell, said they also use technology that automatically makes offers on properties the second they hit the market.

They have algorithms out there that institute computerized buy. If something comes onto the market through the MLS listing, and if it meets their specific criteria, they have a program out there that will make a bid on ita cash offerbefore the average person ever has the opportunity, Mitchell said.

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Rutherford County has 5,000 to 8,000 investor-owned rental homes at any given time, according to Mitchell. Despite that, the county has managed to keep its population at around 60% homeowners and 40% renters, which Mitchell said is critical for communities to maintain.

There is generally less crime and less social cost to a community that has higher single-family home ownership as opposed to the other way, Mitchell said. The danger to the community actually comes into play when those numbers flip-flop. There is one county in Tennessee where that has happened, and thats Shelby County.

Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom

While Mitchell called the Homes, Not Hedge Funds Act well intended, hed rather see the state give counties the authority to create a real estate investor licensing requirements so local governments can ensure investors rental homes are safe and that the number of investments doesnt spiral out of control.

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However, he added there is no one-size fits all approach.

Multiple states have introduced similar legislation targeting institutional ownership this year. While the majority have been spearheaded by Democratic officials, some Republicans have launched similar efforts, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

Behn and Olivers bill is set to have its first debate in the Senate State and Local Government Committee Tuesday, March 18.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
BENGALURU (Reuters) -Indian IT major Wipro is realigning its four global business lines from April 1 to better address client needs, the company said on Friday.

This is its first rejig after CEO Srinivas Pallia took over the role in April 2024, and comes two years after a similar move under former top boss Thierry Delaporte.

Wipro has brought all cloud, data, analytics and AI, and other related businesses under its tech services business line. Its head of cloud resigned on Friday.

The company's consulting business line will be headed by Amit Kumar, who was hired from Accenture Consulting last month.

"This evolution of our business lines will enable us to further sharpen our focus towards client needs with consulting-led and AI-powered solutions," Pallia said in a statement.

Following the overhaul, Capco - Wipro's largest acquisition - will operate separately under the consulting business line with Capco's head reporting to Pallia. Its Designit business will go under the tech services business line. Both acquired companies were previously under the consulting business.

Apart from the existing engineering business line, the company also announced a fourth newly created line called Business Process Services, with Jasjit Kang as its head.

(Reporting by Haripriya Suresh and Nishit Navin; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Devika Syamnath)
LAS VEGAS, N.M. (KRQE)  The mandatory boil water advisory for the City of Las Vegas has been lifted. The city was required to issue the advisory after sediment was found in the water system last month.

Mogote Hill Fire burns 3,000 acres north of Las Vegas

On Friday, the New Mexico Environment Departments Drinking Water Bureau confirmed the water system met state requirements to lift the boil advisory.

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New Mexico is taking a bold step toward cleaner water and safer communities with a proposed law to ban toxic chemicals from oil and gas operations, reported The Daily Climate.

House Bill 222 would stop oil and gas companies from using perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, often called "forever chemicals," in fracking and require them to share more information about the chemicals they inject underground. PFAS stay in our environment for decades and have been linked to cancer and immune system damage.

The ban would protect water supplies from potential contamination, helping communities already facing groundwater issues. For everyday New Mexicans, this means safer drinking water and reduced health risks from these dangerous substances that can spread through soil and water.

While the bill aims to protect public health, some industry representatives argue it could interfere with ongoing rulemaking. Lawmakers delayed voting to allow for careful revisions that address these concerns while establishing safeguards.

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Many New Mexicans see the bill as a chance to bring transparency to an industry that affects their daily lives. By requiring companies to reveal the chemicals they use in fracking, people living near extraction sites would learn what's happening in their backyards.

Similar bans in other states have shown that we can produce energy responsibly without risking long-term harm to water supplies and public health.

"We have a right to know fundamentally what chemicals are being put into the earth. We have a right to protect ourselves as well," said New Mexico state Sen. Jeff Steinborn.

Advocates who support the bill note that past administrations weakened oil and gas waste disposal rules.

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While oil and gas companies maintain that they don't currently use PFAS in New Mexico operations, the lack of required reporting makes it impossible to verify these claims. The bill seeks to amend this transparency gap.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Facebook executive whose bombshell tell-all about Metas leaders is at the center of a legal battle has been accused of fabrications by a witness to its central events, the Daily Beast has learned.

Sarah Wynn-Williams book, Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism, was published Tuesdaymaking a series of claims about Mark Zuckerberg, the Meta CEO and founder, his global affairs head Joel Kaplan, and particularly about Sheryl Sandberg, Facebooks former COO.

Wynn-Williams alleged that Sandberg asked her to come to bed on a private jet and made an assistant spend thousands on lingerie for her. Sandberg and the assistant slept in each others laps and stroked each others hair on a European trip, wrote the author, who was a senior Facebook executive until she was fired in 2017.

Mark Zuckerberg with former COO of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg after a session at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 8, 2021 in Sun Valley, Idaho. / Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images

In her book, Wynn-Williams also alleged that Kaplan, Sandbergs Harvard boyfriend, frequently made sexually charged remarkscalling Wynn-Williams sultryand drunken physical advances, grinding up against Wynn-Williams at a celebratory staff event.

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Wynn-Williams alleges she told the companys lawyers about Joels behavior and the fact that he made me work during maternity leave as part of a confidential internal investigation, but somehow Kaplan found out. In her account, she alleged that retaliation from Joel begins almost immediately.

Sarah Wynn-Williams has written a book about her time at Facebook/Meta, and discussed it in a series of interviews, including with NBC News Today show. / NBC News/Youtube

He informs me that hes halving my job Theres no explanation given other than that he has made a decision, she writes.

The Daily Beast reached out to Kaplan for comment but received no response.

Meta, Facebooks parent company, used a rare legal move to gag Wynn-Williams from speaking further and from personally distributing the book, but was powerless to stop its publication. It has now hit number three in Amazons best-sellers list after the legal action.

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But the Daily Beast has spoken to a woman who worked closely with Wynn-Williams, who said the book had fabrications and was very sad. The witness spoke on condition of anonymity which the Beast granted after verifying that they had knowledge of the events. Wynn-Williams used a pseudonym in her book for a former colleague.

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg (L) and Facebook's Vice President of Global Public Policy, Joel Kaplan (R) chat after leaving a meeting with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in his office on Capitol Hill on Sept. 19, 2019, in Washington, D.C. / Samuel Corum / Getty Images

Wynn-Williams, Facebooks former global public policy director, was fired by the company in 2017. Her role was to advise the companys top leaders, including Sandberg and Zuckerberg, as they dealt with governments around the world.

Addressing an incident in which the author claims Sandberg asked her to come to bed on a private plane ride from Davos, Wynn-Williams ex-colleague said she remembers it differently.

But the witness who spoke to the Beast said, The setup of the plane was that there were two beds in the back and then a series of slightly less comfortable beds further forward in the plane.

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Sheryl had one of the beds in the back. Wynn-Williams was very tired, very pregnant, at the time, the witness added.

Im sure we, including Sheryl, were encouraging her to get sleep in the most comfortable bed that was available, which was one of the two beds in the back of the plane, she said. I feel like its such a Catch-22 because if youre the senior woman on a plane, theres a pregnant woman, and you dont encourage them to get sleep in the most comfortable bed on a flight path, I feel like youre a monster.

Sandberg was photographed with Mary Barra, the GM CEO, at Davos before the flight at the center of the book. / CNBC / David A. Grogan/CNBC

She added, Sheryls a very warm person, but the least sexualized person.

Another central claim was that Sandberg sent an employee lingerie shopping and brought back $13,000 in underwear. The former employee said, I dont have any anything to add on that allegation.

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After Wynn-Williams was let go, she kind of just went dark after she was fired, said the former employee. It was weird, adding that she was not notified and no facts were checked with any of us before the books publication.

The account adds new texture to a legal and public relations battle over the book. Sandberg has declined to comment on it while Meta has attacked Wynn-Williams. The book is a mix of out-of-date and previously reported claims about the company and false accusations about our executives, it said in a statement.

Sheryl Sandberg addresses a conference in Munich, Germany on Jan. 20, 2019. / picture alliance / picture alliance via Getty Image

Meta used an arbitrator to force Wynn-Williams silence by activating a non-disparagement clause in a contract she signed when she left the company. In a ruling, an arbitrator added that Meta had provided enough evidence that Wynn-Williams had potentially violated the terms of her exit, according to Meta. However, the ruling does not limit publishers Flatiron Books, and its parent company Macmillan, from continuing to support its publication.

Ms. Wynn-Williams is unable to respond because of the March 12 order, said a legal representative for the author after a request for comment from the Daily Beast.

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Flatirons vice president and executive director of publicity, Marlena Bittner, said the publisher is appalled by Metas tactics to silence our author.

In a statement to the Daily Beast, Bittner hit back against the former employees fact checking claims.

Macmillan did not seek comment from the individuals Wynn-Williams discusses in Careless People. We had no obligation to do so, and it is not a standard publisher process in publishing a memoir, said Bittner. Careless People is not a third-person report pieced together from various sources; it is a firsthand account of events told by the woman who experienced them.

She added, This account is supported by a trove of documentation. Of course, like any memoir, Wynn-Williams book also contains scenes based primarily or exclusively on her memory as an eyewitness.

You know what is an assessment of its factuality? All the people who knew and worked with Sarah Wynn-Williams and have said the book is not factual. Here's just one: pic.twitter.com/EyGInpcWtd  Andy Stone (@andymstone) March 13, 2025

Sandberg left Facebook in 2022 and stepped down from Metas board in 2024. In her defense, Meta has put up a fierce campaign against Wynn-Williams.

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On X, Meta communications manager Andy Stone shared several tweets from current and former employees contradicting Wynn-Williams version of events.

You know what is an assessment of its factuality? All the people who knew and worked with Sarah Wynn-Williams and have said the book is not factual, he wrote, sharing a post from another employee who claims Wynn-Williams made false statements in the book .
Attorney General Pam Bondi warned Tesla vandals to watch out Friday, as the Trump administration seeks to crack down on those targeting Tesla dealerships and cars.

Bondi said she has opened an investigation into the violent demonstrations taking aim at Elon Musks electric vehicle (EV) company.

They are targeting Tesla dealerships, the stations where you charge a Tesla, theyre vandalizing cars, she told Fox Business Networks Mornings with Maria.

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I have already directed an investigation be opened to see how is this being funded, who is behind this, doing this?

We have people were locking up on that, she continued. We have someone in jail right now from one of the dealerships. They threw a Molotov cocktail through a dealership. Theyre looking at up to 20 years in prison.

A Colorado woman was arrested last month for allegedly spray painting Nazi on the sign at a Tesla dealership and igniting Molotov cocktails during multiple visits.

If youre going to touch a Tesla, go to a dealership, do anything, you better watch out because were coming after you, Bondi added.

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Protesters have targeted Tesla showrooms in recent weeks, and several dealerships, cars and charging stations have been vandalized.

Tesla has become a key target amid frustration with Musks prominent and controversial role in the Trump administration, where he has led the Department of Government Efficiencys (DOGE) push to slash government spending, often through massive cuts to the federal workforce and federal funding and grants.

The EV companys stock has plummeted, falling 15 percent Monday alone and nearly 30 percent over the past month.

President Trump has attempted to show support for his close ally amid the turmoil, arguing hes being treated unfairly. Trump promised to buy Tesla on Tuesday, testing out several different models parked outside the White House.

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He also hinted he would be open to labeling those who carry out violence at Tesla dealerships as domestic terrorists.

I will do that, Ill do it. Im going to stop them, Trump said Tuesday when a reporter noted that some people think those responsible should be labeled domestic terrorists.

Those people are going to go through a big problem when we catch them, he said, adding, Let me tell you, you do it to Tesla, and you do it to any company, were going to catch you and youre going to go through hell.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also said Wednesday that Congress would investigate the attacks on Tesla vehicles and their owners, touting Musks heroic work and describing the incidents as domestic terrorism.

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Boston Police are reminding the public to remain vigilant for drink spiking this St Patricks Day weekend.

The parade is welcoming and SAFE to all attendees, and should NOT compromise the quality of life for South Boston residents, Boston Police said in a release. At the parade, public drinking, providing alcohol to minors, and open containers of alcohol in public is illegal and will lead to the seizure of alcohol and arrest, Boston police said.

GHB, Ketamine, and Rohypnol, commonly known as roofies, are scentless, colorless, and tasteless drugs that can be secretly placed in beverages.

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2025 South Boston St. Patricks Day Parade: Everything you need to know

To help ensure safety, Boston police are providing the following tips:

Always have your drink served directly by a bartender or server. Avoid accepting drinks from people you do not know or trust.

Keep your drink in sight at all times. Never leave it unattended.

If you need to leave your table, take your drink with youeven to the restroom.

Cover your drink when you are not actively drinking. Many innovative products are available to help safeguard your beverage.

Consider using drink-testing tools such as test strips or nail polish that detect the presence of drugs.

Seek immediate assistance if you feel dizzy, nauseous, light-headed, or otherwise unwell.

Watch for unusual behavior in friends and acquaintances, and be cautious of strangers attempting to separate individuals from their group.

If you see someone who appears distressed, wandering alone late at night, or dressed inappropriately for the weather, contact local authorities immediately.

Boston Police are urging anyone who has fallen victim to drink spiking or any other criminal activity to contact them.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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If you havent heard, Bostons St. Patricks Day Parade will take place on Sunday, March 16 starting at 11:30 a.m.

The parade will start at Broadway Station and proceeds up West Broadway and continues onto East Broadway, turns right onto P Street, then right onto East 4th Street, left onto K Street, right onto East 5th Street, left onto G Street, stays to the left of South Boston High School onto Thomas Park, left on to Telegraph Street, left onto Dorchester Street and concludes at Andrew Square.

People attending the parade are strongly encouraged to walk, bike, or take public transit. The MBTA will run rush hour service on the Red Line from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Boston police are warning residents that towing is expected to begin at 3 a.m. on Sunday. Residents with a South Boston parking permit may park at the Marine Park Garage at 12 Drydock Ave for a reduced price. This will be offered from Saturday at 6 p.m. to Sunday at 8 p.m.

The Edgerley Family South Boston Clubs St. Patricks Day 5K Road Race is the same day at 9:30 a.m.

The 5K race route starts at the South Boston Boys and Girls Club, proceeds West 6th Street to Dorchester Street, Dorchester Street to East Broadway, East Broadway all the way to the Farragut Statue across Farragut Road at Day Blvd where it turns around back onto East Broadway and continues across L Street to West Broadway, then turns left onto E Street and left back onto West 6th and finishes back at the SBBGC.

Parking restrictions will be in place for both events on the following streets:

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Dorchester Avenue, Both sides, from Gillette Park to Old Colony Avenue

Dorchester Avenue, Both sides, from Dorchester Street to Damrell Street

Foundry Street, Both sides, from Greenbaum Street to Dorchester Avenue

West Second Street, Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to A Street

A Street, Both sides, from Binford Street to West Second Street

Binford Street, Both sides, from A Street heading northwesterly to end at 45 Binford Street

West Fourth Street, Both sides, from B Street to Dorchester Avenue

West Broadway, Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to Dorchester Street

East Broadway, Both sides, from Dorchester Street to P Street

P Street, Both sides, from East Broadway to East Fourth Street

East Fourth Street, Both sides, from P Street to K Street

K Street, Both sides, from East Fourth Street to East Fifth Street

East Fifth Street, Both sides, from K Street to G Street

G Street, Both sides, from East Fifth Street to #96 G Street

Thomas Park, Both sides of southerly arm from G Street to Telegraph Street

Telegraph Street, Both sides, from Thomas Park to Dorchester Street

Dorchester Street, Both sides, from Telegraph Street to Dorchester Avenue

East First Street, North side, opposite M Street Park, from driveway out of the MBTA Bus Layover to driveway entering into the MBTA Bus Layover, in front of the dog park between N Street and M Street.

Damrell Street, Both sides, from Old Colony Avenue to Dorchester Avenue

West Sixth Street , Both sides, from F Street to Dorchester Street

F Street, Southeast side (odd side  Boys & Girls Club side), West Sixth Street to Bowen Street

E Street at West Broadway Street on the West Third Street side

L Street at East Broadway on the East Third Street side.

Old Colony Avenue at Dorchester Street on the inbound side

For everything you need to know about the parade, visit the link here.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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U.S. Sen. Michael Bennett speaks during the Colorado Democratic Party's watch party at Number 38 in Denver on Nov. 5, 2024. (Andrew Fraieli for Colorado Newsline)

U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, both Colorado Democrats, voted against a stopgap spending bill that passed the Senate Friday.

Both senators highlighted that Republicans knew they needed Democratic votes to pass their spending bill, Bennet said, but they did not include Democrats in negotiations on the measure. Hickenlooper called the lack of effort to get bipartisan support on the bill irresponsible as it has led to the potential for a government shutdown.

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The Republican spending bill does not serve Coloradans well; therefore, I will be voting no, Bennet said in a statement Thursday. In the coming days, I am committed to working across the aisle to finish the appropriations process and craft a bill that is a better deal for Colorado.

CNN reported that Bennet erupted in a private meeting with Senate Democratic leadership, saying they have no strategy, no plan, and no message on this spending bill.

Senate Democrats opposed the bill, having not been included in its drafting despite Republicans needing Democratic votes to end debate on the measure and advance it to a final vote. They also argued it would give more power to President Donald Trump, who has already pushed the limits of his constitutional authority over spending.

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Bennet and Hickenlooper voted against ending debate on the bill  though enough Senate Democrats voted with Republicans to overcome the debate-ending 60-vote threshold  as well as the bill itself, which passed on a 54-46 vote.

Hickenlooper said at a virtual town hall Wednesday night that Congress needed to pass a bill that preserves its authority over federal spending. He said the Senate should support a 30-day funding bill, and then use that time to resolve remaining budget issues.

The Constitution is clear: Congress holds the power of the purse, Hickenlooper said. This bill would wipe out Congressional oversight, letting Trump cut and redirect funding, however he wants.

U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, a Fort Lupton Republican who represents Colorados 8th Congressional District, said the federal government is open thanks to Republicans, and that Colorado Democrats in the House and Senate put politics over people by voting against the spending bill.

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If Colorado Democrats had it their way, they would have shut down the government and jeopardized essential services and programs that our Colorado families, seniors, and small businesses rely on, Evans said in a statement.

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Related Video: First hearing held for Dr. Brian Hyatts civil lawsuit in August 2024.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A request to delay Dr. Brian Hyatts Medicaid fraud trial in Pulaski County has been approved.

This marks the second delay in Hyatts trial, which was originally set for Sept. 17, 2024. The omnibus hearing is now scheduled for Sept. 12, with the jury trial on Oct. 20.

Brian Hyatt, 52 (Courtesy of Benton County)

Hyatt, 52, the former director of Northwest Medical Centers Behavioral Health unit and a former Arkansas State Medical Board member, faces two counts of violating the Medicaid Fraud Act.

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He was arrested in October 2023 and has pleaded not guilty.

An affidavit filed in Pulaski County states that on April 1, 2022, the Arkansas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit received a complaint from a confidential informant who worked at the Behavioral Health Unit in Springdale.

University of Arkansas among 60 universities under federal investigation over DEI practices

Hyatt, who served as director of the unit from February 2018 to May 2022, was accused of being present for only brief periods during scheduled workdays and having little to no contact with patients.

Court records initially scheduled an omnibus hearing for March 14, with the trial set for April 9-18.

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However, Hyatts attorney filed a motion on Feb. 21 requesting a postponement, citing the complexity of the case and ongoing related matters. The filing noted that both legal teams agreed a delay was appropriate.

Beyond his criminal case, Hyatt faces more than 200 civil lawsuits from former patients who claim they were falsely imprisoned under his care.

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Kal Freights closure in the coming weeks will not be under a Chapter 7 bankruptcy action, as had been feared by some of the companys creditors, but will be a wind-down through the existing Chapter 11 proceedings.

Thats one of the main takeaways from the binding settlement term sheet agreed to Wednesday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. All the key creditors of the truckload carrier have signed on to the pact, and Bankruptcy Court Judge Christopher Lopez approved it.

Approval of the term sheet is not the final step. Lopez must approve a plan confirmation, expected to occur in April.





While numerous attorneys contacted by FreightWaves either declined comment or did not respond to emails or phone messages, the term sheet spells out several aspects of the process to settle Kal Freights millions of dollars in debts in an orderly manner.

But it will be done under Chapter 11, not Chapter 7. The latter is designed to result in liquidation of the company.

Role of a buyer is not clear

The Chapter 11 process does have a buyer for Kal Freight. But it isnt clear what Noor Leasing, the buyer listed in an earlier bankruptcy document, will be buying once the process is complete to meet the demands of the truckload companys creditors after its equipment is sold off.

The number of assets listed in the term sheet total just over 1,500, mostly tractors and trailers. But the document authorizing the sale to Noor also has a list of 679 individual rolling stock assets in the sale and 56 unencumbered trailers.





In the meantime, before the plan confirmation, according to the sheet, various creditors will provide funding to Kal Freight to help bring about an orderly and commercially reasonable manner for the ultimate surrender of the assets to help fulfill the debt obligations.

The surrender of assets is to be completed by April 18.

There also will be funding from Triumph Capital to Kal Freight of $1.25 million in five weekly payments.

The actual delivery of rolling assets for resale will be to Ritchie Brothers, one of the dominant players in the resale of assets.

Catastrophic fears raised if chapter 7 pursued

There had been a push among some creditors to convert the bankruptcy case to a Chapter 7 proceeding, which can result in a more rapid liquidation. Advocacy for that option came in part from the committee of unsecured creditors.

But as Triumph and Daimler Truck Financial Services said in a filing with the court, an immediate conversion, or crash landing, will be catastrophic for all parties-in-interest. The companies raised the prospect of trailers abandoned on the highway and drivers stuck there too, carrying fuel cards from Kal that had been cut off.
Jessica Betancourt is a fighter: When looters and demonstrators protesting George Floyds death damaged her Bronx optical shop in 2020, she was back in business three weeks later.

Now, she says theres no coming back from a devastating fire that tore through her shop and neighboring stores and restaurants Thursday along a block-long stretch of Morris Heights  and ripped the heart out of a proud community dependent on its small business entrepreneurship.

We were in the [Floyd] protests going on, Betancourt, 42, recalled.So that was the beginning of 2020. We picked up three weeks later. We were able to [keep going], but now its impossible.

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Her Bronx Optical Center, on Burnside Ave., is covered by insurance like the other five businesses that were wiped out by the blaze. But thats where the similarities end.

The optical center has a satellite shop three stops away on the No. 4 train in Kingsbridge, where staff and patients can go in the meantime.

Not so for Casa Mofongo, a popular Dominican Restaurant, that lost everything in the fire.

Casa Mofongo had 32 staff members, Betancourt said. I dont know what theyre gonna do.

Betancourt, who lives in Fort Lee, N.J., said she got a call about the fire around 8:15 a.m. and managed to make it to the Bronx in about 12 minutes, despite the rush hour traffic.

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I saw everything unfold, she said.  Ive never seen in my life such a collaboration from FDNY, the New York City management, MTA, the precinct, local officials.

There were 200 firefighters in all, not enough to save her business.

It didnt help that a selfish motorist parked next to a nearby fire hydrant, briefly delaying firefighters upon their arrival.

By then, smoke was billowing above the roofs, and firefighters had to leave the buildings and attack the blaze from the outside when ceilings started caving in.

I saw smoke all over, Betancourt said. I was sick, and Im even more sick now. Because I didnt want to leave. But you know what? it was my choice to be here.

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Today hit me hard, she said. Yesterday I was strong. But today I broke down because I saw the reality of everyone being together. Its just like this is the reality Im facing right now. And knowing the fact that now this is going to be demolished, Its like Im not gonna be in this community. Im not gonna come to Burnside and service the patients and give back to the community here. Well continue in Kingsbridge, but its still hurtful. Id get my coffee in the morning in the deli. Its not there anymore.

The good news is that everyone was insured, and nobody got injured. But that doesnt mean that the neighborhood isnt hurting.

I dont know where were going to go from here, said Sandra Betterson, 64, a local resident. I pray that they survive.

Betterson said she has lived in the area since she was 9 years old. She is part of a group of locals and business owners who were trying to form a Business Improvement District for the Burnside, Jerome and Tremont area.

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We were putting the budget together, Betterson said. We already identified what we needed to do, what we wanted to do. Our goals were set and it was time to do the logistical stuff, and do the budget. We might have to rethink that now.

Betterson said she is trying to find the silver lining.

God works in mysterious ways, she said. How do you get the community involved? Does it take a fire? We want to rebuild. Does it take a fire to make that happen? How do you make the community aware of what they have right in front of them as opportunities? Folks are walking by and pausing, like where am I gonna get my lunch? They take it for granted.

Rene Tapia, 39, the owner of Total Wireless, a cellphone store on Jerome Ave., said a customer called to tell him about the fire when he was on his way to the Bronx from his New Jersey home.

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One of my customers, a frequent customer, called, and said, Theres a fire in your store, Tapia said. I was in traffic on the George Washington Bridge. I couldnt do anything.

What he will do now, he said, is move his staff and customers to his other store in the Bronx.

Im going to put a sign here to redirect those customers to the other business, he said.

Bronx Assembly member Yudelka Tapia said a fund is being created to help the businesses while they are waiting on their insurance checks.

Thats a concern that every owner has. Their employees need the jobs, Tapia said. But were working on it. This is going to take a couple years. Everything is going to have to be rebuilt.

Its devastating what has happened here. These businesses that were thriving, theyre gonna have to start all over again, and our communities are gonna be missing them. It is completely devastating how these owners, after working so hard, had to leave everything behind.
Two brothers were accused of being involved in a situation where a man was kept hostage in a basement after he was beaten with a hammer.

Police said they were called to the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital on Dec. 28 for reports of an assault.

The victim told police he has flipped houses for Michael George Holloway, 49, for seven years.

Holloway picked him up for work on Dec. 27 and took him to a house they were flipping on the 300 block of Rochelle Street in Knoxville.

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When the two men entered the home Holloway pointed out that the dishwasher was missing. After work began, Holloway began attacking the victim with a claw hammer and asked where the missing dishwasher had gone, court documents said.

The victim told police he was hit around 70-75 times.

Police said Holloway took the victims phone out of his pocket and told him if he went to the door he would smash him in the head and kill him.

The victim said Holloway FaceTimed multiple people during the attack, including his girlfriend, and appeared to record parts of it.

Holloways brother, Sean Michael Lowry or Pooder, and two other unknown men were called to the location after he decided he wanted to finish [the victim] off and kill him, police said.

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The men allegedly dragged the victim by the hair into the fruit cellar of the house and shoved cans of paint in front of the door so he could not escape.

The victim told police that Pooder brought a revolver to the scene and told him to give back the dishwasher if he took it. While talking to the men, he told them he lived near Mayor Gainey. After hearing this, Pooder and the unknown men left the house.

Holloway put the victim into a truck, drove around his house multiple times, threw his phone out the window and threatened to rape and kill his daughters if he called the police, court documents say.

The victim was taken to a hospital after returning home. Police said he had a broken arm that would require surgery and possibly had a broken tibia. He also had a concussion, numerous bruises on his back and visible bruising on his throat.

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Charges were filed against Holloway on Jan. 15. He is currently being held at the Allegheny County Jail.

Lowry was charged on March 13.

Police were able to identify him using Holloways phone and the victim selected him out of a photo lineup.

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Bryan Kohbergers defense team is employing a legal argument used successfully in another high-profile Idaho murder case in another attempt to take capital punishment off the table.

Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, making him eligible for the death penalty if convicted, and one count of felony burglary. His attorneys filed a motion last week alleging the prosecution shirked its responsibility to disclose evidence on time and violated the courts discovery deadlines. To remedy these alleged violations, the defense team requested the presiding judge remove the death penalty as an option for Kohberger.

The 30-year-old was a former criminology graduate student at Washington State University in Pullman, just nine miles from the Idaho-Washington border. Hes accused of stabbing to death four University of Idaho students in a house off of the college campus in Moscow in November 2022. The students were Madison Mogen, of Coeur dAlene, and Kaylee Goncalves, of Rathdrum, both 21; and Xana Kernodle, of Post Falls, and Ethan Chapin, of Mount Vernon, Washington, both 20.

From left, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were killed in a November 2022 attack at an off-campus house on King Road near the University of Idaho.

Kohberger is expected to stand trial this summer, and the prosecution has stated their intent to seek the death penalty if a jury finds him guilty of murder. His public defense team, led by Anne Taylor, has tried  to no avail  to remove capital punishment as a sentencing option, arguing that the death penalty is unconstitutional, breaks with evolving standards of decency and is arbitrarily applied. Fourth Judicial District Judge Steven Hippler so far hasnt been persuaded.

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This most recent motion was one of dozens of filings unsealed last week, along with another motion arguing that Kohbergers autism diagnosis places him at an unacceptable risk of wrongful conviction and execution. The filings are the defenses latest push to keep their client off of death row.

More humane? Idaho becomes only state to prefer firing squad to carry out death penalty

In the most recent motion, Taylor pointed to the criminal case of Lori Vallow Daybell, who was convicted of killing two of her children. In that case, 7th District Judge Steven Boyce made the unprecedented decision to curb the prosecutions discretion to seek the death penalty against the mother.

In March 2023, 7th District Judge Steven Boyce made the unprecedented decision to curb the prosecutions discretion to seek the death penalty against Lori Vallow Daybell, who was later convicted of killing two of her children.

In Idaho, juries decide whether someone should be executed. But prosecutors decide whether the jury should consider the death penalty as an option, though in rare circumstances, a judge can intervene.

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Boyce, who presides over cases in eastern Idaho, did exactly that in March 2023, weeks before Vallow Daybell went to trial  when the prosecution filed thousands of documents and evidence past the courts discovery deadline.

Boyce called the disclosure of evidence inexcusably late. His decision wasnt to penalize the state, he said during the hearing, but to protect Vallow Daybells rights.

If I were to fail to address this discovery issue, I believe this case would inevitably be reversed on appeal if there was a capital conviction, he added.

Defense calls discovery chaotic and disorganized

Taylor described the massive amount of evidence Kohbergers defense received through the discovery process as chaotic and disorganized, according to the motion.

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She alleged the prosecution failed to provide the defense with detailed expert disclosures, leaving Kohbergers attorneys unclear about what testimony the prosecutions dozens of potential expert witnesses will provide and depriving Kohberger of the ability to conduct an independent review and investigation of the evidence.

Its like the prosecution took tens of thousands of documents, photos and video clips and shook them up in a snow globe, she wrote.

While defense counsel has made herculean efforts to review the discovery provided, she added, there is no possible way that all of the discovery  which is equivalent to 68,000 copies of the Encyclopedia Brittanica  can be reviewed prior to the trial date.

Anne Taylor, lead public defender for Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, arrives at a hearing in Latah County District Court, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho.

The provided discovery includes 60-plus digital devices, more than 13,000 photographs and over 23,000 video clips from businesses and residences, the motion said. Taylor said the evidence isnt in a searchable format, and the prosecution didnt provide detailed logs or indexes to help the defense review the information.

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No matter whether the disorganized evidence or minimal expert disclosures were intentional, the prejudice is the same, Taylor wrote.

Indeed, other courts have precluded the death penalty on far less, and bad faith is not the standard for applicability of sanctions, she said.

Bryan Kohberger, center, listens during a hearing in Latah County District Court, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho as he sits with Anne Taylor, left, one of his attorneys, near a video displaying showing 2nd District Judge John Judge presiding over the hearing.

In a separate filing, the prosecution has disputed this claim.

Latah County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Ashley Jennings wrote in an objection to a motion that prosecutors provided the evidence in the same format it was given to them and that each of their expert witness disclosures informs the defense about the main opinion of the witnesss testimony.

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Any contention that the defendant has been prejudiced or does not have adequate time to respond is wholly unsupported, Jennings wrote.

Bryan Kohberger has autism. His attorneys say the diagnosis should remove death penalty

Kohberger situation doesnt fit into the same box

Despite potentially similar circumstances in Kohbergers case, University of Idaho law professor Samuel Newton previously told the Idaho Statesman theres a key difference in the cases.

Vallow Daybell never gave up her right to a speedy trial, which is supposed to guarantee a defendants trial starts six months after the arraignment. Kohberger waived his constitutionally guaranteed right in 2023 to give his attorneys more time to prepare for the complicated and expansive case.

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On top of that, Kohbergers trial is still four months away. In Vallow Daybells case, the evidence was submitted just weeks before her trial began.

So the Kohberger situation doesnt fit into the same box, Newton said in a phone interview.

Other sanctions are also available to Hippler if he agrees with the defense about the discovery violations. Newton said most of the time, judges settle on giving the other side more time or restricting late evidence.

Those options would avoid the extraordinary remedy to take the death penalty away from the state, Newton added.

The court already hinted at the fact that Vallow Daybells case was distinguishable, given her unwillingness to waive her speedy trial rights, the motion said. But Taylor said they dont have the option to push Kohbergers trial back, since Hippler has repeatedly said the trial date is set in stone for July.

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Striking the death penalty is the only remedy that begins to adequately address the prejudice to Mr. Kohberger, Taylor wrote.

Prosecutors: Kohberger defense to argue in Idaho murder trial DNA evidence was planted

Texts, 911 call unsealed in Kohbergers case reveal new details about Idaho homicides
Originally appeared on E! Online

Audio from the aftermath of the University of Idaho murders has come to light after more than two years.

A 911 call placed hours after roommates Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves and Xana Kernodleas well as Kernodle's boyfriend Ethan Chapinwere killed in November 2022 offers insight into the tragedy ahead of suspect Bryan Kohbergers upcoming murder trial.

During the call, which was placed at 11:55 a.m. local time on the morning of Nov. 13, an emergency dispatcher attempted to gather information from a distraught young woman.

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Something just happened in our house, the woman told the dispatcher in audio obtained by E! News. We dont know what.

Following a brief exchange about the address of the incident, a second woman described the scene at the time of the call.

One of our, one of the roommates is passed out, she told the dispatcher, and she was drunk last night and shes not waking up.

For more details on the murders, keep reading.

More from E! Online

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The second woman added, Oh, and they saw some man in their house last night.

From there, the first woman returned to the line and attempted to recount the events of the night before. However, the dispatcher pressed her to confirm if someone was indeed unconscious.

Come on we gotta go check, she told another person at the scene. We have to.

After a brief pause, more tears could be heard on the call.

Monroe County Correctional Facil/UPI

Is she passed out? Whats wrong? the woman asked. Shes not waking up.

Kohberger is accused of killing the four students during the early hours of Feb. 13 in what police described as an "isolated, targeted attack" committed with "an edged weapon such as a knife.

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Prior to the release of the 911 call, prosecutors in the case filed a motion Feb. 24 for the recording to be admitted into evidence, according to court documents obtained by E! News. In the filing, prosecutors said that while the defense previously described the call as improperly admitted hearsay, the call falls within hearsay exceptions in the state of Idaho.

Kohberger, who was charged with four counts of first-degree murder, pled not guilty in May 2023 and could face the death penalty if convicted. His trial is set to begin Aug. 11.

For more details on the murders, keep reading.

Who Were Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle?

Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20, were University of Idaho students who lived in an off-campus apartment. On Nov. 12, 2022the night before their bodies were foundGonclaves and Mogen were at a nearby sports bar, while Kernodle and Chapin were at the latters fraternity party. By 2 a.m. on Nov. 13, the four roommates and Chapin were back at the three-story rental house. Goncalves was a senior majoring in general studies at the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. She was expected to graduate in December before heading to Austin, Tex., for a job at a marketing firm, her friend Jordyn Quesnell told The New York Times. Mogen, who was studying marketing, was best friends with Gonglaves since the sixth grade. She had plans to move to Boise after graduation, family friend Jessie Frost shared with The Idaho Statesman. Kernodle was a junior majoring in marketing, the University said at the time. She and Chapinwho majored in recreation, sport and tourism managementhad been dating since the spring, the roommates neighbor Ellie McKnight told NBC News.





Were There Any Survivors?

Two roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, had been home at the time of the murders. In text messages that were unsealed March 6, 2025, Mortensen and Funke tried contacting their roommates on Nov. 13 after the former saw a masked man moving through the house, according to documents obtained by E! News. "No one is answering," Mortensen texted Funke at 4:22 a.m. "I'm rlly confused rn." She continued to reach out to their roommates, urging them to respond. "Pls answer," she texted Goncalves at 4:32 a.m. and again at 10:23 a.m. "R u up??" At 11:58 a.m., a 911 call was placed after Kernodle was found unresponsive, per an additional motion obtained by E! News. A woman named A1 in the transcript described the current situation to the operator. "One of the roommates who's passed out and she was drunk last night and she's not waking up," she said on the phone. "They saw some man in their house last night."





Who Is Bryan Kohberger and How Was He Found?

Bryan Kohberger, who has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, was a doctoral candidate at Washington State University. Over one month after the bodies of Gonclaves, Mogen, Kernodle and Chapin were discovered, Kohberger was taken into custody Dec. 30 in Monroe County, Penn. He was extradited to Idaho Jan. 4. As for how authorities connected him to the killings? DNA was found on a knife sheath that was left at the crime scene, prosecutors revealed in June 2023 court documents, per NBC News. When the DNA didn't match anyone in the FBI database, authorities ran the DNA through public ancestry websites to create a list of potential suspects, according to the filings. After learning that Kohberger had driven to his parents' home in Monroe County, local officials then went through their trash and found DNA that tied him to that found on the sheath.





What Is Kohbergers Defense Arguing?

At the moment, a motive for the attack has not been detailed and a gag order prevents many involved in the case from speaking publicly, NBC News reported. However, the unsealed documents provided some insight into their arguments. Kohberger's attorneys argued in a motion obtained by E! News to strike the death penalty that Kohbergerwho could face the death penalty if found guilty on all counts, a judge ruled in November 2024has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and that executing him would violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on "cruel and unusual punishment." His defense argued that Kohbereger "displays extremely rigid thinking, perseverates on specific topics, processes information on a piecemeal basis, struggles to plan ahead, and demonstrates little insight into his own behaviors and emotions." "Due to his ASD, Mr. Kohberger simply cannot comport himself in a manner that aligns with societal expectations of normalcy," the motion said. "This creates an unconscionable risk that he will be executed because of his disability rather than his culpability."

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Where Does the Case Stand Today?

Kohberger had a judge enter a not-guilty plea to the first-degree murder charges on his behalf after remaining silent at his May 2023 arraignment. Although his trial was set to begin Oct. 2, 2023, Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial in August 2023. His new trial datewhich will take place in Ada County, more than 300 miles from Latah County, where the killings took placeis set to begin Aug. 11, 2025. Latah County Judge John Judge ruled in favor of the transfer request made by Kohberger's defense in September 2024 based on "presumed prejudice" if the trial remained in Latah County.

Ada County Judge Steven Hipplerwho is now presiding over the casedenied the defense's request to suppress key DNA and other evidence, including cell phone and email records, surveillance footage, past Amazon purchases and DNA evidence in the trial.



For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
A budget gap of tens of millions of dollars threatens South Florida's publicly funded passenger train, Tri-Rail, and its plans to add a long sought-after station in northern Palm Beach County.

Tri-Rail is asking Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties for a combined $30 million yearly or it could mean service cuts to the commuter service that hundreds of thousands of people ride each month, train officials have told county administrators and commissioners for the three South Florida counties.

COVID-19 relief money from the Biden administration's American Rescue Plan in 2021 has been bolstering Tri-Rail's budget, but will run out by the end of 2026, the executive director of the rail service's governing board, David Dech, has said.

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"We have some reserves, but it's time to have that conversation ... and see what, if anything, we want to do (moving) forward," Dech said at the Feb. 28 joint meeting of the South Florida and Treasure Coast Regional planning councils, which included top administrators and elected officials from across Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Dech has been meeting for the past month and a half with officials for the three counties, discussing ways to plug the coming gap. Ideas Dech and Tri-Rail have pitched mainly consist of higher taxes, such as property taxes and sales tax, amounting to $10 million from each of the three counties. Those tax increases would have to be approved by the counties' voters or state lawmakers.

What do county officials think of paying more to keep Tri-Rail running?

"Tri-Rail is a major component of getting working people from one county to another," Palm Beach County Administrator Verdenia Baker said at the Feb. 28 joint planning council meeting. But, she told Dech, "to tell me that you may be looking for $10 million (from Palm Beach County) in the next fiscal year, I don't know how we're going to handle that."

 That will be a very heavy lift and a big stretch, Broward County Administrator Monica Cepero said, adding that Tri-Rail is "critical and essential" to South Florida.

Ann Marie Clark (left) and Zamoya Henderson board the Tri-Rail Express train to Miami from West Palm Beach in July 2024.

Tri-Rail passenger fares cover 10% of the trains nearly $124 million in operating expenses, rail officials reported at the Jan. 28 meeting of Tri-Rail's governing board, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The rest comes mainly from state and county agencies.

What happens if Tri-Rail is not funded enough?

Without the $30 million, Tri-Rail would have to cut back on projects such as station rehabilitation and upgrades, and would have to consider cutting service, spokesman Victor Garcia said. About 4.4 million people in 2024 rode the 74-mile commuter train, including more than 1.5 million in Palm Beach County.

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The question is going to be ... what should be our fair share" to pay for Tri-Rail ? said Palm Beach County Commissioner Marci Woodward at the Jan 28.

A passenger boards the Tri-Rail Express train to Miami from West Palm Beach, Florida on July 1, 2024. For $17.50, passengers can take the 90 minute ride to Miami with only 5 stops.

Palm Beach County Commissioner Gregg Weiss, whose district includes Tri-Rail's downtown West Palm Beach station, warns that losing the commuter rail service would mean more frustration for drivers.

"We gotta keep keep this operating or else we're going to flood the roadways with trips," he said, but has not yet decided on a funding plan he would support.

Tri-Rail officials will meet again March 28 to discuss developments on funding plans.

Tri-Rail deficit would threaten service extension into northern Palm Beach County

Without a regular source of money to make up for the end of the COVID money, one Florida transportation official has said, the state is unlikely to supplement Tri-Rail's efforts to build a station at the VA Medical Center in western Riviera Beach, at Military Trail and Blue Heron Boulevard.

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County and transit officials have discussed this station for more than a quarter-century. The Tri-Rail governing board's members voted on Jan. 28 to ask the state Transportation Department for $7.5 million to help design and build it.

The Florida Department of Transportation's representative on Tri-Rail's governing board, Stacy Miller, told them that the department would likely reject the Tri-Rail request if the rail service lacks a dedicated funding source to keep the trains running. She voted to approve making the request only after it was changed so that the request was contingent on having such a revenue source.

Tri-Rail runs 54 trains each weekday, and 30 each on Saturday and Sunday, between Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties. It includes stops in or near downtown West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and all three major commercial airports across South Florida: Palm Beach International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International and Miami International.

Round-trip fares for non-disabled adults range from $5 to $17.50, depending on how far one wants to go.

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Tri-Rail has grown ridership back to pre-pandemic levels partly due to providing special services to big events. It will run trains as late as 1 a.m. from Miami March 29 and March 30 for revelers attending Ultra Music Festival. Tri-Rail ran special late night trains in October from its Golden Glades station in Miami for Taylor Swift fans attending her Eras Tour concert at the nearby Hard Rock Stadium.

Tri-Rail also covers $5 on Uber, Lyft and taxi fares to and from its stations, except for trips between its West Palm Beach station and Palm Beach International Airport, where the discount is $15.

Chris Persaud covers transportation in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Send story tips and ideas to cpersaud@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tri-Rail needs $30M or it may cut service, VA hospital extension
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  In 1966, the Rockford community was shaken when charred human bone fragments were found on the far-west side of the city.

Nearly 60 years later, a local author says the case still haunts those who remember it.

The pieces [of bone] were big enough that they could tell they came from a young, adolescent child, said Kathi Kresol, author of the book, Murder & Mayhem in Rockford, Illinois.

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Detectives soon realized they had likely found what was left of an 11-year-old Rockford girl who went missing a few months earlier.

On Dec. 20, 1965, little Susan Brady and her best friend went to her best friend, Cecilias house, Kresol said.

Cecilia and Susan were classmates and decided to play together after school at Cecilias Irving Avenue home.

They went to school together at St. Patrick Catholic School there on School Street, Kresol said. And they walked to the little girls house, and they hung out for few hours.

After that, Cecilia walked Susan part of the way toward her home on nearby North Day Avenue. The girls separated a few minutes later but Susan never made it home. When her parents still hadnt found her by bedtime, they called police. The search for Susan Brady was on.

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And then it led to more and more as the days passed, Kresol added.

The search for Susan Brady started with police and among members of St. Patrick Catholic Church, where her family attended. Before long, residents from throughout Rockford joined the effort to find the missing 11-year-old.

There were hundreds of people who were eventually searching for this little girl in that area, Kresol said. And they had airplanes flying overhead, people out calling her name walking through different parks.

But there was no sign of Susan Brady and things started looking very bleak for her mother, Norma, and father, James, who was a reporter for The Rockford Labor News.

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After the Christmas season, the Bradys said they wanted to leave their Christmas tree up because they wanted to have Christmas with Susan when she returned, Kresol said.

Then came a major break. As news started to spread about the disappearance, several young girls who walked home in Susans neighborhood told police they had been approached by a man in green Cadillac around the time she vanished. He offered to give them a ride but they all declined.

It really creeped them out because after they said, no, they would start walking and he would follow them very slowly in his car, said Kresol.

Investigators got another break when learned that a local man sold a green 1961 Cadillac, quit his job and left town right after Susan went missing.

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They followed him and found out he was now staying in San Diego, Kresol said.

The man was 25-year-old landscaper and factory worker, Russell Charles Dewey.

Police then learned that at the time of Susans disappearance, Dewey was staying at his grandparents home on West State Street in Rockford. As the investigation ramped up, detectives made a trip to the far-west side property to speak with owners. Nobody was home, but there, behind the house, they located the burn barrel containing what the FBI later identified as human bones.

And somehow, Russ Dewey, who was staying in California with his mother, got word, so he went and told his mother, Kresol said.

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What he shared with his mother though, didnt exactly track with what was being uncovered by police.

He goes to his mother and says he had hit a girl with his car, Kresol said.

Dewey turned himself in to police on Valentines Day 1966. He claims that after accidentally hitting Susan with his Cadillac near St. Patrick Church, he scooped her up and headed toward Rockford Memorial Hospital, but the little girl died on the way.

Dewey told police that he decided to cremate Susan behind his grandparents house because he was scared, largely because he didnt have car insurance.

He burned her all that night and the next day, Kresol said.

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And if burning the body of an 11-year-old girl in a 55-gallon drum isnt horrific enough, detectives uncovered more evidence that showed Susan Brady died a very ghastly and very violent death.

A sledgehammer with blood and hair on it found in the garage of his grandparents home was what authorities said Dewey used to bludgeon Susan to death.

At trial, prosecutors told the jury that Russell Dewey had been hunting for young girls near St. Patrick Church, hoping to lure them into his car. The panel of three men and three women heard how he kidnapped Susan near the corner of School Street and Albert Avenue and brutally killed her.

It took jurors only 47 minutes to find Dewey guilty. He was sentenced to 20 to 50 years behind bars. After prison officials deemed Dewey a model prisoner, he was paroled in 1987.

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He was released from prison, and Rockford was devastated, Kresol said.

Russell Dewey moved to Arkansas after his release. He died in 2009.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
(FOX40.COM)  Nearly 20,000 people in California are waiting for an organ transplant, according to Sierra Donor Services.

The nonprofit began its work back in 1985 helping people across Northern Nevada and California and reaching a total of 13 counties.

The reality is, is that there are not enough people deciding to be donors, said Cristian Morales with Sierra Donor Services.

Sacramento funeral home sued for mishandling remains of deceased man

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Morales added that the need is even greater among communities of color. Out of the 20,000 waiting for a lifesaving organ, nearly half are Latinos.

What were noticing right now is a decline on Latinos saying yes to donation, said Morales, Aside from having more of a match with a family member, the second-best option is someone of your race and an ethnicity.

He said there are several factors affecting the communitys decision to become donors.

Mistrust in the system, language barriers, and what we see a lot right now is immigration status. Thats something that we see within our country and within our state, too, said Morales.

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The organization works with over 40 different hospitals as well as local agencies to help educate, inspire, and inform the public on the importance of becoming an organ donor.

One donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and help improve the lives of up to 75 individuals so one person can make that difference, stressed Morales.

From the start of the year through the end of February, Sierra Donor Services has had 25 organ donors, 76 organs transplanted, and 154 tissue donors.

People shouldnt wait two years. People shouldnt wait five, or 10 years. Everyone deserves a second chance at life. If youre considering being a donor, keep that in mind. Its an act of kindness. You can leave a legacy and inspire so many others, said Morales.

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For more information on how you can donate click here and to register 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 FOX40 News.
A ban on gas-powered leaf blowers goes into effect in Cambridge.

The city says youll need to use leaf blowers powered by either a rechargeable battery or connected to an outlet.

Cambridge says the ban is good for the environment and will reduce noise.

Using a gas-powered blower could land you a $300 fine.

Landscapers wont be impacted by the policy until next year.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Canada is reviewing its contract with Lockheed Martin for F-35 fighter jets, the country's Defense Minister said.

The review comes amid rising tensions between Ottawa and Washington.

It comes after Portugal said it was also reconsidering purchasing the jet.

Canada is reviewing its contract with US defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin to purchase F-35 fighter jets, its defense minister said on Friday.

Speaking to CBC, Bill Blair said he had spoken with newly appointed Prime Minister Mark Carney and that they were now looking at "other alternatives" to the F-35.

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"It was the fighter jet identified by our air force as the platform that they required, but we are also examining other alternatives," Blair said.

"Whether we need all of those fighter jets to be F-35s or if there might be alternatives, the prime minister has asked me to go and examine those things and have discussions with other sources, particularly where there may be opportunities to assemble those fighter jets in Canada," he added.

Canada finalized a contract in 2023 to purchase 88 F-35 jets for C$19 billion (around $13.2 billion). It has made a legal commitment of funds for the first 16 aircraft.

The first jet is expected to be delivered to the F-35 training center at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona in 2026. The jet is set to arrive in Canada in 2028.

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In a statement to Business Insider, Canada's Office of the Minister of National Defence confirmed that the defense minister had been asked to work with the Canadian armed forces and the Department of National Defence to evaluate whether the F-35 was the best investment for Canada and if there were other options that could better meet the country's needs.

"To be clear, we are not cancelling the F-35 contract, but we need to do our homework given the changing environment, and make sure that the contract in its current form is in the best interests of Canadians and the Canadian Armed Forces," it said.

Lockheed Martin said it valued its "strong partnership and history" with the Royal Canadian Air Force and that it looked forward to continuing it into the future.

The company beat out Sweden's Saab  maker of the Gripen E jet  and Boeing  which produces the F/A-18 Super Hornet  to secure the contract.

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Blair's comments came just a day after Portugal announced that it was also reconsidering purchasing the F-35.

Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo told local outlet Publico on Thursday that he was wary of replacing older US-made F-16 fighter jets with F-35s in the wake of President Donald Trump's recent policy shifts.

Melo said Trump's unpredictability with regard to his stance on NATO meant Portugal had to weigh up other options, adding: "We cannot ignore the geopolitical environment in our choices."

Blair's announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Ottawa and Washington over Trump's repeated tariff threats and comments about adopting Canada as the 51st US state.

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Trump's moves have led to an outpouring of patriotism in Canada and seen some locals push back by abandoning US consumer brands in favor of Canadian alternatives.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Korean automaker Kia (000270.KS), is killing it.

Kia America, part of the Hyundia Motor Group, reported another record sales month in February, powered by its mix of gas powered offerings like the high-selling Telluride SUV, as well as EV vehicles like the EV6 crossover.

"So our grand strategy is, first, we want to be a leader in what we call sustainable mobility. This is key, is mission, and EVs are part of that, and also includes electrified internal combustion, which is hybrids and plug in hybrids and so on," Steven Center, Kia Americas COO & EVP told Yahoo Finance. "But we we've also built out a very full lineup of internal combustion vehicles in the past few years."

Center mentions the aforementioned three-row Telluride, as well as the Sorrento and other smaller SUVs. The company didnt abandon sedans  like its Big Three rivals did  and just introduced the midsize K4 last year. The larger K5 is actually built in North America.

2022 Kia EV6 (credit: Kia)  Kia

A big part of the growth plans for Kia include localizing production in the US, which it has done for many years. Kia intends to move its EV production stateside as well.

"We're going to be building EVs in Georgia, and that's before any of this tariff talk. Kia has been in the United States for over 30 years now, and we've invested as a company, billions and billions and billions of dollars in American manufacturing and supply chain," Center said. "So this is part of a plan we've had for a long time."

Officially, Kia addressed the 800-pound gorilla in the room Trump's auto tariffs  by stating the company is monitoring tariff developments and will be reviewing business strategies in response.

But  and this is a big but  the White House hasnt targeted vehicles made in South Korea, where Kia is based and still imports vehicles in the US.

Ford CEO Jim Farley has been howling that not targeting other international imports with tariffs is unfair because international automakers like Kia are essentially getting a free ride, whereas imports from Mexico and Canada  also part of a free trade agreement  are slated for 25% duties starting April 2.

Unfair or not, its likely only a matter of time before other trade partners are targeted by the administration, and Center believes Kia has a good game plan if that happens, because of its large US footprint.

"[Tariffs] will affect every brand differently depending on their balance of what they make where. So in our case, and we've had plenty of meetings about this in the past few months, we've got our business plan, and we're going to continue to work that plan to the best advantage of our customers, our dealers  who are also customers who have big investments in Kia  and to hit the volume levels, we want to keep growing [in the US]."
New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney shut down President Trumps talk of Canada potentially becoming the U.S.s 51st state, characterizing it as crazy and vowing the North American neighbor will remain independent.

Carney  a former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor who was sworn in as Canadas leader on Friday, succeeding his predecessor Justin Trudeau  said Canada and the U.S. are fundamentally different nations and that Ottawa expects respect from America and Trump.

We will never in any way, shape or form be a part of the U.S. America is not Canada, Carney said.

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His point is crazy, thats it, the new prime minister added.

Trump has previously said Canadians would be better off if their country joined the U.S. and repeatedly mocked Trudeau as a governor before his tenure ended.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was pressed by Canadian journalists at a Group of Seven meeting over Trumps talk of Canada becoming the 51st state and the tariffs Washington has implemented on a variety of products.

The Canadian government has made their position clear. The president has made his argument clear as to why he thinks Canada would be better off joining as a state for economic purposes, Rubio said Friday.

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There is a disagreement between the two. That was not a topic of conversation, because thats not what this summit was about, the secretary added.

The relationship between Washington and Ottawa has been rocky as the trade war between the two neighboring countries has intensified.

Canada retaliated against the levies Trump imposed this week on aluminum and steel, implementing its own 25 percent tariffs on all aluminum and steel imports. Canada also imposed a tariff on $30 billion worth of goods coming from the U.S.

Rubio said Friday that Trump wants to reset the baseline with the levies on Canada, a topic he touched on during his meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly.

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This is not meant as a hostile move. This is about balancing and fairness and trade, he said. Once the baseline is set, then you can have negotiations with individual countries about trade. This is meant to be friendly and of our national interest.

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Amid heightening tensions with its neighbor to the south, Canada is reconsidering a multi-billion dollar defense deal with the U.S.

Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said late on Friday that the government is looking at possible alternatives to the American-made F-35 stealth fighter and that they will speak to other aircraft manufacturers.

Blairs comments came just hours after he was reappointed as defense minister by new Prime Minister Mark Carney. One day previously, Portugal indicated that it was planning on backtracking on its acquisition of the fighter jet.

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President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to annex Canada by economic force, and frequently referred to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as governor as he argued that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.

Canadians are now increasingly supportive of ditching the $19 billion deal with the U.S. and find alternative aircraft to those made and maintained across its southern border.

In June 2023, after years of delay, the Liberal government signed a deal with the U.S. defense behemoth Lockheed Martin to buy 88 F-35s.

Blair told the CBC that the discussions with the military regarding whats best for Canada are ongoing.

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It was the fighter jet identified by our air force as the platform that they required, but we are also examining other alternatives  whether we need all of those fighter jets to be F-35, said Blair, according to CBC.

The Canadian government is looking at alternatives to the American-made Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft amid ongoing disputes with President Donald Trump. (Getty Images)

Canada has already paid for the first 16 jets, set to be delivered in early 2026.

The defense minister suggested that the first batch of the American-made fighter jets may be accepted but that the rest may come from European manufacturers, such as the Swedish-made Saab Gripen, which came in second in the bidding war for the Canadian contract.

The prime minister has asked me to go and examine those things and have discussions with other sources, particularly where there may be opportunities to assemble those fighter jets in Canada, said Blair.

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The Swedish proposal did state that the assembly would take place in Canada and there would be a transfer of intellectual property, meaning that the aircraft would be maintained in Canada. Meanwhile, significant maintenance and software upgrades of the F-35 take place in the U.S.

Swedish Air Force Saab JAS 39 Gripen jetfighters could provide an alternative for the Canadian government. However, running a mixed fleet could prove to be too complicated. (AFP via Getty Images)

However, the air force has been resistant to fly a mixed fleet of aircraft, despite doing so until the 1980s when the current CF-18s were bought, CBC noted. Two different training schemes would be needed, different hangars would be required, and the supply chains for the planes would vary. Defense planners have stated for decades that such a model would be too expensive.

Before Blair came out in favor of looking elsewhere, Lockheed Martin was asked about Portugals departure from the program and if it would impact Canada.

Lockheed Martin values our strong partnership and history with the Royal Canadian Air Force and looks forward to continuing that partnership into the future, a spokesperson for the company said in a statement, according to CBC. Foreign military sales are government-to-government transactions, so anything further will be best addressed by the U.S. or respective customer governments.

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The spokesperson, Lockheed Martin's director of global media relations, Rebecca Miller, responded to online misinformation that the F-35s have a kill switch which would allow the U.S. to turn off aircraft bought by allies or restrict their capabilities if the U.S. government ordered Lockheed Martin to do so.

As part of our government contracts, we deliver all system infrastructure and data required for all F-35 customers to sustain the aircraft, said Miller. We remain committed to providing affordable and reliable sustainment services to our customers that enable them to complete their missions and come home safely.
As Canada prepared to swear in a new prime minister amid an escalating trade war with the Trump administration, the countrys provinces have turned to K Street for help finding leverage to ride out the storm, according to documents filed with the Justice Department.

The oil-rich province of Saskatchewan has retained HBW Resources  an energy-focused lobbying firm that was previously home to RNC Chair Michael Whatley  to lobby for energy reliability and affordability and to advocate for diverse energy options for American families and businesses, DOJ filings show.

The firm disclosed a letter sent from Premier Scott Moe to Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry in February in which Moe requested for Saskatchewan to join the Governors' Coalition for Energy Security, a partnership launched last year by GOP governors to push for reducing regulatory barriers for energy projects. The strength of this trading relationship and our integrated energy sectors is foundational to the ongoing mutual success of our economies, Moe wrote. The province of Alberta, which hired HBW last month, joined the governors coalition in November.

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Quebec has also enlisted lobbying help with ties related to the provinces interests in recent weeks, according to documents filed with DOJ last weekend. Quebecs Minister of International Relations and Francophonie hired Florida-based Becker & Poliakoff to craft an engagement strategy for the province in both Washington and Florida, the winter destination for droves of Quebecois snowbirds each year  something travel Premier Francois Legault hasnt ruled out discouraging amid the trade tensions.

Becker, which counts now-Secretary of State Marco Rubio as one of its alumni, will work to line up strategic meetings for Legault during his visits to the U.S., identify opportunities for high-level networking for the province and help the government communicate more effectively with Republican elected officials and the White House.

Quebec and Saskatchewan are just the latest arms of the Canadian government to bring on help in Washington since President Donald Trump began taunting Canada about annexation and laid out plans for sweeping new tariffs.

Ballard Partners, the firm led by top Trump fundraiser Brian Ballard, in early March announced that it is teaming up with Quebec-based communications and public affairs firm TACT  the latest expansion of the Ballard Global Alliance, which includes strategic partnerships with consultancies across the globe.

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New Brunswick last month retained the Porter O'Brien Agency and the Ingram Group, and a federation of Canadian premiers hired the Trump-linked firm Checkmate Government Relations for assistance arranging a trade mission to Washington. In addition to its recent hire of HBW Resources, Alberta added two new firms just before the election.

Several weeks before Trump took office, Capitol Counsel announced its own cross-border partnership with the Canadian firm Rubicon Strategy Inc.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misstated the nature of Marco Rubio's previous work for Becker & Poliakoff.
With the help of mRNA technology proven effective during the COVID pandemic, researchers are now closer than ever to creating viable cancer vaccines.

In an interview with Wired, Lennard Lee, an oncologist with the United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) working on mRNA cancer vaccines, says he believes the groundbreaking research may prove to be a "silver lining" in the brutal COVID-19 pandemic.

Before COVID, as Lee told the magazine, "cancer vaccines werent a proper field of research."

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"Pretty much every clinical trial had failed," the NHS oncologist said. "With the pandemic, however, we proved that mRNA vaccines were possible."

As with mRNA COVID vaccines, the logistics of these potential new cancer inoculations work by "giving the body instructions" to fight troublesome cells, as Lee detailed, ultimately providing the immune system with a how-to manual on fighting cancer.

"Going from mRNA Covid vaccines to mRNA cancer vaccines is straightforward," he told Wired. "Same fridges, same protocol, same drug, just a different patient."

Instead of the one-size-fits-all approach taken with the widespread usage of mRNA COVID jabs, however, these new cancer vaccines will be personalized for each individual cancer patient.

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"In the current trials," Lee elucidated, "we do a biopsy of the patient, sequence the tissue, send it to the pharmaceutical company, and they design a personalized vaccine thats bespoke to that patients cancer."

"That vaccine is not suitable for anyone else," he recounted to the magazine. "Its like science fiction."

According to Lee, breakthrough cancer vaccine innovation came on the heels of the UK's rapid infrastructure-building during the COVID pandemic, which saw the country "open and deliver clinical trials" much faster than anyone would have expected.

As COVID began winding down in 2022, Lee and his colleagues set up the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, a post-pandemic pet project that segued mRNA research into the arena of oncology. Not long after, "the dominoes started falling very quickly" as that project and others around the world rapidly progressed towards cancer vaccines. One NHS trial seeking to stop skin cancer from coming back was completed a year early  something that's "completely unheard of," Lee said.

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The NHS oncologist told Wired that the results from that trial should come out by the end of this year or the beginning of 2026. If it was successful, Lee told Wired, he and his team "will have invented the first approved personalized mRNA vaccine  an impressive feat indeed, especially this soon after the technology was deployed at scale during the pandemic.

More on the cancer vax: Groundbreaking Ovarian Cancer Vaccine at an "Exciting" Moment, Lead Scientist Says
Mar. 14MITCHELL  It's time for a clean up in Loomis.

The Davison County Commission sounded off recently on the state of the small unincorporated community, which was maligned about the status of many of the properties in the burgh located northwest of Mitchell.

Davison County Planning and Zoning Deputy Administrator Karen Wegleitner said recent calls and complaints have shed light on the poor status of properties at the townsite.

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"There was trash everywhere, houses that have windows broken out of them," Wegleitner said of a recent visit. "There's car parts, washers and dryers outside. ... But it's unincorporated, and there's not much we can do about it right now."

The town is less than a 1/4-square mile in size and has about 30 residents, according to the most recent U.S. Census data. It's not officially an incorporated town, meaning the territory is generally treated like any other rural part of the county, although there are some variations for Loomis because it's zoned as a platted town site residential district.

Wegleitner said the issue started with a complaint to the Mitchell Fire Department about the fire risk in Loomis about a specific property that had a large trash pile and was potentially going to be burned. That was passed on to the Letcher Fire Department, which is responsible for fire coverage in Loomis.

"He has neighbors all around him, and there would have been a problem with the fumes and the smell and the fire risk overall with how dry it has been," Wegleitner said.

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The commissioners, discussing the issue on March 11, were not impressed with the status of the community's upkeep.

"Loomis has been like that since I was a kid," Commissioner Denny Kiner said. "There's probably three or four that are in good shape."

"With Loomis, you've got a whole town, except for two or three houses, that have issues," Commissioner Chris Nebelsick said. "We have to clean it up."

Nebelsick said it's not a problem that is exclusive to Loomis, citing a rural Ethan property that has dilapidated property and old cars that have been sitting in one place for 20 years, he said.

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"We've got nuisance properties around the county and we don't have any teeth to have anyone to clean it up," Nebelsick said. "The townships can send notices and get lawyers involved and spend this money and nothing ever happens."

Commissioner John Claggett believes the county should have a stronger nuisance ordinance. He recalled that when an attempt to enact one about 25 years ago occurred, citizens protested about it being too overreaching about what had to be cleaned up.

"I think when they wrote it back then, they were too loose," Claggett said. "Nuisance ordinances have more applicability today that they didn't have back then because people don't want you to have their junk in their view."

"Whatever you do will affect the county," Kiner said. "It's a tough nut to crack."

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"That's what we have to watch," added Commission Chairman Randy Reider. "There's an awful lot of places that have four or five cars out there on their property and a tractor but most people wouldn't consider that a nuisance. And I don't think that's what we're considering here."

Wegleitner said she has not yet taken action on the property with the trash and burnpile because the resident there has vowed to get a dumpster. She said any further recourse likely would need to be handled by the state, she said, and in this case, by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

"Since we're in the process of changing, or potentially changing our ordinances, I figured I would bring it up so we can discuss if there's a way we can have a little more say for nuisances," Wegleitner said. "I get that you're in a rural area, but they're still residences. They're in a residential area."

She added that the best policy still remains giving the property owner ample time to correct the issue before having to get the state or county government involved. Wegleitner expects the potential ordinance changes regarding nuisances to continue to get discussion with the Davison County Planning Commission and the County Commission, but no timeline has been discussed to officially consider those changes.
Erie, PA (WJET/WFXP) People throughout Erie County have continued to reach out searching for answers. This is after some are saying their SNAP benefit funds were stolen.

The main culprit? A device known as a card skimmer is thought to be behind the fraud.

Meadville community unites to support EBT card scam victims

One of the major problems with the situation right now, according to law enforcement, is that despite instances of this happening throughout the region, its apparently not being reported to police properly.

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This is a card skimmer.

Theyre able to be attached to all kinds of payment stations or ATMs and with just one swipe, it can steal your payment information, and drain your accounts.

Were seeing this across the state and honestly across the country, is the theft of SNAP benefits, said Brandon Cwalina, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

SNAP scammers targeting Erie residents leaving some without money for food

More than two million Pennsylvanians rely on SNAP benefits for food and once their funds for the month dry up after a theft, many people feel like they have nowhere to turn.

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And due to a recent congressional resolution, the Department of Human Services cannot reimburse people for funds stolen.

But what you should be doing is reporting it to local police, requesting a replacement card, and changing your pin regularly around distribution days.

There are solutions being worked on to prevent theft as well.

PA sees increase in EBT, SNAP benefit fraud  Heres what you should know

Two things that we are working on: one a little more immediately, in April we hope to roll out a card locking feature so folks can lock their cards, unlock them at the grocery store, swipe, and lock them back up so benefits wont be stolen. Another thing thats going to take a little more time, Cwalina explained. Is a chip feature on the cards so people can just tap their cards rather than just swipe, negating the purpose of a skimming device.

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So how can you recognize them when shopping? A representative of the FBI said to feel the card reader and try to jiggle it if youre skeptical.

These things are not installed like a normal card reader, these are usually just something that would be snapped on, snapped in place, put over a debit card point of sale, put over an ATM machine, or put over the card reader thats on the gas station pump. If one of those is loose, I would absolutely report it to the people there, but then also not probably patron that business at that point, said Christopher Giordano, assistant special agent in charge for the Pittsburgh FBI Field Office.

Immediately contact the police as well with your concerns. Giordano says the business or employees could be complicit with the scam.

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No one should have to wait a month to feed themselves. In the meantime, while youre waiting for benefits to be reloaded, you can visit PA 211 or Feeding PA online for help.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  A northwest Iowa man is set to serve the next 50 years in federal prison after sexually abusing multiple children and possessing pornographic images and videos of them.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Lucas Knowles, 48, of Carroll, was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City on Friday, March 14. He had pleaded guilty in February to sexual exploitation of a child, receipt and possession of child pornography, and possession of firearms by a prohibited person.

Sioux City man sentenced to 25 years for armed robberies

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The FBI had gotten a tip that Knowles was sexually abusing a child and had child sexual abuse material, per a release. In an interview, Knowles admitted to the abuse and to producing such material.

When investigators searched his computers, they found about 1.07 million images and videos of child pornography, some of which portrayed local victims. They reportedly showed sadistic or masochistic conduct with young children. Knowles said he had been accumulating child pornography for around three decades.

Knowles also admitted to possessing meth, which he also used, and to illegally possessing firearms.

Suspect in 1983 Sioux City murder has arraignment set

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Knowles was sentenced to 600 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. He will also have to pay $21,400 in fines and assessments.

Lucas Knowles is a sexual predator and a heinous criminal, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said in a statement in part. His appalling actions brought pain and trauma to children for his own gratification. Todays sentence ensures Knowles will not hurt anyone else.

There is no parole in the federal system.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
Steven Soderbergh films are like buses: Theres always another one coming. This isnt a complaint, exactly, but the directors prolific nature is on my mind with each of his new projectshe released Presence two months ago, and hes already got another one? How much effort could he have put into it? Black Bag, a taut spy thriller starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender, is an argument for the filmmakers ruthless efficiency. Yes, the speed with which Soderbergh has hopped from genre exercise to genre exercise of late is a little dizzying; hes pumped out works of horror, romance, thriller, and comedy all since 2020. His skill with each, nonetheless, is hard to deny.

Black Bag, like the recent Soderbergh movies Presence and Kimi, was written by David Koepp; hes a Hollywood stanchion who is best known for major blockbusters including Jurassic Park and Spider-Man. Now, though, Koepp is seemingly hell-bent on reviving the midsize feature that Hollywood has been missing. His latest collaboration with Soderbergh, a cat-and-mouse story about a married pair of spies, is a throwback in many waysbut its observations about the intrusive nature of espionage work on their lives feel sharply contemporary.

The setup is straightforward. The glamorous Kathryn St. Jean (Blanchett) is a renowned British spy who is accused of being a double agent by an anonymous tipster. The big brass tasks the preening, excessively kempt George Woodhouse (Fassbender) with investigating her and some other colleagues in order to root out the traitor. There is a twist, of course: Kathryn and George are married. The mega-spies live together in a pristine London home thats a den of class, sophistication, and potential sabotage. Soderbergh has found the two perfect actors for this scenario; theyre impressive yet impassive movie stars who look glamorous even if theyre parked behind a laptop. Their dazzling facades, however, hide unspoken darkness.

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Blanchett serves glossy, Hollywood oomph, while Fassbender is playing a fussy, British spin on the hit-man character he portrayed so well in David Finchers The Killer. George is a major control freak whose freakery just might be getting the better of him. His favorite pastime, it seems, is inviting people over for dinner and dosing the dishes with a truth serum. (Avoid the chana masala, he warns his wife.) This is the informal version of administering lie-detector tests, his professional speciality. But despite being a top mole-hunter, George cant take quite as brutal or direct an approach with his wife. Thus, he must resort to bouncing his suspicions off her co-workersperformed by a fine-tuned group of talented company players.

[Read: A movie about the perils of being a control freak]

Among them is Tom Burke (from The Souvenir and last years Furiosa) as an agent with a proclivity for infidelity and booze; and Marisa Abela (known for Industry and the recent Amy Winehouse biopic) as a tech wiz and his on-and-off love interest. Naomie Harris and Rege-Jean Page fill out the cast as more experienced agents growing tired of Georges parlor games, while Pierce Brosnan lurks in the background as a disapproving boss. Soderbergh wisely leverages everyones fame to further confuse the audience: Fassbenders on-screen tendency toward villainous roles makes him a disorienting protagonist to root for, while Blanchetts natural gravitas renders her difficult not to trust.

At a blissful 93 minutes long, Black Bag keeps audiences happily guessing before dropping its final reveals. Though it has the same intimacy of many a Soderbergh effort of latehe tends to work quickly to keep budgets low and attract big-name talentthe director manages to squeeze in a couple of globe-trotting moments for some visual panache. Yet these foreign missions are largely glimpsed as surveillance on a computer screen. Most of Black Bag is instead set in enclosed spaces: the oppressive blank offices of the British intelligence services everyone works for, or George and Kathryns seductive and candlelit home, a welcoming environment that quickly turns into a pit of vipers when all the spies sit down for a meal.

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Will Soderbergh ever make another truly big movie? Black Bag had me thinking about some of his past hits, such as Oceans Eleven; these were large ensemble pieces that had proper scope to them. Black Bag is halfway there, although Soderberghs approach has an artfulness to it; hes telling a sweeping story while keeping the excitement mostly confined. The result, while self-contained, is gripping, quietly sexy, and robustly acted. Plus, given the scarcity of films for grown-ups in theaters right now, I cannot complain about a good update on the drawing-room mystery. But maybe one day Ill sit Soderbergh down, give him a heavy helping of Georges curried truth serum, and ask if hed ever consider making a grand action epic again.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
CAVE CITY, Ark.  The city of Cave City was placed under a state of emergency by mayor Jonas Anderson after storms left multiple injured and power out Friday night.

According to a post on social media titled Tornado Recovery Update, the city was placed under a state of emergency and a curfew was in place from dusk to dawn until further notice.

Courtesy Hannah Johnson Courtesy Hannah Johnson Courtesy Hannah Johnson Courtesy Hannah Johnson Courtesy Hannah Johnson

The post said that a command center was operating out of Cave City Fire and Rescue on North Street where they are also receiving supplies.

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We believe an unofficial count is five injuries, with three of those medically transported to a hospital. All are expected to be okay, the mayor said. There are no known remaining persons needing medical attention or rescue. There are no known fatalities. This is an absolute miracle from God.

Arkansas Storm Team Weather Blog: Heres when tornado season ends!

The mayor said that he has been in touch with the governors office and other state agencies. He also said that the city has received help from the Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission and other agencies from surrounding cities.

The major damage area seems to be a line east / northeast from the cemetery to West Center St., across Main St. at the intersection, across the neighborhood there to North St., and behind the high school, and on eastward from there into the county, the post said.

Courtesy Renee Clay-Circle Courtesy Renee Clay-Circle Courtesy Renee Clay-Circle Courtesy Renee Clay-Circle Courtesy Renee Clay-Circle Courtesy Renee Clay-Circle Courtesy Renee Clay-Circle Courtesy Renee Clay-Circle

The mayor also said that the water and sewer systems seem to be secure, but he did ask that residents conserve water as much as they can to help. He also said that he believes the natural gas leaks have stopped for now.

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Electricity infrastructure has been decimated and will remain off for an unknown period of time. We are close to having all city streets passable, but 167 will take some time, the mayor said. Cell phone service will likely continue to be spotty and unreliable for a while. Emergency services will be heavily impacted for the near future.

Arkansas Storm Team Weather Blog: 11 tornadoes in 2024

Mayor Anderson also asked for absolute cooperation and prayers.

There is a lot to wrap our heads around and lots to do. Lets care for each other. Lets speak and act in ways that will confound those watching and show what the people of this community are made of.

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On Saturday morning, over 1,100 residents in Independence County and over 2,300 in Sharp County were without power according to poweroutage.us.

Arkansas Storm Team Forecast: Severe Storms Still Ongoing in Southeast AR; Tornado Watch Active

The mayor issued an update on Saturday morning saying people that want to volunteer to help must report first to the Cave City Middle School parking lot, where a team will take information and direct on where best to help.

Welfare Checks or Missing Persons: please call Sharp County Dispatch at 870-994-2211 so that it can be recorded and properly handled, the mayor said. Please remember to stay away from damaged areas and let the professionals we have here do their job. Thank you for your cooperation and prayers.

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Tax, audit and advisory services provider KPMG UK has appointed Brian McBride as an independent non-executive, effective from the start of April 2025.

Currently serving as Trainline chair and Scottish Equity Partners senior adviser, McBride will serve on KPMGs Public Interest Committee.

KPMG UK chair Bina Mehta said: I am delighted that Brian has agreed to join the firm as an Independent non-Executive, an essential role in providing independent oversight and challenge. Brian brings extensive experience and insight to this important role.

His previous roles include lead non-executive director at the Ministry of Defence, appointed by the UK Prime Minister, and president of the CBI from 2022 to 2024, where he played a role in the organisation's restructuring.

McBride has also served as ASOS chairman from 2012 to 2018 and Amazon CEO in the UK from 2006 to 2011.

His experience extends to non-executive positions on the board of the BBC and senior roles at IBM in both the US and UK, Dell Computers, and as managing director of T-Mobile in the UK.

McBride said: KPMG has a critical role in the success of UK plc. It provides assurance to investors, supports businesses with transformational change, and helps create jobs and opportunities throughout the country. Im looking forward to playing my part in the firms future ambitions.

Earlier in March 2025, KPMG revealed plans to consolidate its global operations.

The firm aims to reduce its number of economic units from more than 100 to potentially as few as 32 by next year.

KPMG operates in 143 countries and territories and employs more than 275,000 partners and staff across its member firms worldwide.

"KPMG UK appoints new independent non-executive " was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand.




HONOLULU (KHON2)  Partner, Timothy Golden, of Village Bottle Shop and Tasting Room shared the St. Patricks Day celebration with Wake Up 2Day.

Village Bottle Shop and Tasting Room is known for its extensive selection of craft beers from Hawaii and around the world. This weekend, Village Bottle Shop and Tasting Room is hosting a St. Patricks Day celebration on Saturday, March 15, from 4 PM to 10 PM at their Kakaako location including live music from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM and an array of specially prepared food and drinks.

If you miss this weekends festivities, Village Bottle Shop and Tasting Room is open during their regular hours on Monday through Saturday from 12 PM to 11 PM with two locations, one on the west side located in Kapolei Commons and one in SALT at Our Kakaako. For more information, visit Village Bottle Shop and Tasting Room | Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Antiochs Century Farm development has transformed South Nashville and brought new life to the community.

The original idea goes back nearly a decade when developers Bill Oldacre and Mark McDonald bought the property. Both are partners at Oldacre McDonald LLC. Their goal is to continue growing the property into a major Nashville development.

JANUARY 2024: Century Farms land continues to spur growth in Antioch

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Antioch looked a lot different when they purchased the property. Many businesses closed their doors including the areas biggest economic driver: Hickory Hollow Mall.

The demise of the mall in Antioch wasnt a condemnation of Antioch  retail just changed, Oldacre said. Were moving the heart of Antioch, or the heart of South Nashville, across from Hickory Hollow to Century Farms.

In 2025, the area that had been a food and retail desert is a vibrant, growing community. Tanger Outlets Nashville, apartment complexes and more have helped pull Antioch out of that economic slump.

We think weve laid a good foundation and listened to what the neighbors wanted, McDonald said. I think weve tried to deliver what they wanted.

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The property houses a mall with dozens of retail and restaurant sites, an operations center, an HCA Healthcare emergency room and medical plaza and more. Some of the most recently-announced additions to the property include PopStroke, Cava and First Watch.

[The site] is forty percent built out right now and I think over the next four to five years we will be 100 percent built out, McDonald said.

Tanger Outlets Nashville has revitalized Antioch and still continues to grow

Century Farms is meant to not only improve access to food and retail, but make life in Antioch better for residents. McDonald spoke about how much effort toward that end had been put in the property.

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Look around and youll see quality signage [and] quality landscaping. All of that doesnt happen by accident, McDonald said. Thats because we focused on all of those components to create a great place to live [and a] great place to work [and a] great place to shop.

As one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in Nashville, both Oldacre and McDonald said they are far from done with developing the project.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Donald Trump has been flooding the zone for almost two months now, leaving most of us drowning in the nonstop chaos or deciding its safer to stay on dry land.

If you're not familiar with the term, flood the zone is a strategy to throw out so much noise, announcements, lawsuits, controversies, extrajudicial arrests, that it overwhelms the media and the public alike.

But it doesnt just confuse reporters. It exhausts everyone, whether youre a news junkie or someone just trying to stay informed without tanking your mental health, the sheer volume of distractions make it hard to focus on what actually matters. Like, say, Wisconsins upcoming Supreme Court election.

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Opinion: On Wisconsins glacial lakes, wake-enhanced boating damaging and dangerous

This race will determine the ideological balance of Wisconsins highest court and decide issues like abortion access, voting rights, and the states congressional maps. But despite its massive stakes, its struggling to break through the incessant noise from Trump.

Marquette poll shows Supreme Court campaign not registering

The latest Marquette Law School poll found that a huge chunk of Wisconsinites still dont know enough about either candidate. When asked about conservative candidate, former Wisconsin Attorney General and current Judge Brad Schimel, 38 percent said they dont know enough about him. For liberal-backed candidate Judge Susan Crawford, who is running her first statewide race, that number jumps to 58 percent.

Which feels like a far cry from when we were in this exact position just two years ago during the race between Judge (now Justice) Janet Protesiewicz and for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly.

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The parallels between the two races are striking: major stakes as far as state policy decisions that would come before the court, a liberal judge with lower name recognition, a conservative candidate who had held statewide office previously, a chance to flip the ideological lean of the court and a lot, and I mean a lot, of money.

You couldn't turn on the radio, enjoy a Badgers game, or watch a cat video on YouTube without hearing about Dan Kelly and Janet Protasiewicz. That race shattered records, becoming the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history. Candidates and their supporters shelled out over $51 million, with outside groups pouring in cash like it was beer cheese soup. 

And the money spent was the only thing that broke records, voter turn out did as well. The Wisconsin Elections Commission reported voter turnout for 2023s election was 39.34%, breaking the previous record high set for spring elections that didnt coincide with a presidential primary.

At the time. I remember cynically thinking that maybe more money did mean more turnout.

More campaign spending doesn't mean higher turnout

However, two years later, the campaigns have already smashed those same spending records set two years ago.

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Wispolitics reported that nearly $59 million has been spent on the race with three weeks to go before the election. And yet, so many people still dont feel like they know enough about the candidates.

The glaring difference between then and now is Trump flooding the zone. The endless chaos, the breaking news, the lawsuits, the rallies  its making it nearly impossible for voters to focus on down-ballot races, even the ones that could fundamentally change their lives.

The justices elected in April will take their seats in August 2025, and they could rule on Wisconsins 1849 abortion ban, voting rights and election laws, overturning parts of Act 10, and the states congressional maps. Their decisions will shape state policy but will also have national implications.

None of this is hypothetical. These cases are already working their way through the courts. And lest we forget, in 2020, Wisconsins Supreme Court came just one vote away from overturning the presidential election results.

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Its easy to get caught up in  or check out from  The Trump & Elon show. The inseparable pair have effectively hijacked the airwaves, making it harder to focus on the fights happening in our backyard. But while were distracted, decisions that will directly impact our lives are being made.

Its time to multitask! The role the current administration is playing in our lives is significant, but we cannot ignore the battles in our own backyard. The Wisconsin Supreme Court race will shape our state's trajectory for years to come. So, while Trump continues to be the squeaky wheel, let's ensure our local gears are well-oiled and moving in the right direction.

Dig deeper than the headlines. Research the candidates. Understand their platforms. And most importantly, vote. Because while the media circus rages on, the future of Wisconsin is being decided in places that aren't making the front page.

Kristin Brey is the "My Take" columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Don't tune out the Wisconsin Supreme Court election | Opinion
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Buffalo City Court judge dismissed charges against a party promoter accused of operating an unpermitted event where a shooting occurred.

Police initially charged Chuka Ibezim of Buffalo with two counts of second-degree criminal nuisance following an October event on Clinton Street where police responded to a shooting call. Police said at the time that they responded to the event around 2:30 a.m. and learned that a 15-year-old and a 26-year-old were taken to hospitals in civilian vehicles following the alleged shooting.

The charges were dismissed on March 10. Dismissals and acquittals are sealed in New York state.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
Radio host Charlamagne Tha God roasted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for breaking Democratic party ranks in a vote to advance the GOP-backed spending bill.

In a Friday broadcast of The Breakfast Club podcast, Charlamagne declared Schumer Donkey of the Day and laid into Democrats as the party of inaction.

Thats the difference between Democrats and Republicans, Charlamagne said. One party is about inaction, and one party is about all actioneven if that action is harmful to the country.

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The spending bill passed Friday evening with a 54-46 vote, averting a government shutdown but inciting a civil war among Democrats.

A total of 37 Senate Democrats opposed the bill, along with Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who wanted the bill to codify cuts to foreign aid, Time reported.

Schumers support marked a change of tone after he declared the bill very bad and said he would seek a 30-day extension to negotiate a bipartisan compromise. Explaining his change of heart, the top Democrat said a government shutdown would have consequences for America much, much worse.

There is a deep sense of outrage and betrayal, said New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez following Schumers announcement of support on Thursday. And this is not just about progressive Democrats, This is across the boardthe entire party.

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She added, I think it is a huge slap in the face.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who opposed the bill, refused to answer questions about Schumers support on Friday, The Hill reported.

In response to Schumers announcement, Charlamagne declared, Its time for the Chuck Schumers of the world, the Hakeem Jeffries, they should all step down.

Charlamagne said that Democrats will always have a messaging problem because they have a leadership problem. He added, In order to change the messaging, you got to change the people in the party.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control is once again calling for help after over 40 dogs were surrendered on Friday.

Just last week, the shelter was nearly overflowing with animals after 33 dogs were turned in on Monday. Despite extending their hours and waiving adoption fees in the past two weeks, the shelter still faces overcrowding issues.

On Mar. 15, 43 dogs were surrendered. ACC officials posted on Facebook saying 9 dogs were left in cages overnight at the front door of the shelter, and now, the organization needs help clearing up space.

(Credit: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services)

According to outreach manager Melissa Knicely, the main shelter on Byrum Drive only has three open kennels as of 10 a.m. Saturday. The shelter on Toomey Avenue has only four openings.

PREVIOUS | ACC sees high surrender rate amid rising cost of living

From Mar. 7 to Mar. 14, the shelter saw a 90.49% live release rate, meaning the majority of animals left the shelter through adoption, transfer to another organization, or returned to their owners.

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Officials are hoping people will come out and continue to help.

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Adopt  Give a pup their forever home

Foster  Take in a pup while they wait for their forever family

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Both the shelters main and satellite locations are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
PITTSBORO  Chatham County high school students are being invited to apply for the Resource Conservation Workshop scheduled for June 15-20 at NC State University, but the March 31 deadline to register is approaching.

The workshop is a week-long program that involves study and hands-on participation in a wide range of conservation topics.

Students are housed at NC State University campus dormitories under the guidance of live-in counselors. To achieve success, students should come prepared to meet the primary objective of the workshop  learning about natural resources and their management in todays global environment. Awards and scholarships can be won and are presented to students under several awards programs.

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Eligible students include rising sophomore, junior and senior high school students who have demonstrated an interest in natural resource conservation. High school graduates are not eligible to attend. Students may participate only once in this workshop.

In order to apply, the students parent/guardian should create a Brickyard account at reporter.ncsu.edu/index.html, which will allow the student to apply online.

Program participants are selected through their local Soil and Water Conservation District.

Questions may be directed to Brandy Oldham at (919) 545-8440 or brandy.oldham@chathamcountync.gov.

Questions regarding NCSUs Brickyard system may be directed to Liz Driscoll at (919) 886-3424 or liz_driscoll@ncsu.edu.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Hoover Fire Chief Clay Bentley says now is the time to communicate a plan with family members, ahead of the severe weather headed our way.

Pay attention to the weather, know whats going on, and be aware and so youve got plenty of time to get to where you need to be to protect yourself.

The City of Hoover does not have tornado shelters for general public so the city says its imperative to put in a severe weather plan in place now.

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Annette Rowland is the communications director for the American Red Cross of Alabama and Mississippi. But shes also a mom and a survivor of the 1998 Oak Grove tornado. She said she lost two young friends in that storm. Now that shes a mom, she says safety is priority one.

Ive started talking with my kids and letting them understand what those alerts are going to look like and what we need to do quickly, Rowland explained.

Alabama native Annette Rowland has been through this before and has her familys emergency supplies at the ready.

Weve got protein bars and food, ready to eat meals in case we lose power, Ive also have stuff for my dogs.

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Central Alabama put under high risk for storm severity as tornados predicted in area Saturday

She says one of the most important items to have on hand for the kids, are these bike helmets:

Those winds, you want to protect your head, she explained. Its precious and so these helmets are rated and we make sure the kids gets these on so they can stay safe and then we have them for the adults as well.

Rowland, a self described weather nerd also has a solar powered weather radio to stay informed about tornado warnings. Weather radios sold out quickly at the Ace Hardware Store in Homewood on Friday. We caught up with Tara Hulgan as she was picking up two on order.

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Having a plan to stay safe is key, according to Bentley. We asked him where to go in your home if you dont have a basement.

Typically the center part of your home without windows, a smaller room if possible, and have some padding and some blankets, maybe some pillows and things to protect yourselves, he said. I would not be in a manufactured or a mobile home during the next 24 hours.

Chief Bentley says people need to be prepared and need to take this very seriously.

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A jury convicted a Cherokee County man this week after he was charged with two counts of family violence aggravated assault.

Jonathon Bailey Panter, 26, of Acworth committed multiple domestic assaults between February 13 and 18 of last year, at a home in the Acworth area of Cherokee County.

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The Cherokee Sheriffs Office became aware of the incident after a friend took the injured woman to the hospital for treatment.

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Officials say the victim and Panter lived in the same home.

As investigators learned more, the victim told them Panter beat her half to death, and she had bruises and abrasions all over her body.

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The woman also showed signs of petechial hemorrhaging in her eye, which is a sign of strangulation, investigators said.

Superior Court Judge Tony Baker announced Panters sentencing would be set for a future date.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Middletown residents with a craving for Chick-fil-A will soon not have to travel as far to get it.

The city of Middletown announced Friday that Chick-fil-A will be constructed at 6465 Culbertson Road in Middletown.

Online property records indicate the chicken chain purchased the property on March 5 for $700,000.

In September 2024, WDTN.com reported the chains plan to build a location at Austin Landing in Miami Township, nearly 11 miles north of the upcoming Middletown location.

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People looking to have Chick-fil-A have in Middletown had to travel to either Liberty or Washington townships, both a minimum of 10 to 15 miles away.

The chain once operated in the city at Towne Mall, but closed.

According to Middletown, the citys new location is expected to be operational later this year.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
LONDON (AP)  A lawyer argued Thursday that global mining giant BHP Group should be held liable for Brazils worst environmental disaster 10 years ago when a dam collapse poured tons of toxic mining waste into a major waterway that killed 19 people and devastated villages.

High Court Justice Finola OFarrell said she would rule later in the class action case in which claimants are seeking 36 billion pounds ($47 billion) in damages from Australia-based BHP. The case was filed in Britain because one of BHPs two main legal entities was based in London at the time.

BHP owns 50% of Samarco, the Brazilian company that operates the iron ore mine where the tailings dam ruptured on Nov. 5, 2015. Enough mine waste to fill 13,000 Olympic-size swimming pools poured into the Doce River in southeastern Brazil.

As a result of its heavy involvement in Samarcos operations, BHP had many opportunities to avert disaster but failed to do so and instead kept allowing and encouraging the dam to be raised by constantly pushing for ever greater production by Samarco, attorney Alain Choo Choy said in his closing argument.

A defense lawyer had argued that BHP did not own or operate the Fundao dam and the company was not responsible for the pollution. The company also said a deadline to bring the claims had expired before the lawsuit was filed on behalf of 600,000 Brazilians.

Sludge from the burst dam destroyed the once-bustling village of Bento Rodrigues in Minas Gerais state and badly damaged other towns.

The disaster killed 14 tons of freshwater fish and damaged 660 kilometers (410 miles) of the Doce River, according to a study by the University of Ulster. The river, which the Krenak Indigenous people revere as a deity, has yet to recover.

The trial began in October, just days before Brazils federal government reached a multibillion-dollar settlement with the mining companies.

Under the agreement, Samarco  which is also half owned by Brazilian mining giant Vale  agreed to pay 132 billion reais ($23 billion) over 20 years. The payments were meant to compensate for human, environmental and infrastructure damage.

BHP had said the U.K. legal action was unnecessary because it duplicated matters covered by legal proceedings in Brazil.

Speaking to journalists at an online conference after the hearing, lawyers and victims said they were hopeful BHP would be convicted.

Jose Eduardo Cardozo, Brazils former justice minister and a lawyer in the case, said the evidence against the company was overwhelming.

Pamela Fernandes, whose 5-year-old daughter, Emanuelle, died in the disaster, has been making trips to London since last year to attend the trial proceedings.

Just knowing that the trial has come to an end  today was the closing arguments  I already feel very relieved, Fernandes said. Being here is very painful. 
A child walking home from school in Atascadero was hit and killed by a pickup truck, which then fled the scene, according to the Atascadero Police Department.

The boy was on the sidewalk of El Camino Real across from La Costa Lane when a gray Dodge pickup swerved onto the sidewalk, struck the child, then drove off, Atascadero Cmdr. Robert Molle said.

No arrests have been made yet, according to Atascadero spokesperson Terri Banish.

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Later, videos posted on the Everything Atascadero Facebook page by user Lara Alexandra Deleon showed a charcoal-colored pickup being towed away from the Hidden Oaks Village apartment complex nearby, escorted by police.

Looks like they found the truck in my apartment complex, she wrote. Looks like a Ford, but it does have tinted windows and a broken light.

On Saturday, police confirmed the the vehicle, identified as a 2003 Ford F-150, was suspected to have been the one involved in the crash. Police said it had been abandoned behind an apartment building a few blocks away from the crash site.

The 2003 Ford F-150 was towed away from the Hidden Oaks Village apartments in Atascadero on Friday, March 14, 2025, following a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed a boy on El Camino Real.

Banish told The Tribune on Friday night that police have not yet made any arrests related to the incident.

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She said the case was still under investigation and the city would send a news release on Saturday.

Tom Butler, superintendent of Atascadero School District, said the boy was a student at Atascadero Middle School. Butler sent out a letter about the death to parents, guardians and staff on Friday evening.

This is a heartbreaking loss for the entire school community, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family, he wrote.

Butler said the district would have support resources available at all of its school sites on Monday.

A Facebook video posted by user Lara Alexandra Deleon showed a charcoal-colored pickup truck being towed away under police escort from the Hidden Oaks Village apartments in Atascadero on Friday, March 14, 2025, following a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed a boy on El Camino Real.

Boy died at scene of the crash

Police received a call about the crash at 2:54 p.m.

The boy died of his injuries before police arrived on the scene, Molle said.

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Bystanders said he was walking home from Atascadero Middle School when he was hit.

As of 4 p.m., El Camino Real was closed from Calle Cynthia to San Diego Way as police responded to the crash.

His parents were on the scene, too.

Bystanders told The Tribune that the boy was walking home from school with a girl, who witnessed the crash and called her mother. Her mother then called the police.

Atascadero resident Linda Gutierrez said she overheard the crash on the police scanner and headed to the scene to see what happened.

She works as a yard duty at a nearby elementary school, and she said the school bus drops students off at nearby Paloma Creek Park.

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Im sure the student was walking home off of the school bus, she said. I love these kids and it breaks my heart.

Anyone with information on the crash should call the Police Department at 805-461-5051. Police said anyone who may have witnessed the collision or who has security camera footage or photographs of the truck should contact the detective bureau at 805-470-3252.

For anonymous tips, call San Luis Obispo Crime Stoppers at 805-549-STOP.

The 2003 Ford F-150 was towed away from the Hidden Oaks Village apartments in Atascadero on Friday, March 14, 2025, following a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed a boy on El Camino Real.
China has repatriated nearly 3,000 telecoms fraud suspects from Myanmar since launching a joint crackdown with Myanmar and Thailand earlier this year, according to the top Chinese police authority.

The latest transfer saw 2,255 Chinese nationals held in Myanmar's Myawaddy region escorted back under police supervision, bringing the total to 2,876, China's Ministry of Public Security said on Friday.

Myawaddy in southeastern Myanmar along the Thai border has become a notorious hub for large-scale scams, particularly online fraud. Scam gangs have also been using Thailand as a trafficking route, with the Thai border town of Mae Sot across the Moei River from Myawaddy becoming a key trafficking point for victims to be taken to scam farms in Myanmar.

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Myanmar sent the suspects to Thailand from where Chinese police escorted them back on chartered flights to the eastern cities of Nanjing and Shanghai, the ministry statement said.

A first batch of 200 suspects was similarly sent back on February 20.

In a report on Friday, China's Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily said the return of the 2,876 suspects would serve as "a strong deterrent against foreign criminal groups" targeting Chinese.

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"Public security authorities are committed to intensifying international law enforcement cooperation," the report said. "They will resolutely eliminate criminal hubs, make every effort to apprehend suspects, and effectively safeguard the lives and property of Chinese citizens."

The ministry had warned those involved in telecoms fraud that there were "no safe havens" for such activities overseas, while promising lighter punishment if they returned to China and turned themselves in, the report added.

China has stepped up efforts to crack down on cross-border telecoms fraud operations after the rescue mission for a Chinese actor went viral. Wang Xing, 22, became caught up in the Myawaddy scam syndicate in January after being lured to Thailand for a purported shoot.

Cyber gangs in Myawaddy are notorious for exploiting unsuspecting victims lured from around the world, often with job promises. They are then coerced, often violently, into using various deceptive tactics to defraud online or phone victims, including through romance and investment scams.

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Under pressure from Beijing following Wang's case, Thailand has intensified its crackdown on Myanmar scam centres along its border, cutting off power and internet services and fuel supplies to hobble their operations.

The moves drew praise from Chinese President Xi Jinping when he met Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Beijing early last month.

Her visit came days after a senior Chinese security delegation led by Liu Zhongyi, China's vice-minister of public security, visited the Thai-Myanmar border area to set up a centre to coordinate the return of Chinese nationals.

Meanwhile, Myanmar's civil war has made it difficult to address the scam operations, as many are located in regions that the ruling junta does not control.

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The Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), a militia allied with the junta, has authority over Myawaddy and another infamous scam hub, Shwe Kokko.

On Friday, a BGF spokesman told Thailand's Nation TV that some 8,000 foreign nationals from over 30 countries had been sent back home from the area in recent weeks.

Most of those detained by the BGF were Chinese nationals, followed by Vietnamese and Indonesians, the spokesman said.

According to the BGF, 98 per cent of those individuals had come to work in Shwe Kokko willingly and were not victims of human trafficking. The spokesman said most of the foreigners possessed Thai-issued visas and had crossed the border through legitimate routes.

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Several high-ranking Thai police officials have been reassigned from their positions pending investigations into their possible connections to the scam centres and cross-border human trafficking.

Previously, authorities on either side of the border rejected all accusations of involvement in backing the large-scale criminal organisations. The BGF also repeatedly denied claims of complicity in the scam operations occurring within their area of control.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Bloomberg that China is the country that stands to benefit the most from a trade war between the U.S. and EU. Her comments come as the EU imposed 50% tariffs on American whiskey in retaliation for U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

The only country benefiting from a trade war between the U.S. and the European Union is China, according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

Kallas, who until last year served as the first female prime minister of Estonia, said in an interview with Bloomberg that China is laughing at the tariff squabble.

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Who is laughing on the side or looking at the side is China, Kallas told Bloomberg during a G7 meeting in Canada. Its really benefiting from the U.S. having a trade war with Europe.

After the U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on any imported steel and aluminum, the EU struck back with a 50% tariff on American whiskey. In response, President Donald Trump threatened a 200% tariff on EU-imported alcohol like champagne and wine.

On Thursday, Trump stood firm on his threat, telling reporters he will not reconsider upcoming tariffs that go into effect on April 2. He called on the EU to drop its tariffs on American whiskey or face reciprocal tariffs.

"I'm not going to bend at all," he said.

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Meanwhile, Kallas said the EU would also not back down from a tariff fight.

We keep a cool head and of course we are ready to act and defend our interest when we need to, she said.

A spokesperson for Chinas foreign ministry, Mao Ning, said during a press conference Friday that she would not comment on how the U.S. and Europer get along, but China was not at issue.

There will be no winner from a trade war or tech war, she added.

Canada also hit the U.S. with billions of dollars of reciprocal tariffs in retaliation for its steel and aluminum tariffs, an action Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called tone deaf.

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The latest escalation between the U.S. and EU comes as the U.S. stock market fell into a correction Thursday, with the S&P 500 falling more than 10% below the all-time-high it hit just three weeks ago. Uncertainty about tariffs and the threat of a recession have spooked investors, and the Atlanta Fed now predicts the U.S. GDP will decline by 2.4% in the first quarter.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
MSNBC host Chris Hayes has encouragement for anyone who feels anxious or overwhelmed by whats transpired so far during Trumps second presidency. Cant emphasize this enough: if youre feeling overwhelmed by the debased assault on our country, the antidote is connecting with other people in the flesh who are feeling the same way, Hayes wrote on BlueSky Saturday

There are millions of us, he added.

The message was immediately met with gratitude from the host and authors followers on the platform, many of whom took an opportunity to express their concerns.

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Im overwhelmed by how normal everyone is acting when I flip in the television, wrote one person on the platform. I sometimes watch a couple of minutes of the morning shows. Its just like in Dont Look Up. I feel like Im going crazy Or, for that matter, when I actually force myself outside. The normalcy of everything makes me anxious. Nothing is normal about all of this.

Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the 2021 movie Dont Look Up  the pair played two unknown astronomers who launched a media tour to warn the public of impending disaster.

I really feel that. Like even just going to the grocery store makes me anxious, wrote a second person in reply. And thats not to say everyone should be flailing their arms and screaming in panic, but this whole everything is normal vibe in public is beyond concerning and disheartening.

A third person said theyre doing what they can to speak to others about the political situation in the United States. I drive in LA; drove visiting Dutch guys last night, they explained. The topic came up, and I explained: theres a fascist coup takeover happening here, and the majority of the country is AGAINST it, against THEM, and that HE does not represent US! And they thanked me, cuz they honestly werent sure of the truth!

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The Trump Administration has sparked fear, confusion and frustration for many. Trump has made several announcements that seem implausible, such as his insistence that Canada will become the 51st state or that the United States wants to buy Greenland. He has also signed executive orders that threaten the rights and health of US citizens, like a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

This week, hundreds of Jewish protesters filled the lobby of Trump Tower to protest the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist who led protesters against the Israel-Hamas war at Columbia.

Trump has also sought to end federal agencies including the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, and the the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

The post Chris Hayes Offers Antidote to Feeling Overwhelmed by Trumps Actions appeared first on TheWrap.
Ben Stein became a Generation X icon with his timeless role as a beleaguered high school economics teacher in the 1986 cultural touchstone, Ferris Buellers Day Off.

In his star-making scene, Stein explains a pivotal moment in American history to a catatonic captive audience of teenagers who cant imagine how learning about a disastrous economic policy from more than 50 years in the past could possibly apply to their future lives.

In 1930, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, in an effort to alleviate the effects of the  Anyone? Anyone? Steins character asks in his signature monotone drone. He gets no response, and answers his own question: Great Depression  

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Stein grinds on about the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, signed by a desperate, deeply unpopular President Herbert Hoover. It hiked tariffs on imported goods to raise more revenue for a cash-strapped federal government.

Did it work? Steins teacher asked his apathetic, acid-washed class. Anyone? Anyone know the effects? It did not work, and the United States sank deeper into the Great Depression.

A clip of the scene recently went viral on antisocial media in response to President and Tesla Sales Associate Donald Trumps on-again, off-again, on-again tariffs on products and services from Canada, Mexico and any other trade partner he chooses to insult, bully or shake down in the moment.

I (barely) graduated high school in 1986. Like most of the students in Ben Steins class, I didnt pay much attention to tariffs, but I did know they amount to a tax on everyday Americans through higher prices and scarcity of goods. It was simple: tariffs, bad; John Hughes movies, good!

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Trump  whose brief cameo in Home Alone 2 was cut from the version that airs in Canada a decade ago  is poised to Make America Gilded Again by crashing the economy, breaking the government and handing Our Republic over to fascist broligarchs who make the robber barons of the 19th century look like Mother Teresa.

Now in our late 40s, mid-50s and early 60s, Generation X is learning the hard way that we cant afford to ignore the writing on the chalkboard. The future is now. This is no time to take a day off, Ferris.

The crowd at Mondays meeting of the Abington Democrats PAC was much more attentive and energized than Steins students. Almost 200 concerned Americans packed the tight space at Jaya Yoga in Clarks Summit. Fired-up Gen Xers, baby boomers and millennials vowed to stand against fascism and to never, ever, buy a Tesla.

No one specifically suggested a boycott on Elon Musks Swasticars, but Im confident no one in the crowd would drive one, even for free. If you want to gauge how out of touch with objective reality Musk is, he thought an endorsement from Trump (who hated electric cars until Musk paid him not to) might rally MAGA Republicans to save his cratering company.

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MEMO TO MUSK: If theres a single MAGA good ol boy out there whos pining to trade in his F-150 for a cybertruck, he lives next door to Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.

When I spoke to the Abington Democrats last July, Joe Biden was still president and the partys presumptive nominee. I was there to sound the alarm on Project 2025, the Christian nationalist Heritage Foundations plan for crowning Trump king, decimating the federal workforce, privatizing Social Security and Medicare, dismantling public education, cutting veterans benefits 

A guy at Mondays gathering admitted he thought my warning in July was over the top. Now watching Project 2025 becoming policy at breakneck speed, hes changed his mind.

Its still hard to believe its happening, he said.

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I never imagined Id spend my 50s fighting fascism, but here we are. The question that drew the crowd Monday was, What can we do? No one expressed confidence in congressional Democrats to lead any meaningful, unified resistance. The Lackawanna County Democratic Party  currently staging a quiet coup on the Board of Commissioners  was also roundly denounced.

The cavalry is not coming, I said. We have to do this ourselves.

By we I mean all Americans  Democrats, Republicans, independents and yes, MAGA voters with buyers remorse. Ill gladly meet with anyone willing to put transgender mice aside and stand up in defense of Our Republic. MAGA voters are Americans, too.

And MAGA Republicans allegedly represent all of us in Congress. Newly minted U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan and U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick have given no indication they will do anything to cross King Trump. Both refuse to hold public town hall meetings, hiding from the constituents they swore oaths to serve.

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Action Together NEPA, a bipartisan progressive nonprofit, is hosting a Mock Town Hall on Monday at 3 p.m. in front of McCormicks Scranton office, 417 Lackawanna Ave. If Connecticut Dave is too afraid to address his Pennsylvania constituents concerns face to face, we have no reason to believe hell stand up for us in Washington, D.C.

Such protests are easily ignored, but eminently worthwhile. Take a day off from doom-scrolling on your phone and join the cavalry. If anyone has a better idea, Im listening.

Bueller? Bueller 

CHRIS KELLY, the Times-Tribune columnist, needs help mounting his high horse. Contact the writer: ckelly@scrantontimes.com; @cjkink on X; Chris Kelly, The Times-Tribune on Facebook.
Mar. 14The West Texas Food Bank (WTXFB) on March 14 announced a generous donation of about 20,000 pounds of dry goods from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This donation will directly support families facing food insecurity across West Texas.

There will be an event at 1 p.m. March 17 at the West Texas Food Bank  Odessa Campus, 411 S. Pagewood Ave.

This donation is a testament to the power of community partnerships in the fight against hunger.
By Alfredo Galarza, Alexander Villegas and Riham Alkousaa

HUARAZ, Peru (Reuters) - In the high Andes of northern Peru, the morning sun rises over glaciers in the Cordillera Blanca mountains that loom above the city of Huaraz, an awe-inspiring sight tainted by fears of a growing threat of meltwater floods.

The glaciers are at the center of a landmark global case that will test the legal culpability of corporations over their greenhouse gas emissions and the role these play in climate change that is leading to more extreme weather around the world.

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Saul Luciano Lliuya, a Huaraz farmer and mountain guide, is suing German energy firm RWE, demanding that it help pay for defenses and flood mitigation for the city, tied to the company's share of global manmade greenhouse gas emissions that he alleges have led to faster-melting glaciers.

The case will start on Monday at the Higher Regional Court of Hamm in Germany, with lawyers for Lliuya alleging RWE is responsible for 0.5% of global emissions and should therefore pay 0.5%, or some 17,000 euros ($18,500) of a local $3.5 million flood defense project.

"We didn't start out with a lot of hope, but now it's caused a lot of attention," Lliuya told Reuters near his home in a hilly region outside Huaraz where he grows corn. Lliuya, who is backed by Germanwatch, an activist group that advocates for the environment and other issues, said he wants to set a precedent for polluting companies to pay for projects that mitigate the impact of climate change.

"The company has polluted and it should take responsibility for its emissions," he said.

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RWE says the complaint is unfounded and that a single emitter cannot be held responsible for global warming.

"This lawsuit is an attempt to set a precedent whereby every single emitter of greenhouse gases in Germany could be held legally responsible for the effects of climate change worldwide," the firm said in a statement.

"We believe that this is legally inadmissible and also the wrong approach from a socio-political perspective."

The case, which is based on a section of the German civil law code relating to property interference, was dismissed by a lower court and appealed by Lliuya to the higher court in Hamm.

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'RIVER IS ALWAYS GROWING'

In the mountains above Huaraz, glacier meltwater has swollen Lake Palcacocha, whose volume grew 34 times from 1974 to 2016. That creates a threat for Huaraz, which has a population of over 65,000, significantly larger than when the last major flooding disaster struck in 1941.

"The river is always growing, who wouldn't be afraid?" said Nestor Acuna, a Huaraz resident who lives near the Quilcay river that could burst its banks if Lake Palcacocha overflows.

"Sometimes we have family over and when it's the rainy season we're afraid the river will overflow or there will be a landslide," he added.

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When Reuters spoke to Acuna in mid-March, the government had shut down roads around the lake due to a landslide and rains. The lake is closely monitored by authorities, and a dam and drainage pipes have been installed to lower its water levels, but some government officials say more infrastructure is needed to protect Huaraz.

Peru is home to nearly 70% of the world's tropical glaciers, considered at high risk due to being constantly near or at melting temperature. They play a key role in water supply, storing snowfall during colder months and providing water in summer.

Peru's latest glacier inventory in 2023 showed the country had lost over half its glaciers in the last six decades due to climate change. The Ancash, the region Huaraz is located in, has 26 lagoons that present a flooding risk, the report found. The Cordillera Blanca, popular for hiking and mountaineering, has experienced rapid glacial retreat and increasingly dangerous conditions.

"The glacial melt is really visible, every year you visit the glacier is retreating even more," Lliuya said. As well as the flooding risk, in the longer term that would lead to drinking-water supply problems, he said.

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"It worries us, saddens us, that we're losing our glaciers."

Roda Verheyen, Lliuya's lawyer, said being able to present their findings made the case already a win, no matter the outcome.

"Even if we lose... we will finally get all the reasoning, I hope," she told reporters at a briefing. "That means that we can actually build on that in further cases, either us directly or other people."

($1 = 0.9189 euros)

(Reporting by Alfredo Galarza in Huaraz, Alexander Villegas in Santiago and Riham Alkousaa in Berlin; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Property insurance might not be getting less expensive in the Sunshine State despite recent efforts to rein in the cost, but it is getting easier to find.

The dropping number of lawsuits against insurers has made private insurers more willing to scoop up customers in the areas that have historically been harder to insure. Properties in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties account for the largest numbers getting moved off the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp., Citizens officials are reporting.

The combination of fewer lawsuits and more private companies willing to take on the historically riskier tri-county area has created a really unique circumstance, according to Tim Cerio, Citizens president and CEO.

Citizens expects to no longer be Florida's top insurer

Citizens expects to have a bit more than half the number of policyholders that it had on its books when the states property insurance market was in freefall, Cerio told the state-backed nonprofits board of governors that met Wednesday, March 12.

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Citizens is the insurer of last resort, designed to insure the properties private companies deem too risky. Virtually all properties in Monroe County are backed by Citizens, and policyholders also have been concentrated in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties. But now, for the tri-county area, things have changed for these private companies, Cerio said.

Companies have an appetite for these regions because the litigation is really down, Cerio said, also naming Hillsborough and Orange counties as places where private companies are taking on the risk that Citizens has been shouldering.

Homes were washed off their foundations from the storm surge leveled by Hurricane Helene on September 28, 2024 in Cedar Key, Florida.

Taken together, those five counties account for more than half the policyholders who have gone into private insurance, Cerio said. The 478,000 policyholders Citizens dropped in 2024  mostly concentrated along the tri-county coast, means that Citizens wont have to spend some $370 million in reinsurance, which is the insurance Citizens and other insurance companies buy to meet catastrophic-level claims should disaster hit.

Citizens is projecting 738,000 policyholders by the end of 2025 compared with 1.4 million in September 2023. That size will mean the states second-largest insurer, State Farm Insurance, will be only 15 percent smaller than Citizens if State Farms counts from the end of the third quarter last year hold steady.

Many claims are not turning into lawsuits

In this graphic, the the color indicates intensity of the policyholders leaving Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Darker green indicates one to 100 policyholders removed per 10-mile hexagon; lighter green, 101 to 2,000 removed; yellow, 2,001 to 2,500 removed; lighter brown, 2,501 to 5,000 removed; bright red, 5,001 to 10,000 removed; and darker brown, 10,001 to 16,691 removed.

Cerio largely credited the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis for the turnaround in Floridas battered property insurance industry. Through changes to insurance regulations and tort laws passed in 2021 and 2022, much of the incentive for policyholders to file a lawsuit against their insurer in a settlement dispute has been hobbled. This past hurricane season, when three hurricanes made Florida landfall, was the first with hundreds of thousands of claims filed since those changes, but those claims are not turning into lawsuits, Cerio said.

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Lawsuits against insurers peaked in 2021 with nearly 100,000, according to Cerios presentation. In 2024, property owners filed 57,120 lawsuits against their insurer, the lowest its been since 2017.

Trends are moving in a very positive direction in terms of claims that actually enter into litigation, Cerio said.

The legislative changes, Cerio said, have made a tremendous, tremendous impact.

More: Insurance still tops concerns for Floridians despite legislative changes, survey shows

Currently, though, the backlash to the fewer options for policyholders has spurred bills that would wind back some of those changes. The House version of one of those bills had its first hearing Thursday, March 13.

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Still, decreasing the number of policies the state-backed insurer carries has long been a goal so the states exposure to losses in a disaster is reduced. That's because too many claims against Citizens could cost every insurance policyholder.

Citizens can levy a surcharge on every insurance policy in the state if the catastrophic claims of Citizens policyholders deplete the nonprofits reserves too far, as happened after the 2004-2005 hurricane seasons when a series of storms hit the state.

Ryan Papy, president of Keyes Insurance, based in Miami, said hes seeing the same interest in the tri-county from carriers that Cerio discussed. But hes not expecting that Florida will stop being one of the most expensive places to insure property in the country.

We are seeing a lot more options, and over time, options will lead to better prices, he said. Right now, though, the best we can hope for is that they (prices) stabilize and maybe go down a little bit.

What's up with claims for hurricanes Helene, Milton, Debby

The audit committee of the Citizens Board of Governors also heard updates about how claims from the 2024 storms that all hit the states Gulf Coast are getting digested. As of Dec. 31:

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 Hurricane Milton, which made landfall in October as a Category 3 storm, has cost Citizens $2.07 billion to investigate, manage and settle insurance claims, which was a significant reduction from the $3.89 billion the storm models were predicting.

 Hurricane Helene, which hit in September as a Category 4 storm, has cost Citizens $315 million, which was also less than models projected.

 Hurricane Debby, which hit in August as a category 1 storm, has cost Citizens $76.5 million.

None of the storms had losses large enough to trigger payments from the insurance that Citizens purchases, called reinsurance, that insures the nonprofit companys catastrophic losses, Citizens officials said.

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Anne Geggis is the insurance reporter at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at ageggis@gannett.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Property insurance prices not down, but options for coverage increase
HONG KONG (AP)  Chinese food and beverage brands are gaining ground across Southeast Asia, offering alternatives to big name American chains and expanding Beijings commercial and cultural influence in neighboring economies.

The Chinese beverage giant Mixue Group has become the worlds largest F&B chain by number of outlets, overtaking Starbucks and McDonalds.

The company, whose brand name Mixue Bingcheng means Honey Snow Ice City, in Chinese, is capitalizing on the region-wide sweet tooth with affordable offerings of ice cream, coffee and bubble tea drinks.

Even on social media like TikTok and others, there is a joke that any empty shophouse would soon turn into a Mixue store, Rahma Yuliana said, referring to a popular saying in Indonesia, where Mixue has more than 2,600 outlets.

The single mother, who runs an online business, takes her daughter for afterschool treats that won't drain her wallet, such as a cup of brown sugar milk tea that costs $1.10, about one-third cheaper than similar offerings by rival Taiwanese tea chain Chatime. An ice cream sells for as little as 50 cents, undercutting McDonalds.

As of September, Mixue Group had over 45,000 stores carrying its Mixue tea drinks, ice creams and Lucky Cup coffee products, more than the store numbers of Starbucks and McDonalds, industry analysts reported. About 40,000 of those are in China.

More broadly, by December, Chinese F&B brands had opened over 6,100 outlets in Southeast Asia, Singapore-headquartered research firm Momentum Works reported. India and Vietnam account for roughly two-thirds, while there are relatively more Chinese brands in Singapore and Malaysia, which have sizable Chinese-speaking populations.

Nearly all of Mixue's stores are franchises that the company supplies with ingredients for drinks like Creamy Mango Boba, Mango Oats Jasmine Tea and Coconut Jelly Milk Tea.

Apart from Mixue, other market stars include hotpot giant Haidilao, Fish With You sauerkraut fish restaurants, and well-known beverage brands such as Luckin Coffee, Heytea and Chagee.

Mixue's shares have doubled from their IPO price since their March 3 trading debut in Hong Kong.

Momentum Works CEO Jianggan Li said Chinese businesses are actively seeking new growth in Southeast Asia after facing fierce competition in their home market.

The push by food and drink retailers has raised awareness that China has more to offer than just cheap electronics.

The companies are well-equipped, using automation to enhance their efficiency, and adept at online marketing, Li said. Big Western brands sometimes take a long time to find local partners and develop long-term plans. The Chinese F&B companies are much more impatient," he said.
City officials are shocked by language in the state budget bill that would shift appointment authority for the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority while state legislators avoid questions on who put the language in the bill.

House Bill 1001, the state budget bill, includes language that would shift two appointments from the Gary mayor to the mayors of Crown Point and Hammond to appoint a person each to the Gary Airport Board.

Currently, four Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority members are appointed by the Gary mayor and the governor; Lake County and Porter County officials appoint one person each. Under the budget bill, two appointees from the Gary mayor will shift to mayors in Crown Point and Hammond.

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State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, said in a statement the House-passed budget shifts the make up of the airport board for a more regional approach, bringing in other key partners, including the cities of Hammond and Crown Point, alongside Gary.

The Gary Airport has the potential to be a significant economic driver for our region and state. For the last several years, community leaders have been working together to regionalize the airport to expand its scope and benefit all of Northwest Indiana, Soliday said.

The budget also includes an appropriation of $9.7 million for a new cargo ramp to help expand the airport, Soliday said.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, said he wasnt part of the conversation when the Gary Airport Board language was added to the bill. Harris, a member of the House Ways and Means committee, which reviews the budget, said he found out about it as the public did.

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Harris said he couldnt remember if the language was included in the initial budget bill or if it was added to the bill after the committee approved the budget.

As someone that represents part of Gary, my preference would be for the city of Gary to keep their representation on the board, especially since it is an airport thats located in Gary, Harris said.

During a town hall meeting earlier this month, Gary Mayor Eddie Melton criticized the addition to the House budget.

That was a cowardly move, Melton said of the anonymous budget insertion.

Not to author a bill and to own it this is our airport. Were paying the bills. Ive talked to the mayor of Chicago and made him aware. I believe its because of the progress weve made, Melton said.

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Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott said he was told by a lobbyist that Hammond was added to the bill because it is a member of the Indiana Regional Development Authority.

It wasnt initiated by anyone by the city of Hammond, McDermott said. I was surprised. I had nothing to do with it.

Crown Point Mayor Peter Land said in a statement hes been made aware of the proposed language in the state budget bill.

I have not had any direct communications with either the Mayor of Gary or Hammond on this legislation change; however, should a final version of the bill be adopted that includes this appointment, I will take the necessary steps to select an appropriate individual for this board, Land said.

The budget is being discussed by the Senate.

akukulka@post-trib.com
The city of Palestine is suing Palestine Jet Center for breach of contract.

During its meeting Monday, the council voted to hire attorney Jill Penn to represent the city in the Palestine Jet Center breach of contract lawsuit, authorizing and ratifying the filing of any claims and counterclaims on behalf of the city.

There were no further comments or discussion on the topic during the meeting.

Palestine Jet Center is the fixed based operator for the Palestine Municipal Airport.

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According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the term fixed base operator is given to a commercial enterprise that has been granted the right by an airport authority, which in this case is the city of Palestine, to operate that airport and provide aviation services. These services may include fuel, parking and hangar space, and are provided to the general aviation community.

The ongoing lawsuit was initiated by the plaintiff, and the city is simply defending against the breach of contract claims asserted by the plaintiff," said City Attorney Rezzin Pullum in a statement. "The case is currently before the 349th Judicial District Court of Anderson County, Texas.

Due to the ongoing nature of the lawsuit and the sensitivity of the situation, the city declines to make further comments regarding the status or outcome of the case. Pleadings and proceedings related to the case may be obtained from the Anderson County District Clerks Office, Pullum continued.

The statement was released after the Palestine Herald-Press contacted City Manager Teresa Herrera for more information on decisions made Monday by the council.

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The Palestine Municipal Airport was built in 1943 as a pilot training facility during World War II and now serves as a business/corporate service airport in the Texas Airport System and a regional airport with the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.

The primary runway is 5,005 feet long and 100 feet wide. The crosswind runway is 4,002 feet long and 75 feet wide. The airports runways can accommodate aircrafts ranging from Cessna 152 trainers to Gulfstream-V corporate jets.

The facility includes a terminal, multiple hangers, taxi lanes, a fuel farm with self-service Avgas and full-service Jet fuel.

The Palestine Airport has a number of consistent users including Walmart, Nucor Steel, Tractor Supply, various oil enterprises and CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler uses the facility as one of its four bases for Flight for Life.

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In October 2023, it was announced the Palestine Airport had been selected as a new tanker base for the Texas A&M Forest Service.

The city receives funding from TxDOT yearly and actively applies for grants from TxDOT for renovations and upkeep at the airport.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  The Cleveland Teachers Union has been getting more and more calls and messages with concerns from teachers and parents.

We really have an education crisis here in Ohio, Tracy Radich said.

Beloved pilot, mentor, friend lost in helicopter crash

Radich is the vice president of the Cleveland Teachers Union.

There are two main issues theyre worried about right now.

The first revolves around massive layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education.

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The department provides important protections and resources for students and important federal dollars through Title I, Radich explained.

They oversee some major things that impact so many of our students. Like right here in Cleveland, Title I impacts every single child that is in the Cleveland schools, Radich said. There is so much fear there. There is so much that is up in the air, and there is so much worry about. What is going to happen for our kids? What is going to happen for our schools? What is going to happen for our community?

The first issue with cuts to the department leads to the second concern for the Cleveland Teachers Union.

President Donald Trump is on record about wanting to fully dismantle the department and give its responsibilities to state and local governments.

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Radich doesnt think that would be a good idea because of the current state budget proposal from Gov. Mike DeWine.

Local city with most roundabouts earns national recognition

The proposal, which is currently going through the Statehouse and has yet to be approved, includes a reduction in funding for public schools in Ohio.

If the responsibilities and funding from the Department of Education were shifted to the state, would our state fund us adequately? Would they give us the protections that we get from the Department of Education? I say no, because they are already cutting public education, Radich said.

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Radich added that they knew this would all be coming because Trump is delivering on promises made during his campaign. But theyre seriously concerned the actions regarding education will have a negative impact on students.

When you take a sledgehammer to the Department of Education, who are the victims? Who is hurt by that? It is school children, Radich said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
MARTINEZ, Ga. (WJBF)  Columbia County leaders are looking at a resolution to provide property tax relief. This comes after leaders decided to opt out of the statewide homestead exemption.

County governments and school districts across Georgia recently had to decide on the statewide homestead exemption.

County manager Scott Johnson says they felt it was best to opt out.

The primary reason for that is because theres no such thing as a one size fits all. For anybody to think that Fulton County operates the same as Green Countyor one of the smaller counties in south Georgiatheres a big difference there, said Johnson.

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Because they opted out, District 1 commissioner Connie Melear was put in charge to find the best solution.

At a meeting Tuesday, a draft of resolution 25-10 was presented.

The state currently gives a $2,000 homestead exemption, but this resolution would raise the local homestead exemption to $10,000which impacts the property taxes homeowners have to pay.

To calculate property taxes, you take the assessed value of the home, multiply that by 40%, and subtract that by the homestead exemption.

Then, that number is multiplied by the millage rate.

As of December 2024, the average price of a home in Columbia County is $300,000, so we asked Johnson to use that as an example.

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If the average home price in Columbia County is $300,000, you pay taxes on 40% of that. The 40% in that particular case would bring you down to $240,000 that you would pay taxes on. You would then get your $2,000 state exemption, so now instead of $240,000, youre paying $238,000. If we give this exemption that were talking about now, instead of $238,000, youre going to pay taxes on $230,000, Johnson said.

County commissioners have lowered the millage rate 9 out of the last 10 years.

Johnson adds with the low millage rate and increased homestead exemption, the idea is to lower property taxes for taxpayers.

As the board of commissioners continues to lower the millage rateobviously a lower number on this side, and a lower number on this side means a lower number for the taxpayer. I think thats what were really looking at, said Johnson.

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The exemption the county is looking at does not apply to taxes with the Columbia County School Board or property taxes from cities.

However, each entity is looking at a similar plan to the county.

We are the first to introduce any local legislation as it relates to homestead exemptions. Our tax bill is already rolling, so I have no reason to believe we wont get it done this year, Johnson said. The school board is going to try to do theirs this year, but if not, I think you could see something coming from them next year.

Some local homeowners say theyre on board with the countys efforts.

I think thats a good thing. The last Ive heard, the state is running a surplus in their budget. So, as long as all the necessary services are covered, no ones against getting money back in their pocket, said Craig Wolfarth.

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Thats what county leaders say is their main objective with this legislation.

We want to try to put as much money back into the pockets of the people of Columbia County so they can afford more house. If youre paying less tax, you can maybe afford more house, maybe you can afford your starter house or first opportunity to move into a house here. So, everything we do all ties in with trying to be a good community all the way around, said Johnson.

The Board of Commissioners will discuss this resolution at their meeting on Tuesday, March 18th.

From there, the state legislative delegation will present the bill to the general assembly.

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If passed, the bill will go to Governor Brian Kemp. If signed by Kemp, it will go on the ballot for county voters in November.

If voters approve the legislation, it would go into effect on January 1st, 2026.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
The Trump administrations massive claw back of Columbia Universitys federal funding and the arrest of a green-card-holding campus protest leader has created one basic question across academia: Whos next?

Republican lawmakers have been needling college leaders about their response to pro-Palestinian encampments since Hamas 2023 attacks on Israel. And while they pushed some school presidents into resigning last year, their political momentum fizzled when campuses thinned out over the summer and protesters recalibrated after the election.

President Donald Trump has changed everything in the span of seven weeks.

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Some schools have already started rescinding admissions offers amid Trumps hold on research money and purge of diversity programs. But in the days since his Friday blitz against Columbia, Harvard University instituted a hiring freeze and Johns Hopkins University plans to cut 2,000 jobs  reactions that have stunned faculty across the country and angered anti-war activists.

In what Trump officials say is an effort to crack down on antisemitism, the Education Department this week launched similar investigations into 60 additional schools, a move that could spark a new round of tensions on campuses.

Trumps unprecedented decision to yank $400 million from Columbia and detain protest leader Mahmoud Khalil has fundamentally changed universities outlook and livelihoods. The presidents moves show how financially and politically exposed many of the nations most sought-after schools are  raising questions about their dependence on Washington, the next generation of scientists and the fundamentals of free speech and discrimination.

I don't think they will be appeased by any changes in policy or pledges to do better, said Ted Mitchell, the former president of Occidental College who now leads the American Council on Education, said of the Trump administration. I think that in some way, shape or form, they need to see the institutions experiencing pain and for there to be some blood on the floor.



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Even when politicians and conservative activists poke fun at the liberal bent on college campuses, scores of scientists and other academics testify on Capitol Hill, get appointed to federal commissions, advise government officials and receive bipartisan praise for their expertise on key issues. Many universities are also economic engines for their towns and cities.

But Mitchell, whose group is the nations largest organization representing universities, said his members dont know what their next move should be. He pointed to the fact that the administration pulled funds from Columbia roughly four days after announcing it was reviewing the schools federal grants and contracts. Late Thursday, the Trump administration laid out a list of significant conditions Columbia would have to meet if it wanted its grant money back, including a new system of disciplining students and comprehensive changes to its admissions system.

The federal governments actions last Friday relate directly to Columbias failure to protect Jewish students civil rights, an obligation they undertook when agreeing to receive federal funding, Education Department spokesperson Julie Hartman said in a statement. Doing business with the federal government is a privilege, not a right. If educational entities want federal financial assistance, they must scrupulously adhere to all federal antidiscrimination law.

The Trump administrations task force on combating antisemitism is conducting site visits to 10 schools under investigation for incidents since Hamas' October 2023 attack.

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Columbia is facing a loss of up to $5 billion in federal grants and contracts. Roughly $250 million of the federal dollars Columbia lost came from the National Institutes of Health, a major funder across higher education that sent more than $300 million apiece in fiscal 2024 to most of the schools getting Trumps early attention.

"All these universities are on notice," Leo Terrell, who heads the administration's task force from the Justice Department, told Fox News after the Columbia announcement.

These blue cities that are allowing this to happen, where are the hate crime charges? Where are the charges against these individuals? he said. This is not free speech and I can assure these cities, if you don't do your job, the U.S. Attorneys Office, the Department of Justice, will file charges against these individuals who are committing crimes against Jewish Americans."



Protesting has a long cultural legacy in Berkeley, California, and its Democratic mayor, Adena Ishii, is largely unsettled by the potential chilling effect posed by threats of deportation, arrests and funding cuts.

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We don't tolerate hate crimes here in our city, she said in an interview. There's a difference though in protesting, especially when we're calling out our own government for things that we disagree that they do. I am really concerned about how a statement like that could impact our free speech here  Berkeley is the home of free speech.

The federal task force on Thursday notified the mayors of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston that it wants to meet with them soon to discuss their cities responses to incidents of antisemitism at schools and on college campuses.

Too many elected officials chose not to stand up to a rising tide of antisemitism in our cities and campuses following the horrific events of October 7, 2023, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. Actions have consequences  inaction does, too.

In addition to Columbia and University of California, Berkeley, the Trump administrations task force on combating antisemitism is slated to visit: George Washington University, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Northwestern University, UCLA, the University of Southern California and the University of Minnesota. Some institutions have said the task force hasnt yet scheduled meetings with them.

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Each of the universities being probed  with the exception of GWU and USC  negotiated or struck deals with anti-war and pro-Palestinian protesters.

Former UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ agreed to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Harvard agreed to a discussion with students about its endowment. And the University of Minnesota said at the time it would not pursue disciplinary action against students or employees for their encampment protest.

Those student negotiators could now also be at risk of being arrested or expelled after Trump and Terrell promised to take action against protesters.



A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Khalil, the Columbia protest organizer arrested by immigration agents last weekend and is being detained at a facility in Louisiana, would remain in custody as his case continues. Khalil and seven other students sued Columbia and the House Committee on Education and Workforce on Thursday to stop the school from sharing disciplinary records.

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But professors fear the fact that Khalil could face deportation despite holding a valid green card also exposes the foreign-born faculty who may have voiced support for the Palestinian cause or the protesters in general.

Many of them  scientists, historians, cultural critics  have said things in the course of their scholarly careers that are noxious to the present administration, Michael Thaddeus, a Columbia math professor and vice president of Columbias AAUP chapter, said of the faculty at a press conference this week. The attack on Mahmoud Khalil is intended to make them quake in their boots.

Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors, said hundreds of members of his faculty union last spring made a ring around their student protesters at Rutgers University to prevent them from being arrested. The tactic gave students more time to reach a settlement with the school, which is now being investigated by the Education Department.

This cruel administration is trying to attack higher education and create fear so that they can lord that fear over the rest of us, said Wolfson, a journalism professor at the school.



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But some protest organizers believe the colleges reacting to Trump with hiring freezes and other drastic measures  especially the wealthier ones  are caving to him.

If they wanted to, they could use their cash reserves, their giant endowment and so forth to keep funding research and keep funding students, Caitlin Liss, a spokesperson for Student Workers of Columbia, said of the school in an interview. They do not have to give in to Trump and they're giving in to Trump anyway and I think that that sends a really dangerous message for universities around the country."

Some of the unions demands include reestablishing the university as a sanctuary campus and the university committing to not providing information to immigration officials who are investigating Columbia affiliates.

In a message to the Columbia community last week, interim President Katrina Armstrong said that the university is taking the governments action very seriously.

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I want to assure the entire Columbia community that we are committed to working with the federal government to address their legitimate concerns, Armstrong wrote.

Samantha Slater, a Columbia spokesperson, referenced Armstrongs recent message when reached for comment, and told POLITICO the university is reviewing the Trump administrations decision. She also referred to previous statements the university made reiterating that the university has and will continue to follow the law and that law enforcement must have a judicial warrant to enter non-public University areas.

Slater added: We take Columbias legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combatting antisemitism and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff.

Cornell University, another institution under scrutiny, told POLITICO it would work with the Trump administration to resolve the issues.

The State University of New York as well as Rockland Community College, one of the SUNY institutions that received a letter from the administration, pointed to efforts theyve undertaken to support Jewish students and said they would continue to take steps to protect them.
The Russian captain of the container ship Solong, which collided with a tanker in the North Sea off the coast of the UK, has been charged with manslaughter by negligence.

Source: European Pravda citing Sky News

Details: Vladimir Motin, 59, a resident of St Petersburg, was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Hull Magistrates Court on Saturday, Humberside Police said.

The collision occurred on Monday morning. The Stena Immaculate oil tanker, operated by the US shipping company Crowley, was stationary and at anchor while waiting for a berth to become available at the Port of Killingholme on the River Humber when the smaller Solong crashed into it, causing huge fires and explosions.

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All 23 people on board the oil tanker Stena Immaculate and 13 of the Solong's 14 crew members were accounted for.

One crew member of the Solong is presumed dead  38-year-old Filipino citizen Mark Angelo Pernia.

Immediately after the collision, dozens of people were forced to leave the vessels as they caught fire.

The Russian Embassy in London reported that five Russians were among the crew on board the Solong.

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A year ago, the Littleton, Colorado mobile home park faced a potential sale when a Utah-based company offered $18 million to buy the property.

Fearing rent hikes from new owners, the parks board rallied support from nearly all its residents to put together a purchase offer.

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Sandy Cook, President of the Meadowood Village Cooperative told CBS Colorado, The uncertainty of not being able to know where you're going to live within 12 months is so scary for people.

Overcoming the odds

So how did they swing it? Colorado law allows residents to put together an offer to match a buyout. If they can match a buyout offer, they can potentially buy their park before outside companies capitalize on Colorado's rising real estate prices.

There are about 900 mobile home parks in the state of Colorado, and few have been able to put together successful buyout offers.

A lot of people did not think we would make it. Us included at many times, Cook told CBS Colorado. "Were now the proud owners. 92 homes. 139 people of Meadowood."

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After matching the $18 million offer, the board faced the challenge of getting funding.

Meadowood knew a hefty mortgage was inevitable, but the real question was whether they could secure enough grants and low interest loans from local, county, and state governments to cover the costs.

The missing piece came in the form of a $3.475 million low-interest loan from Colorados Department of Local Affairs. Cook says had it not been for their DOLA award, they wouldnt have made it.

Read more: An alarming 97% of older Americans are carrying debt into retirement  heres why and 4 simple things you can do if youre stuck in the same situation

It is a business, but it is a family business

Now, the residents manage the over-55 park, balancing the responsibilities of ownership with the need for community involvement.

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While its challenging, especially compared to parks with younger residents, board members say its well worth it.

Despite the work, the cooperative keeps rent under $1,000, unlike nearby parks where rent has surged to nearly $1,500. Many residents at Meadowood are on fixed incomes, and the cooperatives non-profit model helps keep costs low, with residents even supporting one another in times of need.

According to Colorados Department of Local Affairs, if your mobile home park is up for sale, like Meadowood was, it could mean huge disruption for you as a resident.

Potential outcomes could be park closure, signing a new lease, or potential rent increases so it is important to understand your rights as a resident in a park.

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As for Meadowood, theyre taking their new responsibilities in stride.

Youre always going to have to take care of the park. Youre always going to have to listen to residents problems to solve those problems for them. You still have to pay your bills, you still have to mow the grass. So it is a business, but it is a family business, said Cook.

The deal to buy the park locks in ownership for 30 years and no one plans to sell.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
In the span of a week, a hush has descended on higher education in the United States.

International students and faculty have watched the growing crackdown on pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University with apprehension. Some say they are familiar with government crackdowns but never expected them on American college campuses.

The elite New York City university has been the focus of the Trump administration's effort to deport foreigners who took part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at colleges last year.

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Federal immigration agents have arrested two foreigners  one of them a student  who protested last year at Columbia. They've revoked the visa of another student, who fled the U.S. this week. Department of Homeland Security agents also searched the on-campus residences of two Columbia students on Thursday but did not make any arrests there.

GOP officials have warned its just the beginning, saying more student visas are expected to be revoked in the coming days.

Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism issued a statement reporting an alarming chill among its foreign students in the past week.

Many of our international students have felt afraid to come to classes and to events on campus, said the statement signed by The Faculty of Columbia Journalism School.

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It added: They are right to be worried.

Alarm at campuses across the country

International students and faculty across the U.S. say they feel afraid to voice opinions or stand out on campus for fear of getting kicked out of the country.

Green-card-holding faculty members involved in any kind of advocacy that might be construed as not welcome by the Trump administration are absolutely terrified of the implications for their immigration status, said Veena Dubal, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine.

Dubal, who is also general counsel for the American Association of University Professors, says some international faculty are now shying away from discourse, debate, scholarly research and publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals.

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We are literally not hearing their voices. There is a silencing happening that has a huge impact on the vibrancy of higher education, Dubal said. People are very, very scared.

The first arrest

The first publicly known arrest occurred last Saturday, when federal immigration agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist and outspoken graduate student, in the lobby of his apartment building near the Columbia campus.

Khalil has become the face of President Donald Trumps drive to punish what he calls antisemitic and anti-American protests that swept U.S. campuses last year. Khalil, a legal U.S. resident with a green card, is being held in a federal detention complex in Louisiana.

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Students and faculty who participated in the protests at Columbia have insisted criticizing Israel and advocating for Palestinian rights isnt antisemitic. Some Jewish students and faculty say the anti-Israel rhetoric made them feel unsafe.

Civil rights advocates say the detention of Khalil is an assault on free speech. But the ongoing arrests send a wider message that disagreeing with the Trump administration could get you kicked out of the country, said Brian Hauss, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union.

If the administration can do this to Mr. Khalil because of the speech about Palestine, it can do it to any non-U.S. citizen who takes a position on hot-button global issues, including the war between Russia and Ukraine, the tariffs imposed against U.S. allies or the rise of far-right political parties in Europe, he said.

That worry has spread outside New York.

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A Bangladeshi student at Louisiana State University, who agreed to speak only on condition of anonymity for fear of being targeted by authorities, said she has stopped posting about anything political on social media since the first arrest at Columbia. She fears losing her green card.

I feel like its not safe for me to share those things anymore because I have a fear that a quote-unquote authoritarian regime is lurking over social media posts, the student said. When she lived in Bangladesh, she said, people could be arrested for posting dissent on social media. What I fear is a similar situation in the United States.

Advice from colleges and universities

Some schools have been advising international students to be cautious of what they say publicly and to watch what they say online. Several international students on a variety of college campuses said they preferred not to speak with a reporter out of concern for their immigration status.

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Administrators at Columbias Graduate School of Journalism have warned students who are not U.S. citizens about their vulnerability to arrest or deportation.

Nobody can protect you, these are dangerous times, the schools dean, Jelani Cobb, said in a post Thursday on Bluesky explaining the comment. I went on to say that I would do everything in my power to defend our journalists and their right to report but that none of us had the capacity to stop DHS from jeopardizing their safety."

At the University of California, Davis, the Global Affairs Program has updated its website with guidance on the First Amendment and advice on free speech for non-U.S. citizens.

While international students and scholars have broad rights to freedom of speech and lawful assembly, please be aware that being arrested or detained by law enforcement may trigger current and/or future immigration consequences, the school says on its website. Each person should take appropriate care and utilize their best judgment.

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Escalations after Khalil's arrest

Immigration authorities' activities at Columbia quickly escalated this week.

Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from the West Bank, was arrested by immigration officers for overstaying her student visa, the Department of Homeland Security said Friday. The former student's visa was terminated in January 2022 for lack of attendance, the department said. She was previously arrested for her involvement in protests at Columbia in April 2024, the agency added.

The Trump administration also revoked the visa of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian citizen and doctoral student at Columbia University, for allegedly advocating for violence and terrorism. Srinivasan opted to self-deport Tuesday, five days after her visa was revoked, the department said.

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The president has warned the arrest and attempted deportation of Khalil will be the first of many. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Friday that more student visas were likely to be revoked in the coming days.

___

The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
LONDON (Reuters) - Investors pulled $2.8 billion from stock funds in the week to Wednesday in the biggest weekly outflow this year, Bank of America said on Friday, in a sign of a souring of the mood in global financial markets.

The S&P 500 (^GSPC) stock index has now fallen more than 10% from its recent high, putting it into correction territory, as President Donald Trump's stop-start trade wars sow uncertainty among companies and investors.

U.S. government bond funds received the biggest weekly inflow since August at $6.4 billion, BofA said in its weekly note tracking flows in and out of world markets citing figures from data provider EPFR.

BofA said this was a sign of a "risk-off" mood.

Investors pulled $2.8 billion from U.S. stock funds in particular, but put $5 billion into European equities.

Real estate stocks suffered the biggest outflow since May 2022 at $1.2 billion, while high yield bond funds saw the biggest outflow in 12 weeks at $2.3 billion.

However, BofA's analysts said the move out of stocks had yet to unwind much of the $156 billion of inflows into global equity funds so far this year.

(Reporting by Harry Robertson, editing by Alun John)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The Columbus Division of Fire is searching for a person who may have important information on multiple fires from Friday.

The Columbus Division of Fire (CFD) is asking for help identifying the person photographed. A spokesperson for CFD says this person may have information that could help fire investigators.

Photo provided by the Columbus Division of Fire Photo provided by the Columbus Division of Fire

In a release from CFD, it states they believe this person could know about several fires that occurred on Columbus northside on Friday.

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Ohio State ending test-optional admissions

Anyone with information on this persons identity is encouraged to call 614-645-3011. CFD said a possible reward would be available if those who are responsible for the fires are found.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A Columbus man who police say burglarized, threatened and forced his way into an apartment multiple times has been arrested.

According to court documents, officers responded to a residence on North Roys Avenue near the intersection of West Broad Street in the North Hilltop neighborhood. Police said that on Feb. 9, Cortez Moore, 38, forced his way into the apartment and threatened to kill a woman who was there with her daughter.

Soon after Moore left, the victims realized car keys were missing from a chair near the front door. Later that day, the car was allegedly stolen.

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Is Shaquille ONeals chicken chain still coming to Columbus?

Three weeks later, on March 3, Moore reportedly threatened both at a Family Dollar store about a mile east on West Broad Street. Witnesses told the victims that the mans name.

Six days later, police said Moore forced his way into the Roys Avenue apartment again and said that the mothers son owed him money and he was there to collect. The daughter got a picture of Moore.

On Monday, the victims picked Moore out of a police photo array and identified him in all three incidents. He was arrested Wednesday and charged with aggravated burglary.

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On Thursday, a Franklin County Municipal Court judge issued Moore a $500,000 bond and ordered him to next appear in court on March 21 for a preliminary hearing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A Columbus man was sentenced to 39 years to life in prison for killing his girlfriend and leaving her body to decompose in her garage.

In December 2024, Kandawaswika Kahari pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, felonious assault and gross abuse of a corpse in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.

According to a release from the Franklin County Prosecutors Office, Reynoldsburg police conducted a wellness check on Kaharis then-girlfriend, Susan Ramberg, where they found her 10-year-old son home alone. During the check, police found Rambergs body inside her SUV, which was parked in the garage.

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According to the prosecutor, police determined through investigation that Ramberg had been deceased for several weeks. Kahari and Ramberg allegedly got into an argument in the garage, where Khari punched and choked Ramberg to the point of unconsciousness.

Columbus warns of parking violations text scam

Kahari also struck Rambergs 10-year-old son with a small shovel, knocking him unconscious, according to the prosecutors office. The prosecutors office said that Ramberg was still alive after the initial attack, and Kahari helped her inside to her couch.

Kahari then choked Ramberg again until she lost consciousness and eventually died. In the release, it states Kharia had Rambergs 10-year-old son help carry her body to the vehicle, claiming he would drive her to the hospital.

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Eventually, according to the prosecutor, Kahari told the child Ramberg was dead. After several weeks, Kahari confessed to his parents, who notified Reynoldsburg police.

Almost exactly two years after killing his girlfriend, Kahari was sentenced to 39 years to life in prison.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The Columbus Division of Police celebrates the graduates in their sixth and largest cadet class by holding a graduation ceremony on Friday.

The division held a graduation ceremony for the class on Friday and says this class is also one of their most diverse, with six women and cadets of many different races and religions.

A lot of them are all from the city of Columbus. Thats an important part. We want to make sure that the city of Columbus understands that we are trying to cultivate and glean all of those talents in order to use for the division, said Sgt. Demsas Reddae with the Columbus Division of Police.

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Sgt. Reddae said diversity is a key part of this program. He said part of their mission is to embrace diversity and change.

Groveport removes LeVeon Bells name from its stadium

The diversity piece is an important piece because you get a different aspect in regards to reflection of the community. The community wants individuals that look like them, that act like them, that talk like them, that understand, and has that rapport. So that when someone reports a complaint or a call, they have that confidence and they have that ease in regards to discussing those problems with the officer that is going to respond, Reddae said.

The cadet program is eighteen weeks. The program shows the next generation of law enforcement the ropes of being a police officer and prepares them to take on the recruit academy.

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Destiny Jennings said it has taught her to hone in on discipline and respect.

I wanted to get further knowledge about the Columbus Police Division because I was looking for a career here, a career here. Obviously, I believe I found one, Jennings said.

The cadet class will now start working on assignments within the division until they are age-eligible to apply for the academy.

Jennings said her assignment is with the divisions TAPS program. The sergeant said the majority of these cadets do go on to become Columbus Police officers.

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COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Columbus Police Department is searching for a suspect in connection with an armed robbery that occurred late Wednesday night.

Columbus Police launched the investigation after responding to a report of a robbery at the Shell Gas Station on Victory Drive close to 11:25 p.m.

Police described the suspect as male, approximately 5-foot-10-inches tall, wearing black clothing, a ski mask and white shoes. Police say he should be considered armed and dangerous.

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According to CPD, the suspect entered the gas station brandishing a firearm. He then approached an employee and demanded money. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect fled on foot.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Corporal K. Baldwin at 706-225-4337 or KBaldwin@columbusga.org.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Trump signed an executive order seeking to limit eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Some borrowers told BI they built their careers around the promise of relief after 10 years of payments.

The Education Department said it's reviewing the order and will ensure PSLF doesn't go to "anti-American activists."

They shaped their lives around working in public service to get student-loan forgiveness. The program they're counting on is one of President Donald Trump's latest targets.

"I'm counting my lucky stars that there's still the possibility that this PSLF program will remain intact because I have dedicated my whole professional life to public service," Megan Flocken, a 41-year-old former public school teacher and current nonprofit worker, told Business Insider.

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She's referring to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, created in 2007 to forgive student debt for government and nonprofit workers after 10 years of qualifying payments. After Trump signed an executive order seeking to limit PSLF eligibility by barring employers from the program who do not align with the administration's political views, Flocken said it's "injecting another element of instability" into her life.

She's projected to see her nearly $160,000 balance wiped out through PSLF in July after making payments for nearly 10 years. But having been enrolled in former President Joe Biden's SAVE plan, which is currently blocked in court, Flocken has been on forbearance and has not been able to earn credit toward PSLF.

It's leaving her relief in limbo, and she said she's not sure when  or if  she'll see her balance wiped out. Over 2 million student-loan borrowers with qualifying employers are enrolled in PSLF, according to recent Education Department data. BI heard from dozens of borrowers who said they're concerned about the future of the program and disappointed that their years of public service might be under attack.

A Department of Education spokesperson told BI that "Trump's executive order will restore the PSLF program to its statutory basis and not allow PSLF to fund anti-American activists."

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"The executive order is narrow in its purpose to ensure certain nonprofits do not inappropriately qualify for PSLF, but does not direct other changes to the program," the spokesperson said. "The Department is reviewing the executive order and will ensure the program is managed effectively for those it is intended to serve."

It's unclear how far Trump will go with making changes to PSLF. Still, it follows weeks of actions that have uprooted the public servants working for the federal government, including agency restructuring and thousands of worker terminations. Additionally, Trump signed an executive order to remove "woke" ideology from public classrooms, signaling that he wants to ensure the public sector aligns with his political views.

Flocken said the uncertainty regarding the future of relief through PSLF undercuts a "core principle" of the program.

"I love being a servant," Flocken said. "It's not for the money. It's for that sense of building a community and feeling, quite frankly, stable within that community. And so it just kind of cuts the rug out from underneath that sense of stability that's a core principle of public service."

'You can't change the rules as you go'

Caleb, 40, specifically sought out jobs in public service to ensure he could receive relief through PSLF. A father of four kids, Caleb  who requested his last name be withheld so he could speak freely about his financial situation  has a student-loan balance of just over $190,000, according to documents reviewed by BI.

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He accrued most of his debt from pursuing a master's degree in physical therapy, and he said that he took on that debt knowing that he wanted to work for nonprofits and qualify for PSLF.

He has just 18 payments left until he's expected to earn relief, and as a nonprofit worker, he said he hopes the program isn't changed before then.

"We have a lot of things that could take change and reform, whether it's foreign policy or the border," Caleb said. "But as far as the student loan situation goes, I want to make sure the government understands that we're honoring and respecting these plans. We've sacrificed a big part of our lives, in order to stay within this program, and you can't just change the rules as you go."

Linda McMahon, Trump's new education secretary, said during her confirmation hearing that she plans to honor PSLF and that "if we want stronger or more programs for loan forgiveness, then I think Congress should pass those programs, and then we would implement it."

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Charles Heacock, 52, said he agrees that there's room for reform across the government  but as a state government employee, he doesn't think that relief for public servants should be on the chopping block. He has a $60,000 balance on the line.

"I could go to a private company, a for-profit company, and probably make more money than doing what I do now, but I choose not to, because public service, for me, is what's important," Heacock said.

'I'm so close to the finish line'

Trump's executive order directed the heads of the Treasury and Education Departments to redefine what constitutes "public service" and ensure it aligns with the administration's views. The departments did not put forth a timeline for when they will develop new guidance, and the Federal Student Aid office said on March 10 that PSLF "is not changing today, and borrowers do not need to take any action."

GOP Rep. Tim Walberg, the chair of the House education committee, said in a statement that Republicans "have long had concerns about the open-ended nature of PSLF."

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The executive order "is in line with House Republican's goal of delivering the reforms to PSLF that are sorely needed," Walberg said.

Lindsey Dailey, 36, doesn't quite see it that way. She works for the state government, and she said she has an estimated two payments left until she earns relief through PSLF.

Potential changes to the program are "really unsettling," Dailey said.

"I could understand wanting to make changes to it, maybe for people going forward who are taking out loans," Dailey said. "But for those of us that have been sold this, I don't think it's fair to now take it away."

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Jeff Hughes, another state employee with an estimated three payments left on his $60,000 balance, said that whether he gets relief or not, he has dedicated his career to public service and doesn't intend to leave the field anytime soon. He just hopes that the administration will continue to fulfill the program's promise.

"I'm so close to the finish line," Hughes said. "I really hope that the program continues as is because we need some more good people out there doing good work."

Have a tip or a story to share? Contact this reporter via Signal at asheffey.97 or via email at asheffey@businessinsider.com . Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely .

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Entrance to the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee room in the Maine State House in Augusta. (Photo by Jim Neuger/Maine Morning Star)

The Democratic majority of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee approved a biennial budget bill Friday night that largely continues funding for state government at the same level but includes some additional appropriations to address urgent needs, including the MaineCare funding gap.

The committee passed the plan 7-3, with three members absent, around 8:30 p.m. with an emergency clause, meaning if it secures two-thirds support of the full Legislature the funding could be available immediately. However, Republicans on the committee made it clear Friday thats unlikely to happen.

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This threshold was the downfall of the supplemental budget bill the Legislature had considered to address the current $118 million funding shortfall for the states Medicaid program. It will again pose problems for the biennial budget that now includes that same time-sensitive measure and others in the earlier attempt, such as $2 million to treat a growing outbreak of spruce budworm, a destructive insect that threatens Maines northern forests, which has a narrow treatment window this spring.

Without two-thirds support of the full Legislature, the allocations wont be immediately available. Short of that, a majority of both chambers would have to approve the bill by the end of March in order for the funding to be available by the start of the next fiscal year, July 1.

The final blow to the supplemental budget came on Thursday when Senate Republicans maintained their opposition to the plan after it was amended to include some of the minority partys demands: cost-of-living adjustments for certain essential support workers that are currently being withheld by Gov. Janet Mills administration and limits to General Assistance, as well as annual training requirements for the program that Republicans hadnt requested.

Another addition had been a review of MaineCare for fraud, waste and abuse, but Senate Republicans said it had to include structural reform of the program in order to get their vote.

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The new biennial plan includes the funding for MaineCare, to treat spruce budworm and other initiatives the committee had initially had in the supplemental plan, as well as some aspects of the amendment  though not Republicans key asks.

The committee voted to include the annual training requirements for General Assistance but not the limits to the program. The biennial plan includes cost-of-living adjustments, but it does not include the review of MaineCare.

An item to address a concern raised by the Maine Community College System, University of Maine and Maine Maritime Academy during public hearings for the supplemental and biennial budgets is also included: funding to help cover the costs for state-supported positions related to the new Paid Family and Medical Leave Program, which took effect on Jan. 1.

The biennial budget plan doesnt add any new state spending to provide this support but rather would use the remaining balance from the states fund for the program.

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Timing again a problem

Addressing some of these time-sensitive issues in the two-year budget presents clear timing complications.

Many providers that rely on MaineCare are already looking at backpayments since the state started to withhold some funds this week and they could be looking at longer delays depending on when budget allocations become available.

In a statement shared with Maine Morning Star ahead of Fridays meeting, House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) said, I think its extremely juvenile to send the supplemental budget, a bill we had invested so much time on, to the dead file and then immediately move on to a Democrat only majority budget when they know this will delay funding.

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Peggy Rotundo (D-Androscoggin), who co-chairs the budget committee, said if they didnt vote today, the Legislatures nonpartisan offices wouldnt have had enough time to draft the legislation to get it to the floor for consideration by the end of March.

However, she added that she hopes the budget bill could gain enough support to be enacted as an emergency to avoid any delay. That seems unlikely at this point as Republican members of the committee voted Ought Not to Pass, recommending that the full Legislature reject the bill.

Federal funding concerns enter the fray

Before casting votes, members of the committee voiced opposing perspectives of the politics that led to this point, both this year and in past sessions.

Republicans also critiqued Democrats decision to pursue a budget that doesnt require their buy-in, reminiscent of the majority partys approach last session. Meanwhile, Democrats argued a two-part budget is necessary to keep the lights on, now more than ever.

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We all have a different story to tell about this and I dont think were going to resolve all that historical knowledge that we all have as individuals, said committee co-chair Rep. Drew Gattine (D-Westbrook). However, Gattine said that given the current volatility outside the Legislatures control, its important to shore up the state government commitments they can.

We have uncertainty coming out of the federal government, Gattine said. We have uncertainty coming about our own local economy, about our state economy, about our national economy. And I think what we can do as legislators here today is take some of that uncertainty away.

Federal funding uncertainty came up in deliberations about specific initiatives, too.

For example, the majority of the committee backed Mills proposal to transfer $45 million from the education stabilization fund to the general fund, though Republicans argued against using it to fill the states budget gap.

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Rep. Mark Blier (R-Buxton) raised concern about this move in light of the ongoing investigations by President Donald Trumps administration into Maines Department of Education.

Its really not very prudent for us to move these funds out of a lot of our education system, Blier said.

Should the baseline be the baseline?

An audit of the state budget to assess whether current, baseline funding levels are adequate has been a consistent call from Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook).

Republicans on the appropriations committee raised concern on Friday about the biennial proposal continuing state spending at current levels without such introspection.

When youre voting in this baseline budget, youre really voting in baseline budgets that have been, in my opinion, majority Democrat baseline budgets, said Rep. Ken Fredette (R-Newport), referring to Democrats past use of majority budgets.

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Republican budget lead Rep. Jack Ducharme of Madison said, The people of Maine cannot afford for us to just do continuing services.

While appropriations committee member Sen. Sue Bernard (R-Aroostook) was absent for voting Friday, in a statement she reiterated concerns about the sustainability of the MaineCare program as it currently stands.

The problems that existed in the supplemental budget continue to be completely unaddressed, Bernard said. MaineCare is on the verge of collapse and wont be available for those who truly need it.

Rotundo argued that baseline budgets have also grown under Republican leadership in the past. She added that the committee may have to revisit baseline numbers in a separate budget that Democrats are planning to introduce next to address policy changes.

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The biennial budget plan approved by the appropriations committee Friday night prioritizes continuing services to maintain state government functions and doesnt include program cuts or tax increases.

But those are coming.

In order to address the $450 million deficit, Mills initially proposed a biennial budget plan that included a number of new taxes on tobacco, cannabis, streaming services, pensions, ambulances and pharmacies, which Republicans have said they will not support.

Mills proposal also includes targeted program cuts that have faced pushback from progressives, including reversing the states recent investments in child care, limiting low-income food assistance for asylum seekers and removing funding appropriated last year for some crisis receiving centers in the wake of the Lewiston mass shooting.

Before the appropriations committee considers part two of the biennial budget, read up about the policy proposals here, here and here.

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EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  David Salvatore, the Providence Foundations new executive director, joined 12 News at 4 Friday to discuss their mission and the initiatives theyre working on.

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California Attorney General Rob Bonta says a $1.2 million settlement has been reached with a company accused of advertising and selling sham health insurance in the state over the last several years.

According to the Attorney Generals Office, Sedera, Inc. and Sedera Medical Cost Sharing Community, sold their plans to more than 2,000 Californians. The now-settled complaint alleged that Sedera sold health insurance plans below market rate because it failed to comply with state law.

They did not offer Californians the essential health benefits they were entitled to, Bonta said. We welcome businesses in our state, but we will not allow them to prey on our people.

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Customers were allegedly led to believe that Sedera plans were practically equivalent to ACA health insurance or service plans and were not for profit.

Investigations from the state also found that Sedera plans did not offer preventative care  which is required in California state law.

1 of 3 Big Bear bald eagle chicks is missing

As part of the $1.3 million settlement, the companies must pay $800,000 in consumer restitution and $560,000 in civil penalties. The company has also been prohibited from selling or offering services in California, and they must terminate their California customers list.

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Bonta encouraged Californians to do your research before selecting a health insurance plan, and consider applying for affordable, reliable coverage through Covered California.

The full complaint can be read here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
ATLANTA (AP)  Earlier this year, Michael Woolfolk attended a legislative committee in Georgia where lawmakers considered for a third year whether to compensate the 45-year-old for the 19 years he spent behind bars for a 2002 killing before charges against him were dismissed.

Behind him sat Daryl Lee Clark, also 45, who spent 25 years in prison for a 1998 murder conviction that was vacated over a series of legal and police errors. It was his second attempt to obtain compensation.

Georgia is one of 12 states with no law compensating people found to have been wrongfully convicted. Individuals seeking compensation take their cases to the legislature, where they seek a lawmaker to sponsor a resolution to pay them. Critics say it mires the process in politics.

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Lawmakers have been considering legislation to move the decision to judges, but now it's unclear if that will pass this year.

We need to take care simply of people who have lost so many years of their lives and their ability to make money, have a job, have a family, create stability, Republican Rep. Katie Dempsey, a sponsor of the Georgia bill, told The Associated Press. Many are at the age where they would be looking at their savings, and instead, theres none.

Missouri lawmakers have sent the governor a bill updating the state's compensation law, and legislatures in Florida and Oregon also are considering updates of their laws. Montana is considering an update of its expired program and Pennsylvania is among those, like Georgia, looking to create one.

A tricky process

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Of the 1,739 people who have filed wrongful compensation claims under state laws since 1989, 1,328 received compensation, according to data from George Washington University law professor Jeffrey Gutman.

That doesn't include cases in states like Georgia, which has no law outlining a process.

Since 1995, 12 Georgians have received compensation and at least 11 more have sought it, according to the Georgia Innocence Project. Even some people with strong cases were turned down because they failed to convince lawmakers they were innocent, advocates say.

The latest version of Georgia's proposal would require individuals to prove their innocence to an administrative law judge. They could receive $75,000 for each year of incarceration and reimbursement for other costs such as fines and fees. There would be an additional $25,000 for each year of incarceration awaiting a death sentence.

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The way that the state has treated these individuals by taking away their freedom and liberty and effectively ruining their lives, by wrongfully convicting them and then failing to expeditiously compensate them and help them get back on their feet, doesnt sit well with me, said Democratic Rep. Scott Holcomb, a bill sponsor and former prosecutor.

Whether a person was released based on a finding they were not guilty or based on trial or law enforcement error is often a sticking point. Advocates say those wrongfully convicted deserve compensation either way because they are innocent until proven guilty, but some lawmakers are hesitant to pay them.

Senate Majority Whip Randy Robertson, a former sheriffs deputy, was the lead opponent last year of individual requests for compensation and an effort to pass a compensation law. He takes issue with the term exonerated, which he says is too often used in cases where convictions are overturned based on trial errors.

Robertson this year introduced a different compensation bill with stricter rules that didn't get a hearing.

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Other states consider changes

Florida is the only state that prevents exonerees with previous felony convictions from qualifying for compensation, according to an analysis by the advocacy group The Innocence Project.

Florida Republican state Sen. Jennifer Bradley wants to change that. For the third year she is sponsoring a bill to end the rule, arguing that an unrelated charge should not prevent people who were wronged by the state from being compensated for their lost liberty.

A bill in the Oregon Legislature would update a law passed in 2022 that provides exonerees $65,000 for each year they were wrongfully imprisoned, on the condition they file a successful petition proving their innocence. The new bill comes amid criticism that few exonerees have received compensation since the law took effect.

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Missouri's legislature recently passed and sent to the governor a measure expanding a restitution program for people wrongly convicted of felonies. The legislation would raise compensation from $100 to $179 per day of imprisonment and remove a requirement that innocence is proven by DNA analysis.

Many Georgia lawmakers have said they dont want to play judge and hope the state process changes.

If the legislature doesnt pass a bill before adjourning April 4, Woolfolk and Clark may not be compensated this year. The House overwhelmingly approved five requests that could fail in the Senate.

Starting a career at 45 is hard, Woolfolk said, and he missed his childrens upbringing. He said he is sick of trying to convince lawmakers to help him.

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Clark, who does not have children, got a standing ovation from House lawmakers last year who voted to compensate him.

This year, his hope and prayers" are that he also gains some help.

___

This story was first published on Mar. 15, 2025. It was updated on Mar. 17, 2025 to make clear that Georgia is one of 12 states with no law compensating people found to have been wrongfully convicted. One state has a statute that would have provided educational aid, not financial payments, to those who qualify, but its never been used. ___

Associated Press reporters Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida, Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon, and David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed to this report.

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___

Kramon and Payne are corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
China's eastern Zhejiang province emerged as the biggest recipient of venture capital funding in 2024, buttressing its efforts to become a major hub for advanced technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.

A total of 41 new corporate venture capital funds were registered in the coastal province last year, the highest number among those recorded in 18 mainland provinces in the same period, according to the latest data from CYZone Research Centre in China.

Zhejiang's capital, Hangzhou, is home to e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding, as well as high-profile start-ups known as the "Six Little Dragons" - DeepSeek, Unitree Robotics, Deep Robotics, BrainCo, Game Science and Manycore. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

Zhejiang has been attracting more investments amid the province's evolution from e-commerce hub into a new haven for entrepreneurs involved in advanced technologies.

That reflects the success of the province, especially Hangzhou, to foster innovation through favourable government policies such as tax incentives, industrial estate development and financing in spite of China's lacklustre economy.

People watch a television report on Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek at the Seoul Railway Station in South Korea's capital on February 17, 2025. Photo: AP alt=People watch a television report on Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek at the Seoul Railway Station in South Korea's capital on February 17, 2025. Photo: AP>

The number of newly registered corporate venture-capital funds across the country reached 193 last year, down 41.7 per cent from 2023, according to the CYZone report.

It said the decline came amid a number of factors including a volatile global economic environment, rising uncertainty in capital markets and strict implementation of new rules in the private equity industry.

Southern Guangdong province last year had the second-largest number of newly registered venture capital funds at 40, according to CYZone. The province's tech hub, Shenzhen, is home to Huawei Technologies and Tencent Holdings.

Zhejiang, however, still ranked behind neighbouring Jiangsu province and Guangdong - as well as major cities Shanghai and Beijing - in terms of the number of investor events held in 2024.
The Senate has passed a spending bill to continue funding the government through September, narrowly avoiding a shutdown with a measure endorsed by President Donald Trump.

The six-month continuing resolution passed the Senate on a 54-46 vote just a few hours before the Friday-night deadline. Nine Senate Democrats and independent Sen. Angus King voted to limit debate on the measure, enough to help Senate Republicans overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only Republican to vote no on the bill. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. and Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, were the only members of the Democratic caucus to vote yes.

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The fate of the measure had remained in limbo up until the vote. Senate Democrats, who have said that the bill would only help Trump and billionaire Elon Musk continue to enact sweeping cuts across the federal government, appeared unified against the legislation up until Thursday night, when Minority Leader Chuck Schumer broke with his party to announce that he would support the bill.

The New York Democrat defended his decision to vote yes in a floor speech Friday, arguing that a shutdown would give Trump more power to continue making sweeping cuts to the federal government.

Clearly, this is a Hobsons choice, Schumer said. The CR is a bad bill. But as bad as the CR is, I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option.

With Democrats holding a minority in both chambers of Congress, unified opposition to the stopgap bill was seen as one of the few areas of leverages the party had over the GOP. Schumers about-face sparked fierce criticism from House Democrats, some of whom publicly questioned his leadership.

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The bill had narrowly passed the House on Tuesday evening as well. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the only Republican to oppose the bill, and Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, joined his GOP colleagues to support it.

Golden later posted on X that although the bill was not perfect, a shutdown would introduce even more chaos and uncertainty at a time when our country can ill-afford it.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The Senate approved a House GOP-crafted spending bill hours before the shutdown deadline Friday evening, capping off the first funding fight of President Trumps second term  a saga that ripped apart the Democratic Party.

The final vote in the Senate was 54-46, with two Democrats joining 52 Republicans to pass the bill. But the key Senate vote came just earlier, when the Senate voted 62-38 to advance the legislation. A 60-vote majority was needed to clear that hurdle, and 10 Democrats joined all but one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), to get over that threshold.

The legislation funds the government through Sept. 30, boosts defense funding by $6 billion and imposes $13 billion in cuts to nondefense funding. Trump is expected to sign the measure, having previously endorsed it.

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The political fallout over the measure is reverberating the most among Democrats, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) facing fury from much of his party over his decision to provide the votes necessary for the measure to get through the Senate.

Here are five takeaways.

Johnson succeeds in jamming Schumer

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) set the tone for this weeks shutdown showdown, unveiling the stopgap Saturday, selling it to his conference Monday and muscling it through his razor-thin majority Tuesday.

Then, he sent the House home, jamming the Senate with the bill and leaving Democrats with the choice of opposing the measure and shutting down the government, or swallowing the legislation to keep the lights on in Washington.

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In the end, enough Democratic senators chose the latter at Schumers behest.

Passage of the stopgap in the House marked a major victory for Johnson, and a feat that would have been inconceivable in years prior. The Speaker, with help from a Trump lobbying campaign, managed to get nearly his entire conference  all but one member  on board for the stopgap, despite long-held reservations to continuing resolutions among conservative fiscal hawks.

I spoke with @POTUS earlier today. 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, Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) wrote on the social platform X after the vote.

And the successful effort paid dividends, giving Johnson a platform on which he could pressure Senate Democrats to support the bill  and warn them that if they blocked it, they would bear the blame for a shutdown.

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The House has done its job and passed a clean CR to fund the federal government, the Speaker wrote on X ahead of the Senate vote. If Senate Democrats block an up-or-down vote on this, then its crystal clear: THEY want to shut down the government. Period. Full stop.

Chaos among Democrats

Since November, the Democratic Party has struggled to find its way, trying to pick up the pieces from last years disastrous elections and searching for a message  and leader  to combat the Trump administration.

That quest took another step backward during this weeks funding fight, with chaos  and infighting  escalating.

Take, for example, the top two Democrats on Capitol Hill. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) voted against the spending bill, urged his caucus to do the same, then mounted an intense campaign encouraging his Senate Democratic counterparts to follow suit. Schumer, meanwhile, disregarded those calls, voting to advance the stopgap and bringing nine of his colleagues with him.

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The tension between the two Brooklynites spilled into the public view Friday when Jeffries declined to back up his Senate counterpart, dismissing a pair of questions about Schumers leadership.

Next question, Jeffries told reporters.

The anger in the Democratic Party, however, is far wider than just the Schumer-Jeffries chasm, with many in the base  largely progressives, led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)  up in arms over Schumers decision to back the spending bill.

Schumer takes an arrow  and draws the ire of progressives

Perhaps no one had a more difficult week on Capitol Hill than Schumer, who was left with no good options when he spearheaded a group of 10 colleagues to join with Republicans to avert a shutdown, angering many Democrats and progressives in the process.

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The group  largely composed of leadership members, looming retirees and those in battleground states  joined with Republicans to pass the bill.

Most other Democrats directed their anger at Schumer.

There is a deep sense of outrage and betrayal, Ocasio-Cortez told reporters late Thursday, referring to Schumers decision. And this is not just about progressive Democrats. This is across the board  the entire party.

Schumer is going to face questions going forward over whether he can successfully lead Senate Democrats against Trump. He also may need to think about the prospect of a primary challenge from Ocasio-Cortez in 2028.

For first time in recent memory, a totally partisan funding bill has passed

Government spending bills take many shapes and sizes, from short-term continuing resolutions (CRs), to massive one-bill omnibuses, to the hybrid creatures that occupy the middle ground, known as minibuses.

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But in recent decades, theres been one constant surrounding every funding bill that became law: Its always been crafted by leaders in both parties and approved with bipartisan support.

Until now.

The bill approved by the Senate on Friday was crafted by Johnson and House Republicans without any input from Democrats. And it included roughly $13 billion in spending cuts that Democrats would never have agreed to in bipartisan talks.

Such a scenario was unthinkable in years past. Partisan spending bills crafted by former Speakers John Boehner (R-Ohio) or Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), for instance, might pass through a GOP-led House but would have no chance of eluding opposition from Schumers Democrats in the Senate. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) faced a similar obstacle in the form of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the former GOP leader who would never allow a liberal spending bill through the upper chamber.

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The break from tradition this week infuriated the minority Democrats, who demanded a return to bipartisan talks and were leaning on Senate Democrats to use the filibuster to block the one-sided GOP bill and force Republican leaders back to the negotiating table.

When youre in the minority, you only have a few real points where you can use the powers that you have  the procedural moves that you have  to do the right thing by people who are terrified of where this country is going, Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), the Democratic whip, said shortly before the Senate vote.

So, back to the negotiating table? Why is that some wild-eyed idea? Lets come back together.

Schumer, by opting against the filibuster that serves as the Democrats single greatest instrument of leverage, declined to force GOP leaders to take that step. He feared that, with Trump in the White House, Republicans would instead let the country slip into a shutdown, perhaps long-term.

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Americans will never know if he was right, since the bill is set to become law. Equally unclear is whether the Republicans successful one-sided strategy has ushered in a new age of partisan spending bills, or if it was another anomaly unique to the Trump era.

Democrats fear slippery slope in deciding against fight

Democrats in the Senate essentially decided against a drawn-out fight with Trump and the GOP by providing the votes to move the measure through the upper chamber.

Republicans were ready to blame them for a shutdown, reasoning that the bill had passed the House and had majority support in the Senate. A filibuster led by Democrats was the only thing preventing the measures passage.

Yet progressives were itching for a fight, arguing Republicans hold all the power in Washington and would have been blamed for a shutdown. They also said Democrats were willing to back a 30-day measure to continue talks with Republicans who had shut them out of negotiations on the funding measure.

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Voters and the Democratic base, some progressives said, would be upset Democrats werent taking the fight to Trump.

They want to hear that the Democrats are willing to fight back.  We cannot throw away opportunities. We just cant afford it, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said. Our opportunities are very limited. We need to use each and everyone of them to the fullest extent possible.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) pointed to a provision targeting the District of Columbias funding that he said partly explained his no vote.

If it was $1 billion this time, why wouldnt they put $2 billion [in] next time? And what are we going to say? $1 billion was OK, but $2 billion is too much?

The problem with normal, it always gets worse, right? he continued. You normalize something, then it gets worse.

This story was updated at 9:04 a.m. on March 15.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 14ASHEVILLE  Western North Carolina residents presented a show of force at a town hall meeting with U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards Thursday  from a deeply critical audience inside the venue to a massive protest outside.

The auditorium at A-B Tech could fit less than 400 people, but by the times doors opened at 5 p.m., over 1,000 had formed a line snaking around the building.

People kept streaming in until the event was to begin at 6 p.m., with an estimated crowd of 2,000. Though it was clear they wouldn't get it, most chose to remain outside for an impromptu rally to make a point about the intense interest in all that's happening at the nation's capital.

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Though they couldn't get inside, the crowd wanted Edwards to know their views through the signs they made and see their vast numbers, according to interviews with those gathered.

If there were Republican supporters in the crowd, they weren't bearing signs or speaking up. The overwhelming sentiment was one of alarm and anger. An open mic on the grounds allowed people to speak their minds, and the signs spoke volumes.

Concerns about the bread-and-butter issues many said drove the 2024 election results weren't the ones on display. Instead, the crowd was focused on the future of democracy itself as President Trump exhibits unprecedented executive authority to guide the nation in a new direction.

Signs reading "Patriots don't bow to kings," "Wake Up, This Is a Coup," "Stop GOP Extremists," "Beware of Mad Doge," "Defeat Authoritarianism," "Congress Controls Budget, Not Musk," "Social Security is My Money," "No Kings," were among the hundreds of messages voters in the 11th Congressional District were sending to Washington, D.C.

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Crowd not happy

Inside the town hall, Edwards faced plenty of booing when his answers were in line with Trump-Musk. He was rewarded with applause when he staked out a position counter to Trump-Musk  such as pledging support for national parks and Ukraine.

He also faced jeers and heckling from some in the crowd. A few shouted over him when he tried to answer audience questions. One man angered by a response got up and walked out, holding a middle finger in the air all the way down the aisle.

While heckling persisted throughout the session, most in the crowd were respectful and at times, shouted, "Let him speak."

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Edwards was applauded for holding a town hall, especially in the liberal stronghold of Asheville, when Republicans nationwide are avoiding facing their constituents due to anger that has swelled up across the nation.

Early on, Edwards told the crowd he was doing what he said he would do when campaigning and that he supported much of what was happening in Washington, eliciting groans from the audience.

"Applaud where you want, boo where you want, but keep it respectful so we can have conversations," Edwards said. "Western North Carolina has been through a lot and events like this bring communities together."

For the many who couldn't gain access, multiple news organizations live-streamed the event.

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Priorities

Amanda Edwards, chairwoman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, introduced the Congressman at the outset of the event. She praised Edwards for championing federal action after Hurricane Helene, including writing a $110 billion disaster relief bill signed in December.

During his nearly 20-minute opening remarks, Edwards recounted his role in the disaster recovery process, saying his job now has turned to cutting through the bureaucracy so disaster funds reach those who need it.

Edwards said he was proud to vote for House budget resolution that provides a framework to enact the Trump agenda that will secure the border, promote energy production, lower taxes and make America more competitive  a stance that brought loud boos from the audience.

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As a member of the House budget and appropriation committees, Edwards had a seat at the table in crafting the legislation.

Edwards has long campaigned on reducing the federal deficit, which now stands at $36 trillion. The House resolution actually increases the debt ceiling by $4 trillion.

Edwards was vocal critic of the nation's debt during his first election in 2022 and again in 2024  and even now, despite his party continuing to make it worse.

"In my view, the debt crisis has been ignored far too long. The time is now to fix how Washington works," he said.

The House proposal will preserve the $4.5 trillion in tax cuts passed during the first Trump administration, but does not include additional revenue to pay for those tax cuts. Instead, it directs various House committees to find $1.5 trillion in budget cuts over the next decade. The exact form of those cuts is yet to be determined.

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Edwards defended the Trump administration's actions that have come at an unusually dizzying pace in Washington to downsize government and seemingly sidestep the legislative branch.

Though Congress does control the budget, there is nothing forcing the President to spend all the money Congress approves, Edwards explained.

The spending cuts being enacted by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) headed by Elon Musk are ultimately subject to Congress and may not stand.

The American people sent Trump to the White House and elected a Republican majority to the House and Senate, which Edwards called a clear mandate to restore American economic dominance, get government out of the way and to secure the borders.

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Audience Q&A

Constituent questions were handled in two ways. Those in the hall wrote questions, along with their first names and zip code, that were drawn from a box and read by a moderator. The second half allowed a person in the crowd up to two minutes to pose a question.

One questioner from the Clyde zip code asked about proposed cuts to the Veterans Administration budget.

Edwards responded that no staff cuts at the VA have been approved and said it was not his nor the Trump administration's intention to eliminate any job that directly provides service to veterans.

Questions during the 90-minute gathering spanned a broad range and included national park service budget cuts, ramifications to Social Security, abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, the war in Ukraine, potential cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, and Trump proposals to control Greenland and Canada.

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Edwards staked out views that don't necessarily align with those being touted by Trump-Musk in D.C. He said he always has and always will support Ukraine and called Russian leader Vladimir Putin a "murderous dictator." He said he does not support changes to Social Security that will impact existing recipients, and does not agree with Trump suggestions to control either Greenland or Canada.

In other areas, he agreed with his party's leaders, including abolishing the U.S. Department of Education and instead allocating funding to states to carry out what the federal agency does. He also endorsed eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. And agrees with a proposed 8% reduction for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Other areas he landed somewhere in between.

He praised the National Weather Service that helped warn WNC of Hurricane Helene, but was silent on the cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which has a strong presence in Asheville. He also said he supports vaccines for those who elect to take them.

He said he sleeps well at night knowing each vote he casts is in support of the U.S. Constitution.
A Clinton man has been sentenced to two years probation and must pay restitution after pleading guilty to illegally dumping toxic materials in Fairfield, officials said.

Robert Grabarek, 68, has been sentenced to a three-year suspended sentence and two years of probation, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice.

The sentencing comes after Grabarek, president of Osprey Environmental Engineering, LLC, pleaded guilty in Sept. 2024 in Bridgeport Superior Court to several charges including illegal disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), engaging in the business of collection, storage, treatment and disposal of substances, materials and wastes without a permit, and illegal discharge of materials into the waters of the state, officials said.

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In 2019, following a lengthy investigation by the Fairfield Police Department and the Office of the Chief States Attorney, with assistance from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Grabarek and six others were arrested. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Grabarek participated in a continued pattern of illegally disposing of contaminated materials and dumping them at the Fairfield Department of Public Works property on Richard White Way in Fairfield.

As part of the terms of his probation, the court found he must pay $28,235 into a fund carved out to compensate victims who were town employees instructed to work at the contaminated site during the illegal dumping, and provide 300 hours of community service, according to officials.

The court also ordered that Grabarek, doing business as Osprey Environmental, LLC, be prohibited from engaging in testing or remediation, unless written approval is received from adult probation services.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com
NORWICH, Conn. (WWLP)  A Connecticut woman was arrested on Thursday after attempting to evade State Police, ramming two cruisers with her vehicle in the process.

Connecticut State Police said that at approximately 3:06 p.m. on Thursday, troopers observed a vehicle traveling eastbound in Bozrah without a front license plate and failing to maintain the proper lane.

When troopers made an inquiry into the vehicle, the registered owner was identified as 33-year-old Electra Chiulli of Old Saybrook. Chiulli was the subject of a previous Be on the Lookout from the previous week due to allegedly engaging Old Saybrook officers in a pursuit, and she had an active arrest warrant as a result.

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Man dies in Orange St. shooting in Springfield

State Police said that troopers followed the vehicle until it stopped at a gas station in Norwich, attempting to box Chiulli in due to her known history of police pursuits. Chiulli refused to exit the vehicle, and due to her active arrest warrant, troopers proceeded to use force to breach the vehicles rear window.

In a video shared by Connecticut State Police, Chiulli is seen putting the car in reverse and revving her engine, then accelerating forward and colliding into a State Police cruiser. She then accelerated backward, hitting a gas station fuel pump.

Chiulli once again put the vehicle into drive and accelerated forward, ramming a second cruiser and navigating around other cars in the lot to escape.

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Police said that Chiulli sped away without stopping for troopers lights and sirens, driving onto I-395 north and leaving on Exit 19. Chiulli reportedly struck a guardrail while attempting to turn left onto Strnad Road in Lisbon, and and proceeded to abandon her car and flee on foot.

Nearby witnesses said that Chiulli was seen running behind a home on Strnad Road. State Police was assisted by the Montville Police K-9 team to locate Chiulli underneath the deck of a residence, where she was arrested without further incident.

Courtesy of Connecticut State Police.

In the immediate vicinity where the arrest took place, suspected narcotic bundles and narcotic paraphernalia were found in connection with Chiulli.

Chiulli was brought to a local hospital to be evaluated and remains in State Police custody. No police or civilians were injured during the incident.

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Electra Chiulli is charged with:

Improper Number of Marker Plates

Failure to Maintain Lane

Reckless Driving

Engaging Police in Pursuit

Evading Responsibility of a Collision

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Possession of a Controlled Substance

Criminal Attempt at Assault on a Public Safety Officer

Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree

Criminal Mischief in the First Degree (3 Counts)

Interfering with an Officer (2 Counts)

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HILO, Hawaii (KHON2)  In a Hilo courtroom, Duncan Mahi sat silently as the judge handed down a 30-year prison sentence. He had pleaded No Contest to two counts of kidnapping and one count of first degree sexual assault as part of a plea agreement.

You had zip ties, you had tape, you had shackles. This evidence is planning and predatory and while Im sure drugs played a role, you cannot blame your actions on drug use, said Hawaii Third Circuit Court Judge Wendy DeWeese. You victimized two young people in a particularly cruel way. In a way from which they will probably never recover.

We want to have every tool available to prosecute them: Lawmakers to hear bill that would make torture a felony

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In September 2022, Mahi threatened the then 15-year-old teenager with a knife and forced her to tie up her boyfriend before she was abducted.

Court documents say the teen was shackled inside a yellow bus behind Mahis home where she was held for nearly 22 hours, forced to smoke meth and was sexually assaulted.

The terrifying ordeal took a dramatic turn when the girl and Mahi entered Cafe Pesto in Hilo where two quick thinking good Samaritans recognized her from an Amber Alert. The two were in attendance at todays sentencing hearing.

Its going to be a lifetime of healing I think for her, but Im happy for her. Im hoping this is a little bit of closure for her, so she can move on, said Kori Takaki, who helped with the girls rescue.

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I think shes the bravest one here, said Bridge Hartman, who was the first to recognize her from the alert.

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Im so blown away by the courage of his young woman and the strength of this family and the commitment of this community to come together to support folks that have been through a parents worst nightmare, said the familys attorney, Jeffery Foster.

After the sentencing, the teens parents thanked the community for their support and swift actions of those who helped rescue their daughter, who they also credit for helping to save herself.

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Were thankful that we still have our daughter with us, said Derek Debina, the teens father.

She was so smart, she was so brilliant, she manipulated and outsmarted her abductor and she is her own hero, said her mother Cherese Angelel.

Woman accused of killing adopted daughter pleads not guilty

Prosecutors say the victim and her family were consulted in the plea agreement, which allows the victim from having to go to trial.

We wanted to make sure that everyone in the community includes the victims in this case and their families had the ability to give the input and guide us in decision making process and we believe the end result is just, said Kauanoe Jackson, deputy prosecuting attorney.

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The states second-ever activation of the Maile Amber Alert was during the search for the teen. This was also the states first time using the wireless emergency alert system statewide. A Maile Amber alert can be triggered when police believe a child has been abducted and is in danger.

Amanda Leonard of the Missing Child Center of Hawaii says the successful recovery of the teen in this case proves the system works. The center serves as the statewide coordinator for the Maile Amber Alert.

Maile Amber Alert is about galvanizing an entire community to search for an abducted child. Somebody might be in the right place at the right time that can see the child and take action to recover that child and then of course alert the police, Leonard said.

The victims parents say their daughter is doing excellent and happy to move with her life.

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At this point we all are, closure is a wonderful thing. And shes ready to head off to college, Angelel said.

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HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  The Warrick County Prosecutors Office says on March 7, Warrick County Circuit Court Judge Greg Granger denied convicted murderer Isaiah Hagans petition for post-conviction relief, also known as a new trial.

Officials say Hagan was convicted by a jury nearly 7 years ago of the murder of Halee Rathgeber. Hagan asked the court for a new trial alleging that his attorneys were ineffective and that new evidence existed that called into question the 2018 murder conviction.

The Warrick County Prosecutors Office says Judge Granger, in his written findings, took issue with Hagans self-described new evidence. Granger noted that Hagans lawyer, Arie Lipinksi, admitted to not understanding the difference between newly discovered and newly available evidence. As Granger noted, this distinction is significant in post-conviction relief matters.

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Officials say Lipinski had previously claimed that he had evidence that Thaddious Rice was responsible for Halees murder. However, Judge Granger found that when Lipinksi presented this in court, his evidence was at best, vague and unworthy of credit, at worst, misrepresented by [Lipinski].

Court officials say Lipinski also presented evidence from a psychologist in Florida who claimed that Hagan suffered from personality traits that should have been presented to the jury. Granger found that this evidence would not have likely changed the verdict. Granger observed that if Hagan had presented this evidence at trial, the jury would have also heard that Hagan was diagnosed with anti-social personality disorder, a diagnosis common among murderers.

Indiana DNR provides new details on Chandler mine collapse

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The Warrick County Prosecutors Office stated that Hagan also attempted to introduce evidence from Luke Douglas, a criminal justice professor at Oakland City University and Elizabeth Pierson, a local social worker. It was discovered that Douglas and Pierson had concocted a scheme to trick a witness to testify in support of Hagan. Douglas and Pierson allegedly pretended to be working on a research study on mothers of murdered children to get the witness to testify about Rice to help Hagan. Judge Granger found this evidence to be inadmissible.

The Prosecutors Office stated, There are few things more appalling than what Douglas and Pierson, who work in the mental health field, tried to do. To be a professor and a social worker and lie to a mother of a murdered child to get her to participate in an interview under false pretenses is just utterly contemptible. Even this scheme did not produce the evidence they thought it would. The only thing it produced was a disciplinary complaint for Lipinksi, who is now under investigation by the Indiana Office of Attorney Regulation.

Jon Schaefer, the prosecuting attorney who represented the State in the matter, stated, What they did crossed all boundaries of basic human decency. The fact that Douglas and Pierson are professionals in the field leaves me worried for his students and her clients.

Officials say Hagan remains incarcerated at the Indiana Department of Correction, where he will serve out his 60 year sentence.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  Convoy of Hope and the American Red Cross is helping those impacted by the severe weather that overwhelmed the Ozarks on Friday.

The City of West Plains says Convoy of Hope crews have already set up at Endurance Church at 805 Worley Drive and handing out supplies such as water, Gatorade and illumination kits.

The nonprofits disaster services team is also heading to areas near West Plains, Hartville, Van Buren and the bootheel in Missouri, as well as the Mountain Home area of Arkansas. They are also planning to send teams to Rolla and St. Louis.

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10 fatalities reported from storms in Missouri, including two in Bakersfield

The Red Cross says they are maintaining multiple shelters and respite centers in Missouri, including shelters in Rolla at the First Baptist Church and in West Plains at the 1st United Methodist Church, as well as a respite center in Alton at 501 School Street.

Shelters will be open overnight, whereas respite centers will be open during the day for affected residents. Red Cross says you do not need identification or proof of residency to enter one of their shelters.

Convoy of Hope says they will send initial relief supplies and assess needs in the affected areas as they plan a bigger distribution plan with their partners in the area.

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You can help donate to those affected by Fridays storm on the Convoy of Hope website.

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As Webster Bank marches toward the $100 billion-asset threshold that would make it a Category IV bank, the lender is stepping up its hiring efforts and fortifying its cybersecurity infrastructure.

To prepare for crossing that line, the Stamford, Connecticut-based regional bank  which now counts about $80 billion in assets  is investing to bolster its risk and compliance infrastructure, and readying for higher capital and liquidity requirements, as well as more regulatory reporting.

The bank is also approaching the milepost with cybersecurity top of mind, since the Category IV designation heightens expectations around the use and collection of data, said Vikram Nafde, the banks chief information officer.

What we have to do for that is a series of things in the space of data, cybersecurity, but also digital and the regulatory reporting, Nafde said during a recent interview. Theres a big component of technology  as we get closer and closer to the $100 billion mark.

To that end, the bank is hiring with an eye toward strengthening its risk framework and controls, Nafde said. Webster will also hire for new data-related roles, including those concerning data collection, storing and governance, and continues hiring for cybersecurity roles, he said.

The bank, which has close to 4,300 employees, plans to hire about 200 people this year. Of that number, about 25 will be hired for technology and cybersecurity roles on the IT team, said Nafde, whos been at the bank since 2020 and became CIO in 2022.

Although theres chatter that the $100 billion barrier may go away, given calls for tailoring and expectations of regulatory relaxation under the Trump administration, Webster CEO John Ciulla said during a March 5 conference appearance thats not our base case [although] it might get less onerous.

Still, the possibility of change has led the bank to be thoughtful in building out its capabilities, executives indicated.

About three-quarters of Websters Category IV-related expenses shareholders would want us to do anyway, to build a more resilient and more industrialized bank, Ciulla said.

The other 25% are a little bit regulatory check-the-box, so the bank is trying to stagger those expenses, so that if the $100 billion barrier goes away or the requirements for becoming a large bank change, Webster can defer some of those expenses, he said.

As it becomes Category IV-ready, the bank expects to add between $40 million and $60 million in run rate operating expenses over the next several years, Webster CFO Neal Holland said during the banks most recent earnings call. The lender expects 2025 expenses to total around $1.4 billion, and Nafde said the banks tech spending will be higher this year than last.
With Texas solidified as an even deeper red state after the 2024 elections, political attention turns to next year and the contests that await, none bigger than U.S. Sen. John Cornyns quest for a fifth six-year term. As is the case with many offices in Texas, the Republican primary will determine the eventual winner. With narrow prospects for a successful Democratic challenger in November, we will know Cornyns fate by next spring.

It may be the first competitive primary Cornyn has ever faced, should Attorney General Ken Paxton announce a challenge.

Paxton is the natural preference for a large percentage of the Texas voting wave that awarded Donald Trump a 14-point margin over Kamala Harris in November, while ushering a burst of fresh conservative blood to the Legislature. Many Texas House victories were direct rebukes of incumbents who had joined the disastrous 2023 effort to impeach and remove Paxton. If the attorney general were to seek-re-election next year, he would easily dispatch any Democrat.

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But does that add up to sufficient clout to unseat Cornyn? That path leads through my unshakable rule of primaries: Incumbents cannot be beaten unless there is a broad desire to fire them.

There is no doubting Paxtons rock-star status among the states appreciable slices of grassroots, Trump-loving Republicans. But next years primary will not be a measure of Paxtons popularity; it will be a referendum on Cornyn.

The best example of my rule was in 2010, when Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison challenged Gov. Rick Perry. As measured by the sheer number of votes received in a political career, Hutchison was the most popular politician in Texas history. When I observed immediately (and correctly) that Perry would beat her resoundingly in the primary, it was not a negative assessment of her years of honorable service. It was a recognition that Perry was a popular governor whom voters were unlikely to send packing.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks against Republicans supporting Rep. Dustin Burrows in the Texas House speakers race at the headquarters for Texas Scorecard, a conservative advocacy group, in Leander Tuesday January 7, 2025. The event in Leander came after a similar rally in Fort Worth where Paxton urged grassroots Republicans to pressure GOP members of the Texas House not to give power to Democratic lawmakers during the upcoming legislative session.

In the current moment, staunch conservatives oozing confidence that Paxtons stardom spells an upset of Cornyn would do well to remember just four years ago, when my rule again applied.

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The Greg Abbott of 2022 was not the governor of today, who displays Paxton-level dedication to Trump. There was sufficient room to Abbotts right to draw opposition from two heralded conservative heroes: former state Sen. Don Huffines and retired Army Lt. Col. Allen West, who rose rapidly to state GOP chairman. They pummeled Abbott on issues from COVID lockdowns to border security to property tax reform.

Close acquaintances in the bolder ranks of Texas conservatism guaranteed me that Abbott was going down. I told them and similarly inclined talk-show callers that there was no chance. Again, not because Huffines and West were not fitting subjects of conservative praise but because there simply was not a broad desire to oust Abbott, who garnered 66% of the primary vote while those rivals drew 12 apiece.

So, we arrive at the question for next year: Will voters examine the 20-plus years of the Cornyn record and say thats enough?

In every re-election bid, Cornyn has heard criticism that he is too moderate, too establishment-friendly, too willing to work with Democrats, and not conservative enough on borders and the Second Amendment. And the primary challengers who have arisen to make those claims have been summarily steamrolled  the closest margin was 40 points in 2014.

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But those lesser-known and underfunded opponents did not bring the star power and campaign war chests of Ken Paxton. As he weighs a decision that surely must come soon, he has lobbed criticism in Cornyns direction, framing him as the kind of dinosaur Republican being led to extinction in the Trump era.

During a recent on-air visit, I asked Cornyn about the bloody primary that may lie ahead. I wonder what purpose that would have, he told me. I have no doubt what the outcome of that fight would be, but it would be expensive, and I think it would be unfortunately a pretty pitched battle. Why would you trade somebody routinely rated as one of the most effective members in the United States Senate, who has delivered for several years for the state of Texas, for a rookie whos going to spend the first year trying to find his way to the next restroom in the Capitol building?

The experience card is not as reliable in this era of new faces occasionally dispatching entrenched elected fixtures. I suggested that Cornyn would be measured more by his level of harmony in this Trump term. He took me back to Trumps first term, touting a Senate voting record that aligned with Trump 92% of the time. I then suggested Paxton might offer support roughly 8 percentage points higher.

Cornyn telegraphed his possible reply during a primary campaign: I view my job now, as a member of the majority in the Senate with a president of the same party  our job is to support our president and his policies. Thats what I intend to do.

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If Paxton runs, he will remind voters of moments where Cornyns rhetoric and votes were not so Trump-friendly, as when he accused the president of reckless and incendiary speech surrounding the events of Jan. 6, 2021, or when he said Trump let his guard down by minimizing the threat of COVID in the fall of 2020.

Cornyn will refer voters to more recent developments, including adjustments on issues that might have been an avenue for Paxton to draw a contrast, such as Ukraine. Recalling his comment that support for Ukraine was a moral duty as a $13 billion aid package passed in May 2022, I asked his opinion of the defining Oval Office throwdown Feb. 28, where Trump made clear to Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the money hose was shutting down. Cornyns answer reflected a lesson he may carry into his re-election bid: I believe in dealing with President Trump  if you get into a public disagreement with him, it does not end well.

If that signals that Cornyn may underplay or even shelve any daylight between his views and Trumps, such restraint may be only part of his tone for the next year. He may be found in moments of praise for Trump that could rival Paxtons, whose bond with Trump spans a decade. On the Senate floor, days after the Oval Office scene derided as a disaster by Trump critics, Cornyn made clear he will not be found among them: It is time for the War in Ukraine to end, he said. What President Trump is doing to secure peace in this dangerous world is an act of moral leadership, and I believe, divinely inspired.

He wasnt done. If President Trump is successful in securing a lasting peace, I for one think he will have earned the Nobel Peace Prize.

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If Cornyn maintains that level of alignment with Trump for the next year, he will be difficult, maybe even impossible to dislodge  even for the deservedly revered Ken Paxton.

Mark Davis hosts a morning radio show in Dallas-Fort Worth on 660-AM and at 660amtheanswer.com. Follow him on X: @markdavis .

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The detection of PFAS "forever" chemicals in drinking water is threatening the safety of people and wildlife in cities across the U.S., and local governments are beginning to take action to address the issue, reported NBC Bay Area News.

What happened?

Santa Clara County in California is suing more than a dozen corporations, including Dupont and 3M, that manufacture products with PFAS chemicals after they were found in the local water supply.

These chemicals are used in the making of everyday objects like clothes and cookware. They are toxic and never break down, and they can cause serious health concerns over time if you're exposed to them frequently.

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The lawsuit was filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court and alleged that the chemicals came from foam used in firefighter training, according to a report from the Bay Area News Group.

The foam contains PFAS chemicals and is sprayed on the ground during training, and it then runs off into groundwater and the water supply.

"The question of whether they can ever be completely cleaned up, I think, is somewhat of an open question," said Tony LoPresti with Santa Clara County Counsel, per the NBC Bay Area article. "What I can say is folks are going to have to do their best because the damage they cause is so severe."

Why is it concerning?

The dangers of PFAS have become more apparent thanks to an increase in new research dedicated to the chemicals. Most people in the U.S. have already been exposed to it and have PFAS in their blood, according to the CDC.

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They are used in so many products and industries that it's almost impossible to completely avoid them. The chemicals can allegedly cause fertility issues, birth defects, cancer, and other health problems.

If PFAS circulates through the country's water unchecked, it could lead to an environmental and health crisis.

What's being done about it?

Companies make so much money using PFAS in their products that they don't prioritize the health of the consumer. They will often spend money on lobbying for legislation in their favor and on settling lawsuits rather than changing their practices.

However, there are thousands of other lawsuits already filed against companies using PFAS chemicals, and the movement is likely to continue. Santa Clara County said it wants these big brands to "pay for the costly remediation necessary to protect county residents and restore the county's property."

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SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn.  Some of our countys leaders are reacting after seeing WREG Investigators report Thursday night.

I would say its yet another chip away of public trust, Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright said. Any time something like this pops up, its adding to that overall feeling we cant trust whats happening in our government.

Wright is a proponent of a forensic audit into Memphis Shelby County Schools, especially after whats unfolded these past few months and after what WREG Investigators uncovered.

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Certified Defenders of America has been a registered vendor for MSCS, but the owner, Kim Watkins, tells us shes never been awarded a contract by the district.

Thats why she was confused when she logged on to re-certify as a minority and woman-owned business in the fall of 2023 and saw the log of her contracts the city keeps.

MSCS signed over its bus services to First Student, and it seemed First Student listed Certified Defenders as a subcontractor. Watkins says she hadnt talked to First Student.

How can we be added as a subcontractor without being contacted first? Without signing a contract with First Student? she asked.

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She also showed us this screenshot. It seems MSCS paid First Student so they could pay for her services. The total showed more than $34,000. Again, Watkinss company never did any work for First Student.

First Student and the district eventually apologized to Watkins and called it an error, but they didnt explain what happened to the payment she saw or if the money was returned.

When WREG pushed for answers, we didnt get any either.

Last month, the commission unanimously voted to hire an auditing firm to look into the school districts financial records over the past five years despite the school board chair being adamant the district has consistently demonstrated responsible stewardship of public resources.

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What we are looking for here is any signs of wrongful activities, Wright said. I dont know what we will find, but I do think this process will the very least, restore public trust.

Wright also told Your News Leader that this will be different from the annual audits the district already conducts.

Shelby County Commission Chairman Michael Whaley echoed that in a statement Friday, after he saw our story. He said the audit passed would be intended to find discrepancies like this  looking more into individual transactions and approvals versus what you normally see in an annual audit. He added they will select a firm at the end of the month, and the state has indicated they would support a larger forensic audit of MSCS.

WREG Investigators reached out to MSCS multiple times before our initial story aired but never heard back. We reached out again Friday and finally got a response just before 3 p.m.

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In a joint statement with First Student, they stated in part it was an error, and First Student never entered into any subcontract with Certified Defenders of America.

They added, The District has not paid First Student for any Certified Defenders of America services, and First Student has never received any compliance credit or payment from the District with respect to Certified Defenders of America.

A total payment to First Student in the amount of $34,779.92 for the month of July 2023 was partially distributed to a number of approved subcontractors, none of which was Certified Defenders of America.

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Local water systems on the brink of failure would receive assistance totaling tens of millions of dollars per year from an unlikely source as part of a proposal being floated by Kern government to resolve a series of lawsuits that have held up county oil permitting for more than two years.

The plan unveiled Friday would set up a fund to help struggling drinking water systems link up with larger, stronger peers nearby. The county estimates the fund  supported entirely by fees of $9,732 per new oil well  would receive an average of $17.3 million, and up to $25.9 million, per year for what are called system consolidations and related efforts.

If approved by the county Board of Supervisors later this year, and assuming California's 5th District Court of Appeal signs off on Kern's broader permitting proposal, the plan would offer a new source of grant funding for local water systems at a time when existing financial support appears at risk from state budget vulnerabilities.

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Individual residential wells and those serving agricultural interests, as well as local groundwater sustainability agencies, would not be eligible for money under the proposal because the county's idea has been to assist disadvantaged communities that may be impacted by the oil industry's water use. The plan's architect, Director Lorelei Oviatt of Kern's Planning and Natural Resources Department, said the county wanted to help as many people as possible.

"This seemed like an area that is a bigger result  more people being benefited in the disadvantaged communities," Oviatt said Friday. "It's clearly a need."

Support for local water systems took on a degree of urgency for the county, and by extension the oil industry, after the appellate court ruled in March 2023 that Kern's massive environmental review undergirding a local permitting ordinance was insufficient in three respects. One of them was a finding that more must be done to address local oil production's impacts on poor, disadvantaged communities.

By the county's estimate, the local oil industry consumes a little more than 11,760 acre-feet of water per year.

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The proposed Disadvantaged Communities Water Relief Fund would be administered by the county Public Health department in coordination with Oviatt's department. Water systems, or organizations serving them, would need to apply and undergo a qualification review before they could receive grant money.

Oviatt said some of the support for water system consolidations could be conditioned on some level of support from the state or other sources, though details remain to be worked out.

It is expected that a primary recipient of grants could be Visalia-based Self-Help Enterprises, which is like a first-responder agency helping people whose wells have gone dry or whose water has become contaminated.

While Self-Help offers assistance to individuals suffering from water well problems, it also helps entire systems consolidate with neighboring districts.

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Money for such work now largely flows from the State Water Resources Control Board, whose spokesman said the agency was not in a position Friday to comment on the county's proposal. But as Self-Help President and CEO Tom Collishaw explained, there is concern the board's financial support could be limited in the years to come.

Collishaw, who said he was aware of the county's proposal but not deeply familiar with it, welcomed the idea that oil industry money could help support his organization's mission.

He added that the nonprofit has been hoping a new source of funding would arise now that state support appears to be in jeopardy, "so, from that standpoint, this is really exciting to us."

The state board's website for water system consolidations shows a list of projects awaiting action, including several in the valley portion of Kern County, where the proposed fund would focus. The list is available online at https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/programs/compliance/.

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Oviatt said the need for such work is "pent-up" and so "there needs to be other sources of funding."

Such work can involve drilling new wells, installing water storage tanks, putting in pumps, laying pipelines and expanding water treatment facilities  all of which may be paid for by the proposed fund, Oviatt said.

She estimated that the cost of a full consolidation at between $600,000 and $1 million per consolidation.

Another possible use of the money, she added, could be helping an organization like Self-Help hire new engineers to meet the needs of struggling local water systems.
Public review begins today on a set of revisions to Kern government's third attempt at a comprehensive environmental review that, in combination with a proposed county ordinance, would allow local petroleum producers to get permits for new drilling and other oil-field activities as long as they pay fees and abide by certain standards.

The document includes substantial concessions designed to correct shortcomings identified by California's 5th District Court of Appeal, which two years ago shut down the county's permitting system over concerns about ag easements, setback distances and impacts on water supplies in disadvantaged communities.

If the review passes legal muster when it goes back before the court sometime in mid-2026, it could offer a lifeline for an important local industry starved for permits and beset by opposition by environmental groups and Sacramento lawmakers.

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Director Lorelei Oviatt of Kern's Planning and Natural Resources Department, who has led the county's efforts for more than a decade, said the document addresses the three outstanding issues in ways that raise costs for oil and gas producers but should finally offer them permitting certainty.

"This is enhanced environmental protections for an industry that we all need and we all use," Oviatt said.

"This time, I am very interested to see what people have concerns about regarding the CEQA document," she said, referring to the California Environmental Quality Act governing the process officials must go through to ensure full disclosure of projects' impacts and steps taken to cushion them.

Since 2015, groups including a local farming company and environmental justice organizations have targeted the county's industry-funded work, which would basically take the lead in local oil permitting from state officials whose own reviews have been bogged down in delays.

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While opponents of the effort have spent much time challenging the review in court, their overarching concern is that the county should consider oil projects individually instead of trying to create a blanket review for virtually all local oil activities.

One group that has opposed the county's efforts, the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment, was skeptical of the latest version of the environmental review.

Once again, Kern County is making decisions with profound consequences for our communities  without meaningful engagement or coordination with those most impacted," CRPE Community Organizer Maricruz Ramirez wrote. "The oil and gas EIR revision must prioritize the health, safety and voices of frontline communities. Yet, the process continues to favor industry over people. Without genuine community input, this plan cannot serve the public interest.

A lawyer with one of the firms challenging the county review on behalf of a local ag company, Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP in San Francisco, said by email the county "has a clear road map toward doing the right thing, and we hope they'll follow it this time."

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The courts have repeatedly told Kern County it needs to find real, enforceable ways to protect farmland, including by removing old oil and gas equipment thats blocking agricultural production and by preserving additional productive farmland where possible," wrote Kevin P. Bundy, a partner at the firm.

Five new mitigation measures are proposed as part of the latest review to address such concerns. One of them would require that new wells on farmland be preceded by the removal of old oil-field equipment. Also, the oil producer involved would have to secure an ag easement within the county measuring the same size as the lost farmland, and it would have to be held by a qualified holder of such easements.

Another major new mitigation measure proposed in the document would address the appellate court's concern about setback distances by ruling out local permits for oil-field work within 3,200 feet of sensitive sites such as homes and schools. Any such projects would have to be considered by the state's primary oil regulator, the California Geologic Energy Management Division.

The other big change, and possibly the most financially impactful among them, relates to impacts on local water supplies. The county is now proposing that oil companies looking for permits pay into a fund that would match state investments in water systems serving local disadvantaged communities.

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Fees for each new oil well would amount to $9,732. The county projects that total contributions would average $17.3 million, based on 1,800 new wells per year. The maximum amount, if the industry drills the cap of 2,697 new wells per year, would be $25.9 million annually.

Oviatt said the two oil trade groups funding the review, the Western States Petroleum Association and the California Independent Petroleum Association, have been briefed on the new review.

Asked for comment, CIPA CEO Rock Zierman responded by email: "Kern County's oil and gas ordinance is the most comprehensive in the nation, ensuring environmentally responsible local production that replaces foreign imports and reduces gasoline prices for California families.

A spokeswoman for WSPA wrote, "WSPA will be reviewing the Draft Supplemental released by the County and due to active litigation we do not have further comment at this time."

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Members of the county Planning Commission are expected to consider the document starting at 7 p.m. June 12. From there it will go to Kern's Board of Supervisors in July. If they certify the review, and approve a related zoning ordinance, it is expected to go back to court for consideration about a year later.

The environmental review, formally known as a second supplemental recirculated environmental impact report, is available online at https://kernplanning.com/final-environmental-impact-report-revisions-kern-county-zoning-ordinance-2015-c-focused-oil-gas-local-permitting. A 45-day public comment period starting today is set to end April 28. A virtual workshop on the document has been scheduled for 10 to 11:30 a.m. April 15.

Written comments on the document are to be sent to the Kern County Planning and Natural Resources Department, attention Keith Alvidrez, 2700 M St., Suite 100, Bakersfield, CA 93301. They can also be emailed to OG-SSREIRComments@kerncounty.com.
ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Newly filed probable cause affidavits for suspects allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of a Rogers man say it may have been tied to gang activity in Northwest Arkansas.

10 people, five adults and five juveniles, have been arrested in connection with the March 8 shooting death of 41-year-old Andres Fonseca.

Court documents filed on March 13 and 14 say that Junior Rodriguez, 22, Tevan Ortiz, 26, and Noel Gates, 39, are facing charges in connection with the shooting.

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Here are the charges all 10 suspects are facing:

Manuel Rodriguez was charged on March 12 with capital murder and engaging in violent criminal group activity. Rodriguez is a juvenile being charged as an adult.

Jesus Rodriguez has been charged with capital murder.

Cristofer Nicasio is charged with capital murder and engaging in violent criminal group activity.

Jordan Mandujano is also charged with capital murder, engaging in violent criminal group activity and hindering apprehension or prosecution. Mandujano is a juvenile charged as an adult.

Eileen Rocha is charged with capital murder, engaging in violent criminal group activity, hindering apprehension or prosecution and first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. Rocha is being held at the Benton County jail without bond.

Jared Stiles is charged with capital murder, engaging in violent criminal group activity and hindering apprehension or prosecution. Stiles is being held at the Benton County jail without bond.

Amy Mandujano is charged with capital murder and engaging in violent criminal group activity. She is being held at the Benton County jail without bond.

Junior Rodriguez is charged with capital murder and engaging in violent criminal group activity. He is being held at the Benton County jail without bond.

Tevan Ortiz is charged with capital murder, engaging in violent criminal group activity and possession of a controlled substance. He is being held at the Benton County jail without bond.

Noel Gates is charged with hindering apprehension and soliciting a minor to join a gang. He is being held in the Benton County jail on a $350,000 bond.

Heavily redacted affidavits said witnesses told officers they heard kids in the group asking about Gates gang affiliation and mentioning something about Southside gang.

Officers responded to a shooting at 12:09 p.m. at the intersection of South B Street and East Southern Trace Drive in Rogers. According to police, three individuals opened fire in Fonsecas direction. The video footage captures Fonseca falling to the ground and rolling several times. It also shows two people getting into a maroon Dodge Charger and driving away, while two others entered a dark-colored passenger car and left the area.

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Upon further investigation, officers learned the Charger was associated with subjects believed to be in the Pachuco gang based on prior investigations.

When officers arrived, they found a man  later identified as Fonseca  lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. Fonseca was then transported to Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police recovered 32, 9mm shell casings from the northeast corner of the intersection and several pools of blood at the south end where Fonseca had fallen. Bullet holes were found on vehicles parked at a house on the southwest corner, and multiple bullet fragments were located nearby.

Detectives later identified Ortiz as the potential driver of the black car involved in the shooting, after linking him to the incident through his March 8 arrest on drug charges in Bella Vista.

This is a developing story. KNWA/FOX24 will continue to update as we learn more.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
An appeals court has temporarily paused a judges ruling that had blocked the Trump administration from implementing its ban on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

An earlier ruling in February found that Trumps attempt to ban DEI initiatives at federal agencies and government contractors, as well as his order that the Department of Justice investigate companies with DEI policies, likely violated the First Amendment. But todays ruling by the Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will allow the Trump administration to continue as planned, pending the final outcome of the administrations appeal.

Trump began attempting to roll back DEI programs across the federal government almost as soon as he entered office back in January, going so far as to place officials working on them on leave one day after his inauguration.

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In an executive order signed on his first day in office, Trump claimed that he was ending illegal and immoral DEI by terminating the programs. The ban was implemented quickly; a memo sent by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management on Jan. 21 instructed the heads of federal departments and agencies to place all employees working on DEI programs on leave effective 5 p.m. the next day.

Approximately 55 federal employees in the Education Department were placed on leave as a result, and told that while they would continue to receive their salaries, they could not access their email accounts and would not be expected to come into the office. In addition, at least 14 employees in the Department of Energy whose roles involved recruiting veterans and using data to improve the workplace were placed on leave.

The temporary block on Trumps ban was the result of a lawsuit brought by the city of Baltimore and three other groups, who sought injunctions against Trumps orders, arguing that they were unlawful and unconstitutional.

The lawsuit, brought by the city of Baltimore, the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors, and the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, read, In the United States, there is no king.

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In his crusade to erase diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility from our country, President Trump cannot usurp Congresss exclusive power of the purse, nor can he silence those who disagree with him by threatening them with the loss of federal funds and other enforcement actions, the suit continued.

"CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!"

President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/IMr4tq0sMB  The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 19, 2025

Later that month, Trump caused a stir after seemingly referring to himself as king in a Truth Social post, writing, CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING! The official White House account followed it up with a photoshopped TIME magazine cover of Trump in a crown, the headline reading, Long live the king.
The Committee to Protect Journalists urged Congress to step in on Saturday after a late Friday Executive Order from President Trump announced his aim to gut the parent of Voice of America, the largest U.S. international broadcaster, among other federal agencies.

It is outrageous that the White House is seeking to gut the Congress-funded agency supporting independent journalism that challenges narratives of authoritarian regimes around the world, said CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna in New York. We call on congressional leaders to protect this critical agency, which provides uncensored news in countries where the press is restricted.

The United States Agency for Global Media also funds Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Radio Free Asia, and VOA reached a global audience of more than 350 million in 2023.

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The Executive Order eliminates non-statutory functions and reduces statutory functions of unnecessary governmental entities to what is required by law, and continues the presidents stated aim to reduce unnecessary governmental entities and Federal advisory committees. The result is mass indefinite suspensions of staff.

The move comes after a run-in with a reporter from VOA earlier this week, which could color it as retaliatory. Taking questions in the Oval Office alongside the Irish PM, the reporter asked, What about the presidents plan to expel Palestinians out of Gaza? Trump responded, Nobody is expelling Palestinians. Who are you with? The reporter replied, Voice of America and Trump snapped back, Oh, no wonder.

Voice of America was established in 1942 and primarily broadcasts to non-U.S. audiences. The organization was targeted by Trump during his first term over its coverage of the COVID pandemic, with an official White House statement claiming that VOA spends your money to promote foreign propaganda.

Other entities affected by Trumps latest Executive Order include the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Institute of Museum and Library Services, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, Minority Business Development Agency, and Arctic Research Commission.

The post CPJ Urges Congress to Act as Trump Aims to Dismantle Voice of America appeared first on TheWrap.
A statewide program that provides tax relief for disabled veterans is costing local governments millions of dollars in potential revenue  and Stafford County is among the hardest hit because it leads Virginia in the rate of exemptions.

Last year, Stafford provided $22 million in real estate tax relief for veterans who are 100% disabled or their surviving spouses. Stafford makes up 2% of the state population, yet provides 8.5% of the states total tax relief for disabled veterans, which reached $240 million in 2024. The data comes from Stafford County, the Commissioners of the Revenue Association of Virginia and the Virginia Municipal League.

Staffords percentage of disabled veterans who get tax relief is higher than any other locality, including military-heavy areas of Hampton Roads.

As Stafford finalizes its FY 2026 budget  and tries to meet the growing needs of schools and other county services  officials have gone public with concerns that Commissioner of Revenue Scott Mayausky first noticed six years ago. Instead of reaching a natural plateau, he saw the tax relief program accelerating rapidly, growing by 20% to 40% annually.

In 2011, the first year of the program, 157 Stafford veterans were exempt from paying real estate taxes.

By 2024, 4,348 Stafford veterans claimed the exemption and Mayausky said each day, an average of 10 more disabled veterans apply. He predicts the county will lose an additional $11 million in revenue next fiscal year alone, which equates to 4.23 cents on the tax rate.

As far as Im concerned, we are the Titanic right now, Stafford Board of Supervisors member Meg Bohmke said last week about the programs potential impact. This is unsustainable. This is something that we need to attack in a different way than we ever have  and it needs to be almost the single most important thing that we do this year.

Approved by voters





The tax relief program began in 2011, after 82% of Virginia voters approved amending the state constitution to add the benefit. In Stafford, 84% of voters favored the program.

The amendment exempts disabled veterans from paying real estate taxes on their principle residence and up to one acre of land. It also excludes them paying personal property taxes on one motor vehicle.

No money comes from the state to cover the tax relief for the 51,497 disabled veterans in Virginia. Its all funded by cities, towns and counties, said Joe Flores, director of fiscal policy for the Virginia Municipal League which represents local governments.

Local officials dont object to the program from a policy standpoint, Flores said. But the growing cost of the unfunded mandate is encroaching upon a localitys ability to make choices in their communities.

Some localities have had to limit tax relief for the elderly and disabled; others have trouble funding school needs or are forced to raise taxes, he said.

With Stafford being in the crosshairs of this because of so many veterans in their community, it really has hit home for them, he added.

Stafford may be attractive to veterans because it has lower tax rates than most Northern Virginia localities and is home to dozens of defense-related businesses, many as a result of Marine Corp Base Quantico.

Sensitive issue

Mayausky has worked with state legislators on bills to come up with a formula for state reimbursement for counties, like Stafford, that are particularly impacted. But none of the bills has made it out of committee.

Its such a sensitive issue that I dont know until recently when the problem just got so big  that a lot of people wanted to talk about it publicly, Mayausky. If we could have worked something out with the General Assembly, without a whole lot of public fanfare, I think that was everybodys first choice, but now that thats not happening, theres a lot more public discussion.

Sen. Tara Durant, who represents Stafford, encouraged Mayausky to present lawmakers detailed information on the impact. Based on the bipartisan support this year, Durant said shes cautiously optimistic that there will be budget amendments going forward to ensure the financial health of the program.

Putting the data before everyone was a good start, she said.

When Bill Ashton, Staffords county administrator, brought up the program during his budget presentation on March 4, he used the same opening line Mayausky has in presentations across the state.

I voted for this as many of you did, Ashton told the Board of Supervisors. I doubt that anyone in this room believes that this is not a worthy program. It is a disproportionate unfunded mandate that Stafford County taxpayers have been asked to bear.

Vet friendly or not?

To Kayla Owen, a Stafford resident whose husband is 100% disabled, it feels like groundhog day.

Last spring, she formed the Friends of VMSDEP, the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, when Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed legislation to roll back educational benefits for spouses and children of disabled veterans. There was such a political uproar the governor later did an about-face.

Lawmakers have continued the program but have work groups in place to discuss its viability going forward.

Like the tax relief for veterans, there was a surge in the people using the educational benefits.

Well, thats what happens when you spend 20 years at war, Caitlin GoodalePorter, a Stafford veteran, said last May about the number of qualifying veterans.

Owen said the state is sending mixed messages about its stance toward veterans. The Virginia Department of Veterans Services lists various tax exemptions for veterans on its website, announcing that Virginia is truly one of the most veteran friendly states in the nation.

The rich set of benefits, as Owen described them, have helped attract veterans to jobs where they helped the state reel in billions of dollars in defense contracts.

In FY 2023, Virginia ranked second nationwide in defense spending with $68.5 billion in contracts, goods and services, according to a U.S. Department of Defense report.

However, Virginia, along with Hawaii and Connecticut, ranked highest in the country in terms of the impact of defense spending on their states gross national products, according to the DoD.

If that financial contribution from the revenue from the contracting industry was not present, what would the actual state of Virginias finances be? Owen wondered. If this constitutional amendment in place is designed to attract veterans to Virginia, and then theres this sort of constant state of being in flux and wondering if benefits are going to be taken away or modified, that certainly does not exude the message that we value veterans.

Instead, she said it sends a message that Virginia values veterans unless it gets too expensive.

Increased disabilities

Mayausky, a Republican, also has teamed up with Ross Mugler, a Democrat and the recently retired commissioner of revenue from the City of Hampton, to discuss the tax relief program in political circles.

Mugler believes the scope of whats considered a disability by the Veterans Administration has changed, which had made more people eligible for benefits.

When it started, everybody basically believed it was for somebody who served in some type of combat situation and had a disability, he said, never for someone who served stateside and developed arthritis or different various ailments, or just from growing old. Basically, this disabled veterans program is becoming an extension of a retirement benefit.

The number of veterans with service-connected disabilities increased from 15% in 2008 to about 30% in 2022, according to a November report from the U.S. Census Bureau. The report focused on those in the armed forces after 9/11, who were among those who faced 3 million deployments during the global War on Terror.

Mugler said about half of the 2,300 disabled veterans who receive tax relief in Hampton are gainfully employed, and some of them, pretty well. The VA allows disabled veterans who can work to do so, but those who receive Social Security Disability cannot.

I fully support the program, some of my staff worked on the administrative process when it first started, Mugler said. I just think it should be used for the people who are not employed or able to get work because of a disability.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A reported crash into a power pole outside of Gresham City Hall left nearly 2,000 people without power late Friday evening, officials said.

Just after 10:30 p.m., Portland General Electric reported 1,857 customers experiencing outages.

Law enforcement ramping up DUII missions this weekend through St. Patricks Day

At around the same time, Gresham police said a caller reported a hit-and-run crash in front of City Hall, which caused a transformer to blow.

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According to PGEs outage map, power was restored to the area early Saturday morning.

No further information on the crash was immediately available. The investigation is ongoing.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Crews battled a three-alarm structure fire in South End for almost three hours Saturday morning, according to the Charlotte Fire Department.

Around 7:47 a.m., crews responded to The Tavern on the 300 block of E. Morehead Street for reports of heavy smoke coming from the building.

The first crews arrived shortly before 8 a.m. and reported heavy fire coming from the basement of the structure; by then, a second alarm was struck.

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At first we thought it might be in our building because we smelled smoke, thats why we got up to see what was going on, South End resident Taylor Fourticq said. Im from California, so Im very familiar with the smell of smoke.

Credit: Charlotte Fire Department

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As conditions worsened, firefighters evacuated the building due to safety concerns. By 8:04 a.m., officials said a roof collapse was imminent and the structural integrity of the walls was compromised.

A third alarm was struct at 8:42 a.m., bringing more resources to the scene.

The fire was brought under control at 10:23 a.m.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported, Medic said.

The dedication and quick action of our firefighters prevented what could have been a far worse outcome, said Charlotte Fire Chief Reginald Johnson. Their ability to make decisive, tactical decisions under extreme conditions speaks to their training and professionalism. Im incredibly proud of their commitment to protecting our city.

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CMPD said E. Morehead Street from Euclid Ave. to S. Tryon St. is closed while crews work to put out the fire.

Charlotte Area Transit System closed part of the Blue Line route between CTC and Carson Street stations, offering passengers buses as an alternative.

I get on, we go about one stop, and they say, We are stopping at Blanch Street and there is a fire, so we are not going any further. We are out of service. Said we have a bus and I was like, Im just going to keep walking at this point,  light rail passenger Ava Berry said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Felonies

The following people were booked into the Lee County-Tupelo Adult Jail in connection with felony charges ending Thursday at 11 a.m.

Carlos L. Ellis, 42, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug, violation of probation, failure to signal, no drivers license, false ID, no insurance, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle, possession of paraphernalia, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest.

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Rasheeda Iyanda, 37, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, conspiracy to commit false pretense, fraudulent used of an ID.

Jamiroquan Jamichael Martin, 29, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Verona Police Department, felony capias warrant.

Anthony Alvin McGee III, 26, homeless, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, failure to register as a sex offender.

Melisa Reynolds, 49, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, violation of probation.

Ashley Charlene Rodgers, 33, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, violation of probation.

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Amber M. Welch, 40, of Plantersville, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug.

Lee County Sheriffs Office

The following reports were filed Thursday by the Lee County Sheriffs Office.

A County Road 1451, Saltillo, man said a dark-haired white male driving a green Ford F-250 was pulling a car down the road. He said the truck was speeding and the car was swerving in both lanes. He said the truck stopped in front of his house and dropped the car off, then left.

A County Road 183, Tupelo, said her security cameras alerted her around 12:45 p.m. She looked out the window and saw a white male with short dark hair and a scruffy beard looking around the corner of her house and into her carport. The man, who had a backpack and was carrying a fishing pole, left when he noticed her looking at him.

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A County Road 1451, Mooreville, woman said while she was in the hospital, her bank account was charged $800 for a dating service. She said she did not make or approve the charge to DateMe.com.

A County Road 154, Shannon, man saw a Black male walking down the road and in peoples yards. The male looked under the hood of a car and got into an argument with the owner of another house. He said he wanted to make a report in case something happened.

A Stratton Lane, Tupelo, man said two men were fishing in the pond behind his house and were harassed by the neighbors dogs. The dogs growled at the anglers and prevented them from getting on their cars. The dogs left to chase a car, allowing the men to leave.

A County Road 183, Tupelo, man said a Smith & Wesson .380 pistol was stolen from his truck. The last time he saw the gun in the glove compartment was Feb. 22. He was not sure when or where the gun was stolen.

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A County Road 1303, Guntown, man heard what he thought were gunshots behind his house. He said the gunshots have been continuous. He has not heard his house or any other objects getting hit with a projectile. He thinks the gunshots might be coming from a house on Drive 2434.

Anyone with information on any of these reports is urged to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 841-9041, the Tupelo Police Department at 841-6491 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi at (800) 773-TIPS or download the P3 Tip App and leave an anonymous tip that way.
Felonies

The following people were booked into the Lee County-Tupelo Adult Jail in connection with felony charges ending Friday at 1 p.m.

Jacquez Deshaun Cherry, 28, of Belden, was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, violation of probation.

Daylon Cobb, 18, no address listed, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, two counts of car burglary, false ID.

Pharaoh Gage Fike, 30, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug, no seat belt.

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Alexandria G. Patterson, 31, of Guntown, was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, violation of probation.

Jamarcus Walker, 23, of Okolona, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, conspiracy to commit false pretense, fraudulently obtaining goods, possession of marijuana.

Brandy L. Williams, 43, of Pontotoc, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, driving under the influence fourth offense.

Lee County Sheriffs Office

The following reports were filed Friday by the Lee County Sheriffs Office.

A Herdtown Road, Tupelo, woman said her Ring camera caught a Black male breaking into her SUV around 4:20 a.m. The suspect stole her Taurus 9mm pistol and $400 in cash.

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A Mount Vernon Road man said overnight, someone entered his truck and stole his Glock pistol, a box of ammunition and two spare magazines.

A County Road 712, Plantersville, man said a man driving a small white SUV and pulling a small silver trailer stole five hydraulic cylinders, a milk pump and 15 gears and bearings for a tractor transmission. The man said he saw the vehicle pulling away but could not catch it. He estimated the value of the items at $3,300.

A Ravenwood Cove, Tupelo, man heard about a rash of car burglaries in the area. He checked the center console of his Jeep and discovered his Taurus .40-caliber pistol was missing. He checked his security camera and saw a black male wearing a gray hoodie in his driveway around 2:15 a.m.

A Ravenwood Cove, Tupelo, man said overnight, someone entered his pickup and a Benelli shotgun from the back seat floorboard and a Glock 9mm pistol and $180 cash from the center console. He had video of a Black male entering the vehicle around 1:30 a.m.

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A County Road 1349, Mooreville, woman said there are two stray dogs that have been staying between her house and a neighbors house. The neighbor has been feeding the dogs and one of them has shown aggression toward her when she is outside with her puppy. The dog is not aggressive when the woman is alone. The deputy explained that the woman has the right to protect herself and her pets from dangerous animals.

A Guntown man said his mother-in-law bought a County Road 1970, Guntown, house and is in the process of moving in. The previous owners moved out March 5 and left two adult dogs and four puppies. The deputy explained they would have to go to justice court and get a judge to sign a pick-up order for the animals.

Anyone with information on any of these reports is urged to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 841-9041, the Tupelo Police Department at 841-6491 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi at (800) 773-TIPS or download the P3 Tip App and leave an anonymous tip that way.
COULEE DAM, Wash. (AP)  Trump administration workforce cuts at federal agencies overseeing U.S. dams are threatening their ability to provide reliable electricity, supply farmers with water and protect communities from floods, employees and industry experts warn.

The Bureau of Reclamation provides water and hydropower to the public in 17 western states. Nearly 400 agency workers have been cut through the Trump reduction plan, an administration official said.

Reductions-in-force memos have also been sent to current workers, and more layoffs are expected. The cuts included workers at the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest hydropower generator in North America, according to two fired staffers interviewed by The Associated Press.

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Without these dam operators, engineers, hydrologists, geologists, researchers, emergency managers and other experts, there is a serious potential for heightened risk to public safety and economic or environmental damage, Lori Spragens, executive director of the Kentucky-based Association of Dam Safety Officials, told the AP.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said federal workforce reductions will ensure disaster responses are not bogged down by bureaucracy and bloat.

A more efficient workforce means more timely access to resources for all Americans," she said by email.

But a bureau hydrologist said they need people on the job to ensure the dams are working properly.

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These are complex systems, said the worker in the Midwest, who is still employed but spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of possible retaliation.

Workers keep dams safe by monitoring data, identifying weaknesses and doing site exams to check for cracks and seepage.

As we scramble to get these screenings, as we lose institutional knowledge from people leaving or early retirement, we limit our ability to ensure public safety, the worker added. Having people available to respond to operational emergencies is critical. Cuts in staff threaten our ability to do this effectively.

A federal judge on Thursday ordered the administration to rehire fired probationary workers, but a Trump spokesperson said they would fight back, leaving unclear whether any would return.

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The heads of 14 California water and power agencies sent a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation and the Department of Interior last month warning that eliminating workers with specialized knowledge in operating and maintaining aging infrastructure "could negatively impact our water delivery system and threaten public health and safety.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also operates dams nationwide. Matt Rabe, a spokesman, declined to say how many workers left through early buyouts, but said the agency hasn't been told to reduce its workforce.

But Neil Maunu, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, said it learned more than 150 Army Corps workers in Portland, Oregon, were told they would be terminated and they expect to lose about 600 more in the Pacific Northwest.

The firings include district chiefs down to operators on vessels" and people critical to safe river navigation, he said.

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Their last day is not known. The Corps was told to provide a plan to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management by March 14, Maunu said.

Several other federal agencies that help ensure dams run safely also have faced layoffs and closures. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is laying off 10% of its workforce and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Dam Safety Review Board was disbanded in January.

The cuts come at a time when the nation's dams need expert attention.

An AP review of Army Corps data last year showed at least 4,000 dams are in poor or unsatisfactory condition and could kill people or harm the environment if they failed. They require inspections, maintenance and emergency repairs to avoid catastrophes, the AP found.

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Heavy rain damaged the spillway at Californias Oroville Dam in 2017, forcing nearly 190,000 residents to evacuate, and Michigan's Edenville Dam breached in storms in 2020, the AP found.

Stephanie Duclos, a Bureau of Reclamation probationary worker fired at the Grand Coulee Dam, said she was among a dozen workers initially terminated. The dam across the Columbia River in central Washington state generates electricity for millions of homes and supplies water to a 27-mile-long (43-kilometer) reservoir that irrigates the Columbia Basin Project.

This is a big infrastructure, she said. Its going to take a lot of people to run it.

Some fired employees had worked there for decades but were in a probation status due to a position switch. Duclos was an assistant for program managers who organized training and was a liaison with human resources. The only person doing that job, she fears how others will cover the work.

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Youre going to get employee burnout in the workers left behind, she said.

Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat who pushed a bipartisan effort to ensure the National Dam Safety Program was authorized through 2028, said, the safety and efficacy of our dams is a national security priority.

Americans deserve better, and I will work to make sure this administration is held accountable for their reckless actions, Padilla said.

___

Associated Press White House reporter Chris Megerian contributed from Washington, D.C.
Mar. 14DIXON  A crowd gathered along Dixon's Galena Avenue in front of the Old Lee County Courthouse on Thursday to demonstrate support for Ukraine.

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Veronika Chernova and Polina Kuptsova hold a flag during a vigil in support of Ukraine in Dixon on March 13, 2025. (Brandon Clark)

Among the crowd were Ukrainian families who fled their homes after Russia's invasion of their country in 2022. Danylo Ratushnyi said Russian forces occupied his home city of Beryslav, Ukraine, during the first day of the invasion.

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"I was occupied with my wife for about six months," Ratushnyi said. "Then, we were deported by Russian soldiers through Crimea, the entire of Russia, Latvia and Poland, before we came here."

Ratushnyi was at the Dixon vigil with fellow Ukrainian Maksyn Vovk, who also escaped the country with his wife a year and a half after the invasion.

"I stayed to help and volunteer," Vovk said. "We survived many missile attacks, but after one missile dropped in my workplace, my wife and I moved to Europe because we were tired of being scared. Every day was a struggle for our defense."

Russia launched an invasion of the country in 2022. Since then, Ukraine has struggled to defend itself with support from the U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies.

President Donald Trump paused U.S. assistance to Ukraine on March 3. The Trump administration lifted its pause on military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine on Tuesday after indications from Kyiv that it was willing to accept a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire with Russia, depending on Moscow's agreement.
Cubas power grid collapsed Friday night, triggering a nationwide power outage and plunging its more than 10 million people into darkness.

At around 8:15 p.m. tonight, a failure at the Diezmero substation caused a significant loss of generation in the west of #Cuba and with it the failure of the National Electric System, Cubas Ministry of Energy and Mines said in a statement.

Efforts to restore service are underway, the ministry added.

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Video filmed by CNN in the capital Havana showed streets and buildings shrouded in total darkness, as people used electric torches to navigate the streets.

By Saturday morning, the Cuban government officials said that microsystems pockets of electricity  had been restored in some cities. However, it remains unclear when the islands power system would be fully online again and most people remained in the dark.

Cubas President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez said on X that the government is working intensively to restore power stability across the island and has been in constant communication with the countrys energy minister.

It marks the latest in a series of failures on the Caribbean island struggling with creaking infrastructure, natural disasters and economic turmoil.

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Cuban officials have previously blamed US economic sanctions, which increased under the previous administration of President Donald Trump, for further crippling an already ailing energy sector.

Critics also fault a lack of investment in infrastructure by the communist government.

For nearly a week in October, most of Cuba suffered near-total blackouts, the worst energy outages in decades.

While Cubans are used to frequent power outages, to have another nationwide backcourt  the fourth in six months  was unsettling for many people who need electricity to cook and refrigerate food that otherwise spoils quickly in the tropical heat.

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Many residents posted on online sites looking for propane, charcoal, and fuel for generators.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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When Cuba announced in January it would begin releasing 553 political prisoners as a plan negotiated with the Vatican  which also included removing Cuba from the states sponsors of terrorism list  the U.S. based human rights organization Cubalex went straight to work.

In the absence of an official list of prisoners or announcements by the communist-run government, groups like Cubalex used a database put together years ago to contact relatives of prisoners on the island and be able to confirm who has been freed.

The group, which monitors political prisoners on the island and has long been a source for news outlets and rights groups, felt the impact when the U.S. withheld $239 million in congressional appropriations to the nonprofit National Endowment for Democracy (NED) in late January. For instance, a two-year project that was supposed to launch in February to provide legal help for political prisoners and document human rights violations in Cuba was abruptly cancelled and Cubalex was forced to lay off 10 of their 26 staff.

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It has been a hard blow, said Laritza Diversent, who founded Cubalex in 2010. She and 10 other members were forced into exile in 2017, she said, after being threatened with jail for their activism. At first it was a profound shock ... but Im determined to forge ahead.

Pro-democracy groups that monitor prisoners in Cuba have had their funding cut at a critical time, as the Trump administration continues to withhold tens of millions of dollars in funding from NED, which has longstanding bipartisan support to promote democracy overseas. Recently, following a lawsuit against the U.S. government, part of the funds were restored. But many projects on Cuba have been hard-hit. The funds cuts have sent shock waves among the small groups that depend on NED, and for years have been the sole providers of information about the circumstances surrounding political prisoners, including their health conditions.

Another organization that tracks political prisoners in Cuba with staff in the U.S. and overseas said the elimination of NED funds has had a strong impact on the group. The founder spoke on condition of anonymity because they collaborate with activists on the island who are often targets of the government. In recent weeks, the group held a meeting and announced there were no longer funds available to continue working. Three of the 12 staffers are now helping on a voluntary basis.

Im frustrated and afraid, but Im trying not to let those feelings take over, the founder said. Its like Im starting all over again. Im going to continue dedicating time and energy to the organization because I cant allow everything weve done to die.

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A NED employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly said that while NED recently regained partial access to its congressionally appropriated funds, operations on the island have not been able to resume completely.

The employee said NED is in the process of resuming the disbursement of grants to the extent possible under current constraints.

Jose Daniel Ferrer, one of the best-known dissidents and human rights activists in Cuba, has called for donations for political prisoners on social media. He was released from prison in January as part of the Biden administrations plan to release 553 prisoners. Like the others, he was arrested on July 11, 2021, as he was on his way to join historic, islandwide protests.

Ferrer asked for Cuban exiles to donate money to cover costs associated with cellphone usage, so political prisoners can communicate with their relatives who receive the calls on their mobiles.

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A State Department spokesperson said, As we continue to review federal assistance programs, we will identify how to best align U.S. government resources to support the Administrations priorities.

Those who repress their own people and plunder resources for their own gain will be accountable for their actions, the spokesperson said.

Cubas government did not respond to a request for comment. But the islands government has long accused the U.S. of funding activists on the island as an attempt at regime change. Government officials have labeled dissidents who receive U.S. funding, whether from NED or the U.S. Agency for International Development, as mercenaries.

Cubas Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez recently posted on X that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has mutated from being the main instigator, political blackmailer, and lobbyist ... in favor of #USAID funds and the State Department for subversion in #Cuba, to cutting those budgets and defending an alien foreign policy.

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Rubio, who is of Cuban descent, has always advocated a hard-line policy against the Cuban government. As secretary of state, he has taken steps to restrict visa issuance to those involved in Cubas international medical program, as an example.

We will promote accountability for the Cuban regime for oppressing its people and those who profit from it, he wrote on X. Rubio has not publicly commented on NED or USAID cuts to Cuban human rights groups.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
This is an edition of The Wonder Reader, a newsletter in which our editors recommend a set of stories to spark your curiosity and fill you with delight. Sign up here to get it every Saturday morning

Dating has never been easy. When my colleague Faith Hill scoured the Atlantic archives for early accounts of romance, she found the following proclamation from the 20-year-old female protagonist in a 1888 short story: I wish I knew some young men!  I should like to know some interesting men!

But young people today have come of age in a particularly complicated dating era. Dating apps have been around long enough that the swipe is losing its luster; many young daters are both dependent on apps and smart enough to see their shortcomings. Plus, the pandemic upended many peoples social development. Meanwhile, some teens are moving away from romantic relationships entirely: Faith recently spoke with a college professor who spends a lot of time trying to convince her students that a partnership is worth pursuing. Romantic love is an opportunity to add beauty to ones life, and to spark growthbut that can be hard to remember when searching for it feels so awkward.

On Dating

Teens Are Forgoing a Classic Rite of Passage

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By Faith Hill

Fewer young people are getting into relationships.

Read the article.

Nostalgia for a Dating Experience Theyve Never Had

By Faith Hill

Young people are tired of swiping. Now they want serendipity.

Read the article.

The Most Awkward Part of Living With Your Parents as an Adult

By Ginny Hogan

For many young adults, living in their familys home is a new norm. Their dates still dont always get it.

Read the article.

Still Curious?

The golden age of dating doesnt exist : Romance in America has never been easy. Faith Hill explored early accounts of dating in The Atlantic s archives.

Why its so hard for young people to date offline: Meet-cutes are difficult when nobody wants to talk to strangers, Ashley Fetters wrote in 2019.

Other Diversions

P.S.

Each week, I ask readers to share a photo of something that sparks their sense of awe in the world. In 2017 I spent a week in Brienz, Switzerland, J. Jourdain writes. When the sun set one evening, it cast this golden light on the alps. It was magical.

Ill continue to feature your responses in the coming weeks.

 Isabel

Article originally published at The Atlantic
Sascha Bailey emanates happy excitement. He and his girlfriend of three years, photographer Lucy Brown, are expecting their first baby in August. Im ready for the challenge, says the 30-year-old son of legendary photographer David Bailey and his model fourth wife Catherine. As you get older, you realise theres more to life than shallow things like going out and partying or being pretty.

His joy has extra poignancy, since just three years ago, Bailey was on the verge of changing gender, a decision that would have made it impossible for him to father children.

Suicidally unhappy in an unhappy marriage, he was convinced that undergoing irreversible surgery to become a woman would allow him a fresh start. Id been in 10 years of living hell in my relationship and Id reached a limit where I felt I had to reinvent myself because I couldnt survive as a man, he says.

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Only after leaving the marriage, intensive therapy and the support of Brown, 34, did he realise that his issues had nothing to do with biological sex but were linked largely to being abused as a child by an older man, something that left him unwilling to identify with male role models. He binned the oestrogen patches hed been prescribed but not yet started. Thank God because they would have destroyed my fertility, and having children is important to me, he says.

Bailey recently annonced hes having a baby with photographer Lucy Brown - Getty

Now, the handsome, hyper-articulate and charming Bailey is on a mission to highlight how easily young people are seduced into thinking changing sex will solve their problems, and to prevent authority figures such as doctors and teachers, let alone parents, enabling them to embark on a course with irreparable psychological and physical consequences.

Societys made something thats harmful to children acceptable and that has to stop, he says. In the UK, sex education is starting younger and younger and getting stranger and stranger. Kids should just be kids and shouldnt be shown the transgender option at all. I sometimes thought I wanted to be a girl when I was 11, but I also wanted to be a cheetah. If you go down this route, it gets to silly places very quickly.

For expressing such views, Bailey has received vicious online trolling. Many of his friends have cancelled him, withdrawing invitations. People are bonkers about the issue, he says. They wont have a logical conversation, they just assume any questioning of trans issues makes you a bad person.

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Few appear to have actually listened to Baileys arguments, which  in fact  are deeply nuanced. He has no problem with adults transitioning, though they probably should have more stringent mental health checks.

Im saying people under 18 obviously shouldnt have anything to do with this. Under 18, you cant get a tattoo, you cant drink but for some reason you can change your gender.

The UK has seen a huge increase in the number of under-18s referred to NHS gender identity service, from 94 people in 2009-2010 to more than 5000 in 2021-2022. This rise has become a key factor in the culture wars. On one side, anti-trans activists or Terfs (trans-exclusionary radical feminists) claim parents and children have been brainwashed into thinking normal teenage angst can be cured by changing gender.

Trans activists fire back that the numbers simply reflect growing acceptance around transgender people, who make up less than one per cent of the worlds population (the 2021 census showed 0.5 per cent of the UK population identified as transgender).

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Bailey sees no evidence to back such a conclusion and laughs at trans arguments that historic female figures such as Joan of Arc were transgender. While hes glad trans people are rarely persecuted compared to the past, hes convinced the rush to embrace the movement has had dangerous consequences.

Growing up in the 1990s, he was a slightly effeminate boy who sometimes dreamed of becoming a girl but never voiced such yearnings. Acceptance sounds like a positive thing, but I think I was saved by the stigma around trans at that time. It meant I didnt talk about those feelings too much. If I had, I would have been sent down the medical route, he says.

The turning point in the conversation came around a decade ago when a spate of high-profile trans people started being feted by society. Olympic decathlon gold medallist Bruce Jenner (stepfather of Kim Kardashian and father of reality stars Kylie and Kim Jenner) transitioned, renamed Caitlyn Jenner to considerable societal accolade.

You saw her career get a boost from it, says Bailey. People who might previously have had thought about transitioning but not done it, were more drawn towards the idea, because there was now an incentive.

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Dressed in a slick black Dolce & Gabbana suit, a souvenir from his brief modelling career, Baileys sitting in the kitchen of the artefact-stuffed, north London home of his parents, where hes staying while he prepares to move in with Brown,She gets on great with my family and I with hers, its really nice.

He prefers not to talk about his father, now 87 and suffering from vascular dementia, My dad always told us its important to be your own person, so Im proud of my family history but it doesnt define me, but says his parents are inspirational. He grew up between their houses in London and Devon, with his older brother Fenton and sister Paloma, where regular guests included the likes of shoe designer Manolo Blahnik, his fathers model ex-wife Marie Helvin (Bailey Sr was also married to French actress Catherine Deneuve) and Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, He told me to tie peoples shoe laces together at some event.

Sascha Bailey (far left) with father David, mother Catherine and brother Fenton in 2013 - Getty

It was a happy, loving family but being the child of famous parents had its burdens. In the UK, theres a very negative attitude to famous people. People assume you live in fame land and so have magic money because of who my dad is. You cant work in normal places because people ask why arent you working in a special place and if you work in a special place no one thinks you deserve to be there. The best times I had in the workplace were the ones where no one knew who I was and judged me for no reason other than my own merit.

Diagnosed as dyslexic, Bailey was educated privately at a specialist school for children with learning difficulties, but he left at 16. Within a year hed been signed by the model agency Storm. He doesnt think his catwalk experiences fed into his gender dysphoria, but I was never comfortable with the way I looked, I had a great deal of imposter syndrome.

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When he was 19, he met Japanese lawyer Mimi Nishikawa, 16 years his senior, through a mutual friend. They fell in love instantly and within three months were married. I was very lonely at the time. Id fallen out with my friend group, I didnt have anyone around and I ended up being pushed into something that was wildly inappropriate. At the time, it seemed she really cared for me, but in hindsight, I think I was taken advantage of. They settled in east London where he worked curating art exhibitions, at first happily but things quickly turned toxic.

In 2019, hoping for a fresh start, they moved to suburban Tokyo, where Bailey found himself isolated and miserable, to the point where he wrote a suicide note on his phone. At the last moment, he decided not to go through with the attempt, but afterwards found himself struggling to get out of bed.

The idea of changing gender began to crystallise. I felt so lost as a person, I didnt really know who I was anymore. I thought the only way out was to erase the old me. I was coming up to 28, and I felt if I didnt act on this idea soon Id only get a few years to enjoy my new life.

This notion of transgenderism as a solution was reinforced in internet chatrooms he frequented. Yet the biggest incentive came when Bailey started to post AI-generated photos of himself transformed into a statuesque blonde, a stereotypical, plastic LA person on his Instagram account.

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Suddenly I was getting so much affirmation from people, an increased amount of likes. I thought, OK, people are positive about the idea.

The idea that people might undergo life-altering surgery simply to attract more social media followers seems ludicrous, but Bailey assures me its true. Girls get more attention on social media than men, and when men transition suddenly, theyre getting the attention a girl would get. Thats addictive.

Sascha Bailey and his then-wife Mimi Nishikawa at Somerset House in 2018 - Dave Benett Library

Men feel pressured to start transitioning as young as possible, because young ones pass [as women] better and can be better acclimatised by society. Basically people are saying Ill be prettier, which is an absurd reason to transition.

Conversely, he suspects many girls transitioning to male do so as a reaction to their maturing bodies. They start to get male attention and dont like it, so their solution is essentially to be Peter Pan. The situations exacerbated by social media, with the likes of TikTok overflowing with videos encouraging transitioning. One girl whod been thinking about it told me, Everywhere I turn, there are pictures of mastectomies. Its almost like the culture is daring me to do it.

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Baileys comments will infuriate trans activists who insist transitioning has deep-rooted psychological causes and suicide risk is much higher in children who are denied puberty blockers. Bailey again questions the data: As far as I can tell the suicide rate doesnt change. In studies Ive looked at, the suicide statistics are usually taken from people whove never thought about being trans, versus people who have thought about it  so they dont compare.

Bailey was heartened when, in December, the Government banned puberty blockers, following a recommendation from the Cass Review, a four-year study by Dame Hilary Cass, who pointed out various potential side effects, such as osteoporosis. We know, beyond the shadow of a doubt now, that puberty blockers are damaging. The idea that we can control nature in that way and not cause irreparable harm is absurd. The Government has taken pretty much all of the appropriate steps, so the main thing is making sure none of this rears its head again.

Hes horrified by reports that a former psychologist at the Tavistock Clinic, the controversial NHS gender identity clinic that was shut down last year after a damning review accused its prescription of puberty blockers as unsafe, is now setting up a new private clinic in Leeds charging 1500 to assess under-18s for gender dysphoria. The whole thing seems like a grift at the expense of children. These people seem extremely money-driven and dont want to give it up. It needs to stop.

Fortunately, Bailey was too old for puberty blockers when he decided to transition. Instead, he visited a Japanese private doctor, who, in less than 10 minutes via a translation tool, diagnosed him as gender dysphoric. He was prescribed a months supply of oestrogen  the first step towards feminising his body. Yet days afterwards, unable to endure his marriage anymore and in a different mindset having taken the first transitioning step, he fled Japan.

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He returned to the UK determined to continue transitioning. His family, he says, were supportive. They were just happy I was back. They were definitely doubtful about my changing gender, but they didnt know much about what it would actually involve and societal pressures mean you just have to accept these things.

Wanting another months prescription lined up before he started oestrogen, he put himself on the long NHS waiting list for gender reassignment. That wait for an appointment certainly helped change everything. As he reconnected with old friends, his loneliness and unhappiness diminished. Unlike his family, who didnt question his decision, Brown  then an acquaintance  and others gave him a new perspective by quizzing him about the ramifications of his plan, making him see how illogical it was.

Im bisexual and Lucy asked me things like, OK, who are you going to date? Its only going to be weird guys and weird girls. I burst out laughing. From that point the idea petered out.

Bailey began reevaluating his diagnosis. The problem with all the psychological arguments around gender identity is they rely on self-reporting, so theres no logic. Gender dysphoria is so vague that it can be applied to anyone who has a feeling of not wanting to be themselves  which is really common in confused young people. How could I know I wanted to be the other gender when Id never been it? Its subjective, so to give it this objective label is dangerous.

Bailey: The problem with psychological arguments around gender identity is they rely on self-reporting, so theres no logic - Andrew Crowley

He began speaking out about his narrow escape, to the horror of contemporaries  many of whom identify as gender fluid.

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I saw some who, rather than focusing the fact that I tried to kill myself, that I almost transitioned, immediately jumped on me saying youre hurting the trans community, even though most of them dont have a single trans friend, theyre just getting angry by proxy.

His ostracism furthered his bonding with Brown, a Cambridge graduate, whod herself attracted much controversy for having taken a job working for a production company called Rebel Media, filming Tommy Robinson, the then-leader of the English Defence League (EDL) as he travelled the country. Even though she quit the production company after falling out with Robinson, whom shes said she has no time for, many were outraged by the association and she was kicked out of her flatshare. We were both outcasts, both building our lives back up and both pretty much cancelled by everybody, he says.

He has as many reservations about vocal trans activists as about the gender critical faction, unofficially headed by author JK Rowling. Instead of explaining how the issue affects them, they can be so aggressive, posting pictures of trans people who look bad. It doesnt contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.

As part of his research into the issues, hes interviewed transmaxxers, men who decide to transition to benefit from the perceived perks of being a woman, which can be as petty as reduced car insurance. I spoke to one who wanted to get into the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programme at school but wasnt allowed in because they wanted to boost female numbers. So six months later, they came back and went, Im trans now, and they let them in. Its not the only reason they want to transition, but all of these small incentives add up.

He sees the same issue with trans athletes competing and  because of innate masculine strength  often winning in womens sports. Im not even sure if these people are acting maliciously, but they think I cant be the world champion male weightlifter, so maybe Ill be the world champion female weightlifter, and society is telling me its OK.

Hes not a huge fan of Donald Trumps economics or his sidekick Elon Musk but applauds the US president banning transgender women from competing in female sporting categories completely right, and signing an executive order to reverse the policy to allow trans and non-binary people to either mark their gender as X or choose a gender on official documents such as passports. I dont see why people need the government to approve their gender. It doesnt change anything, and it doesnt protect them to have the wrong biological sex on there.

Last month, Trump signed an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in womens or girls sporting events - AP

While married, Bailey curated exhibitions and created one of the first platforms for artists to create NFTs (non-fungible tokens, which are digital collectables often tied to pieces of online art). His views have now alienated him from many in the art and fashion communities, but he hopes to re-enter the tech world, using his experience in fields such as crypto currencies. These are areas you cant be cancelled from. The industry has a reputation for being very libertarian, so you can be weird and do what you want  in fact many friends from tech have been messaging me to support me.

Secretly, many others from the fashion and art worlds have contacted him with stories about their transitioning narrow escapes. It happens everywhere, people just dont speak about it.

Hes also been inundated by messages from parents of would-be transitioners, as well as older trans people. Theyre happy they transitioned, but now they see its getting out of hand, its no longer happening naturally, it feels pushed. Before this 99 per cent of people in big cities didnt bat an eyelid at trans people, but now trans issues are being forced down peoples throats. Its breeding an attitude of discrimination against people who just want to quietly live their lives.

All this has made him determined to remain vocal. This issue matters to me a lot. So if I can keep speaking about it in a way where I think Im helping people I will. He blogs and is planning to write a book about his experience. Hed love to talk to schoolchildren about it. But schools dont want me, he says sardonically. Im a bad person, who says bad things.

Imminent fatherhood has only piqued his determination to make a difference. I want this sorted for my kid. If his child wanted to transition, how would he react? The only thing you can say is wait until youre 18. Even then, Id obviously strongly oppose it. Id talk about my experience, provide them with all the information, and explain the surgeries in graphic detail. But the main thing would be to encourage them to know theyre great as they are, to help them see what they can achieve just by being themselves.

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Ag Week, March 17-21, is right around the corner, and in celebration of all things agriculture, the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Excellence in Agriculture Awards Luncheon.

The 2025 Excellence in Agriculture Awards Luncheon is set to take place on Wednesday, March 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fremont City Auditorium, 925 N. Broad St. Sponsors for this event include FNBO, RVR Bank, Valmont and Platte Valley Equipment.

At the luncheon, Matt Kreifels, associate professor of practice in agriculture education at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL) will speak, as will Gov. Jim Pillen. During the luncheon four recognitions are given out to area ag workers.

Each year the chambers Agricultural Business and Natural Resources Council recommends individuals and businesses in the industry that should be recognized. Nominations are accepted and then the council determines who has made the biggest impact and who would they like to honor, said Brenda Wilberding, chamber president and CEO.

Those being honored at this years luncheon are: Norder Supply, Ag Business of the Year; Wiemer Ag Services, Ag Innovator of the Year; Jay and Clark Volk, Ag Family Farm of the Year; and Dale and Nancy Hilgenkamp, Ag Specialty Producer.

The honorees were informed about their awards about a month-and-a-half ago, after which chamber staff visited each honoree and created a video interview with them, and those videos will be shown at the luncheon.

During the luncheon we showcase what theyre doing, who they are, how they got there and then we do give them a space to speak and recognize the audience thats there, Wilberding said.

The Agricultural Business and Natural Resources Council is very much about educating, Wilberding said, and part of this is bringing in the younger ag generation to their events. During the luncheon, FFA chapters from area schools will be present.

Just really wanting to make sure that we are educating individuals about whats happening in our ag community, she said. You look at Nebraska and were an ag state, thats who we are, and theres so many people who dont understand ag.

Individual tickets for the luncheon are $45 and a table of eight is $360. For more details on this and other chamber events, visit chamber.fremontne.org/events.

The following are snapshots of the honorees of the 2025 Excellence in Agriculture Awards Luncheon.

Ag Innovator of the Year- Wiemer Ag Services





At the age of 21, Wyatt Wiemer had a plan for his familys farm  the introduction of drones. His parents, Wyatt said, were timid about the idea.

I was kind of a young age to start a business, so they were kind of worried about it, Wyatt said. But, once we showed them videos and (shared) some ideas that we had that we could do with it, they came more on board, they became super supportive of it. So, it was cool.

Wyatt and his brother Colton Wiemer own Wiemer Ag Services. The brothers use drones to spray fields with treatments such as herbicide, fungicide, insecticide and more.

Living on a farm with their parents, Kevin and Missy, the Wiemer brothers experienced treating fields firsthand. The family grows soybeans and corn, and the fields used to be sprayed with fungicides by helicopter.

The idea for the drones started at a career fair Wyatt attended. At this event, there was a company showing the drones used for spraying. He brought the idea home to Colton, who also works for Tech Partners, and had knowledge of agricultural chemicals.

We thought itd be a neat way to kind of do our own aerial work and then it turned into a commercial type of job for us, Wyatt said. Its been cool to see it advance.

In 2022, the Wiemer brothers got their first drone and started doing aerial application on their own farm first, and 2023 was the first year they did commercial work. Wyatt attended Northeast Community College and does electrical work along with his work at Wimer Ag Services. Colton studied agriculture at the UNL.

Its been a great help. A lot of farmers are appreciative of it, Wyatt said. Its just a new way for aerial application, a little bit more precise than your other general ways of doing aerial application.

In 2022, DJI came out with their first commercial drone. It was an 8-gallon tank drone and could spray 20-40 acres an hour, depending on field shape and size, Wyatt said. Now, the drones are bigger, with a 10-gallon tank, and can spray five acres per tank.

The technology is advancing really quick, Wyatt said. I know theres a lot of people all across the county getting into it. Its just a neat experience.

Although there are other businesses popping up, what sets the Wiemers apart is their background in agriculture, having an understanding of the chemicals and their connections to other people in the industry. But above all, they try to keep current on all practices.

Receiving this award was exciting and surprising as they did not know they had even been nominated.

We had a good start, so its been a successful business so far and were excited to see where it goes, Wyatt said.

Ag Family Farm of the Year- Jay and Clark Volk





J & C Simmentals knows cattle. They know cattle through the work they do as a family.

Our cows are known to other people because they come from here because of what and how we do things, Jay Volk said. You can buy Simmentals from anybody, theyre for sale everywhere, but (the) people (who) buy from us, like our stuff. That plays in to everything we do we try to be current on practices and we try to be good stewards and good livestock feeder, thats part of it. Our give a shit is pretty high.

Jay works J & C Simmentals alongside his brother Clark. A family operation, Jays wife Kimberly and their daughter Kylie also work there, along with Clarks wife Leslie and their three daughters, Claire, Madeline and Grace. Their mom, Jeanette, also puts in hours. Their father passed away a couple years ago.

The family started with a small heard of Angus cattle in 1969, and showed them through 4-H but now breed and sell black Simmentals. Growing up, Jay said, they had about 50-60 cows but were looking for alternatives for growth.

The Volks had family in Battle Creek, Nebraska, who had used Simmental genetics in their dairy herd. After checking out a variety of different cattle breeds, the Volks decided on Simmentals.

The Simmental breed is easy to handle and tame while being bigger boned with heavier muscles than Angus, creating great carcass characteristics, Jay said. When the Simmentals came from Europe originally, the cattle were tan and white spotted, but through breeding they have Americanized their cattle to resemble what the packing industry looks for. In this case, a darker hide has the perception of better quality grading meat.

The Volks started with 100 acres in Washington County and have grown from there.

At J & C Simmentals, they have a couple hundred registered cows, predominantly bred through artificial insemination with some embryo transfers using more desirable cows. They hold an annual sale each year in January. Each sale has a catalog with all the information on the specimen including their birth weight, performance production, pedigree and more. Cattle are mostly sold as breeding stock to commercial calf, cow operators that then sell to feedlots.

Those who attend the sale appear to be happy.

We have about 90% customer return rate, Jay said.

Along with the cows, the Volks also farm. They sell grain, corn, soybeans and some hay, while also producing enough forage and hay to feed the cows.

Working together, Jay said he takes care of the cows and Clark handles the farming, but they help each other do everything. They also have one employee, Adam Stutzman.

Being honored at the chamber luncheon was a surprise. Through their business, the family has able to travel and meet many people, which was not something their parents were able to experience.

Were both over 65, so were nearing the end of our careers and its nice to be honored for your work, Jay said. To be honest, its been a good living, working with your family and doing things that way and being in ag. (Its been) a nice fit for us, weve come from a long line of farmers and livestock people.

Ag Specialty Producer- Dale and Nancy Hilgenkamp





Have you heard of the Aronia berry? Also known as chokeberries, these hardy little berries pack a healthy punch, said Dale Hilgenkamp, owner of Berries on the Hill.

Theyre really good at keeping you healthy, Dale said. They pretty much effect every system in the body.

Owned by Dale and Nancy Hilgenkamp, their Aronia berry business started when Dales brother Gene planted grapes at their fathers home. They crossed paths with some people who were interested in Aronia berries and the idea started from there.

They planted their first Aronia berries in fall 2009.

Both Dale and his brother grow Aronia berries, planting enough so they could justify investing in a mechanical harvester, Dale said. They bought the machine from Poland, the No. 1 producer of Aronia berries in the world.

With all the health benefits, it just seemed like a really good berry, Dale said of deciding to grow Aronia berries. Theyre really pretty hardy plants, theyve got good disease resistance, they dont need a lot of pesticides and that type of thing. Theyre a perennial plant, they come back every year.

Throughout the years, the Hilgenkamps have been involved in a few different grower groups including a co-op. They also sell to a juice making company and have been part of the farm to school program.

Dale is also the president for the American Aronia Berry Association. The association looks for different ways to promote and sell Aronia berries and is currently working on a map of where growers are located.

But the biggest struggle they have, Dale said, is that not many people are familiar with Aronia berries.

These small, dark-colored berries have a dry, astringent taste, Dale said. The berries are high in tannins, giving them their astringent taste, but are known to be anti-inflammatory.

Free radicals, the result of the bodys basic metabolism or response to an external source (such as pollution), are neutralized in the body by antioxidants. Aronia berries are good at supplying the antioxidants, which help protect cells from the harmful effects of free radicals, offsetting those free radicals, Dale said.

Aronia berries are good at fighting inflammation, good for the immune system  Native Americans used them to combat colds and the flu, they were used in preserved meat on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, are high in fiber and have antibacterial and antiviral properties. The biggest drawback is the taste as they are bitter and you dont want to eat a handful at a time.

If they are frozen first, Dale said, that helps with the taste. You can also make Aronia berries into jams, wine, jelly and baked goods. Aronia berries are great in other foods like blended into smoothies or on top of yogurt, oatmeal or cereal, he said

The Hilgenkamps have about 7,500 plants on about 12 and a half acres. Dale said they also grow corn and soybeans, but he enjoys the berries.

I really enjoy working with the plants, he said. They were originally used as landscaping plants before they really discovered all the health benefits. They bloom in the spring, early May generally, and theyre all white at that time, and then in the fall they turn an orange, red theyre really an attractive plant year round. Its just really peaceful with them. I just really enjoy working with them.

Being honored at the agriculture luncheon came as a surprise, Dale said.

We didnt anticipate anything like that, Dale said, noting the event is soon and they are looking forward to it. Its a great opportunity anytime you have a chance to tell people about them and what we do, thats a great thing.

Those who are interested in Aronia berries, you can contact Berries on the Hill directly. They always have berries available for purchase and are located at 7538 County Road 15, Arlington.

Ag Business of the Year  Norder Supply

Norder Supply offers crop protection, seed, fertilizer, custom application, precision technology and agronomic consultation to producers. The business started 1976 in Bruning, Nebraska, and now services Nebraska, Kansas and the surrounding area.

The Fremont Tribune was unable to get in touch with Norder Supply for this article.
Mar. 14MITCHELL  The following cases were among those heard Tuesday, March 11, during a circuit court session at the Davison County Public Safety Center, with Judge Chris Giles presiding:

* Tyra Small Bear, 27, of Stephen, South Dakota, appeared in court for a probation violation, which she admitted to. She had been serving probation for a prior methamphetamine possession charge. The court upheld her suspended five-year prison sentence and restarted her two-year probation term. Additionally, she was sentenced to 90 days in jail. She will remain incarcerated until a bed becomes available at Stepping Stones, at which point the remainder of her jail sentence will be dismissed upon successful completion of treatment.

* Nathan Hart, 29, of Mitchell, appeared in court for a probation violation, which he admitted to. He had been serving probation for a grand theft charge but failed to make restitution payments. Since his initial sentencing in early 2023, Hart has paid only $100 in restitution. The court upheld his suspended prison sentence but restarted his six-year probation term. He was ordered to remain in jail until he pays $1,000. Upon release, he must secure employment within 45 days as mandated by the court.

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* Jason Dargatz, 46, of Webster, South Dakota, appeared in court for a probation violation while serving probation for a methamphetamine possession charge. He requested a personal recognizance (PR) bond, which the court granted. His case was continued until April.

* Bryon Fischer, 51, of Woonsocket, appeared in court for a probation violation while serving probation for a controlled substance possession charge. His case was continued until April.

* Angel Brown, 30, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to distributing cocaine in a drug-free zone, a Class 4 felony. As part of a plea agreement, multiple other charges were dismissed, including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and two counts of cocaine distribution, all Class 4 felonies, as well as possession of cocaine, unauthorized ingestion of cocaine, and keeping a place for use or sale of cocaine, all Class 5 felonies. The court ordered a pre-sentencing report and scheduled sentencing for April. A request for a furlough and bond modification was denied.

* Matthew Sherman, 35, of Chamberlain, pleaded guilty to unauthorized distribution of methamphetamine, a Class 4 felony. As part of a plea agreement, a Class 5 felony charge for meth possession was dismissed. The court ordered a pre-sentencing report and scheduled sentencing for April.

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* Elliott Star Iron Shell, 35, of Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to a fifth or subsequent offense of domestic abuse/simple assault, a Class 4 felony. He also denied violating his probation. Star Iron Shell is currently on probation for a third or subsequent domestic abuse/simple assault charge, for which he was sentenced in February. A jury trial has been scheduled for June.

* Matthew Weddell, 44, of Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to a grand theft charge involving an amount between $2,500 and $5,000, a Class 5 felony, as well as to a second-degree escape charge by a prisoner, also a Class 5 felony. A jury trial is set for June. According to the state's attorney, Weddell was on furlough to attend treatment at Stepping Stones but left before completing the program.

* Cody Overweg, 24, from Mitchell, pleaded guilty to violating a no-contact order, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Under a plea agreement, a separate charge of third-offense domestic abuse simple assault, a Class 6 felony, was dismissed. Overweg was sentenced to 64 days in jail, with 60 days suspended and credit for four days already served. He was also ordered to pay a $350 fine.

* Sara Kleinsasser, 30, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, a Class 5 felony. As part of a plea agreement, a Class 1 misdemeanor charge for possession of drug paraphernalia was dismissed. The court granted Kleinsasser a suspended imposition of sentence, and she was ordered to serve two years of probation. Additionally, she was required to pay a $750 fine.

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* Jazlyn Anderson, 24, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to possession of THC wax, a Class 6 felony. As part of a plea agreement, several other charges were dismissed, including possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor; possession of 2 ounces of marijuana, a Class 1 misdemeanor; and possession of a controlled substance, a Class 5 felony. Anderson was granted a suspended execution of sentence and ordered to serve two years of probation. She was also fined $500.

* David Henrichsen, 59, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to distribution of hydrocodone, a Class 4 felony. As part of a plea agreement, charges for possession of hydrocodone, a Class 5 felony, and distribution of a drug in a drug-free zone, a Class 4 felony, were dismissed. The court ordered a pre-sentencing report, and he is scheduled to be sentenced in April.

* Brandi Allen, 28, of Mitchell, admitted to being a habitual offender, having been convicted of one or two prior felonies. She also pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance (psilocybin mushrooms). The court ordered a pre-sentencing report, and Allen is scheduled to be sentenced in April.

* Caleb Moore, 23, of Mitchell, has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including driving under the influence (DUI), simple assault, and interference with emergency communications, all Class 1 misdemeanors. He also faces charges of violating a protection order, a Class 6 felony, and unauthorized ingestion of meth, a Class 5 felony. Moore is currently on probation for a previous protection order violation. A jury trial is scheduled for June.

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* Travis Sharon, 37, of Billings, Montana, appeared in court for a probation violation related to a prior meth possession charge. The court terminated his probation with an unsuccessful discharge.

* Ian Harvey, 47, of New Port Richey, Florida, pleaded guilty to possession of hash oil, a Class 5 felony. As part of a plea agreement, charges for possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor; possession of two ounces or less of marijuana, a Class 1 misdemeanor; and possession of meth and cocaine, both Class 5 felonies, were dismissed. Harvey received a suspended imposition of sentence and was placed on two years of probation. He was also ordered to pay a $750 fine.

* Ryan Anderson, 45, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, a Class 5 felony. As part of a plea agreement, charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, a Class 4 felony, and unauthorized ingestion of cocaine and keeping a place for use or sale of a controlled substance, both Class 5 felonies, were dismissed. Anderson was denied a suspended imposition of sentence and received a five-year prison sentence, with all time suspended. He was ordered to serve two years of probation and pay a $750 fine.

* Mario Perez, 39, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, failed to appear in court. He had pleaded not guilty in December to multiple charges, including driving with a revoked license, a Class 1 misdemeanor; speeding, resisting arrest, and careless driving, all Class 2 misdemeanors; and a third-offense DUI, a Class 6 felony. In response to his absence, the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

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* Jordan Dobesh, 23, of White Lake, pleaded guilty to DUI and hit-and-run causing property damage, both Class 1 misdemeanors. As part of a plea agreement, several other charges were dismissed, including failure to maintain financial responsibility and failure to stop after an accident, both Class 2 misdemeanors; criminal entry of a vehicle, a Class 1 misdemeanor; and first-degree burglary, a Class 2 felony. For the DUI charge, Dobesh was sentenced to 33 days in jail, with 30 days suspended, credited three days for time served, and fined $350. For the hit-and-run charge, he received a 60-day jail sentence, with all time suspended, and a $350 fine.

* Trevin Gardner, 19, of Mitchell, failed to appear in court. He faces multiple charges, including possession of drug paraphernalia and an open container in a vehicle, both Class 2 misdemeanors; reckless driving, eluding, and obstructing police, all Class 1 misdemeanors; as well as grand theft of a firearm and grand theft involving an amount between $1,000 and $2,500. In response to his absence, the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

* Kyle Erickson, 34, of Sioux Falls, pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary, a Class 5 felony. As part of a plea agreement, charges for intentional damage to property under $400, a Class 2 misdemeanor, as well as attempted grand theft of property valued between $1,000 and $2,500 and obstructing police, both Class 1 misdemeanors, were dismissed. The court ordered a pre-sentencing report, and Erickson is scheduled for sentencing in April. According to court documents, he broke into a shop and attempted to steal a stack of tools worth over $1,000. During the break-in, he caused less than $400 in damage to a wall inside the shop.

* Matthew Nunez, 31, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to DUI, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and simple assault against a law enforcement officer, a Class 6 felony. As part of a plea agreement, several other charges were dismissed, including resisting an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to maintain financial responsibility, all Class 2 misdemeanors; as well as obstructing police, resisting arrest, and hit-and-run, all Class 1 misdemeanors. For the DUI charge, Nunez was sentenced to 65 days in jail, with 60 days suspended and credit for five days served. He was also ordered to serve two years of probation and pay a $350 fine. For the simple assault charge, he received a two-year prison sentence, with all time suspended, along with two years of probation and a $500 fine.

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* Thomas Givens Jr., 37, of Rock Hill, South Carolina, appeared in court for a status hearing. Givens had pleaded not guilty to several charges in December, including possession of 2 ounces or less of marijuana, a Class 1 misdemeanor; possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor; possession of unauthorized articles in jail, a Class 6 felony; and four counts of possession of a controlled substance (psilocybin mushrooms, THC oil, cocaine, and fentanyl), all Class 5 felonies. He faces up to 32 years in prison and/or a $64,000 fine. His case was granted a good cause delay, and his jury trial has been rescheduled for June. The state's attorney is awaiting lab results.

* Mark Leach Jr., 43, of Mitchell, appeared in court to request a continuance in his case, which the court granted. Leach, who is currently serving probation for a 2022 drug-related conviction, is facing charges that include unauthorized distribution of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony; a drug-free zone violation, a Class 4 felony; two counts of possession of controlled substances (methamphetamine and Ritalin), both Class 5 felonies; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor. If convicted, Leach faces up to 35 years in prison and fines of up to $70,000. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of six years in prison.

* Giovanna Abate, 34, of Thornton, Colorado, failed to appear in court, prompting the court to issue a $2,500 bench warrant for her arrest. Abate is facing charges including possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor; domestic abuse simple assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor; possession of a controlled substance, a Class 6 felony; and possession of cocaine, a Class 5 felony.

* Andrew Whittecar, 36, of Surprise, Arizona, pleaded not guilty to multiple drug-related charges. These charges include possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor; possession of two ounces or less of marijuana and operating a vehicle with a suspended registration, both Class 1 misdemeanors; three counts of possession of a controlled substance, including cocaine, hydrocodone, and methamphetamine, all Class 5 felonies; distributing cocaine, a Class 4 felony; and committing a felony while carrying a firearm, a Class 2 felony. A jury trial is scheduled for June.

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* John Bunker, 58, of Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to several drug-related charges, including distribution/intent to distribute more than one-half pound but less than one pound of marijuana, a Class 4 felony; possession of more than one-half pound but less than one pound of marijuana, possession of meth, two counts of possession of controlled substances, and keeping a place for the use or sale of controlled substances, all Class 5 felonies; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor. Bunker requested a bond modification for a PR bond, which the court denied. A jury trial is scheduled for June.

* Lando Edoff, 20, of Mitchell, was sentenced for obstructing law enforcement, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and possession of methamphetamine, a Class 5 felony. Edoff received a five-year prison sentence, with 142 days of credit for time already served. Additionally, he pleaded not guilty to new charges, including possession of unauthorized items in jail, a Class 2 misdemeanor, and possession of a controlled substance in jail, a Class 4 felony.

* Selena Ross, 19, of Sioux Falls, pleaded not guilty to charges including intentional damage to property valued between $5,000 and $100,000, a Class 4 felony; attempted first-degree robbery, a Class 3 felony; and first-degree burglary, a Class 2 felony. The court denied her request for a bond modification. A jury trial is set for June.

* Dominik Senger, 20, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, a Class 5 felony. As part of a plea agreement, several other charges were dropped, including possession of alcohol by a minor and possession of drug paraphernalia, both Class 2 misdemeanors, and contributing to abuse or neglect, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Senger was given a suspended imposition of sentence and placed on two years of probation. He was also fined $750.

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* Ashley Jenson, 41, of Armour, pleaded guilty to filing a false report to authorities, a Class 1 misdemeanor. As part of a plea agreement, charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor, and possession of methamphetamine, a Class 5 felony, were dismissed. Jenson was sentenced to 64 days in jail, with 60 days suspended, and received credit for four days already served. She was also fined $350.

* Jonathan Schroeder, 25, of Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to second-degree petty theft, valued at less than $400, a Class 2 misdemeanor, and identity theft, a Class 6 felony. Court documents indicate that he stole a debit card and used it to make purchases at several locations, totaling $194.01. A jury trial is scheduled for June.

* Joel McCormick, 38, of Denver, Colorado, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled weapon (a silencer), a Class 6 felony, and distribution of a controlled substance (Alprazolam), also a Class 6 felony. As part of a plea agreement, several other charges were dropped, including another possession of a controlled weapon charge and possession of a controlled substance, both Class 6 felonies; possession of cocaine, a Class 5 felony; and committing a felony while carrying a firearm, a Class 2 felony. McCormick is scheduled for sentencing in May.

* Josh Katrein, 30, of Surprise, Arizona, pleaded not guilty to multiple drug-related charges, including distribution of cocaine, a Class 4 felony; possession of cocaine and hydrocodone, both Class 5 felonies; possession of two ounces or less of marijuana, a Class 1 misdemeanor; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor. A jury trial is set for June.

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* Millie Miller, 48, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, a Class 5 felony. As part of a plea agreement, several misdemeanor charges were dismissed, including possession of drug paraphernalia, having an open container, and driving with a suspended license, all Class 2 misdemeanors, as well as a DUI charge, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Miller was sentenced to five years in prison, with all time suspended. She was ordered to serve two years of probation, pay a $750 fine, and serve 10 days in jail.

* Matthew Wegner, 42, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to possession of a loaded firearm while intoxicated and reckless use of a weapon, both Class 1 misdemeanors. As part of a plea agreement, two aggravated assault chargesone with a dangerous weapon and one with a deadly weaponwere dismissed. Wegner was sentenced to 94 days in jail, with 90 days suspended, and credited for four days already served. He was also fined $350. According to court documents, Wegner was initially assaulted by the victim in his backyard. In response, Wegner retrieved a pistol from his home and used it to strike the victim repeatedly, hitting his face with the butt of the pistol and knocking him out of his shoes. Wegner then grabbed the victim's shirt, lifted his head, and struck him multiple times with the grip end of the pistol, causing the victim's head to hit the ground. During the altercation, the pistol discharged. The victim suffered a broken nose and bone injuries to both eye sockets.

* Josh Whiteman, 28, of Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to simple assault and threatening law enforcement officers, both Class 1 misdemeanors, and to first-degree burglary, a Class 2 felony. The court modified his bond, reducing it to a $1,000 cash bond. A jury trial is scheduled for June.

* Carey Fleury, 51, of Mitchell, admitted to a bond violation and was granted a PR bond. She is facing charges for possession of methamphetamine, a Class 5 felony, and distribution of methamphetamine, a Class 6 felony.
March 15 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was assassinated by Brutus and others in Rome. A gold coin commemorating his assassination minted two years after his death was sold at auction in 2020 for $3.5 million.

In 1820, as part of the Missouri Compromise between the North and South, Maine was admitted into the Union as the 23rd state. It had been administered as a province of Massachusetts since 1647.

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In 1916, U.S. Army Gen. John "Black Jack" Pershing led an expedition into Mexico to capture revolutionary leader Pancho Villa, who had staged several cross-border raids. The two-year expedition was unsuccessful.

File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

Muslims answer the call to pray at Hagley Park, opposite the Al Noor Mosque, in Christchurch, New Zealand, on March 22, 2019, one week after a series of mosque shootings left 51 people dead. File Photo by Martin Hunter/EPA-EFE

In 1917, Czar Nicholas abdicated as ruler of Russia amid the February Revolution.

In 1939, German troops, occupying the Czech provinces in the name of Adolf Hitler, entered Prague in triumph to the hisses and catcalls of the people, who sang the Czech national anthem.

Syrian anti-government protesters shout slogans during a demonstration at Souk Al-Hamadiyeh street on March 25, 2011. On March 15, 2011, protesters marched on the Syrian capital of Damascus calling for democratic reforms, kicking off a civil war. File Photo by Ali Bitar/UPI

In 1965, in response to the violence witnessed in Selma, Ala., President Lyndon Johnson, in an address to Congress, proclaims that "We shall overcome," calling for voting rights for all.

UPI File Photo

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Chinese President Hu Jintao listens to Premier Wen Jiabao deliver his government report to delegates during the opening ceremony of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 5, 2008. On March 15, 2003, Hu replaced Jiang Zemin as president of China. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI

In 1990, Mikhail Gorbachev was elected the first, and only, president of the Soviet Union.

In 1991, a grand jury indicted four Los Angeles police officers on felony assault charges for the beating of Rodney King. The officers' acquittals in 1992 sparked violent riots in the city.

On March 15, 1493, Christopher Columbus returned to Spain after his first voyage to the New World. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

In 2007, Palestinian leaders of Hamas and Fatah agreed to a coalition government but their platform didn't recognize Israel or renounce violence.

In 2011, protesters marched on the Syrian capital of Damascus calling for democratic reforms. Syrian security forces opened fire on the demonstrations. The uprisings, which spread across the country, were met with force, and by the end of May, more than 1,000 people had been killed by security forces.

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In 2019, a gunman opened fire at two New Zealand mosques, killing 51 people, while live streaming.

In 2021, the U.S. Senate confirmed Deb Haaland as secretary of the Interior Department, making her the first Native American to serve in a presidential Cabinet.

In 2024, former Vice President Mike Pence said he would not endorse Donald Trump for president. Trump ended up winning the 2024 election, picking J.D. Vance as his running mate.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A man was found guilty on several charges related to the shooting death of a teen girl in 2023.

Tommy Moreland was found guilty of murder, felonious assault and multiple other charges on March 13, 2025. This verdict comes after 15-year-old Heaven Washington was shot in a vehicle and later died in the hospital.

On Nov. 17, 2023, Montgomery County Sheriffs deputies were sent to the intersection of Philadelphia Drive and Turner Road in Harrison Township for a shooting. That same day, Washington arrived at Miami Valley Hospital with several gunshot wounds, which she later succumbed to.

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Court records show Washington was in the custody of Montgomery County Childrens Services at the time of her death, and she was being driven by a group home member when the shooting occurred.

Investigation revealed Moreland to be the shooter. Police say Moreland pulled alongside the vehicle and fired numerous shots into the car, striking and killing Washington.

Moreland was indicted on March 1, 2024 on murder, assault and improper handling of a firearm charges. Law enforcement arrested him on March 7 when a deputy recognized him in the courthouse for an unrelated matter.

This week, Moreland was found guilty on the following charges:

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Murder (2 counts)  Unclassified Felony

Felonious Assault (3 counts)  Felony 2

Discharge of a Firearm on or Near Prohibited Premises  Felony 1

Improper Handling of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle  Felony 4

Tampering with Evidence (2 counts)  Felony 3

Failure to Comply with a Lawful Order  Felony 3

Firearm Specifications  Additional sentencing enhancements

2 NEWS is working to learn when Moreland will be sentenced.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
A Dayton woman was arrested in Troup County, Georgia, accused of stabbing two women, setting a building on fire and stealing a vehicle, according to the Troup County Sheriffs Office.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

34-year-old Desjavae Conway, from Dayton, has been charged with home invasion, arson, armed robbery and two counts of aggravated assault.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Deputies responded to a home in Troup County after calls of a home invasion. When they arrived, a small building in the front yard was fully on fire, according to the sheriffs office.

Deputies found two women in the home who had stab wounds, the sheriffs office says.

According to deputies, Conway set the building on fire, unlawfully went into the home and, for unknown reasons, stabbed the two women multiple times with scissors. She then stole their car and left, the sheriffs office says.

Deputies say Conway did not know the victims and they do not know what her motive was.

Conway is being held at the Troup County Jail without bond, the sheriffs office says.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)With just hours to go to avert a government shutdown, local DC advocates and officials are making a last-ditch effort to address a provision in the federal spending bill that would have devastating impacts on the district budget.

The impact is almost immediate for us as District residents if this goes through, said Ward 4 councilmember Janeese Lewis George.

Lewis George was one of several councilmembers lobbying at the Senate Hart Building Friday.

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Weve been here since 9 a.m. making calls to legislative directors, trying to meet with Senators, she explained. This is going to impact your day-to-day life and your families and your children and your staff.

The spending plan, which was already approved by the House, is a continuing resolution (CR) that would keep the government open for the next six months at 2024 spending levels.

Proposed federal bill would cut DC budget by roughly $1 billion, city officials say

Unlike in previous continuing resolutions, however, this CR treats the District as a federal agency, forcing the city to also spend at 2024 levels, despite already operating under its Congressionally-approved 2025 budget.

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Should the CR be passed by the Senate, D.C. would need to make an immediate $1 billion cut to its local budget, which is funded by local tax dollars, not federal dollars.

If the language (excluding DC) is omitted we will almost immediately be going into triage mode because these are ongoing payments. This is mid-year. There are payments we will not be able to make, said Lewis George.

I have been in a daze since the 2024 election, said Travis Ballie, organizing director with DC Action. I feel angry, I feel hopeless but I feel in community and thats whats keeping me going right now.

Ballie has been one of the many people lobbying senators since Wednesday.

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We are running at the senators in the hallways and lobbying them on the spot, he said. Washington, DC is treated like a canary in a coal mine. Republicans like to experiment in the District before they take policies nationally, so this is not just about the District, this is about standing up for the next fight.

If the CR passes, advocates said there could be other ways to address the situation.

There are lots of potential remedies because we have a robust system of government and despite challenges with checks and balances, they still exist, said Jasmine Tyler, Executive Director of the Justice Policy Institute. We could see a stand-alone piece of legislation introduced.

Thats what happened when the last CR was passed.

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Congress voted on a separate piece of legislation granting DC control over the RFK Stadium site, a measure that was omitted from the CR.

Still, Tyler said the vote could have lasting impacts on policy.

The message to DC is clear, you dont get a chance to govern yourself despite the fact weve had home rule status for five decades, she said. This is part of a package approach to undermining DC sovereignty. And its just the one that worked.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  The Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division suspended the license of online gaming service provider High5Games, according to a statement released Friday.

High5Games is a licensed provider that offers online slot content for legal gaming platforms in Connecticut.

The DCP Gaming Division determined that High5 was also operating an illegal unlicensed online casino, High5Casino.

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How to recognize the signs of a gambling problem

According to the DCP investigation, High5Casino was marketed to customers as a legal and licensed option for gambling.

High5 Casino accepted wagers from Connecticut bettors, including 1,100 customers who made deposits, the investigation determined.

991 customers lost a total of $937,938.

108 of them signed up for the Voluntary Self-Exclusion List, a measure to prevent customers from engaging in future legalized gaming activities. They lost nearly $300,000 on the platform.

High5Games will be charged with 1,065 criminal counts of conducting illegal gaming activity.

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DCP will be seeking restitution for customers who were misled by High5Games.

Currently, there are only two licensed online casinos in the state, Draftkings and FanDuel which operate through Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, respectively.

We are disappointed that a licensed gaming service provider took advantage of Connecticut consumers by operating an illegal casino platform, said DCP Gaming Division Director Kris Gilman.

Gilman explained that it can be difficult to recover money for customers on illegal platforms and explained that customers should only gamble on licensed platforms to avoid issues.

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There is a confidential Problem Gambling Helpline at (888) 789-7777 for those who may have a gambling problem.

DCP urges anyone to report issues related to gambling to DCP.Gaming@ct.gov.

More resources can be found on the DCP Gaming Division 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 WTNH.com.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The arrest of a semi-truck driver in connection to Thursday nights deadly pileup comes a day after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick laid out his priority list at the Capitol. Among them, two bills he describes as protecting Texas trucking and curbing nuclear verdicts.

The driver, Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37, was charged with five counts of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and two counts of intoxication assault with vehicle involving serious bodily injury in connection with the crash, according to the Austin Police Department.

Lt. Gov Patrick is prioritizing two bills that would curb nuclear verdicts and Lt. Gov Patrick is prioritizing two bills that would curb nuclear verdicts and protect Texas trucking. (KXAN Photo via Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick)

Look, theres no greater tragedy than this, said Austin attorney Adam Loewy reacting to the 17-vehicle crash on I-35 that killed a child, an infant and three adults and injured 11.

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You had a baby die because of this, said Loewy. You had adults die because of this.

It was hard to see this: Bystanders help after fatal 17-vehicle crash

Loewy, who is currently representing victims hurt in a different 18-wheeler crash in this same area a month ago, worries about families seeking accountability and justice.

Under Senate Bill 30  what Patrick touted as curbing nuclear verdicts  judges could have discretion to lower jury verdicts that are over $1 million in wrongful death cases and $250,000 in personal injury lawsuits.

Crews respond to 17-vehicle crash on I-35 in north Austin (KXAN photo)

Texans for Lawsuit Reform, TLR, which has been a big player in Texas for about 30 years  once again filed a bill to try to make it more difficult than ever to hold 18-wheeler companies accountable, Loewy said.

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I am hopeful that the legislature again rejects their efforts, he added.

In a statement, TLR called the crash a horrible tragedy but defended its push for more protections for the trucking industry.

Bills filed in the Texas Legislature this session that TLR supports will not prevent anyone involved in this tragic collision from pursuing a lawsuit, recovering all that is entitled to them from the driver and the company that hired the driver, and even recovering damages to punish both the driver and company if appropriate, said TLR President Lee Parsley.

The bills, however, will prevent plaintiff lawyers from pursuing lawsuits that lack merit, Parsley added, which will help alleviate congestion in our courts so that legitimate lawsuits can move forward quickly and in a fair environment.

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Deadly truck crash foreshadows fight between business, safety at Capitol

In 2021, lawmakers passed House Bill 19. It splits civil lawsuits against commercial vehicles into two trials, limiting what and when juries can hear certain information about a company.

Last October, KXAN spoke with the president of the Texas Trucking Association, which is part of the Lone Star Economic Alliance  a group backing efforts to expand lawsuit reform this legislative session.

Your critics will say HB 19 and these other measures are meant to just protect and shield businesses over the expense of victims; what would you say to them?, KXAN investigative reporter Matt Grant asked at the time.

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Sure, Id say that the frivolous lawsuit environment is an absolute business for these attorneys that prey on business creators, job creators in this state, said TTA President John Esparza.

Tracy Rambosek (Courtesy Zehl & Associates)

Asked if felt the majority of lawsuits are frivolous, Esparza responded: A good number of them are.

They might have had a chance. Widower pushing for truck safety devices

Houston Attorney Eric Allen disagrees.

His firm is representing the family of Tracy Rambosek, who was killed in Bell County last year by a truck driver allegedly texting at the time.

The moral implications of limiting damages in the name of saving insurance dollars is repulsive and disgusting, Allen said. You cant put a value on a human life, yet youre going to limit that value in the name of insurance premiums? You tried it with medical malpractice and insurance rates and medical bills are only higher.

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The real reason that you do this is political, he added. Always has been, always will be.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
A deadly semitrailer crash Thursday on Interstate 35 in North Austin has spurred a series of questions from the public and news media.

Some of those should be answered Saturday afternoon when the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the collision, is expected to hold a news conference.

One person has been arrested in the collision that killed five people, including an infant and a child, and injured at least a dozen others. At least 17 vehicles were involved and the crash occurred shortly after 11:30 p.m. on southbound I-35 near Parmer Lane, police initially said. An Austin police officer later wrote in an affidavit that 19 vehicles were involved.

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Semitruck driver Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37, was charged with several counts of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault in connection to the crash. It was confirmed Saturday that he worked was driving a load for Amazon but worked for a Dallas-based transport company.

Social media is abuzz with photos and video from the scene but little else is known about Araya or what exactly led up to the crash.

A search warrant affidavit filed by Austin police provided a bit more information. Here's what we know and what we're trying to figure out:

Deadly I-35 truck crash: What happened?

Police responded about 11:21 p.m. Thursday to the 12900 block of North Interstate 35 southbound, according to the affidavit. A 2016 Volvo 18-wheeler  believed to have been driven by Araya  in the center lane failed to brake as traffic slowed. The truck then crashed into several other motorists, police say, killing five and injuring a dozen.

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Araya was reportedly the only person in the truck. He told authorities at the scene that a car cut him off and that he tried to stop but the brakes "did not activate," police wrote in the affidavit.

Who was injured in the I-35 crash?

A total of 17 people were hurt in the crash, five of them fatally. In the affidavit, police say the injuries range from "major" to "life threatening." They were transported to several different local hospitals, according to Austin-Travis County Emergency Management Services.

The victims have not yet been identified but police say two minors, including an infant and child, and three adults were killed.

What do we know about the alleged driver?

Araya resides in Dallas, according to public records, and reportedly delivered Amazon packages for a third-party company named ZBN Transport. The owner of ZBN Transport confirmed to the American-Statesman that Araya had worked at the company for about four months.

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Maureen Lynch Vogel, an Amazon spokesperson, confirmed the truck driver was hauling a load for Amazon.

"This is a horrible tragedy, and our thoughts are with all those involved," she told the Statesman on Saturday. "We're looking into this further and will cooperate with all investigations."

Was the truck driver intoxicated at the time of the crash?

Authorities indicated in the affidavit that Araya was swaying but seemed "very calm and relaxed given the situation." He failed at least one portion of six sobriety tests, according to the affidavit. A detective who spoke with Araya agreed with the original responding officer that Araya displayed signs of impairment.

"(The detective) believes the driver is under the influence CNS depressants and is not capable of operating a vehicle safely," the affidavit says. Araya blew a 0.00 on a preliminary breath test but it's unclear if he underwent and additional drug testing.

What questions do we still have?

Questions persist around the identities of the victims, the driver's background and training and even the company he was working for at the time. The Statesman is trying to gather more information about Araya's background and employment.

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Most of this information should come out as court proceedings take place but questions we're asking is: Did the truck driver have a valid commercial drivers license; if so, where did he obtain it? Was he under the influence of any substances  illegal, pharmaceutical or otherwise  at the time of the crash? Did road conditions, including ongoing construction, or other external factors play a role in the crash?

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: I-35 crash in North Austin: What we know about driver, victims
SHERMAN COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW)  A devastating multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 70 near Goodland left first responders facing one of the most harrowing scenes in recent memory. The Kansas Highway Patrol said eight people were killed in the crash, and 55 were injured.

The KHP said it happened around 3:20 p.m. Friday when traffic began to slow with near-zero visibility, resulting in multiple crashes. The KHP counted 71 vehicles involved.

In a social post, KHP Trooper Tod said if you are trying to reach a family member or loved one who had travel plans in the area, to call 785-827-4437.

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At around 7 p.m. on Saturday, the KHP said the highway was again fully open in both directions.

My thoughts are with those affected by this tragic event, Governor Laura Kelly said in a statement. I encourage all motorists to remain vigilant as the potential for further weather events continue today. Thank you to the first responders and emergency personnel who responded quickly and continue work to investigate and clear this crash.

Fridays intense wind and dust are to blame as firefighters, paramedics, and law enforcement officers battled extreme weather conditions, heavy vehicle damage, and a high number of casualties.

Dust settles on 71 vehicle pileup, 8 fatalities near Goodland

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In a social post, Goodland Fire Chief Brian James described the incident as the toughest and most emotionally draining experience of his career.

James said that first responders had to tend to more than 30 patients and make rapid, life-or-death decisions despite poor visibility caused by high winds and blowing dirt.

Courtesy: Kansas Highway Patrol Courtesy: Robert Ryback Courtesy: Robert Ryback Courtesy: Robert Ryback Courtesy: Robert Ryback Courtesy: Robert Ryback Courtesy: Robert Ryback Courtesy: Robert Ryback Courtesy: Robert Ryback Courtesy: Kevin McNamara Courtesy: Kevin McNamara Courtesy: Kevin McNamara Courtesy: Kevin McNamara Courtesy: Kevin McNamara

He said ambulance transport was overwhelmed, so emergency crews adapted, using fire department support vehicles and even patrol cars from the Goodland Police Department, Sherman County Sheriffs Office, and Kansas Highway Patrol to transport the injured to hospitals in Goodland and Colby.

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A massive multi-agency effort was required to handle the pile-up. Emergency crews from Goodland Fire, Brewster Fire, Northwest Kansas Ambulance Service, Colby Fire Department, Thomas County EMS, Wallace County EMS, Cheyenne County EMS, and Sherman County Dispatch all worked together to provide support.

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Hardin D. Gunnels was what they used to call a hard case, the kind of Western lawman who lived by his own code and occasionally strayed over the line. But he got results, and that was generally good enough for the people of Fort Worth.

He was known as Hard Gunnels, which may have been short for Howard, or perhaps Harvey or Harry, all of which appear in contemporary reports of his activities. Regardless of the name on his birth certificate, he was a hard man.

Gunnels was the second of six children born in Illinois in 1858 to John and Nancy Gunnels. The family came to Texas sometime before 1870 and settled in Dallas. Ten years later they were living in Fort Worth, and Hard knew he didnt want to be a farmer like his father. He was a sociable fellow who became a Mason and a Democrat, which is how he came to be acquainted with Fort Worths J.C. Richardson.

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By 1890, the 32-year-old Gunnels was working as a deputy under Sheriff Richardson. Deputy sheriff was not a glamorous life. Spending countless hours in the saddle, riding with posses, serving warrants, attending court, conducting bankruptcy sales on the courthouse steps  these were the things deputies did routinely. The job was not remunerative and there was no job security. Every time a new sheriff was elected, he was free to hire his own men, which might or might not include his predecessors deputies.

Still, Gunnels had found his calling, lawman.

In 1894, he was one of the first Fort Worth officers on the murder scene of lost soul Maggie Twemey after her body was discovered stuffed in an outhouse. Subsequently, he was shocked when his father was charged as one of her murderers. In his jury trial Jack Gunnels was found not guilty, but the sensational crime was not soon forgotten, nor that the Gunnels family was deeply involved.

Train robberies were nearly routine at this time, and Deputy Gunnels spent a lot of hours chasing robbers across the countryside. Sometimes the posse caught up with them; more often they got away. Being part of a successful posse could earn a man a share of the reward money put up by the railroad, which was just a pittance compared to what the robbers took while the lawmen chasing them lived in the saddle for days or even weeks.

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In 1892, Gunnels was rehired as a deputy when E.A. Euless was elected Tarrant County sheriff. When Euless left office four years later Gunnels jumped over to the police department, tapped by Marshal William Rea to be assistant chief.

Did he prevent or plan a train robbery?

Gunnels made headlines on July 21, 1898, when he was one of the officers who prevented the robbery of a Santa Fe train just north of Fort Worth, though two trainmen died in the holdup attempt. His heroic part in the story fell apart, however, when one of the robbers named Gunnels as an accomplice. It had been Gunnels scheme to catch the robbers in the act, run them off, and claim the reward money. Three months later Gunnels was arrested and charged with conspiracy, a shocking development for an assistant police chief. Friends posted his $2,500 bond, and he resigned from the force on Aug. 8, 1898.

One of the robbers, Jim Garlington, was convicted of murder and sentenced to hang. Gunnels turned states evidence and testified at his trial, identifying him as one of the robbers. Gunnels himself was never indicted, and in 1901 all charges against him were dismissed by the county attorney for insufficiency of evidence. By that time, Gunnels had packed up his family and left Fort Worth, never to return.

He moved to Chickasha, Indian Territory (Oklahoma), where he opened a hotel and restaurant. But law enforcement was in his blood, so in 1901 he donned a badge again as assistant city marshal of Chickasha. It is not known how much of his past he revealed, but it didnt hurt that he was a strong party man supported by the Democratic Club. No one seems to have asked any awkward questions about the newest member of the Chickasha police force. Two years later, he ran for city marshal with the endorsement of the towns newspaper and was easily elected.

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He left office at the end of his two-year term to work for the Pioneer Telephone Co. of Oklahoma City, a well-paying job in an up-and-coming business, plus he didnt have to worry about being shot at. But law enforcement and his Chickasha home pulled him back, so he came back to run for constable in Oklahomas 13th district. No surprise, he was easily elected. He was more than 10 years removed from Fort Worth by this time.

Around the time of World War I, he detoured into the private sector to work as a special policeman (aka, private security). He returned to the Chickasha Police Department as city jailer before moving up the ladder in 1918 to desk sergeant. Then he ran for township constable and, naturally, won. He was 61 years old at this point and found it increasingly hard to perform his duties. He was laid up in bed for five weeks in the summer of 1919 but returned to the job that fall.

Lawman for life

Gunnels could not afford to retire even if he had wanted to. (A career in law enforcement did not come with a pension or retirement benefits.) Fortunately, his professional and Masonic connections came through, and in 1921 he was hired as a special enforcement officer for the Oklahoma Highway Department. His duties kept him behind a desk overseeing the states new license and registration requirements for all drivers.

He was back in the hunt for the District 13 constables job in July 1922  running unopposed in the Democratic primary  when he died at home following a lengthy illness. He was 64 years old, and if he hadnt died before the general election, he would have been easily elected. The people of Oklahoma and Grady County in particular mourned his passing. He was a law enforcement icon in the states history.

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Hardin Gunnels is a good example of how a man could get law enforcement in his blood and not find happiness doing anything else. Wearing a badge was all he knew. He is also a good example of how in the old days a man with a scandal hanging over his head in one community could move across the state line and reinvent himself as a model citizen, respected by one and all. He is buried in Oklahoma, among the people who loved him.

Sadly, no pictures of Hard Gunnels are known to exist.

Author-historian Richard Selcer is a Fort Worth native and proud graduate of Paschal High and TCU.
TV host and author Toure is thinking about quitting the Democratic Party over its failure to stand up to Trump.

My parents were Democrats, Ive been a Democrat my entire life, Toure said on CNNs News Night on Friday. Never before did I say, I should leave this party,

Are you thinking about leaving the Democratic Party? CNN anchor Abby Phillip pressed.

Yes, the former co-host of MSNBCs The Cycle replied, over the inability to figure out what to do in the face of fascism and the rise of Trump.

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Democrats have struggled to unite around a strategy to take on President Donald Trump, disagreeing on whether they should aggressively block his every move or pick their fights.

We have no coherent message, Representative Jasmine Crockett told The New York Times in February.

Democrats have recently broken out into a full civil war over a Republican spending bill that will fund the government until September and avert a shutdown, which passed on Friday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer angered many in his party when he pledged his support, caving to Trump. Nine Senate Democrats joined their Republican colleagues in advancing the bill.

I believe it is the best way to minimize the harm that the Trump administration will do to the American people, Schumer said on the Senate Floor. Allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via government shutdown is a far worse option.

Other Democrats in Congress disagreed, criticizing the bills cuts to non-military programs and removal of restrictions on Trumps power. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the bill was a false choice that Donald Trump, Elon Musk and House Republicans have been presenting between their reckless and partisan spending bill and a government shutdown.
Slates guide to the most important figures in politics this week.

Welcome to this weeks edition of the Surge, a newsletter that wonders: Is inducing stagflation to own the libs a popular political strategy? What if the answer is yes?





It was another fucked-up week in the United States of America. Democrats in Congress, for the first time since President Donald Trump took over, had a say in policymaking, and fully melted down. Trump advertised for a car company at the White House and took further steps to lay the groundwork for annexing Canada. Thats not even a joke. There are no jokes anymore!





Lets examine the Democrats conundrum this week through the tedious method of trying to look at it from both sides.

Photo illustration by Slate. Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images.

1. Chuck Schumer

The heat shield.

Democrats were cornered this week. After House Republicans banded together to pass a bill funding the government through September, Senate Democrats faced a choice. They could put up enough votes to break a filibuster and allow the bill to pass, or they could filibuster it, likely sending the government into a shutdown. This strictly 9-to-5 newsletter was sent to the printer before the final vote was cast. But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had announced Thursday that he would vote to break a filibuster, signaling that enough Democrats would cave with him to keep the government open. The amount of flak Schumer has taken since his announcementand not just from progressive Democratshas been breathtaking. But well use this space to defend his choice (before, like the slimy turncoats we are, criticizing it in the next entry). Weve believed from the get-go that this leverage point wasnt much of one at all. The obvious play for Republicans was to put a clean-ish extension of funding up for a vote and dare Democrats to filibuster it. Despite what a poll here or there may say now, Republicans would have a strong hand in the ensuing blame game: Democrats shut down the government by blocking the funding bill. If Democrats found themselves getting the blame, then their exit strategy from a losing position could get grisly. To reopen the government, Democrats would have to cave for less than theyre being offered now. And Trump and Elon Musk might decide that theyre not interested in reopening the government for a whilereally, that theyre quite happy slashing nonessential functions and personnel in the absence of congressional action. Wed note that Chuck Schumer doesnt like being called a traitor by every left-of-center person. He's touchy about it. He has to have a substantial reason to light himself aflame like this. Could it be that hes absorbing the heat for a lot of Senate Democrats, many of whom are voting the other way but privately agree that blocking the bill would prove to be a critical strategic mistake?

2. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

The other side.

[Costume change]  Whats up with this ding-dong Chuck Schumer? Many people are asking. The most ardent and visible critic of Schumers strategy has been New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whos maximized her substantial television and social media platform to rally opposition to Senate Democrats who would smooth the bills passage. She described Schumers decision as a tremendous mistake and said it is almost unthinkable why Senate Democrats would vote to hand the few pieces of leverage that we have away for free. The bill that House Republicans came up with, after all, is not as clean as theyve pitched it. It cuts Democratic priorities along the margins, lacks typical spending directives that would tie the administrations hands, and, just for kicks, prevents the city of D.C. from spending its own money. (Though that may get fixed down the road.)The argument for Democrats, were they to commit, would be that Republicans shut down the government by getting greedy and not doing a lick of work to win Democrats necessary votes. Whats most troublesome about letting the Republican plan through, though, is that Democrats are announcing they will always view a shutdown as the worst of their options. It makes it awfully hard to negotiate a proper budget deal in the fall, or next year, or even if and when they retake the House in 2026, if theyre admitting that their ultimate fear is what the Trump administration would do in a shutdown. House Democrats, across the board, are furious with Schumer in a way that reminds us of  well, the thousands of times House Republicans were this furious with Mitch McConnell. House Democrats were at a retreat in Virginia as all this was going down. And, as CNN reported, one member said they were so mad that even centrist Democrats were ready to write checks for AOC for Senate.

3. Mike Johnson

House Republicans can pass legislation?

In the past few weeks, weve seen House Republicans twice pass significant measures along party lines with almost no margin for error. The first was their blueprint for Trumps tax and spending cuts, and this week, they passed the government funding bill, earning the votes of a bunch of conservatives who havent ever voted for such a bill. It was House Republicans ability to get their act together on the funding measure that allowed them to jam the Senate and leave town for the rest of the week. This is unusual. If you have watched House Republicans for the past 10 to 30 years, getting in their own way is a ritual they take pride in. The difference in this Congress isnt that Speaker Mike Johnson has developed new persuasive skills or become a master of reverse psychology. Instead, Republican members reasonably believe that President Donald Trump will destroy their personal and professional lives, and those of their friends and family, if they dont do as he wishes. There will be significantly more challenging vote counts going forward, such as when they try to settle on a final package of tax and spending cuts. But Trump has made Johnson into a more effective speaker than he was last Congress. The only downside for Johnson is that he has no agency in this arrangement, has no independent power base among members, cannot veer from Trump on any agenda item, and will be unemployed the second Trump decides it should be so. Johnson has become a more effective leader by not really being the leader at all.

4. Donald Trump

The Canada thing is still a bit? Right??

So many possibilities for the Trump entry this week, as ever. Lets talk about how he does, by now, seem serious about wanting to annex Canada, a country with whom we have long been close allies. He threatened more and more and more tariffs against the country this week in ways that make little sense, unless his goal is to destroy Canadas economy so that it surrenders to the United States. A good reason to believe this is the plan is because theyre saying that it is. When asked at a White House press conference this week whether the administration still considers Canada a close ally of the United States, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the President has made it clear that he believes Canadians would be better served economically, militarily, if they were to become the 51st state of the United States of America. As with Greenland, Trump is spellbound by the size of Canada on the Mercator projection, and said this week that eliminating the straight artificial line separating the U.S. and Canada would make it the most incredible country visually. This echoes something he told (now ex-) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a February call: that, according to the New York Times, he did not believe that the treaty that demarcates the border between the two countries was valid and that he wants to revise the boundary. We dont know what to say other than: None of what were seeing from Trump is going to improve as he gets older.

5. Thomas Massie

The one Republican in Congress willing to fight with Trump.

What is it like for a House Republican to repeatedly defy Trump? So far, there has been one. Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie has been the only Republican to vote against Mike Johnson for speaker, to vote against the blueprint for Trumps legislative agenda, and to vote against this funding bill. As the Tim Burchetts and Victoria Spartzes of the House Republican Conference repeatedly get their arms twisted into submission, Massie only becomes more resolute in his isolation the harder leaders work him. Even though Massies vote wasnt needed, the pattern finally got on Trumps nerves this week. On Tuesday, Trump posted that Massie was a GRANDSTANDER and that the Great People of Kentucky are going to be watching a very interesting Primary in the not too distant future! The day before, Trump had posted that he would lead the charge against him in that primary. (Opponent TBD.) Heres the thing, though: Massie has survived a Trump-backed primary before, in 2020, after Massie disrupted passage of a COVID relief bill. Then, too, Trumps move against Massie had the backing of some other leadership members annoyed with Massies stubbornnessincluding the Houses No. 3 Republican at the time, Liz Cheney. But Massie won, in part because of his primary opponents dirty laundry. Can Massie survive another Trump-backed challenge, this time with Trump occupying an even more dominant position within the party? Dont rule him out. Massie, meanwhile, does not appear to be sweating it. POTUS is spending his day attacking me and Canada, Massie posted on Tuesday. The difference is Canada will eventually cave.

6. Elon Musk

Buying electric cars to own the libs.

The stock price of Tesla, the driving force of Elon Musks wealth, has been stinky of late, dropping nearly half since its peak at the end of 2024. We are not financial experts, but wed expect this is related to the companys CEO being distracted by his efforts to destroy the United States federal government and the transatlantic alliance, which have made him one of the most consequentially unlikable people in the world. As a show of support for Musks net worth slipping to a lower rung of hundreds of billions of dollars, then, Trump put on a Tesla car show at the White House. With five Tesla vehicles sitting before the White House, Trump got into one, and observed that this is a different panel than I've evereverything's computer. Neat. May we saywould it exhaust you if we said?that this was wildly corrupt? Eight years ago, a Trump adviser was sharply criticized for saying in a TV interview at the White House that people should buy Ivankas stuff. Here, the president is doing a commercial press conference for an administration member, at the White House, to juice his companys stock price. And it was probably the 10th-craziest thing to happen that day. Its unusual how richly detailed and lengthy this dream about a second Trump presidency is becoming.

7. Dave Weldon

A Trump nominee goes down for being anti-vax?

Something most unexpected happened on Thursday: A Trump nominee to a major three-letter agency had his nomination withdrawn because of  senatorial pushback? Over a lack of preparation and a history of questioning vaccines? The nominee in question was Dave Weldon, a former congressman whom Trump had nominated to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His nomination was pulled not long before his scheduled confirmation hearing. Weldon, a doctor, issued an amateurish and delightful four-page statement afterward that confirms that doctors still cannot write. (Aside from various misspellings and loathsome double-spacing at the beginning of each sentence, it alternately refers to Bobbie and Bobby Kennedy being very upset with the outcome.) He blamed Sens. Bill Cassidy (I thought we were friends) and Susan Collins for sinking his nomination on the grounds of him being antivax. He accused Collins staff of being suddenly very hostilea bad sign in a meeting earlier in the week, but ultimately, he surmised that big Pharma was behind this. After the withdrawal, Cassidy said in a statement he was surprised the nomination was withdrawn. But, he added, his poor response to this situation shows that the pressures of being CDC director would have been too much. Cool. Now imagine if similar steps had been taken with regard to Weldons would-have-been boss, the political leader of the American anti-vax movement, Bobby (Bobbie) Kennedy Jr.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Denver Police Department said it is investigating an outdoor death, according to a post on X from the department.

The death occurred in the 3500 block of Park Avenue West.

Southbound I-25 to close near Lone Tree for several hours Saturday

The Office of the Medical Examiner is working to determine the cause of death.

Police said updates on the post will only change if the investigation determines the death to be a homicide.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Denver Police Department is investigating a stabbing incident, according to a post on X.

The stabbing occurred in the 2000 block of S. Wolcott Court, just off the intersection of Sheridan Boulevard and Jewell Avenue.

Aurora student wins prize in national C-SPAN documentary contest

Police said one person was transported to the hospital. The extent of their injuries is unknown.

One possible suspect was detained, according to the department.

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The investigation is ongoing. No further details were immediately 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.
A deranged, anti-Elon Musk dad scrawled a swastika on the side of a Cybertruck in Brooklyn in a brazen attack caught on security footage and viewed by The Post.

The lefty loon was so triggered by the $80,000 electric Tesla truck parked on Washington Avenue in Prospect Heights that he double-parked his Subaru  with two car seats in the back  burst out, and appeared to deface the car.

The Cybertrucks owner Avi Ben Hamo, who is Jewish, was stunned.

Ben Hamo was stunned by the broad daylight attack. J.C. Rice

I feel myself burning inside, Ben Hamo said.

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Back in his Subaru, the hateful alleged vandal tried to speed off  but Ben Hamo, who watched the attack from the sidewalk across the street, stood in front of the car to block his getaway.

What are you doing? thundered Ben Hamo, who quickly called 911.

The suspect then ditched his ride in the bike lane and ran.

But about 90 minutes later, he returned to the scene to retrieve his Subaru  only to find four cops  and a Post reporter and photographer  waiting for him. He was promptly handcuffed and arrested.

The perp left his Subaru double parked in the bike lane for more than an hour and a half, before returning to the scene. Gabrielle Fahmy/ The New York Post

Michael Lewis, 42, a self-described geek of all trades, master of few, was charged by police with aggravated harassment.

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His lawyer, Mark Luccarelli refused to apologize for his clients actions, adding the Brooklyn district attorney released Lewis without pursuing charges.

There was zero damage to the car. He did not commit a crime of any kind, said Luccarelli, who said his client too is Jewish and the hateful symbol was scribbled in dust.

Ben Hamo was stunned by the random act of hate.

People hating [Tesla owner] Elon Musk is one thing, but to do something like this is next level. Im speechless. Thats just wrong, said Ben Hamo, 45.

I dont understand how someone thinks because I bought a car it gives them the authorization to do this.

Lewis, who thought the coast was clear for him to come back and retrieve his car, was in for a bad surprise. J.C. Rice

A worried-looking Lewis was handcuffed and put in the back of a police van. J.C. Rice

The commotion attracted the attention of many locals on Washington Ave. and drivers also slowed down to watch as they passed by. J.C. Rice

Tesla vehicles, dealerships, charging stations  and their owners  have found themselves the target of coordinated attacks by left-wing groups since Musks new Department of Government Efficiency began slashing government spending. The Post identified at least five radical groups that were behind attacks on Tesla vehicles and dealerships throughout the country.

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Cybertrucks in particular are bearing the brunt of the attacks, in what some have coined Elon Derangement Syndrome.

Thursdays incident is at least the third documented attack on a Cybertruck in New York City in recent days.

A few blocks away, a different Cybertruck was egged and smeared with dog poop a couple of weeks ago.

This sign went up earlier this week on Berry St in Williamsburg between N 6th and N 7th St. J.C. Rice

A man chased a Cybertruck near Bryant Park last week in a video thats since gone viral on X. Vagabond4L9/X

And in Williamsburg, street signs started popping up this week, urging others to follow suit.

Properly dispose of your dogs waste  place it onto the nearest Cybertruck, it reads. If you see Elon Musk, you may also deposit it directly into his mouth.

The anonymous person behind the vile signs claimed to be acting alone.

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If someone can afford a $100,000 truck, they can also afford to carefully consider the ethical ramifications of giving that much money to a destructive man who acts exclusively for his own gain, at the expense of millions of Americans, the person ranted to The Post in a direct message on Instagram.

And last week, A raging lunatic ran after a Cybertruck near Bryant Park, flipping both middle fingers at the family inside and banging on the windows, in a caught on video scene that has since gone viral.

DOGE did not return The Posts request for comment.
PALMETTO, Fla. (WFLA)  The Florida legislature is considering several bills that could ease current gun restrictions statewide. During a stop at SeaPort Manatee, the governor discussed his push to loosen current gun laws.

I would say Im vindicating peoples constitutional 2nd Amendment rights, DeSantis said.

Floridas famous orange groves may soon disappear

The governor backs House Bill 759 which could lower the age from 21 to 18 to buy a long-gun or rifle. The bill is currently in the committee stage before it reaches the floor.

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You have some 20-year-old marine be out there carrying a firearm in Fallujah, back where I served back in the day, and they come here, and they cant purchase a rifle to go hunting or something like that. Its not something that is consistent with due process, DeSantis said.

It was a law put in place following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting in Parkland, before the governor was in office. Republicans just advanced the bill in the house criminal justice subcommittee this week.

Luis Valdes with Gun Owners of America spoke to the committee in favor of them moving the bill forward.

The parkland situation was an abject failure of government, not gun control. Gun control doesnt solve anything, Valdes said.

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Fiona Shannon with the League of Women Voters opposes the bill.

Science and common sense tell us the human brain is not fully developed at 18. Young adults are more impulsive, more prone to risky behavior. And in some cases, more susceptible to radicalization, Shannon said.

Democrats on the committee opposed the bill but it still advanced.

The governor also supports House Bill 31 which could allow open carry.

If you take your jacket off and put your jacket on and you have a firearm in your holster, somehow you can be prosecuted for that because its open carry and it doesnt make sense, DeSantis said.

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There have been proposed changes to ease restrictions before. Oftentimes, they have stalled or failed because state senators were not on board.

Republican State Senate President Ben Albritton, who represents a portion of Polk and Hardee counties, has previously opposed an open carry law and is still coming up with a decision on whether to support reducing the age to purchase a long gun.

This is not the first time the governor has publicly advocated for easing restrictions. In 2023, the governor signed a bill into law allowing some Floridians to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.

The governor was in Manatee County on Friday to announce $2 million in state grant funding for SeaPort Manatee. Its to help with paving roads and stormwater projects while the port works to expand.

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A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

On March 15, 1913, Woodrow Wilson became the first U.S. president to stage a White House press conference. According to reports from historians, it was an awkward affair.

In other words, it was like many presidential press conferences through the years, including today.

Per one BBC account:

It was 12:45 on 15 March 1913 when a throng of more than 100 reporters trudged warily into the Oval Office. There was a short silence before one of the journalists dared ask a question of the forbidding figure before them  newly elected President Woodrow Wilson.

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According to Edward G Lowry, present on behalf of the New York Evening Post, Wilson replied crisply, politely, and in the fewest possible words.

In his memoirs, Lowry recalled: A pleasant time was not had by all.

Presidential press conferences, like this one with President Joe Biden from the East Room of the White House in 2021, can be ordinary affairs, but they can also include tense clashes and funny moments. | Andrew Harnik, Associated Press

Wilson had just been elected and was making plenty of news in Washington. Deseret News coverage that week included headlines like:

Suffragists see Prest. Wilson; Urged to recommend constitutional amendment in his message to special session

Mr. Wilson wore shamrock sprig; Secy. Tumulty saw to it that all around executive offices recognized St. Patricks Day

Extra session finally called; Prest. Wilson issues proclamation for convening Congress at noon on April 7

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In truth, Wilson was not known for his jocularity, and through the years, various presidents have used or abused the media in White House media briefings, and vice versa.

Former President Joe Biden had his moments with the press over the past four years, and President Donald Trump has already clashed with certain media outlets in just his first 2  months in office.

Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about presidential press conferences, White House briefings and the role of the media as a watchdog on government actions:

Wilson was 1st president to hold regular press conference

Inside the White House

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White House press corps has been turned into potted plants

Press briefing showcases feud between White House and traditional media

5 things you need to know about President Joe Bidens first White House press conference

In this June 29, 1972, file photo, President Richard Nixon speaks at a White House news conference in Washington during which he said he'd sign legislation banning Saturday night specials. | Associated Press

Who were the press secretaries from the Trump and Biden eras? And what are they up to now?

Obama: Divided media is what keeps me up at night

Perspective: Was the media complicit in concealing Bidens struggles?
Detained anti-Israel protester Mahmoud Khalil seethed with hatred for the Jewish state, according to a former classmate who told The Post he was an insidious presence at Columbia University.

The female graduate student, who is Jewish, said she even dropped a class they took together last fall at the Ivys famed School of International and Public Affairs because he made her feel so uncomfortable  and her formal complaints to the college fell on deaf ears.

It would almost be easier if he were some terrifying looking man who threatened to punch people in the face, but he wasnt, she said.

Mahmoud Khalil seethed with hatred for the Jewish state and had an insidious presence at Columbia University, a former classmate told The Post. James Keivom

He was very soft-spoken and careful with his words, which almost made him seem more insidious, because it was so intentional  he was never being hyperbolic, he was very clear. He was never joking.

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You know, he wears polos, she continued. Its not like you meet him and are scared that hes going to beat you up. To me, it was scary how he was so clearly extreme and so unshakeable in his worldview, which is a very scary worldview, in my opinion.

Khalils laptop especially freaked her out.

It strategically sported one sticker  a map of Israel and Palestine with the Jewish state completely blacked out as if it was wiped off the face of the Earth, she recalled.

It was just so clear that the thing driving him most in life is destroying Israel and everyone within it and anyone who supports it, and probably all Jews  That to me was scary, that something could consume you like that, the first-year student said.

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Khalil, 30, also routinely boasted in class that he headed the Students for Justice in Palestine movement at Columbia and didnt love Jews.

He was a frequent no-show to class, which centered on Israeli politics, the student recalled. And when he did attend lectures, he disrespectfully interrupted his professor, who is Israeli.

Khalil was grabbed by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents March 8 at his Columbia-owned apartment building. via REUTERS

Everything about Israel was illegitimate; everything about Zionism was illegitimate because, in his mind, its like a farce and a fallacy to think otherwise, she said.

And Khalil routinely targeted Jewish students in a WhatsApp group chat the class shared, she added.

Once or twice a week, he would just go in [the group chat] and basically instigate crazy claims that were just very antisemitic and really inflammatory, and would get into fights with people, she said.

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Reading directly from the chat, she recounted, One day a Jewish student had said, Im disturbed by the normalization of the insane amount of antisemitism spewed in this chat in the last few months. Disappointed and shameful. To that, Mahmoud said, Thank you. This is exactly what some are trying to do so hard in this conversation: Conflate Judaism and Zionism, so its easier for them to shut down any criticism of the colonial, genocidal state of Israel.

Khalils detention has become a lightning rod for hateful anti-Israel protestors. Aristide Economopoulos

The student said it was such erratic behavior that drove her to drop the class  although she didnt dare confront him.

I just didnt want to become a target of his, she said.

The student, however, anonymously filed two Title VI complaints with Columbia administrators about his antisemitic rants within the group chat  but nothing ever came of them, she said.

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Following the bloodshed and the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Khalil became a driving force behind many of the anti-Israel protests, organizing takeovers and building encampments that plagued Columbia for more than a year, and he is now the poster boy for President Donald Trumps crackdown on antisemitic college protesters.

Khalil was grabbed by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents March 8 at his Columbia-owned apartment building and later transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana, where he faces deportation.

Khalil routinely targeted Jewish students in a WhatsApp group chat the class shared, according to the classmate. REUTERS

The student said that after she learned the news of his detention it literally felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders.

All week, I have felt safer on campus and like I have a pep in my step, she said. I used to feel so much anxiety, but I literally feel safer now.

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I really do think this country is probably safer without him here, like I dont know how he got a green card, she said. He seems very much like he hates America and everything it stands for, and I think hes done a lot to cause harm and violence here, and I could see him doing more.

She also believes the university should have held Khalil accountable for his Jew-hating ways.

There have been so many reports filed against him, she claimed. He was not in compliance with academic standards. They bent over backwards to not expel him, and I think if they would have followed their own rules, we would not be here now.

Khalil  a Syrian-born Palestinian who is also a citizen of Algeria  fled to Lebanon at 18 after a civil war broke out in Syria to pursue an undergraduate degree in computer science at the Lebanese American University in Beirut.

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Before becoming a student leader of last springs riotous campus protests at Columbia, Khalil worked for the controversial United Nations Relief and Work Agency.

The student said Khalils detention literally felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders.

From June through November of 2023, he was a political affairs officer with UNRWA, which has extensive ties to Hamas. A damning Israeli dossier compiled through interrogations of Hamas terrorists and documents found in Gaza estimated roughly 1,200 of UNRWAs staffers were linked to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The group last year fired 10 staffers involved in the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack.

And the UNRWA, which gets millions in US aid, previously came under fire from US House Republicans for aiding Hamas with food, fuel and supplies.

Khalils also held a senior position at the UK office for Syria in Lebanon  a diplomatic mission within the UK embassy in Beirut  for four years, according to multiple reports. He worked in a support role that helped inform British foreign policy on Syria given his knowledge of the region, as well as his Arabic skills.

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The role would have required a thorough background check and rigorous security clearance, Andrew Waller, one of Khalils former co-workers there, told The Guardian.

Khalil became a permanent US resident after marrying his wife, Noor Abdalla  a 28-year-old US citizen and dentist  in the Big Apple in 2023. REUTERS

After rising up the ranks, Khalil decided to pursue a masters degree in public administration at Columbia and moved to the US on a student visa in December 2022.

Khalil became a permanent US resident after marrying his wife, Noor Abdalla  a 28-year-old US citizen and dentist  in the Big Apple in 2023.

The couple, who are expecting their first child in late April, live in an off-campus apartment, where federal immigration agents grabbed him last week.

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His lawyers are currently battling it out in court to prevent his deportation  arguing that ICE detained him illegally. They argued in a motion for bail Saturday that Khalil isnt a flight risk and should be allowed to return home for the childs birth.

Khalils lawyers are currently battling it out in court to prevent his deportation  arguing that ICE detained him illegally. REUTERS

In the meantime, Khalils detainment has become a lightning rod for hateful anti-Israel protesters  who have vandalized the home of Columbia Universitys current interim president Katrina Armstrong, crowded the dining area of Trump Tower, and rallied outside Federal Plaza Immigration Court this week, all while calling for Khalils freedom and spewing antisemitic hatred.

The Trump administration has argued it can legally boot Khalil given his role in the anti-Israel campus protests.

Officials have said that while Khalil isnt accused of or charged with a crime, his actions are contrary to national and foreign policy interests.

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The Columbia graduate student said that the majority of her peers have worn keffiyehs to class to show their support this week  a move that has left her unsettled.

Khalils detainment has really fanned the flames and mobilized students on campus  its really wild and scary, she said.
A vocal Fort Worth real estate broker presented the Keller school board a detailed report on various issues surrounding a proposal to split the district in the week before the district announced the split was off.

Did his report play a part in that decision?

It gave them something to chew on, whether it was the thing that was the motivating factor or something else, Im not sure yet, Fort Worth Realtor and tax consultant Chandler Crouch said in an interview. Crouch said he began sharing the report with board members a week ago and met with them separately to discuss it.

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The district did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the report, now posted to his website, Crouch attempted to impress upon the Keller school board that the costs were too high for their plan to go through.

For one, it would have cost the district around $25 million, his report states. He got that number by breaking down estimates for the expenses on administrative restructuring, legal and consulting fees, student transportation changes and debt allocation and financial structuring, among other expenses.

His report included cost breakdowns for similar splits of school districts in other states, as well.

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Records obtained by the Star-Telegram in February found that costs for bilingual and special education would have gone to the new district formed apart from the Keller side.

Crouchs report also includes a detailed real estate market analysis related to the split proposal. He found that new home listings in the district surged 139% since the day news of the split broke.

He attributed the surge to uncertainty over the split, rather than the split per se.

If the decision is prolonged, further instability in the market could occur, Crouch wrote. If the split moves forward, a second wave of listings could follow, amplifying supply-side pressure.

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Abandoning the plan could stabilize the market, he wrote, but the uncertainty has already created measurable disruption.

There were also various legal landmines that would have affected the split, Crouchs report states.

These include a lawsuit alleging violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act, another alleging violations of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and a bill recently filed in the Texas House of Representatives that would raise the bar on school district splits, among others.

Crouch used a canonical childrens fantasy movie as allegory for the the legal hurdles the district faced in relation to the proposal to split.

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It reminds me of Atreyus quest in The NeverEnding Story, battling The Nothing, facing relentless obstacles, and navigating his own Swamp of Sadness, he wrote. Thats about where we are now, hoping well pass safely through judgmental gates and maybe even meet our own Luck Dragon, Falkor.

Crouch also tapped his significant client base in Keller ISD to conduct a mock vote in order to get an idea of how district residents feel about the split.

And this was no polling post on X, either. Crouch enlisted two Ph.D.-level statisticians to analyze his work. He had the help of Christopher Gaffney, a decision sciences expert at the LeBow College of Business at Philadelphias Drexel University, and Karla Hamlen Mansour, a professor of research and assessment in education at Cleveland State University, for outside analysis.

Their findings confirm that, even when accounting for potential biases, the overwhelming majority of Keller ISD taxpayers oppose the split, Crouch wrote.

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His polling of around 2,300 respondents found that residents overwhelmingly  87%  disapproved of the split, and 89% wanted to be able to vote on it.

Just over half of respondents were parents of students in the district.

Reflecting the student demographics of the district, just under three-fourths of respondents said they live west of Denton Highway, which was the proposed dividing line, and 23.5% live east of it.

A question regarding how informed respondents were of the split was about even: 48.1% responded yes, and 46.7% answered no.

Time may tell if Crouchs report was the tipping point in this dramatic months-long saga.

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But like the tale Crouch cited in his report, the Keller school boards story likely doesnt end here.

I was able to determine in half a day that this was a terrible idea and it would never work out, he said. Id like to take all the credit, but its hard to say. I know one thing for sure, if it wasnt for all of us standing up, this wouldnt have happened.
Theres a growing measles outbreak in the country and public health experts say vaccination is the best way to reduce the spread.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia and brain swelling.

So far, more than 300 measles cases have been reported in the U.S. within the first few months of 2025, more than the confirmed cases reported in all of 2024, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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The good news: The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR, is just what the doctor ordered. One MMR dose is considered to be 93% effective against measles, with a second dose 97% effective, the CDC says.

And many people are already vaccinated. Thats because MMR is one of the mandatory vaccines needed for immigration into the U.S. and to become a resident. Its also one of the required vaccines kids need to attend K-12 schools in Florida and other states. Students can avoid getting the shot for medical and religious reasons.

MORE: Are you at risk for measles? Miami sees case amid U.S. outbreak. What to know in Florida

The CDC says its rare for people who are vaccinated against measles to get sick. Vaccination also helps protect those who cant get the shot, including kids who are too young and people who are pregnant or have a weaker immune system due to an existing medical condition or medical treatment, said Dr. Marcos Mestre, chief medical officer for Nicklaus Childrens Hospital near South Miami.

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People born before 1957 also lived through several years of measles epidemics, which means theres a good chance they had measles at some point, public health experts say. If youve previously had measles, you should have immunity, too.

What if youre not sure whether youve had the contagious disease before or if you received the MMR vaccine while growing up?

Heres what to know:

Are there any measles cases in Florida?

The U.S. has confirmed at least 301 cases of measles across 15 states, with most of the cases reported in Texas, as of the CDCs March 13 update. Florida has confirmed one case of the disease in a Miami-Dade County teen.

How to check your vaccination records in Florida

MORE: Why fewer kids are getting vaccinated in Florida  and how that could affect outbreaks

Besides asking your parents if theyve kept copies of your immunization records, you can check your immunization history in Florida in several ways:

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 Talk with your current and former doctors. They will likely have information on your immunization history in their records. But physicians arent required to keep your records forever. Under Florida law, physicians must maintain medical records for at least five years from the last patient contact.

Your healthcare provider will also likely have access to Florida SHOTS, a statewide and centralized system that tracks patient vaccination information. The system records immunization information for patients who get vaccinated at county health departments and from private providers who use the system. Pharmacists at retail pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens will likely have access to this system, too.

But note that Florida is an opt-out-state, which means parents can choose to make their childs records inaccessible in the system.

 If you attended a school in Florida, including a college or university, you can ask for your immunization records. However, schools arent required to keep this information forever, so your school may or may not have copies of your records.

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 If you cant find your records, contact your countys local health department. Another option if youre at least 18 is to fill out an online form to request your vaccination records directly from Florida SHOTS. You can only use this form to request your own personal records, not for another family member. You cant use this form to request the vaccination history of minors. And remember, just because you fill out the form doesnt guarantee the state will find your records in the system.

What if none of these options work?

You could talk with your doctor about scheduling a blood test to check for antibodies. But theres another, cheaper option that may be easier:

Just get the MMR vaccine, according to Dr. Mary Jo Trepka, an epidemiologist at Florida International University in Miami-Dade County; Dr. Jill Roberts, an associate professor at the University of South Floridas College of Public Health in Tampa; and Mestre, the Nicklaus Childrens doctor.

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All three public health experts say its safe to get the MMR vaccine if youre not sure whether youve previously been vaccinated or have had the disease.

Theres really no harm to getting vaccinated again with the measles vaccine even if youve had it before, Trepka told the Miami Herald last year when Florida reported a measles outbreak at a Broward elementary school.

The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR, is highly effective against measles, public health experts say. (Liz Rymarev/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

If you got the MMR shot or measles as a child, do you need a booster?

The MMR vaccine isnt like annual flu or COVID shots. Its a two-dose vaccine meant to give protection for life. So, once you complete the two-dose series, you likely wont need another shot, according to McClatchy News.

Its a live vaccine, meaning that it contains a small, weakened dose of the virus, according to a Yale Medicine blog post. This trains a healthy immune system to recognize the measles, mumps, or rubella viruses if one tries to invade the body, and attack it, preventing an infection from developing.

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What if you got the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine, or MMRV? Dont worry. The CDC says that vaccine is also effective in giving life-long protections against measles.

Because the vaccines are highly effective in preventing infection, public health experts say its rare for vaccinated people to get sick and spread the disease. If they do get sick, its usually a mild infection, according to the CDC.

Some vaccinated people may still get measles, mumps or rubella if they are exposed to the viruses, the CDC says. It could be that their immune system didnt respond as well as they should have to the vaccine; their immune systems ability to fight the infection decreased over time; or they have prolonged, close contact with someone who has the virus.

Similarly, those who previously had a measles infection generally develop immunity against the disease and shouldnt get sick again, public health experts say. Speak with your doctor if you have questions.
Sean "Diddy" Combs appeared in court on Friday to face three new allegations of sexual abuse.

During the court appearance, he reportedly looked "bloated" and unkempt in his tan prison jumpsuit as he pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyers also recently claimed that the viral surveillance video in which he was seen hitting and stomping on his ex-girlfriend Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura was "altered" and "destroyed."

Diddy Appeared 'Bloated' In Court, Where He Faced New Allegations

MEGA

Diddy attended a court session on Friday to face fresh allegations from three new victims that he sexually abused them between 2004 to 2024.

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Court documents also alleged that he "forced labor" by demanding employees to work long hours and threatened to punish those who wouldn't assist in the sex-trafficking scheme.

The rapper pleaded not guilty and isn't facing any new charges; however, his puffy look has set tongues wagging on the effect of his legal crisis.

According to the New York Post, Diddy appeared "bloated" and "old" in his tan prison jumpsuit, sporting gray hair and a gray chinstrap beard.

CBS reporter Alice Gainer also noted the rapper's aged appearance, writing on X, "Combs walked into courtroom sporting grey hair and a grey beard..."

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It comes as no surprise, as Diddy has been locked behind bars at the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his September arrest.

Several of his family members appeared in court to support him, and when the hearing was done, he blew a two-handed kiss in their direction.

Diddy's Lawyer Said CCTV Footage Of Him And Cassie Was 'Altered'

MEGA

The rapper's outing comes after Diddy's legal team, led by Marc Agnifilo, claimed that the viral surveillance video in which the embattled rapper can be seen hitting and dragging his ex-girlfriend along a hotel alley has been "altered."

The shocking video was filmed in 2016 at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City, California, and was obtained by CNN before it was released in May.

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In the footage, which appeared to corroborate some of Cassie's allegations in a November 2023 lawsuit, the Bad Boy Records founder is seen chasing Cassie down the hallway before attacking her near the elevator.

A 2016 surveillance video obtained by CNN shows Sean "Diddy" Combs violently grab, shove, drag and kick his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura during an altercation in a hotel in California. https://t.co/qgD40mRPtQ pic.twitter.com/1u7qJgn3mC  CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) May 17, 2024

According to TMZ, a letter by the defense team reads, "CNN purchased the only known copy of the Hotel's surveillance footage, uploaded that footage into a free editing software, altered the video and then destroyed the original footage, even though it knew about and repeatedly reported about the federal investigation."

Diddy's team further accused the news outlet of "covering the time stamp and then changing the video sequence. It also includes speeding up the video to make it falsely appear that the actions in the video are taking place faster than they are. As a result, the CNN videos do not fairly and accurately depict the events in question."

CNN Has Denied Diddy's Lawyers' Claims

MEGA

A spokesperson for the news outlet has since denied Diddy's lawyers' claim that they "altered" the assault video and "destroyed" the original video.

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According to the spokesperson, the original copy is still intact, and the source of the video has "retained" it.

"CNN never altered the video and did not destroy the original copy of the footage, which was retained by the source," the spokesperson said, per Page Six.

They added, "CNN aired the story about the video several months before Combs was arrested."

Cassie's Lawyer Slammed The Rapper's Defense Team's Argument As 'Disingenuous'

MEGA

Meanwhile, Cassie's lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, also slammed Diddy's request for the surveillance footage not to be used as evidence in his trial.

"It is not surprising that Combs would make a disingenuous argument to exclude the disturbing video from being shown to the jury in the upcoming trial," Wigdor said.

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He added, "I am confident that the video fairly and accurately represents what happened, will be admitted into evidence, and that Combs will be held accountable for his depravity."

Diddy's Trial Pushed Back By A Week

MEGA

Meanwhile, Diddy's criminal trial has been pushed back by a week following his hearing on Friday in New York.

Manhattan Federal Judge Arun Subramanian said that the music mogul's trial will start on May 12, where opening statements will be heard, but jury selection will begin on the original May 5 day.

Diddy is facing trial for alleged sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

The rapper could be hit with a minimum of 15 years in prison and up to life behind bars if convicted on the top charge.
Sean Diddy Combs stunned onlookers with a dramatic new look in court on Friday, where he appeared bloated and old, with significantly graying hair and beard, according to the New York Post,

Courtroom sketch shows Sean

Reporters described Combs on Friday from inside the Manhattan courtroom where he pleaded not guilty to new indictments stemming from his employees accusations that he forced them to work long hours and help with his sex trafficking crimes, with threats and coercion. Combs denied those allegations and his lawyer maintained that the disgraced mogul never forced anyone into sexual activity. Combs was indicted on three counts of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution, and will stand trial in May.

Combs has been held behind bars without bail since he was arrested in New York in September, at the notoriously hellish Metropolitan Detention Center, where he will remain until his trial. Multiple reports of murders and suicides have emerged from the jail, but Combs lawyers have insisted hes  doing quite well  under the conditions. In February, the rapper was secretly taken to the hospital for an undisclosed issue with his knee. His biggest complaint so far, according to his lawyer, is the food .

Sean

As easy Combs jail times has been portrayed, sketches from inside the courtroom Friday suggest that Combs is undergoing quite a few changes during his time there, with the New York Post reporting that he entered the hearing looking puffy with gray hair and a gray chinstrap beard. His lawyers argued about jury selection and the inclusion of the infamous hotel video of Combs assault on Cassie Ventura, which his defense hopes to deem inadmissible.
Read the BBCs news coverage and you will get the strong impression that in arresting  with a view to deporting  the green card-holding Mahmoud Khalil, Columbia Universitys top pro-Palestine ringleader, the Trump administration is preying on an innocent student for simply having exercised his right to free speech and political liberty on the Columbia campus last year. You would also get the impression it is doing so because of Islamophobia, racism and  of course  the unseen tentacles of the Israel lobby.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the administration will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of those it deems to be Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported. For added clarity, house speaker Mike Johnson responded to a reporters question about the deportation. I went to face down the angry mob at Columbia at the height of that stuff... and it was dangerous, said Johnson. I met with Jewish students who were hauled away off campus because they were instructed not to come to class for fear of their physical safety. Indeed.

Of course the administration cannot and should not deport US citizens, only foreign nationals. Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born Palestinian who acted as spokesman for the Columbia protesters, deserves to be deported, along with the many hundreds if not thousands of his compadres who have devoted and continue to devote themselves to making American college campuses  and American cities more broadly  hell on earth for Jews.

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Carrying out the mission to deport Hamas supporters in America, as Rubio describes them, is not just about sending a clear message to would-be arrivals on American shores that violent anti-Semites, under the guise of anti-Zionists or not, are not welcome. It is essential if the Enlightenment values and ideas on which America and the free world are built are to be saved. Having enabled the dramatic transformation in human thriving and civilisation seen over the last few hundred years, the all-important legacy of the Enlightenment  whose apotheosis is the United States  is in terrible, speedy decline.

The protesters make themselves quite clear. Khalil acted as spokesperson for the Columbia University Apartheid Divest, the organisation behind the Columbia protests, which has stated on Instagram that it is fighting for the total eradication of Western civilisation.

As Richard Landes, a leading historian of the Palestinian terror and jihadi movement, argues in his brilliant book Can the Whole World Be Wrong? Lethal Journalism, Anti-Semitism and Global Jihad, the zest for the terror and the slaughter of Jews makes Israel a major battlefield in the global war between Medieval forces of darkness and Western, Enlightenment-cradled democratic civilisation.

So let us make no mistake: last years widespread whipping up of hatred against Jews on campuses was a clear example of that global war. Deporting those architects of it who can be deported is a very important measure. There is a clear difference between free speech and persecution.

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Lest we minimise what actually happened, let us look at the testimony of one among many mothers of Jewish students on campuses from Columbia to UCLA.

We had to move our kids out of the campuses, wrote Miha Schwartzenberg on X last week. Not just because of the protests and tents and blocking their access to everywhere in campus  but because of the constant death threats, very dangerous and disgusting physical gestures, shouting and banging on their dorm doors, day and night, stupid jokes, violating their privacy in the [common] bathrooms [swastikas] and sick writings on their walls, class disrupted freestyle, calling them humiliating names while in class and so on. Not one faculty member or anyone in the administration of these Universities did something, anything, to protect our children. Most of the Jewish students literally locked themselves in dorms, those who were lucky to share the room with a sane student. But those who had [pro-Palestine] room-mates had to move out, while we paid not just for the school, but for the dorms as well. It was the worst student year any Jewish/Israeli ever imagined.

For many news outlets, such horror doesnt even merit any comment whatsoever. In the BBC report, the Jewish experience is solely represented by Carly, a Jewish-American graduate student and a friend of Mr Khalil who told the BBC that [he] was a very, very caring soul. Its sick.

The university staff who did nothing to restore order to their campuses are also quoted at length, for instance Columbia Professor Michael Thaddeus: Were facing a horrifying reality that our own student, a member of the Columbia community, has become a political prisoner here in the United States.

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Of course, as with much that comes out of the Trump administration, the talk is talked but the walk doesnt necessarily follow. This single attempt at deportation is already being blocked as court proceedings get underway and Khalils army of lawyers argue the arrest is unconstitutional. The case may cost millions.

It is unclear whether Trumps people have gone about the Khalil detention with sufficient care to actually carry through the deportation; as likely as not Khalils lawyers will win and he will stay.

The deportation of all the green-card holders who foment pro-Hamas activity would easily cost a trillion dollars in legal fees on the basis that each would cost as much as this one, though once precedent is established things might either speed up or grind to a halt. In any case it would be money well spent. We have to hope that America can be saved from its terror-endorsing lovers of murder and mayhem, one by one. The alternative is too all-encompassing and dark to imagine.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Hours before the Texas Legislature reached its Friday, March 14 deadline to file any bills for the 89th legislative session, advocates for the disabled community rallied to call on the state to increase wages for personal-care attendants.

Advocates say people with disabilities depend on personal-care attendants for their everyday needs.

Personal care attendants and people with disabilities demand their fair share of the pie!

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That was the rallying cry from advocates who used Pi Day  celebrated on March 14  as a way to voice their concerns.

Members of the Volar Center, the Personal Attendant Coalition of Texas, and the El Paso Desert ADAPT  a disabled rights advocacy group  demanded that the Texas Legislature increase the minimum wage for personal care attendants from $10.60 per hour to $20 per hour.

They said the wage increase is needed to alleviate a shortage and high turnover of people working in this field.

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Right now, these individuals dont get anything. They dont get benefits. They dont get time off. They dont get holidays. We work 365 days a year for $10.60 an hour. Sometimes, these clients dont have enough hours. And so, youre going from one side of the city to the other side of the city just trying to make ends meet, Roberto Oporto, the purchasing coordinator for the Volar Center for Independent Living, said.

Roberto Oporto

Oporto has been a personal care attendant for decades and said he went into the workforce to care for his mother, who became disabled due to an accident.

Right now, attendants dont have livable wages and thats why there is a big turnover or a big issue with the recruitment and retention of the attendant workers. Not only can they get better wages at other places like working at restaurants, they also get benefits. They also get vacation time. They also get sick leave and things that our attendants dont obtain right now, Josue Rodriguez, an organizer with El Paso Desert ADAPT, said.

Josue Rodriguez

Ive never had so much trouble trying to recruit an attendant to assist me. Sadly, the base wage for attendants in Texas is not nearly enough at $10.60 per hour. Weve got to have $20 per hour to adequately compensate attendants for the vital work they perform daily, Luis Enrique Chew, executive director for the Volar Center, said.

Luis Enrique Chew

Advocates also shared concerns that many people with disabilities are struggling to find accessible and affordable housing.

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You cant go down the street any day without seeing a number of people with disabilities in need of housing, Rodriguez said.

Advocates also spoke about the federal governments attempt to cut Medicaid funding and programs that the disabled community heavily depend on.

We are very concerned at the lack of understanding from the Department of Government Efficiency. Theres about 600 centers for independent living across the nation. We provide five core services: independent living skills training, advocacy, nursing home relocation, transition services, and sensitivity training with the ADA, Chew said. We provide a lot of independent living skills so people with disabilities can live out in the community instead of institutions such as nursing homes. People with disabilities deserve to live their life like anybody else.

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WASHINGTON  In capitulating to Republicans on their partisan bill funding the government, Democrats may have put their party in an even worse position during the next round of negotiations on spending that is expected later this year.

With the GOP controlling both chambers of Congress and the White House, Democrats have precious little leverage to push back against President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musks efforts to demolish federal agencies and shut off spending on government programs without congressional approval.

Their biggest tool is denying Republicans the 60 votes necessary to advance legislation in the Senate, or mounting a filibuster  something theyve long complained about in the past when they were in the majority. For a brief moment on Wednesday, it looked like Democrats were going to use it on the GOP funding bill, heartening Democratic voters who demanded they do more to stop Trump.

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But just a day later, after a heated closed-door debate within his caucus, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced he would not filibuster the bill, issuing a key signal that ultimately led nine more of his Democratic colleagues to follow suit and clear the way for its passage on Friday.

It was a stunning reversal that prompted outcry from other Democrats across the ideological spectrum, including two of Schumers allies, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Ill take the bullets, Schumer told The New York Times, insisting that a government shutdown would give Trump even more power to close federal programs and lay off workers.

Other Democrats, however, said that passing the GOP spending bill would empower Trump to withhold funding to states and localities that dont do his bidding, including those of Republicans who may stand in his way. They also said that by choosing not to filibuster now, Democrats were weakening their hand and setting themselves up for another embarrassing loss to Republicans when funding expires in September.

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We become irrelevant if we dont use our power on cloture to demand that we have a seat at the table. We obviously have to make sure we arent cut out of negotiations in the future, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said Friday.

Asked what leverage Democrats had over Trump in the future, Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), said, I think we would have more if we stood up for ourselves today.

Schumer, meanwhile, told reporters he thinks Democrats might be able to get a better deal since Trump will be less popular come September and that Republican appropriators might be more willing to stand up to him. Trumps approval numbers have dipped in recent weeks, especially due to his handling of the economy and turmoil in the stock market.

Its possible that Trumps approval rating nosedives even more in the next six months, but history has shown that congressional Republicans are far more likely to bend the knee than risk angering the president or his supporters.

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There could be opportunities for Congress to return to passing bipartisan spending bills via regular order, unlike the one that passed on Friday. Lawmakers must tackle several issues in the coming months that could require bipartisan support, including raising the debt ceiling and delivering aid to victims of the California wildfires. They will also have to act to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies that are due to expire at the end of the year.

I hope we can work on something that it is bipartisan. I think we can, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said Friday. There are things you got, the ACA, expiring subsidies and other things out there that maybe we can get a bipartisan outcome.

Democrats have had more success in pushing back against Trump and Musks efforts in the courts. The president has suffered several legal setbacks, including judges striking down his executive order eliminating birthright citizenship as well as reinstating many federal workers who were laid off in recent weeks.

Republicans have also suffered in the court of public opinion. GOP lawmakers have faced angry town halls with many voters posing scathing questions about policies rolled out under Trumps administration, including tariffs on Canada and Mexico and cuts to popular agencies like the Social Security Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Turmp, meanwhile, gloated as Democrats bickered over their situation on Friday, praising Schumer for making a really good and smart move by not blocking the bill funding the government.

Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing  Took guts and courage! Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
Advances in DNA technology have helped police finally link a man with a history of robbery, rape and murder to the 1971 killing of a 60-year-old woman inside of her Pasco home.

Detectives have long suspected Sam Pietro Evans brutally beat and choked Ivah McDonnell with her own pajama bottoms inside her home at 5008 W. Sylvester Street.

But now the Franklin County Sheriffs Office was able to confirm that Evans, who died in Department of Corrections custody in 2016, was the man responsible for her murder.

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McDonnell, who was single and lived alone, was found dead on Dec. 2, 1971 after two co-workers found her front door pried open, the telephone cord cut and the blankets pulled off of her bed, the Tri-City Herald reported at the time.

Evans was one of 14 suspects interviewed by police, but while detectives sent evidence to be tested by the FBI, state and private labs, they were never able to link him to the murder, Franklin County Sgt. Steve Warren said.

It wasnt until 2023 when advances in finding DNA allowed the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab to identify Evans saliva on the pajama bottoms, Warren told the Tri-City Herald Friday.

Evans had a lengthy criminal history that included convictions for robbery in 1959, forgery in 1972, manslaughter in 1976 and armed sexual assault of a victim over age 65 in 1987.

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He was arrested again in 2010 in connection with the 1972 killing of Jackson Schley.

Schley, 58, was shot during a robbery, and his wife Daisy, 46, was kidnapped and raped. She died in 2007, the Seattle Times reported in 2010.

He pleaded guilty to the killing and was still in prison for the crime when he died at the age of 77. He spent about 39 years in prison across multiple states, the Franklin County Sheriffs Office said.

McDonnell had one extended family member left after 53 years, Warren said. The family member seemed relieved to finally have an answer to the death.

McDonnells Murder

Evans, who was 33 at the time of the killing, met McDonnell through a mutual friend and appeared to single her out.

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While detectives collected a lot of evidence and suspected Evans, there was never enough evidence to charge him.

Former Benton County Coroner Rick Corson talked to the Tri-City Herald in 2010 about his experience with the case. Corson had just joined the Franklin County Sheriffs Office in 1971.

It was the only unsolved homicide for us during my time there, Corson said in 2010. Almost ever other year, somebody was assigned that case to try to find something new. We continuously worked that case. It was never left alone.

Deputies never found the weapon used to break into McDonnells home or the one used to hit her, according to Herald archives. She had been knocked unconscious for about two hours before being strangled to death.

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Then Sheriff Dick Boyles said robbery or rape was the likely motive to the murder, but the only things missing were her wallet, a jar full of change and some lingerie.

McDonnells friends described her as matronly, quiet and a bit of an introvert. Most of her activities were related to work. At the time, her closest relative was a cousin who lived in California, the Tri-City Herald reported.

When Evans name surfaced as a suspect in 2010, police tried to figure out exactly when he lived in the city in an attempt to connect him to the killings.

He was married to a Pasco woman until 1982, the Seattle Times reported.
(NewsNation)  The Department of Government Efficiency claims that it has saved the country $115 billion so far. But is this accurate?

On DOGEs website, it claims that $115 billion has saved taxpayers around $715 each. However, according to The New York Times, DOGE has deleted hundreds of claims from its wall of receipts several times. This includes early March, when the agency erased $4 billion in additional savings it claimed to have made for taxpayers.

DOGE cuts could hinder weather forecasting

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Are the cuts DOGE is making, including federal worker layoffs, actually saving money?

Internal Revenue Service layoffs

According to the Washington Post, DOGEs plan to cut staff at the IRS by up to 50% would lead to a $400 billion increase in uncollected taxes over the next 10 years. This could lead to $2 trillion in losses.

Right now, the IRS fails to collect around $700 billion in taxes that are owed each year. The Quarterly Journal of Economics suggests that every dollar that is spent on auditing individuals in the top 10% of earners returns around $12.

DHS revokes visa of one Columbia student, arrests another pro-Palestinian protester

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However, the Treasury Departments inspector general has previously estimated that each hour spent auditing a high earner creates close to $5,000 more in tax revenue, according to The New York Times.

Tax season could also be a lot less efficient if these employees are cut. During the 2022 filing season, the IRS only answered less than 20% of the calls that they received. That was when the IRS had around 79,000 employees. The Trump administration is reportedly looking to cut it to around 50,000 employees.

DOGE impacts already being felt at IRS

According to The Washington Post, the IRS is already feeling the effects of DOGE. Employees are spending time waiting to use shared computers to respond to the agencys request for weekly emails about their work.

Mace sued for defamation over allegations in stunning floor speech

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IRS receipts, which are taxes already paid and taxes the IRS is scheduled to receive, are much lower than they were at this point last year.

The Budget Lab at Yale suggested that cutting the IRS by 50% would cost nearly $400 billion throughout the next decade. This includes losses from fewer audits and indirect losses.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin will have to come to the table to negotiate peace in Ukraine sooner or later, Britains Prime Minister Keir Starmer told a summit of Kyivs allies on Saturday.

In opening remarks to the coalition of the willing, Starmer said the past week  in which Kyiv agreed to a US-backed ceasefire proposal while Putin prevaricated  has shown once again that Ukraine is the party of peace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is taking part in Saturdays summit, has agreed to and committed to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, Starmer said, while Putin is the one trying to delay.

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If Putin is serious about peace, its very simple: He has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire, said Starmer. The world is watching. My feeling is that sooner or later hes going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussion.

The coalition of the willing, a group of who have pledged to help defend Ukraine from Russian aggression in the face of dwindling and uncertain support from Washington, met in London two weeks ago and reconvened Saturday for a virtual meeting.

After Kyiv this week accepted the terms of a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine  endorsed by US President Donald Trump  Moscows response was ambiguous, with Putin saying that we agree with the proposal but also that the deal wasnt complete.

Ahead of Saturdays virtual summit, Starmer said Putin cannot be allowed to play games with Trumps deal.

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The Kremlins complete disregard for President Trumps ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace, he said.

Starmer is expected to press European and NATO allies during Saturdays talks to ratchet up economic pressure on Russia and to force Putin into negotiations, according to a Downing Street statement.

Starmer said Putin's prevarications shows he is "not serious about peace." - Julian Simmonds/Pool/AFP/Getty Images/File

Saturdays meeting involves some 25 countries, including European nations, the EU Commission, NATO, Canada, Ukraine, Australia and New Zealand.

During the meeting, Starmer will call on allies to be prepared to support a just and enduring peace in Ukraine over the long term and continue to ramp up our military support to Ukraine to defend themselves against increasing Russian attacks, Downing Street said.

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To achieve this, European nations must be ready to monitor a ceasefire to ensure peace lasts, Starmer said.

Although Europe has shown considerable unity amid the blows the Trump administration has dealt to the transatlantic alliance, significant divisions remain over whether individual European countries are willing to deploy troops to Ukraine to keep the peace.

Trump said Friday that he got pretty good news on a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, without elaborating, and that his administration had very good calls with both countries earlier in the day.

In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump said there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end.

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He said in an interview taped Thursday that his administration would know a little bit more on Monday about the US-proposed temporary ceasefire.

Putin met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday in Moscow  a visit that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said gave reason to be cautiously optimistic.

With Kyiv losing its grip on the western Russian region of Kursk, its sole territorial bargaining chip, many believe that Putin may be delaying talks on the ceasefire proposal until the region is firmly back under Russian control.

Russian forces have retaken two more settlements in Kursk  Zaoleshenka and Rubanshchina  its defense ministry claimed on Saturday. It comes days after Russia recaptured the key town of Sudzha, the largest town Ukraine had occupied in the region.

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Zelensky said Saturday his troops were holding back Russian and North Korean forces in Kursk and denied Russian claims that Ukraines army was surrounded.

Meanwhile the aerial assaults continued, with hundred of drones crossing the border.

Russia fired 178 drones and two ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight, killing at least two people and injuring 44, according to Ukrainian officials. The two were killed in Kherson region, the head of its military administration said, after Russia targeted critical infrastructure and residential buildings, damaging seven high-rise buildings and 27 houses.

Russias Defense Ministry said its air defenses had shot down 126 Ukrainian drones overnight, without saying how many drones bypassed its defenses.

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President Donald Trump referred to CNN and MSNBC illegal during a speech at the Department of Justice on Friday. It marked the latest escalation in his language about the news media and those two networks in particular since he returned to the Oval Office in January.

In his remarks, Trump referred to MSNBC as MSDNC-an apparent reference to the Democratic National Committee.

I believe that CNN and MSDNC, who literally write 97.6% bad about me are political arms of the Democrat Party, he said. In my opinion theyre really corrupt and theyre illegal. What they do is illegal.

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TVNewser has reached out to both CNN and MSNBC for comment, but none was received at press time.

The Trump administrations antipathy for both networks is well-known. In February, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to publicly criticize Brian Roberts-CEO of MSNBCs parent company Comcast-for running a corrupt operation.

They should be forced to pay vast sums of money for the damage they've done to our Country, Trump added.

That same month, Trump swatted away a question from CNN anchor and White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins during a meeting in the Oval Office saying the network had no credibility.

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Collins was a frequent foil of the president during his first administration as well. I think if you're interviewing an elected official who is paid by the taxpayers, they shouldn't like all of your questions, she told TVNewser in an interview last year. I always seek to be fair and respectful, but what's the point of interviewing someone if you're not going to go there and ask them what everyone's thinking?

CNN and MSNBC arent the only news networks to face Trumps ire. In December, ABC News settled a defamation suit with the then-president elect over remarks made by anchor George Stephanopoulos. Trump is also in the midst of litigation against CBS News and its parent company, Paramount Global, over an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris that aired on 60 Minutes during the 2024 election cycle.

While reports have suggested that Paramount head Shari Redstone is eager to settle the suit, the corporation moved to dismiss the case last week.

In one of their motions to dismiss, Paramount lawyers said that Trump was seeking to punish a news organization for constitutionally protected editorial judgments they do not like.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Youngstown bars and restaurants were gearing up Friday afternoon for St. Patricks Day weekend, hoping the warm weather and a little luck will draw in a big crowd.

Its the first St. Paddys with the citys Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in use. Inside the Federal, employees were decked out in green and getting ready to open for the afternoon. The bar is decked out too  all for an Irish pop-up running until the 23rd.

We have Irish specials, especially cocktails, food specials and a really fun environment. Were really excited for this weekend. Downtown Youngstowns back and better than ever, said Sophia Martini.

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Its the first St. Patricks day where the citys DORA  designated outdoor refreshment area  is operational and businesses are looking forward to sharing the wealth as people can more freely move from bar to bar.

People can come down here, go from bar to bar, restaurant to restaurant and participating restaurants have a special cup that you can bring in and go in and out of other businesses, said Youngstown Events Coordinator Melanie Clarke-Panella.

Clarke-Panella says there will be public parking and extra security to make sure everyone can enjoy the weekend.

The citys newest bar and restaurant, The Varsity Club, will have an outdoor tent and live music starting at noon Saturday.

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Its our first time. We dont know what to expect but were going to try to bring a big party downtown and see what we can do, said John Rudy with the Varsity Club.

Over on the east end of the city, Penguin City has something for everyone. Theyre hosting St. Baldricks Saturday morning, will have live music in the evening and host Irish dancers and traditional music on Monday.

I love that we geared our St. Patricks Day to try to fit something like Saturdays geared towards family, you know, Fridays more the college crowd. You know, Monday we do traditional Irish so its just we really wanted something for everybody, said Penguin City co-owner Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki.

Clarke-Panella hopes the DORA and public parking bring people together for a successful weekend in the city.

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Its a community in our downtown restaurant district, bar and restaurant district. We want to be able to go and do more than one thing when youre downtown Youngstown this season, she said.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  North Nashville is full of entrepreneurs adding new life to a historic neighborhood. News 2 talked with a business owner about her dreams for North Nashville, as well as the problems she wants fixed.

I love my city. I love Nashville, said Valeria Lopez, owner of Chandelier Event Space on Buchanan Street. I get to see my people on a grand scale. This was a great African American community.

Lopez said North Nashvilles greatness is still there today. Therefore, when it came time to launch her new business, she could think of no better neighborhood to open up shop.

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This is the community in which I grew up. This is home for me, said Lopez.

The Gulch: A neighborhood creating an identity separate and unique from Broadway

Lopez recently opened Chandelier on Buchanan Street. She envisions her venue as an affordable event space in an increasingly expensive neighborhood.

I want to make a presence for those in the community that have never been able to have a birthday party because they couldnt afford a space to rent out. I want to be able to bring an affordable space for people to come and celebrate, said Lopez.

According to Lopez, high costs in North Nashville are also a barrier for entrepreneurs like herself to lease and buy space to launch a new business. Its an issue that Shana Berkeley has seen in her line of work, as well.

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Really what comes to mind when we talk about growing pains in North Nashville, a big one  at least for entrepreneurship  is brick and mortar space, said Berkeley.

Berkeleys organization, Corner to Corner, helped launch thousands of entrepreneurs, including Lopez, in Nashville. Through its program called The Academy, Corner to Corner helps small businesses get off the ground. It teaches new business minds financing, law, and e-commerce  all the essentials to launching a new venture. In the past year, the organization helped start 80 business in North Nashville alone.

They really want to live in this area: East Nashville growing in demand

For The Academy, we really want people who have a business idea and they want to turn that into a moneymaking reality, said Berkeley.

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Weve had some amazing businesses that started in North Nashville, she added. This is a great place for our community to just grow and flourish.

However, North Nashvilles success has also brought the pressures of gentrification.

Trying to get people to understand that change is necessary in order for us to go to the next level, said Lopez.

Lopez said one growing pain in North Nashville is crime. Shes seen improvement over the years, but she acknowledged there is still more work to be done and she wants to be a part of the solution.

News 2 On Tour | Explore the communties that shape Middle Tennessee

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It has improved, because you dont hear about the gangs and things that like anymore in the area, but there are a lot of break-ins in the area, and so I hope that, as a coalition, we can come together and create some type of security where the security can go around and monitor the different businesses, said Lopez.

According to Lopez, that effort  neighbors working with neighbors  is the North Nashville she has always called home.

North Nashville is a testament of resilient people, said Lopez.

Lopez also plans to open a comfort food restaurant and cigar bar on Buchanan Street. Her first business is Suite Twelve25, a well-known restaurant in East Nashville.

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Wildfires destroyed more than 50 homes in the Stillwater area Friday, according to an early assessment by the Stillwater Fire Department.

Fire Chief Terry Essary said he believes they will learn of more when they are able to get into areas that were obstructed from view Friday night.

As of noon Saturday, no fatalities have been associated with the fires. Essary said some firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation and released from medical care. Stillwater Medical reported treating 12 patients in the emergency room for "smoke inhalation or patients on home care who needed to evacuate."

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Essary said multiple fires broke out around 1:20 p.m. Friday and quickly spread out of control in winds that gusted to between 60 and 70 mph.

The fires spread rapidly and we had difficulty containing each and every one, he said.  we attacked the fires and did the very best with what we had, but due to the high winds and low humidity, we were quickly overwhelmed due to the conditions.

To be honest with you, seeing your community on fire is a very unsettling thing. It is something a fire chief never wants to experience.

Stillwater Vice Mayor Amy Dzialowski said people can donate to the Stillwater Strong fund set up at unitedwaypaynecounty.org.

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Those wanting to volunteer are asked to email stillwaterstrongrelief@gmail.org with the word "volunteer" in the subject line.

Disaster declaration

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt declared a disaster in Cleveland County and 11 other counties as Norman also picks up following Fridays wildfire outbreak.

As of 8:30 a.m., city officials report all fires had been contained and damage assessment is being made. Officials revised the damage estimate downward from Friday evening, saying seven homes and 20 outbuildings have been lost to fires. Officials said there are no reports of civilian injuries at this time.

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The governor declared a state of emergency in Cleveland, Creek, Dewey, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, Oklahoma, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills, and Stephens counties after high winds spread the fires across the state.

Due to impacts from dangerous wildfires and straight-line-winds beginning Friday ... including damage to power lines and infrastructure, it is necessary to assist and expedite all efforts of relief, the governors order states. The order removes restrictions from vehicles weight requirements, fees, and other regulations to expedite delivery of goods and services to impacted areas.

City officials said the Norman shelters will close Saturday, but that those needing recovery help can apply for assistance through the Red Cross.

OG&E electric company reports that power has been restored to 83% of customers who experienced an outage from Fridays extreme high winds, but that aout 10,200 customers remained without power early Saturday.

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Approximately 1,700 operational and support personnel are responding by repairing the grid and restoring power to homes and businesses that can accept power, the company stated in a release. While evaluations are ongoing, damage to the grid includes downed power lines, 200 broken power poles, damaged transmission structures, tree damage to equipment, broken cross arms and other equipment attached to poles.

Nine-car accident

Although there were no fire fatalities, high winds and blowing dust are being blamed for a multi-vehicle accident east of Enid on Friday that resulted in one death and the hours-long closure of U.S. 412.

Enid Police Department received a 911 call at 12:13 p.m. of a multiple-vehicle accident. Responding officers found nine vehicles involved and said that one person had been ejected. That person was declared dead at the scene, authorities said. Two other people were injured.

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Other Oklahoma highways also were closed temporarily Friday because of blowing dust and smoke.

The high winds blew down power lines in and around Enid, sparking a grass that spread to a fence and two houses, Enid Fire Marshal Mike Schatz said. A propane tank along the fence exploded after becoming too hot. One house was a total loss. The occupant was not home at the time of the fire. A second house that was vacant sustained minor fire damage.

Many other fires were reported around the state, some leading to evacuations.

Eastern Oklahoma blazes

Several rural volunteer fire departments joined forces to extinguish outdoor blazes Friday afternoon and evening in parts of Cherokee County in eastern Oklahoma.

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Keys Volunteer Fire Chief Yogi Cole said there were five outside fires and close to 100 acres burned. No structures were damaged, and no injuries were reported.

Crews with the Keys, Cookson, and Welling fire departments, along with Oklahoma Forestry, battled a large blaze for several hours just east of the Caney Ridge area.

That one was from the first fire and Forestry was down on that one. Their (bulldozer) got a (containment) line, but the wind was so bad  swirling and blowing from every direction, that it blew across the line and got it going again, Cole said.

At one point, eight structures were threatened by the flames.

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We had a lot of resources, Cole said. We were lucky the Forestry had a (bulldozer) because that helped us tremendously. Theyre the experts on this and we just assisted them, and all of us working together.

Cole said one of the firefighters could see an ember floating through the air before landing on a pile of leaves.

(The fire) just took off, like you poured gas on it, he said. If the wind is getting up more than 8 or 10 miles an hour, if the humidity is low or even below 50%  yesterday it got down to 12%  and at those levels, it can burn so quickly and so easily.

Cole said Fridays blazes were intentionally set, as there were no power lines or electricity near the fires' points of origin.

CNHI papers in Stillwater, Norman, Tahlequah and Enid contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's pick to lead Medicare and Medicaid, on Friday sidestepped several questions from senators about whether he supports a House budget resolution that could lead to significant cuts to Medicaid.

The budget plan, adopted by House Republicans late last month, directs the Energy and Commerce Committee to identify at least $880 billion in mandatory spending cuts over the next 10 years, the majority of which is expected to come from the health program.

Oz, a former surgeon and TV personality, pledged during his Senate confirmation hearing to be administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to fight waste, fraud and abuse in the health care system  an argument being used by some Republicans to defend the possible cuts.

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However, he made no commitments to protect Medicaid funding.

I want to make sure that the patients today and in the future have resources to protect them if they get ill, Oz said. The way you protect Medicaid is by making sure that its viable at every level.

Dr. Mehmet Oz attends his confirmation hearing with the Senate Finance Committee on March 14.

As CMS administrator, Oz would oversee Medicaid, as well as Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obamacare. Together, the programs provide health insurance for roughly half the U.S. population.

Medicaid provides health coverage primarily to people with low incomes, although it covers other groups, including some older adults, pregnant women and people with disabilities.

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It's one of the largest sources of federal spending, costing more than $600 billion per year, according to government data.

Oz's lack of commitment to opposing the possible Medicaid cuts appeared to frustrate a number of Democratic senators, with some noting that the cuts would directly impact patients in their states.

All my colleagues are going to want to know: Are you going to cut Medicaid?" Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash, said. We want to know that from everybody.

In a back-and-forth exchange on the cuts, Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., asked Oz how many children losing health insurance would be "acceptable" to him. (In 2023, Medicaid covered nearly 4 in 10 children, including over 8 in 10 children in poverty.)

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"I dont want children losing health insurance," Oz responded.

Hassan then quipped, "Well, then youre going to need to reject the Republican budget plan."

Oz seemed to suggest that Medicaid funds weren't being used efficiently, saying that the program "is the No. 1 expense item in most states."

He also said he supports Medicaid work requirements but added that he was open to alternative qualifications, such as enrollment in an educational program.

"We have to make the system better," he said.

His controversial endorsements of marketed health products, such as the unproven weight loss supplement green coffee extract, received little attention at the hearing.

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Oz spent a lot of time during the hearing talking about artificial intelligence  a shared priority of the Trump administration  and how it might be used to fight misuse of prior authorization.

Prior authorization is a tool used by health insurance companies that requires doctors and patients to get pre-approval to use certain treatments. Insurers say it helps control costs, weeding out unnecessary care. Patients say it delays the care they need, as approvals can take weeks.

Oz said he wants the prior authorization process to be as quick as a credit card transaction.

"A credit card approval doesn't take you three months," Oz said. "You know immediately whether the transactions are approved or not."

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"I believe we have the power right now with the technology that didn't exist three or four years ago," he added.

In response to questions, he also criticized Medicare Advantage  a type of health plan provided by private insurance companies  over concerns that insurers could be using a tactic called "upcoding," where they jack up government reimbursements to boost their revenue.

The remarks were notable, as Oz has previously advocated for privatizing Medicare and promoted a number of insurers under Medicare Advantage.

"If confirmed, I will go after it," Oz said, referring to Medicare Advantage.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  President Donald Trump tapped surgeon and famous television host Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead a government agency that oversees more than a fifth of the federal budget, 6,000 employees and insures more than 150 million Americans, according to agency data.

Oz faced questions before the Senate for his nomination to lead the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The agency oversees Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.

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All great societies protect our most vulnerable, Oz said.

Democrats, though, asked him if he opposed cuts to Medicaid. Oz didnt answer directly.

Do you agree to oppose cuts in the Medicaid program? asked Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

I cherish Medicaid and I have worked in the Medicaid environment quite extensively, Oz said. The way to protect Medicaid is to make sure its viable at all levels.

Oz also committed to continue negotiating drug prices. He said he wants to use AI to make preauthorization faster. Oz also said AI could be used to detect fraud, with government-run and private insurance.

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Democrats also criticized Dr. Oz for promoting weight loss supplements on his show.

There was something called the Dr. Oz effect. You promoted them and the sales would go way up, said Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.).

That was something written about by the press. Thats not something I would talk about, Oz said.

Dr. Ozs financial disclosure shows he has millions of dollars of shares in health insurance and vitamin companies, among others. Hes promised to divest if confirmed.

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SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  A Baker man was critically injured in a Wednesday evening crash, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Gulf Coast school closures due to severe weather

According to an FHP press release, the single-vehicle crash occurred on State Road 4, west of Reeder Road, around 8:45 p.m.

LOCATION:

The driver, a 22-year-old man, was driving eastbound on State Road 4 approaching Reeder Road when he drove off the road for unknown reasons, the crash report said.

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The pickup truck overturned after colliding with two culverts, according to the crash report, which said the man was ejected from the vehicle.

WEATHER ALERT: Severe storms likely Saturday into Saturday night

The driver was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital and is in critical but stable condition.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY  Its been nearly seven months since Julisa Cannon, 31, was struck by a driver while walking home from work. Her family pleaded for the publics help in finding the person who killed the mother of five.

Now, Cannons family is finally getting the news they have been waiting for.

Police say the person who allegedly struck and killed Julisa is Jessice Przygoda, a 31-year-old from Edwardsville, Illinois.

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Przygoda is charged with leaving the scene of the accident, resulting in death. To make bond, she will need to pay up $100,000 in cash.

Cannons family is now reacting to the alleged suspects identity being revealed. Julisas mother, Stephanie Joshua, says shes happy about the news of an arrest but questions why it took so long for police to arrest jessica

That sucks! It really sucks because they knew who this lady was. The detective told me, I know that this lady killed your daughter and the prosecuting attorney knows who killed your daughter, her mother said. So why is she not locked up?!

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Court documents revealed disturbing details that night.

It stated that Przygoda was tracking her ex-husbands location and followed him to a bar right next door to the Pizza Hut, where julisa worked right off Meramec Road.

Thats when police say, she hit Cannon, who was walking home from work, carrying pizza home to feed her daughters.

After the crash, the suspect allegedly kept driving her way into the city.

Investigators say MoDOT workers later found her stranded with fresh damage to her car.

A search of her home uncovered a white ford edge with hair embedded in the windshield, matching Cannons hair color.

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When Im in my room, Im looking at my daughters ashes thats sitting on my dresser and I talk to her, Joshua cried. God heard my prayer last night. He heard me! He heard me ask for justice!

For seven months, Stephanie says she has been unable to sleep.

Ferguson sued after former employee died by suicide

I stayed up till bout 8 or 9 this morning. I didnt sleep. I cant sleep; maybe I can now knowing she is where shes supposed to be for taking somebodys soul, she said.

The victims brother, Maxwell Martin, says the pain of losing Cannon has been unbearable.

We really miss her dearly and we just want to see justice served. It aint a moment that goes past that were not thinking about her, Martin said.

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For Julisas family, this arrest is a step toward justicebut it doesnt bring her back.

The mother says shell attend every court hearing until the person who took their daughter away is held accountable.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
MIDDLEBURY  A single-vehicle crash into a tree left a Middlebury man with life-threatening injuries, the Elkhart County Sheriffs Office said.

Deputies were called at 5:38 p.m. Thursday to 10940 C.R. 4 just east of S.R. 13.

Reber Ross, 62, was traveling east on C.R. 4 in a 2008 Hyundai Santa-Fe when he drove off the roadway and crashed into a tree on the north side of the road in front of a residence.

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Ross, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered severe head trauma, including a 2-inch laceration to the forehead with severe bleeding, the report said. Police also said his injuries appeared to be life-threatening, and he was transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

Drugs and alcohol did not appear to be factors in the crash, police said.
The Colorado Supreme Court announced on Monday it will hear appeals in six cases, including the question of whether a person can claim he knowingly ingested one substance that was secretly laced with another behavior-altering substance as a defense to criminal charges.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP)  Commuters in downtown Barcelona have been able to ride the bus for free this week. Theres just one catch: this mini-bus has no one at the wheel.

The bus pulls away from the stop with its passengers on its own, brakes before changing lanes and eases down one of Barcelonas most fashionable boulevards.

Renault is testing a new driverless mini-bus in Barcelona this week. The autonomous vehicle is running on a 2.2-km (1.3-mile) circular route with four stops in the center of the Spanish city. Adventurous commuters can jump on free of charge.

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The French carmaker has teamed up with WeRide, a company specializing in autonomous vehicles, to make the prototype. It unveiled the driverless bus at the French Open venue last year, but now it is testing it on the open road in Barcelona. It also has testing projects going in Valence, France, and at the Zurich airport.

Pau Cugat was one of the curious to step aboard for a short ride along Passeig de Gracia boulevard.

We just passed by a regular, combustion-engine city bus, and I thought, Look, there is a bus of the past, and right behind it you have the bus of the future, the 18-year-old student said.

Driverless taxis and buses are being tried out by companies in other cities, from San Francisco to Tokyo.

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But Renaults initiative comes as Europe generally lags behind the United States and China in driverless vehicle technology, where companies are fiercely competing to get ahead.

The US is doing a lot of experimentation with autonomous vehicles, the same thing in China, Patrick Vergelas, head of Renault's autonomous mobility projects, told The Associated Press. Until now we dont have a lot in fact in Europe. And this is why we want to show that this works and prepare Europe to this route in public transportation.

The electric bus can run for 120 kilometers without a recharge and reach 40 kilometers per hour (25 mph). It is equipped with 10 cameras and eight lidars (sensor arrays) to help it navigate the streets filled with cars, motorbikes and pedestrians. The company says the bus is able to drive safely on a given course through a busy downtown like that of bustling Barcelona.

Carlos Santos, of Renaults autonomous driving group, said that he has seen all types of reactions from riders.

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Weve seen a lot of behaviors of people. Some of them were smiling, (while) other people just start crying, taking photographs or even try to open the doors," Santos said before he insisted that the bus ride was a safe one.

Barcelona's city officials said that they have had no reports of accidents caused by the experimental bus.
Dry conditions, powerful winds brought a wildfire outbreak to parts of Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Dry conditions and powerful winds brought an outbreak of wildfires throughout parts of Oklahoma on Friday that prompted evacuations, damaged buildings, and left thousands without power.

A strong storm system pushed powerful winds and dry air, triggering dangerous fire conditions into Oklahoma Friday afternoon and into the evening hours. Several parts of the state saw wind gusts of up to 83 mph.

Nearly 80,000 Oklahomans were without power due to the strong winds knocking down powerlines.

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High winds fueled wildfires causing damage across much of Oklahoma

News 4s Dylan Brown was near NE 234th and Choctaw Road in northwest Luther where fires threatened the area.

News 4s Spencer Humphrey was near Triple X and Coffee Creek.

News 4s John Hayes was near NW 122nd and Penn where multiple homes were engulfed in flames from a possible grass fire.

News 4s Mecca Thompson was near Highway 51 west of Stillwater where the winds were roaring.

News 4s Amaya Ward was near Leedey where strong winds were fueling a wildfire that started around 11:30 a.m. and evacuation orders were issued just before 1 p.m.

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As of 8:30 p.m., around 20,000 acres have been affected in Leedey with 0% containment.

News 4s Sydnee Batzlaff was near Norman where several wildfires threatened the area and have forced evacuations.

News 4s Tanner DeLeon was near Chickasha where residents were issued a voluntary evacuation order due to a wildfire that threatened the area.

Governor Kevin Stitt will address the media on the Oklahoma fire outbreak Saturday at 9 a.m. in Oklahoma City.

News 4 will provide updates once we have more information on the fire damage that impacted parts of Oklahoma.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Hillsborough County deputies said a man smashed into another vehicle, killing a mother and injuring three of her children, hours after being released from custody for a DUI arrest.

Nicholas Betancourt, 33, was taken back into custody on March 13 and now faces a slew of charges following an investigation into the deadly crash, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office.

Woman killed on her birthday trying to help dog on Dale Mabry Highway

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Pinellas County deputies first encountered Betancourt on Thursday, Feb. 27, when he was arrested for driving under the influence. Officials said he was released at around 9 a.m. the following the day.

Investigators believe Betancourt then made his way into Hillsborough County. He was driving northbound on Gunn Highway when around 3:45 p.m., authorities said Betancourt entered the southbound lanes and struck another vehicle.

Nicholas Betancourt (Credit: Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office)

The driver of the other vehicle, 36-year-old Dana Rivera, was killed as a result of the crash. Three of her children, ages 4, 6, and 15, were also left with serious injuries, the sheriffs office reported.

Deputies noted that Betancourt showed signs of impairment while at the scene of the crash. However, authorities said Betancourt had suffered injuries to both of his legs that required treatment, and he was taken to a local hospital.

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Detectives said they later determined that Betancourt was under the influence of cocaine and methamphetamine when he crashed into Riveras car, in addition to driving with a suspended license.

A search of his vehicle also turned up several drugs, including meth, mushrooms, cocaine, MDMA, oxycodone, Xanax and carisoprodol, authorities reported.

A mother lost her life, and her children will carry that emotional scar forever. This familys life was shattered in an instant because of one mans selfish and reckless decision, said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. Nicholas Betancourt chose to drive under the influence not once, but twice in just hours, leading to a tragedy that could have been entirely avoided.

Betancourt now faces 27 charges in connection with the crash:

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Driving Under the Influence Manslaughter

Vehicular Homicide

Driving Under the Influence with Property Damage or Injury (x2)

Driving Under the Influence Serious Bodily Injury (x2)

Reckless Driving with Serious Bodily Injury (x2)

Reckless Driving with Property Damage or Injury (x2)

Driving with a Suspended License Resulting in Death

Driving with a Suspended License Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (x2)

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (x7)

Possession of Cocaine

Possession of a Controlled Substance (x6)

Nothing will ever bring their mother back or erase the trauma these children will carry for the rest of their lives, but we want them to know they are not alone. We will stand by them, Chronister added. We will do everything in our power to ensure this man is held accountable for the devastation he has caused. I hope this arrest brings Dana Riveras family some sense of peace and justice.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  The East Texas Food Bank has responded to recent cuts President Donald Trumps administration has made to U.S. Department of Agriculture food bank and school food funding programs.

LIST: Tyler restaurants embracing farm-to-table dining

The Associated Press reported that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had cut more than a $1 billion dollars in funding to two programs which help provide locally grown food to schools and foodbanks.

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In a statement obtained by KETK on Friday, East Texas Food Bank CEO David Emerson responded to the USDAs funding cuts.

This program was critical to local farmers, growers and ranchers in our region, East Texas Food Bank CEO David Emerson said. Though potential funding and our ability to purchase food could be impacted by this decision, the East Texas Food Bank remains committed to sourcing fresh produce so we can provide healthy food for the communities we serve.

The East Texas Food Bank reported serving 31,000,000 meals to over 200,000 local households in the fiscal last year as a part of their vision for a hunger-free East Texas.

The Hill identified the two programs receiving the cuts as the USDAs Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program.

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Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller put own his own statement calling the cuts a fair and consistent approach on Wednesday.

I support a fair and consistent approach, which is precisely what the Trump Administration is implementing. This is not a final decisionits a reassessment. Theres always room for refinement, and we may see a revised version of the policy down the road that is even better for agriculture producers. I want to thank our farmers and ranchers, local food banks, school nutrition departments and Farm Fresh Network members for their dedication to providing fresh, nutritious meals to Texas students and families. Your hard work is building a healthier, more sustainable future for our state. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller

UT Tyler poll measures voters views of Trumps second term, DOGE

Miller said the cuts are intended to eliminate fraud, abuse and waste and that the Texas Department of Agriculture doesnt depend on this funding because they operate their own Farm to School and Farm to Food Bank programs.

Before the USDAs programs were implemented, Miller said that Texas schools spent more than $257.8 million on local food.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  Fire officials at the state and local levels are warning of the high risk of grass and wildfires into the weekend.

Smith County Fire Marshal strongly advising residents to not burn outdoors

Over the next three days, dont burn, Rusk County Fire Marshal Patrick Dooley said.

Dooley said his county is under critical fire watch and he wants people to know the dangers.

Weve seen what wildfires can do over the last few years, Dooley said. We saw what happened in California, we saw what happened last year in the Panhandle.

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The Texas A&M Forest Service has several East Texas counties under a high fire danger rating and the East Texas Storm Team said the weather is contributing to these conditions.

Humidity values are going to go down to about 15 to 20%, meaning that the air is going to be really dry, Meteorologist Brayden Siau said. Thats a low humidity value for East Texas.

Strong winds are only adding fuel to the potential for danger and could make any wild or grass fire harder to fight.

When you have that here with those winds, thats when you get that fire danger recipe, Siau said.

There are currently no burn bans in any East Texas county, but fire marshals are warning against burning anything.

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70-acre wildfire reported in Cass County

The one thing with wildfires even if youre doing a controlled burn, you turn your back for a second and then the next thing you know its gone, Dooley said.

The National Weather Service also warns against welding, throwing out cigarette buds, dragging chains on trailers and doing anything that could produce a spark.

Limbs and sticks thats whats going to catch fire, Dooley said. Hayfield that are dead right now theyre going to get going.

For now he said East Texans can do their part to keep everyone safe by not burning anything.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
CASS COUNTY, TX. (KTAL/KMSS)  The Texas A&M Forest Service reports they are responding to fires in Bandera, Cass, Gray, Hopkins, Roberts, and Wichita counties.

According to Texas A&M Forest Service incident view, a 70-acre active fire in Conco Hill, Cass County was last updated at 4:16 p.m. on Friday.

President Trump orders to cut 280M acres of national forests

Texas A&M Forest Service said crews are on standby for additional assistance requests.

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As of 6:22 p.m., Texas A&M Forest Service, the Conco Hill fire has been contained to 75%, and the department recommends that the public visit its website to stay updated on wildfire activity.

The Bowie County fire by W New Boston Road has been 100% contained as of 6:33 p.m.

This is a developing story.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  As the Trump Administration continues to cut federal funding and government jobs, economists are worried these actions may have consequences.

Antonio Doblas Madrid, Professor of Economics at Michigan State Univeristy, says one of the major effects for some will be direct consequences of lost income.

He says that federal employees who lose their jobs are likely to struggle to find a new position of the same caliber, which will result in them spending less money.

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This widespread decrease in personal spending will affect both restaurants and stores, who may see a drop in sales.

Doblas Madrid says cuts to the IRS could lead to more tax evasion, If there are fewer auditors. If the IRS has fewer capabilities to monitor. Then, for someone considering whether to pay their taxes or take their chances and do something illegal. Theyre more likely to get away if there are fewer inspections making sure that the law is followed.

He adds that job cuts to the Department of Education could directly affect lower-income households.

So far, hundreds of workers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been laid off, and around 80,000 Veteran Affairs (VA) workers are expected to be let go.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
By Gram Slattery and Alexandra Valencia

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ecuadorean officials have told allies of U.S. President Donald Trump that they are interested in hosting a U.S. military base in the South American country, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

The officials also said they were interested in inking a free trade deal with the United States, which has eluded the Andean nation, even as neighboring Colombia and Peru have had bilateral accords with the U.S. for over a decade, said the sources, who requested anonymity to describe private conversations.

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The expressions of interest were delivered in recent weeks to Republican lobbyists in Washington close to the Trump administration, the sources said. It is unclear if the administration is itself aware of or interested in the proposals, and the White House National Security Council did not respond to a request for comment.

The military base pitch is the latest unconventional plan advanced by the administration of Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa, who is trying to tamp down on crime and strengthen ties with Trump associates heading into a competitive April election.

On Wednesday, Noboa announced a "strategic alliance" with Erik Prince - a prominent Trump supporter and founder of controversial private military firm Blackwater - to take on crime and narcoterrorism in the country of 17 million.

Noboa, the 37-year-old heir to one of the country's biggest business fortunes, has publicly argued for bringing foreign military bases to Ecuador. The Ecuadorean legislature is in the early stages of a legislative process that could eliminate a constitutional ban on such facilities instituted in 2008 with the support of leftist former President Rafael Correa.

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The U.S. government had a military base on the environmentally sensitive Galapagos Islands during World War II and a separate base used largely to combat narcotics trafficking on the mainland until 2009, at which point Correa forced Washington to abandon the outpost.

Several other small and medium-sized nations have been exploring unconventional ways of building ties with Washington, some of which appear designed to take advantage of Trump's transactional foreign policy impulses and willingness to entertain unconventional policy ideas.

Officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for instance, have traveled to Washington in recent weeks to pitch the Trump administration on a critical minerals deal between the two nations. Officials in El Salvador, governed by conservative President Nayib Bukele, a prominent Trump ally, have offered to host criminals deported from the U.S. in Salvadoran jails.

Ecuador's government recently selected Washington-based Mercury Public Affairs to represent its interests with the Trump administration, according to a Monday filing with a Justice Department division that oversees foreign lobbying efforts.

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The filing outlining the lobbying contract does not include any reference to military bases. It does identify "migration, trade, and security issues, including anti-terrorism efforts" as potential areas of collaboration.

The Ecuadorean foreign ministry and Mercury Public Affairs did not respond to requests for comment.

TIGHT ELECTION

Ecuador is heading for a tight April 13 runoff election that will pit Noboa against leftist Luisa Gonzalez, a protege of Correa.

Noboa has campaigned on what he says has been a 15% cut in violent deaths last year, a reduction in prison violence and the capture of major gang leaders. He has vowed to keep deploying the military on the streets and in prisons to fight insecurity.

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The Noboa administration is also seeking to develop strategies alongside the State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs to "fight narcoterrorism," according to the Monday filing with the Justice Department.

Gonzalez, 47, has expressed opposition to the presence of foreign troops in Ecuador while calling for more efforts to fight the drug trade-related crime that has rocked the country in recent years. She has pledged to pursue corrupt judges and prosecutors and roll out a social spending plan in the most violent areas.

One of the sources familiar with the Ecuadoreans' interactions with Republican lobbyists said they were likely asking for too many deliverables in too short a time. The State Department tends to limit bilateral engagement directly before elections so as not to appear to be supporting a particular party, the source noted.

Trump has pledged to fight narcotics trafficking in Latin America, and he has at times expressed an interest in expanding U.S. hard power. He has, for instance, threatened to invade Panama, floated acquiring Greenland and said the U.S. could effectively take over Gaza.

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But his administration's engagement with Latin America has not always followed an obvious pattern.

He has repeatedly threatened to slap 25% across-the-board tariffs on Mexico - which partially took effect earlier in March - amid dissatisfaction with that country's attempts to combat fentanyl trafficking, while at the same time complimenting Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

His administration has made a deportation deal with Venezuela, a regional foe, but also declined to renew Chevron's license to operate there, a move which has further isolated that nation economically.

(Reporting by Gram Slattery in Washington and Alexandra Valencia in Quito; Editing by Christian Plumb and Diane Craft)
Taxes were pushed up too much in the Budget. Global stock markets have been rattled by Donald Trump. And business and consumer confidence has collapsed.

There were plenty of different factors that could explain the unexpected 0.1pc drop in Britains GDP reported on Friday. And yet, you hardly need to be Hercule Poirot to figure out who the real culprit is: the climate-obsessed Ed Miliband, our Energy Secretary.

The decline was led by a massive drop in manufacturing production. In reality, the collapse of Britains industrial base is turning into a national emergency  and Miliband has to go before he wipes it out completely.

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According to Rachel Reeves, Donald Trump was to blame for the disappointing and unexpected fall in output reported this week. Without naming the US president directly, she argued that the world has changed, and across the globe we are feeling the consequences  as she attempted to deflect the blame away from the government she is a part of.

If she genuinely believes that, then Reeves is even more deluded and ignorant than even her most persistent critics realised. In reality, the person to blame sits around the cabinet table with her, not five thousand miles away in the Oval Office. It is her colleague Ed Miliband.

For evidence, just drill down into the figures released by the Office for National Statistics on Friday.

Manufacturing shrank by 0.9pc in January alone, along with a 0.2pc decline in construction, while services managed to grow by 0.1pc. Without that steep fall in factory and energy output, GDP would still be rising, although admittedly not very quickly.

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In fact, over the last year, it has started to become painfully clear that British industry is facing a full-scale collapse.

Some of the figures are genuinely shocking. The output of the chemicals industry has fallen by 38pc since 2021. Electrical equipment is down by 50pc over the same period. Overall industrial output is down by 10pc since the pandemic, while the latest annual update from Make UK, the trade body for manufacturing industry, revealed that the UK has now dropped out of the top 10 countries for making stuff for the first time.

With total manufacturing output worth $259bn (200bn), we have fallen behind close rivals such as Italy, on $283bn, and France, on $265bn, two very similar economies to our own. The blunt truth is this: of all the major countries, we are now deindustrialising at the most rapid rate.

It is getting worse all the time. To take just one example from hundreds, the Aberdeen-headquartered well-decommissioning specialist Well-Safe Solutions announced earlier this month that it was cutting scores of jobs, blaming the windfall tax for the slowdown in its business. Elsewhere, Stellantis plans to close its Luton van factory in April. As Fridays figures made clear, our industrial collapse is now accelerating.

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It is not hard to figure out why. We have the most expensive industrial energy in the world. Factory power prices are now 74pc higher in Britain than in the US and 32pc higher than in France. For industries such as chemicals or building materials, where energy can account for 40pc or 50pc of the total cost base, that is a crippling burden.

And yet, instead of tackling that we are making it even worse by doubling down on unreliable wind and solar power and putting extra levies on industrial energy to cover the costs. The Ineos Grangemouth chemicals plant in Scotland will close later this year, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, its chairman, blaming energy as the main factor behind that decision.

Likewise, industry faces a blizzard of green regulations, targets and rules. It doesnt make much sense to blame Trumps tariffs for the decline of the British steel industry, for example, when we had already more or less killed it off by ourselves by switching to brutally expensive and uncompetitive green steel.

Perhaps worst of all, we have destroyed North Sea oil and gas production by refusing to licence any new fields, by imposing punitive windfall taxes on the few remaining producers, and by allowing activists to engage in lawfare against even the extra production that the government is in favour of. Against that backdrop, it is hardly any surprise that industrial production is falling, and it is only going to get worse later this year when major facilities such as Grangemouth and Luton finally close down for good.

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The author of all those policies is completely clear. The former Labour leader is engaged on an ideological crusade to combat climate change and refuses to engage with the mounting evidence of the damage he is inflicting in the process. The UK accounts for less than 1pc of global emissions, and has already cut further and faster than most of our major rivals. The consequences of that are now becoming painfully obvious to everyone.

Miliband is driving British industry to extinction. There is no point in talking about growth, or expecting any form of economic recovery, while he is still in office. It simply is not going to happen.

Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves cant ignore this weeks dire GDP figures. If industrial output had simply stabilised, instead of contracting, the economy would still be expanding, even if only modestly.

The Office for Budget Responsibility may now be forced into changing its forecasts, and the government may have to contemplate yet another round of tax rises in the Spring Statement at the end of this month. For the sake of what remains of British industry, they need to get rid of Miliband now  because very soon it will be too late.

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U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, a Lafayette Democrat and the party's assistant minority leader, speaks during a news conference to introduce the Democratic House leadership for the 119th Congress on Capitol Hill on Nov. 19, 2024, in Washington.
(NewsNation)  President Donald Trumps plan to eliminate the Department of Education and leave school policy to the states has raised concerns about the future of federal student loans and how they will be managed.

The outstanding federal student loan balance is $1.693 trillion, and 42.7 million student borrowers have federal loan debt, according to the Education Data Initiative. Currently, the Education Department oversees the federal loan system.

Last week, Trump told reporters that he doesnt believe the Education Department should be handling student loans, instead suggesting they be run under the Treasury Department, the Small Business Administration or the Commerce Department.

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Federal student loan site down Wednesday, a day after layoffs gutted Education Department

A change of that sort isnt set in stone, but student borrowers could feel the impact of recent department cuts before the issue is settled.

On Tuesday, Education Department officials said the agencys workforce would be cut roughly in half, with over 1,300 workers laid off. Of those, more than 300 people were let go from the office of Federal Student Aid, a division that manages the federal student loan portfolio, according to The Associated Press.

A day later, access to the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) went in and out for hours, and hundreds of users reported issues completing the form.

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The outage reinforced concerns that rapidly gutting the department will hurt students and those who rely on federal financial aid.

Linda McMahon, Trumps education secretary, maintains that the layoffs are a positive step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.

Todays reduction in force reflects the Department of Educations commitment to efficiency, accountability and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers, McMahon said in a statement.

McMahon told NewsNation she believes education is better handled at the local level and wants to take the bureaucracy out of education.

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Heres what the Trump administrations actions could mean for the future of student loans.

Your student loans wont be forgiven if DOGE violated FERPA

What happens to student loans if the Education Department closes?

Eliminating the Education Department wont erase student loans. Borrowers will still be responsible for repaying their debt.

According to Trump, student loans would most likely be overseen by another federal agency, potentially the Small Business Administration.

Andrew Gillen, research fellow at the Cato Institute for Economic Freedom, told Time Magazine the SBA would be a strange choice and doubts theyd be set up to handle the size of the task.

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What happens if the Department of Education is abolished?

Instead, Gillen said the Treasury Department makes more sense because it already has access to a lot of information that would be needed to implement student loan programs.

In her NewsNation interview, McMahon echoed Trumps desire to change things up and said that Pell Grants and student loans might best be served in another department. She said the administration is looking as to where that could best be handled.

For now, the Education Department said it will continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agencys purview, including student loans and Pell Grants.

Will the recent layoffs impact student borrowers?

Some experts are worried that the Trump administrations swift downsizing efforts will cause disruptions for students and families.

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Claiming that eliminating half the Department wont affect its services  without any clear plan to redistribute the workload  is, at best, naive and, at worst, deliberately misleading, Beth Maglione, interim president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, said in a statement.

Maglione said the department cuts also raise serious concerns about how billions of dollars in federal student aid will continue to be disbursed to students without interruption.

Sameer Gadkaree, president of The Institute for College Access & Success, said hes particularly concerned about how the recent layoffs could threaten college students and student loan borrowers.

Linda McMahon: Federal student aid could shift to another department

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Core functions of the Department could experience outages or breakages, leaving students struggling to get or renew financial aid or campus-based aid, Gadarkee said in a statement.

Hes also concerned that student borrowers wont be able to get reliable, accurate advice on student loan repayment.

In her NewsNation interview, McMahon insisted that the administrations decisions have been made methodically and said its not a turn off the lights and walk out of the department situation.

Will FAFSA be affected?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a form that students and families fill out to apply for federal student aid. Many states and colleges also use FAFSA information to determine eligibility for state and school aid.

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The form was overhauled under the Biden administration, but the relaunch didnt go well and was riddled with technical glitches. Now, some worry Trumps cuts could hamstring the FAFSA further.

Theres now no one here to oversee the system that ingests IRS data or the entire data center that hosts the FAFSA, an anonymous employee at the Education Department told Inside Higher Ed.

Wednesdays outage did little to allay concerns about the FAFSAs stability. A person with knowledge of the outage told The Associated Press that the entire team responsible for systems supporting the FAFSA form had been cut.

Education Department spokesperson Madi Biedermann told the AP that the layoffs didnt affect employees working on the FAFSA form or student loan servicing.

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They are strategic, internal-facing cuts that will not directly impact students and families, she said.

Can Trump end the Education Department on his own?

Shutting down the Department of Education would have to be approved by Congress, and McMahon said Trump knows he needs to work with federal lawmakers.

The president campaigned on this. 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 told NewsNation. But he understands that we need to work with Congress. There are certain things that are in statute.

The education secretary added: I think my job is to convince Congress that the steps that we are taking are in the best interest of the kids.

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Still, Trump is expected to challenge the authority of Congress by issuing an executive order aimed at dismantling the federal agency.

A draft of the order, viewed by The Wall Street Journal, reportedly directs McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department based on the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law.

On Thursday, Democratic attorneys general in Washington, D.C., and 20 states sued the Trump administration over its efforts to lay off nearly half of the Education Department workforce.

The group, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, argue that the cuts were illegal and unconstitutional.

Biedermann said the reduction in force was done carefully and in compliance with all applicable regulations and laws.

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Several officials and state legislators are joining the War Memorial Park Authority in an effort to save the USS Batfish.

The World War II submarine was anchored at Muskogee War Memorial Park until 2019 when May floods displaced and damaged the vessel.

The authority is leading the effort to relocate and restore the submarine. Because of the damage to the vessel, the authority was forced to close the Batfish to the public.

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Authority Chairman James Gulley said in a news release the Batfish is more than a submarine.

It represents the bravery and sacrifice of those who served our country and protected our freedoms, Gulley said. History may have been made beneath the waves, but its legacy belongs in Oklahoma  and it should remain that way.

State Sen. Avery Frix, R-District 9, said the submarine is vital to the history of Muskogee and Oklahoma.

I have talked to people all over the state that have memories of the Batfish, Frix said. I was talking to one person here at the Capitol and he told me about a field trip he went on to the Batfish when he was in the Boy Scouts.

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Frix said funding might need to come from various sources.

I think it could come from federal funds like FEMA, he said. It could also be achieved from private donations. Maybe there could be some city funds that could be used. I feel the importance to the history of the state is well worth saving.

Sterling Zearley, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department agreed with Frix on memories of visitors to the submarine.

Nearly every Oklahoman has a story about the Batfish, Zearley said. It is a tourism asset that has drawn visitors from across the country for decades. This is not just an opportunity to preserve a landmark that connects visitors to history  its a chance to ensure future generations understand the sacrifices made by service members who helped shape Oklahoma and our nation.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Four men were arrested and are facing several charges, including theft of property and criminal trespass, after stealing four Porsche vehicles valued at nearly $1 million on Wednesday, March 12, in Central El Paso, El Paso Police said.

The following men were arrested and charged as follows, according to EPPD:

Corey Dana Reed: Age 37; charged with theft of property; $300,000 bond.

Corey Dana Reed

Juan Reynaldo Ochoa: Age 43; charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and criminal trespass; total bond of $8,500.

Juan Reynaldo Ochoa

Milton Castilleja: Age 36; charged with theft of property, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of prohibited substance/item in correctional facility; total bond of $106,000.

Milton Castilleja

Luis Miguel Ubieta: Age 42; charged with possession of a controlled substance; $2,500 bond.

Luis Miguel Ubieta

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On Wednesday, the EPPDs Auto Theft Task Force was notified of a burglary in Central El Paso, during which four Porsche 911 cars, valued at nearly $1 million, were stolen, the department said.

EPPD said all four vehicles were recovered within six hours of the theft, and the offenders were arrested and taken into custody.

The investigation is ongoing, EPPD said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
El Paso Police: 5 teens arrested after smoke shop burglary

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Five teenagers were arrested after burglarizing a vape smoke shop on Thursday, March 13, in East El Paso, El Paso Police Department (EPPD) said.

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EPPD said three 15-year-olds and two 16-year-olds were arrested in connection to the burglary. The charges ranged from burglary of building, unauthorized use of motor vehicle, unlawful use of criminal instrument, directive to apprehend, evading arrest, harassment of public servant, possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, tampering/fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair, and evading detention.

Three of the teens were charged and referred to the Juvenile Probation Department, while the other two juveniles were charged and released into the custody of their parents, EPPD said.

EPPD said that on Thursday, the departments Auto Theft Task Force responded to a burglary at the Loudmouth Vape Smoke Shop along the 10200 block of Montana Avenue.

Preliminary investigations revealed that a group of individuals used a stolen Hyundai to crash into the building to steal items from inside, EPPD said.

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EPPD said the Hyundai was recovered at the scene. However, the suspects fled in a stolen Kia, police said.

Officers later located the suspects, who at that time, evaded arrest on foot, and were later arrested a short time later, EPPD added.

EPPD continues to investigate the incident.

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Walgreens will be closing nine of its Massachusetts stores in March and April.

In 2024, the Company announced it would be closing 1,200 stores nationwide over the next three years. According to Walgreens, shrinking prescription reimbursement and increased regulatory pressures are affecting their ability to cover the prices of rent, staffing, and supply needs.

Boston 25 News obtained the following statement from them:

We will continue to execute our previously announced turnaround plan aimed at stabilizing the retail pharmacy, including our footprint optimization program. Increased regulatory and reimbursement pressures are weighing on our ability to cover the costs associated with rent, staffing, and supply needs. It is never an easy decision to close a store, and we know how important they are to the communities we serve, and therefore do everything possible to improve their performance. When closures are necessary, we will work in partnership with community stakeholders to minimize customer disruptions.

Customers inside Walgreens on Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge Friday, March 14th, said most of the shelves were empty. They said theyre sad to see this store close on March 27th. A sign in the front window announces when itll be shuttered.

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Eva, 80, of Roxbury, explained that she goes to Walgreens for just about everything.

A lot of people, elderly people, depend on it, said Algia Benjamin of North Cambridge. Benjamin said its also a travesty for people who rely on public transportation to get around because it can sometimes be unpredictable.

To make this transition smoother for customers who get their prescriptions filled from Walgreens, the Company said it will notify people by mail and automatically send their medication to the nearest Walgreens store. Patients also choose which store they want to use instead.

They will also receive free prescription delivery for 90 days.

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Walgreens confirmed the following locations will close in Massachusetts:

38 W Main Street in Norton, closing on March 17;

525 Boston Post Rd. E, Marlborough, closing on March 18

85 Huttleston Avenue in Fairhaven, closing on March 19

99 Westfield Street in West Springfield, closing on March 20

32 Union Street in Easthampton, closing on March 25

625 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, closing on March 27

757 Gallivan Boulevard in Boston, closing on April 28

800 River St. in Haverhill, closing on April 28

256 Pleasant St. in Methuen, closing on April 29

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BANGKOK (AP)  An elevated road being built in Thailands capital Bangkok collapsed, killing at least five people, officials said.

The collapse, which happened in the early morning in southwestern Bangkok, also injured 24 other people at the construction site, said Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit.

Suriya offered his condolences and said victims would be compensated by contractors and relevant agencies. He said four workers and an engineer were killed, and no road users were affected as traffic lanes near the construction were closed at the time.

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Bangkok police commander Siam Boonsom said authorities were still investigating to determine the cause of the collapse and that they would pursue legal actions against those found responsible.

Photos from the site showed that large metal and concrete structures fell on the ground and completely blocked the road.

The construction of the 5-kilometer (3-mile) elevated road started in 2022, according to project information published on the website of the Expressway Authority of Thailand.

Surachet Laophulsuk, governor of the agency, said they were working to clear the debris as quickly as they could, but he said it might take a week. He added that the contractors working on the project were ordered suspended for 14 days pending the investigation.

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Road and construction safety is a major problem in Thailand. The site of Saturdays collapse is a part of a major road connecting Bangkok to Thailands south, which has been a subject of controversy over its prolonged construction and frequent fatal accidents.

Suriya said the transportation ministry is in the process of issuing new regulations that would suspend contractors found liable for construction accidents and blacklist them from bidding on future government projects.
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM)  An Elmira man is facing charges related to an early-morning shooting that was reported through the City of Elmiras gunshot detection system.

Jaheim Brown, 23, was arrested following a police investigation into the shooting. According to the Elmira Police Department, officers went to Balsam Street near Broadway Street at 1:35 a.m. on March 15 after the citys Flock Raven acoustic gunshot detection system sent a notification about shots being fired to Chemung Countys E911 Center. No one reported being hit by the shots.

Authorities say that police discovered that a vehicle was leaving the area at a high speed while officers were on the way to the area. An officer pulled the vehicle over near the intersection of Broadway Street and South Avenue, took the three people inside into custody, and called for assistance from the EPD Detective Bureau and the Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative Unit. Police reportedly found a defaced 9mm semi-automatic handgun that was loaded and spent shell casings, and they arrested Brown.

(Courtesy: Elmira Police Department) Police say Brown had the gun pictured above at the time of his arrest.

Brown was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (a class C felony) and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon (a class D felony). Brown is currently being held at the Chemung County Jail.

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Anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or who has information is asked to call the

Elmira Police Department at 607-737-5626 or leave a message on the anonymous tip line at

607-271-HALT.

The Chemung County Sheriffs Office and the New York State Police assisted the Elmira Police Department with the investigation.

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The late Rep. Raul Grijalvas X account appeared to post online after he died Thursday, and it caught the attention of billionaire and President Donald Trump adviser Elon Musk.

Grijalvas office said in a written statement that he died Thursday morning. His X account posted about the Department of Education at 12:16 p.m. Arizona time.

President Trumps latest reckless decision to fire thousands of employees at the Department of Education jeopardizes critical student aid programs, weakens protections for students civil rights, and undermines essential support for students with disabilities, the post said.

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It wasnt clear whether the post had been scheduled before Grijalvas death and went online in error. A spokesperson for Grijalva's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Musk, who is leading the Department of Government Efficiencys push to shrink the federal workforce, highlighted the post on Thursday night.

Whoever wrote the above post is impersonating a deceased Congressman, Musk wrote on X.

Grijalva, D-Ariz., died at age 77 after battling lung cancer. He had missed most House votes in 2025 because of his cancer treatment and did not plan to run for reelection in 2026.

The Tucson Democrats death will spark a special election later this year to fill his seat in the deep-blue 7th Congressional District.

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Grijalva, one of Arizonas longest-serving lawmakers, is the second House Democrat this year to die while in office. Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Texas, died earlier this month.

Last year, three House lawmakers died while in office. They were Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, Bill Pascrell, Jr., D-N.J., and Donald Payne Jr., D-N.J.

The age makeup of Congress is the third-oldest it has ever been, according to an NBC News analysis, and the average members age is 58.9 years old.

That has sparked a conversation about the age of elected officials, particularly during the 2024 presidential race. Grijalva was the second House Democrat to encourage former President Joe Biden, 82, to drop out of the presidential race last year after his disastrous debate performance against Trump.

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Stephanie Murray covers national politics and the Trump administration for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Reach her via email at stephanie.murray@gannett.com and on X, Bluesky and Threads @stephanie_murr.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Elon Musk knocks Grijalva account for X post after congressman's death
Somewhere, someplace, perhaps in a cave, faculty lounge, or Boulder dinner party, a smattering of folks might assert that our federal government is right-sized or should grow more expansive.
Hes gone from swagger to stagger.

Embattled Mayor Eric Adams is mulling running as an independent if he loses the upcoming Democratic primary  and thats even if he decides to make a re-election bid as he faces increasingly hopeless electoral prospects, The Post has learned.

Hizzoner has been largely absent from the race, and even bailed on a recent high-profile forum with his challengers  with roughly 100 days until the June 24 primary.

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Source close to the mayor said hes unlikely to campaign while his federal corruption case hangs over his head  as Judge Dale Ho continues to weigh whether to agree with President Trumps Department of Justice to drop the charges.

Mayor Eric Adams is eyeing an independent run for mayor. Paul Martinka

Adams has a lot of ground to cover  his poll numbers are abysmal against crowded field of challengers, including the formidable former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

He also has a mountain of debt to contend with, as he owes his defense lawyers more than $700,000.

He has a decision to make, a source said about Adams if and when the criminal case is dismissed. He owes a lot of people a lot of money.

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Adams diminished current political stature contrasts wildly with the confident candidate who handily won 2021s mayoral election after a prolific, energetic campaign.

He then rode into Gracie Mansion with a promise to bring swagger to the Big Apple after eight years of bumbling Bill de Blasio.

When a mayor has swagger, the city has swagger, he boasted just days into office.

But swagger only carried Adams so far, especially as his mayoralty became increasingly scandal-plagued.

The mayors fortunes fell as the feds investigated him and the longtime cronies he installed in his administration  and then collapsed in September as he became the first sitting New York City mayor to face a federal indictment.

Andrew Cuomo leapt into the mayoral race amid Adams woes. Michael Nagle

Adams vigorously denied the corruption accusations and increasingly cozied up to Trump, with rumors swirling that he was seeking a pardon.

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The dismissal move from up top at the DOJ eventually came to pass in February, as Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered Manhattan federal prosecutors to drop the case, albeit with the potential of bringing it back after the 2025 mayoral election.

Bove argued the case was politically motivated and interfered with both Adams ability to campaign and to help with Trumps immigration crackdown.

But Boves assertions fueled accusations that Adams case was dropped as part of an improper quid pro quo that left him beholden to Trump, rather than New York City voters.

The ensuing political firestorm sparked calls for Adams to resign or to be removed by Gov. Kathy Hochul. It also prompted Adams re-election campaign to be put on pause  creating openings for Cuomo and Council Speaker Adrienne Adams to run for mayor and cut into his support.

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Adams inner circle blames the mayors current state of political limbo on Boves sloppy dismissal.

He could have just cited some statute and the judge would have rubber-stamped it, one source said.

As Adams awaits a decision from federal Judge Dale Ho on whether to accept the dismissal, he has avoided making campaign events, such as when he abruptly bailed on a high-profile forum with his Democratic primary challengers.

His reason: his lawyer advised him not to participate.

He has to be done with the legal stuff first, one insider said. Once thats gone he can go full monty attacking Cuomo, because he knows hes not going to jail.

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams is another high-profile candidate looking to capitalize on the mayors troubles. Brigitte Stelzer

But until then, Adams campaign is practically nonexistent.

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His campaign has seemingly no staff, with his former spokesman Evan Thies still not on the books and longtime public relations guru Todd Shapiro now volunteering to help.

The mayor only recently launched his 2025 campaign website  a single page that emphasizes hes a Democrat and links to his old 2021 election social media accounts.

Those accounts have largely been dormant since that election. His ericadamsfornyc Instagram account  which most recently posted in 2023  still identifies him as the next Mayor of New York City and includes he/him pronouns in the profile.

Adams has raised $4.3 million for his campaign, with $3.1 million available on-hand, records show. But he has been denied lucrative public matching funds and other candidates have been raising more money.

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He also owes his defense lawyers a tidy sum  $730,000, as of January  which he cant raise without campaigning.

Adams campaign this year is basically non-existent, compared to his energetic 2021 bid. Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

At this stage, his path to victory looks extremely narrow, said Spencer Kimball, director of Emerson College Polling.

One of the few members remaining of Adams inner circle source said they werent sure where the mayors mind is at regarding his future.

I honestly dont know whats going to happen, the source said.

Former Gov. David Paterson, who saw his 2010 election prospects fade amid scandals, said Adams  if his case is indeed dismissed  has to contend with trying to run New York City while making up ground in a campaign.

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He noted all the Democrats mayoral candidates but Cuomo are running to Adams left.

Should have worked to his favor if he had not gone through this hell, he said.

Adams had briefly looked into running as a Republican, but now is considering an independent run if he cant pull ahead in the primary, sources said.

Its a smart move if he does it, a source close to the mayor said of a third-party run. Let the field fight it out and he runs against the winner  who is highly unlikely to have the support of the majority of Democrats in the primary.

Adams campaign Instagram page still refers to him as next Mayor of New York City. Eric Adams/Instagram

Kimball, the Emerson pollster, said either a Democratic or an independent run would be a tall order for Adams.

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Mayor Adams faces a significant challenge in this race, particularly in a ranked-choice system where his high unfavorable numbers59% among Democrats in our latest pollmake it difficult for him to consolidate broad support to win majority support, he said.

In contrast, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, with a 55% favorable and 31% unfavorable rating among Democrats, is in a stronger position to pick up second-choice votes.

Mary Snow, assistant director of Quinnipiac University Poll, was even more blunt.

While its impossible to predict the outcome of the NYC mayors race, at the moment, Mayor Adams faces a difficult road to reelection, she said.
Friday was March 14 or better known as National Pi Day! People were celebrating all things pi by consuming both mathematical digits and delicious treats.

I cannot recite anything past 3 point 1 4, but I met someone who can name up to 190 digits.

Some of these students have pi memorized through hundreds of digits, said Dr. Korey Kilburn, a math professor at PennWest Edinboro.

3 point 1 4 1 5 9 2 6 5 3 5 said Mia Liu, a senior at McDowell High School.

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Whats a card skimmer and how is it stealing peoples SNAP benefits

For Mia Liu, its as easy as pie to recite the mathematical constant commonly approximated as 3.14.

Liu, along with hundreds of local high school students gathered at PennWest Edinboro for a plethora of pi-related activities.

Aspiring statisticians and data analysts took on challenges while learning the history behind pi and how it can be applied to everyday use.

We use it a lot in geometry, said Chevelle Hunter, a senior at Conneaut Area Senior High.

Make a plan before you party, safety officials encouraging sober driving for St. Patricks Day weekend

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You can have fun doing math and create a community with everyone, said Faith Schneider, a freshman at PennWest Edinboro.

For their math department, march 14th is a holiday, schneider said that she sees herself in a lot of the high school students.

I just was a senior in high school so its really relatable, she said. Its a really important day for the math majors.

And after youre done reciting the number of pi you can celebrate your achievement by getting a tasty treat at Arts Bakery where they prepare special flavors to highlight the day.

Get out of town! AAA hosting first-ever vacation expo this weekend

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Today we went double everything and we even have pies we dont normally have the specialties like key lime, said Taylor Warren, bakery sales manager at Arts Bakery. We actually started pie slices last year on pi day where we made the price three point one four.

Their most popular flavor is their famous elderberry, which is usually one of the first to sell out.

With a second location that recently opened in Harborcreek, Arts Bakery will mark a milestone of 75 years in April and even after all that time, they remain an Erie favorite.

I went into Giant Eagle afterward and I was like wow what are all these pies doing here, Ella Miller, an Erie resident went on to say. I decided to come over to arts bakery instead because I wanted to support local Erie businesses.

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Arts Bakery closes at 8 p.m. but if you go into their Harborcreek location and say Its as easy as pie youll get a free cookie!

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, is providing summer opportunities through internships and the Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) to high school- and college students, according to her office on Friday, March 14.

According to Escobars office, she offers both part-time and full-time internships at her El Paso office and full-time internships at her Washington D.C. office.

Duties of the in-person internship can include attending congressional committee hearings and legislative meetings, writing issue briefs, conducting research, drafting correspondence, performing administrative tasks and assisting staff when needed.

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CYAC is a leadership opportunity for high-school students in grades 10-12 with an interest in public service and the legislative process. It is designed for students to learn about the federal government, debate policy and participate in an interactive experience, according to Escobars office.

Im thrilled to offer these opportunities to young El Pasoans, Escobar said. Internships and my CYAC programs are ways for students to learn more about how our federal government works, build their resumes, and most importantly, give back to our community. I encourage all interested college and high-school students to apply.

Applicants interested in the internship are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The deadline for the El Paso Summer internship is at 11:59 p.m. on April 4, and the deadline for the Washington D.C. summer internship is at 11:59 p.m. on March 23.

To apply for the internships or to learn more, you can visit Escobars website.

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Students interested in the CYAC, can send their applications with a resume, cover letter and other documents to cyac.escobar@mail.house.gov. The deadline to apply is at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30.

To learn more about the CYAC and what other documents you need to apply, you can visit Escobars website.

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Brussels is exploring the possibility of creating a new satellite network for military intelligence as doubts grow about the US commitment to European defence.

Source: Financial Times, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The system will be aimed at partially replacing US capabilities after President Donald Trump suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine this month, which underscored Europe's dependence on America.

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"Given the changes in the geopolitical situation, the European Commission is considering expanding its satellite capabilities to improve geospatial intelligence support for security," Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius told the Financial Times.

The new satellite network will be used to detect threats such as troop movements and coordinate military operations.

Discussions have only just begun, but the European Commissioner said that the EU needs a network that will complement other programmes used for navigation and Earth observation.

It will have to provide updated information more frequently than the low-orbiting Copernicus satellite, which monitors climate change and natural disasters but only generates images every 24 hours.

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While acknowledging that the project will be expensive and take time, Kubilius said he would ask member states if they would like a "temporary commercial approach".

The system would operate in low Earth orbit, he said. The best commercial systems can track targets and military deployments with data updates every 30 minutes, he said.

The Commission is also procuring IRIS, its own multi-orbit broadband network in low Earth orbit. This year, it will complete the Govsatcom programme, which will interconnect member states' systems.

Background: On Tuesday, President Donald Trump's administration agreed to resume military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after Kyiv said it was ready to support Washington's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia.

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Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include additional historical context on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's list of demands.

Budapest has a series of demands for the European Union, including the exclusion of Ukraine from membership in the bloc, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on March 15.

Orban, widely regarded as the EU's most pro-Russian leader, has repeatedly opposed military aid for Ukraine and warned that Ukraine's EU membership would "destroy" Hungary.

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The list of demands comes shortly after the EU reportedly struck a deal with Hungary to renew sanctions on more than 2,400 primarily Russian targets hours before they were set to expire on March 15.

"What does the Hungarian nation demand from Brussels?" Orban wrote on X. "Let there be peace, freedom, and unity."

He then listed 12 demands, the last of which reads: "A Union, but without Ukraine."

Orban's list alludes to the historical "12 points" that Hungarian reformers united behind during the country's 1848 revolution, which ultimately failed. The final point on the historic list called for "union" with Transylvania.

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Orban, a right-wing nationalist, has repeatedly sought to pit Hungarian identity against Ukrainian freedom and sovereignty. He has accused Kyiv of discriminating against the Hungarian ethnic minority concentrated in southwestern Ukraine  a claim Kyiv has denied  and used the issue to obstruct aid to Ukraine and Kyiv's EU aspirations.

Other demands on Orban's list include banning "the unnatural re-education of our children," protecting "Europes Christian heritage," and "peace in Europe."

Under Orban's right-wing government, Hungary has repeatedly clashed with the EU, leveraging its member state veto power to block sanctions against Moscow and deepening ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite Russia's full-scale invasion.

At an emergency summit on security for Europe and Ukraine held on March 6, 26 EU member states denounced Russian aggression and pledged continued support for Kyiv, while Hungary was the lone dissenting nation.

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In exchange for Hungary lifting its veto on the recent sanctions renewal, the EU on March 14 agreed to remove four individuals from the list, fewer than half the number Budapest had demanded. The EU will likely face another confrontation with Budapest in July, when a package of economic sanctions against Russia is up for extension.

At the end of 2024, Hungary became the first EU member to lose out on over $1 billion in funds due to violations of EU standards. The bloc could take further action against Budapest if tensions continue to mount.

If a majority of member states agree, Hungary could even be stripped of its voting rights and veto power.

Ukraine applied for EU membership in 2022 and was granted candidate status within months. Accession talks began in June 2024, with European leaders setting 2030 as a target for Ukraine's potential entry.

Read also: EU resists pressure from Hungary, extends Russia sanctions

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
WABAUNSEE COUNTY (KSNT)  Law enforcement in Wabaunsee County is ordering evacuations around a local lake due to a fire threat Friday.

The Wabaunsee County Sheriffs Office announced in a social media post around 4:50 p.m. on March 14 that it is evacuating residents around Lake Wabaunsee. The sheriffs office said this is a precautionary measure due to the high fire threat caused by powerful wind gusts.

Other local law enforcement agencies are also helping assist with evacuations around the lake. Residents are being encouraged to leave the area and inform neighbors of the fire threat.

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Kansas highways shut down due to crashes, blowing dust

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.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  The Nature Conservancy and the Sewee Long Leaf Cooperative are working to educate people by showing how safe, prescribed fires help our states forests and the Lowcountry.

March is Prescribed Fire Awareness Month, which Gov. Henry McMaster proclaimed on March 1. The Nature Conservancy has hosted Fire Fest since 2015, and its goal is to promote awareness for forestry growth and regeneration by conducting these fires in areas like Mount Pleasant or the Francis Marion National Forest.

We get a lot of wildfires in South Carolina, all across the state, right around 5,000 to 6,000 a year. Not all fires are wildfires, theres a lot of beneficial prescribed fire that goes in the state, said Patrick Ma, Nature Conservancy Conservation forester.

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The two organizations provided free admission during the family-friendly event held Saturday at Laurel Hill County Park, featuring live music and food.

Learned about the Fire Fest on Facebook. Weve got a toddler whos very interested in animals and conservation. So, we wanted to stop by and see, said Krutika Hornback, who attended the event.

Attendees had a front-row view of a prescribed burn during the festival.

Another contracting company will be putting the fire down. We will basically be with Nature Conservancy here controlling this line closest to where the viewers will be. Basically, just putting out that line with water, said Mount Pleasant firefighter Travis Hughes of the expected burn preview.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
Sunshine Week is a nonpartisan collaboration among groups in the journalism, civic, education, government and private sectors that shines a light on the importance of public records and open government.

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Public records are one of the most powerful tools available to reporters  and the public.

Now, we're lifting the curtain on how any member of the public can use Wisconsin open records law to shed light on how local and state government is working.

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On Monday at 12 p.m., Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigative reporter Mary Spicuzza and Wisconsin public records legal expert Tom Kamenick are teaming up to answer questions in a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" Q&A on r/wisconsin.

Spicuzza is an investigative and political reporter who has filed hundreds of open records requests while covering state and local government. She led the team that was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for coverage of then-Gov. Scott Walker's move to sharply limit union powers.

In 2022, Spicuzza and investigative reporter Cary Spivak used public records to expose fraud in a state program intended to prevent infant and maternal mortality. They filed records requests for audits, applications and Medicaid spending totals and found a surge in signs of fraud among prenatal care coordination companies.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigative reporter Mary Spicuzza (left) and Wisconsin Transparency Project founder and attorney Tom Kamenick (right).

Kamenick is the president and founder of the Wisconsin Transparency Project, a law firm dedicated exclusively to enforcing the state's open records and open meetings law. He has litigated 45 access cases with a more than 90% win rate since starting the project in 2019.

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In one of Kamenick's recent cases, a Rock County circuit judge ruled that the School District of Beloit violated the law when it denied a request from a local resident for the email addresses on a district distribution list. The district had used the list to send newsletters promoting its $33 million referendum.

Kamenick has worked with the Journal Sentinel on some cases.

Wondering how to file a records request? Want to know what kind of unusual documents you can obtain? Curious about the current state of government transparency in Wisconsin? Join Spicuzza and Kamenick on Monday at reddit.com/r/wisconsin/.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Reporter Mary Spicuzza and legal expert Tom Kamenick host Reddit AMA
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) permanently banned helicopters from flying the same route near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) after a deadly midair collision in January.

In January, a military Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines plane crashed in midair over the Potomac River, killing 67 people.

This comes after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended a ban following the tragic crash and several near-misses in the area in recent years.

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Investigators said that the near misses and crash showed that the current setup poses intolerable risk.

We call them heroes: Prince Georges County honors officers who responded to midair collision at Regan National Airport

Before the crash, 28 government agencies were authorized to fly helicopters near DCA; including military, law enforcement and emergency medical services.

The FAA order will allow a few exceptions for helicopter use, including presidential flights and law enforcement and lifesaving missions.

The FAA said it is also studying eight other cities with shared air space, including Baltimore-Washington, Los Angeles and New York.

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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.
If SpaceX gets its way, the Space Coast will get a lot more rocket rumbles and sonic booms as the company increases Falcon 9 launches and builds out new landing pads at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center.

The Federal Aviation Administration released Friday a 116-page draft environment assessment for the first of those targeting Canaverals Space Launch Complex 40, where SpaceX wants to increase launches from 50 to 120 per year.

The assessment looks to set up SpaceX to proceed with its plans, although the agency rejected a proposal to build yet another new landing pad at Canaveral because of environmental concerns.

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The FAA has partnered with the Air Force, Coast Guard and NASA for the assessment, while NASA is the lead agency for a second assessment expected this spring for KSCs Launch Complex 39-A, where SpaceX wants to increase launches from 20 to 36, including up to five of its larger Falcon Heavy rockets each year.

The construction of a pair of new landing sites on the Space Coast would solve the companys reliance on two landing pads at Canaverals Launch Complex 13 it will soon lose access to. That space has been set aside by the federal Space Force as the future launch site for two other commercial launch providers  Phantom Space and Vaya Space  although neither have yet to get a rocket into space.

The Space Forces goal is to have SpaceX and other launch providers maintain landing sites at the same place from which they launch. The Space Force does not intend to renew SpaceXs license to land at LC 13 after it runs out this summer.

For Canaveral, the final design called for a single landing pad despite SpaceX proposals to build two.

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The assessment declared those proposals as unacceptable because they were too detrimental to Florida scrub-jay and southeastern beach mouse habitat, overtook too much wetland, or were too much of a flight safety concern for the SpaceX hangar at the site.

The final proposal would be a 400-foot diameter pad and gravel apron while SpaceX would also build a new nitrogen gas line, a 30-foot pedestal for post-landing processing and an area for crane storage, adding about 10 acres of development to the site.

The FAA has preliminarily concluded that the proposed action would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment, the assessment said.

SpaceX wants to land up to 34 first-stage boosters at the site a year. SpaceX had 12 booster landings at Canaverals landing zones in 2024 and only six in 2023.

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The Canaveral assessment touched on the forthcoming KSC assessment NASA is working on, evaluating a proposed landing zone for Falcon 9 boosters at Launch Complex 39-A. Both evaluations are required by the National Environmental Policy Act.

SpaceX is looking to have up to 20 boosters land back at KSC.

The combined 54 landings is actually the same upper limit in place now for the two existing landing zones.

The FAA said that KSCs draft environmental assessment is expected this spring, but did note that launches from KSC would only land at KSC and launches from Canaveral would only land at Canaveral, which follows an updated policy from the Space Force as more commercial companies are expected to begin launching this decade.

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SpaceX will still have to make droneship landings in the Atlantic.

These two SpaceX requests are separate from two other environmental evaluations underway by the FAA and the Air Force for potential launch and landing operations for its massive SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy rocket, which for now only launches from Texas.

As with all of the reviews, the FAA will still only issue licenses if other factors including safety, risk and financial responsibility are met.

For the Canaveral assessment, the FAA has a public comment period through April 24, 2025. A virtual public meeting will be held on April 16, for which people must register to join.

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At the end of the public comment period, the FAA can either issue a Finding of No Significant Impact, known as a FONSI, or push forward with a more rigorous Environmental Impact Statement, which could mean a two-year delay before any construction.

The Air Force has already issued its finding that there is no significant impact, though, in a related document penned by Air Force Co. Marcia Quiqley, the director of Space Force Mission Sustainment.

She said the proposed action would not result in individual or cumulatively significant impacts to any resources.

That includes minor adverse impacts to air quality, climate, sound, cultural resources, water resources, biological resources, coastal resources, land use and socioeconomics, but SpaceX will be implementing mitigation efforts to limit their impact.

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She said alternative sites were considered as well but would run afoul of the Space Forces Assured Access to Space program needs, as SpaceX has a major stake in launch national security missions.

I conclude that implementing the proposed action and the associate mitigation measures will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment, she wrote. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement is not required and this FONSI is appropriate.
Claim:

A photograph authentically shows discoloration on the back of U.S. President Donald Trump's right hand.

Rating:

Rating: True

In February and March 2025, posts claimed a photograph showed an unusual discoloration on the back of U.S. President Donald Trump's right hand. An image on Reddit (archived) showed a pair of hands folded together, with the caption "Another day, another photo of Trump's hands." The back of the right hand showed an unusual grey-yellow tinge, almost like a bruise.

(Reddit user u/Chaming_Usual6227)

The above photograph is authentic and is available on Getty Images. It was taken in February 2025 at a White House event with French President Emmanuel Macron. As such, we rate this claim as true.

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We do not, however, know for certain what caused the discoloration, though the White House acknowledged it and said it was a bruise.

The original photograph is on Getty Images with the caption: "Makeup covers a bruise on the back of U.S. President Donald Trump's hand as he hosts French President Emmanuel Macron for meetings at the White House on February 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. Macron is meeting with Trump in Washington on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine."

(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The apparent bruise continued to be visible weeks later. It could be seen in these photos (both close up and taken at a distance) from March 12, 2025, showing Trump posing with a bowl of clover alongside Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin.

(Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

(Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

We looked at other photographs of Trump's hand from that event and the discoloration is visible as he holds his hand to his ear:

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(Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

Many people online speculated about the reasons behind the bruise, some attributing it to aging, others noting how the bruise was taking a long time to go away, given it had been spotted in late February and was still visible in mid-March.

We cannot independently determine what is going on with Trump's hand. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who was responding to questions about the president's hand in February 2025: "President Trump is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other President in history."

"President Trump has bruises on his hand because he's constantly working and shaking hands all day every day," she added.

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Even in 2024, Trump was photographed with bruises on his hands. In an interview with Time magazine for its "Person of the Year" Trump said, "It's from shaking hands with thousands of people."

In 2024, Snopes covered the strange red "sores" that appeared on Trump's hands and mysteriously disappeared.

Sources:

Ibrahim, Nur. "Strange Red 'Sores' on Trump's Hand Mystify Internet, Then Disappear." Snopes, 18 Jan. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//news/2024/01/18/trump-hand-sores/. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

"Makeup Covers a Bruise on the Back of U.S. President Donald Trump's..." Getty Images, 24 Feb. 2025, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/makeup-covers-a-bruise-on-the-back-of-u-s-president-donald-news-photo/2201770965. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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Norman, Greg. "White House Explains Bruise on Trump's Hand Seen during Macron Meeting." Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/white-house-explains-bruise-trumps-hand-seen-during-macron-meeting. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

"TIME 2024 Person of the Year." TIME, https://time.com/7200212/person-of-the-year-2024-donald-trump/. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

"U.S President Donald Trump Meets with Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin..." Getty Images, 12 Mar. 2025, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/president-donald-trump-meets-with-irish-taoiseach-miche%C3%A1l-news-photo/2204789653. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

"U.S President Donald Trump Meets with Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin..." Getty Images, 12 Mar. 2025, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/president-donald-trump-meets-with-irish-taoiseach-miche%C3%A1l-news-photo/2204790204. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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"U.S President Donald Trump Poses with a Bowl of Clover Presented To..." Getty Images, 12 Mar. 2025, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/president-donald-trump-poses-with-a-bowl-of-clover-news-photo/2204789821. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

"White House Says That a Large Bruise on Trump's Hand Is from 'Shaking Hands All Day Every Day.'" NBC News, 25 Feb. 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/white-house-says-large-bruise-trumps-hand-shaking-hands-day-every-day-rcna193652. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.


Claim:

U.S. President Donald Trump's adviser, Elon Musk, reposted another user's post on X in March 2025, showing a screenshot reading, "Stalin, Mao and Hitler didnt murder millions of people. Their public sector workers did."

Rating:

Rating: True

In mid-March 2025, an X user posted (archived) that U.S. President Donald Trump's adviser, Elon Musk, "amplified" another user's post that displayed an image reading, "Stalin, Mao and Hitler didn't murder millions of people. Their public sector workers did." Readers also emailed Snopes to ask if Musk truly reposted the post.

A review of Musk's X activity found that on March 13, 2025, he truly reposted the thought saying that Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, Communist China's founding leader Mao Zedong and German dictator and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler didn't murder millions of people, and that "public sector workers did." In other words, the repost genuinely existed, and no one doctored the screenshot with any image-editing tools. He later removed the repost on or following March 14.

Specifically, Musk used the repost function on X, previously known as a retweet in past years on Twitter, to share another user's post. That other user's post featured a screenshot of a different person's post (archived) about Stalin, Mao and Hitler, tweeted years before on Jan. 30, 2019.

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The White House did not respond to a request for comment, including a question asking for the Trump administration's stance about the thought expressed in the post.

The Indeed job search website defined present-day public sector workers as people employed at federal, state and municipal levels who generally receive government funding. That's similar to the funding Trump said he tasked Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency to find and eliminate  dubbed by DOGE as "waste, fraud and abuse." Examples of modern public sector employees include police and fire officials, other emergency-service workers, teachers, health care workers and military service people.

Stalin, Mao and Hitler

Britannica numbered victims of Stalin's reign in the tens of millions. Stanford Report similarly published, "Stalin had nearly a million of his own citizens executed, beginning in the 1930s. Millions more fell victim to forced labor, deportation, famine, massacres and detention and interrogation by Stalin's henchmen." BBC and International Business Times reported further details.

In 1994, The Washington Post published of Mao, "While most scholars are reluctant to estimate a total number of 'unnatural deaths' in China under Mao, evidence shows he was in some way responsible for at least 40 million deaths and perhaps 80 million or more. This includes deaths he was directly responsible for and deaths resulting from disastrous policies he refused to change." Brittanica reported additional information, as did The Washington Post in 2016.

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Regarding Hitler's leadership of Nazi Germany, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) hosts detailed pages offering a wealth of information about both the Holocaust and Hitler.

Under Adolf Hitler's leadership and imbued with his racially motivated ideology, the Nazi regime was responsible for the mass murder of 6 million Jews and millions of other victims. Learn the history: https://t.co/Way8jdrT4H  US Holocaust Museum (@HolocaustMuseum) December 1, 2022

The U.S. National WWII Museum also published, "The Holocaust was Nazi Germany's deliberate, organized, state-sponsored persecution and genocide of approximately six million European Jews. The genocide of the Jews is also sometimes referred to as Shoah, a Hebrew word for 'catastrophe.' The Nazis also persecuted other groups, perpetrating a genocide against the Roma (derogatorily called 'gypsies'), in which more than 250,000 people were murdered, and killing over three million Soviet prisoners of war, nearly two million Poles, over 250,000 people with disabilities, over 1,000 Jehovah's Witnesses, hundreds of men accused of homosexuality and other victims."

Musk's salute and alleged antisemitism

One reader who emailed about Musk's repost shared an Instagram meme (archived) that described the repost and included a photo of the much-publicized, twice-given Inauguration Day gesture that the online neo-Nazi and far-right communities interpreted as a Nazi salute. Following the moment on Jan. 20, Musk said, "Thank you. My heart goes out to you." Days later, he blamed (archived) the "legacy media" for allegedly misinterpreting his actions.

In May 2024, Musk reinstated the X account for Nick Fuentes, a Holocaust-denying white supremacist. Musk posted (archived) of Fuentes' reinstatement to "let him be crushed by the comments and Community Notes," adding, "It is better to have anti whatever out in the open to be rebutted than grow simmering in the darkness."

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In November 2023, Musk replied (archived), "You have said the actual truth," in response to a user who created a post (archived) saying, in part, that Jewish people support "dialectical hatred against whites." Musk later posted clarifications to his reply. Axios reported of the discussion, "Elon Musk backs antisemitic claim; Tesla shares tumble."

Sources:

"Adolf Hitler." U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/adolf-hitler.

"Adolf Hitler: Man and Monster." BBC Teach, https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/articles/zbrx8xs.

Contreras, Russell. "Elon Musk to Reinstate X Account of White Nationalist Nick Fuentes." Axios, 3 May 2024, https://www.axios.com/2024/05/03/elon-musk-nick-fuentes-x-account.

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Dickinson, Tim. "Right-Wing Extremists Are Abuzz Over Musk's Straight-Arm Salute." Rolling Stone, 20 Jan. 2025, https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/elon-musk-salute-reaction-right-wing-extremists-1235241866/.

Ghosh, Palash R. "How Many People Did Joseph Stalin Kill?" International Business Times, 5 Mar. 2013, https://www.ibtimes.com/how-many-people-did-joseph-stalin-kill-1111789.

Gilbert, David. "Neo-Nazis Love the Nazi-Like Salutes Elon Musk Made at Trump's Inauguration." Wired, 20 Jan. 2025, https://www.wired.com/story/neo-nazis-love-elon-musk-nazi-like-salutes-trumps-inauguration/.

Haven, Cynthia. "Stalin Killed Millions. A Stanford Historian Answers the Question, Was It Genocide?" Stanford Report, Sept. 2010, https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2010/09/naimark-stalin-genocide-092310.

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"How Many People Did the Nazis Murder?" U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/documenting-numbers-of-victims-of-the-holocaust-and-nazi-persecution.

Indeed Employer Content Team. "A Guide to Public vs. Private Sector Employment." Indeed.com, 27 Jan. 2025, https://www.indeed.com/hire/c/info/public-vs-private-sector.

"Joseph Stalin | Biography, World War II, Death, & Facts." Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Stalin.

"Joseph Stalin: National Hero or Cold-Blooded Murderer?" BBC Teach, https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/articles/zhv747h.

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Liles, Jordan. "Did Musk Give 'Nazi Salute' at Trump's 2025 Inauguration Rally? Here's What We Know." Snopes, 21 Jan. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//news/2025/01/20/musk-nazi-salute/.

---. "Musk's X Didn't Verify Accounts Representing Hitler." Snopes, 26 Feb. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/musk-hitler-verifiy-accounts/.

"Mao Zedong - Chinese Revolution, Communism, Chairman." Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mao-Zedong/The-road-to-power.

Primack, Dan. "Elon Musk Backs Antisemitic Claim; Tesla Shares Tumble." Axios, 16 Nov. 2023, https://www.axios.com/2023/11/16/elon-musk-antisemitic-claim-tesla-shares.

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Schram, Stuart Reynolds. "Mao Zedong | Biography & Facts." Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mao-Zedong.

Somin, Ilya. "Remembering the Biggest Mass Murder in the History of the World." The Washington Post, 3 Aug. 2016, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2016/08/03/giving-historys-greatest-mass-murderer-his-due/.

Strauss, Valerie, and Daniel Southerland. "How Many Died? New Evidence Suggests Far Higher Numbers for the Victims of Mao Zedong's Era." The Washington Post, 16 July 1994, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1994/07/17/how-many-died-new-evidence-suggests-far-higher-numbers-for-the-victims-of-mao-zedongs-era/01044df5-03dd-49f4-a453-a033c5287bce/.

"The Holocaust." The National WWII Museum | New Orleans, 8 May 2024, https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/holocaust.

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Wendling, Mike. "White House Criticises Elon Musk over 'hideous' Antisemitic Lie." BBC News, 17 Nov. 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67446800.

Updates:

March 17, 2025: We updated this report to add that Musk removed the repost on or just after March 14. We also corrected two lone mentions of "Zedong" to Mao.
Claim:

An audio recording authentically captured U.S. President Donald Trump comparing Tesla CEO Elon Musk to "Isaac Neutron" rather than English physicist Isaac Newton.

Rating:

Rating: Fake

In mid-March 2025, a rumor spread that U.S. President Donald Trump compared Tesla CEO Elon Musk to "a modern-day Isaac Neutron." Social media posts shared audio that implied Trump mispronounced the name of renowned 17th-century English physicist Isaac Newton.

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Users on TikTok spread the rumor, reposting a clip that in says: "It's fantastic, fantastic. He was a smart guy. You know Tesla. First the lightbulb and now this. Seems like a modern-day Isaac Neutron." One user captioned their video: "We're being pranked right? RIGHT? The US has become the laughing stock of the entire world" (archived, archived, archived, archived, archived).

Elsewhere, users on X, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram (archived, archived, archived, archived) shared the audio, while outlets including the English-language Indian news aggregator Times Now and the English-language Pakistani newspaper The Express Tribune (archived, archived) reported that Trump made the alleged comment during a showcase of Tesla cars on the South Lawn of the White House on March 11, 2025. Snopes readers also wrote in to ask us whether the audio was legitimate.

There is no evidence Trump made the remark. Footage from the Tesla showcase does not capture him making the alleged comment. No reliable news outlets have reported Trump said it and Times Now said it could not verify the audio's authenticity. Instead, it appears the audio originated on TikTok and is likely the product of artificial intelligence. Therefore, we have rated this claim as fake.

At the time of writing, almost 1,000 TikTok videos used one sound to either lip-synch or react to the alleged remark. The user behind the sound, @whmole, has since deleted (archived) their account and the original video.

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However, an X user reposted (archived) the original TikTok video, which is watermarked with @whmole's handle. The X post shows that the original video claimed it was "leaked Trump audio" from March 11, 2025  the same day as the Tesla showcase at the White House  without providing any proof.

ManI miss the times, when Isaac Neutron was around so does @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/ng6CeTtwU2  DYSTOPIA  (@dystopiandude) March 12, 2025

A YouTube channel associated with Fox News, LiveNow from Fox, posted footage from the Tesla showcase event at the White House. The footage captures the entire period Trump and Musk appeared in front of reporters and does not record the president making the comment. This footage does have one overlap in it when the audio appears to repeat itself  this is likely a disruption in the live feed rather than a jump cut suggesting a segment has been removed.

A Google News search for the terms "Trump Tesla Isaac Neutron" showed no results from reputable news outlets. If Trump had said the quote, it would have been reported by established newspapers, news websites or networks.

Instead, the AI-detector tool Hiya suggests the @whmole TikTok sound was likely created using AI. Hiya rated the audio as having a 9 in 100 chance of being authentic and said what seemed to be Trump's voice was likely a deepfake.

(Hiya Deepfake Voice Detector)

While @whmole deleted their account, searching TikTok with their username still provided results for old videos that other users stitched or duetted (archived, archived). These examples show the account had a history of posting supposed "leaked Trump audio," with one suggesting Trump wanted to "get rid of Washington, D.C." and another claiming he said "St. Donald's Day" would be better than St. Patrick's Day.

Snopes has also reported that the @whmole TikTok account posted a fake clip of Trump saying daylight saving time should be scrapped because people "die faster" when the clocks move forward.

Sources:

Bajaj, Yash. "Trump's Alleged "Isaac Neutron" Moment from White House Tesla Showcase Goes Viral." Times Now, 13 Mar. 2025, www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/donald-trumps-isaac-neutron-moment-from-white-house-tesla-showcase-goes-viral-article-118955461. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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Deng, Grace. "Don't Fall for Fake Clip of Trump Saying Daylight Saving Time Makes People "Die Faster."" Snopes, Snopes.com, 14 Mar. 2025, www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-daylight-savings-quote/. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

Ingram, David. "Trump Turns the White House Lawn into a Tesla Showroom." NBC News, 11 Mar. 2025, www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-musk/trump-musk-tesla-white-house-showroom-buys-car-rcna195905. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

LiveNOW from FOX. "WATCH: Trump & Musk Showcase Tesla at White House." YouTube, 11 Mar. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc-p9zG00G8. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

"Trump Compares Elon Musk to Isaac Neutron." The Express Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025, tribune.com.pk/story/2534005/trump-compares-elon-musk-to-isaac-neutron. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A local man was sentenced to probation after scamming pet owners and neglecting their pets.

Jason Jones, 45 of Huber Heights, and his business, Dayton Dog Trainer, LLC, were sentenced to probation on 181 counts for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars and failing to train dogs properly, leading to acts of animal cruelty.

Darke County sheriff IDs suspect and wife in fatal shooting/chase

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According to the Montgomery County Prosecutors Office, Jones owned and operated the dog training business, which claimed to offer obedience training.

Pet owners paid thousands of dollars collectively to have their dogs trained, but the animals were returned to their owners not only untrained, but with obvious signs of mistreatment. Many of the dogs were found neglected and covered in feces.

Miamisburg Police Department conducted a long-term investigation into the business. Investigators found more than 120 victims who had collectively lost over $340,000.

Earlier this year, the defendants pleaded guilty to 181 counts including:

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One count of Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity

101 counts of Theft by Deception

33 counts of Theft Beyond Scope

24 counts of Cruelty to Companion Animals

16 counts of Theft  elderly/disabled victim

Four counts of Theft

Two counts of Failure to File State Income Tax

Despite a recommended minimum 10-year prison sentence, Jones was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay $341,362.24 in restitution.

Two co-defendants, Tabatha Taverna and Jennifer Long, also entered guilty pleas for their roles in assisting Jones. They will be sentenced on March 21.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
LEAVENWORTH, Kan.  Leaders with one government labor union believe the vandalism of a childs memorial headstone might be a targeted crime.

The gravestone is located inside a historic Leavenworth cemetery. The family reported the crime to the VA police.

The Sweat family from Leavenworth remembers June 2019 with grief. Thats when James and Jimmie lost a baby after miscarrying at birth. When the military family decided to post a memorial headstone to their dearly departed at Leavenworth National Cemetery, they never dreamed anyone would deface the headstone with cruel slurs written in permanent marker.

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Photos posted to social media show two derogatory words scribbled across the stone marker.

Infant remains in critical condition after being mauled by pit bull

I was very emotional and angry, Jimmie Sweat said on Friday.

Sweat said she filed a report with the VA police, and met with cemetery directors, who removed the defaced headstone and put a temporary marker in its place. Sweat said she was told a complete investigation would be conducted, but she hasnt heard anything else since reporting the damage on March 7.

I was devastated since thats such a cruel thing to do. I couldnt wrap my head around it, Sweat said.

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Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said damaging federal property may be considered a felony offense.

Its beyond reprehensible because its a grave marker, Thompson said. Its not like the normal things we see graffiti on. What it says is even more disheartening. No one should be disrespected like that.

Late Friday, Leavenworth National Cemetery Director Omil Carrasquillo replied to FOX4s questions via email, saying the VA would cover the costs of replacing the headstone. Carrasquillo said this was an isolated incident, and his staff is dedicated to protecting the sanctity of the cemetery.

Sweat adds that her husband works for the local chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees, and hes voiced some concerns about potential violations at the cemetery. She believes the graffiti at their childs marker could be retaliation.

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Driver taken to hospital after tree smashes car in Blue Springs

AFGE Local 85 in Leavenworth confirms details of those complaints filed by James Sweat. FOX4 reached out to the VA several times on Friday, both in Leavenworth and in Washington D.C., but nobody answered our questions.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump on Friday called for the release of dash and body camera footage from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol related to the death of a 31-year-old Black man who authorities say was killed in a single-vehicle accident.

The circumstances surrounding the October death of Tyrone Mason have come into question after nearly 200 cases involving the state trooper who responded to Mason's accident were dropped by the Wake County district attorney's office in January.

Let me be clear today, that we know something happened here that is more than they are telling us, Crump said in a news conference in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump and the family of Tyrone Mason.

Crump represents Mason's mother, Henrietta Mason.

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Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman placed trooper Garrett Macario and his supervisor, Sgt. Matthew Morrison, on leave after the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation asked her to further investigate the car accident, according to NBC News affiliate WRAL-TV in Raleigh.

Neither Freeman nor the highway patrol returned multiple requests for comment Friday. Morrison and Macario could not be reached.

Freeman has said that what she saw on the dash and body camera video led to a further investigation. The footage has not been released to the public.

This is concerning to us, and its disturbing, but we are committed to doing things the right way, Freeman said in January, WRAL reported. We believe credibility among law enforcement officers is essential to the work that we do. We need and have to trust officers. Frankly, when we cant, its disgusting.

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Crump said he and the Mason family want to know what is on the video that prompted Freeman to drop the cases.

They wouldnt have dismissed those cases if there was not something on that video, from the dash cam and the body cam that was just God awful, Crump said. Just show the video.

Crump declined to comment after the news conference, but Henrietta Mason said she wants justice for her son.

I never thought my baby would leave this world before me, she said. From Day 1, when they came to me and told me my son died in a single-car accident with no witnesses, I told them that is not true, someone had to be chasing my son.

Records show Macario, 26, has been with the patrol since February 2019, and Morrison, 40, since July 2012, according to WRAL.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
MCINTOSH COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV)  One person was killed Saturday morning following a single vehicle accident in McIntosh County.

According to a Georgia State Patrol trooper, the motorist was killed when his Ford Econovan left the roadway at Mile Marker 61 on I-95 southbound. The vehicle struck a tree and the driver was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Firefighters from McIntosh Fire and Rescue had to extricate the man from the vehicle. Law enforcement officers from the McIntosh Sheriffs Office said the accident occurred around 6:20 a.m.

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The driver has not been identified, but the vehicle had North Carolina license plates.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
CHANDLER, Okla. (KFOR)  A father was killed, and his son severely burned after the Friday night fires, according to family members.

They said that Allen Ferguson and his son Will were trying to escape the flames from the familys grandmothers home. The family lives in Chandler.

The two were rushed to the hospital, where Allen eventually succumbed from his injuries Saturday morning.

According to his family, Will is still undergoing treatment after being severely burned; he had to have his hands amputated less than 24 hours after the fire first ignited.

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The family was a large part of the wrestling community in Oklahoma, with several Chandler groups and others posting condolences and asking for prayers.

The Oklahoma Kids Wrestling Association also announced on Facebook Saturday that there is a donation account set up at the Chandler BancFirst. There is also a GoFundMe account that has been created to help with hospital costs and anything else they need.

The organization posted, OKWA family, please keep the Ferguson family in your prayers. Tragedy has struck our Chandler Wrestling family. There is a donation account set up at the Chandler BancFirst as well as a GoFundMe account set up for anyone able to help this family. Lets come together and show our support in this unimaginably difficult time.

The GoFundMe states, This is for the Ferguson family: Deb, Allen, Colt, Corey, Will, and Preston. Allen and Will recently suffered severe burns in the wildfires on 3/14. Allen lost his fight on 3/15, and Will is currently undergoing treatment and fighting strong at Baptist Hospital and facing a long road to recovery.

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The medical bills, ongoing care, and other related costs are proving to be a significant financial burden, and we are asking for your help to alleviate some of this stress. Your generous donation will directly support Allen and Wills medical expenses, rehabilitation, and any other necessary support during this challenging time. Every dollar counts, and even a small contribution can make a big difference in the recovery and overall well-being of the Ferguson Family. Please consider donating to help in this time of need. Thank you for your kindness and support.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
After undergoing surgery, Ashton Colby was confined to bed and couldnt move his arms or carry out basic tasks.

But his father Rick Colby was there every step of the way, helping him recover from his top surgery  support that meant the world from his conservative Republican father after Ashton came out as transgender and underwent the operation.

Surgery is an option that some, but not all, trans people choose as a part of the broader gender-affirming care they may receive to help them with their transition. Ashton was 19 at the time.

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He was there in the hotel room while helping me recover and drink protein shakes when I couldnt use my arms. Hes made, literally, a life-or-death difference in my life, Ashton, now 32, told CNN.

Ashton had been tormented by fear that he would be rejected by his family in the weeks leading up to his coming out in 2012. But his father stood by him through therapy and doctors appointments, ensuring he would get the specialized care he needed to affirm his gender and thrive, which Ashton says: Saved my life.

Rick voted for President Donald Trump in 2024, and he describes his role as an offensive lineman in a greater mission to fight misconceptions and legislation attacking transgender rights and health care.

Now, theres a new challenge to face: an executive order from Trump denying federal funding for providers of gender-affirming health care for minors. The order threatens to upend even care for Ashton, who is an adult, and for many others.

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While the executive order only applies to gender-affirming care for those under 19 and has been temporarily paused by two federal judges, its still affecting patients of all ages. Many clinics and hospitals around the nation temporarily halted gender-affirming care before the order was blocked by the judges, and while care has returned at many locations, providers concerned about losing federal funding worry they will have to stop care altogether in the future, experts in the field of gender-affirming care told CNN.

Ashton feared his family would reject him before coming out in 2012. - Maddie McGarvey for CNN

Rick voted for Trump but publicly advocates for transgender rights. - Maddie McGarvey for CNN

Ashton has received gender-affirming care from the same Ohio clinic since 2015 as an adult. Last year, Ohio banned some parts of gender-affirming care for minors. While gender-affirming care for adults is still legal in Ohio, Ashton was warned last month by his provider that patients might have to drive across the state line to Pennsylvania to access care in the wake of Trumps order, Ashton said. His medical center relies on millions of dollars in federal support to treat all its patients.

The executive order has plunged medical providers and their patients in the field into chaos, even in blue states where the care was previously safeguarded.

The disruptions to gender-affirming care after the order are already palpable. Patients on puberty blockers who need to transition to hormone therapy have already experienced or are fearful of interruptions to their treatment and are facing significant medical risks, according to one pediatric doctor who spoke with CNN anonymously due to threats to her safety.

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The order is part of a wave of measures targeting gender-affirming care that have been pushed in recent years  along with a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in 2023 across the United States, largely by Republicans.

Rick Colby says he cant support the Trump administrations moves targeting the transgender community.

I agree with just about everything Trump is doing except for transgender people, Rick told CNN.

For Ashton, undergoing gender-affirming care allowed him to be in a great place and be the person he was always meant to be, which is a man, his father said.

It doesnt matter what your political affiliation is, my main concern is how to keep your child alive and help them to be happy and thrive and be productive members of society, Rick said.

Rick shows a photo taken with his son Ashton outside of the US Capitol. - Maddie McGarvey

Anxiety over upended treatment plans

Ashton Colby takes testosterone as a weekly injection in an ongoing treatment plan to manage the gender dysphoria he says, I now luckily dont have.

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But he worries his treatment plan will be upended for the first time since hes transitioned. When patients undergoing hormone therapy stop taking testosterone, some of the physical changes can be reversed, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Ive been really worried that, even as an adult, my care might be taken away or made much harder to access, Ashton said.

Hes not alone. Multiple health care professionals told CNN theyve been hearing from anxious patients and parents of trans children who have already experienced or anticipate disruptions to their childrens medical care.

The future of their treatment is uncertain no matter which state they live in, experts say, as clinics and medical institutions take a risk-averse approach due to the threat of losing essential federal funding to treat all patients and conduct research.

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In the week after Trump signed the order, clinics and hospitals around the country made public announcements they were suspending gender-affirming care for those under the age of 19 but later in February resumed the care after state attorneys general warned denying the treatment could violate states anti-discrimination laws. A few of those medical institutions included Denver Health, Childrens Health Colorado, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and Corewell Health in Michigan.

Two federal judges have paused Trumps order, including US District Judge Brendan Hurson in Baltimore who on March 4 extended a temporary restraining order that was previously entered in the case, saying health care disruptions for trans youth could be potentially catastrophic and noting the risks of heightened gender dysphoria and suicide uncertainty.

A group of 15 attorneys general also issued a joint statement in February to reaffirm their support for gender-affirming care and said they will continue to enforce state laws that provide access to gender-affirming care.

But even as some hospitals and clinics reverse course, the volatility of the medical treatment is keeping anxieties high as providers and families deal with the fallout from the order and the pending legal case.

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Many institutions are pausing care in secret without documenting the changes formally but instead telling providers to cancel quietly because they fear backlash, according to Alex Sheldon, executive director of GLMA, one of multiple LGBTQ groups suing the Trump Administration over the executive order.

If funding is conditioned on not providing care to a very small patient population  trans and non-binary young people  losing that funding would force many hospitals to shut down completely, Sheldon said.

Many medical institutions have decided to err on the side of fear, Sheldon said.

Its cruel because you must choose whos going to suffer. We know it will be the transgender patients because theyre a smaller number, said the pediatric doctor who spoke anonymously. Do you stop this care thats so crucial and life saving for these kids, or do you put at risk the care of all these patients that also need it?

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Providers are already responding to frantic calls from their patients parents, the doctor said.

Theyre asking us, Whats going to happen? Are you going to close? Can you get a refill of prescriptions as soon as possible before you close? There are patients scheduled for puberty blockers a month from now and theyre worried that theyre not going to get there.

Some families are making plans to move out of the country, including those without many resources, the physician said.

Ashton and his father hang out at his apartment in Columbus, Ohio. - Maddie McGarvey for CNN

The human cost of pausing care

Healthcare providers in the field say they are facing an impossible choice between maintaining ethical standards of care and risking their livelihoods, as legislation could mean theyll lose their jobs or medical licenses for following established medical guidelines backed by every major medical association.

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One major concern is for children on puberty blockers who wont be able to access hormone therapy if care stops suddenly, the doctor explained.

They cant be going into their late teens without hormones because then theres significant medical risks, the doctor added.

Patients on puberty blockers have implants under the skin that can only be surgically removed, according to the doctor.

So, we right now have the ethical question of: If we keep it in but they dont get any hormones, theyre going to have issues with their bone density, maybe brain development, the doctor said. But then if we remove the implant, theyre going to go backwards. The endogenous puberty will start and thats going to be pretty traumatic  what do we do?

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Not all providers will halt services if Trumps order is enforced.

A non-profit health center that receives federal funding is still providing gender-affirming care to youth but will look to secure alternative funding if the order is enforced, according to its leadership team who agreed to speak with CNN anonymously due to safety and privacy concerns.

Hospitals, especially academic medical centers, commonly receive research funding from the federal government. It varies more for clinics, but they typically get funds from sources that charge insurance companies, have a sliding scale fee and may also receive federal grants, according to the health centers CEO.

There are hundreds of us who provide hormone therapy to patients. We all understand this is primary, routine care for people and theres great evidence on it. For many of us, its essential to keep doing because we just think its primary care, the CEO said.

I agree with just about everything Trump is doing except for transgender people, Rick told CNN. - Maddie McGarvey for CNN

Supporting a party that doesnt understand whats at stake

For Ashton Colby, support from his loved ones helps him cope with the fear and uncertainty surrounding care during the Trump administration.

Ashtons father fiercely contests claims by Republicans that people are becoming transgender on a whim. He cites his first-hand experience witnessing Ashton suffer from gender dysphoria.

He suffered immensely through his formative years and as a teen the depression, the anxiety, the stress.

For Ashton and other transgender and nonbinary people, uncertainty now looms over their future appointments and the continued treatment regimen they rely on.

I shouldnt have to have an exit plan with my provider in this way. Ive been nervous, Ashton said.

Rick believes the extreme right of his party does not believe being transgender is a real thing at all and says they engage in efforts to erase them and make life difficult, even though transgender people are American citizens and are trying to participate in the American dream and live their lives to be left alone like everybody else.

The path forward, he says, is for the Republican party to listen to the transgender community and the physicians who care for them.

Rick said the most hate he receives is when I identify myself as a conservative Republican whos a dad of a transgender son who I love and support. That sets them off, because it doesnt fit the narrative, which is, everybodys on the left doing this.

But to him, it proves the point: It shows this is really an issue that transcends a political ideology, that there actually is an objective truth to it.

While Ashton says he disagrees with many of his fathers conservative beliefs and they didnt vote for the same candidate, theyve been brought closer by answering the call to advocacy.

He knows hes safe at home and in his community, which is why he decided to stay in Ohio after considering moving to a bluer state with more laws protecting his rights.

Ashton said of his father: Because he has had to repeatedly say it and declare it publicly that he loves me I feel it in my heart more. Im safe with him here.

CNNs Kristen Rogers and Jen Christensen contributed to this report.

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Mar. 14The Fayette County Board of Education will stage a meeting for the Local School Improvement Councils of Oak Hill high and middle school on March 18.

The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at Oak Hill High School, with the middle school presentation scheduled first.

The oral presentations for the schools will feature areas such as what the school is doing to address academic achievement. Other topics will include: Challenges in addressing mental health and wrap-around services; what is being done at the school to improve culture and climate of employees, students and community/parents; and a written report of concerns, suggestions and points raised to the county board of education.

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Other upcoming BOE meetings include:

Tuesday, March 25  Special meeting/public hearing for proposed 2025-26 school calendar, 5:45 p.m., central office;

Tuesday, March 25  Regular meeting, 6 p.m., central office; and

Tuesday, March 25 and Wednesday, March 26  Special meetings (if needed) for personnel RIF/transfer hearings, 5 p.m., central office.
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its plan to ax two programs which help schools and food banks support local farmers and feed people.

In an email to CBS News, federal officials confirmed that USDA will slash $1 billion in funding to schools and food banks to buy food directly from local farms, ranchers and producers, part of what the agency said was a decision to return to long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives, according to CBS News.

The move cancels about $660 million in funding this year for the Local Food for Schools program, which is active in 40 U.S. states, as well as about $420 million for a second program called the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement, which helps food banks and other local groups provide food to their communities.

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With the possibility of food insecurity hitting close to home, an organizer for Mountaineer Food Bank in Raleigh and Fayette counties, Ron Hedrick, said on Friday, March 14, 2025, that the onus to help falls on state lawmakers.

Mountaineer Food Bank Veterans Table program

When the federal government drops off and cuts programs like that, maybe its an opportunity for our state agriculture (West Virginia Department of Agriculture) to pick up and get some state grants to purchase local produce and meats and things so we can continue to get the fresh stuff locally, said Hedrick.

Hedrick said that much of the food distributed through Mountaineer Food Bank comes from local farms, through the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program Plus, one of the feeding programs which federal officials had cut.

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Hendrick said Mountaineer Food Bank officials have notified distribution centers that federal funding will stop in May, although MFB may be able to continue paying local farmers through June or July, depending on how much funding remains available.

Child dies in ATV crash in West Virginia

The state reportedly has two programs in place that could help, if lawmakers make up the deficit left by federal officials.

Local farmers told 59News on Thursday that they are highly concerned about the cuts. They rely on the program to support their farms.

59News reached out to Republican Delegate Elliot Pritt of Fayette County on Friday but did not receive an immediate response.

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Glenn Smith, a United States Marine veteran who represents Raleigh County Veterans Museum, was present for the Mountaineer Food Bank distribution for veterans at Epling Stadium in Beckley on Friday morning.

He said Mountaineer Food Bank distributes food for veterans every second Friday at the stadium.

On Friday, 567 veterans showed up to get local produce, meat and other goods, along with pet food donated by local businesses.

Senate bill could force voters to register with a party in order to vote in primary elections

Its important to tell the veterans that theyre not forgotten for what they did, what they sacrifice, said Smith, noting that many Vietnam and Korean War veterans sacrificed higher education in order to enter combat. Weve got World War II veterans here. Just saw a lieutenant colonel that flew the last mission out of Vietnam on a CH-43 Marine helicopter. Talked to him just a little while ago, so its very important, what Mountaineer Food Bank does.

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Smith said the Vietnam vet he mentioned was 82 years old.

Hedrick said Mountaineer Food Bank distributes food once a month in Raleigh County and once a month in Fayette County, in addition to supplying food to the regions veterans.

Beckley attorney fears Senate bill could have negative effect on mental health services for at-risk transgender youth in the state

Obviously, its important for those on the lower income scale, with the price of groceries and stuff, so everyone is very appreciative when they come here to get the food, and its always a variety of everything, from canned foods to meats to cheese to breads, said Hedrick of the local foods provided by West Virginia farmers through Mountaineer Food Bank.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
The U.S. Department of Justice notified leaders in Los Angeles and other cities across the country about efforts to combat antisemitic behavior on college campuses.

Created under President Trumps executive order, the newly appointed Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism notified mayors, district attorneys and law enforcement in four major cities that it wants to meet soon.

Task Force Leader and Senior Counsel, Leo Terrell, informed city leaders in New York, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles that officials are reviewing claims that schools failed to protect Jewish students from discrimination  potentially violating federal law.

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Antisemitism, harassment, vandalism and violence have no place anywhere in our city, said a statement released by Mayor Karen Bass office. The mayor will continue to coordinate closely with local and state law enforcement, area universities and community leaders to keep campuses safe and peaceful.

Terrell said the Task Force will meet with city leaders to quickly and effectively identify ways that, working together or apart, we return safety, civility, and sanity to our nations schools.

Im a Jewish student myself at UCLA, this is my first year and I couldnt be happier for where I ended up at school, Benjamin Katz told KTLAs Gene Kang. Im really relieved that this initiative is being put in place.

UCLAs chancellor Dr. Julio Frenk told Bruins that their task force to combat antisemitism and anti-Israel bias includes enhanced training and education while improving the complaint system and assuring enforcement of current and new laws and policies.

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Unfortunately were seeing actions claiming to protect students and to stop violence, but it doesnt seem to expand to students who are Palestinians, Arab or Muslim, said Amr Shabaik, L.A. Legal Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

In a statement, Chancellor Frenk said, in part: With honest reflection, it is clear that while we have made progress in addressing antisemitism, we have more to do in our shared goal of eradicating it in its entirety.

In addition, USC released a statement, saying: The university 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.

Federal officials did not immediately specify when those task force meetings will happen with Mayor Bass, but they said they want to move quickly.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Federal wildland firefighters secured a permanent pay raise Friday after years of waiting for Congress to answer their plea.

Included in the spending bill approved by Congress is a new pay scale and incident-response premium pay, which would apply to employees assigned to active fires.

The bill next goes to President Donald Trump to sign into law.

The new pay scale means firefighters will keep their temporary pay raises of either $20,000 annually or 50% of their base salary, enacted in 2021 under the Biden administration.

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Firefighters will not be eligible for premium pay for fires contained within 36 hours. The pay will be calculated at 450% of their hourly base rate for each day a firefighter is on an active fire and will be limited to a total of $9,000 in any calendar year.

This marks the first time federal firefighters will get paid for the hours they rest and sleep while away from home, which is standard practice in most municipal and state departments.

For years, our union and NFFE members have fought tirelessly for a lasting pay solution for federal wildland firefighters, Randy Erwin, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees union, said in a statement.

Now, that fight is paying off, he added. A permanent pay fix means we can shift our focus to addressing other critical issues  recruitment and retention, housing, mental health benefits, rest and recuperation, and the overall well-being of our nations wildland firefighting workforce.

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The pay bump comes as federal firefighters recover from cuts to their ranks after the Agriculture Department, which oversees the U.S. Forest Service, reinstated more than 5,000 probationary employees who had been fired in February. At least 2,000 of them had primary or secondary firefighting duties, according to the NFFE.

The order to reinstate the employees earlier this week originated from a federal civil service board ruling, which found the mass firings may have been unlawful. The ruling directed the USDA to restore employees to their jobs for at least 45 days with back pay.

On Thursday, a federal judge in California ordered more departments - including Veterans Affairs, Defense, Energy, Interior and Treasury - to reinstate thousands of probationary employees who were terminated in February.

But what comes next is unclear. The Trump administration set a March 13 deadline for all federal agencies to submit reorganization plans to initiate large-scale reductions in force.

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Those cuts could include federal firefighters.

We didnt expect it to be this way, said Steve Gutierrez, an NFFE union representative. Id love to celebrate, but I dont want to do it if people are still losing their jobs and and these guys might get cut loose later on.

The uncertainty has already taken its toll on the Forest Service. Last month, Chief Randy Moore, the first Black man to take the helm, resigned after more than 45 years with the Forest Service. In his retirement note to staff, Moore said he felt the full burden of current political tides.

If you are feeling uncertainty, frustration, or loss, you are not alone, he wrote. These are real and valid emotions that I am feeling, too.

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The resignations continued this week when top foresters who oversaw forests in California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota stepped down effective March 28, according to the NFFE.

The forest supervisor of the Angeles National Forest, which was recently battered by the deadly Eaton Fire, also resigned.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
CHICAGO (WGN)  The Illinois Department of Agriculture this week ended two food programs in the state due to funding cuts at the US Department of Agriculture, and the impact is already being felt by farmers, food banks and businesses.

Halted are the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program and the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, according to a state news release.

Were really worried about our ability to continue distributing all the food throughout our network to make sure were meeting the need in our community, said Hillary Caron, a policy advisor with the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

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The Illinois programs were funded by the USDAs Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program. The programs provided more than $1 billion in funding to schools and food banks to buy directly from local farms, ranchers and producers. Both were canceled earlier this month because they no longer effectuate the goals of the agency, the USDA said in a statement to WGNs partners at The Hill.

USDA halts more than $1B in funding for local food banks, schools

A multi-year agreement approved the state to distribute $43 million. Currently, $17.8 million remains outstanding from the federal government.

We had about $400,000 in purchases from nine farms that we are not able to continue with now, Caron said.

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The Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency service  DOGE  claim the federal cuts in funding are to reduce government waste, but these cuts, opponents argue, could have a devastating effect.

I think what they didnt realize with the funding, with these cuts that it just did not affect the individual that received them, said Zeolon Rohwedder, president of the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Illinois, which works to mobilize military veterans to feed America.

Rohwedder said that one of their farmers based in Chicago had five pantries to which they were providing food, but thats been scaled back to due as a consequence of the cuts.

Those particular pantries have lost fresh products produced by people here in Chicago, for people in Chicago, he said.

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In south suburban Monee, farmer Josh Snedden signed a contract with the USDA for a new solar system he installed in December. As he hopes to expand his operation, he says its now an added stressor and one of several grants to which he applied.

These are not new dollars. These are contracts, these are commitments that were made by the US Government, he said.

A recent report says cutbacks to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program  SNAP  could cost local economies billions each year.

What were seeing now is bad enough, and Congress is already considering cutting SNAP, and that provides nine meals for every one food pantries provide, Caron explained.

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The USDA informed Illinois that it stopped reimbursements for any costs incurred by the programs after Jan 19. 2025, according to the state news release. All claims submitted after that date are being returned without explanation or timeline for reimbursement to resume.

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EFFINGHAM  The effects of the Trump administrations federal funding freeze have trickled down to local emergency management operations and left future funding uncertain.

Effingham County Board Chairman Josh Douthit told the Tax and Finance Committee Thursday that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency has paused funding for federal pass-through grants. According to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, over $200 million in federal grants to IEMA have been frozen that support disaster preparedness and recovery programs.

As a result, the grants the county receives  Hazardous Materials Emergency Planner and Emergency Management Performance Grant  were paused, according to Douthit. The HMEP grant helps fund the position of a planner in the county. It is a new three-year grant that started in October 2022 and expires at the end of September. The grant, which amounts to $75,000 over three years, covers 80% of the costs of a planner, while the county pays for 20%.

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As the countys HMEP, Jim Niemanns duties are to develop, improve, and carry out emergency plans, as well as prevention and education, involving hazardous materials transportation on rails and roadways. The grant is funded by fees collected from shippers and carriers of hazardous materials, and the funds are administered by the U.S. Department of Transportations Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The money is sent to IEMA, which then distributes it.

The EMPG provides federal funds to states to assist local governments in preparing for all hazards. The grant funds 50% of the cost of the EMS coordinator position, including salary, office supplies and vehicle usage, and helps offset the cost of the state-mandated position.

The county submitted in January its reimbursement request for the HMEP grant for Oct. 1-Dec. 31 of last year and is waiting for that check. If the county doesnt receive the money, it would have a deficit of $20,000. The county also has not received EMPG funding yet, which amounts to $17,981.

In the worst-case scenario, Douthit said the county will have $37,981 in lost revenue if the remaining grant monies for the fiscal year dont come through. However, he noted Effingham County Treasurer Deborah Ruholl is confident the county can absorb the loss this fiscal year.

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Im in favor of continuing services as is, in hopes the federal administration will realize that our EMA stuff is important and will re-initiate those grants and will pay those out, said Douthit. Were getting ready to go into storm season here, so if we have some sort of disaster, well need them as much as we can. So, it kind of stinks that theres some restructuring at the federal level, and it has trickled down, and we are seeing those effects.

Committee Chairman Norbert Soltwedel stressed that Niemann and EMA Coordinator Pamela Jacobs will continue to get paid because that money is budgeted.

Whats at stake here is whether the federal government gives us money to help pay those bills weve obligated ourselves to pay. I would agree with Josh. We need to continue with the good faith that it will be funded, he said.

If the HMEP grant is cut completely, Douthit said they can reevaluate at the end of the year what they want to do.

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I dont want to lose his expertise out there and his knowledge, he said, referring to Niemann.

What hes doing is very important to the rest of the county, added Soltwedel. As Pam explained to me, if an entity in the county wants to get money and get a grant, they have to have this hazardous materials evaluation that Jim is working on. Without that, they cant get the grant.

The city of Effingham also receives federal pass-through funds through IEMA.

The city received the funds anticipated for this year, $15,982. Like the county, city officials are unsure what to expect going forward. Still, the city is budgeting about the same amount from IEMA for the next fiscal year.

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If the funds do not come through for the city next fiscal year, we will consult with the council and make decisions as to how to move forward, said City Administrator Steve Miller, who added the city typically budgets contingency funds in the event of such unknowns.

However, he said the short-term fix will then need to be further evaluated to sustain long-term operations.

The citys EMA services are a very important part of our operations and our ability to serve our community, he said.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Reporters will have to jump through hoops to get a jail interview with Peter Gerace, the convicted owner of Pharaohs Gentlemens Club.

U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Vilardo ruled Thursday that reporters must follow the policy of the U.S. Marshals Service, which requires five approvals, including from the office that prosecuted Gerace.

A jury convicted Gerace in December of eight charges, including drug and sex trafficking. He declined to testify at his trial, and his defense team chose not to call any witnesses.

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However, Gerace later requested jailhouse interviews with WIVB News 4 and two other media outlets while incarcerated in Chautauqua County Jail.

Court records state jail management was prepared to allow interviews absent a court order, which prompted the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of New York to request a gag order on Gerace.

The chief concern was that Gerace could violate a protective order by discussing sensitive details of his case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti said in a court filing that he would have an FBI agent present for jailhouse interviews if the judge denied their request. He argued that the presence of an FBI agent would allow the government to seek contempt charges if Gerace violated the protective order.

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Geraces attorneys argued a permanent gag order would be an unwarranted restraint on his right to free speech. However, they, too, said reporters should follow the U.S. Marshals policy.

The U.S. Marshals policy specifically requires reporters to get permission from the U.S. Attorney, the judge, Gerace, his defense attorneys, and jail management.

If the five permissions are obtained, the U.S. Marshals make a final determination, in which we consider security concerns, operational factors, etc., Vilardo said in his order.

Geraces sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 15. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Latest Local News

Dan Telvock is an award-winning investigative producer and reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2018. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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bradshaw  Victims of the Feb. 15 flood that devastated much of southern West Virginia were being reminded Thursday that they still need to apply for assistance even as FEMA announced that over $6.3 million of Individual Assistance had been approved over a five-county area.

FEMA has approved $6,326,934 for Individual Assistance which includes $3,835,815 for Housing Assistance and $2,491,119 for Other Needs Assistance, Nate Custer, a Media Relations Specialist with FEMA, said Thursday. There had been 2,234 valid registrations for assistance as of Thursday.

McDowell County had 1,019 registrations followed by 537 in Mingo County; 355 in Mercer County; 340 in Wyoming County; 56 in Wayne County; and 34 in Logan County.

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Residents of McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Logan, Wayne and Wyoming counties whose primary residences were damaged by the floods of Feb. 15 to Feb. 18 may be eligible to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance. The deadline to apply is April 28.

Flood victims that have registered their damages through a state survey still need to register for FEMA Individual Assistance, agency officials said. The information from the state survey was used to help the damage assistance teams scope the extent of the damages; however, residents in the designated counties must additionally apply for FEMA assistance and may receive help with expenses related to essential items, temporary housing, home repairs, and other needs as a result of the flood.

There are four ways for flood victims to apply for FEMA assistance.

 Visit DisasterAssistance.gov.

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 Download the FEMA App.

 Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

 Phone lines are open every day and help is available in most languages. People that use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS) or captioned telephone service should provide FEMA their number for that service.

 Speak with someone in person at a Disaster Recovery Center.

At a Disaster Recovery Center, flood victims can get help applying for federal assistance, update their applications and learn about other resources available. Centers in the area include:

 The Mercer County Disaster Recovery Center is at the Lifeline Princeton Church of God at 250 Oakvale Road in Princeton. Its hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed Sunday. It will be closed Saturday, March 15, March 22 and April 19.

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 The McDowell County Disaster Recovery Center is located at Bradshaw Town Hall, 10002 Marshall Highway in Bradshaw. Its hours of operation are Monday to Saturday form 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed Sundays.

 The Wyoming County Disaster Recover Center is located at the Wyoming Courthouse on 24 Main Avenue in Pineville. Its hours of operation are Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m; Saturday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and closed on Sundays.

FEMA is warning residents in flood areas to beware of scammers. Agency officials said the FEMA staff can be recognized the following ways:

 FEMA representatives never charge a fee or ask for payment for disaster assistance, inspections, or help filling out applications.

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 FEMA staff carry a photo ID badge.

 People who arent sure if someone works for FEMA can call the helpline at 800-621-3362.

Flood victims who have insurance should file a claim as soon as possible, agency officials said. FEMA cannot pay for losses that insurance will cover.

When filling for FEMA assistance, flood victims will be asked to provide:

 A description of the damage

 contact information, including their current phone number and your 911 address where they can currently be reached.

 Their 911 address at the time of disaster

 Their Social Security number

 Their contact information

 For people who have insurance, their policy number, agent or company

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 Their annual household income

 Their bank account information, if they would like to receive direct deposit

People who have already applied for FEMA assistance and have questions about the status of their application or about appealing a FEMA determination letter they have received can visit a Disaster Recovery Center for one-on-one assistance or call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

Contact Greg Jordan at

gjordan@bdtonline.com
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A 37-year-old Las Vegas man with a history of felony convictions in Clark County was sentenced Friday to five years in prison on charges involving the sale of about 1,000 pills containing fentanyl and possession of ammunition, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Edward Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl and one count of felon in possession of ammunition. In addition to imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II sentenced Rodriguez to four years of supervised release.

Court documents show Rodriguez sold about 1,000 pills containing fentanyl on Oct. 6, 2022.

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On Oct. 18, 2022, a police officer in Mesquite, about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas on Interstate 15, tried to pull over Rodriguez. He responded by driving faster through a school zone. Children had to jump out the way as the car went through, according to police.

Rodriguez was later stopped inside a store carrying a backpack containing fentanyl pills, heroin, a magazine loaded with .40 caliber ammunition, and a hypodermic needle with methamphetamine, documents showed. He admitted to police that a shotgun and a 40mm semi-automatic handgun were in the car. The handgun didnt have a serial number and had been modified with a machine gun conversion device.

Rodriguez has prior felony convictions for forgery, attempted burglary, and ex-felon in possession of a firearm, all in Clark County. Another conviction involved distribution of a controlled substance and felon in possession of a firearm in Nevada. He is not allowed to have guns or ammunition because of his prior convictions.

Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Adams for the DEA Las Vegas Division made the announcement.

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The DEA and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanee Smith prosecuted the case.

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Gov. Bob Ferguson, speaks to reporters during a press conference on Jan. 9, 2025 in Olympia. (Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)

Washington Gov. Bob Fergusons point person for working with state lawmakers has resigned.

The key departure from Fergusons team comes as he heads into the final six weeks of his first legislative session as governor, a time when lawmakers will be focused on solving a multi-billion dollar budget gap and passing a range of major policy proposals.

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Legislative Director Joyce Bruce held the same position in the attorney generals office during Fergusons time in that post.

Ive had the pleasure of working with Joyce for many years, starting at the Attorney Generals Office, and thank her for her hard work and dedication, Ferguson said Friday in a statement sent to reporters and posted on social media.

I hope we have the opportunity to work together in my administration in the future, he added.

Bruces deputy, Shawn Lewis, has also resigned. His last day was was Feb. 28.

Fergusons policy team will absorb legislative work for the governors office for the rest of this session, according to Brionna Aho, the governors communications director. Policy Director Sahar Fathi will be the primary contact for legislative leadership.

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Bruce is a familiar face among lawmakers. Her exit had been rumored in the House and Senate earlier this week.

Rep. Julia Reed, D-Seattle, said she is incredibly talented and universally respected. Shell certainly be missed in Olympia.

Sen Yasmin Trudeau, D-Tacoma, said Friday that she hired Bruce at the attorney generals office. Trudeau lauded her skills and stressed the importance of not leaving the post unfilled at this pivotal point in the session.

I hope the governor will build a legislative team that can and will work with Democrats in the Legislature so we can focus on the task of governing, she said.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who announced days ago that he would vote for a House-passed funding bill to avoid a government shutdown, said he doesnt care about firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs (D-N.Y.) harsh criticism of Democratic senators who will vote to advance the controversial bill.

Fetterman said Ocasio-Cortez and other liberal lawmakers who are calling for the Senate to block the bill, which would fund government through Sept. 30, dont have a viable exit strategy for ending a government shutdown.

And he says its easy for House liberals to take potshots at the Senate when members of Congress would continue to receive paychecks during a shutdown while tens of thousands of federal workers would be furloughed without pay, possibly for weeks.

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I hope you can relay how little I care about her views on this, Fetterman said when asked about Ocasio-Cortezs comments that Senate Democrats who vote to advance the bill are betraying their Democratic House colleagues.

Im going to stand on what I happen to believe is the right thing to do but ask her, Whats the exit plan once we shut the government down? What about all the millions of Americans who are going to have their lives damaged? he asked.

What about the ones that wont have any paycheck? Shell have her paycheck, though, he said.

If were worried about Musk going to shut down the government or damage the government, we have the power to do the one thing that [President] Trump and [Elon] Musk cant do, shut it down, he asserted.

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Ocasio-Cortez told reporters Thursday that many Democrats felt a deep sense of outrage and betrayal over Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumers (N.Y.) announcement that he would vote to advance the House-passed funding package.

Schumer acknowledged it was a bad bill but warned that allowing the government to shut down would be far worse.

But Ocasio-Cortez, who has not ruled out running for Schumers seat in 2028, argued that Senate Democrats who vote for the bill will betray the House Democrats representing districts that Trump won who voted against the bill.

There are members of Congress who have won Trump-held districts in some of the most difficult territory in the United States, who walked the plan and took innumerable risks in order to defend the American people, she said.

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I think it is a huge slap in the face, she added.

Fetterman said hes not worried.

Whatever her views, Im going to sleep just fine, he said.

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Mar. 15Lawrence Countians take top 2 spots in regional bee

For the second consecutive year, Lawrence County will have a student headed to the nation's top spelling competition.

Joseph Keffer, 10, a fifth grader at Chesapeake Middle School, won the regional spelling bee in Athens on March 1 and, as a result, is now headed to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will take place in Washington, D.C. in May

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Keffer, who won the Lawrence County Spelling Bee in December, faced off with 12 other spellers from seven counties in Athens and will now represent southeast Ohio in the national event.

Keffer will make the trip to the nation's capital one year after another Lawrence Countian did so.

Last year, Meredith Dunlap, of Fairland Middle School, won at the regional bee and competed at the national level.

Dunlap also competed in this year's regional bee, coming in second place to Keffer. She was also the second place winner in the county bee in December.

Prior to Dunlap and Keffer qualifying for their national bees, the last student from the county to compete at that level was Felicity Jenkins, of Symmes Valley, who did so in 2010.

This year is the 100th anniversary of the Scripps National Bee, which is set for May 27-29.
Mar. 14There's a new enforcer at the southern border  one with four hooves and a pretty, blue eye.

Dolly the filly was born March 9 to her mother Juanita at the Sierra Blanca Border Patrol Station, southeast of El Paso, U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson Landon Hutchens announced on Thursday, an arrival that represents a "significant milestone" in the agency's 100-year-old history.

"This is a remarkable moment for the U.S. Border Patrol," Chief Patrol Agent Lloyd Easterling said in a news release. "Dolly is the first foal ever born to a U.S. Border Patrol horse, and she represents the potential of our program. We are equally proud that the community had a hand in naming her."

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The newborn's name was picked from a list suggested by students from Sierra Blanca schools in West Texas.

CBP shared photos of Dolly donning a new-looking green Border Patrol turnout blanket.

Border Patrol horses are an "essential asset" in getting agents into rough terrain unreachable by vehicles, Hutchens said. The horses help agents "track, detect and interdict illegal activity while also strengthening the connection between Border Patrol and local communities."

He said Dolly, akin to Rudolph, stands out from the herd with one of her "most striking features" and a unique trait: one blue eye.

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Dolly and Juanita, also shown to have a blue eye like her daughter, are under close watch "to ensure the filly grows strong and healthy."

Hutchens said Dolly will start working with agents at the Sierra Blanca station toward the goal of "joining the ranks of the Border Patrol's trusted equine stable."
BOSSIER PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced that the $123 million I-20 major rehabilitation project in Bossier City is in the final phase of construction, with the old outside travel lanes of the interstate now removed.

The outside lanes are being rebuilt near Hamilton Road to Industrial Drive and replacing drainage structures. The interchange ramps at Old Minden Road and Industrial Drive remain closed but will reopen in late April/early May once the outside lanes are rebuilt.

Bossier neighborhood to undergo pipeline repairs

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According to the press release, the project is currently 74% complete and is anticipated to be completed in late 2025/early 2026, weather and other factors permitting.

The release also reminded drivers that commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), such as 18-wheelers, are currently prohibited from driving through the work zone (Hamilton Road to Industrial Drive) due to narrow lane widths. As construction progresses and the new travel lanes are built, this prohibition will be assessed for its necessity.

CMV drivers should utilize the primary detour of I-220. Additionally, travelers on I-20 are urged to use I-220 to avoid construction delays.

For additional travel information, call 511, visit www.511la.org, or download the Louisiana 511 mobile app. Out-of-state travelers may call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). Motorists may also monitor the LA DOTD website at www.dotd.la.gov, select MyDOTD, or visit the DOTD Facebook and X (Twitter) pages.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
Hours after President Donald Trump publicly praised the judge who oversaw his classified documents case, lawyers with the Department of Justice urged the U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon to ensure the final report into Trump's alleged conduct never becomes public.

DOJ lawyers and attorneys representing Trump's former co-defendants argued that Judge Cannon should "under no circumstances" release the volume of Special Counsel Jack Smith's final report about the president's alleged retention of classified documents, alleging the report would violate the due process rights of Trump's top White House aide Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira.

Trump pleaded not guilty in June 2023 to 37 criminal counts related to his handling of classified materials, after prosecutors said he repeatedly refused to return hundreds of documents containing classified information. Trump, along with Nauta and De Oliveira, also pleaded not guilty in a superseding indictment to allegedly attempting to delete surveillance footage at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks at the Department of Justice in Washington, Mar. 14, 2025. (ABC News)

MORE: Timeline: Special counsel's investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents

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Judge Cannon dismissed the case last July, bucking decades of legal precedent by finding that Smith had been unconstitutionally appointed.

Friday's filing from the DOJ, addressing the prosecution of Nauta and De Oliveira, said, "They endured approximately a year-and-a-half of rampant pretrial publicity and vilification after their indictments were sought by an unconstitutionally appointed prosecutor with unconstitutionally limitless funding, who then went on to use the materials he collected in his unlawful investigation (at continued unconstitutional expense) to craft the Report intended to justify his actions."

"We had an amazing judge in Florida, Trump said at DOJ headquarters on Friday. "Actually, she was brilliant. She moved quickly. She was the absolute model of what a judge should be. She was strong and tough."

Last month, the White House said the FBI returned the boxes of materials that were seized from Mar-a-Lago to Trump.

PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump departs Washington from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

MORE: Judge orders FBI to release some information in Trump documents case

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Those boxes are now back at Mar-a-Lago and do not contain the classified documents that were originally in them when they were seized. Those sensitive documents are secured in the White House.

While Judge Cannon has expressed an unwillingness to publicly release the report, the parties in the case asked her to bar release of the report in case a future attorney general "ever expresses an intention to release Volume II outside the Department of Justice."

"The statute of limitations has not yet expired in this matter, and Mr. Nauta and Mr. De Oliveira respectfully request that the Court maintain its supervision over this exceptionally complex case and continue to enjoin the release of the Report, and that doing so would not be a usurpation of the Attorney General's authority to release or withhold the Report under DOJ's Special Counsel regulations," they wrote.

Final report into Trump's handling of classified documents should never be released: DOJ originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
DELAWARE COUNTY  Delaware County Commissioners issued a burn ban that will remain in effect until March 27.

Authorities say at least 130 fires burned across 44 counties. The strong winds were responsible for downed power lines and enormous dust storms that blew through the state on Friday.

Historic fire conditions developed around midday in northeast Oklahoma, and persisted well into the evening, according to todays Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry Fire Situation Report.

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Winds came out of southwest winds gusting 40 to 65 mph.

Residents can refer to the Board of County Commissioner meetings for an alert banner. Delaware County Emergency Management, Oklahoma Forestry Services website for updates on burn bans and follow local news for announcements

Burn Ban FAQs

What is a burn ban? A burn ban prohibits outdoor burning, enforced by state law, to prevent wildfires during high-risk conditions.

Who can issue a burn ban in Oklahoma? The Governor or county commissioners can issue burn bans. A Governor-proclaimed burn ban supersedes county burn bans.

What criteria are used to declare a burn ban? County commissioners, often in consultation with local fire departments, emergency management agencies, and forestry experts, determine when a burn ban is necessary. Commissioners can declare a burn ban if extreme fire danger exists, which includes severe drought conditions, minimal precipitation forecast, and high fire occurrence.

What is the process for county commissioners to issue a burn ban? County commissioners must pass a resolution during a public meeting and notify the Oklahoma Forestry Services, local news media, law enforcement, and relevant state departments.

How long does a county-issued burn ban last? A county-issued burn ban lasts up to 14 days but can be extended if extreme fire conditions persist.

What activities are restricted during a burn ban? Outdoor burning of brush, grass, leaves, campfires, bonfires, fireworks, and sky lanterns is prohibited during a burn ban.

What are the penalties for violating a burn ban? Violating a burn ban can result in fines and legal consequences, as it poses a significant risk to public safety.

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Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

A fire broke out in a field near the Sarepta railway station in the Russian city of Volgograd in the early hours of March 15, the Russian news channel Astra reported, citing local accounts and geolocated footage.

The fire erupted during on ongoing drone attack targeting a nearby oil refinery, residents said.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these claims.

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The fire is reportedly located near a Gazprom gas station and the Sarepta railway station, several kilometers from the refinery, according to footage geolocated by Astra. Residents of Volgograd reported hearing several explosions and said drones were targeting the city.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on the morning of March 14 that 64 drones were shot down over Volgograd Oblast overnight.

The Volgograd refinery, owned by Russian oil giant Lukoil, has been targeted in previous attacks, most recently in a drone strike on Feb. 15.

Ukrainian drones also attacked the facility on Jan. 31, according to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces. The refinery has been targeted multiple times throughout the full-scale war.

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Ukraine considers Russian oil refineries to be valid military targets, as fossil fuel products and profits continue to supply Moscow's war machine. The Ukrainian military has launched repeated attacks against Russian refineries with long-range drones.

Read also: With Putin demanding new concessions for a ceasefire, all eyes are on Trumps next move

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Two investigators with expertise in commercial aircraft and power plants were expected to be in Denver Friday, to begin looking into what caused the engine of an American Airlines plane to catch fire shortly after a precautionary landing early Thursday evening at Denver International Airport, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Once at DIA, the investigators will begin "documenting and examining the aircraft, conducting witness and crew interviews, and obtaining other data that could contain information relevant to the investigation, according to the statement.

Preliminary findings will be available within 30 days, but the NTSBs final report, listing a probable cause of the event along with any contributing factors, isnt expected for another 12 to 24 months, according to the agency.

Passengers originally heading from Colorado Springs to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport were safely deplaned from the Boeing 737-800 at DIA around 5:15 p.m. Thursday, and no serious injuries were reported, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

That doesnt mean there werent stressful moments for those on board, including Colorado Springs Hunter Hubbs, who was traveling with his girlfriend, 6-month-old son, mother and a family friend to a cousins weekend wedding in Texas.

After an unusually big vibration during takeoff from Colorado Springs Airport, he said passengers were just starting to settle in, for what they expected to be a roughly two-hour flight, when a voice came over the intercom.

About 10 minutes, maybe less, into the flight, the pilot let us know that the vibration was the engine failing to turn on, Hubbs said. Due to that, we were being rerouted to Denver from Dallas.

It wasnt a smooth ride to DIA, he said, but when is it ever?

It was pretty turbulent, but thats what you expect between Colorado Springs and Denver, he said.

The plane had landed and was taxiing to the gate when the FAA said the engine caught fire. Inside the cabin, passengers were still unaware, Hubbs said.

Then, suddenly, they were.

As soon as the seat-belt sign came off and everyone started standing up, thats when someone screamed, Fire! Hubbs said. No one was really panicking yet. But you could tell that people were starting to worry and wanting to get off.

The palpable concern spiked when smoke began to fill the space. Hubbs said it didnt reach a point where it was thick enough to obscure vision, or make him cough, but that others may have been closer to the source.

Seeing the videos that people took, the smoke from the outside looks way crazier than how much was in the cabin by the time we got out, he said.

After the first cries of fire! and smoke!  time that felt like minutes, but may have been seconds  the cabin door was opened, fresh air rushed in, and passengers began filing out.

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All the passengers were amazing, Hubbs said. No one was trying to gain advantage or push someone else out of the way. Everyone was assisting one another.

Honestly, thats what Im thankful for most. No one was panicking, he added. Once we started moving, everything went great.

Hubbs, his girlfriend and son exited via an inflatable evacuation slide deployed in the right rear of the plane, he said. Others, including his mother and her friend, exited onto a wing, and had to await an assist to reach the ground.

Theres really no stairs from the plane wing, so they had to stand on the wing. My mom was part of that group and said they waited for a luggage conveyor belt to slide down, basically, Hubbs said.

Though he, too, heard the anecdotes, Hubbs couldnt confirm reports that some passengers may have been injured jumping from the wing of the plane after evacuating the cabin.

Inside the terminal, a special section had been set aside, with paramedics at the ready, to assess and triage passengers.

Hubbs said he was feeling fine and eschewed the offered care, but that his girlfriend and son opted for follow-up care, and more vital readings, at the emergency room.

She had to get an inhaler, but no serious damage was done, thankfully, Hubbs said.

And his son weathered the unexpected turbulence like a trouper.

They were actually really impressed with him. He was just a happy baby all night, said Hubbs, now back in the Springs (via rental car) and, as of Friday afternoon, waiting for the airline to contact him about the familys checked luggage, and desperately needed stroller/car seat.

American Airlines offered to book the family another flight to Texas, in time to make the wedding, but Hubbs said they declined.

Were sorry to miss it, but I just dont want to take another flight after this, this weekend at the very least, said Hubbs. Maybe in half a year Ill be on a plane, but feet on the ground sounds good for the foreseeable future.

On average, between five and six American Airlines flights bound for Dallas-Fort Worth depart the Colorado Springs Airport each day, according to airport marketing and communications representative Aidan Ryan.

In the past two years, the airport has logged two fire incidents in commercial aircrafts, both of which were a wheel fire at the gate, and extinguished quickly, with all passengers and crew deplaning safely and uninjured into the terminal.

Neither incident required the deployment of the planes emergency slides.

In at least the last 10 years, emergency slides have not been deployed on our airfield, Ryan said.
A fire at the New Jersey home of a Bayer pharmaceutical executive, sparked exactly three months after the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is actively being investigated as arson.

The blaze broke out around 7:30 a.m. on March 4 at an occupied residence on East Lane in Madison, the Morris County Prosecutors Office told CNN. The fire was quickly extinguished by the Madison Fire Department. The structure sustained no significant damage and there were no reported injuries.

While the prosecutors office declined to identify the homeowner, pharmaceutical giant Bayer confirmed the fire occurred at the private home of one of Bayers U.S. executives.

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The family is safe and unharmed, the company said in a statement.

The prosecutors ongoing arson investigation has come to span multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, amid concerns the fire was another targeted attack on a health care industry executive.

Individuals mobilized by economic grievances are using the murder of a health insurance CEO as inspiration for threats and attack plotting, Homeland Security said in a statement.

The house fire came on the three-month anniversary of Thompsons slaying in Midtown Manhattan on Dec. 4.

The UnitedHealthcare exec had been visiting the city from Minnesota for an investor conference at The Residences by Hilton Club, where he was slated to give a speech later in the day. Police said he was ambushed by a masked gunman around 6:45 a.m. as he walked toward the venue on West 54th Street near Sixth Avenue.

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Thompson was pronounced dead 30 minutes later.

The accused gunman, 26-year-old Ivy League graduate Luigi Mangione, was arrested at a McDonalds in Atloona, Pennsylvania, five days later, where he was found with a handwritten manifesto outlining his grievances with the health insurance industry.

Hes currently behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Video above: This FOX 5/KUSI video provides tips on how to prevent house fires.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Crews with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department responded to reports of a fire at an apartment building in downtown on Saturday morning.

The incident was first reported by SDFD at 9:02 a.m. on Saturday morning, with firefighters responding to 702 Ash St., which is located in Cortez Hill neighborhood. The address listed is a residential tower, also known as El Cortez.

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According to fire officials, a total of 40 personnel were assigned to the incident, including six fire engines.

In an update at 10:26 a.m., SDFD noted that incident had closed, meaning there is no longer a threat to the building or its resident.

No evacuation orders were ever made and no one was reported injured.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Firefighters battled high winds as they fought a blaze in a Rock Island home Friday afternoon.

The fire started around 3:30 p.m. in a house on the 2900 block of 8 1/2 Avenue. Heavy flames and smoke poured from the attic. The roof partially collapsed from heavy smoke and water damage.

(Mike Colon, OurQuadCities.com)

Crews from the Rock Island, Moline and Rock Island Arsenal fire departments were at the scene.

(Mike Colon, OurQuadCities.com)

A dog was reunited with its owner with the help of neighbors watching from across the street. Crews remained on the scene as of 4:45 p.m. We will stay in contact with firefighters to provide more details as soon as they are available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
SCOTT TOWNSHIP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Crews battled a garage fire at an equipment rental service Friday night along Layton Road.

According to a Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) press release, crews responded to the 700 block of Justus Boulevard at Powells Sales Service and Rental for a reported structure fire just before 8:00 p.m.

When on-scene, Justus Volunteer Fire Company Assistant Fire Chief Justin Stalica states that crews witnessed fire and smoke coming from one of the buildings on the five building property.

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This building housed some of the equipment and where some of the repairs to the equipment and vehicles take place.

The releases states that the building started to collapse on itself during firefighting efforts

Officials say the fire then extended to other nearby structures including a building that is used to paint and touch up vehicles.

It was then upgraded to a second and then third alarm because of the severity of the fire.

Credit: Todd Williams

Stalica states that the lack of hydrants in the area resulted in tankers from three other counties being called in to help battle the blaze.

Authorities say that thick and double walls made the process of getting the fire under control hard because they had to tears down them down to get to fire that got in between them.

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The fire was ruled under control at around 10:00 p.m., according to Stalica.

Stalica says crews were on-scene doing overhaul until around 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning.

Crews from Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Wyoming, and Wayne counties responded to the scene to battle the blaze.

The equipment rental and repair building had to be torn down with an excavator on the property due to extensive damage, according to authorities.

The building was closed at the time, and there were no injuries, according to the release

A Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, but because of the extensive damage, was not able to determine the cause.

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The investigation is still ongoing.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
(Reuters) - A fire that was sparked by Ukraine's drone attack on Friday at the Tuapse oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region has been contained but not yet extinguished, the region's administration said late on Saturday.

The fire has been contained to an area of 1,250 square metres (13,500 square feet), the administration said in a post on the Telegram messaging app. Nearly 200 firefighters are fighting the blaze, it said.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Judge Ronald Ibarra, left, and Gov. Josh Green answered questions from journalists Friday about the One Ohana Fund at the state Capitol. The Maui Wildfires Compensation Program was established to provide prompt compensation to Maui wildfire victims.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Judge Ronald Ibarra, left, and Gov. Josh Green answered questions from journalists Friday about the One Ohana Fund at the state Capitol. The Maui Wildfires Compensation Program was established to provide prompt compensation to Maui wildfire victims.

Gov. Josh Green announced Friday the first disbursement from the $175 million One Ohana Fund, part of the Maui Wildfires Compensation Program created to provide direct financial relief to families of those who died and people who suffered serious injuries in the August 2023 wildfires.

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The first $1.5 million payment has been made to the estate of a wildfire victim, with the remaining wrongful death payments expected to be completed by June.

Were very grateful to all the people that have worked hard to continue to help Maui heal and to help those who lost loved ones, lost their homes. It has been an incredible amount of work and incredible amount of suffering, especially for those who lost one of their loved ones,  Green said. We put together $175 million so that we could disperse $1.5 million to each and every person who lost someone in their family, to expedite it if it was suitable for them.

Retired Judge Ronald Ibarra, administrator of the MWCP, said the program began accepting claim registrations on March 1, 2024, and closed registration on June 15. In total, 50 wrongful death claims and 21 serious physical injury claims were submitted.

Ibarra said 14 wrongful death claimants did not return their forms for filing. Of the 36 death claim forms submitted, two were deemed ineligible under the programs protocol, six were closed due to missing follow-up information and two were withdrawn by the claimant or their attorney. This left 26 eligible claims that were offered $1.5 million each. Of those, two claimants withdrew after receiving the offers, and one did not respond, voiding the offer, leaving 23 wrongful death claims.

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All 23 wrongful death claimants accepted the settlement offers and met the programs conditions for payment, which included submitting court orders, appointing a personal representative, providing a distribution plan for beneficiaries, addressing liens, granting permission to participate in the program, signing releases and selecting a method of payment.

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In one case a court hearing was held, and the settlement was found to be in good faith.

On March 11, Ibarra said, the first $1.5 million payment was issued to a claimant who represented himself in the program.

Im happy to say that after little over a year, when the program rolled out, the first payment of $1.5 million was made to the first debt claimant. The claimant represented himself in the program,  Ibarra said.

Of the 21 serious physical injury claims, two were not approved to file a claim, and forms were sent to 19 others. Seven forms were not returned. Of the 12 submitted, three were deemed ineligible and are under further review.

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The $175 million One Ohana Fund is part of a larger $4.037 billion global settlement announced in August to resolve tort claims arising from the wildfires. The fund also will provide payments for nine qualifying serious injury cases still under review. Families who receive One Ohana Fund payments will remain eligible to seek additional compensation from the broader global settlement.

I know it doesnt cure the pain, but it will help people move on with their lives as is our hope,  Green said.

The wildfires, which swept through Lahaina and surrounding areas on Aug. 8, 2023, killed 102 people, displaced 12, 000 residents, destroyed more than 4, 000 properties and caused an estimated $4 billion to $6 billion in property damage.

More than 500 Lahaina-owned or occupied homes were lost, and nearly 8, 000 businesses were affected, making it one of the most devastating disasters in Hawaiis history.

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The global settlement includes contributions from seven defendantsHawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, the state of Hawaii and several telecommunications companies. Hawaiian Electric agreed to pay $1.99 billion, Kamehameha Schools and the state each pledged $872.5 million and the telecommunications industry committed $300 million.

The state contributed $65 million directly to the One Ohana Fund for initial payments and has pledged a total of $800 million to the global settlement, pending legislative approval. Once approved, a new oversight entity will manage and distribute funds to ensure fairness and transparency. Maui Circuit Court Judge Peter Cahill will oversee resolutions involving claims from subrogation insurers.

Green noted that nearly 65 % of wrongful death claimants have represented themselves in the process, which he said reflects efforts to make the program accessible and fair.

In addition to financial relief, the state has outlined several long-term recovery goals, including assisting displaced residents regardless of citizenship status, engaging the community in planning transitional and permanent housing, returning historically recognized lands to the Lahaina community and securing $500 million for infrastructure master-planning to support rebuilding efforts.

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The program is designed to be accessible and efficient so that people who are settling can get their money again without a five-year delay or without losing incredible amounts of its fees,  Green said. Were just committed to being fair to people, because we have to heal, and thats what this is about. We continue to stand with the families and the community and anyone who needs support, and rebuild peoples lives and rebuild Lahaina.

Phase one of the MWCP, which includes current wrongful death and serious injury claims, is expected to be fully completed by June 30. Afterward, the One Ohana Fund will open for up to 79 additional wrongful death claims, each eligible for $1.5 million.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A fisherman who discovered Mica Millers belongings shortly after her April 27 suicide at Lumber River State Park was reportedly killed in a car wreck on Friday night.

Johnnie Jacobs vehicle was T-boned around 7:30 p.m. after being struck by another motorist that failed to yield for a stop sign, according to a post on X by NewsNation correspondent Rich McHugh.

News13 has reached out to the North Carolina Highway Patrol for more information.

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Jacobs spoke with News13 on May 9, saying Millers death changed my life.

She had her license, her bank card, keys in the bag, a little small Bible, her purse, all of her credit cards, and a few receipts and some things, Jacobs said.

Mica Millers death came two days after serving her husband, John-Paul, with divorce papers. John-Paul was formerly pastor of Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach. Since his estranged wifes death, hes been twice accused of sexually assaulting two girls who were underage at the time.

And on Nov. 1, FBI agents spent much of the day conducting an investigation at Millers Coldwater Circle home.

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Multiple law-enforcement vehicles gathered in the Azalea Lakes neighborhood, where authorities were seen carrying items out of the house late Friday afternoon, including boxes, a computer screen, and what looked like an external computer drive.

On the day of the shooting, Jacobs said he remembers hearing cries from that area and a single gunshot. After that, he said the cries stopped.

As I decided that I was going to stop fishing, I came back through, stopped where they call it a slew or a lake off of the river, he said. So, I pulled in there with my little boat and, maybe five minutes after, and maybe five minutes into the slew, I heard a cry. I heard it for about two or three minutes. Then I stopped, heard a gunshot. Then, the crying stopped.

Jacobs said he could not see Miller but that if he could have seen her he would have tried to help.

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If it had been a person that was crying in the open, I would have checked on them all day long, he said. I just wish I would have gone in there and checked on her.

Jacobs said he was leaning on his faith to deal with the tragedy.

Im just going to depend on the Lord to get me through this, he said. Its changed my life, actually.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Unusually severe flooding continued to keep the central Italian region of Tuscany on high alert on Saturday, with the situation in Pisa particularly worrying.

The water level of the Arno is critically high in Pisa, though it has fallen slightly in the regional capital Florence. The Arno runs through both cities and flows into the Mediterranean not far from Pisa.

The situation is also still dire in the Emilia-Romagna region, which is located a little further north.

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In Florence, the water had almost reached the arches of one of the most famous landmarks in Europe, the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge.

The newspaper Corriere della Sera reported on Friday that the water had also threatened the entrance to the Uffizi Gallery, which houses a world-famous art collection.

The situation in the city is now improving again, said Mayor Sara Funaro, according to the ANSA news agency, but many communities in the greater Florence area are still cut off.

East of Florence, the Sieve, a tributary of the Arno, rose to its highest level since 1966, ANSA reported. In the town of Valdisieve, the fire brigade was able to rescue a man from the flood waters at the last minute.

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The Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni promised help for those affected by the storms, and thanked rescue workers.

Meteorologist Bernardo Gozzini said the rainfall was unusual for the time of year. In Florence, it had rained twice as much in two days as the monthly average for the whole of March.

"A storm like this is more typical of November, when the sea is still warm and water evaporates," he told the newspaper La Repubblica. "You could almost say that there was no winter. The Mediterranean could not cool down," he added.
New legislation proposed in the Florida House could change the way customers tip at restaurants.

The bill, HB 535, entitled Public Lodging and Public Food Service Establishments, makes clear the conditions under which a patron may be removed from a restaurant for not paying their bill.

An amendment to the legislation also handles tipping as well as service charges. Customers would not have to pay a required gratuity or service charge if the service wasnt up to scratch, according to Fox News Digital.

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A guest may not be required to pay an automatic gratuity or service charge if the guest complains about the quality of service provided, the amendment states.

Meanwhile, service charges or automatic gratuity may only be included for groups with six or more people. The proposed law could also direct restaurants to reveal whos getting the gratuity or service charge and disclose the percentages.

The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association said in a statement that they are not in favor of the amendment.

A Florida bill aims to change the way tipping and service charges work (AFP via Getty Images)

We understand that customers may be experiencing tip fatigue because they are feeling compelled to tip even when, historically, no tip would be warranted," the groups vice president for government relations and general counsel, Samantha Padgett, said. However, many restaurants in Florida and across the U.S. use service charges as a key tool for insuring service and success.

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She added that Florida statutes already require that a service charge notification appear on the menu and on the customers receipt.

We feel there are important and effective ways to build on the current notification requirements that are currently in statute, that will result in better customer communication, said Padgett. We believe a customer deserves to have the information needed to make their own decisions about where to dine.

WalletHub found in a recent survey that nine out of 10 Americans think tipping culture is out of control in the U.S. As many as 83 percent of Americans think that automatic service charges should be prohibited. Meanwhile, roughly half of Americans revealed that they often tip because of social pressure instead of because of good service.

The proposed law would go into effect on July 1 if it passes. The amendment was put forward by State Rep. Demi Busatta, a Republican, after dining in Miami and receiving a bill with both a pre-set gratuity and a service charge.

In Miami, weve seen a growing circumstance where all the restaurants are automatically including a 20 percent gratuity, or theyre calling it gratuity or service charge or service fee or tip, not just on regular sitdown meals but on take-out as well at fast-casual establishments, said Busatta, according to ClickOrlando.
Buc-ees, the super-sized Texas chain of travel stores, has temporarily withdrawn its application to annex land for a new location into the small town of Palmer Lake.

We encountered a technical issue with the original application. To ensure compliance, we will be submitting a new application soon, said Stan Beard, Buc-ees director of real estate and development, in a statement Friday.

Initial application would have brought the roughly 30-acre parcel near Interstate 25 and the El Paso County-Douglas County line into Palmer Lake via a flagpole annexation of a thin line of land connected to the town about 3 miles away.

The plan for Colorados second Buc-ees location produced major uproar in the small town and in Monument, its larger neighbor to the south. Some residents raised concerns about traffic, water availability and the preservation of the historic community in public meetings on the project.

After the Palmer Lake board of trustees determined the projects legal eligibility in December, the next steps were submission of impact reports. The town committed to contracting three of its own reports analyzing the fiscal, traffic and water impacts of the project.

The first report on traffic was released last month and concluded that the travel center would produce minimal impacts to nearby roads.

Integrity Matters, a political watchdog group which has been involved in the opposition to Buc-ees since the plan was announced late last year, claimed the withdrawal vindicated its legal complaints against Palmer Lake.

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Had that all been kosher, they would have forged ahead, said Integrity Matters co-founder Dana Duggan.

The group, along with other nonprofits, filed a lawsuit in El Paso County District Court in January with the town over its handling of a December board of trustees meeting in which the Buc-ees annexation request was determined to meet legal requirements for eligibility.

The suit claimed a long list of grievances, including that the annexation application was deemed eligible despite not meeting state requirements. It also claims the town violated the constitutional rights of the public in attendance at the crowded meeting.

The Palmer Lake trustees pushed back on allegations in a public statement posted to the towns website on the same day the lawsuit was filed.

As a result of the process followed in considering whether the property is eligible to be annexed, the Town believes it provided a full and fair hearing and is not aware of any violations of open meeting or other laws or regulations, the statement read.

A meeting date to vote yes or no on the annexation itself, a decision at the discretion of the board of trustees, has not yet been set.

Buc-ees representatives have not yet provided a date when the annexation would be back under consideration for the town or how the application would change in the intervening time.
Florida has rules when it comes to your drivers license. And you may have questions.

What does Florida law say about getting a state drivers license if you move here from elsewhere?

What if you just move from county to county or down the block?

How long do you have before you have to get your license?

And do you need a new license to comply with the new READ ID law?

Heres what to know:

What is REAL ID and do you need a new drivers license?

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles says REAL ID is a national effort to improve the integrity and security of state-issued driver licenses and identification cards, which in turn will help fight terrorism and reduce identity fraud.

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Documents that meet Real ID requirements are the drivers license or identification card that each state issues, including Florida.

How do you know if your license or ID is compliant? It can be easily identified by a star inside a circle in the upper right corner of the card. If your drivers license has this icon, it means it meets REAL ID standards. If not, you should apply for it as soon as possible at an FLHSMV office.

Having a REAL ID-compliant document has several advantages, including the process of renewing or replacing your current credentials through the MyDMV portal, the easiest way to renew or replace your Florida drivers license or identification card. It also allows you to renew or replace your motor vehicle, boat or mobile home registration.

Starting May 7, 2025, travelers in the U.S. will be required to comply with REAL ID regulations to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities.

Do you need a Florida drivers license if you move here from another state?

 If you move to Florida and intend to live in the state for more than six consecutive months and intend to drive, you need to get a Florida drivers license. You must apply in person at any office offering driver license services, according to the Department of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

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 You have 30 days after establishing residency as a new Florida resident to obtain a valid Florida drivers license. Also, you must obtain car insurance from an insurance agent who is licensed to sell insurance in Florida in order to title and register your vehicle. For that, you have within 10 days of establishing residency.

Do you need to take any tests?

 You will be given a vision test. But, in general, you wont have to take a written or road test if you have a valid out-of-town license.

 The fee is $48 for a Class E drivers license plus service fee. For a list of required documentation, visit the flhsmv.gov website and click on Drivers Licenses and New Resident.

Do you need to update your license if you move within the state?

 Florida law requires you to update your address within 10 days of moving. That applies whether you move from one apartment to another in the same building or from one county to another.

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 You can update your address online at the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website. Click on Drivers License and Change Address and that will take you to MyDMVPortal. You can also visit a local DMV office in person.

 Youll need a check or money order for $25, payable to the Division of Drivers Licenses. You also have to provide your Social Security number and drivers license number and new mailing and residential address.

 Dont forget to update your vehicle registration, too. You have 30 days to do that if you move.
OXFORD  A former Corinth Middle School teacher accused of using artificial intelligence to create pornographic videos that incorporated the faces of former students will be allowed to bond out of federal custody.

During an hour-long hearing Thursday afternoon, Magistrate Jane Virden denied the governments motion to detain Wilson Frederick Jones, 30, until his trial.

The judge set an unsecured bond of $20,000, placed him on home confinement with GPS monitoring and remanded him to custody of the United States Marshals Service until the paperwork can be processed and the location-monitoring technology installed.

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Jones remained incarcerated in the Lafayette County Detention Center late Friday morning, according to jail records.

Under federal home confinement, Jones will be restricted to continuous lockdown at his residence. He will only be allowed to leave home for medical necessities and court appearances. He must also surrender his passport. Jones must not look at child pornography and has to submit to random searches of his phone, computer or any other internet capable device.

Jones was arrested by federal authorities March 12 and charged with the production of a morphed image of child pornography and possession of morphed images of child pornography. According to the federal complaint, Jones created videos that depicted known Corinth students engaging in inappropriate behavior, including kissing and exposing themselves.

Jones resigned from the school district days after the videos were discovered.

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School officials were first notified of the inappropriate behavior in November 2024. A computer security application alerted to illicit content, rated severe and flagged as sexual, on Jones computer. The district IT director saved the three videos in question to a flash drive. The next day, Jones computer was confiscated and locked, and he was denied access to his accounts.

According to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court Wednesday, Jones admitted that a person in the videos was a local student. Investigators identified at least eight underage victims who were identified as children who attended the Corinth School District.

Even though the videos were discovered last fall, it took nearly four months for the incident to come to light.

The Corinth School District turned the information from their investigation over to the Mississippi Department of Education in late January. Almost a month later, state officials sent the complaint via email to Corinth police detective Capt. Heather Russell on Feb. 27.

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Russell met with Corinth School District Superintendent Edward Childress that Thursday afternoon to discuss the incident. Following proper protocol dealing with allegations against teachers, the detective requested a subpoena for evidence.

The following Monday, March 3, Russell and FBI agent Bo Swindle served the subpoena and retrieved a laptop computer, a thumb drive and a case file compiled by the Corinth School District during their investigation and interviews. The review of the evidence determined that multiple students were victims of AI-generated videos depicting students engaged in sexually exploitative conduct.

Less than 10 days later, local and federal agents arrested Jones early Wednesday morning and carried him to Oxford where he was formally charged with production and possession of child pornography in U.S. District Court.

A trial date has not been set.
An ex-FBI counterterrorism expert compared President Donald Trump to Saddam Hussein just before his threat-filled speech at the Department of Justice on Friday.

Christopher OLeary, a former senior executive at the FBIs counterterrorism division, described the parallels between the Republican and the former Iraqi leader in an interview with MSNBC.

If Donald Trump wants to prosecute a perceived enemy, does he have the people  who will do the hard work of investigating at the FBI? MSNBCs Katy Tur asked.

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I dont think so. But, I like to point people back to Saddam Hussein in 1979, OLeary responded. Theres a famous clip where he actually brings a bunch of people into a theater and talks about a conspiracy against him, and starts reading out 58 names of people who were conspiring against him, and secret police come and escort the people out one by one.

When you get to double digits, people start bowing and pledging fealty to him, he continued. When you start using intimidation and coercion to go after any group of people, sooner or later, youre going to get down to a group thats going to be compliant.

Trump speaks to the Justice Department (Getty Images)

Moments after OLearys remarks, Trump gave a speech on restoring law and order at the Justice Department to spout conspiracies and specify targets on his enemies list, including former special counsel Jack Smith, whom he called deranged, and named media organizations whose news reporting is illegal, he claimed.

He claimed that his 2024 election victory had given us a mandate for a far-reaching investigation ... into the corruption of our system by Democrats, voting to expel the rogue actors and corrupt forces from our government and expose their egregious crimes and severe misconduct.

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Its unclear thats what his voters were voting for. As for a mandate, Trump won the support of about 33 percent of eligible voters in America.

The president also argued the department had allowed a corrupt group of hacks within the ranks of the American government [to] obliterate the trust and goodwill built up over generations.

As Trump spoke about weaponizing the DOJ to go after his perceived enemies, he railed that the Justice Department weaponized the vast powers of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies to try and thwart the will of the American people during criminal investigations against him.

Trumps comments followed the agencys firing of dozens of prosecutors who helped investigate the rioters involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attacks. Trump also shut down the January 6 probe on his first day in office, and pardoned some 1,500 people convicted for crimes related to the riots, including some seen on live TV by millions of Americans assaulting police officers. Trump called the rioters hostages in his speech.

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The president called on prosecutors to investigate multiple media organizations he claims are biased against him, such as CNN and MSNBC.

They're not legitimate people. They're horrible people, they're scum. And you have to know that ... And I believe that CNN and [MSNBC] who literally write 97.6% bad about me, are political arms of the Democrat Party. And in my opinion, they're really corrupt and they're illegal. What they do is illegal, he said.

His remarks echo prior statements from FBI Director Kash Patel, who once vowed to prosecute journalists he believes have lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections.

Bidens critics have yet to come up with any evidence that 2020 election Trump lost was rigged.
Donald Trump was compared to Saddam Hussein ahead of his visit to the Department of Justicean agency he has stripped of workers since his inauguration.

Christopher OLeary, a former senior executive at the FBIs counterterrorism division, went on MSNBC to talk about Trump whittling down agencies until all workers are docile.

I like to point people back to Saddam Hussein in 1979. Theres a famous clip where he actually brings a bunch of people into a theater and talks about a conspiracy against him, and starts reading out 58 names of people who were conspiring against him, OLeary said on the network. When you start using intimidation and coercion to go after any group of people, sooner or later, youre going to get down to a group thats going to be compliant.

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When Hussein called their names at the time during the videotaped meeting, people were escorted out by officials one by one.

During Trumps speech on Friday, he talked about how he has been politically attacked, and called CNN and MSNBC illegal and political arms of the Democrat party.

I will insist upon and demand full and complete accountability for the wrongs and abuses that have occurred. The American people have given us a mandatea mandate like few people thought possible, Trump said.

He also criticized Ukraine as the public spat between the two presidents continues.

First of all, you dont want to pick on somebody thats a lot larger than you, Trump said of the war-ridden country. Theres a lot of money that we gave them and a lot of equipment.

Trump at the DOJ: "I believe that CNN and MSNDC, who literally write 97.6% bad about me, are political arms of the Democrat Party. And in my opinion, they are really corrupt and they are illegal. What they do is illegal." pic.twitter.com/kiVyZBWs3r  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 14, 2025

Since Trump was sworn in, the Department of Justice has faced both firings and resignations. In January, dozens of officials who investigated Trump were terminated.

I think the FBI is going to stand up for justice and integrity, OLeary said. Like its done throughout its history.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made it clear that she categorically rejects the derogatory use of the term "Putin-Versteher" (one who understands Putin) to describe her.

Source: Merkel in an interview with Berliner Zeitung, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Merkel dismissed criticism of decisions she made as chancellor regarding the war in Ukraine, saying she had very few illusions about Putin.

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"I recommend putting yourself in my shoes at that time. And I also recommend not immediately saying, when a different perspective emerges today, that you made the wrong decision then. I certainly don't accept that about my decision," she said.

Asked how she felt about the term "Putin-Versteher", which is used to describe people who discuss Putin's view on NATO's eastward expansion, Merkel replied: "Not very good."

"Understanding what Putin is doing by putting yourself in his shoes is not wrong," she said.

"There is no justification for his invasion of another country. But discourse about Russia's interests should be allowed," Merkel said.

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The way she sees it, Putin is very concerned about recognition  "especially from America". This way of thinking stems from the Cold War; for him, the relevant actors are not Germany or the EU, but the truly great power, the United States of America. "It was and is his point of reference," Merkel said.

Regarding the meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump in the Oval Office, Merkel said she found it very disturbing. "I would have preferred not to have seen this meeting, especially given that the whole of Russia saw it, including President Putin," she said.

Background:

In a recent interview with Spiegel, Merkel said that Putin had no intention of attacking Ukraine at the beginning of his presidency and that his plan had evolved over the years, partly in response to the behaviour of the West.

She also expressed her indignation at being made a scapegoat for the war in Ukraine.

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A Milwaukee cop won his job back on Friday after he was previously fired for his role in the custody death of a man who admitted to ingesting drugs and became visibly ill before dying in a holding cell.

Adam Maritato won the appeal of his firing with the citys Fire and Police Commission over the death of Keishon Thomas, a 20-year-old who died in 2022 while in police custody. The former cop was fired in May 2024 for his role as one of the arresting officers, after the department determined he violated several rules during his interactions, including not calling for medical aid for Thomas.

The three commissioners who comprised the appeal panel unanimously overturned his firing. Instead, the panel gave Maritato a 60-day suspension and dropped one of the violations he broke entirely.

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Officer Maritato is heartened by the decision, and hes certainly learned his lesson, said Steven McGaver, an attorney with Crivello, Nichols & Hall who represented the officer. He is looking forward to returning to his place as an officer with the Milwaukee Police Department.

Commissioners cited Maritato's testimony and footage showing Donald W. Krueger, who was handling booking the night Thomas died, telling Maritato he would admit the man to the hospital as reasons why they made the change. Krueger and no other officer involved ultimately called for medical assistance for Thomas, despite him telling them he ingested drugs.

"We believe you will come back and serve the city better," said Bree Spencer, one of the three commissioners who heard the appeal.

Spencer was joined by commissioners Chris Snyder and Ramon Evans in making up the three-person panel that heard the two-day appeal.

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Thomas died in February 2022 after he was pulled over by Maritato and fellow officer Robert Lloyd on the citys north side. The 20-year-old was arrested in connection with an outstanding warrant and spent at least 16 hours in police custody before being found unresponsive in his holding cell.

An autopsy showed Thomas died of acute mixed drug intoxication. He was remembered as a happy and outgoing caretaker to a large family.

Mark Thomsen, of Gingras, Thomsen and Wachs, who is one of the attorneys representing Thomas family, slammed the decision. The family recently filed a civil lawsuit against Maritato, and other officers involved.

I am shocked that the Fire and Police Commission would reverse a decision by the chief on an issue of who you can trust as a police officer when the conduct ultimately led to the death of Mr. Thomas, he said in an interview. This is truly an unfortunate decision and micromanaging that should not be tolerated.

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Thomas death has led to discipline for multiple officers involved, including booking officer Krueger and another officer, Marco Lopez. Both were convicted of criminal charges related to his death. Maritato and Lloyd did not face charges.

During the hearing, when asked if he would do anything different, Maritato said he would and blamed Donald Krueger, the booking officer, for saying he would call for medical assistance, but not doing so. He apologized to the Thomas family.

I wish I could have done better for him, he said. This will weigh heavily on me for the rest of my life and it's something I don't take lightly. I take responsibility for not calling medical.

Appeal hearings like Maritato's are through the citys Fire and Police Commission, a citizen oversight body for its police and fire departments. The hearing is made up of three members of the commission and split into two phases.

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In the first phase, commissioners determine whether a department policy or rule was violated. If thats affirmed, the commissioners then determined whether the discipline imposed was appropriate.

Commissioners initially attempted give Maritato a 120-day suspension and ended the hearing upon doing so, but attorneys for Maritato and the city huddled following. They alerted the appeal panel that state law prohibited that level of suspension, and the panel reconvened.

After a short delay, the panel gave the 60-day suspension, the maximum the board is allowed to impose in state law. McGaver said the suspension would be retroactively applied.

Appeal hearing centered on Thomas death and officers roles

The two-day hearing centered largely around footage of interactions Maritato, and other officers had with Thomas the day he died and whether his actions fit the discipline given.

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Much of Maritatos defense centered on his reliance of Krueger, who retired in 2022 after 25 years at the department. Maritato had worked for the department for over three years at the time of the incident. His attorneys also called former partners, who praised Maritato, and noted positives from his time as an officer.

Maritato's attorney asked for a 10-day suspension for each of the four violations the panel deliberated on.

"He's a police officer. He's not a nurse, not a doctor and, at the time, he was a pretty green police officer," McGaver said. "It's not an intentional act."

In her closing statement, assistant city attorney Katherine Headley said Maritato's conduct far outweighed his positive record.

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"The 90% of your life doesn't absolve you from the 10%," she said.

During the appeal hearing, Danilo Cardenas, a department officer and the Milwaukee Police Associations secretary and treasurer, testified on behalf of Maritato. He argued the discipline was uneven when likened to comparable cases.

He argued several other officers actions  none of which involved death  discredited the department more than Maritatos. A stunned Headley asked him to confirm that he believed each officers actions were more discrediting than what occurred in Thomas death. When he did, she called it a "bold move" by the union, which represents rank-and-file Milwaukee officers.

Spencer, one of the commissioners, called Cardena's comparisons "borderline offense."

Legal action follows in years after Thomas death

Thomas death has resulted in years of legal fallout for some of the officers involved.

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A civil rights lawsuit was filed in February against three officers, including Maritato, booking officer Krueger and fellow arresting officer Lloyd, who is on non-administrative leave from the department. The lawsuit also names the City of Milwaukee as a defendant and accuses the four of "deliberate indifference" in Thomas' death.

Former officer Marco Lopez was convicted of misconduct in public office in connection with Thomas' death last year for falsifying records he checked on Thomas in his cell throughout the night. Previously, Krueger received a $5,000 fine in his own criminal case for his role in the death.

At times, the separate hearings have effectively resulted in the officers pointing fingers at one another.

In Kruegers sentencing, in March 2024, he said he would not have booked Thomas if the arresting officers had told him Thomas ingested drugs beforehand.

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Meanwhile, Lopez, who was convicted for falsifying records showing he checked on Thomas, said the same  he was never given information indicating the 20-year-olds health status.

David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee cop wins job back, after losing it for role in custody death
Mar. 14Western New Mexico University came one step closer to a fully functioning institution in the midst of an ethics scandal Friday, when it earned one new member of its governing board.

Former Republican state Sen. Steven Neville of Aztec was confirmed by the Senate 32-0 following his hearing before the Senate Rules Committee. He became a regent immediately upon the vote. A constitutional prohibition against legislators being appointed to certain other offices within a year after leaving office does not apply to Neville, according to Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, who chairs the committee.

Neville, who served in the Senate from 2005 through the end of last year, called his confirmation "gratifying" in an interview with the Journal.

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"I had certainly hoped that I wouldn't have any opposition, but you never know," said Neville, who was also a San Juan County commissioner from 1997 to 2004.

Sen. Pete Campos, D-Las Vegas, called his former colleague "the individual that is going to bring stability to Western New Mexico University."

Campos was referring to a sprawling ethics scandal that first involved the former WNMU regents, the institution's president, Joe Shepard, and his wife, Valerie Plame, who allegedly spent more than $360,000 of public funds on furniture for the president's Silver City residence and foreign business trips from 2018-23, according to State Auditor Joseph M. Maestas. All but one member, student Trent Jones, resigned from the board at the insistence of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Shepard resigned Jan. 15, but not before the board approved a $1.9 million payout to him. Shepard and the former board members have denied wrongdoing and are currently fighting a lawsuit from Raul Torrez. The university, since the beginning of the year, has had an acting president.

In an interview, Neville said the board, once all members have been appointed, has to assure the public that WNMU is "in good hands (and) the finances are in order." He said he was aware of other audits performed on WNMU, but that the new board would have to verify them.

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"Maybe we need to do a forensic audit," Neville said, before adding it was too early to say exactly what the new board would do first.

He added that soon after forming, the board will have to search for a new president.

"We've got to get the captain of the ship back in place," Neville said.

An alumnus of New Mexico State University, Neville said that he wanted to be a member of his alma mater's governing board  until he got a phone call from Lujan Grisham.

"She says, 'I need you at Western worse,' so I agreed to do it," Neville said.

But some senators also joked about Neville's lack of ties to the university based in Silver City.

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Senate Minority Leader William Sharer, R-Farmington, said, "I'm not sure he knows where Western is, so you might have to give him a map."

Senate confirmation hearings on the three other WNMU regent appointees are expected to take place on Monday. They include John Wertheim, a former New Mexico Democratic Party chairman; J. Dean Reed, a national sales director and trainer; and Keana Huerta, a WNMU student and Hurley town councilor.

A fifth regent has not yet been named by Lujan Grisham's office is "continuing diligent review of all letters of interest and resumes that have been submitted," said Jodi McGinnis Porter, a spokesperson for the governor.
Jake Lang is a Florida U.S. Senate candidate who was recently pardoned by President Trump for attacking cops on Jan, 6, 2021 (Photo from Jake Lang Senate campaign)

Could a recent Florida transplant who was charged with beating up cops during the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot really have a shot at defeating Ashley Moody in the race for U.S. Senate in 2026?

Jake Lang thinks so.

The soon to be 30-year-old native New Yorker was one of the more than 1,500 people charged with offenses related to the attack on the Capitol who received pardons from President Donald Trump earlier this year, and hes filed paperwork to challenge Moody next year.

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Electing a January Sixer to go back to the Capitol and represent we the people and the constitutional conservatives and a real 1776 patriot is more than just about individual campaign issues, said Lang, who lives in West Palm Beach, in a phone interview with the Phoenix earlier this week.

Its really about a hallmark moment in American history where the old era of Mitch McConnell, uniparty, RINO Republicanism in the Senate is over, and Florida, the most MAGA state in the country, sends a young firebrand to Washington.

Edward Jacob Lang, then living in Newburgh, New York, was arrested on Jan. 16, 2021, and indicted on Jan. 29, 2021. He sat in jail for nearly four years awaiting trial on an 11-count indictment for his actions at the Capitol, including charges of assaulting law enforcement with a deadly weapon and engaging in physical violence on restricted grounds.

Those charges evaporated upon Trumps mass pardon on Jan. 20, just hours after he was inaugurated as the countrys 47th president.

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Jan. 6 was the day when free men stood against tyranny, Lang said in response to the federal charges filed against him.

We peacefully protested. We exercised our God-given right to redress a grievance with our government. A stolen election. A fraudulent and rigged election. And we were out there praying in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and singing hymns and waving our American flags and the unspeakable occurred.

The unspeakable, he asserted, was that law enforcement unleashed an attack on those who came out peacefully petitioning their government, replete with pepper ball bullets, tear gas, concussion grenades, and flash bangs.

They basically took what was kindling and threw a match on it and they blamed Jan. 6 and created some sort of false narrative that it was an insurrection. Nobody believed that, he maintained.

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Nobody showed up armed, and after many years of maintaining my integrity and refusing to crumble, even though I spent 900 days in solitary confinement, I never took a plea deal, Lang said  claiming that he saved two lives in the ugly melee that unfolded outside the Capitol (one of those individuals, Phillip Anderson, publicly thanked him on X after he also was released in January).

Attacks on officers

Jake Lang at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Photos from the U.S. Dept. of Justice)

The feds took a different perspective. His indictment includes detailed descriptions of how Lang repeatedly, and strategically, attacked the officers guarding the Capitol with that bat.

The indictment goes on to read: Specifically, he can be seen striking the officers with the bat at the following times: 4:54.58 p.m.; 4:56.30 p.m.; 4:56.44 p.m.; 4:57.13 p.m.; 4:57.15 p.m.; 4:57.21 p.m.; 4:57.26 p.m.; 4:57.32 p.m.; 4:58.06 p.m.; 4:58.29 p.m.; 4:59.10 p.m.; 4:59.32 p.m.; 4:59.49 p.m.; 4:59.51 p.m.; 4:59.54 p.m.; and 4:59.58 p.m.

The U.S. Attorneys Office argued against releasing Lang because of his involvement in establishing a paramilitary group in the days after Jan. 6.

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He also has created a legal defense fund for J6ers that he claims he directed from his prison cell. The Phoenix was able to locate three separate websites Lang is connected to that have been collecting funds for Jan. 6 participants; one purports to have raised nearly $600,000; another claims to have raised nearly $200,000; and a third says that it has raised more than $241,000).

My team and I are basically the figureheads of the Jan 6 movement, he said. Weve gotten lawyers for over 50 Jan 6ers and it was those lawyers and our team of professionals that basically have been liaising with President Trumps team, giving them all of the evidence that they needed, that even people like myself that were charged with violence are not guilty because it was in a self-defense posture and so we were very involved working night and day with people very close to Trump.

DeSantis-Trump 2?

When asked specifically if he thought he has a chance against Moody, the twice-elected Florida attorney general appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in January to replace Marco Rubio in the Senate, Lang said he believes Moody isnt that well known outside of political circles. He referred to a University of North Florida survey published last month that showed that a majority of voters had never heard of her.

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody via her Senate webpage

He referred to a potential race against her as round two of the DeSantis-Trump GOP presidential primary of 2023-2024.

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There is the DeSantis camp, which is the RINO establishment uniparty, which is what everyone recognizes his 2024 presidential bid was a betrayal of President Trump and the Make America Great movement. And so, Ashley Moody represents the old school Ron DeSantis/Jeb Bush/Paul Ryan/Mitch McConnell wing of the Republican Party, he said.

He added that his interviews on his Political Prisoner Podcast from his jail cell with MAGA luminaries such as retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, former CBS-turned conservative reporter Lara Logan, and conservative gadfly Laura Loomer show that he has MAGA patriots solidly behind him.

The Moody campaign declined to respond to Langs comments.

Aubrey Jewett via UCF.

Aubrey Jewett is a professor of political science at the University of Central Florida. Hes skeptical that Lang will gain much traction in the Republican primary  especially in trying to convince voters that Moody, who long has proclaimed her ardor for Trump  is not a MAGA Republican.

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In the pre-Donald Trump political era, someone who had been convicted of rioting in the Capitol and attacking police officers would in no way ever be considered a serious candidate for Congress by either party but especially Republicans, who are always claiming that law-and-order mantle in support of the police, Jewett said. But here we are.

With so much activity taking place in the first six weeks of the Trump administration, some might forget the outright shock felt by many when Trump pardoned nearly every person convicted of offenses for Jan. 6. Just a week before, Vice-President J.D. Vance had said, If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldnt be pardoned.

Jacksonville-area Republican U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, who previously served as Duval County sheriff, told Roll Call before the mass release of Jan. 6 rioters that he did not support releasing those who had been violent with law enforcement.

Im certainly not for an across-the-board pardon of everybody, because theres some violent felons in there, Rutherford told the website. Im a 41-year police officer. You attack a police officer, I want your ass going to jail.

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Jake Hoffman, executive director of the Tampa Bay Young Republicans, doesnt take Lang seriously.

Every cycle, both parties have insane candidates with a less than 0% chance of winning enter a race, but they do it anyway. This is one of those cases, he told the Phoenix.

Lake County Commissioner and former GOP state Rep. Anthony Sabatini represented Lang legally for four months but told the Phoenix that he is not involved with his campaign.

Lang would not be the first individual involved with Jan. 6 to run for office in Florida, if in fact he sticks it out through next year.

In 2022, Jeremy Brown, a self-described Oath Keepers member and lauded 20-year U.S. Army Special Forces soldier who was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison on weapons charges related to an investigation into his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 riot, lost a race for state House in District 62 in the Tampa Bay Area against Democrat Michele Rayner. Brown ran his campaign from jail, an obstacle that Lang would not have to encounter.

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Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will be joined in Denver next Friday by New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for a stop on the former presidential candidate's national "Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here" tour, Sanders' political organization announced Friday.

The 83-year-old Sanders has been holding packed rallies in swing states, aiming to harness discontent and anger over President Donald Trump and his administration's moves to fire federal employees, cancel spending, and shutter entire agencies.

The Colorado event is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. on March 21 at Denver's Civic Center Park in downtown Denver, with doors set to open at 4 p.m. Sanders' campaign urged participants to sign up in advance and added that bags, signs and firearms aren't allowed.

Greeting an overflowing crowd outside a packed gymnasium at a suburban Detroit high school on a recent tour stop, Sanders told supporters that the massive turnout told him that "the people of this country will not allow us to move toward oligarchy," The Associated Press reported.

"They will not allow Trump to take us into authoritarianism, Sanders said. Were prepared to fight. And were going to win.

It will be the second time Sanders has rallied supporters at the Denver park, which lies between the State Capitol and Denver's City and County Building, bounded by West 14th Avenue on the south and West Colfax Boulevard on the north.

During his 2020 presidential campaign, Sanders, who is registered as an independent but caucuses with Senate Democrats, drew a crowd estimated at 10,000 to Civic Center Park months before winning Colorado's presidential primary. Closer to the state's Super Tuesday election, Sanders drew an even larger crowd  estimated at 12,000  to an indoor rally at the Colorado Convention Center.

Editor's note: This developing story will be updated.
For a year and a half, Umm Mahmoud Alerfan did everything she could to try to keep her children alive. As Israel pummeled Gaza with bombs, she kept them close, inside their shelter, terrified that a missile or sudden airstrike would steal them away.

On Friday, two months since the fragile ceasefire in Gaza was declared, Alerfan, back in Gaza City with her family, was preparing the meal to break the days Ramadan fast. Two of her sons, Mahmoud Alerfan, 15, and Yusuf Alerfan, 13, stepped outside  just for a moment, just to find firewood for their evening meal.

But an Israeli drone found them first, firing the missile that killed the boys and tearing Alerfans life apart.

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Two, both of them in one day, she screamed, stained with her sons blood as she wept into their lifeless bodies. Two of their friends, Malik Althatha, 13, and Salim Hasnin, 15, who had joined them to gather firewood, were also killed.

NBC News crew on the ground captured the moment as Alerfan clutched their bodies, refusing to let go as her wails echoed through the broken streets. One man holds her back, and guides her away from the bloody scene, her sobs breaking into gasps.

I did not allow them outside, but today I did. Why did they come out today? she asked.

Standing beside one of the bodies, Awda al-Amarin struggled to understand why Israel had killed the children.

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Is this a truce? he said. Is this peace and safety? Where is the ceasefire?

When asked for comment on the childrens deaths, the Israel Defense Forces told NBC News that it had targeted terrorists in central Gaza who it said, without providing evidence, were attempting to plant explosive devices on the ground.

The first phase of the ceasefire expired earlier this month, and talks continue in Doha. On the ground, the ceasefire remains marred by violence as Israeli airstrikes continue.

At least nine people were killed, including two journalists, by an Israeli airstrike on Beit Lahia in northern Gaza on Saturday, Reuters reported, citing Gazas health ministry.

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Last week, an Israeli airstrike killed two Palestinians in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, just a day after an Israeli drone strike killed two people in northern Gaza.

More than 48,500 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its sweeping military offensive, according to local health officials, and around 70% of the infrastructure has been destroyed, according to the United Nations.

Israel launched the offensive after 250 people were taken hostage during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in which 1,200 people were killed, according to Israeli officials.

A report published on Thursday by United Nations-backed human rights experts accused Israel of a range of violations against women, men, girls and boys, including perpetrating genocidal acts, and the systematic destruction of reproductive health care in Gaza.

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It said Israel had carried out sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence against Palestinians, including photographing and filming hundreds of Palestinian men and boys in humiliating and degrading circumstances while subjected to acts of a sexual nature.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at the Human Rights Council, a U.N.-backed body that commissioned the team of independent experts, calling it an antisemitic, rotten, terrorist-supporting, and irrelevant body.

Israel has denied repeated accusations of genocide.

The ceasefire deal, which began Jan. 19, called for hostages to be freed in exchange for a truce.

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With no agreement on the next phase, Israel has pressed for an extension of the first phase and demanded that Hamas release half the remaining hostages before discussing a lasting ceasefire.

Hamas has said it wants to begin negotiations on the second phase of the deal, which would see the hostages who remain in its captivity released, along with the withdrawal of Israeli forces and ultimately an end to the war.

The militant group said last week that it had agreed to release Edan Alexander, the last living U.S. citizen held hostage in Gaza, as well as the bodies of four dual nationals.

Nothing has been finalized, Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesman told NBC News. But he said that the militant group had agreed to a proposal put forward by mediators and was awaiting the results of further negotiations.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
GARDNER, Wis. (WFRV)  First responders worked to rescue four people who were trapped on a piece of ice drifting out into the bay of Green Bay in Door County Friday afternoon.

According to the B.U.G. Fire Department, crews were called out to Gardner around 3:55 p.m. on March 14 for reports of four people stranded on a piece of ice that had drifted roughly half a mile from shore.

The U.S. Coast Guard Station Sturgeon Bay and Nasewaupee Fire Rescue were called in to help rescue the stranded with the use of their airboats.

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Kewaunee County Sheriffs Office honors man who entered fully engulfed home to save pets and residents

B.U.G. Fire Department

All four people were eventually brought back to shore and no injuries were reported.

Authorities say that by the time the rescue was complete, the sheet of ice was roughly one mile from shore.

The Door County Sheriffs Office and Wisconsin DNR also helped during the incident.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
In his first local appearance since being sworn in to represent the 32nd Assembly District two weeks ago, Republican Stan Ellis said he was hopeful about his future in Sacramento.

"This was my second week, and I would tell you that I've been overwhelmed, I've been disappointed, I've been pissed off," Ellis said Thursday evening. "I've been about every emotion that you could have, and yet there is hope."

Speaking to a meeting of more than 50 members of the Greater Bakersfield Republican Assembly, Ellis said his first two weeks have been filled with trying to absorb an enormous amount of information.

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Ellis was the first candidate to announce candidacy for the 32nd District, even before there was technically a vacancy for the seat. He handily won a special primary election last month, taking more than 50% of the vote, which under state law elects the candidate to office.

Ellis was sworn in March 3 and on Thursday he had just driven from San Francisco when he arrived at Hodel's Country Dining to speak to the GBRA.

He said his first two weeks had been filled with meeting colleagues and trying to get filled in on myriad complex issues lawmakers are asked to deal with.

A longtime businessman, Ellis addressed the litany of frustrations he and other Republicans have with policies coming out of Democrat-dominated Sacramento on issues such as oil, water and spending.

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"There are some really cool Democrats, and I think they're really good people," Ellis said. "However, what happens is they vote the party and they vote the politics. They don't vote, I think, the way they should vote."

The GBRA regularly invites guest speakers, and Ellis had appeared before the group as a candidate, according to Angelo Frazier, executive vice president.

"A lot of things that come down through California are policy driven, and they tend to be center left," Frazier told The Californian. "So what we're looking to do is let's get back to those conservative values."

As members of a super minority with little political muscle, Republicans in the statehouse say their job is to educate their Democratic colleagues on how proposed policies are impacting their constituents.

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"I think it's just chipping away at it," Frazier said of Ellis' role in Sacramento. "You got to start someplace and and I think one of his strong suits is his ability to influence."

Ellis told the audience one of his main priorities is oil, and trying to convince his Democratic colleagues of the benefits of domestic production, but he also said another priority, water, is likely outside his grasp.

"I have, probably as an Assembly member, have very little influence over water. It's because it's a federal issue," Ellis said. "But I'm telling you, I will work towards it."

When it comes to seemingly intractable issues such as oil production, Ellis said his strategy is to keep the issue front of mind for Democrats.

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"So, to me, it's like keeping it in front of them and saying over and over, 'look we're polluting (by importing oil)," Ellis told The Californian.

"We are the cleanest producing state in the world. Our organic compounds that we emit are so regulated by the (California Air Resources Board) that we could be fined millions of dollars if we're off spec," he said. "We have the most incredible, incredible clean oil in the world."

Ellis said he is willing to work with Democrats on bills that aligned with his values. He'd spoken with area colleague Dr. Jasmeet Bains, D-Delano, and was hopeful about a bill regarding fire safety she was working on.

The Legislature's bill-filing deadline has passed so it's too late to submit any of his own bills, but even if he could, Ellis said he's not ready.

"I'm not smart enough in the policy world. There are some things I certainly want to do, but I'm not ready for it," Ellis said. "So now it's just me understanding and voting. It's actually not a bad position to be in because I'm still so new."
DANA, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  The Ernie Pyle World War II Museum has been working to expand, and a local foundation just gave them a boost.

The museum has been looking to add a Veterans Memorial Park next to their building.

Dale White, Executive Director of the Western Indiana Community Foundation, said the foundation has joined in those efforts by awarding them a $50,000 donation to jumpstart the project.

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We raise private donations from the community then we invest those donations and use a portion of the earnings to award grants back to community projects, White said.

Max Jones, a Board Member of the Friends of Ernie Pyle, said the donation will begin construction on phase I of a Veterans Memorial Park.

What thats going to allow us to do is to erect an Ernie Pyle statue, Jones said. Its a great sculpture that will be the centerpiece of the park. This initial donation will also allow us to get started putting in some new restrooms as well.

The project is multiple phases, and the Friends of Ernie Pyle have already laid out future plans for the space.

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A few things that we will see, Jones said. One will be a performance stage, that we expect will be a covered stage, so there can be events that will take place here. Were also going to have an Ernie Pyle legacy walk, which will recount some of Ernie Pyles history.

Board Member of the Friends of Ernie Pyle, Becky Holbert, said they hope the park will attract local residents and tourists to the area, getting an education on the famous journalist.

Not only locally, but regionally, this will bring folks to west central Indiana, Holbert said. It will help tell the story of the greatest generation through Ernie Pyles eyes. He just had a gift for telling the story, not only during World War II, but in his earlier years as a roving reporter.

The Friends of Ernie Pyle are expecting the project to take about $1.4 million in total and are hoping the first phase will draw more of the local community to support the project.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com.
Dr. Kimberly Shriner remembers the first COVID-19 patient who came into Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, California, in March 2020.

He was a 35-year-old man who arrived at the hospital short of breath.

"He went straight to our intensive care unit. We were very suspicious that he had COVID," Shriner, an infectious disease specialist and the hospital's medical director of infectious disease and infection prevention, told ABC News.

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Testing was minimal at the time, but eventually the results came back and confirmed that he had COVID. The patient was eventually sedated and intubated, and he died 24 hours later. Shriner said the next few patients admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 followed similar trajectories, becoming more and more short of breath before eventually dying of their illness.

MORE: What we still don't know about COVID 5 years after the WHO declared a pandemic

"As physicians, we understand death," Shriner said. "We understand that we can't save every patient, but when you're having 100% mortality with your first experience with this thing, it was pretty overwhelming and daunting. That first week [was] particularly surreal."

Tuesday, March 11, marked five years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak of COVID-19 to be a pandemic. The U.S. is in a much better situation now, with fewer hospitalizations and deaths -- and vaccines to prevent severe illness from COVID, front-line health care workers say.

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However, they add that, as Americans become more removed from the early days of COVID, it may be hard to remember what it was like -- especially for those who were treating patients.

"Everybody was worried, doctors, nurses," Dr. Matthew Sims, director of infectious disease research for Corewell Health, a non-profit health care system located in Michigan, told ABC News. "It was absolutely crazy, and I think that people have forgotten. I think people have forgotten the horror of what COVID was like in the beginning and, I mean, it was a horror situation."

PHOTO: A nurse wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) speaks to collegues from outside of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while she attends to a COVID-19 patient at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana, Calif., Dec. 18, 2020. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)

Quickly changing world

Shriner said one of the indicators of how quickly the world was changing was the evolution of her hospital's meetings about the virus and how to prepare as information was starting to come out of China.

"Meetings were held in a very tiny, little meeting room. Nobody was wearing masks or anything," she said. "And then as things began to evolve, and we saw it was happening, that the rooms got started getting bigger, and then we started meeting with masks on, and then, eventually, went virtual."

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Shriver recalled that the situation was "very terrifying" on a personal and professional level.

"If we'd known how difficult it was going to be, I think we would have been even more disturbed," she said.

MORE: 5 years ago, the WHO declared COVID a pandemic. Here's a look at the disease by the numbers

Sims said it became clear how quickly patients could get infected in March 2020. Not long after the WHO declared a global pandemic, he came on shift that week to be the infectious disease doctor rotating in the hospital.

"We had two confirmed cases admitted at that point. By the end of the week I spent on, we had over 100 confirmed cases admitted," he told ABC News. "It was absolutely devastating to the hospital, to the health care system as a whole ... It was a crazy time."

The state of hospitals

Both Sims and Shriner said the lack of early testing at the time was a source of frustration. Since routine testing wasn't available, results often took days -- or even weeks -- to return.

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Additionally, hospital labs often had to confirm results with state departments of health.

Sim said as the hospitals became full, it sometimes became a race against the clock to try and treat patients.

PHOTO: A patient is taken from an ambulance to the emergency room of a hospital in the Navajo Nation town of Tuba City during the 57-hour curfew, imposed to try to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus through the Navajo Nation, in Arizona, May 24, 2020. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images)

"I remember one of the most devastating cases I saw was a young man, relatively young, young kids at home," he said. "A little overweight, I think he was a diabetic, but he just got super sick, and we were trying to get remdesivir, which was compassionate use at the time," referencing an antiviral drug later approved to treat COVID-19.

Sims said the hospital had to call up the company manufacturing the drug, tell them about the patient and then get approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to use doses on the patient.

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"And we got approval, and then they have to ship it to us," Sims said. "It was all being shipped as fast as possible, but before it could even get here, that patient got too sick to even use it, and the patient died. A week before, he was home with his kids, his wife, et cetera, in normal state of health, and then, all of a sudden, got this terrible virus and died."

As it became clear how contagious the virus was, hospital staff were required to always wear masks. Shriner said she still has a scar or imprint on her nose from having to wear a mask for 18 hours a day.

One of things she remembers most was the lack of sound, other than machines, whenever she visited ICUs.

MORE: 5 years since COVID declared public health emergency in US, still killing thousands

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"As the months progressed, we ended up having six different intensive care units because the patients were so sick," she said. "We had many, many patients that were on ventilators. You'd walk into these areas, and it was just silence. All you heard were the ventilators going and seeing people in full protective gear all the time."

To handle the influx of patients, both hospitalized and in emergency departments, Shriner said her hospital stopped all non-emergency surgeries to be able to have extra physicians available.

COVID-19 vaccines arrive

On Dec. 11, 2020, the FDA granted Pfizer-BioNTech the first emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine for those aged 16 and older. Three days later, nurse Sandra Lindsay became the first person to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. as distribution began.

Both Shriner and Sims felt a sense of relief that a tool was finally available to help stem the spread of disease.

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Shriner said she was the first person in her hospital to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, even though she didn't want to be.

PHOTO: COVID-19 vaccine is stored at -80 degrees celsius in the pharmacy at Roseland Community Hospital, Dec. 18, 2020, in Chicago. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

"I didn't want to be the first person. I was perfectly fine with letting other people go ahead of me," she said. "And [the CEO] said to me, 'You have to be.' She said, 'If you don't get vaccinated, nobody else is going to do it.'"

Shriner said the distribution of the vaccine "was a sign of the way out. It was very hopeful."

Lessons learned

Both Sims and Shriner say COVID-19 taught health care workers many lessons, including how to share information quickly, how to diligently monitor diseases and how to scale up health care capacity.

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Sims said another valuable discovery was better communicating to the public that information during a public health crisis can change rapidly.

MORE: What to know about 'quad-demic' of COVID, flu, RSV and norovirus in US

One example is that early studies would come out suggesting certain drugs might help treat patients. Eventually additional information would be published proving the opposite.

"We were learning, and we were learning in such a rapid [way], it was hard to communicate," he said. "I think if we had any failure, it was that in that rapid push to communicate."

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Sims noted how that created some uncertainty.

"We didn't get the message across enough that some of what we're learning may be wrong, and we will tell you that as we learn," Sims said. "We're going to tell you what we know now that may not be the same thing we know tomorrow."

Shriner added that stay-at home orders and lockdowns were hard on people and, if another pandemic happens, she is hopeful there would be different decisions on what should be locked down.

"Maybe we don't have such stringent lockdown rules and isolation rules," she said. "You know, the outdoor restaurant became a great thing. You know, think of all the home delivery services really took off. And so, a lot of good things came out of it, but they were hard won."

Front-line health care workers reflect on early days of COVID 5 years after WHO declared pandemic originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
FROSTBURG  Frostburg State University officially introduced new interim President Darlene Brannigan Smith Friday.

I feel like my experience has just prepared me for this point in time, Smith said at a campus press conference.

Smith is a graduate of Harvards Institute for Management and Leadership in Higher Education, and previously served as dean, vice president and provost at the Merrick School of Business at the University of Baltimore.

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Smiths interim term comes after the resignation of longtime FSU President Ronald Nowaczyk, who had served in the role since 2016.

Nowaczyk died of cancer Jan. 31, the day his resignation was to take effect.

Smith, who took over the presidency March 3, said her main goal at the university is to provide stability and the enactment of the administrations strategic plan.

We have a strategic plan in place, and the goal is to continue to strengthen this university moving forward, she said.

Al Delia, a member of the universitys administration and previously the schools interim president, elaborated on FSUs future.

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Our enrollment is increasing modestly, he said. We expect those trends to continue into the future and that will be part of what really stabilizes and strengthens FSU moving forward.

Jay Perman, University System of Maryland chancellor, was also on campus Friday. He discussed plans for the systems national search for a permanent president.

The search will be conducted probably this summer, according to Perman.

It will be carried out the way we carry out a presidential search in all of our system institutions, he said.

A committee will be formed that will comprise faculty, students, Board of Regents members and community members.

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We (could) get input from our stakeholders even beyond the immediate academic environment, Perman said.

The committee will consist of about 20 members and be overseen by a professional executive search firm, according to Perman.

There will be several town hall meetings held at the university for comments and recommendations from the public.

What kind of a president do you think we should have? Perman said.

A selection could be made in eight to 12 months.

Smith said she does not expect to apply for the permanent position.

I do not have plans to put my name in for nomination, she said.

That doesnt mean that I dont love this campus and Im not committed to it.

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Many FSU faculty members and professors such as Andy Duncan from the Department of English and Justin Dunmyre from the Department of Mathematics have publicly voiced concerns with the universitys administrative practices over the past few years.

Faculty and staff downsizing occurred throughout the winter in order to help balance the universitys budget.

Smith reassured them that progress will be made in this difficult time.

To be poised for tomorrow, we have to make difficult decisions now, she said. You have to acknowledge the pain and the discomfort, and help everyone heal.

Smith said that getting the campus energized and excited are the keys to this progress with faculty in the future.
Blustery gusts kicked up Thursday about the same time as some residents of El Paso County's portion of the Eastern Plains learned about a new proposed wind farm in their neck of the fields.

A sizable crowd trickled into the county fairgrounds in Calhan for an open house featuring NextEra Energy Resources plans to erect nearly 50 more wind turbines in the area.

There have been hints that another project was afoot since last summer, when some property owners received notes on their doors and phone calls from sales representatives, but details have been scant.

A decade has passed, along with lawsuits, health studies and heated debates, since the last NextEra Energy Resources project called the Golden West Wind Energy Center came to town.

In 2015, the subsidiary activated 145 wind turbines that began sharing the rural landscape with ranchers, farmers, livestock and wildlife.

Ten years later, the Blue Grama Wind Project, also owned and operated by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, a Florida-based wholesale generator of electric power, is on the horizon.

Company representatives spoke one on one with residents at Thursdays event, the first public informational meeting about the project.

Pending county permitting and state approvals, between 47 and 49 additional wind turbines generating 130 megawatts will rise north of Harrisville Road, east of Ramah Highway and south of Alford Road.

The expansion is projected to cover 14,520 acres of private and state land in El Paso County and include an 11.5-mile transmission line that will tie into the substation associated with the existing Golden West Wind project, according to county documents.

While the new development wont be as big as the existing wind farm, the units will be bigger, officials said. Technology has changed, they explained, so the incoming towers will be 500 feet tall  but theyll be less dense and spaced farther apart.

If the plan holds, construction will begin in May or June 2026, with turbines being activated by the end of next year, representatives said.

NextEra has not yet formally submitted the Blue Grama project to El Paso County administration, said Amy Jo Fields, marketing communications manager.

The countys Department of Planning and Community Development requested that the company host Thursdays initial meeting, she said.

For this type of development application, El Paso County would need to establish a wind/solar energy generation plan overlay on the designated property, Fields said.

The proposed zoning overlay would need to be presented to and reviewed by the El Paso County Planning Commission, which would make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners for final decision-making, she said.

One or two additional public meetings will be announced as part of the permitting process. There also will be opportunities for public comment at planning commission hearings and county board meetings.

Landowners are paid to lease their land to operating companies. Representatives at Thursdays meeting would not provide a range of how much money participants would receive  but called the prices consistent within each project and fair.

About 30 property owners have signed up already, one NextEra representative said. And theyre looking for more, along with general buy-in from the community.

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Residents who attended the presentation were divided on the impending expansion.

Its fine with me, said Garrett Balsick, whose family homesteaded B/K Ranch in 1891 and continues to own the property and raise cattle and grow wheat. The family also has leased their land for wind towers.

Were happy with how the first one turned out, and we have no complaints, he said. Im not into wind turbines, and I dont necessarily think theyre a good investment. But theyre coming, and we cant stop them.

The construction generated jobs that Balsick said he thought was a boon to the area, and in his neighborhood, improvements to roads also turned out to be positive for residents.

The presence of more of the behemoth towers with giant blades that turn and whir as they harness wind is concerning to some who live in the area.

Though the companys promotional materials say its wind energy centers are compatible with agricultural use, including livestock, some residents disagree.

Nancy McJunkin, who has lived on the Eastern Plains for 18 years, said many of her sheep died in 2015 simultaneously with the first wind farm going online.

Its more of the same crap on a different day, she said. I lost a lot of sheep with the first round, and I expect the second round to be the same.

McJunkin said a veterinarian told her the infrasound messed with their brains, and they basically dropped dead.

Infrasound is inaudible to humans because of its low-frequency transmission, but some studies attribute sleep disturbances, dizziness and other health problems to the turbines emitting infrasound.

Some people blame other medical issues such as headaches, nausea and body pains on wind turbines. Others complain that the weather seems different, particularly with more turbulent wind.

I cant agree definitively, but its definitely changed the wind patterns, McJunkin said.

She said she's also upset that broken turbines dont seem to get fixed or hauled away. The companys literature says it will remove the units when they are decommissioned, after a life span of 25 to 30 years.

McJunkin said she feels like plains' residents are being used, since locals wont be the primary beneficiaries of the power thats generated.

Colorado Springs Utilities spokesman Steve Berry said its too early in the process to comment on the Blue Grama Wind Project and whether the municipally owned Utilities will buy the power generated from the site. But it seems unlikely.

Utilities issued proposals in October 2023, seeking to buy an additional 1,500 megawatts of new electric generation and up to 200 megawatts of battery energy storage, and is still evaluating some of the more than 200 bids it received, Berry said.

But in late February, Utilities announced a shift in its energy-transition strategy. Since many of the prices in the power purchase agreement bids were at least 60% higher than expected for wind and 50% higher for solar, Utilities' officials said they are looking at alternative ways to meet renewable energy directives.

Set by Gov. Jared Polis and state lawmakers in 2021, the goals call for an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from power by 2030 and seek 100% renewable energy power by 2050.

Another new wind farm east of Limon is set to begin construction next month, according to NextEra Energy Resources representatives.

NextEra Energy Resources runs more than 11,000 wind turbines across the United States from 170 wind centers, including 11 in Colorado. Its the worlds largest generator of renewable energy from wind and solar power. The parent company is NextEra Energy, a publicly traded Fortune 200 firm.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's whirlwind love story is a fairytale characterized by both ups and downs. After meeting in 2016, marrying in 2018, and welcoming their first child, Archie, in 2019, the couple made the bombshell announcement that they would be stepping down as senior members of the royal family. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the news set shockwaves through the Firm, eventually resulting in a tense meeting with Queen Elizabeth that came to be known as the Sandringham Summit. Since then, the couple have (mostly) moved on from their lives in the U.K., especially after the release of Harry's tell-all memoir Spare.

After Spare, [Harry and Meghan] realized, OK, were ready to move on. We want to focus on our future, a friend of the family told Us Weekly. We can have meaning and importance separate from the lives we had previously.

Ahead, a full timeline of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's departure from the British royal family, and where things stand five years after their initial exit in 2020.



November 2019: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle go on a six week hiatus from royal duties.

Following the release of a new ITV documentary in which Markle admitted she was "not really okay," the couple announced they would take a six-week break from royal duties, which included skipping the annual family Christmas at Sandringham and spending the holidays in Canada. At that point, Markle was roughly six months postpartum and under near constant scrutiny by the British tabloids.

January 8, 2020: The couple announce they are stepping down as senior royals.

In a bombshell announcement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their hiatus permanent by stepping down as senior royals for good. The couple shared the news with the public via Instagram.

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"After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," they said in a statement. "We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. "

January 13, 2020: Queen Elizabeth hosts the Sandringham Summit.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The Queen was joined by her son, then-Prince Charles, and his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, for a 90-minute meeting to discuss the Sussexes departure. "Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family," she wrote in rare statement following the meeting, which later became known as the Sandringham Summit.

"My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family," she continued. "Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family."

Following the meeting, the Queen announced that the couple would begin a "one-year probational period," after which they would revisit the agreement.

March 2020: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle finish out their royal duties in the U.K.

Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

With their permanent departure on the horizon, the couple made time for three final royal engagements: the Endeavor Fund Awards, the Mountbatten Festival of Music, and the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey. They attended the latter event alongside Kate Middleton and Prince William, after which they posted a final goodbye to the public on Instagram.

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"While you may not see us here, the work continues," the caption read in part. "Thank you to this communityfor the support, the inspiration and the shared commitment to the good in the world. We look forward to reconnecting with you soon. Youve been great!"



March 2020: The family moves into Tyler Perry's home in L.A.

After a short stint in Canada, Harry, Markle, and baby Archie officially relocated to California in part thanks to friend Tyler Perry, who loaned the family his house in Beverly Hills. "This is what Meghan and Harry have always wantedto create their own life," a royal insider told People at the time. "It's got to feel like an immense relief to get out of the U.K. and go down their own path."

February 19, 2021: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decline to return to the U.K. as working royals.

With their one-year probational period coming to a close and baby number two on the way, the couple announced they would not return to their former roles as senior members of the royal family. In response, Buckingham Palace released a short statement: "While all are saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much loved members of the family," it read.



March 2021: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tell all in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

In their first interview since leaving the royal family, the Duke and Duchess held nothing back. During their conversation, the pair spoke about Meghan's mental health struggles and accused the royals of racism, citing a particular instance where one member asked how "dark" Archie's skin color might be.

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"The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan," Buckingham Palace said in response to the interview. "The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.

It concluded, "Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members."

July 2020: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle move to Montecito.

The couple opted for a $14 million nine-bedroom mansion built in 2003 with coastal sea views. As for the neighborhood? "They were craving a smaller community and a slower paceMontecito is very mellow, a charming little town and the Santa Barbara [area] offers an ideal lifestyle that they're looking forward to," a source close to the couple told People.



June 2022: The couple returns to the U.K. for the Queen's Jubilee.

Samir Hussein/Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess reunited with the royal family in celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, which marked the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne on February 6, 1952. It was Markle's first time back in the U.K. since March 2020.

September 10, 2022: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess made an unexpected second visit to the U.K. later that year for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Attending alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton, the two couples put on a "show of unity" and even left in the same car despite the brothers's ongoing royal rift.

December 8, 2022: The couple release a Netflix docuseries.

Following the success of their tell-all interview with Oprah, the Duke and Duchess revealed even more information about their experience with the royal family in a new docuseries titled Harry & Meghan. In episode two, Harry went so far as to blame Markle's 2020 miscarriage on the British tabloid the Daily Mail.

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"I believe my wife suffered a miscarriage because of what the Mail did," he said. "I watched the whole thing. Now do we absolutely know that the miscarriage was created caused by that? Of course, we don't."

He went on, "[But] bearing in mind the stress that caused the lack of sleep and the timing of the pregnancy, how many weeks in she was, I can say from what I saw, that miscarriage was created by what they were trying to do to her."



January 2023: Prince Harry sits down for another interview.

Speaking with ITV News while promoting Spare, Prince Harry considered whether or not he would attend the coronation of his father, King Charles. "There's a lot that can happen between now and then," Harry said. "But, the door is always open. The ball is in their court. There's a lot to be discussed and I really hope that they're willing to sit down and talk about it."

The next month, a source told People that Charles did, in fact, hope that his son would attend. "It is such a momentous occasion for Charles, and he would want his son to be at the coronation to witness it. He would like to have Harry back in the family," the source said. "If they don't sort it out, it will always be part of the King's reign and how he has left his family disjointed. He has had a reputation as a distant parent, and it would be awful for him for that to continue."



March 1, 2023: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are evicted from Frogmore Cottage.

Royal author Tom Quinn called the eviction a "slap in the face" and "the last straw." Later, royal expert Omid Scobie wrote in his book Endgame that Princess Anne was the one who "persuaded" King Charles to pull the trigger and kick the couple out.

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"Harry was absolutely furious and in tears about being evicted from Frogmore," Quinn added. "He felt his father had no right to do it and that it was purely vindictive. Harry couldn't see that choosing to stop being a working royal would inevitably mean being deprived of his royal residence. Harry took it as a cruel rejection."



May 6, 2023: Prince Harry attends his father's coronation without Meghan Markle.

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The Duke's visit was short and sweet. He returned home to California shortly after King Charles and Queen Camilla were crowned. "I am delighted that Prince Harry was there," former royal press secretary Colleen Harris told People. "He would have personally regretted it if he wasn't there to support his father. Speaking as a mother, [I believe] it was the right thing . . . and the King [was] delighted."



September 2024: Prince Harry changes his official residence.

Prince Harry's departure from the royal family in 2020 had a new note of finality at the end of September when the Duke of Sussex submitted paperwork pertaining to his travel company, Travalyst. The forms officially switched his formal residence from the U.K. to the U.S., seemingly putting an end to rumors that the Duke may have been eyeing a return to the U.K. Moreover, the forms dated the end of Prince Harry's U.K. residency to June 29, 2023which was, of course, the day of the couple's eviction from Frogmore Cottage.

"As always with Harry a lot can be read into his actions. Being ousted from Frogmore Cottage wounded him deeply," Royal commentator Phil Dampier told the Mirror. "Charles and William knew it had to be done to emphasize Harry and Meghan were outside The Firm but he probably still thought he could keep a base here. Now he's shown he accepts his life is in the U.S."



Read the original article on InStyle
An AED is a portable, life-saving device designed to treat people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, a medical condition in which the heart stops beating suddenly and unexpectedly. (Boy_Anupong/Getty Images)

As a pediatric cardiologist and pediatric nurse specializing in electrophysiology, we witness life and death situations every day. Many of those involve the 350,000 children each year who experience cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, only 1 in 10 survive until they get to the hospital.

This is a number that needs to change!

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We see it every day. Every second matters in an emergency, and training students to bring lifesaving skills into the world means countless lives saved. It means equipping the heroes on the ground before first responders arrive on scene. They are invaluable skills.

The American Heart Association is working to turn a nation of bystanders into a nation of lifesavers by ensuring all students and educators are trained in CPR. With your support, we can equip more people with this life-saving skill and help save more lives.

Knowing how to respond when someone goes into cardiac arrest can mean the difference between life and death. Having someone act immediately  call 911, perform CPR and use an AED (automated external defibrillator) when available  can double or even triple the chance of survival and improves long-term prognosis.

Currently, CPR is performed on less than half of the people who are experiencing cardiac arrest in public before medical help arrives. Its performed even less frequently when the patient is a woman, a Black adult, or a member of another historically under-represented racial or ethnic group. Data also shows that communities with lower socioeconomic status and rural communities experience worse outcomes.

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Performing hands-only CPR while waiting for first responders to arrive is as effective in the first few minutes as conventional CPR for cardiac arrest. A lay responder who performs CPR and uses an AED can significantly improve survival, especially if they are administered within the first three minutes.

About 70% of cardiac arrests that occur outside of the hospital happen at home, so it is likely students could be prepared to save the life of a loved one.

Data shows that communities with lower income and education levels, or higher percentages of people of color, have lower survival rates from cardiac arrest outside of a hospital and higher disease burden.

This training can be especially important in rural areas where emergency response times can be longer. Rural communities also experience worse outcomes. Identifying high-risk communities and those most likely to benefit from additional training and resources is important.

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More than 40 states have passed laws requiring students to learn CPR before graduating high school. To help schools implement this life-saving training, it is essential to secure public funding. Teaching students CPR puts thousands of qualified lifesavers in our community, year after year. However, not every school has access to the needed funding to implement these lifesaving programs, and even fewer have access to AEDs. Public funding is necessary to guarantee every student in every school can respond to a cardiac emergency and every school in every county in Kansas has access to an AED.

We never want to see any of you, or your children, under our care due to cardiac arrest. If more people in our community are trained in CPR, the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest increase dramatically.

You dont have to be trained as a first responder to save a life! Schools are the hub of every community. Ensuring every school has an accessible AED creates a safer environment for all.

With more than 500,000 students enrolled in public schools in Kansas, CPR training as a graduation requirement can put hundreds of thousands of lifesavers in our communities year after year.

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By teaching CPR in our schools, our students can play a crucial role in saving lives. With public funding for these vital programs, we can create a nation of lifesavers and prevent death from cardiac arrest. Having students trained in CPR before graduation is more important now than ever.

Lindsey Malloy-Walton is a pediatric electrophysiologist. Kaitlyn Bennett is a pediatric cardiac nurse at Childrens Mercy and lives in Kansas City. 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.
Despite tensions between the Trump administration and several U.S. allies over trade policies and other disputes, G7 foreign ministers meeting in Canada reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine.

The diplomats from Canada, the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union presented a united stance on supporting Ukraines sovereignty, though their final statement was notably less forceful than in previous years.

The groups communique, released on March 14, affirmed Ukraines "territorial integrity and right to exist," while condemning Russian "acts of aggression." However, its language was softer than the G7 leaders statement from November 2024, which had pledged "unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes" and labeled Russia "the sole obstacle" to peace.

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Read also: I cant sit and watch it  US volunteers join Ukrainian army after Trumps sharp policy turn

The shift in tone reflects the diplomatic challenges posed by U.S. President Donald Trumps approach to foreign policy, which has at times questioned U.S. support for Kyiv.

During the meeting in La Malbaie, Quebec, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced pressure from allies to clarify Washingtons position on Ukraine. While he avoided direct confrontation, Rubio emphasized that the U.S. and its partners would "not let things that we dont agree on stop us from agreeing on other things."

Meanwhile, European ministers made symbolic gestures of solidarity with Ukraine. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and EU diplomat Kaja Kallas posted a photo of themselves dressed in Canadas national colors alongside a message to Joly: "Weve got your back."

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Read also: Conditions for Ukraines surrender  Why Putins demands for ceasefire make no sense

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A Georgia man who made threats and used racial slurs against a postal worker, then later hit the letter carriers vehicle with his tractor was found guilty of aggravated assault and other charges.

William Charles Franklin, 36, of Tennille, Georgia, was found guilty of obstruction of the mail, assault upon a federal officer, aggravated assault upon a federal officer, and retaliating against a witness following a two-day trial.

He was also found guilty of a hate crime enhancement for several of those charges, which brings an increased penalty.

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He faces a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a $100,000 fine for the obstruction of the mail charge, and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the other charges.

According to court documents, evidence, and statements made in court, the US Postal Inspection Service received a complaint on June 11, 2024, and began investigating threats made against a letter carrier.

Under the advice of his supervisor, the letter carrier recorded the end of a conversation between him and Franklin, arguing about moving the letter carriers vehicle.

Franklin was recorded using racial slurs and stated that his free speech was protected.

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The letter carrier said if he was off duty, Franklins statements and threats would lead to a fight.

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Franklin told the man they could square up right then, but the letter carrier refused because he said he would lose his job.

The letter carrier told investigators that Franklin threatened to punch him in his face, run over him with his tractor, call someone to bring a rope so Franklin could drag him away, and used more racist slurs about him and the community where he lives.

On Dec. 3, 2024, the letter carriers vehicle was involved in a hit-and-run crash with a green tractor in Washington County.

When the letter carrier saw a tractor come towards his USPS vehicle, he pulled over to all the tractor to pass.

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Instead, the tractor his the letter carriers vehicle, destroyed a stop sign, and then drove away.

Soon after that, deputies found a green tractor matching the description of the one in the hit-and-run crash in a nearby field with the engine still warm.

The tractor was registered to Franklin.

Two witnesses reported seeing a vehicle registered to Franklins wife speed to the area immediately following the incident.

Warrants were issued for Franklins arrest and the seizure of his and his wifes cell phones.

After searching his phone, agents found that Franklin had saved a picture of the letter carrier following the incident on June 11.

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They found other evidence that supported that Franklins crimes were motivated, at least in part, by the letter carriers race.

Franklin was arrested on Dec. 6.

Agents found two AR-15-style rifles in his truck and he was carrying a loaded pistol at the time of his arrest.

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HAZLEHURST, Ga. (WSAV)  The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is investigating the death of Gary Ryals, 19, of Hazlehurst, Ga.

On Monday, March 10, the Hazlehurst Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at the Circle K on East Jarman Street. Officers found Ryals with a gunshot wound. He was taken to the local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hazlehurst Police Department or GBI. Anonymous tips can be made 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 WSAV-TV.
Originally appeared on E! Online

One week after Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's causes of death were determined, necropsy results for their dog Zinna have been released.

The Australian Kelpie mix, who was discovered dead in a closed crate near Arakawa's body at the couple's home, likely died from severe dehydration or starvation, according to a report from New Mexico Department of Agriculture obtained by NBC News.

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"The stomach was mostly empty except for very small amounts of hair and bile," a veterinary pathologist stated in the document. "The large intestine was mostly empty except for very small amounts of green, thick and pasty feces that was mostly hair."

Though Zinnaone of Hackman and Arakawa's three dogsdisplayed "severe postmortem decomposition with partial mummification," investigators found "no evidence of an infectious disease" or trauma that could have led to her death, per the report.

According to the pathologist, "If the dog was in a confined space without access to food or water, the dog most likely died of dehydration/starvation."

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As for why Zinna was in a kennel? Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza previously shared that Arakawa had visited a local vet clinic to seek medical treatment for Zinna prior to her death.

"We know from our investigation that on February 9, 2025, she picked up Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital," he said at a March 7 press conference. "There was a procedure that was done with the dog, which may explain why the dog was in a crate at the residence."

Zinna's necropsy report also confirmed that she had undergone surgery, with a pathologist noting that her spleen was absent and sutured incisions were found in her small intestine. However, due to the severe breakdown of tissues, the pathologist said the "reason for the surgery could not be determined."

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Arakawa, 65, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory illness transmitted through rodent excrements, according to authorities. Her date of death has been established to be sometime around Feb. 11, the last time she was seen alive on surveillance footage.

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Hackman's cause of death was been determined to be hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with Alzheimer's as a significant contributing factor. Investigators believe the 95-year-old passed away around Feb. 18 due to the readings on his pacemaker.

Given Hackman's "advanced state" of Alzheimer's, New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner Heather Jarrell said it was "quite possible that he was not aware" of his surroundingsincluding that Arakawa had died in their home or that Zinna was in locked in cage.

For more on the investigation into Hackman and Arakawa's deaths, keep reading.

(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

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Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy Arakawa Found Dead Feb. 26, 2025

Gene Hackman and his wife of 33 years, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe, N.M., home on Feb. 26 by two maintenance workers who spied their bodies through a window from outside the house. According to authorities, they alerted the caretaker in the gated community where the couple lived and that person called 911. "No, they are not moving," the caller told 911, per an audio recording. "Please send someone out here quick." When Santa Fe County sheriffs deputies arrived, they found Arakawa, 65, on the floor of a bathroom to the left of the frontdoor. She was clad in a sweatshirt and sweatpants, according to a Feb. 27 search warrant affidavit obtained by E! News, and there was an open prescription pill bottle and loose pills scattered on the countertop. Hackman, 95, was on the floor in what deputies described as a mudroom near the kitchen, per the warrant. A walking cane and sunglasses near the body. One of the couple's three dogsinitially misidentified as their German shepherd Bear, it was actually their Australian Kelpie mix Zinnawas found dead in a closet of the bathroom, according to the warrant. Another healthy-looking dog was found near Arakawa's body and the other, also seemingly healthy, was running around outside. A search warrant was executed on the house at around 9:30 p.m. Feb. 26 and Hackman and Arakawa's bodies were removed the following morning.





Gene Hackman Death Deemed "Suspicious Enough" to Conduct Investigation

While the sheriff's office said Feb. 27 that there were no signs of foul play, investigators determined "the circumstances surrounding the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation," the warrant stated. The warrant noted there were no signs of obvious blunt-force trauma, carbon monoxide poisoning or forced entry into the home. Rather, deputies said they found the front door ajar. There were also signs that Hackman and Arakawa had been dead for awhile: One deputy observed that her body was partially decomposed, with mummification around her hands and feet, according to the warrant, while Hackman's body showed "similar and consistent" signs of death. It was also noted that both looked as if they may have fallen to the ground suddenly. The worker who first saw the bodies told investigators he had last spoken with the couple about two weeks beforehand, per the warrant, and that he usually communicated with Arakawa over phone calls and texting. "All I can say is that were in the middle of a preliminary death investigation, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza told the Santa Fe New Mexican. "I want to assure the community and neighborhood that theres no immediate danger to anyone."





Items of Interest Found in Gene Hackman's Home

Two cell phones, blood pressure and thyroid medications, Tylenol, medical records and a 2025 planner were among the items removed by investigators during the search, according to a warrant summary.





A Timeline Slowly Comes Into Focus

Sheriff Mendoza said at a Feb. 28 news conference that Hackman's pacemaker last recorded activity on Feb. 17, calling it "a very good assumption that it was his last day of life. They were continuing to analyze "cell phone data, phone calls, text messages, events, photos in the cell phone," Mendoza said, "to try to piece a timeline together." But it wasn't going to be easy. As the sheriff explained on TODAY, "We understand that is a challenge because they were very private individuals and a private family. We're trying to put all that information together right now.

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Gene Hackman's Family Speaks Out

"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy," the actor's daughters Leslie and Elizabeth and granddaughter Annie said in a statement. "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. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss." Leslie Anne Allenone of three children the actor shared with first wife Faye Maltesetold Fox News Digital that she hadn't seen her father for "a few years" because she lived in California and he no longer traveled much, but they had "been in touch over the last couple of months." I loved him dearly, she said. "He was a genuinely good-hearted person." And, Leslie said she knew him to be in good health, practicing yoga and pilates regularly. As days went by, family members said they were trying to tune out the noise about what might have happened while whey they waited for official answers. "Were waiting on toxicology," nephew Tim Hackman, whose dad was the actor's brother Richard Hackman, told Us Weekly in an interview published March 3. "That will tell us everything. Its hard to theorize. There are lots of theories out there and I dont want to speculate. Its easy to speculate negative theories. He added, "My uncle was 95 years old at an age where you think about, 'OK, its time.' But from the circumstances now things have changed a bit. Its a major change.





Inside Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's Private Life in Santa Fe

Hackman, whose last film credit was 2004's Welcome to Mooseport, had lived in Santa Fe with Arakawa since the late 1980s. A painter himself, he was active in the local arts scene and sat on the board of the Georgia O'Keefe Museum from 1997 until 2004. He was a pretty low-key individual even though he was someone who had amazing stories to tell about Hollywood and other celebrities, longtime friend and gallery owner Stuart Ashman told the Los Angeles Times. He was just a regular guy." Santa Fe film commissioner Jennifer LaBar-Tapia told reporters that both Hackman and Arakawa were "deeply woven into the fabric of Santa Fe." But sightings of Hackman had become increasingly rare, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Friend Daniel Lenihan told People the actorwho used to walk his dogs and ride his bicycle around their neighborhood and patronize local businesseshad been "essentially kind of home-bound" in recent months. His son Aaron Lenihan said Arakawa "was still trying to keep him as active and engaged and healthy as possible," but Daniel said Hackman was "really slipping." Daniel's wife Barbara Lenihan said Arakawa, a classical pianist, had been in "perfect health" and was "so fit." The last paparazzi shot of a frail-looking Hackman and Arakawa out in public together was published by Page Six in March 2024.





Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Gas Leak Ruled Out

Tests on Hackman and Arakawa's bodies for signs of carbon monoxide poisoning came back negative, Sheriff Mendoza told reporters Feb. 28. But, he noted, complete autopsy and toxicology results could take "three months or longer." The New Mexico Gas Company stated March 4 that, while a "minuscule leak" was found in a stove burner, it didn't emit enough carbon monoxide to have proved fatal, nor did their investigation reveal any further leaks or gas line issues. Investigators said there were several other code violations in the home, but nothing having to do with gas or carbon monoxide.





Cause of Death Determined for Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa

Arakawa died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare respiratory infection caused by exposure to rodent feces, urine or saliva, New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said during a March 7 news conference. Hackman, meanwhile, "showed evidence of advanced Alzheimers disease, Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately thats what resulted in his death." Arakawa may have experienced flu-like symptoms before she died, the medical examiner said. New Mexico state public health veterinarian Erin Phipps said the couple were at "low risk" for exposure from their house but there were signs of rodents in other structures on the property. A total of 122 cases and 52 deaths from hantavirus were reported in New Mexico between 1993 and 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Heartbreaking Death Timeline Revealed

According to the coroner, it looked as if Arakawalast known to have run errands on Feb. 11had been dead for about a week before Hackman died, seemingly on Feb. 18 going by his last pacemaker activity (a day after originally noted by authorities). Their bodies weren't discovered for another eight days, so 15 days after Arakawa died. As far as authorities know, Hackman was alone in the house with his wife's body until he himself passed. Its quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Hackman didn't have food in his stomach when he died, she noted, but he was not dehydrated. Their dog Zinna had been in a crate in the bathroom and died of starvation and dehydration, according to state vet Phipps.





Why Gene Hackman Couldn't Live Without His Wife

At this point," Sheriff Mendoza said March 7, "theres no indication that there was a caretaker at the home." Arakawa had basically been managing her husband's life for years, scheduling his golf games and visits with friends, according to pal Tom Allin, who told the New York Times he knew Hackman for 20 years but it was always the actor's wife he spoke to on the phone. She was very protective of him," Allin said," and Hackman would have died "long ago" if not for her. All of us that knew him should have been checking on him," Hackman's friend Ashman told the Washington Post. "I had no idea...Its just really sad. And that she died a week before him. My God." On the apparent last day of Arakawa's life, she emailed her massage therapist in the morning, went to a grocery store in the afternoon and stopped at a pharmacy before going to a pet store. She was back home by around 5:15 p.m., according to authorities, and responded to no emails after Feb. 11. Sheriff Mendoza said he believed she wore a mask while running her errands, which friends said she regularly did for fear of bringing any illnesses home to her husband.



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The man who called 911 to report the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa said he knew something was wrong with the couple - and claims he tried to organize a wellness check before their bodies were found.

The Oscar-winning actor, 95, and his classical pianist wife, 65, were both found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, last month by the couples handyman Jesse Kesler. However, in an interview with Fox, Kesler revealed that he was concerned about the couple prior to their deaths.

Kesler, who has been the couples contractor for 16 years, told the publication that he stopped by their house after he hadnt heard from Arakawa in two weeks, having previously spoken to her every three days.

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We were getting pretty worried, Kesler said. We knew something was wrong.

We asked law enforcement for advice on how to do it. We started the process of a wellness check, he continued. We had to involve a family member to do a wellness check. They had to have an authorization from a family member.

However, Kesler explained that they were unable to reach any members of Hackmans family which was when he decided to go into the house himself.

Hackmans daughter (not pictured) revealed she was never contacted about a wellness check on her father (AP)

We couldn't get hold of any family membersWe were in the process of getting hold of a family member, and it was taking too long, he told Fox. And finally, finally, I saw the security guard, and that's when me and him went in.

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Kesler told the Daily Mail that he wished he had gone in quicker as he might have been able to save Gene or the dog.

Hackmans daughter Leslie told Fox News that she had never spoken to Kesler before, and that she was unaware anyone was pursuing a wellness check.

No one had reached out, Leslie said, adding that the authorities did not contact her about her fathers well-being until the discovery.

Sante Fe County Sheriffs Office also said they were not contacted about a wellness check until the 911 call was made about the bodies being found on February 26.

Last week, authorities announced that Hackman died of heart disease with complications from Alzheimers disease, as much as a week after a rare, rodent-borne disease  hantavirus pulmonary syndrome  killed his wife.

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Currently, there is uncertainty over the fate of Hackmans reputed $80 million fortune after it emerged he left his entire estate to his late wife, Betsy Arakawa.

TMZ reported on Friday that Hackman had a will drawn up in 1995 that made Arakawa his sole beneficiary. His three children, son Christopher and daughters Leslie and Elizabeth, are not named in the document.

In her own will, Arakawa left most of her assets to Hackman. However, the document also reportedly includes a clause stating that if the couple died within 90 days of each other, it would be considered a simultaneous death, and all her assets would be donated to charity.

Hackmans son Christopher has reportedly already hired Andrew M. Katzenstein, a prominent California trust and estate attorney, which could indicate he plans to challenge his fathers will.
Actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico last month. Now, as legal experts attempt to work through his will, it sounds like the actor's son has hired a lawyer.

An investigation into their deaths has since concluded that Hackman "was in very poor health" with several health complications. Heather Jarrell, the Chief Medical Examiner of New Mexico, disclosed that Hackman passed away due to hypertensive atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease playing a major role as a contributing factor.

It was also determined that Arakawa had passed away roughly a week prior to Hackman, succumbing to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare illness typically transmitted from animals to humans, most often through rodents.

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Following their deaths, an issue of inheritance has emerged.

In Hackman's will, Arakawa was named as the personal representative of his estate and the sole successor trustee of the Gene Hackman Living Trust. The will made no mention of Hackmans three children  Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58  whom he had with his first wife, Faye Maltese.

It's not clear whether or not the children will inherit Hackman's fortune as the beneficiaries of the trust have not been made public. However, TMZ reported that Hackman's son, Christopher, has hired prominent California trust and estate attorney Andrew M. Katzenstein, which the outlet suggests is "indicating he may challenge the will."

If he does choose to challenge the will, one legal expert does not think it will be easy.

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Trust and family law attorney David A. Esquibias recently explained to People Magazine that contesting the will would be quite difficult considering the couple signed the wills back in 2005 when they were much younger and in very sound minds.

"In this situation, Gene Hackman and his wife did not sign their will and trust in 2025 or 2024," he told People Magazine. "But, had that been the case, I think there was more likelihood that there's gonna be a contest. But if you look at the dates of the will, they're 2005."

Esquibias explains that at the time he signed his will, the actor "was younger and more virile" and "presumably had his faculties."

"Contesting a 20-year-old document is exponentially harder than contesting a deathbed-signed document," he said.

It will certainly be interesting to see how this whole situation plays out.
Gov. Brian Kemp issued a State of Emergency in anticipation of severe and potentially damaging weather expected to hit the state overnight Saturday into Sunday.

The order authorizes the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to activate the State Operations Center and mobilize any needed resources to address potential impacts.

Gov. Kemp stated in a social media post:

This storm will hit at the worst possible time, as people are heading to or already in bed. Before they retire for the evening, Im urging everyone to be prepared ahead of time and to remain weather aware as long as this system is in the state. Given the uncertainty of this storm and the fact it will move through Georgia overnight, individuals and families should prepare now and make plans to stay safe. Just as weve made all necessary preparations on the state level ahead of the systems arrival, Georgians should get ready now and not wait until the storm is already here.

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First Alert Weather Day for Sunday.

Mid to late morning arrival along I-75 / Lake City/ Waycross. 1 - 3 pm arrival on Sunday for Jacksonville to the coast of NE Florida. Potential impacts to The Players final round on Sunday afternoon after 2 pm. Impacts: gusty winds (50-70 mph), heavy rain, lightning, small hail and the potential for an isolated tornado. St. Patricks Day (Monday) is dry, cooler and sunny.



Sunday, March 16 is a FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY as we track a line of strong storms.

Sunday, March 16 is a FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY as we track a line of strong storms.

Sunday, March 16 is a FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY as we track a line of strong storms.

Sunday, March 16 is a FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY as we track a line of strong storms.

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Sunday, March 16 is a FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY as we track a line of strong storms.

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A male nurse accused of multiple murders and attempted murders at a palliative care clinic in western Germany - apparently to make his time at work easier - is alleged to have committed even more crimes, according to a court spokeswoman.

A supplementary indictment has been filed with the regional court in the German city of Aachen, stating that prosecutors believe the nurse murdered four more patients and attempted to do so in nine other cases all within a few months.

The 44-year-old German man is now accused of a total of nine murders and 34 attempted murders by overdosing his victims with painkillers or sedatives.

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The motive is thought to have been that the man wanted quiet night shifts and minimal effort with the patients. In some cases, the nurse allegedly made multiple attempts to kill certain patients.

All the offences are alleged to have been committed between December 2023 and May 2024.

The man's trial for the initial 30 charges is scheduled to begin on 24. These include five alleged murders and 25 attempted murders. It has not yet been decided whether the newly charged cases will be included in this trial, the court spokeswoman said.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has expressed concern about the consequences of the changing media landscape.

There is a fundamental shift in political communication, Steinmeier told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper in an interview published on Saturday.

"The debate is moving from the quality media to social networks - and that is profoundly changing our democracy."

In traditional media, he said, there is room for differentiation, for weighing up the pros and cons. "Social media, on the other hand, works on a black-and-white principle, on a yes or no basis. This loss of thoughtfulness is worrying."

"[Protecting liberal values] also means taking action online and not leaving the field to those who threaten our democracy," Steinmeier added.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier opened a major exhibition on the Peasants' Revolt in the Bavarian town of Memmingen on Saturday, taking a swipe at opponents of democracy.

The exhibition, at the town's Museum of Bavarian History, commemorates the 500th anniversary of the manifesto of the peasant movement, known as the twelve articles, written in 1525.

These included principles such as self-determination, justice and social participation, which are an outstanding and enduring testament to Germany's history of freedom, Steinmeier said.

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He added that the country is experiencing threats and attacks to liberal democracy - both from within and from outside - with a force that many had not thought possible.

Steinmeier, to applause, remarked that ironically, those who agitate against democratic institutions and only want freedom for themselves or for their group are the ones citing historical freedom movements.

The exhibition, titled "Project Freedom - Memmingen 1525," is open until October 19.
A German parliamentary coalition has agreed to allocate 3 billion euros (approximately $3.2 billion) in new military aid to Ukraine as part of a plan to dramatically scale up Berlin's defense spending, incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on March 14.

Merz presented his ambitious spending plan to lawmakers in early March, saying he hoped to secure approval for the military aid under the current, outgoing parliament.

A coalition of Merz's conservative Christian Democratic allliance (CDU/CSU), the Social Democratic Party (SPD), and the Green Party have agreed to reform Germany's "debt brake" rules and increase defense spending, Merz said in Berlin on March 14.

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Their combined backing gives Merz the necessary two-thirds support to secure approval when the budget is up for a vote on March 18.

"Germany is back," Merz said.

"Germany is making its large contribution to the defense of freedom and peace in Europe."

Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has confirmed that he will release the additional aid to Ukraine once parliament approves the defense spending package, Merz told reporters.

Merz's ambitious plans for Germany's defense budget have taken shape amid a wider shift in European security policy. The continent is moving to rearm and assume greater responsibility for Ukraine's defense amid abrupt changes in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump.

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Germany's next parliament is due to convene on March 25. Roughly one-third of the seats will be held by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Left Party (Die Linke), both of which oppose military aid for Ukraine.

Germany has allocated 4 billion euros ($4.1 billion) in military support for Ukraine this year, and the additional package would raise this to 7 billion ($7.2 billion).

The defense articles contained in the new assistance include three IRIS-T air defense systems, three Skyranger air defense systems, 10 howitzers, surface-to-air missiles, 20 protective vehicles, artillery shells, and drones, the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported in January.

Read also: I cant sit and watch it  US volunteers join Ukrainian army after Trumps sharp policy turn

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The text of Germany's new draft law for the planned multibillion-euro financial package for defence, infrastructure and climate neutrality was made public on Saturday.

It follows Friday's agreement between the likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz and his conservative bloc made up of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens.

The draft states that the planned relaxation of the strict constitutional restriction on government borrowing, known as the "debt brake," will apply not only to defence spending, but also to federal spending on civil protection, the intelligence services, cybersecurity and aid for countries that have been attacked in violation of international law.

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In addition, it is to be stipulated in Germany's Basic Law, the de facto constitution, that the investments from the debt-financed, 500 billion ($545 billion) special fund are additional.

Additional investments require an appropriate investment rate in the federal budget in the respective financial year, the draft states. However, it does not define exactly when the investment rate will be considered appropriate.

A total of 100 billion from the special fund will be added to the existing climate and transformation fund, which finances action on climate change and the climate-friendly restructuring of the economy, according to the draft. The phrase "climate neutrality by 2045" will also be written into the Basic Law, the draft states.

The parliamentary budget committee aims to discuss the planned changes to the Basic Law on Sunday. It is then scheduled to make a recommendation for the decisive Bundestag session on Tuesday.

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The package has been highly controversial, not only because of its size but also because it includes a relaxation of the debt brake.

Merz has also faced criticism as he intends to push the vote through the old parliament in the coming week, before the first session of the new lower house, or Bundestag.

Merz's CDU/CSU topped the polls in February's Bundestag election, but the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and The Left party from the opposite end of the political spectrum have enough seats in the new Bundestag, set to meet for the first time on March 25, to block changes to the Basic Law.

Merz is therefore using the strength of his bloc, the SPD and the Greens in the outgoing parliament to push through the constitutional changes, which require a two-thirds majority.
Family members of Emily Pike accept hugs from community members during a prayer vigil held by the Gila River Indian Community's Victim Services Department on March 13, 2025, in Sacaton. Photo by Shondiin Silversmith | Arizona Mirror

Family members of Emily Pike received hugs, handshakes and condolences from dozens of people during a prayer vigil hosted by the Gila River Indian Community.

Emily was a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and 14 years old when she went missing in January. Her remains were found on Feb. 14 outside of Globe, in a remote area off of U.S. Route 60.

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In response to her tragic death, Indigenous people and communities throughout Arizona have been holding prayer vigils and memorials in Emilys honor.

Emilys aunt, grandmother and two other relatives drove from the San Carlos Apache Reservation on March 13 to attend an early morning prayer hosted by Gila River Indian Communitys Victim Services Department.

It was comforting to see all of these people, said April Victor, Emilys aunt. I felt the support for not only my loved one but all the others.

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Victor said that Emilys story has impacted so many people, and their family has heard from so many other Indigenous people who have been affected by the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples crisis.

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Seeing so many people gather in the Gila River Indian Community reminded Victor of how, as part of Apache traditions, the community comes together to provide support when someone passes away.

We, as Indigenous people, thats how we show comfort, she said.

Victor said that death is such a lonely feeling, and it often leaves those grieving the death feeling alone or deserted from the world. But having so many people come together has helped them start to heal, she said.

Despite the early morning and cold temperatures, dozens of people attended the prayer vigil in front of the Gila River Governance Center in Sacaton. The victim services department handed out red ribbons for attendees to pin to their shirts, representing the MMIP crisis.

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We wanted to have this gathering to show support for everybody whos going through a loss of a loved one or who doesnt know where their loved one is, said Katherine Lewis, the director of the victim services department of the Gila River Indian Community.

Lewis said the prayer was a way for community members to provide that strength and support for fellow community members during trying times.

One thing that always stands out about us is our resiliency as a people, as a community, she said, and with everyone showing up to the prayer vigil, it shows the continued resilience and strength of Indigenous people.

During the vigil, Lewis thanked everyone who showed up because it is essential to keep talking about what happened to Emily and continue to raise awareness about MMIP.

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She said that, despite extensive local news coverage about Emily Pike, there has still been little national coverage of what is happening.

Keep saying her name, Lewis said.

During the prayer vigil, Gila River Chief of Police Jesse Crabtree asked the community to speak up when they see anything unsafe.

By saying something, you could be saving a life, he said.

Crabtree said Emilys story should never have ended in her death, so it is important to stand together as a community, ensuring that no other family has to endure this pain.

Tribal communities across the country will not let Emilys name be forgotten, he said. Let her memory be a call to action.

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Crabtree said that police officers are committed to doing their part, but the issue is bigger than law enforcement alone, and that is why it would take a community.

We need more people to start coming forward to speak up, to stand up and to help prevent something like this from happening again in the future, he added. Silence always allows violence to continue.

Gila River Indian Community member Della Morago attended the vigil and offered her condolences to the family before leaving because Emilys story impacted her.

Its not right, Morago said of what happened to Emily. She was only a baby.

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She said she was happy to see the community come together to support the family because it shows theyre not alone.

Morago said she hopes that the people involved in Emilys death are brought to justice so the family can have some closure.

She is still waiting for closure and justice of her own: Morago has loved ones who are currently missing and others who have been murdered.

And she was also a victim. Morago said she was shot in the face when she was in her 20s and left on the side of the road for dead in District 6 of the Gila River Indian Community.

I was almost a statistic, but I was found, she said.

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Glendale police arrested three people suspected of being part of an organized retail theft ring that targeted stores across Los Angeles County.

Detectives linked Cheyla Ramirez, 49, Ruben Lepiz Campos, 19, and Rogelio Soriano, 27, all of Los Angeles, to at least five grand thefts in Glendale and five additional incidents throughout the county between January and February, authorities said.

Cheyla Ramirez, 49, Ruben Lepiz Campos, 19, and Rogelio Soriano, 27, all of Los Angeles, are shown in these undated mugshots provided by the Glendale Police Department on March 14, 2025.

The three allegedly worked together to steal large amounts of merchandise from Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls stores. Investigators said the stolen goods were then resold.

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On March 3, Glendale detectives were alerted that Ramirezs vehicle had entered the city and eventually arrived at a TJ Maxx store where police and the stores security allegedly observed Ramirez and Campos shoplifting.

Police arrested them and recovered nearly $2,000 in stolen merchandise, police said. A search of Ramirezs vehicle allegedly led to the discovery of more suspected stolen items, burglary tools and a notebook detailing resale transactions.

Some of the items were recovered by Glendale police officers during an arrest as part of a retail theft investigation on March 11, 2025. (Glendale Police Department)

On Tuesday, detectives served search warrants at two homes in L.A., which resulted in Soriano being taken into custody and the recovery of approximately $6,700 in additional stolen merchandise, according to police.

Ramirez, Campos and Soriano face various charges related to organized retail theft. The Police Department says the investigation is ongoing, and it is working with the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office to assist in the prosecution.

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Anyone with information is urged to contact the Glendale Police Department at 818-548-4911.

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The Gloucester Fire Department, along with mutual aid from the Massachusetts State Police, is currently battling a two-alarm fire at a local supermarket.

Initial reports came in around 8:23 P.M. when fire crews received word about a situation brewing at the Market Basket on 101 Gloucester Crossing Road.

Crews responded to the scene and were able to knock down the fire around 9 P.M.

However, the Gloucester Fire Department is warning people to avoid the area as investigations go on.

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The Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshals Office will also be involved in the investigation.

The situation remains under investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  During a speech at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday, President Donald Trump said he plans to keep the FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., despite long-time plans to move the facility to Maryland.

They were going to build an FBI headquarters three hours away, in Maryland, a liberal state, but that has no bearing on what Im about to say, Trump began, bringing up the move. Greenbelt, where the facility is slated, is actually about 13 miles from D.C., making the trip about an hour (depending on traffic).

But, were going to stop it [the move], not gonna let that happen. We are gonna build another big FBI building right where it is, he continued.

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Given the state of the dilapidated headquarters in D.C., FBI officials were looking to move for more than a decade. In November 2023, the Biden administration picked Greenbelt as the site of the new headquarters, beating nearby Virginia, which was also vying for the site.

Trump said he has different reasons for wanting to keep the headquarters in D.C., including keeping the FBI and the DOJ near each other since the departments work together.

So how can you have one thats three hours away? he explained.

If for no other reason, we like having law enforcement walking the streets of our Capital, he added.

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Prince Georges County residents hopeful for FBI headquarters in Greenbelt despite Trumps stance

After Trumps comments, Maryland lawmakers spoke out against the idea, some calling it reckless.

This would be a reckless move that endangers our national security. The FBI HQ in DC is literally falling apart, said Gov. Wes Moore (D), in a post on X. Maryland was selected as the best possible site to build a new headquarters because we already have the best national security assets, and we meet the FBIs mission.

Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) said Trump needs to stop playing games with national security.

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The FBI needs a new headquarters that meets its mission. Maryland was selected because it was the best site and the best value for taxpayers, Alsobrooks said, in part.

In addition, Alsobrooks and Moore joined Democratic leaders from across the state in opposition.

The FBI needs a new headquarters that meets its mission. The GSA selected Greenbelt for the new, consolidated FBI headquarters based on the fact that it is the best site and it offers the lowest price and the best value to the taxpayers. Whats more, it ensures that the FBI can move to a facility that will finally meet its mission and security needs as soon as possible. We will continue working to bring the headquarters to Maryland, following the final decision that was made to do so in 2023. Gov. Moore, Reps. Steny H. Hoyer, Glenn Ivey, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, Johnny Olszewski, Sens. Chris Van Hollen, Alsobrooks

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  On any given day, the classroom of Richland High School teacher Jacob St. Clair could be decorated for lessons as a medieval ship, complete with a sail and wood-plank walls, or adorned with ancient Egyptian pyramids or Gothic cathedral windows.

The world history teacher often transports his students back in time with props to reinforce the subject matter, but sometimes he turns to generative artificial intelligence tools, such as the image creator Midjourney, to provide another layer to the lesson.

That may be philosopher John Locke and rival Thomas Hobbes appearing to come to fisticuffs, he joked, or bringing famous paintings to life.

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Seeing any historical character in any kind of novel situation or dynamic posture is something thats interesting, St. Clair said. Its enjoyable (for students).

AI Integration | Richland High School

Richland High School teacher and AI enthusiast Jacob St. Clair instructs students during an 8th-grade World History class at the school on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

Although he takes a hands-on approach in his classroom, St. Clair said he sees value in the proper use of AI by both teachers and students. Thats why he demonstrates potential positive implementations of the technology in his lessons.

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We need to demonstrate to children there are skills they can use with this, St. Clair said.

One caveat, he said, is that its important that anyone using the tools is already familiar with the material to avoid mistakes.

In addition to image generation, St. Clair uses AI to search curriculum rundowns to see if hes missed anything, and for the high school tabletop role-playing game club that he advises. He uses Midjourney to create scenes, backgrounds and tokens for games such as Dungeons & Dragons.

These additions help provide depth to the experience for students, St. Clair said.

St. Clair isnt alone in his AI usage. Several local teachers and administrators have adopted some form of the technology into their work since the newest versions were introduced three years ago.

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Mark DiMauro

University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown professor Mark DiMauro speaks to Greater Johnstown teachers on artificial intelligence and its impact in the classroom on Friday, Jan. 12, 2023.

Mark DiMauro, a University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown assistant professor of digital humanities who specializes in AI studies, said educators regard artificial intelligence as begrudgingly inevitable. Theyve realized its not a fad and not going away, so now its time to learn to use it, he said.

DiMauro travels the region holding seminars at schools about the proper use of artificial intelligence and the possibilities the technology holds, such as providing frameworks for lesson plans or helping tutor students.

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Several AI-based educational websites, such as MagicSchool AI, have been launched in the past few years as tools to help teachers.

Polarizing topic

Since starting his presentations, DiMauro said hes found that teachers often fall into three schools of thought: those who advocate for AI and use it; those who are hesitant to start; and those who vow to never touch it.

This is the most polarizing topic of all time, DiMauro said.

The Rise of AI logo

When ChatGPT, a generative text model developed by OpenAI, released in November 2022, it created a splash in educational communities, with many raising alarms that the large language model could be used by students to cheat on writing assignments.

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A Pew Research Center report from November 2023 showed roughly one in five teenagers they polled, ages 13 to 17, who have heard of ChatGPT say they have used it to help them do their schoolwork. But St. Clair said he hasnt had that issue in his classroom to date.

Despite any potential negative uses, teachers are also implementing artificial intelligence to help students with their writing.

Central Cambria School District Superintendent Jason Moore said his English Language Arts staff uses AI to give students feedback, which has been successful.

When students take the state tests in the spring, the evaluators are almost certainly using AI tools to do their summative evaluations of the students open-ended responses, he said. Therefore, teaching students how to use AI formatively to improve their writing will not only help them come test time, but it will also help them in whatever their next step in life is  whether that is college, the workforce, et cetera.

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According to a May 2024 Pew Research Center poll, a majority of kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers were timid about AI in education. The results show 35% were not sure about its use; 32% were mixed on whether it was good or harmful; 25% said there was more harm than benefit; and 6% saw more benefit than harm.

A National Education Association study provided a different result. The teachers union reported that members said they were brimming with excitement over the time they have saved planning lessons with artificial intelligence, the creative jump start AI provided their music class when composing a new song, and the scene-reader that is helping their visually impaired students get a mental layout of the playground or classroom that surrounds them.

Richland High School Principal Timothy Regan said one of the best uses of AI is for checking work. He will sometimes use the tool to examine an email before sending it out, and thats a point the district impresses on students.

AI Integration | Richland High School

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Richland High School Principal Tim Regan shares Magic School AI website on his computer in his office at the school on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

We want kids to utilize it to further their intelligence, he said.

Richland is an early adopter of the new technology. Not only does the high school offer an Exploring AI class taught by computer science teacher Becky Piscitella, but the district also brought AI guru Matt Miller in for this years national speaker series for area educators.

It truly is an area if we dont expose kids to whats out there, then we are not preparing them for the jobs that we dont even know exist yet, Piscitella said.

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Her class explores a variety of artificial intelligence models and how to train them properly and improperly, while also diving into coding aspects.

The course in general  is built around exposing them to the foundational knowledge of AI so they can get a clear understanding, Piscitella said. The course covers all sides of it  the good, the bad, ethics issues with AI.

The students have responded well to the first-time offering, Piscitella said. However, she stresses students that they should not be overly reliant on the technology.

Piscitella said research time and time again shows AI is most effective when it enhances human abilities rather than replace them.

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The best analysis of AI that I have heard was that we should worry less about AI taking our jobs and more about someone who knows how to use AI more effectively taking our jobs, Moore said.

DiMauro encourages his students to explore artificial intelligence, he said, but to not become reliant and to never trust any technology implicitly. He does this by removing their fear, teaching them how to properly use it and motivate them to play with these tools, he said.

I try to foster curiosity, DiMauro said.

Policy progress

In response to the implementation of AI in schools, many area districts, such as Central Cambria and North Star, have adopted policies to regulate its use. The item is filed under the operations section of district manuals and typically numbered 815.1.

The policies note the potential that Generative Artificial Intelligence offers in enhancing educational opportunities while also outlining guidelines for the proper management and responsible use of the tool.

That use is limited to approved educational purposes and needs to comply with applicable state and federal laws, the policies state.

Additionally, tools and resources used in district schools and programs shall be evaluated and authorized on an ongoing basis for age- appropriateness, bias, privacy protections, accessibility standards and data security, the document reads.

Glenn Gaye, Windber Area School District director of education, said its important to maintain a policy-driven approach when dealing with AI.

We are constantly evaluating the potential benefits for staff, students and families, he added.

Gaye said his view is one of cautious optimism when dealing with artificial intelligence in education.

However, there is the possibility of disciplinary issues related to AI technology. Richland was the first local district to address that situation in November when high school students allegedly used the tool to create and distribute obscene images of peers. An investigation in cooperation with local authorities was launched and the matter was handled internally.

Regan said with new technologies comes new territory, and disciplinary matters are examples of that intersection. For administrators, that means finding a cross-section of precedent and new guidance to properly address the situation, he said. This is another example of the need to educate students on proper AI use, Regan added.

My biggest takeaway is learning to live with it responsibly as educators so we can properly convey it to our students, Regan said.

DiMauro said if educators and students are willing to put in the work and be trained to use AI properly, real learning can begin.

Large language models, such as ChatGPT, are the start of this, St. Clair said, not the end.

DiMauro agreed, saying the development of quantum computing  advanced computing using quantum mechanics  and AI agents, which are autonomous intelligent systems to perform tasks, will revolutionize the field moving forward.
Gov. Spencer Cox said better civics education can help reduce polarization in an interview with former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution Thursday.

The discussion closed out the institutions forum on civics education at the California university and the Utah governor told the former Cabinet member to President George W. Bush that as state leaders seek to get politics out of classrooms, they should focus more on civics instruction.

Civics can be infused into just about everything we do, Cox said. Thats one of the mistakes weve made, is to allow politics in many of our classrooms  especially higher ed, and we can talk about that  but how do we get politics out and civics in?

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The governor told Rice he would like to see more debate in classrooms at all levels, particularly debate that forces students to argue and understand ideas they may not necessarily believe in. That process, he said, can help build empathy and understanding between the often starkly partisan divides in American society  something he has previously advocated for through his Disagree Better campaign.

Assign them a position, right, and say, Hey, this half of the class is going to argue for abortion, and this half against, he explained. Im going to take the politics out. I dont care what you personally believe. Were going to assign you to do this, and then were going to flip sides.

I wish a lot of our political leaders had a little more curiosity, a willingness to reexamine our own positions and question ourselves to see if were mistaken, Cox added.

Rice, who now directs the Hoover Institution, asked Cox about the Disagree Better campaign he led as chairman of the National Governors Association. Cox noted that Stanford researchers found that efforts to promote political ads with members of the opposing party led to a decrease in partisan animosity and support for bipartisanship.

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The governor was excited by those findings, which he said contradict the belief many hold that negative politics and campaigning are the most effective paths to victory.

It turns out that most Americans hate whats happening in our country today, he said of the polarization of national politics.

He also expressed concern that some younger Americans feel authoritarianism may be a more efficient way to resolve difficult issues plaguing the nation. He said he believes education on the U.S. system of government can empower people to use it to make needed changes without throwing out core democratic principles.

We kind of get what we deserve as a country, and this is what we deserve  this polarization, this fractured nature, he said. And yeah, you might want a dictator today, as long as its the one that you like on your side, right? And every power that can be used today can be used against you tomorrow.

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I just think the only way out of this is, at every level of education and adulthood, that we understand how this stuff works, Cox said. If were educated about how the system works, he added, were far less likely to ... fall for what theyre trying to sell us, fall for the fear and demagoguery that we see.

Cox delivered his remarks as one of the featured speakers at the Civic Learning Week National Forum, which brought academics together with business and nonprofit executives. Rice, who was featured alongside Cox, is the executive director of the Hoover Institution.

Among the other speakers was Gen. Jim Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general who served as secretary of defense during President Donald Trumps first term
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Last week, President Donald Trump called for the repeal of repeal of the CHIPS Act, bipartisan legislation that was key in helping Ohio secure a multi-billion-dollar intel investment.

Now, Gov. Mike DeWine is speaking about the presidents call to action to repeal the CHIPS Act and whether he agrees.

I support the CHIPS Act, DeWine said. Look, this is good for our national defense and its good for our country, for all the reasons I said at the time. So, I havent changed my mind a bit about that.

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Columbus warns of parking violation text scam

But what does this do for Intel? The project has already been delayed several times, but DeWine said regardless of the CHIPS Act, he is confident Intel will finish building in Ohio eventually.

Well, I certainly hope [the CHIPS Act] does not [get repealed]. That is part of what we felt was going to happen. Again, I dont have a crystal ball. I dont know how this is going to play out, DeWine said. But Intel, they are going to be making chips there  theyre not going to walk away from $7 billion and leave it in Ohio in our ground and walk away.

DeWine said as far as the timeline goes, weve never really known that for sure, but reiterated that he is confident that chips will be made in Ohio. DeWine also said that Intel is not the only exciting venture into Ohio.

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Ohio State under federal investigation, accused of race-exclusionary practices

Theres a lot of construction going on, theres a lot of things being built, DeWine said.

DeWine said now the focus of the state has to be on workforce development and filling all the jobs that are on the way.

In DeWines State of the State, he boasted of projects like First Quality Tissue in northwest Ohio, a financial company called Wordplay near Cincinnati, and Anduril, a defense company in central Ohio.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Gov. Katie Hobbs has set dates for a special election to fill a seat in Congress following the death of longtime Rep. Raul Grijalva.

The primary election will be held July 15, and the general election on Sept. 23, according to an official proclamation signed by Hobbs on Friday.

The announcement kicks off a whirlwind six-month election cycle that is expected to draw interest from some Arizona political heavyweights.

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Some names being floated include the congressman's daughter, Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva; Secretary of State Adrian Fontes; and some members of the politically active Hernandez family. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero ended speculation as to her own interest, writing on social media Friday that being mayor was "the best way for me to continue our work on behalf of Tucsonans."

Raul Grijalva represented Arizonas 7th Congressional District, a bright-blue stronghold that includes much of the state's border with Mexico and a skinny slice of Avondale and Tolleson. That means whoever wins the Democratic primary is all but guaranteed to win in the general election.

It could be the most competitive race for the seat in decades. Grijalva completed 11 full terms in the U.S. House, making him one of Arizonas longest-serving representatives.

The son of a Mexican immigrant, Grijalva rose through the ranks of Tucson politics, first as a radical activist and later as a school board member and Pima County supervisor. He championed environmental protection and immigrants' rights and eventually became a leading voice of the Democratic Partys progressive wing.

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"Arizonans could not have asked for a better voice in Washington," former President Barack Obama, a fellow Democrat, said on social media Friday.

Elections officials start the clock

On Friday morning, the U.S. House Clerk formally acknowledged the vacancy left by Grijalva's death, revising its number of members down from 432 to 431.

The special election was announced soon after, as required by Arizona law that says the governor must set the election timeline within 72 hours of a vacancy. Unlike when there are vacancies in the U.S. Senate, the governor does not get to name an interim replacement. That difference is laid out in the U.S. Constitution and echoed in Arizona law.

Candidates now have about a month to officially register with elections officials. To qualify for the ballot, they'll have to gather several thousand signatures from registered voters in support of their campaign.

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As always, the nuts-and-bolts of the elections are administered at the county level. In the 7th District that means officials from Cochise, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz and Yuma counties will be involved.

Lesko, Barber took office in special elections

The last time Arizona held a special election for a representative in Washington, D.C., was under very different circumstances, but saw a similar electoral time crunch.

Republican Rep. Trent Franks abruptly resigned in December 2017 amid a sexual misconduct scandal involving multiple staffers. Franks had offered one aide $5 million to act as a surrogate mother for his child.

Debbie Lesko, a Republican and former state lawmaker, won the April 2018 race with Democrat Hiral Tipirneni to replace Franks. She represented the sprawling West Valley district in Congress for six years before she was elected to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors last year.

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Arizona also had a special election in 2012, when former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords relinquished her seat following her January 2011 assassination attempt. Ron Barber, an aide to Giffords, narrowly defeated Republican Jesse Kelly and held onto the seat until 2015.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Gov. Hobbs schedules election to replace Raul Grijalva. Here's when
Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency across Georgia ahead of severe storms moving in late Saturday night and overnight Sunday.

The state of emergency went into effect at Noon on Saturday and runs until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday night.

The order allows Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to begin moving resources to impacted areas as well as establish crews to respond to reports of damage and power outages.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Severe Weather Team 2 App for alerts wherever you go]

Severe Weather Team 2 is expecting severe storms to move into far northwest Georgia around 8 p.m. on Saturday night and move into metro Atlanta between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Sunday.

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Multiple strong tornadoes are possible in the early morning hours of Sunday.

During thunderstorms, damaging wind gusts could reach 70 mph or greater, which could bring down trees or power lines.

The storms are expected to move out of the area by daybreak, according to the latest tracking from Severe Weather Team 2.

MORE SEVERE WEATHER PREPS:

Severe Weather Team 2 will be tracking these storms, LIVE throughout the day on Channel 2.

[INTERACTIVE: StormTracker 2HD Radar]
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has declared a state of emergency after storms left damages, power outages and at least three dead and 29 injured across the Natural State Friday night into Saturday morning.

Sanders said in a release Saturday morning that severe thunderstorms and tornadoes struck Arkansas and continue to cause dangers, hardships, and suffering throughout the state, which in turn, warrants this executive action.

Three dead, multiple injured after Friday night storms across Arkansas

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In the declaration, the governor said that a motor carrier or driver operating a commercial motor vehicle will be exempt from federal regulations limiting the maximum driving time for property and passenger carrying vehicles for up to 14 days as long as the motor carrier or driver is providing direct assistance in response to the emergency.

The weather-related damage includes numerous downed power lines, creating the need for commercial vehicles to haul heavy equipment, oversized loads, transformers, necessary hardware, and other transmission and distribution equipment to line crews for the purpose of restoring power to the citizens of Arkansas, the governor said. It is important to maintain a safe distance from these downed power lines, line crews, and related equipment.

Cave City under state of emergency due to damage from Friday night storm

The state of emergency will remain in effect until March 29 unless otherwise terminated. More from the governors declaration:

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A state of emergency exists in the State of Arkansas as applied to commercial vehicles hauling heavy equipment, oversized loads, transformers, necessary hardware, and other transmission and distribution equipment for the purpose of restoring service to citizens and properties in Arkansas

A state of emergency exists in the State of Arkansas as applied to emergency response vehicles, such as, but not limited to, utility vehicles, bucket trucks, and electric utility supply trucks responding to the storms and related damage

Emergency response vehicles are authorized to bypass all Arkansas Department of Transportation weigh station facilities through March 29, 2025. This authorization does not include vehicles that require permits to operate on Arkansas roadways. This authorization does not relieve size and weight restrictions. This declaration applies only to weigh stations and to vehicles traveling in convoy

Officials with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management have reported that three people died in Independence County and many more were injured throughout the state as storms passed through.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz held a town hall event at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines March 14, 2025, answering questions and hearing from Iowans who expressed their problems with cuts made by the Trump administration. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

DES MOINES  Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz told Iowans on his first stop of a national town hall tour that he wanted to give a voice to people who feel unheard by Republicans in Washington.

But he said there was another motive for these events: he is soul-searching following the 2024 general election, when he and Vice President Kamala Harris lost to President Donald Trump, to find how Democrats can win again.

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More than 1,000 people filled the auditorium at Roosevelt Public High School in Des Moines to hear from Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, at the first stop of his town hall series.

The national tour is focused on areas currently represented by House Republicans. It was organized in response to news that House GOP campaign leadership told members not to host town halls because of backlash about funding cuts by the Trump administration and Elon Musk through his temporary organization, the Department of Government Efficiency.

At the event, several Iowans shared their concerns about cuts to workforce and programs through the U.S. Department of Education, Veterans Affairs and Agriculture, as well as Medicaid, that have been proposed or moved forward by Trump and Musk, and asked Walz what they could do to push back.

Walz said he did not have the answers that many people who are struggling because of Trump administration and Republican actions want, saying, if I did, we wouldnt be in this goddamn mess.

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While he said he did not have all answers for how people will navigate the loss of services or funding, Walz emphasized the importance of sharing their stories and highlighting the real impact of these federal actions.

If you went back to those 77 million people who voted for Donald Trump, and you asked them, Do you want to cut care for veterans in this country, I would guess a large percentage of them would say, No, we dont want you to, Walz said. So this is a case again of, they didnt vote for this stuff, but theyre getting it.

Part of the problem, the Minnesota Democrats said, was Democrats messaging. Answering a question from a special education teacher, Walz said Democrats need to make a better case for education funding, because he did not believe that many of those who voted for Trump in 2024 or chose to not participate want you to lose your funding so that you can deliver for kids who need it.

Walz also said he believes the same issue of messaging applies when Democrats have talked about public spending on programs like Medicare and Social Security.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, joined by Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart, answered questions and heard from Iowans about cuts made by the Trump administration during a town hall event in Des Moines March 14, 2025. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

I dont know  and again, Im trying to figure it out from all of you  how did that message not resonate when we said theyre not going to support Social Security, that theyre going to cut it? Walz said. You cant cut a trillion dollars unless you do what Elon Musk finally admitted last week, We have to go after the entitlements. And, by the way, we have to start using our language better  those are not entitlements  we paid into them, thats our money.

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Walz said he believed part of the problem was when Democrats have been in power, weve been timid about passing things that make a difference on their lives. He pointed to programs like the Affordable Care Act passed by former President Barack Obama, which he said made important changes like giving health care protections to people with preexisting conditions, but was still overly costly and cumbersome for most Americans.

Speaking to Cheryl Hayes, a Des Moines resident who has family members who rely on Medicaid, Walz said  we need to tell your son that we need a health care system that he doesnt have to worry that one election could throw him out and into the streets.

Walzs tour is focused on areas currently represented by U.S. House Republicans in potentially vulnerable districts. He also has a Saturday stop planned in Omaha, Nebraska, currently represented by Rep. Don Bacon and Tuesday visit to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where Rep. Derrick Van Orden holds the seat. Des Moines is in Iowas 3rd Congressional District, where Rep. Zach Nunn won a close reelection in 2024 against Democratic challenger Lanon Baccam.

While introducing Walz, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said it was galling to see Nunn not hold town halls as an elected representative.

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That is a travesty, Hart said. And he needs to know, and I think youre sending him a message today, that his job is to serve the voters in this district.

In a statement to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Nunn disputed the characterization that he is not holding public events.

One of the best parts of serving in Congress is hearing directly from Iowans  thats why Ive held hundreds of listening sessions across all 21 counties in our district, Nunn said. Iowans voted for change in November, and Im delivering: securing the border, unleashing U.S. energy, and cutting taxes for working Americans. While out-of-state Democrats hold fundraisers disguised as forums, were focused on real results.

At the end of the event, Walz asked Iowans what they wanted to see Democrats doing in light of Trump administration actions. Iowans shouted back answers, ranging from be more aggressive to support trans people to find working class candidates.

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When one person called to stop the partisanship, Walz pushed back.

I agree on this, I tell them, try and find solutions, but I think we need to separate where were willing to compromise and where were going to hold to our values, Walz said.

Though Iowas caucuses are no longer first in the nation for the Democratic presidential nomination cycle, a trip to Iowa has historically been a part of campaigning to become a presidential candidate.

Walz did not comment Friday on any plans to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, but he has told reporters in recent weeks that he would not rule out a future run. In an interview with the New Yorker earlier in March, Walz said that he would consider running if I think I could offer something, but also said he wouldnt be arrogant enough to think that it needs to be me.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch and Nebraska Examiner are part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com.

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz held a town hall event at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines March 14, 2025, answering questions and hearing from Iowans who expressed their problems with cuts made by the Trump administration. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz told Iowans on his first stop of a national town hall tour that he wanted to give a voice to people who feel unheard by Republicans in Washington.

But he said there was another motive for these events: he is soul-searching following the 2024 general election, when he and Vice President Kamala Harris lost to President Donald Trump, to find how Democrats can win again.

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More than 1,000 people filled the auditorium at Roosevelt Public High School in Des Moines to hear from Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, at the first stop of his town hall series.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

The national tour is focused on areas currently represented by House Republicans. It was organized in response to news that House GOP campaign leadership told members not to host town halls because of backlash about funding cuts by the Trump administration and Elon Musk through his temporary organization, the Department of Government Efficiency.

At the event, several Iowans shared their concerns about cuts to workforce and programs through the U.S. Department of Education, Veterans Affairs and Agriculture, as well as Medicaid, that have been proposed or moved forward by Trump and Musk, and asked Walz what they could do to push back.

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Walz said he did not have the answers that many people who are struggling because of Trump administration and Republican actions want, saying, if I did, we wouldnt be in this goddamn mess.

While he said he did not have all answers for how people will navigate the loss of services or funding, Walz emphasized the importance of sharing their stories and highlighting the real impact of these federal actions.

If you went back to those 77 million people who voted for Donald Trump, and you asked them, Do you want to cut care for veterans in this country, I would guess a large percentage of them would say, No, we dont want you to,' Walz said. So this is a case again of, they didnt vote for this stuff, but theyre getting it.

Part of the problem, the Minnesota Democrats said, was Democrats messaging. Answering a question from a special education teacher, Walz said Democrats need to make a better case for education funding, because he did not believe that many of those who voted for Trump in 2024 or chose to not participate want you to lose your funding so that you can deliver for kids who need it.

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Walz also said he believes the same issue of messaging applies when Democrats have talked about public spending on programs like Medicare and Social Security.

I dont know  and again, Im trying to figure it out from all of you  how did that message not resonate when we said theyre not going to support Social Security, that theyre going to cut it? Walz said. You cant cut a trillion dollars unless you do what Elon Musk finally admitted last week, We have to go after the entitlements. And, by the way, we have to start using our language better  those are not entitlements  we paid into them, thats our money.

Walz said he believed part of the problem was when Democrats have been in power, weve been timid about passing things that make a difference on their lives. He pointed to programs like the Affordable Care Act passed by former President Barack Obama, which he said made important changes like giving health care protections to people with preexisting conditions, but was still overly costly and cumbersome for most Americans.

Speaking to Cheryl Hayes, a Des Moines resident who has family members who rely on Medicaid, Walz said  we need to tell your son that we need a health care system that he doesnt have to worry that one election could throw him out and into the streets.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, joined by Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart, answered questions and heard from Iowans about cuts made by the Trump administration during a town hall event in Des Moines March 14, 2025. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Walzs tour is focused on areas currently represented by U.S. House Republicans in potentially vulnerable districts. He also has a Saturday stop planned in Omaha, Nebraska, currently represented by Rep. Don Bacon and Tuesday visit to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where Rep. Derrick Van Orden holds the seat. Des Moines is in Iowas 3rd Congressional District, where Rep. Zach Nunn won a close reelection in 2024 against Democratic challenger Lanon Baccam.

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While introducing Walz, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said it was galling to see Nunn not hold town halls as an elected representative.

That is a travesty, Hart said. And he needs to know, and I think youre sending him a message today, that his job is to serve the voters in this district.

In a statement to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Nunn disputed the characterization that he is not holding public events.

One of the best parts of serving in Congress is hearing directly from Iowans  thats why Ive held hundreds of listening sessions across all 21 counties in our district, Nunn said. Iowans voted for change in November, and Im delivering: securing the border, unleashing U.S. energy, and cutting taxes for working Americans. While out-of-state Democrats hold fundraisers disguised as forums, were focused on real results.

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At the end of the event, Walz asked Iowans what they wanted to see Democrats doing in light of Trump administration actions. Iowans shouted back answers, ranging from be more aggressive to support trans people to find working class candidates.

When one person called to stop the partisanship, Walz pushed back.

I agree on this, I tell them, try and find solutions, but I think we need to separate where were willing to compromise and where were going to hold to our values, Walz said.

Though Iowas caucuses are no longer first in the nation for the Democratic presidential nomination cycle, a trip to Iowa has historically been a part of campaigning to become a presidential candidate.

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Walz did not comment Friday on any plans to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, but he has told reporters in recent weeks that he would not rule out a future run. In an interview with the New Yorker earlier in March, Walz said that he would consider running if I think I could offer something, but also said he wouldnt be arrogant enough to think that it needs to be me.

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Taiwan is focusing $1.5 billion in funds from insurance to continue its green energy goals, demonstrating the country's dedication to contributing to the future of the planet.

Last month, Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming announced updated goals to reduce carbon pollution by 26% to 30% by 2030, increasing from the previous target of 23% to 25%, Reuters reported. The outlet noted that the country is not a member of the United Nations and the Paris climate agreement due to China's claim the island is its territory, but it outpaced most countries in updating its environmental goals.

Peng told the outlet the first phase of investments will include $10 billion in Taiwan dollars (equal to $304.92 million USD), followed by a second phase expanding spending to $50 billion ($1.52 billion USD), with no specific timeline given. The money will be put into Energy Service Companies, or ESCOs, that manage financing for energy-saving schemes.

Do you think America could ever go zero-waste? Never Not anytime soon Maybe in some states Definitely Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Taiwan's commitment to reducing pollution and making cleaner energy options a priority comes as the country experienced its hottest year on record in 2024 and experienced the worst drought it had in 50 years in 2021.

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"For countries at our latitude, drought is a real danger," Peng told Reuters. "Although we have sufficient resilience to deal with it at the moment, we can't rule out even more extreme situations won't happen."

Extreme weather events are becoming an ever-increasing occurrence around the world, wreaking havoc on individuals from all walks of life. Swiss Re, a reinsurance company from Switzerland, estimated there were $310 billion in economic losses around the globe from extreme weather events in 2024, including hurricanes, flooding, and fires.

Taiwan is impressing the world with its updated goal-setting, and other governments are stepping up with green initiatives to utilize cleaner energy options.

Morocco recently announced it is overhauling and expanding its high-speed rail system with a $9.6 billion investment plan, joining other countries making similar updates.

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And recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture gave San Miguel Electric Cooperative an investment of $1.4 billion to switch from battery to solar energy, powering 47 counties in the state and reducing pollution by the equivalent of 446,000 cars from the road annually.

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.
In October 1990, Richard Mann shot a red wolf that he feared was threatening his cattle. The wolf was a member of an "experimental population" the federal Fish and Wildlife Service had introduced to eastern North Carolina a few years earlier in an effort to save the most endangered canine on the planet. When the federal government introduces endangered species like wolves, it often seeks local buy-in by allowing activities that would otherwise be prohibited. In this case, it permitted private landowners to kill a red wolf if it was "in the act of killing livestock or pets, provided that freshly wounded or killed livestock or pets are evident."

Fortunately for Mann, the red wolf on his property hadn't yet attacked his livestock. Unfortunately for Mann, that meant he was prosecuted under the Endangered Species Act for preemptively killing the canine. He pled guilty, was fined $2,000, and was ordered to perform community service building "wolfhouses" and feeding red wolves.

Since the late 1980s, federal biologists have been trying to keep a tiny population of endangered red wolves alive in and around two wildlife refuges on the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula, just inland from a string of barrier beaches in northeastern North Carolina. They have spent a lot of time, energy, and resourcesin the face of concentrated but consistent local oppositionwith relatively little to show for it.

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Over the decades, more than 100 red wolves raised in captivity have been released into the area, with dozens more pups placed in wild dens to be fostered. The population peaked at about 120 wolves in 2012, before falling rapidly due to human-caused fatalities of two types: gunshots and traffic collisions. The species has also been interbreeding with the increasingly prolific coyote, which could eventually cause "dilution, degradation and ultimate disappearance of the red wolf as a distinct taxonomic entity," as a 2023 government-commissioned analysis put it. As of September 2024, the wild population of red wolves was fewer than 20.

The red wolf has now become a symbol of federal overreach in the area, and local opposition to it seems to have become as much about resisting the feeling of being trampled by the government as about the canine itself. The animal also provides a salient target for ire over more fundamental issues, as traditional ways of life in a rural area become less tenable.

After Mann's prosecution, local opposition to the introduction grew. The Fish and Wildlife Service maintained that most of the public continued to support the endeavor, and it struck agreements with some landowners to allow red wolves onto their property. But the case increased tensions, particularly with locals concerned that a federally regulated carnivore brought to their doorstep would eventually trigger prohibitions on how they could use their land in an area heavy on farming and hunting.

Rather than rewarding people for helping recover rare wildlife, the Endangered Species Act imposes punitive regulations in the name of protecting listed species and their habitats. It can feel like a punch in the gut when a rare snake or woodpecker shows up on your property bringing government regulation in tow. Imagine the blow, then, when a rare species wasn't simply found on your land by happenstance: Federal biologists brought it to your neighborhood without asking. Oh, and it's a wolfa carnivore that sits at the top of the food chain and, from your perspective, poses a threat not only to your chickens, pets, or cattle but to any toddlers wandering too far from the porch. It's little wonder that the federal approach turns endangered species into liabilities to avoid rather than assets to help conserve.

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In the years following Mann's case, two of the five counties within the red wolf program area passed resolutions opposing the effort. Eventually, the state wildlife commission asked the federal government to terminate the program altogether. The introduction effort, and ill will over it, has ebbed and flowed ever since.

Admirable Aims Unrealized

"The passion of those who began this program to restore a species to the wild was admirable," Jett Ferebee told The Fayetteville Observer in 2014. "But it has become an effort to destroy the rights of private landowners." Ferebee is a real estate developer from nearby Greenville, North Carolina, who owns land in the red wolf recovery area. He has been described as one of the leading opponents of the introduction.

A year earlier, he had detailed various critiques in correspondence to a Fish and Wildlife Service employee, which he posted to an online forum. "I do not need to be told by [the Fish and Wildlife Service], any more, that red wolves are the next best thing since sliced bread. I have been told this for years by your program directors and biologists," it read in part. "I am intimately familiar with your program and how it has morphed into something totally different than what was promised [to] the citizens of NC.I resent that my friends and family no longer want to go to our farm and spend time hunting and enjoying the outdoors. I resent that not only our deer population but also our rabbit population has been decimated. The turkeys are likely next."

Ferebee added that he resented not taking some locals' advice to "just 'shoot 'em in the gut and let 'em walk off.'I resent that my obeying the lawhas left me defenseless to protect my property rights."

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The message board runs to nearly 200 pages produced over a decade. It includes protests that genetic records show the red wolf is a hybrid rather than a "true" species and that fossil records contain no evidence red wolves ever inhabited North Carolina. While it contains the hysterics and general tone of many online forums, it presents many reasonable objections that locals have expressed over the years: farmer concerns over wolves preying on livestock, hunter concerns over wolves preying on deer and small game, and landowner concerns over regulations restricting how they can manage their land where wolves roam and den.

The red wolf once roamed throughout much of the southern and eastern U.S., but the population was dramatically reduced by predator-control programs, many of which were boosted by bounties from federal and state governments. It became one of the original endangered species protected by Congress in 1967, under the precursor to the Endangered Species Act. By the 1970s, only a small remnant population straddling the border of Texas and Louisiana persisted in the wild. The Fish and Wildlife Service began trapping the canines to start a captive breeding program with zoos to keep the species alive.

By the late 1980s, the Fish and Wildlife Service identified potential areas to introduce the captive wolves in an effort to reestablish the species. It believed the wolf would thrive in dense bottomland vegetation in Southeastern states. "Ideally," it noted, "such areas would also be isolated, have a low human encroachment potential, and be secured in either State or Federal ownership." It concluded that the "apparently ideal habitat for this species" was found in North Carolina at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, which contained 120,000 acres of "the finest wetland ecosystems found in the Mid-Atlantic region." Moreover, an adjacent military bombing range was expected to act as a buffer between the wolf habitat in the refuge and private lands. Releases of red wolves into the refuge began in 1987. Incredibly, in retrospect, the service wrote at the time: "No private entities will be affected by this action."

Initially, the wolves were released into an area covering a couple hundred thousand acres of federal land in two counties, Dare and Tyrrell. But as the wolf population grew, its range inevitably expanded, and the official recovery area also balloonedeventually to roughly 1.7 million acres covering parts of five counties, including a second federal wildlife refuge and swaths of private property. By 2014, an estimated 60 percent of the roughly 100-strong red wolf population occupied private lands.

'Nearly Catastrophic'

In September 2024, a red wolf was killed by a vehicle on U.S. Highway 64, which bisects the Alligator River Wildlife Refuge on the way east to the beaches of the Outer Banks. Soon after, five pups that the wolf had sired with a 2-year-old female also died. One collision had effectively wiped out six red wolves, highlighting how difficult species recovery can be.

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While biologists may see the red wolf as a missing part of Southeastern ecosystems, landowners and hunters see it much like early settlers saw large carnivores: as a nuisance and a menace. More than 80 red wolves died from gunshots during the program's first 25 years. Some were no doubt poached, but others were likely mistaken for coyotes, which can be killed any time of year and are subject to no bag limit. About the time the experimental population of red wolves was gaining a foothold in the late 1990s, coyotes began multiplying in the region, as they have done from Atlanta to New York City. Red wolves and coyotes don't simply look very similar (especially from a distance or at night), they actually share about three-quarters of their genetic ancestryhence protests from some that the red wolf is "merely" a "coywolf" and not worthy of protection.

A flash point in the red wolf conflict was a 2010s pendulum of state hunting regulations. In 2012, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission permitted night hunting of coyotes (as well as feral hogs, another prolific nuisance animal) on private land. In the months that followed, at least seven red wolves were shot. Environmentalists sued and in 2014 a federal court blocked the nighttime hunts in the five-county red wolf recovery zone. The North Carolina Coastal Federation notes that the cost to the program was "nearly catastrophic," reporting that "landowners adjacent to the refuge, who had been cooperative or indifferent to the management plan, suddenly no longer permitted access to their property."

In 2015, the state wildlife commission formally asked the federal government to end the red wolf recovery program altogether and remove the existing population. Supporting resolutions were passed by state legislators. A year later, Sen. Thom Tillis (RN.C.) also called for eliminating the red wolf recovery program, claiming that more than 500 landowners and farmers submitted requests to the service that red wolves not be allowed on their land. "I think it makes the most sense," Tillis said at the time, "to shut the program down to figure out how to do it right and build some credibility with the landowners."

Since the mid-2010s, the recovery program has puttered along in fits and starts. The Fish and Wildlife Service, seemingly responding to landowner sentiments, tried to shrink the recovery area and number of wolves in the wild but manage the remaining ones more intensively; environmentalists sued and blocked the move. The feds again proposed to reduce the recovery area and the number of red wolves being managed, and to relax restrictions that forbid landowners from killing wolves on their property; environmentalists sued and successfully stopped the plan. The service stopped actively releasing red wolves into the recovery area for several years; environmentalists sued and compelled the releases to begin again.

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All the while, red wolves have continued to die by gunshot, sporadically but regularly, even as five-figure rewards are offered for information on the illegal kills.

Infringing on a Way of Life

"We were concerned as landowners that something has been put on our property we didn't ask for, we didn't want," Wilson Daughtry, a farmer and landowner in the red wolf recovery area, told The Guardian in 2019. "For me," he added, "it is more about infringement on private property rights. I'm really irritated about that. Coming out here and stuffing those wolves down our throats, you're not gonna get any support like that."

That sentiment echoes one Colorado rancher's description of a 2020 referendum that mandated a reintroduction of the red wolf's larger and more familiar cousin, the gray wolf. The rancher described the state ballot measure as "people on the Front Rangea bunch of city dudes" trying to "cram it down our throats." Residents of Denver, Colorado Springs, and various ski towns largely supported the reintroduction, while nearly all rural counties opposed it.

The red wolf recovery program served as an early model to restore gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho in the 1990s. While the "wolf wars" in Western states have certainly brought and continue to bring their fair share of conflict, those reintroductions in the Rocky Mountain West at least acknowledged the costs that a large carnivore would bring to local communities andmade efforts to mitigate the impacts. Conservationist Hank Fischer, who was instrumental in early efforts, helped establish a program to compensate ranchers for livestock lost to the carnivores, funded by proceeds of wolf artwork sold to back the cause. It paid out nearly $200,000 in the first few years. Then, as Fischer described it, suddenly "the wolf/livestock conflict was no longer an issue dominating the newspapers."

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Even though the red wolf program is cited as a model for western gray wolf restoration, the idea of compensating locals who would bear the costs of living with wolves was never at the forefront. In 2020, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service launched a "Prey for the Pack" initiative to partner with landowners interested in promoting wolf recovery. It offers a cost share of up to 80 percent for participants who make habitat improvements to their property and allow for monitoring of red wolves, and the program has paid out $350,000 to date.

It seems like a step in the right direction if you want to get locals on board with conserving an apex predator. Yet it took more than three decades to launch.

In the meantime, a lot of water flowed under the bridges of the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula, as Francine Madden has documented. The Fish and Wildlife Service hired Madden in 2022 as a third-party mediator to assess the longrunning conflict. Her job, essentially, is to try to help people fighting over wildlife make peace. Madden spoke to more than 150 people over the course of 18 months in compiling her findings about the red wolf. Her report noted that some landowners declined to participate in Prey for the Pack because they feared being "paid to create problems for their neighbors, which they were not willing to do."

"Many felt that at the heart of the conflict," Madden added, was a perceived threat to "landowners' sense of control over the things that are important to them, such as their land, identity and way of life." She cited residents describing community challenges unrelated to the wolf, too, such as "churches closing, the quality of public schools, and the lack of grocery stores, among other problems." Other interviewees detailed additional hardships "in terms of gainful employment (given there is no real industry outside of government, fishing, and agriculture) and the threat of hurricanes and saltwater intrusion." Three of the five counties in the red wolf recovery area have seen declines in real gross domestic product over the past 20 years. Moreover, the number of resident humans in the area has followed a similar trajectory to that of the red wolves: All but one of the five counties (Dare) has declined in population since 2010.

Alienate or Collaborate

The Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula isn't the only place where red wolf introduction has been tried. In 1991, the Fish and Wildlife Service also introduced wolves to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Seven years later, it terminated the effort, citing "extremely low pup survival and the inability of the red wolves to establish home ranges within the Park." That history prompts a question: Why did the government end the red wolf experiment in the Smokies, yet persist with it decades later 500 miles eastward?

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Another line from the service's decision to end the Smokies program underscores the wider implications of the ongoing experiment in eastern North Carolina: "Our goal for the recovery of this species includes establishing at least three self-sustaining wild populations that total a minimum of 220 animals." The 2023 federal recovery plan for the species similarly calls for establishing additional populations, to provide "redundancy and resiliency." Its authors expect the wolf's status to "improve such that we can achieve delisting criteria around 2072, in approximately 50 years," and estimate the total costs of the plan at $328 million.

With plans like those, federal officials need to find better ways to cooperate with locals, and not only when it concerns the red wolf. Colorado is currently managing its aforementioned introduction of gray wolves under federal oversight. The Fish and Wildlife Service has decided to restore endangered grizzly bears to the North Cascades in Washington, and it's considering bringing federally listed sea otters back to the coast of Oregon and Northern California. To succeed, it will have to find ways to avoid alienating local landowners and constituencies, like the fishing interests wary of ravenous otters decimating their catch.

While the red wolf may provide a blueprint for how not to introduce an endangered species, Madden, the independent mediator, notes that the situation has improved since its most heated times. In her investigation, she noted, various parties occasionally voiced "cautious optimism about what it could mean to really hear one anotherand to establish a starting place to come together and work through the many challenges in this conflict." A sign of that optimism perhaps blossoming came in December when the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission rescinded its yearsold resolutions regarding red wolves and adopted a new one committing to work toward recovering the species.

The Fish and Wildlife Service has gotten a lot wrong with the red wolf. But its fundamental mistake has been trying to do conservation to local communities rather than with them. The people who have to live alongside introduced species have the most to provide for them in terms of potential habitat, as well as potential collaboration as eyes and ears on the ground.

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If the red wolf recovery effort has shown anything, it's that it's hard to make headway in recovering a species if the people most affected by it feel like they're having wolves stuffed down their throats.

The post When the Government Puts Wolves in Your Backyard appeared first on Reason.com.
Troop pay will be protected and money to cover an upcoming pay raise for junior enlisted service members will be secure after Congress approved an extension of government funding through September.

The Senate voted 54-46 to approve a stopgap spending bill known as a continuing resolution, or CR, on Friday evening, just hours before a potential government shutdown would begin. The House approved the CR earlier this week; it now awaits President Donald Trump's expected signature.

Government funding was set to expire at the end of the day Friday, meaning the government would have shut down at 12:01 a.m. Saturday without congressional action.

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Read Next: Veterans Protest Trump Administration's Slashing of Federal Government

The bill was written entirely by House Republicans, and Trump backed the CR as a way to enable his administration to continue its unilateral cuts to the federal government.

"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 posted on social media last weekend, urging Republicans to support the bill.

The CR's passage was in doubt for most of the week because at least eight Democrats needed to join with Republicans to vote to advance it in the Senate. A procedural vote called a cloture motion requires 60 votes. Republicans hold 53 seats, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., came out in opposition to the bill early in the week.

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But on Thursday evening, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., announced he would back the cloture motion, arguing that a shutdown would allow Trump to cause more harm than a CR would. Schumer's decision gave a strong signal the CR would pass, and ultimately nine other Democrats joined Schumer to advance the bill in the procedural vote.

"While the CR bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse," Schumer, who voted against final passage even though he supported cloture, said on the Senate floor Thursday night.

In a government shutdown, troops continue working without getting paid unless Congress passes separate legislation to allow paychecks to continue during the shutdown -- making shutdowns anathema to the Pentagon.

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While funding will continue now, the approval of the bill also means this will be the first time the Pentagon will operate under a CR for the entire fiscal year.

The Pentagon typically hates CRs because they force the military to operate under the previous year's budget while facing increased costs. In general, CRs simply extend existing funding levels, though lawmakers sometimes include some extra funding.

In this CR, Congress sought to mitigate some of the fallout for the military by adding $6 billion above last year's budget for the Pentagon.

In particular, Congress added funding for military personnel accounts for a 10% pay raise that junior enlisted service members are slated to get in April. The junior enlisted pay raise would have taken effect without extra funding being approved in the CR because Congress authorized the raise in the defense policy bill passed in December, but the military would have had to raid other personnel funds such as for retention bonuses in order to cover the increased paychecks.

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Despite the CR including some extra Pentagon funding, top officers testified to Congress this week that it will still have some harmful effects on the military.

The CR also includes an extra $6 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs to make up for a shortfall in the Toxic Exposures Fund that was first identified by the Biden administration last year.

In addition to passing the CR, the Senate also voted Friday evening on an amendment offered by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., that would have reinstated all veterans fired from the federal government by the Trump administration.

Thousands of federal workers, including thousands of veterans, have been fired as part of Trump's sweeping efforts to slash the government.

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Duckworth's amendment failed entirely along party lines, with all 47 Democrats supporting and all 53 Republicans opposing.

Related: GOP Plan to Avert Government Shutdown Would Fund Next Month's Junior Enlisted Pay Raise
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Governor Mike DeWine is throwing his support behind bringing NASAs headquarters to Ohio.

In a letter he sent to President Donald Trump, which the governor also shared on social media Saturday, he wrote that he and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel support moving the headquarters out of Washington D.C. and relocating it to the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, joining a chorus of more than a dozen other Ohio lawmakers.

NASA headquarters moved to Cleveland? Lawmakers pen proposal

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@LtGovJimTressel and I sent a letter to President Trump this week to show our support for relocating @NASAs headquarters to @NASAglenn in Cleveland. Ohio is the birthplace of aviation, the heart of Americas aerospace industry, and a critical hub for advanced technology, research, and manufacturing. Placing NASA HQ in Cleveland would reinforce Ohio as an international leader in both space exploration and aeronautics innovation, DeWine captioned his post.

The lease for the federal agencys current HQ in Washington D.C. expires in 2028.

As Fox 8 reported earlier this week, 13 Ohio lawmakers wrote a letter to Vice President JD Vance and NASA Administrator Designate, Jared Isaacman, proposing the move.

The letter was led by Ohios 7th District Congressman Max Miller and Sen. Jon Husted.

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It includes signatures from Sen. Bernie Moreno, all of the other Republican representatives in Ohio and Democratic 9th district congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.

Regardless of political affiliation, this is a wonderful thing for our state. This is a wonderful thing for northeast Ohio to bring NASA home and the headquarters, and it would benefit us tremendously, Rep. Miller told Fox 8.

Teamwork, STEM skills on display at robotics competition

The letter outlines several reasons Ohio would be the best option for relocating NASA HQ. It highlights Ohio as the birthplace of aviation and the space available at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.

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Additionally, the letter states that the move would align with President Trumps wishes to move federal agencies out of Washington D.C and to cut federal spending.

It also notes the cost of living being cheaper than other prospective states, which would save taxpayer dollars.

The letter lists Florida, Alabama, and Texas as other interested parties.

Rep. Miller noted that Ohio and NASA Glenn has the resources and would be a safe investment for the federal government because of the lack of natural disasters that some southern states see.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency ahead of a severe storm set to sweep through the state.

In a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Gov. Kemp said the storm is set to hit at the worst possible time. He also urged Georgians to prepare ahead of the storm and remain weather aware as long as the storm is in the state.

I have declared a State of Emergency ahead of the severe weather headed our way.



This storm will hit at the worst possible time, as people are heading to or already in bed. Be prepared ahead of time and remain weather aware as long as this system is in the state. pic.twitter.com/VEF3Huc0Wr  Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) March 15, 2025

As for the state of emergency declaration, it can be read below:

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The state of emergency order is set to expire March 18.

For more weather aware tips and a map of storm shelters, visit WRBLs First Alert Storm Center.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Mar. 14SANTA FE  The Senate voted Friday to approve legislation creating a new outside oversight office in New Mexico's child welfare agency, but only after adopting amendments to the bill that could avert a veto showdown with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The changes to the legislation were lauded by the governor, but could set up a new conflict with top House Democrats, who have pushed the bill after years of debate over dismal child well-being trends.

After the bill, House Bill 5, sailed through its only assigned Senate committee earlier this week, some senators appeared to have second thoughts Friday.

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The Senate ultimately voted 28-13 to approve the bill after adding an amendment offered by Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, aimed at avoiding conflicts of interest as child well-being investigations are carried out.

After the vote, Lujan Grisham told the Journal she had met with several senators earlier in the day and urged them to make the change to the legislation.

She said she believed the initial House-approved version of the bill was unconstitutional, while likening backers' efforts to rush the bill through the Roundhouse to President Donald Trump's attack on political enemies at the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday.

"You don't use children, and their families and their well-being as some sort of political effort to harm or discredit another elected official," the governor told the Journal.

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"Don't hold children's well-being hostage because you've got a political beef with me about one thing or another," she later added.

The Democratic governor also said she still doesn't like the bill's provision that a new Office of the Child Advocate would be located within Attorney General Raul Torrez's office but lauded several senators for their roles in the debate and the final vote.

Those senators included Duhigg, Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, Senate Democratic whip Michael Padilla of Albuquerque, Sen. Crystal Brantley, R-Elephant Butte, and Senate GOP floor leader William Sharer of Farmington.

Due to the bill changes adopted Friday, it now returns to the House of Representatives, where members will vote in the coming days on whether to approve the Senate's changes.

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If the changes are rejected, it would set up a conference committee where appointees from the two chambers would meet to try to hammer out a deal before the 60-day session ends March 22.

House Speaker Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, said he and his staff are still reviewing the Senate amendments. But he described some of the changes as concerning, including a removal of subpoena power for the proposed outside office.

"It's not good practice for us to tailor our policymaking to fit the vision or the view of any particular governor," Martinez told the Journal. "It is our job to pass good legislation."

But the Senate's actions on Friday appeared to dim the odds  at least for now  of lawmakers attempting to override a Lujan Grisham veto of the bill.

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Duhigg alluded to such an effort during Friday's floor debate, saying, "I know there are some that would love to force this to a veto and do an override."

She said the better course of action would be to pass a bill with buy-in from the governor's administration.

"The more we can be in partnership, the better," Duhigg said in an interview after Friday's vote.

The outside oversight bill is one of roughly 30 measures dealing with CYFD and New Mexico foster families that have been filed during this year's session.

Sara Crecca, an Albuquerque attorney who has represented children in CYFD custody for more than 20 years, said Friday she has never seen the agency in its current level of "disrepair."

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But she said she's hopeful the bill will help children around the state if it's signed into law.

"The office of the child advocate will empower them, their parents and their foster parents in their battle for basic care in our broken child welfare system," Crecca told the Journal.
In his life, Rus Thompson was certainly no stranger to controversy.

For years, the ardent Conservative, vocal advocate for the Tea Party movement and staunch Donald Trump supporter, mixed it up with politicians of all stripes and at all levels of government in Western New York and across New York state.

His wife, Jul, hopes people remember her husband, who died on March 7 at age 69, as a person who had courage in his convictions and wasnt shy about holding political leaders and elected officials accountable for their actions.

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I think that he will absolutely be remembered as a man who stood up and said the words that people find difficult to express and he did it with brute honesty, she said.

Earning the nickname Rus as a young boy due to his reddish hair, Thompsons real name was John L.A. Thompson Jr. A native of Farmington, Massachusetts, Thompson was a descendent of one of the most influential figures in U.S. history, the second president of the United States, John Adams.

Thompson served as a cook as a member of the U.S. Army at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, before being honorably discharged in 1979. He met Jul in 1985 in Tucson, Arizona. The couple moved to the Buffalo area  where Jul is from  in 1991. They ran a small home remodeling business for many years and, in 2008, started a company now known as Mini-Mixer, LLC, which manufactures small concrete mixers that can be mounted on heavy-duty pickup trucks.

Rus Thompsons involvement in local politics and government started in the mid-1990s when he helped advance a movement to remove New York State Thruway Authority toll booths from Grand Island. He founded a website, nogitolls.com, to support the effort, which also had the backing of another staunch Conservative, Buffalo developer Carl Paladino.

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After Paladino successfully sued the state to get tolls removes from the Niagara section of the thruway, Rus Thompson collected more than 10,000 signatures on an anti-toll petition that was later presented to officials in Albany, including three different governors.

Traditional tolls where funds were collected by thruway authority workers have since been replaced by the states current cashless toll system, which Thompson  who lobbied for the elimination of tolls on Grand Island altogether  railed against as well. He consistently argued that all tolls on the Island represented another form of taxation from Albany on struggling Western New Yorkers who could ill afford to pay.

The Thruway Authoritys money does not stay here, it leaves, Thompson said in a 2008 interview with the Gazette. The Transportation Department already has dedicated funds. They do not need tolls.

In the late 2000s, Thompson became a key figure in the Tea Party, a fiscally conservative group that held protest rallies and events featuring members who pushed for reforms they argued would reduce government waste and corruption. Thompson, described in his obituary as an anti-establishment icon, was a staunch Second Amendment advocate who pushed to end New Yorks gun control law, the SAFE Act. Over the years, he became widely known for attending rallies and other functions dressed as a patriot from the Revolutionary War.

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In 2010, Thompson supported Paladinos bid to become governor, serving the as Western New York businessmans driver while he was out on the campaign trail in a race that was eventually won by Democrat Andrew Cuomo.

Jul said her husbands demeanor and willingness to get involved led him to become a voice for a lot of different causes, many of which she said resulted in more disappointing outcomes than victories.

I think it was just natural for him, she said. People had so many problems with corrupt and unaccountable government. Everybody recognized it, but nobody was ever able to do anything about it. Hes a cousin of John Adams so maybe it was just in his blood.

Thompson became embroiled in a political controversy of his own in 2016 when he was charged with committing voter fraud amid allegations that he voted in the 2015 primary and general elections on Grand Island when he had a home address in Niagara Falls. Prosecutors later dismissed five felony counts in the case. In 2017, Thompson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of filing a false instrument. He was later sentenced to probation.

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Before his sentencing, WIVB News4 Buffalo reported that Thompson said he felt targeted for being an outspoken citizen, and that the investigation into his registration was motivated by politics.

You cant tell me this wasnt a setup, Thompson told a reporter from the news station at the time. They try to take you down and if they cant beat you one way, they try to take all your money. When they start hitting you in your back pocket in your wallet and its all vindictive politics, its got to end.

The Thompsons werent shy about sharing their Right-Wing political views or their support for Donald Trump in his presidential election and reelection campaigns.

Jul Thompson helped organize two busloads of Western New Yorkers who went to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021, to protest Joe Bidens defeat of Trump in the presidential election. She later told the Buffalo News that she tried to climb a wall to enter the Capital that day and 16 others from the Buffalo contingent were able to do so. She was later questioned in her home by the FBI. She was not charged.

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She said her husbands support for Trump and his presidency never wavered right up until the day he died. She said he was pleased to know Trump reclaimed the presidency and that they both firmly believe the country will be on a better path as a result of it.

When he was in a little delirium, when he was in the process of getting medical treatment for his heart and his respiratory issues, anytime he was asked who was president, he would say Trump, Jul Thompson said of Rus. He always knew Trump and it always brought him back.

Jul believes her husband would be pleased knowing others shared his views and are now continuing to push for reforms like the Trump-sanctioned Department of Government Efficiency that many conservatives view as necessary to Make America Great Again.

I think what he appreciated is that after all the hard work now people have taken up the torch, she said. Theyve uncovered all this waste and fraud and abuse.

Services for Rus Thompson will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Dengler, Roberts, Perna Funeral Home, 3070 Delaware Ave., Kenmore. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Grace Church of Tonawanda, 2525 Eggert Road, Tonawanda.
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Fossils in China suggest the "Great Dying" mass extinction wasn't as catastrophic in some regions. . | Credit: YANG Dinghua

The mass extinction that killed 80% of life on Earth 250 million years ago may not have been quite so disastrous for plants, new fossils hint. Scientists have identified a refuge in China where it seems that plants weathered the planet's worst die-off.

The end-Permian mass extinction, also known as the "Great Dying," took place 251.9 million years ago. At that time, the supercontinent Pangea was in the process of breaking up, but all land on Earth was still largely clustered together, with the newly formed continents separated by shallow seas. An enormous eruption from a volcanic system called the Siberian Traps seem to have pushed carbon dioxide levels to extremes: A 2021 study estimated that atmospheric CO2 got as high as 2,500 parts per million (ppm) in this period, compared with current levels of 425 ppm. This caused global warming and ocean acidification, leading to a massive collapse of the ocean ecosystem.

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The situation on land is far hazier. Only a handful of places around the world have rock layers containing fossils from land ecosystems at the end of the Permian and beginning of the Triassic.

A new study of one of these spots  located in what is now northeastern China revealed a refuge where the ecosystem remained relatively healthy despite the Great Dying. In this place, seed-producing gymnosperm forests continued to grow, complemented by spore-producing ferns.

"At least in this place, we don't see mass extinction of plants," study co-author Wan Yang , a professor of geology and geophysics at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, told Live Science.

The finding, published Wednesday (March 12) in the journal Science Advances , adds weight to the idea that the Great Dying was more complicated on land than in the seas, Yang said.

A fossilized conifer trunk from the end-Permian mass extinction uncovered in what is now northeastern China. | Credit: NIGPAS

The great changover?

Yang and his colleagues looked at rock layers in Xinjiang that span the mass extinction event.

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A major advantage of this now-desert site is that the rocks include layers of ash that hold tiny crystals called zircons. The zircons include radioactive elements  lead and uranium  that gradually decay, which enables researchers to determine how long it has been since the crystals formed. This means the researchers can more accurately date the rock layers here than they can at other sites.

Some of these layers also hold fossil spores and pollen. These fossils reveal that there wasn't a massive die-off and repopulation but a slow changeover of species, Yang said.

This is consistent with other evidence from Africa and Argentina, where plant populations seemed to have shifted gradually rather than dying off dramatically and then repopulating, said Josefina Bodnar , a paleobotanist at the National University of La Plata in Argentina who was not involved in the research.

Land plants "have a lot of adaptations that allow them to survive this extinction," Bodnar told Live Science. "For example, [they have] subterranean structures, roots or stems, that can survive perhaps hundreds of years." Seeds can also persist a long time, she added.

Tetrapod skeletal fossils dating to approximately 150,000 years before the end-Permian mass extinction | Credit: NIGPAS

This survival may have been particularly possible at humid, high-latitude regions. The site in Xinjiang was once dotted with lakes and rivers, a few hundred miles from the coast. Other places where plant refuges have been found, such as Argentina, were also high-latitude in the Permian, far from the equator where temperatures were the hottest.

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Yang and his colleagues found that during the late Permian and early Triassic, the climate became a bit drier in what is now Xinjiang  but not enough to cause deforestation.

This may have been a consequence of location, said Devin Hoffman , a researcher in paleontology at University College London who was not involved in the new study. Marine animals had no escape from global ocean acidification. But climate change on land wasn't uniform. The impact would have been most pronounced in the center of Pangea, which was a vast desert.

This means that in more temperate regions on land, survival could have been possible, Hoffman told Live Science. "You essentially have everything being pushed toward the poles and towards the coast, but on land you're able to escape some of the effects," he said.

Now an arid desert, the region the fossils were found would've been a humid forest 250 million years ago. | Credit: NIGPAS

The planet's memory

These findings have led to some debate over whether the greatest mass extinction ever deserves the moniker on land. "I will call it a crisis on land. I will not call it an extinction," said Robert Gastaldo , an emeritus professor of Geology at Colby College who was not involved in the new study, but who has collaborated with Yang in the past.

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RELATED STORIES

The five mass extinctions that shaped the history of Earth

How the Great Dying set the stage for the dawn of the dinosaurs

Fearsome saber-toothed giant dominated at dawn of 'Great Dying', but its reign was short-lived

The end-Permian extinction is particularly interesting to scientists because it was driven by greenhouse gases, much like climate change today. The situation was far more extreme then: The polar ice caps melted completely  a situation that would cause sea levels to rise a staggering 230 feet (70 meters) today.

But humans may be nearly as deadly as giant volcanoes. A 2020 study , for example, found that a smaller extinction event at the end of the Triassic (201 million years ago) was driven by greenhouse gas pulses from volcanoes that were on a similar scale to what humans are expected to emit by the end of this century. Studying these ancient catastrophes can give us a sense of what to expect under atmospheric carbon dioxide levels people have never experienced, Gastaldo said.

"The planet has experienced it," he said. "The planet's memory is in the rock record. And we can learn from the rock record what happens to our planet under these extreme conditions."
GREEN LAKE, Wis. (WFRV)  Officials in Green Lake County helped a few troubled locals on Saturday amidst a particularly unique situation.

According to the Green Lake Police Department and the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office, three deer fell through thin ice and tried to go adventuring farther into the lake.

Four trapped on sheet of ice in Door County rescued, drifted mile from shore

Through assistance from the Green Lake County Drone team, local officials with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Patrolman Schroeder, two of the three deer were herded back through the ice to the shallow area.

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Unfortunately, the third deer didnt follow, and the wind made efforts more troublesome. Fortunately, Detective Ward got the final deer to the shore with officials using a rope to help it up the bank.

No additional details were provided.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A Greenville County Highway has been renamed in honor of a state trooper who died in the line of duty.

According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, the SC Highway Patrol held a dedication ceremony on Friday dedicated part of SC-183 between Sulphur Springs Road and Ridge Road to Albert T. Sealy Jr., a highway patrol trooper who died in the line of duty in 1950.

Image courtesy of SCDPS

As part of the dedication, the state unveiled and installed signs dedicating the stretch of highway as the SCHP Patrolman Albert T. Sealy Jr. Memorial Highway.

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According to the Department of Public Safety, Sealey was on duty in Greenville County on Ocotober 5, 1950 when he crashed into a tanker truck during a pursuit. He died at the scene, making him the 14th South Carolina state trooper to die while on duty.

Patrolman Albert Sealy Jr. served with honor and distinction, and todays ceremony and dedication will cement his service, sacrifice, and memory in Greenville County, SCDPS Director Robert G. Woods IV, said. And while we can never repay the families of these fallen troopers for their sacrifices through the years, small acts like this one today are just one way of saying, We have not forgotten, and will not forget.

Born in Lancaster in 1927, Sealey served in the Navy during World War II, then joined the highway patrol in 1948.

He was buried at the Lancaster Memorial Park in Lancaster, and was inducted into the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame in 1986.

Image courtesy of SCDPS Image courtesy of SCDPS Image courtesy of SCDPS Image courtesy of SCDPS Image courtesy of SCDPS Image courtesy of SCDPS Image courtesy of SCDPS Image courtesy of SCDPS Image courtesy of SCDPS Image courtesy of SCDPS

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
This story has been updated with the VAs response to the protesters.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A group of protestors gathered near the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Sioux Falls Friday afternoon. On Saturday, the VAs hospital responded.

Docs: Iowan says he tried saving student in Dominican

The group gathered at Spellerberg Park and lined the intersection of 26th Street and Western Avenue.

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The group said it is protesting to honor and support Americas Veterans. Signs at the protest call for more support for Veterans.

The group that organized the protest is called Indivisible 605. The group says it is dedicated to promoting South Dakota values from a platform of inclusion and equality. We utilize non-violent and polite pressure to defend liberty against the current administrations authoritarian, nationalist tendencies.

According to News Nation, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Feb. 11 directing all agencies to promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force, using a legal term commonly referred to as RIF to denote mass layoffs.

Significant reductions are expected at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Pentagon, raising concerns about the impact on vital services.

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The VA has issued a response. In a press release, Press Secretary Pete Kasperowicz stated:

The Biden Administration astronomically grew the departments budget and number of employees, and VA wait times and backlogs increased. We are doing things differently.But the legacy media, government union bosses, and some in Congress are working together to use rumor, innuendo and disinformation to spread fear in the hopes that the department will just keep in place the status quo. Here are the facts: VA health care has been on the Government Accountability Offices high-risk list since 2015. It is still on the list to this day. In other words, VA has had serious problems for at least ten years running. Thats why our efforts to reform the department are so important. VA has laid off 2,400 probationary employees in non-mission-critical positions, such as publicists, interior designers, and diversity, equity and inclusion officers. Thats one half of one percent of VAs workforce. So the notion that these layoffs are causing issues across the department is false.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
Akif Cagatay Klc, a foreign affairs adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has revealed what he believes is the key obstacle to peace in Ukraine.

Source: the Guardian, citing Klc, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Klc noted that one of the main obstacles to a peaceful settlement between Ukraine and Russia is the "loss of trust" between the two sides.

"The main problem is a loss of trust. Nobody trusts anyone," Klc said.

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Turkiye has played a pivotal role as a mediator in the Ukraine-Russia talks, maintaining positive relations with both sides, despite its military support for Ukraine.

It hosted the 2022 talks between Ukraine and Russia and has expressed a willingness to do so again if asked.

Background:

Erdogan has recently called on Russia to "respond constructively" to the US proposal for a truce in Ukraine.

Following the talks in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on 11 March, Ukraine said it is willing to implement a 30-day ceasefire, provided that Russia also adheres to it.

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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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?
To govern is to choose and against the backdrop of an increasingly unsafe world, the need to invest significantly more in defence and a flatlining economy, further reform of welfare is a necessity.

When I resigned from Camerons government, welfare stood at 61.6bn, yet by the end of this parliament, it is projected to be 108.7bn. Sickness benefit alone which was 19bn in 2016 is set to rise to 32bn. So it is with disability benefits, set to rise from 11bn to some 31bn.

Some of that rise is because judge-led tribunals in disability appeals led to 60 per cent of appeals getting approved for benefits when DWP had previously rejected their claim.

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Covid and the lockdowns have had an enormous negative impact on the welfare bill but that isnt the whole issue. Behind these numbers are real people. They are rising because, for example, the number of workless households with children, where all adults are economically inactive, has risen by 141,000 since 2016. These are real families with real lives who no longer have the hope and purpose that comes with getting up and going to work each morning.

General Practitioners tell me that they struggle to know how to deal with the influx of patients claiming they suffer from anxiety and depression.

In 2023, over half of those economically inactive reported depression, bad nerves or anxiety and a quarter of a million 16- to 34-year-olds are economically inactive, up a quarter.

A vast majority of GPs agree that societys approach to mental health has led to the normal ups and downs of life being seen as medical problems, too often prescribing when non-pharmaceutical interventions would be more suitable, medicalising things they would prefer not to.

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The same Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) research found that many of the mental health problems present in our young people find their roots in the breakdown of family life. Family stability is the best predictor of good mental health in children. NHS data shows, among 11- to 16-year-olds whose parents were married, 12 per cent had a mental disorder, compared with 27 per cent of 11- to 16-year-olds who had a lone parent. This is not to criticise those who struggle to bring up children on their own but to highlight the pressure such breakdown causes.

Tackling the generational changes in family structure is a long-term endeavour. We could get ahead of things immediately by putting job centre staff in schools to speak to 12- and 13-year-olds tomorrow. Its not about career advice; its giving them a line of sight to a paying job in their local area. The job centre knows what kind of jobs and apprenticeships are available and explaining what their prospects are with and without qualifications to students who question the need for school in their early teens helps reset their aspirations to earn.

Short term attempts to freeze or cut benefits for limited savings, without significant reform, as set out in the latest report by the CSJ, How to Get Britain Working, will not reduce the growing bill in the longer term.

Yet, with sickness benefit (ESA) coming into Universal Credit, the opportunity for radical change is there. Now for the first time claimants will have a jobs advisor with them helping and urging them with conditionality back into work. We know 700,000 claimants want to return to work and this help will reduce the overall cost of benefits and increase tax receipts to the Treasury.

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We must then look to longer term reform of the way we do things such as the judge-led tribunal system. But unless we address some of the underlying questions of how we function as a society, we will leave too many without aspiration or hope.

Whilst work remains the best route out of poverty, the Chancellors rise in National Insurance just made that route out of benefits a lot tougher. Its much harder to get a car moving when you pull the handbrake on at the same time.

The Rt Hon Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP is chairman of the Centre for Social Justice

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida Missing Child Alert has been issued for Allister Nasr as St. Petersburg police continue to search for the 17-year-old who was last seen near 62nd Avenue North.

On Friday, Allisters family was knocking on doors and handing out flyers near where police said they found Allisters bike on Wednesday.

They were a blessing: Good Samaritans rescue 2 children from Tampa house fire

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It definitely gives us the promise that he would be alive, said Avicenne Nasr, Allisters brother. Its been hard to sleep for all of us. My dad is still sleeping downstairs waiting for Allister to hopefully return home.

Police said Allister was last seen on March 1 leaving his home near Bayou Grande Boulevard Northeast. He was carrying a black backpack that police said he later dropped off at a school nearby and switched to a red backpack.

The founder of A Voice for the Voiceless, an organization spreading awareness of those who are missing, spoke about this detail in the case.

Even if someone switches a backpack or does something like that, we dont know where theyre going to and we dont know whats calling them to that place, said Whitney Sich, the founder.

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On Friday, the family said police told them Allister was seen an hour later on surveillance at the Weedon Island guard gate. He was still wearing the red backpack and walking the bike.

Avicenne described the note Allister left, saying it described an internal struggle. It made law enforcement consider Allister to be endangered and worried for his personal safety.

Definitely with senior year, I believe that he, with the anticipation of going to college, waiting on those acceptance letters definitely stressed him out a lot, Avicenne said. The note was overall very concerning. When I read it, I was a bit shaken. It was extremely in his mind.

Sich asks that everyone remain vigilant and keep an eye out for Allister.

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Obviously Allister needs help. He needs somebody to be there for him or help find him. I think that we all still need to be concerned and looking for him, Sich said.

The family wants to send a message to Allister saying they love and miss him. They are also asking people to check their dashcams and call St. Pete police if they find anything.

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BERLIN, Pa.  A Harrisburg man was jailed Friday, accused of stealing checks from Berlin Brothersvalley School District, forging his name on one check for $2,926.41 and depositing it into his bank account, authorities allege.

State police in Somerset charged Yamair Izael Chapman, 24, with forgery, identity theft, theft of mail and three counts of theft by unlawful taking.

According to a complaint affidavit, Berlin Brothersvalley School District reported Feb. 27 that it sent checks in the mail to a cyber charter school in Glenside, near Philadelphia. The cyber charter school reported that it never received the checks.

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A representative from Berlin Brothersvalley School District reported that multiple checks had been forged, cashed or attempted to be cashed. One check was allegedly altered to read Yamair Chapman, the affidavit said.

The check was allegedly deposited into a Belco Community Credit Union account belonging to Chapman, and the money was withdrawn five minutes later. Credit union security video allegedly shows the May 2024 transaction.

Chapman allegedly denied involvement.

In a subsequent police interview, he said he just made a mistake, the affidavit said.

Chapman was arraigned Thursday by on-call District Judge Susan Mankamyer, of Boswell, and sent to Somerset County Jail after failing to post $10,000 bond.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Harrisburg University is on the upswing from a cashflow crisis and is poised to grow while some other colleges and universities shrink, the universitys interim president said Friday.

Anyone who gleaned in 2024 that the schools finances were in perilous shape wasnt imagining things, said David Schankweiler, who co-founded the university in the early 2000s and stepped in as interim president when Eric Darr, who had served for 11 years as president, resigned suddenly in November 2024.

This past fall, we went through a little bit of a cashflow crisis because of $100 million in debt on a science tower planned jointly with UPMC before the COVID-19 pandemic squeezed revenue at a lot of universities, Schankweiler said. We got through it, thanks to a lot of great people in this community.

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Contest aims to help Pennsylvania students learn financial literacy

After Schankweiler took office, the university  whose full name is the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology  cut offerings Schankweiler considered tangential to its mission, from global campuses in Panama and Dubai (which had opened, respectively, in 2022 and just months earlier in 2024) to a popular but unprofitable summer concert series in Harrisburg.

The summer concert series was wonderful, Schankweiler said. Did it bring us any students? Probably not. It was a good community program. Thats not our core business. It wasnt profitable for us. Fortunately Dauphin County has picked it up, and theyre going to be doing a weekend of concerts in Riverfront Park. Thats a good thing.

And the Panama and Dubai campuses?

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The previous administration did have higher hopes for them, Schankweiler said. We have a great opportunity right here on our campus. Those other opportunities werent real opportunities for us and we cant be focusing on that and yet growing this. So we made the decision that were not going to do that anymore. We need to focus on our core.

The university remains smaller than it was before the pandemic, with about 5,000 total students now  including those taking college-level courses in high school and others taking classes online  down from 6,000 before the pandemic. Undergraduate enrollment is about 600, Schankweiler said; thats an area he wants to improve. Among the whole student body, about 600 students live in downtown Harrisburg which is key for the downtown, said Schankweiler, adding his long-term goal for total enrollment is 10,000.

But he wont be president then, Schankweiler said. He planned to stay in the interim role for a year, which might extend beyond that  into 2026 rather than late 2025  but not longer, he said. A formal search for the next president hasnt yet begun.

Harrisburg University has about 200 full-time and 300 adjunct faculty members, he said.

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Numerous postsecondary schools nationally have cut staff, including  locally  Elizabethtown and Franklin & Marshall colleges. A difference for Harrisburg University, according to Schankweiler?

Were not a liberal arts school, so were not competing with all the other schools around us, he said. Were a STEM [science, technology engineering and math] school with an increased emphasis on the agriculture, advanced manufacturing and medical fields.

Right now were heavy into nursing  our masters program for nursing, Schankweiler said. As well as this summer, we will begin recruiting for our new doctorate of physical therapy program. So we see the medical part as a huge growth area.

Given the schools science-heavy orientation, Schankweiler said hes particularly proud of the schools gender mix.

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Female, especially in the sciences, the national average is 26%, he said. Were in the mid-50s.

One headwind Schankweiler conceded will face all colleges and universities: a projection that in an aging country with low birth rates, high school graduations  and thus the pool of prospective college students  will drop 17% from 2025 levels.

So given that  and given where the schools finances stood as recently as several months ago  is Schankweiler comfortable saying the worst is behind Harrisburg University?

Oh yes, yes  I am confident being in public and saying, We are here. Were going to be here, Schankweiler said. Its going to be exciting, and Im optimistic about where were going.

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Schankweiler said whats happening at the university isnt unusual.

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Thats Business 101, he said. Youve got to look at, what have you done before? Whats not working? Whats going to work for you? And you have to make change.

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BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY)  Students from Bridgeport and Lincoln Middle schools took a field trip to the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center on Friday to tour the facility.

According to Aviation Technology Instructor Chuck Peters, this event is a way for the students to experience aviation at Pierpont Community & Technical College alongside some of its instructors, something theyve done for many years now.

They get to come in here, we have a little project for them to do, said Peters. We walk around to see the planes, they get to see the facility, we talk to them about the program, we show them the companies that are around the facility here thats just here locally in West Virginia and explain to them what they do.

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Peters told 12 News that once students complete their education with Pierpont Community & Technical Colleges aviation program, they will receive a certification as an AMP (Aviation Maintenance Facility).

Peters said that when he learned about the program, he thought it was a great opportunity and he fell in love with aviation after joining it. These students getting to come here in middle and high school, its showing them whats out there in West Virginia, he added. Kind of like a little diamond in the rough here when it comes to aviation.

The program allows students to come in and see what staff members do, while also developing their manual dexterity. We challenge them a little bit, said Peters. We show them how the systems work in these aircrafts, how they actually fly the helicopter, the airplanewe kind of show them all the different sides of aviation and how it works with different things they can do, other than just turn wrenches and weather here.

Peters said that hosting these hands-on activities really seems to engage students, especially those that are interested in STEM programs and things like that. It just encourages them, he stated.

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Bridgeport Middle School 8th Grader Henley Hinkle told 12 News that he had fun during Fridays visit through different activities such as touring the planes, working with sheet metal and touring the facility. Its really cool, especially when we went in the plane and this helicopter to see how theyre really made and how they work, said Hinkle.

Hinkle hasnt had a chance to take a class on aviation yet, but he shared that hes really glad that hell have the opportunity to explore it further in high school. He added that this visit makes him more interested in aviation, and hes open to exploring the possibilities of the field in the near future.

According to Peters, Pierpont Community & Technical College has a program called Memoranda of Understanding, which works in partnership with Harrison, Marion and Taylor Counties. By going through this program, Peters stated that qualifying high schoolers can begin the Aviation Maintenance Technology program as early as their junior year.

Im all for seeing West Virginians build and grow and develop, said Peters. Here in West Virginia, aviation really truly is that diamond in the rough. They can have a great career, they can make great money here just in West Virginia.

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Peters added that by going through the program, students can also leave the Mountain State if theyd like to because there are opportunities all over the country. We have people from west coast to east coast , you name it. We have people calling all the time, asking if theres anybody we can push their way, he said.

In 2024, Peters stated that Pierpont had about 41 different companies participate in their career fair. He added that this year, theyre expecting about 20 more companies from all over the country to be participating.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Two doctors and professors from Harvard Medical School are suing the Trump Administration over the removal of two research articles from a government website because they included the words LGBTQ and trans(gender). The two doctors describe the move as censorship and say it is antithetical to their mission as health care providers and could harm the transgender community.

The plaintiffs, Gordon Schiff and Celeste Royce are described in the lawsuit as two doctors and Harvard Medical School professors who refused to censor their medical conclusions to bend to this political fiat, adding they filed the suit to defend the integrity of medical research and the safety of patients from the governments dangerous, arbitrary, and unconstitutional censorship.

They sued over the removal of two articles from the government-run Patient Safety Network (PSNet). Endometriosis: A Common and Commonly Missed and Delayed Diagnosis was co-authored by Royce, and Multiple Missed Opportunities for Suicide Risk Assessment in Emergency and Primary Care Settings was co-authored by Schiff. Both articles contained a sentence referencing the transgender, gender-nonconforming, or LGBTQ+ community.

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PSNet is run by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

According to the lawsuit, Schiff received an email from Patrick Romano, a co-editor of PSNet, saying the articles were being removed from the site in response to an email directive from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) ordering the removal of any content that might be in non-compliance with the White Houses executive order on gender identity.

Romano provided further explanation of the decision in a follow-up email to the Editor-in-Chief of the Bellevue Literary Review.

Per this memo, AHRQ staff were given until 5pm ET Friday to Take down all outward facing media (websites, social media accounts etc.) that promote or inculcate gender ideology. Romano wrote. Based on guidance provided to AHRQ staff, this instruction from OPM was interpreted to include anything with the words transgender, nonbinary, or gender identity. The phrase LGBTQ is problematic because it includes that letter T for transgender.

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The doctors are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and the Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic at Yale Law School.

Good doctors serve and advocate for their patients, whoever they are, Royce said in a statement. We cannot uphold an oath to Do No Harm if our training and research are politicized.

This type of wholesale, non-evidence-based removal endangers everyone's safety, Schiff said in a statement. Censoring information about transgender people or anyone a politician does not like, who have documented increased risks of negative health outcomes, is antithetical to the very mission of public health.

Our clients were given an impossible choice between removing their article from PSNet entirely or censoring parts of it, Rachel Davidson, a staff attorney at the ACLU of Massachusetts, said in a statement. This is an intentional erasure of knowledge, an attack on the integrity of scientific research, and an affront to the publics need for accurate, adequate health information.

The suit argues that the government violated the First Amendment free speech rights of the doctors and the Administrative Procedure Act for removing articles without cause. The OPM, AHRQ, and HHS are named as defendants in the suit.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Keiki around Oahu showcased their artistic talents by participating in the 2025 Mayors Memorial Day Poster Contest and their creativity did not disappoint.

More than 40 K-12 students from schools around the island participated in the contest led by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Kawaii Kon returns to Hawaii Convention Center for 20th anniversary

Officials gave a special shoutout to Hokulani, Hanalani, Ewa Makai Middle and Kailua Intermediate schools for their support and contributions to the contest.

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Thirteen keiki were recognized for their creative talents and will have their artwork featured on Memorial Day publications and posted within Kapolei Hale.

The top three winners from each age category will be recognized by Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Honolulu City Council and Councilmember Andria Tupola during an award ceremony in April.

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1st Place Winners

Sew a Lei for Memorial Day poster contest K-2 1st place winner designed by Kalia Chow. (Courtesy: City and County of Honolulu) Sew a Lei for Memorial Day poster contest 3-5 1st place winner designed by Mia Manuguid. (Courtesy: City and County of Honolulu) Sew a Lei for Memorial Day poster contest 6-8 1st place winner designed by Chloe Yu. (Courtesy: City and County of Honolulu) Sew a Lei for Memorial Day poster contest 9-12 1st place winner designed by Ros Haleyah Mari Asuncion Ganot. (Courtesy: City and County of Honolulu)

2nd Place Winners

Sew a Lei for Memorial Day poster contest 3-5 2nd place winner designed by Alanna Dinsdale. (Courtesy: City and County of Honolulu) Sew a Lei for Memorial Day poster contest 6-8 2nd place winner designed by Maya Butts. (Courtesy: City and County of Honolulu) Sew a Lei for Memorial Day poster contest 9-12 2nd place winner designed by Kayley Yu. (Courtesy: City and County of Honolulu)

3rd Place Winners

Sew a Lei for Memorial Day poster contest 3-5 3rd place winner designed by Avery Nakanishi. (Courtesy: City and County of Honolulu) Sew a Lei for Memorial Day poster contest 6-8 3rd place winner designed by Abigail Uyesato. (Courtesy: City and County of Honolulu) Sew a Lei for Memorial Day poster contest 9-12 3rd place winner designed by Ashley Yu. (Courtesy: City and County of Honolulu)

Honorable Mentions

Sew a Lei for Memorial Day poster contest 3-5Honorable Mention designed by Camryn Idio. (Courtesy: City and County of Honolulu) Sew a Lei for Memorial Day poster contest 6-8 Honorable Mention designed by Lavalea Andrews. (Courtesy: City and County of Honolulu) Sew a Lei for Memorial Day poster contest 9-12 Honorable Mention designed by Julie Kang. (Courtesy: City and County of Honolulu)

The contest kickstarts DPRs statewide initiative to sew and gather 38,000 lei for those buried at Puowaina for Memorial Day.

Puowaina holds significant importance as it was designated the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific after the first Memorial Day Ceremony was hosted in 1949.

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Since then, the City committed to placing fresh lei on each of the 38,000 graves for service members who reside at the cemetery.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

DPR will begin lei sewing events the morning of Friday, May 23 with locations and times to be announced on the Mayors Memorial Day Ceremony website.

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The calendar may say mid-March, but travelers across the Cascade Mountains of Washington and the Blue Mountains of Oregon still are having a tough time.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90 from 5 a.m. Saturday to 11 a.m. Sunday.

But cars and trucks were already struggling Thursday night.

I-90 closed eastbound lines five miles west of the summit about 5:30 p.m. Thursday and within an hour expanded the closure to include traffic in both directions from North Bend to Ellensburg due to crashes and cars and trucks blocking the roadway.

Interstate 90 closed for as long as five hours Thursday night from North Bend to Ellensburg due to crashes on snowy road.

Tow trucks large enough to remove crashed semi trucks were called in. Eastbound lanes were opened around 9 p.m. and westbound lanes about 11:30 p.m., according to social media posts by the Washington state Department of Transportation.

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At about 5 p.m. Friday the eastbound right lane on I-90 was closed at Ellensburg due to a crash.

On Friday night another 1 to 3 inches of new snow was forecast by the weather service, a prelude to the 5 to 9 inches of snow forecast for Saturday during the day and 3 to 5 inches that night.

The weather service recommended that people delay travel over the Cascade Mountains or at least be sure to pack tire chains, booster cables, a flashlight, a shovel, blankets and water.

More snow is forecast at Snoqualmie Pass through Tuesday with rain and snow then forecast through Friday.

Interstate 90 closed for as long as five hours Thursday night from North Bend to Ellensburg due to crashes on snowy road.

Travelers heading east from the Tri-Cities on Interstate 84 through the Blue Mountains of Oregon also should be prepared for snow.

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A winter storm advisory was issued from late Friday night through 11 p.m. Saturday at the Blue Mountain summit near Meacham, Ore., about 30 miles east of Pendleton.

The forecast for the rest of the week through Friday calls for snow or a combination of rain and snow, sometimes in a freezing mix.

Interstate 90 closed for as long as five hours Thursday night from North Bend to Ellensburg due to crashes on snowy road.

The same storm system bringing snow this weekend to Washington and Oregon mountains is forecast to bring wind and rain to the Tri-Cities.

The chance of rain Saturday is forecast at 40% and 60% on Sunday.

Wind gusts of up to 39 mph were forecast for Saturday, decreasing to 23 mph on Sunday.
Members of Congress arent the only ones questioning Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths legitimacy.

Paul Eaton, a retired brigadier general with 33 years of service, made biting remarks about Hegseth and his leadership of the Department of Defense in a Guardian article on Saturday.

What were seeing is nibbling around the edges of a culture with a dominant theme that does nothing to prepare the armed forces of the United States to meet its next peer or near peer opponent, Eaton wrote.

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Eaton trained Iraqi troops during the Iraq War, and served in combat and post-combat assignments in Somalia, Bosnia, and Albania.

Hegseth has made eliminating DEI one of his top priorities. / Brian Snyder / Brian Snyder/REUTERS

Eaton criticized Hegseths assault on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiativesa priority for the defense secretary since day one.

What are we seeing in the Pentagon right now? he said. Were hearing of DEI purging.

Upon assuming the role, Hegseth launched an anti-DEI task force that eliminated all DEI offices and purged all DEI information from DOD websites and social media. Hegseth has also disbanded military programs focused on DEI training and ended race-conscious admissions at military academies.

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Hegseth has famously claimed that women should not serve in combat roles. Hes removed powerful women and Black individuals serving in high-profile positions at the DOD, including heavily decorated Chief of Naval Operations Lisa Franchetti, first female head of the U.S. Coast Guard Linda Fagan, and trailblazing Black Air Force General CQ Brown Jr.

Trump appointed Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. / Kevin Lamarque / Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS

We need to clean house of woke generals, he wrote in his 2024 book The War on Warriors. Its upside down, and ripe for firingswithout replacements.

Hegseth also moved to ban all transgender troops, deeming anyone with gender dysphoria incompatible with U.S. military service.

Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, narrowly received enough votes to become defense secretary.

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Eaton said that the Saturday showman on Fox News is not equipped to lead the military and implied that his DEI crackdown is distracting from what really matterspreparing for global conflict. His policies are discouraging enlistment for women and people of color at a time when the military might need them most.

Hegseth has fired a number of military leaders. / Kent Nishimura / Kent Nishimura/REUTERS

When I was in Iraq in 2004 developing the Iraqi armed forces, I would stand up in front of my Iraqi soldiers and I would make a case for the most important component of the U.S. military: Our judicial system and the good order and discipline of the armed forces, Eaton said.

The Daily Beast has reached out to Hegseth for comment.
The packages in a California mail facility were labeled as almonds and chocolate cookies. But inside were dozens of turtles wrapped in socks to keep them from moving and alerting authorities.

They were among around 2,100 turtles federal authorities say Sai Keung Tin, a Chinese citizen, had trafficked over more than five years as part of what the U.S. Department of Justice called the illegal Asian pet trade. Tin pleaded guilty in December to four counts of exporting merchandise contrary to federal law.

On Friday morning, in downtown Los Angeles, U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton sentenced Tin to nearly three years in prison for his role in smuggling the protected turtles out of the country.

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The eastern box turtles, known for the vivid yellow-orange markings on their shells, were bound from the East Coast for Hong Kong and were intercepted in Torrance, prompting the case to be prosecuted in California. Department of Justice attorneys say the native North American species is coveted by a rising middle class and are worth at least $2,000 each on the black market.

The turtles are native to forested regions of the eastern U.S., with some isolated populations in the Midwest. They typically reach a length up to 6 inches and can live more than 100 years, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"Some people prize wine, fancy cars, artwork, but right now, with the rise of [the] middle class in China, it is turtles," Ryan Connors, senior trial attorney with the Department of Justice's environmental crimes section, said at the sentencing hearing. "It is North American turtles that are a status symbol."

The turtles are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, of which China and the U.S. are both parties, according to the Department of Justice.

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Tin has already served more than a year in prison, according to his attorney, William Harris, who had requested a sentence of a year and a day. Harris said Tin disagreed with the sentence and has instructed him to file a notice of appeal.

"We'll take it from there," Harris said.

According to the governments sentencing memorandum, Tin aided and abetted turtle smugglers in the U.S. from February 2018 to June 2023. Authorities estimated that the smuggled reptiles were valued at $4.2 million.

During the hearing, Tin  through an interpreter  denied having smuggled as many turtles as the government claimed.

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"I was not aware of the seriousness of my crime and while I am in no way trying to justify me breaking the law, I did not think it was such a bad thing in helping get turtles into my native Hong Kong," Tin wrote in a letter to the judge ahead of sentencing. "I can promise the court now that I know the seriousness of my crime. I will never do it again."

The case against Tin originated in June 2023, when U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service inspectors intercepted four packages containing 40 eastern box turtles at an international mail facility in Torrance. The packages, one of which contained a dead turtle, were addressed to Ji Yearlong, a name believed to be one of Tins aliases. They were supposed be shipped to Tins home in Hong Kong, prosecutors said.

Tin's attorney, Harris, said in a sentencing memo that his client agreed to receive box turtles that would be shipped illegally from New York and New Jersey to his home in Hong Kong.

"These were supposed to be, by and large, family pets," Harris told the judge on Friday. "[Tin] is done with turtle trafficking, it was a grievous mistake on his part."

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Agents arrested Tin in February 2024 after he arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. A jury indicted him in March 2024, when he was tied to the four packages shipped a year earlier.

While in the U.S., authorities said Tin planned to pay for turtles in cash, ship them around the country and later illegally export them to Hong Kong. Prosecutors said he had detailed information on how to soak turtles to reduce odors and bind them in socks with tape.

Authorities said Tin was associated with Kang Juntao, an international turtle smuggler from Hangzhou City, China. Juntao was extradited from Malaysia in 2019 and later sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to money laundering. Kang had at least 1,500 turtles shipped from the U.S. to Hong Kong, including to Tin, according to prosecutors.

"We're seeing thousands of them ripped from the wild and sent to the illegal pet trade," Connors said. "This is how a native U.S. species starts to collapse."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Alex Mena, executive editor of the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald and Florida regional editor for McClatchy, received this years South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerces HLA Communications Award.

The Hispanic Leadership Awards honor outstanding Hispanic leaders for their significant community contributions.

On Friday, the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce celebrated award winners at a lunch at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.

Take a look at the ceremony and the winners:

View of attendees to the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerces Hispanic Leadership Awards lunch at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, on Friday March 14, 2025.

From left: Herald Visuals Editor David Santiago; Herald Editorial Writer Luisa Yanez; Herald and el Nuevo Herald Executive Editor Alex Mena; el Nuevo Herald Service Journalism Editor Daniel Shoer Roth; Herald Senior Managing Editor Dana Banker; and Herald features and education editor Amy Reyes at the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerces Hispanic Leadership Awards at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables on Friday.

Ivan Herrera, Founder/ CEO of UniVista Insurance, displays his SFLHCC Elite Business Icon Award, flanked by Alejandro Mendieta, SFLHCC Secretary and Liliam M. Lopez, President/CEO SFLHCC, during the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerces Hispanic Leadership Awards lunch at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, on Friday March 14, 2025.

Alex Mena, Miami Herald-El Nuevo Herald Executive Editor, posed with Liliam M. Lopez, President/CEO SFLHCC during the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerces Hispanic Leadership Awards lunch at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, on Friday March 14, 2025.

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Space launches have been making headlines in 2025

agencies from around the world launched a total of 244 successful missions into orbit or space in 2024, which is the most in history. The US led the way with over half of those launches. Dozens of space launches are already planned for 2025.

Feel like watching a liftoff? Many of them will likely be streamed by NASA or from the YouTube channels of individual companies like SpaceX. Space launches are finicky, and the dates often change with little warning. But if you're looking to keep an eye on the sky in 2025, the list below should help.

January

The Blue Ghost moon lander is seen at Firefly Aerospace headquarters in Cedar Park, Texas, in December 2024.

Blue Ghost Lunar Lander Mission 1 & Hakuto-R M2 Resilience

Launch date: Launched successfully on Jan. 15

Organization: SpaceX / NASA / Firefly Aerospace

Launch site: Kennedy Space Center, FL

Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5

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This uncrewed mission, which launched on Jan. 15, will carry Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander to the moon, along with a payload of 10 NASA instruments designed to measure various metrics on the lunar surface, including position and navigation data, regolith behavior and Earth's magnetosphere.

New Glenn's Inaugural Launch



Launch date: Launched successfully on Jan. 16

Organization: Blue Origin / NASA

Rocket: Blue Origin New Glenn

Launch site: Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL

Blue Origin's first test flight of its New Glenn rocket was originally scheduled for Jan. 13. However, a vehicle subsystem issue sprung up that would've taken too long to troubleshoot on the launch pad, so Blue Origin rescheduled the launch, and it successfully reached orbit on Jan. 16. In addition to the inaugural launch, the payload included Blue Ring Pathfinder, which was set to demonstrate its ability to communicate from orbit to ground.

Read more: New Glenn Rocket Launch Marks a Big Moment for Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin

February

Lunar Trailblazer & Nova-C IM-2



Launch date: Successfully launched on Feb. 27

Organization: SpaceX / NASA / Intuitive Machines

Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5

Launch site: Kennedy Space Center, FL

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The Lunar Trailblazer and Nova-C IM-2 mission lifted off successfully on Feb. 27. While the Nova-C IM-2 part of the mission is still going okay, the Lunar Trailblazer lost communications with NASA and is currently lost in space. The mission's success will depend entirely on if NASA can reestablish contact, which the agency is still trying to do.

This mission will take the Intuitive Machines Nova-C lunar lander to the moon for its second mission. The trip also includes NASA's PRIME-1 payload, which will be drilling into the moon and using a mass spectrometer to analyze materials beneath the surface.

SPHEREx & PUNCH

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket with the Dragon spacecraft atop takes off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in October 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Launch date: Launched successfully on March 11

Organization: SpaceX / NASA

Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5

Launch site: Vandenberg SFB, CA

SpaceX and NASA originally planned to launch the SPHEREx and PUNCH missions in the last week of February 2025, but were delayed until the second week of March.

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SpaceX sent its Falcon 9 rocket into orbit with NASA's SPHEREx and PUNCH. SPHEREx is a two-year mission that will launch a satellite capable of detecting near-infrared light and optical light to gather data. PUNCH is four suitcase-sized satellites that will monitor the Sun's corona to detect coronal mass ejections to eventually be able to predict when they'll happen.

March

Crew-10

Launch date: Successfully launched on March 14

Organization: SpaceX / NASA / ROSCOSMOS / JAXA

Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5

Launch site: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL

A crewed flight to the International Space Station successfully launched on March 14, bearing American astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Russian astronaut Kirill Peskov and Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi. Once they arrive at the ISS, Crew-9, along with Starliner astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, will make its way back to Earth. Williams and Wilmore made near-constant headlines since their June trip to the ISS stretched from the expected eight days to more than eight months, but when Crew-10 arrived, they were finally able to go home.

Read more: NASA Crew-10 Astronauts Launch to ISS on SpaceX Rocket

Fram2

Exact date: Successfully launched on March 31

Organization: SpaceX

Rocket: Falcon 9 Block 5

Launch site: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL

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The Fram2 mission is a crewed mission that took five passengers around Earth's polar caps. Over the five-day mission, the crew conducted the first-ever human X-ray while in space, along with more research on how spaceflight affects the human body. They also studied STEVE, or Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, which is a ribbon of hot gases that light up the night sky similar to aurora borealis. The crew consisted of Chun Wang, Jannicke Mikkelsen, Eric Philips and Rabea Rogge.

April

Project Kuiper (Vulcan #1 and Vulcan #2)

Project Kuiper is a subsidiary of Amazon with big launch plans.

Launch date: Successfully launched on April 28.

Organization: United Launch Alliance / Kuiper Systems (Amazon)

Rocket: Vulcan VC6L and Atlas V 551

Launch site: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL

The first two Project Kuiper launches were scheduled for March 2025 but were delayed until April 28, when it successfully launched with 27 satellites -- the first of many. Kuiper Systems is a subsidiary of Amazon and plans to launch a total of 3,276 satellites into orbit for broadband internet access to compete with the likes of SpaceX. There will be a number of these going up throughout 2025 and beyond.

May

Axiom Space Mission 4

Exact date: May 29, 2025

Organization: SpaceX / Axiom Space

Rocket: Falcon 9 Block 5

Launch site: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL

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The Axiom Space Mission 4 will send four people to the International Space Station where they'll stay for a little over a week. The crew includes retired NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, Polish engineer Sawosz Uznanski and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu.

EWS OD-1

Exact date: May 31, 2025

Organization: Northrop Grumman Space Systems

Rocket: Minotaur IV

Launch site: Vandenberg SFB, CA

The EWS OD-1 mission will deploy the Electro-Optical/Infrared Weather System into low Earth orbit as a tech demonstration, allowing various branches of the US military to evaluate its performance as a weather satellite for the Department of Defense. The launch is currently scheduled for May 31, 2025.

June

USSF-106

Exact date: June 30, 2025

Organization: United Launch Alliance

Rocket: Vulcan VC4S

Launch site: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL

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This is a mission for the United States Space Force. It'll deploy the NTS-3 navigation satellite along with NASA's SunRISE mini-satellites, which will study solar activity. Other payloads are planned for this launch but haven't been announced yet.

EscaPADE

One of Blue Origin's biggest launches of the year is planned for June.

Exact date: Q2 2025

Organization: Blue Origin / NASA

Rocket: New Glenn

Launch site: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL

The Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (EscaPADE) mission is a joint venture between Blue Origin and NASA that will send science tools to Mars to study our red neighbor. The instruments will study the solar wind energy transfer through Mars' magnetosphere. It's one of Blue Origin's biggest launches of the year. An exact date isn't listed yet but June 2025 is set as the launch window

July

Crew-11

Exact date: July 2025

Organization: SpaceX / NASA

Rocket: Falcon 9 Block 5

Launch site: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL

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The Crew-11 flight will take four more astronauts to the ISS in July 2025. For now, the exact launch date hasn't been set in stone and neither has the crew. However, it'll be just like the Crew-10 launch, where four astronauts will go to the ISS to conduct study and relieve the prior crew. An exact date hasn't been scheduled yet, but NASA wants to launch it in July 2025.

August

Blue Moon Pathfinder

Launch date: August 2025

Organization: Blue Origin

Rocket: Blue Origin New Glenn

Launch site: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL

Blue Origin will finally begin testing on its Blue Moon Pathfinder MK1 lunar lander. It isn't going to the moon yet, but Blue Origin launches always get plenty of press before they go up. Eventually, Blue Origin wants to use the Pathfinder to take supplies to the moon. Initially, launch was set for spring of 2025, but it appears August 2025 is the more likely launch window.

September

STP-S29A

Exact date: September 2025Organization: Northrop Grumman Space Systems / US Department of Defense

Rocket: Minotaur IV

Launch site: Vandenberg SFB, CA

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STP-S29A is a fairly large mission from the US Department of Defense that'll see Northrop Grumman launch several technology demonstrations into low Earth orbit. Included in the payload are 200 kilograms worth of CubeSats -- very small satellites -- for testing purposes. In addition, the STPSat-7 will also be deployed, which will track and catalog orbital debris.

September

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifts off in June 2024.

IMAP

Exact date: September 2025

Organization: SpaceX / NASA

Rocket: Falcon 9 Block 5

Launch site: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL

The IMAP mission is a joint venture between SpaceX and NASA that'll see the deployment of the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, yet another instrument to measure how solar winds affect things in and around Earth. The probe houses 10 instruments that take various measurements. In addition, the mission will house a small lunar orbiter called Lunar Trailblazer, a solar sail called Solar Cruiser and a weather satellite to study ultraviolet emissions in the Earth's exosphere.

October

TSIS-2

Exact date: October 2025

Organization: SpaceX / NASA

Rocket: Falcon 9 Block 5

Launch site: Cape Canaveral, FL

The Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor 2 is a probe from NASA that'll measure the Sun's energy input into Earth through solar irradiance measurements. This data will be added to the decades of other Sun-related data that NASA has to better understand just how much energy strikes Earth from the Sun. The TSIS-1 is aboard the ISS and measures similar criteria from there.
Happy Friday to all who celebrate.

In this weeks edition of stories we didnt write up for one reason or another, we see a local anchor gets memorialized in a painting and Federal Communications Commission commissioner Anna Gomez expressed deep frustrations with the FCC and the Trump administration's policy towards broadcasters and media companies.

FCC:

In a keynote fireside chat at the INCOMPAS Policy Summit, Federal Communications Commission commissioner Anna Gomez laid out her policy priorities and expressed deep frustrations with the FCC and the Trump administration's policy towards broadcasters and media companies. Click here for more.

Revolving Door:

Lockwood Broadcast Group ABC affiliate KAKE Wichita, Kan., has appointed JC Lowe director of sales/station manager. Lowe brings decades of experience in broadcasting, having successfully led sales teams and managed television and radio stations across Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, Florida and Oklahoma. Click here for more.

Shop Talk:

An award-winning artist and Air Force veteran from Danville has created a touching tribute to honor the late Mark Spain, a beloved Lynchburg, Virginia ABC 13 news anchor who passed away from pancreatic cancer at the end of last year. Click here to see more.

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In Las Vegas, Nevada: Fox5 anchors Les Krifaton and Dave Hall were both hospitalized for blood clots. Now recovered, they are bringing awareness through their own experiences. Click here for that story.

Shop Talk:

We asked Sinclair about this, but havent heard back so well go with what Matthews Keys over at The Desk had to say: Sinclair, Inc. is selling five of its local broadcast television stations to an industry executive who once oversaw advertising sales for the company's line-up of Bally Sports-branded regional networks.

The Louisiana woman linked to the death of a Super Bowl reporter has faced a series of allegations from other men accusing her of drugging and robbing them - and she shouldn't have been on probation when the reporter was found dead last month, the state's top prosecutor said. Click here to read about it.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  High winds across the state on Friday caused low visibility, outages, and damage to property. Xcel Energy said many of its customers in Eastern New Mexico were without power Friday afternoon because extreme winds caused damage to its power lines.

Weve had some damage to poles in multiple locations in Eastern New Mexico already this morning by midday. We expect as the winds intensify, or at least stay where they are, we will see a continuing damage, said Wes Reeves with Wildfire Mitigation for Xcel Energy.

PNM: Power outages, shutoffs possible during upcoming storm in New Mexico

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It was a windy weather Friday, with trash flying around Downtown Albuquerque and flags blowing in the wind. Other parts of the state were struck with more ferocious winds.

Xcel Energy said in its Texas and New Mexico service areas, about 65,000 customers were without power around 2:30 Friday afternoon. On Thursday, the company announced it was going to shut off power to 17,000 customers in Eastern New Mexico and Texas to reduce wildfire risk. Xcel said restoring power for some customers may last hours or days.

In the East Mountains, the Central New Mexico Electric Co-Op said it had broken poles and scattered outages in their area, with crews working to repair those. PNM also announced Thursday it planned a possible power shutoff for Las Vegas but cancelled it on Friday. The company is still encouraging customers to be prepared.

PNM calls off East Mountain power shutoff

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Were urging all customers in the Las Vegas area, in the East Mountains area, anywhere that its going to be really windy today, to prepare for the possibility of weather-related outages, said PNM Spokesperson Kai Porter.

Hobbs, Roswell, and Artesia schools cancelled school Friday due to the high winds.

Both energy companies urge customers to stay up to date on their website for power outages. Those can be found here and 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
As the Jewish community marked the holiday of Purim this week, a group of anti-war Jewish activists and allies occupied Trump Tower in New York in protest over the planned deportation of legal U.S. resident and Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil. The timing of such an act of civil disobedience, while coincidental, is profound. The holiday of Purim is a testament to the will of Jewish self-preservation, intricately entangled with the liberation of all peoples.

Briefly, the Purim holiday tells the story of Haman, advisor to the Persian king, who plots to kill all the Jews in the Empire. The secretly Jewish Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai foil Haman's plan when Esther reveals her Jewishness to her husband and convinces the king to spare her people from genocide. Many consider this the most joyous day on the Jewish Calendar. My children and their friends at their preschool, for example, dressed up and celebrated with parties and parades all week long.

The contrast between their joy and the suffering of Palestinians and children in our own country emerges more starkly than ever. In particular, one woman and baby due in just weeks, both U.S. citizens who embody phases of the lifespan that the conservative right claims to revere, who are now missing their husband and father.

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Khalil is a green card holder and legal permanent resident. He is married to an American; his wife is 8 months pregnant. A recent graduate of Columbia University, Khalil served as a student negotiator between the Columbia administration and students protesting Israeli violence in Gaza following October 7. On Saturday March 8, he was forced into a van in front of his pregnant wife by ICE without a warrant in what Trump described as the first arrest of many as his administration punishes campus opposition to our governments support of Netanyahus agenda. Columbia likely knew this was coming; Khalil wrote to the University repeatedly asking for help in the weeks before his abduction to no response. Some accuse senior university officials of actively providing his name to ICE.

The Department of Homeland Security argues it can deport Khalil because he has led activities aligned to Hamas, but has yet to provide evidence of this. While a federal judge has temporarily blocked the 30-year-olds expulsion from the country, all defenders of free speech would be wise to take Trumps warning seriously that this administration will criminalize dissent against Israel and support for Palestinians - and, inevitably, other forms of peaceful protest. What does it mean that such a prominent university appears complicit in this arrest as part of its proclaimed effort to fight antisemitism, even when so many Jewish students at Columbia and elsewhere call out, not in our name?

IfNotNow, a non-profit organization formed by American Jews organizing our community to end U.S. support for Israel's apartheid system and demand equality, justice, and a thriving future for all Palestinians and Israelis, highlights the tension between the Purim holiday and our current political landscape, sharing a post on March 11 that reads:

As Jews of conscience who are devastated by the ongoing atrocities in Gaza committed in our name, many of us carry this question: How can we observe a holiday this year that embraces revelry, pageantry, and play? In the story of Esther, Mordecai entreats his niece to step into her Jewishness to prevent atrocities from happening. Just like Esther, we are invited to step into our power - not by moving away from our Jewishness, but by stepping into it in order to enact change. We are called upon to speak up, take a stance, and rise up with integrity in our wholeness.

Here is the truth: Jews are not a monolith. To many of us, Khalils arrest, detention, and potential deportation are antithetical to Jewish values and our cultures tradition of protest and resistance.

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The Anti Defamation Leagues endorsement of this administration and its treatment of a nonviolent protester constitutes one of many betrayals of our cultural and religious history. This faction of Jewish leadership once again allies itself with an Evangelical right that masks its own hatred of and prejudice towards Jews in the guise of defending our right to existence in Israel.

Now, the right is using the spirit of Purim to criminalize, sanction and shut down Jewish solidarity with the Palestinian cause in the U.S. The Heritage Foundation, the right-wing think tank behind the infamous Project 2025 animating the policy of the second Trump administration, claims a Hamas Support Network on college campuses fosters antisemitism and that there is an active cabal of Jew-haters, Israel-haters, and Americans-haters in Washington  likely funded by the same backers that support the [Hamas Support Network], including over a dozen Democratic members of Congress. Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, co-chair of J Streets Rabbinic and Cantorial Cabinet, explains how the Heritage Foundations newly-launched Project Esther, hijacks the spirit of Purim and is a deep disservice to its namesake by focusing narrowly on left-wing critics of Israel while ignoring surging right-wing antisemitism:

Documents from Project Esther reveal a disquieting strategy. It reportedly seeks to identify and pressure individuals it labels as masterminds, including Jewish figures such as philanthropist George Soros and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. This language evokes long standing antisemitic tropes of Jewish control and manipulation  tropes that have historically fueled discrimination and violence. The project also proposes targeting foreign members vulnerable to deportation and working with law enforcement to generate uncomfortable conditions for progressive activists, raising serious concerns about civil liberties and the weaponization of antisemitism for political ends. Weve already seen this playbook in action at Columbia University, with Trump declaring it the first of many. History shows the dangers of authoritarian regimes defining citizenship based on identity and political views.

To fight for the rights of protesters like Mahmoud Khalil is to step into our Jewishness like Esther on Purim and beyond. Like hers, this is an act not only of defiance but self-preservation.

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A recent piece in The New Republic argued that the Trump administrations use of antisemitism to justify a crackdown will endanger many Jews. Author Emily Tamkin denounced the arrest as 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.

The oft-quoted German pastor Martin Niemoller comes to mind, amended slightly: first they came for the protestors. We know the rest. No one - certainly not Jewish people - is safe under this authoritarian administration that seems intent on undermining free speech and democracy itself. Any one of us could be or love Mahmoud Khalil. Any one of us can be an Esther.
LAURA RUMINSKI / WEST HAWAII TODAY Duncan Mahi, 54, of Hilo was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison for the 2022 abduction and sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl.

LAURA RUMINSKI / WEST HAWAII TODAY Duncan Mahi, 54, of Hilo was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison for the 2022 abduction and sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl.

A 54-year-old Hilo man was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison for the 2022 abduction and sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl who was taken from a West Hawaii beach to his Hilo property and shackled inside a bus.

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Kona Circuit Chief Judge Wendy DeWeese also ordered Duncan Mahi to serve a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison.

Mahi negotiated a plea deal Dec. 31 with the state. In exchange for his no-contest plea to one count of first-degree sexual assault and first-and second-degree kidnapping, the state dismissed the eight remaining counts of his 11-count indictment.

Those dismissed counts include first-and third-degree sexual assault, methamphetamine trafficking, two counts of first-degree robbery and two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening.

The girl told police she was with her boyfriend, also 15, at Anaehoomalu Beach on Sept. 16, 2022, when Mahi robbed them of their cellphones and $50.

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She also related how Mahi forced her to zip-tie and tape her boyfriends legs and hands together, gag him with his own shirt and cover his head with a towel and tape it. Mahi then kidnapped her at knifepoint and led her to his car. He forced the girl to smoke meth, made her perform sexual acts on him and fondled her as he drove to Hilo. He took her to his property where he shackled her inside a bus.

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The girl convinced him to take her to get some food, and she managed to escape from Mahis grasp the following day at 11 :26 a.m. Sept. 17, 2022, while in an alleyway near a Hilo restaurant, with the help of good Samaritans.

Her captor claimed he was the girls father, but witnesses recognized the girl from the Maile Amber Alert. One witness took a photo of the car as he fled.

Mahi was arrested at 2 :51 p.m. Sept. 17, 2022, in Hilo.

DeWeese told Mahi before meeting out his sentence : Your actions devastated the lives of two young people and their families, and cut our community to its core. 

You victimized two young people in a particularly cruel way, in a way that they will probably never fully recover, in a way that will likely haunt them and their families and their loved ones forever.

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DeWeese told Mahi that the victims submitted to the state to make you a plea offer to allow you to avoid the likelihood of life in prison.

Deputy Prosecutor Kaua Jackson asked the court for consecutive sentencing.

DeWeese sentenced Mahi to consecutive sentencing on the two kidnapping charges. First-degree kid napping carries a 20-year sentence, while the second-degree charge has a 10-year term, for a total of 30 years.

DeWeese handed down a 20-year sentence for the first-degree sexual assault to run concurrently with the 30-year sentence.

(Mahi was also assessed a fee of $1, 515 to go to the Crime Victim Compensation Fund.)

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The judge told the 54-year-old he poses an unacceptable risk of re-offending unless you are confined for an extended period of time,  citing his violent criminal history.

She told him his behavior was planned and predatory and not spur-of-the-moment, driven by your drug use. You had zip ties. You had tape. You had shackles.

DeWeese added that many in the community abuse drugs, but they do not behave in the way you did. They do not go out and sexually assault and kidnap children.

She said his actions show a deep level of dysfunction, depravity and disrespect for and disregard of the rights of others and the community.

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The judge said, Most importantly, the court has considered and respects the victims position in this case. And based thereon, the court agrees that your crimes warrant a consecutive sentence. Out of respect for the victims, the court bound itself to that agreement.

With regard to the plea agreement, which avoids a trial requiring the victims to testify, Hawaii County Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen said in a written statement : Our Office values victim input and the importance of victim well-being.

Sexual assault cases, especially those involving minors, are some of the most traumatic types of criminal victimization. The victims and their families were consulted and very involved throughout the plea negotiations in this case.

Waltjen lauded good Samaritans Bridge Hartman and Kori Takaki, whose quick thinking and actions likely saved (the girls ) life.

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He recognized the bravery and courage  of both victims in the case.

I hope todays sentencing offers them and their families some closure and a sense that justice was served.

Hawaii island is a big island but a small community,  adding, We lean on each other for strength, and thats what makes us resilient.

He praised the hard work of Deputy Prosecutors Kate Perazich and Jackson, his offices Victims Assistance Unit, the Hawaii Police Department, lead detective Steven Grace and the other officers and personnel who worked on the case, along with federal and state law enforcement partners.

Waltjen thanked the Missing Child Center and the Maile Amber Alert coordinator.
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  The 72nd Holyoke St. Patricks Parade is just around the corner and the city is ensuring everyone stays safe.

The Saint Patricks Committee held their annual public safety meeting on Friday. With hundreds of thousands of people to attend, this is to ensure the parade runs as smoothly as possible.

The committee met with local law enforcement, fire departments, and city officials at the Elks Lodge, to finalize a safety plan for the Road Race on March 22nd and the parade the following day. Its expected that therell be more than 200 police officers along the parade route.

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Theyll also have paramedics available for any type of medical issue that could happen. Chief of Staff for the committee Jennifer Voyik-Morrison told 22News, Its important that theyre able to experience the event without worrying that theres some kind of, you know, something that could happen.

Brian Keenan with the Holyoke Police Department told 22News, We are the eyes and ears of public safety. And if you attend the parade or the road race and you see something, police say something.

If you see anything unusual at the road race or parade and would like to report it, youll be able to find a nearby police officer at any intersection or busy spot. If youre unable to attend the parade in-person, you can watch it right here on 22News on March 23rd.

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.
This is a developing story. Check back to sanluisobispo.com for updates.

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Editors Note: The Tribune has dropped the paywall on this article and made it available to all readers in the interest of promoting public safety. Please consider supporting local journalism and similar coverage with a subscription to The Tribune.

St. Frattys Day is here  and The Tribune will bring live coverage of Saturdays event throughout the morning.

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The annual St. Patricks Day celebration has drawn thousands of people to the neighborhood streets of San Luis Obispo in past years  but the city and Cal Poly are hoping to keep both students and neighbors safe by preventing the crowd from surging to those levels again.

Cal Poly will host an early morning music festival featuring EDM artists Zhu and Galantis on campus in hopes of drawing students out of the streets, but some students indicated theyd be heading to the block party anyway after the universitys 5,000 available tickets sold out within minutes.

Read along for live updates from campus and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Police told students gathering on Hathway Avenue in San Luis Obispo to go home or get arrested on the morning of March 15, 2025. The area is usually home to a raucous block party for St. Frattys Day.

SLO mayor warns St. Frattys isnt over yet

Update, 11:30 a.m.:

San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart told The Tribune the St. Frattys Day management was heartening  but its not over yet.

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She credited local police as well as the law enforcement that traveled from around the state to help the city and university prevent the block party.

Still, Stewart said the city is moving forward with heightened awareness.

Were still all very aware that St. Patricks Day is not done and the safety enhancement zone is still here throughout Tuesday, she said.

To see more on the citys neighborhood enforcement efforts, read our additional coverage at: SLO, Cal Poly beefed up enforcement for St. Frattys Day. Did students stay off the street?

SLO, Cal Poly beefed up enforcement for St. Frattys Day. Did students stay off the street?

Neighbors react to city, university response

San Luis Obispo resident Kathie Walker, who lives in the vicinity of the traditional block party, told The Tribune she was happy with the neighborhood management Saturday morning.

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Walker is active in Residents for Quality Neighborhoods, a community group that has advocated for better management of St. Frattys Day partying.

The response by law enforcement exceeded our expectations and we are really happy with how everything was handled this morning, she said. We all hope this continues in future years.

Cindy Vix, another San Luis Obispo resident and Residents for Quality Neighborhoods affiliate, owns a rental home on Bond Street that was vandalized during last years block party.

She had concerns about this years celebration, but was ultimately happy with how the city and university managed the party.

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Im just thrilled, she told The Tribune on Saturday after the bulk of the celebration wound down.

She said she would remain cautiously optimistic this weekend and hoped law enforcement would maintain a strong presence in the neighborhoods.

Cal Poly pleased with campus efforts

Update, 10:30 a.m.:

Cal Poly spokesperson Matt Lazier told The Tribune the university was satisfied with the way Saturday morning played out.

He said the level of damage and disruption in the dorms was minimal compared to previous years.

We attribute that this to our proactive measures implemented for the weekend, he added.

As for the concert, Lazier said the event went generally smoothly, despite students pushing through the security barricades. Cal Poly ultimately decided to allow attendees to enter freely to ensure the safety of both students and others, Lazier said.

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We are also pleased that our goal of keeping students out of the neighborhoods was successful, he added.

To read more about the early-morning concert, read our extended coverage at: 6,000 St. Frattys Day revelers turn out to dance the morning away at Cal Poly music festival

6,000 St. Frattys Day revelers turn out to dance the morning away at Cal Poly music festival

SLO police say anti-party efforts were successful

Update, 9:30 a.m.:

San Luis Obispo Police Department spokesperson Christine Wallace told The Tribune that it looked like the citys work to prevent street partying appeared successful as of Saturday morning.

We are appreciative of the support of the agencies that came in to assist, she said. We were able to manage the people who were in the neighborhoods looking to create a street party and disseminate them (before) anything could really get going.

Police told students gathering on Hathway Avenue in San Luis Obispo to go home or get arrested on the morning of March 15, 2025. The area is usually home to a raucous block party for St. Frattys Day.

Wallace said the Police Department was still seeing a healthy crowd downtown at a few of the bars and was getting a fair number of noise complaints from all over town.

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Well stay upstaffed throughout the day to continue to monitor and address areas as needed, she said.

Wallace said the agency would also be prepared to respond to anticipated crowds downtown on Monday for St. Patricks Day as well.

Police told students gathering on Hathway Avenue in San Luis Obispo to go home or get arrested on the morning of March 15, 2025. The area is usually home to a raucous block party for St. Frattys Day.

Go home or you get arrested. Police patrol neighborhoods outside Cal Poly

Update, 8 a.m.:

After a quiet start to the morning, several hundred students began gathering on Hathway Avenue and the neighborhoods adjoining Cal Poly just before 8 a.m.

The police werent having it, however.

The assembled students were at first being herded off the street and onto the sidewalk, but as of 8 a.m. they were being told to clear the area entirely.

Either you go home or you get arrested, one motorcycle officer told the crowd on a loudspeaker.

Police told students gathering on Hathway Avenue in San Luis Obispo to go home or get arrested on the morning of March 15, 2025. The area is usually home to a raucous block party for St. Frattys Day.

Meanwhile inside the concert, several attendees could be heard debating whether they wanted to leave and head out to the street party. Other students on campus also appeared to be considering the same thing.

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Alright were going to go take a shot, then were going to the street, one person could be heard saying on the outskirts of campus Saturday morning.

Cal Poly hosted an early morning music festival featuring EDM artists Zhu and Galantis on campus in hopes of drawing students out of the streets on St. Frattys Day, March 15, 2025.

Cal Poly spokesman says only minor damage from on-campus partying so far

Update, 7:30 a.m.:

Cal Poly spokesman Matt Lazier said there had been no major incidents of on-campus vandalism or damage related to partying as of mid-Saturday morning.

Some partying activity with minor damage, Lazier told The Tribune around 7:30 a.m. So far, nothing on the order of what we saw last year.

Cal Poly hosted an early morning music festival featuring EDM artists Zhu and Galantis on campus in hopes of drawing students out of the streets on St. Frattys Day, March 15, 2025.

Cal Poly removes barriers around concert after students bust through fences

Update, 6:45 a.m.:

Another large swarm of people pushed through security to get into the concert on Saturday morning, an event staff member confirmed to The Tribune.

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The rush happened while Galantis, one of the two concert headliners, was on stage.

Cal Poly hosted an early morning music festival featuring EDM artists Zhu and Galantis on campus in hopes of drawing students out of the streets on St. Frattys Day, March 15, 2025.

Cal Poly spokesperson Matt Lazier said the university has since opened up the fencing around the concert and is allowing students through without tickets.

We made the strategic decision, given that students had broken down the barricades, to open the fences and allow students through, he said.

Despite some of the confusion, attendees said they were enjoying the concert so far.

Cal Poly hosted an early morning music festival featuring EDM artists Zhu and Galantis on campus in hopes of drawing students out of the streets on St. Frattys Day, March 15, 2025. Student Charlotte Sheya, pictured above, said the concert was going really well as of Saturday morning.

Honestly I think it is going really well, student Charlotte Sheya told The Tribune. Their motive to control people is going really well. Theres a lot of people here. Its taken it away from the street.

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She added: In general I feel like the street is like Im standing there, I cant move. Whereas here its like, its a concert. Its fun.

Third-year Cal Poly student Jamison Gorospe echoed that.

This is way better, Gorospe said. You can hear the music, the vibes are going, its free  its so much fun!

Cal Poly hosted an early morning music festival featuring EDM artists Zhu and Galantis on campus in hopes of drawing students out of the streets on St. Frattys Day, March 15, 2025.

Crowd rushes line, some seen jumping fences to get into Cal Poly concert

Update, 5:55 a.m.:





Just ahead of the 6 a.m. opening, a mass of people appeared to swarm and break through security barriers to the main ticketed line and cut into the crowd.

Security personnel worked to get the line back under control, but it continued grow larger and several people expressed confusion at where the line to enter was.

Cal Poly hosted an early morning music festival featuring EDM artists Zhu and Galantis on campus in hopes of drawing students out of the streets on St. Frattys Day, March 15, 2025.

Some people could also be seen bypassing security in the confusion and hopping security fences to get into the concert.

Cal Poly spokesman Matt Lazier told The Tribune around 6 a.m. that the university was monitoring the situation.

Cal Poly hosted an early morning music festival featuring EDM artists Zhu and Galantis on campus in hopes of drawing students out of the streets on St. Frattys Day, March 15, 2025.

After the rush, one person could be seen limping, before she was escorted to a seat and attended by medics.

As a crowd began swarming the stage, the student DJ announced that he would pause his set and there was an announcement to not rush forward as staff worked to divert some of the flow of people to larger areas.

Everyone needs to back up, the DJ yelled. Stop pushing! ... Think about the people next to you.

Around 20 police officers from different agencies also arrived at the scene shortly after the crowd rushed into the venue.

I decided I wanted to have fun at the party. Students flock to campus concert

Update, 5:45 a.m.:

Maya Armstrong and Ana Prasad, both first years at Cal Poly, were some of the lucky students who got tickets.

They said they opted for the music festival over the potential street party because they wanted a safe option to celebrate and were worried about negative interactions with the police.

Cal Poly hosted an early morning music festival featuring EDM artists Zhu and Galantis on campus in hopes of drawing students out of the streets on St. Frattys Day, March 15, 2025.

So I decided that I wanted to have some fun at the party, instead of go to the streets, Armstrong said.

Armstrong and Prasad said they were some of the only people they knew who got tickets.

I feel disappointed that Cal Poly forced us to go to the event and then didnt let enough people get tickets, Prasad said, adding that her friends who didnt get tickets were planning to go to the street party.

Maya Armstrong, left, and Ana Prasad, both first years at Cal Poly, were some of the lucky students who got tickets to the universitys St. Patricks Day concert on March 15, 2025. They said they opted for the music festival over the street party because they wanted a safe option to celebrate.

Others had similar concerns.

Im from SLO County, so Ive experienced St. Frattys every year, and I think its crazy that they want students off the streets, but they dont provide enough tickets, said Kayla, a Cal Poly freshman waiting in the standby line at 5:30 a.m.

She and friends Sarah and Amy said they tried to get tickets, but werent successful. They decided to wait in line for the concert instead of the street party partially because of the police presence.

As of about 5:30 a.m., more than 200 students were waiting in the standby line to be allowed in when the doors open to people without tickets during a concert at Cal Poly on March 15, 2025.

As the start time neared, more students began flocking to the concert, lining up to get inside.

As of about 5:30 a.m., more than 200 students were waiting in the standby line to be allowed in when the doors open to people without tickets at 6 a.m.

Cal Poly was expected to hold an on-campus concert in an effort to dissuade students from St. Frattys Day partying on March 15, 2025. Traffic control was in place around campus.

Dark and quiet on Cal Poly campus ahead of concert

Original story:

Cal Poly will host an early morning music festival featuring EDM artists Zhu and Galantis on campus in hopes of drawing students out of the streets, but some students indicated theyd be heading to the block party anyway after the universitys 5,000 available tickets sold out within minutes.

Students who didnt get tickets can wait in a standby line to be let into the event starting at 6 a.m., according to Cal Poly spokesperson Matt Lazier.

Around 3:30 a.m., Lazier told The Tribune it was dark and quiet on campus.

Lets hope we keep it that way, he added.

Lucky Charms cereal litters the ground outside Scout Coffee on Cal Polys campus. The university was hosting a concert in an effort to limit St. Frattys partying on March 15, 2025.

Around 4 a.m., dozens of students could be seen making their way from on-campus dorms bedecked in St. Patricks Day green. They made their way out of residence halls  where thumping music could already be heard  destination unknown.

Yeah, were going to carry this guy up the stairs, one student leaving his dorm with a group of friends could be heard saying.

All exits at the Santa Lucia dorms were guarded with volunteers on March 15, 2025, as the university worked to prevent damage from potential St. Frattys Day partying.

In an effort to prevent destruction to on-campus buildings, as happened last year, the university increased volunteer security at the dorms this year

On Saturday morning, all exits at the Santa Lucia dorms were guarded with volunteers, according to Cal Poly Partners volunteer Brian Fein.

Students were required to show their ID and the volunteers check the roster to ensure they live there before they are allowed in, he said.

Freshmen Collin Eden and Ryan Gerhart told The Tribune on Saturday morning that though they did not have tickets to the on-campus concert, they had planned to see if they would be allowed in for standby.

When they arrived however, they said there appeared to be few people there yet.

There was no one there, Gerhart said. It was probably outmanned, maybe 50 employees for every one person there.

Cal Poly hosted an early morning music festival featuring EDM artists Zhu and Galantis on campus in hopes of drawing students out of the streets on St. Frattys Day, March 15, 2025.

They said the planned to next check out the potential block party in neighborhoods surrounding Cal Poly.

Its an early morning and theres not a lot going on so far, Gerhart laughed  right as a herd of deer ran across a campus street, distracting the duo.

Beyond having some fun, Gerhart and Eden also had an altruistic motive for getting out on Saturday.

The pair, who were bedecked in custom green tanks tops that read St. Frattys Day 2025, said they had made and were selling the shirts to help raise money for non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Cal Poly graduate student Lauren Anderson and several of her friends were able to get tickets to the on-campus St. Patricks Day concert on March 15, 2025.

Cal Poly graduate student Lauren Anderson and several of her friends were able to get tickets to the event and were on their way to the concert Saturday morning before 5 a.m.

I am saddened in so many ways that, like, they have to make up for people being vindictive and destructive, Anderson told The Tribune. I dont think that many people that I know at least would act like that. So that was a bummer, but I am really glad that like theres something to do this year.

She added: Its very early, but I think its fun.

Law enforcement patrolled in the neighborhoods surrounding Cal Poly and stopped students from gathering in streets that were the site of heavy partying in previous years, pictured March 15, 2025.

SLO beefs up enforcement ahead of St. Frattys

It was also looking quiet Saturday morning in the neighborhoods surrounding Cal Poly.

As of 4:30 a.m., music could be heard blaring from inside some houses in the area of Hathway Avenue, though the party had not spilled out into the street.

Thats potentially due to the heavy law enforcement presence throughout the area, with officers stopping students from entering streets where there has been large gatherings in previous years.

Law enforcement patrolled in the neighborhoods surrounding Cal Poly and stopped students from gathering in streets that were the site of heavy partying in previous years, pictured March 15, 2025.

As of 4 a.m., police and San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office vehicles could be seen parked at most entrances and exits from Cal Polys campus.

UC Santa Barbara police were also on hand to help with enforcement.

The San Luis Obispo Police Department had previously said it will be issuing citations without warnings and making arrests for violations during the party.

Law enforcement patrolled in the neighborhoods surrounding Cal Poly and stopped students from gathering in streets that were the site of heavy partying in previous years, pictured March 15, 2025.

The citys mandated safety enhancement zone started Friday and will last through Tuesday morning. Fines will be doubled during that period.

Ambulances and first responders were also expected to be stationed in the area to offer emergency medical support.

The SLO County District Attorneys Office has also upped the ante  indicating it will prosecute crimes committed during the St. Frattys Day safety enhancement zone without the option for misdemeanor diversion, which provides some low-level, first-time offenders the chance to divert criminal charges through a rehabilitative education program.
LAKE COUNTY, Ind.  Authorities are searching for answers after a home explosion in northwest Indiana left three men injured on Friday afternoon.

According to the Lake County Sheriffs Department, the explosion happened just after 6 p.m. at a home in the 4200 block of East 181st Avenue in unincorporated Hebron, Indiana.

Read more: Latest news and headlines from northwest Indiana

The explosion sparked a fire that fully engulfed the remnants of the home and eventually spread to nearby farm fields. Crews from several nearby fire departments were called in to help battle the flames.

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Deputies said three men were injured in the explosion. Two men, ages 49 and 39, were hospitalized with serious burns, while a third 64-year-old man suffered other unspecified injuries in the blast.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Following the blast, the Indiana State Fire Marshal and Porter County Bomb Squad were called to the scene and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was notified.

Currently, it is unclear what caused the explosion and an investigation is underway.

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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Authorities in Clarksville have launched a homicide investigation after a man was found with apparent stab wounds during a welfare check early Saturday morning, officials said.

The Clarksville Police Department said officers were sent to conduct a welfare check at Campville Mobile Home Park along Cedarcrest Drive around 2 a.m. after receiving a 911 call on the translator line regarding a possible rollover crash.

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Instead of an overturned vehicle, officials reportedly found an unconscious man lying beside a running vehicle when they arrived. Authorities added the man appeared to be bleeding from apparent stab wounds.

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Life-saving measures were performed on the man before he was taken to Tennova Healthcare, which is where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

According to a preliminary investigation, the incident appears to have been isolated and involved a prearranged meeting between individuals.

READ MORE | Latest headlines from Clarksville and Montgomery County

Police said there is no ongoing threat to the public, adding that only limited details would be released at this time in order to protect the integrity of the investigation.

The victim was later identified as 54-year-old Thomas Gray Jr. of Clarksville. An investigation into the incident remains active and ongoing, police said.

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Anyone with information or additional video footage is asked to contact Detective Carlton at (931) 648-0656, ext. 5172, or contact the Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers Tipsline by calling 931-645-8477 or going online and submitting a tip at P3tips.com/591.

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HORNELL, N.Y. (WETM)  A Hornell man is facing charges after being accused of breaking into a motel room and assaulting someone on Tuesday night.

Zachary D. Smith, 25, was arrested following a police investigation into a physical altercation. The New York State Police reported that Smith was involved in a noise dispute with another person at the Econo Lodge located on Seneca Road North in Hornell. Smith allegedly forced his way into the other persons room and physically assaulted them. Police say the person was injured during the attack and the rooms doorframe and threshold were damaged.

Arkport man arrested on felony charges after order of protection incident

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Troopers were called to the Econo Lodge shortly before 10 p.m. on March 11 to investigate the incident and found multiple people standing outside the building where the assault reportedly occurred. The troopers determined that the injured person had been attacked by a man who was later identified as Smith.

First responders from Hornell City Ambulance evaluated the injured person at the scene and transported them to St. James Memorial Hospital for further evaluation.

Smith was charged with second-degree burglary (a class C felony), third-degree assault (a class A misdemeanor), and fourth-degree criminal mischief (a class A misdemeanor). He is currently being held at the Steuben County Jail without bail due to prior felony convictions.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  A bill aimed at making Texas hospitals safer is now officially set to have a public hearing on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 660 was filed in direct response to a series of KXAN investigations into the deadly crash at St. Davids North Austin Medical Center more than a year ago. It is one of more than 400 similar incidents our team uncovered over the past decade.

EXPLORE: KXAN Preventing Disaster investigation into hospital safety

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The bill would require crash-tested barriers, called bollards, at most hospital entrances.

Without a state or federal requirement, KXAN found a patchwork system where some hospitals are protected while others are left vulnerable.

Hospital safety bill gets bipartisan support a year after deadly St. Davids crash

We talk a lot about patient safety, Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chair Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, told KXAN this month. You certainly dont want to have to think about walking out of an ER, or being close to an ER, and having someone crash through it.

A composite image of bollards installed at St. Davids North Austin Medical Center, the Capitol and Senate Bill 660. (KXAN Graphic/Josh Hinkle) (Bollard image courtesy Howry, Breen & Herman)

Kolkhorst called the bill, filed by Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, common sense. Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, said what KXAN reported reveals a major problem.

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And, if they arent going to do it, Hall warned from his Capitol office about hospitals that dont install bollards, then we in the legislature have a responsibility to protect the people of Texas.

In December, Austin unanimously passed an ordinance requiring crash-rated bollards at new hospitals and existing ones that expand. Former Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly introduced that resolution last year after watching KXANs investigation and the Bernard familys story. On Friday, she told KXAN she will testify in favor of the bill.

The bill is opposed by the Texas Hospital Association, which called it a mandate and an unreasonable cost burden in a January blog post. The bill has received bipartisan support and positive feedback from the Texas Nurses Association and the Texas Medical Association.

West credited KXAN for his bill, which he said will save lives.

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You end up being, I guess you could say, vessels of information for us to look at legislation, he said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
The 911 call placed by the surviving roommates of the four University of Idaho students killed in an early morning attack in November 2022 was publicly released by dispatch this week  nearly 2 1/2 years later.

The audio recording, first obtained and released in its entirety Friday by KXLY-TV in Spokane, details the initial moments when law enforcement became involved in what developed into the case that has garnered international attention. NewsNation, which first aired a snippet of the call on Thursday night, shared the full recording with the Idaho Statesman on Friday evening.

Past public records requests for the recording, including from the Statesman, were denied, citing an ongoing investigation. A renewed request from the Statesman had yet to be filled Friday by the regional 911 dispatch center based in Pullman, Washington, just over the Idaho state line from Moscow.

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This week, the call was finally released, about five months before the capital murder trial for suspect Bryan Kohberger, 30, a former Washington State graduate student, who is charged with four counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if a jury finds him guilty.

The victims were Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum; Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur dAlene; Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls; and Ethan Chapin, 20, of Mount Vernon, Washington. The three women lived in the off-campus Moscow home where they were found dead on Nov. 13, 2022. They lived there with two other young women who went physically unharmed in the early morning attack, while Chapin was Kernodles boyfriend and stayed over for the night.

The four victims of the fatal stabbing at the University of Idaho pose for a photo with their two roommates, who went unharmed and the Statesman has blurred and are not identifying. From top left: Madison Mogen, 21, on the shoulders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20, and Xana Kernodle, 20.

The audio recording comes just a week after a redacted transcript of the 911 call was released for the first time in an unsealed court record. At the same time, text messages between the two surviving roommates shortly after the time police said the fatal stabbings took place also were publicly released.

We are all exhausted with all of the new details trickling out. It feels like the pain never stops. As soon as you process something new, another document drops, the family of Kaylee Goncalves wrote in a Facebook post. Its a vicious cycle. Thank you for all your support and prayers. We love you all and are truly blessed to have our extended family to lean on.

Kohbergers murder trial is scheduled for this summer in Boise, starting with jury selection in late July. It is expected to run through early November.
Mar. 14dbeard @dominionpost.com MORGANTOWN  The House Education Committee is set to take action on a bill that would allow county school boards to set limits on student cell phone use on school grounds and in classrooms.

HB 2003 came from Gov. Patrick Morrisey, but the version the committee will vote on is substantially different.

Katie Franklin, Morrisey's deputy general counsel, explained the original version to the committee on Friday and to the Public Education subcommittee earlier in the week.

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The bill is intended to create a better learning environment for students by removing constant distractions, she said, and empower teachers to take better control of their classrooms.

The introduced version begins, "Student cell phones shall not be seen, heard, or in use while the student is in the classroom, while school is in session." It prescribes storage, ringers, headphones and earbuds, and smart watches. It makes exceptions for hallways, lunches and other non-instructional times, emergencies and ADA and Humans Right Act regulations.

The committee substitute that the full committee reviewed on Friday and will vote on next week avoids specific prescriptions. It opens with several legislative findings, including, "Personal electronic devices contribute to a negative classroom environment with increased concerns relating to distractions, academic misconduct, bullying and /or harassment and other inappropriate behaviors. Concerns regarding the mental health of students with unfettered access to personal electronic devices are well-documented and are believed to prohibit the age-appropriate development of relationships, study skills, and other necessary skills to be successful."

This version requires county school boards to adopt a policy governing personal electronic devices, including if and when they are permitted on campus and in classrooms. It spells out various exceptions, including for students who have Individualized Education Plans that call for access to devices.

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It requires boards to set consequences for violations, including confiscation for the day and a permanent ban.

David Gladkosky, executive director of West Virginia Professional Educators, told the full Education Committee on Friday, "This is a good bill and we're glad to see it going in place." A survey showed that 66 % of WVPE's members are interested in seeing a policy and 73 % want the policy to include exceptions for lunches and recess and such.

Committee chair Joe Ellington, R-Mercer, told the members that the state Board of Education also has a policy under consideration. "Personal Electronic Device Usage in Schools " is open for public comment until March 20.

Friday's meeting was devoted to a hearing of the bill. Markup and passage and recommendation to the full House is next.
A House committee has advanced a bill to cut or even eliminate state income taxes for many working New Mexicans  but also added a tax hike for oil producers, stirring opposition from Republicans and the industry.

To cap a day of setbacks for oil and gas, another House committee voted later Friday to advance a measure to increase the royalty rate, a charge oil producers pay based on the value of oil or gas they extract.

House Bill 14, which passed the House Taxation and Revenue Committee on a 7-5 vote Friday morning and now heads to the full House, would replace the states Working Families Tax Credit with an Earned Income Tax Credit, eliminating state income tax liability for single people making less than $25,000 a year and childless married couples making less than $30,000 a year.

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The thresholds go up with the number of children; married couples with three children would need to make more than $70,000 a year to have any tax liability.

The amendment would add an extra 0.28% oil and gas equalization surtax when crude prices are $55 a barrel or more, which when added to the existing tax effectively raises the rate to 3.4%, said Rep. Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, who chairs the House Taxation and Revenue Committee.

This would bring in an extra $130 million a year, he told the committee. It would also cut the rate on natural gas producers by .01% to 3.9%, which would reduce the amount collected from them by $11 million a year.

For several years now, we have cut taxes for working people and made our tax code more reflective of our states values, Lente said in a statement Friday. Today, we are doubling down on our investments in workers and families, while making sure that the industry profiting from the extraction of our states natural resources pays its fair share.

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The amendment had its origins in House Bill 548, introduced by Rep. Nathan Small D-Las Cruces, chair of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee. As originally written, the measure would have boosted the tax on oil to 4% to make it the same as natural gas. Lente said the amendment was a response to concerns with the original proposal.

The fact of the matter is, he listens, Lente said. We listen. We listened.

Supporters of HB 14 said it makes sense to use revenue from a wealthy industry to cut taxes for less-wealthy New Mexicans.

Camilla Feibelman, director of the Sierra Clubs Rio Grande chapter, said natural resources such as oil and gas belong to the public and are mostly drilled on public lands.

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We stand in strong support of ensuring that those natural resources support our families first and foremost, she said.

Democrats framed the tax credit as a way to help during a time of economic uncertainty amid rising prices rise and increasing odds of a recession.

We dont know how unaffordable life will become over the next few years, so New Mexico is stepping up to ensure that you can keep more of your hard-earned money so that you can afford staples from food, medicine, health care ... energy, whatever the case may be, said House Speaker Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque.

Opponents mostly didnt object to the tax credit but to the tax increase on oil producers, which they worried would be passed on to consumers and hurt producers or even drive some out of the state.

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We say we love this industry, but at this point, I think theres been over 23 bills that have negatively impacted this industry that have come through this body this session, said Rep. Jonathan Henry, R-Artesia.

The more that break-even price goes up, the quicker the industry shuts down, Henry said. When that industry shuts down, what happens to our budget in New Mexico?

Some questioned the wisdom of tying an ongoing tax credit to volatile oil and gas revenues, as Alison Riley, public policy director of the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, put it.

The chamber is proud to support working families, but with $3 billion in new revenue, there is plenty to fund priority programs ... without a tax increase, said Terri Cole, president and CEO of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.

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In a statement after the vote, the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association said HB 14 was originally a good bill that was hijacked.

Instead of raising taxes, the Legislature should prioritize policies that drive down consumer costs, foster economic growth and diversification, and protect the energy workers that are the backbone of many communities across our state, said Missi Currier, the organizations president and CEO.

Senate Bill 23, which the House Appropriations and Finance Committee voted 9-8 to advance Friday evening, increases the maximum royalty rate from 20% of the value of the oil or natural gas to 25% in certain areas. That hike, according to a Legislative Finance Committee analysis, could generate from $50 million to $75 million in additional revenue to the states land grant permanent fund. A separate State Land Office analysis estimated it could eventually boost additional annual revenues by $50 million to as much as $84 million.

State Land Office Deputy Commissioner of Operations Sunalei Stewart said 25% royalty rates are already relatively standard for oil production on private lands, including in New Mexico, and the agency has a legal obligation to charge oil companies the market rate for public resources.

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This is not anti-oil and gas. This industry contributes a tremendous amount, and we appreciate that  the school kids benefit, he told lawmakers. But it is our job to ensure that were getting that market rate.

However, industry advocates and Republican lawmakers worried the bill would contribute to driving oil and gas companies away.

It almost seems punitive to me, said Rep. Harlan Vincent, R-Glencoe. Were not treating oil and gas like we should be treating oil and gas.

Rep. Matthew McQueen, D-Galisteo, said the states exceptional land parcels for oil production would help keep companies here, noting that even if their expenses were a little higher, their profits would be high too.

Were talking about the best of the best, which are not only the best in the Permian [Basin], but potentially some of the best in the world, he said. It has never once been suggested that these parcels would not find willing bidders.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA)  House lawmakers gathered at the statehouse Friday for a hearing to look into a bombshell report that Florida insurance companies were ripping off Floridians and misleading the legislature, claiming to be broke.

In a three-hour long hearing during the House Insurance and Banking Committee, the states current and former OIR commissioners stood before the legislature.

Olympus Pools owner found guilty on 35 out of 36 felony counts in $1.3 million fraud trial

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Lawmakers continuously begged the question, Why was this report never brought to their attention? In response, the current commissioner explained the report was imperfect and was still in draft mode.

I will make myself, my team, whoever available to you, to go over any report we have, said OIR Commissioner Michael Yaworsky.

Insurance is a top concern for Floridians statewide, which sparked the call on lawmakers to press insurance leaders.



Our purpose today is to find out if insurance companies have been allegedly ripping us off, ripping the citizens of Florida off, said State Rep. Mike Caruso, R-Delray Beach.

Lawmakers called on the OIR to complete and release the so called secret study, questioning them on who stopped the progress in the first place.

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We have looked hard and fast, I do not know, Yaworsky said.

Both Democrats and Republicans continued to press the commissioners, all wanting to get to the bottom of this uncertainty.

Floridas famous orange groves may soon disappear

Why did the investigation stop? Why didnt we get a completed report? What happened? Who made that decision to say this isnt important enough? said State Representative Susan Valdes, R-Tampa.



In response, Former Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier said, I would say nobody made that decision, and candidly, when I was asked to come and speak here today, thats the one question that I havent been able to come up with an answer to.

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Altmaier added that he thought the work was continuing after his resignation and knew how important this report was.

Was the governors office ever notified? Especially since we were in an insurance crisis at the time, asked State Representative Dianne Hart, D-Tampa.

After the hours of back and forth, current Commissioner Michael Yaworsky shared with lawmakers that he does not consider the product of the report good, but rather highly imperfect.

As I said earlier, if the legislature says they want this, we will conduct the evaluations again, Yaworsky said.

Firing back, Representative Caruso said, I think we want it, I think we are all screaming for it. I can see everyones heads nodding.



Lawmakers assure this is only just the beginning of the investigation. State Representative Brad Yeager, the Insurance and Banking Chair, shared with reporters that the committee will meet further on the matter as needed in the weeks to come.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  A new housing program is coming to the Harrisburg area to help people become more self reliant.

Were sitting in the Butler Street property, CEO of the LHM Foundation Amy Foerster said. It was previously a senior living facility.

Soon, the facility in Susquehanna Township will be a home for those homeless.

Its now going to be the home of our Horizons Transitional housing program, Foerster said.

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Use of the Butler Street Building is being donated to the non-profit LHM Foundation to operate its transitional housing program.

Theres 58 units for homeless individuals and families, Foerster said. Each unit has a private bathroom. There is a commercial grade kitchen, theres a dining room, and it sits, believe it or not, on 15 acres of green space that those who are participating in our program will be able to make use of.

And those served arent the only ones moving in.

Were moving our entire administrative staff into the facility as well, Foerster said. So in addition to the caseworkers and the individuals involved with Horizons, our entire hospice team, the clinical team will have administrative offices here and then our volunteer program will as well.

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The goal is open to October.

Give someone someplace safe to sleep and give them food so they arent worrying about shelter and food, Foerster said.

It will be a place to call home for 18 months and time to focus on a brighter future and move toward self-sufficiency.

Once weve done that with this building, our plan is to employ caseworkers will match each program participant with a caseworker, and were going to provide those wraparound supportive services, Foerster said. So were talking to entities that will come in and provide financial literacy training, educational advancement, wellness, landlord-tenant expectations, rights, responsibilities.

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Those in need will be referred by public agencies and nonprofits who work with the un-housed. For example someone aging out foster care, released from prison, survivors escaping domestic violence or those living paycheck to pay check and find themselves in an emergency situation.

More info about LHM Foundation can be found on its website.

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Houston police are being instructed to call federal immigration authorities if they come across an individual who has deportation orders listed in the national crime database.

The new guidance to law enforcement in Texas largest city comes after the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials added 700,000 individuals with deportation orders to the National Crime Information Center database, which is used widely by local law enforcement across the country to track warrants, missing persons, stolen property and other criminal records.

The Houston Chronicle first reported on the guidance Friday, citing an email from Executive Chief Thomas Hardin. According to the Chronicle, the email said officers must call federal authorities when they discover a hit in the federal system. Hardin told officers to consult with federal authorities on how to handle the situation, including remaining at the scene for ICE to arrive.

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"If that is not feasible or offered, our officers will select whatever option does not involve transporting the individual," Hardin wrote in the email, according to the Chronicle.

The updated guidance comes after Houston police recently called ICE on an undocumented immigrant motorist after stopping him for a cracked windshield, bringing renewed attention to local law enforcements involvement in immigration enforcement.

There are more than 1.4 million people with active deportation orders across the country.

ICEs inclusion of individuals with deportation orders to the crime database broadens the ability for local law enforcement to identify undocumented immigrants. Previously, local law enforcement across the country did not have access to such administrative warrants.

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Weve never seen ICE detainers before. They were just never in our system, Doug Griffith, spokesperson for the Houston Police Officers Union, told The Houston Landing on Friday. Now the feds have put that into the system. So if we stop somebody and they show an ICE detainer, we have to contact ICE or whatever agency they have the warrant out of.

Erika Ramirez, a spokesperson for the Houston Police Department, told the Texas Tribune that it is Houston Police protocol to contact any agency whenever an active warrant comes back from the NCIC database.

A warrant is a warrant, Ramirez said. It's always been our protocol to contact that agency that issued the warrant to determine how they wanted to handle it.

Ramirez added that Houston police do not ask individuals about their immigration status. She declined to share the internal email with the Tribune.

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Houston police department protocol has stated since 2020 that officers shall contact ICE if a background check through NCIC/TCIC returns a possible hit from ICE regarding a wanted or detained person.

Cesar Espinosa, executive director of FIEL Houston, an immigrant rights organization in the city, said police need to clarify the extent theyll cooperate with immigration enforcement officers.

Its important that before cities put out policies that they really think about the impact, he told the Tribune.  If trust is chipped away then, at the end of the day, we are all more vulnerable.

Nearly 550,000 undocumented immigrants live in the Houston area, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

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Not all cities said they would call ICE if a deportation order appears in NCIC.

In Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh officials said in January that they will not arrest or detain individuals based on administrative warrants.

Espinosa and other immigrant advocates in the city criticized Houston police on Friday after officers stopped Jose Armando Lainez Argueta, an undocumented immigrant, for a cracked windshield on his car earlier this month. The officers called ICE officers who took Lainez into custody. Hes now being held at Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe.

Maybe this is status quo now, Espinosa told the Tribune. [That] theyll question people about anything, which could lead us down a very dark road for the Houston community.

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.
By Aleksandar Vasovic

BELGRADE (Reuters) -More than 100,000 protesters descended on Serbia's capital Belgrade on Saturday in one of the largest rallies in decades, with students and workers facing riot police and supporters of President Aleksandar Vucic.

Serbia has seen months of anti-government rallies after 15 deaths from a railway station roof collapse triggered accusations of widespread corruption and negligence.

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The protests have swelled to include students, teachers and farmers in a major challenge to Vucic, a populist in power for 12 years as prime minister or president.

"We will not allow you to deprive us of our freedoms," one student said in a series of speeches from a stage.

A security source and witnesses estimated the crowd at well over 100,000 people.

The government denies accusations of graft and incompetence and says Western intelligence agencies are backing a push to destabilise Serbia.

Though the protests have been largely peaceful, police said a car rammed a column of protesters, injuring three people, in a Belgrade suburb, while a group of men attacked and injured a student and university lecture in the centre.

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Police said they apprehended 13 people in incidents overnight and early on Saturday, including three men after an attack on pro-Vucic farmers' tractors parked in a ring around Pionirski Park where government supporters have been camping.

FESTIVE MOOD

Across the street from the park, hundreds of veterans from elite military brigades in maroon berets and bikers, both allied with the students, lined up as the march proceeded between the parliament building and nearby Slavija square.

Students established their own security guards, clad in fluorescent yellow vests, between police and protesters.

"Today we will demonstrate our dissent ... to show what we are striving for, a normal state, a state of law, without corruption, lying, media pressures, persecutions," said Aleksa Cvetanovic, a 23 year-old student who has been attending demonstrations since December.

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Streets were choked as protesters kept up a festive mood, lighting flares and chanting their slogan "Pump it up."

The students are demanding the release of documents about last year's railway station disaster in the city of Novi Sad, and accountability for those responsible.

Many had travelled hundreds of miles on foot or by bike.

Dozens of Belgrade residents took heaters outdoors for the protesters and offered them hot food. Grandmothers gave students freshly-baked biscuits and pies.

Prosecutors have charged 13 people over the Novi Sad disaster, and the government has announced an anti-corruption campaign. Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and two ministers have also resigned during the protests.

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Saturday's protesters also called for a renewed general strike in coming days, though past appeals have failed to galvanise public service workers or many businesses.

(Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Aidan Lewis, Edward McAllister and Andrew Cawthorne)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Thousands of South Koreans on Saturday filled the streets of downtown Seoul in massive rival rallies for and against impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, as the Constitutional Court nears a decision on whether to formally remove him from office over his imposition of martial law in December.

Waving banners and signs demanding the ouster of the conservative president, big crowds of anti-Yoon protesters packed the streets near the court, where police had recently tightened security in anticipation of the ruling expected as early as next week.

Yoons supporters rallied in nearby streets, waving South Korean and U.S. flags while calling for the return of their conservative hero, whose ill-conceived power grab evoked memories of the military dictatorships last seen in the 1980s. Police deployed thousands of officers to maintain safety and there were no immediate reports of major clashes or injuries.

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Organizers of the anti-Yoon protests estimated turnout at 1.1 million, while police put the size in the tens of thousands. Marching toward streets near the court, the protesters sang and chanted slogans demanding Yoons ouster and imprisonment over his short-lived martial law imposition on Dec. 3. Yoons powers were suspended after the opposition-controlled National Assembly impeached him on Dec. 14.

We cannot wait even a single day, one of the protest leaders said on stage. This is the order of our citizens  the Constitutional Court must immediately remove Yoon Suk Yeol, the ringleader of rebellion!

To formally remove Yoon from office, at least six of the Constitutional Courts eight incumbent justices must approve the impeachment motion passed by lawmakers. If they do not, Yoons presidential powers will be immediately restored. Chung Sung-il, a 72-year-old anti-Yoon protester, said he expected the court to dismiss Yoon, 100 percent.

If he is reinstated, so many dangerous things can happen.

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The pro-Yoon rallies were attended by members of Yoons conservative People Power Party, including five-term lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun. He has defended the presidents martial law imposition as an attempt to check against the legislative dictatorship of the liberals, who have obstructed his agenda with their majority in the Assembly. The crowds repeatedly chanted Yoon Suk Yeols name and held signs that read Dissolve the National Assembly.

President Yoon declared martial law to protect free democratic South Korea, said Jin Woo-chan, a 20-year-old Yoon supporter.

Yoon has argued that his martial law decree was necessary to overcome the anti-state liberal opposition, which he claims improperly used its legislative majority to block his agenda.

Despite blockades by hundreds of heavily armed troops, lawmakers gathered a quorum and unanimously voted to lift martial law, hours after Yoon declared it. The constitution limits the exercise of such powers to times of war or comparable national emergencies.

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Yoons legal saga, which also includes a separate criminal indictment on rebellion charges, rattled state affairs, diplomacy and the economy and has become a stress test for the countrys democracy.

Yoons conservative supporters rioted at a Seoul court that authorized his arrest. His lawyers and ruling party have openly questioned the credibility of courts and law enforcement institutions, and Yoon has continued to express contempt for his liberal rivals, endorsing baseless conspiracy theories about election fraud to justify his ill-fated authoritarian push.

If the Constitutional Court dismisses Yoon, that will trigger a presidential by-election within two months.

___

Associated Press video journalists Yong-ho Kim and Yong Jun Chang contributed to this report.
(Reuters) -Militias allied with Burkina Faso's military junta have been linked to a "gruesome" massacre western Burkina Faso that left dozens dead this week, Human Rights Watch said late on Friday.

Videos of the incident posted on social media show armed men wearing the uniforms of militias that have formed to aid the government's fight against Islamist groups, New York-based HRW said in a statement.

The videos show 58 people including women and children "who appear to be dead or dying," it said, adding that the real number could be higher as bodies were piled on top of each other.

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Government spokesman Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo on Saturday said the images on social media comprised a "disinformation campaign" of "false information aimed at undermining social cohesion."

In a statement, he claimed the militias, together with the army, had been fighting "terrorists" when they discovered women, children and elderly people that had been used as human shields.

The statement said the militias and army "neutralised" around 100 "criminals."

HRW said the victims appear to be ethnic Fulani, a group authorities accuse of supporting groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State.

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"The gruesome videos of an apparent massacre by pro-government militias in Burkina Faso underscore the pervasive lack of accountability of these forces," Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at HRW, said in the statement.

The incident took place in and around the city of Solenzo on March 10 and 11, the rights group said.

The men in the videos are wearing identifiable uniforms of the Homeland Defence Volunteers (VDP), it said.

"As the armed conflict in Burkina Faso enters its ninth year, security forces and their allied militias and Islamist armed groups are committing serious crimes against an exhausted population without fear of consequence," Allegrozzi said.

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The Sahel country and its neighbours Mali and Niger are fighting a jihadist insurgency that has spread across the region since it first took root in Mali 13 years ago.

Burkina's military government, which seized power in a 2022 coup, has faced criticism by rights groups over measures it has taken in the name of national security.

HRW and Amnesty International have accused the junta of kidnapping and conscripting critics, citing victims and civil society groups.

Rights groups and the United Nations have repeatedly accused Malian and Burkinabe troops of serious abuses committed against civilians suspected of collaborating with the jihadists. Both armies have denied wrongdoing.

(Reporting by Dakar newsroom; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Portia Crowe; Editing by Susan Fenton and Mark Potter)
*The original story had a misspelling of the Town name. It has been changed to Leon from Lean.*

LEON, Wis. (WFRV)  An investigation is underway in Waushara County after human skeletal remains were found in the Town of Leon on Thursday evening.

According to the Waushara County Sheriffs Office, authorities were called to the area of County Road EE between Blackhawk Avenue and 26th Court around 5:20 p.m. on March 13.

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The Waushara County Sheriffs Office is leading the investigation and is being assisted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice  Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Crime Laboratory, and the Waushara County Medical Examiners Office to identify the individual.

Oshkosh residence hit by multiple bullets, shooter sought in several Wisconsin counties

This is a developing story and not many details are currently available.

Local 5 will provide an update to this story once more information is released.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered nationwide outside Tesla showrooms Saturday amid heightened criticism against CEO Elon Musks federal cost-cutting role in the so-called Department of Government Efficiency and after Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed to crack down on vandalism against Tesla.

The demonstrations are part of the Tesla Takedown movement, a boycott that began on February 15 against Musks electric vehicle company. The campaign was started by Hollywood actor and filmmaker Alex Winter, and Joan Donovan, an assistant professor of Journalism and Emerging Media Studies at Boston University. DOGE has slashed thousands of government jobs, and this week it proposed a dramatic downsizing of the IRS that would result in a nearly 20% reduction of its workforce by May 15.

More than 80 demonstrations are slated for Saturday and more than 70 are planned through the end of April, according to the Tesla Takedown website. The movement wants people to sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines.

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Tesla did not respond to CNNs request for comment.

In the Boston suburb of Dedham, about 100 demonstrators gathered outside a Tesla showroom. The Philadelphia suburb of West Chester had a similar turnout. Baltimore saw one of the biggest turnouts with at least 300 demonstrators

In Washington, DC, more than 50 demonstrators had gathered by noon outside a Tesla showroom, holding signs and dancing to songs by Beyonce and Daft Punk as passing drivers honked their horns in support. The number of demonstrators on the gloomy and chilly day was a sharp uptick from the turnout about two weeks ago at the same Georgetown location.

Sara Steffens, a former journalist and policy advocate, said she paired up with Melissa Knutson, who is self-employed, to turn the demonstration into a dance party. Knutson said she wanted to replicate the musical atmosphere she saw at a demonstration in Maryland.

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We need to have joy because this is a long haul, and we need to grow our movement against this authoritarianism, Knutson told CNN.

Demonstrators hold anti-Tesla posters during a protest encouraging people to boycott Tesla in opposition to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's political involvement in the U.S. government, outside the Tesla Centre Park Royal in London, Britain, March 15, 2025. - Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters

Trump administration responds after vandalism against Tesla

Police departments across the United States are investigating a wave of attacks on Tesla showrooms, charging stations and vehicles.

On March 3, seven charging stations in a mall outside of Boston were set on fire. Five days later in New York City, six protesters were arrested for occupying a showroom. In Colorado, a woman was accused of throwing Molotov cocktails and vandalizing vehicles and a showroom.

Bondi said Friday she had opened an investigation into vandalism against Tesla vehicles and showrooms.

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If youre going to touch a Tesla, go to a dealership, do anything, you better watch out because were coming after you. And if youre funding this, were coming after you. Were going to find out who you are, Bondi said on Fox Business.

And on Tuesday, President Donald Trump and Musk made an appearance on the South Lawn of the White House, where five Tesla vehicles were showcased. Trump called the vehicles beautiful and said he hoped the event would boost Tesla sales.

Its like the Super Bowl, where its just mass exposure, Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at automotive site Edmunds, told CNN about the media scene on the South Lawn.

Caldwell thinks the attention Tesla received from Trump helps the automaker in the short term but is unsure if the efforts will convert most people who otherwise may not be interested in buying a Tesla.

Pressuring Musk

Musk, the worlds richest man, owns about 411 million shares of Tesla, or about 13%, and has lost most of the gains the company saw in December. Shares of Tesla (TSLA), which closed at $249.98 on Friday, have shed about 48% of their value since peaking at $479.86 on December 17 and are down about 30% since the start of the demonstrations last month.

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We have to think about not in just whats the stock price from one day to the next, but keeping pressure on over the long term, said Steffens at the demonstration in Washington, DC.

Knutson said Tesla Takedown is not against Tesla drivers or the cars themselves.

We are specifically targeting Elon Musk, trying to bring his value down and to extract as much pain from him as we can, she said.

Meanwhile, more than 800 anti-Musk bumper stickers  most of which are intended to be placed on Tesla vehicles  have been sold on Amazon in the past month.

Teslas reputation sparks concerns

Negative opinions of Musk will damage Teslas reputation, according to Caldwell.

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She noted the negative attention could also get consumers to do more research and consider other EV options aside from Tesla. Caldwell said Teslas market share was weakened before these protests, as a slew of automakers have introduced new EVs to the market.

I imagine some (Tesla investors) are hoping that this is a short-term blip and things will eventually get a bit smoother, she said. Its hard to say at this point.

And its too soon to tell if Tesla owners are willing to sell their vehicles because of the criticism of Musk.

Not everybody can afford to make those decisions, she said.

CNNs Chris Isidore contributed to this report.

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Hundreds of people rallied outside the state Capitol Friday in support of a bill that would place limits on annual rent increases.

House Bill 1217 passed in the Washington state House a few days ago and has moved into the state Senate.

If passed, the bill would cap annual rent increases at 7% and bar any rent increase during a tenants first year.

It does include several exemptions, including for residential construction thats less than 12 years old.

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Tenants who came to the rally Friday said rising rents are crushing them.

The new owners raised the rent $150, said Caroline Hardy, an Aberdeen resident who lives at a mobile home park. The next year, it went up $110.

Hardy said she and most of her neighbors are senior citizens on fixed incomes.

Its looking like a lot of us are going to end up homeless, she said.

Supporters of the bill, including the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, say the rent cap would still allow landlords to make a profit and pay for maintenance costs, while bringing stability to renters lives.

Critics, like Washingtons Republican Party Chairman Rep. Jim Walsh, argue it would hurt housing development in a time when the state desperately needs more housing units.

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If you control rent, you take away the financial incentive to build more housing units, Walsh said.

Walsh said making it easier for developers to build more units would resolve the scarcity problem.

Rent control will not make more housing, he said. All it does is try to fix the costs of the existing inventory.

A state report found more than half of Washington renters were rent burdened in 2023, meaning they paid at least 30% of their income to their rent.

Among Washingtons largest cities, rents remain highest in Seattle ($2,000), according to Zillow Rental Data. Rents were cheapest, among large cities, in Tacoma ($1,650).

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Rent increased over the last year in Seattle, Everett, and Tacoma (up the most, based on dollar amounts), according to Zillow. Rent dropped sharply in Olympia, down $200 on average, compared to a year ago.

You can follow the bills progress here.

A similar companion bill is also moving forward in the state senate.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called his political opponents and critics of his government "bugs" as the tone of speech deteriorates in the divided nation.

"After today's celebratory gathering, the big Easter clean begins," the right-wing populist said in an address on the Hungarian national holiday of March 15 in Budapest. "The bugs have overwintered," he said.

"We are liquidating the financial machine that bought corrupt politicians, judges, journalists, pseudo-civil organizations and political activists with corrupt dollars," the right-wing populist added.

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Orban has been ruling his country with authoritarian methods for almost 15 years. The EU says that freedom of the media and the rule of law are restricted in Hungary, which is why it has frozen some of its aid money.

The Hungarian prime minister is said to have used some of this money to enrich oligarchs dependent on him, and his own relatives.

Orban describes critics and opponents in his own country as mere "henchmen" of EU bureaucracy and their alleged backers in the global financial world.

The right-wing populist has been under domestic pressure since a serious challenger threw his hat into the ring exactly one year ago.

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Moderate conservative Peter Magyar was once in Orban's Fidesz party but founded his own party, which regularly performs significantly better than Orban's in independent opinion polls.

The next parliamentary elections are due to take place in spring 2026.

There is no evidence that political or civil society actors and independent media professionals have been "bought" by the EU or other Western donors.

A number of civil society organizations and media outlets receive funding from state and private institutions in the West. They apply for these funds through transparent procedures and regularly report on how they are used, and the process is legal under Hungarian law.
During the discussion of the draft resolution of the European Council on 20-21 March, representatives of Hungary again insisted on reducing the section on Ukraine by removing references to continued military support for Ukraine and peace from a position of strength.

Source: European diplomat on condition of anonymity, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The EU diplomat stressed that Hungary, same as during the preparation of the resolution of the extraordinary EU security summit on 6 March, demands that they be short and not mention the EU's military support for Ukraine.

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"Hungary is asking for a very short text on Ukraine, which would only indicate the EU's support for ongoing efforts to establish peace," the source told European Pravda.

"But other states, on the contrary, want a strong text that emphasises the EU's continued support for Ukraine, including military support, and the need to establish peace from a position of strength," he added.

The draft conclusions of the European Council will be discussed by the European Affairs Ministers of the EU member states at a meeting of the EU's General Affairs Council on Tuesday 18 March.

The document will be approved by the leaders of the EU member states at a meeting of the European Council on 20-21 March.

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Background: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban refused to sign the resolution of the 6 March extraordinary European Council meeting on support for Ukraine, and as a result, 26 of the 27 EU states agreed on the text.

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP)  Hungary's populist prime minister Saturday vowed to rid his country of those he claims work for the interests of foreign powers, saying in a conspiracy theory-laden speech that his right-wing government will eliminate a global shadow army that serves the European Union and a liberal American empire.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands gathered in central Budapest in a show of strength against the long-serving prime minister, and in support of a new political force that aims to bring an end to Orban's rule and his economic system in elections next year.

The dueling demonstrations, which coincided with a national holiday commemorating Hungarys 1848 revolution against the Habsburg Empire, came as the Central European country struggles with an inflation and cost of living crisis that have helped fuel growing dissatisfaction with Orban and his autocratic style of governance.

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That dissatisfaction has coalesced around Peter Magyar and his upstart Tisza party, which polls show are neck and neck or even several points ahead of Orban's Fidesz party with around a year to go before elections.

Magyar's supporters stood in the rain Saturday as the opposition leader pledged to bring an end to what he views as an entrenched system of corruption, and called on Hungarians to form a broad coalition against Orban's government.

They look down on and exploit the Hungarian people, stun and divide them, and turn them against each other. In the meantime, they laugh arrogantly in our faces, Magyar said.

Earlier in the day, Orban told a group of several thousand select supporters that his government in the coming weeks will uproot media outlets and other organizations that have received funding from abroad, and compared such groups to insects.

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After todays festive gathering comes the Easter cleaning. The bugs have overwintered," Orban said. We will dismantle the financial machine that has used corrupt dollars to buy politicians, judges, journalists, pseudo-NGOs and political activists. We will eliminate the entire shadow army.

Orban, in power since 2010, has used the March 15 celebration in recent years as a podium from which to launch increasingly hostile harangues against the EU, to which Hungary has belonged since 2004. He has often compared the bloc to the Soviet Union, which occupied and repressed Hungary for nearly five decades in the 20th century, and pledged to occupy the halls of power in Europe.

Now, after the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the Hungarian leader has accelerated his longstanding efforts to crack down on critics such as media outlets, civil rights and anti-corruption groups, which he says have undermined Hungary's sovereignty by receiving financial assistance from international donors.

Orban, a Trump ally, has applauded the U.S. administrations actions to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development, claiming, with no evidence, that it was used to fund liberal causes in Hungary aimed at toppling his government.

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He has promised a reckoning for groups that have benefited from funding by USAID, saying they would be eliminated in Hungary and face legal consequences.

This week, Orban's Fidesz party proposed amendments to Hungary's constitution that would allow for Hungarian dual citizens to have their citizenship suspended and be deported from the country if they are deemed to threaten Hungarys sovereignty or national security.

Another amendment appeared to target the LGBTQ+ community. Orban's party has said the annual Budapest Pride event would be banned in public starting this year.

On Saturday, Orban, a firm opponent of immigration, echoed the conspiratorial great replacement theory, a baseless, racist hypothesis which suggests there is a global plot to diminish the influence of white people.

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"The battle today is actually being fought for the soul of the Western world," Orban said. The empire wants to mix and then replace the indigenous people of Europe with invading masses arriving from foreign civilizations.

In another baseless assertion, he also claimed the empire that has provided economic and military assistance to Ukraine as it fights off Russia's invasion in fact seeks to colonize the embattled country.

The instrument of colonization is war. The rulers of Europe decided that Ukraine should continue the war, whatever it costs, he said.

Orban repeated his call for the EU to abandon the process of eventually bringing Ukraine into the bloc, and said he would issue a poll for Hungarians to decide whether they think Kyiv should gain EU membership.

Magyar, a former Fidesz insider who split with Orban, has in the last year built an opposition movement that aims to defeat the Hungarian leader in national elections scheduled for next year. He has focused on Hungary's cost-of-living crisis and what he says is deep-seated corruption among ruling party elites.
Christopher Yang said he often finds himself sitting in his car after pulling up to his Coon Rapids home and not wanting to go inside. Its a place that he and his wife, Melinda Thao, bought together, where they were supposed to raise a family.

Waking up in the house is a reminder of what he lost, Yang said Friday in an Anoka County courtroom. He replays conversations in his mind that he had with Thao, who was his support system and best friend and source of comfort.

Sitting to Yangs left was Makayla April Sua Richardson of Mounds View. On Aug. 18, Richardson, then 20, drove drunk in Coon Rapids without a valid license, ran a red light while also speeding and crashed into the couples SUV, killing 26-year-old Thao and their unborn child they had named Leona.

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I grapple with how to go on without them, Yang told the court.

Anoka County District Judge Sean Gibbs went on to give Richardson two consecutive sentences: four years in prison for criminal vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol and five years of probation for criminal vehicular operation, causing the death of an unborn child while under the influence of alcohol. Probation will begin after her incarceration. She will receive credit for 193 days already served.

In January, Richardson pleaded guilty to the two charges. She entered the plea after an offer from the prosecution, who agreed to dismiss two other charges: criminal vehicular operation causing great bodily harm and DWI.

Assistant Anoka County Attorney Kelly Sinton asked the judge to give Richardson two consecutive four-year prison terms.

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Richardsons attorney, DeAundres Wilson, told the judge she is particularly amenable to probation. He said she does not have a prior criminal history  not even a parking ticket  and that she has shown remorse and accepted responsibility for her crimes.

Siblings witnessed crash

On Aug. 18, Richardson left a beach, where she drank alcohol, and was on her way to a friends house when she got a flat tire, and though in retrospect that may have been divine intervention attempting to prevent her continued operation of a vehicle, she sought out another vehicle to drive, Sinton said in the states memo on sentencing, filed this week.

Richardson then went to her stepfathers house and asked to use his 2006 Ford Super Duty F-350. He agreed, but told her to first unhitch a fully loaded enclosed trailer from the pickup, Sinton said Friday in court. She chose not to. She chose to drive anyway. Her level of intoxication was staggering.

Just before 9:30 p.m., Yang and Thao and three of her siblings had left a movie and were headed to get dinner, the couple in their 2023 Toyota Highlander SUV and the others following in another vehicle.

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Richardson was headed west on Coon Rapids Boulevard alone in the 2006 Ford Super Duty F-350, still pulling the loaded trailer. The couple, with Yang driving, was traveling east on Coon Rapids Boulevard. With a green arrow to turn onto northbound Springbrook Drive, Yang began the left-hand turn. Richardson plowed into them.

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Thaos siblings witnessed the violent collision, and ran to the SUV. Thao was buckled in the front passenger seat, gasping for air, her older sister, Cindy Thao, told the court in a statement Friday.

She wasnt waking up when we called her, she was breathing slowly, Thao recalled. When I saw my sister lying there and saw how badly injured her arms and legs were, the thought of my sister dying crossed my mind.

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Melinda Thao and the unborn child were pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital, where Yang was hospitalized with broken ribs. An autopsy determined Yangs cause of death to be blunt chest and abdominal trauma.

Richardson told responding officers that she had shared one can of an alcoholic seltzer with friends three to four hours earlier, and said she had a green light. Witnesses told police otherwise, that the couple had a green arrow and that Richardson went through the intersection against a red light.

An empty can of an alcoholic beverage was found inside the truck. She submitted to field-sobriety tests, which she failed, and blew a 0.18 BAC on a preliminary breath test. The legal limit to drive in Minnesota is 0.08.

Richardson was placed under arrest and transported to the hospital for a blood draw. A blood sample, taken nearly two hours after the crash, showed her alcohol concentration was 0.162.

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Richardson was given a learners permit in January 2024, but not a license to drive.

A crash reconstruction by the Minnesota State Patrol determined Richardson was driving the pickup truck between 63 and 70 mph  in a 50 mph zone  when it collided with the SUV, which was mid-turn and traveling 12 to 13 mph.

The weight of the trailer was found to be 3,700 pounds, with the F-350 weighing 7,600 pounds.

Long-awaited pregnancy

On Aug. 20, the day that Richardson was charged, Yang posted to YouTube a gender reveal video for their family and friends.

Yang and Thao had been trying to conceive for three years  and got a positive test in April.

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The married couple, who were high school sweethearts, went to their first ultrasound on June 18 and found out their baby was 9 weeks and 2 days old. On July 13, they got back the babys gender  and decided to learn together while sitting in their vehicle during Yangs lunch break.

Yang pulled up the results on his phone, looked over at his wife and took a deep breath.

Dont say anything, Thao said during the gender reveal. Just show me.

Yang turned the phone in her direction.

Its a girl! she said, then laughed.

In an Aug. 21 GoFundMe post, Yang wrote about the couples struggles to become parents.

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Melinda was so excited, she waited until I went on lunch break so we (could) look at the results together, he said. To our surprise, it was a GIRL! We were honestly happy regardless of the gender, we were more happy that the baby was healthy.

He said their due date was Jan. 19, Melindas birthday.

Theyd been together since 2013 and got married five years later after finishing college, finding stable jobs and buying a home in Coon Rapids, he said.

Melinda worked so hard to uplift our lives to be filled with joy, love, and security, he said. She worked hard for us to buy a home, conceive a child, and have careers. This is just the tip of the iceberg of our story and it pains me to, now, explain why I am on this page to request for everyones help.

Mother, driver address court

Thao was strong and smart and independent, her mother, Amy Thao, said Friday in court.

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My beautiful daughter is gone forever, she said. I will never get to hug my daughter again. At home  there is an empty space at the table, and an empty space in my heart.

Melinda Thao was the embodiment of kindness who dreamed of a future where her children would grow up surrounded by love, friend, La Vang, said in a statement read by the prosecutor. But she never got to see that future.

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When given the opportunity to address the court, Richardson, who is a mother of a daughter, apologized for what she did and said she thinks about all the things I could have done differently.

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I know that my actions cannot be reversed, and my heart breaks every day that I wake up reminded of what I did, she said. Melinda was going to be a mommy, and its so not fair that the lives of Melinda and Leona were lost. Chris was going to be a dad, and Im so sorry that that was taken from him.

She said she prays every day for forgiveness, adding, I know that this is not something that is easy to forgive. I have a hard time forgiving myself, and I just wish I could take everybodys pain away.
The ICT Newscast for Friday, March 14, covers .Check out the ICT Newscast on YouTube for this episode and more.

Wisconsin University honoring Ho-Chunk land and Native students: UW-Madison is investing in Native students through the "Wisconsin Tribal Educational Promise," covering tuition, housing, and fees.

President Trump's joint address to Congress and its impact on Indian Country: A roundtable discussion with Holly Cook-Macarro and Mike Stopp addresses the impact of Trump's policies.

A Tribe in Maine celebrating a landback victory: The tribe has regained stewardship of forest, wetlands, and river frontage.

Renewable energy projects affecting sacred land: The Wayuu community in Colombia is facing challenges with renewable energy projects.

The passing of Marion Ironquill Meadmore: One of Canada's first Indigenous women lawyers, she was also a co-founder of Canada's first Indian and Metis Friendship Center.

View previous ICT broadcasts here every week for the latest news from around Indian Country.

ICT is owned by IndiJ Public Media, a nonprofit news organization. Will you support our work? All of our content is free. There are no subscriptions or costs. And we have hired more Native journalists in the past year than any news organization  and with your help we will continue to grow and create career paths for our people. Support ICT for as little as $10. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter.
Firefighters work along Idaho Highway 21 west of Stanley to fight the Wapiti Fire on Aug. 26, 2024. (Courtesy of U.S. Forest Service/Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1)

The Idaho Legislatures Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved funding to fight wildfires and bonuses for wildland firefighters during a meeting Friday at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise.

However, budget writers did not provide the full funding levels that Idaho Gov. Brad Little and other statewide elected officials recommended at the beginning of the annual legislative session.

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On Friday, legislators set aside less money for fighting wildfires than the state spent fighting wildfires in 2024.

Late Friday afternoon Idaho Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller said the one-time $40 million transfer to fight wildfires is not enough money to cover the average cost of a fire season.

In a statement to the Idaho Capital Sun, Miller said he worried about going into debt to fight wildfires.

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, or JFAC, is a powerful committee that sets all the budgets for every state agency and department every year.

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Budget committee approves $40M transfer from general fund to fire suppression fund

JFAC members voted unanimously to approve a one-time request to transfer $40 million from the states general fund to the states Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund.

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The fund is what the state uses to pay to fight wildfires on lands the state is responsible for. Following last years long and difficult fire season, the state spent about $58 million fighting wildfires and spent down a significant chunk of the fund balance, Miller said. The balance in the fire suppression account stands at about $12 million, he said.

At the beginning of the 2025 legislative session, Little requested a $60 million supplemental funding request for the current fiscal year 2025 budget and an ongoing transfer of $40 million every year to build the fire suppression fund back up and prepare to fight wildfires this year.

The Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners, which is made up of Little and other statewide elected officials, also backed Little and called for increasing the funds balance to about $100 million.

For this reason, the State Board of Land Commissioners endorses the Governors recommendation for a $60 million FY25 supplemental appropriation that will backfill the last fire season so we can continue to keep the Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund balance near $100 million, and an additional ongoing $40 million fund transfer to help Idaho avoid going into debt to fight wildfires in the future, Little, Attorney General Raul Labrador, Secretary of State Phil McGrane, Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield and State Controller Brandon Woolf wrote in a Feb. 18 letter to JFAC.

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Backing the Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund means Idahos wildland firefighters can focus on aggressively protecting timber, lands, property, and people without funding delays, and lawmakers can enter next years budgeting cycle without a deficit due to wildfire suppression, the letter from Little and the land board added.

JFAC just approved a one-time $40 million transfer, which would bring the balance of the fire suppression fund to about $52 million  not the $100-plus million Little and the land board sought.

We appreciate the legislature funding many key Idaho Department of Lands budget priorities, including $40 million for the fire suppression fund, Miller said. However, concerns remain about relying on debt to cover wildfire costs, especially if we have a wildfire season like last year.

Unfortunately, the $40 million supplemental added to the balance of the account is not enough to fund our anticipated suppression activities if we have a bad fire season, Miller added. This would cause (Idaho Department of Lands) to have to rely on deficiency warrants. From the governors perspective, doing that and putting fire suppression on a credit card would be irresponsible, which is why he, with full support of the Idaho Board of Land Commissioner (Land Board), advocated for a stronger funding approach.

Legislator says state can use different process for funding if state runs out of money during wildfire season

Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello, pointed out that the $52 million in the fund would not have been enough to pay the bills from last years fire season. But he said the state can use a process called deficiency warrants to pay for fighting wildfires if it runs out of money. If that happens, state officials would then return to the Idaho Legislature next year with the bills for the deficiency warrants  a process kind of like paying the bills with a credit card.

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I do want to make a comment about the current fire season that we just had was about $60 million, Manwaring said. So we understand if we have another fire season like we had, we may have to use the deficiency warrant process, but the department has that ability to pay for fire if we get into that situation.

JFAC members did not discuss Littles letter or consider any alternative proposals during the meeting to increase the fire suppression fund balance.

In separate action Friday, JFAC also voted 19-1 to approve $1.25 million in bonuses for wildland firefighters as part of the larger fiscal year 2026 budget enhancements for the Idaho Department of Lands. For the bonuses, $1 million would go to Idaho Department of Lands firefighters and the remaining $250,000 would go to timber protection association firefighters in Idaho.

The money would provide bonuses for more than 300 firefighters, legislators said.

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The fiscal year 2026 budget enhancements for the department also include new funding for fire detection cameras, funding for fire equipment, funding and one new position for a new fire emergency support program manager, funding and one new position for a fire aviation section manager and more.

However, JFAC also zeroed out a $52,000 funding request from Little for the shared stewardship program to reduce wildfire risk. Under the shared stewardship program, the state, U.S. Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service share staff and funding and all participate in an advisory group that seeks to identify mutual priorities and forest management opportunities.

The funding for the Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund and the bonuses for wildland firefighters must still be approved by the full Idaho House of Representatives and Idaho Senate to take effect.

021825-Land-Board-letter-to-JFAC-support-fire-suppression-funding

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A former international arms dealer who sold weapons to law enforcement and lives in Idaho was arrested last month in Canyon County after prosecutors alleged he raped and choked a woman.

Jason Wong, who owned Nampa-based company Hurricane Butterfly, was arrested by the Canyon County Sheriffs Office in late February on a warrant after a grand jury indicted him on four felonies, court records showed. Wong, 52, was charged with attempted strangulation, forcible sexual penetration by use of a foreign object and two counts of rape, according to an indictment obtained by the Idaho Statesman.

Wong declined to comment and hung up when reached by phone. He directed the Statesman to his attorney.

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His Boise-based private attorney, Michael Bartlett, denied the allegations against his client in a statement to the Statesman. He added that Wong no longer owns Hurricane Butterfly, which has sold weapons to law enforcement agencies across the country.

Jason has made the difficult decision to relinquish his ownership interests in Hurricane Butterfly, Bartlett said. This choice was not made lightly, but rather to protect the interests of his business partners and ensure that they are not adversely affected by the false allegations made against him.

Wong, who lived in the Seattle area until moving to Boise in 2020, was a prominent firearm vendor and was featured by several well-known social media personalities in the gun industry, including Idaho-based YouTuber Garand Thumb.

In the days following his Feb. 25 arrest, an Instagram page publicized Wongs charges, and earlier this month, YouTuber FocusTripp, who makes content focused on the gun industry, posted a nearly 10-minute video surrounding the allegations against Wong. The video has garnered over 17,000 views.

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Since then, Hurricane Butterfly has deleted any social media platforms related to the company.

Hurricane Butterflys Instagram page was deleted following the surfacing of sexual assault allegations against the companys owner, Jason Wong.

Business records published on Idahos secretary of state website and reviewed by the Statesman showed nine Idaho businesses tied to Wong, including several iterations of Hurricane Butterfly. Wong is still listed as the company secretary on two of the businesses.

Hurricane Butterfly exports firearms, ammunition and explosives around the world, specifically focusing on the Asia Pacific region, according to the companys website. The company also imports weapons into the United States from other countries.

Its unclear when Wong parted ways with Hurricane Butterfly. Bartlett didnt answer several questions sent by the Statesman, including when Wong sold his ownership interests, whether hes still involved with the company or whether hes still working in the gun industry.

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Wong is accused of raping the woman on two days in April 2024, according to the indictment. He also attempted to strangle her, prosecutors alleged. The Canyon County Prosecuting Attorneys Office declined to comment on the investigation since its an ongoing case.

Wong appeared at the Canyon County Courthouse for his initial hearing Feb. 26, when 3rd District Magistrate Judge John Meienhofer acknowledged that Wong had been charged with some very serious felony offenses, according to an audio recording of the hearing obtained by the Statesman.

Meienhofer said during the hearing that he didnt have any other information than what he called a bold indictment that only detailed the charges against Wong. Meienhofer added that he didnt have the ability to modify Wongs $1 million bond because it had been set by the district court.

Wong posted his bail that same day, court records showed.

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I wish I could take up more. I cant, but thats where were at, Meienhofer said toward the end of the hearing, acknowledging that a lot of people showed up to support Wong. Good luck to you Mr. Wong, and thank you everybody for appearing. Youre all excused.

Meienhofer scheduled Wongs next hearing for March 24, according to online court records.

Jason is innocent of these charges, Bartlett said in the statement. We are confident the truth will prevail as we move forward in this legal process.

Washington lawyer turned Idaho arms dealer

On top of importing and exporting firearms for individual purchase, Hurricane Butterfly sells less-lethal weapons to law enforcement across the country, according to its website.

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The company provided firearms for a live demonstration to the Mountain States Tactical Officers Association in Montana, the agency posted online.

Wong attended a 2024 National Tactical Officers Association Tactical Expo in Kansas City, Missouri, and was pictured with leaders of the United States Deputy Sheriffs Association, according to a social media post from the organization. He also met Idaho Gov. Brad Little at a SHOT Show, an annual firearm trade show in Las Vegas, where Wong posed with the Republican governor, according to a screenshot of a now-deleted Instagram post from Hurricane Butterflys account. Wong and Little were holding grenade launchers in the photo.

Does the governor of your state stop by SHOT show to chat, then take a photo with 40mm grenade launchers? the post said. Ours does.

Littles spokesperson, Joan Varsek, told the Statesman in a statement that Little attends the trade show annually to support Idahos munitions industry and visit with small business owners.

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Gov. Little takes photos with countless members of the public throughout the year and does not know Mr. Wong, Varsek said.

A U.S Army veteran, Wong initially worked as a lawyer but stopped practicing law to begin working in the firearm industry. In an interview with Gun Talk Media, he said there was no integrity in that profession.

By the late 2000s, Wong took over Hurricane Butterfly.

During Wongs interview with Gun Talk Media at SHOT Show, the interviewer asked whether he switched fields because its so much more exciting working in the firearm industry.

The ladies love it when you say, Youre an international arms dealer,  Wong responded.

Podcast details life of an international arms dealer

In a nearly two-hour podcast episode that aired in 2023, Wong detailed his life as an international arms dealer. He was a guest on The Art and War Podcast, which discusses topics involving gun culture and the government.

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During the episode, Wong said he always had an interest in firearms but initially worked as an attorney in Washington on export compliance for several government agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of State.

Once he took over Hurricane Butterfly, Wong said that in 2018, to combat lower sales years, the company began selling to law enforcement with a focus on less-lethal weapons, many of which are harder to source or cant be found at a local gun store.

After George Floyd was killed at the hands of police, and racial justice protests erupted in cities across the U.S., Hurricane Butterfly was one of the companies on the West Coast that had inventory, Wong said. Law enforcement agencies in Washington and Oregon reached out to Wong looking for less-lethal weapons, including the Seattle and Portland police departments, he said, as well as agencies in New York and the Midwest.

He was also one of several sellers that sold the Portland Police Bureau tear gas. The agency came under fire for spending nearly $50,000 on chemical munitions in response to the racial justice protests.

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Wong described one night in 2020 when his local agency at the time, the Tukwila Police Department, called him looking for weapons in preparation for a protest. He said he loaded up nearly all of his inventory and drove to the Westfield Southcenter in Tukwila, a suburb south of Seattle, where several agencies had set up a command post.

I equate it to being like an ice cream truck, Wong said during the podcast. We just started selling 40 millimeter munitions and tear gas grenades out of the back of the truck.

Wongs Washington law license suspended, reinstated

Wongs law license was suspended in March 2008 by the Washington State Supreme Court after he violated the Armys professional conduct rules for attorneys, according to a discipline notice posted by the Washington State Bar.

In November 2006, while serving as a captain for the U.S. Army, Wong brought illegal drugs into the country from Cambodia  violating military law, according to the notice. Unopened blister packs of Rohypnol, commonly known as roofies, and Valium were discovered in Wongs possession, the notice said.

A discipline notice posted by the Washington State Bar regarding a 2008 suspension for Jason Wong, who is now accused of rape and attempted strangulation. He previously worked as an attorney in Washington, and hes since moved to Idaho, where he sells firearms.

Wong told another captain that he used the drugs for sleeping problems, according to the notice. The Food and Drug Administration has never approved Rohypnol for medical use, but other countries prescribe it for insomnia, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

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Roofies are often known in the U.S. as a date-rape drug, according to the DEA.

Washington State Bar Association spokesperson Jennifer Olegario told the Statesman in an email that Wongs law license was reinstated to active status in July 2008. His status changed to inactive in March 2021, she said.

Wong also was suspended from practicing law before any military courts after the Army revoked his certification, according to the notice. Its unclear how long those suspensions lasted or whether Wong faced any additional military disciplinary action for the violation. A spokesperson for the U.S. Army didnt respond to an email seeking clarification.

Wong wrote in an unrelated Washington court filing obtained by the Statesman that he left the Army in 2006 and that hes had increasing difficulty with anger management and conforming to acceptable normal behaviors. He added in the 2010 filing that his medical condition is rooted in his military service in Iraq.

Stressful situations tend to aggravate the situation, Wong wrote.
CHICAGO (WGN)  A woman is suing several Illinois agencies for letting her former boyfriend out of prison one day before he allegedly attacked her and her son.

Following the release of 37-year-old Crosetti Brand, Laterria Smith says he went to her apartment and attacked her and her 11-year-old son Jayden Perkins. The young boy tried to defend his mother before being fatally stabbed allegedly by Brand, prosecutors said.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, names the Illinois Prison Review Board, the Chicago Police Department, the Department of Corrections, and the Cook County Sheriffs Office.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man charged with stabbing 11-year-old Jayden Perkins to death pleads not guilty

According to the lawsuit, officials ignored warning signs, such as threatening text messages allegedly sent by Brand after being granted parole.

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Smith had an active order of protection against Brand, who was facing several charges, including first-degree murder, following his arrest in March of 2024.

Officers responded to the home Jayden Perkins shared with Smith on the morning of March 13, 2024 in the 5900 block of North Ravenswood Avenue. Police believe Brand forced his way into the home and began stabbing Perkins mother, who was four months pregnant at the time of the attack.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

In the aftermath, two Illinois prisoner board members resigned as a result of the murder. Responding to WGNs request for comment, the Prison Review Board said it would not comment on pending litigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO)  Lawmakers are deliberating over banning black market restaurant reservations.

The bill would prohibit third-party restaurant reservation companies from advertising, promoting or selling reservations for restaurants through a website, app or other platform.

The proposed bill would not apply if there was a written agreement between the third party and the restaurant.

The proposal comes after bots programmed by third-party companies take reservations and sell them for a profit.

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Illinois Restaurant Association is in support of the bill.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO)  Illinois lawmakers are looking to promote community revitalization with a bill that would allow homeowners to claim an abandoned home on their street in court.

The Blight Mitigation Act would allow a homeowner living within a quarter mile of an abandoned residential real property to petition in court for ownership if the home has been abandoned for at least a year.

A petitioner must prove to the court that the property is abandoned, and the owner has been notified and included in the legal action.

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The property also must not be listed for sale under receivership or under contract for sale.

With all of those conditions met, a homeowner in Illinois would be able to take ownership of the house if the bill is passed into law.

The bill aims to promote community revitalization with people in the community taking precedence.

The bill was proposed by House Representative LaShawn Ford (D) of the 8th district.

The bill was most recently referred to the House Rules Committee on January 9th.

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More than 7,000 students will visit Illinois state parks, natural areas, museums and other natural resources sites  including several in the Quad Cities area  this year to learn about nature and conservation thanks to grant funding through the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program.

Wildlife Prairie Park

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) on Friday announced more than $99,600 funding was awarded for 113 student field trip grants. Grant recipients represent 32 counties in the state.

The grants are made possible by private donations from the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation of Skokie and the D.F. and M.T. Grohne Family Foundation of Wilmington. The donations and funding for the grants are coordinated by the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF).

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This program allows students to visit natural, outdoor locations throughout Illinois to see firsthand what theyve been learning about in the classroom, said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. Our future conservation leaders need the opportunity to experience Illinois natural resources in person. We are pleased to be able to support learning outside the classroom with these grants and are grateful to the donors for their support.

Since its inception in 2001, the grant program has distributed more than $1.6 million, and more than 140,000 students have been provided the opportunity to take part in a field trip. Grant recipients are located throughout Illinois and represent students from pre-kindergarten through high school.

The competitive grant program allows Illinois teachers to apply for funds to take students on field trips to study Illinois natural resources. Learning activities must directly relate to the schools curriculum. The annual application deadline is Jan. 31. The grant application form is available online. Funding administered by ICF covers expenses such as transportation costs and substitute teachers.

For more information about the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program, contact the IDNR division of education at dnr.teachkids@illinois.gov. ICF gladly accepts donations for the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program. Go online for additional information.

2025 grant recipients in the Quad Cities region:

Henderson

West Central Elementary, Biggsville. Second grade. Wildlife Prairie Park, Hanna City. $783.

Knox

ROWVA Jr/Sr High Schol, Oneida. Ninth and 10th grades. WIU, Macomb. $275.

ROWVA Jr/Sr High Schol, Oneida. Ninth through 12th grades. Snake Den Hollow SFWA, Victoria. $275.

ROWVA Jr/Sr High Schol, Oneida. Ninth through 12th grades. Wildlife Prairie Park, Hanna City. $500.

Jefferson Elementary School, Metropolis. Fourth through sixth grades. Dixon Springs Ag Center, Simpson. $300.

Warren

United Intermediate School, Monmouth. Fifth grade. Blackthorn Hill Nature Preserve, Alexis. $600.

United West Elementary, Monmouth. Third grade. Blackthorn Hill Nature Preserve, Galesburg. $626.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO)  A bill was introduced by Illinois lawmakers to increase the penalty for aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude officers.

The proposal would amend the Illinois Vehicle Code by increasing the penalty for a first violation from a class 4 felony to a class 2 felony.

The bill would also change a violation for a second or subsequent offense from a class 3 felony to a class 1 felony.

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The bill was first read in the House on January 9th and is sponsored by Representative Jackie Haas (R) 79th District.

It was referred to the House Rules Committee the same day.

Dan Ugaste (R) of the 65th District was added as a co-sponsor on March 3rd and Tony McCombie (R) of the 89th District was added as a co-sponsor on January 15th.

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PEORIA, Ill. (WTVO)  An Illinois high school student was arrested on charges of possession of a stolen firearm at a school on Friday.

Around 10:45 a.m., officers were called to Manual High School for reports of a student with a pistol in their backpack, according to Peoria Police.

The school was put on lockdown immediately and the student was taken into custody by school resource officers until authorities were on the scene.

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A stolen, loaded handgun was found in the students backpack after a search, officials reported.

The high schooler is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a firearm while being under 21 years old, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm without a FOID, possession of a firearm and disorderly conduct.

The 15-year-old is currently lodged in the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
An asylum-seeker from Cuba, along with her young daughter, watches the sun rise while waiting to be being taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol agents at the U.S.-Mexico border in December 2021 in Yuma, Ariz. Immigration drove population growth in many booming Sun Belt counties and the agricultural Midwest, new U.S. Census Bureau estimates show. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Immigration was the biggest factor in population growth for many booming Sun Belt counties as well as for the agricultural Midwest, according to a Stateline analysis of new U.S. Census Bureau county estimates.

The analysis shows the significant impact immigration had between mid-2020 and mid-2024 in fast-growing states such as Arizona, Florida and Texas, as well as how it boosted growth or minimized population loss across the country.

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The surge of newcomers to the United States was the primary driver in population changes for 38% of counties nationwide and for most counties in states across a large swath of the Midwest: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and North Dakota. Immigration also was the largest growth factor in most counties in Louisiana and Massachusetts.

In Iowa, immigration more than doubled population growth in the two counties that surround the state capital of Des Moines and Iowa City. Local advocates are planning to bolster services for new arrivals.

The census estimates, to be released Thursday, March 13, are the first at the county level to use a new method that tries to count asylum-seekers and other immigrants based on government data on green cards, visas, international students, refugee admissions and border releases.

Eric Jensen, a senior research scientist for the Census Bureau, said the new immigration estimates will be tweaked next year to better account for where asylum-seekers and refugees may have eventually settled.

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In Texas, where Houstons Harris County saw the nations largest population growth, the immigration of more than 260,000 people accounted for the bulk of the roughly 278,000-person increase. The rest came largely from births.

The new numbers have helped clarify how much of the states growth has come from immigration, said Texas state Demographer Lloyd Potter.

Weve been saying for a while now, where are all these people coming over the border? Theyre not showing up in census data, Potter said.

Floridas Miami-Dade County, home of Miami, had the states largest population growth since 2020. But the county would have shrunk without the immigration of almost 321,000 people to offset more than 205,000 people who moved away.

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Florida has complained for many years that new immigration was not reflected accurately enough in population estimates, said Richard Doty, a research demographer for the states Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida.

From a Florida perspective, the big news is the dramatic increase in their population estimates driven entirely by the Census Bureaus revised estimates of [immigration], Doty said. The change increased Florida and U S. population estimates not just for the current year but also for all years since 2020, he said.

Immigration was the largest factor for five of the nations top 10 growth counties, which included Arizonas Maricopa County, home of Phoenix; Nevadas Clark County, home of Las Vegas; and Floridas Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located.

Newcomers from around the country were the biggest factor in the other top 10 counties, including Collin, Denton, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties in Texas, as well as Floridas Polk County, south of Orlando.

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Those Texas counties are fast-growing exurbs of Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston with a lot of new housing developments, Potter said.

That creates its own kind of issues. People are moving in, bringing a couple of cars, and theyre going to need retail and a whole range of infrastructure and transportation, Potter said.

Nationwide, 278 counties in 42 states and the District of Columbia would have shrunk in population were it not for immigration.

They include: Floridas Orange and Broward counties along with Miami-Dade; Washington states King County, where Seattle is located; Dallas County in Texas; Middlesex County in Massachusetts, near Boston; Ohios Franklin County, which includes Columbus; Salt Lake County in Utah; Middlesex County, New Jersey; and Sacramento County, California.

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Immigration also helped stem population losses in many counties that ended up shrinking anyway: Los Angeles County in California lost more than 260,000 people since 2020, but the losses would have been much larger without about 257,000 new immigrants.

Louisianas Jefferson Parish, in the New Orleans metro area, lost almost 14,000 people since 2020, but the loss would have been more than double if not for 16,000 new immigrants. Public schools there have been plagued by absences amid fears of immigration raids under the Trump administrations plans for mass deportation, according to press accounts.

Immigration also minimized population loss in 958 counties in 47 states, including: Chicagos Cook County, Illinois; four New York City boroughs; Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; suburban Prince Georges County in Maryland; Detroits Wayne County, Michigan.

Polk County, Iowa, which includes Des Moines, saw most of its growth of almost 24,000 people from new immigration. The county plans a welcoming center for immigrants in Des Moines, called Global Neighbors, but the county also has been roiled by mostly false rumors of immigration raids.

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Mak Suceska, who will direct operations for the center, is a refugee from Sarajevo in the former Yugoslavia who arrived in the United States in 1993. At an event this week in Iowa City, he described the planned $4 million center as a space for refugees and immigrants to call home.

Iowa City in Johnson County, another area where immigration more than doubled population growth since 2020, is also interested in more immigrant services, said Peter Gerlach, executive director of the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, speaking at the March 12 event.

Its really important to learn from each other, from like-minded communities, about how we can support and create welcoming communities, Gerlach said, especially given the ways in which our refugees and immigrants are being targeted.

Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at thenderson@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.
An asylum-seeker from Cuba, along with her young daughter, watches the sun rise while waiting to be being taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol agents at the U.S.-Mexico border in December 2021 in Yuma, Arizona. Immigration drove population growth in many booming Sun Belt counties and the agricultural Midwest, new U.S. Census Bureau estimates show. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Immigration was the biggest factor in population growth for many booming Sun Belt counties as well as for the agricultural Midwest, according to a Stateline analysis of new U.S. Census Bureau county estimates.

The analysis shows the significant impact immigration had between mid-2020 and mid-2024 in fast-growing states such as Arizona, Florida and Texas, as well as how it boosted growth or minimized population loss across the country.

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The surge of newcomers to the United States was the primary driver in population changes for 38% of counties nationwide and for most counties in states across a large swath of the Midwest: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and North Dakota. Immigration also was the largest growth factor in most counties in Louisiana and Massachusetts.

In Iowa, immigration more than doubled population growth in the two counties that surround the state capital of Des Moines and Iowa City. Local advocates are planning to bolster services for new arrivals.

The census estimates, to be released Thursday, March 13, are the first at the county level to use a new method that tries to count asylum-seekers and other immigrants based on government data on green cards, visas, international students, refugee admissions and border releases.

Eric Jensen, a senior research scientist for the Census Bureau, said the new immigration estimates will be tweaked next year to better account for where asylum-seekers and refugees may have eventually settled.

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In Texas, where Houstons Harris County saw the nations largest population growth, the immigration of more than 260,000 people accounted for the bulk of the roughly 278,000-person increase. The rest came largely from births.

The new numbers have helped clarify how much of the states growth has come from immigration, said Texas state Demographer Lloyd Potter.

Weve been saying for a while now, where are all these people coming over the border? Theyre not showing up in census data, Potter said.

Floridas Miami-Dade County, home of Miami, had the states largest population growth since 2020. But the county would have shrunk without the immigration of almost 321,000 people to offset more than 205,000 people who moved away.

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Florida has complained for many years that new immigration was not reflected accurately enough in population estimates, said Richard Doty, a research demographer for the states Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida.

From a Florida perspective, the big news is the dramatic increase in their population estimates driven entirely by the Census Bureaus revised estimates of [immigration], Doty said. The change increased Florida and U S. population estimates not just for the current year but also for all years since 2020, he said.

Immigration was the largest factor for five of the nations top 10 growth counties, which included Arizonas Maricopa County, home of Phoenix; Nevadas Clark County, home of Las Vegas; and Floridas Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located.

Newcomers from around the country were the biggest factor in the other top 10 counties, including Collin, Denton, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties in Texas, as well as Floridas Polk County, south of Orlando.

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Those Texas counties are fast-growing exurbs of Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston with a lot of new housing developments, Potter said.

That creates its own kind of issues. People are moving in, bringing a couple of cars, and theyre going to need retail and a whole range of infrastructure and transportation, Potter said.

Nationwide, 278 counties in 42 states and the District of Columbia would have shrunk in population were it not for immigration.

They include: Floridas Orange and Broward counties along with Miami-Dade; Washington states King County, where Seattle is located; Dallas County in Texas; Middlesex County in Massachusetts, near Boston; Ohios Franklin County, which includes Columbus; Salt Lake County in Utah; Middlesex County, New Jersey; and Sacramento County, California.

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Immigration also helped stem population losses in many counties that ended up shrinking anyway: Los Angeles County in California lost more than 260,000 people since 2020, but the losses would have been much larger without about 257,000 new immigrants.

Louisianas Jefferson Parish, in the New Orleans metro area, lost almost 14,000 people since 2020, but the loss would have been more than double if not for 16,000 new immigrants. Public schools there have been plagued by absences amid fears of immigration raids under the Trump administrations plans for mass deportation, according to press accounts.

Immigration also minimized population loss in 958 counties in 47 states, including: Chicagos Cook County, Illinois; four New York City boroughs; Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; suburban Prince Georges County in Maryland; Detroits Wayne County, Michigan.

Polk County, Iowa, which includes Des Moines, saw most of its growth of almost 24,000 people from new immigration. The county plans a welcoming center for immigrants in Des Moines, called Global Neighbors, but the county also has been roiled by mostly false rumors of immigration raids.

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Mak Suceska, who will direct operations for the center, is a refugee from Sarajevo in the former Yugoslavia who arrived in the United States in 1993. At an event this week in Iowa City, he described the planned $4 million center as a space for refugees and immigrants to call home.

Iowa City in Johnson County, another area where immigration more than doubled population growth since 2020, is also interested in more immigrant services, said Peter Gerlach, executive director of the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, speaking at the March 12 event.

Its really important to learn from each other, from like-minded communities, about how we can support and create welcoming communities, Gerlach said, especially given the ways in which our refugees and immigrants are being targeted.

Stateline, a States Newsroom affiliate, produced this story.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The incoming superintendent of the Clark County School District (CCSD) believes longer school days will help boost student reading scores, although questions remain as to what that would entail.

While advocates for the longer school day believe students would have more time to study, skeptics worry that the change could cause harm to working parents who, they say, already face time limitations.

Right now, we have a school day that doesnt match up with the average American workday, said Rebecca Dirks Garcia, who has two students enrolled in the district.

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Dirks Garcia, who runs a Facebook parent group with 18,500 members dedicated to CCSD, added that there are positives and negatives to a longer school day.

Im not opposed to extending the day or the year, but I think we have to really look at how it impacts student understanding and learning, she said, adding that consideration must be given to high school students and their schedules.

Jhone Ebert, the incoming superintendent, raised the issue of longer school days at a community forum Monday at Rancho High School.

In the Clark County School District, our fourth-grade students are half a year behind in reading. Ebert said. We need to extend the school day. We need to extend the school year. We also need to make sure were very intentional with the resources that we have.

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During a media conference held Thursday night, shortly after Eberts selection as superintendent, she said Nevada ranks near the bottom of states in time spent in the classroom.

David Gomez, a parent of three district students, attended all the superintendent candidate interviews over the last three weeks and believes longer school days are a good idea if it will increase student achievement.

When a child starts early in education, in reading and identifying words and phonics, and things like that  their literacy goes up, Gomez said. As literate as a child is, the more successful they become. And I agree with her, we do need literate children.

Ebert was part of an effort by the Nevada Board of Education to change school start times to an hour later. The previous CCSD superintendent, Dr. Jesus Jara, threatened to file a lawsuit if the effort moved forward. It was eventually paused.

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It wasnt immediately clear what extending the school day would cost.

CCSD officials say Ebert will still need to negotiate a contract with the school district and receive the approval of Clark County School District Board of Trustees before officially becoming superintendent.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
INDIAN LAKE, Ohio (WDTN)  Survivors of the tornado outbreak last year gathered at Indian Lake High School to reflect on what the past year has looked like.

Residents were joined by first responders and community leaders, to not only remember the tragic day and the lives that were affected, but to celebrate the progress and remind everyone to keep pushing forward.

PHOTOS: Celina, Indian Lake 1 year after deadly tornado

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March 14, 2024 was a day that left the Indian Lake community in shock.

When the sky cleared, it was clear to me this recovery effort was not going to happen in a day or a week, said Steve Reid, Indian Joint Fire District.

Three people lost their lives as an EF-3 tornado ripped through Logan County. Dozens more were injured, but from that event, the community banded together to recover.

Its a great night for the community to come together and kind of thank everyone that did so much great work and helped rebuild the community, said Anna Loudon, Logan County Visitors Bureau.

2 NEWS spoke with several in attendance at Friday evenings event. One person was among those from outside the county who came to assist with rebuilding.

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I used to come up here with my grandma and go fishing a lot and everything like that, said Travis Cox, attendee. It kind of kind of hit home a little bit, when we got up here the night of. It was just so much chaos and everything going on. We really couldnt do much. But the next day and the weeks after, we came up here just helping clean up debris and giving out food.

Indian Lake High was one of those places that was a hub for the community, distributing food and resources for weeks. A year later, the community came back to reflect on how the tragic event brought people together.

Were very lucky in this wonderful area with a wonderful group of people, and we know well get there eventually, said Rebecca Smith, Indian Lake resident. There is still work to be done, we still have displaced families and people that are in need. I mean, this is a small community thats going to rally around those individuals and were going to get back to 100 percent.

While the recovery process has been long and it hasnt been easy, Indian Lake residents are confident the area will grown and rebuild stronger than ever.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Prarie Village Police Department says an infant is in critical condition after being mauled by a dog.

PVPD says on Thursday, Childrens Mercy Hospital told them the infant was in critical condition. The responding officers concluded that the incident occurred early in the evening in the 4900 block of West 72nd Terrace.

No charges filed in Independence Police shooting that left infant dead

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Police also say the child was being cared for by a non-parent caregiver when it was attacked by a pit bull. That dog has since been seized and euthanized Friday.

Police claim there is no threat to the public at this time.

This is an ongoing investigation, FOX4 will provide updates as theyre made available.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
This is American influencer Sam Jones.

Earlier this week, Sam posted and deleted a video during a trip to Australia in which she apparently took a baby wombat from its mother on the side of the road before returning it. You can watch the video below:

The video almost immediately sparked outrage across Australia  and, honestly, for good reason. As this article points out, when a baby wombat is taken from its mother, there's the chance that the mother will then reject the baby upon reunion  which, obviously, is not good for the baby.

A baby wombat peeks out from under its parent, nestled comfortably between its legs on the ground

So, yeah, people are pissed. Sam basically fled Australia after her visa status in the country was threatened, and government officials weighed in on the offense. To take a baby wombat from its mother, and clearly causing distress from the mother, is just an outrage, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Anthony Albanese in a suit with glasses stands against a backdrop with "National Press Club" text

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Tony Burke  Australia's Home Affairs Minister  had even stronger words for Sam. Theres never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia, he said. I cant wait for Australia to see the back of this individual, I dont expect she will return."

Tony Burke in a suit speaks at a podium during a formal event. Text "KOORDINATOR" is partially visible in the background

Of course, anyone who's followed an "influencer does something wrong" narrative knows what comes next: the public apology. And so Sam has posted a doozy of a series of statements apologizing for the whole affair while defending herself in the process.

The first statement was mostly comprised of the "apology" portion, which you can read right here. Basically, Sam claims that she actually picked up the wombat so that it "didn't get hit" by a passing car. I have done a great deal of reflection on this situation and have realized that I did not handle this situation as best as I should have, she said. My only intent was to prevent these amazing animals from being hit...I have learned from this situation, and am truly sorry for the distress I have caused.

Here's the second part of the statement, in which Sam claims that "Things, dear reader, are not as they seem." She goes on to claim that "the Australian government allows and permits the slaughter of wombats" every year, and alleges that "the prime minister wishes harm on me for picking up a wombat." Again, you can read the entire thing below  and you might as well.

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Let this be a lesson to all: Don't pick up baby wombats!
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Officials in Lincoln County are asking the public for new information on the murder of a teenage girl which has gone unsolved for over 40 years.

On March 9, 1984, authorities said 17-year-old Kelly Disney was reported missing after being last seen walking eastbound on Highway 20 near U.S. 101 in Newport.

The death of Dane Paulsen: New details of body found in Siletz River

In July 1994, over 10 years after her disappearance, Disneys skull was found in an abandoned vehicle near Big Creek Reservoir outside of Newport.

Officials are looking for new information in the murder case of 17-year-old Kelly Disney, who went missing in 1984. (Lincoln County District Attorneys Office)

Her death was ruled a homicide after officials said, It appeared her skull had recently been placed at that location.

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The Lincoln County District Attorneys Office said they have reason to believe members of the community have information in the investigation and are encouraging them to come forward.

Information can be submitted anonymously at (541) 265-0069 or online at FindKellyDisney@co.lincoln.or.us

If you knew Kelly or heard about her disappearance, we want to hear from you, the Lincoln County District Attorneys Office said in a news release. Whether you experienced something firsthand or heard information thirdhand, that information is valuable. No matter how insignificant you feel the information might be, we still want to hear from you.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Democrats have long found the flip phone Chuck Schumer still insists on using as an endearing quirk that illustrates how committed he is to his way of talking to all sorts of allies, all the time.

After how he handled the spending fight, many inside and outside the Capitol are starting to see that phone as a metaphor for a leader whos out of date and refusing to change as politics changes radically around him.

This is not the first time that members of the caucus expressed frustration that he wasnt as inclusive as he could have been on decision making or strategy, but the stakes of this particular vote were huge, said one Senate Democrat, who like others, is still wary of going public with attacks on the leader.

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But CNNs conversations with three-dozen Democratic senators, members of the House, top aides and other prominent leaders detail a cratering of support, with many starting to feel that he cant be the partys future and shouldnt be their present.

If he doesnt lose it between now and then, he wont be leader in two years, said another Democratic senator, who added, looking ahead to the next expected Congressional showdown, he cant be trusted alone to negotiate the debt limit.

In a video he blasted out to his supporters Friday night, longtime Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders  an independent who caucuses with the Democrats  called the situation an absolute failure of Democratic leadership. In a video he blasted out to his own supporters, freshman California Sen. Adam Schiff called it a bad day for our country  and for the Democratic Party.

Schumer tried to be too smart, said another Democratic senator, but he ended up looking indecisive.

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Schumer and the nine Democrats who voted with him on Friday say they were making the responsible decision between two horrible choices. Option one: advance a bill full of major cuts and leeway for Trumps administration to reallocate billions of funds for their own purposes. Option two: enable a shutdown which could have stretched on indefinitely while Trump officials flexed executive authority over spending in ways they would find even more devastating, not to mention leaving tens of thousands of federal workers without pay and millions more without services.

But critics from across traditional Democratic divides of ideology, geography and age see a pile of excuses and false choices. They say Schumer flubbed weeks of strategy, essentially negotiating with himself for less to make the final bill worse than they could have gotten it to be with better pushback. They say he mismanaged dynamics internally with colleagues and publicly so that he ended up delivering a fresh round of dejection to a party already slumping on the ropes.

Any Democrat paying attention knew this week of negotiations was going to be terrible for them. But, many say, it was Schumers leadership that left them looking and feeling even worseand with much less leverage for future fight, now that Senate Republicans saw how easy it was to write what Trump wants into the bills, make no effort to reach out to Democrats, and watch them be the ones to attack each other.

Republicans saw Democrats were weak, and thought, Were going to call your bluffand they were right, said a top aide to one Senate Democrat. This was always going to be no-win. But it didnt have to be this much of an L.

Losing some faith in the Senate, much more outside the Senate

As Trump got exactly the bill he wanted while losing only two Republican votes combined between the House and Senate, Schumer has lost faith among several of his Democratic senators for being able to manage the fights ahead. He left several of his own senators distrusting others in their own caucus. Several Democratic governors, who have privately been knocking Schumer as inept for weeks, finished Friday feeling more validated than they ever wanted to be.

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) (L) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) walk together as they leave a press conference introducing the Stop The Steal Act at the U.S. Capitol on February 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. The legislation, according to the Democratic leadership, is designed to combat Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by preventing unlawful access to the Treasury Department's payment systems. - Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was not just frustrated by what played out, but annoyed that Schumerwho otherwise calls multiple times a day to check in on everything from strategy to tweetsbarely talked to him about any of this over the last few weeks, according to several House Democratic sources. Always deliberate with his words, the only answer the fellow New Yorker would give on Friday when asked by CNN if he thought a change in Senate leadership was needed was, next question.

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Outside the Capitol, many Democratic assessments of Schumer are much harsher.

Democrats need a leader who is up to the moment both in terms of willingness to fight and ability to communicate about that willingness to fight. I dont think at this point Senator Schumer has had either, said Amanda Litman, the co-founder of the group Run for Something, which helps younger and newer Democratic candidates put together campaigns on the local level.

A leader of a major Democratic-aligned organization, for now reluctant to exacerbate the party fractures by speaking publicly, said Schumer has now made himself irrelevant.

The biggest impact of this last week is that from now on, the broad spectrum of the Democratic Party, from the center to the left, will be looking to the House for leadership, that person told CNN on Friday afternoon.

Schumer believes hes the one really grappling with the reality of Trump

US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to the press as they stand next to a Tesla vehicle on the South Portico of the White House on March 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. - Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Schumer sees what he did, by contrast, as truly grappling with how different Trump is as a president now, versus when they had their showdown fights in his first term. Then, Schumer said repeatedly in conversations, Trump wasnt looking for pretexts to fire federal government workers. Then, Schumer also said, Republican leaders in Congress were trying to avoid a shutdown, while now he saw them as egging one on in a way that he feared meant they wouldnt have allowed government to re-open anytime soon.

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Once you shut down the government, it is totally up to DOGE and Trump and Musk how long were in shutdown, Schumer said in an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN on Friday evening. We could have been in shutdown for months, and why did Musk and Trump want to shut down? Because they wanted this power to achieve their goal of dramatically shrinking, destroying, hurting innocent people in the government.

So Schumers thinking going into the week, several people familiar with it told CNN, was trying to avoid letting House Speaker Mike Johnson use him as a foilbeing clearer with his position, the Senate leader thought, would make it easier to line up House Republican votes. He also felt he was giving Jeffries the maximum amount of space to unite against the bill. And he figured this Republican leadership wouldnt make any real concessions on the bill no matter what he did.

For three days in a row leading up to the vote, Schumer held long lunch meetings for the Senate Democrats to air their grievances and opinions about what to do. To many of the senators stewing and steaming through them, this felt like not having a strategyto the point that one senator, according to a colleague, spoke up to say that even former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, despite being constantly mutinied against by his own Republican colleagues, managed to get a meeting with then-President Joe Biden during their 2023 debt limit fight.

Schumer has told allies he saw these lunches as his strategy, trying to let colleagues coalesce around which of the bad options they felt was worse by arguing with each other, but without his twisting arms either way. He didnt want a shutdown. He felt like Democrats would lose the political fight over one. But he says he wanted his colleagues to get there themselves.

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He also called multiple senators into his office to tell them they had to convince particular colleagues to vote yes, and urged several leaders of Democratic-leaning organizations to tamp down their rhetoric pushing for a shutdown.

And when Schumer announced his own yes vote, it was not just within a day of floating an alternative strategyhe even surprised one of his closest allies, according to multiple senators: Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking member on the Appropriations Committee and far from a standard resistance figure. She ended up voting no.

House Democrats were bewildered themselves by the suggestion that Schumer was doing them any favors. Several joined the nearly unanimous Democratic vote against the Republican budget bill not because they wanted a shutdown, but because they thought they were giving the Senate more leverage. Others were convinced that they needed to be part of a unified Democratic effort.

Several close to Jeffries himself, meanwhile, scoff at Schumers suggesting that House Democrats didnt think Johnson would pass the bill, arguing the senator doesnt get how much obedience to Trump has come to define Republicans in Congress. They think Schumer never understood Jeffriess strategy was to push for the fight since he was convinced Democrats could win, and worried about the policy and political consequences of putting a rubber stamp on the Republican bill.

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At a panel of union leaders at their retreat, Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro asked them to call Schumer to remind him that they supported a No vote. Several did. Schumer told those he spoke with he still felt confident he was right.

Later in that same strategy session, another House Democrat vented more broadly: Whats Chuck Schumer thinking?

Another voice shouted back from the crowd, Of himself!

Many members started to clap and cheer, according to two people in the room.

The relationship is broken, one House Democratic member told CNN. The anger is so strong right now that the future is hard to imagine.

Democrats struggle to see Schumer as majority leader ever again

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, speaks during a news conference following the weekly Senate Democrat policy luncheon at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The House is scheduled to vote on a six-month spending bill that would make sure the whole government doesn't shut down, interrupting the fast start of President Donald Trump's second watch. - Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Schumers fellow New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who in 2017 stood out for voting against every one of Trumps Cabinet nominees, by Thursdays lunch of Senate Democrats was speaking so loudly in favor of voting Yes to advance the government funding bill that reporters outside could her through the walls.

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Gillibrand is the chair of the Senate Democrats campaign arm for the 2026 elections. After voting yes, despite a detailed justification she argued in a press release from her office on Friday, several of her colleagues and Democratic operatives told CNN they did not see how she could credibly appeal to donors and voters who wanted more of a fight.

We are confident we will have the resources we need to win, an aide to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee told CNN. When given an explanation, donors are receptive and understand the negative consequences of a shutdown.

Others sympathetic to Schumer and Gillibrand argued to CNN that its hard to believe the intricacies of a procedural vote in March 2025 will really shape the 2026 midterms, especially because by the fall Democrats are expecting Republicans to push through a bill to enact much of Trumps agenda that includes sweeping tax cuts and deep spending reductions on programs like Medicare without requiring a single Democratic vote, which they think will unify both Democratic officials and their supporters.

But with Senate Democrats acknowledging they probably dont have enough opportunities in races to get to the majority even in their best case scenario for 2026, they are hoping to get there by 2028. By then, Schumer would be 77, in Washington for as long as Joe Biden had been when he was elected president, and have weathered years of compromises with Trump. Hed also have had to run for a sixth term that would keep him in office until his mid-80s.

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Chatter about who will be the next Senate leader was whipping around Washington long before this weekthough the focus of much speculation, Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz, ultimately joined Schumer in voting Yes.

And while multiple senators declined CNNs interview requests because, they said, they wanted to be able to tell Schumer they werent involved in questioning his future, some of the No votes stood by him publicly.

Schumer is a senator as well, and every one of us has to make these tough decisions, New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan said on Friday. When asked if he questioned the New Yorkers leadership, he said, I support Chuck Schumer.

Republicans own the pain that will result from this Continuing Resolution, and they will own the disastrous effects of cutting Medicaid and Social Securitywhich they call a Ponzi scheme. We need to be ready for the fight ahead and redouble our efforts, and be unified, said Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, also a No vote.

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Asked if he had any concerns about Schumers leadership going forward, Blumenthal answered without giving a yes or no, but insisted that was only because his only focus was Fridays vote.

Or there was Colorado Sen. John Hickenloopers response when asked on Friday afternoon if he had a message to those Democrats outside the Senate so outraged that theyre calling on Schumer to resign: Oh, I dont have a message

CNNs Sarah Ferris and Manu Raju contributed to this report.

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It was on a winter break with his wife and children last Christmas that Sir Keir Starmer realised his Government was being knocked off course.

Despite his stonking Commons majority, little had been achieved. Plans for policy reform had been kicked into the long grass of civil service consultations. After an initial flurry of new laws, the Governments legislative plans had stalled.

On the campaign trail, Sir Keirs favourite mantra was that a Labour government would give voters lives a sense of purpose. But five months into power, he had come to realise his own administration lacked just that.

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Days after the death of his brother in December, Sir Keir took some time off with his family in Madeira, where Sir Winston Churchill had travelled to reflect on his political future in 1950, 75 years before.

There, according to those close to him, the Prime Minister thought seriously for the first time about his legacy.

Over that Christmas break, he had thought long and hard about where he wanted to leave the country in five or ten years time, said one ally.

The first six months in government were very difficult, particularly difficult, but it has given him a much greater clarity and urgency.

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Returning to the office after Christmas, the Downing Street team were impressed by big thinking from a man who does not usually speak in terms of political narratives.

Above all, Sir Keir thought it was absurd that many of his Governments plans had been blocked or delayed by an intransigent civil service, while a labyrinth of quangos stood between democratically-elected politicians and the public they were there to serve.

Setting out his new zeal for reform in a 1,500-word letter last month, the Prime Minister warned his Cabinet that the slowness and lethargy baked into the system stands in marked contrast to the speed at which everything outside the walls of Westminster is moving.

The solution? Move faster.

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By mid-February, Sir Keir had become convinced that to make serious changes he would need to shatter cross-party consensus, slay some sacred cows of the Left, and go further than the Conservatives had dared in their 14-year tenure in No 10.

Over the following weeks, the foreign aid budget was raided to fund a major increase in defence spending, prompting the second Cabinet resignation of Sir Keirs term. The welfare bill fell into Rachel Reevess crosshairs as she looked for billions in savings, prompting outrage from dozens of Labour MPs, and a major overhaul of the civil service brought howls of disbelief from some of the partys union backers.

The list of quangos to be scrapped includes the most hated of them all: NHS England. The axing of what Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, calls the worlds biggest quango, is the most significant shake-up of public healthcare in 20 years.

Conservatives had long resented the independence granted to the health service by David Cameron, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, but lacked the political capital and bandwidth to do anything about it.

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Streeting freely admits he had no intention of scrapping the body before taking power, but was driven to desperate measures once in office by the conflict he discovered between NHS England and the Department for Health.

Whitehall reform was something we have always talked about and always wanted to do, but his first six months in government really drove home how pressing it was and how important it was to do, an insider added.

The Trump effect

It is no accident that Labours new attitude, mischievously dubbed Project Chainsaw by Westminster insiders, was launched after the election of Donald Trump, who has shocked the world with the speed of his public sector reforms.

The comparison, even tongue-in-cheek, between Sir Keirs bonfire of the quangos to Elon Musk, the chainsaw-wielding enemy of the deep state in Washington (inspired himself by firebrand Argentina president Javier Milei), shows how radical the post Christmas shake-up has been.

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In his first week, Trump signed dozens of executive orders, rolling back the federal government and changing decades-old policy with a stroke of a pen.

On this side of the Atlantic Labours front bench, stymied by bureaucracy, have become jealous of the sweeping power of the Oval Office, and impressed by Trumps ability to wield it.

When discussion turned to Trump in a recent Cabinet meeting, one minister turned to their colleagues and simply asked: Why cant we be more like that?

Such words of praise for the Trump administration do not make it onto the record in public statements from ministers, but the same view is quietly widespread in Downing Street.

Theres an aspect to Trumps first six or eight weeks in office which the No 10 team have found pretty inspiring and impressive, in terms of how fast they have gone and the dynamism and energy with which they have pushed through their manifesto, said one Government insider.

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Trumps election has forced speed and dexterity from Starmers Government in more obvious ways too, as staff grapple with the unprecedented pace of diplomacy over the war in Ukraine.

Under the tutelage of Jonathan Powell, a former Blair aide who serves as National Security Adviser, Sir Keir has engaged in the style of transatlantic diplomacy last seen in Britain in the lead-up to the Iraq War.

Acting as a bridge between the US and Europe, Sir Keir has been the bearer of bad news to Emmanuel Macron and others that Trump no longer sees America as the guarantor of European security.

In return, he was rewarded with a glowing review from Trump, who described him after their meeting in Washington last month as a man with a beautiful accent and a beautiful, great wife.

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In many ways, the UK has positioned itself under Starmer to have quite a traditional role in the special relationship, said one Whitehall source, noting the obvious parallel with Sir Tony Blair and George W Bush in 2003.

Powell, who generally prefers to operate in the shadows, was Sir Tonys chief of staff in Downing Street for the full decade of his premiership and has since returned to the fold, driving the Governments Ukraine policy since last year.

The task of managing day-to-day relationships with the Trump administration has been left to the US ambassador, Lord Mandelson  another Blair-era old hand who has successfully ingratiated himself with the White House after a challenging few weeks of briefing against him by the US presidents allies.

In Jonathan and Peter, you have got some very serious, senior grown-ups who have done this sort of thing at the top level before, says one UK Government insider.

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The return of Lord Mandelson, one of the most high-profile figures of the Blair years, has been picked over extensively in the press since it was announced last December.

But much less attention has been paid to the third returning New Labour figure at the heart of the Downing Street operation, who has taken charge of much of Sir Keirs domestic agenda.

Liz Lloyd, who worked as Powells deputy in No 10 from 2005 to 2007, completes the Blairite triangle at the heart of the British state as Director of Policy Delivery and Innovation in Downing Street.

After leaving the government when Gordon Brown took office, Lloyd worked as global head of public affairs for Standard Chartered, before becoming a trustee of the Tony Blair Governance Initiative, which helped African leaders improve their administrations.

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One Downing Street source said the media has a tendency to overdo the influence of Blair allies in the Starmer administration, who also include Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and his wife Marianna, Labours assistant general secretary.

Georgia Gould, the daughter of the late Blair aide Lord Gould, was appointed to a junior ministerial position in the Cabinet Office just five days after being elected for the first time last July.

But it is true that the real power in Downing Street rests with a man who was still a junior party official during the Blair years.

The ruthless rise of McSweeney

Morgan McSweeney, who orchestrated Sir Keirs rise to power and has served as his most loyal lieutenant ever since, sits above Powell and Lloyd in the Downing Street pecking order as Chief of Staff.

In opposition, he was the man who took on the Labour Left and won, with a combination of ruthless organising and a surgical approach to election data, according to one person who has worked with him. The joke in Labour headquarters was once that you could always hear McSweeney coming because of his shoes, which squelched with the blood of the Corbynites.

Morgan McSweeney, Downing Streets Chief of Staff - Alamy

But in power, with his party atop a 162-seat majority, McSweeney is no longer taken up with factional infighting, and has turned to matters of state. Last month, he joined Powell and David Lammy on the sofa in the Oval Office in a rare public appearance.

Having drunk deep of the energy there, McSweeney and others have been galvanised by the new vim in Government back home, according to one colleague. People are feeling they are part of something, and that is a very powerful commodity, they say.

But while staff in Downing Street are playing happy families, the mood in the parliamentary party is far less jubilant.

This weeks decision to slash welfare, which has gone down terribly with Labour-voting constituents, comes after the electorally disastrous cut to winter fuel allowance in the Autumn Budget and a series of unpopular measures that affect farmers.

Labours swollen ranks have split into a series of pressure groups, ranging from the ambitious Labour Growth Group to the Right-wing Blue Labour caucus and the stalwart Socialist Campaign Group, co-founded by Tony Benn.

Meetings of the Campaign Group on Wednesday afternoons in Parliaments Committee Room 19 have become increasingly indignant as the Government has lurched Right on welfare and foreign aid, with little backbench engagement from No 10.

The minute they get the idea that they can fly, gravity will pull them back down to Earth, says one outraged member of the group. The law of political gravity in Britain is what happens in the House of Commons. If you ignore your party youll be in trouble.

But as the Conservative Party learned over its Brexit votes, the size of the Governments majority means rebels truly matter only if they have Opposition support.

Tories outflanked

On the Tory benches, there is a grudging respect for Sir Keirs attempts to take on obstructive political consensus in some of their favourite areas.

Whitehall reform became a running joke in Conservative circles, after dozens of announcements about civil servants being forced back to work after the pandemic, or sacked for incompetence. In reality, 14 years of Tory government left the headcount in Whitehall at its highest level since 2007  and still climbing.

When Boris Johnson merged the Department for International Development and the Foreign Office, or Rishi Sunak cut the aid budget at the height of the Covid pandemic, they faced massive rebellions from their own party.

In the space of a fortnight, however, Sir Keir has announced aid spending will fall by almost half to fund a boost in defence, and 10,000 NHS England staff will be made redundant.

It should be humbling for every Tory thinker that we have been outflanked on the Right by Labour, said Steve Baker, a former minister under three Conservative leaders, with a tone of admiration in his voice.

It was always clear to me that Labour needed to turn a very broad, but very shallow, majority into a deep one. They are trying to become the natural party of Government, and that explains their pivot to the Right.

Government insiders privately admit that the welfare cuts  which will see disability benefits frozen and claimants who are unable to work paid less to stay at home  will be the hardest thing we have to do in this parliament, in terms of party management.

The situation was made worse by the fact that the plans were leaked to the press before the pitch at Westminster could be fully rolled to ensure their best possible reception. In a sign of battles to come, insiders suspect the leak was a deliberate move by an intransigent Cabinet figure.

The result is that the welfare green paper has been delayed, as the government launches a hearts and minds campaign on its own MPs.

In private meetings with Labour MPs this week, over stem ginger and dark chocolate biscuits, Downing Street aides have skirted around debates about funding cuts and made the principled case for welfare reform.

MPs were told that the current trajectory of spending is unsustainable, and that the welfare administration inherited from the Conservatives encourages those on benefits never to work again.

Its not about how much headroom we have in the Budget, said one Government source. If we had plenty of headroom, we would still be doing it. It is a moral thing as much as it is a financial thing.

On a visit to Hull on Thursday, Sir Keir himself argued the welfare system cant be defended on economic terms or moral terms, and would rise to 70 billion a year by the end of this parliament.

Thats a third of the cost of the NHS, he said.Thats more than the Home Office and our prisons combined. So were making choices here.

The challenge to would-be rebels is clear: oppose the cuts, if you like. But can you justify the system to taxpayers? Would you prioritise unworthy benefit claimants over locking up criminals?

And the point is?

This hard-nosed tone on defence, criminal justice and immigration is of course not designed to appeal to the Left-wing backbenchers.

It is to appeal to wavering Labour voters who supported the party last July, but are now thinking about backing Nigel Farages Reform party.

For all the noise about Conservative-Reform switchers, the most important group of voters for Starmer and McSweeney is the eight per cent of Labour supporters that have deserted Sir Keir in the last eight months for Farage, their new saviour in mustard cords.

After an astonishing two-month run as the most popular party in Britain, Reform has now slid behind Labour again. A few weeks of good press for Sir Keir and a vicious row between Farage and Rupert Lowe make it unlikely that they will cross over again any time soon.

Ten weeks after his Madieran come-to-Jesus moment, then, Sir Keir looks to have declared war on the bureaucratic inertia in his government, become a power player in Washington and begun domestic reforms that will form the basis of his legacy.

Obvious challenges remain. The Labour Government was elected on a promise to produce economic growth, which remains elusive. The public finances remain in disarray, and the decision to impose higher taxes on employers last year will only stymie the economy further. Meanwhile, the unlikely relationship Sir Keir has built with Trump has not excused Britain from his plan to impose punitive tariffs on UK exports, and the prospect of peace in Ukraine is shaky.

But the Prime Ministers tilt to the Right has captured the spirit of Blairism and seen him take on his own party in power with ruthlessness learned in the Corbyn years in Opposition. Starmers occupation of the centre ground  a long-held ambition of his team  is now more secure than ever.

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BI visited a facility in Kyiv where Ukrainian soldiers use virtual simulators to train for combat.

One soldier training on air defense weapons said it helps him gain muscle memory with the system.

The founder of the company making the simulators believes future training will be entirely virtual.

KYIV, Ukraine  A quiet, sunny day is suddenly interrupted by the hum of a Russian drone. Moments later, another appears. Then another. Suddenly, they're crisscrossing in the sky as cruise missiles soar overhead. It is fast becoming impossible to shoot everything down.

This overwhelming scenario is one that Ukraine's defenders have faced repeatedly over the past three years of war, but when Business Insider experienced it, the Russian attack wasn't real.

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BI recently visited a training center in Kyiv where Ukrainian forces from across the military use highly immersive virtual reality simulators to get ready for a fight  engaging lethal Russian threats like drones, missiles, and aircraft.

Ukrainian technology company PSS by Logics7 makes these simulators. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops have used the company's systems to sharpen their combat skills and train for real-life battles, ones in which failing to shoot down an enemy threat can have deadly consequences.

A Ukrainian soldier trains to use the 9K38 Igla. Jake Epstein/Business Insider

"Future training systems will be only in virtual space," PSS founder Igor Belov told BI in an interview. "We do it right now."

The training simulators offer Ukrainian soldiers a cheaper and faster training process. They get the same feel for the weapon without expending valuable ammunition. It's also a safer way to practice and learn, as Russia has demonstrated that it will launch deadly strikes on Ukraine's training grounds.

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BI observed Ukrainian soldiers training on the American-made .50-caliber M2 Browning machine gun and FIM-92 Stinger, and Soviet-era 9K38 Igla. The training weapons mimic the real deal in appearance, weight, and touch, so the soldiers develop strong muscle memory habits and become familiar with the systems.

The Browning is a popular weapon for Ukrainian mobile air defense units tasked with shooting down Russian drones like the Shahed-136, Iranian-made loitering munitions; Russia also has its own domestically produced version. The heavy machine guns are often mounted in the beds of ordinary pickup trucks. The Stinger and Igla, meanwhile, are man-portable air-defense systems, or MANPADS. These shoulder-launched weapons can fire missiles at higher-threat targets like planes, helicopters, and even cruise missiles.

A screen shows a simulated combat scenario. Jake Epstein/Business Insider

The soldiers wear virtual-reality goggles and are placed in simulated battlefield scenarios. An operator can customize the combat experience, such as having drones attack from different directions or changing the weather to a low-visibility fog, making it significantly more challenging to spot and defend against threats.

Igor said the simulators make the soldiers more effective in actual combat scenarios, and the soldiers can attest to that.

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Vitaliy, a Ukrainian soldier in an anti-aircraft unit, told BI through a translator that there's a clear difference between the simulation and firing a real gun on the battlefield. But the VR experience helps provide that muscle memory and feel that makes it easier to use the weapons in real life.

Vitaliy, who is identified only by his first name for security purposes, said training on the Stinger is easier than the Igla because the American launcher provides its operator with two chances to hit a target, whereas the Soviet system only gives one. He has been in combat before, but the training helps him keep his edge.

A Ukrainian soldier trains to use the M2 Browning machine gun. Jake Epstein/Business Insider

Soldiers serving in a mobile air defense unit on the outskirts of Kyiv told BI in a separate interview that simulator training helped them hone their skills on the Browning machine gun.

At the facility in Kyiv, this reporter tested the Browning simulator. It was manageable at first to shoot down a few slow-moving Shahed drones traveling in a straight line, leading the airborne threats by aiming just a little ahead of the drone to ensure the interception was perfectly timed.

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But as more drones came in from different directions, it got more complicated. Eventually, cruise missiles were added into the mix, and the complex attack became completely overwhelming.

PSS offers soldiers plenty of other weapons for Ukrainian soldiers to train with beyond air defense, such as drones, small arms, or anti-tank weapons, like the Next-generation Light Anti-tank Weapon, or NLAW.

A Russian Shahed drone explodes during a simulation. Jake Epstein/Business Insider

The simulator service is offered to the Ukrainian military at no cost as it wages war against the Russian invasion force, but Igor said PSS can still sell its product and wants to put it on the international market for foreign militaries to try.

"This system can be the main system for training in the whole world," Igor said. "It's necessary to develop as fast as we can."

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VR and AR training is a highly sought-after training capability. Ukraine is not the only military that uses augmented reality to train on different weapons. Last year, this reporter visited a facility at Oklahoma's Fort Sill, where American soldiers practice with Stinger simulators just like the Ukrainians. BI has also previously participated in augmented-reality room-clearing exercises at what is now Fort Barfoot.

Read the original article on Business Insider
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill, aiming to address the onslaught of telemarketing and scam messages Oregonians receive.

The Oregon legislature held a hearing on Thursday for the Telemarketing Modernization Act, House Bill 3865, which Rep. Nathan Sosa (D-Greater Hillsboro) says will update current statutes as Oregonians are being inundated with invasive, repeated, and unwanted telemarketing solicitations via phone and text.

The bill has three main provisions: First, the bill would update Oregons text message loophole, by including text messages in the definition of telephone solicitation.

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Dont click on those road toll texts. Officials issue warnings about the smishing scam

Next, the bill would expand soliciting quiet hours. Current laws allow solicitation between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.; however, this bill would shorten that time by banning solicitation after 7 p.m.

Additionally, the bill limits the number of times a telemarketer can contact each person to three times per day.

HB 3865 is a commonsense update to protect consumers from excessive and intrusive calls and texts, Sosa stated in a press release. Oregonians have the right to privacy and peaceespecially outside of working hours. This bill is a crucial step toward reducing unwanted, deceptive, and potentially fraudulent communications.

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2 Oregon waterfront hotels named among best in the U.S.: Newsweek

If youre anything like me, you probably receive text solicitations every day, Rep. Sosa testified during the bills hearing. I am offered warranties on vehicles I do not own; I am asked if I want to sell property in states Ive never visited, Im told I owe money on products that I never purchased.

Whenever I mention this to folks in passing, it sounds like everybody has experienced the same thing, Sosa said. When I pushed the (Department of Justice) about this, it turns out this problem is statewide, also nationwide.

During the hearing, Sosa clarified there will be an exemption under the bill that will still allow calls and texts for polling purposes, soliciting opinions, and campaign calls, noting, We will all continue to be subjected to those delightful campaign calls and texts as we are every election season.

Sick of political text messages? Heres how to stop them

Testifying in support of the bill, Leslie Wu  a policy advisor for Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, explained, At the DOJ, we receive many, many complaints about robotexts and about scam texts.

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Wu explained that state and federal laws havent kept up with technological advances to include text messages in telephone soliciting laws.

In written testimony submitted by Wu, the policy advisor said, the current text messaging loopholes in our laws hurt Oregonians. Due to legal efforts nationwide, to curb robocalling, the volume of illegal calls has declined. However, that volume has been replaced with a surge in the use of scam texts.

In 2024, the Federal Communications Commission received more than 24,000 consumer complaints about unwanted text messages, Wu said noting, the FCC reported that consumers received over 19 billion scam texts in September 2024 alone.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Sioux Falls Police said a baby taken at gunpoint on his first birthday has been found safe. Two arrests have been made, but investigators are still looking for a third suspect.

29-year-old Lelana Sitting Up is wanted for kidnapping and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Court documents say she knows the little boys parents and the alleged crimes happened on the childs first birthday.

First-ever Amber Alert issued from Sioux Falls

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Police say a 66-year old woman told them Sitting Up and 17-year-old Tianna Bluebird took her one-year-old grandson from the central Sioux Falls apartment. Court documents say Sitting Up pointed a gun at her, and the two drove off in a white car with the little boy.

The 66-year-old wasnt injured. The handgun was just displayed. So, they didnt fire the gun at all, Sam Clemens with the Sioux Falls Police Department said.

Investigators used traffic cameras to track the white car several blocks. They also used cell phone data, which brought them to another apartment building on the same street less than a mile away.

As of this morning, police were still looking for the boy and both alleged kidnappers.

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Theres concern for the infant. Neither of those were supposed to have custody of the infant, Clemens said at Friday mornings police briefing. So, thats our primary concern, is finding that boy and getting him back.

This afternoon, law enforcement surrounded the building and went inside. Thats where the found the boy, along with one of the alleged kidnappers and the babys biological mom.

Tianna Bluebird faces kidnapping charges. Police also arrested 22-year-old Helena Bluebird, the babys biological mother. Shes accused of child abuse.

An arrest warrant for Sitting Up is for kidnapping and carries a $100,000 cash bond.

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According to court documents, the boys parents lost custody of both of their young children. Other family members also lost custody.

A caseworker confirmed an active investigation, and they were expecting to have new custody paperwork in that case ready sometime Friday.

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(Photo by krisanapong detraphiphat/Getty Images)

The Iowa insurance commissioner has ordered a Johnston company and its owner to repay $2.3 million that 15 investors lost in an oil-and-gas operation that regulators have likened to a Ponzi scheme.

Regulators say one of the victims of the alleged scheme by Des Moines investment advisor Cory J. Dawkins was a teenage college student whose father died shortly after he began consulting with Dawkins on investments.

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The student was struggling to find money to bury her father while his body lay in a freezer for two weeks. She allegedly decided to pursue her fathers plans of investing $188,000 with Dawkins help and lost all of the money.

According to state records, Dawkins formed Elite Wealth Partners in 2017 and acted as the companys senior partner and sole owner. According to the Iowa Insurance Division, Dawkins then formed EWP Permian Basin Fund II, an investment company with no operating history on which to evaluate its operations.

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To justify his collection of sales commissions, Dawkins allegedly appointed himself to what regulators say was the fictional position of EWPs fund manager. The insurance division says he then offered high-risk, unsecured investment opportunities that were not in his investors best interests.

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In 2022, the Iowa Insurance Division formally charged Dawkins and the two companies with securities fraud; performing unregistered activity as securities agents; committing acts that constituted grounds for discipline as investment advisors; and fraud or dishonest conduct as demonstrated through incompetence, untrustworthiness and financial irresponsibility.

State: Investors were misled by untrue statements

According to the divisions recently filed findings of fact in the case, the alleged scheme was launched sometime before May 2019 when Dawkins spoke to a Polk County couple about investing in EWP Permian Basin Fund II, whereby the couples money would be used to back a company that was purportedly purchasing oil wells.

According to the divisions findings of fact, EWP was not actually buying wells and had no assets to secure the notes that were issued to investors. The representations made to the Polk County couple and to other subsequent investors by Dawkins were untrue and amounted to securities fraud, according to the division. Investors, the division found, had been led to believe in 2019 that EWP Permian Basin Fund II owned the oil and gas wells when, in fact, it did not.

EWP, the division found, was set up as a vehicle through which people could invest in an entity called the Heartland Drilling Fund  but Dawkins and Elite Wealth allegedly failed to perform due diligence in investigating Heartland and its affiliates, relying instead on Heartlands unverified marketing materials.

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Dawkins failed to review Heartlands financial statements and exhibited significant uncertainty as to which oil and gas interests were actually held by Heartland, the division found.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the division noted, would later conclude that promised returns to investors were little more than an illusion and were actually a Ponzi scheme.

Dawkins and Elite Wealth collected thousands of dollars in fees related to their investment transactions. Dawkins, however, had a conflict of interest by acting as both an investment advisor and a self-interested promoter of EWP, the division concluded.

Dawkins was also alleged to have steered investors to a very high risk entity called the Carson Oil Field Development Fund II without disclosing all of the risks involved.

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By 2021, the division found, Dawkins and Elite Wealth should have known they were recommending not only a series of high-risk investments but were offering investments that had numerous characteristics of a fraudulent Ponzi scheme, with initial investors being paid from proceeds generated by newer investors.

Investor had her dads body in a freezer for two weeks

One of the alleged victims in the scheme was a 19-year-old Iowa State University student whose father had recently died of cancer. The division said it found her subsequent testimony about her dealings with Dawkins to be simply heartbreaking.

The young woman  whose name is redacted from public filings in the case  had invested $188,000 of her fathers money with Dawkins, according to the division.

We needed money to pay for a funeral, the woman testified at a hearing. We simply had my dads body in a freezer for two weeks. So, we were really struggling, and we owed a whole bunch of our family members money. And we just kind of proceeded because we were so desperate for funeral money to pay for his gravestone and to pay the mortgage on our home  I guess my dad already chose that investment. So we just kind of went with whatever he had  And if he trusted Cory with that market on that, then I just went ahead with it.

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Dawkins, the division found, later accepted no responsibility for steering the student toward the high-risk investment, stating that Dawkins absurdly claimed that although he was a fiduciary, his introduction of the EWP investment opportunity to the student was not a recommendation of any kind.

At one point during a hearing on the matter, Dawkins allegedly exclaimed, I dont recommend anything!

In its findings of fact, the division said it found Dawkins testimony to be wholly untrustworthy, leaving us with the unmistakable impression that Dawkins was willing to say practically anything to avoid accountability.

The division noted that losses by the 15 investors, including interest, totaled $2,371,618.

Douglas Ommen is Iowas insurance commissioner. (Photo courtesy of Iowa Insurance Division)

Iowa Insurance Commissioner Douglas Ommen this week revoked the investment advisor registrations of Dawkins and Elite Wealth, revoked the insurance producer licenses of Dawkins and Elite Wealth, and permanently barred EWP from issuing or offering securities of any kind in Iowa.

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Ommen also ordered EWP to pay $2.3 million in restitution, with $1.9 million of that amount payable immediately, and the remaining $400,000 payable no later than March 31, 2026. Ommens order also specifies that Dawkins and Elite Wealth are also held liable for the $2.3 million in restitution.

Dawkins and the two companies have also been ordered to pay the state $52,644 for the cost of its investigation of the matter.

Dawkins did not respond to calls Friday from the Iowa Capital Dispatch. SEC records indicate he, Elite Wealth and EWP denied all of the divisions allegations.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Iowa State Representative J.D. Scholten (D) held a We the People rally in Sioux City on Friday night.

The rally took place at The Marquee. At least 40 people were in attendance, enjoying some beverages. The rally had musicians performing, along with people speaking out about how theyre feeling about whats been happening on the state and federal levels, such as potential cuts to the U.S. Department of Education and how the Iowa legislative session is going so far.

Scholten said that when it comes to the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), there should be efficiency, and the federal government should try to have an audit system. However, he said that what DOGE is doing is not efficient and ridiculous.

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Its not efficient to fire USDA people who are working on getting the bird flu under control and then all of a sudden, rehire them back. Its not efficient to do a lot of these things, for what, its to give more tax breaks to the super wealthy. well, a lot of us arent the super wealthy and a lot of us have needs and so the working class is getting screwed out of all of this. And thats what a lot of people are feeling, that frustration, said State Rep. Scholten, (D) District 1.

Morningside University hosts first She Grows event

One of the rally attendees, Sioux City resident Bernie Scolaro, said this is not the time to be silent about whats going on in the government and that people should stand up for themselves.

Were watching the state and the national government take away and strip away a lot of rights for people, just most recently, with the Iowa Civil Rights Code, they took away trans(gender) rights and LGBTQ rights are in jeopardy, as womens rights. And Im really concerned about what our government is beginning to look like, Scolaro said

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Scholten will be holding two more rallies this weekend: one in Des Moines on Saturday and one in Davenport on Sunday.

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US forces working with Iraqi intelligence and security services killed a high-profile leader of the Islamic State in an airstrike in western Iraq, according to officials from the two countries.

Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, alias Abu Khadijah, was known as the deputy caliph of the militant group and one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement posted on X.

President Donald Trump posted on social media Friday night, saying the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters. His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!

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The Global ISIS #2 leader, Chief of Global Operations and the Delegated Committee Emir was killed alongside another ISIS operative in a precision strike on Thursday in Iraqs Al Anbar province, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

The US and Iraqi troops found the two ISIS members dead at the site of the strike. Both were wearing un-exploded suicide vests and had multiple weapons, according to the CENTCOM statement.

They identified Abu Khadijah through a DNA match from DNA collected on a previous raid where Abu Khadijah narrowly escaped, the statement said.

As an ISIS leader in Iraq and Syria, Abu Khadijah was responsible for operations, logistics, and planning conducted by ISIS globally, CENTCOM said. He also directed a significant portion of finance for the groups global organization.

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In his statement on X, Iraqs PM al-Sudani said that the Iraqis continue their impressive victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism.

Before a series of defeats by a US-led coalition nearly six years ago, ISIS  also known as the caliphate  held sway over much of Syria and northern Iraq while spawning affiliates throughout Africa and Asia.

It organized a series of deadly terror attacks in European cities and remains active as a terror group in more than a dozen countries, inspiring and supporting individuals and cells in Europe and Russia in recent years.

Even if it is now a loosely linked network rather than a self-declared caliphate controlling sizeable cities, ISIS is far from moribund.

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The most high-profile attack claimed by ISIS in 2024 was the devastating assault on a Moscow shopping mall in March, which left at least 150 dead and more than 500 injured.

US officials are concerned that instability following the collapse of the iron-fisted regime of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad may allow ISIS to expand from its remote desert strongholds, and also regain a foothold in Iraq.

The Iraqi leader al-Sudani was the first to announce the killing of the operatives, in a statement that came during the first visit by Syrias top diplomat to Iraq since the fall of Assad.

The two countries pledged to work together to combat terrorism, al-Sudanis office said in a statement, adding that Iraqs commitment to Syrias security and stability will have a direct impact on regional stability.

CNNs Katherine Dautrich contributed to this reporting.

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Britains most successful Muslim TV channel has been accused of glorifying violent Islamist movements, inciting hostility against the West and portraying jihadist causes in a sympathetic light.

The Islam Channel is now facing an investigation by the broadcasting regulator over claims it breaches rules on impartiality and incites extremism.

A complaint submitted to Ofcom accuses the channel of repeatedly broadcasting material praising the Oct 7 attacks and comparing Israel to the Nazis.

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It is also accused of giving airtime to extremists, failing to maintain impartiality in its political coverage and misleading viewers over key facts.

The channel  which claims it has two million viewers daily and is estimated by official figures to be watched by 60 per cent of British Muslims  could be penalised over its content if an Ofcom investigation finds against it.

A report highlighting multiple alleged breaches of the Broadcasting Code by the Islam Channel between November 2024 and January 2025, has been submitted to the regulator by Dr Taj Hargey, the director of the Oxford Institute for British Islam.

Dr Hargey, regarded as a liberal thinker within British Islam, claims the channel consistently portrays Islam as under siege from an oppressive West; presents Hamas, Iran and Islamist Jihadi groups as legitimate resistance movements against Western secular liberal democracies; and fails to include the Israeli government or pro-Israel speakers in its coverage of Gaza.

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He also accuses it of promoting a narrow Wahhabi-Salafi version of Islam while excluding Muslims belonging to Shiah, Sufi and Ahmadi denominations, as well as secular liberal Muslims.

Dr Hargey alleges that the Islam Channel repeatedly presents a one-sided view of events.

Mohamed Harrath founded the Islam Channel in 2004 - Islam Channel

He claims that its news programme, Islam Channel News, used the sentencing of Southport killer Axel Rudakubana to attack the UK governments counter-terrorism programme Prevent while omitting the fact that he was in possession of an Al-Qaeda training manual.

Dr Hargey also points to the channels alleged attempt to champion convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui as an innocent Muslim victim of the War on Islam, in a documentary broadcast in January, without mentioning her links to Al-Qaeda and her attempts to kill US officers.

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The Islam Channel is also accused of breaching Ofcoms requirement that a broadcasters content must not cause harm or undue offence or incite crime, disorder or violence.

Dr Hargey points to what he claims is the channels consistently anti-Israel commentary, including a speech by Ismail Patel, the founder of the Friends of Al-Aqsa and joint organiser of recent pro-Palestine marches, in which he accused Israel of being a violent racist colonialist enterprise.

The Channels presenters and guests are accused of promoting an unquestioning view of radical Islam, with no mention of the violation of womens rights under the current Taliban regime in Afghanistan or Irans theocracy.

Dr Hargey also accuses the channel of failing to mention the Oct 7 Hamas attacks during a programme on the Gaza conflict in December and of repeating claims that Israeli forces target journalists without allowing the Israeli government or Israeli Defence Forces to respond.

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In the letter of complaint to Ofcom, Dr Hargey alleges: The stations persistent lack of impartiality, spread of harmful rhetoric, and engagement in political advocacy appear to directly contravene the principles set out in the Broadcasting Code.

The Islam Channel was founded in 2004 by businessman Mohamed Harrath, who was granted refugee status by the UK in 2000 after fleeing Tunisia, where he had set up the Tunisian Islamic Front to provide what he said was non-violent opposition to Ben Alis dictatorship.

Mr Harrath was arrested in South Africa on terrorism charges in 2010, after the Tunisian authorities added him to Interpols Red Notice list. He was later released without charge and accused the Tunisians of using Interpol to harass him.

The Islam Channel is also accused of breaching Ofcoms requirements not to cause harm

In a Christmas Day broadcast last year, Mr Harrath compared the situation of Muslims in Britain to that of the Jews in 1930s Germany under the rise of the Nazis, stating: There is a targeting of the Muslim community. . . There is another way to learn from history. From the Jewish community. They were well off in Germany and they thought nothing would happen. . . We have to fight. We have to fight back.

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The Islam Channel, which is available in the UK on Sky, Virgin and Freeview and livestream around the world, is funded by advertising and viewer donations, including fundraising for itself live on air by claiming to be the only channel telling the truth about the war in Gaza.

It was also reported to have received a 2 million investment in 2007 from the overseas arm of Al-Shiddi Group, which has links to the Saudi royal family.

The channel was awarded the Responsible Media of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards in 2014 and 2015.

But it has also been found to have been sanctioned by Ofcom in the past for serious and repeated breaches of the Broadcasting Code.

Sectarian ideology

In 2007, the regulator fined it 30,000 for breaking the broadcasting code by having Yvonne Ridley present news programmes while she was a candidate in local elections.

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In November 2010, the channel was censured by Ofcom for allowing presenters to advocate marital rape and domestic abuse.

In September 2023, Ofcom found that its one-hour documentary The Andinia Plan amounted to hate speech against Jewish people.

Dr Hargey told The Telegraph: Islam Channel epitomises hideous Islamic fundamentalism in the UK. It purports to represent British Muslims, but its sectarian ideology is nothing but an insidious initiative to mainstream Muslim extremism and fanaticism in this country.

It revels in their them and us narrative, inhibiting any effective social cohesion. Ofcom needs to take decisive action to mitigate the channels incendiary language and partisan guests who do not subscribe to traditional British values.

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An Ofcom spokesperson: We are assessing the complaints against our rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.

The Islam Channel was repeatedly approached for comment.

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March 15 (UPI) -- American and Iraqi military forces killed a senior Islamic State leader using an airstrike, U.S. Central Command confirmed in a post on social media.

Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, who was better known as Abu Khadijah, died in Iraq's Al Anbar Province in the western part of the country following the "precision airstrike" earlier in the week, CENTCOM said on X.

American and Iraqi forces later confirmed al-Rifai's identity using DNA analysis. One other Islamic State operative was killed during the operation.

CENTCOM Forces Kill ISIS Chief of Global Operations Who Also Served as ISIS #2 On March 13, U.S. Central Command forces, in cooperation with Iraqi Intelligence and Security Forces, conducted a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, that killed the Global ISIS #2 leader,... pic.twitter.com/rWeEoUY7Lw U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2025

Both men were wearing explosive vests and had multiple weapons with them at the time.

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"Abu Khadijah was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organization. We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle their organizations that threaten our homeland and U.S., allied and partner personnel in the region and beyond," CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said in the post on X.

The U.S. military referred to al-Rifai as the Islamic State's "#2 leader" and "the Emir of ISIS' most senior decision-making body.

American officials said al-Rifai was active in Iraq and Syria and served as the Chief of Global Operations for the Islamic State.

"Abu Khadijah maintained responsibility for operations, logistics, and planning conducted by ISIS globally, and directs a significant portion of finance for the group's global organization," CENTCOM said on X

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President Donald Trump rejoiced on social media.

"His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH," Trump said on his Truth social media platform.

U.S. Central Command is one of the Defense Department's 1 unified combatant commands.

In late January, CENTCOM carried out an airstrike that killed a senior operative in an al-Qaida-affiliated group in northwest Syria.
Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufayi has been described as the Emir of ISIS most senior decision-making body - X.com

The head of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has been killed in a precision air strike by members of the Iraqi national intelligence service along with US-led coalition forces.

Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufayi was considered one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the Iraqi prime minister, said on X. The Iraqis continue their impressive victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism, he added.

The jihadist, sanctioned by the US in 2023, was ISs so-called governor of the groups Syrian and Iraqi provinces, according to the Iraqi leader.

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Rufayi, also known as Abu Khadijah, was also responsible for the foreign operations offices, Mr Sudani said.

The US Central Command described Rufayi as the Emir of ISIS most senior decision-making body.

CENTCOM Forces Kill ISIS Chief of Global Operations Who Also Served as ISIS #2



On March 13, U.S. Central Command forces, in cooperation with Iraqi Intelligence and Security Forces, conducted a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, that killed the Global ISIS #2 leader, pic.twitter.com/rWeEoUY7Lw  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2025

It said he maintained responsibility for operations, logistics, and planning conducted by ISIS globally, and directed a significant portion of finance for the groups global organisation.

A security official said the operation was carried out by an air strike in Anbar province, in western Iraq. A second official said the operation took place on Thursday night but that Rufayis death has only just been confirmed.

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Responding to the news, Donald Trump, the US president, wrote on his Truth Social platform: Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed.

He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters. His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government.

Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the Iraqi prime minister, said the death was a victory for the nation which conducted the mission alongside the US - Alex Brandon/AP

The US Central Command posted on X what appeared to be a video of the strike, which it said killed the Global ISIS #2 leader ... and one other ISIS operative.

It said that both fighters had been wearing unexploded suicide vests and that it had identified Rufayi through a DNA match.

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Abu Khadija [Rufayi] was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organisation. We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle their organisations that threaten our homeland and US, allied and partner personnel in the region and beyond, said Gen Michael Erik Kurilla, commander, US Central Command.

In 2014, IS declared a caliphate after capturing large parts of Iraq and Syria, beginning a rule marked by atrocities.

Iraqi forces backed by the international coalition defeated IS in late 2017. The group lost its last territory in Syria two years later.

The group has, however, maintained a presence in Syrias vast desert, and in Iraq largely carries out attacks in rural areas.

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About 2,500 American troops are deployed in Iraq, which now considers its security forces capable of confronting the jihadists.

The US and Iraq announced in late September that the international coalition would end its decade-long military mission in federal Iraq within a year, and by September 2026 in the autonomous Kurdistan region.

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VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) State Troopers from Indiana State Polices Putnamville Post are currently investigating a death in Vigo County.

According to the news release troopers were dispatched to the Indiana State Police weigh station on Interstate 70 shortly before 9 a.m. on Friday. Troopers were called to the station located on the Indiana-Illinois state line for a welfare check after a company was unable to contact their driver. The release states that when the troopers arrived, no one would answer the door to the semi and they had to force entry. Thats when they discovered a deceased man.

Initial investigations show no signs of self-harm or foul play. Vigo County Coroners Office was able to identify the man as 52-year-old Ernest N. Rhodes from Fordland, Missouri. The autopsy has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Terre Haute Regional Hospital. WTWO will update the story if more information becomes available.

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Once rare, Israel's use of airstrikes in the occupied West Bank has soared since Oct. 7, 2023, stoking fears that it is deploying the military tactics there that it used in the Gaza Strip, some 60 miles away.

There wasnt a time in the history of the occupation, not even during the Second Intifada, that the use of airstrikes had become so severe and deadly, in the West Bank, Shai Parnes, spokesperson for the Israeli human rights group BTselem, told NBC News, referring to the Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s.

However, by BTselems count, since Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli military has increasingly dropped bombs on the territory: at least 69 airstrikes in the West Bank killed 261 people, including 41 under the age of 19. At least 28 of those 261 people have been killed since Jan. 19, Parnes said.

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The rise in airstrikes, according to a report published by B'Tselem on Wednesday, speaks to the increasingly destructive path that human rights groups say Israel has taken in the West Bank, with its operations accelerating since the Jan. 19 ceasefire in Gaza.

Destroyed buildings in the Nur Shams camp in the occupied-West Bank.

While BTselem does not have complete data for Israeli airstrikes launched in the West Bank in the years before the start of the current war, Parnes said that is mainly because they were uncommon, with data compiled by the human rights group finding that over the span of 18 years from 2005 to Oct. 7, 2023, a total of 14 people were killed in the territory in airstrike-related incidents.

Israeli security forces launched an ongoing offensive in the West Bank city of Jenin in January, two days after the latest ceasefire in Gaza. The Israeli military said the assault was aimed at stamping out militant groups in the Palestinian territory, and had led to a rise in deadly strikes and mass displacement.

In a statement sent to NBC News on Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces said its offensive began after a significant increase in terror attacks in the West Bank, but it maintained that there had been no change in the rules of engagement.

Explosions at the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank.

The United Nations warned that Israel's weekslong raid has become "by far the single longest Israeli Forces' operation" in the West Bank, with a devastating toll that has included at least 69 Palestinians killed and more than 40,000 people displaced from their homes across targeted areas, including Jenin, Tulkarm, Nur Shams and Nablus.

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The dozens killed in recent weeks add to a growing death toll in the West Bank, with at least 897 Palestinians killed, including 190 under the age of 19, since Oct. 7, 2023, according to a database run by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)  a dramatic rise from 253 Palestinians killed in the year before Oct. 7, 2023.

Most of the rising casualties in the West Bank have been attributed to settler violence and clashes with settlers and Israeli security forces.

Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official and negotiator, said that while he believed the realities of mass displacement were very traumatic, he felt there was no comparison between either the intensity of the might Israel is using in the West Bank compared to Gaza, nor in the seriousness of the threat that militants in the West Bank pose compared to Hamas in Gaza.

People walk through the destruction after an Israeli raid in Jenin on March 11, 2025.

Still, pointing to scenes of people fleeing their homes and buildings burnt out and destroyed in the West Bank, Parnes also said that rhetoric from Israeli lawmakers suggested a desire, at least on the part of some, to see the Gazification of the West Bank, with far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling in January for for areas such as Jenin and Nablus to be made to "look like Jabalia," a city in northern Gaza largely reduced to rubble during the war.

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Mustafa Barghouti, a veteran Palestinian political activist, said he shared Parnes concerns of Israeli forces using similar tactics deployed in Gaza, where more than 48,500 people have been killed, according to local health officials, and around 70% of the infrastructure has been destroyed, according to the United Nations.

Its a very dangerous strategy they are using, he said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
BEIRUT (AP)  An Israeli drone strike hit a car in south Lebanon on Saturday, killing one person who the Israeli military said was a member of Hezbollah.

State-run National News Agency did not give further details about the strike in the village of Bourj el-Mlouk.

The airstrike was the latest in a wave of such attacks since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire went into effect in late November ending the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war.

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The Israeli military said the Hezbollah member who was killed was active in the border village of Kfar Kila.

The strike came a day after Lebanons military court sentenced two people to prison terms for giving digital information to Israel.

Four judicial officials told The Associated Press Saturday that one of those sentenced received a 15-year prison term while the other was sentenced to 10 years in jail. A third was set free for lack of evidence against him, the officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share information with the media.

The officials said the two scanned the cellular telephones network in wide areas of Beirut and its southern suburbs that is home to Hezbollahs headquarters using sophisticated equipment.

The officials said the two, who were detained last year, also supplied Israel with about 1,500 photographs from Beiruts southern suburbs.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

CAIRO (Reuters) -At least nine Palestinians including three local journalists were killed on Saturday in an Israeli air strike on Gaza's northern Beit Lahiya town, the local health ministry said, as Hamas leaders held ceasefire talks with mediators in Cairo.

Several were critically injured as the strike hit a car, with casualties inside and outside the vehicle, health officials told Reuters.

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Witnesses and fellow journalists said the people in the car were on a mission for a charity called Al-Khair Foundation in Beit Lahiya, and they were accompanied by journalists and photographers when the strike hit them. At least three local journalists were among the dead, according to Palestinian media.

The Israeli military initially said it had struck two "terrorists" operating a drone that posed a threat to its forces and several people who collected the drone equipment.

In another statement it named six men that it said were members of Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad who it said had been killed in the incident. Some of the militants had operated "under the cover of journalists", it said.

The incident underscores the fragility of the January 19 ceasefire agreement that halted large-scale fighting in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian health officials say dozens of people have been killed by Israeli fire despite the truce.

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Salama Marouf, the head of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, denied the army's allegations.

"The team was made of civilians and worked in an area near a shelter on a mission sponsored by a charity. They were not in a prohibited area and didn't pose any danger of any kind to the occupation army," Marouf said in a statement.

CEASEFIRE IMPASSE

Later on Saturday, Gaza medics said another Israeli air strike in the town of Juhr Eldeek in the central Gaza Strip killed two Palestinians. The Israeli military said it was unaware of the incident.

Hamas accused Israel in a statement of attempting to renege on the ceasefire agreement, putting the number of Palestinians killed since January 19 at 150.

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It urged mediators to compel Israel to move ahead with the implementation of the phased ceasefire deal, blaming Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the impasse.

Responding to some of the incidents reported by Gaza medics, the Israeli military said its forces have intervened to thwart threats by "terrorists" approaching its forces or planting bombs on the ground near where forces operate.

Since a first phase of the ceasefire expired on March 2, Israel has rejected opening the second phase of talks, which would require it to negotiate over a permanent end to the war, the main demand of Hamas.

The incidents coincided with a visit by Hamas' exiled Gaza chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, to Cairo for further ceasefire talks aimed at resolving disputes with Israel that could risk a resumption of fighting.

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On Friday, Hamas said it had agreed to free an American-Israeli dual national if Israel begins the next phase of ceasefire talks towards a permanent end to the war, an offer Israel dismissed as "psychological warfare".

Hamas said it had made the offer to release New Jersey native Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old soldier in the Israeli army, after receiving a proposal from mediators for negotiations on the second phase.

Israel says it wants to extend the ceasefire's first phase, a proposal backed by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Hamas says it will resume freeing hostages only under the second phase.

The war began when Hamas carried out a cross-border raid into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

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Israel's subsequent assault on Gaza has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, reduced much of the territory to rubble and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Writing by Enas Alashray and Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Mark Potter, Susan Fenton and William Mallard)
An Israeli drone targeted a car in southern Lebanon on Saturday, killing two people, a Lebanese security source told dpa.

The Israeli army confirmed the attack and said "a short while ago, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] struck a Hezbollah terrorist who took part in terrorist activity in the area of Kfarkela in southern Lebanon."

A ceasefire has been in place between the Lebanese militia Hezbollah and Israel since November.

However, the Lebanese leadership considers the continued presence of Israeli troops at the five strategic points to be a violation of the agreement.
At least nine people, including two journalists, were killed in an Israeli drone attack in northern Gaza on Saturday, according to Palestinian sources.

Medical staff reported that members of a rescue team operating in the northern town of Beit Lahia were among the victims, as well as the photojournalists, a media spokesman and a driver.

The Israeli military confirmed the attack but provided no information about those killed or injured. It said it had previously identified two militants from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas operating a drone in Beit Lahia, which posed a threat to nearby Israeli troops.

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It said other militants then collected the drone equipment and boarded a vehicle. The Israeli military attacked this group as well.

The claims from both sides could not initially be independently verified.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip since January 19. However, the Israeli military reserves the right to shoot at individuals if it assesses they pose a threat to Israeli soldiers or positions.
Italy has confirmed that it has no plans to engage in a military mission in Ukraine to support a potential peace agreement with Russia.

Source: Italian government in a statement following Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's participation in an online meeting of the coalition of the willing organised by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Details: The Italian government stressed that only a just and lasting peace can ensure Ukraine's future sovereignty and security.

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Quote: "President Meloni confirmed that Italy intends to continue working with European and Western partners and the United States to define credible and effective security guarantees, reaffirming however that Italys participation in a possible military force on the ground is not planned."

Background:

Following an online meeting on 15 March, the UK Prime Minister announced that the coalition of the willing was entering an operational phase. Military officials are set to meet in the UK on Thursday to consider ways to reinforce the future peace agreement.

Starmer also mentioned two pressure points that could compel Russia to enter negotiations.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley met with President Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in Washington DC.

The topic was fentanyl. Jackley, along with seven other Attorneys General, specifically talked about the influx of fentanyl coming into the United States.

Jackley didnt hold back about on how its negatively impacting South Dakota.

When you look at South Dakota, a midwestern state in the heartland of America, last year alone we confiscated 18.2 pounds of fentanyl, enough to kill our population four to five times, Jackley said during a press conference.

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OGorman, Stevens, BV, Washington win in quarterfinals

The amount of fentanyl seized has been slowly increasing each year from 578 grams in 2020 to 8262 grams last year.

Jackley was one of seven Attorneys General who attended Fridays meeting.

Alan Wilson of South Carolina was another.

When people ask me what keeps me up at night I have to talk about a lot of the things originating on the southern border of the United States, obviously a lot of the gang activity, the illegal immigration activity and probably most importantly the fentanyl that is being trafficked into our respective states, Wilson said.

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After the press conference, Jackley says he told President Trump that continued funding for the high-intensity drug trafficking task force which is a partnership between local, state, and federal authorities will be instrumental in fighting the fentanyl crisis in South Dakota.

That funding is very important to us, we have both investigators and prosecutors as a part of that, Jackley said.

Jackley also says hes been blessed to work with a strong public safety-minded legislature.

From strengthening our laws on fentanyl distribution to fighting human trafficking, theyve given law enforcement the tools to address and make our communities safe which is why these partnerships are so significant and so important for us to be able to get the laws enforced to protect our communities, Jackley said.

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JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  Jackson police officers and civilian employees were honored on Friday for their hard work and service.

Family, friends and law enforcement gathered at the Jackson Police Department (JPD) Training Academy for the event. Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade told the crowd that JPD is working to become one of the top law enforcement agencies in Mississippi.

The highest honor went to Corporal Anthony Johnson, who was named Officer of the Year. He was hit by a vehicle while responding to a call on February 16.

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I feel very honored to receive this award, and I appreciate the fact that there are people in the community and my chief, Chief Wade, who felt like I deserved this. Im just here to serve the community and do the best job that I can do. Ive been an officer for 13 years. I just started my 30th year in January, and weve made great strides under Chief Wades leadership. I look forward to bigger and better things for the City of Jackson, said Johnson.

JPD continues to focus on reducing crime and improving community relations. Wade said events like this help show both officers and behind the scenes workers that their efforts are appreciated.

When I first became chief, officers didnt feel appreciated. I want to make sure they know how much I value them. Thats why we hold this ceremony quarterly, recognizing both sworn officers and civilian employees. We have about 130 civilian staff, dispatchers, detention officers, evidence techs, records clerks. They make sure everything runs smoothly. They do a critical job, and I want to celebrate them too, because it takes all of us, the police chief said.

Wade hopes to increase pay for JPD employees soon to match their heavy workload.

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Be careful what you wish for. Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk joked that actor Jesse Eisenbergs newly granted Polish citizenship might come with stringsand military serviceattached.

The Oscar nominee, who has been trying to obtain Polish citizenship for years, was granted the honor last week. Eisenberg shared the news on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The president personally gave it [citizenship] to me last week, the 41-year-old actor said. You know, it was a great honor.

However, just a day after becoming a naturalized Pole, Eisenberg was hit with a bit of unexpected news: a new mandate that requires all male Polish citizens to undergo military training.

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I open the news  and the top story was, Poland now requires all males to participate in military training, Eisenberg quipped. This was, like, the day after I got it. The star, who was promoting his second directorial effort, A Real Pain, couldnt help but laugh at the irony of the situation. And, luckily for him, Polish authorities were similarly amused.

Dear Jesse, get ready! Ill have news for you tomorrow. https://t.co/pTloKMm4Ki  Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) March 14, 2025

Eisenbergs bewilderment didnt go unnoticed by Tusk, who took to social media to respond. On X (formerly Twitter), Tusk wrote, Dear Jesse, get ready! Ill have news for you tomorrow, humorously suggesting that Eisenberg might soon be called up for his military training.

Eisenbergs relationship with Poland inspired the Oscar-winning movie A Real Pain, which follows a pair of cousins (played by Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin) tracing their Jewish heritage in Poland. The movie, which blends comedy and drama with cultural exploration, has been hailed as a deeply personal project for the multi-hyphenate, reflecting his own connection to the country through his Jewish roots.

The comedic exchange between Eisenberg and Tusk now shines a light on Polands military mandate, which applies to all males over 18, regardless of their background or profession. While the actors situation is unique, average citizens will be compelled to report for duty as tensions in Eastern Europe continue to rise in the wake of the conflict in neighboring Ukraine.
FARMERSBURG, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Chief Meteorologist Jesse Walker gave his up to date look at Friday nights incoming weather.

Walker stated that currently our area is mostly dealing with strong winds due to the storms forming in the west. Those storms are the ones headed our way that currently have the area under a wind advisory until Saturday and are expected to be worse overnight.

Walker said that the heat in the area after a mostly sunny day is pushing record highs, though that is just fuel for the thunderstorms on the way. Nothing is currently on the radar but a line is coming in from Missouri that has plenty of weather warnings and even a tornado watch currently. Check out the full forecast below.

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If you have any photos or video of tonights storms, send them to us. You can scan the QR code in the video above or click the link in this story to bring you to our Report It page under the news tab. Your photos or videos could be used in a future story.

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Johns Hopkins University said it would eliminate more than 2,000 jobs after President Donald Trumps administration rescinded federal funding for thousands of international aid projects, including a program designed to help prevent HIV transmission in India and a clinical trial for diarrheal disease in Bangladesh.

The university, one of the countrys most significant and prestigious scientific research institutions, said in a statement Thursday that it would eliminate 1,975 jobs internationally and 247 in the United States as the result of cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development. An additional 78 U.S.-based and 29 international employees will be furloughed.

This is a difficult day for our entire community, the statement said. The termination of more than $800 million in USAID funding is now forcing us to wind down critical work here in Baltimore and internationally.

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Researchers leading some of the programs to be shuttered said the cuts could raise the risk of dangerous outbreaks. The changes will also have an economic impact in Baltimore because the university is the largest private employer in Maryland.

About half of Johns Hopkins funding last year came from federal research dollars, according to a letter from Ron Daniels, the universitys president.

Its one of several universities across the country laying off workers or implementing hiring freezes as they reckon with sweeping cuts f to research and higher education from the Trump administration. Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and Notre Dame University have abruptly stopped hiring faculty.

Additionally, the Trump administration canceled about $400 million in grants to Columbia University last week, citing alleged harassment of Jewish students, as well as $30 million in funding to the University of Maine, after the states governor clashed with Trump over transgender athletes in sports.

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More than 50 universities are under investigation as the administration seeks to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

The White House defended the actions.

President Trump is streamlining federal agencies to eliminate wasteful DEI projects and make more funds available for scientific research, not less," White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said. "He will support policies that bolster our public health, cut programs that do not align with the agenda that the American people gave him a mandate in November to implement, and keep programs that put America First.

Johns Hopkins researchers said they fear the cuts to USAID will have grave consequences for the communities where they had been working.

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Dr. Sunil Solomon, an epidemiologist who helped lead an HIV detection and prevention research program in India called Accelerate, said the program provided HIV testing for nearly 120,000 people and diagnosed nearly 20,000 cases since it began in April 2019. The program was also helping to deliver medicine to and improve treatment for about 8,000 children with HIV.

The program was slated to receive about $50 million in total USAID funding through the end of 2026, Solomon said, and had used a little more than $36 million so far.

Solomon said there would be more transmission of HIV in India, more children with HIV who wont receive timely care and fewer people diagnosed as a result of his programs closure.

There definitely is gonna be a lot of lives lost from this program from the whole global pause and the termination of USAID awards, Solomon said. Youre not going to see it happen tomorrow or the day after, but these impacts are going to be seen maybe six months down the line when kids have stopped taking their medication, their immune system starts deteriorating, they start picking up new infections.

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Solomon said cutting Accelerate would force the layoffs of nearly 600 people, including four Johns Hopkins staffers in the U.S. and 14 in India, along with hundreds of subcontractors in India.

Dr. Judd Walson, an infectious disease physician and the chair of the department of international health at Johns Hopkins, said other programs had been similarly shuttered or reduced.

These include a tuberculosis research program and a clinical trial in Bangladesh designed to reduce outbreaks of cholera and other diarrheal diseases, he said.

People were enrolled in that study. We had to pause all activities despite that ongoing work, Walson said.

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He added that the cuts could put U.S. residents at more risk for infectious diseases.

In many ways, USAID funding has provided a mechanism for us to have eyes on the ground of whats happening around the world in relationship to disease, Walson said. Were one plane ride away from the spread of very significant diseases into our country, and this decision to terminate all these programs will have important consequences for global health security.

In Baltimore, meanwhile, economic effects could ripple. Johns Hopkins paid out about $5 billion in wages in Maryland in the 2022 fiscal year and directly employed nearly 56,500 people in the state, according to university estimates. Johns Hopkins said it was responsible for more than $15 billion in economic impacts in Maryland during that time.

Other pending Trump administration cuts could threaten Johns Hopkins further. The administration last month attempted to limit National Institutes of Health payments to universities for research grants by capping indirect costs, which cover things like utilities and building operations, to 15%.

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The policy was challenged in court, including in one case where the university is a plaintiff. Earlier this month, a judge put the administrations plan on hold.

In a legal filing, Johns Hopkins said it received more than $1 billion in grant funding from NIH in the 2024 fiscal year. Reducing payments for indirect costs could leave the university on the hook for an estimated $200 million, the filing said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
(WHTM)  In front of a national audience, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro outlined why he thinks people across the country see him as a potential presidential candidate in 2028 as Democrats look for the future leader of their party.

Shapiro was a guest on HBOs Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday evening and was repeatedly pressed on his potential prospects as the Democratic nominee in 2028.

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Mahers opening question to Shapiro  Why do so many people see you as this guy who might be the guy?'

I won when Hillary Clinton lost (in 2016), I outperformed Joe Biden (in 2020), got more votes than anybody ever running for governor in Pennsylvania, said Shapiro, who added hes won three statewide races and won the 2022 gubernatorial race with a record 3 million votes.

He continued to highlight his status as the only governor with a split legislature and legislative achievements such as funding education and law enforcement.

When asked about Democrats voting with Republicans to avoid a government shutdown, Shapiro appeared to define himself as an outsider candidate, though he made it clear he wasnt announcing any kind of campaign on Mahers show.

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Im not an expert in the DC stuff, said Shapiro. I try and stay as far away from that as I can. I live in the real world in Pennsylvania, where we have to balance budgets.

Shapiro added he wouldve liked to see Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) negotiate with Republicans and get legislative wins out of the process to fund the government.

I would have liked to see when Chuck Schumer had leverage here, to say we need a, b, c and d for the Democratic Party, and force the Republicans to meet him halfway on those issues and deliver something for the folks who are worried now.

Josh Shapiro, John Fetterman among top presidential contenders in 2028; report

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Shapiro also hit President Donald Trumps tariffs, saying the price of Pennsylvania dairy farmers exports to their biggest customer, Mexico, will be increased by 25%.

The governor also gave a shoutout to York after visiting a hydropower plant earlier this week.

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The 2028 campaign cycle will be the first time both Democrats and Republicans will not have a current or former president on the ballot since 2016. Maher suggested during his interview with Shapiro that the governor could run in a primary with California Governor Gavin Newsome, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

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Before Shapiro potentially runs for president in 2028, he faces a re-election campaign in 2026. Republican Congressman Dan Meuser, Treasurer Stacy Garrity, and State Senator Doug Mastriano (who lost to Shapiro in 2022) have each discussed potential Republican primary campaigns.

Shapiro has yet to formally announce a re-election bid.

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A federal judge on Saturday preemptively blocked the Trump administrations reported efforts to quickly deport five Venezuelan nationals under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) of 1798.

The move from U.S. District Judge James Boasberg came just a few hours after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a motion against President Trumps reported plan to invoke the AEA to accelerate the removal of undocumented immigrants from the U.S.

The civil rights group, representing five individuals in immigration custody, asked the federal judge to block the use of the law, although Trump himself has yet to invoke it.

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The federal judge granted the restraining order on Saturday, ruling that the administration cant remove the five plaintiffs for two weeks so the judge can first hold a hearing on their challenge.

A remote hearing has been scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday where the ACLU will ask the judge to broaden the order to everyone potentially affected by the AEA.

The ruling comes after multiple news outlets reported Thursday that the president was expecting to invoke the wartime law in the coming days to give himself the broad authority to oust undocumented immigrants with little due process.

In its filing, the ACLU, alongside Democracy Forward and the ACLU of the District of Columbia, stated the government has moved the plaintiffs, which it claims are part of Tren De Agua, to facilities in Texas. The group argued the administration is using these facilities as staging facilities to remove Venezuelan men under the AEA.

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In the court filing, the groups wrote that the five individuals have compelling asylum claimsfor instance, one fled Venezuela after he was beaten by police because his stepfather was a political dissident.

Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal group that is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S., is from Venezuela. It is believed to have over 5,000 members, and it is one of the primary targets of the current administration.

The AEA has been invoked three times previously, each time during an ongoing war: the War of 1812, World War 1, and World War 2, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

In World Wars I and II, the law was a key authority behind detentions, expulsions, and restrictions targeting German, Austro-Hungarian, Japanese, and Italian immigrants based solely on their ancestry, the policy center wrote. The law is best known for its role in Japanese internment, a shameful part of U.S. history for which Congress, presidents, and the courts have apologized.

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Hours after Boasbergs decision, the Department of Justice appealed the ruling.

The White House and Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Updated at 3:12 pm EDT.

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The Trump administration announced it had deported hundreds of alleged members of a Venezuelan gang, even after a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration from carrying out deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which the president invoked on Saturday.

This weekend, at the Presidents direction, the Department of Homeland Security successfully arrested nearly 300 Tren De Aragua terrorists, saving countless American lives, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Sunday. Thanks to the great work of the Department of State, these heinous monsters were extracted and removed to El Salvador where they will no longer be able to pose any threat to the American People.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also remarked on the deportations Sunday, writing in a statement on X that El Salvador has agreed to hold in their very good jails at a fair price that will also save our taxpayer dollars. He added that the U.S. also sent two dangerous top MS-13 gang leaders as well as 21 Salvadorans to face justice in the country.

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The announcement comes one day after Chief Judge James Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order on deportations under wartime law on Saturday night. This order blocks the deportation of any non-citizens in custody and facing removal under the Alien Enemies Act for at least 14 days.

The decision comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Democracy Forward challenging Trumps order hours before he signed it.

I think theres clearly irreparable harm here given these folks will be deported, Boasberg said. A brief delay in their removal does not cause the government any harm.

Particularly given the plaintiffs information, unrebutted by the government, that flights are actively departing and planning to depart, I do not believe that Im able to wait any longer, he added. Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned to the United States.

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Democrats swiftly condemned the deportations.

Speaking on MSNBC Sunday, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats are going to stand strongly in support of the rule of law and its application, which the Trump administration appears to be violating in this particular instance.

House Judiciary Democrats said the invocation of the act requires a declaration of war. But Congress has declared no such war, the statement read. There are lots of lawful ways to promote public safety and national security, but this is a lawless and reckless exercise of emergency powers to skip over Congress and due process.

Trump signed an order invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 against members of a Venezuelan gang on Saturday (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Earlier Saturday, Boasberg had issued a preemptive block on the removal of the five Venezuelans identified in the lawsuit who believed they were about to be removed. At that point, Trump had not yet signed the executive order.

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Trump issued the executive order on Saturday afternoon, invoking the rarely-used wartime power against members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Trumps order claims the gang is invading the US, and under the Alien Enemies Act, the administration has new powers to deport members.

I proclaim that all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are members of TdA, are within the United States, and are not actually naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the United States are liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies, Trump wrote in his order.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled the gang a foreign terrorist organization last month following an executive order that allowed him to do so.

The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 is intended to be invoked when the country is at war or if a foreign nation has invaded the U.S. or has issued threats that it will. While the administration is pointing to threats from gangs and cartels, legal experts noted that it will be challenging for the administration to use the law when the country isnt being actively attacked by a foreign government.

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Beatriz Lopez, co-executive director of the Immigration Hub, said in a statement that Trump is unearthing one of Americas darkest laws to launch a deportation dragnet unlike anything in modern history.

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
A federal judge has ordered an immediate hold on efforts by President Donald Trump to quickly deport Venezuelan nationals under rarely used wartime powers intended to resist a foreign invasion  and demanded the return of planes already headed to Central America.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg on Saturday ordered the Trump administration to immediately halt efforts to remove those Venezuelan migrants until he has more time to consider whether Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act was illegal.

The lawsuit , brought on behalf of five named Venezuelan immigrants, was provisionally turned into a class action  meaning it serves as a block on deportation of all non-citizens in U.S. custody who are subject to Trumps proclamation invoking the rarely-used law .

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Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned to the United States however that is accomplished, Boasberg announced. Make sure its complied with immediately.

Two aircraft believed to be carrying Venezuelan deportees took off from an airport in Harlingen, Texas, during a break in a video hearing Boasberg conducted Saturday for the lawsuit filed by immigrant-rights advocates. According to flight tracking databases, one plane was bound for San Salvador, El Salvador, and the other for Comayagua, Honduras, and they were in the air nearing their destinations as Boasberg issued his order.

Boasberg said there are serious legal questions about Trumps rationale for invoking the 1798 law  used only three times in American history  by labeling the criminal gang Tren de Aragua the equivalent of a foreign government.

The temporary restraining order granted by Boasberg will expire in 14 days, which he said would be enough time to litigate the legality of Trumps order. He set a further hearing on the merits of the case for late next week.

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"Today was a horrific day in the history of the nation, when the President publicized that he was seeking to invoke extraordinary wartime powers in the absence of a war or invasion and claiming virtually unlimited authority to remove people from the country. But, tonight the rule of law prevailed, said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, a national legal organization.

Trumps proclamation  which was released by the White House Saturday afternoon but signed Friday  relies on the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which is meant to quickly remove foreigners during wartime or invasion, and comes hours after a preemptive order from a federal judge barred the five Venezuelan nationals from being deported immediately. Its the latest sweeping executive action from the White House designed to speed up Trumps efforts to deport millions of undocumented immigrants from the country. The Justice Department argued that the president could unilaterally determine who poses a significant risk to the United States given his inherent authority as president over national security.

I find and declare that TdA is perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States, Trump wrote in his declaration .

The order directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to sign a letter within 60 days declaring this U.S. policy, and for the letter to be sent to every judge, including the justices on the Supreme Court, as well as the governor of every state.

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Every immigrant that meets the description outlined in the order are subject to immediate apprehension, detention, and removal. It is not clear how many members of Tren de Aragua are currently in the United States  or how the government will make such designations.

Trump repeatedly suggested during his campaign he may turn to the Alien Enemies Act to aid his mass deportation plans, a promise he reiterated on Inauguration Day. The president said on Jan. 20 that he would use the wartime law to direct our government to use the full and immense power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks bringing devastating crime to U.S. soil, including our cities and inner cities. He also moved last month to designate eight Latin American cartels, including Tren de Aragua, as foreign terrorist organizations .

Well be reading a lot of stories tomorrow about what weve done with them, Trump said at the Justice Department on Friday , speaking about Tren De Aragua. Youll be very impressed, and you feel a lot safer, because they are a vicious group.

Hours before the presidents proclamation was published online, Boasberg issued an urgent ruling blocking the deportations of the five named plaintiffs in the suit. He cited exigent circumstances and scheduled a hearing on the issue for later in the afternoon.

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The lawsuit, filed by Democracy Forward and the ACLU, emphasizes that the Alien Enemies Act has only been invoked during wartime  the War of 1812, World War I and World War II. The initial order by Boasberg was issued with unusual urgency, before the Trump administration had a chance to respond.

The administration quickly appealed both of Boasbergs orders to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

In a motion seeking an emergency stay of his first order , the Justice Department said the argument over the use of the Alien Enemies Act was hypothetical and fundamentally a political question to be resolved by the President." At the time of that filing, Trump had already signed the Alien Enemies Act proclamation, but it had not yet been released by the White House.

Immigrant-rights advocates said Trumps order could subject countless Venezuelans to imminent risk of deportation without any hearing or meaningful review.

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The centuries-old law allows the government to arrest, detain and deport undocumented migrants over the age of 14 who come from countries threatening an invasion or predatory incursion of the United States.

Those targeted under the wartime law would be swiftly deported and would not be allowed to have an asylum interview or an immigration court hearing. They would instead be detained and deported with little due process.

There is so much urgency here, and so much harm at stake, said ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt, who is representing the Venezuelan nationals, at a Saturday hearing. The government appears to be moving planes very rapidly, our understanding is that planes are going right now.

Flight tracking databases showed several flights scheduled to depart from Valley International Airport in Harlingen on planes operated by a company that contracts with Immigration & Customs Enforcement to do deportation flights.

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Video posted online Saturday showed a bus departing the El Valle detention center in Raymondville, Texas, accompanied by law enforcement vehicles. Immigration lawyer Jaime Diez said he recorded the images of immigrants from being transferred for deportation under high security just after 2 p.m. Central Time Saturday.

There was a helicopter following them, Diez said. There was a lot of activity going down there . here was a showing of force to make sure nothing happened.
A federal judge on Friday declined to grant temporary injunctive relief to plaintiffs in two lawsuits challenging the Trump administrations efforts to detain migrants at Guantanamo Bay.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols said the plaintiffs  in one lawsuit, a coalition of migrant family members and immigrant legal services organizations, and in the other, 10 migrants  failed to show irreparable harm or a likelihood of success on the merits in their respective challenges.

He noted that, at present, no detainees with final orders of removal are currently being held at the facility in Cuba that has been used to house military prisoners, including several involved in the 9/11 attacks. Because of that, the harm the challengers alleged is neither imminent nor irreparable he said when denying their requests for temporary restraining orders.

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Plaintiffs in both lawsuits are backed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

The coalition of legal organizations and family members of migrants who were transferred from the United States and held at Guantanamo filed suit last month. They asked the judge to ensure detainees at the facility are provided in-person access to lawyers, access to notices posted in multiple languages and to ensure detainees could tell their family members at which facility they were housed.

The 10 migrants sued earlier this month to block their possible transfers to Guantanamo.

Lee Gelernt, an ACLU lawyer who represented the challengers in both cases during a hearing Friday, warned that his clients harm would be irreparable were they transferred to the facility, citing perilous conditions at the camp such as shackles and solitary confinement that he said there was no way to justify.

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However, the migrants legal teams would likely not know the government moved them until after it happened. He called the scenario a Catch-22

We dont know that the moment we walk out of court they (wont) be sent to Guantanamo, Gelernt said.

The judge expressed skepticism almost immediately.

Who is affected in any way at this time right now? Nichols asked.

DOJ lawyer Drew Ensign called the lawsuits the weirdest prison conditions cases youve ever faced, emphasizing that none of the challengers were currently detained at the facility.

He argued that detention capacity is incredibly important, and the government has the discretion to put in play facilities lying there unused.

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When issuing his ruling, Nichols did say that serious questions remain as to whether the government has the authority to open detention centers extends to military bases overseas.

At Nichols request, Ensign said the government would agree to notify the judge if any of the plaintiffs were transferred to Guantanamo, at which point the challengers could renew their request for injunctive relief. However, he said he could not represent how long it might take to learn of that development to pass it along.

The judge ordered DOJ to get an answer to that question to inform whether he should direct the government to notify him on a faster timeline.

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Mar. 14An Alamogordo judge on Friday found sufficient evidence to charge an Otero County sheriff's deputy with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a boy outside Mescalero in June.

Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman earlier this month charged Jacob Diaz-Austin, 28, of Las Cruces, in the June 25 death of 17-year-old Elijah Hadley in a highway median near Mescalero.

District Judge Angie Schneider ordered the case bound over for trial in 12th Judicial District Court following a preliminary hearing on Thursday. Bregman and Chief Deputy District Attorney Natalie Lyon presented evidence during the hearing supporting the charge, including videos, photos and testimony, Bregman's office said Friday in a statement.

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Prosecutors in the 12th Judicial District had handed off the case to Bregman's office to avoid a conflict of interest.

Diaz-Austin was placed on paid administrative leave. Otero County Sheriff David Black has said Diaz-Austin will remain in the agency's employment unless he is convicted.

Diaz-Austin responded at 10:45 p.m. June 25 to a call for a welfare check about a teenager walking in the median of U.S. 70 west of Mescalero.

Hadley was holding an air-powered pellet gun when Diaz-Austin arrived at the scene and fired multiple gunshots, fatally injuring the teenager, according to a New Mexico State Police news release.

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Hadley, a Mescalero Apache Tribe member, was holding "what appeared to be a firearm" when the deputy fired, the news release said. "Agents later learned the object that Hadley presented at the deputy was an airsoft gun," or replica pellet gun.

Video captured by the dash camera of a patrol vehicle and widely viewed on social media showed the gun left Hadley's hands before the deputy fired. The video shows that Hadley repeatedly shouted "It's just a BB gun" after he was shot and fell to the ground.

Diaz-Austin's attorney, Charles McElhinney, filed a motion in January seeking dismissal of the case, arguing that prosecutors filed a criminal information "completely devoid of identification of any witnesses" as required by state law. That motion was denied Feb. 19.
A 28-year-old man had been sentenced to 200 years to life for killing two women in 2021 at a Fresno home.

Deandre Marquelez Foster of Fresno was sentenced Friday by Judge Gary Orozco in Fresno Superior Court following a plea agreement reached Sept. 10, the Fresno County District Attorneys Office said.

Foster pleaded no contest to two counts of murder, admitting both personal gun enhancements causing great bodily injury and/or death, and acknowledging two prior strike convictions.

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According to court documents, on April 9, 2021, Michelle Johnson checked on her goddaughter, Charlotte Ethridge, after hearing a disturbance inside Ethridges home in the 3200 block of East Olive Avenue.

Foster confronted Johnson in the door and a verbal dispute took place. Foster shot and killed Johnson, 50, in the breezeway of the apartment. He then shot Ethridge, 21, inside the home before fleeing.

Foster was arrested two days later.

Police at the time of Fosters arrest said he and Ethridge had been dating for several months. The victims were not related by blood, but Johnson had been Ethridges foster mother and was a neighbor. Ethridge was a mother of two.

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The DAs Office said Foster has an extensive criminal history dating back to 2009 and had prior strike convictions for robbery in 2013 and 2017. He was also previously convicted of multiple gun possession charges in 2016 and 2019.

Foster was on Post Release Community Supervision at the time of the double homicide.

Foster also is facing another charge after allegedly assaulting another inmate in 2023. He pleaded no contest to a charge of battery causing serious bodily injury and was sentenced to three years in state prison on Dec. 2, 2024.

Deandre Foster on Friday, March 14, 2025, was sentenced to 200 years in prison after pleading guilty to two murder charges from a double killing in 2021 in Fresno, California.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  A Hinds County jury found a man guilty of manslaughter in connection to a 2022 homicide.

Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens announced that Isaac Griffin was found guilty of manslaughter on Friday, March 14.

Gluckstadt police arrest man wanted for aggravated assault

Griffin was convicted in the shooting death of Kenneth Beals, 46. The shooting happened in the 2300 block of Ludlow Avenue on July 17, 2022.

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When Jackson police arrived at the scene, the found Beals body in the front door, covered by a blanket. He had been shot multiple times. An investigation revealed that an argument led to the shooting. Griffin was arrested the following day.

Isaac Griffin (Courtesy: Hinds Co. Detention Center)

Owens said Griffin faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 31, 2025.

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(KRON)  A federal jury convicted a former Antioch Police Department officer on Friday who used his K-9 excessively to bite suspects and kept a running a bite count that he celebrated with other officers, prosecutors said.

Armed high school student fled campus, dumped loaded gun: Pinole PD

Morteza Amiri, 33, was convicted of one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of falsification of records, the Northern District of California Department of Justice said in a news release.

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According to evidence presented at trial, on July 24, 2019, then-Officer Amiri was accompanied by another Antioch police officer when pulled over a bicyclist, identified as A.A., for not having a light. Amiri punched and took the victim to the ground before calling for the K-9 to be released, biting and injuring the victim.

Following the incident, Amiri took pictures of the victims wounds and texted them to other Antioch police officers. One officer responded, Yeah buddy good boy, referring to the K-9, and Lol you bit [A.A.].' When asked by another officer about what cut the dogs face, Amiri responded, thats a piece of the suspects flesh lol.

The DOJ said Amiri later wrote to the officer who accompanied him on the July 24 incident, and said, you got to see [the K-9] in action lol, and stated that investigators got the victim a 45 day violation and we are gonna leave it at that so i dont go to court for the bite. Easy. Amiri falsified a police report of the incident saying that he deployed his K-9 because he was alone.

Morteza Amiri violated the oath he swore to protect the people of Antioch, said Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Robbins. He flouted his duty as a police officer, misused his police dog, and inflicted unnecessary and excessive force against the victim. This appalling conduct erodes public trust in law enforcement. And it weakens law enforcements ability to carry out its primary mission of public safety. As todays jury verdict makes clear, officers who put themselves above the law will be held accountable.

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Todays guilty verdict against Morteza Amiri sends a clear message: no one is above the law, especially those sworn to uphold it, added FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani.

The case against Amiri was part of a sweeping investigation into the Antioch and Pittsburgh police departments. Multiple charges were brought against 10 current and former officers and employees for various crimes ranging from the use of excessive force to fraud.

Amiri was convicted by a jury last August for orchestrating a scheme to obtain pay raises from the Antioch Police Department. The United States Attorneys Office said Amiri paid someone else to secretly earn a university degree online for him.

Amiri faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on the count of deprivation of rights under color of law and 20 years in prison on the count of falsification of records.

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President Donald Trump rehashed a litany of long-held grievances before an unusual crowd on Friday, telling officials at the Department of Justice that he had been persecuted, abused and attacked by his perceived political opponents in a meandering speech that went on for more than an hour.

Speaking to an audience that included FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump painted himself as a victim, as he called prosecutors who worked on his criminal cases scum, evil and corrupt, and railed against negative media coverage of him as illegal.

They spied on my campaign, launched one hoax and disinformation operation after another, broke the law on a colossal scale, persecuted my family, staff and supporters, raided my home Mar-a-Lago, and did everything within their power to prevent me from becoming the president of the United States, he said.

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Although billed as an address on law and order, Trumps remarks to the Justice Department more resembled one of his rambling campaign speeches. Calling himself the chief law enforcement officer (a title usually reserved for the U.S. attorney general), Trump careened across a range of topics, from Ukraine to the price of eggs, crowed about his mandate in the 2024 election and vowed to bring back faith in a justice system that he has dramatically politicized since returning to office.

First, we must be honest about the lies and the abuses that have occurred within these walls, Trump told the crowd. Unfortunately in recent years, a corrupt group of hacks and radicals within the ranks of the American government obliterated the trust and goodwill built up over generations. They weaponized the vast powers of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies to try and thwart the will of the American people.

Trump also mentioned by name attorneys who he claimed did everything within their power to prevent me from becoming the president of the United States and repeated his baseless claim that his political foes had weaponized federal law enforcement against him  even as he delivered a highly politicized speech to a department that has traditionally strived to preserve its independence from the executive branch.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney slammed Marco Rubio as crazy in his debut as Justin Trudeaus replacement.

Carney, while taking questions after being sworn into office, fired back at the American secretary of state cosigning President Donald Trumps 51st state chatter.

At a media event in Quebec for the G7 Summit, Rubio was pressed about his bosss oft-repeated proposition that Canada join the United States. The idea was initially thought to be a joke, but Trump has doubled and tripled down on it.

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The president has made his argument as to why he thinks Canada would be better off joining the United States, for economic reasons, Rubio told reporters on Friday.

Marco Rubio in Canada: "The president has made his argument as to why he thinks Canada would be better off joining the United States." pic.twitter.com/3pSh2aKRRO  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 14, 2025

Hours later, Carney kept his rejoinder simple: Its crazy. His point is crazy. Thats it. The new Liberal Party leader smirked as those present broke into laughter.

At a different point, Carney said, We will never, ever, in any way, shape or form, be part of the United States. America is not Canada.

Carneya former Bank of England boss with no real political experiencehandily won his partys election earlier this month. He takes over from Trudeau, who announced his intention to resign in January, amid faltering confidence in his leadership.

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Since entering his office in January, Trump has been waging a trade war with Canadaone of Americas closest allies, both geographically and otherwise. Meanwhile, the American stock market has taken a nosedive.

Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images

Carney also took aim at Trumps tariffs on Friday, saying that one of his top priorities in the new role is protecting Canadian workers and their families in the face of unjustified foreign trade actions.

Politicians on both sides of the aisle in Canada, including Trudeau, have disavowed Trumps suggestion that the northern giant become an American stateeven as Trump has said it would bring an end to the tariffs.

Even the leader of Canadas Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievrewho, as an outspoken right-wing populist, is widely regarded as the countrys counterpart to Trumpwas angered by the suggestion.

Canada will never be the 51st state. Period.



We are a great and independent country.



We are the best friend to the U.S. We spent billions of dollars and hundreds of lives helping Americans retaliate against Al-Qaedas 9/11 attacks. We supply the U.S. with billions of dollars of  Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) January 7, 2025

Canada will never be the 51st state, he wrote on X back in January. Period. We are a great and independent country.

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Rubio was Trumps least controversial Cabinet pick. He was unanimously confirmed by the Senatean indication of the respect the former senator commanded for his expertise in foreign affairs.

However, the secretary of state has yet to publicly challenge his bosss at-times confounding approach to international relations, such as the proposal to annex Canada.

Trudeau officially stepped down on Friday after 12 years as his partys leader and 10 as prime minister.

Thank you, Canada  for trusting in me, for challenging me, and for granting me the privilege to serve the best country, and the best people, on earth.  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 14, 2025

Thank you, Canada, he wrote in a farewell post on X, for trusting in me, for challenging me, and for granting me the privilege to serve the best country, and the best people, on earth.
For the record:

10:46 a.m. March 15, 2025: An earlier version of this story misstated the first newspaper in the U.S. to hire Lee.



K.W. Lee, a pioneering Korean American journalist credited with sparking a movement to free a wrongfully convicted Korean immigrant from death row and inspiring a legion of journalists and activists, has died. He was 96.

Lee died from natural causes on March 8, surrounded by his family in Sacramento. Lee became the first Korean immigrant in the continental U.S. to work at a major mainstream newspaper when he was hired by the Kingsport Times-News in Tennessee in 1956.

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Known as the godfather of Asian American journalism, he collected accolades for his work and became a vocal advocate for Asian American visibility in media.

"My dad was always curious about people's backgrounds, eagerly asking our friends and acquaintances about their family history and heritage," said his daughter, Diana Regan. "He genuinely wanted to hear everyone's story."

Lee pursued stories and investigations with a doggedness in the South and later on the West Coast, revealing poverty and corruption in small towns in West Virginia and misuse of taxpayer dollars in Sacramento. He investigated the 1974 conviction of Chol Soo Lee, a Korean American immigrant accused of murdering a known gang member in San Franciscos Chinatown.

Lee pursued the case for six months for the Sacramento Union and wrote two front-page stories in which he described Chol Soo Lee as a troubled young man betrayed by the well-meaning system which has swallowed up the boy in the name of Americanization."

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His second article looked at all the errors in Chol Soo's murder trial and sought to question his conviction. Around the same time, Chol Soo Lee was being tried for a second murder in prison, which he claimed was out of self-defense. He was convicted, however, and sentenced to death. K.W. Lee's 1978 articles about the Chinatown murder sparked a pan-Asian American movement and initiated the Chol Soo Lee Defense Committee. Chol Soo Lee was acquitted in 1982.

K.W. Lee would go on to write more than 100 articles about Chol Soo Lees case, leaving the Sacramento Union to follow the story through his newspaper start-up, the Koreatown Weekly in Los Angeles. The paper served as a way to write about Koreans, who he felt were not fairly covered in media.

Julie Ha, who co-directed the Emmy-awarding winning documentary Free Chol Soo Lee, said Lee saw parallels between himself and Chol Soo Lee. Both were immigrants from Korea, yet their paths diverged.

Read more: A documentary about a wrongfully incarcerated Korean immigrant unearths an essential, buried history

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Chol Soo Lee's case awakened the journalist's own Korean identity, and he considered covering the story his greatest journalistic accomplishment, Ha said. The documentary won the 2024 Emmy for historical documentary.

K.W. Lee was a passionate, loud journalist Ha first met as a high school graduate in the summer of 1990 while interning at the Korea Times English Edition. He dropped F-bombs frequently and once laughed so hard he fell off his chair, she said. He often moved with urgency, she said, pushing young journalists like her to try to keep up.

It's that kind of journalism that those of us who have had the privilege to do are so inspired by, Ha said. He didnt just inspire journalists but people of conscience who wanted to do their part in making this world a more fair, just society for all.

Lee was born on June 1, 1928, in Kaesong, present-day North Korea, the youngest of seven children. His given name was Kyung Won Lee. He grew up believing his father was a poor street peddler. It wasn't until his father's death that Lee learned his father had been from the upper-middle class until he was jailed for protesting against the Japanese government.

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Lee was the first recipient of the Asian American Journalists Assn.s Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987 and the first Asian American journalist to receive the Freedom Forums Free Spirit Award in 1994. His journey in the U.S. began in his early 20s when he arrived in 1950 to study journalism at West Virginia University and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Sojin Kim, now a curator at the Smithsonian Institution, began creating archives of Lees life when it appeared his health was failing. She earned a grant from UCLA, spent a week in Rancho Cordova interviewing him and learned his immigrant story echoed her own Korean parents origin story.

His passion, she figures, could be traced to his family being treated as second-class citizens in their own country under Japanese occupation. Lee was at one point forced to adopt a Japanese name and learn the language. He also attended a Japanese military school that trained kamikaze fighter pilots, where he was bullied for being Korean. After he left the school, he was shunned by other Koreans for training with the Japanese, she said.

He probably always felt like he was always going to be on the side of an underdog, Kim said. He empathized and understood other people who didn't have access to power or means."

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While working at the Charleston Gazette in West Virginia, he met his wife, Peggy Flowers, an emergency room nurse at Charleston General Hospital. He wrote stories that uncovered local government corruption. In one series, he spent four days living with struggling families to humanize the lives of people in Appalachia.

By the time he arrived at the now-defunct Sacramento Union in 1970 as the newspaper's chief investigative reporter, he had gained a reputation for doggedness. The paper ran a radio ad that declared: K.W. Lee  digging, probing, tackling the bureaucracy, infiltrating the unknown!

While working in Los Angeles, he sought to build community between Korean and Black residents. After the Koreatown Weekly folded, he ran the Korea Times English Edition. In April 1992, after the Rodney King beating and the L.A. riots, Lee was hospitalized with a failing liver, yet he managed to edit stories and write an editorial.

He partnered with other ethnic media and exchanged articles with the L.A Sentinel. His work resonated deeply with the fight for civil rights, which reminded him of life under Japanese occupation, Ha said.

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He once told her that he believed oppressed people had a type of "telepathy" that bonded them all together, she said. He believed people should be seen as they fully are, she said, "full human context, warts and all."

In a 1992 speech, he spoke about his belief in humankind.

We are all entangled in an unbroken human chain of interdependence and mutual survival," he said, "and what really matters is that we all belong to each other during our earthly passage.

Do Kim, a civil rights attorney in Koreatown, named the K.W. Lee Center for Leadership in 2003 after his mentor, because he and the other co-founders were most inspired by Lee's life and work. Lee would come down once a summer to speak to students. Do Kim said his family kept a guest room that was known as "K.W.'s room" for his frequent visits.

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He loved the center, the young people that came through, the mission of it, Do Kim said. We wanted to build leaders that followed in K.W.s footsteps.

Lee's daughter, Sonia Cook, said her father helped her understand sacrifice and loss. Every year at the K.W. Lee Center for Leadership annual gala, she recalled, he would recognize the parents of Eddie Lee, an 18-year-old killed while defending his Koreatown neighborhood during the L.A. riots.

"He did that so no one would ever forget the sacrifice and loss they endured," Cook said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  State health officials have issued an air quality health warning Friday due to blowing dust and smoke across much of Kansas.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reports that a low-pressure system is delivering powerful winds to the Sunflower State on March 14. These winds are bringing dust and smoke from wildfires out of state, causing Kansas air quality to plummet.

The KDHE said the states Air Quality Index (AQI) will likely range from unhealthy to hazardous at times while the current conditions persist. You can view the current AQI for you local area by clicking here.

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People should take the following actions while dust and smoke are in the air, according to the KDHE:

Healthy people should limit or avoid strenuous outdoor exercise.

More vulnerable people should remain indoors.

Help keep indoor air clean by closing doors and windows and running air conditioners with air filters.

Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.

Contact your doctor if you have symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath or severe fatigue.

Kansas highways shut down due to crashes, blowing dust

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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Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Kansas City Fire Department is celebrating 157 years of serving the metro since their establishment in 1868.

Times have drastically changed and while equipment and fire engines look much different over 157 years, the objective of every KCFD company remains the same as they continuously work at ensuring the safety of the Kansas City community.

Funeral set for captain who died fighting fire in Johnson County, Missouri

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KCFD originally consisted of volunteer bucket brigades before establishing a paid fire department in 1867, according to the Kansas City Fire Historical Society.

In the departments early years, fire fighters worked with as little as one ladder, a few steamer fire engines, and a crew of only 14 fire fighters.

Driver taken to hospital after tree smashes car in Blue Springs

Steamer fire engines, originally pulled by horses, worked as a power source for the department to pump water by converting water to steam, and steam into energy.

One hundred and fifty-seven years later, KCFD fire stations have a number of powerful fire engines equipped with the tools and safety gear necessary for firefighters to battle blazing fires.

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FOX4 Forecast: Storms donewinds still going!

While the equipment and faces have greatly changed, the same dedication to our citizens and their lives and property has only grown stronger! KCFD Station 10 said in a Facebook post Friday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Gov. Laura Kelly enters the House chamber to deliver her State of the State address on Jan. 15, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  All hail civil disobedience.

Gov. Laura Kelly intervened Wednesday in satanists plans to conduct a black mass on March 28 at the Statehouse by declaring they would not be allowed inside.

The satanists plan to defy her undivine wisdom.

We will be showing up on the 28th, said Michael Stewart, founder and president of the Satanic Grotto, which organized the event. We will be entering the building and attempting to perform the mass, and if Capitol Police want to stop us, they will need to arrest us.

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The Satanic Grottos plans to conduct a black mass in the Statehouse rotunda stimulated considerable attention online  and outrage from the Catholic Church.

In cheeky social media posts, Stewart describes satanists as the scariest thing in the dark.

But in an interview, he said he was planning a safe event, with nothing to be afraid of. His said his group has about three dozen members, primarily from Kansas City and Wichita, and is nonviolent.

The black mass is a satanic version of the Catholic mass, meant to reflect our own pain and anger of us being subjected to religion that we never gave consent to, Stewart said. It was imposed upon us. So the ritual is sort of  you can think of it as therapeutic blasphemy.

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The group describes itself on its website as an independent and nondenominational church whose members are feminist, LBGTQ+ allies, and anti-racist  Nazi Satanists can f*** off.

The Satanic Grottos event listing on Facebook shows 26 plan to attend and 116 are interested in the event.

Chuck Weber, of Kansas Catholic Conference, said in a March 6 statement that such an explicit demonstration of anti-Catholic bigotry will be an insult to not only Catholics, but all people of good will.

The Catholic Bishops of Kansas ask that first and foremost, we pray for the conversion of those taking part in this event, as well as each persons own conversion of heart during this scared Season of Lent, Weber said in the statement.

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The governor entered the arena Wednesday, when she issued a statement declaring her concerns about the event. She said there are more constructive ways to protest and express disagreements without insulting or denigrating sacred religious symbols.

She acknowledged the right to freedom of speech and expression  regardless of how offensive or distasteful I might find the content to be  and that she has limited authority to respond to the planned event.

That said, it is important to keep the Statehouse open and accessible to the public while ensuring all necessary health and safety regulations are enforced, Kelly said in her statement. Therefore, all events planned for March 28 will be moved outdoors to the grounds surrounding the Statehouse. Again, no protests will be allowed inside the Statehouse on March 28.

Stewart said the governors office didnt call him before issuing the public statement.

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This is a Democrat governor bowing to religious and Republican pressure, Stewart said. There was enough outrage that she had to do something, but shes so chicken to actually stand up for anything, the best she could do was try to shuffle us outside and make it look like she has done something to save her own hide instead of standing up for religious and free speech.

This story was originally produced by the Kansas Reflector which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
Rep. Ford Carr, D-Wichita, walks through the House chamber on Feb. 25, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Statehouse scraps

Opinion editor Clay Wirestones weekly roundup of legislative flotsam and jetsam. Read the archive.

Kansas Republicans sent an unmistakable message to Democratic Rep. Ford Carr this week: Mess with us, and well destroy you.

The Wichita-based representative, who is Black, filed a complaint in February against Republican Rep. Nick Hoheisel, who is white. This week a disciplinary panel deadlocked along party lines when considering Carrs complaint. But members had a new issue to consider: Republican Rep. Leah Howell of Derby lodged allegations against Carr.

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Howell claimed that the Democrat showed patterns of violent rhetoric, physical violence, intimidating behavior and derogatory language which is unbecoming of any Kansan, much less a member of the Kansas House. House Majority Leader Chris Croft endorsed the complaint.

Ill tell you what this looks like to me. It looks as though Kansas Republicans have decided to teach Carr a lesson. After not being able to shut him up on the floor, they are now determined to go after his reputation. Im not saying the Carr is a perfect person. I dont know him and cant say. But I also know that in any workplace with 165 people, youre going to see a variety of personalities and approaches.

You could put together quite interesting files on any number of Republican politicians when it comes to their behavior on the floor, in committees and with constituents. The fact that GOP members are doing this against Carr suggests they want vengeance, not justice.

You dont have to listen to me about this. You can consider these word from former Hutchinson Democratic Rep. Jason Probst at his Substack blog:

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A few years ago, I was speaking on a bill in front of the entire House of Representatives, when I noticed a group of people from the Republican side of the aisle laughing vigorously.

Its not unusual for there to be chatter and conversation during floor debate, but this was more than usual. Enough to catch my attention and bother me.

After the days session ended, I walked up to the House member at the center of the laughter. I told him I noticed it, and wondered if I had said something so funny that they couldnt help themselves from cackling during a serious legislative debate.

According to Probst, the members were laughing at the following racist joke: Whats the most confusing holiday in Ferguson, Missouri?

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Answer: Fathers Day.

Thats the environment in which Carr works daily in Topeka. Thats the environment in which he has refused to tolerate the condescending admonitions of Republican leadership. He wont play along. And now he faces the consequences of standing up for himself and his constituents. I dont think highly of Kansas legislative leadership in the best of times. But this is far from the best of times, and theyre making a mockery of the House.

Or as Probst puts it: It is amazing to consider how weak the powerful really are. They bristle at criticism. They actively legislate to silence any dissenting voice. They use the levers of the system they control to enforce compliance. They punish those who refuse to be controlled by the rules theyve written or who chooses to disengage from the systems theyve created.

Kansas Sen. Patrick Schmidt prepares for a Feb. 28, 2025, recording of the Kansas Reflector podcast in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Progressive scuffle

At least House Republicans tussle with Carr follows familiar Republican vs. Democrat lines. More surprising was an uprising of progressive outrage against Sen. Patrick Schmidt, D-Topeka. Schmidt proposed an amendment to House Bill 2062, which provides for child support orders for unborn children from the date of conception. He asked senators to expand the child tax credit for all of the states pregnant parents.

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Republicans ultimately backed his proposal. But Schmidts move didnt sit well with other Democrats and progressive advocates.

It is pretty disappointing to hear Senator Schmidt declare himself the most pro-choice lawmaker while simultaneously adding the most anti-abortion language Ive ever seen a democratic lawmaker intentionally amend into a bill, said Melissa Stiehler, of Loud Light Civic Action.

Schmidt still voted against the legislation, calling it a bad bill, with or without an amendment.

I understand that the politics around reproductive freedoms arouse fierce responses. I understand that this bill can be seen as a fetal personhood law, laying the groundwork for future anti-abortion measures. But Democrats have only nine members in the 40-person Senate. Does attacking one of those nine make long-term political sense?

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Emporia State University president Ken Hush testifies on March 12, 2025. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)

Emporia State hot air

Emporia State University president Ken Hush spoke to the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency on Wednesday, and his remarks were something to behold.

He said change at the ESU was needed because community surveys included descriptions of the university as a mediocrity, no financial acumen, slow, no accountability, arrogant, inaction, dictators versus team, low expectations and not data driven.

Well, thank goodness he axed more than 30 staff members, then!

Ill tell you who found the whole situation ridiculous and shameful: Emporia residents. Kansas Reflector staff traveled to the hometown of William Allen White on Tuesday for a town hall. Let me tell you, sympathy for Hush and his approach toward revamping the university looked pretty damn scanty.

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But thats the whole playbook for fiscal vandals like Hush and Elon Musk, isnt it? Cut staff and programs so drastically that they barely function. Then whine that theyre being treated unfairly by those who dont realize their visionary genius.

In the meantime, Hush enjoys a $9 million earmark from the Legislature to keep cutting. Wouldnt a successful turnaround pay for itself?

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, speaks at a tribute to the U.S. Small Business Administration. He pointed to DEI policies as the potential cause of a recent plane crash. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Marshall on the spot

Associated Press reporter John Hanna, dean of the Kansas Statehouse press corps, posted this important update on Thursday.

Because of congestion at Reagan National, the airliner was diverted from a runway further away from where helicopters were flying to another one much closer, and the airliners approach was on the helicopters path, though it was supposed to be flying 200 feet below.#ksleg  John Hanna (@APjdhanna) March 14, 2025

Looks like U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall was wrong about the crash occurring because of DEI then, huh?

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This weeks questions

I wish I could quit asking all these questions about Statehouse goings-on and Kansas political happenings. But they still swarm around my mind like so many cicadas.

What do Republicans have up their sleeves with their proposal for a commission to look at higher education in Kansas?

How proud should we be that Kansas has joined the Make America Healthy Again crusade with our very own case of measles?

Once again, wouldnt it be great to see Kansas state legislators speak out about the deranged crusade to fire federal employees, now that a judge has ordered many back on the job?

Whos afraid of a little satanism at the Statehouse? Freedom of religion means freedom of religion, right?

House Speaker Dan Hawkins oversees a session on March 11, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Dan Hawkins defends free speech

Nah, Im just kidding there, folks. House Speaker Dan Hawkins has still barred journalists from their traditional spot on the House floor.

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Weve also noticed that his office has stopped sending press releases and notices of news conferences to Kansas Reflector staff. They may want to understand that targeting a particular news outlet for its coverage is unconstitutional. Im sure its all an oversight and that email will resume soon.

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.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Kawaii Kon is back and bigger and better than ever to celebrate their 20th anniversary at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Once in a lifetime opporunity: Auana by Cirque Du Soleil hosts open casting call

The experience aims to unite fans of anime and pop culture. WakeUp2Days Chris Latronic went live with a preview of everything attendees can expect this upcoming weekend.

Event Administrator Angel Rumbaoa gave all the details of this years festivities and provided a preview of the latest virtual reality experiences with Jeff Baz.

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Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

Fans of all ages are invited to Kawaii Kon 2025 from Friday, March 14 to Sunday, March 16.

Registration is available through Kawaii Kons website or attendees can purchase a badge on-site with 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 KHON2.
The Keller school board isnt moving forward with a plan to split the district in half, but North Texas lawmakers still want to ensure the public has a say in future divides.

The proposal would have cut the district in half along U.S. 377, creating what has been nicknamed the Alliance Independent School District in far north Fort Worth. The idea drew an outpouring of opposition from residents. Some local officials also spoke out against the plan, including State Rep. Nate Schatzline, a Fort Worth Republican, whose legislative district includes the Keller school district.

He praised the districts March 14 announcement that it is abandoning the proposed split.

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Im incredibly grateful that Keller ISD is doing the right thing here and is putting students first, because I believe that splitting the district is not in the best interest of the students, Schatzline said.

As the district mulled a split, there was debate over whether state law allows a district to divide  a process called detachment  without taking the proposal to a vote.

Texas Rep. David Lowe, a North Richland Hills Republican whose district includes part of the Keller school district, filed a bill on March 10 requiring that the decision be left up to registered voters.

State Rep. Charlie Geren, a Fort Worth Republican, will now carry the corresponding legislation. Geren, a more senior member of the Tarrant County delegation, filed a bill identical to Lowes bill on March 13. March 14 is the deadline for lawmakers to file bills.

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Im glad that they are pausing the pursuit of splitting, Lowe said. We want to ensure that there is a bill that adds clarity to the process, so we are still going to pursue our legislation.

Geren did not immediately return a request for comment.

Schatzline said he will sign on as a co-author of the legislation. The bill needs to be passed to ensure that people have the right to vote on a split, he said. The legislation would make sure a community is in support of a detachment before such a massive decision is made, he said.

There are scenarios in which diving a district can be beneficial to a community, Schatzline said. In the case of Keller ISD, I do not believe that is the case. However, we want to create an avenue where if the community feels like theyre not being properly represented, they can divide and they can create a new school district when its absolutely necessary.

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School board President Charles Randklev and interim superintendent Cory Wilson announced that the district is not moving forward with a split in an email. They said the district lacks the resources to continue the plan due to the tens of millions in additional funding that it would take to distribute $700 million worth of bond debt among the two districts.

Lowe, who said he first found out about the plan through constituents, attributed the halting of the proposed split to a culmination of public outcry, legislation and lawsuits being filed.

School districts as a whole have been reckless when it comes to bond debt, Lowe said, noting that hes filed a bill that would require a two-third majority vote in order to pass future bonds.

Schatzline said hes grateful for the parents who spoke out about their disagreement, sharing their thoughts on how the plan could impact property values and the school district. Schatzline said hes also grateful to the school board for listening and responding the right way.

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North Fort Worth does not want the Keller ISD split, he said.

We love our school board and we love our school district, and so Im excited that this split is not going to happen.

Staff writer Matthew Adams contributed to this report.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56)  Senate Bill 122, often referred to as the puppy mill bill, is back in the spotlight.

Introduced earlier this year, the bill would prohibit pet shops from selling dogs or cats that didnt come from an animal shelter or qualified breeder.

Powell County rescue team to halt emergency responses to Red River Gorge

Those who oppose the bill alleged that its all smoke and mirrors, and the establishments listed are puppy mills disguised as qualified breeders.

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This bill would effectively bar communities from being able to keep those businesses out of their community, and it would allow those businesses to flourish, said Melissa Barlow, President of Kentuckians Vote for Animals.

Shelters across the state are at capacity. Some of them even had to temporarily close. Barlow said this bill would make the issue worse by removing existing ordinances that prohibit pet stores with puppy mill animals from setting up.

If communities decide, and their elected officials on their behalf, decide that they dont want these businesses, the state should not be able to come in and have government overreach and tell them that they have to allow that, said Barlow

The bill passed in the Senate Agriculture Committee, but not in the Senate itself.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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Another bill that relates to licenses for animal health professionals was amended to also include the pet shop prohibitions.

Barlow said, We would hope that instead of focusing on taking all the attention with an issue like this, that the legislature would as a wholeand there are a lot of ones that they understandthat more would understand, the animal overpopulation problem and help us come up with a solution.

The amendment failed in a Friday morning vote, but Barlow encourages concerned animal lovers to continue reaching out to their elected officials to make it known that they dont want any provisions of Senate Bill 122 passed.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Social media users claimed a 10-year-old girl recovering from brain cancer was deported to Mexico. The claim originated from an NBC News story about the girl and her family, who were removed to Mexico in February because of her parents' immigration status. Details about the girl's name and identity are not available due to safety concerns, which means it was not possible to independently verify her identity.

An attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project, which is representing the family, said that story was largely accurate, although the girl is recovering from surgery to remove a brain tumor, not brain cancer specifically.

It is unclear whether policy changes under U.S. President Donald Trump's administration led to the girl's removal from the United States. However, the family told NBC News they previously had no trouble with passing the same immigration checkpoint they were detained at.

In mid-March 2025, social media users alleged a 10-year-old girl recovering from brain cancer was deported to Mexico along with her parents.

Some posts  including a Facebook post by Democratic U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen of Colorado  claimed the child was a U.S. citizen with parents in the country illegally; others said she and her parents were on their way to an "emergency medical checkup" when border officials detained them. One post on X about the girl's purported situation has nearly 70,000 likes as of this writing. Many blamed U.S. President Donald Trump.

This 10-year-old U.S. citizen, who was traveling to a medical checkup with a swollen brain after recovering from cancer, was deported by Tom Homan's pathetic operation because her parents were not documented.



Nothing says "greatest country in the world" like kicking out a sick pic.twitter.com/pryUMPqu7H  Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) March 13, 2025

These posts originated from a March 12, 2025, NBC News story by Nicole Acevedo. In the story (archived), Acevedo reported that a 10-year-old U.S. citizen recovering from brain cancer surgery was removed to Mexico along with her parents, who were deported.

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The Texas Civil Rights Project, which is representing the family, said the NBC News story was largely accurate, aside from the family's specific residence in Texas and details of the child's medical condition. It was not possible to independently verify the reporting with the family in question. An unnamed "senior official" at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, said via email that "the facts as reported are inaccurate."

"When someone is given expedited removal orders and chooses to disregard them, they will face the consequences as outlined by the expedited removal process for individuals with removal orders. For privacy reasons, we cannot comment on the specifics of this case," the official said. NBC received a similar statement.

Acevedo did not immediately return requests for comment.

The family's story

According to NBC News, "immigration authorities removed the girl and four of her American siblings from Texas on Feb. 4, when they deported their undocumented parents." Border officials first detained the family in February when they were on their way to "an emergency medical checkup" in Houston, where the child's specialist doctors are based.

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NBC News also reported that the child was "diagnosed with brain cancer last year and underwent surgery to remove the tumor," but the "swelling on the girl's brain is still not fully gone."

An attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project, Danny Woodward, said via email that "it would also be accurate to say the family lives in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas," not specifically Rio Grande City, and that the girl is recovering from surgery for a brain tumor, not cancer. (Not all brain tumors are cancerous.) "I don't see anything else inaccurate in the story," he wrote.

"The parents are struggling to get her medication from the United States for financial and logistical reasons," he said. "She also needs follow-up examinations and testing every few months, which is up now. The hospital has been calling to schedule. Her condition fortunately does not appear to have deteriorated in the past few weeks, but she struggles with speaking and moving one side of her body. She is stressed out and her parents are very worried about her."

He noted that the family consists of two parents and six children, five of whom are U.S. citizens and one of whom is a Mexican citizen; four, including the Mexican citizen, were removed to Mexico with the family. The eldest, a U.S. citizen, remains in the United States and is separated from the family.

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The Texas Civil Rights Project is a legal advocacy group that has worked with the ACLU and has made headlines in the past for its lawsuit against the state of Texas for denying birth certificates to U.S.-born children of parents in the country illegally. The project's website features a petition to send a message to Congress about "the Hernandez family"  but the names used by the project are pseudonyms, according to Woodward.

Woodward could not provide Snopes with medical documentation verifying the child's condition due to privacy concerns but said the project was able to review "medical and other documents, and spoke to several other people with direct knowledge of events, and found them to confirm the family's story."

Detention and deportation of the family

According to NBC News, the parents had passed through the same immigration checkpoint before without issue and had no criminal history, aside from "lacking immigration status in the U.S." (Being present in the United States without legal authorization is often a civil, not criminal, offense, depending on mode of entry into the country.)

In previous occasions, the parents showed letters from their doctors and lawyers to the officers at the checkpoint to get through. But in early February, the letters weren't enough. When they stopped at the checkpoint, they were arrested after the parents were unable to show legal immigration documentation. The mother, who spoke exclusively to NBC News, said she tried explaining her daughter's circumstances to the officers, but "they weren't interested in hearing that."

Woodward said the family was detained Feb. 3, spent the night in Donna Processing Center, a temporary detention facility, and removed to Mexico on Feb. 4.

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NBC News' story omitted details such as the family's faces and their names due to safety concerns. According to the outlet, "they were deported to an area in Mexico that is known for kidnapping U.S. citizens." However, the outlet also released a video of the mother provided by the Texas Civil Rights Project in a follow-up story, which appeared to match details reported by NBC News. Here is the outlet's translation of the mother's comments in the story (archived), which Snopes verified as an accurate translation:

"We have made this trip across Texas several times to take our daughter to the hospital so that she can receive the medical attention, which is what keeps her well," her mother said in her video message. "That's what keeps her safe." "This time, we were detained, held, and we faced the worst decision, an impossible one, to be permanently separated from our children or to be deported together," she said. [] "We are now deported to Mexico without access to the urgent medical care our daughter needs. Our children, including American citizens, have been forced to face a crisis that no child should have to face," the woman said in the video.

Legality of deporting a 10-year-old U.S. citizen

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's directive on detained parents, updated in 2022, says ICE must help facilitate "efforts to make arrangements" for children of detained parents who are pending removal from the United States.

These provisions may include the [parent or guardian's] attempt to arrange temporary guardianship for their minor child(ren) or incapacitated adult for whom they serve as legal guardian if they will be remaining in the United States, orwhere the [parent or guardian] requests reunification with their minor child(ren) or incapacitated adult for whom they serve as legal guardian prior to removalto obtain travel documents for the minor child(ren) or incapacitated adult to accompany them.

Thus, parents may choose to take their children with them or to be separated from their children, as the mother of the 10-year-old girl said in her video statement. More details about the family's specific immigration case are not available.

Under former President Joe Biden, immigration enforcement officials were not allowed in or near sensitive locations, such as hospitals. A January 2025 directive from Trump's administration rescinded all guidance preventing immigration officials from arresting people in such locations. However, it is unclear how close the family was to its intended destination, nor is it clear whether policy has changed around arresting people at checkpoints while en route to medical appointments, as the family in question was.

Sources:

Acevedo, Nicole. "U.S. Citizen Child Recovering from Brain Cancer Deported to Mexico with Undocumented Parents." NBC News, 12 Mar. 2025, www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/us-citizen-child-recovering-brain-cancer-deported-mexico-undocumented-rcna196049. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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---. "Undocumented Mom of U.S. Citizen Girl with Brain Cancer Who Was Removed to Mexico Pleads for Family's Return." NBC News, 13 Mar. 2025, www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/undocumented-mom-us-citizen-girl-brain-cancer-was-removed-mexico-plead-rcna196339?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma&taid=67d41345fa584d00010565b6&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

"Civil Rights Organizations Sue to Block Texas from Enacting Extremist Immigration Law." American Civil Liberties Union, 19 Dec. 2023, www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-civil-rights-orgs-sue-texas-over-sb-4. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

Deng, Grace. "Trump Promised Mass Arrests of Undocumented Migrants 'on Day 1.' Here's What Has Happened." Snopes, Snopes.com, 23 Jan. 2025, www.snopes.com/news/2025/01/23/ice-raids-what-we-know/. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

"Home | Texas Civil Rights Project." TCRP, www.txcivilrights.org/. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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"ICE Detained Parents Directive | ICE." Www.ice.gov, 2022, www.ice.gov/detain/parental-interest. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

"Perales Serna v. Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Unit, 1:15-Cv-00446 - CourtListener.com." CourtListener, 2022, www.courtlistener.com/docket/4401575/perales-serna-v-texas-department-of-state-health-services-vital/?page=2. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

"Reunite Hernandez Family." TCRP, www.txcivilrights.org/reunite. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

"Temporary Processing Facilities in Donna, Texas (8) | Homeland Security." U.S. Department of Homeland Security, www.dhs.gov/medialibrary/assets/images/23541. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

Updates:

March 17, 2025: This story was updated to include a statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Time is running out for the Ukrainian forces fighting in the Russian region of Kursk, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday.

The offer to spare the lives of Ukrainian troops still stands, Peskov told the Russian state news agency TASS, but it would not last indefinitely.

US President Donald Trump had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers believed to be surrounded in Kursk.

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Putin, who had ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, agreed to spare the soldiers' lives for "humanitarian reasons," but he demanded that the leadership in Kiev order the Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region to lay down their weapons and surrender.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy has indirectly admitted that the army would have to withdraw from the region. "The situation is very difficult. I can only thank our fighters for this operation, which has fulfilled its task," the head of state told journalists.

Ukraine took the war into Russian territory in a surprise attack last August. The original justification for the move was to be able to exchange the occupied territories for occupied Ukrainian territory in the event of possible negotiations with Russia.
With the clock ticking, House Republicans gave final passage to a bill that would ban Kentuckys Medicaid program from funding gender-affirming care for transgender Kentuckians and protect the controversial practice of conversion therapy.

House Bill 495 was called for a House vote in the waning hours of Friday evening and passed 67-19 at roughly 11 p.m.

Immediately after, Republicans passed Senate Bill 2 to prohibit transgender people incarcerated in Kentucky from accessing gender-affirming health care. There were 67 trans inmates in Kentuckys jails and prisons an attorney for the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet told lawmakers in January  a population that accounted for less than 1% of the total incarcerated population in Kentucky.

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Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has signaled disapproval of both. Even if he vetoes, because the legislature passed them before midnight, both chambers have time to override a veto when they reconvene later this month.

Though few spoke in support of the measure as the clock neared midnight, Rep. Josh Calloway, R-Irvington, told the Herald-Leader that he thought the bill passed because Kentuckians dont want public funds to go towards gender-affirming care.

I dont think the taxpayer should be on the hook for gender transition surgeries or treatment of any sort, Calloway said. Thats not the taxpayers role to have to play into that delusion.

Gender dysphoria, the clinical name for being transgender, is when a person experiences conflict between the sex they were assigned at birth and the gender they most emotionally and intellectually identify with.

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Major medical associations, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association, say this type of care is medically necessary and have warned that increasing barriers for trans people to access that type of care is harmful.

Both bills were met with stark pushback from Democrats, who spoke at length against them on the House floor, less than an hour before the bill passage deadline ahead of the veto period.

You run on small government (and) individual liberty, Rep. Adam Moore, D-Lexington, said. Nothings trampling on that more than saying you cant have your medication that was prescribed to you by your doctor.

We do not need to be spending time at 11 p.m. on the last day of concurrence debating a bill that only hurts Kentuckians, said Louisville Democratic Rep. Nima Kulkarni. It doesnt do anything to save money. It does not do anything to help providers. It creates liability.

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Kulkarni added that bad policy is made from uninformed opinions and feelings.

Were ignoring data, were ignoring science, were ignoring medical professionals, and that is going to hurt Kentuckians, she said.

The question of whether or not the states Medicaid program even currently covers aspects of gender-affirming care like hormone therapy medication was a live one during the floor debate.

When House Bill 495s initial sponsor, Rep. David Hale, R-Wellington, was asked whether Medicaid currently covered access to hormone therapy for trans individuals, Hale said, I do not think it does.

But Beshear, who is in charge of the states Medicaid program, offered offered a different perspective the day before.

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In Medicaid, we allow medical experts to determine what is medically necessary. We dont determine someones health care based on the politics of the day, Beshear said in a press conference Thursday.

Conversion therapy is a widely discredited form of counseling that attempts to change a persons sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Beshears order being targeted in the bill, House Bill 495, banned the use of tax dollars to pay for the practice but was not outright ban the practice in the state.

Beshear reiterated in a social media post Saturday morning that he does not support conversion therapy.

Conversion therapy has been discredited by every major medical organization and significantly increases the chances of suicide in our LGBTQ+ youth. It has no place in our commonwealth or anywhere else, the governor wrote.

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All House Republicans who participated in the House Bill 495 vote approved of the bill with the exception of Ft. Mitchell Rep. Kim Banta, who voted no. All House Democrats who participated voted no.

Fairness Campaign Executive Director Chris Hartman decried the passage of the bill to protect conversion therapy and outlaw the use of Medicaid for gender-affirming care as one of the most shameful bills in Kentucky history.

I must ask why, with a super majority in both chambers, the General Assembly felt they needed to sneak into HB 495  a ban on transgender Medicaid coverage in one of the last committee meetings of the session  and wait until almost midnight on the final day of concurrence to call the bill and prematurely end debate, Hartman said.

They have opened the door to conversion torture by licensed therapists and denied medically necessary healthcare to thousands of Kentuckians under the cloak of darkness.

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In a plea for Republicans to re-think supporting the bill to protect conversion therapy and end Medicaid-funded gender-affirming care for adults in Kentucky, Louisville Democratic Rep Lisa Willner tried to appeal to their empathy.

I understand that maybe some of you dont know any trans people, maybe you think its wrong, maybe you think that its against your beliefs, she said. But please understand that these folks were talking about, who we may be right now about to deliver a death sentence to, theyre somebodys child, theyre somebodys siblings, theyre someones parents, perhaps theyre friends, theyre part of communities, theyre our neighbors.

Please, folks, please, lets show some mercy.

Lexington Councilwoman Emma Curtis said late Friday night, as a trans Kentuckian whose life was saved by gender-affirming care that I could not have accessed without Medicaid, my heart breaks for the thousands of trans Kentuckians who wont be afforded that same basic right and whose lives and well-being are now at risk.

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The Kentucky Family Foundation, a conservative Christian lobbying group that championed both bills, celebrated their passage calling it a positive development.

To use taxpayer funds for such purposes is not only poor stewardship but encourages individuals to undergo irreparable harm to their person, Family Foundation Executive Director David Walls said. Its not possible to change a persons sex, and government has no place in promoting or subsidizing such madness.
The Kentucky Senate on Friday easily passed a bill to make it easier for police departments to withhold law enforcement records from the public under the Kentucky Open Records Act.

House Bill 520 was delivered to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear hours later for his signature or veto.

The bill makes crucial changes to the states open records law by lowering the governments burden of proof when it wants to withhold crime incident reports, 911 tapes, investigative files and other related documents.

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Instead of having to provide specific evidence of how releasing a record to the public would imperil an ongoing investigation, as is currently required, police only would have to say that disclosure could pose an articulable risk of harm to them or their pending casework.

This change makes the burden more reasonable for law enforcement agencies to comply with and protects public safety by ensuring that protected information related to investigations is not prematurely released while law enforcement actions and investigations are ongoing, said state Sen. Danny Carroll, a former assistant police chief in Paducah, arguing for the bill on the Senate floor.

State Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah

Apart from local and state police, the bill also covers records held by public agencies that conduct administrative investigations into alleged wrongdoing, such as the states inspectors general and regulatory and licensing boards.

Before the Senate floor vote, Carroll, R-Paducah, withdrew a Senate committee substitute, adopted on Thursday, that contained even broader language. The substitute would have allowed police to withhold records if they were willing to say that disclosure could pose a risk of harm. That version barely survived the Senate committee vote.

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The Senate voted 25-to-12 in favor of the bill, with most of the chambers Democratic minority joined by several libertarian-leaning Republicans who appeared wary of promoting government secrecy.

It looks like a really simple change  its changing a would to a could, said state Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, explaining her opposition to the bill.

But could is very subjective, Tichenor said. And making such a significant yet minor change really changes our Open Records Act, which potentially closes off transparency. This would has been in place for 49 years and has served its purpose well.

Kentuckians have a legitimate right to know whats happening with criminal cases, especially if theyre the ones who were personally affected, Tichenor said.

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Advocates of open government protested Friday that the bill is an attack on years of court rulings in open records appeals in which police have been told either to release records to the public or be more specific in explaining why requested records should be withheld.

Most recently, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled last year for the Courier Journal in its fight for 911 tapes and other records related to a deadly high-speed car crash involving police in the city of Shively in Jefferson County.

Unable to prevail at the courthouse, police have asked the General Assembly to rewrite the open records law in their favor, said Amye Bensenhaver, a former assistant attorney general and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.

It was, and still is, so clearly a legislative reversal of the Shively opinion and a decade plus of thoughtful judicial analysis. It has the attorney generals fingerprints all over it, and is obviously driven by law enforcement, Bensenhaver told the Herald-Leader.

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In my view, the proposed Senate bar for justifying denial is the lowest ever: an agency statement that the disclosure of the information could pose a risk of harm to the agency or its investigation, Bensenhaver said. We are so screwed if this passes.

The bill is publicly endorsed by the Kentucky League of Cities, the Kentucky Police Chiefs Association and the Kentucky Sheriffs Association.

A note prepared for and attached to the bill by legislative staffers suggests that by making it easier to deny requests, the bill likely would reduce the administrative burden on local law enforcement agencies by limiting the volume of records they must review and redact before responding to open records requests.
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating after a person was stabbed to death in the middle of the afternoon in the San Fernando Valley.

The victim, who police did not provide any details about, was attacked on the 13100 block of Sherman Way in the Valley Glen neighborhood.

That victim was pronounced dead at the scene, according to LAPD Media Relations; a suspect was taken into custody at the scene.

Video posted to the Citizen app captures the aftermath of a deadly stabbing in the Valley Glen neighborhood on March 14, 2025.

Video posted to the Citizen app showed several police cars, an ambulance and a fire truck outside of an apartment building where a man appeared to be detained.

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Additional details were not released and the investigation remains ongoing, 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 KTLA.
Laurel: The annual Cinderella Project will provide prom gowns and accessories to area high school students from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and March 29 and April 5 at YWCA Greater Johnstown, 526 Somerset St. in the Kernville section of Johnstown. Prom is that high school milestone that is etched in pop culture, and its the one milestone that everyone wants to go to, but its also the most expensive, said coordinator Sherri Rae. The dress, the hair, the accessories, the makeup  it all adds up, and for some it might feel out of reach. This gives them the opportunity to have that moment in the sun where they feel beautiful and have the chance to experience that milestone. Rae said the organization gives out 100 to 120 dresses each year.

Barb: A new report published Thursday shows that at least 112 North American bird species have lost more than half their populations in the past 50 years. These are the very real consequences if we are unable to conserve and protect the crucial habitats that birds need, said a co-author. The total number of dabbling and diving ducks is down about 30% from 2017; among all waterfowl, numbers are down 20% since 2014. Among the species showing the steepest declines are Allens hummingbirds, Florida scrub jays, golden-cheeked warblers, tricolored blackbirds and yellow-billed magpies. This comes a week after another new study found that Americas butterflies are disappearing at a catastrophic rate because of insecticides, climate change and habitat loss, with their numbers down 22% just since 2000.

Laurel: Tyler Smay, Beginnings Inc.s program director for Court Appointed Special Advocates of the Laurel Highlands, is one of four people to get the Pennsylvania Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids award this year. The honor from the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance aims to recognize people who go above and beyond the call to protect children from neglect and abuse. 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. 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.

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Laurel: A pair of electricity companies  Texas-based Vistra, whose portfolio includes a Fayette County power plant, and its retail electricity service provider Dynegy  donated $5,000 last week to the Somerset County Mobile Food Bank and another $5,000 to the Childrens Aid Home Programs of Somerset County. This donation is huge for us, said food bank director Ben Tawney, especially in uncertain times like these. Even as Somerset Countys unemployment rate is just 4.4%, the need for emergency food assistance hasnt waned, particularly among the working poor, he said.

Laurel: Officials from three Somerset County schools  Berlin Brothers- valley, Meyersdale Area and Rockwood Area  have issued a joint statement assuring their communities that administrators, faculty and staff remain committed to working together to provide high-quality education and opportunities to students. We are looking to work together to maintain opportunities for our students, Berlin Brothersvalley Superintendent Thomas Podpora said. The districts have worked together for many years, and we all hope to continue working together in the future. Rockwood Area Superintendent Mark Bower stressed that possible mergers have not been the focus of district officials meetings.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Portland-area law enforcement will be ramping up DUII missions this weekend through St. Patricks Day.

The Portland Police Bureau announced they are teaming up with other state, county and local law enforcement partners, similar to last years St. Patricks Day. The high-visibility DUII enforcement missions will begin Friday evening and will last through Tuesday morning, the day after the St. Patricks holiday.

UO among 50+ universities facing federal DEI probe

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PPB is partnering with the multi-agency Metro Area Traffic Enforcement Collaboration in an effort to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes said Mike Benner, a PPB spokesperson.

Officials said law enforcement partners plan to achieve this by focusing on the SOLID enforcement priorities: Speed, Occupant Safety, Lane Usage, Impaired Driving, and Districted Driving.

Chase Fullerton with PPBs Major Crash Division has been to hundreds of crashes but he said it doesnt get any easier.

The hardest part is after the evidence has been collected, after the vehicles have been towed and after the person died in the crash, taken by the medical team  its when they come to go to the residence where the person lives and tell their loved ones that theyre not coming home. And the sad thing about it is that these crashes are entirely preventable, Fullerton said.

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During last years DUII enforcement effort, 75 arrests were made and 950 citations were issued in connection to speeding, impaired driving, and distracted driving, officials said.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation is also offering weekend discounts on taxi, Lyft and Uber rides to help curb impaired driving.

Rides have to start in the City of Portland, but then they can go wherever they need to go in the Metro-area, said Dylan Rivera, a PBOT spokesperson.

Gerard McAleese is the owner of Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub in downtown Portland. He told KOIN 6 News the St. Patricks holiday is always a busy time for them and hes appreciative what the city does to keep the streets safe.

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The city has been very, very helpful this year with getting people downtown, keeping them safe. Everbodys behind it, its great, 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.
Mar. 15A new city law went into effect this month: Anchorage bars, restaurants and breweries are now required to check the identification of anyone purchasing alcohol, no matter a patron's age or how gray-haired they may be.

The Anchorage Assembly passed an ordinance in December that expanded the city's mandatory ID check law to all establishments selling or serving alcohol starting March 1. Previously, municipal law required only liquor stores to check IDs for every sale.

The citywide rollout of the mandatory ID law has been met with a mixture of calm acceptance, confusion, exasperation and outright anger or opposition by local establishments and their customers.

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Assembly members said the new rule is meant to help prevent people under the age of 21 from purchasing alcohol. It's also aimed at preventing alcohol sales to Alaska residents with "red stripe" driver's licenses, which the state issues to indicate when a person is under a court order to not buy alcohol  often due to alcohol-related offenses such as driving under the influence. As of late last year, about 2,210 Anchorage residents had a restricted license.

State laws require a person's ID to be checked if it's not clear whether they are 21 years of age or older, or if it's suspected that a person is otherwise restricted from purchasing alcohol. Anyone serving alcohol in Alaska is required by the state to take a training, which gives a rule of thumb that an establishment should check the ID of anyone who appears younger than 30.

A little after 4 p.m. Wednesday, Turnagain Brewing's downstairs tables were occupied by a few groups of middle-aged and silver-haired residents who regularly patronize the brewery.

Customers have been cooperative with the change, though it's a bit of a hassle, according to co-owner Mary Rosenzweig.

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"There's just a lot of mocking, quips and snarky comments," she said. "But so far, nobody has taken my head off."

Assembly member Karen Bronga, who championed the law change, said she's received a few angry emails from people about the law. One came from a man over 60 who was upset that he was asked for an ID, she said.

But, if you forget your ID, "is it really the end of the world if you're not able to buy a drink?" Bronga said.

Naomi Stock, taproom manager at Onsite Brewing in Midtown, said the business has taken a proactive approach, putting up signs in early January to warn its customers about the impending law change.

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"I'm curious to see what it'll be like with tourists this summer," she said. They "tend to be not as willing to cooperate with our (more restrictive) alcohol laws," she added.

State law allows breweries to serve a maximum of 36 ounces of beer to a person per day, which is a surprise for many visitors coming from Outside.

The Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association, or CHARR, raised a similar concern in a December letter to the Assembly opposing the law.

"The negative impacts on businesses, on restaurants, in particular, and especially during the tourism season, could be significant," Sarah Oates Harlow, CHARR's president and CEO, said in an interview.

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Among Anchorage bars, restaurants and breweries, there's been "lots of confusion" and CHARR has been inundated with questions, she said.

The businesses want to know things like: "What are the penalties? Do we have to ID employees who want to have a beverage after work when we know who they are?" she said.

It turns out, the answer is yes. Everyone must be IDed, even if they work at the place, Rosenzweig said. If a person leaves the premises but later returns  even just a quick run out to the parking lot, for example  they must show their ID again before buying a beer, she said.

The municipality in late February issued guidance on the law that says an ID check is valid for the duration the customer remains on the premises, and that "the Municipality expects licensees to use reasonable judgment when implementing ID check requirements."

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"It seems excessive," said Ryan McDowell, manager and bartender at the Blue Fox, a bar in East Anchorage. "People I've carded before  now, I've got to card them every day."

Harlow said one of CHARR's top concerns is the added strain on hospitality businesses. Many are already understaffed, she said. Carding customers takes time, especially if the ID check is done right. That time adds up quickly, she said. It will slow down service, she said, especially at busy restaurants with large tables of people and at breweries during their peak hours, when beer lines sometimes stretch out the door.

Stock at Onsite Brewing advised that patrons should have their IDs out and ready to help speed up the process.

At Turnagain Brewing, Rosenzweig had a hand stamp created with the business's salmon logo, which they'll use to keep track of who has been IDed.

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Still, there are some logistics to work out, she said. The counter-service-only brewery has two floors for seating, with beer sales downstairs. So, even with the hand stamps, it will be tricky to keep track during the busy summer season, she said. Groups sitting upstairs may all have to go downstairs to get a second round, rather than taking turns to fetch beers after initially showing IDs. Rosenzweig said she may even need to hire another employee just to monitor IDs and check them at the door.

For now "it's OK," Rosenzweig said, adding: "Ask me again in July."

Alaska residents restricted from buying alcohol could show a different form of ID to get around the law, Harlow said. Under state law, any current federal or state picture identification with a person's age is acceptable, including driver's licenses and passports.

"That's a pretty simple loophole if you have a red stripe," Anchorage resident Josh Kennedy said Wednesday while sitting at Reilly's, an Irish pub at the north edge of Midtown.

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To check for alcohol restrictions, establishments can choose to not accept a passport, military ID or other ID and instead ask for a valid state ID, or proof that a person isn't an Alaska resident. Since the state has a large tourism industry, and many visitors use passports for their IDs, requiring a state ID is not something businesses do regularly, Harlow said.

Bronga acknowledged the added strain on staff and time that the law might cause, and its potential workaround. But the law is worth the drawbacks, she said.

"If we can catch one, (and) that keeps a tragedy from happening, then in my mind, it's a win," Bronga said.
The South Dakota House of Representatives convenes on Feb. 5, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

After some South Dakota lawmakers complained about fatigue from the number of questions on the ballot, theyre sending four of their own measures to voters.

South Dakotans considered seven ballot questions during the 2024 election, including four state constitutional amendments. Rep. John Hughes, R-Sioux Falls, said that resulted in millions of dollars in out-of-state money coming for deceptive, emotionally charged ads stating half-truths.

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The voters are weary of that, he said. Theyre fatigued.

Hughes was speaking on behalf of his own resolution that will go to voters as a ballot measure. It will ask voters to approve a 60% threshold to pass constitutional ballot questions, rather than a simple majority.

2025 election legislation

Read more about election-related bills considered and adopted during the 2025 legislative session on South Dakota Searchlights 2025 SD Election Legislation page.

Thats one of the four questions lawmakers sent to the 2026 general election ballot this legislative session, which has one day left on March 31 to consider the governors vetoes. Seven other proposed ballot questions from legislators failed to cross the finish line.

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Lawmakers eagerness to put their own measures on the ballot is a little ironic said Samantha Chapman, advocacy manager with the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota.

The Legislature is contradicting itself and contributing to said ballot fatigue, Chapman told South Dakota Searchlight.

Another six potential ballot questions from the public are already listed on the Secretary of States website. None of those questions have been approved for petition circulation yet.

Following are the questions that South Dakota voters will see from legislators  if they dont approve more next session.

Allowing the Legislature to remove South Dakota from expanded Medicaid

South Dakota voters will decide next year whether to continue requiring Medicaid expansion if federal support for the program declines.

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Medicaid is government-funded health insurance for people with low incomes, and for adults and children with disabilities. In 2022, South Dakota voters expanded Medicaid eligibility to adults with incomes up to 138% of the poverty level, to capitalize on a 90% federal funding match included in the Obama-era Affordable Care Act. The expansion is part of the state constitution and can only be altered by voters.

The ballot question will ask voters to authorize the termination of Medicaid expansion if federal support falls below 90%. Speculation about a reduction in federal Medicaid expansion funding has been swirling as the Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Congress look for spending cuts.

Last fall, South Dakota voters authorized state officials to consider imposing work requirements on people covered by Medicaid expansion. The state has not yet applied for federal permission to impose those requirements.

Requiring a 60% vote to amend the state constitution

Four years after Constitutional Amendment C and eight years after Constitutional Amendment X failed at the ballot box, voters will once again consider if the threshold for approving certain types of ballot questions should be raised from a simple majority.

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Amendment C sought to require a three-fifths vote for the approval of ballot questions that would increase taxes or fees or require the state to appropriate $10 million or more in the first five fiscal years after a measures passage. The measure was defeated by 67% of voters.

South Dakota voters rejected Constitutional Amendment X in 2018, which would have raised the approval requirement for constitutional amendments to 55%. It was defeated with 54% voting against it.

Hughes new proposal would raise the constitutional amendment approval threshold to 60%. Supporters of the proposal argue that a higher threshold is necessary to protect the state constitution from frequent changes and to ensure that only amendments with broad public support are adopted. They also say the proposal could discourage out-of-state interest groups from trying to amend South Dakotas constitution, and keep the constitution reserved for language dealing with the structure of government rather than policy matters.

Opponents argue that voters have spoken on the matter, and theres no need to ask them again.

Creating an unclaimed property trust fund

Voters will see a ballot question in 2026 asking permission for the state Investment Council to manage a trust fund for unclaimed property.

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Unclaimed property consists of an array of abandoned or forgotten private assets, including money from bank accounts, PayPal accounts, stocks, life insurance payouts, uncashed checks, unused refunds, and even the contents of safe deposit boxes. Holders of the money or items, such as banks, try to find the owners. The property reverts to the state after three years.

Unclaimed property revenue surged to record levels during the past few years as people left assets behind during pandemic-motivated relocations, and because of Bancorps relocation of its national headquarters to Sioux Falls.

The state typically spends much of the revenue, while setting aside only a portion of it for people who come forward to claim their property. Yet rightful owners can claim their assets from the state at any time.

Much of the money is never claimed. Last year, as the state took in about $175 million of unclaimed property, it paid out $38 million in claims to 6,768 claimants. South Dakota has received $310 million worth of unclaimed property so far this year.

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The ballot question is part of a legislative package passed this session to bring more predictability to the volatile revenue source, and to protect the state if claims increase. Senate Bill 155, which was signed by Gov. Larry Rhoden on Wednesday, would limit the amount of unclaimed property funds that can be used in the states general fund budget, and gradually transition all unclaimed property money into the trust fund. Interest from the fund would then be treated as revenue for the states annual budget.

Clarifying that non-U.S. citizens cannot vote in South Dakota elections

Senate Joint Resolution 503 sends a constitutional amendment to South Dakota voters clarifying a person must be a U.S. citizen to vote in any elections in the state. South Dakotas voter registration form already requires voters to certify theyre citizens of the United States.

Sen. Taffy Howard, R-Rapid City, introduced the legislation. She said voters in several states have added similar clarifications in their state constitutions in recent elections. She added that the clarification ensures the process remains secure and that the voices of American citizens arent diluted.

Howard, who also introduced the unclaimed property ballot measure, told South Dakota Searchlight that ballot fatigue is a very real concern, but she has confidence in our citizens.

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They take time to research the issues and I do know no one here is in any way trying to take away or dilute the will of the voter, Howard said. We want to listen to the voters. Its our intention, if anything, to maybe limit the influence of outside national organizations.

What else might appear on the ballot?

In 1898, South Dakota became the first state to allow citizen-backed initiatives and referendums.

Petitions are filed with the Secretary of States Office and reviewed by the attorney general and the Legislative Research Council before they are approved for circulation. Petition circulators must gain 17,508 signatures from South Dakota registered voters for an initiated measure or referred law, and 35,017 signatures for a constitutional amendment. The deadline to turn in signed petitions is May 3, 2026.

Potential 2026 citizen-sponsored ballot questions include:
Mar. 14OLYMPIA  Washington lawmakers continue to consider adopting a permit-to-purchase system for firearms in the state and prohibiting firearms in public areas where children are known to gather, though several proposals  including a new tax on firearms and ammunition  have failed, at least for this session.

This year, the legislature has considered an array of new laws that supporters say are aimed at reducing gun violence in the state. Detractors, though, have argued the laws would ultimately restrict legal gun owners, and could violate either the state or U.S. constitution.

While some bills ultimately passed out of the chambers, several others ultimately failed to make it out of committee, including a new 11% tax for ammunition and firearm sales.

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Jeremy Ball, owner of Sharpshooting Indoor Range and Gun Shop, said the proposed tax could have been "very detrimental to the industry, and my business specifically."

A bill that would have restricted bulk firearm and ammunition purchases also failed to make it out of committee in the House of Representatives.

Other proposals included a requirement for gun owners to store firearms in secure safes or lock boxes in vehicles and homes, which supporters said would restrict access in accidental shootings, domestic violence and suicide situations. Detractors, though, feared the bill's one-size-fits-all approach could restrict gun owners who either live alone or don't have children, among other concerns.

Here's a look at the bills the legislature could ultimately adopt:

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Permit-to-purchase

If adopted, the bill would require a potential buyer to obtain a permit to purchase a firearm and prove that the purchaser has completed a firearms training course, among other requirements.

Ball said the bill is the "height" of his concern among the proposals, as it would centralize firearms licensing with the Washington State Patrol, instead of at the local level. Ball also feared new live fire training requirements would result in backlogs at firing ranges, and with the Washington State Patrol.

"Without a massive, massive, investment from Washington state in order to develop these programs and execute them, it's going to be at an extreme cost," Ball said. "And the premise of them doesn't really make sense anyways."

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Speaking on the House floor Saturday, Rep. Liz Berry, D-Seattle, said the proposal comes amid heightened concerns around firearm safety, particularly in recent years.

"It doesn't have to be this way," Berry said. "We know that this policy works."

If passed, Berry said the bill would ensure that firearms do not end up in the wrong hands. According to Berry, 12 other states have implemented similar legislation.

"These laws save lives," Berry said.

During debate on the House floor Saturday, Rep. Hunter Abell, R-Inchelium, said the bill could motivate some in his district to move out of state, noting that during a recent conversation with a constituent, he was told this bill could ultimately motivate him to move to Idaho.

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"I believe that this bill is bad for a number of reasons," Abell said. "I believed it was bad before the conversation with my constituent, I believe that even more so now."

Abell added that the bill is bad "as a cultural matter" and contrary to the values of his district.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Law and Justice Committee. As of Friday afternoon, a hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Prohibiting firearms in certain public locations

The legislature is also considering a bill to restrict open carry of firearms in areas "where children are likely to be present," which includes playgrounds, zoos, transit centers, county fairgrounds when the fair is open to the public and certain state and local public buildings.

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The bill would also require warning signs to be posted where weapons are prohibited.

Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, who sponsored the bill, said the proposal is ultimately about keeping families safe in the areas where they frequently gather.

"No one should have to think twice about their safety when taking their kids to the park or attending a local fair," Valdez said in a statement. "This bill is about keeping our communities safe, preventing unnecessary tragedies, and ensuring that public spaces remain places of joy and connection  not fear."

Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, said while he appreciated his Democratic colleagues who worked on the bill, he ultimately voted against the proposal because it would restrict lawful gun owners.

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"Lawful gun owners are not the problem," Holy said. "To ask us to believe that the people that we don't want to have guns or be in those locations will honor a sign or honor a law, I think we have been battle-hardened enough, all of us, to realize that's not the case."

Holy added that the bill attempted to make "something that is already illegal even more illegal."

The bill will be heard in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
Christopher Herrera speaks about his experience in the juvenile legal system during a gathering in the New Mexico Legislature on Feb. 24, 2025. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source NM)

When Christopher Herrera was 15, he was incarcerated in the Bernalillo County Youth Services Center, a juvenile detention center in Albuquerque that holds young people aged 12 to 17 from across the state.

Every time Herrera received a visit from anyone like his mother or his lawyer, and any time he left to see a doctor, the guards afterward forced him to strip naked and searched him, even though he had been in handcuffs and in two guards direct line of sight the entire time.

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In an interview with Source NM on Wednesday, Herrera described the strip searches emotional and psychological toll.

In my head, it was really weird, it messed me up as a person even to this day, he said. It made me feel really uncomfortable. It wasnt private or nothing like that. You would even hear staff sometimes making jokes.

Herrera said he was held at YSC for 10 months. What he and other young people held there didnt know was that the county had installed cameras in the bathrooms, where the children shower.

Herrera said he only learned about the cameras in February because of discussions around Senate Bill 322, which would regulate strip searches in juvenile detention facilities, and ban cameras from their shower and toilet areas.

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The Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously passed SB322 on March 3. It awaits a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Sponsor Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Albuquerque) told the committee she and others toured YSC last summer and learned of the strip searches and discovered the cameras in the shower area.

Theyre recorded. What happens with that recording? Whos watching? If that recording is stored, well, who goes back to look at it? she asked the committee.

In a written statement to Source NM on Friday, Youth Services Center Director Tamera Marcantel said detention center officials disabled the cameras video capabilities on May 15, 2024. On Friday, she said, a purchase order to remove them was approved and the deactivated cameras will be taken down.

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YSC is committed to serving public safety by providing a safe and secure environment for all residents and staff, she added.

Deputy County Manager of Public Safety Greg Perez told Source NM in a written statement that he discussed removing the cameras in the showers with some of the incarcerated childrens mothers.

Based on those conversations, as well as operational changes within the facility, increased staffing, and remodeling, the decision was made to remove the cameras, Perez said.

Kristen Ferguson, a spokesperson for the Bernalillo County Public Safety Division that runs the YSC, did not answer Source NMs other questions about the county governments position on SB322.

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But even with the cameras removed, a future detention center administrator could reinstall them, Rodrigo Rodriguez, director of Community Organizing at La Plazita Institute, told Source NM on Friday.

Rodriguez did not join the tour of YSC but has testified in support of SB322 in committee. When Source NM informed him the county is removing the cameras, he said, Thats great news and pretty convenient timing.

Thus the need for legislation to ban the practice altogether, he said.

As for the strip searches, SB322 doesnt ban them, New Day Youth and Family Services Chief Program Officer Gerri Bachicha said, but requires the detention center administrator to sign off on each one, and for staff to document when they occur.

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She said the bill would raise the standard for conducting strip searches in juvenile detention from reasonable suspicion to probable cause, which would prevent arbitrary and unjustified searches, reducing the risk of violating childrens constitutional due process protections in the Fourth Amendment.

It would also enhance trust between young people and staff, which makes young people more likely to engage in rehabilitative programming, she said.

In the March 3 committee hearing, Lopez cited YSC data showing nearly 700 strip searches were conducted between June and October 2024.

Bachicha, Lopezs expert, also detailed to the committee the results of those searches: guards found no contraband in July, two pens and a pencil in August, a handwritten note in September, and a pen in October.

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Those items can usually be found through a pat search, she said, but an arbitrary, blanket policy defaults to a strip search, rather than starting with a pat search.

Indeed, Herrera told Source NM, contraband didnt necessarily mean drugs. Contraband  to them  is us having pencils or coloring books or an extra book in our cell.

Now as a 21-year-old adult having regained his freedom, Herrera said he regularly takes drug tests and is desensitized to urinating in front of another person.

Herrera said it made him feel less valued as a person knowing that there may be footage of him being strip searched.



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We never knew this, they didnt tell us none of this, Herrera said. At the time, we were all kids. Everyone in there was under the age of 18. We would try to make jokes out of this, try to convince ourselves that it was normal, what we were going through.

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MATAGORDA COUNTY, Texas (Nexstar)  Matagorda County Judge Bobby Seiferman is used to handling emergencies as his county sits in hurricane alley, but he and his colleagues faced a different type of emergency at the beginning of 2025.

Everything was knocked out, Seiferman explained. So the county clerk was down. You couldnt file deeds  you couldnt close on any property. His county of a little more than 36,000 people was hit by a cyberattack.

It started when an employee in the county jail clicked on something in the early hours of Jan. 24 that triggered the attack. Later that day by breakfast time, Seiferman said the Department of Information Resources (DIR), the Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Emergency Management, and the FBI were on the ground helping with the attack.

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Five weeks after the attack, Seiferman said 90% of his county was back and still working on bringing all services back to full power. These sorts of things affect so many people, Seiferman explained.

His county is part of a growing list of government entities being targeted in the state of Texas. He said he received a call from another Texas city asking for a copy of his countys emergency declaration because they were going through its own cyberattack.

Matagorda County Judge Bobby Seiferman sits at his desk in Bay City, TX (Photo Courtesy: Nexstar).

A spokesperson for DIR said the agency blocks more than a billion cybersecurity intrusion attempts on the State of Texas network every day.

According to a cybersecurity report filed by the agency in 2024, there is a growing trend over the past two years where, Texas water systems experienced several significant cyberattacks, highlighting the vulnerability of the states critical infrastructure and potential dangers of cyberattacks on these systems.

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DIR delivers technology solutions to Texas state agencies. Part of their responsibility is also cybersecurity. A spokesperson for the agency said, The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) takes our role in assisting other government organizations with cybersecurity incidents very seriously and strives to protect the information entrusted to us by organizations who have been impacted. With its booming technology industry, critical infrastructure, and many government agencies, Texas is a prime target for cyberattacks.

But two bills filed in the Texas Capitol would transfer those duties over to a Texas Cyber Command. The bills, filed by state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R  Southlake, and state Sen. Tan Parker, R  Flower Mound, come after Gov. Greg Abbott made cyber command an emergency item this session during his state of the state address in February.

The command would be responsible for cybersecurity in the state, protecting local and state government entities, as well as private entities operating critical infrastructure that enter into a contract with the command. Parkers bill lists the critical infrastructure that needs protected as:

Chemical facilities

Commercial facilities

Communication facilities

Manufacturing facilities

Dams

Defense industrial bases

Emergency services systems

Energy facilities

Financial services systems

Food and agriculture facilities

Government facilities

Health care and public health facilities

Information technology

Nuclear reactors, materials, and waste

Transportation systems

Water and wastewater systems

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The command would be part of the University of Texas System and attached to the University of Texas at San Antonio. It would also create a cybersecurity incident response unit that would engage during attacks to remove malware and patch vulnerabilities in information resources technologies.

Seiferman said he learned there is no iron-clad protection from another future attack on his county, which is why he is in support of any type of cyber command created by the state. He warns other local government entities and utilities to be prepared for a cyber intrusion attempt.

As we move forward, our training efforts will be increased, absolutely, Seiferman 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.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  Jazmin Pellegrini, 15, was discharged from a psychiatric hospital in Martinez and ran away from her familys Bay Point home. Her loved ones frantically searched for her and alerted sheriffs deputies. Just three days later, on April 20, 2024, Jazmins lifeless body was found face-down on a driveway in San Francisco.

On Friday, attorneys announced filing a wrongful death lawsuit against three Contra Costa County agencies who allegedly violated their mandated duties. The suit was filed on behalf of Jazmins mother, Marta Barany, by law firm Panish Shea Ravipudi.

The lawsuit names Contra Costa County Children & Family Services, Contra Costa Health Services, and the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office as defendants.

Jazmin Pellegrini (Photo courtesy Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP)

Between April 10-17 of 2024, the three agencies violated their legal duties, resulting in the tragic death of Jazmin Pellegrini. If any of these agencies had simply done their jobs, Jazmin would not have died half-naked on the street at age 15, the lawsuit states.

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The Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, CFS, and the Sheriff all failed my daughter, and it feels like a knife to the heart, said Barany. No one should have to experience what our family has been through in seeking help. Jazmins life mattered.

Between the ages 12 and 15, Jazmin endured frequent psychiatric hospitalizations, dozens of suicide attempts, and began falling victim to sexual exploitation and drug abuse, the lawsuit states. Her mental health deteriorated throughout 2023 and 2024, attorneys said.

While her daughter was hospitalized, Barany reported to hospital staff that she could not keep her daughter safe if she returned home. Barany relinquished physical custody to CFS so that Jazmin could receive critical care in a safe environment.

Jazmin Pellegrini (Image via GoFundMe)

However, rather than placing in a residential mental health facility, and against medical advice, CFS placed Jazmin in an ordinary group home. That same day, April 10, 2024, Jazmin ran away from the unsecured group home, the suit states.

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Jazmin was found on the streets by a man who proceeded to drug her and rape her at gun point, according to the lawsuit. On April 16, 2024, CCRMC evaluated Jazmin and found her to be gravely disabled, attorneys claim.

Despite Jazmins grave condition, the family reporting that they would be unable to keep Jazmin safe in the family home  on April 17, 2024, Jazmin was unlawfully discharged by CCRMC, the suit states.

The night, the girl was picked up by family members from CCRMC and brought back to the familys home in a delirious state. Jazmin refused to enter her home and ran away. After family members called 911, sheriffs deputies found Jazmin on the street. They let her walk away, attorneys claim.

Jazmin disappeared for three days until her body was found in San Francisco.

Jazmin Pellegrini (Image via GoFundMe)

A coroner determined that the girls death was caused by a lethal combination of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

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During Jazmins time in county psychiatric hospitals, she became dependent on medications, according to her family. Barany wrote, Jazmin was not a drug addict. Negligent medical establishments heavily medicated her.

Attorney Wyatt Vespermann said, County-run child protective service agencies exist for the sole purpose of protecting the most vulnerable. Under California law, this critical role includes ensuring children with severe mental health needs receive timely coordinated services. Contra Costa County failed Jazmin time and time again.

The lawsuit demands a jury trial.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Columbia University student detained over his pro-Palestinian activism is not a flight risk and should be allowed to return home for the birth of his first child, his lawyers argued in a motion for bail on Saturday.

Mahmoud Khalil - a 30-year-old permanent U.S. resident of Palestinian descent - was arrested a week ago at his university residence. He has not been charged with a crime and is being held in immigration custody in Louisiana. His wife, an American citizen, is due to give birth next month.

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The case has become a flashpoint for President Donald Trump's vow to deport some activists who took part in protests on U.S. college campuses against Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza following the October 2023 attack by the Palestinian militants.

Khalil was a prominent member of the protest movement at Columbia University. His arrest sparked protests this week.

Justice Department lawyers have argued the U.S. government is seeking Khalil's removal because Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reasonable grounds to believe his activities or presence in the country could have "serious adverse foreign policy consequences."

The U.S. will likely revoke visas of more students in the coming days, Rubio said on Friday.

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Under a provision of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, a law passed in 1952, any immigrant may be deported if the secretary of state deems their presence in the country potentially adverse to American foreign policy. Legal experts have said that provision is rarely invoked, and Khalil's lawyers have said it was not intended to silence dissent.

"His detention unquestionably chills his speech, as the federal government monitors and controls his ability to communicate with the outside world and has complete power over all of the decisions that impact his daily life inside a remote private prison," his lawyers argued in the motion for bail.

They said if released, Khalil would return home to help his wife prepare for the birth of their child and start a job at a human rights organization in New York. He has the support of many current and former classmates, professors, colleagues and friends who are calling for his release, they said.

"There are no allegations that Mr. Khalil is a flight risk or a danger to the community," his lawyers argued. "Mr. Khalil has never been arrested or convicted of a crime."

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The U.S. Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the Justice Department said on Friday: "Being in the United States as a non-citizen is a privilege, not a right ... Mahmoud won't be missed."

Since Khalil's arrest, federal agents have searched two student residences at Columbia University and the Justice Department said on Friday it was looking into what it said were possible violations of terrorism laws during the protests.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem also said on Friday that a Columbia student from India, whose visa was revoked on March 5, had left the country herself on March 11.

Noem said a second woman - a Palestinian from the West Bank who took part in the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University - was arrested for overstaying her expired student visa, which was terminated in 2022 for lack of attendance.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Rod Nickel)
At least 32 people across five states have died and dozens more are injured after a violent storm system swept across the country, slamming the Mississippi Valley and Deep South.

A brutal combination of tornadoes, severe storms and whipping winds has left at least 12 dead in Missouri, the Associated Press reports. Another eight died in Kansas on Friday in a highway pile-up involving 50 vehicles amid a dust storm. Mississippis governor also reported six dead after the state was rocked by tornadoes, severe storms and even an earthquake late Saturday.

The Texas Department of Public Safety reported three deaths in three separate car crashes due to low visibility and high winds after a dust storm ripped through the state Friday. Another three people also died in Arkansas amid the storms.

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One man was killed after a tornado tore apart his home.

"It was unrecognizable as a home. Just a debris field," Butler County, Missouri Coroner Jim Akers told the Associated Press. "The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls." A woman in the home was saved by rescuers, the outlet noted.

Governors of Arkansas, Georgia, and Mississippi have each declared states of emergency.

Debris covers the road during a severe storm slams the area north of Seymour, Missouri late Friday, March 14, 2025. (Trooper Austin James/Missouri State Highway Patrol via AP) (AP)

The Carolinas

Nearly 250,000 Americans are without power across as of Sunday morning, according to poweroutage.us.

North Carolinians went to sleep Saturday night with the threat of damaging winds, tornadoes and large hail, the states emergency management team predicted. More than 44,000 in the state are without power as of Sunday morning, with Duke Energy reporting 200 outages across 16 counties, according to Fox Carolina.

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Tornado watches were still in effect Sunday morning in counties across North and South Carolina through Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Strong winds are expected to whip throughout the day Sunday into the evening, with gusts of up to 45 mph.

Texas

Three have died in Texas in car crashes as a result of the dust storm, with one car pileup including an estimated 38 vehicles, AccuWeather reported.

In Amarillo in the Texas panhandle, a video posted by the National Weather Service captured 83 mph winds dust to swirl and lamp posts, flag poles and trees to shake. Dangerous winds and blowing dust are causing LOTS of issues out there, including accidents, downed power lines and low visibility. Take extreme caution out there! the government agency wrote.

Many others are under threat as wildfires tear across the northern part of the state. As of Sunday morning, nine wildfires were raging across the state, most of which were more than 65 percent contained. Fire weather watches and red flag warnings are expected to take effect early this week.

A blaze overtakes a home in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Friday as wildfires in the state destroy more than 200 homes (REUTERS)

Fires are also devastating Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Kansas. In some Oklahoma communities, officials ordered locals to evacuate as more than 130 fires were reported across the state, the Associated Press reported.

At a press conference Saturday, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said nearly 300 homes were damaged and more than 170,000 acres had burned due to the fires.

---

Additional reporting by AP.
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP)  Pakistan's security forces raided two militant hideouts in the countrys restive northwest on Saturday, triggering gun battles that left at least two soldiers and nine militants dead, the military said in a statement.

The raids were conducted in the Mohmand and Dera Ismail Khan districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan.

According to local police officials, the insurgents were Pakistani Taliban, who are known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP.

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The outlawed TTP is a separate group but an ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of a withdrawal from the country after 20 years of war.

Many TTP leaders and fighters have found sanctuaries and have even been living openly in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, which also emboldened the Pakistani Taliban.

In a separate incident on Saturday, insurgents ambushed security forces in the northwestern Kurram district of Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan, local police said. However, authorities have yet to confirm any troop casualties.

Pakistan's military is currently engaged in an ongoing operation in Kurram, an area that has witnessed years of sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslim communities. Hundreds of people have been killed in clashes between heavily armed factions, exacerbating tensions in the region.

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Since November, Kurram has remained isolated after authorities blocked key roads following sectarian violence. The closure has led to severe shortages of medicine and food, further deepening the humanitarian crisis.

Also on Saturday, a bomb exploded outside a mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar, killing cleric Mufti Shakir, local police said. It was unclear who was behind the attack and an investigation is continuing.
Officials confirmed Saturday at least 13 people are dead after multiple storms tore through Missouri and Arkansas. Photo courtesy of Missouri Highway State Patrol

March 15 (UPI) -- Officials confirmed Saturday at least 13 people are dead after multiple storms tore through Missouri and Arkansas.

Three people died in Arkansas while another 29 were injured in eight counties throughout the state, the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management said in a statement on its website.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed 10 deaths across four counties after a preliminary assessment. The agency urged people to stay away from debris and downed power lines left in the storm's wake.

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Officials are still assessing the scope of the damage that occurred overnight. Wind gusts were measured up to 80 miles per hour.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed 10 deaths across four counties after a preliminary assessment. Photo courtesy of Missouri Highway State Patrol These photos were taken just north of Seymour, in Webster County, last night. No injuries reported. Please be safe during today's clean up efforts. credit- Tpr. Austin James pic.twitter.com/a74agEkBHR MSHP Troop D (@MSHPTrooperD) March 15, 2025

Three people died in Arkansas while another 29 were injured in eight counties throughout the state. Photo courtesy of Missouri Highway State Patrol

Accuweather meteorologists have been predicting widespread severe weather, including multiple strong tornadoes lasting through Saturday and spreading from the Mississippi Valley to the Gulf Coast, Great Lakes and Atlantic coast.

The severe weather is expected to continue through Sunday. At its peak, the storm system is expected to affect 1 million square miles and include 30 states.

Around 500,000 customers in nine states were without power as of 12 p.m. EDT Saturday, according to the site poweroutage.us. Photo courtesy of Missouri Highway State Patrol

In addition to the strong wind and tornadoes, large hail is also possible Sunday afternoon in the Southeast.

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Around 500,000 customers in nine states were without power as of 12 p.m. EDT Saturday, according to the site poweroutage.us.

Tornado watches remained in place in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio as of noon Saturday.

Severe weather and tornadoes hit Central Florida earlier in the week, leading to storm warnings in several counties.
The death toll from a powerful explosion on Saturday that rocked the city of Latakia on the Syrian coast has risen to eight, including three women and a girl.

Fourteen were injured, Syria's state news agency SANA reported.

The deaths were caused by an explosion at a scrap metal shop in the southern Raml neighbourhood of Latakia, SANA reported.

According to a security source in Latakia, the explosion was caused during an attempt to dismantle a missile body "to extract the copper from inside it."

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The scrap metal trade has flourished over the years in Syria and became a main business nationwide, especially in Idlib in northwest Syria, due to the dire economic situation.

Many young Syrian children have been involved in gathering scarp metal over the years.

Unexploded weapons from more than a decade of conflict continue to pose threats in war-torn Syria.

The incident occurred as public celebrations were held in several parts of Syria marking the 14th anniversary of the start of a pro-democracy uprising against the rule of long-time president Bashar al-Assad.

After nightfall in the capital Damascus, the streets were full of people celebrating and dancing.

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This years commemoration carries special significance as it comes more than three months after al-Assad's fall.

Thousands of people gathered on Saturday in Ummayyad Square in the centre of Damascus for the celebration, raising the revolutionary flag and chanting slogans calling for "one unified Syria," witnesses said.

"This is the happiest day of my life," said Abboud Ahmed, who came from the city of Darayya south of Damascus.

"For 13 years, I've dreamed of holding the revolution flag in the Umayyad Square," he told dpa.

"Throughout the years of the revolution, we were displaced, and our cities were destroyed. But we had a conviction that we'll win."

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Abdel-Hameed Sabbagh, who came from the north-western province of Idlib, expressed joy too.

"I came to Damascus yesterday [Friday] for the first time to join the revolutions celebrations in the Umayyad Square," he said.

"It was always a dream for all revolutionaries to reach this place and celebrate in the heart of the capital," he added.

Army helicopters flew overhead and dropped roses on the celebrating crowd in the main square, SANA reported.

Similar celebrations got under way in other Syrian cities including Aleppo, Homs and Idlib amid tight security, witnesses said.

The anti-Assad uprising began in March 2011 when peaceful protests erupted demanding political change.

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However, his government responded with brutal oppression. The situation soon evolved into a full-blown conflict that resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and massive devastation.

Al-Assad ruled Syria for over two decades. He fled the country to Russia in December last year as an Islamist-led rebel alliance advanced on Damascus following a lightning offensive.
A powerful explosion on Saturday rocked the city of Latakia on the Syrian coast, killing at least three people and injuring 12 others, Syria's state news agency SANA reported.

Civil defence teams and locals are still searching for potential casualties and missing people in the rubble, it said.

The agency said the cause of the blast in a building in Latakia's al-Raml al-Janoubi neighbourhood was still unclear.

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But a medical source at the Latakia Health Directorate said the explosion was caused by the detonation of a missile left over from the war.

Unexploded weapons from more than a decade of conflict continue to pose threats in war-torn Syria.
This is part 1 of a 2-part series about the challenges of navigating self-directed services, a disability care model.

Sam Silverman, a 23-year-old man who is autistic and has two chromosome disorders, hires support staffers to help him every day in his apartment in Frederick using funds the state has allocated to him.

His mother, Shari Silverman, pays for the apartment. She said Sam cant be left alone, so he receives assistance from a support worker he hired for behavioral and medical issues.

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Sam also hired a behaviorist and a nurse who oversees him and his other support staff.

When he isnt home, Sam will go to a skills enrichment center in Mount Airy called The Difference 2-17.

He also participates in drama classes and performances, and works once a week at a bowling alley. Shari said he thinks its the best job in the entire world and loves it.

SHARI AND SAM

Shari Silverman and her son Sam pose together at home Feb. 10. Sam, who has autism and two chromosome disorders, uses self-directed services.

The life that Sams built for himself is made possible through self-directed services, a disability care model through the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) that allows him to choose his care services, programs and staff.

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Through self-directed services, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities get to choose how they spend funding allocated to them by the state.

Participants pick what disability care services they receive, how they receive them and who they hire to provide those services.

Shari said self-directed services allow people with disabilities, including Sam, to be as independent as possible and live their own lives and have lives like everybody else.

SHARI AND SAM

Sam Silverman stands in his room while looking at Lego sets. Sam has autism and two chromosome disorders, and uses self-directed services.

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Over the last couple years, the number of people using self-directed services in Maryland has steadily increased from about 1,600 in 2022 to more than 3,800 in 2024, according to data from the Maryland Department of Health.

In Frederick County, there were 81 self-directed services users in 2022, then 101 in 2023 and 196 in 2024.

Most of the states self-directed services users in 2024  1,933 people  were between 20 and 30 years old.

Prior to 2024, it was much easier for participants to access their state-allocated funding, hire workers they wanted, and be part of programs to engage with their communities, according to advocates.

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In January 2024, the DDAs leadership changed. It started getting harder for participants to access funding, keep their desired staff members and get the care and community programs they want.

In November, the DDA officially implemented some policy changes for self-directed services, codifying the processes and challenges participants were facing for months beforehand, advocates said.

People using disability care services in Frederick County, 2022-2024

Staff graphic by Gabrielle Lewis

Ages of Maryland's self-directed services participants in 2024

Race of self-directed services participants in Maryland, 2022-2024

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Rules dictating that certain staff members can't be related have forced some to choose between employees at a time when there are shortages of these professionals.

Others have been denied funding for services, even though the state already approved those programs for the participants.

People have been contacting their legislators protesting against these policies, the consequences of which have rippled across Maryland.

Shari Silverman said in an interview in December that the DDAs leadership is talking at us rather than listening to peoples input.

Theyre putting so many restrictions on things that theyre taking away the ability to self-direct in an easy fashion, and its easy to give up or throw your hands up and say, All these hoops you want us to jump through, its just too much, she said.

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SHARI AND SAM

Shari Silverman looks through photo of her family at her home. Her son, Sam, has autism and two chromosome disorders, and uses self-directed services.

Its a lot of work, and its like were not respected enough to listen and ask us our opinions or our take on some of the rules and regulations that ran out. Were just being told This is what youre doing.

The Frederick News-Post has requested multiple times since Feb. 7 to speak with Marlana Hutchinson, who was appointed as the DDAs deputy secretary in January 2024.

Maryland Department of Health spokesperson Chase Cook said Hutchinson was unavailable for an interview. He answered questions on Feb. 28 that the News-Post had emailed for Hutchinson to answer.

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Cook wrote that the changes will reduce processing delays and ensure care providers are paid in a timelier manner, although he didn't give specifics.

Additionally, he wrote, the changes will ensure that these taxpayer-funded services are delivered responsibly and with appropriate oversight, in accordance with state and federal authorities.

Together, we are actively working to engage with providers, advocates, and stakeholders to listen, collaborate, and find sustainable solutions, Cook wrote in response to multiple questions.

Self-direction's history in Maryland

Marylands self-directed services program was initiated in 2005, according to the Self-Directed Advocacy Network of Maryland (SDAN), an organization dedicated to championing these services.

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If people are eligible for DDA services, they can pick one of two service models: traditional services, where peoples care is overseen by provider agencies, or self-directed services, where people choose their services and staff.

If they want to self-direct, participants work with a coordinator of community services to create a Person-Centered Plan, which outlines the services they want, and a budget based on that plan.

Each Person-Centered Plan has to be approved annually by the DDA.

Participants have to manage their budgets and hire employees and vendors to provide their services.

In 2022, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Self-Direction Act, which required the DDA to leverage federal funding  including funds from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services  to pay for self-directed services.

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Carol Custer, an SDAN board member and Frederick County resident, said this act allowed self-directed services to access federal funds that users were supposed to be able to get but couldnt.

The act also made adjustments to individual-directed and family-directed goods and services.

Sam Silverman Self-Directed

Sam Silverman, left, plays video games as Afi Ketekou, one of Sams support staff, works in Sams home office. Afi has been one of Sams support staff for almost three years.

These things are services, equipment, activities, or supplies that help participants with a need or goal in their Person-Centered Plan, maintain or increase their independence, and foster community inclusion.

For example, an individual-directed and family-directed service could be a gym membership or a horseback riding program.

The Self-Direction Act added activities to what falls under this category, as well as all goods and services authorized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The act also mandates that people who self-direct can choose to hire a support broker and that the DDA will provide participants any support broker services authorized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The support broker helps a participant keep track of their staff and budget and knows the DDAs rules.

Theyre essentially the equivalent of a provider, according to Custer, who is a support broker.

Alicia Wopat, SDANs board president, who lives in Baltimore County, said there have been issues since 2023 with participants employees getting paid on time by fiscal management companies after submitting time sheets. These problems still havent been fixed, according to Custer.

How self-direction changed in 2024

In January 2024, then-Maryland Department of Health Secretary Laura Herrera Scott, who left her role at the end of February, announced that Marlana Hutchinson would be the DDAs new deputy secretary for developmental disabilities.

About a month later, self-directed services users began having trouble getting their Person-Centered Plans approved and accessing their budgets, according to Wopat.

SDAN used to have meetings with the DDA on a regular basis. Wopat said the organizations last meeting with the prior DDA administration was Dec. 16, 2023.

Wopat said SDAN wrote to the new deputy secretary asking to continue meeting regularly.

She said they met only a few times throughout 2024. During one meeting, Hutchinson said no changes had been made to self-directed services, despite what advocates said they were seeing.

Previously, we would warn the department when we saw something happening that was maybe an unintended consequence ... and they would let us know when things happened, and we would work together to collaborate on a solution to whatever the issues were, Wopat said.

It was really working so beautifully, and this group  the new administration  is just not interested in collaboration.

Wopat said SDAN met with DDA leadership about a month before the administration announced in October thered be policy changes to self-directed services.

PULL QUOTE 1

"It was really working so beautifully, and this group"  the new administration  "is just not interested in collaboration."

We met in September 40 days before this massive thing came out, she said. It was never mentioned.

The changes to the Self-Directed Services Manual were officially implemented on Nov. 21, 2024.

Chase Cook wrote that the policy changes were supposed to go into effect on Nov. 7, but the date was pushed back to accommodate further discussions with stakeholders.

He did not comment on SDANs assertions that the DDA stopped meeting with SDAN regularly in 2024 and that the advocacy organization didnt know about the policy changes beforehand.

When asked why these changes were made, Cook wrote that the DDA clarified policies to improve quality of care and accessibility for self-directed services based on constituent and advocate feedback.

The News-Post also asked if there had been any fraud among people who self-direct or their staff members, and if so, if that prompted the policy changes.

It is The DDAs responsibility to ensure these taxpayer-funded services are delivered responsibly and with appropriate oversight, in accordance with state and federal authorities, Cook responded.

Denied access to funds

Wopat compared the amount of money a participant is allocated to having a whole pie.

The slices are different sizes depending on what people choose to spend their money on  but with self-directed services, now, its hard for participants to even use their entire pie.

Sam Silverman Self-Directed

Sam Silverman pauses while building a Lego set of the Eiffel Tower at his home on March 11. Sam builds a variety of Lego sets in his free time.

Custer said participants have not been able to access programming funding, like money for individual-directed and family-directed goods and services.

Compared to the traditional services model, where providers get paid the full rate for service, self-directed services gets it in pieces, Custer said.

First, you go for the wages of your employees, then you bill for any benefits you give them, then you bill for mileage, she said. In each of these choke points ... the DDA has an opportunity to deny it, and thats what were seeing is happening.

Wopat, whose 30-year-old son self-directs his services, said one of his favorite activities is going to the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore. She did not want to disclose her sons name.

pull quote 2

"In each of these choke points ... the DDA has an opportunity to deny it, and that's what we're seeing is happening."

She said they were hoping a membership to that museum could be covered by individual-directed and family-directed goods and services funds.

Her son has trouble communicating. One of his goals is to get better at that through texting and being in spaces where hes interested in his surroundings.

On Dec. 2, the DDA sent a denial of four activities that he loves to do that are part of his actual approved plan, including a B&O membership, Wopat said. She said they werent given a reason for the denial.

The B&O Railroad Museum website lists an individual adult membership as $65 a year.

Custer said the DDA seems to not be counting these programs as parts of an approved Person-Centered Plan and is treating them like theyre unnecessary expenses.

She said self-directed services participants have to prove to the DDA they dont have the money to pay for these programs to access funding  even if the programs are already part of an approved plan and budget.

Part of this process includes participants having to show their bank balances to the DDA.

Frederick County residents Steve and Janet Cobourn, who have a 26-year-old son who is autistic and self-directs his services, have run into this issue.

The Cobourns said their son used traditional services for about a year after exiting the school system before transitioning into self-directed services for greater freedom and flexibility. They did not want to disclose their sons name.

Their son moved out in December after indicating he wanted more independence. Like Sam Silverman, the Cobourns son has support staff help him day-to-day as he lives on his own, and he also goes out to do community activities.

Whats most important ... [is that hes] been able to hire his own staff and people that he feels most comfortable with, people who are well-trained, who have taken the time to get to know him as an individual, Janet Cobourn said.

To access their sons funding, the Cobourn family has had to provide supplemental information on top of the documentation they already need to submit. After that, they had to go through multiple rounds of clarification questions.

Steve Cobourn said something on his sons Person-Centered Plan was denied, and they were able to resolve the issue with the DDA eventually.

His sons plan was approved in September, but the issue wasnt fixed until November.

Restrictions on support brokers, wages

Custer said the DDAs policy changes have dramatically cut back what support brokers can do.

She said that support brokers now cant access information for participants without the clients being there.

That person doesnt want to spend their time with me on the phone, going through why so-and-so didnt get paid. Thats what they want to pay me for. Its just like, you dont sit with your accountant while theyre doing your taxes, she said.

The support broker is really the only person on the team, professional on the team, whos there to advocate for that person and to help them navigate the program.

Its also much more difficult for participants to give their staff raises.

Sam Silverman Self-Directed

Sam Silverman, left, walks out of the kitchen as Afi Ketekou, one of Sams support staff, works in Sams home. Afi has been one of Sams support staff for almost three years.

Custer said participants could choose to use their budget just to pay employees if thats what they wanted. Because the participants cant give retirement benefits or health insurance, theyll sometimes give higher wages in lieu of benefits.

Now, Custer said, participants need DDA approval to give higher rates above the administrations reasonable and customary rates.

The maximum hourly wage varies for different positions.

The maximum wage exception can also differ based on location. There are five counties  including Frederick County  that have a higher exception due to a higher cost of living there.

For a support broker, the maximum wage is $32.45 an hour. The maximum hourly wage exception rate  for a participant who needs to pay a higher wage  is $60.46 across the entire state, according to the most recent Self-Directed Services Manual.

For a nursing support service worker, the maximum wage is $64.90 an hour. The highest wage exception is $95.43 an hour for most of the state and $102.31 for counties with a higher cost of living.

They want you, even if youre giving a raise to an employee thats been there for 10 years ... you have to post the position for three months, you have to interview at least five people, and youre supposed to prove to them that nobody would accept it at a lower rate, Custer said.

Wopat said if someone found the perfect person who would be paid even $1 over the reasonable and customary rate, they couldnt hire them for three months.

At a time when theres a lack of support professionals, there might not even be five people applying.

The biggest impact that I see is their ability to hire qualified staff when you have to go through that laborious process, Custer said.

Steve Cobourn said the reduction of the support broker role concerns him and Janet Cobourn, because theyre looking to the support brokers for guidance on the intricacies of self-directed services.

For parents like us, theres some fear out there that without some of that support, it makes it more difficult for individuals such as us to be compliant to make sure that were doing what needs to be done, he said.

Choosing between staff members

The DDA also implemented a change that doesnt allow any participants staff members to be related to the support broker.

More than one family member can be part of a participants staff, as long as the support broker isnt a relative. Additionally, no relative of the support broker can provide any other service to the participant.

Shari Silverman said it took her family a long time to find the right support brokers for Sam  but someone on the support broker team happened to be related to Sams nurse, who was hired long before the team joined the staff.

Silverman said she initially didnt know they were related.

Now, Im forced to choose between either of them and pick somebody else that I dont know or dont trust, she said.

In another interview in February, Silverman said she had to find a new nurse and kept her support broker team.

However, because the team is a husband and wife, they were told they couldn't both work for Silverman's son, so she had to pick between them. She said she chose the husband.

Self-Directed Services

Travis Little, left, poses with his uncle Ed Little at the Littles' home in Emmitsburg. Ed uses self-directed services, and Travis is Eds caregiver.

Ed Little, a self-directed services participant, said his entire staff consists of his family.

Little is 50 years old and has cerebral palsy. Hes been self-directing his disability care services for about 10 years.

He lives with his sister in Emmitsburg, and his family comes to their house to take care of him.

They completely take care of me  everything I need from getting in the wheelchair to eating to showering to bathrooming, he said.

Since the DDA enacted the policy changes, he said, weve had to fight for everything weve got.

They [the DDA] pick to high heaven, and its just so frustrating. Some days, I dont even want to deal with it, Little said. ... They hide behind a desk. They dont come out and see what actually goes on. Ive never seen these people.

Self-Directed Services

Travis Little, left, talks with with his uncle Ed Little at the Littles' home in Emmitsburg. Ed uses self-directed services, and Travis is Eds caregiver.

Little, Silverman and the Cobourns, along with thousands of other participants and advocates, have reached out to local state representatives to advocate against the policy changes.

On Nov. 19, hundreds of people rallied in Annapolis against the changes to self-directed services that went into effect just two days later.

Now, the governors office is proposing millions in cuts to the DDA for fiscal year 2026  including cuts to some valuable disability care services.

Im so frustrated, I would like to get a lawyer, Little said. ... I am so upset and angry over this whole thing. I dont know what to do.

***

Coming next weekend: Part 2  concerns about the state budget
The NYC Councils woke majority passed legislation this week making it simpler for illegal migrants to score already-easy-to-get, city-issued residency ID cards for free benefits  in a move one critic slammed as legislating against [President] Trump.

Brooklyn Democratic socialist Shahana Hanifs bill requires the Department of Social Services to make IDNYC photo-ID cards more accessible, including allowing walk-in appointments at designated centers in each borough and implementing an appeal process for rare cases where applicants are denied.

The Council voted 39-7 in favor of the measure Wednesday.

The NYC Councils far-left majority passed legislation Wednesday sponsored by Shahana Hanif (D-Brooklyn) making it simpler for illegal migrants to score already-easy-to-get, city-issued residency ID cards for free benefits. Gabriella Bass

Critics slammed the bill as nothing more than a direct slap at Donald Trumps ongoing crackdown on criminal migrants.

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At a time of rising migrant crime and national security threats, its reckless  and it just seems like were legislating against Trump rather than doing whats right for New Yorkers, said Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens).

The Access to IDNYC Act guarantees dignity for every New Yorker, especially as federal policies target our transgender, non-binary, and immigrant communities, said Hanif.

Illegal migrants and others can show more than 120 types of IDs, including expired foreign passports and drivers licenses, or other papers to obtain an IDNYC card.

Applications are rarely rejected and demand is rising.

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The city issued cards to 183,682  or 91.4%  of 200,922 applicants during the fiscal year ending June 30, according to the annual Mayors Management Report released in January.

The city has issued than 2.3 million IDNYC cards since 2015, mostly of illegal migrants. James Keivom

From July through October, it issued another 64,265 cards, up 14% from the same period a year earlier.

Former-Mayor Bill de Blasios administration first offered the cards in 2015 to help migrants more easily access free healthcare in city public hospitals, open bank accounts, sign leases and enroll in school, among other things.

More than 2.3 million cards have been issued since then, records show.

Queens Councilman Robert Holden was one of seven council members who voted against Hanifs legislation. Helayne Seidman

The IDNYC program is essentially government-sanctioned fraud to obtained taxpayer-funded benefits,  insisted Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola (R-Queens).

We should scrap this program and incentivize them to go through the proper, lawful process of obtaining citizenship, said Ariola.
To Donald Trump, the comment may have simply been a throwaway line to raise an easy chuckle from his supporters.

Indeed, when the US president complained that American aid was being sent to Lesotho, an African country no one has ever heard of, many in his audience laughed.

After the joke, Washington quickly moved on, propelled by its unending stream of new soundbites and headlines.

Yet 8,000 miles away in Lesotho itself, the slight has not been so quickly forgotten and has not been taken lightly.

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In the country nicknamed the mountain kingdom, Mr Trumps quip has caused significant offence.

Lejone Mpotjoane, Lesothos foreign minister, called the remark quite insulting, adding that the country was shocked and embarrassed.

Im really shocked that my country can be referred to like that by the head of state, he said.

Kananelo Boloetse, a journalist, posted on X: Were here, were proud, and were not your punchline.

Hey @realDonaldTrump, ever heard of Kingdom in the Sky?

Guess not, too busy golfing to notice.

Lesotho's the only country in the world entirely above 1,000 meters elevation, higher than your approval ratings ever got.

We're here, we're proud, and we're not your punchline. pic.twitter.com/Ld7JMs5TmN  Kananelo Boloetse (@YourKayBol) March 5, 2025

Not only did some see Mr Trumps comment as a public humiliation, it has also sparked reflection about the countrys place in the quickly shifting geopolitical landscape.

Like countries across Africa, Lesotho had already been shocked by the US presidents administration pausing foreign aid and axing the federal governments aid agency, USAid.

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Just as Nato and Europe have been handed wake-up calls over the past six weeks about their long-standing reliance on Washington, Mr Trumps comments have led some in Lesotho to reassess their dependence on what has always been a steady provider of aid.

Motlalentoa Letsosa, deputy leader of the opposition Democratic Congress Party, said that with a long-standing embassy and Peace Corps mission, it was unlikely Washington had forgotten Lesotho.

He told The Telegraph: I therefore fail to understand why he would make such a statement about Lesotho.

If he wishes to withdraw US funding, he is free to do so, but there was no need to belittle another country in the process.

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It is also deeply unfortunate for Lesotho to be perceived in this manner by the president of such a powerful nation. Personally, I am aggrieved by his speech.

Mr Trumps jab came as he used his address to Congress to defend his sweeping cuts to the aid budget and highlight what he called an appalling waste of foreign spending.

He singled out a past US aid project of $8 million to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho, which nobody has ever heard of, a comment which was met with laughs from Republican members of Congress.

It is belittling and disrespectful for another countrys leader to say such things about Lesotho, especially when the United States has both an embassy and a Peace Corps presence here, said Karabo Pholosa, an MP for the ruling Revolution for Prosperity party.

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The question is, how do these institutions exist in a country that President Trump claims nobody has ever heard of?

Does this mean he has not received any reports about Lesotho? These are the questions we are asking ourselves because we feel deeply aggrieved by his statement.

Prince Harry first visited Lesotho at the age of 19, and has returned to the country many times since - Ben Curtis/AP

Lesotho may only have a population of 2 million people, but its residents, who are predominantly Basotho, are quick to point out its distinctions.

The highland nation is one of only three countries completely surrounded by another, in this case by South Africa.

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, it is the only independent state in the world entirely above 1,000m (3,281ft), earning it the nickname The Kingdom in the Sky. Its lowest point, at 1,400m (3,593ft), is higher than Ben Nevis.

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Basotho people are famed for their blankets and traditional conical hats, which appear in the middle of the countrys flag.

Lesotho is the only independent state in the world entirely above 1,000m (3,281ft), earning it the nickname The Kingdom in the Sky - Edwin Remsberg/The Image Bank RF

The countrys charms have captivated the Duke of Sussex, who first visited at the age of 19 and has returned to Lesotho many times.

While popular with tourists, it is not without its problems, suffering from a high prevalence of poverty, HIV and suicide.

Along with Prince Seeiso, the younger brother of King Letsie III, Prince Harry set up the Sentebale charity to help young people affected by HIV.

Even before Mr Trumps slight, the country had been blindsided by his administrations decision to pause foreign aid. Much of the countrys anti-HIV efforts have been funded by America.

Prince Harry set up the Sentebale charity to help young people affected by HIV along with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho - Brian Otieno/Getty Images Europe

Mr Pholosa said: To be honest, Lesotho has been reliant on American support for far too long, and perhaps this is an opportunity for us as a country to re-strategise.

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We wish we had at least two years to transition, but instead, we find ourselves stranded, unsure of where to even begin. It will take Lesotho a long time to regain stability, and before we do, we are at risk of sinking.

Others, like Thabo Maretlane, another MP with the Revolution for Prosperity party, are trying to see a silver lining.

For him to say he has never heard of Lesotho while also calling the country by its name, I think we should take that as positive publicity, Mr Maretlane said.

After his statement, everyone who heard him will now want to learn more about Lesotho.

As a country, we must seize this opportunity, work harder, and ensure that Lesotho becomes widely known.

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.
Update: 3/14/2025, 7:32 p.m.

WESTON, W.Va. (WBOY)  West Virginia 511 shows that Interstate 79 in Lewis County has reopened following a vehicle accident Friday afternoon that temporarily shut down southbound traffic.

Update: 3/14/2025, 5:46 p.m

WESTON, W.Va. (WBOY)  The West Virginia 511 website is now showing the one lane of I-79 south has been reopened. The Harrison County 911 log shows that the Nutter Fort Fire Department was also alerted to a wreck on I-79 in Lewis County.

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Those traveling through the area should use caution and expect delays.

Original: 3/14/2025, 5:34 p.m.

WESTON, W.Va. (WBOY)  A vehicle accident in Lewis County has impacted all I-79 southbound lanes.

According to West Virginia 511 data, the accident occurred at mile marker 88 and was first reported to 511 around 5:07 p.m. Information is limited at this time. However, a Lewis County 911 official told 12 News that only one vehicle was involved. Officials could not release how many people, if any, were injured or transported.

Timberline skier died after hitting tree, deputies say

The official confirmed that West Virginia State Troopers and deputies with the Lewis County Sheriffs Office were on scene. A photo from the accident sent to 12 News also shows Lewis County EMS responding.

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No other information has been made available at this time.

This is a developing story, stick with 12 News for updates.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Mar. 14LIMA  A Lima man with a dozen felony convictions in Allen and Auglaize counties over the past 40 years is returning to prison for at least five years after pleading guilty Friday to burglary and drug possession charges.

Scott Crum, 62, was indicted by a grand jury in February on unrelated counts of aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, and possession of methamphetamines, a felony of the fifth degree.

As part of a negotiated plea deal executed with prosecutors Friday in Allen County Common Plea Court, Crum pleaded guilty to amended count of burglary, a second-degree felony, as well as the possession charge.

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Judge Jeffrey Reed sentenced Crum in accordance to a joint recommendation between Assistant Allen County Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Carp and Assistant Public Defender Steve Chamberlain. The agreement called for a prison sentence of 5 to 7 1/2 years.

The burglary charge against Crum stems from an incident that took place on Dec. 26. According to court records, a call came in to the Lima Police Department that morning in reference to a burglary. The alleged victim told police he was asleep in the basement of his father's house when he was awakened by the sound of the door. He then observed a white male standing in the basement and holding a crowbar.

Police say Crum used the crowbar to enter the victim's residence and, once inside, began gathering items with the intention of stealing them.

Asked by the victim who he was and why he was in the house, Crum reportedly replied, "I'm Tommy, and your dad sent me."

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Crum left the residence but was tracked to the 1700 block of Harding Highway. He was found sitting in his car and was taken into custody without incident. The black crowbar described by the alleged victim that was used to break a window at the victim's home was located, as were some tools that were believed to have been stolen.

The drug charge is the result of a traffic stop on Oct. 18 in Lima during which Crum was found to be in the possession of methamphetamines.

Chamberlain told the judge prior to sentencing that his client is remorseful for the life he has led, which is the result of a "lifelong struggle with drugs and alcohol."

"He is exhausted," the attorney said.

Asked by Reed if he wanted to make a statement prior to sentencing, Crum replied, "No, sir."

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LINCOLN, R.I. (WPRI)  Dr. Lawrence Filippelli, the superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools, will be leaving his position this summer after accepting a new job.

In an email to members of the School Committee last month, Filippelli said he was appointed as the next head of school for The Woodstock Academy in Connecticut.

Please know that I was not seeking this position or any other position beyond Lincoln, Filippelli explained. However, once conversations began as I was recently contacted by the consulting company conducting the search, this position presented as an incredible professional and personal growth opportunity in the private/independent education sector  one I could not pass up as I consider its impact on the future of my family and me.

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Filippelli added that his time as superintendent has been a special place of personal growth for him.

It is also a unique place where elected and appointed officials band together for the progress of our students and town, he continued. These close relationships have certainly contributed to Lincolns success, growth and recognition as one of the top five destination districts in the state of Rhode Island.

School Committee Chairman Joseph Goho told 12 News that Filippelli has been an outstanding superintendent for Lincoln Public Schools.

The district has accomplished much during his tenure and we wish him well in this incredible professional and personal opportunity at Woodstock, Goho added. He will always be a part of our Lincoln community and we thank him for strengthening the standard of excellence in education.

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Filippellis last day will be on June 30. Goho said the School Committee is working to find his replacement and hopes to have a new superintendent in place by July 1.

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Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons speaking on Sept. 12, 2023 in Richmond. (Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)

Less than two years after joining the Virginia Department of Education, Lisa Coons is out as superintendent of public instruction, after replacing former superintendent Jillian Balow.

The news of Coons resignation was first reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Chief Deputy Secretary of Education Emily Anne Gullickson will serve as acting state superintendent, the newspaper reported.

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Coons joined the department on April 17, 2023 after leading Tennessees revisions for English Language Arts instruction. Appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, she was hired to help Virginia address low student proficiency ratings in math and reading.

Coons joined the department during a period when the Board of Education was focused on following Youngkins directive of restoring excellence in Virginias public schools.

The board, along with Coons, navigated a turbulent period marked by a controversial revision of Virginias history and social science standards, which set Virginias expectations for K-12 student learning in those areas. The education department also worked to enhance special education regulations and practices, after a number of complaints were filed with the U.S. Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights, prompting a federal investigation.

During her tenure, the board also overhauled the standards of learning, reduced regulatory barriers, approved new laboratory schools, enhanced the public charter school review process and lowered the vacancy rate of teachers.

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The governors office did not respond to a request for comment before press time.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Heres what traffic is looking like today on Kansas 10 highway between Kansas City and Lawrence.

This article is being continuously updated. Youll find a running list of past incidents at the bottom of this story.

You can report issues or share your thoughts on this story format by filling out our feedback form.

Current Incidents:

There are currently no traffic incidents reported in this area.

Past Incidents in the last 12 hours:

De Soto: K-10 temporarily closed

The road is closed from South Cedar Creek Parkway to Kill Creek Road in De Soto.

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The event affects 0.72 miles.

The incident was reported Friday at 7:58 p.m., and the latest update regarding this incident was made available on Friday at 8:06 p.m.

A detailed map that shows the affected road due to 'De Soto: K-10 temporarily closed' on March 14th at 8:06 p.m.

K-10 closed in De Soto

The road is closed from Kill Creek Road to South Cedar Creek Parkway in De Soto.

The report was issued Friday at 7:33 p.m., and the last update regarding this incident was released on Friday at 7:55 p.m.

A detailed map that shows the affected road due to 'K-10 closed in De Soto' on March 14th at 7:55 p.m.

This article was generated by the Kansas City Star Bot, artificial intelligence software that analyzes structured information from TomTom and applies it to templates created by journalists in the newsroom. We are experimenting with this and other new ways of providing more useful content to our readers and subscribers. You can report errors or share your thoughts by filling out our feedback form.
The Live Nation logo is being displayed on a smartphone with Ticketmaster visible in the background, in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on June 2, 2024. - Credit: Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto/Getty Images

While Live Nation-Ticketmaster may have entered the year, as they called it, hopeful that Donald Trumps presidency would bode well for its fight against the massive antitrust lawsuit filed by federal prosecutors last May, the company took a hit Friday when a Biden-appointed judge rejected its bid to dismiss a core element of the Justice Departments complaint.

In a seven-page ruling obtained by Rolling Stone, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian refused to toss the DOJs claim that Live Nation coerces artists into using its concert promotion services if they want to perform at venues in the companys vast network of major amphitheaters.

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Subramanian  the same judge who oversaw Sean Diddy Combs re-arraignment on racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges Friday  found that at this early stage of the governments lawsuit, prosecutors have sufficiently established their claim that Live Nation engaged in illegal tying, the practice of requiring artists to purchase one product or service to gain access to a different product or service.

The judge, based in New York, shot down Live Nations argument that its not forcing artists into tying because its actually competing concert promoters hired by artists, not the artists themselves, who rent the venues, and Live Nation has no duty to aid its competitors. The complaint explains that due to Live Nations monopoly power in the large-amphitheater market, artists are effectively locked into using Live Nation as the promoter for a tour that stops at large amphitheaters, Subramanian wrote.

The nature of the financial arrangement between promoters and artists is a factual question that cant be resolved on the pleadings, and the complaint at least suggests that its artist-specific, he wrote. If the evidence shows that promoters book venues on behalf of specific artists, that artists are the driving force behind which venues to book and when, and that artists are coerced into using Live Nation as their promoter if they want access to Live Nations amphitheaters, plaintiffs may have a viable tying claim.

Lawyers and reps representing Live Nation did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. The DOJ filed the underlying complaint with attorneys general from 29 states and the District of Columbia, painting the concert giant as a mob-like organization and aiming to break it up. In the second part of his decision issued Friday, Judge Subramanian ruled that the states had established their standing to act on behalf of consumers who claim they were overcharged due to Live Nation-Ticketmasters alleged anti-competitive practices in the primary ticketing market.

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The thrust of the complaint is that Live Nation engaged in a variety of exclusionary conduct to maintain its monopoly over primary-ticketing services, and consumers suffered injury by using those services and getting overcharged. Whatever market definitions one employs, where a defendant unlawfully maintains its monopoly over a product through a course of exclusionary conduct focusing on that product, consumers of that product alleging that they were overcharged suffer a cognizable injury, he wrote.

We are not here today because Live Nation-Ticketmasters conduct is inconvenient, or frustrating. We are here because as we allege that conduct is anti-competitive, and illegal, Former Attorney General Merrick Garland said when prosecutors first filed the lawsuit last May. We allege that Live Nation has illegally monopolized markets across the live concert industry in the United States for far too long. It is time to break it up.

Former Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter initially led the charge for the DOJ. He left the department in December after Trump won the election. Trumps nominee to replace him, Gail Slater, was confirmed on Tuesday. Unlike Trumps other appointees, she has been critical of corporate power. Still, its not yet clear how she will handle the Biden-era lawsuits shes inheriting.

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Editors note: This story has been made available for free, for all readers. Please consider supporting local journalism through the purchase of a digital subscription.

A massive severe weather system moving across the country delivered damaging winds, deadly dust storms and fanned wildfires Friday. Today, Mississippi is among the states in the systems crosshairs.

We will be following events across the state and region throughout the day and evening and updating this story often, as events warrant.

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Death toll reaches 6 in Mississippi

7:45 a.m.: Gov. Tate Reeves announced that the death toll has risen to 6 in Mississippi. The governor posted on social media that 6 deaths have been reported  one in Covington County, two in Jeff Davis County, and three in Walthall County. He also said that three people are currently missing  two from Covington County and one from Walthall County. He added that preliminary reports indicate 29 injuries statewide  15 in Covington County, two in Jeff Davis County, two in Pike County and 10 in Walthall County.

Tim Thorsen

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Just one advisory remains

8:15 p.m.: All watches and warnings have expired for the Mississippi Coast. The only remaining advisory is a coastal flood advisory, which will remain in effect until 1 a.m. for Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties. The National Weather Service report says Flooding of lots, parks, and roads with only isolated road closures expected. If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property.

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Tim Thorsen

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Nearly all clear on the Coast

8:10 p.m.: National Weather Service Meteorologist Jabob Zeringue said that while there is still one line of strong storms still passing through the Mississippi Coast, the belief is that the worst is over in Mississippi.

The last of the tornado watches, which covered Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties, have expired, Zeringue said, and the storms rolling through Gulfport and Jackson County could still produce some gusty winds, possibly up to 40 or 50 mph, but nothing more severe is expected.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado aftermath at Paradise Ranch RV Resort in Tylertown, MS pic.twitter.com/TWQFvKSSCm  FOX 8 New Orleans (@FOX8NOLA) March 15, 2025

Devastation at Paradise Ranch

7:55 p.m.: Fox 8 in New Orleans posted video on social media showing the extent of the disaster at the Paradise Ranch RV Resort in Tylertown.

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Tim Thorsen

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735 pm radar update: We are monitoring a strong thunderstorm currently moving through the Gulfport area. The storm is capable of producing wind gusts over 40 mph and small hail. The storm will affect northern parts of Jackson County in the next 30 minutes. pic.twitter.com/odN9Pt6tGk  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 16, 2025

Strong storm in Gulfport

7:45 p.m.: The National Weather Service said on social media We are monitoring a strong thunderstorm currently moving through the Gulfport area. The storm is capable of producing wind gusts over 40 mph and small hail. The storm will affect northern parts of Jackson County in the next 30 minutes.

Tim Thorsen

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655p - Strong to severe thunderstorms continues to move eastward through the MS Coast. A severe thunderstorm warnings and is in effect for portions of northern Jackson County. pic.twitter.com/epss8AD0BC  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

Latest storm radar

7 p.m.: The National Weather Service said this about the most recent radar report: Strong to severe thunderstorms continue to move eastward through the MS Coast. A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for portions of northern Jackson County.

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Tim Thorsen

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Coast not out of the woods

6:25 p.m.: The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center says Mississippi Coast residents should remain alert. Its most recent report says The environment remains quite favorable for strong tornadoes, but will depend on storm mode going into the evening and early morning hours. ... While storm mode is currently a bit disorganized, shear, moisture and instability all remain favorable for conditionally strong tornadoes at any point this evening and through early morning.

Tim Thorsen

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29 dead nationwide

6:22 p.m.: The Associated Press is reporting 26 deaths outside Mississippi from Friday and Saturdays storms. The AP says there were 12 fatalities in Missouri, 8 in Kansas, 3 in Texas and 3 in Arkansas. Additionally, there have been 3 confirmed deaths in Mississippi.

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Tim Thorsen

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Aviso de Tornado incluye Myrick MS, Ovett MS hasta las 6:45 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/fdxeB7rrlj  NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) March 15, 2025

Jones County tornado warning

6:15 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Jones County, including Myrick and Ovett. The warning is in effect until 6:45 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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Coast watches and warnings piling up

6 p.m.: The watches and warnings issued by the National Weather Service are piling up across the Mississippi Coast. We have the following all currently in effect:

Coastal flood advisory: Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties until 1 a.m. The NWS says the flooding of lots, parks, and roads with isolated road closures is expected.

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High wind warning: In effect until 7 p.m. for Hancock County. The NWS says damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines, widespread power outages are expected and travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

Wind advisory: In effect until 7 p.m. for Harrison and Jackson counties. The NWS says gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects, tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

Tornado watch: In effect until 8 p.m. for Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties. The watch indicates that conditions are favorable for the formation of a tornado.

Flash flood warning: In effect until 8:30 p.m. for Hancock County. The NWS says to expect flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

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Severe thunderstorm warning: In effect until 6:15 p.m. for Hancock County. The NWS says severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Stennis Space Center to near New Orleans, moving east at 50 mph.

Tim Thorsen

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Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Slidell LA, Diamondhead MS and Pearl River LA until 6:15 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/wIokKDHaLJ  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

Action picking up on the Coast

5:35 p.m.: A line of storms is moving into the Mississippi Coast.

Phil Grigsby, a forecaster at the National Weather Service New Orleans, said at 5:30 p.m. that storms were hitting the agencys office in Slidell and would soon move into Hancock County.

He said Mississippi Coast residents should watch for three main threats over the next several hours. The region is at risk for strong tornadoes that could stay on the ground over several miles. Winds up to 60 and 70 mph are possible. Grigsby also said the storms could drop hail over an inch in diameter.

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The storms are moving east across the area and expected to leave the Coast by 8 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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Significant storm damage off Hwy 27 in Walthall County. Rescues are in progress in this area. Emergency crews from Lawrence, Lincoln, and MHP on scene to assist. #mswx pic.twitter.com/YJXu1d1InO  Mike Evans (@crabblers) March 15, 2025

First 3 Mississippi fatalities reported

5:14 p.m.: Holly Emery of WLBT-TV in Jackson has reported that 3 people are dead in Walthall County due to storms this afternoon, according to Walthall County EMA Director Royce McKee. She said crews are currently on scene working to clear debris from Bethlehem Loop Road.

Tim Thorsen

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508p - The line of strong to severe storms continues to move eastward through the area. The severe weather threat has ended for areas west of the blue line. pic.twitter.com/14voWRf4ti  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

5 p.m. radar report

5 p.m.: The National Weather Service said this about the status of the storm line: The line of strong to severe storms continues to move eastward through the area. The severe weather threat has ended for areas west of the blue line.

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Tim Thorsen

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Streets taking on water

4:51 p.m.: Hancock County reports there are 23 roads that have taken on water during todays storm. The only one that is impassible for vehicles is Kament Street.

Tim Thorsen

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More damage video from Highway 51 in Elliott, MS. Source: Courtney Williams. pic.twitter.com/Fd0g7IH7eD  Matt Laubhan, CBM (@matt_laubhan) March 15, 2025

Video from Grenada County

4:40 p.m.: Meteorologist Matt Laubhan posted this video on X showing the effects of Saturdays storm in Elliott.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado Warning including Covington LA, Abita Springs LA and Sun LA until 5:00 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/gulDKbK2Vh  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

Pearl River County under tornado warning

4:30 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning that covers a small part of Pearl River County.

Tim Thorsen

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All of South MS under tornado watch

4:12 p.m.: All six South Mississippi Counties are now under a tornado watch. The National Weather Service has issued a watch until 6 p.m. for Pearl River, Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties. The watch extends until 8 p.m. for Stone and George counties.

Tim Thorsen

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401p - While there are currently no severe thunderstorm or tornado warnings in effect for our local area, thunderstorms continue to progress eastward and additional warnings are possible. A tornado watch remains in effect for portions of the area through 6pm. pic.twitter.com/F2NMVXfx0K  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

The latest radar report

4 p.m.: The National Weather Services New Orleans office had the following to say about the most recent radar loop: While there are currently no severe thunderstorm or tornado warnings in effect for our local area, thunderstorms continue to progress eastward and additional warnings are possible. A tornado watch remains in effect for portions of the area through 6pm.

Tim Thorsen

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DRONE DAMAGE: Our field correspondents are on the ground in Tylertown, MS after a large and powerful #tornado  tore through the community. #MSwx



Take a look at the scenes below pic.twitter.com/iOvjAJpoeR  WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) March 15, 2025

Tylertown video

3:53 p.m.: WeatherNation posted drone video on social media of the aftermath of Saturdays storms in Tylertown, where what is believed to be a large and powerful tornado did significant damage.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado Warning including Meridian MS, Bay Springs MS and Marion MS until 4:45 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/FNbddjEdJk  NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) March 15, 2025

Tornado warning includes Meridian

3:49 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for parts of central Mississippi including Meridian, Bay Springs and Marion. The warning extends until 4:45 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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Pearl River, Stone, George counties beware

3:43 p.m.: The northern part of Mississippis Southern 6 counties should beware, according to the National Weather Service. As storms approach, parts of Pearl River, Stone and George counties are inside the area identified as having multiple supercells capable of intense to potentially violent tornadoes into the evening.

Tim Thorsen

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323p - Areas west of the blue line are now all clear for severe weather. East of the line, the severe weather threat continues. Stay weather aware and have multiple ways to receive warnings. pic.twitter.com/geMcaxSIQb  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

The latest radar

3:25 p.m.: The National Weather Service says this about the latest radar: Areas west of the blue line are now all clear for severe weather. East of the line, the severe weather threat continues. Stay weather aware and have multiple ways to receive warnings.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado Warning including Meridian MS, Collinsville MS and Marion MS until 4:15 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/lyNmGqurso  NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) March 15, 2025

Another central MS tornado warning

3:20 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning that includes Meridian, Collinsville and Marion and lasts until 4:15 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado Warning including Columbia MS, Foxworth MS and Morgantown MS until 3:15 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/TZ6PZAIotK  NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) March 15, 2025

Marion County tornado

3:02 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning including Columbia, Foxworth and Mortantown, extending until 3:15 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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We just intercepted this large tornado passing through Taylorsville, Mississippi right in front of us with the octagon probe mere yards from the circulation in the front pressure lobe of the storm gathering scientific data and video!



LSC/Randy Hicks and Bryant Burough pic.twitter.com/U9RvJAkjdh  Live Storm Chasers (@LiveStormChaser) March 15, 2025

Earthquake. Tornado. The same town

3 p.m.: Taylorsville was the site of an incredible weather event Saturday, with a tornado strike and an earthquake the same afternoon. Early reports indicate a magnitude earthquake of between 2.8 and 3.0. There were no early reports of injuries from either the tornado or earthquake.

Tim Thorsen

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Debris falling in Collins, Mississippi following passage of another tornado via @MatthewCappucci: pic.twitter.com/Oz30HNU1Aa  MyRadar Weather (@MyRadarWX) March 15, 2025

Covington County video

2:45 p.m.: Meteorologist Matthew Cappucci posted video on social media of debris falling in Collins after a suspected tornado strike.

Tim Thorsen

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Stormchaser video

2:40 p.m.: Stormchaser Clint Hendricks IV out of Frisco, Texas, captured this video near Hot Coffee, MS, in Covington County.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado Warning including Monticello MS, Prentiss MS and Bassfield MS until 3:30 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/I0ct5tI9qH  NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) March 15, 2025

Another tornado warning

2:30 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning that includes Monticello, Prentiss and Bassfield and extends until 3:30 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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The current threat

2:25 p.m.: The National Weather Services Storm Prediction Center has issued the following report:

The most concerning tornado threat for the next 1 to 2 hours extends from south-central Mississippi vicinity to far west-central Alabama.

Additionally, it reports Several supercells across southern Mississippi have already produced intense to violent tornadoes, including 2 paths within very close proximity from Walthall to Marion counties from consecutive supercells. These supercells and a few others which have recently developed across St. Helena and Tangipahoa Parishes are the storms of greatest tornadic concern over the next 1 to 2 hours. These supercells are in the centroid of the greatest STP (6+) and in the closest proximity to the upper 70s to low 80s temperatures where surface winds remain backed. Expect this environment to maintain through the afternoon as a meso-low (~994mb) currently across central Mississippi translates northeast at a similar speed to the mean storm motion.

Tim Thorsen

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212p - Currently there are two tornado warnings in effect one for a storm over pike County and another for the storm in Washington Parish. There is also a flash flood warning near Baton Rouge.



Stay weather aware and take shelter immediately if warnings are issued for your area. pic.twitter.com/2bscpRHXo8  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

Storms still firing

2:15 p.m.: Radar shows storms continuing to fire across Louisiana and make their way toward Mississippi. The National Weather Services New Orleans office said this on X: Currently there are two tornado warnings in effect one for a storm over Pike County and another for the storm in Washington Parish. There is also a flash flood warning near Baton Rouge. Stay weather aware and take shelter immediately if warnings are issued for your area.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado Warning including Bay Springs MS, Stonewall MS and Enterprise MS until 3:15 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/D0o0zhJE3c  NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) March 15, 2025

Tornado warning in central MS

2:11 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning that covers Bay Springs, Stonewall and Enterprise, and is in effect until 3:15 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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When will weather hit MS Coast?

2 p.m.: Dangerous storms were still west of the Mississippi Coast around 2 p.m. Saturday, said Lauren Nash, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Slidell.

The storms are still expected to move closer to Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties between 3 and 7 p.m. Nash said residents should keep watching the forecast, especially early Saturday evening.

Nothing has changed, she said.

Martha Sanchez

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Eye on Tylertown

2 p.m.: As tornadoes make their way across Mississippi, Tylertown has, seemingly, been struck twice.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado Warning including McComb MS, Magnolia MS and Summit MS until 2:30 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/kDGvstiOwE  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

Tornado warning on LA-MS line

1:48 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning that includes McComb, Magnolia and Summit in Mississippi. The warning extends until 2:30 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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138p - HEADS UP DARBUN!!! If youre not in shelter already, get there NOW!!! A potentially strong tornado is headed your way! pic.twitter.com/qU2dPgJKPm  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

Darbun in the crosshairs

1:40 p.m.: The National Weather Service alerts Darbun, posting on X: HEADS UP DARBUN!!! If youre not in shelter already, get there NOW!!! A potentially strong tornado is headed your way!

Tim Thorsen

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Threat across MS

1:35 p.m.: The National Weather Services Storm Prediction Center says Multiple mature supercells have developed from central to south-central Mississippi. One of these supercells has already produced a likely violent tornado across Walthall County. The environment downstream of these supercells continues to destabilize, which will maintain the threat through the afternoon and likely into the evening.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado Warning including Union MS, Collinsville MS and Decatur MS until 2:30 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/q9odxI29rQ  NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) March 15, 2025

East Mississippi tornado warning

1:32 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for parts of East Mississippi. The warning, which includes Union, Collinsville and Decatur, is in effect until 2:30 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado damage near the Eastfork Country Store on Hwy. 1054 via Coltyn Grice pic.twitter.com/TJCOi0WdVB  FOX 8 New Orleans (@FOX8NOLA) March 15, 2025

Video from just south of MS line

1:30 p.m.: Fox 8 New Orleans posted video online from a suspected tornado strike at the East Fork Country Store in Kentwood, Louisiana, just south of the Mississippi state line.

Tim Thorsen

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Tylertown, MS DRIVER WALKED AWAY pic.twitter.com/hKLFRSd5gy  Ashton Champion (@AChampionWX) March 15, 2025

On the ground in Tylertown

1:25 p.m.: The National Weather Service office in New Orleans reposted photos purporting to show the aftermath of the tornado strike in Tylertown.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado Warning including Amory MS, Fulton MS and Smithville MS until 2:00 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/KqOyxSyQt8  NWS Memphis (@NWSMemphis) March 15, 2025

Tornado warning in NE Mississippi

1:23 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning that includes Amory, Fulton and Smithville in northeast Mississippi. The warning lasts until 2 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado Emergency!



Large and dangerous tornado approaching northwest Marion, south Lawrence, and southwest Jefferson Davis counties! Tilton, Oak Vale, Society Hill, and surrounding areas are in the immediate path.



Seek shelter immediately!!! pic.twitter.com/tQ9Oy1GBtq  NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) March 15, 2025

Tornado emergency near Meridian

1:01 p.m.: The NWS has declared a tornado emergency near Meridian. The NWS says a tornado emergency is the National Weather Services highest alert level. It is issued when a violent tornado has touched down in the watch area. There is a severe threat to human life and property, with catastrophic damage confirmed. Immediately seek refuge in the safest location possible.

Tim Thorsen

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1255p - Big picture update - Ongoing tornado in Walthall County, but there are still other strong storms across other portions of the area, too. The line of storms continues to progress eastward & the severe weather threat continues. A tornado watch remains in effect until 6p. pic.twitter.com/Gpu0LmExmO  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

Latest radar out of LA

1 p.m.: Regarding the most recent radar out of Louisiana, the National Weather Service says Ongoing tornado in Walthall County, but there are still other strong storms across other portions of the area, too. The line of storms continues to progress eastward & the severe weather threat continues. A tornado watch remains in effect until 6p.

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Tornado Emergency continues for Darbun MS until 1:30 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/vHNtv8tbot  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

12:52p - This is now a TORNADO EMERGENCY for rural northern Walthall County. This confirmed, large and destructive tornado will be crossing Hwy 27 southwest of Salem. If you are in the path of this storm (including Salem and Darbun) TAKE SHELTER NOW!!!! pic.twitter.com/aiend6Gu9P  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

Tornado emergency in SW MS

12:54 p.m.: The National Weather Service has declared a tornado emergency in Darbun. The NWS says a tornado emergency is the National Weather Services highest alert level. It is issued when a violent tornado has touched down in the watch area. There is a severe threat to human life and property, with catastrophic damage confirmed. Immediately seek refuge in the safest location possible.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado Warning including Prentiss MS, Bassfield MS and Silver Creek MS until 1:45 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/XlDUMj3AS9  NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) March 15, 2025

Another SW MS tornado warning

12:42 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued another tornado warning for southwest Mississippi. This one covers Prentiss, Bassfield and Silver Creek, and lasts until 1:45 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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1229p - HEADS UP TYLERTOWN!!! If this storm continues on its current track, the confirmed tornado will be very near Tylertown in about 20 minutes. TAKE SHELTER NOW!!! pic.twitter.com/lMT79tDomS  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

Target: Tylertown

12:32 p.m.: Tylertown, in southwest Mississippis Walthall County, has a National Weather Service-confirmed tornado moving in its direction. At the current pace, it would arrive around 12:50 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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12:21p - The storm near Kentwood now has a radar confirmed tornado. There is evidence of debris being lofted into the air (right panel). This storm is moving northeast at 50 mph & a tornado warning remains in effect til 1pm. Take shelter NOW if youre in the path of this storm pic.twitter.com/98T8CYlLE1  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

Tornado moving NE into Mississippi

12:25 p.m.: A radar confirmed tornado is moving northeast into Mississippi from Louisiana, according to the National Weather Service.

Tim Thorsen

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Threat increases in Pearl River, Stone counties

12:20 p.m.: The National Weather Service in Jackson says The threat for long track intense to violent tornadoes is increasing across much of south and central Mississippi. Take these storms very seriously!

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado Warning including Kentwood LA, Tylertown MS and Tangipahoa LA until 1:00 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/nzONUSmacr  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

Tornado warning on LA-MS line

12:12 p.m.: The National Weather Services New Orleans office has issued a tornado warning for Kentwood, Louisiana; Tylertown, Mississippi; and Tangipahoa, Louisiana, until 1 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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1205p - The first line of storms continues to move eastward while a second line takes shape near the Atchafalaya River. The severe weather threat continues. pic.twitter.com/i59sa4MrBo  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

Another look at the radar

12:05 p.m.: About the most recent radar, the National Weather Services New Orleans office says The first line of storms continues to move eastward while a second line takes shape near the Atchafalaya River. The severe weather threat continues.

Tim Thorsen

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A particularly dangerous situation

Noon: The tornado watch in effect until 6 p.m. for parts of Louisiana and most of Misssissippi as far south as Pearl River County constitutes what the National Weather Service terms a particularly dangerous situation, meaning a violent tornado is three times more likely than normal, atmospheric scientist and meteorologist Matthew Cappucci warns.

Its a red letter day, Cappucci told followers on X. He advised anyone in the watch area who is in a mobile home to evacuate to safe shelter and said those in the watch area should stay no more than 5 minutes from such shelter in case a tornado warning is issued.

A tornado watch means a tornado is possible, while a warning means one is imminent. A particularly dangerous situation, in weather service parlance, means rare situations when long-lived, strong and violent tornadoes are possible.

Cappucci said, This afternoon and this evening could be very bad. Thats why you have to take action now.

Anita Lee

 A PDS, or Particularly Dangerous Situation, tornado watch has been issued for eastern Louisiana and most of Mississippi until 6 p.m. CT.



Heres what that means:pic.twitter.com/kX13eqlrZB  Matthew Cappucci (@MatthewCappucci) March 15, 2025

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Tornado Warning including Tchula MS, Cruger MS and Eden MS until 12:45 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/Oc7nDyfHGm  NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) March 15, 2025

Another Mississippi tornado warning

11:53 a.m.: The National Weather Service in Jackson has issued a tornado warning, lasting until 12:45 p.m. The Mississippi Emergency Managment Agency says the warning covers Carroll, Holmes, Humphreys and Yazoo counties.

Tim Thorsen

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If you're in the black outlined area, the severe weather threat is diminishing rapidly. We're mostly concerned with areas along and southeast of the line of storms for the rest of the afternoon.  pic.twitter.com/K6uIzLllfQ  NWS Memphis (@NWSMemphis) March 15, 2025

Strong line hammering north MS

11:40 a.m.: A line of severe storms is pounding north Mississippi, though extreme northwest Mississippi is seeing clearing.

Tim Thorsen

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11:29a - The initial line of storms continues to move eastward. A second line is starting to form near the Atchafalaya River. The severe weather threat continues, and a tornado watch remains in effect for areas along/north of I-10/12. Have multiple ways to get warnings today! pic.twitter.com/af0RRIhEL6  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

Second storm line forming

11:30 a.m.: The National Weather Service in Slidell says this about the most recent radar: The initial line of storms continues to move eastward. A second line is starting to form near the Atchafalaya River. The severe weather threat continues, and a tornado watch remains in effect for areas along/north of I-10/12.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado Warning including Greenwood MS, Moorhead MS and Itta Bena MS until 12:15 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/5gL9i1xa0k  NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) March 15, 2025

Another tornado warning for Greenwood

11:21 a.m.: Greenwood, which was hit by a tornado less than 12 hours ago, is one of the towns in the most recent tornado warning. The National Weather Service in Jackson says this warning will remain in effect until noon.

Tim Thorsen

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Homes flattened near Greenwood

11:15 a.m.: The Greenwood Commonwealth is reporting that a tornado damaged dozens of homes in the area as Friday turned to Saturday, but that no deaths or injuries have been reported.

Tim Thorsen

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1104a - This broken line of storms is strengthening and some storms will be capable of producing tornadoes, damaging wind & large hail as the line moves eastward.



Stay weather aware! Have multiple ways to receive warnings, and take shelter if a warning is issued for your area. pic.twitter.com/v9Gu998drq  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

Menacing radar

11:10 a.m.: The National Weather Service in New Orleans says this broken line of storms is strengthening and some storms will be capable of producing tornadoes, damaging wind and large hail as the line moves eastward.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado Warning including Brookhaven MS, Bude MS and Meadville MS until 12:00 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/KYJaiAOqqc  NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) March 15, 2025

Another tornado warning for SW Mississippi

11 a.m.: Another tornado warning has been issued for southwest Mississippi by the National Weather Service office in Jackson.

Tim Thorsen

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Tornado Warning including Gloster MS, Crosby MS and Coles MS until 11:15 AM CDT pic.twitter.com/pkAt2Y2xgD  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

Tornado Warning continues for Belzoni MS, Inverness MS and Isola MS until 11:30 AM CDT pic.twitter.com/JN6Kkj6r4I  NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) March 15, 2025

Tornado warnings in Mississippi

10:36 a.m.: Tornado warnings have been issued for parts of Mississippi. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency says affected counties include Lafayette, Panola, Tallahatchie and Yalobusha, along with Amite and Wilkinson. The warnings last until 11:15 a.m.

Tim Thorsen

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A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Louisiana and Mississippi until 6 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/TXZlNrUtB0  NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) March 15, 2025

First tornado watch for Southern 6

10:35 a.m.: Pearl River County is the first of Mississippis southern six counties to be placed under a tornado watch by the National Weather Service. Nearly 3.5 million people live in the watch area, which covers nearly the entire state. The watch lasts until 6 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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Shelters opening statewide

10:30 a.m.: The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is keeping a list of severe-weather shelters that are open, or will soon open, across the state.

Tim Thorsen

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Death toll climbs to 16

10:30 a.m.: The Associated Press is reporting that the death toll from Friday nights outbreak has reached 16. The AP reports ten people were killed in Missouri after a tornado outbreak, according to the Missouri State Highway patrol. Additionally, officials in Arkansas said three people died in Independence County, while Texas officials have confirmed that three people were killed in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle.

Tim Thorsen

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Danger to our north

10:20 a.m.: The National Weather Service office in New Orleans says the danger is increasing to our north. The NWS office commented on a Severe Weather Center post on X by saying A Particularly Dangerous Situation Tornado Watch will be issued soon. It may include portions of the local area. Pleas stay weather aware today and know where you will go if a tornado warning is issued for your area.

Tim Thorsen

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The National Weather Service outlook for Saturday shows a threat level of Moderate for the Mississippi Coast.

Advisories in effect

10 a.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood advisory and a wind advisory for all three Mississippi Coast counties: Hancock, Harrison and Jackson.

Coastal flood advisory: Minor coastal flooding is expected in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties, with tidal levels reaching around one foot above normal. The advisory extends until 1 a.m. Sunday.

Wind advisory: South winds of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph, are expected across the Coast. Additionally, gusts could reach as high as 70 mph or more.

Tim Thorsen

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Storms status and Coast arrival time

9:45 a.m.: Megan Williams, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Slidell, says severe weather has arrived in western Louisiana as it makes its way toward the Mississippi Coast. She says the Coast, which remains under a Moderate threat level (4 of 5), could see long-track tornadoes, winds of more than 60 mph and damaging hail. The timing of the storm remains unchanged on the Coast, with an expected arrival time of around 1 p.m. in Hancock County. She says the severe weather threat is expected to continue to around 8 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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Governor says 3 injured in Mississippi

9:30 a.m.: Gov. Tate Reeves posted an update Saturday morning on the social media site X, with news from Friday storms. The governor reported that Preliminary reports indicate three people were injured and hospitalized in Grenada County. This number is expected to increase. Mississippi is praying for those healing.

He added that the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has received reports that a cell entered the state in Issaquena County and exited in Itawamba County, causing significant damage. The governor wrote that damage assessments are underway and that six counties are reporting damage: Calhoun, Carroll, Grenada, Humphreys, Leflore, Montgomery.

Tim Thorsen

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Visibility was reduced as a dust storm passed through Amarillo, Texas, on Friday, March 14.

National death toll reaches 5

9:20 a.m.: The Associated Press is reporting that the death toll from Friday has reached 5, with the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that two adults were killed in the Bakersfield area in Ozark County and multiple people were injured. Additionally the AP reports three people were killed in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo County in the Texas Panhandle. One pileup involved an estimated 38 cars.

Tim Thorsen

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The National Weather Services latest report on the timing of expected severe weather.

When will storm arrive?

8 a.m.: The National Weather Service in New Orleans reported Saturday morning that the expected arrival time of severe weather will be slightly slower than yesterdays prediction.

While warning that storms could develop ahead of the main line, the current prediction is that the Mississippi Coast would experience severe weather between 1 and 8 p.m., with the main line moving through the area between 3 and 7 p.m.

Tim Thorsen

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The entire state of Mississippi is under a risk for severe weather beginning tonight (3/14/25) and lasting throughout the day tomorrow (3/15/25). Please take this severe weather threat seriously.

Here is a message from MEMA Executive Director, Stephen McCraney: pic.twitter.com/MvI93B8Qt4  msema (@MSEMA) March 14, 2025

Shelters open

8 a.m.: Announcements have been made that shelters will be open in Hancock and Pearl River Counties.

Hancock County: The county announced on social media that four shelters would be open Saturday at noon. They are: Dedeaux Shelter, 1095 Road 350, Kiln; Leetown Shelter, 28900 Leetown Road, Picayune; Kiln Shelter, 18320 Highway 43, Kiln; Necaise Shelter, 30360 Highway 603, Perkinston.

Pearl River County: The county opened shelters at 8 a.m. Saturday in the following locations: Poplarville Shelter, 124 Rodeo Street, Poplarville: Carriere Shelter, 7431 Highway 11, Carriere; Picayune Shelter, 501 Laurel Street, Picayune.

Tim Thorsen

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Parts of Mississippi and Alabama are under the highest risk level the National Weather Service issues.

A historic warning

The National Weather Service, on Friday, predicted a likely tornado outbreak from southeast Louisiana to Huntsville, Alabama. A large area between Hattiesburg, Jackson and Birmingham is at risk level 5  the most severe forecast the National Weather Services Storm Prediction Center offers. The Storm Prediction Center said it was only the third time since 2006 that high of a risk had been issued two days before a storm hits.

Martha Sanchez

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Meteorologist Nick Lilja

What about weakened National Weather Service?

Friday, meteorologist Nick Lilja, who is based in Houston, reminded his Facebook followers that fewer weather balloons are collecting data, and fewer forecasters are reviewing and analyzing data at National Weather Service offices because of layoffs and a hiring freeze.

Liljas concerns echo those of other experienced Gulf meteorologists who warned even before Donald Trump took office that the weather service was understaffed and underfunded.

 Anita Lee
Wildfires swept through several parts of Oklahoma on Friday and a near-critical fire threat is expected to continue Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

The powerful winds of up to 70 mph were part of a "monster" storm that was raging across the United States, expected to bring blizzard conditions to the northern Plains, wildfires to the southern and central U.S. and tornadoes in the South. The high winds and fire weather conditions are expected to subside into the evening, however.

The National Weather Service has issued fire warnings for portions of Oklahoma due to wildfire conditions and poor visibility due to dust storms and smoke across the region. Oklahoma residents are urged to stay aware of their surroundings and take precautions.

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Check here for live wildfire updates and to check road conditions, outages and school closings in real time.

 Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location

Gov. Stitt's farm suffers fire damage

4:00 p.m.

In a post on X, Governor Kevin Stitt shared a video of his farm destroyed in the fires. The Governor said that the property was a total loss due to the fires.

"We'll be rebuilding with the rest of Oklahoma. You never think it's going to happen to your place, and these wildfires just come out of nowhere and can really take over," Stitt said in the video.

After traveling the state today surveying damage, I ended by visiting my ranch where we lost everything to the fires. Its a sad garden update today.



Oklahomans, we are in this together and we will build back stronger.#okwx pic.twitter.com/J12uvPmiSU  Kevin Stitt (@KevinStitt) March 15, 2025

-Josh Kelly

More than 200 homes lost, 170K acres burned

At a press conference in Mannford Saturday morning, Gov. Kevin Stitt said more than 170 thousand acres had burned and more than 293 homes and structures were destroyed across the state during Friday's destructive wildfire storms.

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Annie Mack Vest of the Department of Emergency Managment said the totals included more than 200 homes. As of Saturday morning no fatalities were reported from fires. The governor said there was at least one fatality from a motor vehicle accident.

The governor said his own farmhouse near Luther was among the structures incinerated in the fires.

The governor praised the news media and the state's emergency alert system for helping people escape danger.

"Unlike tornadoes, everyone got evacuated," the governor said.

The governor spent the morning surveying the damage, starting in Stillwater and ending in Mannford. In Stillwater, news helicopter footage shows portions of some neighborhoods destroyed.

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Asked by a reporter how the fires started, the governor said the state would perform a "post-mortem" to look at the various causes, but called the weather conditions with powerful winds and humidity at 10 percent a "perfect storm" for fires.

He added that controlled burns in the days before the heavy winds hit by ranchers and around power line rights of way may have contributed to the outbreaks.

Vest said people who want to help can visit her department's website at https://oklahoma.gov/oem.html.

-The Oklahoman

Red Cross offers assistance

10:45 a.m.

The American Red Cross has set up shelters throughout Oklahoma for those affected by Friday's wildfires:

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Crosspointe Church , 2601 24th Ave. SE, Norman

Luther Community Center , 18120 Hog Back Road, Luther

Grand Casino Grand Eagle Room , 777 Grand Casino Blvd., Shawnee

Payne County Fairgrounds Community Building , 4518 Expo Circle E, Stillwater

Case Community Center, 1050 W. Wekiwa Road, Sand Springs

The following are evacuation centers:

Little Axe Rec Center, Hwy 68 and Hwy 9

Lincoln County Fairgrounds, 1023 W 15th St., Chandler

Vici Community Center, 604 Main, Vici

Stillwater Community Center, 315 W 8th, Stillwater

Community Church , Seward & I-35, Logan County

Senior Activity Center , 1015 E. 12th, Stillwater

Stephens County Fairgrounds , 2002 S 13th St., Duncan

Stillwater Church of Christ , 821 N Duck St., Stillwater

Stillwater High School , 1224 N Husband St., Stillwater

Sunnybrook Christian, 421 E Richmond Road, Stillwater

All locations will accept families with pets. If you or someone else needs assistance, call 1-800-RED CROSS to reach their 24-hour response line.

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-Josh Kelly

Gov. Stitt issues "disaster emergency" in 12 counties

9:20 a.m.

Governor Kevin Stitt was on the ground in Stillwater on Saturday morning, helping the community. In an interview with News 9, the governor talked about the successes of the emergency management system in place.

"We are so thankful we didn't have any fatalities here, and our emergency system worked. We were able to notify law enforcement last night, and we got a lot of evacuations done," Stitt told News9 on Saturday's broadcast.

Stitt noted he has already contacted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and they are working on getting "all the resources we need to help the people rebuild."

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Stitt placed a disaster emergency over the following 12 counties: Cleveland, Creek, Dewey, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, Oklahoma, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills and Stephens.

-Josh Kelly

Logan County still in fire operations, Norman contains all fires

9:14 a.m.

Deputy Director of Logan County Emergency Management Shawn Pierce said the county is still actively working on fire operations.

Pierce reported that fires are not contained as of 9 a.m. on Saturday, and the community is still gathering information.

As of 8:30 a.m., the City of Norman confirms that all fires are 100% contained in the area. The resources remain available at CrossPointe Church.

-Josh Kelly

NWS issues Red Flag Warning over west, north Oklahoma

8:21 a.m.

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The National Weather Service Norman issued a Red Flag Warning over Saturday afternoon. Several counties will be under the warning from 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

The warning covers the following counties: Alfalfa, Beckham, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Harper, Major, Roger Mills, Washita, Woods and Woodward counties.

The station cites high winds with gusts up to 35 mph, 11% humidity, and dry vegetation as causes for the warning, which can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

-Josh Kelly

Power outages into Saturday

8:14 a.m.

According to OG&E's outage map, 11,400 customers are without power throughout the utility's system. Most of the concentration is in Oklahoma County with 5,446 customers out, as of 8:04 a.m.

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Other counties with a large amount without power include Logan (700), Cleveland (858), Pottawatomie (706), Pawnee (609) and Carter (605) counties. OG&E's outage map updates every 10 minutes.

Poweroutages.us reports that the number grows to over 15,000 throughout the state. Roger Mills County reports 701 outages countywide, affecting roughly 22% of its population.

-Josh Kelly

Check weather for air quality on Saturday

After a hefty Friday, many parts of Oklahoma were shown to have 'unhealthy' air quality levels into late Friday night.

While the EPA's 8 p.m. report listed much of the Sooner State in 'very unhealthy' or 'hazardous' levels, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality showed Oklahoma, Canadian counties and much of the southwestern portion in 'unhealthy' levels.

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The American Lung Association said that air pollution can harm anyone but can be dangerous for many people including teens and people with asthma and other lung disease, over 65, diabetic or are pregnant.

To prepare for levels higher than, depending on your respiratory health, considering a mask when you leave the house today may be beneficial to protect you from particulates and other pollutants.

-Josh Kelly

Oklahoma fire map: See smoke, wildfires across state, red flag warnings

Track the latest wildfire and smoke information in Oklahoma with data that is updated frequently based on input from several incident and intelligence sources.

If you can't see the map below, please click here.

How to prevent wildfires

While severely warm weather can worsen a wildfire spread, most are the result of human behavior. In fact, nearly 85% of wildfires in the U.S. are caused by humans, according to the National Park Service.

With its wide acres, rural areas and inconsistent weather patterns, Oklahoma is prone to grass fires. Forestry and safety experts offer several guidelines for residents on how to avoid starting a fire, which can often breakout from just one wrong spark.

Avoid using welding equipment.

Never drive on a flat tire.

Extinguish cigarettes completely before properly disposing of them, and never throw them outside of a window while driving.

Avoid parking on dry grass or dragging chains behind your car.

More: How to help Oklahoma residents impacted by the fires

Closings due to weather, wildfires

Keep up with school, church and event closings using the link below.

Oklahoma City Severe Weather Closings: Schools, churches, other services

National Weather Service updates

Tweets by NWS Norman

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Live updates: Wildfire risk in Oklahoma continues though winds calming
The eyes may be windows to the soul in humans, but the teeth are the telling feature for the Mexican gray wolf.

Wear and tear on a wolf's sharp canine teeth can be used to track age, trauma and disease, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Checking the teeth is just one part of the health screenings performed on the Mexican gray wolf during an annual population census.

Driven almost to extinction in the mid-20th century, the Mexican gray wolf was reintroduced to the landscape from a founding population of just seven wolves.

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The population has now increased for the ninth year in a row, the New Mexico and Arizona game and fish departments announced last week, with at least 286 wild wolves found in the two states.

That's an 11% increase from the minimum count in 2023, when 257 wolves were spotted. In the past decade, the Mexican gray wolf population has almost tripled, from double digits in 2015.

"Once again, the data collected on the recovering Mexican wolf population show progress, said Stewart Liley, chief of wildlife for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Each year, the wild Mexican wolf population numbers increase, and the areas they occupy expands."

He said the wolf population now approaches goals in the current recovery plan.

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But conservation groups worry about the future of the Mexican gray wolf amid continuing human-wolf encounters and the species' own genetic crisis.

Population generally healthy

Each year, staff from state and federal agencies join forces to capture and count Mexican gray wolves. Those who participate are passionate about the work, said Elin Crockett, a wildlife veterinarian for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish who works with animals from elk to bears.

"It's definitely a good and kind of inspiring program to work on," Crockett said.

More than half the 286 wild wolves counted in the most recent census were found in the Land of Enchantment. The 37 packs identified in New Mexico are generally concentrated in the western portions of the state.

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Wolves are typically captured on the ground or darted from a helicopter. From there, they can be transitioned to processing sites, where vets like Crockett can evaluate their health and administer vaccines. Females are checked to see if they're of breeding status; some injuries and infections like abscesses are treated.

Wolves are given fluids and pain medication to ease the stress of capture.

Crockett said the wolves evaluated at the end of last year generally appeared healthy. The team of veterinarians take blood samples and survey them for exposure to certain diseases like parvovirus or distemper.

"We do see those diseases in their populations just kind of simmering at low levels," Crockett said, but she hasn't seen major die-offs.

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Living with wolves

The reintroduction program has been controversial, especially among livestock owners.

On Wednesday, while debating a bill on reforming the New Mexico State Game Commission, Rep. Stefani Lord, R-Sandia Park, described seeing calves killed by wolves. Driving wolves off her property is a partial solution, Lord said  there's no guarantee they won't head straight to a neighboring property.

"I will live with the wolves, but I don't want my neighbors to," Lord said.

In 2023, New Mexico ranchers were paid approximately $62,000 in direct compensation for lost livestock, according to the annual Fish and Wildlife wolf reports. The federal government provided $3 million to hire range riders, put up fencing and dispose of livestock carcasses in an effort to make ranches less appealing to hungry wolves.

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Confirmed Mexican gray wolf kills spiked in 2019, and the following year, livestock owners in the state were paid $186,000 to make up for losses.

Since the peak in 2019, the rate of fatal attacks on livestock and other animals, known as depredation, has been falling. Despite an increasing wolf population, confirmed kills decreased almost 50% over those four years.

In August 2023, Wildlife Services  the federal agency charged with investigating depredation reports  raised the evidentiary bar to confirm a Mexican gray wolf kill. Some groups said that prevented over-attributing deaths to wolf attacks. One of the major changes was requiring evidence that an animal was alive when it crossed paths with a wolf.

At a New Mexico Game Commission meeting last fall, ranchers shared their frustration over delayed compensation and a lack of information about the whereabouts of the wolves  many of which are tracked through collars but whose movements aren't monitored or released in real time to deter poachers and maintain battery life in the collars.

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Humans and wolves might cross paths in ways other than livestock attacks. In 2023, four Mexican gray wolves were killed by cars and 11 were illegally killed. Those numbers are well above the average for the approximately quarter-century reintroduction program.

Chris Smith, wildlife program director for WildEarth Guardians, said despite a growing population, the risks to the Mexican gray wolf are still high. There are methods to reduce human and wolf clashes, including "hazing" wolves away from human areas, but they only go so far.

"I'm not sure that we'll ever get down to zero conflict," Smith said. "I wish we could."

Some of those efforts are supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service. Wildlife technicians for the service track and monitor the wolf populations and work to reduce livestock conflicts. But as federal priorities shift with a new presidential administration, Smith said he's not sure how much effort will be devoted to the Mexican gray wolf program in the future.

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"I think it kind of depends on what we see from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the federal government, in terms of to what extend they abandon funding and staffing the recovery program," Smith said.

Recovery ready?

A genetically homogeneous population is more susceptible to disease, less fertile and more likely to see the impacts of inbreeding.

Mexican gray wolves were once released as family units. That changed in 2006. From then until 2015, only a handful of "unbonded" adult wolves were released.

In 2015, the program switched to placing captive-born wolf pups into wild dens, hoping they would be fostered by wild wolves. Since then, 126 pups "carefully selected for their genetic value" have been placed in almost 50 dens in the wild. Genetic management from the released pups is "showing results," Liley said.

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Some conservationists advocate for going back to family releases, which they say can improve the chances that pups reach breeding age and do, in fact, breed.

As the population grows, the impact of the genetic diversity of one captive-born wolf is diluted.

"If there are 10 wolves on the landscape, and you introduce one new wolf that is genetically different ... [then] 9% of the wolves on the landscape have new genetic information," Smith said. "Whereas now, we have close to 300 wolves. If you introduce one wolf with new genetic information, that's a tiny, tiny little drop in the bucket of the gene pool."

The number of wolves is creeping toward the target: downlisting or delisting from the endangered species list. If the rate of increase continues as expected, the U.S. population should hit 320 wolves within just a couple of years  the threshold to consider reducing protections. But downlisting or delisting could still be a long way off.

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An average population of 320, or 150 in both the United States and Mexico, would have to be maintained for four years to be downlisted, and there would have to be a demonstration of genetic diversity.

Delisting is an even higher bar. And a full recovery could take even longer.

Smith thinks the target should be more than double the current 320 goal, and that the reintroduction boundaries should be extended.

Some advocates have been pushing for changes to the boundaries of the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area. Currently Interstate 40 is the northern boundary. Wayward wolves who pass the boundary  like celebrity and perpetually northward-bound wolf Asha, who was found once in Angel Fire, and again in Coyote  can be trapped and relocated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"The population growing is a good sign," Smith said. "True recovery looks like a minimum of 750 wolves in at least three different populations."
GREENVILLE, Pa., (WKBN)  Saint Michael Catholic School in Greenville will close its doors at the end of the school year.

The Diocese of Erie made the announcement Friday, citing declining enrollment, staffing challenges, and financial difficulties.

Right now, 36 students are enrolled at the school.

In a statement, Father Brandon Kleckner said it was a difficult decision, but that there is not a practical path forward that allows us to keep Saint Michael School open beyond the current academic year.

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Students who want to continue with Catholic education will have tuition support to attend Shenango Valley Catholic Schools or Seton Catholic School.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LINDSIDE, WV (WVNS)  John Spangler has been in the business of growing crops for around 40 years. He has grown everything from cucumbers to broccoli.

After all the years hes spent farming though, he now is facing an issue thats making him worry about the future of his business. The threat of new tariffs is concerning for Spangler, who owns Jumpin Johnnys Popcorn, and his own farm.

Spangler says he is concerned over the new cuts to the US Department of Agriculture. Spangler sells his goods to local schools and these cuts could affect that business as well as the children he provides food for through these transactions.

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Terrific Thursday on the way with 70s and sunshine!

The world of agriculture contributes to the US economy immensely, and thats why Im really kind of saddened that the USDA has chosen to start cutting some of these programs, said Spangler.

Due to cuts by the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has eliminated more than $1 billion in funding that helps bring local food to schools and food banks.

Spangler said these issues will not just be felt by farmers, but by communities as a whole.

Local farm taking the leap into agritourism

If I dont have money coming in here. I cannot buy gravel for the road. I cannot donate to all these other little groups and, you know, all the things that need to to make the community go. Im not over at the local store, you know, buying hardware as much. Im not doing all the things because it and, you know, it affects everyone,  said Spangler.

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Spangler said he has been in the business for 40 years and wont be going anywhere anytime soon if he can avoid it. He fears for young farmers in West Virginia and across the country.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
NORTH WINDHAM  Local H&R Block employees from North Windham recently delivered over 200 pounds of non-perishable food items to the Veterans Base Camp in Chaplin.

The delivery was no small trip, as it consisted of nearly a dozen large grocery bags weighing about 25 pounds each.

For the next few weeks, the business will continue to collect food donations for the base camp.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  A local philanthropy group is helping people take charge of their finances.

The Youngstown alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority held an economic development summit in Warren.

There were three speakers with backgrounds in economics, all with the goal of teaching budgeting, debt management and entrepreneurship. The sisters wanted anyone to be able to get some financial knowledge, whether its for managing debt or starting a business.

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We thought that this would be a great opportunity for people young and old to come, men and women to come and just educate  and hopefully, theyll leave here with something that they are going to use in their real life, said Sherri Lovelace-Cameron, vice president for the organization.

Economic development is one of the sororitys pillars of focus, tracing back to the original national founder in 1913.

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LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56)  A woman in London was charged with allegedly shooting her mother to death on Friday night.

The Laurel County Sheriffs Office wrote to FOX 56 News that around 9 p.m. Friday, deputies had found a dead victim who had been shot at a residence on Burnett Road off of KY-229.

Man charged in connection with deadly Ohio Street shooting

Around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, the sheriffs office identified the victim as Carol Rich, who had been found shot to death. The Laurel County Coroners Office pronounced her dead at the residence, where a pistol had also been recovered.

Around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, deputies reportedly arrested Brianna Rich, 26, Carols daughter. She was charged with murder and lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.

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Brianna Rich, 26, was arrested Friday night after her mother was found dead at a London residence. (Laurel County Sheriffs Office)

Deputies said they are still working to find out what caused the shooting.

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A top-performing Long Island school district is battling over a proposal to rename an elementary school for its outgoing superintendent  with some griping that a living white man shouldnt erase its native history.

At a January school board meeting, PTA Council President Aileen Gingold proposed renaming Cantiague Elementary School in Jericho for Superintendent Henry Grishman, who has held the role in one of the nations top-performing districts since 1995.

By renaming this school, we will ensure that future generations of students, parents and educators will be reminded of the leadership that has helped guide this district to the success he enjoys today, Gingold said at the meeting to loud applause.

Jericho parents are fighting a proposal to rename Cantiague Elementary School after the current superintendent, who is retiring in the spring. Google

Cantiague is a term that was likely used by Algonquian-speaking Native Americans to describe the land.

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Renaming Cantiague Elementary erases indigenous history in favor of honoring a living white superintendent, said one parent who signed an online petition against the proposal that has garnered over 300 signatures.Those pushing for this change may not recognize their bias, but ignorance is no excuse.

Long Islands Native American roots are evident in many of its town names, including Massapequa, Montauk, Shinnecock, which provide invaluable opportunities for education and cultural understanding, according to Jericho Voice, an anonymous parent blog that has sprung up amid the controversy and describes itself as the voice of parents in Jericho Union Free School District.

The group did not respond to an inquiry from The Post.

Henry Grishman has served as Jericho superintendent since 1995. Jericho Union Free School District

Others say the proposal is premature and unprecedented, since Grishman is still alive and actively employed by the district.

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The fundamental issue of proposing to name a school facility after a currently employed superintendent creates inherent ethical concerns and questions about proper governance, the petition states. Such decisions should maintain clear separation from active service to ensure they are based on demonstrated long-term impact rather than current position.

Henry Grisham, superintendent of the Jericho school district, speaking on educational changes in 2010. YouTube/Scholastic

Other slammed the board of education puppets behind the move.

A recent budget meeting included a slideshow from the assistant superintendent with a cover page featuring Grishman edited onto a movie poster for The Greatest Showman that read The Greatest Grishman.

This is not a joke or a meme, Jericho Voice wrote in a post. This is the official opening slide of a taxpayer-funded budget meeting, created by Victor Manuel, Assistant Superintendent of Business Affairs.

A slideshow presented at a budget meeting featured Grishman on a movie posted styled after The Greatest Showman. Jericho Voice

A budget meeting is not a place for personal tributes, it added.

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Grishman, who first became a superintendent in 1978 before starting at Jericho, earns $368,000 a year in the district, which is one of the highest-ranked in the country.

Board President Christopher Foresto told the Long Island Press that the board will continue to gather community feedback and that it will be discussed at future meetings, including its upcoming board meeting on March 20.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Our latest storms will help bring in much-needed moisture, Meteorologist Scot Mundt has a look at the latest drought monitor.

Another mild day in eastern KELOLAND with highs well above average, but as a storm system moves in through the first half of the weekend, much colder air will pour in. As the storm system brings in a wide variety of weather, the precipitation totals will be monitored closely.

Docs: Iowan says he tried saving student in Dominican

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And Im calling it precipitation because well see all kindsrain, sleet, and snow. But it wont be for everyone.

The axis of heaviest precipitation has already moved east, this is where well have embedded areas of an inch or more of liquid, but it wont be that much for everyone.

It will bring in some relief to the drought monitor. This is the latest, it shows a new area of severe drought from near Watertown to Marshall.

Otherwise, south-central to southwest South Dakota remains in the extreme category.

IF we do not get the high-end totals of precipitation, it could be due to the strong to severe weather to the southeast of KELOLAND. These storms may end up stealing our moisture numbers or even the dry punch of air that strong storm systems can draw in. This storm is showing that characteristic, but the dry punch is showing up to our south. We shall see who gets what.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Louisiana religious leaders gathered outside the State Capitol to protest the return of the death penalty in our state.



This comes just a few days before Jessie Hoffman is set to be the first person executed in the state in more than a decade.

Faith leaders who traveled from across the state urged Governor Jeff Landry to halt executions.

They said they sympathize with families of victims but still advocate forgiveness.

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Victims are very important, but killing somebody else wont restore their loved one, said sister Maura ODonovan.

Please, pay attention to what your Catholic faith is all about, said Catholic Priest Father Louis Arcenaux.

People can be protected easily  we have a good prison system, said the Most Reverend Bishop Michael Duca, of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. If a person commits a horrific crime, they can find salvation, and God can take them at the right time and issue the final judgment.

A representative for Gov. Landry received the groups packets of over 250 signatures from more religious leaders.

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Landry and the current administration are aiming to bring the death penalty back to provide the justice they see fit for families of victims.

This is the justice promised to people under the law of Louisiana, and my job is to see that the law of Louisiana is carried out, said Attorney General Liz Murrill.

Appeals court says Louisiana can carry out the states first nitrogen gas execution next week

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BEREA, Ky. (FOX 56)  Redeeming Hope is an organization all about empowering female victims ages 14-18 who have been subjected to sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. Theyre working on a huge project to help in this mission.

Members of Redeeming Hope are working on building a home that will be a safe space for these victims. Lisa Foster with Redeeming Hope said shes thrilled to bring this resource to the community members who need it.

Powell County rescue team to halt emergency responses to Red River Gorge

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It should be under a roof by April or May, depending on weather, and completed by August. The value of the home is $800,000. Its a 6,000-square-foot home, and were at the 500 marks, so were still trying to raise 300 more so we dont have to go in debt, Foster said.

The home will be built adjacent to Church on the Rock in Berea. To raise money, Redeeming Hope is selling tickets to the upcoming film Trapped, which will play at 6 p.m. on March 29 at the Lancaster Grande Theatre.

Tickets are $15, and all proceeds will go towards the building of this new safe space. Trapped was directed by Ejaz Khan. With Lydia Pearl Pentz, Meghan Leone Cox, Miles Barnum, and June Marie Davis.

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

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Its a film meant to shed light on sexual abuse and sex trafficking in the United States. The plot of the movie involves the fragile relationship between a mother and daughter surviving a luring stranger. Foster said this started when the movies producer called from New York wanting to help.

To get tickets, visit the Redeeming Hope website.

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The coolest thing that happened around here this past week didnt happen here, and it wasnt really a thing, it was more of an image.

The Wichita City Council spent most of the week on its annual trip to Washington, D.C., where members participate in a National League of Cities conference and ritual glad-handing with our representatives and senators on Capitol Hill.

But the grip-and-grin photo op featuring the Wichita City Council posing with U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall was more like a grip-and-grimace for council member Maggie Ballard.

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Ballard practiced some, shall we say, social distancing from the pro-MAGA senator, who recently starred in a viral video where he stalked out of his own town hall meeting in Northwest Nowhere Kansas, when the crowd got a little testy over the Trump administrations ongoing dismantlement of the federal government.

Ballards distance from Marshall, and the gap between her and the rest of the council, was so large that she was almost out of the frame.

And lest anyone may have thought that was accidental, she later posted the picture on Facebook with the caption: How do you say you dont want to be in the picture with Senator Marshall without saying you dont want to be in the picture?

Along with it, she posted a selfie wearing my new lapel pin for DC.

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Its an alligator embossed with the message EAT RACISTS.

City Hall posted the Marshall picture on its Facebook page, along with another picture of the council members with Kansas other senator, Jerry Moran  a conservative Republican, but one who has criticized some of the more excessive excesses of the Trump administration.

The difference is striking. In the Moran picture, all six council members and Mayor Lily Wu are smiling like its spring break. In the Marshall shot, council member Brandon Johnson is almost as grim-faced as Ballard and Mike Hoheisel is trying his best to look neutral.

In the comments on Facebook, hilarity ensued.

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Marshal didnt run out of the room?

Oh look he was finally in a room with people who are from Kansas. Let me guess, no questions?

Where did they park the Weenie Mobile?

Why are we flying them to DC? Marshall and Moran allegedly live in Kansas.

Name 5 things accomplished by your trip:

Team Koch earning their donations?

Glad the council was able to take a trip without getting into another bar fight.

Omg ! Maggie . I almost peed a little.

It went on like that for some time, but you get the drift.

There are a lot of people angry with Marshall right now, and not just over the disastrous town hall.

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His no-questions-asked devotion to the MAGA agenda has irritated a wide range of Kansans, including:

 Farmers being whipsawed by on-again-off-again tariffs disrupting their markets and business plans.

 Family and friends of federal workers who were summarily fired for being federal workers.

 Supporters of nonprofit groups that are being stripped of federal contracts and funding.

 Minorities in the crosshairs of the administrations anti-DEI campaign to rid the nation of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Marshalls up for reelection next year and if he decides to run again, hes vulnerable.

This is a deep-red state where the default vote is always Republican. But its made up of reasonably independent people whove shown that they can break with the GOP on statewide elections, most recently electing Laura Kelly as governor and rejecting the anti-abortion rights amendment called Value them Both.

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Democrats could steal Marshalls Senate seat if they can find the right candidate.

They could do worse than Maggie Ballard.

Senator Marshall, youre no Dwight Eisenhower. And neither is Donald Trump | Opinion

Does Sen. Roger Marshall even know what a town hall meeting is? | Opinion
Africa50 is setting up several green funds for $700 million, including the first region-wide initiative for power companies as part of regional governments' efforts to boost electricity access and shield against global warming, Bloomberg reported.

The Casablanca, Morocco-based investment platform plans to invest  through the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa fund  $500 million in climate-friendly projects in sectors ranging from renewable energy to transportation, according to Africa50's head Alain Ebobisse, cited in the report.

"You can catalyze $10 billion worth of investments," he said, adding that the first close would occur in the first half of the year.

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In a first for the continent, Africa50 also intends to create a $200 million fund for companies that provide distributed renewable energy, like solar-powered mini-grids and home systems, which will be known as Africa Solar Facility. Meanwhile, a Nigeria-focused fund for distributed renewable energy is in the works, Bloomberg explained.

Africa50, which runs Africa50-Project Development, Africa50-Project Finance, and the Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund, hopes to tap the $2.3 trillion held by African institutions, Ebobisse said.

UN data shows that around 600 million Africans, or nearly half the continent's population, still lack reliable access to electricity, which limits the provision of basic services like healthcare and water.

"We need to look at multiple sources of power generation. We need to look at in each country that we're focused on, each country that we're investing in: What is its comparative advantage?" Africa50's Chief Operating Officer Tshepidi Moremong said in a video shared on Facebook by Devex in late January. "Is it solar? Is it hydro? Is it gas to power?"

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A long-term growth opportunity for investors in Africa and beyond, the deployment of off-grid power infrastructure can help bridge the gap in energy access, improve the economic resilience of local communities by creating jobs in the sector, and, on a larger scale, secure the continent's position in the global transition to a low-carbon, environmentally friendly economy.

"We invested in off grid in Africa since 2014 and still hanging in there with the skin of our teeth. Waves of support and enthusiasm have come and gone with mostly the same cast of characters and on the whole without real success," engineer and angel investor Tara Lindstedt wrote on LinkedIn. "Truly hope this time it happens."

Per Ebobisse, quoted by Bloomberg, Africa50 is about to complete the financing of Africa's first large-scale public-private partnership on electricity transmission lines and is set to pursue similar projects in Mozambique, Tanzania, and Gabon.

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.
Danica Kirka

Associated Press

NUUK, Greenland (AP)  When U.S. President Donald Trump first suggested buying Greenland in 2019, people thought it was just a joke. No one is laughing now.

Trump's interest in Greenland, restated vigorously soon after he returned to the White House in January, comes as part of an aggressively "America First" foreign policy platform that includes demands for Ukraine to hand over mineral rights in exchange for continued military aid, threats to take control of the Panama Canal, and suggestions that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.

Why Greenland?

Increasing international tensions, global warming and the changing world economy have put Greenland at the heart of the debate over global trade and security, and Trump wants to make sure that the U.S. controls this mineral-rich country that guards the Arctic and North Atlantic approaches to North America.

Who does Greenland belong to?

Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark, a long-time U.S. ally that has rejected Trump's overtures. Denmark has also recognized Greenland's right to independence at a time of its choosing.

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Amid concerns about foreign interference and demands that Greenlanders must control their own destiny, the island's prime minister called an early parliamentary election for Tuesday.

The world's largest island, 80% of which lies above the Arctic Circle, is home to about 56,000 mostly Inuit people who until now have been largely ignored by the rest of the world.

Houses covered by snow are seen on the coast of a sea inlet of Nuuk, Greenland, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Why are other countries interested in Greenland?

Climate change is thinning the Arctic ice, promising to create a northwest passage for international trade and reigniting the competition with Russia, China and other countries over access to the region's mineral resources.

"Let us be clear: we are soon entering the Arctic Century, and its most defining feature will be Greenland's meteoric rise, sustained prominence and ubiquitous influence,'' said Dwayne Menezes, managing director of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative.

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"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."

The following are some of the factors that are driving U.S. interest in Greenland.

Arctic competition

Following the Cold War, the Arctic was largely an area of international cooperation. But climate change, the hunt for scarce resources and increasing international tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine are once again driving competition in the region.

Gert Ignatiussen, winner of Greenland's annual amateur mineral hunt, throws a chunk of seal meat to one of his sled dogs in Tasiilaq, an Inuit town on the southeast coast of Greenland, in this photograph taken on Aug. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Karl Ritter, file)

Strategic importance

Greenland sits off the northeastern coast of Canada, with more than two-thirds of its territory lying within the Arctic Circle. That has made it crucial to the defense of North America since World War II, when the U.S. occupied Greenland to ensure that it didn't fall into the hands of Nazi Germany and to protect crucial North Atlantic shipping lanes.

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The U.S. has retained bases in Greenland since the war, and the Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Force Base, supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO. Greenland also guards part of what is known as the GIUK (Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom) Gap, where NATO monitors Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic.

Natural resources

Greenland has large deposits of so-called rare earth minerals that are needed to make everything from computers and smartphones to the batteries, solar and wind technologies that will power the transition away from fossil fuels. The U.S. Geological Survey has also identified potential offshore deposits of oil and natural gas.

Greenlanders are keen to develop the resources, but they have enacted strict rules to protect the environment. There are also questions about the feasibility of extracting Greenland's mineral wealth because of the region's harsh climate.

Climate change

Greenland's retreating ice cap is exposing the country's mineral wealth and melting sea ice is opening up the once-mythical Northwest Passage through the Arctic.

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Greenland sits strategically along two potential routes through the Arctic, which would reduce shipping times between the North Atlantic and Pacific and bypass the bottlenecks of the Suez and Panama canals. While the routes aren't likely to be commercially viable for many years, they are attracting attention.

In this file photo dated July 2007, an Inuit seal hunter touches a dead seal atop a melting iceberg near Ammassalik Island, Greenland. (AP Photo/John McConnico, file)

Chinese interest

In 2018, China declared itself a "near-Arctic state" in an effort to gain more 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-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected China's 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.

In this July 21, 2011 photo, Inuit hunter Nukappi Brandt steers his small boat as he and his daughter Aaneeraq, 9, scan the water for seals, accompanied by his other daughter Luusi, 8, outside Qeqertarsuaq, Disko Island, Greenland. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, file)

Independence

The legislation that extended self-government to Greenland in 2009 also recognized the country's 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.
UPDATE : 4 :15 p.m.

An 86-year-old man was critically injured in a one-car crash on H-1 Freeway this afternoon, briefly shutting down all westbound lanes near the Vineyard Boulevard exit.

Honolulu Emergency Medical Services personnel said personnel responded at about 2 :30 p.m. to the freeway near the Vineyard off-ramp. Paramedics treated and transported the man in critical condition to a trauma hospital, EMS said.

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The crash closed all westbound lanes right before the start of the afternoon rush hour. Traffic in the area remains clogged even though all lanes have since reopened.

4 :05 p.m.

Two right lanes have been re-opened on the H-1 westbound near the Vineyard Boulevard exit, state Department of Transportation officials said in a social media post at about 3 :52.

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE Westbound lanes of the H-1 Freeway have been closed at the Vineyard Boulevard off-ramp have been closed due to a motor vehicle crash, Honolulu police said.

Police said in an alert at about 3 :15 p.m. that motorists should expect delays, use alternate routes, and drive with caution.This breaking news story will be updated when more information becomes available.

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ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT)  The Limestone County Sheriffs Office arrested a man for intentionally setting a house on fire in Athens.

According to jail records, Alex Celis Ramirez was booked into the Limestone County Jail on March 14 and charged with second-degree arson, second-degree criminal mischief and a bond revocation warrant.

Based on court documents, on or about March 14, Ramirez intentionally caused a fire at a home on Mayfield Road, damaging the property.

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Dutton man charged with sexual abuse of a child under 12, enticing a child for immoral purposes

For Ramirezs criminal mischief charge seen in jail records, court documents say three windows of the house were damaged in the incident. The document also says the damage to the property was greater than $500 but does not exceed $2,500.

Based on court records, Ramirez was arrested in February for third-degree domestic violence-menacing.

Documents say that Ramirez is accused of sharpening a butter knife and telling the victim in this incident that he was going to kill him and his mom.

The conditions of his bond were that he must refrain from committing any criminal offense. Based on this, he was given the bond revocation charge shown in Limestone County Jail records.

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He is currently being held under a $16,000 bond.

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Mar. 14LIMA  Detectives from the Lima Police Department are investigating a violent incident in the 500 block of Albert Street on Tuesday night.

Police found a man suffering from a wound to the head when they were dispatched to the 500 block of Albert Street around 11:36 p.m. Tuesday, according to a news release from Lima Police.

The male subject, who was found sitting inside a vehicle, went to a Lima hospital where he is in critical condition, according to the release.

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On Wednesday, the police department announced he was shot with a gun. On Friday, the police announced that upon further investigation, the man had been struck in the head with a blunt force object. The man, who police did not identify, is in critical but stable condition.

Anyone with information should call Detective Matt Woodworth at 419-221-5293 or Detective Sgt. Steve Stechschulte at 419-221-5291. They may also call the police department at 419-227-4444 or the Lima/Allen-Putnam County Crime Stoppers hotline at 419-229-7867.

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MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS)  Marshall police arrested a man for his involvement in an altercation that ended with a woman being struck by his car.

MPD said an emergency call came in just after 3 a.m. reporting a woman had been run over by a vehicle near the intersection of University Avenue and Wiley Avenue.

When they arrived, officers found a 2018 Dodge Charger on the curb with a female victim partially beneath the vehicle. Brandon Carey, 34, was identified as the driver.

Carey (Source: Marshall Police Department)

10 year old and mother shot in Texarkana while sleeping

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MPD crime scene personnel arrived to investigate the incident.

Investigators learned that Carey and the victim were involved in an altercation earlier at a party on Holland Street and another person witnessed Carey hit the woman. After leaving, they arrived near the intersection where the incident occurred. The situation escalated, resulting in the woman being hit by the vehicle.

Carey was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and abandoning and endangering a child because three children were left home alone to pick up the female. Carey was booked into the Harrison County Jail where he remains in custody.

The investigation is ongoing.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A man who police said rammed his vehicle into law enforcement vehicles multiple times in Boulder overnight was arrested.

Two Boulder Police Department officers in marked vehicles were at a gas station in the 4700 block of Baseline Road around 12:45 a.m. Saturday.

Truck overturns, spills load on I-270 in Commerce City

Police said a man drove a Saab in front of the officers vehicles. An officer asked if he needed help, but he didnt respond and glared at the officers, the police department wrote in a press release.

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According to police, the officers backed up and the man suddenly drove his vehicle into one of the patrol vehicles. He allegedly hit the officers vehicle three times before he got out of the car and approached the officers.

Both officers attempted to de-escalate the situation and told the man he would be Tased if he did not comply with their instructions. The man refused to comply, told the officers to shoot him and kept advancing toward them, the department said.

An officer deployed her Taser and the man, identified as 62-year-old Robert Saraduke, fell to the ground. Police said he continued to resist but was taken into custody and booked into jail on the following charges:

Felony assault first degree of a peace officer

Obstruction of a peace officer

Reckless driving

Felony criminal attempt  first degree assault on a peace officer

Resisting arrest, creating risk of bodily injury

Misdemeanor menacing

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Police said no officers nor the suspect were injured.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A man is in custody after police say he threatened five Greensburg Salem High School Students while they were waiting for their bus to school early Thursday morning.

I cant believe it, said Maria Denton, who lives near the bus stop.

That was the reaction from many in Greensburg.

Police were called to the intersection of West Otterman Street and North Hamilton Avenue just before 7 a.m. Thursday.

They said Troy Konieczny came out of his house on West Otterman Street with a fire poker with three knives attached to it.

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According to police, Konieczny grabbed one of the students waiting for the bus and put the weapon under his arm and told him to hold it, and referred to the student with a racial slur.

Its a word obviously its not going anywhere, but you know what, this day and age, nobody has to put up with it, Denton told Channel 11s Andrew Havranek.

From there, police say Konieczny tapped another student on the shoulder and messed around with her backpack. Another student ran to her home nearby for a parent, who stayed with the students until they were safely on the bus.

Denton said she used that same bus stop as a kid, and her niece would too. But her niece gets driven to school, which shes thankful for.

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The school district sent a letter to parents  praising the work of the students.

I want to commend our students for their calm and responsible actions during a frightening situation, Superintendent Kenneth Bissel wrote. I also want to express my sincere gratitude to the City of Greensburg Police Department for their prompt response and dedication to keeping our children safe.

This isnt the first time police have dealt with Konieczny. In October 2022, he was arrested after police said he smashed cars with a claw hammer and then threatened to kill neighbors because they didnt come to his party.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Channel 11 Exclusive: Greensburg man accused of using hammer to damage cars

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In both incidents, police said Konieczny smelled strongly of alcohol.

In his letter to the district, the Greensburg Salem Superintendent also said, Incidents like this serve as an important reminder of the need to support mental health resources and education in our community. Ensuring access to proper care, education, and intervention for those struggling with mental illness is essential for the safety and well-being of all community members, most importantly, our children.

Konieczny remains in the Westmoreland County Prison. Denton hopes hes not allowed back at the apartment.

The kids have no choice but to stand there or they sit on the steps to wait for the bus, she said. If hes going to live there, its probably going to be an ongoing problem, so they probably shouldnt let him back in the area.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A man was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly shooting and killing a 2-year-old in January, according to police.

The Loveland Police Department said Friday that 24-year-old Draven Dren Hawthorne previously claimed that the shooting was accidental but was arrested after police received toxicology results.

Man previously released on bond arrested in crime spree after allegedly eluding police multiple times

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On Jan. 20, according to a press release from the police department, officers responded to the 100 block of E. 2nd Street in Loveland after Hawthorne called 911 and said he and his two-year-old child were wounded in an accidental shooting.

When first responders arrived, Hawthorne was treated for a superficial abrasion and released. The child was taken to a hospital and was pronounced dead.

LPDs Criminal Investigations Division continued the investigation. Hawthorne cooperated and voluntarily submitted a blood sample for testing.

Hawthorne insinuated the shooting was accidental, occurring as he removed the concealed weapon for the purpose of storing it in a more secure location, the agency said.

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Detectives received toxicology reports on Feb. 19 and presented them to the Larimer County District Attorneys Office on Feb. 27. A judge issued a no-bond warrant for Hawthorn on March 10 for the following charges:

Child abuse  criminal negligence causes death, class 3 felony

Criminally negligent homicide, class 5 felony

Prohibited use of a weapon, class 1 misdemeanor

Hawthorne was arrested in Greeley on Wednesday, March 12, and is in custody at the Weld County Jail, waiting to be transferred to the Larimer County Jail.

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A delivery driver has won a $50 million payout from Starbucks after he suffered serious burns when a tea fell out of its holder and spilt onto his lap.

Michael Garcia suffered severe burns, disfigurement, and debilitating nerve damage to his genitals after the hot drink spilt out of its container when a barista at a drive-through in Los Angeles passed him his order.

In a lawsuit filed in California Superior Court in 2020, Starbucks was accused of breaching its duty of care after its staff did not fully push the drink into its takeaway tray.

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Mr Garcia underwent skin grafts and a string of procedures following the incident on Feb 8, 2020.

His lawyers claim he has suffered permanent and life-changing disfigurement.

Flagrant disregard

A jury in California ordered Starbucks to pay $50 million in damages to Mr Garcia.

This jury verdict is a critical step in holding Starbucks accountable for flagrant disregard for customer safety and failure to accept responsibility, said Nick Rowley, one of Mr Garcias lawyers, in a statement.

Starbucks said it would appeal the excessive damages and said it did not believe it was responsible for the accident.

We disagree with the jurys decision that we were at fault for this incident and believe the damages awarded to be excessive, a Starbucks spokesman said.

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The chain added it was committed to the highest safety standards in handling hot drinks.

Disfigured and scarred

Starbucks is not the first US chain to have been ordered to pay significant sums to customers over burns.

Stella Liebeck was awarded nearly $3 million by a New Mexico jury in the 1990s after she suffered third-degree burns while trying to take the lid off a cup of coffee at a McDonalds drive-through.

A judge later reduced the award, and the case was settled for an undisclosed sum under $600,000.

A south Florida jury awarded $800,000 in damages to the family of Olivia Caraballo in 2023.

Ms Caraballo was disfigured and scarred after she suffered second-degree burns when a hot Happy Meal Chicken McNugget fell on her leg in 2019 when she was four years old.

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The lawsuit said the nuggets were unreasonably and dangerously hot and unfit for human handling.

Jurors found McDonalds liable for negligence, failure to warn customers about the risk of hot food and failure to provide instructions for safe handling of the food.

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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A man accused of fatally slashing a persons throat in a SOMA hotel room last October faces murder charges, according to San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins.

On Oct. 30, 2024, Sergii Sakhno and the victim were in a hotel room when he cut the victims throat twice, said prosecutors. According to the Jenkins office, Sakhno used bleach to clean the hotel room after killing the victim.

San Francisco Police Department officers responded to the hotel on Seventh Street around 4:30 p.m. for the report of an unresponsive person. According to the DA, the room was ransacked and officers smelled a strong odor of bleach. The victims body was on the bathroom floor with half the victims legs in the shower.

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The victim suffered two large fatal incisions in his neck, which severed major arteries, veins, the trachea, and his spine, according to the DA.

Oakland woman faces 20 years for bank robbery

Sakhno was taken into custody the following day. He was found in possession of the victims phone.

Sakhno remains in custody pending trial due to the public safety risk.

Sakhno has been charged with murder with an allegation that he personally and intentionally used a deadly and dangerous weapon in the commission of the murder. He has pleaded not guilty and denied the allegation, according to the DA. His next court date is on April 8.

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According to the district attorney, this case is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call the San Francisco Police Department tipline at 415-575-4444.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A man has died after being shot on Orange Street in Springfield Friday night.

Springfield felon indicted connected to drug and firearms offenses

Springfield Police Department Spokesperson Ryan Walsh said that at approximately 10:50 p.m. on Friday, officers received a ShotSpotter activation on the 100 block of Orange Street. When police arrived at the location, a man was found inside a vehicle with a gunshot wound.

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The victim was brought to Baystate Medical Center and he passed away at the hospital.

The Springfield Police Department Homicide Unit under the direction of Captain Trent Duda and the Hampden District Attorneys Office Murder Unit are investigating the incident.

Police said that if anyone has information regarding the incident, please call Springfield Detectives at 413-787-6355 or anonymously send a message by texting CRIMES (274637), SOLVE, and your tip.

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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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police said a man died after he was shot in Southeast on Thursday night.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), just before 9:30 p.m. on March 13, officers responded to the 5000 block of Benning Road SE for a reported shooting.

There, they found a man who had been shot. Police described him as unconscious and breathing.

Firefighter rescued after falling through floor while responding to fire in Northeast DC, fire officials say

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Medics responded to the scene and took the man, who had sustained critical injuries, to the hospital.

Despite lifesaving efforts, he died there.

MPD added that upon further investigation, officers determined that the man was actually shot around the corner from Benning Road, in the 5000 block of H St.

Police have yet to identify the man. However, officers are investigating his death as a homicide.

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ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT)  The Athens Police Department says a man is in critical condition after a crash Friday afternoon.

According to APD, officers and emergency responders arrived at the scene of a single-vehicle rollover at around 5 p.m.

The wreck happened on Highway 72 West near West Glenn Valley Drive. APD said witnesses saw the pickup truck heading eastbound on Highway 72 when it crossed over the middle turn lane and both lanes of opposing westbound traffic.

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The truck entered a ditch on the north side of the highway and rolled over, causing the man to be ejected. Authorities said he was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

Currently, only one westbound lane of Highway 72 is open. Both eastbound lanes are unaffected.

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A man was fatally stabbed after he was jumped in downtown Brooklyn, officials said Saturday.

Michael Hernandez, 27, was walking near the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush Aves.  a few steps from the Barclays Center  about 9 p.m. Friday when a group of people raced over and attacked him in the street, witnesses told police.

The victim was repeatedly stabbed in the abdomen, cops said.

Cops responding to a 911 call of an assault in progress found Hernandez sprawled out on Flatbush Ave. in a southbound lane. His attackers had run off.

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EMS rushed the victim to New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, but he couldnt be saved.

No arrests have been made.

Police on Saturday night gave an address for a homeless shelter in East New York, Brooklyn, where they said Hernandez lived. At the shelter, though, staff refused to answer questions by a Daily News reporter, who was then turned away by security.

The stabbing took place as a concert for South Korean rapper J-Hope was held at the Barclays Center.

Saturdays rain washed away a small pool of blood left behind at the scene.

Area residents were stunned that the bloody brazen attack would happen on the bustling thoroughfare.

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I hope they catch the guy, longtime New Yorker Brittany Dutchman said about the stabber. I want them to catch these people because I think people who do bad things should go to jail.

With the Barclays Center and all the restaurants near by, the section of Flatbush Ave. where the stabbing took place is usually bustling, Dutchman, 40, said.

Its busy, Particularly if theres an event or a game, she said. (This is) a major transit hub. You have the Barclays Center right here, So unless there wasnt an event, I would expect it to be pretty busy.

Police on Saturday were scouring the area for surveillance footage that could help them identify the attacker.
DENVER (KDVR)  A man accused in a crime spree involving car theft, burglary and multiple incidents of eluding police was arrested after law enforcement attempted to stop him in several cities on Wednesday. The suspect allegedly committed some of the crimes while he was released on bond.

The Boulder Police Department announced Friday that Kevin Aguirre, 31, was arrested and booked into jail Thursday on multiple charges with a bond set at $200,000.

4 cited during Denver street racing enforcement: Police

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According to police, Aguirre was booked into jail on Feb. 25 on a $10,000 bond after he allegedly stole a vehicle near Oneal Circle. He was released four days later after police said he posted $1,000.

He went on to commit multiple crimes in nearby areas within the last week, according to police.

On March 9, Aguirre allegedly stole a car and committed a burglary in Longmont. Police in Boulder spotted the vehicle that night and tried to stop it, but he eluded them.

On March 11, the police department said Aguirre burglarized a home on Bluff Street and stole a third vehicle, ditching the stolen car from Longmont.

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The next morning on Wednesday, March 12, police in Boulder spotted the suspect in the newly stolen car. Police said he once again refused to stop and drove recklessly, risking the safety of many community members. Police worked with several auto theft task force agencies and tracked the suspect as he drove through the metro area.

During the incident, the suspect was seen driving recklessly, attempting to maneuver around civilian vehicles even when no officers were nearby, the department wrote in a release.

2 arrested in deadly Aurora shooting after online marketplace meetup

Colorado State Patrol helped police keep an eye on the suspect without being nearby. Police said the suspect pulled into a parking lot near 136th Avenue and Interstate 25 in Westminster and tried to steal another vehicle. Police intervened and stopped the theft, but the suspect eluded officers again, fleeing in the previously stolen vehicle.

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Shortly after, police said Aguirre struck several police vehicles in Loveland, where he was taken into custody. No officers were injured.

Aguirre was booked on the following charges:

Second-degree burglary  two counts

Second-degree motor vehicle theft  two counts

First-degree trespass to a dwelling

Theft ($1,000-$2,000)

Vehicular eluding  two counts

Reckless driving

Obstruction

Criminal mischief ($5,000-$20,000)

Criminal mischief ($2,000-$5,000)

Failure to appear warrants for motor vehicle theft

Failure to comply warrant

Police ask anyone with information related to the investigation to contact Officer Grider at GriderJ@bouldercolorado.gov regarding case 25-02238.

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JANESVILLE, Wis. (WTVO)  Mark McCoy, 51, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a fatal head-on crash in April 2023 that killed a Janesville mother.

According to Rock County District Attorney Jason Sanders, McCoy had been up late and drinking on April 23rd, 2023, the day he crossed the center line near S. County Road D and W. Hanover Road, slamming head-on into a vehicle driven by Susan Hohmann, 54.

Hohmann died at the scene.

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At his trial in January, the jury was uncertain that McCoy was intoxicated, but convicted him on charges of second-degree reckless homicide and negligent homicide by operation of a motor vehicle.

Prosecutor Verity Altenberger said at McCoys sentencing, He did not get behind the wheel intending to kill her, but he made every choice that killed her.

McCoy becomes eligible for parole in 10 years.

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NESHANNOCK TWP., Pa. (WKBN)  A defendant in a Lawrence County murder case was sentenced Friday.

Shane McDevitt, 39, previously pleaded guilty to murder of the third degree, strangulation and two counts of possession of an instrument of crime with intent. He was sentenced Friday to 20 to 40 years on the murder charge, 2 to 5 years on each of the charges of possession of an instrument of crime with intent, and 5 to 10 years on the strangulation charge  all to be served consecutively.

In May 2022, McDevitt was accused of killing his mother, 65-year-old Cecelia Liposky, who died of blunt-force trauma to the head.

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Police said a glass decoration and a claw hammer were found smeared with blood at the scene, and Liposky was found lying on the floor in the living room.

According to the police report, McDevitt had been staying at Liposkys home, and family members told police that he had a long history of drug abuse. Liposkys vehicle was missing from her home, but McDevitts car was parked in the garage.

Police arrested McDevitt after a high-speed chase and crash in Allegheny County.

Police said McDevitt admitted to hitting his mother in the head after an argument about his drug addiction, killing her.

Chelsea Simeon contributed to this report.

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GENEVA, Ill.  A man who sexually assaulted and impregnated a disabled resident at an assisted living facility in Geneva in 2023, will spend more than 20 years in prison.

24-year-old Isaiah Fields, who previously pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a victim who he knew had a severe or profound intellectual disability, which made them unable to give consent, has been sentenced to 25 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, Kane County States Attorney Jamie Mosser announced Friday.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

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According to prosecutors, at some point between Aug. 1, 2023, and Sept. 5, 2023, Fields, who was 22 at the time, sexually assaulted a resident of Marklund Home in Geneva, a facility that provides residential, education and therapeutic services to individuals of all ages who have profound developmental disabilities and special healthcare needs.

Months later, in April of 2024, it was discovered that the victim was nearly fully pregnant as a result of the assault and later gave birth.

Photo provided by the Kane County States Attorneys Office shows 24-year-old Isaiah Fields, who sexually assaulted and impregnated a disabled resident at an assisted living facility in Geneva in 2023.

During an investigation into the assault by the Kane County Sheriffs Office, deputies obtained buccal swab DNA tests from current and previous male employees.

Fields was then taken into custody after his DNA test came back positive.

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On Jan 14, Fields pleaded guilty to one felony count of aggravated criminal sexual assault.

In a previous news release sent out in mid-January announcing that Fields had pleaded guilty to the charges, Mosser stated that he was a Chicago resident. However, in the most recent release announcing his sentence, Mosser said that Fields was a Batavia resident.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Todays sentencing holds Isaiah Fields accountable for his heinous actions and the profound harm he caused to a vulnerable individual who was unable to protect themselves. The bravery of the victims caregivers, the diligent work of law enforcement, and the efforts of my office ensured that justice was served. This sentence reflects the gravity of his crime, and we remain committed to safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our community from exploitation and harm, Mosser said.

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Fields sentence was handed down by Judge John Barsanti and he must serve at least 85% of the sentence in accordance with state law.

In addition to his prison term, Fields must also register for life as a sexual offender in accordance with the Illinois Sexual Offender Registration Act.

Fields will receive credit for 308 days served in the Kane County jail.

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GOSHEN  A man who admitted to shooting a victim in the head during a home invasion has received a 33-year sentence.

Julius Hunt, 37, was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to burglary causing serious injury as a Level 1 felony. Police said he broke into a mans Harrison Street residence in August and shot him in the head after demanding money.

Hunt entered his plea Feb. 13 ahead of a jury trial set for May 19. He was arrested after the Aug. 3 incident after being hospitalized when a cruiser struck him as he was fleeing, according to police.

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Under the terms of Hunts plea agreement, six years of his prison term will be suspended to probation. He will also serve a one-year concurrent sentence after admitting to a misdemeanor count of resisting law enforcement.

Elkhart County Circuit Court Judge Michael Christofeno also ordered Hunt to participate in the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program, and said he may find that the 57-year-old shooting victim forgives him.

Hunt expressed remorse in front of the judge and asked for leniency. He later remarked that the victim had lied about being shot, but the judge overlooked the statement.

Let that go, Mr. Hunt, Christofeno said.

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Hunts attorney, Donald Schmid, said Hunt wasnt in his right mind at the time of the robbery. Elkhart County Deputy Prosecutor Kathleen Claeys said Hunt didnt remember the facts of the crime and suggested he may have taken ecstasy laced with methamphetamine in addition to smoking marijuana beforehand.

Despite that, she said, Hunt has been cooperative in the investigation.

Claeys said Hunt entered the victims apartment and confronted the man, believing that he owed him money. She said when the man refused to give him anything, Hunt pulled out a gun and shot him.

Police found the victim standing in his bathroom with a wound to the right side of his head which was bleeding significantly. He was disoriented and had to be helped out of the apartment, but was able to talk to medics and say he thought he had been struck in the head by something.

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Medics said the mans head may have been grazed by the bullet.

Claeys said Hunt is lucky he isnt facing a murder charge. Christofeno agreed.

You shot the victim in the head, he said. You could argue with me that there was no chance he could die, but Ive seen cases in my courtroom where the difference between life and death are fractions of an inch.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police said a man was taken to the hospital Saturday afternoon after he was shot in Northwest.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) told DC News Now that officers responded to the 1200 block of Madison St. NW for a reported shooting just after 2 p.m.

At the scene, they found a man who had been shot. Police noted that he was conscious and breathing.

Inmate dies at Roxbury Correctional Institution, suspect identified

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Responders took the man to the hospital for treatment.

As of 3 p.m., officers said they were looking for a male wearing all gray clothing and a ski mask, last seen heading south on Georgia Avenue, in connection to the shooting.

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GOSHEN  A man who admitted to posting online threats against Goshen schools received a two-year sentence.

Andre Smith, 18, was sentenced Wednesday to two years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with 380 days suspended to probation. He will receive credit for 175 days spent in custody since his arrest.

He must also write a letter of apology to the school.

Smith pleaded guilty in February to one count of intimidation as a Level 6 felony. A second count of intimidation was dismissed.

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Smith was arrested shortly after the Sept. 18 incident, which police said caused close to 80 percent of Goshen Community Schools students to miss classes that day. The school remained open despite the threats, which were posted on Facebook at around midnight.

A post on the Nosy Neighbors of Michiana Facebook group stated, Goshen high school students be ready followed by several gun and devil face emojis. Another said My friend will take care of GPD also be ready boys in blue.

Investigators arrested smith, with the help of the Indiana State Police, after connecting him to the Facebook account that posted the threats. He told them he made the threats because he wanted to scare people that were mean to others, according to police.
A man was arrested shortly after the release of a video that allegedly showed him taking an injured cat out of a trash bag and tossing it into a dumpster in Orange County, authorities said.

The cat was left there for 15 hours and discovered mere minutes before the dumpster was scheduled to be emptied, according to a news release from the city of Mission Viejo.

The city shared surveillance camera footage of the incident Wednesday. A few hours later a woman came forward to identify the animal as her cat, BooBoo, and the man as her roommate.

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The Orange County Sheriff's Department arrested the man later that day on suspicion of felony animal cruelty, according to the city. As of Thursday, BooBoo remained at a veterinary hospital and was being treated for extensive injuries.

The suspect's name has not been released.

Mission Viejo Animal Services Director Brynn Lavison said she was deeply grateful for the Sheriff's Department's assistance and moved by the outpouring of public concern for BooBoo's welfare.

"Many of you have donated to her care; others have inquired about her adoption status; and most have expressed their disdain for animal abuse," she said in a statement. "We feel proud to be part of a pet-loving community that truly cares about the animals who share our lives."

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The cat was left in a dumpster near the 25000 block of Cabot Road in Laguna Hills around 7:20 p.m. Monday, according to Mission Viejo officials.

On Tuesday, city Animal Services received a report about the injured cat and took it to an animal hospital for evaluation and treatment. Officials pledged they would "ensure that BooBoo is healthy," and "eventually reunite with her loving owner."

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MANCHESTER, Ky. (FOX 56)  At least five different fire department crews worked together for seven hours on Friday after railroad ties caught fire in a small Manchester building.

The City of Manchester Fire Department (MFD) posted on Facebook that just after 3:15 p.m. on Friday, crews were dispatched by Clay County E-911 to the area of KY-11 and Buzzard Road in Manchester in response to a large fire.

2 hurt after car reportedly crashes into Camelot Drive apartment building

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When crews got to the area, firefighters reportedly saw a small building and around 300 railroad ties on fire, and quickly reached out for mutual aid.

Several fire departments answered the call, including the Bush Fire Department from Laurel County, Hacker Fire Department, Fogertown Fire Department, and Richland Fire Department from Knox County.

(City of Manchester Fire Department) (City of Manchester Fire Department) (City of Manchester Fire Department) On Friday, at least five crews worked for over seven hours battling a Manchester fire. (City of Manchester Fire Department)

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The group worked for over seven hours battling the fire, crews said.

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After the fire had been extinguished, all personnel cleared without incident.

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Christopher Lucrisia 1 /2 Christopher Lucrisia Silas Zion 2 /2 Silas Zion Christopher Lucrisia Silas Zion UPDATE : Saturday, 11 :25 a.m.

Hawaii County officials said today that rewards of up to $11, 000 are being offered for information that leads to the capture and arrest of 39-year-old Christopher Lucrisia of Puna, who allegedly shot and wounded a police officer Friday morning in Hilo and is wanted on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder.

The U.S. Marshalls Service is offering reward up to $10, 000. Call (808 ) 935-3311 to report tips. Anonymous tips can be made to Hawaii Island Crime Stoppers (808 ) 961-8300 for a reward of up to $1, 000.

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Federal and state partners, including FBI, Homeland Securities Investigations, Marshalls Service, Hawaii state sheriffs, and the Department of Land & Natural Resources have joined Hawaii island police in the search for Lucrisia.

Lucrisia is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached, police said.

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A convicted felon on Hawaii island allegedly shot a police officer in the head and arm Friday morning after an attempted arrest in Hilo, triggering an islandwide manhunt while the officer, in serious but stable condition, was airlifted to Oahu for surgery.

Hawaii Police Department officials announced shortly before noon that the suspect is Christopher Lucrisia, 39, who allegedly fired a gun into the ground in front of his 39-year-old ex-girlfriend outside her home in Mountain View early Monday morning.

Lucrisia also is accused of returning to the womans home Wednesday while she was out, and threatening a bedridden 75-year-old woman with a firearm, stealing a bag from her bed and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend.

Lucrisia was still at large as of Friday evening. But 23-year-old Silas Zion of Pahoa, who police said was with Lucrisia during the shooting incident that involved at least two officers, was arrested without incident shortly after 6 p.m. in Puna. He faces a potential charge of being an accessory to attempted first-degree murder for the shooting that hospitalized an officer.

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According to Hawaii Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz, officers searching to arrest Lucrisia on Friday morning on reckless-endangering and firearm charges relating to the earlier incidents in Mountain View spotted Lucrisia in a white Chevy pickup truck registered to Zion outside a bank near the Prince Kuhio Plaza shopping center in Hilo shortly before 11 a.m.

But as the officers wearing equipment identifying them as police approached the truck and demanded that the vehicles occupants not move, Lucrisia fired a gun at least twice, striking one officer, Moszkowicz said.

A second officer fired back three times, but it was not known at the time whether those shots struck Lucrisia or the trucks driver, according to Moszkowicz.

At a Friday evening news conference, Moszkowicz said he wishes for a full recovery for the injured officer, a nine-year veteran assigned to the East Hawaii Vice Unit, and urged the suspects to surrender peacefully.

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We dont need any more violence in this case,  he said. Nobody else needs to be hurt. We just want to make sure justice is done, and well let the criminal justice system play out.

Moszkowicz also said that two neighbor island police departments and the state Department of Law Enforcement have offered to help in the search if it continues today.

Hawaii island Mayor Kimo Alameda said during the news conference that the two suspects would be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.

Its a sad day for us here on the Big Island,  Alameda said. But I want you to know that our Police Department is doing a really, really good job, and I commend them for their service.

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In the immediate aftermath of Fridays shooting, police officials believed Lucrisia was on foot in a Hilo neighborhood in the vicinity of Manono and Leilani streets, and advised the public to avoid the area and contact police if they saw Lucrisia, who is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall and 250 pounds, with green eyes and black hair.

By 3 p.m. the department announced that police had completed their search of homes in the neighborhood and that their search had been expanded islandwide.

Around 4 p.m., police identified Zion as the driver of the getaway pickup truck and described him as 5 feet 6 inches tall, 110 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes.

Both men should be considered armed and extremely dangerous, Moszkowicz said, and should be reported to police and not approached if seen by the public.

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The injured officer was initially taken to Hilo Benioff Medical Center, then airlifted to Oahu and transported to The Queens Medical Center for surgery.

The detective who fired his firearm is a 17-year department veteran assigned to the East Hawaii Vice Unit, and has been placed on administrative leave to ensure he is mentally, emotionally and physically able to return to work, according to Moszkowicz.PREVIOUS COVERAGE A Hawaii island police are conducting an islandwide search for two men after an officer was shot today at a bank near the Prince Kuhio Plaza shopping center in Hilo, and then later airlifted to Oahu and transported to The Queens Medical Center where the officer was in serious but stable condition from a head injury.

Hawaii Police Department officials said shortly before noon that the suspect is a 39-year-old man named Christopher Lucrisia who fled the scene as a passenger in a white Chevy pickup truck after allegedly shooting the officer twice.

Police officers later believed Lucrisia was on foot in a Hilo neighborhood in the vicinity of Manono and Leilani Streets, and advised the public to avoid the area and contact police if they see Lucrisia, who is described as 5 feet 10 inches and 250 pounds, with green eyes and black hair.

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By 3 p.m., the department announced that police had completed their search of homes in the Hilo neighborhood, and that their search had been expanded islandwide.

Around 4 p.m., police said they were also looking for 23-year-old Silas Zion of Pahoa, who is wanted for attempted murder as part of todays shooting.

According to police, Zion is the driver of the getaway pickup truck in which Lucrisia was a passenger.

Zion, who was described as 5 feet 6, 110 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes, was arrested without incident shortly after 6 p.m. in Puna. He faces a potential charge of being an accessory to attempted first-degree murder for the shooting that hospitalized an officer.

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Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz said the wounded officer, who is assigned to the East Hawaii Vice Section, was in serious condition, according to the Hawaii Tribune Herald. He was taken to Hilo Benioff Medical Center before being airlifted to Oahu.

He has a head injury,  Moszkowicz said shortly after noon. Hes awake, hes alert.

According to Moszkowicz, police received information that Lucrisia, who was wanted, was near the bank. Without any prior conversation, Lucrisia shot at least twice and hit the officer, Moszkowicz said.

The chief said another officer returned fire, but its not known whether or not the suspect was hit.

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This mornings shooting was at the First Hawaiian Bank near Prince Kuhio Plaza.

Moszkowicz said the house-by-house search of homes in the Waiakea Houselots area for Lucrisia did not pan out.

We were not able to locate the suspect there,  he said. Hes still at large, whereabouts unknown, so the search has been expanded, islandwide.

The public is reminded not to approach Lucrisia, who is considered armed and dangerous, or Zion.------------Hawaii Tribune-Herald contributed to this report.------------25 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our.

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Manure, deer repellent and fences were among the methods some San Luis Obispo residents deployed on Friday to protect their homes from St. Frattys Day partygoers this year.

The annual unsanctioned St. Patricks Day celebration was expected to kick off early Saturday morning, with some students likely to start pre-gaming around 3 a.m.  or earlier.

The 2024 party drew more than 6,000 people to the streets around Hathway Avenue, forcing some neighborhood residents to play home defense as drunken revelers entered houses and trespassed on properties.

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The party also extended to campus, where unruly students damaged multiple residence halls.

This year, Cal Poly is holding a music festival on campus in an attempt to lure students out of the neighborhoods around campus. But the 5,000 tickets were claimed in three minutes last week, leaving many students disgruntled.

That has only heightened attention on the neighborhoods around campus.

Yet while law enforcement and university officials were hoping to prevent the block party this year, some homeowners and residents still took extra precautions to curb damage and stay safe.

Parker Venneau with San Luis Obispo City Parking Services staples up temporary no parking notices along Hathway Avenue on March 14, 2025., the day before St. Frattys Day.

Cal Poly students, SLO homeowners want to prevent damage

SLO resident Cindy Vix owns a rental home on Bond Street, which connects with Hathway.

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During last years party, over 100 people gathered on the roof of the home without invitation, resulting in more than $2,000 worth of damage, she told The Tribune.

That was costly, but not horrible, she said. What Im worried about this year is that somebody could be really hurt.

To hopefully prevent damage from trespassing partiers, Vix had manure delivered to her flower beds and deer repellent sprayed on the foliage. Thats in addition to the six-foot fence she had installed Friday morning.

Vix told The Tribune she hoped partiers would choose not to climb on roofs.

Please respect that this is a neighborhood, she said.

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Farther down the street, student resident Connor Lobes was busy boarding up his backyard on Friday afternoon.

Cal Poly student Connor Lobes was fixing a fence in his back yard on March 14, 2025, the day before what has become known as St. Frattys Day in San Luis Obispo. He was working shirtless in the rain.

Lobes said residents of his house had to report their own address to the police last year after too many people crowded onto their front lawn.

Were kind of closing off all the entrances into our yard because we really dont want to get a ticket, Lobes told The Tribune. After seeing the fence being installed down the street, Lobes said he and his roommates decided to try to block off their driveway as well.

Lobes said the St. Frattys party is a lot of fun but had gotten out of hand in some ways.

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The biggest thing is just making sure everyones doing their celebrations in a safe way and minimize as much damage to our own property as possible, he said.

A sign near the front door of a Hathway Avenue home suggests there is beer inside, on March 14, 2025, the day before St. Frattys Day in San Luis Obispo.

City officials put up no-parking signs

SLO parking officials were also in the neighborhood Friday stapling up no-parking signs along Hathway and some side streets.

The no-parking policy was set to last from 4 p.m. Friday through 4 p.m. Saturday, according to the signage.

Nearby, Campus Bottle Shoppe owner Robert Souki told The Tribune that the parking policy could have an impact on his business, since he relies on Cal Poly students.

On Saturday, he plans to open the liquor store at 6:30 a.m.  an hour and a half earlier than usual.

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And heads up to anyone looking to stock up on alcohol: Everyone who enters the door is getting their ID checked.

He felt that the weekend was already different from previous years due to a heightened police presence in the neighborhood.

I hope that everything is safe No. 1, he said. Thats what I want.
A new Marine Corps policy says troops with a genetic skin condition that can cause pain and scarring from shaving and mainly affects Black men can be separated if the health issue persists.

The "interim guidance" issued Thursday gives military health care providers 90 days to reevaluate Marines diagnosed with pseudofolliculitis barbae, or PFB. If they don't recover based on a four-phase treatment program outlined in the message, have to remain on a shaving waiver for more than a year, and a commander deems it fit, the Corps can administratively separate them "due to incompatibility with service," according to the message.

The directive marks a reversal from a previous Marine Corps policy issued in 2022 that prohibited the service from administratively separating Marines solely based on the condition, which is caused when curled hairs grow back into the skin, resulting in inflammation.

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Read Next: Transgender Sailors and Marines Must Decide by March 28 to Leave Voluntarily, New Policy Says

It also comes at the same time Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a military-wide review of standards specifically focused on issues such as shaving waivers and body fat.

"In cases where a medical condition prevents a Marine from meeting required standards for an extended period -- exceeding one year -- administrative separation may be considered if it affects long-term service compatibility," Maj. Jacoby Getty, a spokesperson for the Corps' Manpower and Reserve Affairs, said in an emailed statement Friday when asked why Marines are no longer exempt from separation due to PFB.

"However, every effort will be made to support Marines through treatment and recovery before such decisions are considered," he added. Getty emphasized that the new guidance is meant to imbue consistency across medical exemptions and that the service remains "fully committed" to supporting Marines with PFB.

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It is unclear how many Marines will be affected by this new policy, as the service does not centrally track how many of them have an exception to policy for PFB, Getty said. If a Marine with PFB is discharged solely based on their diagnosis, they would receive an honorable discharge, he said.

A currently practicing military dermatologist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the press, told Military.com on Friday that the Marine Corps' new policy could have discriminatory effects against Black service members, who disproportionately have this condition compared to their peers and often require a shaving exemption to avoid making it worse.

Black service members make up about 15% to 16% of the active-duty force, they said, but 66% of shaving waiver holders are Black. The dermatologist said that shaving waiver holders promote more slowly than their peers and often leave the military earlier due to its cultural aversion to beards.

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"You could have a white person, Black person, a Hispanic person, Asian person on a shaving waiver, they're all going to get discriminated against. They're all going to promote slower," they said. "But again, the vast majority of the waiver holders are Black and African Americans, so that's where the racial discriminatory impact comes."

"So anything that is a negative that you can apply broadly to shaving waiver holders -- whether they promote slower, whether we're going to separate them from service, whether they received disciplinary action more often -- anything that's negative you apply broad strokes to a shaving waiver group is going to disproportionately affect Black and African American individuals," the dermatologist said.

The treatments for PFB, which is a genetically determined condition, are limited, they said.

"We can't undo genetics," the dermatologist said. "And so really the only way around is you just shave and you endure the pain and the scarring; you do laser hair removal; or a shaving waiver. That's really the end of it."

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When asked whether the Marine Corps is concerned that the new guidance will disproportionately affect Black service members and increase their chances of administrative separation, Getty said the following: "This MARADMIN does not lower our standards but provides clear, standardized guidance on how medical conditions may temporarily impact grooming and uniform compliance.

"Our priority is to ensure the health and resilience of our Marines while maintaining our warfighting capability. These updates ensure consistency in the management of medical conditions while reinforcing our commitment to returning Marines to full compliance whenever possible," he said. "The strength of our force has always been our people, and this policy ensures they remain ready to fight and win."

The Marine Corps' 90-day reevaluation will assess an affected service member's current treatment regime and determine whether there is need for further treatment.

The message outlines a four-phase treatment protocol.

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The first phase addresses potential mild cases and recommends that Marines diagnosed with PFB avoid shaving for four weeks until "all lesions" have subsided. The next two phases contend with "moderate to severe" cases, for which non-laser hair removal and modified grooming standards are advised.

The last phase is optional and includes laser hair removal with a dermatology referral, adding that, while it is government-funded, the Marine Corps cannot require a service member to undergo this treatment.

"The ultimate goal is for every Marine diagnosed with PFB to successfully complete the phased treatment approach, recover, and return to full compliance -- ensuring they remain ready, resilient, and fully engaged in the fight," Getty said.

The dermatologist said that there are three likely outcomes from the policy. The first is that those who did not need a waiver in the first place will be taken off it, they said, adding that "there will be some positive impact from that policy."

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In those cases, Marines may have shaving dermatitis, a separate condition that can improve with different shaving techniques or topical treatments and is important for clinicians to differentiate from PFB, they said.

The second likely outcome might be that Marines with PFB will feel forced to shave and endure the pain and scarring for fear of being kicked out. Other Marines, in a third possible effect of this policy, might seek laser hair removal options.

"Again, going back to the fact that two-thirds of these individuals are Black/African American and likely have true PFB, they're going to be stuck, and they're going to go, 'What the hell do I do now?'" the dermatologist said.

"I don't know what the Marine Corps thinks is going to happen here, but if you're in parts of Japan or Korea, you can't just walk to the on-base dermatologist and get laser hair removal. That's not going to work," they said. "In many parts of the U.S., there's no active-duty dermatologist, and Tricare can't pay for civilian laser hair removal. There's no mechanism by which they can reimburse somebody for that -- not currently, at least."

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That could leave some Marines without options.

"People are going to be seeking some fixes to it, but even if they wanted to engage some of these things, they're not going to be able to," the dermatologist added.

The Marine Corps issued the guidance under the umbrella of "maintaining high standards" and "discipline," something the service has always prided itself on and been rigid about. The new Marine Corps guidance comes as the Department of Defense announced Wednesday a rapid review of existing military standards going back to Jan. 1, 2015.

"While aligned with OSD's forcewide review, the Marine Corps has been proactively developing this updated guidance to reinforce our commitment to the highest standards of readiness, discipline and lethality, ensuring our force remains prepared to fight and win," Getty said when asked whether this was a direct result or in anticipation of the Pentagon's assessment.

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Less than three years ago, the Marine Corps said that PFB was "no longer a condition that is separable for the convenience of the government" and barred commanders from punitively counseling a Marine with the condition or denying them the opportunity to reenlist.

The service also viewed that initiative under the lens of talent management and readiness, going on to write in 2022 that it "continues to seek opportunities to focus on and invest in the individual Marine to improve individual and force readiness."

Now, Getty said that Marines with PFB could be considered for counseling again if treatment options are exhausted, they're on a waiver for more than a year, and their commanding officer determines that the condition makes them "incompatible with service."

"The Marine Corps remains committed to talent management," he said. "This guidance balances talent retention with the need for clear standards for lethality and readiness."

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Barring reenlistment, too, seems to be an option for commanders to use against Marines with PFB. When asked whether Marines with a PFB diagnosis would be prohibited from reenlisting if treatment options fail, Getty said that commanding officers will consult with medical officers throughout the treatment process.

"These ongoing discussions will provide COs with the necessary insight into a Marine's progress and medical readiness, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding the Marine's reenlistment eligibility while ensuring their health and operational effectiveness," he added.

In another reversal, the commanding officer will have final authority for granting or dismissing exceptions to policy, Getty said. In 2022, that authority rested with medical professionals instead of commanders. Now, commanders are expected to actively monitor the treatment plan and facilitate communication between the Marine, doctors and leadership, he said.

Under the 2022 policy, Marines were not required to carry a copy of their waiver with them. Under Thursday's policy, they must do so in an effort "to enhance clarity, consistency and accountability across the force," Getty said.

The Marine message on Thursday said that a forthcoming order codifying the changes is expected in the future; Getty said that is being developed and the service expects it to be published in late spring or early summer.

Related: Beards, Body Fat in the Crosshairs as Hegseth Orders Military-Wide Standards Review
Mark Carney has never been a politician.

Yet now hes sworn in as Canadas new Prime Minister on Friday, he will face two of the most complex political challenges of any rookie world leader in years.

First, he must win a general election that hes expected to call almost immediately to try to capitalize on his Liberal Partys revival after months in predecessor Justin Trudeau-inflicted doldrums.

If he wins, his prize will be a dubious one  dealing with US President Donald Trump. Just ask Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was mauled in the Oval Office bear-pit, just how much fun that can be.

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Carneys elevation is a classic confluence of a man and a moment.

But for Trumps election victory and unprecedented threats to make Canada the 51st state, Carney would probably still be a private citizen and the Liberals would be heading for oblivion. But Trudeaus resignation and a wave of patriotism swept up by Trumps attacks left Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, who was cruising towards the prime ministers office himself, flailing.

Carney looks like a banker because he is one. He ran the central Banks of Canada and England, and hes billing himself as a pro who can manage the worst crisis in Canada-US relations for at least 40 years. Hes an old school antidote to Poilievre, a talented young ideologue whose alliterative soundbites are a good fit for the social media age. But the Conservative leader has one glaring liability  hes a little too Trumpy  a factor that suddenly threatens to down his rising star. Populism was his route to power. Until it suddenly wasnt.

A backlash against backlash politics

Poilievres problems and Carneys arrival hint at a nascent trend 50 days into the new US administration. Trumps return was widely seen as a harbinger of a second populist wave that would oust establishment figures all over the west. But a backlash against America First mayhem has lifted leaders seeking to operate in the political middle  that once looked like fallow political ground.

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In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer found fresh definition in the transatlantic tumult whipped up by Trump after a moribund start to his term that belied his landslide election win last year. His moving embrace of Zelensky after his disastrous visit to Washington was a show of independence from Trump and spoke for millions of Europeans. Starmers leadership holds out the possibility of a new era of UK-EU relations following the bitterness of Brexit. Beleaguered French President Emmanuel Macron  whose government keeps collapsing  is reborn as a Gaullist visionary, vowing to rebuild Europes military strength. And the rise of Germanys likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz put the country on a stunning course out of Americas 80-year post-war tutelage moments after his general election victory last month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron hold a meeting during a summit at Lancaster House in central London on March 2. - Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

As leaders respond, far-right movements have been stalling. The anti-immigrant AfD did better than ever in Germany  but strong support from the Trump administration might have alienated some voters. The pro-Trump Reform party in the UK has been forced to distance itself from some Trump policies and the wild rhetoric of Elon Musk. French right-winger Marine Le Pen must be wondering whether antipathy to Trump could frustrate her National Rallys hopes for a long-awaited breakthrough in the next French presidential election in 2027.

So what can Carney learn from all this?

Macron and Starmer have evolved the classic how-to-deal-with Trump playbook. To self-demeaning flattery, theyve added personal steel. By correcting the presidents falsehoods while in the Oval Office. Zelensky came a cropper when trying the same thing  but his stock soared back home at a time when Trump seems to be trying to oust him. And with the help of European leaders, he called Russias bluff by agreeing to Trumps Ukraine ceasefire plan.

But Carney has bigger problems. After all, Trump is not openly attacking British or French sovereignty. The new PM cant afford to ignore Canadians fury. A cynic might argue that if he calls a snap election, it suits him for cross border tensions to last until voters go the polls.

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Carney must also recognize reality. If a full-bore trade war rages between the US and Canada, there will be only one winner. Or more accurately, given the damage wrought by tariffs  one biggest loser  since both nations will be hurt by an estrangement in one of the worlds most lucrative trading relationships. To find a way out, Carney must ensure his campaign trail rhetoric doesnt close off an eventual settlement with Trump.

The answers do not lie in Britain or France. They might be found in a speech by 91-year-old Jean Chretien, the former Canadian PM who stole the show at the Liberal convention in Ottawa last weekend.

The old master waxed lyrical about his own confrontations with the US in a stirring defense of Canadian identify and patriotism. He peered into a camera and upbraided Trump: I can say this from one old guy to another old guy: Stop this nonsense. Canada will never join the United States.

But amid fierce anti-Americanism, Chretien also kept alive the prospect of an eventual, and necessary rapprochement. We have worked with and collaborated with the United States in the past, and Im telling you, we will do so in the future.

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BOSTON (WWLP)  The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance released a poll taking likely voters temperature on state and federal lawmakers, ballot questions, and more.

The poll was conducted via phone call, and about 48% of polled likely voters are independents, while 41% are registered democrats and 11% are registered republicans.

Among other issues, likely voters were asked if the attorney general should step in on enforcing a voter-approved audit of the state legislature, and nearly 81% said yes.

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If I was the attorney general, Id be pretty careful with this oneif she has any future aspirations in politics, even if shes suing Trump five days a week, this could be something that could come back and haunt her, said Paul Craney, Mass Fiscals spokesperson.

Independent voters showed the strongest support for the attorney general taking action, but it is important to note that independents made up 386 of the 800 people who responded to the poll.

Pollster Jim Eltringham noted that this issue is not party-based, despite most opposition coming from Democrat lawmakers. People who strongly or somewhat favor Trump also, its like 79% to 8%, support the AG following this law, said Eltringham.

The legislature continues to fight this audit on the basis of constitutional concerns due to the separation of powers clause.

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As of now, it appears the only path to resolution is through the courts, but the Attorney General says she still needs more information from the auditors office to proceed.

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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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The National Bank of Canada is pressing ahead with lending for renewable energy projects as part of efforts to reach net-zero targets.

Investment Executive reported on the bank's commitment, which will see CA$20 billion allocated by 2030.

The publication observed that this announcement comes at a time when United States President Donald Trump has indicated an intention to repeal clean energy programs and slow the transition to pollution-free energy.

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The National Bank of Canada has previously been involved in renewable energy projects on the other side of the border, including providing $775 million toward an $8.8 billion wind project and transmission line in New Mexico, as well as approving a $283 million loan for a solar energy project in New Jersey.

According to Investment Executive, the bank is attempting to reduce the emissions intensity of its power generation portfolio by a third before 2030.

"National Bank is determined to achieve its ambitious objectives in the fight against climate change," the bank said in a statement. "The Bank's Climate Report underscores the Bank's pragmatic approach, its advances, and its commitment to supporting clients in their own decarbonization efforts."

It's a positive move for the health of our planet. When companies, corporations, and organizations throw their weight behind important projects that help to reduce the production of planet-warming pollution, supporting them with our business can make it clear that there is money to be made from environmentally friendly initiatives.

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While National Bank's commitment is welcome, it did withdraw from the United Nations' Net-Zero Banking Alliance in January, with analysts linking this to the political shift in the U.S.

Reuters reported National Bank was one of six Canadian institutions to exit the coalition, with each making separate statements outlining intentions to bring climate strategies in-house.

Which of these factors would most effectively convince you to support nuclear energy projects in your area? Lower energy bills Safety and reliability More local jobs Environmental benefits Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Of course, this makes "greenwashing"  or the promotion of climate-positive initiatives and ambitions while doing the exact opposite  a lingering possibility. That's why sustainability-minded banking customers will need to keep an eye on National Bank's progress in the coming months and 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.
By Minwoo Park and Ju-min Park

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Koreans gathered in huge numbers in the capital Seoul on Saturday to support or oppose impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol before a court decides whether his short-lived declaration of martial law disqualifies him from office.

The Constitutional Court is expected to decide in the coming days whether to oust Yoon in a case that ignited South Korea's worst political crisis in decades and rattled markets.

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In central Seoul, anti-Yoon protesters filled a large square, chanting for his immediate removal, and were joined by opposition politicians.

A few blocks away, conservative Yoon supporters crammed an entire avenue, calling for his return and waving South Korean and American flags.

The major opposition Democratic Party said a million people had attended the anti-Yoon rally, while police put the number at each demonstration at 43,000, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Yoon is also on trial on a criminal charge of insurrection, although he was freed from detention last week.

His martial law imposition and its fallout have widened deep social rifts between conservatives and liberals and put pressure on institutions and the military, which had found itself in a quandary over whether to enforce martial law.

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Pro- and anti-Yoon demonstrators have been taking to the streets in their hundreds of thousands, week after week, since the crisis.

"Last week, I thought that the Constitutional Court would rule, but it didn't. Then Yoon was released, making me incredibly frustrated," said Song Young-sun, a 48-year-old protester. "So this week I came here, hoping that the Constitutional Court will rule on the impeachment case next week."

In a Gallup Korea poll published on Friday, 58% supported Yoon's impeachment, while 37% opposed it.

"I hope that the judges of the Constitutional Court will make a precise judgment and dismiss the case," said Kim Hyung-joon, a 70-year-old pro-Yoon protester.

(Reporting by Minwoo Park, Jisoo Kim, Ju-min Park and Daewoung Kim; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
The Mayo Clinic and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison have reached a settlement concerning patient access to charity care and the health system's debt collection practices.

Per a settlement filed in Ramsey County District Court, the Rochester-based institution is prohibited from suing to collect medical debts unless in "exceptional circumstances." It is also required to make changes to its charity care policies  changes the Mayo says it has already made  that ensure financial assistance is made available to "presumptively eligible" patients.

It follows a two-year investigation launched by Ellison's office, which allegedly found "barriers to patients' access to charity care" at the Mayo, and that it allegedly "engaged in aggressive debt-collection practices" towards patients who may have been eligible for charity care.

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Under the Minnesota Hospital Agreement, hospital systems must give patients "reasonable opportunities to apply for charity care if there is reason to believe the patient may be eligible." However, Ellison's office alleged the Mayo was "steering patients away from charity care, in some cases instructing its staff to avoid discussing charity care and instead ask patients to take out a loan or borrow from a family member to pay their medical bills."

A spokesperson at the Mayo Clinic told Bring Me The News that the settlement agreement attributed no wrongdoing to the Mayo, and says that the terms agreed will continue the policies that have already been put in place by the health system since the investigation started.

It continued to say it "contests" many of the findings in the AG's investigation, alleging the findings are "inaccurate, speculative, or are irrelevant to applicable legal requirements."

"After their review, the MN OAGs factual findings demonstrate that Mayo Clinic adheres to and in many cases exceeds all regulatory guidelines for charity care. The settlement does not require Mayo Clinic to change any current policies or practices. As part of the settlement, Mayo Clinic agreed to continue policies and practices that it began long before the settlement was reached," it said.

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"The agreement also does not include any financial restitution or penalty by the MN OAG, which they have imposed in other cases. As noted by the MN AOG, its public report 'does not constitute a legal opinion or reflect a formal determination by the Attorney General.'

"Mayo contests many of the findings reflected in the report, and Mayo did not agree to include them in the settlement agreement that is formally filed with the court, because those findings are inaccurate, speculative, or are irrelevant to applicable legal requirements."

The Mayo says it has provided $600 million in financial assistance to patients since 2019, though Ellison claims that it provided more charity care in 2024 alone than in the previous five years, claiming that was a result of his offices investigation.

"In exchange for their tax exemption, nonprofit hospitals are supposed to give back to their communities by providing free or reduced-cost health care to folks with low incomes," Ellison said.

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"My office investigated Mayo Clinic and discovered that they were actively dissuading certain patients from seeking charity care. While this is disappointing, I am heartened by the substantial improvements Mayo Clinic has made to their charity care program, and I am grateful for their cooperation with our investigation."
(NEXSTAR)  More than 300 cases of measles, one of the most contagious viruses in the world, have now been confirmed across more than a dozen U.S. states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday.

The actual case count is likely higher. The agency said its aware of more probable measles cases that are still under investigation.

As of this week, the virus is now confirmed in three additional jurisdictions: Maryland, New York and Vermont. (Previously, measles had been identified in New York City, but not elsewhere in New York state).

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T-Mobile customers to get payments up to $25K next month after data breach: Heres who qualifies

The biggest outbreaks are in Texas and New Mexico, but there are also cases in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington.

Measles is airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. The virus then spreads from the respiratory tract throughout the body, causing a high fever; runny nose; cough; red, watery eyes, and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet.

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Measles isnt usually deadly, but it can have serious complications, especially for young children. Among kids with measles, about 1 in 20 develops pneumonia, which can be fatal. About 1 in 1,000 also suffers swelling of the brain called encephalitis, which can lead to convulsions, deafness or intellectual disability.

One death related to measles has been confirmed in Texas, and another in New Mexico is under investigation.

What is hantavirus and how common is it?

Of the 301 known cases, 50 have required hospitalization. Most of the cases are impacting children, and the vast majority  95%  of those infected were not vaccinated with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

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The best way to avoid measles is to get the vaccine, health experts say. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

People at high risk for infection who got the shots many years ago may want to consider getting a booster if they live in an area with an outbreak, said Scott Weaver with the Global Virus Network, an international coalition. Those may include family members living with someone who has measles or those especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases because of underlying medical conditions.

Adults with presumptive evidence of immunity generally dont need measles shots now, the CDC said. Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC noted.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Charmeka Newton, a psychotherapist in Lansing, Mich., is passionate about serving Black and Hispanic communities on Medicaid. But low Medicaid reimbursement rates can make that difficult. (Photo: Courtesy of Charmeka Newton)

Charmeka Newton, a psychologist who has her own practice in Lansing, Michigan, is passionate about serving Black and Hispanic patients. Theyre often looking for therapists who will understand how their race, ethnicity and culture may affect them, she said, and she helps provide that care.

Medicaid is a major source of health care for people of color. But Newton can only afford to see a small number of Medicaid patients, because the program pays her so much less than commercial insurance.

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Republicans in Congress are aiming to make extensive cuts to Medicaid, the joint federal-state health insurance program that covers a total of 72 million low-income people and people with disabilities, or 1 in 5 U.S. residents. If that happens, Newton and many other mental health providers worry that already-low Medicaid reimbursement rates will stagnate or even decline.

That would make it difficult for her to keep seeing Medicaid patients.

Medicaid is probably one of the most challenging insurances to work with, Newton told Stateline. My biggest fear if cuts happen is that individuals wont have access to providers that are able to help them.

Already, there is a shortage of mental health care providers. About 122 million people, or about 35% of the U.S. population, are living in an area with a mental health care professional shortage, according to data from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. If Medicaid reimbursement rates go down and more providers refuse to see those patients, the shortage would get worse.

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Nationwide, Medicaid covers nearly 1 in 3 working-age adults who live with mental illness, or about 15 million adults, according to health policy research organization KFF.

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, is looking for at least $880 billion in budget savings over the next decade, largely to pay for extensive tax cuts. A March 5 letter from the Congressional Budget Office, the nonpartisan research arm of Congress, confirmed that a cut of that size would have to come from either Medicaid or Medicare, the insurance program for older adults.

President Donald Trump has said that Medicare is off the table, so that leaves Medicaid.

My biggest fear if cuts happen is that individuals wont have access to providers that are able to help them.

 Charmeka Newton, a psychotherapist in Lansing, Mich.

Lawmakers are considering numerous options, including shrinking the federal governments share of the cost of covering people who became newly eligible for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. If that happens, states that opted to expand to cover those residents  adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level  would have to either increase their own spending or find savings elsewhere.

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That could mean removing some people from Medicaid rolls, eliminating coverage for certain services or reducing reimbursement rates  any one of which could reduce Medicaid recipients access to mental health care, said Stephen Gillaspy, director of health policy and health care financing at the American Psychological Association.

Those [actions] would have a huge negative impact for behavioral health care, Gillaspy told Stateline. Everyones on pins and needles about the potential cuts right now.

Variations across states, different challenges

In at least 15 states, more than 40% of people on Medicaid reported experiencing a mental illness, according to a KFF analysis of 2021-2022 survey data from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Republicans in Congress are still hammering out whether or how they might cut Medicaid. Chris Pope, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning policy group the Manhattan Institute, told Stateline he doubts mental health services or reimbursement rates would be affected, because the largest sources of spending are acute and long-term care.

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From a fiscal point of view, mental health is basically a drop in the bucket. Its not where the big savings are going to need to come from, Pope said.

Medicaid reimbursement rates for mental health services vary dramatically from state to state. Reimbursement for an hourlong individual psychotherapy session ranged from $95 to $135 in 2022, according to a 2023 study published in the journal Health Affairs.

States generally have flexibility in setting their physician reimbursement rates. So if states have money to increase reimbursement rates, they can do that, Pope noted. And many states have done that. According to a January 2023 KFF report, nearly two-thirds of the 44 states that responded to a survey said they increased behavioral health reimbursement rates for some Medicaid enrollees in 2022 or planned to in 2023.

Oregon passed a bill during its 2022 session to raise the states Medicaid behavioral health reimbursement rates by an average of 30% for providers who mostly see Medicaid patients, in an effort to address mental health care workforce challenges. In 2022, the state had the fourth-highest rate for unmet need in mental health treatment across the nation. Now, the state has one of the highest reimbursement rates.

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In Oregon, they actually have always really committed to paying providers well and giving cost-of-living updates so that it makes it much more attractive to providers providing Medicaid services, Jen Yerty, a licensed counselor in Portland, Oregon, told Stateline. But Yerty said the higher reimbursement rate is the bare minimum to keep providers interested. She said she helps her clients with case management, including assisting them with accessing social services and rental aid.

It would be great if they would actually reimburse us more for all the case management things that we do. It would be great if they offer a lot more resources, Yerty said.

But behavioral health services, such as a psychological test to assess mental health function, are not one of the federally required Medicaid services, like a primary care doctor visit.

Gillaspy, of the American Psychological Association, noted the level of services offered across states also varies. And case management and psychological testing are exactly the types of services that may be on the chopping block as states consider cuts, he said.

What states can and have done

Researchers at KFF point out four main ways states have been trying to address mental health workforce shortages for state Medicaid programs. They include increasing reimbursement rates, reducing administrative burden on providers, creating licensure compacts to allow providers to work across state lines or reducing licensure requirements, and incentivizing participation by, for example, reimbursing providers quickly.

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Megan Cole, an associate professor of health policy at Boston University, told Stateline there are other options states could pursue, such as raising taxes to offset the federal cuts and keeping reimbursement rates high. She also said Medicaid can ask primary care providers to start integrating preventive mental health screenings and services before care becomes acute and requires an emergency room visit.

There are models of care that work well in this space, and not every state is currently implementing them. So I think there is a lot of opportunity for expansion of some of these integrated care models, Cole said.

Another option she recommends is for states to invest in community health centers, where a lot of patients on Medicaid see mental health providers.

Investment in public health facilities is also what Michigan Republican state Rep. Phil Green had sought when he cosponsored a bill with Democratic lawmakers in 2023 to increase reimbursement rates to community behavioral health clinics. But the bill died last year, likely because other issues took priority, he said.

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Green told Stateline that mental health issues are a bipartisan issue. Green says lawmakers in his caucus, including some veterans, are well aware that mental health issues are a big concern within the population. Republicans and conservatives alike realize that this is a growing issue and a growing need.

He thinks that if the feds cut their contributions to Medicaid, state Republican lawmakers will still be interested in finding some solutions to the shortage of mental health care workers.

In California, the state in 2023 implemented changes to improve reimbursement for providers of Medicaid mental health and substance use disorder services through county behavioral health departments. The goal of the effort was to remove some of the common problems providers faced, including long delays in reimbursements and lengthy auditing processes.

David Hindman, a past president of the California Psychological Association, said the most important effect was to increase the rates of reimbursement to help meet the increased costs of providing care for Medicaid recipients. Hindman works for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, but said he is not authorized to speak on behalf of the department.

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Weve actually expanded services significantly, Hindman said. Its completely incentivized provider agencies to see low-income patients because it gives them better reimbursement rates. It covers more things.

Still, Hindman said, clinicians not working through county health departments who see a lot of Medicaid patients still struggle with making ends meet. And he says states will still have to explore solutions to the workforce shortage in the face of major federal funding cuts.

Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify Charmeka Newtons title. Stateline reporter Shalina Chatlani can be reached at schatlani@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.)
Iowa medical educators say expansion of residency slots for physicians must include adequate funding for faculty. (Photo via Getty Images)

Leaders of Iowas medical teaching programs say Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to address Iowas shortage of doctors must include enough money to hire adequate faculty for medical education and training.

Reynolds is seeking over $150 million in federal funding to increase the number of medical residency slots in Iowa. Those slots allow more medical students to train in Iowa in the hope they will remain in the state after graduation. However, adding more slots requires graduate medical education programs, or residencies, to add more faculty and staff, medical educators say.

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A spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services said the $150 million in federal funding that Iowa is seeking includes money for faculty, but did not say how much.

Residencies must adhere to strict numbers for student-to-faculty ratios. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education sets those numbers, and they differ by specialty. For instance, Peter Larsen, regional director of Graduate Medical Education with MercyOne Iowa, said family medicine programs require a 4-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. A residency program would lose accreditation through the ACGME if it failed to meet those ratios.

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Larsen said the ratios are a lot smaller than a lot of people think about most education environments. For example, if the program were to double the number of medical residents in a rural community, he said, we would essentially need to add about three or four additional full-time faculty who are dedicated almost 100% of their time to teaching residents, and in a relatively small community like North Iowa, thats a lot. Thats a big number.

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Concerns about the need for funding for faculty are the same at a not-for-profit hospital system or a state university. Dr. Mark Wilson, associate dean of Graduate Medical Education at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, said UI Health Care will have to expand its educational infrastructure and faculty development if it is to expand its residency program. One of the sobering realities is that running effective clinical education programs for resident physicians is labor intensive, Wilson said.

Expanding programs will take funding as hospitals in their current state are functioning with thin to nonexistent margins, according to Dr. Hijinio Carreon, chief medical executive at MercyOne. Its then difficult for teaching systems like MercyOne to make plans in growing programs without knowing the full details of what federal funding could provide.

Were waiting to understand the details. And whats critical around this is the funding and how thatll be allocated along with slots, said Mary Cownie, vice president of advocacy and government relations at MercyOne. Theres a lot we dont know thats going to be critical for us to better understand in order to make those decisions. But to be clear, we stand ready to be a partner in this.

Other proposals with a goal of increasing the number of Iowa physicians, like consolidating school loans and having UIHC programs give priority to Iowans, are all very good ideas, according to Cownie, and that theyll complement the effort to increase the number of residency slots.

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UnityPoint also agrees with the current efforts. In a statement, the health care system said it, appreciates the ongoing work happening in Iowa to help ensure Iowans continue to have access to health care. Increasing residency slots as well as incentivizing providers to practice in Iowa is vital to this effort.

Taken together, Iowas health care systems see the proposals as necessary to reverse Iowas negative trend of practicing physicians in the state. Iowas facing a nearly 32% decrease in clinicians that are near retirement age or at retirement, Carreon said. He said there are about 230 physicians retiring every year for the next several years, but only about 150 new physicians in Iowa that could possibly fill those vacancies.

As those new doctors determine where to practice after graduation, their training and community experiences are critical to their decision.

Dr. Paul Manternach, senior vice president of Physician Integration and chief medical officer at MercyOne North Iowa, agrees with Wilson that education is resource intensive and said, you need to have those resources to really create the appropriate experience and learning environment.

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One goal is to get rural kids into an Iowa med school. Once theyre in an Iowa med school, get them a community experience with faculty physicians  so that they know what its like to be a doctor in an Iowa community. And then theyll stay in Iowa to practice. Thats basically what were trying to figure out how to do, Manternach said.

The Iowa House passed a bill Wednesday with a similar goal, mandating that at least 80% of students admitted to the University of Iowas medical and dentistry colleges to be Iowa residents or people enrolled at Iowa colleges. The bill also gives priority for some medical residencies and fellowships to Iowa residents and people who received a post-secondary education in Iowa. Republicans said they believe the bill will help with retaining physicians.

However funding for faculty expansion is ultimately decided, Iowas physician shortage wont change overnight. This is a long game plan, Manternach said. This is long ball for Iowa to be successful in its health care delivery system.

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A panel of medical experts reviewing the Lucy Letby baby deaths have said they were struck by what they claim was a lack of expertise of witnesses at her trial and the failure to consider alternative explanations.

In an unprecedented intervention last month, a group of 14 world authorities in neonatology and child health reviewed the 17 deaths and collapses of infants at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016, and found all had medical explanations.

Now seven of those involved in the report have told The Telegraph of their concerns and all have said they would be prepared to give evidence if the case comes back to court.

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The safety of Letbys convictions is currently under consideration by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which investigates potential miscarriages of justice in England.

Prof Geoff Chase, one of the worlds foremost experts on the effects of insulin on pre-term babies, was asked to look at the cases of two babies whom Letby was accused of poisoning.

I was largely struck by the lack of consideration of well-known alternatives, he said.

As I got deeper I was struck by the use of physiological expectations based on healthy paediatric and adult responses for critically-ill preterm neonates where norms, if they exist, are not necessarily applicable or the same as adults.

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My group is one of the few in the world using metabolic modelling in critical care, and as far as I know the only one in neonatal intensive care, which has significant and salient differences because these infants are not tiny adults.

Asked whether he believed there had been a miscarriage of justice, he added: Simply, yes. The full story of this data for the insulin case and all its possibilities was not explored, and thus not presented to the jury.

The safety of Letbys convictions is currently under consideration by the Criminal Cases Review Commission - Cheshire Constabulary

Letby is serving 15 whole life terms for the murder of seven infants and the attempted murder of seven more, but since her conviction dozens of medical and statistical experts have voiced concerns about the evidence.

Many of the babies were premature and had underlying problems, and the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester was known to be overcrowded and understaffed.

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Prof Joanne Langley, head of division of paediatric infectious diseases at Dalhousie University, said the underlying conditions of the babies, coupled with poor care and a slowness in transferring them to specialist units, could be responsible for the deaths.

I could not find evidence in the charts I reviewed to support the conclusions made by the trial experts, she said.

The outcomes that occurred could be linked to the underlying illness of the child and the care that was provided.

I was surprised at the number of inter-hospital transfers that occurred and the delays in executing transfers when requested. It seemed to be that the child I reviewed could have survived in a higher level intensive care unit.

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Prof Langley also said she was concerned there had been a miscarriage of justice and would be willing to give evidence.

Dr Helmut Hummler, senior medical director at the European Foundation for Care of Newborn Infants, based in Munich, said he was concerned that medical notes had been misinterpreted in the trial.

There does not seem to be convincing evidence for a crime, he said.

After reviewing the medical records of the two cases assigned to myself, I wonder about the court decisions. I disagree with the main conclusions given by the experts.

I am concerned that the available evidence based on the medical records was not adequately considered. Therefore the court decision may have been based on an inappropriate interpretation of the evidence available.

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Prof Mikael Norman of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and founder of the International Society of Evidence-Based Neonatology, was invited to take part by Dr Shoo Lee, an eminent Canadian neonatologist who claims his work was misused in Letbys first trial.

I had very little knowledge about the Letby case before this and I reviewed two cases, he said.

In one case of attempted murder, the statements of the trial experts were inconsistent, incorrect and biased.

In a second case, a natural cause of death was much more likely than that or murder, which I find highly unlikely.

Prof Erik Skarsgard, of the University of British Columbia and director of the Canadian Paediatric Surgery Network, was asked to consider several of the cases based on his expertise in neonatal surgery.

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In the cases that I reviewed, I felt there were plausible explanations that point to natural rather than unnatural causes, meaning intentional harm, he said.

I do not think that the explanations suggested by the experts at trial were plausible.

Dr Dewi Evans, a paediatrician from Carmarthenshire, was the prosecutions key expert witness, but questions have been raised about his expertise and impartiality, which he disputes.

He had also retired in 2009, setting up a company called Dewi Evans paediatric consulting, providing expert medical advice in legal matters such as child abuse cases and criminal trials, and was not practising at the time of Letbys crimes.

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It was Dr Evans who suggested the possibility of air embolus as a cause of death, despite acknowledging he had never actually seen a case himself. He has since changed his mind on how one baby died, but says he is still convinced Letby is guilty.

Dr Evans said he had considered poor care and issues in the hospital and pointed out that two juries found Letby guilty and she has been denied her right to appeal. He said he would be happy to give evidence again if required.

Dr Tetsuya Isayama, head of division of neonatology, at Toykos National Center for Child Health and Development, was asked to look at some of the air embolism cases.

I did not find evidence for the conclusions of the trial experts that the cause of death was air injection, he said.

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Asked if he would be willing to give evidence, he added: If needed, yes.

Nalini Singhal, professor emeritus at the University of Calgary, and co-editor of the World Health Organisation Helping Babies Survive Programmes, was asked to review the cases where Letby was accused of harming babies but they survived.

The issue with this case is that some people that gave evidence as experts were really not experts in the field, she said. The legal system needs a better system of identifying expert witnesses.

I can only comment on the medical evidence which does not support maleficence. The legal system has to decide if there was a miscarriage of justice.

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Supporters of overhauling medical malpractice laws in New Mexico likely will have to wait another year.

The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee voted 5-4 Friday night against Senate Bill 176, with Republicans on the panel in favor of the bill and Democrats split but mostly opposed.

SB 176 would have faced high hurdles even if it had survived its first committee, as it would have needed to face additional committee hearings and then a vote of the full Senate before repeating the same process in the House  all with just a week left in this years legislative session.

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Medical providers and hospitals have been complaining for years that the cost of medical malpractice insurance makes it hard to operate in New Mexico. SB 176, which had about two dozen co-sponsors from both parties, would have capped attorneys fees in malpractice cases and siphoned off 75% of punitive damages to finance a patient safety improvement fund intended to preempt medical malpractice through reducing staff-to-patient ratios and improving training and equipment.

Sen. Martin Hickey, D-Albuquerque, one of the bills sponsors, said while the doctor shortage is a nationwide problem, it is hitting New Mexico harder than other states. New Mexico is losing doctors, he said, and will not be able to care for its aging population unless it can attract more.

The elephant is moving past the throat of the larynx of the state ... and the demand for care is going to way outstrip what we can supply, Hickey said.

Other supporters talked about the struggles to provide health care in rural areas in particular. Sen. David Gallegos, R-Eunice, said doctors will continue to flee to neighboring states if New Mexico doesnt bring costs down for them.

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It is critical we have the same opportunities as the docs in Texas, he said, or New Mexico will continue to lose doctors.

However, the bills opponents worried it would make things harder for patients who are wronged while rewarding the hospitals and doctors who wronged them.

Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, D-Albuquerque, spoke at length against the bill, accusing hospitals of using the sky is falling rhetoric to get out of what they agreed to during a 2021 overhaul to the states Medical Malpractice Act.

Sedillo Lopez said the real problem is the role of profit in the health care system and said she was disappointed a bill introduced this year to require review when a private equity company tries to buy a hospital stalled in a committee and likely will not pass. SB 176, she said, would be giving a gift basket to these private equity hospitals that are not letting doctors make decisions about their own cases.

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Sen. Angel Charley, D-Acoma, said she was so offended she had to walk away from a colleague who said on the Senate floor Friday morning winning punitive damages was like hitting the jackpot. Charley said her aunt was one of the people with stories of medical malpractice who testified before the committee Wednesday, the first day of the hearing.

Her husband died, Charley said. Hes no longer here and shes going through life by herself now. Thats like hitting the jackpot. 

Charley said many of her constituents rely on the Indian Health Service, which is regulated by the federal Tort Claims Act and which has caps similar to the ones in SB 176.

That means attorneys will not take a medical malpractice lawsuit, she said. I dont want this state to have the same kind of health care that we have on the reservation.

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Charley told a story about her father, who went to see the doctor due to a toothache. To save money, she said, they pulled all of his teeth.

I know what its like to go to a hospital to receive care  or lack of care  from an institution that has the rates were trying to advocate for here, she said.
The 10-story Brown Building, site of one of the deadliest workplace disasters in United States history, stands one block east of Washington Square Park in New York City. Despite three bronze plaques noting its significance, it has long been easy to pass by without further thought.

On March 25, 1911, however, thousands of New Yorkers gathered outside what was then known as the Asch Building, home of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Drawn by a brief but raging inferno, they bore horrified witness to dozens of factory workers with no way to escape gathering on the ninth-floor window sills, desperately jumping, and smashing onto the sidewalks far below.

Horse-drawn fire crews responded within minutes to reports of the fire, which broke out on a Saturday afternoon at closing time, and it took only a half-hour to douse the flames. But the fire had had its way.

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One hundred and forty-six people lost their lives. Most of those who died worked on the ninth floor, where safety measures consisted of little more than pails of water, despite the potential fire bomb around them: overflowing bins of discarded cloth and lint, combined with tissue-paper patterns hung across the ceiling. Locked doors, an inadequate fire escape and other fire code violations meant many workers could find no way out except the windows.

Trapped behind locked doors, some workers saw no escape but the windows. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Firemen were left to stack the lifeless bodies on the sidewalk. The vast majority were girls or young women: meagerly paid laborers, and most of them Jewish or Italian immigrants.

On Oct. 11, 2023, the Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition dedicated a striking memorial at the site of this tragedy. The initial installation features a stainless steel ribbon extending in two parallel strands along the ground floor, displaying victims names and survivors testimony, written in their native languages: English, Yiddish and Italian. Over the next few months, another gently twisting ribbon traveling from the window sill of the ninth floor to the ground level and back up again will be added.

The memorial offers a bold and graceful reminder not only of the fire but of its imprint on the world we inhabit today.

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When I asked the students in my history class at the University of Michigan if they had heard of the Triangle fire, I was shocked to see almost all raise their hands. Many were familiar with how the disaster inspired the growth of labor activism and worker protections. Few of them, however, had thought about the central role of American Jewish women, the focus of my research.

Demonstrators from Local 25 and the United Hebrew Trades of New York mourn fire victims. PhotoQuest/Getty Images

Tense 2 years

Only two years before the fire, a walkout over working conditions at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory had sparked a series of labor actions that culminated in the Uprising of the 20,000, the largest American womens strike ever.

That disciplined activism was led by a small cadre of young Jewish immigrant working-class women. Years earlier, they had essentially created a branch of their own  Local 25  within the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. Their example led to a surge of strikes nationwide and forced the labor movement to finally take the needs of unskilled workers and women workers seriously.

The Triangle bosses and other owners hired thugs to assault strike leaders and picketers. The police likewise felt free to beat the picketers, which only abated when upper-class partners in the Womens Trade Union League joined the picket lines  raising fear among the police that they might be striking society matrons.

Suffragettes and socialites attend a dinner held by Mrs. Martin Littleton in support of the striking workers, circa 1910. Paul Thompson/FPG/Archive Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The Triangle Factory was among the 339 shops that settled with the union in February 1910, with concessions that included higher wages, a 52-hour week, four paid holidays per year and a promise to no longer discriminate against union members.

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The strikers call for better safety standards, however, had been ignored by the male union representatives and owners who had worked out the settlement.

Moral force

Local 25 grew from a few hundred to 10,000 members over the course of the 1909-10 strike. That organizing prowess would be seen again in the wave of protest and indignation that followed the 1911 fire.

The unions strength could be seen in the funeral march that accompanied the fires seven unidentified victims to a municipal burying ground, as a crowd of 400,000 assembled to march or watch the procession.

The power of the activists moral indignation emerged in full force at a memorial meeting held a few days later. Workers grew restive as wealthy philanthropists, city officials and liberal reformers promised investigatory commissions  which they feared would mean little real change.

Feminist and union labor activist Rose Schneiderman. Interim Archives/Getty Images

Rose Schneiderman, one of the working-class immigrant labor activists who had helped organize the 1909 strike, was also on the platform. Reformer Frances Perkins, who would soon become a close ally, noted Schneiderman trembling over the loss of comrades, friends and co-workers.

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Schneiderman took the podium, excoriating the industrys brutality and focusing on the unrealized power of the workers themselves. I would be a traitor to those poor burned bodies, she declared, if I were to come here to talk good fellowship. We have tried you good people of the public  and we have found you wanting.

I know from experience it is up to the working class to save themselves, Schneiderman told the audience.

Birth of the New Deal

Yet the working class ended up needing allies like Perkins, who was instrumental in establishing a citizens Committee on Safety, and then a legislative Factory Investigating Commission as well.

On the day of the fire, Perkins had been enjoying tea at a friends house on Washington Square and rushed toward the commotion across the park, arriving on the scene to see bodies falling from the sky. That scene and Schneidermans speech left an indelible impression on her  as they did on many New Yorkers.

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For several reasons, including public outcry about the fire, this was the moment when New York Citys political machine began to shift its focus and address workers needs. Schneiderman and other activists worked with Perkins on investigations that led to the overhaul of New Yorks safety and labor laws, such as a 54-hour maximum work week.

New York City commemorated the 108th anniversary of the fire in 2019. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The young women whose pain had galvanized public response continued their union work, traveling around the country to help organize many of the strikes their activism inspired. Some also made an impact at the governmental level. Schneiderman became a close friend of Eleanor Roosevelt and influenced her views on workers needs, as well as those of her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Perkins became President Roosevelts secretary of labor in 1933 and was the first woman to serve in a U.S. cabinet position. She brought the New York reforms born in the wake of the fire into the New Deal, the slew of social programs the Roosevelt administration introduced to help Americans struggling through the Great Depression.

Schneiderman, too, had a role: the only woman to serve on the New Deals Labor Advisory Board. As Perkins later recalled, the day of the Triangle fire was the day the New Deal was born.

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For 112 years, the victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory have called out silently from the sidewalks and window frames of the Brown Building, which is now part of New York Universitys campus. The new memorial calls on the passersby to stop, note and honor that one horrific half-hour, etched indelibly into the story of the city and the nation.

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: Karla Goldman, University of Michigan

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Karla Goldman 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.
Scotland Yard reinstated a 999 call handler who was sacked after he made an inappropriate remark about Sarah Everard and labelled a rape victim a slut, The Telegraph can reveal.

The Met Police staff member was sacked for gross misconduct in November 2023 after a panel heard allegations that he had also made racist remarks about crime victims and had followed a female colleague home.

He was reinstated just four months later after successfully arguing that his dismissal was too harsh.

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The Met boss who gave him his job back allegedly suggested the misconduct panel had been too emotional following the publication of a damning report by Baroness Casey that labelled the Met as institutionally racist and misogynistic.

The female call handler who first blew the whistle on his alleged behaviour is now suing the Met for constructive dismissal, claiming she can no longer work alongside him.

Issy Vine, 30, from Wimbledon, south west London, lodged a formal complaint against the male colleague in April 2023 alleging that he had made a series of deeply offensive comments during the previous shift.

Issy Vine reported her colleagues behaviour, including allegedly describing the Clapham Common district as Sarah Everard turf

In an email to her boss, seen by The Telegraph, she claimed she had been sitting next to the man as he was taking a digital report from an alleged rape victim.

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The alleged victim explained how she had become pregnant as a result of the attack and had also contracted a sexually transmitted infection.

Ms Vine alleged that at this point her male colleague had used his hand to cover his mouth and commented, she sounds like a slut.

Later in the shift Ms Vine claimed she had been on a call herself when the male colleague nudged her and said: Can I be unkind? I have just had a call from an immigrant.

She said he then showed her his mobile phone where he had written: Why dont you f--- off back to your own country?

During a third incident in the same shift, he allegedly described the Clapham Common district of south London as Sarah Everard turf, in reference to the fact she was abducted from there by Wayne Couzens, a serving Met officer at the time.

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Ms Vine also told her bosses that when the shift had finished at around 11pm, the man had allegedly followed her onto the bus and Tube, despite previously telling her he lived in the opposite direction.

She told her Met bosses: I have lots of anxiety now because of this and the outcome of reporting this, but I do have a duty and it is the right thing to do.

Following her complaint, the 999 call handler was placed on restricted duties and in November 2023 he was sacked after being found guilty of gross misconduct.

He appealed the finding and in March last year was reinstated after it was decided that his actions amounted to misconduct rather than gross misconduct.

Flawed and horrendous misconduct process

Ms Vine was horrified by the development and requested a meeting with the director who had overturned the sacking.

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She claimed that during this meeting the director told her the original panel had been too emotionally and heavily influenced by violence against women and girls, Baroness Casey and the Everard case, so would have felt pressured to be harsher than needed.

Following her colleagues reinstatement, Ms Vine lodged a grievance against the Met. However, in November she decided she could no longer tolerate working in the same organisation as him and resigned.

She is now seeking damages from the Met for constructive dismissal, sexual harassment, whistleblowing detriment and failure to make reasonable adjustments.

She said: I always wanted to join the police to help people, because that is what the police do. I want people to feel safe and secure knowing they can depend on an authority with decent people behind it.

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But now I worry whether that is actually the case or whether the very people who are being employed to protect us are part of the problem.

And even when you try to bring that to light, you are dragged through a flawed and horrendous misconduct process.

She continued: I thought I was part of an organisation that wanted to stamp out this behaviour, not give second chances to it.

What do you do when you are the police, but you cant trust the police? I have lost out on a life-long career because of this.

Commander Jason Prins said: These discriminatory comments were entirely unacceptable, which is why this matter was brought to a misconduct hearing.

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We take the former staff members concerns about the outcome of the misconduct process extremely seriously and it has been subject to a thorough review.

No date has been set for the tribunal hearing.

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One expert has forecast a grave situation for some states following uncharacteristic winter weather.

What's happening?

John Wheeler, the chief meteorologist for WDAY in Fargo, North Dakota, wrote in a column for the Grand Forks Herald that mountainous regions across the Western United States are in a snow drought.

California's mountain ranges have experienced about half the snowfall they normally receive at this time of year. Flagstaff, Arizona, has gotten around a foot, about 5 feet less snow than the average.

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Meanwhile, the Rockies in Southern Utah, Northern Arizona, and New Mexico "are in an extreme winter drought." Wheeler added that these states still have March and April to receive more snow but that the results thus far have been subpar.

Data from the National Integrated Drought Information System supports these statements, as 62% of stations in the Western continental U.S. reported snow water equivalent below the median as of March 2.

Why is reduced snowfall concerning?

According to Wheeler, the lack of precipitation in these alpine regions could have catastrophic consequences.

"If this snow drought continues  these areas are likely to face wildfires come summer, with lightning as the primary fire starter," he wrote, noting that local reservoirs could also face deficits.

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Thunderstorms during summer could help alleviate these issues, though Wheeler called the rainfall they produce "sporadic and untimely," leading to heavy runoff and poor soil moisture retention.

Scientists are already expressing concern that diminished snowpack in New Mexico could lead to water shortages. However, decreasing levels of snowfall are widespread and could have global implications.

After all, snow droughts and other extreme weather events have always posed problems, but they've become increasingly dangerous as Earth's temperatures continue to climb.

Declining snowfall can be particularly devastating, as it can increase the likelihood of wildfires through drier conditions, leave reservoirs at below-average levels heading into summer, and impact snow-based industries.

What can I do to help?

An overabundance of planet-warming gases is the crux of all climate-related issues. That means taking the time to educate yourself about solutions and transitioning to sustainable options, which mitigate the impacts of snow droughts and other extreme weather.

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Electrifying your home or changing your eating habits are just a couple of ways to do your part to reverse the effects of Earth's overheating.

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.
Some metro Atlanta food banks and pantries are now restructuring food distribution following the U.S. Department of Agricultures cancellation of $1 billion in funding to local food programs.

What kind of country are we that we would take food out of the mouths of children? asked Elisabeth Omilami of Hosea Helps, one of the largest food banks in metro Atlanta.

The $1 billion in cuts will impact school programs and food banks that purchase food directly from local farmers.

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And some of these farmers, theyve just begun to get on economic standing and now the money that would go to them to get fresh fruit and vegetables to make sure people have good nutrition is gone, Omilami told Channel 2s Audrey Washington on Friday.

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The decision came after President Donald Trump and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency promised to slash government spending.

Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff said the cut will hurt Georgia farmers and children and urged the administration to reverse course.

But Georgia GOP leaders said the cuts are necessary to streamline government waste.

We spend $2 trillion a year more than we take in and that is not sustainable, Georgia GOP Chair Josh McKoon said.

TRENDING STORIES:

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McKoon said most of the programs eliminated were created during the pandemic, when the need was more urgent.

So, I think theres a lot of review going on of programs who may have been on the books longer than they should have been, McKoon explained.

McKoon said the cuts will only impact USDA employees not those who are food insecure.

Its not an appropriate time to panic, McKoon added.

But workers at Hosea Helps are not convinced.

To say that its not going to hurt, well tell that to the kids who wont have a summer lunch, Omilami said.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  After alleged vehicle burglars visited his Hermitage home for the third time since he moved there, a Metro Councilman said he is dedicated to giving police the tools they need to keep residents safe.

District 14 Metro Councilman Jordan Huffman, who represents Hermitage and Donelson, sent News 2 a doorbell camera video showing a car driving slowly and following a man who was walking in the alley behind the home.

Thats my backyard, and thats my driveway, Huffman said.

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2 teens arrested at Opry Mills after LPR hit on stolen car

The footage indicates the incident happened around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 13. The video didnt show the man pulling on a door handle or breaking into a car, but it was certainly suspicious, especially since Huffmans auto glass has been broken out twice so suspects could gain access to his cars.

It makes me want to push for license plate readers even harder than I am currently, Huffman said.

The Metro Nashville Police Department told News 2 it had no reports of any damage, adding that only one car was rifled through in the councilmans neighborhood. To their knowledge, authorities said no items were taken during the most recent incident in the Riverwood Village Boulevard area.

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News 2 previously reported that every county surrounding Davidson County has license plate recognition (LPR) systems. If the city had LPR cameras, Huffman said police might already know the identities of the would-be car burglars in his community.

Renewed call for LPRs after Nashville doctor involved in serious pedestrian hit-and-run

They can analyze LPR data to see where and when a particular suspects vehicle has been spotted, Huffman said.

Nashville did take part in a six-month LPR pilot program that ended in 2023, during which time MNPD used the crimefighting technology to great success. Over those six months, police not only made more than 100 felony cases, but they reportedly recovered 87 vehicles, with a total value of more than $1 million, along with 14 guns.

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However, some members of the Metro Council have expressed privacy concerns about the technology.

LPRs are legal in Nashville, but what we have not done is pass an LPR contract, meaning a vendor for all of the cameras, Huffman said. My colleagues need to consider the public safety of all of their residents and vote for this. This is a no brainer. This is common sense to me.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

According to Huffman, the Mt. Juliet Police Department told him 60% of that citys arrests involve people from Nashville.

Huffman said he believes most of the people in Nashville are good citizens, but a handful of people are terrorizing the city. He thinks LPR technology could help police take those individuals off the streets.

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Huffman hopes to push the LPR issue forward later this 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 WKRN News 2.
Investigators waited nearly 20 years to interview Antonio Riano about a fatal shooting outside a Hamilton bar and when he finally sat down with police, he admitted to opening fire on 25-year-old Benjamin Becerra Ramirez during a skirmish.

Butler County Common Pleas Judge Michael Oster Jr. ruled during a hearing on Friday that the 63-year-old Riano knowingly and intelligently waived his constitutional rights when speaking with investigators at the Hamilton Police Department last August.

Riano is expected to be tried on a murder charge April 1 and prosecutors will likely present his statements to police as evidence to the jury. Prosecutors say Riano shot Becerra Ramirez in the head with a .38-caliber revolver outside a bar on East Avenue in December 2004.

Police arrest man known as El Diablo working as cop in Mexico

Riano was indicted on a murder charge in 2005 and arrested last year by Mexican law enforcement in his hometown of Zapotitlan Palmas in Oaxaca, where he was working as a police officer.

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After being extradited to the U.S., Riano told police during a roughly 90-minute interview that he went to confront a group after getting word that his younger brother had been assaulted, according to a transcript of the interview displayed in court.

The group attacked Riano while outside the bar and he retrieved a gun from his truck and fired two shots toward the group, the transcript states.

Rianos attorney, Kara Blackney, said that Riano also told police that hed been shot at first.

After interviewing witnesses, investigators identified Riano as the suspect and learned he was commonly referred to as El Diablo, a former Hamilton police detective wrote in an affidavit.

Antonio Riano, 63, was working as a police officer in Mexico when he was arrested in connection with a 2004 killing in Hamilton.

Prosecutors said surveillance video also showed Riano pull out a revolver and open fire on Becerra.

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Police searched a house on East Avenue where Riano had parked his vehicle and found a box of ammunition matching the weapon used in the shooting. When police later searched Rianos home, they learned he used several fake names and had papers to create false documentation to obtain different identifications.

Prosecutors have said Riano was in the country unlawfully at the time of the shooting.

Investigators: Riano fled to Mexico after shooting

A teacher at the elementary school Rianos daughter attended told police they overheard the childs mother say they were moving to New Jersey, where the family had lived previously.

Investigators contacted New Jersey authorities to help locate Riano, however, they were told that he had just left the country.

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Police said they interviewed the mother of Rianos daughter, who said shed fought with Riano the night before the shooting and had left him. She told police that a friend had driven him to Mexico.

Two years after the shooting, the owner of the East Avenue home found the revolver used to shoot Becerra under the floor of a bathroom closet, investigators said, adding that Riano bought ammo from a local Walmart less than an hour before the shooting.

The Butler County Sheriff's Office listed Riano as a wanted fugitive and the case was even profiled on Fox's "America's Most Wanted, however, an earlier attempt to arrest him in Mexico was unsuccessful.

Paul Newtown, lead investigator with the Butler County Prosecutors Office, eventually stumbled upon Rianos Facebook account, which included a video of him.

Attorney says Riano was not advised of rights during interview

Rianos attorney argued in court on Friday that his statements to the police should be thrown out because detectives failed to properly advise him of his constitutional rights in Spanish, his native language.

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In a February court filing, Blackney said Riano has lived the majority of his life in Mexico and has a limited understanding of the English language. She added that the officer who interviewed Riano appears to not be fluent in Spanish and that Riano was not asked if he understood his rights before signing a waiver form.

She also pointed to the English transcript of the interview, in which a third-party translator notes multiple times that the officer used either non-Spanish words or words that were grammatically incorrect.

However, Lt. Eric Taylor, who performed the interview, testified he was born in Columbia and that Spanish is his first language, adding that he regularly uses Spanish in his capacity as a police officer.

Taylor noted several discrepancies between what the translator heard and what he remembers telling Riano while reading from a Miranda warning card written in Spanish.

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He understood it clearly, Taylor said in court.

The judge ultimately found that Riano answered the detectives questions directly and never expressed concerns that he did not understand his rights.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Mexican cop says he returned fire in Ohio fatal shooting decades ago
Vials of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are displayed on a counter at a Walgreens Pharmacy on January 26, 2015 in Mill Valley, California. (Photo by Illustration Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

New Mexico health officials on Friday reported a second measles infection in Eddy County, along with one more in Lea County, bringing the total there to 33 cases. The state health department also announced two measles hospitalizations in Lea County.

While the case jump was small, New Mexico Department of Health Communications Director Robert Nott cautioned that case counts could continue to rise.

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Measles symptoms can take some time to develop, and we want to see how spring break may impact the outbreak, Nott said. Measles spreads quickly, so we are going to be vigilant and continue to urge people to stop the spread by receiving two doses of the Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Citing health privacy laws, Nott said the department would not be releasing any age or gender information about the patients. However, the agency reports basic age group data about infections. There are five reported cases in very young children aged 0 to 4; 10 cases in school aged children and 19 infections in adults; with one case pending an age determination.

In total, 35 cases have been reported in New Mexico since the outbreak began in mid-February, spilling over from neighboring Gaines County, Texas. Texas health officials also on Friday reported cases rose another 36 cases to 259 infections over 11 counties, mostly among unvaccinated children.

Last week, NMDOH reported an unvaccinated Lea County adult had tested positive for measles and died, but the cause of death remains under investigation, health officials said. It is the second fatality following the Feb. 26 death of a 6-year-old Texas child.

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Measles, a highly contagious respiratory disease, spreads by contact with an infected persons coughs and sneezes. The airborne particles can hang around for hours.

People can spread infection days before symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash appear. The infection can lead to severe complications including pneumonia, brain swelling and even death. Approximately one in five measles cases becomes serious enough to require hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

One dose of the vaccine offers 93% protection against the measles, while two doses offers 97% protection, according to the CDC.

The diseases contagiousness puts unvaccinated people at the most risk, Dr. Melissa Martinez, a professor in internal medicine at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, told Source NM.

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Im really grateful that we have such a high vaccination rate against measles in New Mexico, but I do think that there are little pockets of unvaccinated groups, Martinez said. Its analogous to having little piles of kindling set up in different places: All it takes is a spark and suddenly, you have a big fire.

New Mexico Department of Health data shows that the Lea County vaccination rate in children and teens is 94%, but is lower in adults. The most recent data records 63% of Lea County adults received one shot of the vaccine and only 55% received a second shot, Nott confirmed. NMDOH started collecting immunization data in 2009, so there may be vaccinated adults not reflected in the data.

The vaccine rate in Eddy County for children is approximately 94%, but the data for adults was still being compiled Friday, Nott said.

Martinez, an internal medicine and family doctor, said her research and experience into countering vaccine hesitancy informed her practice of building a personal connection to patients, listening to the root concerns and giving them the information about the effectiveness and safety.

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As a physician, my goal isnt to twist everybodys arm or convince everybody to get vaccinated, she said. My goal is to make sure that people have the correct information so they can make the right decision for themselves.

She said working to demystify the vaccine is crucial.

Vaccine hesitancy, whether its measles or any of the other recommended vaccines is a problem, Martinez said. It poses a risk, not only to the individual, but to the community.

Children under the age of six months, pregnant women and immunocompromised people are some of the groups who cannot safely get a vaccine.

You dont want them to get the measles, theyre our most vulnerable people, Martinez said.

Vaccination Clinic information

NMDOH requests that any questions about symptoms or vaccines be directed to the helpline at 1-833-796-8773, which is staffed by nurses to provide information in Spanish and English. Further information can be found online.

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There are vaccine clinics scheduled at more than a dozen locations in coming days and weeks, and 10 NMDOH clinics in southeast New Mexico offer daily MMR vaccinations, no appointment needed.

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  After hours of debate and seven amendments, the New Mexico Senate passed a bill bringing more oversight to the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department. The institution of CYFD needs all the help it can get and Im hoping today we pass good legislation to help get that started. After hours of discussion and amendments, the Senate passed House Bill 5, which would create an Office of Child Advocacy within the New Mexico Department of Justice to oversee CYFD.

New Mexico lawmakers look to strengthen regulations on hemp products

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has opposed this bill. Others on Friday supported oversight but expressed concern about whether this new office was the right way to fix the embattled agency. I just cant get my mind wrapped around a layer of government overseeing another layer of government, telling another layer of government that theyre not doing their job. Thats why in my mind we needed something that truly rebuilt CYFD, said Sen. David Gallegos, (R-Lea & Eddy Counties.)

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Ultimately, House Bill 5 passed the Senate 28-13. It now heads back to the House chamber. If the House agrees with the changes made by the Senate, it will head to the governors desk.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Andre Bredell, who's been on four military combat tours, can talk firsthand about the central role the Department of Veterans Affairs plays in people's lives.

He suffered a serious injury during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

"The VA, they took care of me," said Bredell, a resident of White Sands who served more than 32 years in the military. "There are still so many other vets who are hurting."

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Bredell was among the 150 people  many of them former members of the military wearing hats revealing their branches of service and the conflicts in which they fought  who congregated outside the state Capitol in Santa Fe at noon Friday, gripping signs and waving flags to protest potential deep cuts to Veterans Affairs.

The Santa Fe demonstration was part of a nationwide push to protest outside every statehouse in the nation.

Similar protests against other cuts and other policies have taken place outside the Roundhouse regularly since Trump was sworn in Jan. 20. More than 500 people participated in one protest last month.

031425_md_vetsrally2.jpg

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A crowd of veterans and veteran supporters march around the Roundhouse on Friday during a rally against potential cuts to the Department of Veteran Affairs by the Trump administration.

Earlier this month, Veterans Affairs chief of staff Christopher Syrek told top-level agency officials of plans to return to 2019 staffing levels of just under 400,000, meaning about 80,000 jobs would be slashed.

Although Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins said the layoffs would not mean cuts to veterans health care or other benefits, veterans organizations have condemned the move and expressed concern about its implications.

Members of Friday's throng also railed against President Donald Trump shifting U.S. foreign policy on the war in Ukraine and targeted billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

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"Down with Putin," people chanted Friday, along with "No Musk, No Vance, No Russia" and "Stop DOGE."

Vehicle horns steadily sounded from Old Santa Fe Trail as cars passed by the Capitol.

031425_md_vetsrally3.jpg

ABOVE: Sen. Harold Pope, D-Albuquerque, a retired Air Force officer, speaks to the crowd of veterans and veteran supporters during a rally outside the Roundhouse on Friday. BELOW: Demonstrators hold signs and listen to speakers outside the Roundhouse.

Robert Cortez, a Vietnam veteran from Albuquerque, said many in New Mexico are concerned about their veterans benefits being in jeopardy.

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"They are always going after our benefits," said Cortez, who served 30 years in the Army and six in the Navy. "We served honorably and do what we were ordered to do. These guys are ridiculous because they are millionaires and they don't care about the little people at all."

The pack of demonstrators drew state Sen. Harold Pope, D-Albuquerque  a retired Air Force officer  into the crowd for a speech that was met with jubilant cheers.

"My colleagues in the chamber, folks in Santa Fe and around the state need to understand what's at cost here  these decisions, these policies and who it's hurting. We know it's going to hurt our veterans," Pope said.

031425_md_vetsrally5.jpg

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A dog looks on during a rally of veterans and veteran supporters outside of the Roundhouse on Friday.

Ron Freeny, an Albuquerque resident who is part of a group called American Veterans for Equal Rights, was among the throng denouncing Trump and Musk. At 83, the veteran of the Vietnam War expressed disgust with the Trump administration's stance on transgender people in the military.

A Jan. 27 executive order by Trump sought to ban transgender people from military service while claiming the sexual identity of transgender service members conflicts with a soldiers commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in ones personal life. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., said this week she hopes to rule on whether to block the move next week.

"Now our dear president has decided they [transgender people] are not worthy to serve. He's not worthy to serve. He hasn't served a damn day," Freeny said.

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"He doesn't know what we are all about. He doesn't know what this country's about. All he's about is him and how much money he can make, said a visibly angry Freeny, adding Musk should be put "on a plane back to South Africa," the Tesla CEO's country of birth.

031425_md_vetsrally4.jpg

A crowd of veterans and veteran supporters hold signs and listen to speakers outside the Roundhouse on Friday, March 14, 2025, during a rally against potential cuts by the Trump administration to the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Howard Burgess of Placitas said he used to work for Veterans Affairs and feels the termination of 80,000 employees' jobs would have a major impact on the agency's operations.

"For him just to willy-nilly just cut 80,000 jobs is insane. And as a veteran, it's very important for me to have my veteran's health care," Burgess said.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A mother who shot her young son in the neck while defending herself from her boyfriend took a plea deal Friday morning. In September 2023, Davona Chavez shot her boyfriend in a case of self-defense. But the bullet went through his knee and hit her seven-year-old son in the head, causing severe injuries.

Former Golden Pride employee pleads no contest to killing his coworker

She pled guilty to two counts of child abuse and possession of a controlled substance. Sentencing has been set for the end of April.

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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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Mar. 14WASHINGTON  Rep. Michael Baumgartner will meet with his constituents in Spokane and Ritzville on Monday, a relatively rare move at a time when many of his fellow Republicans are avoiding in-person town halls in their districts.

The first-term Republican from Spokane announced the two town hall meetings in a statement on Friday, reiterating his commitment to meet regularly with the people he represents  even after the chairman of the House GOP's campaign arm, Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, reportedly advised his fellow Republicans on March 4 to stop holding town halls amid public anger over the Trump administration's first two months in office.

"I came to Congress to fight for Eastern Washington's values and its people," Baumgartner said in a statement. "These town halls are an opportunity to hear directly from you, my 'bosses,' about what matters most. I intend to continue hosting town halls in all forms as your Congressman. Whether you voted for me or not, I work for you, and I am grateful for the chance to serve all of Eastern Washington."

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The first meeting is scheduled to run from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Legion Hall, located at 106 W. Broadway Ave in Ritzville.

Later on Monday, the congressman will appear at Whitworth University's Cowles Auditorium as part of the school's Democracy & Discourse speaker series. That event will begin at 6 p.m. and attendance will require a free ticket, which can be obtained at the following website: whitworth.edu/election-year/

Tickets became available online, according to Whitworth, only after the Senate passed a spending bill to fund the government and avert a shutdown that would have begun on Saturday and required lawmakers to remain in Washington, D.C.

Orion Donovan Smith's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor.
Senator Bong Go underscores positive impact of Duterte's anti-drug campaign, expresses concern over former president's health amid ICC developments

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go highlighted the enduring impact of former President Rodrigo Duterte's administration on the lives of numerous Filipinos amid his arrest, emphasizing how his policiesparticularly the anti-drug campaignreshaped public safety and drastically reduced crime. While legal proceedings unfold, Go underscored that Duterte's leadership left a lasting legacy of safer streets and stronger communities.

"Ang sambayanang Pilipino na po ang humusga kung nakakapaglakad ba sila sa gabi na walang takot sa daan," Go remarked, asserting that the results of the campaign were evident in the daily experiences of Filipinos.

During Duterte's tenure, the senator previously noted, over 55% of barangays nationwide were declared drug-freea milestone made possible by the seizure of PHP 76 billion worth of illicit drugs. Go underscored that these measures led to a significant drop in crime, citing a more than 70% reduction in crime rates during Duterte's first five years in office.

"Bukambibig po 'yan ng ating mga kababayan kung gaano sila kapanatag lumabas sa lansangan kahit na disoras ng gabi," he said, pointing to public sentiment as proof of the campaign's effectiveness.

Go shared personal encounters with ordinary citizens who expressed their gratitude for the changes they had felt in their communities. "Ako mismo, meron po akong nakakasalubong sa mga 7-11, nagpapasalamat na ligtas na raw po ang kanilang mga anak," he added.

The senator also cited survey data showing that 79% of Filipinos supported the anti-drug campaign, attributing Duterte's consistently high approval and trust ratings to the success of his policies.

"Kaya naman po nanatiling mataas ang approval at trust ratings ni Pangulong Duterte mula simula hanggang sa pagtatapos ng kanyang termino," Go emphasized.

Amid discussions on Duterte's possible legal troubles with the International Criminal Court (ICC), Go shifted focus to a more personal matterthe former president's health.

"Ako naman po, ipinangako ko kay dating pangulong Duterte na uunahin ko po ang kanyang kalusugan," Go stated, making it clear that his concern lies beyond politics.

The senator stressed that despite no longer having frequent political discussions with Duterte, he continues to prioritize the former president's well-being, recalling the guidance Duterte once gave him.

"Lagi kong tinatandaan ang sinabi sa akin ni Tatay Digong: "Just do what is right. Unahin ang interes ng bayan, unahin ang kapwa Pilipino, at hinding-hindi ka magkakamali d'yan," he shared.

As debates over Duterte's policies and accountability continue, Go stood firm in his position, emphasizing that history and the Filipino people's judgment would ultimately decide the former president's legacy.

"Ang pakiusap ko lang keep calm, keep praying, at ipagdasal natin ang kanyang kalusugan," Go added.
The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Heres a look at March 14, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Daily 3 numbers from March 14 drawing

Midday: 7-3-3

Evening: 2-6-8

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from March 14 drawing

Midday: 4-5-2-3

Evening: 1-9-7-3

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from March 14 drawing

07-16-28-40-48, Lucky Ball: 18

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Poker Lotto numbers from March 14 drawing

JH-9D-2H-3H-7S

Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from March 14 drawing

01-02-10-17-24

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05-07-26-27-35

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Keno numbers from March 14 drawing

01-08-09-13-15-17-20-22-30-35-39-46-48-52-56-58-67-69-71-76-78-79

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 14, 2025
Lobbyist Ashlie Bagwell (left) speaks to her client, David Shore, before a hearing Thursday in the House Health and Government Operations Committee. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

David Shore is a little obsessed with chromite.

Its infectious.

Spend any amount of time with him and you will likely come away with an appreciation of a mineral you probably did not know existed. Hes happy to correct that oversight.

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Chromite is in everything, Shore says with a smile. He makes note of a reporters phone.

Its everywhere. In everything thats cool, theres a little bit of chromite, I would say, Shore explains. If you look at your phone, the computer chip, your car, your plane, you will see that there is stainless steel in all of them. Chromium  is in all of those. And chromite was first discovered in America.

Thousands of pounds of it are recycled each year. The U.S. government keeps a stockpile because of its strategic value, he explains.

Shore has been on a seven-year journey to move the unremarkable looking mineral onto a list of official state symbols. He even signs his emails chrometastically yours or in other variations that play off the name of the mineral.

David Shore, 18, listens to Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee testimony on a bill to designate chromite as the official state mineral. Its a bill Shore has been passionate about for nearly a decade. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

On Friday, a series of committee and preliminary legislative votes moved chromite closer to official recognition.

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State symbol bills are not easy to pass. They are also not always popular. They are frequently seen as silly or derided as wastes of time.

If the chromite bill is approved and signed into law, Maryland would join more than two dozen states that have designated an official state mineral.

None has adopted chromite, which was first discovered in Baltimore County.

A Maryland mineral

Maryland has 24 official state symbols.

The list includes a state sport and team sport, dinosaur, dog and cat, and crustacean.

The last state symbol added was rye whiskey in 2023. It was the first time in 15 years that a new state symbol made the list. In 2008, the legislature approved an official state exercise (walking) and official dessert (Smith Island cake).

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The bills come almost every year. They almost always die in committee.

In addition to chromite, lawmakers this year will consider other candidates for state symbols, including a state carnivorous plant, a state fruit and an official state cocktail.

The State Archives created a set of standards to guide the adoption of new symbols. Included on that list is a proposed symbols historical significance, uniqueness, relevance to state history and universal acceptance.

Marylands varying geology yields many minerals within the state, said Stephen Van Ryswick, director of the Maryland Geological Survey. However, no other mineral has such a unique instrumental history post-colonial Maryland, industrialization.

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Van Ryswick testified Thursday on a panel in favor of official recognition for the mineral.

The mineral was first discovered in the Bare Hills area of Baltimore County in 1808 by Isaac Tyson Jr. Deposits were also found in Baltimore City and in Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Howard and Montgomery counties.

Tyson founded Baltimore Chrome Works. The plant was the first in the nation to manufacture chromium chemicals. The products were used in paints and in metal alloys including stainless steel.

The mineral was exported out of Fells Point. Deposits in the region produced most of the world supply of the mineral until the 1850s.

Del. Nicholaus R. Kipke (R-Anne Arundel) and House Helath and Government Operations Chair Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D-Prince Georges and Anne Arundel) examine chromite samples. The committee voted unanimously Friday to send the bill to the full House. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

Chromite continues to be mined, though no longer in Maryland. But evidence of its importance to the region remains.

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Many thoroughfares in Maryland carry names like Chrome Road in Cecil County and Chrome Mine Road in Montgomery County. Abandoned mines can be found in some state parks.

Making connections over cookies

Shore is no stranger to the halls of Annapolis.

When he was 7, Shore appeared before the House Judiciary Committee, testifying in opposition to a bill prohibiting the sale of tusks and rhinoceros horns.

There was a bill to abolish the sale of any kind of animal, bone or ivory product in Maryland, Shore said during an interview. I wanted to get the bill amended due to a portion of it that would have accidentally, I assume, included the sale of rocks and fossils for animals that have been dead for millions of years.

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The bill died in committee.

It was while waiting to testify that Shore met then Del. William C. Bill Frick (D-Montgomery). The two bonded over Girl Scout Cookies.

Shore used that connection  politics is all about relationships, after all  a year later when he asked Frick in an email to sponsor a state symbol bill for chromite.

A boy and his lobbyist

Frick, who is now a lobbyist, said Shores enthusiasm for the mineral resulted in the delegates first-ever state symbol bill.

It also led to an unlikely meeting with a well-known lobbyist from a well-known firm.

Ashlie Bagwell, a lobbyist with Harris Jones & Malone, said her initial meeting with Shore in a Montgomery County library was meant to be informational. She agreed, at Fricks request, to pass on some tips for presenting the bill to lawmakers.

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She left with a new client whom she represented pro bono.

Hes just so enthusiastic, Bagwell said.

Shore testified passionately about the chromite bill that year. Included in his comments was a story about one of its earliest known uses: The mineral was used in yellow paint on the carriage used by the daughter of a British monarch.

Shore declared it one of his favorite facts, adding he could go on for hours about the mineral.

Sen. Jason C. Gallion (R-Cecil and Harford) examines samples of chromite during a hearing on a bill to add the mineral to the list of state symbols. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

But the bill failed that year.

Shore was not disheartened.

I would say that I because I came with the bill from a place of just loving the history of chromite and the history of Maryland  it was still, overall, a very positive experience, Shore said.

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Shores unsuccessful 2017 attempt is included in an activity book provided to children touring the State House.

The bill sat dormant until last year with Sen. Craig Zucker, who sponsored the effort in the Senate when Shore was 10, wanted to give it another shot.

I was pretty new to the Senate, said Zucker, speaking of the 2017 effort. David was just something special, so energetic, and so I put in the bill on chromite.

Zucker, who has only sponsored the one state symbol bill, said the issue faded away until last year.

This past  year, Im going to a school and handing out the packet, which is basically a coloring book of all the state symbols and everything that represents the state of Maryland to children, Zucker said. On one of the pages, it talks about pieces of legislation that have been thought of by children, and they had a section on those that were introduced by children that didnt pass, and it had chromite. And I thought: we have to figure this out.

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Thats when Zucker said he thought about a do-over with Shore.

I said its already in the book. Its you. It was first found in Maryland, lets see about giving it another shot, he said.

This time around Shore has even more support.

Zucker is the chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee Capital Budget Subcommittee. The House sponsor is Del. Marc Korman, chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee.

We have actual history with chromite in Maryland, said Korman, who represents the district where Shore lives. It was discovered here and its a really useful metal. We had mines here. So theres a real state connection, unlike some of the other things we sometimes have bills about.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Korman said he understands many will pooh-pooh the idea of a state mineral. He said there can be a value to state symbols.

If you look through the little book that they give kids when they come to this building for tours, it has a bunch of the state symbols in it, he said. Thats a chance for those kids to learn about the history and heritage of their state. Having a state mineral, a state bird, a state flower, a state sport like jousting, or team sport like lacrosse  those things resonate with people and let them learn more about the state where they call home.

Bagwell is back helping lobby the bill. She brought with her Caitlin McDonough, another lobbyist with Harris Jones & Malone, who also happens to be the wife of House Appropriations Chair Del. Ben Barnes (D-Prince Georges and Anne Arundel). The couples son, Jack, a fourth grade student, testified on behalf of the bill Thursday, ending his comments with a reminder that passing the bill would come at no cost to the state  an important fact in a tight budget year.

Similarly, in the Senate, Zuckers son Sam, 11, testified on behalf of his dads bill.

On Friday, the Senate became the first chamber to move the bill. Passage next week would send it to the House where that chambers version has already moved out of committee.

This legislation is a great example of Marylanders bringing ideas for legislation, Zucker said after the vote. In this case, it happened to be an idea from a 10-year-old. Its on its way to a chrometastic finish.
President Donald Trump touted the slaying of a high-ranking leader in the Islamic State as a success of his PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH military philosophy.

Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai was in charge of the terrorist groups operations in Iraq and Syria. Along with another ISIS operative, he was killed by a precision airstrike delivered by the United States in coordination with the Iraqi government, according to a press release from the Pentagon.

Trump praised the success of the operation in a Friday night post on Truth Social.

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Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Friday night. His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!

CENTCOM Forces Kill ISIS Chief of Global Operations Who Also Served as ISIS #2



On March 13, U.S. Central Command forces, in cooperation with Iraqi Intelligence and Security Forces, conducted a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, that killed the Global ISIS #2 leader, pic.twitter.com/rWeEoUY7Lw  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2025

The commander of the U.S. Central Command, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, called al-Rifai one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organization.

We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle their organizations that threaten our homeland, he said.

According to the Pentagon statement, American and Iraqi soldiers investigated the strike site and found the two dead ISIS operatives wearing undetonated suicide vests. They identified al-Rifai based on a match with DNA collected during a previous raid where he narrowly escaped.

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Trumps post was shared on X by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who echoed the presidents words: Peace Through Strength, every single day, he wrote in the caption.

Pete Hegseth / Anadolu / Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images

As the Pentagons head, Hegseth has sought to focus the military around lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards, and readiness as he relayed in a message to the force soon after he was narrowly confirmed by the Senate in January.

Hegseth was one of the presidents most controversial Cabinet picks, not just because the former Fox News host and veteran has no experience leading an organization anywhere near the size of the U.S. military.

He also faced scandal after scandal during his nomination processincluding allegations of sexual assault and alcohol abuse, which he denied. Hegseth had also previously said that he opposed women serving in combat roles but reversed his opinion on the matter after being nominated.
DES MOINES, Iowa  The Des Moines Police Department is requesting the publics assistance locating a missing 15-year-old.

The Des Moines Police Department posted just after 9 a.m. on Saturday asking for assistance locating 15-year-old Elijah.

According to the DMPD, 15-year-old Elijah left his home in the Fairgrounds neighborhood on March 5 following a family disagreement.

Police and family efforts to locate Elijah have not been successful.

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Elijah is approximately 58 tall and weighs around 110 pounds. He was last known to be wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, blue sweatpants, and rainbow-colored crocs.

If you have any information regarding Elijahs current or recent location, please call 911.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT)  The Pine Belt could face dangerous weather conditions on Saturday, March 15. Officials with the Forrest County Emergency Management said widespread damage is expected.

The greatest threat to the area is expected to occur between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. If you live in a mobile home, youre advised to seek shelter.

Its just very important for those that live in manufactured homes to be able to go to one of our shelters. This could be one in Forrest County, Lamar County, or those that are listening that are in Jones County. And if you do not go to a shelter, make sure that you get out of the manufactured home and go spend time with family that may have a brick and mortar-type house, said Terri Bell, president of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors.

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Flooding, hail, fallen trees and widespread power outages are likely.

Worst storms of 2025 will be outside Tornado Alley, severe weather forecast predicts

If youre in low-lying areas, obviously you want to be concerned about rising water. Greens Creek can take a good bit of water, but once it overflows, weve got problems. This seems like its going to be a hit-and-run event. So, once it gets out of here, obviously were concerned about downed trees and things of that nature. So if you dont have to travel and not have to be out, just stay at home and stay put, said Petal Mayor Tony Ducker.

Emergency crews are concerned about a tornado outbreak, which could cause EF-4 or EF-5 tornadoes. Forrest County has increased the number of emergency responders and cleanup crews that can be deployed during and after the storm.

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City crews are ready for whatever happens. We have an extra police that are on call. We have crews and public works and tree crews on call. If we need to, we can deploy up to nine different teams across the city if the worst should happen, which we hope it doesnt. So, we hope people will be weather aware, said Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker.

Forrest County supervisors said theyre fully prepared to provide immediate assistance if needed after the storm.

Shelters in Forrest County will open as soon as a Tornado Watch has been issued. Shelters in Lamar County have opened.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Three individuals  including a man who was just arrested 10 days earlier  were taken into custody Friday night after reportedly fleeing from Nashville authorities in a stolen vehicle.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), the driver  identified as 31-year-old Kenneth Strickland  fled from a traffic stop on Briley Parkway and Gallatin Pike in a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee on Friday, March 14.

Police search for person of interest after shots fired in Inglewood

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Strickland allegedly traveled at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour as he evaded officers. Authorities said the Jeep, which was stolen from Music City Power and Performance on Jan. 23, was disabled by detectives and abandoned off 17th Avenue South.

Police said Strickland and his two passengers were taken into custody after a brief foot chase. Booking records show Strickland was charged with vehicle theft as well as felony and misdemeanor evading arrest. He is being held at Metro Jail on a $76,000 bond.

Fridays incident marks Sticklands second arrest in a 10-day span, according to the MNPD. He was taken into custody on March 4 after he arrived at the scene of a Cane Ridge standoff situation, which involved a stolen Infiniti.

Metro Councilman pushes for LPR technology amid concerns over car burglars in Hermitage

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During the arrests, a citizen allegedly told officers that one of the passengers tossed a firearm out of the Jeeps window. Detectives later recovered an Arsenal Mini Draco pistol in the flight path of the Jeep.

Officials determined the rear passengeridentified as 28-year-old Jeffrey Beltrantossed the loaded firearm from the vehicle. The 28-year-old is reportedly a convicted felon out of Duval County, Florida. He was charged with vehicle theft, being a felon in possession of a weapon, evading arrest and evidence tampering. Records show he is jailed on a $96,000 bond.

Meanwhile, the second passenger in the vehicleidentified as 28-year-old Gabriel Murillowas charged with vehicle theft and evading arrest. He is being held in lieu of $33,000 bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
The handmade signs read "Fight against VA cuts, support those who fought for you," and "Save democracy."

It was an environment of protest U.S. Marine veteran Ray Thomas was not accustomed to, but there he was standing on the sidewalk holding a sign in solidarity with others, trying to get his voice heard.

"I normally wouldn't do something like this," Thomas said. "But what he is doing is wrong."

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The "he" in this case, Thomas said, is President Donald J. Trump.

"He is really not the president I voted for," the Marine veteran said, "and I've always voted Republican."

It was all part of a modest demonstration organized by U.S. Army veteran Samuel Hardman and his wife, Linda. The couple showed at noon Friday in front of the Bakersfield VA clinic on Westwind Drive to show support for the department, its employees, and his fellow veterans.

Hardman had learned of the nationwide Fourteenth Now events scheduled to take place Friday in the nation's capital and in Sacramento and other state capitals, and he wanted to support that much larger effort.

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I couldnt make it to Sacramento, I couldnt make it to D.C., he said. But I could make it here.

Linda Hardman said she's seriously concerned that the administration intends to ultimately privatize the VA and other agencies.

Both her and her husband's families had extensive ties to the military, she said. Sam's father was an Army sergeant and more than 18 relatives on both sides of the family served.

"The VA is the promise they made us," she said.

Another protester, Bob Ortiz, was deployed to Vietnam just in time for the Tet Offensive, one of the most intense enemy offensives of the war. Since then, he's suffered from PTSD, from the detrimental effects of exposure to the chemical defoliant Agent Orange, diabetes and more.

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"The VA saved my life," he said. "Without the help of the VA, I wouldn't be here."

And that's one reason he came to Friday's event. He wants to make sure all veterans continue to receive the services they deserve.

After this story was published, VA press secretary Peter Kasperowicz reached out to The Californian to say the current administration "is doing things differently" from the previous administration.

"VA health care has been on the Government Accountability Offices high-risk list since 2015. It is still on the list to this day," Kasperowicz said in an email.

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"In other words, VA has had serious problems for at least 10 years running. Thats why our efforts to reform the department are so important."

All the veterans at Friday's demonstration appeared to be aware that a new VA outpatient clinic for area veterans was authorized by Congress in 2009 to replace the outdated clinic on Westwind Drive.

And yet, local elected and VA officials have not been able to make it happen.

Last June, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation for the fiscal year 2025 budget, which included language that would compel the VA to begin construction on the new clinic by September.

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But the Senate never passed its side of the bill, and that language was never officially signed into law.

Theres hope that the House language may be enough to encourage the VA to act, but as of this week Kern Countys congressional representatives said there was no new information on the clinic.

For far too long, unnecessary bureaucratic delays have stalled the construction of our new Bakersfield Veterans Clinic which is needed, U.S. Rep. Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, said in a statement. I am working closely with the Trump Administration and the House Veterans Affairs Committee to fast-track this project, and ensure this clinic is fully operational as soon as possible. It is time to put this issue to rest once and for all  our Central Valley veterans have waited long enough.

U.S. Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, also weighed in.

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This week, I voted to advance the Continuing Resolution, ensuring critical government services remain operational, fully funding VA services and benefits, and adding $6 billion for veterans exposed to toxic chemicals in the line of duty, Valadao said in a statement. Im frustrated that environmental lawsuits continue to delay construction of the modernized Bakersfield Veterans Clinic and I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure this project moves forward.

"Central Valley veterans deserve high-quality care close to home, and I will continue working with the administration to cut through the red tape. Those who have served our country shouldnt have to wait any longer for the healthcare theyve earned.
The mother of the man shot by police in Brooklyn for refusing to drop a box cutter said her son suffers from severe mental illness, and for years she has been worried he would meet an untimely end.

Adiel Vassell-Cox, 32, was shot in the chest on Avenue K near Utica Ave. in Flatlands Wednesday after cops say he wouldnt drop a box cutter during a fight with another man.

He has mental health [issues], Vassell-Coxs mother, Joan Vassell, told the Daily News on Thursday, shocked to learn of the shooting.

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Vassell said her son, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, lives in a group home in East Flatbush more than 2 miles away from where he was shot.

Hes a good, kind, quiet kid, stays by himself, the distraught mother said. He grew up in the church, hes a church kid.

I keep on telling him whatever medication theyre giving him, its not working.

Vassell said Friday that her son is in a coma at Kings County Hospital, his heart failing, and has undergone two surgeries because his colon has been destroyed.

The altercation began around 1:50 p.m. when Vassell-Cox threw an object at a passing BMW, causing the driver to stop, get out of the car and confront him, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said during a news conference Wednesday.

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As the men struggled, two passing detectives from the 63rd Precincts detective squad who had just finished lunch spotted the fight and pulled over to intervene. Vassell-Cox was armed with a box cutter.

While trying to separate the men, one of the detectives spotted the weapon and ordered Vassell-Cox to drop it multiple times, Kenny said.

Vassell-Cox ignored the detective and walked away from the officers, around the parked BMW and back toward the driver, but one of the cops got in the middle of them in an attempt to deescalate the confrontation.

But Vassell-Cox walked toward the detective, box cutter in his right hand, and the cop fired off one shot, striking him in the chest.

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This person came within 3 to 4 feet of our detective with a boxcutter out in his hand, refused numerous directives to drop the weapon, Kenny said. So the officer felt he was an immediate threat to himself and to the person this subject was originally trying to stab.

Vassell said when Saheed Vassell, another Black man with mental health difficulties and a similar last name, was fatally shot by police on Utica Ave. in 2018, she rushed to the area where that shooting took place, fearing the worst.

I ran over there, I thought it was my son. I thought my son was dead, she said.

Vassell said her son went to school in Albany until he smoked marijuana laced with K2, causing a profound change to his mental health and went missing.

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Then he went crazy, she said. We couldnt find him in 2019 to 2020. He ended up in Boston.

I thought he was also dead then, said Vassell.

Vassell-Cox was transferred from a mental health facility in Boston to Kings County, said his mother.

A witness to Wednesdays chaos saw the shocking incident unfold.

I was standing right across the street, said Faylynn Dube, 37, a security guard. [The driver] got out the car and was screaming, What did you do that for? He went into the trunk and pulled out a black metal object and he was using it like a weapon. The other guy pulled out a box cutter. They were in each others faces. The undercover cop came and intervened. He was trying to stop him from stabbing him up.

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The guy with the box cutter went around the car and came at him, Dube said. The cop pulled out a gun and shot him. It was one, clean shot to the chest and he fell to the floor.

It was like a road rage incident. It didnt have to rise to the level of gun violence.

Mother and son had made plans to get together the day before Vassell-Cox was shot, but he never answered his phone that day, said Vassell.

I spoke to him on Sunday, she said. I told him I was going to visit him and we were going to the movies on Tuesday.

Even people who look sane have mental health, Vassell said. Its a disease and my son has it.

With Rocco Parascandola and Thomas Tracy
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Police in Montgomery County are searching for a man who allegedly committed a string of thefts at businesses.

The Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) said that it believes 24-year-old Tyrone Harrington of Washington, D.C, is responsible for nine commercial robberies between August and December of 2024.

MCPD said that these robberies targeted CVS Pharmacy, Gap and Target stores in Bethesda.

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Man arrested for pipe bomb found in Prince Georges County storage unit

In February, MCPD got warrants for Harringtons arrest. It was still looking for an accomplice, who is pictured below.

(Image courtesy of the Montgomery County Department of Police)

Anyone with any information is asked to go online to submit a tip or call 1-866-411-8477. Anyone who gives a tip leading to an arrest may be able to receive anywhere between $250 to $10,000.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
The Rev. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., a dean at Morehouse College in Atlanta, called on students and faculty at Brigham Young University to join him on a mission of peace during an address at BYUs Wheatley Institute on Thursday.

The Rev. Carter is the founding dean of the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse, the same historically Black college where the Rev. Dr. King received his degree.

The Rev. Carter congratulated BYU for its adherence to Christian principles and for the quality of its education, before focusing his message on how Christians can be peacemakers in an address titled Peace, Non-Violence and Human Rights.

Justified by faith, mandated by God

The Rev. Carter has had a long friendship with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  including when Rev. Carter conferred its inaugural Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize to President Russell M. Nelson. The Rev. Carter also has plans to place a framed portrait of Joseph Smith in the halls of the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel.

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The Rev. Carter spoke about the need for Christians to act as peacemakers.

Its Jesus who is the lure of your faith, he told students at a lunch ahead of his address. You are in a very special, magical place, a university founded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... How did Jesus choose to show up in the world?

Dr. Lawrence E. Carter gives an address on peace, nonviolence and human rights at BYUs Wheatley Institute in Provo on Thursday, March 13, 2025. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

He pointed to a specific scripture where Jesus said that he came to do the will of God.

He said, if youve seen me ... if youve seen me, youve seen the Father, for the Father and I are one.

Can you say that? he asked the students directly. Jesus said, I thought it not robbery to be like God.

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The Rev. Carter exhorted his listeners to act as the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. He also explained what he thought that might look like.

For God so loved the world  how does that mean a Christian must act?

The Rev. Carter said that Jesus pursued peace not just for his own community, but for all.

It is clear to me in the Gospels that the consciousness of Christ was much bigger than Palestine. He identified with his Fathers world, his Fathers universe, the Rev. Carter said.

He recited John 3:16 to his students, pausing for emphasis.

That God so loved the world  stop, he ordered. You dont need to go any further. There it is right there. Theres your moral imperative. That God so loved the world.

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The Rev. Carter explained the two paths to peace, including an individual approach where people approach politics with love and grace and without attributing malicious intent to actions or statements.

He spent more time, however, on institutional and political avenues towards peace.

We need to start understanding that moral worth is determined less by individual, isolated, ethical acts, than by long-term, committed relationships, he told the crowd of students, faculty, administrators and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered in Hinckley Hall at BYU.

He then leaned forward and tapped the microphone, as if to make sure that everyone in the audience was tuned in for the next point he was about to make.

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You cannot have what you are not willing to be, he said. You cant preach and lecture about peace and be effective unless you show up as peace.

Hence, we need a Department of Peace. We need a Secretary of Peace. Not a Department of Defense. Not a Secretary of Defense.

The day we have peace, he said, would be beautiful.

That will be a day not of the white man, not of the Black man  that will be the day of humans as humans. if we are going to give peace a chance, with our neighbors, our cities, states, the nation, the world, we need an inner revolution of values.

According to the Rev. Carter, America is not making progress towards that point.

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One of the reasons the United States does not enjoy a greater degree of peace is that discrimination, and the racism that motivates it, still haunts America, he said.

Dr. Lawrence E. Carter gives an address on peace, nonviolence and human rights at BYUs Wheatley Institute in Provo on Thursday, March 13, 2025. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Today I call on you to join me on a mission of peace ... to be visible and vocal supporters of people, groups and institutions that work for justice and peace around the globe, the Rev. Carter said.

He closed by hearkening back to the life and work of Jesus Christ. He asked all his listeners to be a nonviolent peace ambassador for human rights  a new generation of Christians.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Morningside Universitys agricultural department and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach collaborated to hold their first She Grows event at Eppley Auditorium on Friday.

Designed for women in all areas of agriculture, She Grows  Women in Agriculture is a celebration of strength and resilience of women in the agriculture industry, as well as a way for students to connect with, learn from and be inspired by industry peers.

MercyOne Moville Family Medicine moving to new location in town

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One staff member said this event is a great way to continue to spread the need for agriculture in Iowa.

Siouxland is really founded in agriculture, said Dee McKenna, Experiential Learning Coordinator at Morningside University. You look around and its cattle and corn, and were very proud of the history that we have. We want Siouxland agriculture to continue to grow and thrive, so its really important for us to invest in inspiring and sharing knowledge with each other.

Morningside University plans to make this an annual event.

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(The Hill)  Most Americans disapprove of President Trumps approach to the countrys relationship with Russia and his handling of the situation in Ukraine, according to a new survey published on Friday.

The CNN poll, which was conducted by SSRS, found that 59 percent of respondents disapprove of Trumps handling of Washingtons relations with Moscow. Some 41 percent said the opposite. Regarding Ukraine, 55 percent of U.S. adults disapprove of the presidents managing of the situation in war-torn Ukraine, while 44 percent said they approve of it, according to the survey.

Nearly six in 10 people, 59 percent, said it was not too or not at all likely that Trumps approach to the Russia-Ukraine war will bring long-term peace between the two Eastern European countries. Around 41 percent disagreed.

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Americans were split when asked if the U.S. is providing too much, too little or the right amount of aid to Ukraine. Around a third, 32 percent, argued that Washington is doing too much. Nearly four in 10 respondents, 38 percent said the U.S. is doing too little while another 30 percent said the assistance provided is at the right amount, according to the poll.

The survey was done as Washington has engaged in negotiations with both Ukrainian and Russian officials to implement a 30-day ceasefire deal with the hopes of eventually ending the three-year war in Eastern Europe.

The U.S. said on Tuesday that it had resumed sharing military assistance and intelligence to Ukraine after Kyivs senior officials met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz in Saudi Arabia.

Ukrainian officials said after the meeting with the U.S. officials that the country is supportive of the 30-day ceasefire proposed by Washington, with Rubio stating the ball is in Russias court.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he is open to supporting the 30-day ceasefire, but offered vague terms about his backing of the proposal.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll, which was released on Thursday, found that the majority of Americans think that Trump is too closely aligned with Russia. The survey found that 56 percent of U.S. adults agreed with the assertion that the U.S. president is too close to Moscow.

The CNN poll was conducted from March 6-9 among 1,206 U.S. adults. The margin of error was 3.3 percentage points.

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BREAUX BRIDGE, La (KLFY)  A motorists assist led to the arrest of four individuals connected to an organized crime group operating across multiple state.

Authorities said they responded to a report of a disabled 2024 Jeep Compass partially in the roadway of I-10 near Breaux Bridge on Monday at 5 a.m.

While assisting the passengers of this vehicle, authorities said they noticed signs of drug activity. Authorities then searched the vehicle which resulted in the seizure of approximately 30 grams of marijuana and 100 ounces of promethazine, officials said.

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According to authorities, the four passengers were placed under arrest and charged for the following:

Armonie Roland 18, driver: Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance and possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance

Jhlon Cabell, 18: Resisting an Officer, Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance, and a warrant for felony theft and fraud charges in Florida, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Domynic Foster, 17:Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance and Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance

Kalese Jackson, 18: Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance and Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance

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Bonds have not been released.

Officials said they worked alongside the Milford, Massachhusetts Police Department where they conducted an extensive conducted an extensive investigation that connected the suspects to a larger criminal organization involved in theft and fraud across the Northeast United States.

Authorities said they later discovered approximately $5,700 in stolen and fraudulently obtained electronics, clothing, gift cards, and bank cards. The recovered evidence will be turned over to the Milford Police Department to further assist in their ongoing investigation.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Snow in the mountains on Friday closed parts of Interstate 70 near Vail Pass. This comes as spring break is underway, a busy time of year for out-of-state visitors who may not be as used to driving in snowy conditions.

At the Eisenhower Tunnel, traffic was moving smoothly throughout the afternoon, only stopping briefly to allow hazmat vehicles through. On the west side of the tunnel in Frisco, Ryan Henderson is enjoying his first ski trip in Colorado.

I loved it. I had my first jump today, said Henderson.

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American Airlines passengers were told there was a problem before plane landed at DIA and fire started

A Seattle native, he said this is his first time venturing out of the Denver area to ski at Keystone. Snow in the Pacific Northwest, he said, not quite like what Summit County saw on Friday.

We do have a big car, so its nice to keep it weighted down but yeah, Im taking it slow, he said.

On the other end of the spectrum, Connor Erickson and his friends are well versed in driving through snow, theyre from Minnesota. Coming back to Frisco from Vail, they just missed the lane closure.

There was like a Camry, a semi, a bunch of cars stalled and cant make their way up the pass. So we were able to get our way around, which is nice, said Erickson.

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Aurora student wins prize in national C-SPAN documentary contest

As they prepare to head back to the airport in Denver in the next couple of days, he said theyre hoping to avoid some of the spring breakers they saw Friday.

Saw some plates from Texas, who knows if theyre rentals, but you could tell they werent used to driving in the mountains, said Erickson.

The Colorado Department of Transportation told drivers, for the time being, to expect delays when driving on I-70 in the mountains, thanks to that spring break traffic both from in and out of state.

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  After asking for the communitys help to find a teenager who was last seen near Hartford, state police say the teen has actually returned to Illinois.

The Michigan State Police said around 11:30 a.m. Saturday that it was looking for the 14-year-old boy, who traveled from Chicago to West Michigan with his family Friday evening and was last seen around 1 a.m. Saturday at a cabin in the Hartford area.

Late Saturday afternoon, troopers said they had determined that the boy had returned to Illinois. Investigators there are expected to follow up.

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We would like to thank everyone for your assistance with this matter, MSP wrote in a social media post. Have a great evening.

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UPDATE: FRIDAY 3/14/2025 7:44 p.m.

(SOUTHERN COLORADO)  All previously closed roads in southeastern Colorado have reopened, according to COTrip.

ORIGINAL STORY: Much of southeastern Colorado roads closed due to wind

UPDATE: FRIDAY 3/14/2025 5:01 p.m.

US 50 from Las Animas to the Kansas border has reopened.

UPDATE: FRIDAY 3/14/2025 4:44 p.m.

US 40 has reopened between Kit Carson and Limon, as well as CO 96 from Ordway to the Kansas border.

Updated closure map via COTrip:

Courtesy: Colorado Department of Transportation

FRIDAY 3/14/2025 3:33 p.m.

A heads up for drivers planning to travel through southeastern Colorado on Friday, March 14much of the areas roads are closed due to high wind and safety concerns, so the best plan is to use an alternate route or simply plan to travel another day.

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A plethora of roads south and east of Colorado Springs are closed as of Friday afternoon, cutting off major travel routes from the I-25 corridor east to the Kansas border.

Courtesy: Colorado Department of Transportation

The roads that are currently experiencing closures include:

US 40 from Kit Carson to Limon

US 385 from Cheyenne Wells to Granada

US 287 between US 50 and County Road A (9 miles north of Eads)

CO 96 from Ordway to the Kansas border

US 50 from Las Animas to the Kansas border

US 287 from Lamar to the Oklahoma border

All of the counties shaded in purple on the map above are under a high wind warning. Many of the impacted roads have been closed due to blowing dust and safety concerns resulting from low visibility. The National Weather Service (NWS) is warning that travel will be dangerous and possibly life-threatening, with damaging winds capable of toppling power lines and trees. Widespread power outages are expected.

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The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) posted on social media Friday afternoon, and warned that there had already been numerous crashes on the southeastern plains, citing zero visibility from blowing dirt. If you must drive, stay alert and drive for the conditions, CSP said.

Gusts of 70 mph or higher have been observed by the FOX21 Storm Team, so travel in the area is discouraged, especially for high profile vehicles.

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LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  Pennsylvania State Police are looking for suspects who reportedly shot and killed multiple cows in Lancaster County.

According to State Police in Lancaster, on March 15 at around 11:10 a.m., police were dispatched to the 100 block of School House Road in Colerain Township for a report of animal cruelty.

Police say upon arrival, authorities learned that unknown actors fired multiple shots at two cows. The cows were struck several times and were found deceased in the morning by the owner, per police.

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Im an animal lover, Colerain Township supervisor Scott Shoemaker said. I hate to see this, and Ive seen it before. I do not understand why these people do this, but they do it. Its a shame. Its cruelty to animals.

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Police say the same suspects fired shots at a horse and cow in the 500 block of South Vintage Road in Sadsbury Township, Lancaster County at around the same time frame. The horse survived, but the cow was killed as a result of the shooting, police said.

Its just a waste, Shoemaker said. Its peoples livelihood.

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State Police are asking that anyone with knowledge of the incident to contact the Lancaster Barracks at (717) 299-7650.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

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SEOUL (Reuters) - Multiple Russian military planes entered South Korea's air defence zone on Saturday, South Korea's joint chiefs of staff said on Saturday.

The Russian planes entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone on the east coast off South Korea, and left the zone, the joint chiefs of staff said in a statement.

But they did not violate South Korea's airspace, the statement said.

(Reporting by Ju-min Park and Josh Smith; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Authorities said homicide charges have been filed against a man in connection to the disappearance four years ago of a McFarland man.

The Kern County District Attorneys Office said it filed homicide charges against Ray Anthony Sanchez, 34, related to the disappearance of Oscar Oliva.

Oliva was reported missing out of the McFarland area in April 2021.

RELATED: District Attorneys Office assisting in search of missing McFarland man

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According to District Attorneys Office investigators, evidence showed Sanchez shot and killed Oliva and disposed of his body, but Olivas body has not been located or recovered.

Sanchez is currently in custody of the California Department of Corrections for an unrelated crime, McFarland police said in a statement.

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McFarland police are asking for help to locate Olivas remains. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information about the case.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the McFarland Police Department at 661-792-2121, contact the department anonymously at 661-428-1256 or the Kern Secret Witness hotline at 661-322-4040.

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Elon Musk's large-scale cuts to funding in the US government have suspended the work of a Yale University team that helped rescue hundreds of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

Source: Mirror

Details: Until now, the US government had funded a group of researchers from Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab who used open-source technologies to track missing children and shared their findings with the Ukrainian authorities to help bring them back home.

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Hundreds of children were rescued thanks to their efforts. But now this work will cease due to Musks recent federal funding cuts.

Ukrainian government data says that nearly 20,000 children have been abducted by Russia since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

Background: In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Children's Right Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova over the deportation of Ukrainian children from the occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia.

Read also: Putin's path to The Hague through "filtration" and "rehabilitation": how Russia is abducting Ukrainian hildren

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NATCHITOCHES, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Gator Country in Natchitoches, Louisiana, welcomes two rare alligators into their reptile park.

Natchitoches Reptile Park named their two baby albino alligators Glacier and Yeti. Unfortunately, their white skin makes them obvious for prey to see and very sensitive to the sun.

Gator Country says visitors will be able to view the gators very soon.

Albino Alligators: Glacier and Yeti (KTAL/KMSS Photographer: Jordan Johnson)

Well have this thing open, ready to go. Normally, we try to shoot on Monday, they can actually come up here and venture in here and take a look at them, versus all your green alligators. These guys are just really really amazing as far as being white. Who wouldnt want to see a white alligator? says Gator Countrys General Manager, Leonard Parfait.

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Gator Country is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $11 per person.

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On March 14, a journey that was originally supposed to be a little over a week  but was stretched out to nine months  began to come to an end. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were selected for the first crewed test flight on Boeing's Starliner and were only supposed to stay at the International Space Station for 10 days, but when NASA discovered several helium leaks and propulsion system issues on the spacecraft, the agency decided to send it back empty until another mission could be sent up to get the astronauts.

This isn't like some low-gravity version of "The Terminal," in which travelers are stuck in limbo due to some administrative glitch. Space can have devastating and profound health effects on astronauts, which means Williams and Wilmore's extended stay on the ISS could result in pronounced impacts on their bodies.

Launching into space requires undergoing g-force more than double that of what we experience on Earth, which former NASA astronaut Dr. Sandy Magnus once described as feeling like having a 700-pound gorilla sitting on your chest. But thats the last of gravity astronauts feel before reentering the Earths atmosphere once their mission is complete, and once they enter orbit they will spend the rest of their time in space floating in their seats.

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But the effects of gravity  or lack thereof  are just the beginning of how space manipulates the human body. Everything from worsening eyesight to genetic changes to skin rashes that develop upon arrival  even no longer feeling accustomed to the touch of fabric on one's clothes  have been reported in people who have gone to space.

In general, the environment in space causes an accelerated model for disease, and what we kind of say is an accelerated model for aging, said Dr. Afshin Beheshti, director of the Center for Space Biomedicine at the University of Pittsburgh. But you dont age faster, its just that all of the things associated with aging, like cardiovascular risk or cognitive issues  Everything is kind of sped up in space because of that environment."

This week, four astronauts took off to the ISS, where the spacecraft will pick up Williams and Wilmore before returning home. At this point, Williams and Wilmore have been in space for nine months, joining just eight other astronauts who have spent more than 200 days in space. (NASA astronaut Frank Rubio holds the record at 371 days.) From what we know about the impacts of space on health, it will take them some time to recover from the journey.

When we get back, even to lift a pencil we will feel the weight, Wilmore said in a CNN interview last month. Thats the transition back.

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That's in part because on Earth, the force of gravity constantly acts on the skeleton, which stimulates bone-building cells called osteoblasts that maintain our bone density. Without that force, bone density and muscles can atrophy and weaken, with bones becoming 1% less dense for every month spent in space without any measures performed to combat bone loss.

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Although Williams and Wilmore exercise daily to mitigate these effects, they will still likely have experienced significant bone density loss when they get back. Upon landing, Wilmore and Williams will be met with medical teams who can help them get started on a 45-day post-mission recovery program, said NASA's Lead Flight Surgeon Dr. Stevan Gilmore.

"They work closely with trainers, dedicating two hours each day to return to their pre-flight baseline state of health and fitness," Gilmore wrote to Salon in an email. "Generally, most crewmembers physiological systems recover within this timeframe."

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For comparison, after NASA astronaut Scott Kelly spent one year in space, he had to learn how to walk again, Beheshti said.

Being a year in space like that, it definitely takes a while for them to recoup the damage done, Beheshti told Salon in a phone interview.

Kelly participated in the Twin Study conducted by NASA, in which several biomarkers of his were compared to his twin brother (Sen. Mark Kelly) who stayed on Earth. After the space flight, Kelly had more symptoms of heart disease than his brother and showed symptoms of something called Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS), in which blood and cerebrospinal fluid travels upward from the legs to the head without the force of gravity, impacting the brain and vision.

"He wasn't wearing glasses before he went, but he came back and started wearing glasses," Beheshti said.

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Additionally, disruptions to the body's internal clock can affect astronaut's sleeping and eating cycles. Some studies have also shown that astronauts' cognitive processing speeds were slower in space, although these changes returned to baseline upon return to Earth. Similar results were found in research testing cognition in civilians who went to space.

"Sometimes people actually perform better in space, and they're more even more focused, in a way," said Dr. Chris Mason, a professor of physiology and biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. "But sometimes people get a little slower. It really depends on the crew member."

Radiation is also much stronger in space without the protective ozone layer on Earth to buffer it, and it can have several impacts on the body at the cellular level. For each week that astronauts spend on the ISS, the radiation they experience is equivalent to about one years worth of exposure on Earth, although this can vary depending on how many solar flares or cosmic rays in space occur.

That radiation has been shown to impact the cells mitochondrial function, which can have downstream effects on the body, Beheshti said.

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The mitochondria is your bioenergetics, so your energy in your body is produced by all of the mitochondria in your cells, Beheshti said. When the bioenergetics are damaged, you can imagine that it has detrimental effects  impacting your immune system and circadian rhythm.

Exposure to radiation at these levels has been associated with an elevated risk for heart disease, cancer, and other degenerative disorders that affect the eyes. Researchers have been able to measure several biomarkers in astronauts who went to space and found that exposure to radiation and antigravity significantly impacts immune function as well.

In one 2024 study published in Communications Biology, Mason found that astronauts who spent time in space had longer telomeres, or structures at the end of chromosomes which protect DNA. Although longer telomeres have been associated with youth, they are also linked to certain cancers.

Masons research also found that several genes involved with the immune system were activated with space flight, presumably as a mounted response to the stress the body is put under in these conditions.

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There are also anti-inflammatory markers called interleukins which get activated, and weve seen some of them in almost every mission, so we would expect that they would also have them here, Mason told Salon in a phone interview. We see a lot of genes for DNA repair get activated, like the body is detecting some of the damage and then repairing that damage, which is a normal adaptive response.

These effects increase the longer astronauts are in space, although about 95% of these cellular changes return to baseline within a few weeks of astronauts returning to Earth, Mason said. For Kelly, 90% of gene changes that he experienced returned back to normal within six months. In Masons study, telomere changes returned to baseline within days, he said.

Still, there are individual differences that can influence how quickly an astronaut bounces back and scientists are constantly researching what influences disease risk for astronauts.

Scientists havent yet figured out a way to fully block radiation, which interacts with the body as fast-moving invisible particles that can break up DNA. However, efforts are underway to test new small molecules in rodents that could improve resistance to radiation. This could have implications not just for astronauts in space but patients on Earth having to undergo invasive radiation therapies for cancer.

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Others are studying whether an induced form of artificial hibernation" could protect against some of the harmful effects of radiation. In recent studies, stimulating the same process that squirrels and bears go through in the winter has been shown to reduce the toxicity of radiation.

When there's radiation damage caused to your body, you create reactive oxygen species and that causes downstream things to to impact your immune system and things like that while also suppressing your mitochondria, Beheshti said. But when your body shuts down in that hibernation state, like in these animals, those reactive oxygen species stop getting produced as much, and then there seems to be less damage caused by the radiation.

Commercial space flight has taken off in recent years and billionaires like Elon Musk are increasingly pushing a move to Mars, and these issues highlight the innate challenges humans  who have evolved over millions of years to live under the influence of Earth's gravity and atmosphere  face in trying to expand our reach in outer space.

Wilmore and Williams will undoubtedly require some time to recover from their long journey, but they dedicated years to preparing for the experience. Still, they don't seem too bothered by the extra time they spent in orbit.

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I think both of us will be a little bit sad when that feeling of space leaves us after about 24 hours, Williams said in the CNN interview last month. That means that physically the spaceflight came to an end.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Starliner is a SpaceX spacecraft. Starliner was developed by Boeing.
The American public is routinely bombarded with messages about the need to spend vast sums on infrastructure, drumming the subject into the public consciousness, often promoting a rehearsed sounding catalog of new capital projects.

The need is indeed great but so is the importance of spending wisely. That means emphasizing the lifecycle management of infrastructure assets.

Infrastructure spending must not only focus on building new projects but also on maintaining existing infrastructure.

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This is particularly relevant in light of the transit referendum passed on Nov. 5 in Nashville to modernize and maintain the citys public transit system and to address its growing transportation challenges.

The plan calls for $3.1 billion in capital costs over the next 15 years as well as $111 million allocated annually in operating and maintenance costs.

Too often elected leaders defer maintenance for political reasons

The $111 million set aside for operating and maintenance costs underscores the recognition that neglecting existing infrastructure can lead to serious consequences, such as deteriorating service, safety concerns, and skyrocketing future costs.

Mayor Freddie O'Connell speaks at a watch party for the transportation improvement referendum at The Malin South Gulch in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

However, allocating funds is only the first step. Ensuring the proper use of these funds is critical. As history shows maintenance budgets are often raided by elected officials seeking to address short-term fiscal challenges.

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This has led to years of deferred maintenance and costly backlogs in many urban centers across the county.

Maintenance as distinct from meeting annual operating costs is often seen as the stepchild of infrastructure investment and yet it is essential for extending the service life of infrastructure assets and significantly reducing overall long-term costs.

Timely lifecycle management can avoid the high costs of reconstruction and replacement that inevitably result from deferred maintenance.

News story: Nashville transit tax lawsuit argued at appeals court: 3 questions central to challenge

Despite these benefits, political leaders frequently defer maintenance due to their focus on short election cycles.

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The long-term positive effects of deferred maintenance rarely align with their immediate priorities.

When cities let maintenance go, ordinary citizens suffer

Lifecycle asset management is not prioritized for a number of reasons. Elected officials find it easier to issue new debt or secure federal dollars to replace an asset than to maintain it.

Construction of new assets has a strong political constituency in many political jurisdictions (i.e., various construction trade organizations), while maintenance has weak political support.

Chancellor Anne Martin instructs Nashville Director of Transportation Planning Michael Briggs during his testimony at a court hearing on the transit referendum at the Historic Metro Courthouse Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn.

In a similar vein, the media pays attention to glamorous new projects rather than routine maintenance.

Consider the consequences of shortchanging maintenance: when infrastructure systems are neglected over time, they become increasing unreliable and unsafe.

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Service quality deteriorates, and addressing the resulting maintenance backlog often takes years of dedicated investment. This pattern repeats itself in major urban centers across the country, where infrastructure is allowed to fall into disrepair due to insufficient funding and mismanagement.

For example, in one major metropolitan area, decades of underfunding transit maintenance led to the closure of entire section of its transit system, leaving commuters stranded and forcing emergency repairs at significantly higher costs.

In another city maintenance backlogs reached billions of dollars, with transportation systems becoming unreliable, overcrowded and dangerous.

Addressing such crises requires years of dedicated funding and repair, demonstrating that deferred maintenance is far most costly and disruptive than regular, proactive investment.

How Nashville could safeguard its transit maintenance budget

The Nashville transit plan highlights the importance of safeguarding maintenance funds through mechanisms like a lockbox provision to avoid the pitfalls of deferred maintenance that have plagued other urban centers.

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A lockbox would function as a legal or institutional safeguard that restricts the use of maintenance funds solely to their intended purpose.

For example, the city should consider preparing a detailed lifecycle maintenance plan outlining expected costs over the life of the assets and then establish a reserve fund from the bond proceeds that will be set aside for maintenance. The estimates of future maintenance costs should be robust to avoid underfunding.

Opinion: Sign up for the Tennessee Voices newsletter showcasing opinion across the Volunteer State

It is worth noting that a rigorous breakout of spending on maintenance is no easy matter. More specifically, maintenance and operations in particular are easily confused.

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Without parsing the language, operations represent costs incurred on a routine basis for labor, utilities, and other activities that support the day-to-day delivery of services.

On the other hand, maintenance costs are incurred on routine schedules to repair or maintain in good working order the existing assets. It does not add new capacity to the system nor extend the useful life of the asset beyond say two years.

Once the maintenance plan has been approved, the bond covenants should specify the portion of the bond proceeds that will be set aside for maintenance.

Joseph M. Gigilio

Then the lifecycle maintenance reserve should be placed under the management of a trustee to ensure it is only access for authorized maintenance expenses.

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A commitment to lifecycle asset management and a robust lockbox mechanism could address the longstanding challenges of deferred maintenance to ensure the infrastructure assets remain in a state of good repair and provide lasting benefits to the public.

Joseph M. Giglio is professor of strategy at D'Amore McKim School of Business at Northeastern University. He has studied the automotive market and recently visited Nashville and The Tennessean on business.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Infrastructure requires safeguarding maintenance budgets | Opinion
Nationwide protests are planned this weekend after Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student activist, was arrested by immigration authorities, fueling tensions between the Trump administration and student movements over immigration policy.

Khalil, 30, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the middle of the night last weekend, prompting outrage in recent days. Khalil, an Algerian citizen of Palestinian descent, helped lead pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University last spring.

Protests calling for his release will be held in New York City; Boston; Phoenix; Charlotte, North Carolina; Oklahoma City; Miami; Indianapolis; and other cities Saturday and Sunday.

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Several dozen protesters gathered in Times Square on Saturday afternoon, wearing traditional Palestinian scarfs known as keffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags.

"Release Mahmoud right now!" the protesters shouted.

Grant Miner, the former president of a union representing thousands of Columbia student workers who were fired and expelled this week, addressed the crowd. He described Mahmoud's detention as "a campaign of fear."

"We must stand up together to tell Trump and his billionaire buddies that were not going to stand for this intimidation and the backsliding of civil rights in this country," he said.

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To justify Khalils arrest, the Trump administration cited an obscure foreign-policy clause that allows the federal government to deport foreign nationals whom it deems national security threats. The Department of Homeland Security alleges that Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.

Mahmoud Khalil stands by the gates of Columbia University on April 30.

On Monday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from expelling Khalil, a legal permanent resident, from the country as he challenges his deportation.

Khalil filed an amended petition and complaint in federal district court in Manhattan on Thursday, stating he was the target of retaliatory detention and attempted removal of a student protester because of his constitutionally protected speech. Khalil finished his classes at Columbia in December 2024 and was expected to graduate in the spring, according to the filing.

Immigration authorities are holding the 30-year-old in Louisiana and his lawyers have petitioned for him to be returned to New York City. His wife, an American, is eight months pregnant.

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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 through Khalils defense counsel on Monday. 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.

Trump administration targets campus protesters

Khalils arrest marks the first attempt to fulfill President Donald Trumps campaign pledge to deport international students who protested in support of Palestinians on campuses across the country last spring.

On Tuesday, a doctoral student from India whom DHS accused of supporting Hamas self-deported to Canada. And on Friday, another Palestinian student who took part in Columbias protests last year, identified by DHS as Leqaa Kordia, was arrested for allegedly overstaying her student visa.

It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement on Friday. When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country.

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DHS agents also raided two Columbia dormitories on Thursday evening, but made no arrests, according to a statement by the university. Commenting on the raids on Friday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department was looking at whether Columbias handling of earlier incidents violated civil rights laws and included terrorism crimes.

Civil rights groups and protesters have denounced the federal governments actions at Columbia as an infringement on free speech. Protesters staged demonstrations this week at both the university and inside Trump Tower, located in Manhattan.

Columbias international students have expressed fear, with several telling NBC News on Friday that they are increasingly hesitant to criticize the Trump administration due to fears of repercussions.

The universitys journalism school said its staff and students are witnessing and experiencing an alarming chill.

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One does not have to agree with the political opinions of any particular individual to understand that these threats cut to the core of what it means to live in a pluralistic democracy, the journalism school said in a statement issued Friday. The use of deportation to suppress foreign critics runs parallel to an aggressive campaign to use libel laws in novel  even outlandish ways  to silence or intimidate the independent press.

Columbia University in the glaring spotlight

The arrests are part of the Trump administrations broader effort to root out what it calls anti-Semitic harassment in schools and on college campuses. And perhaps no other college campus in the country drew more attention for its pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year than Columbia.

For weeks last spring, student activists staged daily protests, occupied a university building and established an encampment of several dozen tents on university lawns, inspiring similar setups on college campuses across the country. Fueled by outrage over Israels war in Gaza, students pushed for their universities to divest from companies linked to the Israeli government. The activism sparked intense debates on campuses, with some students expressing concerns over antisemitism.

In the week before the arrests, the Trump administration singled out Columbia, announcing that it would cancel approximately $400 million in federal grants to the university. The administration cited the schools continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.

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The move marked an unprecedented intervention by the federal government into the affairs of a private university.

Columbia responded by pledging to work with the federal government to restore its funding.

We take Columbias legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combatting antisemitism and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff, a university spokesperson told NBC News last week.

On Thursday, the university said it suspended or expelled some of the students who participated and temporarily revoked the diplomas of some graduates.

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"Im not surprised that the university is choosing to throw its students and workers under the bus for grant money," Miner told NBC News. "We know exactly how much now it costs to buy Columbias morals."





This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Canada and Portugal have expressed willingness to explore alternatives to the F-35 stealth fighter as President Donald Trump has sown doubt about the US commitment to the NATO alliance. That comes as Trump presses ahead with his trade war and continues to call for Canada to become the 51st US state.

America's F-35 stealth fighter is seen by some allies as a potential vulnerability rather than a cutting-edge weapon that can boost warfighting capabilities.

In recent days, Canada and Portugal have expressed willingness to explore alternatives to the Lockheed Martin plane as President Donald Trump has sown doubt about the US commitment to the NATO alliance.

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On Friday, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said the country is actively looking at other fighter jets amid growing political momentum to scrap a $13 billion deal for 88 F-35s that was signed in 2023.

Canada has committed money for its first 16 planes, which are scheduled for delivery early next year. Blair indicated that after accepting that batch of F-35s, Canada could turn to European aircraft to replace its aging fleet of fighters.

"The prime minister has asked me to go and examine those things and have discussions with other sources, particularly where there may be opportunities to assemble those fighter jets in Canada," he told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., alluding to a Swedish proposal for Saab's Gripen fighter.

A defense ministry spokesperson also told Bloomberg that the deal hasnt been canceled, but Canada needs to "make sure that the contract in its current form is in the best interests of Canadians and the Canadian Armed Forces."

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The review of the F-35 deal comes has Trump has imposed tariffs on Canada and vowed to make the country the 51 state of the US, sparking outrage and boycotts of American products.

Meanwhile, Trump has long been skeptical of NATO and complained that member countries arent spending enough on defense. Despite allies boosting their outlays in recent years, he has signaled it's not enough and threatened to not come to their aid.

If they dont pay, Im not going to defend them. No, Im not going to defend them, he told reporters in the Oval Office last week.

In addition, Trump has threatened a trade war with Europe and alarmed allies there by warming up to Russia and halting US military aid to Ukraine, prompting the EU to embark on a massive military buildup in preparation for a world without a reliable US security shield.

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The seismic developments rocking the trans-Atlantic alliance, which were underscored by Trump's recent shouting match with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky, are top of mind as another NATO ally weighs a separate purchase of fighter jets.

While Portugal's air force has recommended buying F-35s, outgoing Defense Minister Nuno Melo told Publico that the country can't ignore the current geopolitical environment.

"The recent US stance in the context of NATO and the international geostrategic dimension, makes us think what are the best options, because the predictability of our allies is a factor to be reckoned with," he said.

He added that "this ally of ours" could limit use as well as maintenance support and access to components that are needed to ensure the aircraft are operational "in all types of scenarios."

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"There are several options that must be considered, particularly in the context of European production," Melo said, with the defense ministry later adding that Portugal isn't ruling out the F-35.

Reluctance among foreign militaries to buy the F-35 comes on top of concerns that the Trump administration is looking to slash US defense spending. As the Pentagon's most expensive acquisition program, the F-35 has been a perennial punching bag and has previously drawn Elon Musks scorn as being inferior to drones.

The White House and the Defense Department's joint program office for the F-35 didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

A spokesperson for Lockheed Martin said the company values its partnership and history with the Portuguese Air Force and looks forward to continuing that partnership in the future.

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"The F-35 is the most advanced, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world, enabling 21st Century Security and allied deterrence," Lockheed said in a statement to Fortune. "Questions about foreign military sales of the F-35 are best addressed by the US government."

Lockheed provided a similar comment about Canada's F-35 review.

In a separate statement to the CBC, the company sought to dispel online misinformation that claims the F-35 has a "kill switch" that allows the US government to cripple the aircraft, saying "we deliver all system infrastructure and data required for all F-35 customers to sustain the aircraft."

Still, an American promise is looking more doubtful as the US upends traditional geopolitics, according to Quantum Strategys David Roche, who told CNBC earlier this month that NATO is dead as Trump distances the US from long-time allies.

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That makes Russias Vladimir Putin and Chinas Xi Jinping the big winners, as they see confirmation of their views that democratic powers are on the decline, Roche explained.

The big loser is actually the US, because nobody will trust a US treaty again, he added, noting that a lot of so-called Global South countries will fall into Chinas orbit as a result.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Monday marks Evacuation Day in the city of Boston, and because of that the naval ship the USS Thomas Hudner is anchored here.

With the sailors that are here, we want to say thank you to our veterans for the incredible service and sacrifice that they have provided, said Boston City Councilor and Navy Veteran Ed Flynn. We are so fortunate to welcome the Navy back to Boston again.

Some of the sailors stationed on the ship joined members of the South Boston VFW post visiting veterans communities for a cup of coffee and a chat.

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With the veterans here in the South Boston neighborhood to thank them for their service and to let them know that we love and care for you, said Robert Santiago, the Commissioner of the City of Boston Office of Veterans Services.

They went from community to community to swap stories, share benefits information, and even trade gear from their ships.

Overall, just supporting each other, because service doesnt stop when you hang up the uniform.

Its so important to reach out to veterans to let them know that we remember them, said Santiago. Mostly to let them know that we dont forget.

Even though St. Patricks Day weekend is a celebration of Irish culture in South Boston, its the rich military history that this group wants to recognize as well.

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A three-judge panel will hear arguments Friday, March 21, on Jefferson Griffins request to throw out over 65,000 ballots cast in the 2024 N.C. Supreme Court election.

The state Court of Appeals rejected Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs request that the case be heard en banc by the entire 15-judge court .

Having received only three votes to allow, the motion is denied, the courts clerk Eugene H. Soar said Friday.

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Its the latest stop in a contentious and unprecedented case that has now persisted over four months past the Nov. 5 election.

Griffin, who is a judge on the Court of Appeals himself, lost to Riggs by 734 votes out of over 5.5 million ballots cast.

Griffins challenge will now be heard by three appeal court judges  two Republicans, John Tyson and Fred Gore, and a registered Democrat Toby Hampson  on Friday, March 21. Griffin didnt participate in the latest consideration of this motion, the court added.

Riggs narrow lead was confirmed by two recounts, but Griffin and the North Carolina Republican Party have embarked on a campaign to invalidate tens of thousands of ballots using untested legal theories.

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They argue that over 60,000 voters who cast ballots in the race may be ineligible because they did not have a Social Security number or drivers license number in the states database.

The State Board of Elections says there are myriad reasons for the missing numbers  most of which are not the fault of the voter. It could be due to clerical errors in inputting their registration forms or match issues with the national Social Security database when someone changes names.

Griffin also targets military and overseas voters who cast ballots without providing a photo ID  even though the elections board approved an exemption to the requirement for these voters. And he challenges the eligibility of what he calls Never Residents  the adult children of North Carolina residents born abroad.

The case has ping-ponged between state and federal courts for months and now appears poised to come before the North Carolina Supreme Court  the court Riggs and Griffin seek to join.

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Riggs was appointed to the high court in 2023 by Gov. Roy Cooper and remains in her seat while the dispute continues. She has recused herself from the case.

If she ultimately loses at the state Supreme Court, she may still be able to bring the case to federal court.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WGHP)  A Republican-led bill banning the teaching of certain divisive topics in North Carolina public schools has passed one chamber of the General Assembly, drawing criticism from the state Senate Democrats newly appointed leader.

Senate Bill 227, titled Eliminating DEI from Public Education, passed the state Senate 28-18, along party lines, on Tuesday. The bill forbids educators from teaching divisive topics in public schools and the existence of any offices called Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The bill defines divisive topics as:

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One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex.

An individual, solely by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive.

An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex.

An individuals moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex.

An individual, solely by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex.

Any individual, solely by virtue of his or her race or sex, should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress.

A meritocracy is inherently racist or sexist.

The United States was created by members of a particular race or sex for the purpose of oppressing members of another race or sex.

Particular character traits, values, moral or ethical codes, privileges, or beliefs should be ascribed to a race or sex or to an individual because of the individuals race or sex.

The rule of law does not exist but instead is a series of power relationships and struggles among racial or other groups.

All Americans are not created equal and are not endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Governments should deny to any person within the governments jurisdiction the equal protection of the law

According to the bill, an impartial instruction on these topics must be in accordance with the standard course of study in contexts that make clear the public school unit does not sponsor, approve, or endorse any divisive concepts.

Bill to raise North Carolina minimum wage filed by House Democrats

Upon the bills passage, North Carolina Senate Republican leadership responded, stating that the bill would not prevent schools from teaching history, so long as the instruction is impartial.

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Our schools should not be in the business of teaching inaccurate history or creating a learning environment that doesnt allow for free thought or expression, Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said in a statement. So-called DEI initiatives were pitched as a tool to help our children better understand our history, when in reality theyre merely a facade used by Democrats to alter curriculum to fit their agenda.

The state Senate Democrats newly appointed leader, Sen. Sydney Batch (D-Wake), fired back at the bill, providing the following statement:

Right now, North Carolinas classrooms are dealing with crumbling buildings, lead pipes, permanent substitutes instead of qualified teachers, and chronic underfunding that shortchanges our kids. But instead of fixing any of that, Republicans are focused on banning diversity, equity, and inclusion because they dont like how it makes them feel. Their bill wont repair a single school, wont put a single qualified teacher in a classroom, and wont make life better for a single North Carolinian. Its a distractionanother cheap stunt to score political points instead of solving real problems.

The bill must pass the House before it heads to the governors desk. It is unlikely to be signed into law by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein and would return to the General Assembly for a potential override.

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RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  What is being described as a state-level DOGE committee will be made of 17 North Carolina state representatives, including 11 Republicans and six Democrats.

One of those Democrats is State Rep. Phil Rubin from Wake County. Rubin told Queen City News he does not want to replicate the efficiency work that is being carried out by the Elon Musk-led agency in DC, but believes there are plenty of opportunities to make state government more efficient.

Western NC town hall turns hostile after Rep. Edwards defies GOP guidance

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If thats what were going to do, if were really going to roll up our sleeves in a bipartisan way and look for ways to make government work better and save the taxpayers money, then Im excited to help, count me in, said Rubin.

The House Select Committee on Government Efficiency will be chaired by Gaston County Rep. John Corbett. From the start, he has said he wanted the effort to be bipartisan.

Too be most effective, most efficient, and operate most expeditiously on behalf of the people of North Carolina, that should be their governing model, said Corbett.

But House Speaker Destin Hall has branded the committee as a state equivalent to the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, known for its controversial cuts to federal budgets and staffing.

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This groups going to be looking at government inefficiencies across state government, looking for things like DEI, other wasteful programs that we can cut out, Hall said in a video posted to social media.

Governor Josh Stein delivers first State of the State address

Echoing Gov. Josh Steins call for efficient government during his state of the state, Rubin said he is happy to take part in conversations to see where money can be better spent. However, he made clear he does not support any sort of effort that would resemble DOGE.

If its going to be the kind of slash-and-burn stuff thats gone on in DC, I dont think thats what North Carolinians want, and I dont think that its going to benefit the state, said Rubin.

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No first meeting date has been set, but Rubin expects it to happen within the next few weeks.

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  A man who the U.S. Department of Justice said is currently employed as an engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation pleaded guilty Monday to importing thousands of counterfeit car airbags into the Raleigh area and selling them both locally and online.

According to a news release from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, 31-year-old Mateen Mohammad Alinaghian imported around 2,500 counterfeit airbags from a supplier in the United Kingdom into Raleigh between May 2022 and April 2024.

The items had counterfeit markings of major auto manufacturers Honda, Chevrolet, General Motors and Toyota, according to documents and info presented in court.

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The steering wheel airbags were then sold to unsuspecting customers using Facebook Marketplace. Justice department officials said Alinaghian used the profile names of Matt AutoParts or Medo Smith on Facebook Marketplace to advertise and sell the items.

Counterfeit airbags sold by an NCDOT engineer. (U.S. Department of Justice)

Officials also said the airbags sold by Alinaghian were tested by Honda, General Motors and Toyota and were determined to be not manufactured by the car companies, and often included materials of lesser quality. They often malfunctioned during the testing, the news release said, posing a potentially serious risk of injury to the driver.

You could easily get scammed and think that you fixed your car for a deal, when in reality, you have installed something thats going to threaten your life, said Vincent Belmonte, the general manager of Epic Auto Center in Raleigh.

You have no way to know if these things are being manufactured correctly, Belmonte said. Are they being tested at all? Does anyone who is putting these things together have any earthly idea what theyre doing?

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The investigation into Alinaghians scheme was led by the Department of Homeland Securitys Homeland Security Investigations unit along with the U.S. Department of Transportations Office of the Inspector General.

Alinaghians home was searched during the investigation, in which about 20 counterfeit airbags were seized, the release said. The probe also resulted in multiple seizures by Customs and Border Control of in-bound packages from the United Kingdom containing the falsified items.

Once they learned Alinaghians supplier was in the UK, HSI contacted law enforcement there. According to the news release, the City of London Polices Intellectual Property Crime Unit executed a search warrant on two residential locations and one business on Sept. 19, 2024.

Counterfeit airbags sold by an NCDOT engineer. (U.S. Department of Justice)

That resulted in the seizure of 500 counterfeit airbags and approximately 140,000 in cash, as well as the arrest of three men suspected of fraud by false representation, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to distribute counterfeit goods. The investigation into that is still ongoing, the U.S. Justice Department said.

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In this case, the defendant put profit over safety by selling counterfeit airbags that had the potential to put drivers in harms way if the airbags malfunctioned during a collision, said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. Im so proud of the cooperation on display by this investigative team, which included partnering with our state, federal and international colleagues, and will hold Mr. Alinaghian responsible for his illegitimate enterprise.

Officials reiterated that counterfeit airbags could cause serious harm and even cost lives. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration consumer alert, between September 2023 and July 2024, three people were killed and two suffered injuries in the U.S. as a result of their vehicles having substandard replacement steering wheel airbags.

Selling and using counterfeit car airbags can have dangerous consequences, said Elaine F. Marshall, North Carolinas secretary of state. Our strong partnerships with the brand holders and law enforcement was crucial to uncovering this serious threat and taking them off the market may have saved lives.

Alinaghians guilty plea was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert B. Jones, Bubars office said. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Haughton.

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NCDOT provided the following statement on Alinaghian:

Mateen Mohammad Alinaghian has been a full-time NCDOT employee since January 2021. The department is aware of the recent legal action against Alinaghian and he is being placed on investigatory leave with pay.

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Alinaghians scheme, whether through receiving a counterfeit airbag from him or being injured as a result of one of his airbags, can call HSI at (919) 677-6392.

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SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A Lackawanna County man is facing charges accused of kidnapping a pre-teen girl after a childhood prank where they knocked on his door and ran away.

It happened last week and police say she was held at gunpoint before finally escaping.

Police say a group of kids were playing Ding-dong-ditch, in a Scranton neighborhood when one of the doors they knocked on turned terrifying.

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Police say one of the kids was kidnapped and held at gunpoint, before she finally got free.

A knock at the door could mean many things.

Last week, in this Scranton neighborhood it was a funny game, that quickly turned terrifying.

Police say a 12 year-old girl was with four of her friends when they were ding-dong-ditching this home at 423 14th avenue in Scranton.

According to police, the home owner Rob Ulrich came outside, grabbed the girl, and put a black handgun to her head as she was trying to run away.

I would feel absolute fear and terror like whats happening, what just happened, said neighbor Jesus Fernandez.

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Jesus Fernandez lives nearby.

He says he was home the night it happened on March 7 at around 10:30 p.m., and saw the heavy police presence that stormed his neighborhood.

According to the police affidavit, Ulrich and his two sons Daniel and Josh were all home at the time.

I didnt realize I was living up the street from someone who would even do that, stated Fernandez.

The young girl told police one of the men asked her If she wanted to die, and All these kids wants a bullet in their heads.

She also said one of the men told her he was from Canada.

Ulrich told police the young girl told him it was her two friends who knocked at his door not her.

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Thats when Ulrichs two sons walked with her here to the West Scranton Middle School just a street over to find them.

They didnt, and thats when she escaped.

It sounds very relieving that she was even able to get away, voiced Fernandez.

Fernandez is also 12 years-old and says hes played Ding-dong-ditch before too.

Well it went okay, but I really didnt want to do it again, said Fernandez.

And that is still the case after he heard of what happened to this group of children.

Hes happy to hear no one got physically hurt in this game, but feels it shouldnt have escalated to this point.

All you need to tell her was to buzz off, not to immediately grab a weapon, said Fernandez.

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Ulrich was charged with kidnapping of a minor, unlawful restraint of a minor, simple assault, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and harassment.

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Left to right, Terry Nelson, Michele Binkley and Wayne Rusk during a March 10 Ravalli County Commissioners meeting.

Terry Nelson has been picked to take over former Rep. Ron Marshalls seat in the Montana Legislature in House District 87.

Ravalli County Commissioners were forwarded three candidates from the countys Republican party and made the decision on March 10. The Commissioners voted unanimously to approve Nelson.

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Former House representatives Michele Binkley and Wayne Rusk were the other two candidates. Both lost primaries in 2024.

Marshall resigned on March 3 due to what the three-term legislator described as corruption among elected officials in the Capitol and the Department of Justice, who are bought and paid for by lobbyists. His specific ire was with those in the tobacco industry.

Marshall did not provide evidence to support his claims. The sudden resignation meant the local Republican party and commission had to act fast to get a representative of the district into Helena.

I just want to say that this is one of the hardest things that weve ever had to do, Ravalli County Commissioner Dan Huls said during the March 10 meeting. I know every single one of you, personally, and its very difficult.

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Nelson is a former chairman of the Ravalli County Republican Central Committee. He said during the March 10 meeting he grew up in Stevensville and has lived in Victor, Corvallis and Hamilton. He currently resides in Stevensville, he added.

Nelson pointed to his experience within the Ravalli County Planning Department, which he once led.

I took that planning department, I cut the budget substantially and provided tremendous service, and today it still is functioning well to serve not Republicans, not Democrats, but the citizens of Ravalli County, Nelson said to the commission. I think Ive shown that it doesnt matter who comes through the door. Im there to try to help.

The Montana Legislature has been on break this week, but will reconvene on Monday, March 17.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has called on Senate Democrats to stand up and do the right thing and vote no on the GOP-backed stopgap bill that would avert a looming government shutdown.

Passing this bill would give Republicans 6 months to consolidate power in the Executive branch and wreak havoc on our country. They are already threatening social security and Medicare. Gutting the Department of Education. Firing veterans. Vandalizing basic environmental protections. This will only allow them to continue that, he said Friday in a post on social platform X.

They will go on to cut funding and punish states that dont do their bidding. Theres still time to do the right thing. VOTE NO, he added.

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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D), who like Newsom is seen as a prospective presidential candidate for Democrats, also urged his party to oppose the measure.

Republicans in Congress have abdicated their responsibility to critically evaluate the damage Donald Trump is doing to critical services the American people need. Democrats have the ability to force bipartisanship and bring the two sides together to make a budget that reflects priorities we all ought to share, he said in a statement Friday.

Pritzker called Republicans reckless, accusing them of playing politics with peoples livelihood.

Veterans will have trouble getting healthcare. Workers will lose jobs when infrastructure projects grind to a halt. Preschools will lose teachers and parents will be left without childcare. Make no mistake: people will suffer the consequences of their negligence, he said.

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Democrats have the power to stop the cessation of power to Donald Trump and Elon Musk and they should use it. I urge a no vote on the Continuing Resolution, Pritzker added.

The House approved the spending measure earlier this week, but just one House Democrat supported it.

In the Senate, progressive Democrats have been calling on their party to oppose the measure, but Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Thursday evening he would back the measure. Schumer said he thought the GOP bill was bad legislation but that a shutdown would be worse.

It appeared that 10 Senate Democrats including Schumer would back the measure, which would give the legislation more than the 60 votes needed for passage.

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KAUAI COUNTY, Hawaii (KHON2)  Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami gave his seventh State of the County Address on Thursday, March 13.

Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami delivers 2025 State of County Address

KHON2 caught up with him to touch more on key issues and share whats next in his political future as he nears the end of his eight-year term.

10 facts about Obamas $18M Hawaii beachfront mansion

With Phase 1 of the master-planned community in Eleele almost complete, Mayor Kawakami mentioned more development partners are needed to start more projects to add to the affordable housing inventory. We asked the Mayor how he plans to get those partnerships.

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Our whole business model around affordable housing was to make it profitable and less risky for developers, because the previous model of letting private property owners develop left us with a backlog and a lack of inventory. So what weve been doing is land-banking, getting all the infrastructure in, having our team securing all the entitlements, and so were actually coming to the table to lower the cost of goods sold. And in that business model, were already attracting developers to come and help us build more affordable housing for families that work, live, and play right here on Kauai. And so as we proceed and wrap up our final year, were just going to be working quicker. And were just putting the development community on notice to be ready with bids when we send them out because were thinking outside of the box, said Mayor Kawakami.

After his term as mayor ends, Kawakami said he wants to continue to serve his community.

Theres no real, clear big picture. In the political world, it is often times a cloudy outlook, not that its bleak. But I do have a burning desire to serve and continue to serve, and there are many different ways to do it.

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I only got one year left and I really want to focus our efforts on wrapping up loose ends. Leaving the next administration with a good foundation so that he or she can build upon that. And I do have a burning desire to serve. Our Senate President Ron Kouchi is a person I look up to. And he can stay there as long as he wants, but Ive always been patient.

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Mar. 14Attorney General Raul Torrez, along with 19 of his counterparts, touted a legal victory against the Trump administration's mass government layoffs after a judge reinstated federal employees this week.

Judge James Bredar in U.S. District Court for Maryland issued a temporary restraining order compelling the federal government to end its mass layoffs of federal probationary employees and reinstate terminated employees by Monday.

Torrez and attorneys general from 18 Democratic states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump after his administration began a mass firing campaign aimed at drastically shrinking the federal government. Bredar's decision came hours after a similar ruling from federal Judge William Alsup of California.

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"Lacking the notice to which they were entitled, the States weren't ready for the impact of so many unemployed people," Bredar wrote in a memorandum. "They are still scrambling to catch up. They remain impaired in their capacities to meet their legal obligations to their citizens."

Around 3% and 5% of New Mexico's workforce are federal employees, although the counts vary depending on which federal agency supplies the numbers.

These workers stock the ranks of national parks and the U.S. Forest Service, health services for Native Americans and support services for veterans, among many other programs.

"This ruling is a crucial victory for hardworking federal employees and their families  it sends a clear message that no administration is above the law," Torrez said in a news release. "These illegal mass layoffs aren't just about jobs  they represent devastating cuts to the services we all rely on, from health care and education to support for our veterans."

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When the federal government wants to fire employees, the law demands it follow a process. Bredar wrote that those processes  like notifying states that layoffs are happening and giving them time to plan and reprogram  are meant to reduce the harm such actions may have on the states.

The Trump administration argued that it wasn't required to provide notice because it fired the workers for "performance" reasons.

"On the record before the court, this isn't true," Bredar wrote. "There was no individualized assessment of employees. They were all just fired."

The other states that filed against the firings were Maryland, Minnesota, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.
A bolo tie that will not be a contender for 'Best Bolo' between lawmakers on Saturday, March 15. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM)

You might have noticed bills with the same all-caps title floating around: PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE.

Committee chairs and legislative leaders introduce generic-titled bills that contain a title, and the phrase Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of New Mexico  until they dont. Lawmakers can substitute that generic language for entirely new bills, (even though the deadline for introduction is the sessions midway point) or tabled legislation, to give the bills another shake at moving through the Roundhouse.

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So far, legislators have introduced 80 dummy bills, though weve only found nine that have been replaced with actual legislation.

Read below about a few of those zombie bills. The chart above shows you all nine. Let us know at Info@SourceNM.com if any of them are of particular interest to you as we head into the final week of the session.

House Bill 588 mirrors Senate Bill 24, which would require all public works construction projects to contribute to public apprentice and training programs. SB24 passed its first committee, but stalled in Senate Finance, according to the legislatures bill tracker. House Transportation, Public Works and Capital Improvements tabled HB588 this week.

House Bill 592 increases the annual income cap for the Social Security Tax exemption by $20,000 for the next five years, and then eliminates the cap in 2031. The House Consumer and Economic Affairs hasnt scheduled the bill for a hearing yet.

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House Bill 593 includes provisions to increase rural health care practitioner health credits, institute medical school loan forgiveness and add caps to medical malpractice lawsuits. The House Health and Human Services Committee on Friday morning tabled HB593 in a 5-4 party-line vote.

House Bill 618 mirrors Senate Bill 217, which would remove oversight of IT purchases and contracts from the duties of the secretary of the Department of Information. SB217 passed its first committee, but is not scheduled for an upcoming hearing in Senate Tax, Business and Transportation. The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee on Friday morning passed HB618.

And make sure to peruse the status of all 1,300 or so pieces of legislation introduced so far this session with Sources bill tracker.

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Bill watch

The House Health and Human Services Committee passed Senate Bill 53, which would amend the Professional Psychologist Act to include allopathic and osteopathic physicians, nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists to the list of prescribing psychologists; Senate Bill 45, which would amend the Indigent Hospital and County Health Care Act to allow coverage for premium and out-of-pocket costs; Senate Bill 105, which would allow New Mexico to join the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact; Senate Bill 118, which would require the Motor Vehicles Division to create materials explaining how to apply to be an organ donor and distribute to state agencies; House Memorial 53, which would require the Department of Health and the Aging and Long-Term Services Department to update material on Alzheimers disease and related diseases; seek federal funding for updating dementia-related public health programs; and create a report for the Legislative Council and governor; House Memorial 56, which would recognize May as National Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month; and House Memorial 29, which would require the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee to review driving rules for people with diabetes during the 2025 interim session and develop legislation updating drivers license requirements for people with diabetes.

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The House Education Committee passed Senate Bill 11, which would require local school districts to adopt policies for student cell phone use with guidelines from the Public Education Department. The committee also voted to table Senate Bill 242, the Advancing the Science of Reading Act, introduced by President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque). The committee debated the bill last week and agreed to roll it while amendments were considered. House Education Committee Chair G Andres Romero (D-Albuquerque) said last week that he couldnt promise the bill would be scheduled for a hearing again. One of the big sticking points was over using student outcomes to determine how successful teacher preparation programs are in preparing teachers to use structured literacy.

I guess thats the concern, is that were utilizing those students in this teachers classroom for those three years as a way to evaluate those educator prep programs, and Im concerned about that, Romero said.

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee passed Senate Bill 299, which would require the Secretary of State to notify the governor, presiding officer of the chambers and the county commissioners within five days of a legislative vacancy in their area; House Bill 292, which would distribute 8% of the general funds gross receipts tax collection to the newly created all cities and counties fund; House Bill 456, which would allow state agencies to use a price agreement for architectural or engineering services up to $2 million, not exceeding $15 million over four years; Senate Bill 353, which would amend the Search and Rescue Act establishing response protocols for federal, state, local and tribal agencies when New Mexico Search and Rescue is called to assist in emergencies; House Bill 570, which would amend the Prior Authorization Act of the Insurance Code to restrict prior authorization for chemotherapy, dialysis, elder care and home health care services, as well as for prescribed diabetes and high blood pressure medications; House Bill 618, a dummy bill that would clarify the role of Department of Information when approving information technology projects conducted by state agencies; Senate Bill 507, which would amend the Concealed Handgun Carry Act to create qualifications, licensing procedures and renewal requirements for concealed handgun licenses; and Senate Bill 63, which would describe how the New Mexico state flag is to be retired when no longer used, such as by burning, a private ceremony or public ceremony held by military personnel or a patriotic society.

The House Taxation and Revenue Committee passed House Bill 14, which would effectively eliminate the state income tax for about 20,000 families.

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The Senate Rules Committee passed House Bill 84, which would enact the Employee Free Speech Act.

The Senate Finance Committee passed Senate Bill 401, the Broadband for Education bill, which among other facets would move the Statewide Education Network from the Public School Facilities Authority Office of Broadband Access and Expansion.

We are pleased that the Finance Committee understands the significance of this bill and what it will mean for broadband expansion on the education front, OBAE Acting Director said in a statement.

Senate Finance also passed House Bill 181, House Bill 218 and Senate Bill 535, a dummy bill.

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The Senate Education Committee passed House Bill 532, House Bill 487, House Bill 67 and House Bill 65.

The Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee passed House Bill 339, Senate Bill 96, House Bill 91, House Bill 357, House Bill 223, House Bill 228, House Bill 220, House Bill 174, House Bill 171, House Bill 154, House Bill 191, House Bill 160, House Bill 99, House Bill 93 and House Bill 56.

Cleared the floors

The House of Representatives debated House Bill 17 for three hours before passing the bill, which would create a commission to study grocery prices and propose ways to lower consumer costs for essential household foods. The chamber also passed House Bill 76, which would require hospitals and other institutions to screen newborn children for congenital cardiac conditions; House Bill 372, which would increase the weight limit for recreational off-highway vehicles, and allow drivers under the age of 18 to carry a passenger if they are properly licensed and supervised; House Bill 7, which would would establish a trust fund for children born in New Mexico after Jan. 1, 2025; and House Bill 571, which would create a program and certification process under the Department of Finance and Administration to acknowledge municipalities that adopt strategies that increase housing affordability and accessibility.

After lengthy debate, the Senate passed House Bill 5, which would create the Office of the Child Advocate to oversee the Children Youth and Families Department.

Workin for the weekend

The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee was expected to meet at 5:45 p.m. on Friday night.

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The Senate will meet at noon on Saturday. Senate Majority Floor Leader Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe) said he also expects the Senate to meet on Sunday.

The Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee will meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

The Senate Conservation Committee will meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will meet after the floor session on Saturday.

The Senate Finance Committee will meet on Saturday morning, around 9:30 or 10 a.m., Chair George Munoz said.

The Senate will hold a bolo tie contest on Saturday, Sen. Bobby Gonzales (D-Rancho de Taos) said. The prize will be one of the bolo ties from his collection, he said.

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  The New Mexico Department of Justice is celebrating after a federal judge ruled against a Trump Administration order that led to the layoffs of many federal probationary employees. A Maryland judge issued a temporary restraining order for 18 federal agencies, ordering they stop the mass layoffs, a move that sparked protests across the country.

NMDOT conducting inspections on Big I bridges

The order says terminated employees must be reinstated by Monday. Around 20 attorneys general from across the country, including New Mexicos Raul Torrez, filed the motion last week, saying the layoffs were illegal because they did not give the required 60-day notice. The order also says federal agencies must document actions they have taken to comply with the order.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Nimrod Cohens mother never got to ask him why he chose a raven for the tattoo he got in October 2023. Three days after getting inked, Nimrod was kidnapped and taken to Gaza.

The next time Cohen saw that bird was more than 500 days later, in a Hamas propaganda video.

We recognized Nimrod because of that tattoo. Otherwise, I wouldnt recognize him because you couldnt hear his voice or see his face, Vicky Cohen told CNN.

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It was the first time we got a visual sign of life of Nimrod and I was so excited to see him standing, moving his body, the first time that we can see him after so long. It makes Nimrod more present and it makes Nimrod more alive, and it also makes me more worried and afraid.

Nimrod Cohen is one of 24 hostages held in Gaza who are believed to be alive. As a young, healthy man with no children, Cohen has not been prioritized for release by Israeli negotiators, who insisted that women and children, the elderly and any injured hostages were freed first.

But for Vicky Cohen, there is no higher priority in the world than getting her son back. Im frightened and very worried but Im not losing hope. I cannot lose hope. But also, I do believe that our government is not doing enough to bring him back, she said.

Nimrod Cohen is among a handful of living hostages who were active-duty soldiers when abducted, alongside Edan Alexander, Matan Angrest and Tamir Nimrod. Hamas is also holding the bodies of several other soldiers, most of whom were killed during the October 7 terror attack.

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Under the phased deal to which Israel and Hamas agreed in January, younger male hostages were going to be released during the latter stages of the ceasefire.

But they are now caught in limbo as the first phase of the deal expired without the two sides agreeing on whats next.

Edan Alexander is the last of the American hostages in Gaza who is believed to be alive. The bodies of four more American citizens  Judi Weinstein Haggai and her husband Gad Haggai, and soldiers Itay Chan and Omer Maxim Neutra  are also still held by Hamas.

A senior Hamas official told CNN on Friday that the group was still committed to the initial deal and that it had accepted a proposal from mediators to release Alexander and the bodies of four dead dual national hostages, conditional on Israel abiding by terms laid down in the January ceasefire.

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The Israeli Prime Ministers Office accused Hamas of engaging in manipulation and psychological warfare by announcing their willingness to release Alexander. Israeli ministers will meet on Saturday night to receive a detailed report from a negotiating team that spent the past week in Doha, and to decide on the next steps for the release of the hostages.

Yael and Adi Alexander, the parents of Edan Alexander, the American-Israeli hostage taken during the October 7, 2023 attack, attend an interview at their home in Tenafly, New Jersey, U.S., on December 14, 2024. - Stephani Spindel/Reuters

Adi Alexander, Edans father, has spent the past year and half lobbying for the release of his son and all of the other hostages. He said he and his wife have attended more than 300 meetings with American officials.

Somehow everybody feels really comfortable with the current ceasefire  Israelis and Hamas as well. There are no civilian deaths, which is great, no soldiers are dying, bullets are not flying, which is also great, Alexander told CNN.

But what about the hostages? We dont want to go back into the situation with Gilad Shalit (whom) they kept for years and at the end of the day, the demands were the same  so the Israelis need to get out of this comfort zone and keep negotiating.

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Gilad Shalit is a former IDF soldier who was held by Hamas in Gaza for more than five years. He was released in 2011, in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.

Trumps ultimatum

Earlier this year, Israel and Hamas agreed to a phased ceasefire that would consist of three distinct stages. The initial phase of the truce ended in mid-February, after 38 hostages were freed from Gaza and 1,737 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released from Israeli prisons.

The second phase was meant to include the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of all remaining living hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The details of how this would unfold were meant to be agreed during the first phase of the agreement, but that has not happened.

Whats happening now, exactly? What is the plan? It obviously never went by the original plan to start negotiating after 16 days and be over with that within two weeks, we are far beyond that in this point, so what is the strategy?, Alexander said.

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We are in no mans land, leaving hostages under the ground, which is unacceptable.

The Israeli government has suggested an extension to the first stage, demanding the release of half of the remaining Israeli living and deceased hostages in Gaza but without committing to end the war or withdraw Israeli troops. In return, Israel would release more Palestinian prisoners and detainees and allow more aid into the territory. According to this plan, the rest of the hostages would be released when, or if, an agreement is reached on a permanent ceasefire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure from his far-right coalition partners to return to war. Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, has threatened to withdraw from the government if Israel doesnt restart the war. Itamar Ben Gvir quit his post as national security minister over the ceasefire.

Smotrich and Ben Gvir have argued that Israel should keep fighting Hamas until the group is eliminated, after which they want Israel to take over Gaza and build settlements there  an idea lent credence by US President Donald Trump, but dismissed by most other leaders.

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Vicky Cohen said that she believes the Israeli government has prioritized the goal of defeating Hamas completely over the release of hostages, including her son.

After more than one year of war, Hamas is still ruling Gaza. I understand the need (to stop) Hamas from ruling Gaza, so we wont get to October 7 once again  but we need to pay a price and now, the main thing is to bring the hostages back home, even though it means to stop the war and withdraw from Gaza and deal with Hamas later on, she said, adding that the idea of building Jewish settlements in Gaza was nonsense.

To put extra pressure on Hamas, Israel announced earlier this month that it would stop the entry of all humanitarian aid and electricity into Gaza.

The families of hostages still in Gaza are now pinning their hopes on Trump, who has sent US officials to negotiate directly with Hamas, in a notable U-turn from a long-standing policy of not talking to groups it considers terrorist organizations.

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We hear from the president that he is committed to bring all the hostages back, and we trust him, and we believe thats what he is going to do  not because he loves the hostages, but because the wants to stop the war between a Russian and Ukraine crime and in Gaza, he wants to get a Nobel Prize of Peace, Cohen said.

Earlier this month, Trump went as far as issuing what he said was a last warning to Hamas to release all hostages immediately, saying that not a single Hamas member will be safe if you dont do as I say.

While Hamas said Trumps words threatened to undermine the ceasefire, Adi Alexander said he had faith in Trump. Alexander is the only one of the five American hostages in Gaza, to be alive.

People need to take him seriously, sometimes not literally, but they need to take him really seriously, he told CNN. Thats the way it works. You have to shake the tree, create chaos, and the chaos will create opportunities.

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But Trumps plan has not worked  at least not yet.

Instead, the US came up with a new proposal this week to extend the ceasefire in exchange for the release of a handful of living hostages.

The development was met with dismay by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which said reports of the proposal raise serious concerns among the families of the hostages that their loved ones will be left in captivity for a long and unknown period.

We demand a comprehensive and immediate agreement that will return all 59 hostages in one fell swoop and leave no one behind, the forum added in a statement.

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Vicky Cohen said she has publicly turned to Netanyahu and other officials to beg him to do the right thing.

There are people are still alive there, and even though Nimrod is a soldier, he is only 20 years old, and he is my son. I want to hug him. I want him back home. I miss the all the small things of life, hearing his voice, seeing his smile, seeing the mess in his room, and the empty packets of ice cream he leaves behind, she said.

CNNs Mick Krever, Ibrahim Dahman, Jeremy Diamond, Abeer Salman, Dana Karni and Lucas Lilieholm contributed to this report.

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Im angry. In Citizens Climate Lobby (an organization that I volunteer with), we play by the rules. We work with the public and with our members of Congress to find common ground so that Congress will pass laws that make our country a better place to live.

Polluters pay for impacts of their pollution on others, and those impacted by the pollution are compensated with payments ultimately coming from polluters.

The rules dont seem to matter anymore. The Trump administration is proceeding with its dismantling of the federal government regardless of the laws appropriating funds and directing the executive branch to implement them.

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They are proceeding at a pace so rapid that the courts cannot keep up with them. By the time the courts have ruled (almost always against them), the damage has been done and wont easily be repaired, even if the Trump administration complies with court rulings. So far, the record of compliance has not been encouraging.

Yes, there is massive fraud in government. People cheat on taxes to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars a year. There was at least $9 billion in fraud when 4 trillion dollars was rapidly dispersed during the Covid pandemic.

Yes, there is waste. The waste by the U.S. military is so great that no one knows how much it is.

The solution is not to gut the government. Identifying fraud and waste is hard work. It takes skilled investigators care and time to set up processes that catch fraud and waste.

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Gutting government just makes it less risky to cheat on taxes, less likely to identify waste, and harder to distribute government funds to the people who need it or will deliver the services we expect.

If someone claiming to be serious about fraud and waste fires the people who are skilled at identifying it, they are lying. They are inviting more fraud and waste.

Moreover, federal employment is only 6.6% of federal spending. Most federal spending is on payments to those whove either paid into social security and medicare or have the unfortunate inability to support themselves, on payments for vital services such as national defense and domestic security, or on payments on the federal debt.

If we automate every government function and fire every worker, government spending would decline by only 6.6%. Thats not nothing, but we cant automate every government function.

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Further reductions in spending would require painful reductions in payments for social security, medicare, medicaid, defense, and foreign aid. Congress makes those decisions, not the Executive branch.

If we are truly serious about reducing government waste and fraud and making it more efficient, lets apply the skill of a surgeon to government, investing in teams to automate processes that distribute funds and identify waste and fraud (ironically, one of the teams doing that was terminated by DOGE). But we must recognize that many of those government functions cannot be fully automated.

We do have a federal deficit problem. Democrats love to spend. Republicans hate taxes. If someone claiming to be serious about the deficit focuses only on restraining spending or only on increasing taxes, they are lying. Any serious attempt to address the deficit will both reduce spending and increase taxes. Extending the 2017 tax cuts is unsustainable without very painful cuts in foreign and domestic federal spending. How much must people suffer so that we can have our beloved tax cuts?

Im angry. Our government is being dismantled, not because that is what most people voted for, not because its reducing fraud and waste, not because its going to reduce the federal deficit. Its being dismantled so most of us can pay 1-2% less in federal taxes and are free to pollute without paying for its impacts. Is that what you want? Tell your representatives in Congress what you want.

Climate scientist Steve Ghan leads the Tri-Cities chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby.
(FOX40.COM)  Police in Northern California recently arrested 21 people in connection to sex crimes against children.

 Video Above: What to do if you witness a crime

In May 2024, the Modesto Police Department launched multiple investigations targeting individuals attempting to engage with minors for sexual purposes. Through a series of undercover sting operations, MPD busted 21 people for crimes related to child sexual exploitation, including possession and distribution of child pornography, sending harmful material to minors, and attempting to engage in sexual acts with minors.

Northern California diver finds body of missing toddler in Oregon river

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According to MPD, 12 people including a registered sex offender allegedly sent explicit images, videos, and messages to what they believed were minors. Several suspects arranged in-person meetings with the intent to commit sexual acts. All 12 of them of them were arrested.

The safety of our children is our top priority, said MPD Sergeant Alex Rivera. These arrests send a clear messageModesto will not tolerate child predators in our community. Our detectives worked tirelessly to bring these offenders to justice, and we will continue to use every available resource to protect our most vulnerable residents. Every arrest made in these operations is one less predator that can harm a child.

MPD also executed a two-day operation from March 5-6 that targeted individuals identified through tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). This operation resulted in the execution of search warrants at 14 locations in Modesto, leading to the arrest of eight adults and one juvenile for possession of child pornography.

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Norway's sovereign wealth fund stands at 1.7 trillion. | Credit: Carina Johansen / Bloomberg via Getty Images

"Are we a nation of money-grubbers and war profiteers?" That's what we must look like to our European neighbours, said Asbjrn Svarstad in Nettavisen (Oslo).

Norway is sitting on a huge war windfall that could solve the continent's problems in an instant. Our sovereign wealth fund is now worth 1.7 trillion  and 109 billion of that came straight from our neighbours' pockets. Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, Putin cut off Russian gas supplies, sending energy prices skyrocketing and leaving Norway to lap up the profits as the continent's biggest gas supplier. And given that our European allies are pushing their budgets to the limit to help fund Ukraine's fight for survival, we owe it to them to plough that money back into rearmament. Yet until last week, when, under significant pressure, the government more than doubled its contribution to 7 billion  we were the "Uncle Scrooge" of Europe: shamefully, we've donated less to Ukraine as a share of GDP than our Scandinavian neighbours.

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Even 7 billion is a "pathetic" amount, said Peter Wolodarski and Christian Jensen, the editors (respectively) of a Swedish and a Danish newspaper, in Aftenposten (Oslo). We used to view the home of the Nobel Peace Prize as a generous and globally orientated country. Now we "don't recognise our Norwegian brothers and sisters".

But Norway's government has stood its ground, said Havard Halland in the FT (London). Even the finance minister, Jens Stoltenberg, who previously as head of Nato pushed countries to give more, argues against donating more to Ukraine. The wealth fund is governed by strict fiscal rules, he argues: it's specifically designed "for future generations of Norwegians".

And he's not alone in flatly rejecting the idea that Norway has a "special responsibility" to help Ukraine, said Eirik Rsvik in Verdens Gang (Oslo). Norway's former finance minister, Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, argues that Norway has no need to penalise itself for being a perfectly legitimate energy exporter. And besides, he says, "if Norway were suddenly to give three times as much as, let's say, Germany has done, other countries will soon give less". Far better, he believes, that Norway just remains a "stable" ally of Ukraine.

Alas, my country is drunk on "the illusion of wealth", said Knut N. Kjr in Aftenposten. Oil riches aren't the same as power, and we're still a small vulnerable country on the border of Vladimir Putin's imperialism. "More than ever, we need predictability and security in our relationship with Europe", and we won't get that by being "opportunistic egoists". In fact, donating the windfall would be an investment in our future. Ukrainian soldiers are battling an "existential threat to freedom and democracy"  not just to their own country but to ours, too.
Senate Republicans arent seeing eye to eye with their colleagues in the House over places to cut spending in order to pay for their extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts.

GOP members of the Senate Finance Committee met Thursday with President Trump, seeking to get on the same page about tax and spending issues after the House passed a budget resolution at the end of February outlining $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and between $1.5 and $2 trillion in spending cuts.

The resolution compels the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House to come up with nearly $900 billion in spending cuts, which will likely require them to slash funding for the popular Medicaid health care program.

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Trump has said he wants his agenda  spanning tax cuts, border security and expanded fossil fuel extraction  passed in one big, beautiful bill, even as the Senate Republicans have laid the groundwork for two bills.

Following their meeting with Trump, some Senate Republicans criticized the House resolution. House and Senate Republicans will need to pass a joint budget resolution before they can move forward with a specific tax and spending bill through the reconciliation process, which allows a party-line vote and avoids a filibuster in the Senate.

Their bill is not quite yet beautiful, Senate Finance Committee member Steve Daines (R-Mont.) said Thursday. We have to be aligned first and foremost. The first step is to get our budget resolution passed that aligns more closely to where the House is.

Daines said Republicans in the Senate, which tends not to be quite as concerned with deficit additions as the lower chamber, will need to match the $1.5 trillion in cuts sought by the House and perhaps go beyond it for their resolution to be viable.

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What number do we put into the budget resolution in terms of, basically, deficit reduction? he said. I think were going to have to be to that number in the Senate in order for the House to accept what we will do.

Senate Finance Committee member Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) tread carefully on the topic of spending cuts, repeating a common Republican line about waste, fraud and abuse in spending programs.

For all of us, whats off the table is reducing benefits for people who need things. But in any program where theres waste, fraud and abuse, we definitely want to explore that, he said.

Following the meeting with Trump, Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and member James Lankford (R-Okla.) stressed the desire to make the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent. Some of the cuts have already expired and the many more are due to expire at the end of this year.

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Permanence would likely add more to the cost of the tax cuts than a temporary extension. The 2017 cuts were made temporary in order to reduce their deficit impact, as Republicans were initially trying to make their bill revenue-neutral before agreeing to $1.5 trillion in deficit expansion.

The current tax extension bill could add substantially more to the deficit than its forerunner. The cost of simply extending the expiring 2017 cuts will cost $4.7 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office  more than the $4.5 trillion the House budget resolution has allotted.

Without any offsets, the Republican tax cuts could amount to $6.8 trillion in federal revenue losses if they are written to expire after 2033, according to a recent analysis by budget modelers at the University of Pennsylvania. If theyre made permanent, they would shed revenue by $7.7 trillion.

Republicans are seeking to be able to ignore nearly $5 trillion of those revenue losses by using an accounting method that disregards their legal expirations.

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Mar. 15Registered nurses in San Joaquin County ratified a new three-year contract this week, avoiding a potential strike.

The California Nurses Association and National Nurses United said the agreement comes after nurses issued a three-day unfair labor practice strike notice to San Joaquin County. The strike was to begin March 9.

Contract negotiations began nearly a year ago.

"This has been a long, hard-fought victory for San Joaquin County nurses," registered nurse Kelly Mertz said. "With this contract, San Joaquin County can be a competitive health care employer  meaning it can recruit and retain experienced nurses and avoid staffing crises. Our collective union power, our solidarity, and our commitment to each other and to patient safety brought this monumental contract to reality."

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Contract stipulations include improvements to nurse, health care worker, and patient health and safety, with county commitments to maintain a stockpile of personal protective equipment and nurse access to the hospital's Workplace Violence Committee. The contract also includes improved non-discrimination language as well as wage increases that CNA said will keep the county competitive with the region's health care employers and boost recruitment and retention of nurses.

"The fully executed agreement is expected to be complete in the next few weeks and once it is, it will be uploaded to the SJC Human Resources website, as all County labor agreements are," San Joaquin County spokeswoman Hilary Crowley said.

The agreement will go before the Board of Supervisors for adoption on March 25 with an effective date of April 7.

Crowley said the nurses pay scales are not included in the agreement but rather updated into the county's salary grade and will become effective after the board adopts them.

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Nurses held a one-day strike in January, claiming the county was engaging in unfair labor practices.

At that time, the county said the two sides had agreed to 18 tentative agreements, with 20 unresolved issues. The county provided CNA with a revised "last best and final offer" that included an increase to

base wages, bringing the overall value of the county's proposal to $54.4 million. When the

county's negotiation team asked CNA to take the proposal to their membership for a vote, the

county says they refused. They were told by nurses representatives that they would not ask

their members to vote on items not tentatively agreed upon.

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The county declared an impasse and initiated formal impasse procedures.

Prior to reaching a new agreement, starting pay for a registered nurse in the county was $105,539 and could go up to $128,273, according to the county's published pay schedule.

The new contract will expire in April 2028.

CNA represents more than 1,000 registered nurses throughout San Joaquin County, including public health and county jail nurses, and registered nurses at San Joaquin General Hospital.
A Long Island woman is accused of posing as a dentist and performing dangerous root canals and dental extractions on undocumented and uninsured immigrants  giving one facial paralysis  even though she has no dental qualifications.

Suffolk County Police arrested Yolany Mejia Carranza, 55, on Thursday in connection with the sham practice.

Carranza is accused of running a makeshift dental clinic in Bay Ridge even though she never went to dental school.

Yolany Mejia Carranza was targeting the undocumented and uninsured Hispanic community  and only accepted cash, police say. Suffolk County Police Department

What shes doing is extremely dangerous, said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. We dont know what her background is. What we do know is she was not trained as a dentist.

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Police say they received tips from several injured patients, including one who suffered nerve damage from a procedure, which caused partial facial paralysis.

It has to be extremely traumatic, said Catalina.

Detectives executed a search warrant and discovered a fully-functioning dental office.

Police say Carranza was exploiting the Hispanic community  mostly undocumented immigrants without insurance, who found out about her practice through word of mouth. Her business was cash-only, and police believe she got antibiotics from overseas, but performed procedures without adequate anesthesia.

She is alleged to have run the scam in Bay Shore, and at a prior location in Huntington Station, for a total of eight years. Police said they could not even guess how long her victim list was.

When detectives executed a search warrant, they found a fully functioning dental office in Bay Shore. Suffolk County Police Department

Mejia Carranza had antibiotics but only did not provide adequate anesthesia. Suffolk County Police Department

I would imagine its extensive, said Catalina.

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Carranza was arraigned in court Friday and charged with three counts of unauthorized practice of a profession  a class E felony in New York.

She was released and is due back in Suffolk 1st District Court on April 1.

Carranzas lawyer did not return a request for comment.
An NYPD officer was struck by an out-of-control car and pinned between two vehicles in a dramatic crash that unfolded in Manhattan Friday morning, authorities said.

The 26-year-old uniformed cop was walking to his car around 7:12 a.m. on West 13th Street in the West Village when a black Dodge Charger traveling southbound on Seventh Avenue changed lanes and rammed into a sanitation street sweeper, police said.

The crash happened at West 13th Street and Seventh Avenue just after 7 a.m. Google Maps

The crazed 43-year-old driver lost control of the muscle car and sideswiped the officer, lodging him between his police cruiser and the sporty sedan.

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The officer was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition for treatment, police said.

The officer was treated at a local hospital and is in stable condition. Google Maps

It remains unclear what injuries he sustained.

The frantic driver, who was treated at Bellevue Hospital after complaining of pain, was taken into custody.

Charges are pending, police said.

The investigation is ongoing.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Officials have confirmed the first measles case of the year in Michigan.

It happened in Oakland County, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said Friday. The infected person was an adult and had recently traveled overseas. Its not clear whether they were vaccinated.

Its the first case in Michigan since July 2024, according to a release from MDHHS.

This case of measles is a reminder of how easily this highly contagious disease can spread, particularly with international travel, said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive, in a statement. Vaccination remains our best defense against measles and is highly efficient at protecting individuals and preventing outbreaks.

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Measles cases reach nearly 300 total in Texas and New Mexico. Heres what you should know

The infected adult may have exposed other people, MDHHS warned. Those who were at Kruse and Muer, a restaurant on Main Street in Rochester, on March 3 and those who visited Henry Ford Rochester Hospitals emergency department on March 8, 9 or 10 could have been exposed, the release said.

Measles is highly contagious, according to the department, and can be spread through the air or by direct contact. The disease can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person sneezes or coughs.

Symptoms generally take a week or two to appear and can include a high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes, MDHHS said. Two or three days after symptoms start, small white spots can develop on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth. After the onset of symptoms, a raised, red and blotchy rash can also appear, usually starting on the face and spreading from there.

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MDHHS urged residents to check their vaccination status and, if needed, get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the long-awaited Brightline West high-speed rail line running from Las Vegas to Los Angeles had reached the halfway point in acquiring its $12 billion in funding.

Now, state transportation officials have said that production on this high-speed train should begin within the next couple of months, and crews are hard at work preparing for the construction of the rail line.

The news that the high-speed train is almost ready to begin construction is excellent for several reasons. According to 8 News Now, in a release in 2024, the Department of Transportation shared, "The project will bolster tourism, create 35,000 good-paying jobs, ease traffic on I-15, and cut more than 400,000 tons of carbon pollution each year."

Would you support a tax increase to pay for high-speed rail in your state? Absolutely Probably I don't know No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Along with the economic boost Brightline West will provide, people in the corridor between Las Vegas and Los Angeles can expect to have their daily lives made simpler with quicker travel times. The trains on this line will be capable of reaching speeds of up to 186 miles per hour, cutting the time of the journey from Vegas to L.A. from four to two hours.

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Plus, studies have shown that traveling via high-speed trains produces much less air pollution per person than traveling by plane or vehicle, so people in the area can breathe more easily even when they aren't traveling.

However, though construction is about to begin, it will take a while to complete. The Nevada Department of Transportation estimates there will be up to three years of heavy construction before the rails are laid, and the entire process will likely take four years in total. The hoped-for opening date for Brightline West is 2028, though.

Still, things are a bit up in the air when it comes to ensuring fully completed funding for the rail and a concrete start date for construction. 8 News Now quoted Nevada Department of Transportation senior project manager Eric Scheetz, who said, "Literally, stuff is changing by the minute."

Scheetz also explained in a recent presentation that the high-speed rail line will have four stations total and operate 37 trains. Considering Brightline should serve roughly 8.6 million one-way passengers yearly, travel could be much simpler for a significant number of people shortly.

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.
Work to secure funding for a sewer line connection at Jemez Road on the citys south side is continuing, but the project likely will not break ground until late 2025 at the earliest.

In a February interview, Public Works Director Regina Wheeler said construction could begin in months, but on Friday Wastewater Engineering Supervisor Fred Heerbrandt, who is overseeing the project, stipulated it will likely be six to nine months at the earliest.

Were just trying to make sure we have everything in place before we start, he said, noting the grant agreements to fund the project are still being finalized.

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The timeline will likely be frustrating to residents and business owners on the street off Airport Road, who along with residents of nearby Vereda de Valencia have been advocating to be connected to the citys sewer system for years.

Both streets were annexed into the city of Santa Fe but have never had sewer connections, with residents relying instead on septic tanks. As the tanks age, residents have said they are frustrated with both the expense of maintaining them and the health hazards they present.

Rep. Linda Serrato, D-Santa Fe, obtained appropriations for the two sewer lines, which are in her district, in several recent legislative sessions, and the sewer line connection on Vereda de Valencia is complete.

The city is still working to line up all the funding for the Jemez Road connection, however, something Heerbrandt said needs to be complete before work can begin.

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Were trying to do it as economically and quickly as possible, but I have to have the funding in place before I can start, he said Friday, adding he is very aware it is something residents are eagerly awaiting.

The city has a $400,000 grant for the project and is expected an additional $210,000 grant from the Legislature. At Wednesdays City Council meeting, Councilor Amanda Chavez introduced a resolution authorizing the city to enter into an agreement with the New Mexico Environment Department for the funding, one of many capital outlay agreements that have gone before City Council in the past several months.

We really want to get that sewer line improved, so we prioritized that one, Wheeler said in February.

Once the two grant agreements are finalized, the city will have all the funding it needs for the project. While Heerbrandt said it will be more expensive than the Vereda de Valencia project because Jemez Road is paved and will require more road repair work, he said $610,000 will be more than adequate to finish the project.

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In prior email communications with Jemez Road residents and elected officials, Wheeler said design work on the project was starting before both grants were finalized.

The project can start design work with the $400K and the additional $210K will provide total funding needed for construction, she wrote in an August email in response to a resident as part of an ongoing email chain.

However, Heerbrandt said no design work has started and will not start until both grants and processed. We havent proceeded with anything yet, he said, noting he is currently working on three construction projects at the aging wastewater treatment plant, which has struggled with a series of maintenance problems.

Heerbrandt said design work on the Jemez Road sewer line connection will be done in-house, and the construction work will either be done with one of the citys on-call contracts or put out to bid. If the project goes to bid, he said it will take longer for construction to begin.

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Actual work would take six months at most, although he estimated it would likely be quicker, noting he thought the construction on Vereda de Valencia had gone very smoothly.

Serrato did not respond to multiple requests for comment this week but has previously expressed irritation at the projects long timeline.

In a Dec. 12 email to Wheeler and others, she blamed the slow process on the citys previous issue with overdue audits, which led to it being placed under a fiscal agency. No one in Santa Fe  our capital city  should be living with sewer filth as a problem, she wrote. So please let me know who in the city we need to speak with. I will not invest more capital outlay dollars into the city as a fiscal agent when my district is still dealing with this issue.
If youve got a beach trip coming up and want to bring your drone, you might want to think again.

As technology continues to advance, drones have dramatically altered the field of aviation.

For both recreational and commercial use, drones can be used to shoot videos and photos, transport objects, search and rescue, construction, mapping, surveillance and more.

With the broad use of these devices, its good to know whats what and how you can  and cant use drones.

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Here is a close look at the federal and state laws for South Carolina drone owners.

Federal drone laws

Drones are permitted in the United States for both recreational and commercial purposes, subject to the Federal Aviation Administration and local regulations.

The following list outlines federal drone laws that apply to every state in the US, including South Carolina.

If you are flying a drone for commercial or business purposes: You are required to follow the requirements of the FAAs Part 107 Small UAS Rule (Part 107), which includes passing the FAAs Aeronautical Knowledge Test to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate.

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To fly a drone as a government employee (for a police or fire department): You may either operate under the FAAs Part 107 rule or obtain a federal Certificate of Authorization (COA).

Recreational drone laws for South Carolina & TRUST

For those looking to fly a drone for recreational purposes anywhere in the US, the FAA requires all recreational drone pilots to pass TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test).

This is a free online safety test to help flyers understand basic drone safety and regulations.

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Here is what to know about the exam:

Required for U.S. recreational flyers of drones

Launched June 2021 by the FAA

Takes about 30 minutes to complete

No prior drone knowledge needed

The test allows unlimited attempts to pass

If you want to fly a drone, you must carry proof of test passage when flying. Click here to visit the TRUST webpage and take the test.

Here are some additional recreational model aircraft rules from the FAA to keep in mind:

Must take and pass the Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) before flying & carry proof of completion.

Must register drones weighing over 0.55 lbs (250 grams) at faadronezone.faa.gov.

Mark your drone with your registration number.

Must fly within visual line of sight and at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace.

Cannot fly near airports, emergency response efforts or critical infrastructure.

Avoid flying over people, moving vehicles, and sensitive infrastructure.

Drone insurance is not required but recommended for hobbyists drone operations.

Fly during the day if youre flying for fun or under the FAAs Small UAS Rule.

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For more information about recreational drone laws, click here.

Commercial drone use rules

If you are flying a drone for commercial use, different rules apply.

To fly commercially, you must:

Obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate under FAAs Part 107 rule.

Pass the Unmanned Aircraft General  Small (UAG) knowledge exam.

Must comply with Remote ID regulations

Have broadcast identification and location information for your aircraft

To take the exam, it costs $175 plus an additional $5 drone registration fee, which is valid for three years.

For more information on drone setup and operation, visit the FAA Part 107 Guide.

Remote ID for drone flyers

According to the FAA, all drone pilots who are required to register or have registered their drone must operate per the rule on Remote ID.

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Remote ID allows drones that are in flight to provide identification and location information that can be received by other parties through a broadcast signal.

It is needed for flyers because it helps the FAA, law enforcement and other federal agencies locate the control station when a drone appears to be flying in an unsafe manner or where it is not allowed to fly.

A remote ID for drones is required for hobbyists and recreational flyers.

For more information, you can watch this video from the FAA or click here to learn more.

So, where can you actually fly a drone in Hilton Head?

The FAA has a list of restricted airspace and prohibited areas that all drone operators, no matter their location, are prohibited to fly in.

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These areas include:

Flying over people, stadiums, and national parks is generally restricted.

No flying when Temporary Flight Restrictions are in place for events, emergencies or security reasons.

In controlled airspace (near airports), you need authorization via LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) or the FAA DroneZone.

You cannot fly in restricted or prohibited airspace, such as near military bases or critical infrastructure.

A sign lets people know not to fly drones at the South Carolina State Fair. No Drone Zone

Restricted areas on Hilton Head and surrounding areas in Beaufort County

Hilton Head Island

Drones are allowed on the island but not on the beach.

According to town ordinances, the driving or operating of any motor vehicle of any kind or nature on the beach within the town is prohibited, and drones fall into the vehicle category.

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Under FAA rules, you cannot fly near airports or interfere with manned aircraft operations. This includes the Hilton Head Island Airport, MCAS Beaufort and Frogmore/Beaufort Executive Airport.

You also cannot fly over groups of people, public events or emergencies, per FAA.

Hunting Island State Park

Drone use is prohibited due to safety and visitor experience concerns.

Savannah & Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuges

No drone flights allowed.

Beaufort County & Other Local Municipalities

No special drone regulations beyond FAA rules.

If youre ever unsure about where you can fly, use the FAAs B4UFLY app to check airspace restrictions.

General drone flying rules

Here are some additional regulations that are applicable for both commercial and recreational drone pilots:

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Drone operators must be at least 16 years old.

Drones with cameras must fly at least 200 feet away from any person, vehicle, building or structure.

You must fly your drone at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace (Class G).

All drones must be registered and should not weigh more than 55 pounds.

You must be aware of No Drone Zones, Airspace Restrictions and Temporary Flight Restrictions.

You must fly within the visual line of sight so that you can see the drone at all times.

Never fly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

What should you do if something goes wrong when flying?

All pilots must operate drones so they dont pose a hazard to people or property.

If you see someone flying unsafely or something that poses an immediate threat, you should contact local law enforcement.

If a drone is over your property, you cannot shoot it down or provoke damage, as shooting an aircraft is illegal under federal law. It also creates a significant safety hazard to yourself, the pilot or other people and structures around you.

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If youre curious about the rules for flying drones in a neighborhood area, click here to learn more.

For more information on drone safety and use, visit https://www.faa.gov/ or the FAA Know Before You Fly webpage.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  An Oklahoma City retiree says his Social Security benefits were suspended without warning  and with no explanation given when he reached out. He worries it may have to do with the place he was born, and ongoing Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cutbacks.

The man, James McCaffrey, who was born to an active-duty U.S. soldier at an overseas Army base, says because of recent comments from DOGE leader Elon Musk, hes worried his benefits were cut because of his foreign birthplace.



Earlier this month, Musk, the billionaire head of DOGE, pushed for major cuts to Social Security, calling it a Ponzi scheme, claiming the system is rife with people fraudulently receiving benefits.

Particularly, Musk claimed during an interview with Fox Business, with no evidence, that many illegal immigrants are receiving benefits, calling for them to be removed from Social Securitys rolls.

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Will Social Security be around when I retire?

The Hill reported economists say the levels of fraud Musk has talked about just dont exist.

Earlier this month, NBC News reported former Social Security administrator Martin OMalley warned that DOGEs cuts to Social Security could disrupt benefits for millions of Americans for the first time since Social Securitys founding.

Now, McCaffrey worries he may have been one of the first of them.

An unexpected bill and unanswered questions

McCaffrey said he started to think something was often when he received an unexpected Medicare bill.



It said that I needed to pay $740 before the 25th of this month or I was going to lose my Medicare, McCaffrey said.



That seemed odd, since his Medicare payment is normally deducted from his Social Security check.



So I called Medicare, he said. They returned my call after a wait and told me that they were unable to process it through my Social Security payment, that there was some problem with it. We talked for a bit. He kind of let it out that he thinks its a possibility that my Social Security was suspended.

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Social Security beneficiaries at risk of delays amid GOP funding fight

And that  definitely didnt make sense to McCaffrey.



I thanked him for his time and called Social Security, he said.



After more than two and a half hours on hold with Social Security, he finally got a callback.



They confirmed that my account was suspended, McCaffrey said.



He says Social Security never sent him any sort of notice this was happening, so he cant be certain the exact day his benefits were canceled.

But he knows it must have been sometime between the day he received his February Social Security check early in the month, and Feb. 27, the date written on the bill he received from Medicare.

He asked the Social Security agent if there was anything she could do to fix it.



She said she was going to input some stuff and that she hoped that would take care of it, he said.



And by the next morning, sure enough, the issue had been fixed.

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I just got a simple email on my phone, McCaffrey said. It said that my normal payment was going to resume in April.

List of Social Security Administration offices DOGE is closing

The email didnt mention anything about the March payment he never received.

He took it upon himself to check his bank account, where he saw his March check had since been deposited.

Well, thats fine and dandy, McAffrey said. I enjoyed that, but they gave me no explanation.

For him to get an explanation, he had to become his own detective of sorts.

He thought back to an experience he had two years ago when he first went to a Social Security office to apply for benefits.



The first person I talked to at the Social Security Administration told me that I was not an American citizen, McCaffrey said.



McCaffrey was born on a U.S. Army base in Germany, where his father was stationed for active duty.

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Social Security Administration: Reports of phone service elimination inaccurate

He has an American birth certificate  officially stamped and sealed by the federal government.



I was on American soil, he said. Im American. She told me I was going to need to hire a lawyer, get a naturalization before I could even apply for Social Security.



But when he returned another day with his birth certificate and passport, a different employee told him there was no issue.



Got a different person, presented my things to him, and he says, I dont need these. Youre fine. I dont know what. Shes just misinformed. And Ive never had a problem with anything until [Tuesday], McCaffrey said.



Then he remembered something he had recently seen on TV.

Elon Musk, the billionaire in charge of DOGE, spoke about Social Security during an interview on Fox Business Network.

In the interview, Musk suggested, without citing evidence, that non-citizens in large numbers are receiving Social Security benefits, and called for them to be purged from the system.

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House passes spending bill

[Federal entitlements] is also a mechanism by which Democrats attract and retain illegal immigrants, by essentially paying them, Musk said during the March 10 interview on Fox Business. If we turn off this gigantic money magnet for illegal immigrants, then they will leave.



That made McAffrey wonder about his own situation.



I think they went into Social Security and suspended all foreign addresses, whether you reside at home, born on them, he said.



KFOR reached out to the Social Security Administration for an explanation, but officials declined to comment, citing confidentiality rules, but the news station put them in touch with McCaffrey.

Does DOGE have your personal information?

He says a representative with the Social Security Administration called him on Wednesday, but still offered no explanation for why his benefits were terminated.



It makes me wonder how many other people are going to get  or have gotten  that same Medicare letter, McCaffrey said.



He worries about people who may not have the time and resources he had to get to the bottom of what happened and get his benefits back.



Ive been a diligent Boy Scout type, I prepared, he said. But, no, I shouldnt have to.

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McAffrey, 66, says there was one thing he most looked forward about retirement.

More time with the grandkids, McAffrey told Nexstars KFOR.

He said he made sure to save up enough retirement money toquite franklyspoil his three grandkids.



I went out and bought [my granddaughter] a new jacket, McCaffrey said. Shes thrilled. And then her sister says, well, you know, she got a new jacket. Wheres mine? I said, Ill get you one.

He also looked forward to being able to travel more with his wife, who is nearing retirement herself.

Why Donald Trumps Social Security promise could be hard to keep

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But he thought all those dreams would have to come to a halt, after he opened his mail on Tuesday.

Id hate to have to turn around and say, Well, I have to worry about my next check, he said.



He also worries about people who may not share the same savings or the same financial cushion that he had to fall back on. And you interrupt that for seven days, two weeks or even longer, and theyre in bad trouble, he said. They could be out of the house. They could be out of food. I dont know.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
(NewsNation)  Ryan Walters, the Oklahoma state superintendent of public instruction, says he wont back down from trying to place Bibles in classrooms across his state.

Last year, Walters issued a mandate for schools to incorporate lessons on the Bible in grades 5 through 12. A variety of opponents filed a lawsuit, and state lawmakers declined to provide $3 million in funding for the initiative.

Walters has shifted to asking for donations to purchase the Bibles for schools and announced a partnership with country star Lee Greenwood, highlighting leather-bound God Bless The USA versions of the holy book selling for $59.99.

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Trump signs order to establish White House Faith Office

He said the core legal issues may have to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Bible should be back in the classroom, Walters told The Hill on Friday. I listen to parents and grandparents. They understand the Bible is a foundational document, so were going to continue to move forward.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, said many young people may already have a free Bible app on their phones.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Almost 300 houses and structures were destroyed by the wildfires that burned across the state on Friday and sent some Oklahomans fleeing with only the clothes on their backs, Gov. Kevin Stitt said.

Communities in both rural and urban areas across the state were hit, many severely, including Stillwater and Mannford.

"It was just a perfect storm," Stitt said Saturday morning, revealing his own farmhouse north of Luther had been lost.

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The governor said at a news conference in Mannford that there was a fatality from a vehicle accident caused by smoke. He said about 170,000 acres in Oklahoma burned.

Stitt declared a "disaster emergency" for 12 counties, explaining at the news conference that it will help those affected get access to federal resources.

The counties are Oklahoma, Cleveland, Creek, Dewey, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills and Stephens.

The declaration also means a law preventing price gouging after disasters is now in effect for those counties. The law prohibits an increase of more than 10 percent for the price of goods and services, Attorney General Gentner Drummond said.

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The wildfires came from a historic storm that is crossing the nation, spawning deadly tornadoes in Missouri. In Oklahoma, the storm on Friday brought 60 to 70 mph winds. The sustained gusts knocked down power lines, ripped off shingles from houses, broke tree limbs, felled street signs, caused road closures and filled the sky with dust.

The highest wind gust  83 mph  was reported in Frederick, in far southwest Oklahoma, the National Weather Service said.

The number of reported fires was more than 130 in 44 counties, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said Friday night.

The extreme conditions were unusual even in a state where the official state song begins with a line about the wind "sweepin' down the plain." Winds had calmed Saturday, but the National Weather Service warned the fire risk was still elevated to near critical.

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Meteorologists at Oklahoma City television stations predicted higher winds will bring more fire danger Monday and especially Tuesday.

In Stillwater alone, more than 50 homes and structures were impacted or loss by the wildfires, Stillwater Fire Chief Terry Essary said.

"I prayed all night," said Rose Van Orden, 68, who fled barefoot from her home in Stillwater with her two dogs Friday afternoon.

She returned to her neighborhood at 7 a.m. Saturday after spending the night in her car. She said she found her front and back yards burned but her home spared. She said other homes in her neighborhood were gone.

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"It was just so random," she said. "It is still so hard to grasp how it could just kind of skip here and, boom, a couple of houses down it just engulfed it."

Jeremy Cook also returned to his neighborhood in Stillwater at 7 a.m. Saturday. He found his home burned to the foundation.

He and his children had left for safety Friday, loading up three cars full of wedding photos, pets, personal books and family paintings.

I toggle between laughing and crying because we had so much, Cook said.

I'd mowed my woods and I was cutting any dead tree. I mean, this was as prepared for a fire as you could get. You never know; this is Oklahoma, Cook said. But when that wind shifted, and that fire started coming, well my brick house burned down.

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Cook said hes had college friends drop everything to help, strangers dropping off food and water, and fellow churchgoers bringing clothes.It doesn't get better than Oklahomans; It really doesn't. Theyre always there and there is nobody better than Okies, Cook said.

A Norman fire victim, Nate Stephenson, said he has been contacted by more than 40 people offering help. "It's good to be loved," he said.

Nate Stephenson's home in Norman was destroyed by a wildfire Friday.

Stephenson rushed home Friday and was only able to grab a few items and his pets before flames destroyed it. He said he took pictures from shelves, a computer and an iPad. He said his wife and three children are safe.

Stitt said "neighbors are going to help neighbors like we always do."

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He said evacuations before the fires worked. He said fire crews were coming from Louisiana and Arkansas to help stamp out remaining fires.

The governor put the number of homes and structures destroyed as of Friday night at 293. More than 200 of that total were homes, said Annie Mack Vest, director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.

Stitt promised a "post-mortem look" on the causes of the wildfires beyond the high winds and low humidity. "We think some of the power lines contributed to this," he said.

There also were ranchers doing controlled burns a day or two before the fire outbreak and farmers doing welding, he said.

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He told reporters he wants to look at doing controlled burns underneath power lines to prevent out-of-control fires in the future. "Other states will do that," he said.

Stitt on Saturday afternoon posted a video of his destroyed farmhouse on social media after surveying damage in Stillwater and Mannford.

"We'll be rebuilding with the rest of Oklahoma," he said. "You never think it's going to happen to your place. And these wildfires just come out of nowhere and can really take over."

Chuck Lester, left, gives Jeremy Cook a hug Saturday after having a moment of fun with him as another friend, Tim Sautry walks by, in the aftermath of wildfires the day before in Stillwater.

Jeremy Cook visits Saturday with a stranger who brought bags of clothes for his family who lost everything in the wildfires the day before in Stillwater.

Jeremy Cook's home on Canterbury is a complete loss in the aftermath of wildfires the day before in Stillwater.

Jeremy Cook pauses Saturday as he talks about what he lost in the aftermath of wildfires the day before in Stillwater.

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Chuck Lester, left, jokes with Jeremy Cook on Saturday after bringing him a partial page from a book that was found in the aftermath of wildfires the day before in Stillwater.

Jeremy Cook piles up tree branches Saturday a friend is cutting up as part of his property's cleanup in the aftermath of wildfires the day before in Stillwater.

A charred transaxle sits Saturday in what was the garage where Corbin Phillips, 19, was in the process of rebuilding the Scout, in the aftermath of wildfires the day before in Stillwater.

Corbin Phillips, 19, looks at what is left of his family's home in the aftermath of wildfires the day before in Stillwater.

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Corbin Phillips, 19, looks at what is left of his family's home in the aftermath of wildfires the day before in Stillwater.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma wildfires destroy more than 200 homes, emergency declared, one dead
After a painful divorce and several failed relationships I thought I had given up on love.

After some travel and self discovery, I decided to date again and connected with a familiar face.

Now we're married and run a pop-up restaurant together, fulfilling a shared dream.

I thought I was destined to be single forever and viewed dating as a temporary distraction on the path to pursuing my best life, alone. Then I matched with a cute chef on Tinder who I'd briefly met months before, and soon discovered that love was back on the menu.

I had given up on finding love

I met Braulio, my now-husband, on the heels of a 14 month-long hiatus from dating, men, and most importantly, love.

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After a painful divorce, followed by three consecutive failed relationships with men who I'd convinced myself were each "the one," I realized the problem was  in fact  me.

I sunk into therapy the way a swan sinks into a fish pond, head first and hungry. I also learned to accept a hard truth: I was an adult and fully responsible for how I showed up in the world. If I wanted better for myself, I had to become it.

"I'm done dating," I told my best friend one afternoon. "I'm too damaged. I feel like no matter how much I work on myself, I keep attracting the wrong guy. I'm just going to stay single and live my best life, whatever that means," I vowed.

Six months later, on an impulse, I booked a solo trip abroad to Thailand and Vietnam for my 43rd birthday. I was determined to make my life an adventure, even if it meant going at it alone.

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It wasn't until I flew home from that trip that the slow wheels of change began to turn.

Maybe it was the twinge of loneliness I felt while walking through Hanoi's Old Quarter, especially when I saw couples walking hand-in-hand, laughing as they navigated a chaotic crosswalk, or nestled close together while sharing a meal of bun cha. Maybe my change of heart came after watching my best friend's face light up when the man she recently started seeing had texted her. Whatever the reason, a few months after my trip and more than a year after calling off romance, I finally opened myself up to the possibility of dating again, even if I believed it wouldn't lead to anything serious. So, I signed up for a dating app.

Spotting someone a little familiar

I matched with Braulio on Tinder less than a week after joining the app. His scant profile revealed a handsome  and vaguely familiar  face with big, kind eyes and a thick, black beard. I paused briefly when I read that he was a vegetarian since I'm a dedicated and curious omnivore, but once I read that he was a chef, I clicked "like" immediately because cooking and eating were my top two love languages.

The screen lit up with the word "Match" revealing that he had already liked me first, and within an hour, I received my first message from him.

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"Aloha," he wrote. "How are you doing today?"

Flirtatiously I replied, "I'm great! Question: Do vegetarians kiss carnivores or is that considered eating meat?"

After laughing over my intentionally forward reply, we continued to talk, and quickly discovered this wasn't our first introduction. After a bit of chatting, I realized he was one of the chefs at my favorite restaurant.

"Do you remember someone asking you a few months ago in bad Spanish about your birria?" I asked.

"Hmmm" he responded. "Were you the pretty girl in a white shirt and blue jean shorts who asked me if the birria was vaca or chivo?

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That was the question I'd asked him that afternoon in February, nearly five months earlier, wanting to know if their stewed meat in a rich chili sauce was beef or the more traditional goat. He did remember me.

Taking a chance

Our first date was just a few days later on a nearby beach, with Braulio treating me to a selection of gourmet goodies. We sat together in the sand, talking about our lives, our spiritual beliefs, our careers, and how we both found ourselves in Hawaii, miles from our original homes.

We discovered that we both loved exploring the world through food. I had, once-upon-a-time, considered culinary school, and he had always been curious about visiting places I had been to, like Thailand, Spain, India, Japan, Italy, and Vietnam. Interestingly, each of us had a quiet dream to one day have our own restaurant, even if it felt far-fetched and unlikely.

It became our routine to meet up on his days off to cook together or drive around the island trying new restaurants. On his work days, he never failed to fill my fridge with amazing leftovers from the restaurant. I knew within a few months that I was falling in love with him, and it scared me to my core.

A kind, handsome, hippy vegetarian chef made me believe in love  and marriage  once again. Courtesy of Bryanne Salazar

Planning for a new future

I never would have guessed it, but a year and a half after our first date, Braulio surprised me on my morning walk with a bouquet of my favorite daisies in one hand and a bottle of prosecco in the other, and propose marriage. On our wedding day that following November, I happily mouthed the words "I do" to the kind, handsome, hippy vegetarian chef who made me believe in love  and marriage  once again.

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A month ago, Braulio and I took a new step together, becoming business partners. We recently launched a weekend pop-up restaurant with a fellow chef and good friend of ours, where we serve authentic Mexican food (including birria) to our beloved island community. I take orders and help with marketing, while he and our friend run the kitchen. It turns out that the far-fetched dream we talked about on our first date wasn't so impossible after all, now that we have each other.

Read the original article on Business Insider
St. Paul police received an unusual phone call one Saturday morning in March 1950.

A pair of Daytons Bluff boys swore that one of the FBIs 10 Most Wanted Fugitives was living in a cave below Indian Mounds Regional Park.

Fourteen-year-old James Lewis had recognized a photo in the St. Paul Dispatch of convicted killer William Raymond Nesbit, who he knew only as Ray. Nesbit had been on the lam since he escaped a South Dakota prison in 1946.

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Lewis was sure the cave-dwelling hermit he and his friends often visited on their way home from school was the 50-year-old fugitive sought by the feds.

We were suspicious of him right from the start, one of the boys later told the Pioneer Press.

Lewis showed the Dispatch photo to his friend, 13-year-old James Radeck, and the youngsters resolved to turn Ray into the police.

When two skeptical officers knocked on a makeshift door over the caves entrance, Nesbit obligingly emerged and was taken into custody.

Lewis and Radeck, hailed as heroes by law enforcement officials and the local news media, were awarded $100 and sent by the Pioneer Press and Dispatch on an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they toured FBI headquarters and met the Bureaus director, J. Edgar Hoover.

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Youve done your nation a great service, Hoover told the boys. Nesbit was one of our most desperate criminals. Im proud to know such good citizens as you. What youve done has set an example which adults can well emulate.

Phony heist turns to murder

Nesbits criminal career had ended with a bang on New Years Eve 1936.

Working as a bartender in Sioux City, Iowa, he had been enlisted by a local jeweler that December to help stage a heist in the mans downtown office for an insurance payout. Nesbit and a handful of other hired thieves blew open the jewelers safe with explosives to make it appear a small fortune in precious gems had been stolen.

The gang was paid $1,000 for their efforts before fleeing north to Sioux Falls, S.D., where they broke into the explosives warehouse of a hardware store outside town on Jan. 31. When a fight broke out among the thieves, Nesbit and two other members of the crew shot Floyd Parker and his girlfriend, Helen Sieler.

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As they left the warehouse, Nesbit and the other men lit a fuse on an explosive charge inside the building. The resulting blast was felt for 50 miles. Parker was vaporized by the explosion, but Sieler somehow survived to testify against Nesbit and Parkers other killers.

Nesbit was initially sentenced to life in prison, but that was later reduced to 20 years. When he escaped from the South Dakota State Penitentiary in September 1946, he had just three months left to serve before being paroled.

Boy sleuths bring arrest of fugitive

Nesbit had been on the run for more than three years by the time Lewis and Radeck discovered him living in the cave below Mounds Park in December 1949.

Believing he was just a good-natured hobo, the boys and a few of their friends began stopping by Nesbits cave regularly on their way home from school. They even brought him canned food and other household items donated by their parents.

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They did have their suspicions, though. Nesbit introduced himself only as Ray  refusing to give his last name  and he was cagey about his background.

When the FBI launched its 10 Most Wanted list on March 14, 1950, the St. Paul Dispatch began publishing photos of the fugitives. Nesbits mugshot ran on page 11 of the March 16 issue, where it was spotted by Lewis.

He showed the photo to Radeck the next day. They decided to round up a few of their friends the following morning and take the clipping down to the cave for an in-person comparison.

When the boys arrived at the cave about 8:30 a.m., they saw smoke coming out of the chimney. They packed the flue with snow, forcing Nesbit out of his smoke-filled hovel. Satisfied that they had the right man, they used the phone at a nearby bar to alert the police.

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Boy sleuths bring arrest of fugitive, a Pioneer Press headline cheered the next day.

He was friendly as can be

Within a few days of Nesbits capture, he was on his way back to South Dakota to serve the remainder of his sentence, and Lewis and Radeck were on their way to Washington.

The boys received commendations from the police department and local civic organizations. Their exploits were even turned into a radio play by CBS for its Gangbusters show.

But not everyone was convinced Lewis and Radeck did the right thing. Their pal Bob Holmberg, who often visited Nesbits cave with them, later said he wouldnt talk to them for a long time because theyd turned in a friend.

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He was friendly as can be, Holmberg said of Nesbit in a 1999 interview with Pioneer Press columnist Don Boxmeyer, and if we didnt have cigarettes of our own, hed always have some Bull Durham and papers.

The grandmother of another boy who had visited Nesbit said the fugitive once saved the life of a child who fell into the Mississippi River near his cave, dragging him out of the water and administering CPR.

When the Dispatch caught up with Nesbit nearly 13 years after his capture, he had been paroled to St. Paul and was working as a custodian for a local business.

The profile  headlined Dynamite-killer now leads quiet life  described the aging Nesbit as a gentle figure living alone in a modest apartment:

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His days are spent watching television, going to movies, fishing, taking his car out for a drive and looking forward to his 65th birthday, when he can retire and settle down to a comfortable old age.

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In February, more than 10 agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a branch of ICE, showed up at El Potro Mexican restaurant in Liberty just before lunchtime, claiming they were looking for someone who was a registered child sex offender, according to a motion filed in federal court this week.

By the end of the operation, they apprehended 12 employees and took documents from the restaurant.

While 10 employees received and posted a minimum bond since they were arrested, one individual was deported and one remains detained, according to the motion filed by immigrant legal services and advocacy nonprofit National Immigrant Justice Center.

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The motion follows an ongoing settlement with ICE thats been in effect since May 2022 with the agencys Chicago area of operations, which includes Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas.

The settlement resulted from a lawsuit that challenged the legality of sweeping arrests made during the first Trump Administration in 2018, At the time, ICE conducted large-scale immigration enforcement actions that involved arresting bystanders in addition to specific individuals that officers had warrants to arrest.

According to the motion, ICE agents held the 12 Liberty employees in four booths for nearly two hours before arresting them and escorting them out of the restaurant. Beyond requesting identification, agents did not question the employees at that time.

In a past statement to The Star, an ICE spokesperson said that agents had conducted a worksite enforcement action at the restaurant to ensure compliance with federal employment eligibility requirements.

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After initial processing, 11 of the 12 employees were detained by ICE in Chase County, Kansas, about three hours from Liberty, and one person was taken to Kentucky and then Indiana.

Who was deported after Liberty raid?

Rekha Sharma-Crawford, a partner at Sharma-Crawford Attorneys at Law who represents several individuals who were detained, told The Star that her team should have a disposition on the last person in custody soon. She said the rest have motions pending in immigration court.

I think our first priority, of course, is to get everybody released, she said.

NIJC Associate Director of Litigation Mark Fleming told The Star that the individual deported had a very old removal order, which means she had been ordered to be deported in the past.

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Unlike say in the criminal context where theres a statute of limitations on all crimes except serious violent crimes in the immigration context, they stay on your record forever, he said. To be clear in her case she received what is called an expedited order of removal. She was stopped at the border decades ago  pre-2000  she had barely entered the country, ordered removed, and at some point she came back in.

Part of the NIJCs motion asks that she be returned to the U.S., where she would likely get to go in front of a judge.

As to the Liberty 12 as I like to call it, very few of them had any criminal record at all, Fleming said. Most of them had been here a long time, long-standing roots in the community as far as we can tell, and obviously gainfully employed and law-abiding.

Helen Ortiz, a board member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, who has been in touch with the workers and their families told The Star last month that the woman transferred to a detention facility in Indiana is a 60-year-old grandmother with high blood pressure conditions.

A GoFundMe fundraiser for legal costs for arrested Liberty workers has raised about $4,500 as of Friday afternoon.
Action News Jax has learned an ongoing gang war is tied to the shooting death of a Jacksonville 7-year-old.

Investigators said the four men, Keith Fields, 18, Dannel Larkins, 20, Keith Johnson, 21 and Zharod Sykes, 24 accused of killing Breon Allen were involved with the criminal gang 6 Block.

When Allen was shot, he was with his older cousin, Lafayette Mango Jr. According to investigators, Mango is a documented gang associate of ATK, a gang with a rivalry against 6 Block.

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6 Block is the same gang rapper Julio Foolio was involved with.

Action News Jax told you when Foolio was shot and killed outside a Tampa hotel last year.

5 people were arrested in connection to that murder and are awaiting trial.

Read: New court documents explain how investigators linked five people to rapper Julio Foolios murder

Police now say following his death, Mango Jr. and ATK members released a song dissing Foolio and other 6 Block members.

According to arrest warrants, the shooting incident was motivated with the purpose to benefit, promote, and/or further the interests of the criminal gang.

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The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office said more arrests related to the murder are likely on the way.

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As Sir Keir Starmer made his way to Paris today for the so-called coalition of the willing summit, one wonders if the resulting plan will be viable, and if so, whether it will do any good.

The aim, it is believed, is to create a force that would police the peace line in any US brokered Ukrainian/Russian ceasefire. This is no small task. With thousands of miles of frontline to monitor  a line, that if set in central Europe, would stretch from the toe of Italy to Calais  it would require a huge number of troops and logistic support or an effective and highly mobile reaction force, supporting a very thinly stretched line of observers. Additionally, if it was to deploy without US backup, it is questionable whether it would even be credible.

A purely European force based on Nato countries has already been ruled out by the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. Their charge is that the Ukrainians are Nato proxies in any case and there would be no balance. If anything, they may consider a peacekeeping force based on non-aligned countries, the so-called BRICS nations, ten countries including Russia and China with Iran, India, Brazil, Indonesia, UAE, South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia. Given the close ties Russia has with some of these nations, this solution may prove equally unacceptable to Ukraine.

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Even if the plan was acceptable to Russia, how many Nato nations would be willing, or indeed able, to commit? In some ways this is the root of the problem. Whatever one thinks of the Trump presidency, one thing he has done is shake things up and expose some hard truths. In fact, it is more than a shakeup. As a former head of MI6 put it, he has dynamited the ice pack and not just in Ukraine, but in the Middle East too. His Gaza plan has seen frantic movement and creative thinking on all sides like never before. The question in both scenarios is not whether there will be peace, but what peace looks like, and what the future holds.

With peace almost certain in both places, President Trump is well on his way to his short term, much coveted, goal of a Nobel Peace Prize. In the corridors of power across Europe and the Middle East, there is confusion and hysteria verging on panic. And it seems that in this madness, there is also purpose.

As the US pivots to address the significant threat from China, the European powers are being forced to address their own security as never before since the end of WWII. Indeed, with combined economies ten times the size of Russia they are also well capable of it.

One of the casualties of the great trading age of the 2000s and 2010s was an increasing reliance on China to make things for us in the West. We did not realise that there was a sixth domain of war that China had recognised and was keen both to exploit and simultaneously deny its rivals.

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Where traditionally war was fought on land, sea and air, the domains of space and cyber were added this century. Now a sixth domain (which was in fairness always there) has come to the fore: military/industrial manufacturing capacity. In short, the Chinese make things we no longer can or do. This must change and fast. If it does not, then the scant contributions that Western countries offer for any coalition of the willing are unsustainable.

The clear reality is, of course, that any ceasefire will not be the prelude to a treaty such as Versailles but an inter bellum. A simmering realignment, as the real aggressor, Vladimir Putin, recovers the tattered remnants of his almost defeated army, to rebuild, rearm, retrain and get ready to achieve his real aim, the restoration of the old Imperial Russian, later Soviet, borders.

A reinvigorated Russian Army will have designs on the Baltic states and a large lump of Poland. Certainly, the full integration of Kaliningrad, Russias ice free port will be a war aim. With the loss of Latakia and Tarsus in Syria and with Sevastopol severely compromised, access to the oceans all year round is essential. The signposts of history point ominously in that direction. Putins own existence depends on this. For it to be fully realised he needs peace; as a time to rebuild, for the easing of sanctions so as to afford the cost of rearming and for the continued subversion of the European societies and their flagging will to resist.

We will know soon the tenor and outcome of the Paris talks. Whether that is consensus and a resolve to act and grasp reality, or platitudes and wishful thinking with a face-saving statement to mask inertia, we do not yet know. Just imagine if, as some future crisis looms, President Trump shrugs his shoulders and says your problem. What then for the rules based international order?

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We must assume we are, as in 1940, alone. If anything, it may well be that the outcome of the Paris talks will be a realisation that Europe is militarily impotent and if the way of life we enjoy today is to be protected, we collectively need to act now. In effect, for the UK and all European nations, including the Irish Republic, 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030 will not suffice. 5 per cent is needed now.

Colonel Tim Collins is a former British Army officer. He served with the SAS and as commander of the Royal Irish for the invasion of Iraq, when his before battle speech to his troops made headlines around the world

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With the arrival of Saint Patricks Day, our nations close affinity to Ireland was on full display in the White House as President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance hosted Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin.

We are two countries joined by blood and tradition. Of course, there are tensions over trade conflicts with the European Union and Ireland, which quickly came to the surface in the meeting. In the end, however, we are likely to resolve those trade problems. The fact is that we need each other, both economically and culturally.

Yet, there is one chasm between the two countries that not only remains wide but is widening: the gap between how each country handles free speech. And Martin would much prefer to talk about Irish socks than Irish censorship.

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Ironically, before he became associated with green beer and leprechauns, Saint Patrick was a symbol of freedom of speech. Although there is no evidence beyond pious legend that he chased snakes out of Ireland (there likely never were snakes in Ireland), he did chase slavery and human sacrifice out of the country, despite the initial unpopularity of his reforms. A former slave himself, St. Patricks public statements against slavery, paganism and longstanding traditions were viewed as harmful to social tranquility and harmony.

Does that sound familiar?

Today, Ireland, like many of our European allies, is shredding free speech with laws criminalizing viewpoints and regulating speech by its content. Irish eyes [may be] smiling, but Irish tongues are increasingly silent in the face of government investigations and prosecutions. The growing conflict between the U.S. and the Irish could not be more telling.

Irish immigrants, including some of my relatives, came to this country to live freely, and many soon became lawyers fighting for individual rights. Just before Martins arrival in Washington, his government was hammering Elon Musk and conservative sites in the latest crackdown on free speech. The most recent flashpoint was a small pro-life platform called Gript, a rallying point for many in his Catholic country who oppose abortion. The government demanded that X turn over Gripts data on sources and users.

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An Irish court on June 13, 2024, sought the data on private accounts as well as IP addresses and messages linked to Gript coverage of the April protests against Irelands housing of documented migrants. The violence in those protests gave the Irish government another justification to curtail free speech.

In yet another defining moment for Musk on free speech, he not only resisted but informed Irish citizens what the government was doing. That transparency and opposition sent the Irish government into a full-on rage.

After the arrest of 34 people and extensive property damage in the anti-immigration protests, the government moved to expand on its already draconian anti-free-speech laws. A new bill was introduced criminalizing preparing or possessing material likely to incite violence or hatred against persons on account of their protected characteristics. That includes any material concerning national or ethnic origin, as well as protected characteristics including transgender and a gender other than those of male and female.

The bill included crimes relating to xenophobia and can be committed merely by the public dissemination or distribution of tracts, pictures or other material.

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Then-Prime Minister Leo Varadkar declared his intent to modernize laws against hatred by criminalizing speech that his government decides is incitement. He stated an intention to not only stop those engaged in violence but those who say things that might arouse their anger.

The powerful Irish Green Party was all-in with censorship and speech prosecutions. As Green Party Sen. Pauline OReilly admitted, We are restricting freedom, but were doing it for the common good.

It is a familiar pattern. In my book, The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage, I discuss how rage rhetoric is often exploited by governments as an excuse for state rage. Citing false claims made in the protests, the government declared a new round of crackdowns on viewpoints it considers harmful or misleading.

Irelands national police, known as the Garda Siochana, ordered X to produce extensive data linked to Gript Medias official X account, @griptmedia. It wanted to see not just information identifying users but also private messages and addresses that would have revealed the media outlets confidential sources and communications.

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Ireland reflects the free fall of free speech across Europe. Germany, France and the United Kingdom have followed the same path of the ever-expanding regulation and criminalization of free speech, including statements deemed by the government to be disinformation.

This week, I will be speaking at the World Forum in Berlin, Germany, on the anti-free speech movement, led in no small part by the European Union. Anti-free speech groups and figures are also gathering, particularly after Vances historic speech recently in Munich criticizing our allies for their abandonment of free speech.

After years of largely unimpeded growth, the anti-free speech movement is facing its first serious impediments following Musks purchase of Twitter and the new American defense of free speech.

Musk has borne the brunt of the counter campaign. By breaking away from the other social media companies, Musks X defied the EU and its censor. He was threatened not only with financial ruin but also with actual arrest unless he restored the censorship system.

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The left in the U.S. and Europe targeted his companies and his revenue. Recently, Tesla dealerships and charging stations have been vandalized and even set on fire.

In Ireland, Martin denounced Musk and objected to the degree to which, under the cover of free speech, it essentially is allowing  unacceptable material in terms of hate, bile and attacks, and so on. Again raising the Dublin riots, he said changes have to be made to protect democracy and society. In other words, free speech is endangering society.

This has been the sirens call of censorship throughout history.

Despite this history, there is reason to be optimistic. The Irish government was forced to withdraw its draconian legislation due to a groundswell of opposition from young voters, including within Martins party.

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Free Speech Ireland celebrated the defeat by the two main parties, which miscalculated in what they think young people want. It turns out that it is still difficult to get a free people to give up freedom.

The defeat of the Irish legislation was perhaps only a temporary victory. But for the free speech community, it was a rare, positive moment in dark times. It raised the possibility, on this Saint Patricks Day, that we just might be able to chase censorship, like slavery, from the Emerald Isle.

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The Senate voted on Friday afternoon to move forward with a Republican short-term funding bill and avoid a federal government shutdown. Ten Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, voted in favor of cloture, limiting further debate and advancing the bill to final passage. The funding bill then passed in a 54-46 vote, with two Democrats joining all but one Republican senator in support.

It was the culmination of a wild week that brought to a head a divide among congressional Democrats over how best to counter President Donald Trumps agenda. Moreover, it has left Schumer a far cry from his past as once one of the partys more effective messengers. Now, the caucus he leads, thanks to his own missteps, appears too disjointed and out of sync to have a coherent message.

For months now, Schumer has advocated for a posture of letting Republicans trip over themselves and reaping the rewards during the midterms. Trump will screw up, he told Semafor in early February, urging Democrats to remain patient. Even as it became clear that negotiations over the looming government funding deadline were faltering, Senate Democrats have been more focused on the fight over the GOPs funding bill for the next fiscal year.

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History was on their side on that front, especially with the extremely narrow GOP majority in the House. The odds of Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., managing to corral his fractious caucus without support from Democrats to get a funding bill over the line seemed slim. But then the unthinkable happened: the House GOP banded together without any of its usual drama.

The continuing resolution the House approved on Tuesday slashes funding for nondefense spending over the next six months but does so stealthily enough that swing-district Republicans could support it. More significantly, the normally anti-CR House Freedom Caucus jumped on board after Trump and Vice President JD Vance promised that the White House would simply cut whatever spending the resolution authorized that they didnt like. That alone should have been enough to make clear to congressional Democrats that the language they were demanding to curtail Trumps illegal impoundment should be required for any support in passing the bill.

House Democrats were a bit all over the place in their reasoning for opposing the bill, citing the reduced short-term funding, the longer-term risk to Social Security and other entitlements, and calling it as a free pass to let the Department of Government Efficiency continue its illegal downsizing of the government. But despite differing motives, House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., made sure his caucus agreed on the results. All but one House Democrat voted against the bill. Given lawmakers  and especially Democrats  temptation to avoid blame for a shutdown, this was a major feat for Jeffries and his team.

But even as House Democrats stuck together, it quickly became clear how unprepared Senate Democrats were for this moment. According to NBC News, Schumer didnt initiate a full caucus conversation about how to handle the House measure until Democrats met for lunch on Tuesday, after the House bill had already passed. Two days of closed-door discussions did not lead to consensus among members on how to avoid a shutdown without appearing to capitulate to Trump.

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The resulting messaging from Senate Democrats was a mess. On Wednesday afternoon, Schumer announced that there werent Democratic votes for the GOP bill and that the caucus was unified on a 30-day funding bill to allow for more negotiations. But getting that alternative to the floor would have required offering it as an amendment, which would have required at least eight Democrats to vote for cloture anyway. It would only be then that Democrats could offer up their plan as amendment  which was guaranteed to fail, given that Republicans control 53 seats. (It and two other amendments, as predicted, failed to pass on Friday afternoon.)

The strategy seemed like an attempt to use the arcane procedures of the Senate to hoodwink Democratic voters into thinking the caucus had done everything in its power to stop the resolution. That feeling was justified the next day when Schumer turned around to say that he would vote in favor of advancing the bill rather than allowing a shutdown. "I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option, he said in a floor speech. I will vote to keep the government open and not shut it down.

Its not that Schumers reasoning was entirely misguided. As one senator reportedly yelled at their colleagues this week, the Trump administration might use a shutdown to declare a national emergency. It could also be used to justify Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency firing nonessential personnel. And shutdowns are generally bad politically for the party thats seen as at fault. But for a party that has struggled to figure out where to draw the line against Trump, it came across as a prime example of giving up without a fight.

To say that House Democrats were angry at Schumers capitulation is an understatement. Their fury was compounded because, according to NBC News, Jeffries team had let Schumer know about their plan to unify against the bill and force the GOP back to the table  a plan that could only work if Senate Democrats held strong as well. I think there is a deep sense of outrage and betrayal, and this is not just progressive Democrats  this is across the board, the entire party, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., told reporters on Thursday night.

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This sort of dispute is exceedingly rare for congressional Democrats. What makes this divide even more unusual is that it isnt based on ideology. Moderate and progressive Democrats alike have either denounced or disregarded Schumers argument. Nor can the split be primarily viewed as a battle between the old guard and upstarts, as The New York Times framed the anger at Schumer. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who was Schumers partner in countering the first Trump administration, lent her voice to the chorus denouncing his decision. And when asked about the Senate leaderships performance this week, Jeffries responded with a distinct lack of support for Schumer: Next question.

Theres a distinct irony here given how much of Schumers rise was fueled by his reputation as being a media whiz. After his predecessor, Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, announced his retirement in 2015, Schumer was immediately tapped to take the reins. As Politico wrote at the time: After two cycles running the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and after hes taken the reins as the messaging guru, Schumer is viewed by many of his colleagues as being one of his partys savviest political tacticians. Now that reputation seems ill-deserved given the heartache and lack of clarity along the way from him.

In this case, Schumer got what he wanted and managed to bring enough of his members with him to avoid a shutdown. But in the process, hes alienated the House and accelerated the growing conversation about the need for sitting senators to face primary challengers. Whether he leads the Senate Democratic caucus after the midterms is now in doubt. And in refusing to use every tool in his power to stop Trumps violation of the Constitution, Schumer has left an already demoralized Democratic base wondering when, if ever, the partys leaders are going to act like their campaign trail warnings about the threat Trump poses to the country will be reflected in their actions.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Former President Joe Biden entered office vowing to swing the pendulum swiftly from his predecessors immigration agenda. Backed by migrant advocacy nonprofits and the progressive wing of his party, he placed a 100-day moratorium on his first day of office on nearly all deportations (that was quickly overturned by the courts) and limited ICEs enforcement to only those with serious criminal records.

He appointed Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the White House effort to tackle the migration challenge at the U.S. southern border. Democratic governors and mayors, emboldened by the president and the surge of progressive activism, doubled down on their own migrant policies that prevented removals.

Yet by the end of his presidency, Bidens immigration policies had, politically, failed spectacularly. Illegal border crossing reached record levels, with the number of U.S. border encounters quadrupling over the first Trump administration. An Economist-YouGov poll found his job approval on immigration at minus-32 points.

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Harris spent her doomed campaign haunted by her appointment to lead the White Houses migration efforts in 2021. Perhaps most tellingly, Hispanics swung 16 points toward President Trump, gaining him 1.8 million additional voters over 2020. The shift was decisive for Trumps victory in several states.

The Democrats basic position, to allow more people to move to the U.S., is correct, even if they spend too much political capital defending failures on the border and too little advocating for more skilled legal pathways for migrants. America is only avoiding a demographic crisis because of immigration inflows.

Working toward permanent legal status for recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, defending Americas role as a destination for the worlds true refugees and ensuring American workforce demands are met through immigration are all morally and economically sound positions for Democrats. And immigration in and of itself is still popular. In June 2024, by a two-to-one ratio, Americans said immigration is a good thing for the country.

But Democrats, in opposing President Trumps cruel immigration policies, ended up reflexively adopting a politically disastrous agenda of their own. They coupled a reasonable stance on legal and humanitarian immigration with border policies that voters found deeply unpopular. The resulting loss of credibility cost Democrats the political capital needed to do anything truly meaningful on immigration.

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Even worse, it handed Republicans a potent campaign issue  one they successfully used to win. By aiding Republicans politically, Democrats have de facto aided in the Republican efforts to end the American immigration system as we know it.

It need not be this way.

In the 1990s, the Democrats tune was different. The simple fact is that we must not  and we will not  surrender our borders to those who wish to exploit our history of compassion and justice, President Bill Clinton said in 1993.

During the address, Clinton presented a report compiled by Vice President Al Gore on the state of illegal immigration and reforms that his administration sought to pursue. The remarks were a precursor to tangible immigration reforms. In 1996, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act increased non-citizen removals from the U.S., particularly for those who committed crimes or overstayed their visas.

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Two months later, Clinton won re-election and gained a net approval rating that he would hold for the remainder of his presidency.

Barack Obama held a similar firm line on illegal immigration. He was dubbed the deporter-in-chief by his left-wing critics, and border apprehensions hit a low not seen since the 1970s. Undocumented workers broke our immigration laws, and I believe that they must be held accountable  especially those who may be dangerous, stated the president in 2014.

Obamas immigration approval at the end of his term remained negative, but significantly higher than Bidens would be.

Presidents Clinton and Obama were not the maximalist immigration hawks that the Republican Party has become. Clinton increased the H1-B visa cap twice during his presidency, eventually more than tripling it, and increased job flexibility as well for H1-B holders. In 1994, he admitted over 100,000 refugees, the last time the U.S. has done so (since 2000, the average has been about 50,000 a year).

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Obama instituted the DACA policy which temporarily allowed illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to remain and obtain work authorization.

Their balance between enforcement and liberalization proved more politically popular than later approaches. Enforcing stricter rules on illegal immigration created the political space for a fairer, more robust  even more expansive  overall immigration system.

Getting there now though involves new tough choices on the unpopular policies Democrats have embraced. Take sanctuary cities: The polling on the policy has been precipitous, but Democrats have yet to propose meaningful reform.

Polling in Chicago shows a plurality of residents want to end the policy. Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts (R) bussing of illegal migrants to sanctuary cities across the country also worked, at least as a political stunt. New Yorkers expressed broad concern that the city couldnt handle the surge, and a majority polled said they wanted the state to work with the Trump administration to aid deportations.

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A few Democrats seem ready to admit that there is a problem. The Laken Riley Act  an imperfect bill that attempted to address some of the most politically fraught aspects of illegal immigration  passed both the House and the Senate with bipartisan support. But only 12 Senate Democrats voted for it, as did only 48 Democrats in the House out of 215. That is perhaps a moment of clarity, but hardly a reckoning.

Some elected Democrats and activists have still downplayed the state of illegal immigration, retorting that Americans fears on the issue are the result of Republican misinformation. Without a doubt, Republicans have lied and exaggerated immigration fears to their advantage as a campaign issue. But Republican malfeasance is not a mandate for Democrats to govern irresponsibly.

Since the first Trump administration, Democrats have been goaded into embracing unpopular immigration policies, defining their agenda in opposition to Republicans, rather than on its own merits. There has been no success in this strategy  neither for the Democratic Party nor for immigrants. Democrats control neither Congress nor the presidency, and our immigration system remains in a state of disarray that serves no one particularly well.

Moments of clarity are breaking through that, and the party is ready to reform its approach. Only party leaders can decide if it becomes a reckoning.

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Colin Mortimer is the director of the Center for New Liberalism, a leading grassroots organization that serves as an ideological home for young center-left voters.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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I regularly speak with current and former high-level Democratic political operatives. To a person, they believe their own party to be leaderless, lost and out of touch with its own voter base.

They also believe that President Trump successfully poached a significant percentage of their formerly loyal base by actually addressing the bread-and-butter issues they found most troubling  something former Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), seemed to avoid like the plague.

For those paying attention, three issues emerged over the last four years that have shaken many Democrats to the core.

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The first is that Joe Biden was apparently a shadow president for much of his administration, as various aides and allies went out of their way to hide the signs of his clearly diminished mind while also stage-managing him and parts of his presidency.

Next  as the Democrats work themselves through the five stages of presidential election grief  comes the acceptance that Harris was not only a bad candidate, but was never a good candidate and will never be a good candidate.

Last, we have the adult in the room Democrats taking a long hard look at the professional politician bench that is left after Harriss embarrassing loss. They realize there is not one major-league hitter in the bunch.

Who is still on the bench from the 2020 spring training season? We have the likes of Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.); former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg whose highest elected position was as mayor of South Bend, Indiana; former HUD Secretary Julian Castro; and perennial candidate Marianne Williamson.

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Next, lets look at some of the new names being bandied about for 2028. In Congress, we have Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). In the states there ares Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D); Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D).

Could any of those names excite the base? Never say never, but many of those names are spot-welded to the very policies, personalities and problems that drove millions of Democrats and independents into the arms of Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

For the Democrats I speak with, those names are the equivalent of political leftovers approaching or past their sell-by dates. The main reason is that all are politicians, with many seen as a part of the entrenched-elite Democratic machine.

Knowing that, and still hoping to win a presidential election, what are Democratic Party movers and shakers to do? One possible answer: Give up on the politicians altogether and turn to an un-politician.

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Could such a formula work? Trump proved twice that it can. But within Trumps earth-shaking political success is a cautionary tale for the Democrats. There is only one Donald Trump.

Democrats may scoff at such a statement or instantly dismiss it, but as it relates to an outsider or un-politician winning the White House, it is a truth carved into granite. Trump did and does have that all elusive It factor. With his decades-old iconic brand, he established a cult of personality that appealed to tens of millions. For any Democrats who still doubt that, I suggest they look at the wreckage of what was once the very-good-on-paper presidential campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

Trump created lighting in a bottle, which is all-but-impossible to replicate. After Trumps jaw-dropping victory in 2016, there were multiple billionaires who seemed to think, If Trump can get himself elected president, then so can I.

But in most of their cases, I doubt its true.

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Look at the 2020 Democratic primary campaign of Michael Bloomberg, the multibillionaire former mayor of New York City. He put in upwards of $100 million of his own money, only to have his campaign crash and burn against a weak Democratic field. Why? Because Bloomberg did not come close to having Trumps It factor.

Also in the recent past, we had the likes of Mark Cuban, Disneys Bob Iger and J.P. Morgans Jamie Dimon huffing and puffing about running for president. They have billions at their disposal and could hire the best campaign team money could buy, but guess what  they were and are lacking Trumps It factor.

Does that mean that there are no Democratic un-politicians out there with that all-elusive quality? Not necessarily. I believe that ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith at least checks an awful lot of boxes. So does Dwayne The Rock Johnson. Many also believe Michelle Obama couldchecks those boxes, although I think her time has already come and gone.

That said, an un-politician stepping up to the plate as a last-minute designated hitter might be the best shot Democrats have, considering the minor-league or severely-compromised politicians lining their current bench. Vance is already proving himself to be a very formidable speaker, debater, leader and candidate. More than that, he will be riding the long coattails of Trump come 2028.

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Has the time come for Democrats to bench their bench and seek out the strongest un-politician out there who could create his or her own populist wave? The evolving metrics of the modern presidential campaign game say yes.

Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official.

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President Trump is in the process of all but shutting down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He has even dropped several cases filed by the CFPB under former President Joe Bidens watch. The agency aims to protect consumers from fraudulent practices in the financial industry.

Many are asking: If the CFPB goes out of business, who will be there to help consumers? The answer is one million lawyers. CFPB has been around for less than 15 years. Consumers were not helpless before then. We do not need more government agencies to police the marketplace  we have the plaintiffs bar.

I realize plaintiffs attorneys get a bad rap in many circles. But the truth is, we need someone to police the marketplace. Private lawyers are a much better option than yet another government agency.

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Take a look at one of the headline cases that Trump dropped: an action against Capital One for allegedly engaging in billions of dollars of tricky practices with its high-yield savings accounts.

The CFPB filed its case only days before Trump took office. But the private bar sued Capital One for the same thing almost two years ago. Seven different class actions against it are currently consolidated in a federal court in Virginia. The CFPBs lawsuit was just a me-too lawsuit. Capital One is not off the hook without it.

Indeed, consumers are in better hands now. The data show that when private lawyers and the government pursue the same wrongdoers, the private bar gets more. This is about simple incentives: plaintiffs lawyers work on contingency and only get paid if they win. Government bureaucrats get paid no matter what they do.

Private lawyers also do not get captured by politics and special interests the way the government does. Yes, most plaintiffs lawyers are Democrats, but the profit motive keeps them pure. They will sue whoever is liable. They dont look the other way because of campaign contributions or the revolving door between industry and government. These are the exact same reasons the private sector tends to do a better job at most things than the public sector does.

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Far from a shortcoming, relying on the private bar to police the marketplace is one of the secrets to our success in America. In Europe and other advanced economies, you have to get permission from the government before you do things. In America, we mostly let you do what you want to do, then sue you later if you mess up. We ask for forgiveness, not permission. Our approach has led to a more nimble, innovative, and, ultimately, wealthier economy.

It is true that private lawyers sometimes go too far. Nothing is perfect and there are ways to tighten up our system. It is also true that private lawyers cant do everything. If the remedy needed is not pecuniary, or the pecuniary remedy is small and cant be bundled into something like a class action, it will be hard to find a private lawyer to represent you. Maybe we need the government to step in some such cases.

But the good news is we already have plenty of government  50 state attorneys general, ready, willing, and able to go after these bad guys. We dont need a CFPB in addition to that.

Brian T. Fitzpatrick is the Milton R. Underwood Chair in Free Enterprise and Professor of Law at Vanderbilt Law School. He is the author of The Conservative Case for Class Actions (University of Chicago Press, 2019). He was a law clerk to the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and a special counsel to Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).

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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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38th Annual Shepherds Center Used Book Sale

to be held

The Shepherds Center of Greater Winston-Salem will hold its 38th annual used book sale on Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Saturday, May 3 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (1/2 price on all items).

The book sale is one of the largest in our state. Parking and admission are free.

The sale will be held in the Education Building at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. Entrance for parking is through Gate 5 from Deacon Boulevard. There is no admission and there will be thousands of used books and other items on hand at exceptional prices.

All proceeds of the sale benefit the programs and services provided for older adults in our community. During 2023, the Shepherds Center provided services to over 8,000 individuals. Over 300 volunteers provided in excess of 20,000 hours of service in our community.

The Shepherds Center mission is to support and promote successful aging through direct services, educational, volunteer and support programs for older adults.

The Faith In Action Care Program, staffed predominantly with volunteers, served the needs of over 3,800 aging adults while responding to over 17,000 transportation and 1,200 minor home repair requests. Attendance of over 45,000 was recorded in the wide variety of daily health and wellness programs and activities offered through our Vital Living Senior Center locations throughout the county.

For more information contact the Shepherds Center at 336-748-0217 or visit www.shepherdscenter.org.

Learn about new FitLot equipment

Are you a family caregiver of an older adult in Forsyth County? If so, please join us for our next Its All About You event.

Sponsored by The Shepherds Center of Greater Winston-Salem, Trinity Presbyterian, and the Family Caregiver Support Program, we will meet at Miller Park, Shelter 2, at 11 a.m on Thursday, March 20 to learn about AARPs installation of the FitLot equipment at the park, specifically designed for older adults, along with services provided by AARP. Miller Park is located at 400 Leisure Lane, 27103. Lunch will be provided! Registration is required. Register by contacting Meredith Brown-Robbins at 336-748-0217 or mbrobbins@shepherdscenter.org.

Volunteers needed the fifth week of the month

Senior Services needs volunteers to deliver hot, nutritious meals to older adults in our Meals-on-Wheels Program on the fifth week of the month. Throughout the year there are only a few months that have a fifth week, so this is the perfect opportunity for volunteers who only have a couple hours a quarter to volunteer. If youre looking for a flexible way to volunteer and help your community, this is for you.

For more information, visit seniorservicesinc.org or contact Tyler Smith at 336-721-6961 or tsmith@seniorservicesinc.org.

Shepherds Center hosting volunteer orientation

The Shepherds Center of Greater Winston-Salem is hosting a volunteer orientation on Tuesday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 1700 Ebert St. Winston-Salem, NC 27103. Opportunities include providing rides, minor home repairs, respite and visitation for older adults, office work, and Medicare Counseling. For more information and to register, please contact Martina Bowen at 336-748-0217 or mbowen@shepherdscenter.org

Meals-on-Wheels volunteer needed at Robinwood Senior Apartments

Senior Services needs a volunteer to help coordinate meal deliveries from our Robinwood Senior Apartments satellite site Monday through Friday between 10 and 11 a.m. There is no driving associated with this volunteer opportunity.

For more information, visit seniorservicesinc.org or contact Tyler Smith at 336-721-6961 or tsmith@seniorservicesinc.org.

Events planned at The Shepherds Center

* Wednesday, April 9th 9 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. session  The Shepherds Center of Greater Winston-Salem

Beginning Jewelry Making

Sessions will be held at Parkway United Church of Christ, 1465 Irving St.

Learn how to choose your jewelry-making materials and put them together into a simple, pretty necklace of bracelet set. Experienced designers will be present to guide you through the process from beginning to end.

$20 (cash only. paid to the instructor on day of session) includes instruction and supplies. Please call 336-748-0217 to register.

* Every first and third Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.  The Shepherds Center of Greater Winston-Salem

Writing Workshop on Zoom with Susan Surman

Susan Surman, award winning author and playwright, will inspire participants with topics related to their personal journey.

No cost. Contact Kristin Larson at klarson@shepherdscenter.org for Zoom meeting information.

* Saturday, April 19th from 9am-1pm The Shepherds Center of Greater Winston-Salem

Identity Theft/Fraud Prevention Shred-A-Thon

Documents will be shredded on-site in the lower parking lot. Please bring paper only. Do not include trash, metal or plastic. Donations of $5 per file box or grocery size bag are requested. Proceeds will benefit our mission of promoting and supporting successful aging.

The event will take place in the lower level parking lot at the Shepherds Center 1700 Ebert St. Winston Salem, 27103

$5 per file box or grocery size bag. Please call 336-748-0217 for more information.

Meals-on-Wheels volunteers needed

Senior Services needs Meals-on-Wheels volunteers to deliver hot, nutritious meals to older adults on Fridays between 9:45 a.m. and noon. Volunteer opportunities are flexible and can be scheduled once per week, once, per month, or anything in between. Delivery routes can take 60  90 minutes.

For more information, visit seniorservicesinc.org or contact Tyler Smith at 336-721-6961 or tsmith@seniorservicesinc.org.

Samaritan Ministries needs help with meal preparation

The Samaritan Ministries Soup Kitchen has an urgent need for volunteers willing to help with meal preparation and serving. If you are willing and available during these times, your commitment would be much appreciated. Our Soup Kitchen cant serve without you.

Lunchtime: We need 12 volunteers to help serve lunch every day. Shifts are available Monday  Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dinnertime: We need 6-8 volunteers to help serve dinner every day. Shifts are available Monday  Sunday from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Grocery Store Pickup: We need individual volunteers to help pick up donations from our partnered grocery stores in Winston-Salem. This opportunity is available Monday  Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Volunteers must be 18 and older to sign up.

Add your name to the volunteer on-call list. We are also in need of people to call for help when we have volunteer cancelations or a shortage in numbers. This opportunity is great for those with flexible schedules and a giving spirit. Please let us know if youd be willing to be on-call as a Soup Kitchen help when needed.

Volunteer as part of the Samaritan Family. Visit samaritanforsyth.org or call 336-448-2677 to sign up.

Samaritan Ministries is located at 414 E. Northwest Blvd., Winston-Salem.

Volunteers needed at the Williams Adult Day Center

Senior Services is looking for volunteers to provide support and assist with activities at the Williams Adult Day Center. Flexible scheduling is available Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Senior Services is looking for volunteers to assist with afternoon participant checkout. Volunteers will help participants prepare to leave, gather belongings, sign out and meet their caregiving partners. This role is needed on weekdays, one to five days per week, between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.

Sing, dance, act, play an instrument, or perform? Senior Services would love to invite you and or your group to perform for the participants at the Williams Adult Day Center. Morning and afternoon options are available Monday through Friday.

For more information on any of the opportunities above, visit seniorservicesinc.org or contact Tyler Smith at 336-721-6961 or tsmith@seniorservicesinc.org.

VFW honor guard needs volunteers

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Honor Guard needs volunteers to help render military honors for deceased veterans from all branches of the military.

The honor guard is also active with color guard missions at schools, churches, retirement centers and other civic events. Uniforms and transportation are provided.

Members must be honorably discharged from military service.

For more information or to volunteer, call Cliff Harris, quartermaster, at 336-403-8756, or email clifhar@windstream.net.

Respite volunteers needed for visits

The Shepherds Center needs respite volunteers to visit with an older adult to provide a break for their caregiver.

To learn more about these flexible opportunities, email volunteer@shepherdscenter.org or call 336-748-0217.

Drivers needed to help older adults

The Shepherds Center needs volunteer drivers to help older adults get to and from doctor appointments or grocery trips.

Volunteer on a schedule that works for you. Email volunteer@shepherdscenter.org or call 336-748-0217.

Hospice agency needs volunteers

Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care needs volunteers to help deliver compassionate care to patients at the end of life. Mountain Valley serves 18 counties in North Carolina and Virginia.

Volunteers are needed for such activities as reading or singing to patients, caregiver respite care, running errands, being a good listener and emotional support.

There also is a need for licensed or certified volunteers to provide such specialized services as art, massage, music and pet therapies. Hairdressers and notaries also are needed.

Most volunteers must complete a training program, pass a background check and meet other requirements, depending on their volunteer role.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Heidi College at hcollege@mtnvalleyhospice.org or call 336-355-0419.

Shepherds Center seeks visitation volunteers

The Shepherds Center is looking for visitation volunteers to visit an older adult on a flexible schedule.

For more information or to volunteer, email Meredith Brown Robbins at mbrobbins@shepherdscenter.org or call 336-748-0217.

Caregiver support group meetings set

The Alzheimers Association offers a Caregiver Support Group at 10 a.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at The Shepherds Center of Greater Winston-Salem (upper level), 1700 Ebert St., Winston-Salem.

A trained facilitator provides a safe place for caregivers of people living with dementia to develop a support system, explore ways of coping, and learn about resources.

For more information or to register, go to act.alz.org/NCmonthlyprograms, or call 800-272-3900.

SECU Family House needs volunteers

The SECU Family House needs groups and volunteers to provide meals for Family House guests.

These dinners provide much-needed support to adult patients and their caregivers who are away from home for medical care. Food may be prepared in the Family House kitchen or prepared off-site and dropped off. Having the meals at the Family House allows the families to avoid going to restaurants or grocery stores.

To see details and a list of available dinner dates and to learn more about a variety of off-site and on-site volunteer opportunities, visit www.familyhousews.org/volunteer or contact volunteer@familyhousews.org or 336-793-2822.

RSVP AmeriCorps Seniors seek help

The RSVP AmeriCorps Seniors (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) is looking for volunteers aged 55 and older, in-person and online.

Volunteer opportunities include:

In-person Reading Buddies: (In-school setting) Petree Elementary School, second grade, from 10:45-11:45 a.m. (After-school setting) Latino Community Services, 3:15-4:30 p.m.

Virtual (online setting): Reading Buddies, must have strong computer skills and be familiar with Zoom. Slots available in the morning and/or afternoon. In the morning, read to pre-K students from 10:30-10:45. In the afternoon, read with students in the first through third grades from 3:30-4:30.

Food Pantry Assistants: Assist with packing food boxes and distributing them to clients from 9:30-11:45 a.m. on Mondays and/or Fridays.

Food Pantry Clerical Assistants: Must have strong computer skills to input client data. Volunteers are needed for three hours on Mondays and/or Fridays, noon to 3 p.m.

Drivers are needed to transport clients to medical appointments for partner agencies in Winston-Salem and Kernersville.

Mailing Support: Fold, stuff, seal, label, stamp and send bulk mailing letters.

For more information or to volunteer, email Patricia Gilliam at pgilliam@lovecdcrsvp.org or call 336-269-2762.
By trade, I am a management consultant. Though my work varies from day to day, the core purpose of my job is usually to help organizations operate more efficiently by maximizing revenue and minimizing costs. If the government were a business, these would be its guiding principles. But it is not. And for that reason, I have deep concerns about the increasing push to run government like a corporation.

The overarching role of government, as outlined in the Constitution, is to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty ... In contrast, Milton Friedman, the renowned conservative economist, famously argued that a corporations only duty is to deliver profits to its shareholders. In his view, businesses should not concern themselves with externalities, community well-being or the welfare of their employees beyond what is legally required  profit is the singular goal. There is wisdom in Friedmans perspective: A narrow focus on efficiency and profitability tends to drive innovation and competition. But taken to the extreme, it leads to abuses of power.

You may have shared my outrage upon learning that Boeing executives knowingly concealed fatal design flaws in the 737 Max, leading to two crashes (Lion Air 2018, Ethiopian Airlines 2019) and 346 deaths. Similarly, large tobacco companies like Altria (formerly Philip Morris) knew for decades that their products were causing lung cancer rates to skyrocket and sending tens of thousands of Americans to an early grave each year but deliberately misled the public to protect company profits. Closer to home, U.S. Magnesium  responsible for up to 25% of northern Utahs pollution  was recently found to have violated environmental regulations dozens of times over the past several years, fouling Utahs air and sickening its residents.

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The individuals who ran these companies had a powerful short-term financial incentive to act in ways that harmed the general Welfare  that is, you and me. (In the long run, each company paid the price for their short-sighted decisions.) One might imagine that if financial performance were to become the primary benchmark for success for the government, it would create a system of perverse incentives where critical but unprofitable functions  such as public education, infrastructure maintenance and social safety nets  would inevitably be deprioritized or dismantled altogether. Ironically, the result is long-term inefficiency; after all, an uneducated society without roads or health care is hardly an economically productive one.

Of course, a well-run government should be fiscally responsible, but its success should be measured not just by cost savings, but by outcomes: Are people healthier? Are communities safer? Are citizens able to exercise their rights freely? Are businesses able to thrive within a stable and fair system? These are the metrics of a functioning democracy  not just whether the budget is balanced or GDP is increasing.

The argument in favor of a business-like government is often framed in terms of efficiency. Proponents, such as Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, argue that bureaucracy is bloated and agencies should be held accountable. Few reasonable people would disagree. Wasteful spending and inefficiency should be addressed. But the solution is not to haphazardly cut government jobs, deregulate essential protections or expose citizens to new risks. Musks vision may sound appealing, but we should ask: Efficiency for whom? A government that prioritizes speed and cost-cutting over careful governance risks serving the powerful at the expense of ordinary citizens.

Applying the principles of corporate efficiency to government without accounting for the broader public good would be like evaluating a hospitals success purely on profitability, rather than patient outcomes. Just as we expect a health care system to prioritize saving lives over cutting costs, we should expect our government to prioritize serving people over simply running a lean operation.

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Businesses exist to make money. Governments exist to serve people. A government that prioritizes efficiency above all else will inevitably fail in the long run at its most essential task: ensuring the well-being of its citizens. Instead, it must provide stability, security and a foundation upon which both individuals and businesses can thrive.

Promoting the general welfare is not always good business. But perhaps thats exactly the point.
For generations, America has stood apart from the rest of the world as a nation of immigrantsbut also a nation of values.

Unlike in Europe, where ethnic and religious minorities often remain socially and politically separate from the broader society, the American model of assimilation has long been based on a simple but powerful expectation: America welcomes newcomers, but they must respect and embrace fundamental principles that define America, such as the rule of law, individual liberty, and democratic governance.

When an immigrant rejects those principles and supports groups that oppose American freedoms, it challenges the very foundation of the nations values and legal framework. This is not a theoretical debate  it is unfolding now in the case of Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University activist whom the government is seeking to deport due to his alleged support for Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.

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Khalils case is not just about immigration law  it is a test of Americas resolve to enforce obligations that come with permanent residency. The laws and policies are clear: immigrants must adhere to them, and the government, following due process and a legal determination, must enforce them. This is the foundation of what defines America.

From the moment a migrant arrives in the U.S., there is an implicit agreement: the country offers safety, opportunity, and freedoms unmatched in much of the world. In return, those who seek to stay must respect the laws and the basic values of a pluralistic democracy.

America does not demand that immigrants abandon their heritage, religion, or cultural identity  far from it. The country thrives because of its diversity of backgrounds and perspectives. But diversity without a shared civic foundation leads to fragmentation. The U.S. model has always depended on civic assimilation  the idea that no matter where you come from, you accept the responsibilities of being part of this society.

Critics argue that revoking Khalils green card violates the freedom of speech. But free speech does not mean freedom from consequences, nor does it cover material support for terrorism. Under 8 USC 1182, a non-citizen is inadmissible and removable if they endorse or espouse terrorist activity or belong to organizations that do.

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Khalils affiliation with Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a group that openly celebrated the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023, is not merely political protest. Columbia University Apartheid Divest has gone beyond advocacy and explicitly endorsed armed resistance  a direct violation of U.S. immigration law. Khalil himself admitted that he avoided media appearances to protect his visa status  a sign that he understood the legal risks of his actions.

This is not a debate over political dissent  it is about whether America must tolerate individuals who actively support organizations dedicated to terrorism and the destruction of democratic societies.

Jonathan Turley, George Washington University Law Professor, noted The question is what that standard is. Theyre allowed to protest, allowed to use free speech. What they arent allowed to do is to support terrorist organizations, to spread terrorist information, to threaten Jewish students and certainly not occupy buildings and destroy property.

If the U.S. fails to enforce assimilation expectations, it risks repeating Europes mistakes. In Europe, radicalized enclaves have formed because of weak enforcement of national values. Both France and the United Kingdom have learned the hard way that failing to confront extremist ideology among immigrants leads to long-term security risks.

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In 2020, France expelled 231 foreign extremists after the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty by a radicalized immigrant. In 2022, France deported Moroccan imam Hassan Iquioussen for preaching anti-Semitic, anti-women, and extremist rhetoric. Frances Interior Minister has made it clear: residency is not a rightit is conditional on respecting national laws and values.

In 2013, the U.K. deported Abu Qatada, a radical cleric with alleged ties to Al-Qaeda, after a years-long legal battle. Anjem Choudary, who inspired jihadist attacks in the U.K., was convicted for supporting ISIS  proving that even citizenship does not protect those who violate national security laws.

The legal foundation for Khalils deportation already exists if he is found culpable. There is no need for new policies or sweeping executive orders. U.S. law already requires immigrants to reject terrorism and uphold democratic values. If Khalil has actively supported Hamas, then his deportation is not only justified but necessary. Failure to act would undermine the integrity of U.S. immigration law and national security.

The Khalil case is a defining moment for U.S. immigration policy. America must uphold its tradition of welcoming immigrants who embrace its values while safeguarding its foundational freedoms from those who seek to undermine them. Preserving civic assimilation is essential to preventing the formation of radical enclaves, a challenge that Europe has struggled to manage.

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There is nothing extreme about enforcing existing laws. America is built on the rule of law, not selective enforcement. Assimilation is not about erasing ones identity  it is about respecting the shared values that make the country function. If America fails to uphold this standard, it risks becoming a nation where the law is optional and its foundational principles are negotiable.

Respect for the law is not a partisan issue  it is the cornerstone of American democracy. The government must ensure due process and impose consequences when violations occur. That is not intolerance; that is justice. If the U.S. abandons these principles, it will not be a more inclusive nation  just a weaker one.

Ron MacCammon, Ed.D, is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces colonel and former political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, where he oversaw the State Departments largest humanitarian demining program. He has written extensively on security, governance, and international affairs.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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If Ukraine needs a wake-up call regarding how much agency it truly has, President Volodymyr Zelenskyys humiliating decision to sign the rare minerals deal, which would see America and Ukraine jointly extract valuable raw materials such as lithium and titanium, will do the trick. Its hard to get more symbolic than watching the head of a client state get lambasted in the Oval Office, having the United States cut off sharing intelligence with his military, then shambling back over to his overseer to pay up.

There are, however, two underreported facets to this shameful episode that can help us understand the nature of both Washington and Ukraine. We can witness, in real time, the masks coming off of Washingtons foreign policy complex; we can also see why this particular betrayal is so traumatic and painful given Ukraines tragic history.

The refreshing thing about President Donald Trump is that he speaks the quiet part out loud. Politicians and think tankers who comprise Washingtons sprawling foreign policy establishment  the Blob, as it was called by Obama deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes  love warbling about Ukraines battling on the front lines of freedom and Kyivs being our cherished partner, brimming with agency and sovereignty.

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Trump doesnt warble. Trump, who loves harping on Europes needing to pay for its own security, has made it clear that freedom aint free: If Ukraine wants the weapons it needs to hold Russia at bay, it better cough up its minerals.

The thing is, when it comes to looting Ukraine, the Blob is little different from Trump. Foreign policy insiders lofty concerns about Kyivs agency evaporate in the face of economic opportunities.

Putin had two goals in invading Ukraine: robbing its territory, and robbing its sovereignty by preventing them from joining NATO, thundered Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., on Feb. 16.

But just one day prior, Sen. Coons was striking a markedly different tone about Ukraines minerals.

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If this is an investment opportunity where American companies and other companies from Europe would be involved in mining and processing, so that we can be independent of Chinese sources of these strategic minerals, and if his helps deepen and strengthen our partnership to help ensure the security of Ukraine going forward ... that would be a positive thing, he told CNBC.

Russian President Vladimir Putins robbing Ukraine is a horrific violation of sovereignty; the United States doing so is a positive. Let freedom ring.

Or take Peter Dickinson  the editor of a Ukraine-centric blog for the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based foreign policy think tank that receives funding from arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the kingdom of Bahrain, the Charles Koch Foundation and the U.S. Energy Department, among other luminaries. We hear lots of talk about geopolitics and what Putin wants, but we should not underestimate the agency of the Ukrainian people or their desire for a democratic European future, Dickinson told Bloomberg in 2022.

Later that year, the X handle of Business Ukraine Mag (a publication edited and published by Dickinson) took Elon Musk to the woodshed, posting, Elon Musk seems unaware that Ukrainian sovereignty is not up for discussion. Things appear to have changed last month, however, when Dickinson was quoted in a Politico article with the amazing headline Ukraine reels in Trump with mineral riches. (It could have also read: Bullys victim reels in bully with lunch money.)

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Dickinson acknowledged that for Kyiv, it would mean a lot less mineral wealth in future before adding, But I doubt anyone is very concerned about that. He continued, Compared to the alternative of the country being wiped off the map entirely, it looks like a very good deal indeed! Most Ukrainians certainly seem to view it as perhaps distasteful but ultimately a no-brainer.

The hypocrisy of Ukraines purported Washington advocates only deepens given the role its territorial resources play in Ukraines identity  and the danger that could lurk for Zelenskyy, of all people, if he is strong-armed into conceding them.

Its hard to overstate the role land plays in the Ukrainian psyche. One modern interpretation of the countrys blue-over-yellow flag is that it represents blue skies over the golden wheat fields of Ukraine. Even the months of the year are named after the agricultural cycle  August is Sickle-time, for the harvest; November is Leaf-fall, for autumn.

This love of their land  and fear of losing it  was watered with blood after Holodomor: the 1932-1933 manmade famine, courtesy of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, after he ordered the grain seized from Ukraine. The famine, which many (including me) consider a genocide, saw almost 4 million Ukrainians perish of hunger. Every morning, dead bodies littered the streets as people collapsed where they walked. Cannibalism was commonplace.

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Stalin sold the stolen wheat to industrialize the Soviet Union, including its military, which was used to keep Kyiv under Moscows power for the next 50-plus years; Ukraines grain helped forge Ukraines chains.

Ultranationalist elements of Ukraine seized on Holodomor to create the antisemitic lie that the famine was orchestrated by Jews. Starting with World War II, that deadly trope was used to justify Ukrainian participation in the Holocaust, a you killed us, we killed you narrative that persists on the Ukrainian far right to this day.

You can see it in graffiti scrawled on a Jewish social services center in the western city of Uzhhorod in 2017: We remember. 1932-1933. Well take revenge. The years referred to the famine; the graffiti appeared on the day Ukraine commemorates Holodomor victims.

The image of Zelenskyy, Ukraines first Jewish president, signing away his countrys rare minerals couldnt be more perfect for Ukraines far right. He might as well be maniacally rubbing his hands together while being handed a bag with dollar signs.

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Considering Kyiv is teetering on losing the war, which could unleash various nightmare scenarios, that image is not just disgusting but dangerous. Jews havent done well when they have been blamed for wars.

The kicker to the rare minerals deal is that much of the resources are in Ukraines east, either in Russia-controlled territory or in a no-mans-land covered with land mines. Realistically, Zelenskyy has as much ability to give them away as I do. The only bankable outcome of this sordid mess is just a further painful reminder of how screwed Ukraine is.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Last Saturday, federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Mahmoud Khalil  a lawful permanent resident with a green card whose wife, a U.S. citizen, is eight months pregnant  over his participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University last year. He is currently being held in Louisiana. The Trump administration moved to deport Khalil, but a New York federal judge ruled that he cannot be expelled from the country while his case proceeds.

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio portrayed the arrest as a defense of Jewish people, condemning the antisemitism of the Columbia protests. The United States has zero tolerance for foreign visitors who support terrorists, Rubio posted on X. The official White House account was more blunt: SHALOM, MAHMOUD, it posted.

But Rubios legal pretense for holding Khalil relies on a provision from an obscure law written by an antisemite that targeted Jewish immigrants  including Holocaust survivors.

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The McCarran-Walter Act of 1952, known formally as the Immigration Nationality Act of 1952, empowers the secretary of state to expel foreign nationals who pose a threat to the United States. While the government has not yet explained to a judge precisely why Khalil meets that qualification, the presidents spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, said that Khalil had 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 fliers with the logo of Hamas. Leavitt claimed to be in possession of such fliers but said she didnt think it was worth the dignity of sharing them with reporters and has not provided further evidence.

This is the first arrest of many to come, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.

All Americans should be concerned about that. But American Jews should be deeply alarmed.

The McCarran-Walter Act was designed primarily to detain, deport and otherwise bar entry visas to communists. But while it did not mention Jews specifically, its practical function barred the immigration of many European Jews from entering the United States. Its author, Pat McCarran, a conservative Democrat from Nevada, was a dogged antisemite who likely intended the legislation to keep the United States safe not just from communists, but from Jews. In recent years, his racist and antisemitic record led some Democrats to call for removing a statue honoring him from the U.S. Capitol, and in 2021, the Las Vegas airport was renamed from McCarran International to Harry Reid International, in honor of the late Democratic senator who represented Nevada in Congress for decades.

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This is not about free speech. This is about people that dont have a right to be in the United States to begin with, Rubio said of Khalil  who, again, is a green card holder with a legal right to be in the United States  on Wednesday. No one has a right to a student visa. No one has a right to a green card, by the way. As of this writing, Rubio has not publicly commented on the history behind the law hes invoked or its exclusion of Holocaust survivors.

That the administration is dusting off this Cold War-era law, purportedly to protect American Jews, is not merely ironic. Its a disingenuous cover for something much more dangerous, and no one  especially American Jews  should buy it.



The McCarran-Walter Act was a sweeping piece of U.S. immigration legislation that reinforced the countrys existing immigration laws. Passed during the early years of the Cold War, it reflected popular fears of communism, internal subversion and national security threats. It also calcified restrictive immigration quotas per country, which  while they didnt target Jews specifically pointedly disadvantaged Jews from Eastern Europe, a region with large Jewish populations. It also significantly expanded the governments ability to exclude, deport and control individuals based on their political beliefs and affiliations.

McCarran had a history of casting Jews as subversive communist threats to the U.S. He opposed only three of President Franklin Roosevelts nominations  Felix Frankfurter for the Supreme Court, Jerome Frank for the Court of Appeals and Gregory Hankin for the D.C. Public Utilities Commission. As Roosevelt aide James Rowe told the president, These three have nothing in common except they are Jews. There is no question of McCarrans anti-Semitism. As you may remember he tried to make out Frankfurter to be a communist.

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In a private note to his wife in 1952, McCarran wrote that the Jews are misleading Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson in his campaign. And his opponents labeled his earlier legislation, the Internal Security Act of 1950  which established repressive measures against suspected communists, including detention during national emergencies  the concentration camp bill.



The McCarran-Walter Act extended similarly stringent principles to immigration. Although Democratic President Harry Truman vetoed the bill, criticizing it as discriminatory and inconsistent with American democratic values, Congress, operating at the height of anti-communist hysteria, overrode his veto on a bipartisan basis.

The acts impact on Jewish immigration was particularly severe. In the aftermath of the Holocaust, tens of thousands of Jewish refugees sought asylum in the United States, but the bill reinforced the national origins quota system originally established in 1924, a scheme that limited immigration from Southern Europe (Greeks, Italians) and Eastern Europe (Poles, Jews) and effectively barred immigration from Asia altogether, while heavily favoring those from Western and Northern Europe. By reinforcing these quotas, the McCarran-Walter act prevented Jews in Soviet-controlled territories from entering the U.S. Additionally, the laws suspicion of those with leftist political affiliations or past involvement in labor and socialist movements further disadvantaged Jews, even if they hailed from Western Europe.

While it was unfashionable in the aftermath of the Holocaust to voice antisemitic intent openly, the original sponsors of the 1924 act were quite explicit in their disdain for Asians, Jews and other non-Western Europeans. Its sponsor, Sen. David Reed of Pennsylvania, wrote in The New York Times that the quota system was necessary in part because the races of men who have been coming to us in recent years are wholly dissimilar to the native-born Americans. Many historians have little doubt that McCarran and other hardliners still maintained this position.

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Apart from its immigration provisions, McCarrans law allowed for the denial of passports to individuals deemed subversive and provided for the prohibition or deportation of non-citizens who were members of communist or totalitarian organizations  even if they had been in the country for years.



The list of notables caught up in McCarrans dragnet speaks to the odiousness of his legislation.

The actor Charlie Chaplin was denied reentry to the U.S. in 1952 for his alleged communist ties. The Danish labor leader Claus Lauritz Clausen was deported. Paul Robeson and W.E.B. Du Bois, left-wing civil rights leaders (in addition to their cultural and scholarly achievements, respectively) were denied passports, as was the playwright Arthur Miller. Pablo Neruda, the poet; Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the novelist; and Pierre Trudeau, the future Labor prime minister of Canada, were all denied entry at certain points due to their alleged communist ties.

At the time of its enactment, Democratic Sen. Herbert Lehman of New York lamented that the bill directly and cruelly denies all that America is and stands for. That act bristles with hostility against the alien and the foreign-born. It is a law conceived in suspicion and brought forth in fear  fear of the stranger, suspicion of every alien.

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Americans would do well to heed Lehmans warning  especially American Jews.



The idea that Trumps White House is primarily concerned about campus antisemitism is risible. Jewish Americans can hardly take comfort in its coziness with advocates of Christian nationalism like retired Gen. Michael Flynn, who in 2021 told a group of conservative Christians that if we are going to have one nation under God, which we must, we have to have one religion. One nation under God, and one religion under God.

The administration, and particularly the president, also keeps close company with a number of figures who traffic in antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories. Trump infamously dined with Nick Fuentes, the white nationalist and Holocaust denier. His former chief adviser, Steve Bannon  who denied that the controversial gesture he made at CPAC last month was a Nazi salute  recently claimed that the number-one enemy to the people in Israel are American Jews that do not support Israel and do not support MAGA. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), one of Trumps allies in Congress, shared the Jewish Space Laser conspiracy. And then theres the newly appointed deputy spokesperson at the Department of Defense, who spread antisemitic tropes on social media targeting the memory of Leo Frank, a Jewish man who was lynched in Georgia in 1913 over false accusations of raping and murdering a young girl.

In the wake of Franks murder, leaders of the Independent Order of Bnai Brith founded the Anti-Defamation League, an organization tasked with fighting anti-Jewish bigotry. Over time, and particularly in the aftermath of the Holocaust, the organizations mandate expanded to address widespread educational, housing and employment restrictions against African Americans, Jews and other ethnic and racial minorities.

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But todays ADL welcomed the news of Khalils arrest, viewing it as one of a bold set of efforts to counter campus antisemitism. Ignoring the sordid antisemitic history of the very law that the administration invoked to disappear a legal resident for his political activities, the organization has apparently decided to throw its lot in with an administration brimming with hostility toward Jews and other non-Christian minorities.

One does not need to approve of Khalils politics, or the Columbia protesters willful targeting of Jewish students, to understand whats really at stake. I certainly dont: I wrote one of the first articles warning that the lefts obnoxious response to the tragedy of Oct. 7 would lead many liberal Jews to rethink their political allegiances.

But the McCarran-Walter Act was and is a blunt instrument meant to silence political dissent and ethnically cleanse the U.S. population. Its a relic of the Cold War era that brought shame, not strength, to the country it purported to protect. When the state can knock on your door in the middle of the night, everyone is unsafe. And rarely does it work out well for Jews.


One of the first actions of the new Trump administration was to withdraw from the World Health Organization. Many public health advocates quickly raised alarm bells, citing longstanding arguments about the importance of the agency and what the U.S. stood to lose by withdrawing its membership and money.

It is unlikely that these advocates paused to consider that leaving the WHO is exactly the disruption needed after years of reform efforts that were long on talk but short on results. One of us knows this firsthand, having worked inside the WHO at the highest levels; the other has seen this as a private-sector innovator seeking to navigate its bureaucratic maze.

The WHO was created in 1948 with the objectives of the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health and to address the spread of infectious disease outbreaks across countries. U.S. leadership at the time and through the decades since has been critical to both the science of WHO and its finances.

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The U.S. currently contributes just over $1 billion and is by far the largest national donor to the WHO budget. But the issue is not money, a mere .06 percent of the U.S. government budget. The issue is the organization.

The WHO at one point in its history was the worlds true north star for infectious diseases and the promotion of health. Sadly, the organization has deteriorated, in both management effectiveness and scientific expertise, making it less efficient and more chaotic.

During COVID, when the world needed it most, the WHO failed at many levels. Delays in declaring COVID to be an airborne virus remain an astounding uncorrected error. Meanwhile, the central bureaucratic processes of WHO and COVAX (the Geneva-based coalition launched by the WHO to coordinate the COVID response across agencies) often impeded rather than supported an effective response at regional and country levels.

Even those who acknowledge its limits often state that the WHO needs U.S. support because it performs key functions in medicines and vaccines that advance American private-sector interests in health. Or they say that, absent U.S. funding, the WHO will be dominated by Americas enemies, with any chance for reform doomed as long as the U.S. remains on the outside looking in.

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In fact, the reality is quite the opposite. None of WHOs functions determine the success or failure of the American private sector. Slow processes and heavy bureaucracy in working with the private sector through WHOs Framework for Engagement with Non-State Actors means that the agency is often a roadblock to advancing lifesaving American health products. And when it comes to Americas putative enemies, concerns about China and other adversaries have been present during years of U.S. full funding.

WHO reform has been a theme for the last two decades for the U.S. Yet, despite recent assertions last month by WHO leadership that the organization has reformed totally, it continues to have serious human resources issues, and even its own reform efforts (from strengthening country offices to addressing harassment after the U.N.s largest sexual abuse scandal) remain continuing problems.

The U.S. government does get value out of its relationship with WHO. Nonetheless, it is at far too great a price and for far too little return, at far too slow a pace. Yes, having a void in global health over time will hurt American interests, but continuing business as usual will hurt America and the world far more in the years ahead.

For those committed to serving the mission of global health, engagement rather than hand-wringing is the best strategy. What does this look like?

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First, ensure that the withdrawal announcement from WHO results in changes. The disengagement should not be binary  either fully engaged or nothing. Making this announcement matter means launching negotiations for a retooling of the global health architecture.

Important funding meetings are happening this year, not just for the WHO but for all major global health initiatives, including the Global Fund, which provides funding and leadership in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and was created largely with American leadership. Leveraging the withdrawal notice period  however long it eventually is  to negotiate targeted roles for other institutions in the wake of pulling back from WHO is smart for America.

Second, look for immediate and better solutions to prepare the U.S. for the next pandemic. Past experience with COVID-19, Ebola and mPox have taught us that relying on public organizations with time-limited funding is always going to be a losing battle. Investments and lessons learned from Operation Warp Speed have laid the foundation for smarter approaches to pandemic response, whereby private organizations can step up to sustainably serve both non-emergency global health needs and outbreak roles, with customers as the primary funding mechanism.

Finally, work with other countries to remake a global health organization that is fit for purpose. The argument has always been that if you tore WHO down and started over, it would end up looking like it does today. This is not true. An organization that has strong regional offices, with an efficient, small central leadership and a focused mandate, would address both budget and mismanagement issues and set the organization up for succeeding at a narrower set of achievable, measurable, targeted goals.

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Clearly, the abrupt halt to U.S. involvement in WHO has caused considerable immediate uncertainty for both global health programs and the many millions of patients around the world who benefit from U.S. financial, medicinal and scientific support. But it can also signal a new opportunity to fix at last what is broken and failing in global health.

Edward Kelley is the former director of service delivery and safety at the World Health Organization and head of Global Heath for Apiject Systems, an injection technology company. Jay Walker is chairman of Apiject and founder of over 60 companies, including priceline.com, and the tenth most patented living inventor.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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This week, a new book about Meta by former executive Sarah Wynn-Williams is making headlines for its explosive claims about the abhorrent behavior of the companys leadership, and how their culture largely disregarded the vast harms they causedfrom failing to protect adolescent girls from content promoting eating disorders to failing to prevent the dissemination of content that fomented genocide.

Holding the powerful and badly behaved to account is laudable work, whether the powerful are men or women. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg remains one of the most powerful men in techand hes not only cozied up to President Donald Trump, hes also lamented the feminization of his industry. Zuckerberg and his tech bro peers are going full MAGA, increasingly embracing a kind of unapologetic sexism that one would more likely expect to see at a cage fight than in a northern California boardroom. (Who showed up to a UFC event even as UFC owner Dana White welcomed accused rapist and sex trafficker Andrew Tatewho denies all such chargesback to America, and back into the MAGA fold? Mark Zuckerberg.)

So why is so much of the reporting on the book, which takes a look at Meta leadership more broadly, so focused on former COO Sheryl Sandberg?

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The answer: Its the Girlboss, whom critics across the political spectrum love to hate. Even now, powerful women trigger all sorts of resentment and anger, even among some self-identified feminists. In the hypermasculine Trump era, though, we should pause and ask whether it was such a great idea to kill the girlboss off.

She died an inglorious death, beaten down by exposes as endless as they were thin. No one sent flowers. No one mourned the girlboss. Female founders were lumped together under this diminutive, whether they had ever used the term or not (and virtually none did). They were collectively saddled with the obligation to be flawless feminists and peerless leaders, even when they werent trying to be activists but were just trying to sell, say, suitcases.

Sheryl Sandberg speaks on stage during a conference in Munich, Germany on January 20, 2019. / picture alliance / picture alliance via Getty Image

Their alleged wrongdoings were often vaguecreating a toxic workplace, for exampleand certainly never the sort of thing that would have impacted a mans performance review. Often, it felt suspiciously like some employees just didnt like their bosses, which is less an indictment of female leadership and more simply a condition of being a human being in the world.

When a leader, or the boss, is female, though, employee expectations are often different. We expect women to be kinder and gentler, but then dont respect them if theyre too nice. If they assert their authority, theyre b---hes.

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Thats a big enough challenge for women to surmount. But in the period of burning girlbosses at the stake, employees disliking a female boss wasnt just a workplace problem; it became a story. Even somewhat obscure female founders and CEOs, women who were definitely not household names, were swiftly pulled apart in glossy magazine stories. The broader message was that female ambition itself was a little suspect, a lot cringe, and potentially dangerous: Get too big and you should expect to be taken down a peg.

This is not to say that every woman felled by the girlboss backlash was an innocent victimsome of the women taken down by the backlash did legitimately awful things. It is certainly not to say that Sheryl Sandberg was a flawless or even good leader; she was, in fact, helping to lead a company that seems to have been doing all manner of horrible things, and then going to great lengths to obscure its responsibility. And it is definitely not to say that the ultimate goal of feminism should be to allow women to behave as badly as men.

It is to say, though, that holding women to radically different standards, placing on their shoulders the obligation of solving not just corporate inequality but gender inequality writ large and then feeling gleeful about tearing them down when they inevitably fall short is sexist, and badbad for women, bad for business, and as it turns out, pretty bad for the country.

This great girlboss teardown happened well before Trump ran for reelection. But it was very much a reaction to the first woman he beat. And it helped to usher in an antifeminist backlash that has gotten so vulgar and hideously misogynist that arguments over Lean In seem practically quaint.

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It turns out that when you push women out, the system doesnt collapse; it just becomes more male, and worse for women. Were seeing that now, as the second Trump administration has granted social permission for many menand man childrento begin unleashing their pent-up misogyny.

Vice President Kamala Harris waves during a ceremony at Joint Base Myers-Henderson Hall in Fort Myer, Virginia, on Jan. 16, 2025. / Evelyn Hockstein / REUTERS

Culture is a complex and amorphous thing, and the takedown of the girlboss helped reinforce the kind of simmering-below-the-surface sexism that boils over whenever women get a little too powerful or a little too confident. It helped to reinforce and socially condone hostility to ambitious, power-seeking womenand its hard to argue that hostility to ambitious, power-seeking women played no role in Kamala Harris defeat, and in the delighted misogyny of the men who brought Trump back to power.

The girlboss was never going to solve gender inequality. She was never going to save womankind from all that ails us. But she didnt promise to do any of that! A woman at the table doesnt fix sexism, not for that woman, and definitely not for all women. But its visibly worse when the women are mocked or nitpicked out, and the table is all menand theres no longer even an inkling that maybe women should have a seat too.
Earlier this month, a collection of people and entities affiliated with President Donald Trump  specifically, the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, DJT Holdings LLC, DJT Holdings Managing Member LLC, DTTM Operations LLC and Eric Trump  sued Capital One bank for having unjustifiably closed numerous Trump-associated bank accounts in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

The lawsuit pleads that de-banking  closing depositors bank accounts  was originally meant to stop fraudsters from having access to banking facilities but it morphed into a way to punish depositors for their political beliefs. The lawsuit explains that completely legal gun and ammunition dealers or payday lenders often found themselves de-banked by unelected bureaucrats who disagreed with the businesses political beliefs. The plaintiffs claim to have been damaged by this type of de-banking when Capital One closed Trump accounts because of the Trumps political views. The Trumps seek damages under an assortment of state consumer protection laws.

Just how many ways is this lawsuit silly? Let me count them.

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As a purely legal matter, the Trumps dont appear to have suffered any recoverable money damages. According to the lawsuit, Capital One closed the Trump bank accounts. Presumably, the bank returned the Trumps money to them  the lawsuit doesnt say otherwise, and its inconceivable the bank would have stolen the Trumps money. (A representative for Capital One declined to comment for this article.)

Its true that individual depositors with small accounts  such as gun shops  might have trouble setting up new banking relationships after they were de-banked, but a large real estate business, such as the Trump Organization, would have had no trouble on that score. So while we dont know for certain, the Trumps situation was presumably this: Capital One closed the Trumps bank accounts, Capital One returned the Trumps money, the Trumps promptly found a new bank, and the Trumps, uninjured, went on with their business.

A fundamental element of any lawsuit is that a plaintiff must have suffered damages. Here, except perhaps for the inconvenience of changing bankers, the Trumps suffered none.

Wheres the case?

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But thats just the legal flaw in this lawsuit. Think for a moment about the practical flaws.

Is any jury going to believe that Capital One stopped its banking relationship in the months after Jan. 6 because of Donald Trumps political beliefs? Did the bank really think, Donald Trump doesnt like affirmative action and he opposes DEI, so we should close his accounts?

Or is it far more likely  and in fact almost certainly true, and sure to be believed by a jury in a heartbeat  that Capital One closed the Trumps bank accounts because it didnt care to be associated with a person who appeared to have incited an insurrection and then stood by silently for three hours as rioters ransacked the Capitol?

Just about everyone in America  all Democrats, and even some Republicans  knew that Trump was practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of Jan. 6, as then-GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell put it at the time.

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This wasnt a matter of politics; it was a matter of morality.

Capital One didnt close the Trumps bank accounts because of Trumps political views. Capital One has denied that it closed the bank accounts for political reasons, but it wouldnt be unreasonable to surmise that the bank didnt care to be associated with anyone  Democratic, Republican or independent  who tried to interfere with the counting of votes in a presidential election. Handling financial transactions for Trump both would have been immoral and would have posed a reputational risk for the bank. Ending that relationship wasnt improper; it was sane.

Although many Americans seem to have forgiven Trumps gross misconduct over the four years since the Jan. 6 riot, that misconduct could fully justify Capital Ones closing of the bank accounts.

But the practical flaws in the Trumps lawsuit dont stop there.

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In any lawsuit, the parties are permitted to take discovery  gather information  from each other. Capital One will thus have the right to request documents and take testimony from Donald Trump and others about Trumps conduct on Jan. 6. As the House Jan. 6 committee proceedings made clear, there is nothing about Trumps conduct in early January 2021 that is praiseworthy; there is much that should be condemned. Does Trump really want to relive, and again place in the public eye, the events of one of the most notorious days in his life?

There are many reasons for the Trumps to abandon this lawsuit. There is only one reason for them to pursue it: to get a financial settlement.

Theres no legal reason for Capital One to settle the Trumps newest lawsuit. The lawsuit is both defensible and embarrassing for Trump to pursue. But there are surely practical reasons  avoiding the wrath the federal government could inflict on a bank  for Capital One to cough up some dough to make this go away.

Is that justice? Not by a long shot.

But does it appear to be a recurring way for Trump to profit while he has the government on his side? Bank on it.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
An Orange County family says their elderly grandmother was forced to pay for work she didnt want.

It happened on Tuesday when they said a man showed up to her home, poured asphalt on her driveway, then demanded thousands in payment.

80-year-old Margaret Rowell said Noah Stanley with NS Paving knocked on her door and claimed his company was working a job up the road.

According to Rowell, Stanley claimed he had extra asphalt and could pave her driveway with it.

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Rowell said she asked Stanley for a quote, went inside as he worked on estimates, and then came out to find her driveway being paved.

He never gave me a quote. He just started pouring the driveway, said Rowell.

Rowell said she never signed a contract nor authorized the work. She called her son-in-law in a panic, and he rushed over to the home.

They tried to take advantage of her money. When me and my son showed up. It was game on, said Rowells son-in-law, Matthew Webb.

Webb told Channel 9 he asked for the owner, Noah Stanley, s business license, but Stanley instead handed over a Maine state ID connected to a P.O. Box.

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The family said Stanley demanded $19,000 for the work before eventually settling on $2,000.

They kept pressuring her to give them some money, so she wrote them a check, said Webb.

Shortly after writing the check, the family called the Orange County Sheriffs Office, where they were advised to cancel the check.

Orange County deputies confirmed they received the call and told Channel 9 they would be following up to see if a crime occurred.

Meanwhile, Channel 9 found a lawsuit recently filed by the state of Maine against Noah Stanley and NS Paving LLC for Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices.

According to the lawsuit, beginning in 2019, Noah Stanley and NS Paving LLC approached customers at their homes and pressured them into accepting discounted paving services.

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The lawsuit states, The story is the same each time: Stanley claimed that he had just finished a nearby job and had some leftover asphalt that he could use to pave the customers driveway at a discount.

The complaint alleges in several instances Stanley refused to provide legally required contracts and illegally inflated prices after completing work.

It breaks my heart because hes done it to me and other people, and I just pray that he will make things right, said Rowell.

Channel 9 called Stanley to try and get his side of the story.

Reporters asked him about the lawsuit, and why they were unable to find a business license.

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They also asked why Stanley did not provide Rowell with a contract for the paving job.

Stanley told reporters it was none of your business, before hanging up.

BBB Vice President Erika Urdaneta warned consumers to be very careful with unsolicited offers.

She told Channel 9 that customers should always ask for a business license, get quotes for work in writing, and take time to research companies before handing over any money.

If someones coming to your door and asking you for payment because they have a service that they want to offer you, be very cautious. Take a pause, said Urdaneta.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accused the EU of intending to colonise Ukraine, which is why, as he says, Brussels supports the continuation of the war.

Source: Orbans speech near the National Museum in Budapest on the occasion of the national holiday, as reported by European Pravda, based on materials from the Hungarian media.

Details: In addition to attacking independent media and non-governmental organisations, which he compared to insects that need to be exterminated, Orban devoted a significant part of his speech to Ukraine and the Hungarian fight against the "rainbow empire" in Brussels.

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After the extraordinary EU summit on 6 March, the Hungarian prime minister announced that he would initiate a national consultation on Ukraine's accession to the EU. Orban also called on his supporters to take part in the poll.

"A year ago, the question was whether we want to die for Ukraine. Now the question is whether we want to participate in Ukraine's accession. Dear friends, let's vote!" Orban said.

Orban said that the "belligerent" Brussels wants to colonise Ukraine, not help it. In this way, he explained to his supporters why Brussels wants Ukraine to join the EU and why Hungary should say no to it.

"The empire does not want to help Ukraine; it wants to colonise it. The means of colonisation is war. The masters of Europe have decided that Ukraine should continue the war," he said.

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"In return, it will get a quick membership in the EU. For our money. We can only answer one thing: Union, but without Ukraine!" he stressed.

Orban did not specify why it is beneficial for the EU to continue the war if it wants to colonise Ukraine and what responsibility the aggressor, Russia, which started the war, bears for this.

Background:

On 15 March, Orban also made a post on social media with a caption "What the Hungarian nation wants from Brussels". The last item on Orban's list of demands reads: "Union, but without Ukraine".

Meanwhile, European Pravda's sources said that during the discussion of the draft resolution of the European Council on 20-21 March, Hungarian representatives again insisted on reducing the section on Ukraine by removing references to continued military support for Ukraine and peace from a position of strength.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Oregon lawmakers are advocating for a bill that would ban non-essential use of toxic chemicals found in common household products.

On Thursday, the Oregon legislature held a hearing for House Bill 3512, which would phase out the use of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or forever chemicals. PFAS are a class of more than 14,000 chemical compounds and research has linked their exposure to harmful health impacts.

If the bill becomes a law, Oregon will join a group of states that have banned the use of PFAS in products from water-repellent clothing and stain-resistant fabrics to cosmetics and menstrual products.

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Severely unprepared: Oregon faces federal funding cuts for Cascadia earthquake, wildfire readiness hub

Unfortunately, PFAS usefulness has been overshadowed by recent research that shows they are highly pervasive, nearly indestructible, and incredibly harmful to human health, HB 3512 chief sponsor Rep. Courtney Neron (D-Wilsonville, Sherwood, King City, Tigard) testified during the hearing. With this bill, Oregon will join many other states in phasing out their use in products that people come in contact with every day.

Because PFAS are used in many household products, exposure to the toxic chemicals is unavoidable and can begin before birth, lawmakers noted.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PFAS can migrate into soil, water and air when they are produced and used.

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Downtown Portland sees open-air drug market resurgence after return of can redemptions

As noted by HB 3512 chief co-sponsor Rep. Tom Andersen (D-South Salem), when household items containing the chemicals end up in landfills, PFAS can leach into soil and water systems.

This landfill leachate soaks into the ground, or worse, gets filtered through our water treatment systems, which were not built to get rid of PFAS contamination, Andersen explained. Through leachates, rainwater runoff, and other parts of the water cycle, PFAS enters our waterways, where it remains forever.

PFAS do not break down, leading the chemicals to enter the bloodstreams of humans and animals, according to the CDC. PFAS can also be present in low levels of food and can build up in the body with each exposure over time.

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Jamie DeWhitt, a professor of environmental and molecular toxicology at Oregon State University and the director of OSUs Pacific Northwest Center for Translational Environmental Health Research, testified about the health effects of forever chemicals.

Biomonitoring efforts by some of our nations agencies indicate that 99% of people in the United States likely have one or more PFAS in their bodies, DeWhitt said. This is concerning because of the health effects that have been uncovered by scientists.

DeWhitt noted that PFAS exposure can cause a low birth weight, liver damage, high cholesterol in children, decreased response to vaccinations, thyroid disease and cancer.

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There are, by some estimates, about 15,000 individual PFAS, and really, only a handful have been studied. Currently, only six are regulated in drinking water at the federal level, DeWhitt said. These chemicals pose tremendous risk to public health and really the only way to reduce risk of exposure to PFAS is to remove them from the environment, which is very costly. So, another step that can be taken is to reduce the amount of PFAS that come into the environment, into peoples homes, into peoples food.

2 Oregon waterfront hotels named among best in the U.S.: Newsweek

Oregon recently passed similar laws limiting the use of PFAS, including the passage of the Toxic Free Kids Modernization Act of 2023, which allowed the Oregon Health Authority to monitor and update a list of harmful chemicals, including PFAS, in kids products.

The legislature has also passed the Toxic Free Cosmetics Act, which sets limits on the amount of certain harmful ingredients in cosmetics. Oregon also passed a bill banning the use of PFAS in food containers.

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If Oregon passes HB 3512, it will align with a group of other states banning the use of PFAS in common household items.

These are the happiest Pacific Northwest cities, according to WalletHub

Starting January 1, Amaras Law went into effect in Minnesota  banning PFAS from being intentionally added to items such as cleaning products, rugs, carpets, cookware, cosmetics, dental floss, food packaging, juvenile products, menstrual products and ski wax.

Oregons HB 3512 matches bans on PFAS addressed in other states, such as Californias ban on PFAS in apparel, Colorados ban for artificial turf and Maines ban on product packaging.

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If a company is able to comply with the PFAS laws already on the books in other states, they will easily be able to comply with Oregon law when this bill goes into effect in two years. Its time for Oregon to join the movement, Rep. Neron said.

HB 3512 co-sponsor Rep. Mark Gamba (D-Milwaukie and Sellwood) testified that this bill gives Oregon a chance to catch up with other states, in limiting PFAS.

PFAS has been a known danger to our health and the environment for years, Gamba said. These chemicals are in our bodies from birth and stay with us throughout our entire lives. They are just as prevalent in the environment and have been found in animals all over the planet. Its far past time for Oregon to catch up with other states and get rid of these toxins in the household products we use every day.

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Almost immediately after assuming the presidency for the second time, President Donald Trump signed an executive order freezing all foreign aid. In the weeks since, according to the New York Times, The whole system of finding, diagnosing and treating tuberculosis . . . has collapsed in dozens of countries across Africa and Asia. The consequences of this system collapse in places like Kenya are dismal:

Family members of infected people are not being put on preventive therapy. Infected adults are sharing rooms in crowded Nairobi tenements, and infected children are sleeping four to a bed with their siblings. Parents who took their sick children to get tested the day before Mr. Trump was inaugurated are still waiting to hear if their children have tuberculosis. And people who have the near-totally drug-resistant form of tuberculosis are not being treated.

In the West, we often think of tuberculosis as a disease of the past, akin to the Black Death or smallpox (or, until the recent outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, measles). We remember it as consumption, that pesky disease that tends to afflict characters in Dickens or Tolstoy novels and kills them, slowly but surely, after they begin coughing up blood. As a result, its easy to forget that TB still exists. But in his new book, Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection, John Greenthe YouTuber, podcaster, philanthropist, and acclaimed author of young adult fiction books including The Fault in Our Starsreminds us that tuberculosis, the bacterial infection that has claimed the lives of as many as 1 in 7 human beings who ever lived, is still very much with us today.

Tuberculosis has always been a challenge to humanity, but as Green notes, whats different now is that tuberculosis is curable, and has been since the mid-1950s. Indeed, because of remarkable medical advances in the 20th century, [w]e know how to live in a world without tuberculosis. But we choose not to live in that world. In the United States and other developed countries, we sort of do live in that world: While there were nearly 10,000 cases of tuberculosis in the U.S. in 2023 (a distressing increase of 8.3 percent over 2019 levels), the vast majority of TB casesGreen reports that more than 2 billion people worldwide are currently infected with the bacterial disease (though in most cases the infection remains forever dormant)occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

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One of those countries is West Africas Sierra Leone, a former colony for emancipated American slaves who fought alongside the British in the Revolutionary War. Green became interested in TB after meeting a 17-year-old boy there named Henry, who suffered from tuberculosis. Henry had been receiving treatment for several years by the time Green met him, and his prognosis was bleak. The one-two punch of child malnourishment and tuberculosiswasting is one of the cardinal features of the diseaseleft him emaciated, to the point where Green initially thought the young man was around the same age as his 9-year-old son. Worse, Henry had yellow clouds in the whites of his eyes due to liver toxicity, a side effect of the drugs used to treat him, and swelling in his neck indicated that TB had invaded his lymph nodes.

Henry was being treated for his disease, but unsuccessfully, and it was determined that he had developed multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. This harder-to-beat version probably afflicted Henry because his father at one point insisted that he abandon professional medical treatment in favor of a faith healer. Indeed, one reason for TBs longevity is that many patients fail to take their full course of antibiotics. This is especially the case in poor countries, where the DOTS strategyan acronym meaning Directly Observed Therapy (Short-course)requires a course of standardized treatment of antibiotics under physician supervision. But in many of these countries, patients struggle to get to and from the hospital to obtain their antibiotics, and their often inadequate food intake makes them susceptible to the nausea that can occur if the medications are taken on an empty stomach, causing them to reject their pills. When TB patients fail to take all their antibiotics, the bacteria that remain replicate, passing on their antibiotic-resistant genes to their progeny.

But rather than lay the blame for TBs sustained advantage over the human race on patients in poor countries who lack adequate health care, Green argues that we are in this mess first and foremost because we stopped trying to develop new treatments for tuberculosis. Green points an accusatory finger at our market-based system of drug development, arguing that there are few economic incentives for drug companies to develop additional TB treatments for people in poor countries. When in 2012 Johnson & Johnson developed bedaquiline, which is effective against drug-resistant tuberculosis (and could have cured Henry within months), the pharmaceutical giant engaged in what Green calls price gouging: It charged $900 for a single course of treatment in low-income countries, far more than the $130 that it charges for the same treatment today. (My inner Kevin D. Williamson insists that this 86 percent price drop is actually proof that the market is working. My inner John Green, meanwhile, wonders whether we should really allow pharmaceutical companies to price life-saving drugs so highly for people who couldnt possibly afford them.)

Instead of relying solely on market incentives for TB treatment, Green argues, We could invest more public and philanthropic money into research and development of drugs, vaccines, and treatment distribution systems. More ambitiously, we could reimagine the allocation of global healthcare resources to better align them with the burden of global sufferingrewarding treatments that save or improve lives rather than treatments that the rich can afford. Its a nice thought, but even before President Trump froze foreign aid, Greens vision seemed unlikely to manifest anytime soon.

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But Trumps foreign-aid cutoff still spells trouble for affected TB patients. If left untreated, Green explains, most people who develop active TB will eventually die of the disease. The symptoms vary, but for many patients, Their lungs collapse or fill with fluid. Scarring leaves so little healthy lung tissue that breathing becomes impossible. The infection spreads to the brain or spinal column. Others suffer a sudden, uncontrollable hemorrhage, leading to a quick death as blood drowns the lungs. And considering that the U.S. contributed about half of all international TB funding in 2024, its possible that the death toll this year will exceed even the 1.25 million that it reached in 2023, the most recent year for which data are available.

At the risk of being too alarmist, lackluster treatment of TB in poor countries can have spillover effects in the first world. Tuberculosis is incredibly contagious (Green notes that the average TB patient spreads the infection to 10 to 15 others per year, compared to just 1 for flu and 1.4 to 2.4 for COVID), so as fewer patients get treatment, more of their family members, neighbors, and doctors are at risk of contracting the illness. And as the infection spreads further, it could be only a matter of time before TB reaches our shores with a virulence we havent yet experienced. Moreover, the more TB spreads, the more time it has to mutate and become resistant to the antibiotics we currently use to treat the disease. All of which is to say that funding TB treatment and prevention programs in countries like Sierra Leone seems like a wise investment that is, ironically, consistent with U.S. foreign policy under the America First agenda, as the State Department put it in a press release on implementing Trumps funding freeze.

But beyond the strategic benefit to maintaining our status as the world leader in TB treatment and prevention funding, there is also a profound moral case to be made in favor of doing so. The plight of tuberculosis sufferers like Henry may not register in the nationalistic worldview of people like President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, or Elon Musk, but that doesnt mean those patients lives arent worth saving.

Henry ended up surviving his TB thanks to the tireless efforts of the doctor who begged, pleaded, and cajoled government authorities to get him a course of bedaquiline. Its unrealistic to expect that all TB patients could be saved this way. But if we stopped treating tuberculosis as though we left it in the rearview mirror decades ago, Henrys miraculous outcome could become much more routine.

Read more at The Dispatch

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A woman is facing charges after police say her four dogs killed other pets in a McMinnville neighborhood earlier this month.

On March 7, police received a call reporting dogs had escaped their yard and were running loose in a residential area of Northwest McMinnville.

Bend man dies in avalanche near Diamond Lake Resort, officials say

While on the run, authorities said the four dogs killed two cats and one small dog.

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The dogs were eventually found captured by police, but were not immediately impounded due to lack of kennel space, authorities said.

But once a search warrant was served on the owners home on March 13, all four dogs were taken to a kennel where police say they will be kept pending court hearings.

Inundated and unwanted: Oregon bill aims to limit scam calls, texts

The owner, identified as Sarah Atwood, was charged with having a dog at large and having an unrestrained vicious dog.

Atwoods first court appearance is scheduled for April 16.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Two men, responsible for a deadly armed robbery, were sentenced for their crimes Friday. Jeremiah Denton and Shaquan Ketcham set up a drug deal on April 1, 2020 with Zachery Schaefer. When Schaefer arrived at Maple St. and Gold Ave., they shot him to death and robbed him.

Former Golden Pride employee pleads no contest to killing his coworker

Both men took plea deals. Denton pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a firearm enhancement. Ketcham pled guilty to armed robbery and conspiracy. Judge Cindy Leos sentenced both men to five years behind bars.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
A set of 200-million-year-old dinosaur footprints has been discovered at an elementary school, Ancient Origins reported.

The remarkably rare discovery has been residing at a small school in Queensland, Australias Banana Shire for the last 20-odd years, waiting to be discovered. Recently, school officials became curious about a pattern of tightly clustered footprints and asked University of Queensland paleontologist Anthony Romilio, whos also known to be a successful fossil hunter, to take a look at the peculiar formation.

But Romilio was unprepared for what he was about to discover. The relatively small rock contained "one of the highest concentrations of dinosaur footprints" ever found in Australia. "It's an unprecedented snapshot of dinosaur abundance, movement, and behavior from a time when no fossilized dinosaur bones have been found in Australia," Romilio explained. "Significant fossils like this can sit unnoticed for years, even in plain sight. It's incredible to think that a piece of history this rich was resting in a schoolyard all this time."

Related: Archaeologists Decipher Text on Ancient Roman Boundary Stone

Romilio posited that part of the reason why the rock was left undisturbed for so long was because many likely assumed the dinosaur footprints, which number 66, were faux. "Some of the teachers thought this was a replica rather than the real thing," he said. "Everyone didn't quite realize what they actually have. They definitely knew it was a dinosaur footprint. But not the level of detail that a researcher like myself would go into."

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After extensive studies and test to track dinosaurs movement throughout the region, Romilio and his colleagues determined that the tracks belonged to a dinosaur known as Anomoepus scambu. Dinosaur footprints have been reported from the Lower Jurassic Precipice Sandstone of the Callide Basin, Queensland, for over three decades, yet only a single track has been described until now,  Romilio explained. This study reports additional tracks on three ex-situ surfaces not previously described. These pedal impressions are assignable to the ichnospecies Anomoepus scambus.

Following the identification of the dinosaurs species, Romilio conducted several further experiments. Based on those findings, he hypothesizes that Anomoepus scambus hips were between eight and 30 inches wide and that they would not have walked faster than roughly 3.6 miles-per-hour. While Romilio expressed some surprise that the fossil had gone undiscovered for so long, he was hardly shocked. "The vast majority of dinosaur fossils, they're not found by paleontologists, he said. They're actually found by people on the ground.
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB)  The Bay County Sheriffs Office has arrested a Panama City Beach woman wanted in Leon County for human trafficking of a minor.

According to a news release in early March, the BCSO was contacted by the Leon County Sheriffs Office for assistance locating 39-year-old Erica McKelvey of Panama City Beach.

McKelvey was wanted out of Leon County, Florida, for the charge of Human Trafficking of a Minor.

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Suspects involved in Panama City road rage shooting plead not guilty

On March 13, a BCSO Criminal Investigator said McKelvey was spotted in the passenger seat of a vehicle traveling on Front Beach Road. She was observed getting out of the vehicle at an apartment complex, officials wrote.

BCSO Criminal investigators made contact with McKelvey and took her into custody on the warrant out of Leon County.

McKelvey was taken to the Bay County Jail, where she was held without bond, awaiting extradition back to Leon County.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A 21-year-old Orange Park man is dead after a single-vehicle crash early Saturday in St. Johns County. The accident occurred at 2:35 a.m. on County Road 16A, a Florida Highway Patrol news release states.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The man was a passenger in the car and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, a 20-year-old Jacksonville man, was taken to the hospital with series injuries.

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The car was traveling eastbound on CR 16A, when, for undetermined reasons, it exited the paved roadway and off onto the left shoulder, the news release states. The car then, traveled along a ditch embankment causing the passenger side of the vehicle to strike a concrete power pole."

Both men were not wearing seatbelts, according to FHP.

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Read: Two people killed, one seriously injured in St. Augustine crash

Read: Kidnapping suspect captured, three victims located after police chase through Northeast Florida

Read: Ongoing gang war is tied to shooting death of Jacksonville 7-year-old, according to arrest warrants

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Passengers aboard the fiery plane that made an emergency landing in Denver are finally speaking out after arriving at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport nearly 12 hours later.

CBS News Texas spoke to several of the passengers aboard American Airlines Flight 1006 when the plane landed safely Friday morning, and they described the scene as "chaotic" and "surreal."

Michele Woods spoke to the outlet after arriving in Dallas. She had been in Colorado for a trade show. She said the takeoff went just fine, but things got bumpy once they were in the air, after passengers noticed one of the engines was making a loud noise.

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"[The plane] landed, everything was fine but then there was smoke filling the cabin," she said.

American Airlines flight 4012 just caught fire at Denver airport pic.twitter.com/EHIGMAqJjJ  Stone (@flynnstone) March 14, 2025

When passengers noticed the smoke, Woods said people started screaming, pushing and jumping.

Another passenger, Ingrid Hibbit, said she missed her connecting flight in Dallas. Her family was on her way to a wedding in Argentina. Hibbit says she saw flames out of her window, which was melting.

"Getting off the plane was a challenge, didn't go smoothly," she told the outlet. "Grateful to be here."

Related: Dramatic Footage Shows Passengers Evacuating Flaming Aircraft at Airport

Flight 1006 and its 178 passengers took off from Colorado Springs Airport on Thursday but was diverted to Denver International Airport for an emergency landing. Video quickly began spreading on social media, which showed passengers evacuating by climbing onto a wing and coming down emergency slides. Officials say 12 passengers needed to be treated for minor injuries at a local hospital.

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"After landing safely and taxiing to the gate at Denver International Airport (DEN), American Airlines Flight 1006 experienced an engine-related issue," an airline spokesperson said in a statement. "The 172 customers and six crew members deplaned and are being relocated to the terminal. We thank our crew members, DEN team and first responders for their quick and decisive action with the safety of everyone on board and on the ground as the priority.

This latest scary plane incident is not likely to calm the ongoing fear of flying anxiety that is impacting airline company's bottom line.
Pastor Eva Steege planned to meet with officials from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on February 10 hoping to get $15,000 of student debt forgiven. She was under the nations Public Service Loan Forgiveness program that is designed to give loan relief to people who participate in public service.

In Steeges case she used the money to fund her seminary training.

But the day before her meeting, Steege learned that President Donald Trump  with help from Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency  had taken steps to shut down the CFPB - the agency that was supposed to help her with the Department of Education and eliminate the debt.

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To make matters worse, Steege was battling advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She was given just six months to live and now lives in hospice care.

We're caught in the backwash of what Trump is trying to do with the CFPB [he] wants to reduce waste fraud and abuse, but there's no waste fraud and abuse here, Steege, 83, and her husband, Ted, told The Independent.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an independent agency of the United States government responsible for consumer protection in the financial sector, is one of the latest agencies to be targeted by the Trump administration (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Steege, who prior to joining the clergy was a banker, public relations worker and a teacher, is now the sole consumer plaintiff in a lawsuit being brought against the CFPB and Acting Director Russell Vought to challenge the unlawful dismantling of the bureau.

The lawsuit, amended last month to include Steege, states that she is entitled to discharge her loans under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, and the CFPB was helping her do so.

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Pastor Steege wants to ensure that she discharges her debt before she dies, so that she will not burden her surviving family, and because she could pass on to her family as much as $15,000 of overpayments, the suit states. Pastor Steege had a meeting scheduled with the bureau...that was suddenly canceled because of the CFPBs unlawful closure.

Absent the CFPBs assistance, it is unlikely that she will be able to discharge her debt and get her overpayments returned before she passes away.

Pastor Eva Steege, who became involved in the bureau while trying to get her student loans forgiven, is fighting the closure even though she is in hospice care (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Steege joins the CFPB Employee Association, Gupta Wessler LLP, NAACP, National Consumer Law Center, the National Treasury Employees Union, Public Citizen Litigation Group and the Virginia Poverty Law Center in the lawsuit that seeks to halt what the group calls illegal actions by CFPBs appointed and acting officials.

The Independent has reached out to the CFPB for comment on the lawsuit brought by Steege and the other parties.

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Steege had struggled to enroll in a federal loan forgiveness plan, operated through the Department of Education.

I have friends who have zipped right through the process [of enrolling in PSLF], but it still feels like it's one thing after another that makes this fairly simple thing much more difficult than it needs to be, Steege told The Independent.

Add to that, I had a slightly more complicated public service career, but it also feels like they're almost looking for ways that they don't have to do this. I know that's probably not true in the real world, but I can imagine a lot of people thinking, Why on earth do they have a reason for stopping this kind of fairly direct, simple request?

I put my original request in in 2022  that's a long time  and I've filled out all the forms nicely and as precisely as I know how. And yet, there's some other weird reason why they can't do this.

Pastor Steege wants to ensure that she discharges her debt before she dies, so that she will not burden her surviving family, and because she could pass on to her family as much as $15,000 of overpayments, the suit states (AFP via Getty Images)

It was only last year that she sought help getting into the program through the CFPB  the agency created after the 2008 financial crisis and designed to protect consumers.

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After an initial meeting in January, she was hopeful that she might finally enroll in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, have her loans forgiven and receive a refund. A follow-up meeting was scheduled with CFPB for February 10.

That was until Trump and Musk started making their cuts.

I guess there's an odd feeling. It might be my own, it might not be valid, but it feels like one way or another, they're going out of their way to make this thing worse, Steege told The Independent.

One of the Feds suggestions even was, can you believe it, that maybe my computer wasn't working, and I should go to the library or find some other reason why this wasn't working  that it's somehow my fault.

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If the CFPB isnt able to help her, Pastor Steege will spend her final six months in great duress, worried that she is leaving her family with a financial burden and without the monetary help to which they are entitled the suit states.

Trump, Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency have continued on their crusade to cut wasteful government spending, which has included shuttering agencies such as the CFPB (AP)

The timing of the suit is somewhat ironic. Trump declared the week of March 2 as National Consumer Protection Week 2025.

Consumer rights are a cornerstone of American freedom, a building block of the American economy, and a foundation of American success, a Friday press release from the White House read. During this National Consumer Protection Week, we renew our commitment to protecting the American consumer, upholding the right to privacy and transparency, and ensuring the American economy remains free and prosperous.

Ted Steege says that his wifes inclusion in the suit is to show the Trump administration the damage being done to ordinary citizens by the attempt to wipe out the CFPB. He says the suit is not about politics, but about finding the justice for his wife.

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So long as the Trump administration is willing to wipe out that agency entirely, then it means people like us, and there's many thousands of them who are in the middle of trying to get justice that's due to them, it makes it impossible.

He added: I certainly don't object to the government administration looking for efficiencies, but this is a very inefficient way of dealing with the needs of taxpayers Obviously we're not in total poverty, and we will survive, but it's going to be much harder to do that if she's not getting what she deserves under this program.
Mar. 14LIMA  Pastor Claytonia Logan is pleading with the people of Lima to keep her safe after discovering new information related to the incident she endured at Wally's Fillin' Station in January.

Logan called out Lima police at a press conference Thursday afternoon for not doing their due diligence when an employee made threats to and racially abused her.

"When I think about calling the police, I'm thinking a hero is showing up to help in whatever situation I am in," she said.

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Logan said she walked into the store to find what appeared to be a theft in progress that resulted in a fight leaving one person bloodied.

When she returned to let employees know gas was not pumping they called her racial slurs and threatened her with violence.

She called Lima police, but Logan said they allowed the employee to go home.

"Officers responded to that location on January 16th," Lima police chief Jim Baker said via email when asked for comment. "They spoke with both parties and determined no crime had been committed from the statements they received. As part of normal procedures, checks were made as to wants or warrants, and we had no indication there were active warrants. Ms. Logan was advised on the steps and available resources if she chooses to pursue additional action related to this incident."

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The employee, who identified himself as Jassi Singh, denied the allegations after Logan shared them on social media and with Lima City Council.

However, Balwinder Singh, a man residing at a Lima address who Logan identified as the same employee that harassed her, was recently taken into custody by the Cleveland ICE office and booked into the Seneca County Jail as a fugitive from justice.

The Seneca County Sheriff's Office said Singh also had aliases, but did not have access to more information.

On the possibility of further investigation, Baker said the LPD communicates with all federal departments and state and local agencies but does not discuss them unless there is an immediate public safety issue or the completion of a joint investigation.

Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.

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CHICAGO  WGN Political Analyst Paul Lisnek joined WGN Evening News to discuss several big political stories from the week.

This weeks topics include the latest surrounding President Donald Trump and the Department of Justice, Mayor Brandon Johnsons fight against antisemitism, the trade tariff wars, Mahmoud Khalils arrest, and more.

Tune in on Sundays for WGN-TV Political Report with Paul Lisnek.

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AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune)  State agencies should not honor court orders to change the sex on someones drivers license or birth certificate, according to an opinion filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Friday.

He also said state agencies should retroactively correct any changes theyve made to drivers licenses or birth certificates over the years based on these court orders.

As attorney general, Paxton does not have the authority to tell other state agencies what to do, but this opinion could be cited in future executive or legislative action.

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For decades, state agencies have accepted certified court orders to amend a persons sex on government issued documents. The Texas Department of State Health Services accepted court orders to change someones sex on their birth certificate, and the Texas Department of Public Safety allowed changes to drivers licenses if someone presented an amended birth certificate or a court record.

That came to a halt in August for DPS, at least, and the agency asked Paxtons office for an official opinion in September.

Previous: DPS director asks Paxton for guidance on sex marker changes

Ian Pittman, an attorney who represents transgender Texans, said Paxtons recent finding was not a surprise.

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He purports to order things he has no authority to do, Pittman said. Its red meat for the base, but it doesnt legally change anything.

But if history is any guide, Paxtons latest maneuver could cascade into real changes. In 2022, Paxton issued a similar opinion, finding that providing a child with gender-affirming care could be considered child abuse under Texas law. Abbott, citing that opinion, issued an executive order, directing the states child welfare agencies to investigate parents of trans children.

The Texas Supreme Court ultimately ruled that Abbott and Paxton had overstepped, but allowed the investigations to continue.

It is well-settled that an Attorney General opinion interpreting the law cannot alter the preexisting legal obligations of state agencies or private citizens, Justice Jimmy Blacklock, now the chief justice, wrote in the ruling.

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Pittman said he and his clients are prepared for Abbott to issue an order requiring state agencies to comply with Paxtons opinion, or for the Legislature to pass one of several bills filed this session that would further restrict trans people from changing their gender markers on government documents.

What this shows us is what we already knew: If they have the ability, or think they do, they will try to do this, he said. But bureaucratic inertia may work in the favor of people this would affect.

He said it wasnt clear how easy it would be for DSHS or DPS to retroactively identify and change those records if they were ordered to do so, although he noted it might come up when people have to renew their drivers licenses.

DPS and DSHS are reviewing the order and did not have further comment, spokespeople for the agencies said Friday.

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August 2024: Texas Vital Statistics no longer accepts court orders to update birth certificate sex markers

In January, Abbott issued an executive order saying Texas would recognize only two sexes, male and female, and ordering all state agencies to comply with that framework.

There are only two sexes, and that is determined not by feelings or gender theory but by biology at conception, Paxton said in a statement Friday on his ruling. Radical left-wing judges do not have jurisdiction to order agencies to violate the law nor do they have the authority to overrule reality.

Equality Texas interim CEO Brad Pritchett said in a statement that if agencies do comply, it would jeopardize the safety of nearly 100,000 trans Texans.

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The trans community in Texas is scared, he said. The people going through the process to update their documents are trying to honor the law by having an ID that matches the way they live and move through the world. Now law-abiding Texans are being undermined by the states top lawyer attacking the validity of legal court orders from state judges.

Related: DPS ending ID gender changes could spur legislation, lawsuits

Paxtons opinion focuses on the fact that state agencies are not party to these court filings, but are expected to comply with the results. Thats long been the way the courts handle these sorts of administrative changes and changing that precedent could have unintended consequences, Pittman said.

As a family law attorney who handles adoptions, he said its standard practice to get a court order to change a childs birth certificate to reflect the adoptive parents names. Hes never had to name DSHS in those filings before, but this opinion implies that may be required going forward, he said.

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Im not sure Paxtons office thought that through, he said.

Disclosure: Equality Texas has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A pedestrian was seriously injured after a crash on U.S. 26 in Sandy Friday night, authorities said.

Just before 8:30 p.m., officers responded to reports of the crash at the intersection of Highway 26 and University Avenue.

Crash into power pole leaves nearly 2K without power in Gresham

When they arrived on scene, police found a pedestrian had been hit by a passing vehicle.

The pedestrian was taken by ambulance to a hospital with serious injuries, police said.

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The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. Police say they dont suspect intoxication was a factor in the crash.

Law enforcement ramping up DUII missions this weekend through St. Patricks Day

All westbound lanes of U.S. 26 west of Sandy were closed for several hours, but reopened just after 11 p.m. that evening.

Officials say evidence suggests the pedestrian was crossing the highway outside of a crosswalk. However, the investigation is ongoing.

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A month after a water main break caused major flood damage to a building that houses multiple businesses and apartments in southwest Minneapolis, the intersection at 50th and Penn Avenue has partially reopened.

In an update provided by the city on Friday, it was announced that Penn Avenue South has reopened to traffic for the first time since the water main break that closed Terzo Restaurant, Paperback Exchange, Sparrow Cafe and Theisen Renovations.

But West 50th Street remains closed to traffic between Penn and Oliver Avenues.

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The city said workers installed a support beam on Thursday night to help stabilize the building and have added an additional support beam on Friday. The beams and shoring towers are needed to support the building for the basement wall to be repaired.

Related: Water main break wreaks havoc on southwest Minneapolis businesses, apartments

The overnight main water break on Feb. 13 came from a city-owned pipe adjacent to the building that houses Italian restaurant Terzo and five apartments above it, with a large amount of water gushing into the streets and alleyways.

Torrents of water then flooded the buildings, filling Terzo's basement with water and destroying around 100,000 books in the basement of the Paperback Exchange.

Related: Fundraiser launched for Minneapolis bookstore that lost 100,000 books in flood

Paperback Exchange said in social media posts on Thursday it's been "working hard with insurance, the restoration company and the city to assess the damage and the remediate the building."

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"The burst water main seriously compromised the foundation and structure of the building; however, crews are hard at work trying to shore up the building to begin structural repairs," the local bookstore said.

Terzo hasn't provided any updates to its situation since March 3, when the restaurant said it was doing what it could to support its staff through a GoFundMe.

You can help donate to each business's financial situation through the following GoFundMe links:

The city says it will be able to resume retaining wall construction over the weekend and will continue work into next week, with the goal to open up two-way traffic via the northern half of 50th Street by the end of the week.
The Engineering News and American Contract Journal ran a story about the Pennsylvania Railroad in Schuylkill County in 1885.

Work on the Schuylkill branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad is being pushed with all diligence, the journal wrote. Already five miles of track beyond Reading have been laid and satisfactory progress is being made on the section between Pottsville and New Boston.

The item tells of the start of the Pennsylvania Railroad in Schuylkill County.

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It was referenced in an article by reporter Bill OBrien in the Pottsville Republican on Sept. 26, 1968, which tells a very different story.

Pennsy Era Near End Here After 80 Years, the headline read.

The PRR tracks no longer run north of Pottsville, the story said, and before long they probably will be dismantled below Pottsville.

The prediction came true, and the once vital link in the transportation of anthracite coal to market was relegated to old photos and history books.

There is one bright spot, though.

Plans are under way to make the Pennsys railroad bed part of the Schuylkill River Trail between Saint Clair and Frackville.

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Unlike the lengthy, painstaking work it took to build the Pennsy in Schuylkill, its demise was swift and quiet.

Hundreds of men labored and sweated, and some died, to help bring the Pennsy to Schuylkill 83 years ago, the Republican reported in 1968. Once the PUC approves, a handful of workmen need but a few days to rip up track where trains once traveled busily transporting people and anthracite.

If anything distinguished the Pennsy in the county, it was its bridges.

Its spans between Saint Clair and Auburn earned the Pennsy the tag Railroad of Bridges.

In a distance of a trifle of two miles, there is a remarkable number of six iron bridges, the journal wrote. The first, just below Auburn, is said to be the finest on the railroad.

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Built on a compound curve, it was over 700 feet long and consisted of two deck-truss and two through-truss spans bridging the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad and the Schuylkill Canal, the journal reported.

It was constructed of 3,000 cubic yards of masonry and 500 tons of iron.

The greatest difficulty in building the bridges was laying the foundations in river beds composed of silt and sand. They were built at a cost of about $250,000  about $8.5 million in 2025 dollars.

A trestle once used by the Pennsylvania Railroad towers over Route 61 between Pottsville and St. Clair. (FILE)

The most famous of the PRR bridges was the trestle over Route 61, north of Saint Clair. It was built to enable the tracks to cross the gorge through which Mill Creek flows.

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Known as the Darkwater Trestle, it was dismantled in 1970. It took three dynamite blasts to bring down one of the supporting stone pillars, the Republican reported on Sept. 18, 1970.

Another somewhat infamous aspect of the Pennsy was a tunnel between Pottsville and Saint Clair.

Two men were killed and 20 men buried while digging the tunnel near Pottsville in March 22, 1886. The Republican referred to the victims as Italians in its report on the disaster. The accident occurred at 8 a.m. while the men, most likely miners, were placing timbers and the roof caved in as the tunnel was being widened to accommodate two tracks.

One of the dead was under a large boulder which had to be blasted to retrieve the body. The second expired while being taken to his boarding house.

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The tunnel extended some 800 feet under Route 61, exiting near Tunnel Road above Saint Clair. Its still there, but the entrances at both ends are blocked.

Landslides plagued the construction of the Pennsy in Schuylkill, particularly the portion between Port Clinton and Hamburg.

At the big cut where the steam shovels, locomotives and cars are used, the work is carried on night and day, the engineering journal reported. The work is being done at night by the lights from miners torches and lanterns.

Laborers were paid $1 to $1.25 a day. Blacksmiths and carpenters, $2.25; masons, $2.50 and bosses $3 a day.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a review of military standards related to physical fitness and appearance across all services, indicating recent policies put in place to make it easier for women and minorities to serve may soon be under fire.

Hegseth ordered the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness to gather the existing standards set by the Military Departments pertaining to physical fitness, body composition, and grooming, which includes but is not limited to beards, according to a memo released late Wednesday.

The undersecretary will then look into how and why those standards have changed since Jan. 1, 2015,  the year the military announced it would open all jobs to women including combat roles  and the impact of those changes, the memo states.

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We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world s most lethal and effective fighting force, Hegseth says in the memo.

The memo does not offer insight into why Hegseth has directed the review, though his past and current rhetoric suggests he seeks to make the military standards stricter and less accommodating.

Our troops will be fit  not fat. Our troops will look sharp  not sloppy. We seek only quality  not quotas. BOTTOM LINE: our @DeptofDefense will make standards HIGH & GREAT again  across the entire force, Hegseth wrote on X late Wednesday.

Hegseth has previously suggested that physical standards for combat jobs have been lowered to meet diversity quotas, a claim that past defense officials and Democrat lawmakers have disputed.

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In a Nov. 7 podcast, Hegseth said the U.S. military should not have women in combat roles, as it hasnt made us more effective. Hasnt made us more lethal. Has made fighting more complicated.

Later, at his Senate nomination hearing in January, Hegseth changed his tune, pledging that women will have access to combat roles, given the standards remain high.

Well have a review to ensure the standards have not been eroded in any one of these cases, he said at the time, alleging that physical fitness standards had been rolled back to reach quotas for women in infantry positions.

Hegseth in his social media post also seems to attack loosened body composition rules for recruits across the military  a bid to get more young people to enlist as America struggles with obesity.

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Each branch of the military sets its own fitness and grooming standards, with new male Air Force recruits now allowed to have 26 percent body fat, up from 20 percent, and women 36 percent, up from 28 percent.

But recruits must still meet the same standard as everyone else in their military branch in order to graduate and serve.

Hegseth is also likely to go after changes in grooming standards made in the past several years, including the 2021 Army rules that allow Black women to wear their hair in more braided styles, permit women to wear earrings and a wider range of nail polish and lipstick colors, and letting male soldiers wear clear nail polish.

Proponents of such changes argue the loosened requirements are meant to make the military more inclusive in an effort to boost enlistment numbers

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The memo also singles out beards, currently not allowed in the military apart from some religious or medical exemptions, though some services have indicated that they could loosen the rules.

The Air Force, for example, in 2020 allowed five-year medical waivers for beards, an increase from the one-year waivers it previously gave out.

The issue is of particular importance to Black service members who suffer from a medical condition that leads to unwanted bumps and painful ingrown hair caused from shaving regularly. Known as pseudofolliculitis barbae, the condition occurs far more frequently among Black men compared to their white counterparts.

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PEORIA, Ill (WMBD)  On Friday morning, 85 people from 25 different countries took an oath to officially become citizens of the U.S.

Peoria Downtown Public Library hosted a naturalization ceremony to grant a crowd of people citizenship. Family and friends proudly watched as their loved ones received their citizenship certificates.

Many of these individuals worked tirelessly to accomplish this, including Marcian Alexis Melo. Melo said he had family in the states already, but his time in college really solidified his goal of becoming an American citizen. After 20 years, he was finally able to become naturalized.

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He currently works as a nurse at OSF St. Francis Medical Center. He said, as a nurse, America can provide him and his family more opportunities.

Its a big move for us, leaving our parents, our friends. Its a new culture, Melo said. I think its worth the sacrifice because America will provide a better future for me, for my family, especially for our kids.

Congressman Darin LaHood also attended the event, and congratulated the crowd of newly naturalized citizens.

In a speech, he also detailed his great-grandparents journey as Lebanese immigrants, saying, I think about their journey. They didnt speak any English. They didnt have any money. They were scared and anxious to come to a new country, but they had an American dream, like many of you in this room here today.

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After the ceremony, the congressman commented on immigration, emphasizing a legal pathway to immigration.

We should expand legal immigration to make it more accessible for more people, LaHood said. But today is a wonderful reflection of people that have played by the rules and done exactly what weve asked them to do.

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has reignited a debate over the motivation behind the mass firing of federal employees. While the Trump administration initially cited poor performance as the reason for dismissals, comments Leavitt made in a recent press briefingnamely, that judges are undermining this presidents agendaraise new questions about the radical shake-up.

In the wake of two federal courts ordering that workers be reinstated, Leavitt cried foul while speaking to the press. You cannot have a low-level district court judge filing an injunction to usurp the executive authority of the president of the United States, Leavitt said. She further argued that the courts should not interfere in matters of executive authority. That is completely absurd. As the executive of the executive branch, the president has the ability to fire or hire.

Leavitt then accused the judges of trying to block this presidents agenda. Seemingly on a roll, the press secretary then strongly defended the Trump administrations broader legal strategy. We are going to fight back, she promised. [Trump] was indicted nearly 200 times, and hes in the Oval Office now because all of the indictments, all of these injunctions have always been unconstitutional and unfair.

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Legal experts promptly addressed Leavitts comments, pointing out that judicial review is an essential component of the separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution (and that Trump has only been indicted four times). Moreover, many pundits interpret Leavitts comments as admitting that the terminations were part of a broader political strategy, contradicting the administrations earlier narrative.

Pay attention here to how the White House is basically admitting to have lied about why these people were fired. Now they claim this was the Presidents command and must not be overruled. But when the firings were happening, they claimed on paper it was for performance reasons. https://t.co/NCiPLYnKcp  Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) March 14, 2025

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, pointed out the contradiction on X, stating, Pay attention here to how the White House is basically admitting to have lied about why these people were fired. Now they claim this was the presidents command and must not be overruled. But when the firings were happening, they claimed on paper it was for performance reasons.

The mass terminations being overturned was a blow to the Trump administration, which had contended that they were necessary for performance management. However, the courts disagreed, with Judge William Alsup of the Northern District of California calling the administrations justification frivolous and Judge James Bredar of the District of Maryland labeling the process a sham.

Despite the judicial orders, the administration plans to appeal the rulings, asserting that the injunctions issued by the courts violate the separation of powers and presidential authority. Leavitts repeated dismissal of the rulings as partisan and unconstitutional has only intensified concerns about the administrations commitment to respecting the checks and balances established by the Constitution.
(Bloomberg) -- A critical permit for an offshore wind farm planned near the New Jersey Shore has been invalidated by an administrative appeals board, seven weeks after President Donald Trump declared he hoped the project was dead and gone.

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The decision to remand an Environmental Protection Agency air pollution permit for the Atlantic Shores South venture is the boldest strike yet against a wind farm since Trump took office in January and froze federal permitting of the projects. It is also an unusual decision  coming nearly six months after the EPA issued that final air permit to the wind farm that has been a joint venture of Shell New Energies US LLC and EDF Renewables North America.

The action came at the hands of the US governments Environmental Appeals Board, after a challenge mounted by area residents who oppose the project and say they are concerned about possible destructive effects.

In late February, the EPA asked the appeals board for a voluntary remand, with the permit sent back to the agency for reconsideration. That remand was granted Friday, over the developer Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind LLCs objections.

Atlantic Shores is disappointed by the EPAs decision to pull back its fully executed permit as regulatory certainty is critical to deploying major energy projects, the developer said in an emailed statement.

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Environmental Appeals Judge Mary Kay Lynch said the decision was appropriate given Trumps executive order directing an immediate review of wind leasing and permitting on federal land. Trumps directive also charged the Interior Department with reviewing the necessity of terminating or amending any existing wind energy leases and identifying any legal bases for such removal.

The decision was applauded by Save LBI, a group made up of residents on Long Beach Island who challenged the EPA permit, arguing it was issued after a flawed analysis, including improper air quality modeling.

To my knowledge it is the first time that a federal approval for any offshore wind project has been overturned, and it highlights the lack of full disclosure and questionable science and mathematics that has characterized other applications and approvals, said Bob Stern, who leads the Save LBI coalition. We are hopeful other federal agencies will take note of the move and reconsider their prior approvals.

Trump has repeatedly criticized the offshore wind industry, and his early moves against the nascent sector have spooked developers of even existing projects. Lawsuits challenging wind farm approvals present an additional opportunity for Trumps Interior Department to revisit earlier approvals, by voluntarily agreeing to remands sending authorizations back to federal agencies for additional review.

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Trump had singled out Atlantic Shores for particular scrutiny. In a Jan. 23 social media post, he decried a large scale Windmill DISASTER off the coast of Southern New Jersey. He added: Hopefully the project is dead and gone, as almost all unsightly and environmentally unsound Windmill project should be.

Just days later, Shell said it had written off almost $1 billion and was backing out as an equity partner in the project.

Energy advocates warn that yanked permits and uncertainty could discourage much-needed investments in all kinds of power generation as American electricity demand climbs.

Blocking planned and permitted energy projects is going to put real pressure on the grid and consumer prices, said Jason Ryan, a spokesperson with the American Clean Power Association. This could chill investment in the US for all types of infrastructure if a project permit is canceled for political reasons and not because of real impacts.

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Earlier: Trumps Offshore Wind Review to Consider Status of Projects

Offshore energy projects in federal waters  be they oil platforms or wind turbines  are uniquely vulnerable to political shifts in Washington. They are built on leases sold by the US government and their construction generally depends on permits from federal authorities, too.

That includes air pollution permits. Offshore energy projects located within 25 nautical miles of state seaward boundaries are generally required to meet air quality requirements and secure permits from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Atlantic Shores, planned about 8.7 miles (124 kilometers) off the New Jersey coast, is meant to encompass as many as 200 wind turbines and provide as much as 2.8 gigawatts of power.

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(Updates with comments from project opponents and other details, from seventh paragraph.)

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  A Petersburg man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty to a large number of crimes against children.

On March 13, Adam Power, 32 of Petersburg, received his sentence. On May 2, 2024, Power pleaded guilty to 34 counts, which included charges for sexual exploitation of a child, distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

Urbana fatal hit-and-run goes to grand jury

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At the sentencing hearing in front of U.S. District Judge Collen R. Lawless, the government established that Power, a former substitute teacher, choir director and theater director in the Central District of Illinois, used at least 13 online accounts on a number of platforms to portray himself as a teenage girl in order to persuade and entice, and attempt to persuade and entice, at least 24 boys between the ages of 8-16 to produce images of child pornography for him.

The defendant believed he was untouchable online, and that the mask he wore in public disguised the predator he was underneath, said Assistant United States Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs. However, with tremendous cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement we were able to put a stop to another internet-based offender.

Power also used the images of a female victim in order to create the trust of his male victims. The government noted that he targeted not just strangers online but also victimized children he knew or had met before. They also said that Power, because he had distributed victim images, had placed the minors in situations where their images could now be anywhere across the world.

In imposing the Courts sentence, Judge Lawless found that Powers actions had been heinous. She said that he had been methodical in his approach to obtaining the child pornography from his victims, and that Power, who had referred to himself as a perfectionist during his hearing, had used this perfectionism to prey upon the children in his community.

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Lawless additionally found that Powers use of his positions and accomplishments ultimately led to the loss of the victims privacy, security and trust.

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This case is a stark reminder that predators lurk where we least expect them  hiding behind screens, positions of trust, and false identities to exploit the most vulnerable among us, said ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago Special Agent in Charge, Matthew Scarpino. Powers calculated and egregious crimes have forever impacted his victims, but today, justice has prevailed.

Power was indicted in July 2023 and pleaded guilty in May 2024. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest in June 2023. The following agencies investigated this case:

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations

Athens Police Department

Menard County Sheriffs Office

Illinois Attorney Generals Office

Petersburg Police Department

Illinois State Police

Additionally, the Menard County States Attorneys Office provided support, and Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution against Power. This specific case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to fight against the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

The initiative, led by U.S. Attorneys Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), uses federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute people who exploit children online, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

Through the dedicated commitment of HSI and our law enforcement partners, we have ensured that this offender wont have the opportunity to victimize another child, Scarpino said.

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For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit projectsafechildhood.gov.

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Eight Years After ISIS, Will Iraq's Assyrians Ever Return?

Nearly 8 years after Iraq declared victory over ISIS, the return of the country's Christian population to their ancestral homeland in Nineveh remains an unattainable dream for many.

While the initial displacement was caused by terrorism, new challenges--ranging from armed militia threats to stalled reconstruction efforts and governmental neglect--continue to hinder their resettlement.

The plight of Iraq's Christian community is a stark reminder of the long-lasting consequences of conflict and instability.

According to the National Catholic Register, which tracks global Catholic Church affairs, more than 56% of Iraq's Christian population has fled the country due to persistent threats from extremist groups.

The statistics paint a grim picture: before 2003, Iraq's Christian population was estimated at 1.5 million, but it has since dwindled to fewer than 250,000. During ISIS's reign of terror, 1,132 Christians were killed, and 120,000 were forcibly displaced from their homes, further diminishing a once-thriving community.

The Christian exodus from Iraq has had far-reaching consequences.

Former Iraqi MP Ikhlas Isho confirmed that the vast majority of displaced Christians have sought refuge in Western nations such as Australia, Canada, and the United States. "Our churches, cemeteries, and sacred symbols, along with our homes, suffered massive destruction, and they have yet to be rebuilt," Isho lamented. The loss of historical Christian sites, some dating back centuries, has erased a significant portion of Iraq's cultural heritage.

Despite the widespread displacement, a portion of the remaining Christian community--around 44%--continues to cling to the hope of rebuilding and restoring stability to the Nineveh Plains. However, the road to recovery remains fraught with obstacles.

Archbishop Bashar Warda of the Chaldean Diocese in Erbil has pointed to economic struggles as a key factor fueling extremist ideologies in the region. "High unemployment rates created fertile ground for ISIS recruitment, leading to the widespread violence and destruction we witnessed," Warda explained.

For many Christians who wish to return, the security situation remains a pressing concern. Armed militias, some backed by regional powers, exert control over key areas in Nineveh, raising fears about potential sectarian violence.

The inability of the Iraqi government to provide adequate security and basic services has compounded these fears. The slow pace of reconstruction has left many Christian towns and villages in ruins, further discouraging displaced families from making the journey back.

The uncertain future of Iraq's Christian community hangs in the balance--caught between the fear of further displacement and the hope of reclaiming their homeland. Without concrete steps to improve security, accelerate reconstruction, and ensure political representation for Christians in Iraq, the revival of Nineveh's historic Christian presence remains an unresolved challenge.

The question that lingers is whether Iraq's Christians will ever find the stability and security they need to return home, or if their exile will become permanent.
Among the outcomes of the Spanish-American War of 1898 was the transfer of the Philippine Archipelago from Spain to the United States. It was followed by another war when Filipinos led by Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy, who had rebelled against the Spanish in 1896 in hopes of establishing an indigenous republic, found their country seized by the U.S. instead.

After yet another brutal conflict, fought between 1899 and 1902, Aguinaldo and his forces were defeated and the Philippines became the strategic protectorate of a new conqueror.

Within a few years, the predominantly Catholic, Tagalog-speaking Filipinos in the northern islands resigned themselves to the current situation and some became part of the U.S. military forces enforcing order there.

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As early as 1901 the U.S. Army had organized the first Philippine Scouts, whose familiarity with their home terrain made them an invaluable asset. In the years leading up to World War I, the principal enemy these units still had to fight were various Islamic sultanates in southern islands such as Mindanao, Jolo and Sulu, collectively dubbed Moros. Under their previous overlords, the Moro sultans had enjoyed a degree of autonomy from the Spaniards, who found that policy preferable to provoking unnecessary trouble. The Americans, however, were more serious about assimilating the entire archipelago under their rule, resulting in a series of the sort of savage campaigns that the Spanish had tried to avoid. It was amid those violent years that Pvt. Jose Nisperos had his moment in military history.

Jose Nisperos Baliton was born on Dec. 30, 1887, in San Fernando, La Union province, on the island of Luzon. He enlisted in the 34th Company of Philippine Scouts in December 1907, altering his name to be less confusing to the Americans (in its Spanish-based form, Baliton was his mothers family name, while Nisperos was his fathers). He finished his tour of duty in 1911, but a few months after his discharge, he reenlisted, citing his occupation as soldier.

On Sept. 24, 1911, Nisperos was attached as an interpreter to a small naval detachment involved in a multipronged operation against Moros on Basilan, the largest and northernmost island in the Sulu Archipelago. Disembarking at Semut from the gunboat Pampanga, the squad, led by Ensign Charles Hovey, with a local guide, Hospital Apprentice Fred McGuire and Nisperos, advanced toward the town of Lapurap ahead of four other enlisted seamen: Jacob Volz, John Catherwood, Bolden Harrison and George Henrechon.

As the four-man vanguard approached their objective, they came upon a village of nipa huts, from which shots suddenly rang out, instantly killing the guide, grievously wounding Hovey and wounding Nisperos and McGuire. About 20 Moros then burst from hiding behind the huts, armed with obsolete muskets, spears and kris knives, and charged the party.

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In spite of his wounds, McGuire countercharged, emptying his rifle into his assailants and then using it as a club while placing himself between their assailants and Hovey. Nisperos, who was shot in the left elbow and speared through the body, fought on, propping himself on his disabled arm as described in his citation:

Having been badly wounded (his left arm was broken and lacerated and he had received several spear wounds in the body so he could not stand) continued to fire his rifle with one hand until the enemy was repulsed, thereby aiding materially in preventing the annihilation of his party and the mutilation of their bodies.

The seamen bringing up the rear charged to assist the advance party. Catherwood was wounded early on but fought on from the prone position, Volz assaulted his adversaries, Harrison killed three Moros with a double barrel shotgun and Henrechon, after suffering a gun jam and breaking his rifle butt over a Moros head, drew a service pistol and continued fighting. With other landing parties moving up to aid Hoveys, the surviving Moros retreated.

As McGuire reverted to his proper role, tending to the wounded, Nisperos insisted that Hovey be taken care of before himself. Hovey died of his wounds shortly thereafter, however.

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All five of the Navy enlisted men were subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor. Later, as more details of the fight near Lapurap came to light, on March 19, 1912, Nisperos immediate superior, 2nd Lt. Arthur Cody recommended him for the medal as well. Consequently, on Feb. 3, 1913, the wife of Maj. Gen. J. Franklin Bell (himself a Medal holder) made him the first Filipino and Asian Medal of Honor recipient.

Although promoted to corporal, Nisperos did not remain long in the Army. He was discharged in June 1912, and appointed a deputy sheriff of Basilon by the commander of the 28th Infantry Regiment and given a lifetime disability pension of $55 per month. On Sept. 1, 1922, however, he died in his hometown of San Fernando at age 34. He is buried at Lingsat Public Cemetery.

Later, his Medal of Honor was stolen and sought out by his family until 2010, when his great-granddaughter learned of it being auctioned in Manila. After further negotiation, the buyer finally returned it to the Nisperos family on June 7, 2012.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  It turned out to be a show stopper, but for much of the night, people hoping to catch a glimpse of the lunar eclipse worried it would be hidden behind a curtain of clouds.

Dozens of photographers flocked to the National Mall ready to capture the rare blood moon at 3 a.m.

Friday mornings lunar eclipse caught the attention of professional photographers and enthusiasts alike.

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Recently fired probationary employee says hes unsure of when reinstatement could come

One of the things thats nice about insomnia is I knew the eclipse was coming because I chase solar eclipses. I chase lunar eclipses. I always like them. So I made sure that I was up, said Margaret Helber.

Helber lives just west of Charlottesville in Nellysford, where skies were clear.

It was warm enough to stand there and watch it for about 45 minutes until it was full and it was like that red rubber ball look which was really cool, Helber said.

It just takes you away from your everyday trivials of the world, especially everything going on, said Gordon Lau. Everybodys stressed and everything. And you look at that and youre like, oh, thats amazing.

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Lau is a photographer known for capturing great images of the moon. He took photos of the eclipse in Gaithersburg, Md.

This was easy in a lot of ways because it was really high up in the air. There wasnt any, foreground subject like the Washington Monument or the Capital, Lau said.

Virginia woman wins $5 million on lottery scratcher

It wasnt as easy at the Washington Monument where it was pretty cloudy.

Im glad that during that whole hour of the lunar eclipse that people were able to capture, you know, pockets of it, Lau said.

Clear or cloudy, those who stayed up late got a show in the sky.

Im all about them. I love getting out there. Next time Ill have my telescope out so I can get awesome pictures, Helber said.

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The next full lunar eclipse will be March 3, 2026.

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An infant was critically injured in an attack by a dog in Prairie Village on Thursday, according to the Prairie Village Police Department.

The dog, a pit bull, attacked and bit the infant Thursday night at a home in the 4900 block of West 72nd Terrace, said Sgt. Josh Putthoff, a PVPD spokesperson. The infant was taken to Childrens Mercy Hospital in Kansas City and remained in critical condition as of Friday evening.

Police were notified about the attack around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Putthoff said. At the time of the attack, the child was being watched by a caregiver who was not one of their parents.

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Animal control officers impounded the pit bull Thursday night, Putthoff said. At the request of its owner, the dog was euthanized Friday.

The child involved in the attack has not been publicly identified. PVPD is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, Putthoff said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Increasing narrowbody flights between North America and Europe are changing how people fly.

Newer single-aisle planes are versatile with cheaper operating costs than widebodies.

American and United will fly new routes with future A321XLRs and introduce new business classes.

Your next ride across the Atlantic may be smaller than you expected.

Several airlines are flying more narrow-body planes between North America and Europe this year  a shift from larger widebodies that have historically dominated transoceanic routes.

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Data from the aviation analytics company Cirium shows that about 56,500 transatlantic narrowbody flights are scheduled in 2025, a 50% increase from 2019.

Although some people may see the strategy as counterintuitive  as fewer seats mean less revenue potential  narrowbodies are cheaper to operate than a widebody and are easier to fill on lower-demand but still profitable routes.

European planemaker Airbus is trailblazing this transatlantic trend. In 2018, it launched the extended-range Airbus A321neoLR to make long-haul flights more efficient than its previous generation options.

Airbus took its strategy one step further when its "extra long range" A321XLR launched in November. The Boeing 737 Max has less range than its Airbus rivals but is still used by a handful of carriers across the Atlantic.

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The growing trend is changing how people fly to Europe. Smaller jets can be cozier and boast competitive fares due to their cheaper costs, and their fewer passengers mean faster boarding and deplaning times.

Transatlantic narrowbody flying is becoming mainstream.

JetBlue exclusively flies the Airbus A321neo family on long-haul flights to Europe. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Passengers can fly the A320/A321neo family between North America and Europe on JetBlue Airways, Canada's Air Transat, French airline La Compagnie, Ireland's Aer Lingus, Iceland's Play, Spain's Iberia, Azores Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, and TAP Air Portugal.

Air Canada, United Airlines, and WestJet use the Boeing 737 Max 8 on transatlantic journeys. Air Greenland will lease previous-generation 737s this summer to capitalize on demand to mainland Europe.

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United and Delta Air Lines fly the Boeing 757 across the pond, though Delta only has two routes to Iceland from Detroit and Minneapolis. Icelandair flies the A321neo, the 737 Max, and the 757 from Reykjavik.

There are pros and cons of the smaller cabins.

The extra legroom seats on Iberia's A321XLR. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Many travelers may enjoy the smaller cabin and, subsequently, fewer passengers when flying across the Atlantic. This allows for quicker on-and-off on either side of the pond, and the meal service is faster.

However, some people may not like the fewer lavatories. Iberia's A321XLR, for example, has three bathrooms shared among 168 economy passengers, and there is little room in the aft cabin to queue.

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Bigger cabins also offer more space for travelers to stretch their legs or alleviate claustrophobia. Others may simply prefer the grandiose jets historically tied to long-haul flights, like the famous Boeing 747.

Travelers still have access to lie-flat business-class seats.

The business class seats on Aer Lingus (top left, A321XLR), JetBlue (top right, A321LR), SAS (bottom left, A321LR, and American (bottom right, future A321XLR). Aer Lingus, Thomas Pallini/Business Insider, SAS, American Airlines

Many carriers, such as JetBlue, United, Aer Lingus, Iberia, La Compagnie, SAS, and TAP, have installed high-priced lie-flat seats to generate more revenue on lower-capacity planes.

JetBlue's A321LR, for example, has 24 door-equipped Mint seats, which take up nearly a third of the cabin. Iberia has a less premium-heavy A321XLR but still offers 14 semi-private lie-flat seats.

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United outfitted its long-haul Boeing 757s with a version of its Polaris business class. United and American plan to install new lie-flat premium cabins on their future A321XLRs.

Some airlines have premium recliners instead.

"Saga Premium" is Icelandair's version of business class, but it's closer to premium economy. Icelandair

Icelandair, which recently received its first A321LR to replace its fleet of Boeing 757s, has installed premium economy loungers instead of lie-flat business on its narrowbodies.

Air Canada, Azores, WestJet, Air Transat, and Delta similarly offer reclining premium economy or business seats. United's 737 Max has first-class loungers.

Air Greenland, Play, and La Compagnie are unique outliers.

The barebones Play plane (left) and the lie-flat bed on La Compagnie (right). The latter's window seats don't have direct aisle access. Play, Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Air Greenland's leased 737s will only have regular economy seats. The planes won't have premium or business cabins.

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Budget carrier Play flies no-frills Airbus narrowbody planes between the US and mainland Europe via Iceland. Extras like bags are a fee. The strategy boasts less comfort in exchange for cheaper fares.

On the other end of the spectrum, La Compagnie equips its A321LRs exclusively with lie-flat business class. The seats are basic compared to JetBlue or Iberia, but the fares start at a $2,500 roundtrip.

Airlines can fly more niche nonstop flights.

Aer Lingus recently received its first two Airbus A321XLRs, and two new routes to the US are scheduled for 2025. Airbus

The 5,400-mile-ranged A321XLR  which can fly about 800 miles further than the A321LR  unlocks markets that its narrowbody predecessors couldn't physically reach or would be unprofitable with a widebody.

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United plans to fly the A321XLR to new destinations like North Africa, and North Italy come 2026, while Aer Lingus plans to launch two new nonstops between Dublin and Nashville, and Indianapolis this spring.

The Boeing 737 Max is already used on a handful of unique nonstop flights. For example, United flies the plane seasonally to Ponta Delgada in the Portuguese Azores and is launching it on new routes to Nuuk, Greenland, and Madeira, Portugal, this summer.

The nonstops save time while still offering competitive fares.

United's Boeing 737 Max 8 cabin will fly to Greenland and Portugal this summer. In economy, the plane has Bluetooth-equipped screens. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Google Flights shows a nonstop roundtrip ticket on United between Newark and Madeira in July costs about $1,200.

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The same one-stop flight on TAP via Lisbon  which would take double the time  is about $1,100. The prices vary through the summer but the few hundred price difference is the common theme.

Iberia's A321XLR nonstop flight between Washington, DC, and Madrid is regularly the same price or cheaper than United's widebody option. Aer Lingus' future nonstop between Dublin and Nashville is typically at least $1,000 roundtrip this summer.

One-stop flights on competitors are priced higher or lower depending on the day  meaning some travelers could snag a good Aer Lingus deal if their travel plans are flexible.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A driver slammed into a home on Alpine Street in Hyde Park.

Boston police have told Boston 25 News that the incident occurred earlier Friday evening, around five oclock.

Video footage of the crash shows the home slightly damaged, along with another vehicle.

Damages to the house appear to be minor, but it will be inspected for structural damage.

Its unclear if the driver is facing charges.

Boston police also say that, fortunately, no one was hurt.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Columbus police are investigating after a 14-year-old was shot and killed in west Columbus early Saturday morning.

Columbus police officers responded to the 100 block of Dana Avenue on reports of a shooting at 1:22 a.m. on March 15. Once at the scene, officers said they detained several individuals and learned Braiden Johnson, 14, had been transported by a family member to a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound.

Despite life-saving medical care, Johnson died at 1:35 a.m. at a nearby hospital. Police have arrested two suspects and filed warrants for both of them.

Officers said due to circumstances surrounding the incident, the case will be presented to the Franklin County Prosecutors Office to determine charges. The homicide unit is investigating, and anyone with information is encouraged to call police at 614-645-4730, or report information anonymously at 614-461-TIPS (8477).

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
BOYNTON BEACH  A man who died after a January shooting appears have been the primary aggressor in an altercation that sent five other people to hospitals, Boynton Beach police said this week.

To date, no arrests have been made in the Jan. 19 death of Davon Wood, with investigators saying the case appears to meet the criteria for Florida's "stand your ground" law. If prosecutors agree, the person who fired the fatal shot would not face murder or manslaughter charges.

The shooting remains under investigation, said police, who have not identified the person who fired the shot.

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The initial investigation showed Wood was the main aggressor in an altercation that occurred shortly before 2 a.m. on the 500 block of Northeast Second Street, north of Boynton Beach Boulevard and west of Federal Highway. Medics took Wood and the five other men to area hospitals, with Wood succumbing to his injuries.

From the courts: After-school counselor who had sex with teen avoids prison but not sex-offender label

Investigators say the incident began with an altercation between two people.

Detectives are still searching for leads and ask anyone with information to call the Boynton Beach Police Department at 561-732-8116.

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Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on Twitter at @JuliusWhigham.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boynton police: January homicide was 'stand your ground' shooting
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Metro Nashville Police Department responded to a shots fired call in Inglewood Friday afternoon.

Metro Dispatch confirmed multiple units with the MNPD responded to a shots fired call received at 4:55 p.m. in the 1100 block of Greenfield Avenue. An MNPD spokesperson told News 2 that no one was struck during the incident, which stemmed from a property dispute.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

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Officers on the scene told News 2 that someone had come to a home to serve foreclosure papers to the residence when a man with a ski mask and dark clothing fired at least two shots, which hit the mans vehicle.

Leads are actively being followed in the case, the MNPD spokesperson added.

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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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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
HILO, Hawaii (KHON2)  Hawaii Island police are conducting an island wide manhunt for the man who allegedly shot a police officer at Prince Kuhio Plaza on March 14, after his alleged getaway driver was arrested without incident.

Shortly after 11:30 a.m., police officials put the entire Big Island on notice to be on the lookout for 39-year-old Christopher Lucrisia, a man who stands at 510 and weighs 250 pounds.

30 year sentence handed down in 2022 kidnapping, sex assault

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Police also described him as having green eyes and black hair.

The alleged getaway driver is described as 23-year-old Silas Zion of Pahoa, who was wanted for attempted murder. Police say Zion is Caucasian, 5 feet 6 inches tall, 110 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes.

The timeline of the alleged crime began at approximately 1 a.m. on March 10, when Lucrisia arrived at a Mountain View residence demanding to see his ex-girlfriend, a 39-year-old woman. After a brief argument in front of the residence, police say Lucrisia took out a handgun and fired at least one round into the ground.

Police believe that shrapnel from the round hit the woman, causing minor wounds to her lower extremities. Lucrisia then fled the area in a primer-black Nissan Xterra.

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Given that Lucrisia is a convicted felon, he is prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm or ammunition. As a result, police were called and began reckless endangering and firearms charged against Lucrisia.

Woman accused of killing adopted daughter pleads not guilty

Around 10:45 a.m. on March 12, Lucrisia returned to the same Mountain View home and entered without permission. Upon entry, Police say Lucrisia threatened a bedridden 75-year-old woman with a firearm, stole a bag from her bed and threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend, who was not home at the time. Police responded and initiated addition firearms cases and a robbery case against the man.

On the morning of March 14, HPD investigators began to check the Puainako area after receiving information that Lucrisia was in the area. At approximately 10:50 a.m., authorities located Lucrisia in the front seat of a pickup truck, later identified as the vehicle Zion was operating.

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The truck was found in the parking lot of a financial institution near Prince Kuhio Plaza, where officers were able to approach the truck on foot and demanded the vehicle be turned off.

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Lucrisia then allegedly brandished a handgun, pointed it at police and fired at least two times. One round hit an officer in the right forearm and the second round struck the same officer in the head. A nearby officer exchanged fire, shooting at least three rounds at Lucrisia. It is unknown if Lucrisia or Zion were injured as a result.

The duo then fled in the white Chevy pickup truck operated by Zion with the license plate ZLD014.

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They were seen heading in the direction of the airport.

During the afternoon hours, police began clearing homes in the vicinity of Manono and Leilani Streets, where Lucrisia was last seen on foot.

Officers completed the search of homes around 3 p.m. and declared an islandwide search for Lucrisia.

The Hawaii Department of Education said all schools in the Hilo-Waiakea complex area were placed in a lockdown due around 11:45 a.m. due to an off-campus police incident in the area as a safety precaution.

All students and staff remained safe and the lockdown was lifted at 12:20 p.m.

Schools that went into lockdown included:

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Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary

Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary

Haaheo Elementary

Hilo High

Hilo Intermediate

Hilo Union Elementary

Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Elementary & Intermediate

Kaumana Elementary

Keaukaha Elementary

Waiakea Elementary

Waiakea Intermediate

Waiakeawaena Elementary

Shortly after 6 p.m. on March 14 authorities located Zion and the white truck, where he was arrested without incident. Lucrisia is still at large.

Officials said the officer shot is in serious, but stable condition. He has been airlifted to Queens Hospital on Oahu for further treatment of a head injury.

Police warn the public that if they do see Lucrisia, do not approach him as he is considered armed and dangerous. Instead, call 911 immediately.

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The officer who was shot was flown to Oahu for treatment, where he remains in serious, but stable, condition.

HPD said more details will be released as they become available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (WFLA)  Police are searching for three armed men who they say held a jeweler and his family at gunpoint during a home invasion on Wednesday.

According to WTVJ, the incident took place off Southwest 284th Street around 11 p.m.

Deputies said the owner of York Jewelry in Hialeah, York Valdes, was outside the residence when a robber held him at gunpoint and brought him back into the home.

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The robbers then proceeded to ransack the home, stealing valuables and a white Cadillac SUV before fleeing.

Valdes told deputies that one of the robbers tried to force him to take them to the jewelry store so they could steal more items.

According to deputies, the jewelry store owner said it was the first time he had brought home expensive watches, as he usually leaves them at the store locked in a safe box.

Deputies said Valdes was able to jump down from the second floor and run for help.

The incident is still under investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
NEW RICHMOND, Wis. (WFRV)  Police in western Wisconsin say that a juvenile was arrested early on Thursday morning after an investigation into a potential threat to local schools.

According to the New Richmond Police Department and School District, the police learned around 4:36 a.m. on Thursday of a potential threat to schools in the area. A social media platform shared information with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, leading to an instant investigation.

Appleton paper & manufacturing company confirms employee death from workplace accident

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The information led officers to quickly find and arrest a juvenile suspect without issue at roughly 5:15 a.m. on Thursday. The post was reportedly not made in any public forum, and no other subjects have been identified.

Officers and school officials worked to ensure that accurate information was provided as soon as available, adding that the public and schools continue to be safe.

39-year-old man arrested in Fond du Lac County for first-degree attempted homicide after reported fight with landlord

Officials emphasized that its important to take action, speak up or speak out and say something if you hear or see anything concerning.

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No additional details are available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
LInda Lamone, the former state elections director, during her March 10 appearance before the Senate Executive Nominations Committee. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

An ongoing grudge between a state senator and the states longest-serving elections director took another turn Friday night.

The Senate was poised to vote on dozens of appointments made by Gov. Wes Moore (D), including the nomination of former state Elections Director Linda Lamone to a seat on the Commission on Judicial Disabilities.

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But Sen. Cheryl Kagan (D-Montgomery) had Lamones nomination separated so it could be voted on separately.

Kagan is a longtime adversary of Lamones. In 2023, Kagan sponsored a bill to reverse a two-decade old law that had made it nearly impossible to remove Lamone from her job overseeing the Maryland State Board of Elections  a law frequently called the Linda Lamone for Life Act.

That bill passed, and Lamone announced her retirement two weeks later.

On Friday, Lamone was up to become an attorney member of the Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities. She had served on the states Attorney Grievance Commission for 30 years, chairing it for 15, before leaving last year.

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Her nomination faced no questions and no opposition during a Monday hearing before the Senate Executive Nominations Committee. But on the Senate floor, Kagan revisited old grievances over purchases of elections equipment and other issues, describing Lamones tenure as a record of failure.

Lamones nomination failed 20-25.

Good Cause bill may be in bad shape

Senate Judicial Proceedings Chair Will Smith (D-Montgomery) says his committee is stalled on legislation that would require landlords to cite a specific reason for failing to renew a lease with a tenant  also known as the good cause evictions bill.

Renter advocates gather in Annapolis to call on lawmakers to pass Good Cause Eviction legislation. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters).

Were at an impasse, and were running out of time, Smith said between floor sessions Friday. He said he was still trying to get more of the committee to support Senate Bill 651, but with crossover day on Monday, the odds are not looking good.

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Smiths comments came just days after renter advocates caught word that Judicial Proceedings was considering an amendment to limit counties to either Good Cause evictions or rent-stabilization efforts in their local renters policies  they could not have both.

Advocates balked, saying both good cause evictions and rent stabilization policies are needed to ensure renters have access to stable and affordable housing. But Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City), supported the amendment, saying that too many regulations tend to drive away developers and landlords.

Advocates argue that there is not enough data that supports the correlation, but amid the states housing shortage, Ferguson is not taking any chances.

Amendment or no, Smith says he wont bring the bill to a vote if he knows it does not have enough support to get out of committee, meaning its likely dead for the year.

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Good cause evictions legislation has been introduced for the better part of 10 years. Last session, the House approved the measure 96 to 37, but it stalled once it got to Smiths committee.

Braveboy declared winner of special primary

Now its official.

Prince Georges County States Attorney Aisha Braveboy won the Democratic nomination for county executive, according to official results Friday, with 43,942 votes, or 46% of the total vote in a field of nine in this months special primary election.

Former County Executive Rushern L. Baker III finished second, with 18,270 votes, followed by At-large County Councilmember Calvin Hawkins, with 16,180 votes, and County Council Chair Jolene Ivey  who dropped out of the race less than three weeks before the election  with 8,374 votes.

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The rest of the Democratic field was state Sen. Alonzo Washington with 4,952 votes; Tonya Sweat with 1,485; Ron Hunt, 661; Marcellus Crews, 492; and Albert Slocum, 181.

Hawkins had the endorsement of former county executive and now U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, but Braveboy had the endorsement of Gov. Wes Moore (D), which she touted as one of the keys to her victory.

Braveboy will now face GOP nominee Jonathan White in the June special election for executive. White won the Republican nomination with 1,365 votes to Jesse Peeds 1,243 votes and George McDermotts 1,005. White has his work cut out for him in the heavily Democratic county, where the winner of the Democratic primary is considered the heavy favorite to win the general election.

Voters in Council District 5 also voted for a replacement for Ivey, who was elected to her at-large seat last fall.

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Former school board member Shayla Adams-Stafford won the Democratic nomination with 5,126 votes, easily outpacing second-place finisher Ryan Middleton with 2,988 votes. The rest of the Democratic field was Kendal Gray with 985 votes, Theresa Mitchell Dudley with 701 and Christopher Wade with 408. Cheverly Mayor Kayce Munyeneh had pulled out of the race, but still got 136 votes.

Republican Fred Price Jr. ran unopposed and will face Adams-Stafford in the June 3 special general election. The winners of the county executive and council races will serve the remaining two years on the terms for those seats.
By Joshua McElwee

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Francis approved a new three-year process to consider reforms for the global Catholic Church, the Vatican said on Saturday, in a sign the 88-year-old pontiff plans to continue on as pope despite his ongoing battle with double pneumonia.

Francis has extended the work of the Synod of Bishops, a signature initiative of his 12-year papacy, which has discussed reforms such as the possibility of women serving as Catholic deacons and better inclusion of LGBTQ people in the Church.

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The synod, which held an inconclusive Vatican summit of bishops on the future of the Church last October, will now hold consultations with Catholics across the world for the next three years, before hosting a new summit in 2028.

Francis approved the new process for reforms on Tuesday from Rome's Gemelli hospital, where he is being treated, the Vatican said on Saturday.

The pope has been in hospital for more than a month and his prolonged public absence has stoked speculation that he could choose to follow his predecessor Benedict XVI and resign from the papacy.

His friends and biographers have insisted, however, that he has no plans to step down. The approval of a new three-year process indicated he wants to continue on, despite his age and the possibility he might face a long, fraught road to recovery from pneumonia, given his age and other medical conditions.

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"The Holy Father ... is helping push the renewal of the Church toward a new missionary impulse," Cardinal Mario Grech, the official leading the reform process, told the Vatican's media outlet. "This is truly a sign of hope."

BRINGING CHURCH 'UP TO DATE'

Francis, who has been pope since 2013, is widely seen as trying to open up the staid global Church to the modern world.

However, the pope's reform agenda has upset some Catholics, including a few senior cardinals. They have accused him of watering down the Church's teachings on issues such as same-sex marriage, and divorce and remarriage.

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Massimo Faggioli, a U.S. academic who has followed the papacy closely, said the new reform process is a way for the pope to signal that he is still the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

"Francis' pontificate is not over, and this decision he just made for what happens between now and 2028 will have an effect on the rest of (it)," said Faggioli, a professor at Villanova University.

After last October's inconclusive Vatican summit, which yielded no concrete action on possible reforms, Francis had faced questions of whether his papacy was running out of steam.

Vatican officials had said at the time that Francis was still considering future changes, and was waiting to receive a series of 10 expected reports about possible reforms this June.

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The latest medical bulletins from the Vatican on the pope's condition in hospital have said he is improving and is no longer in immediate danger of death.

They have not said when he will be discharged from hospital.

Well-wishers have been gathering to offer support for Francis outside the hospital each day during the pope's recovery.

Stefania Gianni, an Italian being treated for cancer at the facility, said on Saturday that Francis "has taken great steps to bring the Church up to date with the times".

"He is a great man and a great pope, and the Church still needs him," she said.

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee. Additional reporting by Lavinia Sdoga. Editing by Mark Potter and Aidan Lewis)
Pope Francis has approved a new three-year reform process for the Catholic Church, sending a strong signal he plans to continue in the post despite spending a month in hospital battling pneumonia.

The Vatican announced on Saturday that the 88-year-old pope had signed off on the reform plans from Romes Gemelli hospital earlier in the week. Francis has been hospitalized since February 14, his longest stay since his election as pope 12 years ago.

Reforms on the table include how to give greater roles to women in the Catholic Church, including ordaining them as deacons, and the greater inclusion of laity in governance and decision making.

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The reforms have been examined through a structure called the Synod of Bishops, which has been the primary vehicle through which the pope has implemented his pastoral agenda during his papacy. In recent years hes sought to involve Catholics from across the globe in the renewal process.

In October 2023 and 2024 two Vatican assemblies  which for the first time included female voting members  each met for almost a month of discussions and deliberation with a final document agreed by the pope.

That document left open the question of ordaining women deacons, who carry out all the functions of a priest bar celebrating Mass and hearing confessions. It also insisted that women be given all the opportunities that church law provides to act as leaders.

Francis latest decision extends the process by another three years and will culminate in an ecclesial assembly in the Vatican in October 2028. Unlike a synod of bishops, this will be a unique gathering of bishops, clergy, monks, friars, nuns and lay men and women.

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By that stage Francis would be 91, so his move could mean that a conclave takes place while this reform initiative is ongoing. In that scenario, whoever is chosen as the next pope would be tasked with continuing the reform process Francis has started.

Meanwhile, the popes decision is also a response to those bishops and other senior leaders who have been quietly resisting the Argentine pontiffs reform plans.

Cardinal Mario Grech, who leads the Holy Sees synod office, said the latest plans, which will include churches at the local level, offer dioceses that have invested less in the synodal path an opportunity to recover the steps not yet taken and to form their own synodal teams.

Since his hospitalization, the pope has signaled hes still governing the Catholic Church, signing documents from the Gemelli hospital, meeting two of his most senior aides and appointing bishops.

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On Saturday, the Vatican said that Francis is in stable condition and has made gradual improvements but still requires treatment at the hospital. The need for non-invasive mechanical ventilation  which Francis has been receiving at night  has reduced and he is expected to recover, according to the Vatican.

Nevertheless, Francis extended period hospital has been a time of high anxiety for the Vatican. At 30 days, it is his longest hospitalization, although is still behind John Paul IIs 55 days at the Gemelli.

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German populist politician Sahra Wagenknecht has repeated her call for an official inquiry into the country's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Saturday's fifth anniversary of the first coronavirus lockdown, the leader of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) said the fact that there had been no review of the crisis at a federal level was a serious mistake.

She also said that it was wrong that there had been no compensation for the victims and no amnesty for penalties and fines imposed at the time.

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"The lockdowns had devastating consequences for our country that can still be felt today," she said, and complained of "political pressure on dissenters" and the exclusion of the unvaccinated from society.

"The coronavirus policy is the most authoritarian chapter in the history of the federal republic so far," she claimed.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has also called on the future German government and the lower house of parliament, or Bundestag, to address the coronavirus pandemic.

"I consider it essential that transparency be established so that we can win back as many people as possible who, during the pandemic, doubted democracy and its institutions," Steinmeier said on Friday.
Rosiene Carvalho

Associated Press

LAGO DO SOARES, Brazil  Indigenous leader Filipe Gabriel Mura stands before Soares Lake in Brazils Amazon, looking out at the amber waters that are surrounded by a jagged shoreline that has been home for centuries to Indigenous people known as Mura.

Its the most beautiful sunset," said Mura. "I doubt theres another like it in the world.

Mura and others from the tribe fear that the pristine beauty of the place may soon change. Hidden from view dozens of miles below ground, the region holds one of the largest reserves of potash, a mineral that includes potassium, on the planet. Now, Brazil Potash Corp., a Toronto-based mining company listed in the New York Stock Exchange, is set to start tapping the mineral, which is used to make fertilizer and is a key to Brazil's booming agribusiness.

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As can happen when mammoth projects are planned in Indigenous communities, Brazil Potash's plans are sparking fears of environmental impact and creating divisions. Opponents fear that mining will expose the tribe to harmful pollution and hurt tribal unity, while supporters think it will raise their standard of living.

The project, expected to soon break ground, has an estimated cost of $2.5 billion. It is planned near the mouth of the Madeira River, which flows into the Amazon River. The build-out will include two shafts reaching a depth of 920 meters (3,018 feet) below groundthe equivalent to a 300-story building. One shaft will be to transport workers and the ore they mine while the other will be for ventilation.

Above ground, the project includes a processing plant, an area for solid waste storage, a 13-kilometer (8 miles) road and a port connecting to the Madeira River. The estimate production is 9.2 million tons of potash ore annually, which would meet 17 percent of Brazil's current demand, according to the company. The project received licensing by Amazonas Environmental Protection Institute, a state-level agency. However, it faces lawsuits from the Office of the Attorney General for a lack of proper consultation with the Mura and potential environmental risks, such as soil and water contamination, as the plant will be in a region prone to seasonal flooding.

We risk losing our culture if the state denies our existence and that of our ancestors to pave the way for mining. I am honored to represent a people determined not to be erased, said Mura, the tribal leader.

Key Mura villages don't have government recognition

In colonial times, the Mura were nearly driven to extinction while resisting non-Indigenous settlers. Today, the population is about 13,000 spread across this stretch of the Madeira River, a maze of smaller rivers, lakes and headwaters.

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Soares, a small village, is the closest to the planned mining site while nearby Urucurituba, another small village, is where the port will be built. Neither village has been officially recognized as an Indigenous territory, despite a formal request by the tribe in 2003. Historical records show the tribe has inhabited the area for at least 200 years. Brazilian law prohibits mining on Indigenous land.

In a statement to The Associated Press, Brazil's Indigenous bureau, known as FUNAI, said that the recognition process was underway but couldn't provide more details on when or if the territorial designation may be made.

FUNAI added that there was strong evidence that Soares and Urucurituba are Indigenous lands and that the project could bring deforestation, noise and air pollution, changes in aquatic fauna and other environmental impacts.

Brazil Potash says it has consulted the Mura people and that the majority support the project. In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said 90 percent of representatives from 34 out of 36 nearby villages voted. However, Brazils Attorney Generals Office, which is tasked with defending Indigenous rights, argues the consultation process was flawed. It secured a court order prohibiting company representatives from entering Mura territory.

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In a statement to the AP, Brazil Potash said it does not comment on ongoing lawsuits and declined to respond to emailed questions.

Some Mura see a chance to raise their standard of living

Aldinelson Moraes Pavao, 53, a leader of the Mura Indigenous Council who lives near the projected port, says the mining is a way out poverty and a way to preserve their culture.

Were going to get schools and health grants. Professionals will be hired to work here. We are hopeful, said Pavao.

Another leader, Marcelo Lopes, a father of nine, says that the crops and fishing yields are no longer enough to sustain his Urucurituba village. Life has become more difficult thanks to drought, wildfires and the resulting smoke.

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Many times, were left begging. Its humiliating, especially now that we have this treasure," Lopes said.

In the lawsuit, the Attorney General's Office says the internal division is one of the projects first consequences. The suit alleges that the mining company acquired plots in the project area through deception, threats and coercion. It also highlights what it says are flaws in the licensing process.

The project has potential risks and government support

One environmental risk is the handling of rock salt, a byproduct of the mining called brine. The company says there will be two sites next to brine ponds to collect surface water, and thus contaminated water will be contained. According to the Attorney General, the site will be in a flood-prone area vulnerable to seasonal rising and falling river levels.

Geologist Cisnea Basilio says that while the location is attractive because the mining can happen at relatively shallow depths, that comes with inherent risks. She warns that the underground mining carries the potential to crumble the surface, swallowing nearby villages.

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Accidents happen even in developed countries," she said.

The federal government supports the project as vital for the economy. Brazil is one of world's largest importers of potash. The leading suppliers include Russia, Belarus and Israel, raising concerns that armed conflicts may cut supply or lead prices to skyrocket, which happened after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In the agribusiness sector, Brazil Potash has secured a transportation agreement with giant Amaggi conglomerate, which holds 362,000 hectares (894,000 acres) of productive area, almost five times the size of New York City. The plan is to transport the mineral in large barges through major Amazon Rivers to reach Mato Grosso State, Brazil's largest soybean producer.

Internal disagreements have led to alienation

Divisions over the project have become so deep that the tribal members are no longer meeting together, or taking collective decisions.

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On Feb. 19, 34 villages in favor of mining gathered at the Mura Indigenous Council's headquarters in Autazes. Amid cultural celebrations, they delivered hopeful speeches, anticipating prosperity from the mining.

The next day, opponents met a few kilometers (miles) away, in Moyray village, and decided to break with the council, which was created over 30 years ago to represent the tribe. Instead, they created the Indigenous Organization for Mura Resistance of Autazes.

I feel sad," Vava Izague dos Santos, 48, a member of the new organization, said of the internal division. "We always walked together, stood together in the Indigenous struggle."

Associated Press reporter Fabiano Maisonnave contributed from Brasilia.
Happy St. Patrick's Day? Unfortunately, President Donald Trump's tariffs on booze and other party supplies are a direct attack on Americans' right to party. The increased cost of beer, whiskey, and festive green knick-knacks will further dampen their spirits.

Trump recently threatened a 200 percent tariff on booze imported from the European Union. If implemented, this move will reduce supply and increase the price of Americans' favorite Irish beer and whiskey varieties. "The imposition of tariffs will impact our businesses and our consumers," said Eoin O Cathain, director of the Irish Whiskey Association. "The trade war puts jobs, investments and businesses at risk and has the potential to be devastating for Irish whiskey."

Uncertainty of future tariffs has already lowered consumer confidence, according to the National Retail Federation. February saw lower retail sales and consumer spending soon after Trump announced his first round of tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China.

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But Trump's trade war keeps expanding, and many Americans' favorite beers and spirits could soon be victims. Beer imported from Mexico, which makes up 84 percent of total beer imports into the United States, faces a 25 percent tariff set to go into effect on April 2 after numerous delays. (With Cinco de Mayo fast approaching, these tariffs will also affect the $5.2 billion of tequila and $93 million of mescal imported into the United States.)

Don't forget to add the extra 25 percent tax on all aluminum imports that went into effect earlier this month. All beverage consumersboozy or otherwisecan expect to see their tab go up.

Of course, no St. Patrick's Day party is complete without jubilant green and gold trinkets and decorations. While China is a leading decoration supplier and exported $8.24 billion worth of party goods in 2023, the United States is a leading importer and purchased $5.35 billion in foreign party decorations that same year. These goods now face an additional 20 percent in trade costs, thanks to Trump's retaliatory tariff hike at the beginning of March.

Last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended Trump's trade war and insisted that "access to cheap goods is not the essence of the American Dream." Although cheap goods might not be the essence of his particular dream, it's up to individual Americans to decide what they need to make their dream a reality. Pulling off the rager of the century certainly depends on affordable, abundant goods

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The characteristic green and revelrous St. Patrick's Day celebrations known and loved today are of uniquely American origin. Irish-American immigrants transformed the solemn religious holiday into a celebration of their Irish identity in America after nearly 2 million immigrated following Ireland's potato famine in 1845. Over time, the celebrations took on an attitude of boisterous defiance in the face of anti-Irish sentiment. However, as the Irish slowly assimilated into American culture, those without Celtic heritage joined in on the festivities.

The evolution of St. Patrick's Day is a story of how assimilation, not conformity, is at the heart of American values. But looming and uncertain tariff increases may dampen the cultural diversity and global trade party, and come at a time when fewer Americans are reaping the rewards of a much-needed jolly good time.

The post Pour One Out for Purchasing Power This St. Patrick's Day appeared first on Reason.com.
Many people are without power due to early morning storms across the Miami Valley.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

At 11:42 a.m. on Saturday, approximately 666 AES Ohio customers were without power around the Miami Valley.

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AES Ohio is reporting 1,284 customers are without power, according to the AES Ohio outage map.

Here are the latest outages with AES Ohio:

Miami- 208

Darke- 3

Greene- 7

Montgomery- 231

Preble - 167

Shelby - 50

AES Ohio said on social media that people should be weather aware as strong storms and wind gusts move into the area.

Our crews are ready to respond if power outages occur, they said on X, formerly Twitter.

We will update this story.

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SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  In December, the Scranton school board unanimously approved the reintroduction of a preschool program, now the Pilot program is up and running.

The preschool program is thriving once again for Scranton School District, welcoming the youngest learners back into the classroom.

Every morning, preschool teacher Ariana Pillier warmly greets a lively group of students, eagerly gathering around for circle time to shake out their sillies.

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Were doing H and 6 right now so theyll do the letter sounds, theyll do words that start with the letter H, well count to 6 with different manipulatives that they use, and we also do some things in our science center, explained Pillier, preschool teacher, Charles Sumner Elementary.

Staff say every day is an adventure and a chance to see the kids experience those rewarding moments when they grasp a new concept.

Its super fun, when they get something and seeing that light bulb, its super nice, said Pillier

They come in and give you big hugs and just smiles all day long and theyre just so excited to learn, said Lisa Owens, principal, Charles Sumner Elementary.

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As the preschoolers spend the day mastering letters, numbers, and even social skills, it is giving them a headstart before entering kindergarten.

They get the basics, they get the socialization skills, they get the basic reading and writing skills, and Im just amazed at the progress they have made as a group, explained Owens.

The school district is thrilled, this Pilot program marking a promising start.

Im really happy that this Pilot worked and that were looking to expand into the 25-26 school year, said Dr. Erin Keating, superintendent, Scranton School District.

This is a great thing for the people of the city of Scranton, the children of the city of Scranton, and their parents because its a place for them to be in school and learning all day, explained Al ODonnal, assistant superintendent of community relations, Scranton School District.

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Dr. Keating and the school board say they are aiming to add in at least three more programs next year and build up the program further from there.

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President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday to slash Voice of America. The plan looks to largely dismantle the government-funded media outlet as well as programs like Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty.

This order continues the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary, reads the order, released late Friday.

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In response to the news, nonprofit activist group the Committee to Protect Journalists slammed the order as outrageous, and called for members of Congress to defend VOA.

It is outrageous that the White House is seeking to gut the Congress-funded agency supporting independent journalism that challenges narratives of authoritarian regimes around the world, said Carlos Martinez de la Serna, program director of CPJ. We call on congressional leaders to protect this critical agency, which provides uncensored news in countries where the press is restricted.

VOA, which has served as a training ground for generations of journalists since 1942, is operated through the U.S. Agency for Global Media. The outlet operates in more than 40 languages, in a mission to bring accurate, objective news coverage from the U.S. and around the world, according to the organizations website.

The executive order states that the agencies listed, which also include the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, must reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.

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A bartender at DaDa Gastropub mixes a drink on Nov. 5, 2024, in Sioux Falls. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Two guys walk into a bar in South Dakota.

Come July 1, the punchline is that they could legally bring concealed pistols with them, unless Gov. Larry Rhoden vetoes HB 1218.

On March 12, the South Dakota Legislature voted to repeal a current state law that says a person may not carry a concealed pistol in any licensed on-sale malt beverage or alcoholic beverage establishment that derives over one-half of its total income from the sale of malt or alcoholic beverages.

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This legislation is bad for many reasons, the most obvious being that alcohol and firearms do not mix.

We know that alcohol lowers inhibitions and reduces impulse control. We know that easy access to a gun in those situations increases the likelihood that it will be misused during a confrontation. And we know that whenever a gun is involved in an impulsive mistake it raises the chances that injury or death will be the result.

Thats why Rep. Steve Duffy, R-Rapid City, voted against HB 1218. This is crazy. When you mix booze and guns I dont know how you can expect anything good to happen. Sooner or later, theres going to be trouble, Duffy said.

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Duffy grew up in a family that owned the Chateau bar and restaurant, a well-known Fort Pierre hospitality spot where the drinks were strong and the steaks were tender. Hes seen tempers flare and altercations ensue in bars over something as small as an eyebrow raised in the wrong direction. Some of the people involved, he said on the House floor, are only not dead because there wasnt a gun or a knife in the room.

Rep. Erin Healy, D-Sioux Falls, co-owns a bar with her husband. They want the law that prohibits concealed carry in bars to remain in effect. Instead, it was struck down by a late-in-the-session amendment in a process that didnt give Healys husband, or other bar owners, a chance to comment.

HB 1218 began life on Feb. 4 as a bill to prevent cities and counties from imposing firearm restrictions on their employees and volunteers while on or in city or county property (so much for that all-important conservative talking point about local control).

In that form, the bill passed the House of Representatives and a Senate committee. On March 10, during the legislative sessions final week, the Senate amended the legislation to include the repeal of the ban on concealed pistols in bars. The amendment came from Sen. Mykala Voita, R-Bonesteel, who also sponsored a separate bill sent to the governors desk that would allow concealed handguns on college campuses.

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The timing of the amendment shielded it from the regular legislative process. That lack of transparency is another reason the legislation is bad, said Nathan Sanderson, executive director of the South Dakota Retailers Association.

The last-minute amendment that ended the current ban on concealed pistols in bars should have had a committee hearing, Sanderson said. Small business owners deserved the right to share how this change would impact them.

Proponents of the bill say other laws will protect the public from problems that may arise from guns in bars. In theory, yes. In practice, not so much.

While intoxicated people cant legally carry a gun, what bar employee wants to be the person tasked with telling them that, or disarming them? And the laws against murder or manslaughter are cold comfort to the bar patron who is already dead, perhaps caught in the crossfire of two hot-headed people with guns.

Proponents also note that bar owners currently have the right to post a sign forbidding guns in their establishments, and they will still have that right if HB 1218 becomes law. But in the reality of our current gun culture, where more guns are seen as the answer to every public safety issue, the Second Amendment extremists who rule the Legislature have so normalized the idea that guns belong everywhere  from college classrooms to cocktail hour  that we have all become desensitized to it.

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Justin Henrichsen, owner of the Windsor Block bar in Rapid City and two other alcohol establishments, believes alcohol and guns are a bad mix, but said he probably wont bother to post a sign saying No Guns Allowed. His clientele isnt prone to rowdy over-consumption in any case, and he doubts a sign would stop people who conceal-carry.

Henrichsens attitude is understandable, of course, given the glorification of guns in this state. But I suspect there are plenty of alcohol retailers who hate this bill, and Im hoping they contact Gov. Rhoden.

Rhoden is no doubt a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, but he can be that and still veto this bill.

First of all, the 2019 Legislature and then-Gov. Kristi Noem kept the ban on concealed pistols in bars when they struck down the requirement to get a permit for a concealed handgun. All conservative Republicans must agree that was a fine law, right?

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Secondly, the bar legislation was passed without proper public input. If allowing guns in bars is a good idea this year, whats the harm in postponing it until next year and subjecting it to an open process?

The people most affected  bar owners and patrons, like me, who want the right to enjoy a cocktail without worrying about loaded guns in pockets and purses around us  should be heard. And thats no joke.

Let us know what you think...
UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11)  A proposed revitalization plan of Lenox Hill Hospital is sparking outrage among some residents, who fear the new construction of a towering building could disrupt their residential neighborhood for nearly a decade.

The proposed modernization would raise the buildings height to either 436 or 395 feet, depending on the designsignificantly taller than its current 210 feet. Stacy Krusch is part of The Committee to Protect Our Lenox Hill Neighborhood.

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Yes, they need to renovate, and were all for that, Krusch said. Were all for the doctors and the workers who work there and want a better place but, its just out of scale for this neighborhood. Its way too big.

The plan has drawn backlash from locals who argue the scale is excessive and fear the years-long construction will bring pollution, noise, and traffic congestion.

There are so many hospitals on the Upper East Side, said Lenox Hill resident Leslie Yoo. Do we need a new campus? No.

She added, It will just destroy the neighborhood.

Northwell Health insists the project is necessary to ensure the hospital can meet the needs of future generations. Hospital president Daniel Baker says the project would upgrade operating rooms and expand emergency treatment facilities, among other added benefits.

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This is us looking at our patients and understanding, what do we really need to do to continue the clinical care of our patients Baker said.

He added, I understand that construction is always a challenge for any New York City resident, but that is a challenge that we all face together to make certain that we have the improvements and the healthcare that we need.

Still, opponents argue that the hospital is already operating below capacity and doesnt need to expand. Data from the New York State Department of Health shows that, on average, 40% of the hospitals beds were unoccupied over a seven-day period.

Others on the Upper East Side, however, argued at a recent land use hearing that modernizing the facility is essential for the communitys healthcare needs.

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It is very important that we have new hospitals that have updated technology, said Vaseah Dupree, who attended the meeting. We are moving into a technological era.

She added, Upgrading our hospitals is one of the most imperative things that we have.

Community Board Eight is set to vote next month on whether to support or oppose the project, but the final decision lies with the City Council. If approved, the plan will then go to the mayors desk for a final sign-off.

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TRENTON, N.J. (PIX11)  Anyone living with sickle cell anemia is a warrior, Leslie Davis-Primo will tell you.

Ive had three children, largely unassisted by medication -I didnt have any epidurals or whatever- and thats not to say thats a badge of honor, but I would gladly give birth to those three children back to back to back than to have a sickle cell crisis.

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In the U.S., around 100,000 people have sickle cell, and it is most common among people of African descent.

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A disorder affecting the shape of red blood cells, sickle cell patients endure excruciating pain.

Davis-Primo, of Somerset, has had it her whole life but didnt know until she had a crisis at age 23.

The excruciating pain that you need oftentimes narcotic medication in the hospital or at home to take care of, said Davis-Primo.

She is on a regiment of medications to treat her, but in New Jersey, there could one day be another approved option: medical cannabis. A bill in the State House would look to add the disease to the list of qualifying medical conditions.

Its one of those diseases that is not recognized until we elevate it, said Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-NJ 15th District), the primary sponsor of the bill, which advanced through the Assembly Health Committee. Its under-researched, its underfunded.

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Right now, in New Jersey, patients with conditions like cancer, ALS, PTSD, and many others are approved to use medical cannabis, but sickle cell is not yet on the list.

Medical cannabis has been proven to help sickle cell anemia patients with this chronic pain that they have, said Reynolds-Jackson. Its good for glaucoma, for other issues, its even good for Crohns disease, which I have.

Should it be passed into law one day, Davis-Primo says she would consider taking advantage.

Thats the big thing for sickle cell nationwide and globally, really: access to care, said Davis-Primo. This really, really makes me feel seen.

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President Donald Trump is considering targeting citizens of up to 43 countries in a new travel ban, according to officials familiar with the matter, The New York Times reports.

During his previous term, Trump passed three executive orders that came to be known as his Muslim ban, as these orders banned travel to the United States from several Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Syria. All travel restrictions enacted by Trump were lifted by President Biden following his inauguration in January 2021.

Trumps first round of travel bans did not go unchallenged, with the issue making it all the way to the Supreme Court. In June 2018, a majority upheld that the restriction of travel for nationals from seven countries, including five Muslim-majority countries, was lawful.

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Trump was undeterred, however, with reports circulating in 2020 that he was considering expanding the ban to cover even more countries. It appears he is now close to realizing that goal, with the list obtained by the NYT including 43 countries, with 11 countries facing a complete ban on any and all travel.

The 11 countries on the red list, with all travel banned, are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. Other countries, such as Belarus, Haiti, and Russia, are on the orange list, with visas sharply restricted. More countries still, including Chad, Dominica, and Liberia, are on the yellow list, meaning their citizens will have 60 days to address any concerns raised by their visa application.

Placement on the orange list has the potential to ruffle Russian President Vladimir Putins feathers; it means that affluent Russian citizens might be able to visit the U.S. while those on immigrant or tourist visas cannotand that all Russian citizens would be subject to in-person interviews as part of the visa process. Its unclear how Russias inclusion on this list gels with Trumps recent efforts to enact Russia-friendly policies and diplomacy.

Trump first floated the idea of introducing strong ideological screening for all immigrants entering the United States at a rally in October 2023, with his prepared speech reading, If you empathize with Radical Islamic terrorists and extremists, youre DISQUALIFIED. If you want to abolish the state of Israel, youre DISQUALIFIED. If you support Hamas or the ideology behind Hamas, youre DISQUALIFIED. And if youre a Communist, Marxist, or Fascist, you are DISQUALIFIED. He also said he would ban potential refugees from Gaza.

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Following his inauguration in January, Trump issued an executive order in which he said he would seek to reinstitute his travel ban in order to protect Americans from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.

In the executive order, Trump also tasked the State Department with identifying countries for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries, giving the Department 60 days to file its report; it is due next week.
STORY: :: Thousands of protesters gather in Serbia's capital for anti-government rallies

:: Belgrade, Serbia

:: March 14, 2025

The rallies are expected to be the biggest seen in Serbia in decades. Near daily student protests began in December following the deaths of 15 people when a roof at a railway station collapsed on November 1 in the northern city of Novi Sad, a disaster opponents blame on corruption under President Aleksandar Vucic.

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Authorities expect anywhere between 60,000 and 80,000 protesters to arrive to the capital, Vucic said. Organisers say they expect many more.

Students, teachers, farmers, and workers have joined the demonstrations in a major challenge to populist Vucic, who has been in power as either prime minister or president for 12 years.
princeton  Around 40 people gathered Friday outside the Mercer County Courthouse and protested the actions of President Donald Trumps administration on issues ranging from Social Security and veterans benefits, Medicare, Medicaid and the war in Ukraine.

Protestors holding signs such as Stop the Madness We Are All Human and Protect Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Vet Services, Federal Workers, Dept. of Education, Foreign Allies, National Parks along with Ukrainian flags waved as motorists passed them. The participants stood off the new sidewalk around the courthouse as contractors worked to complete it.

Were part of a group called Mercer Equality. Were new on Facebook, said John Baldwin of Princeton, one of the protests organizers and a Democrat. And we just started the group up and were concerned about whats going on in todays environment, and we decide to set up and let our voices be heard and try to push back some on whats coming our way.

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Mary Griffith of Princeton spoke about her reasons for participating in the protest.

I worked in public service all my life, retired judge, former attorney, worked representing women and children who are struggling under the current administration whos making unnecessary and deeply damaging cuts for our social safety net. Theyre only interested in corruption and making sure their rich friends get richer while the rest of us struggle, Griffith said.

Im here to let the administration know that the corruption must stop, she said. For instance, they cut funding for the Centers for Disease Control, they cut funding for the Weather Service, they cut funding for the Park Service, the kinds off jobs the government protects and instead they gave our tax dollars to Elon Musks companies. Thats corruption.

Griffith said that while she wasnt born in Mercer County, she has lived there for the past 55 years.

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I served this county for 30 years and what I hope is that good people take a long, hard look at whats really happening in Washington, she said. My neighbor and friends, who in the past have supported our president, need to look at what hes doing and how its gonna hurt them.

Polla Rumberg of Mercer County also said she was concerned about cutbacks in services.

My protest is more to champion the cause of freedom and restore services that are being ravaged, she said. I worked for 44 years in the fields of public service and education, in psychiatric hospitalization, and clinical work, very proactive in providing services to the elderly, and I am devastated all of that good work is going to waste.

The thing I think that bothers me the most is our schools dont belong to the whole child anymore Rumberg said. We are not touching their souls, were not teaching them about inclusions, were not teaching them about working with our fellow men, were not teaching them to serve and be a vital member of our community. Were so disappointed at what were seeing.

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Another protestor was worried about possible cuts in social services.

Why are we out here? Because theyre cutting all this stuff out of the budget, said George McInturff, a Democrat, of Pipestem. Weve got to stand up for whats ours. Social Security is our money. They cant take it away and all theyre trying to do is cut $2 trillion from the budget just so they can give big tax breaks to the rich people, at least thats what it sure looks like.

Down the line of protestors, Reni Fulton, a Monroe County resident and a Democrat, was holding up a Support Ukraine sign.

Im out here today to support democracy, she said. We fail Ukraine, we fail democracy. They are the bulwark for Europe against Russia and theyre standing up for all of us as far as Im concerned. They are our bulwark against the aggression of Russia and Putin and the irony is that is so intense for all of us here. I think thats why am out here. I am 78 years old, my father fought in the Second World War and he would be spinning in his grave right now if he saw what was going on in this country.

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April Cassidy of Princeton, who was attending the protest with her husband, Bill said they are both Democrats, and they were there to stand up for democracy, to stand up for our country.

We feel its under tremendous threat at this time, she said. Im very glad to see that the courts have restored thousands of federal employees that were wrongfully fired.

Bill Cassidy was carrying a Ukrainian flag.

I think its important for us to stay with our allies, he said. The Ukrainians didnt do anything wrong. They hadnt done anything wrong.

Doris Irwin of Oakvale, who said she is a Democrat but independently minded, said she saw the protest as an opportunity to speak about an issue that concerns her.

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And that is the rise of corporate welfare, she said. I feel like in my lifetime in this country weve gone from supporting people to having corporate welfare for the very rich. At the same time, we have vulture capitalism for the rest of us. Okay? and I really object that my Social Security may be endangered because they plan a bunch of tax cuts for corporate millionaires. And the problem is this money is corrupting our entire system.

Corporations which are not people are not not being held accountable for their actions, Irwin said.

I think if theyre going to be people, then we need to hold them accountable, she said.

Irwin also said she did not want to see Social Security benefits cut.

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I want it to be there for my children and grandchildren. Its a great system, she said. If we were to tax the wealthy at the same rate as were being taxed and everybody paid into it  but the very wealthy they get cut off and they dont get taxed at the same rate  but if they did, Social Security would be secure for us for 75 years.

Contact Greg Jordan at

gjordan@bdtonline.com
Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Protestors at the University of Michigans Ann Arbor campus declared Friday that the arrest of Columbia University pro-Palestinian student organizer Mahmoud Khalil showcases the Trump administrations willingness to silence pro-Palestine voices and higher educations unwillingness to protect students,.

And it is not a distant issue from Michigan, said organizers gathered in front of University of Michigan President Santa Onos House. Khalils wife, Noor Abdalla, is a U of M-Flint alumna, even speaking at the 2018 Spring Commencement.

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Khalil is Palestinian, born in Syria and led protests in support of Palestine at Columbia University. He is a permanent resident with a green card, but was arrested by Immigrations and Custom Enforcement for purported support for Hamas in the lobby of his New York apartment building in front of Abdalla, who is an American citizen and eight months pregnant.

The protestors called the arrest an abduction, decrying it as an illegal act done with the sole goal of silencing Palestinians. As Khalil faces deportation by the Trump administration, U of M student Erek Mirque urged the crowd to recognize that regardless of immigration status or school, those in power will use every tool of violence to silence the pro-Palestinian movement.

Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigans Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Mahmoud Khalil wasnt just targeted for his documentation status. He was targeted for his strength in advocating for Palestinian liberation. He was targeted for being Palestinian and calling for the freedom of his people in a country that disregards Palestinian lives, Mirque said. We cannot just focus on his documentation status when talking about this injustice, because regardless of documentation, we should all have the power to call for an end to genocide and Israeli occupation.

Protestors also called on President Santa Ono and others in the universitys administration to fight against Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessels case against several participants in an on-campus encampment last May now facing trespassing misdemeanors and felony charges for resisting law enforcement.

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The charges are political and the university shows its cowardice and bigotry by not standing with the protestors, U of M student Eaman Ali said. And as the pro-Palestinian movement raises its voice in the face of threats to confront the many heads of the beast at the university, Ali said, like the people of Palestine, those who gather at U of M will not be defeated.

We fight back because we know that both our legal battles and the abduction of Mahmoud are not just about legality or even just about freedom of speech, Ali said. We fight back because we know Mahmoud was not just abducted because he is an immigrant. He was abducted because hes Palestinian. He was abducted because his very existence undermines the legitimacy of the settler colonial project of Israel.

More than a dozen Michigan legislators and other elected officials sent a letter Friday to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding the release of Mahmoud Khalil calling the use of ICE detention and the threat of deportation an assault on both his rights and his dignity and called on the administration and university leaders to remove ICE and DHS from our campuses so that other students are not profiled for embracing their rights.

Among those signing were U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit), the first Palestinian American to serve in Congress, as well as State Sens. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor), Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), Sue Shink (D-Northfield Twp.); State Reps. Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn), Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia), Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City), Jimmie Wilson (D-Ypsilanti), Morgan Foreman (D-Pittsfield Twp.), Carrie Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor), Sharon MacDonell (D-Troy), Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing); as well as Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia M. Dyer, Washtenaw County Commissioner Yousef Rabhi, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud, Westland City Council President Mike McDermott and Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education Trustee Rima Mohammad.

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Letter  Secretary of Homeland Security Noem

Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

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Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

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Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

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Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Pro-Palestinian protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Pro-Palestine protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Pro-Palestine protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

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Pro-Palestine protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Pro-Palestine protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Pro-Palestine protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

Pro-Palestine protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

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Pro-Palestine protestors gather on University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus on March 14, 2025 to call for the release of Columbia University organizer Mahmoud Khalil | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols

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DANVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  On a sunny Friday, protesters gathered outside Danville City Hall. William Goode Jr. and his family drove from Indiana, demanding Officer T.J. Godbey be removed from patrolling the streets.

Thats my father, 71 years old at the time, Goode Jr. said at Fridays protest.

London woman accused of shooting her mother to death, deputies say

Thats wrong for the community of Danville. The mayor and city council, this chief of police should be fired, letting this thug go around, knowing that people see him differently, said Goode Jr.

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This comes after the October arrest of 66-year-old John Hardwick on suspicion of shoplifting.

Hardwick has dementia, and a video that shows him being punched by Officer Godbey in 2024 has fueled outrage in the town and has gotten millions of views worldwide.

Since a lawsuit has been filed against the city, police, and the officers involved.

This incident shed light on another arrest by Godbey back in 2021 when he was an officer in Stanford.

Goode also had dementia; he has since passed away. After Goode was stopped for reckless driving in 2021, video showed he was bloody and bruised.

Is it right to put your hands on him because you were a badge? Does that make it right? No, it doesnt make it right.

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Goode Jr. said the Hardwick incident has caused him and his family to relive some of their worst memories of their father, and he tried in 2021 to spread awareness of what happened, but did not have much luck.

We did try it back then; nobody listened to us. Finally we got the footage of what happened to John Hardwick back in October; it resurfaced my dad, like we are reliving it like it was yesterday.

Ephraim Helton, the Hardwicks lawyer, said Fridays protest showed that the public will not let this incident be forgotten.

I think it shows the public unrest and kind of the publics disgust, the fact that no actions have been taken against any of these officers.

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The family said no matter if they are in Indiana or Kentucky, they will not stop fighting for the officers to be held accountable and are calling on leaders to do what is right.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

Helton said the city of Danvilles lawyer has communicated that they will be in touch with him this upcoming week regarding the lawsuit.

FOX 56 has reached out to Danville PD and Mayor several times over the last two months, regarding additional comments and has not heard back.

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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 FOX 56 News.
Canada is going through a period of transition and Canadians feel galvanized as it faces an existential threat from Donald Trump, says Tom Clark, Canadas Consul General in New York. Mark Carney was just sworn in as the countrys new Prime Minister and America, its close and long-time ally, has turned hostile under the second Trump administration. Trump is continuing to use tariffs to wage a trade war with Canada and has continued to propose making the country Americas 51st st
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk to surrender, as diplomatic back-and-forth continues over a potential US-brokered ceasefire with Kyiv.

At a meeting with members of Russias security council on Friday, Putin accused Ukrainian troops in the region of committing crimes against civilians, but acknowledged US President Donald Trumps wish to spare the soldiers lives as Russian forces retake the area and claimed surrendering soldiers lives would be guaranteed.

He also said that his country is working at restoring relations with the US, after they were practically reduced to zero, destroyed by the previous American administration.

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Overall, the situation is starting to move, he said on relations with the Trump administration. Lets see what comes out of this.

With Kyiv losing its grip on Kursk, its sole territorial bargaining chip, many believe that Putin may be delaying talks on a US-Ukraine ceasefire proposal until the region is back under Russian control. Earlier this week, Ukrainian officials accepted a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire covering the entire front line after holding talks with US counterparts in Saudi Arabia.

Putins remarks came after he met with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday in Moscow  a visit that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said gave reason to be cautiously optimistic. Trump earlier in the day had struck a similar note, calling the discussions good and productive in a post on Truth Social, adding that there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end.

Trump also said that he has strongly requested for Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian troops in Kursk.

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We understand President Trumps call to be guided by humanitarian considerations with regard to these servicemen, Putin said on Friday. In this regard, I would like to emphasize that if they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and decent treatment in accordance with international law and the laws of the Russian Federation.

Ukraines military would first have to order troops in Kursk to surrender, however, he added.

A view of damage after Ukrainian attacks in Kursk Oblast, Russia, on January 16. - Vladimir Aleksandrov/Anadolu/Getty Images

In February, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it was alarmed at reports that dozens of Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered to Russia since the end of August 2024 had been shot dead on the spot.

All allegations of execution of captured Ukrainian military personnel and public statements calling for, or condoning, such actions must be investigated, Danielle Bell, head of the mission, said at the time.

Every day of war means losing lives

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meanwhile on Friday expressed skepticism about Putins motives and urged the US to take strong steps to pressure Russia into ending its war against Kyiv.

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In a series of posts on X, the Ukrainian leader said his country wants peace, writing that from the very first minutes of this war, we have wanted only one thing  for Russia to leave our people in peace and for Russian occupiers to get off our land.

Every day of war means losing the lives of our people  the most valuable thing we have, he said.

Zelensky also accused Putin of attempting to sabotage peace negotiations and lying about the real situation on the battlefield. The Russian leader on Thursday had suggested a number of conditions for truce, including that any deal address what the Kremlin sees as root causes of the conflict.

Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014 and launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. At the time, Putin demanded that Ukraine never be allowed into NATO, and that the bloc roll back its military footprint in Eastern and Central Europe  which the US and its allies dismissed as non-starters, condemning the invasion as a blatant land grab.

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Putin cannot exit this war because that would leave him with nothing, Zelensky said. That is why he is now doing everything he can to sabotage diplomacy by setting extremely difficult and unacceptable conditions right from the start even before a ceasefire.

Zelensky said that he strongly urges countries that can influence Russia, especially the US, to take steps to help end the war.

Pressure must be applied to the one who does not want to stop the war. Pressure must be put on Russia. Only decisive actions can end this war, which has already lasted for years, he said.

The Ukrainian leader is expected to take part in a virtual meeting with European and NATO leaders on support for Ukraine on Saturday, hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

CNNs Alejandra Jaramillo and Nick Paton Walsh contributed to this reporting.

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Its easy to take electronic payments for granted. In a world where the casual tap of a phone can buy almost anything, cash is no longer king.

But our reliance on digital transactions has ushered in a new and insidious threat.

Cyber attacks on Britains banking system by hostile states risk mass disruption for consumers  and the drive to go cashless is making the country more vulnerable.

If something is smart, its hackable, says Professor Alan Woodward, a computer security expert at the University of Surrey. And were totally dependent on digital payment infrastructure. A large-scale cyber attack would have a profound effect on daily life. The country would grind to a halt.

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Teams of sophisticated hackers in Russia, China and North Korea are constantly probing for weaknesses in the countrys banking system, according to Kevin Curran, professor of cyber security at Ulster University.

These groups are given free rein and vast resources to launch cyber attacks, he says, and can easily claim that the fallout has nothing to do with them.

Our absolute reliance on electronic payments opens us up to a lot more nightmare scenarios. There is no in between  either the system is up and running as planned or youre back to pen and paper, literally.

Human weakness

The warning follows a string of high-profile payday glitches affecting high street banks, causing chaos for customers.

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In January, Barclays customers were left unable to access app and online banking services following a major outage that lasted three days. Some were left stranded abroad while others did not receive wages and were unable to pay rent. The bank has suffered outages lasting 803 hours over the past two years.

Lloyds, Halifax, Nationwide, TSB, Bank of Scotland and First Direct also experienced IT problems at the end of January.

Banks have blamed these failures on internal malfunctions. Barclays said the latest outage was caused by a software problem in a critical module of our UK mainframe operating system.

Yet Professor Woodward sees these problems as indicative of weaknesses of banks to cyber attack.

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These outages are typically caused by someone [working for the bank] doing a system update, something goes wrong and takes a while to put right, he says.

Its a failure of process. The cause is usually human error rather than malicious intent.

But a state like Russia with huge resources behind it has the capacity to exploit these human weaknesses in the system, by socially engineering people into allowing their identities to be stolen.

Jake Moore, a global cyber security adviser and former cyber crime officer in the police, believes that while banks put a huge amount of effort into protecting their systems from external hacking threats, the biggest challenge is the insider threat.

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Someone might be targeted on LinkedIn, bribed, and asked to put a USB stick in a machine. They get half the money upfront and half when they put it in.

Its very difficult to mitigate against this in any industry. The difference in banking is theres far more to lose.

An added vulnerability is that banks have vast and complex IT networks running on increasingly outdated technology that is difficult to maintain and update.

Professor Woodward says: The UKs banking system is quite robust. Banks increasingly have two-man rules, and a lot of partitioning. You have very few people with God-like privileges within the system.

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But behind the scenes, a lot of older computer systems are doing the processing and some parts of the system can be creaky.

People would suffer

Western banks have suffered from a surge in cyber attacks in the past three years. In 2024, 65pc of financial services firms were hit with ransomware attacks, according to cyber security company Sophos. This was up from 34pc in 2021 and marked the third successive annual rise.

Santander confirmed it had been the victim of a cyber attack in May 2024 after a hacking group calling itself ShinyHunters claimed to have gained access to 30 million customers bank account details.

JP Morgan fell victim to one of the biggest cyber attacks in the banking sector a decade ago when data on the accounts of 76 million households and seven million businesses were compromised.

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The recent rise has been blamed in part on Russian hackers acting in response to sanctions placed on the country and its banks following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Artificial intelligence has allowed hackers to increase the number and sophistication of their attacks.

A worst-case scenario cyber attack would be like the payday glitch times a thousand, Mr Moore says.

It was a catastrophic day for the Barclays outage to occur. The last Friday of the month and nearing the end of the financial year.

It lasted three days, but if you were to lengthen the time by days or weeks, you see what a successful attack might look like.

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Hostile states are unlikely to attack multiple banks at once like in the movies, according to Professor Curran.

Instead, he worries about smaller, politicised strategic moves against the sector  particularly a highly disruptive denial of service attack which would bring down cloud services and data centres.

Salaries would not be paid and the high street would be hit hard, he says. People would really suffer.

Death of cash

Cash usage has dwindled in the past decade. Figures from UK Finance, a trade body representing the financial services sector, show that cash accounted for just 12pc of payments made in Britain in 2023. Around two in five people are living virtually cash-free, according to the survey.

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The Treasury ordered no new 1p and 2p coins from the Royal Mint last year, a reflection of the declining use of physical money. De La Rue, the company that prints Britains banknotes, has said demand for cash around the world is at a 20-year low.

An HM Revenue & Customs report from 2021 found that 25pc of small businesses and 27pc of mid-sized businesses did not accept cash payments.

But the elimination of cash risks inadvertently playing into the hands of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.

Professor Woodward keeps a little cash at home in case of disruptions to the financial system.

Im a professional sceptic because of the industry I work in. If everything collapsed, Id at least want to be able to buy a loaf of bread.

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Theres got to be some contingency if the system fails  the obvious one is to have more cash. But theres no point keeping cash if we get to a stage where people stop accepting it.

A UK Finance spokesman said: The UKs banking sector has very strong protections in place and maintains a continual focus on cyber threats. The industry invests significantly to protect customers and keep systems safe.

The industry also works closely with regulators, government and cyber specialists to stay alert to new trends and threats.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 15 called for an international coalition to intensify pressure on Moscow and meet with skepticism any claims from Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation on the battlefield.

"Putin is lying to everyone about the situation on the ground," Zelensky said in a post on X following a virtual summit of European leaders.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened the summit on March 15, bringing together 25 members of the "coalition of the willing"  Ukraine's allies who have agreed to support future peacekeeping efforts. Along with European partners, the coalition now includes Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Japan.

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Following the talks, Starmer announced that the coalition's peacekeeping efforts were ready to move into the "operational phase."

Zelensky welcomed the coalition's plans to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine and urged world leaders to apply "strong pressure" to Moscow in order to secure a ceasefire deal.

"The world must understand that Russia is the only obstacle preventing peace," he said.

Ukraine has agreed to accept a U.S. proposal for a 30-day interim ceasefire, provided Russia agrees to its terms.

Putin on March 13 said that Russia was ready to agree to the ceasefire, but then demanded that Kyiv limit mobilization and training of troops during that period. He also demanded that the West halt all military aid to Ukraine as a condition of the ceasefire. Some analysts have said Putin's conditions amount to Ukraine's surrender.

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Putin has also claimed that Russian troops have encircled Ukrainian soldiers fighting in Kursk Oblast, a report Kyiv has vehemently denied.

Zelensky directed his appeal beyond Europe and Western partners, calling on Latin American, Asian, and African nations to recognize that "Putin has been lying to the world" and to back strategies that advance "peace through strength."

Read also: UKs Starmer says troops on the ground and planes in the sky could secure Ukraine peace deal

in a week we'll have one

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(NewsNation)  A former U.S. ambassador to Georgia is joining a growing chorus of ex-diplomats who express doubts Russian President Vladimir Putin is seriously interested in a ceasefire with Ukraine.

Ian Kelly was the top U.S. diplomat in Georgia after Russia invaded the neighboring country in 2008.

Putin on Thursday expressed support for a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine, but he hedged by saying any peace deal must address root causes of the conflict. Critics in the West have said Putins ambitions are the underlying cause of the invasion.

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Putin will always be a threat to stability in Europe: Dissident

He doesnt want a ceasefire, Kelly said of Putin on NewsNation Now. He thinks hes winning on the battlefield now, and he thinks hes winning, politically, believing that the U.S. has moved away from standing by NATO, from supplying weapons to Ukraine.

The Trump administration is trying to broker a ceasefire that will lead to a permanent peace between Russia and Ukraine.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Vladimir Putin is planning a fresh ground invasion of Ukraine, despite Western pleas for a ceasefire, Volodymyr Zelensky has warned.

Russian troops are massing across the border from Ukraines Sumy region and preparing for a new ground offensive into Ukraines north east, Mr Zelensky said.

Any attempt at a new incursion would fly in the face of US-led attempts to have Putin agree to a 30-day truce.

This indicates an intention to attack our Sumy region. We are aware of this, and will counter it, said the Ukrainian leader.

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I would like all partners to understand exactly what Putin is planning, what he is preparing for, and what he will be ignoring.

The build-up of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to keep ignoring diplomacy. It is clear that Russia is prolonging the war.

President Putin is resisting calls for a 30-day ceasefire that was put forward by the US and Ukraine - MIKHAIL METZEL/Shutterstock

The warning came as Russia continues to resist proposals for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire put forward by Ukraine and the United States earlier in the week.

Putin has said he is ready to halt the fighting but mentioned nuances and outlined a series of conditions that must be addressed to remove the root causes of this crisis.

Ukraine has called his response manipulative and Sir Keir Starmer has said the Russian leader cannot be allowed to play games with a ceasefire.

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Donald Trump said it would be a very disappointing moment for the world if Russia rejected the proposal.

Earlier this week, Russian assault troops attempted to capture villages in the Novenke and Zhuravka areas of the Sumy region, according to Ukrainian officials.

Sumy is located across the border from Russias Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops launched an offensive in August.

Russian forces occupied parts of Sumy during the early stages of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in early 2022 but were pushed out a few weeks later.

President Zelensky has denied Trumps claims that Ukrainian troops were completely surrounded

Mr Zelenksy also said Ukrainian troops were still managing to fend off Russian and North Korean forces in Kursk, despite military analysts saying Kyivs forces are close to being evicted from their foothold in Russia.

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On Friday, Mr Trump claimed that thousands of Ukrainian troops were completely surrounded as the Kursk pocket collapsed.

But Mr Zelensky issued a denial, saying: The units are carrying out their tasks exactly as required. Thanks to the Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, a significant number of Russian forces were withdrawn from other directions.

Our troops continue to hold back Russian and North Korean groupings in the Kursk region. There is no encirclement of our troops.

Drone attacks on both sides

Mr Zelenskys statement came after Ukraine and Russia again traded heavy drone barrages overnight.

Both sides reported more than 100 enemy drones over their respective territories.

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Ukraines air force said Russia had launched 178 drones and two ballistic missiles over the country on Friday night, including a mixture of Shahed-type attack drones and decoys designed to confuse air defences.

Some 130 drones were shot down, while 38 more were lost on the way to their targets. The Russian attack was aimed at energy infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, the DTEK energy firm said.

Ukrainian firefighters extinguishing a fire at an auditorium after a Russian drone attack in Bohodukhiv, near Kharkiv, said they were hit by more munitions while working.

A fire engine and a school bus were hit and caught fire.

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On the other side of the front line, in Russias Volgograd region, officials said falling drone debris had sparked a fire in the Krasnoarmeysky district of the city close to a Lukoil oil refinery.

The Volgograd refinery has been targeted by Kyivs forces on several occasions since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, most recently in a drone attack on Feb 15.

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Russian President Vladimir Putins response to a US-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine is not good enough, Britains Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, after hosting a virtual summit aimed at drumming up support for Kyiv and piling pressure on Russia.

After hosting a meeting of the coalition of the willing  a group of Western nations that have pledged to help defend Ukraine against Russia  Starmer said leaders had agreed that the yes but from Russia is not good enough and that Russia would have to come to the negotiating table sooner or later.

We agreed collective pressure will be put on Russia from all of us who were in the meeting this morning, he added.

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Saturdays meeting involved some 25 countries, including European nations, the EU Commission, NATO, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as well as Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky.

After Kyiv this week accepted the terms of a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine  endorsed by US President Donald Trump  Moscows response was ambiguous, with Putin saying that we agree with the proposal but also that the deal wasnt complete.

The meeting also comes at a critical time in the three-year war, with Russia advancing in its Kursk border region where it is attempting to reverse Ukraines gains.

While he offered few new details, Starmer announced that the militaries of Ukraines allies will meet in the United Kingdom on Thursday, to put strong and robust plans in place to keep the peace in the event a ceasefire is struck in Ukraine.

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We will now move into an operational phase, Starmer said. Our militaries will meet on Thursday this week here in the United Kingdom to put strong and robust plans in place to swing behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraines future security.

During Saturdays talks, Starmer said that Ukraines allies agreed to keep the military aid flowing to Ukraine, and keep tightening restrictions on Russias economy, to weaken Putins war machine and bring him to the table.

Starmer said that Putin was delaying the US-backed ceasefire proposal that Ukraine agreed to this week, and that Ukraine is the party of peace.

US President Donald Trump has offered Putin the way forward to a lasting peace  now we must make this a reality, Starmer said.

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Responding to a question from a journalist about US support, Starmer stressed that the position on the US hasnt changed, and that achieving peace in Ukraine needs to be done in conjunction with the United States.

Starmer speaks at a press conference on Saturday. - Leon Neal/Getty Images

It comes after Starmer said in opening remarks to the coalition of the willing that if Putin is serious about peace, its very simple: He has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire. He continued, The world is watching. My feeling is that sooner or later hes going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussion.

The coalition of the willing, a group of who have pledged to help defend Ukraine from Russian aggression in the face of dwindling and uncertain support from Washington, last met in London two weeks ago before reconvening Saturday for the virtual meeting.

Although Europe has shown considerable unity amid the blows the Trump administration has dealt to the transatlantic alliance, significant divisions remain over whether individual European countries are willing to deploy troops to Ukraine to keep the peace.

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A statement from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis office said that Meloni, who joined Saturdays virtual summit, does not envisage Italys participation in a possible military presence in Ukraine.

Trump said Friday that he got pretty good news on a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, without elaborating, and that his administration had very good calls with both countries earlier in the day.

In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump said there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end.

Putin met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday in Moscow  a visit that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said gave reason to be cautiously optimistic.

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With Kyiv losing its grip on the western Russian region of Kursk, its sole territorial bargaining chip, many believe that Putin may be delaying talks on the ceasefire proposal until the region is firmly back under Russian control.

Russian forces have retaken two more settlements in Kursk  Zaoleshenka and Rubanshchina  its defense ministry claimed on Saturday. It comes days after Russia recaptured the key town of Sudzha, the largest town Ukraine had occupied in the region.

Zelensky said Saturday his troops were holding back Russian and North Korean forces in Kursk and denied Russian claims that Ukraines army was surrounded.

Meanwhile the aerial assaults continued, with hundred of drones crossing the border.

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Russia fired 178 drones and two ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight, killing at least two people and injuring 44, according to Ukrainian officials. The two were killed in Kherson region, the head of its military administration said, after Russia targeted critical infrastructure and residential buildings, damaging seven high-rise buildings and 27 houses.

Russias Defense Ministry said its air defenses had shot down 126 Ukrainian drones overnight, without saying how many drones bypassed its defenses.

This story has been updated.

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Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is not considering the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine and is trying to prolong the process of any peace agreements.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: ISW analysts noted that the Kremlin's statements following Putin's meeting on 13 March with Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East, confirm his unwillingness to support the US and Ukraine's ceasefire initiative. Instead, the Kremlin is seeking to prolong the talks process or, if it agrees to a temporary truce, use it to allow Russian troops to rest and rearm.

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ISW believes that Putin is most likely to violate any peace agreement and blame Ukraine for its non-compliance.

Quote: "Putin's recent calls for a direct phone call with Trump are only the latest development in Putin's efforts to posture Russia and the United States as equals on the global stage. Russian insider sources recently claimed that Putin aims to protract negotiations about a possible temporary ceasefire, and Putin's recent public statements are consistent with these insider claims."

Details: US intelligence believes that Putin remains committed to the idea of seizing Ukraine, which is consistent with ISW's long-term assessments of his strategic goals.

The Washington Post, citing classified US intelligence documents, reported that Putin continues to seek control over Ukraine.

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Four representatives of Western intelligence and two members of the US Congress stated in an interview with NBC on 18 February that there is no evidence of Putin's willingness to engage in genuine peace talks.

According to ISW's assessments, the Kremlin is adhering to its longstanding expansionist plans for Ukraine's full capitulation, despite talks with Donald Trump's administration.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 14 March:

ISW has observed no geolocated evidence to indicate that Russian forces have encircled a significant number of Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast or elsewhere along the frontline in Ukraine.

Putin seized on a statement by US President Donald Trump about the supposed encirclement of Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast to distract from his recent rejection of the US-Ukrainian ceasefire proposal.

Kremlin statements following Putin's meeting with US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff on 13 March underscore Putin's rejection of the US-Ukrainian ceasefire proposal and continued unwillingness to engage in good faith negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

Russian forces marginally advanced towards the international border in Kursk Oblast on 14 March, but Ukrainian forces still maintain limited positions in Kursk Oblast.

Consistent Ukrainian strikes against Russian air defence assets are reportedly allowing Ukrainian long-range drones to increasingly penetrate the Russian air defence umbrella in deep rear areas, including in Moscow Oblast.

The Ukrainian military reorganised the Ukrainian 3rd Separate Assault Brigade into the 3rd Army Corps, further showcasing Ukraine's force efforts to transition to a corps structure.

Ukraine's European allies continue to provide military assistance and technical support and demonstrate interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Toretsk, and Russian forces recently advanced in Toretsk and near Siversk and Pokrovsk.

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QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

Tonight: Clouds increase, showers near morning, low 59

Saturday: Showers, storms at time, rain late, windy, high 72

Sunday: Showers & breezy, high 60

Monday: Mostly sunny, high 53

Tuesday: Sunny skies, high 68

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Good Friday Night,

It has been a record setting day, with highs today topping close to 80. At 79, this was not only the warmest day of the year, but also a new record for the date. Tonight we will remain near records as well, as temps will fall into the low to mid 60s at midnight, and upper 50s by daybreak. The current record for warmest low for Saturday is 58 set in 1990, if we can stay above that all day long, we will have the record.

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Saturday early morning, we will be watching a strong line of storms that has formed this evening across Iowa and Missouri. It does appear that while this will be a problematic line for our friends to the west, as it crosses Indiana into Ohio overnight, it will weaken plenty. Winds will increase locally overnight, and wind advisories go into effect from I-71 and west after 2am, and through Saturday.

Saturday will have broken showers and a few rumbles early, then a lull midday, before more rain showers and storms arrive in the evening. Some of these could make for some heavier rain too. But this could be a very good thing if it works over our atmosphere, and eats away our severe weather ingredients. Highs should top in the lower 70s on Saturday.

Saturday night, if the evening convection continues on long enough, by the time the potential stronger line and wind shift arrives, the atmosphere may not have as much left to work with. Storm chances should wane after about 1-2am Sunday morning. We will still have showers and breezy conditions on Sunday, with the best chance earlier in the day, highs will top still near 60.

After that, more seasonal weather on Monday with lows near freezing, and highs in the lower to middle 50s and bright. We will be sunny and warm in the upper 60s Tuesday, and lower 70s Wednesday with clouds increasing. Rain will increase Wednesday overnight into Thursday with our next strong cold front.

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Thursday will be windy with scattered rain showers, and falling temps. We will top in the upper 40s in the morning, and fall into the 30s during the late afternoon. This will set up another chilly day next Friday, with clearing skies, and highs only in the middle 40s.

-Dave

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WMBD)  As Muslims across the world are observing Ramadan, Bloomington resident Gary Muhammed shares the purpose and practices.

Ramadan means the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar calendar. Its a commemoration of the first revelation of the Holy Quran.

Muslims who are able to are required to engage in the Holy Month of fasting. They fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food, drink, sex with their spouse or any other vices like gossiping.

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Muhammad describes Ramadan as a time for renewal.

Reset and get closer to Allah, closer to God. And do the best you can with treating people the way you would like to be treated yourself. And closer to your family, closer to God who is the Most High and first and foremost, said Muhammad.

Ramadan lasts approximately 30 days from the first new moon in the western sky until the next one. This year Ramadan began on Feb. 28 and ends on March 29.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
RAMONA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  A 24-year-old Ramona man is facing multiple weapons charges after San Diego County Sheriffs deputies allegedly found a ghost gun in his vehicle during a traffic stop, authorities said Friday.

Deputies from the Ramona Sheriffs Substation first pulled over the suspect  identified as Brandon Nichols  around 9 p.m. on Monday for expired registration tags on his silver Chevrolet Colorado, according to the San Diego County Sheriffs Office.

Man caught on video breaking into Airbnb rental home with family inside

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During the stop, the sheriffs office says deputies found Nichols to be in possession of a loaded, privately manufactured firearm commonly known as a ghost gun. These firearms do not have serial numbers unlike legal ones, making them nearly impossible to trace.

Sheriffs detectives subsequently carried out a search warrant on Wednesday at his home along D Street. The search recovered additional ghost guns, as well as machines to manufacture weapons, illegal magazines and ammunition, and various pieces for firearms, according to SDSO.

Ghost guns were allegedly found after a search warrant was served on a Ramona mans home on March 12, 2025. (San Diego County Sheriffs Department)

Nichols was arrested and booked into San Diego Central Jail on charges of possessing an undetectable firearm after the traffic stop. Per SDSO, he was later released on bond.

As a result of the search, SDSO notes he could face additional charges tied to possession and manufacturing of illegal weapons.

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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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A premium Portland chocolate brand is planning to expand to a building that will host the citys first-ever festival for all things cacao.

Earlier this month, Ranger Chocolate Co. announced it would be leaving its current shop on 118 NE Martin Luther King Blvd. for the Olympic Mills building  located about a half-mile away in the Central Eastside District.

OMSI projects paused after Trump administrations federal funding freeze

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The brand first opened its Portland factory in 2013. The upcoming move marks the next era for the company, with recent accolades including a bronze medal in the International Chocolate Awards and a mention from Bon Appetit magazine.

Rangers new home, found on 107 SE Washington St., dates back to its construction in 1920. The Olympic Mills building previously served as a cereal mill, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in 1989.

Ranger Chocolate Co. CEO George Domurot poses in new building. (Courtesy Ranger Chocolate) Ranger Chocolate Co. moves to Olympic Mills building (Courtesy Ranger Chocolate) Ranger Chocolate Co. moves to Olympic Mills building (Courtesy Ranger Chocolate)

The Olympic Mills building is an iconic part of Portlands industrial history, and were thrilled to make it our new home, Ranger Chocolate Founder and CEO George Domurot said in a statement. Staying in the Central Eastside neighborhood allows us to continue our strong ties with the local maker community while elevating our production capabilities and refining our craft. We are excited to remain part of this dynamic area as we grow.

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KOIN 6 Remarkable Woman nominee: Fun Eyes helps Rachel Mackenzlee Yee see world differently

The property will allow the brand to continue making its premium chocolate, as well as offer more tasting and touring experiences.

Additionally, the building will host the inaugural Portland Craft Chocolate Festival slated for the weekend of Oct. 3. Ranger will invite other chocolate companies and artisans to showcase and discuss their top products at the event.

Company leaders will release more details on the festival at a later date.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
RAPID CITY, SD (KELO)  A federal judge in Rapid City has sentenced a man from Mexico to prison and deportation, after leading authorities on a pursuit.

42-year-old Jose Jimenez, also known as Jose Lidio Chavez Flores, was sentenced to two months in federal prison and also ordered to be removed from the United States.

Last month, he pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Illegal Reentry.

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Prosecutors say Jimenez led law enforcement on a pursuit back in November following an attempted traffic stop.

Prosecutors say when officers caught up with Jimenez, they found a semi-automatic rifle in the backseat.

Prosecutors say Jimenez had been removed from the U.S. and returned to Mexico two earlier times.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, is calling for a DOJ Inspector General investigation into acting D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin, who has in his first several weeks on the job made a particular point of probing perceived enemies of President Donald Trump.

since taking office, Mr. Martin has used his office to illegally attack critics and perceived enemies of the Trump Administration while endangering the public safety of the citizens of and visitors to our nations capital, Raskin wrote in a March 12 letter to Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz.

Mr. Martin has also threatened to investigate and prosecute critics of the Trump Administration, including journalists, attorneys, peaceful protesters, and Members of Congress, in blatant violation of the First Amendment, Raskin continued. Mr. Martin has already fired over a dozen career federal prosecutors assigned to prosecuting violent crimes in Washington, D.C., simply because they had worked on the investigations of the massive lawless attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021  an attack Mr. Martin was personally involved in and publicly supported and praised.

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The nine-page letter, first obtained by the Washington Post, details a series of recent actions taken by Martin that Raskin argues appear to violate the Constitution, federal statutes, DOJ regulations, and rules of legal ethics.

In particular, he notes that Martin has tried to illegally freeze $20 billion worth of climate funding, tied to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, that was allocated to environmental non-profit organizations for various climate projects during the Biden administration.

Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin, who has been pushing the effort to revoke and investigate the Biden-era federal climate funding, announced on Wednesday, weeks after freezing the funds, that it had terminated the $20 billion in climate grants.

The letter also references the recent resignation of Denise Cheung, who was in charge of the criminal division in the Washington, D.C. U.S. Attorneys office. In her resignation letter to Martin, Cheung noted that there was insufficient evidence to open a grand jury investigation into these Biden-era funds. She refused to comply with Martins order to open such an investigation and instead resigned.

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In an effort to claw back $20 billion in grants awarded for clean-energy projects awarded under the GGRF, Mr. Martin demanded that the criminal division chief in his office, Denise Cheung, launch a criminal investigation and freeze a contractors unspent assets without any probable cause of violation, Raskin said in his letter. Mr. Martins efforts are consistent with the Administrations general approach to GGRF. Instead of implementing this program as congressionally directed, the Trump Administration has spread baseless claims and misinformation to halt the program.

Raskin also highlights in the letter what he refers to as Martins blatant conflict of interest and ethics violations in the cases related to the January 6th attack on the Capitol.

After being an active participant in the January 6th insurrection, Mr. Martin personally served as defense counsel for at least three January 6th rioters, all of whom were found guilty at trial, Raskin notes.

Raskin also notes that Martin has retaliated against prosecutors involved in the cases related to January 6, firing over a dozen career federal prosecutors who were originally hired to assist with January 6th cases and had since been assigned to prosecute violent crimes.
OSU audit reveals large scale abuse

The recent Oklahoma State University audit revelations highlight a broader issue: wherever you have large scale spending, you will find large scale abuse.

The circumstances become engrossing when you decipher the antagonistic reactions to the DOGE efforts spearheaded by Elon Musk. Currently, we have faux outrage (read guilt-ridden bureaucrats) apoplectic that anyone other than themselves would dare to question how they spend billions of taxpayer dollars. Pile upon that the faux indignation that some stalwart social programs may include fraud or waste.

Anyone who questions abuse from misappropriated expenditures to financial malfeasance has never operated a business. Even in the smallest industries, money is guided towards unrelated pet projects or personal pocketbooks despite (so-called) administrative oversight. Why would the federal government not also operate with similarly predictable outcomes?

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Elon Musk stands up as the sole voice declaring that America is not only insolvent but paving highways  built via borrowed money  towards a seismic bankruptcy. It is ironic given the fact that he has genuinely no financial stake in Americas future. This native born South African is already wealthy beyond imagination; he doesnt have to care about our nations trajectory. He could join the rest of the world, butter up the Chinese and other European markets and watch America whither.

His term-limited boss could do the same thing. American presidents for years have given lip service to the debt then signed legislation that exacerbates it. With nothing left to run for, President Trump appears to take the problem seriously. His popularity will take a nosedive especially as niche programs his constituents like face DOGEs scrutiny.

But this is needed work to uncover problems, most importantly because the next generation merits a better America than the one currently being left to it.

 Wayne Hull, Oklahoma City

Audit process not working at OSU

Regent Jennifer Callahan, commenting on the OSU audit, states that the functions of "board oversight, independent internal audit ... independent external audit, as well as state laws that were in place to manage this, all showed that the system worked." Say what!? I would contend that "all showed" that the system failed to work properly since it took a whistleblower to call attention to the alleged discrepancy, unless whistleblowing is in his job description.

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 Derel Schrock, Edmond

Tariffs will make everything cost more

So many issues! Tariffs are insane and will increase the cost of everything, hitting the lower and middle classes the hardest, as well as disrupting the economy and long-standing trade with our good neighbors to the north.

Abandoning Ukraine already has an encouraged Russia taking advantage. Who is next? The Baltic States? I dismissed reports that Trump is a Russian asset as a crazy liberal conspiracy theory, but given his actions, I am not so sure.

And then there are the attempts to wrest powers clearly given to the Congress by the Constitution, and you people just roll over meekly instead of defending 250 years of separation of powers.

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The cuts go beyond just fat. It's whole limbs being amputated! I mean cutting the weather program at OU just before tornado season is cutting a useful, if not essential, function. Disrupting the NIH grant system will have severe downstream effects as labs are closed and highly skilled workers are lost. As are other functions too numerous to list here.

And finally, instead of paying down the national debt with the money saved by downsizing government, we all sacrifice for tax cuts for billionaires. Why do they need help at the expense of ordinary people? And why are they being invited to cheat on their taxes by cutting the IRS? Insane! People with a billion dollars do not need help!

When will Social Security be cut and millions of seniors moved to live under bridges?

Please, grow a backbone, Congress, and don't let our system of checks and balances that has served us so well and has been the envy of the world be destroyed.

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 Robert Hurst and Patti Flanagan Hurst, Oklahoma City

More: How could Trump tariffs affect Oklahomas economy? Look at 2018 | Opinion

Critical shortage of mental health providers

Oklahoma is critically short of mental health providers. According to Rep. Jeff Boatman there's not just a lack of mental health care, but the state is in a critical shortage. Oklahoma ranks fifth in the nation for mental illness, according to the state's mental health department (2-News Oklahoma).

According to the Healthy Minds Policy Institute Oklahomas current supply of licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) only meets 67% of the states estimated need. Social workers are a critical piece of Oklahomas behavioral health workforce. They not only provide mental health counseling and therapy, but they also offer case management and link individuals and families to services and resources to alleviate issues such food and housing insecurity, domestic violence prevention, treatment, and assistance to those suffering from domestic violence, health education, substance abuse prevention and treatment, and many others.

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HB 2261 is intended to help Oklahoma lessen this critical shortage by joining the Interstate Licensure Compact for social workers with 22 other states who are presently members. This compact would allow licensed clinical social workers from any participating compact state to work virtually and within Oklahoma to provide the much-needed mental healthcare that Oklahoma is so desperately short of without any further licensure requirements. The compact would standardize the schooling, supervision, and licensure requirements across all states participating in the compact.

For those who would argue that Oklahoma giving up its control of the licensure process can be secure in the knowledge that this compact would in no way change or restrict Oklahomas process of state licensure for any licensed clinical social worker. Any licensed clinical social worker who does not want to join or be a part of the compact can choose to utilize the current Oklahoma licensure process. The current state process, regulations and licensure requirements would remain completely under the control of Oklahoma. This would allow licensed clinical social workers the option to become and maintain their licensure through the process of their choice. If you agree, please contact your state representatives and senators and let them know you support this important legislation.

 Shawn Hamner, Oktaha

More: Contrary to what many believe, social work helps state economy | Opinion

Let's end daylight saving time!

There is currently House Bill 1223 in the state House authored by Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, that would undo the bill signed into law last April. That April bill would put Oklahoma on permanent daylight saving time as soon as the U.S. Congress approves the change nationwide. Does anybody remember the literal nightmare DST caused back in the early 1970s? Sunrise after 8:30 in the morning. Kids going to school and waiting at bus stops in total darkness.

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HB 1223 gets rid of that nutty bill and would put Oklahoma on permanent standard time without congressional approval. And if signed into law, it would mean one more clock change back to sanity in November. No more clock changes! I urge everyone who it tired of the twice a year flip flop to contact their representative in the state House and Senate to support the bill.

 Terry Brennan, Piedmont

More: The end of daylight saving time in Oklahoma? Bill aims to adopt standard time year-round

Three Stooges in government?

As a Republican I am ashamed of my fellow members voting Trump and Vance into the White House and then they added Musk to join them.

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We can now say that the Three Stooges have invaded the U.S. government. Who would have thought that it could get any worse than Biden? With any luck from GOD we will still have a country to call our own in three years' plus ten months' time.

 Gerald P. Sawyer, Del City

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Rediscover whats yours to get from the state

Families across Oklahoma are facing rising costs of living, unexpected expenses and financial uncertainty. With so much out of our control, its important to be aware of every resource available  including one that many people dont even realize exists.

A few months ago, my husband and I came across the Oklahoma state treasurers unclaimed property website and decided to check our names. To our surprise, we both had unclaimed funds waiting for us. It wasnt a fortune, but as a small business owner, every bit helps. That money allowed me to reinvest in my embroidery and sewing business, covering expenses I hadnt planned for and easing some stress.

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A little financial relief can go a long way, whether its covering a bill, putting food on the table or simply providing a cushion for unexpected costs. With so much uncertainty in todays world,yourmoney.ok.gov is a tool every Oklahoman should know about.

 Chelsea Haecher, Oklahoma City

Beliefs often have lasting consequences

I learned clear back in grade school that: beliefs produce behaviors, which in turn, produce consequences.

Too many people do not think past behaviors. Here's a concrete example:

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This reminded me of a couple of epitaphs seen on tombstones: "Well, if I had known that," and "Well, it made sense to me!"

Yes, beliefs have consequences and some last a very long time.

 John E. Karlin, Oklahoma City

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Readers weigh in on OSU, tariffs, mental health workers | Letters
Report cards are out  grading schools, not students  and Sante Fe Public Schools did especially well last year in attendance.

In 2022-23, Santa Fe Public Schools reported only 50% of its students attended school 90% of the time. That rate rose sharply in 2023-24 to 71.1%  one of the best attendance boosts in New Mexico. The statewide rate grew only from 62% to 66.1% across the same time span.

Santa Fe Public Schools, with 11,673 students enrolled across 27 public schools and one district charter, also boasted improvement in both reading and science. College and career readiness, though, declined significantly in the district.

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The New Mexico Public Education Department delivered the report cards this week to New Mexico school districts after finalizing its per-school and per-district data for the 2023-24 school year.

Statewide performance data for last school year first became available online in late October through early November. The website was updated again Jan. 29 with the release of statewide performance data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

What's measured?

The state assesses school accountability based on five categories, as outlined by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA. The five categories are academic achievement, academic progress, English language proficiency, college and career readiness, and graduation rate.

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ESSA, which was signed into law in 2015 by former President Barack Obama, requires state agencies to standardize education data across those categories.

The state Public Education Department publishes yearly reports using data from national and state assessments, including:

* The New Mexico Measures of Student Success and Achievement test, evaluating third through eighth graders on math and reading

* The New Mexico Assessment of Science Readiness, given to fifth, eighth and 11th graders

* And the SAT, for 11th graders

Those assessments and specialized tests, like the Dynamic Learning Maps test for students with cognitive disabilities  make up two of the five categories mandated by the Every Student Succeeds Act  academic achievement and academic progress.

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A special exam called the ACCESS test measures students' English language proficiency  another metric to be tracked, according to federal law.

The last two metrics, college and career readiness and graduation rate, are based on per-school rates of students' performance and participation in career-related and college-level courses and  take a guess  the timely graduation rate of schools' graduating classes.

Private schools don't report their data to the Public Education Department.

Santa Fe's public schools

Compared to its 2022-23 results, Santa Fe Public Schools districtwide reading proficiency rose from 37% to 40% and science proficiency rose from 30% to 31%. Math proficiency declined one percentage point, from 23% to 22%, in the recent 2023-24 school year results.

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Educational outcomes for English language learners in Santa Fe public schools were mixed. The state uses two metrics to track that progress  the number of English learners who score proficient on the ACCESS English test, and English learner progress, which tracks the percent of students expected to reach English proficiency within five years, according to their performance on the ACCESS exam.

Santa Fes rate of English learners passing the exam declined from 4.8% to 3.7% from 2022-23 to 2023-24, with a parallel decline occurring statewide.

But, Santa Fes rate of English learners on track to reach proficiency in five years increased in the same time span  from 11.2% to 13.8%, with a slightly higher growth rate occurring statewide.

College and career readiness declined significantly across the district in the time period.

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The rate measures the percent of high school students who have participated in and achieved a passing grade in a college or career course. Santa Fe Public Schools reported a 97% rate of college and career readiness in 2022-23  the exact same rate reported statewide. Both those rates fell the following year. Statewide, it fell only slightly to 95.6%. But Santa Fes rate declined much more steeply to 82.7% of students considered college and career ready.

Graduation rates in Santa Fe increased marginally, from 82% to 83.1%, while statewide, those numbers rose from 76% to 76.7%.

School-by-school improvements

The Santa Fe school district was successful in removing the in need of support designation from the nine schools that previously held it. Of those schools in the 2023-24 school year, six were designated as in need of additional targeted support and improvement, and three were classified as in need of comprehensive support and improvement.

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The shining star of Santa Fe Public Schools recent results was Nava Elementary.

Nava reported 11% and 17% of students as math and reading-proficient respectively in 2022-23, but by 2023-24, they more than doubled both of those numbers, reporting 24% and 39% of students as reading and math proficient.

State charter schools in Santa Fe performed rather middle of the road on the state's metrics. Chief among them, though, was The Masters Program, a high school charter based at Santa Fe Community College centered around providing an early college experience.

It was the only spotlight school among the state charters that, thanks to its integration with the college, reported 100% career and college readiness among its students, along with 17% of students proficient in math and 56% proficient in reading.
A ticking clock on Pennsylvanias Real ID homepage counts down the days, minutes and seconds until May 7, the date the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has set as the official Real ID deadline, after several extensions due to COVID and the national emergency declaration. With the date now looming less than two months away, Northeast Pennsylvanians who havent gotten their Real IDs yet may be feeling pressure to get the task done.

Due to the increase in demand that PennDOT has observed, some drivers license centers are offering Real ID Days, as a way to ensure we are meeting the needs of the public and providing them with the best possible customer service, said PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services Kara Templeton.

PennDOT is committed to making it as convenient as possible for Pennsylvanians to obtain a Real ID if they want one, Templeton said.

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Real ID Days are taking place Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at centers across the commonwealth, including the Wilkes-Barre Drivers License Center at 1805 Hanover St. The center is one of 15 same-day centers in the state, said Aimee Inama, PennDOTs statewide community relations coordinator at Driver and Vehicle Services.

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While normally closed on Mondays, certain PennDOT Drivers License centers, including the Wilkes-Barre Drivers License Center, will be open on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help accommodate the higher than usual number of people scurrying to obtain a REAL ID. (PENNDOT / SUBMITTED)

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Vehicles move past the Drivers License Center in Dunmore on Friday afternoon. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)

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Vehicles move past the Drivers License Center in Dunmore on Friday afternoon. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)

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While normally closed on Mondays, certain PennDOT Drivers License centers, including the Wilkes-Barre Drivers License Center, will be open on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help accommodate the higher than usual number of people scurrying to obtain a REAL ID. (PENNDOT / SUBMITTED)

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Were usually closed on Mondays, but were opening up certain drivers centers on Mondays to offer that service, Inama explained, adding that drivers license centers will also process Real IDs on other business days, during normal business hours. Real IDs come with an associated fee. You will pay a one-time fee of $30, plus a renewal fee (current renewal fee is $39.50 for a four-year non-commercial drivers license or $42.50 for a photo ID), states pa.govs REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions page.

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In addition to Real ID Days, PennDOT also built a REAL ID online wizard to potentially help interested parties organize their paperwork and save time.

Inama explained that the IDs are optional for Pennsylvania residents. Another federal ID, such as a U.S. passport, will be required, however, when boarding domestic commercial flights, when entering a federal facility, such as a military base or federal courthouse, or if accessing a nuclear power plant.

Inama said there is currently an uptick of visitors to PennDOT drivers license centers in anticipation of the approaching deadline, and some anxiety around the Real ID requirement.

Were finding people are concerned, and theres no reason for concern, Inama said. Were here, were offering special hours, during regular business hours were processing Real IDs, and we will be processing them now until the end of time, because its just part of our business now.

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Gene Katapski, of Jefferson Twp., expressed his frustration at the stringent documentation requirement necessary to obtain his Real ID.

I tried 3 times. Each time they found something to deny, he commented on a social media website. I gave up and received a passport card in 30 minutes.

The popular post had 263 comments and 75 shares, with Northeast Pennsylvanians expressing everything from much ease to extreme difficulty around the process.

In a phone interview, Katapski explained that PennDOT took issue with small discrepancies on his documents.

One piece of mail would have Road spelled out, the other one had it written as Rd., Katapski said. Im in Jefferson Twp., one would have Twp. abbreviated, and another would say Township. Theyd say, Nope, doesnt work.

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There was also an issue with his middle initial on one document and his full middle name on another document, he said.

It was very frustrating, he said.

Inama recommended arriving at the drivers license centers with correct documentation, to help avoid any complications.

Make sure that they come to the drivers centers prepared, definitely go on our website and check out the documents needed, we have a complete list of documents required, make sure you have your paperwork in order, Inama said. She recommended that, in lieu of a Social Security card, visitors make sure their W-2 forms reveal their entire Social Security number with no numbers blocked or blacked out.

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Buildings in Northeast Pennsylvania that may require a Real ID to enter include the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, the William J. Nealon Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Scranton, the Scranton Federal Bureau of Investigation Field Office, the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, Tobyhanna Army Depot in Coolbaugh Twp., the U.S. Penitentiary, Canaan, in Wayne County, and the U.S. Social Security Administration building in Wilkes-Barre, among others.

Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration facilities, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration offices, and military recruitment centers may also require Real IDs to enter. Valid U.S. passports or other approved IDs may also be used to enter the buildings, in some cases. Checking the buildings ID requirements for entry before arriving is recommended.

Some Pennsylvanians already have a Real ID-compliant drivers license, which is marked with a gold or black star on the top right corner. If an ID is marked not for federal identification, this is an indicator that it is not a Real ID, and may not be used in the manner that a Real ID can.

Those who plan to fly domestically and dont have a U.S. passport, and frequent visitors of federal buildings are required to obtain a Real ID, only if they have business to do after May 7 that will require the ID, Inama said.

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Say Im flying out in August, and I cant get down to the center by May 7, but I have my passport, I can use that, or come later, in June, Inama said, adding the office strives to help everyone. We are always here to serve the people of Pennsylvania, and we always do it with the best customer service.

Necessary documents required for obtaining a Real ID include proof of identity, such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate, a Social Security card or W-2 form, two proofs of Pennsylvania residence, such as with a bank statement or utility bill, and proof of any change of name, for example, with a marriage certificate. Check PennDOTs website for details. Documents must be taken, in person, to a Department of Motor Vehicles Drivers License Center.

Anyone who is unable to obtain a Real ID can still use their U.S. passport, a military ID or a green card in its place for domestic travel and federal building access.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Utahs proposed ban on fluoridation has begun to send ripples throughout Utah as cities, towns, and water districts are anticipating the governors signature on the proposed measure.

H.B. 81  or Fluoride Amendments  was passed by the state legislature and sent to the governor in what will be the nations first ban on water fluoridation. During an interview with Inside Utah Politics, the governor indicated to ABC4.com that he intends to sign the measure into law.

While the ban was being discussed in the legislature, lawmakers spoke about the savings residents and cities will see once fluoridation stops. Sen. Kirk Cullimore (R-Utah County), the bills Senate sponsor, told law makers during a debate on Feb. 20 that one of the reasons for the bill was to [reduce] unnecessary costs for people.

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PREVIOUS: Bill banning fluoridation one step away from becoming law in Utah

However, how much money will residents actually save on their water bills if fluoridation is banned? The answer  not that much. However, the question is a little more complicated than a water bill. Fluoridation has effects on city budgets as well and its elimination can help save money on those budgets. We spoke to several water districts and cities, and this is what they told us.

Your water bill wont change much

When it comes to your monthly water bill, fluoridation isnt a major contributor to your bottom line. Cities like Riverton, South Jordan, and West Jordan import their water from other sources and only maintain the infrastructure that gets the water to your faucet. In situations like this, cities dont need to fluoridate and just need to test the water to see if its up to the recommended 0.7 milligrams per liter.

Of the eight towns and water districts ABC4.com was able to reach in Salt Lake County, six said that costs wouldnt change. Water Pros INC, who supply a majority of the water in Draper, said that residents could see less than 90 cents per month in savings as a result of the ban.

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Sandy City told ABC4.com that residents might see an initial increase in their bills as a result of removing their water fluoridation systems. This is due to the leftover fluoride they will have to dispose of, along with removing the infrastructure used to fluoridate the water. However, Sandy City also said that residents would see savings in the long term after these systems were removed  which brings us to the other side of the coin.

The cost for cities and water districts will vary

Cities and water districts will see larger savings on account of the ban than residents will, however, there will be initial costs before those savings will be realized.

Sandy City told ABC4.com that they do not know how much it will cost the city to remove their current fluoridation infrastructure, and to dispose of the fluoride they currently have on hand. According to the city, it costs $53,600 to add fluoride into the citys water supply. Of that amount, $21,840 goes to an employee to monitor the systems, $28,200 to maintain it, and $3,600 for the computer systems that add fluoride into the water.

With the fluoridation ban, the city will no longer have to pay that amount, along with no longer needing to run tests to make sure the levels are up to standard. This would be consistent for any city or district that fluoridates their water. They will also no longer have to purchase the fluoride, which begs another question: Where will the fluoride that cities and districts have on hand go?

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Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, a water district that supplies the water to several cities in Salt Lake County, shared with ABC4.com that it hopes to use up its supply before the May 7 deadline goes into effect.

Jordan Valley Water anticipates it will use about 90% of its remaining fluoride supply by the time the law takes effect in early May, a spokesperson for JVWCD said in a statement. I dont have the exact costs for the disposal of the remaining fluoride, but it will be minimal compared to our operating budget.

Fluoride stock left on hand cannot be resold or given off. According to Teresa Gray, resell isnt viable when dealing with remaining fluoride, saying that its not really a viable option.



We have them at our wells throughout our distribution system, Grey told ABC4.com. And so, part of that cost that we need to look into is what is the transportation cost going to be?

According to JVWCD, they currently have 7,500-10,000 gallons of fluoride on hand, and they hope to have 1,500 gallons by May 1st. Before the ban, the district would typically order between 7-10 days before they needed to use the fluoride, however that varies depending on the time of year.

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The cost of fluoride varies. According to JVWCD, their typical purchase ranges from $3.63 to $9.40 per gallon. So, if 1,500 gallons of fluoride remained by the May 7 deadline, the district could face a loss between $5,445 to $14,100. This cost can vary for each township or district depending on supply on hand and how much is used by the deadline. Midvale, for example, expects to have less than 500 gallons on hand by the May 7 deadline.

At the time of this writing, the governor has not signed H.B. 81 into law. For further updates, make sure to visit Inside Utah Politics!

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(NewsNation)  Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina faced a large and angry crowd during a town hall he held Thursday night.

His district is largely Republican, and Edwards won reelection last year by 13 percentage points. On Thursday, however, he was booed several times by people in the audience, who grilled him on recent federal layoffs and cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency.

Mentioning President Donald Trump or Tesla CEO Elon Musk prompted a negative reaction from constituents.

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Other GOP lawmakers have had a similar reception at their town halls. Republican congressional leaders have advised their colleagues not to do in-person town halls because of this.

DOGEs next round of layoffs may harm veterans

Edwards still showed up to the event and stayed for the duration.

Im accountable to the people in my district in western North Carolina, not to anyone in Washington, D.C., although I know their intentions were honorable, Edwards said.

North Carolina was devastated by Hurricane Helene last year, and Edwards thought the town hall would be a way to pull the community together, as well.

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In addition, Edwards said he is proud of the work Trump and Republicans are doing.

I believe that I shouldnt shy away from those accomplishments, Edwards said. I should spend more time talking about them, in addition to listening to see if folks have some different approaches or tactics that we could use to accomplish the same things.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A woman who said she is one of the victims identified in charges against Nathan Chasing Horse in Canada shared her story with the 8 News Now Investigators.

Janessa Lambert said the Dances with Wolves actor sexually assaulted her in her British Columbia home in 2018 after she had broken up with him.

Las Vegas judge to allow testimony from additional alleged victims in Nathan Chasing Horse trial

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I just remember feeling like did I ask for it? Did I say thats what I wanted? What did I do to make that happen? the 31-year-old woman told the 8 News Now Investigators via Zoom. I just remember feeling disgusted and gross.

Sex abuse allegations for years: court docs in Nathan Chasing Horse case reveal criminal justice system failures

A woman who said she is one of the victims identified in charges against Nathan Chasing Horse in Canada shared her story with the 8 News Now Investigators. Janessa Lambert said the Dances with Wolves actor sexually assaulted her in her British Columbia home in 2018 after she had broken up with him. (KLAS)

Lambert said she reported the sexual assault to police in 2022 after seeing herself in her boyfriends child.



I just remember looking at her and thinking, do I want her to go through the same thing that I did? she said. I remember taking a deep breath and looking at my boyfriend saying Im going to police.

Chasing Horse pleads not guilty in Las Vegas child sex crimes case

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Similar to accounts from other women and underage girls who reported Chasing Horse, 48, to police over the past two decades, action was not immediately taken.



It wasnt promised to me that anything would come of it. I think at the time my Aboriginal police officer was skeptical of the story, Lambert recalled. I just remember him looking at me and saying Ill put this through as a file number but he said I cant promise anything will happen because he lives in the States, unless he enters Canada, there is nothing we can do. I remember feeling so defeated but happy I did my part.

A woman who said she is one of the victims identified in charges against Nathan Chasing Horse in Canada shared her story with the 8 News Now Investigators. Janessa Lambert said the Dances with Wolves actor sexually assaulted her in her British Columbia home in 2018 after she had broken up with him. (KLAS)

Sex trafficking: Woman claims she is a survivor of Dances with Wolves actor

Las Vegas Metro police arrested Chasing Horse at his North Las Vegas home in January of 2023 after two additional women told police Chasing Horse sexually assaulted them, prompting cases like Lamberts to move forward.

I remember of just being in shock and disbelief, Lambert said.

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In addition to the Las Vegas case, there are warrants for Chasing Horses arrest in Montana and Canada.



A Clark County grand jury indicted Chasing Horse in October for 21 felony charges including 10 counts of sexual assault with a minor under 16 years of age, six counts of sexual assault, two counts of possession of visual presentation depicting sexual conduct of a child, and one count each of use of a minor under the age of 14 in producing pornography, open or gross lewdness, and first-degree kidnapping of a minor. One charge dates back to 2010, according to court documents.



Two women testified in front of the grand jury that Nathan Chasing Horse used his status as a Medicine Man in the Native American culture to victimize them. The 8 News Now Investigators obtained transcripts from grand jury proceedings, which also reveal challenges in communicating with a third alleged victim.

A woman who said she is one of the victims identified in charges against Nathan Chasing Horse in Canada shared her story with the 8 News Now Investigators. Janessa Lambert said the Dances with Wolves actor sexually assaulted her in her British Columbia home in 2018 after she had broken up with him. (KLAS)

Some evidence in the case is sealed. Prosecutors said they have obtained at least two videos of Chasing Horse sexually assaulting a child.

Lambert said she first met Chasing Horse when she was 13 years old during his visit to her community for ceremonies in the indigenous culture. She said he tried to set her up with one of his helpers, a much older man when she was 16 and she refused his advances. Chasing Horse then zeroed in on Lambert, she recalled and had a conversation with her mother.

He had said that the grandfathers had made it more clear in his dreams on who would take on that responsibility and that it was me, and that the responsibility of bringing back a medicine man to our nation was gonna fall through me and that I was going to be a wife one day, Lambert told the 8 News Now Investigators.

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Chasing Horse had four wives at the time, according to Lambert. She said there appeared to be a competition to be the fifth.

A woman who said she is one of the victims identified in charges against Nathan Chasing Horse in Canada shared her story with the 8 News Now Investigators. Janessa Lambert said the Dances with Wolves actor sexually assaulted her in her British Columbia home in 2018 after she had broken up with him. (KLAS)

I think it shows the amount of manipulation, she said.

Lambert witnessed Chasing Horse physically abusing the other women, she told the 8 News Now Investigators.

In 2018, after feeling a lack of love from Chasing Horse, Lambert broke up with him via text message. During a visit to her community after the breakup, she said Chasing Horse gave her an unwelcome kiss, and during the next visit, he sexually assaulted her.

Lambert said she believed Chasing Horse groomed her.

People always ask how did we get sucked in. Me and my family are really smart. Were very caring people. My mom has years of schooling. She has a lot of certificates under her belt. I have my Masters of Education now, she said. But what he really worked at was that cultural yearning. He really exploited that and so I think he looked for families that were really yearning to have that connection.

A woman who said she is one of the victims identified in charges against Nathan Chasing Horse in Canada shared her story with the 8 News Now Investigators. Janessa Lambert said the Dances with Wolves actor sexually assaulted her in her British Columbia home in 2018 after she had broken up with him. (KLAS)

Like other women who have reported that Chasing Horse sexually abused them, Lambert is hoping Chasing Horse is held accountable through Nevadas justice system.

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A jury trial is scheduled in Las Vegas for April 14, while Chasing Horses next court appearance is April 7.

To reach investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, email vmurphy@8newsnow.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 KLAS.
Republicans in the Kentucky legislature unveiled and passed significant changes to the states Medicaid program in the final hours of Friday, the last day they could pass a bill able to withstand the governors veto.

Those changes include a new work requirement, a provision tying the state more closely to the policy of the federal government and another section limiting Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears administration from making significant changes to the Medicaid program.

The bill, House Bill 695, was changed via a substitute introduced in a quickly-called committee meeting Friday night around 9:15 p.m. Some of the major changes were new to the public and legislators as of their introduction at the meeting, which took place in a conference room just steps away from the Senate floor.

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It passed the Senate around 10:40 p.m. on a party line vote and did the same in the House less than an hour later.

One of the biggest changes the bill makes is the addition of the word mandatory for an existing Medicaid work requirement program for able-bodied adults with no dependents who have been on Medicaid for more than a year.

The bill mandates the Cabinet for Health and Family Services implement a mandatory community engagement waiver program, which mirrors aspects of previous work requirements. That obligation would be fulfilled if the person works at least 20 hours per week or participates in a state job placement program.

That means those Kentuckians on Medicaid without dependents must prove they meet those requirements to get healthcare

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The bill also creates a Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board tasked with various oversight duties. Eight of the 10 voting members of the board will be appointed by Republican leadership while the remaining two will be appointed by Democratic House and Senate leaders.

It explicitly bars the governor from going beyond whats required by the federal government  though President Donald Trump has said he wont touch Medicaid, Republican leaders in Congress seek to cut $880 billion from the next federal budget.

There was no estimate included in the bill, or any accompanying fiscal note, projecting the cost of implementing or enforcing a mandatory work requirement.

Kentuckians are eligible for Medicaid if they make at or below 138% of the federal poverty level, which is currently $15,650 for a single person and $32,150 for a family of four.

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Many elements of the bill were included in a committee substitute that had been approved on Wednesday, but the new substitute made the work requirement mandatory.

Republicans say the moves are all sensible given the changing federal landscape and the need to encourage more Kentuckians to work. Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, also warned of the potential for fewer funds coming from Washington, D.C., to fund Medicaid.

Through the expansion that the governor has done, and its one of the richest Medicaid programs in the nation, what we are seeing is that Medicaid is growing faster than what our receipts are growing. We cant afford to do that, especially if the federal government changes a lot of different things, which puts us in a position of not having as many federal dollars come down to us, Stivers said.

On the workforce participation front, he cited a recent trip to his local Pizza Hut.

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Why is it that an able bodied person should not be working? I went to Pizza Hut in my hometown the other night. They could not open the dining room because they didnt have people who were willing to work People are staying at home because the benefits are so rich its a disincentive to work.

Democrats, during the debate on the floor, warned the work requirements would lead to Kentuckians getting off Medicaid due to the paperwork burden of regularly proving youre working or seeking a job.

We talk about work requirements, and I want us to know and understand what that really means. Work requirements really mean making vulnerable folks who need our assistance to take time from their work to basically prove to the government, to us, that they need assistance and care and that they deserve health care, Sen. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, said.

Sen. David Yates, D-Louisville, said the work requirements section of the bill reminded him of former GOP Gov. Matt Bevins requirements, which were eventually blocked by a U.S. district judge.

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Kentucky Center for Economic Policy Executive Director Jason Bailey, an opponent of work requirements, agreed with Yates assessment.

This is Matt Bevins Medicaid plan, which by his own numbers wouldve kicked nearly 100,000 Kentuckians off health care. Its also illegal, having been struck down twice by the courts, Bailey wrote in a statement.

Beshear has advocated for expanding Medicaid throughout his two terms as governor. In 2022, he expanded the states Medicaid program to cover vision, dental and hearing care. The move has frustrated Republicans who say the program cant fully bear the cost.

If House Bill 695 were law at the time, Beshear could not have expanded Medicaid coverage in the way that he did without the explicit approval of the legislature.

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The governor and his father, former Gov. Steve Beshear, have also championed the expansion of Medicaid the elder Beshear oversaw after the passage of the Affordable Care Act. As a result of the expansion, the percentage of uninsured Kentuckians dropped from 14% to roughly 5%.

The bill also added several oversight functions regarding Medicaid spending on behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment. It requires the Department for Medicaid Services to report to the legislature on any service where the utilization rate or expenditures increase by more than 10% over the previous calendar year.

It also requires the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to develop a behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services scorecard for services and providers.

Kentucky uses Medicaid to cover substance use disorders at a particularly high rate. Led by the prodigious provider Addiction Recovery Care, Kentucky has the highest number of residential treatment beds per capita in the country.

The bill has an emergency clause, which means it takes effect immediately upon passage. The bill states thats because ongoing budget negotiations at the federal level, including over federal financial support for the Medicaid program, combined with significant expansion of the Commonwealths Medicaid budget over the last decade.
Forget urban legends about sewer alligators  in Florida, they're very real. A new study revealed that these underground tunnels are packed with gators, raccoons, and dozens of other animals using the pipes to move around cities, reported The Independent.

What's happening?

Researchers from the University of Florida set up camera traps in Alachua County's stormwater sewer systems. Their study, published in Urban Naturalist, found at least 35 different species, including reptiles, birds, amphibians, and mammals. Raccoons and bats native to the southeastern U.S. made up a lot of the sightings, but the cameras also caught sight of opossums, armadillos, squirrels, egrets, toads, and even a few stray cats.

"The abundance of animals down there was surprising," study co-author Alan Ivory from the University of Florida told the New York Times.

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Seven types of reptiles also showed up on camera, with American alligators being the most common. Most of the reptiles were found in sewer spots that held water for more than half the study period.

The study's researchers explained that sewers act as pathways for urban animals  some use them as shortcuts between ponds, while others rely on them to avoid busy roads.

Researchers warned that their numbers might not even tell the full story, since the cameras only captured animals warmer than their surroundings, potentially missing some reptiles and amphibians.

Why is this concerning?

Wildlife turning to sewers for safe passage serves as a reminder of how urbanization is disrupting natural habitats. As forests and wetlands make way for highways and strip malls, animals are left with limited options for finding food, water, and safe routes. This forces them into human-made structures that can trap or harm them. In fact, researchers found that several small animals appeared to be swept into sewers after storms carry large amounts of water into the system.

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Climate change is only making things worse. Rising sea levels, stronger storms, and habitat loss are pushing more wildlife into urban areas. That means encounters between humans and displaced animals  some of which aren't exactly friendly  could get more common and more dangerous.

Ultimately, avoiding conflicts with animals comes down to respecting them by setting boundaries so they can do the same.

"If the people living with carnivores can be supported and given what they need to coexist, then human-carnivore coexistence is possible," Jen Miller, international program specialist for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, told BBC. "Coexistence is happening successfully all over the world, even in the face of climate change."

What's being done about it?

Researchers suggest simple fixes like exclusion devices and ramps in sewers to help animals get out safely. Bigger picture, we need urban planning that actually considers wildlife, like green corridors and dedicated crossings. Protecting wetlands and natural habitats is also key to keeping animals from turning to storm drains in the first place.

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Fighting climate change is part of the solution, too. Cutting pollution, preserving green spaces, and supporting policies that protect wildlife can help curb these encounters. Making cities safer for animals doesn't just help them  it also makes urban areas cleaner, healthier, and a little less wild.

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.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  Eugene Gene Reed, Jr., a former longtime Charleston automotive leader, has died at age 87.

Born in Dyersburg, Tennessee in 1937, Reed would eventually embark on a career in the automotive industry shortly after graduating from Memphis State in 1963 working for Chrysler Automotive. He later purchased his first dealership  a Dodge franchise  in the mid-70s in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

By the 1980s, Reed opened a new dealership off Dorchester Road where he sold Chevrolet vehicles. His footprint only grew over time adding myriad owned-and-operated businesses to include Chevrolet, Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Lexus, Range Rover, Honda, Jaguar, and Mercedes franchises.

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Longtime residents of the Lowcountry may remember his frequent commercials advertising Gene Reed Toyota off Rivers Avenue featuring the charismatic Tim Jones.

Through all his years in business, Genes number one concern was putting the customer first, said an online obituary.

Family members wrote in his memorial that Reed prioritized giving back to the community. After the Lowcountry was devastated by Hurricane Hugo in September 1989, Reed made a sizeable donation that kicked off the Battered But Not Beaten Fund for families without insurance.

They say he funded scholarships at the College of Charleston and Trident Technical College, and donated funds to the American Cancer Society, which were used to build the Gene Reed Hope Lodge, a place that provided free housing for cancer patients who traveled to Charleston for treatment.

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Recently, Genes donations to the MUSC Childrens Hospital, the Gaillard and Darkness to Light have been substantial. Gene was awarded The Order of the Palmetto, South Carolinas highest civilian honor by the Governor, his memorial read.

Reed died Wednesday at Roper Hospital. The family says memorials can be made to MUSC Shawn Jenkins Childrens Hospital through the MUSC Foundation in his honor.

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The return mission for two astronauts stuck in space has successfully launched, US space agency NASA said on Friday.

US astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams have now been on the International Space Station (ISS) since June, although they were only supposed be on board for one week.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Dragon spacecraft into orbit carrying NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, NASA said.

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The spacecraft is expected to dock at the ISS late on Saturday.

NASA said NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Williams and Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, were now set to depart the ISS no earlier than March 19.

Williams and Wilmore arrived at the ISS at the beginning of June on the first manned test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. They were only meant to stay on the ISS for a week, but numerous technical problems with the craft left them stranded there.

The Boeing-produced Starliner is a partially reusable spacecraft that consists of a capsule around 3 metres high for the crew and a service module.

Unlike the Crew Dragon vehicle built by Elon Musk's SpaceX company, the Starliner does not land on water but on dry land.
PROVIDENCE  It's no secret that Rhode Island has a dire shortage of primary care doctors. Estimates of how many doctors the state needs vary widely  from 100 to 260 or more  but the consensus is that the state needs a fresh influx of trained medical professionals.

Joseph Solomon Jr., a Democrat from Warwick, is well aware of the situation.

It's a common theme that you hear all the time: There's so many primary care physicians retiring. There's none to make up for it either. There are a lot of individuals out there who want primary care doctors who are unable to find one, Solomon said.

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While the state has sought solutions such as expanding loan forgiveness for doctors who go into primary care and potentially opening a medical school at the University of Rhode Island, Solomon is hoping to capitalize on an already available workforce: foreign-trained doctors.

Earlier this year, Solomon introduced a bill (H5108) that would create a pathway for foreign-trained doctors to gain licenses to practice medicine in Rhode Island.

Rep. Joseph Solomon Jr., D-Warwick

I think this would help alleviate [the doctor shortage], especially considering you have individuals who are trained to do the job, but for one reason or another, through a bureaucratic nightmare, they're unable to be licensed in the country, Solomon said.

A pathway for foreign-trained doctors

Currently, doctors who have trained overseas have to complete a residency at a U.S.-accredited medical institution to practice medicine here  even if they already have attained accreditation and are practicing medicine in another country. Residencies  as well as fellowships, where doctors further specialize  are competitive and require a visa sponsorship for immigrant medical graduates.

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Solomons bill would provide a different pathway. Foreign-trained doctors with a certificate issued by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates or other such board-approved credentials who have passed Steps 1 and 2 of the U.S. medical boards will be able to apply for a one-year limited license that can be renewed for another year.

Applicants will need to have entered into an agreement with a participating health care facility, which would assess non-clinical skills and employ them during the duration of their limited license. After completing the first two years at that facility, they would then be eligible for a two-year restricted license, if they have passed Step 3 of the U.S. medical boards.

This new license would allow them to practice independently in an area of physician shortage in Rhode Island, particularly primary care and psychiatry. After the two years, the doctors would be eligible to apply for an unrestricted license to practice medicine.

RIDOH raises concerns over bill

In a letter to Solomon, Rhode Island Department of Health Director Jerome Larkin said he appreciated the intent of the bill but had concerns about the potential efficacy and impact of the legislation as proposed.

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Larkin noted that the burden to determine an applicants training and clinical experience would fall on RIDOH. This would require RIDOH to hire two full-time staffers, as well as gain access to reporting systems in the country of origin to determine whether the applicants have been disciplined or had a malpractice claim filed against them.

More: Brown Medicine doctor deported despite federal court order. What we know.

Larkin said Rhode Island already has pathways for internationally trained physicians to become licensed by obtaining advanced standing with the states certification board. And he questioned whether the nine states that have passed similar legislation in recent years had been able to license foreign-trained doctors.

Proponents of such bills argue that other states, such as Tennessee and Washington, already have licensed physicians, though it is unclear if any have been permanently licensed. They also contend that the medical community will act as a gatekeeper for foreign-trained doctors who may not meet the standards to practice medicine in the U.S.

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For Solomon, the bill is an opportunity to fill the gap in Rhode Islands shortage of doctors and keep the state competitive with Massachusetts, which recently passed a similar law.

In Rhode Island, however, the question that remains is exactly how many foreign-trained doctors are in the state who would benefit from Solomons bill, which has been held for further study by the House Corporations committee, which Solomon chairs.

I'm not sure how many doctors would fall into this category, how many would apply, Solomon said. But considering the severe shortages, we have to look at any possible methods to provide medical care to our people.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Bill would allow foreign-trained doctors to practice in Rhode Island
The Richland School District has removed a substitute teacher from its pool after being notified of behavior that was inconsistent with district policy.

The district takes this matter seriously and immediately launched an investigation. This matter has been addressed in accordance with our policies. The substitute teacher will not be returning to the Richland School District, staff said in a Thursday letter to parents.

Its unclear what behavior precipitated the subs removal, as well as if they were subject to any other disciplinary measures.

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The district is not naming them and has declined to talk more about the allegations that the substitute made Nazi salutes. Its unclear how long they worked for the district as a substitute.

Richland School District is committed to maintaining a learning environment where all students feel safe, valued and respected, the districts letter read. We maintain dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive community for all students.

A community member who posted online alleged the substitute threw the Nazi salute three times during a Richland High School college prep period and claimed their descendants fought for the fascist party in World War II.

Nazism was a German socialist movement in the mid 20th century that came to power under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. Under the Third Reich, Nazi Germany coordinated the largest genocide of the century, systematically killing more than six million Jewish people and millions of other Europeans.

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Modern Neo-Nazi hate groups carry on the partys views of antisemitism today in the U.S. through Active Clubs and White Lives Matter networks.

School district staff investigating the incident spoke to multiple students to verify the claims, the community member said in the post.

Families, students and staff can make anonymous tips via test message, email or phone call for any incidents involving cyberbullying, harassment, threats, weapons, drugs, mental health or domestic issues.

That tip line is 509-392-4668 or online at rsd-wa.safeschoolalert.com.

A Richland Police Department spokesperson says their agency wasnt contacted about the incident and they have not investigated the claim.
A New York City correction officer was sentenced to two years probation and 250 hours of community service after failing to render aid for nearly eight minutes when a young man incarcerated at Rikers Island tried to hang himself five years ago, the Bronx District Attorneys Office announced.

In January a Bronx jury found Officer Kenneth Hood, 38, guilty of reckless endangerment and official misconduct for the incident in the George R. Vierno Center on Nov. 27, 2019, which left 18-year-old Nicholas Feliciano paralyzed.

Hoods supervisor, Captain Terry Henry, was found not guilty of the same charges.

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The defendant neglected his duty to protect those in custody, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said in a statement. Mr. Feliciano survived but his future was shattered. The officers callousness is matched by the senselessness of his behavior.

Feliciano tried to hang himself in a holding cell roughly 10 feet away from the desk where Hood was sitting, according to court documents. Security video showed Hood took no action for 7 minutes and 51 seconds after noticing Feliciano, and told a fellow officer to close the cell door when the other officer opened it to check him, the documents state.

Feliciano, who had been arrested for a parole violation, was left hanging for nearly 8 minutes before Henry and two other officers cut him down, according to court documents. He suffered severe brain damage and is currently in a residential facility, according to the statement.

In April, the city settled a lawsuit brought by Felicianos family and agreed to pay $28 million  one of the largest settlements in history for a jail incident  for damages and the ongoing medical care he will need.

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After the city settled Felicianos lawsuit in April, his grandmother Madeline Feliciano told NY1, You got people walking by seeing him hanging and nobody intervenes. How does that happen?

Two other officers who were charged in the incident  Daniel Fullerton and Mark Wilson  pleaded guilty to lesser offenses in October 2023.

Hood was fired from the Department of Correction after his conviction, officials said.

Officers have a duty to protect persons in custody, and when they fail to do so, they will be held accountable, Jocelyn Strauber, the citys Department of Investigation commissioner, said in a statement. I thank the Bronx District Attorneys Office for its partnership on this investigation and continuing commitment to ensure that safety and security in the citys jails.
Related video: Fort Chaffee breaks ground on new facility.

FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Heres a quick roundup of the biggest stories from the River Valley this week.

The Big Headline 

Still from the body camera footage.

KNWA/FOX24 obtained body camera footage from the Fort Smith Police Departments investigation into hazing, harassment and dangerous behavior among night shift officers.

Click here to watch.

Fort Smith 

Fort Smith faces a $24-25 million funding gap for improvements to Towson Avenue, despite the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) securing $33.4 million for the project, Talk Business & Politics reported.

A groundbreaking ceremony at Fort Chaffee on Mar. 15, marked the start of construction on a new facility that will unite the Fort Chaffee campus with the headquarters of the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade.

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Beaver Lake fire contained after burning for 3 days

Crime 

One of the former Crawford County deputies sentenced in October for using excessive force in the arrest of a man in 2022 is appealing his sentence, according to federal court documents.

Fort Smith police say they responded to a stabbing incident near Darby Middle School on Friday morning. Once on the scene, authorities found a male victim with multiple stab wounds.

On the bright side 

The bill was introduced by Representative Ryan Rose, a Republican from Van Buren, during the 95th General Assembly.

He says his inspiration to write the legislation came after his wife, Tiffany Rose, was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2020, following what she calls a lifesaving mammogram.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
(Bloomberg) -- The leader of Romanias largest far-right party will be allowed to take part in Mays presidential election after the previous frontrunner, whom he backed, was barred from the race.

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The countrys electoral bureau on Saturday cleared the candidacy of George Simion, head of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, or AUR. Simion will need to wait for a final approval from the Constitutional Court after his candidacy was challenged on Saturday.

We passed the electoral bureau and now we need to see if we also manage to pass the top court so we can return to democracy, Simion said on his Facebook page.

Simion, 38, made the last-minute decision to join the May 4 presidential re-run after Calin Georgescu was excluded by the electoral bureau because of what it deemed to be his extremist and anti-democratic stances. Also on Saturday, the electoral bureau rejected the candidacy of Diana Sosoaca, a controversial pro-Russian politician, for the May elections, according to Digi 24.

Sosoaca, a lawmaker in the European Parliament with extremist views, was also barred by the Constitutional Court from last years now-canceled presidential vote. At the time, the decision was unprecedented and viewed negatively by both politicians and Romanian society in general.

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Just weeks later, the Black Sea nation was thrown into political turmoil as the shocking first round victory of Georgescu, previously a fringe candidate, raised allegations of Russian meddling and prompted the top court to cancel the elections and order a repeat. That ruling later drew criticism from US Vice President JD Vance, who said in February that it was based on flimsy evidence as he questioned Romanias democratic institutions.

Today we have a divided country with members of the same families who dont speak to each other because of different views over what happened, Simion told his supporters on Friday. We need to heal and become more united and thats why the elections in May are the last chance to pick the candidate that people want and not one picked by the system.

A few thousand people gathered in front of the governments building in Bucharest on Saturday to show their support for Romanias pro-European orientation, just days after a far-right protest against Georgescus ousting from the presidential race turned violent last Sunday.

Georgescu has so far refrained from endorsing any of the other candidates but Simion said he has his support, along with Anamaria Gavrila who leads the smaller far-right party POT, to take the sovereigntist movement further.

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The courts cancellation of the vote last year was unpopular with most Romanians and galvanized anti-establishment sentiment to the benefit of the far-right. Polls suggest that Georgescu, who denied wrongdoing and has presented himself as a victim of elite intrigue, would have received around 40% of the vote in May. That would have given him a real chance of becoming president of Romania.

Simion has expressed more moderate views than Georgescu, whos praised Russian President Vladimir Putin. The AUR leader said several times that he supports Romanias membership of the EU and NATO, of whose member states the country shares the longest border with Ukraine.

Still, Simions bid to tap into disillusionment with Romanias mainstream and keep the far-right surge alive now faces competition from new candidates, including Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan and former Prime Minister Victor Ponta.

Simion came fourth in last years canceled election and is now under investigation for a statement he made on March 9, apparently threatening violence against officials from the electoral bureau. He says his words were misinterpreted and denies any wrongdoing.

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(Updates with challenge to Simions candidacy in second paragraph, pro-European protest in 8th.)

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BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Romanias electoral body Saturday rejected the candidacy of a controversial far-right politician in the presidential election rerun in May, but approved George Simion, the leader of the countrys most popular far-right party.

The Central Election Bureau, or BEC, rejected Diana Sosoaca's bid, which was filed on Thursday in the capital, Bucharest. She said she will appeal the bureaus decision, which has to be submitted to the Constitutional Court within 24 hours.

The bureau said in its decision that it barred the pro-Russia Sosoaca, a former lawyer and leader of the far-right nationalist S.O.S. Romania party, from entering the race on the same grounds that she was excluded from last year's annulled election. The CCR argued that her public discourse, including opposition to Romanias European Union and NATO memberships, made her unfit to uphold the constitutional obligations of the presidency.

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In a public letter posted online and addressed to U.S. President Donald Trump after the bureau's decision, Sosoaca, 49, claimed that the democratic system has been destroyed and that the elections have already been rigged.

The courts decision to bar her from last year's race drew strong criticism from some civil rights groups and politicians, who denounced it as undermining democracy or politically motivated.

However, on Saturday, the election bureau validated the candidacy of Simion, who leads the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, which is Romania's second biggest party in the legislature.

Return to democracy

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Simion, 38, who is under criminal investigation for inciting violence after last years first-round winner Calin Georgescu was barred this week from entering the May rerun, has expressed concerns that he could also be excluded from the upcoming race.

Now lets see if we can pass the CCR and return to democracy, he wrote on Facebook. Simion  who came fourth in the first round of last years race with 13.8% of the vote  has denied any wrongdoing and claimed the investigation is politically motivated.

I risk being subjected to the same abusive treatment  If they eliminated two, they think they can eliminate a third, he told a news conference Friday after filing his candidacy.

Simion has stirred controversy on occasion. He campaigned for reunification with neighboring Moldova, which has barred him from entering the country. He is also banned from neighboring Ukraine, where authorities cited security concerns.

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The Constitutional Court annulled last years election two days before the Dec. 8 runoff, after allegations emerged that Russia had run a coordinated online campaign to promote far-right Georgescu, who ran as an independent. Moscow has denied meddling in the election.

The courts unprecedented decision last year plunged the European Union and NATO member country into a protracted political crisis and has drawn criticism from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk and Moscow.

Presidential rerun scheduled for May 4

Like other countries in Europe, the far-right vote has gained momentum in Romania in recent years.

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In 2020, Simions AUR party  which proclaims to stand for family, nation, faith, and freedom  doubled its support in a parliamentary election on Dec. 1 with 18.2%, up from 9% four years earlier.

On Saturday, thousands of demonstrators gathered in central Bucharest waved European Union and Romanian flags at a pro-EU rally to counter what the organizers described as a wave of sovereignism and ultranationalism that threatens our unity.

We are here to encourage each other because it is a very troubled period in Europe, the extremes are on the rise, especially the far right," Mihai Calin, an actor at the National Theatre Bucharest, told The Associated Press. The impairment of Europe is underway. ... People are in danger of discouragement, disappointment. So we need to gather together to reunite.

The BEC also approved the candidacy of pro-Western Elena Lasconi, leader of the Save Romania Union party, who was set to face Georgescu in the scheduled runoff last year.

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The first round of the presidential rerun is scheduled for May 4. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the ballots, a runoff will he held May 18. The deadline for presidential candidacy bids closes at midnight on Saturday.

Factoring in potential candidacy rejections and subsequent appeals, the final list of confirmed candidates will be known on March 19.
HONG KONG (AP)  Chinese food and beverage brands are gaining ground across Southeast Asia, offering alternatives to big name American chains and expanding Beijings commercial and cultural influence in neighboring economies.

The Chinese beverage giant Mixue Group has become the worlds largest F&B chain by number of outlets, overtaking Starbucks and McDonalds.

The company, whose brand name Mixue Bingcheng means Honey Snow Ice City, in Chinese, is capitalizing on the region-wide sweet tooth with affordable offerings of ice cream, coffee and bubble tea drinks.

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Even on social media like TikTok and others, there is a joke that any empty shophouse would soon turn into a Mixue store, Rahma Yuliana said, referring to a popular saying in Indonesia, where Mixue has more than 2,600 outlets.

The single mother, who runs an online business, takes her daughter for afterschool treats that won't drain her wallet, such as a cup of brown sugar milk tea that costs $1.10, about one-third cheaper than similar offerings by rival Taiwanese tea chain Chatime. An ice cream sells for as little as 50 cents, undercutting McDonalds.

As of September, Mixue Group had over 45,000 stores carrying its Mixue tea drinks, ice creams and Lucky Cup coffee products, more than the store numbers of Starbucks and McDonalds, industry analysts reported. About 40,000 of those are in China.

More broadly, by December, Chinese F&B brands had opened over 6,100 outlets in Southeast Asia, Singapore-headquartered research firm Momentum Works reported. India and Vietnam account for roughly two-thirds, while there are relatively more Chinese brands in Singapore and Malaysia, which have sizable Chinese-speaking populations.

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Nearly all of Mixue's stores are franchises that the company supplies with ingredients for drinks like Creamy Mango Boba, Mango Oats Jasmine Tea and Coconut Jelly Milk Tea.

Apart from Mixue, other market stars include hotpot giant Haidilao, Fish With You sauerkraut fish restaurants, and well-known beverage brands such as Luckin Coffee, Heytea and Chagee.

Mixue's shares have doubled from their IPO price since their March 3 trading debut in Hong Kong.

Momentum Works CEO Jianggan Li said Chinese businesses are actively seeking new growth in Southeast Asia after facing fierce competition in their home market.

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The push by food and drink retailers has raised awareness that China has more to offer than just cheap electronics.

The companies are well-equipped, using automation to enhance their efficiency, and adept at online marketing, Li said. Big Western brands sometimes take a long time to find local partners and develop long-term plans. The Chinese F&B companies are much more impatient," he said.

In Thailands capital Bangkok, Chinese entrepreneur Siya Han has invested over $1.37 million in 12 Mixue stores and about 10 other outlets selling spicy broth bowls, sauerkraut fish and fried chicken steaks in about six years. Outlets in shopping malls take time to recover costs due to huge rent deposits, she said, but her other outlets typically break even within six months to a year, excluding their lease guarantees.

If you open Chinese restaurants slowly, you can't survive, she said.

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In the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, Chinese sauerkraut fish chain Fish With You vice president Liu Liujun also spotted opportunity in Southeast Asias large ethnic Chinese population and growing economies.

The brands $235,000 investment in one of its Malaysian outlets paid off in just nine months, with lines out the door almost daily, said Liu, who oversees the company's overseas expansion across the region.

A customer, Victoria Kovalan said the new Chinese brands made it easier for her to try new cuisines. Its opened up our palates, she said, referring to the popularity of Sichuan hotpots, known for their spicy flavors.

Vietnamese student Nguyen Thu Hoai in Hanoi initially was skeptical about Mixue as a Chinese brand but has become a regular customer, she said, won over by its affordability and better-than-expected quality.

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The expansion of Chinese food and beverage brands is part of a broader trend where Chinese goods are no longer seen as merely cheap but as having real value, said Gordon Mathews, a professor of anthropology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Recalling the cultural influence from McDonalds global expansion, Mathews said he visited its first outlet in southern Chinas economic hub of Guangzhou in the 1990s, where a clerk told him, I want to go to America.

If Chinese food brands exploded worldwide, they might have that influence, though the impact remains to be seen, he said.

China does have an uphill struggle to obtain soft power, but its doing an excellent job with its products, he said.

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___

Thian reported from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Ji reported from Bangkok. Associated Press journalists Eileen Ng and Syawalludin Zain in Kuala Lumpur, Edna Tarigan and Andi Jatmiko in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Hau Dinh and Aniruddha Ghosal in Hanoi, Vietnam, also contributed to this report.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared South African ambassador to the U.S. Ebrahim Rasool persona non grata and accused the diplomat of being a race-baiting politician over his recent comments about President Trump.

South Africas Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country, Rubio said in a Friday post on the social platform X. Emrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS. We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.

In the same post, Rubio shared a link to an article by right-wing news outlet Breitbart detailing Rasools comments to the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) think-tank in Johannesburg, South Africa.

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Rasool, in his video address to the think-tank, accused Trump of leading a white supremacist movement at home and abroad.

So in terms of that, the supremacist assault on incumbency, we see it in the domestic politics of the USA, the MAGA movement, the Make America Great Again movement, as a response not simply to a supremacist instinct, but to very clear data that shows great demographic shifts in the USA in which the voting electorate in the USA is projected to become 48 percent white, Rasool said.

And so that needs to be factored in, so that we understand some of the things that we think are instinctive, nativist, racist things, I think that theres data that, for example, would support that, that would go to this wall being built, the deportation movement, the South Africa diplomat said.

The Hill has reached out to the South African embassy in Washington for comment.

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The State Department confirmed to The Hill on Saturday that Rasool is considered persona non grata and has to depart the U.S. by Friday, March 21.

Rasool was South Africas ambassador in Washington from 2010 to 2015. He returned to serve again earlier this year.

The rebuke from Rubio comes as the relationship between South Africa and the U.S. has worsened.

Trump signed an executive order in early February to pause aid to South Africa. He hammered the country for seizing ethnic minority Afrikaners agricultural property without compensation.

Trumps dissatisfaction with South Africa bubbled up as the African nation signed legislation in January, dubbed the Expropriation Act, allowing the government to take land without payback when it deems it just and equitable and in the public interest.

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At the time of signing the order, Trump accused the South African government of confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY.

South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa and other nations officials push back on Trump claims. Ramaphosa said the law is not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the constitution.

South Africas unjust land expropriation law, as well as its growing relationship with countries like Russia and Iran, has prompted a serious review of our South Africa policy, which is currently underway, the State Department spokesperson told The Hill in an emailed statement.

Days prior to Trump penning the order to suspend aid to South Africa, Rubio said he would skip the G20 summit in Johannesburg, alleging that South Africa was doing very bad things.

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Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote solidarity, equality, & sustainability. In other words: DEI and climate change, Rubio said at the time.

Trump said earlier this month that he is offering an expedited pathway to U.S. citizenship to South African farmers. The president said some of them are being treated terribly and, again, accused the government of confiscating their LAND and FARMS, and MUCH WORSE THAN THAT.

The State Department is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security and has begun implementing refugee resettlement for disfavored ethnic minority Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination, according to the spokesperson, adding that initial interviews are underway.

The relationship between South Africa and the U.S. has reached its lowest point, according to Patrick Gaspard, the ex-U.S. ambassador to South Africa. He is now the president of the liberal Center for American Progress think-tank.

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Theres too much at stake to not work towards the repair of this partnership, he wrote Friday on X.

Rubios pushback on Rasools speech has received praise from some in Congress, with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-Idaho) applauding the former Florida senator for calling out the South African ambassadors disgraceful, anti-American hate speech.

Suffice it to say that he is not cut out for diplomacy, Risch said Friday on X.

Updated at 9:12 a.m. EST

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that South Africas ambassador to the U.S. is a race-baiting politician who is no longer welcome in the country  the latest sign of tension between the Trump administration and the African nation.

Rubio declared that Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool is persona non grata in a social media post after the diplomat accused President Donald Trump of promoting global white supremacy.

South Africas Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country, Rubio said on X. Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS. We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.

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The rare move to declare the diplomat unwelcome comes amid deteriorating relations apparently driven, at least in part, by the billionaire Elon Musk, the close Trump adviser who is a native of South Africa.

The president signed an executive order last month to halt aid to South Africa because of what the administration called egregious actions taken by the country, referencing a land expropriation law that Trump claimed unfairly targets the white Afrikaner minority. Afrikaners own the majority of land in South Africa, 30 years after the end of apartheid.

Musk has also amplified allegations of anti-white racism in South Africa, claiming as recently as last week that Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa, because Im not black.

In return, Rasool has criticized Trump and his allies for promoting white supremacy not just at home but around the world, citing Musk and Vice President JD Vances support of U.K. reform politician Nigel Farage and the far-right Alternative for Germany party.

Former U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Patrick Gaspard, who now leads the Center for American Progress, was quick to comment on the rupture. The US / South Africa relationship has now reached its lowest point, he wrote on X. Theres too much at stake to not work towards the repair of this partnership.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday said that South Africas ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country.

Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates President Donald Trump, Rubio alleged in a post on X.

We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA, Rubio wrote. Declaring someone persona non grata (PNG) is a severe diplomatic rebuke and usually forces them to leave the host country.

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Rasool must leave the US by March 21, a State Department spokesperson told CNN Saturday.

South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa called the decision regrettable and expressed his commitment to building a mutually beneficial relationship.

The Presidency urges all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter, Ramaphosas office said in a statement.

Rubios post linked to an article from the right-wing news outlet Breitbart about Rasools comments to a think tank Friday about Trumps election and presidency.

The PNG declaration against Rasool is the latest chapter in the plummeting relationship between the US and South Africa. There had been tensions between the two countries under the Biden administration. However, since Trump began his second term the US has taken a series of punitive measures against South Africa, whose government has been met with ire not only from Trump, but also his ally tech billionaire Elon Musk, who was born and raised in the country.

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Both Trump and Musk have alleged that White farmers in the country are being discriminated against under land reform policies that South Africas government says are necessary to remedy the legacy of apartheid.

In the comments that seem to have triggered Rubios PNG declaration, Rasool was discussing the continuities from the Biden administration as well as the discontinuities.

What Donald Trump is launching is an assault on incumbency, those who are in power, by mobilizing a supremacism against the incumbency at home and  abroad as well, said Rasool, who was on his second tour as ambassador to the US. He presented his credentials in mid-January to then President Joe Biden and previously served in Washington, DC, under the Obama administration.

He said that the Make America Great Again movement was a response not simply to a supremacist instinct, but to shifts in US demographics in which the voting electorate in the USA is projected to become 48% white and that the possibility of a majority of minorities is looming on the horizon.

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So that needs to be factored in, so that we understand some of the things that we think are instinctive, nativist, racist things, I think that theres data that, for example, would support that, that would go to this wall being built, the deportation movement, etc. etc., he said as part of his nearly 20-minute-long remarks to the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA).

Rasool said its no accident that Musk has involved himself in far-right British politics and that Vice President JD Vance met with the leader of a far-right German political party before the elections there.

That then begins to say what was the role then of Afrikaners in that whole project, he continued. Very clearly its to project white victimhood as a dog whistle.

In January, South Africa enacted the Expropriation Act, seeking to undo the legacy of apartheid, which created huge disparities in land ownership among its majority Black and minority White population.

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Under apartheid, non-White South Africans were forcibly dispossessed from their lands for the benefit of Whites. Today, some three decades after racial segregation officially ended in the country, Black South Africans, who comprise over 80% of the population of 63 million, own only around 4% of private land.

The expropriation law empowers South Africas government to take land and redistribute it  with no obligation to pay compensation in some instances  if the seizure is found to be just and equitable and in the public interest.

Ramaphosa said the legislation would ensure public access to land in an equitable and just manner. But the White House disagrees and Trump and Musk believe the land reform policy discriminates against White South Africans.

The policy has prompted a strong reaction from the Trump administration.

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In early February, Rubio announced he would not attend the meeting of the G20 foreign ministers in Johannesburg, saying at the time that South Africa is doing very bad things.

Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote solidarity, equality, & sustainability. In other words: DEI and climate change, the top US diplomat alleged. My job is to advance Americas national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism.

Just days later, Trump suspended aid to South Africa, alleging discrimination against White farmers. In that same executive order, the president said the US would promote the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation. Earlier this month, Trump said in a post on social media that any Farmer (with family!) from South Africa, seeking to flee that country for reasons of safety, will be invited into the United States of America with a rapid pathway to Citizenship.

The State Department spokesperson told CNN Saturday that the agency is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security and has begun implementing refugee resettlement for Afrikaners, adding that initial interviews are underway.

CNNs Nimi Princewill and Lucas Lilieholm contributed to this report.

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Ukrainian defense forces intercepted 130 out of the 178 Russian attack drones launched at Ukraine during an overnight assault on March 14 that included attacks on energy infrastructure.

The attack involved two Iskander-M ballistic missiles launched from Kursk Oblast and 178 Shahed-type attack drones along with various decoy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), according to Ukraine's Air Force.

The wave of attacks began at 7:30 p.m. local time on March 14 and continued throughout the night. Russia launched the drones from multiple locations including Orel, Millerovo, Kursk, Bryansk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as Chauda in occupied Crimea.

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The Air Force reported that it shot down 130 Shahed-type strike drones and other UAVs over fourteen Ukrainian regions including Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Mykolaiv oblasts.

An additional 38 Russian decoy drones were reported "locationally lost" without causing any damage.

The attack caused damage in the Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kyiv regions. Officials have yet to release information about casualties or details of the damage entailed. Reports indicate that the Russian attack hit Ukrainian energy infrastructure in Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa Oblast.

Russia has been steadily expanding its air campaigns against Ukraine in recent months, with bombardments by flocks of Shahed drones a nightly occurrence.

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Ukraine has recently had some success in counterattacks. On the night of March 10, over 330 Ukrainian drones made it to Moscow. Subsequent strikes have hit Russia's fossil fuel infrastructure.

Read also: Moscow targeted by largest drone strike in war, over 330 UAVs downed across Russia, authorities claim

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UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said that G7 allies are unanimously calling for an unconditional ceasefire to stop the fighting in Ukraine.

Source: PA Media, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Lammy said that there is only one approach to achieving a lasting peace  "a ceasefire with no conditions".

"Ukraine has set their position out. It is now for Russia to accept it. I think that there is a coalition of the willing emerging to give Ukraine the security architecture and arrangements that they need, and to get into the detail of any monitoring of that ceasefire, going forward," Lammy said.

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He added that "on all of that, there was common ground, and the G7 family came together".

Background:

On Thursday 13 March, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin reacted cautiously to the US proposal for a ceasefire. While not outright rejecting it, he hinted that Moscow could impose its own conditions on any agreement.

US President Donald Trump said that Putin made a very promising statement, but it was "not complete". He also said that if Russia did not agree to a 30-day ceasefire, it would be a disappointing moment for the world.

On 14 March, the G7 countries declared their readiness to impose further sanctions on Russia and increase support for Ukraine if Russia refuses to accept the ceasefire proposal.

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Russian soldiers are amassing at the border to prepare to launch an attack on Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 15.

Zelensky said in a post on Telegram that Ukraine has observed areas along its eastern border where the Russian army is amassing force. "This speaks to a desire to deliver a strike to our Sumy Oblast," Zelensky wrote. "We understand this and will take countermeasures."

The Ukrainian president also wrote that he hopes foreign leaders would note "that in Moscow they are preparing to ignore diplomacy."

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U.S. diplomats were in Moscow this week to hash out a ceasefire deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who remains maximalist in his public demands for concessions from Ukraine. After talks in Saudi Arabia between the U.S. and Ukraine, Kyiv said it was ready to move forward with a ceasefire, provided Russia did the same.

Zelensky also wrote that "the situation on the Pokrovsk front has stabilized" after several months during which the city in Donetsk Oblast had been at the center of fighting and periodic threats of Russian encirclement.

More recently, Russia has made major advances in Kursk Oblast, a territory in Russia that Ukrainian forces took in August and which Zelensky's administration had hoped to use as leverage in negotiations.

Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief has refuted recent reports that Ukrainian troops were under threat of encirclement in Kursk Oblast as Russia pushed further into Ukrainian-held Russian territory.

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"Thanks to our Ukrainian forces, a significant quantity of Russian forces were pulled away from other fronts to Kursk Oblast," Zelensky wrote.

Read also: Russian troops bogged down near Pokrovsk, Ukrainian military claims

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Russia attacked the town of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast over a dozen times on March 15, killing one woman and injuring three people, including two children, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

Two girls, aged 11 and 3 years old, were injured in the attacks, Lysak said. The children are being treated at a medical facility in Dnipro.

A 70-year-old woman was killed, according to Ukraine's General Prosecutor's Office. Prosecutors have launched a war crimes investigation as a result of the civilian casualties.

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Another woman, aged 57, also suffered injuries, but is receiving outpatient care, Lysak said.

Russia attacked Nikopol and the surrounding communities with artillery and drones on March 15, according to Lysak. The attacks damaged a religious institution, five homes, two outbuildings, 15 solar panels, a car, and a power line.

Nikopol, located on the banks of the destroyed Kakhovka Reservoir, just across from Russian-occupied Enerhodar and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, is a regular target of Russian attacks.

Read also: UKs Starmer says troops on the ground and planes in the sky could secure Ukraine peace deal

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LONDON (Reuters) - The captain of a container ship that crashed into a U.S. tanker earlier this week off Britain's east coast appeared in an English court on Saturday charged with gross negligence manslaughter.

Russian national Vladimir Motin, 59, was captain of the Portuguese-flagged Solong that hit the Stena Immaculate tanker, carrying military jet fuel, on Monday morning.

Motin, who was charged on Friday evening, appeared at Hull Magistrates' Court on Saturday over the death of Filipino national and Solong crew member Mark Angelo Pernia, 38.

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Prosecutor Amelia Katz said the Solong was travelling at a speed of over 15 knots (27.8 kilometres per hour) when it hit the Stena Immaculate, which had been anchored in the same position from Sunday evening, "over 15 hours before the collision occurred".

She said Motin was the only person in charge of the Solong at the time of the collision, having taken charge about three hours before the incident.

"For a period of over 40 minutes before the collision, the Solong was on a direct route for impact with the Stena Immaculate, which was anchored and stationary," Katz said.

The prosecutor added: "There were no communication attempts from the Solong to warn of the impending collision and the Solong did not adjust its course or speed at any point."

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All 23 crew members of the Stena Immaculate and 13 of the 14 crew on the Solong were rescued. "Attempts were made by some of the other crew members on the Solong to locate Mr Pernia, but they were unable to," Katz said.

Motin did not make an application for bail and was remanded into custody.

The collision caused a huge explosion and spilled jet fuel into the sea. Initial concerns of an environmental disaster subsided as assessments showed the jet fuel had mostly burned off and there was no sign of other leaks from either ship.

(Reporting by Sam Tobin. Editing by Mark Potter)
The DeepState project and maps of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine indicate that Russian troops have taken over the town of Sudzha in Russias Kursk Oblast, which had been under Ukrainian control since August 2024.

Source: DeepState, General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote from DeepState: "The enemy occupied Sudzha, Rubanshchina and Novolyubovka".

Details: The General Staff's report as of 08:00 on 15 March included a map of the Kursk front, where the town of Sudzha was not marked as controlled by Ukraine.

Territories in blue are Russian territories controlled by Ukraine

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ScreenShot: DeepState map as of 15 March, 2025

Background:

On 12 March, Suspilne journalists reported that Russian troops had entered the town of Sudzha in Kursk Oblast, and that fighting was taking place there.

UP reported that the Russians first entered the outskirts of Sudzha on the evening of 8 March.

Read more: Six months in Kursk: the problems facing Ukraine's defence forces

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Russia has hit on an "offensive triangle" of tactics that are forcing Ukraine to lose ground.

The key to reviving Russian airpower has been a surprisingly low-tech weapon: glide bombs.

Glide bombs shatter the fortified positions Ukraine's soldiers need to stop Russian assault troops.

As the Ukraine war enters its fourth year, Russia seems to have found a winning combination to wear down Ukraine's army.

This "offensive triangle," as British military analysts term it, is a triple threat of infantry, drones and glide bombs that Ukraine can't stop. This also raises the question of whether NATO should fear this lethal trifecta.

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So far, these Russian tactics haven't produced any decisive battlefield breakthroughs, though they are producing small, steady  and costly  gains. What they are accomplishing is relentlessly wearing down Ukrainian troops and morale by placing them in an impossible position, made more difficult by the Trump administration's freezing of US arms shipments and intelligence. The strategy has three components.

"First, the AFRF [Russian armed forces] continue to pin down Ukrainian ground forces on the line of contact with infantry and mechanized forces," according to a study by the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank; Ukraine's frontlines stretch roughly 600 miles, favoring Russia's numerical superiority. "Second, they prevent maneuver and inflict attrition with first-person view drones (FPVs), Lancet drones and artillery firing both high-explosive shells and scatterable mines."

"Third, the AFRF has increased its use of UMPK glide bombs against Ukrainian forces who are holding defensive positions," RUSI said, referring to kits that add fins and navigation guidance to dumb bombs. This "creates a competing dilemma: should the AFU [Ukrainian armed forces] hold and invest in static defensive positions to reduce attrition from FPVs and drone-enabled artillery, or retain mobility to avoid destruction from glide bomb strikes, which have the explosive yield to demolish or bury even well-prepared fortifications?"

What's really new in this equation is the advent of the Russian air force as a significant factor in the war. Despite Moscow's initial hopes that airpower would be decisive in the ground campaign, the reality has been that Russian battlefield airpower has been largely neutralized by Ukrainian anti-aircraft missiles. Russian planes have tended to remain well behind the front line, safely out of range of Ukrainian air defenses.

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The key to reviving Russian airpower has been a surprisingly low-tech weapon. Glide bombs are old-fashioned iron bombs equipped with wings and GPS guidance via the UMPK kit, converting them into cheap smart bombs. The US has been using the Joint Direct Attack Munition, or JDAM, for 25 years, including extensive use in the Middle East.

Russia's Lancet drones, like this one that targeted a Ukrainian armored vehicle in August, are another component of its "offensive triangle" of tactics. Photo by Russian Defense Ministry / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images

Russia began dropping glide bombs in 2023, which soon surprised Western observers with their power. "While these were initially considered individually dangerous but not game-changing, or even a sign of Russian desperation, their mass-producibility rapidly proved a key advantage," RUSI noted. The Russian air force "has been able to launch glide bombs across the frontline with the crewed launch aircraft remaining at a safe distance of between 30 and 90 kilometers [19 to 56 miles], depending on the size and thus the glide efficiency of the bomb."

What Russian glide bombs lack in accuracy compared to their Western counterparts, they make up in explosive power. JDAMs range from 500 to 2,000 pounds: Russia's FAB-1500 weighs around 3,500 pounds, and the FAB-3000 more than 6,000 pounds.

These bombs pack so much explosive that even a near miss by FABs will destroy Ukrainian trenches and bunkers. "The rise in UMPK glide bomb production from 40,000 units in 2024 to 70,000 units anticipated in 2025, has significantly increased the number of Ukrainian troops killed during defensive operations," said RUSI. "This has had numerous knock-on effects for the different arms and services, as they have been pushed to completely avoid observation of their positions, to disperse or seek concealment underground, and to rely on uncrewed or autonomous systems to keep and kill the enemy at arm's length."

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What Russia is really doing is what it should have done since the war began in February 2022: using basic combined arms tactics such as synchronizing ground attacks and airpower, which has been standard since World War II. Despite Russia using expendable assault troops, drones and glide bombs for most of the war, Ukraine has been able to master the threat well enough to fight on, despite being outnumbered and outgunned. But now that Russia is using these three types of troops and weapons in a more synchronized fashion, Ukraine is having difficulty coping.

However, Russia's offensive triangle is no panacea for flaws in the Russian military, such as rigid command and control. Nor has it led to a catastrophic breakthrough for Russia, one of the world's top arms makers with a population nearly four times larger than Ukraine, which has relied on fortifications, drones and long-range weapons to exact a heavy toll on Russia's advancing troops.

Ukraine's "approach to defense in depth and to imposing attrition at longer range has made it very costly for Russian forces to make gains," RUSI said. "This has limited Russia's ability to build up tempo or to exploit breaches in defense lines. While Russia has found an effective formula for inflicting heavy casualties on Ukraine, it has not found a successful formula for breaching defenses without taking massive losses in equipment and personnel."

Does NATO need to worry about the offensive triangle? Western experts already argue that NATO should learn from Russia's air campaign, and amass a huge stockpile of cheap glide bombs.

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On the other hand, Russia enjoys some advantages over Ukraine that may not apply to a conflict in NATO. In particular, Russian planes can safely lob glide bombs from 60 miles behind the front line because Ukraine lacks a large air force and long-range air-to-air missiles. NATO air forces are much more powerful in air combat, suppressing enemy air defenses, and striking troops and supply lines.

Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Read the original article on Business Insider
LANGSTON  Calling the event a reflection of our collective journey and shared purpose, Langston University President Ruth Ray Jackson said her investiture held Friday afternoon was a powerful affirmation of legacy, resilience and our shared commitment to the schools future.

The investiture, a tradition for new college presidents, serves as a formal inauguration ceremony and often is held several months after a president takes office. OSU/A&M regents named Jackson as Langstons 17th president last April and she began her presidential tenure at Langston  Oklahomas only historically Black university and one of the states two land-grant higher-education institutions  last May 1.

The university has held events all week celebrating Jackson, highlighted by the investiture inside the I.W. Young Auditorium on Langstons campus in rural Logan County. The university unveiled a bust of Jackson following the ceremony on Langstons Centennial Plaza.

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Multiple elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice, attended the ceremony. Also among those listed as being in attendance were six members of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (Courtney Warmington, Dustin Hilliary, Ken Levit, Jack Sherry, Steven Taylor and Jeff Hickman) and five members of the OSU/A&M Regents (Rick Walker, Jennifer Callahan, Billy Taylor, Joe D. Hall and Chris Franklin), which govern Langston.

Also present were the states current and immediate past higher education chancellors, Sean Burrage and Allison Garrett, respectively.

University and college presidents from Oklahoma State University, Harris-Stowe State University in Missouri, Huston-Tillotson University in Texas, Virginia State University, Northern Oklahoma College, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and Connors State College were listed as delegates from their schools for the ceremony.

The history of Langston University is a story of resilience, Jackson said. Our founders  the determined citizens of Langston City  raised the funds to establish this university because they understood that education was the key to empowerment. They faced adversity, yet they persevered  for us. As we forge ahead, we must embody that same spirit. Every challenge is an opportunity. The road has never been easy  but it has always been worth it.

Ruth Ray Jackson entering an auditorium on Friday, March 14, 2025 for her investiture as president of Langston University.

A Louisiana native, Jackson attended another HBCU, Southern University, earning her bachelors and masters degrees there before earning her doctorate at Colorado State University. As she worked on her advanced degrees, she spent a decade in secondary education at two Louisiana high schools, teaching English and African American Studies and serving as an assistant principal and a head principal.

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She moved to the university level in 2002, becoming an assistant professor at Louisiana State Universitys Shreveport campus. Within a couple of years, she was the chair of that schools Department of Education.

Jackson began working at Langston in 2014 as the universitys dean and a professor in its School of Education and Behavioral Sciences. She later became Langstons vice president for academic affairs before being named as interim president after Kent Smith Jr. retired after the 2022-23 academic year.

Shes only the second female president in the history of Langston, which was founded in 1897, 10 years before Oklahoma became a state. JoAnn Haysbert was the first, serving in the role from 2005 to 2011. Jackson noted her investiture was being held during Womens History Month.

Jackson also mentioned others connected with Langston  Bessie Coleman, the first Black and Native American woman to earn a pilots license; civil rights icons Ada Sipuel Fisher and Clara Luper, whose activism transformed lives, Jackson said; and former Langston President Ernest Holloway, who retired in 2006.

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We stand on the shoulders of giants, and Langston University has always been, and will always be, a beacon of excellence and boundless potential, Jackson said.

Our students are our greatest treasure. Langston University, like all HBCUs, is more than an institution of learning  it is a sanctuary of belonging, a place where students are affirmed, empowered and equipped to lead. We instill in them the confidence to walk into any room knowing they belong, and the responsibility to hold the door open for those who follow.

Jackson celebrated Langstons recent designation in the Carnegie Classification, which is the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in higher education across the U.S. Langston is part of a new category called Research Colleges and Universities. Langston trails only the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University in federal grant generation.

But even with such recognition, she said, Langston has many challenges, such as maintaining federal funding for HBCUs and receiving the state and federal investment that land-grant universities rightfully deserve. Our mission remains unwavering: to provide access, opportunity and excellence for our students and communities.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Langston University holds investiture for President Ruth Ray Jackson
Following a terminal leukemia/lymphoma diagnosis in 2010, my physicians estimated that I would live no more than five to eight years. Today, I am seven years past that expiration date and going strong. I can thank the investments in research made by the National Institutes of Health and other non-profit organizations  notably, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society  which have allowed me to survive my leukemia.

The current administrations threat to dramatically reduce or delay funding for the National Institutes of Health for many of the most talented researchers and clinicians in the best academic institutions in the nation represents a crushing blow not only to the development of future cancer therapies, but to all of medical research. Without previous funding, I would not be alive today.

As a family physician, I opened my private practice in Sacramento in 1981, caring for patients from womb to tomb. My practice included obstetrics, pediatrics and adult care. This allowed me to experience the full spectrum of emotions that comes with medical work: the joy that comes with the arrival of a newborn, and the deep sadness of having to give a patient and their families the talk regarding serious or fatal medical conditions.

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Opinion

I self-diagnosed my own lymphoma. I was in shock and denial  as most people in my situation would be. From that day in 2010 until my treatment began in 2013, I continued my medical practice. When chemotherapy made it too risky for me to work in a medical office, I became the executive research director for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, blending my previous expertise into building a national database for blood cancer patients to study their outcomes.

Since my first treatment in 2013, I have survived ten relapses, surgeries, radiation therapy and a dozen medical treatments, including six experimental therapies by way of clinical trials. Each and every one of the medications I have been given  ranging from conventional chemotherapy to targeted immunotherapy to an allogeneic bone marrow transplant  have been funded (at some point in their development) by the National Institutes of Health. These medications may not be household names, and may not be marketed by direct-to-consumer advertising, but they are lifesaving.

My leukemia is not curable because the disease becomes resistant to the therapy given. It can be suppressed: Like playing whack-a-mole, it can be beaten down with the correct cadence of unique treatments by way of new drugs. When I required treatment in 2013, the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies were primarily conventional chemotherapy  a cocktail of drugs called Fludarabine, Cytoxan, Bendamustine and Rituximab, which required months of infusions. At that time, the targeted oral therapies and immunotherapies, which are available today, were only a glimmer in the eyes of doctors who treat the disease.

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Today, there are over a dozen FDA-approved therapies to treat my flavor of leukemia. Because I needed many of the drugs before they were approved, I opted to participate in clinical trials, where drugs are tested in the experimental phase prior to FDA approval.

I am alive today because the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. research community have been able to produce modes of treatment about as quickly as my lymphoma morphed. Five of the clinical trials I entered have become FDA-approved therapies, including two rocket science-like therapies referred to as CAR T-cell therapy (treatments that involved taking my white blood T-cells, re-engineering them with inactive HIV and re-introducing them into my system to act as virtual Pac-Men tracking down and destroying leukemia cells).

Research to develop CAR T-cell therapy began in the 1950s with the development of bone marrow transplant technology, taking a leap forward when genetic engineering helped to create the CAR T concept in the 1980s, with the first clinical trials in the 2010s.

I am in debt to non-profit foundations that supported me and funded the incredible research that created new therapies for my leukemia. Philanthropic research funding and academic labs are successful because the National Institutes of Health spent billions of dollars for years to make sure that the U.S. research infrastructure supports innovation and progress. This infrastructure includes laboratory buildings and equipment, clinical trial access and expertise and scientists and care teams.

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I have lived the last 15 years believing that each therapy I was given represented a bridge to the next treatment. The longer the bridge, the better the chance there would be a new therapy waiting in the wings. My survival is based on research. With limited funding for the National Institutes of Health, I fear that my life and the lives of others in similar situations will be left with no hope.

Medical research to treat life-threatening diseases has made incredible progress in the past few decades. A reduced investment today means reduced treatment options for far too many future cancer patients.

Dr. Larry Saltzman practiced as a family physician in Sacramento and served as the president and CEO of Insurance Benefit Spot Check, Inc, a company he founded to simplify the complexities of healthcare coverage. He joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as its executive research director to search for patterns of care that produce better outcomes with fewer side effects.
(FOX40.COM)  A Sacramento funeral home is being accused of losing the remains of an El Salvadoran man who lived and died in the United States.

According to a statement from the Marcereau Law Group, Francisco Quintanilla passed away in Sacramento on Nov. 7, 2024, after he fell ill.

Marcereau Law Group said that a lawsuit has been filed in the California State Court against the funeral home and its owner, Linda Rolon.

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A spokesperson from Marcereau Law Group said the funeral home is being accused of first shipping to the Quintanilla family the wrong body, losing the body for two weeks, and then shipping his remains to El Salvador in a horrifying state of decomposition.

Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District addresses incident at Crystal Middle School

According to the Marcereau Law Group statement, the lawsuit said, The family awaited news about Franciscos remains. Finally  two weeks later  La Paz found Francisco and shipped his remains to El Salvador.

When the casket arrived at the familys house, they were shocked and horrified by what they saw in the casket.

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Franciscos body was in a shocking state of decomposition. His skin had turned purple and was shriveled, his body was leaking fluids that soaked his clothing, and a horrible smell was emitting from the casket. The body had not been properly embalmed and had been left unrefrigerated for a prolonged period, said Marcereau Law Group in a statement.

Our family planned to have an open casket service and to honor Francisco and say goodbye in El Salvadoran tradition. What happened instead was shocking and heartbreaking, said Maria who is Franciscos widow and wife of 50-plus years. Our final memory of Francisco is one we wish we could forget.

Rob Marcereau who is the the familys attorney, said: Franciscos life was one of resilience and devotion. He deserved a dignified farewell, yet La Paz completely failed in their promise to treat him and his family with care and respect. This grieving family deserved better. They put their trust in La Paz and Ms. Rolon in their most vulnerable moment, and that trust was betrayed.

Quintanilla had a lifetime of hard work as an agricultural tradesman, beekeeper, and driver. He obtained his permanent residency in 2004 and he returned home to El Salvador frequently for two to three months at a time, said Marcereau Law Group.

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Quintanilla suffered a stroke in 2016 and with his health declining, his last visit to El Salvador was in 2018. Since then, his family has remained in contact through video conference calls, said a spokesperson from Marcereau Law Group.

He is survived by Maria, two of his daughters Ida and Dina, and a son Francisoco, Jr.

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(FOX40.COM)  The Sacramento Police Department is investigating reports of a stabbing in East Sacramento on Friday night.

According to SPD, the incident happened at 7:30 p.m., in the 8300 block of Folsom Boulevard. When officers arrived at the scene they found one man suffering from a stab wound.

South Lake Tahoe Police warn against drunk driving on St. Patricks Day celebrations

Authorities said the victim was taken to a local hospital and remains in stable condition.

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SPD said that after an investigation, they arrested a 34-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy for felony assault charges and both of them have been booked into jail and juvenile hall.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  The Savannah Police Department (SPD) is seeking the publics help in locating a missing man.

SPD shared via Facebook on Friday that Tyrone King, 43, was missing.

King is six feet, one inch tall and weighs around 300 pounds. He was last seen wearing a red t-shirt, khaki shorts and black sneakers.

Authorities advise the public not to approach or engage with King if you see him in public.

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Instead, if you see King or are familiar with his whereabouts, call 912-272-8811.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The Blood Bank of Hawaii is calling on the community to help save lives by donating blood, especially if they are O-positive or O-negative.

The non-profit shared that both locations have less than a days supply of O-positive and O-negative red blood cells as well as platelets.

Blood Bank of Hawaii looking for donations

BBH said they continue to import red cells and platelets from the mainland, but they arent always consistently available due to severe weather, low donor turnout or high hospital use nationwide.

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With the need for blood and blood products across the state on the rise, officials are urging the community to step up and help make a difference.

Young people are hustling. Theyre working multiple jobs, theyre busy, theyre on that grind culture. We want to invite them in, we want them to take over that next generation of blood donation so they can take care of the kupuna and their own generation.

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BBH said those who live or work in town can make an appointment to donate at the Young Street Donor Center. This center is the only location where you can give platelets.

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Donors are also welcome to head to the Waikele location.

To schedule an appointment, call (808) 848-4745 or visit BBHs website.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

The blood bank is also looking for full-time phlebotomist positions.

No experience is necessary, but applicants should have a high school diploma or GED, ability to work full-time, reliable transportation, ability to work flexible shifts and travel to neighbor islands.

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BAY VILLAGE, Ohio (WJW)  A local pastor is warning parishioners after investigators said a scammer impersonated him and tricked a victim out of $1,500.

The victim reported the scam to Westlake police Tuesday morning, stating he received an unexpected email claiming to be from Rev. Daniel Schlegel, the pastor of Saint Raphael Catholic Church in Bay Village.

The real-looking email indicated that the pastor was busy but wanted to surprise staff members of the church in the form of gift cards, Westlake police said in a media release.

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Otani Japanese Restaurant in Mayfield Heights to close

According to police, the victim agreed to help by purchasing gift cards and emailing back the serial numbers. The man realized it was a scam when the fake pastor requested more gift cards.

The victim lost more than $1,500, Westlake police said.

Beloved pilot, mentor, friend lost in helicopter crash

Saint Raphael Catholic Church issued a scam warning on its website on Wednesday, warning parishioners against suspicious emails.

Yesterday I was made aware of a scammer impersonating me through an email to one of our parishioners asking for $1,700 in Amazon gift cards. This is not the first time it has happened, Schlegel wrote in the alert. Please do not purchase any gift cards for the parish or for me without checking with the parish office to see whether the request was bogus or real.

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If an email looks suspicious, do not reply or click on any links, Schlegel reminded parishioners.

According to Westlake police, court orders were sent to Google to try to gather information on the fake email account.

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(NewsNation)  The price of gold is forecast to rise above $3,100 per troy ounce in the coming months, and scammers are capitalizing on the interest to con people out of their money.

Interest in gold has surged as the global economy is mired in uncertainty amid President Donald Trumps tariffs, which have sparked trade wars with other countries.

Gold scams are surging, too, with American seniors being scammed out of $126 million last year alone.

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Worst treatment of humanity: Police on man allegedly held captive for 20 years

Scammers target seniors, many of whom are too scared or embarrassed to come forward and report their losses.

Cumberland, Maine, police Chief Charles Rumsey recently arrested someone for their role in emptying residents bank accounts.

We had a Cumberland resident come here to the police department to report that she believed she had been scammed out of over $100,000, he said.

Rumsey said he believes a group of people was working together, making her think they were acting on her behalf.

In fact, they had maliciously taken over her computer, convinced her that they were computer engineers from Microsoft and that in order to keep her money safe, they needed to have her take her money out of her financial institution, converted to gold and then they sent a courier here in Cumberland to pick up this gold and take it to Washington, D.C., for safekeeping, he said.

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But the money was never taken to D.C., and the scammers made off with the gold.

That same scam is happening around the country. Pop-up ads scare people, mainly seniors, into calling the number on the ad for help. On the other line, scammers tell victims their money isnt safe, but they can help them.

Couriers are sent to pick up gold bars, ostensibly to take them to a safe bank, but instead, criminals make off with the gold.

In Denver, police arrested a courier when officers showed up to deliver gold instead of the victim. The same thing happened in Maine when the courier showed up, thinking they would get another $100,000 of gold off their victim.

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Couriers are often the low men in the scams organization. Currently, FBI agents are investigating two call centers in India, where they have traced some of these gold scams to.

The AARP and FBI, along with police, are also warning people not to fall victim to scams, trying to educate people and warning them not to click on links in pop-up ads or emails.

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(WSPA)  On March 15, 2008, a rare supercell brought thunderstorms and tornadoes to South Carolina and its neighbors. Seventeen years later, conditions are ripe for a similar event this weekend.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources climatology office said expected weekend storms late Saturday night and into Sunday present similar risks to the 2008 storms, including damaging winds, isolated tornadoes, flash floods and hail.

The Ides of March has historically been a rough day, not just for Julius Caesar. A once-per-decade extreme outbreak of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes is underway over the Deep South, centered over Alabama and Mississippi, said the climate office in a media release.

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The states storm prediction center has reported severe weather events to the states west of South Carolina. Parts of western North Carolina are under a high wind advisory, and thunderstorms over Tennessee and Georgia could cause damage as they move through the area.

Ahead of the expected storms, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for parts of the state.

SCDNR said those storms are expected to create squall lines which will move southeast, carrying at least one line of thunderstorms.

Current models show storms moving over the Upstate at around 2 a.m. Sunday, though the storm prediction center noted squall lines could move in quicker if conditions allow.

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Another uncertainty is the potential for a second line of thunderstorms to form behind the first, DNR said. The model output above shows it will start along I-77 on Sunday afternoon, but others show it farther to the west. The severe storm risk with this second line will be lower but not zero.

South Carolina Emergency Management is monitoring the storms, and any emergency alerts can be received by signing up for the states CodeRED system.

The National Weather Service and SCEMD will be providing updates throughout the weekend. 7NEWS will provide forecast updates and weather alerts as they are available.

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SOUTH CAROLINA (WSPA)  The South Carolina Department of Transportation is doing something they are calling a pothole blitz!

They are asking for residents to report where those potholes are at, so they can fix them.

SCDOT said they work on state owned roads and bridges year round but with the previous winter weather, they know there has been an increase in potholes.

We have about 41,000 lane miles of road in South Carolina, so its a fun fact I like to tell people is we are number four in the country for state maintained roads, Hannah Robinson, Media Relations Coordinator for SCDOT, said.

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While SCDOT crews work to tackle the potholes, they want residents to submit a maintenance work request so they can add it to the list. Their statewide effort to tackle potholes and make travel safer for everyone is being called a pothole blitz.

As paving season begins, the agency said they will be using more crews to get the potholes fixed in a timely manner. Most residents said they are happy to see work being done.

They [potholes] are, like, everywhere, Greenville resident, Reagan Bachman said. It is just bumpy.

Those who have moved to Greenville from out of state said they dont think the roads in South Carolina are that bad.

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For Greenville resident Ron Ferdinand, if he sees a pothole, it is usually filled pretty quickly.

Takes a couple of days you will see it and then they fill it, Ferdinand said. It is not something there year after year like youre back in New York and still see the same one you saw 15 years ago.

According to SCDOT, the fastest way to get potholes fixed is by reporting them. Leaders said maintenance crews will be working extended hours to fill and repair potholes seen and reported.

Expect to run into crews that are doing paving and asphalt and stuff like that, Robinson said. Just slow down, but again there will be flaggers out that will tell you to slow down or to stop. Just make sure you are paying attention to those guys and making sure our workers are safe when youre driving through our areas.

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You can a report a pothole through SCDOTs website.

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) brushed off questions surrounding his leadership and defended his decision to vote to advance the six-month GOP-crafted continuing resolution (CR) that will fund the government through the end of September, saying during an interview that he and his caucus are on the same page.

Schumer was asked on CNN by Jake Tapper if the long-time lawmaker was worried about his leadership position after getting fierce pushback from House Democrats and some senators in his conference about his decision to vote to move forward a funding bill that he said previously was bad.

I think I had the overwhelming support in my caucus, and so many of the members thanked me and said, You did what you thought was courageous, and we respect it. I think my caucus and I are in sync, and everyone knew what I was doing and respected it, Schumer said during his Friday appearance on CNN.

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Schumer told Senate Democrats during a lunch meeting Thursday and later in the day affirmed that he would vote to advance the GOP-led CR in order to avoid a shutdown. On Wednesday, he said the House bill did not have enough votes to pass.

I believe it is my job to make the best choice for the country, to minimize the harms to the American people. Therefore, I will vote to keep the government open and not shut it down, Schumer said Thursday on the Senate floor.

The New York senator emphasized, again, on Friday that the House funding resolution is a bad bill, but also argued that it would be far worse to give [President] Donald Trump the keys to the city and the country, if the CR fails.

We all know that [Elon] Musk and DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] and Trump want to decimate the federal government and letting them shut down the government, allowing them to shut down the government, they would have done it within two, three weeks, Schumer said on Friday before the final vote on the resolution.

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Schumer, along with nine other Democrats, voted with Republicans to help advance the CR to the final vote. The bill advanced with a 62-38 vote on Friday.

Shortly after, the Senate passed the House-led bill to avert a government shutdown with a 54-46 vote. Only two Democrats, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Angus King (Maine), an independent who caucuses with the party, voted for the measure. On the Republican side, only Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voted against the CR.

Only one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden (Maine), who represents a battleground district, voted for the CR in the lower chamber. Tapper asked Schumer what message he wants to give to those toss-up district House Democrats as well as senators in purple states that opted against backing the funding bill.

I respect what the House members did. Im glad all of them voted against it, but as I said, it is much different in the Senate, where if you would have voted against the bill, and the bill would have gone down, the whole government would have shut down from one end to the other, creating dramatic and huge hardship for tens of millions of Americans, Schumer said.

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Emotions were high as La Crosse-area residents and professionals shared the critical need for Medicaid services.

As Republicans seek to cut $880 billion in expenses from the federal budget, many fear for the unknown future of Medicaid, although Republicans deny Medicaid being part of their proposal.

On Friday afternoon, many La Crosse-area residents and legislators attended a listening session at Aptiv, a disability services and support organization in La Crosse, to discuss their many concerns.

Im just very scared for our future, said Danielle Lass, a teenager with Williams Syndrome, who was worried about how special education programming might be affected by potential cuts to Medicaid.

The listening session offered an opportunity for concerned residents and Medicaid recipients to share their stories and their critical need for services and support with their legislators.

I want to make sure that people share their stories and how Medicaid cuts could potentially impact you, whether its your organization, whether its you personally  the point is to let them hear, said Cindy Taerud, director of marketing and communications at Aptiv. Its really important that were sharing these stories.

While many representatives were invited to join this listening session, state Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska), state Rep. Tara Johnson (D-Shelby), and Gregg Wavranek, who represented U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, were in attendance.

U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan had originally confirmed their attendance, but later backed out.

Taerud said that a virtual option was offered to Van Orden, but his team declined.

George Soros-funded political activists have repeatedly disrupted the Congressmans and his staffs meetings, said a Rep. Van Orden spokesperson. What should have been a productive discussion between Congressman Van Orden and Aptiv on key legislative issues was going to become a politically charged event that would have been neither informative nor constructive. Congressman Van Orden remains committed to meeting with constituents, but that becomes difficult when bad-faith actors pose safety risks to others.

Everyone in attendance said that they were not a paid protestor.

Other legislators believed it was wrong that both parties were not represented at the listening session.

It is wrong that there are only Democrats sitting in the front of this room, said Johnson. Republicans hold the majority, not only in the state Legislature but in the federal legislature. That accountability needs to be held.

Pfaff also said it was unfortunate that Van Orden was not in attendance, and that he did not understand why a representative for Van Orden was not present.

Although disappointed at the congressman not attending, participants made their stories heard, urging legislators to protect and defend Medicaid funding.

Karen Pellowski spoke about her son, Jason, who has cerebral palsy and is severely disabled and nonverbal, and the major loss that he would experience if these services were cut.

Im very concerned that Washington and the federal government are seriously considering major cuts to Medicare and Medicaid that fund a major portion of active workshops, day services, and adult family homes. Active workshops are places of employment where the disabled can feel worthwhile and gain a sense of accomplishment, said Pellowski. This is a much-needed service, and it is so important. It would be just a travesty, and I just ask, for all of them, that these services be continued.

Pellowski fears what will happen to her son and others in similar situations if funding is cut.

If the funding is cut, what will happen to Jason and all the individuals like him? Their lives will be disrupted, and everything they value and treasure will be taken from them, said Pellowski.

Several attendees also emphasized the important work of applied behavior analysis (ABA), which is a therapy based on learning and behavior that is often used to help individuals with autism and other developmental disorders.

ABA therapy has really proven, time and time again, to be one of the most effective treatments for young children with autism and other developmental disorders, said Stephany Stordahl, a board-certified behavior analyst. Its not just a treatment, its a lifeline.  Medicaid funding makes these critical services more accessible.

She said early diagnosis is best, as they can teach them the necessary skills before they reach school age.

However, without Medicaid funding to support ABA therapy, she believes that there will be severe negative impacts on families and medical providers alike, including longer wait times and a decrease in the quality of service, making it more difficult for children with developmental disorders to thrive in learning environments.

Access to ABA services is not a luxury, its a necessity for a lot of these children, and the out-of-pocket costs for these services could be up to $200,000 a year, in some cases, said Stordahl.

Pfaff said that the funding for Medicaid is still not enough.

I have strongly supported expanding Medicaid. I have been throughout this community saying, if Wisconsin would only step forward and join 39 other states in this nation, we can get more than a billion dollars that were leaving on the table right now, said Pfaff. Right now, weve got to protect what weve got. That is what is so ironic. We should be having a conversation about how we can expand Medicaid.

As concerns regarding the future of Medicaid continue to loom, Baldwin is set to host a roundtable on Monday at Aptiv to hear constituents concerns about what federal cuts could mean for health care.
Democrats on Capitol Hill are waging an internal war against one of their own after the GOP successfully muscled through the Senate a partisan spending bill that drew the votes of Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), eight other Democrats and an independent.

The clash is pitting most of the party  including virtually every House Democrat  against Schumer, who infuriated members of his party on and off of Capitol Hill by saying Thursday night he would back the measure.

The differences over strategy badly split House and Senate Democrats.

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House Democrats engaged in an active pressure campaign to convince Senate Democrats to vote against the bill, before and after Schumers announcement. A number of prospective Democratic presidential candidates, including Govs. Gavin Newsom of California and JB Pritzker of Illinois, also urged Democrats to oppose the bill.

The fissure shattered the message of unity Democrats were hoping to convey coming out of their annual strategy retreat this week.

It also eroded confidence within the party that Schumer will hold the line to block the Republicans agenda in the legislative fights to come  especially after a dozen House Democrats in tough districts voted against the measure Tuesday.

[This] is a decision about trust and cooperation, because there will be a day where the Senate will need the House to move on something. And if there is an erosion of trust, and a breach of trust, such as what is being considered right now, it will make cooperation difficult, said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who some see as a future primary opponent against Schumer.

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We cannot afford to be in an every-person-for-themselves kind of moment. We need to work together and as a team in order to usher our country through this very dark time.

Even House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D), a fellow New Yorker, declined to say he has confidence in Schumers ability to lead the party heading into the coming fights against the ambitious agenda of President Trump, dealing a blow to him in the process.

Next question, Jeffries said Friday, a couple hours before a key Senate procedural vote on the measure, when asked about his confidence in Schumer.

One Senate Democrat likened Schumer to Tom Hagen, Robert Duvalls character in The Godfather, who Michael Corleone excised from his position in the family business because he was not considered a wartime consigliere.

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Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.), the chair of the House Democratic Caucus, added that Schumers surprise decision to pull punches in the spending fight will force House Democrats to recalibrate their strategy in the future.

All of these experiences help shape our tactics, our responses. And those of us who lived through the D.C. crime bill and those efforts, its not lost on us, Aguilar said. And now the new members who came into Congress are having their own experiences working with the Senate shaped in real time.

The dispute was not over the substance of the bill, which all Democrats opposed on its merits, but rather over how party leaders should have best played their cards in the face of a fast-approaching deadline to fund the federal government.

A failure of Congress to act would have led to large parts of the government closing their doors at the close of the day Friday.

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The Democratic critics say the threat the bill poses is existential, granting Trump and Elon Musk new powers to dismantle the federal government and the services it provides. Schumer disagreed, arguing that the greater threat was a shutdown.

The move put him in the center of the storm.

The Senate Democratic leader lit a fuse Thursday evening when he announced that he would not support a filibuster  the most powerful tool at the disposal of the minority Democrats  to block the GOP bill, despite his opposition to its content.

A government shutdown, Schumer argued, would be worse than having the bill become law as it would have given Trump, Musk and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought control over which workers should be deemed essential and nonessential. There also wouldnt be a clear idea on how the government could be reopened.

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As bad as the CR is, allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option. A shutdown would allow DOGE to shift into overdrive, Schumer said. It would give Donald Trump and DOGE the keys to the city, state and country.

Schumer, who has led the conference since 2017, has rarely found himself in such a thorny situation, which was only exacerbated Friday morning by Jeffriess lack of backup.

Others who sided against the bill, however, were more charitable of the unenviable spot Schumer found himself in.

Its a s sandwich, Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) said of the CR, adding that he has confidence in Schumer moving forward as leader. Everyone had to make hard decisions.  Really hard decisions. Theyre making the best decision they can for the best of the country. I respect that.

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Fueling the Democratic criticisms, Trump had applauded Schumer Friday morning for helping to get the bill over the finish line. Anything Trump supports, the critics said, is probably a bad idea.

When Donald Trump wakes up in the morning and says, Youre doing the right things, Senate Democrats, we dont feel that is the right place to be, Aguilar said.

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A researcher has made a puzzling discovery while analyzing observations taken by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.

While analyzing images for the telescope's Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES), Kansas State University associate professor of computer science Lior Shamir found that out of the 263 galaxies examined, two thirds of them rotated clockwise, while only a third rotated counterclockwise, as detailed in a paper published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

This challenges the assumption that any given universe would have half of them spinning one way, with the rest spinning counter to that, according to a press release about the discovery.

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"It is still not clear what causes this to happen, but there are two primary possible explanations," said Shamir in a statement. "One explanation is that the universe was born rotating. That explanation agrees with theories such as black hole cosmology, which postulates that the entire universe is the interior of a black hole."

The findings add credence to an existing, Russian doll-like theory called "Schwarzschild cosmology," which suggests that our galaxy is trapped within a black hole, which in turn is located inside another universe.

As Space.com reports, this would imply that other observed black holes could be wormholes, otherwise known as Einstein-Rosen bridges, to other universes, which are unobservable to us due to the black holes trapping light within them.

"I think that the simplest explanation of the rotating universe is the universe was born in a rotating black hole," University of New Haven theoretical physicist Nikodem Poplawski, who champions the theory that we're surrounded by doorways to other universes and wasn't involved in the research, told Space.com. "A preferred axis in our universe, inherited by the axis of rotation of its parent black hole, might have influenced the rotation dynamics of galaxies, creating the observed clockwise-counterclockwise asymmetry."

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"The discovery by the JWST that galaxies rotate in a preferred direction would support the theory of black holes creating new universes, and I would be extremely excited if these findings are confirmed," he added.

But Shamir's findings still leave the possibility that the Milky Way's own rotation could have influenced the galaxies' unusual distribution of spin rotation.

Since the Earth rotates around the center of the Milky Way, researchers expect light from galaxies rotating in the opposite direction to be brighter, causing the discrepancy in the JADES observations, Shamir suggests.

In other words, the velocity at which the Milky Way rotates may be influencing our celestial measurements, which had previously been considered negligible.

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"If that is indeed the case, we will need to re-calibrate our distance measurements for the deep universe," he said in the statement. "The re-calibration of distance measurements can also explain several other unsolved questions in cosmology such as the differences in the expansion rates of the universe and the large galaxies that according to the existing distance measurements are expected to be older than the universe itself.

More on black holes: Scientists Discover Black Hole So Gigantic That You Will Quiver in Existential Terror
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Friends, family, staff, community members, and classmates gathered Friday to mourn the loss of 17-year-old Anthony Robinson, a student at Scotlandville Magnet High School.

Those who attended the memorial described Robinson as one of a kindpositive, inspiring, intelligent, and a safe space for many.

I truly want to thank his family for coming out and raising him the way he was raised, said Scotlandville student Taylah Bickham. He was an amazing young man.

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Anthony, for a lot of people here, he was a symbol of peace for everybody, said Raymond Russell, also a Scotlandville student.

A close friend shared that Robinson was known for his problem-solving abilities and his willingness to help anyone who asked for advice. They added that Robinson had aspirations of becoming a therapist.

He just really had that character about him like no matter what you were going through, no matter what kind of problem you had whether it was school, work, situation, relationship, whatever you had. He always had a solution for you, no matter what it was, said his friend and classmate Marvell Chapman. He wanted to grow up to be a therapist. I just know he wouldve helped so many people in his career path.

Robinson was shot on Monday after he got off the school bus. BRPD believes the shooting may have stemmed from a prior argument between Robinson and the 16-year-old suspect. Robinsons uncle hopes this tragedy serves as a reminder that gun violence is never the solution.

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District 2 council member Anthony Kenney emphasized that message during the memorial, speaking to the students and calling for change to create a better future.

Young people, we just finished celebrating black history, said Kenney. If we talk about what happened in the past, if you are not stepping up to the plate and hold each other together accountable, for each others actions, we will not have any black history to create. We have to be the ones that stand in the gap to make sure nobody else mother has to bury their child.

To support the family, donations can be made through their GoFundMe page.

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President Donald Trump delivered what sounded like one of his typical meandering, grievance-laden campaign speeches on Friday, but it was where he did it  inside the U.S. Department of Justice  that mattered.

The appearance marked Trumps clearest exertion yet of personal control over the countrys federal law enforcement apparatus, which is normally run by appointees who keep at least an arms length from the president to avoid the appearance that politics are governing prosecutorial decisions. Trump, instead, embraced the notion of the agency as his own personal tool of vengeance.

As the chief law enforcement officer in our country, I will insist upon and demand full and complete accountability for the wrongs and abuses that have occurred, Trump told the audience, with Attorney General Pam Bondi (who is technically the countrys chief law enforcement officer) and FBI Director Kash Patel in the audience.

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One of Trump's favorite campaign songs, YMCA, played after he wrapped up his nearly hourlong address inside the department's ceremonial Great Hall.

Heres a look at what Trump said, what the reality is and the significance of his words.

Enemies

The same scum you have been dealing with for years. Guys like Andrew Weissmann, deranged Jack Smith. Theres a guy named Norm Eisen, I dont even know what he looks like. His name is Norm Eisen of CREW; hes been after me for nine years.

Trump named lawyers and a legal nonprofit that he has tangled with over the years, which could serve as a roadmap for people he would like prosecuted by the officials in the room with him.

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Trump named lawyer Eisen, but misidentified him as running the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which unsuccessfully sued to block Trump from running for reelection due to his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Eisen was with the organization during part of Trumps first term but has since left.

Trump rained vitriol on CREW as well as Eisen, who remains staunchly opposed to Trump and co-founded an online publication, The Contrarian, to take on the new administration. Still, Trump claimed Eisen has been violent, which is laughable. Hes a lawyer whos never used physical force toward Trump.

Weissmann was a prominent prosecutor in the investigation into the Trump campaigns dealings with Russia during Trumps first term. One of the people convicted in that probe, Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn, watched the speech and was warmly introduced by Trump himself.

Trump also name-checked Smith, who was the special prosecutor who filed charges against Trump for his attempt to overturn the 2020 election and for hoarding classified documents at his Florida resort.

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Notably, the president didnt name a single possible crime these lawyers or CREW committed other than opposing him.

Media

I believe that CNN and MSDNC, who literally write 97.6% bad about me, are political arms of the Democrat Party. And in my opinion, they are really corrupt and they are illegal. What they do is illegal.

This was a remarkable moment  the president of the United States telling his Department of Justice that he believes the media are illegal because they write bad things about him.

Needless to say, CNN and MSNBC (which Trump tweaked by changing its initials) are not actually part of the Democratic Party. No matter if you think their coverage leans in that direction, theres no actual, legal connection.

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Even if there was, the First Amendment allows political groups to criticize a rival politician. It certainly allows the media to do so, regardless of any perceived ideological bias.

2020 election

"What a difference a rigged and crooked election had on our country, when you think about it. And the people who did this to us should go to jail. They should go to jail.

This is one of Trump's favorite subjects  how he didn't really lose the 2020 election. He did, though.

Trump has claimed falsely that widespread fraud cost him the 2020 election, but the evidence says otherwise. Trump lost dozens of court challenges, including some before judges he appointed, his own attorney general at the time said there was no evidence of fraud on a scale that could have tipped the election, and reviews, recounts and audits in the battleground states where Trump contested his loss all affirmed Bidens win.

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It's unclear who the people who did this are in Trump's threat, but when a president says someone should go to jail while addressing the Department of Justice  especially about something that never happened  that's significant.

The FBI

I pardoned hundreds of political prisoners who had been grossly mistreated. We removed the senior FBI officials who misdirected resources to send SWAT teams after grandmothers and J6 hostages. And it was a great honor for me, a great honor to fire James Comey.

Trump claimed he'd end what he called weaponization of the Department of Justice, but then quickly boasted of pardoning those who attacked the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn his election loss on Jan. 6.

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Trump also boasted of firing Comey, who was the FBI director in his first term. It was one of Trump's most controversial acts then, but seems almost quaint now. The man whom Trump nominated to replace Comey, Christopher Wray, stepped aside in December after years of being targeted by Trump, who has now replaced him with Patel, a loyalist who never worked in the bureau.

The president boasting of firing top FBI officials is a clear signal to those inside the Department of Justice.

Judges

They wanted to scare the hell out of the judges. And they do it. How do you stop it? ... What do you do to get rid of it? You convict Trump.

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Trump has personally singled out judges who ruled against him for attack since he first ran for president in 2016. But, remarkably, Trump implied that the adverse legal decisions against him have been because his opponents are threatening judges.

In reality, the judge who presided over Trumps criminal in New York, Juan Merchan, received threats after Trump repeatedly attacked him and his family. Judicial organizations have reported a sharp rise in threats as Trump increasingly complained the legal system was rigged against him as he fought four separate prosecutions during his campaign.

Trump did accurately note negative coverage that conservative justices on the nations highest court have received over some of their rulings and conduct. He has reason to want those justices to be sympathetic to him because several of his administrations initiatives are tangled up in litigation headed straight to the Supreme Court.

___

This story has been corrected with the spelling of Andrew Weissmann's last name and to reflect he was a prominent prosecutor in the Russia investigation but not the lead one.
Sean Diddy Combs pleaded not guilty Friday to new allegations that he forced employees to work long hours with little sleep and wielded threats to get them to comply with his demands.

The new allegations were detailed in a superseding indictment unveiled March 6.

Combs, who appeared in a downtown Manhattan courtroom with newly gray hair and a gray beard, hugged his lawyers at the start of the hearing. He sat and listened as attorneys on both sides of the case discussed various procedural matters with Judge Arun Subramanian.

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The embattled hip-hop mogul already faces a trial on the federal charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution  all part of an alleged sex trafficking scheme that prosecutors say spanned decades.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges in the case and vehemently denied allegations of sexual assault and other misconduct detailed in dozens of civil lawsuits filed by women and men.

Mr. Combs has said it before and will say it again: he vehemently denies the accusations made by federal prosecutors, Combs lawyer Marc Agnifilo said in a statement ahead of Fridays hearing. He looks forward to his day in court when it will become clear that he has never forced anyone to engage in sexual acts against their will.

The judge said jury selection will begin May 5, with the trial tentatively slated to start May 12.

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The superseding indictment contains no new charges. But it describes Combs attempts to keep an extreme level of control over his employees, whom he forced to work long hours with little sleep, prosecutors say.

Combs made these demands through the use of, among other things, physical force, psychological harm, financial harm, and reputational harm, and/or threats of the same, according to the indictment.

In one case, Combs forced an employee to engage in sex acts with him, the indictment states.

The indictment accuses Combs of engaging in acts of violence when employees or witnesses threatened his authority or reputation, including arson, kidnapping, throwing objects at people and  on one occasion  dangling someone over an apartment balcony.

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In his pre-hearing statement, Agnifilo said many of Combs former employees stand by his side, prepared to attest to the dedication, hard work and inspiration they experienced while helping build groundbreaking, award-winning businesses.

Fridays hearing partly concerned footage, originally obtained and aired by CNN, showing Combs beating an ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, at a hotel in 2016.

Combs lawyers have alleged that the video aired by CNN was substantially altered. CNN has forcefully denied that claim, with a spokesperson saying in a statement: CNN never altered the video and did not destroy the original copy of the footage, which was retained by the source.

Subramanian, the judge, told lawyers Friday to reach a compromise on the role the video might play during the trial. If they cant compromise, he added, they will need to file formal motions.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Officials are asking for the publics help finding a missing man last seen in Wyoming, Minnesota.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension recently released a missing person alert for 39-year-old Jeffery Layeux, who was last seen Thursday morning walking south on Goodview Avenue just north of 250th Street in Wyoming.

He was wearing a camouflage jacket, jeans and an orange hat at the time.

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

Layeux is described 510 and 201 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

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The BCA and the Wyoming Police Department are asking anyone with information on Layeuxs whereabouts to call (651) 257-4100.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.
A Pierce County man is accused of driving over his 41-year-old neighbor and killing him during an argument Wednesday night.

Prosecutors charged Keaton Scott Ross, 27, with two counts of second-degree murder, court records show. Documents show the victim brandished a pocketknife during the argument, which led to Ross allegedly hitting him with a pickup.

A plea of not guilty was entered on Ross behalf during his arraignment Friday afternoon. Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille set his bail at $250,000.

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Prior to McInvaille decision, Ross appeared visibly upset when deputy prosecuting Dalton Smith argued for bail to be set at $1 million. Smith said the incident was an egregious attack.

This defendant ran into him three separate times with his vehicle. Even after knowing that he ran over him the second time, the defendant again hit the victim with his truck and hit him against a fence, Smith said.

Ross attorney, Matthew McGowan, said the defendant does not have any criminal history in Washington. He also said the events that transpired Wednesday were not typical for Ross.

McInvaille agreed with prosecutors that Ross alleged response to the pocketknife being brandished was severe.

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I find that it poses a great danger to anyone if this is how Mr. Ross reacts to things, she said.

The victims identity has not yet been released, pending confirmation from the Pierce County Medical Examiners Office.

Keaton Scott Ross, 27, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder for the death of a 41-year-old man. Photographed on Friday, March 14, 2025, in Tacoma. Ross is accused of running the man over with his truck three times.

Charging details

Deputies were dispatched at about 10 p.m. to the 300 block of 384th Street South for a report of a dispute between two neighbors. Dispatch allegedly showed that during the 911 call, a man was heard saying, You want to destroy my [explicit?] before the line disconnected, according to charging documents.

Ross spoke to a deputy who said his neighbor destroyed two of his security cameras, prosecutors wrote. Ross said he saw through a video feed that the victim was hitting his security camera with a pole and went to confront him in his Ford F150.

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During the confrontation, Ross told deputies the victim pulled out a knife and raised it above his head. Ross believed that the victim would have hurt him or damaged his truck, prosecutors wrote.

In response, Ross allegedly said he struck the victim, which made him fall. The victim got back up and Ross said he struck him again with the truck. After the victim got back up again, Ross said he struck him a third and final time. He reportedly told officers that he backed up to his home and called 911.

The man was found lying next to a white GMC Sierra and was declared dead at the scene, prosecutors wrote. A black folding knife that was partially open was found along a driveway, documents show. Ross was detained at his home.

In an interview, Ross told detectives that when he struck the victim, he believed it was his only means of defense and he feared for his life, documents show.

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Ross said when he went to confront the victim over the security cameras, his parents told him to not be physical, prosecutors wrote. He told detectives that after the incident, his dad replied that it was stupid and Ross should have ran away when the confrontation became physical.

Ross told detectives he did not know the victim well and met him at a gas station one and a half years ago, prosecutors wrote. Ross introduced the victim to a neighbor who let him park his trailer on their property. Ross said he had previous altercations with the victim, including one where the man was armed with two knives and trying to fight him.

When a detective told Ross that he could have gotten away from the victim, he allegedly acknowledged that and said, I could run away from the attacker, yes. He also said he could have done something a lot different prior to confronting the victim and just called 911 over the broken cameras, documents show.

A death investigator noted the victim had several broken bones in his body and internal trauma, prosecutors wrote.

A detective said there was a distance of 525 feet between the area where the victim was killed and the home. Prosecutors wrote the detective noted that was significant because it further demonstrated the amount of distance Keaton could have quickly put between himself and the victim.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) will travel to Israel on Sunday for his second visit to the Jewish state, the Pennsylvania Democrat told Jewish Insider on Friday.



Fetterman told JI of his plans in the Capitol early Friday evening while waiting to finish votes on funding legislation to prevent a government shutdown. The trip will mark Fettermans third international trip since being elected to the Senate in 2022. He did not elaborate on his schedule while in Israel.



The Senate will be out of session all of next week.



Fetterman visited the Jewish state for the first time last June, during which he had meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, former Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Labor Party leader Yair Golan and Defense Minister Israel Katz, who was then serving as the countrys foreign minister. He also met with then-U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew and families of hostages.



Fetterman opted against visiting the sites of Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, massacres during his first trip, saying at the time that he did not want to make anyone relive their trauma. He instead visited with students and faculty at Hebrew University and took a tour of Yad Vashem, the nations Holocaust memorial and museum.



Fetterman has also only been on one other congressional delegation out of the United States. His first trip after being elected was a brief visit to Turks and Caicos last May as part of a bipartisan delegation that facilitated the release of five detained Americans.



Fetterman, who suffered a stroke during his Senate campaign, has spent most of his first term thus far between Washington and Pennsylvania.




The acclaimed Italian film "There's Still Tomorrow" premiered in China recently, with its creators attending screenings in Beijing and Shanghai.

A still from "There's Still Tomorrow." [Photo courtesy of China Film Group]

The 2023 Italian period comedy-drama film, co-written and directed by Paola Cortellesi in her directorial debut, is set in post-war 1940s Rome. It follows Delia, a working-class wife and mother who challenges traditional family norms and aspires to a better future for herself and her daughter after receiving a mysterious letter.

Cortellesi, along with collaborating screenwriters Giulia Calenda and Furio Andreotti, attended the premiere and special screening events in Shanghai and Beijing from March 8-9, coinciding with International Women's Day celebrations.

"Reflecting on the past is to look forward to the future," Cortellesi said at the Beijing event. She revealed that she drew inspiration from her grandmother's story and the lives of countless women from that era in Italy. The June 2, 1946 referendum also played a significant role, marking the first time Italian women voted on whether Italy should be a monarchy or a republic, and elected representatives to the Constituent Assembly, a body tasked with drafting Italy's post-war constitution. "My grandmother lived in a time when women's rights were far inferior to men's," she said. "Their stories, struggles and fights should be told."

The director also dedicated the film to her daughter and daughters of her generation. "They should bear witness to the rights women hold today because they must understand that these rights did not naturally exist nor will they last forever," she emphasized. "Without this awareness, they won't be able to defend the rights they have now or fight for more in the future."

Creators of "There's Still Tomorrow" pose for a photo with the audience in Beijing, March 9, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Hero Films]

Calenda told China.org.cn that the film reflects the Italian tradition of finding humor in tragedy. "We believe that the heavier and more serious the theme, the more effectively it can be conveyed through comedy," she said. "This film aims to give a voice to women who have never had one  women who have always worked, raised children, cared for the elderly, and managed households, yet received no recognition."

"Previous great Italian directors, when depicting the most severe, tragic and ugly phenomena, always approached them with absurdity and satirical humor. The power that emerged from this was often unexpected. In our creative process, we consciously  or unconsciously  drew inspiration from the post-war neorealist style," added Andreotti.

Shot in black-and-white, "There's Still Tomorrow" pays homage to the neorealist style of the 1940s and 1950s. The creators chose this format to reflect the essence of the era. They conducted extensive research, hired a historian, studied films and documents, and even examined the dialect spoken in Rome during that era.

Director Cortellesi emphasized that the film's ending goes beyond a love story, conveying a deeper message. "Compared with the protagonist being saved by a man, I would rather see her rebirth through self-awakening," she said. "That's more important than love."

A poster for "There's Still Tomorrow." [Photo courtesy of China Film Group]

"There's Still Tomorrow" has earned over $50 million worldwide, becoming Italy's most successful film of 2023 and the ninth highest-grossing film in Italian history. It won six David di Donatello Awards, Italy's top film honors, in 2024, as well as other global accolades. These included the People's Choice Award Gala-Best Film at China's Pingyao International Film Festival. On China's major review site, Douban, the film holds a high score of 9.4/10 based on more than 170,000 user reviews.

At the Beijing premiere, Liang Hong, a scholar, writer and professor in the School of Liberal Arts at Renmin University of China, described the film as "a profoundly impactful women's film with a touch of dark humor." She noted: "It uses lightness to convey weight and laughter to express tears. The film's powerful conclusion leaves a lasting impact as if the director is speaking directly to the audience, encouraging each of us to take action."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) announced Friday afternoon that the Senate would begin voting immediately on a procedural motion to end debate on a House-passed bill to fund the government through Sept. 30.

After the Senate invokes cloture to end debate on the measure, senators will vote on four amendments sponsored by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.).

Van Hollens amendment would eliminate the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

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Duckworths amendment would reinstate veterans who were fired from their federal jobs by the Trump administration.

Pauls amendment would codify DOGEs cuts to foreign aid, which were approved by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The three Democratic amendments will need 60 votes each to be adopted. The Paul amendment would need a simple majority to be adopted.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Hello its the weekend. This is The Weekender 

Much to the bases chagrin, a handful of Senate Democrats voted to advance the House Republican continuing resolution to passage Friday  which Republicans could not have done without Democratic support.

The vote ended a turbulent week, with Democrats tense and tight-lipped as they fought intense, internecine battles over what to do. Many described the choice as two evils: either oppose the GOP CR and let the government shut down, risking that President Trump and Elon Musk may never reopen wide swaths of it, or vote for the right-wing legislation, which would cut domestic spending and give Musk what many described as a slush fund.

Ultimately, 10 Democrats  including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and members of his leadership team  voted to help pass the GOP CR.

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The base is apoplectic, with some prominent Democrats calling for a change in leadership. House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who kept all but one of his members from voting for the GOP CR in the House, would not answer when asked about his confidence in Schumers leadership.

In a surprising twist, the Senate was able to pass a standalone bill unanimously on a voice vote to shield Washington D.C. from the massive budget slash written into the House GOP CR. The House would also need to pass the bill upon its return.

Senate Democrats now brace for backlash. The episode has even cast a gloomy pall on September, when the CR expires and Democrats, theoretically at least, have leverage again.

Lots of us are worried that once you give in the first time, its hard to fight back the second time, Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), who voted against the GOP CR, told us.

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 Kate Riga

Heres what else TPM has on tap this weekend:

Kate Riga describes a small but important detail that TPM was first to pin down during the chaos of Fridays votes.

Josh Kovensky reflects on a bizarre parallel between the present-day U.S. and post-Soviet Ukraine and Russia.

Khaya Himmelman writes about the Democratic representative trying to rein in acting DC U.S. Attorney Ed Martin.

Hunter Walker describes an icon of a long-gone era of Washington who he knew, and who passed away this week.

Lets dig in.

A TPM Scoop

In the frantic hours before a package of government funding legislation came to a vote late yesterday afternoon, TPM got a scoop: Senate Democrats were no longer demanding a vote on a clean, four-week continuing resolution as an amendment to the GOP CR, two Senate sources told us.

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Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) had been calling for passage of a CR that would fund the government for an additional 28 days. Some Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), had floated demanding a vote on the bill as an amendment to the GOP CR  but, per a source familiar, Murray wanted the vote to be called off since it would fail, only serve a theatrical purpose and not affect the outcome of the vote on the GOP CR.

Murray kept separately pushing for her short-term CR as a standalone bill, the source told us.

In other words: Murray, who voted no on advancing the GOP-written funding bill, wasnt interested in participating in Schumers gambit, where Democrats vote for her sure-to-fail CR as a purely messaging move en route to passage of the Republican CR. If Democrats were hoping the amendment vote would give them a talking point to take back to their angry constituents, theyll be disappointed.

 Kate Riga

Cynical Vibes

The specter of the grant-eaters has come to America.

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In the original Russian, its grantoyedy: grant-eaters, grant-ibals, depending on how negative you want the connotation to be. Either way, its a term that exists to denigrate people involved in political life who werent sponsored by oligarch or government money. Instead of a news outlet or advocacy group being indirectly on the Kremlin payroll or on the payroll of some business interest, Russian and Ukrainian cynics instead accused these relatively independent people of subsisting on grants.

This view sanded down the moral landscape in which an important question in politics develops: who works for and belongs to who? And, it would sometimes lead to an inversion: fighting graft made you the bad guy  or, at least, kind of pathetic. I remember speaking with one attorney in Kyiv who was aligned with the then-administration, the government that preceded Volodymyr Zelenskys. That government had lost popularity after a series of corruption scandals, and in the face of day-to-day graft that had only become more visible and obstructive in peoples lives. But this lawyer expressed a view to me that might now appear on Elon Musks Twitter feed: the most profitable job in Kyiv these days, she said, was that of a corruption fighter.

Its a brand of pervasive cynicism mixed with outright nihilism that, to channel the man himself, youre seeing and hearing about more and more these days in the United States. The idea has existed on the right for a while: that involvement in political life must mean that youre either on the take or naive beyond belief. But its appeared on the left, lately, too. Some figures that once expressed a vision of a more aggressive, potentially progressive Democratic Party have abandoned that in recent years in favor of a similar brand of moribund realism: that trying to respect others is virtue signaling; that any belief that things are uniquely bad or corrupt now is itself either naive, disconnected from reality, or just another attempt to shill.

The similarity between this new, nihilistic vibe in the USA and what I saw in Russia and Ukraine has bothered me for the past year or two. This essay by the writer Evgenia Kovda helped me think through it a little. Its complicated, and Im still unsure exactly what American and post-Soviet cynicism share in their causes: in both cases, it feels like theres a deep sense of disappointment at the core. In the former Soviet Union, the answer is more straightforward, because it was clearer what was lost: the future promised by the idealism of a decades-earlier communist revolution and, later, independence from communism, was replaced instead by brutal authoritarianism and decades of horrific misrule.

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We have serious problems in the U.S., but nothing on that scale. People sometimes ascribe this nihilism to disappointment from the blows dealt by the invasion of Iraq or the 2008 financial crisis, the failure of political elites to enact positive change or provide a sense of hope, in the million-plus deaths wrought by COVID. But I dont think any of these explanations come close to the mark. Rather, the similarity may lie in something deeper and more disturbing: in these former Soviet states, entire political systems collapsed. Here, its prospective. Its what people worry about openly, and what has produced a deep sense of disillusionment in so many: that the institutions of American democracy could produce the situation were in today.

 Josh Kovensky

Raskin Asks DOJ IG To Check Trumps DC US Attorney

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, is calling for a DOJ Inspector General investigation into acting D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin, who has in his first several weeks on the job made a particular point of probing perceived enemies of President Donald Trump.

The nine-page letter, first obtained by the Washington Post, details a series of recent actions taken by Martin that Raskin argues appear to violate the Constitution, federal statutes, DOJ regulations, and rules of legal ethics.

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In particular, he notes that Martin has tried to illegally freeze $20 billion worth of climate funding, tied to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, that was allocated to environmental non-profit organizations for various climate projects during the Biden administration.

since taking office, Mr. Martin has used his office to illegally attack critics and perceived enemies of the Trump Administration while endangering the public safety of the citizens of and visitors to our nations capital, Raskin wrote in the March 12 letter to Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz.

Read more here.

 Khaya Himmelman

Goodbye To All That

Ron Nessen, who served as President Gerald Fords press secretary from 1974 to 1977, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 90.

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I had the privilege of sharing a lunch with him in 2017 in the early months after President Trump first took office. Nessen was incredibly generous with his time and offered his insights on the White House and its relationship with the press. His stories were a reminder of how much has been lost in recent years.

Nessen lived one of those extraordinary Washington lives. Before coming into the White House he had a lengthy career as a journalist, including a stint for NBC, where he had five tours covering the Vietnam War and was wounded by a grenade.

During his conversation with me, he reflected on how the media itself has changed. The numbers of full-fledged war correspondents like Nessen once was are dwindling. And, as the press contracts, it has also faced an unprecedented assault from the president and his allies.

Nessen became the White House spokesman at a fraught moment. His predecessor, Jerald terHorst, resigned in protest of Fords decision to pardon President Nixon for the crimes of Watergate. Nessen vowed to restore trust.

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In his conversation with me, which occured during Sean Spicers tenure in the job, Nessen admitted that he sometimes tried to dodge questions on matters the White House felt shouldnt be publicized quite yet. However, he stressed that he believed the press secretary needed to own up to any mistakes or factual errors, and he was adamant that Ford never asked him to lie.

I dont have any recollection of him asking me to say anything that wasnt true, said Nessen. Part of that was just, thats who Jerry Ford was.

Nessen pressed Ford to make himself available to reporters and also joined the president in taping a self-deprecating appearance on Saturday Night Live. Despite this engagement, he also frustrated the White House press corps, which felt he sometimes offered spin from the White House podium.

All of this seems beyond quaint now, as Trump and his team lie at an unprecedented rate. In its second term, the Trump White House has also seized control of the White House press pool and replaced major news organizations with hyperpartisan operations.

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Nessen, who presciently predicted Trump (like Ford) would face an assassination attempt, seemed to see some of this coming in Trumps first term. He told me the White Houses relationship with the press was reaching Nixonian levels. It has only deteriorated from there.

His death is a reminder that, along with losing a past generation of political figures, we are losing the norms that once defined Washington. The expectation that the press secretary wont lie or that legitimate press will even have access to the president is among the many things being trampled by Trump.

Nessen seems to have started a White House press office tradition where press secretaries left their successor a bulletproof vest and a note. In his case, after Ford was voted out in favor of President Carter, Nessen left the vest in his office along with a note that said, I hope you wont need this. Good luck, Ron.

That kind of cheerful bipartisanship is another one of those things that seems to have been lost. TPM dropped a line to President Bidens last press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, to see if she continued the tradition and left anything behind for the incoming Trump team earlier this year. Jean-Pierre did not respond.

 Hunter Walker
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) targeted Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) in a new digital ad on Friday over his vote against a GOP-crafted bill to fund the government through September.

Democrat Jon Ossoff voted for a reckless government shutdown that would have hurt Georgia families, a narrator in the 30-second spot says. Jon Ossoff voted against pay increases for our military and firefighters, against funding for border security. He even voted against our veterans.

The ad goes on to accuse Ossoff of caring more about fighting Trump than getting things done.

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Ossoff is arguably the most vulnerable Democratic senator up for reelection in 2026. The ad is the latest example of Republicans seeking to pin the vote on Democrats

Earlier this week, the National Republican Congressional Committee rolled out their own digital ads targeting House Democrats who voted against the measure.

The ad hitting Ossoff comes hours after the Senate voted 54-46 to avert a government shutdown, allowing Republicans to focus on enacting President Trumps agenda before the next government funding fight this upcoming fall.

In a statement explaining his vote against the bill, Ossoff said the best available solution is a 30-day stopgap funding measure to avoid a shutdown.

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Among the risks to Georgia in the House GOPs partisan budget proposal: it guts NIH research into diseases like Alzheimers and maternal mortality, funding for the prevention of violence against women, and Army Corps of Engineers construction of water infrastructure, Ossoff said in the statement.

The House bill also irresponsibly fails to impose any constraints on the reckless and out-of-control Trump Administration. The Administration is gutting the CDC and the VA while destabilizing the economy. Both parties in Congress must fulfill our Constitutional obligation to check the President, he continued.

While Ossoff voted against the measure with a majority of his Democratic colleagues, ten Democratic senators, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted to advance the measure for a final vote.

In a speech on the Senate floor, Schumer called the House legislation very bad, but said the consequences of a government shutdown would be much, much worse.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Senators moved quickly to cobble together a standalone bill to shield Washington D.C. from a $1 billion budget cut written into the House Republican continuing resolution that 10 Senate Democrats helped pass Friday.

The D.C. bill passed with unanimous consent on a voice vote, a sign of its bipartisan backing.

This legislation will make sure that we take care of the residents of the District, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said from the floor Friday afternoon. It will support law enforcement and firefighters and teachers and city services. The legislation is very good news for the residents of the District of Columbia.

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The slashing of the budget alarmed D.C. city officials, many of whom have been making pilgrimages to Capitol Hill in recent days to try to convince Senate Democrats to oppose the GOP CR. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) warned that such a draconian cut would affect schools, policing, sanitation and transit, including the Metro.

While D.C. has no voting representatives, senators from nearby Maryland and Virginia spearheaded the effort to address the D.C. attack.

Im working on a fix right now, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) told TPM Friday afternoon, before the fate of the GOP CR was determined. Ive been working on it most of the morning.

Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) was part of the legislative effort too, warning TPM that the $1 billion shortfall would have a really devastating impact on public safety, on education and other things that we kind of co-share with D.C. and Virginia.

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The cuts to the D.C. budget in the GOP CR are so drastic that some Democratic members initially thought that it was an oversight, or a mistake in the drafting. Indeed, head Republican appropriator Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) described the bill as rectifying a mistake just before its passage.

But in all of the many other CRs, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) told TPM, no other jurisdiction got stuck out and hosed this way, and the understanding we have is that when we asked was this a mistake? and no, it was basically a pointed screw you.

That animating spirit puts the bills chance of passage through the House on shakier grounds; itll need to attract some Republican support  likely from the Virginia delegation at least  to pass the lower chamber. The House doesnt return from recess until March 24.

For some MAGA types, there are likely countervailing impulses at play: an instinct to punish D.C., a very liberal city, and its Democratic city government, clashing with the reality that members of Congress live in D.C. and use its services, at least some of the time. Its also a feature of D.C.s lack of statehood, that Congress can tamper with the city budget  even though, as many city leaders and senators pointed out, in this case, it would save the federal government no money.

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Still, external forces can be everything: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) told reporters after the vote that the bill has the support of the Trump White House and the House Republican appropriations chair.

The hit on the District is just mean-spirited, Warner said.
A yearslong effort to create an agency to provide independent oversight of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department won Senate approval Friday.

House Bill 5, which would establish an Office of the Child Advocate responsible for monitoring the services CYFD provides and receiving complaints about the agency, now heads back to the House for concurrence after it was amended  and some say watered down  in the Senate.

Although he was the lone no vote on an amendment crafted in consultation with the Governors Office, which didnt support the proposal as originally written, Sen. Joe Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, ultimately voted in favor of the measure.

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Weve reached a point where I think, really, we have no choice but to do something, Cervantes said before the 28-13 vote.

To allow more time and to hold our tongues and to avert our eyes a little bit longer, its hurting some kids that are living under desks who weve taken and placed there because they thought they were going to be safe, he said.

The amendment the Senate passed 40-1 strips the proposed agencys subpoena power and authority to determine whether the department or a department employee had violated a childs federal or state constitutional rights.

Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, who sponsored the amendment, called the proposed subpoena power a bit of an overreach and said determining whether someones civil rights were violated is the role of a court.

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It was trimming around the edges and just making sure things were cleaned up and well positioned for this office to work as a collaborative advocate rather than something punitive, she said in an interview.

Duhigg said the amendment was developed in partnership with the executive.

I think its essential that whatever approach were going to take, especially something as important as how we help the most vulnerable children in New Mexico, we all ought to be on the same page, she said. I think it really is a very strong bill that will make a really significant difference for kids and families in New Mexico.

After introducing the amendment in the Senate, Duhigg told senators it gets us a bill signed by the governor.

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The proposal generated a 2-hour debate that included discussion about whether the proposed office would duplicate the work of the Substitute Care Advisory Council, as well as whether creating another agency was the best solution to fixing the troubled child welfare agency, which even Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has called dysfunctional.

The office, which would be administratively attached to the state Department of Justice, has a funding appropriation of only about $3,000 in the states proposed budget, which Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, said was inadequate.

This is an office thats going to be inundated with calls, he said. Lets be honest.

Cervantes said staffing could be provided through the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.

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Im going to postulate that a better solution to the problem rather than standing up another agency with the same prime directive as CYFD would be to fix CYFD, said Sen. Larry Scott, R-Hobbs. Is that asking too much?

Cervantes told Scott he had resisted previous efforts for the last almost seven years now because he shared the same concerns. But he said reports and news stories about CYFD, as well as seeing videotape of a dead child as law enforcement came upon her body in Silver City, changed his mind.

I cant sleep well at night knowing that children are suffering every day and every night and have for seven years, and Ive had a chance to do more about it, and this is the more, he said.

Scott told Cervantes he should have resisted one more year and helped the executive branch with the money and expertise to address the problems at CYFD.

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We need to avail ourselves of the best, brightest people that there are in the country that engage in these activities, hire them, train them, pay them appropriately and solve the problem with CYFD, he said. What we dont need to be doing is standing up another organization that will now share the blame when things dont work.

Early in the debate, Cervantes championed an amendment that would have given a child advocate selection committee the power to fill the advocate position if the governor failed to make an appointment within 30 days of receiving the committees final nominations.

Without the amendment, the bill would be rendered meaningless, he said.

A recalcitrant executive could essentially just never fill the position, Cervantes said.

Despite his urging, the amendment failed 11-27.
The Senate passed a six-month spending bill on Friday hours before a government shutdown, overcoming sharp Democratic opposition to the measure and sending it to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.

The vote was 54-46. Democrats voiced frustration that Republicans went ahead with a measure they said included little input from them, and one they viewed as shortchanging key priorities such as health care and housing assistance. But in the end, some of them viewed a shutdown as a worse outcome and supported Democratic leader Chuck Schumers effort to allow the bill to come to a final vote.

Democrats were confronted with two painful options: allowing passage of a bill they believe gives President Donald Trump vast discretion on spending decisions or voting no and letting a funding lapse ensue.

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Congress faces Friday budget deadline to avoid government shutdown

Schumer gave members of his caucus days to vent their frustration about the options before them, but abruptly switched course and made clear on the eve of voting that he will not allow a government shutdown. His move outraged many in the party who want to fight the Trump agenda, but gave senators room to side with Republicans and allow the continuing resolution, often described as a CR, to advance.

Democrats from all corners looked to pressure senators to kill the bill. House members wrote letters, posted on social media and held press conferences in the hours before the vote.

The American people sent Democrats to Congress to fight against Republican dysfunction and chaos, said a letter from 66 House Democrats to Schumer.

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House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and his team dashed back to the Capitol urging senators to block the bill and negotiate a true compromise with Republicans.

Some Democrats also argued that Republicans would take the blame for a shutdown, given they controlled all the levers of power in Congress and the White House.

If you refuse to put forward an offer that includes any Democratic input and you dont get Democratic votes, thats on Republicans, said Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

In contrast, Schumer picked up one unexpected nod of support  from Trump himself, who just a day earlier was gearing up to blame Democrats for any shutdown.

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Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing  Took guts and courage! the president posted on his social media account.

Schumer has acknowledged the difficult choice he faced, but insisted Democrats would not allow a government shutdown and warned of the havoc Trump and Musk could bring if federal offices shuttered.

A shutdown will allow DOGE to shift into overdrive, Schumer said, referring to the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency. Donald Trump and Elon Musk would be free to destroy vital government services at a much faster rate.

Congress has been unable to pass the annual appropriations bills designed to fund the government, so theyve resorted to passing short-term extensions instead. The legislation before the Senate is the third such continuing resolution for the current fiscal year, now nearly half over.

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The legislation would fund the federal government through the end of September. It would trim non-defense spending by about $13 billion from the previous year and increase defense spending by about $6 billion, which are marginal changes when talking about a topline spending level of nearly $1.7 trillion.

The Republican-led House passed the spending bill on Tuesday and then adjourned. The move left senators with a decision to either take it or leave it. And while Democrats have been pushing for a vote on a fourth short-term extension, GOP leadership made clear that option was a non-starter.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and others made the case that any blame for a shutdown would fall squarely on Democrats.

Democrats need to decide if theyre going to support funding legislation that came over from the House, or if theyre going to shut down the government, Thune said.

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Progressive groups urged Democratic lawmakers to insist on the 30-day extension and oppose the spending bill, saying business as usual must not continue.

Theres still time, said Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico at a House Democratic retreat in Leesburg, Virginia. So, any of my colleagues in the Senate who are considering voting on cloture, the American people are shouting: Please do not hand the keys over to Elon Musk.

But Schumer said Trump would seize more power during a shutdown, because it would give the administration the ability to deem whole agencies, programs and personnel nonessential, furloughing staff with no promise they would ever be rehired.

Democrats have been critical of the funding levels in the bill. But they are more worried about the discretion the bill gives the Trump administration on spending decisions. Many Democrats are referring to the measure as a blank check for Trump.

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Spending bills typically come with specific funding directives for key programs, but hundreds of those directives fall away under the continuing resolution passed by the House. So the administration will have more leeway to decide where the money goes.

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.

Democrats also object to clawing back $20 billion in special IRS funding, on top of the $20 billion rescission approved the year before through legislation passed by Democrats during Joe Bidens presidency.

The spending bill before the Senate is separate from the GOP effort to extend tax cuts for individuals passed in Trumps first term and to partially pay for them with spending cuts elsewhere in government.

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That second package will be developed in the months ahead, but it was clearly part of the political calculus.

Youre looking at a one-two punch, a very bad CR, then a reconciliation bill coming down, which will be the final kick in the teeth for the American people, said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said the Democratic arguments for voting against the bill were hypocritical because they were essentially calling for shutting down the government to protect the government.

Democrats are fighting to withhold the paychecks of air traffic controllers, our troops, federal custodial staff, Cotton said. They cant be serious.

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Senators also announced they would be voting on a bill to fix an unexpected provision in the spending measure that hit the District of Columbia. The spending package effectively forced the District to revert to prior years budget levels, requiring a cut of some $1.1 billion over the months ahead, even though the district raises most of its own money. Mayor Muriel Bowser objected and residents have been flooding senators offices. The Senate bill, which would next go to the House, would reverse that provision and allow the spending at 2025 levels.

Associated Press writer Matt Brown contributed to this story from Leesburg, Virginia.
Senators voted Friday to pass legislation to prevent cuts to the District of Columbias local budget after city officials warned the District faced a $1 billion hit under a stopgap government funding bill approved by the Senate moments earlier.

The bill, which allows D.C. to continue operating at its adopted fiscal 2025 budget, passed by voice vote.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) said the measure was endorsed by both President Trump and House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.), and intended to address what she described as a mistake in a larger funding bill that Congress passed just moments before.

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This bill would simply fix a mistake in the House [continuing resolution] that prevents the District of the Columbia from spending its own tax dollars as part of its budget, which Congress routinely approves, Collins said.

Congress approves the authorization of the expenditure of D.C. local funds, which are paid for by D.C. tax revenues, she said.

Collins noted that previous stopgap legislation enacted last year included language approving D.C.s fiscal year 2025 budget and that the language was continued in the second funding patch passed in late 2024.

While D.C. was granted whats known as home rule in the 1970s, Congress still approves its budget during the appropriations process. Stopgap spending bills, like the one passed Friday, typically include language allowing D.C. to continue operating under whatever budget the city has approved, despite the federal government being held to levels from prior years. But that language was seemingly omitted from the latest stopgap.

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As a result, D.C. officials have said the District would be forced to spend at its fiscal 2024 levels like federal agencies would under the stopgap  after running at its updated budget levels for roughly half a year.

Amending the larger government funding bill would have required the House  which left town after passing the measure earlier this week  to vote on it again and almost certainly caused a government shutdown.

The stand-alone D.C. bill still needs to be approved by the House and signed by Trump, and its unclear how soon the lower chamber will act on it. Neither the House nor Senate are in session next week.

Its also unclear what impact D.C. would feel if the lower chamber doesnt act until after recess. The Hill reached out to the mayors office for more information.

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Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.)  who joined Democratic Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angela Alsobrooks (Md.) and Mark Warner (Va.) in pushing for the fix  told The Hill on Friday that he spoke with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser about the matter on Tuesday.

We talked about it at some length, he said. The House is out next week, but we didnt make this part of the CR vote, so its not like they have to amend it right away to avoid a shutdown. We made it a separate resolution.

But we got a commitment from President Trump that he would sign it, he said, adding that he thinks Congress will get it fixed  and if it takes till not next Monday, but the following, I think thats fine, as far as D.C. goes.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) praised the legislation ahead of the vote.

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This legislation will make sure that we take care of the residents of the District. It will support law enforcement and firefighters and teachers and basic city services, he said.

This legislation is very good news for the residents of the District of Columbia. I am happy we are passing this bill today.

Democrats and D.C. officials have sounded alarm since the unveiling of the stopgap funding plan over the weekend about what a potential $1 billion cut would have meant for the District over the next six months.

D.C. gets 26 million tourists every year in 2026, when were going to celebrate 250 years, Warner said from the floor ahead of the vote on the D.C. bill on Friday. We want to show off D.C. and the whole region. If we allow this mistake to take place, D.C. will lay off cops, itll close school, itll shut down on trash removal.

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Lets correct this mistake. Lets make sure that we show on our 250th anniversary the cleanest, safest city in America, and this will be a giant step of that, he added.

Some Democrats, including Warner, had previously questioned whether the move was intentional by House Republicans, though others say they think it was also a mistake.

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.

Because of the nature of a voice vote on Friday, a tally of who voted yea or nay is unavailable.

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Asked how he voted on the bill on Friday, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said, We didnt have to. It was voice.

They wont pick up my trash, by the way, he added. I called everybody and they will not pick up my trash.

Updated at 7:50 p.m. EST

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The Senate voted mostly along party lines Friday afternoon to pass the House Republican-drafted bill to fund government through September, avoiding a government shutdown only hours before funding was due to lapse.

President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law.

The final vote was 54-46. Two members of the Democratic caucus voted for the bill, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who is retiring at the end of her current term, and Angus King (Maine), an independent who caucuses with Democrats. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voted no.

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Passage of the bill means that lawmakers wont battle over funding the government again until the fall, clearing the way for Republicans to focus on enacting Trumps agenda, such as funding border security and extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

The spending bill narrowly passed the House on Tuesday by a vote of 217-213, with only one Democrat voting for it.

It triggered a fierce battle within the Senate Democratic caucus over how to handle the package, which was crafted without any Democratic input in the House.

The legislation will increase defense spending by $6 billion and boost border enforcement funding and will cut nondefense spending by $13 billion.

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More problematic for many Democrats, it does not include language instructing the Trump administration on how to spend the funding. Some Democratic lawmakers warned that would allow Trump and his advisors to shift around funding to favor their own priorities, regardless of what Congress wanted.

Democrats led by Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Jeff Merkley (Ore.), the top Democrat on the Budget Committee, urged their colleagues to defeat the House proposal and instead pass a clean 30-day government funding stopgap.

Merkley told CNN in an interview that he was hell no on the House bill.

He argued that accepting the House GOP bill would only embolden Trump and Musk.

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You dont stop a bully by handing over your lunch money, and you dont stop a tyrant by giving him more power, he said.

Leading progressive Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also led the charge from the left to kill the House-passed bill, helping to whip up strong opposition to the bill from party activists.

Only centrist Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) came out early in favor of advancing the House bill, warning that a government shutdown would create chaos and could plunge the nation into a recession.

Senate Democrats had long lunch meetings throughout the week to debate how to best handle the impasse, and the discussion grew so passionate that senators could be heard yelling through the thick oak doors of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Room, just off the Senate floor.

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Senate Republicans control 53 seats and needed at least eight Democratic votes to overcome a filibuster and advance the legislation to a final vote because Paul announced early on he would oppose the House bill.

Controversial bills typically need 60 votes to get past a filibuster.

House Republicans adjourned after passing their funding bill on Tuesday and made it clear they had no intention to return to Washington before the Friday funding deadline.

That put pressure on Senate Democrats as it became apparent that if they blocked the House bill, it would likely result in a government shutdown.

The House bill appeared to be in serious danger of failing until Thursday, when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced on the Senate floor that he would vote to advance the measure.

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Schumer acknowledged that the House-drafted bill was very bad, but he warned the consequences of a potential shutdown would be much, much worse.

He said a shutdown would give Trump and Elon Musk, the leader of the Department of Government Efficiency, carte blanche to destroy vital government services at a significantly faster rate than they can right now.

Schumer told reporters Thursday evening that efforts to instead pass a clean 30-day funding bill failed to pick up any Republican support.

Schumers decision sparked an angry backlash from liberal Democrats, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who accused him of betrayal.

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After learning of Schumers decision, Ocasio-Cortez told reporters that there is a deep sense of outrage and betrayal.

And this is not just about progressive Democrats. This is across the board, the entire party, she said.

Ocasio-Cortez said Schumer had betrayed House Democrats in districts that Trump won in 2024 who took very tough votes against the bill earlier this week. Only a single Democrat voted for the measure in the House.

She said those vulnerable House Democrats took a tough vote to defend the American people, in order to defend Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, just to see some Senate Democrats acquiesce to Musk.

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I think it is a huge slap in the face, she said.

Fetterman clapped back on Ocasio-Cortezs criticism, arguing that she and other liberals didnt have an endgame to end a government shutdown.

I hope you can relay how little I care about her views on this, he said when asked about Ocasio-Cortezs comments

Im going to stand on what I happen to believe is the right thing to do but ask her, Whats the exit plan once we shut the government down? What about all the millions of Americans who are going to have their lives damaged? he asked.

What about the ones that wont have any paycheck? Shell have her paycheck, though, he said.

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With political cover from Schumer, eight other Democrats voted to advance the bill Friday afternoon.

In addition to Schumer, Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Gary Peters (Mich.), Brian Schatz (Hawaii), Shaheen and Fetterman voted to advance the measure. King, an Independent who caucuses with Democrats, also voted to bring it to a final vote.

The Senate considered and rejected several amendments before voting to pass the bill.

One amendment sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) would have reinstated veterans who were fired from their federal jobs under Trump.

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Another sponsored by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) would have eliminated the Department of Government Efficiency.

A third sponsored by Merkley would have eliminated the $20 billion rescission to IRS tax enforcement funding that House Republicans included in the bill.

A fourth sponsored by Paul would have codified the cuts to foreign assistance recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency.

Senate Republicans beat back all of the Democratic amendments, and a bipartisan majority defeated Pauls amendment. If senators had made any changes to the bill, it would have required the legislation to go back to the House for final approval, which would have dragged its enactment past the funding deadline.

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Senator Mark Kelly said he was getting rid of his Tesla Model S after billionaire Elon Musk called the senator a "traitor" on his social media platform X for visiting Ukraine just days after the U.S. paused military aid to Kyiv.

Im here in Washington driving to work for the last time in my Tesla, Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, said in a video posted on X on March 14.

"When I bought this thing, I didnt think it was going to become a political issue. Every time I get in this car in the last 60 days or so, it reminds me of just how much damage Elon Musk and Donald Trump is doing to our country," he said in the video.

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Musk, CEO of Tesla, owner of SpaceX, and now head of the U.S. President Donald Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), called Kelly a "traitor" on X on March 10 in a thread of the senator's trip to Ukraine, which included visits with officials and embassy staff, as well as nurses, volunteers, and soldiers.

Kelly, a former Navy pilot and astronaut who used to work with Musk's SpaceX, swiftly replied, criticizing Musks stance.

"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.

Along with his video saying that he was ditching his Tesla on March 14, Kelly wrote, "I bought a Tesla because it was fast like a rocket ship. But now every time I drive it, I feel like a rolling billboard for a man dismantling our government and hurting people. So Tesla, youre fired!"

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"New ride coming soon," he wrote.

The Musk-Kelly exchange came amid heightened tensions between the Trump administration and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and a heated argument in the Oval Office earlier this month.

As the Trump team looks to bring a swift end to the war in Ukraine, it has increasingly put pressure on Kyiv, including temporarily pausing military aid and intelligence sharing, while so far making little demands of Russia and President Vladimir Putin.

Read also: I cant sit and watch it  US volunteers join Ukrainian army after Trumps sharp policy turn

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Senator Jake Oliveira has been named Legislator of the Year by the Massachusetts Association of Physician Associates (MAPA), and will be formally recognized next week for this honor.

Local firefighters graduate from Firefighting Academy

Senator Oliveira was named for this award in recognition of his commitment to advancing healthcare policy in Massachusetts, ensuring that PAs can continue to effectively treat and serve patients across the Commonwealth.

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Oliveira will be celebrated for his achievements at MAPAs Spring Continuing Medical Education (CME) Conference on Saturday, March 22. The conference will be held at MGM Springfield beginning at 9:00 a.m.

At the event, healthcare professionals across the state will convene to discuss significant issues pertaining to the PA field and patient care.

For more information about the organization, visit mass-pa.com.

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.
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Most Read from Bloomberg

Senior South Korean and US officials met in Washington to address trade issues including tariff measures, with both sides agreeing to continue dialogue.

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Trade Minister Cheong Inkyo met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to outline Koreas stance on the US proposed reciprocal tariffs and urged an exemption for the Asian nation. Cheong emphasized that Seoul should not face unfavorable treatment compared with other countries, according to a statement from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Saturday.

The Korean official highlighted that the levies between the two countries had been largely eliminated under the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement, and said that his nation has resolved many non-tariff issues.

The meeting marked Cheongs first engagement with Greer. It followed President Donald Trumps claim earlier this month that South Korea imposes higher tariffs on American products than China  a statement Korea refuted immediately, citing an effective rate of just 0.79% on US imports due to the 2012 free trade deal.

The US side acknowledged that the discussions with Korea are proceeding smoothly and agreed to seek constructive solutions to outstanding tariff and non-tariff issues, according to the statement.

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SEEKONK, Mass. (WPRI)  His name is Ray Point Jr., but most of his regulars call him the mayor of the Old Grist Mill.

The 61-year-old has worn many hats over the more than three decades hes worked at the beloved Seekonk restaurant.

Point is not only a server and bartender  hes also a manager.

Everybody who comes in here knows me and asks for me when Im not here, Point said.

Point first walked into the Old Grist Mill 33 years ago.

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My brother gave me a gift certificate, Point recalled. We came in here to eat.

Point said he ran into a friend who worked at the restaurant at the time, and before he knew it, he was working there too.

I was 27 years old when I first started, he said, admitting that he didnt care for it at first and thought hed only last a month.

Instead, Point began noticing everything it had to offer compared to other restaurants.

The pond, the waterfall, the view, he said. I never left.

Point has become such a fixture at the Old Grist Mill that he even has his own parking spot.

When asked how he acquired it, Points answer was simple.

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They gave it to me, he said with a smile. I wasnt expecting it.

Point told 12 News hes celebrated countless milestones with his regulars.

A couple got married here in the early 90s, he recalled. To this day, they still come in here.

He recalled meeting another couple who came in to celebrate their sons baptism.

Now their sons 21, he said. I used to give him bread to feed the ducks, and now hes graduating college.

Point has also waited on his fair share of famous faces over the years.

We used to have Ben Mondor come in with the PawSox for their Christmas party, Point recalled. He would hand a $100 bill to every server, host, and bartender. Everybody wanted to work that party.

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He said Florence Henderson, who starred in the TV sitcom The Brady Bunch, has also dined at the Old Grist Mill, as has Happy Days actress Marion Ross and The Partridge Familys Shirley Jones.

Point values the relationships hes cultivated with his regulars over the years. He told 12 News about a wedding he worked shortly after he was hired.

I dropped the special bride and groom glasses, he said. That comes up every time [the bride and her mom] come in. Her mom is in her 90s now, and she still remembers it. We joke about it.

Points time as mayor of the Old Grist Mill isnt term-limited. He plans to continue working at the restaurant for as long as he can, and hasnt entertained the thought of leaving just yet.

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I dont like to think that far in advance, since I never thought I would still be here, he said.

The Old Grist Mill is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Anyone interested in visiting Point can do so Sunday through Thursday.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Construction of a two-lane extension of Sheep Mountain Parkway connecting to Kyle Canyon Road will begin Monday in the northwest Las Vegas valley, according to a news release from the City of Las Vegas.

The $7.7 million project also includes repaving Kyle Canyon Road in the area. A paved detour will be put in place before work begins on Kyle Canyon Road.

Sheep Canyon Parkway will connect Iron Mountain Road to Kyle Canyon Road. The repaving project on Kyle Canyon Road will extend from Rufus Road to Alpine Ridge Way. Intersections at Kyle Canyon and Iron Mountain roads with Sheep Mountain Parkway will be improved, and the existing trail along Sheep Mountain Parkway will be extended to Kyle Canyon Road, city officials said.

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The entire project is expected to take about nine months, with work scheduled from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Drivers should expect reduced speeds and one lane open in each direction between Rufus Road and Alpine Ridge Way on the detour during repaving. Residents with questions or concerns should call 702-218-5435. Las Vegas Paving is handling the work.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Thirty-four counties in Middle Tennessee are under a tornado watch through 9 p.m. Saturday as severe weather continues for Middle Tennessee through the evening, with flash flooding, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes all possible.

A tornado warning has been issued for Murfreesboro, Christiana and Overall through 4:15 p.m. Saturday.

Warnings indicate immediate impending danger to life and property.

Tornado Warning including Murfreesboro TN, Christiana TN and Overall TN until 4:15 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/j7ZfPyzZUG  NWS Nashville (@NWSNashville) March 15, 2025

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch shortly before 1 p.m. which will remain in effect for most of Middle Tennessee through 9 p.m. Saturday. A tornado watch means conditions are favorable and tornadoes may form, but none have been confirmed.

A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Tennessee until 9 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/8xBHQcju0s  NWS Nashville (@NWSNashville) March 15, 2025

NWS also has issued a flash flood warning that includes Nashville and parts of Wilson, Sumner, Robertson, and Cheatham Counties until 5:45 p.m. Saturday.

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Nashville and areas to the north could see between 2 and 5 inches of rain throughout the day, according to NWS.

Flash Flood Warning continues for Nashville TN, Hendersonville TN and Gallatin TN until 5:45 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/NRQoyjuVCP  NWS Nashville (@NWSNashville) March 15, 2025

Clarksville, Dickson, and Waverly all remain under a flash flood warning until 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Several Clarksville roads were closed or blocked due to flooding as of 1 p.m., according to the Clarksville Police Department, including:

Trenton Road near Hayes Street

Trenton Road near Meriwether Road

Crossland Avenue at Greenwood Avenue

Drivers are urged to use caution while driving in inclement weather, and never to attempt to cross large areas of standing water.

Storms moved into Middle Tennessee overnight. A separate tornado watch for parts of Middle Tennessee including Maury, Rutherford and Williamson counties issued overnight was canceled just before 6:30 a.m. Saturday by NWS.

About 1,000 Nashville homes lost power overnight due to storms, according to the Nashville Electric Service. Most homes had power restored by early afternoon.

NES crews worked overnight making repairs to damage caused by the storm conditions out there. This photo was sent in by one of our field crew members and demonstrates just how easily high winds can take down power poles and other electrical equipment. Were managing just over pic.twitter.com/FsxalrjBHI  Nashville Electric Service (@NESpower) March 15, 2025

Residents are encouraged to secure loose objects outside, prepare emergency kits, plan for potential power outages, and have multiple ways to get weather and hazard warnings, especially at night.

Severe weather can cause power outages. Plan for batteries and other alternative power sources to meet your needs if the power goes out, such as a portable charger or power bank.



In the event of an outage:



- Keep freezers and refrigerators closed.



- Use generators outdoors  Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) (@TennesseeEMA) March 15, 2025

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This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tornado warning issued in Rutherford County, tornado watch elsewhere
At least three people have died in Missouri after a powerful system of storms swept across the central part of the United States on the way east Saturday morning, with weather warnings issued in several states.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said on X that a tornado had caused two deaths in the Bakersfield area in Ozark County, with reports of multiple injuries. It posted pictures of wrecked and ruined buildings, and a smashed up car on the roadside.

Another person died in Butler County, on Missouri's border with Arkansas, after a mobile home was hit by extreme weather on Friday night, the county's rescue services told NBC News.

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Butler County Emergency Management said the number of fatalities there may rise, with the search and rescue operations at the site ongoing.

Tornado warnings continued in several states into Saturday morning. More than 400,000 customers are without power across the Midwest and South, according to PowerOutage.us, an organizaiton that aggregates live power outage data.

Tornadoes were reported to have ripped down trees and power lines in Missouri, according to the National Weather Service, and NBC affiliate KSDK of St. Louis reported that businesses were damaged and tractor-trailers were overturned.

Tornadoes were also reported in Arkansas and Mississippi. The reports are unconfirmed; storm survey teams typically determine later whether tornadoes actually occurred. The weather service for Jackson, Mississippi, shared a photo on X of what was said to be a large wedge tornado north of Cruger.

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Photos posted by the Missouri Highway Patrol showed storm damage in Rolla, Missouri, around 95 miles southwest of St. Louis, and to a bus barn in Dixon.

In Texas, blinding dust was blamed for deadly vehicle crashes.

An estimated 138 million people are at risk of severe storms in the nation's midsection throughout the weekend. Strong nighttime tornadoes at EF2 on the tornado strength scale, defined by sustained winds of 113 to 157 mph, are possible from southern Iowa to Jackson, Mississippi.

The worst of the system is also threatening damaging winds and hail into Saturday. Hail the size of baseballs was reported in Christian County, Missouri, on Friday night, the weather service said.

Widespread tornado, severe weather risk

Overnight and into Saturday morning, the National Weather Service issued multiple tornado warnings in Missouri, including in the metro St. Louis area, and western Illinois as the front moved east. Tornado warnings were also issued in parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Indiana and Kentucky.

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Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency on Friday as the state prepared for the fronts unstable air overnight. The declaration will allow state resources to reach local governments quicker, his office said.

I urge all Missourians to stay alert, monitor weather forecasts, and follow official warnings, he said.

Florissant, Missouri, Mayor Timothy Lowery told KSDK that weve got a lot of damage in the city, including to many houses. A tree also fell on landmark restaurant Hendels, the station reported.

So, tonights been, Ill say a very horrible night here in the city of Florissant, Lowery said.

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Police in St. Louis warned late Friday that there were reports of vehicles getting trapped in high water, and urged people to Turn around dont drown!

Tornado watches were issued for parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee until at least 3 a.m. CT, with some watches extended until 5 a.m.

A tornado outbreak across the central Gulf Coast states into the Tennessee Valley was also likely late Saturday. Significant tornadoes were possible in eastern Louisiana, in Mississippi, and in Alabama.

Strong winds and fires in Texas, Oklahoma

In Texas, blowing dust blinded drivers with deadly consequences, officials said.

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Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Cindy Barkley said Friday that there were three fatal crashes in the Amarillo area due to high winds and low visibility. The number of deaths was not immediately clear.

One person died and two others were injured in a crash between three semis and four other vehicles in Palmer County, said Cesar Marquez, city manager and fire chief in Bovina. It was not clear if the crash was included in the three in the Amarillo area.

There was so much blowing dirt we were getting shocked every time we got near something, Marquez said.

Parts of northern Texas saw gusts as strong as 62 mph, according to National Weather Service data.

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Potter County Fire-Rescue reported four roads were restricted or closed after separate incidents in which big-rigs had flipped. The county in the Texas Panhandle includes the northern half of Amarillo.

Visibility is poor at best and zero in places, the agency said on social media. If you dont have to be out, please stay where you are.

The dust was not the only concern. The same system whipped up wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma on Friday as the low pressure system moved east.

Low visibility and high winds have caused multiple crashes across the south plains in Texas.

The largest of the state's six active wildfires, the Windmill Fire in Roberts County, grew from 500 to 18,000 acres in less than a day, according to Texas A&M Forest Service. The blaze was 50% contained Friday night.

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The Rest Area Fire in Gray County marched across 4,500 acres on Friday, but its expansion stopped by early evening, Texas A&M Forest Service said. Firefighters had achieved 30% containment by the end of the day, it said.

Texas A&M Forest Service said on Thursday conditions may be right for a Southern Great Plains Wildfire Outbreak, a dangerous weather formula based in part on low humidity and gusty wind, though such an outbreak was not officially declared by Friday afternoon.

Multiple fires were burning in Oklahoma on Friday night.

Gov. Kevin Stitt urged residents covered by mandatory evacuations in Mannford, a city in the northeastern portion of the state were wildfire raged Friday night, to "leave now."

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Mandatory evacuations were also in effect for parts of Norman, where multiple wildfires were burning, according to the Norman Police Department.

Mandatory evacuations in the city of Stillwater were expanding late Friday, with locations including a Walmart and multiple hotels, and cover "several square miles."

The winds have apparently also helped fuel multiple structure fires in the city, and firefighting reinforcements are en route, it said in a statement.

The National Weather Service office in Norman said earlier that "a dangerous wildfire outbreak" was underway, later identifying blazes near Chickasha, Chandler, Camargo and Leedey; and near Lake Carl Blackwell, where residents were urged to evacuate. There was also one in Lincoln County, where evacuations were ordered north of the town of Meridian.

Weather system to shift east

The low pressure system is affecting the southern and northern reaches of the nation's midsection as it pushes eastward, promising upheaval into the eastern U.S. through the end of the weekend.

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As it moves into the Eastern Seaboard on Sunday, the tornado threat will shift to Virginia and Carolinas.

On the northern side of the front, including the upper Midwest and the northern Plains, blizzard conditions were forecast for the weekend, with 8 inches of snow possible in some regions.

The new week was expected to bring even more winter storm action when at least two more low pressure systems march eastward, the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center said.

The first of the two would likely form a solid, counterclockwise winter storm, a process the weather service calls cyclogenesis, it said. It will likely bring snow to the interior, including the Midwest and Great Lakes, with a second storm likely to bring a fresh wave of snow, rain and thunderstorms to a stretch of the nation from the Rocky Mountains to the Upper Midwest mid- to late-week ahead of the first day of astronomical spring on Thursday.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 50-year-old sex offender has been arrested after failing to register his new address, El Paso Police said.

Jorge Higareda, 50, failed to register his new address in December of last year, police said.

On Wednesday, Feb. 26, officers from the Sex Offender Registration Unit learned that Higareda was no longer staying at his registered address, according to police.

On March 13, Higareda was located and taken into custody.

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Higareda was charged with failing to register his new address and has a $15,000 bond, police said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Its Saturday, March 15. Take a look at our top stories with KELOLAND On The GO.

People in Milbank were asked to evacuate an area of downtown, as a precaution, following an underground natural gas line leak.

Milbank natural gas leak

Sioux Falls Police said a baby taken at gunpoint on his first birthday has been found safe. Two arrests have been made, but investigators are still looking for a third suspect.

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How investigators found missing 1-year-old boy

Sioux Falls police are investigating an early morning assault call.

Sioux Falls assault investigation

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley met with President Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in Washington DC.

Jackley meets with the President and US Attorney General to talk fentanyl

Rain during the night has transitioned to snow this morning, with the heavier band setting up in southwest Minnesota. Strong, northerly winds have also moved eastward, with gusts in portions of KELOLAND up to 50 mph.

Storm Center AM Update: Snow to the East then Drying Out

Winter weather wont stop the Irish celebrations in Sioux Falls Saturday.

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WATCH at 2 p.m.: St. Patricks Day Parade in Sioux Falls

Check out our Boredom Busters!

Saturday Boredom Busters: March 15th

Download the KELOLAND News app to find the latest headlines while on the go.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
After 10 long months of deployment in the Middle East, a Cleburne man returned home to surprise his children.

Fourth-grader Landyn Guzman and kindergartner Lailani Olivares were in tears this week as their father, Sgt. Cyrus Olivares, walked into the lunchroom during a birthday celebration.

Olivares wife, Sarah, and Coleman Assistant Principal Rachael Geesaman worked together to plan the surprise.

What made the day even more special was Landyns birthday, so the surprise quickly came together under the guise of a birthday party.

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"It's just so great to finally get to reunite our family," Sarah Olivares said. "We've been counting down the days, and to be able to bring this surprise to our kids, especially on Landyns birthday, is truly a dream come true."

When Landyns grandmother asked him what he wanted for his birthday, his response came easy.

I just want to see my dad, he said.  I miss him so much.

As his family gathered around him for a birthday celebration lunch, the entire Coleman cafeteria sang Happy Birthday to Landyn. Geesaman then asked Landyn if he would like another birthday surprise.

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As Sgt. Olivares walked into the lunchroom, Landyn and Lailani's faces lit up with pure joy, and they jumped up, running to give him the biggest hugs.

Sgt. Olivares returns home from deployment

After 10 long months of deployment in the Middle East, a Cleburne man returned home to surprise his children. Fourth-grader Landyn Guzman and kindergartner Lailani Olivares were in tears this week as their father, Sgt. Cyrus Olivares, walked into the lunchroom during a birthday celebration.

Olivares, a former Coleman Colt himself, graduated from Cleburne High School in 2014.

This has to be your best birthday gift, one of Landyns friends said as the elated fourth-grader passed out shared cupcakes with his classmates.

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Before the reunion, Olivares said he was excited and nervous.

I feel Im going on a first date, he said. Im just ready to see my babies!

Olivares was stationed at Fort Drum in New York before his first deployment overseas. He worked on Black Hawk helicopters and said the Middle East was much like the month of July in Texas with 130 degree temperatures for days. His service to the United States will continue as he has re-enlisted for another four years.

Today we witnessed more than just a military homecoming, Geesaman said. We saw two of our Coleman Colts become whole again as their family reunited. This is an incredible reminder that our school is more than just a place for learning, but a community for love and support for each of our students.

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The day is not just one that the two children will remember forever, but the campus and district as well. Today is a great reminder that, as a district, our goal is to educate children to the best of our ability so they may go out into the world to fulfill their potential like Sgt. Olivares, Superintendent Coby Kirkpatrick said. Thank you, Sgt. Olivares, for your commitment to serving this country and for allowing us the honor of serving your children.

Olivares will now have the chance to catch up on missed moments with his kids, and with Landyns birthday celebrated in such a special way, it is sure to be a day they will never forget.
NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11)  Sgt. Joseph Azcona was posthumously promoted to sergeant during his funeral Friday at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.

A week prior to Detective Azconas end of watch, he had taken the test to become a sergeant, said Newark Public Safety Director Emmanuel Miranda. So today, it is my honor and my privilege, I will be promoting Detective Azcona to the rank of sergeant.

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Thousands of police officers from New Jersey and beyond overflowed the cathedral for Azconas funeral.

The 26-year-old lifelong Newark resident was killed in the line of duty last Friday. He was shot before he could even step out of his vehicle for an illegal weapons investigation. His partner was also shot and remains hospitalized. A 14-year-old is now charged with Azconas murder.

Azcona was on the force for five years and promoted to detective after three years.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

He made a deliberate effort to stand in the way of harm for all of us, said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. He paid the ultimate sacrifice, gave his life so that other people wouldnt be here today like his mother and family are.

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During the service, Miranda read a letter that Azcona wrote while in the Police Academy, explaining why he wanted to be a police officer.

I have witnessed a lot of trouble near the area where I grew up, said Miranda, reading Azconas letter. It made me realize I wanted to become a police officer to help my community.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, first lady Tammy Murphy, and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker were also in attendance to pay their respects.

Being here is important, but you honor the legacy of this young man by continuing his mission and what he dedicated his life to, which is public safety, said Booker.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
ADAMS COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  The Shapiro Administration was in Adams County on Friday to highlight the need for additional funding to boost skilled workers and close workforce gaps across Pennsylvania.

Governor Josh Shapiros 2025-2026 budget proposal includes $12.5 million for the WEDnetPA program. It was created by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development 26 years ago.

The current funding is $8 million. The Shapiro Administration says the demand is at least double which is why they are asking for more in this budget proposal.

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Raystown campgrounds close due to staffing shortages

While this year will support almost 500 businesses with important WEDNET programing, there are currently 250 applications outstanding requesting additional funds, said DCED Secretary Rick Siger.

The program provides funding to qualified employers like Rice Fruit Company in Adams County to train new and existing employees. The company received a WEDnetPA grant of up to $30,000.

Were going to take meaningful steps towards empowering our workforce to develop skills in areas that have been long goals, said Rice Fruit Company President Ben Rice.

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The Rice family has been growing apples since the late 1700s. Ben Rice says he will also take part in training; hes excited to take a statistics class.

That will bring technical knowledge to an area of our work that we hope will give us the skills to harness the data technology and the data tools that are coming out that are very exciting, said Rice.

Often, government officials dont get the chance to see for themselves what programs like this one does for the company and its employees.

You think of an apple company as sort of low tech, right? Youre taking apple off a tree or putting in a box. It could not be further from the truth. Theyre incredible technology applications here, robotic applications. The people that are working with all this equipment need to have great training that takes that apple from the tree to your kitchen table in great shape with great taste, said Siger.

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Since WEDnetPA started, its provided training to more than 1.3 million employees at more than 23,000 companies.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Sen. John Fetterman fired a searing shot at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the Democrats civil war over the Donald Trump-backed spending bill that passed the Senate on Friday.

Ahead of Fridays vote, Fetterman was asked about Ocasio-Cortezs accusation that Senate Dems who vote for the Republican spending bill are betraying their colleagues. His response was blunt: I hope you can relay how little I care about her views on this, he told reporters, according to The Hill.

Fetterman, who has increasingly broken with Democratic ranks to side with Trump on key issues, had signaled his intention to back a Republican bill rather than allow a government shutdown. The infighting broke out in earnest today when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer earned praise from Trump for backing the bill.

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) attends a Senate luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 12, 2023 in Washington, D.C. / Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Ocasio-Cortez, one of the furthest left voices in the House, emerged as a leader of the faction opposing the bill. On Thursday, she told reporters there was a deep sense of outrage and betrayal in the party over the defections.

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Fetterman was unimpressed.

Im going to stand on what I happen to believe is the right thing to do but ask her, Whats the exit plan once we shut the government down? he said. What about all the millions of Americans who are going to have their lives damaged?

What about the ones that wont have any paycheck? Shell have her paycheck, though, he added.

Despite Ocasio-Cortezs efforts, the spending billwhich was also condemned by ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosipassed the Senate on Friday by a 62-38 margin, with 10 Democrats joining with Republicans. It needed eight Democrat defections to beat a filibuster.

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CNN reported that some Democratic lawmakers are so infuriated with Schumer they want Ocasio-Cortez, a fellow New Yorker, to run for his Senate seat.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. / Steven Ferdman/GC Images

In the past few months, Fetterman has increasingly conveyed his openness to break with his party and work with MAGA Republicans. He was the first Democrat senator to visit Trump at Mar-a-Lago after his election win.

He was also seemingly the lone major Democrat to publicly express his approval for Trumps plan to push Palestinians out of Gaza, even advocating for sending in U.S. troops. Last week, he slammed his fellow Democrats unhinged protests during Trumps address to Congress.

The switch-up even had some speculating that he was gearing up to switch parties, but Fetterman shot that speculation down. He called it amateur-hour s---.
Mar. 14A man who died following a crash in Darke County Thursday is believed to be the main threat in his wife's homicide and a shooting and subsequent chase of another man, according to the sheriff's office.

Following an investigation, deputies determined 57-year-old Josiah "Joe" Maloon beat and shot his wife at their home on Ohio 571 in Washington Twp. near Greenville Thursday, said Darke County Sheriff Mark Whittaker.

The Darke County Coroner's Office ruled the death of 53-year-old Juanita Maloon a homicide. She died from a gunshot wound to her head.

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Around 2:15 p.m. Thursday, a 47-year-old Ansonia man arrived at the Maloons' home at Joe Maloon's request to make a transaction, Whittaker said.

"According to (the man), when he pulled into the drive, he obtained cash from Joe Maloon's vehicle as instructed and that is when Joe Maloon exited his house and started shooting multiple rounds at him," the sheriff said.

The man ran back to his Dodge Challenger to leave and was shot multiple times.

As he drove away, Joe Maloon reportedly chased him in a Nissan Pathfinder.

Joe Maloon was shooting at the man while driving after him and ramming the man's car, according to the sheriff's office.

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The vehicles crashed into opposite fields. Joe Maloon's SUV reportedly rolled multiple times, and he was thrown from the vehicle.

Joe Maloon died at the scene from his injuries.

CareFlight transported the other man to Miami Valley Hospital, where he continued to receive treatment Friday.

Investigators found a handgun at the crash scene near Joe Maloon. It appeared to be a similar caliber to the gun used on the other man and Maloon's wife, but forensic testing will be completed to confirm.

Crews also recovered spent shell casings a white powdery substance in packaging near the driveway where the shooting started.

The sheriff's office is continuing to investigate the incident.
COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE)  Deputies with the Cocke County Sheriffs Office have located a Bybee woman who disappeared on March 13.

The TBI shared a release on Saturday from the sheriffs office, which states that Desiree Reagan, 36, was last known to be at her home in Bybee at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. After not being able to reach her, Reagans family arrived at the home at 9 p.m., where they found the door to the home open with all Reagans belongings still inside.

Just before 3 p.m., the sheriffs office released an update, saying Reagan had been located and is safe.

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Longtime Morgan County resident says area may have storm fatigue

Reagan is described as 54 tall and weighing about 100 pounds with blue eyes and red hair.

Desiree Reagan (Cocke County Sheriffs Office/TBI)

The sheriffs office confirmed that it, the TBI, Tennessee Highway Patrol, rescue squads, volunteer fire departments and the emergency management agency are searching the area of Reagan. Anyone with information on where Reagan may be or about her disappearance is asked to contact Cocke County Sheriffs Office Detective Josh Boyce at 423-623-3064.

WATCH: 2025 Knoxvilles St. Patricks Day Parade

Authorities say nearly 400 people go missing in Tennessee each year. Thats five people for every 100,000. Check this list of people missing from East Tennessee to see if you can help locate someone.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Mar. 14ROCK FALLS  A Rock Falls man wanted on multiple arrest warrants was taken into custody Friday morning, Whiteside County Sheriff John Booker said.

Whiteside County deputies responded about 8 a.m. Friday to 1706 E. Rock Falls Road after a 911 call reporting a disturbance. Deputies made contact with the female involved, who told officers that William W. Clark, 45, of Rock Falls was there, police said.

Clark was found to have multiple outstanding warrants from Lee and Ogle counties for charges that include residential burglary and multiple counts of possession of methamphetamine, Booker said. Deputies tried to get Clark to exit the trailer, but he locked the door and refused to respond, Booker said.

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He said that after repeated attempts to establish contact, deputies forced entry into the residence. Clark was found inside, complied with law enforcement's commands and was taken into custody without further incident, Booker said.

Clark was taken to the Lee County Jail in Dixon and turned over to correctional deputies. A court appearance is set for 8:30 a.m. March 20 in Lee County Circuit Court, according to court records.

The Whiteside County Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by the Rock Falls Police Department and Illinois State Police.
Two foreign shipping companies have been banned from doing business in the United States after committing environmental crimes.

What's happening?

The crimes occurred aboard the M/V ASL Singapore, a carrier owned and operated by ASL Singapore Shipping Limited and Jia Feng Shipping Limited.

According to U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson, a routine Coast Guard inspection found the ship had used a "magic pipe"  a flexible hose attached to a portable pump  to discharge oily bilge water overboard. This action violated the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, also known as MARPOL, which regulates how such waste must be disposed of.

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The inspection also found that falsified oil record books had been presented to the Coast Guard in an attempt to hide that oily bilge water had been repeatedly dumped overboard since at least June 2023.

The companies pleaded guilty, resulting in the ban and a combined $1.85 million in fines. The ship's chief engineer, Fei Wang, was separately sentenced to three months in prison and three years of supervised release.

Why is bilge water concerning?

Bilge water, which gathers in the lowest part of a ship's hull, typically contains various oils and other contaminants from the ship's engine. When not disposed of properly, that oil becomes a major threat to marine life.

Even small amounts of oil can be deadly to animals. It can coat wildlife's feathers or fur, preventing birds from flying or making fur less insulating. The toxins within oil can also cause major long-term health problems.

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Much of this pollution is carried out by companies that also boast about being environmentally friendly. This tactic, called greenwashing, is commonplace among polluters. Such corporations will use commercials and other public-facing means to promote green projects while continuing to damage Earth when few people are looking.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, ASL Singapore Shipping Limited has a large section on its website dedicated to its sustainability efforts.

What's being done about illegal dumping?

The M/V ASL Singapore is not the first ship to be fined, or banned from doing business, because of its illegal dumping practices. So far this year, several Greek shipping companies have been found guilty of polluting our waters and had to pay fines of $4.5 million and $1.1 million, respectively.

There are also nonprofits, like SkyTruth, that use satellite images to detect oil pollution, which can frequently occur in remote areas of the ocean that are hard to monitor. SkyTruth's Cerulean tracking system is free for anyone to see when and where oil pollution has occurred.

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.




Democrats blowup over funding the government isnt just triggering a fight about the future of the party. It is reopening old wounds they had hoped to move past, too.

After an ultimately unsuccessful effort to eliminate the filibuster during former President Joe Bidens term roiled Democrats, the party is now once again relitigating the Senate procedural move.

Democrats across the ideological spectrum have sharply criticized Minority Leader Chuck Schumers decision Friday to break a filibuster and advance the Republican-backed stopgap funding bill, illustrating a growing divide both across the two congressional chambers and intergenerationally.

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The same Dems who argue to keep the filibuster for when we need it do not, in fact, use it when we need it, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) posted to X on Saturday.

The New York progressive was responding to a post from former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema  who was reviled by much of the Democratic base in part because of her opposition to eliminating the filibuster  who has been calling out Democrats online Saturday for their past criticism of her.

Change of heart on the filibuster, I see! Sinema wrote on X, referring to an article where Ocasio-Cortez said she felt a deep sense of outrage and betrayal at Schumer. She included an old post where Ocasio-Cortez slammed her for supporting the filibuster, calling for Sinema to be primaried.

Sinema ultimately left the Democratic Party at the end of 2022, in no small part due to major breaks with much of the party over protecting the filibuster and higher tax rates. She mulled an independent run in 2024 before ultimately retiring.

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She also posted a list of Democrats who have campaigned or voted to eliminate the filibuster, but who also, in effect, voted on Friday to support one in an ultimately failed attempt to stop the GOP-led government funding bill from going through.

President Donald Trump signed the spending patch into law on Saturday.

Senate rules allowing for a filibuster generally require 60 senators to support a piece of legislation before it can pass. The filibuster used to be rare, but its become a major tool for the minority party in recent years.

Then-Democratic leader Harry Reid first took a major swipe at the filibuster in 2013 with the nuclear option, eliminating the filibuster for virtually all presidential nominations. Republicans responded in turn in 2017 by eliminating it for Supreme Court justices.

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During the Biden administration, Democrats advocated scrapping the filibuster to pass laws on voting and reproductive rights, but Sinema and now former-Sen. Joe Manchin both publicly defended the tradition, effectively ensuring its survival.

Now, many Democrats have expressed their concern with Senate Democratic leaderships unwillingness to use it to push back against the funding bill that none of them agreed with. And theyre trading quips with Sinema about it online.

Ocasio-Cortez argued in response to Sinema that the filibuster has primarily targeted legislation proposed by Democrats, but with Republican legislation it has fallen flat.

Could have proved us wrong, she wrote on X. Instead they proved the point.

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Sinema responded minutes later that zero Senate Democrats support the filibuster, but 38 voted to use it on Friday.

She also singled out House Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.).

In an old post, Japayal outlined legislation that could not be passed with a filibuster in place, calling to abolish the Jim Crow filibuster, a reference to how the maneuver was used to preserve segregation and prevent several civil rights bills from passing in the mid-1900s.

Just surprised to see support for the Jim Crow filibuster here, Sinema wrote on X.

Khanna hit back at Sinemas post, arguing the filibuster had been responsible for burying any attempts to raise the federal minimum wage and had hurt Democrats in the 2024 election.

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Had we raised the wage & delivered childcare we could have had President Harris, Khanna wrote on X.

Sinema called it a breathtakingly undemocratic take that eliminating the filibuster to block Republican debate and pass Democrat-led legislation would allow Democrats to win elections.

And when asked about the 38 Democrats who voted to use the filibuster against the funding bill, Sinema said on X, Yes dear the hypocrisy is the point.
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO)  Sioux Falls police are investigating an early morning assault call.

Police say the victim arrived at the hospital just after 2 a.m. with unknown injuries.

Police say a weapon was apparently used in the assault.

No suspects are in custody.

We hope to learn more information about the investigation during Monday mornings police briefing which we will carry live on KELOLAND.com beginning at 10:30.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Three former UNLV professors  including one who died in the fatal on-campus shooting on Dec. 6, 2023  participated in a program known as the Ph.D Project, which appears to have gotten the attention of the U.S. government and landed the university in the middle of a federal investigation, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Friday, the Education Department announced it is investigating more than 50 colleges  including UNLV  over what it called racial preferences in academics or scholarships, a move that comes amid the Trump administrations wider crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

The department said 45 schools are under investigation for partnering with the Ph.D Project, which it says is an organization that purports to provide doctoral students with insights into obtaining a Ph.D. and networking opportunities, but limits eligibility based on the race of participants.

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UNLV, in a statement, acknowledged its professors involvement in the Ph.D project.

UNLV is aware of the federal investigation, the statement said. Three former UNLV professors were participants in the mentoring program known as the PHD Project.

Two of them are no longer with UNLV. The third person was Patricia Navarro Velez, a beloved professor who was tragically killed on our campus by a gunman on Dec. 6, 2023.

Photo of Patricia Navarro-Velez provided by UNLV

Word of the investigation comes just days after UNLVs president, Keith Whitfield, abruptly resigned, citing a need to focus on his family.

These commitments will require more of my time and energy and prevent me from being your president, he said in his statement to the university community on March 3.

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The next day, 8 News Now reported that the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents showed, in recent meetings, a growing frustration with Whitfield.

NSHE, in a statement Friday, also responded to news of the federal investigation into UNLV and other colleges and universities, including Ivy League schools, large state schools and smaller colleges.

We are working to understand the scope of the investigation and how to best support our institution in addressing any concerns, the statement said. NSHE remains committed to fostering vibrant campus communities that support the success of our students, faculty, and researchers. We will continue to support our institutions in navigating federal requirements while advancing their missions in service to Nevada.

Patricia Navarro Velez, one of the professors cited in UNLVs statement about the federal investigation, died in the December 2023 shooting on UNLVs campus in which three faculty members died.

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Known as Pat, Navarro Velez was a beloved member of the UNLV accounting and Lee Business School community and family, Dr. Jason Smith, Department of Accounting chair and professor at Lee Business School said.

She had a larger-than-life personality and an infectious smile, and a genuine kindness that made everyone around her feel like family, Dr. Smith said.

Effective March 4, UNLV Executive Vice President and Provost Christopher L. Heavey, Ph.D., will take the role of Officer in Charge, according to a post on the UNLV website.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  Is it a step in the right direction or a slap on the wrist?

That is the question after two men pled no contest relating to illegal fireworks charges and received no jail time. Some told KHON2 that it sends the wrong message after a deadly New Years Day on Oahu.

Two arrests made in connection to deadly Aliamanu New Years explosion

The Department of the Attorney General said Wolfgang Clark and Daniel Young were accused of selling illegal fireworks in 2024. The AGs office said both men were recently granted a deferred plea despite the states objection.

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The men will receive four years of court supervision, a $5,000 fine and no jail time.

The biggest term that usually happens during this period is that they cant commit another crime and they certainly cant commit the same crime again during this time. If they do, then this deferral goes away and it automatically becomes a conviction, said legal expert Doug Chin.

The case involving Clark and Young occurred before the deadly fireworks explosion in Aliamanu.

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A former judge said courts have given the accused a chance to expunge the charges from their record if they stay out of trouble for their court supervision period by deferring a conviction.

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So whats the consequences now by giving a deferral? At the end of the four year period, it gets wiped out, said former judge Randal Lee. Like if it never happened.

Lawmakers said current legislation increases penalties that would have impacted this case if they had been law.

Hawaii only has two illegal fireworks investigators

My feeling is that if were going to get a handle on it, the penalties are going to have to be a little harsher because typically, the real deterrent is thinking youre going to get caught, said Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Karl Rhoads.

Rhoads pointed out that illegal fireworks cases have rarely even made it to prosecution in Hawaii in the past, and he is a little disappointed in the light punishment but said the process itself is a step in the right direction.

Whether you spend any time in jail, having to pay a fine and having to be monitored for I think it was four years, that does not do you any good, Sen. Rhoads said.

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It moved in the right direction, but then by granting a deferral is basically saying it never happened, Lee said. Its kind of like getting into the concert, but then you cant hear anything.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  A Republican bill to fund the government through Sept. 30 has successfully passed the Senate 54-46. However, Senate Democrats were split on how to voteincluding Michigans very own regarding a procedural vote earlier Friday.

At least eight Democrats needed to join with Republicans to get the bill to the 60-vote threshold it needed to advance, and U.S. Senator Gary Peters was one of them. It passed 62-38. Ten Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), voted in favor.

FILE/ Gary Peters (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

In a shutdown, the Trump Administration would be emboldened to deem countless more federal workers as non-essential, making those civil servants prime targets for future rounds of mass layoffs. This action will make our country less safe and make it much harder for Americans to access programs they count on, said Peters. This is a difficult choice, but with the deadline quickly approaching, I believe Congress must do its most basic job to keep the lights on.

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Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin voted the other way.

FILE  Elissa Slotkin (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

I will be voting no on the Continuing Resolution tomorrow. First, because this bill is bad for Michigan. It makes significant cuts to Michigans key infrastructure projects, cuts the VA, and harms our Great Lakes, said Slotkin. But on top of that, my Republican colleagues offered no assurances that the money wouldnt just be redirected at the whim of Elon Musk. They offered no assurances that the Trump Administration would follow the law.

Both Slotkin and Peters later voted against the bills final passage.

Congress has so far been unable to pass the annual appropriations bills to fund the government. The bill lawmakers will vote on Friday is the third continuing resolution for the current fiscal year and would fund the government through the end of September.

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It would slash non-defense spending by about $13 billion and increase defense spending by around $6 billion. The overall spending level is nearly $1.7 billion. Democrats against the bill also say that the continuing resolution would give the administration more leeway to depart from funding directives without the full force of an appropriations bill.

The Senate voted to immediately advance the bill, which passed the House of Representatives earlier this week, and consider proposed amendments to the legislation.

A vote on final passage is expected later Friday night.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  At grocery checkout counters across Virginia, some SNAP customers are reporting significant reductions in their benefits.

This week the USDA announced a more than $1 billion DOGE cut to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits that also affects school nutrition programs and foodbanks.

All to pay for massive tax handouts to billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, said State Sen. Maime Locke, who represents Peninsula voters in the Virginia Senate. They are quite literally about to take money from programs to keep low income people healthy and fed in order to make the rich even richer. And we have to be very clear. These cuts would directly impact our state budget.

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A couple of weeks ago, my colleagues and I passed a responsible budget that increases fairness in our tax code, makes housing more affordable, and continues to for General Assemblys historic investments in public education to ensure our kids have a bright future.

Tamika Spears of Richmond said her SNAP benefits have been reduced from $518 per month to $262 per month.

They should be increasing SNAP benefits and not cutting them because nobody in the richest country in the planet should go hungry, Spears said. Programs like SNAP are life-changing because it is the difference between having to skip another day of food or not. It is thanks to SNAP that I can feed my kids, put myself through college and able to strengthen my family.

Locke has another assessment on the future of democracy from Washington to Virginia. The Democrat directed a question to Gov. Glenn Youngkin while saying his policies mirror the presidents policies.

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Are you going to follow the Presidents Executive Order? Clearly, you follow the presidents executive order and not the law of Virginia, Locke said, referring to Youngkin.

The governors office has not responded to a request for comment Tuesday on the more than $1 billion federal cut to nutrition programs.

According to The Hill, Republicans repeatedly point to President Trumps November victory, saying he was crystal clear with voters about what his intentions would be in cutting down the size of the federal government.

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Mar. 14MITCHELL  Mitchell-area residents could see rain and snow over the next few days, though weather experts estimate that the region will miss the most intense conditions associated with a large, complicated storm system moving across the United States.

The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls said Mitchell could see rain, snow, high winds or any combination of those elements beginning Friday evening, March 14 through Saturday, March 15.

"We have a very strong and complicated spring storm that will be impacting the region late Friday afternoon through the day Saturday," Peter Rogers, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls, told the Mitchell Republic.

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Rogers said Mitchell lies on a borderline between what could turn out to be both rain and snow, depending on how the system progresses through the region. With temperatures expected to approach 70 degrees Friday, the Mitchell area could see light rainfall beginning in the late evening. Potential thunderstorms are not completely out of the question, though unlikely. With cold air moving into the area, temperatures will drop and likely change that rain to snow overnight Friday into Saturday.

Rogers said Mitchell was on the western edge of any potential heavy snowfall, with more expected to fall east of Interstate 29. Mitchell could see an inch or two of snow, but amounts could be even less than that. Overnight lows Friday into Saturday are forecast to dip to around 28 degrees.

High winds are expected to accompany the storm front. Rogers said that Mitchell could see south southeast winds shifting to north northeast and gusting up to 35 or even as high as 55 mph overnight into Saturday, raising the possibility of drifting snow and possible whiteout conditions depending on snowfall.

Mitchell will be under a high wind advisory from 10 p.m. Friday until 1 p.m. Saturday, Rogers said.

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There is a 60% chance of snow on Saturday, as well, mostly before 1 p.m. From there the sun will emerge and skies will become mainly clear, with highs in the 40s. The winds are forecast to remain, blowing at 35 miles per hour. Those winds will ease up slightly Saturday night as temperatures will again drop to around 18 degrees, but gusts of up to 30 miles per hour are still possible.

While Mitchell is expected to miss the brunt of the storm system, Rogers said residents should keep an eye on the forecast and travel conditions, particularly if they have plans to travel east into Minnesota or Iowa.

"When you overlap these winds with snow, that's where the concern is for visibility. With heavier snow to the east, the wind will make travel hazardous to the east," Rogers said.

Mild weather and temperatures are expected to return Sunday and Monday. Sunday has an expected high near 51 degrees, and Monday temperatures could climb to 68. That means any snow that did fall over the weekend will likely not last long.

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It will be brief reprieve before precipitation is expected to return Tuesday, with a 20% chance of rain after 1 p.m. That is expected to change to snow sometime before 1 a.m. Wednesday, with snow likely after 1 a.m. Chances of precipitation are 60% for Tuesday night. Wednesday also carries a 40% chance of snow at this time, Rogers said.

Despite the ugly conditions expected around Mitchell, Rogers said the storm will be far worse to the east of Interstate 90, where thunderstorms could produce potential tornadoes in some areas. Tornadoes are not expected in eastern South Dakota, but Rogers said residents should be mindful of weather reports.

Rogers encouraged readers to stay up to date with weather changes by visiting

www.weather.gov/fsd

and checking

sd511.org

for travel conditions.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Happy Friday Utah! A few scattered flurries are still moving through the region this afternoon, but overall drier conditions are expected for now.

A quick-moving wave will move into the Beehive state late Friday night into Saturday, bringing another round of light snow showers. This system will not be as strong or impressive as our prior storm, but anything that does fall, should be in the form of snow. Highs on Saturday will be in the lower 40s north, and mid 50s south. The best chance for precipitation with this system will be some rain showers and some rumbles Friday evening and night in St. George, otherwise mainly a north and central event during the day Saturday.

We will be in between storm systems Sunday into Monday, but look for gusty south winds to return to the state. Highs on Sunday will be near 60, with highs in southern Utah climbing into the mid 60s.

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LDS Church announces General Conference dates and time schedule

Monday will feature increasing clouds with highs climbing into the low 60s along the Wasatch Front, with highs in the low 70 across southwest Utah.

The warmth and dryness will not last long, as our next storm system arrives on Tuesday bringing another big cooldown, and the chance for valley rain changing to snow into Tuesday night, along with rain showers returning to southern Utah.

Overall, the active and cooler pattern will continue through most of next week with another system possible late next week. Be sure to stay with your 4Warn Weather team for updates.

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Well keep you posted on the latest information in our 4Warn Weather forecast both on-air and online, we are Good4Utah!

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Plover nesting season has arrived on the Oregon Coast and officials are reminding beachgoers to be mindful in their habitat.

From March 15 through Sept. 15, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department says beachgoers can help with recovery efforts for the western snowy plover, which is threatened, and their population has been declining.

During nesting season, signs might be seen at trail heads and certain areas could be roped off to help protect the small birds and their exposed nests.

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VIDEO: Semi truck driver gets stuck on Oregon beach

Officials said that during nesting season, the nests and chicks are well camouflaged and that human disturbances can scare away the adult plovers, but left alone too long, the eggs and chicks can die from exposure or predators.

With the support of the public and improvements to plover habitat, were making great strides in reversing the decline of this species, said Cindy Burns, Siuslaw National Forest wildlife biologist. Keep doing your part to understand nesting season rules and to share the beach this spring and summer.

From March till September, designated plover beaches, which can be found on the Parks and Recreation website, have specific rules including not allowing dogs, vehicles, or camping and keeping all foot traffic to below the high-tide line where sand is harder packed.

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Western snowy plovers have been a threatened species since 1993 when officials said they only counted 45 breeding adults, but thanks to ongoing efforts, as of 2024 officials counted 440 breeding adults.

We appreciate visitors support in keeping these shorebirds safe in the combined 40 miles of protected area along the coast. We invite visitors to enjoy permitted recreation in those areas or to recreate without seasonal restrictions on the hundreds of miles of beaches not designated as plover nesting areas, said Laurel Hillmann, ocean shore specialist for Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

Wildlife experts like Siuslaw National Forest biologist Cindy Burns have marked plover nesting areas along trailheads and posted nesting maps online for the northern and southern Oregon coasts to educate the public about the delicate habitat.

With the support of the public and improvements to plover habitat, were making great strides in reversing the decline of this species, Burns said. Keep doing your part to understand nesting season rules and to share the beach this spring and summer.

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WESTON, W.Va. (WBOY)  Lewis County drivers near Weston could run into a sobriety checkpoint on Friday evening according to a press release from the West Virginia State Police (WVSP).

According to the release, the Weston Detachment of the WVSP will be operating the checkpoint from 6 p.m. to midnight on U.S. Route 33 East in front of Appalachian Glass near downtown Weston.

The checkpoint may be moved to Hackers Creek Rd./County Route 7 if the primary location becomes unusable or unsafe.

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Driving while impaired or under the influence can result in months or years of jail time and fines of up to $3,000 according to the West Virginia Department of Transportation.

In accordance with West Virginia state law, law enforcement is required to publicize planned sobriety checkpoints. During the checkpoint, troopers will stop drivers in a pattern and can conduct sobriety checks on anyone they believe is impaired.

Victim claims robbers stole his cigarettes and meth in Fairmont, officers say

The checkpoints are meant to help reduce drunk and impaired driving in areas of concern. Although there could be some slowdown in traffic during the checkpoint, officers must be brief and keep the flow of traffic moving.

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PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  A drone operator captured a rare video of a manta ray near Honeymoon Island with something very unusual swimming above it on Friday.

John Yanchoris said he flew his drone about 1,000 feet from shore at Honeymoon Island when he spotted a manta ray.

I saw something very unusual swimming directly on top of it, I didnt realize what it was until I downloaded the video and viewed it, Yanchoris said. Wow, it was a shark swimming directly on top of a manta ray. I could not believe it!

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WATCH: Huge alligator sunbathes on Florida golf course

Two manta ray species call Florida home: the Devil Ray and the Giant Manta. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said they are protected in Florida waters and are of little danger to humans.

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So clean

I must commend Shaggys in Biloxi for having a clean parking lot. I noticed they have trash bins at every exit. Cities should adopt ordinances requiring businesses to have trash bins and maintain them.

Mo money

What do you mean states like Mississippi have no money to assist folks in the event of disasters like hurricanes if FEMA is eliminated? Mississippi is awash in money! Just ask our governor who wants to abolish the state income tax.

Conflict of ideas

I see DOGE has eliminated a consulting contract for fiscal stewardship to improve management and program operations in order to drive innovation and improve efficiency and effectiveness of business services; rethink, realign and reskill the workforce; and enhance program delivery through a number of transformational initiatives. That sounds like what DOGE claims its mission is. They should be applauding work like this, not eliminating contracts. Or maybe they viewed it as competition?

I remember

What happened to the peace-loving Democrats who once cried about giving peace a chance?

Ut oh, Canada

Canada provides more than 60% of U.S. aluminum. Think of all the products that contain aluminum, everything from auto parts to foil wrapped food, even that 6-pack of soda, beer, canned foods and beverages. President Trumps tariffs will greatly increase prices on consumers.

Pace yourself

Liberal heads explode every time Trump does or says anything. They are gonna need more Tums. Im gonna need more popcorn.

All this winning

So were tanking the stock market to own the libs? Is that it?

Send your Sound Offs to soundoff@sunherald.com.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Saturday he had noted the regrettable expulsion of the countrys ambassador to the United States and urged all stakeholders to maintain decorum.

South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States of America, he said in the statement.

This is a new low-point for relations between the two countries, which have been tense since President Donald Trump took office.

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On Friday night, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio took to the X platform to declare the South African ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, persona non grata and said he was no longer welcome in the country.

Rubio also shared a link from the right-wing website Breitbart, in which statements by Rasool were discussed.

In a video workshop organized by a South African think tank, the diplomat argued, among other things, that US President Donald Trump is strengthening nationalist forces worldwide. In this context, he also mentioned the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Based on these statements, Rubio accused Rasool of race-baiting and said the ambassador hated the US and Trump.

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In February, Trump accused the South African government of having unjust and immoral practices and signed an executive order to freeze aid to the country.

He cited a law passed in South Africa that allows land to be expropriated in the public interest to compensate for injustices that occurred during the racist apartheid era (1948-94). At that time, land was systematically distributed unequally along ethnic lines, especially to white South Africans.

Rubio also refused to attend the G20 meeting of foreign ministers held in Johannesburg in February, claiming the country is "doing very bad things."
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WSAV)  The Covington Drive wildfire in Horry County, S.C., burned more than 1,600 acres. No homes or injuries were reported from the fire.

Now the South Carolina Forestry Commission has released plans for a mastication project that will continue wildfire suppression efforts.

Mastication is when hazardous vegetation is ground into a layer of mulch, reducing flammable materials and allowing better access for firefighters.

While firebreaks are currently containing the fire, infrared searches have indicated there are still many hotspots. Since many homes are adjacent to the fire zone, this project will create a buffer against any flare ups. A zone like this gives firefighters the room this need.

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This buffer zone will be approximately 30 feet wide. It will help with the present situation and make it easier to protect homes in case of future fires.

The project is expected to last seven to ten days. Horry County Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service are working with the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

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WOODSON COUNTY, Kans.  A nursing home in Yates Center is evacuated due to a nearby grass fire Friday afternoon.

The emergency management office tells us initially, the fire caused some smoke and water damage to Yates Center Health and Rehab on Fry Street near 105th Road. Initially the facility was spared from the flames.

However, Woodson County Sheriff Jacob Morrison announced on social media that the facility was still on fire. The winds continued to hamper fire fighters efforts.

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It is currently burning the North Hall of the facility, bringing it closer to the unburned areas north of the nursing home, Morrison said.

Officials are asking residents in the southwest area of Yates Center to keep an eye out for hotspots showing up due to the burning embers.

All the residents of the nursing home are safe and were transported to another location for their continued safety.

Its just one of several fires first responders are working in and around the area.

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JASPER, MN (KELO)  A southwest Minnesota man, already facing child porn charges, has been arrested again on similar charges.

Agents with the Buffalo Ridge Drug and Violent Crime Task Force arrested Marco Alejandro Ojeda after carrying out a search warrant at his Jasper, MN home on Tuesday.

Rapid City firearm possession & illegal reentry sentence

Hes charged with possession of pornographic work involving minors under the age of 14 years.

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A previous search warrant resulted in 20 counts of child porn filed against him in February 2023.

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)  The replacements for NASAs two stuck astronauts launched to the International Space Station on Friday night, paving the way for the pairs return after nine long months.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams need SpaceX to get this relief team to the space station before they can check out. Arrival is set for late Saturday night.

NASA wants overlap between the two crews so Wilmore and Williams can fill in the newcomers on happenings aboard the orbiting lab. That would put them on course for an undocking next week and a splashdown off the Florida coast, weather permitting.

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The duo will be escorted back by astronauts who flew up on a rescue mission on SpaceX last September alongside two empty seats reserved for Wilmore and Williams on the return leg.

Reaching orbit from NASAs Kennedy Space Center, the newest crew includes NASAs Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, both military pilots; and Japans Takuya Onishi and Russias Kirill Peskov, both former airline pilots. They will spend the next six months at the space station, considered the normal stint, after springing Wilmore and Williams free.

Spaceflight is tough, but humans are tougher," McClain said minutes into the flight.

As test pilots for Boeings new Starliner capsule, Wilmore and Williams expected to be gone just a week or so when they launched from Cape Canaveral on June 5. A series of helium leaks and thruster failures marred their trip to the space station, setting off months of investigation by NASA and Boeing on how best to proceed.

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Eventually ruling it unsafe, NASA ordered Starliner to fly back empty last September and moved Wilmore and Williams to a SpaceX flight due back in February. Their return was further delayed when SpaceXs brand new capsule needed extensive battery repairs before launching their replacements. To save a few weeks, SpaceX switched to a used capsule, moving up Wilmore and Williams homecoming to mid-March.

Already capturing the worlds attention, their unexpectedly long mission took a political twist when President Donald Trump and SpaceXs Elon Musk vowed earlier this year to accelerate the astronauts return and blamed the former administration for stalling it.

Retired Navy captains who have lived at the space station before, Wilmore and Williams have repeatedly stressed that they support the decisions made by their NASA bosses since last summer. The two helped keep the station running  fixing a broken toilet, watering plants and conducting experiments  and even went out on a spacewalk together. With nine spacewalks, Williams set a new record for women: the most time spent spacewalking over a career.

A last-minute hydraulics issue delayed Wednesday's initial launch attempt. Concern arose over one of the two clamp arms on the Falcon rockets support structure that needs to tilt away right before liftoff. SpaceX later flushed out the arm's hydraulics system, removing trapped air.

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The duo's extended stay has been hardest, they said, on their families  Wilmores wife and two daughters, and Williams husband and mother. Besides reuniting with them, Wilmore, a church elder, is looking forward to getting back to face-to-face ministering and Williams cant wait to walk her two Labrador retrievers.

We appreciate all the love and support from everybody, Williams said in an interview earlier this week. This mission has brought a little attention. Theres goods and bads to that. But I think the good part is more and more people have been interested in what were doing with space exploration.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A Springfield man was indicted in federal court Friday afternoon in connection with cocaine possession and firearms offenses.

Illegal burning sparks brush fire, damages Agawam home

Pedro Deleon, 32, was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug distribution.

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Charging documents stated that on October 22, 2024, Deleon was allegedly found to be in possession of illicit drugs and firearms, and was subsequently arrested as a result.

Deleon had also been previously convicted, punishable by a crime exceeding one year.

With Deleons combined charges and his record as a felon, he could face a minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison, as well as a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He also faces paying a fine of up to $1 million.

Deleon will be sentenced at a later date.

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. JOSEPH, Ill. (WCIA)  St. Joseph will pay tribute to fallen Illinois State Trooper and village local Corey Thompsen with a street designation in his memory.

The board approved earlier this week the naming of Peters Drive after Thompsen, who died in an on-duty motorcycle crash in October. The suggestion to designate a street in Thompsens memory was made by Timbra Hilton, a teacher at St. Joseph Middle School who taught Thompsen there 15 years ago.

Champaign Co. residents pushing for safety increase at notorious intersection

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Hilton said at the board meeting that it didnt matter to her which street is designated in Thompsens honor, but his family had decided on Peters Drive, the street St. Joseph Middle School is on.

I spoke with Susan Thompsen [Thompsens mother], and she spoke with the family, I told her a couple of different options that I had proposed, Hilton said. And they went out together as a family one night and thought it would be nice on Peters Drive.

Hilton also expressed that the family should be allowed to consider how far the designation will span.

I also live on Peters Drive right down here, and it was just it was really nice to see how the whole community got behind a fallen officer, said Tyler Mccune, Middle School P.E. Teacher. And we really support our police and St. Joe, and I mean, I feel like it really showed when we got to honor him with this tree and then also the volleyball game, the fundraiser and whatnot. It was it was really cool.

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St. Joseph community remembers Trooper Thompsen with volleyball game fundraiser

However long the designation will be, the board agreed on having signs at both ends to mark the beginning and end. Hilton also brought up the idea of having a sign in front of the middle school.

I think that would be a great designation in front of the school for future generations to recognize, she said.

The village board agreed to officially pass the motion with a resolution at its next meeting, which will be March 25.

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ST. LAWERENCE COUNTY, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  St. Lawrence County sheriff deputies were called to an emergency at the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility on Friday, March 14 at 2:04 p.m.

Sheriff deputies said that they found an inmate dead in his cell. The inmate has been identified as 51-year-old John Free.

Free was indicted back in January for second-degree murder among other charges of an alleged killing of a Rensselaer Falls man.

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St. Lawrence County man indicted for April 2024 murder

Its alleged that Free, who was a former worker at the Academy at Ivy Ridge, murdered 58-year-old John Barr at his residence in Rensselaer Falls in early April 2024. Barrs body was eventually found after a welfare check by New York State Police.

The New York State Attorney Generals Office and the New York State Police are currently investigating this incident.

This is an ongoing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pointed out two main pressure points that could push Russia to the negotiating table.

Source: Starmer at a press conference after an online meeting with the leaders of the coalition of the willing, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Starmer was asked what could be done to force Russia to the negotiating table

Quote: "The first is more military capability for Ukraine and fresh commitments have been put on the table this morning in that regard."

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The second, he said, is a set of sanctions against Russia.

"We want to tighten the sanctions still further. And we discussed this morning how much further we can go, including the question of frozen assets," he said.

"So we discussed further sanctions that have got nothing to do with the assets which we will take forward as a result of this morning's discussion, but also continuing the discussion about what more can be done on the assets themselves," Starmer said.

Background:

Recently, dozens of European MPs urged Belgium to confiscate Russian assets frozen under its jurisdiction.

On 13 March, the French National Assembly [the lower chamber of the French parliament] adopted a resolution calling for increased support for Ukraine and the seizure of frozen Russian assets.

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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that military officials will meet next week to plan for a possible peace deal in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Source: Starmer at a press conference after a virtual meeting with leaders participating in the coalition of the willing, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Starmer noted that the "coalition of the willing" is more important than ever before.

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Quote: "We agreed we will keep increasing the pressure on Russia, keep the military aid flowing to Ukraine, and keep tightening restrictions on Russia's economy to weaken Putin's war machine and bring him to the table," he said.

Starmer added that the nations from the coalition had agreed to accelerate practical work to support a potential peace deal.

"So we will now move into an operational phase. Our militaries will meet on Thursday this week here in the United Kingdom to put strong and robust plans in place to swing in behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraine's future security," the UK prime minister stressed.

"President Trump has offered Putin the way forward to a lasting peace. Now we must make this a reality. So this is the moment to keep driving towards the outcome that we want to see: to end the killing, [to achieve] a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and lasting security for all of us," he stressed.

Background:

Bloomberg reported that France and the UK are leading discussions with 37 countries to form a "coalition of the willing" for Ukraine in the event of a peaceful settlement.

On 12 March, the defence ministers from five leading European countries held talks in Paris to coordinate support for Ukraine. They will meet again next week to continue discussing "military planning" in the event of a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.

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LONDON (AP)  U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told global leaders to keep the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to back a ceasefire in Ukraine.

In his opening remarks Saturday to a virtual gathering of what he has termed the coalition of the willing, Starmer said Putin will sooner or later have to come to the table.

The call is expected to delve into how countries can help Ukraine militarily and financially as well as gauging support for any future possible peacekeeping mission.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT)  Governor Kay Ivey (R) declared a state of emergency in Alabama today. Theres a possibility of tornadoes this weekend, and the state is stopping at nothing to prepare.

At the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, response teams are getting ready. They said the weather this weekend should be taken seriously in every part of the state. When the Governor declares a state of emergency, it allows agencies to work more effectively. Thats according to Gregory Robinson with the state EMA.

But, even when theres a state of emergency issue, thats just another example that individuals should take whats being forecast serious, said Robinson.

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As a result of that proclamation, he said they are already coordinating a response effort with other agencies, some of those being the Law Enforcement Agency and the Department of Public Health. Robinson said you should have emergency items ready before the storm comes.

If you have your electricity go out, you want to have a flashlight, explained Robinson. You want to have a way to still receive updates. You might have a weather radio thats part of your kit.

Greater Birmingham Humane Society offers tips for pet safety in severe weather events

That kit should also include a portable charger, according to Joey Blackwell with Alabama Power. He said its important to charge your devices. Blackwell also said theres over 3,000 resources joining them from twelve other states to help.

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We have an all hands on deck approach to restore power quickly and as safely as possible, said Blackwell. Our storm center is prepared with a storm plan, which includes crews staged across the state, and ready to work as soon as it is safe to do so.

He said they will be watching for fallen trees on powerlines.

Now, in different areas, some areas are more difficult to reach than others. So, we just ask that our customers please remain patient during those times if they experience an outage, Blackwell explained.

Robinson said, at the end of the day, connection is key.

Stay informed, know whats happening in your local area. Know that you have a clear way to communicate with people youre responsible for. Know that you need multiple ways to get alerts and have some situational awareness.

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In her proclamation, Gov. Ivey directed the Alabama National Guard to prepare to be activated on order of the Governor to respond to the event. Her state of emergency went into effect at 2 p.m., and it will remain in effect until she terminates it.

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BOSTON (WWLP)  This week at the State House in Boston, state leadership focused on big picture items like federal funding and a legislative audit, while advocates fought for budget funding for their causes.

Following a Monday afternoon leadership meeting, the governor addressed the impact of losing federal funding on Massachusetts economy.

She says there is no possible way for the state to fill in the gaps. Are you kidding? said Governor Healey. The numbers are so huge that there is no way the state can begin to fill the void.

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State leadership addressed the state auditors voter-approved audit of the legislature. They say they will not be taking their constitutional concerns to the Supreme Judicial Court.

You have to understand, why would we ask for an opinion from the SJC? Because shes the one thats driving the question. Shes the one that campaigned for the question. She was the one out knocking doors for the question, said House Speaker Ron Mariano.

On Friday morning the Fiscal Alliance released a poll of likely voters, and they say its clear that Massachusetts residents support the auditor, with over 80% of those polled saying the attorney general should get involved.

If I was the attorney general, Id be pretty careful with this oneif she has any future aspirations in politics, even if shes suing Trump five days a week, this could be something that could come back and haunt her, said Mass Fiscal spokesperson Paul Craney.

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Advocates continued to hold State House events to fight for funding in the fiscal year 2026 budget.

This week, lawmakers heard from supporters of the earned income tax credit, students and teachers fighting for civics education, and organizations advocating for multilingual access to social services.

Local News Headlines

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MISSOURI  The first half of Missouris legislative session has surprised many, with leaders across the state acknowledging the unprecedented sense of cooperation and efficiency that has defined this years proceedings.

It is hands down the most efficient session that Ive experienced, said State Rep. Lane Roberts, R-Joplin.

When asked what the biggest achievement was thus far, several key figures in the Missouri state legislature responded with a unanimous sentiment including State Senator Jill Carter of the 32nd District.

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I wish the last two years would have been like this year, said Senator Jill Carter, R-32nd District.

State Representative Ben Baker from Neosho, who is currently serving his seventh year in the House, is sponsoring 22 bills, with two already passing the House, making their way to the Senate.

Ive gotten more bills done by spring break this year than I have in any of those years previous, said State Rep. Ben Baker, R-Neosho.

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So, whats behind this change in pace? Several representatives point to a collective commitment to working together.

Baker credits the leadership in both the legislature and the governors office for helping steer the ship in the right direction.

The governor, I think, has been a big part of that. Governor Kehoe has been great, very engaged, working with the legislature, said Baker.

From 2021 to 2023, the Missouri legislature passed over 70 bills.

Last year, that number dropped to 52.

This year, however, the pace is picking up, with nine bills already passed and more in the final stages of debate.

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Governor Mike Kehoe takes a more nuanced view of legislative success. While hes pleased with the progress, he stresses that numbers alone dont tell the full story.

I want Missourians to understand that laws arent the answer to everything. Im a person that believes we should have less government in everybodys life, said Governor Mike Kehoe, R-Missouri.

But there are key items he was pleased to see advance.

Our crime bill was passed through the House and Senate. It was our number one priority as governor, going into this. Lots of tools for law enforcement all across the state in that bill, said Kehoe.

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In the Senate, where partisan infighting and personality conflicts were once frequent roadblocks, Senator Carter pointed out how things have shifted.

And now, to be able to just focus on the people, and the people that we represent and try to move the needle, is the reason why I ran, said Carter.

That spirit of cooperation, coupled with the governors leadership, are what Roberts points to when offering his assessment of the first half of the session.

This has been a great session, said Roberts.

When the legislature returns to Jefferson City for the second half of the session, lawmakers are hopeful that this momentum will continue, as they tackle the remaining issues on the agenda.

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Tomorrow night, well dive deeper into the work that still lies ahead.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Ohio lawmakers are deciding how to spend billions of taxpayer dollars for the two-year state operating budget. Among those decisions, is whether free school breakfasts and lunches should be served to all students.

Weve seen time and time again why that makes for better outcomes for kids [by] just making sure that they have those meals at school, Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) said. Providing it universally, theres no stigma attached to who gets a meal, who doesnt. Its just all the kids are the same in that classroom.

There are real questions folks have when these school lunch proposals are talking about paying for the richest 1%; [they] would still qualify for a free lunch, Ohio House Finance Chair Representative Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) said. I dont think that sits real well with some folks like myself.

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Right now, the state operating budget, as proposed by Governor Mike DeWine, requires schools to participate in a federal school meal program to secure the maximum federal money available, but it does not universally fund these programs. Advocates said the state should do its part and step in.

When Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) was asked if he is supportive of the program, he said the answer to that is no.

Many parents dont want to have their children eating the breakfast thats at school, thats one, he said. Two, many parents can afford to pay for their breakfast.

Huffman added not only that, but there is a ton of waste in this program, as it is required that all the food be given out.

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If were going to say buy it all for everybody whether they want it or not, need it or not, are going to use it or not, thats when you end up having a lot of waste, he said.

Ohio State under federal investigation, accused of race-exclusionary practices

Universal free lunch and breakfast across the state is estimated to cost Ohio $300 million a year. Breakfast alone would be $50 million. And Republican leaders are not too keen on that price tag.

Theyre really expensive asks, Stewart said. So, if we cut 10 other things and made deep cuts elsewhere, you can afford to do a lot.

We should be able to afford it. These are our children; these are our future. I cant think of a whole lot of things that are more important than making sure out children succeed, Antonio said.

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But high school students, like Corbin Eaton, a junior at Antwerp High School in Northwest Ohio said the argument to fully fund school breakfast and lunch is simple.

No student should have to think about when or where their next meal should be, Eaton said.

Eaton said at the end of last school year, he and his siblings stopped qualifying for free meals because his mom went back to work. But then, unexpected barriers arose when his mom was hospitalized.

In the fall of last year, she started having serious health issues that required three surgeries in less than a week and she was in the hospital for close to a month, he said.

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Eaton even with his mom back to work, money was tight, and her being hospitalized made things even tighter.

I mean grocery shop here and there but not frequently like we should, Eaton said.

Eaton said if his family still qualified for free meals, it would have been a weight off his, his younger siblings and his parents shoulders during the hard time. Instead, Eaton said at times he had to struggle through classes in the morning before he was able to get lunch in the afternoon.

I still have that trouble, he said. Im just one to usually just eat lunch at school. That helps me perform academically better in the afternoon.

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Eaton said even though he is graduating in a year, he hopes something gets done, even if it goes into effect once he is out of high school, it will help his younger siblings.

The state budget, where this funding would end up if lawmakers decide to add it, is getting worked on right now. It will likely pass at the end of June.

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With spring will come warmer temperatures, flora in bloom -- and millions of screaming insects emerging from their resting place beneath the ground.

Three species of cicada that only emerge once every 17 years are gearing up to spring to the surface in droves, when they will plague several regions on the East Coast with swarms of insects that are not visible for the majority of their lifetimes.

Cicadas make sure they are seen and heard during these events. The sounds of millions of singing cicadas will soon fill the air. Cicada nymphs and exoskeletons will litter the ground. Adult cicadas will be seen flying through the air and resting on trees and plants, experts told ABC News. In addition, cicadas are large and "very active," said John Cooley, an entomologist at the University of Connecticut.

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MORE: Nature's next big show  cicada double emergence

What to know about this year's periodical cicada emergence:

Brood XIV will emerge this time

Brood XIV, the second-largest periodical cicada brood, last emerged in 2008, Tamra Reall, an entomologist at the University of Missouri, told ABC News.

Since then, the nymphs of those periodical cicadas have been underground feeding on tree root tap and waiting to come out, Reall said.

Brood XIV was first discovered by European colonists in the 1600s, who assumed the swarm of insects was akin to a biblical plague before they realized the pattern of emergence, Cooley said.

PHOTO: In this May 29, 2024, file photo, shells left behind by cicada nymphs from an emerging 17-year cicada brood remain on the ground next to holes created when they burrowed to the surface in Park Ridge, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images, FILE)

Periodical cicadas differ from annual cicadas that emerge every year, the experts said.

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Annual cicadas have a green coloring but periodical cicadas are black and orange, Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, an entomologist and associate director at the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program at Cornell University, told ABC News.

In addition, annual cicadas tend to emerge in the "dog days" of summer -- in July and August -- rather than in the spring, Cooley said.

Those who witness emergences can upload their accounts to Cicada Safari, a citizen science program that tracks cicada events, Cooley said.

MORE: These US cities could see surge in disease-spreading pests this spring

When and where to expect a cicada emergence

A large swath of the eastern U.S. -- from Massachusetts down to Mississippi and Georgia -- will start to see cicadas emerge once temperatures begin to warm up, Gangloff-Kaufmann said.

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States like Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee and North Carolina can expect to witness the emergence of Brood XIV this year, the experts said.

PHOTO: In this May 29, 2024, file photo, cicadas from a 17-year cicada brood cling to a tree on in Park Ridge, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The emergence will be triggered once the soil temperature about 6 inches below ground reaches 64 degrees -- typically about mid-May to late June, depending on the region, Gangloff-Kaufmann said.

The event typically happens "suddenly" over days or weeks, Cooley said.

MORE: How scientists are tracking mosquitoes that could be carrying deadly diseases

Why you shouldn't fear (or kill) cicadas

The emergence of cicadas is "just like out of a sci-fi movie," Reall said.

First, holes -- or exit tunnels -- start to appear in the ground, and the nymphs will be seen popping out before they look for something to climb up, whether it be a tree or fence post, Reall said.

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Once the nymphs find somewhere to stop on their climbs, they molt and the adult cicada will emerge, Cooley said. The males will begin to sing to garner the females' attention, Reall said.

"We, as people, can actually observe this magical part of the insect metamorphosis," Reall said.

After the adults are active for a few weeks, the females lay their eggs, the adults die, and the nymphs remain underground until it's time for them to emerge again, more than a decade later.

"It's kind of shocking how fast it all disappears," Cooley said.

PHOTO: In this May 29, 2024, file photo, a cicada from a 17-year cicada brood clings to a leaf in Park Ridge, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

However, it's important to remember that cicadas are not dangerous, Gangloff-Kaufmann said.

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Cicadas are not a threat to humans to animals, the experts said, imploring those who encounter them to avoid killing them -- whether by squishing them or spraying them with pesticides. They don't bite, and if your pets ingest them, they will be fine, the experts said.

"People tend to be terribly afraid of insects, and these guys are big, but they are harmless," Gangloff-Kaufmann said.

In addition, cicadas are beneficial to tree health because the holes they create can lead to better moisture drainage into the soil and some natural pruning, Reall said.

"These are a natural part of the forest," Cooley said.

These states can expect to see a 17-year periodical cicada emergence this spring originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
British steelmakers have demanded wind farm-style support from the taxpayer as the sector is hit by Donald Trumps trade war.

Trade body UK Steel urged the Government to shield manufacturers from high industrial energy prices by offering the same protections it offers the renewables sector. The steel industry is calling for more support after it was hit this week by new American tariffs.

The US president imposed a 25pc charge on all steel and aluminium imports to America this week. These tariffs will hit UK steel exports to the US, which are worth around 360m per year.

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Unlike European Union leaders, Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, has not yet announced retaliatory measures, but he has said he will keep all options on the table.

UK Steel called for the government to introduce a price mechanism known as a Contract for Difference (CfD) to protect the steel industry from high energy prices.

British steelmakers pay up to 50pc more for industrial energy prices than their counterparts in Germany and France, according to the trade group.

Unlike France, Italy and Spain, the UK has no mechanism to protect steel manufacturers from high wholesale energy prices.

The CfD system would shield steel manufacturers from prices above a certain level but would mean the sector would have to pay the Government back if prices fell below the agreed stake price, UK Steel said.

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Frank Aaskov, a director at UK Steel, said: The British steel industry is at a severe competitive disadvantage due to long-term high electricity costs.

The UK is an outlier as European competitors benefit from government wholesale price mechanisms that shield them from high power prices.

Mr Aaskov said these measures would secure thousands of jobs and safeguard national steel production as geopolitical turbulence increases.

We cannot have electricity prices tying one hand behind our back any longer, Mr Aaskov added.

UK Steel said that these protections would enable manufacturers to invest in low-carbon technologies such as electric arc furnaces, a type of furnace powered by electricity.

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A government spokesman said: Our mission is for clean power by 2030 because clean, home-grown energy is the best way to protect bill payers and boost Britains energy independence.

We are already bringing energy costs for steel closer in line with other major economies through the British Industry Supercharger.

This fully exempts eligible firms from certain costs linked to renewable energy policies, particularly those exposed to the high cost of electricity, such as steel.

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Mar. 15OREGON  A Stillman Valley man charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child will be evaluated by a psychologist to determine whether he is mentally fit to stand trial.

Joseph G. Dreesen, 24, was arrested Feb. 26 by Ogle County Sheriff's Office detectives along with members of the FBI after a search warrant was executed at a rural Stillman Valley home.

Dreesen was charged Feb. 27 with the Class X felony. He is accused of knowingly committing "an act of contact, however slight" with his body and the sex organ of a 6-year-old boy between Feb. 19, 2024, and Feb. 19, 2025. Dreesen is accused of touching the boy for his own "sexual gratification or arousal," according to court records.

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On Wednesday, Ogle County Assistant Public Defender Michael O'Brien requested that Dreesen be evaluated by a court-appointed clinical psychologist.

"I assert there is bona fide doubt as to ongoing mental health ability to assist with his defense," O'Brien told Judge Anthony Peska as he asked for the court-appointed evaluation.

Assistant State's Attorney Melissa Voss did not object to the evaluation.

Dreesen has been held at the Ogle County Jail since his arrest. O'Brien told Peska that Dreesen's mental state is a "growing concern" because he has not received a prescribed medication while in custody. O'Brien said the particular medication prescribed for Dreesen was not available at the jail.

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"The jail staff only has certain medications approved," O'Brien told Peska. "Stopping that medication is causing some ill effects for Mr. Dreesen."

O'Brien requested that Dreesen be released as his case progresses through the court system.

Peska denied that request.

"His detention is necessary," Peska said. He set the next court date for 10 a.m. May 21.

Class X felonies are punishable by six to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections with three years to natural life of mandatory supervised release. Defendants must serve 85% of their sentence and must register as a sex offender upon their release.
(FOX40.COM)  On Tuesday, Sean Arthur Robinson a 38-year-old from Stockton man was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge John A. Mendez to serve two years in prison with another three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm, acting United States Attorney Michele Beck said.

The United States Attorneys Office said that according to court documents, law enforcement officers recovered a Glock 27 semiautomatic firearm and a loaded high-capacity magazine inside a vehicle when serving a search warrant at the Robinsons residence in Stockton on Sept. 2022.

Sacramento Funeral Home sued for mishandling remains of deceased man

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Court documents said that on Sept. 2022 law enforcement officers also recovered two Glock switches that were inside a different residence that were associated with Robinson in Fairfield.

Robinson is prohibited from possessing firearms due to having prior convictions for elder abuse and for carrying a loaded firearm in public, USAO said. The investigation on Robinson started in May 2021 after surveillance footage caught him engaging in a violent shootout at the Grand Hyatt Hotel near San Francisco International Airport.

During the incident, Robinson and a fellow citizen attempted to carjack at least two other vehicles, and following the shootout, the law enforcement officers seized a black duffel bag that had the surveillance footage captured Robinson carrying just before the firefight started, and that contained three illegal firearms.

USAO said, This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods.

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Mar. 14Weather forecasters say whipping winds across the state will calm through the weekend before returning alongside scattered snowstorms.

The forecasted snow may come as a relief from the high winds New Mexicans have encountered this week, which spurred the National Weather Service to issue multiple wind advisories and dust storm warnings on Friday.

Areas across New Mexico registered peak wind gust speeds over 70 mph on Friday  including Cannon Air Force Base, Roswell and Clines Corners, which registered wind gusts of 75 mph. The Public Service Company of New Mexico also issued extreme weather advisories, warning customers that potential power disruptions may occur.

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"Saturday might be a little bit better than today in terms of the wind, but overall it's still going to be a cold and kind of unstable day," said Clay Anderson, a Weather Service meteorologist in Albuquerque.

Temperatures will be roughly 10 degrees below normal heading into the weekend, reaching a high of the mid-50s, according to Anderson. Residents in the Albuquerque metro area may notice snow Saturday morning, but a majority will be seen over western and central mountains.

"Overall, not the best day, but there will be significant improvements on Sunday," Anderson said. "We won't have a whole lot of wind to contend with in the afternoon hours."

Sunday will also mark a turn in temperatures, reaching a high in the mid-60s. Monday temperatures could reach the mid-70s.

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The warmer weather will only be temporary, Anderson said, as there may be additional winds in advance of the next storm system, expected to move directly over New Mexico on Tuesday.

"I would expect another round of strong winds and potentially some critical fire weather conditions and blowing dust next Tuesday," Anderson said.

The village of Wagon Mound in Mora County was on evacuation notice after a wildfire burned 3,000 acres Friday afternoon, enhanced by high wind speeds. The village was on a high wind warning until 6 p.m. and experienced wind gusts of roughly 60 mph.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  The San Francisco Fire Department said crews responded to the report of a cliff rescue at Fort Funston Beach involving a dog on Friday evening.

Google dumping Assistant for AI-powered Gemini

In an alert posted at 5:09 p.m. on X, formerly Twitter, SFFD said there was a dog with its leash around its neck off a cliff and told beach visitors to Avoid the Area. Ft. Funston is located at 899 Lake Merced Boulevard.

Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Fire Department.

Less than an hour later, San Francisco Fire updated that the stuck dog was safe, uninjured and reunited with its owner, continuing to enjoy their beach day.

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It is not clear what led to the incident.

SFFD added, We couldnt ask for a more PAWFECT conclusion.

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PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  A student at Manual High School was arrested Friday for allegedly bringing a gun to school.

According to Peoria police spokeswoman Semone Roth, officers responded to Manual High School on a report of a student with a handgun in their backpack at 10:45 a.m.

The school, located near the intersection of Griswold and Lincoln, was immediately placed on lockdown, and school resource officers took the 15-year-old student into custody until police arrived. No injuries were reported.

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Officers allegedly located a loaded handgun in the students bag. The student was arrested for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a firearm under 21, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a stolen firearm, no FOID, possession of a firearm, and disorderly conduct.

The student has been taken to the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center.

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After a scrubbed attempt this week, NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 mission successfully docked with the International Space Station after lifting off Friday evening from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA astronauts Sunita "Suni" Williams and Butch Wilmore are now one step closer to returning home from the ISS. The Dragon docked with the ISS at about midnight ET, SpaceX said.

Powered by a Falcon 9 rocket, the spacecraft had reached a speed of 17,500 mph as it headed into space after lifting off on Friday at 7:03 p.m. ET.

PHOTO: This screengrab image from NASA's live broadcast shows the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon capsule Endurance carrying the Crew-10 mission lifting off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on March 14, 2025. (NASA TV via AFP via Getty Images)

The launch was initially planned for Wednesday evening but postponed due to a problem with a ground support clamp arm on the Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX subsequently said the hydraulic system issue was fixed and the crew was once again cleared for take-off on Friday.

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Dragon is transporting the Crew-10 team made up of NASA astronaut Anne McClain, the mission's commander; NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers, the mission pilot; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi; and cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, with Roscosmo, Russia's space agency.

MORE: SpaceX says hydraulic issue that postponed Starliner mission fixed, clear for launch

Crew-10 will relieve four astronauts who are part of the current station crew, including Williams and Wilmore. The two astronauts planned to spend about a week on the ISS, but that brief stop turned into a nine-month mission when NASA determined that it was unsafe to bring them home on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft they rode into orbit.

The duo arrived at the ISS in early June, but in September, NASA opted to bring the Starliner back home empty due to concerns about technical issues with the craft. This mission marked Boeing's first crewed flight of the Starliner. An empty Starliner landed safely back on Earth on Sept. 6.

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The two American astronauts became part of the ISS Crew-9 team and have been actively engaged in research and maintenance of the station ever since. The extended time in space also allowed Williams to break the record for the most spacewalking time by a woman, with 62 hours and 6 minutes in the vacuum of space.

NASA has long insisted that Williams and Wilmore were never stuck or stranded.

PHOTO: NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Station's Harmony module and Starliner spacecraft. (NASA)

In September, three months after the pair arrived at the ISS, a Roscosmos Soyuz spacecraft arrived at the station with two cosmonauts and an American astronaut. Several weeks later, American astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov arrived at the station onboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft. Both vehicles have remained docked to the ISS and available for emergencies ever since.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom capsule that brought Hague and Gorbunov to the ISS is currently docked at the station will be the one that brings Williams, Wilmore and the two other Crew-9 astronauts back home. Endurance will remain docked at the station along with the Soyuz.

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There is a period of overlap when the new team and the current crew of seven work collaboratively to ensure a smooth handover. NASA has said Williams and Wilmore could be home as soon as Wednesday.

NASA said that Crew-10 will conduct more than 200 scientific experiments and technology demonstrations during their mission to help humans eventually go deeper into space.

SpaceX Dragon docks with ISS in mission to get NASA astronauts back to Earth originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A Nampa woman sought to sue for medical malpractice in a hernia repair that went wrong, only to see her Boise lawyer miss the legal deadline for suing. So she and her husband hired another Boise lawyer to file a different malpractice lawsuit  against the first lawyer.

Lawyer No. 2 lost his case against Lawyer No. 1 before a state judge in Boise. So Lawyer No. 2 appealed to the Idaho Supreme Court.

That court has now ruled against the woman, affirming the lower courts decision. And perhaps just as importantly, it ruled against Lawyer No. 2 himself. The courts unanimous ruling sharply criticized him, calling his case frivolous and saying he bungled his legal arguments and instead substituted unfounded personal attacks on the lower-court judge.

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You must pay the winning sides legal fees yourself, not charge them to your client, the court ordered.

It was a striking rebuke of a long-practicing local attorney by Idahos highest legal authority.

That lawyer, Angelo L. Rosa, is unrepentant. And his client, Julene Dodd, is sticking with him.

A surgery followed by incapacitating sickness

The Idaho Statesman chronicled Dodds struggle in a September story. She was 65 when she was admitted to Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in Nampa in 2017 with what turned out to be a large hiatal hernia. Dodd said a doctors surgery led to life-threatening medical problems that left her with end-stage kidney disease.

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The surgery was followed by sepsis, and the hospitals refusal to take corrective actions until the sepsis brought me to the edge of death rendered me unable to work due to exhaustion, the inability to mentally focus, and the inability to sit or stand for any length of time, Dodd said in a declaration filed in court.

Dodd and her husband, William, hired Boise lawyer Rory Jones to sue the surgeon and Saint Alphonsus for medical malpractice, seeking $5 million. Jones had represented Dodd in a divorce case about two decades earlier. But hiring Jones again only brought more woes, as his failure to file her case within the two-year statute of limitations led to its dismissal.

The Dodds then hired Rosa, who has practiced in Boise for more than 20 years, to sue Jones, alleging legal malpractice. But that case failed, too.

Ada County District Judge Cynthia Yee-Wallace excluded the testimony of Dodds medical expert, saying that he failed to show that he understood the community standard of care in Nampa, the Statesman reported in September.

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And the state medical board concluded that neither the doctor, Forrest Fredline, nor Saint Alphonsus had committed medical malpractice. Dodds post-surgery problem was a known recognized complication of Fredlines surgery, the board said.

2 malpractices cases, medical and legal, in one

Those medical conclusions were important in Dodds legal-malpractice lawsuit because, to show that Jones had committed legal malpractice, the Dodds first had to show that the physician committed medical malpractice, since that claim underlay the legal-malpractice case. Under the law, Dodd had to prove a case within a case  a heavier-than-usual legal burden.

Yee-Wallace said the arguments fell short. She granted Jones request to decide the case in Jones favor without holding a jury trial.

Afterward, Rosa said Yee-Wallace, who was appointed by Gov. Brad Little in 2021 and won election to the seat in 2022, was inexperienced when she ruled in 2023 and couldnt see the big picture. He condemned Idahos legal system for consistently ruling in favor of lawyers in legal-malpractice cases.

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Rosa said Dodd is the example of what happens when professionals are not held accountable.

Julene Dodd lives with her husband on a farm in Nampa. She routinely lifted 80-pound hay bales before her hernia surgery at Saint Alphonsus. Now, she cant vacuum her home without taking multiple breaks to rest, according to her attorney.

Rosa told the Statesman in September that Dodd spent two years on a transplant list before a kidney became available. But she had to turn it down, he said. They couldnt afford even the Medicare copay, Rosa said.

The Dodds survive on William Dodds income as a long-haul truck driver. Rosa said in September that the cost of the transplant procedure is about $500,000. Medicare would pay 80%. Anti-rejection medications would cost Dodd over $1,500 a month for the rest of her life.

Justices unanimous: Rosa fouled up

The Supreme Court held a hearing on Rosas appeal on Sept. 9. On March 3, all five justices ruled that Yee-Wallaces judgment was correct. It was Rosa who botched the case, they implied: He at times failed to cite legal authority to support the appeal, misconstrued and misquoted this Courts precedent and lobbed hyperbolic personal attacks at the district court.

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Rosas main argument, the court said, was that Jones was now trying to say that no medical malpractice occurred when Jones too-late lawsuit said it had. The high court sided with Jones argument that his lawsuit on the Dodds behalf did not prohibit him from arguing now that no medical malpractice occurred. That freedom is vital to enable lawyers to represent future clients vigorously, the justices said.

Jones, a Boise lawyer since 1982 and a former president of the Boise school board, did not respond to two Statesman emails requesting an interview.

The court also shot down Rosas contention that Yee-Wallace abused her discretion by excluding testimony from the Dodds experts. The justices said Rosas claims of judicial bias by Yee-Wallace was essentially a tantrum against a judges decision by one who did not adequately do the foundational work to present the case in the trial court as required by Idaho law.

4th District Judge Cynthia Yee-Wallace.

The justices awarded Jones attorneys fees, as he requested, but said responsibility for the frivolous nature of this appeal lies at the feet of the Dodds counsel, Angelo Rosa  not the Dodds. It ordered Rosa to pay Joness fees as a sanction on Rosas behavior.

A good and honest woman  has suffered

Rosa told the Statesman on Friday that he stands by his previous criticism and believes the Supreme Courts decision proves his point about judicial bias.

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The passion of my advocacy was (and remains) driven by the sympathy I have for a good and honest woman who has suffered at the hands of those who owed her the highest duties of care, he said by email. Malpractice is a taboo subject in Idahos small and interconnected legal community. In the past 30 years, there has not been a single appellate opinion favoring a client in a legal malpractice action.

He said the Dodds wish to carry on with the pursuit of available remedies. Certain decisions made by the Court when issuing its opinion have created a broader scope of remedies. He declined to disclose what those remedies may be.

Rosa also did not say whether he would pay the attorneys fees as ordered. There are many steps that can, and must, be taken for Julenes sake before the issue of sanctions against me can be resolved, he said.

Dodd has not given up hope despite the series of defeats. She told the Statesman by text Friday that Rosa remains her attorney.

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She declined a request for an interview, suggesting that she might join a three-way call with Rosa and the Statesman. But Rosa, citing a last-minute work obligation, canceled a scheduled call and answered questions by email instead.

Do justices need self-reflection?

Rosa called the five Supreme Court justices  Chief Justice G. Richard Bevan and Justices Robyn M. Brody, Gregory W. Moeller, Colleen D. Zahn and Cynthia K.C. Meyer  remarkable jurists and decent human beings. But he told the Statesman that they need to look into themselves.

Focusing on the real issues would require a degree of self-reflection of the bench and bar that is uncomfortable but necessary, Rosa said. My hope is that a more evolved approach will eventually be taken in matters such as this.

As for the justices? In their ruling, they said Rosas behavior evoked an old legal saying attributed to the late American poet Carl Sandburg. They wrote: Rosas personal attacks recall an oft-quoted adage: If the facts are against you, argue the law. If the law is against you, argue the facts. If the law and the facts are against you, pound the table and yell like hell.

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What happened after a Boise law partner had office sex with 2 employees in one incident

Idaho case could make skiing costlier and force small ski hills to close, industry warns

Idaho Supreme Court says Boise council approved homeless shelter arbitrarily. What now?

Idaho Supreme Court must intervene in new, disastrous public defense reform, ACLU says
(Stock photo by Motortion/Getty Images)

In a landmark ruling last Friday, the Kennebec County Superior Court decided in favor of the ACLU of Maine and our clients, ordering the state to uphold the peoples Sixth Amendment right to counsel and establish a plan to end our states ongoing crisis.

The U.S. Constitution requires states to provide attorneys to people who have been charged with a crime and who cannot afford their own. In 2019, the Sixth Amendment Center reported that Maine was not meeting its constitutional obligations, and that the situation would only get worse without serious changes. As of early March of this year, nearly 500 people were facing charges but had no attorney. Of those, 111 were incarcerated, locked up at a time when they are legally innocent.

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We recognized that this was one of the most important constitutional issues facing Maines people because it undermines the fundamental principle that all people are innocent until proven guilty and creates a two-tiered system of justice: one for the rich and one for the poor.

Starting in 2019, we worked for three years to convince the state to fix things. That advocacy didnt lead to change, so we took the state to court. On March 1, 2022, we sued the state so peoples Sixth Amendment rights would not only exist on paper, but also in practice.

Three years later, on March 7, 2025, the court ordered the state to develop a plan to guarantee legal assistance for people accused of crimes, starting from when charges are formalized through the end of the case. If the state cant develop and implement a plan, the court is going to order people released from jail and charges dismissed.

This order is a serious remedy designed to address an egregious problem. Its also not a new or radical idea. More than two decades ago, Massachusetts highest court imposed a similar remedy to address their Sixth Amendment crisis. More recently, an Oregon federal court ordered that people be released from incarceration after seven days without counsel.

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Over the course of this case, the ACLU of Maine and volunteer lawyers from Goodwin Procter and Preti Flaherty worked thousands of hours. We spoke to countless people who have spent weeks, months, and even years languishing in jails awaiting legal representation.

We witnessed firsthand what it looks like when the state doesnt uphold the right to counsel. People have lost their jobs and homes, parents have missed their childrens birthdays, and others were unable to visit a dying parent. While these members of our communities wait for their day in court, evidence gets lost, witnesses memories fade, and their case weakens. All the while, prosecutors are bringing the full weight of the states power against them  in the name of Maines people  and they have no one by their side.

A fair and transparent process is best for everyone: the accused, victims of crimes, and the public. Our criminal legal system is designed to get to the truth so the innocent can be free and clear their names, victims can seek justice, and the public can stay informed. But none of that can happen unless the accused have an attorney.

As the court noted, Plaintiffs in this case have not been convicted of the crimes for which they are charged. Each of them is still presumed to be innocent under the Maine and United States Constitutions. And yet many of them remain in custody, without counsel. No innocent person should be locked up or dragged through the legal system for months without a lawyer to guide them through the process and advocate for their rights.

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This ruling is a significant milestone in the fight for Sixth Amendment rights in Maine, but theres a long way to go. Just as criminal charges are brought by the State of Maine, an enduring solution will require a comprehensive state response from all branches of government.

To start, the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services will file a written plan on April 3, outlining how they intend to provide attorneys to people who cannot afford their own and end this crisis. If people are still denied counsel, courts will begin the process of releasing people from jail and dismissing their charges. (Charges could be brought again once the state can provide an attorney.)

This is a situation that should be intolerable to everyone in Maine, and we fervently hope the courts decision brings us closer to a solution.

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FOREST CITY, N.C. (WSPA)  The Forest City Police Department (FCPD) reported that the suspect in connection with the Forest City bomb threats that happened on Sunday, March 9, has been arrested.

The suspect was identified as Charles Aaron Parris of Gainesville, Florida. Parris was reportedly a former resident of Rutherford County.

The FCPD said in a media release that threats of this nature not only cause fear and disruption in the community, but also creates unnecessary risk for officers and first responders.

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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 WSPA 7NEWS.
A Douglas County man pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter charges on Tuesday in the death of a woman he was romantically involved with.

Officials with the Douglas County District Attorneys Office announced 35-year-old Jamie Morel pleaded guilty to the charges of voluntary manslaughter, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug related objects.

On Nov. 16, 2022, law enforcement officials responded to a home after receiving multiple 911 calls for a welfare check on the victim, Timisha Turner.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Calls were made after Morel and Turner were involved in a physical altercation.

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First responders arrived on-scene and found Turner lying unconscious inside of the home and immediately began to render aid.

According to officials, Morel told paramedics Turner had a history of having seizures and that she had been involved in a fight with another woman earlier that evening, during which she fell and hit her head, leading to her seizure and subsequent loss of consciousness.

However, when Turner was taken to the hospital, she was found with a stab wound to the left side of her chest. She died at the hospital.

As the investigation into Turners death progressed, law enforcement discovered that a group of friends had been at the residence with Morel and the victim that evening. The friends told police Turner and Morel were involved in a fight.

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When it appeared the fight was escalating, the friends left the home. Later, one of those friends called 911 for a welfare check on Turner. Another witness, police said told them Morel approached Turner with a knife.

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Law enforcement arrived on scene and saw Morel with scratched on his body. He gave police multiple versions of what occurred, but eventually told police what occurred between he and Turner.

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He told the police that he pushed Turner while she was holding tweezers in her hand and that she fell into a wall plunging the tweezers into her chest.

After the medical examiner performed an autopsy on Turner, they ruled her death was consistent with being stabbed with a knife.

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Superior Court Judge Deah Warren subsequently sentenced Morel to 24 years in prison.

This tragic incident underscores the deadly consequences of domestic violence. Often times victims feel like they cant leave the situation or that it will change, but staying can cost them their lives, Douglas County District Attorney Dalia Racine said. No one should live in fear of violence in their own home, and we are committed to seeking justice for these victims and ensuring that those who engage in such violent acts are held accountable.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  A suspected cartel member has been arrested by multiple law enforcement agencies in Colorado Springs, after re-entering the U.S. multiple times following deportation.

According to the FBI Denver, its agency partnered with the El Paso County Sheriffs Office, Pueblo Police Department, Colorado Springs Police Department, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest 48-year-old Omar Valdez-Lerma on a federal warrant.

Suspected cartel member arrested in Colorado Springs

Suspected cartel member arrested in Colorado Springs

The FBI said Valdez-Lerma, a Mexican national, had a violent criminal history dating back to 2006, and had illegally re-entered the U.S. after deportation in 2018 and 2021. The FBI said Valdez-Lerma is thought to be a member of a cartel that was recently named a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

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The FBI said Valdez-Lerma is charged with illegal re-entry after deportation and is currently in the custody of ICE.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO)  Saturdays St. Patricks Day parade in downtown Sioux Falls marks a milestone for the city.

This annual celebration is now in its 45th year.

It all started in 1980 with a flash of inspiration from someone who wasnt even Irish.

First-ever Amber Alert issued from Sioux Falls

Sylvia Henkin was a businesswoman, civic leader and a trailblazer in many fields.

I got involved in the Chamber of Commerce, and became one of the first lady presidents there. I was asked to join the rotary club and again another, the first lady there. I made quite a few dramatic entrances, I dont know if you wanna call it that, Henkin said in 2009.

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So it was only natural that Henkin would be the first to propose a St. Patricks Day Parade for Sioux Falls. She pitched the idea from inside her kitchen while serving drinks and chocolate chips cookies to friends.

I got the ball rolling. Lets put it that way. Everyone has to become Irish on this day, Henkin said in 2016.

This feisty force of nature quickly convinced other community leaders to get on board.

So she tapped me on the shoulder and said, Hey, youre going to be the guy. And trust me, when you get appointed by Sylvia Henkin and you listen and you do what youre told, Parade Grand Marshal Shawn Cleary said in 2024.

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Henkin firmly believed Sioux Falls could outdo bigger cities when it came to throwing St. Patricks celebrations.

If they can do it in New York, we can certainly do it better in Sioux Falls. After all, look who we are, Henkin said in 2016.

The St. Patricks Day parade would keep growing in popularity through the years, attracting thousands of people to downtown Sioux Falls. Henkin would serve as a two-time grand marshal of the parade. And while she couldnt trace her family roots back to Ireland, to her, all roads led back to Sioux Falls. And she was always quick to sing the praises of the city she loved.

Im from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, its my home town!

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Henkin died in 2018 at the age of 96. The parade she started begins at 2 p.m. Saturday in front of our KELOLAND studios and proceeds north on Phillips Avenue.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  Thousands of Syrians poured into the streets and public squares on Saturday to mark the 14th anniversary of the start of the countrys civil war for the first time since Bashar Assad was swept from power.

Crowds waved Syrian flags and chanted in celebration of the rebel victory that ended the Assad family's five-decade rule in rallies in the capital, Damascus, the countrys largest city of Aleppo in the north, and Idlib, where the rebels launched their offensive in November.

A poster reading 15/3/2025, same date but we are now victorious was carried by a man at Damascus Umayyad Square as helicopter gunships dropped flowers on those gathered.

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Until recently, the helicopters were used by forces loyal to Assad to drop barrel bombs on areas held by his opponents. By releasing flowers, the countrys new authorities want to send a message.

Today, helicopters are gifting you hope instead of pain, peace instead of fear, read a paper in Arabic tied to a flower that was dropped over Umayyad Square.

Yaman al-Ali said he came to celebrate the victory of the revolution that she has backed since 2011. My feeling, of course, is incredibly, incredibly, incredibly great. First, because we have overthrown Bashar Assad. Of course, we are demanding his execution, not just his overthrow.

Today, by the grace of God, we have come to express our joy in victory, said Lamyaa al-Doueish. This is the first year, after 14 years, that God has blessed us with victory.

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Syrias conflict started as one of the popular uprisings against Arab dictators known as the 2011 Arab Spring, before Assad crushed the largely peaceful protests and a civil war erupted. Half a million people have been killed and more than 5 million left the country as refugees.

In November, insurgent groups led by the Islamist Islamic Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, began a ground offensive that within days captured the countrys four largest cities starting with Aleppo in the north, then Hama and Homs in central Syria. On Dec. 8, the insurgents marched into Damascus, marking the end of the Assad family's 54-year rule that was considered one of the most brutal in the region. Assad fled to Russia, his main ally.

The countrys new authorities led by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa have faced serious obstacles. Just days before Saturday's anniversary, clashes between fighters loyal to Assad and forces of the countrys new rulers sparked the worst violence since the civil war, leaving about 1,000 dead, most of them members of Assad's Alawite minority community.

Earlier this week, the interim government signed a deal with the Kurdish-led authority that controls the countrys northeast, and days later al-Sharaa signed a temporary constitution that leaves Syria under Islamist rule while promising to protect the rights of all Syrians for five years during a transitional phase.

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After Assads fall, the vast majority of Syrians still live in poverty and Syrian officials and regional countries have been calling on Western countries to lift sanctions imposed more than a decade ago.

The United States and Europe have been hesitant to lift the sanctions before there is a clear political transition that is democratic and inclusive of Syrias minorities and civil society. At the same time, Syria desperately needs money to rebuild after years of war.

An explosion on Saturday at a hardware store in a four-story building in Syrias coastal city of Latakia killed two people and wounding seven others, the Syrian Civil Defense said, adding that search operations are ongoing for those missing. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear.

___

Mroue reported from Beirut.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Tampa police arrested a woman on Friday who they say stole more than $70,000 from a local bakery.

According to the Tampa Police Department, Rosa Harwell, 47, began working at the bakery located on the 2900 block of W Cypress Street in November of 2016.

The owner told police that they first noticed a pattern of negative transactions shortly after her employment began.

Between March 2020 and Feb. 2025. more than 500 fraudulent refunds were issued that appeared only during the weekends while Harwell was working.

Credit: Tampa Police Department

Detectives spoke to Harwell who said that she had tutored the owners son years ago and was told her tutoring costs would be reflected in her paycheck.

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After noticing the raise missing from her direct deposits, Harwell told detectives that she took matters into her own hands and began paying herself from the register.

Detectives said that the self-payments began four or five years ago.

Harwell was also a mathematics teacher at Tampa Preparatory School, which released this statement after her arrest:

We are very disappointed to learn this morning that a Tampa Preparatory School mathematics teacher was arrested yesterday and is facing significant criminal allegations of financial fraud. These allegations have arising outside employment with Tampa Prep and we have made the

decision to terminate this teachers employment. Any further inquiries should be directed to law enforcement Tampa Preparatory School

On Thursday, Harwell turned herself in to police and she was booked into Orient Road Jail. The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office has charged her with 51 felonies including 50 counts of false entry in books of business entity and one count of grand theft in the second degree.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Tanger Outlets Nashville has been open to the public since October 2023 and has helped transform the Antioch area, once a restaurant and retail desert, into a thriving, developing community.

Mackenzie Reagan, the regional director for field marketing over the mall, explained how Tanger Outlets Nashville came to be. The operation dealt with delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic before the 290,000-square-foot facility opened its doors.

OCTOBER 2023: Tanger Outlets Nashville officially opens for business: What you need to know

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It was definitely an uphill climb, but we celebrated our grand opening on October 23rd [2023], Reagan said.

The mall is part of the Century Farms development and is one of the largest projects in Antiochs history. Tanger Outlets Nashville has brought hundreds of jobs to the area.

[I was] born and raised in Nashville, and everyone knows you either grow up or out and were at the point we are growing out, Reagan added. We are really excited to be a part of this development. Century Farms has been a great project. Were really lucky to be a part of it and were excited to continue on the momentum with that and welcome our partners as they come across the street.

News 2 On Tour | Explore the communties that shape Middle Tennessee

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In addition to the dozens of retailers already at the mall, Reagan said Tanger Outlets Nashville would welcome PopStroke and Chick-fil-A. The growth has been welcome after the closure of the Hickory Hollow Mall had lingering effects on area businesses.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE)  Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are looking into an allegation that a corrections officer assaulted a Hamblen County Jail inmate.

On Friday, the TBI confirmed to 6 News that the investigation was underway at the request of 3rd Judicial District Attorney General Dan Armstrong.

Teen injured, man charged after car crashes through guardrail on I-275 in Knoxville

This is a developing story. Download the WATE 6 News app or sign up for our email alerts for updates.

Hamblen County Sheriff Chad Mullins said the corrections officer was suspended, pending the outcome of the investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Mar. 15ROSCOE TOWNSHIP, Minn.  One teenager was injured in a single-vehicle crash in Goodhue County on Friday, March 14.

The 2006 Chevy Impala was northbound on Highway 57 near Roscoe Township when it entered the ditch and rolled near County Road 11 around 9 p.m. Friday, according to a crash report from the Minnesota State Patrol.

Roscoe Township is south of Wanamingo.

The 16-year-old female driver from Wanamingo had non-life-threatening injuries. The two passengers, a 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy also from Wanamingo, were not injured, the report said.

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All occupants were wearing seat belts.

The road conditions were described as "wet" in the State Patrol report.

The West Concord Police, Dodge County, Goodhue County and Wanamingo Rescue & Fire also responded.
A 15-year-old boy was blasted in an apparent drive-by shooting in upper Manhattan late Friday afternoon, police said.

The teen was struck in the buttocks around 4:30 p.m. near the intersection of W. 155th St. and Frederick Douglass Blvd. in Harlem, cops said.

EMS transported the youth to Metropolitan Hospital in stable condition, according to police.

The gunshot appeared to have been fired from a car last seen traveling toward Broadhurst Ave., a police source said. Cops were not immediately able to confirm the type of car, but a police source said it appeared to be a silver Infinity.

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The investigation is ongoing.

The incident is the third shooting to happen within a roughly three-hour span on Friday afternoon in New York City. Earlier, a man was shot in the head outside a fruit stand in the Bronx around 1:48 p.m. About 40 minutes later, another man was shot in the leg outside the Smith-Ninth Sts. subway station in Brooklyn. The shootings do not appear to be related.

Police ask anyone with information to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls are confidential.
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has been allowed to temporarily leave France, where he is charged with multiple infractions linked to allegedly enabling organised crime.

Mr Durov, 40, was detained at Le Bourget airport outside Paris in August 2024 and charged with a litany of violations related to the popular messaging app.

It was the first time the founder of a social media company had been arrested over content on their platform. Telegram is one of the top messaging apps in the world, with over 900 million active users.

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After days of questioning, he was charged with several counts of failing to curb extremist and terrorist content and released on a 4.2 million bail.

He had been banned from leaving the country, but it is understood that a judge changed those restrictions late last week. On Saturday, it is thought that he flew out to Dubai.

He departed France this morning, one source told the AFP news agency.

Telegram is one of the top messaging apps in the world, with over 900 million active users - Betty Laura Zapata/Bloomberg

Another source said Mr Durov had departed from Le Bourget airport outside Paris for Dubai, where his company is based.

According to a third source, an investigating judge had authorised the entrepreneur to leave France for several weeks.

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Russian-born Mr Durov holds Russian, French and United Arab Emirates (UAE) passports. An enigmatic figure who rarely speaks in public, he is a multi-billionaire who showcases an ascetic lifestyle.

A Telegram spokeswoman declined to comment.

Mr Durovs lawyers were not immediately available for comment.

A self-proclaimed libertarian, Mr Durov has championed confidentiality on the internet. Moscow tried to block Telegram in 2018, but abandoned those efforts two years later.

He initially criticised his arrest, but has since announced steps which appear to bow to Pariss demands.

Political persecution

Extracts from Mr Durovs questioning in December through an interpreter, seen by AFP, showed that he initially blamed French authorities for failing to alert Telegram to alleged criminal activity.

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But Mr Durov nevertheless admitted it was while I was held in custody that I realised the seriousness of all the allegations.

Investigators have confronted Mr Durov with more than a dozen specific cases, ranging from child abuse to drug trading, scams, arms sales and the hiring of hitmen.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has defended a decision to grant French nationality to Durov, adding it was a strategy concerning those who shine in the world.

According to a source close to the investigation, Durov had emphasised his links to the French head of state during questioning.

He has received support from Elon Musk, a fellow tech tycoon and chief executive of X, who posted comments under the hashtag #FreePavel.

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The Kremlin has warned France against turning the case against Durov into political persecution.

Pavel Durov leads an ascetic lifestyle in which he abstains from alcohol and coffee - Pavel Durov/Instagram

Forbes magazine estimates his current fortune to be at $15.5 billion, though he proudly promotes the virtues of an ascetic life that includes ice baths and abstaining from alcohol or coffee.

By arresting Mr Durov, French authorities dived headlong into a fractious debate on free speech online.

Some said Mr Durov should not be held responsible for abuse of the platform, while others have pointed out that Durov may well have brought scrutiny on himself.

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PARIS (Reuters) - French authorities have allowed Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder and CEO of Telegram, to leave France temporarily in a loosening of his obligations under a probe into criminal activities on the messaging app, the French news agency AFP reported on Saturday.

Durov was arrested at an airport near Paris last August and subsequently placed under formal investigation, with a ban on leaving France.

The probe further soured relations between Paris and Moscow amid the war in Ukraine and fanned debate over the boundaries of free speech and law enforcement on internet platforms.

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An investigating judge gave Durov permission to leave France for several weeks and he is thought to have departed on Saturday morning for Dubai, AFP said, citing unnamed sources.

The Paris prosecutor's office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

French prosecutors said last year they suspect Durov of complicity in running an online platform that allows a range of illegal activities including drug trafficking and money laundering.

Durov was also required to post bail of 5 million euros ($5.4 million).

Being placed under formal investigation in France does not imply guilt or necessarily lead to trial, but indicates judges consider there is enough evidence to proceed with the probe.

($1 = 0.9192 euros)

(Reporting by Gus Trompiz and Tangi Salaun; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
TEMPLE, Texas (FOX 44)  UPDATE: A teacher from Temple is accused of Indecency with a Child.

Temple Police officers were originally dispatched to the 8500 block of Brahma Plains Road around 6:07 p.m., Thursday to speak with an individual who claimed to have been inappropriately touched by her teacher at school. Officers spoke with the victim and gathered information for a case to be investigated.

The information collected was then investigated by the departments Criminal Investigations Divisions Special Crimes Unit. During the investigation, it was discovered that the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Estevan Banda, of Temple, had inappropriately touched the victim at school and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

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Man indicted in 2024 Waco S 12th Street murder

Officers later conducted a warrant service at the 1200 block of Redstone Drive around 2:18 p.m. on Friday, March 14. Officers found Banda and transported him to the Bell County Jail for Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact.

Also, Belton Independent School District superintendent Malinda Golden released a statement on Friday afternoon saying Bandas employment with the distrct has been terminated.

Golden said the following actions were taken:

The district conducts thorough background and reference checks on all employees as part of the hiring process to ensure a safe environment. If anything were to flag in the system, it would give the district cause not to hire the individual.

All staff members engage in annual training around recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect.

Students play a vital role in district safety protocols and all students are urged to report any safety concerns immediately.

The district has and will continue to fully cooperate with the Temple Police Department throughout the legal process.

Reports regarding these charges have also been submitted to the Texas Education Agency, State Board of Educator Certification, and Child Protective Services.

The districts priority remains supporting those directly impacted.

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Temple Police say this case is under investigation. If you have any information, you can contact the Temple Police Department at 254-298-5500 or the Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A number of Tennessee veterans and supporters, filled with outrage and frustration, made their way to the State Capitol to join a nationwide protest against federal cuts to Social Security and veterans healthcare services.

Earlier this week, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins announced his agency was looking to cut 80,000 jobs to slim the agencys workforce.

To show solidarity, retired U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley encouraged veterans across the nation to meet in Washington, D.C., and their state capitals. At the Tennessee State Capitol, dozens of people held signs in support of veterans rights and other issues.

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Its just detrimental: Tennessee veterans react to proposal to cut 80,000 employees from Veteran Affairs

Ive been following whats been going on with the so-called budgetary cut against veterans, against seniors, Medicaid, Vietnam veteran Joseph Higgins said. This has got to stop. We have to stop the bleeding.

Army veteran Justin Julian spoke to News 2 about the difficulty of receiving his benefits. He believes cutting the VA workforce will not only make it harder to receive healthcare, but also shows a lack of respect for veterans.

It took decades and many, many years for the VA to get to where it is now, and now theyre trying to cut everything in the VA  or cut a significant portion of the benefits for the VA, Julian explained. I remember when I used to have to wait six months to get a doctor appointment, and that started to change just within the last couple of years, and now were going back to that again.

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Other people at the protest echoed Julians thoughts. Many of the signs compared President Donald Trump to a king and said Americans must not be silent about these issues.

Tennesseans react to tariffs, possible DOGE cuts

If I were to remain silent, I would be guilty of complicity! veteran supporter Bambi Hall exclaimed. Eighty thousand veteran jobs, removal of their benefits for which they were guaranteed when they signed their name to that line!

Many Tennessee lawmakers have voiced their support for Trumps reduction of the federal workforce and goal to eliminate wasteful spending.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced a package of bills last month called the DOGE Acts. On her website, Blackburn lists several pieces of legislation in the package, including the Federal Freeze Act and the Federal Employee Performance and Accountability Act.

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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.
ROME (AP)  Tens of thousands of Italians joined a pro-Europe rally in Rome's city center Saturday, waving blue European Union flags in a sign of support and unity as a European push for rearmament divides the country.

The initiative, supported by most of the center-left opposition parties, despite their different positions, was launched by Italian journalist Michele Serra at the end of February, with an editorial in the Italian daily La Repubblica titled: Lets say something European.

I wanted to organize a large demonstration of citizens supporting Europe, its unity and its freedom, with no party flags, only European flags, Serra said, launching the slogan: Here we make Europe, or we die.

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The initiative was born in response to U.S. President Donald Trump s destabilizing policies, which created an unprecedented rift between Europe and the U.S., strained over the war in Ukraine and an ongoing tariff battle.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has reluctantly backed an EU plan to rearm Europe over concerns that the proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen might weigh on Italys giant debt, diverting much-needed funds to weapons spending.

The EU plan aims to generate around 800 billion euros over the next four years, the bulk of which will come from member states increasing their national spending on defense and security.

Internally, Meloni openly criticized the project, rejecting the term rearm as misleading and encouraged European partners to focus instead on common defense and security.

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Organizers said Saturday that the pro-Europe rally, which filled Romes central Piazza del Popolo with at least 30,000 people, reunited Italians on different sides and voting for opposite parties in the name of democracy.

We are here to defend freedom and democracy," said Daniela Condotto, one of the demonstrators. These are concepts that we got used to over 80 years, but in reality they need to be defended, we cannot take them as a given.

Right-wing government parties snubbed the demonstration, standing behind Meloni, who has been struggling in her attempt to play a mediating role between Trump and the EU.

There must be support for Europe, but with concrete reforms, not symbolic events, said Antonio Tajani, foreign minister and vice premier ahead of Saturdays rally.

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Vice Premier Matteo Salvini, leader of the eurosceptic League's party, was openly critical. While some people demonstrate with flags, we work to change this Europe, which crushes workers, farmers and entrepreneurs with its absurd rules, he said.

___

Associated Press journalist Trisha Thomas contributed to this report.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that the question of territory in Ukraines war with Russia was complicated and should be discussed in detail at a later date.

Vladimir Putin has demanded that the international community recognises Russias capture of Crimea and the Ukrainian provinces of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk.

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During a press briefing in Kyiv, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine would never recognise occupied territory as Russian.

He also warned that Russian troops are massing across the border from Ukraines Sumy region and preparing for a new ground offensive into Ukraines north east.

Mr Zelenskys comments came after he joined a virtual summit of 29 world leaders, known as the coalition of the willing, to discuss peace in Ukraine, which was hosted by Sir Keir Starmer.

After the meeting, Sir Keir said that new commitments were put on the table, condemned Russias barbaric attacks on Ukraine and said Putin must agree to a ceasefire.

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Military chiefs will meet again on Thursday in the UK as the coalition moves into the operational phase, Sir Keir said.

06:56 PM GMT

Thats all for today

Generals from 27 countries will gather in London this week to start wargaming the potential deployment of troops, ships and planes to Ukraine.

Sir Keir Starmer announced on Saturday that planning for a peacekeeping force in the event of a ceasefire was now entering an operational phase.

Read our report here.

06:28 PM GMT

Macron: Moscow has no say if Kyiv wants allied troops in Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday that if Kyiv asked for foreign troops to come to Ukraine to guarantee any ceasefire, Russia would have no say in the matter.

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If Ukraine asks allied forces to be on its territory, it is not up to Russia to accept or not, Macron said in comments to the French regional press.

05:09 PM GMT

Diplomatic progress makes it difficult for Russia to wriggle out, says Zelensky

Answering journalists' questions in Kyiv after the meeting of the leaders, I mentioned that many partners acknowledged Ukraine's significant diplomatic progress in Jeddah. pic.twitter.com/rgD0ylzycJ  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) March 15, 2025

Volodymyr Zelensky has said that following Ukraines diplomatic progress in Jeddah, it will be difficult for Russia to wriggle out.

If Russia agrees to a ceasefire, it must demonstrate its willingness to end the war, or it will show that it wants to continue. This is what everyone is waiting for, he said in a post on social media.

05:04 PM GMT

Putin planning fresh ground invasion of Ukraine, warns Zelensky

Ben Farmer reports:

Vladimir Putin is planning a fresh ground invasion of Ukraine, despite Western pleas for a ceasefire, Volodymyr Zelensky has warned.

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Russian troops are massing across the border from Ukraines Sumy region and preparing for a new ground offensive into Ukraines north east, Mr Zelensky said.

Any attempt at a new incursion would fly in the face of US-led attempts to have Putin agree to a 30-day truce.

This indicates an intention to attack our Sumy region. We are aware of this, and will counter it, said the Ukrainian leader.

I would like all partners to understand exactly what Putin is planning, what he is preparing for, and what he will be ignoring.

The build-up of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to keep ignoring diplomacy. It is clear that Russia is prolonging the war.

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04:06 PM GMT

In full: Starmer holds press conference after telling Putin to negotiate

03:33 PM GMT

EU mulls new satellite network for military intelligence

The European Union is contemplating building a new satellite network for military intelligence, which would partly replace US capabilities, the Financial Times reported.

Given the changes in the geopolitical situation, the European Commission is considering expanding its satellite capacities to improve geospatial intelligence support for security, defence and space commissioner Andrius Kubilius told the newspaper.

While talks have just begun, a new network would be used to detect threats including the movement of forces, and to coordinate military action.

We are looking to create a specific system as an earth observation governmental service. It would have high technology and high data availability, Mr Kubilius was quoted as saying.

03:12 PM GMT

Starmers day of diplomacy

Sir Keir Starmer has released his video highlights from today.

The world is watching.



To maintain the momentum towards a just and lasting peace, we must keep strengthening our support to Ukraine and increasing the pressure on Putin. pic.twitter.com/iaDP8HLjo7  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) March 15, 2025

02:24 PM GMT

Question of territory is complicated, says Zelensky

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that the question of territory in Ukraines war with Russia was complicated and should be discussed in detail at a later date.

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He made the remark during a press briefing in Kyiv, where he said Ukraine would never recognise occupied territory as Russian and that he wasnt aware of what exactly US and Russian officials discussed during recent talks in Moscow.

02:11 PM GMT

Zelensky says Russia wants to achieve stronger position before any ceasefire

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that Russia wanted to achieve a stronger position militarily before committing to any ceasefire in the war in Ukraine.

They want a stronger position before the ceasefire, Mr Zelensky said at a press conference in Kyiv, adding: I think the delaying of the process is exactly because of what I said. They want to improve their situation on the battlefield.

01:57 PM GMT

Scholz calls on Russia to work toward just peace in Ukraine

German chancellor Olaf Scholz has called on Russia to work toward a just peace in Ukraine after three years of war.

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It is now up to Russia to put an end to its daily attacks against Ukrainian cities and civil infrastructure and to finally take the way of a lasting and just peace, Mr Scholz said in a statement after participating in a virtual summit hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

01:55 PM GMT

Australia says standing with Ukraine in its national interest

The prime minister of Australia said that he joined the virtual meeting of the coalition of the willing this morning, where he reiterated his countrys strong and steadfast support for Ukraine.

Leaders agreed to continue working on delivering concrete actions to support Ukraine now and into the future, Anthony Albanese wrote in a statement.

He argued that standing with Ukraine was in Australias national interest, because what happens in the Euro-Atlantic has serious implications for our region.

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President Putins regime has imperialist designs, for Ukraine and beyond. We must ensure Russias illegal and immoral actions are not rewarded through any peace process, he added.

Australia has committed $1.5 billion to help Ukraine defend itself, including $1.3 billion in military support.

01:47 PM GMT

Zelensky appoints team of negotiators for possible peace talks: decree

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky appointed an official delegation to represent Kyiv in any possible peace talks to end the more than three-year war with Russia, according to a presidential decree published Saturday.

Mr Zelensky appointed his presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak to head the delegation, with foreign minister Andriy Sybiga, defence minister Rustem Umerov and deputy chief of presidential staff Pavlo Palisa to take part as delegation members.

01:31 PM GMT

Putin is lying to everyone, says Zelensky

Following this mornings meeting of Western allies, Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Vladimir Putin is lying to everyone.

Since Tuesday, a proposal for a ceasefire has been on the table  a silence from war in the air, at sea, and on the frontlines. This is an American proposal  a full, unconditional ceasefire for 30 days. In that time, without killings, it would truly be possible to negotiate all ll aspects of a real peace. We talked about who would delay peace and slow everything down  and now we see it clearly. A ceasefire could have already happened, but Russia is doing everything to prevent it. Putin is lying to everyone about the situation on the ground, especially about whats happening in the Kursk region, where our Ukrainian forces continue their operations. Our troops have also stabilised the situation on the front in Donetsk region  specifically Pokrovsk. Putin is also lying about how a ceasefire is supposedly too complicated. In reality, everything can be controlled, and we have discussed this with the Americans. The truth is, Putin has already dragged out the war for nearly a week after the talks in Jeddah. And he will keep dragging it out. This is Russias war  more than three years of full-scale fighting and destruction. To stop this, active pressure is needed, not just talks. Pressure on Russia. Strong measures are needed to take even the first steps toward ending the war.

01:09 PM GMT

Zelensky presses allies for clear position on security guarantees

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky told Kyivs Western allies on Saturday that they must define a clear position on security guarantees, including about basing a troop contingent on Ukrainian soil.

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The contingent must be stationed on Ukrainian soil, Mr Zelensky said in a post on X, alongside an image of him taking part in a virtual call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other European leaders and other Western allies.

This is a security guarantee for Ukraine and a security guarantee for Europe, he said.

01:03 PM GMT

New commitments put on the table at coalition summit

Sir Keir Starmer speaking to the media in Downing Street - Leon Neal/PA Wire

Sir Keir Starmer has said that new commitments were put on the table on Saturday.

He said: The group that met this morning is a bigger group than we had two weeks ago, there is a stronger collective resolve and new commitments were put on the table this morning, both in relation to the coalition of the willing in terms of defending the deal, also in relation to the wider point, which is the collective defence and security of Europe.

So, more commitments on the table this morning and an agreement that we now move to the operational phase, which is why the talks on Thursday, the military talks, will become the next focal point.

There was a wider agreement this morning, which was that the yes, but from Russia is not good enough, and we agreed our collective pressure will be put on Russia from all of us who are in the meeting this morning. 

12:59 PM GMT

Frozen Russian assets were discussed at coalition summit

Sir Keir Starmer has said frozen Russian assets were discussed during Saturdays meeting.

He told the press conference: In terms of the sanctions, yes, we want to tighten the sanctions still further, and we discussed this morning how much further we can go, including the question of frozen assets.

That is a complicated question, as I think everybody appreciates.

So, we discussed further sanctions that have got nothing to do with the assets, which we will take forward as a result of this mornings discussion, but also a continuing discussion about what more can be done on the assets themselves.

12:51 PM GMT

Dutch PM says vital to exert pressure on Russia

Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof said it was vital to keep up the pressure on Russia to come to a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.

It is now important to continue to exert pressure on Russia to come to the negotiating table, said Mr Schoof in a message on X, after taking part in a virtual meeting with other leaders about Ukraine hosted by Britain.

12:48 PM GMT

Starmer says any Ukraine peace plan needs US cooperation

Sir Keir Starmer said on Saturday plans for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia must involve the cooperation of the United States after being asked whether he was still seeking a security backstop from Washington.

The position on the US hasnt changed. Ive been clear that it needs to be done in conjunction with the United States ... We are talking to the U.S. on a daily basis, Mr Starmer told a news conference, adding his national security adviser had returned from the United States on Saturday.

12:47 PM GMT

Zelensky shares photos from coalition meeting

Zelensky addresses coalition of the willing

I addressed the meeting of European leaders stating that the path to peace must begin unconditionally. And if Russia doesnt want this, then strong pressure must be applied until they do. Moscow understands one language, he wrote on social media.

12:44 PM GMT

More on the upcoming military meeting

Speaking at a press conference following the virtual summit of the coalition of the willing, Sir Keir said:

We reaffirmed our commitment to Ukraines long-term security and agreed that Ukraine must be able to defend itself and deter future Russian aggression.

Robust and credible security arrangements are the best way to ensure that any deal ends in a lasting peace. We agreed military planners would convene again in the UK this week to progress practical plans for how our militaries can support Ukraines future security.

We will build up Ukraines own defences and armed forces, and be ready to deploy as a coalition of the willing in the event of a peace deal, to help secure Ukraine on the land, at sea and in the sky.

In the event of a ceasefire, we emphasised the need for strong monitoring arrangements, to ensure that any violations of a deal are identified and called out.

12:41 PM GMT

Sir Keir taking questions

Sir Keir is now answering questions from reporters after the press conference. In response to a journalists question, he said that Vladimir Putins response to a ceasefire is not good enough.

12:36 PM GMT

Military planners to convene in UK

Sir Keir said that after his virtual meeting with world leaders, they had agreed for military planners to convene again in the UK this week to progress practical plans for how our militaries can support Ukraines future security.

12:35 PM GMT

Let the guns fall silent

Sir Keir Starmer begins press briefing

This is the moment, let the guns fall silent, let the barbaric attacks on Ukraine stop once and for all, says Sir Keir.

Russias appetite for conflict and chaos undermines our security back home here in the UK, it drives up cost of living, energy costs, it matters deeply to the UK, he said.

Now is the time to engage in discussion.

12:32 PM GMT

Starmer starts press conference

The world needs action, not a study, not empty words or conditions, he begins.

12:28 PM GMT

Italy PM says no plans for Italian soldiers on ground in Ukraine

Italy does not envision sending soldiers to Ukraine, prime minister Giorgia Meloni said Saturday, following a virtual summit hosted by Britain to drum up support to protect any eventual ceasefire.

The Prime Minister confirmed that Italy intends to continue working with European and Western partners and with the United States to define credible and effective security guarantees, reiterating that national participation in a possible military force on the ground is not envisaged, the government said in a statement Saturday.

12:01 PM GMT

Sir Keir to hold press conference

The Prime Minister will hold a press conference in Downing Street at 12.30pm following his call with leaders of the coalition of the willing on a possible peacekeeping operation in Ukraine.

11:45 AM GMT

In pictures

A resident walks near an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike in Chernihiv - REUTERS/Maksym Kishka

Ukrainian defense minister Rustem Umerov inspects an honour guard during a welcome ceremony in Prague - MARTIN DIVISEK/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

11:40 AM GMT

Tangible results on missile programme, says Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine has had tangible results on its missile programme.

The long Neptune missile was tested and successfully used in combat. A new Ukrainian missile, precise strike. The range of one thousand kilometers, he wrote on social media.

11:37 AM GMT

Russia building up troops on eastern border of Ukraine, Zelensky says

Kyiv has observed the Russian army building up forces along Ukraines eastern border, Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday.

This indicates an intention to attack our Sumy region. We are aware of this, and will counter it. I would like all partners to understand exactly what Putin is planning, what he is preparing for, and what he will be ignoring, he said in a post on social media.

The build-up of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to keep ignoring diplomacy. It is clear that Russia is prolonging the war, he added.

11:34 AM GMT

Zelensky denies Ukrainian troops encircled in Kursk

Volodymyr Zelensky has denied that Ukrainian troops are encircled in the Kursk region, claims which Russia had made to Donald Trump this week.

Our troops continue to hold back Russian and North Korean groupings in the Kursk region. There is no encirclement of our troops, he said in a post on social media.

Mr Zelenskys comments came after the US president said that his administration held productive discussions with Russian president Vladimir Putin this week, during which he urged him to spare surrounded Ukrainian troops.

At this very moment, thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military, and in a very bad and vulnerable position, Mr Trump wrote online, without providing any evidence.

Ukraines General Staff later said that Russias allegations of the encirclement of Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast was for political purposes and to put pressure on Ukraine and its partners.

On Saturday, Mr Zelensky added that his units are carrying out their tasks exactly as required, and that a significant number of Russian forces were withdrawn from other directions.

11:08 AM GMT

Ukraine and Russia launch drones as Moscow retakes Kursk villages

Ukraine and Russia attacked each other with a barrage of drones on Saturday, with Moscow regaining more of its territory in the Kursk region.

Ukraine said it had downed 130 Iranian-made drones launched by Russia across the country, while Moscow said it shot down 126 drones over its southern and border regions.

Moscow has pushed this week to retake a large part of the land that Ukraine originally captured in its western Kursk region.

The Russian defence ministry said troops took control over the villages of Zaoleshenka and Rubanshchina - north and west of the town of Sudzha, the main town that Moscow reclaimed this week.

10:56 AM GMT

Starmer tells Putin: The world is watching  come to the negotiating table

10:56 AM GMT

Starmer, Macron, Zelensky and Rutte address coalition

Sir Keir Starmer, French president Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte have now addressed the virtual coalition of the willing meeting, a Government source has said.

10:48 AM GMT

Sir Keir condemns Russias barbaric attacks on Ukraine

Sir Keir Starmer has condemned Russias barbaric attacks on Ukraine, saying Vladimir Putin must agree to a ceasefire.

He said at the top of the meeting: President Zelensky, whos with us this morning, has shown once again that Ukraine is the party of peace, because he has agreed to and committed to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

Now what we see, and this is centrepiece for our discussions today, is that Putin is the one trying to delay.

In a sense, and you will know this, if Putin is serious about peace, its very simple, he has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire.

10:42 AM GMT

Meeting aims to reinforce support for Ukraine

Sir Keir has taken the lead of the coalition of the willing, along with French president Emmanuel Macron, in part to persuade Donald Trump to maintain support for Kyiv. One outcome has already been a growing acceptance from European countries in particular that they need to do more secure their own security, including by increasing their defence spending.

Mr Macron said he had spoken Friday with both Mr Zelensky and Sir Keir about progress at the US-Ukraine talks earlier this week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which led to Mr Trump resuming military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

French president Emmanuel Macron at the virtual summit held by Britains prime minister Keir Starmer - KIRAN RIDLEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Saturdays meeting, he said, will continue to work on reinforcing the support for Ukraine and toward a solid and lasting peace.

Like the last meeting, there is no representative from the United States in attendance, which has shifted its approach on the war since the return of president Donald Trump to the White House.

10:38 AM GMT

Putin is trying to delay, says Sir Keir

Saturdays meeting takes place in the wake of a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, which Volodymyr Zelensky has backed.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has indicated that he supported a truce in principle but has set out a host of details that need to be clarified before agreeing to a ceasefire. US secretary of state Marco Rubio has voiced cautious optimism about the possibility of Putin, who met with US envoy Steve Witkoff, on Thursday, backing a ceasefire.

Sir Keir appears to be less optimistic, and is telling leaders that concrete commitments are required now as Putin plays pointless games with Mr Trumps peace plan.

Putin is trying to delay, saying there must be a painstaking study before a ceasefire can take place. But the world needs to see action, not a study, or empty words and pointless conditions, he said. The Kremlins complete disregard for President Trumps ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace.

10:31 AM GMT

We must be prepared to defend any deal ourselves, says Sir Keir

The virtual meeting hosted by Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer continued: Secondly, being prepared to defend any deal ourselves through a coalition of the willing. Weve begun that process and this morning we can take it forward.

And then, thirdly, and really importantly, given the developments of the last few days, to keep the pressure on Putin to come to the table, and I think collectively weve got a number of ways that we can do that.

So its those three heads, really, that were going to focus on in this meeting, strengthening Ukraine, being prepared to defend any deal ourselves through a coalition of the willing, and keeping that pressure on Russia at this crucial time.

10:30 AM GMT

Putin will sooner or later have to come to the table

Sir Keir Starmer has said Vladimir Putin will sooner or later have to come to the table.

Speaking in Downing Street ahead of the video call, he said the world is watching.

The Prime Minister continued: My feeling is that sooner or later (Mr Putins) going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussion, but - and this is a big but for us this morning in our meeting - we cant sit back and simply wait for that to happen.

We have to keep pushing ahead, pushing forward, and preparing for peace, and a peace that will be secure and that will last.

I think that means strengthening Ukraine so they can defend themselves, and strengthening, obviously, in terms of military capability, in terms of funding, in terms of the provision of further support from all of us to Ukraine.

10:29 AM GMT

We have to keep pushing ahead, says Sir Keir

Keir Starmer has told the virtual meeting of about 25 world leaders that they had to be prepared to defend any Ukraine peace deal themselves, urging them to keep up pressure on Russia.

If (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is serious about peace, its very simple, he has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire, Sir Keir told the video call of leaders from nations, including from Europe, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

We have to keep pushing ahead, pushing forward, and preparing for peace and a peace that will be secure and that will last.

10:27 AM GMT

Sir Keir begins second coalition of the willing meeting

Keir Starmer has begun the second meeting of the coalition of willing.

Since we last met in London two weeks ago, a lot has happened, he began.

Sir Keir Starmer begins the second meeting of the coalition of the willing

10:23 AM GMT

Russia downs 126 Ukrainian drones

Russia says it downed 126 Ukrainian drones overnight, mostly over its southern Volgograd and Voronezh regions.

The defence ministry 64 drones were intercepted over Volgograd and neighbouring Voronezh and the rest targeted border regions.

09:50 AM GMT

Drone attack hits school bus and fire truck

Ukrainian firefighters were putting out the fire at an auditorium following a Russian drone attack in Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv region, when they were hit by more munitions.

A fire engine and school bus were hit, and caught fire.

Russian drone strikes hit school bus and fire engine - Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP/Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP

09:36 AM GMT

Russia retakes two more settlements in Kursk region, defence ministry says

Russian troops have recaptured the villages of Rubanshchina and Zaoleshenka in its western Kursk region, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday.

Russia has accelerated a push to drive Ukrainian forces out of Kursk, where they took control of about 100 settlements in a surprise incursion into Russian territory last August.

08:39 AM GMT

Russian strikes leave Ukrainians without power

Ukraines largest private energy provider has said that overnight Russian air strikes have damaged its energy facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions.

In a statement, DTEK said damages are significant and that some consumers in both regions were left without power.

06:29 AM GMT

Zelenskys Kursk assault could prove costly

Last summer, Ukrainian troops mounted a shock-and-awe land grab inside Russias Kursk region, marking the first foreign invasion of Russian soil since the Second World War.

Kyivs men, equipped with Western tanks and artillery systems, caught their enemy off guard as they stormed across the border into Russia on Aug 6.

Within days, Ukraine held 1,300 sq km of Russian territory, including Sudzha, a key town for Russian gas shipments to Europe.

The size of the territory may have paled in comparison to what Moscow held inside Ukraine, but the newly formed bridgehead gave Kyiv what it believed to be a key bargaining chip heading into any talks over the end of the war.

But with negotiations over a potential peace settlement actually beginning  with help from Donald Trump  Ukraines grip over its salient in Kursk is slipping at an alarming rate.

The consequences are only just becoming clear.

Read more: Zelenskys Kursk gamble: Was it worth it?

06:05 AM GMT

Team finding kidnapped Ukrainian children scrapped by Doge

A taskforce which helped find hundreds of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia has been scrapped by Elon Musks Doge, Benedict Smith and David Millward write.

The Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL), which was based at Yale University is the latest organisation to fall victim to the tech billionaires evisceration of the federal budget.

It is estimated that more than 20,000 Ukrainian children have been kidnapped by the Russians since the 2022 invasion.

Researchers at the HRL were notified recently that government funding for their work on the war in Ukraine has been discontinued, a Yale spokesman said.

HRL investigates and addresses humanitarian crises worldwide, using data and analysis from open-source and remote sensing.

Read more: Team finding abducted Ukrainian children scrapped by Musks Doge

Donald Trump and Elon Musk at the White House on Friday - GETTY IMAGES

05:32 AM GMT

Analysis: Ukrainians have seen this movie before

There is no surprise that the Russians have told Donald Trump they have thousands of Ukrainians surrounded.

Despite the claim being at odds with both Ukrainian military reports and independent expert analysis, it is a way of reinforcing the US presidents belief that the Ukrainians have no cards, encouraging him to apply further pressure on Volodymyr Zelensky.

But the Ukrainian president, like all his countrymen, has seen this movie before.

To understand why the Ukrainians do not trust Vladimir Putin as far as they can throw him, it is worth remembering how he exploited encirclements in the past.

Read more: It doesnt matter to Putin if Russias Kursk encirclement is fact or fiction

05:06 AM GMT

Starmer accuses Putin of playing games

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Vladimir Putin of playing games by delaying a ceasefire deal, Daniel Martin and Joe Barnes write.

Ahead of todays gathering of European leaders, he said that Putin was not serious about peace and that the Russian president was showing a disregard for Donald Trumps ceasefire proposal.

Putin said on Thursday that while he supported the idea of a ceasefire, he would only agree to one on his own terms. Steve Witkoff, Mr Trumps special envoy to the Middle East, visited Moscow this week and a phone call is expected between the US president and Putin in the coming days.

On Friday, Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of dragging out talks on a ceasefire to enable it to make advances on the front line.

Read more: Stop your games, Starmer warns Putin

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Putin of complete disregard for President Trumps ceasefire proposal - PA

05:00 AM GMT

What you need to know this morning

Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the latest on the Ukraine peace talks.

The Prime Minister is preparing to host talks with EU leaders later today on a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

During Saturdays call, leaders will receive updates from countries on the aid they could provide towards enforcing the peace.

The virtual gathering follows a week in which a diplomatic blitz saw Ukraine agree to the USs peace plan, and US officials flew to Moscow in an effort to persuade the Kremlin to lay down arms.

It comes after Donald Trump claimed he was getting pretty good vibes from Russia on the prospect of a ceasefire.

The US president told the Full Measure television programme: I think (Putins) going to agree. I really do. I think I know him pretty well and I think hes going to agree.

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.
Republican state legislators unveiled a new effort on Friday to derail the health care network that has helped people in Texas continue accessing abortion years after the Lone Star State banned the procedure.

The 43-page bill targets tech companies that allow patients to order abortion pills online and nonprofit funds that help them travel out of state for care and gives new power to the states attorney general to prosecute abortion providers. Introduced by influential state legislators in the states House and Senate and backed by Texas Right to Life, a leading anti-abortion group, this is the most sweeping abortion bill introduced in the state since the fall of Roe v. Wade almost three years ago.

If passed and signed into law, the measure would introduce civil liabilities for distributors of abortion pills and create a civil liability for the wrongful death of an unborn child as a result of taking the medications  and empower the biological father of the unborn child to file those civil lawsuits. It would also go after the websites that share information about abortion pills, as well as the financial transaction companies that facilitate people paying to order abortion medications.

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And it would make it a felony to help someone cover the costs of receiving an abortion, including helping pay for them to travel out of state for care.

This is a multipronged attack on abortion pills and from a lot of different angles, said Greer Donley, a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh and expert on medication abortion law.

It will almost certainly be challenged in court if it becomes law. Still, the impact could be tremendous. Despite the proliferation of abortion bans across the country  including in Texas, the second-largest state, and the first to effectively ban abortion early in pregnancy, the result of a six-week abortion ban it enacted months before Roes fall  the number of abortions performed in America is higher than ever. Thats thanks in no small part to the growing practice of health care providers mailing abortion pills, a medically safe and effective regimen, to patients in states where the procedure is banned.

The workaround has been made possible in part by a collection of statutes known as shield laws. Such laws have been enacted in a handful of liberal-leaning states and are meant to protect doctors and other health professionals who provide virtual care, including abortion, to patients living under bans. Thousands of patients each month have been able to access abortion medication through shield laws, according to the Society of Family Planning. The largest share of those patients are in Texas.

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Abortion opponents have repeatedly attempted to halt the telehealth practice, but without success.

They have argued in court that the one of the medications used to induce abortions, mifepristone, should be removed from the market altogether, despite decades of evidence supporting its use. Senate Republicans have pressed nominees to President Donald Trumps Cabinet to commit to reviewing and possibly restricting the use of abortion medication. Some have called for leveraging a 19th century anti-obscenity law called the Comstock Act  dormant for decades but never repealed  to outlaw the mailing of these pills. The notion that the Comstock Act could in fact outlaw mailing abortion pills is controversial and is a legal argument the previous presidential administration rejected.

Earlier this year, Texas Attorney General Kan Paxton stepped in, filing civil charges against Dr. Maggie Carpenter, a New York-based doctor who allegedly mailed abortion pills to a woman in Texas. Carpenter was fined $100,000 by a Texas court, but New York, one of the states to enact a shield law, is expected to try to block enforcement of that ruling. The case will likely play out over months if not years.

Meanwhile, Trump himself has done little on abortion policy in his first two months in office, and abortion opponents have backed away from pressing for him to endorse national restrictions. In that vacuum, the Texas bill could be the most meaningful legislative proposal in any state this year to block telehealth abortion an area the states anti-abortion activists have labeled as a top priority.

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The bill that we are working on is a response to the new tactics weve seen to promote illegal activity, said John Seago, head of Texas Right to Life. This is not sustainable just as far as health policy goes.

The bill also establishes a state-based version of the Comstock Act, making it a state crime if anyone commits or conspires to commit a violation of that law by mailing materials intended for an abortion.

The Texas legislature adjourns in the beginning of June, meaning the state government has just about two-and-a-half months to debate the bill. If it passes and is signed into lawas it almost certainly would be, given the governors vocal opposition to abortion and the legislatures heavy Republican majority  it would take effect September 1.

A law like this could have an effect well beyond Texas, noted Mary Ziegler, an expert in abortion law at the University of California Davis, particularly because of its provisions targeting the internet-based distribution of abortion pills.

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If the bill worked it would be a lot harder to find information about abortion online in Texas and potentially everywhere else, she said. Theres no internet in Texas versus elsewhere. The internet is the same everywhere.

The post A new Texas bill is coming after online abortion pills appeared first on The 19th.

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A new bill by the author of a sweeping Texas abortion ban would give doctors more leeway to end pregnancies during medical emergencies, a highly anticipated proposal that comes after reports of increased sepsis rates and several avoidable maternal deaths.

Filed Friday afternoon by state Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, the Life of the Mother Act, or Senate Bill 31, would strike language in Texas post-Roe abortion ban that requires pregnant patients to have a life-threatening condition before doctors could legally induce an abortion, which some physicians said caused unnecessary suffering and heightened medical risks, according to the bill's text. It also would clarify that Texans can access abortions when they're at risk of a "substantial loss of a major bodily function," such as their fertility, if the pregnancy is carried to term.

The proposal would allow doctors to end a pregnancy when delaying care would put the pregnant patient at greater risk of death. It does not add exceptions for rape, incest or fatal fetal diagnoses, dashing the hopes of some abortion rights advocates.

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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Thursday designated the measure as one of the Senates 40 priority bills, significantly increasing its likelihood of Senate passage, and veteran Republican Rep. Charlie Geren of Fort Worth filed an identical companion bill, House Bill 44, in the lower chamber Friday.

In an interview with the American-Statesman on Friday, Hughes said SB 31 is intended to "remove any excuse" for doctors not to treat pregnant patients whose lives are in danger.

"In most cases, doctors and hospitals are getting this right, but getting it right in most cases is not enough," Hughes said, citing statistics that show around three abortions per month take place under the life-of-the-mother exception. "We want to make sure that no mom has to go through that."

Hughes acknowledged that media reports and other accounts have revealed that in some cases "mothers were not getting treatment and they should have under the law. So this bill is to make the law even clearer, and to require that doctors and hospitals get trained on the law."

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The third-term senator in 2021 led the Legislatures passage of Senate Bill 8, the Heartbeat Act, which banned abortions after around six weeks of pregnancy and authorized private citizens to sue people suspected of performing those abortions beginning in September of that year.

Hughes' new proposal seeks to address inconsistencies between SB 8 and the state's abortion trigger ban, HB 1280, which prohibits all but lifesaving abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court in July 2022 reversed Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that had guaranteed a national right to an abortion. HB 1280  which carries penalties for doctors including the loss of their medical license, fines of no less than $100,000 and sentences of up to life in prison  defines a medical emergency as a life-threatening condition.

SB 31 also would strengthen protections for pregnant Texans who experience premature water breaks and ectopic pregnancies, both of which can lead to life-threatening complications.

State Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, worked with Hughes in 2023 to create a legal defense for doctors who treat women in those cases. SB 31 is a significant step forward, the Democratic attorney and former prosecutor told the Statesman.

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"Our medical communities are desperate for relief and protection ... so that they can practice reasonable medical judgment in the face of pregnancy complications," said Johnson, whose district includes the renowned Texas Medical Center in Houston. "This bill goes a long way to putting doctors back in the position of acting immediately."

SB 31 and HB 44 would also require physicians who treat pregnant patients to complete at least one hour of continuing medical education centered on Texas abortion laws and would make a course on the statutes available to Texas attorneys for free.

Bill's filing comes after years of advocacy

"I will continue to advocate that government should leave this (abortion) decision to women and health care professionals in general, but I'm grateful" for new proposals, said Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, that clarify Texans can access abortions when they're at risk of a "substantial loss of a major bodily function."

The introduction of SB 31 on Friday  one hour before the legislative sessions filing deadline  comes after years of calls from Texas women, physicians and reproductive rights advocates for change and clarification to the state's near-total abortion ban.

In March 2023, 20 Texas women and two OB-GYNs sued the state over its abortion bans, arguing that the exceptions were too vague and too narrow to allow doctors to intervene before a patient reaches the point of no return. A number of the plaintiffs had left the state to obtain abortions after doctors said their fetuses would not survive and carrying the pregnancies to term posed risks to their health and fertility.

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One of the women, Amanda Zurawski, is an Austin resident who nearly died of sepsis after doctors said they could not legally end her pregnancy. The lawsuit ended with the state Supreme Court ruling in Texas' favor and finding that the law required a "life-threatening condition," but not imminent death, for a physician to intervene.

The case of another woman, Dallas mom of two Kate Cox, prompted the Texas Supreme Court in December 2023 to urge the executive branch to clarify the state's abortion ban. The Texas Medical Board eventually issued additional rules in June in response to a January 2024 petition from two attorneys and veteran Capitol lobbyists, Amy and Steve Bresnen.

And more recently, in November, 111 OB-GYNs said the deaths of two Texas women who were denied abortion care during miscarriages or infections  Josseli Barnaca and Nevaeh Crain  were evidence that "the law does not allow Texas women to get the lifesaving care they need." Investigative news nonprofit ProPublica first revealed the womens deaths and later reported on a third maternal fatality  that of Porsha Ngumezi.

The Bresnens, whose petition to the Texas Medical Board put them at the forefront of efforts to ensure pregnant patients could end their pregnancies in serious medical emergencies, praised SB 31 and HB 44.

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Amy Bresnen told the Statesman on Friday that the twin bills are "probably the most important ... of the session, because (they) will literally save lives."

The Bresnens, who are married, advocated for the bills as representatives of the Texas Campaign for Mothers.

"We're very gratified that Senator Hughes and Representative Geren have taken the leadership on this very important issue to Texas women and the people who love them," Steve Bresnen said.

Aside from this proposal, Hughes has backed several measures to crack down on abortion. The Republican senator on Friday filed a bill to let Texans sue organizations that mail abortion-inducing drugs into Texas, SB 2880, which would also make it a crime to pay for a Texas woman's "elective abortion." The law would "appl(y) extraterritorially to the maximum extent permitted by the Texas Constitution or federal law."

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Johnson told the Statesman that she and other Democrats will continue to push for broader abortion rights this session and in the future.

"I will continue to advocate that government should leave this decision to women and health care professionals in general, but I'm grateful" for SB 31 and HB 44, Johnson said.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Senate bill would clarify abortion ban, expand protections
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  A Texas lawmaker who helped pioneer the state's restrictive abortion laws introduced a bill on Friday to clarify medical exceptions allowed under the law, representing a pivot from Republican legislators who have defended the state's abortion ban in the face of lawsuits and medical scrutiny.

The bill, introduced by Republican state Sen. Bryan Hughes, still requires that patients have a medical emergency for a physician to perform an abortion but strikes language that it be a life-threatening condition. The bill would also require doctors and lawyers to receive training about the law.

Weve learned in a number of cases where the physician was willing to treat the mom, but the lawyers for the hospital would advise against it, Hughes said. So one of the most important things we want to do is make sure that doctors and the hospital lawyers are trained on what the law is.

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Hughes' proposed legislation follows similar efforts by Kentucky lawmakers who added medical exceptions to their state's near-total abortion ban on Thursday.

Texas law currently prohibits abortions except when a pregnant patient has a life-threatening condition. Doctors who are convicted of providing an illegal abortion can face up to 99 years in prison, a $100,000 fine and lose their medical license.

Texas abortion laws are among the strictest in the nation and have survived multiple legal challenges since the overturning of Roe v. Wade from opponents who say the law is unclear about when medical exceptions are allowed.

Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the president of the Senate, has made the bill one of his legislative priorities, and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's office said he's open to supporting the legislation.

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Since the Dobbs decision, there have been 135 medically necessary abortions to save mothers lives in Texas with no repercussions for those physicians, Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris said in a statement. Governor Abbott looks forward to seeing any clarifying language in any proposed legislation from the legislature.

For years, abortion rights advocates have criticized Texas abortion laws, which do not allow exceptions for cases of incest or rape, as too restrictive.

No amount of attempted clarification from Texas lawmakers would suffice because abortion bans are dangerous, said Ashley Gray, senior policy adviser for the Center for Reproductive Rights. As long as youre criminalizing doctors for providing care, patients will suffer.

In 2024, the Texas Supreme Court said the states abortion laws were not too vague, ruling against a group of women who had serious pregnancy complications and were denied abortions. The Texas Medical Board has refused to list specific exceptions for doctors under the law.

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Dallas mother Kate Cox was at the center of a separate lawsuit brought in 2023 for a similar issue after a court denied her permission to obtain an abortion after her fetus developed a fatal condition.

A group of more than 100 obstetricians and gynecologists across the state sent a letter in November to state officials urging them to reform the law after an investigation by ProPublica found three women had died after doctors had delayed treating their miscarriages.

___

Lathan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  Drunk drivers in Texas will now have to pay child support if they kill a parent or guardian, according to a recently new law passed by Gov. Abbott in September 2023.

House Bill 393, Known as Bentleys Law says anyone convicted of intoxication manslaughter must pay restitution.

Payments must be made until the child reaches the age of 18 and or graduates from high school, whichever is considered later by the state of Texas.

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ABC Big 2s Chris Talley spoke with Pamela Edwards, a Brazos Valley mother who lost her 25-year-old son, Dillion Davis on August 9, 2014, in a single car crash in Crawford, Texas.

Since 2020, Edwards has made it her mission to keep Dillions name alive by speaking about by spreading awareness about the dangers of Drinking and Driving. She uses her platform with The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to help educate and prevent tragic stories like this from happening to other families.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
Texas Republicans in the Senate have filed a bill that aims to make it more clear when a doctor can intervene to save a pregnant patients life, despite the states near-total abortion ban. The bill does not expand abortion access or change the exceptions, but rather aims to clarify the existing law.

Sen. Bryan Hughes, author of one of the states abortion bans, filed Senate Bill 31, called the Life of the Mother Act. The bill is one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patricks priorities. A matching bill has been filed in the house by Rep. Charlie Geren, a Republican from Fort Worth.

Texas abortion laws have an exception to save the life of the pregnant patient. But since the laws went into effect, doctors have said the vague language and strict penalties leave them uncertain of when they are actually free to intervene. Despite lawsuits, and court rulings, and guidance from the Texas Medical Board, the confusion and fear persists for doctors and the lawyers who are advising them.

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Until recently, Texas Republicans maintained that the laws are clear. Hughes wrote an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle, titled, I wrote Texas' abortion law. It's plenty clear about medical emergencies. Anti-abortion groups argue that because some abortions are being performed each month, the law is working the way it was intended.

But at least three women have died, and dozens have reported medical care delayed or denied due to their doctors hesitation to act. In January, Patrick said he was open to clarifying the laws so that doctors are not in fear of being penalized if they think the life of the mother is at risk. Hughes echoed the sentiment and agreed to carry the bill.

The bill reiterates existing law that says doctors can remove an ectopic pregnancy or the remains of a fetus after a miscarriage. It also matches the definition of medical emergency to existing state law and clarifies that a doctor or a lawyer can talk with a patient about a medically necessary abortion without it being considered aiding and abetting. The bill also clarifies that doctors are not required to delay, alter or withhold life-saving medical treatment to try to preserve the life of the fetus.

The bill would bring into state law previous guidance from the Texas Supreme Court, which ruled that nothing in the law required the medical emergency to be imminent or irreversible before a doctor could intervene. It also proposes continuing education requirements for lawyers and doctors, to better educate them on interpreting and applying these laws.

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Texas banned nearly all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy in 2021, with a legal loophole that allowed the state to skirt the protections of Roe v. Wade. After the Supreme Court overturned that 50-year-old precedent in 2022, the state banned abortions from the moment of conception.

A doctor who performs a prohibited abortion can face up to life in prison, fines of $100,000 and the loss of their medical license. Doctors report delaying care until a patient is closer to death, or pursuing procedures that are riskier medically but safer legally because they are unsure how else to proceed. Others say their hospital administrators and lawyers are restricting their ability to fully practice medicine.

The bill is unlikely to satisfy abortion advocates, who would like to see access to the procedure restored more widely, or some doctors who say the state should not be legislating the decisions they make with their patients.

But Democrats and medical organizations are getting on board, seeing SB 31 as a necessary stop-gap measure to ensure pregnant women can get the treatment they need.

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Doctors want to feel safe in providing medical care, said Dr. Todd Ivey, a Houston OB/GYN who has been outspoken against the laws. We want to not have to worry about the threats of criminal prosecution and civil liability, and I think this bill really goes a long way to help us with that.

Iveys ideal bill would also allow abortions in cases of lethal fetal anomalies, or for pregnancies resulting from rape and incest, which are common exceptions in other states with abortion bans. But, hes hopeful this legislation is a starting to point that will help thaw the chilling effect that the law has had on doctors and hospital administrators.

Rep. Ann Johnson, a Democrat from Houston, has signed on to HB 44 as a co-author. Last session, she quietly passed a bill with Hughes that created an affirmative defense for doctors who performed an abortion on an ectopic pregnancy, or after a premature membrane rupture. She was prepared to scratch and claw her way to more protections for doctors this session, so shes thrilled to see the public, bipartisan support for this more wide-reaching bill.

Let me also be clear, I am a Democrat. I am pro-choice. This is not a pro-choice bill, she said. This is purely a medical exception bill that deals with pregnancy complication, but it really does, in my view, address the horrific stories that we've been hearing from women who have a pregnancy complication and have had treatment delayed.

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Johnson said shes had thoughtful conversations with her colleagues across the aisle on this issue and shes hopeful the bill may move easily through the chambers.

In a moment of just almost complete political dysfunction, this is a little ray of hope that you can have an overwhelming and bipartisan coalition of people to solve a problem that requires our immediate attention, she said. Lets get this done.

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.

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You are here: Business

China's central bank will work to cultivate a financial ecosystem that supports technological innovation, the central bank said on Friday.

The bank will provide targeted support for key national technology initiatives and small and medium-sized enterprises in the field of tech, according to a statement issued by the People's Bank of China.

It will enhance the quality and effectiveness of green financial services further, providing strong support for the green, low-carbon development of China's economy and society.

It will also enhance its capability to provide financial services for the elderly care sector, and develop digital finance actively and steadily.

Efforts will be made to defuse financial debt risks associated with financing platforms, supporting local governments to promote the market-oriented transformation of those platforms, the bank said.
Lawmakers want to turn the tide on the growing number of unprepared and uncertified teachers by restricting who can lead Texas classrooms. But school leaders worry those limits will leave them with fewer options to refill their teacher ranks.

Tucked inside the Texas Houses $7.6 billion school finance package is a provision that would ban uncertified teachers from instructing core classes in public schools. House Bill 2 gives districts until fall 2026 to certify their K-5 math and reading teachers and until fall 2027 to certify teachers in other academic classes.

Texas would help uncertified teachers pay for the cost of getting credentialed. Under HB 2, those who participate in an in-school training and mentoring program would receive a one-time $10,000 payment and those who go through a traditional university or alternative certification program would get $3,000. Special education and emergent bilingual teachers would get their certification fees waived. Educator training experts say it could be the biggest financial investment Texas made in teacher preparation. Rep. Brad Buckley, the Salado Republican who authored the bill, has signaled the House Public Education Committee will vote on HB 2 on Tuesday.

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District leaders, once reluctant to hire uncertified teachers, now rely on them often to respond to the states growing teacher shortage. And while they agree with the spirit of the legislation, some worry the bill would ask too much too soon of districts and doesnt offer a meaningful solution to replace uncertified teachers who leave the profession.

What's going to happen when we're no longer able to hire uncertified teachers? Class sizes have to go up, programs have to disappear. We wont have a choice, said David Vroonland, the former superintendent of the Mesquite school district near Dallas and the Frenship school district near Lubbock. There will be negative consequences if we don't put in place serious recruitment efforts.

A floodgate of uncertified teachers

Nowadays, superintendents often go to job fairs to recruit teachers and come out empty-handed. There are not as many Texans who want to be teachers as there used to be.

The salary in Texas is about $9,000 less than the national average, so people choose better-paying careers. Teachers say they are overworked, sometimes navigating unwieldy class sizes and using weekends to catch up on grading.

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Heath Morrison started to see the pool of teacher applicants shrink years ago when he was at the helm of Montgomery ISD. Many teachers left the job during the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated the problem.

This teacher shortage is getting more and more pronounced, said Morrison, who is now the CEO of Teachers of Tomorrow, a popular alternative teacher certification program. The reality of most school districts across the country is you're not making a whole lot more money 10 years into your job than you were when you first entered  And so that becomes a deterrent.

As the pool of certified teachers shrunk, districts found a stopgap solution: bringing on uncertified teachers. Uncertified teachers accounted for roughly 38% of newly hired instructors last year, with many concentrated in rural districts.

The Texas Legislature facilitated the flood of uncertified teachers. A 2015 law lets public schools get exemptions from requirements like teacher certification, school start dates and class sizes  the same exemptions allowed for open enrollment charter schools.

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Usually, to teach in Texas classrooms, candidates must obtain a certification by earning a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, completing an educator preparation program and passing teacher certification exams.

Teacher preparation experts say certifications give teachers the tools to lead a high quality classroom. To pass certification tests, teaching candidates learn how to plan for lessons and manage discipline in a classroom.

But the 2015 law allowed districts to hire uncertified teachers by presenting a so-called district of innovation plan to show they were struggling to meet credential requirements because of a teacher shortage. By 2018, more than 600 rural and urban districts had gotten teacher certification exemptions.

Now, what we've seen is everyone can demonstrate a shortage, said Jacob Kirksey, a researcher at Texas Tech University. Almost every district in Texas is a district of innovation. That is what has allowed for the influx of uncertified teachers. Everybody is getting that waiver for certification requirements.

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This session, House lawmakers are steadfast on undoing the loophole they created after new research from Kirksey sounded the alarm on the impacts of unprepared teachers on student learning. Students with new uncertified teachers lost about four months of learning in reading and three months in math, his analysis found. They missed class more than students with certified teachers, a signal of disengagement.

Uncertified teachers are also less likely to stick with the job long-term, disrupting school stability.

The state should act urgently on how to address the number of uncertified teachers in classrooms, said Kate Greer, a policy director at Commit Partnership. The bill rights a wrong that we've had in the state for a long time.

The price of getting certified

Rep. Jeff Leach, a Plano Republican who sits on the House Public Education Committee, said his wife has worked as an uncertified art teacher at Allen ISD. She started a program to get certified this winter and had to pay $5,000 out of pocket.

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That cost may be not only a hurdle but an impediment for someone who wants to teach and is called and equipped to teach, Leach said earlier this month during a committee hearing on HB 2.

House lawmakers are proposing to lower the financial barriers that keep Texans who want to become teachers from getting certified.

Quality preparation takes longer, is harder and it's more expensive. In the past, we've given [uncertified candidates] an opportunity just to walk into the classroom, said Jean Streepey, the chair of the State Board for Educator Certification. How do we help teachers at the beginning of their journey to choose something that's longer, harder and more expensive?

Streepey sat on the teacher vacancy task force that Gov. Greg Abbott established in 2022 to recommend fixes to retention and recruitment challenges at Texas schools. The task forces recommendations, such as prioritizing raises and improving training, have fingerprints all over the Texas Houses school finance package.

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Under HB 2, districts would see money flow in when they put uncertified teachers on the path to certification. And those financial rewards would be higher depending on the quality of the certification program.

Schools with instructors who complete yearlong teacher residencies  which include classroom training and are widely seen as the gold standard for preparing teacher candidates  would receive bigger financial rewards than those with teachers who finish traditional university or alternative certification programs.

Even with the financial help, lawmakers are making a tall order. In two years, the more than 35,000 uncertified teachers in the state would have to get their credential or be replaced with new, certified teachers.

The shortages have grown to be so great that I think none of us have a really firm handle on the measures that it's going to take to turn things around. said Michael Marder, the executive director of UTeach, a UT-Austin teacher preparatory program. There is financial support in HB 2 to try to move us back towards the previous situation. However, I just don't know whether the amounts that are laid out there are sufficient.

Restrictions like handcuffs

Only one in five uncertified teachers from 2017 to 2020 went on to get a credential within their first three years of teaching. Texas can expect a jump in uncertified teachers going through teacher preparatory programs because of the financial resources and pressure on schools through HB 2, Marder said.

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But for every teacher who does not get credentialed, school leaders will have to go out and find new teachers. And they will have to look from a smaller pool.

The restrictions on uncertified teachers handcuffs us,said Gilbert Trevino, the superintendent at Floydada Collegiate ISD, which sits in a rural farming town in West Texas. In recent years, recruiters with his district have gone out to job fairs and hired uncertified teachers with a college degree and field experience in the subjects they want to teach in.

Rural schools across the state have acutely experienced the challenges of the teacher shortage  and have leaned on uncertified teachers more heavily than their urban peers.

We have to recruit locally and grow our own or hire people who have connections or roots in the community, Trevino said. If we hire a teacher straight out of Texas Tech University, we may have them for a year.  And then they may get on at Lubbock ISD or Plainview ISD, where there's more of a social life.

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Floydada Collegiate ISD recruits local high school students who are working toward their associates degree through what is known as a Grown Your Own Teacher program. But Trevino says HB 2 does not give him the time to use this program to replace uncertified teachers. From recruitment to graduation, it takes at least three years before students can lead a classroom on their own, he said.

School leaders fear if they cant fill all their vacancies, they'll be pushed to increase class sizes or ask their teachers to prepare lessons for multiple subjects.

Our smaller districts are already doing that, where teachers have multiple preps, Trevino said. Things are already hard on our teachers. So if you add more to their plate, how likely are they to remain in the profession or remain in this district?

At Wylie ISD in Taylor County, its been difficult to find teachers to keep up with student growth. Uncertified teachers in recent years have made up a large number of teacher applicants, according to Cameron Wiley, a school board trustee.

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Wiley said restrictions on uncertified teachers is a good end goal but would compound the districts struggles.

It limits the pot of people that's already small to a smaller pot. That's just going to make it more difficult to recruit, Wiley said. And if we have a hard time finding people to come in, or we're not allowed to hire certain people to take some of that pressure off, those class sizes are just going to get bigger.

Learning suffers when class sizes get too big because students are not able to get the attention they need.

This bill, it's just another obstacle that we as districts are having to maneuver around and hurl over, Wiley said. We're not addressing the root cause [recruitment]. We're just putting a Band-Aid on it right now.

Disclosure: Commit Partnership and Texas Tech University 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.

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An onslaught of unsolicited texts to Americans phones in recent months claiming they owe unpaid tolls and E-ZPass bills is more than an annoyance. Its the end result of an elaborate online syndicate of Chinese-speaking scammers selling ready-made cybercrime kits on Telegram for stealing credit cards and personal information, experts tell NBC News.

The exact wording varies, but the scam texts generally tell the recipient that theyve missed a toll payment and owe a small fee that may grow if it goes unpaid, and include a link to a bogus payment website.

Authorities across the U.S., including New York, Virginia, Maryland and Indiana have warned of the scam.

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The FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center has received more than 60,000 reports of the scam, an agency spokesperson told NBC News.

No U.S. authorities have made public statements about where the scam comes from, and at least some have said theyre in the dark about their origin.

We have no idea whos behind this. We just know it keeps coming and it keeps changing every few days, Jennifer Givner, a spokesperson for the New York State Thruway Authority, told NBC News.

Were handling a couple dozen calls on a daily basis, people calling just to make sure, she said.

But cybersecurity researchers have found a thriving, loose network devoted to the scam on the Dubai-based social media and messaging platform Telegram. Cybercriminals boast in Chinese about their tools to send the scam texts and steal victims credit cards, and even offer to license out programs, called phish kits, that streamline the process for other people to conduct the scams. Phish kits let scammers operate authentic-looking payment pages in order to steal victims private information.

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Theres a lot of people using the kits. Theres no one person, Genina Po, a threat researcher who tracks the scammers at the cybersecurity company Proofpoint, told NBC News.

A lot of them are Chinese users. The Chinese language is a big part of this scene, she said.

The cybercriminal underground routinely buys, repackages and sells large datasets of hacked phone numbers, making it easy for aspiring scammers to acquire numbers in bulk and execute it themselves.

Companies that keep customers phone numbers sent out more than 100 million notices last year to victims telling them that their phone number may have been included in a hacked database, according to the Identity Theft Research Center, a California nonprofit.

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Ford Merrill, a researcher at SecAlliance, a subsidiary of the cybersecurity company CSIS Security Group, has tracked the scam in Telegram channels since 2023, and told NBC News he has seen it rapidly escalate in recent months.

Telegram, which has long marketed itself as an unmoderated bastion of free speech, is a hub for cybercriminal activity. After Telegrams CEO, Pavel Durov, was detained and charged by French authorities, he said he was taking steps to better moderate the platform. The company did not respond to a request for comment for this story.

The same phishing kits that now tell victims they have unpaid tolls previously told them they had missing U.S. Postal Service packages, he said. The USPS warned in July of that scam.

The toll road scam appears to work in part because it often asks for a small fine, making it seem a reasonable request, Merrill said. That scheme has escalated because scammers saw it working and have no qualms about copying each others work, he said.

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When one of them finds out somethings effective instantly, the others basically hop on it and copy it right away. So for instance, early February, you started to see the first toll road scams in the U.S. Within days, three of the other operators all supported toll roads as well.

The scam can be used to steal both the victims personal information and their payment details, and allows cybercriminals to add victims credit cards to an Apple or Google wallet.

Videos posted to Telegram and viewed by NBC News show how, as a victim starts to enter their personal and payment information into the fake payment page, the scammer can see that information in real time.

As the person enters their credit card number, their phishing kit will create a fake, scannable credit card that the scammer can scan and put into their Apple or Google wallet. Doing so can prompt Apple or Google to send the victim a text message code to verify their identity. But, if the victim doesnt read the text carefully, they may copy and paste it into the fake payment page, thinking thats part of a legitimate payment process.

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Phishing kits advertised on Telegram offer a wide variety of tolls to imitate, both across the U.S. and around the world.

One Telegram channel viewed by NBC News advertises that their kit can imitate themes from across the United States, including the Bay Area FasTrak, E-ZPass, Georgias Peach Pass, Oklahomas Pike Pass and Louisianas GeauxPass.

Its unclear what, if anything, can stop the scammers. A spokesperson for the CTIA, a trade group that represents the major American telecommunications companies like AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, said in an emailed statement that the industry is dedicated to protecting consumers from illegal and un-consented-to text messages, but said bad actors are increasingly targeting Americans with encrypted messaging, which phone carriers cannot read or stop.

Apple declined to comment. Samsung didnt respond to a request for comment.

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In an emailed statement, a Google spokesperson said Security is core to the Google Wallet experience and we work closely with card issuers to prevent fraud.

Unlike Russia, where cybercriminals who target victims abroad are constitutionally safe from being extradited, China does have extradition treaties with some countries, though it doesnt have one with the U.S. The Justice Department does periodically charge accused hackers of breaking the law while working for Chinese intelligence, though theres little hope of them being arrested.

The FBI did not respond to questions about whether it knows the identity of the scammers or has plans to take action against them.

A spokesperson for Chinas embassy in Washington, D.C., told NBC News in an emailed statement that the countrys government stands firm in combating crimes of telecom and online fraud, fighting cross-border illegal and criminal activities and protecting the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens.

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At the same time, we also ask Chinese citizens overseas to strictly abide by local laws and regulations and refrain from engaging in any illegal and criminal activities, it said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Mar. 14LIMA  Ronnie Brown, one of four Lima juveniles involved in a robbery on Greenlawn Avenue in February of 2024 that left a young girl dead, was sentenced Friday to a minimum of nine years in prison.

Brown, 17, along with teenagers Cardarius Burns and Malik Dennis, have now been sentenced for their roles in the Feb. 13 incident that ultimately resulted in the death of 14-year-old Lauralye Sterling.

Ariel Sterling, Lauralye's twin sister, has seen her case bound over to adult court. She was indicted this week by an Allen County grand jury on charges of aggravated robbery, felonious assault with a firearm specification and grand theft when the property is a firearm of a dangerous ordnance.

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Allen County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Reed sentenced Brown to a 6- to 9-year prison term on a charge of aggravated robbery, plus an additional three years of mandatory prison time on an attached firearm specification.

Dennis, who admitted firing the shot that killed Sterling, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence. Burns, who was 17 at the time of the incident, is serving a 10-year prison sentence for aggravated robbery.

During a February 2024 hearing in Lima Municipal Court, Lima Police Department Detective Jesse Harrod told how Dennis scaled an exterior television antennae at a Greenlawn Avenue home and discharged a firearm through a window of the residence, killing Lauralye Sterling.

Steve Chamberlain of the Allen County Public Defenders Office asked Harrod if, during the course of the investigation into Sterling's death, it was learned that Dennis had been robbed a short time prior to the shooting. The detective said that during a police interview Dennis alleged he had been robbed by two juveniles who were inside the Greenlawn Avenue residence. At that point, Harrod said, Dennis left briefly and returned with the firearm used to shoot Sterling.

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Thousands of industrial workers demonstrated in several German cities on Saturday, during a nationwide day of action organized by the union IG Metall.

They were calling for measures to strengthen industry and secure jobs in the face of a worsening situation in the sector and growing concern about job security among the workforce.

The union wants more investment from politicians and companies and targeted support for innovations and future technologies.

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"Without industry, Germany is a poor country, and we will not allow that to happen," said IG Metall leader Christiane Benner in a statement.

The union wants more from employers to counter a climate of cut-backs, relocations and a lack of investment.

"We can shape the future, we can create new technologies, we can create green industry. And now we want to do it!" said Benner.

It was good that the likely new German government had shown it had understood, and was looking to foster innovation and defence, she said. "But no special fund has actually been set up yet, nothing is clear yet."

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All political forces must now take responsibility to ensure that this central project does not fail, she said.

The demonstrations were accompanied by performances by well-known bands and artists, which may have played a role in boosting attendance.

The events took place in Hanover, Stuttgart, Cologne, Frankfurt and Leipzig. IG Metall described it as the largest public action by the union in decades.

The union says more than 77,000 people took part in the rallies under the slogan "My workplace. Our industrial country. Our future!" The numbers could not be verified.

The nation's economy has struggled to recover from the pandemic and the consequences of the Russian war in Ukraine, with the country suffering from two consecutive years of recession. The downturn is also affecting industry.
CARTER CO., Tenn. (WJHL)  A man was charged with vehicular assault on Friday after striking another vehicle in Carter County.

A report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) said an Infiniti QX4 was traveling eastbound on US Highway 19E when it was struck by a Toyota Landcruiser that was traveling westbound and allegedly crossed the roadways center line into the opposite lane of travel.

Man arrested for indecent exposure in Kingsport

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The driver of the Toyota, identified as Daniel Petersen, 50, was charged with vehicular assault and implied consent, the report said.

The driver and a passenger in the Infiniti were reportedly injured, and charges are pending against the driver.

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A suspect was arrested after threatening violence against a Pasadena hospital, sending the facility into lockdown Friday night.

Pasadena police responded to Huntington Hospital where the facility, notably the emergency room area, went into lockdown for hours.

A city spokesperson said the suspect, identified only as a 33-year-old man, was admitted to the hospital as a patient earlier in the day. After the man was discharged, he reportedly called the hospital around 2 p.m., threatening a violent attack.

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Authorities did not release details but confirmed the incident was a legitimate threat and not a case of swatting.

Swatting involves making a false threat or a prank call to emergency services in hopes of sending a large number of armed law enforcement personnel to a particular address.

The motive behind the threat remains unclear. Hospital staff received a text alerting them of a Code Silver threat indicating a possible active shooter or hostage situation.

A suspect was arrested after Huntington Hospital in Pasadena went on lockdown following a credible threat of violence on March 14, 2025. (KTLA) A suspect was arrested after Huntington Hospital in Pasadena went on lockdown following a credible threat of violence on March 14, 2025. (KTLA) A suspect was arrested after Huntington Hospital in Pasadena went on lockdown following a credible threat of violence on March 14, 2025. (KTLA) A suspect was arrested after Huntington Hospital in Pasadena went on lockdown following a credible threat of violence on March 14, 2025. (KTLA) Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, California. (KTLA) A suspect was arrested after Huntington Hospital in Pasadena went on lockdown following a credible threat of violence on March 14, 2025. (KTLA) A suspect was arrested after Huntington Hospital in Pasadena went on lockdown following a credible threat of violence on March 14, 2025. (KTLA)

The suspect was later arrested by authorities in Los Angeles. Officials have not released his name.

During the lockdown, incoming ambulances were being diverted to other nearby hospitals. Patients and visitors were not permitted to enter during the lockdown.

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Friday nights incident follows two swatting situations that occurred earlier this week.

On Wednesday night, dozens of heavily armed deputies swarmed Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital after a caller told officials he was planning on shooting up the San Bernardino County facility.

On Thursday night, a swatting call about an active shooter triggered a massive police response at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont.

Hospital officials released a statement on the incident saying, Huntington Hospital received a threat today via phone to our facility. We immediately notified the Pasadena Police Department, which responded swiftly and has reported this individual is now in custody.

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Officials said the hospital was cleared and normal operations have resumed.

This developing story will be updated when more details become available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
A suspect has been taken into custody on suspicion of making a threatening call to Huntington Hospital that prompted a temporary lockdown of the Pasadena facility on Friday afternoon, authorities said.

A man who was a patient in the emergency room around 2 p.m. phoned in the threat after being discharged, according to Lisa Derderian, a spokeswoman for the city of Pasadena. The facility was placed on lockdown, with incoming ambulance traffic rerouted to other hospitals, she said.

The hospital resumed normal operations around 6:30 p.m., according to spokesperson Dorey Huston.

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Hospital employees were sent a text at 5:41 p.m. saying: "Huntington Hospital received a Code Silver threat via phone. Facility on lockdown, but no need to shelter in place."

Read more: 'Swatting' call about gunman at Loma Linda hospital prompts massive police response, evacuations

Code Silver is a hospital code for a person with a weapon, an active shooter or a hostage situation, according to the Hospital Assn. of Southern California.

Employees received an "all-clear" alert shortly before 7:30 p.m., according to copies of the messages reviewed by The Times.

The Los Angeles Police Department took a suspect into custody around 6:30 p.m and then transferred him to the Pasadena Police Department, which is the lead agency for the incident, Derderian said. No immediate information was available on what he might be charged with.

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This incident comes on the heels of two "swatting" calls that prompted significant law enforcement responses in Southern California.

Swatting is the name for a false crime or emergency being reported at a specific location to provoke an aggressive law enforcement response, often by a SWAT team.

Dozens of heavily armed deputies swarmed Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital on Wednesday evening after a caller told officials he was planning on shooting up the San Bernardino County medical facility.

Read more: L.A. County 18-year-old pleads guilty to making 375 'swatting' calls throughout the U.S.

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Then on Thursday evening, students were warned to shelter in place at the five undergraduate colleges in the Claremont consortium after the Claremont Police Department received a call warning of a gunman on the campus of Claremont McKenna College.

Neither the Loma Linda Hospital nor the Claremont McKenna calls were deemed credible threats, and it is unknown whether any of the incidents are related.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
GRENADA COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  Three people were injured in Mississippi after severe storms moved through the state Friday night.

According to Gov. Tate Reeves (R-Miss.), preliminary reports indicated that three people were injured and hospitalized in Grenada County on March 14. He said the number is expected to increase.

Monster storm across the US sparks threat of tornadoes and fire, killing at least 16

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In Grenada County, major damage was reported in the Elliot and Gore Springs communities. A shelter has been opened at the Grenada City Auditorium.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) received reports that a cell entered in Issaquena County on Friday and exited the county, causing significant damage.

Damage assessments are underway for Fridays storms. As of now, Calhoun, Carroll, Grenada, Humphreys, Leflore and Montgomery counties are reporting damage from the March 14 storms.

More severe weather is moving across the state on Saturday, March 15. Click here to keep up with the Storm Team 12 forecast.

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ELLIOT, Miss.  Saturday mornings storms caused significant damage across Mississippi.

According to Governor Tate Reeves, Grenada County, just 90 minutes south of Memphis, was hit the hardest.

Throughout the county, the sounds of tornado sirens echoed throughout the community.

Ive been through seven tornadoes and two hurricanes. Give me a hurricane any day, Farrah Peters said.

Farrah and Michael Peters are among dozens of people in Elliot, Mississippi, whose home was destroyed during Saturday mornings severe weather.

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Tornado and severe weather alerts active in TN, AR, MS

Our ceilings are coming in, she said. Theres insulation, theres debris  you cant get into this back bathroom here. Both of my sons rooms are gone.

The National Weather Service issued several tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings across the state Saturday morning.

According to Governor Reeves, storm damage was reported in numerous counties.

Damage following storms in Elliot, Mississippi. Damage following storms in Elliot, Mississippi. Damage following storms in Elliot, Mississippi. Damage following storms in Elliot, Mississippi. Damage following storms in Elliot, Mississippi. Damage following storms in Elliot, Mississippi. Damage following storms in Elliot, Mississippi. Damage following storms in Elliot, Mississippi.

However, he said reports show Grenada County was hit the hardest, with at least three people having to be hospitalized. That number is expected to grow.

Things can be replaced, but lives cant, Peters said.

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She said that as soon as she learned the severity of the storm, she immediately moved her family to the closest storm shelter.

Im just thankful that my in-laws were, Peters said. They werent able to go. So, Im very thankful that God had his hands around them. I was scared.

Woman, horses rescued from Marshall Co. trapped vehicle

The long road to rebuilding and recovering has begun.

Numerous homes and businesses were destroyed throughout the community.

Several utility crews spent the day working to remove downed power lines and restore power.

Tornadoes have a specific sound and if you know what to listen for, Peters said. I knew as soon as I heard it, this is going to be a big one.

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Governor Reeves said crews are still working to assess the damage.

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz put billionaire Elon Musk on blast on Friday as the former vice presidential candidate kicked off his nationwide town hall tour in Des Moines, Iowa.

Theres nothing conservative about an unelected South African nepo baby firing people at the VA, Walz said of the billionaire in his remarks to about 1,000 people at a high school auditorium.

He continued to lay into Musks closeness to President Donald Trump, Could you image if President Barack Obama had brought his unelected African friend to cut? You know what I mean. How they think to cut the government, this is wrong.

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Walz spoke in a congressional district where Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) tightly won his reelection bid in November.

On Saturday, the ex-VP candidate is set to head to Nebraska, where Republican Rep. Don Bacon narrowly squeezed past his Democratic opponent in 2024.

The idea for the tour began to take shape after Walz, in an X post last week, toyed with meeting constituents of GOP-held districts himself as Republicans face fury at town halls over policies pushed by the Trump administration.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has advised GOP representatives to skip out on the events after lawmakers such as Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) attempted to tackle outraged voters questions.

Walz recently said he owns the mess Americans find themselves in following his and Kamala Harris loss last year.

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On Friday, the Minnesota governor told the Iowa crowd that he wasnt in the state to personally attack their member of Congress before stressing that the lawmaker needs to answer questions about siding with Trump.

Its very hard to find an elected official who doesnt want to be in front of a crowd or a camera. When they dont want to be, you know somethings up, Walz argued.

And the something thats up is even people who voted for this didnt vote for what theyre getting, they didnt vote for the crap.

Nunn, in a statement to Des Moines CBS affiliate KCCI, claimed hes held hundreds of listening sessions across all 21 counties in his House district.

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Iowans voted for change in November, and Im delivering: securing the border, unleashing U.S. energy, and cutting taxes for working Americans. While out-of-state Democrats hold fundraisers disguised as forums, were focused on real results, Nunn said.

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The sibling ex-leaders of Mexico's violent Zetas cartel were arraigned on Friday in the United States on charges including drug trafficking, firearm possession and money laundering, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Brothers Miguel and Omar Trevino Morales  aliases "Z-40" and "Z-42"  led one of Mexico's most powerful and feared organized crime groups until its collapse.

They were among the 29 drug suspects that Mexico expelled to the United States last month, as it faces mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump to tackle drug smuggling.

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The brothers were arraigned in Washington "on charges of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise that involved multiple murder conspiracies," the Department of Justice said in a statement.

Their other charges included "conspiring to manufacture and distribute large quantities of cocaine and marijuana destined for the United States, using firearms -- including a machine gun -- during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes, and conspiring to launder monetary instruments."

Zetas was founded by deserters from the Mexican special forces known for their brutality.

Soldiers escort a man who authorities identified as Omar Trevino Morales, alias

Miguel Trevino Morales led the Zetas until Mexican authorities arrested him in 2013, when his brother Omar took over until his arrest in 2015, the Department of Justice said.

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"After their arrests, the defendants allegedly renamed Los Zetas to Cartel del Noreste (CDN) and continued to control the cartel while incarcerated in Mexico," it added.

The State Department said last month it had designated CDN as a "foreign terrorist organization."

Washington accuses the two brothers of being "personally responsible" for committing dozens of murders and for directing killings, kidnappings and torture.

Both pleaded not guilty on Friday, and face the possibility of the death sentence if convicted, according to reporters at the hearing.

"As alleged, the defendants represent some of the world's most vicious cartel leaders, who oversaw Los Zetas' reign of terror with grotesque impunity and ruthlessness, and a sheer disregard for anything beyond their wealth, power, and control," Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso of ICE Homeland Security Investigations New York said in a statement.

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Among the other suspects expelled to the U.S. last month was Rafael Caro Quintero, who is wanted for the notorious killing of U.S. DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in 1985.

Last month, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum warned it will never tolerate an invasion of its national sovereignty by the United States, after Washington designated Mexican multiple drug cartels as terrorist organizations.

"This cannot be an opportunity for the U.S. to invade our sovereignty," she said. "With Mexico it is collaboration and coordination, never subordination or interventionism."

Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has been given a prominent role in the Trump administration, said on social media the designation on cartels "means they're eligible for drone strikes."

Connecticut man says he was held captive by stepmother for 20 years

Senate passes short-term funding bill, averting a government shutdown

Hundreds of muscle car drivers rally around bullied Alabama boy
A Tornado watch is in effect for west central Indiana until 4am Saturday and a Wind Advisory is in effect for all of central Indiana through 4 pm Saturday. All week weve been monitoring the potential for severe weather for tonight. A line of storms that has a history of producing tornadoes, has formed across Missouri. These storms will move across Illinois before moving into west central Indiana by 2am.

Our main severe weather threat overnight will be damaging straight-line winds. However, large hail and heavy rain will be a concern. The main threat for tornadoes stay across the western part of the state. Up to an inch of rain may cause flash flooding overnight. Well have several hours of dry weather Saturday before a second line of strong storms develops in the afternoon.

A Tornado watch continues until 4 am for west central Indiana.

Our main severe weather threat overnight will be damaging straight-line winds. However, large hail and heavy rain will be a concern.

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Strong storms will reach western Indiana by 2am

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Strong storms will move across the state by 7am.

A second line of storms will move across the state Saturday afternoon.

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Rain will taper off Saturday evening.

A Wind Advisory continues for all of central Indiana through 4pm Saturday.

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A federal grand jury indicted a tow truck operator in San Francisco this week for conspiracy to commit arson as part of an alleged plot to drive more business to his companies by torching the trucks of his competitors.

The indictment accuses Jose Vicente Badillo, 29, and four co-conspirators of setting fire to at least six tow trucks across the Bay Area on four occasions between April and October 2023. Authorities allege Badillo orchestrated and directed others to set the fires to retaliate against rivals for perceived wrongs, according to the indictment.

The first incident detailed in the indictment was April 4, 2023, when a 2008 white Sterling Bullet 45 tow truck and a 2012 white Dodge Ram 4500 tow truck were torched. Several weeks later, a 2018 Peterbilt 579 heavy wrecker was set on fire in East Palo Alto, Calif.

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A 2009 Ford F-550 tow truck was lit on fire on July 25, 2023, followed by two more tow trucks on Oct. 3 of that year, including two Ford F-550s and a 2022 Dodge Ram 550 flatbed.

Authorities did not detail how investigators linked the fires to Badillo, or how the alleged conspirators were involved. At least one co-conspirator was a business associate of Badillo's and was affiliated with one or more towing companies, including Specialty Towing, according to the indictment.

The indictment is the latest of several criminal investigations centered around Badillo.

On Aug. 9, Badillo was charged with auto insurance fraud. FBI agents executed search warrants in connection with the case, including at one of his towing yards. Also charged in that case was 31-year-old Jessica Elizabeth Najarro.

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A grand jury indictment in that case accused Badillo of purchasing an undriveable car with severe front-end damage in July 2019 before transferring ownership of it to Najarro, who then allegedly filed a false claim after obtaining auto insurance for it.

Read more: Feds charge San Francisco towing company operator amid FBI raids

About two weeks later, a federal grand jury again indicted Badillo and three others in a similar auto insurance scheme.

Badillo and Abigail Fuentes, who authorities say are in a relationship and have children, were already facing multiple felonies from an alleged welfare fraud scheme filed by the San Francisco district attorney's office in October 2023.

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Prosecutors in that case accused Fuentes of improperly approving Badillos welfare application when she was an employee of the San Francisco Human Services Agency. Prosecutors said Fuentes failed to disclose her relationship to Badillo and accused the pair of lying about their income and assets.

At the time the application was filed, investigators said the pair had been operating three towing companies  Auto Towing, Joses Towing and Specialty Towing  which generated more than $2 million in gross annual income.

The case led to more scrutiny of the pair's business practices by San Francisco authorities last year, specifically from San Francisco City Atty. David Chiu, whose office later alleged that one of the couples companies was profiting from illegal tows.

Last February , Chiu moved to suspend the company, Auto Towing, and its affiliates, which included Specialty Towing, from receiving contracts from the city. The company came under public scrutiny two months later when a bystander recorded one of its trucks trying to tow a woman's car as she was driving in San Francisco.

Police are investigating why a tow truck tried to nab a moving vehicle in San Francisco with people inside. However, City Attorney David Chiu confirmed the company "Specialty Towing" is known to their office for violating state laws prior to this incident. https://t.co/TETW8Tx2EF pic.twitter.com/bjGF3kzjWB  ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) April 12, 2024

"We were freaking out calling and basically rolling down our window and saying, 'Hey what you are doing? You can't be doing that,'" the driver, identified only as Joanne, told ABC 7 News in an interview. "He started backing up and his lever came down and basically he was just backing up trying to latch onto our car."

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Representatives for Auto Towing and Specialty Towing did not immediately respond to calls or voicemails seeking comment.

Badillo is scheduled to appear in district court for arraignment on March 20. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if convicted on all charges, according to authorities.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A tree fell onto a car in Blue Springs on Friday afternoon, injuring the driver and halting traffic, according to police.

The incident took place on Duncan Road shortly before 4:30 p.m., the Blue Springs Police Department shared on social media. After their car was hit by the falling tree, the involved driver was taken to a nearby hospital, according to Blue Springs Police.

The extent of the drivers injuries was unknown as of Friday afternoon, according to Blue Springs Police and the driver has not been publicly identified.

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Duncan Road temporarily closed between 12th Street and Saunders Road in the aftermath of the accident Friday afternoon.

Since the start of 2025, 26 drivers have been injured in traffic incidents in Missouri caused by foreign objects or obstructions in the road, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol data.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
A Florida jury convicted a Bradenton man on Friday of attempted murder and three other felonies for shooting a co-worker and kidnapping another after an argument at a Tropicana orange juice plant.

Jurors found Demetrius Tyrone Bell, 51, guilty of attempted murder, aggravated assault with a firearm, armed kidnapping and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, the Bradenton police said.

On June 5, 2023, investigators said Bell got into an argument with a 39-year-old male co-worker after his shift at the Tropicana plant in Bradenton. After leaving he workplace, police said Bell later returned, pulled a gun and shot the man in the torso, seriously injuring him. Bell then forced a female co-worker to leave with him at gunpoint, police said.

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After Bell fled, police opened a missing persons investigation for the kidnapped coworker, citing concerns for her safety. Detectives said at the time that she did not leave willingly. Two days later, Bell released her uninjured in Tampa, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.

Bell remained on the run for nearly a year before detectives received a tip in April 2024 that he had returned to Bradenton, police said. When officers attempted to arrest him, he ran, according to police.

The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office Aviation Unit later spotted him hanging from the roof of a storage facility near the Braden River before Bradenton police arrested him, according to detectives.

At the time, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister called Bell a dangerous individual and praised the joint effort between law enforcement agencies.

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Bell had a firearm at the time of his arrest, according to police. Investigators later matched it to a shell casing from the shooting scene, police said.

Manatee County jurors convicted Bell after a two-day trial.

Bell faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison, according to the State Attorneys Office. The minimum mandatory for attempted first-degree murder with a firearm is 25 years in prison and 10 years for armed kidnapping.

Prosecutors say they are seeking enhanced sentencing under Floridas three-time violent felony offender law, which would make life in prison the mandatory sentence if granted.

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The defendants reprehensible actions back on June 5, 2023, irrevocably affected both of the victims lives, Assistant State Attorney Charlie Lawrence said in a statement provided to the Bradenton Herald. We hope this verdict provides them a sense of justice.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled.
We have come together to stay together: Uddhav

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22:30 Baby's eyes damaged during tantrik ritual An occultist's horrific 'exorcism' ritual left a six-month-old baby almost blinded in eyes after he was hung upside down over fire in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district, setting police on the trail of the self-proclaimed tantrik.Officials on Saturday said the ritual badly damaged the eyes of the... Read more >

22:13 Modi joins Lex Fridman for a 3-hour podcast Photo: @lexfridman/X Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a sneak peek on Saturday into the areas of discussion he held with world-renowned scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman.Lex Fridman is a research scientist who also hosts his own podcast, Lex Fridman Podcast.In his podcasts, several personalities from various... Read more >

21:48 Aurangzeb's grave: Hindutva leader banned Hindutva leader Milind Ekbote has been barred from entering Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar from March 16 to April 5 amid calls from some outfits to remove the grave of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb located at Khuldabad in the district.The order, which was issued on Saturday by the deputy resident... Read more >

20:54 Dismembered body of 16-year-old found in UP's Pilbhit, 3 arrested The day after the dismembered body of a 16-year-old boy was recovered from the river in the Niuria police station area in Pilibhit, police on Saturday arrested three men in connection with the case, officials said.The main accused, Shubham, along with Bobby and Pramod, have been arrested in... Read more >

20:29 Slapped several times, forced to sign: Ranya Rao Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya, key accused in the gold smuggling case, has alleged that officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) assaulted her and forced her to sign blank and typed papers.In a letter addressed to the Additional Director General of the DRI in Bengaluru on... Read more >

19:24 Case booked over namaaz at UP varsity during Holi Police have registered a case over the open offering of namaz at a private university during Holi celebrations after a video of the incident surfaced on social media, officials said on Saturday.Ganga Nagar Station House Officer (SHO) Anoop Singh said the case was lodged based on a complaint by... Read more >

18:57 Avalanche alert issued in four Himachal districts The Met office in Shimla has issued an avalanche alert for some high altitude areas in Himachal Pradesh for the next 24 hours.It has also predicted a wet spell in the state till Thursday, barring Tuesday. The Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment, Chandigarh, issued an orange... Read more >

18:15 Frequency of Rahul's visits to Vietnam very curious: BJP The Bharatiya Janata Party claimed on Saturday that Rahul Gandhi is spending more time in Vietnam than his constituency, and said the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha needs to explain his 'extraordinary fondness' for that country.Where is Rahul Gandhi? I heard he has gone to Vietnam, BJP leader... Read more >

17:49 Assam Cong spokesperson arrested for online post Assam Congress Spokesperson Reetam Singh was on Saturday arrested for a social media post enquiring about the status of cases registered against three senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including a former state chief and two serving MLAs.He was arrested from his home in Guwahati by a team of... Read more >

16:58 Whitewashing of Sambhal mosque may begin tomorrow The whitewashing of the outer wall of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal is likely begin on Sunday, a mosque official said.Secretary of Shahi Jama Masjid Masood Farooqui on Saturday said an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team came to the mosque around noon and held a... Read more >

15:56 BJP slams Karnataka quota for Muslim contractors The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday slammed the Karnataka government's decision to reserve four per cent of government contracts for Muslims as unconstitutional, alleging that it is part of the Congress' appeasement politics and will weaken the national unity.Addressing a press conference, BJP... Read more >

15:49 Dhankhar planning to resume presiding over RS from Monday: Ramesh Congress' chief whip in the Rajya Sabha, Jairam Ramesh, called on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday and said the Rajya Sabha Chairman is planning to resume presiding over the Upper House from March 17.The Congress general secretary's meeting with Dhankhar comes after he was discharged... Read more >

15:23 Was beaten up, jailed in Assam, recalls Amit Shah Recalling his detention during Hiteshwar Saikia's tenure as Assam Chief Minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that during the Congress government in Assam, he was beaten up and had jail food for seven days in the state.Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Lachit Barphukan... Read more >

14:52 Man kills 2 minor sons for 'poor academic performance' A 37-year-old ONGC employee has allegedly killed his two minor sons for 'poor academic performance' and died by suicide in Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh, a police official said on Saturday.The boys were allegedly drowned by their father V Chandra Kishore in a bucket of water around... Read more >

14:49 ED summons to my son just media hype: Baghel Senior Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday said his son hadn't received any notice from the Enforcement Directorate to appear before it in connection with an alleged liquor scam linked to a money laundering case in the state.Baghel's statement has... Read more >

13:59 IndusInd Bank's financial health stable: RBI The Reserve Bank on Saturday asked IndusInd Bank's board to complete remedial action during the current quarter amid disclosure of a whopping Rs 2,100 crore discrepancy in accounting announced by the bank. Earlier this week, IndusInd Bank disclosed a discrepancy in accounting with an... Read more >

13:53 Modi to visit Sri Lanka next month Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Sri Lanka early next month to finalise agreements reached during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's visit to Delhi last year, a minister said on Saturday.Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath made the statement while responding to a question on budget... Read more >

13:28 Man booked over viral reel of minor son driving car A man has been booked by police after a video of his minor son driving an Innova car through a public road went viral on social media platforms.In that reel, the 13-year-old boy could be seen driving through a road, reportedly near his house in Chekkiad in this north Kerala district.A police... Read more >

13:07 Iran uses drones, apps to enforce hijab law Iran is increasingly deploying advanced surveillance technology, including drones, facial recognition, and a government-backed mobile app, to enforce its mandatory hijab laws, CNN reported citing a United Nations report released Friday.The findings suggest a growing reliance on digital tools to... Read more >

12:31 Explosion outside temple in Amritsar Image only for representation An explosion took place outside a temple in Amritsar, damaging its walls and shattering its window panes, officials said on Saturday.While no one was hurt in the incident, it has caused panic among the residents in the Khandwala area of Amritsar.CCTV footage of the incident shows two unidentified... Read more >

11:42 Rakesh Tikait's car meets with accident Farmer leader and national spokesperson of Bharatiya Kisan Union, Rakesh Tikait, had a narrow escape in Muzaffarnagar district when a nilgai collided with the front portion of his vehicle, officials said on Saturday.According to Tikait, the accident took place when his vehicle was near the... Read more >

10:34 Condemn religious intolerance against Muslim: India @UN India has said it stands united with the United Nations members in condemning incidents of religious intolerance against Muslims, as it underlined the need to recognise that religious discrimination is a broader challenge affecting followers of all faiths. India is a land of diversity and... Read more >

10:01 Didn't want Modi...: Trump orders to clean Washington United States President Donald Trump said he did not want Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other world leaders who visited him to see the tents and graffiti near federal buildings in Washington DC and has ordered the cleaning up of the American capital.We're cleaning up our city. We're cleaning... Read more >

09:46 Tata Projects Gets Board Nod To Raise Rs 2,500 Cr Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata group, is set to invest Rs 1,432 crore in the rights issue of Tata Projects, the conglomerates engineering, procurement, and construction arm.The fundraising effort of Tata Projects aims to raise Rs 2,500 crore from its shareholders.The companys board of... Read more >

09:37 Indian self-deports after US revokes visa for supporting Hamas Representative image An Indian student at Columbia University, whose visa was revoked for allegedly advocating for violence and terrorism and involvement in activities supporting Hamas, has self-deported.Ranjani Srinivasan, a citizen and national of India, entered the United States on a F-1 student visa as a doctoral... Read more >

08:29 Our Approach To Be Guided By 'India First': Goyal Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyals meeting with the newly-appointed United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer saw discussions on reciprocal tariffs that Washington plans to implement as well as the first phase of bilateral trade agreement (BTA) that both the sides plan to... Read more >
Authorities on Friday announced that the driver of a tractor-trailer that was involved in a deadly 17-vehicle crash has been charged with manslaughter.

In a statement, the Austin Police Department said Solomun Weldekeal Araya has been arrested for his role in the Interstate-35 crash that killed at least five people late Thursday night in Austin, TX.

Araya, who is currently behind bars in the Travis County Jail, is charged with five counts of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle involving serious bodily injury. Araya had been detained following the crash the occurred just after 11:30 p.m. on southbound I-35 near Palmer Lane. The interstate was shut down for nearly 14 hours before it was reopened at around 1 p.m. on Friday.

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At least five people were killed in the harrowing crash, including an infant and a child. Three adults were also killed. At least a dozen people were injured, and the severity of their injuries range from minor to life-threatening.

"This incident was incredibly chaotic and spread out over about a tenth of a mile," said Austin-Travis County EMS Spokesperson Christa Stedman at a news conference held at around 2 a.m. on Friday.

NEW: A CBS Austin viewer shared cell phone video that showed debris strewn across I-35 following a deadly crash involving 17 vehicles late Thursday night.



Details: https://t.co/rcMAJqyqPI pic.twitter.com/Y27PYugfCA  John-Carlos Estrada  (@Mr_JCE) March 14, 2025

The investigation remains ongoing.

KXAN reported on Friday, citing police sources, that Araya was hauling the semi-truck for Amazon but that he is not an Amazon employee.

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"This is a horrible tragedy, and our thoughts are with all those involved. We're looking into this further and will cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate," an Amazon spokesperson told KXAN.

We can confirm that an arrest has been made in last nights fatal crash in the 12900 block of IH 35.



Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37-years-old, has been charged with the following and is currently in custody in the Travis County Jail:

5 counts Intoxication Manslaughter

2 counts pic.twitter.com/osya4DFla8  Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) March 14, 2025

Araya had been driving for about four months with ZBN Transport LLC. The company told the NBC affiliate in Austin that there were no prior issues with Araya and that it conducts background checks on its drivers, and nothing came up for Araya.

The cause of the fatal crash remains under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has also launched an investigation.
DENVER (KDVR)  One lane of westbound Interstate 270 remains open after a truck overturned in Commerce City Saturday morning.

The Commerce City Police Department said in a post on X that a cement truck overturned, spilling some of its load onto the roadway just east of Vasquez Boulevard.

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Police said no one was injured.

A cement truck overturned and spilled some of its load onto westbound Interstate 270 just east of Vasquez Boulevard on March 15, 2025.

Police said the Colorado Department of Transportation is on the way to the scene to address the spill.

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Indiana State Police at Putnamville are conducting a death investigation after a truck driver was found at a Vigo weigh station off Interstate 70 Friday morning.

Dead is Ernest N. Rhodes, 52, of Fordland, Missouri.

About 8:50 a.m. troopers were dispatched to the ISP weigh station on I-70 near the Indiana/Illinois state line. They were asked to do a welfare check when a trucking company was unable to make contact with a driver.

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Troopers were unable to get an answer at the door of the semi. They then made entry into the semi and discovered a deceased male. Initial investigation indicates there were no signs of self-harm or of foul play, ISP said.

The Vigo County Coroners Office identified the male as Rhodes, whose family has been notified. An autopsy is scheduled for Saturday at Terre Haute Regional Hospital.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Friday morning, the Trumbull County Commissioners held a special meeting to finalize the budget.

The commissioners originally wanted to use $1.4 million of a $14 million carryover from the 2024 budget but agreed to bump up the amount to $2 million.

This here should prevent, in a reasonable world with reasonable decision making, any threat of employees being laid off, Commissioner Denny Malloy said.

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The Auditors Office is getting $400,000, the Prosecutors Office $350,000, and the Sheriff getting the most at $500,000. The Courts are getting $250,000, the Board of Elections $400,000 and the Commissioners get the remaining $100,000.

With the amounts that people want, if they streamline their departments, if they look at some creative things  of ways to save money, I would also ask too that we extremely enforce no overtime rule so they can stay within budget, Malloy said. If they do need overtime need to justify to the department head and justify to the board why thats needed.

Exceptions to that include the 911 center, the Sheriffs Office and the jail in order to meet mandates to keep the jail safe.

Luxury overtime, just in and out for people in certain situations, were going to need shy away from that or encourage comp time in lieu of overtime, Malloy said.

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Malloy also suggested not filling jobs as people retire to streamline the government and save money.

Commissioner Rick Hernandez hopes the Auditors office will work with them and not pursue the lawsuit Auditor Martha Yoder planned to file over proposed budget cuts to her office.

Im going to standby these figures here and I think we should defend these figures, Malloy said. I dont want to see any money wasted. If it is then thats going to have to come off the budget, if theres more funds, attorney fees from us and them.

Malloy says all departments are getting all they had last year and then some  in terms of what they use,

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The only one taking a beating on this one is the Sheriffs Office, Malloy said. Were going to have to follow that throughout the year, month-to-month and as more money comes in thats going to be the first one at the table to get fed.

This is a bandaid, Malloy said. Were still going to be dealing with this in future years. My hopes would be, especially with the safety services, we take a look at the big picture  everything financially as we go through this process. Were going to do whats right for the people. Were going to do whats right to provide the service they demand and they deserve.

Malloy added they dont want to put a burden on the taxpayers, and hope the sales tax will rise, but if it doesnt and things stay stagnant, everyone will be put on alert.

Everyone around us has a higher sales tax than we do, that means we have less money than everyone else per capita to spend, Malloy said.

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Some groups, it was brought up, are still below what they spent last year  commissioners, sheriff, county (-$50,000) and municipal (-$111,000) courts and Board of Elections (-$500,000) were named.

But they all are sharing it almost equally now, I believe, Malloy said. Without one department saying theyre singled out with more of a loss than any others, with the exception of the Sheriffs Office.

If every department is taken to what they were at last year, the budget is still $1.281 million short.

We need to work together to move this county forward, Hernandez said. We should not be separated. The goal is to move our county in a positive direction not a negative direction. We hope all of the departments will work with the commissioners, we have some great things in the works.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it will cut two federal programs that spent over $1 billion annually to help schools and food banks buy directly from local farmers.

This will make waves across public schools in the United States, including in Horry County, SC.

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According to spokesperson for Horry County Schools, Lisa Bourcier, the last funding they received was $197,307.00 from the USDAs Local Foods Program in the 2023-24 school year.

These funds were spent on food from Senn Brothers Produce, a locally-sourced produce distributor, out of Columbia, SC, she wrote in an email to The Sun News.

Senn Brothers declined to comment on the matter by phone on Friday morning.

Bourcier confirmed that this cut will not affect HCSs Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, which is how students receive free breakfast and lunch during this school year. CEP allows breakfast and lunch to be offered to all enrolled students at no cost.

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This school year, CEP in South Carolina has expanded to include students who receive Medicaid benefits, enabling all HCS schools to qualify for the 2024-25 school year, she wrote in an email.

Participation in this program also eliminates the requirement for parents/guardians to fill out Free and Reduced Meal applications, Bourcier wrote.

A follow-up email to the USDA about how the cuts will impact South Carolina schools was met with a statement from a spokesperson saying that this move marks the end of a pandemic-era program and a return to long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives.

This isnt an abrupt shift  just last week, USDA released over half a billion in previously obligated funds for [Local Food Purchase Assistance] and [Local Food for Schools] to fulfill existing commitments and support ongoing local food purchases, a USDA spokesperson wrote.

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The agency said it remains focused on its core mission of strengthening food security, supporting agricultural markets, and ensuring access to nutritious food.

Unlike the Biden Administration, which funneled billions in [Commodity Credit Corporation] funds into short-term programs with no plan for longevity, USDA is prioritizing stable, proven solutions that deliver lasting impact, the statement read. The COVID era is over  USDAs approach to nutrition programs will reflect that reality moving forward.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)  The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it was cutting $1 billion in funding to schools and food banks to buy food directly from local farms, ranchers and producers.

The move directly affected Tri-State Food Bank and its Illinois Equitable Access Towards Sustainable Systems program. A program where the food bank purchased fresh produce from socially disadvantaged and start up farmers to provide healthier meals to people.

It was a wonderful program, Executive Director Glenn Roberts said. We got to work directly with farmers and get what we dont normally get, and thats the freshest of fresh produce shipped to us straight from the farms. High grade pork and beef and chicken, protein products that we never get it seems. Now its all gone.

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In total, Roberts said that the program helped purchase 135 tons of food.

The food bank learned about the cuts through a news release sent out on March 4. In the release, it was said that the food bank would not see any reimbursements for any costs after Jan. 19, leaving it on the hook for $64,000.

The silence on this issue is absolutely deafening, Roberts said. Nobody is saying anything about reimbursements after Januaray 19th We are going to pay those farmers because it is not their fault that this program was eliminated.

Roberts said the cuts will cause some financial strain.

Its not a fatal blow to us at all, he said. Well keep operating, things might be tight for a while, but it wont put us under.

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Tri-State Food Bank serves around 100,000 people and Roberts said he expects that number to rise in the coming months.

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The Trump administration is considering restrictions on travelers from as many as 43 countries as it works to address national security concerns, The New York Times reported Friday, citing government officials.

The officials shared a list of countries that were flagged for review, noting that the administration has been working with the State Department and intelligence agencies as it finalizes new visa rules.

When it comes, the travel ban is expected to include a few different levels of restrictions.

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Travelers from countries believed to pose the biggest risk to national security will be completely banned from entering the U.S., while travelers from countries will slightly less serious issues will have to go through extra screening to secure a visa. Still other countries will have a certain period of time to address security concerns in hopes of avoiding a ban.

The draft list obtained by The New York Times shows 11 countries on the red list, meaning all travel would be banned: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

It is ... not clear whether people with existing visas would be exempted from the ban, or if their visas would be canceled. Nor is it clear whether the administration intends to exempt existing green card holders, who are already approved for lawful permanent residency, The New York Times reported.

New travel ban

New restrictions on foreign travelers have been expected since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

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On Inauguration Day, he signed an executive order that instructed the State Department to identify countries with deficient vetting and screening processes.

The order gave officials 60 days to complete the task; their deadline is next week.

In the text of the executive order, Trump argued that travel restrictions are necessary in order to protect Americans and prevent the exploitation of immigration laws.

It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes, Trump wrote.

Protesters hold up signs and call out against the Supreme Court ruling upholding President Donald Trump's travel ban outside the the Supreme Court in Washington, Tuesday, June 26, 2018. | Carolyn Kaster

Travel ban lawsuits

Trump issued multiple travel bans during his first term, which were met with widespread protests and multiple lawsuits.

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Opponents of the bans noted that most of the countries subject to travel restrictions were Muslim-majority nations and claimed that government officials had been motivated by anti-Muslim bias rather than national security concerns.

The Trump administration responded to the pushback by issuing new bans on a more narrowly tailored list of countries.

Still, one of the travel ban lawsuits made it all the way the Supreme Court, which ruled in June 2018 that the travel restrictions could stand since the president has broad authority to direct immigration policy.

The proclamation is squarely within the scope of presidential authority, wrote Chief Justice John Roberts in the majority opinion, as the Deseret News reported at the time.
By Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration is considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo seen by Reuters.

The memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups. The first group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea among others, would be set for a full visa suspension.

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In the second group, five countries -- Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar and South Sudan -- would face partial suspensions that would impact tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions.

In the third group, a total of 26 countries that includes Belarus, Pakistan and Turkmenistan among others would be considered for a partial suspension of U.S. visa issuance if their governments "do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days", the memo said.

A U.S. official speaking on the condition of anonymity cautioned there could be changes on the list and that it was yet to be approved by the administration, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The New York Times first reported on the list of countries.

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The move harkens back to President Donald Trump's first term ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the U.S. to detect national security threats.

That order directed several cabinet members to submit by March 21 a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their "vetting and screening information is so deficient."

Trump's directive is part of an immigration crackdown that he launched at the start of his second term.

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He previewed his plan in an October 2023 speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and "anywhere else that threatens our security."

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Costas PitasEditing by Sam Holmes)
Donald Trumps Oval Office attack on Ukraines president last month appeared to mark a very public realignment of Americas sympathies - away from Europe and towards Russia in a manner that few could have imagined during the Cold War years.

The Republican Party, now dominated by Trumps America First MAGA movement, once considered the former Soviet Union the evil empire under Ronald Reagan and relished its collapse.

Today, the GOP stands accused of parroting Vladimir Putins rhetoric and some even refuse to admit the plain fact that Moscow began the war by invading its neighbor.

Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump argue in the Oval Office of the White House in February (AFP/Getty)

The White House itself has even been branded an arm of the Kremlin by Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, a dramatic about-turn just weeks into the luxury real estate moguls second presidency.

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Every single day, you hear from the national security adviser, from the president of the United States, from his entire national security team, Kremlin talking points, Murphy told CNNs State of the Union in the wake of the Zelensky episode.

Perhaps even more damning was the assessment of Putins own spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, who said with a grin on state television: The new administration is rapidly changing all foreign policy configurations. This largely aligns with our vision.

With hindsight, the break with Zelensky  which was swiftly followed by the White House cutting off all American aid to Ukraine and demanding a public apology in exchange for peace negotiations on Trumps terms  was a culmination, not a sudden new development.

This president has consistently celebrated authoritarians like Putin, Xi Jinping of China, Viktor Orban of Hungary and North Koreas Kim Jong-un as tough and smart, recognising their shared taste for power and similarly transactional approach to international relations. But it is the Russian leader who has cast the longest shadow over Trumps political project.

Trump has been accused of being too supportive of Russian President Vladimir Putin (Sputnik/AFP/Getty)

The likes of Steve Bannon, Trumps one-time chief strategist and a key influence over MAGA thinking to this day, has long seen in Putins Russia not a repressive and corrupt gangster state bent on weakening democratic institutions, but rather a fellow white, Christian, conservative objector to the socially progressive values being championed by the liberals of western Europe and Democratic America.

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Bannon said so as long ago as 2014, telling an audience that while Putin may be a kleptocrat and an imperialist, traditionalists like himself believe that at least [he] is standing up for traditional institutions, and hes trying to do it in a form of nationalism  and I think that people, particularly in certain countries, want to see the sovereignty for their country. They want to see nationalism for their country.

Putin was evidently listening and moved to actively court the American right, welcoming a visiting delegation from the National Rifle Association in 2015, for instance.

Russias influence on the world stage was a dominant theme of the 2016 presidential race between Trump and Hillary Clinton  two years on from Putins first incursions into Ukraine  with the Kremlin accused of attempting to groom Republican operatives in the interest of getting Trump elected and the notorious Steele Dossier, alleging the existence of a kompromat on the candidate, eventually published.

The US president has long admired the likes of authoritarian leaders like North Koreas Kim Jong Un (Getty Images)

Those suspicions were compounded when, not long after Trump entered the White House, it emerged that his son Donald Trump Jr, son-in-law Jared Kushner and campaign manager Paul Manafort had attended a meeting at Trump Tower in June 2016 with a Russian lawyer offering dirt on Clinton.

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FBI Special Counsel Robert Mueller was duly appointed to investigate the campaigns rumored ties to Moscow, ultimately producing a report that stopped short of explicitly calling for the presidents indictment but did not exonerate him, an ordeal Trump recalled during the scolding of Zelensky.

Let me tell you, Putin went through a hell of a lot with me  we went through a phony witch hunt when they used him and Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia, he fumed.

[Putin] had to go through that. And he did go through it. We didnt end up in a war. And he went through it. He was accused of all that stuff. He had nothing to do with it.

As early as July 2017, just a month into the Mueller investigation, James Kirchick of the Brookings Institution was pointing to a Morning Consult poll revealing that 49 percent of Republicans considered Moscow an ally.

Trump and Putin at their joint press conference after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, during the formers first term (AP)

Kirchick accused the party, under Trump, of becoming Putins willing accomplice, expressing disdain for the GOPs apparent refusal to reflect on what it was about their impressionable leader that made him quite so attractive to the Kremlin.

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His point was aptly illustrated when Trump and Putin met at the Helsinki summit in July 2018, at which the Russian successfully convinced his counterpart that he had played no part in election-meddling, leading the commander-in-chief to publicly side with the ex-KGB man over his own intelligence agencies.

Like George W Bush before him, Trump had looked Putin in the eye and seen a man with whom he thought he could do business.

Zelensky also played an important, albeit inadvertent, role in Trumps first term. The Americans first impeachment was sparked by a whistleblower reporting on him presenting the Ukrainian with a quid pro quo, asking him to launch a nuisance investigation into Joe Biden and Hunter Bidens activities in his country or else a congressionally-approved $400m military aid shipment would be withheld.

The president insisted he was blameless but clearly never forgot nor forgave Zelenskys part in the affair, just as MAGA has never gotten over its fixation with Hunter-related conspiracy theories.

Conservative pundit Tucker Carlson speaks to Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, in a widely-derided interview (EPA)

The seeds of Trumps personal identification with Putin, born out of admiration and resentment, may have been sown between 2016 and 2019 but the Republicans Russophilia pre-dated his ascendancy and carried on without him, only growing with the outbreak of the war when Trump was holed up in Mar-a-Lago following his 2020 election defeat and the disgrace of January 6.

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Ex-Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, now Trumps director of national intelligence, tweeted in 2022 that the conflict would never have started had Biden and Nato simply acknowledged Russias legitimate security concerns, future VP Vance expressed indifference over Kyivs possible defeat, Tucker Carlson flew out for a softball in-person interview with Putin and Georgia populist Marjorie Taylor Greene praised his regime for protecting Christianity.

With the last of the Never Trumpers like Liz Cheney, Mitt Romney and Adam Kinzinger driven from the GOP, MAGAs takeover is complete and there appears to be no one left to question the pro-Russia mood.

In the case of Trumps dressing down of Zelensky, a democratic ally more commonly heralded as a hero, the likes of Lauren Boebert, Ted Cruz, Tim Burchett and Lindsey Graham all applauded, as did the friendly pundits on Fox News, with no dissenting voices heard from the Republican side.

The truth is that MAGA rejects modern America, Alexei Bayer wrote in The Globalist last year, rubbishing the movements claims to patriotism. It hates its diversity, minority rights and permissiveness and looks back to some mystical past.
Arlington National Cemetery has purged its website of pages about notable Black, Hispanic and women veterans, as well as information about the Civil War and Black history, as the Trump administrations ongoing effort to remove references to diversity and inclusion on government webpages.

Among the pages that have disappeared from the cemeterys website include links on the graves of prominent minority veterans, as well as educational pages on the Civil War, African American history and womens history. Some of the information has been removed outright, while others were placed under categories that do not mention race or gender.

An archived version of the websites educational page on African American history at the cemetery, for example, features a range of learning materials on the Civil Rights Movement and Black war heroes. That information no longer appears on the page.

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An unnamed cemetery spokesperson told The Washington Post that links to webpages listing Notable Graves of Black, Hispanic and female veterans were taken down, and that the cemetery is working to make sure that content on its website complies with the administrations policies.

First reported by Civil War historian Kevin M. Levin and the military news publication Task & Purpose, the change follows Trumps assault on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the federal government.

The anti-DEI push has had a huge impact on the Defense Department in particular, where Secretary Pete Hegseth has vowed to get rid of what he calls wokeness in the military. Trump also fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown, the second Black man to hold the top military position, and pushed out Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the head of the U.S. Navy and the first woman to lead any branch of the armed forces.

I think the single dumbest phrase in military history is our diversity is our strength, Hegseth told Pentagon staff just days after being confirmed as defense secretary.

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Since then, the Defense Intelligence Agency has banned all activities related to cultural heritage celebrations, including Black History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, National American Indian Heritage Month, LGBTQ Pride Month, Womens History Month, Juneteenth, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The Pentagon is also seeking to bar trans people from serving in the military.

In February, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell wrote a memo ordering officials to remove all DoD news and feature articles, photos, and videos that promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by March 5. The Associated Press reported last week that the Pentagon has marked for removal more than 26,000 images of veterans from a diverse range of backgrounds and identities  which included an image of a B-29 aircraft that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima during World War II, the AP reported, because it was named Enola Gay.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
US President Donald Trump has officially appointed Keith Kellogg as special envoy to Ukraine. Kellogg previously held the post of envoy for Ukraine and Russia.

Source: Trump on Truth Social

Quote: "I am pleased to inform you that General Keith Kellogg has been appointed Special Envoy to Ukraine.

General Kellogg, a Highly Respected Military Expert, will deal directly with President Zelenskyy and Ukrainian leadership. He knows them well, and they have a very good working relationship together. Congratulations to General Kellogg!"

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Background:

On 27 November, prior to his inauguration, Trump announced that he had selected retired General Keith Kellogg to serve as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia.

On 13 March, NBC news reported that Kellogg had been excluded from high-level talks after the Kremlin said it did not want him there. According to a Russian official who spoke to NBC News, Vladimir Putin considers Kellogg "too close to Ukraine".

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U.S. President Donald Trump appointed General Keith Kellogg as Special Envoy to Ukraine on March 15, where he will communicate directly with Ukrainian leadership rather than participate in negotiations with Russia as previously intended.

Initially appointed as Trumps Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Kellogg was to be involved in direct peace talk efforts between the two countries. However, recent NBC News reports indicate that he was excluded from high-level peace at the Kremlin's request as Moscow perceived as being too sympathetic to Ukraine.

General Kellogg, a Highly Respected Military Expert, will deal directly with President Zelensky, and Ukrainian leadership. He knows them well, and they have a very good working relationship together. Congratulations to General Kellogg! Trump announced on Truth Social.

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Although Trump did not explicitly say he would be removing Kellogg from dealings with Russia, the change in title is likely reflective to changing attitudes within Russia.

Kellogg responded to the new appointment on X, thanking Trump for the new opportunity.

I am deeply honored and humbled by President Trumps confidence in appointing me as Special Envoy to Ukraine. I have been privileged to have known Trump since 2015, and he will END THIS WAR. It is an honor to serve our great nation and advance the vital interests of the United States. America First! Kellogg wrote.

Kellogg previously co-authored a peace plan that would freeze the front line in Ukraine, take NATO accession off the table for an extended period, and partially lift sanctions imposed on Russia. His peace proposals also call for continued U.S. military aid to Ukraine as well as strong security guarantees to Kyiv to prevent further Russian aggression.

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Kellogg previously visited Kyiv in late February for discussions with Ukrainian officials, but had since not been involved in a U.S. delegation in talks with Russia.

Read also: Meeting with Kellogg restores hope, Zelensky says

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When Viktor Orban gave a speech in 2022 at a Conservative Political Action Conference gathering in Budapest, he shared his secret to amassing power with Donald Trumps fan base. We must have our own media, he told his audience.

As a Hungarian investigative journalist, I have had a firsthand view of how Orban has built his own media universe while simultaneously placing a stranglehold on the independent press. As I watch from afar whats happening to the free press in the United States during the first weeks of Trumps second presidencythe verbal bullying, the legal harassment, the buckling by media owners in the face of threatsit all looks very familiar. The MAGA authorities have learned Orbans lessons well.

I saw the roots of Orbans media strategy when I first met him for an interview, in 2006. He was in the opposition then but had served as prime minister before and was fighting hard to get back in power. When we met in his office in a hulking century-old building that overlooked the Danube River in Budapest, he was very friendly, even charming. Like Trump, he is the kind of politician who knows how to connect with people when he thinks he has something to gain.

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During the interview, his demeanor shifted. I still remember how his face went dark when I pushed on questions that he obviously did not want to answer. It was a tense exchange, but he reverted to his cordial mode when we finished the interview, and I turned off the recorder.

What happened afterwards was less friendly. In Hungary, journalists are expected to send edited interview transcripts to their interviewees. The idea is that if the interviewees think you took something they said out of context, they can ask for changes before publication. But in this case, Orbans press team sent back the text with some of his answers entirely deleted and rewritten. When my editors and I told them we wouldnt accept this, they said they wouldnt allow the interview to be published.

In the end, we published it without their edits. That was the last time I interviewed Viktor Orban. And when he returned to power in 2010 after a landslide election victory, he made sure that he would never have to answer uncomfortable questions again.

One of the first pieces of legislation his party introduced was a media law that restructured how the sector is regulated in Hungary. The government set up a new oversight agency and appointed hard-line loyalists to its key positions. This agency later blocked proposed mergers and acquisitions by independent media companies, while issuing friendly rulings for pro-government businesses.

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The Orban government also transformed public broadcastingwhich had previously carried news programs challenging politicians from all partiesinto a mouthpiece of the state. The services newly appointed leaders got rid of principled journalists and replaced them with governing-party sympathizers who could be counted on to toe the line.

Then the government went after private media companies. Origo, a popular Hungarian news website, was one of its first targets. For many years, Origowhere I had been working when I conducted the 2006 Orban interviewwas a great place to do journalism. It was owned by a multinational telecommunications company and run by people who did not interfere with our work. If anything, they were supportive of our journalism. In 2009, after conducting some award-winning investigations, I was even invited to the CEOs office for a friendly chat about the importance of accountability reporting.

But a few years after Orbans return to power, the environment changed. As we continued our aggressivebut fairreporting, the telecommunications company behind Origo came under pressure from the government. Instead of sending encouraging messages, the outlets publisher started telling the editor in chief not to pursue certain stories that were uncomfortable for Orban and his allies.

My colleagues in the newsroom and I pushed back. But after repeated clashes with the publisher over one of my investigations, into the expensive and mysterious travel of a powerful government official, the editor in chief was forced out of his job. I resigned, along with many fellow journalists, and soon the news site was sold to a company with close links to Orbans inner circle. Now Origo is unrecognizable. It has become the flagship news site of the pro-government propaganda machine, publishing articles praising Orban and viciously attacking his critics.

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Origo is part of an ecosystem that includes hundreds of newspapers and news sites, several television channelsincluding the public broadcasters and one of the two biggest commercial channelsand almost all radio stations. Thats not to mention the group of pro-government influencers whose social-media posts are distributed widely, thanks to financial resources also linked to the government.

This machine is not even pretending to do journalism in the traditional sense. It is not like Fox News, which still has some professional anchors and reporters alongside the openly pro-Trump media personalities who dominate the channel in prime time.

The machine built under Orban has only one purpose, and it is to serve the interests of the government. There is hardly any autonomy. Editors and reporters get directions from the very top of the regime on what they can and cannot cover. If there is a message that must be delivered, the whole machine jumps into action: Hundreds of outlets will publish the same story with the same headline and same photos.

In 2022, Direkt36, the investigative-reporting center I co-founded after leaving Origo, wrote about one such example. In the story, which was reported by my colleague Zsuzsanna Wirth, we described an episode in which Bertalan Havasi, the prime ministers press chief at the time, sent an email to the director of the national news agency.

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Hi, could you write an article about this, citing me as a source? Thanks! Havasi wrote. (The instruction was about a relatively mundane matter: a letter that a European rabbi had sent to Orban thanking him for his support.) Later, Havasi also told the agency what the headline and lead sentence should be. The news agency followed the instructions word for word.

A few years ago, I investigated the pro-government takeover of Index, another of Hungarys most popular news sites. I obtained a recording in which the outlets editor in chief described to one of his employees how Index had received financial backing from a friend of Orbans, a former gas fitter who has become Hungarys richest man thanks to lucrative state contracts. The editor in chief warned that Index had to be careful with news about Orbans friend because, without him, there will be no one who will put money into the outlet.

Just as Orban explained in his CPAC speech, this sophisticated propaganda machine has played a crucial role in his ability to stay in power for more than 15 years. When the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, a watchdog group of which the United States is a member, published its report on Hungarys 2022 parliamentary elections, it pointed to the media as a major weakness in the countrys democratic system.

The lack of impartial information in the media about the main contestants, the absence of debates among the major electoral competitors, and the independent medias limited access to public information and activities of national and local government significantly limited voters opportunity to make an informed choice, the election monitors concluded, after a vote that yet again cemented the power of Orbans ruling party.

What has happened in Hungary might not happen in the United States. Hungary, a former Eastern Bloc nation that broke free of oppressive Soviet control only three and a half decades ago, has never had such a robust and vibrant independent media scene as the one the U.S. has enjoyed for centuries. But if someone had told me when Orban returned to power that we would end up with a propaganda machine where the free Hungarian media had once been, with many of the old outlets shut down or transformed into government mouthpieces, I would not have believed it.

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And I see ominous signs in the U.S. that feel similar to the early phases of what we experienced here. When I read about the Associated Press being banned from White House events, that reminds me of how my colleagues at Direkt36 have been denied entry to Orbans rare press conferences. When I see the Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos cozying up to Trump, that reminds me of how big corporations and their wealthy executives, including the owner of my former workplace, bent the knee to Orban.

When I read about ABC settling a Trump lawsuit of dubious meritand CBS contemplating the sameit brings to mind the way the courts and the government itself can be used to manipulate and bully media organizations into submission.

Journalists and anyone else who cares about the free press must understand that democratic institutions are more fragile than they look, especially if they face pressure from ruthless and powerful political forces. This is particularly true for the news media, which is also being challenged by the technological revolution in how we communicate information. Just because an outlet has been around for decades and has a storied history does not mean that it will be around forever.

If any good news can be learned from Hungarys unhappy experience, it is that unless your country turns into a fully authoritarian regime similar to China or Russia, there are still ways for independent journalism to survive. Even in Hungary, some outlets manage to operate independently from the government. Many of them, including the one I run, rely primarily on their audience for support in the form of donations or subscriptions. We learned that it is easy for billionaires and media CEOs to be champions of press freedom when the risks are low, but that you cant count on them when things get tough. So we rely on our readers instead.

If they feel like what you are doing is valuable, they will be your real allies in confronting the suffocating power of autocracy.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
President Donald Trump launched some of his harshest attacks yet on the media on Friday, using a speech at the Department of Justice to baselessly accuse outlets including CNN of illegal and corrupt behavior.

In his Friday speech, Trump praised Florida district court Judge Aileen Cannon, whom he appointed in 2020 and who sided with him in January, blocking the DOJ from sharing a report on Trumps alleged mishandling of classified documents with members of Congress.

But Trump claimed news publishers had gone after Cannon because of the January ruling, alleging they do it all the time with judges and that they will write whatever these people say, without offering proof.

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The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and MSDNC, and the fake news, CNN and ABC, CBS and NBC, theyll write whatever they say, Trump said. And what do you do to get rid of it? You convict Trump.

Its totally illegal what they do, Trump continued, addressing DOJ employees. I just hope you can all watch for it, but its totally illegal.

While Trump did not immediately clarify who they are, he later claimed that CNN and MSNBC are political arms of the Democrat Party.

In my opinion, theyre really corrupt, Trump said.

CNN and MSNBC declined to comment.

Trump began his speech on Friday by praising the Justice Departments legacy of taking on organized crime, saying that, under his administration, the agency would return to its roots of hunting down killers, kingpins and spies, tracking down terrorists and traitors, and tearing down corrupt political machines all across America.

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The presidents desire to weaponize the Justice Department stems from his belief that the Biden administration used the agency against him. In his speech, he claimed that they weaponized the vast powers of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies to try and thwart the will of the American people.

But Trumps claims, as reports have already pointed out, are bogus. The presidents two federal indictments were brought by Jack Smith, a special counsel appointed in November 2022 by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland. While Garland was appointed by President Joe Biden, that does not prove that Biden was in any way involved in the prosecution or that the former president personally ordered the indictments.

Yet in citing examples of the DOJs alleged weaponization against Americans, Trump only brought up issues that affected him directly and popular far-right conspiracy theories, many of which were misleading or have been outright debunked.

Trumps speech built on and expanded his history of labeling the press an enemy of the people and the state.

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But what he really means is that news organizations whose reporting he dislikes may face the wrath of a Justice Department weaponized by the president.

That Trump is willing to go after news organizations he dislikes should come as no surprise. The president is currently engaged in a civil lawsuit against the Pulitzer Board over its defending the awarding of the 2018 National Reporting Prize to the Washington Post and the New York Times over their coverage of Russian interference in the 2016 election and its alleged connections to the Trump campaign. In December, ABC News settled a defamation case from Trump for $15 million. And Paramount Global, which owns CBS News, is still fending off a Trump lawsuit over its 60 Minutes sit-down with former Vice President Kamala Harris.

This is to say nothing of the presidents indefinite ban of the Associated Press from the Oval Office and Air Force One over the wire services continued use of the term Gulf of Mexico.

Certain agencies under the Trump administration have also signaled that they intend to terminate their subscriptions with mainstream outlets the president dislikes. In February, press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the White House would end $8 million in Politico Pro subscriptions in response to a far-right conspiracy theory. And, on Friday, NPR reported that the US Agency for Global Media had canceled its AP and AFP contracts, noting that it would also allow its Reuters contract to lapse on March 31.

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But the presidents Friday speech made clear these are not individual decisions from the White House; they are part of a broader attack on the media  one Trump clearly plans to maintain and even intensify.

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WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump defended his allies Friday while calling for his perceived political opponents to be jailed during a speech at the headquarters of the Justice Department  an agency that was prosecuting him just months ago.

Trump called U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who helped dismiss his classified documents case, a brilliant judge, while condemning horrible human beings whom he accused of disparaging Cannon.

Its totally illegal what they do. I just hope you can all watch for it, but its totally illegal, and it was so unfair what they were doing to her, Trump said.

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After deeming the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 as the most humiliating time in this history of our country, Trump repeated his false claims of a rigged election in 2020.

"What a difference a rigged and crooked election had on our country, when you think about it. And the people who did this to us should go to jail. They should go to jail," he said, without specifying anyone by name. Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that Democrats interfered in the 2020 contest.

On Friday he also said, "Our predecessors turned this department of justice into the department of injustice," adding that he would insist upon and demand full and complete accountability for the wrongs and abuses that have occurred.

Follow live politics coverage here.

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Calling former special counsel Jack Smith deranged, Trump referred to the hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants he pardoned on his first day in office as hostages and said the Justice Department would not return to what he declared as an era of weaponization.

Those days are over, and they are never going to come back, Trump said.

Trump was indicted in two separate federal cases: one involving his handling of classified documents, and another involving his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. The cases were dismissed after the 2024 election, and career prosecutors who had worked on Smiths team were fired when Trump took office, as were numerous federal prosecutors who handled Jan. 6 cases.

Trumps remarks are not the first time he has called to imprison his political opponents. But the venue of his speech  delivering the remarks at the Justice Department to a room full of its top officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel  demonstrates how his previous campaign threats of vengeance and retribution have taken on significantly higher stakes now that he wields the enormous power of the presidency.

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Trump noted the significance of his remarks at the Justice Department, on Friday becoming the third president this century to deliver a speech at the agencys headquarters.

I was asked to do it, and I said, Is it appropriate that I do it? And then I realized its not only appropriate, I think its really important, and I may never do it again, Trump said. I may never have another chance to do it again, because this is something that Im leaving to the greatest people I know, the best people, the smartest people, the toughest people I know, and theyre going to do an incredible job.

When Trump finished his speech, a mainstay of his campaign rallies, the song Y.M.C.A., played over the speakers inside the Justice Departments Great Hall.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a near-perfect predator. In 1882, Robert Koch, the physician who discovered the microbe, told a room full of scientists that it caused one in seven of all deaths. In 2023, after a brief hiatus, tuberculosis regained from COVID its status as the worlds deadliest infectious diseasea title it has held for most of what we know of human history.

Some people die of TB when their lungs collapse or fill with fluid. For others, scarring leaves so little healthy lung tissue that breathing becomes impossible. Or the infection spreads to the brain or the spinal column, or they suffer a sudden, uncontrollable hemorrhage. Lack of appetite and extreme abdominal pain can fuel weight loss so severe that it whittles away muscle and bone. This is why TB was widely known as consumption until the 20th centuryit seemed to be a disease that consumed the very body, shrinking and shriveling it. On a trip to Sierra Leone in 2019, I met a boy named Henry Reider, whose mix of shyness and enthusiasm for connection reminded me of my own son. I thought he was perhaps 9 years old. His doctors later told me that he was in fact 17, his body stunted by a combination of malnutrition and tuberculosis.

The cure for TBroughly half a year on antibioticshas existed since the 1950s, and works for most patients. Yet, in the decades since, more than 100 million people have died of tuberculosis because the drugs are not widely available in many parts of the world. The most proximate cause of contemporary tuberculosis deaths is not M. tuberculosis, but Homo sapiens. Now, as the Trump administration decimates foreign-aid programs, the U.S. is both making survival less likely for people with TB and risking the disease becoming far more treatment-resistant. After decades of improvement, we could return to something more like the world before the cure.

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[Read: The danger of ignoring tuberculosis]

Anyone can get tuberculosisin fact, a quarter of all humans living now, including an estimated 13 million Americans, have been infected with the bacterium, which spreads through coughs, sneezes, and breaths. Most will only ever have a latent form of the infection, in which infection-fighting white blood cells envelop the bacteria so it cannot wreak havoc on the body. But in 5 to 10 percent of infections, the immune system cant produce enough white blood cells to surround the invader. M. tuberculosis explodes outward, and active disease begins.

Certain triggers make the disease more likely to go from latent to active, including air pollution and an immune system weakened by malnutrition, stress, or diabetes. The disease spreads especially well along the trails that poverty has blazed for it: in crowded living and working conditions such as slums and poorly ventilated factories. Left untreated, most people who develop active TB will die of the disease.

In the early 1980s, physicians and activists in Africa and Asia began sounding the alarm about an explosion of young patients dying within weeks of being infected instead of years. Hours after entering the hospital, they were choking to death on their own blood. In 1985, physicians in Zaire and Zambia noted high rates of active tuberculosis among patients who had the emerging disease now known as HIV/AIDS. TB surged globally, including in the U.S. Deaths skyrocketed. From 1985 to 2005, roughly as many people died of tuberculosis as in World War I, and many of them also had HIV. In 2000, nearly a third of the 2.3 million people who died of tuberculosis were co-infected with HIV.

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[Read: Tragedy would unfold if Trump cancels Bushs AIDS program]

By the mid-1990s, antiretroviral cocktails made HIV a treatable and survivable disease in rich communities. While a person is taking these medications, their viral levels generally become so low as to be undetectable and untransmittable; if a person with HIV becomes sick with tuberculosis, the drugs increase their odds of survival dramatically. But rich countries largely refused to spend money on HIV and TB meds in low- and middle-income countries. They cited many reasons, including that patients couldnt be trusted to take their medication on time, and that resources would be better spent on prevention and control. In 2001, the head of the U.S. Agency for International Development had this to say when explaining to Congress why many Africans would not benefit from access to HIV medications: People do not know what watches and clocks are. They do not use Western means for telling time. They use the sun. These drugs have to be administered during a certain sequence of time during the day and when you say take it at 10:00, people will say, What do you mean by 10:00? A 2007 review of 58 studies on patient habits found that Africans were more likely to adhere to HIV treatment regimens than North Americans.

In the mid-2000s, programs such as PEPFAR and the Global Fund finally began distributing antiretroviral therapy to millions of people living with HIV in poor countries. PEPFAR, a U.S.-funded initiative, was especially successful, saving more than 25 million lives and preventing 7 million children from being born with HIV. These projects lowered deaths and infections while also strengthening health-care systems, allowing low-income countries to better respond to diseases as varied as malaria and diabetes. Millions of lives have been savedand tuberculosis deaths among those living with HIV have declined dramatically in the decades since.

Still, tuberculosis is great at exploiting any advantage that humans hand it. During the coronavirus pandemic, disruptions to supply chains and TB-prevention programs led to an uptick in infections worldwide. Last year, the U.S. logged more cases of tuberculosis than it has in any year since the CDC began keeping count in the 1950s. Two people died. But in some ways, at the beginning of this year, the fight against tuberculosis had never looked more promising. High-quality vaccine candidates were in late-stage trials. In December, the World Health Organization made its first endorsement of a TB diagnostic test, and global health workers readied to deploy it.

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[Read: America cant just unpause USAID]

Now that progress is on the verge of being erased. Since Donald Trump has taken office, his administration has dismantled USAID, massively eliminating foreign-aid funding and programs. According to The New York Times, hundreds of thousands of sick patients have seen their access to medication and testing suddenly cut off. A memo released by a USAID official earlier this month estimated that cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis will rise by about 30 percent in the next few years, an unprecedented regression in the history of humankinds fight against the disease. (The official was subsequently placed on administrative leave.) Research on tuberculosis tests and treatments has been terminated. Although the secretary of state and Elon Musk have assured the public that the new administrations actions have not disrupted the distribution of life-saving medicine, that just isnt true. A colleague in central Africa sent me a picture of TB drugs that the U.S. has already paid for sitting unused in a warehouse because of stop-work orders. (Neither the State Department nor DOGE employees responded to requests for comment.)

Last year, roughly half of all international donor funding for tuberculosis treatment came from the U.S. Now many programs are disappearing. In a recent survey on the impact of lost funding in 31 countries, one in four organizations providing TB care reported they have shut down entirely. About half have stopped screening for new cases of tuberculosis. The average untreated case of active tuberculosis will spread the infection to 10 to 15 people a year. Without treatment, or even a diagnosis, hundreds of thousands more people will dieand each of those deaths will be needless.

By revoking money from global-health efforts, the U.S. has created the conditions for the health of people around the world to deteriorate, which will give tuberculosis even more opportunities to kill. HIV clinics in many countries have started rationing pills as drug supplies run dangerously low, raising the specter of co-infection. Like HIV, insufficient nutrition weakens the immune system. It is the leading risk factor for tuberculosis. An estimated 1 million children with severe acute malnutrition will lose access to treatment because of the USAID cuts, and refugee camps across the world are slashing already meager food rations.

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For billions of people, TB is already a nightmare disease, both because the bacterium is unusually powerful and because world leaders have done a poor job of distributing cures. And yet, to the extent that one hears about TB at all in the rich world, its usually in the context of a looming crisis: Given enough time, a strain of tuberculosis may evolve that is resistant to all available antibiotics, a superbug that is perhaps even more aggressive and deadly than previous iterations of the disease.

[Read: Resistance to the antibiotic of last resort is silently spreading]

The Trump administrations current policies are making such a future more plausible. Even pausing TB treatment for a couple of weeks can give the bacterium a chance to evolve resistance. The world is ill-prepared to respond to drug-resistant TB, because we have shockingly few treatments for the worlds deadliest infectious disease. Between 1963 and 2012, scientists approved no new drugs to treat tuberculosis. Doing so stopped being profitable once the disease ceased to be a crisis in rich countries. Many strains of tuberculosis are already resistant to the 60-year-old drugs that are still the first line of treatment for nearly all TB patients. If a person is unlucky enough to have drug-resistant TB, the next step is costly testing to determine if their body can withstand harsh, alternative treatments. The United States helped pay for those tests in many countries, which means that now fewer people with drug-resistant TB are being diagnosed or treated. Instead, they are almost certainly getting sicker and spreading the infection.

Drug-resistant TB is harder to cure in individual patients, and so the aid freeze will directly lead to many deaths. But giving the bacteria so many new opportunities to develop drug resistance is also a threat to all of humanity. We now risk the emergence of TB strains that cant be cured with our existing tools. The millennia-long history of humans fight against TB has seen many vicious cycles. I fear we are watching the dawn of another.

This article has been adapted from John Greens forthcoming book, Everything Is Tuberculosis.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
Donald Trump is considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions on citizens from 43 countries as he continues his immigration crackdown.

An internal US government memo shows the countries divided into three categories, labelled red, orange and yellow.

The red group, comprising 11 countries, would face the most severe restrictions  a complete ban on their citizens entering the United States. They include Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Syria and Venezuela.

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Countries in the second category  including Belarus, Russia, Pakistan and Haiti  would see their visas sharply restricted.

According to the New York Times, which first reported the proposals, affluent business travellers from these countries might still be allowed to enter, , but not people travelling on immigrant, tourist or student visas.

Citizens in this category would also be subjected to mandatory in-person interviews to receive a visa.

Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One on his way to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday - Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo

People from countries on the yellow list  such as Cambodia, Dominica, Cameroon and Zimbabwe  would face a partial suspension of visas to the US, if the governments do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days. They also face a threat of being moved on to the red or orange lists.

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It is not clear whether people with existing visas would be exempted from the ban, or have their visas cancelled, nor if the administration intends to exempt existing green card holders, who are already approved for lawful permanent residency in the US.

The list is the result of Mr Trumps executive order in January, which required the State Department to identify countries for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries.

The US president said he was taking the action to protect American citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.

An official source cautioned that there could be changes to the list because it had been drafted several weeks ago, and because it had not yet been approved by the administration.

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However, further details are expected next week, when the draft report is understood to be due. Officials at embassies and in regional bureaus, as well as security specialists, are in the process of reviewing the draft.

Mr Trumps directive goes further than he did in his first term, during which he banned travellers from eight nations, six of which were majority-Muslim.

Barbed wire on the border between the US and Mexico, one of the main sources of migration that Donald Trump has pledged to crack down on - Luis Diaz Devesa/Moment RF

Russia is in the orange category in which visas are sharply restricted. If that decision is made final, it could endanger the thawing of relations between Moscow and Washington.

The decision to include Venezuela could also reignite tensions. The two nations have a fraught history, which includes Mr Trumps recent cancellation of a key oil licence which had allowed Chevron, the US-based oil major, to operate in the South American country.

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The government in Caracas responded by pausing flights of migrants being deported to Venezuela from the US. This week the countries agreed to restart flights.

The list follows a decision made last week to cancel the green card granted to Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist, because he had led campus protests against Israels war in Gaza.

During Mr Trumps first administration, the first two versions of his travel ban were struck down by the courts. The Supreme Court eventually approved a revised version that Mr Trump later increased to include 13 countries.

Joe Biden revoked the bans when he took office, calling them a stain on our national conscience.

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The State Department declined to comment.

Earlier this month, the agency told The New York Times it was following the presidents executive order and was committed to protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process.

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The Trump administration will handle TikToks future by the original deadline set in the Presidents January executive order, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said.

Hours after taking office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order giving TikToks parent company ByteDance until April 5 to either divest or be banned from American app stores.

Now, Lutnick tells Fox Business that Trump doesnt like to ask for extensions and wants to get it done in the timeframe that he has.

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Yet Trump said last week he will probably extend the deadline if a deal isnt reached in time. On Sunday, he added that the administration is in talks with four different groups about a potential sale.

We have a lot of interest in TikTok, Trump said. China is going to play a role, so hopefully China will approve of the deal. But theyre going to play a role.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Trump wants to secure a TikTok deal ahead of the April 5 deadline, after the president said he would probably extend the deadline if there isnt an agreement by then (AP)

Trumps executive order marked an extension from the original January 19 deadline, which then-President Joe Biden said he wouldnt enforce as it was his last full day in office.

To fulfill those responsibilities, I intend to consult with my advisers, including the heads of relevant departments and agencies on the national security concerns posed by TikTok, and to pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform used by 170 million Americans, Trumps order read.

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The app still went dark for a few hours, however, as the law went into effect. TikTok came back online after Trump promised to extend the divestment deadline, later showing users a pop-up message thanking the president.

"Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support," the pop-up read. "As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!"

Still, Lutnick warned Thursday that Trump might not broker a sale by the deadline, which is now just weeks away.

He is going to try his best, Lutnick said. He doesnt control everything, but he is going to try his best.
President Donald Trump appears to have expanded the scope of the travel ban from his first term to include 43 countries, according to a report.

Although Trump failed to reintroduce the travel ban on day one of his second term, as he promised, he did issue an executive order on January 20 directing cabinet members to draft a list of countries that should face full or partial travel restrictions because their "vetting and screening information is so deficient" within 60 days.

Now, with that deadline approaching, a draft list of proposed countries banned from traveling to the US is circulating, the New York Times reported.

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A White House official told The Independent no decision has been made.

It was developed by the State Department weeks ago, officials familiar with the matter told the outlet, who cautioned it will likely undergo changes by the time the White House gets ahold of it.

The Independent has reached out to the State Department for comment.

President Donald Trumps administration has proposed a three-tier ban on citizens from certain countries from entering the US (AFP via Getty)

The draft list was separated into three sections  red, orange, and yellow  to denote the level of restriction, according to the outlet.

The red list includes 11 countries whose citizens would be entirely forbidden from entering the US: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

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Ten countries whose citizens will be limited from entering but not entirely banned, meaning they are required to have specific visas, were on the orange list. People of Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Turkmenistan will have to sit for in-person interviews to obtain a visa, the outlet reported.

The yellow list contains 22 countries, mostly African nations, that the Trump administration is giving 60 days to address its concerns over alleged deficiencies. If these nations dont comply, they risk being placed on the red or orange lists, the Times reported.

This list includes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.

Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20 directing cabinet members to draft a list of countries that should face full or partial travel restrictions because their vetting and screening information is so deficient within 60 days (AP)

Security specialists and embassy officials at State Department regional bureaus are reviewing the proposal and providing comments as to the accuracy of the so-called deficiencies or whether there are policy reasons to avoid certain categorizations, the outlet reported.

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In his January 20 executive order, Trump said the travel ban would protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.

On former President Joe Bidens first day in office in 2021, he issued a proclamation to terminate Trumps travel bans. He said Trumps bans were a stain on our national conscience and [were] inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all.
In the middle of March, the Sauk Creek Greenway is a muddy wilderness among the urban sprawl of Madisons Far West Side. Come spring, this tangle of branches will fill in with green, and people and wildlife will seek shade and solace here throughout the summer.

But there are problems lurking in the greenway, which follows Sauk Creek as it flows north from near Mineral Point Road to Old Sauk Road.

With limited access for work crews to get in with heavy equipment, its been tough for Madisons stormwater utility, a subset of the citys Engineering Division, to maintain. The native hardwood trees that once commanded the area, including oaks, are being stifled by less-welcome invasive species. The banks of the meandering creek are eroding, and ponds meant to collect stormwater arent keeping up, causing sediment and nutrients that fuel harmful algae blooms to flow into Lake Mendota.

While it may also serve as a recreational space, city ordinances define a greenway as an open area of land, the primary purpose of which is ... storm drainage.

On Tuesday, the City Council adopted a 100-page plan for the corridor that outlines the restoration work that will take place within about a third of the greenways nearly 35 acres over the next several years. Priorities include stabilizing the banks of the creek to prevent further erosion, increasing maintenance access to the creek and the sanitary sewer that runs through the area, removing invasive species and planting native ones. The work will be paid for by the stormwater charge on city municipal services bills.

The plan did not come easily. Area residents have long treasured this wooded refuge, and many dont want to see it change.

In all, the city devoted almost 3,000 Engineering Division staff hours and spent well over $300,000 on the plan, including $162,800 spent on consultants. Thats between three and 10 times more staff hours than the Engineering Division has committed to other recent planning efforts, including pre-design work for the Lake Mendota Drive reconstruction, which took 778 hours, and the creation of the Warner Lagoon Water Quality Plan, which took 640 hours.

Between late 2023 and early 2025, the division held six public meetings and four focus groups, put out a lengthy survey and, upon neighbors request, hosted two walkthroughs of the greenway.

I feel like the city came up with a really thoughtful plan that we tried to explain in advance and get buy-in, said Jojo OBrien, a stormwater engineer who has led the Engineering Divisions planning for the greenway.

But members of Friends of Sauk Creek, a coalition of neighbors formed years ago in an effort to shape the future of the greenway, said the citys outreach was inadequate and the plan goes too far.

Im disappointed, said Jayne Meyer, a member of the group who lives across the street from the greenway and said she felt unheard throughout the design process.

I think we worked very hard with the city and some of the engineers to try to mitigate environmental concerns that we had with it, Meyer said. And what it appears to me is that they had their plan, and even though they worked at what seemed like public engagement, after we met with them each time, they went back to their plan.

When city staff first approached the community in 2018 about improving the function of the greenway, they came in with a more engineered, robust concept, OBrien said.

Weve scaled back significantly from that, and we think weve put the community in the driving seat, OBrien said. But when you dont have answers to every question, it leaves gaps where people are able to come up with answers that are some of their worst fears.

A fight over thousands of trees

The citys focus in 2018 was on stabilizing the banks of the creek and gathering feedback on a proposed paved north-south bike path through the greenway  and working out what to do about the more than 2,000 buckthorn and box elder trees that it said were disrupting the rest of the greenways ecosystem.

The community was very concerned, OBrien said. Many neighbors objected to the path and wanted to have more input on the rest of the plan. They were worried about the number of people that would come into the greenway and the impacts that construction would have on their properties and wildlife. Above all else, they were worried about the fate of the greenways roughly 5,600 trees.

Then, that August, western Madison flooded. Engineering Division staff put the greenway planning on hold so they could conduct a study of the Pheasant Branch Watershed and identify ways to reduce flood risk upstream and downstream of the greenway.

By the time they returned in 2023 with a bigger planning area and a wider range of options for the community to consider, the Friends of Sauk Creek group was already a few years old, and its members had clear ideas about what they wanted  and what they didnt  in the greenway.

The overarching goal of the group is to preserve the character of the green space which currently exists, read the introduction to a list of concerns that the group sent to the city in late 2019. That concern is focused on both aesthetics and the importance of providing habitat for the large variety of birds and mammals that are found in the area. We believe it is also important to maintain a green space that is to some degree wild in character as opposed to fundamentally altering the existing character of what is an unusual and valuable part of our neighborhood and our city.

In mid-2022, the group began putting up yard signs that read, City cutting down 1000s of trees in Greenway! The signs asked people to help save the woods and directed them to the Friends of Sauk Creek website and Facebook page.

OBrien said the groups claim was false.

When we do introduce high-level concepts, we dont have a way of estimating the impacts, OBrien said. The city tried to communicate what information it had and didnt have as the plan developed, she said, but staff didnt always have the answers.

People are upset that were removing thousands of trees, she said. And its not like we can say, No, were removing 500 trees. Its just like, No, we dont know how many trees were removing.

With additional design work and permitting required before construction can begin, the number of tree removals still hasnt been determined, OBrien said. Nor has the cost of construction, which will be determined during each design phase.

Jenny Iskandar, a leader of Friends of Sauk Creek whose property connects to the greenway, called the citys outreach all window dressing.

Weve had a very consistent message for six years, she said. Were worried about the trees, were worried about the nature, were worried about the animals that are living back there. And were just all falling on deaf ears. Theyre just not listening to us.

Invasive species and bike paths

The Sauk Creek Corridor Plan recommends minimally invasive, environmentally sensitive improvements to the greenway. The Engineering Division plans to divide the work into three phases, with bank stabilization and the addition of crossings and gravel access paths starting in the southern half and then moving to the northern half, followed by reconstruction of the stormwater ponds.

An ecological assessment of the greenway found that while mature oaks are plentiful, young oaks are scarce, and without intervention, the greenway is on track to become a less biodiverse, less ecologically functional space, the plan said. It directs the city to preserve as many mature native trees as possible, plant more of them and remove invasive species, all to encourage oak regeneration and expand wildlife habitat. Responses to that part of the plan have been mixed.

That woods is overrun with invasives, and needs management, and needs to have a new generation of canopy trees promoted, said Si Widstrand, a retired Parks Division planner who lives nearby and participated in the planning process for the greenway. I dont think we should turn over to the next generation a woods full of invasive species that does not support our native wildlife.

For Friends of Sauk Creek, invasive species were a sticking point. Some members were reluctant to see any healthy trees removed, native or otherwise.

Invasive species also turn carbon into oxygen, said Nino Amato, a member of Friends of Sauk Creek who is running for City Council in the 19th District, north and east of the greenway.

Paving a bike path through the greenway was another source of controversy. The city scrapped the proposed north-south path in response to opposition from community members. Then it mulled an east-west path, consistent with a recently approved West Area Plan, ultimately opting not to build it as part of the stormwater project but not ruling it out entirely.

Now youre going to take down all these trees to put a bike path in, when the area is surrounded by bike paths? Amato said of the citys proposals. We wanted all the bike paths eliminated because we want the current natural road thats in there.

Members of the group said they werent necessarily against the city adding more maintenance access. But some questioned whether the gravel paths shown in the plan were really just bike paths in disguise.

They took it out, but they kind of have put it back in, said Jenny Iskandar, a leader of Friends of Sauk Creek whose property connects to the greenway.

Craig Weinhold of Madison Bikes, which advocates for bicycle access, said the groups statements about the impacts of bike paths were concerning.

The last thing we want to do is to be equated with with tree removals unnecessarily, Weinhold said. Every person who can bike on a trip, that saves trees, that saves carbon, that saves pollution.

The right use of resources?

The City Council approved the plan unanimously and with little discussion.

A principal purpose for this project is to improve downstream quality, said Ald. John Guequierre, 19th District, just before the vote. And guess where downstream is. District 19, right across Old Sauk Road.

Madison recently spent $1 million to dredge Wexford Pond to the northeast to remove sediment that has accumulated from the erosion in the greenway. The dredging disrupted the whole neighborhood for the better part of a year, Guequierre said.

Weve got other watersheds that need attention, he said. We need to be able to capture those available engineering hours to pay attention to other things that are also very important.

Amato, who is running for Guequierres seat, said the city could have saved a lot of that time and money if it had followed his groups recommendations from late 2019, which included minimizing tree loss, removing some invasive species, keeping the stream channel narrow and taking out the bike path.

They never sat down with us, he said. They ignored us.

But others who live near the greenway feel that for the most part, the city got it right.

They listened to the surveys. They didnt necessarily listen to the loudest voices in the room, Widstrand said. People can continue to voice their concerns, which is fine, but I think Engineering responded more to the science that they had access to and to the surveys of the people that were involved in the process.

Brian Chapman, who lives on the greenway and said he has spent a lot of time removing invasive species himself, said that while he wishes the city would have done more during the planning process to reassure community members who were worried about what would happen to the greenway, he is supportive of the final plan.

I think the city, under the circumstances, has done about as much as they can to maintain it as a natural space, Chapman said. Is that going to satisfy everyone? No.

But Chapman believes, he said, that the money put into the planning effort was well spent.
The Trump administration is facing an avalanche of lawsuits over the avalanche of legally dubious executive orders that President Donald Trump issued over the last two months. Though it has scored some victories, most notably by decapitating the Office of Special Counsel last week, it has also faced many more defeats or delays along the way.

The Supreme Court gave the first glimpse into how it will handle a second Trump administration last week by narrowly ordering the State Department to disburse $2 billion in congressionally appropriated funds to USAID contractors for work they had already done. Though the ruling was merely preliminary, it suggested that at least five justices were not willing to give Trump carte blanche.

Federal judges in the lower courts also now appear to be losing their patience with the Trump administrations constant efforts to evade legal constraints. The administration itself also appears to be fed up with the federal judiciary, asking the Supreme Court this week to defang a key tool used by judges to keep it in check. Trump and his allies are not merely trying to win lawsuits now, they hope to bring the judiciary itself to heel.

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One case involved the administrations efforts to fire federal employees. Over the last month, federal agencies have laid off thousands of probationary employees in an attempt to reduce head counts. Federal law does not give full civil service protections to probationary employees, but it does require the government to have some sort of legitimate reason to fire them. Instead, the Office of Personnel Management furnished a template that blandly told each employee that the cause was performance-based without specifying further.

That was not enough, Justice William Alsup said, during a hearing earlier this week. It is sad, a sad day when our government would fire some good employee, and say it was based on performance, when they know good and well, thats a lie, he told the Justice Department, using unusually strong language for a judge. He said that the lying should not happen in our country and that it was a sham to avoid statutory requirements.

Alsup was particularly incensed by the governments volte-face on whether a key witness would be testifying. Charles Ezell, the acting OPM director, signed a sworn declaration that his office did not actually direct federal agencies to carry out the firings. After Alsup ordered him to appear at a hearing to testify, the federal government withdrew Ezells declaration and said he wouldnt be appearing.

That evasive maneuver prompted Alsup to tell the Justice Department lawyers that youre not helping me get to the truth and described their evidence as a sham. He concluded by issuing an order that the federal agencies in question must rehire the probationary employees. The Trump administration denounced Alsups order as attempting to unconstitutionally seize the power of hiring and firing from the executive branch and said it would appeal the decision.

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Trumps campaign to ban transgender soldiers from the armed forces also ran into deep skepticism from a federal judge on Wednesday. A group of active-duty military personnel are suing to prevent the ban from going into effect, citing the Fourteenth Amendments equal protection clause. A Justice Department lawyer reportedly struggled to answer questions from Judge Ana Reyes on the rationale behind the policy.

At one point, Reyes quoted from remarks by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about the ban that denigrated transgender soldiers by claiming they were inherently untrustworthy and couldnt meet minimum standards. You would agree with me that calling people liars and lacking integrity and not able to meet rigorous standards for discipline is insulting? Reyes asked the lawyer. Yes or no, or you cant say? The lawyer replied with a maybe.

Reyes also cast doubt on the studies cited in Hegseths order to implement the ban. At one point, she got the Justice Departments lawyers to admit that they hadnt read the studies in question and gave a 30-minute recess so that they could familiarize themselves with the material. When they returned, Reyes went through the evidence point by point and asked why she should give any weight to Hegseths cherry-picked and misleading interpretation of it. She indicated that a ruling in that case would likely come next week.

The Trump administration is pushing back, as well. Shortly after Trump issued an executive order in January that purported to end birthright citizenship, federal courts in three different states blocked it from taking effect. All three courts generally held that the order was plainly illegal under both the Fourteenth Amendment and a century and a half of Supreme Court precedent.

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On Thursday evening, the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to intervene in an unusual way. The administration did not quite ask the justices to overturn the lower court injunctions altogether. Instead it asked them to end the practice of so-called universal injunctions against the federal government and rule that the lower courts injunctions have no effect beyond the litigants themselves.

That procedural attack would have profound consequences. In one of the three cases, Trump v. CASA, the litigants include five plaintiffs who allege that they or their child would be harmed by the birthright citizenship order. The lower court issued an injunction that barred the Trump administration from carrying out the order not only against the five plaintiffs but also against anyone else for whom it might applyhence the universal part of the injunction. (These used to be called nationwide injunctions, but that apparently wasnt dramatic enough.)

Critics of universal injunctions describe them as an abuse of the judicial power, one that exceeds the courts traditional limits on jurisdiction and relief. The foremost opponents of the practice today are Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, who have written multiple concurring and dissenting opinions over the years denouncing the practice. Every other conservative justice but Chief Justice John Roberts has joined their criticism from time to time, although with varying degrees of enthusiasm about ending the practice.

Why hasnt the court done anything about them? For one thing, universal injunctions have their benefits for judicial economy and administrative clarity, which may offset some of the unease that the less strident justices have with them. Georgetown University law professor Steve Vladeck also noted last year that Gorsuch, the most consistent critic of universal injunctions, had nonetheless voted in favor of them 11 timesin every instance to block Biden administration policies from going into effect. Maybe they arent so bad after all when theyre applied to the right people.

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Whatever the court ultimately decides, it is notable that the Trump administration is being consciously self-limiting here. Trumps lawyersand that is how the Justice Department now sees itselfhave almost always taken maximalist approaches to their legal arguments, reflecting their bosss own approach to human interaction. Tactically nuanced litigation is not how they got a Supreme Court ruling that gives presidents sweeping immunity to commit crimes, after all.

Im sure the Trump administration would like to curtail universal injunctions on its own terms. At the same time, I cant help but wonder if this is an attempt to solicit a win from the Supreme Court on birthright citizenship. Granting the administrations request to limit the injunctions would technically say nothing about the merits of such a case. Trumpworld may nonetheless try to spin it as a victory against birthright citizenship and invoke it against the multitude of legal experts who (correctly) argue that Trump cannot end it by executive order. If the court really does want to curb universal injunctions, it would be hard to find a less fitting case than this one to do it.
President Donald Trumps failed plan to detain up to 30,000 migrants at Guantanamo Bay has cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

Trumps administration has detained just 300 migrants at the U.S.-operated facility in Cuba over the last two months. But now, all migrants detained at the facility have since been flown out, The Independent learned.

The failed operation cost taxpayers at least $16 million, Representative Sara Jacobs told ABC News after visiting the site.

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"It was clear that this was entirely for optics and the fact that Donald Trump wanted to be able to say that he was sending immigrants to Guantanamo Bay, with all of its history of human rights abuses and with no actual operational value," Jacobs said.

Newly built tents pictured at Guantanamo Bay late last month. The administration cost taxpayers $16 million by detaining some 300 migrants at the facility before flying them back to the US (via REUTERS)

The government spent $3 million alone to construct tent structures, which are still not functional and were never used, CNN reports.

Federal officials told ABC News that 195 tents were built, which could house up to 500 migrants. The tents, however, lacked necessities required by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, such as air conditioning.

Theyre now expected to stay up for potential use during hurricane season.

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Shipping all immigrants out does not necessarily mean the operation is over; two federal officials told the Associated Press that the s that the administration may use the facility again in the future. For instance, Trump has vowed to send migrants who have been deemed dangerous to the facility, such as members of criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, CNN reports. But presumably millions of dollars more would be required to make the facility ususable.

For now, further use of Guantanamo Bay isnt a primary course of action and officials are looking to use US military bases to house migrants, according to CNN.

Civil rights groups have been fighting the Trump administration over treatment of immigrants, with one lawsuit alleging migrants were mistreated and subjected to a living hell while they were detained at Guantanamo Bay.

Jennifer Babaie, director of advocacy and legal services with Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, said last month Guantanamo is a breeding ground for violence, abuse and neglect.

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Many of these men have already been subjected to countless human rights abuses and due process violations, she said.

Keeping them in Guantanamo without regular access to lawyers and loved ones while at the same time spreading unfounded accusations against them all on the basis of what they look like and where they come from, is dangerous, violent, and completely unacceptable, she added.

Before they were removed, more than 100 migrants who were considered higher-threat were detained inside Camp IV. The facility resembles those used to house prisoners of war, according to sworn statements from Homeland Security and U.S. Army personnel. Other lower-threat detainees were held in and around a barracks-like Migrant Operations Center.

The American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups also argued this week that moving migrants to Guantanamo Bay violates the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Associated Press reports. Meanwhile, the White House has maintained it has the authority to do so.

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.

With reporting from Alex Woodward.
President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order seeking to eliminate agencies that serve the homeless, fund libraries and museums, and report the news.

The order is the latest move in Trump and Elon Musks attempt to drastically reshape the federal government by eliminating agencies and programs whose work they disagree with.

The order tells the seven agencies to reduce their operations to the bare minimum required by law. It explains this action as a continuation of the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary.

U.S. President Donald Trump and White House Senior Adviser, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk sit in a Tesla Model S on the South Lawn of the White House on March 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C. / Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

One of the agencies targeted is the Agency for Global Media (AGM), the parent of Voice of America (VOA), a publicly funded international broadcaster founded in 1942.

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As of Saturday morning, many staff at VOA, whose editorial decisions Trump has criticized since his first term, had already been placed on leave, The New York Times reported.

The AGM, established by Congress, also oversees other well-known outlets, like Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia. Its weekly global audience is estimated at around 430 million.

Among the other agencies Trump gutted were the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which funds American libraries and museums, and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, which works to address the homelessness crisis.

Elon Musk appears at a cabinet meeting wearing a shirt that says Tech Support. / JIM WATSON / AFP via Getty Images

By dismantling agencies enshrined in law, the order seems to be Trumps latest effort to test the limits of the executive branchs power. Many of his previous actionsincluding an attempt to end birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitutionhave faced pushback from the courts.

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This week, two federal judges ordered Trumps administration to hire back tens of thousands of fired government workers.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the decision absurd and unconstitutional, while Musk has urged the impeachment of judges who go against Trump.

Without judicial reform, which means at least the absolute worst judges get impeached, we dont have real democracy in America, the unelected tech billionaire wrote on X.
President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 2025. Credit - Roberto SchmidtGetty Images

The Trump Administration is reportedly considering a new travel ban for citizens of up to 43 countriesa potential escalation of Trumps first term travel ban which primarily targeted Muslim-majority countries.

An internal memo, obtained and reviewed first by the New York Times and then by Reuters, suggests that the Trump Administration has included new countries in a draft of a 2.0 travel ban. Per the memo, the countries on the list would be sorted into three different tiers: red, orange, and yellow.

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Citizens from the 11 countries in the red category would reportedly be flatly barred from entering the United States. The 11 countries listed include Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. The Times reported, though, that this list was formed by the State Department a few weeks ago and changes could well be made.

Citizens from the countries in the orange categorywhich includes Haiti, Russia, and Pakistanwould have their visas heavily restricted. Per the Times' reporting, citizens traveling to the U.S. from these countries would be subjected to mandatory in-person interviews in order to receive a visa. The third category includes countries in the yellow groupmeaning they have 60 days to address concerns from the Administration, or else each country risks being moved up to the other categories. Countries reportedly listed under this category include Cambodia, Zimbabwe, and The Republic of Congo.

The White House has yet to publicly comment on the reported memo. TIME has reached out to the White House for comment.

Mention of a potential new travel ban by the Trump Administration comes shortly after the President was asked during a press briefing on Wednesday, March 12, about what countries might be targeted on his 2.0 list. He shut down the question from the reporter, saying: Wouldnt that be a stupid thing for me to say?

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Trump made promises on his campaign trail, stating his intention to restore the travel ban which caught much attention during its initial introduction during his first term. His signing of an Executive Order titled Protecting The United States From Foreign Terrorists And Other National Security And Public Safety Threats on Jan. 20 only served to reaffirm his intentions.

Heres a look back at the history of Trumps travel ban and what he has shared about his plans moving forward.

Trumps first term travel ban

In January 2017, a week after Trump entered office, Trump signed Executive Order 13769, titled Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United Stateslater referred to as the Muslim travel ban, on account of the fact it largely targeted Muslim-majority nations. The ban barred entry of Syrian refugees and temporarily suspended the entry of individuals from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

The action triggered chaos at airports and sparked protests across the country. Judges in several states blocked the initial ban soon after it went into place in 2017, claiming that it targeted Muslim countries and discriminated against people for their nationality without justification, violating U.S. immigration law.

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Eventually the Supreme Court permitted a rewritten notion in which citizens from Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen continued to be subject to the ban. They later upheld the ban in 2018. These countries could potentially be at risk again, should a 2.0 list be finalized.

When former President Joe Biden entered office in 2021, he repealed the ban, calling it a stain on our national conscience and inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all.

[T]hey have separated loved ones, inflicting pain that will ripple for years to come. They are just plain wrong, Biden said in the Executive Order announcing the end to the ban.

Trump promised to reinstate the travel ban during his campaign

While on the campaign trail in 2024, Trump vowed to reinstate his 2017 travel ban several times.

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In July, at a campaign rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Trump told the crowd that he would restore the travel ban, suspend refugee admissions, stop the resettlement, and keep the terrorists the hell out of our country and that he would do so on day one of his presidency.

In a later campaign event in Washington, Trump said he would ban people from terrorist infested areas and would seal our borders.

Remember the famous travel ban? We didnt take people from certain areas of the world, Trump said at the event in September 2024. Were not taking them from infested countries.

Trumps Executive Order on vetting countries

Trump did not reintroduce his travel ban on day one as promised, but on the first day of his second term, he did sign the Executive Order titled Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and other National Security and Public Safety Threats.

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Within the Executive Order, Trump called for the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report identifying countries throughout the world for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries. A deadline of 60 days was given.

If the timeline remains the same, this report is due to the President by next week. Although he may well have already received it.

The Executive Order also called for the report to identify how many people from said countries had entered the United States since Biden was inaugurated as President.

This was just one Executive Order in a slew of recent motions signed by Trump that look to drastically shift and harden the United States immigration and visitation policy.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
By Phil Stewart and Mohammed Ghobari

WASHINGTON/ADEN, Yemen (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump launched large-scale military strikes against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis on Saturday over the group's attacks against Red Sea shipping, killing at least 31 people at the start of a campaign expected to last many days.

Trump also warned Iran, the Houthis' main backer, that it needed to immediately halt support for the group. He said if Iran threatened the United States, "America will hold you fully accountable and, we won't be nice about it!"

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The top Commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards reacted on Sunday by saying the Houthis are independent and take their own strategic and operational decisions.

"We warn our enemies that Iran will respond decisively and destructively if they take their threats into action," Hossein Salami told state media.

The unfolding strikes - which one U.S. official told Reuters might continue for weeks - represent the biggest U.S. military operation in the Middle East since Trump took office in January. It came as the United States ramped up sanctions pressure on Tehran while trying to bring it to the negotiating table over its nuclear program.

"To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DONT, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!" Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

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At least 31 were killed and 101 others injured in the U.S. strikes, mostly women and children, Anees al-Asbahi, spokesperson for the Houthi-run health ministry said in an updated toll on Sunday.

The Houthis' political bureau described the attacks as a "war crime."

"Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation," it said in a statement.

Residents in Sanaa said the strikes hit a building in a Houthi stronghold.

"The explosions were violent and shook the neighborhood like an earthquake. They terrified our women and children," one of the residents, who gave his name as Abdullah Yahia, told Reuters.

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Strikes also targeted Houthi military sites in Yemen's southwestern city of Taiz, two witnesses in the area said on Sunday.

Another strike on a power station in the town of Dahyan in Saada led to a power cut, Al-Masirah TV reported early on Sunday. Dahyan is where Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the enigmatic leader of the Houthis, often meets his visitors.

The Houthis, an armed movement that took control of most of Yemen over the past decade, have launched scores of attacks on ships off its coast since November 2023, disrupting global commerce and setting the U.S. military on a costly campaign to intercept missiles and drones that have burned through stocks of U.S. air defenses.

A Pentagon spokesperson said the Houthis have attacked U.S. warships 174 times and commercial vessels 145 times since 2023. The Houthis say the attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel's war in Gaza with Hamas militants.

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The previous U.S. administration of then-President Joe Biden had sought to degrade the Houthis' ability to attack vessels off its coast but limited the U.S. actions.

U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say Trump has authorized a more aggressive approach.

STRIKES ACROSS YEMEN

The U.S. military's Central Command, which oversees troops in the Middle East, described Saturday's strikes as the start of a large-scale operation across Yemen.

The strikes on Saturday were carried out in part by fighter aircraft from the Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, which is in the Red Sea, officials said.

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"Houthi attacks on American ships & aircraft (and our troops!) will not be tolerated; and Iran, their benefactor, is on notice," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X.

Iran's foreign ministry condemned strikes on Yemen as a "gross violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter and the fundamental rules of international law", in a statement shared by state media.

The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the U.S. government had "no authority, or business, dictating Iranian foreign policy."

"End support for Israeli genocide and terrorism. Stop killing of Yemeni people," he said in an X post on early Sunday.

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On Tuesday, the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli ships passing through the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden, ending a period of relative calm starting in January with the Gaza ceasefire.

The U.S. attacks came just days after a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from Trump was delivered, seeking talks over Iran's nuclear program.

Khamenei on Wednesday rejected holding negotiations with the United States.

Still, Tehran is increasingly concerned that mounting public anger over economic hardships could erupt into mass protests, four Iranian officials told Reuters.

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Last year, Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities, including missile factories and air defenses, in retaliation for Iranian missile and drone attacks, reduced Tehran's conventional military capabilities, according to U.S. officials.

Iran has denied wanting to develop a nuclear weapon. However, it is dramatically accelerating the enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% weapons-grade level, the U.N. nuclear watchdog has warned.

In an apparent sign of U.S. efforts to improve ties with Russia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on Saturday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to inform him about the U.S. strikes in Yemen, the State Department said.

Russia has relied on Iranian-provided weaponry in its war in Ukraine, including missiles and drones, U.S. and Ukrainian officials say.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart in Washington, Mohammed Ghobari and Reyam Mokhashef in Aden, Yemen, Hatem Maher and Jaidaa Taha in Cairo and Michelle Nichols in New York; editing by Michelle Nichols, Nick Zieminski, Diane Craft, Rod Nickel, William Mallard, Lincoln Feast and Saad Sayeed)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Saturday that General Keith Kellogg's role has been narrowed from special envoy for Ukraine and Russia to only Ukraine, after Russian officials had sought to exclude him from talks aiming to end the war.

"General Kellogg, a Highly Respected Military Expert, will deal directly with President (Volodymyr Zelenskiy), and Ukrainian leadership," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "He knows them well, and they have a very good working relationship together."

Russian officials had communicated to their counterparts in the United States that they did not want Kellogg involved in top-level discussions aimed at ending the Ukraine war, sources told Reuters this week. Some high-ranking former Russian officials have complained that Kellogg was, in their view, too sympathetic to Kyiv.

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Kellogg, 80, has been personally absent from some high-level discussions in recent weeks, including a meeting involving U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio with a Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

The U.S. and Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire in principle during their meeting in Saudi Arabia. But Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested on Thursday that the ceasefire bid needs serious reworking.

Kellogg was also absent at a high-level meeting with Russians in Saudi Arabia in February.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner)
President Donald Trump is gutting U.S.-backed global media, including Voice of America, that broadcasts news to millions worldwide  and that he has long held a grudge against.

The move comes after Trump signed an executive order to hollow out a string of small government agencies and offices late Friday. The order calls for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA and a collection of other media outlets globally, to be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.

The weekend moves around USAGM suggest the administration will shutter entirely  or at a minimum dramatically reduce  the media platforms it oversees.

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VOA Director Mike Abramowitz confirmed in a Saturday afternoon post on his personal Facebook account that "virtually the entire staff of Voice of America  more than 1300 journalists, producers and support staff  has been placed on administrative leave today," adding that he was among those affected.

"Even if the agency survives in some form, the actions being taken today by the Administration will severely damage Voice of Americas ability to foster a world that is safe and free and in doing so is failing to protect U.S. interests," Abramowitz wrote, noting that the move comes amid rising disinformation promoted by "Americas adversaries, like Iran, China, and Russia."

Trump has repeatedly attacked VOA since his first term. Before he entered office earlier this year, Trump said he wanted Kari Lake, a MAGA loyalist and former news anchor who twice ran unsuccessfully for statewide office in Arizona, to run the outlet. She has since been appointed as a special adviser to USAGM.

An email from human resources at USAGM was sent Saturday placing VOA journalists on administrative leave. The journalists were also told not to access the USAGM premises or any of the agencys systems, according to a copy of the email viewed by POLITICO.

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Two VOA journalists  granted anonymity by POLITICO out of fear of retribution  confirmed they were placed on leave on Saturday morning. A VOA contractor, also granted anonymity, received a similar notice.

Lake put out a post on X highlighting the executive order and urging employees from VOA and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which is also housed within USAGM, to urgently check their email.

According to a VOA journalist, some VOA employees received the email as they were en route to their studios to record shows Saturday morning. With no clear guidance or direction from VOA leadership, journalists were left scrambling to figure out how to fill air time, considering rerunning old shows or simply playing music.

The journalist compared Saturday mornings chaos to the mayhem caused by the Department of Government Efficiencys slash-and-burn approach to downsizing federal agencies that prompted a frenzied wave of mass firings.

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"The decision to dismantle one of America's greatest national assets will inflict profound harm on the U.S. image, its global interests, and the promotion of democratic values  damage that no adversary could ever achieve," Elez Biberaj, who briefly served as Voice of America's acting director and retired in 2023, said in a social media post.

Spokespeople for both VOA and USAGM did not respond to requests for comment.

USAGM also notified Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Saturday that the agency is terminating grants that support the media platforms' operations effective immediately. Radio Free Asia has been one of the governments key vehicles for combatting Chinese propaganda.

RFA is expected to start furloughing some of its staff next week, POLITICO reported Friday.

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In a statement released Saturday, RFE CEO Stephen Capus wrote that the agency's grant termination "would be a massive gift to Americas enemies. The Iranian Ayatollahs, Chinese communist leaders, and autocrats in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate the demise of RFE/RL after 75 years. Handing our adversaries a win would make them stronger and America weaker."

A notification letter to RFA obtained by POLITICO and signed by Lake said the funding cut is a response to Trumps executive order mandating that the USAGM eliminate all non-statutorily required activities and functions.

An RFA spokesperson confirmed receipt of the letter but declined comment on its contents.

High-profile journalists and news associations have blasted the move, questioning what the shuttering of VOA will mean for press freedom under the second Trump administration.

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VOA journalists in our [White House] press corps are smart, dedicated and shine lights on vital issues, Kelly ODonnell, an NBC News correspondent and former president of the White House Correspondents Association, wrote on X. I am proud of their dedication. If you believe in a free press, stand with VOA.

The National Press Club put out a statement on Saturday, pressing Congress to call for transparency and accountability and to make sure that VOA continues to be operational.

For decades, Voice of America has delivered fact-based, independent journalism to audiences worldwide, often in places where press freedom does not exist, Press Club president Mike Balsamo wrote. Removing large numbers of its journalists at the same time as dismantling USAGM threatens the very foundation that has allowed VOA to operate without political interference.

Voice of America was created in 1942 and broadcasts globally. Its 1976 charter  signed into law by President Gerald Ford  says the long-range interests of the United States are served by communicating directly with the peoples of the world, calling for accurate, objective and comprehensive journalism. Laws in the 1990s and 2010s have protected the VOA from interference by U.S. government officials.

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The Trump administration has been celebrating the shutdown.

Several top advisers to the president, including Katie Miller  a DOGE spokesperson and Stephen Millers wife  have said goodbye to the news organization, while the administrations rapid response account has reposted headlines where VOA has questioned white privilege.

U.S. taxpayers shouldnt be funding this, the Rapid Response account said.

Sophia Cai and Eric Bazail-Eimil contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump has signaled the next set of agencies on the chopping block, as his administration looks to cut down the size of the federal government.

Trump, in a late Friday executive order, gutted several smaller offices and agencies that serve wide-ranging roles in the government, from addressing homelessness to funding libraries.

The order said the agencies and offices will have all of their federal grants reviewed and they will be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.

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It marks the next step of the administration eliminating government entities Trump deems unnecessary, and it follows weeks of the Department of Government Efficiency, helmed by Elon Musk, slashing entire agencies, cutting off funds and instituting mass layoffs of federal workers.

Of the names on the list, one of the biggest is the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which supervises U.S.-government funded media outlets globally, including the Voice of America.

Trump has been a big critic of VOA  which broadcasts news to millions around the global  since his first term. Before his inauguration he indicated he wanted one-time TV journalist and failed Arizona candidate Kari Lake to run the outlet, and she has since been named a special adviser to USAGM.

USAGM also oversees Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia, which supporters say has been one of the biggest tools used by the government to combat Chinese propaganda. Radio Free Asia is expected to start furloughing some of its staff next week, POLITICO reported Friday.

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The order also names the Minority Business Development Agency and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, both of which promote economic development for minority businesses and low income communities, respectively. Trump has crusaded against departments and agencies that promote diversity, equity and inclusion, and signed an executive order upon entering office to eliminate DEI from the government.

The rest of the agencies include the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services funds grants to libraries and museums across the country. The group EveryLibrary  a nonprofit that has advocated for public library funding and fought against book bans  decried the looming cuts to the agency, arguing that the IMLS is statutorily required to send federal funds to state libraries, based on an act passed by Congress.

This core work cannot be disrupted by DOGE, they wrote in a statement.

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Trumps previous order targeting smaller government entities may offer a window to what comes next for those on Fridays list. A Feb. 19 order commencing the reduction of the government targeted agencies that include the Presidio Trust, which manages San Franciscos Presidio park and is a crown jewel of former Speaker Nancy Pelosis hometown legacy, and several small international-focused agencies.

Following that order, Pete Marocco  a top State Department official who was also behind the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development  was installed as the head of the Inter-American Foundations board. After that, all of the board members and staffers were either fired or placed on leave and the foundation was effectively shuttered, according to court documents and a post from DOGE.

The U.S. African Development Foundation, another independent agency named on Trumps previous executive order, took their battle to the courts to avoid being taken over, but lost when a federal judge rejected their request for a temporary restraining order.

As of Friday, the new agencies on the list have seven days to report their compliance to the Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought.

Trump is already facing pushback for eliminating the agencies. Many of the agencies targeted in recent weeks have been created by and received appropriations from Congress, setting up Trumps administration to push the bounds of executive power.
U.S. President Donald Trump says he has ordered airstrikes against Iran-backed rebels in Yemen, and issued a warning to Tehran.

Heres why.

Threat to global shipping

The Houthi rebels started attacking military and commercial ships on one of the worlds busiest shipping corridors shortly after the war in Gaza began between Hamas and Israel in October 2023.

The Houthis said they were targeting vessels on the Red Sea with links to Israel or its allies  the United States and the U.K.  in solidarity with Palestinians, but some vessels had little or no link to the war.

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The Houthis targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, until the current ceasefire in Gaza took effect in mid-January. Other missiles and drones were intercepted or failed to reach their targets, which included Western military ones.

The attacks paused during the ceasefire, but the Houthis on Wednesday said they would resume against any Israeli vessel after Israel cut off all aid supplies to Gaza to pressure Hamas during talks on extending their truce. The rebels said the warning also affects the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea.

No Houthi attacks have been reported since then.

These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk, Trump said Saturday while announcing the airstrikes in a social media post.

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Threat to the U.S.

The earlier Houthi campaign saw U.S. and other Western warships repeatedly targeted, sparking the most serious combat the U.S. Navy had seen since World War II.

The United States under the Biden administration, as well as Israel and Britain, previously struck Houthi-held areas in Yemen. But a U.S. official said Saturdays operation was conducted solely by the U.S.

The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the carrier, three Navy destroyers and one cruiser, are in the Red Sea and were part of Saturday's mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has also been operating in the region.

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Trump said the strikes were to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom.

The focus on the Houthis and their attacks have raised their profile as they face economic and other pressures at home amid Yemens decadelong stalemated war, which has torn apart the Arab worlds poorest nation.

Pressure on Iran

Saturdays strikes also were meant to pressure Iran, which has backed the Houthis just as it has supported Hamas and other proxies in the Middle East.

Trump vowed to hold Iran fully accountable for the Houthis actions.

The State Department earlier this month reinstated the foreign terrorist organization designation for the Houthis, which carries sanctions and penalties for anyone providing material support for the group.

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The Trump administration also has been pressing Iran to restart bilateral talks on Irans advancing nuclear program, with Trump writing a letter to the country's supreme leader. Trump, who unilaterally withdrew America from Irans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, has said he will not allow the program to become operational.

Trump has also levied new sanctions on Iran as part of his maximum pressure campaign against the country and has suggested that military action remains a possibility, while emphasizing he still believes a new nuclear deal can be reached.

___

Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.
US President Donald Trump ordered massive attacks on the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen on Saturday that led to the deaths of nine people, according to reports.

The US is carrying out airstrikes against Houthi bases, leaders and missile defence sites in order to protect American shipping and restore freedom of navigation, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones," Trump wrote in his post.

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Washington reclassified the Iran-backed Houthi militia as a foreign terrorist organization in early March.

Addressing Iran, Trump wrote that support for the Houthis must end immediately. Tehran should not threaten the American people, its president or global shipping routes, he said. If Iran does, it should "BEWARE because America will hold you fully accountable, and we won't be nice about it!" he added.

The Houthi militia in Yemen said late on Saturday that US-British strikes had hit areas north of the capital.

The Houthi-affiliated television station al-Masirah said "an American-British aggression targeted a residential neighbourhood in the Shu'ub district, north of the capital, Sana'a, with raids."

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Nine civilians were killed and nine others were injured, most of them seriously, in the airstrikes, Yemen's Ministry of Health and Environment told the SABA news agency.

The ministry condemned the crime of targeting civilians and civilian objects, which constitutes a full-fledged war crime and a flagrant violation of all international laws and conventions, the agency reported.
President Donald Trump announced over the weekend that he ordered the United States military to launch "decisive and powerful military action" against the Houthis in Yemen.

"They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones," Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, on March 15. "We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective."

A U.S. official confirmed to ABC News on Sunday that U.S. air and naval assets hit dozens of Houthi targets in Yemen, including missiles, radars, and drone and air defense systems. The official characterized the attacks as an opening salvo against the Houthis that sends a strong message to Iran.

PHOTO: Smoke rises from a position following airstrikes in Sana'a, Yemen, March 15, 2025. (Yahya Arhab/EPA via Shutterstock)

A spokesman for Yemen's ministry of health said at least 53 people were killed and 98 were in injured in the strikes. He said most of the casualties were civilians, and the number of those killed and injured will be updated as rescue and recovery efforts continue.

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The strikes are the largest and most significant military action that Trump has taken in his second term.

The attacks were carried out by fighter jets from the Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, now in the northern Red Sea, as well as Air Force attack planes and armed drones launched from bases in the region, according to a source familiar with the plan.

Trump approved the plan on Friday, the source added.

PHOTO: In this screen grab from a video posted to X, CENTCOM forces launch a large scale operation against Iran-Backed Housthis in Yemen, on March 15, 2025. (@CENTCOM / X)

The strikes that took place March 15 are the result of several high-level White House meetings last week between Trump and top national security aides, including Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Michael E. Kurilla.

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The attacks could intensify in scope and scale depending on the Houthi reaction, a source familiar with the plan said.

The source stressed this is not expected to be a single-day event, adding, "This will be decisive."

The Houthis launched a retaliatory attack on the USS Harry S. Truman on Sunday, but it was unsuccessful, a U.S. official told ABC News. The official said the attacks may have lasted up to 12 hours.

After the initial attacks, the rebel group said in a statement on Monday local time that it had launched a second offensive on the U.S. ships in the Red Sea over the course of "several hours" and that it had "succeeded."

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However, the reports of that incident and its outcome have yet to be externally verified.

PHOTO: Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Osamah Abdulrahman/AP)

Earlier in March, the Houthis warned they would resume attacking shipping vessels if Israel's blockade of aid in Gaza continued.

Trump also had a stark message for Iran, writing that its support for the Houthis must end "immediately." The president redesignated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization via an executive order in first days in office.

In a message to the Houthis, Trump threatened that if the attacks don't stop, then "hell will rain down upon you like nothing you have ever seen before."

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Former President Joe Biden's administration also conducted multiple strikes against the Houthis as they disrupted international shipping lanes in the Red Sea.

The last U.S. airstrike in Yemen against the Houthis occurred on Jan. 8, while Biden was still in office, when a precision strike targeted two underground ammunition bunkers. There had been no other airstrikes since then partly because the Houthis stopped attacking ships during the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

PHOTO: In this handout image provided by the US Navy, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) transits the Strait of Gibraltar, on Nov. 25, 2024. (Michael Gomez/US NAVY via AFP via Getty Images)

Trump slammed his predecessor, writing, "Joe Biden's response was pathetically weak, so the unrestrained Houthis just kept going."

Since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, the Houthis have launched more than 100 attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, causing disruptions to global trade through one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

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The Houthi rebels had initially framed their attacks as a way to pressure Israel to stop the war that was launched following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack. But as shippers began to avoid the regions of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, the rebel strikes still continued.

Trump orders attacks against Houthis in Yemen originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Ice skaters enjoy the Christmas holiday at Wollman Rink in Central Park. (Photo by Robert Sabo/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) New York Daily News Archive via Getty Images

This story was originally published by THE CITY.

By Greg B. Smith, THE CITY

The Trump Organization is aggressively lobbying the office of Mayor Eric Adams to win its bid to run Central Parks Wollman Rink, two sources familiar with the matter confirmed to THE CITY  squeezing Adams to award a contract even as President Donald Trumps Justice Department moves to dismiss the mayors corruption case.

The city put out a solicitation for bids just days after Trump won reelection in November. The opening for Trump to run the coveted rink also came just weeks after the nonprofit Central Park Conservancy had offered to give the city $120 million to replace the rink and fix up part of the park.

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Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi and Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue didnt take the gift offer  and didnt respond to the conservancys followup. After ghosting the conservancy, the Department of Parks and Recreation put up a public notice the morning of Nov. 13 seeking bids to operate the rink.

Within hours, a Trump Organization executive was quoted as stating the company intended to pursue the contract  suggesting advance knowledge of the bid opportunity.

If City Hall awards the Wollman Rink concession to the Trump Organization, the presidents family business, it would link the popular tourist destination at the foot of the iconic park to the Trump name once again.

Trump has used Wollman Rink for years to burnish his claim that he is a brilliant businessman.

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During the 1980s, the Koch administration had tried for years to refurbish the broken-down rink. After six years and $20 million in government spending, the project had collapsed. Enter rising star developer Donald Trump, who promised to get the job done in six months for $3 million. He did it in four months for $2 million.

His company ran the rink for decades but was kicked out by Mayor de Blasio following the Jan. 6, 2021, riot by Trump supporters at the Capitol. Last year, a judge ruled the company liable for more than $363 million in a civil case brought by state Attorney General Letitia James, centered on financial misrepresentations by the company to the state of New York in tax filings.

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Councilmember Shekar Krishnan (D-Queens) recently wrote to Adams, expressing deep concern about the possibility of the city bringing the Trump Organization back to manage Wollman, and questioning why his administration shrugged off an extremely exciting and compelling proposal from the Central Park Conservancy.

People ice skate on the Wollman Rink in front of trees turning color in Central Park as the sun rises on October 28, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images) Gary Hershorn via Getty Images

Mutual Interests

Adams relationship with Trump has been the focus of increasing public scrutiny since December when President-elect Trump said he was considering granting a pardon to Adams, accusing the Biden Justice Department of treating the mayor pretty unfairly.

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That was followed by Adams meeting with Trump near his Mar-a-Lago estate on Jan. 17, a visit the mayor insists did not include discussion of his pending case. Days later on Jan. 31, however, the mayors criminal defense attorneys met with then-Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove and Manhattan federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., to discuss potentially tanking the case.

Bove filed the dismissal request Feb. 14, moving to toss Adams corruption charges while still maintaining the option to prosecute later. That was followed by an awkward Adams media appearance touting his partnership with the Trump administration, with border czar Tom Homan stating he would be up his butt if Adams broke his vow to help Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Several federal prosecutors refused to file the dismissal motion and resigned in protest, with the acting Manhattan U.S. attorney alleging that the agreement to toss the charges in exchange for the mayors collaboration on immigration was an unlawful quid pro quo. Four of his top deputy mayors  including Joshi  announced their resignations, and several elected officials and other public figures have accused Adams of being a hostage to Trump.

Since then, the mayor has carefully avoided saying anything negative about the Trump administration. During a Tuesday press briefing, for instance, he was asked about Canadas threat, triggered by Trumps back-and-forth tariff orders, to put a 25% surcharge on energy deliveries to New York  a move that would have hiked utility costs for New Yorkers.

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The mayor demurred, stating, When you talk about tariffs and whos going to decide the tariffs and a war thats going to go back and forth on the tariffs, thats the role of the federal government. I dont control that.

Spurned Gift

After former Mayor Bill de Blasio terminated the Trump Organizations Wollman Rink contract in 2021, Parks solicited bids and turned the concession over to a joint venture that included The Related Companies, one of New Yorks biggest real estate developers. That agreement is set to expire in June 2026, and last year City Hall and the Parks Department began working on how to proceed going forward.

A key player involved in these talks was the Central Park Conservancy, a well-heeled nonprofit that has steered millions of dollars in philanthropic funding to enhance the park. Among its projects, scheduled to open this summer: a $160 million replacement for the ice rink and swimming pool, formerly known as Lasker Rink, in the northeastern corner of the park. The conservancy contributed $100 million to the new facility, dubbed the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer, with the remaining $60 million covered by the city.

Last summer and fall, the conservancys lobbyists targeted Joshi and Donoghue to discuss the future of Wollman rink, city lobbying records reveal. On Sept. 18, the conservancy met with staff of Joshi and Donoghue at City Hall, pitching the idea of providing the city with a $120 million gift that would pay to replace the rink and address chronic stormwater flooding and accessibility issues in the southeast corner of the park, a source familiar with the meeting told THE CITY.

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At the meeting, the city staff immediately pushed back on the proposal, demanding to know how much it would cost city taxpayers, the source said. The conservancy said it would require a commitment of $30 million in order to unlock adequate philanthropic donations to fund the project, the source said.

In an Oct. 18 letter obtained by THE CITY, Conservancy President and CEO Elizabeth Smith made one last pitch to Joshi and Donoghue, arguing that re-envisioning the entire southeast corner, including the rink and the surrounding landscapeswould be dramatically better for the Park and the City than a one-off rebuilding of the rink alone.

Smith noted the administrations concerns about losing the $3 million in fees it collects annually from the rink, but promised to design a fee structure that makes sense for the city.

We are not a corporate entity seeking a shortcut to extract money from the city but a partner trying to give money to the City, she wrote.

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Weeks passed with no response. Then at 9 a.m. on Nov. 13, days after Trumps electoral victory, the first public notice of a request for proposals (RFP) seeking bids on Wollman was published in the City Record, the citys official bulletin board where all bid requests and awards are announced.

By 2:27 p.m. that day, Trump Organization Executive Vice President Ron Lieberman was quoted by the New York Post stating, We are going to respond to the RFP. I am submitting a proposal. We ran Wollman rink flawlessly for decades.

Sources confirmed to THE CITY that the Trump Organization then bid on the concession. The company did not respond to THE CITYs questions about when it learned of the citys intention to put out an RFP or to provide any information on its subsequent discussions about winning the Wollman Rink concession with either the mayors office or the parks department.

THE CITY repeatedly sent written questions to the mayors office and the parks department, requesting details on their communications with the Trump Organization prior to and after the issuance of the RFP. THE CITY has received no response.

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Asked last week when they expect to name a winner, a parks department spokesperson responded, Parks is currently reviewing all proposals.

Greg E. Smith is an award-winning investigative reporter at THE CITY with a special focus on corruption and the citys public housing system.

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President Donald Trump continued his retaliatory spree against major law firms on Friday, signing an executive order targeting New York firm Paul, Weiss days after a judge ruled that major parts of a similar order were unconstitutional.

Trumps new order seeks to suspend the security clearances of attorneys with the firm and limit their access to government buildings, ability to get federal jobs and receive money from federal contracts.

The order is the third targeted move against a big firm. Trump has signed similar orders aimed at Seattle-based Perkins Coie, which regularly represents Democratic entities including the Democratic National Committee, and any employee at Covington & Burling who provided free legal services to special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two criminal cases against Trump.

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As POLITICO first reported, some top firms are considering publicly supporting the firms under attack by the Trump administration. But the show of solidarity has been hard to build as privately, firms worry that they could be next on the presidents hit list.

Big firms arent the only object of Trumps retribution. The Friday night order also singled out lawyer Mark Pomerantz, who had previously investigated the president, calling him an unethical attorney.

Just hours prior to signing the order, Trump delivered a vengeful speech at the Department of Justice in which he railed against his political opponents  including Pomerantz, whom he named  calling them really bad people and threatening retaliation against them.

A spokesperson for Paul, Weiss told POLITICO that Pomerantz had not been affiliated with the firm since his retirement in 2012. Years after his departure from the firm, Pomerantz investigated and built a case against Trump at the Manhattan District Attorneys office, but ultimately resigned after District Attorney Alvin Bragg chose not to pursue those charges.

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Immediate attempts to reach Pomerantz via an intermediary were unsuccessful.

The Paul, Weiss spokesperson also noted that a federal judge had this week deemed a similar order unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled on Wednesday that major parts of Trumps order against Perkins Coie were likely unconstitutional, including efforts to bar attorneys from interacting with federal agencies or entering federal buildings.

In her ruling, Howell said Trumps order appeared motivated by retaliatory animus, and concluded that it runs head on into the wall of First Amendment protections.
In February, the State Department branded Mexicos Sinaloa and Jalisco drug cartels, as well as several other Latin American gangs, as "terrorist organizations" akin to ISIS or al-Qaeda. This comes after years of Republican lawmakers banging the drums of war against the narcos south of the border, even describing illicit fentanyl, an opioid used daily in hospitals for surgery, as a "chemical weapon."

The declaration was shortly followed by the opening shots of a trade war with Mexico, Canada and China with the Trump administration imposing tariffs on goods imported from those countries unless they take drastic action to stop narcotrafficking.

Back at the White House, President Trump told a meeting of governors he was ready to send drug dealers to the gallows.

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If you notice that every country that has the death penalty has no drug problem. They execute drug dealers, the commander-in-chief claimed. And when you think about it, its very humane, because every drug dealer, on average they say, kills at least 500 people  not to mention the damage they do so many others.

This is, of course, bullshit. But the dubious factual accuracy of this aside, all signs point to Trump  like his predecessors Nixon, Reagan, Bush and Clinton  reinvigorating the war on drugs at home and abroad. But why should he succeed where theyve failed?

Lets begin with the terrorist designation. There are fears that by lumping the narcos together with Americas more overt enemies like ISIS could set the stage for military action, a possibility Trump brought up in his 2024 election campaign. Indeed, Trump has both privately and publicly contemplated deploying special forces to liquidate cartel chiefs, seemingly lifting his foreign policy from the plot of the 1994 action flick Clear and Present Danger.

A lot of people are under the belief that this designation allows the United States to go into Mexico or do drone strikes or bombardments. Not hardly, Mike Vigil, former head of international operations for the DEA, told Salon. There's been actions like that taken against Osama bin Laden and other terrorists, but it's not done because of that designation. It's done through the executive power of the president.

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Such actions, if taken unilaterally without Mexicos consent, would also be illegal under international law. If Mexico doesnt agree to boots on the ground, its a breach of sovereignty  and you can kiss goodbye any counternarcotics and immigration cooperation after that.

That said, its possible Trump could order operations into Mexico anyway. But this has been tried before.

The killing frenzy that has engulfed Mexico erupted in the mid-2000s, partly from turf wars between criminal organizations and partly from the actions of President Felipe Calderon, who in December 2006 declared war on the cartels, starting with his home state of Michoacan. Troops and tanks poured into the state and Calderon himself flew down, dressed in full army regalia. Under the Merida Initiative, Mexico received three billion dollars worth of American aid to fight the drug gangs, including training and Black Hawk helicopters.

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Like the generals at the start of World War I, Calderon probably thought this would be over quickly. Two decades of slaughter later, he was proven wrong. Eliminating crime bosses created power vacuums that their capos scrambled to fill, as is happening now in the northwestern state of Sinaloa which is in a state of civil war after last years capture of narco-godfather Ismael El Mayo Zambada.

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While Mexican crime lords do wield their own militias which occasionally engage the armed forces in open combat  sometimes even wearing their own uniforms and insignia  for the most part theyre more like insurgents than regular armies, deeply embedded in local communities, where its not always obvious whos who. Abuses are rife: in 2019, 21-year-old Jennifer Romero was kidnapped, along with seven others, by the Mexican security forces in the border town of Nuevo Laredo, dressed as a sicario (cartel enforcer), and shot dead. She was two months pregnant. Any armed intervention is practically guaranteed to result in heavy civilian casualties.

Over two decades of this narco-war, drug deaths in America continued climbing, only suddenly falling last year. This is because all that gunplay failed to dismantle the basic structure of narcotrafficking. The term cartel plays well in an American courtroom but doesnt accurately reflect reality. Mexican drug cartels are more than merely gangs of bandidos: theyre networks of traffickers, politicians, police chiefs and other strongmen, with factions between them. Parading gangbangers before the cameras is only good for PR.

Moreover, intensifying violence will only worsen the border crisis. The number of Mexican refugees fleeing gang warfare has already surged dramatically in recent years, and now the terrorism designation may add legitimacy to their asylum claims.

The label may have other unwanted consequences for American interests; chief among these is there is no evidence it will slow or stop drug trafficking.

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I think it's all for show, because the terrorist designation is not going to have any impact, Vigil explained. The terrorist designation allows for three things. One, it allows the United States to seize bank accounts that are in financial institutions here in this country that belong to these designated groups. Two, it allows the government to sanction U.S. citizens that provide material support to these designated organizations. Three, it tries to prevent them from coming into the United States.

Vigil warned that sanctioning U.S. citizens would have a ripple effect.

Theres a lot of businesses that operate in Mexico, and if they have ties or they're buying products from a company that belongs to or is tied to one of these designated groups, they can be sanctioned, he continued. So, Donald Trump has opened the door for that to occur with businesses operating in Mexico.

Given how thoroughly the Mexican economy is compromised by organized crime, from paying protection to outright fronts, staying clean can be a challenge.

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Secondly, that would allow also for sanctions to be applied to the gun manufacturers and distributors here in the United States, because at least 80% of the weapons that are going into Mexico come from the United States, noted Vigil.

Since 2021, Mexico has been suing the American firearms industry for enabling the cartel carnage.

Then there are the tariffs: 25% on Mexican and Canadian goods, and 10% on Chinese goods. The pressure has produced some immediate, if short-term results: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, seemingly eager to stay on the good side of White Houses new occupant (unlike her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador), expedited the extradition of 29 cartel figures including Rafael Caro Quintero, whos been wanted by the DEA since 1985 for ordering the slow, painful death of agent Enrique Kiki Camarena  an event which shook Mexican-American relations.

Meanwhile, the amount of fentanyl intercepted at the border shrank by 41% between January and February, although it had been shrinking for several months already. But its a little early to break out the champagne glasses. Sanho Tree, a fellow at the D.C.-based Institute for Policy Studies said it was speculative, "but its quite possibly drug war theater.

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What we know that is getting through is much more than what they're confiscating, right? Tree told Salon. It's like the astrophysicists who search for dark matter in the universe  we know it's out there, and we know its massive."

Tree said that if he were the Sinaloa Cartel, this is exactly the strategy he would pursue.

I would continue to send some drugs through ports of entry, some even with migrants in backpacks across the desert, even though I know they'll get caught, Tree explained. The Republicans are happy; they get to point to seizures and migrants. Customs and Border Protection is happy because they get all their new toys and they can show how many kilos they've intercepted. But if I'm a drug trafficker, that's the tax I'm going to pay whilst I use my primary means of smuggling.

This, Tree points out, could be anything from tunnels running under the border, to boats, drones, submarines and even catapults. It could also be that drugs start moving from an entirely new direction. While Canada is not currently a significant source of narcotics (despite Trumps tariffs, only 0.2% of fentanyl intercepted last year came from the Great White North), last year a fentanyl super lab was discovered near Vancouver, along with a large stash of weapons and explosives. Its possible one day we will see fentanyl labs in the States  if theyre not already here.

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Meanwhile, pressuring your neighbors with unrealistic demands is unlikely to endear them to you.

Claudia Scheinbaum, when she took over as president of Mexico, immediately came out and said she wanted to work with the United States, Vigil said. And she continues to say that, despite the ridiculous attacks by Donald Trump, because Trump wants to put all the blame on illegal drug trafficking and consumption on Mexico and tries to absolve himself of any liability on his part. You know, no country is going to fully cooperate when they're being hit over the head with a sledgehammer, and that's basically what Trump is doing.

Back home, the president has repeatedly stated he wants the death penalty for convicted drug peddlers.

There are quite a few [countries] many in Asia  where they have the death penalty, he told the governors meeting. Theres no drug problem whatsoever.

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Only the first part of that statement is correct. Its true that Iran, China and Vietnam regularly execute traffickers, and yet they all still have well-documented drug issues, just like any country. Singapore will march you to the gallows over just half-a-kilo of weed, but authorities themselves admit drug consumption is steeply rising, especially among people under 30.

And while the Philippines had not officially imposed capital punishment, recent hearings revealed that the anti-drug campaign under President Rodrigo Duterte, in which death squads may have mercilessly slain as many as 30,000 Filipinos, only reduced consumption by 4.5%. (Duterte was recently arrested by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity over his violent drug policy.) In general, studies comparing crime rates between jurisdictions that do or do not have the death penalty fail to find a correlation.

Whether you're a consumer or a trafficker or money launderer, every person gets into [drugs] because they think they'll get away with it  and by and large, they do, Tree said. And so using death as a deterrent, it's very difficult to get that to stick. [But] the drug warriors, they don't want to promote harm reduction. They want to promote harm maximization  that the wages of sin ought to be death, because that's how you send a message to all the other people not to do drugs. And of course, that has not worked ever.

Then theres another aspect: capital punishment in the U.S. has been disproportionately inflicted on minorities, particularly Black and Indigenous people. From 1998 to 2024, 60% of federal death penalty cases have convicted non-white defendants.

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Both Vigil and Tree, despite their differing perspectives, agreed there was a racist element to the bloodlust.

Donald Trump does not mention any white supremacist groups that are distributing drugs like the Aryan Brotherhood, the Aryan Circle, the Aryan Kings, Vigil said. The Aryan Brotherhood has between 15,000 and 20,000 members in this country that distribute drugs. But he focuses on Hispanic groups because it goes along with his racist narrative that migrants are all criminals.

He's not talking about going after, you know, white suburban kids whose daddy is a CEO, Tree said.

Interestingly, Trump appointee Robert F. Kennedy Jr, now in charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, has been accused of selling cocaine while at college.

Finally, another part of Trump's strategy is a PSA campaign telling youngsters that when you take certain drugs, the drug fentanyl  it destroys your skin, it destroys your teeth, it destroys your brain, it destroys everything.

When some young kid is sitting down watching this commercial a couple of times, I really dont think theyre going to be taking drugs, Trump said. This is a big statement, but I think we can drop [drug use by] 50 percent by doing this.

The 80s called, they want their propaganda back. For readers too young to remember, that decade was full of ominous voices on the television telling folks this is your brain on drugs behind an image of some fried eggs. There was also the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program consisting of police officers visiting schools and warning children to stay sober.

Those programs were scare tactics, right? said Sanho, who was a student activist when the government first invited Officer Friendly or Not-So-Friendly to come into the classroom. And it backfired because they threw the baby out with the bathwater. They would lie and say, kids, if you smoke a joint, you'll be doing heroin in six months. And a lot of kids, my older siblings didn't go through that. And they think, well, what other lies are the grownups telling me?

Follow-up studies in the 90s and 2000s proved DARE had little effect on youth drug use; at least for one study cohort, drug use even increased.

But just as the drug war for Richard Nixon was an excuse to suppress leftist, countercultural and civil rights movements, so Donald Trumps drug war may have ulterior motives. Some have speculated that sending the troops is just a ploy to grab the rich coal, oil and gas deposits in Mexicos northeast.

I think these tariffs have nothing to do with reducing fentanyl, Tree said. He needs an emergency declaration. The power to tariff used to belong to the legislative branch, but they've given it away over the decades to the executive branch. But the way the executive branch can do it unilaterally is to declare an emergency. So you have a fentanyl emergency, you have an invasion by migrants. They use this language very carefully, very specifically. And I think theyre laying the groundwork for something even worse, which is the Insurrection Act, which would eventually become the basis for martial law.

The White House and Department of Homeland Security are already referring to undocumented immigration as an invasion, in-line with years of white nationalist rhetoric which has infected the Republican Party.

Then theres Trumps own personality to consider.

He's obsessed with discovering any unilateral powers he has, whether it's the power of commutation and pardon, or taking the FBI directly into the White House and operating it as his personal police service, or tariffs, Tree concluded. And so he's unlocking each unilateral power that he can discover and using them to the max. Number two, he gets to humiliate and beat allies and adversaries, which plays well to his base.
President Trump praised Judge Aileen Cannon during his speech at the Justice Department, calling her strong and brilliant.

We had an amazing judge in Florida, and her name is Aileen Cannon, Trump said.

Spectators, he said, were hitting her so hard, public relations wise.

They were saying she was slow, she wasnt smart, she was totally biased. She loved Trump. I didnt know her other than I saw her the couple of days that I was in court, and I thought her decorum was amazing, Trump said.

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Actually, she was brilliant, she moved quickly. She was the absolute model of what a judge should be, and she was strong and tough, he added.

Trump made the comments in an unusual speech at Justice Department headquarters, a rare appearance from a president as most executives seek to maintain a firewall with the department.

Cannon repeatedly ruled in favor of Trump during the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case, including ultimately tossing the case after siding with arguments from Trumps legal team that special counsel Jack Smith was unlawfully appointed.

It was an unusual decision from Cannon, which countered 50 years of precedence on special counsel authority, including a ruling from the Supreme Court.

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She also initially delayed the release of the volume of Smiths report dealing with the Jan. 6 portion of his investigation into Trump.

She later reversed course however, allowing for the release of the volume.

Thats why Im so impressed with Judge Cannon in Florida, how strong she was, how she held up, Trump said later in the speech.

It actually made her more resolute than anything Ive seen. I mean, it was amazing, because they were hitting her so hard.

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President Trump has continued his attack against prominent law firms, pulling the security clearances of attorneys at New York-based Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (Paul Weiss), and restricting their employees from entering government buildings and receiving funds from federal contracts.

Trump signed the order on Friday, directing that the security clearances of Paul Weiss employees be pulled pending a review of whether such clearances are consistent with the national interest, terminate any contract for which the law firm was hired to perform any service and limit government employees from engaging with the firms workers while in official capacity.

He also ordered that agency officials should refrain from hiring Paui Weisss employees absent a waiver from the head of the agency.

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My Administration has already taken action to address some of the significant risks and egregious conduct associated with law firms, and I have determined that similar action is necessary to end Government sponsorship of harmful activity by an additional law firm: Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (Paul Weiss), Trump said in the order.

Trump went after election lawyer Marc Elias, who worked against Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and former Paul Weisss partner Mark Pomerantz during his Friday speech at the Justice Department (DOJ)

Now, as the chief law enforcement officer in our country, I will insist upon and demand full and complete accountability for the wrongs and abuses that have occurred, Trump said during the address.

While working at the Manhattan District Attorneys Office, Pomerantz was engaged in the offices hush money probe into Trump. The jury found Trump, then a presidential candidate, guilty, but he has denied wrongdoing.

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Paul Weisss spokesperson Laura Van Drie told The Hill in a statement that Pomerantz retired from the firm in 2012 and went on to work at the District Attorneys office nearly a decade later.

Mr. Pomerantz has not been affiliated with the firm for years, Van Drie said. The terms of a similar order were enjoined as unconstitutional earlier this week by a federal district court judge.

Van Drie referred to U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell temporarily blocking parts of Trumps executive order on Wednesday that sought to prevent Perkins Coie personnel from entering federal government buildings and forcing contractors to reveal if they engage in business with the firm.

Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order looking to strip Perkins Coie employees, who did work for Democrats during the 2016 campaign, of security clearances and reviewing the governments contracts with the law firm.

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Trumps Friday order against Paul Weiss was the third time he has gone after a law firm since taking office, again, in January. Late last month, he suspended clearances for Covington & Burling of a number of outside attorneys that are providing pro bono service to former special counsel Jack Smith.

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP)  President Donald Trump said Friday that he was being a little bit sarcastic when he repeatedly claimed as a candidate that he would have the Russia-Ukraine war solved within 24 hours  and even before he even took office.

Trump was asked about the vow he repeatedly made on the campaign trail during an interview for the Full Measure television program as his administration is still trying to broker a solution 54 days into his second term.

Well, I was being a little bit sarcastic when I said that," Trump said in a clip released ahead of the episode airing Sunday. What I really mean is Id like to get it settled and, Ill, I think, I think Ill be successful.

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It was a rare admission from Trump, who has a long record of making exaggerated claims.

Trump said at a CNN town hall in May 2023, Theyre dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And Ill have that done  Ill have that done in 24 hours.

That is a war thats dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president, Trump said during his September debate with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. If I win, when Im president-elect, and what Ill do is Ill speak to one, Ill speak to the other. Ill get them together.

The Republican repeated the claim frequently on the campaign trail.

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His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Moscow this week for talks on a U.S.-proposed ceasefire, which Ukraine has accepted.

In the interview, Trump was also asked what the plan would be if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire to the war he started three years ago.

Bad news for this world because so many people are dying, Trump said.

But I think, I think he's going to agree. I really do. I think I know him pretty well and I think he's going to agree."

___
The four-day school week is one of the most popular reforms in the history of education in this country, says Rob Waite, but it wont help students if its not done right.

As superintendent of Shoshone School District for 16 years, he transitioned the rural district of 500 students to the four-day week back in 2011. Since then, hes helped other districts make the switch.

The four-day week is like any other educational initiative, Waite said. Its not what you do, but how you do it.

The shortened school week has surged in popularity in Idaho over the past 20 years.

Back in 2006, five school districts in the state used the four-day week. By the 2023-24 school year, that number increased to 74 school districts, according to data from the Idaho Department of Education.

In the Magic Valley, 16,000 students across 16 districts attend school four days a week and 19,750 students in six school districts go to school five days a week.

Teacher recruitment and retention has been the biggest motivation in recent years for the four-day week, while supporters of the five-day week say it can lead to food insecurity and more burden on working parents.

The debate has led to conflicts between teachers and administrators in some school districts.

The research

Paul Thompson has been studying the four-day week for seven years.

As an associate professor of economics at Oregon State University, Thompson contributed to a nationwide study in 2019 of 650 four-day school districts across the country. A survey asked districts why they switched, how the week is structured and how they use the day off.

The study found no difference in student achievement in school districts that kept the same level of classroom time, Thompson told the Times-News last week, but found reductions in learning when classroom time was reduced.

Its more about the time that students are in the classroom, Thompson said. Not so much kind of when that occurs, whether four or five day.

Many districts add on an extra an hour or so to the school day when they make the switch, but Thompson said its like cutting seven hours and adding three.

Waite has used Thompsons research when he speaks to other school districts about the four-day week.

To do it right, Waite said, school districts need to plan the four-day week in a way that satisfies three pillars: increased student contact time, more training for teachers and the curriculum of the home, meaning activities and trips on the day off.

I tell all of the districts I work with, he said, Dont do it if you cant increase the amount of time that people are in class.

Different strokes

The nationwide study, Thompson said, found lots of variation within states and between states on how school districts implement the four-day week.

The four day school week isnt just kind of one-size-fits-all approach, Thompson said. You could go and ask any school district in Idaho and they would probably tell you, We set this up differently.

Buhl, Valley and Castleford school districts take off Monday, while most other district take off Friday. Minidoka and Cassia county school districts are the two largest in the Magic Valley on the four-day week. Students there get Fridays off.

Theres one school district in the Magic Valley that has the best of both worlds, with a hybrid schedule with Monday off every other week.

Were always unique, Murtaugh School District Superintendent Michele Capps said.

Half of the staff in Murtaugh wanted a four-day week and half wanted a five-day week, Capps said, so they found a compromise. The district picked Monday off to allow families to schedule appointments.

People have been very receptive to it, she said.

Having a day off for appointments is a common argument in favor of the four-day week.

In Hansen, Superintendent Angela Lakey-Campbell said she used to work at a four-day district in Oregon that wanted to give families a day off on Friday for doctor and dentist appointments, but then a lot of practitioners also took off work on Friday.

Part of our original plan is not as effective as it used to be, Lakey-Campbell said.

Community impacts

There are plenty of side effects of the four-day week, especially for students who dont have stability at home.

A recent paper found that when schools switch to the four-day week, Thompson said, those that provide backpack programs, where kids go home with a backpack of food for the weekend, do much better in reducing food insecurity. Hansen has one of those programs.

These can have implications outside of the academic setting, Thompson said.

That was part of the reasoning for both Kimberly and Twin Falls school districts to stick with a five-day week.

I think the four-day work week is unfair to our lower socio-economic families, Mike Wilkinson, a middle school counselor in Twin Falls and teachers union co-president, said.

He mentioned Maslows hierarchy of needs, with food, safety and security being the most important. Having one more day away from school means less stability and routine for kids, he said, and more stress on working parents.

Kimberly Superintendent Luke Schroeder agrees.

Having school on Friday reduces food insecurity, Schroeder said. The school board in Kimberly recently decided to keep the five-day week, and they wont bring it up again.

Our teachers really felt like the best thing for students is to be in the school five days a week, he said.

Childcare is another big concern for families.

If Im a parent and I work and I need to have a place for my kid and theyre not in school, then what do I do? David Carson, superintendent for Gooding School District, told the Times-News.

At Lilones Day School in Burley, director Anita Goodrich said she has seen more need for day care on Fridays.

She has an average of 25 to 40 kids on Fridays between the ages of 5 to 12 for up to 10 hours.

It does make for a long, more hectic day, Goodrich said. The issue isnt so much that we have so many, its that the age range is the problem.

Conflicts with teachers

In Twin Falls, the four-day week has never come up in negotiations between the district and the Twin Falls Education Association  the local teachers union  according to co-president Wilkinson, but that hasnt been the case in other towns.

The district its the most contentious in, Im sure, is Jerome, because of what happened over there last year, Twin Falls Superintendent Brady Dickinson said, and I know theres still some hard feelings.

Ninety teachers in Jerome Joint School District walked out on a Monday in January 2024 in protest of the school boards decision to stick with a five-day week. The district closed school for the day.

Teachers walk out in protest of 5-day school week decision in Jerome County The Jerome School District announced that Monday would be a staff workday and schools would be closed due to a teacher shortage.

Since then, staff in Jerome have continued to bring up the four-day school week option, according to Julie Kirk, a middle school math teacher in Jerome, and it remains on the back burner.

We certainly hope it will be discussed in the future, but for the time being, we are focusing on exploring other options to provide flexibility for staff, Kirk wrote in an email to the Times-News.

Brent Johnson took over as Jerome superintendent this summer, replacing Pat Charlton. He told the Times-News that this is a busy year and he wants to get other issues settled before considering the four-day week.

It wouldnt be something that were going to close the door to forever, Johnson said. But in this first year, I just said, Please, I have a lot of getting my feet underneath me, and that wasnt something we wanted to tackle this year.

Before making a decision, he said he wants to have months of planning and input from teachers, staff and the community.

We would want to take a really long look at exactly what that plan would be and all facets before we were going to move forward with anything, Johnson said.

The four-day week works for some communities, but not others. As more and more school districts make the transition, Dickinson said the teacher recruitment factor is becoming less and less effective.

I guess then youd have to look at three day weeks to recruit, Dickinson said.
President Trump on Friday announced that ISISs second in command was killed in Iraq this week, touting it as an example of his administrations peace through strength military philosophy.

He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters, the president wrote on Truth Social Friday evening. His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!

U.S. Central Command confirmed the March 13 operation on Friday. According to officials, U.S. forces in coordination with Iraqi forces conducted a precision airstrike in the Al Anbar province and killed Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadijah.

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Abu Khadijah was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organization, said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, the commander of U.S. Central Command, in a statement. We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle their organizations that threaten our homeland and U.S., allied and partner personnel in the region and beyond.

One other ISIS operative was killed in the strike, per U.S. officials.

The strike was initially announced by Iraqi officials earlier on Friday.

The Iraqis continue their impressive victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism, Iraqs Prime Minister Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement posted on the social platform X.

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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also praised the strike on Friday.

Well done, he wrote on X.

U.S. officials stated that it found Khadijah and the other ISIS operative dead, wearing suicide vests, and identified the former via DNA testing.

This is the second strike that has targeted ISIS officials since Trump returned to the White House.

In early February, the president ordered a precision strike in Somalia that U.S. officials say killed a senior ISIS planner.

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Trump has signed into law a continuing resolution that averts a government shutdown.

The bill keeps the government funded through late September.

Democrats on Capitol Hill were deeply divided in their approach to the funding bill.

President Donald Trump on Saturday signed the high-stakes government funding bill approved by the Senate a day earlier, averting a partial government shutdown but leaving Democrats divided on their strategy to counter the administration.

Harrison Fields, the White House principal deputy press secretary, wrote in a post on X that Trump signed the continuing resolution. Fields thanked a range of congressional leaders, from House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.

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The bill  which funds the government through the end of September  trims non-defense spending by roughly $13 billion and increases defense spending by $6 billion.

On Friday, the GOP-controlled Senate voted 62-38 to advance the measure, with Schumer and nine other lawmakers who caucus with Democrats joining nearly every Republican.

The bill then passed the chamber in a final 54-46 vote. Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine were the only members who caucus with Democrats to support the final measure, while GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the lone GOP opponent of the bill.

The bill's passage has exposed a major rift among Democrats on Capitol Hill, as virtually every House Democrat  including many hailing from critical swing districts  opposed passage of the bill. House Republicans, led by Johnson, passed the funding bill in a narrow 217-213 vote.

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House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York opposed the funding bill and on Friday called it "an attack on veterans, families, seniors and everyday Americans."

Schumer, meanwhile, supported advancing the measure, drawing criticism from several progressive lawmakers, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who called the senator's push to assemble Democratic support for advancing the funding bill "a tremendous mistake."

"This turns the federal government into a slush fund for Donald Trump and Elon Musk," Ocasio-Cortez said during a CNN interview that aired on Thursday. "It sacrifices congressional authority, and it is deeply partisan."

However, Schumer argued that a shutdown would have allowed the Trump administration to exert more power over reducing the size of the federal government.

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"A shutdown will allow DOGE to shift into overdrive," the veteran New York senator said. "Donald Trump and Elon Musk would be free to destroy vital government services at a much faster rate."

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President Trump on Friday signed an executive order that aims to eliminate seven federal agencies, including ones that focus on media, libraries, museums and ending homelessness.

The president directed the government entities to be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, insisting they reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel. It ordered the heads of each entity to submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget confirming full compliance within seven days.

The president targeted the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which is the parent company of Voice of America (VOA), as well as the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, an agency that supports libraries, archives and museums in every state.

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He also dismantled the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, which aims to prevent and end homelessness in the U.S.; the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, an agency focused on preventing, minimizing and resolving work stoppages and labor disputes; the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which aims to expand economic opportunity for underserved communities; and the Minority Business Development Agency, which promotes growth of minority-owned businesses.

Amid questions over the future of VOA, Trump had picked former Arizona gubernatorial and Senate candidate Kari Lake to lead the outlet. The Trump ally said at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month the international state media broadcaster wont be Trump TV under her watch.

While the president doesnt directly appoint the head of VOA, Trump had nominated conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which would make the decision. Bozell needs to be confirmed by the Senate to take his post and then could select Lake.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media also oversees Radio Free Asia, which broadcasts and publishes for audiences in Asia and is seen as a way to combat Chinese propaganda in the region.

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The Trump administration has been focused on an overhaul of the federal government, with tech billionaire Elon Musk tasked with finding ways to cut spending and workers. That work has been met with challenges in the courts federal judges in both Maryland and Northern California district courts issued orders Thursday halting the mass dismissals.

The White House on Friday vowed to appeal the federal court rulings, which have required the Trump administration to reinstate probationary government employees.

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By Nathan Layne and James Oliphant

(Reuters) - -More than 1,300 Voice of America employees were placed on leave on Saturday and funding for two U.S. news services that broadcast to authoritarian regimes was terminated, one day after President Donald Trump ordered the gutting of the government-funded media outlet's parent and six other federal agencies.

Michael Abramowitz, Voice of America's director, said nearly his entire staff of 1,300 journalists, producers and assistants had been put on administrative leave, crippling a media broadcaster that operates in almost 50 languages.

"I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced," Abramowitz said in a post on LinkedIn, saying it has played an important role "in the fight for freedom and democracy around the world."

VOA's parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), also terminated its grants to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which broadcasts to countries in Eastern Europe, including Russia and Ukraine, as well as to Radio Free Asia, which broadcasts to China and North Korea.

Trump's directives look set to devastate an organization that serves as a rare source of reliable news in authoritarian countries.

Founded in 1942 to counter Nazi propaganda, VOA now reaches 360 million people a week. As a group, USAGM employs roughly 3,500 workers with an $886-million budget in 2024, according to its latest report to Congress.

VOA's Seoul Bureau Chief William Gallo said on Sunday he had been locked out of all company systems and accounts.

"All I've ever wanted to do is shoot straight and tell the truth, no matter what government I was covering. If that's a threat to anyone, so be it," he said on Bluesky.

Kari Lake, the former news anchor and Trump loyalist nominated to be director of VOA, issued a statement describing USAGM as "a giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer" and said it was "not salvageable." Lake, referring to herself as a USAGM senior adviser, said she would shrink the agency to its minimum possible size under the law.

On its website, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty notes that it has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government and warns readers in Russia and Russia-occupied Ukraine that they could "face fines or imprisonment" for liking or sharing its content.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said Radio Free Europe had been a "beacon" for populations under totalitarian rule.
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order aimed at reducing the scope of eight federal agencies as part of his campaign to downsize the US government.

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The action eliminates non-statutory functions and reduces others for these entities called unnecessary in a White House fact sheet.

Groups affected are the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the US Agency for Global Media, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, the Minority Business Development Agency and the Arctic Research Commission.

The US Agency for Global Media oversees Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and other news organizations.

The move is the latest from the administration thats working with the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to carry out mass firings of federal workers and wholesale elimination of agencies such as the US Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Opponents are turning to the courts to lay down restraints on the effort, spearheaded by Elon Musk, with mixed results.

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Cutting these governmental entities will save taxpayer dollars, reduce unnecessary government spending, and streamline government priorities, according to the fact sheet Friday.

Trump also signed an order to suspend security clearances held by some lawyers at Paul Weiss, according to a social media post from a White House official. Thats the third prominent law firm the president has singled out over its work for Democrats.

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March 15 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Saturday signed a funding bill after its passage in the Senate on Friday ahead of a midnight deadline to avoid a federal government shutdown.

The stopgap measure funds the government through Sept. 30.

Trump, who urged senators to approve the measure in the days before the body voted on it, signed the bill at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., where he arrived Friday night.

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The measure passed 54-46, nearly along party lines, with Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and independent Angus King voting yes and Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky voting no.

But first the senators needed to pass a cloture vote to end debate on the measure with the support of enough Democrats.

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer was among nine Democrats and one independent to approve a motion to end the filibuster 62-38. Paul of Kentucky was the lone Republican to vote against cloture.

The earlier vote to end the filibuster needed to be approved by at least 60 senators. The other one only needed a simple majority.

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Schumer, who voted against the spending bill, explained his earlier vote to CNN on Friday.

"A government shutdown gives Donald Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE almost complete power as to what to close down, because they can decide what is an essential service," he said. "My job as leader is to lead the party and if there's going to be danger in the near future, to protect the party. And I'm proud I did it. I knew I did the right thing, and I knew there would be some disagreements. That's how it always is."

The Senate voted on the six-month government funding bill passed by the House, which adjourned until March 24. It was approved Tuesday nearly exactly on party lines at 217-213, with one Democrat voting for and one GOP member against.

Typically, a "clean" CR just holds current government spending levels steady, but this 99-page bill includes a slight increase in military spending and a $13 billion cut in domestic nondefense spending.

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HR 1968 gives the "Trump administration significantly more leeway to spend federal dollars without Congressional approval," according to the Economic Policy Institute, as well as preventing any member of Congress from attempting to terminate Trump's recent declaration of national emergencies over immigration and the U.S. border.

Schumer announced on the Senate floor he wanted the bill to be signed, drawing a rebuke from members of Congress in the House and Senate.

On Saturday, Democratic Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina said in an interview with CNN that "I have confidence in Chuck, no question about that. I just disagree with him on this particular issue."

The 84-year-old leader, who has been in the House since 1993, voted against the short-term spending bill.

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"This is a bad deal, a very bad deal, and I voted against it," he said. "All but one Democrat from the House side voted against it. Quite frankly, we do feel that the Senate Democrats should have held the line."

He said he believes Schumer has unfortunately "blown a hole" in the relationship between House and Senate Democrats, although it is "not so big that it cannot be amended."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New Yorker like Schumer, used similar language in a Bluesky social media post on Friday.

"Among the material devastation to everyday people, Senate Dems have now blown a hole in their ability to work with the House. We had an agreed upon plan, House took immense risk, then Senate turned around midway and destroyed it w/ a fear-based, inexplicable abdication. They own what happens next," she posted.

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Ocasio-Cortez is being urged by some Democrats to run against Schumer in the 2028 Senate primary, ABC News reported.

Trump praised Schumer for supporting the bill.

"Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing. Took 'guts' and courage! The big Tax Cuts, L.A. fire fix, Debt Ceiling Bill, and so much more, is coming. We should all work together on that very dangerous situation. A non pass would be a Country destroyer, approval will lead us to new heights," Trump wrote on Trump Social on Friday.

On Wednesday, Trump condemned Schumer during a meeting with Ireland's Prime Minister Micael Martin in the Oval Office.

"Schumer is a Palestinian, as far as I'm concerned," Trump said in response to a question about the U.S. corporate tax rate. "He's become a Palestinian. He used to be Jewish. He's not Jewish anymore."
White House officials call court rulings to reinstate fired federal workers' judicial activism. Federal agencies  from the Department of Defense to the Energy Department  are giving wildly varied guidance. Even sacked workers dont know if theyll return to the job.

Far from clarifying the issue, the White House and federal agencies are handling two sweeping Thursday court rulings to rehire fired probationary federal workers with disparate responses  a sign that the confusion created by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency will likely continue as the administration vows to continue its push to overhaul Washington.

At the White House, officials were unfazed by a major legal setback to Musk. Two people familiar with the White House plans, granted anonymity because they werent authorized to speak publicly, say the administration plans to appeal the rulings. But in the meantime, they say this is not going to impact how the White House does business.

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When it comes to reducing the size of government, planning is moving full steam ahead, one of the people said. In fact, they say the court rulings are helpful communication tools to build a narrative about out of control liberal judges telling the executive who they can hire and fire.

The president, DOGE, and OPM will not be intimidated by activists who dress up in black robes, said another White House official.

Under one judges decision, it appears that the administration will be allowed to move forward with its goal of firing even more federal workers  as long as it follows the proper procedures for doing so. It comes as the administration is preparing to review reductions in force plans submitted this week by federal agencies  which is expected to lead to an even greater number of federal employees being dismissed.

Staffers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which includes the National Weather Service and programs that provide core data on the impacts of climate change, learned during a Wednesday internal call that it would lose at least 1,000 employees, an agency staffer told POLITICO. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said Thursday that the 13,000-person agency is expected to lose 10 percent of its workforce under the next round of terminations.

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Three Energy Department employees said offices had to submit plans for slashing offices and detail which positions cannot be eliminated because they are essential for reasons like national security. One of those employees anticipated more cuts in the future. None knew how those recommendations would factor into final Trump administration staffing decisions.

In the hours after a Thursday order from Judge William Alsup was issued, some federal agencies like the Department of Energy began to call laid off employees back to work. Other departments, like the Department of Defense, are taking cues from the White House on how to proceed under the court order, according to a Defense Department official who was granted anonymity to speak about the sensitive matter.

Before the order came in, some federal agencies were already in the process of bringing back previously dismissed workers. Earlier this week, the Agriculture Department said it was reinstating more than 5,000 fired probationary employees after a federal civil service board ruled the firings were likely illegal and issued a temporary 45-day stay. USDA also confirmed it would provide back pay.



But according to 10 USDA employees  current and fired  the process of reinstating employees has been haphazard. As of Friday, most fired probationary employees are being told they are placed on administrative leave for the next 45 days and receiving back pay, after which many expect to be fired. Others said some of the previously fired probationary employees have not yet been contacted about the board decision or the recent court ruling. None of these fired probationary workers have fully returned to work yet. A USDA spokesperson did not return a request for comment.

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The Labor Department was one of the dozen-plus agencies included in Thursday's order, though it had a negligible impact as the department had already called back probationary workers it had pushed out. Reinstated workers had already returned to their work stations, after having to go through an onboarding process  including having their fingerprints taken again, according to one probationary status worker who had their termination reversed.

A Labor Department spokesperson confirmed that the most recent ruling did not affect the status quo, due to the earlier reversal.

Federal employees at other departments say they have not heard anything from their top supervisors. Two former Education Department employees who were fired for being probationary workers said on Friday that they have not received any communications from the agency about being reinstated.

The agency is in the process of slashing its workforce nearly in half since the Trump administration took office.

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Both of the employees, who were granted anonymity to speak candidly, are already in the process of interviewing for other jobs. One of the employees said they would only accept reinstatement if they dont find another job first. The person is concerned there could be future reductions in force that would leave them jobless again.

I certainly would accept the reinstatement to get back pay and not have a termination on my record, the person said. But I dont really want to work there under these circumstances.

Nick Niedzwiadek, Katy O'Donnell, Zack Colman, Paul McLeary, Jake Traylor and Jordan Wolman contributed to this report.
President Trump suggested Friday that the federal government could take over Washington, D.C., if the national capitals administration cant do the job as he pursues making the District the talk of the world.

Were cleaning up our city. Were cleaning up this great capital, and were not going to have crime and were not going to stand for crime, and were going to take the graffiti down and were already taken to tents down there, Trump said in a speech on law and order at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Were working with the administration, and if the administration cant do the job  were gonna have to take it back and run it through the federal government, the president said of the Districts leadership.

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But we hope the administration is going to be able  so far, theyve been doing very well. The mayor has been doing a good job.

Trump has previously raised the idea of controlling the District, which is governed by a council of elected representatives and a mayor. A 1973 law stipulates that Congress review all legislation passed by the D.C. Council before it becomes law, and the president appoints the Districts judges. But a federal takeover would require help from Congress.

Trump has said he gets along great with Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), who has called D.C. a world-class city.

However, he clashed with Bowser during his first term, including when riots erupted in the city in the aftermath of George Floyds murder. The mayor had Black Lives Matter painted on one of the streets leading to the White House at the time. That has since been removed during Trumps second term.

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On Friday, Congress is poised to pass a Trump-endorsed funding bill this week that Washington, D.C., officials warn would lead to a $1 billion cut to the Districts local budget, a move that has been catching members of both parties off guard.

The president has long been critical of the conditions in the city, knocking crime levels and the homeless population.

Trump added Friday that he wants to have a capital that can be the talk of the world.

When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron visited the White House in recent weeks, Trump said he had the route run so the world leaders avoided seeing tents, graffiti or potholes.

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President Trump railed against the media on Friday, suggesting some of the actions of the press be deemed illegal and should be investigated.

In a speech at the Department of Justice (DOJ), during which Trump railed against people and entities that he claims have targeted him, said he views CNN and MSNBC as corrupt.

I believe that CNN and MS-DNC, who literally write 97.6 percent bad about me, are political arms of the Democrat Party and in my opinion, theyre really corrupt and theyre illegal, what do they do is illegal, Trump said.

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He also claimed the media outlets work in coordination and that their reporting is able to influence the opinions of judges.

These networks and these newspapers are really no different than a highly paid political operative, Trump said.

And it has to stop, it has to be illegal, its influencing judges and its really changing law, and it just cannot be legal. I dont believe its legal, and they do it in total coordination with each other, he added.

Trumps speech at the DOJ was rare for any president. During his remarks, he attacked the Biden administration, claimed he has been politically persecuted, and name-checked those he thinks have unfairly targeted him.

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The White House and the news media have sparred in recent weeks, including when the administration announced it would take over the press pool, taking that control away from the White House Correspondents Association.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said last month that moving forward, the White House press pool, a small group of reporters that travels with and covers the presidents daily activities, will now be determined by administration officials.

The White House is also in an ongoing fight with The Associated Press over the outlets decision not to fully adopt the name Gulf of America instead of Gulf of Mexico into its widely influential Stylebook, used by news media organizations across the U.S.

The White House has restricted the APs access to the Oval Office and Air Force One, not allowing the outlet to be in the press pool, and the AP is challenging the White Houses action in court.

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Business schools had largely been flying under the radar in the first months of the Trump administration as the new president waged a culture war on diversity programs at universities and colleges across the United States.

That changed significantly in the last two weeks.

Days after the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business drew heavy criticism for capitulating to pressure in replacing diversity and inclusion with community and connectedness in its guiding principles for accredited schools, the administrations Department of Education on Friday announced an investigation into a program sponsored by the AACSB that promotes racial diversity in B-school faculty  as well as 45 universities and their business schools that are involved in it.

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The schools targeted by the investigation into the Ph.D. Project for allegedly engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs include Yale University, Cornell University, MIT, NYU, the University of Michigan, the Ohio State University and the University of California Berkeley. (See the full list below.)

1,303 GRADS OF PROGRAM NOW TEACHING IN HIGHER ED

The Ph.D. Project has spent 30 years working to increase the number of underrepresented faculty in U.S. business schools, marking its three-decade anniversary in July of 2024. Its founding partners are KPMG, the global network of audit, tax, and advisory services firms; AACSB; and the Graduate Management Admission Council, the global association of leading graduate B-schools that administers the Graduate Management Admission Test, which remains the worlds most widely used graduate business school assessment. LinkedIn is among the business partners that help finance the program, according to a report in The New York Times.

Since its launch in 1994, the program has helped increase the number of Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic American, and Native American professors, administrators, and academic leaders at colleges and universities from 294 to 1,700, according to information available on the projects website. Of those 1,700, 1,303 are currently teaching at institutions of higher learning. Additionally, close to 250 members are currently enrolled in business Ph.D. programs and about 50 new student members join the Project each year. These success stories are powered by a vast network of partners, including more than 300 doctoral- and non-doctoral-granting institutions, over 40 professional associations, and dozens of corporations.

The Ph.D. Project is the most successful social impact initiative Ive ever seen. I know this model works because I saw it play out in my own life, says Ph.D. Project member and former AASCB board member Ian Williamson, who is dean of the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine. He continues, This organization is addressing a big problem today: the lack of representation in business and people studying business. We believe that when you change the people in front of the classroom, you can change the people who attend the class. The Role Model Effect is extraordinarily powerful because its built upon strong science around self-efficacy.

WE WILL NOT YIELD ON THIS COMMITMENT

That doesnt sit well with President Donald Trump, whose campaign to stamp out diversity, equity, and inclusion policies caused the AACSB earlier this week to reframe its once-loud embrace of diversity and inclusion, leading to charges that the accrediting body had suffered a failure of leadership. Trumps administration opposes any effort to give assistance to one racial group over another.

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The Department is working to reorient civil rights enforcement to ensure all students are protected from illegal discrimination. Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin, recently confirmed Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in announcing the investigation into the 45 schools. We will not yield on this commitment.

The Times reports that the Ph.D. Project responded to the announcement of the investigation with a statement saying that it had opened its process to anyone regardless of race or ethnicity, thus complying with the administrations mandate to eliminate diversity preferences.

The universities now under investigation for allegedly engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs are:

Arizona State University  Main Campus

Boise State University

Cal Poly Humboldt

California State University  San Bernadino

Carnegie Mellon University

Clemson University

Cornell University

Duke University

Emory University

George Mason University

Georgetown University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Montana State University-Bozeman

New York University (NYU)

Rice University

Rutgers University

The Ohio State University  Main Campus

Towson University

Tulane University

University of Arkansas  Fayetteville

University of California-Berkeley

University of Chicago

University of Cincinnati  Main Campus

University of Colorado  Colorado Springs

University of Delaware

University of Kansas

University of Kentucky

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

University of Nebraska at Omaha

University of New Mexico  Main Campus

University of North Dakota  Main Campus

University of North Texas  Denton

University of Notre Dame

University of NV  Las Vegas

University of Oregon

University of Rhode Island

University of Utah

University of Washington-Seattle

University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wyoming

Vanderbilt University

Washington State University

Washington University in St. Louis

Yale University

DONT MISS AACSB FACES A SOCIAL MEDIA BACKLASH OVER DROPPING DIVERSITY GUIDELINES

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President Trump on Friday visited the Justice Department (DOJ) for a remarkable victory lap eight weeks into his triumphant return to the White House.

Trump has long blamed the department under his predecessor for unfairly targeting him in cases that involved dozens of serious criminal charges. But his visit visually solidified Trumps grip on the Justice Department amid fears from critics that he may seek to diminish the agencys independence and push for prosecution of his perceived enemies.

First we must be honest about the lies and abuses that have occurred within these walls. Unfortunately in recent years, a corrupt group of hacks and radicals within the ranks of the American government obliterated the trust and good will built up over generations. They weaponized the vast powers of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies to try and thwart the will of the American people, Trump told those gathered at the departments headquarters.

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They spied on my campaign, launched one hoax and disinformation operation after another, broke the law on a colossal scale, persecuted my family, staff and supporters, raided my home, Mar-a-Lago, and did everything within their power to prevent me from becoming the president of the United States.

Past presidents have had limited interaction with their attorneys general  and visits to the departments headquarters are rare.

In many ways the event mirrored Trumps campaign events. A similar playlist used at rallies played as spectators awaited the president and when Trump arrived he boasted about the crowd size assembled in the buildings Great Hall  calling it an all-time record despite the handful of presidential speeches given at the building. When the speech ended, YMCA played and he briefly did his signature dance on stage.

And like on the campaign trail, Trump railed against the prosecutions against him, including two led by the DOJ. Cases relating to his role in seeking to prevent the peaceful transfer of power and Espionage Act charges related to his retention of classified documents were both dismissed after his November victory.

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Now, as the chief law enforcement officer in our country, I will insist upon and demand full and complete accountability for the wrongs and abuses that have occurred, Trump said.

We will expel the rogue actors and corrupt forces from our government, we will expose, very much expose their egregious crimes and severe misconduct, of which was [at] levels youve never seen anything like it. Its going to be legendary. Its going to also be legendary for the people that are able to seek it out and bring justice. We will restore the scales of justice in America, and we will ensure that such abuses never happen again in our country.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, called Trumps speech an insult to rank-and-file Justice Department staff who have been carrying out nonpartisan prosecutions.

The speech we just witnessed is a desecration of the essential values of this storied department in every way. Its an insult to the thousands of professional lawyers who go to work at the Department of Justice every day to enforce the rule of law, not the personal vendetta and partisan games of a politician, he said.

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Raskin, who held an event across the street from DOJ after Trumps speech, was joined by recently dismissed Justice Department attorneys, including those who worked on Jan. 6 rioter cases.

Trump accused the Justice Department of joining with radicals to try to take him down.

They tried to turn America into a corrupt communist and third-world country, Trump said. They could be no more heinous betrayal of American values than to use the law to terrorize the innocent and reward the wicked and thats what they were doing at a level thats never been seen before. And its exactly what you saw with Joe Biden, Merrick Garland and their cronies to do the building of the last four years. Theyve ripped, what theyve ripped down is incalculable.

Trump has put a team in place made up of loyalists at the DOJ and acknowledged he has a long-standing relationship with senior officials, including attorney general Pam Bondi, who was a senior adviser on Trumps first impeachment defense team and also worked on legal challenges after his 2020 campaign loss.

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Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who was one of Trumps criminal defense attorneys in his hush money trial, was in attendance, as was Kash Patel, Trumps new FBI director who has been a fierce defender of the president. Emil Bove, another one of Trumps defense attorneys who now serves in a top DOJ position, was also lauded by the president.

In the weeks that Trumps new team has been assembled, theyve overseen the firing of a number of senior career leaders, including a number of prosecutors and investigators who worked on Trumps two criminal cases as well as those who worked on cases involving the Jan. 6 rioters.

Theyve also moved to dismiss charges against New York mayor Eric Adams, prompting the resignation of a wave of staffers. The department is also considering drastically shrinking DOJs public integrity section, which handles corruption and election cases against public officials.

He also called out that Michael Flynn, who was national security adviser in Trumps first term and who resigned for lying to the vice president, was also in the Great Hall for his speech, as was Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and other lawmakers.

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The president spoke multiple times about former President Biden and his family, mostly focusing on Hunter Biden and the controversy involving his laptop. Trump also attacked his predecessors mental fitness.

He said that Hunter Bidens laptop from hell didnt come from Russia but instead right from his bedroom, while he rallied against the previous Justice Department for, what he claimed, was working to prevent him from returning to the White House.

Trump also touted that his team has revoked security clearances of intelligence agents who lied about Hunter Bidens laptop from hell, as well as former DOJ special counsel Jack Smith, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James, all of whom brought cases against Trump. He also lauded terminating the security clearances of Biden and his family.

He continued to name-check others who he thinks have unfairly targeted him.

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He referenced Norm Eisen, an attorney for Democrats in Trumps first impeachment who through his legal group has filed numerous cases challenging Trumps policies and firing of staff. Trump said hes been after me for nine years, adding these are bad people. I dont know who he is. I dont know what he looks like.

His sole life is to get Donald Trump, and hes been vicious and violent, and hes trying and he probably had pretty good success over the years. But with me, how did he do? I think Im president? Am I here because Im president? he said, mocking Eisen for targeting him.

He also rallied against the press, claiming they are influencing judges and, without any evidence, claiming the media works in coordination with political campaigns, which is not allowed in the news industry.

These networks and these newspapers are really no different than a highly paid political operative. And it has to stop, it has to be illegal, its influencing judges and its really changing law, and it just cannot be legal. I dont believe its legal, and they do it in total coordination with each other, he said.

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The White House has targeted the media in recent weeks, announcing last month it would take over the press pool that surrounds the president and is in an ongoing fight with The Associated Press over the outlets decision not to fully adopt the name Gulf of America instead of Gulf of Mexico into its widely influential Stylebook, used by news media organizations across the U.S.

Additionally, he echoed, without evidence, claims that Biden signed executive orders with an auto pen.

You dont use auto pen. Number one, its disrespectful to the office. Number two, maybe its not even valid because whos getting him to sign? He had no idea what the hell he was doing. If he did, all of these bad things wouldnt be happening right now, Trump said.

Trump also targeted Washington in his remarks, saying that Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) is doing a good job to clean up the city, but warned that the federal government will take over if she doesnt keep up the work.

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Were going to have a crime-free capital again. Its going to be cleaner and better and safer than it ever was, and its not going to take us too long, Trump said.

The president acknowledged at the end of his remarks that he questioned if its appropriate for him to be giving a speech of that nature at the DOJ, but said it was important.

I was asked to do it and I said, is it appropriate that I do it? And then I realized, its not only appropriate, I think its really important, he said. And, I may never do it again. I may never have another chance to do it again because this is something Im leaving to the greatest people I know, the best people, the smartest people, the toughest people I know.

Updated at 6:29 p.m. EDT

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  President Donald Trump made his first visit to the Justice Department on Friday, using the occasion to attack federal prosecutors, judge the media and Democrats while pledging to restore law and order under his leadership.

They spied on my campaign, Trump claimed, referring to past investigations into his administration. He also criticized former FBI Director James Comey and special counsel Jack Smith, calling him deranged.

During the nearly hour-long speech, Trump accused previous administrations of politicizing the DOJ.

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Our predecessors turned this Department of Justice into the Department of Injustice, he said. But I stand before you today to declare that those days are over.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) called the remarks an insult to DOJ employees.

The personal vendettas and partisan games of a politician have no place in the Department of Justice, Raskin said.

Since taking office, Trump has fired several FBI or DOJ officials he considers corrupt. Some have resigned in protest.

Attorney General Pam Bondi also spoke, emphasizing the administrations focus on stopping fentanyl trafficking.

We will continue to fight the cartels, Bondi said.

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The issue has bipartisan support. On Friday afternoon, the Senate passed legislation to increase penalties for fentanyl traffickers.

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The Trump administration continued its gutting of the federal government on Saturday as it began making significant cuts to Voice of America and other state-operated programming supportive of democratic ideals.

As Congress passed government funding on Friday night, Trump ordered the administration to cut back the functions of a number of agencies as much as possible in accordance with the law. One of the affected institutions was the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and Asia, as well as Radio Marti, which broadcasts news in Spanish in Cuba.

In an executive order signed late on Friday, Trump eviscerated a number of smaller offices and agencies that do everything from battling homelessness to funding libraries.

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The order stated that the agencies and offices will see their federal grants reviewed. The grants will be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.

Trump has criticized Voice of America since his first term in office. Supporters have argued that Radio Free Asia has been a significant tool to fight Chinese propaganda.

Notices went out to Voice of America staff placing them on administrative leave on Saturday morning. Kari Lake, the losing Republican Arizona senate and gubernatorial nominee named by Trump as an advisor to the agency, wrote on X that staff should check their email.

Later, Reporters Without Borders said the notices extended to everyone who works for VOA.

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The advocacy group said it condemns this decision as a departure from the U.S.s historic role as a defender of free information and calls on the U.S. government to restore VOA and urges Congress and the international community to take action against this unprecedented move.

Voice of America employees received an email on Saturday placing them on administrative leave (AP)

The agency also sent out notices ending grants to Radio Free Asia and other broadcasting projects operated by the agency. Voice of America reports on U.S. domestic news into other countries, often in local languages.

Radio Free Asia, Europe, and Marti broadcast news into authoritarian countries such as China, North Korea, and Russia. The networks are estimated to have an audience of 427 million people. Their efforts began during the Cold War and theyre part of a group of state-backed organizations attempting to develop American power and fight authoritarianism. One such organization targeted by Trump is the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The latest reductions are especially provocative because the Agency for Global Media is an independent agency chartered by Congress, which passed a law in 2020 limiting the power of the agencys presidentially appointed executives. Trump has already taken several moves to gut congressionally-mandated programs, setting up a potential Supreme Court showdown over the limits of presidential power.

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Trump also took aim at the Institute of Museum and Library Services, an agency that supports libraries, archives, and museums in all U.S. states.

The order also pushes for cutbacks in a number of other agencies, including the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a nonpartisan think tank, as well as the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.

---

Additional reporting by AP.
Washington (DC News Now)  President Donald Trump promised to help improve the economy and lower grocery store prices on the campaign trail.

Critics say his strategy is going in the wrong direction, while supporters say it will take time, but it is trending in the right direction.

Colin Reed is a republican strategist with South & Hill.

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The European Union treats us very badly, and they have for years, Donald Trump told the reporters in the Oval Office as Irelands taoiseach shifted uncomfortably in his seat next to him.

The US had slapped the EU with 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium a few hours earlier. But the next front in the trade war will be fought over American tech giants such as X, Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon.

Cheered on by tech bros including Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg who have rallied to support Trump, the US is heaping pressure on the EU to water down its disinformation rules for the social media titans or face more painful tariffs.

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Brussels sources believe this is nothing less than an assault on the EUs regulatory sovereignty and one that poses an existential threat to Ursula von der Leyens European Commission.

The first shots were fired in February. In a naked attempt to influence foreign legislation, Mr Trump issued a memorandum threatening tariffs against countries that imposed overseas extortion and unfair fines and penalties on US tech firms, which include some of the worlds most valuable companies.

Later that month in Munich, JD Vance, the US vice-president, evoked a culture war over tech. He likened EU officials regulating disinformation online to Soviet Union commissars crushing freedom of speech with red tape and warned the new White House expected its allies to share its values.

On Friday, Mr Musk, now working for the administration, posted a picture on X of the EU flag with a yellow hammer and sickle in its blue centre and the motto: Imagine you love so much being governed that you want a government for your government.

The European Union pic.twitter.com/jSekngONo1  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 13, 2025

The European Commission takes great pride in the Brussels effect, the tractor beam of its legislation and single market which pulls other jurisdictions into alignment with its rules.

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It is ready to fight to protect its freedom to write the rules as it sees fit for a single market of 460 million consumers.

If needed, the EU will respond swiftly and decisively to defend its rights and regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures, Thomas Regnier, commission spokesman for tech sovereignty, told The Telegraph.

The EU and its member states [...] have the sovereign right to regulate economic activities on their territory, consistently with our democratic values, our social market economic model and with our international commitments.

An EU diplomat in Brussels said: A foreign power exerting pressure on the commission to rewrite its regulations is really an attack on the commissions raison detre.

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It cant be seen to bend or compromise on its power to regulate its own market. That would be an existential threat.

The Brussels effect works because of the size of the EU market and the technical quality of the regulations themselves, said Aslak Berg, a research fellow at the Centre for European Reform think tank.

But it works best as a soft power, he added, which is different to the US approach of issuing a very serious threat.

Its basically demanding regulatory subordination to the US, conditioning US market access for European goods on the regulatory framework, said Mr Berg. Its a direct attack on the sovereignty of the EU, which the EU cannot accept.

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Brussels announced retaliatory tariffs on US products like bourbon and Harley-Davidsons in response to the steel and aluminium measures. The next day, Mr Trump threatened a 200 per cent tariff on French wine and champagne.

A key dividing line

Its evident that Brussels regulation as well as probes of social media platforms is going to be a key dividing line and source of likely trade frictions between the US and EU, Allie Renison, a former government policy adviser on trade, told The Telegraph.

The White House considers this to be both an attempt to clip the wings of successful American companies and a censorship issue, and is likely to identify these issues as examples of unfair trade practices as a basis for justifying tariffs against the EU, the associate director at the SEC Newgate consultancy said.

Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor-in-waiting, was until very recently a committed atlanticist and will be stiffening the EU resolve when he comes into power in Berlin.

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After an election campaign overshadowed by fears of online disinformation, the victorious Mr Merz took aim at Mr Trump and Mr Musk.

The interventions from Washington were no less dramatic and drastic and ultimately outrageous than the interventions we have seen from Moscow, Mr Merz said last month.

Mr Musk had used X, formerly Twitter, to publicise the far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) before the vote, interviewing its leader on the platform and appearing at her rallies. The AfD got its best ever result in the vote, coming second behind Mr Merzs CDU.

Elon Musk speaks via a video transmission during the AfD campaign launch rally - Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Mr Musk and Mr Zuckerberg, the boss of Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, are the worlds two richest men. The third is Jeff Bezos, Amazon boss, who was also at Mr Trumps January inauguration.

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After Mr Trumps election, Mr Zuckerberg ditched his fact-checking policy on Facebook, Instagram and Threads. Instead, he chose a looser, more conservative-friendly strategy of community notes which Mr Musk had already introduced to X.

Both Mr Musk and Mr Zuckerberg have accused the EU of institutionalising censorship with its Digital Services Act (DSA).

Just over a year old, the DSA, according to EU sources, has nothing in it that requires platforms to remove lawful content. It also has safeguards for freedom of speech, including complaint mechanisms for account suspensions and measures to fight biased algorithms.

The DSA is absolutely not about censorship, its in many respects the opposite, Michael McGrath, the EU justice commissioner, said as he tried to dampen tensions at a meeting in Washington on Thursday.

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But it does require platforms like X and Facebook to address systemic risks such as disinformation and illegal content.

It gives the commission wide-ranging investigation and enforcement powers over very large online platforms and search engines, which are those with more than 45 million users in the EU.

The DSA forces firms to undertake risk assessments and curb the spread of disinformation and illegal content or face fines, which can reach up to 6 per cent of global yearly turnover.

The EU started proceedings against X for illegal content in December 2023, prompting a response from Mr Musk, who asked Thierry Breton, the EU industry chief, if similar action was being taken against other social media platforms.

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Chinese-owned TikTok is being probed for disinformation related to the Romanian elections, with the platform denying that any candidate received preferential treatment.

Meta is being scrutinised over suspected disinformation before the European Parliament elections. It has said it is co-operating with the European Commission in its investigations.

In May, the commission opened a separate investigation against Facebook and Instagram over its age verification methods and amid concerns its algorithms may stimulate behavioural addictions in children  something Meta is likely to contest.

All the proceedings are ongoing. If commission investigations find a breach of the DSA, it can order interim measures. If those are ignored, a fine can be imposed or, as a very last resort, the service suspended.

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In January, Mr Zuckerberg called on Mr Trump to defend US companies from Brussels.

I think its a strategic advantage for the United States that we have a lot of the strongest companies in the world, and I think it should be part of the US strategy going forward to defend that, Mr Zuckerberg said on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

And its one of the things that Im optimistic about with President Trump.

A tariff on American tech

Brussels also has sweeping antitrust powers to investigate and fine anti-competitive behaviour. Mr Zuckerberg claimed that was almost like a tariff on American tech.

Meta, which also operates WhatsApp, was fined 797 million (about 670 million) for breaching EU antitrust rules by imposing unfair conditions on advertisement service providers last November.

Most famously, the commission ordered Apple to pay 11 billion in back taxes to Ireland, which hosts the European headquarters of the major US tech companies.

They were attracted to Ireland by the 12.5 per cent corporate tax rate introduced in 1997, which has now been raised to the OECD minimum of 15 per cent.

Apple has been treated very badly, Mr Trump said on Wednesday, alongside Micheal Martin, the Irish taoiseach, during the traditional week of St Patricks Day events.

Mr Martin pointed out that Ireland had contested the EU decision in the European Court of Justice. Dublin lost in Luxembourg and was forced to accept the billions of euros in back taxes.

They sue our companies and win massive amounts of money. They sued Apple ... and they use that for other reasons, I guess, to run the European Union, Mr Trump said.

Mr Trump has pulled the US out of the OECDs global minimum tax agreement and will look to undercut Dublin and onshore back jobs from Ireland to the US.

Ireland, a country of just 5 million people, is also particularly vulnerable to Mr Trumps tariffs because of its large trade surplus with the US

The president told Mr Martin he didnt blame Ireland for luring away American tech and pharmaceutical companies.

I have great respect for Ireland and what they did. And they should have done just what they did, but the United States shouldnt have let that happen, he said in comments that would have brought cold comfort to the taoiseach.

Britain will not escape the US pressure, despite Brexit. It has its version of the DSA, which is called the Online Safety Act. Under it, social media companies face fines of up to 18 million or 10 per cent of their annual revenue if they fail to remove harmful content.

Sir Keir Starmer wants to negotiate away US tariffs on British aluminium and steel through economic deals focusing on tech and artificial intelligence.

But experts expect US negotiators to demand concessions over the Online Safety Act, especially after criticism of free speech in Britain from Mr Vance and Mr Musk.

Ms Renison said: While the US and UK appear to have common ground on taking a more pro-innovation approach to AI regulation than the EU, our government is not out of sight.

One would expect this to be raised during talks on the economic deal floated by Trump and Starmer.

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Editors Note: Washington Week With The Atlantic is a partnership between NewsHour Productions, WETA, and The Atlantic airing every Friday on PBS stations nationwide. Check your local listings, watch full episodes here, or listen to the weekly podcast here.



In the less than two months since Donald Trump took office, he has upended decades of foreign policy by targeting the countrys allies. Panelists on Washington Week With The Atlantic joined last night to discuss the effects of his policies in the U.S. and across the globe.

Meanwhile, Congress averted a government shutdown on Friday evening, passing a bill that will fund the government through September. Although Chuck Schumer of New York rallied enough votes for the bill, some Democrats now say that the minority leader capitulated to Trump. Especially among House Democrats from districts that the president carried in the election, they feel as though he kind of left them out to dry, Laura Barron-Lopez said last night.

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Joining the editor in chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, to discuss this and more: Laura Barron-Lopez, a White House correspondent for PBS NewsHour; Stephen Hayes, the editor of The Dispatch; and David Sanger, a White House and national-security correspondent at The New York Times.

Watch the full episode here.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
President Donald Trump, who repeatedly promised on the campaign trail that he could end the war between Russia and Ukraine in a single day, now says he wasnt entirely serious about that claim.

Well, I was being a little bit sarcastic when I said that, Trump said in an interview for the television program Full Measure, a clip of which was released ahead of its Sunday broadcast. What I really mean is Id like to get it settled, and I think Ill be successful.

According to the Associated Press, Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Moscow this week for talks on a U.S.-proposed agreement that Ukraine has already accepted, though a ceasefire isnt guaranteed without Russias cooperation. When asked what would happen if Russian President Vladminir Putin refused to cooperate, Trump acknowledged that turn would be bad news for this world because so many people are dying.

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But I think hes going to agree, Trump continued, I really do. I think I know him pretty well and I think hes going to agree.

While on the campaign trail, Trump frequently touted his ability to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia, saying during a May 2023 CNN Town Hall that he would have that done in 24 hours. Months later, in a debate with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, he went even further, saying he would secure a resolution before even taking office.

If I win, when Im president-elect, what Ill do is Ill speak to one, he said. Ill speak to the other. Ill get them together.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, 2022.
The current FBI headquarters building in Washington, D.C., has been targeted for replacement for years. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

Maryland officials who have fought political and legal battles in their yearslong effort to land the new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt now face a daunting new challenge  geography.

In a speech Friday at the Department of Justice, President Donald Trump (R) said he would stop plans to build the new FBI headquarters in Maryland because its three hours away from the agencys current site at 935 Pennsylvania Ave. NW in Washington.

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In November 2023, the General Services Administration picked Greenbelt in Prince Georges County as the site of the next home for the FBI and its 7,500 employees. The other two choices were in Landover, also in Prince Georges, and Springfield, Virginia.

All three sites are in or on the Capital Beltway. Google Maps show the Greenbelt site to be 10 to 11 miles from the current FBI headquarters as the crow flies, and about 16 miles by car.

They were going to build an FBI headquarters three hours away in Maryland, a liberal state, Trump said. But that has no bearing on what Im about to say. Were going to stop it. Im not going to let that happen.

The distance from the Justice Department, at 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, to Greenbelt is 10.84 miles as the crow flies, or 16.9 miles by car, according to Google Maps. Its a distance of three hours, according to President Donald Trump.

Trump instead called for a new FBI headquarters to be built on its current site, which is in the same block on Pennsylvania Avenue as the Justice Department. The agencies need to be close to work together, a lesson Trump said he learned during his persecution by the two, which in my case worked together for bad purposes.

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The FBI comments came during an hourlong speech, during which Trump accused the administration of former President Joe Biden (D) of using the Justice Department to go after him and his supporters.

While it may have been an aside, Maryland officials took Trumps comments seriously.

The state remains locked in a battle with Virginia representatives, who continue to charge that the process to select the Maryland site was flawed, especially after a federal inspector generals report released last month found fault with the process. However, the report never stated there was a problem with the Greenbelt site.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) and all the Democrats in the states congressional delegation  Sens. Angela Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen and Reps. Steny Hoyer, Glenn Ivey, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney and Johnny Olszewski Jr.  said in a joint statement that they plan to keep fighting for the project.

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The FBI needs a new headquarters that meets its mission. The GSA selected Greenbelt for the new, consolidated FBI headquarters based on the fact that it is the best site and it offers the lowest price and the best value to the taxpayers, their statement said.

Whats more, it ensures that the FBI can move to a facility that will finally meet its mission and security needs as soon as possible. We will continue working to bring the headquarters to Maryland, following the final decision that was made to do so in 2023.

Moore, in a separate social media post, said that moving the FBI project out of Maryland is a reckless move that endangers our national security.

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The Maryland House on Friday voted 100-36 for House Bill 1078, which would require that the governor include $200 million annually in the stater budget for site redevelopment and to improve transportation infrastructure for the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters relocation project. The measure was sponsored by Prince Georges Democratic Dels. Nicole Williams, Anne Healey and Ashanti Martinez, whose district includes the Greenbelt site.

The districts senator, Sen. Alonzo Washington (D), sponsored a companion Senate version of the bill that was referred to that chambers Rules Committee last month.

House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis (D-Prince Georges) said Friday that Trump doesnt have the authority to just stop a project because he says so. Lewis said the federal Administrative Procedure Act would be the main reason to make a change on a project thats based on national security.

When he [Trump] made his announcement, he said what his reasons were. He said he did not want the FBI going to Maryland, a liberal state three hours away, Lewis said Friday evening, after the House floor session in Annapolis.

He doesnt know geography, for one, because Greenbelt is 15 minutes outside the city. Besides the point, his policy change is for partisan reasons, not national security, Lewis said.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) praised his colleague Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) during an interview this week, stating the Pennsylvania lawmaker has come a long way and is the only Democrat in the upper chamber speaking common sense.

John Fetterman has come a long way. Hes had all kind of health issues since he got here, but Ill tell you what, he is the only leader out there thats speaking common sense, Tuberville said during a Thursday appearance on Newsmax.

Fetterman warned his Democratic colleagues that if not enough of them supported the Republican-crafted continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through September, the shutdown would throw the country into chaos and risk sending the U.S. into a recession.

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Shut the government down, plunge the country into chaos, risk a recession, or exchange cloture for a 30-day CR that 100 percent fails, Fetterman wrote Thursday.

The Senate voted to avoid a government shutdown in a 54-46 vote Friday, with Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Angus King (I-Maine) supporting the measure.

Democrats in both chambers of Congress and many of the partys activists showed fierce opposition to supporting the CR. Tuberville said Thursday that Democrats are suffering from the woke mind virus, but they will eventually support the funding bill.

I call it the woke mind virus, thats what the Democrats have. They dont wanna work with anybody, they dont wanna work to save this country. Theres no way theyre gonna shut this government down, it would be political suicide, the Alabama senator said. Theyll come to an agreement tomorrow somehow, some way.

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Tubeville also suggested that Democrats should have fired Chuck Schumer about three months ago and got them a new leader that had some common sense.

They will not do anything to help the American people along with President Trump so their leadership is going to get them in trouble, he said on Newsmax.

On Friday, 10 Senate Democrats voted to advance the funding resolution to a final vote.

Apart from Fetterman, the GOP bill was supported by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who called it a very bad bill a day earlier, Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.), Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Angus King (Maine), an Independent lawmaker who caucuses with Democrats.

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Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Friday she has ordered an investigation into politically motivated leaks from inside the intelligence community and is also probing internal chat rooms for any misconduct by employees.

Politically motivated leaks undermine our national security and the trust of the American people and will not be tolerated, Gabbard said in a statement. Unfortunately, such leaks have become commonplace with no investigation or accountability. That ends now. We know of and are aggressively pursuing recent leakers from within the Intelligence Community and will hold them accountable.

In a series of posts on X, Gabbard listed what she said were recent examples of unauthorized leaks from sources in the intelligence community. She referred to news reports  on topics including Israel, Iran and the U.S.-Russia relationship  by HuffPost, The Washington Post, NBC News and The Record news site. But she did not specify precisely which stories she believes were based on leaks or when they were published or broadcast.

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Any unauthorized release of classified information is a violation of the law and will be treated as such, Gabbard wrote.

During President Donald Trumps first term, his administration referred more media leaks for criminal investigation each year than in any of the previous 15 years, according to records released in 2021 by the Justice Department to the independent watchdog group, Project on Government Oversight, in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.

The Trump administration also sought to obtain communications records of reporters from CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post, as part of leak investigation efforts in Trumps first presidential term.

When she took over as the top-ranking intelligence official last month, Gabbard said she planned to restore trust in the intelligence agencies, arguing that the spy services had been misused as political weapons against Trump.

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Gabbards statement on investigating leaks comes after senators grilled her at her confirmation hearing over her 2020 comments praising Edward Snowden, who leaked a vast trove of secrets about the National Security Agencys electronic eavesdropping operations.

U.S. prosecutors charged Snowden with espionage. Snowden fled to Russia, where authorities have refused to extradite him.

Gabbard had praised Snowden as a courageous whistleblower for exposing extensive eavesdropping by U.S. spy agencies and suggested he should be pardoned. But at her Senate confirmation hearing in January, Gabbard revised her stance, saying she would not seek a pardon for Snowden and that he broke the law. However, she sidestepped questions as to whether she believed he was a traitor.

Apart from probing leaks, Gabbard said Friday she was also launching an investigation into any misconduct or unprofessional behavior on internal chat rooms within intelligence agencies.

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Last month, Gabbard fired more than 100 intelligence officers from 15 agencies, saying they used an internal government chat platform for discussions that included topics like polyamory, gender transition surgery and politics.

She said that the fired officers conduct represented an egregious violation of trust and violated basic rules and standards around professionalism.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  The fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government has aggravated already tense relations between Turkey and Israel, with their conflicting interests in Syria pushing the relationship toward a possible collision course.

Turkey, which long backed groups opposed to Assad, has emerged as a key player in Syria and is advocating for a stable and united Syria, in which a central government maintains authority over the whole country.

It welcomed a breakthrough agreement that Syrias new interim government signed this week with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, to integrate with the Syrian government and army.

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Israel, on the other hand, remains deeply suspicious of Syrias interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, pointing to his roots in al-Qaida. It's also wary of Turkeys influence over Damascus and appears to want to see Syria remain fragmented after the country under Assad was turned into a staging ground for its archenemy, Iran, and Tehran's proxies.

Syria has become a theater for proxy warfare between Turkey and Israel, which clearly see each other as regional competitors, said Asli Aydintasbas, of the Washington-based Brookings Institute.

This is a very dangerous dynamic because in all different aspects of Syrias transition, there is a clash of Turkish and Israeli positions.

Following Assads fall, Israel seized territory in southern Syria, which Israeli officials said was aimed at keeping hostile groups away from its border. The new Syrian government and the United Nations have said Israel's incursions violate a 1974 ceasefire agreement between the two countries and have called for Israel to withdraw. Israel has also conducted airstrikes targeting military assets left behind by Assads forces and has expressed plans to maintain a long-term presence in the region.

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Analysts say Israel is concerned over the possibility of Turkey expanding its military presence inside Syria. Since 2016, Turkey has launched operations in northern Syria to push back Syrian Kurdish militias linked to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and maintains influence in the north of the country through military bases and alliances with groups that opposed Assad.

Turkish defense officials have said Turkey and Syria are now cooperating to strengthen the countrys defense and security, and that a military delegation will visit Syria next week.

Nimrod Goren, president of the Mitvim Institute, an Israeli foreign policy think tank, said that unlike Turkey, which supports a strong, centralized and stable Syria, Israel at the moment appears to prefer Syria fragmented, with the belief that could better bolster Israel's security.

He said Israel is concerned about al-Sharaa and his Islamist ties, and fears that his consolidated strength could pose what Israel has called a jihadist threat along its northern border.

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Israeli officials say they will not tolerate a Syrian military presence south of Damascus and have threatened to invade a Damascus suburb in defense of members of the Druze minority sect, who live in both Israel and Syria, after short-lived clashes broke out between the new Syrian security forces and Druze armed factions. The distance from Damascus to the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights is about 60 kilometers (37 miles.)

Turkey and Israel once were close allies, but the relationship has been marked by deep tensions under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans more than two-decade rule, despite brief periods of reconciliation. Erdogan is an outspoken critic of Israels policies toward the Palestinians, while Israel has been angered by Erdogans support for the Hamas militant group, which Israel considers to be a terrorist group.

Following the war in Gaza, Turkey strongly denounced Israels military actions, announced it was cutting trade ties with Israel, and joined a genocide case South Africa brought against Israel at the U.N. International Court of Justice.

Aydintasbas said Turkish authorities are now increasingly concerned that Israel is supportive of autonomy demands from Kurds, the Druze and Alawites.

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Erdogan issued a thinly veiled threat against Israel last week, saying: Those who seek to provoke ethnic and religious (divisions) in Syria to exploit instability in the country should know that they will not be able to achieve their goals.

Last week, factions allied with the new Syrian government  allegedly including some backed by Turkey  launched revenge attacks on members of Assad's Alawite minority sect after pro-Assad groups attacked government security forces on Syria's coast. Monitoring groups said hundreds of civilians were killed.

Erdogan strongly condemned the violence and suggested the attacks were aimed at Syrias territorial integrity and social stability.

Israels deputy foreign minister, Sharren Haskel, said the deadly sectarian violence amounted to ethnic cleansing by Islamist groups led by a jihadist Islamist terror group that took Damascus by force and was supported by Turkey."

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Israel, Haskel added, was working to prevent a threat along its border from Syrias new jihadist regime.

Israels involvement in Syria is deepening, with the country pledging protection and economic aid to the Druze community in southern Syria at a time of heightened sectarian tensions.

The Druze, a small religious sect, are caught between Syrias new Islamist-led government in Damascus and Israel, which many Syrians view as a hostile neighbor leveraging the Druzes plight to justify its intervention in the region. Israel says it sent food aid trucks to the Druze in southern Syria and is allowing some Syrian Druze to cross into the Israeli-controlled part of the Golan Heights to work.

Al-Sharaa was somewhat conciliatory toward Israel in his early statements, saying that he didnt seek a conflict. But his language has become stronger. In a speech at a recent Arab League emergency meeting in Cairo, he said that Israels aggressive expansion is not only a violation of Syrian sovereignty, but a direct threat to security and peace in the entire region.

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The Brookings Institute's Aydintasbas said the escalating tensions are cause for serious concern.

Before we used to have Israel and Turkey occasionally engage in spats, but be able to decouple their security relationship from everything else, Aydintasbas said. But right now, they are actively trying to undermine each other. The question is, do these countries know each others red lines?

A report from the Institute for National Security Studies, a think tank led by a former Israeli military intelligence chief, suggested that Israel could benefit from engaging with Turkey, the one regional power with considerable influence over Syrias leadership, to reduce the risk of military conflict between Israel and Syria.

__

Hazboun reported from Jerusalem. Tia Goldenberg contributed from Jerusalem.
(FOX40.COM) The Turlock Police Department, along with multiple law enforcement agencies, arrested 12 people on felony sex-related charges during an online predator sting operation from March 6 to March 8.

Police said of the 12 arrested, three were local Turlock residents and nine traveled from outside of Turlock, some from as far as West Sacramento.

Video Above: Efforts by law enforcement to stop AI-generated child sex abuse images

All suspects were booked into the Stanislaus County Jail on various felony charges including attempted child exploitation and related offenses, said police.

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According to Police, there are additional suspects under investigation, which may result in further arrests.

Solano County man arrested on charges related to possession of CSAM, sheriffs office says

It takes a dedicated and highly coordinated effort to stop these predators before they can harm children, said Detective Gina Giovacchini, who led the operation. The safety of our youth is always our top priority, and this type of proactive enforcement is critical in preventing victimization.

The law enforcement agencies involved include, but are not limited to, the Sacramento Valley Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Stanislaus County District Attorneys Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and surrounding police departments.

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The Turlock Police Department reminds parents and guardians to remain vigilant and educate children about online safety.

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SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE)  Lawmakers are pushing legislation to help when an endangered tribal or pueblo member goes missing. The Democratic bill, SB 41, would create a new statewide alert system to notify the public. The Turquoise Alert System would be similar to the Brittany or Silver alerts. The bill has been quickly moving through the 2025 legislative session with overwhelming support.

Lawmakers say data shows, on average, more than 200 Indigenous people are missing in New Mexico. Now, a bill aims to address the missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis in the state with a new alert system.

Democratic Senator Angel Charley is the lead sponsor of the bill to create the Turquoise Alert. It would send a statewide notification to law enforcement and the public of an endangered person who belongs to a federally recognized Indian nation, tribe, or pueblo.

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Bill aimed at overhauling CYFD moves forward in the legislature

In a previous committee, many supporters urged lawmakers to pass the bill. These communities have experienced a radical and rapid rise in missing and murdered individuals for several decades. Creating the Turquoise Alert System will give those communities more resources to slow this epidemic, said Arturo Castillo with the Conservation Voters New Mexico.

Its because the lack of speed of awareness that leads to so many cold cases and some families waiting years, even decades for headway in their cases, said Ryder Jiron with the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women.

However, some committee members expressed doubts on how effective it may be when there are already other alert systems in place. What is the actual difference? Whats going to be the new process thats going to make us solve this problem? asked Senator Gabriel Ramos (R-Silver City).

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Wildfire prevention bills make their way through the Roundhouse

Senator Charley said the current Amber and Silver alerts are based on age ranges, leaving a big portion of missing Indigenous people out of the statewide alerts, something this bill would address. And I understand the concerns are that you may receive way too many alerts, but I think if you keep hearing them, youll know that there is an issue happening, said Senator Angel Charley (D-Acoma).

In 2022, the state released a response plan aimed at increasing investigations and prosecuting cases of missing Indigenous people. When presenting the bill, the sponsors said the alert system would help aid in these cases. The bill sailed through todays house committee with unanimous approval. It needs to go through one more committee and then the house floor.

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PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  Two people have been arrested and charged with manslaughter that resulted in a fatal fentanyl overdose of 23-year-old Joshua Creighton.

According to a news release, on April 24, 2024, investigators responded to the residence of Joshua Creighton after he was discovered deceased by a family member in the early morning hours.

Through diligent investigative efforts and in coordination with the State Attorneys Office, detectives gathered evidence. They also obtained witness statements that led them to the source of the fentanyl responsible for Creightons death.

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Panama City Beach woman arrested for human trafficking of a minor

On Friday, 39-year-old Mark Booth and 37-year-old Jessica Rhodes were both charged with manslaughter in connection with Creightons death.

This case is a demonstration of the Panama City Police Departments commitment to holding accountable those who choose to distribute lethan substances in the community.

This remains an active investigation, and anyone with additional information is urged to call the Panama City Police Department at 850-872-3100. Tips can also be made anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 850-785-TIPS.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, left, and Rep. Josh Gottheimer are among the six Democrats vying to be our next governor. (Photos by Reena Rose Sibayan/Danielle Richards)

TENAFLY  It was Tuesday night at Elks Lodge No. 2271 in this Bergen County borough and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop was defending his views on antisemitism.

With dozens on hand to hear from Fulop, who is one of two Democrats running to be New Jerseys first Jewish governor, the first person to raise their hand quizzed him about his opposition to a bill before the New Jersey Legislature that would codify a specific definition of antisemitism.

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The three-term mayor said a bill targeting hate crimes against the Jewish community but no other group plays into stereotypes that Jewish people think that theyre better than others, or theyre unique, or theyre different, or they have a different set of standards.

Now Im not going to say that thats true, but thats what people say about Jewish people, he said, adding, And I do not think that is a productive place for the Jewish community to be. I dont think its healthy. I think it encourages more antisemitism.

Tuesdays event was not the first time even this week that Fulop was confronted about the legislation, known as the IHRA bill, short for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Speaking to voters in Montclair Monday, Fulop told another voter that the measure would limit criticism of Israel.

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop said a state bill targeting antisemitism is dangerous for its potential intrusion on First Amendment rights. (Reena Rose Sibayan for New Jersey Monitor)

If you read the IHRA legislation  and I know most people in the Jewish community havent read it, OK?  you get to the point where it speaks specifically about what you can and cant say with regards to Israel, Fulop said. I feel that that is a dangerous place to be.

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The bill would approve a state definition of antisemitism that mirrors the definition provided by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. The measure cites what the group considers contemporary examples of antisemitism, like claiming the existence of Israel is a racist endeavor, drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis, and holding Jews collectively responsible for Israels actions, among other things. Critics say this kind of language improperly conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

The American Jewish Committee says as of August, 35 states plus D.C. are using or have recognized the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

The IHRA definition of antisemitism:

Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

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One of the New Jersey bills chief sponsors, Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic), has expressed frustration that more than a year after its introduction, it has not moved in the Assembly, even though it has 56 sponsors, enough to guarantee its passage. The Senate version of the bill, with 16 sponsors, has not moved since it was approved by a committee in June following a four-hour hearing. That version was amended to say the bill should not be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right to criticize the government of the State of Israel in a manner similar to that leveled against any other country.

Fulop noted in Tenafly Tuesday that the Assembly bill does not have that line.

Whether you agree or disagree with what Israel does, you should be able to criticize Ukraine, to criticize Russia, to criticize the United States, and you should be able to criticize Israel, he said.

Fulop has painted himself as the progressive darling in the six-person race for the Democratic nomination for governor  hes anti-county line, pro-congestion pricing, and a favorite of college Dems  so his position on the antisemitism bill is not a surprise. Though codifying this definition of antisemitism has broad, bipartisan support in the Assembly, the idea is loathed by progressives.

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But not by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, the other Jewish Democrat running for governor. After hearing Fulops comments about the IHRA bill, I asked Gottheimer, who is decidedly not a progressive darling, to weigh in.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer said the bill is necessary to combat an uptick in antisemitism following the Oc.t 7 attacks. (Hal Brown for New Jersey Monitor)

Gottheimer, a Tenafly resident, is on the opposite side of this divide. This should not be shocking. Not only is he a leading sponsor of a federal bill called the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025 that would use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances definition of antisemitism to guide federal antidiscrimination enforcement, but Gottheimer has been staunch in his support of Israel.

Gottheimer said Fulops comments about the state bill display a deep sign of ignorance, and he chided Fulop for repeating the deeply offensive and antisemitic trope that Jewish people feel they should live by a different set of standards.

For some reason, hes decided that he wants to proactively alienate the Jewish community. I dont understand, Gottheimer told me.

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Gottheimer said the Holocaust alliance created a definition for antisemitism because governing bodies, schools, and other organizations asked for a clear explanation of what antisemitism is and isnt. He denied that the state or federal bill would limit First Amendment protections of people who want to criticize Israel.

You cant say it may not exist, it should be eliminated. You cant call for the destruction or elimination of Israel, but, of course, you can criticize  it allows for criticism of Israel all day long if youd like, he said.

Regarding Fulops contention that the state legislation would bar some criticism of Israel, Gottheimer in a statement from his campaign said, Steve should get his eyes checked, because this bill clearly protects the Jewish community from record levels of antisemitism and upholds First Amendment rights.

Asked to comment on Gottheimers characterization of Fulop as ignorant on the state bill, Fulop in a statement from his campaign said, Im not going to attack Josh, but to say that Im ignorant on this issue is laughable.

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I give an honest and thoughtful response that doesnt pander to anyone but protects the Jewish community and is cognizant of how legislation works in Trenton, unlike Josh, he said.

The two Democrats spat about the bill comes as their party remains split by the nations response to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. State Sen. Jon Bramnick  a Union County Republican who is also vying to become the states first Jewish governor  thinks this split is the reason the Assembly version of the bill has yet to get a committee hearing, even with its long list of sponsors (Bramnick is sponsoring the bill on the Senate side). A spokeswoman for Assembly Democrats declined to comment.

Sen. Jon Bramnick, a Republican running for governor, suspects progressive resistance to the bill is preventing it from advancing. (Hal Brown for New Jersey Monitor)

There must be a concern within the Democratic caucus, expressed somehow by Steve Fulop, that expanding the definition is not good for them politically, Bramnick said. I dont think that policy-wise they have any problem with limiting antisemitism. I think their problem is they must have a political entity or political group that doesnt want them to move the bill.

I find the Fulop/Gottheimer debate on the IHRA bill fascinating because it represents just one of the divides in the Democratic Party, schisms that will become more dramatic as the crowded race for the partys gubernatorial nomination gets closer to June 10, the day of the primary.

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For Fulop, the bill is bad legislation, something that could end up harming Jews. For Gottheimer, the uptick in antisemitism following the Oct. 7 attacks is the reason the state needs to pass it.

New Jersey needs a governor who is willing to take a strong stand, in my opinion, against hate and doing everything in their power to protect our communities from bigotry and hatred. And if there are other definitions that would be helpful to other communities that are discriminated against, and theres high rates of discrimination, I would, of course, be open to that, he said.

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Theres never been a better time to be a disgraced politician seeking a second chance.

A pair of former governors who resigned in scandal are vying to lead major cities on both sides of the Hudson River  attempted comebacks that wager voters fed up with existing options will value their executive experience more than their political flaws.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who stepped down in 2021 following sexual harassment allegations, just launched his campaign for mayor of New York City. Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey, who exited office in 2004 after admitting to an extramarital affair with a man who he hired, is campaigning to lead New Jerseys second largest city, Jersey City.

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While both are Democrats, they are likely to benefit from the Donald Trump effect, where expectations around character have been obliterated.

For their part, neither campaign is eager to acknowledge the other, but both former governors say they are selling executive experience. McGreevey and Cuomo are both talking about bread-and-butter issues: public safety, clean streets, affordable housing and the menace of e-bikes.

"I think folks want a record of getting something done and working hard," McGreevey said in an interview.

Cuomo is sounding a similar note about experience as a chief executive.

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I dont think theres been a governor in modern political history that has accomplished more things than I have accomplished, Cuomo said during an interview with Stephen A. Smith.

Cuomo also explicitly attacked others who never ran anything before. McGreevey has said governors and mayors share the need to get something done, to bring measurable change.

Its hard not to see these as digs at recent big city Democratic mayors who have fumbled their way into infamy with one thing in common: they were legislators, not executives, before becoming mayor. That list includes New York Mayor Eric Adams, his predecessor Bill de Blasio, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and defeated San Francisco Mayor London Breed.

It goes without saying, none of McGreevey or Cuomos opponents has the same kind of executive experience they have, even if it didnt end well.

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Their reputation certainly precedes them, right? said Micah Rasmussen, a former McGreevey aide who is now the director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University.

It is unusual for governors to be forced out of office. Of the few thousand people who have served as an American governor, Cuomo was only the 56th to resign or be removed, according to the Pew Research Center.

Some in that club have tried to reboot their political careers, to mixed success. Others  Rod Blagojevich of Illinois and Robert Bentley of Alabama  were legally barred from running for elected office.

While McGreevey resigned with a speech remembered for the line I am a gay American, and his fall is often tied solely to his sexual orientation in an era before more widespread acceptance, he was involved in a mix of scandals at the time, most notably putting his lover on the state payroll as a homeland security adviser in the months after 9/11 without proper credentials.

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After he stepped down, McGreevey went on a spiritual journey and spent more than a decade helping prisoners reenter society. His campaign launch video in 2023, titled Second Chances, opened with a scene of his resignation speech and a contrite McGreevey of today saying hed learned his lessons.

Cuomo, by contrast, spent the past few years fighting in court to clear his name and launched his campaign with a 17-minute video that only briefly alluded to the scandal that prompted him to step down  a report released by Attorney General Letitia James found he sexually harassed 11 women. His leadership during Covid-19 also came under a cloud.

Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing on both counts and argued the scandals were induced by his many political enemies in New York and Washington. District attorneys subsequently did not bring criminal charges.

Basil Smikle Jr., a former head of the New York Democratic Party under Cuomo, said former politicians who leave office under a cloud make another go at it by waiting for the right time and doing a mea culpa tour to test the waters. Plus, Trump  who was impeached twice, found liable for sexual abuse and is a convicted felon  has shown certain behavior is more palatable to voters.

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McGreevey is running for an open seat in a nonpartisan general election this fall with backing of a major North Jersey power broker.

Cuomo is running in a crowded primary field against Adams, who is under indictment, surrounded by scandal and with polling that shows most voters want Adams to resign. Another opponent, Scott Stringer, was a front-runner in the crowded 2021 Democratic primary before his campaign was derailed by accusations that he sexually harassed a campaign volunteer 20 years earlier. Stringer denied wrongdoing and is suing the woman who accused him for defamation.

Smikle said Cuomo may also be counting on some of the same Black and Hispanic Democrats who moved toward Trump last fall.

"I think the Trump voter and the potential Cuomo voter want the same thing  there is an interest in political disruption, they are OK with overlooking the past if they can get the disruption that helps them today," he said.

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The governor-to-mayor pipeline is not unprecedented for those who didnt leave in scandal: Term-limited Delaware Gov. John Carney is now mayor of Wilmington.

If, as former New York Gov. David Paterson has said, Cuomo would rather be governor again, there is some precedent in former California Gov. Jerry Brown, who like Cuomo was a governors son. After Brown led his state for eight years as a young man, his political future looked bleak following a trio of failed presidential bids. But then Brown ran for mayor of Oakland, won, and climbed back up the ladder to end his career as governor again.

When Cuomo and McGreevey reemerged, both Democrats had major establishment allies.

The citys carpenters union and Rep. Ritchie Torres, a high-profile Democrat, are in Cuomos corner. Torres has said the city needs a Mr. Tough Guy.

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McGreevey was encouraged to run by Hudson County power broker Brian Stack, who is also a state senator and mayor of neighboring Union City.

While both McGreevey and Cuomo have roots in the cities they are running to lead, both men spent years elsewhere, and both have been criticized for carpetbagging and me-centric campaigns.

When McGreevey launched his campaign in 2023, campaign rival Bill ODea said his campaign would be about the people, not anything related to my own ego, a jab at McGreevey.

Stringer, a former city comptroller and mayoral candidate, compared Cuomo to disgraced former state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who tried to resurrect his career with a run for city comptroller but lost to Stringer.

Rasmussen, who was McGreeveys spokesperson through the resignation, wonders if the collapse of local media has something to do with governors playing in local races because its harder and harder for candidates to break through and governors already come with name recognition  even if the names are a double-edged sword.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Two men were arraigned Friday and have been charged with murder in Livingston County.

According to court documents, Aaron Aydelotte, 27, and Marqwevell Cummings, 24, are charged with open murder in the 53rd District Court, located in Howell.

Both men are lodged in the Livingston County Jail on a $1 million bond.

The two have a probable cause conference scheduled for March 25 and an examination hearing on April 1.

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Livingston County deputies investigate deadly shooting, burned-out car

Livingston County deputies found a 25-year-old man from Flint shot and killed on Saturday, March 8.

Investigators say that deputies were dispatched to a burning 2000 Toyota Camry on the 7000 block of Sherwood Road in Conway Township at around 8:00 a.m. The car was unoccupied at the time.

Livingston County deputies investigate deadly shooting, burned-out car. (Photo: Dennis Bowdoin)

At 10 a.m., deputies responded to a death on the 8000 block of Robb Road, where they found the 25-year-old victim had been shot. The Sheriffs Office says this man was listed as the owner of the burning car.

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TYLER, Texas (KETK)  A representative with Tylers Baylor Scott & White Texas Spine & Joint Hospital has reported a data security incident involving personal information of some individuals.

On Jan. 15, the hospital reportedly discovered that an unauthorized third party had gained access to their Microsoft Office 365 business email and began an investigation to contain the threat. The third party reportedly obtained emails from Jan.10 to Jan. 14.

T-Mobile customers to get payments up to $25K next month after data breach: Heres who qualifies

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As a result, it was determined that patients personal information may have been involved. Please note this email account is separate from the hospitals internal network and systems, which were not affected by this incident, the representative said.

Some of the information that could have been stolen include:

Demographic information: Full name, date of birth and address

Medical and treatment information: Dates of service, provider and facility names and procedure codes

Billing and claims information: Account and/or claim status, transaction and charge identification numbers, patient account identifiers and payor information.

The hospital representative said not all data elements were stolen from all individuals. The third party reportedly did not take social security numbers, drivers license numbers, credit or debit card information and any bank account information or account passwords.

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Those affected are expected to receive a notice letter by mail.

Baylor Scott & White Texas Spine & Joint Hospital takes the security of personal information seriously. As soon as the incident was discovered, immediate action was taken to mitigate and remediate the incident and to help prevent further unauthorized activity, the representative said.

As a response, the hospital has since enhanced security and monitoring capabilities in their systems to avoid or minimize the risk of similar incidents. For the next 90 days, people who have questions about the breach can call 800-939-4170, the call center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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TYRONE, Pa. (WTAJ)  Crowds filled the streets of Tyrone on Saturday as the town celebrated its annual Irish Heritage Weekend with a parade, live music, and local vendors, giving businesses and community groups a chance to shine.

The day started with the Gold Rush 5K and 10K races near the Tyrone Armory, followed by a kids sprint and awards ceremony. At Hotel City Park, the Horseshoe Cloggers and the Celtic-rock band Full Kilt entertained attendees.

For pet lovers, the top of the morning dog fashion show was a highlight. Drew Campbell, a Tyrone resident, enjoyed seeing the community come together for the event. Oh, its great to bring the dogs out and all the people interact with all that and the dogs, and its a lot of fun, Campbell said.

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Gardners Candies introduced a new mascot, marking a historic moment for the business. Weve been at Gardners since 1897, and they, you know, have never really had a mascot. And they thought it was time to do it, Robin Cushion, manager of the Tyrone Gardners store, said. She encouraged visitors to submit name ideas, adding, If you do name the mascot, you get a years supply of peanut butter meltaways.

Wanna help name the new Gardners Candies mascot? Heres how

Beyond the festivities, local organizations saw the event as an opportunity to raise awareness. Crystal Kyle, a rider with American Legion Riders Post 520, said they used the weekend to encourage more people to get involved. Mainly it is getting our name out and participating with the people and getting younger people involved, because right now we dont have enough young people within our Legion riders, Kyle said.

The Central PA Autism Community also used the event to connect with attendees. Again, our group is completely donation and fundraiser based. So to get our name out there, for them to come up and even learn anything about us, its very important to us, Krista Frye, the Central PA Autism Community secretary, said.

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The days biggest attraction was the Luck of the Irish parade, which began at 2 p.m. on Lincoln Avenue and ended at the Tyrone Armory community center. Businesses throughout town, like The Brew and Bake Shop Bakes, welcomed the large crowds with themed specials.

WTAJs meteorologist Mark Mancuso

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With visitors coming from across the region, Irish Heritage Weekend not only brought a festive atmosphere ahead of St. Patricks Day, but also boosted local businesses.

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U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin has confirmed that U-2 Dragon Lady spy planes have been flying missions around the border with Mexico. The services top officer has also confirmed the use of RC-135V/W Rivet Joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft and drones, which TWZ has reported on previously, as part of still-increasing U.S. military support for southwestern border security efforts under President Donald Trump.

As most of us head into the weekend, I want to thank our U-2, RC-135 & RPA [remotely piloted aircraft; drone] crews who are tirelessly providing unrivaled ISR support for @USNorthernCmd [U.S. Northern Command] at the border to restore sovereignty and protect American communities, Allvin wrote in a post today on X, a screen shot of which is seen below. Stay safe and thank you!

X screen capture

CNN was first to report the use of U-2s in support of current operations along the southwestern border back in February, but citing unnamed officials. That story followed news that RC-135V/Ws, as well as U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes, were also flying surveillance missions around Mexico, including sorties over the Gulf of California.

A picture that Gen. Allvin included in his post on X today showing personnel boarding an RC-135V Rivet Joint aircraft. USAF

A picture the US Navy previously released showing personnel onboard a P-8A patrol plane during a mission along the border with Mexico. USN Petty Officer 2nd Class Andy Anderson

In February, there were also reports that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was conducting surveillance flights inside Mexican airspace using MQ-9 Reaper drones. Authorities in Mexico subsequently confirmed that the U.S. government had been conducting aerial ISR operations inside the country, and that this had helped with the arrest of at least two senior cartel members.

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Just earlier this week, TWZ reached out to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base in California, the Air Forces U-2 hub, for more information about the use of those aircraft specifically in support of current border security operations. Those queries were subsequently forwarded first to Air Combat Command (ACC) and then to NORTHCOM.

U-2s and other aircraft on the runway at Beale during a so-called elephant walk readiness exercise in 2024. USAF

At this time, we are not commenting about any specific ISR platforms related to southern border missions, a NORTHCOM spokesperson told TWZ on Wednesday. We do acknowledge that there is ISR supporting the mission, but again, we are not going to be specific about platforms.

We dont discuss specifics on how we are using ISR assets to support DoDs mission at the southern border, the same spokesperson added today in response to a follow-up after Allvin made his post on X.

In general, the Air Forces U-2s can be equipped with a wide array of different sensors, many of which could provide useful capabilities in support of border security operations. As TWZ wrote back in 2021 after a U-2 was tracked flying along the southwestern border on what the 9th Reconnaissance Wing said was a routine training mission:

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The Air Forces U-2Ss can carry a variety of different sensor packages, including panoramic and other wide-angle cameras and radar imaging systems, and one of these aircraft could, conceivably offer a way to relatively quickly get a snapshot of border activity at a particular moment in time, even if [the U-2S with the serial number] 68-10329 did not in this particular case. That same imagery would also be useful for general mapping purposes, including in the creation of radar maps that can show details electro-optical or thermal imagery cannot. The U-2 can also carry communications intelligence gathering payloads.

USAF

Imagery and intercepted communications could help in establishing so-called baseline patterns of life in a particular area, or even for a select individual or group of individuals. This, in turn, could aid in the refinement of intelligence gathering strategies, or even be used to plan and execute operations, including strikes and ground raids.

As TWZ has previously reported, U-2s are known to have flown sorties over and/or around Mexico on at least one other occasion, in 2009, as part of an operation nicknamed Equis Emerald. The purpose of those flights is unknown.

A mention of the Equis Emerald flights in the table of contents of an internal Air Combat Command historical review covering activities in 2009. USAF via FOIA

The official acknowledgment that U-2s are supporting current efforts along the border with Mexico comes as the U.S. military continues to expand its overall participation in this mission. Just today, NORTHCOM announced the formal activation of interagency Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) to oversee these operations.

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Under the direction of USNORTHCOM, Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) assumed the role of synchronizer of several USNORTHCOM activities and military forces from Joint Task Force-North (JTF-N). The transfer of authority, or TOA, to JTF-SB aligns efforts to seal the southern border and repel illegal activity under a single Joint Task Force responsible for full-scale, agile, and all-domain operations, which will allow for more effective and efficient DoD operations, according to a press release. Joint Task Force-North [JTF-N] will continue their core mission of detecting and monitoring transnational criminal organizations threats within and along approaches to the continental United States.

You can read more about JTF-N, which has been the primary U.S. military entity responsible for coordinating support for border security operations since the early 2000s, in this past TWZ story.

In early February, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) from Fort Drum, New York, deployed to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, to establish the infrastructure necessary for the JTF-SB headquarters, the release adds. JTF-SB is commanded by Army Maj. Gen. Scott M. Naumann. Additionally, the task force has two deputy commanders: one from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and one from the U.S. Marine Corps.

Marines work to install concertina wire on a section of wall along the border with Mexico in March 2025. USMC Lance Cpl. Nataly Espitia

The U.S. military currently has 9,600 personnel either deployed or in the process of deploying to support the border security missions. In addition to fixed-wing aerial ISR assets, this support includes various types of helicopters and elements of the Stryker Brigade Combat Team from the U.S. Army. Various branches have also contributed intelligence analysts on the ground, engineers, military police, and other personnel.

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The U.S. military, at least publicly, has so far been primarily focused on activities on the American side of the southwestern border. However, there continues to be discussions about the potential for direct action against drug cartels inside Mexican territory, possible without cooperation or coordination with authorities in that country. In February, Trumps administration formally designated eight Latin American criminal groups, including multiple Mexican drug cartels, El Salvadors MS-13, and Tren de Aragua in Venezuela, as foreign terrorist organizations. The designations expand the scope of actions that U.S. authorities could take against these organizations. You can read more about the challenges and potential for serious blowback from any U.S. military operations against Mexican drug cartels in this past TWZ feature.

For the U-2 fleet, the new mission along the border with Mexico comes amid the Air Forces continued push to retire the type for good. Some members of Congress had pushed for provisions in the annual defense policy bill, or National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the 2025 Fiscal Year that would have blocked divesting any U-2s. However, that does not look to have made it in the final version of the bill that was signed into law last year.

USAF

In the meantime, U.S. aerial ISR assets, now confirmed to include U-2 spy planes, continue to prowl around Mexico as part of the U.S. militarys greatly expanded border security mission.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
March 15 (UPI) -- Sec. of State Marco Rubio announced the expulsion of South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool following remarks Rasool made accusing the United States of engaging in "supremacist" policies domestically and globally.

"South Africa's ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country," Rubio said Friday in a post on X.

"Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates [President Donald Trump]," Rubio said. "We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered persona non grata."

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Rasool's remarks during a MISTRA online webinar titled, "Implications of changes in U.S. administration for South Africa and Africa," spurred his expulsion.

The Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection hosted the webinar and defines itself as a "progressive institute" with a stated mission of advancing South Africa's development by "addressing the complex challenges that straddle issues of nation-formation, economic growth, social equity, science and technology, and the country's positioning in a globalized world."

On Friday, South African Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool, pictured speaking during a press conference in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 25, 2019, was expelled from the United States for accusing the Trump administration of advocating for white supremacy. Photo by Nic Bothma/EPA-EFE

Rasool's participation begins at the 13-minute mark, and he accuses the United States of engaging in "supremacist" actions in opposition to what Rasool calls an "incumbency" of those holding power.

Rasool said the Trump administration is continuing the prior Biden administration's "resistance" to the "emerging multi-polarity in the world" while trying to "maintain U.S. ideological hegemony" globally.

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He cited the "arming of Ukraine and Israel" as evidence of the resistance and accused the Trump administration of "disrespect for the institutional base for the current hegemonic order."

Rasool cited U.S. negotiations with Russia and disrespect for NATO, the U.N., bypassing funding of the World Bank, and opposing South Africa chairing the G20 instead of the United States as evidence of "supremacist" actions by the Trump administration.

"What Donald Trump is launching is an assault on incumbency, those who are in power, by mobilizing a supremacism against the incumbency at home and abroad," Rasool said.

"The supremacist assault on incumbency we see in the domestic politics of the USA, the MAGA movement ... as a response" that is rooted in "supremacist instinct," Rasool said.

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He accused the Trump administration of trying to maintain political power among "whites" in the United States and globally.

"Very clear data shows great demographic shifts in the USA in which the voting electorate is projected to become 48% white and the possibility of a majority of minorities is looming on the horizon," Rasool said.

He said the shifting U.S. demographic "needs to be factored in so we understand" Trump administration policies, including the an "instinctive nativist, racist" border wall being built, deportations and "export of the revolution."

Such actions are to "project white victimhood as a dog whistle that there is a global protected movement in embattled white communities," Rasool said while calling Trump administration policies a "supremacist insurgency against the incumbency" in the United States and globally.

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His expulsion by U.S. officials requires Rasool to leave the United States by Friday, a State Department spokesperson told CNN.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Rasool's expulsion from the United States is "regrettable" in a statement posted on X Saturday.

"South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States of America," Ramaphosa said.

He urged "all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter."
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The University of Utah is one of 45 universities under investigation by the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights for alleged race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs, according to a Friday announcement.

The federal department announced the investigations in a press release, stating that the 45 universities in question are accused of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act through partnering with The PhD Project.

The PhD Project is an organization founded more than three decades ago that aims to assist PhD students by providing resources and networking opportunities. The department claims they also limit participants eligibility based on race.

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According to the Associated Press, the PhD Project said it works to create a broader talent pipeline of current and future business leaders who are committed to excellence and to each other. It said this year it opened its membership applications to anyone who shares that vision.

READ NEXT: SpaceX mission to replace stuck NASA astronauts launches

In addition to the investigations related to the PhD Project, the department announced that seven other universities are being investigated for alleged race-based scholarships and segregation, bringing the total of recently announced investigations to more than 50.

These are the latest in a series of investigations into alleged discriminatory policies. The department has stated that educational institutions must cease using race preferences and stereotypes as a factor in admissions, hiring, and scholarships, among other things, or risk losing federal funding.

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Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said.

The U of U released a statement in response to the departments press release saying the university changed the way it operates last year after the Utah Legislature ended diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. It said it closed its identity-based cultural centers and changed student services to comply with the new local law.

The University of Utah is aware of the investigation into U.S. colleges and universities who have worked with The PhD Project to make advanced business education accessible to students from underrepresented groups, the university said. We will respond to federal investigators in the course of the investigation.

The Associated Press and Yeonseung Kim contributed to this story.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Utah Education Association is kicking off a statewide signature gathering campaign Saturday, spearheading the effort of a coalition of unions to get enough signatures to ask voters to repeal a recent law that bans public labor unions from collective bargaining.

The group has a heavy lift ahead of them, they need nearly 141,000 signatures by April 16, and must get 8% of the registered voters in 15 of 29 Senate districts to place the question before voters in 2026.

The efforts could also face pushback from groups looking to either counter the messaging or contact voters asking them to rescind their signatures.

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Ive heard of groups (outside of the legislature) who are looking to educate voters on why its good policy, said Rep. Jordan Teuscher (R-South Jordan) who sponsored the legislation.

PREVIOUS STORY: Utah public unions seek to repeal controversial law banning collective bargaining

Americans For Prosperity Utah (AFP), a conservative think tank, tells ABC4 they are launching a campaign called Decline to Sign.

Yes, we will be working to encourage the public to decline to sign the referendum and educate them on why HB267 is good common sense policy, Kevin Greene, AFP Utahs state director, told ABC4.

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The coalition trying to repeal the public union law is led by the UEA and called Protect Utah Workers.

UEA volunteers plan to gather at their headquarters in Murray for a main kickoff event Saturday as well as at several locations from Logan to St. George. They say they already have 1,500 volunteers planning to help.

According to state filings, the group will also get help from a signature gathering firm. They have hired Landslide Political, co-founded by Salt Lake City Council member Alejandro Puy.

The group has received a lot of smaller donations, but its national organization, the National Education Association, gave the largest chunk  close to $500,000 toward the effort.

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This legislation is a direct attack on Utahs working families, said Jerry Philpott, local 1004 president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) who is part of Protect Utah Workers. Politicians are counting on us to back down. Were here to show them that were just getting started.

Signers can rescind

Its also possible that there could be an effort to get voters to rescind their signatures.

According to state referendum laws, Protect Utah Workers has 40 days (from the end of the session) to collect the requisite signatures, which again, in this case, is nearly 141,000 in 15 of 29 Utah Senate districts by April 16.

But voters also have 45 days from the day their name is posted to change their mind and remove, or rescind, their signature.

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A voter who signs a local referendum petition may have the voters signature removed from the petition by  submitting to the county clerk a statement requesting that the voters signature be removed no later than the earlier of 30 days on which the voter signed the statement requesting removal or 45 days on which the local clerk posts the voters name, the law reads.

As names are turned in to county officials, they are also required by law to be posted on the Lt. Governors website within 21 days of receiving them.

That gives signature firms, presumably hired by those who want the law to stand, the ability to contact and push voters to change their minds. If enough do, the issue would be blocked from being on the 2026 ballot.

Its not yet clear if the groups, or anyone else, will launch a recession campaign.

Big labor organizer is not participating

Meanwhile, the AFL-CIO  a big organizer of 42 different unions in Utah  is not on the list of organizations backing the referendum effort, despite a statement from UEA on Thursday saying that they were.

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Their absence is significant because of just how many labor groups they represent  including both public and private unions. They were also a big player in trying to stop the legislation.

AFL-CIO President Jeff Worthington was adamant that his group was neutral on the referendum because not all of their unions are public unions. The bill at hand only impacts public sector labor unions like teachers or firefighters, not private ones like the ski patrol, for example.

Around 24 hours later, after ABC4 flagged the issue for Worthington, UEA corrected the list saying that AFL-CIO was included in error.

His people have been on the calls, but apparently that was a mistake, said UEA spokeswoman Hailey Higgins.

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Its unclear whether any of the other 14 groups UEA says are supporting the referendum take issue with their organizations being included.

According to UEA, these are the groups in that coalition. Names with an * are also members of AFL-CIO:

AFSCME Local 1001*

Utah School Employees Association

American Federation of Teachers*

Teamsters Local 222*

Utah Public Employees Association

Salt Lake Valley Law Enforcement Association

Communication Workers Association Local 7765*

Utah Education Association

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers L354*

Sheet Metal Workers L312*

United Mine Workers*

American Federation of Government Employees*

International Union of Painter Allied Trades*

United Mountain Workers*

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Graduate students at the University of Iowa are voicing concerns about changes to their contracts to make funding year-to-year, which the UI claims has always been the norm. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

University of Iowa graduate workers are voicing concerns of potential contract changes destabilizing their futures, with the UI stating it is working to ensure all students  potential or current  know about contingencies in their contract relating to funding.

Campaign to Organize Graduate Students, or COGS, President Cary Stough said he spent much of Friday speaking with faculty and university human resources staff to get more information on an apparent decision by the university to transition graduate student contracts from being funded through a set amount of years determined in the contract to being funded year-over-year.

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This announcement, and the lack of available information about implementation and potential consequences, has graduate students feeling worry and fear.

If they werent already freaking out or feeling precarious, theyre feeling extremely precarious now, Stough said.

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Contracts for international students are among Stoughs biggest concerns, he said, as there could be impacts on student visas if their holders funding is suddenly gone.

According to a statement from the UI, provided over email by UI spokesperson Steve Schmadeke, graduate assistantship appointments have always been dependent on available funding, with many UI programs having the information listed in admissions and employment communications.

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Given the current uncertainties in the funding environment, the university believes it is important to ensure that all prospective and admitted graduate students are fully aware of the contingencies that come with financial support, the statement read.

Some UI departments have already felt devastating blows from canceled funding, including the International Writing Program, Iowa Flood Center and Iowa Geological Survey.

The UI said in its statement it is not aware of any graduate student admission or employment offers being rescinded. At Iowa State University, some offers to prospective graduate students that hadnt been accepted yet have been rescinded due to funding uncertainty.

All university units with graduate students have been encouraged by the UI to clearly outline the contingencies that come with financial support in their admissions and employment offers for both prospective and enrolled graduate students, according to the statement.

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This clarification does not reflect a change in policy or a withdrawal of any existing agreements, the statement read.

Stough said many, but not all, departments already had language like this in their contracts, but it has been expanded to the whole university now. His own contract as a doctoral student in the universitys English department is slated for seven years, with the money to pay him earmarked for the duration of the contract. Going to a year-to-year policy could free up funds for areas seeing negative impacts of federal actions, like pausing funding and canceling projects.

Templates of graduate teaching appointment letters from the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic years both have availability of funding listed as a determining factor in whether contract renewals are approved.

The template for the upcoming academic year, listed online as being updated March 14, also lists funding availability as a contingency for appointment, while the current year template lists examples of possible contingencies, but does not include funding. It does say different programs may have different examples to list when creating a specific appointment letter.

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With the current lack of information from the university on timelines and other information relating to potentially losing their funding, Stough said there are really only two options for graduate students who dont get funded  take on all of the cost burdens of graduate education without the aid that was previously provided, or drop out.

Thats really the stakes here, Stough said. We dont get paid enough year-to-year as graduate workers, we know that, but we just certainly do not get paid enough to, if were told were not going to get funding, to turn around and start paying for our education.

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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin should not be allowed to "play games" with the possible ceasefire in Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda; The Guardian

Details: The UK PM will host a meeting on Saturday 15 March of the "coalition of the willing"  a group of countries that have agreed to help keep the peace in Ukraine.

Starmer will try to put pressure on the Kremlin to "finally come to the table" and "stop the barbaric attacks on Ukraine".

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European countries, the European Commission, NATO, Canada, Ukraine, Australia, and New Zealand are expected to attend the virtual meeting, which will provide information on the aid they can provide to secure a peace agreement.

"We cant allow President Putin to play games with President Trumps deal," said the UK PM. [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda doesn't recognise Putin as president  ed.]

Starmer stressed that the Kremlin's complete disregard for US President Donald Trump's ceasefire proposal only demonstrates that Putin "is not serious about peace".

Quote from Starmer: "If Russia finally comes to the table, then we must be ready to monitor a ceasefire to ensure it is a serious, and enduring peace, if they dont, then we need to strain every sinew to ramp up economic pressure on Russia to secure an end to this war."

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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that Russian ruler Vladimir Putin will be forced to sit down at the negotiating table sooner or later to resolve the war he has unleashed against Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda; Sky News

Details: Starmer spoke before the start of a virtual meeting of world leaders aimed at discussing peacekeeping in Ukraine.

The UK PM told his colleagues that "a lot has happened" over the past week that they need to discuss.

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Speaking about Ukraine and the US holding talks in Saudi Arabia this week, Starmer said President Zelenskyy showed that "Ukraine is the party of peace because he has committed to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire".

At the same time, he said, Putin is "trying to delay".

Starmer emphasised that if the Kremlin leader is "serious about peace, he has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire".

Quote from Keir Starmer: "My feeling is, sooner or later, he's going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussion. But we can't sit back and simply wait for that to happen. We have to keep pushing ahead, pushing forward, and preparing for peace  a peace that will be secure and that will last."

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More details: The UK PM added that this means strengthening Ukraine's own defences, "being prepared to defend any deal ourselves through a coalition of the willing", and keeping "the pressure on Putin to come to the table".

Background:

On Thursday 13 March, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin reacted cautiously to the US proposal for a ceasefire. While not outright rejecting it, he hinted that Moscow could impose its own conditions on any agreement.

US President Donald Trump said that Putin made a very promising statement, but it was "not complete". He also said that if Russia did not agree to a 30-day ceasefire, it would be a disappointing moment for the world.

On 14 March, the G7 countries pledged to impose further sanctions on Russia and increase support for Ukraine if Russia refuses to accept the ceasefire proposal.

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U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has kicked off an online summit on March 15 of the "coalition of the willing," who could go on to secure Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia.

Starmer urged attendees to "keep the pressure up" on Russian President Vladimir Putin in his opening remarks.

The ongoing virtual summit is convening countries who could form a post-war peacekeeping force within Ukraine. As of March 13, the potential coalition consists of 37 countries, with the U.K. and France largely taking the lead as the only countries who have publicly committed to sending troops to Ukraine post-war.

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Twenty-five nations are attending today, per the U.K. government, which wrote that the meeting would seek "concrete commitments."

The European Union is by and large increasingly taking point on securing Ukraine's future. Following on a similar meeting at the outset of March, the summit is taking place just days after a U.S. delegation was in Moscow to discuss a ceasefire deal with Putin.

Starmer in a statement on March 14 warned Putin against "playing games" with these ceasefire negotiations. Putin has maintained maximalist demands for Ukrainian to cede territory beyond what Russia has actually taken, as well as demilitarization.

Starmer himself has become a leading light within European politics for his advocacy of Ukraine, as well as his singular talent at placating U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.K. and the U.S. have what's referred to the "Special Relationship"  deep relations in trade, security and defense, and intelligence.

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A Starmer spokesperson said last week that, "Weve always said that Ukraine, at the other end of this process, must emerge as a sovereign territory."

The summit represents a pivot in the West's strategy toward the war in Ukraine to planning for post-conflict stability rather than solely focusing on immediate military support.

Putin has been hostile to the presence of foreign soldiers in Ukraine to secure any sort of peace post-war. Ukraine maintains that without firm security guarantees from the West, Putin will use any cessation in hostilities to build up and attack Ukraine again.

Read also: Conditions for Ukraines surrender  Why Putins demands for ceasefire make no sense

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(Bloomberg) -- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said some 25 allied leaders agreed on Saturday to keep tightening restrictions on Russias economy in an effort to draw President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table to secure a cease-fire in its war with Ukraine.

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The effects of the sanctions on the Russian economy have been pretty profound, Starmer told reporters at a press conference in London. We shouldnt underestimate the impact theyve already had and by doubling down and increasing sanctions, that will cause even more pressure.

Following a call with fellow leaders, Starmer said Western nations are gathering political and military momentum, and after additional commitments toward a post-conflict Ukraine were made, theyre now moving to the operational phase of arriving at security guarantees for the nation, some three years after Russias invasion of its neighbor. Allied military chiefs will meet Thursday for further talks, he said.

Its really important at this point that we put maximum pressure on Russia, Starmer said. This yes, but, is not good enough, he added, accusing Putin of delaying a cease-fire by saying Russia needed to study the proposals and adding conditions.

Saturdays virtual meeting included discussions about seizing frozen Russian assets to help fund Ukraines defense, Starmer said, although he again stressed there were political and legal hurdles to such a move.

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The Russian leader this week stopped short of endorsing the truce proposal without resolving what hes termed the underlying causes of the crisis.

If Putin is serious about peace, its very simple: he has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a cease-fire, Starmer said earlier. And the world is watching. And my feeling is that sooner or later Putin is going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussions.

The meeting followed an in-person summit hosted by the premier and French President Emmanuel Macron at the beginning of the month, after US President Donald Trumps administration stunned European allies by opening direct talks with Putin.

The leaders of several European nations, along with those of Australia, Canada and New Zealand, joined the call.

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Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said that European nations and their allies are very motivated to move toward peace, and that theres more optimism now than two weeks ago.

Everyone is determined to put pressure on Russia, he said in a televised press conference. The ball is on Russias side. Now Russia needs to show its real intentions: do they really want peace or are these only empty words aimed at prolonging talks?

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told reporters that all countries expressed a willingness to contribute toward securing the peace, but that its still premature to give any detail on practical assistance in a peacekeeping mission. Meanwhile, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni told other leaders she doesnt envisage participation by her country to any on-the-ground missions in Ukraine, according to a statement from her office.

During the meeting, leaders thrashed out plans for a peacekeeping force of more than 10,000 troops for Ukraine, the Sunday Times reported, citing senior government sources. The bulk is likely to come from the UK and France, according to the newspaper, which also said that about 35 countries have agreed to supply weapons, logistical and intelligence support to the mission.

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The leaders intend soon to present their proposals to Trump, who theyre seeking to persuade to commit US security guarantees in the form of air power, intelligence and border surveillance  without having to send American troops as part of a peacekeeping force.

Russia has said it opposes any troops belonging to North Atlantic Treaty Organization members being stationed in Ukraine after the war ends. Its also demanded that Ukraine  which Kremlin forces invaded in 2022  cede territory, formally agree to neutrality, and demilitarize.

Bloomberg reported this week that Western security officials assessed that Putin had set deliberately maximalist goals around land and peacekeepers that he knows are unlikely to be met, and is ready to continue fighting the war if he doesnt get what he wants.

Kremlin forces are looking to surround Kyivs troops in the northeastern Ukrainian region directly bordering Kursk as negotiations move forward toward a temporary ceasefire, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Saturday.

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He told reporters that Russias offensive plans  including the prospect of pushing ground forces into Sumy  is a sign Putin isnt preparing to lay down arms.

Such steps doesnt mean peace, he said, adding that he expects a clear and firm response from the US if Putin rejects a ceasefire.

--With assistance from Maciej Martewicz, Milda Seputyte and Donato Paolo Mancini.

(Updates with Sunday Times report on peacekeeping troops in 13th paragraph.)

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Ukraine has approached the Italian and French governments with an urgent request for additional Aster-30 missiles for Samp-T air defence batteries, as the existing stockpile is nearly depleted.

Source: Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera

Details: Corriere della Sera wrote that Ukrainian authorities had been requesting Italy and France for at least 50 Aster-30 missiles for several weeks. However, the Italian government is reluctant to make a decision, as its own stockpile is close to reaching the untouchable reserve level. France has larger reserves, but it also faces certain limitations.

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Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov met with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto in Rome on 14 March and held talks with the leadership of Eurosam, the joint venture between MBDA Italy, MBDA France and Thales that manufactures Aster-30 missiles.

The Wall Street Journal reported on 8 March that the capabilities of Samp-T missiles do not match those of American Patriot batteries. In particular, the system is not always able to effectively identify Russian missiles during large-scale attacks.

Quote from Corriere della Sera: "Debates among military experts are ongoing, but the Ukrainians are now anxious to replenish their missile stockpile as soon as possible.

At this stage, with the Russians intensifying their bombardments, any air defence system becomes precious."

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Details: The Italian government led by Giorgia Meloni has supplied Ukraine with two Samp-T batteries, leaving three for its own needs. According to Corriere della Sera, Italy's defence plan presented in November 2024 includes the procurement of 10 more such systems, each costing around 500 million.

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March 15 (UPI) -- Ukraine's allies have agreed to "put collective pressure" on Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a legitimate cease-fire proposal after a virtual summit of Western nations' leaders that didn't include the United States.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer said "the 'yes but' from Russia is not good enough" regarding the U.S.-proposed cease-fire.

About 25 countries, including European nations, the European Commission, NATO, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, convened.

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The nations are known as the "coalition of the willing."

The United States, under President Donald Trump, has been less supportive of Ukraine, including pausing military support and intelligence temporarily but then resuming them.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a news conference in Kyiv on Saturday after a virtual meeting with international leaders on support for his nation. Photo by EPA-EFE

The U.S. has allocated nearly $183 billion for the response to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. That includes approving $33.2 billion for military equipment and services.

Separately, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin this week about the warf in Ukraine. Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday the meetings were "very productive" and that "all signs seem to be, hopefully, very good!"

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Starmer and French President Emmanual Macron are leading a coalition that is bigger than two weeks ago when the idea was first floated after a meeting of European leaders and Canada.

"We agreed collective pressure will be put on Russia from all of us who were in the meeting this morning," Starmer said.

He said Trump "has offered Putin the way forward to a lasting peace - now we must make this a reality."

In opening remarks, Starmer said that "if Putin is serious about peace, it's very simple: He has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire."

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He continued, "The world is watching. My feeling is that sooner or later he's going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussion."

Ukraine earlier this week accepted 30-day cease-fire in Ukraine initiated by the United States but Putin said "we agree with the proposal" but also that the deal "wasn't complete."

Putin is the problem, Zelensky siad.

"A cease-fire could have already happened, but Russia is doing everything to prevent it," he said in a statement on X. "This is Russia's war - more than three years of full-scale fighting and destruction. To stop this, active pressure is needed, not just talks."

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Zelensky on Saturday called for an international coalition to intensify pressure on Moscow, not just Europe and the G7 but "all other countries around the world for the sake of peace."

He said the world "must understand that Russia is the only obstacle preventing peace."

The war began three years ago in March and Russia has been advancing in the Kursk border region.

Zelensky said there's no evidence of Putin's claim that Ukrainian soldiers are now surrounded by Russian forces in the region.

The militaries of Ukraine's allies want to keep the peace once a cease-fire is struck in Ukraine.

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"We will now move into an operational phase," Starmer said. "Our militaries will meet on Thursday this week here in the United Kingdom to put strong and robust plans in place to swing behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraine's future security."

He also said: "Overall, we are successfully gathering political and military momentum."

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who joined Saturday's virtual summit, does not envision her nation's participation in a possible military presence in Ukraine, her said office in a statement.

Ukraine's allies agreed to "keep the military aid flowing to Ukraine, and keep tightening restrictions on Russia's economy, to weaken Putin's war machine and bring him to the table."

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Zelensky thanked the European Union for a plan to put $163 billion toward strengthening Europe's defense capacity

On Saturday, Russia fired 178 drones and two ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight, killing at least two people and injuring 44, according to Ukrainian officials. Russia targeted critical infrastructure and residential buildings, damaging seven high-rise buildings and 27 houses.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses had shot down 126 Ukrainian drones overnight. They didn't say many drones missed.
During a visit to Rome, Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov and his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto have discussed the supply of air defence systems and ammunition to Ukrainian troops.

Source: Ukraine's Defence Ministry in a statement, as reported by European Pravda

Details: During the visit, the two ministers also discussed strengthening industrial cooperation.

"Ukraine is ready to establish joint ventures and attract new investments to strengthen the defence sector," Umierov said.

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The ministers also identified promising areas of defence development, particularly in drones and maritime technology.

Background:

On 14 March, Umierov and his Spanish counterpart, Margarita Robles, signed an agreement on military training for Ukrainian troops.

Prior to this, Umierov met with the defence ministers of five Nordic countries in Helsinki.

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Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi has called self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko a "cockroach" after he referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a "louse".

Source: Tykhyi on X (Twitter); Lukashenko quoted by Nasha Niva

Details: On 14 March, Lukashenko said of Zelenskyy on the Russia 1 TV channel: "Volodia [Zelenskyy  ed.] was like a son to me, but hes acted like a louse."

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In response, Tykhyi tweeted on Saturday: "Insults to the head of the Ukrainian state are unacceptable, especially from an accomplice in the crime of aggression against Ukraine. In addition, a move to the field of entomology definitely wont benefit the cockroach."

Background: This is not the first time Lukashenko has called the Ukrainian president names.

In March 2023, he said that Ukraine had challenged Belarus by allegedly "sabotaging" an A-50 radar plane at the Machulishchy airfield and called Zelenskyy a "louse".

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Ukraines defence forces have captured eight Russian servicemen in Russias Kursk Oblast.

Source: Command of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces

Quote: "Mobilised and contract soldiers who were looking for adventure are another addition to the exchange fund of the Air Assault Troops in Kursk Oblast.

Eight servicemen of the Russian army were captured by paratroopers and their brothers-in-arms in Kursk Oblast. The prisoners were provided with timely medical and psychological assistance.

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In their units on the territory of the Russian Federation, they were subjected to inhumane treatment, torture and executions for not fulfilling criminal orders."

Details: The Air Assault Troops noted that "the prisoners of war are well treated, safe and are likely to wait for an exchange".



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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced today that an expanded coalition of nations is ramping up efforts to back Ukraine in peace negotiations with Russia, following a high-level virtual summit in London on March 15.

The coalition, which now includes more partners than were at the initial Lancaster House meeting two weeks ago, will also hold military talks on March 20 to develop "stronger and robust plans" for Ukrainian security guarantees, Starmer said in a press conference following the summit.

"We will now move to the operational phase," Starmer told reporters, emphasizing that the upcoming military discussions will focus on concrete security guarantees that could include "troops on the ground and planes in the sky" if necessary.

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"We know from history, recent history, that a deal without security arrangements is not something which (Russian President Vladimir) Putin respects," Starmer said, warning that without proper security guarantees, "Putin will breach the line again."

Starmer also said that participating nations are actively discussing the seizure of frozen Russian assets as part of intensified economic pressure on Moscow. While acknowledging the legal complexities involved, Starmer confirmed that the coalition agreed to implement additional sanctions against Russia immediately.

"We agree we will keep increasing the pressure on Russia, keep the military aid flowing to Ukraine, and keep tightening restrictions on Russia's economy," Starmer said, calling Russian Putin's conditional response to peace overtures "not good enough."

Starmer was, however, vague on specific measures he and allies would take to compel Putin to drop some of his more exorbitant demands in ceasefire negotiations.

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Putin on March 13 said that Moscow was ready to agree to a U.S.-backed 30-day ceasefire but demanded that as part of any cessation of hostilities Kyiv would limit mobilization, training of troops and the West would halt military aid to Ukraine. Some have said Putin's demands amount to Kyiv's surrender.

The expanded coalition now includes members from Europe, Canada and Australia as well as backing from Japan.

Despite the U.S. under President Donald Trump disavowing much of his predecessor's Ukraine support, Starmer was keen to highlight his national security advisor's recent discussions in Washington.

"We are talking to the U.S. every day about what happens next," Starmer said, expressing confidence that President Trump is "absolutely committed" to achieving lasting peace in Ukraine.

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Read also: Putin is afraid to tell Trump he wants to continue war in Ukraine, Zelensky says

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By Kanishka Singh

(Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday there was a "disturbing rise in anti-Muslim bigotry" around the world while urging online tech platforms to curb hate speech and harassment.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Guterres' video message came ahead of the International Day to combat Islamophobia. Rights groups around the world and the United Nations have noted a rise in Islamophobia, anti-Arab bias and antisemitism since the start of Israel's devastating military assault on Gaza following Palestinian Hamas militants' deadly October 7, 2023, attack.

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KEY QUOTES

"We are witnessing a disturbing rise in anti-Muslim bigotry. From racial profiling and discriminatory policies that violate human rights and dignity, to outright violence against individuals and places of worship," the UN chief said, without mentioning any specific country or government.

"Online platforms must curb hate speech and harassment. And we must all speak out against bigotry, xenophobia and discrimination."

CONTEXT

Rights advocates have for years raised concerns about stigma faced by Muslims and Arabs because of how some people conflate those communities with Islamist militant groups.

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At present, many pro-Palestinian activists, including in Western nations such as the United States, have complained and say that their advocacy for Palestinian rights is wrongly labeled by their critics as support for Hamas.

In recent weeks, rights watchdogs have published data noting record levels of anti-Muslim hate incidents and hate speeches in countries such as the UK, U.S. and India, among others. The governments of those countries say they aim to combat all forms of discrimination.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has published a post on social media with a caption "What the Hungarian nation wants from Brussels".

Source: Orban on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda

Details: This list is a reformulated list of the so-called 12 points  a summary of the demands of the leaders of the Hungarian Revolution (1848-1849).

Among the Hungarian prime minister's current political messages are that he "wants a Europe of nations", sovereignty and "a strong veto for national governments", but he also "demands" that "[George] Soros agents be expelled from the European Commission" and "corrupt lobbyists be removed from parliament".

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He also demands a ban on the "unnatural re-education" of children, as well as the protection of Europe's "Christian heritage".

The last item on Orban's list of demands reads: "Union, but without Ukraine".

For reference: Hungary commemorates the anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848-1849 on 15 March. The revolution resulted in a radical transformation of the social and political system of the Hungarian kingdom, proclaimed independence from the Habsburgs and established a democratic state.

The revolutionary leaders' list of 12 demands included, among other things, the granting of democratic freedoms, the withdrawal of Austrian troops from the country, the return of Hungarian units to their homeland, the establishment of an independent government, etc.

Background:

Orban is expected to speak in Budapest on the anniversary of the revolution. According to Telex, leaflets with Orban's 12 points were distributed near the venue of his speech.

Meanwhile, European Pravda's sources said that during the discussion of the draft resolution of the European Council on 20-21 March, Hungarian representatives again insisted on reducing the section on Ukraine by removing references to continued military support for Ukraine and peace from a position of strength.

Orban refused to sign the resolution of the 6 March extraordinary European Council meeting on support for Ukraine, and as a result, 26 of the 27 EU states agreed on the text.

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LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Police are saying that an airline passenger faces charges after he punched a United Airlines gate agent Thursday night at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

According to reports, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police officers responded to an incident at Gate D12 where they say a man from Maryland assaulted the United Airlines gate agent. Members of the airport authoritys fire and rescue department took the gate agent to the hospital for treatment.

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Someone who was at the gate posted video of the encounter on the X platform. The video shows a man punching the gate agent in the face, knocking him to the floor.

The man is currently facing charges of assault and disorderly conduct.

United Media Relations provided DCNewsNow.com with a statement that said, in part: The passenger involved has been banned from future travel on United.

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A Maryland man has been permanently banned from flying with United Airlines after he suddenly attacked a gate agent at Washington Dulles International Airport on Thursday evening.

The violent altercation, which was caught on video, occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority were called to Gate D12 after they were informed that a passenger punched a United Airlines gate agent, according to a statement provided to People, adding that The passenger involved has been banned from future travel on United.

Related: Passenger Swallowed Rosary Beads, Assaulted Crew in Mid-Flight Chaos

The passengerwho was identified as Christopher Stuart Crittenden, a 54-year-old man from nearby Frederick, Marylandwas arrested and charged with assault and disorderly conduct. According to Fox 5, Crittenden is a retired fire department captain.

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The victim, whose name was not made public, was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

While no official details were given about what led to the attack, passengers who witnessed the event told local CBS affiliate WUSA9 that it unfolded after a flight was canceled. The agent in question was believed to be stopping Crittenden from approaching the gate, as the flight was already fully booked. Witnesses claim they heard the assailant say I'm done with this bulls---, before punching the unnamed airline employee.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the union that represents more than 100,000 airline employees, issued a statement in which it promised to continue to protect its workers from an increasing number of hostile attacks.

Across the country, airline customer service representatives continue to face physical assaults, including being punched, kicked, struck by thrown luggage, and having their clothing ripped. Some of these attacks have resulted in life-altering injuries, the union wrote. Despite the rise in violent incidents over the past several years, there have been minimal legal repercussions for offending passengers.

As long as these violent incidents persist, the IAM will not stop advocating for real enforcement of laws that protect airline employees, the union concluded.
LAWRENCE (KSNT)  Federal education officials say numerous investigations are being opened against universities across the nation, including in Kansas, for alleged violations of the Title VI Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) announced on March 14 in a press release that it is investigating 45 universities following the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Dear Colleague Letter that was issued on Feb. 14 this year. The OCRs letter reiterated schools civil rights obligations to end the use of racial preferences and stereotypes in education activities and programs.

The University of Kansas is named as one of the universities under investigation by the DOE in its latest report. KU is under investigation for allegedly engaging in race-exclusionary practices in its graduate programs.

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Kansas Mexican restaurant sealed shut after tax raid

The Department is working to reorient civil rights enforcement to ensure all students are protected from illegal discrimination. The agency has already launched Title VI investigations into institutions where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported and Title IX investigations into entities which allegedly continue to allow sex discrimination; todays announcement expands our efforts to ensure universities are not discriminating against their students based on race and race stereotypes, said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment.

27 News reached out to the University of Kansas for comment on this situation. Director for News and Media Relations at KU Erinn Barcomb-Peterson responded with the following message.

Controversial FAFSA high school graduation requirement removed in Kansas

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We are working to learn more about this investigation, Barcomb-Peterson said. As Chancellor Girod shared last month following the Dear Colleague letter, KUs leadership team has been assessing all university activity as called for in the letter.

The Dear Colleague Letter was issued to educational institutions which receive federal funding. It clarified that, under federal antidiscrimination law, they must put an end to the use of race preferences and stereotypes as a factor in admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, sanctions, discipline and other programs and activities.

The DOE said that educational institutions which are found to be violating Title VI can lose out on federal funding. You can learn more about the Dear Colleague Letter and what it means by clicking here.

Kansas law enforcement agencies sign up to help ICE conduct deportations

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For more Kansas 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.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

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A student walks on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City in April 2024. (Erika Bolstad/Stateline)

The University of Utah is among 45 universities the Trump administration is investigating over racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities.

The universities partnered with The PhD Project, a program that provides support to historically underrepresented students in their path to earning business-related doctoral degrees. But the program, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Education, limits eligibility based on the race of participants.

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That collaboration motivated the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights to start investigations at the 45 participating schools over what it considers discriminatory acts on the basis of race, color and national origin.

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Todays announcement expands our efforts to ensure universities are not discriminating against their students based on race and race stereotypes, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in the release. Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin.

President Donald Trump has been a vocal critic of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, promising to crackdown on the programs directed toward underrepresented communities, especially in academia, which he described as immense public waste and shameful discrimination.

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According to McMahon, those efforts include investigations into institutions where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported and Title IX investigations into entities which allegedly continue to allow sex discrimination.

The University of Utah is aware of the investigation into U.S. colleges and universities who have worked with The PhD Project to make advanced business education accessible to students from underrepresented groups, the university said in a statement. We will respond to federal investigators in the course of the investigation.

Let us know what you think...

However, the U. had already been working to overhaul DEI programs since last year, before Trump took office.

After Utah approved a bill restricting DEI initiatives in the public sector, higher education institutions in the state took steps to comply with the law. While identity-based cultural centers are still allowed under the policy, as long as they arent exclusive, many have erred on the side of caution. The University of Utah, for example, eliminated its womens and LGBT resource centers.

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The investigations also follow a letter the Education Department sent to the colleges in February urging them to adhere to Title VI policies and requiring that they stop factoring in race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life.

Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the department, advised schools to ensure compliance with the Civil Rights Act, and to end reliance on third-party contractors that are being used by institutions in an effort to circumvent prohibited uses of race.

Those who fail to comply, Trainor wrote, may lose federal funding.

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URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  A man accused of killing two women in a fatal Urbana hit-and-run was back in court after a grand jury reviewed his case.

29-year-old Julio Bol appeared on Zoom this Friday wearing an orange jumpsuit. After reviewing Bols case, a grand jury indicted him on all counts, meaning they found probable cause that he committed the crimes hes accused of.

2-month-old baby killed in multi-vehicle Urbana crash

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He is accused of killing 20-year-old Katie Abraham and 21-year-old Chloe Polzin after rear-ending their car at an Urbana intersection back in January.

Champaign County States Attorney Julia Rietz said he ran from the scene until he was arrested three days later on a bus headed to Mexico. Bol, a citizen of Guatemala, initially gave authorities an alias and falsified Mexican documents before they learned his true identity.

Last month, Bol was arraigned on several felony charges, including reckless homicide with a motor vehicle. He was denied pretrial release then and has remained in custody ever since. If convicted, he could spend more than 20 years in prison.

Along with Abraham and Polzin, three other people were in the car that Bol is accused of crashing into. They were in the courtroom Friday and said they plan to be at every one of Bols court appearances going forward.

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The Trump administration sees "cautious optimism" in ongoing ceasefire negotiations following a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

The envoy is expected to return this weekend, after which President Donald Trump will assess Russias position and determine the next steps, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on March 14.

"There is reason to be cautiously optimistic, but by the same token, we continue to recognize this is a difficult and complex situation," Rubio added. "It will not be easy. It will not be simple. But we certainly feel like were at least some steps closer to ending this war and bringing peace."

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Kyiv has agreed to a temporary ceasefire proposed by Washington during the March 11 talks in Jeddah, contingent on Russias adherence. The negotiations in Saudi Arabia also led to the U.S. resuming key military and intelligence support for Ukraine.

"Ukraine is not an obstacle to peace; it is a partner in restoring it," said Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who participated in the talks. He emphasized that Ukraine's acceptance of the proposed truce demonstrates "who is really interested in peace."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on March 13 that Moscow is prepared to accept the ceasefire but demanded that Ukraine halt mobilization, military training, and foreign military aid deliveries during the truce.

Trump called Putin's remarks "very promising" but "not complete," adding that he is open to meeting with the Russian leader.

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Rubio emphasized that U.S. foreign policy is based on actions rather than trust. When asked whether he believes Putins commitments, Rubio dismissed the question. "Its not about trusting, its about actions," he said. "You either do things or you dont. Thats what foreign policy is driven by, and thats how our decisions should be made."

While the White House sees progress, officials acknowledge the challenges of securing a ceasefire that meets U.S. and Ukrainian conditions. The administration expects further internal discussions this weekend after Witkoff briefs Trump on his talks in Moscow.

Its been a good week on that front, but theres a lot of work that remains to be done," Rubio said. "Well know more once Special Envoy Witkoff returns and we have a chance to all convene and talk about it."

Read also: There will still be war  Ukraines soldiers on ceasefire proposal, Russia, and Putin

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By Timothy Gardner, David Brunnstrom and Ju-min Park

WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Energy has designated ally South Korea a "sensitive" country, a spokesperson said on Friday, after the South Korean president briefly imposed martial law and amid talk of Seoul potentially developing nuclear weapons.

The administration of then-President Joe Biden put South Korea on the lowest tier of the Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List in January shortly before Biden left office, the DOE said in a written response to Reuters queries.

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The department did not explain why the Asian nation was added to the list and did not indicate that President Donald Trump was inclined to reverse the measure. The spokesperson said Seoul faces no new restrictions on bilateral cooperation in science and technology.

The designation will go into effect on April 15, media reports said.

South Korea's foreign ministry said the government was taking the matter seriously and in close communication with Washington.

"We will actively negotiate to ensure that there is no negative impact on energy, science and technology cooperation between South Korea and the United States," the ministry said in a statement.

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The DOE list of sensitive countries includes China, Taiwan, Israel, Russia, Iran and North Korea, with Tehran and Pyongyang designated as "terrorist", according to a 2017 document posted on the department's website.

President Yoon Suk Yeol and then-Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun are among officials who raised the prospect that Seoul would be forced to pursue nuclear weapons amid fears over Pyongyang's weapons program and concerns about the U.S. alliance.

Yoon and Kim have been indicted on charges of insurrection over Yoon's six-hour declaration of martial law in December. Yoon was impeached and his presidential powers suspended while a court decides whether to remove him from office.

Yoon backed off rhetoric about a nuclear weapons program after negotiating with Biden a 2023 agreement under which Washington is to give Seoul more insight into U.S. planning to deter and respond to a nuclear incident in the region. In return, Seoul renewed a pledge not to pursue a nuclear bomb of its own and said it would abide by the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, which it has signed.

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That, however, has not been enough to ease doubts over U.S. defense commitments that have fueled calls for a South Korean nuclear arsenal.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said last month that nuclear weapons were not "off the table", though it was premature to talk about such a plan.

"Given that international situations are developing in unpredictable directions, this is a principled response that we must prepare for all possible scenarios," Cho told a parliamentary hearing.

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the nonprofit Arms Control Association, said that in light of such "provocative" statements, South Korea is a proliferation risk and the DOE was prudent to put the country on its list.

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"Listing the ROK as a proliferation-sensitive country should rule out any chance of a South Korean request for U.S. approval to enrich uranium and reprocessing spent fuel... to produce nuclear weapons," Kimball said, citing the country's formal name, the Republic of Korea.

The handling of the designation raised concerns in Seoul. Cho told parliament on Tuesday that his ministry had had no formal communication from the Biden administration and only heard about the possible designation from an informal tip-off.

Countries may appear on the Energy Department's list for reasons of national security, nuclear nonproliferation or support for terrorism, though inclusion does not necessarily indicate an adversarial relationship with the United States.

"Currently there are no new restrictions on bilateral science and technology cooperation with the ROK," the DOE said. "The Energy Department looks forward to collaborating with the ROK to advance our mutual interests."

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Though the designation does not prohibit scientific or technical cooperation, visits to the listed countries and cooperation undergo an internal review beforehand, the department said.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner, David Brunnstrom in Washington, and Ju-min Park and Josh Smith in Seoul; Editing by William Mallard and Sam Holmes)
The News

The US is expelling South Africas ambassador to Washington, Pretoria confirmed Saturday.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Ebrahim Rasool of being a a race-baiting politician who hates the US and President Donald Trump, saying he is no longer welcome. He was given 72 hours to leave the country, according to South African media.

The South African presidents office noted the regrettable expulsion and urged those involved to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter.

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Semafor first reported this week that Rasool, a veteran diplomat who also served as ambassador during the Obama administration, was struggling to secure crucial meetings in Washington. He is likely to have been frozen out for his prior vocal criticism of Israel, a South African diplomat told Semafor; Rasool is widely considered to be among the governments most ardent pro-Palestine voices.

The final decision to expel Rasool seems to have been triggered by an appearance by the ambassador on a panel in Johannesburg earlier this week where he spoke suggesting Trump is leading a supremacist movement disrupting established norms.

His expulsion is likely to further strain ties between the two countries; relations have rapidly deteriorated since Trump returned to the White House.
US President Donald Trump's administration is considering a major tightening of entry rules to the United States for citizens from 43 countries. The list may include Russia and Belarus as well as several countries from the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Source: The New York Times, citing officials familiar with the matter

Details: The sources said the draft list of countries whose citizens could face restrictions had been developed by the US Department of State in cooperation with security services representatives.

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The draft list includes three categories of countries: red, orange and yellow.

The "red" list consists of 11 countries whose citizens will be completely banned from entering the US.

The "orange" list includes 10 countries, where travel to the US will be heavily restricted. Wealthy businesspeople may be granted permission to enter, but immigration and tourist visas for citizens of these countries could be blocked. Citizens from these countries will also be required to undergo a mandatory personal interview for a visa. Belarus and Russia are among the countries on this list.

Citizens from 22 countries on the "yellow" list will be given 60 days to address identified issues, with the threat of being moved to one of the other lists if the requirements are not met.

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Such issues could include failure to provide the United States with information about incoming travellers, likely inadequate security measures during passport issuance or the sale of citizenship to individuals from banned countries, which could serve as a "loophole" to bypass restrictions.

Countries included in the list

Photo: The New York Times

Quote: "When he took office on 20 January, Mr Trump issued an executive order requiring the State Department to identify countries 'for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries'."

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Details: The New York Times believes that Afghanistan is likely to be included in the new list as it came under the control of the Taliban after the withdrawal of US troops in 2021.

It remains unclear whether these restrictions will apply to current visa and green card holders or whether their status will be revoked.

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Southern African leaders have declared on March 13 their intention to withdraw their troops from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where they have been assisting the Government in combating rebel forces. The troops were initially deployed two years ago to support the Congolese Army in its fight against the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, who have since captured significant portions of mineral-rich eastern DR Congo. The conflict has seen the deaths of at least 19 soldiers from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania, with the M23 rebels taking control of the regions largest city, Goma, in January.

The ongoing violence has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, sparking fears of a broader regional conflict. Despite this, the M23 rebels have continued to make territorial gains, seizing the second-largest city, Bukavu, in February. South Africas involvement in the conflict has drawn criticism, especially following the deaths of its soldiers, with public opposition growing. President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the fragile peace, stating that the situation was precarious, but the peace currently in place was holding. Political analysts, however, have described the situation as an embarrassment for South Africa, with concerns over the readiness of regional forces to handle such a large-scale war.

The announcement of the withdrawal, made during a virtual summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Harare, has raised concerns that it will weaken DR Congos position in the ongoing conflict. Experts suggest that the move marks a shift from active support for Kinshasa to a more neutral stance within the region. Despite the troop withdrawal, SADC has pledged to continue supporting efforts to bring lasting peace to DR Congo and has called for a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Angola has stepped forward to host peace talks between DR Congo and the M23 rebels in Luanda next week, with the M23 expressing their willingness to engage in dialogue.
By James Oliphant, Timothy Gardner and Rich McKay

(Reuters) -A federal judge on Saturday temporarily blocked any deportations that would occur under U.S. President Donald Trump's use of a little-used wartime law to expedite the expulsion of alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

Hours earlier, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 against the group, saying the United States was facing an "invasion" from a criminal organization that has been linked to kidnapping, extortion, organized crime and contract killings.

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Judge James Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order for 14 days. Boasberg said the act "does not provide a basis for the president's proclamation given that the terms invasion, predatory incursion really relate to hostile acts perpetrated by any nation and commensurate to war."

In invoking the act, Trump said members of the gang were "conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States" with the goal of destabilizing the nation.

The act, which has only been used in times of war, could allow the president to bypass the due process rights of migrants categorized as threats and rapidly deport them.

While the proclamation was released by the White House on Saturday, the wording suggests Trump signed it on Friday.

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"This proclamation is as lawless as anything the Trump administration has done," Lee Gelernt, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union, who argued for the order in a hearing on Saturday, told Reuters in an interview.

"We are on very dangerous ground when the administration is going to try to use wartime authority, when we're at peace, for immigration purposes or any other non-military purpose."

Attorney General Pam Bondi said Boasberg "had supported Tren de Aragua terrorists over the safety of Americans" in his ruling. "This order disregards well-established authority regarding President Trump's power, and it puts the public and law enforcement at risk," she said in a statement.

Under Trump's proclamation, all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are determined to be members of the gang, are within the United States and are not naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the country are "liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies."

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The Alien Enemies Act is best known for its use to justify internment camps for people of Japanese, German and Italian descent during World War Two.

Civil rights groups and some Democrats have criticized the idea of reviving it to fuel mass deportations.

The Trump administration in February designated Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel and six other criminal groups as global terrorist organizations.

Saturday's directive said that Tren de Aragua "has engaged in and continues to engage in mass illegal migration to the United States to further its objectives of harming United States citizens."

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LAWSUITS AND CRITICISM

Trump made the threat posed by the gang a regular feature of his campaign speeches as evidence of what he called a spike in "migrant crime." Numerous studies show immigrants do not commit crimes at higher rates than native-born Americans.

Immigration advocacy groups and Democrats ripped Trump's decision.

"Invoking the Alien Enemies Act, an extraordinary wartime power with a shameful history, to arbitrarily detain and deport immigrants is bigoted, dangerous, and profoundly unjust," said New York Attorney General Letitia James.

William Vasquez, a immigration lawyer in North Carolina, posted on social media that this is the first time the act "has been applied against migrants from a country with which the U.S. is not at war."

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Earlier on Saturday, Boasberg had temporarily blocked the U.S. government from deporting five Venezuelans after two non-profit groups sued, saying invocation of the act would be illegal as it has only been "a power invoked in a time of war, and plainly only applies to warlike actions."

The court granted a temporary restraining order, stopping the government from deporting them for 14 days. The ACLU said the Venezuelans are seeking asylum and have been misidentified as being part of Tren de Aragua.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Court papers show the government has appealed the judge's first temporary restraining order.

Trump, a Republican, returned to the White House on January 20 vowing to deport millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. But his initial deportations have lagged behind those of his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, who faced high levels of illegal immigration and rapidly deported many recent border crossers.

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Trump has taken an array of actions to step up immigration enforcement, sending additional troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and reassigning federal agents to help track down immigration offenders.

But his administration has had to contend with backed-up immigration courts and limited detention space.

(Reporting by James Oliphant and Timothy Gardner in Washington and Rich McKay in Atlanta; Additional reporting by Ted Hesson; Editing by Michelle Nichols, Deepa Babington, Nick Zieminski and William Mallard)
American warplanes launched a new round of airstrikes against multiple targets in Yemen controlled by Houthi extremists, President Donald Trump announced Saturday.

The strikes are aimed at destroying terrorists bases, leaders, and missile defenses, he wrote on his social media site Truth Social, and are meant to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom.

The Iranian-backed Houthi militants have targeted commercial and military shipping in the Red Sea for the past two years, virtually shutting down the waterway critical to commercial trade.

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The attacks represent the largest foreign military action taken by the administration to date, and come amid new strikes in recent days targeting Islamic State leadership in Syria.

The strikes come after the White House has loosened Biden-era restrictions on military commanders in conducting airstrikes on militant targets. Commanders in the Middle East and Africa now can take strikes where they see fit, without asking the White House to approve them.

One official, granted anonymity to discuss internal discussions, said the uptick in strikes in Somalia in recent weeks targeting al-Shabab militants, and strikes in Syria against Islamic State leaders, are the result of the new policy, adding there will be more strikes in the region to come as the military sees new opportunities to hit militant leaders.

The Biden administration also targeted the Houthis with air and missile strikes after the group, which controls a large swath of Yemen, began targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

The Houthis then claimed they were targeting Israeli shipping, though in reality they launched Iranian-made missiles and drones at any ship that transited the critical commercial waterway.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump's administration will pay El Salvador $6 million to imprison for one year about 300 alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, in one of the first instances of the Central American country taking migrants from the United States.

The agreement follows discussions between El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio about housing migrants in El Salvador's notorious prison. Bukele's government has arrested more than 84,000 people, sometimes without due process, since 2022 as part of his crackdown on gang violence in the small country.

It came as the American Civil Liberties Union and Democracy Forward preemptively sued Trump late Friday in federal court in Washington, D.C., saying five Venezuelan men being held at an immigration detention center in Raymondville, Texas, were at imminent risk of removal under the Alien Enemies Act.

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The agreement may have been put on hold, however.

U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg on Saturday blocked anyone from being deported under Trumps proclamation for two weeks and scheduled a Friday hearing to consider arguments. ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt said two flights Saturday may have carried people deported under Trumps proclamation, one to El Salvador and one possibly to Honduras. Boasberg said any such flights would have to be returned midair to the United States.

Memos detailing the transfer did not disclose how the Trump administration identified the roughly 300 people as members of Tren de Aragua, a gang Trump repeatedly highlighted in the campaign and declared to be a terrorist organization.

The Republic of El Salvador confirms it will house these individuals for one (1) year, pending the United States' decision on their long term disposition, wrote El Salvador's ministry of foreign affairs in a memo obtained by The Associated Press.

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The Central American nation and Trump administration last month struck a deal to house migrants detained in the United States. The Trump administration contended that El Salvador could even house American citizens, though the U.S. cannot deport citizens to another country.

Rubio and Bukele discussed the specifics of the new transfer, which include a cost of about $20,000 to house each prisoner for the year. A State Department document also suggests that it may set aside $15 million to send to El Salvador to house additional members of the gang.

The Salvadoran memo also confirmed the country would take two men it said were members of the MS-13 gang, an organization that was initially comprised of Salvadoran migrants to the U.S. and had gained an increasing foothold in El Salvador prior to Bukele's crackdown.

One man, Cesar Eliseo Sorto Amaya, was convicted of double homicide in El Salvador before he was caught illegally entering the United States, according to the U.S. Justice Department. The other was charged under President Joe Biden's administration with being a high-ranking leader of the MS-13 gang.

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Bukele's government did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

The Tren de Aragua gang originated in a prison in the South American country and accompanied an exodus of millions of Venezuelans, the overwhelming majority of whom were seeking better living conditions after their nations economy came undone last decade.

Trump and his allies have turned the gang into the face of the alleged threat posed by immigrants living in the U.S. illegally and formally designated it a foreign terrorist organization last month.

Authorities in several countries have reported arrests of Tren de Aragua members, even as Venezuelas government claims to have eliminated the criminal organization.

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The government of President Nicolas Maduro has not taken back immigrants deported from the U.S., except on a few occasions. Over the past few weeks, about 350 people were deported to Venezuela, including some 180 who spent up to 16 days at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Trumps government has alleged Venezuelans sent to the naval base are Tren de Aragua members, but it has offered little evidence to back that up.

On Saturday, the governments centralized press office in Caracas did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the agreement between the U.S. and Salvadoran governments.

___

Garcia Cano reported from Caracas, Venezuela. Associated Press writer Nicholas Riccardi in Denver contributed to this report.
The White House has received "some pretty good news" regarding its attempts to secure a 30-day ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed during a speech at the Justice Department (DOJ) on March 14.

Following talks with U.S. officials on March 11, Kyiv agreed to a temporary ceasefire, as long as Russia also abides by its terms. Washington is now attempting to persuade Moscow to accept the deal.

"We've had some very good calls today with Russia and with Ukraine," Trump said during his DOJ speech.

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"They've agreed for a ceasefire if we can get it with Russia, and it's not easy. It's a tough one. But I think we're doing it. ... I think we've had some very good results. I haven't been able to say that to anybody else, I haven't wanted to say it until just before I came here, I got some pretty good news."

Trump did not say what the good news was, nor did he provide additional details on the content of the negotiations. Despite his note of optimism, he acknowledged that there is still "a long way to go."

Earlier in the day, Trump claimed he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to "spare" Ukrainian troops he said were surrounded by Russian forces in Kursk Oblast  a claim he repeated during his speech. Kyiv has denied reports that its troops are encircled in Kursk.

Trump also repeated his standard talking point on Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine: namely, that former U.S. President Joe Biden should not have "let" the war happen.

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"Biden should have never let this war happen," he said.

"First of all, you don't want to pick on someone that's a lot larger than you, even with the money. That's a lot of money that we gave them."

Trump has historically been hesitant to condemn Russia's blatant aggression and violations of sovereignty, instead preferring to lay the blame on the Biden administration and Ukraine's own NATO ambitions.

Putin said on March 13 that Russia was ready to agree to the proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, but soon followed that up with demands that Ukraine ban mobilizing and training more troops and that the West halt all military aid to Kyiv.

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on March 14 said that the administration was "cautiously optimistic" about progress towards a ceasefire, but added that the situation remains "complex."

Read also: Conditions for Ukraines surrender  Why Putins demands for ceasefire make no sense

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The News

The US Senate, overcoming strong Democratic opposition, passed a six-month GOP funding bill 54-46, averting a government shutdown Friday. The bill will be sent to President Donald Trumps desk to be signed into law.

One Democratic senator, New Hampshires Jeanne Shaheen, voted yes on the bill, while Sen. Rand Paul was the lone Republican no vote.

Earlier in the day, nine Democratic senators including John Fetterman, Brian Schatz, and Kirsten Gillibrand, along with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voted to advance the bill, allowing it to pass the 60-vote threshold needed to break the filibuster.

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Schumer controversially reversed his opposition to the bill Thursday, sparking fury among the Democratic base. Opponents argue the bill lacks directives about how money can be spent, which could mean even fewer guardrails on the Trump administrations cost-cutting push. Schumer argued that a a shutdown will allow DOGE to shift into hyperdrive, referring to Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency.

The [continuing resolution] is a bad bill, Schumer said on Friday before the vote. But as bad as the CR is, I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi came out in opposition to the bill, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called Schumers decision a tremendous mistake. Some Democrats also opposed the funding bills $1 billion cut to Washington, DCs budget.
An American tourist who caused uproar after picking up and running off with a baby wombat in Australia has said she is truly sorry for the incident, saying she was acting out of concern for the young animals welfare.

A video shared widely on social media shows Sam Jones, who has 95,600 Instagram followers, running with the wombat towards a car while its distressed mother chases after her.

Jones smiles as she holds the wriggling animal, saying I caught a baby wombat.

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The footage horrified Australians  some of whom called for Jones to be deported  with the countrys Prime Minister Anthony Albanese describing the incident as just an outrage.

In a statement posted online Friday, Jones said: I have learned from this situation, and am truly sorry for the distress I have caused.

She posted the statement to an Instagram account that had been set to private after the incident. When she made it public again, hundreds of previous posts had been deleted.

When we found the mother and joey on a road, not moving, I was extremely concerned. As wombats are so often hit on Australian roads, I stopped to ensure they got off the road safety and didnt get hit, Jones said.

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Upon closer inspection, the joey was motionless and, fearing for the animals condition, Jones made a snap judgement to pick up the joey, she said.

I ran, not to rip the joey away from its mother, but from fear she might attack me, Jones added.

Jones said in her apology that she returned the wombat to its mother immediately after her inspection and ensured that the pair were safely off the road.

Experts say the animals in the video were common wombats, the only one of three species of the Australian marsupial which is not threatened or endangered. But like all Australian native animals, they are protected by law.

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On Friday it was confirmed Jones had voluntarily left the country, after Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said her visa would be canceled if she was found to have breached the conditions of her stay.

Theres never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia, Burke said following the news of Jones departure.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
On the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump pardoned all of the people charged with crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots.

Many Utahns did not approve of Trumps decision, according to the latest Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted by HarrisX.

More than half of Utah voters, or 53%, said they disapprove of Trump pardoning or commuting the sentences of the rioters.

DN-J62

Among Republicans, about 57% supported Trumps move, while 35% disapproved and 8% said they didnt know. Meanwhile, only 17% of Democrats approved, and 83% disapproved.

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The poll was conducted among a representative sample of 805 registered Utah voters on Feb. 18-25, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Despite Trumps executive order, pardoning the individuals involved in Jan. 6 proved complicated. As Politico reported, the FBI found evidence of other unrelated crimes committed by the Jan. 6 rioters, and the pardon doesnt extend to those charges.

President Donald Trump signs an executive order pardoning about 1,500 defendants charged in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington. | Evan Vucci

In one case, Benjamin Martin was also convicted for illegal possession of a firearm, which he claims was connected to the Jan. 6 event. The weapons were discovered in his home.

Another defendant, Jeremy Brown was convicted of the unlawful possession of firearms, grenades and classified information.

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The Justice Department has argued that Trump offered blanket pardons, but the official document only says their conduct related to the events at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Enrique Tarrio hugs his mother after arriving at Miami International Airport, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Miami. Tarrio was pardoned by President Donald Trump after he was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. | Marta Lavandier

During his joint address to Congress, Trump praised police officers and said his administration will offer them the support, protection and respect they so dearly deserve.

The problem is the bad guys dont respect the law, but they are starting to respect it and they soon will respect it, he said.

His statement prompted many Democrats to call out what they see as a double standard.

Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas., wrote in a post on X, The height of hypocrisy. Trump talks a big game about standing with ... the blue, yet on the first day of his administration he pardoned hundreds of cop-beaters who tried to steal an election on January 6, 2021.

Voters disapprove of Joe Bidens pardons

Utah voters expressed similar displeasure with President Joe Bidens decision to pardon his son, Hunter, during the final days of his presidency.

DN-HBiden2

Three in four Utah voters said they dont approve of Biden pardoning his son. Among Republicans, about 86% said they disapprove while only 11% approve and 3% said they dont know. By comparison, 41% of Democrats said they disapprove of Hunters pardon, and 46% approved, while about 13% said they didnt know.

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Hunter Biden is still involved in legal battles. In his 2023 lawsuit, Biden alleged Garrett Ziegler, a former aide to Trump, of publishing roughly 128,000 emails found on Bidens controversial laptop.

Hunter Biden steps into a vehicle as he leaves federal court, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Los Angeles, after pleading guilty to federal tax charges. | Eric Thayer

As the New York Post reported, Bidens motion to dismiss the case was granted Friday. Biden said he couldnt pursue the case because of a lack of resources following the Pacific Palisades fires in January, when his rental home became unlivable and he incurred a significant debt. He since has struggled to find a new place to live and earn a living.

So, Plaintiff must focus his time and resources dealing with his relocation, the damage he has incurred due to the fires, and paying for his familys living expenses as opposed to this litigation, the document said.

Biden lived off the sales of his art and his 2021 book Beautiful Things but his income has suffered since his father left office.

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In his last day as president, Biden extended preemptive pardons to five members of his extended family, including his two brothers, James Biden and Francis Biden, and his sister Valerie Biden Owens, as the Deseret News previously reported.

DN-JBiden2

He also issued preemptive pardons to former White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci, who helped coordinate the nations response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Members of Congress and staff who served on the Select Committee, and the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the Select Committee, according to Roll Call.

James Bidens wife Sarah Jones and Valerie Biden Owens husband John Owens also received preemptive pardons, though none of them have been charged with any crimes.

Asked whether they approved of Biden granting preemptive presidential pardons to individuals, including family members, lawmakers, and other policymakers, about 21% of Utah voters said they approved and 71% said they dont approve.

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I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics, Biden said at the time. But baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families.

Even when individuals have done nothing wrong and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage their reputations and finance, he added.
The future largest resort in Arizona just shared the first photos of its model hotel rooms.

VAI Resort in Glendale, which plans to open its first phase in late 2025 after several years under construction, shared photos of the model rooms in its Amphitheater Tower.

Accommodations in VAI's music-themed wing are described as "sleek, modern rooms designed for privacy and comfort." Amphitheater Tower is one of four towers of guest rooms and the one that will overlook the 11,000-capacity concert venue VAI Amphitheater.

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The photos appear to complement the next-level experiences VAI is promising. Its amphitheater, which is being developed in partnership with the engineering firm TAIT, will include a custom-designed array of moving LED screens. On-site dining will include the first Arizona restaurant for Michelin-starred chef Jose Andres.

Here's what we know about VAI Resort's rooms.

Is the VAI Resort in Glendale open?

No. VAI is targeting a late 2025 opening date.

How many rooms will VAI Resort have?

VAI Resort will have 1,100 rooms across four towers: Amphitheater Tower, Rhythm Tower, Cadence Tower and VAI Villas. The resort will open in phases; when complete, it will have the most rooms of any Arizona hotel.

A model guest room in the Amphitheater Tower at VAI Resort in Glendale, Arizona.

Amphitheater Tower will have 326 guest rooms and suites, hotel spokesperson Shannon Sproul said. Of those, 149 will feature private balconies that face the amphitheater stage, offering concert views.

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VAI and more: Biggest new hotels and renos in Arizona in 2025

What do the rooms at VAI Resort have?

The Arizona Republic saw one of Amphitheater Tower's model rooms on visits to the construction site. We described the look and feel of the room as comparable to guests entering "their own personal Hard Rock Cafe, where the decor includes a guitar above the bed and photos of musicians performing."

The model room has a king bed, sofa, desk and flat-screen TV. The bathroom features toiletries from Byredo, a European brand of luxury perfume and skin care products. There's a minibar stocked with wine and spirits and a coffee bar with an Illy espresso machine.

How much will the VAI Resort cost?

Reservations and room rates for VAI Resort aren't yet available, Sproul said.

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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: VAI Resort sneak peek: See the music-themed guest rooms
Sudans ongoing war, ignited in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has been described by aid officials as creating the largest and most devastating humanitarian crisis in the world.

More than 30 million people, nearly two-thirds of the population, are expected to require humanitarian aid this year. The warring parties are accused of blocking aid deliveries, exacerbating the suffering of civilians, and hindering relief efforts. Both the RSF and the SAF have denied these accusations, with the RSF attributing the actions to rogue elements and pledging to investigate, while Sudans U.N. ambassador defended the Governments commitment to civilian protection.

The crisis has led to severe food shortages, with famine affecting at least five locations in Sudan. UNICEF reports that over 3 million children under five are at risk of deadly diseases such as cholera and malaria, due to the collapse of the countrys health system. Furthermore, the conflict has seen a horrifying surge in sexual violence, with hundreds of children, some as young as one, being raped. Aid organisations such as Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have provided support to numerous survivors, but the scope of the violence is vast and still underreported.

The conflict has also led to significant disruption in Sudans agricultural sector, further deepening food insecurity. The UNs call for action has become urgent, with aid officials highlighting the dire need for a sustainable and safe humanitarian response. The international community continues to push for the protection of civilians and for unrestricted access to aid for the millions in need. Despite these efforts, the warring factions remain locked in battle, leaving the countrys most vulnerable populations to bear the brunt of the crisis.
CNN political commentator Van Jones weighed in on the volcanic anger Democrats have with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) after he voted to advance the GOP-backed spending bill, emphasizing the party needs some alpha energy and has to push back harder on the changes being executed by the current administration.

We want some alpha energy. And thats not what were seeing. This party is tired of watching Donald Trump and Elon Musk run over this party, run over this country, run over the Constitution, Jones said during his Friday night appearance on CNN.

And if you only have one opportunity to take a stand, and you dont take it, its very difficult, the former adviser to President Obama added.

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Jones reacted to a clip from radio host Charlamagne tha God, who earlier on Friday called on both Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) to step aside.

Dems dont just have a messaging problem. They got a leadership problem, the radio host said. The Chuck Schumers of the world, the Hakeem Jeffriess, they should all step down.

Capitol Hill Democrats, who are still in disarray following their 2024 presidential election loss, have expressed anger toward Schumer, who on Thursday announced he would vote to advance the Republican-crafted continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through September. He was one of the 10 Democrats to vote to push ahead the GOP-backed legislation on Friday.

Later that day, the legislation passed with a 54-46 vote. Only Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Angus King (I-Maine), who caucuses with Democrats, backed the measure in the final floor vote. President Trump is expected to sign the legislation.

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Schumer received heavy pushback from Democrats in the House, including fellow New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

There is a deep sense of outrage and betrayal, she said. And this is not just about progressive Democrats, This is across the board  the entire party.

Jones said on Friday that if a hypothetical Senate primary between Schumer and Ocasio-Cortez took place now, the Democrats longtime leader would lose his seat to the progressive lawmaker.

But if we want somebody whos going to stand up to this bully, stand up this bully, do something, and if you shut the government down, and it gets a little bit crazy, in the least, some positives about the rationality, theres an emotional need to stop Donald Trump and Elon Musk running over this party, Jones said.

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And I think Chuck Schumer has radically misread the room, he added.

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CANTON, Texas (KETK) The Van Zandt County Sheriffs Office Criminal Interdiction Team, the Drug Enforcement Agency, Homeland Security Investigations and Hunt County Sheriffs Office deputies joined forces to shut down a major illegal drug operation on Friday.

POLICE: 10-year-old East Texas girl, mother injured after shooting outside their house

A federal search warrant allowed both local and federal agencies to search a property on Interstate 20 for illegal drugs. The operation began early on Friday morning with law enforcement officials following up on multiple leads they had on the property.

Courtesy of Van Zandt County Sheriff Office

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The Van Zandt County SWAT vehicle and the DEA SWAT vehicle provided extra protection over the law enforcement officers as they searched the property. Their search lead to the closing of a major drug manufacturing facility and the arrests of three people.

This is yet another example of the willingness of the Van Zandt County Sheriffs Office to work with other agencies to ensure the safety of our citizens. We are grateful for our working relationships with our partner agencies and the progress we are making, Van Zandt County Sheriff Kevin Bridger said. The subjects are currently in federal custody and the investigation is ongoing.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Vice President Vance said during an interview that senior President Trump adviser Elon Musk has made some mistakes with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) firings of federal government workers, adding that he thinks there are a lot of good people who work in government.

Elon himself has said that sometimes you do something, you make a mistake, and then you undo the mistake. Im accepting of mistakes, Vance said in an interview with NBC News published on Friday.

I also think you have to quickly correct those mistakes. But Im also very aware of the fact that there are a lot of good people who work in the government  a lot of people who are doing a very good job, the vice president added. And we want to try to preserve as much of what works in government as possible, while eliminating what doesnt work.

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Since assuming office on Jan. 20, the Trump administration has put a heavy focus on overhauling the federal government, utilizing DOGE, an advisory board, to probe federal agencies to cut down on government spending and reduce the size of the federal workforce, which has resulted in the firing of thousands of employees.

DOGEs work has been met with pushback from lawmakers on Capitol Hill, activists on the ground and various groups filing lawsuits, some of which have resulted in federal orders pausing mass terminations.

Recent polling also suggests that Americans are relatively unhappy with DOGEs efforts. A Quinnipiac University poll, released this week, found that 60 percent of surveyed U.S. adults are not supportive of the advisory boards handling of workers employed with the federal government. Some 36 percent said they are supportive of the effort.

Vance claimed on Friday, similarly to Musk, that some people clearly are collecting a check and not doing a job.

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Now, how many people is that? I dont know, in a 3 million-strong federal workforce, whether its a few thousand or much larger than that, he told NBC.

The vice president stressed that while it is a problem when employees enjoy a taxpayer-funded role and do not do the work, there are still those who are valuable contributors to the federal workforce.

That doesnt distract or detract from the fact that you do have a lot of great civil servants who are doing important work. But I think most of those great civil servants would say we want to be empowered to do our job, Vance said. We dont want the person who doesnt show up five days a week to make it harder for us to do what we need to do.

In recent weeks, Vance has faced pushback from pro-Ukraine protesters near his home and was even met with boos during an appearance at the newly reformed Kennedy Center in Washington.

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The thing at the Kennedy Center I thought was funny, Vance said. The thing by my house I thought was kind of annoying. I think you just kind of take the good with the bad.  I kind of just see it as, depending on your perspective, a feature or a bug of this new life.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Pope Francis remains under the care of doctors, nurses and other staff at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he has been receiving treatment for bilateral pneumonia since Feb. 14.

This week was a pivotal one for the Pope, whose prognosis remains "complex," but he is no longer in "imminent danger" of death, according to the Vatican.

On Friday, March 14, the Vatican shared some news that will likely make the Pope's loyal followers very happy. According to the Vatican's Holy See Press Office, Pope Francis remains stable, and since there are no major developments in his clinical condition, his medical team has decided not to send out the expected scheduled bulletin about changes to his health. The Vatican's Holy See Press Office also indicated that this is a "a positive sign." In other words, no news is good news.

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Because of the Pope's stable condition, the Holy See Press Office has also stated that health bulletins will be sent out less frequently, and the Holy See's daily morning update about how Pope Francis spent the night will no longer be issued. They emphasized that the Pope's recovering is progressing, but that time is needed to make sure these improvements are continuing.

The 88-year-old has now spent four weeks in hospital and is still under medical supervision. While that's a long time, St. John Paul II currently holds the record for the longest hospital stay, his longest being when he was hospitalized for 55 days in 1981 after surgery and recovery for an infection.

Part of Pope Francis' hospital stay comes during Lent, a 40-day "season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday." Lent began on Wednesday, March 5, this year.
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  To be honest with you, I didnt like the way things were going, said newly-appointed Polk County Fire Rescue Chief Shawn Smith.

Chief Smith, 51, has seen the department change drastically in size and culture since joining in 2003.

From our stations to our trucks to the culture to the people power or our crews. When I was first here, we were a lot smaller of an organization, he said.

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Smith, who grew up in Michigan, said Polk County Fire Rescue was the first department to interview him and offer him a job nearly 22 years ago.

He accepted the job and never left, climbing the ranks from firefighter/EMT, lieutenant (which are now called captain), battalion chief, deputy chief, assistant chief and, as of this month, fire chief.

Ive walked in everybodys shoes. So I have that relatability, he said. Its been a little while since Ive worked in that firefighter role but it was something I was good at and I think I could probably take over that hose right now and still do really well.

Smith was named interim chief after former Chief Hezedean Smith resigned in protest in September after a report alleged he oversaw a toxic work environment.

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Chief Smith said Polk County Fire Rescue demands a lot from leadership.

It comes with a tremendous workload. Were not built like a big metro organization that has a lot of money, said Chief Smith, referring to other departments that have more staff on the administrative level.

On March 4, county commissioners voted unanimously to appoint Chief Shawn Smith as fire chief  the first chief in recent years to be hired from within the department.

It was never a career ambition. Im a blue collar individual. I like to work. I like to work hard. I like to be good at what I do. I came in and I started promoting through the ranks, said Chief Smith.

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Looking ahead, Chief Smith said he is excited about the departments first training center, which broke ground this month.

Source: Polk County Fire Rescue

Thats going to be a $15 million project so were really excited about that. Its going to be state of the art. Its going to be fantastic, said Chief Smith.

Another priority for Chief Smith is addressing employee retention and mandatory overtime, which forces members to work an extra 24 hours beyond their regular 24 hour shift.

A lot of them love working. Theyll give you 24 hours and theyll give you 100% but chief, we really dont want to work, I dont want to work another shift unless I want to or unless my family wants me to, said Chief Smith.

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In February, county commissioners approved the addition of 75 new positions, with the explicit goal of eliminating the need for mandatory overtime.

Its a burden on my heart and its a burden on anybody that cares for people. Its been a part of our organization for a while. Are we trying to fix it? Absolutely were trying to fix it. Were trying to do everything we can, said Chief Smith.

Jon Hall, president of IAFF 3531, which represents Polk County Fire Rescue members, told News Channel 8 the union is incredibly excited about Smiths appointment.

His years of dedicated service and passion for those he serves are amazing. We know Chief Smith will continue to act with professionalism and respect. We look forward to the years ahead where we will continue to work together to make our department a destination for new firefighters for years to come, wrote Hall in a statement.

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Chief Smith said his administration needs to gain the trust of his members back.

We need to really identify who we work for. We work for the members of this department that actually serve the community, said Chief Smith.

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A multi-vehicle pileup on Interstate 40 near Williams on Thursday claimed two lives as a winter storm continued to sweep through northern Arizona.

The victims, both passengers in separate vehicles, died in a secondary collision triggered by a "jackknifed commercial motor vehicle" that blocked part of the westbound lanes at milepost 159.5, west of Williams.

A "jackknifed" vehicle occurs when a tractor-trailer loses control, causing the trailer to swing out and form a sharp angle with the cab, resembling a folding pocketknife.

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The region has been hit with heavy snow and freezing temperatures as a winter storm moves across Arizona. The Arizona Department of Public Safety noted that the severe weather contributed to delays in emergency response efforts.

Around 3 p.m., traffic approaching the jackknifed truck failed to slow down, causing another commercial vehicle to jackknife and collide with multiple cars. According to Raul Garcia, spokesperson for the DPS, vehicles were rear-ended and "pushed into or underneath" the commercial trucks in a chain reaction of collisions.

One of the commercial vehicles caught fire, which quickly spread to all the involved vehicles.

"Due to severe weather, traffic congestion, and other ongoing incidents, emergency response was delayed. The fire burned for more than 12 hours, destroying all vehicles." Garcia said.

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The sequence of collisions was still under investigation, but two fatalities have been confirmed. The crash involved 13 passenger vehicles, five commercial vehicles, and five unattended trailers.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Multi-vehicle pileup on I-40 in Arizona kills 2
A Ventura County gang member has pleaded guilty to the deadly shooting of a man in Oxnard.

On March 13, Christopher Paul Arevalo, 33, pled guilty to the second-degree murder of Giovanni Vega, the Ventura County District Attorneys Office announced Friday.

On Dec. 8, 2016, Arevalo and an accomplice entered a convenience store in Oxnard. A minute later, the victim, Vega, also walked into the store.

When Vega exited, Arevalo and his associate quickly followed behind before catching up to him and asking where he was from. Arevalo then shot Vega four times before fleeing the scene, prosecutors said.

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The next morning, a jogger discovered Vegas body lying on West Vineyard Avenue, about 130 yards from the convenience store.

Oxnard police detectives identified Arevalo, a known gang member, as the suspect after checking the shops surveillance footage.

Christopher Paul Arevalo, 33, pled guilty to the 2016 murder of Giovanni Vega. (Ventura County District Attorneys Office)

A day later, Arevalo was sitting in the backseat of a car when police conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. While searching the car, they found the gun that was used in the murder hidden between the seat where Arevalo was sitting.

Ballistics analysis later confirmed the four shell casings found near Vegas body matched the weapon, officials said.

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The victims family has endured immense hardship due to the long passage of time between their loved ones death and this plea, said Theresa Pollara, a Ventura County District Attorney who prosecuted the case. Hopefully, this resolution brings them the closure and peace they deserve.

Arevalo was arrested and pled guilty to second-degree murder along with a special allegation of the personal and intentional discharge of a firearm.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11 at Ventura County Superior Court where he faces 35 years to life in prison.

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On March 6, Jeremy Hacquet, 45, formerly of Danville, pleaded guilty to Burglary, a class 2 felony, and to Residential Burglary, a class 1 felony. Hacquet was sentenced to 10 years Illinois Department of Corrections for each case, with sentences to run concurrently.

Following his term of imprisonment, Hacquet will serve one year of mandatory supervised release. Judge Mark S. Goodwin presided over the plea and sentencing in which the State presented evidence that on Aug. 2, 2023, the Vermilion County Sheriffs Department responded to a residence for a burglary. The victim reported that Hacquet had entered a detached garage on the victims property and stole a Husqvarna weed eater.

Investigators made contact with Hacquet, who admitted to taking the weed eater, but claimed he had been given permission to do so. Investigators confirmed with the victim that Hacquet was not given permission to be on the property, or to take the weed eater.

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Evidence was also presented in court that on Feb. 8, 2024, deputies with the Vermilion County Sheriffs Department responded to a burglary of a residence. The elderly victim, who had been hospitalized for multiple days, was unaware that her home had been burglarized until her son discovered the break-in as he was checking on the home. Upon investigation, it was determined that numerous items had been stolen from inside the home, including money, tools, musical instruments, and jewelry.

Video surveillance from the area identified Hacquet as the suspect. Additionally, a witness reported seeing him moving items out of the residence and told police Hacquet had asked for help moving the items. Although he denied involvement, Hacquet was found in possession of property stolen from the victims home.

The residents of Vermilion County deserve peace of mind knowing their homes are protected from criminals who seek to invade their privacy and steal from them, States Attorney Jacqueline Lacy said. Video surveillance is a wise and effective option for any property owner to assist law enforcement, as it aids to hold criminals accountable for their actions.
A 52-year-old man from Marlboro will be in court next week, accused of aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Vermont State Police said they opened an investigation into Jorge Romo in November, after detectives learned of alleged inappropriate conduct. Romo was arrested and faces charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 13 and two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child.

Romo was cited to appear in Vermont Superior Court, Windsor Criminal Division on March 17.

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Volunteers often gather more than just blood at blood drives. They also collect platelets cell fragments carried in the bloodstream to prevent bleeding which are needed for treatments every 15 seconds in the United States according to the American Red Cross.

Brad Eldred has been donating platelets since September 2008. Since then, the 72-year-old has grown close with the 32 North Prospect Street staff, often bringing homemade treats in for the nurses who set up the dual needles in his arms.

This donation today will bring me up to 690 donations, my goal is 1,000. Im going to have to go a few years to do that, but I do 40 or 50 donation units each year, said the retiree.

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In 1995, Eldreds wife died from brain cancer, so when he learned that platelets often go to those battling the illness, it motivated him to continue giving. He and his eldest daughter, who works as a Physician Assistant at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, often discuss his donations.

She says, Dad, everyday Im ordering multiple units of platelets for the patients we have here. She personally uses at least one dose of platelets everyday so theres also that too, so its a good feeling, he said.

Platelets, which are good for up to five days from extraction, are shipped nationwide and can help treat patients with cancer, blood disorders, traumatic injuries, and those undergoing surgeries or transplants.

Dan Dowling, the Regional Communications Manager for the Northern New England Red Cross, has donated platelets himself and says the two to three hour process is usually painless.

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You can just sit and do nothing and know that youre helping someone in the process, he said. Were often being pulled away to different things and to be doing something good for a period of time, and to just let that go, is a phenomenal experience and something that doesnt get talked about nearly enough.

You can learn more about platelets or make an appointment at redcrossblood.org.

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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

New research into how a retrovirus is spreading across populations of wild koalas in Queensland, Australia is leading to a better understanding of the evolution of the animal's genome.

Published this month in the journal Cell by scientists at UMass Chan Medical School and the University of Queensland, the paper explains how the animals adapted genomic immunity to the koala retrovirus (KoRV-A), by shutting it down, or silencing it, as it becomes a component of the genome. This is important because most wild koalas are born with this pathogen as part of their genetic material.

KoRV-A is spreading between wild koalas by infecting germ cells that make eggs and sperm, suppressing the immune system and making the animals susceptible to cancer and secondary chlamydia infection.

Scientists report that a copy of the virus is captured by a host gene, and the germ cells process the product of this modified gene into small pieces of "anti-KoRV-A" RNA, known as piRNAs. The virus sequences captured in piRNAs are used to find copies of the pathogen in the genome, turning them off.

"The virus first infected koalas in the northern part of Australia and is spreading to the south while infecting germ cells and becoming a component of the genome. The north to south spread allowed us to watch how germ cells learn to control a brand-new infection," said William E. Theurkauf, Ph.D., professor of molecular medicine at UMass Chan.

The UMass Chan team includes Zhiping Weng, Ph.D., the Li Weibo Chair in Biomedical Research and professor of genomics and computational biology; Jeremy Luban, MD, the David J. Freelander Memorial Professor in AIDS Research and professor of molecular medicine; Tianxiong Yu, Ph.D., a postdoctoral associate working in Dr. Weng's lab.

Retroviruses can lead to serious illnesses and have also played a notable role in shaping human evolution. Through millions of years of human evolution, retroviruses have influenced developmental processes. Genes derived from retroviruses have been "highjacked" for placental development and information storage in the brain. Weng underscored the significance of the viral invasion in wild koalas in understanding genome evolution and its broader implications for other mammalian genomes.

"For mammals, the most recent viral invasion of the germline was millions of years ago. This invasion is estimated to be in the 5,000-year range and is still in progress. Discovering how this virus is controlled reveals how viruses modified other mammalian genomes," Weng said.

The UMass Chan team is collaborating with Keith Chappell, Ph.D., professor at the University of Queensland; postdoctoral fellow Michaela Blyton, Ph.D.; and their team. Dr. Chappell highlighted the unique opportunity presented by the koala population.

"Out of all the species on the planet, the koala is the only one where we can see a genetic response to a retrovirus in real time," Dr. Chappell said. "This allows the researchers to study exactly how these iconic critters are responding. It's a pretty amazing situation."

More information: Tianxiong Yu et al, Evolution of KoRV-A transcriptional silencing in wild koalas, Cell (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.02.006 Journal information: Cell
CLARKSBURG  Veterans brought their concerns about exposure to toxic substances to a Veterans Town Hall at the Louis A. Johnson Medical Center in Clarksburg on Thursday.

My toxic exposure has been PFAS, Joel Giambrone said. That might be a strange word to a lot of folks. I refer to it with the other phrase, which is firefighting foam. To my generation, it equates to Agent Orange. Its very serious. Its changed, almost ruined my life.

A US Navy veteran, Giambrone filed a disability claim last year. He avoided it for 15 years because most people in the military dont like to complain, he said. However, everything related to his PFAS exposure was denied, so now hes going through the battle of having to connect his injury to his service so he can receive his benefits. He asked the meetings host how close the VA was to categorizing PFAS exposure as a presumptive condition. Presumptive conditions are a category of injury or illnesses that are automatically assumed to be connected to military service.

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Mabel Wright, a physicians assistant at the VA, responded that presumptive conditions are set by Congress. The PACT Act, passed in 2022, covers veterans who were exposed to toxic substances at burn pits while on military duty. One of the VAs injury and illness centers is currently in the midst of doing a study on PFAS.

Theyre very aware that its an issue, but until something legislatively is done to create that presumptive list like we have for Agent Orange or airborne, all of those claims are going to be decided on a case by case basis, Wright said.

Wright told Giambrone to get in touch with the VAs Environmental Exposure Clinic, where he could have a more in-depth discussion about his exposure with doctors and go from there.

Robert Andrews, who served in Vietnam and the first Gulf War, said he was exposed to both Agent Orange and burn pits. He wanted to know if the PACT Act stretched back in time to cover his injuries as well. Wright responded there was no time limit for the PACT Act, and that Andrews exposure would be covered under the law.

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The town hall also included a presentation about the sleep services the VA offers. Barbara Forsha, medical center director, said sleep affects every aspect of medical care, and if a veteran has issues sleeping, she wants them to know they can get connected to that type of care at the VA. She also provided a report on the VA facility itself.

Clarksburg enrolled 561 new veterans at the facility this year. The Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center lost six probationary employees during Elon Musks purge of federal employees, but Forsha said those employees were spread out so the losses didnt diminish the functionality of any of the hospitals departments.

Forsha said that the VA Medical Center follows all executive orders, and that they are constantly looking at ways they can better use their resources. Their number one mission is taking care of veterans, she said.

We are looking at some programs right now to determine what programs are low volume, what programs are high volume, Forsha said. Where are the largest amount of care that we see and and making sure that we have our resources put in the right places.

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Forsha said it is important for veterans to come to town halls because the VA is always trying to ensure veterans receive information thats pertinent and important to them. By talking to veterans directly, it also lets the hospital keep a pulse on what is the minds of veterans when it comes to their health care. They hold town halls twice a year.

This is their health care place, and we want to make sure that it meets all of their needs, she said. And hearing their voice and understanding any challenges they might have or things that they would like to see different in their health care helps us to kind of plan for the future.
U.S. Army veteran Jay Carey  who went viral for telling Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) he didnt give a fuck about him  defended hurling expletives at a fiery town hall event in North Carolina this week.

I think it was necessary, said Carey, a Democrat who served in the military for over two decades, in an interview shared by Asheville Watchdog on Friday.

I think it was the only way to really get his attention, and it was the energy that I want to see from everyone  to stand up and to speak back to the representatives that arent serving us, as is their duty.

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Carey  who ran for Edwards congressional seat and lost in the Democratic primary in 2022  shouted, do your job, youre lying and fuck you at Edwards among a sea of his constituents outraged over their representatives support for cuts under President Donald Trump.

The veteran drew applause as he was escorted out of the auditorium and his remarks later wentviral, garnering tens of thousands of likes and views on social media.

The event was one of a number of contentioustown halls where constituents have pushed back at Republicans in recent weeks.

A person is removed from the Chuck Edwards town hall



Do your job that you were sent there to do to represent us all. Im a veteran and you dont give a fuck about me pic.twitter.com/F9Hg6NiElf  Acyn (@Acyn) March 13, 2025

When Edwards was later asked how he justifies cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs, he claimed there havent been cuts to VA staff and stressed that its not the intent of Trump, Congress or Elon Musk to eliminate jobs that directly provide services to veterans.

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In February, the VA fired over 1,000 probationary workers at the department.

The Trump administration also plans to cut more than 80,000 jobs at the VA, where veterans make up 25% of the workforce, per an internal memo detailed by The Associated Press last week.

On Friday, about 3,000 people protested the cuts which have also impacted veterans working in other parts of the federal government  in Washington, D.C. Demonstrators questioned why the president is abandoning his commitment to veterans, military newspaper Stars and Stripes reported.

Carey told the Asheville Watchdog that he doesnt regret his choice of words for Edwards.

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I do feel that the days of being cordial and respectful are over, because were not being respected, Carey said.

Hes disrespecting us by doing what hes doing to our community as a whole.

Related...
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Caddo Parish Commissioner and Chairman of the Veterans Celebration Committee Ken Epperson is working to gain understanding on behalf of local veterans amidst ongoing changes at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

He just returned from a national convention and explains how it went this year.

This years was not that good. It was really contentious this year, said Commissioner Epperson of District 12.

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Epperson just returned from the annual National Association of County Officials in Washington, D.C., where he is a steering member of the Military and Veterans Committee and the Workforce and Economic Development Committee.

Our counterparts from Canada came down. They spoke in reference to the tariffs that are being levied between the United States and Canada and how its going to affect our states in a negative manner. Basically, 38 of the 50 states does major business, import and exports, with Canada. So these things will hurt us and it will trickle down through the stock market, our 401(k), our 457(b). We just wonder why would the Musk-Trump administration pick a fight with one of our best neighbors? Epperson said.

The association brings thousands of county/parish elected officials together to address legislative leaders and federal departments.

Louisiana VA secretary calls veterans an economic powerhouse

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Epperson is a Vietnam veteran and well-known advocate for veterans rights. He asked about the recent layoffs at VA hospitals, including Caddo Parishs Overton Brooks VA Medical Center and the Department of Government Efficiency, DOGEs, plans to cut 80,000 more VA jobs.

One of the under secretaries from the Department of Veterans Affairs came and spoke and of course that committee was overflowing too. The questions we asked why the layoffs? Why are you cutting the VA? They would not answer. As soon as they gave us a standard script, they left. So we did not get many answers while we were up there, Epperson said.

He said if any local veterans have questions or concerns, along with those who have been laid off, to please contact the Veterans Celebration Committee, which can provide assistance on a range of issues, to help at (318) 773-2654 or veteranscelebrationcommittee@gmail.com

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WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  One local group participated in a nationwide rally against the layoffs of Veterans Affairs employees.

Veterans rallied at the Vet Center in West Springfield Saturday morning, protesting the layoffs of VA employees. The veterans in attendance were heard chanting, Honor The Contract, urging the federal government to give the Veterans Affairs offices more employees and resources.

Lawmakers say healthcare system is falling apart

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Michael Slater was recently fired from the Springfield Vet Center as a result of these layoffs.

Slater served four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He described how the community has been feeling amidst these mass firings.

Those were the first drops in the bucket, Slater said. So now theres really this level of fear that, what is 80,000 more gonna do to this system? How is it going to constrict care and access to care, and the timely referral process to get veterans who need help, into help?

Another veteran who attended was Senator John Velis, who also served in Afghanistan. He told 22News what consequences could come if the VA cant provide care.

If we establish a reputation of, We are not gonna take care of the men and women who serve their country, then weve got problems, Velis said. Because what thats going to mean is that folks arent going to join. My plea here today in being here is I want the federal government to reconsider.

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A ruling from a federal judge on Thursday ordered multiple federal agencies, including the VA, to reinstate probationary employees who were laid off. This comes as 19 states are suing the Trump administration for these firings.

When asked what should be done, Slater said that the federal government needs to assess the consequences of thinning out these agencies.

We need to really do a deep dive into the services, and however, every decision made by the administration is going to affect those services, Slater said. And ensuring that when veterans make the decision to seek care, that the care is there.

VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz provided 22News with the following statement:

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The Biden Administration astronomically grew the departments budget and number of employees, and VA wait times and backlogs increased. We are doing things differently. But the legacy media, government union bosses, and some in Congress are working together to use rumor, innuendo and disinformation to spread fear in the hopes that the department will just keep in place the status quo.

Here are the facts: VA health care has been on the Government Accountability Offices high-risk list since 2015. It is still on the list to this day. In other words, VA has had serious problems for at least ten years running. Thats why our efforts to reform the department are so important.

VA has laid off 2,400 probationary employees in non-mission-critical positions, such as publicists, interior designers, and diversity, equity and inclusion officers. Thats one half of one percent of VAs workforce. So the notion that these layoffs are causing issues across the department is false.

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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We get it. Republicans party leaders have told their members not to hold town hall meetings, which have devolved into embarrassing confrontations, with constituents demanding answers.

Constituents have been showing up to vent about the Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency blitz that has resulted in the mass firing of federal workers and cuts to government programs.

Recent wild stock market swings in the wake of Trumps global tariff wars, as well as a looming possible recession, and persistent high food and energy costs have left Americans with legitimate concerns. They deserve legitimate responses. Instead, they are getting political word salad served up through written statements and press releases.

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The Kern Valley Sun reported that on Feb. 24, about 70 people showed up for a Kernville Chamber of Commerce meeting, which Bakersfield Republican Congressman Vince Fongs field representative attended. Getting 70 people to show for any meeting in the small rural community is a big deal.

They brought with them concerns Fong should have heard for himself, but he was in Washington, D.C., where the House of Representatives was in session. Field representative Ireland Comstock-Rush was sent to take notes and report back.

If Fong had really wanted to meet personally with his constituents, he could have scheduled a meeting for the week before, when the posted calendar indicated the House was adjourned for members to go home to their districts. Combined with the three-day Feb. 17 Presidents Day holiday and throw in the Friday representatives were given for travel, Fong had a 10-day district work period, when he could have met with constituents.

A few days earlier, on Feb. 18, still during Fongs work session, 20 people showed up with their concerns in front of the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce, where Fongs staff was holding mobile office hours. Fong wasnt there, either.

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While the Kernville and Tehachapi groups shared concerns about Medicaid and Medicare cuts, local concerns also dominated the exchanges. Overwhelmingly, people pressed the impacts Trumps executive orders and Musks DOGE cuts would have on their communities.

Folks in Kernville, which has been hit by past wildfires and struggles to accommodate thousands of tourists every year, worried about U.S. Forest Service staffing and funding cuts, in particular.

Chamber President Gary Ananian asked if there would be enough money to service dumpsters and restrooms at the campgrounds. Others asked if a lack of law enforcement will cause safety issues and diminish protections for the wild and scenic Kern River.

Before the meeting was held they fired a bunch of people, Ananian said, referring to the Forest Service and the on-again-off-again firing decisions that have created an its like all over the place situation.

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Some people at the Kernville meeting insisted DOGE should be more transparent with Americans, who are directly impacted by its decisions.

To these concerns, Fongs field representative handed out forms, encouraged people to write down their concerns and promised to forward them to the congressman.

Later, Fong issued the following statement: 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. 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.

But that lacks concrete specifics.

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Heres an idea: According to the posted House calendar, Fong now is enjoying a 10-day district work period, which began March 13 and ends March 23. Next month, he has an even longer break, from April 11 to 27.

During one or both breaks, schedule town halls or informal, announced public meetings.

Fong, like other elected officials, needs to hear directly from his constituents, rather than make critical decisions that affect their lives from a Capitol office that is nearly 3,000 miles away.
The Senate voted 54-46 on Friday to pass the Republican-backed continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of September, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown.

The measure divided Senate Democrats  those who opposed the funding measure said the resolution would lend too much authority to President Donald Trump and DOGE to continue making sweeping federal cuts.

Virginias Democratic senators voted against the continuing resolution and explained their rational ahead of the vote.

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We dont need to turn anymore power or money without any controls over to Elon Musk and Donald Trump, said Sen. Mark Warner in a statement Friday on social media ahead of the vote. Its time to stand up for the folks in Virginia who say enough of this craziness.

Sen. Tim Kaine said Thursday he favored an alternative 30-day stop gap bill in the Senate and opposed the House version, which will keep funding at near-current levels until Sept. 30.

One of the parts of the CR that I dont like is that it also just gives a lot of discretion to the administration to keep doing what theyre doing, keep the chainsaw massacre going with Donald Trump and Elon Musk without Congress, without respecting the congressional appropriations process, he said.

Its one thing to have a president grabbing power unlawfully  we can challenge that. But if we vote to give the president the power to do whatever the president wants to do, then we cant challenge it anymore.

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After the vote, the senators issued a joint statement expressing frustration that amendments to rein in and defund DOGE and protect our veterans from being indiscriminately fired were rejected by Republicans. They also previewed their next challenge: tackling Trump administration tariffs.

 We are already gearing up for our next fight: forcing a Senate vote on our legislation to challenge Trumps senseless trade war with Canada, which will only raise costs for Virginians, the statement said.

A long-term lapse in appropriations could have caused major damage to the regions economy, according to Bob McNab, chair of the economics department at Old Dominion University. Federal entities employ residents by the tens of thousands in Hampton Roads. While many of the regions federal workers with military jobs or other essential workers would have continued during a shutdown, they would not have been paid. Other workers would have been furloughed.

A government shutdown is a hurricane for Virginia, and its two points of landfall are Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, McNab said.

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Speaking ahead of the vote, McNab said $1 billion per month could be removed from the local economy if there were a long-term shutdown. The federal government employs about 60,000 workers in Hampton Roads, and they earn about $6 billion in wages each year. The militarys 85,000 active duty members in the area earn another $4-5 billion, McNab said.

With a pause in contracts, as well, he said the effects compound.

Those military service members and those federal civilian employees  when theyre not paid  dont spend money like they used to, he said. Theyre not going out to restaurants and bars. Theyre not going to the home improvement store. They curtail groceries, they buy less gasoline. So all of a sudden, you add a significant economic shock to the Hampton Roads economy.
Journalists at Voice of America (VOA) were put on administrative leave on Saturday, a day after President Trump signed an executive order aimed at eliminating the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), VOAs parent company.

Reporters at VOA were placed on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until otherwise notified, according to a copy of an internal memo that was obtained by The Hill, adding that it is not being done for any disciplinary purpose.

The memo was sent out by the human resources executive from USAGM on Saturday morning. The total number of recipients is unclear, but one source familiar with the matter told The Hill that most VOA employees were put on administrative leave.

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VOA workers were instructed not to enter their work premises or access USAGM internal systems without permission from the human resources executive or prior permission from their supervisors.

The two-page memo, that was sent just past 9:40 a.m. local time Saturday, came after Trump penned an executive order to gut seven federal agencies, including USAGM, telling them to reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel.

This order continues the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary, the order said.

Apart from USAGM, Trumps order included the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund and the Minority Business Development Agency.

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VOAs workers were told that, if asked, they will be expected to immediately surrender their USAGM badge and press pass, as well as any keys or other official government property, including documents, records, electronic and telephone devices, and other equipment.

Employees were also told in the memo that they still have to be available by phone and email during business hours. Workers were instructed to provide their personal contact information  phone number, email address, and mailing address  by Monday to the departments human resources departments.

VOAs workers have to remain available to report for work if told so within one business day after being contacted. If unavailable to report for work, they were instructed to contact a human resources representative so that your administrative leave can be changed to the appropriate leave category.

The journalists will remain employees of USAGM while on administrative leave, according to the memo.

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The VOA is an international broadcaster that operates in nearly 50 languages. USAGM also funds Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia.

After winning the 2024 presidential election, Trump selected former Arizona gubernatorial and Senate candidate Kari Lake to head VOA. Lake, a former TV anchor, told the crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference in mid-February that VOA will not becomeTrump TV under her leadership.

Trump nominated conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III to be the leader of USAGM, who would then pick the head of VOA.

Republicans have leveled a number of bias accusations against VOA and other U.S.-publicly-funded news outlets, including NPR and PBS.

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Tech billionaire and senior Trump adviser Elon Musk called for VOA and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to be terminated.

Europe is free now (not counting stifling bureaucracy). Hello?? 2. Nobody listens to them anymore, Musk said in an early February post on the social platform X. 3. Its just radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of US taxpayer money.

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A significant number of employees of the American international broadcaster Voice of America were placed on "administrative" leave on Saturday, which could mean the actual cessation of the broadcaster's work.

Source: European Pravda, citing a number of US publications

Details: It is noted that the extent of the suspensions is not fully understood.

In particular, Reuters confirms that multiple employees of the Voice of America, an international media outlet that operates in more than 40 languages, sent the agency a copy of an email informing them of their immediate placement on leave with full pay and benefits "until otherwise notified".

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In the emails sent by the head of human resources at the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent agency of Voice of America, they were instructed not to enter the workplace or access internal systems. The agency does not know for certain the extent of the suspensions and was unable to obtain official comment on the matter.

The same information is confirmed by the New York Times, noting that "many journalists and other employees at Voice of America" have received the message.

"Journalists there said the cuts [to staff with access to work] were so widespread that they would effectively shut down the international broadcaster," the newspaper adds.

One of the editors of the New York Times, David Henrich, released a copy of the letter. European Pravda has confirmation from journalists that the document is authentic. The document instructs the broadcaster's employees to send their personal contacts by Monday and be ready to give explanations if needed. The letter also states that this suspension is not a punishment for any actions.

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David Enrich also cites statements from informed colleagues at Voice of America: "From what we can tell, VOA is effectively shutting down from this moment".

Background: The broadcaster had previously laid off staff who did not have a permanent contract; in particular, one of the hosts of the Ukrainian service, Ostap Yarysh, was laid off.

The move came after Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday instructing USAGM, which also funds Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia, and six other little-known agencies to reduce their operations to the minimum required by law, saying it was necessary to cut bureaucracy.

Trump clashed with the Voice of America during his first term.

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In addition to the USAGM, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the US Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund and the Minority Business Development Agency were also cut.

The executive order states that these agencies must eliminate all operations not authorised by law and "reduce their statutory functions and staff to the minimum presence and functions required by law".

The executive order is Trump's latest move to reform the federal bureaucracy, a task he has largely handed over to tech billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency. So far, DOGE's efforts have resulted in the potential elimination of more than 100,000 jobs in the 2.3 million-strong federal civil service, a freeze on foreign aid, and the cancellation of thousands of programmes and contracts.

Some Republicans have accused Voice of America and other state-funded media outlets of being biased against conservatives. Last month, Musk called for the closure of Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in a post on social media platform X.

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This week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that 83% of USAID programmes would be curtailed after a six-week review.

On 7 February, US President Donald Trump said that "corruption has reached an unprecedented level" in the US Agency for International Development, and therefore it must be eliminated.



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A volunteer group in Tasmania has cleared a whopping 260 kilograms (573 pounds) of North Pacific seastars from local waters, tackling one of Australia's most troublesome marine pests, reported Yahoo News.

The Invasive Seastar Clean Up team, now in its 64th organized event, has pulled more than 200,000 seastars from the ocean, mainly around the Derwent River.

These toxic ocean stars arrived in Australian waters as stowaways on ships back in the 1980s. They've multiplied with no natural enemies in their new home.

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Dr. Tiana Pirtle from the Invasive Species Council told Yahoo News Australia that while total removal is nearly impossible, local efforts make a real difference for nearby ecosystems.

"This is a big issue for invasive species management," she explained. "When you have open contiguous landscapes  like the entire ocean  it is near impossible to eradicate some species, even terrestrial animals in Australia, we will probably never eradicate feral cats from mainland Australia."

These unwanted visitors pose a serious threat to Australia's underwater world. Scientists estimate about 30 million now swim in Tasmanian waters alone, where they prey on native shellfish, including commercially valuable oysters and scallops.

The problem? These seastars breed at an astonishing rate. "They release thousands of eggs per individual, so it's hard to imagine how many they would produce each year  but it's billions," Benita Vincent, who leads the cleanup program, told Yahoo News.

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Like many invasive species, removing them creates new challenges. "As soon as you remove a bunch of individuals, it creates a vacuum, and now there's more resources available, and it's quite attractive for new individuals to come in," Dr. Pirtle said.

The battle against these oceanic invaders shows why protecting native habitats matters so much. Native species form balanced ecosystems that naturally resist outside threats. When we introduce non-native plants or animals, they often outcompete native species without any natural checks on their growth.

"Unfortunately, I think we are fighting a losing battle sometimes on that regard. But that's not to say local control programs can make a difference at a very local scale," Dr. Pirtle added.

For everyday Australians, supporting volunteer efforts like these can help protect marine environments.

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.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Hundreds of HIV doctors and researchers have called on the Trump administration to reverse its sweeping aid funding cuts, saying they are "doing catastrophic harm" to the global fight against AIDS.

The United States has historically been the world's largest donor of humanitarian assistance, but President Donald Trump has slashed international aid since returning to the White House less than two months ago.

The cuts have had a huge impact on global efforts to combat HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and other health scourges, putting millions of lives at risk, humanitarian organizations have warned.

An open letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed by hundreds of high-profile HIV doctors, researchers and public health experts called on the government to change course.

"Unless reversed, the dismantling of the US-supported AIDS response will cause the deaths of an estimated six million people in the next four years, decades of progress will be reversed, and the world will face growing HIV epidemics across the globe," said the letter, dated Thursday.

On Monday, Rubio announced that 83 percent of all contracts under the vast US humanitarian agency USAID have been terminated.

This meant an anti-HIV initiative called PEPFAR, which is one world's most successful public health efforts and has saved an estimated 26 million lives over the two decades, has been "virtually eliminated," the letter said.

The cuts also immediately halted medical trials across the world, "leaving study participants stranded," the letter said.

Research institutions have been stripped of funding, staff and political independence, it added. The prestigious US university Johns Hopkins announced on Thursday it would lay off more than 2,000 employees because of the USAID cuts.

Even if US courts eventually find these decisions illegal, "the human suffering and loss of lives happening now cannot be reversed," the letter said.

Among the signatories was French scientist Francoise Barre-Sinoussi, who won the 2008 medicine Nobel prize for her work identifying the HIV virus in 1983.

The US government has said the funding cuts were aimed at reducing spending, while Trump's billionaire advisor Elon Musk has boasted of putting USAID "through the woodchipper."

The letter was published as researchers gathered for the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in San Francisco.

Protests were held across the US last week calling for people to "Stand Up for Science."

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While most political attention in Britain is focused on Westminster, many of the decisions that matter most for everyday quality of life are taken by local government. The right to choose who controls these authorities is not one that should be lightly interfered with.

This did not stop Angela Rayner electing to postpone local elections in nine areas across England, citing an upcoming reorganisation of local authorities as an explanation. It has not escaped notice, however, that the areas chosen are disproportionately those in which Reform UK was expected to perform well.

A new MRP poll conducted for The Telegraph has now shown that the effect of this delay may well be to deny the party victory in the local elections, with Reform predicted to win eight councils against the Tories 10. Had no delays occurred, Reform was instead predicted to win 12 councils to the Tories 11.

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This outcome is highly advantageous to both the Labour Party and the Conservatives. It robs a dangerous new rival of momentum, and is likely to ease pressure on both Sir Keir and Kemi Badenoch. It is also highly undemocratic. People should not have their vote delayed by years in order to accommodate yet another interminable restructuring of local government.

If these reforms must go ahead, it would surely be better to have a shortened electoral cycle, and another set of votes, than to rob voters of their voice  no matter how inconvenient the results may be.

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz listens to State Sen. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha speak during his town hall event at Metropolitan Community College in North Omaha. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA  Should the Omaha area replace Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon with a Democrat and help curb the worst impulses of the Trump administration?

You betcha, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said during the second stop of his national tour criticizing House Republicans for avoiding in-person town halls.

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Walz, a Nebraska native, made Bacon a focus of his mid-morning Saturday speech at Metropolitan Community Colleges Fort Omaha campus to more than 400 people.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz addresses a crowd of more than 400 people in Omaha at his second stop on a tour of House GOP-held swing districts where members are not hosting in-person town halls. He criticized U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., for holding a tele-town hall. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

He said he was not here to personally attack the representative or call him names. But he said Bacon needs to face his voters and their questions.

Do the damn job and answer the questions, Walz said.

The former running mate of then-Vice President Kamala Harris slammed Bacon for following national GOP advice and skipping an in-person town hall this year.

Bacon, who has hosted in-person and telephone town halls in the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District, is hosting a tele-town hall on March 25.

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Bacon told the Examiner recently that he did not like the tone and tenor of recent town halls he had seen and that some people are afraid to attend.

Ive been at some of the in-person town halls, Bacon said. When you got moms and dads saying we cant bring our kids to a town hall, theres a problem.

He also spent at least two nights this week responding to critics on Elon Musks X by saying he would be able to reach more voters with his tele-town hall.

Bacon terrified

Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, said Bacon is terrified, one of the gutless Republicans who are afraid to see their voters.

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She told the standing-room crowd that Nebraska Democrats would create a book of comments from Saturday attendees and deliver it to Bacon.

All they care about is that government is cut down to the bone, Kleeb said of Republicans. Democrats believe government is here to serve the people.

Walzs tour is aimed at reviving Democratic voter engagement in competitive House districts served by Republicans not hosting in-person town halls.

He spoke to more than 1,000 people in Des Moines on Friday, where he acknowledged how many Democrats and nonpartisans feel lost under President Donald Trump.

Walz said he understood the feeling of wanting Democratic and independent and non-Trump Republican leaders to do something.

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He asked the crowd to take the time to tell their elected leaders what they need to see them doing. He said Democrats would respond.

Several questioners asked Walz about how to fight feeling unsafe or threatened, from immigrants with legal status to workers worried about the ability to organize and to people with friends and relatives who are LGBTQ. Others expressed concerns about federal programs and grants becoming unpredictable.

A crowd of more than 400 people listens to speakers at an event with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Theres a tendency  to check out, Walz said. You didnt do that  because you love the country, and you know you need to do something about it.

Maurice Jones, a Democratic candidate for Omaha City Council in North Omahas District 2, said Americans are learning with Trumps mass firings that the federal government isnt going to protect them.

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Both Democrats running for mayor, Jasmine Harris and John Ewing, also addressed the crowd, saying cities would need to lead the way back.

State Sen. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha said during the Walz appearance that elected officials need help from the people to let state and federal leaders know that things are not OK.

She said leaders need to know people are not happy with how things are going, including in Nebraska, where she said the governor does Trumps bidding.

Our executive branch mirrors and does everything that the Trump administration says, Spivey said.

Walz credited western Nebraskans for showing up to Gov. Jim Pillens town hall in Scottsbluff and pushing back on his effort to end the blue dot.

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Videos of the appearance circulating online show that many in the crowd booed and said they dont want to switch to winner-take-all in presidential elections.

Maybe dont ask a question if you dont know the answer, Walz said.

Bacon responds

Walz said he was proud of Harris winning the 2nd Districts blue dot. Nebraska awards some of its Electoral College votes by congressional district.

He said he pushes back on people who say he and Harris failed to win any swing states, because they won a stray electoral vote from Nebraskas 2nd District.

We did not, he said. We won Omaha. Not by luck. Not by chance. By organizing.

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Walz said people are paying attention to the chaos in Washington.

Veteran service workers being cut matters, he said. Federal grants for cancer research matter, he said. And access to reproductive care matters.

He said he believes Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, cares about veterans. But his voting record and fealty to Trump show something else.

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., addresses supporters outside of his west Omaha campaign office at a press conference claiming victory in November 2024. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

I believe Representative Bacon, Walz said. Im not questioning his character. Im questioning his judgment and decisions on the job.

Bacon, in a statement during the Walz rally, called Walz the most liberal governor in America and said he didnt watch or monitor his town hall.

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He said recent House GOP town halls where representatives faced vocal opposition reflected political, manufactured anger, not real.

And he criticized Walz for inaccurately describing his own service in the Nebraska and Minnesota National Guard. Bacon invited him to call into his tele-town hall.

Said Bacon: Whether its high taxes, broken borders, abortion  or biological men playing in female sports, Governor Walz is wrong on every major issue.

Walz, during his speech, said GOP attacks on the handful of trans athletes participating nationally is an attack on every persons rights, and Democrats need to call out the people peddling it.

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Then, he said, they need to get away from social issues and pivot back to the assaults Republicans are making on core governing.

Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz, wrapping up the event, said the work did not stop because Harris and her husband lost. It got harder, she said, and needs more help.

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This story was updated to add new information.

In early voting, nearly three-quarters of respondents to a non-scientific survey said a Hmong American woman from Milwaukee did not deserve to be deported to Laos.

As of 3:30 p.m. Saturday, 20 people voted; 73% said Ma Yang did not deserve to be deported to Laos; 27% said yes. A slightly larger margin, 77%, said they do not support the Trump administration's policy of mass deportations for migrants, 18% support the president's policy and 4.5% don't know.

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Want to vote in the poll? Click here or scroll down for a form on this screen

Here are some comments from readers about Yang's deportation:

"Trump and his people claim to be "pro-life" Christians but every change they get they demonstrate that they have no regard for human life, nor do they abide by the basic Christian principles of the Beatitudes."  Ed from Shorewood

"I dont understand why Ms. Yang did not pursue US citizenship. Surely as a green card holder, she must have known that deportation was always a possibility if she did not remain law-abiding (regardless of who is President). If she had become naturalized, she would not have been deported, correct? She pled guilty to a felony. Her lawyer may not have been the best but she should have been aware of the limitations of her residency in the US. Her comments about needing to be with her kids doesnt get too much of my sympathy as she was already separated from them for 2.5 years while she was in prison. To a certain extent, this situation strikes me as play stupid games, win stupid prizes.  Lynn from Waukesha

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"She served her time for her crime; also it's marijuana which is legal in some states (not fentynal). I'm sure I don't understand all the laws around why her legal status was changed, but to send someone to a country they have never lived is terribly cruel."  Julie from Wauwatosa

"She has been here since she was that young, now 37 and because she had a prior arrest that she served her sentence, she is sent away? She also was doing her part in cooperating with ICE. She and her family couldve moved away after the first incident and disappeared, but yet, she was doing the right thing and that does not count for anything? She would not have cooperated with ICE for check-ins at all if she was trying to screw the system over. She has a green card and was employed, so that tells me she probably was paying taxes as well. Is it not a condition of having a green card meant that she has to work?"  Valerie from Marinette, Wisconsin

No one involved is better off because of this deportation: not Ma Yang, not her children, not her long-time partner, not society, not anyone! Community service with close monitoring would have been an effective penalty for her actions. Everyone involved would have been better off and Ma Yang could have made a positive difference in the lives of others. This is what justice should look like in America!"  Marlene from Madison

Do you support Trump's policy of mass deportations of migrants?

Here are some reader comments on the administration's policy on mass deportations:

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"They are illegal aliens. Quit subverting the language."  Erik from Chicago

"The policies of this administration are grounded in hate and retribution, and serve no one. Serious crimes must be distinguished from minor offenses. The positive contributions to this country by the vast majority of immigrants must be recognized And immigrants are absolutely not aliens. That derogatory term has no place in any legitimate immigration policy!"  Marlene from Madison

"I believe that we need to stop illegal immigration. I support LEGAL immigrationmigrants need to follow our immigration laws and wait their turn. I have little sympathy for illegal immigrants who say they are living here in a law-abiding manner when the very first they did when they entered this country is break one of our laws. That said, deportation priority must be given to those illegal immigrants who have committed crimes (felonies)."  Lynn from Waukesha

What changes would you like to see in immigration system?

Here are some reader comments on things they'd like to see happen in the immigration system:

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"Marijuana should be legal. Selling it should not get your citizenship revoked."  Vicki from Menasha

First, address the root cause of why people are desperate to leave home and country to enter the US without demonizing human beings. Second, recognize that we are a county of immigrants and that each wave of immigration has brought new advantages and growth to the country.  Ed from Shorewood

"Its got to be easier to immigrate legally. It takes too long right now and that leads people to take matters into their own hands."  Lynn from Waukesha

I would like them to do the humanitarian thing first. If they are violent criminals and are here illegally, then by all means, take the necessary measures to handle it by following the laws. They need to quit skipping steps to make Trump look good. It is all because he promised his base what he clearly - once again - is falling short of. I would love to see that kind of change where we consider people humans before they are pushed out. Shame on the administration."  Valerie from Marinette, Wisconsin

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"I would like to see a pathway for 'dreamers' to become citizens. I would like to see a common sense approach to managing the borders. I would like this administration to stop demonizing immigrants. I would like illegal immigrants who have good reason to leave their countries treated with dignity and be given the chance to become legal citizens."  Julie from Wauwatosa

"Significantly increase funding for immigration judges & courts. Increase funding for CBP, & increase the standards for hiring. Most of all, do not deport any immigrants who honorably served in the U.S. armed forces, regardless of the circumstances."  Kelley from Milwaukee

We want your thoughts on deportation of Hmong American woman

The nation's debate about immigration struck a chord in an unlikely place: A 37-year-old Hmong American woman from Milwaukee who was deported to Laos, despite never living in that country or speaking the language.

The Journal Sentinel on Friday first reported the story of Ma Yang, 37, a nail technician and mother of five who has lived in Wisconsin since she was a baby. She said she was detained at a check-in appointment with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in mid-February and was flown last week to Laos.

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Opinion: Worst atrocities of the past began with mass deportations. Is history repeating?

According to the story, Yang was born in Bangkok, Thailand, the daughter of Hmong refugees after the Vietnam War. She was 8 months old when her family resettled in Milwaukee. She was a legal permanent U.S. resident starting at age 7, but that status was revoked when she pleaded guilty to taking part in a marijuana trafficking operation in 2022.

Was it right to deport Ma Yang? We want to hear from you. Share your thoughts with us and we'll post them in this story as they roll in.

Jim Fitzhenry is the Ideas Lab Editor/Director of Community Engagement for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach him at jfitzhen@gannett.com or 920-993-7154.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: ICE deports Milwaukee woman. Share your perspective. | Opinion
Mar. 14WAPAKONETA  A 71-year-old Wapakoneta man who caused a fatal car crash when he suffered a stroke while driving last February will spend seven days in jail.

David H. Lavallee pleaded no contest to a single count of vehicular manslaughter, a second-degree misdemeanor, in Auglaize County Municipal Court Friday for his role in causing a five-car crash that killed Joseph Ingram.

Prosecutors dismissed one count of aggravated vehicular homicide, a first-degree misdemeanor, in exchange for Lavallee's no contest plea.

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Defense attorney Rafael Villegas called it a "complicated" and "tragic" situation as he alleged his client suffered a stroke shortly before the crash.

Assistant Prosecutor Laia Zink agreed the case is "difficult," but asked the court to "balance" those considerations against Ingram's death and Lavallee's speed at the time of the crash  nearly twice the posted speed limit.

The five-car crash occurred on Bellefontaine Street in Wapakoneta at the Interstate 75 overpass on Feb. 26, 2024.

A crash report from the Wapakoneta Police Department alleges Lavallee was traveling westbound on Bellefontaine Street when his 2008 Cadillac sideswiped another vehicle.

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Lavallee reportedly then failed to stop for a traffic signal at the intersection of Bellefontaine Street and Apollo Drive, striking the rear of a vehicle driven by Joseph Ingram, who succumbed to his injuries.

Ingram's vehicle pushed into the rear of another vehicle, which in turn struck another car.

Lavallee suffered no injuries, but his wife and an occupant from another vehicle were transported to local hospitals.

Tricia Lavallee told the court she unbuckled her seatbelt and tried to turn off the car's engine when she noticed her husband unconscious behind the wheel, but Lavallee's foot was on the accelerator.

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Lavallee is "incredibly remorseful," Villegas said as he asked the court to sentence Lavallee to house arrest in lieu of jail so Lavallee can monitor his health and watch after his wife, who broke both her arms and legs in the crash and now struggles to sit or walk.

Zink reduced her sentencing recommendation from 30 days to one week of jail time followed by house arrest at the request of Ingram's family. She asked the court to suspend Lavallee's license for one year as well.

Judge Andrew Augsburger called the case a "tremendous tragedy," but said he could not ignore Lavallee's speed  almost double the posted speed limit at the time of the crash. "I have to look at all of the facts," he said.

Augsburger sentenced Lavallee to seven days in the Auglaize County Correctional Institution followed by three weeks of house arrest and one year of unsupervised community control.

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Lavallee's sentence includes a 90-day suspended jail term if he violates probation, as well as a $250 fine and one-year suspension of his driver's license.

A civil lawsuit is pending to determine Lavallee's restitution to Ingram's family.

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WARRICK COUNTY, Ind. (WEHT)  Oftentimes you may hear about full circle moments for one person, but Warrick County has now seen two all thanks to cops connecting with kids.

The program selects a handful of kids from local schools to go to Disney fully funded. Former McGary Middle School Principal and current deputy for the Warrick County Sheriffs Office Dale Naylor says its more than just a trip to disney world.

We pick some of the best not necessarily grades but just good kids that we think you know in the future will make a difference and you know over and over we see those kids that we have in middle school come on you know or go on to be outstanding citizens, says Naylor.

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One example is Kayla Carlton, a jailor for the Warrick County Sheriffs Office. She went on the trip years ago now post basic training for the Indiana National Guard shes sharing how it inspired her career in law enforcement.

I was like a shy sixth grader coming in and he took me in and he just showed me the way and told me what to do and I mean, I did it. Anything he needed I was there trying to help guide me, says Carlton. It helped a lot showed me a lot of different ways to get back to the community and different ways to go about things within the jail within the military within one day going to the road if I ever have a question I know I can contact one of them.

The trip gave Carlton live-long mentors, those who she still talks with years later. Carlton says her mentors helped guide her to the path shes on today, including encouragement during a difficult time in high school.

Just kept in contact and then freshman year I lost my one of my closest friends Abby in a car crash and that kind of made me want to help people a little bit more get back to the community in a way, says Carlton.

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Looking back, Naylor says Kayla is just one of several stories from past students who they knew were destined to make a difference.

Kayla was a sixth grader at McGary middle school just one of those great kids that you know is going to be a star one day and athlete great in the classroom helped out great citizen, so she was nominated when she was in the eighth grade and you know its just kind of blossom you know kind of took off, says Naylor.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
ST. LOUIS  More than 50 universities across the United States, including Washington University in St. Louis, are under federal investigation for alleged racial discrimination as part of President Donald Trumps administrations broader efforts to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education announced that Washington University was under investigation for allegedly engaging in race-exclusionary practices through graduate programs.

The department accuses WashU and other universities of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by partnering with the PhD Project, an organization that aims to increase workforce diversity by supporting historically underrepresented groups with obtaining degrees.

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Villa Ridge faces long road to recovery after tornado damage

In a news release Friday, the Education Department said the organization limits eligibility based on the race of participants.

According to the Associated Press, the department issued a memo last month warning Americas schools and colleges that they could lose federal money over race-based preferences in admissions, scholarships or any aspect of student life. The memo framed the directive as an effort to end alleged discrimination against white and Asian American students.

The Associated Press adds that the memo is being challenged in federal lawsuits from two of the nations largest teachers unions, arguing that the memo is too vague and violates the free speech rights of educators.

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FOX 2 has reached out to a spokesperson for Washington University for comment, but has not heard back upon this storys publication.

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A Clayton County police officer is taking us through the night he got shot at the scene of a barricaded gunman.

Officer Kenyon Ford told Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne that even though hes been shot, he wants to get back on the job as fast as he can.

Ford said on Feb. 25, SWAT and the elite CAGE unit hes a part of, and other officers, were on scene where a man already suspected of shooting someone earlier that day had barricaded himself inside.

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Suddenly we hear gunfire, so you hear the radio traffic, Shots fired! Shots fired! Shots fired! Ford said. Unbelievably and unexpectedly, I got hit.

Ford estimates at least 20 Clayton County officers were on Summer Chase Drive after Clayton County PD officers chased shooting suspect Daniel Neal there and he barricaded himself in a house.

I just had to get myself out of there. I mean, I wasnt going to stop fighting. I mean it hurts like nothing you can probably compare, Ford said about being shot. I felt like something like a sledgehammer took a blow to my knee.

When Neal opened fire on SWAT officers and they returned fire following hours of efforts to get Neal to surrender, a bullet came through a wall and hit Ford in the knee as he helped keep a perimeter around the house.

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They got me out of there as quick as they could, which I appreciate, Ford said. The wound was actually right at my knee.

How close to the femoral artery was it? Winne asked Ford.

Real close. Luckily and thankfully the doctor said it just missed the arteries and important joints there, Ford said. It could have been bad.

Ford said he was on scene as part of the CAGE unit, which is often called when theres serious trouble.

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Cage is our Criminal Apprehension and Gang Enforcement unit, Ford said.

You target violent crime? Winne asked Ford.

Yeah, were pretty much a crime suppression unit, Ford said.

The man upstairs was looking after you that day? Winne asked Ford.

Thankfully, Ford said. Im expected to make a full recovery contingent upon me doing what they say, which has been hard because I dont like to sit still.

Ford said though hell be off his leg for 10 weeks, he cant wait to get back to work.

I believe in making my community better, you know? I cant do that without being there and I also cant make a complaint about anything in the community if Im not doing anything about it myself, Ford said. I believe in it with my faith. Ive just wanted to be part of keeping my community safe.

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Fiance Tionna Smith told Winne that shes pregnant and when the baby grows up, she wants her or him to know some things about dad.

I know this is what he loves to do, Smith said. Their dad is brave, fearless, strong. With me a gentle giant.

Lt. Ricky Porter said two women sent quilts for Ford after he was shot.

So many people supporting me. I mean, I was given an opportunity to survive it man, so I cant take that for granted. I gotta get back a 100% and just keep going, Ford said.

Ford said hes got a lot of hardware in his leg, plates and screws that will stay and fragments of the bullet that will stay too. He said he thanks the community for their support.
MAUI, Hawaii (KHON2)  A Maui pup is back home with her family after finding herself in a difficult situation and its all thanks to Maui Humane Societys Humane Enforcement Officers.

Nothing short of incredible, Maui Humane Society celebrates big victory

Rava, a sweet pup who weighs over 70 pounds, was found stuck in a pond on her familys property and was unable to get out.

10 facts about Obamas $18M Hawaii beachfront mansion

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Her owners attempted to get her out on their own, but struggled to complete the task; so they called the Maui Humane Society for an extra few pairs of hands.

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Humane Enforcement Officers Mueller and Redd came to the rescue.

According to MHS, Officer Mueller stepped into the pond and lifted Rava out where Officer Redd was waiting, making sure everyone, including Rava, was safe.

A huge mahalo to our dedicated Humane Enforcement team for their quick response and for making sure Rava got the help she needed, said MHS in a social media post.

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Other than being a little wet, Rava was perfectly fine.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Approximately one quarter of hospital beds in acute wardswards for patients who need close care for a sudden or severe medical conditionsare occupied by someone living with dementia in the UK.

The sights, sounds and smells of a hospital environment, and the lack of familiar caregivers, can be a significant challenge for people with dementia. Many health care staff feel that they do not have sufficient training to care well for them.

This can lead to some staff using less effective communication methods to reduce distress and anxiety in dementia patients. Some caregivers, for example, might try to "correct" patients with dementia who seem confused about their surroundings or may use therapeutic lyingwhen lies are told to alleviate the distress of a patient with dementiato avoid upsetting patients further. Our research shows that there are two approaches that are more effective.

Managing competing realities

Dementia affects people's abilities to use language, to understand other people's use of language and to remember things.

One common challenge is the presence of competing realities, where the person with dementia is oriented to a different time or place. These competing realities are often grounded in the person's previous experience of a career or family role. For example, they may believe a parent is coming to take them home, or that they need to leave urgently to pick up their own child from school.

Managing these competing realities can be difficult for caregivers in any setting. It is particularly difficult in an acute ward, where staff may know little about the background of a patient admitted for treatment for an urgent medical need such as a fracture or infection.

Competing realities can be a major source of distress for a person with dementia, who might not recognize where they are or that they have any medical need, and can't understand why they are simply not able to leave when they ask.

Over recent years, my colleagues and I have been using video recordings of everyday ward interactions to identify the communication challenges that occur when caring for people with dementia.

We have developed training in communication skills focused on specific challenges. For example, dealing with refusals of medically necessary care, responding to talk that is hard to understand and closing interactions effectively. Most recently, we have focused on dealing with competing realities and the distress that these can cause.

Redirecting a Dementia Sufferer | Louis Theroux: Extreme Love - Dementia | BBC Studios.

Responding effectively

We found there are four ways in which staff tend to respond, but that only two of these are effective in addressing distress.

The first way is to confront or challenge the patient's reality. For example, telling a person who believes they are at home that they are actually in hospital. It is understandable why staff might do this, but we found that it does not usually lead to agreement, and instead can make distress worse.

The second way is to go along with the patient's reality. For example, by agreeing that a deceased family member such as a parent or spouse will be coming to visit or collect the patient later. While this might work as a short-term strategy, it is time-limited because the promised event will never happen. This can ultimately make distress worse.

Wider debates on "therapeutic lying" to people with dementia suggest it should only be done if carefully thought out and planned, and only then as a last resort.

The third way is to find some aspect of the patient's reality that is shareable, without fully entering into it. For example, if a patient says their (deceased) father is coming to collect them, a member of health care staff might ask "Do you miss your dad?" This avoids lying, but responds to the emotional tone of the patient and enables a sharing of feelings.

For a person worried they have left a child or a pet alone at home, a health care professional might say "Your neighbor is looking after everything at home." This provides general reassurance without confirming or challenging the specifics.

For a patient who repeatedly asks to go home because they do not recognize their medical need, asking "What would you be doing if you were at home?" can identify a need or desiresuch as having a cup of tea, a walk, or watching the TVwhich could be met in the hospital environment.

Alternatively, staff used diversions. The topic of conversation can be shifted away from the issue that was causing distress, towards something else they could engage the person with.

This sometimes drew on the immediate environmentthe view out of the window, for example. Sometimes they propose an alternative activity, such as walking to a day room, or getting a drink. When no other possibilities were available, they sometimes asked the person with dementia a question that could lead into a different conversation.

These approaches are relevant for caregivers in any setting. Even in the context of a busy, pressured environment where caregivers may know very little about a person, the small differences in the way they communicate can have a profound effect on the care and well-being of those living with dementia.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  Catch the Springfield St. Patricks Day Parade streaming live on Ozarks First.

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 ending 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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Catch the whole parade in the video above. A replay will be shown in this story once it is completed.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
Abigail Treml and Olivia Kreitzberg shook off the nerves as a rotating cast of judges approached them and their tri-fold display early Thursday morning.

The Christ the King Catholic School sixth graders each took turns explaining their project  titled Glass Beads for the Worlds Needs  at the 70th Mid-Columbia Regional Science and Engineering Fair, the text of their 500-word script labeled pink for Abigail and green for Olivia.

The young scientists project centered around testing the efficacy of using glass beads for water filtration, and comparing those results to gravel. Beat by beat, they walked judges through their hypothesis, materials, procedures, abstract and results.

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Thank you. Do you have any questions? the two said in a rehearsed unison.

Yeah, Ive got a few, one judge said, having listened intently from his chair.

This scenario played out countlessly at this weeks Mid-Columbia Science Fair. Hundreds of middle and high school students from 14 Central Washington counties convened in the Tri-Cities to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and prizes, and a select few spots to attend the Regneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Columbus, Ohio later this year.

Michelle Gotthold, board president of the Mid-Columbia Science Fair Association, said this years fair featured 162 individual projects, as well as eight Project in a Box presentations each made by a middle school classroom. About 120 judges cycled in and out, volunteering their time to students and their teachers.

Students participating in the 70th annual Mid-Columbia Regional Science and Engineering Fair carry their project into the CIC building at the WSU-Tri-Cities campus in Richland.

For the first time in decades, the Mid-Columbia Science Fair was not hosted at the Columbia Center Mall. The program made Washington State Universitys Tri-City campus home for this years competition.

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But the joy of scientific research, and the culture thats built around that, is still evergreen, Gotthold says.

Its seeing the excitement of kids gaining that pride. They got to explore some question that they were excited about, and seeing that is pretty unique, said the former high school physics teacher. They get to meet other students from area schools who are also interested in science. Theres the prizes, but I think its about much more than that. Its about that chance to talk with local STEM professionals.

Gotthold got involved first as a parent, then as a judge and later a coordinator. She says participation has dropped a bit since before COVID, when they would see 200-300 projects. But theyre focused on re-engaging middle school students.

Topics and study subjects run the gamut, from dental and agriculture-irrigation, to robotics and machine learning.

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Its kind of amazing its been 70 years. I think the fair is now older than all of the people involved in it, said David Gotthold, the fairs judging chair and husband to Michelle.

Judges will recognize winners and participants at a 1 p.m. award ceremony Saturday at Chief Jo Middle School.

I want to be like you

Its the first science fair for both Abigail and Olivia, who say they rushed last minute to finish their presentation and speech.

But after an hour of presenting, the nerves were gone and they exuded the confidence of saleswomen.

I do get stage fright, said Olivia, a bright-eyed redhead.

Abigail interjected: But after practicing it, she got more comfortable in the new habitat.

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Yes. I have stage fright that lasts until Im actually up there, she said.

Students and judges interact during the 70th annual Mid-Columbia Regional Science and Engineering Fair held this year at the CIC building on the WSU-Tri-Cities campus in Richland. This years fair features 162 individual projects, as well as eight Project in a Box presentations each made by a middle school classroom.

The pair said it took a few weeks to a month to put together the research, experiment and reports for their glass bead project.

Olivia says her favorite part of the fair was presenting to actual scientists. Her grandfather was a chemist, she notes.

Really, just coming here and being able to talk to different people. See what everyone else had for their project, said Abigail.

So far, Abigail, Olivia and their peers have impressed the judges.

One of the biggest things I see every year when I come in is the complexity of the research theyre doing. Its really high level, said Emiliano Santiago, an electrical engineer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). I think every year, they increase it by a notch, by a level. Its pretty amazing.

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Students presentation skills and professionalism have also grown over the six years hes judged.

Sometimes when I hear some of these kids, Im like, Oh my gosh. I want to be like you, he said.

Bitter-sweet end for seniors

For high schoolers, the Mid-Columbia Science Fair has been a constant in their lives. And its seniors say this years event has been quite bitterHSPD-12 PIVsweet.

Advaitha Motkuri, a Richland High School senior  and Eagle Scout wunderkind  says its something she looks forward to every year.

The moment one ends, I just start for the next year. So its a little weird. After this year, its just off to college, said Motkuri, whos anxiously awaiting admission letters from universities.

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Motkuri has presented at Mid-Columbia  and placed  every year since sixth grade. The last two years shes qualified to attend the International Science Fair.

She hopes to study computer science, and recently completed a cybersecurity internship at PNNL.

Motkuris presentation, printed on a retractable canvas banner, was a cut above the rest.

Abigail Treml, left, and Olivia Kreitzberg, sixth-grade classmates at Christ the King private school, answer questions about their science project called Glass Beads for the Worlds Needs from judge Emiliano Santiago, an electriclal engineer at PNNL, during the 70th annual Mid-Columbia Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

She studied the use of artificial intelligence-based facial recognition to detect early signs of autism in children. Using code, research, a bit of engineering and model analysis, she determined the technology could be applicable for physicians.

Motkuri even outfitted a Build-A-Bear plushy with a computer-camera module as a prototype that doctors could use to capture pictures of kids faces to analyze.

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Its like a nanny cam, she said.

Roughly 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism, and an early diagnosis can prove crucial for providing the most effective interventions, she says.

Motkuri was inspired to research this topic last year after a conference roommate told her that doctors were unable to diagnose her with autism. Girls are more difficult to diagnose than boys because their symptoms are masked and not as easily identifiable.

A month later, Motkuri saw a poster that read Autism Speaks while watching Greys Anatomy.

And I was, like, thats a sign from the universe telling me to do the project, she said.

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Isabella Pinto, a senior at Hanford High School, says its been fun to discuss and share her knowledge with the judges the last three years.

She also attended the 2024 International Fair, and won the $15,000 Chief of Naval Research Scholarship for an eco-friendly tire design.

I was in shock, honestly, that I won that award, she said.

This year, Pinto showed Mid-Columbia judges how a high-temperature superconducting magnetic storage system could be used in cars and other vehicles to reduce power loss.

She says her inspiration comes from studying electrical engineering, beginning in seventh grade, and then quantum physics in 10th. She recently finished a PhD-level internship at PNNL.

Instead of just learning about my subjects, I wanted to implement them in the real world and invent things. Because I want to be an inventor, she said.
First-term Rep. Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) is backing legislation that would prohibit all Chinese nationals from obtaining student visas.

The bill, dubbed the Stop Chinese Communist Prying by Vindicating Intellectual Safeguards in Academia Act (Stop CCP VISAs Act) would cut off the threat of Chinese students spying on the American government or stealing advanced technology, Moore said in a news release Friday.

Every year we allow nearly 300,000 Chinese nationals to come to the U.S. on student visas. Weve literally invited the CCP to spy on our military, steal our intellectual property and threaten national security, Moore said in a statement, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. Congress needs to end Chinas exploitation of our student visa program. Its time we turn off the spigot and immediately ban all student visas going to Chinese nationals.

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Moore said in a post on social platform X that he introduced the legislation Friday with co-sponsors Republican Reps. Brandon Gill (Texas), Addison McDowell (N.C.), Troy Nehls (Texas), Andy Ogles (Tenn.) and Scott Perry (Pa.).

Moores bill does not yet appear in Congresss digital repository of legislation, and a spokesperson for Moore didnt immediately respond to The Hills request for a copy of the proposed legislation or additional information.

A Fox News article on Moores plan, which the congressmans office linked to on his government website, includes a short two-page draft document.

An alien who is a national of the Peoples Republic of China may not be issued a visa or otherwise provided status as a non-immigrant  for the purpose of conducting research or pursuing a course of study, it reads.

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The government issued 289,526 student visas to Chinese nationals in 2023, according to the data compiled by Open Doors, which is sponsored by the State Department.

The Chinese Communist Party is fundamentally opposed to our American values, and yet we have handed out hundreds of thousands of student visas to Chinese nationals, many of whom are state-sponsored spies, Gill said in a statement.

They pointed to three specific cases in arguing the legislations importance:

A University of Minnesota graduate student, Fengyun Shi, who is a Chinese national, was sentenced to six months behind bars after he pleaded guilty to taking drone footage of defense sites in Virginia.

Five Chinese nationals, who were University of Michigan students at the time, were charged last year after they were caught monitoring a 2023 training exercise at a Michigan Army National Guard facility.

And Ji Chaoqun, 31, a Chinese national who came to the U.S. in 2014 as a student to study at the Illinois Institute of Technology, was sentenced in 2023 to eight years in prison for acting as a foreign agent of Chinas Ministry of State Security.

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John C. Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) issued a statement condemning the proposal.

While national security is of utmost importance to Americans, resorting to racism and xenophobia is never the answer, he said. The overwhelming majority of students and scholars simply come here to learn.

History has shown us time and again that exclusionary policies based on stereotyping rarely address actual national security concerns  instead they fuel prejudice, division and unfair targeting of Asian immigrants and the Asian American community more broadly, he added.

Yang said Chinese students already are opting to study in other countries out of fear of racial profiling in the U.S.

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Past discriminatory policies have destroyed lives and affected our ability to attract and retain talent, which can affect our countrys competitiveness as global leaders in technology and innovation, he said. If enacted, the Stop CCP VISAs Act would have even greater effects as a result of unilaterally blocking all Chinese students from coming to the U.S. and contributing to our economy simply because of their nationality.

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Western leaders reiterated their support for Ukraine following a virtual summit hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on March 15, where leaders from 25 countries were in attendance.

The virtual summit convened countries who could form a post-war peacekeeping force within Ukraine. As of March 13, the potential coalition consists of 37 countries, with the U.K. and France largely taking the lead as the only countries who have publicly committed to sending troops to Ukraine post-war.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized Australias commitment to Ukraine, pledging to stand with the country "for as long as it takes."

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"I reiterated Australias strong and steadfast support for Ukraine and stated that Australia will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," Albanese said in an official statement following the summit.

He also stated that Australia is open to contributing to future peacekeeping efforts. "President Putins regime has imperialist designs, for Ukraine and beyond, he said. We must ensure Russias illegal and immoral actions are not rewarded through any peace process."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed Germanys support for Ukraine, stating that "Ukraine needs a just and lasting peace." He thanked Keir Starmer for convening the meeting and stressed that "it is up to Russia to end the attacks and finally make peace possible."

French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Putin, and accused Moscow of failing to engage in peace talks in good faith.

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"Russia does not give the impression of a country that sincerely desires peace," Macron said after the summit. "It does not respond to the proposals of the United States and Ukraine. It intensifies hostilities. President Putin wants to get everything and then negotiate."

Macron argued that "peace through strength" remains the key to ending the conflict and that collective Western pressure on Russia is necessary. He also praised President Zelensky for proposing a ceasefire initiative and stated that for peace to last, Ukraine must have a "strong army that defends its country."

Finnish President Alexander Stubb expressed Finlands willingness to support Ukraine but was cautious about direct military involvement, in comments to the BBC.

"It is still too early to talk about putting troops on the ground because we dont have a ceasefire, we dont have a peace process," Stubb told the BBC. "Once we have a clear plan, we start doing the commitments."

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Stubb emphasized that there are "anywhere from zero to 50 different ways" to support Ukraine, but insisted that direct military involvement would only be considered if a peace deal is reached.

The virtual summit highlighted the growing pressure on Russia to engage in meaningful peace talks while reinforcing Western unity in supporting Ukraines defense and long-term stability.

Read also: G7 ministers affirm support for Ukraine amid US tensions with allies

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
In the weeks after the Trump administration announced a federal funding freeze, Whatcom County nonprofits have been preparing for a possible future with less financial support from the federal government.

Some local organizations have already been forced to make tough decisions related to staff, spending and services, while others are anticipating changes in the near future.

The Whatcom Community Foundation (WCF) helps support local nonprofits through the Whatcom Nonprofit Network with grantmaking, training, networking opportunities, and specialized endowment fund management.

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WCFs Director of Engagement and Philanthropy Jenn Daly told The Bellingham Herald that nonprofit leaders are at a minimum, stretched even thinner as they try to navigate uncertainty, and they are being forced to plan for the unknown.

Organizations have diverted staff time away from their mission-related work to better understand the landscape; assessed their risks to make contingency plans; paused programs until they have more clarity on whats likely to happen next; fielded questions from clients, staff, donors, funders like the Community Foundation and the media; and are planning for temporary or permanent staff reductions, WCF CEO Mauri Ingram told The Herald.

If funds already committed are rescinded, they could have budget shortfalls and potential short or long-term impacts on programs and projects as well as potential long-term financial instability, depending on the organization, Ingram said.

A few local nonprofits spoke to The Bellingham Herald about the kinds of challenges they are facing.

Bellingham Food Bank

The Bellingham Food Bank is facing a significant loss of supply as a result of recent cuts and suspensions to USDA food security programs. More than $4,000,000 worth of food, which was planned to be purchased by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and distributed to food pantries and meal programs across the state, was suddenly revoked.

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The USDA also announced its Local Food Purchase Assistance program will no longer be available in 2025. The federal program allotted funding to support the purchase of locally produced food to be distributed to individuals experiencing food insecurity, which the Bellingham Food Bank has used for the past two years to distribute local produce across the Whatcom County Food Bank Network.

Volunteers package food items at the Bellingham Food Bank in 2020.

The confusion and likely reduction or end to these critical anti-hunger programs couldnt come at a worse time said Mike Cohen, Bellingham Food Banks Executive Director in a statement.

These losses mean Bellingham Food Bank will be directly impacted at a time when food bank visits in Whatcom County are at an all-time high and have grown to twice the state average, according to Cohen.

The result will be less food for hungry people and fewer fruits and vegetables from local farmers this season, Cohen said.

Sustainable Connections

The nonprofit Sustainable Connections manages nine federal multi-year grants totaling $2,466,954. The organizations 2025 budget includes about 20% of federal funding sources.

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Sustainable Connections was notified in January that three of its largest federal grants were paused, delaying almost $120,000 in reimbursements from 2024 while putting an additional almost $140,000 of planned spending on hold for 2025, according to the organizations Executive Director Derek Long.

Long called these freezes incredibly discouraging for the nonprofit, which he said works very hard to receive competitive funding for its programs and services.

Theres so much work involved in all of that, Long told The Herald. In the nonprofit world, you dont just get the money you need because youre a good-hearted person. You have to go through so many stages of vetting.

Sustainable Connections uses its Food Recovery Program van to deliver surplus food from dozens of organizations across Whatcom County to hunger-relief agencies.

Just this week the nonprofit learned that payment for one of its grants had resumed. But the status of the other two is still uncertain.

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Long said nonprofit staff are feeling uneasy but are trying to remain positive that funding will stabilize. Long told The Herald that local donors are stepping up to fill some of that critical need.

We have a very diverse funding base for most of our programs. Its hard to replace these larger federal contracts, but it still is reason for a bit of hope to see individual donors sending in support, Long said.

Long said Sustainable Connections is pushing for the release of funds while also staying in contact with grant administrators, community partners and state representatives to help support and maintain their essential programming.

Despite the uncertainty, we are committed to supporting our community, Long told The Herald.

Whatcom Family and Community Network

The Whatcom Family and Community Network is a local organization that works to promote the well-being of children, youth, and families through community support and capacity building. Much of the nonprofits work involves preventing substance use and supporting mental wellness in youth.

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About one third of the organizations funding comes from federal sources.

WFCN Executive Director Kristi Warren Slette told The Herald that funding is always a challenge for nonprofits and they are used to change. But this freeze has impacted them differently.

In the nonprofit sector, we live on shifting sand. But this doesnt feel like a regular wave, Warren Slette said.

Since the initial freeze announcement, the organization has been mentally preparing for the worst, Warren Slette said. Theyve had to consider the possibility of staff reductions or whether to take out a line of credit to maintain their programs.

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She said staff members are very nervous and some have started looking for work that is not dependent on federal funding.

Its absolutely stressful. Nonprofit work is already stressful, Warren Slette said. The lack of stability that announcement creates gets under the skin of your staff, your volunteers, everyone. It creates a sense of insecurity.

Warren Slette said the impact of funding loss for their organization would be detrimental for the community. Similar to other nonprofits, WFCN is preparing to make changes but still holding out hope.

Were hoping for some sense of compassion, responsibility, higher levels of communication and planning. If there are going to be changes, there are going to be changes. But lets do this in a way that gives us time to respond thoughtfully, give people time to adjust, and not do it in a hurtful, painful way, Warren Slette said. Our people are everything.

Editors note (March 17): This article has been revised to clarify Sustainable Connections budget. The nonprofit manages nine federal multi-year grants totaling $2,466,954, and its 2025 budget includes about 20% federal funding sources.
Mahmoud Khalil -- the pro-Palestinian activist and green card holder detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement this week -- said he overheard federal agents say that the White House was asking for an update on his detention, his attorneys said.

"He was surrounded by many DHS agents, or people he believed to be DHS agents, and he believes that he saw or heard, during a call, one of them say that the White House wants an update on what's going on," Samah Sisay, a staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights who is representing Khalil, said at a press conference Friday.

"We have every reason to believe, as we allege in the petition, that many people within the executive branch of the government were involved, including the White House," Sisay said.

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Khalil took part in student protests at Columbia University calling for the institution to divest and cut ties with Israel, and he participated in negotiations with university administration.

MORE: 98 protesters arrested at Trump Tower sit-in for detained activist Mahmoud Khalil

"His one and only goal was to get Columbia University to divest from its complicity with Israeli government crimes in Gaza and the West Bank," said Ramzi Kassem, the director of CLEAR, a group representing Khalil.

PHOTO: A person holds placards, ahead of a hearing on the detention of Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, in New York City, Mar. 12, 2025. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

The White House and Columbia University did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.

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Columbia University said in a statement Thursday, "We will continue to work to support our community, including protecting the privacy of our students, during this challenging time and we remain steadfastly committed to our values and our mission."

The Trump administration has claimed that Khalil distributed "pro-Hamas propaganda fliers with the logo of Hamas," without providing evidence.

"I have those fliers on my desk, they were provided to me by the Department of Homeland Security," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

"All of this talk of flyers is just nonsense, there is no truth to it whatsoever," Kassem said.

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Khalil's attorneys said their briefing on the motion to compel the government to return Khalil to New York should be finished by early next week. His attorneys hope the judge will make a decision sometime next week.

"Mahmoud was moved across multiple state lines and subsequently transferred to a remote prison in Louisiana hours after filing his habeas petition, an intentional and retaliatory act and an attempt to interfere with the jurisdiction of the New York court," Sisay said.

In the weeks leading up to his arrest, Khalil said he had been fearing for his safety as he and other Columbia University students advocating for the rights of Palestinians experienced increased doxing and harassment, his attorneys said.

PHOTO: Protestors rally in support of Mahmoud Khalil outside of the Thurgood Marshall Courthouse, during a hearing regarding Khalil's arrest, in New York City, Mar. 12, 2025. (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)

"It's like an almost daily occurrence where Twitter, social media posts showing photographs of students, identifying where they're located, where they live, who they're associated with, while tagging ICE, while tagging DHS, while tagging the president, tagging the Secretary of State," Amy Greer, an attorney with Dratel & Lewis who is representing Khalil, said Friday.

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MORE: DHS agents search 2 student rooms at Columbia University but make no arrests

"He's genuinely fearful that what's happened to him will happen to others," Greer said.

Khalil's attorneys accused the Trump administration of retaliating against Khalil for his protests and activism in support of Palestinians arguing his speech is protected by the First Amendment.

"The Trump administration is taking an extraordinarily broad and unconstitutional view of how the material support for terrorism laws apply in these contexts," Brian Hauss, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU, said at the press conference.

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 New York City (Jeenah Moon/Reuters)

"The Supreme Court was very clear in a case called Holder vs Humanitarian Law Project that the federal material supported terrorism laws do not apply to independent advocacy, even when that advocacy is explicitly supportive of a foreign designated terrorist organization, say a statement saying, 'I support Hamas,' if that statement is not coordinated with a foreign designated terrorist organization it is protected by the First Amendment," Hauss said.

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The First Amendment also protects the freedom of speech of individuals who are not American citizens, Hauss said. Khalil is a permanent resident of the U.S.

"Trump administration is punishing Mr. Khalil for his speech about Palestine. It is silencing him, and it is setting him up as an example to chill the millions of green card holders and other non-citizens around the country from saying anything that might draw President Trump's ire. That is textbook First Amendment retaliation," Hauss said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday on X that the department "will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported."

Khalil's attorneys have denied that Khalil has any ties to Hamas and said his activism has been in support of Palestinian rights.

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Hauss added, "If the administration can do this to Mr. Khalil because of his speech about Palestine, it can do it to any non-citizen who takes a position on hot button global issues, including the war between Russia and Ukraine, the tariffs being imposed against U.S. allies, or the rise of far right political parties in Europe."

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said Khalil was detained by ICE "in support of President Trump's executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism."

"Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization," McLaughlin said in a statement Sunday night.

White House allegedly asked for updates on arrest of activist Mahmoud Khalil, his attorney says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
NEW YORK  The White House sought real-time updates on the status of pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil after his arrest by Homeland Security agents who stonewalled his lawyers until he was on the way to rural Louisiana, the Columbia University graduate students legal team said in new court filings.

In an amended complaint filed in Manhattan Federal Court Thursday challenging the lawfulness of his detention, Khalils lawyers shed light on the speed at which agents moved to transport him out of New York in a tumultuous 16-hour stretch after he was detained at around 8:35 p.m. Saturday after returning from dinner with his pregnant wife.

It detailed how the feds expressed confusion when Khalil presented documents showing his lawful status as a permanent resident to agents whod been awaiting his return at his university apartment, prompting an officer to tell someone on the phone that he has a green card, before saying that he was being detained anyway.

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On Friday, Khalils attorneys said they planned to file an emergency bail motion. Samah Sisay, attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights, said it would outline the extraordinary circumstances warranting Khalils release, including the stress that this process has put on his pregnant wife, and the possibility of starting immigration proceedings in an immigration court in Louisiana due to the governments unlawful conducts hes challenging.

The court has inherent authority to grant the bail, even though the habeas petition is still pending. And we hope that thats what happens, Sisay said at a press conference.

The Trump administration has not accused Khalil of breaking any laws but says his participation in campus protests against Israeli military activity in Gaza and Columbias investment ties to Israel make him a terrorist sympathizer. They have cited an obscure provision in a 1952 law that empowers Secretary of State Marco Rubio to order anyone deported whose presence he deems a threat to U.S. foreign policy.

Immediately after his arrest, as he was brought to 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan for processing, Khalil heard an agent telling another taking his biometrics that the White House is requesting an update, according to his lawyers.

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He believes that he saw or heard during a call one of them say that the White House wants an update on whats going on, Sisay said. And so, we have every reason to believe  as we allege in the petition  that many people within the executive branch of the government were involved, including the White House.

In contrast, the attorneys said they couldnt contact him for days. After a call on Monday morning when they did not discuss legal issues, Manhattan Federal Judge Jesse Furman ordered them to be permitted to do so on Wednesday. Furman has temporarily halted Khalils removal while he considers his lawyers bid to have him released. Lawyers expected a decision by the judge as early as next week.

Khalil was transported from New York to a privately owned detention center in Elizabeth, N.J., at 3:20 a.m. and driven to Kennedy Airport the following morning. At 2:45 p.m. Sunday, he was put on a plane to Dallas for a connecting flight to Louisiana.

Hes since been sleeping in a bunker without a pillow or blanket, according to his lawyers, and waited some three days to be given the medication he needs for an ulcer.

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The government has argued that Khalils habeas corpus petition shouldnt be handled in the Southern District of New York because hed been transported to New Jersey about an hour before it was filed at 4:41 a.m. Sunday.

In filings Wednesday, they said it should be transferred to Louisiana as New Jersey never acquired jurisdiction in the eight or so hours he was there, unbeknownst to his attorneys. If it were moved to Louisiana, his lawyers would be required to direct any challenges to court orders to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, among the most conservative in the country.

Khalils attorneys, in Thursdays filing, said the online system to track detainees in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officially placed him at Federal Plaza in Manhattan when they brought their filing.

The grandson of Palestinians who was born in a Syrian refugee camp, Khalil completed his Masters program at Columbias School of International Affairs in December and has been set to graduate in May. He played a prominent role in the student-led demonstrations against Israels war in Gaza last year, chosen to facilitate negotiations between staff and students based on his previous work at a British embassy and the U.N., which his lawyers noted in the filing.

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In addition to being a green card holder, Khalil is married to a U.S. citizen. His arrest and detainment on ideological grounds have sparked nationwide protests and alarm on both sides of the political spectrum about the future of free speech under Trump.

What has become abundantly clear at this point is that it has backfired  the Trump administrations objective, its tactic has completely backfired, said Ramzi Kassem, another attorney for Khalil and the founder of CLEAR, a legal clinic at CUNY. You have thousands of people who have taken to the street.

In the wake of Khalils arrest, Trump posted on his Truth Social website that he would be the first of many. He and other admin officials have described any opposition to Israels government as antisemitic, with Trump frequently using the word Palestinian as a slur, including this week against Jewish Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer.

Khalil has denied characterizations being repeated by top Trump administration officials that his calls for a ceasefire and criticism of the Israeli regime amount to antisemitism and support for Hamas, which the U.S. designates a terrorist group.

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[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 in September.

______
By Nathan Layne and Humeyra Pamuk

(Reuters) -The Trump administration has withdrawn the nomination of Adam Boehler to serve as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, the White House said on Saturday.

Boehler, who has been working to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, will continue hostage-related work as a so-called "special government employee," a position that would not need Senate confirmation.

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"Adam Boehler will continue to serve President Trump as a special government employee focused on hostage negotiations," White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

"Adam played a critical role in negotiating the return of Marc Fogel from Russia. He will continue this important work to bring wrongfully detained individuals around the world home."

A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Boehler withdrew his nomination to avoid divesting from his investment company. The move was unrelated to the controversy sparked by his discussions with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

"He still has the utmost confidence of President Trump," said the official.

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"This gives me the best ability to help Americans held abroad as well as work across agencies to achieve President Trumps objectives," Boehler told Reuters in a brief statement.

Boehler recently held direct meetings with Hamas on the release of hostages in Gaza. The discussions broke with a decades-old policy by Washington against negotiating with groups that the U.S. brands as terrorist organizations.

The talks angered some Senate Republicans and some Israeli leaders. According to Axios, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer expressed his displeasure to Boehler in a tense phone call last week.

Hamas carried out a cross-border raid into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Israel responded with an offensive into the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.

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Boehler was given permission from the Trump administration to engage directly with Hamas, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week, calling the talks a "one-off situation" that had not borne fruit.

Boehler has been credited with helping secure the release of Fogel, a U.S. schoolteacher who was freed by Russia in February after three and a half years in prison.

(Reporting by Nathan Layne in West Palm Beach and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington; Editing by Diane Craft and Daniel Wallis)
The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to curtail a lower courts ability to issue a national injunction, hatching a novel legal strategy in its bid to radically revise a bedrock American principle: birthright citizenship.

Instead of asking the Supreme Court to directly rule on the constitutionality of granting U.S.-born children automatic citizenship, the Department of Justice requested this week that lower courts be barred from blocking Trumps executive order limiting birthright citizenship on a national scale.

So far, three federal judges have issued overlapping injunctions to block Trumps executive order which aims to keep the children of visa holders and undocumented immigrants from being American by birth.

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In a March 13 filing to the Supreme Court, the Trump administration said that in an ideal world, the existing injunctions would apply to only the individuals who sued the federal government in a personal capacity. But they are also open to the court blocking the order on a more limited scale. For example, limiting the injunctions to the states and organizations that have participated in the lawsuits alongside the individuals.

Theyre giving the court five or six different ways to help them. But they are asking for the whole pie and they will settle for whatever they can get, said Brian Green, a Colorado-based immigration attorney.

The issue at play

Assistant Professor Haiyun Damon-Feng at Cardozo School of Law told the Miami Herald that that the Trump administration might be banking on some Supreme Court Justices having previously signaled skepticism about the validity of nationwide injunctions as a remedy in general. She said it would be an odd result if the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to apply a potentially unconstitutional executive order to some people and not others. Federal Judge John Coughenour, a Reagan appointee who issued one of the nationwide injunctions out of Seattle, described the executive order as blatantly unconstitutional.

READ MORE: Trump wants to limit birthright citizenship through executive action. Can he do that?

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Nationwide injunctions are court orders that block the federal government from enforcing policies across the entire country, not just for the individuals who sue. The Trump administration argues that these injunctions amount to judicial overreach, preventing the executive branch from implementing its policies.

Universal injunctions compromise the Executive Branchs ability to carry out its functions, Justice Department attorney Sarah Harris wrote in her application to the Supreme Court, characterizing the nationwide blocks as having reached epidemic proportions since Trumps return to the presidency.

Put simply, the Trump administration wants the nations highest court  which Trump has had an outsize impact in shaping  to weigh in on a cornerstone tenet of U.S. immigration policies.

Critics, however, maintain that these injunctions are necessary to prevent unconstitutional actions from taking effect nationwide. Federal judges addressing Trump policies issued 15 universal injunctions or temporary restraining orders last month.

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Should the Supreme Court rule in favor of Trump, that could weaken lower courts ability to block executive actions on a range of other future policies  on healthcare, the environment or antitrust issues  and dramatically reshape the balance of power between the judiciary and the executive branch.

It could be a reimagining of the courts authority in service of a robustly powerful executive branch, said Damon-Feng.

What Trump is asking for

If the high court limits nationwide injunctions, Trumps policy could go into effect in areas where lawsuits have not yet been filed, creating a patchwork of enforcement issues across the country. This could lead to widespread legal uncertainty and a waterfall of litigation  which might be the unspoken aim of the Trump legal team.

Such a development could have sweeping implications in a state like Florida, where the federal government found that over half a million residents are undocumented. Other estimates put that number close to 1 million. And researchers have also found that roughly 280,000 children live with at least one undocumented relative, in many cases a parent.

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Green, the immigration attorney from Colorado, said its probably not tenable under the U.S. Constitution for babies to be born in one state to get U.S. citizenship automatically and not in other states. However, he noted that people could end up in limbo while awaiting a final decision.

Maybe they cant travel for a couple of years, or they cant get proof of citizenship, he said. And thats the most vital thing we have as U.S. citizens. The ability to be protected under laws and vote. So I would hate to see peoples rights be abridged while all the sausage making goes on for a couple of years.

Long deemed a fundamental American right

On his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order to exclude the children of undocumented immigrants and temporary visa holders from being Americans. The move breaks away from long-standing precedent that all babies born in the United States are automatically U.S. citizens, with the exception of the children of diplomats.

At the turn of the century, President Grover Cleveland indirectly challenged birthright citizenship during his administration by attempting to deny a U.S.-born citizen of Chinese descent to come back to the U.S.. That triggered the landmark Supreme Court U.S. vs Wong Kim Ark case in 1898, which firmly established the principle of birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment, a precedent thats been unchanged for more than 125 years.

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The history of the 14th amendment, taken in conjunction with the long-standing and undisturbed ruling in 1898 are very clear, said Damon-Feng.

But Trump is arguing that undocumented parents and temporary visa holders are not subject to U.S. jurisdiction, making their newborns ineligible for birthright citizenship. He ordered federal agencies to withhold passports and other official documents from them. He said during his campaign it would serve as a deterrent to irregular immigration.

READ MORE: One month in office: How Trumps orders have reshaped decades of immigration policies

The executive order has sparked outrage amid advocates and lawyers who say its an attack on the very principles upon which the United States was founded. Over a dozen states and and multiple immigrants- and civil-rights groups have sued the Trump administration in several jurisdictions, including in the district courts that issued the injunctions Trump is challenging.

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In one ruling from last month blocking the order in Boston, Judge Leo Sorokin said that the Constitution confers birthright citizenship broadly, including to the children Trump wanted to exclude from receiving citizenship.

Legal experts in the United States largely agree with this interpretation. However, some conservative scholars  sometimes characterized as on the fringes of American legal scholarship  affirm that the Trump administration could make a winning case to limit birthright citizenship.

The effort to redefine the 14th Amendment reflects a growing push among Trump-minded Republicans to challenge long-standing interpretations of constitutional rights and reshape U.S. immigration law. But while public opinion has swayed towards Trump on border security and deportations, polling shows that a majority of Americans disapprove of the presidents position on modifying birthright citizenship, with a recent Pew survey measuring 56% opposed to his executive order and just 43% in favor.

Its never been about the status of your parents, said Damon-Feng. The constitutional argument in favor of birthright citizenship is quite strong.
The field of candidates looking to succeed the late Rep. Raul Grijalva is starting to take clearer shape a couple of days after his death left a vacancy in Arizona's congressional delegation.

Representing a liberal stretch of southern Arizona, the seat Grijalva, D-Ariz., left open is a coveted spot for Democrats. Whichever candidate wins the party's July 15 primary is all but assured to coast to victory in the general election two months later, and, if the usual laws of political gravity hold, can hold onto the seat for as long as they want it.

On Friday, one big name in Arizona politics signaled his interest in the race in the 7th Congressional District.

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Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes is "seriously considering" a candidacy, his senior adviser Steven Slugocki told The Arizona Republic.

Fontes grew up in the border town of Nogales and he has held public office since 2017, first as Maricopa County Recorder and now as one of the top officials in Arizona's executive branch.

Also on Friday, another political heavyweight took herself out of the running. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero wrote on social media that being mayor was "the best way for me to continue our work on behalf of Tucsonans," ending speculation over whether she would throw her hat in the ring.

Several other possible candidates haven't yet confirmed whether they'll run.

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One of them is Grijalva's daughter, Adelita, who has long been seen as a natural successor to the seat. She sits on the Pima County Board of Supervisors, a position her father held decades ago before he got elected to Congress.

Another is former state Rep. Daniel Hernandez, who has run for Congress in the Tucson area before. He didn't directly answer a question about his plans when reached for comment by The Republic: Instead he praised the late congressman's legacy and sent his condolences to the Grijalva family, noting that he, too, recently lost his father.

His siblings, state Reps. Alma and Consuelo Hernandez, were also seen as possible contenders, though they have told local media they don't plan to run.

A lesser-known candidate by the name of Manuel Vega has announced plans to run for the seat, too, introducing himself in a letter to media as a Democrat with experience in nursing and health care.

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The election is expected to heat up in short order: Candidates will be able to formally file paperwork on Monday to begin the process of qualifying for the ballot.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who's running for Raul Grijalva seat? The field starts to take shape
Kirkland Signature chocolate chips were among the Costco items that disappeared in 2024, along with food court offerings like roast beef sandwiches and churros. As for why this product was removed from store shelves, the rising cost of cocoa appears to be the primary reason. This information comes courtesy of a Reddit post from someone claiming to have an official response to the discontinuation. As stated in the posted letter, "Cocoa costs have risen near 200% compared to last year," which means that Costco is unable to "make [its] Kirkland Signature Chocolate Chips a value against national brands." To this end, Nestle Toll House-brand chocolate chips will take the place of the Kirkland brand, at least for the time being.

While the statement shared on the social media platform is rather comprehensive, Mashed is unable to confirm that this information came directly from Costco. While these claims should be taken with a grain of salt, it's worth noting that cocoa prices did reach record highs throughout 2024. Factors like volatile weather patterns, climate change, disease, and poor conditions among farmers have contributed to a worldwide cocoa shortage. Unfortunately, this shortage is projected to continue throughout 2025, which means Costco's beloved chocolate chips won't be returning any time soon.

Read more: Underappreciated Costco Items You'll Wish You Knew About Sooner

Costco Customers Weigh Ethics Against Price Hikes

Customers entering and leaving Costco at nighttime - Slobo/Getty Images

As explained by Costco's mission statement on its website, the warehouse retail chain is driven "to continually provide [its] members with quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices." This mission is at least partially made possible by Costco's Kirkland Signature brand, a private label that aims to offer brand-name quality at affordable prices. Where Costco's chocolate chips are concerned, the quality remains intact, but the store is no longer able to offer the product for the same affordable price. As explained in the statement shared on Reddit, estimates show that Kirkland Signature chips would cost more than Nestle at a rate of $16.99 for Kirkland Signature's red bag of chocolate chips versus $15.48 for Nestle-brand chips at competing grocery stores.

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Ultimately, the chain hopes to offer its own chocolate chips again once cocoa prices decrease. And while Costco shoppers on Reddit are appreciative that the chain is so forthcoming about its supply issues (as one person put it, "Sucks but them being so thorough is pretty cool"), others would rather deal with the increased price for ethical reasons. According to one commenter, "I'd rather the unfortunate price hike than buy nestle chips." The company has experienced quite a bit of controversy due to its questionable practices, including the fact that Nestle continued to benefit from forced child labor after the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the company on a lawsuit initiated by the now-adult victims of a child trafficking ring based on the Ivory Coast.

Read the original article on Mashed.
Fewer Florida parents are fully vaccinating their kindergartners against measles, polio, tetanus and other highly contagious diseases that can get people seriously ill, federal and state data show.

Floridas slowdown in kindergarten vaccinations, which began after COVID arrived five years ago, mirrors a nationwide decrease in a post-pandemic world where politics, misinformation and personal freedom have muddied vaccination guidance and reduced trust in what the family doctor recommends.

In the 2023-2024 school year, coverage among U.S. kindergartners decreased for all reported vaccines compared to the year before, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Florida, nearly all 67 counties saw a decline in childhood immunizations among kindergartners since COVID came in 2020, state data shows. Meanwhile, religious exemptions to vaccinations are on the rise in Florida.

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In Florida, the number of kindergartners with mandatory vaccinations decreased to 88% in the 2023-24 school year from 94% in 2019-20, a drop-off of several thousand kids.

Health experts say the more unvaccinated kids, the greater a risk for outbreaks.

Hialeah pediatrician Dr. Thresia Gambon says explaining the importance of vaccination to parents can be a tough conversation. But she considers it an important one, especially as the country sees outbreaks of highly contagious measles.

Texas is ground zero for the most recent outbreak, and other states have also reported cases. In Florida, a Miami-Dade teen recently fell ill with measles.

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While Gambon said most parents want their kids vaccinated, others are wary but willing, or prefer a more staggered vaccination schedule. And some just dont want their child to get a shot, period.

I have seen a growing rise in parents who are concerned about the safety of their children and giving the vaccines ... maybe not since COVID, maybe in the last 10 years, said Gambon, previous president of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Vaccine hesitancy, myths and misinformation circulated even before the rise of internet and social media propelled their spread. Then in 2020, COVID arrived. After COVID vaccines hit the market, vaccine skeptics and some political leaders began to question the safety, effectiveness or need for the shots.

Nicole Diaz, a 30-year-old mother of two, also worries about vaccine side effects.

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Five years ago, when her son was born, she took him to the pediatrician to get his recommended shots. But shortly after he got a round of shots when he was about 1, Diaz said she noticed a change in her son. Eventually, he was diagnosed with autism.

Was it a vaccine? Family genetics?  or something else, wondered Diaz, wearing a blue sweatshirt saying Autism doesnt mean cant.

The mother said her experience changed the way she views vaccinations. So she has a new strategy for her 3-week-old baby girl: staggered vaccinations.

They recommend introducing new foods to your child one at a time to monitor for potential allergies, she said during a visit with her newborn around the lake at Tropical Park in Westchester. Why not the same for vaccines?

Vaccine hesitancy on the rise

While health researchers say there are no links between vaccines and autism, they also agree that confusion, misinformation and medical politics that built through the pandemic have pushed people to lose trust in public health. That mistrust has caused more people to become hesitant about vaccines, and not just for COVID.

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Patients are balking on flu shots and the routine childhood vaccines that doctors have administered and recommended for decades, including one for measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR, which is highly effective in preventing infection.

No one wants to put their child in harms way, said Jason Salemi, an epidemiology professor at the University of South Florida College of Public Health in Tampa, and also the father of a young child.

Babies usually get their first shot within 24 hours after birth, the first of many theyll receive through their teen years. A babys first shot is usually the first of three doses given to prevent Hepatitis B, an incurable infection that is sometimes passed on from the mother and can cause liver damage and liver cancer. Some newborns may also be given a recently approved vaccine to help protect them from RSV, a common respiratory illness that can cause severe illness in young children.

From there, kids receive other vaccines as they grow up to guard against whooping cough, polio and measles.

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READ NEXT: Are you at risk for measles? Miami sees case amid U.S. outbreak. What to know in Florida

Salemi said parents who dont vaccinate their children are making that decision because of the information that theyve heard, and it scares them. So, doctors need to do a better job of connecting with parents to answer questions, dispel myths, and explain benefits, he said.

Theres not zero risk for anything, but in the case of something like the measles vaccine, we have decades of data that have shown that the benefits far outweigh the risks and weve probably prevented millions of death and serious complications from measles worldwide, Salemi said.

Measles rash can appear 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms, which can include coughing and red, watery eyes.

Measles can cause high fever, rash, swollen salivary glands and complications including brain swelling, deafness and pneumonia, which affects 1 of every 20 children sick with measles and is the most common cause of death from measles in kids, according to the CDC. Nearly 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children sick with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.

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Getting MMR vaccine is much safer than getting measles, mumps or rubella, the CDC says.

The MMR vaccine is one of several shots required to attend public and private childcare and K-12 schools in Florida, along with vaccines to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, polio and other diseases. Kids can skip the shots if their parents cite medical and religious reasons. COVID-19 vaccines are optional for school.

For Rosmel Estevez, making sure his 6-month old daughter receives all of her necessary shots is a no-brainer.

Its for her health, he told the Miami Herald in Spanish.

Most parents, like Estevez, vaccinate their kids. But in Florida, the numbers are dropping.

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Its the parents decision, he said with a shrug.

In the 2023-24 school year, about 88% of Florida kindergartners had the mandatory vaccinations required to attend school, down from the previous year, when nearly 91% of kindergartners were vaccinated, federal data shows. Thats below the recommended 95% threshold needed to reduce the risk of spreading infections. During the 2020-2021 school year, about 93% of kindergartners were vaccinated. In the 2019-2020 school year, when COVID struck, nearly 94% had shots.

That means nearly 12,000 fewer kindergartners in Florida went to school without the mandatory shots in the 2023-2024 school year compared to the 2020-2021 school year, when kids returned to in-person learning, according to Salemi, who reviewed the publicly available data for the Miami Herald.

This causes me distress because I have visions of going back in time to the bad old days, said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious disease and preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

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The U.S. officially eliminated measles, one of the most contagious diseases in the world, in 2000. Schaffner fears the country will soon lose that status due to recurring measles outbreaks. Then, he said, other contagious diseases will follow.

Theyre not as contagious as measles so it may take them a little longer to be introduced and spread. We may see more of this over the next three, four, five years, so some of the impact is going to be delayed rather than immediate, said Schaffner, whose decades-long career has focused on preventing infectious diseases. Measles is the tip of the spear ... of the returning bad infectious diseases.

Its not just podcasts and TikTok spreading misinformation. Parents can hear conflicting information straight from the mouths of state leaders.

Florida State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, the states top health official, has clashed with federal health officials over masks and COVID shots. His quarantine guidelines for the Miami-Dade school that recently had a case of measles also breaks from longstanding recommendations.

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Conflicting messages are also coming out of Washington.

Longtime vaccine skeptic Robert Kennedy Jr. is President Donald Trumps secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, a role that includes authority over the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kennedy has expressed the importance of vaccination to reduce the spread of measles. But also has enraged doctors and researchers over his Vitamin A guidance to treat infections.

I dont see an easy solution to this problem, Schaffner said. Public health is going to have to work hard.

Decline in childhood vaccinations in South Florida

In South Florida, vaccination rates remained relatively steady over the past decade, hovering around the low- to mid-90% range. Once COVID hit in 2020, the regions kindergarten vaccination rates in public and private schools began to dip, according to data from Floridas health department for the 2022-23 school year compared to previous years:

 Miami-Dade County: 91% of kindergartners were vaccinated, compared with 92% the previous school year. During the 2019-2020 school year, when COVID arrived, about 93% of kindergartners were vaccinated.

 Broward County: 92% of kindergartners were vaccinated, same as the previous year. During the 2019-2020 school year, about 94% of kindergartners were vaccinated.

 In Palm Beach County: 91% of kindergartners were vaccinated, a slight improvement from the previous school year when about 90% got their shots. During the 2019-2020 school year, about 92% were vaccinated.

 Monroe County: 92% of kindergartners were vaccinated, a slight improvement from the previous school year. Its also slightly better then the 2019-2020 school years 91%.

The Florida Department of Health hasnt released data requested by the Miami Herald for immunization levels in South Florida for the 2023-2024 school year.

Its not clear if the available data reflects completed immunizations or also includes students who have some, but not all, of the required shots. Either way, its still below the recommended vaccination threshold needed for herd immunity.

Herd immunity is the percent of the population that needs to be vaccinated to reduce the risk of a disease spreading and infecting those who cant get vaccinated, either because of age, pregnancy or medical conditions. To reduce the risk of measles spreading at a school, for example, the recommendation is to have at least 95% of the population vaccinated.

But vaccination rates can vary by school. And diseases dont just spread in the classroom. Students move around, visiting grocery stores, restaurants and other places in their daily lives.

Floridas publicly available data only reports overall vaccination rates, so theres no way to know if parents are avoiding all, or only certain mandatory shots. Its also possible that some kids are still catching up with shots  many doctors offices closed and pivoted to telehealth during the pandemic  and may get vaccinated when theyre older. Florida only publicly reports the vaccination rates of students in kindergarten and seventh grade.

But the available data does give a snapshot on whats happening in Florida and the rest of the country.

Doctors, epidemiologists and other public health experts say they are concerned the decrease in nationwide vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and other contagious diseases will lead to outbreaks of viruses and bacteria that, for years, have mostly vanished.

Measles is already making a comeback, with federal health officials working to control an outbreak that has infected more than 200 people in Texas. The highly contagious disease produces a rash over the skin and flu-like symptoms. While most people can recover at home, the disease can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia and brain swelling. It can also be deadly. The U.S. has recently recorded its first two measles deaths in nearly a decade. One was a child and both were unvaccinated.

Most of the vaccines that are recommended for children are recommended to prevent diseases which have fatal or potentially really bad outcomes, and have been tested for years, said Dr. Mark Roberts, a professor of health policy and management at the University of Pittsburghs School of Public Health.

And the vaccines have worked. Thousands of people a year in the U.S. alone fell ill with polio, a virus that can cause paralysis until 1955, when the country licensed its first polio vaccine. By 1994, polio was considered eliminated in North and South America.

Measles also was considered eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, with just sporadic travel-related cases, following a campaign to promote the highly effective MMR vaccine. But more measles cases have begun to pop up across Florida and other parts of the country in recent years as fewer kids get shots.

Weve had a disease that we had eliminated 25 years ago; we now had a child die of a completely preventable disease, said Roberts, whose Public Health Dynamics Laboratory partnered with the University of South Florida in Tampa several years ago to create a simulation showing how quickly measles could spread in Florida counties based on immunization rates.

MORE: How quickly could measles outbreak spread? Heres what worst-case scenario looks like

The measles resurgence comes at a time when states are also seeing a rise in parents seeking exemptions for vaccines.

In Florida, kids can get exempted from receiving some, or all vaccines, due to medical or religious reasons. Doctors need to sign off on temporary and permanent medical vaccine exemptions for kids to attend school. These exemptions are usually given to kids who cant get certain vaccines because of medical conditions or treatments, such as cancer, that have weakened their immune systems. For religious exemptions, parents would need to fill out a form at their local health department office.

Florida medical exemptions have remained relatively stable over the past decade, with fewer than 1% of kindergartners exempted from vaccines during the 2023-2024 school year, CDC data shows. Religious exemptions ticked up slightly, with about 4.5% of kindergartners exempted from vaccines in the 2023-2024 school year compared to 3% during the 2019-2020 school year, when COVID struck.

Schaffner said the risks of disease hasnt hit home with some people who have never seen relatives sick with measles or polio thanks to vaccines.

Pediatricians may also find it more difficult to calm parents fears and concerns about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. The CDC, the countrys top public health agency, is planning to study whether there are any links between vaccines and autism even as a bulk of scientific research has dismissed that theory, Reuters reports. The planned study comes shortly after Kennedys confirmation as health secretary, a role that includes authority over the CDC.

Researchers say the rising prevalence of autism, ADHD and other conditions in kids stems from doctors getting better at spotting it. Doctors havent had much luck stopping the spread of fear some parents have about vaccines and autism.

But Schaffner, the infectious disease expert, thinks the CDCs upcoming study could be the opportunity doctors need: If the study is conducted according to rigorous scientific standards, under a vaccine skeptic leadership, the results could calm the concerns of parents who didnt trust previous vaccine studies, he said.

Measles case in South Florida

Florida, which last year confirmed at least 12 cases of measles, reported its first measles case this year in a teen who attends Miami Palmetto Senior High School in Pinecrest.

While doctors say vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of measles and other diseases, preventive efforts like isolating sick people and notifying those who have been exposed to them are also key. In recent years, that public health decision has fallen more on parents, too.

At Palmetto High, parents received a letter from Floridas top health official alerting them about a case of measles at the school. In the March 4 letter, Ladapo, Floridas surgeon general, said its up to parents whether to send their kids to school, breaking away from federal quarantine recommendations.

Unvaccinated children who have not previously had measles can stay home or go to school, as long as they dont have symptoms, Ladapo wrote. The surgeon general said parents of unvaccinated students can also decide to keep their kids home with online learning through March 17, which is the end of the incubation period, to reduce the risk of infection and spread, as is generally recommended. Kids experiencing symptoms should not go to school until symptoms subside without medication.

View of the Miami Palmetto Senior High School in The Village of Pinecrest, on Saturday March 08, 2025.

Ladapo said his recommendation  to let parents decide  is based on the high immunity rate in the community and the burden on families and educational cost of healthy children missing school. He said the date, as well as his recommendation, could change as the epidemiological investigation continues. Palmetto High has a vaccination rate of 99.7%, according to Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Jose Dotres.

Its mostly the same guidance Ladapo gave Broward parents last year following a measles outbreak at a Weston elementary school.

The measles fact sheet provided to parents with the letter mentions that Vitamin A supplementation may be beneficial when administered under the supervision of your health care provider. Days earlier, Kennedy announced new CDC guidance supporting Vitamin A for sick kids under a doctors care.

Many in the medical community have criticized the new health secretary over the updated guidance. Some worry it could confuse parents and lead to kids overdosing on Vitamin A.

Evidence on vitamin A treatment should not be extended to prevention. Vitamin A supplements will not prevent people from getting measles; vaccination does that, Dr. Christopher R. Sudfeld of Harvard told USA Today.

For parents and others, the mixed messaging between state and federal health agencies can cause confusion and uncertainty.

So, who can parents trust?

Doctors say: Trust us.

We need to make sure that parents have access to health care providers who can have these one-on-one conversations, Salemi said, listen to their concerns and be able to give them that risk to benefit ratio.

For Nicole Diaz, the parent walking in the park with her newborn, that conversation will include researching and talking with her pediatrician about which vaccine is right for her daughter. She already has some ideas.

Whooping cough vaccine? Yes.

Measles?

Maybe. It depends on the situation.
Facing a threat of imminent government shutdown, nine Democrats joined GOP Senate colleagues to defeat a filibuster, moving the six-month government funding bill to final passage in a late-day vote on March 14, 2025.

Since January 2025, Republicans in Washington have enjoyed whats commonly known as a governing trifecta: control over the executive branch via the president, combined with majorities for their party in both the House and the Senate.

You might think that a trifecta, which is also referred to as unified government by political scientists, is a clear recipe for easy legislative success. In theory, when political parties have unified control over the House, the Senate and the presidency, there should be less conflict between them. Because these politicians are part of the same political party and have the same broad goals, it seems like they should be able to get their agenda approved, and the opposing minority party can do little to stop them.

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But not all trifectas are created equal, and not all are dominant. And several weaknesses in the Republicans trifecta made passing their six-month stopgap spending bill so difficult, and they help explain why the federal government came so close to shutting down completely.

Research shows that political gridlock can still happen even under a unified government for reasons that have been on display ever since Republicans assumed leadership of Congress and the presidency in January.

With a slim majority, will GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson, left, be able to pass Donald Trumps priorities? Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Majority size matters

A unified government clearly makes President Donald Trumps ability to enact his agenda much easier than if, for example, Democrats controlled the U.S. House, as they did during the second half of his first term, from 2021-2022. But tight margins in both congressional chambers have meant that, even with a trifecta, it hasnt been an easy.

Trump was the sixth consecutive president with a trifecta on Day 1 of his second term. But history  and simple math  show that presidents with trifectas have an easier time passing partisan legislation with bigger majorities. Bigger majorities mean majority-party defections wont easily sink controversial or partisan legislation. A bigger majority also means that individual members of Congress from either party have less leverage to water down the presidents policy requests.

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Trump also held a trifecta during the beginning of his first term in office; in particular, a big Republican majority in the House, which passed major legislation with relative ease and put pressure on Senate colleagues to comply. Trump signed a major tax reform package in 2017 that was the signature legislative achievement of his first term.

But Trump has a much smaller advantage this time.

Every president since Bill Clinton has entered office with a trifecta, but Trumps seat advantage in the House on Day 1 of his second term was the smallest of all of them. This slim House margin meant that Republicans could afford to lose only a handful of their partys votes on their spending bill in order for it to pass over unanimous Democratic opposition.

And Trumps relatively small advantage in the Senate meant that Republicans needed at least eight Democratic votes to break a filibuster. Nine Democrats ultimately voted to advance the bill to final passage.

Majority party troubles

In addition to opposition from Democrats in Congress, Trump and other Republican leaders have continued to confront internal divisions within their own party.

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In a closely divided House or Senate, there are plenty of tools that Democrats, even as the minority party, can use to stymie Trumps agenda. This most notably includes the filibuster, which would have forced Republicans to garner 60 votes for their short-term spending bill. A small proportion of Democrats ultimately bailed out Senate Republicans in this case; but any major defections within the GOP would have required even more Democratic support, which Republicans were unlikely to get.

Even dominant legislative trifectas, again like the one former President Barack Obama enjoyed when he took office in 2009, cant prevent divisions within political parties, as different politicians jockey for control of the partys agenda.

Despite entering office with a 17-vote advantage in the Senate, 11 more than Trump enjoys now, Obamas signature legislative achievement  the Affordable Care Act, also sometimes known as Obamacare  had to be watered down significantly to win a simple majority after backlash from conservative Democrats.

Obamas trifecta was bigger in size; but in a polarized America, a large majority also means an ideologically diverse one.

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Just as Republican leaders did in the last Congress, Trump has faced similar pushback behind the scenes and in public from members of his own party in his second term. For the past two years, the Republican-led House has been repeatedly riven by leadership struggles and an often aimless legislative agenda, thanks to a lack of cooperation from the the partys far-right flank.

This group of ideologically driven lawmakers remains large enough to stall any party-line vote that Speaker Mike Johnson hopes to pass, and the spending bill very nearly fell victim to this kind of defection.

Even though the GOP squeaked out a win on this spending bill, the potential for continued chaos is monumental, especially if Trump pursues more major reform to policy areas such as immigration.

Competing pressures

Despite Congress reputation as a polarized partisan body, members of Congress ultimately serve multiple masters. The lingering Republican divisions that made it so difficult to pass this resolution reflect the competing pressures of national party leaders in Washington and the local politics of each members district, which often cut against what party leaders want.

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For example, some Republicans represent heavily Republican districts and will be happy to go along with Trumps agenda, regardless of how extreme it is. Others represent districts won by Kamala Harris in 2024 and might be more inclined to moderate their positions to keep their seats in 2026 and beyond. There admittedly arent many of this latter group; but likely enough to sink any party-line legislation Speaker Johnson has in mind.

Whats next?

Republicans managed to pass a hurried, stopgap spending bill on March 14, 2025 only by the skin of their teeth. Failing to do so would have driven the federal government into shutdown mode. Small margins, internal divisions and conflicting electoral pressures will continue to make legislating difficult over the next two years or more.

Thanks to these complications, it may be that congressional Republicans will continue to rely on the executive branch, including Elon Musk and the efforts at the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to do the policymaking for them, even if it means handing over their own legislative power to Trump.

This is an updated version of a story first published on Nov. 19, 2024.

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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: Charlie Hunt, Boise State University

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Charlie Hunt 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.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP)  The Trump administrations decision to expel the South African ambassador is its latest move against a country it has singled out for sanctions and accused of being anti-white and anti-American.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X that Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool was no longer welcome in our great country and said he was a race-baiting politician who hates America and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Rubios post didn't explain what was behind the decision but linked to a story by the conservative Breitbart news site. The story reported on a talk Rasool gave Friday on a webinar where he said the Make America Great Again movement could be seen as being a response to a supremacist instinct.

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Trump had already issued an executive order last month cutting all funding to South Africa over some of its domestic and foreign policies. The order criticized the Black-led South African government on multiple fronts, saying it is pursuing anti-white policies at home and supporting bad actors in the world like the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Iran.

White farmers in South Africa

A white minority group in South Africa has been a central focus for Trump.

Trump falsely accused the South African government of a rights violation against white Afrikaner farmers by seizing their land through a new expropriation law. No land has been seized and the South African government has pushed back, saying U.S. criticism is driven by misinformation.

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The Trump administrations references to the Afrikaner people  who are descendants of Dutch and other European settlers  have also elevated previous claims made by Trump's South African-born advisor Elon Musk and some conservative U.S. commentators that the South African government is allowing attacks on white farmers in what amounts to a genocide.

That has been disputed by experts in South Africa, who say there is no evidence of whites being targeted, although farmers of all races are victims of violent home invasions in a country that suffers from a very high crime rate.

The issue of land in South Africa is highly emotive given that more than 30 years after the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule, whites still own most of the good commercial farming land despite making up just 7% of the population. The South African government says the expropriation law aims to address those historic inequalities but is not a confiscation tool and will target unused land.

Trump has offered Afrikaner farmers refugee status in the U.S. and a fast track to citizenship, but groups representing them say they want to stay in South Africa.

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Israel-Hamas connections

Trumps sanctioning of South Africa also cited the countrys case at the United Nations top court accusing U.S. ally Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

During arguments in that ongoing and highly controversial case, Israel accused South Africa of acting as a proxy for Hamas. Trump has repeated that, questioning South Africas motives and accusing it of an anti-American foreign policy that supports Hamas, Iran, China and Russia.

South Africas post-apartheid government has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause, going back to the time of Nelson Mandela, its first Black president. It compares the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank to the experiences of Black South Africans who were confined to certain areas during apartheid.

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Rasool, the South African ambassador, comes from a Muslim community in South Africa that has been a center of support for Palestinians. The Breitbart writer whose story was cited by Rubio  senior editor-at-large Joel Pollak  was also born in South Africa and is Jewish. His story cast Rasool as a Hamas supporter.

Pollak has other connections to the U.S.-South Africa situation after recently meeting with a lobby group representing Afrikaners. South African media have reported that Pollak is a contender to be Trumps pick for U.S. ambassador to South Africa.

"DEI and climate change"

The U.S. criticism of South Africa has extended to its presidency this year of the Group of 20, a bloc of major economies that aims to bring the developed and developing world together. Rubio skipped a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in South Africa last month and said he would boycott the G20 summit in South Africa in November.

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He said he had a problem with South Africa's theme for its G20 presidency, which is solidarity, equality and sustainability. Rubio, in a post on X, dismissed that as DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and climate change and said he would not waste taxpayer money on it.

Tensions during the Biden administration

The South African government has expressed surprise at Trump's sanctions and says it wants to fix its relationship with the U.S. South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship, said a statement from the office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday in response to Rasool's expulsion.

But U.S.-South Africa ties were strained even before Trump. The Biden administration accused South Africa of supporting Russia in the war in Ukraine while claiming a neutral stance. Like with the Palestinians, South Africa has historic ties to Russia, which supported the fight against apartheid.

While Ramaphosa has repeatedly said he wants to engage in talks with the Trump administration, his African National Congress party has at times been defiant. The ANC recently invited the Iranian ambassador to its headquarters in Johannesburg and said it wouldn't hide its friends.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  An arrest has been made following a burglary and vandalism incident at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 2007 N. Arkansas Ave.

At 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, the Wichita Police Department responded to the church. When officers arrived, they found significant damage, including hate speech graffiti, destroyed religious items, and a burned U.S. flag.

The damage was discovered when a church official arrived in the morning. It appeared to have happened sometime overnight.

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Its disgusting, Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said at the scene. It doesnt matter what denomination. People should feel safe there, and they should feel that its a place that would be respected.

Teens attack Kansas City ice cream shop manager, suspects in custody

Authorities would not detail the contents of the hate speech.

Were not going to release that as part of the investigation thats ongoing, Chief Sullivan said.

In a social post, the church expressed sadness and canceled Saturday services.

At 2:20 a.m. on Sunday, officers located and arrested a suspect in the 2800 block of N. Hillside without incident. The suspect has been booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on suspicion of burglary, criminal desecration, and criminal damage to property.

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This case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney and federal prosecutors for formal charging considerations.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  Williamson County Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Judge Bill Gravell Friday morning.

This comes after Gravell told the court Tuesday he was leaving to join the Trump Administration.

Gravell will take on the role as Region 6 advocate for the Small Business Administration in the Office of Advocacy, representing Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. The SBA is a federal agency dedicated to helping small businesses by providing counseling, capital and contracting expertise.

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Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell resigns to join Trump administration

During the special session Friday, the Williamson County Commissioners Court discussed the appointment of a new judge. However, the court became tied up in technicalities over who should serve as presiding officer of this session, and future sessions, since Gravell resigned.

We can just go in line, Precinct 1, 2, 3, 4. Next week the presiding officer can be commissioner Cook, the week after it could be Commissioner Long, the week after that Commissioner Covy, the week after that it can be me, Commissioner Russ Boles said during the meeting.

Another commissioner responded to Boles saying, I mean, I think thats a little chaotic that way. Its the complexity of how many transactions that were talking about making it change every week. By the time we got it changed, it would be time for a new person to stand up.

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While Boles called the suggestion fantastic, the other commissioner said, Not fantastic. I dont think thats what our citizens want. I think they want continuity of government.

The meeting continued heating up after the exchange between commissioners who set up another special session to go over potential ideas for a new judge later this month.

Kevin Baskar contributed to this report

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WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  Its the price of growth: Wilson County Animal Control is running out of space.

On Monday, March 17, the agency will ask county commissioners for permission to move into a space almost four times the size of its current one, as well as some additional funding.

Tucked away in Wilson County, animal control is dedicated to caring for rescued dogs.

We do a lot of community outreach about microchips and about dog tags, and if a dog has a tag or has a microchip, we will get them home, Steve Gatlin, director of Wilson County Animal Control, said.

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Fur Baby Friday: Meet Katsura!

Animal control has been located at the county landfill  literally on Dump Road  since 2003. However, Wilson Countys growth is putting more stress on the agency, which was originally supposed to house only 18 dogs.

Today, were above 30, and its just a sign of the times, the growth, Gatlin told News 2 on Friday, March 14.

In addition to being at the county landfill, Gatlin said animal controls current space is across the street from the Lebanon Police Department firing range, which is not the best place for dogs.

According to Gatlin, the agency is asking Wilson County to consider an expansion and take over a building on Tennessee Boulevard.

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It would be, gosh, almost four times the size of this one and have kennels for approximately 40 dogs, Gatlin said.

Newborn kittens rescued from wrecked car in New York moments before demolition

This will be a game changer for you guys, News 2s Kendall Ashman commented.

It will be a game changer! Thats a good phrase for this, Gatlin replied.

While animal control has introduced several programs to reduce the number of intakes, including volunteer programs, staff are hoping more people will consider adoption.

Since Christmas, things have slowed down dramatically, and if you see some of these rescues around, everybodys full, Gatlin said.

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If youre in the market for adopting a dog, Wilson County Animal Control provides a microchip for each dog, as well as all their shots. The adoption fee is $45 with a $50 refundable spay/neuter deposit. Follow this link to check out the list of adoptable dogs.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
GERLAW, Illinois  Most of the Quad Cities area avoided major damage as a fierce line of winds rolled through Friday night, but Gerlaw Christian Church in Gerlaw, wasnt so lucky.

Friday nights storm blew the steeple off Gerlaw Christian Church in Warren County. A cross dangles from the steeple. (Eric Olsen, OurQuadCities.com)

The wind blew the steeple off the building, which dates back to 1894. The steeple landed in the yard of the church property, the cross on top bent, but still attached.

Friday nights storm severely damaged Gerlaw Christian Church in Warren County. (Eric Olsen, OurQuadCities.com)

Other pieces of debris also littered the church yard as parishioners showed up to survey the damage and work with a board-up company to make sure holes were temporarily repaired. The church administrators are waiting on insurance adjusters to tell them whats next as far as repairs.

Friday nights storm severely damaged Gerlaw Christian Church in Warren County. (Eric Olsen, OurQuadCities.com)

Church Building and Planning Committee Chairman Joe Grodjesk describes Gerlaw Christian Church as a country church whose worshipers come from miles around the small church building in Gerlaw, which is in Warren County about six miles north of Monmouth.

Friday nights storm severely damaged Gerlaw Christian Church in Warren County. (Eric Olsen, OurQuadCities.com)

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The congregation first gathered in 1859. They plan to hold Sunday services in the churchs fellowship hall until a structural engineer can get a better look at the building.

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In Winnetka School District 36, four candidates are competing for three seats on the School Board. Each expressed their views at a League of Women Voters candidate forum in early March.

The candidates are incumbents Dan Waters and Alyssa Rapp, along with newcomers Patrick Conway and Andrew Hotz. Rapp did not attend the forum and a fifth candidate, Margaret Williamson, has withdrawn from the race.

Opening Statements

Hotz, a technology and media executive and D36 parent at Greeley Elementary and Skokie School, said his top three reasons for running are for students to get a good education, for the board to be fiscally responsible and for a non-partisan environment for the schools and board.

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Over 90% of people in this community have a bachelors degree, and over half of this community has a graduate degree. We clearly value education. Weve all benefited from education, and I think our children deserve the same, Hotz said.

Waters, the CEO of Hu Chocolate and former D36 parent whose children now attend New Trier High School, said his campaign is also centered around education, data and funds.

100% of Winnetka taxpayers pay their taxes to the schools, but less than 40% of the households have children who use the schools. So I think its important to have a board member who represents the full community, Waters said.

Conway, the CEO of Dara Energy, an energy company, and a D36 parent, said, I do not have an agenda for the board my willingness to engage with the community and not shying away from criticism will be an asset to build.

Biggest challenges

Waters said one of District 36s bigger challenges is the schools finances, with Skokie School needing an additional $13 million in maintenance work, along with state mandates on all school districts, such as providing full day kindergarten, which could be costly.

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Hotz said one of the biggest challenges the district is facing is how to use technology in the classroom.

Its an area that I have a lot of background in, as I mentioned, Ive spent 15 years as an executive in tech, and its important because AI can play a very beneficial role in our students learning, Hotz said.

I think of it as Bill Gates says, A tutor that is always available to you,' he added.

Hotz said taking care of the districts buildings is also of utmost importance to be proactive and avoid bigger and more costly repairs being needed in the future.

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Hotz said he also supports the current boards new literacy curriculum and math curriculum. Thats why I am running to support the continuing of those two plans that are in place and make sure our students have the necessary reading and math curriculum that is going to set them up for success in New Trier and beyond, he said.

Conway acknowledged the district communicates regularly but still said communication was the biggest challenge facing the district.

What weve seen through several different surveys is that, you know, every year, the schools put out more and more information. You know, we get weekly emails from principals and superintendents but then parents still say, I have questions. And so that speaks to a communication issue, Conway said.

Waters noted that parents have access to their students data and grades in real time, and that teachers also have the ability to adjust assessment in real time.

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We have that data now, and you know, quite honestly, its as transparent as its ever been, Waters said.

Restrict education materials?

Candidates were asked if the school board should restrict education materials.

Hotz said he didnt believe it was the Boards responsibility to restrict education materials.

I think its a rather odd question that we should be restricting anything that we deemed educational for our students, he said.

I think it is the administrations responsibility to have a perspective, and our job as a Board is to guide them on what the state and local mandates and restrictions are, and making sure were aware of the risks and the consequences that go along with that.

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Hotz added, One of the many things I love about Illinois is a state law that requires school boards to be non partisan and the election process to be non partisan, and I firmly believe that is what is in the best interest of our students.

Waters said that its important for teachers to be able to select materials for their classrooms and for students to feel represented in their classrooms. Everyone belongs in our schools there is a key part of having things available and having materials available for kids to see, to see themselves and see their families reflected in what they see, he said.

Conway said while the school board does pick the curriculum, the actual content for how students learn should be up to teachers and the administration and not for the Board to decide.
Authorities in Wisconsin have re-issued the appeal to find a pregnant 16-year-old girl who was abducted in early February.

In an update on Friday, the Beaver Dam Police Department said that Sophia Franklin "remains in imminent danger" six weeks after she was last seen in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

The man who abducted her, 40-year-old Gary Day, is believed to be the father of her unborn child. An AMBER Alert was issued after her disappearance, which remains in effect, and there have been reported the pair have been seen in Arkansas and Missouri.

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New images of the pair were released on Friday.

Beaver Dam PD

"Our Amber Alert continues to remain active.We continue to field tips on this case," Beaver Dam PD said. "Thank you to all who continue to share and spread this alert. It only takes one right tip to get her."

Franklin was last seen at her home on the evening of Feb. 2. Day was seen at the home the next morning. The pair were traveling in a black 2014 Buick LaCrosse that has utilized numerous license plates, including ones from Pennsylvania and Arizona. In the Friday update, authorities say it's now believed to be using an Arkansas plate.

The Dodge County District Attorney's Office has filed four felony charges against Day, with two being abduction of a child and the other two being child enticement-causing mental/bodily harm.

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Police say there is a "no contact order" in place between Day and Franklin.

Franklin is 5'9" tall, weighing 186 lbs., with brown hair and blue eyes. Day is 5'7" tall, weighing 165 lbs., with blonde hair and green eyes.

Anyone with information should call the Beaver Dam Police Department at 920-887-4612 or the Amber Alert tip line at 888-304-3936.
VERONA, Wis. (WFRV)  Law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin are ramping up efforts to crack down on red light and stop sign violations following an increase in traffic infractions.

The Verona Police Department, in collaboration with the Dane County Traffic Safety Commission and other agencies, is focusing on enforcement through March 23.

Police in Wisconsin urge motorists not to drink and drive after woman crashes into tree

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A video released by the department shows an officer witnessing an SUV drive straight through a red light.

St. Norbert College to cut programs, reduce faculty amid enrollment concerns

Thankfully, the officer was alert and saw this danger coming, the department stated on social media.

Authorities remind drivers that red lights require a full stop, and stop signs mean coming to a complete stop. Officials urge motorists to follow traffic laws to keep communities safe.

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A 78-year-old woman was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver who plowed into her as she crossed a Queens street, police said Saturday.

The woman was crossing Northern Blvd. near Parsons Blvd. in Flushing about 9:30 p.m. Friday when a dark-colored minivan slammed into her, cops said.

The minivan driver was heading west along Northern Blvd. when the woman, who was crossing mid-block was hit, cops were told.

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EMS rushed the woman to New York Presbyterian-Queens Hospital, but she couldnt be saved. Her name was not immediately disclosed as cops track down family members.

The minivan driver never stopped and no arrests have been made.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A female driver was arrested along I-40 on Sunday after drug agents discovered 150 pounds of marijuana in her vehicle during a traffic stop.

The West Tennessee Drug Task Force says agents with the 30th District out of Shelby County stopped the rental van and developed reasonable suspicion to believe further criminal activity was occurring.

Marijuana seized along I-40 on March 9. Courtesy: West TN Drug Task Force

Director Johnie Carter stated that the driver denied consent to search the van, and the agent deployed his canine partner, Athena, who alerted him to the vehicle.

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Carter said a probable cause search revealed approximately 150 lbs. of marijuana hidden throughout the van.

The woman taken into custody has not been identified. The case is being prosecuted by the Office of the District Attorney General, 28th Judicial District, Frederick Agee.

The 30th interdiction unit operates by agreement on I-40 in Shelby and Haywood Counties.

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TYLER, Texas (KETK)  The Smith County Sheriffs Office has arrested a woman after she allegedly gave birth to a baby that was found dead in her bathtub on Wednesday.

UPDATE: 1 arrested after Crockett woman found dead inside apartment

According to a press release, the Smith County Sheriffs Office received a call from an emergency room in Tyler about a woman who claimed to have delivered a placenta in her home earlier that day.

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Esmeralda Duran Rodriguez, 27, reportedly had no baby with her when she arrived at the emergency room. The sheriffs office said deputies then went to her home in north-central Smith County to investigate.

Mugshot of Esmeralda Duran Rodriguez, courtesy of Smith County Jail records.

Deputies met Rodriguezs brother and officials reported that the deputies were allowed into the home to search for a baby. Deputies found the placenta on a bed along with a severed umbilical cord, according to a press release.

After initially searching, deputies could find no baby in the home but the deputies kept searching and eventually officials said they were able to find the body of a dead baby.

Initially, no infant was located, however, due to the circumstances and the likelihood of a birth taking place at the residence, the Deputies continued searching, the Smith County Sheriffs Office said in a press release. A short time later, the body of an infant was located deceased in a bathtub wrapped inside a towel which had been further secreted in a tied plastic grocery bag.

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Detectives and crime scene investigators with the sheriffs office then arrived at the home to conduct interviews and collect evidence. Esmeralda was also interviewed and investigators determined that she didnt tell anyone about how she delivered the baby and she reportedly didnt call anyone to help the baby.

She was then arrested for abuse of a corpse after detectives presented a probable cause affidavit for her arrest to 114th State District Judge Austin Reeve Jackson.

The body of the baby and the placenta was delivered to a forensic lab in Dallas for an autopsy that can determine if the baby was alive when delivered by Rodriguez. The sheriffs office said charges against Rodriguez could be upgraded if her baby was found to be alive when delivered.

The Smith County Sheriffs Office is actively investigating this case.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A woman was arrested in Horizon City for driving while intoxicated after police responded to what they are calling a vehicle disturbance with traffic accidents, according to the Horizon City Police Department.

Claudia Yvonne Baeza was arrested and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a $1,000 bond, Horizon Police said.

On Thursday, March 13, officers were dispatched to the intersection of Darrington Road and Horizon Boulevard in reference to a vehicle disturbance which involved traffic accidents, Horizon Police said.

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According to Horizon Police, officers located the vehicle in question at a complete stop at an intersection along the 400 block of South Darrington Road.

Police made contact with the driver, later identified as Baeza, and arrested her.

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LEBANON, Pa. (WHTM)  A woman in Lebanon County was arrested Friday after police say one person was stabbed.

Jennifer Ocasio-Santiago, 33, is accused of stabbing the victim in the leg during a domestic dispute along N. 6th Street on Thursday, according to Lebanon City Police.

Police said they responded to Good Samaritan Hospital for a reported stabbing victim. After investigating, police said they learned Ocasio-Santiago allegedly stabbed the victim.

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Ocasio-Santiago faces a felony charge of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor charge of possession of an instrument of crime.

She is in Lebanon County Prison on $50,000 cash bail set by Magisterial District Judge Kim Wolfe. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 8.

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ST. LOUIS  A woman accused of making multiple terroristic threats toward St. Louis Barnes Jewish Hospital, including some that allegedly referenced a mass shooting, now faces a felony charge.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Sara Ramirez-Polinsky, 35, of St. Louis County, on Friday with one count of making a terroristic threat in the first-degree.

According to a probable cause statement obtained by FOX 2, Ramirez-Polinsky made multiple threats between Feb. 20 and March 12 toward Barnes Jewish Hospital and its staff.

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Officer hit by vehicle on I-70, rushed to hospital: Police

Some threats referenced a mass shooting as well as specific dates in which the hospital and St. Louis community would learn, per the probable cause statement.

Investigators are reviewing more than 40 pages of social media posts related to the threats from various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Authorities issued a warrant for Ramirez-Polinskys arrest on Friday, and a judge has ordered no bond upon arrest, per Missouri court records.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A woman is dead after a motor vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Hoover Avenue in Trotwood. Police are looking for the driver who fled the scene.

On Thursday, March 13, at approximately 9 p.m. a 66-year-old was crossing Hoover Avenue from south to north. A vehicle heading east on Hoover Avenue hit her in the road and fled.

The woman was declared dead at the scene by crews present.

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The Ohio State Highway Patrol is asking for the publics help to find the vehicle and driver. It is believed to be a black 2006-2013 Chevrolet Impala. It might have damage to the front and bumper area.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Dayton Post at (937) 832-4794.

2 News will update this story when more information is available.



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U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris will wade into the legal tangle surrounding Yellowstone National Parks bison management on April 7, considering more than a dozen issues during a 1:30 p.m. hearing in Helenas Paul Hatfield Federal Courthouse.

News of the hearing comes as the parks wild bison are once again being captured by the National Park Service and shipped to slaughter or entered into a quarantine program for live transfer to tribes.

Once processed, the bison meat is distributed to the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes under what the park now calls its food distribution program.

Under the park's winter operation plan, it was proposed 1,375 animals needed to be removed from the park to meet its population goals. Out of this number, there is room for 100 to be entered into quarantine.

Yellowstone lawsuit refresher

Judge Morris has several issues before him.

Heres a refresher of whats happened since the end of last year. Thats when the state of Montana filed a lawsuit against the outgoing Biden administration challenging the parks 2024 bison plan that authorizes the culling and quarantine thats currently being conducted.

The state wants the park to limit the bison herd to no more than 3,000 animals, and claims Yellowstone ignored Montana in its planning process. Gov. Greg Gianforte has threatened to remove tolerance zones outside the park where bison are allowed to roam and tribal hunters take aim at the large mammals.

The Park Services new plan, finalized last summer, calls for a bison population ranging between 3,500 to 6,000 animals after calving  an average population of around 5,000 animals. To stay within that range, the Park Service plan utilizes shipment to slaughter, quarantine of bison that test negative for the disease brucellosis for possible transfer to tribes, and tribal hunting outside the park.

The agency has previously stated Montana had ample time to comment on the new plan. The state said the plan was developed too quickly.

Law firm, Sierra Club intervene

Throwing a wrench into the states lawsuit is the Cottonwood Environmental Law Center and the Montana Chapter of the Sierra Club.

In February, the Bozeman-based law firm of free-thinking rabble rousers, led by John Meyer, asked the court to reopen a 2018 bison lawsuit the firm filed and to impose the order issued in 2020 by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Under the order, the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Custer Gallatin National Forest were told to analyze enforcement of Montanas admittedly arbitrary political boundary constraining bison movement outside of Yellowstone in light of the new science and information regarding transmission of brucellosis, Cottonwood stated in its brief.

Today, elk are allowed to migrate freely on federal public land and have been found to transmit brucellosis to cattle all over Montana in areas where bison are not allowed to travel, the groups noted.

Requiring APHIS and the Forest Service to prepare supplemental analyses could sideline the states lawsuit until those actions are completed.

Whether the state or Cottonwood prevail in court, the Park Service may need to write a new plan. The difference being Cottonwood wants more bison on the landscape outside the park to facilitate hunting.

The law firm is also seeking to lessen quarantine timeframes so transfers of disease-free live bison to tribes could be conducted more frequently.

On this argument, Cottonwood points to a 2023 study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association that the quarantine time could be reduced from more than 900 days to 300 days with little risk of missing a bison that had been exposed to the disease brucellosis.

State, feds counterpunch

The state of Montana  including Gov. Greg Gianforte, the Department of Livestock and Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks  want Cottonwood and the Sierra Club left out of their lawsuit.

In a Feb. 20 filing, the states attorneys cited technical deficiencies, including that the request was filed electronically, as reasons to strike or deny the groups from intervening in the lawsuit.

The same day, attorneys representing Yellowstone filed a motion to strike Cottonwood and the Sierra Clubs filings because a ruling had not yet been made on whether they could intervene.

Five days later, Judge Morris approved Cottonwood and the Sierra Clubs request to intervene. The same day, Morris accepted the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes and four conservation groups motion to join the lawsuit.

The groups are Defenders of Wildlife, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, National Parks Conservation Association and Park County Environmental Council.

The tribes have a 320-acre quarantine facility, built in 2014, that acts as the final holding facility for bison moved from Yellowstone after passing initial tests for exposure to brucellosis, the disease which can cause pregnant ungulates to abort.

Defenders of Wildlife has helped build the tribes facilities and assists with live bison transfers. The Greater Yellowstone Coalition helped fund new quarantine corrals near Yellowstones North Entrance.

Feds respond to Cottonwood

Further thickening the legal court docket, on March 10 federal attorneys filed their motion to have Judge Morris deny Cottonwood and the Sierra Club from adding APHIS and the Forest Service to the lawsuit, calling it an attempt to hijack this litigation to address their particular concerns.

The Court should reconsider its decision to join the two agencies to this litigation to address issues wholly foreign to those brought by the state, the federal attorneys argued. Neither APHIS nor the Forest Service claim an interest regarding this action.

In seeking to enlarge the scope of the litigation beyond the bison plan and the Park Services jurisdiction, the federal attorneys wrote Cottonwood and the Sierra Club would only prolong or unduly delay the litigation.

One of the primary reasons for Cottonwood-Sierra Clubs proposed intervention appears to be to seek a stay of this case for an indefinite amount of time, while it seeks to reopen a case that was closed in 2020, they added.

The feds also asked Judge Morris to limit Cottonwood and the Sierra Club to addressing the merits of Montanas claims. To be consistent, the attorneys also requested the tribes and conservation groups be similarly limited.

The other Yellowstone lawsuit

Not to be forgotten is the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Council on Fish & Wildlifes lawsuit filed in January challenging Yellowstones bison plan.

Their lawsuit contends the Park Service failed to incorporate the findings of a 2020 National Academies of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering report regarding the disease brucellosis, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services current consideration of bison as a threatened or endangered species due to its range being restricted.

The lawsuit cites six main reasons the environmental impact statement for the bison plan should be revised, including that there is no analysis of the effectiveness of the measures proposed in the document.

More specifically, there is no meaningful analysis of the fact that after 20 years of implementation, capture and slaughter has proven to be an ineffective management tool to reduce the prevalence of brucellosis in wild Yellowstone bison, the lawsuit stated, calling the removal of bison an aggressive and controversial management tool.

On March 6, District Court Judge Donald Molloy issued an order in the case requiring the parties to file a case management plan on or before June 4.

Bison advocates decry slaughter

As the legal wrangling continues, more Yellowstone bison are being corralled and shipped to slaughter or confined to quarantine corrals prompting outcry from bison advocates.

On Monday, Buffalo Field Campaign said 26 bison had been shipped to a meat processing facility. The Park Services capture of bison is also impeding tribal hunters along the parks border, the group contended.

Government and Tribes are manipulating the buffalo, serving only human needs, said Jaedin Medicine Elk of Roam Free Nation in a press release. The buffalo are being denied their perspective, their freedom. Die at the boundary by gunfire, or get rounded up and captured for slaughter or domestication. All of it serves the human, not the buffalo. The buffalo need more protection, more room to roam, not this disservice by a conglomerate of selfish humans. Dead or in jail is no way to live.
Carol Hemphill told her daughter on a July evening in 2001 she was going to the store after dinner, according to her husband.

Her family never saw her again.

Hemphills remains were found in a creek bed in Columbia in March 2022 and on Friday the Columbia Police Department said investigators had positively identified her with the help of advances in DNA technology.

Columbia Police Chief Jason Donjon said investigators are working to determine whether Hemphill was a victim of confessed serial killer Maury Travis, a 36-year-old Missouri man who told police he killed 17 people. He committed suicide in the St. Louis County jail in June 2002, three days after he was arrested on murder charges in connection with the killings of two women.

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Now with the identification, were reaching out to  the other departments that dealt with some of these other murders, Donjon said in a news conference Friday.

Donjon said Hemphills DNA will be checked to see if anything matches with clothing or other evidence collected two decades ago by officers investigating Travis.

Hemphills family members said Friday that Travis had been seen in their St. Louis neighborhood.

The guy had been known in the neighborhood, said Ricky Hemphill, the husband of Carol Hemphill.

Their daughter, Catricia, said a close acquaintance of a family member had seen Travis in the area.

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Carol Hemphill was 39 when she was reported missing on July 27, 2001. A cause of death has not been released but the manner of death has been ruled a homicide.

Memories of victim

Ricky Hemphill, who is now 63 and now lives in Houston, said he went to lay down after dinner on the night his wife was last seen by loved ones.

He was 18 when he first met his wife and said she was a loving person.

Everybody loved her and she loved everybody, Hemphill said in an interview following a news conference at the Columbia Police Department Friday. She really was an open person.

She was a happy person. She was a wonderful woman.

Police investigation

The remains of Carol Hemphill were found nearly 23 years ago on March 28, 2002, by an Illinois Department of Transportation crew along Illinois 3 near Gall Road, Donjon said in a news release Friday.

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Detective Sgt. Michael Barnett and Detective Luke Moravec of the Columbia Police Department began taking a new look at the investigation in recent years, as advancements in DNA technology provide new opportunities for further analysis, according to the news release.

A portion of the skeletal remains were sent to a lab at the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification after the case was selected for a 2022 grant providing funding for forensic genetic genealogy testing, Donjon stated.

In late October 2024, the detectives received a crucial lab report which revealed a connection between the human remains and a male DNA sample belonging to Dale Howard. Further analysis confirmed that Dale Howards biological mother was identified as Carol Hemphill.

DNA samples of Hemphills family members were collected and submitted to the University of North Texas for comparison, Donjon said. The final laboratory results confirmed Hemphills identity on Feb. 24.

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After the human remains were found in 2002, the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis was activated to investigate the Jane Doe case.

The News-Democrat reported in 2019 that police believed Travis dumped four of his victims in East St. Louis. Travis videotaped the torture and murders of some of his victims in the basement of his Ferguson, Missouri, home, according to the BND report.

Barnett said this case highlights the importance of databases of DNA samples. He recommends that when persons participate in DNA testing that they opt in to allow their information to be entered into a database.
A 70-year-old woman was killed and two girls aged 11 and 3 were injured in a Russian attack on the city of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Saturday 15 March.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast State Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "The Russians have killed a 70-year-old woman in Nikopol by bombarding the city with heavy artillery. She was killed instantly.

An 11-year-old girl was injured. She has been taken to hospital."

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Details: The Russian attack also damaged the premises of a religious institution, two houses and a power line.

Update: Lysak later reported that according to the latest update, two children and another woman were injured as a result of the shelling in Nikopol.

Quote: "In addition to the 11-year-old, another girl [was injured], who is 3. The condition of both patients is assessed as moderate. They were sent to a medical facility in Dnipro for additional treatment.

A 57-year-old woman was also injured in another attack on the city. She will recover at home."

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HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT)  A man is charged with murder in his sisters death following a shooting Saturday morning in Hoover.

Officers with the Hoover Police Department responded to the 700 block of Jasmine Way around 8:10 a.m. after receiving numerous calls of a shooting in the area. Upon arrival, police found a woman, 55-year-old Rosalind Barclay, of Childersburg, suffering from several gunshot wounds outside of a home in the area.

WEATHER ALERT: Rare High Risk for violent and long-track tornadoes on Saturday

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Rosalind Barclay was taken to UAB Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

Hoover police said an off-duty officer from another agency heard the shooting and was able to detain the suspect. The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Jonathan Arthur Barclay, is a resident of the home where the shooting happened and brother of the victim.

Police determined Rosalind had arrived at the house earlier in the morning and an argument between her and Jonathan ensued. The victim eventually went outside the home and the argument continued near her vehicle. At that point, police said Jonathan retrieved a gun and fired multiple shots at the victim.

Jonathan Barclay is currently being held in the Hoover City Jail and is charged with murder.

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The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating after a woman was shot by unknown masked suspects in Studio City late Friday night.

According to an LAPD spokesperson, the incident occurred around 11:15 p.m. in the 3900 block of Kentucky Drive. The area is a residential neighborhood located just off the intersection of Lankershim and Cahuenga boulevards near the 101 Freeway.

Video shows police chase, arrest suspects after Upland restaurant break-in

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The victim, an unidentified woman, was inside an apartment complex parking garage when two suspects walked up and opened fire before fleeing in a vehicle.

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating after a woman was shot by unknown masked suspects in Studio City late Friday, Mar. 14, 2025. (KNN) The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating after a woman was shot by unknown masked suspects in Studio City late Friday, Mar. 14, 2025. (KNN) The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating after a woman was shot by unknown masked suspects in Studio City late Friday, Mar. 14, 2025. (KNN)

No details surrounding the suspects vehicle was available.

Threat of violence prompts lockdown at Pasadena hospital

The woman who was shot was taken to a hospital in stable condition.

It is not known if the shooting was gang related or if the suspects stole anything, the LAPD spokesperson said.

Reports of the victim being followed home were not immediately to be confirmed.

Alexis Lewis contributed to this report.

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WOODBRIDGE, Conn. (WTNH)  A Woodbridge man was arrested Thursday night after reports of vandalism, according to police.

Phillip Bachelder, 30, was arrested after police allegedly witnessed him discarding red spray paint cans in the area of Johnson Road and Pease Road.

Officers discovered lawn signs with We Stand With America, Pedo, Nazi and several swastikas spray painted red on them.

Person of interest sought in connection to vandalism at Meriden City Hall

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Bachelder was charged with second-degree intimidation based on bigotry or bias, third-degree criminal mischief, simple trespassing and disorderly conduct.

He was released after posting $10,000 bond and will appear in New Haven Superior Court on March 27 for arraignment.

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Draped in an American flag with only 48 stars, a casket held the remains of U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Arthur W. Crossland Jr. Friday at Northeast Presbyterian Church before family members hed never met, military dignitaries and a church full of South Carolinians paying their respects in an hour-long service.

Almost 80 years to the day after his death at 19, Crossland  simply Jr. to his family  was later laid to rest at Fort Jackson National Cemetery with full military honors.

The flag had been presented in 1946 to Crosslands parents, Arthur W. Crossland Sr. and Lauda Mae Stallings Crossland, a year after their son was reported missing in 1945 along with a purple heart. It was held as a memento by his brother, Paul Dillard Red Crossland, who passed in 2017.

Memorial service at Northeast Presbyterian Church in Columbia, for WWII veteran Arthur William Crossland, Jr.

Having found the flag the day before the funeral, Crosslands nephew Billy Crossland said. We knew pops would have wanted that flag used.

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Billy said the day was emotional, Weve heard the stories our whole lives, always hearing the stories from our grandparents and my dad, over and over. Now we know. He was always listed as missing and we never knew for sure how he had died.

The 19-year-old triggered a mine in France on March 15, 1945, and disappeared in the explosion. U.S. troops withdrew without recovering his remains while engaged in battle with German forces near Althorn, France.

Those remains were eventually labeled Unknown X-535 and interred at Normandy American Cemetery. They were exhumed in 2022 and identified as Crosslands using science that didnt exist in World War II.

Crossland is buried at Fort Jackson National Cemetery near his brother, who also served in the United States Army.

Brothers Billy, left, and David Crossland attend the military funeral of their uncle, WWII veteran Arthur William Crossland, Jr.

Family members file into a memorial service at Northeast Presbyterian Church in Columbia, for WWII veteran Arthur William Crossland, Jr.

WWII veteran Arthur William Crossland, Jr.s dog tag hangs from his casket during his funeral at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

80 years after dying, a South Carolina soldier will be laid to rest at Fort Jackson National Cemetery
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  WVU hosted Dance for PD class on Friday, which is a dance class program for people with Parkinsons Disease put on by the Mark Morris Dance Group in New York.

People with Parkinsons Disease came to the Erickson Alumni Center from across the state to learn some Parkinsons friendly dances and were joined by WVU dance students with the College of Arts and Media.

Fridays class was the inaugural one, and the feedback from class will go toward improving the program. David Leventhal of the Mark Morris Dance Group led the class into dances of various genres, including one inspired by West Side Story in which the class was divided into Sharks and Jets.

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Associate Vice President of Health Sciences Dr. Bill Ramsey laid out the benefits of dance to 12 News, explaining that its a social outlet and that research shows it is a beneficial treatment for people with Parkinsons.

If you think its just dance, then youre missing the point. Its really exercise while having some fun. Its getting people involved in a program that hopefully were going to take around the state of West Virginia here, George Manahan of the Charleston Parkinsons Support Group said.

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Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) were blocked Friday from passing a package of health policies, including changes to the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry that was left out of Decembers government spending bill.

Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, attempted to pass the bipartisan legislation by unanimous consent. It was blocked by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who made no comments on the Senate floor as to his reasons.

The Hill has reached out to Scotts office.

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We have reached a bipartisan conclusion to go forward, in a modest way, but it would have some impact in improving health care in America, and my Republican colleague objects. Thats about it, Sanders said on the Senate floor. Well, I hope the American people are watching. 

Bipartisan health leaders in mid-December agreed on a sweeping health package that included PBM reforms, extensions of Medicare telehealth flexibilities, reauthorizations of legislation to prevent pandemics and address the opioid crisis, payments to community health centers, and a rollback of Medicare physician payment cuts.

But the overall funding bill it was attached to was torpedoed by GOP lawmakers, Elon Musk and then-President-elect Trump, who complained it was too lengthy and comprehensive.

Wyden said he tried to pass the bill as a stand-alone because it was too important to tie it to the appropriations process, where it has fallen victim to an unrelated disagreement.

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Community pharmacists are counting on this legislation. Doctors who dont want to see a pay cut are counting on this legislation. Seniors and working families who want better care at a lower cost are counting on this legislation, Wyden said. This legislation is overwhelmingly bipartisan, fully paid for, and targeted at two objectives every senator should support: improving health care for Americans and cracking down on middlemen who are taking advantage of the system.

The package included reauthorizations of the opioid-fighting SUPPORT Act and the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act. The pandemic legislation had historically been bipartisan, but its initial inclusion in the spending bill late last year sparked a wave of online misinformation amplified by Musk.

Republicans have floated using some provisions from the package  most likely the PBM changes  to pay for some cost of their reconciliation legislation to extend President Trumps 2017 tax cuts and other priorities.

But Democrats do not want bipartisan issues included in a partisan reconciliation bill. They have said they would overwhelmingly approve a stand-alone bill with the same PBM changes and extension of other expiring health programs, if Republicans were willing to bring it up.

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Since the first publicly available large language model (LLM) ChatGPT hit the scene in November of 2022, the tech has exploded. AI has infested search engines, social media platforms, customer service portals, job interviews, and news articles.

Despite being marketed as "artificial intelligence," LLMs are decidedly not intelligent on their own, but rather crafty algorithms made to look smart, thanks to clever engineering and no small amount of your data.

Evidently that's a lesson Yale administrators have yet to learn, as demonstrated by the suspension of international law scholar Helyeh Doutaghi last week based on the whims of an LLM.

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Doutaghi, an outspoken advocate of Palestinian rights, began her job as deputy director of Yale's Law and Political Economy project in 2023. Her work was cut short when the university's admin banned her from campus and put her on administrative leave, following accusations that she was a "terrorist" by Jewish Onliner, a far-right blog that describes itself as "empowered by AI capabilities."

In a recent investigation into far-right AI bots, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz recently noted that Jewish Onliner has been linked to Israeli disinformation campaigns, using LLM-powered bot accounts to troll and harass users whose posts it disagreed with.

In this case, the blog had accused Doutaghi of membership in Samidoun, an international advocacy group organizing to raise awareness of Palestinian political prisoners. Though Israel has designated Samidoun a terrorist group  an accusation it shares with organizations like Defense for Children International and the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association  the US has not.

Regardless, the AI-powered blog's accusation noted the scholar's speaking engagement on panels it alleged were sponsored by Samidoun, indicting her as a member of the group. Doutaghi, for her part, denied that she was a member in a statement on Mondoweiss.

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"I was given only a few hours' notice by the administration to attend an interrogation based on far-right AI-generated allegations against me," the statement reads, "while enduring a flood of online harassment, death threats, and abuse by Zionist trolls... Just a few hours later, [Yale] placed me on leave, revoked my IT access  including email  and banned me from campus."

The swiftness with which AI-powered allegations were leveraged against Doutaghi is raising concern for free speech, especially in light of Donald Trump's executive order targeting antisemitism, which is seen by some as a gateway to criminalizing pro-Palestinian speech.

It also comes as pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil was hauled out of his Columbia University dorm by plainclothes ICE agents last Saturday, as part of Secretary of State Marco Rubio's "Catch and Revoke" campaign, which uses AI to scrub social media for the expression of anti-Israel sentiment.

Despite not being charged with a crime, Khalil  a lawful permanent resident of the US  was ripped from his pregnant wife and whisked to a federal detention facility in Louisiana, leaving his whereabouts unknown to his family and attorneys for over 24 hours.

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Failing to declare formal charges or evidence of criminal activity, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said that Khalil was arrested "in support of President Trumps executive orders prohibiting antisemitism."

It's a bone-chilling precedent for free speech in the US, harkening back to the second red scare, when union organizers, peace activists, and civil rights leaders were forced out of their jobs and stalked by law enforcement on the basis of ideology alone.

The difference? This time, AI's helping call the shots.

More on AI: Police Department Testing AI-Powered Detective on Real Crimes
'No Future for Syria Without Christians': Archbishop Calls for Justice for Massacre Victims

Archbishop Jean-Abdo Arbach. ( Aid to the Church in Need) (CNA) -- The Greek-Catholic archbishop of Homs, Jean-Abdo Arbach, condemned the massacres of civilians that occurred in Syria last weekend -- which left at least 1,000 dead -- and urged Christians to maintain hope for an end to the violence and a return to unity and reconciliation.

Arbach emphasized the importance of the Christian community for the country's future, telling the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that "without Christians, there can be no future for Syria" and urged the faithful to remain steadfast despite the trying circumstances.

"Christians are the roots of Syria and Syria is the cradle of Christianity. In Damascus we can still find the places where St. Paul converted to Christianity in the first century. We still have first-century churches and monasteries, and we have kept Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, alive," the prelate emphasized.

Furthermore, the archbishop urged those responsible to stop the hostilities: "We do not want more bloodshed. We call for unity and reconciliation. After 14 years of war, we do not need another conflict."

The attacks, which claimed more than 1,000 lives, have been attributed to militants from the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham group, a coalition of Sunni Islamist insurgent groups that have seized power in the Middle Eastern country by overthrowing the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

"This is very painful. I ask for justice, because murdering women and children is not a good thing for Syria," the archbishop said.

He also explained that, with the change of regime, Syria has entered a time of "great uncertainty," with a lack of work and a shortage of food and medicine. "Many people are asking when this will end; they can't see a future and they want to leave," he explained.

Arbach told ACN that the situation is so desperate in Homs that he has seen many people wandering the streets in "loneliness, fear, and sadness." The archbishop also called for an end to the international economic sanctions on Syria, which is severely impacting the country's already deteriorating situation.

Despite the difficulties, the Catholic Church is redoubling its efforts to address the needs: "We are supporting our faithful in every sense of the word: paying rent; providing medication, food, and clothing; and also sustaining them spiritually so that they feel close to God, to encourage them to remain in their land, in their country, and to preserve Syria's roots, which are the Christians," the Greek Catholic prelate noted.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang presides over the eighth plenary meeting of the State Council on March 14, 2025. China's State Council on Friday convened a plenary meeting, studying General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping's important speeches during the "two sessions" and outlining its major tasks this year.

China's State Council on Friday convened a plenary meeting, studying General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping's important speeches during the "two sessions" and outlining its major tasks this year.

Premier Li Qiang presided over the plenary meeting. Noting that China faces increasingly complex and volatile challenges and more arduous and formidable tasks in the near future, he said the government must act in a swift and decisive manner, tackle problems proactively, and deliver tangible results.

Li urged government departments to comprehensively advance the implementation of objectives and tasks outlined in this year's government work report, and to develop strong drivers and levers in the work to fully leverage their role in boosting overall development.

Efforts should be made to launch special initiatives to boost consumption, build a unified national market, advance the AI Plus initiative, and promote the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing sector, he said.

A people-centered approach should be taken to promote new urbanization, while efforts are needed to nurture highly-skilled workers and improve one-stop government services, the premier said.

He also stressed the need to expand high-standard opening up and stabilize foreign trade and investment to effectively mitigate external shocks.

The premier also called for intensifying policy efforts and stimulating market forces to promote positive interactions and achieve synergy.

Stressing maintaining security, stability and other bottom lines, Li urged greater progress in developing new quality productive forces, strengthening domestic economic flows, accelerating green transition, and enhancing people's well-being, among others.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  A solemn motorcade pierced through the silent salute of dozens of Yale Police Officer Greg Swianteks brothers and sisters in blue.

It was like this job was meant for him. He served the community the way he would serve his family, Yale Police Chief Anthony Campbell said.

New Haven man arrested after West Haven traffic stop, police say

The 47-year-old died Wednesday after feeling sick during his shift, leaving behind his 10-year-old daughter, Remy. Campbell is calling this a line of duty death, and in his 27 years of policing, it is the hardest thing hes ever had to do.

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When she and her mom arrived to the hospital, they did not know he had passed, Campbell said. Unfortunately, I had to let them know and when I told that little 10-year-old girl, the first thing she said was, Oh my god, I love my father so much, what am I going to do? He did everything for me.'

Campbell said the cause is believed to be a massive heart attack. He said Swiantek went on multiple high-stress calls that day, taking an individual with several warrants into custody and backing up state police with an escaped fugitive.

His captain sent him home an hour early after he repeated that he wasnt feeling well. There, he collapsed.

When youre doing that type of response, your blood pressure is elevated, Campbell said.

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There are so many ways the officers are at risk, all the stress compounded over the years, but I remember Greg always smiling, New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson said.

Swiantek had been with the Yale Police Department for over 17 years. Now his cruiser is parked out front covered in flowers, balloons and black bunting with heartfelt messages to his fellow officers and daughter.

You could talk to him for two minutes before he would start talking about his daughter, Remy. I mean, he was an amazing father, Campbell said.

She has a huge family now, and its called the Yale Police Department and the New Haven Police Department, and we are going to stick together and support her, Jacobson said.

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A public wake for Swiantek will be held on March 18 at the East Haven Memorial Funeral Home from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thousands of people are expected to attend, which would result in traffic in the area being significantly impacted.

Vehicle traffic on Main Street will be ONE WAY between Forbes Place and Kimberly Avenue Ext traveling towards New Haven (westbound)

Main Street (between Forbes Place and Kimberly Avenue Ext) will be closed between 3:00 p.m.  8:00 p.m.

Attendees traveling from New Haven (and points west) should take I-95 North, exit 52, and enter via Forbes Place to Main Street.

Those coming from Branford (and points east) should utilize Saltonstall Parkway to Forbes Place to Main Street.

Carpooling is strongly encouraged to help reduce traffic congestion.

Because of very limited street parking, alternate parking options will be at the East Haven Senior Center (91 Taylor Ave.), St. Vincent De Paul Church (80 Taylor Ave.) and Overbrook School (51 Gerrish Ave.)

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP)  The Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy in Longmeadow continued its celebrations of the Jewish holiday, Purim.

The community came together to commemorate the Jewish people of Persia being saved from persecution over 2,000 years ago.

They celebrated the holiday with an 80s-style New York deli dinner and live music, a costume contest, and a performance from students who attend the school. This day also remembers Queen Esther, a Jewish woman who risked her life to save her people.

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But 22News spoke with the Rabbi Noach Kosofsky about how we are seeing history repeat itself.

2,500 years ago, there were people trying to wipe out the Jews, antisemitism, he says. And guess what? Right here today, 2025, again, we see the terrorists taking poor Jewish people, infants, adults, women.

The Rabbi adds that this day is about staying strong as a Jewish nation. In addition to dressing up and eating a large meal, they also celebrate Purim by giving food gifts to their friends and giving money to the less fortunate. The story of Esthers role in saving the Jewish nation so many centuries ago has been passed down from generation to generation as families celebrate the joyous holiday of Purim.

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.
A lot of people rely on coffee creamers to give their morning cup of joe a little flavor boost, but some International Delight customers have recently received a nasty surprise that is leading to the recall of two popular flavors. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) initiated the recall on February 21, 2025, affecting 12,500 cases of International Delight creamers sold in 31 states, from New York and Florida to Wyoming and New Mexico. The FDA's official announcement shows the complete list of states impacted by the recall. The two flavors named in the recall are International Delight Hazelnut Coffee Creamer and the branded collaboration Cinnabon Coffee Creamer, each in a 32-ounce bottle size. The recall was issued over what the FDA says are "complaints of spoilage and illness with the use of the products."

Within the FDA's recall class system, this has been labeled as a Class II, which means there is a low chance of serious injuries or death. Still, enough worry over serious adverse effects with long-term consequences warrants a recall.

Read more: 12 Foods You Probably Never Knew Were Bad For Blood Sugar

International Delight Coffee Creamers Are Being Recalled From 31 States Due To Spoilage

International Delight Coffee Creamers - International Delight

If you have either of these creamers in your fridge and are in one of the affected states, they should be thrown out or returned immediately to the retailer. The Hazelnut Coffee Creamers and Cinnabon Coffee Creamers affected by the recall are only from a specific date range, so check the labels. The hazelnut has a best-by date of July 2, 2025, with a plant code of 51-4114 S and a UPC of 04127102568, and for the Cinnabon flavor the best-by date is July 3, 2025, the plant code is 51-4114 S, and the UPC is 04127101993.

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The specific illnesses reported related to the recall have not been disclosed, but if you have consumed either of these creamers and feel sick, contact a doctor immediately. If you have any questions about the recall, contact the International Delight Consumer Care Line at 1-800-441-3321. If you are worried about future recalls or general quality issues, you can always make your own coffee creamers at home.

Hungry for more? Sign up for the free Daily Meal newsletter for delicious recipes, cooking tips, kitchen hacks, and more, delivered straight to your inbox.

Read the original article on The Daily Meal.
YORK, Pa. (WHTM)  A man nicknamed Shots is accused of shooting another man in the leg in York in October, according to charging documents.

Joshua Ruiz-Lugo, 22, of York, was charged in the shooting in the 600 block of West Princess Street on Oct. 11 around 2:19 p.m. after he was identified as the gunman by the victim and witnesses, York City Police said in a criminal complaint.

Police said they found a 9mm casing outside of the second-floor front bedroom and blood stains on the floor after arriving at the scene. A witness at the scene reported a man nicknamed Shots, later identified to be Ruiz-Lugo, shot the victim.

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Almost a month later, Ruiz-Lugo was being stopped by Yorks Violence Intervention Unit when police say he ditched a gun while running. Police said the gun, a teal 9mm Glock pistol, was recovered and testing showed the casing found at the shooting scene was linked to that pistol.

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While speaking with the victim at York County Prison in January, police said they stated Shots had shot them over $400.

During a photo array, the victim picked out Ruiz-Lugo without hesitating, even writing that he was 1,000% sure that he was the one who allegedly shot him, according to the complaint.

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Another witness in March pointed out Ruiz-Lugo as the shooter from a photo lineup.

Ruiz-Lugo faces felony charges of aggravated assault and firearms not be carried without a license. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of recklessly endangering another person.

He is locked up in York County Prison with his bail set at $100,000 from this case. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 8.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
By Dan Peleschuk

(Reuters) -Ukrainian troops are still fending off Russian and North Korean forces in Russia's Kursk region but face a potential new attack on Ukraine's northeast Sumy region, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday.

Military analysts say Russia is close to ejecting Ukrainian forces from their months-old foothold in the western Russian region, seized in a mass cross-border incursion last August. That prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to warn that thousands of Ukrainian troops were "completely surrounded."

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Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had retaken two more villages near Sudzha, 10 km (six miles) from the Ukrainian border, a town which Moscow said it had recaptured on Thursday.

Russia's Emergencies Ministry said more than 300 residents had been evacuated from areas around Sudzha.

The region's acting governor, Alexander Khinshtein, said officials discussed restoring recaptured areas and establishing how many residents wanted to return to their home settlements.

Zelenskiy said on social media, after being briefed by his top general, that Kyiv's troops were not encircled in Kursk, but that Moscow was accumulating forces nearby for a separate strike.

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"This indicates an intention to attack our Sumy region," he said. "We are aware of this and will counter it."

"I would like all (our) partners to understand exactly what Putin is planning, what he is preparing for, and what he will be ignoring."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he supported in principle Trump's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine, but would fight on until several crucial conditions were worked out.

On Saturday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said European nations and Western allies were boosting preparations to support Ukraine in the event a peace deal was struck with Russia, with defence chiefs to firm up "robust plans" next week.

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"The buildup of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to keep ignoring diplomacy," Zelenskiy added. "It is clear that Russia is prolonging the war."

SITUATION STABILISED NEAR STRATEGIC CITY

In his statement, he also said the battlefield situation near the strategic eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk had stabilised, and that Ukraine had successfully used a new domestically-produced long-range missile in combat.

Kyiv is seeking to expand its domestic defence industry to wean itself off Western allies who have provided critical artillery, air defence and long-range strike capabilities.

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Ukraine's new "long Neptune" missile has a range of 1,000 kilometres (621 miles), Zelenskiy said.

Russia's Defence Ministry said Moscow's forces had recaptured the villages of Rubanshchina and Zaoleshenka, just outside Sudzha.

Russia has accelerated a push to drive Ukrainian forces out of Kursk, where they seized about 100 settlements last August.

Ukraine's popular DeepState war blog, which tracks the war's front line using open sources, said on Saturday that Russian forces now held Sudzha as well as Rubanshchina and another settlement.

The Ukrainian military's General Staff, in a late afternoon report, made no mention of the situation in Sudzha, but said 11 armed clashes had occurred in Kursk region, with three still going on. Russian forces, it said, had launched 21 airstrikes and 32 guided bombs and shelled Ukrainian positions 150 times.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk. Editing by Mark Potter, Ron Popeski, Rod Nickel and Nick Zieminski)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree on March 15 creating a new delegation for international peace negotiations.

The delegation will be led by Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelensky's office, the decree, published on the president's website, says. Other members include Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Yermak's deputy, Pavlo Palisa.

According to the decree, Yermak, as head of the delegation, has the authority to modify its composition with the approval of the foreign minister. He can also bring on additional government officials, experts, and advisors.

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Yermak, Sybiha and Umerov also comprised the delegation who negotiated a deal with U.S. representatives in Jeddah for a 30-day ceasefire with fairly limited conditions, including a vague offer to allow U.S. companies into Ukrainian precious mineral mining.

Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. are currently locked in negotiations over a potential ceasefire. After a U.S. delegation was in Moscow this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was open to a ceasefire deal, but listed a number of demands of Ukraine that would effectively subjugate Ukraine.

Following the talks in Moscow, President Donald Trump said that the "U.S. has received 'some pretty good news' on Ukraine-Russia ceasefire, without providing further details.

Yermak has been described in the past as the most powerful chief of staff in Ukraine's history, and has attracted criticism for accumulating unprecedented power and influence within the Zelensky's Presidential Office.

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Late last year, Politico included Yermak among the finalists for the "dreamers" category as part of its yearly list of the most influential people in Europe.

"Nearly three years into Russias invasion of Ukraine, Andriy Yermaks focus has moved from trying to win the war to trying to win the peace," Politico wrote of Yermak.

The former television producer became Zelenskys chief of staff in 2020, becoming an indispensable gatekeeper for the Ukrainian president, dubbed "The Fixer" by Politico.

Read also: UKs Starmer says troops on the ground and planes in the sky could secure Ukraine peace deal

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed claims that his troops are surrounded by Russian forces in the Russian region of Kursk on Saturday.

"There is no encirclement of our troops," he wrote on the platform X, confirming what the Kiev general staff had already said on Friday.

US President Donald Trump had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers said to be surrounded in Kursk. Putin agreed, but demanded that the leadership in Kiev order the Ukrainian soldiers in the region to lay down their weapons and surrender.

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Reports about the situation in Kursk cannot be independently verified.

According to Zelensky, operations continue in designated areas of Kursk and troops are carrying out their tasks as required. He wrote that thanks to the soldiers there, a considerable number of Russian forces have been withdrawn from other areas.

He did not comment on the situation in the Russian city of Sudzha in the region, where Ukrainian troops had retreated from, according to the Saturday report by the Ukrainian General Staff.

The Russian army is building up forces at the eastern border of Ukraine, Zelensky said, indicating that they intend to attack the Ukrainian city of Sumy.

"The buildup of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to keep ignoring diplomacy. It is clear that Russia is prolonging the war," he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed claims that his troops are surrounded by Russian forces in the Russian region of Kursk on Saturday.

"There is no encirclement of our troops," Zelensky wrote on the platform X, confirming what the Kiev general staff had already said on Friday.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian state news agency TASS that time was running out for the Ukrainian forces fighting in Kursk. He added that the offer to spare the lives of Ukrainian troops still stands but would not last indefinitely.

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US President Donald Trump had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers said to be surrounded in Kursk. Putin agreed, but demanded that the leadership in Kiev order the Ukrainian soldiers in the region to lay down their weapons and surrender.

Reports about the situation in Kursk cannot be independently verified.

Zelensky: Operations continue in some parts of Kursk

Zelensky had previously indicated that his army would have to withdraw from the region, saying "I can only thank our fighters for this operation, which has fulfilled its task."

He now said, operations continue in designated areas of Kursk and troops are carrying out their tasks as required. He wrote that thanks to the soldiers there, a considerable number of Russian forces have been withdrawn from other areas.

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Ukraine took the war into Russian territory in a surprise attack last August. The original justification for the move was to be able to exchange the occupied territories for occupied Ukrainian territory in the event of possible negotiations with Russia.

Zelensky did not comment on the situation in the Russian city of Sudzha in the region, where Ukrainian troops had retreated from, according to the Saturday report by the Ukrainian General Staff.

The Russian army is building up forces at the eastern border of Ukraine, he said, indicating that they intend to attack the Ukrainian city of Sumy.

"The build-up of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to keep ignoring diplomacy. It is clear that Russia is prolonging the war," he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed claims that his troops are surrounded by Russian forces in the Russian region of Kursk on Saturday.

"There is no encirclement of our troops," Zelensky wrote on X, confirming what the Kiev General Staff had already said on Friday.

Speaking to journalists in Kiev, Zelensky called the alleged encirclement a "lie by Putin." He did not rule out the possibility that Russia could attempt to encircle Kiev units near the border on Ukrainian territory.

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Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian state news agency TASS that time was running out for the Ukrainian forces fighting in Kursk. He added that the offer to spare the lives of Ukrainian troops still stands but would not last indefinitely.

US President Donald Trump had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers said to be surrounded in Kursk. Putin agreed, but demanded that the leadership in Kiev order the Ukrainian soldiers in the region to lay down their weapons and surrender.

Reports about the situation in Kursk cannot be independently verified.

Zelensky: Operations continue in some parts of Kursk

Zelensky had previously indicated that his army would have to withdraw from the region, saying "I can only thank our fighters for this operation, which has fulfilled its task."

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He now said operations continue in designated areas of Kursk and that troops are carrying out their tasks as required. He wrote that thanks to the soldiers there, a considerable number of Russian forces have been withdrawn from other areas.

Ukraine took the war into Russian territory in a surprise attack last August. The original justification for the move was to be able to exchange the occupied territories for occupied Ukrainian territory in the event of possible negotiations with Russia.

Zelensky did not comment on the situation in the Russian city of Sudzha in the region, from which Ukrainian troops had retreated, according to the Saturday report by the Ukrainian General Staff.

A map published by the Kiev General Staff in the morning showed a withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the city.

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The Russian Defence Ministry had already announced the recapture of Sudzha on Thursday. According to the Ukrainian military blog Deepstate, Ukraine has lost further villages in the Kursk region.

Zelensky said the Russian army is building up forces at the eastern border of Ukraine, indicating that they intend to attack the Ukrainian city of Sumy.

"The build-up of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to keep ignoring diplomacy. It is clear that Russia is prolonging the war," he added.

Ukraine fires advanced Neptune missile

Later, Zelensky said the Ukrainian military had successfully deployed the advanced Neptune anti-ship missile.

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"It is a new Ukrainian missile, a precise strike. Its range is 1,000 kilometres," Zelensky wrote on Telegram, without providing further details about the deployment.

Zelensky could have been referring to a strike on a Russian refinery in the Black Sea port city of Tuapse on Friday morning, the Ukrainska Pravda media outlet reported, citing its own sources.

The regional authorities said the refinery was still burning on Saturday.

In April 2022, Ukraine sank the Russian cruiser Moskva with its self-developed R360 Neptune anti-ship missile. Since then, the weapon has been further developed and its range has been extended.

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Zelensky referred to the latest version as the "long Neptune."

According to military data, series production of the weapon has been running since November 2024.

Ukraine is dependent on self-built weapons because it only receives a small number of long-range Western weapons. Russia's arsenal of missiles and cruise missiles is much larger by comparison.

Zelensky names Yermak as peace negotiator

Zelensky appointed presidential office chief Andrii Yermak as the chief negotiator for potential peace talks, the presidential office in Kiev said on Saturday.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and Yermak's deputy, Pavlo Palisa, are also part of the delegation.

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Yermak is considered the most influential person in Ukrainian politics after Zelensky.

The four negotiators already met with US representatives in Saudi Arabia last week, which led to the resumption of US arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Ukraine has agreed to a US proposal of a 30-day ceasefire, provided Moscow complies. Russia, however, opposes an unconditional ceasefire.

The Kremlin also only recognizes the US as a partner for a peace agreement, not the Ukrainian leadership or European states.

The last direct Ukrainian-Russian negotiations took place in 2022 shortly after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, but ended without results.
Last summer, Ukrainian troops mounted a shock-and-awe land grab inside Russias Kursk region, marking the first foreign invasion of Russian soil since the Second World War.

Kyivs men, equipped with Western tanks and artillery systems, caught their enemy off guard as they stormed across the border into Russia on Aug 6.

Within days, Ukraine held 1,300 sq km of Russian territory, including Sudzha, a key town for Russian gas shipments to Europe.

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The size of the territory may have paled in comparison to what Moscow held inside Ukraine, but the newly formed bridgehead gave Kyiv what it believed to be a key bargaining chip heading into any talks over the end of the war.

But with negotiations over a potential peace settlement actually beginning  with help from Donald Trump  Ukraines grip over its salient in Kursk is slipping at an alarming rate.

On Thursday, Vladimir Putin, unusually dressed in military fatigues, visited the area as his defence ministry claimed to have wrestled Sudzha back from Ukraine after nearly eight months.

Credit: Kremlin

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Hundreds of Russian troops, donning respirators, had crawled through an unused gas pipeline to reach the occupied settlement.

Many observers blamed the US shutting off the flow of intelligence to Ukraine for the sudden collapse of its positions there.

But in reality, Ukraines hold on Kursk had been slipping for months under the heavy pressure of waves of Russian conscripts, North Korean troops and more elite units ferried in to quash the invasion.

In their initial incursion, Ukrainian troops were mounted on American Humvees  sporting new triangular tactical markings  zipping through country lanes almost unopposed.

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Fighting was reported around the town of Korenovo, about 20 miles from Sudzha.

Panicked pro-Russian military bloggers started to ponder whether Ukrainian forces would soon reach and capture the Kursk nuclear power plant.

The alarm was enough for Russian authorities to start digging new trenches to defend the plant.

Job adverts suddenly appeared online in Russia offering handymen up to 210,000 rubles (1,800) a month to help build a multi-layered network of anti-tank ditches, trenches and pillboxes across Kursk.

However, the panic was premature and Russian forces moved in swiftly to prevent a major rout, blowing bridges and digging in at rivers to conceal the growing Ukrainian pocket.

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By September, Russia had begun its counter-offensive proper. But Ukraines hold on its territory looked solid. Kyiv had turned Sudzha into the main garrison for a 10,000-strong force that would go on to hold the bridgehead for months.

Its motives for the surprise operation appeared to change almost daily.

At first, it was about boosting the morale of Ukraine, which had lost the initiative on the battlefield at home and was having to sustain creeping, demoralising Russian gains in eastern Donbas.

Then it became about building an exchange fund made up of close to a 1,000 Russian border guards and conscripts, which were later handed over for high-profile Ukrainian prisoners of war.

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Some would say it was about creating a buffer zone around the Ukrainian border region of Sumy, where Russian was thought to be plotting a ground attack.

But the main motives soon became clear.

After the first weeks of fighting, the Russian command, unable to cope with Ukrainian pressure, began to transfer individual units of the Russian army to the Kursk region, which accordingly reduced the combat capabilities of the Russians in east and south Ukraine, said Serhii Kuzan, of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, and a former adviser to the ministry of defence.

Elements of elite Russian units, such as the 810th and 155th marine brigades, were moved from Ukraine to reinforce what became a 60,000-strong Russian force, predominantly made up of conscripts, border guards and North Koreans.

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They were there to stiffen the sinews and stiffen the arms, said John Foreman, a former British military attache in Moscow.

The Russians started gradually chipping away at the Ukrainian positions from three sides of the salient.

By November, Ukraines foothold in Kursk had shrunk by about 40 per cent.

The Russians continued targeting Kyivs logistical routes, and by December managed to reduce access to Sudzha from Ukraine to a single road.

As Moscows men continued to put a squeeze on the Ukrainian presence in Russia, an elite drone unit was moved in to target vulnerable vehicles.

Credit: Telegram/@morpeh_810

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The battles to disrupt Ukraines logistics involved the first use of fibre-optic drones, which are connected to their pilot by a sprawl of cable so they cannot be jammed.

In mid-January, Russias Rubicon drone unit, which was set up by Putin in August 2024, was deployed to the area, using some of the most advanced drones seen on the battlefield.

The scale of the damage in Kursk is significant  hundreds of vehicles have been destroyed  posing a major threat to Ukrainian supply lines. Without significant advancements in jamming technology to counter Rubicons capabilities, maintaining a hold in Kursk may become unsustainable, Andrew Perpetua, an analyst, wrote on social media last week.

With a manpower advantage, mostly thanks to the introduction of North Korean forces, Russia managed to creep closer and closer to the only road in and out of Kursk for Ukraine.

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By last month the road was under almost constant fire from Russian drones, most likely from Rubicon, which was striking the front, back and sides of a vehicle almost simultaneously, according to Mr Perpetua.

A defeat in the village of Sverdlikovo in late February set off the latest Russian rout. At this point, Ukraines grip on Kursk looked virtually untenable.

The Russians were coming up with audacious plans to get behind Ukraines lines, including sending soldiers, wearing respirators, through 15km of unused gas pipe.

On Wednesday, it appeared that the order had been handed down by Ukraines top general to finally retreat out of Sudzha and back to more defensible lines.

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Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, said this was doing what it should do  preserving as much as possible our soldiers lives.

The withdrawal was mostly orderly, despite a few pieces of heavy armour, including a US-donated Abrams tank, being left behind in the rush.

Mr Foreman said scenes like this would not play well with Western nations concerned about Ukraines husbandry of their donated weapons.

But the military expert insisted Ukraine would not simply depart the Kursk region without putting up a fight.

Hopefully the Ukrainians have prepared defensive positions in Ukraine to fall back to, to prevent the Russians exploiting their retreat via an open door, he said.

Putin has claimed these Ukrainian troops are encircled, and will have to surrender or die.

His statement was latched on to by Mr Trump, who appealed to the Russian president to let the Ukrainians leave peacefully.

But Ukraines general staff accused the US president of falling for Kremlin propaganda.

Reports of the alleged encirclement of Ukrainian units by the enemy in the Kursk region are false and fabricated by the Russians for political manipulation and to exert pressure on Ukraine and its partners, it wrote online.

A soldier raises a Russian flag above a house in the Kursk area - Russian Defence Ministry

No matter the reality on the ground, many other questions will always be raised over Ukraines time in Kursk.

Did the benefits outweigh the cost?

For Mr Kuzan, the 60-70,000-strong force deployed by Putin to oust the Ukrainians could have been used in Pokrovsk, the Donetsk region garrison town being hotly contested.

This contingent could currently attack in the Donetsk region but was forced to get bogged down in bloody battles on the territory of the Russian Federation, he said.

This gave Ukrainian command an advantage and exhausted the Russian offensive potential in the Pokrovsk direction.

Mr Foreman has a dimmer view of the operation as a whole, which he said did not dramatically slow down Russian advances in the Donbas and led to a spike in recruitment from Moscows armed forces.

I thought it was daft and unwise, strategically, he said. Tactically, it gave a boost to Ukraines morale, but thats not going to win you the war.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed presidential office chief Andrii Yermak, as the chief negotiator for potential peace talks, the presidential office in Kiev said on Saturday.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and Yermak's deputy, Pavlo Palisa, are also part of the delegation.

Yermak is considered the most influential person in Ukrainian politics after Zelensky.

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The four negotiators had already met with the United States in Saudi Arabia last week, which led to the resumption of US arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Ukraine has agreed to the US proposal of a 30-day ceasefire, provided Moscow complies.

Russia, on the other hand, opposes an unconditional ceasefire.

The Kremlin only recognizes the US as a partner for a peace agreement, not the Ukrainian leadership or the European states.

The last direct Ukrainian-Russian negotiations took place in 2022 shortly after the start of the Russian invasion, but ended without results.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian troops have not been encircled by Russian forces in Kursk region, accusing Russian leader Vladimir Putin of lying about the situation on the ground.

Ukraine launched its shock incursion into Kursk in August, swiftly capturing territory in what was the first ground invasion of Russia by a foreign power since World War II. The campaign aimed to divert Moscows resources from the front lines in the east, and to capture land that could potentially be swapped for Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.

Although Kyiv is now on the back foot in Kursk, Zelensky and military analysts have questioned Putins claims  echoed by US President Donald Trump  that Russian forces have surrounded Ukraines soldiers.

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Putin claimed on Thursday that Russian forces had isolated Ukraines troops in Kursk and that it was impossible for them to escape even in small groups of two or three soldiers.

There will only be two options: surrender or die, Putin said.

A day later, Trump appeared to amplify Putins claims after what he called a very good and productive discussion with the Russian president.

At this very moment, thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military, and in a very bad and vulnerable position, Trump said in a post on TruthSocial on Friday, claiming he had asked Putin to spare their lives to avert a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II.

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Although the US president did not refer specifically to Kursk, Putin later told Russias security council that he had noted Trumps appeal to save Ukrainian lives in the region.

In an interview Sunday with CNNs Jake Tapper, Trumps foreign envoy Steve Witkoff said that Putin accepts the philosophy of President Trump and that both leaders want to see an end to the war. Witkoff said the two are likely to speak again this week, expressing optimism that a ceasefire deal can be reached within weeks.

A statue of Lenin stands in front of a damaged building in Sudzha in August 2024. - Efrem Lukatsky/AP/File

But Ukrainian officials and independent analysts have disputed Putin and Trumps claims about Russia surrounding Ukrainian troops in Kursk.

The Institute for the Study of War, a US-based conflict monitor, said Friday that it has observed no geolocated evidence to indicate that Russian forces have encircled a significant number of Ukrainian forces in Kursk or anywhere else along the frontline in Ukraine.

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Ukraines military said that Russia was lying to shape perception of events on the ground.

Reports of the alleged encirclement of Ukrainian units by the enemy in the Kursk region are false and fabricated by the Russians for political manipulation and to exert pressure on Ukraine and its partners, the military said.

There is no threat of encirclement of our units, it said, adding that its units in Kursk have successfully regrouped after Russias offensives and withdrawn to more advantageous defensive positions.

In an update Saturday, Zelensky said he had been briefed by Ukraines commander in chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, and also stressed that Ukraines troops have not been encircled.

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The units are carrying out their tasks exactly as required and are continuing to repel Russian and North Korean troops, Zelensky said.

Zelensky did, however, say Kyiv was aware of a buildup of Russian troops on Ukraines eastern border, which he said indicates an intention to attack the Sumy region that borders Kursk. The Sumy military administration reported heavy shelling overnight into Sunday, targeting towns and villages close to the border.

Ceasefire distraction

Although Russian military bloggers have said that Ukraine is losing territory in Kursk, some also disputed the reports that Moscow has encircled Kyivs forces.

The ISW suggested that Putin was making dubious claims about Ukrainian troops in Kursk region in order to distract from his prevarication over the US-backed ceasefire proposal.

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Kyiv agreed to the proposal during talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, while Putin gave a more ambiguous response, first saying we agree with the proposal before claiming the deal wasnt complete.

Putin is attempting to present himself as a reasonable and merciful leader whom President Trump can engage with and to generate a new narrative to distract from Russias refusal to agree to the ceasefire proposal, the ISW wrote.

Although many have questioned claims from Putin and Trump about Ukrainian troops being surrounded in Kursk, few dispute that Ukraine is retreating in the region. This week, Moscow said that Russian forces had recaptured Sudzha, the largest town once occupied by Ukraine, further weakening Kyivs primary bargaining chip in potential negotiations with Russia.

On Saturday, Russias Defense Ministry posted a video from Sudzha, geolocated by CNN, showing the city after it was liberated by Russian troops. The video shows residential homes lying in ruins, roads scattered with debris and the bodies of soldiers killed in combat.

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In an update on Sunday, the ministry said it was continuing to defeat Ukrainian formations in Kursk, but made no mention of an encirclement.

Ukraines General Staff said Sunday there had been 19 clashes with Russian troops over the past day in the region, and that Moscow had launched 34 air strikes and 63 guided bombs.

Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Kyivs partners agree that Ukraine and Europe can be strengthened at the current pace within five years, though it could be achieved in three.

Source: Zelenskyy at a briefing broadcast by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne

Quote: "Everyone understands that Ukraine and Europe can be strengthened at the current pace within five years. We believe this is too long and poses risks. We have demonstrated that, in wartime, it can be done faster.

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Our partners agree that it can be achieved in three years, but this requires a strong collective effort  boosting production across all allied countries to establish real security guarantees for all of Europe."

Details: Zelenskyy also said that partners are not looking to "reduce the Ukrainian military" but to strengthen it  as a guarantor of Ukraines security today and, in the future, a guarantor of security for Europe. He called this a positive signal.

"As for maintaining and strengthening such an army, everyone recognises that this is a shared responsibility, as Ukraine cannot shoulder the financial burden alone," the president added.

"In addition to the army, it is understood that we need to strengthen ourselves by harnessing Ukrainian technologies, investing in our production, and, after the war, opening relevant production facilities using our technologies or, in collaboration with our partners' technologies, establishing such facilities in allied states," he said.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Russian forces are trying to encircle Ukrainian troops on Ukrainian soil along the Kursk front, but the Ukrainian command is aware of these plans.

Source: Ukrinform news agency, citing Zelenskyy during a briefing

Quote: "I believe that the Russian side wants to surround Ukrainian troops on the same [Kursk] front but on Ukrainian territory.

Importantly, our troops and command are fully aware of this, and we have a clear understanding of where they intend to do it. Their goal is to establish a stronger presence on Ukrainian soil, which is nothing new."

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Details: He also stressed that reports of Ukrainian troops being surrounded in Kursk Oblast "are Putin's lies".

"I'm grateful that our intelligence data aligned today and we discussed that the Ukrainian side has a presence in Kursk Oblast, that reports of Ukrainian troops being encircled are Putin's lies. Ukrainian troops are not surrounded in Kursk Oblast," the president said.

He added that Ukraine's partners can verify his statement using intelligence and satellite data.

"Again, I do not want to argue with any of the partners or colleagues. They have intelligence. They have satellites. Let them see where Russian troops are currently concentrated and where they are headed. That is a crucial point. Then it will be evident why. That is, there is no indication of peace in these steps.," Zelenskyy said.

Background:

In a statement on Friday, US President Donald Trump said he had had productive talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. He also claimed that "THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION".

Putin made a similar claim on Thursday, speaking to journalists.

On Friday, Ukraine's General Staff denied claims indicating that Ukrainian units had been surrounded in Kursk Oblast.

On Saturday, Zelenskyy said that Russia is building up forces to launch an attack on Sumy Oblast.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reported that the Russian army is amassing forces for an assault at Sumy Oblast.

Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram

Quote from Zelenskyy: "We see areas along our eastern border of Ukraine where the Russian army is amassing forces. This indicates a will to carry out an assault of our Sumy Oblast. We understand this and will counteract it.

I would like all our partners to understand what Putin is planning and preparing for and what he will ignore. The accumulation of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to ignore diplomacy in the future. Russia's desire to prolong the war is obvious. We are ready to provide our partners with all the real information on the situation at the front, in Kursk Oblast, and along the border."

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Details: Zelenskyy also heard a report from Oleksandr Syrskyi, Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The situation on the Pokrovsk front has stabilised, while the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue their operations in Kursk Oblast.

The president stressed that there is no encirclement of Ukrainian troops.

Background: The Defence Council of Sumy Oblast decided to conduct a mandatory evacuation of residents from eight settlements in the Yunakivka and Myropillia hromadas of the Sumy district. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has explained that the shortage of missiles for the SAMP/T air defence system has always been a problem for Ukraine.

Source: Zelenskyy at a briefing broadcast by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne

Details: Zelenskyy commented on media reports claiming that Ukraine has almost run out of SAMP/T missiles.

Quote: "Regarding SAMP/T missiles, weve never had enough of them. Thats the issue with these systems. Were grateful to Italy and France for providing us with what they have in service. These are sophisticated systems  good systems  but theyre not equivalent to the Patriot. Theyre effective and can shoot down targets, but not everything the Patriots can intercept. We appreciate these systems and dont want to specify the regions, but they have been, and continue to be, helpful.

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There is one problem with these systems  a significant shortage of missiles, which has always been a constant issue. However, I dont want Italy or France to feel offended, as they have provided us with these systems and missiles."

Details: Zelenskyy noted that one of the things the war taught Ukraine was: "where you can take a licence from a partner, take it, we will do it faster."

"I didnt receive these licences, though I really wanted them  it was essential: Patriot, SAMP/T, Hawk. While many countries gave us Hawk systems, they werent new and werent in service, but they worked. We accepted them because we knew where to find missilesthere are many Hawk missiles worldwide. With SAMP/T, its more challenging. Patriot could serve as a replacement for SAMP/T, as they belong to the same class," Zelenskyy said.

He cited the example of agreements with Germany on the IRIS-T air defence system.

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Quote: "We can negotiate with them because they fully produce these systems, which allows us to rely on a consistent monthly supply of IRIS-T.

There are also systems that depend on the political will of four countries to provide us with licences. We are gradually making progress in this area."

Previously: Corriere della Sera reported that Ukraine has urged the governments of Italy and France to urgently supply additional Aster-30 missiles for SAMP/T anti-aircraft batteries, as the current stockpile is nearly depleted.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukrainian forces continue to conduct operations in Russia's Kursk Oblast and that the situation on the Pokrovsk front in Donetsk Oblast has been stabilised.

Source: Zelenskyy during an online meeting of leaders on support for Ukraine

Quote: "Putin is lying to everyone about the situation on the ground, especially about whats happening in Kursk Oblast, where our Ukrainian forces continue their operations. Our troops have also stabilised the situation on the front in Donetsk Oblast  I mean Pokrovsk. It's a big work of our heroes and a big success, I think so."

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Details: Zelenskyy added that "Putin is also lying about how a ceasefire is supposedly too complicated".

"In reality, everything can be controlled, and we have discussed this with the Americans. The truth is, Putin has already dragged out the war for nearly a week after the talks in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. And he will keep dragging it out," the president said.

Background:

In a social media post on Friday, US President Donald Trump said he had had productive talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. He also claimed that "THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION".

Putin made a similar claim on Thursday, speaking to journalists.

On Friday, Ukraine's General Staff denied claims indicating that Ukrainian units had been surrounded in Kursk Oblast.

On Saturday, Zelenskyy reported that Russian forces are trying to encircle Ukrainian troops on Ukrainian soil along the Kursk front, but that the Ukrainian command is aware of these plans.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Kyiv's partners to disregard Russia's opinion on the deployment of a foreign contingent in Ukraine to guarantee a peace deal.

Source: Zelenskyy during an online meeting of leaders on support for Ukraine

Quote: "And this is a very bad signal  taking Russians opinion into account regarding the contingent. The contingent must be stationed on Ukrainian soil. This is a security guarantee for Ukraine and a security guarantee for Europe.

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If Putin wants to bring some foreign contingent onto Russias territory, thats his business. But it is not his business to decide anything about Ukraines and Europes security."

Details: Zelenskyy called on partners to form a clear position on security guarantees for Ukraine.

"Security is the key to making peace reliable and lasting. We need to keep working on the contingents that will form the foundation of Europes future Armed Forces. Peace will be more reliable with the European contingents on the ground and the American side as a backstop. There must be clear commitments on how this will function," he said.

Zelenskyy noted that the same applies to investments in defence production both in Ukraine, "where it is now growing the fastest", and in partner countries.

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"Europe needs its own arsenals and the capability to produce the most advanced weapons. It shouldnt take you 3 to 5 years to produce ammunition when its about your defence, and its about your security. Please do it as soon as possible," the Ukrainian leader stressed.

He also urged partners not to overlook the importance of strengthening air defence, both in Ukraine and in their own countries in the future.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has highlighted the necessity of the US refusing to accept Russia's additional demands for a ceasefire in Ukraine. He also added that US President Donald Trump's position towards Moscow should be strict if it rejects his proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.

Source: Zelenskyy at a briefing broadcast by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne

Quote: "Today, several partners emphasised that, regarding the ceasefire, the most important thing is that neither America nor anyone else should accept the Russian 'but'. A ceasefire should not come with a 'but'. It is a 30-day ceasefire, not an eternity, giving all parties the opportunity to demonstrate their willingness to end the war  or the opposite...

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We've agreed on how we see it. A US official has met with the Russians. They discussed something and coordinated some positions. Let's see what happens next. I think that in the coming days, we will coordinate with the US on the next steps. If the Russians don't agree with President Trump's position, we very much believe that President Trump's position is going to be clear, tough and direct towards Putin."

Details: Commenting on a visit to Moscow by US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine cannot know with certainty what had been discussed there.

"But we understand that there will be many different 'buts' to put Ukraine in a weaker situation. And America's position is critical here. If the ceasefire is complete, then without any buts. Everyone's position should be clear, transparent, truthful, without losing the dignity of the parties," he said.

Zelenskyy also believes that the ceasefire can last for more than 30 days, but during this time, an agreement on the following steps to end the war should be worked out.

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"It may not be 30 days; it could take a bit longer. However, it is crucial that a specific time frame is set in the ceasefire agreement. This will limit the chances for the Russians to turn it into an endless frozen conflict," the president said.

The Ukrainian leader believes the issue of control over territories is a "complicated" subject that should be resolved through diplomacy. He cautioned against relating this issue to the first step because it could cause the process to take longer.

Zelenskyy stated that US officials did not impose any demands on Ukraine to stop the war at the conference in Saudi Arabia.

"There were no additional conditions at the meeting in Saudi Arabia. Everyone was thrilled that, first of all, the two countries were together, which was a serious step forward. Second, that Ukraine had taken such a serious diplomatic step. And everyone was also pleased. Let America now make Putin take the first step. Then we will discuss all the other steps," he said.

Background:

On Thursday 13 March, Putin said that Russia agreed with the proposal to end hostilities in Ukraine, but that this must lead to a lasting peace.

Putin noted that many questions need to be resolved within the framework of such a ceasefire, such as whether Ukraine will continue to mobilise troops and receive weapons, how monitoring and verification will be handled, and who will determine violations along the 2,000-km front line.

Zelenskyy noted that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has put forward additional conditions for the cessation of hostilities, indicating that he does not want to stop them.

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The Yukon River in Whitehorse, Yukon, in June 2024. The U.S. has been proposing a plan for decades s that would divert water from the Yukon and other western rivers to American agricultural areas. (Photo by Mike Thomas/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Interest from the United States in Canadas water is concerning, though nothing new. In the most recent development, the U.S. has paused negotiations the Columbia River Treaty, a key water-sharing agreement between both countries.

Geopolitical tensions, when coupled with demand that is outpacing a decreasing supply under a changing climate, are posing an imminent and very real threat to Canada.

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An abandoned water project known as the North American Water and Power Alliance (NAWAPA) was tabled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s. Its considered a zombie project, always resurfacing, never dead.

The $80 billion plan proposed construction of 369 structures that would divert water from the Yukon, Liard and Peace Rivers through a Rocky Mountain trench connecting Alaska to the Mississippi and Colorado River basins, and Alberta to the Great Lakes.

The goal was to convey massive volumes from the water-rich north to water-deficient but highly productive agricultural landscapes. Marc Reisner  an American environmentalist and author of Cadillac Desert, an account of water management and development across the Midwest  estimated that six nuclear power plants worth of energy would be required to pump the required volume of water across the Rockies.

Sounds like science fiction, except that it was  and remains  a genuine threat to Canadian water security.

Canadians not interested

Canada was simply in the way decades ago. Benefits from an American perspective were clear: improving water security and agricultural dominance of the American Midwest, and massive energy (hydropower) generation potential.

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However, within the projects blueprint is some of the most ecologically sensitive and protected wilderness in North America.

NAWAPA would have profound consequences for Indigenous communities and the environment. If enacted, it would alter the Rocky Mountain landscape and open the door to cross-border water trading. When first proposed, Canadians had little appetite for the plan.

The need for water in the U.S. has and always will be greater than Canadas due to its population and industrial dominance; therefore Canadian justification to hold back water is regarded as weak from an American perspective.

NAWAPA has always walked a fine line politically, with water being exempt from free-trade agreements and opinions on water export historically divisive in Canada. Decades ago, the Canadian government was resistant to bilateral talks on water, and NAWAPA was considered impractical. That was until there was a change of heart and attitude in Canada. But in 2025, Canadian officials appear back to being firmly opposed.

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While NAWAPA has not been seriously considered since the 1970s, there is growing speculation about whether its truly dead or just buried in bureaucracy, which is why its been coined a zombie project.

Trumps water moves

Talk of NAWAPA recently resurfaced amid construction of BC Hydros Site C that would reportedly enable water transfers east of the Rockies and south to Texas.

A few key moments of the first Trump administrations have also resembled the early days of NAWAPA. In 2018, a memorandum of understanding gave the Secretary of the Department of the Interior a mandate to secure more water for the arid Midwest.

Soon after, the Columbia River Treaty between the U.S. and Canada was opened for renegotiation with the intent of optimizing energy generation in the U.S. through water storage on the Canadian side, despite an increased potential flood risk for Canada.

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Significant concerns were also raised at the time over highly sensitive fish populations, the need to ensure adequate habitats for sensitive species and spawning, as well as Indigenous water rights and allocations.

This was followed by a 2020 executive order by Trump to modernize Americas water resource management and water infrastructure. The order was aimed at improving co-ordination among U.S. agencies managing water or infrastructure issues and streamlining resources to improve the efficiency of water management.

Through this order, a mandate was issued to increase water storage, water supply reliability and drought resiliency through internal co-ordination, but also to seek new external opportunities.

In late 2024  at the end of President Joe Bidens term  an agreement in principle between Canada and the U.S. was reached on the Columbia River that appeared to strike a compromise over many of the aforementioned concerns by adjusting the timing of when water could be stored, how much could be stored and when it would be released.

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Trumps recent Putting People Over Fish executive order, however, makes clear his stance on some of the Columbia River issues, calling into question whether the new treaty terms negotiated under the Biden administration will ever be ratified by Congress, especially now that final negotiations have been officially paused.

Boundary Waters Treaty disregarded?

Trumps Unleashing American Energy executive order highlights the over-reach of his administration as it deliberately defies the National Environmental Policy Act to ensure water and energy supply is allocated to people first, disregarding environmental and ecological concerns.

For Canada, this has important implications for the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty, which oversees sharing of international waters along the Canada-U.S. border. In some cases, the treaty allows Canada to hold back or divert water from the U.S., provisions that would be in direct violation of the Unleashing American Energy executive order even though Canada isnt mentioned explicitly.

The Boundary Waters Treaty has long since been the envy of other nations struggling to come to agreeable terms over transboundary water-sharing and rights. Historically, it has been framed as a sign of a mutually beneficial, co-operative relationship between Canada and the U.S., a state of affairs that seemingly no longer exists under the Trump administration.

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One thing is clear  despite uncertain times, Canadians must hold firm when it comes to water. Former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed perhaps said it best when he warned against sharing Canadas water, reminding Canadians that we should communicate to the United States very quickly how firm we are.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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What is the best internet provider in Evansville?

Evansville has plenty of top internet providers, from fast multi-gig plans to cheaper cable options. AT&T Fiber is the best internet service provider overall in Evansville, Indiana, thanks to its widespread availability, straightforward plans and fast, symmetrical speeds. Prices start at $55 and go up to $245 for the 5-gig plan. Because AT&T Fiber isn't available everywhere in Evansville, keep in mind that Spectrum and Astound are also solid picks, depending on what's available at your address. T-Mobile is also available in some areas, offering three plans that range from $50 to $70 a month.

If youre hunting for the lowest prices or fastest speeds, weve also found those top options. The cheapest internet in Evansville is Astound Broadbands 300Mbps plan for $20 a month, although extra fees are involved. AT&T Fibers 5,000Mbps plan is the fastest available internet speed, though some AT&T Fiber neighborhoods max out at 1,000Mbps. If the 5-gig plan is more than you need, consider Astound's 1,500Mbps plan for $55 a month.

Our methodology

CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service in Evansville 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 Evansville 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.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Other available internet providers in Evansville

AT&T Internet : AT&T Fibers network doesnt reach everywhere in Evansville, so you might come across AT&T Internet instead. This legacy DSL service is likely to be very slow, even as slow as just 5Mbps for some addresses. It costs $60 per month, and most plans have a 1.5TB data cap. Look to other home internet options before signing up for DSL.

Mainstream Fiber Networks : Regional ISP Mainstream Fiber Networks focuses on rural and underserved areas. Youll find it in some rural spots in Evansville. Plans start at $35 per month for 150Mbps and go up to $89 per month for a gig. A router is included. You may come across service coverage and infrastructure charges that add an extra $8 to your bill. The ISP has a standard three-year contract.

River City Wireless : A local fixed wireless ISP located next door in Newburgh, River City Wireless aims to reach rural homes in the area. Plans start at $60 per month for 10Mbps and top out at $100 per month for 100Mbps, with no data caps.

Satellite internet : Evansville has several fixed wireless options that may reach your rural home. Also, look for Spectrum Fiber or Mainstream Fiber Networks. If none of those ISPs work out, check out Starlink, Viasat or Hughesnet for satellite internet. Its not cheap, and speeds may be variable, but satellite can get you online when other options fail.

Verizon 5G Home Internet : Compare with T-Mobile Home Internet. Verizons service also has two plans. Expect speeds up to 250Mbps with the 5G Home plan for $50 per month or $70 per month depending on the extras you choose. Bundle with a phone plan to drop your monthly home internet price as low as $35. There are no data caps, contracts or equipment fees.

Watch Communications: Fixed wireless ISP Watch Communications specializes in servicing rural homes that have few other options. Prices start at $60 per month for 10Mbps download speeds. Top speeds will vary with location, but some addresses in rural Evansville may be able to get 100Mbps for $120 per month. Look into wired options like cable or fiber first.

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Cheap internet options in Evansville

Astound leads the way when it comes to cheap internet in Evansville. Its 300Mbps plan has an introductory price of just $20 per month, though you also need to consider the $16 in additional monthly fees and the cost of either renting ($15 per month) or buying a router. Next is Spectrum's 100Mbps plan that costs $30 a month. If youre in a low-income household, check for eligibility for the federal Lifeline program and Spectrums Internet Assist option.

Whats the cheapest internet plan in Evansville?

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Evansville

The best internet deals and top promotions in Evansville depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

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Evansville internet providers, such as Spectrum and Astound Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, including AT&T Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet, tend to run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

How fast is Evansville broadband?

With two cable providers and AT&T Fiber covering most of the town, Evansville has some solid options for fast internet. A recent Ookla speed test report showed the city had a 300Mbps median fixed internet download speed, with AT&T Fiber delivering the fastest speeds. AT&T Fiber offers the fastest plan in town with its 5,000Mbps option, though some neighborhoods top out at 1,000Mbps. Astound offers a 1,200Mbps top speed, while Spectrum goes up to 1,000Mbps. Ookla reported the Indiana average to be around 239Mbps, so Evansville has a speed advantage compared to the state overall. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) If fast home internet is important to you, look for fiber so you can enjoy equally fast uploads.

Fastest internet plans in Evansville

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 and 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 Evansville

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. 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.

It doesnt end there: We go to the FCCs 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?

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, although 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 Evansville?

Evansville is the rare city where theres a considerable amount of ISP competition, especially when it comes to having two rival cable providers. Spectrum and Astound have the town covered in cable, but AT&T Fiber offers faster top speeds and uploads, making it a smart choice for home internet if available at your address. Bargain hunters can look to Astound and its low introductory rates. Both Spectrum and Astound will raise your rates eventually, but you can try negotiating a better price when that happens. With ISP options and no contracts from the big providers, you can try out different services to find the best price and performance for your home.

Internet providers in Evansville FAQs

What is the cheapest internet provider in Evansville?

Astound Broadbands $20-per-month 300Mbps cable internet plan is the cheapest around, even when you add the additional $16 monthly fee. The only way to beat that is by bundling certain Verizon mobile or T-Mobile and home internet plans to get your broadband down to $35 or $30 monthly.

Which internet provider in Evansville offers the fastest plan?

AT&T Fiber blows away the competition with its 5,000Mbps fiber plan for $245 per month. Some parts of town can only get AT&T Fibers 1,000Mbps plan, not the ISPs multi-gig options.

Is fiber internet available in Evansville?

AT&T Fiber is the main fiber provider for Evansville homes, although coverage is spotty to nonexistent in and around the downtown area.

What internet provider has the best coverage in Evansville?

Astound Broadband squeaks into the top spot for coverage. FCC data shows it reaches just over 92% of Evansville homes, while Spectrum reaches just over 90%.
Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley.
Attendees of Rosenda Strong's funeral look at a program with her picture on it Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Valley Hills Funeral Home in Wapato, Wash.
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New Delhi: The Indian startup ecosystem witnessed a strong surge in funding this week, with 19 startups collectively raising approximately $462.27 million.

The investments were spread across six growth-stage and ten early-stage deals, while three startups chose not to disclose their funding details.

This marks a significant jump compared to the previous week when 30 startups secured around $355.02 million.

Bengaluru continued to dominate the startup funding landscape, accounting for ten deals this week. Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and other cities also saw significant activity.

Among industry segments, fintech and edtech startups led the funding rounds with three deals each, while gaming, healthtech, and energy startups secured two deals each.

Other sectors, including e-commerce, aerospace, and manufacturing, also attracted investor interest.

The growth-stage segment saw notable deals, including a Series B round for cross-border neobanking startup Zolve, led by Craegis.

Speciality chemicals sourcing platform Scimplify secured $40 million in a Series B round, while luxury fashion platform Purple Style Labs raised the same amount in a Series E round.

Other companies that received funding this week included aerospace firm Ransons Aerospace, SaaS platform Infinite Uptime, and Incred Finance.

In early-stage funding, ten startups collectively raised $29.77 million. Renewable energy company Amrut Energy led the segment with an $11.5 million investment, followed by energy storage startup AmpereHour, hospitality platform goStops, mobile game publisher Felicity Games, and admissions platform Ambitio.

Some startups, including upskilling platform Weskill, edtech company Dreamtime Learning, and battery technology firm Flowatt Battery Science, also secured funding but did not disclose the exact amount.

Seed funding remained the most popular investment stage, with four deals, followed by pre-seed, Series A, pre-Series A, and Series B rounds.

The week also saw important leadership movements. Daman Soni, former President and Chief Business Officer at GlobalBees, joined AstroTalk as Chief Business Officer (CBO).

Edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah appointed Nitin Savara, Rachna Dikshit, and Deepak Amitabh as non-executive independent directors.
New Delhi: Aspire to become a billionaire? List on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), says CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan. Chauhan added that some of the MSMEs listed on the exchange today have the potential to become billion-dollar companies in the future.

"In simple terms, if you want to become a billionaire, list on NSE," he said while speaking at a recent event. He believes that listing on NSE can be a stepping stone for businesses looking to scale and create long-term value.

Over the past year, 200 MSMEs have been listed on the NSE, reflecting growing confidence in the Indian stock market. "In the last 10-15 years, stock market investments have gained popularity, whereas earlier, Indians primarily invested in real estate and gold," Chauhan noted.

He added that in 2014, India had 16 million investors, but the number has now surged to 110 million, showing the rising interest in equity markets. To encourage retail participation, the NSE has been actively educating investors about safe and long-term investing.

With Indias strong market infrastructure, digital investment platforms, and stable regulations, the stock market is becoming a preferred route for entrepreneurs to unlock capital and expand their businesses. "The Indian investment landscape is evolving rapidly. The country now has over 110 million investors, with five crore individuals investing regularly through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs)," Chauhan mentioned.

This has made wealth creation more accessible to the general public. Unlike global markets, where capital flows can be volatile, Indias domestic investor base provides stable, long-term funding for businesses. Chauhan also pointed out that global capital is becoming unpredictable as the US reduces its influence over multilateral institutions like the UN, WHO, and WTO.

This shift in financial power means that individual countries must negotiate bilateral agreements, with India playing a key role in shaping the new economic order. "In order to encourage retail participation, we at the NSE are constantly educating them on safe long-term investing," he said.
A blast occurred at Thakurdwara Temple in Khandwala in Punjas Amritsar late Friday night after two bike-borne men lobbed an object, suspected to be explosive, at the temple.

A CCTV footage of the explosion outside the Thakur Dwara Temple in Amritsar surfaced. In the video, two unidentified people can be seen coming to the temple on a bike, and after waiting, one of them throws some explosive material toward the temple, after which they fled the scene.

Although no injuries were reported, the incident has caused panic among the residents in the Amritsar's Khandwala area.

In the explosion, the temple walls were damaged and window panes were shattered, officials informed on Saturday, as per PTI.

After the grenade was lobbed at the temple, a Forensics Team carried out an investigation, collecting samples from the spot, ANI reported.

While speaking to ANI, Amritsar Commissioner GPS Bhullar suggested the involvement of the Pakistan Intel agency, ISI, in the blast.

He said, "We got information at 2 a.m. We reached the spot right away. The forensic team was called... We checked the CCTV and spoke to the nearby people. The thing is that Pakistan's ISI lures our youth into creating disturbances in Punjab."

#WATCH | Punjab: Amritsar Commissioner GPS Bhullar says, "We got information at 2 a.m. We reached the spot right away. The forensic team was called... We checked the CCTV and spoke to the nearby people. The thing is that Pakistan's ISI lures our youth into creating disturbances https://t.co/RVVHuy2IGr pic.twitter.com/ybdo5gcXMp  ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2025

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, commenting on the matter, said that there are always attempts to disturb the peace in the state.

According to ANI, he said, "There are always many attempts to disturb the peace in Punjab. Drugs, gangsters, extortion are part of it, and there are attempts to show that Punjab has become a disturbed state During the festival of Holi in other states, the police had to use a lathi-charge during processions. But such things do not happen in Punjab... The law and order situation in Punjab is good."

On the other hand, BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to the social media platform X to slam the state government and wrote, "Law and order in Punjab as totally collapsed under AAP and Bhagwant Mann."

"Punjab police busy giving VVIP security to Kejriwal & meanwhile free run for terror, nasha Mafia and gangsters," he continued.

Grenade attack in Amritsar Reportedly on a Temple

Series of such attacks have taken place on police posts, etc over the last few months



Law and order in Punjab as totally collapsed under AAP & Bhagwant Mann



Punjab police busy giving VVIP security to Kejriwal & meanwhile free pic.twitter.com/pijvK3bkSV  Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) March 15, 2025

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Dr. Daljit Cheema said that this is the thirteenth such blast in the area and is proof of the complete collapse of law and order in the state. He then demanded a high-level judicial inquiry to identify the culprits.

He took to X and wrote, "Both Union & State governments should take moral responsibilities of these incidents & should desist from interfering into the religious affairs of Sikhs and stop provoking forces who want to illegally take control of Sikh institutions."

The SAD strongly condemned the incident of blast near Thakur Duar Mandir in Sri Amritsar. This is the 13th such blast in the area & is proof of complete collapse of law & order in the state. It is a serious & sensitive incident which has hurt the sentiments of the people. A high  Dr Daljit S Cheema (@drcheemasad) March 15, 2025

This incident comes to light after, on Friday, five people were injured when they were attacked by a rod-wielding man in Amritsar's Golden Temple complex.

(with agencies' inputs)
Violent clashes between two groups in Bengal's Birbhum district during Holi prompted the government to suspend internet services until March 17. Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Saturday criticized the state government over the suspension, calling it "evidence of the deterioration" in law and order.

Taking to the social media platform X, Adhikari accused the government of showing an "acceptance of incapability" in handling the situation. He also claimed that skirmishes were reported not only in Birbhum but in Tamluk, Nandakumar, and other areas across the state.

"This restriction on Internet services is not only an evidence of deterioration of the Law & Order Situation in the State, but also an acceptance of incapability on the part of the Administration to control the situation. Not only Birbhum, skirmishes took place in Tamluk, Nandakumar and various other places across West Bengal," he said in a post on X.

He further alleged that the West Bengal government is attempting to conceal instances of communal flare-ups and called on the Home Ministry, Bengal Governor, and Chief Secretary to intervene and review the law and order situation.

"The West Bengal Government are trying their best to hide the events of communal flare-ups to save their face. I urge @HMOIndia and His Excellency, the Hon'ble @BengalGovernor, to seek a report from the Chief Secretary (@chief_west) of WB regarding the deterioration of the law and order situation in the state," he posted.

Internet and voice-over-Internet telephony services were suspended in at least five Gram Panchayat areas of Sainthia town in West Bengal's Birbhum district to curb the spread of rumors and unlawful activities. The shutdown will remain in effect from March 14 (Friday) to March 17 (Monday).

(With ANI inputs)
Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case: The stepfather of Kannada actor Ramya Rao, who is an accused in a gold smuggling case, DGP Ramchandra Rao, has been sent on compulsory leave. The actor was arrested in a gold smuggling case last week.

"Sri. K.V. Sharath Chandra, IPS (KN-1997), Additional Director General of Police, Recruitment is placed in Concurrent Charge of the post of Chairman & Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, Bengaluru, with immediate effect and until further orders. Dr. K. Ramachandra Rao, IPS, is sent on compulsory leave," said a Karnataka Government order issued on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Ranya Rao approached a Sessions Court in Bengaluru for bail. Her move came after the Special Court for Economic Offences here denied her bail on Friday.

Ramachandra Rao, DGP of Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation sent on compulsory leave; KV Sharath Chandra, Additional Director General of Police, Recruitment, is placed in Concurrent Charge of the post of Chairman & Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing & pic.twitter.com/33JM8dUJro  ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2025

While denying the bail to the actor, the Special Court for Economic Offences said that the charges against the actress were serious. She 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.

The CBI has filed an FIR in the gold smuggling case on the complaint of Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI.

The FIR has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) on the complaint of Abhishek Chandra Gupta. The complaint discloses the cognizable offences U/s 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 20148) r/w 61(2) of BNS.

According to the complaint, after Ranya Rao's arrest on March 3, two foreign nationals were also arrested on March 6 from Mumbai airport for attempting to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold into India worth Rs. 18.92 crore, as per the complaint.

Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI, in his complaint, has said that these cases involving passengers making trips from Dubai and attempting to smuggle gold in large quantities point to a "possible nexus" with a coordinated smuggling syndicate, possibly operating from Dubai (UAE).

In Rao's case, she travelled to Dubai multiple times while the two arrested foreign nationals had previously arrived at Mumbai airport multiple times.

Gupta, in his complaint, has also suspected the possibility of the involvement of public servants and others.

"The above two cases detected in quick succession involving passengers making trips from Dubai, the attempted smuggling of large quantities of gold into India and the high frequency of these visits involving Indian and foreign nationals, point to a possible nexus with coordinated smuggling syndicate, possibly operating from Dubai (UAE). This may have larger national and international ramifications. The possibility of involvement of unknown public servants of the Government of India and unknown others, with such coordinated network, needs to be investigated," the complaint said.

The actor was arrested in a case pertaining to the seizure of gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore from Ranya at Kempegowda International Airport here on March 3 upon her arrival from Dubai. Following the seizure, searches were carried out at her residence, and officials said that gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash were also recovered.
Kerala Lottery Results Saturday 15-03-2025 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "KARUNYA KR-697" Lucky Draw Result today Karunya Kr-697, March 15, 2025. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2025 for "Karunya KR-697" will feature 12 series, with changes in series possible each week. A total of 108 lakh tickets are available for purchase weekly. The ticket prices may vary. Check the Karunya KR-697 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 80 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Karunya KR-697 results today.

Kerala Lottery Result 15-03-2025 Mar: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR KARUNYA KR-697 Draw

LUCKY NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 80 LAKHS IS: KP 438123

LUCKY NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 5 LAKHS IS: KO 199056

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 Lakh ARE: KN 643927 KO 674419 KP 297211 KR 487986 KS 845507 KT 405235 KU 659561 KV 975985 KW 239807 KX 849065 KY 545105 KZ 217655

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: KN 438123 KO 438123 KR 438123 KS 438123 KT 438123 KU 438123 KV 438123 KW 438123 KX 438123 KY 438123 KZ 438123

(For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below)

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 1546 1748 1942 2120 4430 4510 4897 6194 6245 6531 6556 6869 7717 8332 8620 8874 9098 9476

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE: 0237 1794 2491 3640 4682 6700 7452 7916 8974 9058

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 0206 0261 2522 3291 3529 3745 3791 4304 4364 6014 8491 8679 9039 9116

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0152 0330 0362 0391 0532 0591 0627 0712 0750 0773 0780 0884 0899 1004 1022 1025 1364 1412 1504 1547 1783 1829 1999 2382 2751 2932 3127 3214 3238 3600 3674 3910 4086 4259 4300 4380 4384 4669 4826 4946 5352 5419 5532 5930 6059 6230 6246 6262 6401 6485 6547 6850 6948 7004 7090 7118 7265 7301 7434 7477 7628 7934 7972 8000 8017 8173 8273 8738 8891 8915 9073 9284 9302 9504 9585 9800 9824 9880 9922 9973

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0136 0149 0192 0545 0651 0655 0717 0926 1028 1126 1161 1306 1347 1350 1428 1436 1530 1605 1627 1736 1763 1845 2001 2033 2410 2547 2702 2766 2831 2978 3087 3142 3278 3297 3311 3347 3364 3365 3393 3412 3572 3597 3669 3751 3811 3822 3836 3847 3913 3972 4032 4034 4069 4095 4181 4323 4342 4548 4571 4589 4735 4812 4878 4968 4974 5148 5154 5169 5313 5401 5635 5773 5896 5902 5907 5910 5957 6011 6090 6136 6179 6203 6328 6396 6418 6568 6933 6938 6954 7203 7208 7427 7497 7554 7760 7793 7837 7968 8066 8099 8356 8373 8402 8480 8593 8600 8636 8637 8645 8656 8666 8675 8744 8873 8908 8918 8960 9047 9138 9384 9509 9572 9684 9923

KERALA LOTTERY RESULT 15-03-2025 March TODAY: KARUNYA KR-697 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS

1st Prize: Rs 80 Lakhs

2nd Prize: Rs. 5 lakhs

3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh

4th Prize: Rs. 5,000

5th Prize: Rs. 2,000

6th Prize: Rs. 1,000

7th Prize: Rs. 500

8th Prize: Rs. 100

Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000

(NOTE: Lottery can be addictive and should be played responsibly. The data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or encouragement. Zee News does not promote the lottery in any way.)
Four people, including a woman, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder case of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Santosh Kumar Singh in Munger, Bihar, said an official on Saturday.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Syed Imran Masood said the accused had been identified as Ranveer Yadav, Guddu Yadav, Vikas Yadav, and a woman of the same family.

The SP said that the mortal remains of the deceased ASI Santosh Kumar Singh were brought for the last rites by his family.

Police teams had been conducting raids to arrest those involved in the incident that took place in the Nandlalpur village of Munger in Holi (March 14).

"An unfortunate incident took place with ASI Santosh Kumar yesterday in which he lost his life. His mortal remains have been brought here. Our teams had been conducting raids since last night, and four people were arrested. A team was moving to arrest the remaining accused at the directions of those arrested," said the SP.

Speaking about the arrests, the SP said, "The police vehicle met with an accident, injuring the police personnel. Taking advantage of the situation, one of the accused, Guddu Yadav, snatched a police personnel's rifle and aimed at the police team. The police fired in self-defence and shot him in the feet. He is the main accused in the murder case. Four people, including a woman, have been arrested so far."

Meanwhile, Bihar Minister Prem Kumar also reacted to Munger ASI Santosh Kumar Singh's death case and said, "There is rule of law in Bihar. An ASI in Munger has been killed while on duty. The culprits will not be spared. Some people have been arrested. We will run an expedited trial and give them the strictest punishment."

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, terming the murder of Munger ASI Santosh Kumar Singh as "unfortunate," said that the administration may use any means to handle such people or carry out encounters if needed.

"It is unfortunate. The government will take strict action... We will not leave such people who think they can suppress the administration... The administration may use any means to handle such people or carry out encounters if needed... There is complete freedom from the government," Vijay Kumar Sinha told ANI.

Bihar Police Association President Mrityunjay Kumar Singh also condemned the attack on ASI Santosh Kumar Singh earlier in the day and demanded compensation and a job for the late personnel's family.

ASI Santosh Kumar Singh lost his life after being attacked by individuals in Munger. He was responding to a ruckus created by the family of a man identified as Ranveer Kumar in Nandalpur village under Mufassil police station limits.

Munger SP said that the assailants were allegedly intoxicated during the incident.

SP Masood said, "The incident unfolded after the Munger police received information late in the evening about a family creating a ruckus in Nandalpur village under the influence of alcohol. Upon reaching the spot with his team, ASI Singh was attacked by the family members, who struck him on the head, leaving him critically injured.

ASI Santosh Kumar Singh succumbed to his injuries at Patna Paras Hospital on Friday despite medical efforts.
Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday clarified that the state government's decision to provide a four per cent reservation in government contracts is not exclusive to Muslims but extends to all minority communities and backward classes. "Four per cent reservation is not just for Muslims but all minority communities and backward classes," he told ANI.

The Karnataka Cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act that aims to provide a four per cent reservation in tenders to Muslim contractors.

The decision was taken on Friday in a meeting held at the Cabinet Hall of the Vidhan Sabha, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The official sources added that the amendment will be done after the KTPP act is tabled in the ongoing assembly session. The Cabinet has approved the presentation of the obedience in the same session, likely on Monday.

Earlier on March 7, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed that four per cent of public works contracts will now be reserved for Muslims under a category called Category-II B while presenting Kthe arnataka government's Budget.

Reservation will be provided in the procurement of goods and services under various government departments, corporations, and institutions for suppliers belonging to SC, ST, Category-I, Category-II A, and Category-II B, up to Rs 1 crore, in which Category-II B refers to Muslims. At the same time, the government has given good news to those who are expecting e-Khata.

The Cabinet has agreed to give e-Khata in rural areas that have been approved by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj obedience. If this obedience is approved, the rural revenue projects and the households in the village station will be equipped, it added.

The Karnataka Lokasewa Commission's reform measures have been discussed at the Cabinet meeting as the KPSC has increased.In addition, the Cabinet has agreed to the formation of a separate committee for the reform of the Lokasewa Commission. The cabinet also consulted on the maintenance of the committee's recommendations.
Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande on Saturday strongly criticised AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi for his remarks on Vinayak Savarkar, accusing him of repeatedly insulting the freedom fighter.

Speaking to IANS, Kayande said, "Some people in the country have made it a habit to insult Savarkar, to make him controversial, and tarnish his image. Owaisi and his party should study history so that they can come to their senses."

Kayande also pointed out that a case is currently underway against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Savarkar.

She added, "Uddhav ji should make it clear that by making such remarks, he has distanced himself from the Congress."

Owaisi, the President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Member of Parliament from Hyderabad, had made contentious remarks earlier on Friday.

He claimed that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had mistreated Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Owaisi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking if he agreed with the views of RSS ideologue M.S. Golwalkar.

He said, "Savarkar and Golwalkar insulted Sambhaji Maharaj. So, why does the Prime Minister say that the film 'Chhawa' is good, even though he considers Golwalkar his guru?"

In another political development, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut made a controversial statement comparing the current BJP government to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, claiming that the current regime is even worse.

Manisha Kayande said, "Sanjay Raut must have watched the film Chhawa. If he studied history, he would know that Aurangzeb was a cruel ruler. Under his reign, anyone who spoke against the government had their tongue pulled out. But today, despite saying inappropriate things, Sanjay Raut is safe and sound. He should read history again."
New Delhi: Indian Railways loaded 1,465.371 million tonnes (MT) of freight in the 11 months of FY 2024-25 so far, up from 1,443.166 MT in the full financial year 2023-24, according to the latest figures compiled by the Ministry of Railways. Indian Railways has set an ambitious target of loading 3,000 MT freight by 2027.

"Indian Railways is steadily progressing toward its ambitious target of 3,000 MT freight loading, achieving 1,465.371 MT in FY 2024-25 till March 2," the ministry said. Freight remains the backbone of Indian Railways, contributing nearly 65 per cent of its revenue and coal, iron ore and cement constitute more than 60 per cent of freight loading and revenue generation through freight operation.

The movements of freight and passenger trains have gone up significantly in the past 11 years, with more than 34,000 km of new railway tracks laid across the country. With the development of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) on Indian Railways the speed of freight trains has also increased.

The DFC reached a significant milestone in freight train operations during January, marking a new benchmark in India's logistics and transportation efficiency. According to the Ministry, 391 trains were operated on an average per day on DFC tracks in the first month of 2025. While the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) operated 209 trains per day (average), the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) ran 182 trains per day.

This achievement reflects the increasing reliance on DFC for seamless and efficient freight transportation, reinforcing its role as a backbone for industrial and economic growth, a railway official said.By successfully diverting 100 per cent of freight traffic from East Central Railway and North Central Railway to EDFC, the freight corridor provided much-needed relief to the adjacent zonal railways and enabled the smooth operation of Mahakumbh Special trains on the saturated routes.

The DFC played a crucial role in supporting the Prayagraj Division during the Maha-Kumbh Mela, ensuring the smooth and efficient movement of both passenger and freight trains. The locomotive production for Indian Railways has also shot up to meet the increased demand for running more passenger and freight trains. Indian Railways manufactured 1,346 locomotives during 2024-25 until January, registering a rise of more than 9 per cent compared to the 1,235 locomotives produced during 2023-24.
Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case: Kannada actor Ranya Rao, accused in a gold smuggling case, has made shocking claims and said that she was physically assaulted and slapped multiple times and was forced to sign blank documents by officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). Rao made these claims in a letter to the Additional Director General of DRI. Maintaining her innocence, she claimed she was implicated in a false case and was even denied food in custody.

The actor was arrested in a case pertaining to the seizure of gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore from Ranya at Kempegowda International Airport here on March 3 upon her arrival from Dubai. Following the seizure, searches were carried out at her residence, and officials said that gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash were also recovered.

In the letter, the Kannada actor, who is the stepdaughter of DGP rank officer K. Ramachandra Rao, the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation, also claimed that she was arrested inside the aircraft itself and was taken into custody by the DRI without being allowed to explain herself.

The letter addressed to the Additional Director General of the DRI in Bengaluru on March 6, Ranya claimed that a false case had been foisted on her. She stated that she was wrongly accused of carrying more than 14 kg of gold upon her return from Dubai. "Your officers did not permit me to explain that I am innocent in this matter," alleged Harshavardhini Ranya, also known as Ranya Rao.

The actress further claimed that from the time she was detained until she was produced before the court, she was slapped in the face 10 to 15 times. "Despite repeated hitting and slapping, I refused to sign the statement they prepared."

She also alleged that she was forced to sign 50 to 60 typed papers and around 40 blank sheets. "One of the officers told me, 'If you dont sign, we will expose your fathers name and identity, even though we know he is not involved," the model-actor claimed.

According to an Indian Today report, the letter was sent through the Parappana Agrahara prison chief superintendent. She further claimed that despite repeated assaults, she refused to sign statements prepared by DRI officers. The actor, however, said she was eventually forced to sign around 50-60 typed pages and 40 blank white pages under extreme pressure. Days following her arrest, an image of Ranya in custody went viral. In the image, she can be seen stressed with dark patches under her eyes.

The letter comes a day after Ranya Rao was denied bail by the Economic Offences Court in Bengaluru in the gold smuggling case. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has stated in the court that the Karnataka Police Protocol Officer was used in the gold smuggling racket involving actress Ranya Rao.

In its argument against giving bail to Ranya, the central agency told the Special Court for Economic Offences that the accused had travelled to Dubai 27 times since January this year. "The investigation to date has unearthed the sophisticated methodology used in smuggling the gold, the usage of State Police Protocol Officer to bypass security, Hawala Transaction to transfer the funds from India to Dubai to purchase gold, involvement of larger syndicate," the DRI contended, as quoted by news agency PTI.

After these arguments, the court declined bail to Ranya on Friday. Judge Vishwanath C. Gowdar, who presided over the Special Court for Economic Offences, took note of DRI's contentions. "In the case on hand, the accused No. 1 (Ranya) possessing Resident Identity Card of UAE and having history of traveled to Dubai on 27 occasions since January 2025, is another factor which does not incline the court to extend discretionary relief of granting bail to accused," the Court said while rejecting her bail petition.

The DRI also said the investigation was under progress to examine international links. It stated that Ranya had not cooperated during the investigation in the custody. "It is also specifically contended that the alleged offence is cognizable, non-bailable, and punishable with imprisonment up to seven years," the court observed in its order copy. The DRI pointed out that the offence committed in this case has serious ramifications affecting the fabric of Indian economy and security.

The Court said, "The remand applications placed on record at this stage of proceedings, disclose the conspiracy hatched by the accused No1 (Ranya) by colluding with State Police Protocol Officer". "The arguments of the complainant Agency as to the usage of Hawala transaction for transfer of money from India to Dubai and also the International links being forthcoming as per the preliminary investigation is also a factor which inclines this court to hold the accused."

The Judge also said that the accused is capable to manipulate and tamper the evidences as well as witnesses, which consequently hampers the very trial in the case on hand. "The apprehension of the complainant as to the accused No.1 will throttle the witnesses and flee away from the process of court cannot be ruled out at this juncture," the court observed.

It further stated that prima facie at this juncture, the allegations against Ranya are very much forthcoming and the concealment of the gold by her in the form of gold bars while traveling is very much transpiring her intention.

(With PTI Inputs)
The United Nations, an organisation often associated with maintaining global balance and peace, grabbed eyeballs following the recent events and raised questions about the neutrality and priorities of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Guterres, who recently visited Bangladesh, was expected to address the plight of Hindus, who have been victims of extremist attacks in the neghbouring country. His actions, however, were telling a different story.

In todays episode of DNA, ZEE News went inside the details of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterress Bangladesh visit and tried to decode his intentions behind it.

Watch Full Episode Here

In the last 24 hours, two key incidents have taken place in Bangladesh that have drawn attention. At the Dhakeshwari Temple in Bangladesh, extremists halted the celebration of Holi, causing significant unrest, and on the other hand, the UN Secretary-Generals visit to the country.

Putting all expectations to rest, Guterres arrived in Bangladesh and did not speak out about the suffering of Hindus. Instead, his focus was on the Rohingya Muslims, a group he has frequently advocated for.

While in Coxs Bazar, Guterres was seen sharing an Iftar meal with the Rohingya community. Not only did Guterres partake in the Iftar, but when addressing the media, his comments were also centered around the Rohingyas.

We cannot accept that the international community forgets about the Rohingyas. And my voice will speak loudly to the international community, saying we urgently need more support because this population badly needs that support to be able to live in dignity here in Bangladesh, he said.

These comments leave a big question: Is Guterres in support of an anti-Hindu stance? The reason why this question has been raised lies in the essence of the UN chiefs remarks in support of the Rohingya Muslims.

Guterress remarks backing the Rohingya Muslims stand in stark contrast to the support for Bangladesh's persecuted Hindus, with world leaders such as former US President Donald Trump speaking out on behalf of Hindu communities facing atrocities.

Yet, Guterres remained silent on their suffering, leading to questions about his priorities and whether he has developed an anti-Hindu stance.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday launched a fresh attack on senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi over his extraordinary fondness for Vietnam as the saffron party claimed that he frequently visits the Southeast Asian country.

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad claimed on Saturday that Rahul Gandhi is spending more time in Vietnam than in his constituency and sought an explanation from him for his "extraordinary fondness" for that country.

"Where is Rahul Gandhi? I heard he has gone to Vietnam," BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a press conference where he attacked the Karnataka government for its decision to give a four percent quota in government contracts to Muslims. Prasad said Gandhi was in the Southeast Asian country during the new year as well, claiming that he has spent nearly 22 days there.

"He does not spend so many days in his constituency. What is the reason of his so much love for Vietnam suddenly," the BJP leader asked. Gandhi is the Leader of Opposition (LoP) and should be available in India, he said. He further stated, "Rahul Gandhi needs to explain his extraordinary fondness for Vietnam. The frequency of his visit to that country is very curious."

Senior BJP Leader Shri @rsprasad addresses press conference at BJP Headquarters, New Delhi. https://t.co/YWkumsU57F  BJP (@BJP4India) March 15, 2025

The former Congress chief's foreign trips have long been a source of the BJP's political attacks on him, as the ruling party has sought to paint him as an unserious politician unfit for the cut and thrust of domestic politics.

The BJP's IT department head, Amit Malviya, noted that the details of Gandhi's frequent foreign travels are neither disclosed to Parliament nor made public, as he asked the Congress to clarify the issue.

In a post on X, he said, "As the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi holds a crucial position, and his numerous clandestine trips abroad -- especially while Parliament is in session -- raise serious questions about propriety and national security." The Congress has, in turn, accused the BJP of politicising his private visits, and has said that he as an individual has a right to travel abroad.

Gandhi's visit to Vietnam following the death of former prime minister and Congress leader Manmohan Singh on December 26 last year had also drawn criticism from the BJP. Malviya had then said that while the country was mourning Singh's demise, Gandhi had flown to Vietnam to ring in the new year.
New Delhi: Bollywood's couple, Kriti Kharbanda and Pulkit Samrat, are celebrating their first wedding anniversary today, marking one year of marital bliss and cherished memories. To celebrate the special occasion, the couple has shared the cutest anniversary video on social media, offering a glimpse into their joyous journey together.

Kriti and Pulkit tied the knot in a beautiful and intimate ceremony in Manesar, Haryana, where they blended modern glamour with traditional elegance. Kriti looked radiant in a bespoke pink lehenga, while Pulkit complemented her in a sophisticated mint green sherwani. Their wedding was a perfect blend of love, joy, and timeless traditions.

To commemorate their one-year milestone, Kriti and Pulkit posted a heartwarming video showcasing their journey as a married couple. In the videos caption, they wrote, "Our wedding was emo, but life since then has been nothing short of party! Happy to Us!," giving fans a peek into their most treasured moments from the past year.

On the professional front, both Kriti and Pulkit are making their mark on OTT platforms. Kriti is set to appear in the second season of the crime drama Rana Naidu, where she will play a pivotal role as she delves into a darker, more complex character. She will also star alongside Sunny Singh in Risky Romeo, a neo-noir comic tragedy directed by Abir Sengupta, promising a mix of dark humor and quirky characters.

Meanwhile, Pulkit is gearing up for his role in Glory, a sports-action-drama where he plays a powerful boxer. His transformation for the role has already left fans in awe, showcasing his versatility and dedication to his craft.

As one of the most adored couples in Bollywood, Kriti and Pulkits love story continues to captivate fans. Their undeniable chemistry and strong bond are evident in everything they do. We look forward to many more years of happiness and success for this charming couple, both personally and professionally.
Mumbai: Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha gave fans a glimpse of her Holi celebrations from the sets of her upcoming Telugu film Jatadhara.

However, the Lootera actress hit back at netizens, asking them to "relax" after they questioned why her husband, Zaheer Iqbal, wasn't by her side during the festival.

On Friday, Sonakshi took to her Instagram account to share pictures of herself covered in Holi colors.

Along with the pictures, the actress added a caption that read, "Holi haiiiiiiii!!! Rang barsao, khushiyaan manao!! Happy Holi mere doston, from the shoot of Jatadhara."

After receiving unpleasant comments about Zaheer's absence on their first Holi after marriage, Sonakshi, while asking trolls to "pour cold water" on themselves, added, "Comments mein thoda relax karo. @iamzahero Mumbai mein hai, aur main shoot pe hoon isiliye saath mein nahi hai... thanda paani dalo sar pe."

Take a look

Sonakshi married Zaheer on June 23 last year in the presence of their loved ones at their residence in Mumbai. It was an intimate wedding. The wedding was followed by a bash at Bastian, a popular Mumbai restaurant and event venue, which saw numerous Bollywood celebrities in attendance.

Sonakshi and Zaheer dated for seven years before solemnizing their relationship. The couple recently marked their presence on The Great Indian Kapil Show, where they spilled the beans on their dating life.

The two starred together in the film Double XL in 2022.

Meanwhile, on the work front, the actress will next be seen in Jatadhara, which marks her debut in the Telugu film industry.

The makers, on Women's Day, unveiled a new poster, offering a first look at Sonakshi Sinha in an intense and never-seen-before avatar.
New Delhi: The Indian government has issued a high-severity warning for Google Chrome users. It has alerted them about security vulnerabilities that could put their data at risk. Users are advised to update their browsers immediately to stay protected from potential cyber threats.

What is the vulnerability?

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has warned about multiple security flaws in Google Chrome. These vulnerabilities could allow hackers to remotely take control of a system, access sensitive data, alter information or even crash the browser which can make it unusable.

One of the risks includes a denial-of-service (DoS) attack where a system is flooded with malicious traffic. This causes it to slow down or stop working. If left unpatched, these flaws could lead to data breaches, privacy risks, and system disruptions. The warning states that both individual users and organizations using Google Chrome on desktop are at risk.

What are the affected devices?

The affected versions include Chrome versions earlier than 134.0.6998.88/.89 for Windows and Mac, and versions before 134.0.6998.88 for Linux. Users are urged to update their browsers immediately to stay protected.

Where can I find my Google Chrome version?

To check your Google Chrome version, follow these steps:

Open Chrome and click on the three dots in the top-right corner.

Select "Help" from the drop-down menu.

Click on "About Google Chrome" in the sub-menu.

A new tab will open, displaying your current Chrome version.

If an update is available, Chrome will automatically start updating.

How can I check if my Google Chrome is up to date?

To check for updates in Google Chrome:

Open Chrome and click on the three dots in the top-right corner.

Go to "Help" and select "About Google Chrome."

A new tab will open, and Chrome will automatically check for updates.

If an update is available, it will start downloading. In some cases, you may need to restart Chrome to apply the update.
Oppo F29 5G series India Launch: Oppo, the Chinese electronics brand, is set to launch the Oppo F29 5G series smartphone in India. The series will include the OPPO F29 and OPPO F29 Pro smartphones. The company claims that the upcoming F29 series is designed to withstand Indias challenging environmental conditions.

Notably, the Oppo F29 5G series will launch in India on March 20 at 12 PM IST. Furthermore, the OPPO F29 Pro will be available in Marble White and Granite Black color options, while the OPPO F29 will come in Solid Purple and Glacier Blue. The smartphone is also said to feature a 360-degree Armour Body.

The Sponge Bionic cushioning on the OPPO F29 series is claimed to absorb impact during falls, minimizing potential damage. Both models promise strong durability along with advanced features.

Mark your calendars! Launching on 20th March 2025, at 12 PM  #OPPOF29Series5G, a masterpiece of durability and elegance, designed to stand out and built to last. Are you ready to meet #TheDurableChampion ? pic.twitter.com/VH9fBfXbzk  OPPO India (@OPPOIndia) March 12, 2025

OPPO F29 and OPPO F29 Pro Specifications (Expected)

The OPPO F29 series will be available in multiple storage configurations. The standard OPPO F29 offers 8GB RAM paired with either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. Meanwhile, the OPPO F29 Pro includes an additional 12GB + 256GB variant for users needing more memory.

The OPPO F29 is powered by a massive 6,500mAh battery with support for 45W SuperVOOC fast charging. On the other hand, the OPPO F29 Pro features a slightly smaller 6,000mAh battery but benefits from faster 80W SuperVOOC charging. Both models boast superior durability with an IP69 rating, ensuring resistance against water and dust.

Adding further, the devices maintain a sleek profile, measuring just 7.55mm in thickness and weighing 180 grams. Notably, the OPPO F29 series also meets IP66 and IP68 standards, further enhancing protection against harsh environmental conditions.

OPPO F29 and OPPO F29 Pro Price in India and Availability (Expected)

Although the exact pricing has not been confirmed, leaks suggest that the OPPO F29 Pro 5G and OPPO F29 could be priced under 25,000 in India. The devices will be available for purchase through major online platforms, including Amazon, Flipkart, and the OPPO India e-store.
The Iraqi Prime Minister said that personnel of the country's national intelligence service, working with coalition forces commanded by the United States, had killed the head of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, as reported by CNN citing AP.

The Iraqis continue their impressive victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement posted on X.

Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, or Abu Khadija, was deputy caliph of the militant group and one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world, the statement said, as reported by CNN.

On his Truth Social platform Friday night, US President Donald Trump said, Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters in coordination with the Iraqi government and the Kurdish regional government.

PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH! Trump added.

As per a report by CNN, a security official said the operation was executed by airstrike in the western Iraqi province of Anbar. According to a second official, al-Rifai's death was verified on Friday, but the operation happened Thursday night. They were not permitted to make public comments, so they talked on the condition of anonymity.

The announcement came on the same day as the first visit by Syrias top diplomat to Iraq, during which the two countries pledged to work together to combat IS.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein, according to the report, said at a news conference that there are common challenges facing Syrian and Iraqi society, and especially the terrorists of IS. He said the officials had spoken in detail about the movements of ISIS, whether on the Syrian-Iraqi border, inside Syria or inside Iraq during the visit.

Hussein further referred to an operations room formed by Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon at a recent meeting in Amman to confront IS and said it would soon begin work.

The relationship between Iraq and Syria is somewhat fraught after the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Al-Sudani came to power with the support of a coalition of Iran-backed factions, and Tehran was a major backer of Assad.

The current interim president of Syria, Ahmad al-Sharaa, was earlier reportedly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani and fought as an al-Qaida militant in Iraq after the US invasion of 2003 and later fought against Assads government in Syria.

The US and Iraq announced an agreement last year to wind down the military mission in Iraq of an American-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group by September 2025, with US forces departing some bases where they have stationed troops during a two-decade-long military presence in the country.

Iraqi political officials declared that the threat posed by IS was under control and that they no longer required assistance from Washington to defeat the residual cells after the coalition's mission in Iraq was agreed to terminate.

But the fall of Assad in December led some to reassess that stance, including members of the Coordination Framework, a coalition of mainly Shiite, Iran-allied political parties that brought current Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani to power in late 2022, according to the report.
New Delhi: Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon will pay a visit to India from March 16-20, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted in an official statement.

As per the schedule shared by the MEA, PM Luxon will arrive in India on March 16 and meet the External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar later in the day. On the second day of his visit, he will lay a wreath at Rajghat which will be followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The leaders will see an exchange of MoUs at the Hyderabad House and later in the day, PM Luxon will meet President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, as observed by the MEA. On Tuesday, March 18, the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda will call on the New Zealand PM.

The MEA said in its statement that on Wednesday, March 19, PM Luxon will fly to Mumbai. In Mumbai, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis will call upon PM Luxon, which will be followed by a meeting with the Governor of Maharashtra, CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan.

The New Zealand PM's departure is scheduled for March 20. In a post on X on March 10, PM Luxon announced that he would be visiting India with a senior business delegation.

Luxon said that strengthening India-New Zealand ties was a key priority for them.

Next week, Ill be travelling to India with a senior business delegation.



Strengthening New Zealands relationship with India is a key priority for my Government.



India is the fifth largest economy in the world and I am focused on increasing trade and business opportunities  Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) March 10, 2025

"Next week, I'll be travelling to India with a senior business delegation. Strengthening New Zealand's relationship with India is a key priority for my Government," he said.

Luxon said that he wants to increase trade and business opportunities between the two countries and promote New Zealand as an investment destination.

"India is the fifth largest economy in the world and I am focused on increasing trade and business opportunities between our two countries and promoting New Zealand as an investment destination. Trade is a key part of our plan to grow the economy to reduce the cost of living and create more jobs and higher incomes for all New Zealanders," he said.
The United States has presented a "bridge" proposal to extend the Israel-Hamas ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover, allowing time to negotiate a permanent end to the conflict, the White House said in a statement.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Council official Eric Tager presented the proposal in Qatar on Wednesday, according to a statement from their offices.

"On Wednesday evening in Doha, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and National Security Council Senior Director for the Middle East and North Africa Eric Trager presented a "bridge" proposal to extend the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover, and allow time to negotiate a framework for a permanent ceasefire," the statement read.

The proposal calls for Hamas to continue releasing hostages in exchange for prisoners based on a previously established formula. It also extends the phase-1 ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to Gaza.

"Under the "bridge" proposal, Hamas would release living hostages in exchange for prisoners in accordance with previous formulas; the phase-one ceasefire would be extended to enable the resumption of significant humanitarian assistance; and the U.S. would work towards a durable solution to this intractable conflict during the extended ceasefire period," the statement read.

Witkoff emphasized that mediators, including Qatar and Hamas, have made it clear to Hamas that the "bridge" proposal must be implemented soon.

"Through our Qatari and Egyptian partners, Hamas was told in no uncertain terms that this 'bridge' would have to be implemented soon- and that dual U.S.-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander would have to be released immediately," he said.

Witkoff criticized Hamas for publically claiming flexibility in ceasefire negotiations while privately making impractical demands.

"Unfortunately, Hamas has chosen to respond by publicly claiming flexibility while privately making demands that are entirely impractical without a permanent ceasefire. Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not. Hamas is well aware of the deadline, and should know that we will respond accordingly if that deadline passes," he said.
India's defence sector is poised for substantial growth amid global shifts according to a report by Nuvama. Defence exports are expected to reach Rs 203 billion in FY25, with a government target of Rs 500 billion by FY29. European defence orders could begin flowing as early as the first half of FY26, marking a major milestone for the sector. Given Europe's manufacturing constraints, Indian defence companies are well-positioned to capitalize on rising export opportunities. Europe's limited local manufacturing capacity and workforce shortages are opening doors for Indian defence manufacturers to step in. "Europe's defence expansion is constrained by limited local manufacturing capacity and skilled workforce shortages, especially in aerospace and missile supply chains. As a result, European nations are increasingly looking at partnerships and collaborations with Indian defence manufacturers" says the report On the domestic front, India is set for a substantial defence push. The government has announced plans to place Rs 1.5 trillion worth of large-scale defence orders by March 2025. This move, aimed at addressing slow ordering momentum in FY25, is expected to provide a significant boost to defence stocks. The US decision to reduce military aid to Ukraine has exposed NATO's heavy reliance on American defence funding. Historically, the US has contributed around 70 per cent of NATO's total defence expenditure, averaging 3.4 per cent of its GDP over the past decade. With the Pentagon proposing USD 50 billion in annual cuts, European nations are under pressure to enhance their own defence capabilities. "The U.S. actions highlight Europe's potential weakness without the US support. Historically, only four out of 32 NATO members (excluding the U.S.) have met the 2 per cent GDP defence spending target. Meanwhile, the U.S. has contributed ~70 per cent of NATO's total defence expenditure, averaging 3.4 per cent of its GDP from 2014-24. With the Pentagon now proposing USD 50 billion in annual cuts, Europe faces mounting pressure to bolster its own defence capabilities," said the report Defence exports of India touched a record Rs 21,083 crore in the FY2023-24, a growth of 32.5 per cent over the previous fiscal year when the figure was Rs 15,920 crore. The figures indicated that defence exports grew by 31 times in the last 10 years as compared to FY 2013-14. The defence industry, including the private sector and DPSUs, have significantly contributed in achieving the highest-ever exports. The private sector and DPSUs contributed about 60 per cent and 40 per cent respectively. With rising global defence demand and a strong domestic push, India's defence sector is at an inflection point, poised for robust growth in the coming years says the report. (ANI)
VMPL New Delhi [India], March 15:Cindrebay School of Design has once again demonstrated its excellence in design education as two of its students, Bi Bi Zainab Ruheena and Spandana A, secured top ranks in the BSc Interior Design & Decoration program at Bangalore University. Bi Bi Zainab Ruheena earned the first rank, while Spandana A achieved the third rank, marking a significant academic accomplishment for the institution. A Testament to Academic Excellence Known for its rigorous curriculum and industry-oriented approach, Cindrebay School of Design has consistently nurtured aspiring designers, equipping them with the necessary skills to excel in the competitive field of interior design. The institution's focus on practical learning, global industry standards, and creative exploration has established it as one of India's leading design schools. Basant Nair, Director at Cindrebay School of Design, expressed pride in the students' achievements. "We are immensely proud of our students' dedication and success. Their accomplishments reflect the high-quality education and mentorship provided at Cindrebay. This recognition by Bangalore University reaffirms our commitment to developing future design professionals," he said. A Rewarding Journey in Interior Design The BSc Interior Design & Decoration program at Cindrebay offers a comprehensive learning experience, covering essential design principles, spatial planning, material studies, sustainability, and innovative design solutions. By incorporating experiential learning and real-world projects, the program ensures that graduates are well-prepared for industry challenges. For Bi Bi Zainab Ruheena and Spandana A, their time at Cindrebay has been marked by rigorous academic training, creativity, and perseverance. Reflecting on her achievement, Bangalore University gold medalist Bi Bi Zainab Ruheena credited the institution's faculty and practical learning approach. "The guidance from my mentors, exposure to real-world projects, and interactions with industry professionals played a crucial role in my academic success," she shared. Spandana A, who secured the third rank, echoed similar sentiments. "Cindrebay's learning environment encouraged me to push creative boundaries and develop practical skills essential for a career in interior design. I am grateful for the continuous support and inspiration I received," she said. With its students achieving remarkable success, Cindrebay School of Design continues to solidify its reputation as a premier institution for aspiring interior designers. Offering world-class education and industry-focused training, Cindrebay provides students with the foundation to build a successful career in the dynamic field of interior design. For more information about Cindrebay's BSc Interior Design & Decoration program and admission inquiries, visit www.cindrebay.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
 Flash

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in Beijing, capital of China, March 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

China, Russia and Iran held a meeting in Beijing to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue on Friday, in a fresh bid to strengthen communication and pave the way for resumption of talks.

The Beijing Meeting was chaired by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, with participation of his Russian and Iranian counterparts Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Kazem Gharibabadi.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the three countries emphasized on the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions, and reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option.

China and Russia welcomed Iran's reiteration that its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes, and not for development of nuclear weapons, and also welcomed Iran's commitment to full compliance with its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement, supported Iran's policy to continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and stressed the need to fully respect Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a State Party to the NPT.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in Beijing, capital of China, March 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister, met with the deputy foreign ministers from Russia and Iran. Wang proposed staying committed to the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as the basis for new consensus.

"China hopes that all parties will work toward the same direction and resume dialogue and negotiation as early as possible. The United States should demonstrate political sincerity and return to talks at an early date," Wang said.

He voiced opposition to pressing for intervention by the U.N. Security Council (UNSC). Under the current situation, hasty intervention by the UNSC will not help build confidence or bridge differences among the relevant parties. Initiating the snapback mechanism would undo years of diplomatic efforts, and must be handled with caution.

The Beijing meeting was a useful effort by China, Russia and Iran in seeking to advance the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

China is ready to work with other parties for a just, balanced and sustainable resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue, uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and promote international and regional peace and stability, Mao added.
NewsVoir Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], March 15: In a significant step towards sustainable development, The Art of Living Social Projects has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Chhattisgarh to drive holistic progress and generate employment opportunities for youth in the state. The agreement was formalised on March 11th in the revered presence of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Honourable Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, The Art of Living Social Projects Chairman Prasana Prabhu, and several distinguished dignitaries. The same evening, Raipur witnessed a remarkable gathering as thousands joined Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Honourable Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai in a celebration infused with meditation and community spirit. Amidst this uplifting atmosphere, Gurudev made a heartfelt appeal to the Naxalites of Chhattisgarh, urging them to renounce violence and integrate into the mainstream. He assured them that The Art of Living Social Projects stands ready to support their aspirations for better social conditions, opening the door to transformation and peace. A Transformative Partnership for Social Impact This collaboration is set to transform rural Chhattisgarh by integrating large-scale initiatives that enhance livelihoods, environmental sustainability, education, and social welfare. Aligned with national and state government schemes, these projects will empower communities, foster self-reliance, and promote economic resilience. Key Focus Areas The partnership will address critical challenges and unlock new opportunities in various sectors, including, but not limited to: Water Conservation & Environment: River rejuvenation, groundwater recharge, watershed management, water pollution mitigation - watreatments through constructed wetlands. Also afforestation, waste management, and solar electrification. Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development: Natural farming, Gaudhan initiatives. Plus integrated village development, improved sanitatio. Skill Development: Creating sustainable livelihoods using local resources to generate employment and reduce migration. Education & Capacity Building: Free education initiatives, teacher training, faculty development, and specialised programs for government officials. Social Empowerment & Well-being: Women and youth empowerment, leadership development, prisoner rehabilitation, mental health initiatives, de-addiction programs, disaster relief efforts, community involvement, and social welfare initiatives. Towards a Self-Reliant Future By leveraging innovation, grassroots engagement, and sustainable solutions, this initiative is poised to create long-term impact in rural Chhattisgarh. The partnership embodies a vision of progress that is both inclusive and transformative. The Art of Living Social Projects and the Chhattisgarh Government have taken a resolute step toward a brighter, self-reliant future for communities across the state. The Art of Living Social Projects has resolved to create positive societal impact through transformative initiatives. With a focus on holistic development, the organisation strives to contribute to the well-being of individuals and communities alike. Follow: www.instagram.com/artofliving.sp/ Like: www.facebook.com/artoflivingsocialprojects Post: x.com/artofliving_sp Message: www.linkedin.com/showcase/artofliving-sp (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)
Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], March 15: LIB Education, a premier institute dedicated to language learning and academic excellence, proudly celebrates its second anniversary. Over the past two years, LIB Education has empowered students with top-tier tutoring in languages including Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Kannada, French, and German, as well as core subjects like Mathematics and Science.

Since its inception, LIB Education has been committed to delivering high-quality education with a focus on student success. With a remarkable 100% success rate of students scoring over 95% in their exams, LIB Education has established itself as a trusted name in academic support across the globe including students from India, US, Singapore, Middle East and France.

"At LIB Education, we believe that every student has the potential to excel, and our expert tutors ensure they receive personalized attention to reach their goals," said Dr. Kakali, Founder of LIB Education. "Completing two years is a significant milestone, and we are grateful to our students, parents, and dedicated faculty for their unwavering support."

LIB Education offers both online and offline classes, making quality education accessible to students globally. With a team of experienced educators, the institute has transformed the learning journey for countless students, ensuring they not only master their subjects but also develop a love for learning.

As LIB Education looks ahead, the institute aims to expand its reach further, integrating innovative learning methods and AI-driven tools to enhance the student experience. The commitment to academic excellence and holistic education remains at the core of its mission.

For more information about LIB Education and its programs, visit https://www.lib.education or contact +91 98453 93178.

(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)
One of thefindingsng finding mentioned in the report is that the organic search traffic to illegal betting sites crosbout with 184 million visits. The organic search figure exceeds the traffic driven by social media platforms, which contributed around 42.8 million visits, as per the data mentioned in the report.

The mirror websites alone contributed significantly to the scale of the illegal market. Just three Parimatch mirrors alone generated an additional 266 million visits.

The report adds, "While major digital platforms prohibit betting and gambling-related promotions, enforcement is highly inconsistent. Advertisements on Facebook Ad Network have grown exponentially in recent years."

As per the report, despite repeated government interventions, including the blocking of websites and public advisories, illegal operators are continuously thriving.

"Despite repeated government actions, including website blocking and advisories, illegal operatorscontinue to thrive, using advanced digital marketing tactics, seamless payment processing, andmirror websites to evade enforcement," the report adds.

A key concern raised by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance in 2023 was the role of online betting sites in enabling money laundering and terror financing, the report added.

"1.098 billion visits to illegal platforms originated from users directly entering URLs--indicating success of past marketingreferrals, etc.errals etc," the report added.

Going further, the report pointed out that experience fromjurisdictions,isdictions includinthe UK,orway, UK, Denmark, Belgium, and tStates,ted States shows that blocking alone is ineffective.

These countries have seen greater success by combining website blocking with marketing restrictions, payment blocking, and the use of whitelists and blocklists, the report added.

The report further suggested that India must adopt a holistic, ecosystem-based approach to address the surge in illegal betting and gambling.

"India must shift from the current fragmented enforcement strategy to a comprehensive ecosystem-based approach that effectively disrupts the key enablers sustaining illegal betting and gambling operations," the report added.

It further added that the restrictions should include curbing digital media channels that drive user acquisition, tightening financial regulations to block illicit transactions, and enhancing enforcement mechanisms to ensure long-term disruption of these illegal operations. (ANI)
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday thanked the states for success of the electronic industry, adding that it has become the second largest export item in the country. Speaking in Chennai during the inauguration of Zetwerk Electronics, the Union IT and Electronics Minister said, "You will be very happy to know that Electronics has become the second largest export item in the country, overtaking many conventional industries which had developed export over decades. And just see within one decade, electronics has become the second largest and this was possible primarily because of a very clear thinking and which focused execution." The Union Minister attributed this achievement to the cooperation from state govenments. He said, "I thank all the state governments, including the government of Tamil Nadu, for all the support which has come in execution of Prime Minister Modi Ji's vision." "It's always important to remember that one plus one should become 11 one, one plus one should not remain only two. That is the spirit with which we should work. And once we work with that spirit, then everything falls in place," the Union Minister said. The Union Minister highlighted that the Union government has been increasing the railway budget for Tamil Nadu over the last 10 years which was very small during the UPA government "Today, the budget is 6000 Crore plus for Tamil Nadu, and I'm very happy to share that. Our focus is so much on making sure that the work gets done," he added. Going further he said, "I keep requesting that please make the entire group, whether it is in electronics, whether it is in telecom, whether it is in railways, whether it is in any sector which is good for the people, keep those things above politics and make sure that our people get what they really, really need today, and in that the state and the center have to work together." Speaking during the event, TRB Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotions and Commerce in the Government of Tamil Nadu added, "You can just close your eyes, put your fingers on the map of Tamil Nadu, and you can, you can have an have an amazing institution there. You'll have the best of infrastructure. You'll have the best of hospital care, you'll have the best of education, and you have the best of talent. So putting up an industry in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is today exporting 36 per cent of India's electronics. 41 per cent of all the women in organized sector, in factories in India are from this one state called Tamil Nadu." (ANI)
The Ministry of Labour and Employment said the Indian delegation participated in the 353rd governing body meeting of the International Labour Organisation in Geneva, which is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 10 to March 20.

The Indian delegation, led by Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, made several interventions on key issues, showcasing India's achievements, learnings and perspectives to advance the shared agenda of promoting labour welfare, social justice and quality employment generation globally.

As per the ministry's release, India extended its support to ILO on the organization of the UN-led Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar, later this year, as it aims at reinforcing the social dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Social Development.

India's inspiring progress in promoting social justice and development was highlighted, as India has doubled its social protection coverage to 48.8 percent, increasing the average global social protection coverage by over 5 percent, the ministry added.

In this context, contribution of India's flagship institutions and schemes such as EPFO (7.37 crore contributing members), ESIC (14.4 crore beneficiaries), e-Shram Portal (30.6 crore registered unorganized members), PM Jan Arogya Yojana (60 crore beneficiaries) and Targeted PDS (food security to 81.35 crore beneficiaries) was acknowledged.

The ministry added that India, as one of the largest countries of origin of migrant workers and recipient of the highest remittances, reiterated its support for greater global cooperation in promoting well-managed, skills-based migration pathways.

The ILO was urged to enhance its efforts to generate global momentum for securing social protection and rights for migrant workers through bilateral labour migration and social security agreements.

India also extended its support for ILO's proposal to convene the first Tripartite Global Forum on Migration under the ILO-based Global Coalition for Social Justice. With India as a leading partner of the Global Coalition, the ministry added. (ANI)
Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday inspected the work being done to develop a Hyperloop pod in Chennai. A Hyperloop pod is a pressurised vehicle designed to travel at high speeds within a low-pressure tube, utilising magnetic levitation and propulsion to minimise friction and air resistance. IIT Madras has successfully developed a prototype Hyperloop pod that would take less than 30 minutes to travel from Chennai to Bengaluru, according to the publicly available information. The Hyperloop project at IIT Madras is a high-speed transportation system that uses a vacuum tube to move pods at speeds of over 1,000 km/h. The project is supported by the Ministry of Railways. Talking to ANI during the inspection, Union Minister Vaishnaw said, "Hyperloop is a new experiment--in this, a vacuum is created, and we run the pod not on the track but above it by magnetic levitation. It's in the experiment stage as of now, and IIT Madras is supporting us in developing it." Earlier in the day, he inaugurated the manufacturing hub of Zetwerk Electronics. The Minister, during the inauguration, highlighted that the Union government has been increasing the railway budget for Tamil Nadu over the last 10 years, which was very small during the UPA government. "Today, the budget is 6000 Crore plus for Tamil Nadu, and I'm very happy to share that. Our focus is so much on making sure that the work gets done," he added. Speaking during the inauguration, he thanked the states for the success of the electronic industry, adding that it has become the second largest export item in the country. Minister said, "You will be very happy to know that Electronics has become the second largest export item in the country, overtaking many conventional industries that had developed exports over decades. And just see, within one decade, electronics has become the second largest and this was possible primarily because of very clear thinking and focused execution." The Union Minister attributed this achievement to the cooperation from state governments. (ANI)
VMPL New Delhi [India], March 15: In a world where hustle culture is often glorified, there's a new wave of entrepreneurs who believe that success doesn't have to come at the cost of well being. Introducing a groundbreaking approach to business that challenges the age old notion of workaholism. The Lazypreneur School. A Business Venture for the Lazy? Think Again! Are you someone who enjoys a laid-back approach to life but dreams of entrepreneurial success? The School of the Lazy offers a refreshing perspective, teaching how to turn laziness into a strategic tool for success. Founded by E.J. Jopher from Thrissur, the school promotes efficiency over endless work hours. A New Perspective on Business Jopher.in challenges the traditional notion that relentless hard work is the only path to success. Instead, he highlights entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-dollar enterprises by working limited hours and making smart decisions. Many involved in this movement influence businesses ranging from Rs50 crore to Rs500 crore without constant involvement. The only requirement to enroll? A willingness to rethink traditional work models. The Power of Smart Laziness Being lazy doesn't mean doing nothing, it means doing things in the smartest, most efficient way. The school focuses on strategic thinking, risk mitigation, and leveraging networks to build sustainable enterprises. It provides a support system where members learn practical lessons from those who have navigated setbacks and emerged stronger. Learning from the Best Students gain access to a network of experienced entrepreneurs across industries such as technology, manufacturing, retail, fashion, and finance. By interacting with seasoned professionals, students absorb decades of business wisdom in days, helping them avoid common pitfalls and make informed decisions. Unlike traditional corporate environments filled with stress, this school fosters passion-driven work with financial success. Engineers, MBAs, and startup founders have successfully transformed their careers using this unique approach. A Safe Space for Experimentation Scaling a business often comes with the fear of failure. The School of the Lazy provides a structured environment to test ideas, refine strategies, and receive feedback from industry experts. Cross-industry collaborations also encourage members to integrate diverse insights into their ventures, fostering innovation in an ever-evolving market. Beyond Traditional Business Models The school promotes a shift in mindset by identifying scalable opportunities that require minimal effort. It focuses on: -Automation and delegation to reduce workload. - Building revenue streams that require less time investment. - Leveraging strategic partnerships for mutual growth. - Developing problem-solving skills to eliminate inefficiencies. By adopting these principles, entrepreneurs build successful businesses while enjoying a balanced lifestyle, proving that efficiency often trumps effort. Real-World Success Stories Many alumni have built powerful business empires with minimal effort. Some transformed family businesses into global brands through automation and outsourcing. Others leveraged digital tools to create passive income streams, freeing up time for creativity and innovation. A former IT employee, for instance, quit his job after attending school and started a consulting firm. By outsourcing technical work and focusing only on high-value client interactions, he now earns ten times his previous salary while working just a few hours a week. Another entrepreneur scaled her boutique clothing business internationally by partnering with top manufacturers and using AI-driven marketing without sacrificing her stress-free lifestyle. The Future of Work: A Paradigm Shift The School of the Lazy aligns with changing business trends, including remote work, automation, and flexible business models. Traditional employment structures are evolving, and this school equips individuals with the tools and mindset needed to thrive in this new landscape. Entrepreneurs who embrace these changes early position themselves as industry leaders while avoiding operational inefficiencies. An Invitation to the Visionaries For entrepreneurs looking to scale their ventures, The School of the Lazy offers an unparalleled opportunity. With guidance from industry leaders, students gain insights that could propel their businesses to new heights. Traditional business approaches involve high-risk investments, sleepless nights, and relentless stress. This school challenges that norm, proving success can be achieved through smarter work, efficient delegation, and strategic networking. If you seek financial success and peace of mind, The School of the Lazy provides a proven roadmap. By embracing a new way of thinking, you can unlock endless possibilities, build thriving enterprises, and enjoy the journey without stress. The Final Word: A New Way to Succeed By learning from the best, testing strategies in a safe environment, and leveraging a strong network, The School of the Lazy helps turn business visions into reality. More than just a learning institution, it represents a revolution redefining how success is achieved today. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
The actor, deeply engrossed in the spiritual ambiance, offered prayers at the revered temple and expressed his joy at witnessing the sacred ritual.

Rampal, dressed in a white shirt, was later presented with a black stole inscribed with "Mahakal" in golden embroidery, a traditional token of reverence at the temple.

Reflecting on his experience, the actor shared, "This was my first experience of Bhasma Aarti... I have never experienced this till now... It was very beautiful, lively, and wonderful... I am very happy to be here... I prayed for harmony in the nation and the world."

The Bhasma Aarti, one of the most revered rituals at the Mahakaleshwar Temple, is performed during the auspicious Brahma Muhurta, between 3:30 and 5:30 AM.

According to temple traditions, the ritual begins with the opening of Baba Mahakal's doors in the early hours, followed by a holy bath with Panchamrit, a sacred mixture of milk, curd, ghee, sugar, and honey.

The deity is then adorned with cannabis and sandalwood before the unique Bhasma Aarti and dhoop-deep Aarti take place, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of drums and the resonating sound of conch shells.

Devotees from across the country visit the temple to witness this divine ritual, believing that attending the Bhasma Aarti during the sacred month of Shravan brings blessings and fulfillment of wishes.

The Mahakaleshwar Temple, situated on the banks of the Shipra River in Ujjain, holds immense religious significance as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. (ANI)
As Disney's live-action remake of 'Snow White' approaches its March 21 theatrical debut, reports suggest that the film's lead stars, Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, may not share a close bond off-screen. Sources claim that Zegler, 23, and Gadot, 39, have "nothing in common", citing their age gap, differing political perspectives, and personal priorities as reasons for the alleged distance. According to People magazine, one insider said, "Gal is a mother of four, while Rachel is in a completely different stage of life. On top of that, their political views differ, adding to the tension." The Israeli-born Gadot has publicly supported the release of Israeli hostages, while Zegler has used her platform to voice support for Palestine amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This divide, according to sources, has further fueled the rumored strain in their relationship. Despite this, both actresses have actively participated in promoting the film. They appeared together at Disney's D23 Expo in 2022 and more recently presented at the Academy Awards. However, Gadot was notably absent from the film's European premiere in Spain on March 12. A source close to the situation told People magazine that Gadot was never scheduled to attend, as she was conducting press engagements in New York. Another source downplayed the rumoured discord, saying, "This isn't a 'stay away from me' situation. They were at the Oscars together and will be at the premiere this weekend." However, another insider suggested that while there was no overt hostility, the two actresses did not develop a personal friendship. "Gal enjoyed filming, but she and Rachel are not friends. They did a job together, and that's it," the insider told People magazine. The film itself has been surrounded by controversy since its inception. Following her casting announcement in 2021, Zegler faced racist backlash over a Latinx actress portraying 'Snow White'. She also sparked debate when she said in interviews that the original 1937 animated classic was "dated" and that the new film would reflect a modernized approach to the character. According to People magazine, sources told that Gadot did not agree with Zegler's public remarks on the original film. "Gal's attitude is that you don't criticize and cause drama for a project you signed on to do. She just doesn't get it," a source said, as per People magazine. Directed by Marc Webb, 'Snow White' stars Zegler as the titular princess and Gadot as the Evil Queen. The film also features original songs composed by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The highly anticipated Los Angeles premiere will take place on March 15 at the El Capitan Theatre, with both leading actresses expected to attend. 'Snow White' will captivate audiences when it debuts in theaters on March 21. (ANI)
The actor took to his X account on Saturday to slam Kalyan, accusing him of trying to "impose Hindi" on others.

In his post, Prakash wrote, "Don't impose your Hindi language on us. It is not about hating another language; it is about protecting our mother tongue and our cultural identity with self-respect. Someone, please explain this to Pawan Kalyan garu."

https://x.com/prakashraaj/status/1900604746815402494

Prakash Raj's reaction came in response to Kalyan's recent speech at the Jana Sena Party's 12th foundation day celebrations in Kakinada's Pithampuram, where he had strongly criticized Tamil Nadu politicians for what he called "hypocrisy" regarding the alleged imposition of Hindi in the state.

He pointed out that while these leaders oppose Hindi, they allow Tamil movies to be dubbed in Hindi for financial gain.

"I do not understand why some criticize Sanskrit. Why do Tamil Nadu politicians oppose Hindi while allowing their movies to be dubbed in Hindi for financial gain? They want money from Bollywood but refuse to accept Hindi--what kind of logic is that?" Kalyan asked while addressing the party's 12th foundation day at Pithampuram in Kakinada.

Kalyan's comments came amid Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin accusing the Union government of 'Hindi imposition' and refusing to implement the three-language formula laid out in the NEP as a protest. (ANI)
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U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media Friday that his administration "had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday," and there is a very good chance that "this horrible, bloody war" can finally come to an end.

Trump noted in the post on Truth Social that "AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION."

"I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared," he added.

The Ukrainian army launched an offensive into Russia's Kursk region in August, seizing about 1,300 square kilometers of land. But as the Russian army intensified its counterattack in recent weeks, the situation of the Ukrainian army in the region is reportedly deteriorating rapidly.

Kremlin confirmed that Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday night.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin supports the position of Trump on a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, but has concerns over remaining unresolved issues.

"So, indeed, there is a lot that needs to be done, but, nevertheless, the president expressed solidarity with Mr. Trump's position," the spokesman said, adding that there were grounds for "cautious optimism" regarding a settlement of the conflict.
Award-winning writer and actor Manu Rishi Chadha recently held a special session for students at Actor Prepares, a leading acting school founded by veteran actor Anupam Kher. The session provided aspiring actors with valuable insights into the art of performance. While speaking to ANI, Chadha described his experience as being similar to that of a teacher and also expressed the joy he felt while interacting with young actors. "It felt just like being a teacher. I was very happy. You always get good energy from young students, and it reminds you of the time when you had many questions," he said. "I might have come to give a masterclass, but I completely merged with them. Actors come prepared, but sometimes teachers come too prepared, which makes it less fun. So, I decided to come as an actor rather than as a teacher, and that made our understanding truly beautiful," he added. Earlier in the day, Kher's institute, 'Actor Prepares,' took to its Instagram account to share glimpses of the session. Take a look https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHOHPM5IIPA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Best known for his roles in Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, Ankhon Dekhi, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, and Mirzapur, Chadha shared his industry experience and the importance of skill development and on-set behaviour. Recently, Anupam's acting institute completed 20 years since its inception. Based in Mumbai, 'Actor Prepares' is an acting institute which was established by actor Anupam Kher in 2005. Actress Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Varun Dhawan are some of the many notable alumni of this school, as per the 'Actor Prepares' websaite. (ANI)
According to a release, the contraband, valued at approximately Rs 1.95 crore in the international market, was confiscated during a joint operation.

The seized goods have been formally handed over to the Customs Department for further investigation and legal proceedings.

"This operation underscores Assam Rifles' unwavering commitment to curbing smuggling activities and ensuring enhanced vigilance in the region," read the statement.

Earlier in a series of operations, security forces recovered arms, ammunition, and explosives, including 50 weapons, Improvised Devices (IEDs), and grenades across multiple districts in Manipur.

The seizure comes after the Indian Army and Assam Rifles under Spear Corps launched intelligence-based operations in the hills and valley districts of Chandel, Imphal West, Kakching, and Thoubal between March 12 and 13.

The security forces also destroyed bunkers in the Kangpokpi district of Manipur. The major seizure occurred in Laijang, Chandel district, where the security forces personnel recovered 36 weapons, including 23 improvised mortars (Pompi), three AK-series rifles, one INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) rifle, one carbine, two muzzle-loaded rifles, one .303 rifle, five pistols, along with ammunition and other war-like stores.

In the Thoubal district, a joint search operation by Assam Rifles and Manipur Police seized seven weapons, including two 9mm carbines, one 12-bore rifle, one single-bore barrel rifle (SBBL), and three pistols.

Another operation in Singjamei of Imphal West district recovered one mortar, one 12-bore rifle, and one pistol. Meanwhile, in Wangoo of Kakching district, security forces recovered four weapons: one carbine, one .303 rifle, and two single-barrel rifles.

The recovered items were handed over to the Manipur Police. (ANI)
AIMIM chief Assadudin Owaisi on Friday criticized calls for Muslims to stay indoors or cover themselves during Holi, asserting the community's strength by saying, "We will not run, we are not cowards." "Some say if you're so scared, you should not offer namaz and stay indoors. They say just like we have covered our mosques, we must cover ourselves also, or else stay indoors," Owaisi said while addressing a gathering at Chowk-e-Masjid in Telangana's Hyderabad. His remarks were in response to statements by some officials advising Muslims to remain indoors if they did not want to be colored during Holi. In Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary had on March 6 suggested that those uncomfortable with colours should stay inside, a comment later backed by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Several mosques in Uttar Pradesh were covered with tarpaulin on orders from the local administration to prevent any untoward incidents during Holi celebrations. "Those who migrated to Pakistan were cowards. We will not run, we are not cowards. A Chief Minister said Jumma namaz can be offered at home as well... Who is he to tell us what we can and cannot do?" Owaisi added. This year, Holi coincided with the second Jumma namaz (Friday prayers) of Ramzan on March 14. Security forces conducted flag marches and set up checkpoints to ensure peaceful celebrations across several states. In UP's Sambhal, Holi festivities and prayers were observed peacefully under tight security. Sambhal Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vandana Mishra praised the cooperation among communities, saying that peaceful celebrations "sent a strong message of harmony." District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia also spoke about the cooperation of people in Sambhal, which was affected by violence in November last year. "All are happy, and they are playing Holi by applying colours to one another. We are getting cooperation from everyone," the District Magistrate said. Circle Officer Anuj Chowdhary led a flag march along with other police personnel to ensure the law and order situation in the district. Circle officer Chaudhary said the police monitored the situation through foot patrolling and drone surveillance."We are conducting foot-patrolling and drone surveillance", he told ANI on Friday. Other than police, paramilitary forces also conducted a flag march in Sambhal, whereas the administration used drones to monitor the situation in the district properly. Earlier, Sambhal MP Zia ur Rehman Barq urged people of all communities to maintain peace and harmony ahead of the Jumma and Holi celebrations. (ANI)
Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra paid tribute to former Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma on his birth anniversary on Saturday, stating that the government remains committed to completing his unfinished projects and continues to draw inspiration from his vision for the national capital. "The large crowd that turned out for late CM Sahib Singh Verma's birth anniversary proves how huge a personality he was. The CM and Minister Parvesh Verma has given an important hint regarding this place (Swabhiman Sthal). The pending works will be completed and Delhi will keep getting inspired by Sahib Singh Ji," said Kapil Mishra. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi Ministers Parvesh Verma, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Ashish Sood and other leaders paid floral tribute to the former Delhi CM. Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma also remembered his father, former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma and said, "Development work in Delhi started 30 years ago during the BJP government. Since then, only politics has happened in Delhi... We will complete his (former Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verma) unfinished work, and we are committed to making Viksit Delhi." Earlier, Parvesh Verma performed havan on the occasion of the birth anniversary of his late father in the national capital. Sahib Singh Verma was born in a farmer's family at Mundka Village in Delhi on March 15, 1943. He began his political career as an RSS worker and was elected to the Delhi Municipal Corporation on a Janata Party ticket in 1997. He became Chief Minister of Delhi in 1996 and continued in this post for more than two and a half years. Earlier, on March 11, Delhi Public Works Department (PwD) Minister Parvesh Verma took an oath as a member of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) in the presence of BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj. Speaking about the outcomes, Verma said that 9,000 new water connections will be installed in the next six to eight months. Verma also said that NDMC gave instructions to solve the waterlogging issue of the national capital. He also assured that NDMC will carry out an encroachment drive to ensure clean roads. BJP's Parvesh Verma emerged as a giant-killer in the assembly election with a decisive win of over 4,000 votes over former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi seat. Congress' Sandeep Dikshit came third getting over 4,500 votes. The Bharatiya Janata Party won 48 seats in a historic mandate, returning to power in the national capital after 27 years. (ANI)
Reacting to the statement of AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Saturday said that the service and contribution of Veer Savarkar for the country cannot be forgotten. "The service and contribution that Veer Savarkar has done for this country cannot be forgotten. If someone sees his works through the lens of a particular religion, then it is their thinking. Similarly, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is the pride of our country," Sirsa told ANI. Owaisi had also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for appreciating the movie 'Chhava' which portrays the legendary story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Earlier on Friday, the AIMIM Chief alleged that "the worst words for Sambhaji Maharaj were used by late RSS leader MS Golwalkar in his book Bunch of Thoughts and Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar also used worst words for Sambhaji Maharaj." Speaking at the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in New Delhi on February 22, PM Modi lauded Maharashtra's significant contribution to both Marathi and Hindi cinema. PM Modi said, "Ye Maharashtra aur Mumbai hi hai jisne Marathi filmon ke saath-saath, Hindi cinema ko ye unchai di hai. Aur in dino toh, Chhaava ki dhoom machi hui hai." (Maharashtra and Mumbai have elevated Hindi cinema along with Marathi films, and Chhaava is making waves these days.) Delhi Minister Sirsa also attacked Owaisi and said that it is sad that the police have to be vigilant in the cities so that people can celebrate Holi. "It is very sad that the police have to be vigilant in the cities so that Holi festival can be celebrated. You should have come forward. I especially request that if a religious festival comes once a year, then such obstacles should not be created in it due to which people of other religions also have to face problems," he added. Owaisi on Friday criticized calls for Muslims to stay indoors or cover themselves during Holi, asserting the community's strength by saying, "We will not run, we are not cowards." "Some say if you're so scared, you should not offer namaz and stay indoors. They say just like we have covered our mosques, we must cover ourselves also, or else stay indoors," Owaisi said while addressing a gathering at Chowk-e-Masjid in Telangana's Hyderabad. His remarks were in response to statements by some officials advising Muslims to remain indoors if they did not want to be colored during Holi. (ANI)
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, terming the murder of Munger ASI Santosh Kumar Singh as "unfortunate," said that the administration may use any means to handle such people or carry out encounters if needed. On Munger ASI Santosh Kumar Singh's death case, he said, "It is unfortunate. The government will take strict action... We will not leave such people who think they can suppress the administration... The administration may use any means to handle such people or carry out encounters if needed... There is complete freedom from the government," Vijay Kumar Sinha told ANI. Earlier, two individuals have been arrested in the murder case of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Santosh Kumar Singh by assailants in Munger, Bihar, said an official. Bihar Police Association President Mrityunjay Kumar Singh condemned the attack on ASI Santosh Kumar Singh and demanded compensation and a job for the late personnel's family on Saturday. "Two people have been arrested. We demand compensation and a job for ASI Santosh Kumar's family. These incidents are an issue of concern, we police personnel also belong to families, we are someone's husband, son and father. The police should be supported, not attacked," he said. He further said that a similar incident occurred a few days ago, where police personnel were attacked when they went to arrest miscreants in Araria. Meanwhile, Vijay Kumar Sinha also celebrated Holi at his residence in Patna and said that Holi is a festival which removes all discrimination. "Our Sanatan culture is based on nature... Holi is a festival which removes all discrimination and everyone celebrates it with unity and harmony," he added. Holi, also known as the festival of colours, is a time when people come together to celebrate the arrival of spring, the triumph of good over evil, and the joy of life. (ANI)
In the ongoing investigation into the death of Munger ASI Santosh Kumar Singh, Pradeep Kumar Yadav, who claims to be an eyewitness, provided crucial details about the incident. Speaking to reporters, Yadav explained, "...I was not at home. My family was here. I was playing Holi with my friends. My son had injuries on his head, he said that his mother and uncle were hurt." According to Yadav he, suggested that they go to the Police Station. At the station, he said they were told to return home, and that the Administration would later visit the scene to assess the situation. Yadav continued, "We returned home and when he (ASI Santosh Kumar Singh) came here, we suddenly saw all this...The Administration had taken him to a Hospital." Meanwhile, two individuals have been arrested in the murder case of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Santosh Kumar Singh by assailants in Munger, Bihar, said an official. Bihar Police Association President Mrityunjay Kumar Singh condemned the attack on ASI Santosh Kumar Singh and demanded compensation and a job for the late personnel's family on Saturday. Speaking to ANI about the incident, Mrityunjay Singh said, "It is an unfortunate incident. ASI Santosh Kumar Singh reached Munger's Nandlapur village upon receiving information about a dispute. He was attacked when he was trying to solve the dispute. Following this, he was taken to the hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries around 3 am at Patna Paras Hospital." "Two people have been arrested. We demand compensation and a job for ASI Santosh Kumar's family. These incidents are an issue of concern, we police personnel also belong to families, we are someone's husband, son and father. The police should be supported, not attacked," he said. He further said that a similar incident occurred a few days ago, where police personnel were attacked when they went to arrest miscreants in Araria. According to Munger Superintendent of Police (SP) Syed Imran Masood, "ASI Santosh Kumar Singh lost his life after being attacked by individuals in Munger. He was responding to a ruckus created by the family of a man identified as Ranveer Kumar in Nandalpur village under Mufassil police station limits." The official said that the assailants were allegedly intoxicated during the incident. SP Masood said, "The incident unfolded after the Munger police received information late in the evening about a family creating a ruckus in Nandalpur village under the influence of alcohol. Upon reaching the spot with his team, ASI Singh was attacked by the family members, who struck him on the head, leaving him critically injured." He was immediately taken to Sadar Hospital for treatment and later referred to a hospital in Patna. ASI Santosh Kumar Singh succumbed to his injuries at Patna Paras Hospital on Friday despite medical efforts. "The family responsible for the attack is currently absconding. We have formed teams to track them down, and arrests will be made soon," SP Masood said. Police have launched an extensive manhunt to nab the accused and are investigating the circumstances leading to the attack. (ANI)
Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal has said that two suspects have been identified behind the explosion outside Thakurdwara Temple in Amritsar's Khandwala area in the early hours on Saturday. "There were some miscreants who hurled a grenade at a temple after 12 am. There are no injuries or casualties... The situation is under control," minister Dhaliwal confirmed. He added that two suspects had been identified and assured the public that authorities were taking swift action. "The police are taking action, they will be caught within a day," the minister said. Two motorcycle-borne masked men were captured on CCTV footage lobbing an object, suspected to be an explosive, at the temple after 12 midnight. According to eyewitnesses, the two men were seen lobbing a suspicious object towards the temple. No injuries were reported, and police personnel rushed to the site and initiated an investigation into the incident . Amritsar Commissioner GPS Bhullar has suggested the involvement of Pakistan Intel agency ISI in the blast. "We got information at 2 am and rushed to the spot right away. A forensic team was called... We checked the CCTV and spoke to the nearby people. The thing is that Pakistan's ISI lures our youth into creating disturbances in Punjab," Commissioner Bhullar said. The police official said, "We will trace this case within days and take appropriate action." He also issued a stern warning to the youth, urging them not to ruin their lives. "I warn the youth not to ruin their lives... We will catch the culprits soon," he said. Police teams have seized the CCTV footage and according to a preliminary investigation, the youth on a motorcycle had a flag in his hands and duo stood around the temple for some time before lobbing the grenade at it. Meanhwile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today stated that there were many attempts to disturb the peace in the State. "There are always many attempts to disturb the peace in Punjab. Drugs, gangsters, and extortion are part of it, and there are attempts to show that Punjab has become a disturbed state... During the festival of Holi, in other States, the police had to use lathicharge during processions. But such things do not happen in Punjab... The law and order situation in Punjab is good," Mann said. The Thakur Dwara Temple explosion comes after at least five people were injured after an assailant attacked people with an iron rod in the Golden Temple premises on Friday. The attack took place at Shri Guru Ramdas Sarai which is a lodging facility for pilgrims. (ANI)
The BRS MLCs staged a protest outside the Telangana Legislative Council by holding placards and raising slogans against the incumbent Congress government. The protest was led by senior BRS leader K Kavitha and it sought Rs 15000 support price for the turmeric farmers. K Kavitha said that the turmeric farmers in the state had been suffering for quite some time and MSP for turmeric had not been established by both the union and the state government. "Turmeric farmers have been suffering for quite some time. The minimum support price for Turmeric has not been established by the central government and the state government", K Kavitha said while speaking to ANI on Saturday. She further said that they were demanding Rs 15000 Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the turmeric farmers and stated that the Congress had promised to give Rs 12000 to the turmeric farmers during the state polls. "Farmers across Telangana are suffering. We are demanding a minimum support price of Rs 15,000 to be given to the Turmeric farmers and this was also a poll promise made by the Congress government that they are going to give Rs 12,000 as MSP...", K Kavitha said. Earlier, BRS protested against the suspension of MLA Jaganish Reddy in front of the Ambedkar statue. Reddy was suspended by Telangana Legislative Assembly speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar for the entire session. BRS Working President KT Rama Rao slammed Rahul Gandhi and the Congress government and called it a 'blot to the democracy'. "It's a blot on democracy, and it's truly a black day for democracy in India. Rahul Gandhi preaches Constitution day in and day out. Unfortunately, today he has forgotten to teach his Congress Government and ministers the same values. In a unilateral move, even though senior leader Jagdishwar Reddy has not uttered a single derogatory word, they have suspended him from the House for the entire session. We are demanding answers from the Government over the non-fulfilment of the promises", KTR said while speaking to ANI on Thursday. (ANI)
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Saturday accused the Congress and the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in the state for the recent violence in Giridih. The BJP MP alleged that the Congress party's policies have facilitated Bangladeshi infiltration, leading to demographic shifts and unrest in the state. Dubey reiterated the BJP's demand for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and delimitation, warning that failure to do so could lead to Jharkhand's "merger with Bangladesh." He claimed that vote-bank politics was pushing Jharkhand towards instability and that the state's Chief Minister was only concerned with winning elections. Speaking to ANI about the Giridih violence, Nishikant Dubey said, "A similar incident happened in my area on the day of Holika Dahan. I called up the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), and then the situation came to normalcy. Before the Jharkhand assembly elections, the BJP had said that in 30 out of 81 assembly constituencies, voter turnout has increased from 50 per cent to 150 per cent, which is because of Bangladeshi infiltrators." "Shops were burnt in Deoghar; all this is because of the policies of the Congress, which is bringing Bangladeshis on one pretext or the other. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government released these infiltrators. Now, the tribal population is decreasing and has come down from 45 per cent to 22-23 per cent, and Muslims have increased from 9 per cent to 28-29 per cent," he said. He claimed, "Vote bank politics is gripping the entire Jharkhand, and if there is no big mass movement against the Congress, we will lose the state." "The CM here only wants to win elections, so such incidents will continue in the name of Saraswati Puja, Durga Puja, Mahashivratri, Holi, and Eid. If NRC and delimitation are not implemented, a separate state will be demanded, and Jharkhand will be merged with Bangladesh," he added. Calling for urgent policy changes, Dubey stressed that NRC and delimitation were necessary to safeguard Jharkhand's identity. "If these measures are not implemented, soon there will be demands for a separate state, and Jharkhand will end up merging with Bangladesh," he claimed. The remarks come against the backdrop of communal tensions in Giridih, where violence erupted, leading to clashes. Several vehicles in Giridih were torched after clashes broke out between two communities on the occasion of Holi late on Friday, as per the officials. BJP MP Deepak Prakash also condemned the Giridih violence and said that the state government was oppressing the Hindu community. Further, Prakash said that due to this, FIRs against the BJP leaders are registered just for the sake of appeasement politics. After the communal clash in Giridih, the administration came into action and has assured that the situation in the region is now under control. The authorities stated that the police is investigating the case. The incident occurred when a Holi procession was passing through a particular street near the Ghodthambha Chowk. An altercation occurred between two communities, which led to chaos, which lasted for around an hour. Upon receiving information about the disturbances, officials from the district headquarters arrived at the location, which helped in dispersing the miscreants. On Friday, Dr Bimal, SP on the situation, said no major injuries were reported in the incident, but efforts are underway to identify the accused and strong action will be taken against them. (ANI)
Four people, including a woman, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder case of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Santosh Kumar Singh in Munger, Bihar, said an official on Saturday. Superintendent of Police (SP) Syed Imran Masood said the accused had been identified as Ranveer Yadav, Guddu Yadav, Vikas Yadav, and a woman of the same family. The SP said that the mortal remains of the deceased ASI Santosh Kumar Singh were brought for the last rites by his family. Police teams had been conducting raids to arrest those involved in the incident that took place in the Nandlalpur village of Munger in Holi (March 14). "An unfortunate incident took place with ASI Santosh Kumar yesterday in which he lost his life. His mortal remains have been brought here. Our teams had been conducting raids since last night, and four people were arrested. A team was moving to arrest the remaining accused at the directions of those arrested," said the SP. Speaking about the arrests, the SP said, "The police vehicle met with an accident, injuring the police personnel. Taking advantage of the situation, one of the accused, Guddu Yadav, snatched a police personnel''s rifle and aimed at the police team. The police fired in self-defence and shot him in the feet. He is the main accused in the murder case. Four people, including a woman, have been arrested so far." Meanwhile, Bihar Minister Prem Kumar also reacted to Munger ASI Santosh Kumar Singh''s death case and said, "There is rule of law in Bihar. An ASI in Munger has been killed while on duty. The culprits will not be spared. Some people have been arrested. We will run an expedited trial and give them the strictest punishment." Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, terming the murder of Munger ASI Santosh Kumar Singh as "unfortunate," said that the administration may use any means to handle such people or carry out encounters if needed. "It is unfortunate. The government will take strict action... We will not leave such people who think they can suppress the administration... The administration may use any means to handle such people or carry out encounters if needed... There is complete freedom from the government," Vijay Kumar Sinha told ANI. Bihar Police Association President Mrityunjay Kumar Singh also condemned the attack on ASI Santosh Kumar Singh earlier in the day and demanded compensation and a job for the late personnel''s family. ASI Santosh Kumar Singh lost his life after being attacked by individuals in Munger. He was responding to a ruckus created by the family of a man identified as Ranveer Kumar in Nandalpur village under Mufassil police station limits. Munger SP said that the assailants were allegedly intoxicated during the incident. SP Masood said, "The incident unfolded after the Munger police received information late in the evening about a family creating a ruckus in Nandalpur village under the influence of alcohol. Upon reaching the spot with his team, ASI Singh was attacked by the family members, who struck him on the head, leaving him critically injured. ASI Santosh Kumar Singh succumbed to his injuries at Patna Paras Hospital on Friday despite medical efforts. (ANI)
Gujarat has outperformed the national average (93.23 per cent) in the SDG-3 Index, achieving 95.95 per cent vaccination coverage under the Universal Immunization Program (UIP) through Mission Indradhanush in alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resolution of "Every mother and child should remain healthy." Under the leadership of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state government has taken effective initiatives to ensure vaccination services reach newborns and pregnant women, resulting in these positive outcomes. On the occasion of this year's National Vaccination Day, Gujarat's Health Department is also going to conduct a special vaccination campaign for Measles/Rubella (MR) on March 15-16. , the release stated. Meanwhile, during the period of April to February in the year 2024-25, Gujarat achieved an overall 98 per cent full immunization coverage for one-year-old children. Among specific vaccines, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) had a coverage of 96 per cent, Pentavalent (DPT+Hep-B+HiB) reached 95 per cent, and Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination coverage stood at 97 per cent, the release stated. This remarkable achievement in immunization coverage can be attributed to the innovative and special initiatives undertaken by the state government, including "Dhanvantri Rath", "Tika Express," and "Mobile Mamta Divas" (for vaccination services in remote areas). These initiatives have played a crucial role in ensuring that vaccination services reach every eligible child and mother across Gujarat. Under the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI), the Gujarat Government has effectively implemented an intensive vaccination campaign for children aged 0-2 years and pregnant women. Due to these efforts, vaccination coverage under Mission Indradhanush has increased by more than 20 per cent. So far, under all phases of this mission, 9,95,395 children and 2,25,960 pregnant women have been vaccinated. This mission aims to reach children who missed routine vaccinations for any reason. The Gujarat Government's Khilkhilat Vehicle has spread smiles across millions of children's lives. Between January 16-22, 2025, the state government launched a special "Khilkhilat Vaccination Campaign," vaccinating 25,736 children with BCG, OPV, Penta, IPV, Rota, PCV, MR, and DPT vaccines. Not only this, the state government has specially targeted Vadodara, Surat, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and Morbi for vaccination by conducting several special vaccination campaigns, which have resulted in a significant increase in its coverage. Meanwhile, the vaccination of over 18 lakh school and Balwatika children in the last three years. To ensure widespread vaccination against diseases like Tetanus and Diphtheria, the Gujarat Government has adopted an inter-departmental coordination approach over the past three years. In collaboration with the Education Department, the State Health Department has conducted school-based immunization programs, administering vaccines to 10-year-old and 16-year-old students within their schools. Additionally, in 2024, five-year-old children received their second dose of the DPT vaccine in Balwatikas (pre-primary schools). Combining both categories, over 1.8 million children have been successfully vaccinated under this initiative. Notably, Gujarat has reported zero polio cases from 2007 to 2024, a major success of the state's immunization efforts. On National Immunization Day (NID) 2024, 82.49 lakh children across 33 districts were given polio drops. Under Sub-National Immunization Day (SNID), Gujarat vaccinated 42.97 lakh children aged 0-5 years across 24 districts. (ANI)
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Saturday urged Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to intervene and address the demands of police personnel, who are boycotting Holi celebrations over pending issues with the state government. https://x.com/ashokgehlot51/status/1900804589307523440?t=nKVSo78PhEhw2mTKLtPUzQ&s=19 Taking to social media platform X, Gehlot said that while the police contributed to ensuring a "joyous and peaceful" Holi across the state, they are now abstaining from festivities due to unresolved demands, including promotion through Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC), an increase in mess allowance, and provision for weekly leave. " After contributing to the joyous and peaceful celebration of Holi across the state yesterday, today, the policemen are boycotting Holi. I appeal to the Chief Minister Mr @BhajanlalBjp to immediately intervene in this matter and take a positive decision on the demands of the policemen to play Holi. Policemen are boycotting Holi today over the demands pending with the government, like promotion through DPC, increase in mess allowance, weekly leave, etc. Earlier, announcements in the interest of policemen were always made in the budget," Gehlot posted on X. He further stated that in previous years, announcements in the interest of policemen were made in the state budget and that the opposition has already raised their concerns in the Assembly. "Holi is a festival that comes once a year. Our Leader of Opposition and many MLAs have raised these demands of yours in the Assembly, and we will continue to put your demands before the government strongly. I request all the policemen to reconsider the boycott and celebrate the festival of Holi with their colleagues and family members," Former CM added in his X post. The former CM also urged police personnel to reconsider their boycott and celebrate Holi with their colleagues and families. (ANI)
The accused, identified as Madhav Singh, a resident of Pratap Nagar, Amritsar, was apprehended following a cybercrime investigation.

According to the police, the victim had filed a complaint at Cyber Police Station, North West District, alleging that she had befriended an individual on social media.

Over time, through frequent interactions, he gained access to her private pictures and later began blackmailing her, demanding Rs 5 lakh. He allegedly threatened to spread the images online if his demands were not met.

Following the complaint, a case was registered under sections 308(2) and 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation was launched.

The accused was found to be operating multiple Instagram accounts under false identities without sharing his contact number or personal details.

Police tracked his digital footprint using advanced cyber forensic techniques and eventually identified and apprehended him.

During interrogation, Singh confessed to the crime, admitting that he engaged in such activities for amusement.

Authorities have seized the mobile phone used in the offense.

The investigation is ongoing, with efforts underway to identify any additional victims or accomplices involved in similar cyber offenses. (ANI)
BJP National Spokesperson Shahzad Poonawalla has lashed out at the decision of the Karnataka cabinet for giving four percent reservation to the Muslim contractors in tenders. He stated that the Congress party have broken every level of appeasement. He alleged that the ones who talk about Constitution are giving reservations based on religion by going against BR Ambedkar. Poonawalla further said that earlier it was believed that competent contractors would build bridges but now the people will have to see the person from which religion has built it. "This represents Congress' Muslim League-Jinnah mindset. Now even contracts will be given based on religious lines?... We always feel that the contract of a road or a bridge should be given to the most competent contractor. Congress has a policy of Muslims first, vote bank first... SC, ST and OBC suffer in this; their share is given either in reservation or in such contracts", Poonawalla said to ANI on Saturday. Furthermore, Shahzad Poonawalla highlighted the provision made for the Muslim community in the Karnataka state budget 2025-26 and said that it is just for the sake of vote bank politics. "We saw Jinnah budget being presented by Congress, where a distinction is being made saying Muslims will get security training, Rs 50,000 for weddings, allowances and honorarium for spiritual leaders, money for Waqf and development of schools and scholarships in Muslim areas... PM Modi gives the benefit of his schemes to communities equally while the Congress government does vote bank politics...", Poonawalla added. The Karnataka cabinet on Saturday approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act which will aim to provide four percent reservation to Muslim contractors in tenders, official sources said. Earlier on March 7, Chief Minsiter Siddaramaiah confirmed that four per cent of public works contracts will now be reserved for Muslims under a category called Category-II B, while presenting Karnataka government's Budget. Reservation will be provided in the procurement of goods and services under various government departments, corporations, and institutions for suppliers belonging to SC, ST, Category-I, Category-II A, and Category-II B, up to Rs 1 crore, in which Category-II B refers to Muslims. (ANI)
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazghagam (AIADMK) national spokesperson Kovai Sathyan said that DMK has taken the NEP issue as an opportunity to play dirty politics. Sathyan reacted to Pawan Kalyan's statement over the 'hypocrisy' of Tamil Nadu leaders protesting against the imposition of Hindi in the state by the Union Government. He stated that Kalyan has linked business with the cultural fabric of Tamil Nadu and it is totally different. He said that NEP will provide a medium for Hindi to enter Tamil Nadu and later it will dominate in the due course of time. He added that the central government and agencies have already done the same in the state. "The DMK has taken the NEP as a political opportunity to play dirty politics... Pawan Kalyan is linking business with the cultural fabric of Tamil Nadu... We see NEP as a backdoor entry for Hindi to sneak in and dominate in due course of time, which the central government and agencies have already done in Tamil Nadu...", Kovai Sathyan said to ANI on Saturday. Earlier on Friday, Andhra Pradesh deputy CM Pawan Kalyan had criticised the Tamil Nadu politicians for what he called "hypocrisy" regarding the alleged imposition of Hindi in the state. He pointed out that while these leaders oppose Hindi, they allow Tamil movies to be dubbed in the language for financial gain. "I do not understand why some criticize Sanskrit. Why do Tamil Nadu politicians oppose Hindi while allowing their movies to be dubbed in Hindi for financial gain? They want money from Bollywood but refuse to accept Hindi--what kind of logic is that?" Kalyan asked while addressing the party's 12th foundation day at Pithampuram in Kakinada. Kalyan's comments come amid Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin accusing the Union government of 'Hindi imposition' and refusing to implement the three-language formula laid out in the NEP as a protest. (ANI)
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Rakesh Kumar on Saturday said that seven people have been identified as accused in the murder of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Santosh Kumar Singh, with five already in police custody. Speaking on the incident, DIG Kumar stated that ASI Singh had gone to pacify a dispute between two parties when he was attacked. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries during treatment in Patna. "ASI Santosh Kumar Singh went to pacify a dispute between two parties yesterday evening... He was attacked. He was brought to the hospital, and he lost his life in Patna during treatment... A total of seven people have been identified as accuse,d and five of them have been accused... One of the accused, Guddu Yadav, was injured when police shot at him in self-defence...," the DIG said. He further stated that efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining accused. Earlier today, Superintendent of Police (SP) Syed Imran Masood said the accused had been identified as Ranveer Yadav, Guddu Yadav, Vikas Yadav, and a woman of the same family. The SP said that the mortal remains of the deceased ASI Santosh Kumar Singh were brought for the last rites by his family. Police teams had been conducting raids to arrest those involved in the incident that took place in the Nandlalpur village of Munger in Holi (March 14). "An unfortunate incident took place with ASI Santosh Kumar yesterday in which he lost his life. His mortal remains have been brought here. Our teams had been conducting raids since last night, and four people were arrested. A team was moving to arrest the remaining accused at the directions of those arrested," said the SP. Speaking about the arrests, the SP said, "The police vehicle met with an accident, injuring the police personnel. Taking advantage of the situation, one of the accused, Guddu Yadav, snatched a police personnel''s rifle and aimed at the police team. The police fired in self-defence and shot him in the feet. He is the main accused in the murder case. Four people, including a woman, have been arrested so far." (ANI)
BJP national spokesperson Shahzad Poonawalla attacked the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab condemning the Amritsar temple attack. Poonawalla stated ever since the AAP government has come to power in the state, the law and order situation has worsened. Poonawalla stated that all these grenade attacks have happened in a chain manner wherein some of them have happened at the police station as well. "Ever since Aam Aadmi Party's government came to power, law and order situation has become terrible... All these grenade attacks have happened in a chained way, with some happening on police stations as well... Whereas, the police is busy with the protection of Arvind Kejriwal...", he said to ANI on Saturday. A blast occurred at Thakurdwara Temple in Khandwala, Amritsar, late last night after two bike-borne men lobbed an object, suspected to be an explosive, at the temple. According to eyewitnesses two young men riding a motorcycle were seen lobbing a suspicious object towards the temple. CCTV footage has captured the incident.No injuries were reported, and police personnel were immediately present at the scene to investigate the incident. Amritsar Commissioner GPS Bhullar has suggested the hand of Pakistan Intel agency ISI in the blast. "We got information at 2 a.m. We reached the spot right away. The forensic team was called... We checked the CCTV and spoke to the nearby people. The thing is that Pakistan's ISI lures our youth into creating disturbances in Punjab," he said. Bhullar expressed confidence in solving the case swiftly, saying, "We will trace this case within days and take appropriate action." He also issued a stern warning to the youth, urging them not to ruin their lives. "I warn the youth not to ruin their lives... We will catch the culprits soon," he added. Police teams have seized the CCTV footage and according to preliminary investigation the youth on a motorcycle had a flag in his hands and the two of them were standing around the temple for some time before lobbing the grenade. (ANI)
Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat condemned the violence that erupted in Giridih, Jharkhand, on Saturday, calling the incident "unfortunate." He stated that the government controlled the situation and criticized the mosque cover move in Uttar Pradesh. Taking a swipe at the Uttar Pradesh government, he remarked, "If you look at UP, when the government says that you should not step out of your house and mosques are being covered, this poisonous environment has been seen only recently." "Such things are being done by a few people deliberately...This is a matter of concern that a poisonous environment is forming in the country," he added. Speaking on the clashes in Giridih, Bhagat pointed out that in the past two decades, there have been multiple instances when Jumma Namaz and Holi coincided, yet such incidents had not occurred before. "I think what happened in Giridih yesterday is very unfortunate, and I condemn it. But the Government has kept everything under control...If you look at the last 20-25 years, there have been 6-7 instances when Jumma Namaz and Holi have fallen on the same day. Never did such an incident occur before," Bhagat said. He further alleged that certain elements were deliberately trying to create tensions in the country. "This is a matter of concern. You allege that people are coming from outside, but that is not important. What is important is that if those in power express helplessness and tell you not to step out of your house, then there can be nothing more unfortunate than this," he added. The Congress leader also warned that incidents like the Giridih violence would continue if law enforcement agencies functioned with bias. "If those who have to maintain law and order get divided into categories and are biased, then these incidents will occur," he stated. Meanwhile, the situation in Jharkhand's Giridih district remains peaceful after clashes broke out between two communities during Holi celebrations on Friday, leading to vehicles being torched. (ANI)
During the festivities, he reaffirmed his party's confidence in Tejashwi Yadav, stating that he is set to become the next Chief Minister of Bihar.

Speaking to the media amid Holi celebrations, Tej Pratap said, "Celebrate Holi in a peaceful manner. It has been decided that Tejashwi ji is going to be the CM this time."

The RJD leader was seen playing Holi with party workers, smearing colors, and singing traditional Phagua songs.

The celebrations at his residence were marked by a vibrant display of enthusiasm, with party members dancing and chanting slogans in support of the RJD.

As Bihar gears up for the electoral battle, RJD leaders have intensified their outreach efforts.

Assembly elections in Bihar are due in October this year. The Election Commission of India has not yet announced the dates of the polls.

Holi is known as Phaguwa or Fagua in the Bhojpuri language. The legend of Holika is prevalent in this region as well. On the eve of Phalgun Poornima, people light bonfires.

Any festival in Bihar is incomplete without traditional folk songs. They resonate through the villages during the celebrations.

After playing Mud Holi, young people, along with the elders, sing Fagua geet (songs) together, accompanied by the jhaal and dholak (musical instruments).

Meanwhile, Odisha Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan also celebrated Holi with the people of his constituency in Khordha.

"We play Holi with friends every year. We also pray to Jagannath that everyone stays healthy and happy and pleasantly celebrates this festival," said Harichandan.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta attended the 'Holi Madhur Milan' event at Raghumal Arya Kanya Senior Secondary School in the Connaught Place area of the national capital on Friday evening.

She also offered prayer at Gurudwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha in Shalimar Bagh. (ANI)
Congress MLA Ramesh Chennithala has expressed strong concerns over the Kerala government's handling of drug-related issues in the state. Chennithala was present in a Drugs free Kerala Campaign organised in Thrissur Speaking out on the matter, Chennithala said, "The state government is sleeping on the issue of drugs. I wonder why it is giving political patronage to the drug mafia in the state and not eradicating it." He pointed out the increasing violence and unrest, adding, "Such a progressive state of Kerala is witnessing killings and arson, is the government not taking any action?" Chennithala further accused the CPI(M)'s student wing, the Students' Federation of India (SFI), of being the primary organization responsible for spreading drugs in colleges and universities, stating, "The student wing of the CPI(M), known as SFI, is the main culprit in spreading drugs in colleges and universities." The MLA criticized the government's silence on the issue, stating that the lack of action is concerning and that urgent steps need to be taken. "The government must take action to dismantle the organization that spreads drugs," he concluded. On March 5, the Congress-led opposition UDF launched an awareness campaign against drugs and crimes called "No drugs, No crime" campaign. The opposition leader, VD Satheesan, inaugurated the campaign. Speaking to ANI, VD Satheesan said, " Today, the entire people of Kerala is in fear because there are so many reports coming day by day of cruel violence. Violence has increased in Kerala, and the nature of the violence has changed. Drugs are available everywhere...Now, Kerala has become an epicentre of drugs...only the consumers are getting caught...no source found so far. Huge quantities of drugs and synthetic chemicals are coming to Kerala. Police and Excise failed miserably. On the floor of the Assembly, we demand thorough enforcement to prevent this drug mafia and to break the drug mafia network." Earlier, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also expressed concern over the growing drug menace in Kerala, calling for a united effort to address the issue. He emphasized the need for collaboration between the state and central governments to identify sources of supply and to punish suppliers and sellers. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday came out heavily against the Karnataka government's decision to grant 4 per cent reservation for Muslim contractors in government projects, calling it "appeasement politics" of the Congress and warning about its 'nationwide implications'. Criticising the move further, the BJP said the Congress party is "not learning its lesson" despite losing multiple elections. Speaking on the issue, Prasad said, "This issue is of Karnataka, but it has nationwide implications. This also signals the mentality of Congress and Rahul Gandhi. The Karnataka Government in the budget has publicly announced a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in government contracts." He further questioned the expansion of reservation policies beyond employment, saying, "Till now, we used to think only about jobs, but now reservation is being done even in government contracts. And in that too, 4 per cent has been reserved for Muslims." The former Union Minister strongly asserted that the BJP is completely against religion-based reservation and will continue to oppose this. "The BJP is against this, and we will keep opposing it...Religion-based reservation is not permissible under the Indian Constitution...Reservation on government contracts is completely unconstitutional...It can be allowed on the basis of social backwardness...but it is not permissible (to provide) directly to a religious community," he further added. Notably, the Karnataka government's decision has sparked a political debate. The BJP has condemned it as communal favoritism, while the Congress-led administration maintains that the move is aimed at ensuring inclusivity in economic opportunities. Prasad launched a sharp attack on the Karnataka government and the Congress leadership over the decision to grant 4 per cent reservation for Muslim contractors in government projects and accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of orchestrating the move for political gains. Taking a jibe at the Congress party, he further remarked, "They are not learning their lesson even after losing multiple times. This reservation in Karnataka has been extended at the patronage of Rahul Gandhi. Siddaramaiah does not have the courage or the political capital to announce this on his own." He further accused Rahul Gandhi of fueling vote bank politics, stating, "Rahul Gandhi thinks he can lead with this competitive politics of votebank. The new standards the Congress is setting in appeasement and votebank politics are harmful to the nation." The Karnataka cabinet on Saturday approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, which will aim to provide a four percent reservation to Muslim contractors in tenders, official sources said. Earlier on March 7, Chief Minsiter Siddaramaiah confirmed that four per cent of public works contracts will now be reserved for Muslims under a category called Category-II B, while presenting Karnataka government's Budget. Reservation will be provided in the procurement of goods and services under various government departments, corporations, and institutions for suppliers belonging to SC, ST, Category-I, Category-II A, and Category-II B, up to Rs 1 crore, in which Category-II B refers to Muslims. (ANI)
A Srinagar court has set for April 8 a hearing against the organisers of a fashion show held in Gulmarg during Ramzan over allegations of obscenity and of hurting religious sentiments. Advocate Naveed Bukhtiyar, speaking to ANI, said, "Recently, an obscene fashion show was organised in Gulmarg, and there was public consumption of alcohol. It hurt the religious sentiments of the people... A social activist approached and wanted to file a case against the organisers." The court has reviewed the complaint and, in accordance with the law, scheduled a hearing for April 8, 2025. The accused have been notified and will be given an opportunity to be heard before any action is taken. The case is being pursued under Sections 296 and 299 of BNS and Section 50-A of the Jammu and Kashmir Excise Act, 1958. The show was held on March 7 in Gulmarg and triggered outrage among public and politicians. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday admitted that the hotel where the show was held belongs to his relatives. He also said that such events are not under the jurisdiction of the J-K government, and they are not in favour of holding such events. "These things are not under the jurisdiction of the elected government. The basis for organising such an event has not been shared with us. On principle, we have never been in favour of such decisions...Yes, this hotel belongs to my relative; when have I disagreed with this? My relative owns two hotels here," chief minister told reporters in Gulmarg. "The Nedous and the Highland Park. But I will not say anything more than what I have said in the (Jammu and Kashmir) assembly," Omar Abdullah said. On whether the government has taken any action over the organisers of the show, he said, "If there has been any violation of law, action would be taken." Speaking in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, the Chief Minister said earlier, "A private party was organised, a fashion show was organized there. From what I saw, it should not have been organised at any time of the year, let alone the month of Ramzan." Kashmir's top cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, earlier urged the government to take action, calling the show "outrageous". "Outrageous! That In the holy month of Ramzan an obscene fashion show is organised in #Gulmarg, pictures & videos from which have gone viral sparking shock and anger among people. How could it be tolerated in the valley known for its sufi, saint culture and the deeply religious outlook of its people? Those involved should be immediately held accountable. Such obscenity in the name of tourism promotion will not be tolerated in #Kashmir!," he posted on X on March 9. (ANI)
Moga DSP Ravinder Singh on Saturday said that a total of eight accused have been identified in connection with the death of Shiv Sena leader Mangat Ram. Mangat Ram was killed in a firing incident on March 13. Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "Moga police conducted multiple raids to arrest the accused in the murder case of Mangat Ram that took place on March 13... Police nabbed three accused-- Arun Kumar Singh, Arun aka Deepu and Rajveer. They fired at the police party. The police retaliated and all three of them were injured. They were brought to the police station for treatment... A total of eight accused have been identified... Attempts to arrest the remaining are underway," Singh said. In a joint operation by CIA Moga and CIA Malout, an exchange of fire occurred while attempting to arrest the accused. The case involves the murder of Mangat Ram, a Shiv Sena member from Moga. As per a press note, "During an attempt to arrest the accused in FIR No. 64/2025 under Sections 103(1), 191(3), 190 BNS, and 25/27 Arms Act registered at PS City South, Moga, regarding the murder of Mangat Ram (Shiv Sena Moga), a joint operation was conducted by CIA Moga and CIA Malout." The police had gathered intelligence regarding the whereabouts of the suspects and surrounded them at their hideout in Angadpura Mohalla, Moga. The accused, identified as Arun alias Deepu, son of Gurpreet Singh; Arun alias Singha, son of Babbu Singh; and Rajveer alias Laddo, son of Ashok Kumar, were believed to be involved in the murder. When the police attempted the arrest, the suspects opened fire on the team. According to reports, two bullets were fired from a 0.32 pistol and three bullets from a 0.30 pistol. In response, the police fired in self-defense, discharging three bullets from a 9mm pistol and one bullet from a 0.32 pistol. As a result of the gunfire, Arun was hit in the left leg, while Singha sustained a gunshot wound to his right leg. Rajveer was injured while trying to flee the scene. All three accused were taken to Civil Hospital in Malout for treatment of their injuries. "Manga Ram, a Shiv Sena leader from Moga, has been killed in a firing incident that took place last night. We have registered an FIR based on his wife's statement. There are a total of 6 accused named in the FIR. Further investigation is underway... A saloon owner and a child have also been injured," Moga SP said to ANI on Friday. "First, the firing took place in a saloon, injuring one person. Then they started chasing Manga Ram while firing... They fired shots on the street near the stadium, killing Manga Ram... Further investigation is underway... A total of 4-5 shots were fired..." he added. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday stated that there were many attempts to disturb the peace in the state after a blast occurred at Thakurdwara Temple in Khandwala, Amritsar, late last night. "There are always many attempts to disturb the peace in Punjab. Drugs, gangsters, and extortion are part of it, and there are attempts to show that Punjab has become a disturbed state... During the festival of Holi, in other states, the police had to use a lathi charge during processions. But such things do not happen in Punjab... The law and order situation in Punjab is good," the Punjab CM said. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should watch the movie Chhava based on Sambhaji Maharaj and claim that what Golwalkar wrote is wrong. Speaking to media persons, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said, "Asaduddin Owaisi has a different ideology. We believe in Veer Savarkar. Nobody can tell what PM Narendra Modi's mindset is. He has marketed a lot of films that align with his party, be it Tashkent Files, Kashmir Files, Chhava or The Accidental Prime Minister... If MS Golwalkar presented his views on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, it is PM Modi's responsibility to watch the movie and claim that what Golwalkar wrote is wrong..." This comes after AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi alleged that "the worst words for Sambhaji Maharaj were used by late RSS leader MS Golwalkar in his book Bunch of Thoughts and Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar also used the worst words for Sambhaji Maharaj." Speaking at the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in New Delhi on February 22, PM Modi lauded Maharashtra's significant contribution to both Marathi and Hindi cinema. PM Modi said, "Ye Maharashtra aur Mumbai hi hai jisne Marathi filmon ke saath-saath, Hindi cinema ko ye unchai di hai. Aur in dino toh, Chhaava ki dhoom machi hui hai." (Maharashtra and Mumbai have elevated Hindi cinema along with Marathi films, and Chhaava is making waves these days. In response to Owaisi's statement, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Saturday said that Veer Savarkar's service and contribution to the country cannot be forgotten. "The service and contribution that Veer Savarkar has done for this country cannot be forgotten. If someone sees his works through the lens of a particular religion, then it is their thinking. Similarly, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is the pride of our country," Sirsa told ANI. (ANI)
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday claimed that the crimes are increasing in Bihar and most number of police personnel have been murdered under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Speaking to ANI, Tejashwi also criticized the Bihar government, saying it has failed to control rising crime. He accused CM Nitish Kumar of being "unconscious" and alleged that those in power are protecting criminals, leading to a breakdown in law and order. "Crimes are increasing, the government has fallen asleep, and the CM is unconscious. Even the police are not safe under the rule of CM Nitish Kumar. Criminals are uncontrolled as people in power are protecting them. Many such incidents took place during Holi. The CM says what the officers around him give to him in writing. The people in power are changing rules to favour criminals. It's on record that under CM Nitish Kumar, the most number of police personnel have been murdered. Now, the law & order of Bihar is out of the CM's hands," the former Bihar Deputy CM said. This came after an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), Santosh Kumar Singh, was murdered in the incident that took place in the Nandlalpur village of Munger in Holi (March 14). Earlier today, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Rakesh Kumar said that seven people have been identified as accused in the murder of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Santosh Kumar Singh, with five already in police custody. Speaking on the incident, DIG Kumar stated that ASI Singh had gone to pacify a dispute between two parties when he was attacked. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries during treatment in Patna. "ASI Santosh Kumar Singh went to pacify a dispute between two parties yesterday evening... He was attacked. He was brought to the hospital, and he lost his life in Patna during treatment... A total of seven people have been identified as accuse,d and five of them have been accused... One of the accused, Guddu Yadav, was injured when police shot at him in self-defence...," the DIG said. He further stated that efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining accused. (ANI)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday clarified that the state government's decision to provide a four per cent reservation in government contracts is not exclusive to Muslims but extends to all minority communities and backward classes. "Four per cent reservation is not just for Muslims but all minority communities and backward classes," he told ANI. The Karnataka Cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act that aims to provide a four per cent reservation in tenders to Muslim contractors. The decision was taken on Friday in a meeting held at the Cabinet Hall of the Vidhan Sabha, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The official sources added that the amendment will be done after the KTPP act is tabled in the ongoing assembly session. The Cabinet has approved the presentation of the obedience in the same session, likely on Monday. Earlier on March 7, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed that four per cent of public works contracts will now be reserved for Muslims under a category called Category-II B while presenting Kthe arnataka government's Budget. Reservation will be provided in the procurement of goods and services under various government departments, corporations, and institutions for suppliers belonging to SC, ST, Category-I, Category-II A, and Category-II B, up to Rs 1 crore, in which Category-II B refers to Muslims. At the same time, the government has given good news to those who are expecting e-Khata. The Cabinet has agreed to give e-Khata in rural areas that have been approved by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj obedience. If this obedience is approved, the rural revenue projects and the households in the village station will be equipped, it added. The Karnataka Lokasewa Commission's reform measures have been discussed at the Cabinet meeting as the KPSC has increased.In addition, the Cabinet has agreed to the formation of a separate committee for the reform of the Lokasewa Commission. The cabinet also consulted on the maintenance of the committee's recommendations. (ANI)
He said that he has not received a response despite writing four letters and personally meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Speaking at an event in Tumkur, Somanna highlighted that a Rs 90 crore tender was issued for the project, but the state government has made no progress in the past five to six months.

Somanna also mentioned that he had spoken to the relevant officials, including the Chief Secretary and the Finance Secretary, but the response has been unsatisfactory.

The Union Minister emphasized that he has refrained from interfering in state government matters for the past nine months, expecting them to handle it independently.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed Somanna as a representative for seven states in the Eastern region, and he has already visited five of these states to engage with local leaders.

Somanna shared that he has already visited Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, and Himachal Pradesh to engage with local leaders and discuss various issues.

Somanna urged the state government to expedite the process, warning officials to fulfill their responsibilities. The Tumkur Railway Station, currently a Grade B station, serves the city of Tumkur in Karnataka. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to Vikas Bharti, accused in a robbery and murder case of a money changer, after he spent six and a half years in custody. The case dates back to 2018 when Rakesh Jain, a money changer from Chandni Chowk, was robbed and killed. The prosecution alleged that Bharti and his associates hatched a conspiracy to commit the crime. An FIR was lodged in the police Station in Shahdara in the year 2018. Justice Vikas Mahajan granted bail to Vikas Bharti on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and a surety bond of the same amount. Justice Mahajan said, "The present petitioner has been in custody for the last six and a half years, and the prosecution has cited as many as 43 witnesses, of which only 13 have been examined. Thus, the conclusion of trial is likely to take a long time, and the circumstances of the present case do not warrant keeping the petitioner incarcerated to await the outcome of trial." The court noted that out of 43 witnesses cited by the prosecution, only 13 have been examined, indicating a lengthy trial process. While granting bail to the accused, Vikas Bharti, Justice Mahajan stated that keeping Bharti incarcerated for an extended period does not warrant the circumstances of the case. "So far as other involvements of the present petitioner are concerned, it is not the case of the prosecution that the petitioner is in custody in any of the said cases. Even otherwise, the involvement in other cases cannot be the sole criteria for rejecting the bail application of the petitioner," Justice Mahajan said in the order of March 12. Bharti's counsel, Advocate Akshay Bhandari, argued that the witness of the Test Identification Parade (TIP) had passed away before the testimony was recorded. It was also submitted that the co-accused Mohd Taj and Mohd Shavej had already been granted regular bail on account of the demise of the TIP witness prior to the recording of his testimony. Since the co-accused have been granted bail, due to the non-availability of the TIP witness, the benefit of parity may be extended to the present petitioner, counsel added. The Additional Public Prosecutor opposed the bail, arguing that Bharti's role in the crime was different from that of the co-accused and that he was driving the motorcycle involved in the incident. He further submitted that during the TIP, the witness not only identified the present petitioner but also assigned him a specific role. APP opposed the arguements for parity and submitted that the benefit of parity of the bail order of co-accused Mohd Taj and Mohd Shavej cannot be extended to the present petitioner since the role of the present petitioner is different from the said accused persons. Further, he submitted that it is not the case of the prosecution that the said two co-accused had proceeded to the place of incident, unlike the petitioner, who was driving the motorcycle, which the co-accused Ajay alias Kalia also rode as pillion, who fired the pistol shot. However, the court held that involvement in other cases cannot be the sole criterion for rejecting bail. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday attended the relocation ceremony of the Assam Rifles Headquarters from Central Aizawl to Zokhawsang, marking a significant milestone in the Indian government's commitment to the development of Mizoram. Addressing the gathering, Shah said that this move is not just an administrative decision but a symbol of the government's responsibility towards the Mizo people. Due to the state's unique topography, the Mizo people have been demanding relocation for over 35 years. "This demand, which has been around for 30-35 years, is now set to be fulfilled due to an important decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is not just an administrative decision but a symbol of the Indian government's responsibility towards the Mizo people," he said. "It is a reflection of the Indian government's commitment to the development of Mizoram. In 1890, the first military camp was set up in Aizawl, and since then, this decision will be considered the most significant in the history of Aizawl's development," Shah said. Shah highlighted that the Modi government has been working tirelessly for the past 10 years to establish new dimensions of development in every sector, from tourism to technology, agriculture to entrepreneurship, and to strengthen and unite the entire northeast. Shah also underscored PM Modi's role in establishing unprecedented peace in the northeast, having visited the region 78 times since becoming Prime Minister. "From tourism to technology, agriculture to entrepreneurship, the Modi government is establishing new dimensions of development in every sector of the northeast. Before Modi ji became Prime Minister, from Independence until 2014, all the then Prime Ministers of India had visited the northeast 21 times, whereas Modi ji has visited the northeast 78 times so far," he said. The Union Home Minister assured the people of Mizoram that the BJP-led Indian government is committed to a developed, peaceful, secure, and beautiful Mizoram, with PM Modi personally overseeing this progress. "I want to assure the people of Mizoram on behalf of the Government of India that the BJP-led Indian government is committed to a developed, peaceful, secure, and beautiful Mizoram, and Modi ji is personally overseeing this progress," Amit Shah said. This relocation ceremony marks a new chapter in the history of Aizawl's development, with the first military camp set up in the city in 1890. (ANI)
In a post on X, CM Bhajan Lal termed the passing of Yadav's father as "extremely sad."

"The news of the demise of Kadam Singh ji, the respected father of Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, is extremely sad. May Lord Shri Ram give a place to the virtuous soul in his feet and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense sorrow," the Rajasthan CM said.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav took to X and said that his father passed away today, and his last journey will be held at his residence in Haryana.

"I am informing you all with great sadness that my respected father passed away this morning. Babuji's last journey will be held today, 15th March, at 4 pm at my residence in village Jamalpur, District Gurgaon, Haryana," Bhupender Yadav said.

The Union Minister's Father, Kadam Singh Yadav, took his last breath at a hospital in Gurugram. He was 90 years old.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav on March 4 said that India's circular economy could generate a market value of over USD 2 trillion and create close to 10 million jobs by 2050.

Expressing this view, Bhupender Yadav said, "While speaking at the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific, the 'circular economy' may be about to drive one of the biggest transformations in business since the Industrial Revolution 250 years ago."

" By radically departing from the traditional 'take, make, waste' production and consumption models, the circular economy could potentially provide USD 4.5 trillion in additional economic output by 2030 worldwide," he said.

Yadav also informed the forum about India's candidacy for organising the World Circular Economy Forum in the year 2026. (ANI)
Punjab Police on Saturday said that it has busted a narco-terror module linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and arrested three key operatives from Bihar while they were attempting to flee to Nepal. Police say they suspect the case is linked with the early morning grenade attack at Thakurdwara Temple in Amritsar. Amritsar Commissioner GPS Bhullar said, "We had arrested three people with a commercial quantity of heroin from Bihar. During their interrogation and investigation, it came to light that this whole network was being run by a person named Karandeep Yadav... We have arrested him (Karandeep Yadav) along with two other people, Sajan Singh and Mukesh Kumar Yadav. These people have links with Babbar Khalsa. And I hope that there are many things which will come to light after their arrest, forensic science will give its report on this..." He further said that there is too much pressure on Pakistan smugglers and ISI since there is a war against drugs in Punjab. "Earlier also they tried but Punjab Police did not allow them to succeed. We assume that there is a linkage with the grenade attack at Thakurdwara Temple because the accused belongs to the area where the incident took place," Amritsar Commissioner said. The three accused were arrested on Friday afternoon, hours before a grenade was lobbed at Thakurdwara Temple in Khandwala in Amritsar. In a post on X, DGP Punjab Police said, "In a major breakthrough, Commissionerate Police Amritsar has busted a narco-terror module linked to BKI, by arresting three key operatives from Bihar while they attempted to flee to Nepal. In an intelligence based operation, three accused persons have been apprehended from Police Station Kumarkhand, Madhepura, Bihar." "These individuals had earlier delivered grenades and arms recovered in a recent operation. Arrested persons resided in Amritsar's Khandwala and Chehartta areas, and are being brought back for further interrogation. Punjab Police is working tirelessly to maintain peace and harmony in the state," DGP Punjab Police said. Meanwhile, BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla lashed out at the ruling Aam Aadmi party for what he called a "terrible law and order situation". Speaking to ANI, Poonawalla said, "Ever since Aam Aadmi Party's government came to power, law and order situation has become terrible... All these grenade attacks have happened in a chained way, with some happening on police stations as well... Whereas, the police is busy with the protection of Arvind Kejriwal." Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday stated that there were many attempts to disturb the peace in the state after a blast occurred at Thakurdwara Temple in Khandwala, Amritsar, late last night. Mann also said that there are attempts to show Punjab as a disturbed state. "There are always many attempts to disturb the peace in Punjab. Drugs, gangsters, and extortion are part of it, and there are attempts to show that Punjab has become a disturbed state... During the festival of Holi, in other states, the police had to use a lathi charge during processions. But such things do not happen in Punjab... The law and order situation in Punjab is good," the Punjab CM said. A blast occurred at Thakurdwara Temple in Khandwala, Amritsar, late last night after two bike-borne men lobbed an object, suspected to be an explosive, at the temple. As per the police, no injuries were reported. Police personnel present at the spot are investigating the issue. Amritsar Commissioner GPS Bhullar has suggested the hand of Pakistan Intel agency ISI in the blast. "We got information at 2 a.m. We reached the spot right away. The forensic team was called... We checked the CCTV and spoke to the nearby people. The thing is that Pakistan's ISI lures our youth into creating disturbances in Punjab. We will trace this case within days and take appropriate action. I warn the youth not to ruin their lives... We will catch the culprits soon..." the police official said. (ANI)
Farmers have high hopes from the new Delhi government, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Saturday, assuring that all concerns their would be addressed. She emphasised that the Central and the Delhi governments, as a "double-engine government," would work together to resolve farmers' issues. Her remarks followed a budget consultation with farmers from across the capital. "We called the farmers from every corner of Delhi to consult about the budget. They have shared their suggestions with us," Gupta said. She noted that in the last 15-20 years, villages in Delhi saw little development, leading to heightened expectations from the newly formed Delhi government. "We called the farmers from every corner of Delhi to consult about the budget. They have shared their suggestion with us," Gupta said. She noted that in the last 15-20 years, no work has been done for villages. "They are now having a lot of hope from the new Delhi government. I assure them that all the problems they have put before us will be solved. Today, there is a double-engine government. The Central and Delhi governments together will solve every problem of the farmers," she added. On March 6, the Chief Minister held an interactive session with traders, businessmen, and business organisations to gather their suggestions for the upcoming Delhi Budget 2025. Business representatives from across the national capital participated in the discussion, highlighting key issues faced by the business community. She also said that her government was seeking public suggestions in preparation for the upcoming Budget. "The Delhi government is going among the public to take suggestions for the Delhi Budget. I met the people living in the slums in RK Puram Assembly constituency and took suggestions from them," Gupta said. The Budget session of the Delhi Assembly is set to take place from March 24 to 28 and the Budget will be presented on March 25. "Hon'ble Members are informed that the Second Session (Budget Session) of the Eighth Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi will commence on Monday, 24th March 2025 at 11:00 A.M. in the Assembly Hall, Old Secretariat, Delhi. Sittings of the Legislative Assembly have been tentatively fixed for 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 March 2025. Subject to the exigencies of business, the sitting of the House may be extended," The Legislative Assembly Secretariat, NCT stated. (ANI)
Union Minister and Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy inspected the ongoing redevelopment work at Begumpet Railway Station in Hyderabad on Saturday. He said that Begumpet Railway station would be run by women personnel and dedicated to them. The renovation works are being carried out under the Indian Railways' Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. G Kishan Reddy said, "Railway developmental activities is being carried out rapidly. During Mahakumbh more than 40 crore people travelled by train to witness the event. Under PM Narendra Modi's leadership, more than 1000 railway stations are being redeveloped to match the standard of airports. Around 40 old railway stations are being remodelled in Telangana. Secunderabad station is being revamped after spending Rs 720 crores. He further said that In Hyderabad PM Modi haf inaugurated new Railway terminal at Cherlapalli. "Around Rs 32 thousand crores are being spent to develop 22 new railway tracks in Telangana. Free Wi-Fi services will be made available in all railway stations. These development works will increase the passenger holding capacity of the railway stations. In the Begumpet Railway station, all railway personnel will exclusively be women and it is dedicated to them," he added. Earlier in January after the inauguration of Cherlapalli Railway Terminal, Reddy expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that the terminal would play a big role in the development of Telangana. G Kishan Reddy said, "The Cherlapalli Railway Terminal has been inaugurated and it will play a big role in the development of Telangana. The traffic inside cities like Hyderabad will be reduced. There is no need to come to Hyderabad. Passengers can get down from the train and travel to their villages from the outskirts. I thank PM Modi and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw." (ANI)
Kannada actress Ranya Rao, who was arrested in a gold smuggling case last week, approached Sessions Court in Bengaluru for bail. Her move came after the Special Court for Economic Offences here denied her bail. While denying the bail to Ranya Rao, the Special Court for Economic Offences said that the charges against the actress were serious. She 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. The CBI has filed an FIR in the gold smuggling case on the complaint of Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI. The FIR has been registered under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) on the complaint of Abhishek Chandra Gupta. The complaint discloses the cognizable offences U/s 7 and 12 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 20148) r/w 61(2) of BNS. According to the complaint, after Ranya Rao's arrest on March 3, two foreign nationals were also arrested on March 6 from Mumbai airport for attempting to smuggle 21.28 Kg of gold into India worth Rs. 18.92 crores, as per the complaint. Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI, in his complaint has said that these cases involving passengers making trips from Dubai and attempting to smuggle gold in large quantities points to a "possible nexus" with coordinated smuggling syndicate, possibly operating from Dubai (UAE). In Ranya Rao's case, she travelled to Dubai multiple times while the two arrested foreign nationals have previously arrived Mumbai airport multiple times. Gupta in his complaint has also suspected the possibility of involvement of public servants and others. "The above two cases detected in quick succession involving passengers making trips from Dubai, the attempted smuggling of large quantities of gold into India and the high frequency of these visits involving Indian and foreign nationals, points to a possible nexus with coordinated smuggling syndicate, possibly operating from Dubai (UAE). This may have larger national and international ramifications. The possibility of involvement of unknown public servants of the Govt. of India and unknown others, with such coordinated network, needs to be investigated," the complaint said. (ANI)
In a shocking incident, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Vivek Kumar Yadav and other police constables were attacked by miscreants while on special duty in Patna, Bihar, during Holi celebrations. According to the FIR filed by Yadav, the incident occurred near Khaspur village when the police team was traveling from Chhitnawan to Maner. This incident comes on the heels of the murder of Munger ASI Santosh Kumar Singh, who was killed on March 14 while trying to pacify a dispute between two parties in Nandlalpur village. Seven people have been identified as accused in Singh's murder, with five already in police custody. According to ASI Vivek Yadav, he, along with other police constables, was going on special duty from Chhitnawan to Maner on the occasion of Holi on Friday when a few miscreants attacked them near Khaspur village in Patna, tore their clothes and tried to snatch their arms. Meanwhile, Maner Police Station SHO Pradeep Kumar stated that a group of intoxicated individuals caused a disturbance. While some fled, 2-3 were detained but resisted arrest. "A few people were intoxicated - a few of them ran away while 2-3 of them were detained, but they resisted. A few more people gathered there and tried to create a ruckus. They all were brought to the police station, and on the application of Vivek Kumar (ASI) - a case was registered against them for consuming alcohol and creating hindrance in the work of the police. Two people have been detained and sent to judicial custody...," said Kumar. Earlier today, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Rakesh Kumar said that seven people have been identified as accused in the murder of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Santosh Kumar Singh, with five already in police custody. Speaking on the incident, DIG Kumar stated that Singh was attacked while trying to resolve the dispute and later succumbed to his injuries during treatment in Patna. The police have arrested four people, including a woman, in connection with Singh's murder. The accused have been identified "ASI Santosh Kumar Singh went to pacify a dispute between two parties yesterday evening... He was attacked. He was brought to the hospital, and he lost his life in Patna during treatment... A total of seven people have been identified as accused and five of them have been accused... One of the accused, Guddu Yadav, was injured when police shot at him in self-defence...," the DIG said. He further stated that efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining accused. Superintendent of Police (SP) Syed Imran Masood said the accused had been identified as Ranveer Yadav, Guddu Yadav, Vikas Yadav, and a woman from the same family. Guddu Yadav, the main accused, was injured when police shot at him in self-defense. Speaking about the arrests, the SP said, "The police vehicle met with an accident, injuring the police personnel. Taking advantage of the situation, one of the accused, Guddu Yadav, snatched a police personnel's rifle and aimed at the police team. The police fired in self-defence and shot him in the feet. He is the main accused in the murder case. Four people, including a woman, have been arrested so far." The Bihar Police have launched an investigation into both incidents, and efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining accused. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha has termed the murder of ASI Singh as "unfortunate" and has called for strict action. (ANI)
A man was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Vijay Shah and sending obscene messages to him, from Rajasthan, a police officer said on Saturday. The police took the accused in custody from Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan and booked him under NSA (National Security Act), he added. Khandwa Superintendent of Police (SP) Manoj Kumar Rai told ANI, "On March 13, a person sent obscene messages to state Cabinet Minister Vijay Shah and also gave death threats to him. Upon receiving information, the police registered a case at Harsud police station and began an investigation into the matter. We got the information that the accused was in Rajasthan, and after that, we took him in custody from Sawai Madhopur, a city in Rajasthan. Today, he has been arrested and the NSA is also invoked against him." Further investigation into the matter is underway, the officer said, adding that considering the recent incident, the police have strengthened the security of the minister. Meanwhile, the minister said that when the anti-social elements of the society failed to protest, then they stepped into such despicable acts. "We make development in the region and when the anti-social elements of the society fail to protest, then they step into such despicable acts. Today, these women are here because it's about their brother's life and dignity. He (Mukesh Darabar, the accused) threatened my wife that he would make her a widow. If a leader uses such words for another leader, will these women spare them? But I don't want these women to take the law into their own hands. All of these women wanted to go to Mukesh Darabar's home and meet his parents. Imagine what will happen if they go there. I am bound by law, I am a minister, and hence, I tolerate all these, but the people of my constituency won't tolerate such things," Minister Shah told reporters. He further added, "Along with Mukesh Darbar, there are four more people who are the leaders of Harsud, the police will catch them. I trust the administration that they will take proper action against the accused." (ANI)
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has filed objections to the bail application of Tarun Konduru, a co-accused in the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao. The DRI requested the Special Court for Economic Offences in Bengaluru not to grant bail to Konduru who is accused number -2 in the case. On Friday, the court denied bail to Ranya Rao, noting that the charges against her were serious. She has now moved to Sessions Court here for bail. She was arrested on March 3 by the DRI at Kempegowda International Airport (KIAD) in Bengaluru for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kilograms of gold from Dubai. The CBI has filed an FIR in the gold smuggling case on the complaint of Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI. The FIR has been registered under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) on the complaint of Abhishek Chandra Gupta. The complaint discloses the cognizable offences U/s 7 and 12 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 20148) r/w 61(2) of BNS. According to the complaint, after Ranya Rao's arrest on March 3, two foreign nationals were also arrested on March 6 from Mumbai airport for attempting to smuggle 21.28 Kg of gold into India worth Rs. 18.92 crores, as per the complaint. Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI, in his complaint has said that these cases involving passengers making trips from Dubai and attempting to smuggle gold in large quantities points to a "possible nexus" with coordinated smuggling syndicate, possibly operating from Dubai (UAE). In Ranya Rao's case, she travelled to Dubai multiple times while the two arrested foreign nationals have previously arrived Mumbai airport multiple times. Gupta in his complaint has also suspected the possibility of involvement of public servants and others. "The above two cases detected in quick succession involving passengers making trips from Dubai, the attempted smuggling of large quantities of gold into India and the high frequency of these visits involving Indian and foreign nationals, points to a possible nexus with coordinated smuggling syndicate, possibly operating from Dubai (UAE). This may have larger national and international ramifications. The possibility of involvement of unknown public servants of the Govt. of India and unknown others, with such coordinated network, needs to be investigated," the complaint said. (ANI)
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday urged everyone in the State to be part of the "Swachh Andhra" campaign. He also accused the previous YSRCP government of having burdened the people with a debt of Rs10 lakh crore. "Every individual should be a part of achieving the goal of a Clean Andhra. Everyone must contribute to protecting the environment. It is our collective responsibility to keep our homes, surroundings, schools, colleges, government offices, public places, and places of worship clean," the Chief Minister said while participating in the Swarna Andhra - Swachh Andhra program in West Godavari district's Tanuku. Naidu said that with the cooperation of the Centre, his government had embarked on a path of development. "On March 15, 1978, exactly 45 years ago, I stepped into the Assembly for the first time. I have been honored in an extraordinary way that no one else in this state has experienced. My only goal is to serve the Telugu people. We are bringing reforms in governance. The people have blessed the alliance of the TDP, BJP, and Jana Sena. With the cooperation of the central government, the state has embarked on a path of development. We have introduced a clear policy under 'Swarna Andhra 2047'," he said. "The previous government even imposed a tax on garbage. They printed their pictures on land title deeds. We will take responsibility for issuing land documents with the official state seal. They brought the Land Titling Act as a means to grab lakhs of acres of land. They tampered with records, put private lands under government control, and are now using political cover to attack us in order to hide their mistakes," he added. The Chief Minister said that sustainable development is possible only with a stable government. "Our government in Andhra Pradesh is spending Rs33,000 crore annually just on pensions, benefiting 64 lakh people every month. The previous government distributed pensions in an irregular and ineffective manner. It was I who raised the pension from Rs200 to Rs2,000, and in line with our election promises, I increased it further to Rs4,000. We are providing Rs10,000 per month for dialysis patients and Rs15,000 for those who are bedridden, proving our commitment to humanity," he said. "We are implementing the 'Super Six' election promises. Starting in May, we will introduce the 'Talli Ki Vandanam' scheme, ensuring that every mother in a household receives financial support for her children. With WhatsApp Governance, people no longer need to visit government offices for their work. We are providing insurance to middle-class families in a way that no other state in India has done before. Under the 'Rythu Bharosa' scheme, we will provide Rs20,000 to farmers," he added. (ANI)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said that women have an important role in building strong and developed countries. The journey of development is incomplete without the participation of half the population. The Chief Minister was addressing the inauguration program of Shakti Vandan India's Self's Honor Festival at Jawahar Kala Kendra on Saturday. He said that in our eternal culture, there is a tradition of worshiping Maa Durga for Shakti, Maa Lakshmi for wealth and Mother Saraswati for wisdom. Sharma said that the Shakti Vandan Festival is a symbol of significant contribution in our women's empowerment efforts. Our government is working with commitment to provide development -oriented environment to women in the state, the CM said as per a release. He said that Lokmata Ahilyabai has left a permanent heritage from her life and actions. He developed Maheshwar saree to the world by developing the local handloom industry in Maheshwar to make women self -reliant. She was a courageous warrior competent administrator and dedicated patron of eternal culture. The Chief Minister said that the state government was also striving for the upliftment of Vandya and glorious Sanatan culture. The Chief Minister said that the famous Prime Minister of the country, Narendra Modi believed in the progress and progress of half the population. The festival is an important part of the Prime Minister's efforts to promote local products, to make women self -sufficient and revive extinct arts under the Wocal for Local Campaign. The Chief Minister said that, after 2014, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the country's faith centers are developing rapidly. The CM said our mythological religious places are being uplifted to eternal culture by returning their divine and grand form. The state government is also getting the renovation work done on the state sites. The Chief Minister further said that the double-engine government was working fast for women's empowerment, health, and social upliftment. Our goal is to make women self -reliant. We are connecting them with self-employment by giving various types of training to women associated with self-help groups through Rajivika, the CM said. He said that several steps had also been taken by the state government to provide markets to the products prepared by these women. Recently, on the auspicious occasion of Holi, the government encouraged them by purchasing herbal gulal prepared by mothers and sisters of self-help groups. Earlier, the Chief Minister lit the lamp and launched the three-day 'Nari Shakti Vandan Bharat Ki Abhinandan' festival. He wrote a message for the entrepreneur women in the book Shakti Vandan. Sharma also visited the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar exhibition organized by the Jaipur Municipal Corporation Greater and appreciated the reuse and recycle-based products of the exhibition. On this occasion, Soumya Gurjar, Mayor of Municipal Corporation Jaipur Greater, presented the statue of Ahilyabai Holkar to the Chief Minister. Jaipur MP Mrs. Manju Sharma and public representatives, self-help groups attached to self-help groups and a large number of other women were present in the program. (ANI)
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, while inaugurating the fourth three-day Mega Brahmin Business Summit organized by Shree Samast Brahm Samaj (Rajya kaksha) at Science City, Ahmedabad, clearly stated that the Prime Minister has introduced the concept of a 'Knowledge-Based Economy.' The Brahmin community, known for their devotion to knowledge, will remain at the forefront in this field. "The Brahmin community has been the custodian of natural intelligence for centuries, surpassing machine-driven artificial intelligence (AI). Linking the Brahmin community's legacy of knowledge with the dimensions of the modern era," the Chief Minister said and called upon the community to realize the Prime Minister's vision 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi.' The Chief Minister stated that two decades ago Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 'Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit,' in Gujarat, which has now become a global platform for exchanging ideas. He also said that, Drawing inspiration from 'Vibrant Gujarat,' various states, industries, and communities across the country are now organizing similar summits. Likewise, this Mega Brahmin Business Summit will provide an opportunity for the holistic growth of the community's industry and trade sector. Recalling the words of the Prime Minister that when the efforts of the society collaborate with the government, it doubles the pace of development, CM stated that this fourth Mega Brahmin Business Summit brings that vision to life. He further said that this summit exemplifies Prime Minister's mantra of 'Sauno Saath, Sauno Vikas'. This summit will also provide people with information about various schemes of the state and central governments. The business mega event will feature over 200 stalls, and a job fair, which has been organized for the youth of the Brahmin community. New entrepreneurs will receive guidance from the community's esteemed industrialists. The Chief Minister congratulated the organizers for organizing such a summit. The Chief Minister further said that under Modi 3.0, India is advancing towards becoming the third-largest economic power. Recalling Chanakya, who pioneered the world's first economic framework, he mentioned that in addition to education and employment, the Brahmin community is also making strides in the fields of industry, trade, and commerce. He expressed the desire that the industrialists and professionals of the Brahmin community will contribute to the country's economic development. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the strength of Brahmin power and the contribution of this summit will play a key role in realizing Prime Minister's vision of creating a Viksit Bharat@2047. He extended his best wishes for the success of the summit. Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C R Patil, lauded the efforts behind organizing this event to steer the Brahmin community towards business and trade development. He also extended his best wishes, highlighting that as the community protects the country's temples, values, and culture, they are playing a key role in boosting the nation's economy, ensuring success for all. Girish Trivedi, the General Secretary of Shree Samast Gujarat Brahm Samaj Institution, explained the purpose and future goals of the Brahmin Business Summit tradition. Dr Yagnesh Dave extended a warm welcome to everyone in his welcome address. The Chief Minister visited various stalls at the Business Summit and encouraged the Brahmin community's traders, women entrepreneurs, and startups. The summit was attended by former Governor Kalraj Mishra, Deputy Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Rajendra Shukla, former Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, Minister of Uttarakhand State Government Subodh Uniyal, Member of Parliament Shashank Mani Tripathi, Mayank Nayak, Chairman of Gujarat Finance Commission Yamal Vyas, MLA Amul Bhatt, Amit Thakar, Dramatist and Actor Manoj Joshi, as well as leaders of Shri Samast Brahma Samaj (Shree Samast Gujarat brahm samaj (Rajya kaksha) and a large number of prominent business and industry leaders from the Brahmin community. (ANI)
Karnataka government has approved a four per cent reservation for minorities in government contracts, a decision that has sparked reactions among Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. Reacting to the move, party leader Mahesh Tenginkai accused the Congress-led government of engaging in "appeasement politics." "Since Congress came to power in the state, they are doing this appeasement politics. Those who pelted stones at police in Hubballi, Congress released them. They have done many such things," BJP leader Tenginkai told ANI. Similarly, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad also came out heavily against the Karnataka government's decision to grant four per cent reservation for Muslim contractors in government projects, calling it "appeasement politics" of the Congress and warning about its "nationwide implications." The Karnataka Cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act that aims to provide four per cent reservation in tenders to Muslim contractors. The decision was made on Friday in a meeting held at the Cabinet Hall of the Vidhan Sabha, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The official sources added that the amendment will be done after the KTPP act is tabled in the ongoing Assembly session. The Cabinet has approved the presentation of the obedience in the same session, likely on Monday. Earlier on March 7, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed that four per cent of public works contracts will now be reserved for Muslims under a category called Category-II B while presenting the Karnataka government's Budget. Reservation will be provided in the procurement of goods and services under various government departments, corporations, and institutions for suppliers belonging to SC, ST, Category-I, Category-II A, and Category-II B, up to Rs 1 crore, in which Category-II B refers to Muslims. At the same time, the government has given good news to those who are expecting e-Khata. The Cabinet has agreed to give e-Khata in rural areas that have been approved by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj obedience. If this obedience is approved, the rural revenue projects and the households in the village station will be equipped, it added. The Karnataka Lokasewa Commission's reform measures have been discussed at the Cabinet meeting as the KPSC has increased. In addition, the Cabinet has agreed to the formation of a separate committee for the reform of the Lokasewa Commission. The Cabinet also consulted on the maintenance of the committee's recommendations. (ANI)
This program was organized by the Kusumba Foundation, which operates under the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's mother, under his guidance.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, recalling the lullabies sung by Jijabai, the mother of Shivaji Maharaj, stated that the mothers of this land have nurtured brave sons by singing such valor-filled songs.

He also acknowledged the mothers who stood in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their decisive actions, including the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir.

Expressing pride in the women who preserve this rich cultural heritage, the Chief Minister emphasized that just as the body requires nourishment, Bhajans provide strength and solace to the mind and heart.

The Gujarat Chief Minister stated that while development is advancing across every sector of the country, it is our duty as responsible citizens to contribute to nation-building. In this spirit, he urged people to take part in the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

CM Bhupendra Patel underscored the importance of taking action today to secure water resources for future generations. "In line with the Prime Minister's 'Catch the Rain' campaign, this year's budget includes an 80-20 provision to encourage private societies for water conservation and harvesting," he said.

Speaking on the Swachhata Abhiyan (Cleanliness Campaign), the Chief Minister emphasized that cleanliness starts with individual responsibility. He noted that as more people actively participate, the campaign can achieve its desired impact. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel urged everyone to contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 by striving towards the realization of Viksit Gujarat.

On this occasion, Deputy Mayor of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Jatin Patel, Standing Committee Chairman Devang Dani, Dharamsinh Desai, Deepika Sardava, Hitesh Barot, and other organizational officials, along with a large number of women from the Bhajan Mandalis of the Ghatlodia area, were present. (ANI)
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday expressed his concerns over the recent sarpanch murder in Beed, Maharashtra, stating that the district was once known for its peaceful atmosphere. Pawar, who had elected six members in Beed, highlighted the cordial relations that existed in the region and accused that some people decided to "misuse" power and its repercussions can be witnessed in the district. He invited the Mahayuti government to take action against those "polluting" the peaceful atmosphere in Beed. "Beed was a district that took everyone on a peaceful path...I had elected six members there, and there was a kind of cordial atmosphere there. Unfortunately, some people decided to misuse their power. We have been seeing the results of this in Beed for the last few months... A very strict policy needs to be made regarding those who pollute the environment..." Pawar said. Reacting to actor Rahul Solapurkar's claims about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which triggered a massive row, Pawar urged the state government in Maharashtra to tackle such "elements." He said that the government must not remain a mute spectator when someone tries to divide people on the lines of caste and religion. "I will not accept such an atmosphere in the state. However, the situation is different in a few places. The state government should make a decision to tackle elements taking advantage of this. A strict stand should be taken. Someone is trying to misuse power and trying to broaden the divide among people on the basis of caste and religion, so state government should not remain a mute spectator," Pawar said. Over a week ago, in the wake of NCP MLA Dhananjay Munde's resignation over his aide's link to the Beed sarpanch murder case, former Maharashtra LoP and Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar said that the matter should be investigated in depth and Munde should be made a co-accused in the FIR. On March 4, NCP MLA Dhananjay Munde submitted his resignation as minister, which Fadnavis accepted and forwarded to the Governor for further action. Following this development, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said on Wednesday that administering the oath of office to Dhananjay was the biggest mistake, claiming that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis himself called Munde and asked for his resignation. Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan accepted Munde's resignation as Minister of Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection. Munde's close aide, Walmik Karad, was sent to judicial custody in January this year in a Rs 2 crore extortion case allegedly linked to the murder case of Beed's sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. (ANI)
Tripura, known for its rich and diverse bamboo resources, is emerging as a key player in the bamboo industry. With over 19 species covering an expansive 3,246 km square which accounts for around 31 per cent of the state's land area, bamboo is a vital resource for both traditional and industrial purposes. From rural housing and agricultural tools to handicrafts and food, bamboo plays an essential role in the lives of Tripura's residents, particularly among tribal communities who rely on bamboo shoots as a key food source. The state's bamboo sector has gained significant momentum, particularly with the growth of bamboo-based industries. Tripura is home to high-quality cane and bamboo handicrafts that have strong export potential. Industrial uses of bamboo in Tripura include bamboo tiles, laminated products, ply boards, and other construction materials. Bamboo farming is thriving in the region, with farmers cultivating bamboo for various products such as furniture, fishing poles, and javelins. A critical factor in the sector's growth has been the Tripura Bamboo Mission (TBM), launched in 2007. TBM focuses on enhancing bamboo plantations, handicrafts, incense sticks, and industrial applications. It provides crucial support for market access, technology development, and cluster-based growth. To further this initiative, the government has set up a Bamboo Park at Bodhjungnagar to provide infrastructure and promote bamboo-based industries. Moreover, the state has adopted a bamboo policy for sustainable development and introduced High Density Bamboo Plantation (HDBP) technology to boost bamboo farming on private land. The bamboo sector in Tripura continues to attract both national and international attention, with significant growth potential for industrial ventures. A growing focus on skill development and investment in infrastructure, especially in the Bamboo Park, is paving the way for new opportunities in the sector. One notable success in the industry is Mutha Industries Pvt. Ltd., which has established itself as a leader in bamboo-based production. The company, with its brand name EPITOME, has earned national and international recognition for the quality and variety of its bamboo products. Mutha Industries employs over 500 local workers and has played a pivotal role in expanding the bamboo industry in Tripura. Notably, Mutha Industries' Epitome Bamboo Wood Flooring and Epitome Bamboo Wood Buffle Ceiling were used in the construction of the New Parliament House in Delhi, bringing the company's work to national prominence. Tripura accounts for a significant portion of India's bamboo stock, with 28 per cent of the country's total bamboo resources. The state's 2,397 km square of bamboo forests constitute about 23 per cent of its geographical area. Bamboo products from Tripura, particularly incense sticks, contribute to 60 per cent of the national demand, highlighting the state's importance in bamboo trade. The efforts of both the Central and state governments, along with the innovations by local industries like Mutha Industry, are poised to propel Tripura's bamboo sector into a new era of growth. The bamboo industry, recognised as a sustainable alternative to timber, offers promising economic development and job creation opportunities for the region. Rabin Bose, Vice President, Mutha Industries Pvt Ltd while speaking to ANI said that the company was the first successful unit to produce bamboo wood. Further, the company started their commercial production in 2014 and later focused on converting bamboo into timber and extended their product range with time to value added times. "We, Mutha Industries, are the first successful unit in the country to produce bamboo wood. We started our commercial production in 2014. Initially, we focused on converting bamboo into timber, and over time, we have expanded our product range to include value-added items such as flooring, wall panels, doors, ceilings, and various types of furniture. In fact, any product you can make with hardwood, we can replicate using bamboo," Bose said speaking to ANI.He further stated that the company had set their unit in Tripura taking in consideration the abundance of bamboo in the state. "You may wonder why we set up our unit in Tripura. Although we are a Mumbai-based company, we chose Tripura because bamboo is available in abundance here, which aligns with our specific requirements. Before establishing this unit, we researched bamboo availability across the country and found that out of the 19 types of bamboo available in Northeast India, only two or three meet our quality standards. We found that the best quality bamboo is sourced from Tripura, unlike other states in the region," he said. "Bamboo is now a major national resource in Tripura. We source our bamboo from various JFMC group members, and to this day, we continue to produce quality products. The government is also taking strong initiatives to promote bamboo cultivation. We are proud to contribute to this sector," he added. The Vice President also stated that some of the products of the company had been used in prestigious projects. "Additionally, we are honoured to share that our products have been used in some of the most prestigious projects in the country. Recently, we installed more than one lakh square feet of flooring and completed ceiling work in the new Indian Parliament building," he said. (ANI)
Kadam Singh, father of the Union Minister passed away on Saturday.

CM Bhajanlal Sharma visited the ancestral village of the Union Minister, Jamalpur in Haryana, where he paid his respects by offering flowers on the mortal remains of Kadam Singh and participated in the final journey.

He prayed to God to grant the departed soul a place at His feet and extended his condolences to the grieving family.

Earlier today, CM Bhajanlal condoled the death of the father of Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav.

In a post on X, CM Bhajan Lal termed the passing of Yadav's father as "extremely sad."

"The news of the demise of Kadam Singh ji, the respected father of Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, is extremely sad. May Lord Shri Ram give a place to the virtuous soul in his feet and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense sorrow," the Rajasthan CM said.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav took to X and said that his father passed away today, and his last journey will be held at his residence in Haryana.

"I am informing you all with great sadness that my respected father passed away this morning. Babuji's last journey will be held today, 15th March, at 4 pm at my residence in village Jamalpur, District Gurgaon, Haryana," Bhupender Yadav said.

The Union Minister's Father, Kadam Singh Yadav, took his last breath at a hospital in Gurugram. He was 90 years old. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday targeted RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav over his "Dance or I will suspend you" instructions to a police personnel during the Holi celebration at his residence in Patna. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said that the ideology of the people in Rashtriya Janta Dal will never change. "RJD's culture is to flout the law, make fun of people in constitutional posts, insult the Constitution repeatedly, and demoralise people. The ideology and values of people who have been in RJD will never change," Sinha told ANI. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla claimed that Tej Pratap made the law dance to his tunes. "Like father, like son. Father was the chief minister, the family was in power, and Bihar was kept in jungle raj. He made the law dance to his tune. Now, he is out of power, but his DNA is the same: he wants to bring back Jungle Raj. Instead of respecting the law and the person wearing the uniform, the way Tej Pratap Yadav has insulted the person wearing the uniform shows that Jungle Raj is in his mindset and DNA, but he should understand that Bihar has changed now. Now there is good governance here," Poonawalla said. BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said that the RJD leader has no authority and power to suspend anyone. "He asked his bodyguard to dance; otherwise, he would suspend him. He has no power or authority to suspend anyone. This is Nitish Kumar's government, not Jungle Raj. Using such language is unfortunate. RJD leaders have not evolved," Hussain said. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ajay Alok said that everyone had a glimpse of what a 'jungle-raj' looks like. "Like father, like son. Everyone must have got a glimpse into what jungle-raj looks like. This is nothing. At least he did not tear the uniform of the policeman," Alok said in a self-made video. Janata Dal (United) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said that, be it Tejashwi or Tej, Lalu Yadav's family members need to understand that such acts have no place in changing Bihar. "Jungleraaj' has ended, but Yuvraj of Lalu Yadav is threatening a policeman about the consequences if he (the policeman) will not comply with what he is instructing (to dance). Bihar has now changed. Be it Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav or any of the family members of Lalu Yadav - they need to understand that such acts have no place in the environment of this changing Bihar," Prasad said. JD(U) National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha said, "The people of Bihar are seeing the condition of the party (RJD). People will vote only for the development." Congress leader Rashid Alvi condemned the act. "I condemn what he said. He is unaware that he does not have the power to suspend a person. It is unfortunate to say something like this to a policeman," Alvi told ANI. Congress MP Tariq Anwar said, "What do I say about that?... Everybody celebrates Holi in their own way." Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav on Saturday celebrated Holi with party workers at his official residence in Patna and urged people to observe the festival peacefully. During the celebrations, Tej Pratap Yadav was heard telling the policemen, "Nahi thumka lagaoge to suspend kar diye jaoge." The RJD leader also reaffirmed his party's confidence in Tejashwi Yadav, stating that he is set to become the next Chief Minister of Bihar. Speaking to the media amid Holi celebrations, Tej Pratap said, "Celebrate Holi in a peaceful manner. It has been decided that Tejashwi ji is going to be the CM this time." Assembly elections in Bihar are due in October this year. The Election Commission of India has not yet announced the dates of the polls. (ANI)
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed his gratitude for the Prime Minister's participation in the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan. He also urged the Prime Minister to intervene and issue orders to install Maratha warriors' statues at Talkatora Stadium. The event, held on February 21, 2025, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, was organised by Sarhad Pune, and the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal Sharad Pawar was the chief host of the event. Pawar lauded the Prime Minister's insightful speech, which resonated deeply with Marathi-speaking communities worldwide. In his letter to the PM, Sharad Pawar stated, "I am deeply grateful that you graciously accepted my request to inaugurate the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan on February 21, 2025, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. Organised by Sarhad Pune and Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal, this literary festival was elevated to historic significance under your esteemed leadership. Your profound and insightful speech resonated deeply with Marathi people across the world. I truly appreciate you for your kind gesture exhibiting your special affection towards me during the inaugural ceremony." Pawar also highlighted the historical significance of the Sammelan's venue, Talkatora Stadium, which once served as a campsite for legendary warriors like Peshwa Bajirao I, Mahadji Shinde, and Subedar Malharrao Holkar. Recognising the site's cultural importance, Sarhad Pune initially proposed installing half-statues of these iconic figures. However, Pawar noted that many literary figures and well-wishers believe full-sized equestrian statues would better honour their legacy. In his letter, Pawar urged the Prime Minister to intervene and direct the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and the Government of Delhi to grant the necessary permissions for the installation of Maratha warriors' statues. He emphasised that such a tribute would align with the Prime Minister's commitment to preserving India's rich history and cultural heritage. The letter stated, "As Talkatora Stadium falls under the jurisdiction of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), I humbly request your kind intervention in directing the Government of Delhi and NDMC to grant the necessary permissions for installing full-sized equestrian statues." "Your leadership has always been instrumental in honouring and preserving India's glorious past. Looking forward to your kind consideration and necessary directives to the concerned authorities," Pawar added. Meanwhile, Pawar expressed his concerns over the recent sarpanch murder in Beed, Maharashtra, stating that the district was once known for its peaceful atmosphere. Pawar, highlighted the cordial relations that existed in the region and accused that some people decided to "misuse" power and its repercussions could be witnessed in the district. He urged the Mahayuti government to take action against those "polluting" the peaceful atmosphere in Beed. "Beed was a district that took everyone on a peaceful path...I had elected six members there, and there was a kind of cordial atmosphere there. Unfortunately, some people decided to misuse their power. We have been seeing the results of this in Beed for the last few months... A very strict policy needs to be made regarding those who pollute the environment..." Pawar said. (ANI)
Kannada actress Ranya Rao's stepfather, DGP Ramchandra Rao, has been sent on compulsory leave. The actress was arrested in a gold smuggling case last week. "Sri. K.V. Sharath Chandra, IPS (KN-1997) Additional Director General of Police, Recruitment is placed in Concurrent Charge of the post of Chairman & Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, Bengaluru with immediate effect and until further orders, Dr. K. Ramachandra Rao, IPS sent on compulsory leave," said a Karnataka Government order issued on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ranya Rao approached a Sessions Court in Bengaluru for bail. Her move came after the Special Court for Economic Offences here denied her bail on Friday. While denying the bail to Ranya Rao, the Special Court for Economic Offences said that the charges against the actress were serious. She 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. The CBI has filed an FIR in the gold smuggling case on the complaint of Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI.The FIR has been registered under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) on the complaint of Abhishek Chandra Gupta. The complaint discloses the cognizable offences U/s 7 and 12 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 20148) r/w 61(2) of BNS. According to the complaint, after Ranya Rao's arrest on March 3, two foreign nationals were also arrested on March 6 from Mumbai airport for attempting to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold into India worth Rs. 18.92 crore, as per the complaint. Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI, in his complaint, has said that these cases involving passengers making trips from Dubai and attempting to smuggle gold in large quantities point to a "possible nexus" with a coordinated smuggling syndicate, possibly operating from Dubai (UAE). In Ranya Rao's case, she travelled to Dubai multiple times while the two arrested foreign nationals have previously in arrived Mumbai airport multiple times. Gupta in his complaint has also suspected the possibility of the involvement of public servants and others. "The above two cases detected in quick succession involving passengers making trips from Dubai, the attempted smuggling of large quantities of gold into India and the high frequency of these visits involving Indian and foreign nationals, points to a possible nexus with coordinated smuggling syndicate, possibly operating from Dubai (UAE). This may have larger national and international ramifications. The possibility of involvement of unknown public servants of the Government of India and unknown others, with such coordinated network, needs to be investigated," the complaint said. (ANI)
Delhi Fire Service said, "We received a call regarding a fire on the sixth floor of an apartment in Dwarka Sector 5. 5 fire tenders have been sent to bring the fire under control."

Delhi Fire Service said that a fire was caught in the domestic articles kept in a flat on the 6th floor. Fire tenders brought the fire under control.

Two women, a mother and her daughter, along with a pet dog, were trapped in the balcony and rescued safely by DFS. The mother was identified as Usha Sharma (aged 70 years), and her daughter was identified as Vinita aged 30 years.

Police said two people were safely rescued after a fire broke out at a house in the D Block of Delhi's East Kailash area on Thursday night.

According to Delhi Fire Services Department officials, the fire broke out in the house at around 09.00 pm.

A total of nine fire tenders were rushed to the spot after the Delhi Fire Services Department received a call about the incident.

The fire was quickly brought under control, officials said.

The cause of the fire was not clear, they added. (ANI)
Ranjit Savarkar, grandson of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Chairman of Swatantryaveer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak, on Saturday hit out at All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi and labelled him a follower of Auragzeb and a "traitor" over his remarks against the Hindutva ideologue. He said that Owaisi's agenda was to "mislead Muslims" in India and "incite them" against the country. Ranjit went on to say that his grandfather never disrespected Sambhaji Maharaj. "His sole agenda is to mislead the Muslims of India and incite them against the country. This is his inheritance. Savarkar never disrespected Sambhaji Maharaj. In 1944, Kasim Rizvi, an Islamic terrorist, established an organisation named Razakar in Hyderabad, whose aim was to kill, rape and convert Hindus," he added. Establishing links between Kasim Rizvi and Owaisi's grandfather, Ranjit said that AIMIM's aim was to eliminate Muslims by inciting them against Hindus. He alleged that Owaisi was a follower of Aurangzeb's ideas, urging the government to take action against him. "When the Indian government exiled him to Pakistan, he handed over AIMIM to Owaisi's grandfather. AIMIM's aim is to eliminate Muslims by inciting them against Hindus. Owaisi's younger brother said, 'Give India in our hands for 15 minutes and then see what we do.' Owaisi follows the ideas of Aurangzeb. The government should take action against Owaisi. He himself respects the tomb of Aurangzeb. He is a traitor," Ranjit said. His reaction comes as Owaisi alleged that "the worst words for Sambhaji Maharaj were used by late RSS leader MS Golwalkar in his book Bunch of Thoughts and Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar also used the worst words for Sambhaji Maharaj." In response to Owaisi's statement, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that Veer Savarkar's service and contribution to the country cannot be forgotten. "The service and contribution that Veer Savarkar has done for this country cannot be forgotten. If someone sees his works through the lens of a particular religion, then it is their thinking. Similarly, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is the pride of our country," Sirsa said. (ANI)
Amid the ongoing tussle between the Centre and Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan on Saturday clarified his stance on the Hindi language debate, asserting that he has never opposed Hindi as a language but only objected to its compulsory imposition. In a post on X, speaking out against the misinterpretation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Kalyan emphasized that the policy offers students the flexibility to choose from a range of Indian languages, including their mother tongue, alongside a foreign language. "Either imposing a language forcibly or opposing a language blindly; both don't help to achieve the objective of National & Cultural integration of our Bharat. I had never opposed Hindi as a language. I only opposed making it compulsory. When the NEP 2020 itself does not enforce Hindi, spreading false narratives about its imposition is nothing but an attempt to mislead the public," Kalyan said. The Jana Sena Chief condemned the spreading of false narratives about the imposition of Hindi, stating that such claims mislead the public and undermine the objective of fostering national unity and linguistic diversity. "As per NEP 2020, students have the flexibility to learn any two Indian languages (including their mother tongue) along with a foreign language. If they do not wish to study Hindi, they can and also opt for Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Assamese, Kashmiri, Odia, Bengali, Punjabi, Sindhi, Bodo, Dogri, Konkani, Maithili, Meitei, Nepali, Santali, Urdu, or any other Indian language," he said. "The multi-language policy is designed to empower students with choice, promote national unity, and preserve India's rich linguistic diversity. Misinterpreting this policy for political agendas and claiming that Pawan Kalyan changed his stance only reflects a lack of understanding. Jana Sena Party firmly stands by the principle of linguistic freedom and educational choice for every Indian," Pawan Kalyan said. On Friday, Kalyan criticised Tamil Nadu politicians for what he called "hypocrisy" regarding the alleged imposition of Hindi in the state. He pointed out that while these leaders oppose Hindi, they allow Tamil movies to be dubbed in the language for financial gain. Kalyan's comments come amid Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin accusing the Union government of 'Hindi imposition' and refusing to implement the three-language formula laid out in the NEP as a protest. (ANI)
BRS MLA Vivekanand KP on Saturday questioned Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's loyalty to the Congress, adding that he failed to secure any funds from the center during his 40-day Delhi visit. He also claimed that Reddy might join the BJP in future after BJP legislator Raja Singh alleged that Reddy was secretly meeting with senior BJP leaders, sparking speculation about a potential defection. "BJP legislator Raja Singh made it clear that BJP senior leaders and Revanth Reddy are meeting in secret... Today, it was made clear during the Assembly session that Revanth Reddy is on good terms with BJP," Vivekanand told ANI. "After visiting Delhi for around 40 days, he was not able to get a single penny from the centre... It seems like there is a chance he will leave Congress in the future and join the BJP," he added. The Telangana assembly session today witnessed a fiery exchange between ruling BRS party members and Congress leader Revanth Reddy. BRS MLA Vivekanand KP accused Reddy of failing to address key issues, including loan waivers for farmers and his promised "six guarantees" within 100 days of forming the government. "Revanth Reddy gave a lengthy speech yet did not answer the issues raised by the BRS party, especially about loan waivers for farmers... We also asked about the six guarantees he promised to fulfil within 100 days of forming the government... We boycotted his speech," he added. The session ended with BRS members boycotting Reddy's speech. The BRS MLCs staged a protest outside the Telangana Legislative Council by holding placards and raising slogans against the incumbent Congress government. Senior BRS leader K Kavitha led the protest, which sought a Rs 15000 support price for the turmeric farmers. K Kavitha said that the turmeric farmers in the state had been suffering for quite some time, and MSP for turmeric had not been established by both the union and the state government. "Turmeric farmers have been suffering for quite some time. The minimum support price for Turmeric has not been established by the central government and the state government", K Kavitha said while speaking to ANI on Saturday. She further said that they were demanding a Rs 15000 Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the turmeric farmers and stated that the Congress had promised to give Rs 12000 to them during the state polls. "Farmers across Telangana are suffering. We are demanding a minimum support price of Rs 15,000 to be given to the Turmeric farmers, and this was also a poll promise made by the Congress government that they are going to give Rs 12,000 as MSP..." K Kavitha said. (ANI)
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi strongly criticised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Union government's policies while attending an Iftar party hosted by the Indian Union Women League. She accused the RSS of not having contributed to India's freedom struggle and reiterated her opposition to the Centre's legislative decisions affecting minority communities. Speaking at the Iftaar party, Kanimozhi said, "People from the Muslim community have fought for freedom in this country. They had gone to prison and lost their lives while fighting for this country. Show me one RSS leader like that. They (RSS) will take the name of one person who also came out from Prison, giving an apology letter. But they (RSS) narrate one story for that; I like that story very much. Everyone knows Savarkar came out of prison after giving an apology letter. But they (RSS) say he came out of prison on bird." She further said, "This is a big example of a myth. This is only what they have done for the country. But seeing us, they criticise us as Anti-national and Urban Naxals. Even recently, the Union Minister has described us as uncivilised. We are proud that you say we are uncivilised because you don't know what civilisation is." During the event, Kanimozhi also criticised the Centre's Triple Talaq legislation, stating that it was not for the welfare of Muslim women but aimed at criminalising Muslim men."When the Union Government introduced the Triple Talaq Bill, I spoke in Parliament saying you are not doing for the welfare of Islam community women but looking for all ways to send Islam community men to Prison. Because when Hindus or Christians or any religion leave their family they won't be imprisoned. But if Islamic community men did, they would be sent to prison. They want to create division between men and women in the same religion in the name of protecting us," she said. Referring to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), she said, "CAA creates huge protests across the nation. This in many ways suppresses the minority Islam community and projects them as this country's enemies. Islam community people have participated in this country's freedom struggle." (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP and Spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya hit out at the Trinamool Congress over clash in Birbhum during Holi celebrations and held the police and state government responsible for the violence. He asked that if there was any state where police issued a circular that after 11 am people have to stop playing Holi. Samik Bhattacharya said, "Such incidents never happened in West Bengal during Holi before. The reason for violence is police and TMC. In independent India is there any state where police has issued a circular that after 11 am people have to stop playing Holi and if anyone has to play then it should be played inside the house? This sends the message that the state is against the Hindus. If little bit colour falls on anyone then react to it, due to such thought clashes took place. He went on to ask who created such circumstances. "In West Bengal such circumstance never existed before. 20 years ago Hindus and Muslims together used to play Holi. That time, such a situation never happened. What is the reason for suspension of internet? It was done so that truth never comes out," he further said. BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul on Saturday slammed the Mamta Banerjee government over the Birbhum clash, questioning why violence occurs during Hindu festivals. She accused the Mamata Banerjee government of "appeasement politics" and inaction after internet services were suspended in Sainthia. "Yesterday, Doul Utsav was celebrated in West Bengal and today Holi is being celebrated. The violence occurred in the Sainthia city in Birbhum district, and the internet has been suspended," she told ANI. BJP MLA Paul also raised questions on the TMC government: "Why does violence take place during the festivals of Hindus only? Who is behind these incidents and why is the administration silent? Mamata Banerjee government is doing appeasement politics." Meanwhile, internet and voice-over-Internet telephony services have been suspended in at least five Gram Panchayat areas of Sainthia town in West Bengal's Birbhum district to prevent the spread of rumours and unlawful activities. The shutdown is in effect from March 14 (Friday) to March 17 (Monday). The prohibitory order, issued by the Principal Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs Department, Government of West Bengal on March 14, suspending internet and call services, cited concerns over the potential spreading of "rumours for unlawful activities." Police have been deployed in the affected areas following reports of a stone-pelting incident in Birbhum. "Any data related message or class of message to or from any person or class of persons, to or from any telecommunication equipment or class of telecommunication equipment, or relating to any particular subject, brought for transmission by, or transmitted or received by any telecommunication service or telecommunication network under the ambit of Telecommunications Act, 2023, shall temporarily not be transmitted in the interest of maintaining public order and preventing incitement to the commission of any offence," read the order. The order further states that no restriction is being placed on voice calls or SMS. Similarly, no restrictions on newspapers have been placed, adding "hence communication and dissemination of knowledge and information is not stopped in any way." The restrictions apply to Sainthia, Hatora Gram Panchayat (GP), Mathpalsa GP, Harisara GP, Dariyapur GP, and Fulur GP. "In view of the recent events in some areas, Internet transmissions and voice-over-internet telephony may be used for spreading rumour for unlawful activities in the geographical area of Sainthia town area of Sainthia Municipality, Hatora GP, Mathpalsa GP, Harisara GO, Fariyapur GP and Fulur GP area under Sainthia police station of Sainthia community development block in Birbhum Revenue district, under Birbhum police district over the next few days and hence the service may be temporarily shut down," the order read. (ANI)
Sowmya Reddy, President of the Karnataka Mahila Congress Unit, on Saturday defended the Karnataka government's decision to provide four per cent reservations to minorities in government contracts. She said the decision was in accordance with the constitution. Reddy added that the Congress government in Karnataka believes in "serving people" without regard to their religion, language, or caste. She said that the BJP was "jealous" of the good works being carried out by the state government. "According to the Constitution, each and every person has a right irrespective of caste and religion. Don't we need equality? Everything is as per the constitution. We serve people. We don't look at religion, caste, or language. BJP is basically jealous that our Congress government in Karnataka is doing good work," Reddy told ANI. Responding to the charge of appeasement politics, she said that the government also increased the honorarium for the pujaris in the state. "In the recent budget, the salaries of archakulu (pujaris) have been increased to 72,000 per month. Which religion do they belong to?" Reddy said. BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal on Saturday lambasted the Karnataka government after the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led government approved a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in government contracts. "It is quite a strange thing. Will the Karnataka Government try to clarify whether the other communities in their state, who also need social and economic upliftment, will be given reservations in the same manner? Focusing only on one community and neglecting the rest of the public, the Karnataka Government's mindset deserves all the criticism it receives," Khandelwal told ANI. The Karnataka Cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act that provides a four-percent reservation in tenders to Muslim contractors. Maulana Sajid Rashidi, President of the All India Imam Association (AIIA), on Saturday said that it was not a good idea to provide "concession" in the name of religion. Instead, he added, reservations should be given to those who are in need of the same. He said that no concession should be given to contractors on the basis of religion. Rashidi asserted that reservations must be given to the poor of all religions. "I don't think it is good to give concession in the name of religion. There should be no reservations on the basis of religion. No concession should be given to contractors in the name of religion. You should look at those who need it. Those who are poor should be given reservations regardless of their religion - be it Muslim, Hindu, Jain, Sikh, etc.," Rashidi said. When asked about allegations levelled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the Congress government in Karnataka, Rashidi said that every party was engaged in the politics of appeasement. He said that Congress engages in politics in the name of providing reservations to Muslims, while the BJP indulges in similar politics by opposing it. "Every party is indulged in the politics of appeasement. BJP also does appeasement politics. Look at what happened in Sambhal. It is easy to accuse others of doing so. In today's world, only politics of hatred are successful. Congress does politics in the name of providing reservations (to Muslims), and the BJP indulges in similar politics by opposing it. Although they give benefits of schemes to Muslims, don't name Muslims," he added. Meanwhile, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Indresh Kumar on Saturday said that the country's progress was only possible when everyone felt like an Indian, as this would wipe out communal riots and politics based on religion. "If we all have this feeling that we are Indian, we were, and we will continue to be - it will put an end to communal riots and politics based on religion and then only the country will move forward. No one should try to divide this nation," Kumar told ANI. In a veiled dig, the RSS leader accused the opposition parties of engaging in "vote ki raajneeti (politics based on votes), saying that many parties were trying to create a divide based on religion and caste. "Because of 'vote ki raajneeti', many of the parties are against the fact that we all are Indians. Hence, they are trying to create a division based on religion and caste," Kumar added. The Karnataka government has approved a four-percent reservation for minorities in government contracts, a decision that has sparked reactions among Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. Reacting to the move, party leader Mahesh Tenginkai accused the Congress-led government of engaging in "appeasement politics." "Since Congress came to power in the state, they are doing this appeasement politics. Those who pelted stones at police in Hubballi, Congress released them. They have done many such things," BJP leader Tenginkai told ANI. Similarly, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad also strongly opposed the Karnataka government's decision to grant four per cent reservation for Muslim contractors in government projects, calling it Congress's "appeasement politics" and warning about its "nationwide implications." the state cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, which aims to provide 4 per cent reservation in tenders to Muslim contractors, official sources said. The decision was taken on Friday in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Cabinet Hall of the Vidhan Sabha. Official sources added that the amendment will be made after the KTPP act is tabled in the ongoing assembly session. Speaking to ANI, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday clarified that the state government's decision to provide a four per cent reservation in government contracts is not exclusive to Muslims but extends to all minority communities and backward classes. "Four per cent reservation is not just for Muslims but all minority communities and backward classes," he said. (ANI)
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav has come under fire for allegedly telling a policeman "dance or be suspended" during Holi celebrations. His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from retired senior police officials, who accused him of insulting the police force and disrespecting the dignity of the uniform. Ajay Kumar Singh, a retired Delhi Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), condemned the remarks, urging authorities to take action against the RJD leader while stressing that no action should be taken against the officer, as he was merely following orders. "The uniform has dignity, and we have a code of conduct. It is clearly mentioned in the police manual that police personnel must not act against the code of conduct. Tej Pratap is behaving like an imposter; saying such things to your own security is an insult to the police," the former Delhi ACP told ANI. Further criticizing Yadav's behaviour, Singh added, "We are hurt by this act...The policeman is not at fault--he simply followed orders. Taking action against him would be unfair and unacceptable." Former Delhi Joint Commissioner of Police (Joint CP) SBS Tyagi urged Bihar's political leadership to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. "Such instructions should never be given. I hope Bihar's political and police leadership will make it clear that police officers should not be subjected to such treatment," Tyagi told ANI. He also lamented the decline in etiquette and respect in public discourse, saying, "Police officers work within the purview of the law. Their job is to maintain law and order and work as per the Constitution. I feel that there is a lack of manners and respect in society- people say and do whatever they want. Here, we believe in breaking the law; this is a wrong way of thinking," Tyagi said. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister, Vijay Kumar Sinha, also criticized Yadav's remarks, saying that the RJD has a history of disregarding the law. "RJD's culture is to flout the law, make fun of people in constitutional posts, insult the Constitution repeatedly, and demoralise people. The ideology and values of people who have been in RJD will never change," Sinha told ANI. The controversy erupted on Friday, March 14, when Yadav, while celebrating Holi with party workers at his residence in Patna, was caught on video telling a policeman: "Nahi thumka lagaoge to suspend kar diye jaoge" (If you don't dance, you will be suspended). His remarks have since been heavily criticized by the ruling alliance, including the Janata Dal (United) and Bharatiya Janata Party. (ANI)
The lift-off took place at 7:03 ET on Friday, with a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon spacecraft on the Crew-10 mission.

https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1900684974078259482

The mission also launched four crew members to the ISS: NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov to the International Space Station.

Crew-10 is the 10th crew rotation mission under SpaceX's human space transportation system and the 11th flight with a crew aboard to the ISS station through NASA's Commercial Crew Program, including the Demo-2 test flight.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stranded on the ISS for nine months after reaching there in June last year. They were supposed to stay there for about a week.

Ahead of the launch, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth shared a video message expressing support for NASA's SpaceX Crew-10, Fox News reported.

In a video posted on X, Hegseth stated, "I just want to take a brief moment to say we are praying for you." He added, "We wish you Godspeed, and we look forward to welcoming you all home soon."

"President Trump said to Elon Musk, 'get the astronauts home and do it now' - and they're responding," Hegseth said.

"And they're bringing NASA astronauts, [who] also happen to be retired US Navy Capt. Butch Wilmore and retired US Navy Capt. Suni Williams, home," he added, as reported by Fox News. (ANI)
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday (local time) called on Russia to accept the US-brokered proposal for an interim 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, emphasizing that "atrocities must stop." Macron criticized Russia for its "delaying statements" on the proposed deal following his discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy and UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer. "I spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and then with Prime Minister Kier Starmer following the progress made during the meeting between the United States and Ukraine in Jeddah on Tuesday. Russia must now accept the U.S.-Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. The Russian aggression in Ukraine must end. The atrocities must stop. So must the delaying statements," Macron wrote in a post on X. https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1900610551085961687 Macron assured France's unwavering support to Ukraine to achieve peace and informed that all partners will hold a video conference today to discuss the issue. "Tomorrow, we will continue working to strengthen support for Ukraine and to achieve a solid and lasting peace, in a videoconference with Prime Minister Starmer, President Zelensky, and all our partners," he added. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said that he shared the results of the meeting between the Ukrainian and American delegations in Saudi Arabia with Macron. He reiterated Ukraine's support for the US proposal for an unconditional 30-day full interim ceasefire but warned against trusting Russian President Vladimir Putin. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1900607133881618501 "I shared the results of the meeting (with Macron) between the Ukrainian and American teams in Saudi Arabia. It was a very constructive discussion, during which Ukraine supported the U.S. proposal for an unconditional 30-day full interim ceasefire. Now we see how Russia is trying to set conditions for an unconditional ceasefire and wants to make the process shaky. Putin cannot be trusted. His reaction already shows that Moscow does not want peace or an end to the war," Zelenskyy said. Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that he had "good and productive discussions" with Russian President Vladimir Putin and hinted that the Russia-Ukraine conflict could "finally come to an end." However, on Thursday, Putin questioned the United States-brokered proposal for a ceasefire in the Ukraine war, setting forth tough conditions and demanding concessions from Kyiv despite saying he supported a truce in theory, CNN reported. "We agree with the proposal to cease hostilities but we have to bear in mind that this ceasefire must be aimed at a long-lasting peace and it must look at the root causes of the crisis," Putin said at a news conference - repeating the Kremlin's previous claims that the current Ukrainian government is part of the underlying problem, as per CNN. (ANI)
The United States Senate passed a bill on Friday (local time) to fund the government through September 30, narrowly avoiding a shutdown just hours before the deadline, CNN reported. The bill received bipartisan support, with 10 Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, crossing party lines in a key procedural vote. The bill now heads to the desk of President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law. Schumer defended his decision, arguing that Democrats had only 'bad options' when it came to shutting down Trump's government or accepting the Republican bill that would cut spending to programs like veterans' health care or Washington, DC, firefighters and police, CNN reported. "I believe it is the best way to minimize the harm that the Trump administration will do to the American people," Schumer argued in defense of his decision during remarks on the Senate floor. "Clearly, this is a Hobson's choice. The CR is a bad bill, but as bad as the CR is, I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option." The bill passed by a vote of 54 to 46. Schumer faced backlash from his party members over crossing party lines to vote for the bill. The New York lawmaker defended himself by saying, "My caucus and I are in sync." Schumer told CNN that he "always knew there would be disagreements," but maintained that a "government shutdown would be far worse" than voting for the GOP-led measure. "My job as leader is to lead the party, and if there's going to be danger in the near future, to protect the party. And I'm proud I did it. I knew I did the right thing, and I knew there would be some disagreements. That's how it always is," Schumer said. President Trump praised Schumer for announcing his support, saying, "I appreciate Senator Schumer, and I think he did the right thing, really. I'm very impressed by that." Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only Republican to vote against the bill. (ANI)
MQM founder Altaf Hussain has strongly condemned the ongoing attacks on Ahmadis and their places of worship in various cities of Pakistan, including Punjab and Karachi. In his latest speech, he denounced religious extremism and urged the public to reject the 'divisive rhetoric' of extremist clerics. Hussain expressed deep sorrow over the continued persecution of Ahmadis, stating that a well-planned conspiracy appears to be in place to spread religious hatred in the country. "Their places of worship are being vandalized, their lives are in danger, their women are dishonored, and their properties are being destroyed. This is not just oppression; it is a crime against humanity," he said. Altaf Hussain raised a critical question regarding Pakistan's treatment of Ahmadis. "If the state has already declared Ahmadis non-Muslims through constitutional amendments and legislation, why are they still being persecuted? If they have no right to call themselves Muslims, does that mean they have no right to live either?" He also questioned the role of extremist clerics who incite violence. "Which religious scholar has ever said that Ahmadi places of worship should be burned down? That they should be killed? Neither Allah nor the Prophet (PBUH) has commanded such actions," he said. Criticizing the double standards of certain religious leaders, Hussain pointed out that these clerics often preach against Western nations, calling them immoral, yet frequently visit these very countries under the guise of religious preaching. "Why do they condemn the West while secretly benefiting from it?" he asked. Referring to the Quranic verses, he said, "There is no compulsion in religion." Hussain emphasized that Islam does not allow forced conversions or persecution based on faith. He warned that harming non-Muslims, including Ahmadis, contradicts the teachings of Islam. "If you attack a person because they are Hindu, Christian, Jewish, or Ahmadi, and destroy their homes or places of worship, then in the eyes of God, you are an oppressor and a tyrant." Altaf Hussain called upon all ethnic groups in Pakistan--Punjabis, Sindhis, Baloch, Pashtuns, and Muhajirs--to ensure the safety of all citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs. "Ahmadis may be non-Muslims by law, but they are still human beings. Respecting their places of worship is a sacred duty," he said. He also urged the people of Karachi, Hyderabad, and other cities in Sindh to take a stand against religious intolerance and protect their non-Muslim neighbors. Hussain warned that Pakistan is on the brink of collapse due to religious extremism. "Half of Pakistan is already lost, and the remaining half is on life support. If we do not eliminate extremism, our country will not survive. For God's sake, let us respect humanity," he pleaded. In conclusion, he stressed that without human dignity and tolerance, even the most devout Muslim risks stepping outside the true essence of Islam. (ANI)
The Iraqi Prime Minister said that personnel of the country's national intelligence service, working with coalition forces commanded by the United States, had killed the head of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, as reported by CNN citing AP. "The Iraqis continue their impressive victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism," Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement posted on X. Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, or "Abu Khadija," was "deputy caliph" of the militant group and "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world," the statement said, as reported by CNN. On his Truth Social platform Friday night, US President Donald Trump said, "Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters" in coordination with the Iraqi government and the Kurdish regional government. "PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!" Trump added. As per a report by CNN, a security official said the operation was executed by airstrike in the western Iraqi province of Anbar. According to a second official, al-Rifai's death was verified on Friday, but the operation happened Thursday night. They were not permitted to make public comments, so they talked on condition of anonymity. The announcement came on the same day as the first visit by Syria's top diplomat to Iraq, during which the two countries pledged to work together to combat IS. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein, according to the report, said at a news conference that "there are common challenges facing Syrian and Iraqi society, and especially the terrorists of IS." He said the officials had spoken "in detail about the movements of ISIS, whether on the Syrian-Iraqi border, inside Syria or inside Iraq" during the visit. Hussein further referred to an operations room formed by Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon at a recent meeting in Amman to confront IS and said it would soon begin work. The relationship between Iraq and Syria is somewhat fraught after the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Al-Sudani came to power with the support of a coalition of Iran-backed factions, and Tehran was a major backer of Assad. The current interim president of Syria, Ahmad al-Sharaa, was earlier reportedly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani and fought as an al-Qaida militant in Iraq after the US invasion of 2003 and later fought against Assad's government in Syria. The US and Iraq had announced an agreement last year to wind down the military mission in Iraq of an American-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group by September 2025, with US forces departing some bases where they have stationed troops during a two-decade-long military presence in the country. Iraqi political officials declared that the threat posed by IS was under control and that they no longer required assistance from Washington to defeat the residual cells after the coalition's mission in Iraq was agreed to terminate. But the fall of Assad in December led some to reassess that stance, including members of the Coordination Framework, a coalition of mainly Shiite, Iran-allied political parties that brought current Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani to power in late 2022, according to the report. (ANI)
The United States has announced a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign government officials involved in the forced return of Uyghurs and other vulnerable ethnic or religious groups to China. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in a statement, announced that the policy would apply to both current and former officials responsible for, or complicit in, such actions, emphasizing the US commitment to countering China's ongoing efforts to pressure governments into deporting individuals who face persecution upon return. The visa restrictions will be implemented 'immediately', with initial measures targeting officials from the Thai government involved in the forced return of 40 Uyghurs to China on February 27. Secretary Rubio highlighted in the press release that those sent back are at risk of enforced disappearances and torture, a longstanding concern regarding China's treatment of Uyghurs and other minority groups. The US government has repeatedly condemned such actions, citing well-documented human rights violations, including what it has classified as genocide and crimes against humanity. Secretary Rubio reiterated that China has engaged in systematic persecution of Uyghurs, and the United States is urging governments worldwide to refrain from forcibly returning individuals to China under any circumstances. "I am immediately implementing this policy by taking steps to impose visa restrictions on current and former officials from the Government of Thailand responsible for, or complicit in, the forced return of 40 Uyghurs from Thailand on February 27," Rubio said in the statement. "In light of China's longstanding acts of genocide and crimes against humanity committed against Uyghurs, we call on governments around the world not to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to China," he added. The policy expands the US government's ability to restrict visas for foreign officials deemed responsible for these deportations, reinforcing a broader effort to protect at-risk groups from mistreatment upon their return. Officials targeted under this policy will face visa restrictions under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a provision allowing the US State Department to deny entry to individuals linked to human rights abuses. Additionally, certain family members of affected individuals may also be subject to the visa restrictions, further extending the policy's reach. (ANI)
Katchatheevu Island's St. Anthony Church on Saturday witnessed the last day of the two-day annual St. Anthony festival, local Priest Father John Joseph Kennady said that the island is a harmonious place that embraces everyone. A day earlier, fishermen from India and Sri Lanka kicked off the St. Anthony festival by participating in the flag-hoisting ceremony and the 'Way of the Cross' procession at the church dedicated to St. Antony on the uninhabited Kachchatheevu Island. Speaking to ANI, Father John Joseph Kennady said, "Katchatheevu Island is a harmonious place that embraces everyone." On fishermen from India and Sri Lanka celebrating the St. Anthony festival in Kachchatheevu Island, Father Kennady said, "People from all over Sri Lanka and India have come here to honor St. Anthony." After the annual mass and holy procession this morning at the island church, the Indian fishermen pilgrims will begin to return back to India. Earlier, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) had deployed ships and an aircraft to ensure the safety of fishermen traveling to Katchatheevu Island for the annual two-day festival at St. Antony's Church. Commanding Officer of ICG Station Mandapam, Commodore B. Vinay Kumar, had said that over 3,400 pilgrims headed to the Sri Lankan island for the event. "The Katchatheevu festival is held annually, and this year it takes place on March 14 and 15. A total of 3,421 pilgrims are proceeding to Katchatheevu," Commodore Kumar told ANI. Deputy Commandant Abhishek Yadav, commanding officer of an ICG interceptor-class boat, explained that the Indian Coast Guard would provide security coverage for the fishermen before handing them over to the Sri Lankan Navy for the festival. "Charlie 431 and 431 (ships), one ACV dornier and one more fast petrol vessel will be present to facilitate the easy movement of fishermen to Rameswaram till Katchatheevu island. We will be handing over all the pilgrims safely, providing them coverage. The senior ship will hand over all the pilgrims to the Sri Lankan Navy, and the next day after the prayers, we will be taking over again to bring the pilgrims back," he had said. (ANI)
During his four-day visit to Bangladesh, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commented that he aims to bring global attention to the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis, while also acknowledging the country's reform efforts. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Guterres reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for more humanitarian aid for the displaced Rohingya people. "I have returned to Cox's Bazar to shine a global spotlight on the plight of more than one million Rohingya refugees - but also their potential. They are proud. They are resilient. And they need the world's support," he wrote. https://x.com/antonioguterres/status/1900774458866143717?t=o4sMajqtAeNVC7SrnwjY8w&s=08 Upon his arrival in Bangladesh on Friday, Guterres expressed his gratitude to the country's interim government and its citizens for their warm reception. Thanking Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and the Bangladeshi people, he remarked on the nation's ongoing reforms and transitions, assuring them of continued UN support. "As the country undergoes important reforms and transitions, you can count on the UN to help build a sustainable and equitable future for all," he posted on X. Shortly after landing in Dhaka, Guterres met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna. Their discussions covered a range of issues, including the country's reform agenda, humanitarian initiatives, and Bangladesh's ongoing collaboration with the UN to address critical concerns. His spokesperson, speaking at a media briefing earlier in the day, emphasised that Guterres would call upon the international community to strengthen humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya, who have faced years of hardship and displacement. On Saturday, Guterres will visit a photo exhibition at the UN office in Dhaka, where he will also meet with youth and civil society representatives. Later in the day, he is set to hold a joint press conference with Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain. His visit will conclude with an iftar hosted by the Chief Adviser before his scheduled departure from Dhaka on March 16. (ANI)
The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries have condemned China's aggressive maritime actions in the Indo-Pacific region. "We condemn China's illicit, provocative, coercive and dangerous actions that seek unilaterally to alter the status quo in such a way as to risk undermining the stability of regions, including through land reclamations, and building of outposts, as well as their use for military purpose," the statement read. The ministers of the advanced economies who gathered in Canada on Friday noted growing concern at recent, unjustifiable efforts to "expand jurisdiction through use of force and other forms of coercion," including across the Taiwan Strait, and in the South China Sea, the Red Sea, and the Black Sea. The ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the European Union, renewed their opposition to any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo "by force or coercion." The joint statement also condemned the increasing use of "dangerous vessel maneuvers and water cannons," the indiscriminate attacks against commercial vessels, and other maritime actions that undermine the maritime order based on the rule of law and international law. They expressed concern over the increasing use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine and Vietnamese vessels as well as efforts to restrict freedom of navigation and overflight through militarization and coercion in the South China Sea, in violation of international law. Beijing announced its "Nine-Dashed Line" claim in the South China Sea in 2009. In a unanimous decision on July 12, 2016, an Arbitral Tribunal constituted under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention--to which China is a State Party--rejected much of China's South China Sea maritime claims as having no basis in international law. The G7 countries expressed concern with "China's military build-up and the continued, rapid increase in China's nuclear weapons arsenal. They called on China to engage in strategic risk reduction discussions and promote stability through transparency. Through the joint statement, the G7 countries expressed concerns about "China's non-market policies and practices" that are leading to "harmful overcapacity and market distortions." G7 members further called on China to refrain from adopting export control measures that could lead to significant supply chain disruptions. They reiterated that they are not trying to harm China or thwart its economic growth, indeed a growing China that plays by international rules and norms would be of global interest. The G7 group also reaffirmed that their "basic policies on Taiwan remain unchanged" and highlighted that of "peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait" is indispensable to international security and prosperity. The ministers who convened in the tourist town of La Malbaie, in the Quebec hills on Thursday and Friday also discussed efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine, regional peace and stability in West Asia, peace in Sudan and Congo, the violence in Haiti and Venezuela among others. (ANI)
According to the official report by Paank, the documented cases reflect widespread arbitrary arrests and illegal executions, painting a grim picture of the worsening human rights conditions in the region. Reports indicate that in February alone, enforced disappearances were recorded across 14 districts of Balochistan, with some cases extending into Punjab and Sindh.

Awaran district reported the highest number of incidents, with 26 individuals forcibly disappeared. The total number of enforced disappearances for the month reached 134, while 50 individuals were released after enduring both mental and physical torture, as cited by Paank.

The ongoing crisis has sparked protests across several cities, including Quetta, Kalat, Hub, and Mastung, where families of the disappeared have staged demonstrations demanding the safe return of their loved ones. Protesters have set up sit-ins on major highways, bringing traffic to a standstill.

Among the affected routes are the Quetta-Karachi Highway, Quetta-Taftan Highway, and the Taftan Highway near Mastung, severely disrupting transportation and daily life.

Paank's report also details continued unlawful detentions and executions by Pakistani security forces. In February 2025 alone, 18 cases of extrajudicial killings were recorded. The lack of independent investigations and accountability has further deepened fear and insecurity among the affected communities, while those responsible continue to act with impunity.

Human rights organisations have consistently raised concerns over enforced disappearances and the absence of legal due process in Pakistan. Protesters are urging the government, judiciary, and international human rights bodies to take immediate action.

However, despite periodic assurances from authorities, the failure to implement meaningful reforms has led to growing frustration and distrust among the affected families. (ANI)
Cuba was plunged into darkness on Friday night as a nationwide power outage left more than 10 million people without electricity, marking one of the most severe blackouts the country has faced in recent years, CNN reported. The failure, which impacted homes, businesses, and public infrastructure across the island, underscored Cuba's ongoing struggles with an aging energy grid and persistent economic challenges. The Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed that the outage was caused by a major failure at the Diezmero substation, located in western Cuba, which triggered a widespread collapse of the National Electric System. "At around 8:15 pm tonight, a failure at the Diezmero substation caused a significant loss of generation in the west of Cuba and with it the failure of the National Electric System," the ministry said in a statement. Officials assured that efforts to restore service were underway, though no estimated timeframe was provided for when full power would be restored, reported CNN. Scenes from Havana, captured on video by CNN, showed the capital city in near-total darkness, with residents navigating pitch-black streets using electric torches and mobile phone flashlights. This latest blackout adds to Cuba's worsening energy crisis, as the country struggles with outdated infrastructure, ongoing fuel shortages, and the impact of natural disasters. The government has frequently attributed these challenges to decades-long US economic sanctions, which were tightened under US President Donald Trump. However, critics argue that the Cuban government's failure to modernise its infrastructure has played a significant role in the continued instability of the energy grid, CNN reported. Cuba has faced repeated power outages in recent years, with one of the worst occurring in October, when most of the island endured nearly a week of near-total blackouts. (ANI)
China has reportedly conducted amphibious landing drills in the South China Sea using specially designed vessels capable of rapidly deploying military vehicles and troops onto beaches. These exercises, observed by analysts, resemble those required for an island invasion and come amid rising tensions over Taiwan's self-rule, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported. According to RFA, open-source investigators analysing Chinese social media this week identified a fleet of large ships, described as "invasion barges" due to their ability to transport heavy military equipment and personnel directly onto shorelines. Experts suggest these vessels play a crucial role in potential amphibious assault operations, particularly in contested regions like Taiwan and the South China Sea. Using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imaging technology, analysts identified the presence of three such barges in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province--home to the Chinese South Sea Fleet--confirming the drills took place between March 4 and March 11, RFA reported. Damien Symon, a geo-intelligence researcher at The Intel Lab, told Radio Free Asia that he verified the exercises occurred in Zhanjiang during this period, though it remains unclear whether they are still ongoing. Zhanjiang is strategically positioned approximately 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) west of Taiwan and 1,100 kilometres (680 miles) northwest of the Philippines--both of which have been embroiled in heightened tensions with Beijing. In a satellite image analysed by Symon, three barges were seen lined up near a beach. Additional photos, reportedly taken at the same location and shared on Chinese social media, depict the barges forming a makeshift "bridge" to the shore, allowing tanks and other military vehicles to land, RFA reported. China has intensified its military activities in the South China Sea, frequently conducting exercises involving amphibious landings and advanced naval operations. These drills highlight Beijing's growing military capabilities and are widely seen as preparations for potential conflicts, particularly concerning Taiwan. China considers Taiwan a part of its territory and has not ruled out using military force to assert control. Recently, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated that "reunification with Taiwan is inevitable, and China will make it happen." (ANI)
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political committee has decided to raise concerns with party founder Imran Khan over the unregulated use of its official social media accounts, which have been used to post aggressive content, including messages perceived as targeting the military and national interests, Geo News reported. Senior leaders believe a structured oversight mechanism is needed to ensure that official messaging aligns with party policies and avoids unnecessary controversies. Sources within PTI revealed that this issue was discussed in a recent political committee meeting at KP House in Islamabad, where leaders expressed concern over the reckless handling of PTI's digital platforms. Many agreed that these platforms, including official accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, have been misused to push narratives that create friction with state institutions. To address this, senior party figures will meet Khan in jail and advise him to form a committee responsible for vetting all content before it is published. The primary concern is the alleged influence of overseas individuals who have been managing PTI's digital operations. Some leaders fear that external actors are using party accounts to promote anti-military campaigns and other narratives that may not reflect PTI's official stance, Geo News reported. While Imran Khan has previously defended the content posted, frustration has been growing among party officials who believe PTI's social media should be controlled internally. Senior figures, including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Salman Akram Raja, Shibli Faraz, Junaid Akbar, Raoof Hasan, Amir Dogar, Hafiz Farhat, and Asad Qaiser, attended the meeting and agreed that stricter oversight was necessary. The matter gained urgency following the recent terrorist attack in Balochistan, during which PTI's social media platforms were accused of amplifying narratives aligned with militant propaganda. Some of the party's verified accounts allegedly shared content that critics argue could be interpreted as sympathetic to anti-state elements. Party leaders worry that without proper oversight, PTI's social media presence could continue to stir controversy and invite scrutiny from authorities. The committee believes that implementing a structured approval process will prevent such incidents in the future. Despite the push for stronger controls, a key challenge is that PTI's senior leadership currently has little direct authority over its social media operations. Even PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, and Information Secretary Waqas Akram Shaikh reportedly lack control over what is posted on the official accounts. Previous attempts to engage PTI's overseas chapters, particularly in the United States, to regulate content have largely been ignored, reported Geo News. Another source of frustration is that PTI's digital platforms often promote social media influencers and YouTubers based abroad while ignoring official statements from senior party leaders. Some leaders feel that social media narratives are being shaped by individuals with personal agendas rather than the party's core leadership. (ANI)
The Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU), a Uyghur advocacy group, has praised US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for imposing visa restrictions on Thai officials involved in the forced repatriation of 40 Uyghurs to China. https://x.com/CUyghurs/status/1900622087623991797 In a post on X, CFU stated, "This decisive action sends a strong message that those who enable the CCP's human rights abuses will face consequences for their crimes." Rubio confirmed the measure, stating, "I am immediately implementing this policy by taking steps to impose visa restrictions on current and former officials from the Government of Thailand responsible for, or complicit in, the forced return of 40 Uyghurs from Thailand on February 27." Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of CFU, expressed deep gratitude for Rubio's decision, emphasising its importance in combating transnational repression. "We are deeply grateful to Secretary Rubio for his leadership and long-standing support of the Uyghur cause. By imposing visa restrictions on Thai officials responsible for the return of 40 Uyghurs, the United States is sending a clear warning: nations that violate human rights and disregard international law will face consequences. We commend Secretary Rubio and the Trump administration for standing resolutely against transnational repression and genocide." The CFU has urged the international community to follow the US example by holding the Thai government accountable for its role in what they describe as the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) Uyghur genocide. The organisation also called for immediate action to protect the remaining Uyghur refugees in Thailand from similar deportations. The new US policy expands government authority to impose visa restrictions on foreign officials involved in deportations that put vulnerable groups at risk. Under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the US State Department can deny entry to individuals linked to human rights violations. This restriction may also extend to certain family members of affected individuals, increasing the scope and impact of the policy. In a related development, the European Parliament recently issued a resolution condemning Thailand for deporting 40 Uyghurs to China, arguing that the move violated international law. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump has pledged to transform Washington, DC, into a "crime-free capital," emphasising the need for a cleaner, safer, and more visually appealing city for visiting world leaders. Speaking at an event, Trump stressed his commitment to restoring the capital's image, asserting that heads of state - including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi--should not have to witness urban decay when they visit. "We want to have a capital that can be the talk of the world--when Prime Minister Modi of India, when the President of France, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, all of these people came to see me in the last week and a half--and when they come in, I don't want them to see tents, I don't want them to see graffiti, don't want them to see broken barriers and potholes in the roads," Trump said. "I had it looking beautiful. We're going to do that for the city." Trump further vowed to restore law and order in Washington, promising a drastic reduction in crime rates and a safer environment for residents and visitors alike. "We are going to have a crime-free capital. When people come here, they're not going to be mugged, or shot, or raped. They're going to have a crime-free capital again. It's going to be cleaner, better, and safer than it ever was. It's not going to take us too long," he added. His comments come just weeks after Prime Minister Modi's visit to the US, which was hailed as "productive and substantive." During his time in Washington, PM Modi held extensive discussions with Trump and other key figures, including newly confirmed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. The talks covered strategic and security cooperation, defence, trade, economic engagement, technology, energy security, and regional and global concerns. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had highlighted the importance of the visit, stating, "The PM just concluded a very substantive and productive visit to the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump. This is the Prime Minister's first visit to the United States after the inauguration of President Trump for a second term. This visit is a signal of the priority that both leaders attach to the India-US relationship." During their White House meeting, PM Modi and Trump shared a warm embrace, with the US President reaffirming that the relationship between the two nations would continue to grow stronger. "We have great unity and great friendship," Trump said, adding that it was "important" for both nations to remain aligned. PM Modi, in turn, expressed confidence that India and the US would continue to advance their strategic partnership with "the same bond, trust, and excitement." (ANI)
Presided over by Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the conference was attended by key figures, including Education Kalon Tharlam Dolma Changra, Education Council Chair Geshe Lhakdor, and Education Secretary Jigme Namgyal.

Other attendees included Additional Secretaries Tenzin Pema and Tenzin Dorjee, Education Directors Ngawang Lhamo and Dr. Passang Dhundup, Director Tsering Dhondup, Education Officer Tenzin Rabgyal, and Professors Ven Lhakpa Tsering and Sonam Gyaltsen.

The event opened with a welcome address by Education Council Director Tenzin Pema, who introduced the conference's agenda. In his remarks, Geshe Lhakdor stressed the critical need to enhance Tibetan education and reinforce a strong connection to Tibetan cultural values.

Sikyong Penpa Tsering addressed the audience, discussing a recent development with the USAID program. He revealed that on February 27, he sent a letter to Senator Marco Rubio and Peter Marocco, and on March 10, Senator Rubio replied, reaffirming the US government's "unwavering support for the Tibetan cause and commitment to the struggle for freedom and justice," Tibet.net reported.

Sikyong also spoke on the importance of nurturing children's individual interests, encouraging them to pursue their passions beyond academics. He mentioned that some children thrive in activities like handicrafts and proposed adopting Swiss models that cater to children's diverse talents, Tibet.net reported.

The opening session concluded with a vote of thanks from Education Council Director Tenzin Pema.

China's strict policies on Tibetan culture include efforts to suppress traditional practices, language, and religious freedoms. The government has enforced regulations limiting the teaching of Tibetan language in schools, restricting religious practices, and promoting assimilation to weaken Tibetan identity and maintain political control over the region. (ANI)
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday ordered an inquiry into the denial of a meeting between former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his lawyer, Mashal Yousafzai, appointing court clerk Sakina Bangash to investigate whether jail authorities unlawfully prevented the meeting. Dawn reported that the directive came during a hearing on a contempt of court petition filed against Adiala Jail officials for failing to comply with court orders. Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, who presided over the hearing, directed jail authorities to facilitate Bangash's visit to ascertain the facts. During the proceedings, the jail administration claimed that Khan had personally refused to meet Yousafzai when her name was presented to him. However, this assertion was met with skepticism from the court, as authorities had previously assured that the meeting would take place. Mashal Yousafzai, who appeared in court alongside her lawyer Shoaib Shaheen, contended that multiple petitions had been filed on the issue but were assigned to a different court, delaying resolution. Meanwhile, the state counsel presented a handwritten list, purportedly submitted by Imran Khan himself, listing the lawyers he had declined to meet. This claim raised further concerns, as the court questioned its authenticity and whether it accurately reflected Khan's intentions. Justice Khan expressed displeasure over the jail authorities' failure to comply with previous directives and emphasised that denying access despite clear court orders could amount to contempt. To resolve the matter, the court directed Adiala Jail officials to ensure that Imran Khan was presented via video link at 2 p.m. or, if that was not feasible, in person at 3 p.m. Failure to do so, Justice Khan warned, would prompt legal action against the Islamabad police chief. Additionally, the court asked Khan to provide a written statement confirming or denying whether Mashal Yousafzai was his legal representative, addressing concerns about the legitimacy of her claim. When the hearing resumed later in the day, Adiala Jail Superintendent Abdul Ghafoor Anjum appeared before the court and was questioned about the delay in facilitating the meeting. He stated that he had been out of town and reiterated that Imran Khan had refused to meet Yousafzai. However, the court remained unconvinced, pointing out inconsistencies in the authorities' responses and reaffirming its commitment to ensuring due process, reported Dawn. Advocate General for Islamabad Ayaz Shaukat later informed the court that presenting Khan via video link was not possible due to security concerns. In response, Justice Khan ordered both the jail administration and the Islamabad inspector general to submit affidavits detailing their compliance with the court's directives. Court clerk Sakina Bangash has been tasked with visiting Adiala Jail to verify whether Imran Khan had indeed refused the meeting with Yousafzai. She is also expected to assess whether the former prime minister's meetings with other associates are being arranged in accordance with legal provisions. A list of six lawyers, signed by Khan, was presented before the court, raising further questions about the validity of the power of attorney. During the hearing, the jail administration informed the court that Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and his legal team had been scheduled to meet on Tuesday. However, Yousafzai remained skeptical about the fairness of the process and questioned whether justice would be served. In response, Justice Khan reassured her that the court was taking the necessary steps to verify the facts and uphold the rule of law. The court adjourned the proceedings until March 21, instructing Bangash to complete the inquiry and present her findings in the next hearing. Separately, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday granted the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) additional time to submit its response to Imran Khan's petition challenging his jail trial in a contempt case. A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, resumed hearing the petition. The ECP's counsel cited the need to compile necessary documents as the reason for the delay in submission. The bench expressed dissatisfaction over the reply's non-submission but allowed the request, adjourning the hearing. Khan's petition challenges the ECP's November 30, 2023, decision to conduct his trial within Adiala Jail due to unspecified security concerns. The petition argues that the move violates several fundamental rights, including the right to a fair trial under Article 10-A of the Constitution, Dawn reported. Khan has urged the court to overturn the ECP's decision and direct authorities to hold a public trial with full access for his legal team, media, and the public. (ANI)
In a landmark humanitarian initiative, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched a transformative project to establish ten state-of-the-art maternity and paediatric centres across Afghanistan. Guided by the humanitarian vision of the UAE's founder, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and supported by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, the initiative aims to address critical healthcare needs while fostering stability, development, and prosperity in Afghanistan. The maternity clinics are located in Afghan provinces where the need is greatest, including Nangarhar, Balkh, Herat, Ghazni, Paktika, Paktia, Kandahar, and Helmand. Each centre is equipped with two specialist beds and has dedicated doctors and nursing staff. With an estimated 115,000 women expected to benefit in the coming years, alongside wider community impact, the initiative seeks to elevate healthcare standards, empower women and children, and strengthen local communities. The project features cutting-edge facilities, solar power, satellite-linked stations, mobile clinics, and ambulances. The medical centre in Baghbani district of Jalalabad is already providing essential care to expectant mothers and young children. Previously, local families had no access to reliable vaccines due to supply shortages and inadequate refrigeration. Now, thanks to the centre's modern facilities, essential immunizations, including tuberculosis vaccines, are available to over 20 people daily. Baby Ayesha Qamari is among the children receiving vital health checks and vaccinations. Afghanistan has one of the highest infant mortality rates, with approximately 43 deaths per 1,000 live births, primarily due to infectious diseases, respiratory infections, diarrhoea, malaria, pre-term birth complications, and birth asphyxia. Ayesha's mother expressed her gratitude, saying, "We've come to the clinic three or four times. Whoever built this clinic, we thank them. We didn't have the ability to rent a car, and there were other problems. By the time we would go to the city hospital or university hospital, our patient or child would pass away." The vaccination program is a crucial part of the centre's healthcare services. Marwa Akbari, Clinic Vaccination Officer, explained, "Currently, we are applying the COVID-19 and BCG vaccines to eligible individuals. This vaccine is administered to both pregnant and non-pregnant women who meet the criteria." Ikramullah, the leading doctor at the clinic, highlighted the improvements in maternal healthcare, stating, "Previously, unsafe home births were common, but now we assist deliveries with a professional team. We also provide vaccinations, nutritional support for newborns, and treatment facilities for mothers with internal health issues." Afghanistan has been identified as a priority for the UAE's humanitarian and sustainable aid efforts. With close supervision from Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Martyrs' Families Affairs, the UAE's Integrated Development Program aims to deliver top-quality healthcare across the country. One Afghan mother, Shazia Mohammadi, who has six children, had never had access to modern healthcare--until now. In appreciation of the UAE's efforts, she named her newborn daughter Fatima after Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, Mother of the Nation and wife of the UAE's founder. "When I was giving birth, our economic situation was very bad. Now, things have improved. We thank the UAE for helping us so much." Her husband, Ramadan Mohammadi, shared their struggle, saying, "Six of our children were born at home. The clinic was far, and our economy was weak. This is the first time a clinic has been built near our house, and it has been very good for us." Beyond healthcare, the initiative is also generating economic opportunities. The project has created 92 jobs and is stimulating local businesses, ultimately uplifting families in the region. Mawlawi Ameenullah Sharif, Health Director of Nangarhar Province, acknowledged the impact of the UAE's efforts, stating, "We thank the UAE for supporting the Islamic Emirate and for investing in clinics across Afghanistan. The Nangarhar clinic was urgently needed. Now, the poor have access to essential healthcare, including vaccination, nutrition, and maternal and child health services." Jalalabad, Afghanistan's fifth-largest city, with a population of approximately 350,000, is just one of many areas benefiting from the UAE's humanitarian efforts. The UAE continues to fund multiple initiatives across Afghanistan, driven by principles of solidarity, generosity, and sustainable development, regardless of race, class, ethnicity, sect, or political orientation. (ANI)
As the holy month of Ramzan unfolds, residents of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) are struggling with soaring prices of essential goods, making it increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens to afford basic necessities, TNN Stories reported. Despite government efforts to control prices before Ramzan, the administration's regulations have not been effectively implemented, leading to frustration among the public. In PoJK, particularly in Muzaffarabad, the capital of the region, prices of essential commodities such as fruits, vegetables, and meat have surged significantly. Social worker M Altaaf Butt expressed concern, highlighting that while 2025 has arrived, little has changed in terms of alleviating the economic challenges faced by the people. "The prices of mutton and other groceries have skyrocketed, and the situation is getting worse. Shopkeepers claim they have to purchase commodities at inflated prices from Rawalpindi and Mansehra," Butt said. The rising cost of living is causing severe hardships, especially during Ramzan, a time when many rely on these items for their daily iftar and suhoor meals. Ordinary people are bearing the brunt of the price hike, facing significant challenges in affording basic goods, TNN Stories reported. Authorities have been blamed for neglecting the issue, with accusations that they are indifferent to the hardships faced by the public. As the holy month progresses, there is growing demand for increased accountability from both market regulators and officials to ensure that essential items remain affordable and accessible to all. In a similar incident, residents of Karachi are also grappling with a significant rise in the prices of essential goods, making it challenging for many to afford basic necessities. Local shopkeepers are being criticised for allegedly taking advantage of the situation, as the prices of dry fruits, spices, and crockery have skyrocketed, making them unaffordable for many, reported TNN Stories. The sharp increase in prices has caused widespread frustration, with many wondering if the authorities will step in to support struggling communities during the holy month. (ANI)
Dubai [UAE], March 15 (ANI/WAM): The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) announced its contribution of AED 1 million in support of the Fathers' Endowment campaign, launched by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Coinciding with Ramadan, the campaign aims to establish an endowment fund that provides sustainable healthcare for the poor and needy. The Fathers' Endowment campaign aims to promote the values of honouring parents, compassion, and solidarity. It also highlights the vital role of fathers in the UAE in fostering supportive family environments that promote the well-being of all. The campaign seeks to provide healthcare to those in need within underserved communities worldwide, contributing to a dignified life and reinforcing the UAE's leading role in regional and international charitable and humanitarian efforts. Under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the campaign aims to further establish the noble values within Emirati society, including generosity, giving, and global humanitarian solidarity, while also advancing the concept of charitable endowments. Ahmed Darwish Al-Muhairi, Director-General of IACAD, said the Department's contribution to the Fathers' Endowment campaign reflects its deep commitment to supporting community and humanitarian initiatives that foster solidarity and generosity. Al-Muhairi stated, "Fathers are the cornerstones of families and society, and their role in nurturing future generations and instilling noble values is immeasurable. Recognising this vital role, IACAD is contributing to the campaign, dedicating this endowment to the fathers of our employees and all contributors to the campaign, acknowledging their efforts and contributions in building generations capable of pursuing goodness and prosperity." He added, "This humanitarian initiative, coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, expresses our loyalty and gratitude to those who have passed on and our prayers for long life to those who remain. We pray that this contribution will serve as a lasting charity on their behalf, bringing blessings and goodness to all." The Fathers' Endowment campaign continues to welcome donations and contributions to the endowment fund from institutions and individuals across six main channels including the campaign's website (Fathersfund.ae), as well as a dedicated call centre via the toll-free number (800 4999). Donations are also possible via bank transfers in the UAE dirham to the campaign bank account number with Emirates Islamic Bank (IBAN: AE020340003518492868201). Donations via SMS are possible by sending the word "Father" to the following numbers (1034 to donate AED 10,1035 to donate AED 50, 1036 to donate AED 100 and 1038 to donate AED 500) for Etisalat by e& and du users. Other possible platforms for donating to the campaign are the DubaiNow app by clicking the "Donations" tab, and Dubai's community contributions platform Jood (Jood.ae). (ANI/WAM)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], March 15 (ANI/WAM): Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, said that on Emirati Children's Day, "We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to providing a supportive social and educational system for our children, enabling them to develop their abilities, nurture their growth, and refine their skills to become the leaders of tomorrow.'' On the occasion of Emirati Children's Day, which falls on 15th March each year, Sheikh Abdullah affirmed that investing in children is an investment in the nation's advancement. "It is our duty to create an environment for every child that ensures their comprehensive rights, including their right to identity and national culture, thus fostering their sense of belonging and pride in their Emirati roots." Sheikh Abdullah added, "We believe that building a bright future for our children requires strengthening the partnership between the family and the community, with all its institutions, to solidify children's connection to their Emirati cultural heritage and authentic values, while fostering a spirit of leadership and a forward-looking mindset. "In the "Year of Community," we reaffirm our commitment to uniting efforts and adopting the best practices and policies that place the child at the heart of our priorities, ensuring equal opportunities for growth and development, so that they may grow into active individuals who meet the challenges of the era and contribute to the nation's prosperity." Sheikha Mariam bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan - Vice Chairwoman of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, stated, "On Emirati Children's Day, we celebrate every child who dreams, explores, and learns, every father and mother who instil values in their children, every teacher who contributes to shaping young minds, and every institution that places the well-being of the child at the heart of its priorities.'' ''Our children are our future, the hope we carry in our hearts for a brighter tomorrow. We invest in their education and care, providing them with an inspiring environment that supports their growth and enables them to realise their full potential. At the same time, we strengthen their right to culture and national identity, ensuring they grow up connected to their heritage and are able to express themselves through their language, arts, and traditions,'' she added. Sheikha Mariam bin Mohamed bin Zayed noted, "This is yet another occasion to reaffirm that the care and upbringing of a child is a significant shared responsibility that requires the collaboration of the family, community, and various sectors. Together, we aim to nurture a generation that is confident, deeply rooted in its identity, and fully equipped to lead the future with passion and creativity.'' Hajer Al Thehli, Secretary-General of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, said, "Emirati Children's Day is an occasion to celebrate the innocence of childhood and its dreams, while reaffirming our collective responsibility to care for every child and empower them to become active individuals in building the future. It is also an opportunity to renew our commitment to providing a supportive environment that enhances their cognitive and social development, while encouraging creativity and excellence." She also emphasised that empowering children to engage with, participate in, and express their cultural heritage, including their language and traditions, is a fundamental pillar in their upbringing and character development. "We work within the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council to establish effective partnerships that ensure every child has equal opportunities for education and proper upbringing, enabling them to stay connected to their identity, enjoy their cultural rights, and fulfil their ambitions while contributing to the advancement of their nation." Sana Suhail, Minister of Family, said that the family is the cornerstone in building a child's character and promoting their national identity. ''At the Ministry of Family, we work in collaboration with various community organisations to develop supportive environments that ensure every child's right to thrive within a stable and safe family, thereby fostering a sense of belonging and pride in their national identity." She noted that childhood development is a shared responsibility, which requires concerted efforts to ensure creating environments that promote children's well-being and uphold their rights to protection, care and education. The family has a pivotal role in conveying and reinforcing national cultural values, as a child's identity is shaped by the traditions, language and core values of the family. She said, ''At the Ministry of Family, we are committed to strengthening the family's educational role through initiatives that foster family cohesion and empower parents, to nurture a generation confident in their identity and prepared to build a sustainable future for the UAE. ''Building a robust community begins with the family, and when we nurture a generation that is confident in its identity and proud of its cultural heritage, we lay the foundation for a prosperous and sustainable future for the UAE." (ANI/WAM)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], March 15 (ANI/WAM): The UAE celebrates Emirati Children's Day on March 15 each year, reaffirming its dedication to building a bright future for the next generation. This occasion highlights the country's ongoing efforts to provide children a healthy and safe environment, ensuring their physical and psychological well-being. This year's celebration holds special significance as it coincides with 2025 being designated as "Year of Community" in the UAE. The focus will be on empowering children and encouraging their active participation in shaping their communities. A series of initiatives and volunteer programmes will be launched to instil a sense of responsibility, empathy, and unity among young citizens. The UAE continues to strengthen its child protection measures and uphold children's rights across all aspects of life. The country has successfully established a comprehensive system of laws and policies dedicated to child protection, awareness, and welfare, ensuring accountability in cases of neglect or misconduct. In December 2024, the UAE introduced the Ministry of Family, which is responsible for formulating and implementing policies related to children's protection, well-being, and rights. The ministry works in coordination with relevant entities to ensure children's social, psychological, educational, and healthcare needs are met, particularly during early childhood, to support their healthy development. The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood spearheads awareness programmes on children's rights, while the Ministry of Community Empowerment plays a vital role in supporting and enabling children throughout various stages of their lives. The UAE has also implemented the National Strategy for Motherhood and Childhood 2017-2021 as a key reference for policymakers in the field of child welfare. The strategy focuses on providing comprehensive care for children and mothers within a sustainable environment, ensuring access to high-quality education that nurtures children's personalities and cognitive abilities. It also promotes active participation of children and youth in decision-making, ensuring policies and programmes are data-driven to protect their rights effectively. A notable milestone in the UAE's commitment to child empowerment was the establishment of the Emirati Children's Parliament on March 15, 2020. This initiative aims to foster political awareness among young citizens, encouraging their active involvement in national development and societal progress. (ANI/WAM)
As extrajudicial violence rages on in Balochistan, the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement, Paank, reported the murder of the brother of the ex-chairman for Baloch Student Organisation on Saturday. According to Paank, Shah Jahan Baloch was the brother of Zahid Baloch, who served as the ex-chairman of the Baloch Student's Organisation (BSO). Zahid Baloch was forcibly disappeared,d as reported by Paank. The organization called on the international community to not only ensure that justice prevails but also conduct an independent investigation so that there is accountability towards these targeted killings. It wrote on X, "We strongly condemn the extrajudicial killing of Shah Jahan Baloch, brother of forcibly disappeared BSO ex-chairman Zahid Baloch. The ongoing cycle of enforced disappearances and targeted killings in #Balochistan demands immediate accountability. We urge international community to conduct an independent investigation and ensure justice. Impunity must end." https://x.com/paank_bnm/status/1900846887873171819 Earlier, Paank reported alarming human rights violations in Balochistan throughout February 2025, highlighting a pattern of state repression, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings by Pakistani forces. According to the official report by Paank, the documented cases reflect widespread arbitrary arrests and illegal executions, painting a grim picture of the worsening human rights conditions in the region. Reports indicate that in February alone, enforced disappearances were recorded across 14 districts of Balochistan, with some cases extending into Punjab and Sindh. Paank's report also details continued unlawful detentions and executions by Pakistani security forces. In February 2025 alone, 18 cases of extrajudicial killings were recorded. The lack of independent investigations and accountability has further deepened fear and insecurity among the affected communities, while those responsible continue to act with impunity. Human rights organisations have consistently raised concerns over enforced disappearances and the absence of legal due process in Pakistan. Protesters are urging the government, judiciary, and international human rights bodies to take immediate action. However, despite periodic assurances from authorities, the failure to implement meaningful reforms has led to growing frustration and distrust among the affected families. (ANI)
Protests Erupt As Syrian Constitution Fails to Find Favour With Minorities

A draft constitutional declaration signed by Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa (aka Julani) on 13 March has been met with condemnation by minority groups in Syria, including Kurds, Assyrians, Syriacs and women's organisations. These groups have argued that the draft declaration will entrench authoritarianism and exclude significant parts of Syrian society.

The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) have criticised the draft for failing to reflect Syria's ethnic and cultural diversity. They argue that it centralises power and lacks provisions for minority rights, potentially sidelining communities like the Kurds, Assyrians and others. In a similar vein, the Syrian Women's Council has denounced the draft for its role in perpetuating patriarchal norms and its failure to incorporate women's rights, thereby undermining efforts towards the establishment of an inclusive society. The timing of these statements is congruent with a surge in sectarian violence.

Attacks against the Alawite community have resulted in over 1000 deaths, marking some of the worst violence since the civil war. This recent violence against Alawites has had a ripple effect leading to concerns among other minority groups regarding their own safety and representation under the new government and causing them to feel increasingly insecure. The perception that the interim government is either unable or unwilling to protect all communities has led to widespread distrust. The environment of fear and uncertainty has prompted minority groups to demand more inclusive governance and explicit protections within the constitutional framework.

The Assyrian Democratic Party has called upon national and international actors to oppose the draft, arguing that it lacks genuine national consensus and risks exacerbating Syria's instability, while the Syriac Union Party has accused the Damascus government of ignoring the country's ethnic and cultural diversity, and of using the new constitution to consolidate a centralised, authoritarian system of governance similar to that which existed under the Assad regime.

The calls for a more inclusive political process have been supported by widespread public discontent, leading to demonstrations in various Syrian cities, including Qamishli (Qamislo) and Amuda (Amude), against the current state of the declaration. Protesters expressed their disapproval of its exclusionary nature through banners, Kurdish activists in Qamishli articulating the sentiment with the slogan: "A state that does not recognise my ethnic identity is not my homeland."

United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has expressed cautious optimism regarding the interim government's draft constitutional declaration, while stressing the need for an inclusive political transition. On 14 March, Pedersen acknowledged the declaration as a potential step toward restoring the rule of law and facilitating an orderly, inclusive transition in Syria. 

At the same time, however, he stressed the importance of establishing a "genuine, credible and inclusive transitional government" to reflect the diverse fabric of Syrian society, noting that such a government should be formed through broad-based participation to ensure representation across various societal and political spectrums.

Suwayda's Druze leader Hikmat al-Hajri has rejected the constitutional declaration, considering it illogical, as he stressed that Druzes are peace advocates. He was meeting with various delegations who also opposed the centralisation of power and the marginalisation of communities.

Meanwhile, Druze clerics from Syria have visited Israel for the first time in 50 years. About 100 Druze clergymen from villages overlooking the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights travelled to the northern Israeli city of Lower Jaliliya, which has religious significance for the Druze.
Japanese tourists visiting Odisha celebrated the festival of Holi in the city of Puri and shared their experiences of participating in the festivities. Speaking to ANI, a Japanese tourist said, "It's a very nice and beautiful festival. The Holi festival is also famous in Japan." Flocks of Japanese tourists enjoyed their time in Odisha as they celebrated Holi. Srimanta Kumar Dash, president of the India-Japan Friendship Centre in Puri, said that the Holi festival has been celebrated for over twenty years. "This promotes our culture and increases the number of tourists coming to Puri, Jagannath Dham." He said that he informed the tourists about the significance of the festival of Holi. "Now they know about the festival, why it is celebrated, what is done during the festival, and they are very happy to celebrate Holi. Thus, this helps us promote our culture as well as tourism". Japanese tourists engaged in participating the festival with joy and excitement. Earlier on Friday, the Japanese Ambassador to India and Bhutan, ONO Keiichi, extended his Holi greetings on X. He shared a joyful message: "Holi Hai! We celebrated the festival of colours at the Embassy of Japan in India, embracing joy, unity, and friendship. Wishing everyone a Happy Holi!" His post reflected the festival's broader cultural significance and the bonds it fosters across nations. https://x.com/JapanAmbIndia/status/1900381755468873961 Foreign tourists in Mumbai and Jaipur joined locals in celebrating Holi, experiencing the festival of colours for the first time. At Marine Drive in Mumbai, a tourist from London expressed excitement: "I came here for some work, but I also got to enjoy Holi for the first time. It is a great experience, and everyone is really welcoming." Many visitors, initially in India for business or travel, were delighted to witness the vibrant festivities first-hand. The energy and inclusivity of the festival left a lasting impression on visitors, who expressed their appreciation for the warmth and hospitality they received. Holi is one of India's major festivals, and it is largely celebrated across the country. This festival is well known globally as a humongous celebration of colors. Holi is celebrated at the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It is known by different names in different regions of India, such as Dhulendi, Lathmaar Holi, Mohhalla Hola, Basant Utsav, Rangpanchami, etc. Holi is a celebration of the beginning of the harvest period. During this time, the crop is ready for harvest. On Holi, farmers worship and pray for good harvests. (ANI)
The incident took place in his hometown of Kallag Jakki. His father, Hashum, reported that Muheem was taken by an abductor, who is believed to be affiliated with the FC (Frontier Corps), BYC reported.

The abduction has left the family in distress, and authorities are working on the case to locate and bring the abductor to justice. The family is hopeful for Muheem's safe return, and the incident has raised concerns in the local community, BYC cited.

The abduction and killing of Baloch individuals persist as a significant human rights issue. State security forces continue to persecute the Baloch community, leading to a disturbing rise in disappearances and executions, creating widespread fear and unrest throughout the region.

Earlier, two Baloch youths were extra-judicially killed by Pakistani security forces in Kech, Balochistan.

BYC has called for urgent action and stated that the recent rise in violence is fuelling the ongoing Baloch genocide, with young, aware Baloch individuals being the primary targets. This constitutes a breach of numerous international conventions related to enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings.

"We call on the international community and human rights organizations to urgently address the situation and intervene to prevent a humanitarian crisis," said BYC.

Recently, Paank, the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement, cited that in February 2025, there were 18 reported cases of extrajudicial killings.

The absence of independent investigations and accountability has heightened fear and insecurity within the affected communities, while those responsible remain unpunished and continue their actions with impunity.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly voiced concerns about extra judicial killings and the lack of legal due process in Pakistan. Protesters have continuously called on the government, judiciary, and international human rights organizations to act swiftly and address these issues. (ANI)
Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon will pay a visit to India from March 16-20, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted in an official statement. As per the schedule shared by the MEA, PM Luxon will arrive in India on March 16 and meet the External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar later in the day. On the second day of his visit, he will lay a wreath at Rajghat which will be followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The leaders will see an exchange of MoUs at the Hyderabad House and later in the day, PM Luxon will meet President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, as observed by the MEA. On Tuesday, March 18, the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda will call on the New Zealand PM. The MEA said in its statement that on Wednesday, March 19, PM Luxon will fly to Mumbai. In Mumbai, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis will call upon PM Luxon, which will be followed by a meeting with the Governor of Maharashtra, CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan. The New Zealand PM's departure is scheduled for March 20. In a post on X on March 10, PM Luxon announced that he would be visiting India with a senior business delegation. Luxon said that strengthening India-New Zealand ties was a key priority for them. "Next week, I'll be travelling to India with a senior business delegation. Strengthening New Zealand's relationship with India is a key priority for my Government," he said. Luxon said that he wants to increase trade and business opportunities between the two countries and promote New Zealand as an investment destination. "India is the fifth largest economy in the world and I am focused on increasing trade and business opportunities between our two countries and promoting New Zealand as an investment destination. Trade is a key part of our plan to grow the economy to reduce the cost of living and create more jobs and higher incomes for all New Zealanders," he said. https://x.com/chrisluxonmp/status/1898952111054102961 At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Luxon will pay an official visit to India from March 16-20, a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said.The statement said that this would be Luxon's first visit to India as the Prime Minister of New Zealand."This would be the first visit to India by Prime Minister Rt Hon Luxon in his present capacity. He will visit New Delhi and Mumbai before returning to Wellington on March 20, 2025," the statement said. (ANI)
MQM founder and leader Altaf Hussain has warned that Balochistan is at a critical juncture, urging Pakistan's leadership and the people of Punjab to recognise the long-standing injustices faced by the Baloch, Pashtun, and Mohajir communities. During an Intellectual Session, Hussain highlighted the forced annexation of Balochistan in 1948 and decades of state oppression, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, which have led to deep resentment and resistance among the Baloch people. Hussain referenced the recent hijacking of the Jaffar Express by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) on March 11, during which 400 passengers, including military personnel, were taken hostage. He emphasised that the BLA voluntarily released women, children, and civilians, asserting that their fight was not against ordinary citizens but against forces responsible for abducting their loved ones. Hussain disputed government claims that security forces rescued the hostages, stating that it was the BLA's decision to free the civilians. The MQM leader expressed frustration over calls from certain groups in Punjab to exterminate Baloch freedom fighters and questioned why Punjab remained silent while Baloch women and children endured similar oppression to what had once provoked outrage in Punjab. He recalled the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, criticizing those who had supported the massacre of Bengalis, warning that Pakistan might be repeating the same mistakes. Hussain urged the people of Punjab to recognize the oppression faced by ethnic minorities and take a stand against it. He called for an end to the discrimination and brutality against the Baloch, Pashtuns, Mohajirs, and other marginalized groups. He emphasized that Pakistan's survival depends on addressing these issues, warning that ignoring the reality of Balochistan would lead the country further into crisis. Recently, Altaf Hussain strongly condemned the continued attacks on Ahmadis and their worship places across various cities in Pakistan, including Punjab and Karachi. In his recent speech, he criticized religious extremism and called on the public to reject the divisive rhetoric propagated by extremist clerics. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a sneak peek on Saturday into the areas of discussion he held with world-renowned scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman. Lex Fridman is a research scientist who also hosts his own podcast, "Lex Fridman Podcast." In his podcasts, several personalities from various walks of life have discussed issues ranging from complex niches to other areas of mass understanding. Notable figures include political leaders like US President Donald Trump, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Argentinian Prime Minister Javier Milei, as well as leading personalities in their fields, such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, Magnus Carlson, and Yuval Noah Harari. Fridman wrote on X, "I had an epic 3-hour podcast conversation with @narendramodi, Prime Minister of India. It was one of the most powerful conversations of my life. It'll be out tomorrow." https://x.com/lexfridman/status/1900878602675064899 Responding to Fridman, Prime Minister Modi called it a "fascinating conversation" and shared that he discussed various time periods of his life, such as his childhood days, to the years spent in the Himalayas and eventually his way into public life. "It was indeed a fascinating conversation with @lexfridman, covering diverse topics including reminiscing about my childhood, the years in the Himalayas and the journey in public life. Do tune in and be a part of this dialogue!" PM Modi wrote on X. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1900898095497347459 Fridman had announced on January 19 that he would conduct a podcast with PM Modi. In a post on X, he said, "I will be doing a podcast with Narendra Modi (@narendramodi), Prime Minister of India, at the end of February. I've never been to India, so I'm excited to finally visit and experience many facets of its vibrant, historic culture and its amazing people as fully as I can." https://x.com/lexfridman/status/1880689982987444380 Earlier in February, Fridman called PM Modi "one of the most fascinating human beings I have ever studied". He wrote on X, "Narendra Modi is one of the most fascinating human beings I have ever studied. I can't wait to talk to him on the podcast for several hours in a few weeks. On top of the complex, deep history of India and his role in it, just the human side of Modi is really interesting. For example, he has often done multi-day fasts (9+ days) for spiritual reasons. I fast often as well. So I'll do a 48-72 hour fast once I arrive in India before talking to him. It's a good opportunity to meditate and to reflect on how incredibly lucky I am to be alive, to have the weird brain that sees so much beauty in the world even though I've increasingly seen a lot of the darker sides of human nature. And most of all... To reflect on how lucky I am to have so much love in my life." https://x.com/lexfridman/status/1887951510056878513 Sharing the details, Fridman said that the podcast conversation with the Prime Minister would be released at 5:30PM IST. "Podcast should be published tomorrow (Sunday) around 8am EST / 5:30pm IST", he wrote on X. https://x.com/lexfridman/status/1900911422499958837 As per his official website, Lex Fridman has been a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) since 2015. His podcasts cover several themes, such as artificial intelligence, global politics, cryptocurrency, productivity, global geopolitics, and technology. His YouTube page has 4.8 million subscribers with over 82,00,00,000 views. (ANI)
In a press statement, Lazzarini said that there is a "real risk of the agency collapsing and imploding" if its severe financial crisis persists.

He added that if UNRWA collapses, "we will certainly sacrifice a generation of children who will be deprived of a proper education."

Lazzarini described UNRWA as a "lifeline" for approximately six million Palestinian refugees spread across the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria.

Nearly 2,60,000 children have enrolled in UNRWA's distance learning program since January," the UN agency said in a statement. (ANI/WAM)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], March 15 (ANI/WAM): The Muslim Council of Elders, led by Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, emphasised the urgent need to promote dialogue, tolerance, coexistence, and peace in response to the growing rhetoric of hatred, extremism, discrimination, and Islamophobia. In a statement marking the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, observed annually on March 15 by the United Nations General Assembly, the Council reaffirmed that Islam is a religion of tolerance, coexistence, and peace. It also warned against efforts by far-right groups to spread negative stereotypes about Islam for political and partisan gain. The Council called for concrete action to counter Islamophobia, including fostering dialogue between East and West, encouraging the positive integration of Muslims in their societies, and enacting laws that criminalize attacks on others or insults to their religious symbols and sanctities. The Muslim Council of Elders remains committed to promoting Islamic values of tolerance and enlightened, moderate thought in the face of bigotry, extremism, racism, and discrimination. It continues to lead inspirational initiatives and programs, such as East-West dialogue tours, international peace convoys, the Emerging Peacemakers Forum (EPF), student dialogue programs on human fraternity, and Ramadan convoys around the world. The Document on Human Fraternity, signed in 2019 in Abu Dhabi by Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, and Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church, upholds that freedom is a fundamental right for all human beings, including freedom of belief, thought, expression, and practice. It affirms that religious, racial, and cultural diversity is part of God's divine will, forming the foundation for human rights, freedom of belief, and respect for differences. Moreover, it rejects any form of coercion in matters of faith, culture, or way of life, asserting that no ideology or civilization should be imposed upon others against their will. (ANI/WAM)
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Saturday thanked his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi for his "warm" wishes on the occasion of 75 years of diplomatic relations between both countries. Responding to Araghchi's wishes, Jaishankar said he is confident that the cooperation between both countries will continue to grow. "Thank you FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi for your warm wishes on 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Iran. Our deep-rooted ties are driven by historical linkages. Confident that our cooperation will continue to grow in times to come," Jaishankar wrote on X. https://x.com/araghchi/status/1900922685330276577 India and Iran signed a friendship treaty on March 15, 1950. Lauding the bilateral relations between both countries, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi called for further strengthening the partnership. "Today, we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations between the modern states of Iran and India. Of course, our shared history and cultural bonds go back centuries if not millennia, joining our nations at the hip. These ties have been paramount in paving the way for mutual growth & cooperation. Looking forward to further strengthening our partnership for the prosperity of our nations," Aragchi wrote in a post on X. According to Ministry of External Affairs, India and Iran share a millennia-long history of interactions. The contemporary relationship draws upon the strength of these historical and civilisational ties, and continues to grow further marked by high-level exchanges, commercial and connectivity cooperation, cultural and robust people-to-people ties. In April 2001, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Iran and signed the Tehran Declaration, followed by President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's visit and the signing of the New Delhi Declaration in 2003, which deepened India-Iran cooperation. India and Iran are important trade partners. India has been among Iran's five largest trade partners in recent years. Major Indian exports to Iran include rice, tea, sugar, pharmaceuticals, manmade staple fibres, electrical machinery, artificial jewellery, etc., while major Indian imports from Iran consist of dry fruits, inorganic/organic chemicals, glassware, etc. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) announced "decisive and powerful" military action against Yemen's Houthi rebels, accusing them of piracy, violence and terrorism targeting Americans. This comes nearly a fortnight after the US redesignated the Houthi rebels as a foreign terrorist organisation. "Today, I have ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen. They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones," Trump wrote on his Truth Social media platform. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114167864888304754 Trump said the US would use "overwhelming lethal force" against the Houthis, while accusing them of 'choking' transportation through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which have affected the trade and commerce and "attacked" the principle of Freedom of Navigation. "The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective. The Houthis have choked off shipping in one of the most important Waterways of the World, grinding vast swaths of Global Commerce to a halt, and attacking the core principle of Freedom of Navigation upon which International Trade and Commerce depends," Trump said. Criticising former President Joe Biden's "weak" response against the Houthis, Trump pointed out that attacks by Houthis on US military and commercial ships have cost the US and world economy "billions of Dollars." "Joe Biden's response was pathetically weak, so the unrestrained Houthis just kept going. It has been over a year since a U.S. flagged commercial ship safely sailed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden. The last American Warship to go through the Red Sea, four months ago, was attacked by the Houthis over a dozen times. Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at U.S. aircraft, and targeted our Troops and Allies. These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk," Trump said. Trump said that the US is now carrying out "aerial attacks on the terrorists' bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom." "No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World," Trump added. Trump also issued a direct warning to Iran, demanding an end to its support for the Houthis and threatening severe consequences if it continues. "To Iran: Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American People, their President, who has received one of the largest mandates in Presidential History, or Worldwide shipping lanes," he warned. "If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won't be nice about it!" Trump added. (ANI)
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday (local time) urged the international community to put "maximum pressure" on Russia, saying that Vladmir Putin's response to the US-proposed 30-day ceasefire is "not good enough" Speaking at a press conference after the virtual meeting of the "coalition of willing" - a group of Western nations that have pledged to help defend Ukraine against Russia--Starmer said that Russia's 'yes but' is not good enough. "In terms of Russia's position, I think it is very important that we put maximum pressure on Russia. This 'yes but' is not good enough, and that's why the collective result this morning was to put pressure, and we can collectively put pressure on Russia," Starmer said. Starmer added that it is time to engage in discussions on a lasting peace backed by strong security arrangements. "Russia's appetite for conflict and chaos undermines our security back here in the United Kingdom. It drives up the cost of living, it drives up energy costs so this matters deeply to UK. Now is the time to engage in discussions on a mechanism to manage and monitor a full ceasefire and agree to serious negotiations towards not just a pause but a lasting peace backed by strong security arrangements through our coalition of willing," Starmer said. Starmer also announced that the militaries of Ukraine's allies will meet on Thursday in the UK to " put strong and robust plans in place to swing in behind a peace deal." "Our military will meet on Thursday here at UK to put strong and robust plans in place to swing in behind a peace deal. This is the moment to keep driving towards the outcome we want to see to end the killing, a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and lasting security for all of us," Starmer said. Despite Ukraine and the United States offering a 30-day unconditional cease-fire, Putin has continued to push for additional demands. The Russian leader signalled that he wanted Ukraine to order its soldiers to surrender as part of any peace deal. "We agree with the proposal to cease hostilities but we have to bear in mind that this ceasefire must be aimed at a long-lasting peace and it must look at the root causes of the crisis," Putin said at a news conference - repeating the Kremlin's previous claims that the current Ukrainian government is part of the underlying problem, as per CNN. (ANI)
A synthetic opioid so powerful it can kill with a single tablet is threatening to strain relations between Japan and the United States. Fentanyl, a drug originally developed as a medical anesthetic, has become a national crisis in the U.S. due to its high potency and addictive nature. Now, reports suggest it may be making its way into the country via Japan.
Mar 15 (Tokyo Kenchan) - Akita is a prefecture located in Japan's Tohoku region. The area is known for deep snow and traditoinal foods and life style matching with the nature.

I couldn't do much as I miss planned the trip a bit, but I explored one of the major spots to visit in Akita, Kakunodate and Yokote. In addition, I used a special limited express Inaho on the way home .I hope you enjoy the travel vlog and find out if it's your favorite area or not.
KYOTO, Mar 16 (News On Japan) - In Japan, one in every 24 babies is born to foreign parents. For many of these parents, giving birth and raising a child in an unfamiliar country can be daunting. Language barriers and cultural differences often lead to isolation, sometimes resulting in prenatal or postnatal depression.

As Japans foreign resident population continues to grow, initiatives are emerging to provide much-needed support.

A parenting salon held in Kyoto recently offered guidance to first-time foreign parents. Even those who are comfortable with daily life in Japan often struggle with medical terminology related to pregnancy and childbirth.

"Even for Japanese people, terms like 'contractions' or 'pelvic pressure' aren't familiar unless they've experienced pregnancy. For foreign mothers, it's even more confusing," explained Mura, who supports expecting mothers. Originally from Indonesia, Mura moved to Japan for university and later became a naturalized citizen, giving birth to two children in Japan.

"Having a baby is wonderful, but being with a newborn 24/7 was exhausting. I didnt struggle with Japanese, but cultural differences were tough. I often found myself thinking, Why does it have to be done this way in Japan?" she recalled.

Motivated by her experiences, Mura launched support activities in Kyoto, where the foreign resident population is increasing. One initiative is a childcare facility open to parents of all nationalities, allowing them to rest while staff watch over their children.

"This area is for playing with toys, and the books are okay to be torn or scribbled onit's all part of play," said Kevin, a volunteer at the facility. "And here, parents can take a nap, even for just five minutes. We wanted to create a space where they could take a short break from parenting."

For many foreign residents, limited access to information makes navigating healthcare difficult. A Spanish mother married to an Indian husband is expecting her first child in Japan. Through participation in the parenting salon, she has found reassurance.

Interacting with others in similar situations can also help prevent postpartum depression, which is sometimes exacerbated by isolation.

Disa, an Indonesian mother of two, experienced the difficulties firsthand when she gave birth in Japan five years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to strict visitor restrictions, she had to go through childbirth alone, a traumatic experience.

She had also requested that an episiotomy not be performed unless medically necessary, but due to communication difficulties, the procedure was carried out without her full understanding. "I couldn't explain my wishes properly, and it was done before I realized it," she recalled.

Language barriers have led some hospitals to refuse to accept foreign pregnant women, adding to the challenges they face. In response, some medical institutions have introduced multilingual consultations.

A hospital in Kyoto has been working with Kevin, who not only interprets but also explains cultural differences. During a prenatal consultation with a Nepalese couple, a midwife struggled to understand the expectant mothers concerns.

Kevin stepped in, clarifying both the language and the cultural context, making communication smoother. "Its not just about translating wordsunderstanding cultural backgrounds is key," he noted.

Healthcare workers attending a seminar on foreign maternity care echoed this sentiment. "Japanese staff are kind and eager to help, but we often assume that explaining Japans system is enough. We need to also understand the backgrounds of foreign parents and their perspectives," one participant observed.

With Japans foreign population increasing, efforts to provide culturally sensitive and accessible maternity and parenting support are gaining urgency. As more communities step up to bridge these gaps, the hope is to create a society where all parentsregardless of nationalitycan raise their children with confidence.

Source: YOMIURI
Emotions ran high as audience members argued with legislators over recent moves at the State Capitol during the latest legislative coffee.

State Rep. Josh Turek, a Democrat, and Sen. Dan Dawson, a Republican, were in attendance to field questions from the audience.

The event was the latest in a series hosted by the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce. The next event is scheduled for March 22 at 9 a.m. at Wilson Middle School.

Property tax reform

Dawson kicked off his introduction by explaining a new property tax reform bill that he helped sponsor.

If passed, the bill will be the biggest tax reform bill since the 1970s in Iowa. The bill would provide nearly a $430 million property tax cut, create a revenue restriction and provide a $25,000 homestead exemption, with extra relief to veterans and seniors.

The bill would also lower the uniform levy and phase out the rollback system for residential, commercial, and industrial property.

Dawson said the overhaul would help taxpayers understand the system better and will help local governments.

Weve been pricing ourselves out of a lot of opportunities over the years, Dawson said. I think there is going to be predictability and transparency for local governments as well as for the property taxpayer.

Turek mentioned that the current property tax system is broken and that Dawson is trying to accomplish a difficult task.

I am going to throw some bipartisan support to Senator Dawson here, what he is trying to do is incredibly difficult, Turek said. I appreciate what hes trying to do here because it absolutely is a broken system and needs to be fixed.

An audience member also asked about how agricultural property taxes may be reformed with the bill.

Dawson explained that agricultural property is difficult to reform because most reforms would place Iowa outside the norm of many other states. However, he said that, in the bill, any new agricultural buildings will be taxed outside of the current agricultural formula.

There are some uncertain questions right now as well as remodeling, and I'm afraid that if we try to tackle that data point, along with everything else here, it would probably become its own chaos inside of a discussion, Dawson said.

School funding

One question from Vickie Murillo, superintendent of Council Bluffs Community School District, expressed concerns about how schools would continue to be funded if property taxes were cut.

Since the property tax reform would hold the legislature more accountable for distributing funding, Murillo wondered how schools could expect to still be funded as the Senate has been unable to pass any additional increases already.

Dawson said school funding is definitely an aspect of the property tax bill that needs to still be worked on but he feels they will be able to fill any void of funding from the cuts.

I think there's a long-term stability in those funding sources to refurbish. Legislators here recently have shown a lot of willingness to give additional funding and so to shift that burden to the state puts the ball in our court, Dawson said.

Turek kept his comments on the topic short but said Iowa needs to work on funding for schools.

We were the gold standard. We were number oneand now were $1,200 less than the national average per pupil, Turek said.

Gender identity and civil rights

One of the most heated discussions of the event was after an audience member asked about the recent decision to remove gender identity as a protected class from the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

Stickers supporting transgender rights were offered to members of the public as they entered the building and at least a third of the audience was wearing something that indicated their support for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

After the question was asked, Dawson explained the legal reasoning behind why the bill was introduced in the first place.

Dawson said that inmates had been requesting sex changes, which would come at the expense of the taxpayer. The state was unable to deny the services as inmates cited the Iowa Civil Rights Act as a provision for why they should be allowed to have the procedure.

Dawson said that this is not a new topic for the Legislature and they have tried different approaches to prevent inmates from getting sex change procedures funded by taxpayers. But they were blocked by the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

He said that there was never a discussion of trying to target transgender citizens.

Dawson said that, while Iowa is the first to remove gender identity as a protected class, around 28 other states do not have gender identity listed as a protected class and never have.

His explanation was met with serious backlash from the audience, resulting in Chris LaFerla, president and CEO of the chamber, stepping in and explaining to audience members that, if they would not cooperate with the format of the event, they would be removed.

While Turek and Dawson both maintained professional composure throughout the interaction, the outburst from the audience caused other attendees to push back against each other.

When order was regained and Turek had an opportunity to speak, he explained that during the vote he read the poem First They Came by anti-Nazi theologian Martin Niemoller from the Holocaust. He then reread the poem to the audience.

I think it's sad that Iowa became the first state to pull a protective class away, Turek said.

Cancer rates

As Iowa increasingly sees new cancer cases, one question asked was what each legislator would do to help protect communities.

Dawson said that when it comes to cancer and government regulation, it can be difficult. Since there are so many causes and types of cancer out there, it is hard to pinpoint things that would lower the rates. However, he said that the government can do things to help support cancer research and treatments.

I think it's a big issue. ... I think there are probably a lot of things out there that the government is not necessarily going to support, but there are things we can do to help mitigate that as well, Dawson said.

Turek listed a couple of bills that he has worked on that he believes would help. For example, a bill that would create free radon testing and a firefighter bill that helps firefighters get treatment for all types of cancer.

Turek also mentioned placing $1 for every Iowan into a fund for cancer research and emphasized the importance of also looking into water quality.

I think we need to do as much as we possibly can to address the issue, Turek said. This is an absolute epidemic that touches us all.

Other questions

Many of the questions audience members had regarded bills that did not survive the first funnel, a time in the legislature where the first round of bills are weeded out.

Topics included banning sexual content in public libraries, criminalizing homelessness and outlawing gene-based vaccinations, such as the messenger RNA vaccines for COVID-19.

As audience members continued to push back at the legislators on these topics, arguing that they were in fact still around, Turek gave a public service announcement to the audience.

This is a governing body of 150, and you have 150 people in a room, some of them are going to be crazy," the Democratic lawmaker said.

"We can not stop one of our colleagues, unfortunately, from putting forth a crazy bill. If you guys see it or read it, oftentimes, just out of political courtesy, they'll end up being given a subcommittee," Turek continued. "This does not mean that these are at risk of actually becoming law."
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
Russia significantly boosted its agricultural exports to Africa in 2024 by 19%, reflecting the countrys growing economic influence across the continent amid the continuing war in Ukraine.

During the previous fiscal year, Russias agricultural exports to Africa surpassed $7 billion, according to a statement released by the Agricultural Export Center (Agroexport), with Egypt, Algeria, and Libya among the leading importers. The increase is primarily driven by the demand for Russian wheat, which accounted for the bulk of the exports, along with other products like sunflower and soybean oil, flax seeds, and dairy. Egypt remains the largest buyer, increasing its imports by 21%. The countrys heavy reliance on Russian wheat, essential staple food to to feed its population, makes it a key partner in this growing trade relationship. Algeria and Libya also saw significant imports, helping to solidify Russias position as a crucial supplier of agricultural products to North Africa.

In total, cereals  mainly wheat, barley, and corn  made up 87% of Russias agricultural exports to the continent. The trend of rising demand for Russian grain, especially wheat, reflects Africas critical role in Russias overall wheat export strategy, which now accounts for more than 50% of the countrys total wheat market. This boost in trade occurs against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has heightened food insecurity in Africa that is now faced with shortages of wheat, maize and soybeans, according to a recent warning by the African Development Bank (AfDB). Russias growing agricultural exports offer an alternative supply route, further cementing its ties to the continent amid geopolitical shifts. As demand for Russian wheat continues to grow, Russia is positioning itself as a key player in Africas agricultural future.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has announced a phased withdrawal of its peacekeeping troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following a year of escalating conflict with M23 rebels.

This decision, made during an extraordinary summit held on Thursday (13 March), reflects the regional blocs shift towards pursuing a political solution after the mission faced significant challenges. Deployed in December 2023, the SADC mission (SAMIDRC) aimed to help the Congolese government restore stability in the volatile eastern regions, where M23 rebels recently seized key cities like Goma and Bukavu. Despite its efforts, the mission has seen substantial losses, with at least 20 soldiers from South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania killed during clashes with M23 forces. With the security situation continuing to deteriorate, SADC leaders acknowledged the increasing humanitarian crisis, including the blockade of critical supply routes, further complicating aid distribution.

Angola, a key player in the region, has facilitated peace talks between the DRC and M23, which are set to begin on 18 March in Luanda. This diplomatic initiative is seen as a critical step towards resolving the decades-long conflict. Summit reiterated the need for a political and diplomatic solution with all parties including state, non-state parties, military and non-military in the eastern DRC for the restoration of peace, security and tranquility in the country, said a communique issued after the summit. While the withdrawal of SADC troops marks the end of a military approach, the focus now shifts to dialogue, with leaders calling for an inclusive political process to ensure lasting peace in the region. The SADCs move also highlights the growing urgency for a comprehensive resolution to the crisis that has displaced millions and destabilized the region.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is reportedly seeking its own version of the minerals-for-security deal that has been offered by the Trump administration to Ukraine.

Reuters reported that a Congolese Senator had written to the US State Department offering a similar deal that would help the war-torn country address its security challenges, notably in the east where rebels have taken strategic towns and rare metal areas.

The United States is open to exploring critical minerals partnerships with Congo, the agency reported, citing the State Department.

The DRC is rich with rare metals crucial for high-tech and green technologies, such as batteries, electric vehicles, smartphones, and wind turbines.

The country has about 70% of the worlds cobalt reserves as well as one of the largest lithium deposits globally.

The United States is open to discussing partnerships in this sector that are aligned with the Trump Administrations America First Agenda, a State Department spokesperson told the agency.
Photo: Oliver Contreras/The New York Times/Redux

The path to womens liberation has always been blocked by other women. Before Amy Coney Barrett rose to the Supreme Court or Marjorie Dannenfelser began her war on legal abortion, there was Phyllis Schlafly, that self-styled paragon of wifely submission, and Anita Bryant, the unrepentant homophobe. In Right-Wing Women, the late feminist writer Andrea Dworkin skewered them and the culture of male violence they served. Now that Schlaflys heirs are in power, we owe Dworkin reevaluation, or so the argument goes. Few writers are pilloried so confidently by people who do not really know what they said; few writers provide, as a consequence, so many disorienting surprises, the writer Moira Donegan argues in a new foreword to the reissued book.

Dworkin published Right-Wing Women in 1983 as second-wave feminism faded and the Reagan revolution got underway. There was something unfashionable about her, even then. Her scalding analysis of woman-hatred ran counter to the Moral Majoritys tender visions of the traditional white family, anchored by a mother in the home. Feminists, too, regarded her with suspicion if not hostility, and for good reason. In the porn wars years earlier, Dworkin sided with the censorious Christian right over many of her feminist peers, a decision that would undermine her work for the rest of her life. By the time she died in 2005, most people knew Dworkin the caricature, not Dworkin the writer.

Like the rest of her work, Right-Wing Women is a hammer blow. From fathers house to husbands house to a grave that still might not be her own, a woman acquiesces to male authority in order to gain some protection from male violence, she asserted, and who can fault her? The right-wing woman is ascendant, and with her rides the incel, the woman batterer, and the rapist. Andrew Tates former attorney, Paul Ingrassia, now works for Donald Trump, an accused rapist, and so does Pete Hegseth, who has been accused of sexual assault and abuse himself. Hegseth hired Sean Parnell, whose ex-wife once testified that he choked her and abused their children. Dana White, the chief executive of the UFC and a prominent Trump ally, allegedly hit his wife and embraced Tate and his brother Tristan at a recent event. Texas lawyer Jonathan Mitchell represents men who are outraged over their partners abortions, and some women have accused his clients of domestic abuse.

Women are in danger, and they know it. The right-wing woman knows it too and, Dworkin wrote, strikes a bargain to save herself. The political Right in the United States today makes certain metaphysical and material promises to women that both exploit and quiet some of womens deepest fears, she argued. These fears originate in the perception that male violence against women is uncontrollable and unpredictable. Todays tradwives agree to bear children, stay at home, and obey their husbands because the alternative is too frightful for them to contemplate, because the right wing tells them that it is their nature and because its what they want to do. They believe abortion, contraception, and queerness prevent them from finding true satisfaction as women, so each must be destroyed. If theyre bored enough, or zealous enough, they can follow Schlafly and Bryant and sell their choices to the masses. Theres always TikTok.

In videos and on podcasts, right-wing women say they need men more than they need feminism. Of course, the opposite is true. We need feminism, but there are many feminisms, and they arent all fit for purpose  any reevaluation of Dworkin must reckon with the full scope of her work. Though her defenders will sometimes admit some flaws in her thinking, they say her critics have judged her too harshly. She did not write that all heterosexual intercourse is rape, as is commonly reported, and whatever her flaws, her feminism had teeth. The rise of Trump, and later the Me Too movement, helped revitalize interest in Dworkin, whose excoriations of male brutality no longer seemed so outlandish. After all, what had sex positivity accomplished for women? In her singular scorched-earth theory of representation, pornography was fascist propaganda, a weapon as crucial to the ever-escalating war on women as Goebbels caricatures were to Hitlers rise, Johanna Fateman wrote in the introduction to Last Days at Hot Slit, a 2019 collection of Dworkins work. In 2021, the academic Claire Potter wrote that Me Too had opened the door to a long-overdue recognition of Dworkins contributions to how we understand the politics of sex and gender, adding, I have always believed that part of the hostility that Dworkin aroused had something to do with a clarity of mind that terrified people who shy away from difficult and dangerous thoughts.

Its an attractive logic. Twenty years after Dworkins death, feminists have few friends and little institutional power. They certainly cannot look to the Democratic Party for aid, as members dither over rhetoric and strategy. A handful of Democratic women wore pink to Trumps State of the Union address because it is the color of womens power, of persistence and of resistance, Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez told the New York Times. The pink-clad electeds held up signs as Trump rambled; it was Representative Al Green, not in pink, who interrupted the speech. (Some Democrats joined Republicans to censure him later.) Other Democrats try to appease the right by sacrificing trans girls and women on the altar of political expediency. With fascists on one side and quislings on the other, a militant response is overdue. Enter Dworkin, whose relentless anger and imaginative prescriptions can seem like the antidote not only to the right wing but to mainstream feminism itself, which told women that liberation ran through the Capitol and the courtroom and the corner office. Dworkin did not seek parity with men, but rather a new world altogether.

The pursuit of power for its own sake leaves most women behind, and the politics of compromise brings even the girlboss to her downfall. Right-Wing Women reappears in a moment of pitched anti-feminist backlash, as corporate America abandons all pretense of equal treatment and abusers of women fill the government. Women marched, rallied, and told their stories, but no hashtag is a match for misogyny. No matter how often these stories are told, with whatever clarity or elegance, bitterness or sorrow, they might as well have been whispered in the wind or written in sand; they disappear, as if they are nothing, Dworkin wrote. Male outrage drowned out female pain. As she put it, The tellers and stories are ignored or ridiculed; threatened back into silence or destroyed, and the experience of female suffering is buried in cultural invisibility and contempt.

Lately, pundits and policy wonks speak of men  their loneliness, their resentment, their decline  often presented as problems for women to solve. One popular theory says American men are moving to the right because they have been abandoned by liberals and alienated by feminism. The solution, of course, is for women to marry them anyway. Men need marriage and children to be happy, which is to say they need women; the worthiness of a man matters less to a pro-natalist than his fertility. Even a woman who seeks heterosexual marriage must know her place or be condemned. On the latest season of Love Is Blind, a contestant left her fiance at the altar because he attends an anti-gay megachurch, and the right wing erupted. This man dodged a bullet, posted Isabella Maria DeLuca, a January 6 rioter. Liberal women are INSUFFERABLE & MISERABLE, posted Morgonn McMichael, who works for Charlie Kirks Turning Point USA.

Marriage is no sure refuge from male violence, and it can often become a trap, as Dworkin knew well. She endured molestation as a child and sexual violation during her incarceration as a war resister, only to marry a man who beat her savagely, once in front of her apathetic parents. In Right-Wing Women, she wrote almost sympathetically of Bryant, who was married to a controlling Evangelical husband. Bryant, like all the rest of us, is trying to be a good woman, she argued. Yet Bryant was responsible for her own choices and by all accounts died a bigot. There is no easy way to separate the right-wing womans convictions from her victimhood, though we often try to do it anyway. In the silence of Usha Vance, some look for evidence of dissent, as if a woman of her obvious intelligence could not possibly agree with her husbands retrograde politics. Vance, like Bryant, is oppressed and oppressor at once.

Portions of Right-Wing Women remind us that the Trump era has old roots. The Guardian reported earlier this month that an upcoming pro-natalist conference will feature eugenicists and purveyors of race science who believe women must have babies, but in the right way and with the right men. The argument is familiar, and so is the racism behind it. Dworkin recalled her encounters with a delegation of antiEqual Rights Amendment women from Mississippi. The Ku Klux Klan said it controlled the delegation, she wrote, and a man who accompanied them said he held a powerful role in the white-supremacist group. He said that his wife had wanted him to be there to protect womens right to procreate and to have a family, she added.

Dworkin concluded later in Right-Wing Women that an extermination or gynocide may be on the way, though it was not inevitable. A rigorous thinker, she diagrammed a system of crimes against women to help her readers break free of the same. Her writing was one more act of optimism, shaped by her deep conviction not only in the necessity of liberation but in its possibility. In the years since her death, some feminists have identified a prophetic quality to her thinking, although that, too, risks caricature. A prophet is a divine vessel, and Dworkin was not that.

One of the principle functions of the right-wing woman is to police female sexuality and reproduction, and Dworkins logic ultimately pushed her into a similar role. In Right-Wing Women, Dworkin attacked sex work, pornography, and reproductive technology with the same ferocity she applied to Schlaflys ilk. Motherhood is becoming a new branch of female prostitution with the help of scientists who want access to the womb for experimentation and power, she wrote, but the truth is somewhat more complex. For conservatives who defend technologies like IVF, science is another way to bind women to motherhood, but it can also detach reproduction from compulsory heterosexuality, and it offers women a way to bear children on their own terms, which is why it has always been in danger from some factions of the right wing. Dworkin admitted the irony, but as with her fight against pornography, she stood firmly on reactionary ground.

If there is a gynocide to come, as she feared, it would be carried out by the same forces who want to ban IVF, pornography, and sex work. The writer Sophie Lewis has called Dworkins thinking an enemy feminism, an obstacle to the very liberation she sought. Did Dworkin herself not see the contradiction between her unjust arrest and subsequent rape at the hands of the state, and her apparent faith that this same coercive apparatus could be wrangled into the service of women? wrote the philosopher Amia Srinivasan in 2022. Even if we grant, with Dworkin and other radical feminists, that sex work cannot be understood outside the frame of gendered hierarchy, what does it mean to ignore sex workers near-universal insistence that the criminalisation of their trade makes their lives less liveable? Thats not an abstract question. The answer has life-or-death consequences.

With the right wing in power, the pursuit of liberation only becomes more urgent. Will it take a hundred fists, a thousand fists, a million fists, pushed through that circle of crime to destroy it, or are right-wing women essentially right that it is indestructible? Dworkin asked. The freedom of women from sex oppression either matters or it does not; it is essential or it is not. We must agree that it is essential. In doing so, we must also understand why liberal war on women rhetoric has failed. Misogyny is one reason, but misogyny serves a purpose, and todays anti-feminist moment was orchestrated by political forces that rely on our collective submission. The right wing tells all of us to bargain against our own liberation. They tell men that womens advancement deprived them of economic and emotional security, and they tell women that safety depends on the prosperity of men. All they can offer is hierarchy. Without meaningful political alternatives to that argument, misogyny will become more attractive, and the ranks of the right-wing woman will grow. Dworkin knew that women need a revolution, a feminism of fists. If its going to succeed, it will have to be more transformative than even she imagined.
Mahmoud Khalil. Photo: Mary Altaffer/AP Photo

When ICE agents detained Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and pro-Palestine activist, on March 8, Democratic leaders could not seem to agree on whether to stand up for him. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez blasted the arrest and threat of deportation of a green-card holder for no crime other than exercising his free-speech rights as tyrannical. The X account for the Senate Judiciary Democrats posted, Free Mahmoud Khalil. But other Democrats, from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo, stressed their opposition to Khalils political views before grudgingly conceding that people should not be spirited away to a Louisiana detention center for those views.

In some ways, Khalils case bears many of the hallmarks of a liberal cause celebre. Here we have a sympathetic protagonist whose edges are softened by his status as a father-to-be, pitted against despicable villains in Marco Rubio and Donald Trump. A federal judge has halted Khalils deportation for now, and protests have erupted across the country as legal analysts and even Ann Coulter have voiced their dismay at what by all appearances is a full-scale trampling of the First Amendment. Yet because the issue involves Israel, which in the past year and a half has divided the liberal-left like no other issue, the support for Khalil is less than ironclad. Unfortunately, there is no pro-Palestine activist who could help the party avoid conservative pundit Jonah Goldbergs verdict that it has a gift for picking problematic martyrs, because the Democratic Party tends to treat everyone who stands up for Palestine like a problem.

And that is the real crisis that Khalil embodies for Democrats. His cause is clearly just, but he is a member of one of the most marginalized and pilloried communities on earth  which is likely why the Trump administration feels comfortable targeting him. As a result, the party is buckling in the most prominent test yet of its commitment to opposing encroaching fascism.

For their part, conservatives from X to Capitol Hill have presented a unified front, smearing the 30-year-old Syrian national as a threat to national security and in some cases claiming he was a different Mahmoud Khalil who allegedly chanted, Explode the heads of Zionists! at a protest in Quebec. Trump has called Khalils arrest the first of many to come, and his plan to weaponize state resources against people who support Palestine is already entering its next phase. Department of Homeland Security agents were seen scouring two more Columbia dorms with search warrants on Thursday night. The Atlantic reported on Friday that Rubio has singled out a second unnamed green-card holder for deportation, hours before DHS announced that it had arrested a second former student who had participated in the Columbia protests, Leqaa Kordia, and that a third, Ranjani Srinivasan, had left the country voluntarily

Democrats including Schumer have seemed eager to go along with Trumps demagogic characterization of Khalil and his fellow activists  with the minority leader asserting, I abhor many of the opinions and policies that Mahmoud Khalil holds and supports  but it remains unclear if the supposedly abhorrent views he is accused of expressing are actually his. Social-media users have alleged that pamphlets from the Hamas Media Office were distributed at a protest at Barnard College earlier this month, but offered no proof that Khalil distributed them. Others have pointed to an Instagram post from Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a campus group that Khalil has protested with, calling for the total eradication of Western Civilization. But Drop Site News reported that Khalil has nothing to do with CUADs Instagram decisions. So far, anyway, it appears Khalils principal views  that Palestinians should be free, that Columbia should divest from Israel  are within the mainstream.

Khalil had open misgivings about protesting at Columbia because he feared the exact consequences he is now facing  that I will be arrested and ultimately deported  so his primary role was as an intermediary between student protesters and the administration. This put him on the schools radar and, owing in part to the activity of extremist pro-Israel groups like Canary Mission and Betar US that dox pro-Palestine activists, eventually on Trumps. Hes an easier target than a lot of other students, said the Verges Gaby Del Valle on Voxs Today, Explained podcast. This may account for the speed with which both Columbia and key Democrats have yielded to Trumps bellicosity. Its no coincidence that Khalil was arrested the day after the Trump administration canceled $400 million in federal funding to Columbia over its alleged failure to police antisemitism.

However, the Democrats alignment with the president on this issue is less about Trump than it is about them. John Fetterman, the Senates most ostentatious Israel supporter, was in a meeting with pro-Israel activist Ross Glick while Khalil was participating in the Barnard protest. According to The Forward, Fetterman promised Glick, who has provided lists of campus protesters to federal immigration authorities in the past, that he would escalate pressure on the administration to deport pro-Palestine activists who were not citizens. Both parties are in lockstep providing material support and political justification for whatever Israel chooses to do to its Palestinian subjects, including a military assault on Gaza that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women, children, or the elderly.

Even if Democrats were not proactive collaborators in Trumps assault on the First Amendment, their own past actions would be apt precursors: In 2023, 20 of them voted to censure Palestinian American congresswoman Rashida Tlaib for daring to criticize Israels mass slaughter of Palestinian civilians, the most severe punishment for a member of Congress short of expulsion.

Thus, instead of riding the groundswell of outrage over Khalils persecution and siding with him unequivocally, Democrats are drawing more attention to their own complicity and to their own conditional support for democratic institutions. Not only are they ceding critical ground to Trumps authoritarian takeover in the process, they are reminding people that the reason Khalil is in this situation to begin with, Israels oppression of Palestine, is one they support and have shown no interest in wavering on. Even if they were not immobilized by their current lack of institutional power, entrusting them with Khalils political defense would be a dicey proposition. Why trust a party whose moral convictions are as weak as their opposition to Trump has been?
The United States has asked Denmark and other European nations if they can export eggs to USA as Americans face surging egg prices



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People exclusive?



they want to be seen

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She has interesting taste in men.

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Interesting?

More like terrible.

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 on Friday, March 14This marks the second day in a row that the pair has been seen together, following their previous outing on Valentines Day.





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No private time? Just paparazzi pics? Got it.

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Lmao I read that and thought I had a stroke

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People has the WORST editors- if any at all. I swear they gave like 3 writers credited on every article and yet they are all repetitive, full of errors and grammatical mistakes, and reek of ChatGPT.

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I know aging exists, but Tom Cruise took a dramatic turn recently????

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It looks like he's either laying off the procedures, or laying onto them harder than before.

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Yes, he looks incredibly puffy.

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his mapother genes are coming out

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lmao I was watching Severance the other day when my kid walked in and he asked if Adam Scott was related to Tom Cruise. "They have the same kind of sad, saggy face"

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He looks rough. Also, the hair isn't helping.

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he looks like a gnome

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I think hes gotten a touch lazier about being seen while the filler sets

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She is so pretty

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Ana doesn't believe in self-love?

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Shes so pretty! He looks like a horror gnome, I usually like rustic gnome men but Im withdrawing!

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Yeah she was in Madrid right after the valentines photos with the Cuban dictators stepson, just like she was in December. The fact that shes getting away pretty unscathed with that dude is wiiiiiillllld.

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What happen to the other man shes been dating for 3 years ?

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Happy for Rodrigo

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Gurl surely you arent this dumb

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"Since Ana has been in Ben's life, being sober has become easier to manage," the source said. "She came into his life and has given him everything he wants and needs in a partner. He's very satisfied with Ana and isn't looking for a coping method. She has a vivacious personality and is a very talented actress." Aug 2020

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Women's wrongs are women's rights

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Rodrigo is on it!

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Am I the only one who thinks he kinda looks like Jackie Chan in that pic?

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You made me screw up and yes I kinda see what you mean

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As Europes energy demand continues to grow, the regions transmission infrastructure is in dire need of an upgrade. There have long been concerns about investment in Europes grid lagging behind renewable energy investment and therefore delaying the deployment of clean power. However, recent assessments have demonstrated just how imminently grid modernisation is needed, if the region hopes to achieve its end-of-decade climate goals.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), at least 1,500 GW of renewable energy projects have been halted or delayed due to the lack of available grid connections. In the EU, 11 out of 26 countries are basing their grid investment decisions on plans that assume lower wind and solar capacities at the end of the decade than those outlined in national targets according to a 2024 analysis. This means that there may not be enough grid capacity to connect new wind and solar projects as governments and private companies invest heavily in the expansion of Europes renewable energy capacity. In terms of solar power, there could be a mismatch of around 205 GW, which is almost equivalent to the EUs total installed solar capacity of 263 GW today.

Several European countries are now facing the high cost involved with managing an oversaturated grid system. For example, in 2023, Spain spent more on managing its congested transmission network than it invested in grid improvement projects. However, there is some optimism as, in November 2023, the European Commission (EC) established an Action Plan to accelerate the expansion of electricity grids. The EC had already established a supportive legal framework for the rollout of electricity grids across Europe, including the revised TEN-E regulation, the revised Renewable Energy Directive, and proposals for a Net-Zero Industry Act and a reformed electricity market design.

Between 2023 and 2030, electricity consumption in the EU is expected to increase by around 60 percent. The report states that 40 percent of the EUs distribution grids are over 40 years old and, with cross-border transmission capacity due to double by 2030, it will require $633 billion of investment to upgrade the regions grid.

Maros Sef?ovi?, the Executive Vice-President for European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, stated, Grids are the backbone of our energy system. Our Action Plan will ensure better support to infrastructure planning, development and operation, central steps to connect Europes growing renewable energy sources to the end-users that need them  from households to hydrogen producers. Through concerted efforts, we can develop more efficient, smarter and more integrated energy infrastructure, thereby making sure that we deliver the clean energy that we need to succeed in the green transition.

Nevertheless, Europe is facing increasing pressure to upgrade its grid at an accelerated rate to achieve its 2030 climate targets and meet the regions growing power demand. As companies across Europe invest heavily in the expansion of the regions renewable energy capacity, many are calling for faster and bigger transmission infrastructure projects. The CEO of the Swedish utility Vattenfall, Anna Borg, said that Europe requires both more transmission capacity to allow power to flow more easily between market areas and optimise prices and more clean electricity production. Both from a sort of independence perspective and the security perspective, because also in the geopolitical context, there is a need to be more self-sufficient in Europe in general, Borg added.

The Brussels-based electric sector association Eurelectric said this month that Europe must modernise its ageing electricity grid and double distribution network investments to $70.5 billion in 2025 to connect new green energy projects and meet the rising power demand. Eurelectrics Secretary General Kristian Ruby saidWe are revisiting energy security because of major changes in the geopolitical landscape. He stressed that while Europe has long benefitted from cheap imported energy, the region must revamp [its] energy policies and get ready to compete in a more unforgiving world We need to rethink energy security and focus on not being too dependent on anyone.

A February Bruegel policy brief emphasises that it is more than just funding that is needed to effectively expand and upgrade Europes grid system. Fragmented networks across the region and unequal financing abilities across member states continue to cause delays to upgrades. The brief recommends the establishment of a European independent system operator (EU ISO) to enhance transparent information exchange and reduce regulatory bias towards capital-intensive investments and individual national interests above the European benefit. In addition, the creation of a grid fund could help overcome imperfect cost-sharing debates, which often slow projects.

There is a clear need to upgrade Europes transmission network as the region increases its renewable energy capacity in response to the growing demand for clean energy. Much of the regions grid system is outdated and ill-prepared for the influx of green energy looking to be connected over the next decade. However, with several countries involved in the discussion, it makes any upgrade to the system complicated to advance. While the European Commission has made strides in simplifying the legal framework for grid modernisation and putting an action plan in place, greater efforts must be taken to rapidly advance the EUs transmission infrastructure to help the region achieve its climate targets.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
The Renewables Monthly Metals Index saw a slight increase, while the Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel Monthly Metals Index experienced a decrease.

Negotiations between the US and Ukraine regarding Ukraine's mineral reserves ended without an agreement, leading to the temporary suspension of US military aid.

The Trump administration declared a national energy emergency to accelerate fossil fuel development and imposed tariffs that increased costs for the renewable energy sector.

The Renewables MMI (Monthly Metals Index) moved sideways month over month, increasing a slight 1.86%. Meanwhile, renewable energy projects could face some challenges from a combination of tariffs and changing Federal policies.

Trump Administrations Energy Policies Reshape the Renewable Sector

Since taking power in January, the Trump administration has reshaped the U.S. renewable energy landscape by introducing some significant policy changes. So far, the White House has declared a national energy emergency, imposed tariffs on critical metals and rolled back environmental regulations.

Trump Declares National Energy Emergency

On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order declaring a national energy emergency. The move aims to accelerate fossil fuel development and eliminate regulatory barriers that slow energy infrastructure projects.

Supporters claim this move strengthens U.S. energy exports and creates jobs in the oil, gas and coal industries. However, critics argue that the decision prioritizes fossil fuels over renewables and undermines environmental protections.

New Tariffs Drive Up Renewable Energy Costs

The administration also implemented a 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum to protect domestic producers. While the policy aims to boost U.S. manufacturing, it has raised some costs for industries that rely on these metals, including the renewable energy sector. For instance, wind turbine and solar panel manufacturers now face higher material expenses, which could slow renewable energy expansion.

The Trump administration also revoked pollution control rules that limited soot emissions from coal-fired power plants. By reversing these restrictions, the White House ensured older, high-emission plants can remain operational without costly upgrades. Industry advocates claim the decision supports the coal sector, but environmental groups warn that increased emissions could harm public health.

High-Stakes Negotiations Over Ukraines Mineral Reserves

In February 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy engaged in critical discussions at the Oval Office in Washington, D.C. The meeting primarily focused on a potential deal that would allow the U.S. to tap into Ukraines vast critical mineral wealth. In exchange, Ukraine sought continued U.S. military aid amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Ukraine holds significant reserves of rare earth elements and lithium, with estimates valuing these untapped resources at approximately $500 billion.

Tensions Rise in Oval Office Talks

The negotiations took a bad turn during the televised meeting between the two leaders. As discussions progressed, Trump pressed for broader U.S. access to Ukraines mineral deposits.

Zelenskyy pushed back, stressing the need for fair terms and expressing concerns over the implications for Ukraines sovereignty. The talks ultimately collapsed without a formal agreement, prompting the temporary suspension of U.S. military aid to Ukraine.

Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel MMI

Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel (GOES MMI) dropped slightly month-over-month. In total, prices fell by 3.84%.

By the Metal Miner team

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Omahas mayoral candidates are offering differing views on police staffing in the city, how its affecting public safety and what to do about it.

The issue has been a focal point in candidate forums. It was a flashpoint Thursday when Jean Stothert and Mike McDonnell clashed while rolling out endorsements. The Omaha police union endorsed McDonnell. Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer endorsed Stothert.

The Omaha Police Department is authorized to have 906 sworn officers, and is budgeted for that many, but currently has about 120 fewer. The department has been 90 to 100 officers short of fully staffed for three years.

Four of the five candidates for mayor  Stothert, McDonnell, John Ewing Jr. and the Rev. Terry Brewer  agree that its urgent to bring the department up to its authorized staffing, although they differ on how to do that. One candidate, Jasmine Harris, says hiring 100 more officers and giving large raises could cost too much and the city should invest in more mental health responders instead.

Stothert proposes to raise Omaha officers pay so that it is 5% higher than another Nebraska police agency by next year. The city would commit to always keep Omaha officers pay the highest in the state under the plan, which Stothert and Schmaderer announced Tuesday. Thats on top of a large raise that Stothert and the City Council gave officers in 2024 to help with recruitment and retention.

What do crime statistics show?

Appearing with Schmaderer on Thursday, Stothert touted the citys crime rates despite the staffing level.

Last year, our crime statistics were unbelievable, Stothert said. Our violent crime was down 21 percent. All crime was down 19 percent. We had the lowest number of homicides in ... over 30 years.

Omaha Police Department statistics show a decrease in the total number of crimes from 20,757 in 2023 to 17,272 last year. The department recorded 1,736 violent crimes in 2024, down from 2,203 in 2023. There were 19 homicides in the city in 2024, the fewest in 30 years.

McDonnell, a labor union leader and former Omaha fire chief, called the staffing shortfall a crisis and said he would solve the problem within one year.

He said he would contract with the Douglas County Sheriffs Office to assist Omaha police until more officers could be hired. He said he didnt know how much that would cost, but he said he would use money budgeted for unfilled officer positions to pay for it.

McDonnell said he would increase spending for recruiting and would increase recruiting in other cities for officers and their families.

Were going to solve the problem within a year, McDonnell said. Were going to get our authorized strength up to where it should be.

McDonnell and his supporters in the Omaha police union pointed to different numbers to paint a different picture.

Patrick Dempsey, president of the Omaha Police Officers Association, acknowledged that major crimes have gone down in Omaha.

And thats not a mayors office who takes violent crime and makes it decrease, Dempsey said while endorsing McDonnell on Thursday. Thats the men and women of this association who go to work every day, regardless of being short-staffed.

Police union officials said traffic enforcement had gone down 51% from 2019 to 2024. They based that on city statistics that showed officer-initiated traffic stops declined from 41,745 in 2019 to 18,936 in 2024.

Dempsey linked that to Omahas sharp increase in traffic fatalities: to 58 in 2024, up from 40 in 2023 and 45 in 2022.

What are police response times?

Union officials also said response times to the highest-priority calls had gotten 24% slower from 2019 to 2024. They pointed to a statistic on the City of Omaha website that shows the average priority one response time for police was 5 minutes and 16 seconds in 2020, and 6 minutes, 41 seconds in 2024.

A priority one call is one where an immediate response is required because theres an imminent threat where officers presence will mitigate a threat to life, safety or property.

The Police Department tracks response times in what David Van Dyke, deputy director of the technical and reporting services bureau, says is a more accurate measure than using an average. The department tracks what it calls response time threshold performance.

The system uses benchmarks of eight and 12 minutes. That measure shows that from 2022 through 2024, police responded to the highest priority calls in eight minutes or less 58.8% of the time, Van Dyke said. Thats a mere one-tenth of a percent less than in 2017 through 2019, when the department was close to fully staffed.

The 12-minute threshold performance improved a bit in more recent years. Police responded to priority one calls in 12 minutes or less 86.3% of the time in 2022 through 2024. Thats compared to 82.8% in 2017 through 2019.

Schmaderer said Omaha police response times have been stable because of management interventions to streamline the workload of officers. Those interventions include sending more reports of less-serious crimes to the telephone report unit, and having shifted shoplifting reports to online rather than having an officer respond in person.

But that cant go on forever, he said.

The overtime is going up, Schmaderer said. The burnout is going up. Thats why we stepped in to make the most recent salary proposal.

Other candidates weigh in

Ewing, a former deputy Omaha police chief, said Thursday that he is the only person in the mayors race who has actually recruited police officers.

We doubled the number of applicants and we were always at full strength, he said of his time in that duty in the early 2000s.

Ewing said the number one thing the city needs to do is make sure Omaha police officers are the highest-paid officers in Nebraska. He said the city should should work toward reducing the amount of pay that police officers have to contribute to their pension fund, possibly by putting more of the citys restaurant tax revenue into the pension fund.

Harris said public safety is one of her top priorities, but hiring more officers isnt necessarily the way to go.

You realistically have to look at the budget more to say, if were going to increase wages, can we really bring in 100 more people, seeing that the Police Departments budget has increased dramatically over the years? Harris said. What I want to do is go upstream and work on prevention. ... I want to make sure that I am approving a budget that I actually get behind before committing to going full into hiring more officers.

She said she would increase the number of mental health responders and mobile mental health crisis units, which could decrease the amount of calls that police officers have to handle.

For me, public safety starts with prevention, Harris said. And knowing that the mental health responders unit has received an uptick in calls from people in the community, I want to put a focus on prevention in the mental health responders unit, so that alleviates the workload from the officers and ensures that unit has the right amount of staff.

Brewer said the city needs to hire more officers and increase wages to get the department up to full strength. The city needs enough police to do neighborhood beat patrols, he said.

But Brewer does not support Stotherts and Schmaderers pay raise proposal. Brewer suggested raises of the cost of living plus 2%.


The LA Fires: Interim Report

by Rick Campbell

An Oregon writer,

We are now about two months out from the disastrous Palasades and Eaton fires which struck Altadena, Pacific Palasades, and parts of Pasadena and Malibu, California. The ashes are barely cool, and final reports are many years away. But we can now look at some causes, effects, and perhaps learn something.

We are an advanced civilization, with thousands of years experience in building cities and fighting fires. How could things go so wrong?

What happened? A series of small fires merged into one large fire.

Was it preventable? Of course. It was the result of six factors interacting to create the perfect fire storm.

First, weather. Southern California is an arid region which has occasional rains and then the hot dry Santa Ana winds every winter. Some years the winds are stronger than others, but they are God-given and entirely predictable.

Second, native vegetation. When the rains come, the grass and under-brush grow and then dry out. Naturally, every few years the fuel load builds up and catches fire.

When the Spanish came to California nearly 500 years ago, they recognized this pattern, and turned Southern California into a giant cattle ranch. They built their adobe haciendas away from the under-brush, and when the fires came, no one was hurt.

Today, we can reduce the natural fuel load two ways: controlled burning or manual cutting. But the environmentalists didnt like the smoke, so they made it hard to get burning permits from the city, county, state, California Coastal Commission and six Federal agencies.

Two years ago, Fire Chief Kristen Crowley (since fired) asked Mayor Karen Bass to establish professional brush clearing teams. She was refused. In December 2024, the brush fuel load was at record levels. You could blame the mayor, you could blame environmentalists, you could blame the bureaucracy.

The next factor is urban density. In 1900, Los Angeles was a sleepy town with little potential. Then, a consortium led by William Mulholland managed to build an aqueduct to bring water from the Owens Valley. Suburbs sprang up.

Some, like Beverly Hills, had large lots, wide setbacks, open spaces and green manicured lawns. Very defensible against brush fires.

But the more affordable suburbs like Altadena were platted to 1920s standards: smaller lots, less setbacks, electric wires on poles, a basic water system, and streets designed for 1920s traffic.

It was adequate for a century ago, and then the growth came. The movie industry. Dust bowl refugees. Defense industries. More cars. More infill housing built on the brushy hillsides and in the canyons. It became high density.

You can blame the city fathers, planners, realtors, builders and home buyers. There is plenty of blame to go around.

Then there is the matter of construction materials. Humans know how to build fire-resistant structures. The Pantheon in Rome is concrete and two thousand years old. Carcasson, France, is built of stone and Sienna, Italy, built of brick: both cities are over a thousand years old.

We know that cementitious stucco over a wood frame with tile roofing will also resist a brush fire well.

But throughout the LA fire zone were affordable homes: wood frames, wood siding, EIFS plastic stucco, wood decks, with roofing of shakes, shingles or asphalt composition.

They dont resist burning embers long, especially if there are plenty of combustible materials near the structure. Once the brush caught fire, structures and vehicles provided the secondary fuel.

Next is urban firefighting. We know how to do it. The fundamental principle is rapid response, to keep small fires from merging into large fires. The key is neighborhood fire stations, staffed 24-7 with trained firefighters and the best equipment.

In 2024, Mayor Karen Bass had cut the LAFD budget by $17 million dollars, and 100 fire engines were out of service awaiting repairs. Fire Chief Crowley gave a public warning. Mayor Bass denies these numbers and has fired Crowley.

But no one expected that people fleeing the fires would abandon their cars. The fire engines which were operational could not get through a bitter surprise.

Finally we have to look at the LA water system. It is a century old, and is stressed by the demands of both environmentalists and city rate payers. The dirty little secret is that is was never designed for a worst case scenario suddenly, Altadena had 100 active fires called in at once. The upper reservoirs were quickly drained. It was a system designed for 1920, and not upgraded to handle urban growth.

So theres the perfect fire storm: wind, underbrush fuel, population density, combustible materials, underfunded fire department and an archaic water system. All it took was a spark to set it off, exact cause to be determined.

The tally right now is 29 deaths, 35,000 acres and 17,000 structures burned with insured losses of $75 billion, and an eco-nomic impact of perhaps twice that.

What else do we know for sure?

We know that the entire country will pay part of the price. First, taxpayers will pay for federal disaster and FEMA funding. Second, all building materials will go up in price nationwide. And finally, all property insurance rates will go up. That much is certain.

What we dont know is a bigger concern.

First, we dont know how many people are underinsured. Some experts say 70 percent. Therefore, we dont know how many owners will default and walk away. And therefore, we dont know how the areas banks and mortgage companies will be hurt. You can be sure they will ask for federal assistance.

Second, we dont know how California will cope with its insurance crisis. State Farm, the states largest insurer has depleted its reserves and has asked for an immediate 20% rate increase. The California insurance pool, FAIR, has demanded $1 billion from the states insurance companies.

Third, we dont know the full story about vehicle fires, and I have been searching for official figures for two months. Why is this important? Because California demands the conversion to all-electric vehicles by 2035. So it is reasonable to ask: What is the comparative fire danger between internal combustion engine cars and electric vehicles (EVs).

When a conventional car catches fire, it can be smothered with foam. If not, it consumes the gasoline in the tank, the tires, plastics and upholstery. It usually burns out within thirty minutes.

An EV burns differently. A typical battery pack weighs 1,000 pounds and contains hundreds of small lithium ion cells. Hybrid vehicles have a similar but small-er battery pack.

When a battery pack reaches an internal temperature of 266 degrees F, the separator strip between cathode and anode melts causing an internal short circuit and thermal runaway. The cell catches fire and quickly rises to about 1,500 degrees F.

The battery pack can burn for more than 24 hours before all the cells are consumed.

The fire is exogenic, that is, creates its own oxygen, so it cannot be extinguished with foam. Typically, more than 20,000 gallons of cooling water are required to put it out.

While it burns it emits deadly toxic gases: lithium oxide, hydrogen flouride, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen chloride.

When consumed the battery ash becomes toxic waste, containing lithium, arsenic, nickel, aluminum and cobalt, requiring removal of six inches of topsoil. It must be collected by a hazmat team and trans-ported to a lined hazardous waste dump.

No one has stated the number of EVs consumed. Why not? Apparently, they dont want the public to know. But they know.

Heres my calculation: There are 431,000 EVs registered in LA. Lets assume 10 percent are domiciled in the fire area, about 40,000, and that 90 percent of those escaped. That would mean approximately

4,000 EVs burned, which is in line with the 1,400 cleanups in Lahaina, Maui in 2023.

EPA Incident Commander Steve Canalog did admit: this is the largest lithium-ion battery pickup, cleanup, thats ever hap-pended in the history of the world.

EPA Administrator Lee Zelden has stated that the cleanup involves 13,000 proper-ties, which may include EVs, hybrids, garage chemicals, and industrial sites. We will have to wait for the final numbers. My point is this:

Each EV battery pack is a 1,000 pound fire bomb just waiting to become a superfund site, no matter what the exact figures.

Make no mistake, the LA fires were not the result of accidental events. They were the result of deliberate human policies and mismanagement over many decades.

In their naive efforts to save the planet, Californians created the largest environmental disaster in American history.

As Puck said in a Midsummer Nights Dream, Lord, what fools these mortals be.

Rick Campbell is an Oregon writer.


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

House Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on HB 3075 on Monday March 17th, Hearing Room F: which makes key adjustments to the gun control ballot Measure 114 (2022).

HB 3075 increases both waiting delays and costs involved with Measure 114

House Bill 3075 summary, The Act makes changes to the gun permit and transfer process. Modifies the firearm permit provisions of Ballot Measure 114 (2022). Specifies where a person may apply for a permit to purchase a firearm and adds an eligibility requirement. Provides that information obtained during the application process and during the criminal background check and maintained within the database of permit holders is exempt from disclosure as a public record. Extends the time, from 30 to 60 days from receipt of the application, by which a permit agent must issue a permit to a qualified applicant or mail reasons for a denial in writing to the applicant. Increases the maximum fee that may be charged for an initial application for and renewal of a permit. Specifies the portion of the fee payable to the Department of State Police for conducting a criminal background check. Establishes alternatives to a firearms training course or class that may be used to satisfy the requirement of proof of completion of a firearm safety course for the permit. Provides that permits are not required for firearm transfers until July 1, 2026. Establishes a temporary exception to the permit requirement for the transfer of certain firearms until July 1, 2028. Establishes a permanent exception to the permit requirement for active duty law enforcement and military. Modifies the affirmative defense language for the large capacity magazine provisions of Ballot Measure 114 (2022). Provides that a challenge to legality of the Act must be commenced in the Circuit Court for Marion County. Declares an emergency, effective on passage

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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:

This screengrab image from NASA's live broadcast shows the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon capsule blasting off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida bound for the International Space Station.

Not long to go now: After more than nine months on the International Space Station, two astronauts are a step closer to returning home following the launch of a crew swap mission on Friday.

A Falcon 9 rocket with a Crew Dragon fixed to its top blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:03 pm (2303 GMT), carrying a four-member team bound for the orbital outpost.

"We celebrate the countless individuals all over the world that have made this journey possible," said astronaut Nichole Ayers, the designated pilot of the Crew-10 mission, just before launch.

But the real focus is what their arrival enables: the long-overdue departure from the ISS of NASA duo Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

The two former US Navy pilots have been stuck aboard the orbital lab since June after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft they were testing on its maiden crewed voyage suffered propulsion issues and was deemed unfit to fly them back to Earth.

Instead, Starliner returned empty, without experiencing further major issuesand what was meant to have been a days-long roundtrip for Wilmore and Williams has now stretched past nine months.

That is significantly longer than the standard ISS rotation for astronauts of roughly six months.

NASA duo Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been stuck aboard the ISS since June after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft they were testing on its maiden crewed flight developed propulsion issues and was deemed unfit to fly them back.

But it is much shorter than the US space record of 371 days set by NASA astronaut Frank Rubio aboard the ISS in 2023, or the world record held by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, who spent 437 continuous days aboard the Mir space station.

Still, the unexpected nature of their prolonged stay away from their familiesthey had to receive additional clothing and personal care items because they hadn't packed enoughhas garnered interest and sympathy.

'Maybe they love each other'

What began as a technical failure has also spiraled into a political flashpoint, as President Donald Trump and his close advisor, Elon Muskwho leads SpaceXhave repeatedly suggested that former president Joe Biden "abandoned" the pair intentionally and rejected a plan to bring them back sooner.

That accusation caused uproar in the space community, especially since Musk did not provide any specifics.

The plan for the duo's return has been unchanged ever since they were reassigned to SpaceX's Crew-9, which arrived in September aboard another Dragon carrying only two crew membersinstead of the usual fourto make room for Wilmore and Williams.

When Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen pointed this out on X, Musk lashed out at him, using a slur for mentally disabled people.

The arrival of the Crew-10 mission will allow Wilmore and Williams to depart the ISS.

Some retired astronauts rushed to Mogensen's defensewhile Wilmore appeared to back Musk, saying his comments must have been "factual," though he admitted he was not privy to any details.

Trump, meanwhile, has drawn attention for his bizarre remarks about the situation, referring to Williams, a decorated former naval captain, as "the woman with the wild hair" and speculating about the personal dynamic between the two.

"They've been left up thereI hope they like each other, maybe they love each other, I don't know," he said during a recent White House press conference.

Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly.

Only after the Crew-10 spaceship docksscheduled for 11:30 pm Saturdaycan the Crew-9 team begin preparing for departure and their ocean splashdown off the Florida coast, no sooner than March 19.

Along with Wilmore and Williams, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will also be aboard the returning Dragon capsule.

Space remains an area of cooperation between the United States and Russia despite the Ukraine conflict, with cosmonauts traveling to the ISS aboard SpaceX Crew Dragons and astronauts doing the same via Soyuz capsules launched from Kazakhstan.

The Crew-10 team consists of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan's Takuya Onishi, and Russia's Kirill Peskov. During their mission, the new crew will conduct a range of scientific experiments, including flammability tests for future spacecraft designs and research into the effects of space on the human body.

 2025 AFP
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Dynamical scaling and resource estimates for large-scale quantum simulation. Credit: Science (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.ado6285

A team of quantum computer researchers at quantum computer maker D-Wave, working with an international team of physicists and engineers, is claiming that its latest quantum processor has been used to run a quantum simulation faster than could be done with a classical computer.

In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes how they ran a quantum version of a mathematical approximation regarding how matter behaves when it changes states, such as from a gas to a liquidin a way that they claim would be nearly impossible to conduct on a traditional computer.

Over the past several years, D-Wave has been working on developing quantum annealers, which are a subtype of quantum computer created to solve very specific types of problems. Notably, landmark claims made by researchers at the company have at times been met with skepticism by others in the field.

In this new effort, the research team built a quantum computer using an annealing processor, which is typically used to solve a single type of problem. They used the processor to simulate quantum dynamics properties of spin glasses (magnetized disordered arrays of simulated objects). The result was the solving of simulations that could be used to describe certain magnetic materials. Solving such problems in the past has aided in designing new metals, which the team notes means their work has true scientific relevance.

The work by the team was originally posted on the arXiv preprint server last year, giving others the opportunity to review their claims, which led to two teams suggesting that much of what the team accomplished could in fact be done on a classical computer.

The first, led by Dries Sels at New York University, posted their paper on the arXiv preprint server describing how they conducted similar simulations on a laptop in just two hours. The second team, led by Linda Mauron and Giuseppe Carleo at EPFL in Switzerland, also posted a paper on arXiv, suggesting that such simulations could be done in another way, also on an ordinary computer.

In response, the team at D-Wave ran larger simulations using more qubits, and will reportedly be posting their results in a future paper. They conclude by suggesting that they hope their work will inspire other researchers to discover novel quantum techniques for solving relevant problems.

More information: Andrew D. King et al, Beyond-classical computation in quantum simulation, Science (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.ado6285 Journal information: arXiv , Science

 2025 Science X Network
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Official estimates suggest that about a third of all crops in Sri Lanka are eaten or destroyed by wild animals.

Sri Lanka carried out a nationwide census Saturday of nuisance wildlife, including monkeys and peacocks, in a bid to prepare countermeasures to protect crops, officials said.

Some 40,000 local officials were deployed to count wild boar, lorises, peacocks, and monkeys near farms and homes during a five-minute period on Saturday morning.

In the north-central district of Anuradhapura, farmer families gathered in open fields to count the animals and record them in sheets provided by the agriculture ministry.

"We are having census during a very short time period to ensure there is no double counting," ministry official Ajith Pushpakumara told reporters in the capital Colombo.

"We are expecting that the results will be about 80 percent accurate. After we have an idea of the number of these animals, we can plan out the next steps to deal with them."

In Anuradhapura, 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of Colombo, residents were out early in the fields preparing for the census.

"We had a very successful count from very enthusiastic participants. They are the farmers who continuously suffer crop damage. Our count was 227 toque monkeys and 65 purple faced langurs," Chaminda Dissanayake, an agriculture department bureaucrat who conducted the census at Anuradhapura's Mihintale area told AFP.

Opposition legislator Nalin Bandara criticized the census, calling it a "waste of money".

"This is a complete failure, a waste of money. What about the pests that attack farms at night. They are not being counted," said Bandara, adding that newer technologies could have been deployed for the counting exercise.

Officials say more than a third of crops are destroyed by wild animals, including elephants, which are protected by law as they are considered sacred.

While elephants are major raiders of rice farms and fruit plantations, they were not counted in Saturday's census.

In 2023, the-then agricultural minister proposed exporting some 100,000 toque macaques to Chinese zoos, but the monkey business was abandoned following protests from environmentalists.

Sri Lanka removed several species from its protected list in 2023, including all three of its monkey species as well as peacocks and wild boars, allowing farmers to kill them.

 2025 AFP
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A newborn wombat baby APARI sits in its mother's pouch at the zoo in Duisburg, Germany, Thursday, March 29, 2018. Credit: AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File

Wombats are furry, nocturnal marsupials found only in Australia.

Baby wombats have recently been in the news after an American influencer filmed herself snatching a young joey from its mother, setting off a global conversation about mistreatment of wildlife. Wild animals are cutebut please don't touch, for your sake and theirs.

Unlike kangaroos and koalas, most wombats actually do spend much of their time down underin burrows that sometimes include up to ten entrances and tunnels up to 325 feet (100 meters) long.

That's a lot of digging for an animal about the size of a medium dog with short legs, but also wide feet and sharp claws. Wombats can be up to 3 feet long and 88 pounds (40 kg). They have relatively flat faces, small ears and large noses.

If multiple wombats share the same burrow, also known as a warren, it's most likely to be several females.

Sometimes, after her young are raised, a mother wombat will depart her family burrow to join another, leaving the underground estate to her young, who may still be too small to dig their own, according to the Australia-based nonprofit Wombat Foundation.

Otto, a Tasmanian wombat, waddles around the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo's newest exhibit in Albuquerque, N.M., on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Credit: AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan

A wombat walks at a wildlife sanctuary in Bendalong on the South Coast, of Australia, Tuesday, May 26, 2020. Credit: Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP

A Wild live carer holds a baby wombat during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. Credit: Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP

When they're above ground, wombats spend much of their time grazing on grass, their primary food. They are herbivores, using their claws only for digging.

In 2021, scientists at Cornell University and other institutions published results of their study on why wombats are the only animal known to poop out cube-shaped scat. It turns out to be related to the shape of their intestinal muscles.

There are three species of wombats. One of those, the northern hairy-nosed wombat, is critically endangered.

During wildfire season in Australia, other species have been known to shelter in fireproof wombat burrowsnot herded, but tolerated there. Last year, scientists published observations from trail cameras of bush rats, monitor lizards, painted button-quails and other animals sometimes using wombat dens.

 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP  A group of Stockton University students recently toured part of the township with two second-generation Holocaust survivors to learn about the hidden Jewish history behind landmarks like a Hispanic church and a Wawa.

Accompanying the students on the March 5 trip were Irving Jacoby, son of Holocaust survivors Rose and Sidney Jacoby, and Leo Schoffer, son of Sara and Sam Schoffer, the namesakes of Stocktons Holocaust Resource Center.

This is a project that is very much about southern New Jersey and the many layers of history that were trying to uncover, said Stockton history professor Michael Hayse. You can learn about the Battle of Gettysburg, but its a completely different thing to actually visit the Gettysburg historical site, and the same is true here.

As the group boarded the Stockton vans and made their way through EHT, Jacoby and Schoffer shared stories about their families and what it was like to grow up in South Jersey, Stockton said Friday in a news release.

I come from good stock, and Im not saying that to be braggadocious  Im saying it out of pride. They were good people, and terrible things happened to them that no one on Earth should have to experience, but they did not come out with hatred in their soul, Jacoby said.

At the Black Horse Pike Wawa, Schoffer pointed to the gas station and talked about how his father built their three-bedroom house on that very spot. An on-site chicken coop soon followed, along with houses across the road for his family and friends.

What started as a way for Schoffer and many other families to gain financial and physical sustenance turned into a thriving property development business that helped them find opportunities for upward social mobility.

Sam, like so many other farmers, took his newfound English-language skills and business acumen and moved on to other ventures in fields such as retail, real estate and hospitality. For my parents, the chicken and egg business was truly the springboard to the American dream, Schoffer said.

Stockton to screen documentary on creator of Holocaust graphic novel 'Maus' Stockton University will screen a new documentary about the life and work of cartoonist Art Spiegelman, the creator of the graphic novel "Maus," on March 5.

Another of the stops on the tour was the Iglesia Buenas Nuevas, a Hispanic Catholic church on English Creek Avenue.

Before it was a church, the space was home to the Bnai Israel synagogue, built by Holocaust survivors in the mid-1950s. In addition to worship, the synagogue, known colloquially as the Farmers Congregation, was a Jewish day school and a place easily accessible for local farmers practicing Shabbat, which barred congregants from driving on holy days.

According to Schoffer, who had his bar mitzvah there, the synagogue was the center of their social lives.

What makes me really happy is that this is still a house of worship, and the walls are still hearing people pray, Schoffer said. I dont know what the profile of the congregants is today ... but Im going to guess that they have a lot in common with our families who prayed in this same building in the 1950s.

For the final leg of the tour, the group spent a few moments at the final resting place of Holocaust survivors and their descendants, including Jacoby and Schoffers parents, in Rodef Sholom Cemetery on the pike.

Historical studies major Kylee Fitzpatrick said the experience augmented what she learned as an intern for the Holocaust Resource Center.

It was really interesting getting to hear Sam and Saras sons story, and I really liked the personal connection of this trip, said Fitzpatrick, of Lacey Township. It was impactful hearing from the second generation and having them talk about and explain their point of view.

American studies student Cian ODonoghue, of Somers Point, called the guests a treasure trove of information.

It was phenomenal being able to go out and experience all of these different places and the history behind them, but I think that the most important part was seeing all of the members of Stocktons faculty and all of our guests from the community collaborating. All of this needs to be recorded and preserved.
Augustana College biology students are using an innovative art project to promote the importance of local insects.

Guided by associate professor Tierney Brosius, students installed a new mural  featuring local beetle species  along the third floor of Hanson Hall of Science on Friday, fittingly located near the school's entomology lab. Each beetle was surveyed by Augie students as part of a research project this past summer.

The mural was designed by artists Wendy DesChene and Jeff Schmuki, a married couple and the co-founders of PlantBot Genetics. Their work combines activism, research and social outreach to spread ecological awareness and action on sustainability efforts. By partnering with the artists, Brosius said her students can better connect to their local ecology  and thus, spread related scientific messaging more effectively.

"We (higher education) teach our students to be scientists pretty well, right? At the same time, I don't know if scientists are always great communicators," she said.

While scientific research and data are crucial in her field of study, Brosius said that doesn't always translate or "change people's hearts" when relayed to the general public or other sectors.

"Starting with something beautiful and engaging really helps to open people's eyes," Brosius said.

Summer research timely, important amid insect declines

The students' summer research project focused on surveying beetle diversity in the Quad-Cities, with an emphasis on spreading awareness on their important environmental role. In total, the students counted 38 distinct local beetle species, along with five rarer local species from Augie's insect collection.

"There's huge diversity (locally)," said Dakota Serra, a senior biology and environmental science double-major. "You wouldn't necessarily expect to see that.  When you think of pretty insects, your mind typically goes someplace more 'tropical.'"

Charley Williams, a senior biology major and art minor, said she's noticeably more comfortable doing field research thanks to her time beetle surveying.

"A lot of it was just gaining new skills," she said. "(Identifying) different species, using different trapping methods  husbandry was a big thing, too."

This work not only helps future scientists, it's also important. Etymologists say insect populations, or "biomass," have dropped drastically over the past decade, Brosius said. One major study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America points to a 2% drop in total insect biomass annually.

Since insects respond to ecosystem changes faster and more abruptly than most other organisms, Brosius says these declines are alarming.

"That (could) mean something is fundamentally wrong" with the environment, Brosius said. "Everyone loves birds, but no one likes bugs  but without bugs, there are no birds."

Merging art and science to mean something

Brosius and her students hope the mural opens the door for broader conversations about insect conservation.

"The whole point of, like, doing an artistic representation of it is to hopefully make it stick" in the viewer's mind, Serra said. "I don't think many people realize how much these tiny, little insects play a huge role in local ecosystems."

Beetles, for example, are pollinators, and they also clear decay.

"Our biggest thing is to bring awareness to the importance of (beetles) and their decline," Serra added.

Williams also hopes the mural's artistic, kaleidoscope-like look serves as a "buffer" for those who might be scared or repulsed by bugs.

"It's connecting people to their yard (without them) even having to go outside," DesChene said. "So maybe, you'll think twice before you spray (harmful) chemicals outside, or all over your plants."

DesChene is also a faculty member at Auburn University, which provided a $28,000 grant to fund Augustana's mural.

As an art professor at Georgia Southern University, Schmuki said allowing Augie students to see their work displayed on campus helps them build ownership, and thus, appreciation, for the world around them.

"That kind of experiential learning reinforces the importance (of their studies), instead of (learning) facts being thrown at you," he said, especially because students and society are subject to "so much" messaging today.

Augie students have been curious and engaged when discussing the intersection of art and science, Schmuki said, though he argues the subjects aren't all that different.

"Artists and scientists both rely on observation, and both form 'hypothesis' to test that and take good notes," he said. "I work in ceramic, so chemistry is important.  There's a lot of overlap we don't really focus as much on today."

PlanBot Genetics brought their mobile "ArtLab" to Augie this past July, highlighting the students summer research findings and the power of art and science. The ArtLab also visited the Figge Art Museum in downtown Davenport, giving children an opportunity to interact with microscopes, preserved beetle specimens and live beetles. As part of this outreach event, Augie students distributed a survey to the children about their thoughts on beetles.

"It was interesting to see what kind of new perceptions formed about (beetles)" after the kids got to explore the ArtLab, Serra said.

Brosius and her students' work on beetle sampling, along with the mural project, will be featured in the nationwide American Etymologist publication.

"I think it's been a really good experience so far," Brosius said, nodding to the project's creative, experiential nature. "The student experience is always my first goal, because they're the next generation of scientists."

As the artists involved, DesChene and Schmuki hope Augie's mural project, and others in the future, help promote the inclusion of the "A" in "STEAM."

"I think science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is missing a very important element, which is (art)," Schmuki said.

To him, artistic creativity is crucial as industries continue to "outsource or automate." Big scientific players are even starting to adopt this mindset, Schmuki said, and other countries regularly teach art alongside science coursework.

"NASA employs artists; MIT is very interested in the correlation of STEAM instead of STEM," he said. "Creativity is going to be required for a lot of the problems that (start) to pile up.  But if we start breaking it down with creative thinkers, I think we can overcome them."
All India Federation of Printers and Packagers (AIFPP) has entered into a strategic partnership with ELE007.com, a one-stop printing and packaging solutions provider headquartered in Beijing, China. This collaboration aims to bring innovative, customizable, and technologically advanced solutions to meet the evolving demands of the Indian market. The partnership was formalized during high-level discussions in Beijing, where Prof. Kamal Mohan Chopra, representing AIFPP, met with Ms. Chenyan, CEO & Founder, and Ms. Lacie Liang, CMO of ELE007.com. The collaboration aims to deliver tailored solutions aligned with the unique needs of Indias printing and packaging sector.

The alliance aims to introduce a range of cutting-edge products and services, including:

POSM Materials: Innovative retail display solutions such as posters, pop-up cards, light boxes, labels, floor decals, and billboards.

Advanced Packaging Products: High-quality labels, card boxes, colour boxes, corrugated packaging, gift boxes, and tote bags.

Agile Packaging Development: Digital tools for rapid prototyping, flexible design adjustments, and compliance with international packaging standards.

Localized Collaboration: Leveraging Chinas robust supply chain to optimize production and logistics, ensuring seamless operations aligned with Indian ports.

ELE007.com, renowned for serving over 1,200 domestic and international brands, brings its expertise in smart manufacturing and AI-driven solutions to the partnership. The companys mission, Connect Global Markets, Create Smart Manufacturing, aligns with AIFPPs vision to modernize Indias printing and packaging industry. During the discussions, Ms. Chenyan outlined potential partnership models, including:

Full-Service Outsourcing: End-to-end management from design to delivery, ensuring streamlined processes and premium quality.

Capacity Direct Procurement: Enabling Indian businesses to source standardized products directly from Chinas top-tier factories, supported by stringent quality assurance protocols.

Prof. Kamal Mohan Chopra expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, This partnership marks the dawn of a new era for Indias printing and packaging industry. By gaining access to ELE007.coms nationwide Super Cloud Factory powered by AI-driven efficiency, Indian professionals will benefit from unmatched innovation, speed, and precision. He further emphasized that AIFPP members would receive these services free of cost, while non-members could avail significant discounts under the AIFPP umbrella.

Ms. Lacie Liang, CMO of ELE007.com, reiterated the companys commitment to transparency and excellence, stating, Our philosophy, What you think is what you see, and what you see is what you get, underscores our dedication to delivering solutions that exceed expectations.

By combining AIFPPs industry leadership with ELE007.coms technological prowess, the partnership promises to foster seamless collaboration, deliver cutting-edge solutions and unlock new possibilities catering to the evolving needs of the Indian market.
Kathmandu, Nepal:Former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal has said that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is crucial for the development of Nepal.

BRI presents a significant opportunity for Nepal to achieve development and prosperity, Khanal, who is also the senior leader of the NepalCommunist Party, united socialist said while speaking at a program organized by the Foundation for Peace, Development and Socialism in Kathmandu on Saturday.

As BRI is a global development project it should be embraced to boost infrastructure and communication networks, Khanal said.

At the function Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Cheng Song also said that China has a positive stance on Nepals development initiatives.
Guwahati: Journalists' Forum Assam (JFA) expresses dismay over 'on camera physical assaults' on three television scribes by a group of individuals in West Bengal and demands a fair probe to nab the culprits as early as possible. The scribes namely Hridita, Pinki and Bhaskar, associated with Republic Bangla news channel, were assaulted on the campus of Jadavpur University on 13 March 2025. They faced intimidation and physical assaults while covering events at the prestigious higher educational institute. The news channels have telecast some of the visuals where it is seen that the reporters were pushed by some employees and students.



Arnab Goswami, the chief editor of Republic TV Network, strongly condemned the hooliganism claiming that 'male students assaulted female Republic Bangla reporters inside the campus'. Hridita and Pinki were simply reporting when they were confronted, physically assaulted, and then illegally detained by the Jadavpur University registrar in his office, but despite this, there was no police protection, asserted Goswami, adding that some employees in the registrar's office even asked the reporters to delete the footage.



Mentionable is that Jadavpur University continued attracting media attention for an unruly situation in the last few months. The Republic Bangla reporters went to the university authority with queries as to why so much anti-national graffiti was displayed on the campus walls. They also questioned if the pioneer university had turned into a den of some groups aligned with the ruling Trinamool Congress party, where no press persons can enter the campus.



"No journalist, on duty hours, should be harassed and physically assaulted. The concerned authority and Bengal government chief Mamata Banerjee must take it as their call and investigate the entire episode. The perpetrators need to be identified and punished under the law," said JFA resident Rupam Baruah and secretary Nava Thakuria, adding that any institution should not be converted into a private campus with no access to reporters as it's been observed in Jadavpur University for many years now.
Kathmandu, March 13: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba has reached New Delhi, the capital city of India, on Thursday afternoon on a visit.

According to her secretariat, the foreign minister reached New Delhi following her prayers and worships at Baba Baidhyanath Dham in Jharkhand, India.

Upon her arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Munu Mahawar and Nepali Ambassador to India, Dr Shanker Sharma had welcomed Minister Dr Rana.

During her visit, Minister Dr Rana is scheduled to participate in the Raisina Dialogue programme organized by The Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi from March 17 to 19 in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs of India.

Additionally, she will address separate sessions titled 'Status and Problems of Climate Change and What the South wants?' on behalf of Nepal, apart from addressing the 'Digital Public Infrastructure Conclave'.

Moreover, Minister Rana is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with her Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar and counterparts from other friendly countries, her secretariat informed.

Prime Ministers, foreign ministers, leaders and policy makers from various countries across the world will participate in the Raisina Dialogue.(RSS)
Texas, March 15: The United States' Texas legislature has declared March 13 as 'Nepali Lumbini Advocacy Day'.

Such announcement was made after approving the resolution by the meeting of Texas state legislature held on March 13. With the approval of the resolution, 'Nepali Lumbini Advocacy Day' has got recognition officially.

The resolution related to this was brought by Suleman Lalani, one of the first Muslims and South Asian lawmakers in the Texas legislature. Mayors of five municipalities under Lumbini Circuit of Nepal, who were in US visit, were also present on the occasion.

The resolution has laid emphasis on the historical importance of Lumbini. The UNESCO has enlisted Lumbini as the list of the World Heritage Site and mentioned it as the main spiritual destination of Buddhists.

It is mentioned in the resolution that the 89th meeting of Texas legislature has formally recognized March 13 as Nepal Lumbini Democracy Day and decides to welcome the delegation of Nepali Mayors visiting the US for the purpose of promoting Lumbini.

Vice-President of Non-Resident Nepal Association, America, and Chief of Department of Tourism, Netra Pandey, and civic leader Prabhat Dixit had taken initiatives to pass the resolution at a time when the delegation of the Nepali mayors was in the US

Nepali community in Texas will observed Nepali Lumbini Advocacy Day on March 13 every year with an objective of support tourism promotion of Nepal, added Pandey. (RSS)
For Brick Goldman, 73, farming isnt just his career.

It's a way of life that has been passed down through six generations.

But now, a recent round of federal cuts could threaten his livelihood, causing his 250-acre Charlotte County farm southwest of Richmond to lose significant revenue and preventing thousands of pounds of fresh produce from reaching those in need.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture this month announced plans to cancel two pandemic-era programs that give schools and food banks money to buy food from local farms, halting more than $1 billion in federal spending. Virginia would have received an estimated $21.2 million in the next round of grant funding, according to the USDA.

Its scary. It looks like well lose all of that funding with them pulling the money and thatll hurt us, Goldman said. Weve been out calling on other food distributors trying to pick up that business someplace else.

We havent found it yet, he added.

For nearly five years, these federal grants have gone toward shrinking the food insecurity gap for schoolchildren and families across the state, including the city of Richmond. Schools and food pantries purchase and distribute fresh fruits and vegetables that families take home.

So while students are fed at school, they have goods to take home for dinners. During the summer months, this initiative has helped keep families fed and has supported the local farming community at the same time.

The city of Richmond is the only one of the area's large school systems that receives funding under the program, but it is unclear how much the school system currently receives.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said it will fulfill its obligations under the existing grant agreements, which remain in effect through July 15. As of September 2024, the Virginia department has received $13,582,814 for these programs.

Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-4th, criticized the cuts.

In the name of reducing wasteful spending, (President Donald) Trump and (Elon) Musk are taking food out of hungry kids mouths and money out of Virginia farmers pockets," McClellan said. "Going after programs that keep locally grown produce in our communities does nothing to save Virginians money and will just make it harder in areas already struggling to access healthy food.

Last year, Goldman, along with 19 other small farm in the Southside Virginia Vegetable and Fruit Growers Association, received $200,000 in federal grant revenue. Now, they likely won't see that same revenue again.

The announcement that the next round is not coming is leaving small-scale farmers across Virginia facing revenue losses they had not planned for  and planning is a vital part of farming.

If were going to be supplying them with vegetables in July, we have to be planting those vegetables right now, Goldman said. If they decide they want to reinstate the program in July, thatll be too late for us.

Pierson Geyer, general manager of Agriberry Farm in Hanover County, stood among the dozens of rows of blackberry and raspberry bushes on his farm on Wednesday morning as he talked about how the Local Food Purchase Assistance program has allowed his farm to connect students and others in need with fresh fruit.

Throughout the winter, we connect young people with apples, getting them in (Goochland, Richmond and Fluvanna schools), getting fruit down to the Petersburg area and making sure that people have ... good fruit, and also that we're able to support our annual full-time team with winter revenue that lets us be a more responsible employer and have people more completely engaged in agriculture as their career, Geyer said.

He said the canceled grants are among a number of federal actions  like tariffs  that are affecting farmers.

When you can't count on a financial commitment from an entity you've been able to count on forever, when you can't count on the policy of today matching the words of today or the words of tomorrow, when that volatility is there, businesses can't plan, Geyer said. The plan was always for (the LFPA grants) to continue.

I don't know if the people making decisions have plans and, if they do, they're not being very well-communicated because it's causing all this volatility. I just don't see any winners here.

Lulus Local Food, an online farmers market that serves as the go-between for local farmers and consumers  including food pantries and local school systems  received about $1.5 million from an LFPA grant in 2022.

Through the grant, Lulus has fed 500,000 people in need in south-central Virginia, serving more than 700,000 pounds of food from 137 local farmers. The food goes to 38 food pantries, 12 churches and eight school districts, among other places.

The grant runs through July, and Lulus had planned to apply for the next year of funding based on the success of the program in getting fresh food to underserved communities.

This is going to be devastating to the farmers as well as to the people who were getting food, said Molly Harris, the founder of Lulus. Come mid-July, when you're in the middle of all the tomatoes and the cucumbers and the squash and fabulous produce coming in, it's all going to come to an end. Farmers have been planning for this to continue on.

Harris said her long-term goal had always been to make the program she runs more sustainable.

We were hoping that it was going to be more of a gradual transfer, rather than just jumping off a cliff, Harris said.

Lulus provides food to Richmond Public Schools, which enrolls about 21,000 students  two-thirds of whom are considered economically disadvantaged, a rough gauge of poverty measured by the state. With many Richmond students living in food deserts, this initiative has been crucial in getting nutritional food into their hands, Harris said.

While the loss of this program will have an impact on food insecure children, RPS Chief Wellness Officer Renesha Parks said the division will continue to work to increase food access to its students.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons is no longer with the Virginia Department of Education as of Friday afternoon.

Emily Anne Gullickson, the chief deputy secretary of education, will serve as acting state superintendent in the interim.

Coons resignation comes as the department has missed several deadlines for sending reports to the state legislature, has yet to publish teaching materials for the new history standards that the department promised to teachers last July, and as the department has hemorrhaged longtime staffers since Coons arrival two years ago.

Coons is Gov. Glenn Youngkins second state superintendent to leave the job abruptly.

Youngkins communications director Rob Damschen said the governor deeply values Dr. Coons dedication to Virginias students, parents, and educators.

As the administration moves forward with its education agenda, we are confident that Acting Superintendent Gullickson, with her experience in the Youngkin administration and her background as a teacher and advocate for students, will lead a seamless transition, Damschen said.

The education departments chief of staff, Jeremy Raley, sent an email to staff members on behalf of Coons on Friday afternoon to inform them of her departure.

It has been my great honor to serve the students, families, and educators of Virginia in my time leading the Department of Education under Governor Youngkin, Coons wrote in the message. After careful consideration, I have decided to pursue new professional opportunities, and I wish Governor Youngkin and his administration the best.

Grace Creasey, president of the state Board of Education, emailed Department of Education staff late Friday afternoon informing them that the board had accepted Coons resignation.

Youngkin appointed Coons in March 2023, and she took over as head of the department on April 17, 2023. She came from Tennessee, where she served as the states chief academic officer.

Coons replaced former superintendent Jillian Balow, who resigned just 14 months into her tenure amid controversy over the states new history standards.

The Virginia Board of Education directed the education department two years ago to produce robust, high-quality instructional guides  the framework of how educators teach  to accompany the history standards. But months before the standards are implemented this fall, the department still has yet to produce nine of the 13 course guides.

Shortly into Coons tenure, state Board of Education members approved a new partnership with iTeach, a for-profit company offering online teacher training. Board members did not know at the time that education department staff had reviewed iTeachs special education courses and found that they do not meet minimum state standards. Emails from Coons to other state education officials at the time showed that she was looking for a way to limit the dissemination of records to the Richmond Times-Dispatch regarding the story about iTeach.

Within Coons first few months on the job, the education department broke precedent and released annual state test results in September. It was the first time in at least 19 years the department had published the test scores after August.

During last years General Assembly session, Democrats who lead the Senate Education and Health Committee challenged Coons over their concerns about the education department weeks ahead of the legislatures deadline to approve her appointment.

A state senator said Coons misled a committee when she testified that the education department had not heard from any school divisions that they considered a tutoring program a priority. The state had ended the program in mid-school year.

A letter from the second-largest school division in Virginia shows the division reached out to the education department about the program. The legislature ultimately confirmed Coons appointment last year.

In an email to education department staff, Creasey said Gullickson, the interim superintendent, brings experience, deep knowledge, commitment, and passion to this role.

As a teacher, an advocate, and a national thought leader, she is ready to continue her service to the Commonwealth in this new role, Creasey wrote. The Administration and the State Board of Education will facilitate a swift and seamless transition.

Charles Pyle, the education departments former communications director who retired in 2023 after 23 years at the agency, said the next superintendent  whoever it may be  will face a challenge in rebuilding the department.

There has been such an exodus of institutional knowledge of effective educators and administrators, including experienced educators and education policy professionals who came to Virginia to help the governor achieve his goals in restoring academic standards, Pyle said.

We have a department now that has additional layers of senior leadership, while at the same time, weakened by the departure of a lot of really smart people who understood assessment, instruction, how you get things done in Virginia, and the role of the State Board of Education with its broad constitutional authority.
You might say Zahra Jalajel, the child of Black and Palestinian parents, could see this moment coming from the minute last April that a busload of police in riot gear descended on a pro-Palestinian encampment at VCU.

In the aftermath, Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia placed restrictions on encampments and protesters. State lawmakers convened hearings on campus protests but ultimately deferred to universities, amid allegations of pro-Israel bias.

Theres a lot of people who seem really concerned right now about the limitations of free speech, but completely validated the outrageous response to the encampment, Jalajel, a member of Students for Justice in Palestine at VCU, said Thursday.

Outrageous doesnt begin to describe more recent attacks on free speech straight out of the authoritarian playbook.

On March 7, the Trump administration announced it was stripping $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University, a hotbed of protests against the Israeli military campaign in Gaza following Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. And on March 8, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and Palestinian activist, with plans to deport him despite his status as a permanent U.S. resident.

New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg likened the crackdown against pro-Palestinian activists to the leftist-purging McCarthyism of the Red Scare era.

Meanwhile, a Georgia congressmans ultimatum on funding resulted in Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser acquiescing to the demolition of Black Lives Matter Plaza, a street mural created near the White House during the 2020 social justice protests. And amid attempts to decimate the federal workforce by Trump aide Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla, President Donald Trump called a boycott of Tesla illegal and branded those who attack Tesla owners and dealerships as domestic terrorists.

Free speech aint free, if it ever was.

An NBC News story on Khalils arrest cited a Trump administration document stating that Khalils presence or activities in the United States would have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.

Thats assigning an awful lot of power to a young man born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria. Khalil was taken to a detention facility in Louisiana  due process and the First Amendment be damned  leaving behind his pregnant wife, a U.S. citizen.

The reason why they went for Mahmoud, hes a litmus test, Jalajel said. At the end of the day, hes low-risk, because people are on the fence about what he stands for. ... They have to choose someone that they dont expect masses to show up for.

A lot of people arent willing to fight for him because of the division, whether it comes from the election, whether it comes from the belief that hes anti-Semitic, Jalajel said. Hes a litmus test for censuring free speech, and authoritarianism. A litmus test for our civil liberties in general. ... Were at a moment where if people dont see whats happening to him and realize that it also affects them or that it will affect them, were going to be in trouble.

Khalil at this moment is a metaphor for Gaza, a strip Trump openly covets as a real estate development, where more than 46,000 Palestinians have died during an Israeli assault supported by Trumps predecessor, Joe Biden, and U.S. artillery.

They made Palestinian rights so debatable that they can do anything to Palestinians, Jalajel said.

The Trump administration may have miscalculated on this one, though.

This arrest is unprecedented, illegal, and un-American, Ben Wizner, director of the American Civil Liberties Unions Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, said in a statement.

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. To be clear: The First Amendment protects everyone in the U.S.

The governments actions are obviously intended to intimidate and chill speech on one side of a public debate. The government must immediately return Mr. Khalil to New York, release him back to his family, and reverse course on this discriminatory policy.

Jalajel, who grew up in Atlanta, sees nothing new in this state of affairs. Social justice movements happen in America in spite of government, not because of it, she said.

Indeed, our government opened fire on anti-Vietnam War protesters at Kent State University on May 4, 1970, killing four, wounding nine and precipitating a nationwide student strike.

When it comes to speech he brands as offensive, Trump is selective. After all, he issued a mass pardon to the Jan. 6, 2021, mob that attempted to overturn a presidential election. And during his first term, he saw very fine people among individuals who chose to march with Nazis and white supremacists during an August 2017 rally in Charlottesville.

Reflecting on the removal of Black Lives Matter Plaza and Richmonds Confederate monuments, Jalajel called the mural beautiful and monument removal amazing  but deemed both ultimately performative. If the country is not willing to live up to those ideas, what does it mean?

We are being tested. Can we stand up for the marginalized at a time when division, discrimination, detention and deportation are in season?

It appears we can, as protests mount. Members of Jewish Voice for Peace stormed New Yorks Trump Tower on Thursday. And The New York Times cited a social media post by a self-described progressive Zionist lamenting Khalils treatment.

Any Jew who thinks this is going to start and stop with a few Palestinian activists is fooling themselves, posted Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. Our community should not be used as an excuse to upend democracy & the rule of law.

If they can do this to Mahmoud Khalil, no one is safe. Jalajel said as much in referencing James Baldwins Nov. 19, 1970, open letter to the incarcerated activist Angela Davis:

The enormous revolution in black consciousness which has occurred in your generation, my dear sister, means the beginning or the end of America. Some of us, white and black, know how great a price has already been paid to bring into existence a new consciousness, a new people, an unprecedented nation. If we know, and do nothing, we are worse than the murderers hired in our name.

If we know, then we must fight for your life as though it were our own  which it is  and render impassable with our bodies the corridor to the gas chamber. For, if they take you in the morning, they will be coming for us that night.

Whether America is at a beginning or an end is up to us.
Strong winds arrive ahead of cold air heading for Yucatan Peninsula

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Strong winds have begun along the Yucatan Peninsula ahead of the arrival of a cold front. Winds are expected to become stronger in coming days as the front nears.

The approach and movement of cold front 35 toward the Yucatan Peninsula beginning in the afternoon and evening of Sunday, March 16, and continuing through Monday, March 17, will result in the following in the state of Quintana Roo, Civil Protection said.

The state agency says increasing cloudiness, showers with occasional heavy rainfall (25 to 50 mm) accompanied by electrical activity is expected. Due to its characteristics, higher rainfall accumulations may be recorded in some areas.

Winds will be from the north and northeast with gusts of 50 to 70 kms/h in the Yucatan Peninsula beginning Monday morning. Winds will prevail mainly along the northern coasts of the state in the municipalities of Lazaro Cardenas, Isla Mujeres, Benito Juarez, and Cozumel, weakening during Tuesday.

A slight drop in temperatures is expected, with minimum temperatures of between 16 and 18 C (61 and 63 F) during the early morning and early morning hours of March 18 and 19, with lower temperatures likely to be felt in rural areas.

Boaters are being advised to check with municipal Harbor Masters regarding possible nautical restrictions.
How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Have a question? Send it to Jessica and Rich here. Its anonymous!

Dear How to Do It,

My best friend Megan recently attended a sex party. Not long afterward, she called to tell me she was pretty sure my husband Dave is cheating on me. Except, the story she told me is so insane and unbelievable that I dont know what think.

When I asked her what would make her think he was cheating, she said that the invitation to the party requested all the women arrive ahead of the men for the purpose of a game called Whos Who. When she got there, the hosts had the women assemble in the living room where a sheet with a hole cut in it was hung to completely cover the living room doorway. Then when the men arrived, they took turns putting their dicks through the hole in the sheet and the women tried to guess who each man was before the party began. Megan said my husbands name came up three times!

Dave and I do not have an open marriage, nor do we attend those kinds of events, so there is no other conclusion to draw other than my husband must be cheating on me. How do I go about confronting him with this revelation?

Game Over

Dear Game Over,

I dont know what kind of party this was, but from your question, it seems like both first and last names came up during the guessing segment. That is extremely indiscreet for a sex party, but if theres any ambiguity at all, your first step should be checking with Megan to make sure it was indeed your husband Dave who was identified (there are a lot of people named Dave.)

I have to tell you that this scenario is, at minimum, unconventional. Ive never heard of this game, Im not sure how or why its played (is the gag that the partygoers have seen these dicks before, but not generally in their flaccid state, so thats the challenge?). Could Megan have information that shes not sharing with you? Could it be that she knows Dave is cheating on you but has changed key (or perhaps all) the details in the story to protect herself? Its all confusing.

Im going to recommend getting more information out of Megan. Can she describe any of the dicks attributed to Dave? Maybe theres more to tease out of this that will help clear things up. Can Megan put you in touch with someone else who was there and may have a different perspective/better means of articulating the scenario? Its really tough to present someone with a story this convoluted as evidence of wrongdoing.

If and when (emphasis on the if) you are sure sure, I think the best and most direct way to go about doing this is to tell him what you heard. Instead of introducing it as ironclad proof that hes cheating on you, set up the scenario much as you did in this letter: Your friend (whether you want to identify Megan or not is your call) went to a sex party, and Daves name was mentioned several times as a possible attendee. Ask him why and listen to his answer. It might help to, ahead of confronting him, think about how he might explain himself out of the situation or even possible scenarios in which he isnt cheating. I cant think of any, but maybe you can.

The idea is to be prepared and not accept bullshit, but also not to get so wrapped up in Megans story that you cant receive Daves. He might have a verifiable alibi! If he doesnt, theres some chance hell confess when presented with the evidence. If the conversation gets too heated to continue but you are unconvinced of an explanation hes trotted out, let him know that you dont believe him and that youll pick this conversation up later. Its astounding to consider that your partner would be so brazen as to cheat on you at sex parties that are close enough to your circle (in proximity and social overlap) that your best friend would also be in this scene, but some people really are that brazen. I worry that if hes willing to do that, hell also lie right to your face and never come clean. You cant make someone tell you the truth, but you can let him know that you dont believe his lies. Now is the time to consider what this, if true, will mean for your relationship and your own future.

Rich

More Advice From Slate

The other day, I was looking for my cat under my sons bed and I found a number of really strange things. Not sex toys, like  unidentified objects next to a bottle of olive oil hed apparently been using for lube. We eventually found out that he was anally masturbating with them. Theres no shame in that, but we want him to be safe, and dont think he should be using random found objects as sex toys! Is there a way we can talk to him about this without making him feel ashamed?

Send Us Your Questions About the Workplace!

The columnists behind our new advice column, Good Job, want to help you navigate your social dynamics at work. Does your colleague constantly bug you after hours? Has an ill-advised work romance gone awry? Ask us your question here!
This is Checking Out, a column about how we shop, what we buy, and how it all makes us feel. Email tips and ideas to checking.out@slate.com.

There are two types of kitchens.

Well, there are many types of kitchensbut in the world of influencer kitchens, of the kind you might see on your For You page, there are two polarities. On one side, the crunchy or trad or zero-waste kitchen, with its mason jars full of sourdough starter and unpasteurized milk. At the other end of the spectrum is the containerized kitchen, with its dozens of plastic storage vessels and Refill my snack drawer single-serving approach. In both kitchens, we see a panoply of clear jars, an attention to display, and an affection for decanting.

The people who run these kitchens seem to have very little in common. The crunchy creator lives in a world of linen aprons and label-less bottles. The container influencer hasnt handled a raw ingredient since Obama was in office. And neither of them has very much in common with us, the noninfluencer class, who cook and eat in serviceable but generally less aesthetic ways. You could argue that these kitchens arent even realtheyre stage sets where creators perform stories about food and style and health for vociferous audiences.

However, what I see in both these kitchens is a bone-deep anxiety around the ways we currently relate to food: how we buy, store, cook, and eat it. The crunchy kitchen and the container kitchen present two equally mythic visions of domestic care and nourishment. Each one offers an identity that can be adopted and, with that, a set of rituals and stylistic tropes intended to protect the family from contaminants, scarcity, or both.

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The founding myth that underlies the crunchy kitchen is the vision of the peasant kitchen, where food is as natural as can be and is fully embedded in the great flow of life. The peasant meal is in the middle of the day, surrounded by work, writes John Berger in his 1976 essay The Eaters and the Eaten, a comparison of bourgeois and peasant modes of consumption. What is vital about the peasant kitchen is its sense of contiguity. The main meal takes place in the center of the day, eating happens in the same room where the food has been cooked, and food passes from hand to hand, from field to basket to kitchen table, with each person slicing off a chunk from the communal loaf. The relationship between implements, food and eaters is intimate, writes Berger. The peasant sees where their food came fromthey or a neighbor likely grew or raised itand receives it as kin.

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The preindustrial cadence of rural life, a time before the invention of Dusen Dusen pepper grinders and frozen lasagna, is what the tradwives of Instagram are channeling, though they can muster only a shallow simulacrum of it. Still, in crunchy kitchens as diverse as the zero-waste haven of Alessandro Vitale and the God-and-guns suburbia of Gwen the Milkmaid, the valorization of unadulterated ingredients and from scratch production all hark back to an era when mealtime sprang directly from land and laborthe crunchy kitchen spans the political spectrum. In the notably rustic-lux Ballerina Farm kitchen, children scamper underfoot as Hannah Neeleman curdles whole milk into a fresh cheese, the ingredients and the children alike contributing to the sense of a room attuned to natures wholesome rhythms. Never mind that the dreamy kitchen is a product more of industrial family wealth than of rural toil; the production of simplicity that takes place on-screen is enough.

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The mythic image of the peasant kitchen also shows up in other parts of the food world, especially in recent years, as slow food and farm-to-table cooking have exploded into the mainstream. Chad Robertsons sourdough bible, Tartine Bread, begins its heartfelt preface with a painting that calls back to Bergers bread-loving peasant. My strongest inspiration came not from real bread but from imagesimages of a time and place when bread was the foundation of a meal and at the center of daily life, writes Robertson. He describes a large rustic loaf held close to the heart, sliced toward the body in a communal sacrament, representing an elemental and ancient loaf unsullied by ultra-processing or bleached flour.

Centrally, the fantasy driving the elemental loaf and the Ballerina Farm mozzarella is that its a raw product that has never touched packaging or industrial processing. Carried hand to hand from one person to another, poured from vessel to vessel, the ingredients essence is maintained and protected, avoiding the contamination and abstraction of the super-processed supermarket product. In the crunchy kitchen, food has aura. This aura is enhanced through the aesthetic of the kitchens themselves: raw wood, ceramic, metal. Unadorned implements and ingredients visible in glass containers. Nothing that would diminish the purity of the milk or leach BPAs into the rising poolish. Some version of this has manifested in the content of protein-obsessive, macro-counting creators, with their unsettling repasts of ground beef and banana presented on a wooden cutting board as though something as conventional as a plate would disturb the integrity of the meal.

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Many of these tropes strike me as a series of fretful rituals to ensure (and demonstrate) that the food being consumed is safe and pure. Fretting is understandable. The modern supermarket is full of perils that threaten the crunchy home, from listeria outbreaks to emulsifiers with multisyllabic names and additives that are illegal in Europe. It is the contiguity at the heart of the modern-day peasant kitchen that promises safety: If you watch the ingredients carefully as they pass from field to casserole dish, if they are free of interference from Big Ag or unfamiliar processes, if you understand your relation to the food and cut the loaf toward your heart, then no harm will come from what you eat.

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Where the peasant kitchen has glass jars full of raw ingredients, the containerized kitchen is stocked with single-serve pouches. It is a kitchen of clicks and clacks, of ASMR, of packets ripped open and weekly restock hauls. This is not a landscape in which someone strains curds with a square of cheeseclothwe are far from the ingredient kitchen. In Khloe Kardashians infamous kitchen pantry, every product can be found in multiples, arranged across the huge expanse like strange found-object sculptures. TikTokers like Julie Kay and Catherine Benson make hay from the visual splendor of the well-apportioned kitchen, stocking their refrigerators like a particularly fancy hotel minibar and doing things with Tupperware you could never imagine. This is a space where consistent units are moved and sorted, the food itself playing second fiddle to the process of organization.

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Unlike the natural and holistic appearance of the crunchy kitchen, the container kitchen is akin to a retail logistics space, with stocking instead of harvesting. Here, ingredients and foodstuffs have no aura in themselvesin fact, the unpackaged ingredient represents disorder and unpredictability, something to be managed rather than revered. Modern life is stressful and chaotic. The clear vessels of the container kitchen (its main aesthetic connection to the crunchy kitchen) and the omnipresent single-serving packets represent organization, visibility, and predictability.

In these containerized kitchens, we see the bourgeois meal updated for a new century. In the 19th-century bourgeois household of Bergers description, everything that can be is kept untouched and separate. Every dish has its own cutlery and plate.  The meal is a series of discrete, untouched gifts. Clearly, patterns of commerce and consumption have changed beyond recognition from the kitchens Berger describes. What remains consistent is that in these kitchens, food is abstracted from its source and re-presented as something new. It is packaged and commodified, wrested from its continuity with the world and from its intimate relation to the body.

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Related From Slate Influencers Taught Us How to Overconsume. Can They Also Help Us Break the Habit? Read More

Not everyone who maintains a containerized kitchen is bourgeois, of course. For many, the individualism and accumulation of the container kitchen is aspirational, a way of demonstrating plenitude and sufficiency regardless of your actual class position or relation to labor and ownership. Despite the rooms appearance as a kind of mini-warehouse, the container creator in these videos is not playing the role of the warehouse worker. They are the warehouse owner, overseeing the inputs and outputs and running the household as an efficient enterprise.

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The anxious decanting of the container influencer points to a fear of scarcity or disorder. This seems reasonable: Have you tried to buy eggs lately? Have you heard the news at all? Grocery shopping is more of a trial than ever, as the retail spaces that once offered customer-focused pleasure increasingly resemble just another logistics space, while online ordering adds another layer of anhedonic abstraction. In this fragmented landscape, the way to cope is by becoming a manager, embracing industrial processes and the logic of logistics to ensure that the food supply reflects the cleanliness and order of the distribution center.

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Beneath the rusticity of the crunchy kitchen and the plasticity of the container kitchen lies a dysfunctional relationship to our contemporary American food landscape. Crunchiness and containerization offer a retreat into aesthetics, as well as a rubric for manifesting safety and security in an insecure time. These myths can have malign consequences, as is clear to anyone tracking the MAHA movement or worried about the environmental scourge of single-use plastics. The container kitchen glosses over the violence and harms enacted by the logistical frameworks it apesthe labor of gig workers and warehouse workers alike is purposely kept from view, and the consequences of the weekly pallets of bottled water are less important than the visual thrill of the fridge restock. The peasant kitchen is inclined toward nativism and xenophobia; Berger describes the peasants aversion to foreign provisions, which are not part of the intimate local foodway and are thus unknowable and untrustworthy. This plays out today as a fixation on tradition (which can be a dog whistle for whiteness and patriarchal family structures) and a suspicion of technological intervention, even if it means forgoing the vital public health benefits of pasteurization or vaccination.

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Ultimately, the pageantry of these kitchen archetypes is disconnected from the real lives of the people playing them out. The home kitchen is not a distribution center, and most container influencers lack the resources to absorb endless price increases without the whole edifice falling apart. The supposedly unalienated family hearth of the peasant is long gone, and the emphasis on family of todays trad influencer tends to be deployed to enforce conservative values or to discipline the labor force they rely on by claiming there is no need to delineate between owners and workers (as Robertson did when the Tartine bakery staff attempted to unionize). In the crunchy kitchen, were all family. Except were not.

At a time when stricter government control on food seems increasingly unlikely, and global supply chains grow more fragile due to climate change and economic turmoil, it makes sense to seek comfort and certainty where we can. For some of us, that self-soothing means playing out a version of rustic life or managerial life in our own kitchen. For others, watching professional tradwives or fridge restockers on a screen in 15-, 30-, or 60-second clips provides the reassurance and repetition missing from our uncertain culinary lives. It may be thin consolation, but during the brief moments were there in the mythic kitchen, we get to be part of the illusion too.
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Last Saturday, immigration agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., at his home in New York City, declaring that he would be deported as soon as possible. The Trump administration did not charge Khalil with a crime, nor did it seriously allege that he had committed one. Instead, it targeted him for his leadership in last years pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University. Although Khalil holds a green card and is married to an American citizen, the administration asserted that it had the legal authority to expel him on the basis of his participation in First Amendmentprotected speech, without even the pretense of due process. It swiftly transferred him to a notoriously dangerous immigrant detention center in Louisiana, where he remains while his lawyers fight his removal.

On this weeks Slate Plus bonus episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discuss the governments persecution of Khalil, the disturbing precedent it sets, and the broader threat it poses to all our civil liberties. A preview of their conversation, edited and condensed for clarity, is below.

Dahlia Lithwick: You and I have been following the Trump administrations decision to more or less abduct and then disappear Mahmoud Khalil under a statute that opens the door for any green-card holder to be removed in apparent violation of basic constitutional rights. On Thursday morning, a spokesman for the Trump administration was literally unable to answer the question of whether this means any green-card holder can be deported on the basis of protected free speech. There was an emergency habeas hearing in Judge Jesse Furmans New York courtroom on Wednesday. The governments lawyers did not even pretend that Khalil had committed a crime. They just argued that they thought he was dangerous, dusting off an old statute to do it, and then said they moved him from New York to Louisianaquite deliberately, so that Judge Furman would not have jurisdiction over the case.

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I see these actions as so dangerous for basic constitutional protections. If Khalil committed a crime, charge him with a crime. But holy cow, this feels like the whole shooting match in terms of speech and assembly and other First Amendmentprotected values. And I dont know how to think about the fact that this administration doesnt even believe he deserved due process.

Mark Joseph Stern: It is ghastly and horrifying. And no matter what anyone thinks of the underlying speech here, I dont think any American should approve of what the Trump administration is doingbecause, as you said, this really is sort of the endgame for free speech and due process. The administration is citing an old law from the second Red Scare, originating in the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1952, that says 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. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that he thinks that Khalils free speech would have adverse foreign policy consequences, so Khalil must be deported. That is from the governments papers so far; that is evidently the entire basis of this removal.

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Its really important to remember that this is an obscure and largely untested provision of the law. The only other time in recent history it was invoked was when the Clinton administration wanted to deport a former Mexican government official who was accused of corruption. But a federal judge at the time ruled that the law was an unconstitutional violation of due process.

That judge was Maryanne Trump Barry, the sister of Donald Trump. And the constitutional issues were never definitively resolved because the Justice Department decided to indict the official anyway, which is what it should have done in the first place, and then he died before the case could reach completion. That is the sum total of the precedent that the Trump administration is purporting to build off in its quest to jettison these basic constitutional principlesthat the government has to follow some process before abducting and deporting you; that the government cannot retaliate against your constitutionally protected expression; and that the government should at least be able to cite some criminal activity you allegedly engaged in before it disappears you in the night.

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I think this shows that the governments legal arguments are on really thin ice. The law in question was enacted in a very different time, the second Red Scare, when there were much fewer civil liberties guaranteed to everyone, including immigrants. A lot of legal reasoning from that period has been totally discredited. And so I hope that the courts will step in and do the right thing. Judge Furman seems to want to. But as you noted, the first thing that the government did was try to move Khalil to a state within the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, so that the 5th Circuit would have jurisdiction over his claim instead of, well, a real court. Thats a dark place to be.

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I want to reiterate something you said, because its deadly serious: No matter what you think of what Khalil said and did, he was charged with no crime. He was given no notice. He was simply taken from his home and disappeared. And we have to be really, really afraid when there isnt even an attempt on the part of government lawyers to say there was a crimewhen, instead, they simply hang everything on a dusty old statute and a dubious claim that we think hes dangerous to the United States. Because if theyre coming for that, theyre coming for all of us.

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Related From Slate Whats the Deal With Amy Coney Barrett Lately? Read More

I also want to emphasize that the First Amendment doesnt distinguish between citizens and noncitizens, or lawful permanent residents and everyone else. So the idea that your green card is subject to revocation because of something you said is really hard to square with the constitutional text. And its important to notice the administration just pulling out these old, discredited statutes and using them to say: Oh, we dont need to do due process at all. We dont need to give notice and the ability to be heard. Youre done. Theres an irony here, because when the Biden administration tried to use old statutes as the basis for major policies, the Supreme Court came down like a hammer. But I guess using Red Scare statutes that have never been lawfully deployed to this end because, you know, its just the fundamental right to speak and assemblenothing too important, right?

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It is especially hard for me to swallow coming off of four years of the Biden administration getting smacked down at every turn whenever the Justice Department tried to use a relatively old or arguably obscure law to justify and defend its policies. And some of these laws werent even obscure! The Biden administration tried to impose a clean power plan through the Clean Air Act, which has clear language empowering the EPA to do just that. But the Supreme Court dismissed that language as a backwater provision and struck down the plan. There was a major federal law passed after 9/11 that gave the Education Department sweeping authority to relieve student loans, but when the Biden administration invoked it to try to forgive student loans because of COVID, it got smacked down. Rinse and repeat with the bump stock ban, the eviction moratorium, and moreBidens Justice Department cited a valid law from yesteryear, the Supreme Court said it didnt really count.

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Now we have the Trump administration trying this tactic, but with an evil provision of a dangerous law based on a discredited conception of the Constitution. It certainly makes me fear that the Trump administration is going to come out soon with an argument based on the Comstock Act to restrict medication abortion. After all, the Justice Department recently notified courts that it is reviewing its position on medication abortion. I think its very likely that it will start citing the 1873 Comstock Actthis dusty old law that courts treated as unconstitutional for decadesand use it as a basis to restrict access to abortion pills. Again: Either this tactic is legitimate and all presidents can use it, or it shouldnt be done at all, and laws have a de facto expiration date. It cannot be that only Republican presidents get to sic their lawyers on the law books and have them pluck out one sentence from a statute no one has read in 50 years and say its the basis for unlimited, unchecked power.

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I see your 1873 Comstock Act and raise you the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which by comparison makes Comstock look like a shiny newborn baby. The administration is reportedly trotting out the Alien Enemies Act to grant themselves wartime authority to hurry along unlawful mass deportation plans in the weeks ahead. This is, again, a statute entirely of another era, designed to be invoked when the United States is at war with a foreign country or under invasion. Theres no credible claim that we are at war or facing invasion, yet this will be the 18th-century lever that gets Trump where he wants to go.

So I want to underline what youre saying, Mark, which is that any idiot can pull some old statute out of a book, melt it down, and repurpose it to do evil. But the degree to which this is cynically being done in one area after another, day after day, in a kind of hurricane of bad faith, so that its almost impossible to keep up, raises this question you and I keep asking: Can the courts possibly keep up? And what will the Supreme Court do? Are we just sitting here watching basic tenets of freedom and democracy being disassembled in this cynical way and hoping that Amy Coney Barrett and John Roberts will save us? Its a really grim day for the rule of law.

The Alien Enemies Act was the basis of interning law-abiding immigrants during World War I and World War II. It was the basis of early Japanese internment at the outset of World War II. Now we have to hope that John Roberts meant it when he said that Korematsu has been repudiated by the court of history. And whenever thousands of peoples rights ride on John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett deciding that civil liberties can survive for 24 more hours, were in a bad place.
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In the 1980s, Irvin, a 12-year-old child in Soweto, in apartheid South Africa, drew a foreboding picture. Irvin sketched an angular, armored military vehicle: the Casspir, a ubiquitous sight in the nations townships during the final decades of apartheid. The apartheid state deployed the Casspir to patrol and terrorize Black African communities in the name of keeping peace. Irvins drawing captured how, for Black people under apartheid, the hulking steel frame of the vehicle represented an intimidating and oppressive military intrusion into everyday life.

Decades later, the Tesla Cybertruck, lately a prime target for protesters demonstrating their dislike of CEO Elon Musk, blurs the boundaries between the battlefield and the public street. When Tesla released the Cybertruck in 2023, its dramatic style polarized the public. Popular theories abounded about its unusual look. Many speculated that its inspiration had come from spaceships of science fiction. In discussing the cars aesthetic early on, Musk referenced cyberpunk and Blade Runner, a film that features sleek metallic vehicles, though with rounded silhouettes designed for aerodynamic speed. Hes also used the phrase The future should look like the futurea reference, his biographer Walter Isaacson said, to a question his son Saxon asked him once: Why doesnt the future look like the future?

Whether or not this was intentional, the Cybertrucks harsh, sharp edges remind us, instead, of something from the past: the larger armored personnel vehicles that patrolled streets throughout Musks youth in apartheid South Africa. In the 1980s, the Casspir proliferated across the country, moving from the battlefield and onto the streets. Initially improvised as a way to circumvent international sanctions against the apartheid government, the Casspir mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle was invented and produced domestically. It was a rugged all-terrain vehicle intended to withstand gunfire and mine explosions. It could drive up to 60 mph and be modified to add artillery functions.

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Eventually, the Casspir was deployed to patrol townships, the residential neighborhoods where many Black South Africans lived. As violence and flames engulfed the streets of the nation, Black South African children like Irvin drew and wrote about the apartheid security forces and its toolsdogs and Casspirschasing and shooting at them in their schools, streets, and homes. By the 1990s, the Casspir had become an iconic global symbol of apartheid oppression.

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Musk would have likely seen the Casspir vehicles in the South Africa of his childhood. He was born in Pretoria, one of the nations three capitals, during apartheid, in June 1971. When he was 5 years old, tens of thousands of Black South African children protested the governments policy to impose Afrikaans, the Dutch-based language of the apartheid state, in schools. In Soweto, where Irvin lived, the South African police fired bullets into a crowd of unarmed, protesting children, killing scores of them. This episode became known as the Soweto uprising. It was one of many massacres.

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Around 1985, when Musk was in his early teens, Oliver Tambo, the leader of the then-banned African National Congress, called for people to resist apartheid and make South Africa ungovernable. The apartheid regime called a state of emergency and decided to conscript white South African men 18 years old and above to serve in the South African Defence Force to protect its white citizens. In this effort, the SADF invaded, attacked, and killed apartheids enemies at home and abroad in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Namibia.

Musk left South Africa in 1988, after graduating from the prestigious Pretoria Boys High School, and a year shy of being subject to military conscription.

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But South Africa is not the only place where military vehicles have roamed civilian streets. Over the past few decades, the U.S. military has been steadily off-loading military-grade equipment to U.S. police forces for use on domestic civilian populations.

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The Casspir, too, is part of this story. In addition to shielding and supporting the apartheid government until the late 1980s, the U.S. purchased and deployed Casspirs during the second Gulf War invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, before manufacturing its own Casspir-inspired mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles. These vehicles are part of the military-equipment transfers, and they now patrol American streets. We saw them during the spectacular use of force against Black Lives Matter protesters in places like Ferguson, Missouri.

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American pop culture across the political spectrum is infused with romanticized frontier violence and militarism, from camo and Americana fashion styles to gun culture and the popularity of tradwife and prepper consumption. These trends ask us to imagine survival individualistically and not as a product of social movements or collective interdependence. Rather, they constrict the imagination, narrowly encouraging us to fortify literal and metaphorical walls, to consume our way into fantasy 21st-century homesteads, and to envision modern warfare finally coming to U.S. soil.

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The Cybertruck capitalizes on these fears. Its marketing, for example, explicitly taps into the current apocalyptic visions pervading both right- and left-wing political imaginariesfrom climate disaster to nuclear, civil, and class warfare. Heralded as being built for any planet, it showcases a Bioweapon Defense Mode and a built-in hospital grade HEPA filter that helps provide protection from 99.97% of airborne particles. One third-party Tesla modification company, aimed at civilian and government clients, sells Cybertruck upgrades so it can run on jet fuel, diesel, biodiesel, and electricity.

The idea that a Cybertruck could become an artillery vehicle is not just hypothetical. Unsanctioned by Tesla, various users, ranging from a YouTuber to Chechen forces fighting for Russia in Ukraine, have modified a Cybertruck by mounting machine guns to its bed, turning it into a lightly armored weaponized machine. Government forces, such as the police in Southern California and Dubai, are using the Cybertruck as part of their fleetsalthough in those cases its usage is symbolic and not for patrol duties. (Irvines vehicle will be part of its DARE program, for example.)

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To be clear, the Cybertruck is not designed for actual combat, but it allows consumers to play make-believe. For some, the vehicles appeal lies in its vision of the world as an apocalyptic battlefield. During the Cybertrucks launch, Musk himself declared that sometimes you get these late-civilization vibes and that the apocalypse can come along at any moment, and here at Tesla we have the best in apocalypse technology. Its pseudo-futuristic vision is militaristic, stainless-steel fortified, masculinist, individualistic, and unforgiving. Indeed, some Americans embrace of the Cybertruck is not entirely surprising. It builds on the nations historical popular adoption of militarized personnel vehicles, such as the civilian consumption of Jeeps and Hummers. Jeeps came into civilian use after their deployment in World War II, and Hummers were the civilian adaptation of Humvees featured in American wars in the second half of the 20th century.

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Whether or not Musk or the Cybertrucks designers made a conscious decision to draw inspiration from the Casspir, the Cybertruck can be understood as part of this darker history of science-fictional, militarized vehicles, used in civilian life, that make a show of their own impenetrabilityone captured, for example, by 12-year-old Irvin in apartheid South Africa. More broadly, these historical linkages force us to rethink and seriously question the militarization of our public spaces and culture and the attempts to normalize and monetize them. Whether through Casspirs or the Cybertruck, apartheids militarized, cultural, and psychological legacy roams our streets.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250315/russias-kursk-region-becomes-final-resting-place-for-natos-top-tech-1121640435.html

Russias Kursk Region Becomes Final Resting Place for NATOs Top Tech

Russias Kursk Region Becomes Final Resting Place for NATOs Top Tech

Sputnik International

The near-total collapse of Ukraine's operations in Kursk region has highlighted the folly of Zelenskys obsession with throwing his best troops and materiel into a hopeless campaign. Heres a selection of NATO equipment that has found its peace in Kursks ground over the past month, complete with photo and video evidence.

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military & intelligence

volodymyr zelensky

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nato

kursk

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Russia's Defense Ministry estimates that Ukraine has lost nearly 400 tanks, almost 2,800 armored vehicles and over 1,000 guns and mortars in fighting in Kursk region to date, and says over 85% of territories once occupied by Ukrainian forces have been freed.Liberated areas contain scores of wrecked, burned out, damaged or abandoned vehicles, including some of NATO's most advanced equipment:M2A2 Bradley: Over 300 of these do-it-all American infantry fighting vehicles have been sent to Ukraine, with nearly half confirmed lost by Oryx. They've been spotted among other wrecked NATO equipment in Kursk region.M1 Abrams: 31 of these custom-made monkey model American main battle tanks have been delivered to Ukraine. 20 lost to date. One recently spotted being towed away intact in Kursk region. Australia plans to send 49 more.Leopard 1 AVLB Biber: Armored vehicle-launched bridge built on a German Leopard-1 tank chassis. 30+ sent to Ukraine. One recently found abandoned, in mint shape, in a Kursk village.M777 : A third of the 180 US-made 155mm howitzers sent to Ukraine have been lost, damaged, or abandoned to date, with several recently captured almost intact in Kursk region.Stryker: Over 400 of these Canadian-built armored fighting vehicles have been transferred to Ukraine. At least 55 destroyed, some caught on Russian MoD FPV drone videos moments before meeting their fate.BMC Kirpi II: 200 of these Turkish MRAPs have been sent to serve in Ukraines elite units. Scores destroyed, damaged or captured by Russian forces, including in Kursk.HMMWV: 5,000 of these ubiquitous US vehicles, better known as Humvees, have been delivered to Ukraine. Scores captured on Russian FPV drone cam footage in Kursk region.Roshel Senator: Over 1,700 of the Canadian-built armored cars have been delivered to Ukraine. Also spotted in Russian FPV drone videos.MAXXPRO: About 440 these Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs) have been sent to Ukraine by the US, with at least 197 lost to date, including in fighting for Kursk.M113: 1,000+ of these ancient tracked APCs have been sent to Ukraine by the US and allies, with nearly 300 destroyed to date, including in Kursk region.BATT UMG: Ukraine has received 116 of these US-made vehicles. Rarely seen, some are known to have met their fate on the battlefields of Kursk.Bushmaster PMV: About 120 of these Australian-made Protected Mobility Vehicles have gone to Ukraine, some ending up in Kursk region, and at least 25 lost to date.M240: Besides heavy equipment, an array of NATO small arms has also been destroyed or captured in Kursk as well, among them the FN M240 7.62mm machinegun, delivered to Ukraine by the US and France. In February, a Russian trooper in Kursk captured an M240 after storming a Ukrainian position and bringing the gun back to friendly lines.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250314/trumps-kursk-mercy-plea-last-ditch-attempt-to-salvage-natos-failed-strategy-1121639608.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250313/smart-strategy-why-russia-needs-security-zone-in-kursk-region--1121635488.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250315/viktor-orban-vs-the-modern-day-habsburgs-in-brussels-1121642062.html

Viktor Orban vs. the Modern-Day Habsburgs in Brussels

Viktor Orban vs. the Modern-Day Habsburgs in Brussels

Sputnik International

Hungary's prime minister has released a 12-point ultimatum to the European Union, demanding peace, sovereign equality, the protection of Europe's Christian heritage, the expulsion of "Soros agents" in the European Commission, and an EU "without Ukraine." Sputnik asked two renowned experts of Hungarian politics to find out what's really at stake.

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analysis

europe

viktor orban

george soros

donald trump

ukraine

hungary

brussels

european union (eu)

european commission

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Orban's appeal, coinciding with the anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, signals recognition that Brussels bureaucrats have become the modern-day oppressors of Hungary, imposing an ongoing tyranny amid Budapest's efforts to pursue its own national, historical, cultural policies, renowned international affairs commentator Dr. George Szamuely explained.The timing of Orbans statement has to do with the rise of Trump, Szamuely says, with the Hungarian leader already serving kind of Trump before Trump anyway, opposed to mass illegal immigration, promoting a Hungary First vision, and consistently advocating for immediate peace in Ukraine.Keeping Ukraine Out of EU to Save Central Europe's EconomiesRussia raised objections about Ukraine in NATO, but never in the EU. So its very interesting that Orban has done this, Szamuely said, commenting on the Ukraine-related aspect of Orban's 12-point demands.He sees Ukraine in the EU as being a serious economic threat to countries such as Hungary and others in Central Europe, particularly with its cheap agricultural products that will be used to wipe out agriculture, Szamuely explained.Veteran Hungarian journalist Gabor Stier agrees.In this regard, Orban and Hungarians recognize a reality that EU elites and most ordinary Europeans dont, according to the observer.For Orban, the War Against Soros Is PersonalUp for reelection next year, Orban sees Soros money behind the candidacy of Peter Magyar, who is going to be the leader of the opposition, the leader of the Tisza Party, Dr. Szamuely explained.Besides this, Soros arsenal includes his NGOs, think tanks, newspapers, legal and lobbying groups, who target nationalist populists across the EU.Stier notes that Orbans mission today is about squeezing out everyone tied to Western networks, the so-called Soros structures.This is a part of the war that Trump is waging against the globalists. And [in Hungary] one of Trumps European supporters is making great efforts to do the same, Stier explained.Its very important that Orban now feels Trumps support and strength behind him, and this expands his room for maneuver. At the same time, in domestic politics, he must somehow mobilize his supporters, because while there is still a year before the elections, he will need to work very hard to win, the observer summed up.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250203/usaid-soros-secret-cash-cow-1121534067.html

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Itll Be Fine was a repeat winner in the $10,000 Preferred Pace at Fraser Downs on Friday, March 14 with a familiar trip but a new rival to toy with this time out.

Like one week ago, driver Dave Hudon had the Rick Lancaster trainee Itll Be Fine on the point early before getting covered up then re-emerging late for the top-class triumph.

Itll Be Fine flashed his gate speed, firing from the outside post to lead a field of five through a :26.4 first quarter. He then ceded the lead as the pacers headed in front of the grandstand the first time with Preferred newcomer Tzilacatzin (Brandon Campbell) sweeping to the top.

Sent off as the 4-5 favourite on a win streak dating back to November, the new leader hit the half-mile mark in :56.1 and proceeded to three-quarters in 1:24.2 while his Rebecca Kanak stablemate West Coast Beach (Kelly Hoerdt), who was the winner's main threat last week, stalled first-over down the backstretch. Hudon then tipped Itll Be Fine from the pocket as they turned for home and retook the lead in deep stretch for the 1:53 victory, finishing a half-length better than the class-climbing Tzilacatzin and halting that new rival's streak at five.

Itll Be Fine paid $6.40 to win as the 2-1 second wagering choice. His fellow Lancaster trainee, Rum N Raisins (John Abbott), rounded out the top three finish order.

Itll Be Fine surpassed the $250,000 earnings mark in his 100th career start, winning for the 28th time. Lancaster also owns the six-year-old Hes Watching-Modern Hanover gelding in partnership with Leslie Godlien of Langley, B.C.

This week's edition of the Preferred was named the Tim Brown Memorial in honour of the late horseman who passed away in 2019. After the race, the Brown family and friends gathered in the winner's circle for a blanket presentation to the winning connections.

The Lancaster-trained claiming pacer Holiday Shadow, driven by Brandon Campbell, was also a winner during Friday's eight-race card for Godlien, who co-owns that four-year-old gelding with Tom Wood and Wild Dunes Stables, while Hudon doubled up with a training tally courtesy of Chuck You Farlie in the finale with Phil Giesbrecht driving.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs.

(Standardbred Canada)
MND: The DPP authorities soliciting US support for "Taiwan Independence" will end up being an abandoned tool

08:58, March 15, 2025 By Li Xuan and Wu Mingqi ( China Military Online

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a regular news conference on Friday.

Question: It is reported that the nominee for US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy said that the status of Taiwan was not existential to the US, but Washington had important national security interests in Taiwan, and Taiwan needed to dramatically hike defense spending to around 10% of its GDP. An official from Taiwans defense authorities said that it was in the core interests of the US to maintain stability in the Asia-Pacific and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and thus the US is unlikely to give up Taiwan. What is your comment on this?

Zhang Xiaogang: The Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China, which brooks no external interference. The US side attempts to contain China with Taiwan, and is doubling down on arming Taiwan. At the same time, the DPP authorities are seeking to exploit such situation to increase its defense spending. Their actions have gravely harmed the security and well-being of our compatriots in Taiwan, and severely undermined peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The DPP authorities, intoxicated with the illusion of soliciting US support for Taiwan independence, willingly act as a pawn and betray the people of Taiwan. Ultimately, the useful fool will end up being an abandoned tool.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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.
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 Scottsdale-based Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation on Wednesday named Arizona Opera's outgoing general director and president Joseph Specter as its new president and CEO.

Specter will join the foundation in May after the opera's season finale, "Aida," coming to Linda Ronstadt Music Hall on April 19.

Specter, who came to Arizona Opera in April 2016 after leading Austin Opera for four years, announced plans last July to leave the Phoenix-based company after the 2024-25 season; his contract officially ends on June 30.

His move to the foundation keeps him in Arizona and in the arts, but working on a different canvas.

"In terms of musical storytelling, that's such an enduring theme that opera does so well, but that people don't always know about it or appreciate it or connect with it emotionally," Specter said on Wednesday, as news of his new role was made public. "I think similarly, you can walk into a building without understanding the thought process. And that parallel between arranging sounds over time versus materials over space is almost a direct parallel, and creating an emotional connection to the creativity that makes it happen. It's wild how similar they are."

Mark Dreher, who chairs the foundation's board, said Specter's experience in leading "mission-driven organizations" and his passion for "engaging communities" fits the organization's goal of advancing the famed architect's legacy.

"His commitment to expanding the influence of organic architecture and ensuring its relevance for future generations aligns perfectly with our vision," Dreher said in a written statement.

With the move, Specter ends a 22-year opera career that included singing more than 20 baritone roles with regional opera and music theater companies before moving into an administrator role. In addition to Arizona and Austin, Specter was the Metropolitan Opera's director of Institutional Relations, raising more than $5 million in corporate sponsorships and public and foundation grants. He also worked with institutional investors at Lord Abbett, an investment firm in New Jersey.

Specter's tenure at Arizona Opera included shepherding the 2017 world premiere of Craig Bohmler's "Riders of the Purple Sage," based on Zane Grey's seminal novel of the same name. The opera, commissioned by Arizona Opera several years earlier, was the first Western opera.

Years before Specter had even thought about leaving opera, much less joining the foundation, Arizona Opera in 2019 performed the world premiere of the "Taliesin West" version of Daron Hagen's 1993 Frank Lloyd Wright opera "Shining Brow." The opera tells the true story about a mass murder at Wright's Taliesin estate in Wisconsin; the revised version sets the story at the famous architect's Scottsdale estate.

Specter said he looks forward to attending Arizona Opera performances with his wife, Kate, and their two teen daughters, but he welcomes the professional challenge that lies ahead.

"I think that my new assignment will contain a lot of the same elements, to be honest, and a lot of the same challenges, a lot of the same types of opportunities" as the opera, he said. "And you know, I would say I'm ready for that shift, and I'm ready to continue enjoying the work of Arizona opera, as well."

Arizona Opera is continuing its search for Specter's replacement, which it launched last fall.
The primary election in Arizona's Congressional District 7 will be July 15 and the general election will be Sept. 23, Hobbs announced.

The district, anchored in part of Tucson, spans much of Southern Arizona and is heavily Democratic in voter registrations.
Former Kommotion regular Tony Healey was farewelled by friends and family celebrating this weekend in Melbourne.

Healey passed away in early February aged in his seventies. He had been battling serious heart and kidney issues for some time.

Healey shot to fame in 1965 when he joined Kommotion as performer and dancer.

His popularity was so immense that he had his own fan club, featuring on the show alongside Ken Sparkes, Molly Meldrum and Denise Drysdale. The show ran for two years on Channel 0, ending after Actors Equity objected to acts miming on the show.

After his television career, Healey transitioned into journalism, becoming a long-time writer for one of Australias first music magazines, Go-Set. He later gained recognition as a travel journalist, chronicling his adventures around the world.

Friend Ash Long recently wrote on Facebook Vale Tony Healey. Oh, what fun we have had over the years.

Tony appeared in the early years of the Uptight, Happening, Kommotion TV programs and was vitally involved in Melbournes early days of rock-n-roll, he said.

He had a business brain and was associated with countless promotions, working as a journo and as a PR man.

Deepest sympathy to Tonys family and friends. As Tony would say, Bestest.

Source: SKY News
Abdul Wasim Ansari, TwoCircles.net

Bhopal: Even before the judicial process could run its course, the house of Shafiq Ansari, a former leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradeshs Rajgarh was demolished on mere accusation of his involved in a rape case that later turned out to be false. Support TwoCircles

A resident of Sarangpur, Shafiq, along with his two sons, Mohammad Ehsan and Iqbal, endured immense humiliation when the charges were levelled against them. Following a lengthy legal battle, the District and Sessions Court acquitted all three on February 14, 2025, declaring that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges. Their property, worth an estimated Rs 2 crores, was torn down based on allegations  exposing the devastating consequences of an overzealous and unlawful move by the authorities.

The case dates back to March 14, 2021, when a local woman filed a complaint at the Sarangpur police station in Rajgarh district. The victim claimed that on February 14, 2021, she went to Shafiqs house seeking help for her sons wedding. She alleged that he raped her and threatened to kill her. Based on her complaint, an FIR was filed against Shafiq under sections 342 (WrongfulA confinement), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Speaking to TwoCircles.net after their acquittals, Shafiq said he remained determined to prove his innocence. I stayed in constant touch with the then SP and local police officials, who assured me that the FIR would be thoroughly investigated before any further action was taken, he said.

Soon after, he said, the entire police station in question, including the Additional SP of the district, was replaced in compliance of an order of the Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court  which was hearing a similar case.

Upon hearing this, the then station in-charge, Virendra Dhakad, called and told me, There has been an incident; now our jobs are at stake. We cannot help you anymore,' said Shafiq. The then SP, Pradeep Sharma, he said, reiterated the same, advising him to seek bail from the court.

Shafiq said that despite trying to get anticipatory bail from the High Court and even the Supreme Court, his applications were rejected. After these rejections, he lost hope and decided to surrender.

Before surrendering, Shafiq filed a written complaint to the Director General of Police (DGP) in Bhopal on March 7, 2022. In his complaint, he questioned the Rajgarh polices conduct and leveled serious allegations against the SP for influencing the investigation.

According to Shafiq, everything was fine until he filed the complaint. While he was in hiding, he continued to stay in touch with the police and the SP, but once the complaint was filed, the entire situation changed. On the morning of February 13, 2022, the police and local administration arrived at his house to demolish it.

He said the day his house was demolished, he spoke to then SP, Pradeep Sharma, who said, I cant do anything; it is an order from above. His house was demolished illegally, even though Shafiq had a land document from 2013 proving its legality. The land certificate he provided for his house was registered in the name of his wife, Shakeela B, though it was not allegedly verified before taking the extreme action.

Shafiqs sons were accused of helping their father despite knowing he was charged with rape and obstructing the polices work. They too were arrested and spent around five days in jail.

The woman who accused me of rape had illegally constructed a house where illegal activities were taking place, which was troubling the entire neighborhood. As a public representative, people came to me with complaints about her. On January 14, 2021, I filed a complaint about her to the collector, the chief minister and the commissioner. An investigation was ordered, and it was found that the construction was illegal, which was removed on February 5, 2021, he said, describing his anguish.

Thirty days after her house was razed to the ground, the woman accused Shafiq of rape. However, he pointed out that his house had a joint family living there, and on the day the accusation was made, he was in Bhopal. The woman herself admitted in court that she was not in Sarangpur that night.

Shafiq recalled that when the FIR was filed, he was summoned to the police station, where he provided the police with the full sequence of events regarding the demolition of the womans house. He said he was assured that the matter would be closed after proper investigation. He also mentioned that for the next five months, he was never harassed because the police knew the case was fabricated.

However, after filing the complaint with the DGP, my house was declared illegal and demolished on March 13, 2022. Even after the demolition, the harassment did not stop. On March 14, 2022, my other relatives were also harassed. Police and municipal corporation vehicles were seen heading toward my factories. Upon learning this, I contacted the then-SDOP (Sub-Divisional Officer of Police), Joyce Das, and told her that I was surrendering. She asked me to come, he narrated.

On March 14, 2022, around 3 PM, Shafiq left Bhopal and reached SDOPs office by 6-7 PM, where Das was waiting for him. I was formally arrested, he said. He was taken for a medical check-up and spent the night at the police station. The next day, he was presented in court and sent to judicial custody. After spending around 3 months and 5 days in jail, he was granted bail by the High Court in June.

Shafiq said his wife contested the municipal elections as an independent candidate while he was in jail. Due to the incident, neither of the major political parties offered her a ticket. Shafiq was the district president of the BJP Minority Morcha. He said though an FIR was filed against him and subsequently his house was brought down, he was not expelled from the party. After his wife won the election, he left the BJP and joined the Congress.

Regarding the 482 CrPC petition filed in court, Shafiq explained that the High Court had directed them to submit the documents to the Rajgarh SP for investigation. However, the police allegedly never investigated his case. The SDOP told me, We cannot do anything. We will write the report based on what the SP says,' he alleged, adding, My house was not illegal, yet without any notice, they demolished it.

Shafiq claimed the police initially maintained that the case was false and assured him that it would be probed thoroughly. However, it allegedly did not happen. The cops failed to present the investigation report, despite the fact that his records showed he was innocent. Shafiqs lawyer is now preparing to take the demolition case to court.

Shafiqs councel, OP Vijayvargiya, told TwoCircles.net that the criminal case against his client involved Section 376 of the IPC, with the woman filing a false report. The woman revenged the demolition of her house, he said. The lawyer also mentioned that the FIR was delayed by a month and that the womans presence at the time of the alleged incident was doubtful. In addition, the woman had filed a complaint with the DIG two days before the FIR, which contradicted her claims. Based on this, Shafiq was acquitted, and his sons were also cleared of the charges.

Vijayvargiya too alleged that the High Court had instructed the SP to conduct a detailed investigation into the case, but the required probe was not carried out. This led to the case being filed and the charges being pursued. Shafiq was not arrested for almost a year, and during this period, the police and municipality took the decision to demolish his house.

After nearly four years of proceedings, the court finally delivered its verdict on February 14, 2025, stating that the prosecution had completely failed to prove that Shafiq had raped the victim at her home, and that his sons, Iqbal and Mohammad Ehsan, helped him despite knowing about the charges. Therefore, they were all acquitted.

Shafiq said since the accusations and the FIR, his family endured harassment. They are now preparing to seek compensation in court for the demolition of his house.
CANTON  A major drug operation has been busted in Van Zandt County north of Interstate 20, authorities said Friday afternoon.

Three were arrested Friday after local and federal agents discovered a major drug manufacturing facility. Further details about the facility were not provided.







The illegal operation was shut down after a combined operation between the Van Zandt County Sheriffs Office Criminal Interdiction Team, Drug Enforcement Agency, Homeland Security Investigations and Hunt County deputies.

The agencies executed a federal warrant allowing them to enter a property north of Interstate 20 to search for illegal drugs. Working from leads, the operation started early on Friday morning and as a precautionary measure, the Van Zandt County SWAT vehicle along with the DEA SWAT vehicle were utilized to provide protective cover and entry for the law enforcement officers.

This is yet another example of the willingness of the Van Zandt County Sheriffs Office to work with other agencies to ensure the safety of our citizens, Sheriff Kevin Bridger said in a release posted on the sheriffs office Facebook page. We are grateful for our working relationships with our partner agencies and the progress we are making.

This is an ongoing investigation.
A Shreveport man this week was sentenced to more than 21 years in federal prison for drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas, Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin Jr. said in a news release.

Darren Tremaine Jackson, 41, was found guilty in March 2024 of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker sentenced him to 260 months in federal prison.







According to court records, Jackson and co-defendant Gary Wayne Sepulvado were pulled over for a traffic violation in Smith County on Feb. 13, 2020. Officers smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and searched it, finding 1 kilogram of methamphetamine. Sepulvado pleaded guilty to related charges on Nov. 15, 2023, and is awaiting sentencing.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Smith County Sheriffs Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Locker and Dustin Farahnak prosecuted it.
A woman has been arrested after a newborn baby was found dead in a bathtub in Smith County, authorities said Friday night.

Around 1 a.m. Wednesday morning, the Smith County Sheriffs Office received a call from a local emergency room about a woman  27-year-old Esmeralda Duran Rodriguez  who said she had delivered a placenta in her home a short time earlier, but did not bring an infant with her.







Deputies went out to the home, located in northern central part of the county, and contacted Rodriguezs brother, who gave the deputies consent to search for a baby.

Deputies found the placenta on the bed along with blood and a severed umbilical cord. At first, they didnt see a baby, but they kept looking.

Soon, a dead infant was located in a bathtub wrapped inside a towel which had been further secreted in a tied plastic grocery bag, the sheriffs office said.

Detectives and crime scene investigators came out to the home and conducted interviews and collected evidence.

An interview was also conducted with Esmeralda Rodriguez. Investigators determined that Rodriguez allegedly did not inform anyone that she had delivered a baby, nor did she attempt to call for any assistance for the baby.

Based on these facts and information being provided to law enforcement, probable cause existed for the arrest of this Rodriguez. A probable cause affidavit was drafted by detectives and presented to the 114th State District Judge Austin Reeve Jackson charging the woman with the criminal offense of abuse of a corpse, a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in jail.

The body of the infant along with the placenta was delivered to Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science (SWIFS) in Dallas for an autopsy and to determine if the infant was alive at the time of delivery. Detectives are awaiting the outcome of the autopsy and, if the infant was found to be alive at birth, charges could be upgraded, the sheriffs office said.

This continues to be an active investigation. More information will be disseminated as it becomes available for release.
Measles cases have made their way into Northeast Texas, and officials are speaking out about how the disease can be prevented.

After an outbreak in West Texas of measles among children and adults  the majority of which are unvaccinated  five cases have now been reported in Lamar County. Their ages range from 5 months old to adults and all were unvaccinated, according to the Paris-Lamar County Health District.







The infected individuals traveled to Gaines County during the outbreak. The Paris-Lamar County Health District is working with Texas Department of State Health Services Region 4/5 to investigate the cases. On Saturday, the health district reported two additional measles cases in Lamar County, and DSHS is investigating the cause of the cases. Region 4/5 includes Smith County, Gregg County, Panola County and Henderson County among other counties. However, due to how contagious measles is, officials expect to see more cases, according to a statement on the website of the health district.

Measles is a serious yet preventable disease, said Dr. Amanda Green, PLCHD local health authority. Staying up to date on vaccinations is the most effective way to safeguard yourself, your loved ones, and the community from this highly contagious illness. With these recent cases, its more important than ever to ensure your immunizations are current.

Since January, an outbreak of measles in West Texas has grown from two cases to 279 cases as of Tuesday. The majority of cases have been children  120 cases were children ages 5 to 17 and 88 were ages 0 to 4, according to Texas DSHS data.

Of the 279 cases connected to the West Texas measles outbreak, 277 are labeled as unvaccinated or unknown and two cases as vaccinated with two doses or more, according to DSHS. In addition, a child and an adult  both unvaccinated  died from measles, according to Texas DSHS and the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

This is the first death of a child due to measles in a decade in the United States, according to Smith County Health Authority Dr. Valerie Smith. The child was healthy and had no underlying health conditions. As a pediatrician, it is difficult to see preventable deaths occur.

While at a conference, Smith said pediatrician Paul Wise commented on the child who died of measles, noting the death of any child is tragic but a childs death due to a preventable disease is unjust.

In the United States, measles was considered eliminated in 2000 due to an effective vaccine and high vaccination rates, according to John Hopkins School of Public Health. Previous measles cases originated from people who traveled outside the U.S. to countries where measles was not eradicated, and this is the first outbreak of measles originating domestically, according to Smith.

There are currently 38 cases in New Mexico, according to New Mexico Department of Health. In addition, Oklahoma is monitoring four probable cases of measles due to possible exposure and symptoms, according to the Oklahoma Department of Health.

Its important for people to realize that if we learned nothing else from COVID, viruses do not respect county borders, state borders, (or) international borders. They will spread wherever there is an opportunity, Smith said.

What is measles?

Measles is a respiratory virus spread from person to person through sneezing, coughing or breathing, said Smith. Although it spreads similar to the common cold, it is more contagious.

The challenge with measles is that it is the most contagious virus that we know of, so that means that if you are unvaccinated and you are in a room with someone with the measles, theres a 90% chance you will contract the measles, Smith said.

Symptoms include high fever, coughing, watery eyes, a runny nose and, within two to five days, a red spotted rash appears, which is sometimes confused with chicken pox.

Most of the time, its just the rash, and the kids do OK, Gregg County Health Authority Dr. Lewis Browne said Friday. But some of them develop a high fever, a severe lung infection, or encephalitis. Thats inflammation of the brain.

An infection is considered serious but is preventable with the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR), which combines three common vaccines developed in the 20th century into a single product.

After being exposed to measles, it can take up to 21 days before symptoms begin to appear. It is recommended people quarantine for 21 days. However, this can be difficult for many. Due to the long incubation period, people who contract measles can still get vaccinated. However, the vaccine will not be effective for 14 days.

Immunizations

Vaccinations are an important part of public health and mitigation efforts, Smith explained. They help reduce the severity of diseases and, in the case of measles, can prevent death.

The MMR vaccine is given in two doses; one at 12 to 15 months of age, which is 93% effective and a second dose at 4 years old which is 97-98% effective, Smith said.

For those who work in public health, the goal is to have a 95% rate of vaccinations in order to have herd immunity. This protects those who are most vulnerable, have underlying diseases or can not get the vaccination themselves.

Children are particularly vulnerable to measles because babies under 12 months can not receive the vaccine and children do not get full immunity until the age of four. In addition, those who are pregnant, undergoing chemotherapy or taking immunosuppressants can not receive the vaccine because it is a live virus.

Which means that its really important for everyone who can receive the vaccine to do so, Smith said. We know that when the threshold of people in a community whove been vaccinated falls below 95%, it makes it more likely that if a measles case occurs in that community, that it will spread, that it will not just be contained to the one individual who contracted the measles, but that they will spread it to other people.

For people born between 1957-1968, they likely received one dose of the vaccine and would need a second dose. People born before 1957 were likely exposed to measles as children giving them natural immunity. Those born in that time period received the first doses of the measles vaccine at 12 to 15 months but no booster at 4 years old.

After a measles outbreak in the early 1990s, health experts realized one dose was not enough for measles due to the number of people who contracted measles and had received one dose. The vaccine schedule was adjusted to add the second dose for 4-year-olds. For those who were adults, it is likely they did not receive the booster because they were not going to pediatric offices, Smith said.

So they may be susceptible to be at more risk to contract measles, even if theyve been vaccinated, because they only got the one dose, and that immunity likely has gone down over time, Smith said.

Scientists often reevaluate vaccine schedules based on what is needed in the community. They look at best practices, recommendations and data. After the implementation of the MMR vaccine, measles plummeted for decades. Later on, the outbreak in the nineties led scientists to reevaluate.

This is a great example of how we learned from an outbreak and made a change in how we approach the vaccination schedule in order to help reduce or prevent further outbreaks, Smith said.

Gaines County  where the West Texas measles outbreak originated  has a vaccination rate of 82%. This is below the 95% threshold experts recommend and lower than vaccination rates in East Texas, Smith said.

It means it would be more difficult for measles to spread here, but some of the surrounding counties that are being impacted do still have high vaccination rates. Were still seeing some spread there, Smith said.

Long-term issues

Measles can cause complications or lead to hospitalizations for about 20% of those who get the illness. The most common complication is pneumonia.

So patients can get pneumonia and have everything from needing to be in the hospital for antibiotics, from the secondary bacterial pneumonia to needing to be on oxygen, to needing to be on a ventilator. And some people  most often children  will die from measles, pneumonia, Smith said.

In addition, getting sick with the measles can lead to neurological complications. When an individual is first sick with measles, they can get encephalitis or inflammation of the brain. The symptoms are delayed and do not show up until seven to 10 years later, according to Smith.

It can be fatal. And even if its not, can often leave someone with permanent neurologic problems, deafness, vision, loss, developmental delays or intellectual disabilities, Smith said.

Since COVID-19, vaccination rates have declined overall. This has contributed to further spread of viruses and diseases such as measles. Smith encourages people to use trusted sources when researching vaccines such as www.immunize.org and www.healthychildren.org from the American Association of Pediatrics. She also recommends reading advisories from the state health department.

The most effective way we have to stop the spread of measles is vaccination, Smith said.

While many are anti-vaccines, health officials encourage them.

Weve got more and more people who believe vaccines are dangerous, Browne said. They think all of them are bad, but there used to be a lot of kids that died from childhood illnesses which would sweep through communities until vaccines started getting introduced in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

The MMR vaccine is very safe, Browne added. There is no reliable scientific evidence linking the measles vaccine to autism, one of the central concerns among vaccine skeptics.
It is never-ending. It is infinite. It is pi!

No, not that pie  the delicious baked dish of whatever filling your hearts desire. Pi, the mathematical constant, is celebrated each year as Pi Day on March 14.







This date came to be called Pi Day because when it is written in the month/day format, as 3/14 or 3.14, its the same as the first three digits of pi.

In Tyler, celebrations were held to commemorate the day, including the Tyler Public Librarys 4th Annual Pi Day Competition, where participants showcased made-from-scratch pies in three categories: cream/meringue, fruit/lattice, and savory.

Meanwhile, local businesses embraced the spirit of the day with themed specials: Just Pies, located at 2970 Old Henderson Highway, offered slices for just $3.14 each, while recently-opened Parrys Pizzeria & Taphouse, at 3314 Troup Highway, served up 9-inch cheese pan pizzas for the same price  because pizza, after all, is just another kind of pie.

As a number with a decimal with no repeating pattern, pi is the definition of an irrational number.

According to piday.org, typing  into a calculator and pressing ENTER will yield the result 3.141592654, not because this value is exact, but because a calculators display is often limited to 10 digits.

Credit for Pi Day goes to Larry Shaw, the Prince of Pi, who invented the holiday in 1988 while at an off-site staff retreat at San Franciscos Exploratorium.

To build on the idea, Shaws coworkers had a mini-celebration with just the staff, which included eating pies.

The next year, the holiday was held for all at the museum and every year since, even when the museum was closed during its move.

The celebration includes a parade at 1:59 p.m. (a nod to the next few digits of pi) with visitors holding a sign with a digit of pi, a pi shrine, eating pies (fruit and pizza), singing happy birthday to Albert Einstein, and more.

Pi Day was recognized as a national holiday in 2009 and is internationally celebrated each year.

In 2015, it was proclaimed (by Shaw) to be a special year, as it was written 3/14/15, and he called it the Pi Day of the Century.

He felt the best thing about Pi Day was making math more accessible, fun for all.
HCM CITY  Real-estate developer Novaland Group has pledged to support HCM City in developing Viet Nam International Financial Centre (IFC).

During a meeting with Chairman of HCM City Peoples Committee Nguyen Van uoc on Wednesday, the group reiterated its commitment to assisting in the city's development through real estate and infrastructure projects.

Novaland Group aims to concentrate on urban revitalisation, replacing old apartment buildings, developing mid-range housing, and expanding its commercial and tourism real estate portfolio to generate long-term value for the city.

On Wednesday in HCM City, Nguyen Van uoc convened a working session with Milcon Gulf Group and Novaland Group to explore co-operative opportunities and potential investments in the Viet Nam International Financial Centre (IFC) in HCM City. The discussion also delved into investment plans in real estate, urban development, and tourism to boost the city's economic growth.

Sohail S. Quraeshi, Chairman of Milcon Gulf Group, highlighted the companys robust financial capacity to mobilise capital from the US, Europe and the Middle East.

He emphasised Milcon Gulfs role as a vital link for international investors seeking to comprehend Vietnam's legal framework and investment landscape.

Quraeshi pointed out that with favourable policies and well-established infrastructure, HCM City holds the potential to emerge as a significant financial hub, attracting global financial institutions.

The IFC is envisioned not only as a financial centre but a comprehensive ecosystem integrating financial and non-financial services. HCM City is prioritising investments in technology infrastructure, physical facilities, and human resource development while drawing both local and international experts to ensure the efficient functioning of the centre.

Le Ngoc Thuy Trang, deputy chief of the office of the HCM City Peoples Committee, mentioned that the city is studying successful models from major financial centres globally to shape a structure that aligns with Viet Nam's specific economic conditions. The ultimate objective is to position the city as a leading financial hub in the region.

Milcon Gulf Group is a multinational private investment firm specialising in finance, infrastructure development, and smart urban projects, with operations across North America, Asia, and the Middle East. Having been one of the early international investors to enter Viet Nam since 1988 during the embargo period, Milcon Gulf Group is well-positioned to support the countrys economic development.

Novaland is a top real estate corporation in Viet Nam with over 30 years of experience and a diverse portfolio encompassing urban, resort, commercial, and infrastructure real estate. The group is committed to fostering sustainable urban areas, contributing to the overall advancement of HCM City and various regions throughout the country.

Currently, Novaland owns a portfolio of more than 50 real estate projects, significantly impacting urban and tourism development in southern Vietnam and the south-central region. The company has made substantial contributions to economic growth and social welfare in numerous localities.  BIZHUB
HA NOI  During an official visit to the United States, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien attended and witnessed the signing of economic cooperation agreements between Vietnamese and US businesses, with a total value of approximately US$90.3 billion.

The event was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States Nguyen Quoc Dung, the Ministry of Industry and Trade delegation, representatives from major Vietnamese corporations such as PVN, EVN, Petrolimex, TKV, and Masan, along with US partners and officials.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien highlighted that after 30 years of diplomatic relations and two years of upgrading to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Vietnam-US relations have flourished across various sectors. In 2024, bilateral trade reached nearly $150 billion, marking a 20.5 per cent increase from the previous year. The United States is currently Vietnams second-largest trading partner and one of the country's key suppliers of machinery, equipment, technology, and energy.

At the event, several significant cooperation agreements were signed, particularly in the energy sector. PetroVietnam Gas Corporation (PVGas) signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with ConocoPhillips and Excelerate for long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchase agreements.

Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Company (BSR) partnered with Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) to conduct a pre-feasibility study on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Meanwhile, PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PVPower) and GE Vernova reached an agreement on the supply of equipment and services for PVPower's gas-fired power plants.

Additionally, Petrolimex, Vietnams leading petroleum distributor, signed an MoU with three top US ethanol associations, including the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), and Growth Energy, to enhance trade cooperation in biofuels. Petrolimex also inked an agreement with Marquis Energy to facilitate ethanol trade and imports, supporting Vietnams efforts to increase the adoption of biofuels.

The total value of the cooperation agreements between Vietnamese and US businesses is expected to reach $90.3 billion from 2025 onwards. Of this, $50.15 billion will be allocated for aircraft procurement, aviation services, oil and gas exploration, and refined petroleum imports. Agreements signed at the event amounted to $4.15 billion, while the remaining $36 billion is currently under negotiation and is expected to be finalized in the near future.

The signing of these agreements not only opens new economic growth opportunities but also creates hundreds of thousands of jobs for workers in both countries. Moreover, it marks a significant step in enhancing Vietnam-US economic, trade, and investment cooperation, fostering a sustainable, balanced, and mutually beneficial partnership.  VNS
In Viet Nam, when someone thinks of ak Lak and its provincial capital Buon Ma Thuot, the first thing that comes to mind is coffee.

ak Laks red basalt soil and weather make it an ideal location for growing robusta coffee.

The coffee from the province, especially Buon Ma Thuot, is much loved for its strong flavour and enticing aroma.

In fact, according to the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association, historical records show that, during the French colonialism, coffee shops and roasters in France had already taken notice of Buon Ma Thuot coffees exceptional quality, leading to more coffee plantations being established in the region.

All this has given ak Lak the reputation of Viet Nams Coffee Capital while its speciality is highly regarded around the world, helping Vietnamese coffee make its name on the global map.

With the region being synonymous with coffee, it is no surprise that the recent Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival was a resounding success, drawing 120,000 visitors.

The festival, the 9th of its kind, themed Buon Ma Thuot - World Coffee Destination, was held from March 9 to 13, and it saw enormous crowds of locals and tourists immerse themselves in its lively atmosphere and have fun with the wide variety of coffee-related festivities.

Many visited to learn more about a beloved drink, take photos in scenic coffee farms and enjoy free coffee at the festival and the hundreds of cafes around the city, who were all equally happy to be a part of the event and leave a lingering mark on potential new customers.

Grand and exciting parades featuring H'Hen Nie, Miss Universe Viet Nam 2017, and the festival's media ambassador, along with other famous personalities, created a first great impression among visitors for the entire five-day festival.

Indeed, coffee is not merely a crop with high export value for the province; it is also a tourism magnet.

Visitors to the festival also got to experience the citys rich multi-ethnic culture and fun destinations.

A large part of the annual event is the Buon on Elephant Festival, where visitors get to see traditional rituals and ceremonies related to the elephants, an important animal in the culture of the Central Highlands people.

Many had fun feeding and taking photos with the gentle giants and trying their hand at farming and other activities that taught them about local lifestyles.

There were also exciting traditional boat races.

Nguyen Thao Nguyen, a tourist from HCM City, told Viet Nam News that she attended the 2019 Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival and was enormously impressed by locals friendliness and the fun places she visited, which is why she is back a second time.

This time I plan to go to the World Coffee Museum and the Ko Tam Eco-tourism Site. Our family is already here for the festival, so might as well visit some other places.

This is a sentiment shared by many other tourists.

The city has plenty of eco-tourism sites where visitors can enjoy beautiful scenery, listen to folk music performances and taste delicious traditional dishes such as roasted jungle fowl and com lam (sticky rice grilled in bamboo stems).

The event celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Victory of Buon Ma Thuot and the Liberation of ak Lak Province (March 10, 1975) from the Sai Gon regime.

Coffee, festival drive tourism

When it comes to promoting the citys tourism, the just ended coffee festival certainly did its job well - understandably so considering this is the ninth time the city has organised the festival.

During the event most local one- to five-star hotels were fully booked.

Prior to the festival the provincial Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism had instructed local accommodation facilities to prepare for a surge in visitors.

Hotels, tourism sites, restaurants, and other service providers were strictly warned not to engage in any dubious business practices to make sure visitors have a positive experience and come again in future.

In fact, many tourists were provided with a travel guide detailing information about the festival and list of restaurants and accommodations, along with a hotline for complaints.

Buon Ma Thuot launched tour packages for visitors centred on coffee, elephants, traditional pottery, and local culture, all of them its tourism strengths.

For ak Lak and Buon Ma Thuot, it took a great deal of effort by all parties to build the local tourism brand to todays level of recognition, and it involved ensuring the quality of its coffee products and offering interesting destinations such as the now-popular World Coffee Museum, which only opened around five years ago.

Since its start in 2005 the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival has been doing a fantastic job in attracting tourists in addition to promoting its staple speciality crop to domestic and international markets.

The biennial event has become a part of the citys identity.

Huynh Thi Chien Hoa, deputy secretary of the province Communist Party Committee, said at the festival opening ceremony: The Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival is an outstanding economic and cultural event of ak Lak Province."

More and more people are travelling to the city thanks to the festival and its coffee, and the organisers are constantly striving to make each one better than the last: For instance, this years event featured an impressive light drone show for the first time.

Tran uc Nhat, deputy chairman of Buon Ma Thuot People's Committee [municipal administration], said the city was striving to become a coffee city of the world.

In addition to strengthening coffee production and deep processing and trade promotion, the city was also coming up with new tourism products related to coffee and coffee farms, and renovating public spaces to incorporate the theme of coffee, Nhat said.

It was also preserving tangible and intangible cultural heritages that could promote tourism and serve its coffee festival, he added.

Linking tourism with a provinces unique speciality product, to the point where it becomes synonymous with a certain region, has always been a recipe for tourism success, and doubly so if a province can organise some sort of festival or cultural event around them that becomes popular with visitors.

Ninh Thuan has grapes, Ca Mau has shrimp and crabs, ong Thap has lotus, and Buon Ma Thuot, with its alluring coffee, will continue to draw tourists for years to come. VNS
HA NOI  Resonant Augmenta, a piano quintet featuring an AI pianist, will perform at the AI for Good Global Summit opening ceremony and the United Nations 80th Anniversary in July in Geneva, Switzerland.

Resonant Augmenta is an original composition from Re.Imagine, Viet Nams first-ever classical music concert integrating creative technology and interactive media.

It was founded by violinist Nguyen Thien Minh, alongside new media artists Trung Bao, Hai Doan, Nam Le from Fustic.Studio, to challenge the perception of classical music as rigid and inaccessible.

New media artist Harry Yeff from R100Studios is the executive producer and curator of the project.

The performance explores the dynamic interplay between human expression and artificial intelligence, reflecting themes of connection, learning, and unity.

By blending classical music with cutting-edge technology, the project aligns with the UNs vision of cultural exchange and innovation, offering a thought-provoking and immersive artistic experience that highlights the evolving relationship between humans and AI.

The Scottish Ballet joins as a collaborator, contributing movement that enhances the visual dimension of the show.  VNS
HA NOI  A once-popular toy that took Viet Nams market by storm is now facing a sudden backlash and widespread boycott over allegations that it features imagery violating the countrys territory and sovereignty.

Launched in May 2024, the adorable Baby Three figurines, sold in random 'blind bags,' quickly became a sensation among Viet Nams toy-collecting community.

Industry figures show that Baby Three generated approximately VN41 billion (US$1.6 million) in sales in 2024, despite only gaining traction in Viet Nam from September.

However, the toys success was abruptly derailed by public outrage and a boycott movement after suspicions arose that its design included imagery breaching Viet Nams territorial sovereignty.

Specifically, the Baby Three Lily Rabbit Town V2 edition has been accused of depicting Chinas nine-dash line, known in Viet Nam as the 'cows tongue line,' which represents an infringement of Viet Nams sovereignty in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea).

The boycott gained traction as several brands and digital content creators publicly cut ties with the toys Chinese manufacturer.

ang Tien Hoang, a content creator with over 800,000 Facebook followers, announced he would stop importing and selling Baby Three due to the controversial imagery in the Lily Rabbit Town V2 edition.

"While Baby Three provided a steady income, the nations territory and sovereignty come first," Hoang said.

Eyewear brand Anna Eyeglasses, which had been negotiating a deal to produce 10,000 Baby Three units for an April 2025 collection, also terminated its partnership after learning of the allegations.

Consumers have echoed these concerns.

Ngoc Cat, a young Ha Noi resident, pointed out that this was not the first time a product had been subtly infused with political undertones.

"Manufacturers are playing a game of repeating a lie until its accepted as truth," Cat said.

"If Vietnamese consumers dont react strongly, more products with political elements will follow. National territory and sovereignty are sacred and cannot be violated or compromised."

Tran Ha Phuong, a collector from HCM City who owned a dozen Baby Three figurines, said she had stopped using them and urged friends to join the boycott after learning about the controversy.

"If the manufacturer intended this, it deserves a complete boycott," Phuong said.

Chu Than Vy, an administrator of several Facebook trading groups, confirmed that any product featuring content or imagery violating Viet Nams sovereignty must be removed. Baby Three items have now been banned from transactions in the groups she manages.

In response to the uproar, DaPiaoLiang, the Chinese company behind Baby Three, issued a statement asserting that the design on the Lily Rabbit Town V2 edition was merely an abstract artistic creation, with no political meaning or reference to specific geographic features.

The explanation, however, has failed to convince Vietnamese consumers.

Reports indicate that the manufacturer plans to open exchange boothslocations to be announced soonallowing Vietnamese retailers to swap Lily Rabbit Town V2 products for new ones.

Amid the controversy, Viet Nams Department of Domestic Market Management and Development issued Official Dispatch No. 44/TTTN-NV , calling for heightened inspections of toys featuring imagery related to the countrys territory and sovereignty.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on Prof. Thomas Vallely, Senior Advisor for Vietnam at the Columbia Universitys Southeast Asia Institute (USA) and his colleagues to continue with policy consultations to help Viet Nam reach its 8 per cent economic growth target in 2025 and achieve double-digit growth in the following years.

In a reception in Ha Noi on March 15 for Vallely, PM Chinh also asked the professor to have a voice with the US administration for the two sides to push for a balanced, harmonious and sustainable economic relationship.

He congratulated Vallely on receiving the US Presidential Citizens Medal bestowed by President Joe Biden, praising his role in fostering the bilateral ties, especially in education and policy dialogue.

PM Chinh thanked Vallely and Prof. Nguyen Thi Lien Hang at the Columbia University for sustaining the Vietnam Executive Leadership Programme (VELP) despite the US's funding cuts, and encouraged more US universities to partner with Vietnamese counterparts, including opening campuses in Viet Nam.

Viet Nam always wants to strengthen cooperation with the US, he said, stressing that the Viet Nam - US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is opening door for broader collaboration, ranging from economy, trade, investment to education and training.

The government leader affirmed that Viet Nam has taken proactive measures to address US concerns, including trade imbalance through discussions with the US Ambassador and businesses to ensure a stable, sustainable and mutually beneficial partnership.  VNS
Khanh Le receives the Top CFO Award

Leong Wei Lik, CEO of ACCV, was awarded the Team & Leadership Excellence Award for his exemplary leadership and outstanding contributions, earning him the title of Leader of the Year in Renewable Energy Finance.

Additionally, Khanh Le, ACCV's chief operations officer, received the Top CFO Award for her exceptional leadership in sustainable finance, significantly advancing renewable energy investments and green infrastructure development in Vietnam.

"We are incredibly proud of Khanh and Leong for their outstanding contributions and leadership," said Bruce Hicks, chairman of Asia Clean Capital Vietnam. "These awards are a testament to their dedication and the collective efforts of our entire team. We are thrilled to receive this recognition and are dedicated to furthering our contributions to Vietnam's renewable energy sector. Our commitment to ESG principles remains steadfast, and we are focused on driving growth and positive impact within the community and the nation."

ACCV is currently focusing on industrial parks, leveraging Direct Power Purchase Agreements to supply large customers. Additionally, ACCV independently develops projects for smaller facilities, ensuring a comprehensive approach to meet diverse energy needs.

With a strong emphasis on high-quality delivery, digital transformation, and customer-centric services, ACCV aims to help businesses transition to cleaner energy sources while meeting sustainability targets. Its goal is to become a leading clean energy solution provider in Southeast Asia and to contribute to sustainable growth in the region.

Leong Wei Lik receives the Team & Leadership Excellence Award

ACCV is a subsidiary of Asia Clean Capital, a company committed to advancing renewable energy solutions across Asia. ACCV specialises in financing, developing, and operating solar and wind energy projects in Vietnam, primarily serving multinational corporations and industrial clients including Universal Alloy Corporation Vietnam, Schindler, Mapletree, Motul, Freetrend, and many more.

ACCV excels in Vietnam's dynamic and competitive renewable energy sector by offering high-quality, innovative decarbonisation solutions across the country.

Focused on carbon reduction and energy efficiency, ACCV invests all project costs and provides comprehensive services, including design, engineering, equipment, government approvals, installation, and long-term operation and maintenance of solar and wind energy, energy storage, and data management systems.

DPPA approval a win for clean energy The US Department of States Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR) applauded the Vietnamese government's approval of a direct power purchase agreement (DPPA) on July 3, a significant milestone towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

DPPA paves the way to energy transition Direct power purchasing mechanisms pave the way for manufacturers to accelerate their emission reduction strategies by expanding the procurement of renewable energy.
WATERLOO  Children at the 1619 Freedom School learned possibilities are endless for them while speaking with an Oscar-nominated film director.

RaMell Ross, the director of Nickel Boys, stopped by the after-school program Thursday to hold a discussion with grade school kids. The 2024 movie was recently nominated for two Academy Awards and one Golden Globe award.

New York Times Magazine journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Waterloo native and founder of the school, arranged the trip to give children the experience of talking to a critically acclaimed Black director.

Ross said the school was part of what brought him to Waterloo. The school was founded as a result of Hannah-Jones book The 1619 Project. The book, both praised and criticized, details the history of America and African Americans since the first African slaves arrived in Virginia in 1619.

The 1619 Project is a pretty historic intervention into the relationship between education, pedagogy (and) national narratives, Ross said. Nothings more interesting than meeting the kids, having them know a little bit about Nickel Boys, film making and maybe to see someone whos doing things that people are considering important.

After the director spoke with the students, a screening of the movie was held at Crossroads Cinema, followed by a Q&A session between Hannah-Jones and Ross.

Nickel Boys, based on the book with the same title by Colson Whitehead, uses a first-person perspective showing the abuse and turmoil of Black boys in a reform school. The Florida School for Boys, also known as the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, operated in Florida from 1900 to 2011. The fact the school closed only 14 years ago resulted in gasps from the Waterloo audience.

Allegations of beatings, rapes, torture and even murder of students by staff had long haunted the school, but despite occasional investigations little changed. After a failed state inspection in 2009, the governor ordered a comprehensive investigation. A forensic anthropologist surveyed the land, finding a total of 82 buried bodies. Only a few of these boys have been identified. Both Black and white children were killed, but a majority of the dead were Black.

The gut-wrenching details were not shown to the 1619 Freedom School students, but Ross asked and taught the children about first-person narratives, abstract ideas and the history of Black stories in film.

Viewers experience the film through the eyes of two boys, Elwood and Turner.

I think thats really cool, specifically for stories about Black folks, because it forces people to be inside our subjectivity, Ross told the students, explaining the concept of subjectivity. I think for people of color and our stories, theyre not, especially in cinema, we havent been the center of the way in which the world has been viewed.

He also talked to the students about their future plans. Many had an idea of what they want to do when they grow up, such as be an orthodontist or biologist. Ross took a particular liking to Calvin Thomas, who said he wants to retire at age 75 from acting after attending the prestigious Juilliard School.

I think perhaps giving (children) access to artists and making them start doing things at a level, which I think at their age maybe even seems impossible, Ross said. I couldnt imagine what it would be like to have a Black director come and meet me when I would be in third grade. I didnt have that type of mentorship or access.

The free Waterloo screening of the movie also provided access to interested community members who wanted to learn more about Black history. The film, filled with many abstract montages and ideas, left the audience to interpret its own meaning of each scene.

Ross said he took a different approach by focusing on the life of the young boys, rather than the violence that occurred, to reframe how violence against Black people is portrayed. Viewers see the world through the eyes of the child and the importance of Black leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Sidney Poitier.

We know people of color are over-indexed with violence against us, to the point where I think, generally, I think culture at-large is traumatized by it, not just Black people, he said. We dont even have to show (violence) and you still see it. Thats trauma. Thats not natural.

Nickel Boys was named one of the top 10 films of 2024 by the American Film Institute. It received two nominations at the Academy Awards for best picture and best adapted screenplay, a nomination at the Golden Globe Awards for best drama motion picture and the award for best cinematography at the Independent Spirit Awards.

The movie is no longer showing in theaters but is available to stream on MGM+ and Prime Video streaming services.
A Michigan man spoke about one of the hardest days of his life and the aftermath at Beaver Dam High School to help prevent others from becoming victims of sextortion.

John DeMay spoke Wednesday about the last few hours of his 17-year-old sons life after the boy accepted an online friend request from whom he thought was a cute girl but ended up being scammers who were trying to extort money from the boy after he had shared a suggestive photo.

Sextortion is the threat to expose sexual images of the victim if the victim does not agree to demands, said Tracy Scheffler, founder of 5-Stones Dodge County.

Scheffler started 5-Stones 12 years ago to inform others of the dangers of human trafficking with the focus recently expanding to sextortion.

Recently there has been a sharp increase in online perpetrators sextorting minors for money, Scheffler said, adding that most are financially motivated.

DeMay, who owns a real estate company in northern Michigan, said he never imagined himself speaking in public as much as he does now.

This issue is such an epidemic at this point we just have to (talk about it), DeMay said. I have ability to do it and I want to do it for the legacy of my son and for the kids in this room.

DeMay said his son Jordan died by suicide on March 25, 2022. The family was preparing to go to Florida for spring break at the time during Jordans senior year. DeMay said he saw Jordan on March 24 in passing and woke up the next morning to a text message from Jordans mother asking him if Jordan had gone to school that day.

I looked out the window, and I saw his car still sitting in the driveway, DeMay said. I was like he should have been at school 30 minutes ago. I walked down to his bedroom to see what was going on, and he had shot himself in his bed.

DeMay said Jordans phone was right by him.

At that point, it was terrifying, DeMay said. I barely made it upstairs. My wife thought I was having a heart attack.

DeMay said Jordan was buried on his 18th birthday.

And why, because he was brutally extorted online for hours, DeMay said.

Jordan had accepted a friend request on Instagram on March 24, 2022, from whom he thought was a teenage girl and started communicating with her, DeMay said. The conversation started out normal but became more sexual after a few hours.

At some point, she enticed Jordan to send a nude picture, DeMay said.

The conversation quickly changed to four men from Nigeria extorting Jordan for money and demanding that he work fast, or the photo would be sent out to people on Jordans contact list, DeMay said. Jordan sent $300 to the men, but it wasnt enough.

All the while they were making him feel pressure for the money, they were making it seem like the photos were already being sent out, DeMay said.

At 3:45 a.m., DeMay said, Jordan sent the people a text that he was going to kill himself because of them.

They said, Good you better do it fast or we will make you do it, DeMay said, after which Jordan went to get a pistol that was in the home and shot himself.

Jordan had deleted everything on his Instagram account, DeMay said. The case may have gone nowhere, but the perpetrators did send out one photo to Jordans girlfriend. Law enforcement, including the FBI, were able to use the photo and get a search warrant for Meta, which owns Instagram, to get a copy of the transcript.

The United States government indicted three of the people from Nigeria, including two who were extradited to United States. The two who were extradited pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison for 18 years each, DeMay said. The third man is appealing his prosecution.

There were more than 130 victims who were being extorted by the men, DeMay said.

One of the most important things for teens to know is that they should be telling someone whats going on when something like this happens, DeMay said.

Tomorrow is a new day, DeMay said.

To find out more about 5-Stones mission visit its website at www.5-stonesdodgecounty.org/home.
Domestic abuse charity providing vital support to hundreds across North Wales

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Mar 15th, 2025

A North Wales domestic abuse charity has highlighted the vital support available to victims during a recent visit from the regions Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

The Domestic Abuse Safety Unit (DASU) provides professional coordinated and targeted interventions to people experiencing domestic abuse right across North Wales.

In 2024, approximately 2.3 million people in the UK experienced some form of domestic abuse, according to the Office for National Statistics. This figure includes 1.6 million women8.5% of the populationand 760,000 men.

On average, it takes a victim seven attempts to leave an abusive situation permanently.

Over the past year, DASU has received 575 referrals for its services across the region.

North Wales has 86 refuge spaces for domestic violence victims, with DASU operating 50 of these. Many victims require additional support for issues such as mental health, substance misuse, exploitation, and sexual violence.

DASU also manages complex needs units in Conwy, Denbighshire, and Flintshire, which remain fully occupied.

Its short-term refuge spaces are unique in the UK, addressing gaps in provision where other refuges may not accept referrals overnight or at weekends.

The service also accommodates victims with pets, older male children, caring responsibilities, complex needs, mental health conditions, or criminal convictions.

Many communal refuges will not accept women with male children aged 12 or over, often forcing them to return home or leave their child with the perpetrator.

Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, Andy Dunbobbin, recently visited the organisation  which was commissioned by the PCCs office  to find out more about the vital work and support it provides.

During the visit, the PCC was accompanied by his offices Criminal Justice Manager, Rhian Rees-Roberts and the two met DASU CEO Gaynor McKeown and DASU Head of Refuges Rachel Roberts.

The group discussed the large number of refuge places available to victims of domestic violence in North Wales and the grant support that has come from both the office of the PCC and Welsh Government to support victims in North Wales.

This year, support has totalled nearly 2.6 million in capital grants for refuge units, refurbishment, offices and other items, such as target hardening equipment.

Following this meeting the group visited a short-term refuge building, with two self-contained rooms, which are available for victims fleeing domestic violence to stay for up to 72 hours while a longer-term refuge is found.

Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales said: ndy Dunbobbin, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, said: I was impressed to see the facilities that DASU has in place to support and assist victims of domestic violence.

My Police and Crime Plan for North Wales prioritises victim support, with a particular focus on ending violence against women and girls, bringing perpetrators to justice, and ensuring victims feel justice has been served.

I was pleased to hear how many refuge spaces are available across the region and grateful that my office and the Welsh Government have been able to support DASUs work.

DASU should be proud of the refuge spaces they have created, and I hope victims in the most vulnerable situations will find strength, reassurance, and hope in their new accommodation.

Gaynor McKeown, CEO, DASU, said: I was concerned to read recent reports and comments in the media about a lack of refuge space for victims of domestic abuse in North Wales and felt it important to clarify the extensive support that exists for victims.

Hence, I invited the PCC in to see our accommodation and to highlight that there are over 80 spaces across the region where victims can be supported.

This includes several dedicated refuge spaces for victims of Domestic Abuse with the most complex and multiple complex needs. This additional provision has been made possible through the grant support of the PCC and Welsh Government.

I am immensely proud of the excellent relationship we have with North Wales Police and the extent to which we work together to help support victims.

If any other political figure should wish to contact me to see what we offer and achieve at DASU, I would be delighted to assist and to show them what outstanding service and support our citizens can access.

DASU operates several One Stop Shops across North Wales and has over 30 years of experience delivering free, high-quality, specialised services to domestic abuse victims.

Its services include Independent Domestic Violence Advocates, crisis intervention, outreach and resettlement, safe refuge accommodation, advocacy, and children and young peoples services.

For more information, visit: www.dasunorthwales.co.uk
The Washoe County School District is celebrating the beginning of construction for their new school bus transportation yard. This $33 million upgrade is long overdue with the current facility built over 50 years ago with a lot of challenges.

Scott Lee, director of transportation for the WCSD, says, "Our current facility was built in 1974 and is built in the flood plain - and has been flooded several times and had to evacuate several times."

Wilma Marshall, bus driver for WCSD, says, "It's a lot of mud, and it gets hard when you're trying to chain and you have all the mud going on."

Marshall also says the current space is pretty small, making it difficult to maneuver the buses around.

The new facility will have more space with brand new fuel tanks for all 750 buses. It also is planned to have an expanded bus garage, maintenance garage, an upgraded training facility, upgraded dispatch facility, more parking for staff and enhanced security.

The transportation yard will continue to operate while construction is underway.

"There's going to have to be some creative maneuvering for parking and making sure that there's enough available space for us to operate and they can still do construction," says Lee.

The school district says bus drivers are typically the first faces students see on school days and the last at the end of the day, which is why it's so important the transportation department is taken care of just as much as any other part of schools.

Superintendent Joe Ernst says, "This is just another step forward in terms of modernizing the facilities here in Washoe County School District. Upgrading in so many different ways and all of that helps lead to improve on time delivery for our students."

The project is expected to be finished in fall of next year.
Authenticity and self-expression lie at the heart of identityand The Durex Podcast is sparking conversations that celebrate individuality. Building on the remarkable success of its inaugural episode  which garnered over 10 million views, reached 40 million users on meta platforms and trended at #1 on X  The Durex Podcast returns with a compelling second episode. This episode features two pioneering figures: Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, the worlds first openly gay royal and a leading voice for LGBTQIA+ rights, and Rani KoHEnur, a multifaceted model and LGBTQIA+ activist. Together, they engage in an unfiltered dialogue on LGBTQIA+ identities, relationships, and the essence of true intimacy.

Durex has long been an advocate for love and self-expression, celebrating affection beyond traditional gender identities. The brands ethos is rooted in the belief that good sex is for everyone, and it strives to empower individuals to embrace their sexual selves. This episode reaffirms Durexs dedication to fostering open, mature, and responsible conversations that resonate with diverse audiences.

Kanika Kalra, Regional Marketing Director, Health, Reckitt - South Asia, said, At Durex, we are committed to creating platforms that encourage open dialogues around sexual wellbeing. This episode of The Durex podcast is a testament to our belief that intimacy and pleasure are universal experiences, deserving of recognition and respect across all communities. We are thankful to our guests and our host for making this an open and highly informative conversation.

Tackling deep-seated stereotypes and debunking common myths surrounding LGBTQIA+, Host Abhay Deol asks, "Do all queer people fit mainstream stereotypes? For example, gay men are feminine, and lesbians are masculine.

Prince Manvendra addresses this notion, saying, "It could be the other way around. Straight men could be feminine, and straight women can also be masculine. We cannot just generalize this." Its important to recognize that everyones identity is unique and cannot be simplified into one-size-fits-all categories.

Adding to the conversation, Rani KoHEnur highlights the beauty of individuality, sharing, "People are people in so many colors, with so many personalities and the way they are, and thats what makes it beautiful. Because if everybody was the same blueprint version of you, you are exactly like me, I am exactly like you, it would be so boring."

Beyond breaking stereotypes, this episode dives into Kamasutras perspective on queer relationships, the journey of coming out as transgender in India, navigating LGBTQIA+ identities in conservative families, first-time experiences, and modern dating dynamics. Through bold, thought-provoking conversations, The Durex Podcast continues its mission to create an open, inclusive space where everyone can embrace their true selvesbecause intimacy, in all its forms, is for everyone.
Swastik Productions hosted a spectacular evening to celebrate the phenomenal success of Shrimad Ramayan and the grand launch of Veer Hanuman. With each show, Swastik Productions is not only setting new benchmarks but also creating history, further cementing its legacy as a trailblazer in Indian storytelling. The event, held at The Club Mumbai on 11th March, brought together the creative force behind Swastik Productions, Siddharth Kumar Tewary, along with the stellar cast and industry dignitaries.

The celebration was graced by the presence of Gaurav Banerjee (MD and CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India) as well as prominent names from the television industry including Sujay Reu, Prachi Bansal, Sayli Salunkhe, Mahir Pandhi, Aarav Choudhary, Akshat Gupta, Aman Verma, Nikitin Dheer, Sourabh Raj Jain, Vishal Aditya Singh, Shaheer Shaikh, Nakul Mehta, Shalin Bhanot, and Sumbul Toqueer, among others.

Speaking about the event, Siddharth Kumar Tewary, Founder and Chief Creative, Swastik Productions shared his thoughts, Bringing these epic stories to life has been an incredible journey. The love and appreciation from audiences inspire us to continue creating content that resonates deeply with viewers. Our vision is to create stories that speak to the soul, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has been a part of this incredible journey. We are grateful for the support and look forward to many more such milestones.

The evening was not just a celebration of successful shows, but also a testament to the years of hard work, creativity, and passion poured into each project. From Mahabharat, which set a new standard in Indian television, to the continued success of iconic shows like RadhaKrishn, Ram Siya Ke Luv-Kush, Shiv Shakti, Lakshmi Narayan, Shrimad Ramayan, and now Veer Hanuman, Swastik Productions has consistently brought legendary stories to life. The event featured an exclusive screening of Veer Hanuman, followed by a felicitation ceremony in honour of the cast and crew of Shrimad Ramayan who have worked tirelessly to make the show an unforgettable journey.
Ipsos, one of the worlds leading market research companies, announces the acquisition of Ipec (Ipec Inteligencia em Pesquisa e Consultoria Estrategica), a major player in public and political opinion research in Brazil.

Founded in 2021 by IBOPE Inteligencia managers, Ipec is recognized for its expertise in opinion polls and political analysis, through qualitative and quantitative studies, both online and offline. The company also conducts consumer studies in the areas of brand, communication, and products. It has unique capabilities, particularly when it comes to complex projects that need to properly represent the diverse perspectives of Brazil's large and varied population.

Ben Page, CEO of Ipsos, said,"I am delighted to welcome the Ipec teams to Ipsos. This acquisition allows us to expand our Public Affairs offering in Latin America and meet the growing demand from our clients for high quality public opinion polling in Brazil, building on our 30 years experience in the country.

Marcos Calliari, CEO of Ipsos in Brazil, added "This union comes at a pivotal moment. As the market navigates a period where research and business intelligence are paramount, this collaboration offers a strategic advantage for companies, brands, and institutions seeking to understand evolving social changes and consumer trends."

Marcia Cavallari, CEO of Ipec, declared:"We are very pleased to join Ipsos, one of the largest market research companies in the world. We are convinced that this union will bring significant benefits to our clients and employees and open up new opportunities for growth and development."
In a shift within the advertising landscape, Publicis Groupe has reportedly won The Coca-Cola Company's media planning and buying business for the United States and Canada, according to industry sources. This victory comes at the expense of WPP, the incumbent agency that currently holds Coca-Cola's vast global integrated account.

The decision, emerging from a competitive, closed-door review, marks a notable change in Coca-Cola's agency relationships. While WPP secured the beverage giant's global business in a landmark $4 billion deal three and a half years ago, Publicis Groupe, the runner-up in that earlier contest, has now carved out a substantial portion of the North American market.

The review specifically targeted Coca-Cola's U.S. media operations, which, according to COMvergence estimates, represented approximately $785 million in media spending in 2024. This win represents a strategic expansion for Publicis Groupe, bolstering its already strong media portfolio, which has recently seen significant gains with clients like Pfizer and Hersheys.

Coca-Cola, in a statement, emphasized its commitment to evolving its marketing model and confirmed the appointment of Publicis Groupe as a "complementary partner" for its U.S. and Canada media business. The company also reiterated that WPP remains its "only global marketing partner" and that renewal discussions are in advanced stages.

For WPP, while the majority of its Coca-Cola business lies in creative and production, the loss of the North American media account is a setback. The holding company, which is heavily reliant on its media network GroupM for growth, recently faced investor concerns after reporting weaker-than-expected financial results.

Publicis Groupe's success in this review underscores its growing strength in the media sector, a trend that has contributed to the company's upward revision of its 2024 earnings guidance. This development signals a dynamic shift in the competitive landscape of major advertising holding companies.
A state trooper shot at a suspect who tried to illegally pass through a construction zone and struck another vehicle Friday morning in Montgomery County, authorities said.

Richard Dean, 35, of Deatsville, allegedly tried to bypass the construction zone while driving southbound on I-85 near Exit 16 in Pike Road when the trooper, who was working in the zone, tried to stop him around 11:16 a.m. Friday, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Dean tried to evade the trooper by crossing over into the northbound lane of I-85, striking another vehicle, the agency said.

After the crash, Dean got out of his vehicle and fled on foot.

The trooper discharged his gun during the incident but Dean was not struck by gunfire, according to ALEA.

The Deatsville man was checked by medical personnel on the scene before being taken by a trooper to Baptist Medical Center East for evaluation.

Dean was arrested and charged with felony attempting to elude.

He was booked into the Montgomery County jail on $30,000 bond.

All southbound and northbound lanes of I-85 were closed while law enforcement processed the scene. All lanes have since reopened.

Further information on the ongoing investigation was unavailable.

Once the probe is complete, the findings will be turned over to the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office.
Nikki Carter and her son, Simeon, get ready for his graduation from Demopolis High School on May 19, 2023, in Demopolis, Alabama. Carter was allowed to attend the ceremony after being barred from school property for most of the school year. Rebecca Griesbach/AL.com

Alabama parents are leading a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education over recent cuts to the Office for Civil Rights, which investigates alleged abuses in local schools.

The lawsuit , filed March 14, claims school civil rights investigations have been stymied and sabotaged by the federal government since President Trump took office on Jan. 20. Alabama parents are among several families who claim that federal investigations into retaliation, sexual assault and discrimination against English learners and students with disabilities have halted entirely in recent months.

One of the lead plaintiffs is Nikki Carter, a Demopolis mother of three and special education advocate who was banned from local schools in 2022 . Victoria DeLano, a former OCR investigator based in Alabama , told AL.com she is also a witness in the case.

Were at a drastic turning point that is likely going to set us back 50-plus years in civil rights protections when it comes to access to education, DeLano told AL.com Friday.

DeLano was one of thousands of federal workers fired by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency team. She said she hopes that the lawsuit helps stop the dismantling of the department and civil rights protections more broadly.

In 2024 alone, OCR received nearly 23,000 complaints, according to the suit. Shortly after President Donald Trumps inauguration in 2025, the Department of Education froze all investigations, and after Feb. 20 only allowed disability-based complaints to resume.

Officials said they would end the pause in March, but attorneys claim they stymied the process in a new way: By decimating the office entirely. The department has eliminated seven of 12 regional offices, leaving just a skeleton of staff and sabotaging OCRs ability to enforce civil rights laws in schools, the complaint states.

The federal education department did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

As many as 285 cases in Alabama are still under federal investigation, some of which have been open for more than a decade. DeLano previously told AL.com she had been assigned seven cases before the Trump administration put a halt on the work.

The Departments actions are causing significant harm, the lawsuit states. Without even minimally adequate staffing, OCR cannot fulfill its mandate and move complaint investigation and processing forward. OCR has abdicated its responsibility to enforce civil rights protections, leaving students who should be able to trust and rely on their government to protect and defend their rights to instead endure discriminatory and unsafe learning environments without recourse.

Carter has been waiting for years for the office to investigate a discrimination and retaliation complaint against Demopolis City Schools. After an incident with a school employee in 2022, district officials took what experts called a harsh and uncommon step to ban her from local schools and board meetings.

The suit claims Carter, a Black woman and a longtime advocate for students with disabilities, was banned due to her race and advocacy. AL.com reporting found that the districts practice of issuing no-trespass orders had disproportionately impacted Black parents.

Another parent, who is described as A.W. in the suit, withdrew her child from school after her child experienced sexual assault and harassment by a classmate. She filed a complaint with the OCR in 2023.

Federal investigations into both parents complaints have stopped, according to the lawsuit.

Carter said she hopes the suit ends delays and prompts the department to strengthen its current investigation process.

Even with this case, its going to be critical that when OCR goes back to working  which we are hoping  that they will have accountability on their part of how they investigate and their timeliness, she added, noting that some investigations extend past Alabamas own statute of limitations. When OCR cases lean over that, it causes families to feel hopeless and helpless, especially when cases are unresolved.

Joining them is the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc, a national nonprofit with a membership of more than 3,500 parents of children with disabilities, attorneys and advocates. Many members discrimination claims similarly are in limbo, the lawsuit claimed, making it more difficult for the organization to advocate for students with disabilities.

They are represented by the National Center for Youth Law, a national civil rights firm.

This is a rapidly evolving situation, Johnathan Smith, the firms chief of staff and general counsel, told AL.com. Everything Ive heard in the last 24 to 48 hours since the staff reduction in force has been announced suggests to me that theres no plan whatsoever in place to process or to move forward any of the pending complaints that are in the system.

He said attorneys are looking at all avenues available, including an injunction for immediate relief so that plaintiffs like Carter can get access to a fair and meaningful process to evaluate discrimination complaints.

DeLano said it is important that Alabama is at the center of the federal lawsuit because of its track record with civil rights abuses. She said that there are few local options for families to seek recourse against schools that violate the law  a warning sign of what could come if civil rights investigations are left up to states.

Civil rights protections have been something that our state has not done well for decades, and we are at a flashpoint here where we have to choose as people in Alabama to be on one side or the other, she said.

I am terrified for the children in our state who are the most vulnerable, and Im afraid that were going to see deaths. And I wont go down quiet about that, she added. Ive seen far too many atrocities in my work to be quiet, and I commend the bravery of the families who are the plaintiffs in this case for speaking the truth.
A conservative student organization said the University of Alabama has allowed it to narrow the schools typical anti-discrimination policy and avoid specific support for transgender students.

The group Young Americas Foundation, which has been on campus since 2019, initially applied for renewal as a student organization in February and was rejected by UAs student life division for not including the phrases gender identity, gender expression, sexual identity in its anti-discrimination policy.

According to UAs anti-discrimination policy, in place since 2016, student organizations must allow anyone on campus to become a member.

Trenton Buffenbarger, a political science senior, complained about the rejection to UAs president. He copied Attorney General Steve Marshall on his email. One day later, university administrators approved the removal of the phrases.

Buffenbarger insists the group, with about 50 active students, allows anyone to attend events.

We arent advocating for discrimination against anyone, he told AL.com. Were advocating for the deletion of the language. And thats really all were advocating for. He said he doesnt equate deleting the words to discrimination.

YAF doesnt subscribe to gender ideology, Buffenbarger said. YAF doesnt subscribe to gender expression, all that jazz. We dont believe it exists as an actual category. We are not putting it into writing in our constitution.

The phrase gender ideology is a charged term commonly deployed by anti-trans commentators and activists that implies trans people, merely by being trans, are participating in a political activity or have a political agenda, according to the Trans Journalists Association.

Buffenbarger said the state attorney general requested he be added to the email chain for extra pressure in an article for the national YAF organization titled , Gender Ideology Comes for Alabama YAF and Soundly Gets Defeated  You Can Win the Same Way!

UAs Strategic Communications Department told AL.com in a statement: Membership in registered student organizations is open to all UA students except in cases of designated fraternal organizations exempted by federal law from Title IX regulations concerning discrimination on the basis of sex.

Bryce Schottelkotte, president of UAs Queer Student Association, said shes deeply disheartened by UAs decision in allowing an exception for YAF.

Allowing this exception is contradictory to everything the University stands for, and directly opposes the claims of equity and inclusion outlined in the Capstone Creed, Schottelkotte said.

In November, the university published a proposed revision for the Capstone Creed that would change the phrase promote equity and inclusion; foster individual and civic responsibility to embrace and uphold the dignity of all; foster individual, collective and civic responsibility.

Diversity, equity and inclusion offices and programs were banned from state-funded organizations , including Alabama colleges and universities, in October. State law specifically bans any state funding to go towards programs for any DEI initiatives and forces people to use the bathroom corresponding to their gender assigned at birth.

After the law went into effect, DEI offices closed in colleges statewide and UA shut down its LGBTQ Safe Zone and Black Student Center.

YAFs new policy statement says, membership in registered student organizations shall be open to all students of The University of Alabama, without regard to race, religion, sex, ability status, national origin, color, age, or veteran status except in cases designated fraternal organizations exempted by federal law from Title IX regulations concerning discrimination on the basis of sex.

The Trump administration signed an executive order in February barring states from allowing transgender women and girls to play in womens sports. Marshall and several Alabama politicians were present at the signing of the order.

Schottelkotte said the YAF decision sends a powerful message to the students at UA  that the administration will cave in to demands when faced with any pushback.

This decision shows that the University is not willing to truly stand with its marginalized communities when the going gets tough, and I am saddened to learn that a university I love and defend is unwilling to defend me back, she said.

AL.com requested comment from Marshalls office.
Wendy Williams called into the The View on the March 14 episode and told her guardian Sabrina Morrissey and the judge who declared her legally incapacitated to get off my neck.

Williams also declared: I need a new guardian. The radio and television icon entered a court-appointed guardianship in 2022. She recently made headlines on March 10 after she was moved from her assisted living facility to a hospital.

I was having a little agita, Williams told The View hosts about her medical trip. And you know, to go to the hospital... look, where I live, at that memory unit on this floor, you know, I just needed a breath of fresh air. I needed to see the doctors. So thats why I went to the hospital.

Williams said she had some blood drawn from her thyroid and added: It was my choice to get an independent evaluation on my incapacitation, which I dont have it. How dare they say I have incapacitation? I do not.

She went on to explain that shes been living on a locked memory unit floor where I am not permitted to do anything but stay on this floor. The memory unit floor, where the people are 90 and 80 and 70... why am I here? You know what Im saying? Where people dont remember anything. So I stay in the bedroom the majority of the time. I never go out to eat. I stay in the bedroom.

Sunny Hostin read a statement from the lawyer of Williams' guardian that noted her guardianship was issued by a judge that declared you legally incapacitated after a diagnosis of frontal temporal dementia and says you have not been kept from your family, and you are receiving excellent medical care.

I need them to get off my neck, Williams fired back.

Williams' audio appearance on The View marked her highest-profile return to broadcast television since the conclusion of The Wendy Williams Show in June 2022.

The talk show, which began in 2008, finished its last run of episodes without Williams hosting, after she took a leave of absence in 2021 due to medical issues related to lymphedema and Graves' disease.

In 2024, Williams' team disclosed that she had been diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

Aphasia is a condition that affects language and communication abilities, while FTD is a disorder that impacts behavior and cognitive functions.

Prior to sharing the diagnosis, Williams had entered a court-appointed guardianship in 2022 -- an arrangement that the former TV host has voiced objections to in recent months.

In January, Williams told The Breakfast Club radio show that I feel Im in a prison and I am not cognitively impaired. She also described her guardian, Sabrina E. Morrissey, as that person that you talk about who is holding me hostage.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Williams had been moved from her assisted living facility to a hospital on March 10. The 60-year-old Williams called in to Good Day New York to deny that she is cognitively impaired, saying she has prioritized an exit from her conservatorship and alleging that she has taken mental competency tests and passed with flying colors. Her caretaker, Gina Monterrosa, added that shes been deemed she is not incapacitated.

 2025 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
China, Russia, Iran reaffirm dialogue as only viable option for Iranian nuclear issue

Xinhua) 09:08, March 15, 2025

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in Beijing, capital of China, March 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

* China, Russia and Iran held a meeting in Beijing to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue on Friday, in a fresh bid to strengthen communication and pave the way for resumption of talks.

* In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the three countries emphasized on the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions, and reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option.

* Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister, met with the deputy foreign ministers from Russia and Iran. Wang proposed staying committed to the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as the basis for new consensus.

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China, Russia and Iran held a meeting in Beijing to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue on Friday, in a fresh bid to strengthen communication and pave the way for resumption of talks.

The Beijing Meeting was chaired by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, with participation of his Russian and Iranian counterparts Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Kazem Gharibabadi.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the three countries emphasized on the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions, and reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option.

China and Russia welcomed Iran's reiteration that its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes, and not for development of nuclear weapons, and also welcomed Iran's commitment to full compliance with its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement, supported Iran's policy to continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and stressed the need to fully respect Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a State Party to the NPT.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in Beijing, capital of China, March 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister, met with the deputy foreign ministers from Russia and Iran. Wang proposed staying committed to the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as the basis for new consensus.

"China hopes that all parties will work toward the same direction and resume dialogue and negotiation as early as possible. The United States should demonstrate political sincerity and return to talks at an early date," Wang said.

He voiced opposition to pressing for intervention by the U.N. Security Council (UNSC). Under the current situation, hasty intervention by the UNSC will not help build confidence or bridge differences among the relevant parties. Initiating the snapback mechanism would undo years of diplomatic efforts, and must be handled with caution.

The Beijing meeting was a useful effort by China, Russia and Iran in seeking to advance the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

China is ready to work with other parties for a just, balanced and sustainable resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue, uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and promote international and regional peace and stability, Mao added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Huntsville and Madison County officials are urging residents to make emergency plans ahead of a long-lasting severe weather system expected to arrive in north Alabama within hours.

The National Weather Service says an outbreak of severe storms will be possible statewide throughout Saturday. Gov. Kay Ivey has declared a state of emergency in all 67 counties.

Jeff Birdwell, director of the Huntsville-Madison County Emergency Management Agency, said two phases are expected in the Huntsville area: the first, from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday, then a second from 11 a.m. Saturday through 1 a.m. Sunday.

Birdwell said all modes of hazards are possible  meaning rain, hail, straight-line winds and tornadoes.

This is one to take seriously, and lets make sure we all come out of this safe, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said Friday afternoon.

Officials suggested residents plan -- as soon as possible  whether they will remain in their homes or seek shelter elsewhere. Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon said commissioners and volunteer fire departments spent Friday ensuring the countys community storm shelters are ready to function. Those planning to seek shelter should contact the nearest location to verify when it will open, and its policy on pets if necessary.

McCutcheon said Madison County Fire can contact the volunteer fire departments directly, so dial 911 in an emergency.

Now is the time to prepare, and please, please, please be weather-aware, he said.

Other storm-preparedness advice includes:

Pack several days worth of prescriptions before leaving home

Prepare multiple ways to stay informed of severe weather, such as through phone apps, a weather radio and social media

Dont rely on outdoor warning sirens.

Birdwell said 55 outdoor warning sirens around the county were tested this week, and all worked. But theyre intended to warn people outdoors, not inside houses, he noted.

Huntsvilles public transit will suspend service at 3 p.m. Saturday, Battle said. To report nonemergency damage in the city, use the Huntsville Connect Service Request link on the citys homepage or call the Huntsville Police Departments nonemergency line, 256-722-7100.

Wes Kelley, president and CEO of Huntsville Utilities, said crews will work to restore any power outages when the storm danger has passed, though he noted the predicted duration of the severe weather means that may take a while.

Basically everybody that knows how to put the lights back on is going to be standing ready to do what needs to be done, he said.
A tornado watch was released by the National Weather Service on Saturday at 2:39 a.m. in effect until 10 a.m. for Colbert, Cullman, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison and Morgan counties.

Tornado watches and warnings: What you need to know

When it comes to tornadoes, understanding the distinction between a Tornado watch and a Tornado warning can be a matter of life and death. Here's a breakdown:

Tornado watch: Be prepared!

A Tornado watch serves as an early warning that conditions are conducive to tornado formation.

It's your signal to review your emergency plans, ensure your supplies are in order, and identify your safe room.

While it doesn't indicate an imminent tornado, it's a heads-up to be prepared to take swift action if a Tornado warning is issued or if you suspect a tornado is approaching.

Tornado Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center and often encompass a broad area, potentially spanning multiple counties or even states.

Tornado warning: Take action!

A Tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or detected by weather radar.

This is the real deal  there's an immediate threat to life and property.

Your response should be quick: seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows.

If you're in a mobile home, a vehicle, or caught outdoors, find the nearest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.

Warnings are issued by your local forecast office and pinpoint a much smaller area, typically the size of a city or a small county, where a tornado has been identified, either by radar or through reports from trained spotters and law enforcement.

Knowing the distinction between these two alerts is paramount for staying safe during tornado season. Stay informed, have a plan, and act promptly when danger looms.

Prepare for a tornado

Be weather-ready:

Keep an eye on the weather forecast to stay informed about tornado risks. Tune in to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for updates on tornado watches and warnings

Sign up for alerts:

Familiarize yourself with your community's warning systems. Some places have outdoor sirens, while others rely on media and smartphone alerts for severe storm notifications.

Establish a communication plan:

Have a family plan that includes an emergency meeting place and related information. If you live in a mobile home or home without a basement, identify a nearby safe building you can get to quickly, such as a church or family member.

Choose a secure shelter:

Pick a safe room within your home, such as a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest floor without windows.

Practice your plan:

Conduct a family severe thunderstorm drill regularly so everyone knows what to do if a tornado is approaching. Make sure all members of your family know to go there when tornado warnings are issued. Don't forget pets if time allows.

Secure your home:

Consider having your safe room reinforced. You can find plans for reinforcing an interior room to provide better protection on the Federal Emergency Management Agency website.

Help your neighbor:

Encourage your neighbors and loved ones to prepare for possible tornadoes. Consider taking CPR training to be of assistance in case of injuries.

Tornado safety: What to do when the twister hits

When a tornado strikes, taking swift action is crucial to ensuring your safety and minimizing potential harm. Follow these guidelines from the weather service:

Stay informed:

Stay vigilant and stay informed by tuning in to local news broadcasts or using a NOAA Weather Radio to receive updates on tornado watches and warnings.

At home:

If you find yourself under a tornado warning while at home, head to your basement, a designated safe room, or an interior space away from windows. Ensure your pets are safe if time permits.

At work or school:

If you are at your workplace or school, adhere to tornado drill procedures. Move promptly and calmly to your designated tornado shelter, avoiding large open areas like cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums, and steer clear of windows.

Outdoors:

If a tornado is on its way, seek shelter inside a solid building immediately. Sheds, storage facilities, mobile homes, and tents are not safe places to be.

In a vehicle:

Being in a vehicle during a tornado is highly unsafe. Your best option is to drive to the nearest shelter. If reaching shelter is not possible, either stay inside your car, covering your head, or abandon the vehicle and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine.

Always keep in mind that taking swift action and following established safety procedures are crucial for your well-being when a tornado threat is imminent.

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.










English News China's new chapter in global innovation

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 12 Mars 2025



In the field of general-purpose AI, Mei emphasized that independent innovation is paramount. He advocates for a self-driven industrial ecosystem that leverages breakthrough technologies to boost productivity and unlock new possibilities, Mei said.

By Gu Yekai, Liu Yiqing, People's Daily At a smart construction project site managed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, a quiet technological revolution is underway. Amid cranes and concrete, engineers are deploying advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that could fundamentally reshape the construction industry.



Li Fengjian, an AI specialist with Xianyuan Technology, detailed how the company's latest intelligent system - built on a large model - adapts to complex construction environments. "Engineering machinery equipped with intelligent agents can adjust its operations automatically in response to weather conditions," Li explained, adding that a spatiotemporal sensing network further enhances the system, providing real-time tracking of both personnel and materials throughout the construction site.



In February this year, Xianyuan Technology rapidly integrated its self-developed model with DeepSeek-R1, effectively blending a general-purpose framework with industry-specific models. This integration, Li noted, has produced a solution capable of delivering expert-level performance in challenging, dynamic environments. The firm is based in the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, a burgeoning AI incubator that now hosts over 200 innovative enterprises.



China's technological transformation extends well beyond the construction sector. Over the past three decades, the country has evolved from its initial forays into internet connectivity to becoming a key player in global digital innovation.



Here, a steady stream of technological innovations are emerging, from the early days of emails and web browsing to the cutting-edge technologies represented by DeepSeek and the dynamic evolution of social media.



Wu Jianping, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and head of the Zhongguancun Laboratory, pointed out that while China had introduced only one internet standard before 2005, it now contributes to over 200 worldwide. Such strides illustrate the country's concerted push toward high-level technological self-reliance - a journey marked by both persistence and determination.



Beyond the digital realm, China is making significant inroads in aerospace, new energy, and other high-tech sectors. It has transitioned from being a follower to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with global leaders, and in some areas, even taking the lead. Wu attributed these achievements to a dynamic ecosystem of policy reforms and talent cultivation that encourages creativity and technical expertise at every level.



Amid intensifying international competition, collaborative research and the integration of new technologies with traditional industries are central to China's high-quality economic development.

Mei Linhai, a researcher at China's State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Intelligence, remarked that the age of AI calls for continuous exploration. "In this era, everyone is an innovator. Only by persistently pushing the boundaries can we remain at the forefront of both technological and industrial development," Mei observed.



In the field of general-purpose AI, Mei emphasized that independent innovation is paramount. He advocates for a self-driven industrial ecosystem that leverages breakthrough technologies to boost productivity and unlock new possibilities, Mei said.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > Low-altitude economy lifts off as Chinese automakers enter the eVTOL era China expands efforts to boost global e-commerce cooperation Legacy of Tea-Horse Road lives on at China-Laos border Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
The world of geopolitics is already a minefield of diplomatic tightropes, military posturing, and economic chess games. Add hacktivism to the mix, and suddenly, its less a well-orchestrated game of global strategy and more like trying to defuse a bomb while blindfolded, using chopsticks.

The recent cyberattack on X (formerly Twitter), originating from a Ukrainian IP address, has set off alarm bells. Is this the work of rogue Ukrainian actors furious about peace negotiations? Or a classic Russian false-flag operation? Or maybe, just maybe, its an entirely unrelated third party stirring the pot for their own reasons? Either way, its yet another reminder that in the digital age, wars arent just fought with bullets and bombs -- theyre waged in cyberspace, too.

Since Russia rolled into Ukraine in 2022, hacktivism has become an unofficial front in the war. Ukrainian-aligned groups like the IT Army of Ukraine have been launching attacks on Russian infrastructure, hitting everything from government websites to financial institutions.

Meanwhile, Anonymous, the infamous decentralized hacking collective, declared cyber war against the Russian government, claiming responsibility for various leaks and service disruptions. These groups operate outside traditional chains of command, driven by ideology rather than state orders. And as peace negotiations tiptoe forward, there are bound to be factions -- on both sides -- who see compromise as betrayal.

Which brings us to the cyberattack on X. The attack was traced back to a Ukrainian IP, but lets not kid ourselves -- that doesnt tell us much. Cybersecurity experts know that IP addresses can be spoofed as easily as a high schooler faking a doctors note. The hacking group Dark Storm, which has historically focused on targeting Israeli and NATO-linked organizations, took credit for the attack.

Thats interesting because, on paper, they have little direct stake in Russia and Ukraines peace talks. But this is where things get tricky: could Dark Storm be acting as a proxy for another power? Could this be a Russian effort to frame Ukraine? Or an entirely separate party using an ongoing geopolitical crisis as a smokescreen for their own agenda?

Regardless of whos behind it, the implications are dangerous. A single cyberattack, especially one that disrupts communication or infrastructure, could tank already fragile negotiations. Its the digital equivalent of lobbing a grenade into a peace summit.

If weve learned anything from modern cyber warfare, its that false-flag operations are standard practice. Russia has a well-documented history of using cyber tactics to create confusion and misdirection. Their state-sponsored hacker groups -- often referred to as Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) -- are notorious for operations that masquerade as hacktivism. Fancy Bear, a GRU-linked hacking unit, has a long rap sheet of digital sabotage, including attacks on the U.S. Democratic National Committee and European governments. The goal? Sow discord, destabilize narratives, and create plausible deniability.

If Russian actors wanted to slow down or derail Ukraines negotiations with the West, launching an attack from a Ukrainian IP address would be a brilliant (if not predictable) move. Western governments, wary of cyber aggression, might second-guess their support for Ukraine if they believed Kyiv was behind a high-profile cyber assault. And if this attack on X isnt the last -- and it wont be -- expect more digital smokescreens designed to confuse, divide, and inflame tensions.

Now, lets zoom out. The world isnt just dealing with a Ukraine-Russia cyber problem. Hacktivists, cybercriminals, and state-sponsored cyber terrorists like Lotus Panda are thriving in this chaotic environment. And the damages are not limited to public sector -- the recent Microsoft Account Locked scam, for example, is just one of thousands of phishing schemes targeting individuals.

Cryptocurrency markets, which President Trump has recently championed, are also under siege, with scams like the Cloudxbit scheme draining digital wallets faster than you can say blockchain. Meanwhile, ransomware gangs like Black Basta are holding businesses hostage, exposing the internal workings of cybercrime syndicates that operate more like Fortune 500 companies than rogue groups of hackers.

This is the new reality: cyber threats arent just hitting governments and corporations -- theyre trickling down to everyday people. If a hacker group can compromise a major social media platform, imagine what they can do to financial institutions, healthcare systems, power grids, or even small businesses. Cyber warfare is no longer an abstract, futuristic concept. Its here, its happening, and its evolving at breakneck speed.

With hacktivism on the rise and geopolitical tensions playing out in cyberspace, here are some possible remedies:

Better Attribution Mechanisms -- Countries need stronger digital forensics capabilities to track and expose real culprits. Without definitive attribution, false flags will continue to muddy the waters.

International Cyber Treaties -- Just as nuclear weapons have strict international oversight, cyber weapons need better global regulation. Were way past the point of treating these threats as mere hacker problems.

Stronger Public Awareness -- If you think cyber warfare is just a government problem, think again. Businesses and individuals need to be educated on security basics, from avoiding cyber threats to securing digital assets and leveraging online technical support options.

More Investment in Cyber Defense -- The West, and particularly Ukraine, must bolster its cybersecurity infrastructure. Governments should treat cybersecurity as a frontline defense mechanism, not an afterthought.

Hacktivism is no longer just about rebellious teens defacing websites with digital graffiti. Its a geopolitical weapon, one that can shift narratives, derail peace efforts, and wreak havoc on global security. The recent attack on X is a prime example of how murky the cyber battlefield has become -- was it an internal Ukrainian protest, a Russian false-flag, or an unrelated rogue actor? The terrifying answer is: it could be any of the above.

As the world tiptoes toward a resolution in Ukraine, the cyber war will rage on. And unless governments, businesses, and individuals take cybersecurity seriously, we might all find ourselves caught in the crossfire of the next digital attack. Because in the world of hacktivism, peace is just another vulnerability waiting to be exploited.

Julio Rivera is a business and political strategist, cybersecurity researcher, founder of ItFunk.Org, and a political commentator and columnist. His writing, which is focused on cybersecurity and politics, is regularly published by many of the largest news organizations in the world.

Image: Christoph Scholz
In a sympathetic article titled AOC Campaign Aide Self-Deports to Colombia, interviewed Diego De La Vega, a thirty-one-year-old illegal alien (with an illegal alien wife). He complains that he spent twenty-three years in the shadows but, notably, felt emboldened enough to accept an invitation to see President Trump deliver the 2018 SOTU (State of the Union) as a guest of (now former) Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). The article even features a nice picture of him in the gallery.

The article tells us hed been here in America since the age of seven when his parents let him overstay his visa. That was, as a minor, obviously not his choice. However, every day since he was eighteen he made a choice to remain illegally, until Obamas DACA, which conferred quasi-legal status upon him. His wife, however, did not avail herself of the DACA program (for reasons unstated in the article). Though he and his wife have now left the country, there are lingering questions about the propriety, if not the legality, of his job for a sitting congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).

It was his work for the non-profit Make the Road NY which got the congresswomans attention. Make the Road NY is devoted to aiding and abetting illegal immigration, and De la Vega was very, very good at his job. He says matter-of-factly and with a sense of absolute entitlement, that he became politically active (and) he helped secure a $2.1 billion fund (yes, billion with a b) that provided $15,000 relief checks to undocumented workers excluded from federal pandemic aid.

Thats some serious scratch.

Pandemic relief checks to Americans were quite literally a fraction of that. Yes, it appears to have come from New York States budget, but we all know how this works: states fund illegals then go straight to the federal government for reimbursement, so any reasonable person from the other forty-nine states could easily conclude it wasnt New Yorks largesse; it was ours our money.

(And amazingly, the second they ran out of it, they went right back to the State to ask for three billion more! Given that Make the Road NY spends fully half of its roughly thirty million dollar a year budget on salary for its own staff, brazen is the order of the day for these do-gooders.)

The article goes on to say that his work did not go unnoticed. Within a year, he was hired by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs reelection campaign

Oh, Im sure she noticed. Two billion dollars has a way of attracting attention.

But back to the question at hand: what, pray tell, is an illegal doing working for a sitting congressperson?

Diego is amazing, said AOC on Wednesday in a brief hallway interview, adding: We love him. However, De La Vega's aspirations to work on Capitol Hill were stymied by House rules barring DACA recipients from serving as aides in Congress.

Note that the article states De La Vega was hired for AOCs reelection campaign. She was a sitting congressperson at the time of his hiring. So DACA-recipients are prohibited from working for congresspeople on Capitol Hill, but not from working for a sitting congressperson as long as its outside the Capitol Complex? Okay

Deputy communications director was De La Vegas official job title for AOCs reelection campaign for which he reportedly made $80,000/yr -- which means he had to have given his legal ID to her payroll administrator to get his salary. From what this writer has been able to ascertain, DACA-conferred identification (drivers licenses, passports) are indistinguishable from those given to native-born Americans so it appears to be somewhat of an honor system. No one would know he wasnt native born unless he told them. We dont know the backstory as to why he never went to work for her on the Hill. One presumes its because it was just too flagrantly illegal, not that that stops most of these cretins but at least here, it appears to be the case.

Still, the potential for illegality just rolls like a river here. Quite apart from the troubling matter of him (likely) still having his DACA-conferred Social Security card (Obama was handing out Social Security cards like candy) and his (presumably) DACA-conferred American passport sitting in a sock drawer somewhere in Bogota (imagine the black market value of that down there), then theres the matter of De la Vega harboring an illegal. He harbored one here (his wife) and AOC harbored him!

How is any of this in any way legal?

DACA was 100% done by fiat, and though its veneer is to confer legal status upon recipients, there is still no actual law behind it. A very good argument could -- and should -- be made that multiple laws were broken here.

Our elected leaders should be held to a higher standard, not lower. We dont have teams of aides, assistants, lawyers, staff, etc. to advise us on our every move. These people do, and if they aid or abet illegal immigration then they should be made an example of. If they can lawfare thirty-four felonies on Trump out of nothing, surely we can make a righteous use of black letter law to hold those who ask for our trust to a trustworthy standard.

Image: AT via Magic Studio
On January 29th, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth released a memo stating that efforts to DEI were incompatible with the values of the Defense Department. This was based on an Executive Order from President Trump aimed at ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs and referencing.

A key line from Hegseth's memo is as follows:

The DoD will strive to provide merit-based, color-blind, equal opportunities to Service members but will not guarantee or strive for equal outcomes.

Hegseth is right, the armed forces must always recruit the toughest, brightest, and bravest, regardless of genetic attributes such as race. Circumventing merit will place the security of this nation in peril.

Recently, the Associated Press reported that the DoD's purge of content promoting DEI has caused "tens of thousands of records to be flagged for deletion -- many of which have nothing to do with DEI."

The AP claimed that some targeted records of this purge operation "were a surprise, raising questions about the federal government's new DEI standards and quality control."

"One of the unexpected images flagged for removal is of a prominent WWII aircraft called the Enola Gay, presumably because of the name "Gay."

Enola Gay was the B-29 bomber that was used to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. The aircraft was named after the mother of pilot Paul Warfield Tibbets, Jr.

Upon searching for 'Enola, ' most links of photos such as this, this, this, and this work, only one link such as this fails to load an image.

The AP claims that other imagery of service members with the last name Gay was deleted.

A photo of Lt. J.G. Justin Gay proposing to his girlfriend is still available. However, the link for Sergeant Major Adrian C. Gay yielded an 'image not found' result.

The AP also claims that photos of the Tuskegee Airmen, the nations first black military pilots who served in a segregated WWII unit, were removed. The AP claims some images were restored after the White House objected. Most links upon a random search for "Tuskegee" such as this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this didn't yield images.

Reacting to the news, Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot said, We are pleased by the rapid compliance across the Department with the directive removing DEI content from all platforms."

The AP claimed that Ullyot also said, In the rare cases that content is removed that is out of the clearly outlined scope of the directive, we instruct components accordingly.

As expected, AP's article spread across the news media like wildfire.

So what does one make of all of this?

Some possibilities can be explored. It's unlikely that the AP fabricated the claim because they have provided URLs. The fact that they quote Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot also eliminates the possibility of a total concoction. It seems unlikely they would try to fabricate URLs, although it is achievable. Let's take the URL https://www.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000077082/ that yields an 'image not found' where '2000077082' can be replaced with another number, which will cause an 'image not found' result.

There is also a possibility that the URLs are related to old versions of current websites that have been decommissioned and have nothing to do with the DEI purge.

The Trump administration must release a clarification and sue the AP if they have fabricated the story.

If the AP's story is factual, there are a few possibilities.

Perhaps an ignoramus was assigned the delete operation; this individual just searched and deleted links to images tagged with keywords such as 'Gay.' If this is the case, a proper review mechanism must be immediately instituted.

A review mechanism may exist; perhaps the reviewer was also an ignoramus. If this is the case, those who managed the purge operation should be questioned for not assigning the appropriate personnel for such an important public-facing task.

The most likely and unfortunate possibility is that this is the work of a saboteur who is a deep-state loyalist. Perhaps the saboteur ran the delete operation and purposefully deleted some images of the Enola Gay aircraft, personnel with surname Gay, Tuskegee Airmen, etc., knowing that it would incur ridicule and wrath towards the Trump administration.

Perhaps this saboteur let the AP know in advance and even provided the URLs of the photos about to be deleted. The exact words about the information of the URLs is the AP "obtained a database of tens of thousands of Department of Defense website images that have been flagged for removal, or already removed due to having content that highlighted diversity, equity or inclusion." This suggests that the information wasn't provided officially. It's also unlikely that the AP would know of the URLs before the deletion of the images.

This deletion of personnel with 'Gay' in their names pushes the 'Trump administration is chaotic and incompetent' narrative, while the deletion of the black airmen helps push the racism claim.

Such news also has other impacts. It could cause supporters to wonder if similar recklessness and overzealousness exist for the DOGE-driven operations.

Elon Musk has admitted to accidentally stopping and immediately restoring funding of Ebola prevention-related efforts.

There are also stories of personnel from agencies such as the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration being sacked and immediately rehired.

Back to the image deletion.

To be fair, Hegseth was confirmed on January 24th, 2025, which means he has had little time to purge all saboteurs. But there is no excuse for not understanding the impact of the image deletion operation and not assigning the entire operation to a historian of repute who is pro-Trump. There is also no excuse for rushing in and getting it wrong. Nobody would have objected if this delete operation had been performed a month later, since no essential service was impacted due to the images.

The Democrat mouthpiece the Daily Beast claimed that "Pete Hegseth banned images of Enola Gay plane in DEI crackdown," which is a malicious lie.

But since Hegseth is in charge, the buck stops with him. The operation to purge all saboteurs must be given the highest priority.

It is essential that all key personnel in the Trump administration not operate in fear of attacks from the Democrats or their propagandists. This group cannot be won over. An ample demonstration of that was seen during Trump's joint address to Congress.

But while they are operating fearlessly, they must exercise the utmost caution to avoid such embarrassing errors. The image deletion error can easily be fixed, the sacked employees could be rehired, and the cancelled operation can be reinstated.

The concern is that errors may occur in areas where the impact is catastrophic and cannot be undone.

The Democrats are waiting for such an instance so that they can create panic and perhaps bring a pause to all good work by instituting inquiries and probes.

It is therefore essential that the personnel who are focused on reducing government waste focus on getting it right rather than getting it done quickly, not because of how the Democrats will react, but rather for the best for the nation.

Image: Public Domain
Elon Musk, the relentless force driving electric vehicle dominance and SpaceX into the cosmos, has redirected his insatiable appetite for disruption toward an unexpected target: the sprawling machinery of the U.S. federal government.

On January 20, 2025, through an executive order signed by President Trump, Musk took charge of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new entity tasked with dismantling bureaucratic bloat and curbing excessive federal spending. Far from a ceremonial position, this role has positioned Musk as a one-man audit squad, equipped with a mandate to cut through decades of accumulated waste.

What began as a fiscal experiment has transformed into something more revealing: a relentless spotlight on the Democrat partys entrenched priorities; operational dependencies; and, increasingly, strategic struggles in the face of Musks unorthodox crusade. His involvement doesnt just threaten budgets or jobs; it exposes the fault lines in Democrats rhetoric and resilience, forcing them into a reactive scramble thats as public as it is politically perilous.

Musks DOGE mission began with a promise to modernize federal technology and eliminate waste, a goal that resonates with fiscal conservatives. Reports from NBC News indicate that within weeks, DOGE operatives were integrated into almost every federal agency, targeting inefficiencies and laying off tens of thousands of workers. Musk himself has claimed to have fed agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development into the woodchipper, a move that has sparked lawsuits and outrage from Democrats who view it as an attack on essential services.

This aggressive stance has put Democrats on the defensive, and Musks actions are revealing layers of what some Republicans describe as Democratic hypocrisy. For example, when DOGE shut down a multi-million-dollar grant program for dairy businesses in Wisconsin, Democrat lawmakers scrambled to save it  despite their frequent criticism of corporate welfare. Musks team pointed to the program as an example of excessive spending, forcing Democrats to justify their preferred projects in real time. CNN noted that whereas Republicans directly texted Musk to negotiate reversals, Democrats struggled, lacking the personal access to influence him.

Musks visibility  brandishing a literal chainsaw at CPAC  amplifies this dynamic. His posts on the X platform, which reach over 219 million followers, dismiss Democrat objections as performative, framing their resistance as evidence of entrenched interests. This narrative aligns with Trumps rhetoric, as demonstrated in his joint address to Congress, where he lauded DOGE for revealing hundreds of billions in fraud  claims that Reuters later alleged were exaggerated. Nevertheless, the spectacle keeps Democrats responding rather than leading, highlighting their difficulty in countering a tech titan who flourishes on disruption.

One key point of exposure is the Democrats reliance on the federal bureaucracy. The Atlantic reports that as DOGE slashes agencies like the FAA and IRS, Democrats warn of widespread harm to Americans, yet their messaging often feels abstract compared to Musks tangible cuts. For instance, when DOGE operatives were briefly barred from the U.S. African Development Foundation, Democrats hailed it as resistance, but Musks team still gained access, highlighting the formers inability to halt his momentum. This depicts Democrats as defenders of a status quo that many voters, according to Politico, view as wasteful.

Musks personal style further underscores the disarray within the Democrat party. His interview with Fox Business revealed plans to double DOGEs staff, indicating no retreat despite pushback from congressional Democrats and even some figures within Trumps Cabinet. Democrats, unable to wield subpoena power while in the minority, cannot investigate Musks potential conflicts of interest, such as Teslas scrutiny by the CFPB or SpaceXs contracts with NASA. Instead, they are compelled to file lawsuits  17 against DOGE alone  while Musk and Trump dismiss these actions as partisan noise.

Republicans, meanwhile, leverage Musks clout. Politico notes that hes met with GOP senators, reassuring them amid voter angst over cuts, while NBC News reports hes shaping shutdown negotiations. Sidelined Democrats decry DOGE as an oligarchic overreach, but their critiques lack punch without concrete countermeasures. Musks ghost employee obsession, rooted in his Twitter takeover, now targets federal payrolls, forcing Democrats to defend workers whose roles he questions  often without clear evidence.

Critics like David French argue that DOGEs theatrics  chainsaws and all  wont address structural deficits, exposing Democrat fiscal critiques as equally hollow. Yet Musks real impact may be political: The New York Times suggests that Democrats see him as a serious liability for Trump, with private polling swapped among operatives. Their new ads cast Musk as an unelected overlord, but his unpopularity hasnt slowed DOGEs march.

As Trump reins in Musks authority  clarifying that Cabinet secretaries control staffing, per NBC News  Democrats gain little traction. Musks retort  If they dont cut, then Elon will  keeps him central, per The Guardian. His DOGE website, riddled with errors, still projects savings that Democrats struggle to debunk effectively.

In this chaos, Musk isnt just reshaping government; hes exposing Democrats as reactive, divided, and ill equipped to counter a disruptor who thrives on their discomfort.

Image: JD Lasica via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (cropped).
Now that Elon Musk is on Trumps team and the latest two-minute hate (and vandalism) target, he must not be allowed to look heroic in the media. But the spectacle of his SpaceX stepping up to rescue the astronauts who have been left in orbit at the International Space Station for months longer than planned is awfully compelling andface itdownright epic. It takes no imagination whatsoever to foresee how the media would play up a successful rescue if Musk had happened to be a loyal Democrat.

The fact that Musk is doing what gigantic defense contractor Boeing was incapable of accomplishingand the fact that his DOGE team is simultaneously uncovering unimaginable levels of waste, fraud, and abuse in federal spending -- makes the mission even more toxic in the eyes of the media division of the Democrat party. The truth reinforces the notion that the business-as-usual in the federal government has amounted to a gigantic waste accomplishing much less than private companies can deliver at far lower cost.

But the most politically devastating aspect of the rescue for Democrats is that Musk says he offered to rescue the lost in space crew during the Biden presidency, but was refused, he believes, for political reasons, since he was already vocally and financially supporting the Trump presidential campaign:

The astronauts were only supposed to be up there for 8 days and now have been there for 8 months.



SpaceX could have sent up another Dragon and brought them home 6 months ago, but the Biden White House (not NASA) refused to allow it.



President Trump asked to bring them back as https://t.co/BVsHRn2Ocf  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2025

Undoing the disaster that a feckless Democrat president, especially one who was incapable of the job but was nonetheless foisted on the electorate so that his hidden puppet masters could wield presidential authority via the autopen, makes the party look even worse than it already does. Thus, the narrative must be shaped into a more benign form. Just the kind of job CNN specializes in. Thus, we get:

NASAs Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore  the two astronauts who launched on Boeing Starliners first crewed test flight and have been in low-Earth orbit since June  want to set the record straight: They arent stranded on the International Space Station, and they werent abandoned. The duo made the remarks in an interview with CNNs Anderson Cooper on Thursday when asked about claims from President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk that the astronauts were left high and dry by the prior administration. Thats been the rhetoric. Thats been the narrative from day one: stranded, abandoned, stuck  and I get it. We both get it, Wilmore said. But that is, again, not what our human spaceflight program is about. We dont feel abandoned, we dont feel stuck, we dont feel stranded.

Of course, they are not about to diss their employer and their colleagues who, right now, are working diligently on their rescue. They are talking about their own feelings, because the facts are inarguable. Biden and Boeing couldnt rescue them, and even though a rescue mission was on offer from Musk, Biden refused it. If Biden had accomplished his plan to be re-elected, how would they have been rescued?

Id call that stranded.

This attempt to diminish the rescue is as pathetic as CNNs ratings. The SpaceX drama underway has every element of a heroic saga, the stuff of Greek mythology but with a high-tech gloss. This is an epic story.

Please pray for the success of the mission, especially because we know that there are sick, twisted people who desperately want it to fail, so as to be able to demonize Musk and Trumpthe same kind of people who vandalize Tesla cars, showrooms, and charging stations, after years of insisting that electric cars were going to save the planet.

Hat tip: Pixy Misa

Image: CNN screen grab.
Could the 2028 presidential campaign line up with Marco Rubio taking on Rahm Emanuel?

That may or may not be what happens, but its what I am guessing will be what unfolds.

The Democrat party is in dire need for a level-headed politician to emerge above the fray, and I suspect that will be Rahm.

The problem that may pose for Republicans is that he was an important part of the Obama administration, and much of America probably still thinks of Barack as one of the good guys.

Most voters failed to recognize that the fundamental transformation of America we have witnessed between 2009 and 2024 was a campaign promise by Barack Obama during his 2008 run.

Rather than listening to his words, American voters were focused upon reversing their racial guilt instead of what would become ideologically detrimental to the country.

In 2026, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. I wrote a book a few years ago titled, The Quarternmillennial of the United States of America.

The book advocates for America and against the ideologies that were implemented in Obamas administration to transform us away from representing the values and principles America was founded upon. I have never advocated for any politician  only an ideology. I still advocate for no politician  man or woman but so far, I love what I believe Donald Trump is trying to accomplish for America.

We know the past four years have not been run by a president who was incapacitated prior to the election. We also know that election was fraudulent  I mean, in 2020 Donald Trump got more votes than any previous president, and Joe Biden got more. Its pretty obvious that those ballots came from dead people, non-citizens, and fictional people, but it is history now and whoever writes that history will either reveal the truth or their spin.

Trumps first term included his on-the-job-training and the COVID debacle that allowed Bidens basement victory. Joes four years at the beach gave the inmates free rein to continue with Barack Obamas fundamental transformation of America. That brings us to today in Trumps second term with the hope he will be successful in righting so many wrongs.

And then we will be dealing with the 2028 campaign.

I am guessing that match will be between two level-headed politicians ... Rubio and Emanuel.

Rahm Emanuel will not be a Barack Obama, and certainly not a Joe Biden, but I hope America does not forget where he came from. He is a Democrat; he was in the House of Representatives for Illinois for six years; he was Obamas chief of staff; he was Chicagos mayor; and most recently U.S. ambassador to Japan.

I only remember learning about one successful American statesman who represented Illinois, and he was a Republican. I am pretty sure Abraham Lincoln is still in good standing, but I dont think any good Democrats came from there.

It seems like Illinois-based Rahm Emanuel will have an incredibly prolific political profile, though, doesnt it?

We will probably be seeing a lot of him over the last three years of Trump's administration.

The legacy media, and the Democrat party will settle down somewhat pretty soon and begin looking forward  distancing themselves from the lunacy of the past four years.

I still dont advocate for any person or politician. My book, "The Quarternmillennial of the United States of America advocated for the Republican party because the democrats advocated for the lunacy of what we have witnessed recently in American politics. If I were writing that book today, I think it would still advocate for the Republican party because I know where Rahm Emanuel came from, and with his opponent being, in my opinion, the Republican Marco Rubio  it will be a no-brainer.

We can only hope all those former Democrats also remember.

Image: U.S. Embassy in Japan, via Wikipedia // public domain
The Democrat/socialist/communist (D/s/c) Party is playing with fire and theyre too deranged and dimwitted to realize it burns everyone. Take the case of Vice President J.D. Vance and his three-year-old daughter:

Graphic: X Screenshot

Certainly, Vance had Secret Service protection, so his daughter and he werent in obvious physical danger, and Vance, taking advantage of that relative safety, treated the protestors with the civility they denied him. But hes absolutely right: they were s**t people. Did their parents not teach them one doesnt terrorize little children? Were they raised by wolves, or the modern equivalent, terrorists? Or were they sufficiently intelligent to realize they were protected by the Secret Service and Vances position? Did they understand many a Normal American father would have done them real violence for threatening his daughter, and no jury, perhaps not even in a blue state, would have convicted him?

And what of violence directed at Tesla dealerships and privately owned Teslas? Protestors cant easily get at Elon Musk, who has the best personal security money can buy, so they engage in economic terrorism. One idiot managed to set himself ablaze and ran, flaming, away. Theres a metaphor in that somewhere. And theres this:

One doesnt see Normal Americans, the much-maligned MAGA right, doing that sort of thing. They understand the potential for violence is part of every man, but the mark of manhood is keeping it under voluntary control. Interestingly, it is often D/s/c women who are most cruel and violent. Perhaps they know their men are pajama boys and are making up the difference? Or perhaps its cultural as in this from Kipling:

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, And the women come out to cut up what remains, Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.

And consider this from Rick Wilson, whose bio tells us:

Rick Wilson is a renowned political strategist, infamous ad-maker, writer, speaker, and political commentator. In December 2019 Rick co-founded the Lincoln Project, a political action committee whose goal is to hold accountable those who would violate their oaths to the Constitution and would place their loyalty to others before their loyalty to the American people and democracy.

Graphic: X Screenshot

Wilson means our democracy, a tyranny of the majority, and his thinly veiled language refers to Donald Trump and anyone supporting him.

And there is the intimidation, destruction of property and violence done on behalf of the Syrian Hamas agitator, Mahmoud Khalil. Khalil, representative of Hamas, terrorists that would gladly kill every American, has been an organizer behind violent antisemitic direct action at Columbia and elsewhere. He was recently taken into custody for deportation, a legitimate power of an American administration finally exercising it on behalf of America. Khalil is not an American citizen, and America is finally demanding, as the law allows, guests in our country show some manners.

The protests on his behalf have become increasing strident and violent as in the occupation of Trump Tower which resultedfinallyin about 100 arrests. As usual with such matters, whether NYC prosecutors will bother to prosecute or judges will bother to convict is another matter. This, however, which not too long ago would have been though absurd, no longer is:

Graphic: X Screenshot

Perhaps the self-imagined elite protestors of our self-imagined elite universities are sufficiently smart to understand that sort of direct action would likely see them dead or imprisoned for life, but might they not simply resort to drive by murders of Jews until their demands are met, a course of action somewhat less likely to result in imprisonment or death? If they havent thought of that, rest assured people like Khalil are there to put the thought into their empty heads.

While Normal Americans understand that violence unleashed on a societal scale cant be easily put back in the bottle, D/s/c dont. Caught up in the adrenaline rush of direct action, theyre learning in the second Trump Administration there might be consequences. They might even be expelled from the universities whose classes they dont bother to attend, so busy are they building a better world through trespassing, arson, destruction of property and intimidation of innocents.

They, and the D/s/c politicians who think they control them, believe political violence is like an amplifier potentiometer. It can be dialed up to 10, down to 6 and back to 0 at will and with no consequences. Normal Americans, people who simply want to be left alone to raise their families and go about their daily businessyes, they actually go to work and produce, or theyre firedkeep that potential for violence tightly under control. For them, there are no potentiometers. Theyre at zero or kill them all--a second civil war.

The danger D/s/c protestors represent is just that real. With the current reemergence of the rule of law, the danger of civil war may be reduced, but those funding and inciting those protests never cease wanting one.

On a different subject, if you are not already a subscriber, you may not know that weve implemented something new: A weekly newsletter with unique content from our editors for subscribers only. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Back in my younger days, my father would hear the sound of my car and tell me to get a tune-up. It doesnt sound right, or something like that in Spanish hed say. He was usually right and the tune-up did the trick.

The Democrats still cant figure out Trump. I have not seen a political party in such disarray since God only knows when. All they do is block traffic or show up with silly signs at a speech. It must be embarrassing for those who remember a political party that gave us FDR and Truman. They are like the car that desperately needs a tune-up, an oil change, and a tire rotation.

This is really good from Libby Emmons:

Chuck Schumer threatens a government shutdown rather than pass the spending bill the House sent his way. Jasmine Crocketts out there cursing a blue streak. AOCs telling illegal immigrants how to avoid la migra. Liz Warren keeps nattering on about Elon Musk. None of this is captaincy or cohesive opposition. Electeds and their media cronies are pulling plays from their same tired game plan that failed them and failed the rest of us.

Yes, that tired game is right. The latest effort to demonize Elon EV Musk is bizarre. Didnt they love this man a year ago? He is the Hitler of the Month, or the man who is a threat to democracy now. Elon went from climate change crusader to Mr. Mean because he discovered 200-year olds were getting social security checks.

Of course there is always the canard about the GOP cutting Social Security, or Trump being an ally of Putin. And then there is the race card, the woman card, and now theyll throw down a transgender card.

And then theres Trump sending special forces, helicopters and all, to pull out screaming migrant women nursing their babies.

And then there is my favorite about Biden handing Trump a good economy only to see The Orange Man destroy it in seven weeks over tariffs.

Like my father said, get a tune-up because that noise is not normal.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

Image: Public domain.
Those contracts to other, larger news agencies famous for their loyalty to Democrats, were sold to VOA employees as necessary budget cuts to their agency. The reporters watched in horror as boilerplate stories from the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse replaced their original reporting from the field that, as a federal agency, had been specially tailored towards promoting U.S. interests abroad.

A lot of these reporters did good reporting and some won international awards for it.

I know one VOA reporter who told me how he snuck into North Korea for his job to report on how hellish it was on the ground -- and yeah, it was very dangerous -- the goons eventually came after him and he managed to escape into Red China. The story still gives me the shivers.

Well, the reporter's reporting was replaced by AP wire stories and worse still, French wire stories, as if some power that be from above viewed those news agencies as better at promoting the U.S. government position, as well as the Obama and Biden agendas, than they were. Many of these reporters have deeply resented this replacement of their own work for years, as their bosses claimed it was just necessary cost-cutting.

Actually, the outsourcing of the news at the VOA reporters' expense was very expensive, as Lake revealed in her post.

Now with the DOGE revelations that these huge and often unused subscriptions padding news agency profits were apparent bribes -- Politico, Reuters, and AP's names came up (not to mention, NewsGuard) -- presumably to keep these agencies afloat in return for positive coverage, the real game seems apparent. AP and other agency reporters looked the other way as Joe Biden's senility became obvious, they parroted White House talking points, they took official statistics, always to be revised, as gospel truth about the economy. They were all feeding at the Biden trough, and who takes the king's penny does the king's bidding. Ever wondered why there are so many pharmaceutical ads on television? Once you're an advertiser or big subscriber, you don't get quite the same negative coverage.

In VOA's case, these subscriptions actually came at their own reporters' expense, taking away their ability to cover thee news, same as outsourcing.

Why would the bosses let them cover news when they had an AFP story they could run on their site instead? Think of the irony of the whole thing -- an agency full of journalists needs to pay other news agencies to run news material on their site? You normally would do that if you didn't have a news agency to supply you the news, but these guys were a news agency.

Something was very wrong with this picture.

A lot of good journalism didn't get done because of these contracts. I absolutely know that reporters from that agency, even on the leftside, really hated those contracts.

The same kind of thinking seems to have involved the $1 billion building lease revelations, too -- which is a doozy of a story. The USAGM and Voice of America already have a huge building, all paid off. The new one doesn't even have television studios, a bizarre thing for a broadcast news agency not to have. The need for more office space is nil with tens of thousands of government workers working from home, the job now being to bring them back to the office in the largely empty building. Someone at that agency needed to lease another building?

It stinks of payoff, same as the news agency "cost-cutting" mega-contracts that replaced the reporters.

Here is one theory of what might have gone down:
A wise friend of mine says that the leftist push to change government policies based on alleged anthropogenic climate change has been the greatest Trojan horse in history. Why? Because if you control CO2, you quite literally control everything. It was always about power, not about saving the planet.

Nothing more clearly illustrates that the climate was never the issue than the war on Tesla cars now that Musk has dared deviate from the Democrat party orthodoxy. And its not just the crazy lunatics burning and vandalizing cars, or invading and firebombing showrooms. Instead, Sen. Mark Kellys decision to trade his Tesla in for a different kind of car truly reveals the long con.

Ive never been a fan of electric cars. Theyre indeed fun to drive, because they accelerate so well. Teslas are especially cool. I was last in one about six years ago and was deeply impressed by the gadgets and the luxury. I can only imagine how much more gadgety and luxurious theyve become since then.

Still, I saw more problems than benefits. First, the range problem is real. Newer models have further ranges than the old models, of course, but when you run out, you cant just fill your tank. Recharging takes up to an hour, which can really interfere with long-distance travel.

Second, theyre not really clean. Instead, they just shift the pollution away from the back end of the car to whatever plant produces the electricity needed to power the car. If those plants are nuclear or hydro powered, thats one thing, but most are not. Instead, they come from dirty sources (coal or oil) or wildlife-killing wind and solar.

Third, I hated the subsidies, which, at least in California, saw lower- and middle-income people pay taxes so that rich people could buy Teslas and other electric cars. California eventually did some means testing for the subsidies, but the whole thing was just wrong.

Fourth, speaking of subsidies, I also hated how the government handed money directly to the electric car manufacturers. Much of that was just graft, as far as Im concerned. I was unhappy with Tesla for a long time about that, but then Musk, to his credit, made all the Tesla patents publicly available. I felt he had returned to the public something that was ours all along, considering that we paid for it.

While I was lukewarm about the cars, leftists were all in. And for them, anxious as they were to gain control over every aspect of the economy, Musk was a hero.

Now, though, not so much. For the tremendous sin of working with President Trump to identify waste and fraud in the federal government, Musk has become Public Enemy No. 1. He is the man the left must destroy.

And the fruits and nuts are on board with this agenda. Theres the charmer in Colorado who allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at Teslas. He wears dresses, calls himself baby, and, in his 40s, still lives with his mother:

This is Lucy, the Trans Tesla vandal who was arrested for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at cars - lives with mom and calls herself 'baby'.



According to its father: He's in his early 40s but has been living with his mother who has been taking care of him.



"He has pic.twitter.com/f1JE77CoUR  Lucy (@TheLucyShow1) March 14, 2025

There are the activists who invaded a Manhattan Tesla showroom:

Hundreds of liberal protesters and climate change activists stage a protest at a Tesla dealership in New York to protest against Elon Musk.



We need clean air, not another billionaire. pic.twitter.com/K8m6V3HKSo  Oli London (@OliLondonTV) March 9, 2025

What dodos! Under the rubrics you established, up until about ten minutes ago, Musk was the god of clean air.

There was the genius who set himself on fire while trying to burn a Tesla dealership in South Carolina:

MORE TESLA TERRORISM



A masked man vandalized a Tesla location in South Carolina with spray paint writing F*** Trump and long live Ukraine. He then set charging stations on fire with Molotov cocktails and accidentally set himself on fire too.



The suspect is still at large. pic.twitter.com/bL5PG2yXoY  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 11, 2025

And just the other day, a deranged man vandalized a Jewish-owned Tesla truck by drawing a swastika on it. That Musk is a friend to Israel, the worlds only Jewish state doesnt register with these people. For leftists, antisemitism isnt a reality, its a tool. Just as those whom the left hates were once smeared as racists and homophobes, theyre now also antisemites. When youre crazy, logic doesnt matter.

But the people on the ground are just Lenins useful idiots. What about those higher up the leftist food chain?

Well, that gets us to Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ). Hes had it with Musk, so he too is ditching the Tesla to make a statement about how evil Musk is for bringing transparency to and ending corruption in the federal government:

NEW: Democrat Senator Mark Kelly says he is selling his Tesla because it is just too painful for him to drive it every time he gets inside.



"Every time I drive it, I feel like a rolling billboard for a man dismantling our government and hurting people.



Wow, how bold and pic.twitter.com/IoBsm02Ys8  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 14, 2025

Given what a self-styled principled man Kelly is, we can only assume that hell swap his Tesla for another car that is equally kind to the climate in a CO2 kind of way, right? Right?

Actually, not right. Now that the power is shifting away from the green climate scam, Kelly is making a different power play: This time, hes positioning himself as a regular guy.

To that end, Kelly is now driving around in what he once would have described as an immoral gas-guzzling, pollutant- and CO2-spewing Chevy SUV, with more parts made overseas than a Tesla does. Honestly, you cant make these things up, which is why satire is so difficult in 2025:

Mark Kelly has turned in his Tesla for a CHEVY SUV pic.twitter.com/mQZvuI669P  Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) March 14, 2025 Senator Mark Kelly just replaced his old Tesla Model S with a gas guzzling 2025 Chevy Tahoe Z71, which gets 17 mpg combined and has half as many American parts (37%) as a 2025 Model S (65%).



 https://t.co/aQ2E0Obc2U pic.twitter.com/p78Jv8iQBx  Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) March 14, 2025

This Democrat senator man has entirely abandoned the virtue in virtue signaling. Now, like an angry rattlesnake, hes just signaling.

What Kelly has revealed is that he knows anthropogenic climate change is not real. Yes, the climate changes and humans must adapt, as they always have. However, while we can affect our local environment, and should avoid polluting that environment, were not big enough to change the earths climate.

Trump 2.0 is all about clarity. Its about showing how our government has become an arm of the Democrat party, leeching off the American taxpayer. Its about exposing how Europe views America as an ATM it can control. And its about revealing that all the Democrats shibboleths are just poses to achieve power.

Image: X screen grab (cropped).
The Democrat party has lost its way, falling off the left side of the trail into the quagmire of the woke progressive assault on the unjustness of reality. Some unsolicited advice is hereby offered to the DNC should it admit it needs a course correction.

Fully disclose how you manipulate Democrat voters: Tell them that you strive to create and maintain a pool of dissident victims of fabricated social injustices. Let them know that, above all, it is necessary to perpetuate their victimization to secure your electoral base.

Let them know that the Party gives lip service to hope and change, but that its real goal is to generate social chaos that requires restructuring America into an autocracy that will then subjugate them.

Let them know that they are the useful idiots of the insurgent elitist left that seeks only to exploit their insecurities in their quest for power and control.

Let them know that you relieve them of the time and effort required to engage in critical thinking by supplying them with MSM talking points which they can simply regurgitate. (Promoting marijuana helps in this regard.)

Let them know that strengthening the Deep State precludes attaining social justice. Forget about going green if the Deep State is threatened. Burn Musks EVs if he dares weaken the bureaucracy!

Get a handle on the hypocrisy: Wind farms are the way to go...just NIMBY! You deplorables, garbage, and Nazis had better stop the hate speech! We vilify Catholicism, but praise the Pope for advocating open immigration! We support womens rights even though we cant define woman. Do this, dear Democrats, and people might start to think you have principles.

Try to learn from the outcomes of your policies: Your knee-jerk, immediate gratification, party-loyalist-pleasing approach to social issues only gives rise to new social issues that you then address in the same fashion, creating a vicious cycle of negative outcomes. Its who we are! leads to open borders. Open borders lead to sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities lead to urban chaos. Oops! Better refund the police.

Abandon identity politics: People are individuals, not cloned species. The outcome of your divide and conquer strategy has been worsening polarization, not unification under the banner of progressivism.

Abandon woke DEI: Minorities and marginalized are to be treated with respect, but not exaltation. Pushing them to the head of the line serves no one, nor does it make friends and influence people.

Stick to English: Pushing your disruptive agenda with newspeak wordsmithing in such areas as gender and race flies in the face of the natural order. You declare yourselves to be scientists, but impose irrational, unnatural concepts on the culture.

Invite Musk/DOGE to assist you in redirecting revenue flows from kickback scams such as USAID to bolstering the Social Security and Medicare funds.

Not too many decades ago, the Democrat party was capable of constructive policy. JFK implored America to ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. Bill Clinton reduced the welfare rolls by nearly 60% and cut the Federal workforce by ~400,000.

Todays Democrat party and its anti-American backers have succeeded in bringing out the worst in its cultural left activists, converting them from social reform advocates into a cadre of angry, petulant dissidents upon whose back they seek to attain total social control. The outcome instead has been paralyzing polarization. Time for the Party to move back rather than move on!

Image by Freepik AI.
In the pre-modern world, might made right. If you could beat someone up, you won. The modern, nuanced, moral view is that right is what makes right so that more powerful nations must be careful not to abuse that power just because they can.

However, the leftist view is that might makes wrong. If you are a large, sophisticated, powerful nation (i.e., America), your very existence means youre a bully. Anyone who stands up to you is virtuous, and you must suck it up, even to the point of national suicide. This is an immoral position justified only by the lefts desire to destroy the West, especially America.

President Trump is not a fan of national suicide. He also recognizes that morality derives, not from relative size, but from...well, actual morality. Thats why his administration, acting through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, had no compunction about kicking out South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, after the ambassador gave a long speech attacking Trump and Trumps America as white supremacist. South Africa may be small, but its government is also rotten to the core, and we dont need to take that.

YouTube screen grab.

The story began when Breitbart News got hold of a lecture that Rasool gave to a South African think tank. Please note when you read the quoted material that, while Masool never uses the phrase white supremacy, thats clearly what he means when he speaks of supremacy. We know that because he pairs that term with the observation that demographic shifts mean America will no longer be a majority white nation, and its this change to which Trump and his supporters are reacting.

In other words, in this muddled sea of words, Masool followed the Democrat party line and essentially accused Trump and his supporters of being Nazis:

What Donald Trump is launching is an assault on incumbency, those who are in power, by mobilizing a supremacism against the incumbency, at home, and  I think Ive illustrated  abroad as well. So in terms of that, the supremacist assault on incumbency, we see it in the domestic politics of the USA, the MAGA movement, the Make America Great Again movement, as a response not simply to a supremacist instinct, but to very clear data that shows great demographic shifts in the USA in which the voting electorate in the USA is projected to become 48% white. And that the possibility of a majority of minorities is looming on the horizon. And so that needs to be factored in, so that we understand some of the things that we think are instinctive, nativist, racist things, I think that theres data that, for example, would support that, that would go to this wall being built, the deportation movement, et cetera et cetera. So I think Id mention that. I think that there is also an export of the revolution. Its no accident that Elon Musk has involved himself in UK politics, and elevated a Nigel Farage and the Reform movement, in much the same way that he was instructed that on his way to the Munich security summit, Vice President Vance addressed the Alternative fur Deutschland [AfD] to strengthen them in their election campaign. And that, then, begins to say, what then was the role of Afrikaners in that whole makeup. And very clearly, its to project white victimhood as a dog whistle that there is a global protective movement that is beginning to envelop embattled white communities or apparently embattles white communities. It may not be true, it may not make sense, but that is not the dog whistle that is being heard in a global, white base. So I think we need to understand all of that. Another discontinuity  its almost that they are pitting a supremacist insurgency against the incumbency.

Its one thing for an ambassador to attack another nations policies and to defend his own nation. He wouldnt be much of an ambassador if he didnt believe in the nation he represents. Its another thing entirely for an ambassador to attack the host nation and its leader as evil people akin to the Nazis. Thats decidedly impolitic and makes it impossible for the ambassador to function in his assigned role as a link between the two nations.

No wonder, then, that Marco Rubio kicked Masool out of America:

South Africa's Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country.



Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS.



We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.https://t.co/mnUnwGOQdx  Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 14, 2025

South Africa's Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country. Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS. We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.

But again, this isnt just about one ambassador from a communist country that focuses on antisemitism and racism, even as its people lapse into violent, impoverished squalor. (I can say these things because Im not an ambassador.) Instead, its about the Trump administration saying were not gonna to take it anymore. Just because we are big does not mean that other nationsespecially nations that are corrupt and immoralcan dictate to and insult us.

All I could think of when I read about this whole incident was a viral video from 2011. It showed a small, wiry boy violently attacking a much bigger boy. At first, the bigger boy just takes the assault but, at a certain point, he breaks and body-slams his abuser, who then scampers away.

The same dynamic seems to have played out just the other day in a San Bernardino, California, public school. The initial reports and the video indicate that the girl was attacking the boy, who first tried to fend her off non-violently. However, she eventually threw a laptop at his head and he snapped:

NEW: Female high school bully gets knocked out cold after trying to hit a classmate with a metal bottle.



According to police, the 14-year-old girl tried hitting the boy multiple times with the metal bottle at Jehue Middle School in San Bernardino, California.



When the metal pic.twitter.com/VFMEgvxTL7  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 14, 2025

These videos show what all of us instinctively know to be true: Might does not automatically make wrong, just as being small doesnt automatically make you a righteous victim. Trump is doing what all statesmen should be doing for their nations, which is looking to the merits of a given situation and responding to substance, not relative size. America will no longer be the worlds punching bag.
Blaze Media recently reported:

Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown, a Democrat, filed a lawsuit against the Adams County Sheriff's Office, claiming it has been illegally collaborating with the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

The article went on to say:

A press release from Brown's office argued that the sheriff's office had violated state law, including by holding individuals in custody based only on their immigration status.

The Everblue States Evergreen States A.G. also accused the sheriffs office of generally helping immigration agents and routinely providing federal officials with information on illegal aliens.

The Adams County Sheriffs Office is violating state law?!! The state is violating federal law, you idiots!

Democrats love big, centralized federal government when they run it, but magically turn into avid and moralizing states right advocates when they dont.

The A.G. and the state wouldnt be nearly as upset if the feds wished to get info on -- or deport -- MAGA members, Christians, assorted straight white males, or pro-lifers. But, dammit, obeying federal law by cooperating in identifying illegals is  illegal! Duh!

I once had an older friend who I was sitting with. His mother was there, too. For some reason he considered something innocuous I said disrespectful and told me, You have to respect your elders.

His mother then admonished him to be more tolerant. He promptly told her, voice raised, Shut up, mother!

You cant make it up.

The hypocrisy reminds me of the Washington state attorney general. It is as if a thief called the cops to report that the car he stole was stolen from him.

How dare he!

You just cant fix stupid.

Image: Picryl, via Wikimedia Commons // CCO public domain
Many people know Samsung primarily for its smartphone business. However, the company is actually a giant conglomerate present in multiple segments of the tech industry. Samsung is a global supplier of various types of chips, with China among its clients. Now, a report has revealed that China purchased 44 billion dollars worth of chips from Samsung in 2023more than the US.

The report refers to Samsungs chip sales figures for 2023. It reflects that China purchased more chips from the South Korean giant than the United States did that year. Apparently, the Chinese governments economic stimulus initiatives have a lot to do with this.

Chinas economic stimulus initiative led to a 44 billion dollars purchase of Samsung chips

For some time now, the Chinese government has been implementing economic stimulus policies. The measure sought to increase demand for tech products, including smartphones, household appliances, and others. It also sought to encourage companies to modernize their factories with more advanced equipment. To achieve this, the government injected the equivalent of $20 billion into the market. The aggressive strategy of local government was quickly reflected in both the consumer market and the tech industry.

Samsung shared a report detailing its chip sales in recent years. The document reveals that chip orders from China increased by an impressive 53.9% in 2023 compared to 2022. This coincides with the implementation of economic stimulus measures in the country. Tech firms took advantage of the resources to obtain newer chips, which particularly benefited suppliers such as Samsung and SK Hynix.

Samsung chip sales to China in 2023 totaled 64.93 trillion won (approximately $44.6 billion). For reference, the 2022 figures only reached the equivalent of $28.9 billion. Meanwhile, the United States purchased chips from Samsung worth $42.1 billion in 2023.

The firm doesnt have a huge presence as a smartphone brand in China. The company hasnt managed to make its devices resonate with that market as it has in other countries around the world. However, it remains a major supplier of business hardware. The company offers memory chips (NAND and LPDDR), motherboards, and display drivers.

Samsung also sells some specific models of HBM chips in China. If youre not aware, HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) chips are key for artificial intelligence hardware. Therefore, they face export restrictions from the United States. The models available in China tend to be much less capable than those in other markets.

A potential escalation of US trade restrictions could affect Samsung

That said, its possible that Samsung will find itself in the crossfire between the US and China. Currently, the company can sell chips to companies in the Asian country. However, the situation could change in the future if the United States decides to tighten trade restrictions. This would affect not only Samsung but also a direct rival like SK Hynix.
One of the Trump administrations priorities is establishing the United States as the world leader in artificial intelligence. A January executive order set a deadline to design a plan to help achieve this goal. Since then, major AI companies have been sharing their proposals with the government. Now Google is offering its own tips under the AI Action Plan requested by Trump.

The executive order, signed on January 23, set a 180-day deadline. During that period, the US government, in collaboration with the private sector, must have ready policies to sustain and enhance Americas global AI dominance in order to promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security. Possibly in line with this, OpenAI recently shared a proposal that includes controversial aspects. The OpenAI document urges the US government to allow the free use of copyrighted content for AI training, in addition to banning the use of DeepSeek in political and military settings.

Google, another major name in the AI industry, also has its own list of suggestions to consider for the US AI Action Plan.

Trump administrations AI Action Plan receives recommendations from Google

The Mountain View giant begins by emphasizing the importance of a robust infrastructure for the development of artificial intelligence projects. The company focuses not only on the setup of data centers but also on the energy aspect. Some estimate that AI queries consume up to 30 times more energy than Google searches.

The estimates may be exaggerated, according to a February report. However, it remains true that requests to AI platforms are more power-hungry than using traditional search engines. So, Google wants US authorities to establish energy policies that facilitate the development of artificial intelligence in the country.

Another aspect mentioned by Google is AI regulations. The company is not against legislation regarding the development and implementation of AI. However, Google recommends establishing unified standards. The firm complains that, currently, there are different AI standards that vary from state to state. In many cases, the rules of some states conflict with those of others. These types of situations only hinder the progress of the local AI industry.

Although Google supports regulation, it also warns against crossing certain lines. The company urges authorities to avoid so-called reactionary policies or strict rules. This type of legislation can negatively impact innovation.

Google wants the United States to lead the development of AI protocols and international standards

The Mountain View giant also recommends that the US government take a leading role in establishing international standards and protocols for artificial intelligence development, alongside allied countries. A dominant position in the segment could facilitate this.

Ultimately, the company wants the United States to adopt AI-powered services across all federal services. This could significantly improve efficiency in government processes. It could also benefit Google by creating new opportunities for government contracts.
Last year, Google received a landmark ruling against its actions in the online search engine segment. A judge ruled the Mountain View giants most iconic business monopolistic. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) was the main proponent of the lawsuit against Google for its monopoly position.

How did Google get into this situation?

The ruling against Google was the outcome of a long legal battle that began in 2020. In 2020, the DOJ initiated the lawsuit amidst a political climate in which Donald Trump, then in his first presidential term, urged authorities to closely monitor potential monopolistic moves by big tech companies. The administration of his successor in Washington, Joe Biden, continued these guidelines.

The DOJs lawsuit primarily alleged that Google had taken steps to monopolize the internet search engine market. The company allegedly achieved this through questionable practices. The list includes billion-dollar exclusivity deals and potentially unfair terms regarding the integration of Google services (including the search engine) by default on mobile devices.

According to the plaintiff, the exclusivity agreements Google reached with third parties limited competition in the market. These agreements sought to make other tech companies set Google Search as the default search engine in their products. The firm did this with both small names and others as large as Apple. The lawsuit revealed that Google paid up to $18 billion to Apple in 2021 for this purpose, for instance. These investments established Google Search as the default search engine in Safari. We all know the massive popularity of Apple products and, therefore, the Safari browser among users of the Cupertino giants ecosystem.

That said, these deals could also be beneficial for the internet industry, especially when we talk about funding smaller developers. For example, Mozilla obtains much of its funding from Google. However, the situation becomes more delicate for antitrust watchdogs when the investments, beyond providing a competitive advantage, guarantee the products reach in a majority of the market without doing so organically (with customers looking for it).

Its not that Google Search lacks popularity among the mainstream. In fact, Google has established itself as synonymous with searches online. However, these investments likely contributed to Googles continued dominance through increased exposure. This is one of the DOJs main allegations of Google exercising a monopoly.

The DOJ also alleged that Google leveraged Android to strengthen its monopolistic position in search engines. The company may have done this through the conditions for receiving Google Play certification. This certification enables Android phone makers to integrate the Google Play Store and related services into their devices. In order to get it, Google requires them to integrate not only the Play Store but also a suite of additional tools, including Google Search. The lawsuit also mentioned that the company requires the Google Search bar to occupy a certain position on the devices home screen. This could make it easier for people to access and promote its use.

Both the DOJ and Google have suggested potential remedies to resolve the monopoly situation

Following the ruling, the DOJ offered a preliminary list of remedies to resolve Googles monopoly ruling. The list included some extreme measures, including the sale of both Google Chrome and Android to a third party. The original proposal also contemplated Googles divestment in AI startups. Somehow, the DOJ believed the AI funding was impacting the search engine market as well.

However, the DOJ recently presented a revised proposal. The new remedies maintain the need to sell Google Chrome but not Android. The agency will suggest some changes to Android to try to make the market more competitive, though. The DOJ made another concession to Google, this time related to artificial intelligence. Under the new remedies, Google could continue funding AI startups. After consideration, the agency determined that prohibiting Google from such investments would have a negative impact on the US AI industry. However, the Mountain View giant may have to submit a notice before founding new AI startups in the future.

Another request from the DOJ is to limit or eliminate exclusivity deals. This refers to the lucrative agreements Google enters into with other companies to set Google Search as the default search engine in browsers and mobile devices. The agency also wants the firm to not give more prominence to its own services in Google Search results, in addition to being more transparent about its advertising and data practices.

Meanwhile, Google has also shared its own proposed remedies. The document agrees with the DOJ regarding third-party deals. That is, Google is willing to stop paying for its search engine to have prominence or be set as the default in third-party products.

There is a hearing pending in April, where both parties will discuss their proposals and perhaps find more common ground. Later this year, we will probably know the courts decision on which remedies to implement. That said, Google doesnt want to give up without a fight. The firm has already confirmed that it will appeal the antitrust ruling it received last year. So, a radical turnaround in the situation is still possible.

What are the best options for Google?

Google definitely doesnt want to get rid of either Chrome or Android. Googles own proposed solutions do not include either of these options, and thats normal. After all, were talking about two of the companys main products. Both underpin a large part of Googles AdTech-based business model. Fortunately for the company, the DOJ dropped the requirement to sell Android. Sadly, the agency still wants Google to sell the Chrome browser.

However, the Mountain View giant seems willing to change some key aspects of its business model to resolve its antitrust situationin case the appeal of the underlying ruling doesnt work. The most convenient option for Google seems to be to limit third-party deals related to Search. Today, the Google name is extremely popular in the world. Many people will likely continue to use Google due to habit or convenience. So, it doesnt seem entirely necessary for the company to promote setting its search engine as the default in browsers or mobile devices.

Changing the requirements for Android phone makers to receive Google Play certification wouldnt cause too much harm to the company either. The tweak could mean that manufacturers could be free to opt out of pre-installing certain Google products and services. However, the company has deeply integrated some key services into Android. For example, the Gemini assistant wouldnt be available without the Google app. But as in the previous case, many have grown accustomed to having Google search just a tap away. So, even if the Google app doesnt come pre-installed on Android devices, many would end up downloading it themselves anyway.

What are the best and worst case scenarios?

For Google, it would be great not to have to get rid of either Chrome or Android. However, the most ideal scenario for the company would be to win the appeal they are preparing. This would invalidate all potential remedies under discussion. Its also possible that Googles appeal wont overturn the full antitrust ruling obtained by the DOJ. However, it could change some things to the point that more extreme remedies are no longer necessary.

On the other hand, considering the worst-case scenario, we must separate the possible impact of the remedies for both Google and consumers.

Starting with Google, the worst thing that could happen to them right now would be to ditch Chrome. After all, much of the data Google collects to develop its products and services, as well as to send targeted ads, comes from its browser. Furthermore, Google Chrome is the most popular web browser in the world by far. So, it would be a significant loss, no matter how much money the company would receive from a potential sale.

In turn, this could have negative consequences for consumers. Chrome is not only the popular browser but also the Chromium project. This open-source project serves as the foundation for several third-party browsers, boosting the competition in the segment. However, a third party could decide to close the code, affecting many current browsers and users and reducing development options as well as innovation.

Consequences of the DOJs monopoly case against Google could impact the whole industry

The requirement to limit Google Search-related deals with third parties could also have negative consequences for the browser market. This applies primarily to non-profit projects, such as Mozilla. Most of Firefoxs parent companys resources come from its agreement with Google to set Google Search as the default search engine. For this reason, Mozilla itself has publicly spoken out against the DOJs proposed remedies.

Its clear that companies as massive as Apple wont fail even if these exclusivity agreements disappear. Even so, were talking about tens of billions of dollars at stake. So, one way or another, the hole would be visible in the Cupertino giants accounts. This led Apple to request its direct involvement in the case, defending Googles deals with third parties as something positive for the industry.

Overall, theres a lot to consider regarding Googles current situation. There are divided opinions on the matter, or even those who believe that while Google is actually a monopoly, as the DOJ claims, some of the suggested remedies are excessive and could cause more harm than good. Only time will tell how this matter plays out and what its impact will be on both businesses and consumers. Ultimately, ensuring a competitive and fair market without affecting users is crucial.
Remember the only notable feature of the Galaxy S9? It had the ability to change the aperture of the main camera. This was pretty significant, and it was a talking point for what was a pretty dull iterative update in the Galaxy lineup- the first of many to come. Well, according to a new report, it looks like Samsung could bring variable aperture to the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Were just off of the Galaxy S25 launch and gearing up to trash-talk cover Samsungs latest foldables. However, its never too early to talk about the next Galaxy S phones. Theres no telling if Samsung will bring some notable improvements to its phones next year or continue to relax on its nice soft bed of laurels. Either way, were going to get bits and pieces of news about these phones going forward.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra could have variable aperture

Even though were dealing with a very reliable source, this is still early information. So, youll want to take it with a grain of salt. Ice Universe posted to Chinese social media site Weibo stating that, Galaxy S26 Ultra is considering returning variable aperture to main camera. This is a machine translation, so youll need to keep that in mind.

Going by the post, it seems that Samsung is mulling over the idea of adding variable aperture to the Galaxy S26 Ultra. If it does, then it would be a standout feature for sure. The question is whether it would be enough to make it an exciting upgrade. Over the past couple of years, Samsung has been pretty conservative when it comes to innovation. So far, most of the tech community expects the Galaxy S26 Ultra to basically be a Galaxy S25 Ultra with a fancy camera feature.

What is variable aperture?

One thing that makes a professional camera different from your smartphone camera is the fact that a dedicated camera can change its aperture (the size of the opening that lets light into the sensor). Its one of the settings that dictate how bright the photo is along with shutter speed and ISO. Also, it affects how blurred the background of the photo is.

Smartphone cameras cant change their apertures. Well, Samsung changed that when it launched the Galaxy S9. When youd take a photo, the aperture would shift between f/1.5 and f/2.4. It would depend if the lighting conditions called for it. This is a feature that can make a camera much more versatile.

If Samsung brings variable aperture to the Galaxy S26, lets just hope that its accompanied by other exciting features. The companys last couple of phones have been rather boring.
One of Donald Trumps campaign promises was to protect free speech in the United States. The now-president argued that media and social media platforms censored conservative voices in favor of liberal ones. In a recent development, the US GOP subpoenas several big tech companies in search of more related evidence.

In August 2024, Mark ZuckerbergCEO of Metasurprised the tech industry by revealing that the Joe Biden administration pressured the companys social media platforms to censor certain speech. The silenced voices pertained to COVID vaccines. The measures primarily affected posts questioning topics such as the effectiveness of the vaccines or possible side effects. This led Zuckerberg, months later, to champion freedom of expression on his social media services.

The Republican Party believes that big tech companies could have taken similar measures against conservative voices to please those in the White House. Several social media platforms banned Donald Trumps accounts at the time, for instance. This led Trump to found Truth Social, a platform that advocated for freedom of expression and where he could also keep in touch with his supporters. Conservatives have also complained that social media moderation algorithms allegedly suppressed right-wing speech more than others.

16 major big tech companies subpoenaed in investigation into potential censorship of conservatives

Now, Jim Jordan, the GOP Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has sent subpoenas to 16 big tech companies. The representative is asking for communications related to content moderation or suppression. He is also requiring inputs and outputs for AI models, training datasets, moderation algorithms, and everything potentially related. The request covers a five-year period (January 1, 2020  January 20, 2025).

The list of companies cited includes Adobe, Alphabet, Amazon, Anthropic, Apple, Cohere, International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), Inflection AI, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI, Palantir, Salesforce, Scale AI, and Stability AI. The main goal of the investigation is to determine how and to what extent the executive branch coerced or colluded with artificial intelligence (AI) companies and other intermediaries to censor lawful speech. The representative included AI companies because this technology can be especially useful in discriminating political biases among speech.

The GOP had already launched its own investigation on the topic. In December, they released a report with examples of the Biden administration pressuring private companies to advance equity, stop algorithmic discrimination, and mitigate the production of harmful and biased outputs.' The latest move is a new step in this investigation.
Customization in Android has always been one of the platforms strengths, and for Pixel owners on Android 16, that will seemingly include the capability to customize your home screen icons.

Specifically, the ability to customize the shape of your home screen icons. This was a feature that was available in Android 11, but it was eventually removed, and it hasnt been available since then. The only way to customize the icons this way currently is through third-party launchers. Now, it appears that Google is preparing to roll it back out with the release of Android 16.

A new report from Android Authority showcases the feature in action. They were able to activate it in the most recent version of the Android 16 beta. The third beta was released this week and essentially brought the software forward to platform stability. Theres still one more beta before the stable release later this year, which is expected to hit at the beginning of June.

Android 16 icon customization will allow you to change the shape of home screen icons

Icon shape customization appears to be returning to the Pixel Launcher. While tinkering with the third beta release, Android Authority says it was able to get the shapes and layout options to appear. Once this feature launches, it looks like it will show up in the Wallpaper app. A new App Shape and Layout menu will be available in the app with several shape options. There will reportedly be six shapes to choose from.

This includes a circle and a rounded square, which are pretty standard options youd expect to find. None of the icon shapes have official names listed, but AA refers to them as Circle, Square, Arch, Four-Sided Cookie, Seven-Sided Cookie, and Complex Clover. Its also noted that these shapes are only applied to app icons on the home screen as well as in the app drawer and folders.

This new version of the Wallpaper app wont necessarily be released right away

While it seems clear that this feature is coming, its still unclear when its coming. It was activatable with Android 16 Beta 3. So its probably a safe bet that its coming sometime after the next version of Android launches. However, the new wallpaper app wont necessarily be launched alongside Android 16s stable rollout.

Google has reportedly been working on this version of the Wallpaper app since last year, though. Its existence in the third Android 16 beta may signify that its close to completion.
Chuck Schumer at the Capitol on Friday. Photograph: Will Oliver/EPA

The Senate on Friday approved a Republican bill to fund federal agencies through September, averting a government shutdown hours before the midnight deadline after Democrats relented.

The bill passed the Senate in a 54-46 vote, overcoming steep Democratic opposition. On Saturday, Donald Trump signed it into law, the White House said.

The result infuriated Democratic activists, who accused the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, of squandering the little leverage they have to defy Trump and his billionaire ally, Elon Musk, as they seek to dismantle large swaths of the federal government. But Schumer said a funding lapse presented an even worse outcome that would have allowed Musks so-called department of government efficiency (Doge) to exploit the crisis for maximum destruction.

Speaking to reporters before departing Washington on Friday, Trump again praised Schumers decision. I think he did the right thing, he said.

To break the filibuster, which requires 60 votes, 10 Senate Democrats joined nearly all Republicans to advance the House-passed funding bill. As part of a deal to secure the necessary Democratic votes, the parties agreed to allow a series of amendments on the measure.

In a statement, Senator John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, said his vote should not be mistaken for an endorsement of what he called a deeply flawed spending bill.

My YES vote on cloture IS 100% about refusing to shut our government down, he said, referring to the procedural vote. I refuse to punish working families and plunge millions of Americans into chaos or risk a recession.

Schumer and Fetterman were joined by Senators Dick Durbin of Illinois, Catherine Cortez-Masto of Nevada, Gary Peters of Michigan, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, both senators from New Hampshire, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, and Angus King, an independent of Maine who caucuses with Democrats.

Only King and Shaheen supported the bill on final passage, which requires a simple majority to pass. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky was the lone Republican to vote against it.

You dont stop a bully by giving him your lunch money, and you dont stop tyrant Trump by giving him more power, said Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, whose amendment to restore the roughly $20bn in funding cuts to IRS enforcement failed along party lines.

The Republican spending bill is a blank check for Trump, giving him enormous flexibility to spend your tax dollars only on the programs he likes, and only in the states he wants to.

The vote exposed a public rift with Democrats in the House, where all but one Democrat voted against the government funding bill. Up until the time of the vote on Friday evening, House Democrats were urging their Senate counterparts to block the bill they fear would embolden Trump and Musks overhaul of the US government.

Before the procedural vote on Friday, the former House speaker Nancy Pelosi called the bill a devastating assault on the wellbeing of working-class families.

Democratic senators should listen to the women, she said in a statement. Appropriations leaders Rosa DeLauro and Patty Murray have eloquently presented the case that we must have a better choice: a four-week funding extension to keep government open and negotiate a bipartisan agreement. America has experienced a Trump shutdown before  but this damaging legislation only makes matters worse.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also condemned Schumer for caving to Republican demands on a government funding bill, saying the move had created a deep sense of outrage and betrayal among Democrats.

Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries also lambasted the spending bill, calling it an attack on veterans, families, seniors and everyday Americans in a statement released on Friday evening.

Our party is not a cult, we are a coalition. On occasion, we may strongly disagree about a particular course of action, the statement continued. At all times, Democrats throughout the nation remain determined to make life better for everyday Americans and stop the damage being done by Donald Trump, Elon Musk and House Republicans.

Speaking to reporters in Leesburg, Virginia, where House Democrats were gathered for their annual policy retreat, Ocasio-Cortez said she had mobilized Democratic supporters to push Schumer to oppose what she characterized as an acquiesce to the GOP bill.

There are members of Congress who have won Trump-held districts in some of the most difficult territory in the United States who walked the plank and took innumerable risks in order to defend the American people, she said. Just to see Senate Democrats even consider acquiescing to Elon Musk, I think, is a huge slap in the face.

Fridays vote reportedly sparked such anger among House Democrats that some encouraged the New York congresswoman to challenge Schumer for his Senate seat, according to CNN. When asked about these suggestions, Ocasio-Cortez declined to comment.

From the Senate floor, Schumer reiterated his support for the spending bill, warning that a government shutdown would mean that Trump, Musk and Doge would be free to make even more disruptive cuts to federal agencies.

A shutdown will allow Doge to shift into overdrive, Schumer said. It would give Donald Trump and Doge the keys to the city, state and country. Donald Trump and Elon Musk would be free to destroy vital government services at a much faster rate than they can right now and over a much broader field of destruction that they would render.

But the Federal Unionists Network, a group of federal employees that opposes the administrations campaign to dramatically downsize government, disagreed, saying the funding bill under consideration would make the situation worse.

Once again, Congress is failing in its responsibility to the American people, spokesperson Chris Dols said in a statement. If passed, this [continuing resolution] will give Trump and Musk the power to complete their assault on federal workers.

Earlier this week, Schumer threatened to withhold the Democratic votes and demanded Republicans instead consider a 30-day funding stopgap that would allow more time for bipartisan negotiations.

But House Speaker Mike Johnson sent his members home to their districts after Republicans advanced the spending bill on Tuesday, effectively forcing Senate Democrats to accept the measure as passed or risk a shutdown. In a statement on Friday, Johnson applauded his caucus for sticking together and accused Democrats of nearly triggering a shutdown simply because they seem to hate President Trump more than they love America.

Democrats will now have to contend with a furious base.

Clearing the way for Donald Trump and Elon Musk to gut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is unacceptable, Joel Payne, a spokesperson for MoveOn, a progressive organization that claims nearly 10 million members nationwide, said in a statement.

Its past time for Democrats to fight and stop acting like its business as usual.
Patrick Kielty has dedicated the latest episode of The Late Late Show to his mother, following her funeral earlier in the week.

The Northern Irish TV presenter and comedian, 54, who fronts RTEs flagship TV programme, addressed the audience on Friday night.

Referencing Irelands annual holiday on Monday, Kielty said: When youre called Patrick, St Patricks Day is always special, and the person I have to thank for that and so much more is my mum.

Sadly, we lost her last week and I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who took care of her and took care of our family this week.

He added that his mother, Mary Kielty, whose funeral was held at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Dundrum this week, watched this show religiously.

Kielty said: She loved it so much she still kept watching even after I got the gig.

In over 50 years, Mary never missed a Late Late Show and there was no way shed want me to miss this one for her tonight.

So, I couldnt be prouder to stand here and say this ones for you, Mary. Welcome to The Late Late Show.

Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley (Damien Eagers/PA)

He then appeared to break down and was applauded by the crowd.

His mother  whose husband Jack was shot dead by the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) in 1988  died peacefully at home in Dundrum, Co Down, last Saturday aged 84.

Kielty replaced Ryan Tubridy as host of the popular Irish chat show, who stepped down in 2023 following a more than 10-year stint on the Irish talk show.

The comedian is married to This Morning host Cat Deeley and they have two sons, James and Milo.
Dan Sheehan scored a hat-trick as Ireland overcame a sloppy start to keep alive their hopes of retaining the Guinness Six Nations title with an unconvincing 22-17 bonus-point success over Italy.

Seven days on from having their Grand Slam dream crushed by a 42-27 Dublin drubbing at the hands of France, Simon Easterbys side scraped to victory in Rome to move top of the championship table ahead of Saturdays other matches.

Hugo Keenans score cancelled out an early opener from Azzurri wing Monty Ioane before hooker Sheehans treble turned the contest in the visitors favour.

However, fly-half Jack Crowley, who started ahead of Sam Prendergast, squandered three of his four conversion attempts to leave Italy with hope of masterminding a shock.

Stephen Varneys try, supplemented by seven points from Tommaso Allan, increased the tension but the hosts chances were harmed by indiscipline.

Michele Lamaro spent time in the sin bin, while Ross Vintcent was shown a 20-minute red card and Giacomo Nicotera received a late yellow before Ireland hung on.

The reigning champions, who were unable to meaningfully enhance their points difference, now require England to slip up away to Wales and tournament favourites France to lose at home to Scotland.

Backed by an estimated 30,000 travelling fans, Ireland ran out at a sold-out Stadio Olimpico requiring a resounding win to put pressure on their title rivals following last weeks humiliation on home soil.

Easterbys side were punished for a poor start when Paolo Garbisis clever poke to the corner following fine work from the impressive Tommaso Menoncello sent Ioane over on the left, with full-back Allan nailing a tricky conversion.

Monty Ioane (second left) got Italy off to a great start (Domenico Cippitelli/PA)

Italy, who were out to successfully avoid the wooden spoon for a second successive year, had conceded 18 tries across heavy defeats to France and England in rounds three and four.

Finlay Bealham had a score ruled out for a double movement as Ireland finally threatened the hosts 22 before Keenan raced over following a scrum.

Crowleys simple slot levelled proceedings but the afternoon was not going to plan and an Allan penalty from close to halfway deservedly put the Azzurri back ahead.

Ireland somehow ended a stuttering opening period 12-10 in front, aided by a moment of madness from Italy captain Lamaro.

The Benetton flanker, who began on the bench before being brought on as his side lost three forwards to injury inside half an hour, was sin-binned for cynically swotting the ball out of Jamison Gibson-Parks hands, leading to hooker Sheehan powering over from a resultant lineout maul.

Ireland kept their slim title hopes alive (Domenico Cippitelli/PA)

Crowleys subsequent shank from the kicking tee epitomised Irelands first-half struggles.

With Lamaro still on the sidelines, Sheehans second score  in the 47th minute  was a carbon copy of his first and, again, Crowley failed to add the extras.

Italy had won just one of the previous 25 Six Nations fixtures between the countries.

Their task became more difficult when replacement flanker Vintcent was sent to the bunker after making head-on-head contact with Keenan from the restart, with the card ultimately upgraded from yellow to red.

Keenan was then denied his second try by a Caelan Doris knock-on in the build-up before the bonus point was secured when Sheehan completed his hat-trick after Gibson-Parks clever cross-field kick was superbly kept alive by Mack Hansen.

Hansen swiftly undid his fine work by misjudging a bouncing ball inside the in-goal area, allowing Varney to apply the finishing touch to Ange Capuozzos kick.

Allans conversion left Italy just five points behind as they returned to 15 men going into a tense final 10 minutes.

Ireland, who gave farewell cameos to retiring centurions Peter OMahony and Conor Murray and a first Test cap since last summer to injury-dogged prop Tadhg Furlong, were under pressure until the final whistle.

A try-saving tackle from replacement hooker Gus McCarthy prevented scrum-half Varney going over again as Easterbys men survived a major scare to just about stay in title contention.
Karen Shore said Cheshire West and Chester council was warmly welcoming to asylum seekers while she was its deputy leader - x.com/MerseysideLab

The Labour candidate facing down Reform UK in the Runcorn by-election warmly welcomed refugees from Afghanistan and Syria to the area.

Councillor Karen Shore, who is facing a Reform insurgency in the northern seat, said Cheshire West and Chester council was warmly welcoming to asylum seekers while she was its deputy leader.

She boasted about providing suitably decorated and furnished accommodation, provided by the councils housing association partners, as well as support from housing and family support teams and the costs of English language lessons.

She argued in the local newspaper that refugees integrate successfully into their new lives and make a valuable contribution to our communities.

Karen Shore said Cheshire West and Chester council was warmly welcoming to asylum seekers while she was its deputy leader - x.com/MerseysideLab

Ms Shore was chosen as Labours parliamentary candidate this week after serving on the council since 2015.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Mike Amesbury, who was convicted of assault after repeatedly punching a constituent while drunk.

Polling shows Labour will struggle to hold the seat as Nigel Farages party surges.

The latest survey of the constituency, by pollsters Find Out Now, shows Reform projected to win the seat by a small margin, winning 36 per cent of the vote to Labours 33 per cent.

It comes after a poll of the seat by Lord Ashcroft showed Reform winning by a similar margin with 40 percent of the vote to Labours 35 percent.

If replicated on election day the result would mean a large swing from Labour to Reform with the insurgent party taking votes from both Labour and the Conservatives in the seat.

At the general election, Reform came a distant second in Runcorn with 18 percent of the vote.

While serving as a cabinet member on Cheshire West and Chester council, which encompasses the Runcorn and Helsby constituency, Ms Shore also backed a Stonewall scheme where council staff wore rainbow shoelaces in the workplace.

She said it helped to challenge homophobic, biphobic and transphobic views.

We work with our staff and partners to support individuals to become LGBT role models both at home and at work, she said.

The council was a member of the Stonewall Diversity Champions scheme at the time.

Ms Shore caused controversy during the Covid pandemic when she said in a council meeting: I believe the governments strategy is to let people get sick and die.

In 2017 she supported a successful motion to ban local councillors and staff from giving interviews to The Sun newspaper.

The motion also expressed support for local newsagents who refused to sell the newspaper.

Cheshire West and Chester borders Merseyside, where there has been a longstanding boycott of the paper following its false reporting of the Hillsborough disaster.

A stain on democracy

Ms Shore told fellow councillors she had personally refused to speak to a Sun journalist in the past and called the paper a stain on democracy, British values and the fundamental freedoms that we hold dear.

She said: Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are fundamental to democracy, as fundamental as the rule of law. From freedoms come rights, and with rights come responsibilities. The right to speak freely and the responsibility not to slander or incite prejudice or hatred. The right to a free press but with the responsibility not to print lies.

[These are] all the things this publication has shown a flagrant disregard for. Its a stain on democracy, British values and the fundamental freedoms that we hold dear. And its a stain on the 96 unlawfully killed.

A Labour spokesman said: Karen Shore is a hard working, local candidate who will make an excellent Member of Parliament for Runcorn and Helsby. She has a track record of campaigning and delivering for local people, which will continue if she is elected.
Lewis Hamilton admitted he does not know where the wet switch is on his Ferrari as he prepares for a shock to the system in Sundays rain-expected Australian Grand Prix.

Hamilton will start his first race in the scarlet red from eighth after he qualified one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc, and 0.877 seconds adrift of McLaren pole-sitter Lando Norris.

Norris saw off team-mate Piastris challenge by just 0.084 sec as the British team secured an impressive front-row lockout in Melbourne.

Plenty of opportunities await us tomorrow  pic.twitter.com/rJAZDibP9U  Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) March 15, 2025

World champion Max Verstappen finished a distant third with Mercedes George Russell fourth. RBs Yuki Tsunoda took a surprise fifth, one place ahead of Williams Alex Albon.

Rain is forecast for Sundays race at Albert Park, with Hamilton ordinarily expected to revel in the changeable conditions.

However, the 40-year-old said: I have never driven the car in the wet, and I dont know where the wet switch is. What settings am I going to have to use with this car? It is all different.

When you qualify eighth you hope for it to be wet, but for me I have got three laps (going to the grid) to learn the car in the wet, and then I have got to go out and race.

The rain has often been something I have enjoyed. Growing up in the UK, it has been a comfort zone for me.

But for the first time, I will be in an uncomfortable position because I have never driven this car in the wet. It will be a shock to the system when I get out there. I will be learning on the fly and giving it everything.

Hamiltons move from Mercedes to Ferrari has been the major talking point ahead of the new campaign.

A starting grid with talking points throughout  heres how we line up tomorrow in Melbourne #F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/c1q8U9QB19  Formula 1 (@F1) March 15, 2025

Hamilton spun on the exit of Turn 11 in the concluding moments of Q2 to leave him facing the wrong way. He escaped the drama without damage and was able to make it back to his garage before returning for the final phase.

But the seven-time world champion has not been able to match Leclercs speed all weekend, and he finished more than two tenths behind the Monegasque.

Hamilton continued: It has been a big learning curve. The car felt so much different than I have ever experienced here, and it has been a slower process to build confidence in the car.

I thought I was further along than I was. I got to first practice on Friday, and I was like, jeez I have still got a long way to go.

We have done some good work to move the car forward. But I dont know which tool to use at the moment so, for the first time, I am heavily relying on my engineers.

Ferrari were expected be McLarens closest challengers. And Norris, after landing his 10th career pole, said: I did expect Ferrari to be quicker. Whether thats because they didnt put any good laps in or struggled more with the car, I dont know? Youd have to ask them, but we all expected them to be quicker.

Verstappen drove from 17th to first in F1s last wet race in Brazil. Norris started on pole that day and crossed the line sixth  a poor display which all but ended his title challenge.

Norris added: Its not always as simple as just putting on wets and having a crack.

Its a sketchy track here because youve got walls close and you cant make a lot of mistakes.

You pay the price very quickly. I am excited but nervous at the same time. We know we have a good car, but we just have to keep our heads down.
The MV Stena Immaculate at anchor in the North Sea on Wednesday, with the collision damage visible - STR/AFP via Getty

The Russian captain of a ship which crashed into a US oil tanker in the North Sea, killing a crew member, has been remanded in custody.

Vladimir Motin, 59, had been at the helm of the Solong, a Portuguese-registered cargo ship, for about three hours before it crashed into the Stena Immaculate just before 10am on Monday.

He is accused of the gross negligence manslaughter of Mark Angelo Pernia, a 38-year-old Filipino national, who had been working on the front deck of the Solong.

The other 13 crew members were rescued along with all 23 people on the tanker, which was carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel, Hull magistrates court was told on Saturday.

Mr Motin, of Primorsky, St Petersburg, wore a blue fleece, blue checked shirt, and grey T-shirt during the hearing, which lasted around 35 minutes.

The bespectacled defendant was accompanied by a prison officer and a Russian interpreter.

Defendant enters no plea

Mr Motin was told through the interpreter that he faced one charge that on Monday, March 10 2025, you unlawfully killed Mark Angelo Pernia contrary to common law. No plea was entered.

Amelia Katz, prosecuting, told the court the Stena Immaculate had been anchored in the North Sea 10.2 nautical miles from the Yorkshire coast since 6.30pm the day before the collision.

Mr Motin had been in sole charge of the Solong since 6.50am on Monday morning.

The first that was known about the collision was when the Coastguard received a message about it.

Andrew Havery, for Mr Motin, said his client was arrested on Monday evening and held in police custody for questioning. He did not make any bail application.

Old Bailey appearance next month

Tan Ikram, the deputy chief magistrate for England and Wales, remanded Mr Motin in custody to appear at The Old Bailey at 10am on April 14.

The Solong had been sailing from Grangemouth in Scotland to Rotterdam.

It was originally feared it was carrying sodium cyanide, but the German owner Ernst Russ said four containers on the vessel had previously been carrying the chemical.

The Stena Immaculate, which is managed by the US logistics firm Crowley, is part of a fleet of 10 tankers involved in a US government programme to supply its military with fuel.

According to Crowley, the tanker security programme ensures a commercial fleet can readily transport liquid fuel supplies in times of need.
Were in a situation where we have to provide both safety and rehabilitation for young people in NSW, the NSW premier, Chris Minns, said. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

The New South Wales premier is facing growing internal dissent over his plan to extend controversial youth bail laws, with one MP telling caucus the laws had put the government on a slippery slope.



Sources say Labor MLC Stephen Lawrence  a former barrister and one-time mayor of Dubbo  argued during a February meeting that the government was on a path whereby it could adopt further punitive approaches because the laws introduced a year ago werent working.

If crime wasnt going down there could be calls for even tougher measures, leading to a dangerous downward spiral, Lawrence suggested.

The reforms are aimed at repeat young offenders. They make it harder for 14- to 18-year-olds charged with serious break-and-enter and motor vehicle theft offences while on bail to get bail again.

Lawrence, sources say, warned that the government had created a problem of its own making amid calls for an even tougher approach. At a community rally in Kempsey last month, convened by a local Nationals MP, there were calls for even tougher bail laws.

The Labor backbencher pointed out that when the Nationals raised concerns about youth crime in the regions towards the end of 2023, the party was only calling for an inquiry, not a tightening of youth bail laws. Now, the Nationals have called for the government to go harder and automatically refuse bail to young people accused of being repeat offenders.

The Nationals also proposed reversing the current onus on police to prove children aged between 10 and 14 who allegedly committed an offence had criminal intent and knew what they were doing was wrong.

Minns  who wants to extend the bail laws to 2028 before the trial expires later this year  has argued the laws are working because 90% of children covered by the laws have been locked up on remand instead of being released on bail.

Related: Number of NSW children in youth detention up by one third, new data shows

Labor MLC Cameron Murphy has also come out against the laws, telling Guardian Australia that restricting bail for young people was a mistake.

We know from evidence that it simply doesnt work in terms of community safety. The reason that young people are out committing crime is because home is not a safe place to be, he said late last week.

Locking them up was not a solution because, in the long term, teenagers that had been in jail instead of school ended up on a path of crime which, ultimately, made the community less safe, Murphy said.

During a budget estimates hearing in February, the premier was grilled by the opposition over what Labor was doing to reduce regional youth crime. Minns pointed to a police force boost and the fact remand figures had increased under his government.

Minns, during budget estimates, also said the government had increased youth engagement to tackle the issue, and he flagged a new bail accommodation centre for alleged young offenders, which was expected to open in Moree in June.

Were in a situation where we have to provide both safety and rehabilitation for young people in NSW, he said.

But former magistrate David Heilpern told Guardian Australia success should be measured by whether or not youth crime rates had been reduced not how many young people were in custody.

According to Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research crime statistics for 2024, youth crime remained steady, with a slight uptick in shoplifting offences. A number of regional communities say violent break-ins and car thefts by young people are ongoing.

We cant arrest our way out of this problem, and thats precisely what theyre seeking to do, is to simply lock up more young people, and largely more Aboriginal young people, Heilpern said.

We are spiralling into a shock-jock, rightwing-driven response to what is an incredibly complex and societal problem.

Former police administrator Roy Butler, the independent MP for Barwon, which takes in some of the states most disadvantaged communities, recently said that while he supported the laws, they were not a solution. He argued they would not make his community safer in the long-term, as the longer a young person was in contact with the criminal justice system, the more likely they were to continue to reoffend.

There has been previous internal dissent over the youth bail laws policy.

In July 2024, a motion was defeated at the NSW Labor state conference calling for the laws to be repealed. Darcy Byrne, the Labor mayor of the Inner West Council and a vocal critic of the laws, told the conference theres no mandate from this conference for this policy and that advocates and rank and file Labor party members do not support incarcerating more Aboriginal kids.

Two supreme court judges have also criticised the laws in court, with justice Stephen Rothman commenting they defied the principles of equal justice and justice Julia Lonergan suggesting the changes treated childrens freedom in a less favourable way than an adults freedom in exactly the same circumstances.

The NSW attorney general, Michael Daley, told Guardian Australia the laws were carefully calibrated and had been criticised by some for being too strong and by others for not going far enough.

The government is concerned about youth crime and will have more to say about further measures designed to help keep people safe, he said

Minns and his police minister, Yasmin Catley, are also facing mounting calls for an inquiry into whether they misled MPs and the public before controversial hate speech and religious worship bills were rushed through state parliament.
NSW police have conducted an internal investigation into an incident at a Christmas party in western Sydney where it was alleged a number of guests were off-duty officers. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

A NSW police internal investigation has found that off-duty officers who allegedly shouted Allahu Akbar boom and Hezbollah at a Christmas party after a verbal dispute with a Muslim man who lived next door were indulging in banter between friends.

The incident allegedly took place on 13 December at Glenmore Park in western Sydney, after the man complained to his neighbours about water from their swimming pool leaking into his property.

In CCTV footage viewed by Guardian Australia, people at the party can be heard shouting Allahu Akbar and Allahu Akbar boom. More than an hour later, a number of voices chant Allahu Akbar in unison, followed by laughter, and a call of Hezbollah, followed by laughter.

The party guests who shouted the words cannot be seen in the footage.

It is understood at least nine men and women were at the party. The Muslim man was unable to confirm whether the property owner was among those shouting. He said he believed a number of the guests were police officers.

The man filed a complaint to NSW police on 15 January, documents seen by Guardian Australia show. He then attended an interview at Nepean police station on 2 February.

He told officers he was asking  [the party guests] to take it easy as they were flooding my place, instead they decided to racially insult us because we are Muslims.

A police inspector who dealt with the complaint emailed his findings to the man on 28 February.

What I can say from the outset, which is extremely positive, is that the chanting you heard was not directed at you in any way. I can definitely understand how you came to this conclusion, the inspector wrote.

I can assure you that the behaviour that you heard and captured on your devices was not directed at you in any way. Each of the Directed Officers indicated that the yelling and chanting that you heard was banter between friends at a private Christmas Party and definitely not aimed at you.

Whilst I can understand that you concluded something significantly different to that, I can assure you that the evidence that I have gathered does not support that conclusion and I would hope that this allays your concerns and fear of anything more sinister occurring on that date. There is no threat to your safety and welfare that I can establish from this investigation.

Correspondence shows the man then asked for the matter to be escalated, and a police region office on Tuesday agreed with the findings of the original investigating officer.

NSW police told Guardian Australia that the matter was now under review after the complainant made further representations. They declined to comment further during the review process.

The man told Guardian Australia the shouting made him and his family feel unsafe and that he now questioned whether he could trust the police.

Were they saying Im a suicide bomber or were they threatening me with a bomb? he said.

If I said what they said, theyd jump over the fence and arrest me, the man said.

The neighbours have had a history of disputes, documents show.

Complaints about water flowing on to the Muslim mans property led to a claim of private nuisance against the neighbouring propertys former owners, with a supreme court judge last year finding in the mans favour.

The man said the dispute remained unresolved after the current owners of the neighbouring property moved in.
Sir Keir Starmer will host further talks on a peacekeeping force for Ukraine on Saturday after warning Vladimir Putin not to play games with a proposed ceasefire.

The Prime Minister is expected to hold a video call with as many as 25 potential members of the coalition of the willing, nations that could take part in any peacekeeping operation.

After speaking to French president Emmanuel Macron and Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Store on Friday afternoon, Sir Keir warned: We cant allow President Putin to play games with President Trumps deal.

The Kremlins complete disregard for President Trumps ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace.

Saturdays call comes as Russia continues to resist proposals for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire put forward by Ukraine and the US earlier in the week.

Donald Trump claimed he was getting pretty good vibes from Russia, despite Vladimir Putins resistance to an unconditional ceasefire (Pool/AP)

While Mr Putin has described the principle of a ceasefire as correct, he has insisted that it must come with a promise from Ukraine to abandon attempts to join Nato and give up control of regions seized by Russia.

Sir Keir added: Putin is trying to delay, saying there must be a painstaking study before a ceasefire can take place, but the world needs to see action, not a study or empty words and pointless conditions.

My message to the Kremlin could not be clearer: stop the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, and agree to a ceasefire now. Until then we will keep working around the clock to deliver peace.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump claimed he was getting pretty good vibes from Russia on the prospect of a ceasefire.

Mr Trump told the Full Measure television programme: I think (Putins) going to agree. I really do. I think I know him pretty well and I think hes going to agree.

In remarks on Friday, he also said he had asked Moscow not to kill Ukrainian soldiers that both he and Mr Putin have claimed are surrounded in Russias Kursk region.

The Ukrainian armed forces have firmly denied that their troops have been encircled in Kursk, where Kyiv staged an incursion last year in a bid to secure a bargaining chip for possible talks and change the dynamic of the conflict.

During Saturdays call, leaders will receive updates from countries on the aid they could provide towards enforcing the peace.

But it remains unclear whether Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni will attend, with an MP from her Brothers of Italy party telling Radio 4s Today programme on Saturday morning it was too early to talk about sending peacekeepers.

Giangiacomo Calovini said: Absolutely we are not against sending Italian troops to help a population, but I think at this moment probably there are no troops that are able to solve the problem in Ukraine.

We can only send troops if there is a clear UN mandate and for now, this is impossible.

A UN mandate appears unlikely to be forthcoming as Russia could veto any proposal as a permanent member of the Security Council.

The virtual gathering follows a week in which a diplomatic blitz saw Ukraine agree to the USs peace plan, and US officials flew to Moscow in an effort to persuade the Kremlin to lay down arms.

G7 allies are united in calling for a ceasefire with no conditions to halt the fighting in Ukraine, Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said, in a bid to pile pressure on the Putin regime.

However, while a joint statement by G7 foreign ministers on Friday reaffirmed support for Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, and emphasised the need for security guarantees, it stopped short of condemning Russias invasion or attributing acts of aggression to Moscow.
Donald Trump has maintained a notably warm stance towards the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Composite: The Guardian/Getty Images

In a speech that ran for 100 minutes there was one moment when Donald Trump drew more applause from Democrats than Republicans. As the president told Congress last week how the US had sent billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine, his political opponents clapped and unfurled a Ukrainian flag  while his own party sat in stony silence.

It was a telling insight into Republicans transformation, in the space of a generation, from a party of cold war hawks to one of America first isolationists. Where Trump has led, many Republicans have obediently followed, all the way into the embrace of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin  with huge implications for the global democratic order.

The reversal is dramatic and the willingness of the Republican party to go along with it continues to be breathtaking, said Charlie Sykes, a political commentator and author of How the Right Lost Its Mind. At least for a while it appeared that Republicans were still going to be supportive of Ukraine. But now that Trump has completely reversed our foreign policy there seems to be very little pushback.

Last month, Trump set up a peace process that began with the US and Russias top diplomats meeting in Saudi Arabia  with no seat at the table for Ukrainian officials. He branded Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a dictator, a term he has never applied to the authoritarian Putin.

Along with Vice-President JD Vance, he berated Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, a spectacle that prompted the Democratic senator Elissa Slotkin to observe that Ronald Reagan, a Republican president who was an inveterate foe of Soviet aggression, must be rolling over in his grave. Trump suspended offensive cyber operations against Russia and paused military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine until it agreed to a 30-day ceasefire.

The Oval Office shakedown shocked the world but there was strikingly little criticism from Republicans. The secretary of state, Marco Rubio, sank into a couch and said nothing as the shouting raged around him. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who had previously been supportive of Zelenskyy, even suggested that the Ukrainian president should resign.

Speaking at a Center for American Progress thinktank event in Washington this week, Patrick Gaspard, a former Obama administration official, said: What you fundamentally believe matters little if youre acting against those beliefs.

Absent Trump, I dont think you would see this reorientation of the Republican party Max Boot

It was astonishing to see Republican leaders who on a Monday were praising Zelenskyy and by the Tuesday were removing any reference to him from their websites. Its an extraordinary thing to see people who used to be pretty serious on this issue, like Lindsey Graham, suddenly saying the things.

Meanwhile, other Russia hawks such as the former vice-president Mike Pence, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger have been sidelined. Republicans who were not shy about countering Trumps foreign policy ideas during his first term are now standing by him  in public at least.

Max Boot, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations thinktank and author of Reagan: His Life and Legend, said: Absent Trump, I dont think you would see this reorientation of the Republican party. Even with Trump a lot of Republicans, especially on Capitol Hill, are very uneasy about it and dont like what Trump is doing but theyre afraid to speak out.

Others suggest that loyalty to or fear of Trump may not be the only explanation. Younger Republicans are questioning the legitimacy of institutions such as Nato and the United Nations and following far-right influencers such as Tucker Carlson, who interviewed Putin in Russia last year and claimed that Moscow was so much nicer than any city in my country.

Critics say Trump, Carlson and the Make America great again movement see in Russia an idealised version of white Christian nationalism, in contrast to the woke values of western Europe. Putin has mocked the US embassy for flying a rainbow flag and suggested that transgenderism is on the verge of a crime against humanity.

From this perspective, the struggle is no longer capitalism against communism but rather woke against unwoke. In various speeches Putin has railed against the wests obsessive emphasis on race, modern cancel culture and reverse racism. He said of the west: They invented five or six genders: transformers, trans  you see, I do not even understand what it is.

Lets make it real American tangible. Russia is a red state and France and England and Nato  theyre blue states Joel Rubin

All are familiar talking points from the Maga playbook. Indeed, last year, on the rightwing strategist Steven Bannons War Room podcast, the Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said: Lets talk about what this really is, Steve: this is a war against Christianity. The Ukrainian government is attacking Christians; the Ukrainian government is executing priests. Russia is not doing that; theyre not attacking Christianity. As a matter of fact, they seem to be protecting it.

Bannon has made no secret of his desire to bring down the European Union and globalist forces. Joel Rubin, a former deputy assistant secretary of state under Barack Obama, draws a comparison with conservative red states and liberal blue states within the US. Lets make it real American tangible, he said. Russia is a red state and France and England and Nato  theyre blue states.

During the cold war, it was hardline anti-communism that was core to the Republican brand. Reagan branded the Soviet Union as the evil empire and stepped up US military spending. But when Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union in 1985, relations improved.

Reagan and Gorbachev held several summits that led to key arms control agreements. Reagans successor, George HW Bush, worked closely with Gorbachev and, later, Boris Yeltsin as the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, encouraging a transition to democracy and capitalism.

Early in Republican George W Bushs presidency, he had a relatively positive relationship with Putin, memorably saying he had looked into Putins soul and found him trustworthy. The two cooperated on counter-terrorism following the 9/11 attacks but tensions grew over the Iraq war and US support for Georgia and Ukraine.

By 2008, when Russia invaded Georgia, relations had significantly deteriorated. Obama, a Democrat, initially pursued a reset policy with Russia, aiming to improve relations, but tensions resurfaced after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and supported separatists in eastern Ukraine. In response, Obama imposed sanctions on Russia and expelled diplomats.

Russia launched an aggressive effort to interfere in the 2016 presidential election on Trumps behalf, according to a later Senate intelligence committee report, which found extensive evidence of contacts between the Trump campaign advisers and Kremlin officials and other Russians.

I push back against the idea that Republicans have become entranced with Putin because theres not evidence for that Henry Olsen

Trump vehemently denied collusion even as his administration imposed sanctions on Russia. At a joint press conference in Helsinki in 2018, Trump sided with the Russian president over his own intelligence agencies. He has remained unwilling to criticise Putin, even after Russia invaded Ukraine and after the opposition activist Alexei Navalny died in prison.

The Putin-isation of the Republican party should perhaps not be overstated. Older senators such as Mitch McConnell, who is retiring at the next election, Thom Tillis and Roger Wicker remain staunchly supportive of Ukraine.

Henry Olsen, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center thinktank in Washington, said: I push back against the idea that Republicans have become entranced with Putin because theres not evidence for that. There is evidence that Republicans have become tired of the fight in Ukraine. These things are not the same.

However, the balance appears to be shifting as the cold war fades into memory. About 41% of Republicans view Russia as either friendly or an ally, according to a CBS News/YouGov poll released earlier this month. And just 27% of Republicans agree with the statement that Trump is too close to Moscow, according to a Reuters/Ipsos survey.

Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives armed services committee, told the Guardian of the Make American great again movement: They have definitely shown a sympathy for Vladimir Putins autocratic, traditional values, which are very troubling if you care about the problems of bigotry and discrimination. There is growing sympathy and the wing of the Republican party thats against that is getting weaker while the other wing is getting stronger.

He added: They believe that theyre going to promote traditional values and they see Putin as an ideological ally in that. I still think it is a minority within the Republican party but Trumps the president. Hes the leader of that party and theyre adhering to him. Trump has an enormous amount of sympathy for that worldview and more and more of them are drifting in that direction.

Bill Galston, a former policy adviser to Bill Clinton, said: The Republican party during the cold war was anti-communist and from their standpoint, once communism disappeared, their major motive for opposing Russia did as well.

The fact that Russia is a rightwing autocracy doesnt particularly trouble them. To the extent that Putin has refashioned himself as a traditionalist culture warrior, hes actually making an affirmative appeal to what the Republican party has become.
SUVs have an approximate 57% share of Australias 2024 new car market, a big rise from 2010 when they accounted for just 23% of sales. Illustration: Ben Sanders/The Guardian

When South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas proposed laws in January forcing developers to build bigger garages in homes to address the growing problem of giant cars that are too big for conventional carports crowding suburban streets, debate over the idea quickly shifted to housing.

There were fears that by forcing garages in the state to be built at least half a metre wider and 60cm longer, to accommodate the dual cab ute and SUV-mania that has gripped Australia, it could add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of home construction.

Its absurd that in the middle of a climate crisis, the state government would be forcing developers to build bigger garages. All this will do is entrench South Australias reliance on car travel, said SA Greens transport spokesperson, Robert Simms.

Bigger garage spaces could add tens of thousands of dollars to the costs of a new home in the middle of this housing crisis.

The dilemma has exposed how Australias dramatic shift in vehicle tastes over the past decade toward larger and bulkier vehicles has come with an array of hidden costs which society at large is having to contend with.

People love them, but they have consequences

Beyond requiring more material for their larger chassis and the resulting emissions from production, the negative carbon implications of SUV uptake around the world have alarmed the International Energy Agency, which notes SUVs emit globally about 1bn tonnes of CO2 each year.

SUVs are now the most popular new cars in Australia, with an approximate 57% market share in 2024, while light commercial vehicles  including utes  accounted for 22%. Passenger cars  comprising sedans and hatchbacks  made up just 17% of purchases.

Prof Paul Roberts, the deputy director of the Western Australian Centre for Road Safety Research, says awareness of SUVs emissions flew in the face of economy-wide reduction efforts.

Its kind of bizarre that at a time when were worrying about global warming were seeing an increase in cars with these engines, he says. Theres no political bravery about this.

It would be difficult to punish people for owning them, but we dont have to go that far, we just have to stop rewarding people for choosing these cars, which is what we currently do, Roberts says, noting tax perks for small business are also encouraging take-up.

Meanwhile, a 2023 analysis found that surging SUV ownership meant Australians were needlessly spending an extra $13bn a year to fuel their cars.

Matt Saunders, a senior economist at the Australia Institute who led that analysis, says the $13bn figure had almost certainly risen due to increased fuel costs and continued uptake of SUVs replacing smaller, more efficient vehicles.

Fuel consumption discrepancies are laid bare when comparing the most popular car of 2024, the Ford Ranger dual cab ute, and the most popular passenger car of the same year, the Toyota Corolla hybrid. An average Ranger owner will spend just over $2000 at the bowser this year, compared with a Corolla driver who will pay about $1100, according to government estimates based on the retail cost for enough fuel needed to travel 14,000km, the average annual odometer reading.

The Ranger is also a far worse polluter, on average emitting about 200 grams of CO2 per kilometre travelled (based on the most popular engine variant), compared with the Corollas rate of slightly more than 90 g/km. In urban driving, which involves more stop-start driving at lower speeds, the Rangers emissions and fuel consumption are even poorer, while the Corolla is more efficient.

Over a year, the average Ranger will produce 2.81 tonnes of CO2, while a Corolla travelling the same distance will emit about 1.27 tonnes.

Experts say the lasting legacy of the fuel-guzzling SUVs already purchased in recent years will push against the governments new vehicle efficiency standard and economy-wide efforts to reduce emissions over the next decade as they remain in use on our roads.

These cars have greater running costs, longer-term, that are inevitably passed through the supply chain, Saunders says, suggesting the added cost of driving such vehicles for tradies and sole traders was trickling through to the prices they charge.

Owners of larger cars, with their greater chances of being involved in more collisions  especially more damaging incidents  and more expensive base costs have logically faced higher insurance premiums.

An Insurance Council of Australia spokesperson downplayed the influence that a vehicles size would have on its premiums, but acknowledged the rising average base price of cars and that repairs were becoming increasingly more complex were contributing to high premiums.

Danny Martin, an industry analyst at IBISWorld, says that while larger cars were not the sole factor behind higher premiums, car insurers were acutely aware of studies showing how much more damage SUVs cause to smaller cars and their passengers and were pricing their products accordingly.

While riskier policyholders are identified and get higher premiums, insurers do spread risk across all policyholders, so if theyre taking on riskier policyholders [such as SUV owners] they will raise premiums across the board to protect themselves.

Martin likened it to home insurance in flood-prone areas. Insurers acknowledge some homes are more likely to flood, but they want to still offer cover, so they make up for that likely loss by charging people in less risky zones a little bit more, he says.

Prof Stuart Newstead, the director of Monash Universitys Accident Research Centre, says while larger vehicles are now the most popular among Australians, he does not believe society is aware of their higher road safety risks.

Yes, people love them, but they have consequences. As a country, we have not asked ourselves if this is something we should be encouraging, or maybe [should be] thinking about disincentivising, Newstead says.

Society is wearing all the cost

Malinauskas is not the first to propose larger parking spaces as a solution to car bloat. Standards Australia is simultaneously mulling extending the size of car spaces in off-street parking lots.

The plans have been slammed for their potential to add tens of thousands of dollars to the price of new homes and even more to construction costs of public infrastructure.

Marion Terrill, an independent transport expert, believes such moves would be an insane response, instead suggesting nudges away from larger cars  such as more small car-only parking or higher licence fees, and requiring speciality training qualifications to be able to drive SUVs.

You need to say, yes you can drive that vehicle, but you can pay for its true cost  They are hogging public space, which is something in scarce supply, she says.

Terrill notes the weight of SUVs and dual-cab utes likely does less damage to roads than heavy trucks, but says their presence in urban environments is making cities more congested and dangerous for small cars and pedestrians.

If Im in a little hatchback next to an enormous vehicle, not only can fewer cars fit in the lane, but I cant see past them, so my natural instinct is to slow down, she says.

Fewer cars passing through each change of lights adds up, Terrill says. This is costly to society as people are delayed, time is wasted.

Society is currently wearing all the cost.

Disturbing tax perks

A range of tax perks, mostly aimed at small businesses and strengthened during Covid, have assisted the surging uptake of larger vehicles.

Economists say that while the various incentives were designed to subsidise commercial vehicles for small businesses who needed towing capability above a sedans, wide goalposts for qualification have meant many sole traders who do not traditionally require larger cars  like graphic designers  have been able to take advantage.

In 2024, an Australia Institute analysis found there were at least 1.5 utes registered for every technical or trades worker in Australia. That was under a broad definition for the occupation class that also includes bakers, among other professions.

Additionally, inadequate policing of the rules has meant small business owners and sole traders are buying larger vehicles through the tax concession but using them as their main car for personal and family transport.

The proliferation of commercial vehicles being used as passenger vehicles is quite frankly disturbing, and were just not having the conversation about it, Newstead says.

A boosted threshold to the instant asset write-off scheme and temporary full expensing policy  both of which were ended or shrunk in June 2023  allowed businesses to deduct a cars full cost (routinely above $100,000) in one year, so long as they could carry a payload greater than one tonne.

Separately, heavy vehicles  such as utes, vans and 4WDs which can carry more than a tonne  are exempt from the fringe benefits tax.

Additionally, a luxury car tax exemption for any commercial vehicle that can carry twice the weight in payload than it can carry in people  which almost every dual-cab ute on the market can meet  has subsidised US-style pickup trucks such as the Dodge RAM and Chevrolet Silverado, making them cheaper than some sedans. This exemption is estimated to have cost Australians more than $250m in foregone tax revenue in 2023.

The rise of salary-sacrificing programs for employees that taxes cars at a concessional rate has also contributed to the surge in popularity, Terrill says, adding that Australians are jumping at the chance to upgrade to more expensive cars thanks to the tax perks and other programs.

You can charge more

Crucially, car manufacturers also want to sell more of their larger cars. Automaker profit margins are tightly held secrets, but an industry source told the Guardian that most companies see little return in making smaller vehicles.

While larger cars require more materials and are costlier to produce, there is an even greater increase in how much consumers are willing to pay for SUVs and large utes that can be a work and family vehicle compared with their manufacturing price.

People think there is more value in these cars, so due to that perceived value you can charge more, the source says.

This dynamic is seen in Fords fleet priorities. The companys F150 pickup truck is by far its most lucrative vehicle, with its profits understood to be responsible for about 90% of Fords global profits, funding losses from smaller cars.

In recent years, Ford has pulled out entirely from markets where large cars are not popular, especially in Asia. In the US, it has not sold a four-door sedan since 2019 and has since stopped in Australia too.

Manufacturers arent actually making any profits on sedans, the source says.
The experience, my friend said, felt more like sniffing a Le Labo perfume than eating a piece of fruit. Illustration: Hieronymus Bosch

In Los Angeles, a strawberry  yes, one individual berry  is selling for $19.99. The berries are flown in from Japan, and Erewhon, a luxury grocery store, claims theyre so popular its hard to keep them in stock.

The $20 strawberry, which has been labeled dystopian and a social experiment, went viral after a TikTok influencer filmed herself eating it and saying wow. That video  produced by an influencer who happens to be part of the family that owns Erewhon quickly sparked a slew of copycats: from earnest reviews to parodies and pranks and even an on-camera taste test by ABC news anchors. In one TikTok video, a comedian in a blond wig eats the strawberry while crooning to the poors watching his video: This is something you could never afford  Im going to taste it for you since you never will.

The strawberry  absurdly priced, with what must be a staggering individual carbon footprint  seemed like an example of elite decadence so extreme that it could only be the product of an empire in decline.

When I emailed one prominent scholar of the Roman empire about the strawberry, he referenced Petronius Satyricon, in which the nouveau-riche Trimalchio serves his Roman guests appetizers arranged in the form of zodiac signs, dormice rolled in poppyseeds and a roast boar filled with live birds.

My job as a journalist in this moment was clear: I needed to taste the strawberry myself, and I needed to ask more scholars if the $20 strawberry was a sign of the approaching fall of the American empire.

Luxury fruit

High-end fruit has long been popular in Japan, where prized melons regularly cost hundreds of dollars and occasionally sell for tens of thousands. In 2016, a single bunch of Ruby Roman grapes sold for more than a million yen  about 270 a grape.

Erewhon, the only grocery store to have inspired both a Louis Vuitton perfume and a Balenciaga collection, is not the first to introduce this luxury fruit trend to Americans. Oishii, a company that grows Japanese strawberries in the US, made headlines six years ago for selling a $50 box of strawberries that became trendy with American chefs, who liked to use them as the perfect minimalist end to an ornate omakase meal.

The high-end fruit company Elly Amai said in a statement that its $20 berries require a lot of skill and special techniques to grow and, unlike berries in the US, are meticulously monitored for quality and taste.

The strawberries that dont meet qualifications are not harvested by the farmers, Elly Amai said, describing at least two checkpoints for the perfection of each berry, one in Japan by the farmer, and one when the berries arrive in the US.

Other companies have also stepped up to ship luxury fruit from Japan directly to American consumers. Ikigai Fruits, which launched in 2023, sells pearl white Japanese strawberries that cost $128 a box, and extra-large Bijinhime strawberries that cost $258.

Takeru Saito, a sales assistant at Ikigai Fruits, said the company had been founded in part to provide a boost to Japanese farmers, who have struggled to attract young people interested in taking over jobs that are labor-intensive and comparatively poorly paid. The number of farmers is declining  and its an ageing population as well, Saito said. A government report last year found that 80% of Japanese farmers were over age 60. By selling very-high-quality fruit to an international market, Saito said, more farmers can make money.

In Japan, Saito said, the appeal of luxury fruit is rooted in tradition: fancy produce is a traditional gift for weddings, job promotions and other ceremonial occasions. In the United States, the expensive fruits are more of a novelty. In a statement, Erewhon said that its $20 Elly Amai strawberries are picked at their prime in Japan and hit the shelves at Erewhon within 28 to 48 hours, which it described as faster than broccoli growing in California getting to markets in New York.

Flying the berries to Los Angeles quickly enough to preserve their freshness costs just as much as the fruits, the grocery store said. It did not immediately respond to a question about the strawberries carbon footprint.

Eerily perfect berries

California farmers, who produce 90% of strawberries grown in the US, were selling strawberries in early March for about 10 to 14 cents each, according to estimates based on data from the California Strawberry Commission. That makes Erewhon strawberries flown in from Japan as much as 200 times as expensive as a local berry. Could they be 200 times as delicious?

It took me several days of calling Erewhon store locations to finally find one with the strawberry in stock. On a Thursday, an employee told me the berries might arrive in the early afternoon. I rushed to the store at 1 pm, and was rewarded with the sight of nearly 50 single berries arrayed on a shelf.

Each strawberry rested on an individual pedestal, which resembles a small domed jewel case, or, as one TikToker put it, a stage. An explanatory plaque from Elly Amai promised an explosion of flavor that elevates the ordinary strawberry to extraordinary heights.

I found myself overwhelmed by the task of choosing one strawberry from the crowded shelf. Given the price tag, it felt like less a supermarket purchase than the start of a relationship. Which of these eerily perfect berries was the right one to bring into my life?

The Onion had just published a satirical headline about Erewhon claiming the $19 strawberry was designed to be split, but I took that idea seriously. As a naturally frugal person forced to consume Erewhon products for my job, I decided the $20 strawberry had to be divided between at least three people.

I let the berry reach room temperature, as Elly Amai recommended, and then carefully transported it to a friends house, along with a control group of cheap supermarket strawberries that cost $4.99 for a box of 16.

Examined close up, the contrast between the berries was startling. The $20 strawberry wasnt any bigger than the cheap strawberries, but it looked very different. Its color was a uniform light red, and its skin was glossy. Each pore around each of its seeds looked smooth and firm, as if it had just emerged from a high-end fruit spa.

I had lived in Los Angeles long enough to know that such beauty is not natural: this berry looked as if it had a personal trainer, a facialist and a team of dedicated stylists. The ordinary strawberry, in contrast, looked blotchy, its skin uneven and some of its pores swollen. Its leaves were long and disheveled.

We cut the $20 strawberry into eight slices, like a miniature cake. I popped one slice into my mouth. It was sweet, firm, neither too crunchy nor overripe. This is the platonic strawberry, I admitted.

We tried the ordinary strawberry next, but we might not have bothered: despite its deep red color, it tasted crisp and unripe, without much strawberry essence.

We went back to eating our minuscule slivers of luxury strawberry, and riffing to each other on how to describe the taste. Its kind of like a dog breed  its been cultivated to be perfect over hundreds of generations, my friend said.

The more we ate, the more unsettled we felt: there was something uncanny about the flavor of the $20 strawberry, as if the process of perfecting a natural thing had been pushed past the point of human enjoyment. As my friend noted, it was impossible to taste this perfect strawberry without thinking about the hundreds or thousands of imperfect strawberries that had been discarded along the way.

In the past, we had usually eaten at least a handful of strawberries at a time, and the variations in flavor were part of the experience: one berry was more ripe, one less ripe, one a little squishy, one very sweet. As children, the surprise of each berry was mesmerizing, and even as adults it carried some nostalgic pleasure.

It felt a little sad, in the end, to eat just one strawberry and to know that each bite would be exactly and perfectly the same. The experience, my friend said, felt more like sniffing a Le Labo perfume than eating a piece of fruit.

But what about Rome?

Now that I had tasted the $20 strawberry, I still need to understand whether it was, in fact, a sign of cultural decadence so extreme that it might lead to an empires fall.

I emailed Michael Kulikowski, a Penn State University classics professor. He had good news: the reason many people associated the fall of the Roman empire with cultural decadence, he said, was that most people knew only a few things about Rome, including that it was very decadent, and that it fell. In fact, he said, Romes most famously decadent periods came 300 years earlier than the fall of the western Roman empire, at a time of imperial power, not imperial decline.

Bryan Ward-Perkins, an Oxford historian and the author of The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization, made a similar point: the Satyricon, the great literary testimony to Roman extravagant decadence, was written in the first century AD, when things were going very well.

Unfortunately, Kulikowski said, there were other signs that the American empire might be nearing its fall.

Kulikowski argues that one reason the western Roman empire fell in 476, while the Byzantine, or eastern Roman empire, survived, was because the 1% of the western Roman empire grew so powerful that they did not need a state to function.

They can withhold their taxes. When push comes to shove, they can raise their own private armies, he said. In the eastern Roman empire, in contrast, the aristocracy was weaker, and they still found value in supporting the bureaucracy of the state.

This was bad news for the current American empire: We have reached a very late Roman western state where the 1% does not need the state to survive, Kulikowski said. If the US government stops being able to do much of anything, it stops to matter to them. Thats a real parallel.

The $20 strawberry did not concern him, but the coming effects of Trumps tariffs did: A better sign of the fall of the American empire will be when [in a week or two] a pint of strawberries is $12 at the mid-market supermarket, Kulikowski told me.

As someone who does not think about the Roman empire very often, I found this analysis upsetting. I could only hope that future historians would get it right: whatever came next in the wreckage of empire, the $20 strawberry was not to blame.


The Prince and Princess of Wales will cheer on opposing sides at Saturdays Wales v England Six Nations match.

William is patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), while Kate holds a similar position with the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

Kate, who is patron of the Rugby Football Union, during a visit to Twickenham Stadium to meet England players in 2022 (Yui Mok/PA)

The famously competitive couple have previously joked about supporting different teams during the tournament with William supporting Wales and Kate rooting for England.

The two teams meet in the final round of matches in the competition at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday afternoon.

In 2023, William remarked it would be a tense journey home with his wife after a Six Nations Wales v England match in Cardiff.

Kate is gradually returning to public duties after revealing she is in remission from cancer.

William with Wales Dan Biggar in 2019 during the presentation of the Six Nations trophy (David Davies/PA)

She also has an engagement with the Irish Guards on St Patricks Day in London on Monday.

Before the match, the couple will meet injured players who have been supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust inside the Sir Tasker Watkins Suite  a space dedicated for use by the players and their families ahead of games.

William is patron of the trust, which was set up to help players who have been severely injured while playing rugby in Wales, and their loved ones, inviting them to every Wales home game and hosting an annual family day.
The Book

The Secretary historical spy

Moscow, 1958. At the height of the Cold War, secretary Lois Vale is on a deep-cover MI6 mission to identify a diplomatic traitor. She can trust only one man: Johann, a German journalist also working covertly for the British secret service. As the trail leads to Vienna and the Black Sea, Lois and Johann begin an affair but as love grows, so does the danger to Lois.

A tense Cold War spy story told from the perspective of a bright, young, working-class woman recruited to MI6 at a time when men were in charge of making history and women were expendable.

The Author

Author Deborah Lawrenson

Deborah Lawrenson spent her childhood moving around the world with diplomatic service parents, from Kuwait to China, Belgium, Luxembourg and Singapore. She worked as a journalist in London and has written eight novels.

As a curious, observant child Deborah experienced their subsequent adventures but it was only as an adult that she began to understand the undercurrents and the real meaning of things her enigmatic, deeply private mother told her.

How The book Came to be.

Joy Deborahs Mother Image credit Deborah Lawrenson

Deborah reveals the novel is largely inspired by a diary left behind by author Deborah Lawrenson's late mother who worked for the British Intelligence.

Adding "Authentic and historical details are provided by the 1958 diary kept in Moscow by my Mother who worked for British Intelligence. My parents met that year when they were both working at the British Embassy in Moscow. I grew up with bugged apartments and stormy romance and trailed by the KGB.

Joy's diary image credit Deborah Lawrenson

There is a substantial authors afterword at the end of the novel which explains Deborahs family research in further detail.

RELEASE DATE: 28/02/2025 ISBN: 9781835741436 Price: 9.99

by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk


DronG / iStock

19 Foods Banned Abroad, But Not in America

If "you are what you eat" is true, what does that say about America's eating habits? Numerous popular American dishes are packed with potentially harmful ingredients, leading to bans in other nations. Discover 19 American favorites that have been rejected worldwide.

R.M. Nunes/iStock

1. Froot Loops

Banned in: France, Austria, Norway and Finland

Why it's banned: A glance at Kellogg's Froot Loops' ingredients might explain why the colorful cereals of our childhood are banned in many European countries.

The American breakfast staple is packed with food dyes such as yellow 5 and red 40, which are considered harmful. Many scientific studies link these artificial colors with the inhibition of cell development.

The sugary cereal also contains soybean, cottonseed oil, and hydrogenated coconut  all considered dangerous and banned in the above mentioned countries.

from_my_point_of_view / iStock

2. US chicken

Banned in: European Union

Why it's banned: Chlorine-washed chicken doesn't sound very appetizing, does it?

In the U.S, the chicken is routinely washed in a chlorine solution before it is market ready.

This antimicrobial treatment reduces the possibility of salmonella contamination and other bacteria that can lead to foodborne illness. This is also the main reason the European Union has had a ban on American chicken since 1997.

The EU is not concerned about chlorine consumption per se. Rather, it questions why the chicken must go through deep cleaning in the first place. The EU thinks there should be a "high level of safety throughout the food chain, from farm to fork," not only cleaning the meat heavily at the end of the process to compensate for insufficient hygiene standards earlier.

darios44/iStock

3. Mountain Dew

Banned in: The European Union and Japan

Why it's banned: We all know Mountain Dew is not the healthiest of drinks. But, if you still do the Dew, you might want to know the lemon-lime drink contains Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO).

This food additive banned in Japan and the European Union contains bromine, the element found in flame retardants.

According to CDC, the consumption of bromine can lead to a number of health problems such as headaches, memory loss, and impaired balance and coordination. Its also bad for the skin.

PepsiCo announced in 2014 that the dangerous chemical would be removed from its soft drinks. However, BVO wasn't removed from Mountain Dew's list of ingredients until 2020.

Anon_Pichit / iStock

4. US milk

Banned in: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, and the EU

Why it's banned: Got rBGH? That's what Europe, Canada, and many other countries are asking about milk produced in the United States, where dairy cows are fed with a synthetic man-made growth hormone rBGH to increase milk production.

Developed by the agricultural biotech corporation Monsanto, recombinant bovine growth hormone rBGH, also known as rBST, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1993, allowing companies to produce vast amounts of cheaper milk in awful conditions at factory farms.

As one could imagine, drinking hormone-enriched milk cannot be the healthiest option. Studies have found that cows treated with rBGH produce milk that contains elevated levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IFG-1), which can increase the risk of breast cancer and other cancer types.

Luckily, according to a 2014 report by the USDA, the practice is decreasing as only 9.7 percent of U.S. dairy operations were using rbGH.

Still is highly recommended to stick with organic milk or one that says "does not contain rBGH.

gbh007 / iStock

5. Farmed salmon

Banned in: Austria and New Zealand

Why it's banned: Salmon is a go-to meal for many Americans, who enjoy the meaty flavor and health benefits of the omega-3-packed fish. However, the bad news here is there is a big chance that the salmon you are eating is farmed-raised.





Around two-thirds of salmon eaten by U.S. consumers comes from farms, and the other third is wild-caught. Salmon farming has long been scrutinized by sustainability advocates because of the harsh conditions in which the fish are raised.

Farm-raised salmon are kept in crowded cages and are fed with fed processed fish feed and all kinds of dangerous chemicals like methyl mercury and dioxins. Additionally, the fish are given a lot of antibiotics and other drugs that are not safe for humans to consume.

bhofack2/iStock

6. Maraschino cherries

Banned in: Norway, Finland, France, Austria, the U.K

Why it's banned: It turns out America's favorite cocktail garnish is actually a forbidden fruit in some countries.

Maraschino cherry, the syrupy sweet fruit, was invented during the Prohibition era to garnish virgin cocktails. Actually, the American maraschino cherry is an imitation of a Croatian delicacy made of Marasca cherries.

What the American version of the sweetened cherry has extra is the artificial food dye Red #40 to give that picture-perfect touch. Red #40 is one of the most widely used food dyes, as well as one of the most controversial. The dye is thought to be linked to allergies, migraine, and mental disorders in children.

BirdShutterB/iStock

7. US apples

Banned in: the European Union

Why it's banned: While apples are supposed to keep the doctor away, that's not exactly the case for those produced in the U.S.

American apples are treated with diphenylamine (DPA), a potentially carcinogenic compound used to keep the fruit from turning brown. It's this chemical that gives the apples you see in the supermarket that glow.

European food safety regulators banned the fruit in 2014 because the chemicals have been linked to various cancers.

Now, how do you like them apples?

memoriesarecaptured/iStock

8. Little Debbie Swiss Rolls

Banned in: Norway and Austria

Why it's banned: Little Debbie's smiling face isn't welcome in some countries, as the tasty snack contains food dyes that are a big no-no.

Little Debbie's Swiss Rolls contain artificial food color dyes yellow 5 and red 40, which are considered to be carcinogenic.

The European Union requires products with these dyes to include warning labels saying "the coloring agents may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children." But come, countries like Norway and Austria just outright banned the snack.

In the United States, no such warning is required.

laartist/iStock

9. US breakfast cereal brands

Banned in: Japan, the European Union

Why it's banned: Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but not if you are having cereals like Rice Krispies, Honey Bunches of Oats and Frosted Flakes.

These breakfast cereals brands contain Butylated hydroxytoluene, or BHT, a lab-made flavor enhancer that has carcinogenic properties. It's banned in Japan and the European Union.

A number of processed foods, such as chewing gum and frozen foods, contain this preservative.

YelenaYemchuk / iStock

9. Instant mashed potatoes

Banned in: the Europe Union, Japan, Australia

Why it's banned: This one is easy. It's mashed potatoes in a box. Of course, there is something off.

Instant Mashed Potatoes like Hungry Jack come with a side of Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA). This preservative is also found in rubber and wax food packaging. So, it's definitely not something you would want in your body.

Although it's widely used in the U.S., it's banned in Japan, Australia, and the European Union, because it has been linked with cancer.

sergeyryzhov/iStock

10. US prepackaged ground beef

Banned in: the European Union

Why it's banned: Pink slime is definitely not something you want in your burger. Yet, there is a good chance that the prepackaged ground beef you bought for your next barbecue contains pink slime.

According to an ABC News expose from 2012, around 70% of ground beef sold in U.S. supermarkets contained pink slime - a meat by-product used as a filler in ground beef to reduce fat content.

If you are wondering "whats the beef?" with pink slime, it is prepared with ammonia gas, an anti-microbial agent which is dangerous for consumption.

The FDA approved the pink goo for human consumption in the U.S. back in 2001.

Thatphichai Yodsri/iStock

11. Ritz Crackers

Banned in: Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Iceland, Norway and Denmark.

Why it's banned: Ritz crackers are a must-have for any cheese board, right? Well, in Europe, youll have to look for a different brand as the salty snack is nowhere to be found.

Apparently, Ritz crackers contain high levels of sodiumhydrogenated cottonseed oil, a trans fat associated with cardiovascular diseases.

The FDA has actually deemed these types of oils to be "not generally recognized as safe," but certain loopholes allow them to continue to be used in products.

bhofack2 / iStock

12. US pork

Banned in: the European Union, Russia, and China

Why it's banned: If you were wondering why pigs in the U.S. are much bigger than those in the rest of the world, ractopamine is your answer.

American pigs are given ractopamine, an animal feed additive used to speed up weight gain and increase carcass leanness in finishing swine.

The additive is linked to major health issues both in animals and humans, explaining why it is banned in more than 160 countries.

Next time you are craving some pork chops, opt for organic meat.

littleny/iStock

13. Coffee-mate

Banned in: Austria, Hungary, and multiple Scandinavian countries,

Why it's banned: Shelf-stable coffee creamer that can make your coffee taste like vanilla or caramel maybe sounds perfect, but dont expect to find it in Europe.

Creamers like Coffee Mate are generally made from sugar, stabilizers and bunch of flavorings. However, what makes the product a big no-no in several European countries are hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oils found in this non-dairy product

Hydrogenated oils are packed with trans fats. Many studies have shown that trans fat is the worst type of fat because it raises bad cholesterol and lowers good cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, heart attack, and stroke.

So, take your coffee black next time.

jfmdesign/iStock

14. Drumstick ice cream

Banned in: the European Union

Why it's banned: Don't expect to find Nestle's drumstick ice cream anywhere in Europe. The product has been banned for containing a sneaky ingredient within its cone, and it's not extra chocolate filling.

The famous ice cream treat contains carrageenan, a seaweed-derived thickening agent used to extend the shelf life of consumer products.

This food additive has been linked with inflammation and possibly cancer.

Angela Watts / istockphoto

15. Skittles

Banned in: Norway and the European Union

Why it's banned: Many of us grew up eating Skittles. But we didn't know that while tasting the rainbow we were also eating food dyes and other harmful additives.

Artificial colors yellow 5 and yellow 6 are among the listed ingredients of the childhood-favorite snack. These food dyes are often linked with hyperactivity in children and allergic reactions. On top of the food dyes, the colorful candy contains another iffy ingredient that has led to its ban in the European Union in 2022.

Titanium dioxide is an additive used in consumer products to enhance opacity and brightness. The International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC classified titanium dioxide as possibly carcinogenic to humans after studies showed the substance caused more lung tumors in rats.

As a result, Europeans from now on will be tasting the duller-hued rainbow of Smarties.

kwanchaichaiudom/ istockphoto

16. Hawaiian papaya

Banned in: the European union

Why it's banned: Hawaiian Papaya was genetically engineered to resist the ringspot virus, which destroyed U.S. crops in the 1990s.

Although there are many debates about whether or not genetically engineered produce is safe, the European Union isn't taking any chances, making genetically engineered papaya a forbidden fruit.

knowlesgallery/iStock

17. Twinkies

Banned in:  Norway, Finland, and Austria.

Why it's banned: This one is not a shocker as, well. This ultra-processed sponge cake contains yellow 5 coloring to give it its distinctive golden hue.

Yellow 5 coloring has been linked to allergic reactions such as hives, itching, coughing, and vomiting.

Food dyes that contain these dyes are required to carry warning labels in the EU, but countries such as Finland, Norway, and Austria have decided not to take that risk.

Melissa Kopka/iStock

18. Arby's sourdough breakfast bread, croissant, and French toast sticks

Banned in: India, the UK, the European Union

Why it's banned: A tasty Arby's roast beef has tempted even those with the strongest willpower. Traveling abroad, however, will not require willpower, as many countries have banned the savory sandwiches.

Arby's American-style bread is banned in some countries because of a toxic ingredient the fast food chain uses in its baked goods.

Azodicarbonamide, or ACA is a whitening agent that forms bubbles in foam or vinyl, to lighten and leaven the dough.

Despite concerns that it's a carcinogen, the FDA still permits its use in the U.S.

Depositphotos.com

19. Stove Top stuffing

Banned in: the United Kingdom, Japan, and several European countries.

Why it's banned: Kraft Stove Top stuffing is a go-to choice for a quick weeknight dinner. But, the problem is the stuffing contains a combination of beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).

Both preservatives are suspected to be carcinogenic and impair blood clotting.

Thats why the product is banned in the United Kingdom, Japan and some European countries.

This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.
U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security

(The Center Square)  U.S. Rep. Riley Moore, R-WV, filed a bill on Friday to ban Chinese nationals from receiving student visas.

Every year we allow nearly 300,000 Chinese nationals to come to the U.S. on student visas. Weve literally invited the CCP to spy on our military, steal our intellectual property, and threaten national security. Just last year, the FBI charged five Chinese nationals here on student visas after they were caught photographing joint US-Taiwan live fire military exercises. This cannot continue, he said.

Moores Stop Chinese Communist Prying by Vindicating Intellectual Safeguards in Academia Act (Stop CCP VISAs Act) has several cosponsors. The bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the admission of Chinese nationals as nonimmigrant students, according to the bill language.

He points to the FBI last year charging five Chinese nationals who were in the U.S. on student visas at the University of Michigan after they were caught photographing joint US-Taiwan live fire military exercises at Camp Grayling in August 2023 claiming they were members of the media.

He also points to a Chinese student attending the University of Minnesota who was sentenced to six months in prison last October for taking drone photographs of naval shipbuilding operations at Newport News Shipbuilding in Norfolk, Virginia. Moore also points to a former Illinois Institute of Technology graduate who was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2023 for spying for the Chinese government, acting as an agent of Chinas Ministry of State Security and making a material false statement to the U.S. Army when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Congress needs to end Chinas exploitation of our student visa program. Its time we turn off the spigot and immediately ban all student visas going to Chinese nationals, he said.

These are but a handful of examples. More than 60 Chinese Communist Party-related cases of espionage and acts of transnational repression were reported in 20 states under the Biden administration, according to a U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security report, The Center Square reported. Thats in addition to 224 reported incidents of Chinese espionage directed at the U.S. between 2000 and 2023, according to the report. Examples include transmission of sensitive military information to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), theft of U.S. trade secrets to benefit the PRC, transnational repression schemes to target PRC dissidents and obstruction of justice.

Other examples include a Department of Justice case from last December involving a Chinese national and lawful permanent resident of California who was arrested for flying a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base and taking photographs. He was arrested for violating national defense airspace prior to boarding a flight to China.

Another DOJ case related to a Chinese national illegally living in the U.S. who was arrested for allegedly shipping weapons and ammunition to North Korea, The Center Square reported.

Another involved a PRC spy arrested in California who worked for a state lawmaker and Chinese operatives arrested in Guam near a U.S. military installation on the same day as a live ballistic missile interception test, The Center Square reported.

Outgoing FBI Director Christopher Wrays parting warning to Americans was that China remains one of the greatest threats to U.S. national security, a warning he consistently issued.

The greatest long-term threat facing our country, in my view, is represented by the Peoples Republic of China, the Chinese government, which I consider to be the defining threat of our generation, he said, The Center Square reported.

The DOJ says it opens new cases to counter PRC intelligence operations roughly every 12 hours. Of the espionage cases it's prosecuted since 2018, it says 80% allege the PRC would benefit; 60% of trade secret theft cases are linked to China.

It also lists examples of indictments of Chinese nationals conspiring to and committing economic espionage and theft of trade secrets going back to 2018 under the Trump administration.

PRC threats increased as the greatest number of Chinese nationals illegally entered the U.S. in recorded history under the Biden administration  more than 176,000 nationwide, The Center Square first reported.
K-9 bomb sniffer dog units have become the latest victims of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, just as the White House celebrated a national day honoring the heroic animals.

Workers at the TSA were informed via email that new guidance meant that requests for costs including vet visits, kenneling and dog food, had been put on hold effective immediately, according to Fox News. The directive was revealed on Thursday. TSA is in charge of airport security and its dogs can be used to sniff out bombs and other contraband.

The developments comes hours after President Donald Trump reposted a picture of himself with a now-deceased dog to mark National K-9 Veterans Day. The president shared a picture of himself with Conan.

Happy K9 Veterans Day to all of our heroic working dogs, including Conan who fearlessly participated in the military operation that ended ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019, the president wrote.

Donald Trump poses with veteran K-9 officer Conan, who passed away in 2023. Trump reposted the picture hours before it was revealed that DOGE cut bomb-sniffing dog services (The White House/ X)

According to the White House, Conan died in 2023. After his retirement, he was adopted by his former handler and passed away after many years of pleasant walks and peaceful naps.

Dogs are not only mans best friend, offering companionship and loyalty, but also guardians, instinctively protecting their loved ones with unwavering devotion, a White House press release read on Thursday.

DOGE cuts at TSA hit Canine (K-9) bomb sniffing units as the White House celebrates K9 Veterans Day. From TSA/Security Operations National Explosives Detection

Canine Team Program: vet visits, kenneling and dog food put on hold effective immediately. https://t.co/kak6vN2fJ1 pic.twitter.com/4rriHBK5yW  Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) March 13, 2025

On National K-9 Veterans Day, the First Lady and I join our Nation in honoring the dedicated service of those working dogs serving alongside our military and law enforcement to defend our citizens and our Homeland.

The Independent has requested comment from the White House about the reported cuts to the TSA and K-9 services.

Over 30,000 dogs have served in the U.S. Military since it began employing them in 1942, with more than 1,600 currently active.

Over 30,000 dogs have served in the U.S. Military since it began employing them in 1942, with more than 1,600 currently active (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The dogs are specially trained to detect explosives, drugs and other contraband, as well as participating in search-and-rescue operations with their keen sense of smell. Many also serve on the front lines, in combat zones and on the U.S. border.

The release also mentioned other dead dogs, including Hurricane, who took down a White House intruder; Cairo, a member of the U.S. Navys SEAL Team Six, who participated in the raid on Osama bin Laden; and Rex, a bomb detection dog who worked in Iraq.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., conducts a news conference in the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., on Jan. 21, 2025 Credit - Tom WilliamsCQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

In a dramatic break with much of their party, ten Senate Democrats voted alongside Republicans on Friday to pass a six-month funding bill, averting a government shutdown with just hours to spare. The move defied a majority of the chamber's Democrats who opposed the measure, underscoring deep divisions over how to confront President Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress.

Ahead of the vote, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada were among the first Democrats to publicly back the Republican funding bill, arguing that a shutdown would only strengthen Trumps hand. They were joined by six more DemocratsDick Durbin of Illinois, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Gary Peters of Michigan, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshireas well as Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with Democrats.

This was not an easy decision, Cortez Masto, who represents a state that Trump carried last year, said in a statement. Im outraged by the reckless actions of President Trump, Elon Musk, and Republicans in control of Congress, so I refuse to hand them a shutdown where they would have free rein to cause more chaos and harm.

For many Democrats, the bill was more than just an unfavorable spending deal; it was a moment to push back against what they see as the Trump Administrations creeping executive overreach. The legislation stripped away numerous funding directives, giving Trump the power to reallocate money as he saw fit without fear of judicial intervention.

Read more: In Averting a Shutdown, Schumer Ignites a Rebellion

The spending measure, which passed the House earlier in the week, was presented to the Senate as a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. The vote in the Senate was 62-38, with 37 Democrats opposing the bill along with Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who wanted the measure to codify Trumps cuts to foreign aid.

Schumers decision to support the bill marked a turn from earlier in the week when he sought a 30-day extension to negotiate a bipartisan compromise. His pivot drew sharp criticism from House Democrats, who had largely united against the measure. At a retreat in Leesburg, Va. Thursday night, they made urgent appeals to their Senate counterparts, with lawmakers texting and calling senators throughout the day. I think there is a deep sense of outrage and betrayal, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York told reporters at the retreat. And this is not just about progressive Democrats. This is across the board. The entire party.

Prior to the vote, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democratic appropriator, published a list of examples of programs that the measure could allow Trump to change, such as diverting resources from combating fentanyl to funding mass deportation efforts and giving him more authority to pick which health-care or mental health programs to implement.

Adding to the opposition was the bills treatment of Washington, D.C., which would have been forced to roll back its budget to the prior years levels, requiring $1.1 billion in cuts. Schumer said immediately prior to the vote that he had negotiated a deal with Senate Republicans to pass a D.C. funding fixbut the measure would still need to pass the House, which is on recess.

The political implications of voting with Republicans are uncertain, but the vote ensured that the government would remain funded through September, averting furloughs for federal workers and disruptions to key services.

However, the anger within the Democratic caucus is likely to linger, and could spell trouble for Schumer, who has led Senate Democrats since 2017. While no Senator has publicly called for his ouster, murmurs of discontent have grown louder, particularly among progressives who feel he has conceded too much ground to Republicans.

Here are the nine Democrats, and one independent, who helped avoid a shutdown:

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)

The Senate Minority Leader, who has been the chambers top Democrat since 2017, sent shockwaves when he announced he would back the Republican spending bill on Thursday evening.

"While the [continuing resolution] bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse, Schumer said on the Senate floor in announcing his decision.

He argued that a shutdown would allow Trump and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to accelerate efforts to dismantle federal agencies. A shutdown will allow DOGE to shift into overdrive, he warned on Friday. Donald Trump and Elon Musk would be free to destroy vital government services at a much faster rate.

While Schumer framed his support as a necessary step to prevent Republicans from exploiting a shutdown, many in his party saw it as a surrender. His vote, combined with his leadership in pushing the bill forward, has fueled speculation about whether his position atop the Democratic Senate caucus remains tenable. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, when asked on Friday whether Schumer had acquiesced to Trump, Jeffries sidestepped the question: Thats a question that is best addressed by the Senate. Asked if the Senate needed new Democratic leadership following Schumers move, Jeffries replied: Next question.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.)

Cortez Masto, who represents a state that Trump carried last year, emphasized that her decision to support the bill was not taken lightly. She cited concerns that a shutdown would provide Trump and his allies with more opportunities to erode federal institutions.

A government shutdown would be devastating for the American people, she said in a statement, arguing that it would force thousands of Nevadans to work without pay and delay the courts which are weighing lawsuits against the Trump Administration. The last government shutdown cost the American economy $11 billion and thousands of hardworking Americans were harmed. I cannot vote for that, she said.

As one of the more moderate Democrats in the Senate, Cortez Masto has often navigated a fine line between party unity and the political realities in Nevada, where she was narrowly re-elected to a six-year term in 2022. In voting for the bill, she broke with fellow Democratic Senator from Nevada, Jack Rosen, who voted against it. The pair rarely split on issues.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)

Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, had not publicly shared how he would vote for the Republican spending bill before he walked onto the Senate floor. Ultimately, he voted for it.

In siding with Republicans and nine other Democrats, Durbin broke with fellow Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who said she was a hell no on the bill.

In a statement posted to X, Durbin said: There is very little about this CR that I likebut there is even less I like about shutting down the government. He added that he was disappointed that Republicans would not work with his party to pass a 30-day stopgap measure that would have given Congress more time to reach a bipartisan agreement.

Durbin, who is 80, has served in the Senate since 1997 and is widely expected to retire soon.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.)

Fetterman, who represents a state Trump won in both 2016 and 2024, has been an outspoken critic of his partys political messaging in recent months. He was the first Democratic Senator to announce his support of the Republican spending bill, arguing that a shutdown would have given Republicans the power to dictate the terms of reopening the government.

You dont start wars unless you have an exit plan. We had no exit plan, Fetterman said. That would give [Republicans] the absolute, absolute ability to decide, on their terms, how to reopen it after we shut it down, just to respond to our highly agitated left part of our party.

Fetterman, who was elected to a six-year term in 2022, has consistently positioned himself as willing to buck Democratic orthodoxy when he believes it serves working-class voters. His decision to back the bill fits within his broader critique of Democratic messaging, which he has repeatedly argued fails to resonate with key voting blocs.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)

Gillibrand, who chairs the Senate Democratic campaign arm, joined her fellow New York Senator in backing the bill. While Schumers support carried the weight of party leadership, Gillibrands vote signaled that even some Democrats focused on electoral strategy saw avoiding a shutdown as the better political option.

Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.)

Hassan, a former governor, was once considered a vulnerable Democrat given her narrow win in 2016. Her lead in 2022, when she was re-elected to a second six-year term, was less narrow. But New Hampshire remains a competitive state for both parties. Last year, voters there backed Democrats for Congress and Kamala Harris for President, but also elected a Republican governor and expanded Republican majorities in the state legislature.

Both Hassan, and New Hampshires other Senator, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, voted for the Republican spending bill.

Sen. Angus King (I-Maine)

King, a Maine Independent who caucuses with Democrats, referred to the vote as two really bad choices in a video posted to X. He added that he voted for the spending bill because a shutdown would open the door to unprecedented, lasting damage.

While Maine is far from a swing state, it shifted slightly to the right in the previous presidential election. King, 80, is a particularly popular figure within the state; he has served in the Senate since 2013 and was a two-term Governor before that. King won a third six-year term in the Senate in November.

The problem is with a shutdown, the President and Elon Musk and the OMB have almost unfettered discretion about what happens, King said. Who's essential, who's not essential, what agencies can get to work, which ones don't. And in my view, and in the view of many of my colleagues, this is a significantly greater danger to the country than the continuing resolution with all of its faults.

Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.)

Another Senator from a state Trump won in 2024, Peters defended his decision to vote for the Republican spending bill: I believe Congress must do its most basic job to keep the lights on, he said in a statement.

When the first Trump Administration shut down the government, they repeatedly broke the law, he added. This time, they would take it even further.

Michigans other Democratic senator, Elissa Slotkin, voted against the bill. Their conflicting votes highlight the difficult balancing act for Democrats in battleground states, where political calculations often involve not just party loyalty, but also the concerns of a divided electorate.

Earlier this year, Peters announced he would not run for re-election when his current term ended in 2026.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)

In a statement, Schatz called his vote a difficult and close call but said he ultimately made the determination that a flawed bill was better than no bill at all.

I understand peoples frustration  I share it, he said. But Trump and the Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, presented us with a bad choice and a worse choice. Both would produce terrible outcomes, but a shutdown would be more devastating for everyone.

Referencing the opposition to his vote from progressives, he added that Democrats cant let disagreements about strategy and tactics divide us. Schatz has served in the Senate since Dec. 2012, easily winning re-election to a second full term in 2022.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)

Shaheen, who announced earlier this week that she will not run for re-election in 2026, said in a statement that a government shutdown would have hurt Granite Staters and enabled President Trump and Elon Musk to do more harm.

She said she hoped Congress would stop relying on never-ending continuing resolutions like the one passed today, which she warned would only increase instability in government operations. A continuing resolution, also known as a CR, is a temporary funding measure that allows the federal government to keep operating at current spending levels when Congress fails to pass a full appropriations billa common theme in recent years.

Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com.
As the name would suggest, Suits LA is bringing the style of Los Angeles to every piece of wardrobe that appears on the screen. So, that may have prompted many viewers to ask how they can dress with all the class, luxury and swagger of the well-dressed characters on Suits LA?

Luckily, Boss has you covered. Thanks to a partnership with NBC, you have the opportunity to shop looks inspired by some of the most powerful lawyers in the City of Angels has to offer. Theyve also got a chance for a lucky winner and their guest to dress to impress on the very set of Suits LA where this wardrobe gets put into action. So if you find yourself watching episodes of the hit drama series and cant stop thinking about dressing the way they do, heres everything you need to know.

The Suits on Suits LA

Rick Dodson (Bryan Greenberg) sits at a desk in a blue suit on Suits LA Episode 101.

According to Jolie Andreatta, the costume designer on the show (she also worked on Seasons 1-8 of the original Suits and the spinoff Pearson), Suits LA required a slightly different style to accommodate the fashion of a different city. The suits in this show are less traditional than their New York City counterparts and they lean a lot more trendy, sexy and at times, casual. The traditional blues, blacks and grays of the East Coast are sometimes replaced with pops of color as these Hollywood-leaning lawyers dress to stand. Theres also the added challenge of L.A. being hot, which means no outerwear. Instead, the added flare comes via an emphasis on jewelry and other accessories to make the suits stand out.

For one cast member, Bryan Greenberg, who plays Rick Dodson, getting to dress up in various suits is one of the highlights of the job.

I was really excited after the pandemic to put on a suit and now its like I get to be on a show called Suits. Its really cool, he explained in a recent interview with NBC Insider. As an artist, I dont really get to wear suits all the time but I like it. When I was a kid I was like I dont ever want to wear a suit. But now, as an artist, Im like I want to wear a suit, I want to have a reason to dress up and feel all professional. So its been great.

Since being on the show, he says hes learned the power of dressing well and high-end.

You feel confident, he explained. When I look in the mirror Im like, Alright, lets go. Its going to be a good day!

He added: You just feel good, you just feel better about yourself. Like after you get a good haircut.

So, how can you feel that same confidence? Well if Boss has anything to say about it, with a special offer from its brand.

Boss wants to help you dress like Suits LAs best lawyers

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Related: Brian Baumgartner Had One The Office Stipulation Before Guesting on Suits LA

Fans simply need to sign up to become a Hugo Boss Experience Member for their chance to win. You can find more details about NBCs partnership with Boss here. So what are you waiting for? Its time to suit up and dress as confidently as the powerful lawyers on Suits LA.

Suits LA airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET and stream the next day on Peacock.
Amyl nitrite is commonly known as "poppers."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reportedly targeted a manufacturer of poppers, an inhalant drug that has gained increasingly mainstream popularity as an adjunct to clubbing and sexual activity. The drug has long been sold in convenience stores under a legal loophole.

Double Scorpio, an Austin-based poppers manufacturer, issued a statement on its website Thursday stating that the company had stopped all operations following a search and seizure at our offices by the FDA.

The reported raid comes after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the helm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA. Kennedy, an environmental lawyer with a history of drug addiction and false claims about vaccines in particular, has erroneously suggested that poppers and other drug use, not HIV, cause AIDS. However, what led to the reported raid or whether Kennedy had any knowledge of it is unclear.

The news about the FDA search and seizure was first released by Fast Company, which reported based on anonymous sources that a broader crackdown was underway.

When asked about whether the FDA is cracking down on any manufacturers of poppers, Amanda M. Hils, an FDA spokesperson, said the agency, as a matter of policy, does not comment on possible criminal investigations.

HHS did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Nor did Double Scorpio.

A representative of another company, The Popper King  which is based in Buffalo, New York, and brands its website as the premiere site to buy poppers online  said the business had not been contacted by the FDA. The representative said she could not discuss the matter further; she declined to reveal her name and did not provide a reason.

Alkyl nitrates, or poppers, which are meant to be inhaled, cause an immediate and short-lasting euphoric rush along with muscle relaxation. The drug has long been popular among gay men, in part because it can relax the sphincter muscle and make anal sex less painful and otherwise more pleasurable.

Side effects include headache, rapid heart rate, visual disturbances, dizziness and flushing in the face. Poppers can also cause an abnormal amount of hemoglobin to collect in the blood, low red blood cells, damage to the eyes and skin inflammation and irritation.

The FDA issued an advisory in 2021 warning consumers not to purchase or use poppers, stating that these products can result in serious adverse health effects, including death, when ingested or inhaled. The advisory stated: The FDA has observed an increase in reports of deaths and hospitalizations with issues such as severe headaches, dizziness, increase in body temperature, difficulty breathing, extreme drops in blood pressure, blood oxygen issues (methemoglobinemia) and brain death after ingestion or inhalation of nitrite poppers.

According to Adam Zmith, the author of Deep Sniff: a History of Poppers and Queer Futures, amyl nitrate, a close cousin to the chemical most widely used as poppers today, was first identified by a French chemist in 1844. By the late 19th century, doctors used it to ease chest pain, because it affects blood flow to the heart. The drug, Zmith said, became popular with gay men in New York and San Francisco beginning in the 1950s and 1960s, when it was available without a prescription from pharmacists.

Though Congress has tried to regulate and ban some iterations of poppers, they have long persisted in a legal gray area. According to a report in the August issue of California Legal Review, it is illegal to sell poppers for recreational use under U.S. law. As a result, the report notes, some manufacturers have gotten around this by marketing these chemicals for commercial purposes, such as air fresheners, leather cleaners and nail polisher removers. Poppers can now be found in smoke shops and convenience stories with brand names such as Rush, Jungle Juice and Locker Room.

Poppers, AIDS and RFK Jr.

After the first signs of the AIDS epidemic were identified among gay men in 1981, scientists initially investigated whether the use of party drugs, including poppers, was causing the catastrophic collapse of the immune system in a rapidly increasing number of gay men. But after HIV was identified as the cause of AIDS in 1983, it became clear that poppers, though they cause disinhibition and are correlated with sexual behaviors that drive HIV transmission, were not the central culprit.

Nevertheless, Kennedy has lent credence to the unsupported theory that poppers caused AIDS. He asserted in an undated speech, unearthed in 2023, that during the early 1980s, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who became the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 1984, essentially won a scientific power struggle to claim AIDS was caused by an infectious disease and that this, Kennedy said, allowed him to take control of it. Instead, Kennedy falsely argued, HIV was a mere passenger virus and suggested that it was the gay lifestyle of poppers use and heavy partying that was driving an autoimmunity among them.

There is no proven causal link between poppers and AIDS. HIV is a retrovirus that is primarily sexually transmitted and infects immune cells. Left untreated, it destroys the immune system over time, leaving the body vulnerable to infections, and is nearly universally fatal.

Poppers: convenient to obtain, easy to misuse

According to a 2020 study, 3.3% of American adults surveyed from 2015 to 2017 reported ever using poppers, including 35% of gay men. Recent reports suggest that poppers have recently made inroads among heterosexuals as well.

Joseph J. Palamar, an associate professor in population health at NYU Langone Health, studies poppers use. He shared statistics with NBC News, not yet peer-reviewed, that his team has been collecting in recent years by surveying attendees of New York City nightclubs. Of the more than 1,400 club attendees surveyed in 2024, 18% reported using poppers during the past year, including 46% of gay and bisexual men, 28% of lesbian and bisexual women, 10% of heterosexual women and 6% of heterosexual men.

While he said he could not give precise poisoning and death figures because they were pending publication, Palamar said that nationwide, reports to poison control centers about poppers causing serious adverse health events have been increasing and that there have been a few associated deaths in recent years. He speculated that the most severe poisonings might be related to people drinking poppers.

Palamar said that the fact that poppers are often sold in convenience stores next to energy drinks, and are packaged such that they resemble energy-drink shots themselves, may mislead people who are new to the drug to falsely believe they are meant to be drunk.

Ignorance about the drugs among store employees may be driving especially dangerous use of poppers, new research has suggested.

For a study published in Clinical Toxicology on Wednesday, researchers visited 98 smoke shops, weed dispensaries and sex shops within the jurisdiction of a New York City poison center that had noted an increase in reports of poppers poisoning. They asked employees at the 86 stores that sold the drug for instructions on using it. Nearly half advised inhaling it, while 44% were unsure and 8% advised ingesting the fluid.

Im not saying to use them, Palamar, who was not involved in this new study, said of poppers. But if you do use them, do not drink them. Its not an energy drink. Youll definitely be poisoned.
WASHINGTON  Two judges ruled Thursday that President Donald Trumps administration needs to reinstate thousands of federal workers it fired across dozens of agencies, a significant blow to its efforts to cut the size of the government.

But for those people who lost their jobs, theres still a significant way to go before it all becomes real.

The people who committed these violations are still in power, and I have little to no faith in their ability to observe the rule of law, said Frank Zhu, who was fired from the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Chicago on Feb. 14. Sorry if Im sounding very pessimistic or like Eeyore, but I dont feel like anything has fundamentally changed.

Zhu was one of the many probationary workers cut by the Trump administration over the past month. The term applies to people who are newly employed by the federal government or recently switched jobs or agencies. They typically have less than two years of service in that position, and they lack full civil service protections, making it easier to fire them.

Frank Zhu.

Other recently fired federal workers who spoke to NBC News felt similarly  that theres so much uncertainty about whether theyll get their jobs back, especially because the legal developments arent over.

On Thursday, a federal judge in California ordered that thousands of probationary employees who were fired from the departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Energy, the Interior, Agriculture and the Treasury must get their jobs back. In a separate and more wide-ranging ruling later in the day, a federal judge in Maryland ordered the temporary reinstatement of tens of thousands of fired probationary employees across 12 departments and several agencies across the federal government.

Nathan Teich had worked as an ecologist for the Bureau of Land Management for six months. His termination forced him to scramble to change child care, and he quickly became a stay-at-home dad for his two young children. He said Friday that while his future is uncertain, he at least feels validated that his termination last month was illegal.

I would love to have my job back. And, you know, my career as an ecologist and as a public servant was just getting started, he said. Its a lot of uncertainty, and Im trying to balance the things that are right for my career and my family, and its really hard to do that when the landscape keeps changing under my feet.

The administration had said in workers termination notices that they were being fired for performance reasons, despite many saying they had received nothing but stellar reviews. The judges on Thursday made clear that the governments justification for eliminating them was a lie.

It is sad, a sad day when our government would fire some good employee, and say it was based on performance, when they know good and well, thats a lie, U.S. District Judge William Alsup of California wrote in his order.

On Friday, there was no indication from federal agencies that they would immediately comply with the court decisions. The White House signaled that the administration is in no rush to re-employ these workers.

A single judge is attempting to unconstitutionally seize the power of hiring and firing from the Executive Branch, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. The President has the authority to exercise the power of the entire executive branch  singular district court judges cannot abuse the power of the entire judiciary to thwart the Presidents agenda. If a federal district court judge would like executive powers, they can try and run for President themselves. The Trump Administration will immediately fight back against this absurd and unconstitutional order.

The Office of Personnel Management, which oversees the civil service, had no comment and pointed to Leavitts statement.

More large-scale layoffs may be on their way, as the administration has told agencies to prepare for major reduction-in-force plans to cut staff.

One federal worker fired last month from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said the new court rulings are encouraging, but its still not clear what will come of them.

Its quite honestly meaningless to people who are still in this situation, because I havent heard anything from my supervisor if Im coming back or not, the person said.

Even if I got an email right now saying youre reinstated  yesterday was the deadline for the reduction-in-force plans, the worker said, referring to the guidance sent to federal agencies last month. Who knows how those will play out? I know Monday is the start of return to office for pretty much everyone else.  Its hard for me to know what to care about or what to have faith in.

Trump touted the Department of Government Efficiencys work in his speech to Congress this month and claimed, without evidence, that hundreds of thousands of federal workers  have not been showing up to work.

This week, Trump said he felt very badly for the thousands of civil servants who have lost their jobs in recent weeks but claimed  once again without proof  that many of them dont work at all.

When we cut, we want to cut, but we want to cut the people that arent working or ... not doing a good job, he said.

Some probationary employees are receiving other positive signs they could get their jobs back. Probationary workers at the Department of Agriculture began receiving back pay Wednesday from their date of termination after the Merit Systems Protection Board issued a 45-day stay on their firing.

The Department will work quickly to develop a phased plan for return-to-duty, and while those plans materialize, all probationary employees will be paid, a department notice said.

Eva Christensen was among those USDA employees fired last month. She was a Washington, D.C.-based agricultural science adviser and was tasked with addressing barriers to trade so U.S. farmers and producers had reliable access to open markets.

Christensen said the employment whiplash raised questions about the expense and time costs of reinstating tens of thousands of employees who were fired.

How theyre going to onboard 40,000 people at once in any time-efficient manner is a mystery to me, she said, pointing to the time it takes for even small tasks, like reissuing and relaunching laptops and email. The Department of Government Efficiency is going to cost taxpayers millions of dollars just to onboard the people who they illegally fired.

Rachel Spaeth, a research horticulturalist with the Agricultural Research Service who was also fired in February, was informed about the back pay on Thursday. She said shes fairly confident shell get her job back.

The question is when? she said Friday. I dont know that anybody really has that answer.

I would just say that this is really ironic, that this is supposed to be efficiency, she said. This doesnt feel very efficient. I think it would behoove them better to take a look at what theyre actually turning off and on before they just flip switches. There could be room for improvement in government, for sure, but this isnt how you do it.
Chairman of Demokraatit, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, center, hugs supporters during the election party at Demokraatit by cafe Killut in Nuuk, early Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

LONDON (AP)  All five parties in Greenlands parliament issued a joint statement on Friday rejecting President Donald Trumps latest effort to take control of the strategic Arctic island.

The statement was issued by the leaders of all five parties that won seats in parliament in an election held earlier this week.

We  all party chairmen  cannot accept the repeated statements on annexation and control of Greenland, the statement said. We, as party chairmen, find this conduct unacceptable to friends and allies in a defense alliance.

Greenland is a self-governing region of Denmark, a NATO ally of the United States.

The party leaders released their statement after Trump reiterated his desire to take control of Greenland, which guards strategic air and sea routes through the Arctic.

During a press conference with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Thursday, Trump was asked about his vision for annexing Greenland.

Well, I think itll happen, Trump responded.

He added "weve been dealing with Denmark. Weve been dealing with Greenland. And we have to do it. We really need it for national security.

Trump reminded his audience that the U.S. already has military bases in Greenland.

Maybe youll see more and more soldiers go there, he said. I dont know.

Greenland Prime Minister Mute B. Egede was even more outspoken than his parliamentary colleagues in rejecting Trumps comments.

"Our country will never be the USA, and we Greenlanders will never be Americans, he said on Facebook. Greenland is one country. We are united.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

CAIRO (Reuters) -At least nine Palestinians including three local journalists were killed on Saturday in an Israeli air strike on Gaza's northern Beit Lahiya town, the local health ministry said, as Hamas leaders held ceasefire talks with mediators in Cairo.

Several were critically injured as the strike hit a car, with casualties inside and outside the vehicle, health officials told Reuters.

Witnesses and fellow journalists said the people in the car were on a mission for a charity called Al-Khair Foundation in Beit Lahiya, and they were accompanied by journalists and photographers when the strike hit them. At least three local journalists were among the dead, according to Palestinian media.

The Israeli military initially said it had struck two "terrorists" operating a drone that posed a threat to its forces and several people who collected the drone equipment.

In another statement it named six men that it said were members of Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad who it said had been killed in the incident. Some of the militants had operated "under the cover of journalists", it said.

The incident underscores the fragility of the January 19 ceasefire agreement that halted large-scale fighting in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian health officials say dozens of people have been killed by Israeli fire despite the truce.

Salama Marouf, the head of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, denied the army's allegations.

"The team was made of civilians and worked in an area near a shelter on a mission sponsored by a charity. They were not in a prohibited area and didn't pose any danger of any kind to the occupation army," Marouf said in a statement.

CEASEFIRE IMPASSE

Later on Saturday, Gaza medics said another Israeli air strike in the town of Juhr Eldeek in the central Gaza Strip killed two Palestinians. The Israeli military said it was unaware of the incident.

Hamas accused Israel in a statement of attempting to renege on the ceasefire agreement, putting the number of Palestinians killed since January 19 at 150.

It urged mediators to compel Israel to move ahead with the implementation of the phased ceasefire deal, blaming Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the impasse.

Responding to some of the incidents reported by Gaza medics, the Israeli military said its forces have intervened to thwart threats by "terrorists" approaching its forces or planting bombs on the ground near where forces operate.

Since a first phase of the ceasefire expired on March 2, Israel has rejected opening the second phase of talks, which would require it to negotiate over a permanent end to the war, the main demand of Hamas.

The incidents coincided with a visit by Hamas' exiled Gaza chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, to Cairo for further ceasefire talks aimed at resolving disputes with Israel that could risk a resumption of fighting.

On Friday, Hamas said it had agreed to free an American-Israeli dual national if Israel begins the next phase of ceasefire talks towards a permanent end to the war, an offer Israel dismissed as "psychological warfare".

Hamas said it had made the offer to release New Jersey native Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old soldier in the Israeli army, after receiving a proposal from mediators for negotiations on the second phase.

Israel says it wants to extend the ceasefire's first phase, a proposal backed by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Hamas says it will resume freeing hostages only under the second phase.

The war began when Hamas carried out a cross-border raid into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's subsequent assault on Gaza has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, reduced much of the territory to rubble and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Writing by Enas Alashray and Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Mark Potter, Susan Fenton and William Mallard)
Getty Images

Since Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck finalized their divorce in February, the Batman actor has been seen with his first ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, and their three children, Seraphina, Violet, and Samuel. A source speaking with People discussed J.Los reaction to photos from March 2 of Affleck being casually affectionate with Garner at Samuels 13th birthday party, saying she isnt bothered by the photos at all.

Jennifer Garner knows what it is and knows what it is not. And people are reading into it in a way to create drama where there is none, the insider continued, adding that Lopez doesnt feel betrayed...I think the two Jens are great admirers of the other, and I think theyre all co-parenting.

There is no animosity. They are friendly, the source explained. Were always pitting women against women. In this case, its just not the truth.

Another insider said of Affleck and Garner, They have been on good terms for a while now and seem to enjoy chatting and hanging out. Most of the time, the kids are around too.

That insider added that Affleck usually acts happy around Garner.

She doesnt seem to mind. She seems to enjoy spending time with Ben, they shared.

On March 13, another source speaking with People said that Lopez and Garner are friends and they chat occasionally.

Jennifer Garner reaches out to Jennifer Lopez about her kids, said the source. Jennifer Lopez reaches out to Jennifer Garner about her kids. Theyre friends. They have really found a great female support system and communicate...Were always pitting women against women. In this case, its just not the truth.

On March 15, another source speaking with Page Six said that Lopez is having a blast as she films Netflix rom-com Office Romance with Brett Goldstein in New Jersey. The insider denied reports that either Garner or Lopez have any interest in a romantic reconciliation with Affleck.

Id say theyre both relieved to be done with him, the source said. Bens an emotional roller coaster. Hes even been reaching out to Jennifer [Lopez] again recently. The two Jennifers are actually friends. They bonded over co-parenting their kids. I dont know why the press feels they have to pit women against each other.

Though Lopez was devastated last year following their split, she has been doing well in 2025.

Of course its sad when someone reveals to you who they really are, the source said. She may have been devastated last year but shes risen above it. She puts her kids, and then his kids, first. Shes not just some woman scorned or betrayed. Like I said, hes put out feelers to her recently.

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs has pleaded not guilty to new federal charges of forced labour.

Sean Combs pleaded not guilty to the new charges

The 55-year-old music mogul appeared in court in Manhattan on Friday (14.03.25) to face allegations that he forced some of his employees to work long hours on minimal sleep.

The record producer has also been accused using physical, financial, or reputational harm, or threats, to exploit his ex-employees.

What's more, the federal government has alleged that the hip-hop star used threats or physical force to pressure at least one former employee to engage in sexual conduct with him. Combs has denied the allegations.

Arun Subramanian, the judge overseeing Combs' case, has opted to delay opening statements in Combs' trial until May 12.

Combs' legal team have argued that the original date - May 5 - wouldn't have allowed them sufficient time to prepare for the trial.

Combs - who is the founder of the Bad Boys record label - is also facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.

The rap star appeared in court in September to plead not guilty to the charges.

Asked during a court hearing how he pleaded to the charges, Combs replied: "Not guilty."

Marc Agnifilo - Combs' lawyer - subsequently said that the music star is determined to "establish his innocence".

Agnifilo told reporters outside the court: "He's going to fight this. He's innocent. He came to New York to establish his innocence.

"We believe in him wholeheartedly. He didn't do these things. There's no coercion and no crime."

Combs is "not afraid of the charges" he's currently facing, according to his lawyer.

Agnifilo added: "He's been looking forward to this day, and he's been looking forward to clearing his name."
Korean automaker Kia (000270.KS), is killing it.

Kia America, part of the Hyundia Motor Group, reported another record sales month in February, powered by its mix of gas powered offerings like the high-selling Telluride SUV, as well as EV vehicles like the EV6 crossover.

"So our grand strategy is, first, we want to be a leader in what we call sustainable mobility. This is key, is mission, and EVs are part of that, and also includes electrified internal combustion, which is hybrids and plug in hybrids and so on," Steven Center, Kia Americas COO & EVP told Yahoo Finance. "But we we've also built out a very full lineup of internal combustion vehicles in the past few years."

Center mentions the aforementioned three-row Telluride, as well as the Sorrento and other smaller SUVs. The company didnt abandon sedans  like its Big Three rivals did  and just introduced the midsize K4 last year. The larger K5 is actually built in North America.

2022 Kia EV6 (credit: Kia) (Kia)

A big part of the growth plans for Kia include localizing production in the US, which it has done for many years. Kia intends to move its EV production stateside as well.

"We're going to be building EVs in Georgia, and that's before any of this tariff talk. Kia has been in the United States for over 30 years now, and we've invested as a company, billions and billions and billions of dollars in American manufacturing and supply chain," Center said. "So this is part of a plan we've had for a long time."

Officially, Kia addressed the 800-pound gorilla in the room Trump's auto tariffs  by stating the company is monitoring tariff developments and will be reviewing business strategies in response.

But  and this is a big but  the White House hasnt targeted vehicles made in South Korea, where Kia is based and still imports vehicles in the US.

Ford CEO Jim Farley has been howling that not targeting other international imports with tariffs is unfair because international automakers like Kia are essentially getting a free ride, whereas imports from Mexico and Canada  also part of a free trade agreement  are slated for 25% duties starting April 2.

Unfair or not, its likely only a matter of time before other trade partners are targeted by the administration, and Center believes Kia has a good game plan if that happens, because of its large US footprint.

"[Tariffs] will affect every brand differently depending on their balance of what they make where. So in our case, and we've had plenty of meetings about this in the past few months, we've got our business plan, and we're going to continue to work that plan to the best advantage of our customers, our dealers  who are also customers who have big investments in Kia  and to hit the volume levels, we want to keep growing [in the US]."

The 2022 Kia Telluride is displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California on November 18, 2021. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) (FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images)

Center added: "We're not chasing business rules, we're doing what we think is the right thing for Kia, and that's building as many cars as we can here."

Building EVs is next on the agenda at Hyundai and Kias joint plant in Bryan County, Georgia. The company touts the $20.5 billion it has spent in the US on its domestic production facilities, which it says employ over 570,000 workers.

At Kias big "Kia Day" event in Portugal late last month, the automaker unveiled a number of new vehicles, including the EV4, a sporty EV sedan that also comes in hatchback form.

Center believes cars like the EV4 will only grow the companys sales and not cannibalize other similar vehicles like the gas-powered K4 or larger EV6 midsize crossover; these will be "net incremental volume," he says, meaning its sales will be additional sales over and above what Kia normally would get.

It remains to be seen if sales arent cannibalized, as they have been at other manufacturers who offer similar products with differing drivetrains. On the flip side, a wide availability of powertrains may expand sales, bringing new customers to fold.

Center believes Kias plan of offering a wide product portfolio is the right one for the US.

Looking big picture, despite economic jitters coming from tariffs, and concerns of an possible ensuing economic slowdown in the US in 2025, Center and Kia see growth in the cards.

"So we think the market is going to be good. If there aren't too many shocks to the system, we'll we'll have another record year. We're planning for that," Center said.

Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on X and on Instagram.

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beagle puppy jumping  Natalia Fedosova/Shutterstock.com

A beagle puppy with the cutest little bark is melting hearts in this post from puppysherpa. Puppies typically begin to bark around eight weeks old, but unfortunately, they wont keep the adorable puppy bark forever. Dogs experience vocal changes as they mature, just like human adolescents. Puppies also go through an awkward teenage stage that may begin as early as 6 months old, depending on the breed. It can be a rocky road, but it helps to remember that we were all teenagers once.

How Do Puppies Transition to Their Grown-Up Barks?

Scientists often look to vocal changes as indicators of maturation, particularly in human males. Reproductive hormones have a significant impact on vocal organs throughout humans lives. In fact, the larynx is considered a secondary sexual organ due to the considerable differences in size and shape between males and females. At the onset of puberty, reproductive hormones cause the larynx, vocal tract, and vocal folds to thicken and grow larger and longer. These modifications result in voice deepening of around one octave for men and 3-4 semitones for women.

Experts suspect a similar process takes place in dogs. Unfortunately, there are few scientific studies relating to vocal changes in dogs during puberty. Yet there is evidence that as puppies mature, their vocal organs grow and thicken. Researchers found a correlation between the length of a dogs vocal tract and the body mass of the dog, indicating that larger dogs had lower frequency barks. While small dogs will still lose their puppy barks, the changes will be less noticeable than in large breeds. However, when can owners expect to see this transformation in their pups, and what else does puppy puberty have in store for them?

Puppy Puberty

For many mammals, adolescence brings dramatic changes in both the body and the brain. This is especially true for dogs. During a pups first year, it grows and develops to the physiological age of a 15-year-old human. Adolescence begins around six months old and ends around 18 months old, although the timing can vary depending on the dogs breed. Large breeds like Great Danes mature slower than small breeds like Pomeranians. Many veterinarians recommend spaying and neutering during adolescence to prevent heat cycles in females and reduce inappropriate spraying and fighting in males.

Hormonal changes can make pups moody and irritable, but neurological changes can wreak havoc as well. Researchers found that a young dogs prefrontal cortex is still developing, just like human adolescents. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for problem-solving, self-control, and social behavior. Teenage pups are more impulsive and reactionary than adult dogs, because they are still developing the skills they need to make good decisions.

Coping with Canine Adolescence

Researchers note that there was more conflict when dogs felt less secure in their attachment to their humans. Owners can help their pups navigate this challenging time by sticking to a routine, providing mental stimulation, ensuring they eat right and exercise, and offering positive reinforcement. To reduce the risk of lasting complications, it is important that owners remain engaged with their pups and avoid punishment-based training techniques.

Fortunately, problematic behavior during the puppy teenage years has been shown to be a passing phase  just as it is with humans. Hopefully, fewer mischievous pups will be re-homed as dog owners become aware this rebelliousness doesnt last long.

The post Listen to This Sweet Puppys Baby Bark appeared first on A-Z Animals.
Getty (2) Left: Stock image of a teenager's arm covered in a measles rash; Right: Stock image of child getting vaccinated

Amid the measles outbreak expected to "expand rapidly," people are confused about whether they need a booster

Anyone who has had two shots of the MMR vaccine, which protects against the virus, is considered "immune for life," an expert tells PEOPLE

If you're not sure of your vaccination status, consult with your doctor to discuss next steps

The measles outbreak in the Southwest continues to spread, and more cases are expected, U.S. Centers for Disease Control said, as this outbreak continues to expand rapidly. Cases have now been documented across the U.S., in nearby Oklahoma, as well as New York, New Jersey and Alaska.

The outbreak has resulted in the deaths of three people, including a child who was not vaccinated according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Compared to 2024 when there were 285 cases total, the CDC said there are already 301 confirmed cases in the first three months of 2025.

According to the CDC, the best safeguard against measles is two doses of the MMR vaccine  which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. The first dose is administered between 12 and 15 months of age; the second shot comes between 4 and 6 years. However, some adults may not remember getting the shots  or if they were born before 1957, traditional guidelines considered them immune. Measles was so widespread before the vaccine's introduction in 1963, medical professionals assume most people were exposed to it, resulting in some immunity.

To address confusion surrounding whether people need further protection, PEOPLE spoke to Dr. Matthew Harris, pediatric emergency medicine physician and medical director for clinical preparedness for Northwell Health in New York.

Do I Need a Measles Booster?



If you've been able to see from your childhood vaccinations that you've received two doses of the vaccine, Dr. Harris tells PEOPLE, you're considered immune for life and there is no reason to get a booster.

Getty Stock image of a child with a red rash from measles.

Related: Rise in 'Extraordinarily Contagious' Measles Cases in the U.S.: 'It's Back' and 'Much More Serious Than the Chickenpox'

What If I Don't Know My Immunization Status from Childhood?



"If you don't know your status, I think it's a worthwhile conversation to have with your practitioner," Dr. Harris says, especially "if you came from somewhere that wasn't a highly vaccinated population." If your doctor advises it, "you can restart the series of the measles vaccine," he says.

Is There a Way to Test for Antibodies?



Yes. If you are unsure whether you've had the two doses of the vaccine, a blood test can show whether you have titers, or antibodies. There is a measles-specific antibody.

"If you have the titer called IgG," Dr. Harris explains, "then you can rest assured that you know you are protected against measles."

Sometimes IgC may not show up in a fully vaccinated person, due to how long ago they were vaccinated, individual immune response or other reasons. "If someone's fully vaccinated, even if you do not have high levels of titers, [you'll have] another form of immunity called cellular immunity, which is just not something you can detect in a blood test.

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.

You don't need a titers test if you know you have been fully vaccinated, but it could be an option for someone who is not sure, so check with your doctor.

Can Anyone Get Vaccinated?



For the most part, almost everyone can get vaccinated, Dr. Harris adds. Few exceptions include pregnant people, patients undergoing chemotherapy or patients who have certain immunologic diseases that might prohibit them from getting vaccinated."



People Who Are at High Risk of Bad Outcomes  Like Those with Leukemia or HIV  May Be Worried About Exposure. What Should They Do?

If you were born after 1957 and you think your parents gave you your shots as a child and you're a healthy person, you do not need to rush off to get a booster," Dr. Harris tells PEOPLE. "The likelihood is you're vaccinated and protected." But, he adds, "If you're not sure, discuss it with your provider and if you're a higher-risk patient, again you can consider getting titers [checked] as part of the discussion, but recognize that that information is imperfect.

Getty Stock image of a young child getting vaccinated.

Related: 'Measles Parties' for Kids Are 'Terrifying'  and Could Have 'Devastating' Effects, Experts Say

What Should I Do If My Child Is Too Young to Be Vaccinated?

Understanding the vaccine practices at your daycare or in your community would be important, especially given the prevalence of cases, Dr. Harris says. I think parents have the information available to them to make an informed decision about how to keep their children safe. I want to be clear: I'm not recommending anyone staying home from daycare or school. It's just that parents make informed decisions.

Will There Be a Vaccine Shortage?

There is a national shortage of the vaccine right now, but that's not because of the measles; that has to do with one of the companies having a production problem, Harris tells PEOPLE. That's another reason not to get an unnecessary booster because if you are considered immune, you don't need that booster, that should be reserved for children [who have] not yet been vaccinated.

And while he says, you will see some public health efforts to vaccinate, they will be "nothing akin to what we saw with COVID.



Read the original article on People
People gather outside of a New York court on March 12 to protest the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil.

Nationwide protests are planned this weekend after Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student activist, was arrested by immigration authorities, fueling tensions between the Trump administration and student movements over immigration policy.

Khalil, 30, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the middle of the night last weekend, prompting outrage in recent days. Khalil, an Algerian citizen of Palestinian descent, helped lead pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University last spring.

Protests calling for his release will be held in cities including New York City, Boston, Phoenix, Charlotte, Oklahoma City, Miami and Indianapolis on Saturday and Sunday.

Several dozen protestors gathered in Times Square on Saturday afternoon, wearing traditional Palestinian scarfs, known as kuffiyehs, and waving Palestinian flags.

"Release Mahmoud right now!" the protestors shouted.

Grant Miner, the former president of a union representing thousands of Columbia student workers who were fired and expelled this week, addressed the crowd. He described Mahmoud's detention as "a campaign of fear."

"We must stand up together to tell Trump and his billionaire buddies that were not going to stand for this intimidation and the backsliding of civil rights in this country," he said.

To justify Khalils arrest, the Trump administration cited an obscure foreign-policy clause that allows the federal government to deport foreign nationals whom it deems national security threats. The Department of Homeland Security alleges that Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.

Mahmoud Khalil stands by the gates of Columbia University on April 30, 2024.

On Monday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from expelling Khalil, a legal permanent resident, from the country as he challenges his deportation.

Khalil filed an amended petition and complaint in federal district court in Manhattan on Thursday, stating he was the target of retaliatory detention and attempted removal of a student protestor because of his constitutionally protected speech. Khalil finished his classes at Columbia in December 2024 and was expected to graduate in the spring, according to the filing.

Immigration authorities are holding the 30-year-old in Louisiana and his lawyers have petitioned for him to be returned to New York City. His wife, an American, is eight months pregnant.

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 through Khalils defense counsel on Monday. 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.

Trump administration targets campus protesters

Khalils arrest marks the first attempt to fulfill President Donald Trumps campaign pledge to deport international students who protested in support of Palestinians on campuses across the country last spring.

On Tuesday, a doctoral student from India whom DHS accused of supporting Hamas self-deported to Canada. And on Friday, another Palestinian student who took part in Columbias protests last year, identified by DHS as Leqaa Kordia, was arrested for allegedly overstaying her student visa.

It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement on Friday. When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country.

DHS agents also raided two Columbia dormitories on Thursday evening, but made no arrests, according to a statement by the university. Commenting on the raids on Friday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department was looking at whether Columbias handling of earlier incidents violated civil rights laws and included terrorism crimes.

Civil rights groups and protesters have denounced the federal governments actions at Columbia as an infringement on free speech. Protesters staged demonstrations this week at both the university and inside Trump Tower, located in Manhattan.

Columbias international students have expressed fear, with several telling NBC News on Friday that they are increasingly hesitant to criticize the Trump administration due to fears of repercussions.

The universitys journalism school said its staff and students are witnessing and experiencing an alarming chill.

One does not have to agree with the political opinions of any particular individual to understand that these threats cut to the core of what it means to live in a pluralistic democracy, the journalism school said in a statement issued Friday. The use of deportation to suppress foreign critics runs parallel to an aggressive campaign to use libel laws in novel  even outlandish ways  to silence or intimidate the independent press.

Columbia University in the glaring spotlight

The arrests are part of the Trump administrations broader effort to root out what it calls anti-Semitic harassment in schools and on college campuses. And perhaps no other college campus in the country drew more attention for its pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year than Columbia.

For weeks last spring, student activists staged daily protests, occupied a university building and established an encampment of several dozen tents on university lawns, inspiring similar setups on college campuses across the country. Fueled by outrage over Israels war in Gaza, students pushed for their universities to divest from companies linked to the Israeli government. The activism sparked intense debates on campuses, with some students expressing concerns over antisemitism.

In the week before the arrests, the Trump administration singled out Columbia, announcing that it would cancel approximately $400 million in federal grants to the university. The administration cited the schools continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.

The move marked an unprecedented intervention by the federal government into the affairs of a private university.

Columbia responded by pledging to work with the federal government to restore its funding.

We take Columbias legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combatting antisemitism and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff, a university spokesperson told NBC News last week.

On Thursday, the university said it suspended or expelled some of the students who participated and temporarily revoked the diplomas of some graduates.

"Im not surprised that the university is choosing to throw its students and workers under the bus for grant money," Miner told NBC News. "We know exactly how much now it costs, to buy Columbias morals."




By Asif Shahzad

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's military spokesman said on Friday the death toll in a train hijacking in the country's southwestern mountains had risen to 31 and he repeated accusations that neighbouring India and Afghanistan backed the militants who carried it out.

The separatist Baloch Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for hijacking the Jaffar Express on Tuesday. During the attack they blew up train tracks and held passengers hostage in a day-long standoff with security forces in a remote mountain pass in Balochistan province.

Army spokesperson Major General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry

Chaudhry told a press conference in Islamabad: "We have evidence that all the links to terrorism in Pakistan are traced back to Afghanistan".

India was the main sponsor of the insurgents, he added.

Islamabad has long accused New Delhi and Kabul of providing money, resources, weapons and training grounds to the insurgents in Balochistan province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.

Both countries have already denied the accusations, saying that the insurgency is Islamabad's internal problem.

Chaudhry said a final count of the casualties included 18 soldiers, three railway employees and five civilians among the passengers who were held hostages by the insurgents for over 24 hours.

Another five soldiers lost their lives during the rescue operation that killed 33 of the insurgents, he said. A total of 354 hostages were rescued, the general said.

The insurgents have said they still held hostages but Chaudhry said there was no evidence to suggest this was the case and the military has said the siege has ended.

The BLA is the largest and strongest of several ethnic Baloch insurgent groups which have been fighting for decades to win independence for the mineral-rich province, home to major China-led projects such as a port and gold and copper mines.

(Reporting by Asif Shahzad; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
By Ange Kasongo and Sonia Rolley

KINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has long ruled out dialogue with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels rampaging through eastern parts of his country, but a string of defeats and waning regional support have forced him think again.

Neighbouring Angola caught many by surprise this week by saying Congo and M23 would sit down for direct talks in its capital on March 18, at a time when the rebels are still seizing territory rich with coltan, tantalum and other minerals.

Tshisekedi's government has so far not committed publicly, but three government sources told Reuters this week he was seriously considering sending a delegation.

With Congo's army and allied forces putting up weak resistance to the rebel advance, regional powers appear in agreement that dialogue is the only way forward, diplomats and analysts said.

"I haven't talked to a single African country that says Kinshasa shouldn't talk to M23," one senior diplomat said.

"The line of everyone is, 'How do you stop the fighting if you don't engage with them?'"

One source said on Friday that government participation was a sure thing but that it was still too early to say who would represent Kinshasa in Luanda.

Other sources said the debate was still ongoing and that a final decision was not likely to be made until next week.

M23, for its part, said on Thursday it was demanding an unequivocal commitment from Tshisekedi to engage in talks.

Both sides said they had questions about the framework and how the Angola-hosted talks would comply with decisions from regional bodies attempting to resolve the conflict.

Southern and East African foreign and defence ministers are due to meet in Harare on Monday to discuss the push for a cessation of hostilities and political dialogue.

'FAILED' MILITARY APPROACH

M23 is backed by thousands of Rwandan troops, according to U.N. experts, and their superior weaponry and equipment has allowed them to seize east Congo's two biggest cities since late January along with a host of smaller localities.

Rwanda denies providing arms and troops to M23, and says its forces are acting in self defence against the Congolese army and militias hostile to Kigali.

Sitting down with M23 would likely be deeply unpopular in Kinshasa, especially after Tshisekedi's repeated vows never to do so.

But it would amount to an acknowledgment that Tshisekedi's pursuit of a military solution has "failed", said Congolese analyst Bob Kabamba of the University of Liege in Belgium.

"Kinshasa's position of dialogue is understandable because it finds itself stuck, thinking that the (rebel alliance) must not reach a critical threshold," he said.

Congo's neighbour Angola may have made a similar calculation, wary of being drawn into a larger-scale regional war reminiscent of those that killed millions in the 1990s and early 2000s.

"Angola has clearly decided that it is necessary to intervene to prevent the advance of the M23 towards the west of the DRC," said Stephanie Wolters, a Congo analyst with South Africa's Institute for Security Studies.

The lack of faith in Tshisekedi's ability to turn the tide militarily was also seen this week in Southern African leaders' approval of the "phased withdrawal" of a regional deployment known as SAMIDRC that had a mandate to fight rebels.

Although the deployment was too weak to mean much in the fight against M23, its presence was an important sign of regional support for Congo, Wolters said, making its departure a "significant blow".

(Additional reporting by Giulia Paravicini; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
By John Irish and Daphne Psaledakis

LA MALBAIE, Quebec (Reuters) - It could have been disastrous. Just a day before the end of a three-day meeting of G7 foreign ministers in a remote snowy Canadian resort, some of the United States' closest allies wondered whether their divisions could explode into public.

Wranglings over wording on Ukraine issues ranging from territorial integrity to security guarantees and possible new sanctions on Russia were arduous. Language on the Israel-Palestinian conflict and notions of a two-state solution needed diplomatic finesse to satisfy all sides.

President Donald Trump's tariffs as well as his friendlier approach to Russia have shocked allies and initially soured the normally friendly G7 gathering. Diplomats worked late into the night, rare for a meeting of allies traditionally aligned on most subjects.

But by Friday morning, like the choosing of a new Pope, the white smoke appeared and ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, along with the European Union, overcame differences, surprising even themselves to stand united in a joint communique.

Ahead of the meeting, G7 diplomats had questioned whether U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, joining the gathering following a high-stakes meeting with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, would adopt the combative approach of his boss or be willing to work closely with allies.

Afterwards, G7 diplomats credited the top U.S. diplomat, saying he was instrumental in finalizing a deal on a joint communique, with one calling him a "good guy."

Rubio did not hold back in the negotiations, according to four diplomats aware of the talks. He was candid, firm on the administration's key positions on China and the Middle East, but also flexible on other issues, and listened to how allies perceived the situation, notably on Ukraine.

"I think what's important, and something I said at the outset, which everybody agreed with, is that we're not going to allow the things we disagree on - and we'll disagree on things - to keep us from working closely on the things we agree on," Rubio told reporters.

"There are a lot of those. And hopefully the statement reflects that, and our actions will reflect that."

One issue, for example, was the Middle East peace process. Diplomats said Rubio was steadfast in his position that mention of a two-state solution between Israel and Palestinians was a red line.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment asking about Rubio's role in the discussions.

BECOMING FRIENDS

Relations between the United States and Canada are at a modern-day low, thanks to Trump's threats to impose tariffs on all imports from Canada and his frequent musing about annexing the country to make it the 51st U.S. state.

Still, there were lighter moments behind the scenes and room for personal relationships to develop.

Promising to be on the offensive about tariffs, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly jokingly thanked Rubio in one session when he referred to Canada as a nation, according to two diplomats.

"She's become a friend in the last few weeks as we work together," Rubio said, adding that he had gotten to know her in his role as secretary of state. The two held bilateral talks on Thursday morning.

While the top U.S. diplomat was absent from some of the colorful social events on the sidelines, such as a marshmallow sandwich reception hosted by Joly, diplomats said he emerged as a reliable counterpart, providing a respite from the often unpredictable messages of the Trump administration.

"Rubio is quite a good guy in the administration, so we'd like to support him so that he can play an important or influential role within the Trump administration," said a G7 diplomat.

(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Humeyra Pamuk and Rod Nickel)
(Reuters) - A Russian missile struck a residential area in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih on Friday, injuring 11 people, including two children, the regional governor said.

Serhiy Lysak, Governor of Dnipropetrovsk region, posted photos on his Telegram channel, showing damage to high-rise apartment buildings, private homes and a building which appeared to house a number of businesses.

Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's military administration, said two areas took direct hits. One of the sites hit was a night club, he said.

Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hometown, has been the target of repeated attacks in the three-year-old war against Russia. A Russian missile attack on Wednesday killed one person and damaged an infrastructure facility, high-rise apartment blocks and administrative buildings.

In the southern region of Kherson, Russian guided bombs struck a series of targets, including a residential area in the city of Kherson, killing one person, the regional governor said on Telegram.

And near the Black Sea city of Odesa, Russian drones attacked the nearby port of Chornomorsk, cutting power completely to its residents, the regional governor said.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Editing by David Gregorio)
President Donald Trump appears to have expanded the scope of the travel ban from his first term to include 43 countries, according to a report.

Although Trump failed to reintroduce the travel ban on day one of his second term, as he promised, he did issue an executive order on January 20 directing cabinet members to draft a list of countries that should face full or partial travel restrictions because their "vetting and screening information is so deficient" within 60 days.

Now, with that deadline approaching, a draft list of proposed countries banned from traveling to the US is circulating, the New York Times reported.

A White House official told The Independent no decision has been made.

It was developed by the State Department weeks ago, officials familiar with the matter told the outlet, who cautioned it will likely undergo changes by the time the White House gets ahold of it.

The Independent has reached out to the State Department for comment.

President Donald Trumps administration has proposed a three-tier ban on citizens from certain countries from entering the US (AFP via Getty)

The draft list was separated into three sections  red, orange, and yellow  to denote the level of restriction, according to the outlet.

The red list includes 11 countries whose citizens would be entirely forbidden from entering the US: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

Ten countries whose citizens will be limited from entering but not entirely banned, meaning they are required to have specific visas, were on the orange list. People of Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Turkmenistan will have to sit for in-person interviews to obtain a visa, the outlet reported.

The yellow list contains 22 countries, mostly African nations, that the Trump administration is giving 60 days to address its concerns over alleged deficiencies. If these nations dont comply, they risk being placed on the red or orange lists, the Times reported.

This list includes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.

Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20 directing cabinet members to draft a list of countries that should face full or partial travel restrictions because their vetting and screening information is so deficient within 60 days (AP)

Security specialists and embassy officials at State Department regional bureaus are reviewing the proposal and providing comments as to the accuracy of the so-called deficiencies or whether there are policy reasons to avoid certain categorizations, the outlet reported.

In his January 20 executive order, Trump said the travel ban would protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.

On former President Joe Bidens first day in office in 2021, he issued a proclamation to terminate Trumps travel bans. He said Trumps bans were a stain on our national conscience and [were] inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all.
By Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration official overseeing the dismantling of the main U.S. foreign aid agency proposed phasing out help for crisis-torn Lebanon and the Rohingya, the world's largest stateless population, according to an email reviewed by Reuters.

Written on February 16 by Peter Marocco, the acting USAID deputy administrator, the email provides a window into some of the thinking behind the administration's drive to terminate aid programs that it does not believe benefit the U.S.

In it, Marocco appeared to want the Rohingya and Lebanon to express their gratitude for U.S. support, saying the U.S. "should procure some type of consideration or good faith from the recipient populations to the American people."

The email directed Tim Meisburger, the head of USAID's humanitarian affairs bureau, to draft an Action memo drawing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's attention to the odd dependency of Lebanon and the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar on U.S. aid.

It should outline options for how we recommend, immediately, sending the signal, that though we have compassion, people had the warning on November 5, and things will have to change," Marocco wrote, referring to Trump's 2024 re-election.

"Please propose the best method and timeline of weening this dependency and what we might seek, from them  or partners. Nothing is owed, he wrote, apparently meaning an absence of any U.S. obligation to provide further support.

A source with knowledge of the issue confirmed the authenticity of the email and that Marocco sought to phase out aid to the Rohingya and Lebanon.

Marocco "is not convinced these people need more aid," the source said.

The State Department declined to comment. Marocco and Meisburger did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Reuters could not determine whether Meisburger sent the requested memo to Rubio or how much U.S. aid continues to flow to Lebanon or the more than 1 million Rohingyas who have fled violent persecution in Myanmar that the U.S. in 2022 declared a genocide.

The United States provides military, humanitarian and other assistance to Lebanon.

Marocco sent the email as he and billionaire Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency were launching a drive to shrink USAID and merge its remnants into the State Department.

They have fired hundreds of staff and contractors and terminated billions of dollars in services on which tens of millions of people around the world depend. Rubio on Monday said more than 80% of all USAID programs have been canceled.

ROHINGYA AID COVERED BY WAIVER

The drive began hours after Trump took office on January 20, with the Republican president ordering a 90-day freeze on all foreign assistance pending reviews of whether aid programs conformed with his America First foreign policy.

Food aid for the Rohingya and Lebanon was shielded by a waiver from the freeze for emergency food aid issued by Rubio on February 24, the source said.

Four days later, Rubio granted a waiver for all life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, supplies and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such aid.

The U.S. has been the largest provider of aid to the Rohingya refugees, contributing nearly $2.4 billion since 2017, according to a State Department website.

More than 1 million Rohingyas live in squalid camps in the Coxs Bazar district of Bangladesh, which borders Myanmar, and according to the U.N. refugee agency, 95% of Rohingya households depend on humanitarian assistance.

Others have sought refuge in Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Thailand and elsewhere.

The United Nations earlier this month warned it will have to cut monthly food rations to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh from $12.50 to $6 next month, unless it can raise more funds.

Visiting Cox's Bazar on Friday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the U.N. will do all it can to help prevent cuts to the refugees' rations.

Lebanon has been rocked by a series of crises, including an influx of refugees from Syria, political paralysis, a financial collapse, a blast that devastated Beirut's port and fighting that erupted in October 2023 between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement that uprooted tens of thousands.

The U.S. long has viewed Lebanon's stability as critical to that of the region and sought to counter the influence that Iran has exerted there through Hezbollah, part of Tehran's Axis of Resistance against Israel.

To that end, successive Democratic and Republican presidents, including Trump in his first term, have approved since 2001 more than $5.5 billion in humanitarian, military and other aid for Lebanon, according to a USAID website.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Editing by Don Durfee and Daniel Wallis)
Nestled in a modest storefront in New York Citys East Village, Mary Os Irish Soda Bread Shop blends into the other red-brick businesses on the block. But one thing sets it apart: Customers routinely line up, sometimes for hours, to get their hands on her freshly baked goods before they sell out.

The shops menu is simple, featuring Irish soda bread loaves and scones served with salty butter and fresh raspberry jam. The recipes, passed down through generations of Mary OHallorans family, are at the core of her operations. But the secret to her success is precision. Only OHalloran herself handles the batter, a non-negotiable standard she insists maintains the quality of her baked goods.

Ive had people come and say, Why dont you have somebody come in and help you? Its not going to work, she said. The scone does not come out the same.

Mary OHalloran mixes her next batch of soda bread batter for customers waiting in the store.

Mary Os storefront in the East Village of New York.

OHalloran said the demand for her soda bread scones surges every March for St. Patricks Day, but her journey to success hasnt been easy. Five years ago, OHalloran was facing the closure of her East Village pub due to the financial strain of the Covid-19 pandemic. Her husband, a longshoreman working in Alaska, was unable to return home due to travel restrictions, leaving her to manage the business alone.

Mary OHallorans Irish soda bread loaf.

Mary OHallorans Irish soda bread scone served with Irish butter and fresh raspberry jam.

It was her loyal pub customers who encouraged her to start selling her scones, a treat they had grown to love. What began as a small-scale venture soon caught the attention of Brandon Stanton, the creator of the viral Humans of New York social media account with more than 12 million followers.

After interviewing OHalloran, Stanton offered to help spread the word about her scones. Reluctant at first, OHalloran eventually agreed, leading to a spike in sales.

So I wrote a story on this, and we ended up that night selling a million dollars worth of scones, Stanton told NBC News. It is one of the greatest stories in the world.

Customers line up inside Mary OHallorans shop for scones and loaves of Irish soda bread.

The overwhelming response turned OHallorans small baking operation into a community effort. Regular customers and neighbors pitched in by packing orders, printing labels and decorating boxes with handwritten notes and custom drawings from one of her daughters. Despite the surge in demand, OHalloran remained committed to quality, handling every batch of batter herself.

Mary is where she is because that scone tastes so dang good, Stanton said. She would have got there without me.

It took more than a year to fulfill the backlog of orders, but the hard work paid off. The revenue not only saved her pub, but allowed her to open Mary Os Irish Soda Bread Shop in November 2024. Customers from around the world flock to her store to sample the viral scones and meet the woman behind the treats.

I live in Los Angeles, but they told me, you know, next time youre in town, theres a place we have to go, and its the best scone youve ever had. Its the best soda bread, out-of-towner David Murphy said.

For OHalloran, the hard work has been worth it.

I love it, so its easy, she said. Of course Im tired, but I love what I get from it with people. So its easy.
Handout Sudiksha Konanki

The parents of Joshua Riibe, the American tourist who was named a person of interest in the Dominican Republic disappearance of University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki, said their son had been "detained under irregular conditions."

Riibe, 22  who hasn't been accused of or charged with a crime  was recently named a person of interest by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office in Virginia after Konanki, 20, was last seen at a beach at the Riu Republica resort in Punta Cana on March 6.

The man's parents have since released a statement, shared by Pittsburgh ABC affiliate WTAE, expressing their "deep sorrow and solidarity" with Konanki's family, as they explained that their son had "fully cooperated in the search and clarification of the facts from the very beginning."

Then detailing their "concern" related to his questioning, the parents continued, "Despite his full willingness to cooperate, Josh has been detained under irregular conditions and subjected to extensive questioning without the presence of official translators or legal counsel until Wednesday, March 12."

"He has remained in his hotel room under police surveillance and has been repeatedly taken to the police station since March 6, where he has been interrogated for long hours," the parents added. "This situation has raised serious concern within his family, which has led us to retain legal counsel to initiate legal actions ensuring his safety and the protection of his rights throughout this process."

AP Photo/Francesco Spotorno Officials search for Sudiksha Konanki in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic on March 10, 2025

Related: Person of Interest in Sudiksha Konanki's Disappearance Gave Differing Accounts During Questioning: Source

Riibe is a student at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, his parents  identified as Albert and Tina Riibe by The Minnesota Star Tribute  also confirmed in the statement.

Konanki was part of a group of six female students traveling for spring break this month. A source close to the investigation said her clothes were discovered on a chaise lounge on the beach, as Dominican outlet El Nacional reported that no signs of foul play were detected.

Riibe remained in custody as of March 13, when a source told PEOPLE that he was "still at the hotel he was holidaying in and remains at the disposal of the Dominican and U.S. authorities for further clarifications."

That same day, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office told PEOPLE that Riibe is not a suspect and is still considered a person of interest to the office, "as he may have been the last one to see her."

A prosecutor's office source previously claimed that Riibe's story changed over the course of four interrogations. He maintains he first met Konanki at the hotel where they stayed and had been "partying" together with friends, the insider said.

We are keeping all avenues of investigation open, but at this time we have no concrete elements that could lead us to believe that foul play was involved," a police source told PEOPLE.

Related: Footage Shows Missing Student Sudiksha Konanki Walking Arm-in-Arm with Man Toward Beach Before She Vanished

According to a source close to the investigation, Konanki and seven others left their hotel for a beach walk around 4:15 a.m. local time on March 6 after having drinks.

Later, six of the eight could be seen returning in security camera footage shot at around 5:55 a.m. Investigators determined that Riibe returned to the hotel around 9 a.m. Konanki's friends later reported her missing to hotel staff at 4 p.m. that day.

Following her disappearance, Dominican National Police said an "exhaustive search was launched by sea, air, and land."

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.

According to ABC News, which cites two Dominican Republic sources who provided a transcript of his conversation with a prosecutor, Riibe claimed he met Konanki that night and that they kissed.

He added that they were hit by a "big wave" that pulled them "into the ocean," before he "swam to get her out of the water." Per the outlet, he claimed he "thought she had taken her things and left."

Riibe's family later said in their statement, per WTAE, that their son is "deeply dismayed by" Konanki's "disappearance and has fully cooperated in the search and clarification of the facts from the very beginning."

The Konanki family previously told USA Today that they are "going through an incredibly difficult time" and "are deeply saddened."

"We kindly request privacy as we cope with this challenging moment together," they added.

In a prior news release, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said that 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. The LCSO is hopeful for the safe return of Sudiksha Konanki, and we are committed to supporting this investigation and her family in every way possible," the office continued.

Read the original article on People
In this 2020 photo, Ebrahim Rasool addresses the Cape Town Press Club on December 15, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. - Gallo Images/Gallo Images/Getty Images

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday said that South Africas ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country.

Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates President Donald Trump, Rubio alleged in a post on X.

We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA, Rubio wrote. Declaring someone persona non grata (PNG) is a severe diplomatic rebuke and usually forces them to leave the host country.

Rasool must leave the US by March 21, a State Department spokesperson told CNN Saturday.

South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa called the decision regrettable and expressed his commitment to building a mutually beneficial relationship.

The Presidency urges all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter, Ramaphosas office said in a statement.

Rubios post linked to an article from the right-wing news outlet Breitbart about Rasools comments to a think tank Friday about Trumps election and presidency.

The PNG declaration against Rasool is the latest chapter in the plummeting relationship between the US and South Africa. There had been tensions between the two countries under the Biden administration. However, since Trump began his second term the US has taken a series of punitive measures against South Africa, whose government has been met with ire not only from Trump, but also his ally tech billionaire Elon Musk, who was born and raised in the country.

Both Trump and Musk have alleged that White farmers in the country are being discriminated against under land reform policies that South Africas government says are necessary to remedy the legacy of apartheid.

In the comments that seem to have triggered Rubios PNG declaration, Rasool was discussing the continuities from the Biden administration as well as the discontinuities.

What Donald Trump is launching is an assault on incumbency, those who are in power, by mobilizing a supremacism against the incumbency at home and  abroad as well, said Rasool, who was on his second tour as ambassador to the US. He presented his credentials in mid-January to then President Joe Biden and previously served in Washington, DC, under the Obama administration.

He said that the Make America Great Again movement was a response not simply to a supremacist instinct, but to shifts in US demographics in which the voting electorate in the USA is projected to become 48% white and that the possibility of a majority of minorities is looming on the horizon.

So that needs to be factored in, so that we understand some of the things that we think are instinctive, nativist, racist things, I think that theres data that, for example, would support that, that would go to this wall being built, the deportation movement, etc. etc., he said as part of his nearly 20-minute-long remarks to the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA).

Rasool said its no accident that Musk has involved himself in far-right British politics and that Vice President JD Vance met with the leader of a far-right German political party before the elections there.

That then begins to say what was the role then of Afrikaners in that whole project, he continued. Very clearly its to project white victimhood as a dog whistle.

In January, South Africa enacted the Expropriation Act, seeking to undo the legacy of apartheid, which created huge disparities in land ownership among its majority Black and minority White population.

Under apartheid, non-White South Africans were forcibly dispossessed from their lands for the benefit of Whites. Today, some three decades after racial segregation officially ended in the country, Black South Africans, who comprise over 80% of the population of 63 million, own only around 4% of private land.

The expropriation law empowers South Africas government to take land and redistribute it  with no obligation to pay compensation in some instances  if the seizure is found to be just and equitable and in the public interest.

Ramaphosa said the legislation would ensure public access to land in an equitable and just manner. But the White House disagrees and Trump and Musk believe the land reform policy discriminates against White South Africans.

The policy has prompted a strong reaction from the Trump administration.

In early February, Rubio announced he would not attend the meeting of the G20 foreign ministers in Johannesburg, saying at the time that South Africa is doing very bad things.

Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote solidarity, equality, & sustainability. In other words: DEI and climate change, the top US diplomat alleged. My job is to advance Americas national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism.

Just days later, Trump suspended aid to South Africa, alleging discrimination against White farmers. In that same executive order, the president said the US would promote the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation. Earlier this month, Trump said in a post on social media that any Farmer (with family!) from South Africa, seeking to flee that country for reasons of safety, will be invited into the United States of America with a rapid pathway to Citizenship.

The State Department spokesperson told CNN Saturday that the agency is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security and has begun implementing refugee resettlement for Afrikaners, adding that initial interviews are underway.

CNNs Nimi Princewill and Lucas Lilieholm contributed to this report.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his troops are still holding off Russian and North Korean forces in Russias Kursk region after a U.S. military official said Russian forces could retake Kursk very soon.

"There is no encirclement of our troops," Zelenskyy posted on X Saturday, saying instead that Russia was accumulating forces along Ukraine's eastern border.

This indicates an intention to attack our Sumy region, he said. We are aware of this, and will counter it.

Zelenskyy also dismissed claims of encirclement in Kursk as "a lie" from Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that Ukraine's presence in the Kursk region remains intact.

"I am grateful that the intelligence data matched today, and we discussed that the Ukrainian side has a presence in the territory of Kursk Oblast, and that the encirclement of Ukrainian troops is a lie from Putin," he said at a press conference Saturday. "There is no encirclement of Ukrainian troops in the territory of Kursk Oblast."

Putins hesitant response to a U.S-brokered proposed ceasefire in Ukraine has coincided with a push by his countrys forces to roll back Ukrainian troops in Russias Kursk region, according to two Western officials.

Ukrainian troops seized the area inside Russia, just over Ukraines eastern border, last year in an audacious move that embarrassed Moscow. But losing control of the Kursk region would be a blow for Kyiv, as the Ukrainian government has viewed the territory as valuable leverage in any future peace talks.

President Donald Trump said Friday on Truth Social that "thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded," and that he had asked Putin not to attack them.

Over the past 11 days, Russian forces stepped up ground and air attacks on the Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region from multiple directions, two Western officials and a military analyst said.

The intensified offensive was launched after the Trump administration temporarily suspended military and intelligence assistance to Kyiv on March 3, which a European official and analysts say was likely not a coincidence.

Russian service members walk along a street in a part of the Kursk region which was recently retaken by Russias armed forces, on Friday.

The U.S. assistance was restored on Wednesday, after the Trump administration said it was satisfied Ukraines government was ready to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia.

After hammering Ukrainian troops for days around Sudzha, Russian forces have taken back the town in the Kursk region, Russian officials said on Thursday.

If current trends continue, Russian forces could soon recapture the entire area that Ukrainian troops had occupied since August, according to Angelica Evans, a Russia analyst with the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based research group that publishes daily assessments of the conflict.

Russia had steadily built up a large force around Kursk since Ukrainians seized the area in August, with an estimated 78,000 Russian and North Korean troops on the ground, according to Evans.

They have had the capability to retake the salient for a couple of months, probably. But we have really not seen an effort to prioritize it until the last week or so, she said.

Over two days, Russia dropped several three-ton FAB-3000 bombs against Ukrainian targets in Kursk that it rarely employs on the front line, according to Evans. The Russians use guidance kits to convert large free-fall bombs into guided glide bombs that can be launched from outside the range of most of Ukraines air defense systems.

Ukraine denied that its troops were surrounded in Kursk or in danger of encirclement.

Reports of the alleged encirclement of Ukrainian units by the enemy in the Kursk region are false and fabricated by the Russians for political manipulation and to exert pressure on Ukraine and its partners, Ukraines general staff said in a statement Friday.

Ukraines incursion into Russia in August marked the first time a foreign army had occupied Russian land since World War II.

As Ukrainian troops came under pressure in Kursk, President Donald Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, met Putin in Moscow on Thursday to try to advance a proposed ceasefire agreement in Ukraine. A Kremlin spokesperson said afterward that there were reasons to be cautiously optimistic about the prospects for ending the war.

Before meeting Witkoff, Putin said that although in theory he accepted the ceasefire on the table, he said many nuances had to be worked out, including the fate of Ukrainian troops in Kursk.

Putin appeared to be trying to complicate the negotiations to buy time for Russian forces as they advance in Kursk, the European official said.

Referring to the Ukrainians in Kursk, Putin asked what will happen to the troops if a ceasefire is agreed. Will all those who are there come out without a fight? Or will the Ukrainian leadership order them to lay down arms and surrender?

In a social media post on Friday, Trump indicated Ukrainian troops faced dire circumstances, though he did not specify where.

Thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military, Trump wrote in all capital letters. He added that had asked Putin to spare the lives of the Ukrainian troops.

Zelenskyy has said his country continues to support a 30-day ceasefire as a step toward a lasting peace. He accused Russia of deliberately setting conditions that only complicate and drag out the process.




The dogs on this bus go '"woof, woof, woof!" all day long.

When Hope Mehlberg first started taking her dogs out for a walk after work, it was just to touch grass and relieve stress after a hectic day at work. However, she never thought it would blossom into a full-time doggie day care service requiring a school bus to transport the dogs.

"I worked really early morning shifts (and I'd) get home about noon every day," Mehlberg, a former federal government employee, who lives in Oconto, Wisconsin, a small city of about 4,500 residents about 150 miles north of Milwaukee, told USA TODAY. "I was like, 'Okay, I need to do something,' so I started with just my own two dogs."

Mehlberg's two dogs then were Dodge, a 10-year-old yellow lab, who will turn 11 in April and Teddy, who was 9. Teddy, who unfortunately had to be put down last week for a terminal illness, would accompany Mehlberg on her trips every day, while Dodge would come less often given his age. Shortly, after her in-laws' dogs joined in her daily walks and Mehlberg said she "would come home from work and load those four dogs up into my personal vehicle, and I would just go walk."

"It was just about getting out of the house. It was like a stress reliever," Mehlberg added.

'Where is the third baby?': Concern grows over Jackie and Shadow's missing eaglet

How this doggie day care service began

One day as Mehlberg and her husband were having lunch at home, they heard a piercing squeal, like a dog crying. When they went out to investigate, they found a big German Shepherd which had been hit by a truck.

Turns out the dog, named Zeppelin, and his family had just moved into town and were settling in when the accident happened. Mehlberg said Zeppelin's family had a convertible, which wasn't adequate to transport the dog to the vet, so she went and got her car and drove the dog and his owner to an animal hospital about an hour away because the local vet did not have the equipment needed for the emergency surgery. The collision had left Zeppelin with a collapsed lung and other internal injuries, which took more than a month to heal.

After Zeppelin recovered, his owner reached out to Mehlberg asking if he could join Mehlberg's pack on their daily walks.

"A lot of (who) I call my pet parents are working throughout the day, so it's just a nice little service to get their dogs out of the house, get some interaction and play time because in our location, the closest doggie daycare is about 20 to 30 minutes away," Mehlberg said.

Mehlberg said she discussed the idea with her husband and decided to start a part-time thing in the afternoons. However, her car was not big enough to transport so many dogs, and she eventually purchased a Ford utility van.

"I took all the seats out, and then I was just transporting dogs that way," Mehlberg said.

Soon enough, word spread and pet owners in the area started reaching out to Mehlberg, asking her if she could add their dogs to her daily walks as well. For two years, Mehlberg worked part-time on the "pet-walking service," as she calls it, rushing after work to take the dogs out.

A 'leap of faith' to embark on a new business

In May 2023, as her customer base expanded, Mehlberg took a leap of faith, quit her day job and started K9 Konvoy.

"That is when I got the bus," said Mehlberg, who sold the utility van to the local high school. "It's kind of just been a wild ride. I'm overwhelmed with all of the support."

Mehlberg now transports between 22 and 26 dogs of all kinds of breeds, sizes and age every day, picking them up from their homes and taking them to the park, where the dogs play and socialize with each other.

"It's insane. I never would have thought it would have been become anything like this but here we are," Mehlberg said.

A day in the life of transporting pooches

The founder said her day begins at 8 a.m. when she revs up the engine and loads her dogs onto the bus before heading out to collect the other dogs. Mehlberg said it takes her about an hour, give or take, to collect all the dogs after which she heads to the park.

The three-acre park where the dogs play is owned by Mehlberg's family. Mehlberg said when she started the doggie care service full-time, they cleared out the area, fenced it and added toys and play areas for the dog, including tire swings and trails. Mehlberg added the park is "consistently evolving," and she plans to add a lot more activities once the weather improves.

"The biggest thing with me is I let dogs be dogs," Mehlberg said. "If there are mud puddles out there, I let them roll. At the end of the day, if they are dirty or I have to bathe them, then I did my job."

After a long day of socializing and playing, the dogs then enjoy snack time and are cleaned up if they are dirty before being boarded back onto the bus to go home.

Hanging with hounds is the 'best job'

For now, Mehlberg is single-handedly running the business, from driving the dogs to managing K9 Konvoy's social media accounts, although her husband does help with maintenance stuff. However, she loves every aspect of it.

"I get to spend the day with dogs," Mehlberg said. "I can't complain about that. Some days are a little faster than others, but overall, it is most the best job I've ever had, and I think I will ever have."

(This story was updated to fix a typo.)

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wisconsin-based doggie care K9 Konvoy transports dogs on a school bus
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) leaves the Democratic caucus lunch at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on March 13, 2025. Credit - Kayla BartkowskiGetty Images

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The Senates move Friday to avoid a government shutdownessentially ceding spending power to President Donald Trump and downgrading Congress to an advisory rolewas an epic climbdown that is rightfully sending the Democrats base into a spiral.

The rage among Democrats trained on one figure: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who signaled a day earlier that the fight was over and it was time to move on. The choice was to hold open the doors of a scaled-down government or to slam it closed on what stood before, and the outcome tells the story.

That does not mean anyone in the party was happy about how this went down.

Asked Friday if it was time for a new Leadership team for Senate Democrats, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declined to throw Schumer a life preserver. "Next question," Jeffries said. In other spaces, there was an open talk of primarying Schumer when he is next on the ballot in 2028.

Nine Senate Democratsand Independent Angus King of Maine who caucuses with themjoined all but one Senate Republican on Friday to sidestep a government shutdown. The stopgap spending plan gives the White House a freer hand to shutter dozens of federal functions created by Congress and eliminate thousands of jobs. Congress, at least through Sept. 30, is in effect legislating a stronger executive branch that can basically do anything with the money lawmakers release.

It was a crap ending to whats been a crap week for Democrats, frankly. On top of all of the chaos unfurling from the Trump White House by way of new executive orders, hires, fires, and tariffs, they have also had to face this ticking clock of a government shutdown. House Republicans jammed Democrats with a party-line spending plan that is especially heinous in its cuts to the District of Columbia. Then, the House ditched town, giving the Senate zero say to tweak the spending. Then, Schumer on Wednesday asserted the framework had insufficient support to get across the finish line. And, then, a day later, he said he would support the spending structure to block a shutdown.

The whiplash from the shut-it-down to keep-it-alive posturing only fed the contempt that many Democrats were already harboring toward their current leaders.

Whatever happens will happen, said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, who was a no vote and used the hours ahead of the votes to telegraph a dark fatalism.

That resignation has been bleeding through Washington in recent weeks. The fight among anti-Trumpers of all stripes has faded in recent days as Trumps brazen conquest of the spending system was looking increasingly inevitable. The chest-thumping celebrations in the White House and the antics of its pet-project DOGE intersected to rile up Democrats, who have been trying to defend all corners of the federal cogs.

Ultimately, though, the Democrats in a position to thwart Trump and his GOP allies caved. Republicans have majorities in the House and Senate, plus control of the White House. But Senate rules require 60 votes to get balls rolling, and Republicans had just 52 yes votes in the Upper Chamber. That meant GOP lawmakers needed to get eight converts among Democrats.

Senate Democrats looked at the math, polling, and their own talents. They made the call that the mismatch of their desire to oppose Trumps unilateral power grab did not match their ability to actually stop it. Poli-sci nerds will tell you that actual power lies at the point where will and capacity are synced up. Democrats had the power to shut down the government but lacked the bandwidth to sell it as the other guys fault, or put forth a unified plan on how to reopen the government on better terms.

The problem now lies with how Democrats deal with the Schumer sitch. They are very, very quiet at the moment, but there are the faintest of rumblings about whether Schumer gets to hold his position as Minority Leader for the balance of this term. Progressive and rank-and-file corners of the party alike were uneasy about this call, and steering this unruly ship into 2026 is a job that is not something to be taken lightly.

To be clear: Schumer is not at risk of being deposed in short order, and Democrats do not carry House Republicans appetite for cannibalizing their own. Schumer acts on calculations, not confidences. His decision to side with keeping the government open at the expense of legislative branch power came from a place of rationality, not rashness. But it still carried costs, and the first among them was his standing with frustrated Democrats who want the opposition party to do its job: to oppose an administration hellbent on dismantling a government it holds in sheer contempt.

Government, for the moment, survives. Democrats, for the foreseeable future, find their ability to check Trump diminished. And, until Congress reverses itself, the legislative branch takes a secondary role to the executive.

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Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com.
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks at a news conference to address the impact of the proposed continuing resolution, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, March 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Senate swiftly approved legislation late Friday that would allow the District of Columbia to keep its budget intact, rather than roll back to 2024, fixing a provision that had drawn protests from the mayor and residents warning it would require $1 billion in cuts to services.

The bill passed unanimously, without dissent, and now heads to the House. Lawmakers there are on recess, but expected to consider it when they return in late March.

The issue here is just allowing the D.C. government to proceed to spend its own tax revenues, said Sen. Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, the chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, during a brief floor debate.

Collins said the legislation would correct the situation that arose from the broader package to prevent a government shutdown, and assured, There are no federal dollars involved.

After Fridays vote, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser released a statement saying: Senate approval today is a major first step as we continue working with the House of Representatives on final passage to ensure critical services provided in the Nations Capital, including our police officers, firefighters, teachers, medical services and hospital network, arent haphazardly cut in the middle of the fiscal year. DC is proud of our strong financial management, balanced budgets, and strong bond ratings.

The sudden focus on the District of Columbia startled its leaders and residents, who rushed to Capitol Hill this week to protest the way Congress was interfering with its governance. Residents have been flooding senators offices, demanding the change.

While the District won the power of Home Rule during the Nixon administration, it is facing new threats as Congress, which maintains ultimate oversight of the region of 700,000 people, is in the hands of Republican majorities who have suggested more federal control.

The problem arose in the House Republican-passed package to fund the federal government past Friday's deadline to prevent a shutdown. It failed to include a routine provision allowing the District of Columbia's budget, which is made up mostly of its own tax revenues but subject to approvals by Congress. Instead, it held the Districts budget at 2024 levels, which officials would result in essentially a $1 billion cut to police, education and other services.

Senators were unable to amend the federal funding package, or risk a government shutdown, but in passing the separate bill, they said they were on track toward fixing the situation for the District of Columbia.

Very good news, said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, announcing the agreement. We urge the House to act quickly.

Bowser, who has worked to ensure a working relationship with the Trump administration in a city that routinely votes for Democrats, stood outside the U.S. Capitol with members of the city council earlier in the week and urged Congress to act.

Last month, President Donald Trump said Washington, D.C., would be better off under total federal control, and two Republicans have offered legislation to do just that.

Bowser has tried to accommodate Trumps concerns as well as those of Republicans, including recently removing the Black Lives Matter Plaza that was erected in 2020, one block from the White House.

For me, it isnt really complicated. The people of D.C. deserve a fair shake, said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon. ___
The Group of Seven powers Friday warned Russia of new sanctions unless it accepts a ceasefire with Ukraine, in a forceful show of unity after President Donald Trump rattled the club of democracies.

Meeting at a rustic hotel in rural Quebec, G7 foreign ministers also backed Ukraine's fight for its "territorial integrity" and spoke of Russia's "aggression," terminology earlier eschewed by Trump as he reached out to Moscow.

The consensus on Ukraine came despite mounting tension within the G7 -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- as Trump slaps punishing tariffs on both friends and foes and questions the very sovereignty of host Canada.

A G7 statement backed a US-led call for a 30-day truce embraced by Ukraine and "called for Russia to reciprocate by agreeing to a ceasefire on equal terms and implementing it fully."

"They discussed imposing further costs on Russia in case such a ceasefire is not agreed, including through further sanctions, caps on oil prices, as well as additional support for Ukraine, and other means," such as using frozen Russian assets.

The Group of Seven also noted the "need for robust and credible security arrangements to ensure that Ukraine can deter and defend against any renewed acts of aggression."

It did not elaborate further, and Trump has closed the door on admitting Ukraine into NATO, an idea loathed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that Trump did not want to impose further sanctions on Russia but "the US has these options available" if needed.

Hailing the rapid US-led diplomacy in recent days, Rubio said "there's reason to be cautiously optimistic" about securing a truce between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump since his return to power has stunned allies by reopening dialogue with Putin and briefly cutting off US aid and intelligence sharing that has been vital to Ukraine since Russia invaded three years ago.

But the diplomatic picture changed dramatically Tuesday when Rubio and Trump's national security advisor Mike Waltz met Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia.

The Ukrainians, eager to restore the relationship after a disastrous visit to Washington by President Volodymyr Zelensky, welcomed a US call for a 30-day proposal, which a Trump envoy then presented to Moscow.

Putin said Thursday that he generally backed the truce but wanted more clarification, leading Germany and Ukraine to accuse him of a delaying tactic.

Despite Trump's taunting of Canada, Rubio hailed Foreign Minister Melanie Joly for doing a "great job" in reaching a "strong statement" by the G7.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy applauded what he called "unity that now is the time for a ceasefire with no conditions."

"I think that there is a coalition of the willing emerging to give Ukraine the security architecture and arrangements that they need," Lammy told AFP in a pooled interview.

Joly also voiced satisfaction at the "strong G7 unity" and said: "Ultimately, the ball is now in Russia's court."

But Joly -- who left early for Ottawa to attend Mark Carney's swearing in as Canada's new prime minister -- noted that divisions remained on Trump's tariffs push.

She also said she sought solidarity faced with bellicose language by Trump, who has mocked Canada as the 51st US state and just Thursday quipped that national anthem "O Canada" would sound nice as a state song.

G7 colleagues had taken Trump's remarks "in humorous way," Joly said.

"But I said to them, this is not a joke. Canadians are anxious. Canadians are proud people, and you are here in a sovereign country," she said.

The G7 statement also called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as Israel ramps up pressure on Hamas after a teetering US-backed deal froze the deadly war.

The statement called for "unhindered humanitarian aid" into Gaza after Israel cut off supplies and electricity to Gaza in a bid to pressure Hamas.

It marks a possible shift by the Trump administration, which has strongly backed Israel and not criticized such moves, despite the potential impact on civilians.
At least three people have died in Missouri after a powerful system of storms swept across the central part of the United States on the way east Saturday morning, with weather warnings issued in several states.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said on X that a tornado had caused two deaths in the Bakersfield area in Ozark County, with reports of multiple injuries. It posted pictures of wrecked and ruined buildings, and a smashed up car on the roadside.

Another person died in Butler County, on Missouri's border with Arkansas, after a mobile home was hit by extreme weather on Friday night, the county's rescue services told NBC News.

Butler County Emergency Management said the number of fatalities there may rise, with the search and rescue operations at the site ongoing.

Tornado warnings continued in several states into Saturday morning. More than 400,000 customers are without power across the Midwest and South, according to PowerOutage.us, an organizaiton that aggregates live power outage data.

Tornadoes were reported to have ripped down trees and power lines in Missouri, according to the National Weather Service, and NBC affiliate KSDK of St. Louis reported that businesses were damaged and tractor-trailers were overturned.

Tornadoes were also reported in Arkansas and Mississippi. The reports are unconfirmed; storm survey teams typically determine later whether tornadoes actually occurred. The weather service for Jackson, Mississippi, shared a photo on X of what was said to be a large wedge tornado north of Cruger.

Photos posted by the Missouri Highway Patrol showed storm damage in Rolla, Missouri, around 95 miles southwest of St. Louis, and to a bus barn in Dixon.

In Texas, blinding dust was blamed for deadly vehicle crashes.

An estimated 138 million people are at risk of severe storms in the nation's midsection throughout the weekend. Strong nighttime tornadoes at EF2 on the tornado strength scale, defined by sustained winds of 113 to 157 mph, are possible from southern Iowa to Jackson, Mississippi.

The worst of the system is also threatening damaging winds and hail into Saturday. Hail the size of baseballs was reported in Christian County, Missouri, on Friday night, the weather service said.

Widespread tornado, severe weather risk

Overnight and into Saturday morning, the National Weather Service issued multiple tornado warnings in Missouri, including in the metro St. Louis area, and western Illinois as the front moved east. Tornado warnings were also issued in parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Indiana and Kentucky.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency on Friday as the state prepared for the fronts unstable air overnight. The declaration will allow state resources to reach local governments quicker, his office said.

I urge all Missourians to stay alert, monitor weather forecasts, and follow official warnings, he said.

Florissant, Missouri, Mayor Timothy Lowery told KSDK that weve got a lot of damage in the city, including to many houses. A tree also fell on landmark restaurant Hendels, the station reported.

So, tonights been, Ill say a very horrible night here in the city of Florissant, Lowery said.

Police in St. Louis warned late Friday that there were reports of vehicles getting trapped in high water, and urged people to Turn around dont drown!

Tornado watches were issued for parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee until at least 3 a.m. CT, with some watches extended until 5 a.m.

A tornado outbreak across the central Gulf Coast states into the Tennessee Valley was also likely late Saturday. Significant tornadoes were possible in eastern Louisiana, in Mississippi, and in Alabama.

Strong winds and fires in Texas, Oklahoma

In Texas, blowing dust blinded drivers with deadly consequences, officials said.

Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Cindy Barkley said Friday that there were three fatal crashes in the Amarillo area due to high winds and low visibility. The number of deaths was not immediately clear.

One person died and two others were injured in a crash between three semis and four other vehicles in Palmer County, said Cesar Marquez, city manager and fire chief in Bovina. It was not clear if the crash was included in the three in the Amarillo area.

There was so much blowing dirt we were getting shocked every time we got near something, Marquez said.

Parts of northern Texas saw gusts as strong as 62 mph, according to National Weather Service data.

Potter County Fire-Rescue reported four roads were restricted or closed after separate incidents in which big-rigs had flipped. The county in the Texas Panhandle includes the northern half of Amarillo.

Visibility is poor at best and zero in places, the agency said on social media. If you dont have to be out, please stay where you are.

The dust was not the only concern. The same system whipped up wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma on Friday as the low pressure system moved east.

Low visibility and high winds have caused multiple crashes across the south plains in Texas.

The largest of the state's six active wildfires, the Windmill Fire in Roberts County, grew from 500 to 18,000 acres in less than a day, according to Texas A&M Forest Service. The blaze was 50% contained Friday night.

The Rest Area Fire in Gray County marched across 4,500 acres on Friday, but its expansion stopped by early evening, Texas A&M Forest Service said. Firefighters had achieved 30% containment by the end of the day, it said.

Texas A&M Forest Service said on Thursday conditions may be right for a Southern Great Plains Wildfire Outbreak, a dangerous weather formula based in part on low humidity and gusty wind, though such an outbreak was not officially declared by Friday afternoon.

Multiple fires were burning in Oklahoma on Friday night.

Gov. Kevin Stitt urged residents covered by mandatory evacuations in Mannford, a city in the northeastern portion of the state were wildfire raged Friday night, to "leave now."

Mandatory evacuations were also in effect for parts of Norman, where multiple wildfires were burning, according to the Norman Police Department.

Mandatory evacuations in the city of Stillwater were expanding late Friday, with locations including a Walmart and multiple hotels, and cover "several square miles."

The winds have apparently also helped fuel multiple structure fires in the city, and firefighting reinforcements are en route, it said in a statement.

The National Weather Service office in Norman said earlier that "a dangerous wildfire outbreak" was underway, later identifying blazes near Chickasha, Chandler, Camargo and Leedey; and near Lake Carl Blackwell, where residents were urged to evacuate. There was also one in Lincoln County, where evacuations were ordered north of the town of Meridian.

Weather system to shift east

The low pressure system is affecting the southern and northern reaches of the nation's midsection as it pushes eastward, promising upheaval into the eastern U.S. through the end of the weekend.

As it moves into the Eastern Seaboard on Sunday, the tornado threat will shift to Virginia and Carolinas.

On the northern side of the front, including the upper Midwest and the northern Plains, blizzard conditions were forecast for the weekend, with 8 inches of snow possible in some regions.

The new week was expected to bring even more winter storm action when at least two more low pressure systems march eastward, the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center said.

The first of the two would likely form a solid, counterclockwise winter storm, a process the weather service calls cyclogenesis, it said. It will likely bring snow to the interior, including the Midwest and Great Lakes, with a second storm likely to bring a fresh wave of snow, rain and thunderstorms to a stretch of the nation from the Rocky Mountains to the Upper Midwest mid- to late-week ahead of the first day of astronomical spring on Thursday.
BACKGRID Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas arriving at the London Heliport on March 14, 2025

Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas have been spotted out together in London again.

The actors were seen arriving at the London Heliport via helicopter the evening of Friday, March 14. Both Cruise, 62, and de Armas, 36, sported casual looks for the outing.



The Top Gun: Maverick star wore black jeans and a brown button-down shirt, while Armas wore a white tee, jeans and white sneakers under a black trench coat.



BACKGRID Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas arriving at the London Heliport on March 14, 2025

The pair seemed in good spirits, as they were seen chatting and laughing with Heliport staff.

BACKGRID Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas chat with workers at the London Heliport on March 14, 2025

Cruise and de Armas were also spotted together at the same heliport on Thursday night.



PEOPLE reached out to reps for both Cruise and de Armas but did not receive an immediate response.



BACKGRID Ana de Armas arriving at the London Heliport on March 14, 2025

The Mission: Impossible actor and the Blonde actress were previously photographed together in London last month during a night out on Valentines Day. In the shots, de Armas held two bags of takeout from a restaurant as the pair were seen greeting fans before hopping into a taxi.

At the time, a source told PEOPLE that the stars were at dinner with their agents "discussing potential collaborations down the line," and noted that the pair "appeared to have no romantic connection, just friends."

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

The Cuban-born actress previously praised Cruise in a 2023 interview with USA Today, calling his stunt work mind-blowing.

BACKGRID Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas arriving at the London Heliport on March 14, 2025

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De Armas  who herself has appeared in a number of action films within the past few years  said that while shes not on Cruises action level yet, I totally get why he does it.

Its demanding and painful and your body is hurting everywhere, but its also very rewarding as I saw myself getting better at it, she told USA Today. Besides, its fun. And if I just go say my lines and someone else does the stunts, Im missing that fun.

As for Cruise, his upcoming film Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning is set to hit theaters on May 23. When asked whether the movie will cap off his character Ethan Hunt's story, Cruise teased, "You gotta see the movie."



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Adobe Stock/Allrecipes

Do you remember when cupcakes were the "it dessert"? Between the late '90s and early 2000s, specialty cupcake shops began popping up everywhere across the country, proving there's more to cupcakes than just chocolate, vanilla, and Funfetti. As the cupcake craze died down, it made way for a broader, more eclectic world of baked goodsone that welcomed the rise of a tiny French cookie called the macaron.

What were once considered enigmatic and exclusive to high-end French patisseries, macarons have now become a staple in many bakeries nationwide, including those of major grocers. Trader Joe's, for one, has amazing macarons that rival some of the ones I've had from upscale pastry shopsat a much more affordable price point, too.

Now, TJ's is putting a whole new spin on the delicate French pastry, and I can't wait to try it.

Trader Joe's New Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches

Trader Joe's has truly done the unthinkable: sandwiched creamy chocolate ice cream in between two crispy and airy meringue cookies for a dessert that looks fancy but delivers all the nostalgic joy of the ice cream sandwiches from our childhood.

Mmm, I love them, said TikToker @traderjoestalia upon biting into one of the palm-sized cookie sandwiches. That little bit of crunch mixed with the soft, rich ice cream is amazing. And its holding its shape, its not falling apart...These exceeded my expectations.

Judging from the comments on the video, fans are more than excited about the new offering. "NEED THIS NOW!!" commented one TikTok user. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME! I need this," added another.

Each box contains two individually wrapped sandwiches with instructions to defrost the treat for five minutes before consuming. If that seems like a long time to you, I'm right there with you. I don't know how Trader Joe's expects us to be so patient, but clamping down on an ice-hard cookie also doesn't sound fun, so it's wise to wield as much patience as possible with this one.

The Chocolate Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches are rolling out now to stores nationwide. Considering how much shoppers love Trader Joe's standard macarons, I have a feeling these won't remain in the freezers for very long. In other words, you better scoot on over to your local neighborhood grocer tout suite!



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Ashia Aubourg

Greek yogurt is a kitchen staple that truly deserves its flowers. Its perfect for breakfast, especially as a base for a parfait topped with fresh berries, granola, and honey. At dinnertime, it serves as the key ingredient in a marinade that makes chicken or even lamb ultra-tender. Greek yogurt even works excellently as a spread or dip. With all these versatile uses, its no wonder this high-protein gem ends up in so many grocery carts every week as an essential.

The Greek yogurt section in the refrigerated aisle is growing rapidly. Honestly, seeing only one option on the shelf is becoming pretty rare. If youve ever found yourself overwhelmed by the choices, dont worryI got you covered. I tested eight different tubs of Greek yogurt to figure out which one deserves a spot in your fridge and one particular brand stood out from the rest.

How I Chose the Greek Yogurt Brands

I stuck to options from major retailers to make sure the Greek yogurt is easy to find and not just sold at specialty stores. Trust me, I live in Vermont where dairy farms are ubiquitous, and have certainly sampled some niche brands in my time. Along with some popular options from large grocery chains like Walmart and Target, I included generic brands like Whole Foods 365. I focused on plain flavors so I could have a fair comparison when judging the taste of each one.

How I Tested the Greek Yogurt Brands

Most Greek yogurt brands contain the same basic ingredient: milk. The dairy is fermented with live cultures and then strained to remove whey, the liquid formed during the separation and curdling process. Despite this similar method, each yogurt has a distinct taste and texture.

When testing these Greek yogurts, I focused on two main categories: taste and texture. The top contenders had mild and subtly tart notes. As for consistency, I looked for slightly thick ones with a smooth mouthfeel, docking points for any yogurts that were grainy or too thin.

I scooped the Greek yogurts into small tasting bowls, never trying more than three at a time. (I also made sure to drink water between each taste to cleanse my palate!) Based on these criteria, heres how eight different brands stacked up.

One note: these rankings are based on my personal preference. If you tend to like a more tart Greek yogurt, yours may differ from mine.

The Best Greek Yogurts, Ranked

8th Place: Wallaby Greek Yogurt

Ashia Aubourg

This was probably the most grainy Greek yogurt I tested. Its ultra-thick texture almost had the consistency of a mix of ricotta cheese and sour cream. The tart aftertaste was strong and hard to ignore, but adding a sweetener like honey could help balance it out.

7th Place: Trader Joes Greek Yogurt

Ashia Aubourg

Trader Joes Greek yogurt didnt quite measure up due to its overpowering tanginess. It also lacked the velvety texture and creamy mouthfeel I was hoping for. It could be delicious mixed into a savory dip that complements its intense tartness, but if you plan to use it for parfaits, Id recommend looking for something else.

6th Place: Siggis Greek Yogurt

Ashia Aubourg

Note: Siggis is technically skyr, rather than Greek yogurt. Skyr is an Icelandic-style of yogurt very similar to Greek yogurt, but typically a bit thicker and more mild. For the purposes of this taste test, Ive included it since skyr is sold alongside Greek yogurt and used nearly identically in cooking.

Siggis ticks all the texture boxes with its creamy, silky consistency. It would work well as the base for a parfait or fruit smoothie. However, Id recommend pairing it with something sweet, like agave or ripe berries, to balance out its tart aftertaste.

5th Place: Nounos Greek Yogurt

Ashia Aubourg

This Greek yogurt is definitely thick, but not in a rich, decadent way. Its consistency reminded me a bit of whipped cream cheese. While it has a mild flavor, it leans more toward the savory side, making it a great choice as the base for a dip.

4th Place: Fage Greek Yogurt

Ashia Aubourg

If youre a fan of ultra-thick Greek yogurt, youll love this one from Fage. Its scoopable and has a decadent taste for those who prefer richer bites with punchy, milky flavor. However, it might feel too chunky and indulgent for anyone who prefers a looser consistency.

3rd Place: Chobani Greek Yogurt

Ashia Aubourg

Chobani has that classic Greek yogurt texture and flavor. It has a slight graininess, but its not overwhelming. The brand is creamy and easy to spoon up. The taste is mild, with pleasant, subtly citrusy notes that make you want to keep going back for bite after bite.

2nd Place: Whole Foods 365 Greek Yogurt

Ashia Aubourg

I was surprised by the Greek yogurt from Whole Foods. Since its a generic brand, I didnt expect it to stack up against notoriously popular options like Chobani or Stonyfield. But this one ended up on the top of the list for winners with an ultra-creamy and smooth consistency. It was easy to scoop yet thick enough that it didnt slide off my spoon. As for the taste, it was very similar to Stonyfieldfresh and flavorful.

1st Place Winner: Stonyfield Greek Yogurt

Ashia Aubourg

Stonyfield quickly stood out from the rest. It has a smooth, velvety, and creamy texture. The flavor offers a fresh, milky base with bright, subtly tart, and floral notes. This is the kind of Greek yogurt thats so good on its own that you dont even need to add sweet or savory additions to kick it up a notch. I can easily imagine using it in all kinds of disheswhether in a sweet parfait, a savory marinade, or a silky aioli.



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In this handout photo released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry press service, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, left, sits with Syria's interim president Ahmad Al-Sharaa, during their meeting in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Turkish Foreign Ministry press service via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

ISTANBUL (AP)  Turkeys foreign minister said Friday that Ankara is closely monitoring an agreement between the Syrian government and a U.S-backed Kurdish-led armed group, expressing concern over potential future threats to Turkeys security.

Hakan Fidan, speaking in an interview with the Turkish TV100 channel, said Turkey had relayed its concerns to Syrian officials in a sudden visit to Syria on Thursday.

If there is an agreement signed with good intentions, let it be done, but there may be some problems or mines planted for the future, he said. We as Turkey are monitoring these very closely.

The agreement to integrate the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, into the Syrian government followed fierce clashes that erupted last week between government security forces and gunmen loyal to ousted leader Bashar Assad.

Fidan said Turkey does not see the deal as granting autonomy to the SDF. No one should feel like a minority but should feel like they are a special part of a greater prosperity by benefiting from equal opportunities, he said.

The SDF is a U.S.-backed Kurdish military alliance in northeastern Syria that has a presence in most of the territory in that part of the country.

Turkey designates the SDF and its primary component the Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, as terrorist organizations because of their links to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party.

Addressing a question about whether the YPG and SDF could be integrated into the Syrian army without laying down their arms, Fidan said the issue had been discussed with Syria's new leaders, including interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa. He said Turkey's top intelligence officials were also present and that Turkey would remain vigilant in assessing any progress on the issue.

Fidan said al-Sharaa assured him that the articles in the deal would call for the YPG to be fully integrated into the Syrian army.

Al-Sharaa "actually said that the current articles (are aligned with Turkish interests)." ... The agreement made will completely include the YPG in the army," Fidan said.

Essentially, what we have been saying from the very beginning is this: The new Syrian administration must take the initiative to end the YPG occupation and piracy, Fidan said, referring to the continued presence of the group in the area.

Fidan added that Turkey will keep a close watch on developments, stressing that life should return to normal for all communities in Syria, including Kurds, Arabs, Turkmens, Christians and Alawites.
By Michael Holden and Elizabeth Piper

LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday European nations and Western allies were stepping up preparations to support Ukraine in the event a peace deal was struck with Russia, with defence chiefs to firm up "robust plans" next week.

Starmer hosted a virtual meeting to win support from allies to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept a ceasefire deal being pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump, and to gather commitments to help secure any agreement - something Trump has made clear he expects Europe to take on.

Around two dozen leaders took part, including those from Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Australia as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and NATO's secretary general - but not the U.S.

Starmer said the "coalition of the willing" had reaffirmed its commitment both to supporting Ukraine as it resists Russia's three-year-old invasion and to securing any ceasefire that emerges from Trump's overtures to Russia.

While Russia has welcomed the ceasefire proposal in principle, it has also put forward a list of conditions that essentially restate its war aims, suggesting that any agreement will not come quickly.

Starmer told reporters: "We agreed we will keep increasing the pressure on Russia, keep the military aid flowing to Ukraine, and keep tightening restrictions on Russia's economy to weaken Putin's war machine and bring him to the table."

Jolted into action by Trump's reluctance to keep underwriting Europe's and Ukraine's security, other Western countries have been forced to show that they are prepared to step up.

"Our militaries will meet on Thursday this week here in the United Kingdom to put strong and robust plans in place to swing in behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraine's future security," Starmer said.

"President Trump has offered Putin the way forward to a lasting peace. Now we must make this a reality."

ZELENSKIY INSISTS ON SECURITY GUARANTEE

After the meeting, Zelenskiy said he had told Kyiv's Western allies they must "define a clear position on security guarantees", including a commitment to basing troops on Ukrainian soil.

"This is a security guarantee for Ukraine and a security guarantee for Europe," he said in a post on X.

Britain and France have both said they could send peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire deal. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said after the meeting that his country was also open to requests to contribute to a future peacekeeping effort.

But, even if a ceasefire is agreed, much remains unclear.

Russia has said explicitly that it will not accept Western forces being deployed on Ukrainian soil.

And Starmer has said that, to deter Putin from attacking again, there is no alternative to a security "backstop" from Washington, whose forces and infrastructure are the backbone of the Western NATO alliance.

"It needs to be done in conjunction with the United States ... We are talking to the U.S. on a daily basis," he said.

Western countries have been scrambling to find ways to help Ukraine since Trump upended Washington's previous wholehearted support for Ukraine in opposing Russia's invasion and opened talks with Moscow aimed at ending the war and restoring ties.

Trump said there was a "very good chance" the war could come to an end after his envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin on Thursday in Moscow.

But Putin has said he wants Ukraine to drop its ambitions to join NATO, Russia to control the entirety of the four Ukrainian regions it has claimed as its own, and the size of the Ukrainian army to be limited - demands rejected by Kyiv.

Starmer said Putin's response was not good enough but that, sooner or later, he would have to come to the negotiating table.

"Russia doesnt give the impression of wanting peace in earnest," French President Emmanuel Macron said after the meeting. Rather than responding the to U.S.-led proposal, it was intensifying its assault, he said, adding:.

"President Putin wants to obtain everything - then negotiate. If we want peace, Russia must respond clearly and pressure must be clear, in coordination with the U.S., in order to reach a ceasefire."

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper, Michael Holden, Dan Peleschuk, Michel Rose and Kirsty Needham; Editing by Susan Fenton and Kevin Liffey)
Kyodo News via AP Japanese police  March 11, 2025

Police have arrested a suspect in the stabbing death of a YouTuber who was tracked down and attacked during her livestream in Tokyo.

Kenichi Kenji Takano, 42, was taken into police custody in connection with the stabbing death of 22-year-old Airi Sato, Japans Kyodo News reported Wednesday, March 12, citing the Metropolitan Police Department.

The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Suspect Kenichi Takano

Sato was reportedly walking by herself while she livestreamed in Shinjuku Ward when the attack happened around 9:50 a.m. on Tuesday, March 11.

According to CBS News and the New York Times, viewers on Satos livestream heard her screaming for help before the connection went dark.

At least two witnesses spoke with authorities, with one telling police the screaming lasted around 15 seconds. Another said she saw a man wearing a black hat attacking the victim, per Kyodo News.

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.

Takano, who was arrested at the scene, allegedly found Sato by using the landmarks and buildings in her background to track her down during her livestream.

However, authorities do not believe it was a random attack.

Related: What Happened to Social Media Influencer Stephanie Parze On Halloween Eve 2019? It 'Was a Horror,' Says Dad

Police said Sato and Takano became familiar with each other in 2021 and he is believed to have allowed her to borrow money from him beginning around 2022.

"There was trouble. I had lent her more than 2 million yen ($13,500) but she did not return it, he reportedly told officers.

Citing investigators, Kyodo News reported that both the influencer and the suspect had already spoken with police outside of Tokyo regarding the dispute.

Related: Astrology Influencer Disturbed by Eclipse Killed Partner, Infant Child and Herself, Say Police

Takano reportedly traveled about 60 miles to Tokyo from Oyama after Sato announced the livestream.

Police said he had two knives in his possession at the time of his arrest, according to the news outlet. Sato was reportedly stabbed multiple times in her neck and chest.

She was transported to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Takano reportedly told police it was not his intention to kill Sato.



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President Vladimir Putin on Friday called on beleaguered Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk to "surrender" after US President Donald Trump pleaded for their lives.

Russia has mounted a rapid counteroffensive in the western border region over the past week, recapturing much territory that Ukraine had seized in a shock incursion last August.

A defeat for Ukraine in Kursk would be a major blow to Kyiv's plans to use its hold on the region as a bargaining chip in future peace talks with Moscow.

"We are sympathetic to President Trump's call," Putin said.

"If they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment," Putin added in remarks broadcast a day after he held talks with a US envoy on a ceasefire.

Trump said "thousands" of Ukrainian troops were "completely surrounded by the Russian military, and in a very bad and vulnerable position".

"I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II," he said.

Ukraine's military leadership denied the claims, though President Volodymyr Zelensky conceded his forces faced mounting pressure.

"There is no threat of our units being encircled," Ukraine's General Staff wrote in a social media statement.

Zelensky gave a sober assessment in comments to reporters in Kyiv. "The situation in the Kursk region is obviously very difficult," he said.

However, he insisted the campaign still had its merits.

Russia, he said, had been forced to pull troops from other areas on the frontline, easing pressure on Ukrainian troops fighting to keep control of the eastern logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

Trump's latest comments came as he gave an update on his ceasefire initiative. His envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin late Thursday to lay out the details of a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day pause in hostilities in the three-year-old conflict.

"We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Putin said Thursday he had "serious questions" about the proposal.

And Zelensky accused the Russian leader of seeking to undermine the ceasefire initiative by raising doubts about how it would work.

"He is now doing everything he can to sabotage diplomacy by setting extremely difficult and unacceptable conditions right from the start even before a ceasefire," Zelensky said in a post on X.

The Kremlin said Friday it was "cautiously optimistic" a deal could be reached, but that Trump and Putin had to speak directly before talks could progress.

"When Mr Witkoff brings all the information to President Trump, we will determine the timing of a conversation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"There is still much to be done, but the president has nevertheless identified with President Trump's position."

US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said in a Fox News interview that the United States had "some cautious optimism" after Witkoff's visit.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a meeting of the Group of Seven western powers in Canada that both sides would have to make "concessions".

G7 foreign ministers warned Russia of new sanctions unless it accepts a ceasefire "on equal terms".

"They discussed imposing further costs on Russia in case such a ceasefire is not agreed, including through further sanctions, caps on oil prices, as well as additional support for Ukraine, and other means."

Putin said Thursday he wanted any settlement to secure "long-term peace", alluding to Moscow's demand that Ukraine be barred from NATO.

Zelensky has called Putin's response "very manipulative", while Germany called it a "delaying tactic".

On top of the pressure in Kursk, Russia has been advancing across the eastern Ukrainian Donetsk region for the past year.

Ukraine hoped its hold on Kursk would be a bargaining chips in talks with Russia and was eyeing a potential land swap with Moscow, which has occupied around a fifth of Ukraine since it took Crimea in 2014 and launched its military offensive in February 2022.
by Stefano Vecchia

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared by video link before the ICC, charged as co-perpetrator in the killing of 43 people between 2011 and 2019, many summarily executed during his war on drugs. The Court rejected the defence's objections and set the next hearing for 23 September.

The Hague (AsiaNews)  Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared yesterday via video link before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for the opening hearing of the proceedings against him.

The ICC had ordered his arrest and extradition, which was done on Wednesday thanks to cooperation between Interpol and Philippine police. If convicted, the former president risks life imprisonment.

Duterte, 79, is accused of being indirect co-perpetrator in the killing of 43 people: 19 between 2011 and 2016, when he was mayor of Davao City, and 24 between 2016 and 2019, when he was president.

During his term in office, the Philippines former head of state ruled with an iron fist, intolerant of criticism and opposition.

His presidency was marked by a violent anti-drug campaign, which  according to the ICC prosecutor's office  claimed about 30,000 lives, including homeless people and street kids in both his hometown and the rest of the country.

Although ostracised internationally and criticised at home, Duterte built political support around his image as a strongman, openly instigating the physical elimination of alleged criminals and guaranteeing impunity to security forces.

At present, he still enjoys considerable support, especially among Filipinos disillusioned with the broken promises on security and the law by incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

This popularity had undermined attempts to indict him, even after the Philippines withdrew from the ICC's jurisdiction in 2019.

Yesterday's hearing was presided over by Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc, who rejected the objections raised by Duterte's defence, including the alleged irregularity of the transfer and the physical inability of the defendant to face trial.

After a medical examination, the former president was deemed mentally aware and fit.

As for the merits of the charges, the court said it had reasonable grounds to hold Duterte criminally responsible for the systematic selection and elimination of alleged criminals as part of his war on drugs.

Back in the Philippines, the government is managing protests and political reactions by the former president's supporters.

While the hearing might be legitimate, the government has been accused of giving in to international pressure.

The decision might also reflect the Marcos-Duterte rivalry. In fact, since their election, President Marcos Jr and Vice President Sara Duterte, the former presidents eldest daughter, have fallen out.

Meanwhile, at the ICC, a preliminary hearing has been set for 23 September. If the trial gets underway, it might take several years before a verdict is reached.
Today's headlines: China is responsible for polluting Zambia's main river. In India, man attacks Sikh worshippers. The Pakistani army revised the number of casualties in the Jaffar Express train attack. The leader of the Islamic State in Iraq has been killed.

THAILAND

A bridge under construction collapsed this morning in Bangkok, killing seven and injuring dozens of people. Rescuers are trying to free scores of people trapped under the rubble, while unstable structures are at risk of further collapse. The bridge was part of a highway construction project.

CHINA  ZAMBIA

A Chinese-owned copper mine contaminated the Kafue River, Zambia's most important waterway. The acid spill, according to experts, took place on 18 February following the collapse of a dam containing toxic materials. Environmentalists fear that the environmental disaster could affect millions of people. China dominates copper mining in Zambia.

INDIA

Five people were injured yesterday when a man armed with a stick attacked people inside the Golden Temple in Amritsar, an important Sikh place of worship in Punjab. The man was arrested along with an accomplice. Local media report that the man hit three worshippers and two volunteers.

PAKISTAN

The Pakistani army has revised the death toll following the assault on the Jaffar Express train by the Balochistan Liberation Army. Army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that 23 soldiers, three railway employees and five passengers were killed. He added that Pakistan had evidence that India and Afghanistan had helped Baloch separatists in the insurgents, accusations rejected by both countries.

NORTH KOREA  SOUTH KOREA

South Koreas Unification Minister has called for the release of three South Korean Christian missionaries held by North Korea since 2013 and 2014 on espionage charges. The appeal comes following a report by the UN Human Rights Council's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which notes that the three clerics detention is illegal and that they must be released immediately.

IRAQ

The leader of the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadijah, was killed in an operation conducted by the Iraqi intelligence services along with US-led coalition forces, the United States Central Command (Centcom) announced. According to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the IS leader was considered one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world, responsible for the groups operations, logistics and planning.

RUSSIA  VIETNAM

Saint Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov has decided to name a square after the late Vietnamese President Ho-Chi-Min to mark the 50th anniversary of Vietnams victory over the Americans with Soviet help. The square is located near the Ho Chi Minh Monument, as well as Ho-Chi-Min Street, which was named in his honour in 1978.

KAZAKHSTAN

The National Kurultaj (Congress) of Kazakhstan was held at the Burabaj National Park in the presence of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who gave the inaugural speech ahead of discussions on social issues. The Congress is held annually in different regions of the country, to "give impetus" to their development.
by Purushottam Nayak

In Siunaguda, Odisha, a Christian family was denied the right to bury a loved one until they agreed to convert him back to Hinduism. The incident, which is part of a broader pattern of religious discrimination, has raised concern among activists and religious leaders, who slam increasing pressure on Christian minorities in India's states with large tribal communities.

Nabarangpur (AsiaNews)  Christians in the eastern Indian state of Odisha have been denied the right to bury their loved ones until they convert to Hinduism.

The latest case occurred on 3 March, in Siunaguda, a village 20 km from Umerkote (Nabarangpur), when the family of a 70-year-old man was not allowed to bury him.

As the Preamble of the Indian constitution says, India is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic with the goal of securing justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. The right to freedom of religion is guaranteed under Articles 25 to 28, encompassing the freedom to profess, practise, and propagate religion, said Turpu Santa, the deceased mans elder son.

As Indian citizens we have the right to bury our loved ones in our land," he explained. However, we are not even allowed to bury our dear father in our land as Christians, without converting to Hinduism, he lamented.

Siunaguda is a Hindu-majority village with only three Christian families.

We accepted Hinduism out of fear," the son said, noting that his father had embraced Christianity five years earlier, but was forced to posthumously reconvert to Hinduism.

Ajay Suna, a missionary with the Blessings Youth Mission (BYM) in Siunaguda, expressed solidarity with the bereaved family.

The episode is part of a broader pattern of discrimination against religious minorities.

Because of some disrespectful and insensitive people, India, known for its tolerance, respect, hospitality, peace, fraternity and brotherhood, is losing its image as a secular country, said Benjamin Upasi, head of Brothers in Assembly in Umerkote.

For Fr Ajaya Singh, a Catholic priest and human rights activist, the denial of burial is a serious violation of fundamental rights. It is unconstitutional and a violation of human rights and disrespect for the dignity of person even after death, he explained.

Fr Singh notes that a recent ruling by the Indian Supreme Court is becoming a pretext for more discriminatory acts. Denying Christians the right bury their dead follows a recent Supreme Court ruling not allowing a Christian in Chattisgarh to be buried in his own land. This has opened Pandoras box, Fr Ajaya Singh noted.

What is more, he warns that, This is an alibi for fanatics to intimidate Christians into forceful abandonment of the Christian faith. This is not in line with our secular faith and social fabric.
by Stefano Caprio

Although some Russian Orthodox priests have spoken out against war liturgies, they dont all hold the same positions. Some have tried to stick with the patriarchal Church, others have turned to other Orthodox jurisdictions; some have limited themselves to passive resistance, while others have openly criticised the patriarch himself, such as the theologian and Deacon Andrey Kuraev.

The 9th international Yakunin Readings online conference was held earlier this month. The event began in 2016, two years after the death of Father Gleb Yakunin, one of the foremost Soviet era religious dissidents.

In 1965, as a young Orthodox priest, Yakunin wrote to the then Patriarch Alexy I (Simansky), known as Stalins patriarch, together with his confrere, Nikolai Eshliman, in which he accused the Russian Church hierarchy of supporting the communist regime that oppressed the people, denying them freedom of religion.

After spending eight years in different Soviet penitentiary facilities, the clergyman was freed under Gorbachev and his perestroika, and was eventually elected to the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation, where he contributed to the drafting of the first laws on religious freedom, later curtailed and distorted by Putin and his regime.

Disappointed by the post-Soviet evolution of the Moscow Patriarchate, which never managed to cut the cord that tied it to the state, Father Gleb founded his own "Apostolic Orthodox" Church, remaining a determined supporter of freedom of conscience until the end.

This year's conference was dedicated to Old and new religious dissidents amid the unremitting pressure on and excommunications of priests who condemn the war launched by Putin's regime and Patriarch Kirill, or who simply fail to pray for Victory.

For many, the time has come to dust off the term dissident even at a time of Orthodox sovereignism, and go beyond that of simple "opponents" used for the martyred Alexei Navalny, applying the concept of dissent even in religious matters that no longer concern the juxtaposition of atheism to the profession of faith, but refers to the opposition between the Patriarchates "political theology" and the experience of faith that rejects war.

The Siberian philosopher Nikolai Karpitsky, who today lives on the edge of the war in Sloviansk (Donetsk Oblast), gave a talk on The War and the Crisis of Religious Identity, stating that the problem of religious dissent arises when canonical rules only exacerbate, rather than resolve, internal contradictions. [. . .] In times of peace, these contradictions can remain hidden, but war highlights them.

In his opinion, the mechanism by which religion is transformed into ideology is activated when the tension to convey one's own moral position in society is embodied not in religious preaching, but in demands on everyone, even those with different beliefs. In this case, the appeal is made to the ideology of fundamental values in an imitation of religion that transforms faith into a parody in favour of power.

This is in fact the parable of the religious revival of post-Soviet Russia, where religion has been bent to serve ideology, achieving an even more oppressive result than the propaganda of state atheism itself.

Karpitsky defines the compulsory orthodoxy of today's Russians as obryadoveriye (), uncritical "ritualism" that submits to religious authorities and observes their formal practices, which adapt to socio-political conditions, ending up serving only the ruling political power.

After all, this is how Orthodoxy interpreted things even in Soviet times, against which the religious dissent of Father Gleb Yakunin and many others developed, people like Father Aleksandr Men, killed in 1990 by the dark forces of a regime that was changing its skin, so as not to lose its power.

The ideology of values ends up projecting itself as an imperial and universal vision, addressed to the will of the Most High as the source of every principle of world order, justifying dictatorship and war against the enemies of the true faith.

The Yakunin Readings are organised by Elena Volkova, author of an important book on the dissident priest, Glyba Gleba ( ), the Gleb Bloc, who speaks of a clear regression to Soviet policies by the incumbent regime, and the re-emergence of the dissident movement.

After all, it is still the same country and the same Moscow Patriarchate, that of the mendacious Sergiantsy (), she says, using a definition in vogue among religious dissidents in the 1960s, who accused Church leaders of betraying their own traditions, starting with the submission of Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky), the first to recognise the Soviet regime and then becoming the first patriarch restored by Stalin in 1943, in support of the war against Nazism.

For Volkova, the term dissident goes back to the English Protestants of the 16th and 17th centuries, who did not accept Henry VIIIs compromises with Catholic traditions after he broke with Rome, and founded the Anglican hybrid Church.

Puritans, Quakers and other groups demanded true adherence to the reforms born out of the Lutheran schism, and were called dissidents or dissenters, a term therefore created to highlight those who challenge the dominant Church in their country.

Archpriest (protoiereus) Georgy Edelstein, a great friend of Father Gleb Yakunin, took part in the conference. Now 93 years old, he emigrated to Israel following the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, and is the de facto patriarch of Russian religious dissent.

He does not see himself as a dissident, considering illegitimate the current Church of the Moscow Patriarchate re-established by Stalin, but rather as a priest of authentic pre-revolutionary Orthodoxy. Father Georgy was a member of the Helsinki Group, created after the 1975 Declaration of Human Rights, which the Soviet Union signed, also backed by the Holy See at a time when it was pursuing its own Ostpolitik.

According to Father Georgy, "on the territory of historical Russia, from Petersburg to Vladivostok, the state founded in October 1917 by Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin is still in place, the state that the philosopher Ivan Ilyin sarcastically called Sovdepiya (), from the original definition of Sovet Deputatov ( ), the Council (Soviet) of deputies, from which the term Sovok () derives, the Soviet citizen, which today still indicates those who remain strongly linked to the Soviet heritage, which President Vladimir Putin best exemplifies.

Edelstein says he does not understand how today those who consider themselves true Russian patriots and venerate Ilyin as their thinker of reference fail to heed his warning not to confuse Russia with Sovdepiya.

In his view, Sovok rule has been "transfigured" several times, from Lenins New Economic Policy and the Khrushchev-era thaw to Gorbachev's perestroika and post-Soviet Putinism. In the end, they are only name changes, as in the fairy tale in which the goats delude themselves that when the wolf speaks with the sounds of a goat, then he stops being a wolf.

Soviet dissidents defended human rights, like the advocates of the Helsinki Charter, with a humanitarian and democratic vision, turned towards respect for the rule of law at home and international law abroad, who used the slogan against Soviet totalitarianism Observe your Constitution!

Father Yakunin also defended legalism, which contained much discrimination against believers, denouncing the violation of the principle of separation of Church from State imposed by Lenin himself. The Soviet Church, on the other hand, was totally at the service of the state as Putin's Church is today, and once again, constitutional principles are trampled on, not to mention the now derelict international law.

As humanitarian activist Lev Levinson noted, religious dissidents came in different shapes and forms, from those who dreamt of restoring tsardom and Russian nationalists of various shades to sincere democrats like Yakunin and Zoya Krakhmalnikova, a writer and publicist who died in 2008, and many others.

Even today it is not possible to give a complete and accurate picture of Putin opponents. In late February, a few thousands marched through the streets of Berlin led by Ilya Yashin, Vladimir Kara-Murza and Julia Navalnaya, Alexei's wife, whose followers are at odds with other dissidents at home and abroad.

There is also no common front among Russian Orthodox priests who spoke out against war liturgies, from those who have tried to remain within the patriarchal Church and those who turn to other Orthodox jurisdictions to those who limit themselves to passive resistance and those who explicitly speak out against the leaders and the patriarch himself, such as the theologian and Deacon Andrey Kuraev, who now lives abroad after being excommunicated and put under investigation for defamation of the Armed Forces.

Kuraev recently published a multi-volume book on the Mythology of Russian Wars to show the deception of the greatest earthly power, which seeks to show itself as the most peace-loving by waging wars in all latitudes, using sacred and higher motivations.

One of the most recurrent myths he denounces is that of the alleged hatred of Europe and the West towards Russia, which serves to justify aggressions and invasions such as the one in Ukraine.

Dissent, as the great writer and dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn taught, is first and foremost the search for truth, to live without lies not against anyone, but to defend the freedom and dignity of every human being, of every son and daughter of God.

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Violent tornadoes wreaked havoc across parts of the U.S. on Saturday, leaving at least 17 people dead and causing extensive damage as the storms moved eastward through the Mississippi Valley and Deep South. The deadly storm system brought whipping winds, decimating homes and sparking chaos across multiple states.

Missouri Hit Hardest, With 11 Confirmed Deaths

The state of Missouri bore the brunt of the devastation as multiple tornadoes swept through overnight, killing at least 11 people. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported numerous injuries in addition to the fatalities. One of the most tragic scenes was in Butler County, where a man was killed when a tornado destroyed his home.

"It was unrecognizable as a home. Just a debris field," said Coroner Jim Akers of Butler County. "The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls." Rescuers were able to save a woman from the wreckage, Akers added.

Arkansas and Texas Also Report Fatalities

In Arkansas, the deadly storm claimed the lives of three people in Independence County, with 29 others injured across eight counties. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed the losses and noted that teams were surveying the damage and first responders were on the ground to assist.

"We have teams out surveying the damage from last night's tornadoes and have first responders on the ground to assist," Sanders posted on X. Meanwhile, in Texas, a dust storm on Friday led to the tragic deaths of three people in Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle during a car crash caused by low visibility.

Destructive Weather System Spurs Wildfires, Dust Storms, and Tornadoes

The storms, part of a massive weather system moving across the country, also unleashed deadly dust storms and helped fuel more than 100 wildfires. Gusts of wind up to 80 mph (130 kph) were predicted, stretching from the Canadian border to Texas. These winds also raised concerns over blizzards in colder northern regions and wildfire risks in the warmer, drier areas to the south.

Evacuations in Oklahoma as Fires Rage

In Oklahoma, more than 130 fires have been reported, damaging or destroying nearly 300 homes. Gov. Kevin Stitt announced that around 266 square miles (689 square kilometers) had been consumed by the fires. Wind gusts were so strong that several tractor-trailers were toppled. "This is terrible out here," said Charles Daniel, a truck driver hauling a 48-foot trailer on Interstate 40. "There's a lot of sand and dirt in the air. I'm not pushing it over 55 mph. I'm scared it will blow over if I do."

March Weather Extremes Expected

Experts pointed out that such extreme weather events are not uncommon for March. The Storm Prediction Center warned that the fast-moving storms could generate tornadoes and hail as large as baseballs. The biggest threat, however, was expected to come from straight-line winds that could reach or exceed hurricane-force, with gusts up to 100 mph (160 kph) possible.

The areas most at risk for significant tornadoes, some of which could be long-track and violent, were expected to be Louisiana and Mississippi in the afternoon, followed by Alabama, western Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle in the evening. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as these storms progress.
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15 March 2025 13:22 (UTC+04:00)

Fariz Jafarov, Executive Director of the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, highlighted a major initiative to create a large Azerbaijani language database for artificial intelligence development, Azernews reports.

Speaking at the XII Global Baku Forum, Jafarov shared that the organization is working on over 52 technology-related projects and continues its collaboration with the World Economic Forum.

He noted that there are more than 20 Fourth Industrial Revolution centers worldwide, and the center studies their experiences to support stakeholders in Azerbaijan. This includes universities, entrepreneurs, and government institutions adopting new technological solutions.

As an example, Jafarov mentioned a project already underway involving artificial intelligence in the call center of the Ministry of Economy.
15 March 2025 13:51 (UTC+04:00)

Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Director-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), discussed the risks of artificial intelligence (AI) during the "New Technologies for a New World" panel at the XII Baku Global Forum, Azernews reports.

While AI offers vast potential, Lamanauskas emphasized the need to balance its benefits against the risks, such as disinformation and "deepfake" technologies, which threaten public discourse.

He stressed the importance of quality information in AI systems and highlighted concerns about bias. Studies show that 45% of AI systems exhibit gender bias, and 35% show both gender and racial biases, which can affect decisions like recruitment.

Lamanauskas also noted the underrepresentation of women in AI development, with only 30% of women in the field and less than 20% holding engineering doctorates.

He warned that without greater female participation, these biases and risks are likely to persist.
15 March 2025 18:41 (UTC+04:00)

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15 March 2025 17:46 (UTC+04:00)

In her speech at the panel discussion on "Gender-Security-Climate Linkage" during the XII Baku Global Forum, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, co-chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center and former President of Latvia, emphasized the critical role women play in addressing issues related to gender, security, and climate change, Azernews reports.

"Women are pivotal in shaping future generations by instilling moral values and responsibility," Vike-Freiberga noted, highlighting their influential role in society.

She pointed out that women, who form the backbone of the global population, are significantly impacted by global changes, particularly in the context of climate change. As part of the most vulnerable group, women face severe consequences from environmental shifts.

Vike-Freiberga also stressed the importance of collecting and analyzing data to better assess the risks posed by climate change and develop effective strategies, especially in regions most affected by these environmental challenges.
15 March 2025 18:18 (UTC+04:00)

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan has approved the agreement on strategic cooperation in the development and export of environmentally friendly energy, signed between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

Azernews reports that the approval was formalized with an order issued by the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on March 14.

The Ministry of Energy has been designated as the primary body responsible for overseeing the implementation of the international agreement. Once the agreement enters into force, the Cabinet of Ministers, along with the heads of relevant ministries and agencies, will ensure its effective execution according to established protocols.

This agreement follows the trilateral meeting held on November 13, 2024, where President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan discussed and signed the "Strategic Partnership for the Development and Transmission of Green Energy" agreement.
15 March 2025 12:18 (UTC+04:00)

Saudi Arabia has welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the draft Peace Agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Azernews reprts, citing the statement from the Kingdoms Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia expresses its support for the completion of negotiations and the signing of the peace agreement, hoping it will mark the beginning of a new era of stability and prosperity, the statement said.

Two days ago, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the successful conclusion of talks on the draft Agreement on Peace and the Establishment of Interstate Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The statement also reiterated Azerbaijan's long-standing position that a key condition for signing the agreement is the amendment of Armenias constitution to remove any claims against Azerbaijans sovereignty and territorial integrity. Additionally, Azerbaijan emphasized the need for the official dissolution of the outdated OSCE Minsk Group and related structures.

We are ready to continue bilateral dialogue on these and other issues related to the normalization process between the two countries, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry added.
15 March 2025 12:50 (UTC+04:00)

Fuad Muradov, Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Diaspora, met with the Azerbaijani community and members of the Moroccan-Azerbaijani Friendship Association in Rabat, Morocco, Azernews reports.

The event began with the playing of the National Anthems of Morocco and Azerbaijan, followed by a tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijans territorial integrity and sovereignty. Muradov emphasized that under President Ilham Aliyevs leadership, Azerbaijans diaspora policy has evolved with new priorities, strengthening ties with Azerbaijanis abroad. Nazim Samadov, Azerbaijans Ambassador to Morocco, noted the deepening friendship between the two countries and highlighted the contributions of the Azerbaijani community in Morocco.

Muhammad Fakiri, President of the Moroccan-Azerbaijani Friendship Association, thanked the committee for organizing the meeting and expressed optimism about strengthening future relations with the Azerbaijani community.

The event included presentations on the State Committees projects, such as Azerbaijani Houses abroad, Coordination Councils, and weekend schools, along with videos featuring President Aliyevs speeches on the victory in Karabakh.

Moroccans who studied in Azerbaijan also appreciated the meeting and expressed their commitment to advancing state-community relations. Attendees shared their thoughts on strengthening diaspora activities and spreading Azerbaijani culture in Morocco.

The event concluded with an iftar dinner organized by the State Committee and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Morocco.
Trump says U.S. "had very good, productive" discussions with Putin

Xinhua) 09:24, March 15, 2025

WASHINGTON, March 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media Friday that his administration "had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday," and there is a very good chance that "this horrible, bloody war" can finally come to an end.

Trump noted in the post on Truth Social that "AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION."

"I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared," he added.

The Ukrainian army launched an offensive into Russia's Kursk region in August, seizing about 1,300 square kilometers of land. But as the Russian army intensified its counterattack in recent weeks, the situation of the Ukrainian army in the region is reportedly deteriorating rapidly.

Kremlin confirmed that Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday night.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin supports the position of Trump on a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, but has concerns over remaining unresolved issues.

"So, indeed, there is a lot that needs to be done, but, nevertheless, the president expressed solidarity with Mr. Trump's position," the spokesman said, adding that there were grounds for "cautious optimism" regarding a settlement of the conflict.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
15 March 2025 14:47 (UTC+04:00)

Agalar Valiyev, deputy of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan and deputy chairman of the Council of Elders of Azerbaijan, celebrated the Novruz holiday by sending gifts to the families of martyrs, veterans, and elders, as well as organizing an Iftar ceremony in the Khachmaz region, Azernews reports.

In his message, Valiyev extended his heartfelt congratulations to his voters, elders, and the families of martyrs and veterans. He emphasized that the Novruz holiday symbolizes the ancient and rich worldview of the Azerbaijani people, reflecting both optimism for the future and deep respect for national values and history. Valiyev highlighted that this year's Novruz celebrations are filled with the pride of Azerbaijans "Glorious Victory and Great Return," marking an exceptional chapter in the nation's 200-year history.

On the occasion of the holiday, Valiyev delivered holiday packages containing essential food items and greeting cards to 1,025 martyrs, veterans, disabled individuals, and low-income families from the Khachmaz district, as well as to 255 elders from the Ujar, Yevlakh, Goranboy, Tartar, and Barda districts.

Additionally, with Valiyevs initiative and support, an Iftar ceremony was held in Khachmaz, attended by 550 people, including district officials, community representatives, elders, families of martyrs, veterans, and fasting residents.
15 March 2025 20:28 (UTC+04:00)

On March 15, during an informal meeting in Moscow, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko, and President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Azernews reports via Azertag that, during the phone conversation, which took place in a sincere and friendly atmosphere, the presidents exchanged views on the future development of interstate relations.

Vladimir Putin invited the head of state to the solemn events in Moscow dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Second World War.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the invitation.

The heads of state agreed to meet at the events in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory.
15 March 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

China and Russia have expressed their support for Iran's confirmation that the country is using nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, rather than seeking to develop nuclear weapons, Azernews reports.

This was affirmed by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu during a meeting in Beijing on the Iranian nuclear issue with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.

"We reaffirm the importance of preserving the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation system. China and Russia welcome Iran's reaffirmation of the peaceful nature of its nuclear development and its commitment to not pursuing nuclear weapons," stated Ma Zhaoxu.

Following their discussions, the diplomats from the three countries in Beijing also called for the removal of all unlawful sanctions against Iran. They agreed that political and diplomatic engagement, based on mutual respect for each other's interests, remains the only viable and practical path to resolve the issue.

An interesting aspect of this development is the growing alignment between China, Russia, and Iran on global geopolitical issues, especially as the three countries push for a multipolar world order that challenges the dominance of Western powers. Irans nuclear program continues to be a source of international tension, but the recent dialogue among these key players highlights their commitment to finding a peaceful resolution that respects Iran's sovereignty while addressing international concerns over nuclear proliferation.
15 March 2025 19:23 (UTC+04:00)

Today, a virtual meeting on the situation in Ukraine began with the participation of leaders from about 25 Western countries, Azernews reports, citing the TASS.

According to the information, this was confirmed by video footage released by the office of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Starmer organized this summit as a continuation of a meeting held two weeks ago. On March 2, he gathered mainly European leaders in London to discuss support for Ukraine amid declining US assistance.

During the meeting, Starmer outlined three main goals: "to strengthen Ukraine, to increase the coalition's readiness to protect the peace agreement with its own forces, and to maintain pressure on Russia at this crucial time."

The full list of participants was not disclosed, but it was noted that leaders from EU countries, the European Commission, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and representatives of Ukraine are involved. Starmer is expected to call on his colleagues to make "concrete commitments" to implement US President Donald Trumps peace plan and continue military aid to Ukraine.

The meeting is also set to discuss the coalition's intentions to send peacekeepers to Ukraine, though France and Great Britain have acknowledged that this plan is unlikely to succeed without US support.
15 March 2025 23:25 (UTC+04:00)

Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Seoul, South Korea, to participate in rallies concerning the impeachment of President Yun Seok-yol, Azernews reports, citing local media.

The Candle Move protest movement organized a demonstration in front of the Constitutional Court building, with President Yun's opponents taking part.

Kim Min-un, one of the group's leaders, stated that the president "cannot be reinstated" due to his actions, including the short-term imposition of martial law in December, which he argues are damaging to the country's democracy.

Meanwhile, President Yun's supporters held a large-scale rally in the Gwanghwamun district, calling for his immediate reinstatement.

Police reported that approximately 35,000 people participated in the rally, and 3,600 officers were deployed to maintain order.
Regarding the recent Israel /Iran Conflict (the "12 Day War"), culminating in the United States Air Force employing seven B2 Bombers to complete a 33 hour flight, dropping 14 fifteen ton bunker busting bombs on three Iranian nuclear facilities buried deep under mountain rock, which destroyed Iran's nuclear ambitions against Israel and the United States: Should President Trump have unilaterally made the decision to make such a bold decision to conduct this operation, without first running this prospective operation before the US Congress for their approval?

14.29% No, The War Powers Act prohibitions, which requires NO presidential military action without congressional approval.85.71% Yes, the President has Article 2 Constitutional authority to take unilateral military action to protect the American People, providing he does not break congressional codes, which he did not.0% Don't care, never have.
UPDATE: The flights carrying hundreds of violent TdA gangsters with a few MS13 gangsters included landed in El Salvador despite the order of radical pro-crime Judge Boasberg to turn around, and will be sent to El Salvador's notorious hell-hole prisons. El Salvador President Buekele mocked Boasberg with an online post of "Oopsie, too late" posted on top of a news article on Boasberg's order.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/03/oopsie-too-late-el-salvador-president-mocks-judge/

https://redstate.com/streiff/2025/03/16/dc-judge-who-tried-to-stop-deportations-gets-a-harsh-message-from-el-salvadors-president-n2186720

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14504603/Moment-Venezuelan-criminal-Tren-Aragua-El-Salvadors-Terrorism-Confinement-Center.html

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Like the mafia used to sometimes have a local judge "in their pocket", it appears that the extremely violent Venezuelan crime gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) now has an Obama judge in their pocket. Obama judge James Boasberg of the DC federal district court has issued an order to stop the Trump administration from deporting thousands of violent criminals from this notorious and bloodthirsty gang back to Venezuela. The case was filed by the ACLU.

TdA was first organized as a prison gang in Venezuela's Aragua prison, and spread to other Latin American countries before it started moving into the United States during the Biden era. Under their open borders policies, the Biden regime did almost nothing to stop their entry, even when illegal aliens openly displayed TdA gang tattoos. TdA's move into America was so major that last year, they moved their overall headquarters from Venezuela to the US border in Juarez, Mexico.

Under the Trump administration, TdA has been a major target in their campaign to remove foreign criminals from the United States. TdA has even been designated a foreigh terrorist organization.

Radical Deep State Judge James Boas is an Obama appointee whose previous politically motivated orders have made him notorious. He was the judge presiding over the FISA court that allowed the FBI to surveill the Trump campaign in 2016 based on the highly dubious Hillary Clinton concocted dossier. Even when it became obvious that the FBI had lied on its applications for FISA warrants, Boasberg refused to hold them in contempt or otherwise punish them for perjury. Boasberg was also the Democrat hack judge who gave J6 instigator Ray Epps, who had been acting for anti-Trump forces, a slap on the wrist in spite of video showing Epps played a very pivotal role in the actual breech of the Capitol.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/03/radical-activist-judge-blocks-trumps-plan-invoke-alien/

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/shady-fisa-ray-epps-j6-tump-judge-preemptively-blocks-admin-deporting-alleged-tren-de

https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2025/03/16/activist-nation-judge-orders-planes-carrying-gang-criminals-kicked-out-by-trump-to-turn-around-n2186714

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/03/15/bondi-slams-dc-trial-judge-who-blocked-trump-using-alien-enemies-act-to-deport-tren-de-aragua/

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/3349253/pam-bondi-trump-judge-order-alien-enemies-act-tren-de-aragua-deportations/

https://townhall.com/columnists/kevinmccullough/2025/03/17/obama-judge-sides-with-criminals-and-against-america-n2653900

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/03/attorney-general-pam-bondi-slams-radical-judges-order/

The issue is whether Boasberg is so driven by leftwing politics that he puts the safety of American citizens at risk to protect a violent criminal gang just because Trump wants to deport them or whether he is on the actual payroll of TdA. In either case, he is totally unfit to be serving as a judge in our courts.

Efforts are alaready underway in Congress to impeach this anti-American traitor of a judge and lackey for crime gangs, James "Benedict Arnold" Boasberg.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/shady-fisa-ray-epps-j6-tump-judge-preemptively-blocks-admin-deporting-alleged-tren-de

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/03/rep-brandon-gill-moves-impeach-obama-judge-james/
Aspirus Wausau Hospital has seen increased patient volumes, particularly among higher-acuity patients, driven by an aging population and market changes. The expansion will include 48 intermediate care beds, a 16-bed observation unit, redesigned specialized care units and expanded surgical facilities.

As our population ages, we see higher utilization, and within that, we see higher acuity, Mr. Wicklander said. So building the capacity to be able to care for them at an ICU level and at a step-down level is really important for this organization.

The hospital recently rebuilt its emergency department to accommodate growing demand, which has helped manage volume increases. However, inpatient capacity remains a key focus.

About 80% of the patients who come into the emergency department get discharged back home, he said. We want to be able to care for that 20% so they can get a bed in a timely fashion. As we see a more complex population, having those high complexity and step-down beds will be really important to ensure timely access.

The hospitals ICUs operate at a very high capacity, and the step down-beds will help free up ICU capacity where needed, he added.

The expansion also includes plans for a new fixed PET/CT scanner to enhance cancer and cardiac care by enabling timely diagnostics and reducing patient travel for such scans. The quick testing will provide better baseline assessments, allowing caregivers to move into treatment plans more effectively.

The expansion is in the design phase, with construction expected to begin in summer 2025. The project will take place over three years, Mr. Wicklander said.

While many health systems are shifting some focus away from inpatient care, Wausau-based Aspirus Health is making inpatient expansion a priority, he said.

What were seeing is that even though we have an aging population that is slowly shrinking, we see more need and higher utilization, Mr. Wicklander said. We think its critically important that were able to meet the full spectrum of care  from primary, emergent, inpatient and into post-acute care  in a very efficient and effective manner. For us, that includes adding more high-acuity beds.
The hospital is the only level 1 trauma center in the region, according to a March 5 news release from Ascension.

Before landing, NASA notified the hospital that the astronauts would be traveling to the hospital for medical evaluation immediately upon their return.

Three of the crew members were discharged the same day while one stayed overnight for observation, the release said.
Effective Feb. 1, the partnership aims to enhance quality, improve access to care in rural Palm Beach County, and bolster clinical training, recruitment and retention. It also aims to improve the hospitals financial status.

Were extending the strategic, operational, and clinical expertise we offer at Tampa General to support the leadership, providers, and teams at Lakeside Medical Center and expand access to world-class care in the Glades, John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General, said in a March 13 news release. Its the best of both worlds  high-quality care close to home.

Under the management and administrative services agreement, the Health Care District of Palm Beach County retains ownership of the hospital and its assets. The agreement does not alter the rights or obligations of district employees working at Lakeside Medical.

To lead the operational transition, Tampa General has appointed Ron Doncaster, former interim COO of Tampa General, as vice president of business operations and integration at Lakeside Medical.

Our number one goal is to meet the needs of the community, Mr. Doncaster said. With improved delivery models and expanded access to specialists, we can elevate the level of care available in the community without losing the personal service only a local hospital can provide.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has confirmed that a patient contracted Legionella bacteria while seeking treatment at the hospital, part of Cambridge, Mass.-based Beth Israel Lahey Health.

Hospital leaders said they are working closely with the state to investigate the case and implementing additional infection control measures, according to Boston 25 News. The patients condition and how they contracted the bacteria were not immediately clear.

Legionella is a rare cause of infection in patients. Most people who are exposed to Legionella do not develop infection from it. We are investigating this case and continue to take all necessary steps to protect our patients, visitors and staff, Sharon Wright, MD, chief infection prevention officer for Beth Israel Lahey Health, said in a statement to Beckers.
A bluffers guide to classic Irish novels

Whether youre planning to impress at a dinner party or want to help out with a childs homework, Weekend has compiled a spoiler-ridden guide to some of the most notable books published by Irish authors

Bluff your way through conversation about some of our best-known novels

Aine Toner Sat 15 Mar 2025 at 08:00

Whether youre planning to impress at a dinner party or want to help out with a childs homework, Weekend has compiled a spoiler-ridden guide to some of the most notable books published by Irish authors
Its important for me to open myself to the page every day: Author Carol Drinkwater discusses her new novel and life in Provence
Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly meeting with US President Donald Trump at the US Capitol (NI Executive)

A White House boycott by Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance was irrelevant and ineffective, the DUP leader has claimed.

Gavin Robinson said it was revealing that Donald Trump was unaware of their absence as he welcomed his new friends from Northern Ireland this week.

Political leaders made the traditional trip to the US this week ahead of St Patricks Day.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill travelled to Carolina for a business event but returned home rather than attend the Washington events as part of Sinn Fein's protest against Mr Trump's threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza.

The SDLP and Alliance also stayed away.

Asked about the boycotts while meeting Irish premier Micheal Martin in the Oval Office, Mr Trump remarked: "I haven't heard that, I really haven't heard that.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and other senior DUP figures, including Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, did attend the Washington festivities.

Later, the president told a dinner: I also want to thank my new friends from Northern Ireland for being here  its a great honour.

Mr Robinson said the experience of Northern Irelands divided society shows that political relationships are necessary, even when strong disagreement exists.

It was revealing that the self-imposed exile of Michelle ONeill, Claire Hanna and Naomi Long wasnt even on the Presidents radar, yet he warmly welcomed his new friends from Northern Ireland to the White House, he said.

That tells you everything you need to know about just how ineffective and irrelevant their boycott has been.

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In his weekly email to DUP members, Mr Robinson said the trip helped foster political relationships, develop economic opportunities, and enhance cultural links.

He added: You dont have to agree with everything someone says or does to advocate for your people.

If our own political arrangements have taught us anything, its that political relationships are often necessary, even when theyre not with whom we would choose.

Mr Robinson said the deputy First Minsters meeting with Mr Trump was an important opportunity to put our priorities on the Presidents radar.

On the wider engagement in the US, he added: A crucial part of these discussions was ensuring Northern Ireland remains protected from potential tariffs imposed on the EU and UK.

We made it clear that the unacceptable arrangements under the Windsor Framework leave us vulnerable in a scenario where tariffs are imposed, and we pressed the case for Northern Irelands position to be properly recognised.

Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly meeting with US President Donald Trump at the US Capitol (NI Executive)

Body language expert analysis of Micheal Martin meeting Trump in the White House

Mr Trump has threatened to slap tariffs on American imports as part of a deepening trade dispute between the US and the EU.

On Wednesday, he imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from around the world, a move hitting the EU hard, which in retaliation announced tariffs on 26bn (20bn) of US goods beginning in April.

Post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland mean that any US imports into the region will be treated the same as those entering the EU, and could become more expensive because of the new tariffs.

With the UK so far not imposing tit-for-tat levies on its US imports, it is feared Northern Ireland could end up a more expensive place than the rest of the UK to buy those goods.
Stella McMullan, whose daughter Caitlin-Rose died after being struck by a car last week, wants authorities to address safety issues at bus stops

The mother of an 11-year-old girl who died after being struck by a car after she got off her school bus in Castledawson last week has called for greater safety measures to protect children.

Caitlin-Rose McMullan, a first-year pupil at St Pius X College in Magherafelt, died on March 6, and now mum Stella McMullan has started a campaign urging the authorities to do more to save lives.

She says she believes a stop arm system, which is used successfully in school transport in the US and elsewhere around the world, could have prevented her daughters death, and she is urging those responsible for overseeing the NI school transport system to do everything they can to prevent further tragedies.

I experienced a tragedy no parent should ever have to go through, she said, launching a change.org petition which thousands have already supported.

My daughter lost her life while coming off the school bus. Its an incident that has left a lasting impression on me and my family and it is only one example of a widespread and urgent problem  the lack of effective bus safety measures in place to protect our children.

I feel its my legacy to her to start getting more bus shelters, speed and bus awareness before some poor family will have this tragedy happening to them.

Stella revealed that her daughter had died at the scene at Hillhead Road in Castledawson, close to her family home, before amazing doctors helped to bring her back, but unfortunately she later died following her injuries.

Those actions allowed Stella to fly home from abroad to spend precious last moments with her daughter before life support was switched off at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

Having suffered a heartbreaking family tragedy, Stella now wants to ensure no other family suffers the same pain.

She believes all buses being used to transport children to and from school should be fitted with a US-style stop arm, a stop signal which flashes amber or red when a bus pulls over to let children off.

It is treated as a motoring offence in many US states for a driver to pass while the red light is displayed.

Statistics from the National Safety Council reveal that most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are 4-7 years old, she said.

Theyre either walking or hit by another vehicle, just like my daughter.

Its obvious that its not enough to simply trust drivers. More needs to be done to ensure the safety of our children.

This petition is calling for the implementation of effective measures such as bus shelters, better bus codes similar to those found in countries where cars must stop by law to let children cross, and a significant increase in speed awareness around stopped buses.

By giving children a safe place to wait for the bus, providing clearer regulations for drivers, and reinforcing the need for drivers to slow down and stay alert near buses, we can help prevent tragic accidents like the one that took my daughter from me. It is time we prioritise the safety and lives of our children.

Caitlin-Rose McMullan

She added: I hope as many people as possible sign this petition and join the call for improved bus safety measures.

Ive had a lot of people contact me already, so with the help of everyone, I believe something can be done and we can all work together across all departments to take the best action we can to protect all our children.

Stella said many MLAs and MPs had reached out to her in the days since Caitlin-Rose passed away and said that she was especially touched to receive a letter from First Minister Michelle ONeill on Thursday.

Caitlin-Rose McMullan

Stellas campaign is being supported by local SDLP councillor Denise Johnston, who said: As a result of this tragic incident, a beautiful young child, Caitlin-Rose McMullan, died. Her death was avoidable. We must do everything we can to protect our children.

We should be assured that when our children go out to school in the morning, they come home in the evening.

As always, my thoughts and prayers are with the family. But thats not enough. Words arent enough. We need action.

St Pius X College said Caitlin-Rose was a very popular pupil, always smiling. Her form teachers described her as a joy to teach due to her kind and fun-loving nature. She was an outgoing, bubbly and caring child, who will be greatly missed by fellow pupils and staff alike.

Over the course of Year 8, Caitlin-Rose earned numerous accolades for excellent effort and outstanding classwork, approaching every assignment with interest and enthusiasm.

Caitlin-Roses friends and classmates are heartbroken by her untimely passing.

Education Minister Paul Givan said he was deeply shocked to hear the tragic news, adding: As a parent, when we set our children off to school in the morning, none of us ever expect to receive such devastating news.

Caitlin-Rose McMullan

A spokesperson for the Education Authority (EA) said: The safety of children and young people is EAs highest priority and we are fully committed to working in collaboration with all partner agencies to inform and improve safety measures on our roads.

A Department of Education spokesperson said: The thoughts and condolences of the Department of Education are with the family and friends of Caitlin-Rose at this very difficult time.

While responsibility for road safety legislation falls outside of the remit of the Department of Education, the Department fully supports a cross-departmental approach on developing any measures which would improve the safety of children on our roads.

The Department for Infrastructure said: Too many lives are being lost on our roads and our thoughts are with Caitlin-Roses family and friends at this very difficult time.

Improving road safety is a priority for the Minister and she has asked her officials to consider what measures can be implemented to improve road safety around buses.

The Minister is also exploring wider road safety measures, such as speed limit reductions, including 20mph zones in residential areas and outside schools. The Ministers predecessor John ODowd reinstated funding for road safety adverts and published the Road Safety Strategy to 2030.

Young people are among our most vulnerable road users, which is why the Highway Code emphasises the need to drive slowly and carefully around schools, and when passing a stationary bus carrying school children.

The petition can be found at change.org by searching for Stella McMullan.
Co Down stabbing leaves community reeling as one victim suffers serious knife wound to neck

Watch: Forensics at the scene of stabbing in Co. Down

A man is due in court today after two women were stabbed in Co Down.

The incident happened at a property on Stream Street, Downpatrick at around 8.30am yesterday.

It is understood the incident initially happened in the property before spilling outside.

One of the victims was a 35-year-old woman who suffered a serious knife wound to her neck, and other cuts to her head and face.

A woman in her 50s also suffered stab wounds.

Both were taken to hospital from the scene, one by air ambulance. Their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Today police said a 26-year-old man has been charged with offences including two counts of attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence.

He is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates' Court today.

Yesterday over a dozen police and forensic officers were gathered outside the home where the two women were attacked.

MLAs and councillors expressed their shock at the violent attack.

SDLP MLA for South Down Colin McGrath said there is concern among local residents.

This is a disturbing incident that has caused much concern in the local community, he said.

Two women have been left in hospital with serious injuries, thankfully they are not believed to be life threatening and I hope they can make a full and quick recovery.

I commend the quick response of police and emergency services to this incident and would ask that the PSNI are given space to carry out their enquiries.

South Down Sinn Fein Cathy Mason labelled it a disgusting and horrendous attack.

My thoughts are with both women who have suffered serious injuries, thankfully these do not appear to be life threatening, she said.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after two women were stabbed at a house in Downpatrick. Credit: Pacemaker

Cadogan Enright, an Alliance councillor for Downpatrick, spoke from the scene of the attack.

I live about 100 metres from the scene here. Obviously I am horrified, I know all of the people on this street. It is my own local area, he said.

I cant believe it is happening in such a fine town, Downpatrick. I can only recall one other incident in recent years similar to this. I really hope our neighbours are well.

Local Sinn Fein councillor Oonagh Hanlon added: It is a shock for residents that live in the area. And my thoughts are with the two women who have just been injured. I wish for them both a speedy recovery.

One neighbour expressed her dismay over the attacks.

Its just very sad that is all I can say to be honest, it is not very good, said one woman.
Emergency services are currently at the scene of fire in North Belfast on the Limestone Road. Credit: Press Eye

Emergency services are currently at the scene of fire in North Belfast on the Limestone Road. Credit: Press Eye

Emergency services are currently at the scene of fire in North Belfast on the Limestone Road. Credit: Press Eye

At one stage 60 firefighters attended the incident at commercial premises on the Limestone Road in the north of the city.

The initial call was received at 2.26am, the NI Fire and Rescue Service said.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

At the height of the incident, people were urged to avoid the area while local residents and premises were told to keep their windows and doors closed.

Emergency services are currently at the scene of fire in North Belfast on the Limestone Road. Credit: Press Eye

In an update this morning, NIFRS said: We have now scaled back our operations with four appliances and two officers to remain at this location for a number of hours.

At the height of the incident nine fire appliances from Whitla, Cadogan, Knock, Lisburn, Westland fire stations were attendance supported by an aerial ladder appliance, command support unit and a specialist rescue team.

Emergency services are currently at the scene of fire in North Belfast on the Limestone Road. Credit: Press Eye

"In total 60 firefighters have been involved in controlling this fire utilising breathing apparatus, firefighting jets and foam jets.

"Our regional control centre assisted throughout whilst continuing to ensure supporting arrangements were in place for other calls in the Belfast area.

The cause at this stage has yet to be determined.
One of the houses on University Street

One of the houses on University Street

Three Victorian houses in Belfasts university area have been proposed for listing.

The Department for Communities Historic Environment Division (HED) occasionally recommends properties for listing to local councils.

Once listed, these buildings have a degree of protection, such as from demolition or major alteration, unless prior approval is granted.

There are currently around 9,000 listed buildings across Northern Ireland.

A second survey of all of NIs building stock is currently underway, to update and improve on the first list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest that began in 1974.

Ahead of next weeks meeting of Belfast City Councils planning committee, the HED has proposed three buildings in the city for listed status.

Two of the properties make up a row of late Victorian redbrick terraced houses on University Street.

The homes have bay windows and external red sandstone dressings. Internally, the houses feature decorative plasterwork.

The pair of properties were constructed between 1890 and 1893 to designs by renowned Belfast architect William J Fennell, a distinguished designer of domestic dwellings, churches and schools.

Some of Fennells most well-known works in Belfast include Cooke Centenary Church, the Water Commissioners Office and the Mater Hospital.

He also designed All Saints Church, also on University Street. Internally, original cornices and joinery have survived, while carved above each front door is a monogram and crest linking the properties to their original owner and builder, William Gabbey.

One of the houses on University Street

The third building proposed for listing is a Victorian villa in Wellington Park, which is designed in a Gothic Revival style and retains its original canted bay windows and decorative brickwork. Much of the interior also survives.

The plan of the house is largely intact, except for a portion of the rear which once contained a store and a bathroom.

High ceilings to the main rooms of the front part of the house were a selling point when the house was built, HED noted.

The building is generally enhanced by its setting, within a tree-lined avenue, terraced with substantial double-fronted villas of a similar period (replacement gate and piers were added to the front in 2011).

The association of the house with Samuel Hogg, notable Shankill Road grocer, and the Montgomery family, who were involved in the local linen trade, adds to the buildings local interest.

One of the houses on University Street

Samuel Hogg ran The Peoples Tea and Coffee House on the Shankill Road in the early 1900s. A photographic negative of staff in front of the premises dating back to around 1920 is held in a National Museums NI collection.

Listed buildings are given different grades, from A to B1 and B2.

The pair of buildings on University Street are proposed to be B1, while the Wellington Park house is B2.

B1 and B2 are considered special buildings of local importance or good examples of the style of the period.

Some degree of alteration or imperfection is acceptable for B1 and B2 listed buildings.
Vladimir Putin will sooner or later have to come to the negotiating table, Sir Keir Starmer said as he began further talks on a coalition of the willing on Saturday.

Addressing around 25 world leaders from the Cabinet room in 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister said President Volodymyr Zelensky  who joined Saturdays call  had shown once again that Ukraine is the party of peace by agreeing to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

Accusing Mr Putin of trying to delay progress on a ceasefire, he said: If Putin is serious about peace, its very simple. He has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire.

The world is watching. My feeling is that sooner or later he is going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussions.

Saturdays virtual meeting is aimed at continuing plans for a peacekeeping force of Western troops to be deployed in the event of a ceasefire, although Russia has indicated it would not accept Nato or European soldiers in Ukraine.

Sir Keir told his counterparts they could not sit back and simply wait for a ceasefire, adding: We have to keep pushing ahead, pushing forward and preparing for peace, and a peace that will be secure and that will last.

Following the Prime Ministers address, the meeting heard from French President Emmanuel Macron, Mr Zelensky and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte.

The discussions follow a week in which American officials took a US-Ukraine proposal for a 30-day ceasefire to Moscow following talks in Saudi Arabia.

Sir Keir Starmer hosts the video conference call with world leaders (Leon Neal/PA)

But, so far, the Kremlin has resisted calls for an unconditional ceasefire.

While Mr Putin has described the principle of a ceasefire as correct, he has insisted it must come with a promise from Ukraine to abandon attempts to join Nato and give up control of regions seized by Russia.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr Putins first prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov, who now opposes the Russian president, said his former boss would not accept Nato or European troops being deployed to Ukraine, but might agree to soldiers from friendly countries such as India and Brazil.

Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine launched drone attacks overnight, each reporting more than 100 enemy drones entering their respective airspaces.

No casualties have been reported and both countries defence ministries claim to have shot down around 130 enemy drones.
The captain of the Solong container ship has appeared in court (Danny Lawson/PA)

The Russian captain of the container ship that crashed into a US oil tanker in the North Sea has appeared in court, where he was remanded in custody.

The Solongs master, Vladimir Motin, 59, of Primorsky, St Petersburg, in Russia, appeared at Hull Magistrates Court on Saturday morning charged with gross negligence manslaughter.

Motin stood in the glass-fronted dock for the 35-minute-long hearing, which was told how his vessel collided with the American tanker Stena Immaculate off the east coast of Yorkshire on Monday.

The court heard how all 23 people on the tanker were rescued along with 13 crew members from the Solong but Mark Angelo Pernia  a 38-year-old Filipino national  could not be located.

There was no application for bail and Motin was remanded in custody by deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram, who appeared by videolink.

No pleas were entered.

Motin will appear next at the Old Bailey on April 14.

Clean-shaven and wearing glasses, the defendant was flanked by one security guard and had the help of a Russian interpreter.

Sporting short black hair, parted on the left, the defendant was wearing a grey T-shirt under a blue checked shirt and an unzipped black fleece jacket.

He spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and that he did not have an address in the UK.

Prosecutor Amelia Katz, who also appeared by videolink, told the court how the collision happened at about 9.47am on Monday at 10.2 nautical miles from the nearest point on the coast.

She said the 140m-long Solong was Portuguese-registered and was carrying about 157 containers.

Ms Katz said the Stena Immaculate was 183m long and was carrying jet fuel.

She said this vessel was anchored at the point of the collision at 6.50pm on Sunday evening  about 15 hours before the impact.

Ms Katz said the Solong was travelling at about 15 knots when it directly impacted on the port side of the other vessel.

There was an explosion upon impact in the area of the forward deck, the prosecutor said.

There was rapid spread of fire along the Solong deck and into the water.

Ms Katz said Mr Pernia was working in the forward deck part of the ship, in the area where there was an explosion.

The US oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate, which was struck by the Solong container ship (Danny Lawson/PA)

She said: All 23 crew members were rescued from the Stena Immaculate and accounted for.

Thirteen of the 14 crews members of the Solong were rescued and accounted for, save for Mr Pernia.

Attempts were made by some of the other crew members of the Solong to locate Mr Pernia but they were not able to.

Andrew Havery, defending, said he is hoping to apply for bail next week when accommodation for his client has been secured.

Mr Havery said: Mr Motins employers are fully supportive of him.

The Stena Immaculate is still at anchor at the point where the collision happened, off the East Yorkshire coast, near Withernsea.

The Solong drifted south of this location, to a point where it could be seen off the Lincolnshire coast.

On Friday, chief coastguard Paddy OCallaghan said the vessels are stable and salvors have boarded them both to continue damage assessments.

He said: There are now only small periodic pockets of fire on the Solong which are not causing undue concern.

Specialist tugs with firefighting capability remain at both vessels locations.

Regular aerial surveillance flights continue to monitor the vessels and confirm that there continues to be no cause for concern from pollution from either the Stena Immaculate or from the Solong.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is also assisting in the response and continues to advise that any public health risk on shore is deemed to be very low.

The UKSHA will keep risk assessments under continual review as further information becomes available.
Palestinians walk amid the rubble of destroyed homes and buildings in Jabaliya, northern Gaza Strip as mediators push for the second phase of a ceasefire agreement (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Hamas said it would only release an American-Israeli hostage and the bodies of four other hostages if Israel implements the existing ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, calling it an exceptional deal aimed at getting the truce back on track.

A senior Hamas official said long-delayed talks over the ceasefires second phase would need to begin the day of the release and last no longer than 50 days.

Israel would also need to stop barring the entry of humanitarian aid and withdraw from a strategic corridor along Gazas border with Egypt.

The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza, displaced most of the population and left nearly everyone dependent on international aid to survive (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

Hamas would also demand the release of more Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages, said the official.

Edan Alexander, 21, who grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey, was abducted from his military base during Hamass attack on October 7, 2023 that ignited the war and is the last living American citizen held in Gaza.

Two Israeli airstrikes in the northern town of Beit Lahiya near the border killed at least nine people, according to Gazas Health Ministry.

Fares Awad, a local health official, identified one of the dead as local reporter Mahmoud Islim, who was operating a drone.

The Israeli military said it struck two people operating a drone that it said posed a threat to soldiers in the area.

It said it launched another strike at a group of people who came to collect the drone equipment. The army identified all of those targeted as suspected militants without providing evidence.

There has been no major fighting since the ceasefire took hold on January 19, but Israeli strikes have killed dozens of Palestinians who the military said had entered unauthorised areas, engaged in militant activities or otherwise violated the truce.

There was no immediate comment on Hamass offer from Israel, where government offices were closed for the weekly Sabbath.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office on Friday accused Hamas of manipulation and psychological warfare when the offer was initially made, before Hamas spelled out the conditions.

The United States said it presented on Wednesday a proposal to extend the ceasefire for a few more weeks as the sides negotiate a permanent truce.

It said Hamas was claiming flexibility in public while privately making entirely impractical demands.

Yael Alexander holds a poster of her son, Edan, who was taken hostage by Hamas militants (Maya Alleruzzo/AP)

Negotiations continued in Egypt after senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo on Friday.

Egypt and Qatar served as key mediators with Hamas in reaching the ceasefire and have continued to host talks aimed at getting it back on track.

There was no immediate comment from the mediators.

Under the ceasefire agreement reached in January, Israel and Hamas were to begin negotiations over a second phase  in which Hamas would release all of the remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting truce  in early February, but so far, only preparatory talks have been held.

After the first phase ended at the beginning of this month, Israel said it had agreed to a new US proposal in which Hamas would release half of the remaining hostages in return for a vague commitment to negotiate a lasting ceasefire.

Hamas rejected that offer, accusing Israel of backtracking on the signed agreement and trying to sabotage the truce.

Israel has barred the delivery of food, fuel and other supplies to Gazas roughly 2 million Palestinians and cut electricity to the territory to pressure Hamas to accept the new proposal.

Israels military offensive has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

The city of Rafah, on the Gaza-Egypt border, said it could no longer provide fuel needed to pump water from dozens of wells across the city.

Ahmed al-Sufi, head of the Rafah municipality, said fuel shortages caused by the Israeli siege have forced the municipality to suspend essential services, threatening the lives of thousands and exacerbating the health and environmental crisis.

The first phase of the truce, which took hold on January 19, saw the release of 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli forces pulled back to a buffer zone along Gazas border and allowed a surge of humanitarian aid.

An Israeli official said last month that Israel will not withdraw from the so-called Philadelphi corridor, along the Gaza-Egypt border, as called for in the ceasefire agreement.

They have cited the need to combat weapons smuggling.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostage.

Palestinians walk amid the rubble of destroyed homes and buildings (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

The group is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were freed in ceasefire agreements.

Israels military offensive has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants.

Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza, displaced most of the population and left nearly everyone dependent on international aid to survive.
Tens of thousands of Italians joined a pro-Europe rally in Romes city centre, waving blue European Union flags in a sign of support and unity as a European push for rearmament divides the country.

The initiative, supported by most of the centre-left opposition parties, despite their different positions, was launched by Italian journalist Michele Serra at the end of February, with an editorial in the Italian daily La Repubblica titled: Lets say something European.

I wanted to organise a large demonstration of citizens supporting Europe, its unity and its freedom, with no party flags, only European flags, Mr Serra said, launching the slogan: Here we make Europe, or we die.

The move is seeking more cohesion in the EU on the wake of the recent changes of priorities in International politics (LaPresse via AP)

The initiative was born in response to US President Donald Trumps destabilising policies, which created an unprecedented rift between Europe and the US, strained over the war in Ukraine and an ongoing tariff battle.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has reluctantly backed an EU plan to rearm Europe over concerns that the proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen might weigh on Italys giant debt, diverting much-needed funds to weapons spending.

The EU plan aims to generate around 800 billion euro over the next four years, the bulk of which will come from member states increasing their national spending on defence and security.

Internally, Ms Meloni openly criticised the project, rejecting the term rearm as misleading and encouraged European partners to focus instead on common defence and security.

Giorgia Meloni has struggled to mediate between Europe and Mr Trump (AP)

Organisers said the pro-Europe rally, which filled Romes central Piazza del Popolo with at least 30,000 people, reunited Italians on different sides and voting for opposite parties in the name of democracy.

We are here to defend freedom and democracy, said Daniela Condotto, one of the demonstrators.

These are concepts that we got used to over 80 years, but in reality they need to be defended, we cannot take them as a given.

Right-wing government parties snubbed the demonstration, standing behind Ms Meloni, who has been struggling in her attempt to play a mediating role between Mr Trump and the EU.

There must be support for Europe, but with concrete reforms, not symbolic events, said Antonio Tajani, foreign minister and vice premier ahead of Saturdays rally.

Vice premier Matteo Salvini, leader of the Eurosceptic Leagues party, was openly critical.

While some people demonstrate with flags, we work to change this Europe, which crushes workers, farmers and entrepreneurs with its absurd rules, he said.
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Gods love is not some theoretical, million-miles-away kind of love. It is up in our business. It is raw and fierce and tender and full of joy. His desire for you and me can best be described as a furious longing, wrote that warmhearted, clear-sighted Franciscan Brennan Manning.

Gods love burns bright and hot and true. It will never dim. Not ever. Not even a little.

He is consumed; He cant take his eyes off us (Ps. 34:15). He thinks about us all the time. Not for a second has He ever forgotten even one of us (Isa. 49:16). There are so many thoughts about each of us in His head they cant be counted (Ps. 40:5). His love for you, for me, is so great that its literally immeasurable and unfathomable by our human minds (Eph. 3:1719).

He truly is our Father (Eph. 1:5; 1 John 3:1). And while we often think what we need is a rescue, a way out, our prayers answered, our circumstances changed, what we really need is something infinitely bigger. What we really need is our proud, crazy-in-love heavenly Father himself.

Getting to know Him, coming to experience Him in our everyday lives, beginning to accept His furious loveits the most important thing in our lives. Its the ball game. But its also probably the thing most neglected by modern Christian men.

So, here are four ways you can encounter His love today:

Worship

When we struggle to accept His mercy and love, instead of trying to will ourselves to accept them (because thats hard), its often easier to flip things. When we engage in the practical act of loving Himlike worshipping, for examplewe open ourselves to receive His love for us. Instead of trying to bend our minds toward a theoretical acceptance of His love, we just let Him love us. And Hes really good at that.

So, find a space and a time when you wont be interrupted. Your office. Your bedroom. Your car, maybe. And spend thirty minutes or so playing your favorite worship music, listening to the lyricsand singing them if youre willing. Theres nothing quite like hearing your own voice in praise.

Scripture

We must read Scripture. God chose those words for you and for me (Rom. 15:4). He chose those words, carefully, so we could read them. And He designed us to need to read them. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matt. 4:4).

Figuring out how can be a problem. But its a problem we should approach with excitement and intentionality and optimism, not with guilt or reluctance or resignation. Its a problem we should approach with creativity, recognizing our unique designs and identities, our unique preferences and tendenciesfor the solutions to the problem are as unique and varied as we are.

Dont know where to start? Try one of the many reading plans available on the free mobile Bible apps out there. Cant find time? Try listening to one of the several audio-enabled Bible apps. Struggle with consistency or motivation? Try a daily reminder on your phone or the tracking and/or group accountability features on the various mobile Bible apps. Dont like archaic language? Try The Message version. Cant remember what youve read? Try a free Bible memorization app. Struggling with something else? Well, work those God-given problem-solving skills to forge your own solution. And then, execute it.

Solitude

Why are modern men so bad at solitude? Our king did it quite well. As a man, Jesus knew His limitations. He understood His need to connect with his fatherto His guidance and power. He knew how good that connection was. He wants us to know too.

So, if its so good, why do we struggle? Well, its a little because were busy. Solitude is hard when youre working and/or married and/or have kids and/or have friends. And, its a little because were not well practiced. Our culture trains us for motion and multitaskingnot for slowing and simplifying. And its a little because, deep down, we know solitude means confrontation. You see, solitude removes distractions and leaves us, for a few minutes, alone with God.

Solitude is sometimes defined as being alone, but we arent. The Spirit dwells within us (1 Corinthians 3:16). Gods right there. And we never know what might happen when were alone with God. But if we avoid this kind of confrontation, well miss His companionship, counsel, comfort, restoration, and rescue. So, we must take courage. We must not worry that we dont yet do it well. And, we must make solitude a priorityas Jesus did.

Start small. Find something that works. Turn off devices and take a walkat lunchtime or during a break. Get some air in your neighborhood after dinner. Slip outside just before bed and sit quietly in the dark. You might very well find that these become your favorite moments of your days.

Community

We men often find it hard to gather in Christian community. Calendars are full: I just dont have time for one more thing. Pride is high: Im good . . . Im doing fine on my own. Aversion to vulnerability is strong: Oh, man . . . Im just not that good at opening up. If we are followers of our King, Jesus Christ, though, we must gathernot neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some (Hebrews 10:25).

But . . . why? Why is community so important? Well, a couple reasons. Two are better than one, Scripture tells uswe are stronger, less vulnerable, together (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up. (Ecclesiastes 4:10).

Even more important, though, Jesus tells us that He is uniquely present when we gather in his name (Matthew 18:20). Recall, God dwells within each follower of Jesus. (John 14:17) Therefore, when we gather, the power of the Spirit flows from one to another and back. When we gather, the work of God is done: confessions are made; sins are repented; love and compassion are expressed; hearts are healed; encouragement is given; lives are transformed. Men are lifted up, up out of sin and rebellion, into life and identity and calling. Work is done that just cannot be done in isolation.

So, reach out to someoneeven if it must be over Zoom or FaceTime. Start meeting on a regular basis, weekly is best. Fight for communityagainst calendars, against pride, against fear. King David sang: Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! (Psalm 133:1-3).

Remember, God knows youre busy. He sees you right nowthe work, the obligations, the distractions. And Hes calling you to Himself still. He knows what Hes doing. So, go to Him. Choose one of the suggestions above and encounter Him today.
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Yes, "to finish is to win"  but to see the Josh finish at Tanglewood again would be a particularly big win for the Berkshires.
In the Berkshires, the housing crisis isn't primarily driven by low production, but rather by the mismatch between housing costs and local incomes and the loss of year-round homes to disrepair, seasonal living and short-term rentals, according to a new housing plan released by the state.
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NORTH ADAMS  The citys School Committee is close to elevating the current assistant superintendent to the top job.

Timothy Callahan is the School Committees final candidate to head North Adams Public Schools once Superintendent Barbara Malkas retires, according to an announcement from the school district.

After an extensive national search and careful consideration of numerous qualified candidates, the Superintendent Search Committee has put forth [Timothy] Callahan as the leading choice to guide the North Adams Public Schools into the future, a news release from the district reads.

On Thursday, the School Committee will publicly assess Callahans qualifications and vision during a meeting. People can attend in person at 6 p.m. in City Council chambers, or remotely via Zoom or NBCTC.

The meeting will not include a time for members of the public to speak, but the committee encourages students, faculty, staff, families and residents to send questions to forms.gle/8dDzX6Az8JYSf5Kf7 by 5 p.m. Monday.

The North Adams School Committee appreciates the communitys participation and looks forward to their engagement as part of a thorough and transparent selection process, the news release reads.

Callahan has been in the North Adams school district for 27 years. Hes been an English teacher, director of curriculum and instruction, assistant principal and principal at Drury High School; director of technology for the district; and his most recent role as assistant superintendent.

He has a bachelors degree in English literature from Hamilton College, a masters in education from Cambidge College, as well as a doctorate of education from Russell Sage College.

His core values include equity, creativity and collaboration, the news release reads, and he believes in setting high expectations for students while providing them with high levels of support.

Malkas last day will be June 30, giving her time to acclimate her replacement, whose job will include overseeing the building of a new school and navigating any changes to federal dollars coming to the district due to action taken by President Donald Trump's administration.

Whomever the new superintendent is, they will have to manage a declining population and enrollment.

Malkas played a significant role, along with the mayor and School Committee, in arranging for a new school to be built. By a narrow vote, North Adams residents approved the $65 million new school project in October, involving a tax hike to get it built and the closure of Brayton Elementary once it is.

The School Committee appears to have taken the advice of Liz Lafond, a field director with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. Lafond said during a November School Committee meeting that the district would have more luck considering an internal hire to fill the position.
Dalton Delan can be reached at berkshireeaglereels@gmail.com and @UnspinRoom on X. His Eagle Reels conversations can be found on YouTube .
Our Opinion

Our Opinion: The time is now to modernize state's Open Meeting Law
A fourth teenage boy arrested after a number of alleged thefts from businesses in Co Cavan and Co Monaghan has been charged.

He is due to appear before a special sitting of Cavan District (Juvenile) Court on Saturday evening.

Gardai on routine patrol searched a car in Cavan town shortly before 8pm last night.

They arrested four teenage boys and three have been released.
A delivery driver has won 50 million dollars (38.6 million) in a lawsuit after being seriously burned when a Starbucks drink spilled in his lap at a California drive-through, court records show.

On Friday, a Los Angeles County jury found in favour of Michael Garcia, who underwent skin grafts and other procedures on his genitals after a venti-sized tea drink spilled instants after he collected it on February 8 2020.

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He has suffered permanent and life-changing disfigurement, according to his legal team.

Mr Garcias negligence lawsuit blamed his injuries on Starbucks, saying that an employee did not wedge the scalding-hot tea firmly enough into a takeaway tray.

One of Mr Garcias lawyers, Nick Rowley, said: This jury verdict is a critical step in holding Starbucks accountable for flagrant disregard for customer safety and failure to accept responsibility.

Starbucks said it sympathised with Mr Garcia, but plans to appeal.

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We disagree with the jurys decision that we were at fault for this incident and believe the damages awarded to be excessive, the Seattle-based coffee giant said in a statement to media outlets, adding that it was committed to the highest safety standards in handling hot drinks.

US restaurants have faced lawsuits before over customer burns.

In one famous 1990s case, a New Mexico jury awarded a woman nearly three million dollars (2.3 million) in damages for burns she suffered while trying to pry the lid off a cup of coffee at a McDonalds drive-through.

A judge later reduced the award, and the case ultimately was settled for an undisclosed sum under 600,000 dollars (463,000).

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Juries have sided with restaurants at times, as in another 1990s case involving a child who tipped a cup of McDonalds coffee onto himself in Iowa.
Hamas said it would only release an American-Israeli hostage and the bodies of four other hostages if Israel implements the existing ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, calling it an exceptional deal aimed at getting the truce back on track.

A senior Hamas official said long-delayed talks over the ceasefires second phase would need to begin the day of the release and last no longer than 50 days.

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Israel would also need to stop barring the entry of humanitarian aid and withdraw from a strategic corridor along Gazas border with Egypt.



The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza, displaced most of the population and left nearly everyone dependent on international aid to survive (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

Hamas would also demand the release of more Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages, said the official.

Edan Alexander, 21, who grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey, was abducted from his military base during Hamass attack on October 7, 2023 that ignited the war and is the last living American citizen held in Gaza.

Two Israeli airstrikes in the northern town of Beit Lahiya near the border killed at least nine people, according to Gazas Health Ministry.

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Fares Awad, a local health official, identified one of the dead as local reporter Mahmoud Islim, who was operating a drone.

The Israeli military said it struck two people operating a drone that it said posed a threat to soldiers in the area.

It said it launched another strike at a group of people who came to collect the drone equipment. The army identified all of those targeted as suspected militants without providing evidence.

There has been no major fighting since the ceasefire took hold on January 19, but Israeli strikes have killed dozens of Palestinians who the military said had entered unauthorised areas, engaged in militant activities or otherwise violated the truce.

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There was no immediate comment on Hamass offer from Israel, where government offices were closed for the weekly Sabbath.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office on Friday accused Hamas of manipulation and psychological warfare when the offer was initially made, before Hamas spelled out the conditions.

The United States said it presented on Wednesday a proposal to extend the ceasefire for a few more weeks as the sides negotiate a permanent truce.

It said Hamas was claiming flexibility in public while privately making entirely impractical demands.

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Yael Alexander holds a poster of her son, Edan, who was taken hostage by Hamas militants (Maya Alleruzzo/AP)

Negotiations continued in Egypt after senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo on Friday.

Egypt and Qatar served as key mediators with Hamas in reaching the ceasefire and have continued to host talks aimed at getting it back on track.

There was no immediate comment from the mediators.

Under the ceasefire agreement reached in January, Israel and Hamas were to begin negotiations over a second phase  in which Hamas would release all of the remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting truce  in early February, but so far, only preparatory talks have been held.

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After the first phase ended at the beginning of this month, Israel said it had agreed to a new US proposal in which Hamas would release half of the remaining hostages in return for a vague commitment to negotiate a lasting ceasefire.

Hamas rejected that offer, accusing Israel of backtracking on the signed agreement and trying to sabotage the truce.

Israel has barred the delivery of food, fuel and other supplies to Gazas roughly 2 million Palestinians and cut electricity to the territory to pressure Hamas to accept the new proposal.



Israels military offensive has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

The city of Rafah, on the Gaza-Egypt border, said it could no longer provide fuel needed to pump water from dozens of wells across the city.

Ahmed al-Sufi, head of the Rafah municipality, said fuel shortages caused by the Israeli siege have forced the municipality to suspend essential services, threatening the lives of thousands and exacerbating the health and environmental crisis.

The first phase of the truce, which took hold on January 19, saw the release of 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli forces pulled back to a buffer zone along Gazas border and allowed a surge of humanitarian aid.

An Israeli official said last month that Israel will not withdraw from the so-called Philadelphi corridor, along the Gaza-Egypt border, as called for in the ceasefire agreement.

They have cited the need to combat weapons smuggling.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostage.



Palestinians walk amid the rubble of destroyed homes and buildings (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

The group is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were freed in ceasefire agreements.

Israels military offensive has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants.

Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza, displaced most of the population and left nearly everyone dependent on international aid to survive.
Thousands of South Koreans on Saturday filled the streets of downtown Seoul in massive rival rallies for and against impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, as the Constitutional Court nears a decision on whether to formally remove him from office over his imposition of martial law in December.

Waving banners and signs demanding the ouster of the conservative president, big crowds of anti-Yoon protesters packed the streets near the court, where police had recently tightened security in anticipation of the ruling expected as early as next week.

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Yoons supporters rallied in nearby streets, waving South Korean and US flags while calling for the return of their conservative hero, whose ill-conceived power grab evoked memories of the military dictatorships last seen in the 1980s.



Protesters stage a rally calling for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

Police deployed thousands of officers to maintain safety and there were no immediate reports of major clashes or injuries.

Organisers of the anti-Yoon protests estimated turnout at 1.1 million, while police put the size in the tens of thousands.

Marching toward the streets near the court, the protesters sang and chanted slogans demanding Yoons ouster and imprisonment over his short-lived martial law imposition on December 3.

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Yoons powers were suspended after the opposition-controlled National Assembly impeached him on December 14.

We cannot wait even a single day, one of the protest leaders said on stage. This is the order of our citizens  the Constitutional Court must immediately remove Yoon Suk Yeol, the ringleader of rebellion!

To formally remove Yoon from office, at least six of the Constitutional Courts eight incumbent justices must approve the impeachment motion passed by officials.



A supporter of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attends a rally to oppose his impeachment (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

If they do not, Yoons presidential powers will be immediately restored.

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Chung Sung-il, a 72-year-old anti-Yoon protester, said he expected the court to dismiss Yoon 100%.

If he is reinstated, so many dangerous things can happen.

The pro-Yoon rallies were attended by members of Yoons conservative People Power Party, including five-term National Assembly member Yoon Sang-hyun.

He has defended the presidents martial law imposition as an attempt to check against the legislative dictatorship of the liberals, who have obstructed his agenda with their majority in the Assembly.

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The crowds repeatedly chanted Yoons name and held signs that read Dissolve the National Assembly.

President Yoon declared martial law to protect free democratic South Korea, said Jin Woo-chan, a 20-year-old Yoon supporter.

Yoon has argued that his martial law decree was necessary to overcome the anti-state liberal opposition, which he claims improperly used its legislative majority to block his agenda.



Police said tens of thousands of people rallied in the streets near the court (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

Despite blockades by hundreds of heavily armed troops, members gathered a quorum and unanimously voted to lift martial law, hours after Yoon declared it.

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The constitution limits the exercise of such powers to times of war or comparable national emergencies.

Yoons legal saga, which also includes a separate criminal indictment on rebellion charges, rattled state affairs, diplomacy and the economy and has become a stress test for the countrys democracy.

Yoons conservative supporters rioted at a Seoul court that authorised his arrest.

His lawyers and ruling party have openly questioned the credibility of courts and law enforcement institutions, and Yoon has continued to express contempt for his liberal rivals, endorsing baseless conspiracy theories about election fraud to justify his ill-fated authoritarian push.

If the Constitutional Court dismisses Yoon, that will trigger a presidential by-election within two months.
Protesters gathered outside a Tesla dealership in London have called for people to boycott the Elon Musk-owned electric car maker.

Organisers are encouraging Tesla owners to sell their cars and for people to dump stock.

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The electric car giant has already seen shares plunge since the start of the year as the firm comes under pressure from Chinese rivals amid calls for a boycott over Musks close ties with US President Donald Trump and far-right causes.

Protesters held signs that said Honk if you hate Elon (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

A small group of demonstrators at the Tesla centre in Park Royal, west London, held up banners that read Honk if you hate Tesla and Enough fascist nonsense.

The Tesla dealership carried on operating as normal on Saturday, with staff appearing oblivious to the protest.

On Wednesday, two Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested after pouring orange powdered paint over a robot at a Tesla shop in Shepherds Bush, west London, the Metropolitan Police said.

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Retired teacher Catherine Rennie Nash, 74, and former tax adviser Nigel Fleming, 63, climbed on to a podium display in the store.

The pair then poured paint over the robot and unfurled a Just Stop Oil banner, in what they said was a protest against Musk and billionaires jeopardising climate science and threatening democracy.

Tesla has been a target of protests and vandalism in America in recent weeks.

Police in Oregon said they are working with the FBI to investigate gunshots fired at a Tesla dealership.

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The shooting came 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.

In a show of support for Mr Musks company, US President Donald Trump shopped for a new Tesla on the White House drive on Tuesday, selecting a shiny red sedan.

Wow, Mr Trump said as he sat in the drivers seat of a Model S. Thats beautiful.

Mr Musk continues to run Tesla  as well as the social media platform X and the rocket manufacturer SpaceX  while also serving as Mr Trumps adviser.
President Donald Trump said he was being a little bit sarcastic when he repeatedly claimed as a candidate that he would have the Russia-Ukraine war solved within 24 hours  and even before he took office.

Mr Trump was asked on Friday about the vow he repeatedly made on the campaign trail during an interview for the Full Measure television programme as his administration is still trying to broker a solution 54 days into his second term.

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Well, I was being a little bit sarcastic when I said that, Mr Trump said in a clip released ahead of the episode airing on Sunday.

What I really mean is Id like to get it settled and, Ill, I think, I think Ill be successful.



Mr Trump repeated the claim frequently on the campaign trail (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

It was a rare admission from Mr Trump, who has a long record of making exaggerated claims.

At a CNN town hall event in May 2023, the prospective candidate said: Theyre dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And Ill have that done  Ill have that done in 24 hours.

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That is a war thats dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president, Mr Trump said during his September debate with then-vice president Kamala Harris. If I win, when Im president-elect, and what Ill do is Ill speak to one, Ill speak to the other. Ill get them together.

He repeated the claim frequently on the campaign trail.

His special envoy Steve Witkoff, was in Moscow this week for talks on a US-proposed ceasefire, which Ukraine has accepted.

In the interview, Mr Trump was also asked what the plan would be if Vladimir Putin does not agree to a ceasefire to the war he started three years ago.

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Bad news for this world because so many people are dying, Mr Trump said.

But I think, I think hes going to agree. I really do. I think I know him pretty well and I think hes going to agree.
Claiming that the US is being invaded by a Venezuelan gang, President Donald Trump has invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, allowing him broader leeway on policy and executive action to speed up mass deportations of people who are in America illegally.

The sweeping wartime law potentially pushes Mr Trumps promised crackdown on immigration into higher gear.

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Mr Trumps declaration targets the Tren de Aragua gang (TdA), contending it is a hostile force acting at the behest of Venezuelas government.

The declaration came on the same day that a federal judge in Washington barred the US administration from deporting five Venezuelans under the expected order  a hint at the legal battle brewing over Mr Trumps move.

The judge was scheduled to consider expanding the prohibition on deportation just minutes after Mr Trumps announcement.

The US Presidents statement reads: Over the years, Venezuelan national and local authorities have ceded ever-greater control over their territories to transnational criminal organisations, including TdA.

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The result is a hybrid criminal state that is perpetrating an invasion of and predatory incursion into the United States, and which poses a substantial danger to the United States.

The act was last used as part of the internment of Japanese-American civilians during the Second World War and has only been used two other times in American history, during the First World War and the War of 1812.

Mr Trump argued in his declaration that it is justified because he contends the TdA, a common talking point on the campaign trail, has ties to the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The US leader talked about using the act during his presidential campaign, and immigration groups were braced for it.

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That led to Saturdays unusual lawsuit, filed before Mr Trumps declaration even became public.

The suit by the American Civil Liberties Union and Democracy Forward on behalf of five Venezuelans whose cases suddenly moved towards deportation in recent hours.

James E Boasberg, chief judge of the DC Circuit, agreed to implement a temporary restraining order preventing the deportation for 14 days under the act of the five Venezuelans who are already in immigration custody and believed they were about to be deported.

Judge Boasberg said his order was to preserve the status quo.

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He scheduled a hearing for later in the afternoon to see if his order should be expanded to protect all Venezuelans in the United States.

Hours later, the Trump administration appealed the initial restraining order, contending that halting a presidential act before it has been announced would cripple the executive branch.

If the order were allowed to stand, district courts would have license to enjoin virtually any urgent national-security action just upon receipt of a complaint, the Justice Department wrote in its appeal.

It said district courts might then issue temporary restraining orders on actions such as drone strikes, sensitive intelligence operations, or terrorist captures or extraditions. The court should halt that path in its tracks, the department argued.

The unusual flurry of litigation highlights the controversial Act, which could give Trump vast power to deport people in the country illegally.

It could let him bypass some protections of normal criminal and immigration law to swiftly deport those his administration contends are members of the gang.

The White House has already designated Tren de Aragua a terrorist organisation and is preparing to move about 300 people it identifies as members of the gang to detention in El Salvador.
US President Donald Trump has ordered a series of air strikes on Yemens capital, Sanaa, promising to use overwhelming lethal force until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor.

Mr Trump said on social media: Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom.

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No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.

He also warned Iran to stop supporting the rebel group, promising to hold the country fully accountable for the actions of its proxy.



Mr Trump issued a new warning to Iran (AP)

The move comes two weeks after the American leader sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restarting bilateral talks between the countries on Irans advancing nuclear weapons programme that Mr Trump has said he will not allow to become operational.

The Houthis reported a series of explosions in their territory on Saturday evening. Images circulating online showed plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility.

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At least nine people were killed, said Anees al-Asbahi, spokesman for the Houthi-run health ministry. In a statement on social media, he said another nine were injured.

Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, said the air strikes will not deter them and they would retaliate against the US.

Sanaa will remain Gazas shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges, he added on social media.

The air strikes come a few days after the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels sailing in waters off Yemen in response to Israels blockade on Gaza. There have been no Houthi attacks reported since then.

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The United States, Israel and Britain have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen. Israels military declined to comment.

These relentless assaults have cost the US and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk, Mr Trump said.
Every generation has its James Bond, and Amazons purchase of creative control over the movie franchise has triggered a moral panic about a new 007 corrupting the children. Female! Gay! A person of colour! Non-binary! God forbid, all of the above!

After five Bond movies, Daniel Craig, now 57, is succumbing to the rule that whatever else 007s can be, they cant be a senior citizen. Pierce Brosnan, distinguished member of the Old Bonds Association, lent his airy weight to the argument by saying the next Bond must be British. Its all as terrifying as a boys school going co-ed.

Illustration: Dionne Gain Credit:

But a DEI hire to say f--- you to Donald Trump is about as likely as reversing time and whiting out Jeff Bezos from Trumps inauguration  its not going to happen. Amazon has not bought an actor or a character but a piece of intellectual property from which it can spin off a Bondiverse of prequels, sequels, animations, games, standalone movies and immersive VR experiences. Thats what Amazon partially bought in 2022 and completed last month, taking full creative control from the children of the late Bond producer Cubby Broccoli. Purchasing IP is anti-risk.

The flap about casting overlooks past DEI Bonds. There have been a Scotsman (Sean Connery), an Irishman (Brosnan) and an Australian (George Lazenby). To encourage gender diversity, Bond has been played as a closeted queen (David Niven, Roger Moore). For affirmative action, Bond has given employment to actors who couldnt act (Lazenby, Timothy Dalton). Brosnan said Amazon should treat the character with dignity and imagination and respect. Unless he was joking, its hard to imagine what he could possibly mean other than a prolongation of the current IP: risk nothing.
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 a Monday night in Western Australias largest remote Aboriginal community, Bidyadanga, and pool managers Linda and Scott Kendall are chopping 12 kilos of chicken thighs for a free curry night. This is not your usual pool, and the job of aquatic managers like the Kendalls in eight remote Aboriginal communities managed by Royal Life Saving Society in Western Australia goes beyond teaching laps to being generous hosts. It is 26 years since the first remote pools opened in communities like Jigalong and Balgo, says the states RLSS general manager Greg Tate, and they are making a difference. Water safety is at our core, but this program is bigger than that. It is about social impact, and the health and education and employment it provides to the local community, says Tate, who, along with this masthead, is staying overnight at the Kendalls. If you didnt go to school, you dont get to go the pool in Bidyadanga, one of the remote pools in Western Australia found to improve community wellbeing and health. Credit: Tamati Smith This program is saving lives in other ways. It is making massive improvements in health, kids can hear, and they do better at school. It is not a panacea, we cant solve it all, but we can help. The next morning the Kendalls open a dozen jars of curry sauce while they talk to Tate. They had bought the last remaining ingredients in Broome 180 kilometres away before cyclone Zelia hit the area south in mid-February.

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After supervising the morning swim on Tuesday, the Kendalls finish cooking for that night. When the red curry paste hits the oil, everyone gasps as the chilli catches our throats. It is nearly as hot as the temperature outside, averaging 35 to 42 degrees for the last week. A child throws a ball in the air near the remote pool in Bidyadanga while pool manager Linda Kendall sits nearby. Credit: Tamati Smith Told by the local Karajarri Aboriginal community they wanted a proper feed, the Kendalls add coconut milk, garlic, ginger, kaffir lime, bean shoots, bamboo shoots, zucchini, broccoli and carrots. The remote pool program, funded by the Department of Communities, was started by a former state housing minister who noticed chlorinated water improved the health of people living in overcrowded houses by reducing skin and hearing infections. Children in remote communities in the Pilbara and Kimberley were arriving at school with ear, nose and throat infections, sometimes even deaf due to the dust problems, RLSS chief executive Peter Leaversuch said. It was a fascinating dilemma actually because everyone knows, health principle 101 is if you have an ear or sinus infection dont go swimming. In these small communities, diving into the chlorinated water has had outstanding benefits in terms of hygiene, plus the mental health benefits of having a swim.

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Three reviews have found these free pools improve mental and physical health. The first, by famous Western Australia epidemiologist Professor Fiona Stanley, tracked health over six years at the first three pools, finding drops of 44 per cent in ear disease, 51 per cent in skin disease and a 63 per cent drop in respiratory infections. As a result, antibiotics also fell 41 per cent. After a report found pool infrastructure is ageing and access to pools was worse in remote and regional areas, RLSSA is encouraging governments to build more pools like these across Australia and maintain existing stock. The latest report by the Centre for Social Impact with the University of Western Australia looked at similar remote and community pools to Bidyadanga in the Pilbara and found they had become community hubs. They often hosted dinners, baptisms, bands, and Blue Light discos run by local police. Jigalong, population 306, had 78 events at its pool in 12 months. The remote pool programs No School No Pool policy  where attendance determined whether a child could swim  had widespread support, particularly as attendance some days is as low as 20 to 30 per cent in some communities. Education, said one elder, was number one important, especially for my people ... thats why theres always been a big push  get your mob to school. In Bidgy, the locals term for Bidyadanga, a boy was told to go back to school to get proof of attendance. He came back with a large stamp, MON for Monday, on his arm, and jumped in.

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Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community chief executive Tania Baxter said the pool offered much to her community  with a population fluctuating from 800 to 1000 people  including health benefits, including improved fitness and reduction in skin infection. People of all ages benefit from this service with families bringing babies and young children, and older ages using the facility. In a remote community, there are very few [if any] recreational facilities to provide fun and respite within a safe, controlled setting. Stamp of approval: With proof of attendance, this child can dive in. Credit: Tamati Smith At the world drowning prevention conference in Perth two years ago, Graeme Pollett, then pool manager at Balgo who is now overseeing the most remote of pools, Kalumburu, said his job had the longest commute in Australia  a four-day drive to work from Perth. It is a tough gig, he said. It is 650 kilometres to the nearest Coles. It is always hot, sometimes the cold tap hits 42 degrees  There is substandard housing, and overcrowding, 10 people share a home, and several homes have 17 or more. Air-conditioning is a luxury, and there is a high rate of chronic disease. Like 68 per cent of Indigenous communities, Balgo had active cases of trachoma, a preventable disease where bacteria leads to eye loss. It has been eliminated in every other developed country other than Australia. Problems often seem too great, Pollett told the audience. But we are making a huge difference, he said citing programs like No School, No Pool.

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As soon as we get back to town, and the pool reopens, eye and ear infections magically disappear. Kids [at school] are more settled, not fidgeting as much, and they can hear better. That in turn leads to a better life and reduces adult incarcerations. Bidga shop managers Emma and Ben said trouble drops 100 per cent when the pool is open. Royal Life Saving Society Western Australia general manager Greg Tate at the Bidyadanga community pool. Credit: Tamati Smith for The Sydney Morning Herald/The Age The Kendalls, among the few non-Indigenous people in the community, say they dont assume to know what is best. At the regular yarning session, locals had told them they wanted, More food, better food [no more sausage sizzles or burgers] and a deeper deep end. The Kendalls couldnt make the 25-metre pool any deeper, but they could make curry for 120. The couple has worked in remote pools off and on for 20 years. Scotts day starts at 5.30am, when he opens the pool for morning laps and checks the water quality. They run a before-school swim club where Linda teaches students ranging from kindergarten to year 12.

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A second man has been arrested after a father was slashed with a machete during a failed carjacking in Brisbanes inner-south on the weekend.

A 48-year-old father told Nine News he had returned home from the gym about 6am on Saturday and was sitting in his BMW on Audrey Street in Camp Hill when he was approached by two men who demanded his keys.

When the 48-year-old man said he did not have the keys, he was attacked with the machete, leaving him with lacerations to his chest and arm.

Paramedics treated the man at the scene before taking him to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in a stable condition.
This means that thanks to this power, about 23,000 people were searched arbitrarily, for no reason, with no objects discovered. While the powers are specifically designed to find weapons, Victoria Police did not stipulate how many of those objects or substances were weapons. It is alarming that the broad language of object or substance is not further defined by the data to differentiate the ratio of non-firearm weapons or body armour found, in contrast to things outside of this regime such as drug substances, the report said. Its not clear how many charges were laid as a result of the searches.

Victoria Police can declare a designated area where there has been more than one act of violence or disorder with a weapon in the past 12 months, if they believe there is a likelihood there will be a similar incident again. The government also wants to expand this to allow declarations where police have intelligence suggesting a likelihood of violence involving weapons. Most of Collingwood, Abbotsford and Richmond was declared a designated area for 12 hours on March 5. The research team analysed locations targeted throughout most of 2022 and found Dandenong was hit the most, followed by Melbourne CBD and Narre Warren. Suburbs with designated search areas between December 31, 2021 and November 13 , 2022 Dandenong: 7

Melbourne CBD: 4

Narre Warren: 4

Cranbourne: 3

Pakenham: 3

St Kilda: 3

Southbank: 2

Croydon: 1

Melton: 1

Geelong: 1

St Albans: 1

Doncaster: 1

Werribee: 1

Bayswater: 1

Sunshine: 1

Ballarat: 1

Watergardens: 1

Springvale: 1

South Morang: 1

Mooroolbark: 1

Broadmeadows: 1

Ringwood: 1

Box Hill: 1 Labor, under then-premier John Brumby, introduced designated areas in 2010 and at the time acknowledged it was partially incompatible with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. Police Chief Commissioner Rick Nugent said on Thursday the force was aware of about 635 stabbings with edged weapons and 265 aggravated burglaries involving machetes over the past 12 months. Three homicides in the last six months involved machetes, he said.

Loading That figure does not include the death on Friday night of a 24-year-old man after he was stabbed during a brawl involving a group of young men armed with machetes in a shopping centre car park in Melbournes south-east. Police were called to Marriot Waters Shopping Centre Society Avenue in Lyndhurst after reports of a group of men were fighting at about 8.30pm. The man from nearby Clyde received serious stab wounds and was taken to the Alfred Hospital, where he died before he was due to have surgery. Police can also search anyone without a warrant if they have reasonable grounds, or anyone with a firearms prohibition order. A weapon was found in one in three searches without a warrant where officers had reasonable grounds, according to recent Victoria Police annual reports. Almost 14,800 edged weapons were seized in total last year.

Deputy Commissioner of Regional Operations Bob Hill said weapons were increasingly used in aggravated burglaries, carjackings and street fights and the proposal would enable police to plan operations more effectively. As a society we simply cannot accept this pattern of behaviour, and Victoria Police makes no apologies for targeting those carrying weapons, Hill said in a statement to The Age. These searches are about all protecting the community  if you are not carrying a weapon then theres nothing to worry about. Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service chief executive Nerita Waight said any community-led program would be defunded if it had a 1 per cent success rate but that police were instead getting a licence to racially profile disadvantaged people under the guise of community safety, without demonstrable results.

Victoria Police, in its FOI decision, said it did not record the ethnic appearance of those searched under the powers. The Centre for Racial Profiling Network, using FOI to examine all Victoria Police search powers where that data is recorded, found Aboriginal people were 11 times more likely to be searched than white people in 2023. People perceived to be African were six times more likely to be searched. That research found police were consistently less likely to find something when they searched a person believed to be African, Middle Eastern or Mediterranean, Indian and Asian compared to someone perceived to be white. Tamar Hopkins from the Centre Against Racial Profiling and the Police Accountability Project and supervisor of the Rights Advocacy Project research said searches in designated areas did not seem to be evidenced-based at all. Where is there evidentiary basis for expanding these powers?

She said wand searches and pat-downs had negative cascading impacts on those randomly searched, humiliating people who had done nothing wrong and discouraging them from trusting the system or engaging in their communities. People in Toorak were unlikely to be subjected to this outside their homes, she said. That sends a really powerful message to individuals about their worth and status in society, Hopkins said. It has a real impact. Inner Melbourne Community Legal chief executive Nadia Morales said the blatant overreach imposed unreasonable and unnecessary restrictions on freedom of movement. People who have never been targeted under the stop and search powers before could be in the future. Our civil liberties are at stake. The government also proposes to allow designated areas to be declared with 12 hours notice, rather than 10 days under current laws.
A SCHOOL principal who briefly fell asleep while driving and crashed into a parked van on the hard shoulder of the M9 has been fined 400 at Carlow District Court. Simon Thompson, 20 Grosvenor Terrace, Johns Hill, Waterford pleaded guilty to careless driving contrary to section 52(1) of the Road Traffic Acts.

The court heard that on 8 July 2024, Garda Ryan was called to a road traffic accident involving two vehicles on the M9 at Tinryland. Mr Thompson (59), who was travelling southbound, had collided with a stationary van that was broken down on the hard shoulder.

Garda Ryan told the court that the vans occupant, who was resting in the passenger seat at the time of the collision, was taken to St Lukes Hospital but suffered no serious injuries. Mr Thompson also escaped without serious injury.

They were very lucky that it was only soft-tissue damage to both parties, said Garda Ryan.

Defence solicitor John OSullivan said his client had been bringing his son to Dublin Airport and had planned to rest, but nodded off for a second.

The court was told that Mr Thompson is fully insured and that he and his wife had paid 2,230 for the emergency services that were called to the scene, which Mr OSullivan described as to his great credit.

The solicitor explained that the defendant, who works as a school principal, was moving house and then bringing his son to the airport all on the same day and got exhausted.

Mr OSullivan asked for the benefit of the Probation Act for his client, noting that, given the nature of his work in education, he is subject to garda vetting and a conviction could cause certain problems.

Judge John OLeary declined to disqualify the defendant from driving, but described the incident as reckless, careless driving.

He knew he was tired and ought to have acted sooner, said the judge, adding that it was a pretty egregious manner to drive and there but for the grace of God 

The court heard that Mr Thompson had no previous convictions.

Judge OLeary imposed a fine of 400, giving the defendant four months to pay.
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The great meltdown continues in the animation and vfx industries, and there is no end in sight. Just weeks after Technicolor shut down all of its studios, including MPC and Mikros Animation, another major studio is in crisis.

Jellyfish Pictures, the U.K. studio that most recently produced the animation for Dreamworks Animations Dog Man, has suspended all operations and is looking to either sell or in need of significant investment. The companys animation studios were located in Sheffield, U.K., and Mumbai, India.

It is not immediately clear how many workers have been affected in the U.K. and India by this halt in operations. It is also unclear if the worker salaries for the month of March will be paid.

A sign of the studios dire situation is the fact that theyve put their London office space up for sale.

The company, which was founded in 2001, released a statement on Tuesday explaining that its financial situation has deterioriated due to covid and Hollywoods dual writer and actor strikes. The complete statement is printed below:

Like so many other companies operating across the vfx, animation and wider creative industries, weve been battling hard in the face of strong headwinds over the past twelve months. The long-tail impact of Covid, coupled with rising costs and the fall-out from the writer and actor strikes, have had a profound effect on our business. Over recent months, weve been working closely with our key stakeholders to find a path forward, including exploring all options for sale and investment, with the aim of putting in place a strong financial platform upon which we can build. While we continue to engage in these discussions and explore our options, we have today taken legal steps to protect the position of the business while we strive to find a way forward. We have so much to be proud of. Weve worked on fantastic, ground-breaking projects with brilliant partners. And we want to thank our amazingly talented award-winning teams who day in, day out, strive to push creative boundaries with their innovative thinking and skill.

Jellyfish, which launched in 2001, started as a vfx studio but had more recently moved into feature animation production, producing the animation for Dreamworks Animations Spirit Untamed, Dog Man, and part of The Bad Guys and The Boss Baby: Family Business, as well as Netflix Animations upcoming The Twits.

The studio was also a vfx service provider on numerous series, including high-profile titles like Black Mirror, The Book of Boba Fett, Gangs of London, and Watchmen, as well as features like Wes Andersons Asteroid City and Solo: A Star Wars Story.
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Lisa Troseth, practitioner of Christian Science healing and international speaker, will present her talk, Moving Past Fear - To Healing, on Saturday, March 22 at 2 p.m. at First Church of Christ, Scientist, 612 McCallie Ave.Officials said, "The talk will focus on universal healing precepts found in the Holy Bible, especially in Christ Jesus life and teachings, showing how they are available for anyone to understand and experience through the lens of Christian Science. The talk is free, open to the community, and sponsored by First Church of Chris, Scientist, Chattanooga."Fear can be overcome and even healed in our lives by discovering the strong connection and relationship we have to something bigger than ourselvesGod, said Ms.Troseth. By learning to lean and rely on this greater, higher good, we can feel moved to love beyond ourselvesand this frees us from fear and so much more.Officials said, "Sharing examples of healing from her own life and professional practice of Christian Science, Ms. Troseth will explain why Christian Science is both Christian and scientific, meaning that people can prove its effectiveness for themselves, as fully described in the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, written by the founder of the Christian Science movement, Mary Baker Eddy."Ms.Troseth will also touch on the life of Mary Baker Eddy, who came to understand, confirm and teach what she felt was original Christian healing. Eddy herself said she was especially inspired by Jesus demand, 'He that believes on me, the works that I do will he do also; and greater works than these will he do, because I go unto my Father' (found in the Gospel of John 14:12 in the Bible)."For over 150 years, people around the world have worked to follow Christ Jesus in this practice of Christianity and continue to do so today, experiencing healings of physical ills and personal difficulties."Lisa Troseth has been a Christian Science practitioner for many years, helping people on a daily basis through this scientific approach to prayer. She travels from her home base in Rogers, Ar. to speak to audiences around the world as a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship."
The Collegedale Police Department, in collaboration with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations Human Trafficking Unit, the Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hamilton County District Attorneys Office, conducted a targeted human trafficking operation on Thursday, aimed at identifying and apprehending individuals engaged in the purchase of commercial sex acts with minors. As a result, two men were arrested, charged and booked into the Hamilton County Jail.Alvaz Kaukab, of Chattanooga, was charged with one count of solicitation of a minor and one felony count of possession of a hallucinogenic drug.Justin Long, of Chatsworth, Ga., was charged with two counts of solicitation of a minor and one count of patronizing prostitution.Law enforcement officers and special agents utilized advanced investigative techniques to locate and apprehend multiple suspects who sought to exploit minors.This operation is part of a continued commitment to protect the most vulnerable members of the community and ensuring that Collegedale remains a safe place for children and families, officials said.Collegedale Police Chief Jack Sapp reaffirmed the departments unwavering dedication to combating human trafficking and protecting minors from predators.The Collegedale Police Department will not tolerate individuals who prey on minors and attempt to exploit them through human trafficking. We are committed to working alongside our state and federal partners to bring these predators to justice, said Chief Sapp. Our mission is clear: to safeguard the youth of our community and send a strong message that Collegedale is not a place where criminals can operate with impunity.Another part of the operation focused on identifying potential victims of human trafficking. The Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking was present to offer their services.Information about human trafficking and the TBIs efforts to address this type of crime can be found online at www.ITHasToStop.com.The Collegedale Police Department and TBI encourage the public to report any suspicious activity related to human trafficking. Anyone with information can contact the Collegedale Police Department at 423-396-3133 or the Tennessee Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-855-55TNHTH.
Chattanooga was in the path of a line of deadly tornadoes on Saturday moving on into early Sunday, but no Tennessee casualties have been reported.

Elsewhere, there were 34 casualties from the widespread storm.

The area was battered by storms beginning in the late evening, with a tornado watch in effect in the Red Bank area at one point and a tornado watch also menacing nearby sections of North Georgia. A later tornado warning covered the area between Dunlap and Sale Creek.

There were no immediate reports of heavy damage.

Near the start of the furious outbreak, three people were killed in Missouri, where a trailer park was destroyed and a grocery store and other buildings and homes were wrecked. By noon, the storm death toll was listed as 14. By the evening, it was up to 28 as the storm approached Tennessee - with the first wave going to the west of Chattanooga toward Murfreesboro.

Chattanoogans, after sunny skies on Friday, awoke to heavy rain along with constant thunder bolts and lightning flashes.

The weather cleared by late morning, but forecasters warned that the worst was ahead.

In addition to the tornado threat, Chattanooga was also under a flood watch. Several rounds of heavy rain were expected through Sunday morning. Most areas were expected to get 2-3 inches of rain, with higher amounts in some locations.

The National Weather Service said, "A severe weather outbreak is likely across portions of the eastern United States today into tonight with the greatest threat in East Tennessee being along the Cumberland Plateau, Southeast Tennessee and southwest North Carolina.

"Widespread and significant damaging winds are likely. There is also a threat for tornadoes and large hail."




The Cherokee Nation Health Services Rare Disease Task Force has released a report outlining progress made over the past year and recommendations the tribe can take in the future to help address the unique challenges faced by patients with rare diseases both on and off the Cherokee Nation Reservation. During a Rare Disease Awareness Month proclamation signing March 7, Chief Hoskin highlighted findings of the Rare Disease Task Force and announced the tribes plan to host its second Rare Disease Summit later this year.
The Darien Gap at the ColombiaPanama border | Photo Credit: Wikimedia/ Milenioscuro

Migration attempts through the Darien Gap, a perilous jungle route between Colombia and Panama, have plummeted by 99%, a noteworthy decline.

According to Migracion Panama, the countrys immigration and naturalization service, only 408 migrants crossed the Darien Gap into Panama in February, the lowest number since November 2020, when 365 migrants made the journey during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In contrast, January saw 2,229 migrants traversing the Darien Gap. For 2023, Migracion Panama reported a total of 520,085 instances of irregular traffic through the region, while in 2024, that number dropped to 302,203.

The Darien Gap is notorious for its treacherous conditions, including dangerous wildlife, harsh terrain, and violent criminal gangs that pose significant risks to migrants, including violence and sexual assault.

Bloomberg reported that the decline in migration through the Darien Gap follows measures taken by Panama President Jose Raul Mulino's administration, which closed several jungle paths and enhanced security patrols starting in September.

This trend is mirrored by a significant decrease in traffic at the U.S. southern border.

In February 2025, there were only 11,709 encounters between immigration law enforcement and illegal immigrants seeking entry into the country, representing the lowest figure in three years, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. In comparison, there were 61,465 encounters in January and 96,035 in December 2024, the final month of the Biden administration.

President Trump has pledged to intensify efforts against illegal immigration and strengthen border security, which includes increasing deportations.

Senior officials from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement disclosed during a press call that ICE has arrested over 32,000 illegal migrants in the U.S. within the first 50 days of Trumps second term.

According to Lyons, of those arrested since January 20, 14,111 were convicted criminals, 9,980 had pending criminal charges, 1,155 were suspected gang members, and another 8,718 faced other immigration violations.
Home News Hamas claims its ready to release US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, 4 bodies for increased prisoner release

The Hamas terrorist organization announced on Friday that it is willing to agree to a deal that would see the release of American-Israeli IDF soldier Edan Alexander (20) and four bodies of deceased hostages  all of whom held dual citizenship.

In his first reaction just hours before the start of the Jewish Sabbath, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) indirectly rejected the ostensible offer.

The statement affirmed that Israel had accepted the latest proposal by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, while Hamas insisted on its demands and continued with psychological warfare.

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Hamas stated that it received a proposal yesterday from the mediator brothers to resume negotiations. The movement dealt with it responsibly and positively, and delivered its response to it at dawn today.

The movement affirms its full readiness to begin negotiations and reach a comprehensive agreement on the issues of the second phase, calling for the occupation [Israel] to be compelled to fully implement its commitments.

In response, the PMO stated: "While Israel has accepted the Witkoff outline, Hamas remains steadfast in its refusal and has not budged a millimeter. At the same time, it continues to engage in manipulation and psychological warfare."

"The Prime Minister will convene the ministerial team on Saturday night to receive a detailed report from the negotiating team, and to decide on the next steps for the release of the hostages."

"Hamas's ostensible 'offer' to release hostages with American citizenship is intended to sabotage negotiations and is merely manipulation," an Israeli official told Israeli news outlets.

"Hamas has not changed its position in the slightest, despite the efforts of the Americans and mediators, and despite our willingness to be flexible," the official emphasized.

Throughout the hostage negotiations, Israel has maintained its stance against granting special treatment to dual citizens.

In addition, a source involved in the negotiations told i24 News that the "Witkoff proposal," discussed in recent days, had outlined the release of five living hostages along with several bodies.

Furthermore, Israel had demanded an increase in the number of released hostages to eight living captives.

In conclusion: Hamas says 'yes' to Boehler's proposal, although it is actually Witkoff's proposal that is currently on the table, commented i24 diplomatic reporter, Amichai Stein.

After causing consternation in Israel with several recent statements, Adam Boehler, who had conducted direct talks with Hamas, was pulled off the hostage file, according to reports on Thursday.

Hamas, meanwhile, claimed that new criteria had been agreed for Alexanders release, including an increase of Palestinian prisoners set to be freed by Israel.

In response to Hamas's announcement, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum reiterated its stance that a potential hostage release should be a first step toward a broader agreement that will return all remaining hostages.

"Otherwise, this is a selection that separates Zionism from its values and continues the abandonment of Oct. 7 on the basis of a foreign passport," the forum stated.

According to Channel 12, the Alexander family and the families of the four deceased hostages have not been informed of any changes or progress in the talks.

In November, Hamas released a video of Alexander in captivity. During the three-and-a-half-minute video, he pleaded with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to forget the hostages and called on citizens to pressure the government through negotiations.

Alexander was born in Tel Aviv but grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey. After graduating from high school, he chose to return to Israel and enlisted in the IDF as a lone soldier. He was abducted from the Kissufim military post on the morning of October 7, 2023.

Alexander's family resides in New Jersey. His mother, Yael, visited him just days before he was captured by Hamas terrorists.

This article was originally published by All Israel News.
Home News High court judge caught falsely charging Christians with blasphemy in entrapment ring resigns

LAHORE, Pakistan  A high court judge in Pakistan resigned last week after a media report exposed his alleged close ties with a criminal gang falsely charging Christians and others with blasphemy, sources said.

Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on March 6 sent his resignation to President Asif Ali Zardari citing personal reasons for stepping down and requesting its immediate acceptance. He was appointed as an LHC judge in November 2016.

Several lawyers, including Christian attorneys involved in defending persons accused of blasphemy, expressed relief at the judges resignation as they shared with Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News how he pressured them during cases.

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A Muslim attorney said on condition of anonymity that just days before the controversial judge sent his resignation, Aziz had issued a stay order against any possible adverse action based on a report of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) on blasphemy cases.

Sajid Iqbal Lashari, an office-bearer of the Tahaffuz-i-Khatam-i-Nabuwwat Forum (Movement for Protection of Finality of Prophethood) had challenged the NCHR report in Azizs court. The report pointed to the lack of due process in blasphemy cases, including significant procedural violations at multiple stages.

It recommended formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) through the Ministry of Human Rights comprising of officials from the Special Branch of the Police, Intelligence Bureau, Ministries of Law, Interior, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and other relevant departments to deal with the blasphemy cases. The NCHR report called for stern disciplinary proceedings against the FIA officials involved in illegal arrests or soliciting bribes while noting the apparent leniency of the FIA toward the private entities and individual complainants behind multiple blasphemy cases.

I think that Aziz was forced to step down due to the mounting international pressure on the countrys civil-military establishment to take measures against the blatant violations of human rights in Pakistan, particularly the steep rise in false blasphemy cases in the last couple of years, the anonymous Muslim attorney told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.

The judges alleged link with the blasphemy business gang was revealed in an investigative report by Fact Focus, a website banned by authorities in Pakistan. According to the report, Aziz had a long history of blasphemy activism with attorney Rao Abdul Rahim, alleged mastermind of the blasphemy business group.

The two lawyers were involved in fabricating a blasphemy case against 11-year-old Rimsha Masih, a Christian girl from Islamabad, in August 2012, according to Fact Focus. Despite the fact that a judicial inquiry proved the case against Rimsha was entirely false, Aziz was appointed as a high court judge within four years, the report added.

The Fact Focus report asserted that many blasphemy-related cases were assigned to Aziz in the Lahore High Court. Citing a blasphemy case of a Muslim suspect, Ahmed Satti, the report stated that Aziz unnecessarily held the bail rejection order for four months before finally rejecting Sattis bail. Eventually the Supreme Court ruled on the same case that no material had been presented to link the petitioner to the alleged offenses and granted him bail.

In April 2023, Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) noted the malicious and suspicious activities in the Cybercrime Wing of the FIA and ordered it to cease work on the cases falling under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and focus solely on matters related to electronic crimes, according to the report.

Instead of challenging this order in the IHC or taking it to the Supreme Court, the blasphemy business gang once again brought the matter before Justice Aziz who, as expected, directed the FIA to resume work on PPC cases, effectively bypassing the judgment of the IHC without providing any clear rationale, it added.

The report went on to reveal that when Islamabad police were nearing the conclusion of their investigation against attorney Rahim in the murder case of falsely accused Abdullah Shah, Rahim filed a petition before Aziz complaining that the FIA, which had already been working closely with him, was not properly investigating blasphemy cases. Rahim requested that appropriate actions be taken by the FIA.

In response, Justice Aziz ordered the creation of anti-blasphemy cells in the FIA across the country, the report noted. The proceedings of this case by Justice Aziz was clearly meant to give a media hype to Rao Abdul Raheem and to pressurize Islamabad Police officials.

Christian attorney Aneeqa Maria recalled a blasphemy case in which her team had filed an application for grant of post-arrest bail to two Christians, Sunny Waqas and his cousin Noman Masih, who were booked by the Bahawalpur police and the Bahawalnagar police in two blasphemy cases related to the same incident.

Justice Aziz was serving in the Bahawalpur Bench of the Lahore High Court, and the bail petition was fixed in his court, Maria told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. Instead of judging the grounds for bail, Aziz pressured the police to add Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act in the case and investigate the matter afresh. Its good that such a religiously prejudiced judge is not part of the bench now.

Another Christian attorney, Lazar Allah Rakha, said that he had filed an appeal against the death sentence given to two Muslim blasphemy suspects, Muhammad Riaz and Ejaz Ahmed, which was heard by a two-judge bench including Aziz.

Just when the other judge was about to announce the acquittal order for the two convicts, Aziz recused himself from the bench to prevent his colleague from acquitting the appellants, Rakha told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.

The attorney, who along with Maria also represented Sunny Waqas and Noman Masih, said that during a hearing of the bail petitions, Aziz lost his temper and accused him of defending the blasphemy suspects just to make some money.

The judges harsh remarks turned the courts environment very hostile and provoked some emotional lawyers to surround me, Rakha said. He repeatedly pressurized the investigations superintendent of police to conduct a fresh investigation who eventually prepared a new challan [charge sheet] and added the section related to terrorism in the cases.

Pakistan is ranked No. 8 on Open Doors 2025 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian.

This article was originally published at Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News
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Home News Pro-life group can offer counseling, protest within 15 feet of abortion clinics: NY judge

A judge in New York has ruled that a pro-life group can engage in sidewalk counseling within 15 feet of abortion clinics and not be in violation of an earlier court order.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas ruled from the bench on Monday that Red Rose Rescue could protest or offer counseling in close proximity to abortion clinics, rejecting a previous request by New York Attorney General Letitia James to ban the pro-life group's activities.

The Thomas More Society, which is helping to represent Red Rose Rescue, released a statement Wednesday celebrating the bench ruling that allows the pro-life group to demonstrate.

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We are very pleased with the courts thorough and well-reasoned opinion, denying Letitia James attempt to further silence our pro-life clients, stated Thomas More Society's Senior Counsel Christopher Ferrara.

The evidence we provided in defense of Red Rose Rescue clearly demonstrated that that there was no violation of the injunction, including the bodycam footage showing that every claim of misconduct made by the AGs two partisan witnesses was demonstrably false, he added.

James had filed a lawsuit against Red Rose Rescue in June 2023 in an attempt to ban members of the pro-life group from coming within 30 feet of any abortion clinic.

"Defendants have been arrested multiple times for their unlawful acts, but despite multiple convictions across the country and within New York state, they continue to repeat their criminal misconduct," the lawsuit claimed.

"Red Rose Rescue is an anti-abortion group whose members conspire to illegally trespass into private medical facilities that perform abortions and shut down or physically obstruct the provision of all reproductive health services, refusing all requests to leave by staff and law enforcement."

The suit also alleged that "other anti-abortion groups have distanced themselves from Red Rose Rescue and have characterized the latter's conduct as 'haranguing,' 'aggressive' and 'intimidating.'"

In December 2023, the state attorney general got a court order barring Red Rose Rescue from coming within 15 feet of abortion facilities in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.

Last August, James asked the court to hold the pro-life group in contempt, claiming that it had harassed women outside a Planned Parenthood in Manhattan, thus violating the court order.

The Thomas More Society intervened on behalf of Red Rose Rescue, successfully arguing that the pro-life activists were engaging in constitutionally protected activities while near the abortion clinic.

Recently, there has been considerable debate over the extent to which pro-life activists can protest at abortion clinics, with some jurisdictions enacting buffer zones that bar such demonstrations within a certain distance of a facility's entrance.

Supporters of such zones have argued that they are necessary to protect access to abortion, while critics charge that they violate constitutionally-protected rights.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a legal challenge to a buffer zone law implemented by Carbondale, Illinois, that prohibited protests within 100 feet of abortion clinics.
Home News Woman who fatally shot Pastor Ricky Floyd outside bar reportedly on suicide watch

Samantha Marion, the woman who has been charged with the fatal shooting of prominent Memphis, Tennessee, Pastor Ricky Floyd on Wednesday morning, is now reportedly on suicide watch in jail as her mother insists she was defending herself after she was attacked.

"Anybody in any situation, when you become afraid, you become afraid," Marion's mother, who was not identified by name, told WREG at the home she shares with her daughter. "And you know fear will drive you to that, and she had to be awfully scared."

Police say Marion, 42, called police to Momma's Bar and Kitchen, located at 855 Kentucky Road in Memphis, at about 1:17 a.m. Wednesday and confessed to shooting Floyd, who served as the senior lead pastor of Pursuit of God Church in Frayser.

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Before the shooting, Floyd, 58, and Marion, who were with two others at the time, had an argument inside Momma's Bar and Kitchen, according to police records cited by Fox13. Witnesses allege the argument led the two outside the business, where the pastor became "irate and aggressive."

Video surveillance footage reportedly shows Floyd throwing Marion's phone and a beer can before hopping into his vehicle and driving away. Marion then allegedly walked into the roadway and appeared to record the pastor's vehicle with her phone. Floyd is then shown returning to the scene and confronting Marion before a witness separates them. As Floyd backed away, police said Marion walked toward the pastor, who was then seen falling to the ground and never getting up again.

Marion was charged with voluntary manslaughter and currently remains in jail on a $100,000 bond after pleading not guilty at her first court appearance on Thursday morning, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports.

"This is not my daughter's character, and she was defending herself," Marion's mother told WREG. "Maybe in her mind she was defending the two friends she was with."

It was unclear Friday what the nature of the relationship between Floyd and Marion was. When asked why the married pastor was at a bar with Marion after 1 a.m., Floyd's media liaison, Telisa Franklin, told The Christian Post that she was unable to comment on the relationship and preferred to focus on his achievements as a respected leader of the Memphis community.

"We would love for people to remember him as a true servant. He was a transformative leader. He transformed the Frayser community," Franklin told CP, noting that his church and family were still processing his death.

Floyd leaves behind his wife, Sheila, three adult children, one daughter-in-law and two granddaughters, according to the church's website. The pastor is also listed as the driver behind several community initiatives.

He served as the president of Eden Estates Apartments, a 52-unit complex in the Frayser community, and president of The Husband Institute, Inc., a boys-to-men mentoring program. He was the founder of the School of Marriage Enhancement.

"You know, this (Frayser) is a very poverty-stricken community. He created what we call Black Street Wall Street, with the strip mall," Franklin told CP. "He made sure he owns the apartment complex where we are able to house people with affordable housing.  He was truly a leader that cared about God, his family, and the people. ... He would always go out of his way to see and to serve someone else."

Marion's mother said she is sorry the pastor died, but she is also heartbroken about what is happening with her daughter.

"I am sorry that there has been a death," she told WREG. "I am sorry for the family."
Home Opinion The media's disdain for Syrian Christians is inexcusable

Just days ago hundreds of Alawite, Christian and Druze civilians  men, women and children  were killed by the Syrian forces which recently toppled the Assad regime and took control of the country. Ostensibly the conflict isnt over quite yet, at least not in the western Syrian towns and cities where the aforementioned minorities are being targeted.

These Free Syrian troops, however, having been portrayed in Western media as freedom fighters for the last decade, arent likely to start receiving bad press now, no matter their behavior, and certainly inconsequential of their potential victims being Christians. The mainstream media rarely utters a peep in defense of Christianity under assault  whether in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world  too wrapped up in singing the praises of any and all theisms, regimes, and movements opposed to it.

The American press has long since engendered a strong anti-Christian element in their reportage, for the last six decades at least. Whether its preventing students from praying at school, removing Ten Commandment monuments from state houses, disallowing Nativity scenes from enjoying public view, or forcing Catholic nuns to kneel at the altar of sexual permissiveness and genuflect to contraceptives, the US mainstream media never met an opponent of Christianity or saw a proposal to hamstring and curb it with which it couldnt find some common ground.

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Worse perhaps than their public finger-pointing and snarling denunciations is their silence though. For its a near certainty that when journalism temporarily dims its spotlight searching for all the errors, contradictions, faults and wrongs of Christianity, the lapse will sadly coincide with an uptick in mobs burning down churches around the world or ethnically cleansing whole regions with largely Christian populations. Its when the West or its predominant religion is under assault that the media remains quiet, making no mention of the properties destroyed, the icons desecrated, the Christians killed, assaulted, kidnapped, raped or arrested.

Oe sometimes, the silence indicates that the mainstream media is purposefully whistling Dixie, doing nothing, looking the other way, and probing no one. Their indifference to real investigative journalism is giving cover to rogue elements within Western governments striving mightily to repress and forestall Christianity. The FBI, for example, only recently was discovered to have outrageously targeted radical traditional Catholic congregants. Its only when the shocking episode finally came to light that the foremost newspaper in America, The New York Times, tepidly opted to weigh in, and even then it was to downplay everything. Sure, the Times admitted, there may have been violations of professional standards but aside from that there was no malicious intent.

Tulsi Gabbard, the newly installed Director of National Intelligence for the Trump Administration, was one of the lonely voices calling for restraint in the worlds gushing over the Free Syrian forces, with their ISIS elements, and to moderate the desperate desire to see the Assad regime deposed. I have no love for Assad, but just fear what will happen if Islamic terrorists take over the country, she explained plainly. Her honesty, foresight, courage and perception were rewarded by the media tarring her  former congresswoman, Honolulu city councilwoman, Iraq war veteran, retired lieutenant colonel  with the most absurdly ludicrous insinuations, labeling her everything from a Russian asset to a paid Assad mouthpiece.

Gabbards only saving grace was her Hinduism; if she had been Christian the rabid press corps would have had to ratchet their slander of her up to fantastical Twilight Zone levels: they might have had to cast her then as an insidious plant working for extraterrestrial overlords.

In fact, the mainstream medias visceral aversion for anything remotely Christian might even exceed their unhealthy anti-Semitism  and thats certainly saying something.

Originally published at The Times of Israel.
Home Opinion Trump must denounce Andrew Tate

While America was distracted by the anti-climactic release of a partial Epstein List, a bizarre scandal unfolded in Florida. Notorious misogynists and webcam pornographers, Andrew and Tristan Tate, had been released by Romanian officials and were enroute to the Sunshine State. This provoked a strong response from Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier, who immediately opened an investigation into the brothers.

These guys have themselves publicly admitted to participating in what very much appears to be soliciting, trafficking, and preying upon women around the world, Uthmeier said. Many of these victims are coming forward, some of them minors. People can spin or defend however they want, but in Florida, this type of behavior is viewed as atrocious. Were not going to accept it.

With at least one alleged victim in Florida, the Tate brothers operate an international pornographic webcam business. They also offer training courses teaching other men how to pimp young women and girls. Graduates of their Hustler program receive a PhD, or Pimpin Hoes Degree. Despite the outrage provoked by the Tates' arrival in Florida, key officials in the Trump administration have expressed their support of the womanizers.

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In early February, Trumps special envoy Richard Grenell met with Romanian officials at the Munich Security Conference. Rumors swirled that Grenell pressured Romania to lift travel bans on the Tate brothers, despite them being under investigation for rape, human trafficking, and fraud. Grenell downplayed the rumors, but confirmed, I support the Tate brothers as evident by my publicly available tweets.

Grenell is referring to a February 3, 2025 X post in which he implies that the Tates are victims of a liberal smear campaign, saying, The USAID programs were weaponized against people and politicians who werent woke. The Biden team spent US taxpayer money to support left wing programs and candidates around the world. Conservatives around the world were targeted. Romania is the latest example. Underneath, he shared a post in which Tristan Tate was tagged.

While Grenell is right to advocate for victims of lawfare, expressing support for misogynistic pornographers accused of rape is a massive misstep. Explicit videos circulate on social media of Andrew Tate allegedly beating a nearly-naked 15-year-old girl. There are also numerous video interviews in which Tate describes preying on young women, breaking a womans jaw, and beating his cam girls into submission. Tate even boasts of being a human trafficker.

TBH Im a pretty good argument against immigration, Andrew Tate posted on X. I moved to Romania and although I put it on the map I spent 99% of my time breaking the speed limit, having children out of wedlock and human trafficking. They really should deport me.

Another post reads, Hate me all you want. Women are all sex workers. Men are disposable cannon fodder or work horse slaves. If youre a good work horse and become the boss you get to have a lot of sex workers.

In response to white supremacist, Nick Fuentes, Tate joked about being biracial, saying, I turn on my black side and hit women.

For his part, Tristan Tate is slightly less self-incriminating. The younger brother makes a show of contributing to philanthropic causes and publicly claims to think human trafficking is wrong. However, he also makes bizarre statements like, Having sex without the intention of procreating is gay sex, and, A man can be happy next to any beautiful woman, so long as he does not love her. Tristan is also accused of rape, human trafficking, and soliciting underage girls via text message.

Despite the Tate brothers misogynistic views and apparent confessions to criminal behavior, attorney and counselor to the President, Alina Habba, has expressed her ardent support of Tate. In a podcast with Tate on the Benny Johnson Show, Habba effused, Im a big fan. Big fan! I have your back out here in the States. Keep fighting. I admire you. I admire what youre doing.

Habba later interviewed with Piers Morgan, floating the theory that perhaps the Tates were falsely accused of human trafficking because they have large social media followings.

Heres the situation, Piers, said Habba in a rambling statement. You can say that someone has issues. People have issues. What I appreciate is people who fight a fight. I appreciate all walks of life. I do not condone trafficking, rape, or some of the comments Andrew Tate has made  But listen, he is a social media presence. There are a lot of people that watch him  If you look at the claims made against President Trump, which were completely nonsense (and I dont know about the Tate brothers cases, thats not my concern)  If anyone wants to deny the fact that they have a very strong social media presence, then feel free to attack me. I dont really care.

Tates former lawyer, Paul Ingrassia, who is now White House Liaison for the Department of Homeland Security, has enthusiastically supported Tate over the years. In a 2023 post, he stated, Andrew Tate is an extraordinary human being  not only in terms of sheer physical prowess, though he is that in spades, but perhaps even more impressively, he is sharp as a tack and has the willpower and spirit to match. He is the embodiment of the ancient ideal of excellence: to seek perfection of mind, body, and spirit.

The starry-eyed support of these notorious pimps by people in Trumps inner circle is particularly shocking when one considers Trumps campaign promise to combat sexual abuse and human trafficking. Coupled with previous allegations of sexual abuse against Trump himself, the words of Habba, Grenell, and Ingrassia fuel a disturbing liberal narrative that Trump is an abuser who supports abusers.

New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg wrote, The meaning of what looks like an astonishing American intervention on behalf of accused sex traffickers is clear enough. An implicit promise of the most recent Trump campaign was to restore patriarchy. Not the softer, pious kind of patriarchy once promoted by evangelicals like Mike Pence but unfettered male domination.

While Republicans may rightly find these columnists words offensive, Tate himself fuels the narrative. As a longtime supporter of Trump, Tate told reporters in Florida, Im very close with the Trump family. I know them well. I spoke to Barron after the incident [in Butler]. I look forward to once I'm free being with Donald Trump in person and reminding him that hes a bulletproof badass.

But not everyone is buying the narrative that Trump is protecting Tate.

I think this is something the Tate brothers would claim, said Chris Loesch. I dont think the Trump admin would be trying to help self-professed pedophiles and sexual abusers. More likely the Trump admin wants to see these guys go to jail.

Zac Kaizen, a conservative father of three, hopes Trump will denounce Tate and debunk the claim that hes a Trump family friend.

At the very least its bad optics, Kaizen said. The Tates are political kryptonite which threatens to undo all the good things this administration has done so far if they are not exorcized from these political circles quickly.

But Tates persona as a pompous womanizer isnt the only issue on which hes at odds with the President. Regarding a deceased Hamas terrorist leader, Tate wrote, I can only pray for a death as heroic as Yahya Sinwar. Brave, defiant in the face of evil and dedicated to his lifes purpose. He deserves eternal rest. He earnt it.

The question is not whether Andrew and Tristan Tate are good men. The question is, will President Trump fulfill his campaign promises to protect women and children, or will his administration continue to show support for antisemitic pornographers and self-described human traffickers who are under investigation in three countries?
Home News 200,000 Christians protest push to revive anti-conversion law

Nearly 200,000 Christians gathered in a village in Arunachal Pradesh, a northeastern Indian state, to protest the impending implementation of an anti-conversion law. The legislation, criticized as a tool for targeting the Christian community, is set to be enforced following a directive from the states High Court.

The Christians held the gathering last week in Borum village to protest the enforcement of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, said the U.K.-based group Christian Solidarity Worldwide in a statement.

The law, dormant since its enactment in 1978, was ordered to be implemented following a directive from the Gauhati High Court last September. The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government had been ordered to finalize the rules within six months, or by the end of this month.

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The protest, organized under the banner of the Arunachal Pradesh Christian Forum, marked the climax of weeks of opposition to the law, which the Christian community argues infringes upon their constitutional right to freedom of religion.

With Christians comprising over 30% of Arunachal Pradeshs population, the Forum contends that the legislation disproportionately targets their community while leaving other religious groups, such as Buddhists and followers of indigenous faiths, unaffected.

The legislation, originally passed by the Legislative Assembly to preserve the religious practices of Arunachals tribal communities, prohibits conversions achieved through force, inducement, or fraudulent means. Further, it requires individuals seeking religious conversion to obtain prior approval from district authorities.

Critics argue that such provisions are oppressive and discriminatory.

Forums President Tarh Miri stated that the law undermines secularism and unfairly singles out Christians, despite their adherence to many indigenous traditions after converting.

The ruling followed a Public Interest Litigation filed by Tambo Tamin, a former general secretary of the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh, an organization advocating for the preservation of traditional tribal religions.

In a February meeting with the states interior minister, Christian leaders requested the repeal of the law, but were informed that the government must comply with the courts directive. In response, the Forum vowed to escalate its protests, including plans for a referendum rally if the law is not repealed by the end of March.

The Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society argues that conversions to Christianity threaten tribal cultural practices. The group recently organized a counter-rally and a Sadbhavna Pad Yatra (foot march) in favor of the legislation, calling for its swift implementation.

The BJPs ideological parent organization, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is Indias chief and umbrella Hindu nationalist group, has reportedly influenced the Society.

The state is home to 26 major tribes and hundreds of smaller ones, with religious affiliations spanning Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and indigenous animist practices.

Christianity has brought significant cultural changes to Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in transforming certain traditional practices. Before its introduction, customs such as drinking alcohol and taking revenge were widely accepted as part of the cultural norm among many tribal communities. With the spread of Christianity, these behaviors have been increasingly discouraged, as the faith calls for moral discipline, forgiveness and non-violence. Many converts have adopted lifestyles centered on Christian teachings, promoting peace, community welfare and a rejection of practices considered harmful or divisive.

Currently, 11 states enforce similar anti-conversion laws.

The anti-conversion laws claim that Christians force or give money or material items to Hindus to persuade them to convert to Christianity. They typically state that no one can use the threat of divine displeasure, which means Christians cant talk about Heaven or Hell since it would be seen as luring someone to convert.

Christians, who represent 2.3% of Indias population compared to Hindus at nearly 80%, often face attacks under the pretext of stopping forcible conversions to Christianity.

While Hindu nationalists routinely allege forcible or coerced conversions, only a few individuals have been convicted under an anti-conversion law, and even those convictions are still under appeal.
Home News Trump's week in review: Challenging universal injunctions, arresting pro-Hamas protesters

The seventh full week of the Trump administration was defined by new developments in both domestic and foreign policy.

At home, the Trump administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to roll back rulings blocking one of President Donald Trumps signature domestic policy agenda items and taking action against students who've been involved in protests expressing support for the Hamas terrorist organization as well as universities that engage in race-based discrimination.

At home and abroad, efforts are ongoing to negotiate a cease-fire deal and ultimately a conclusion to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Here are five developments that have unfolded over the past week.

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Home Opinion Does the US have abortion policies similar to Communist China?

This month is Womens History Month and highlights International Womens Day. An important conversation American feminists would do well to have is about the ethics surrounding the United States' abortion laws. They seem to mirror, of all nations worldwide, that of Chinas.

China is one of the few nations with extremely liberal abortion laws, where abortions are widely performed and can take place at any stage of pregnancy. It also has no bans against sex-selective abortion, a practice that is a leading cause of gendercide in the country.

In China, preference for a boy child among couples having a third child runs rampant. The Congressional-Executive Commission on Chinas 2024 report states that for every 133 Chinese boys, there are only 100 girls.

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The report links this phenomenon to the lasting effects of Chinas communist one-child policy, now a three-child policy as of 2021. It also highlights the likelihood that this gender disparity encourages human trafficking of women and children throughout China and East Asia.

The long lasting effects of Chinas population control efforts, like the one-child policy, have led to a predominantly gender-skewed and elderly population.

In efforts to curb the impending population decline, which severely affects the Chinese military and economy, the military urged soldiers in 2023 to procreate by announcing an executive order on family planning.

To populate Chinas workforce and military, the preference for boy children among Chinese couples is logical. Such preference is especially fueled by Chinas historically patriarchal and increasingly militaristic culture.

This means that Chinas unnatural gender disparity has been achieved through sex-selective abortion, a conclusion also supported by the United Nations.

While unfortunate and devastating phenomena in a communist country may not surprise many Americans, we often dont realize that in some parts of our nation, we are not far from such liberalism.

Sex-selective abortion is a phenomenon occurring in the United States, as well. Moreover, it has a legal precedent.

In the Box v. Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, Inc. Supreme Court case, laws banning abortions based solely on the babys gender, race, ethnicity, or detected disability were found unconstitutional.

While there have been further efforts to pass such bans, pro-choice American scholarship has defended the lack of these bans by accusing the anti-abortion side of exploiting the rights of Asian American pregnant women to access abortion.

No culture or race should have the right to kill their children, especially based on the unborn childs gender.

Take for instance the state of New York, Americas second most leading abortion provider, where abortion is a constitutional right and no state law specifically bans sex-selective abortion.

The state also prides itself on being an abortion safe-haven, where women from all over the country  and apparently out of the country, too  seek abortions. In the decades following Roe v. Wade, reports of Canadian women seeking abortions in New York often went uncovered.

In New York, pregnant mothers can destroy their unborn children for any reason up to 24 weeks gestation, and for broad health reasons thereafter, including even pregnancy-related anxiety based on the 'sex' of their unborn child.

Under the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) and the recently enacted Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to New York's State Constitution, women and girls can abort healthy unborn children, capable of surviving outside their mother's wombs, for sex-selective reasons.

This mental health reason for later-term abortions is emphasized and outlined in a 2019 letter from NY's Attorney General to the states Department of Health.

Does the United States, often through New York state policies, really want to maintain an abortion reputation comparable to communist China?

America is doing a great injustice to pre-born girls by refusing to ban sex-selective abortions. This action stands in great opposition to the values America claims to hold dear  life, liberty, and equality. We are encouraging policies that are just as barbaric and misogynistic as those of the CCP. This must end.
A review of four Cuyahoga County district calendar shows fewer class days, more teacher development time, and increased accommodation for diverse holidays. A bill in the Ohio House would increase the number of hours students must be in class.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Some adults think students today get too many school vacations, recalling their childhoods when they believe they had to be in class for more days. Others think they were in class around the same number of days as kids today.

Whos right?

Cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer studied the calendars of four Cuyahoga County school districts and determined that generally, students are in class fewer days today than 20 years ago.

Officials at Berea City, Solon City, Cuyahoga Heights Local, and Richmond Heights Local school districts searched through their archives, sending cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer old calendars along with calendars for the current school year.

Some of the district calendars dont show a decrease over the 20 years because they include staff work days before and after the students school year.

But cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer only counted days students were in class, as the number of hours wasnt always clear on the calendars. That is the metric state education officials now track. State law prohibits certain activities, such as lunch and recess, from being considered instructional hours, and it wasnt always clear from the calendars how much time students spent on those activities.

Some schools offer longer winter or spring breaks in 2024-2025, compared to 2004-2005. However, most of the additional time students have off is due an increased number of professional development and work days for teachers, as well as some districts offering days off to accommodate their more diverse student bodies who want time to observe their faith traditions.

More time off mid-school year doesnt violate state law on minimal instruction time, as the four districts all met state time requirements. It may not even mean that todays students are in their desks fewer hours; Cleveland.com/ The Plain Dealer was just calculating days.

In 2014, state law changed from requiring kids to be in class from 180 days to a certain number of hours, varying by grade.

State Rep. Adam Bird, a GOP lawmaker from suburban Cincinnati, recently introduced House Bill 145, which would increase the amount of minimum instructional hours.

Bird is concerned that with the change from days to hours, the overall time students get in class has decreased. There hasnt been a statewide study on the matter, although Birds gut says students used to be in class more. His instict is based his time as a teacher, principal and superintendent, he said.

READ MORE: Are Ohio kids in class enough? Republican bill would expand school instructional hours

The bill would require the following for public and private school students:

-For grades 7-12: The current minimum of 1,001 instructional hours would increase by 53 hours to a total of 1,054 hours a year.

-For students in full-day kindergarten and in grades 1-6: Currently required to receive a minimum of 910 instructional hours, the bill would also require 53 more hours a year, bringing the total hours to 963 hours a year.

-For half-day kindergarteners: The bill would require an additional 27 hours, bringing total minimum instructional time to 482 from the current 455 hours.

Ohio is not the only state to make the switch from minimum days to minimum instructional hours. Thirty-five states have at least part of the minimal instructional time defined in hours or minutes in a day, and different based on grade levels, according to the Education Commission of the States.

Scott DiMauro, president of the Ohio Education Association, cautions the bill creates an unfunded mandate for school districts, which will have to figure out how pay staff for the extra hours. HB 145 doesnt give any funds to school districts.

But he understands the sentiment.

Theres always been an argument  I hear it from teachers -- you want as much time as you can get with kids," he said. Thats just the way it is.

DiMauro said that the state switched from minimum days to hours in 2014 because there were more complications with days.

Before 2014, the state allowed, despite the minimum days, for schools to give students two days off for staff professional development, two days off for parent-teacher conferences and up to five calamity days. Every year, numerous districts sought waivers from the state due to a heavy snowstorms that put them under the minimum days.

The current system has no calamity days. Schools must figure out how to make the hours work, and theres more stability at the state level, he said.

More teacher work days

In 2004-2005, Cuyahoga Heights Local School District had just one professional development day off in the school year: Oct. 8, 2004, for North Eastern Ohio Education Association Day (although there were in-service days before and after the instructional year.)

In 2024-2025, there were five (plus additional days before and after the students year.)

In addition to NEOEA Day, two staff professional development days were hooked onto the week of Thanksgiving, giving students the entire week off. Winter break also began a day early for students, with a day for staff to review and maintain student records.

Schools were closed on Monday, Feb. 17, for Presidents Day. The Friday before, Feb. 14, students were off for a long weekend, yet staff were in their buildings for professional development.

There has been an intense effort to analyze and review test data, starting with the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. When Cleveland.com/ The Plain Dealer reviewed calendars for the 2004-2005 school year, districts were just starting that effort.

Twenty years later, the version of No Child Left Behind law that schools work under is called the Every Child Succeeds Act. And data is now considered an essential part of a teachers job.

Christina Collins, executive director of Honesty for Ohio Education and a former district calendar worker, said that in some school districts, teachers work days are called data days, citing Medina City as an example.

Data days allow teachers to review assessment data and figure out interventions or enrichments for different groups of students, Collins said. Its a way to meet the individualized needs of students by giving them more time than they would have in the regular day.

I appreciate that as a parent because I want to make sure that my kids are getting what they need at school, she said. And if that requires teachers have more time to figure out where my kid needs to go and what skills he needs to be working on, then I definitely want them to have that time to be able to do it.

All the calendars cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer reviewed had more staff professional development and work days this year compared to 20 years ago.

Richmond Heights Local School District didnt have calendars from 2004-2005, but shared a calendar from the 2005-2006 school year, which showed teachers working seven more days than students were in class.

This year, teachers work 12 more days.

Diversity

These days, schools are more diverse and school calendars reflect it.

In Solon City School District, the 2024-2025 calendar gives students Oct. 3 off for Rosh Hashana, Nov. 1 off for Diwali (although teachers report to work), and March 31 off for Eid al-Fitr.

This is in addition to traditional Christian holidays off, such as winter break around Christmas and Good Friday.

In 2004-2005, none of the days off were for observance of non-Christian holidays.

In recent years, we have incorporated additional holiday observances to better reflect and support our districts increasingly diverse cultural demographics, said Tamara Strom, the districts spokeswoman. Throughout this process, weve implemented creative solutions to minimize any impact on our students' instructional time.

In Solon, the number of days for students decreased from 181 in 2004-2005 to 177 this year for grades 9-12 and 176 for kindergarten through eighth grade.

There will be the same number of instructional days next school year as this school year, Strom said.

Traditional school holidays

Whether students have more time off during winter and spring breaks today compared to 20 years ago depends on the district.

For instance, Berea City School District had six days off for spring break in 2005. This year, spring break will be five days, from March 31 to April 4. Although students will be off an additional day on Friday, March 28, while the staff will be expected to work.

In Richmond Heights in 2005-2006, winter break lasted nine days. This year students were off for 12 days, plus an additional day the Friday before the break began, when teachers were updating their student records. Winter break ended for teachers two days earlier than for students.

Laura Hancock covers state government and politics for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com.
China's humanoid robot craze sparks surge in rentals

Xinhua) 09:42, March 15, 2025

Two humanoid robots walk forward at the exhibition hall of Unitree Robotics in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

HANGZHOU, March 14 (Xinhua) -- In a mesmerizing display at a recent show in Hangzhou, eastern China's leading tech hub, a dozen humanoid robots twisted and twirled in perfect sync, their joints clattering to the rhythm of joyful music as they captivated the audience and drew waves of cheers.

The spectacle reflects a growing trend, with businesses and individuals increasingly renting humanoid robots for performances, exhibitions, and livestreams to grab public attention.

These robots shot to fame earlier this year when a fleet from Unitree, a Chinese robotics startup, mesmerized audiences with a synchronized dance in colorful jackets at the Spring Festival Gala, one of China's most-watched broadcasts. The overwhelming public attention and ensuing robot craze have since turned them into a sought-after commodity in the rental market.

"Orders for Unitree's G1 humanoid robot rentals have been surging since early February, with bookings already lined up through late March," said Gao Lai, who has been engaged in the robot rental business for over a decade. His company provided the rented robots for the show in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province.

"The daily rental price for a humanoid robot ranges from 8,000 to 15,000 yuan (about 1,115 to 2,091 U.S. dollars). With the booming demand, we anticipate our earnings to rise by 80 percent this year," Gao added.

In terms of presale, Unitree's G1 model starts at 99,000 yuan, while the H1 model has a starting price of 650,000 yuan.

Industry insiders told Xinhua that the growing demand for robots in business events, exhibitions and shows is fueling the expansion of the robot rental market, which holds great potential.

On Xianyu, one of China's largest second-hand goods trading platforms, renting a Unitree robot can cost thousands of yuan, often covering transportation, machine adjustments and on-site support.

In Hangzhou's Yuhang District, where the recent show took place, local authorities plan to host more robot shows and tutorial sessions in rural areas by renting robots.

"Dancing with robots grabs attention, and we hope to partner with companies to introduce AI to rural communities," said Zhang Jingcan, a district official.

"The concept of humanoid robots is nothing new. Since the first one was developed in Japan in the 1960s, they've been a focal point of global competition," said Xiong Rong, a professor at Zhejiang University and head of Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Innovation Center.

"Powered by AI, our robots are making progress faster than I anticipated," said Wang Xingxing, CEO of Unitree Robotics. "We've upgraded the software algorithms in our humanoid robots to make them more agile and improve their dancing skills."

However, some uncertainties exist when applying humanoid robots in more complicated scenarios at home or in businesses that require more flexible and diverse human-robot interactions.

"Humanoid robots will reach new heights by the end of this year, and if all goes well, we could see them deployed in some service or industrial sectors next year or the year after," said Wang. "However, home-use models might see slower adoption due to higher security requirement."

Emphasizing the importance of security in robot applications, Xiong said: "Only by ensuring the safety of human-robot interactions, the robot itself, and the data can we achieve large-scale production."

Many industry insiders agree that the ultimate goal for humanoid robots is to evolve into general-purpose robots capable of adapting to diverse environments and performing a wide range of tasks without relying on specific sites or tools. Achieving this goal will require advancements in AI, high-end manufacturing and new materials, driven by academia and industry collaboration.

With surging demand and continuous innovation, China's humanoid robot market is forecast to see exponential growth in the following years, clinching a significant share of the global market.

According to a report on the humanoid robot industry released at the 2024 World AI Conference in Shanghai, China's humanoid robot market was estimated at 2.76 billion yuan last year. By 2029, it is expected to reach 75 billion yuan, accounting for 32.7 percent of the global market.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands on Launch Complex 39A where it is scheduled to carry a crew of four to the International Space Station from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., March 11, 2025.

NASA and SpaceX on Friday launched a long-awaited crew to the International Space Station that will let them bring home U.S. astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stuck on the orbital lab for nine months.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 7:03 p.m. ET (2303 GMT) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida carrying four astronauts who will replace Wilmore and Williams, both of whom are veteran NASA astronauts and retired U.S. Navy test pilots and were the first to fly Boeing's Starliner capsule to the ISS in June.

But problems with Starliner's propulsion system during the flight forced an extension of their planned eight-day stay as NASA deemed it too risky for them to fly home on the craft, which returned to Earth empty in September.

Otherwise a routine crew rotation flight, Friday's Crew-10 mission is also a long-awaited key step to bring the astronaut duo back to Earth. They are scheduled to depart the station on March 19 after the Crew-10 astronauts arrive Saturday night. The mission has become entangled in politics as President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk, who is also SpaceX's CEO, say without evidence that former President Joe Biden left the astronauts on the station for political reasons.

"We came prepared to stay long, even though we planned to stay short," Wilmore said, adding that he did not believe NASA's decision to keep them on the ISS until Crew-10's arrival had been affected by politics.

"That's what your nation's human spaceflight program's all about," he said, "planning for unknown, unexpected contingencies. And we did that." NASA says the two astronauts have had to remain on the ISS to maintain its minimum staffing level.

Having seen their mission turn into a normal NASA rotation to the ISS, Wilmore and Williams have been doing scientific research and conducting routine maintenance with the other astronauts.

'Unusual' flight preparation process

Trump and Musk's demand for an earlier return was an unusual intervention, and NASA brought forward the Crew-10 mission from March 26, swapping a delayed SpaceX capsule for one that would be ready sooner.

The pressure from Musk and Trump has hung over a NASA preparation and safety process that normally follows a well-defined course.

NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, said SpaceX's "rapid pace of operations" had required NASA to change some of the ways it verifies flight safety. The agency had to address some "late-breaking" issues, NASA space operations chief Ken Bowersox told reporters, including investigating a fuel leak on a recent SpaceX Falcon 9 launch and deterioration of a coating on some of the Dragon crew capsule's thrusters.

Bowersox said it was hard for NASA to keep up with SpaceX: "We're not quite as agile as they are, but we're working well together."

When the new crew arrives aboard the station, Wilmore, Williams and two others - NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov - can return to Earth in a capsule that has been attached to the station since September, as part of the prior Crew-9 mission.

If Crew-10 launches as planned on Friday, it will dock to the ISS at 11:30 p.m. ET Saturday (0330 GMT Sunday), followed by a traditional handover ceremony that will allow for the Crew-9 crew's departure on March 19.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk looks on as US President Donald Trump speaks to the press as they stand next to a Tesla vehicle on the South Portico of the White House on March 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images

Tesla CEO Elon Musk turned Delaware's corporate law into a hot-button topic last year after a judge there ruled that his $56 billion pay package from 2018 was illegally granted and should be rescinded. In social media posts, Musk smeared the judge and became an outspoken critic of Delaware's judiciary, moving the site of incorporation for Tesla and his other companies out of the state while encouraging others to follow suit. Dropbox moved its site of incorporation to Nevada, and Bill Ackman said his Pershing Square Capital Management would exit Delaware. Meta and Walmart are reportedly considering leaving. After a flurry of such announcements, Delaware's Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, a corporate attorney by trade and former clerk for Delaware's Court of Chancery, began looking into the matter with fellow elected leaders. He then moved to sponsor a bill, known as SB 21, aimed at making Delaware a more attractive state for businesses. On Thursday, the state Senate voted to pass an amended version of SB 21. If it passes Delaware's House of Representatives, in a vote expected next week, and gets signed by the governor, the bill would change the state's corporate law. Notably, it would alter how companies can use independent directors and other officials to ensure deals they've made will pass muster in court, and limit the records that shareholders can obtain from companies when investigating possible wrongdoing. Townsend told CNBC that the aim of the bill is to ensure Delaware corporate law is clearer and more predictable, and that the state remains attractive to both investors and corporate leaders. Many institutional investors, legal scholars and shareholders' attorneys have opposed the bill, arguing that it would harm minority shareholders and allow boards and executives to make decisions based on their own interests rather than for the broader investor base. The International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN), consisting of investors with more than $90 trillion in combined assets under management, spoke out against the bill on Tuesday. According to its website, ICGN members include Alliance Bernstein, the Swedish AP funds, BlackRock , CalPERS, CalSTRS, Franklin Templeton, Norges and Vanguard.

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ICGN CEO Jen Sisson cautioned in a letter sent to Delaware state senators and representatives that SB 21 "will be detrimental to shareholder rights, with potentially significant negative implications for long-term returns for investors, including people saving for their retirements, current retirees and other individuals investing their savings." Sisson also said the bill would "reduce judicial oversight" and diminish shareholders' trust that they can "seek remedies through litigation, when necessary." The anti-Delaware sentiment has at least some political motivations. While aligning themselves with President Donald Trump, executives like Musk and Ackman are trying to publicly undermine what they describe as "activist judges" who have issued rulings they found disagreeable. Musk also has a lot of money potentially at stake. If adopted, legal scholars have argued, the new law could help the world's richest person in his effort to reverse the court's order in January 2024 that rescinded his mammoth pay package.

Unusual rollout

In her ruling, Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen McCormick said Musk's compensation plan had been inappropriately set by Tesla's board, which was controlled by Musk, and approved by shareholders who were misled by Tesla's proxy materials before being asked to vote on the matter. Musk filed for an appeal, and the case is now in the hands of the Delaware Supreme Court. As CNBC previously reported, Richards, Layton & Finger, a corporate defense firm whose clients include Musk and Tesla, helped draft the bill. The firm told CNBC that it wasn't working on behalf of any specific client and that it was "part of a group, including highly respected lawyers, professors, and former jurists." Other shareholders' attorneys have opposed SB21, or called for significant revisions, in part because of the bill's unusual rollout. Changes to Delaware corporate law historically have been drafted by a broad coalition of attorneys representing companies, executives and minority shareholders, and who are part of the Delaware State Bar Association's Corporation Law Council (CLC). SB 21 was introduced to Delaware's legislature on Feb. 17, without any initial review or participation by the CLC.

Matt Meyer, candidate in the 2024 Delaware gubernatorial election to replace term-limited incumbent governor John Carney. Courtesy: New Castle County

Townsend said Delaware's elected leaders had fielded complaints from a number of public companies, or attorneys representing them, which he declined to name. Their frustrations had reached a "boiling point" he said, while other states like Texas and Nevada were making a concerted effort to provide an alternative. "We wanted to address what we can legislatively," Townsend said. If Delaware's House passes the bill, it would hit the desk of Democratic Gov. Matt Meyer. Even though Delaware is a heavily Democratic state  Trump lost by almost 15% in the 2024 election  the legislation has support from some prominent party leaders, including the governor, as well as corporate defense attorneys, legal scholars and former Delaware litigants unhappy with prior rulings in the state. Meyer said in an interview on Tuesday with CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin that attorneys and corporate executives have told him that "there is some loss of clarity, predictability and fairness" in Delaware's corporate law that he believes should be remedied. A group of 21 law firms, including Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Gibson Dunn and Latham Watkins, sent a letter of encouragement to the state's general assembly dated March 11. The group wrote that the bill "provides statutory definitions and safe harbors that enhance clarity and will facilitate proactive evaluation of director appointments, conflicts cleansing and transactional planning." SB 21 could also help companies incorporated in Delaware to "streamline corporate decision-making and transactional execution," the lawyers wrote. In his CNBC interview, Meyer downplayed fears that a so-called DExit was underway, a reference to a mass exodus of companies out of Delaware to incorporate in other states. Delaware boasts 2.2 million corporate entities from around the world that are registered in the state, including 81% of U.S. companies that went public last year, Meyer said, adding, "The idea that we're losing something is not totally accurate." When he was running for governor, Meyer's campaign was heavily supported by entrepreneur Phil Shawe, a former Delaware litigant who became an outspoken critic of the state's Court of Chancery after he was sanctioned in a case concerning who should maintain ownership of a business he started with his ex-fiancee. In 2018, he moved incorporation of the company, TransPerfect, to Nevada. Last year, Shawe spent $2 million on an ad campaign slamming Delaware, and supporting Musk, all while encouraging other companies to flee the state. Shawe also contributed over $1 million to fund a political action committee supporting Meyer. Shawe told CNBC, in an emailed statement, that he was not involved in drafting SB21 but "had lots of concerns and ideas" about Delaware's Court of Chancery, and was "proud to have been at the forefront of this important discussion." Gov. Meyer's office didn't respond to a request for comment. WATCH: Interview with Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer
China has lashed out at accusations it is endangering maritime safety made by top diplomats from the Group of 7 industrialized democracies in a joint statement, saying the G-7 members are "filled with arrogance, prejudice and malicious intentions."

Even for China's generally overheated diplomatic language, the statement issued Saturday was unusually vitriolic, although it did not threaten any retaliation.

In the Friday statement that sparked the Chinese response, the G-7 said, "We condemn China's illicit, provocative, coercive and dangerous actions that seek unilaterally to alter the status quo in such a way as to risk undermining the stability of regions, including through land reclaimations, and building of outposts, as well as their use for military purpose."

"We reaffirm that our basic policies on Taiwan remain unchanged and emphasize the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as indispensable to international security and prosperity," the statement said, referring to the crucial waterway separating China from the self-governing island republic it claims as its own territory.

In the response issued through its embassy in Canada, where the two-day G-7 meeting was held in La Malbaie, Quebec, China said the statement "repeated the same old rhetoric, ignored facts and China's solemn position, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, and blatantly smeared China."

"The statements are filled with arrogance, prejudice and malicious intentions to suppress and attack China. China strongly deplores and opposes this and has lodged solemn representations with the Canadian side," the statement said.

China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, through which passes around $5 trillion in global trade. It has dismissed and occasionally clashed with other countries that claim parts of the sea, especially the Philippines, a U.S. treaty partner.

China is not a member of the G-7 but closely follows all comments and references to its international status made by international organizations or in foreign countries, responding to criticism with caustic language.

China has firmly rejected a U.N.-affiliated court's ruling that invalidated most of its claims to the South China Sea and says its claim to Taiwan is non-negotiable, even if China has to use force against the island.

China routinely sends ships and warplanes into airspace and waters near Taiwan, built military bases on human-made islands in the South China Sea and recently staged surprise live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand for which it gave no advance notice.

Australia's aviation authority said it learned of the drills just 30 minutes before they began, not from Beijing but from a pilot flying in the area, and 49 commercial flights were forced to alter their flight paths in response.

The G-7 did not mention the drills in its statement.

"We share a growing concern at recent, unjustifiable efforts to restrict such freedom and to expand jurisdiction through use of force and other forms of coercion, including across the Taiwan Strait, and in the South China Sea, the Red Sea, and the Black Sea," the G-7 said.

China has the world's largest navy, including three aircraft carriers, with a fourth on the way. It has a base in Sheikhdom of Djibouti in the Horn of Africa and consistently has expanded the range of the force.
Goldman Sachs Asset Management is trying to serve more investors looking for downside protection from market turmoil.

Bryon Lake helped the firm launch its newest buffer exchange-traded fund this month: the Goldman Sachs U.S. Large Cap Buffer 3 ETF.

"I'm an investor. You're an investor. The folks watching are investors, and there's an incredible amount of uncertainty right now: Tariffs, the widening out of equity markets away from Mag 7 [and] geopolitical issues," the Goldman Sachs chief transformation officer told anchor Bob Pisani on CNBC's "ETF Edge."

Lake joined Goldman Sachs last summer. According to the firm's press release, it was for a newly created role aimed at expanding its investment strategies. Previously, Lake headed the global ETF business at JPMorgan Chase

"The buffer products are designed to help protect people to the downside while also allowing them to participate to the upside," he said. "The way they're designed, is they'll protect from down 5% to 15% while still allowing you to participate upwards of 5% to 7%. And, then those reset on a quarterly basis."

Lake suggests the buffer ETFs use approaches that have strong track records.

"These are... tried and true strategies that have been used by investors for decades now," he said.

The Goldman Sachs U.S. Large Cap Buffer 3 ETF is down about 3% since it started trading on March 4. The S&P 500 is off almost 4% in the same time frame.
Employees at Voice of America were placed on paid leave on Saturday and funding for two U.S. news services that broadcast to authoritarian regimes was slashed, one day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order gutting the government-funded media outlets' parent and six other federal agencies.

Multiple workers at Voice of America, an international media broadcaster that operates in more than 40 languages, shared with Reuters an email that placed them on administrative leave with full pay and benefits "until otherwise notified."

The emails, sent by a human resources executive at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the VOA's parent agency, instructed them not to enter their work premises or access internal systems.

It was not immediately clear how many employees were placed on leave.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) also terminated funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which broadcasts to countries in Eastern Europe, including Russia and Ukraine, as well as for Radio Free Asia, which broadcasts to China and North Korea, according to letters seen by Reuters.

On its website, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty notes that it has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government and warns readers in Russia and Russia-occupied Ukraine that they could "face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us."

The move follows Trump signing an executive order on Friday instructing USAGM and six other little-known agencies to reduce their operations to the bare minimum mandated by the law, saying it was necessary to shrink bureaucracy.

Trump, who clashed with the Voice of America during his first term, picked former news anchor Kari Lake to be its director for his second term. Lake, a staunch ally of the president, has often accused mainstream media of harboring anti-Trump bias.

In a message on the social media platform X on Saturday, Lake said Trump's order impacted USAGM "and its outlets VOA and OCB," referring to the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. She told employees of the agency to check their emails immediately.
Silicon Valley's earliest stage companies are getting a major boost from artificial intelligence.

Startup accelerator Y Combinator -- known for backing Airbnb , Dropbox and Stripe -- this week held its annual demo day in San Francisco, where founders pitched their startups to an auditorium of potential venture capital investors.

Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan told CNBC that this group is growing significantly faster than past cohorts and with actual revenue. The winter 2025 batch of YC companies in aggregate grew 10% per week, he said.

"It's not just the number one or two companies -- the whole batch is growing 10% week on week," said Tan, who is also a Y Combinator alum. "That's never happened before in early-stage venture."

That growth spurt is thanks to leaps in artificial intelligence, Tan said.

App developers can now offload or automate more repetitive tasks, and they can generate new code using large language models. Tan called it "vibe coding," a term for letting models take the wheel and generate software. In some cases, AI can code entire apps.

The ability for AI to subsidize an otherwise heavy workload has allowed these companies to build with fewer people. For about a quarter of the current YC startups, 95% of their code was written by AI, Tan said.

"That sounds a little scary, but on the other hand, what that means for founders is that you don't need a team of 50 or 100 engineers," said Tan, adding that companies are reaching as much as $10 million in revenue with teams of less than 10 people. "You don't have to raise as much. The capital goes much longer."

The growth-at-all-costs mindset of Silicon Valley during the zero-interest-rate era has gone "out the window," said Tan, pointing to a renewed focus on profitability. That focus on the bottom line also applies to megacap tech companies. Google , Meta and Amazon have gone through multiple rounds of layoffs and pulled back on hiring.

While that's shaken some engineers, Tan described it as an opportunity.

It's easier to build a startup, and the top people in tech don't have to prove their worth by going to work at big tech companies, he said.

"There's a lot of anxiety in the job market, especially from young software engineers," Tan said. "Maybe it's that engineer who couldn't get a job at Meta or Google who actually can build a standalone business making $10 million or $100 million a year with ten people -- that's such a powerful moment in software."

About 80% of the YC companies that presented this week were AI focused, with a handful of robotics and semiconductor startups. This group of companies has been able to prove earlier commercial use compared to previous generations, Tan said.

"There's a ton of hype, but what's unique about this moment is that people are actually getting commercial validation," he said. "If you're an investor at demo day, you'll be able to call a real customer, and that person will say, 'Yeah, we use the software every single day.'"

Y Combinator was founded in 2005 by Paul Graham, Jessica Livingston, Robert Morris and Trevor Blackwell. The firm invests $500,000 in startups in exchange for an equity stake. Those founders then enter a three-month program at the San Francisco headquarters and get guidance from partners and YC alumni. Demo day is a way to attract additional capital.

The firm has funded more than 5,3000 companies, which it says are worth more than $800 billion in total. Over a dozen of them are public, and more than 100 are valued at $1 billion or more. More than 15,000 companies apply to get into the accelerator, with about a 1% acceptance rate.

More of these venture capital incubators have popped up throughout the past decade, and more capital has flocked to early stage startups. Despite the competition, Tan argued that Y Combinator has an edge thanks to its strong network. He pointed to the number of highly valued portfolio companies rising, and pushed back on the idea that specialized incubators were taking business.

"About 20 to 30% of the companies during YC change their idea and sometimes their industry entirely. And if you end up with an incubator that is very specialized, you might not be able to change into the thing that you were supposed to," Tan said. "We think that the network effects and the advantages of doing YC have only become more bold."
Kaushambi police on Thursday arrested a man impersonating the high commissioner of Oman and having protocol like diplomats in Uttar Pradesh and other states, police said.The man has been identified as Krishna Shekhar Rana, 66, a resident of Amar Colony in Delhi. Rana has been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Trans Hindon DCP Nimish Patil told reporters.Rana was posing himself as a diplomat by creating fake documents to gain undue gain. A Mercedes car, one identity card and 46 visiting cards were recovered from his possession at the time of his arrest from UP Gate in Ghaziabad.During interrogation, the accused said he was getting VIP security, according to police. Last year, Rana became a member of an NGO named India GCC Trade Council whose aim is to increase India's trade with the Gulf countries. Later he became the trade director of the said NGO to augment trade with foreign countries.The police have confirmed his credentials from the Oman Embassy. According to DCP Patil, Rana was a professor of Zoology at Agra. He also owns Krishna College of Science and Technology in Agra and a resort in Rajasthan.After retirement, the accused was the Appraisal Authority in the Union Environment Ministry from 2015 to 2018, where his job was to give environmental clearances.The DCP said during interrogation, the accused claimed to be the vice chancellor of four universities. Kumaun University and Jaipur Technical University have confirmed his tenure to the police.The police have not received a reply from Almora and Mewar. The police have not yet received a reply from the Environment Ministry either.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Sri Lanka in early April. His visit aims to execute agreements reached during President Anura Kumara Dissanayakes trip to India last year.The Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Vijitha Herath, confirmed this trip during his session in the Parliament's budget allocation debate. During his speech, the minister stressed the outstanding diplomatic bond between India and Sri Lanka and acknowledged different cooperative agreements between both nations.One major outcome of PM Modis visit will be the signing of new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). He will also launch the Sampur solar power station. Having received financial backing from Sri Lanka's Ceylon Electricity Board and India's NTPC, the project will construct solar power facilities that deliver 135 MW of electricity within Trincomalee's eastern region. These collaboration projects work toward strengthening energy cooperation between India and Sri Lanka as well as other nations.According to Herath, the present Sri Lankan government continues to maintain supportive relations with India. We will remain neutral in our foreign policy without taking any sides while working to maintain national interest, Herath said.This will be PM Modi s fourth visit to the country and follows Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayakes maiden foreign visit to India last year. The leaders had discussed major regional concerns such as cybersecurity, energy project interests and the ongoing fisheries dispute in Palk Straits.Modi will be the first head of state to visit Sri Lanka after Dissanayake-led National Peoples Party won a historic mandate in September.Several sources suggest that PM Modi may join the BIMSTEC summit in Thailand. A stopover at Colombo may happen before or after the regional summit. The BIMSTEC summit and Modis interactions with Bangladeshs Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli will be on the agenda of international relations observers due to tensions between the countries.The upcoming visit of PM Modi coincides with India intensifying its economic relations and strategic partnerships with Sri Lanka, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors. An Indian company, U-Solar Clean Energy Solutions, has obtained the contract for a power project in Sri Lanka. A Chinese firm had originally been selected for the same venture.


It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live & study in the United States of America.

When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked and you should not be in this country.



Im glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathizers pic.twitter.com/jR2uVVKGCM



 Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) March 14, 2025

The US Department of Homeland Security has announced that an Indian doctoral student from Columbia University, Ranjani Srinivasan, has self-deported using the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App. Her visa was revoked last week for allegedly supporting Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation.The department reportedly released a video showing Srinivasan, who appears to be at an airport, rushing through a jetway with her bags, according to The Washington Times.Ranjani Srinivasan, a citizen and national of India, entered the United States on an F-1 student visa and was pursuing a doctorate in urban planning at Columbia University. Her visa was revoked on March 5, 2025, and she self-deported on March 11, 2025, using the CBP Home App.The Trump administration accused Srinivasan of advocating for violence and terrorism and revoked her visa.Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem confirmed the self-deportation, writing, It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live & study in the United States of America. When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked and you should not be in this country, she wrote on X.Srinivasan's academic background is impressive, with an MPhil in Urban Planning from Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation (GSAPP) and a Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) degree from CEPT University. She also holds a Master's in Design from Harvard University's Graduate School of Design.Her research focuses on the changing nature of land-labour relations in India's peri-urban areas. According to her profile on NYU Wagner's official website, her primary areas of interest include the political economy of development, the spatial politics of land and the sociology of labour.The DHS also reported that another student, Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from the West Bank, was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for overstaying her expired F-1 student visa. Her visa was terminated on January 26, 2022, due to a lack of attendance.
Shane Gillis is supposed to be good at stand-up comedy, but his recent monologue stumble on Saturday Night Live  The audience didnt seem to respond well, wrote Variety in a generous understatement  was all kinds of awkward. To make matters worse, he was accused of stealing lukewarm punchlines.

The swing-and-a-miss got the fans in the r/LiveFromNewYork subreddit thinking: Where did Gillis failure rank among the all-time worst monologues in SNL history? Here are five other contenders for the crown, as nominated by the shows Reddit fans.

1 Nancy Kerrigan At least Olympic figure skater Kerrigan has the Hey, Im not a comedian excuse. While she must have been used to high-pressure, live situations as a professional athlete, this was the first time she actually had to talk. Its hard to watch Kerrigan wring her hands as she delivers wooden readings off the cue cards. As one Redditor noted, You'd think Tanya Harding took a crowbar to her funny bone instead. Advertisement

2 Martin Lawrence @moviewarspodcast Lawrence is a comedian and a funny one, but he made Lorne Michaels banned for life list after he went rogue during his 1994 monologue. To put it bluntly, its the only host open in the shows history that takes women to task for not washing their asses properly. Advertisement Syndicated versions of the episode cut the douche jokes, replacing them with this slyly hilarious disclaimer: At this point in his monologue, Martin begins a commentary on what he considers the decline in standards of feminine hygiene in this country. Although we at Saturday Night Live take no stand on this issue one way or the other, network policy prevents us from re-broadcasting this portion of his remarks. In summary, Martin feels, or felt at the time, that the failure of many young women to bathe thoroughly is a serious problem that demands our attention. He explores this problem, citing numerous examples from his personal experience, and ends by proposing several imaginative solutions. It was a frank and lively presentation, and nearly cost us all our jobs. Advertisement

3 Elon Musk Play For sheer number of upvotes, Elon Musk wins  or more accurately, loses  the Reddit thread about the worst SNL monologues. Just strange and uncomfortable, wrote one fan. But it could have been worse. Musk later revealed his own (rejected) ideas for the show, in which he would have held a rooster while Kate McKinnon brought out a cat. Nice pussy, he would have told McKinnon, while she would have complimented him on his cock. Advertisement Advertisement Hoo boy.

4 Jason Patric Some gave Patric, an actor mostly known for his dramatic work, bonus points for trying something different. But his contemptuous SNL sucks, and it has always sucked sermon, delivered in a halting monotone, confused audiences who didnt get the bit about deconstructing the shows cliches. Its an attempt at anti-comedy that ends up being anti-comedy. Advertisement
Kevin Smiths Jay and Silent Bob characters are famous for popping up in movies like Clerks, Mallrats and Dogma. But the stoner duo also exist within the fictional worlds of Star Wars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Scream franchise, as evidenced by the most baffling moment from Scream 3.

But now Jay and Bob are set to crossover with a most unexpected pop-culture property: Archie. Per The Hollywood Reporter, an upcoming double-sized comic book titled Kevin Smith Presents: Archie Meets Jay & Silent Bob will find the Riverdale gang crossing paths with the residents of the View Askewniverse  and presumably learning some new four-letter words in the process.

Weirder still, the book takes place after the events of Clerks III, in which (spoiler) protagonist Dante Hicks dies of a heart attack. According to Smith, who penned the comic, Archie plays a role in the healing (process), adding, not only is this my stab at a classic American franchise that existed long before me that I read as a kid. Its a midlife crisis project about death and learning to deal.

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Just to reiterate: This is a comic in which the characters from the critically-acclaimed 1994 film Clerks cope with the trauma of personal loss thanks to the help of Archie Andrews, the jalopy-riding perpetual teenager who once canonically battled The Predator.

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The comics storyline reportedly finds Archie working alongside Randall after landing a summer job at the Quick Stop convenience store, presumably because Dantes tragic death created an opening.

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While we dont have much information beyond that, its worth noting that the comic wont be the first time that Smith has tackled the Archie Comics mythology. 1997s Chasing Amy included a memorable scene in which Hooper argues that Archie and Jughead were lovers, because Archie was the bitch and Jughead was the butch.

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While Jason Lees character Banky vociferously argues against this theory, Ben Afflecks Holden points out that it would explain why Archie never did quite settle on Betty or Veronica.

Which does beg the question: Will any of this come up in Smiths comic? He is suddenly in the position to confirm, or at least suggest, that Archie and Jughead are a couple.

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While the interpretation pre-dates Smiths movie, a confirmation of it would be a first for the franchise, although the series finale of Riverdale did randomly reveal that the four leads were secretly in a quad relationship.

It would also contradict one recent comic series, which revealed that Jughead is asexual. But seemingly no one is too concerned with the continuity of a series that once included a story in which Archie is assassinated.
There is a moment in the final heartrending scene between husband and wife Eddie and Manda Miller at the end of Netflixs new four-part series, Adolescence, in which Eddie  played brilliantly by Stephen Graham  sobs: But he was in his room, wasnt he? We thought he was safe. What harm can he do in there?

With those few words he captures the tragedy of modern childhood; of a generation whose parents have no comprehension of what they get up to in the privacy of their own smartphones; of children who no longer grow up under the wide-open skies of possibility, but behind closed doors, in the flickering light of a computer screen.

The tragedy of a generation exposed far too early and far too casually to the perversions and pressures of the adult world; of immature minds lost down the rabbit hole of social media, cannon fodder for the big tech bros and their billion-dollar empires, prey to the ideologies of toxic influencers such as Andrew Tate and the temptations of OnlyFans.

This particular story is one which has become depressingly familiar in recent years: a child killer who is himself a child.

Eddie and Mandas son Jamie, 13, is arrested in a dawn raid on suspicion of having stabbed Katie, a schoolmate, to death.

The family are blindsided by the arrival of gun-toting officers at their home, breaking down the front door, rushing into the childs room, with its wallpaper covered in planets, pulling the baby-faced suspect from his bed so harshly he wets himself. Filmed in one long, intense take, the sense of panic and confusion is relentless. The emotions are real.

I felt my hackles rising during the opening scene, sharing Grahams characters outrage as he tries in vain to assert control over the situation.

The coldness of the police officers, the sight of this small boy alone in the back of a police car, a scene of nightmarish intensity where the camera focuses on Grahams face as he listens to the sounds of his child being strip-searched by two officers: it is all unflinchingly raw.

There is something of a baby-faced Jon Venables about the troubled character Jamie's dark hair and soft cheeks, writes Sarah Vine

Jamie is played by Owen Cooper in a performance of astonishing depth and range.

He somehow manages to be both child-like and menacing, innocent yet sexually threatening, a confusion of perfectly pitched mixed signals that unsettles and chills. Later, in a scene alongside Erin Doherty, who plays his psychiatrist, he stands over her, seething with misogynistic malice.

There is something of a baby-faced Jon Venables about his dark hair and soft cheeks.

Pretty soon the realisation comes that Jamie is, in fact, the killer. Katie had mocked him online and rejected his advances, and  addled by all sorts of notions acquired in the manosphere  he exacted his revenge. There is CCTV footage of him stalking Katie before violently stabbing her to death in a car park.

Confronted with the undeniable evidence in an interrogation room, his child by his side, Eddies life collapses before his eyes.

He hugs his son, sobbing. Its heartbreaking. But also disconcerting: this is, after all, a murderer. Why should we care about him or his dad? It is his victim we should be feeling most sorry for. Her and her grieving parents.

And yet we never see either; the only one mourning her is her best friend at school, who is even portrayed as something of a troublemaker herself. In a post-#MeToo world this strikes me as an incredibly daring approach, and one which may well attract some criticism from victims organisations.

Indeed, there is even a whiff of what one might term victim blaming in the script, as it transpires she had accused him of being an incel (involuntary celibate). She had also sent nudes of herself to another boy, who had circulated them around the school (slut-shaming?), and later is revealed to have been something of a bully.

This could easily be seen as a twisted perspective. But perhaps thats the point of it: to show just how confusing and twisted this world our children inhabit really is.

Ultimately, thats why this is such a brilliant piece of drama. It does not shy away from the realities, however unpalatable.

Stephen Graham wrote the crime drama and stars as Eddie Miller, the father of a young boy suspected of stabbing one of his classmates

The writers do not simplify these issues into two-dimensional black and white, good or bad. They allow for the complexities of this adolescent universe to be explored without censorship.

By presenting the story from the perspective of the killer and his family, they show us the all-round tragedy of the situation.

The message here seems to be that Jamie, too, is a victim, of a culture that fills our childrens minds with hatred  and turns them into monsters.

Its a notion that many will struggle to accept. Society tends to have little sympathy for child killers, or their families, who are often held responsible for their offsprings crimes.

But in a world where parents are no longer fully in control of their childrens lives, where social media, fake news and hardcore porn have been allowed to act in loco, do they have any real agency? It is not parents who shape their childrens minds and actions now; its the likes of Meta, TikTok and YouTube.

As an actor, Graham has built a reputation as a man who is not afraid to tackle difficult, morally ambiguous subjects head-on, and this is one of his hardest yet, and perhaps the one which will resonate most widely for the simple fact that it will touch a nerve with parents and families everywhere.

For what could possibly be worse than being the parent of a murdered child? Being the parent of a child murderer? How many of us would rather our children were dead than guilty of a terrible crime? Its that sense of utter hopelessness that really resonates in this story of a family facing the unthinkable. A hopelessness that seeps beyond the confines of their own lives, and into the lives of the community around them, seen in the harshness of friends and neighbours, in the cruelty of the other children, in the inability of the authorities to comprehend or cope with the scale of the problem. But its also a hopelessness that touches us all.

The effects of a toxic social media on children and young people is an issue that has been endlessly debated by politicians and pundits  but this drama brings them all so vividly to life, and in such a devastatingly human way. Watching, you just cant help thinking: There but for the grace of God.

But it also asks some incredibly pointed questions about boys in particular, and how, either through neglect or ignorance, we are failing to teach them how to navigate an increasingly hostile world where sexual and moral boundaries are ever more blurred and where traditional male traits are often scorned.

What, for example, is your average 13-year-old boy to make of someone like Bonnie Blue, or any one of her many imitators, who travels around colleges offering to entertain barely legal males?

How can any young boy be expected to act in a respectful way to women and girls when bottom-feeders like her are feted and rewarded with vast wealth?

The show captures the tragedy of modern childhood; of a generation whose parents have no comprehension of what they get up to in the privacy of their smartphones, writes Sarah Vine

Just recently, she posted on social media about her new custom-made Ferrari, numberplate P4ORN. Forget toxic masculinity: thats toxic femininity at its absolute worst. And it would not be possible without the internet.

I think most parents dont truly understand this new social media landscape. Like Eddie and Manda, it would never occur to them that their child might be involved in anything like that. Its like a foreign language to them.

Again, this is skilfully illustrated when the officer in charge of investigating, DI Bascombe (Ashley Walters), is taken aside by his son, also a pupil at the school, and enlightened as to the true meaning of seemingly innocent emojis posted by the victim on Jamies Instagram account.

A kidney bean is the symbol for an incel; an exploding red pill is a reference to the film The Matrix, where taking a red pill reveals the horrifying truth about the real world, in which humans exist only to feed the machines that keep them trapped in a simulation.

A whole new vernacular opens up, and the extent of this hidden world of online bullying comes to light. Its a world most adults dont even know exists, let alone understand, a digital Lord Of The Flies where the range and scope of cruelty knows no bounds.

Alas Vine & Hitchens: What's the big idea? Get the Mail's new politics podcast, hosted by columnists Sarah Vine and Peter Hitchens - wherever you listen to podcasts now.

By contrast, the real world of teachers and parents seems weak and ineffectual. Jamies school is a place of utter chaos, run by feral children in defiance of teachers who have neither the authority nor the appetite (with a few exceptions) to impose order. The problem is they simply dont know or understand what they are up against.

The same is true of most of our politicians and policy-makers. For far too long society has buried its head in the sand about the realities of online porn, uncensored social media and toxic online propagandists masquerading as influencers (there are several mentions of porn in Adolescence, and all dismiss it as completely normal, as when Jamie confesses to his psychiatrist about being attracted to Katie  Everyone sees porn).

Everyones been far too interested in taking advantage of this new media landscape for their own gain, with zero regard for the social or cultural repercussions. The result: a dystopian reality from which there is no coming back.

One of the striking things about this show is that its made by Netflix, and not the BBC.

We have in this country a lavishly taxpayer-funded public service broadcaster that, in its heyday, produced some superb social realist drama (which is what Adolescence is): the Play for Today series, Cathy Come Home and countless more.

Nowadays it spends most of its time and resources covering up its own internal dramas, or commissioning the relatives of known terrorists to make one-sided propaganda documentaries, all the while patting itself on the back for its commitment to diversity.

The fact that a streamer like Netflix would take on such a relentlessly bleak subject in such an unflinching way not only puts the BBC to shame  and, arguably, renders the case for the licence fee redundant  it also shows that the power of drama does not necessarily need to be dimmed by commercial imperatives.

Although beautifully written and directed, and with an all-star cast, Adolescence is by no means an easy watch. But it is one that every parent should see.

Search for Alas Vine & Hitchens on Apple, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts now. New episode released every Wednesday.
When your entire career depends on keeping your followers engaged with carefully curated content, there's no bigger insult than 'boring'.

But that was the word one candid TikToker used to slam the world of New York City social media influencers this week - setting their world aflame.

'I'm just gonna say it - I hate all of the New York influencers,' began Bridget, who goes by the username @martinifeeny on TikTok, in a video that has since received nearly two million views.

'I think they're boring as f*** and they're all carbon copies of one another,' she continued. 'They all look like they shop at Revolve. They're all just basic  but they're skinny and pretty so stuff looks cute on them  but boring.

'No hate. They just bore the f*** of me. Does anyone else agree?'

Instantly, influencers seemed to take Bridget's unfiltered opinion to heart, with some commenting under her video and posting responses on their own TikTok pages to their millions of followers.

Bridget Pheloung (@acquiredstyle), Danielle Pheloung (@daniellephe) and Carly Weinstein (@carlyweinstein1), among others, all weighed in - even though Bridget hadn't named any particular influencers as 'boring'.

One user wrote under Bridget's TikTok: 'You didn't mention any names, and the girls are already fighting for their lives in the comments.'

Bridget, who goes by the username @martinifeeny on TikTok, sent the internet into a spiral after she described NYC influencers as 'boring' in a viral video

Another echoed: 'They're getting triggered in the comments and you didn't name one person.'

A third said: 'Why the hell would any of them individually comment on this video as if you named names, I'm actually getting second hand embarrassment.'

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, an anonymous source  who's worked in influencer marketing for three years  said social media has now become oversaturated by wannabe influencers.

As a result, certain communities have popped up online that are dedicated to criticizing these social media stars for being 'out of touch'.

The Reddit snark page r/NYCinfluencersnark, described as 'a community for discussion and snark about NYC Influencers,' has seen over 152,000 users joining in the takedown.

So just who ARE the 'boring' New York influencers? Our snitch reveals the possibilities...

Brigette Pheloung

TikTok: @acquiredstyle

Followers: 1.5 million

Brigette Pheloung, also known as Acquired Style, had the most unfiltered response to Bridget's viral TikTok about 'boring' NYC-based influencers

The influencer has gone viral for her yearly tradition of wearing extravagant fashion ensembles to her family's Thanksgiving dinner

Brigette, known as Acquired Style, has become the influencer perhaps most synonymous with Bridget's video.

After all, she did 'duet' the TikTok with her own response, gesturing to the camera with a sarcastic wave and a kiss at the 'boring' barb and jumping for joy when Bridget described NYC influencers as 'skinny and pretty.'

The 27-year-old New Jersey native has grown an online following for showcasing her trendy outfits, filming GRWM ('get ready with me') videos in her sleek high-rise apartment, and posting content about being an identical twin.

Most famously, she's gone viral for her yearly tradition of wearing extravagant fashion ensembles to her family's Thanksgiving dinner.

But this time, the internet wasn't overwhelmingly on her side.

Some people claimed she inadvertently escalated the 'boring' influencer debate by reposting Bridget's video, which initially had a few hundred likes, to her own 1.5 million followers.

Meanwhile, fellow NYC content creator Olivia Joan offered her two cents when she shared how she was treated 'rudely' by an unnamed influencer  which many people assumed in the comments section was Brigette.

Brigette has yet to comment on speculation surrounding Olivia's video.

In a now-deleted video reposted on Reddit's r/NYCinfluencersnark page, Brigette mocked Bridget's video by gesturing to the camera with a sarcastic wave and a kiss

While many influencers praised Brigette, she deleted the clip after some fans claimed she was escalating the 'boring' influencer debate

She also deleted her TikTok reacting to Bridget's 'boring' critique, and has limited comments on her Instagram.

Danielle Pheloung

TikTok: @daniellephe

Followers: 469.7k

Brigette's twin Danielle, who is also an influencer, was one of the first people to defend her sister following the backlash to her reaction to Bridget's video.

When one TikTok user claimed Brigette was 'wild' for 'driving [her] minions' to the original TikTok, Danielle chimed in to support her sister and fellow influencer.

'This girl is the one who made the video spreading hate but somehow Brigette is wild,' she wrote in a since-deleted comment.

While Danielle is less well-known than her lookalike sister, her videos about working in investment banking helped her gain traction on TikTok.

Danielle Pheloung (left) defended her twin sister Brigette (right) following backlash to her reaction video

While Danielle is less well-known than her twin sister, her videos about working in investment banking helped her gain traction on TikTok

'This girl is the one who made the video spreading hate but somehow Bridgette is wild,' Danielle wrote about Bridget in a since-deleted comment

She grew popular on the app for her 'office fashion' videos and early morning routines, filled with 5am Pilates classes and healthy breakfasts, but decided to quit her job at Goldman Sachs to pursue full-time content creation.

Halley Kate McGookin

TikTok: @halleykate

Followers: 1.4m

Halley Kate, another popular NYC influencer, has remained relatively quiet amid the 'boring' row. Still, she's shown her subtle support for her friends in the comments section of their videos.

The Virginia native, 24, has found major success on TikTok  where she doesn't shy away from sharing the most intimate details of her life.

From getting punched in the head by a failed mayoral candidate last year, to a love triangle with her current boyfriend and fellow NYC influencer Sophia La Corte, it seems there's nothing she doesn't post about.

Halley Kate's career as an influencer even landed her a stunning beach cottage in the ritzy neighborhood of the Hamptons, which she purchased at just 23 years old.

Halley Kate, another popular NYC-based influencer, showed support for her influencer friends in the comments section of their videos

'I was crying at this,' Halley Kate replied to Brigette's video mocking Bridget's hot take about 'boring' NYC influencers

Though she's been able to stay out of the 'boring' influencer crossfire, she did comment under Brigette's now-deleted video mocking Bridget's hot take, writing: 'I was crying at this.'

Kit Keenan

TikTok: @kitkeenan

Followers: 303.4k

Although Bridget didn't mention any specific NYC influencers, that didn't stop Kit Keenan  formerly of ABC's The Bachelor and best-known for being the 'nepo baby' daughter of fashion designer Cynthia Rowley  leaving a comment under the video.

'I've never been disliked by someone I wanted to trade places with,' she wrote.

The comment didn't go well with the majority of TikTokers, as one person replied to Kit's post, 'Ok Kit,' along with an eye roll emoji.

'Nepo,' someone else wrote in response.

Influencer Kit Keenan commented, 'I've never been disliked by someone I wanted to trade places with,' under Bridget's video

The 25-year-old content creator is known for being the daughter of fashion designer Cynthia Rowley and for appearing on ABC's The Bachelor in 2020

'Imagine being born into wealth and leaving this comment. Behavior that needs to be studied actually,' another person said on Reddit.

Much like her influencer cohort, Kit's content is typically filled with workout videos, fit pics, and sponsored posts.

What does set the socialite apart from her fellow influencers, however, is the fact that she was born and raised in NYC.

Carly Weinstein

TikTok: @carlyweinstein1

Followers: 516.4k

Carly Weinstein also felt offended by Bridget's post, going so far as to leave comments across multiple TikToks and posting her own video about the situation  which was deleted shortly after.

'This girl seems like a really good time!' the 26-year-old content creator, who is originally from New Jersey, wrote under Brigette's sarcastic response.

Carly Weinstein, a 26-year-old influencer originally from New Jersey, left multiple comments following Bridget's viral video about 'boring' NYC influencers

Carly ranted to her thousands of followers on TikTok, and doubled down in the comments section about Bridget's video

On her own TikTok page, where she typically posts content about body positivity and mental health, Carly ranted to her followers about 'bitter' women showing their 'jealousy and ugly feelings' online.

'Seeing that girl's video today, just openly hating on other women,' Carly added, referring to Bridget. 'These people are unhappy with their own lives and they're trying to sabotage the people that are happy or are winning.'

But when people in the comments section of Carly's video didn't agree with her take on the situation, the influencer decided to double down even further.

'She never called out a specific influencer by name. I think her video hit a nerve with you guys. She seems like a relatively happy person, it's not that deep,' wrote one user, to which Carly replied: 'She struck a nerve because people suddenly feel entitled to be so mean to influencers as if they aren't human beings with actual emotions and feelings. I think people have become a little numb to it.'

Someone else aptly summarized the viral debate: 'Criticism doesn't translate to bitterness and jealousy, and supporting women does not mean we can't have dissenting opinions from one another.'
A Buckinghamshire teacher has issued a stark warning to women who suffer exhaustion  after the problem turned out to be a telltale sign of 'silent killer', ovarian cancer.

Rachael Misfud, 38, first began suffering extreme fatigue in 2023, but assumed it was a result of her hectic job alongside parenting four children.

'I felt like I was 70 years old,' she said. 'I had to sleep when I got home from work just to get through the evening.'

But when she was hit with a bout of bloating, she decided to visit her GP for help.

The doctor sent her for an ultrasound which revealed a mass on her ovary  but medics assured her it was likely to be a non-cancerous cyst.

'I just got put on a waiting list for it to be removed,' said Ms Misfud, who is mother to Paige, 18, Lexie, 15, Medina, nine, and AJ, eight.

However, during her operation, which took place nine months later, surgeons noticed the growth was in fact cancerous.

She was then delivered the devastating diagnosis of mucinous ovarian cancer  a rare disease diagnosed in around 200 people a year in Britain.

Rachael Misfud was told the growth on her ovary was more than likely a cyst, and waited nine months to have it removed - but it turned out to be deadly cancer.

Around two to three per cent of all ovarian cancers are what's called mucinous  which means that the tumour cells are coated in mucus.

'I shut down. I was in complete shock,' Ms Misfud said of the moment she told the news.

'You just never think it's going to be you. But then I had to focus on next steps. The consultant said to me, 'you're young. You're a mum. We want to give you the best chance. We're going to act quickly.'

Ms Misfud was told it was likely that the cyst mutated while she was on the waiting list for surgery.

'Maybe we need to be doing more scans while people are on waiting lists,' she said. 'Especially as catching it early is the key for survival.

'The assumption was I had a cyst. Maybe the assumption should be cancer until we're sure it's not.'

Ms Misfud was quickly referred for a second surgery in order for doctors to remove the disease, followed by chemotherapy to kill remaining cancer cells.

In 2024 she underwent an operation to remove the cancer, as well as all of her reproductive organs  ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes and cervix  to ensure no traces of disease remained.

Her gruelling surgery involved removing all of her reproductive organs, including the cervix.

Ms Misfud said losing her hair was the hardest part of chemotherapy. Her youngest son 'took a while' to feel comfortable looking at his mother without hair.

Luckily, the cancer had not spread to surrounding organs, giving her the best chance of long-term survival.

'I keep thinking what would have happened if there had been any more delays,' she said.

Ms Misfud is currently undergoing chemotherapy and said the treatment 'isn't as scary as you think'.

'The nurses are lovely and make it the best they can for you. You get tea, coffee, biscuits, bananas.

'But I've lost all my hair now. And I'm not going to lie, as a woman, it's awful. It's such a big part of you so it's really hard to accept.

'My youngest took it the hardest. I think that was the moment he realised I really had cancer.

'It took him a while to be able to look at me. That did break my heart.'

Ovarian cancer is often referred to as a 'silent killer' because it often doesn't cause any symptoms in its early stages.

As a result, three quarters of patients are diagnosed at later stages of the disease when only a third will survive more than three years.

Sometimes signs are present, but they are mistaken for less serious problems like irritable bowel syndrome or urinary tract infections.

These symptoms include bloating, pain or tenderness in the abdomen or pelvis, a lack of appetite, needing to use the toilet more often and exhaustion.

Other signs are indigestion, back pain and losing weight without meaning to.
Jake Tapper shocked his CNN panel as he admitted that President Trump's condemnation of the justice system is built around 'legitimate grievances.'

The CNN host made the comment in response to a speech Trump gave at the Department of Justice on Friday, where he slammed the 'weaponized' criminal cases that were brought against him in recent years.

Trump railed against 'the lies and abuses' that allowed him to be previously charged with federal crimes, including his alleged storage of classified government documents at Mar-a-Lago and attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss.

'(The DOJ) weaponized the vast powers of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies to try to thwart the will of the American people,' he said.

After airing the clip, Tapper defended the president's remarks as he said such cases - also including Trump's conviction on charges of falsifying business records in New York - were built upon 'legitimate grievances.'

'You dont have to be a member of MAGA to say, You know what those Peter Strzok-Lisa Page texts were awful,' Tapper said.

'There was a FISA abuse. There was that weird thing with Carter Page... I dont know about that Alvin Bragg case where he, like, basically invented a felony.

'You dont have to be a member of MAGA to look and say, You know what? He does have some legitimate grievances.'

Jake Tapper shocked his CNN panel as he admitted that President Trump's condemnation of the justice system is built around 'legitimate grievances' on Friday

The CNN host made the comment in response to a speech Trump gave at the Department of Justice on Friday, where he slammed the 'weaponized' criminal cases that were brought against him in recent years

After Tapper justified Trump's remarks at the DOJ, CNN political commentator Xochitl Hinojosa disagreed as she defended former Attorney General under President Biden, Merrick Garland.

'Merrick Garland was a judge, he was a long career prosecutor,' she said.

'He did everything to follow the facts and the law and allow that to happen. And it was a special counsel matter where Merrick Garland wasnt making the decisions.

'What Ill say even further, there is a (grand) jury in both Florida and D.C. that believed that there is enough evidence for Donald Trump to be indicted on 44 counts.

'And this isnt just some conspiracy theory. There was no weaponization. The federal government believes that Donald Trump committed crimes.'

Tapper responded to clarify that he was referring to Trump's conviction in New York and allegations that he colluded with Russia during his first term, and not the cases that Xochitl mentioned.

'I should note I was talking about the Russiagate investigation and the Alvin Bragg case, and you deftly switched it to the Jack Smith investigation,' he said.

After Tapper justified Trump's remarks at the DOJ, CNN political commentator Xochitl Hinojosa disagreed as she defended former Attorney General under President Biden, Merrick Garland

Xochitl said Garland acted properly during the investigations of Trump, as 'he did everything to follow the facts and the law and allow that to happen. And it was a special counsel matter where Merrick Garland wasnt making the decisions'

Trump's speech on Friday at the DOJ came on the same day that he made a landmark move to impose travel bans on 43 nations around the world - including 'sharply restricting' visas from Russia.

Revealing the move in a dramatic memo on Friday, Trump's order also sees key allies of Moscow placed under heavy sanctions as Belarusian travelers could see their dreams of traveling Stateside slashed, the New York Times reports.

The explosive immigration proposals come as the US president is wrestling with Putin and Zelensky over a ceasefire in Ukraine - warning last night that World War III could 'very easily' erupt if peace talks failed.

Alongside the warring state a vast swathe of nations from across the globe have been told their governments have 60 days to address deficiencies or they will remain on the list.

A memo shows countries divided into three separate groups - including full visa suspensions and partial suspensions.

Trump's speech on Friday at the DOJ came on the same day that he made a landmark move to impose travel bans on 43 nations around the world

Many are from the Middle East and Africa, with Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran and North Korea among the 11 who face the most drastic measures.

In the second group, 10 countries would face partial suspensions that would impact tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions.

And in a third group, a total of 22 countries would be considered for a partial suspension of US visa issuance if their governments 'do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days', the memo said.

A US official cautioned there could be changes on the list and that it was yet to be approved by the administration, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after it was reported on by the New York Times.

For many in America, the policy will hark back to Trump's explosive 'Muslim ban' during his first term in office. Some of the countries in the new proposal were also on the 2017 list, but many more are new.
There are many criticisms you can level at the investment industry, keepers of our pension funds and stocks and shares Individual Savings Accounts.

For starters, high charges and poor performance. Also, complex share classes that often make investing a nightmare and of course a lack of communication with investors, without whom they would have no business.

Memo to investment bosses: a bit of TLC  tender loving care  given to customers goes a long way.

But the one bit of mud you cannot fling at them is a lack of investor choice. There are funds galore  literally, thousands of them  meeting all investment tastes and coming in many forms. There are unit trusts and open-ended investment companies  a 'modern' unit trust often referred to as an OEIC.

Also, stock market listed investment trusts (many of which have been around since the year dot) and passive exchange-traded funds (also listed) which track the performance of specific stock market indices such as the FTSE 100 in the UK and the S&P 500 in President Trump's United States.

Yet the investment industry believes we need more choice (really?). Enter a new investment vehicle, the active  as opposed to the passive  exchange-traded fund or to give it its sexier (shorter) label: the active ETF.

A vehicle designed to add a little bit of extra return  so called 'alpha'  above that available from the market.

Investment houses are falling over themselves to launch these new kids on the block in the UK.

Companies such as BlackRock, Fidelity International, Invesco and JPMorgan (all US giants) have already launched a barrowful. Others such as Aberdeen (no, not abrdn), Jupiter and Schroders are tentatively dipping  or about to dip  their toes into the water.

Already popular in the United States, active ETFs are gaining traction in Europe and the UK, especially among big institutional investors. Research conducted late last year by Fidelity showed nearly a third of professional investors in Europe are looking to increase their use of active ETFs this year and next  more than any other type of investment vehicle.

So will these new investment funds add fizz to your portfolio? Or is the flurry of new launches more about investment groups not wishing to miss out on a potential gravy train?

ETF or an active ETF  So what's the difference?

AN ETF is an investment fund, typically comprising a portfolio of shares or bonds (sometimes both). In the UK, their shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange.

Until recently, most ETFs focused on replicating the performance of a targeted stock market index.

These 'passive' ETFs proved hugely popular with investors as a result of rock-bottom charges, investment predictability (they track a specific market, albeit slightly underperforming it after charges) and the ease with which they can be bought and sold. In essence, they are shares.

To highlight this low-cost appeal, let's look at a Vanguard ETF FTSE Developed Europe ex-UK.

As its name implies, it tracks the performance of the FTSE Developed Europe ex-UK Index.

Interactive Investor includes it among its top 60 'super' funds.

It says the combined impact of the fund's annual charges (0.12 per cent) and its own dealing fee (0.04 per cent) would shave 16.66 off a one-year investment gain of five per cent on an initial 10,000 investment. So, 10,483.34 instead of 10,500.

By way of contrast, an identical investment in OEIC Janus Henderson European Selected Opportunities would be denuded by charges of 106.09. This is primarily a result of the fund's higher ongoing charges (1.03 per cent) owing to it being actively rather than passively managed. In other words, run by a living, breathing person rather than a computer.

Yet while Vanguard's ETF is cheap as chips, it has actually underperformed the Janus fund over the past three and five years. In other words, Janus's active management has reaped better long-term rewards for investors.

An active ETF is designed to offer investors the best of both worlds  the low charges associated with ETFs and the added value that active management can (not will) bring to the party. So a potential win-win.

Roxane Philibert, ETF associate director at Fidelity, says: 'Active ETFs can play a pivotal role in retail portfolios by combining the advantages of their structure  easy to trade and cost efficient  with the expertise of global research and top investment managers.'

How active ETFs deliver added return varies. But, by way of example, Fidelity offers three versions of its active ETFs: 'enhanced core', which aim to provide investors with a return slightly higher than from a specific stock market index; 'directional active', which look to make money from identifying shifts in market trends; and 'high conviction', where the managers take big positions in stocks they like in the hope of generating that magical thing called 'alpha'.

Financial advisers are waking up to the potential of active ETFs.

Dan Caps, investment manager at wealth manager Evelyn Partners, says it has started to include the funds in clients' portfolios, particularly the 'enhanced' versions which the likes of Fidelity and JPMorgan are offering.

He adds: 'They tend to be competitively priced with fees somewhere between a traditional actively managed fund and an index-tracking fund  while offering the potential for a small amount of [market] outperformance.'

Average annual fees are around the 0.4 per cent mark  higher than most passive ETFs but lower than nearly all actively managed investment funds and trusts.

Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis at investing platform AJ Bell, is more sceptical. 'Yes, you don't get the same egregious drag on performance from charges that you do with an actively managed unit trust,' he says, 'but they are more expensive than index-tracking funds. So they will need to sing for their supper in terms of delivering outperformance.'

It's a view shared by Kenneth Lamont, research analyst at fund scrutineer Morningstar.

He describes active ETFs as 'old wine dressed in new bottles'  in other words, they do what actively managed funds have always done, but in a different wrapper.

He says: 'These funds have thrived in the US because they

are treated kindly from a tax point of view. But here, the current push is more about UK investment companies  the likes of Aberdeen, Jupiter and Schroders  not wanting to miss out on the next big thing imported from the United States.'

His conclusion: 'The advantages for investors are marginal  lower cost than most existing active funds but still more expensive than passive ETFs.'

Mine? In an industry where investors are relentlessly encouraged to diversify, they're worth looking at.

All platforms allow you to buy active ETFs. A selection can be found at ajbell.co.uk/market-research/screener/etf
When is the prime time to renew your car insurance to save the most money?

While ultra-organised drivers research quotes almost a month in advance, some more relaxed motorists don't bother at all, letting their existing policy roll over for another 12 months.

But there is a sweet-spot somewhere in between where experts say you pay the lowest price - and it could save the average motorist more than 160 if they time it to perfection.

However, with providers typically sending out renewal letters between two and four weeks ahead of cover lapsing, many motorists are at risk of missing the optimum day to buy insurance.

Analysis of insurance quotes ran on GoCompare throughout 2024 has revealed the exact date ahead of your policy renewal when you should lock in your motor cover.

Those who purchased their new policy 26 days before their existing premium lapsed paid on average 390 - the lowest median price of all based on days ahead of renewal.

That compared to an average premium cost of 554 for those who bought the day their insurance policy was due to end, some 164 more than those who secured a new deal 26 days earlier.

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Car insurance can be purchased up to 29 days in advance of an existing policy ending.

GoCompare's research highlights that buying three weeks before renewal provides the best savings.

The lowest median prices in 2024 were paid between 21 and 28 days ahead of an existing policy terminating.

Tom Banks, car insurance spokesperson for the comparison site, said: 'Its no secret that insurers consider multiple factors when calculating your premium, but many drivers dont realise that the day you buy your policy can also impact the price.

'Drivers who leave it until the last minute are often perceived as higher risk, which can result in higher premiums.

'On the other hand, purchasing in advance signals that youre organised and responsible - traits that insurers reward with lower prices.'

> Ten tips to cut the cost of car insurance

Car insurance can be purchased up to 29 days in advance of an existing policy ending but research by GoCompare suggests its best to wait three days before buying another

The recommendation to drivers to secure a new policy 26 days ahead of their renewal date comes as motorists have faced cripplingly high insurance costs in recent years.

The latest update on motor premiums from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) said the average cost of cover in the final three months of last year was 621.

This was 2 per cent lower than the average record high price of 636 at the start of 2024.

Premiums have rocketed on the back of rising motor claim payouts linked to high vehicle theft rates and an increasing cost of car parts as well as supply issues.

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When taken as an annual average, the cost of cover in 2024 was 622, some 15 per cent (78) higher than 2023.

Last year saw insurers pay out the highest claims on record for a calendar year, with the 2024 bill reaching a staggering 11.7bn.

Mark Shepherd, head of general insurance policy at the ABI, said the motor insurance industry was 'doing all that it can' to tackle sky-high premiums.

However, he added that government needed to step in to 'take the necessary action' to combat high claim costs, including not raising Insurance Premium Tax at the upcoming Spring Forecast.
About seven years ago, a friend of mine sold all his vinyl collection off to a local dealer  it was around 300 LPs or so, as he was moving abroad.

He let me have a flick through to see if there was anything I liked the look of (I don't collect vinyl, but was curious) and I found two Bart Simpson shaped vinyl that made me smile.

I plucked them out and he said I could have them both for a tenner, seeing as I'm a Simpsons fan and he'd be happy they were heading to a good home.

Since then, I've had them on display in my home office and they're always a talking point. On a Zoom call recently, someone asked me what they're worth.

I've had a poke around eBay, and can see plenty listed for north of 100, but I'm not sure that's realistic on a vinyl I paid a fiver each for.

The vinyl are in good condition and both same 'limited edition.' Just how limited edition are they?

SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET YOUR MODERN TREASURE VALUED BY DAN

Ay Carumba! Does my Bart Simpson limited edition shaped vinyl hit the high notes?

Dan Hatfield, resident This is Money expert valuer, replies: Ay Carumba!

Last week, we delved into the enigmatic world of the Freemasons; this week, we're off to Springfield to spin tales about Bart Simpson's vinyl ventures.

When This is Money editor Lee Boyce first asked me to write this column I couldn't have foreseen our journey would, thus far, be so eclectic, eccentric, and delightfully surreal.

But here we are, hopping from secret societies to animated antics, and I must say, I'm loving every unpredictable twist.

First, let's remind ourselves of the monumental impact The Simpsons has had over its nearly four-decade run.

Popular: Think the 1990s and The Simpsons is likely to be at the top of your list for cultural references

Conceived by Matt Groening and further developed with the genius of James L. Brooks and Sam Simon, The Simpsons began as a series of animated shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987.

Its comedic portrayal of middle-American family life struck such a chord that, by 1989, it blossomed into its own show on Fox.

The series experienced unrivaled popularity, almost defining a generation, with its catchphrases echoing around the globe.

RETRO ITEMS VALUED

Do you have vinyl, Simpsons collections or other items from the past 80 years that you want valued? We're on the lookout for more Modern Treasure to shine a spotlight on. editor@thisismoney.co.uk

In my opinion, no show has had the cultural impact that this one has had.

Although The Simpsons new series doesn't quite hit the public's sweet spot compared to the first ten series it is, as of 2025 still being made.

Indeed, it is now the longest running American animated series, the longest running American sitcom and the longest running American American scripted primetime revision show.

Okily dokily, now, onto the vinyl frontier. Back in the early '90s, amid the throes of 'Bartmania,' The Simpsons capitalised on their huge fame in America with a slew of merchandise, including limited edition vinyl records.

One standout is the 'Do the Bartman' single, from 'The Simpsons Sing the Blues' album. Both were released in 1990.

This track not only showcased Bart's (or rather, Nancy Cartwright's) vocal prowess but also became a cultural touchstone internationally.

Looking at this first album from a UK context, it's interesting to note that when Do the Bartman, was released in November 1990, most families in Britain did not have access to Sky TV, the platform that the Simpsons was shown on.

It's also interesting to note it took 10 weeks to hit number one, reaching the top of the charts on 10 February and remaining there for three weeks.

This is proof that actually the song became popular over time rather than having an instant army of fans.

We can thus establish that while The Simpsons was popular prior to the album's release, it was actually the album which greatly contributed to the popularity of the series as a whole in the UK and beyond.

The next vinyl to be released in 1991 was 'Deep Deep Trouble' created by Groening and the 90s icon that is Jazzy Jeff.

Unfortunately, this offering didn't quite tickle the British tastebuds quite as much and reached a rather modest number seven in the charts.

Fun: Unusual vinyl shapes are popular with collectors - have you hit a bargain with your Bart ones?

Now onto the price. I would value your 'Do the Bartman album at around 40 to 50 and your 'Deep Deep Trouble at 10 to 15.

The first vinyl is much more desirable and collectors will intimately pay more for a release that did better in the charts and captured the imagination of the public as opposed to the later vinyl.

But I would suggest selling the pair together as it is in doing this that you will achieve the greatest amount.

You would be looking in the region of around 70 to 80 implementing this tactic.

I do believe that these albums best days are yet to come monetary speaking. Over the next 20 years I see vinyl increasing in popularity and as The Simpsons turn 40 in just a few years' time, nostalgia will well and truly kick in.

It's safe to say 1990s items are on trend right now and I believe that the love for that decade will continue to intensify for the next decade.

I would suggest holding on to them as I can easily foresee them being worth something in the low hundreds, collectively as we enter the 2030s

I know you had hoped that they would bring a hundred or so each, the internet can be a confusing and contradictory place when it comes to attempting to obtain a value.

The great thing is you paid so little for them that you have absolute bargains on your hands.

I hope you aren't too disappointed and if you are, well most respectfully but in the worlds of our spiky haired yellow friend: eat my shorts!
A mother left her nine-day-old baby and toddler sister home alone to get drunk at a bar, then crashed into a pole and ended up in jail.

The neglected infants were not rescued until 14 hours after Sandra Henriquez, 32, left her home at 12.30am and drove to the Big Shots Pub in Muncie, Indiana.

Her little girls were only saved when neighbors called police saying they heard babies crying inside the home at 2.22pm.

Henriquez had already downed a whole six-pack of 16oz Budweiser cans at home before she abandoned them to drink all night.

After the bar closed, she tried to drive home but collided with a utility pole about 5.30am on Wednesday, where she was caught by police.

She refused to answer when responding officers asked if she had children, as she had a baby's car seat, and they hauled her away from the wreck to the Delaware County Jail.

Then at 7.27am she allegedly told jail staff that she had 'no dependents', but but about 8am had changed her tune to say she did have children.

However, the infants were still hours away from rescue because she allegedly wouldn't give officers her address or phone number.

Sandra Henriquez, 32, left her nine-day-old baby and toddler sister home alone to get drunk at a bar in Muncie, Indiana, then crashed into a pole and ended up in jail

Henriquez posted photos of her new baby girl on Facebook the next morning, wrapped up in swaddling cloth at the hospital

Police finally arrived at 2.31pm and forced open the door after learning Henriquez was behind bars, and found the children covered in feces.

Both were rushed to hospital and though the older girl was healthy, the baby had to be fed through a feeding tube because she was in such bad shape.

The newborn was 'urgently cyanotic' with blue hands, feet, and mouth due to malnutrition, and weighed less than she did when she was born on March 3.

Henriquez posted photos of her new baby girl on Facebook the next morning, wrapped up in swaddling cloth at the hospital.

'After about 11hrs of labor she made her debut at 10.14pm on 3/3/25 (4 days after [her sister's] Birthday)' she wrote.

Henriquez was held on $42,500 bail and charged with four counts of neglect of a dependent, including one of causing serious injury, along with obstruction of justice

'She came in at a tiny 5lbs, 12oz and 17 inches long. Happy and healthy. Happy Birthday, momma loves you much and can't wait to see what this crazy world brings you.'

Hours before she gave birth, Henriquez posted about her older daughter's birthday first party, including pictures of a pink cake, a video of the girl's first words.

There were also photos of family and friends celebrating - none of whom were aware of the children's predicament two weeks later.

Instead of cake, family, and party costumes, police found open cans of alcohol and a small dog in a cage with no food or water.

Henriquez was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Division, and allegedly told jail staff how she left her kids at home to go to the bar after drinking the cans.

'Henriquez had multiple opportunities to inform officers and other staff about her children being home alone,' police wrote in a probable cause affidavit.

'Henriquez was even asked about children, but refused to provide that information.'

Hours before she gave birth, Henriquez posted about her older daughter's birthday first party, including pictures of a pink cake, a video of the girl's first words

Henriquez had already downed a whole six-pack of 16oz Budweiser cans at home before she abandoned her daughters to drink all night

The older girl's father posted celebratory photos of her as a newborn a year ago, smiling in cute snaps of mother and son.

'She couldnt wait to meet mommy and daddy! Mommy was only in labor for 2 1/2 hours and she did GREAT!' he wrote.

'Thank you Jesus for a smooth delivery. Blessed is an understatement. This little beautiful lady stole my heart and gave me my first experience of love at first sight.'

Henriquez now lists herself as single on Facebook.

She was held on $42,500 bail and charged with four counts of neglect of a dependent, including one of causing serious injury, along with obstruction of justice.
British expats are being terrorised by corrupt Spanish tax collectors and left fearing financial ruin, an expert lawyer has warned, estimating that dozens of people have been 'fleeced' out of hundreds of millions of pounds in recent years.

Robert Amsterdam, of Amsterdam & Partners LLP, told MailOnline that residents had come to him in tears, having been threatened with criminal prosecution after discovering that the tax deal they moved for had suddenly been moved out of reach.

Mr Amsterdam is an international lawyer, specialising in political cases and human rights.

'I fought the Russians in Russia, representing political opponents,' he said. 'But this is what I expect from Vladimir Putin, not what I expect from [Spanish prime minister, Pedro] Sanchez'.

Since picking up the case, he said he has been inundated with harrowing accounts of expats, having moved to the country on the understanding that they would benefit from a certain tax regime, seeing their lives turned upside-down when their status was revoked.

'We have an elderly couple with a husband [who] had a heart attack as a result of persecution from the tax authorities... I have people telling me that the minute the the auditor gets angry, they threaten them with criminal prosecution.

'I have people whose bank [accounts] have closed because they got a letter from the Spanish tax authority.'

Central to the issue is a tax regime named after David Beckham.

A French gendarme (L) and a Spanish civil guard patrol together along the beach in the Magaluf holiday resort in Calvia, on the Balearic island of Mallorca, on August 18, 2022

Beckham's Law was an initiative devised in the early 2000s with the aim of bringing top talent to Spain.

Coinciding with David Beckham's transfer to Real Madrid in 2003, the 2004 law would allow expatriates to benefit from a significant reduction in their income tax rate.

Through the policy, foreign residents could benefit from paying just 24 per cent on their Spanish-sourced income as tax, up to a limit of 600,000.

This could be significantly lower than the progressive tax rates for everyone else, which go up to 45 per cent.

But Spain has gradually 'pared back its tax breaks and instituted relentless tax probes into individuals who benefited from the initial scheme', Mr Amsterdam said.

'We have heard from many victims in Spain who say that they have had their Beckham Law status withdrawn without explanation and then have been retroactively charged with back taxes to said periods, which is completely outside the semblance of rule of law.'

While the country has taken steps to reform the law and clarify who can still benefit from it 20 years on, Mr Amsterdam warns that the changes have only made matters worse.

He told MailOnline: 'They seem to have decided when they reformed it that they were really going to hardball everybody who had already taken advantage of [Beckhams Law]. So I think the actual attack on foreigners accelerated after reform.'

'I think the conditions were more stringent,' he explained. The Spanish authorities, he believes, 'decided that it would be more efficacious to go after people involved in the older Beckham as opposed to the newer Beckham.

'I think that's what motivated it - and the statute the limitations was running out on some of the older Beckham applicants.'

The result has been a disaster for British residents settling in the country.

File photo, homes in Cala Fornells on Mallorca island. Via Beckham's Law, foreign residents could benefit from paying just 24 per cent on their Spanish-sourced income as tax

Mr Amsterdam says that as many as 80 expats - including Brits, Europeans and Americans - have been in touch fearing that they face financial 'ruin' after having their tax status 'relentlessly probed' by the authorities.

He surmises that the root of the problem lies in corrupt tax incentives.

'Theres a mixture of things. Theres firstly a relentless level of corruption The tax inspectors operate on a bonus system tied to their assessment so theyre in this to win.

'Their personal financial benefit resides on your misery.'

As a result, many who move to Spain expecting to pay 24 per cent tax on their local income suddenly find themselves re-evaluated and left with a bill for up to 45 per cent.

A resident who paid 120,000 in tax on a local salary of 500,000 might, then, discover that they suddenly owe an additional 125,000.

As it stands, the checks and balances in place to appeal such decisions are found to be lacking.

'Actually getting to court to vindicate your rights can take eight to ten years, so most people give in to what is effectively extortion because they know its going to be a goddamn decade before they get their justice received,' Mr Amsterdam explained.

Quality data on the demographics moving to Spain from Britain is scarce. But a 2017 study from the ONS revealed more than 40 per cent of British expats to the country were aged 65 and over.

This figure was found to have more than doubled since 2006.

The question, Mr Amsterdam asks, is: 'If youre in your 60s do you really want to spend your 60s with all of your assets tied up?'

File photo. Many who move to Spain expecting to pay 24 per cent tax on their local income suddenly find themselves re-evaluated and left with a bill for up to 45 per cent

He said the sprawling Spanish tax system 'seems structured to extort the maximum amount from unsuspecting foreigners'.

Jose M. Lopez-Avalos, a solicitor at Malaga Solicitors, agreed that many people are 'suffering' the Spanish Inland Revenue service.

'This situation is not because of discrimination [against Brits] but because of the voracity of tax man who is looking for money from everybody,' he told MailOnline.

'The situation of expats and non-residents is more complicated because of several reasons:

'Firstly, Lack of knowledge of Spanish Tax Laws and regulations. Sometimes they do not pay correct taxes for ignorance, not because they wish to commit fraud.

'Secondly, Lack of digital certificates,' where people 'do not receive formal official notifications correctly'.

'Because of these circumstances, tax amounts not paid are increased dramatically with interests, penalties, etc, so at the end of the day people have to paid too much money by surprise!'

Mr Lopez-Avalos described the 'fight' against the tax authorities as being 'like David against Goliath' in any case - 'and if you have the handicap of being a non-resident or expat...even more complicated'.

Malaga Solicitors has been helping expat property investors in Malaga for over 25 years.

Legal expert Robert Amsterdam has been inundated with harrowing accounts of expats, having moved to the country on the understanding that they would benefit from a certain tax regime, seeing their lives turned upside-down when their status was revoked. File photo.

Leon Fernando del Canto, a tax lawyer and founder of Del Canto Chambers, echoed the concerns, telling The Telegraph previously that they had seen instances where the tax office contested the status of people even 'after two or three years in the country'.

He said this has 'upset a lot of people and created insecurity', as people no longer know how much of their income stands to be taxed.

Without adequate reform, uncertainty stands to deter talent from moving the country - the very reason the 'Ley Beckham' was set up in the first place.

It comes at a precarious time, with foreigners driving nearly 20 per cent of all housing transactions, a 30.7 per cent increase from 2019 levels.

This, in turn, helps prop up a strong construction industry, valued at $192.38bn last year and projected to be worth $229.91 billion by 2030, per Mordor Intelligence.

Uncertainty and perceived arbitrariness strike fear into the hearts of individuals, and have already brought lives to ruin, legal experts claim.

But on top of this, a more deeply-rooted bureaucratic problems suggests widening structural issues within Spain's challenged economy.
A brand-new Wetherspoons pub is set to open its doors in summer 2025, with development work officially kicking off this week.

The pub, which will be named The Sun Wharf, will occupy the former London Dungeon space located within the arches at 50 Tooley Street, near London Bridge.

A spokesperson for Wetherspoons confirmed the news and revealed that the pub will replace the old London Dungeon attraction, a popular tourist spot that once thrilled visitors with its historical waxworks and theatrical walkthroughs.

The new pub is slated to open on August 26, 2025, with development work commencing as of March 10, 2025.

The plans for the venue were first submitted to Southwark Council in September 2024.

The latest edition to the pub chain will be open seven days a week, from 6.30am to 12.30am, offering punters a spot to enjoy food, drinks, and the unique charm of a Wetherspoons establishment.

An artist's impression of the pub shows a bright, neon-lit sign reading: 'The Sun Wharf Wetherspoon.'

The name is believed to reference one of the wharves east of London Bridge, where ships from Australia once brought in imports, adding a historical flavour to the site.

The pub, which will be named The Sun Wharf, will occupy the former London Dungeon space located within the arches at 50 Tooley Street, near London Bridge

The plans for the venue were first submitted to Southwark Council in September 2024

For years, the space has sat vacant after the London Dungeon moved in 2013 to its new home at County Hall

For years, the space has sat vacant after the London Dungeon moved in 2013 to its new home at County Hall, as part of the ongoing redevelopment of the London Bridge area.

Network Rail, which owns the building, had previously voiced concerns about the space's appeal to potential tenants.

In 2017, the rail provider wrote to Southwark Council stating: 'The residual premises provide a very poor-quality environment.

'The former user (London Dungeon) was somewhat unusual in so far as the poor-quality environment was its main attraction.'

After a major refurbishment costing 20million, the new London Dungeon on the South Bank now welcomes more than 700,000 visitors a year, continuing to entertain tourists and locals alike.

The addition of The Sun Wharf will bring a second Wetherspoons pub to the London Bridge area, joining The Pommelers Rest at Tower Bridge.

The opening on this latest edition to JD Wetherspoon, is part of 11 new pubs in England that are set to open this year.

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The Grand Assembly in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, was also opened in September last year

Wetherspoon opened The Lion & The Unicorn pub at London Waterloo station last September

New sites at Fulham Broadway Underground station in West London and Manchester Airport's Terminal 2 are also planned for this year.

The pub chain also confirmed new venues at Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, Wetherby in West Yorkshire, Bath in Somerset and Fareham in Hampshire.

This takes its total pub openings in its financial year to nine - after two new venues opened last September, at London Waterloo station and Marlow in Buckinghamshire.

Separately, the chain is also opening four new pubs at Haven holiday parks in England this spring in a 6.7million investment as the duo expand their partnership.

The new sites will be located at Devon Cliffs in Exmouth, Kent Coast in Allhallows, Cleethorpes Beach in Lincolnshire and Haggerston Castle in Northumberland.

This will take the total pub openings to 11 in 2025, and 13 over the financial year.

Wetherspoon is also planning to open a pub in Farnham, Surrey, after purchasing the site of a former Slug & Lettuce venue - but no opening date has yet been set.

Wetherspoon chairman Sir Tim Martin says the firm is set to face a 60million jump in labour-related costs in April, amid increases in employers' NI contributions and the minimum wage

The business also confirmed in January that six pubs had been sold over the year, generating 4.1million - and the firm now has a trading estate of 796 pubs.

Wetherspoon pubs opening in 2025 London Bridge station

Fulham Broadway Underground station

Manchester Airport Terminal 2

Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

Wetherby, West Yorkshire

Bath, Somerset

Fareham, Hampshire HAVEN Devon Cliffs in Exmouth

Kent Coast in Allhallows

Cleethorpes Beach in Lincolnshire

Haggerston Castle in Northumberland Advertisement

The announcements were made as the Watford-based hospitality giant, which employs 42,000 people, revealed stronger sales for the half-year so far.

Wetherspoon chairman Sir Tim Martin has called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to cut pub food taxes ahead of a jump in costs linked to the Budget.

He said it faces a 60million jump in labour-related costs in April, amid rises in employers' national insurance contributions and the minimum wage.

Mr Martin said the business is in a 'reasonable' position but that forecasting is 'difficult' in the face of impending tax and wage increases.

As a result, he renewed calls to equalise the VAT paid on food by pub and restaurant businesses with that of supermarkets.

Most food and drink in shops has zero VAT whereas restaurants and pubs have a standard rate of 20 per cent.

'This tax advantage allows supermarkets to subsidise the price of beer they sell,' Sir Tim said.

'The VAT distortions that exist today will inevitably create more supermarkets and less pubs.

'Wetherspoon therefore calls upon Sir Keir Starmer to redress this imbalance, thereby striking a blow for tax equality and ending discrimination in favour of dull dinner parties.'
Hillingdon can today be named as Britain's asylum seeker hotspot.

For every 10,000 residents in the West London borough, Government statistics show 97 are asylum seekers.

The overwhelming majority are currently being housed in hotels, under a nationwide scheme that costs taxpayers almost 3billion a year.

MailOnline's interactive map today reveals the number of asylum seekers supported across the UK as of the end of 2024.

Latest data, released by the House of Commons Library, shows 109,100 are currently being housed.

Yet critics moan they are not evenly spread out, with locals in asylum seeker hotspots admitting they have been left feeling unsafe walking around at night.

Fifty-nine of the 361 authorities accommodate none.

Home Office policy is to disperse them around the country, and officials say they are not given a choice as to location and the accommodation.

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The West London borough of Hillingdon (pictured) is Britain's asylum seeker hotspot

Robert Bates, of the Centre for Migration Control, said: 'The research presented here shows that the burden of this crisis is falling disproportionately on the shoulders of communities in the Red Wall and overstretched local councils across the north.

What is an asylum seeker? Asylum is protection given by a country to someone fleeing from persecution in their own country. An asylum seeker is someone who has applied for asylum and is awaiting a decision on whether they will be granted refugee status. An asylum applicant who does not qualify for refugee status may still be granted leave to remain in the UK for humanitarian or other reasons. An asylum seeker whose application is refused at initial decision may appeal the decision through an appeal process and, if successful, may be granted leave to remain. Advertisement

'The large numbers being accommodated in London also makes it far too easy for these individuals to simply disappear into the grey-economy, slip out of sight of authorities, and remain in Britain without the right to do so.'

Of the total number of asylum seekers, 42,800 were living in 'initial accommodation', which is meant to be shorter term.

The vast majority of people in this category live in hotels, with dozens in use across the UK.

Another 65,700 were housed in longer-term 'dispersal accommodation', managed by providers on behalf of the Home Office.

In terms of raw numbers, Glasgow (4,193) accommodated more than Hillingdon.

But, when taking into account population, this equated to a rate of 67 asylum seekers for every 10,000 residents, putting it fourth in the league table.

Behind Hillingdon, when only considering rates, came Hounslow (73 per 10,000) and Halton in Merseyside (70).

Mr Bates said: 'The Home Office grants asylum far too readily. Labour have undone Tory efforts to deny the status to those who enter Britain illegally.

'This is a huge pull factor and has resulted in a system now creaking at the seams  costing the taxpayer over 6bn a year.

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

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In terms of raw numbers, Glasgow (pictured) accommodated the most with 4,193 asylum seekers

'Freezing the asylum system whilst we try to deal with the huge backlog is the only viable way forward.

'The British public have had enough of this farce.

Where are the asylum seekers coming from? The largest individual nationalities among those who applied for asylum in 2024 were: Pakistani (10,542) Afghan (8,508) Iranian (8,099) Bangladeshi (7,225) Syrian (6,680) Advertisement

'It is a burning injustice at the heart of our society that economic illegal migrants are displacing British families in housing queues, have round-the-clock access to welfare support.

'It smacks of an establishment which cares more about international obligations than the wellbeing, safety and happiness of its own people.'

The Home Office said it was working towards 'a fair and equitable distribution of asylum accommodation across the UK'.

Last month the people of a quiet picture-postcard Essex village said they are about to become outnumbered by asylum seekers housed at a former RAF airfield next door.

While Wethersfield has a population of 707 people, the Home Office plans to boost the number of migrants at MDP Wethersfield to 800.

Villagers said they do not feel safe walking the streets and country lanes at night due to the threat of anti-social behaviour by groups of men from the UK's biggest facility for asylum seekers roaming the area.

Those living nearest the base, previously the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) HQ, and before that a WW2 RAF and US airbase, say their houses are now unsellable.

More than 108,000 individuals applied for asylum in the UK during 2024 - the highest annual number ever recorded. Yet half were refused at the initial decision.

A worried group gather in Manchester in November 2024 to protest against asylum seekers being housed locally

Britain's small boats crisis has fuelled the growing toll, with tens of thousands having trekked across the channel seeking a better life since 2018.

Top ten local authorities with the most asylum seekers, per 10,000 population Hillingdon: 97 Hounslow: 73 Halton: 70 Glasgow City: 67 Coventry: 60 Belfast: 56 Derby: 51 Wolverhampton: 50 Stoke-on-Trent: 49 Hartlepool: 49 Advertisement

In 2023, asylum seekers and refugees made up around 11 per cent of immigrants to the UK.

Mr Bates believes the only way to prevent the small boats crisis of asylum seekers is to create a proper deterrent.

He said: 'A deterrent like the Rwanda plan is the only way forward.

'It would ease pressures on local public services whilst also sending a clear message to would-be channel crossers that they will never have the right to live in our country if they enter illegally.

'Simply rubber-stamping asylum claims, as the Labour government is doing, only compounds the problem and means many undeserving individuals are being given refugee status.

'The sluggish removal of failed applicants gums up the system, requires the continuing use of hotels, and gives too many opportunities for the applicant to just disappear.'

It comes as the total cost of accommodating asylum seekers in hotels is now 5.5million every day, according to figures obtained by The Times.

The number of migrants living in hotels at the expense of taxpayers has also risen by 8,500 under Labour.

The increase comes despite their election manifesto pledge to 'end asylum hotels, saving the taxpayer billions of pounds'.

Pictured: An inflatable dinghy carrying migrants makes its way towards England

Figures showed there were 38,079 in hotels at the end of December, up from 29,585 at the end of June  an increase of 29 per cent.

The Home Office is yet to set a definite end date on migrant hotels as it does not want to commit to 'arbitrary targets'.

Earlier this week a source said: 'Setting a date would be setting us up to fail. We don't want to become a hostage to fortune like we saw under the last government's failed pledges.'

The only vague timeframe given by the department was by Matthew Rycroft, the department's top civil servant, last month.

He told MPs that the aim is to get to 'zero by the end of the parliament', leaving open the possibility migrant hotels could stay until August 2029.

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain, with almost 9 million per day being spent on asylum hotels in late 2023, and more than 400 hotels in use across the country.

'We are determined to restore order to the asylum system to ensure it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly, and we are also committed to cut the unacceptably high costs of asylum accommodation, including ending the use of hotels altogether over time.

'In the interim, the Home Office is continuing to work towards a fair and equitable distribution of asylum accommodation across the UK and maintaining an ongoing dialogue with local authorities across the UK to ensure they have the support they need.'
Microscopic evidence gleaned from a clip-on tie left behind by mysterious plane hijacker DB Cooper has the case's lead independent investigators turned in a new direction that could finally unmask the suspect, Daily Mail can reveal.

On November 24, 1971, a well-dressed, middle-aged man identifying himself as Dan Cooper hijacked Northwest Airlines Flight 305 during a trip between Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington.

Cooper told a flight attendant that he had a bomb in his briefcase and demanded $200,000 in stacks of $20 bills and four parachutes in exchange for the lives of the 42 people on board.

The ransom was hand-delivered to him upon arrival in Seattle. After the exchange Cooper ordered the pilots of the Boeing 727 to refuel and fly towards Mexico.

A short while later, 10,000ft over southwest Washington, Cooper lowered the aircrafts rear staircase and leapt from the plane with two of the parachutes and the ransom strapped to his waist - and he was never seen again.

Hundreds of suspects have been investigated over the last 50 years, but no arrests have ever been made in one of the most notorious unsolved mysteries in U.S. history.

One of the only traces left behind by Cooper was a JCPenney clip-on tie that he removed before taking his storied leap of faith.

Now a speck of a chemical on the discarded tie has opened the door to an explosive theory that could finally reveal the true identity of the elusive suspect.

The elusive D.B. Cooper hijacked a commercial airliner on Thanksgiving Eve 1971 shortly after taking off from Portland, Oregon. His identity remains a mystery to this day

When Northwestern Flight 305 landed in Seattle, Cooper collected his ransom, ordered the aircraft to refuel, and later parachuted out somewhere out over Southwest Washington

One of the few clues left behind by Cooper was a JCPenney clip-on tie, from which the FBI was able to obtain a partial DNA profile

Kaye conducted a carbon strip test on the tie in 2001. Retesting one of the strips (above) last year found traces of uranium and thorium

The FBI closed its investigation into Cooper in July 2016, but the tie remains in the bureaus possession. Only a handful of people have ever been allowed access to it.

One of those people is Tom Kaye, a scientist who has twice tested the crucial artifact for the FBI in 2009 and 2011, looking for traces of certain metals, chemicals, and pollen - tiny clues that could help to unravel the mystery of Coopers true identity.

The FBI did recover a partial DNA profile from Coopers tie but repeated requests made by Kaye and independent investigator Eric Ulis to access that data have been denied.

In search of answers, Kaye and Ulis have recently been retesting Kayes decade-old tie samples using state-of-the-art technology and uncovered a series of rare particles consistent with specialty metals from the aerospace sector.

It has long been believed Cooper had ties in the aerospace industry because of his near-constant use of aviation jargon during the heist and his seemingly intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the Boeing 727.

Last year, Kaye and Ulis discovered traces of a rare particle, consisting of pure titanium smeared with stainless steel, which is generated in a metalworking process known as cold rolling.

The existence of the particle pointed the sleuths in the direction of a now-defunct specialty metals facility in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, called Rem-Cru Titanium, where they believed Cooper may have worked as a metallurgist.

Rem-Cru was a major supplier of titanium and stainless steel parts for Boeing during the 1960s and 70s and had two patents for the rare particle Kaye and Ulis identified.

Following an exhaustive investigation, scouring years of employment records at Rem-Cru and interviewing former employees, Ulis named engineer Vince Peterson as his leading Cooper suspect.

Peterson, who died in 2002, would have been 52 at the time of the skyjacking and matched eyewitness descriptions of Cooper shared by those onboard Flight 305.

Petersons daughter, Julie Dunbar, staunchly denied Ulis allegations, insisting her father would never have abandoned his family during the Thanksgiving holiday to hijack a plane for ransom.

And now, it appears Peterson has been vindicated as a suspect in Ulis and Kayes probe following the discovery of yet another exceedingly rare particle on Coopers tie.

That particle is a compound of thorium and uranium, which Ulis said was the single most important particle ever discovered on Coopers tie'.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, he explained: The reason why is because it appears to relate to an alloy that was being worked on in the latter half of the 1960s as a prospective nuclear fuel for a very specific type of nuclear reactor called a molten salt reactor.'

It's unclear if Cooper survived his fabled jump from Flight 305. That question divides FBI and independent investigators alike

Vince Peterson (above) is no longer considered a suspect in the independent probe of Eric Ulis

Cooper was described as being over six-foot and in his mid-to-late 40s by eyewitnesses

While Ulis and Kaye still believe the evidence on Coopers tie shows he was likely some kind of metallurgist or engineer, they no longer believe he worked at Rem-Cru and, therefore, cannot have been Vince Peterson.

Instead, Ulis extensive research has led him now to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory on the outskirts of Knoxville, Tennessee, as Coopers potential place of employment.

In the late 1960s, Oak Ridge was conducting the lionshare of work in the U.S. concerning experiments with molten salt reactors, Ulis said.

The plant - then owned by Union Carbide, a major contributor to the first atomic bomb - was also working on plans to develop a nuclear-powered aircraft for the US military, once again identifying a potential link between Cooper and the aerospace industry.

Boeing was involved in that project, Ulis said, adding that Oak Ridge also worked regularly with titanium and alloys - accounting for his earlier particle discovery.

But Coopers prospective ties to Oak Ridge dont end there.

During the hijacking of Flight 305, Cooper smoked several cigarettes, believed to be Raleigh filter-tipped cigarettes, that he lit using a book of matches from a chain of airport restaurants called SkyChefs.

In 1971, SkyChefs had 16 locations in airports across the U.S., one of which was located in the McGhee Tyson Airport near Knoxville.

According to Ulis, who obtained an identical matchbook to the one Cooper was carrying, the locations of the restaurants were listed on the inside of the matchbook sleeve.

McGhee Tyson is the airport youd be going in and out of if you were traveling to the area, so thats an intriguing thing to consider that perhaps DB Cooper stayed in that area, or frequently flew in and out of that area with his possible work at Oak Ridge, and thats why he had the matchbook, said Ulis.

In another fascinating discovery, Ulis believes he may have unearthed the origins of Coopers alias - or at the very least a compelling coincidence.

Dan Cooper was the name listed on the crooks airplane ticket. However, he later became known as D.B. Cooper after a reporter mistakenly mistyped his name in an early news report and it caught on.

Ulis found out that there was a longtime employee of Oak Ridge by the name of Ralph Cooper who worked at the lab from 1962 to 1997.

Ralph had a brother named Dan Cooper, who was accidentally shot dead by police in August 1960.

According to news reports from the time, Dan Cooper was killed while helping law enforcement search for a fugitive cop killer near his home in Heiskell, Tennessee. His father, Kaley Cooper, was also shot but survived.

Ralph Cooper (above) was a longtime employee at Oak Ridge from the 1960s until the late '90s

Ralph had a brother called Dan Cooper who was shot dead by police in 1960

The shooting was covered extensively in local media at the time

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the outskirts of Knoxville, Tennessee, is now believed to be Cooper's likely place of work, per Ulis and Tom Kaye

Oak Ridge was working on plans for a nuclear-powered aircraft during the 1960s

The Cooper family later sued the local sheriff, seeking $400,000 in damages: $200,000 for the death of Dan Cooper and $200,000 for the injuries sustained by Kaley Cooper.

Ulis said its his understanding that the family lost the Kaley Cooper suit. He pointed out that the $200,000 the Cooper family missed out on is the same sum requested by D.B. Cooper a decade later in 1971.

There is no concrete evidence linking the shooting of Dan Cooper to the D.B. Cooper heist, but Ulis said its a lead worth looking into.

He does not believe Ralph Cooper couldve been D.B. Cooper, noting Ralph was only 35 at the time of the heist, which is more than a decade younger than the skyjacker eyewitnesses placed as being in his mid-to-late 40s.

However, Ulis theorized its possible that D.B. Cooper was a colleague of Ralphs and used his brothers name as an alias in a wink-and-nod reference.

Its possible that D.B. Cooper knew of this story because it was well reported in the media at the time, said Ulis.

Maybe it was a subtle reference, or maybe its just a name he subconsciously latched onto.

Who knows? But its something interesting to consider as this investigation moves forward.

Much like D.B Coopers identity, the crooks motive for committing the hijacking of Flight 305 is a mystery.

While certainly motivated by financial gain, its an infamous line the mild-mannered Cooper muttered to a flight attendant during the in-air heist that lives on in infamy and adds further intrigue to the already enthralling puzzle.

When asked by Tina Mucklow why he chose to hijack a Northwest Airlines flight, Cooper laughed and told her: I dont have a grudge against your airline, I just have a grudge.

In the tentative stages of his latest angle of investigation, Ulis suggested the grudge mentioned by Cooper may have had to do with mass layoffs at Oak Ridge/Union Carbide in the late 60s and 70s that came as a result of federal government sanctions.

Oak Ridges Molten Salt Reactor experiment was shut down by the company in 1969, a few years after its unsuccessful attempt to deliver a nuclear-powered military aircraft, Ulis said.

He further explained: The reason for shutting the reactor experiment down was because the federal government made a decision to pursue another type of nuclear energy and they cut their funding by two-thirds, which led to roughly 1,200 of its 5,000 employees being laid off in 1969.

So when you look at D.B. Cooper, who was a guy of around 50 who was well educated and some sort of metallurgist engineer, and theres no indication he was a career criminal, theres got to have been an event in his life that precipitated this guy deciding to hijack a plane in 1971.

Ive always thought what makes the most sense is some kind of economic distress, so getting laid off or fired.

Ralph Cooper's family sued local police for $400k - $200k for Dan Cooper's death and $200k for his father who was also injured, a case Ulis says the family lost. $200k is the same amount requested by D.B. Cooper

Cooper was carrying a matchbook from SkyChefs during the skyjacking. One of the chain's locations was McGhee Tyson Airport, which is near Oak Ridge

Ulis and Kaye discovered a new and rare particle on Cooper's tie that's a combination of Uranium and Thorium

A small amount of Cooper's ransom was recovered near a river in Washington in 1980. No other trace of the skyjacker has been yielded since

Ulis said it is his working theory that perhaps Cooper was laid off from Oak Ridge in 1969 or possibly moved to another Union Carbide-owned facility before being laid off again in 1971.

Union Carbid had six metal divisions across the United States, one of which was in Oak Rodge, one of which was coincidentally in Portland, Oregon, and then another was in a place called Marietta, Ohio, shared Ulis.

The interesting thing about Marietta, Ohio, is that in 1971, the federal government was really coming down hard on Union Carbide about cutting their pollution down, specifically at the plant in Ohio, and eventually the government mandated them laying off hundreds of employees - basically half of the people employed there.

So one can envision a situation where perhaps, perhaps DB Cooper, within a matter of two short years, actually experienced two layoffs or two sort of life-altering situations financially, and maybe that has something to do with it.

Thats certainly something were looking into.

Ulis said the latest discovery yielded from Coopers tie has breathed fresh life into his more-than-decade-long quest to unmask the skyjacker.

So buoyed by the discovery, Ulis believes he may be able to crack the case within the year.

'It's all very intriguing, science-based, and fact-driven, and Im very excited about the process. I think theres a real possibility we figure out who this guy was before the end of the year, beamed an optimistic Ulis.

Helping to dig deeper into the history of Oak Ridge is Ulis' uncle, a retired nuclear engineer who had colleagues who worked at the lab.

I really feel like were getting closer to solving this mystery once and for all.
A man who ordered more than 200 Land Rover Defenders months before production of the iconic British 4x4 ended in 2016 has revealed how much he made in an exclusive interview with This is Money.

In 2015, Charles Fawcett, founder of Yorkshire-based modifying company Twisted, made the decision to bulk-order a hoard of 'final run' of Defenders believing they would sky-rocket in value.

After placing a request for 240 vehicles, he eventually received 239 of the last examples to leave JLR's Solihull assembly line, despite the car maker's best efforts to prevent it.

When the vehicles were ordered, each new Land Rover Defender should have cost between 26,000 to 33,000, depending on the model and specification.

However, he said he negotiated a 14.8 per cent discount on the 239 vehicles, paying around an average of 22,600 per Defender.

Having been tipped off by a dealer about the opportunity to place an order for some of the last-built Defenders in 2015, Charles discussed availability and pricing with someone from JLR. But the British company's tune soon changed.

'The guy from Land Rover called me one Friday and said if I didn't place the order that day we wouldn't get any because Land Rover was about to change its policy and not supply vehicles to modifiers like ourselves.

'I quickly fired over an email requesting 240 vehicles, asking if we could sort colours and specifications the following week, to which he replied "thank you for an amazing order".

Charles Fawcett, founder of Twisted, bought 239 Land Rover Defenders in 2015, just months before production of the iconic 4x4 ended

Charles (pictured), who owns the Yorkshire-based modifying company, explained how Jaguar Land Rover tried to block the move

However, he eventually received 239 and negotiated a 14.8 per cent discount paying around an average of 22,600 per Defender

'The most I had ordered new at one time before that was eight vehicles.'

However, a meeting with JLR soon after revealed the car maker's reluctance to provide them.

'JLR invited me to a meeting and said you're not getting any cars because there aren't any available,' he said.

'It all got a bit legal but eventually they agreed we could have them.'

In September 2022, the company announced the 'final' 16 vehicles from the haul would be sold at prices up to 222,000 - that's an 800 per cent mark-up on what they cost in 2015.

While various reports across the internet have attempted to calculate the revenue generated from Charles' order of 239 motors, he says it is difficult to say exactly how much he made when factoring in the costs of upgrading them.

He said: 'We've sold around 210 and turned every single one into a Twisted vehicle.

'Back in the early days of having them, we were selling at 60,000 to 100,000. Most now are 150,000 to 250,000, so we clearly have margin in there.

In September 2022, the company announced the 'final' 16 vehicles from the haul would be sold at prices up to 222,000

Reflecting on the order, Charles says that in the grand scheme of global business where companies spend billions, it was a 'tiny little deal'

The last Land Rover Defender pictured coming off the production line at Solihull on Friday 29 January 2016

'However, a huge amount has been spent on development, R&D and production time.

'I guess you could directly attribute 50million to 60million turnover that's been achieved off the back of them, probably more.'

Reflecting on the order, Charles says that in the grand scheme of global business where companies spend billions, it was a 'tiny little deal'.

He added: 'We're just Land Rover enthusiasts in North Yorkshire who build cool stuff, have some amazing customers and just love what we do.

'To be able to grab that delivery of vehicles was phenomenal for us as a tiny business. It's right up there with the best financial decision of my life.'

Having claimed the company has sold around 210 of the Defenders, Charles has confirmed there are still some in storage, all of which have almost certainly soared in value.

'I have some but I'm keeping them back for a collection of my own,' he said.

'I might release the odd one here and there. We have a few special customers who we'd let have a brand new donor car. But the last dozen or so I will keep to myself. I think there's 25 left at the moment.

'We've stored them, serviced them, cleaned them, covered them; we've looked after these things for 10 years and now I'm kind of attached to them. They've always been around, you know?

'And in reality, they're better than money in the bank.

'If I could have kept 120 or 150 of them I would have done because that opportunity was a once in a lifetime  you're not going to get that twice. All the stars aligned for us to get that order.'
The case of a multi-millionaire Russian banker gunned down in London could be a step closer to being solved after the only man to face charges was put on Interpol's most wanted list.

German Gorbuntsov, now 58, was shot several times outside his lavish apartment building in Canary Wharf in March 2012.

A would-be assassin fired from a submachine gun fitted with a silencer, which he later chucked in a bush as he made his getaway on foot.

Gorbuntsov, nicknamed the 'Black Banker', spent several days in a critical condition but eventually pulled through.

The businessman now lives under 24-hour police protection and is likely to have a new identity.

The gunman has never officially been found, but Russia did file charges against Moldovan politician and oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, who survived an assassination attempt himself in 2017, for allegedly organising the plot.

At the time, Interpol refused to put him on the wanted list at Russia's behest, likening the attack to an internal political dispute.

Confusingly, Plahotniuc was later accused of stirring pro-Russian unrest in Moldova and was placed under US and EU sanctions.

German Gorbuntsov was shot several times by a would-be assassin who fired from a submachine gun fitted with a silencer in Canary Wharf in 2012

He is believed to have fled to Northern Cyprus or Turkey.

Last month, Interpol placed him on the wanted list over an arrest warrant issued in Moldova for alleged money laundering, meaning British authorities could also seek his extradition if arrested.

It comes as greater scrutiny is being placed on high-profile and wealthy Russians living and operating in London. And also how those with links to the Russian state are working in Britain.

Last week, three members of a Russian spy ring who carried out espionage activity on British and European soil over three years were convicted.

Katrin Ivanova, 33, Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanchev, 39, were found guilty of conspiracy to spy at the Old Bailey following a trial.

The team, who are all Bulgarian nationals, worked under the direction of Roussev, and were tasked with gathering information about prominent individuals  and significant locations  that were of interest to the Russian state.

Between August 2020 and February 2023, the group used sophisticated methods to carry out their surveillance, including manufacturing and using fake identities, making and adapting covert recording devices and deploying advanced technology to acquire information.

One source said: 'You've got a very high-profile unsolved attempted murder of a wealthy Russian banker on the streets of London.

Gorbuntsov, nicknamed the 'Black Banker', spent several days in a critical condition but eventually pulled through

A suspected gunman is seen walking near the scene of the shooting in London on March 20, 2012

Gorbuntsov was shot in the doorway of his exclusive block of flats in Canary Wharf

'And a wanted man with political motives behind it accused of ordering it.

'It's a very serious situation. With the spies last week convicted of working on behalf of Russia, it shows how there are dark forces at play.

'Russia has history of carrying out acts linked to violence and trying to settle scores on British soil.'

Gorbuntsov was shot multiple times at around 7:30 PM as he left a taxi near his apartment.

At the time, it was the most high-profile act of violence against a Russian in the UK since the 2006 poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko.

Gorbuntsov is a former owner of multiple banks in Russia and Moldova, including Moldovan bank Universalbank and Capital Commercial Bank, and fled to London in 2010 having reportedly given the names of corrupt officials to journalists.

He was reportedly seeking political asylum at the time of the attack.

His lawyer, Vadim Vedenin, said his client had been involved in disputes with former business associates.

Gorbuntsov had provided testimony in a Russian investigation related to the 2009 attempted assassination of another banker, Alexander Antonov, who was allegedly in debt by $108 million to business associates.

The 'Black Banker' now lives under 24-hour police protection and is likely to have a new identity

Russian officials were scheduled to question Gorbuntsov in London regarding the case, but their visit was unexpectedly canceled just days before he was shot, fueling speculation that someone aimed to prevent him from testifying.

In 2017, professional Moldovan hitman Vitalie Proca, who was sentenced to jail in Romania for a killing in Bucharest six months later, said that he shot Gorbuntsov on the orders of Vlad Plahotniuc.

He said: 'The order was made by Plahotniuc. I don't know how the rest of the world sees him, but I consider him a career criminal and I know what I say. He found me in a moment when I had financial difficulties. I could not repay a debt and they offered me to do this.'

But Proca has never been extradited to Britain from his jail cell in Romania, where he is serving a life sentence.

Reports also suggest a potential link between Gorbuntsov's case and powerful figures from Russia's Chechen leadership.

He allegedly claimed that one of his former partners had sought assistance from Adam Delimkhanov, a close associate of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

Delimkhanov has been implicated in various assassinations abroad, adding to speculation that the attack on Gorbuntsov may have been ordered by high-level figures.

The then-suspected mistress of Russian banker German Gorbuntsov stood beside the ambulance that took him to hospital

Gorbuntsov also alleged that he was forced to surrender $1 billion from his Industrial Credit Bank to criminal groups linked to the Russian FSB intelligence agency and Moscow's Solntsevskaya crime syndicate.

Despite numerous attempts to seek protection from Russian authorities, his appeals were ignored, leading him to seek refuge in London.

Despite numerous appeals to Russian authorities, he said his concerns were ignored, prompting his relocation to London.

Scotland Yard searched for a suspect described as a slim, 6-foot-tall white male who wore a hooded jacket.

Some reports have linked the shooting to one of Moscow's most fearsome mafia groups, the Solntsevskaya Brotherhood.

The Solntsevskaya Brotherhood is one of the most powerful and notorious organised crime syndicates in Russia.

The shooting had echoes of the murder by poisoning of intelligence agent Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 which led to a cooling of relations between Britain and Moscow

Emerging in the late 1980s in Moscow's Solntsevo district, the group made millions through drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering, and arms smuggling.

Unlike traditional criminal mafia groups, the Solntsevskaya Brotherhood operates more like a network, with independent cells working under a loose central leadership.

By the 1990s, the group had gained international reach, forging alliances with other criminal organisations across Europe, the Middle East, and North America.

It has been linked to criminal mastermind Semion Mogilevich and high-profile financial crimes, including large-scale fraud and the infiltration of legitimate businesses to launder illicit funds.

The gang's connections to Russian political and intelligence circles have made it particularly difficult for law enforcement to dismantle its operations.

The Solntsevskaya Brotherhood's involvement in violent retribution against business and political adversaries has been well documented.
A poorly pensioner banned from moving his Filipino wife into his bungalow is being forced to live off 1 pizzas to support her from over 7,000 miles away.

Twice-divorced John Ball, 78, says he is the victim of Britain's 'ridiculously discriminatory' spousal law which has left him unable to be by 'true love' Anita's side for two years.

Sending 250-a-month to his wife and following a 9,000 immigration battle which cleared out his savings, John said he is now willing to risk his life and go without vital heart medication in order to move to the Philippines and be with Anita, 61.

The pensioner, who now has just 20 a day to cover all his costs, told MailOnline: 'It's hell on earth, I am having to cut down on everything just to send her the money. I've got to find the cheapest food there is, like pizzas for less than 1.

'I will be at serious risk if I can't get my tablets sent over there. You can get them but it's very expensive at 100 a week. I'm looking into whether I can get my granddaughter to send my medication out there.

'And if I can't, screw it, what else can I do? We can't go on like this for the rest of my life. Even if it is 12 months, two years, at least we will be together. I'd risk my life for her.'

Dad-of-two John was single for 13 years and had grown tired of dating when friends suggested he join dating app Filipino Cupid.

With nothing to lose, he paid the 10-a-month subscription, got swiping but potential flames just wanted his money.

Twice-divorced John Ball, 78, says he is the victim of Britain's 'ridiculously discriminatory' spousal law which has left him unable to be by 'true love' Anita's side

The granddad flew back to the Philippines in August 2023 and the pair were married that September

He stumbled across widower Anita's profile and fired off a cheeky 'hi'

At a loss, he took a break before stumbling across widower Anita's profile and fired off a cheeky 'hi'.

Their love blossomed and eight months later John found himself on the paradise island of Cebu meeting Anita and her family.

The retired stablehand, from Hesketh Bank, Lancashire, said of the January 2023 trip: 'I was over there for a month. The furthest I've ever been is Tunisia.

'From the first time I met her, I felt like I'd known her for years. We got engaged while I was over there.'

The granddad flew back to the Philippines in August 2023 and the pair were married that September in a 2,000 ceremony surrounded by friends and family.

Reflecting on their love in their wedding video, Anita said there was a 'spark in my heart' when she matched with John online.

John added: 'They all wanted money for the internet or food. I'd just about given up hope.

'I'd been talking for just a couple of days, I turned round and said "do you need any money", she shouted at me! I said "you'll do for me my love". We've been talking every night since then.'

Dad-of-two John was single for 13 years and had grown tired of dating when friends suggested he join dating app Filipino Cupid

Anita pictured in her wedding dress ahead of a 2,000 ceremony surrounded by friends and family

But their fairytale romance turned into a nightmare after John tried to move Anita to his one-bed council house bungalow, just outside Southport.

Under UK spousal visa law, a couple must prove they have a combined income of at least 29,000 a year, known as a minimum income requirement.

For John, who receives a 210-per-week state pension and Anita, who lost her widows pension when she married John, they fall well below the requirement and the Home Office chucked out Anita's application in January last year.

John, who talks to Anita every morning and night on FaceTime, said: 'One of the stipulations the government have now said is you need about 160k in the bank and be earning a ridiculous amount of money a year to bring them over.

'I thought it was against my human rights to be seperated from my wife. Are the government not breaking international law?'

To add insult to injury John claims he lost 9,000 of his savings after employing a solicitor to help fight Anita's case with the Home Office.

'It was basically all John's savings', revealed Martin Banister, 65, who has been friends with John for decades revealed.

Having lost his Winter Fuel Allowance, John says his life is now a serious struggle as he can only afford to put the heating on for a few hours a week. He previously considered selling his organs to get by.

Reflecting on their love in their wedding video, Anita said there was a 'spark in my heart' when she matched with John online

But their fairytale romance turned into a nightmare after John tried to move Anita to his one-bed council house bungalow, just outside Southport

Under UK spousal visa law, a couple must prove they have a combined income of at least 29,000 a year, known as a minimum income requirement

The 78-year-old now survives on Iceland own-brand frozen pizzas to save 250 each month to send to Anita. The average monthy salary in the Philippines is around 240.

With the Home Office standing firm and local Southport MP Patrick Hurley unable to help any further, John is now willing to forgo his prescription - which includes statins and blood pressure pills - and move to the 'beautiful' Philippines.

It is something Anita, who lives in a three bedroom house, is incredibly concerned about.

Speaking from the village of Casili, on the popular tourist island of Cebu, she told MailOnline: 'It's been incredibly difficult being apart from John for the last two years, and I can understand why he feels so strongly about wanting to be with me.

'Weve had many discussions about the risks involved, and while Im deeply moved by his determination, I do have concerns about his health and the potential consequences of his decision.

'At the same time, I understand his desire to be here, and I do support him, though I want to make sure were considering all options carefully. It's a tough decision, but I'm hopeful we can find a way that works for both of us, considering everything at stake.

'However, if there's still a possibility of getting my visa approved for the UK, then I would be willing to take the risk.'

The 78-year-old now survives on Iceland own-brand frozen pizzas to save 250 each month to send to Anita

Mr Banister, travelled John to the Philippines last Christmas, says the Labour government should scrap the minimum income requirement rule.

He told MailOnline: 'It annoys him a lot when these illegals come over and they get everything. He doesn't want her on benefits or anything he just wants his wife here.

'There must be thousands of people in John's position. How many people have 160,000 in the bank? If you've got loads of money you can bypass the law, but most people can't do that.

'How can anybody deny that it is not discriminatory?'

John, who admits he is lucky to not be 'begging on the street' for money, says he faces arrest and deportation from the Philippines if he moves there without the correct visa.

'What's the worse they can do? If they put me in prison they still have to feed me!', he blasted.

The pensioner would have to extend his tourist visa every month if he wants to make the move work.

He would also lose his council-provided bungalow, leaving him at risk of homelessness if he was ever to return to the UK for health reasons as the Philippines has no public health system.

'If I went over to the Philippines and was over there for three or four months and I got deported, the bungalow wouldn't be there, I'd be basically homeless', John admits.

John, who admits he is lucky to not be 'begging on the street' for money, says he faces arrest and deportation from the Philippines if he moves there without the correct visa

His family say there is nothing they can do to stop the 'stubborn' pensioner in his mission to be with Anita and fully support his decision.

Reflecting on his ordeal, John said: 'I'm between the devil and the deep blue sea but I am willing to risk everything just to be with my wife. She means the world to me.

'Because I've been over three or four times, I've got 400, 500 air miles to claim off Emirates. Flights are 1,500 return.'

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'It is longstanding government policy that we do not comment on individual cases, but the Minimum Income Requirement for family visas remains an important part of maintaining a controlled, managed and fair immigration system.

'In cases where refusing a visa would cause unjustifiably harsh consequences for the applicant or their family, permission can still be granted based on exceptional circumstances.'
A ghostly water park that has been abandoned for the last decade after a tragic explosion has been explored by an American vlogger.

Exploring with Josh, a youtuber who 'explores the unknown', visited the abandoned Formosa Water Park in New Taipei City where a 40-second fire injured 508 people, killed 15 and left 199 in critical condition.

The once hugely popular theme park in the heart of Taiwan's capital was rented out one night for a dance and music event where coloured powder exploded over the crowd.

The powder was made with corn starch, a highly flammable substance, which caused 'hellish' burns on party-goers whose skin 'melted off' under the substance.

Vast pools of blood were seen inside the arena, where 1,000 people had been enjoying the Colour Play Asia event.

The party organiser, Lu Chung-chi, has since been jailed for negligence and sentenced to five years in prison.

After the disaster, New Taipei City's mayor Eric Chu ordered an immediate shutdown of the water park and detained the event organiser for police investigation.

But the vlogger broke into the property to discover what had changed in the ten years since it had been flooded with crowds.

A youtuber visited the abandoned Formosa Water Park in New Taipei City where a 40-second fire burned 508 people, killed 15 and left 199 in critical condition

A party had been throwing coloured powder over revellers which caused 'hellish' burns on party-goers whose skin 'melted off' under the substance

The water park was immediately shut down after the disaster and has been slowly reclaimed by nature

Josh evaded security guards, obstructions to the road and had to cross a river through a forest to get to the highly restricted property.

Alarms and cameras had also been set up to ward off intruders.

Josh said that the Taiwanese government had left it empty 'out of respect' of the disaster and did not know if they had any plans for its future.

Deserted water slides were covered in leaves and moss, while fun fair rides were boarded up.

'If you didn't know anything about what happened here...it's just so eerie, but when you know the history and meet people who have been here before, seen videos on the internet, it makes it so much more creepy,' the vlogger said.

When Josh began exploring the huge water tunnels that have since dried up, he discovered vandalised panels inside showing other curious trespassers had also wanted to see the relics of Formosa Water Park.

Faded signs and ghostly caricatures haunt the park, as well as empty lockers and closed restaurants.

Paint peels inside abandoned rooms and plants grow through cracks.

Footage from videos shows a ball of bright flames covering the crowd of 1,000 party-goers

Dozens of attendants suffered burns to 80 to 90 per cent of their skin after colourful powder exploded over them

'There was blood everywhere, including in the pool where lots of the injured were soaking themselves for relief from the pain,' one witness said

Revellers dressed in swimwear caught alight after a flammable powder was stuck to their skin

When Josh and his team try to leave the haunted park, the river they crossed to enter the park swells and is too deep to cross, forcing the explorer to find another route out.

Ten years ago, when the powder initially caught on fire, only the airborne particles caught on fire.

Staff sprayed carbon dioxide fire extinguishers on the flames as party-goers tried to escape, causing the dust cloud to disperse into multiple clouds which was responsible for most of the burns.

One male student, who sustained minor injuries, described the scene as 'hell'.

'There was blood everywhere, including in the pool where lots of the injured were soaking themselves for relief from the pain,' he said.

When asked by reporters why people had been allowed to smoke at the event, Color Play Asia's Lu said: 'There were too many people smoking at the scene, there was just no way to stop it'

'I saw lots of people whose skin was gone' one party-goer said

Staff sprayed carbon dioxide fire extinguishers on the flames as party-goers tried to escape, causing the dust cloud to disperse into multiple clouds which was responsible for most of the burns

One male student, who sustained minor injuries, described the scene as 'hell'

Victims in desperation used inflatable toys while waiting for medical help

His visibly shaken girlfriend added: 'I saw lots of people whose skin was gone.'

Another male witness told local news channel CTI: 'It started on the left side of the stage. At the beginning I thought it was part of the special effects of the party but then I realised there was something wrong and people started screaming and running.'

When asked by reporters why people had been allowed to smoke at the event, Color Play Asia's Lu said: 'There were too many people smoking at the scene, there was just no way to stop it.'

General manager of the water park Chen Hui-ying said the venue had 'never heard [that] such an activity could be dangerous'.

But the company that supplied the corn starch to Color Play Asia warned of its flammability.

Taiwan Food Industrial Co said Color Play Asia had purchased a total of three tonnes of corn starch in four separate deals this year.

The company said the colour powder was 'flammable under high temperatures, especially when its density is high'.

Two insurance investigators inspected the site of the water park explosion

One party-goer said he 'thought it was part of the special effects of the party but then I realised there was something wrong and people started screaming and running'

Bloody footprints trail away from the scene of the disaster where more than 1,000 people gathered to celebrate a colour party inspired by the Indian festival Holi

The horrific explosion caused a shortage of cadaver skin, with Taiwan's Organ Registry and Sharing Centre calling for urgent donations

It added that warnings were printed on the bags of corn starch asking users to wear goggles, warning of flammability and banning its use in an closed space.

Chou Hui-fang, vice president of the company, said: 'We feel hurt for the young people. We've stopped selling and producing such powder in line with the government ban.'

The Taiwan Premier Mao Chi-Kuo quickly banned coloured powders at private events until an investigation was completed.

The horrific explosion caused a shortage of cadaver skin, with Taiwan's Organ Registry and Sharing Centre calling for urgent donations, with some rolls shipped in from the US and the Netherlands.
An alleged love rat has been caught out by his heavily pregnant ex-girlfriend, who claims everything he told her during their year-long relationship was a complete lie.

Cassandra Taulaki from the Gold Coast, Queensland, is now heartbroken and homeless after her partner, who used the fake name of 'Marcus Bennet', allegedly conned her into thinking he was a successful businessman.

The mother-of-one, who is due to give birth within days, also said Bennet claimed he was childless - but she's since found out he has allegedly fathered at least seven other children.

'You see this kind of thing in movies and documentaries and I couldn't believe this has happened to me,' Ms Taulaki told Daily Mail Australia.

'I fell for a man who wasn't even real - he lied about everything, his name, his age, his job, his family, his entire life.

'I was in really deep and I'm currently pregnant with our child. I'm due in a week.

'We had made plans for our future and our life together, but it was a future that was built on the foundation of all his lies and I had no idea who I was really dealing with.

'He was creating a world of fake accounts and fake people - and doing this for years to other women.'

CassandraTaulaki thought she'd met the man of her dreams when she started dating the Pacific Islander at the end of 2023

Going by the alias Marcus Bennet, the man (pictured) allegedly lied about everything, even claiming he had no children, but it's now believed he has at least seven

The single mum was looking for love and the successful jet-setter (pictured) ticked all the boxes. She believed he was a member of the Australian Defence Force, but has since found out the convincing snaps were taken in costumes he hired

Tongan-born Ms Taulaki thought she'd met the man of her dreams when she started dating the Pacific Islander at the end of 2023.

The single mum was looking for love and the successful jet-setter appeared to tick all the boxes.

In 2023, the tall, dark and handsome engineer told her that he was in Australia for Christmas before returning to his well-paid job in the Middle East.

'His name obviously is not Marcus,' Ms Taulaki revealed in social media posts lifting the lid on the alleged deception.

'He has many names actually - Paul, Pauly, Dartanian, Sam, Ryan, Dox, Antonio...

'He said he was 32 years old and was a civil engineer in Dubai and was returning to Dubai in Feb 2024.'

Ms Taulaki said the lies kept coming, from a fictional family to life events that simply never happened.

'He told me he had four brothers, all of which are not real people,' she said.

'He told me he was in the Australian Defence Force. It was believable, he had photos in his military uniform.'

He even photoshopped himself to make it look like he had a twin

Taulaki sold everything she owned to move to Dubai with her new man and is now homeless and broke with a baby due next week

She has since found out the convincing snaps were taken in costumes he hired.

By March 2024, her boyfriend had delayed his return to Dubai to send more time together and Ms Taulaki says she was footing the bill for everything.

'He had money when I met him, that's why I wasn't suspicious,' Ms Taulaki said.

'Then he must have ran out of money and that's when he spun a story about the ATO and his money being tied up in Dubai.

'That made sense to me because that's what would usually happen if he was in the situation he was telling me he was in.'

By May the pair were expecting and Ms Taulaki said that's when his alleged con became even more complex.

She received messages on Facebook from a man she believed was his twin brother, offering congratulations on falling pregnant.

But he later got back in touch with her to ask for money towards a surprise birthday gift for 'Marcus'.

Ms Taulaki later found out there was no brother - and the fake account had been set up by her boyfriend using edited pictures of himself to look like they were twins.

'He photoshopped himself in,' she said. 'He is so delusional.

She has shared her story in social media vowing to expose his lies

'Who pretends they have a twin brother and photoshops themselves in to photos to look legit and sends to girls?'

Believing they had a future together, Ms Taulaki sold everything she owned in October to head to Dubai to start a new life.

'I sell everything, I close my business and my plan is to go to New Zealand and see my family and let them know I am pregnant and that I have met a really great guy and we are building a life together and they will meet him at Christmas,' she explained.

'Marcus's parents had [supposedly] bought us an apartment on the Gold Coast and the plan is to go to Dubai for a few months and then come back to Australia and move into this apartment that his parents have bought for us and have the baby.'

But Ms Taulaki said when she arrived in New Zealand things started to unravel.

'There were a few red flags and I'm starting to think, "that's strange",' she admitted.

In Dubai, Taulaki became more suspicious after his story about a five-year work contract and flash apartment 'didn't add up'.

After some detective work online, she finally realised his whole story had allegedly been fake.

'I last spoke to him when I came back to Australia,' she said. 'I was pretending like everything was fine and we were still in a relationship.'

A few weeks later Ms Taulaki took to social media, posting a series of videos of her now ex-boyfriend, vowing to 'expose' him for what he had done

Within hours, she was flooded with messages from a string of women who knew Marcus and had similar stories to tell - including seven who were mothers to his children.

She has been flooded with messages from a string of women who knew Marcus and had similar stories to tell.

Her videos have since racked up millions of views with hundreds of supportive comments, prompting Ms Taulaki to launch a GoFundMe which has raised almost $4000.

'I am trying to raise funds so I can move into my own place for my children and I, furnish our home and start getting my life back on track as I navigate life with a new born again,' her plea read.

'I live in Australia but am an NZ citizen so I do not get government support after I have my baby. I am due in just over a week.

'I had my funds depleted by a man I had trusted and loved and thought was building a future with.

'I returned to Australia with no home, no job and little money after fleeing the relationship I was in. I have no family here and appreciate even just a few dollars.

'I don't get creator funds on TikTok and can't monetise my story there so hence why I've created this to try and get some help so me and my babies can have a stable home.'

Daily Mail Australia has approached Ms Taulaki for comment.
Samantha Strable has been hunting with Aussie Louis Sixt

The laughing boyfriend who filmed his American lover manhandling a baby wombat in footage which enraged the world can now be identified as Aussie hunter Louis Sixt.

Samantha Strable, 24, shared the now-deleted video of her grabbing the joey from a roadside and then running away from the distraught mother as it chased after her.

The distressed baby wombat could be heard hissing in distress as Strable paraded it for the camera while Sixt laughed and mocked the mother running after the pair.

In a fiery three-part rant posted on her Instagram page on Saturday, Strable, who fled Australia a day earlier, claimed the reaction to her divisive video had been hypocritical given 'the Australian government allows and permits the slaughter of wombats'.

'Thousands each year are shot, poisoned to suffer, and trapped legally,' she claimed.

'Landowners rip up wombat burrows with heavy machinery, poison them with fumigation, and shoot them whenever they can.

'Quietly, of course, so as not to face the wrath that has come upon me.'

Daily Mail Australia has been told the Montana-based influencer had been living with her sheep shearer boyfriend in his hometown of Cooma in NSW's Snowy Mountains around the time of the incident.

Samantha Strable and her Aussie boyfriend Louis Sixt pictured on a hunting expedition prior to fleeing Australia

Ms Stable pictured with a dead wallaby on a hunting trip to New Zealand

And new images also emerged of her previous trips Down Under, spearfishing on the Great Barrier Reef, deerhunting in the bush, and shooting wallabies in New Zealand.

The couple are understood to have met through a Facebook group for hunting enthusiasts before things turned romantic.

According to a friend of Strable's family, father-of-one Sixt is an experienced hunter in his own right.

The couple have shared photos of their adventures to social media and boasted of their kills on private Facebook groups for hunting enthusiasts.

In March last year, the couple travelled to the Great Barrier Reef for their spear fishing expedition.

Another video appeared to show Ms Strable pulling a small shark by the tail from a rock pool.

'Hooked into a massiveee shark tonight. Ran 200+ yards and eventually managed to get off after a long fight. Crap!' it was captioned. 'Little shark was ready to fight.'

Another photo shows her posing with a dead deer: 'Got my first chital (Axis deer).

Ms Strable said she had now shot three different types of deer

US hunting influencer Samantha Strable posing on a beach in Victoria last December

Samantha Strable had previously been pictured holding a potentially lethal puffer fish which had inflated in a bid to protect itself

'Australia is full of epic, wild deer and harvesting this beautiful stag marks my third deer species.'

In 2023 she also shared confronting images of two dead wallabies she killed during a trip to New Zealand.

The new details emerged as another of her former bosses stressed she was no longer employed by their firm. Her LinkedIn lists her as an environmental scientist for a company called Bowman.

But the firm hit back on Friday and said they 'condemned' her behaviour

'Ms Strable is NOT employed by Bowman as an Environmental Scientist or in any other capacity, ' a company spokesman posted online.

'She was employed by Bowman for a very short period of time and apparently has not updated her LinkedIn profile to reflect her termination from Bowman.

'The video of Ms Strable with a baby wombat was recorded following her brief time with the company and she was not acting as a Bowman employee in any capacity when this video was filmed.'

It added: 'As wildlife conservationists ourselves, we are dedicated to preserving wildlife and their habitats.

The couple have shared photos of their adventures to social media and boasted of their kills on private Facebook groups for hunting enthusiasts

Ms Stable pictured with a dead sting ray on a trip to New Zealand

Sheep shearer Louis Sixt is also an avid hunter

He's disabled his facebook account since his girlfriends wombat antics caused national outrage

'The behavior depicted in the video is inconsistent with our values, and we do not condone or support such behavior in any way, shape or form.

'In fact, we condemn this type of behavior and only hope that Ms. Strable learns from this event.'

Prior to settling in Cooma the couple travelled in the US where their hunting continued.

'It's been three years since I hunted antelope last and it was so worth the wait to find this beautiful buck! Thrilled to have had a successful hunt.' she wrote alongside the animal carcas.

'Steaks for dinner!' she added

The couple are understood to have returned to the alpine town so Mr Sixt could be close to his young son and family.

Since facing national backlash Mr Sixt has gone to ground, deleting his once active Facebook account.

'He is elusive at the best of times,' a Cooma local revealed.

The couple travelled to the Great Barrier Reef to go spearfishing

In 2023 she also shared confronting images of two dead wallabies she killed during a trip to New Zealand

'I wouldn't have a clue if he's fled to the US with Samantha but the locals aren't impressed.'

However, she has defended her actions, claiming she did not harm the joey and only held it for one minute.

'For everyone that's worried and unhappy, the baby was carefully held for ONE minute in total and then released back to mum,' she wrote.

'They wandered back off into the bush together completely unharmed. I didn't think I would be able to catch it in the first place, and took an opportunity to appreciate a really incredible animal up close.

'I don't ever capture wildlife that will be harmed by my doing so.'
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A Waitrose wine specialist is facing the sack for sharing a series of tweets including a cartoon joking about children naming 100 different genders, MailOnline can reveal.

Ben Woods, 41, has worked at the Henley branch of Waitrose in Oxfordshire for 25 years - since he was just 15 years old.

But now 'woke' bosses at the upmarket store have accused Ben of misconduct.

His tweets include a repost of a cartoon joking a child had failed a sexual education class for failing to name 100 different genders and comments about banning the Burqa and marriage between cousins.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Ben said Waitrose had 'destroyed' his life and made him suicidal by suspending him from the job he loved.

He said: 'I've given them my life. They are supposed to be a family-run company and the bastion of the high street who had a reputation for looking after their staff and being a good employer, which is what I used to think.

'Waitrose has been treating me like a criminal. I'm a Conservative. That's not illegal.'

MailOnline understands Waitrose believes it has fair and detailed people policies to safeguard its employees' welfare.

Wine specialist Ben Woods, 41, (pictured) is facing the sack from Waitrose's branch in Henley

Ben believes he will be sacked in a meeting with Waitrose due to a series of tweets he made

He has worked at the supermarket in Henley for 25 years since he was 15 years old

Ben added: 'My employer is attacking me because of my personal opinions. It's a witch hunt. I've been thrown to the wolves to protect their image and their woke ideology.

'It's really upsetting. It looks like they are going to sack me. They just want to get me out of the way.

'I've been an exemplary employee. Twenty-five years of service. My customers loved me and I loved my job.'

The 41-year-old first joined Waitrose as a supermarket assistant in the wine department when he was 15.

Over the next 25 years, he worked his way up through the ranks and took multiple courses to become a wine specialist.

Yet his dream career has been stopped in its tracks after strangers complained about him to Waitrose.

Ben gained widespread recognition when X owner Elon Musk retweeted one of his tweets, which said: 'Raise your hand if you want a national inquiry into the grooming rape gang scandal.'

Musk's retweet was seen by 63 million people and propelled Ben's account into the limelight.

One of Ben's tweets was reposted by X owner Elon Musk, which propelled the wine specialist into the limelight

Pictured: Ben Woods at work in Henley's Waitrose during happier times

Ben told MailOnline that his life had been 'destroyed' and he was left suicidal because of Waitrose's investigation

This is the Waitrose in the leafy Oxfordshire town of Henley that Ben has worked at for the last 25 years of his life

Ben is being represented by Elliot Hammer, the head of employment and a partner at legal firm Branch Austin McCormick

When Waitrose suspended Ben, they sent him a file with 30 allegedly problematic tweets.

One was a tweet joking that a horse standing beside an obese woman should 'run away as fast as you can old boy'.

Another said a book entitled 'In My Daddy's Belly' with an image of a pregnant man was 'spreading misinformation'.

A third joked a black umbrella spotted over a fence allegedly resembled Shamima Begum.

In more of his tweets, Ben called OnlyFans model Lily Phillips a 'pathetic narcissist with low self esteem and a greedy appetite for fame and money' and asked if burqas and hijabs should be banned in the UK.

A poll he made asking if the UK should close its borders received more than 4,000 votes, with 98.3 per cent voting yes.

Ben doesn't believe any of his tweets were racist and he was not a 'white supremacist' or a 'Nazi' as some social media users have called him.

The posts, which some people have found offensive, were seen as problematic by Waitrose.

Some people alleged they were discriminatory, racist, sexist, transphobic, classist and insulting.

When Waitrose suspended Ben, they sent him a file with 30 allegedly problematic tweets

The wine specialist told MailOnline: 'Waitrose has been treating me like a criminal. I'm a Conservative. That's not illegal'

Many of the posts were not opinions but questions asked by Ben. Of the ones that did have opinions, many people disagreed with him and many agreed.

Ben maintained he was simply a Conservative who enjoyed posting his views on social media.

He said his life started to crumble after Elon Musk's retweet of his post about the grooming scandal.

The wine specialist said: 'I was getting quite a lot of visibility. I was doxxed. Two accounts put I worked at Henley-on-Thames and put a photo of me.

'That got seen by a million people and Waitrose were aware then.

'I've had death threats. I went into work to do my shift and someone said, ''you've got a phone call''.

'I said, ''Hello, Waitrose wine department, how can I help you?''

'This person said, ''We know who you are, we're going to kill you.'''

Ben praised Thames Valley Police for supporting him and trying to find the culprit but said Waitrose soon started its own investigation  into him.

He said: 'When they started their investigation, I was suicidal. They suspended me. My anxiety was really shot to pieces. It still is.

'The investigations were like interrogations - four hours long and it was awful. It was emotionally draining, really upsetting.

'I'm in a real dark place. My doctor put me on antidepressants.'

Although Ben is resigned to being sacked on Monday, he fears what his treatment could spell for other Waitrose employees.

'Does that mean anyone who works for Waitrose can't have an opinion? They're not allowed to vote?

'I'm very passionate about politics and my country. I have an opinion - my personal account has nothing to do with Waitrose. All views are my own.

'I have to fight back and protect my name and image.

'It's been really hard. It's very overwhelming. I've been there 25 years. It's destroyed my life.'

Now he is raising money to support his legal battle against Waitrose with the help of employment lawyer Elliot Hammer from legal firm Branch Austin McCormick.

Hammer, who is the head of employment and a partner at Branch Austin McCormick, said: 'Employees like Ben have rights under the Equality Act and Article 10 to manifest lawful beliefs and engage in robust debate about political matters'.

A Waitrose spokeswoman said: 'We would never discuss individuals so we won't be making any comment.'

Regarding Ben receiving a death threat over the phone at work, a spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: 'Following an investigation after a report received into Thames Valley Police on January 4, an investigation was launched to seek to identify an offender.

'However, this investigation did not lead to positive identification of a suspect, and as such, the case has now been filed, pending any new information coming to light.'
Filled with late night bars, restaurants and theaters, Soho's frenetic party scene has long caused residents a headache.

But the few locals left in London's party patch now fear their community is being hollowed out by an increasing number of Airbnb and short let properties.

While fewer than 2,000 people are estimated to live in Soho, down from 30,000 at the end of World War II, the population is shrinking further as raucous guests occupy flats which once housed families.

Soho has long been the centre of the capital's nightlife and in the 1960s was filled with petty criminals and brothels.

Of the 100 strip clubs located in London at the time, 60 were in Soho, and the notorious Kray Twins ran The Hide-A-Way club on Gerrard Street.

The following decade, many of Soho's strip clubs disappeared but it wasn't until the 1980s that musical, fashion and artistic types started to line the streets.

Famous venues such as the Wag nightclub were frequented by many, including the likes of David Bowie and Naomi Campbell. While Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson and Peaches Geldof could be spotted partying in the area.

In the 1990s Soho became increasingly established as the hub of London's gay community.

Soho residents fear their community is being hollowed out by an increasing number of Airbnb and short let properties

Tim Lord, from the Soho Society, said over time short lets 'mean fewer people who are committed to the area and fewer children in the school'

Donald Sinclair, 83, who has lived in Soho for 15 years, said it is more profitable to keep flats empty than to have permanent residents

The once thriving district is now full of empty houses and short let properties.

Alida, 82, who grew up in Soho, told MailOnline: 'There's a real community here but it is under threat.

'We are finding a tremendous number of Airbnb being set up. We'd much rather have a stable population. Obviously we have visitors and naturally we welcome those but I wish it could be recognised more that there's a true community here.

'The trouble with Airbnb is that if you have a constant turnover it takes away housing. Often they're set up in areas supposed to be for residents.

'I have no problem with hotels or hostels but we don't want to take away housing from people who would be residents.

'I grew up here and I have seen enormous change. I'd like it to retain its atmosphere and that needs residents. What we don't want is for this to turn into a shopping area as opposed to a residential area.'

Andrew Murray, a resident of 40 years told MailOnline: 'Airbnbs make a big difference and are not good for Soho as a whole.

'Soho is so busy but it's only really Soho if there's a strong residential community. So when residential properties are being used for Airbnbs it transforms the local community.

Fewer than 2,000 people are estimated to live in Soho, down from 30,000 after the end of the World War Two

Soho is known for it's vibrant party scene and is also a hub for the capital's gay community

Jennifer Ann Cooper, who lives in a 57-flat tower block, said: 'I know my next door neighbour but that's it'

'In particular, people who stay for only a day or two often aren't well behaved. They don't know how the buildings work, the security and which people to let in, or where to put the rubbish out.

'It unsettles people, you don't feel secure in areas you did before.

'Most people don't think of Soho as a place where people live, so a lot of activity is thoughtless. For them it's noise, drugs, party time.

'The focus on tourism has gone too far. There is still a community here. It keeps going. There are various parts of community life, local amenity societies, schools.

'But there's definitely buildings which people know are empty.'

While there were once 16 schools in the area, Soho Parish CofE Primary School is the last one left.

Fears linger for its future as pupil numbers decline.

Meanwhile, last Thursday, Rachel Blake, MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, held a meeting in Parliament with Soho residents, who spoke about increasing crime and unruly guests.

Filled with late night bars, restaurants and theaters, Soho's frenetic party scene has long caused residents a headache

Residents claim that increasing number of short lets leads to increasing levels of antisocial behaviour

Andrew Murray, a resident of 40 years said: 'Soho is so busy but it's only really Soho if there's a strong residential community

While there were once 16 schools in the area, Soho Parish CofE Primary School is the last one left

The following day she wrote a letter to Airbnb demanding they address the alleged illegal subletting of properties after dozens of complaints.

Although landlords are only allowed to rent homes for up to 90 days a year to tourists, leaseholders have claimed that houses are given to tenants who falsely claim they live there - before listing them on short term letting sites.

Westminster council believes the borough has around 13,000 short term let properties - the highest in the country. More than 2,600 are being investigated for suspected breaches of the 90 day limit.

Over 20% of housing in the West End ward are short-term lets, while around 34,400 properties in Westminster had no full-time residents, according to the council.

Tim Lord, from the Soho Society, told MailOnline: 'Soho has had a vibrant residential community for hundreds of years.

'There is evidence now that a proportion of its housing is being used for short lets - often for more than the 90 day limit.

'Over time that means fewer people who are committed to the area, fewer children in the school, fewer workers who both live and work here, reduction in the amount of housing, and higher rents.'

A number of properties in Soho are available for short term lettings on sites such as Airbnb

One flat, described as 'stylish, spacious and charmingly original' is fully booked until June 8

Various flats in the party capital of London are also available for short term stays on Booking.com

Residents have also complained about the vast number of empty properties, which Westminster council estimates at 11,000 in the borough.

Jennifer Ann Cooper, who lives in a 57-flat tower block, said: 'I have no idea who lives in these buildings. I know my next door neighbour but that's it.

'There is only one person in this block who has children here.'

Donald Sinclair, 83, who has lived in Soho for 15 years, said: 'The block opposite me, which has seven storeys, only has one or two people living there maybe. It's the same for a lot of flats around here. It's more profitable to keep them empty than to have people living in them.

'The area has changed quite a bit, all of these cheap food stores here. They smell terrible.

'There's a lot of Airbnb and short lets. The main impact is that it's a bit like [Charles] Darwin's waiting room. All sorts of creatures come out at night. It's alright if you like loud noise or if you haven't got money to move elsewhere.

Yesterday, Westminster Council was accused of trying to 'kill' London's nightlife after it suggested pubs and bars should host 'quiet nights' and 'non-alcohol-led activities'.

In a plan dubbed 'Westminster After Dark', the Labour-run council has set out a 'blueprint for managing the city after 6pm', having consulted with various partners including residents and businesses.

Critics have blasted the plans, saying they are part of an attempt to kill off London's nightlife for good.

Others suggested the plans would be better suited to more rural towns, cities and suburbs, rather than central London.

An AirBnB spokesperson said: 'Listings on Airbnb that are hosted for 90 nights or more make up just 0.17% of London housing stock. We work closely with local governments to voluntarily enforce restrictions on short-term lets in London, ensuring hosting remains sustainable for local communities.

Our dedicated, 24/7 Neighbourhood Support Line enables anyone to report concerns over a listing in their community, and where appropriate we will take action, including removal from the platform. We remove listings in the rare event that they amount to an offence, and have created an expedited process for local authorities to help them investigate suspected breaches of social housing laws.'

A Booking.com spokesperson said: 'Our mission at Booking.com is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. To do so sustainably, we are committed to collaborating with the Government and local authorities to help deliver measured legislative solutions for short-term lets in the UK.'
A mother-of-three was left with deep holes in her stomach and fat gushing from her scars after a botched operation in Turkey.

Michelle Collyer, from Cambridgeshire, was left bed-bound with horrific scarring and diagnosed with PTSD after 'treating' herself to what was supposed to be a 8k 'mummy makeover' at a clinic, self-described as a 'VIP cosmetic surgery', in Istanbul.

The support worker first met her surgeon just 15 minutes before her operation and was told she would instead be having a singular tummy tuck, 360 body lift and breast reduction implants, costing an extra 1k.

During the operation she was put under general anaesthetic for 10 hours, four hours longer than the maximum time medically recommended, and was left with severe wounding on her stomach.

After waking up her body was convulsing in shock while she was refused morphine.

Four days later, her doctor performed a revision on her scarring - cutting into her body whilst she was awake - which eventually left her with 7cm holes and blood and fat streaming out of her stomach, before she was hospitalised in the UK and left unable to leave her house or move for months.

Ms Collyer, who runs a support group for people affected by botched surgeries, has since been ignored by the clinic on social media and email after revealing the extent of her injuries.

She told MailOnline: 'It was horrific. The care was shocking. I've had three children and I've experienced pain, but nothing like this. I was literally just given co-codamol.

Michelle Collyer (pictured) was left with deep holes in her stomach and blood and fat gushing from her scars after a shocking botched Turkish operation

Her stomach eventually healed but she has left with 'horrendous' scarring that makes her stomach look 'deformed'

Four days after her original surgery her doctor performed a revision on her scarring, which eventually left her with 7cm holes in her stomach

'When I came round my whole body was in convulsion. I went into shock and I was so cold. The heating was broken which was making me shake even more.

'There was such a massive language barrier and we weren't getting internet either, so we couldn't use the translator app.'

The revision surgery later took place the doctor's clinic, more suited to 'lip filler' procedures she claims, rather than an operating theatre.

'All he said was, "I just need to fix something". But he didn't explain to me what he was actually doing.

'He then laid me on the bed and started injecting all around where my scar was with numbing cream. And he opened me up there and then, while I was awake and cut away.

'I begged him to stop but he continued whilst I was awake. I was crying the whole time, and they wouldn't let my husband in the room.'

After the second procedure the mother had two drains attached to her body to keep leakage. They both rapidly filled up with blood and liquid fat but the Turkish doctors declared her fit to fly and she returned home.

On her return her stomach leaked more intensely, but she was assured it was 'normal and fine' by the clinic.

Blood and liquid fat rapidly discharged from her stomach holes when she returned home

'I noticed one of my gorges was soaking wet, so I changed them all. But it was a mixture of blood and liquid fat and it had the most horrific smell of flesh.

'Within 48 hours, things really got bad, and I got very poorly with a high temperature and heart palpitations.

Ms Collyer's stomach 'completely opened up' and she was admitted to hospital where she was left in agony.

She was treated by a plastic surgeon before returning home where she was visited by a nurse for wound care every day for four months.

'I wasn't able to move apart from to go to the toilet and I got necrosis because I wasn't moving.

'I had to have my family members literally do everything for me. They had to look after my children and help around the house because I literally couldn't do anything.

'I couldn't lift, I couldn't even hold a mug of tea or coffee or anything. I had to get someone to do it for me, or I had to drink from a cup and just use a straw.

'It was just absolute hell. This went on for about four months in total to get me to a state where I didn't need nurses in my home every day.'

'I was diagnosed with PTSD. Mentally and physically it was awful.'

Her stomach eventually healed but she has left with 'horrendous' scarring that makes her stomach look 'deformed'.

'It'll always be the biggest regret of my life. My surgery was supposed to be a treat to myself,' she said

Ms Collyer's breast implants were never put in while her breasts have been left mishaped.

'It'll always be the biggest regret of my life. My surgery was supposed to be a treat to myself.

'I now have a huge scar and body dysmorphia. It's just an endless battle within my head.'

After reporting her body's damage to the clinic she was offered further surgery in Turkey but they warned her against using UK surgeons.

'Once I told them I went into hospital and my surgeon's opinion, their whole communication changed,' she said.

'I've asked for all my medical records. They denied me access. They wouldn't send anything through.

Dr Anthony Barabas, NHS consultant plastic and hand surgeon, who treated Ms Collyer, told MailOnline: 'It was one of the worst cases I've seen face to face.

'We would not recommend surgery that will take longer than six hours. Complications including death massively rise after that. She was under for ten hours which is ridiculously long.

'In Michelle's case they didn't do the surgery they said they'd do. The closure of the abdomen wasn't done correctly.

'The surgeon did the restitching in his office. A tiny stitch would be okay in the UK but anything else should have been done in an operating theatre.

'She had two drains in until she flew. They filled up with 400ml each. That is too much discharge to fly.

Turkish surgeries offer packages including VIP airport transfers in 'luxury vehicles' and 5-star hotel stays with breakfast. But at least 28 Brits have died from dodgy surgeries since 2019

A variety of procedures not offered in the UK are carried out by doctors in Turkey

'She shouldn't have had combined breast and abdomen surgery. In Turkey they cram as much into one surgery as possible because they don't think people will come back.

At least 28 Brits have died, and many more left seriously injured, by dodgy Turkish treatments since 2019.

Dr Barabas added: 'Complications in Turkey are very frequent. I've seen 30 over the past 18 months. Most NHS departments have a steady trickle coming in. One case cost the NHS 120,000. But the tide is changing in the UK. We only cover life threatening or open wounds - not just if you don't like the result.

'In Turkey speed, not safety, is the priority. The problem is a lot of patients go on the cheap and choose the cheapest option. You are taking a bit of a risk getting surgery abroad where you are away from your doctors.

He added: 'Another problem is 'cosmetic surgeon' is not a protected term. Anyone with a surgical degree can say they are one. In Turkey, if you speed through your exams you can be one three years after medical school.

'Lots of surgeons are very poorly trained but realise there is a lot of money to be made - so go straight for it.'

Ms Collyer warned others of the danger of Turkish treatments.

'Don't risk your life,' she said. 'Prior to choosing the clinic I researched for two years and nothing came up bad against them.

'That should have been a red flag. I should have woken up and thought, why isn't there at least one bad review?'
This is the influencer ex-boyfriend of a French OnlyFans model whose shock death is being probed by police after she was found in mysterious circumstances surrounded by blood and canisters of nitrous oxide.

The discovery of Juli Luxie's lifeless body at her flat in Corbeil-Essonnes, in the southern suburbs of Paris, on March 6 sparked an outpouring of grief.

When officers entered her locked apartment, there were traces of Juli's blood on the floor and multiple bottles of nitrous oxide  a chemical compound popularly known as laughing gas or 'hippie crack' which can cause unconsciousness and suffocation.

Among those speaking of their shock was her ex Jaoued Daouki, now 37, who is well known in France where he has a million Instagram followers alone.

Mr Daouki  who lives nearby  published a series of emotional tributes to Juli on his Instagram account, saying 'You left without saying goodbye' and 'I will always love you'.

He became a controversial figure after he first started dating Juli when she was just 16 and he was more than twice her age.

Since then Daouki has been involved in other high-profile incidents including a rape accusation and an online fraud investigation which led to him being fined.

And just a week after Juli's death he publicly complained of police harassment.

This is the influencer ex-boyfriend, right, of a French OnlyFans model, left, whose shock death is being probed by police

The discovery of Juli Luxie's lifeless body at her flat in Corbeil-Essonnes, in the southern suburbs of Paris, on March 6 sparked an outpouring of grief

When officers entered her locked apartment, there were traces of Juli's blood on the floor and multiple bottles of nitrous oxide

An Instagram Story posted on by Daouki accused the police of 'swatting'  the practice of making a hoax call to the police so that armed officers will be dispatched to someone's address.

A note handwritten by Mr Daouki reads: 'MESSAGE FOR THE POLICE: We are the victims of swatting everyday.

'Thank you for not bringing the door down, but ring. It's the third time that the forces of order have come unnecessarily following hoaxes.'

It's unclear whether police wanted to speak to him in relation to Juli's death or on another matter - and neither he nor the police have clarified this.

In the same note, Mr Daouki also refers to online followers causing a nuisance.

He writes: 'MESSAGE FOR SUBSCRIBERS No need to ring my bell at my door. No need to ring at my door, please respect my neighbourliness, no picture will be taken.'

Like Juli  who had hundreds of thousands of followers online  Mr Daouki is a hugely successful content creator.

His Instagram account has a million followers, while his streaming and video platform on YouTube, called TheKair178, had more than four million subscribers.

Among those speaking of their shock was her ex Jaoued Daouki, now 37, who is well known in France as he has a million Instagram followers alone

The French-Moroccan, who was born in Casablanca before moving to Paris as a child, first started going out with Juli  who was originally from the Pas de Calais, in northern France  in July 2020

The French-Moroccan, who was born in Casablanca before moving to Paris as a child, first started going out with Juli  who was originally from the Pas de Calais, in northern France  in July 2020.

Following online abuse aimed at the 17-year age gap, Mr Daouki confirmed his love for Juli on Twitter, now rebranded as X.

He said her parents were happy with the on-off relationship, which was legal under French law.

It's unclear when he and Juli split up but they were not believed to be in a relationship at the time of her death.

There was further controversy for Mr Daouki in 2023, when Paris prosecutors opened a rape investigation after a woman claimed to have been attacked by him.

In a case that was widely publicised in France, the woman  who cannot be named for legal reasons  said she had met Mr Daouki at the five-star Peninsula Paris Hotel.

They had a drunken night out together when  it was alleged  Mr Daouki drove her home, and then raped her while she was unconscious after putting drugs in her alcohol.

Mr Daouki vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and to date has not been charged in relation to the incident, an investigating source told MailOnline.

Following online abuse aimed at the 17-year age gap, Mr Daouki confirmed his love for Juli on Twitter, now rebranded as X

Fans took to Instagram to share their condolences on Ms Luxie's final post (pictured)

'I strongly reject these allegations and ask for your understanding during this difficult time,' Mr Daouki told his online fans.

He said he had consensual sex with the woman, and there were no drugs involved  a fact that was confirmed by medical tests on the woman, according to the investigating source.

In December, Mr Daouki agreed to pay a 45,000 (38,000) fine after being investigated by a French government fraud prevention unit.

The DGCCRF (General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control) said Mr Daouki was guilty of a 'deceptive commercial practice' involving underhand publicity for Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).

Acknowledging his wrongdoing, Mr Daouki said: 'Like many influencers, I accept my mistake in rushing to make certain product placements without further researching the applicable laws.'

Juli Luxie  whose real name was Julie Pospieszny and who used multiple other aliases including Julie Diablotine  was said to be suffering from severe depression at the time of her death.

Juli Luxie  whose real name was Julie Pospieszny and who used multiple other aliases including Julie Diablotine  was said to be suffering from severe depression at the time of her death

She had not been answering phone calls before being reported missing by her father.

An investigation was launched soon afterwards, with an autospy ordered to establish the cause of Juli's death.

The fact that her flat was locked from the inside, and nobody else was present, suggests no foul play was involved, according to investigating sources.

Nitrous oxide is an anaesthetic, but it is also used recreationally, when it is referred to as 'laughing gas'.

Police in France did not immediately offer any information about alleged visits to Mr Daouki's home in relation to the death of Juli Luxie.
They dont teach you how to fly an airplane with your knees in flight school - for obvious reasons.

Yet this is exactly what I found myself doing shortly after take-off from Tulsa, Oklahoma, one morning in 2002.

Moments earlier, the function that reduces the force of the planes nose as it pitches upwards had failed without warning  just as we lifted off with a planeload of passengers on board.

Usually a mechanism called the Stab/Mach Trim would have kicked in and allowed me to fly the plane with the lightest of touch.

But on this day, I flicked the switch andnothing.

I held onto the control column as long as possible with locked arms, wrestling to keep it pushed down, but as the fatigue in my arms became excessive I placed my knees on it to help.

If we couldnt turn this plane around immediately and land there was only one outcome; we would stall mid-air, maybe even flip, and fall out of the sky like a rock.

Ive been a licensed pilot for more than three decades. For 10 of those years, I flew as a commercial pilot for Delta Connection as a first officer and then as captain. Im also a qualified accident investigator.

Pilot Shawn Pruchnicki has revealed to DailyMail.com how many near misses commercial pilots have on a day to day basis. Pictured: On February 19, a Delta Connection flight from Minneapolis lost its landing gear, caught fire and flipped, losing its tail and wings.

'Ive been a licensed pilot for more than three decades. Any pilot will tell you we have seen our share of near misses, cataclysmic weather systems and technical failures.' (Pictured: Shawn Pruchnicki testifies during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs).

Over the past few months, the news has been peppered with alarming stories of air crashes and near misses. It started with the horror of the DC crash in Washingtons Reagan Airport late January. Sixty-seven people died when a passenger jetliner collided with a Black Hawk helicopter on a training flight.

Two days later a small medical airplane crashed over Philadelphia killing all six on board and one on the ground.

The following month a regional airline craft crashed in Nome, Alaska killing 10. Two near misses followed  one when a Delta flights cabin filled with a haze that forced it to make an emergency landing in Atlanta and the second when one crash landed and flipped at Torontos Pearson International Airport.

So, the assertion that air travel remains the safest mode of transport we have, might ring hollow - trust me it is.

But its also true to say that, for the most part, the people in the back of the plane have no idea what were doing up front and often for very good reason.

Any pilot will tell you we have seen our share of near misses, cataclysmic weather systems and technical failures  but in most cases the passengers remain blissfully unaware.

On that day flying out of Tulsa all I could think about was Alaska Flight 261  as an accident investigator I have a mental archive that may not be comforting but can be invaluable.

Alaska 261 crashed off the West Coast killing all 88 on board back in 2000. I knew it had the same tail design as our craft and had suffered a fractured jack screw. I was also horribly aware it was one of the potential explanations for what we were experiencing. All I could think was, Oh crap I hope its not that.

I was first officer at the time. The captain and I ran through our standard troubleshooting check list. When that didnt work, we told Air Traffic Control wed declared a state of emergency and were circling back.

We asked for fire trucks, a 15-mile final approach  the standard is five  and told them to keep us away from the city. I had to learn how to fly this plane in real time and I didnt want casualties on the ground if we crashed.

Last January, a door-sized panel blew out in a 737 Max mid-flight with near-catastrophic consequences (pictured).

You dont want to tell passengers, The airplane is having significant flight control problems, so we simply said we were returning to Tulsa and not to be alarmed by the fire trucks that would be waiting for us on the ground.

In the end we had a good outcome and the passengers never knew how close we had come to disaster.

There was nothing heroic in what we did that day. Its a pilots job to keep their head and when something goes wrong you rely on your training and work with what youre dealt.

Sometimes that means using your experience and going against what Air Traffic Control tells you. I was once forced to do just that on a flight from Cincinnati to New Yorks JFK.

Thats a busy airspace and the frequency is very, very jammed so it can be hard to talk to the controller. We were flying at over 500 miles an hour and I could see we were about 20 miles from a very large thunderstorm  that distance was disappearing fast.

We were at 30,000 feet and I could see that this weather system was stretching above us, up to 60,000 feet or so and it was full of hail which is incredibly dangerous. Clearly, Im not going to fly through that, so I told the controller I needed an adjustment to my flight path.

We request changes in degrees, so I asked for 20 to the right and was denied, then I asked for the left and was told they were unable to accommodate that which took my first officer and I by surprise.

We looked at each other and realized, Well this isnt going to work. I knew that if I flew into that system, apart from horrendous turbulence, my windshield would likely fracture, and I could lose both engines due to hail damage.

Thats happened before to aircraft that have accidentally flown into a hail shaft and resulted in them having to do off airport crash landings in fields.

Thunderstorms can be very 'incredibly dangerous', Pruchnicki warns: 'Aircraft have accidentally flown into a hail shaft and resulted in them having to do off airport crash landings in fields.'

I told the controller, Im giving you a choice of which direction you want us to go  left or right. And if youre not going to choose, Im going to declare an emergency and make that choice for you.

I wasnt scared in that moment. I knew I had clear skies to the left and to the right  I had two escape routes and as a pilot I could use my authority to take one.

I also had my Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) on board, so I knew that by deviating from my path I wasnt going to accidentally fly into the path of another aircraft without warning.

That is a very valuable system to any pilot because mistakes are made, airspaces can be crowded, and I would bet that pretty much every working pilot has relied on it at some point.

I remember on one occasion I was mid-flight over Cleveland, and it alerted, Traffic! Traffic! Traffic! The box started screaming, Climb! Climb! Climb!

A controller had made a mistake and put us too close to another airplane. In that moment the TCAS system communicates with the other planes box and while it tells us to climb it will be telling the other plane to descend.

I will never forget looking out of the cockpit window, trying to spot where the other craft was and seeing a pilot looking up at me from a jet directly below us. That was pretty cool  and it was pretty close.

But, when youre in a busy airspace and everyone is stacked really tight, youre not just watching for the plane below you as you ascend, youre watching that youre not climbing into someone elses flight path.

That does happen  its called the domino effect - where one plane avoiding another triggers a whole stack of flights to climb or descend out of each others airspace.

Again, its something passengers are very unlikely to register. They may notice a slightly more aggressive climb than theyre used to but the TCAS never instructs pilots to do violent adjustments.

American Eagle crash with a military helicopter in DC that killed 67 in February (pictured).

Thanks to extensive training, pilots are equipped to deal with the many challenges they encounter, Pruchnicki says: 'Thats why when youre a pilot you always have a back-up planif not two.'

Similarly go-rounds are very common - when youre coming in to land and see another aircraft ahead of you moving too slowly on the runway for example, and you pull up and go around again.

These incidents may sound dramatic but this is what we train thousands of hours for and its why we keep training and testing rigorously throughout our careers. I dont know a single pilot who has reached a point in his career where hes stopped learning.

Airplanes are complicated machines. We train for all the standard stuff but its the strange stuff you have to be on guard for  like a Stab/Mach Trim that fails as youre coming off the runway.

Normally we work as a team but, every once in a while, time is short and you have to step up and make the decision. As captain of a plane, you are responsible for the people on board and your authority supersedes that of the controller or anyone else on the ground or in the air.

Thats why when youre a pilot you always have a back-up planif not two.

Shawn Pruchnicki is an Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University in the College of Engineering. He was a Delta connection pilot for 10 years and trained in accident investigation at the NTSB Academy. He has testified to the US Senate on the current Boeing safety culture and manufacturing problems and his research into aviation safety has been published worldwide including by NASA and the FAA.
Graffitied on to the wall of a holding cell, the words greeting incoming prisoners could hardly be more intimidating: Welcome to hell.

And whoever inscribed the message wasnt talking about the accommodation, the staff or the regime at HMP Frankland  but their fellow inmates.

The category A jail in County Durham is known for housing some of Britains most dangerous and reviled prisoners.

Many of the 800 men locked up there are murderers, high-risk sex offenders or those convicted of terrorism-related offences.

Charles Bronson, the nations most notorious prisoner, and Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, were held there.

Current inmates include serial killer and rapist Levi Bellfield, who murdered 13-year-old Milly Dowler, and Michael Adebolajo, who was convicted of the brutal murder of British soldier Lee Rigby.

The most high-profile recent arrival was Urfan Sharif, 43, who is serving a life sentence for torturing and murdering his ten-year-old daughter, Sara.

He was moved to the jail after being slashed with the jagged lid of a tuna tin by two inmates at a high-security prison in London and is said to fear a follow-up attack.

Former Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens and his victim Sarah Everard, who he murdered in 2021

But of all the at-risk prisoners at Frankland one name stands out from the rest  Wayne Couzens.

This week marks the fourth anniversary of the 52-year-olds arrest for a crime so shocking it sparked protests and demonstrations around the country.

In 2021, Sarah Everard was walking home from a friends house in Clapham, south-west London, when she was kidnapped by Couzens, a Metropolitan Police officer.

Claiming she had breached Covid restrictions, he handcuffed her and drove her to countryside near his home in Kent where he raped and murdered the 33-year-old, strangling her with his police belt.

Couzens - who would eventually confess to what he had done - was given a rare whole-life sentence, with the judge telling him that he had abused his position to kill.

And as a former policeman, Couzens is likely to spend every minute of the rest of his life looking over his shoulder.

Obviously they become number one targets because people in prison dont like police officers anyway, and if they get incarcerated with officers they are going to come under attack, says Ricky Killeen, a reformed prisoner who served five years at Frankland for his involvement in a machete attack.

If it is a high-security prison the violence is likely to be extreme. They will either get slashed, they will get stabbed in the neck, they will try to take their eyes out, they will chuck boiling hot oil over them or use a boiling hot kettle full of sugar.

Incidents at Frankland have included attacks on prisoners and guards with weapons fashioned from a broken DVD player and ceramic shards from a smashed toilet pan.

On one occasion an inmates head was badly burned after having boiling water mixed with melted butter thrown at him. The fat in the butter made the liquid adhere to the victims skin, deepening the burns - a practice known as swilling.

Soham killer Ian Huntley, meanwhile, nearly died after being slashed in the throat with a razor blade that had been embedded in a plastic knife, leaving him with a seven-inch scar.

Couzens, no doubt, will also have been aware of a shocking incident last July at Frankland in which a police officer visiting the prison was stabbed in the chest by an inmate. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition and thankfully recovered.

To protect Couzens from similar attacks, his interactions with other prisoners are severely restricted around the clock.

To be a police officer in a Cat A prison would make you a target, but to be such a high-profile prisoner means there is zero chance that you can be on a normal wing, a prison source told the Daily Mail.

He will have a bounty on his head. Couzens will be serving out his life sentence in segregation. His is a face that everyone knows  and his notoriety wont diminish over time. He will be on a small, vulnerable prisoners wing, kept far from the main population at all times, where there are lower levels of association.

Sarah's murder sparked protests across the country, including this vigil on Clapham Common in south-west London, not far from where she was abducted

The majority of vulnerable prisoners are sex offenders.

Indeed, in 2022, a year after Couzens was transferred to Frankland, it was reported that he had become friends with David Fuller  who was dubbed the Morgue Monster for defiling the bodies of more than 100 dead women at a hospital where he worked.

A source told how the pair, both from Kent, bonded after being locked up on the same wing.

We call them The Odd Couple, he said. They know some of the same areas from back in the day. The idea of them swapping stories turns my stomach.

But according to Mr Killeen, who has his own YouTube channel Behind the Bars TV, even being placed with other vulnerable prisoners is no guarantee of safety.

This is because alongside rapists and paedophiles are inmates who, during their time inside, have run up debts buying drugs from other prisoners and have had to be moved for their own safety.

These are the ones who will attack these police officers or paedophiles, says Mr Killeen.

A parliamentary report in 2023 revealed that some prisoners at the jail had been offered bounties of up to 10,000 to carry out attacks on other inmates.

One took up a contract to fund his dependency on vapes.

Last year, an unannounced inspection found that while the establishment was rated as safer than other jails holding similar prisoners, there had been 147 assaults in the past six months, which was a third higher than in the same period before the previous inspection.

To reduce risk, Couzens has food brought to his cell, where he spends up to 20 hours a day. While he could visit the gym or attend education classes with people on the same wing, the source says that they would be more likely to take place in his cell.

Like others at Frankland, that cell is equipped with its own telephone.

Prisoners are allowed to stay in touch with approved friends and family, the source explained. Friends and family time is limited to pre-agreed times and you have to pay for the calls with credit. Some prisons have just voice calls, some have the video facility. Its not uniform. All calls are recorded and can last up to 30 minutes. A prisoner is allowed one free video call a month.

It has been reported that Couzens has maintained contact with relatives, including his mother.

The Mail revealed how in 2022 she had attempted to send him a book and some clothes to celebrate his 50th birthday.

Urfan Sharif, David Fuller and Levi Bellfield, who have all been held at HMP Frankland

But the delivery was blocked by the authorities  prompting the killer to lodge a formal complaint and threaten to seek financial compensation.

It is understood Couzens had been told that he was not being singled out but that preventing him receiving the parcel was standard policy and that no prisoner is allowed packages sent from home.

However, this didnt calm Couzens, who angrily pointed out that a similar parcel - which contained some clothes and a set of headphones - had been allowed to reach him earlier in the same year at the top-security jail. It turned out this had been allowed as a one-off after he arrived at the prison and was still settling in.

Couzens then complained to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, moaning that the rules had not been explained to him properly meaning he and his family were unaware that he was not allowed gifts from home - and his mother had been left out of pocket.

A source said: It might seem incredible after his case horrified the country - how he took advantage of his police status to target, deceive, rape and murder poor Sarah - that Wayne Couzens was doing this.

But thats exactly what happened - just a year on from getting his life term he was writing busybody letters of complaint about not getting a birthday present. The whole episode was unbelievable.

Cells also boast a television and, in Couzenss case, an Xbox 360, which he was allowed to buy as a reward for good behaviour under the Prison Services incentives scheme.

But a decision to bar him from playing violent video games did not go down well.

He was cock-a-hoop at getting the console but very disappointed he couldnt order the violent 18-rated games, a source told The Sun. That means he cannot sit in his cell playing Call of Duty and Gears Of War. He was moaning about that and will have to content himself with things like the motorsport and fantasy games. But it is pretty sick that he wanted to play the shooter games, given the fact that he was obsessed with guns before he killed Sarah.

Couzenss lifelong obsession with guns was revealed when he was found guilty of the murder of marketing executive Sarah.

He shot a classmate in the testicles with an airgun when he was 14 and later joined the Territorial Army before becoming a police firearms officer.

While some will question why inmates should be allowed any such perks, accommodation at Frankland is far from luxurious.

Last years inspection report found that some mattresses were so flimsy they would sink between the metal bed slats. To prevent this happening, a number of inmates had removed the privacy screen from in front of their toilet, using it instead as a makeshift base for their beds.

Other had found it more comfortable to simply move their mattress on to their cell floor.

But one is thing for certain.

Whatever Couzenss bedtime routine, given his background and the threats facing him, he is unlikely to sleep easy any time soon.
Former CNN star Jim Acosta would have been banned from the White House if it were up to former press secretary Sean Spicer.

Spicer, Trump's first press secretary in the White House, told DailyMail's Welcome to MAGAland podcast that Acosta built a name for himself by staging outbursts in the briefing room during Trump's first term.

'I think I probably would have easily kicked out Jim Acosta first... He annoyed the hell out of me,' Spicer confessed. 'Then Brian Karam, who is the Playboy correspondent.'

Spicer added: 'There's a bunch of people during my tenure who got cable contracts, not because they were good at their job, more because they were full of antics and could make an ass out of themselves in the briefing room, and then CNN would give him a contract.'

Indeed, Acosta went from reporter to prime time anchor during the first Trump years as the network brought in high ratings with their confrontational style. Its the same style that eventually led CNN's ratings to fall and Acosta to resign after being demoted to a graveyard shift.

Spicer made the comments as he discussed the changes the Trump White House has made in the briefing room, including taking over who is selected to be in the pool of reporters.

'I think [press secretary] Karoline Leavitt has taken and put her own stamp on this and really, shaking up the briefing room,' he added.

'Because here's the thing that people have to remember. It's not theirs. It's the American people's. This is the White House.'

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer joined DailyMail's Welcome to Magaland podcast on Friday

Spicer was desperate to give CNN star Jim Acosta the boot. Listen to the full interview with the former White House Press Secretary on Welcome to MAGAland. Listen here

Spicer also revealed that his time as the face of the Trump administration was actually easier than being on Dancing with the Stars.

'Because you can stand behind a podium. There was more mental taxation when it came to the briefings. But have no rhythm and no artistic qualities in my body. So when I did the show, that was a whole other level,' Spicer explained.

'It was more of a physical challenge as well as [being told] you're gonna wear this silly outfit and then you're gonna go outside for four minutes and dance around showing people how little flexibility and rhythm you have and anyone in the world can watch it.

'I loved every minute of it but it was probably a little easier to stand behind a podium with notes.'

Speaking on the Welcome to MAGAland podcast, Spicer also revealed he is a little 'jealous' about the current Trump administration, because they are much more accepted in the mainstream than during his stint in 2017.

That saw Spicer constantly accused of lying for the president and even mocked on Saturday Night Live by Melissa McCarthy playing him.

'I spoke to the president a few days back and I said, with all due respect, I'm a bit jealous of this term. Not that I'm not honored by what we were able to do the first time... but I remember not being able to walk outside, walk down the street without being chased or yelled at,' he shared.

'And now people, whether it's Hollywood or just everyday people are walking down the street with a MAGA hat on and are excited about what's going on in Trump world.'

Jim Acosta often sparred with president Trump during his first term in the White House. They are seen going at it in 2018

Spicer would have also booted Playboy White House correspondent Brian Karam

Spicer said being on Dancing with the Stars was harder than serving as Trump's first press secretary. He is pictured on the ABC competition show in 2019

Spicer also spoke to the Welcome to MAGAland hosts about his time on Dancing with the Stars, revealing that many celebrities would secretly tell him they supported Trump.

'There was a lot of people in LA and in Hollywood who secretly will come to you and say, "I can't say anything, but I'm with you," Spicer recalled.'

'The only negative experiences I had was general public people who would say something you outside the studio lot, where they come up and say "I don't like your old boss" or whatever... It was never the people on set.'

Spicer was the face of Trumps administration for the first six months in 2017 at a time when the media was fascinated with every move in the West Wing.

He now hosts his own show, The Sean Spicer Show.

Spicer, a commander in the Navy Reserve, was appointed by Trump to the board of the Naval Academy earlier this week.

Listen to the full interview with Sean Spicer on Welcome to MAGAland. Available wherever you get your podcasts now.
The family of a Ugandan United Nation's judge found guilty of modern slavery charges today insisted she had been kind to her victim - and blamed her conviction on 'cultural differences' in the UK.

Lydia Mugambe, 49, treated her victim as an 'unpaid skivvy', taking advantage of the woman in the 'most egregious way', a court heard yesterday as the unanimous verdict was delivered.

Authorities were first alerted of the crimes when the victim told a friend about the abuse, who later reported it to police.

Upon Mugambe's arrest last year at her home in Kiddlington, Oxfordshire, Mugambe, who was studying for a law PhD at Oxford University, insisted the victim had 'asked' to work for her.

'I am a judge in my country. I even have immunity. I am not a criminal. I have a diplomatic passport,' she told police officers, before again blaming the victim who she tricked into coming to the UK.

But today, a close family member living in Kampala told MailOnline 'cultural differences' between life in the UK compared to the East African country are to blame.

'The culture in the UK and the culture in Africa is different,' the family member, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

'In Africa you could have three different generations in the same house. It doesn't happen here. This is the difference I am talking about. We all help each other out.'

The family of Ugandan United Nation's judge Lydia Mugambe, who was found guilty of modern slavery charges, today insisted she had been kind to her victim - and blamed her conviction on 'cultural differences' in the UK

Lydia Mugambe, 49, treated her victim as an 'unpaid skivvy', taking advantage of the woman in the 'most egregious way', a court heard yesterday as the unanimous verdict was delivered

The relative claimed that Mugambe had known the victim for 17 years, taking her off the streets before providing her with a home and a paying job looking after her children.

'We have known her for so long, all her life. She did not bring her here into slavery, she is here because she wanted a life of her own,' they said.

'Lydia is a UN judge, she is a humanitarian, she is against all of these sorts of things that she has been accused of. She has helped so many people, so many families.

'It is just so disappointing the judgement here, to say that she is guilty of this accusation is bogus.'

At Oxford Crown Court yesterday, Mugambe, was found guilty of facilitating travel with a view to exploitation, forcing someone to work, commissioning the breach of UK immigration law and conspiracy to intimidate a witness.

It came after Thames Valley Police were alerted that the woman was being held as a slave by Mugambe at her address in Brasenose Drive - a rented property, where neighbours say she lived for only a brief period of time.

When confronted about her crimes on February 10 2023, the UN judge told officers: 'I am a judge in my country. I even have immunity. I am not a criminal. I have a diplomatic passport.'

'I came here as a student. I don't need anyone to work for me,' she added. 'I didn't come with her, she asked me. Because she has worked at my home before.'

Lydia Mugambe, 49, had her eyes wide in disbelief when a policeman confronted her in her Oxfordshire home on February 10, 2023

At one point in the video, Mugambe says: 'I am a judge in my country. I even have immunity. I am not a criminal. I have a diplomatic passport'

The relative said that the victim had her school fees paid for by Mugambe back in Kampala before beginning to work for the family 10 years ago.

The emotional family member claimed that the victim had made up the abuse in a bid to gain asylum.

'This girl has been in our family for so long and to come here and say she was a slave because she wants asylum given to her and put my sister in prison is just so unjust,' the woman said.

'The courts and the jury, the cultural differences and everything that happened. They did not do any investigations. They just concluded that it was because of the status difference between the two of them.

'Lydia knew this girl for 17 years. It has not just happened. Lydia brought the young girl off the street into her home to work and help with her kids, in a home,' she added.

'Now she brought her into a home to give her an education and go back to school. She paid for her school fees in Uganada and invited her here to extend her education.

'But then she got the idea that she could stay and do something and this is what happened.'

Mugambe was in the dock at Oxford Crown Court yesterday where prosecutors blasted her for taking advantage of the victim in the 'most egregious way'.

Mugambe, who is also a High Court judge in Uganda, was found guilty on Thursday of conspiring to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law

She was found guilty of conspiring to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law.

Prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC told jurors: 'Lydia Mugambe has exploited and abused (her alleged victim), taking advantage of her lack of understanding of her rights to properly paid employment and deceiving her as to the purpose of her coming to the UK.'

Jurors accepted the prosecution's case that Mugambe had engaged in 'illegal folly' with Ugandan deputy high commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa, in which they conspired to arrange for the young woman to come to the UK.

Prosecutors said the pair participated in a 'very dishonest' trade-off, in which Mr Mugerwa arranged for the Ugandan High Commission to sponsor the woman's entrance into the UK.

In exchange, Mugambe attempted to speak to a judge who was in charge of legal action Mr Mugerwa was named in.

Mugambe's trial heard she had the intention of 'obtaining someone to make her life easier and at the least possible cost to herself'.

She denied forcing the young Ugandan woman to do household chores and said she 'always' treated her with love, care and patience.

The young woman Mugambe tricked into coming to the UK, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court previously she felt 'lonely' and 'stuck' after her working hours were limited.

Oxford Crown Court (pictured) heard when officers arrived at the address, the woman told police that Mugambe would not let her leave the house until she paid her money for her travel to the UK

Jurors accepted the prosecution's case that Mugambe had engaged in 'illegal folly' with Ugandan deputy high commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa (pictured), in which they conspired to arrange for the young woman to come to the UK

According to her UN profile page, Mugambe was appointed to the body's judicial roster in May 2023 - three months after police were called to her address in Oxfordshire.

Ms Haughey said: 'Lydia Mugambe has exploited and abused the victim - taking advantage of her lack of understanding of her rights to properly paid employment and deceiving her as to the purpose of her coming to the UK.

'On her arrival she was made to work for Ms Mugambe from the very start, un-remunerated and acting as 'maid' and child carer to give Ms Mugambe back her 'life'.

'Deprived of her freedom to choose her work, to control her ID documents, she was beholden to Lydia Mugambe.

'If there was any doubt about this, it can be removed by considering that the minute the victim challenged the defendant's authority and tried to have control of her own ID documents, she was threatened with being returned to Uganda.

'A young woman brought in for the convenience of Mugambe's life but mistreated, mistreated by Lydia Mugambe, a woman of power and intelligence who had no qualms in lying not only to the victim but to the police when they sought to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the victim.'

The victim entered the UK on July 9, 2022, the jury was told. Mugambe asked her in March 2022 if she was interested in coming to the UK to be her child minder.

On March 20, 2022, Mugambe attended an event in the Ugandan High Commission in London.

There she met the Ugandan Deputy High Commissioner Mugerwa.

The victim's visa sponsorship form showed that she was going to work for the ambassador as a private domestic servant in a diplomatic household under the employ of Mugerwa - the Ugandan Deputy High Commissioner - in North London, the court heard.

The jury heard that on February 10, 2023, Thames Valley Police received a call to an address in Oxfordshire having received a report from a woman claiming the victim was being held as a slave.

Later that day the victim was found in a TK Maxx store in Oxford with the reporting party believing her to be a victim of modern slavery, the prosecutor said.

The jury was told that there were false particulars of employment in her visa sponsorship and the alleged victim was never intended to work at the embassy.

Mugambe treated the alleged victim as an 'unpaid skivvy,' the prosecutor said.

Ms Haughey said: 'That meeting at the High Commission with the Deputy High Commissioner was the turning point when Lydia Mugambe started an illegal folly with the Deputy High Commissioner to bring the alleged victim into the UK.'

The jury returned three unanimous guilty verdicts regarding conspiring to do an act to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law by a non-UK national, requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour and conspiring to intimidate a witness.

A majority guilty verdict was returned regarding a fourth charge of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation.

John Leonard Mugerwa - who would have had diplomatic immunity - is now back in Uganda.

Mugambe will be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on May 2.
Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady welcomed the Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin and his wife Mary O'Shea to the residence for a time-honored traditional breakfast, but he did not refer to his Irish heritage.

During the breakfast, Vance recalled visiting Ireland in October 2023 with his wife while he was a senator.

'It's such a remarkable combination of incredible community of beautiful landscape but also a lot of technological growth,' he said.

Vance wore a special pair of green-clover socks for the visit and revealed his wife Usha finally got to wear her unique pair of green pants for the occasion.

'It's also a really great opportunity for Usha to wear this pair of green pants, she's had these in the close for years and finally gets to bring them out,' he said with a chuckle.

But Martin specifically mentioned Vance's heritage during his remarks.

'Scots-Irish emigrants, among them your forebears, played a key role in shaping this country,' he said.

Martin said he would be 'honored and delighted' to welcome the Vance family back to Ireland.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin and his wife Mary meeting US Vice President JD Vance and wife Usha at the official residence of the US Vice President

U.S. Vice President JD Vance shows off his shamrock themed socks as he delivers remarks at a St. Patrick's Day breakfast

Vance's ancestors emigrated from Ireland, as he mentioned in his famous 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy.

'To understand me, you must understand that I am a Scots-Irish hillbilly at heart,' he wrote.

Vance's ancestors migrated Barnbarroch in Wigtonshire, Scotland to the Northern Ulster province of Ireland before they traveled to the United States, according to Tyrone historian John Hagan.

'Is he aware that a small village in rural Tyrone is his ancestral home - very unlikely, but whether successful or not in the forthcoming elections I would love him to visit Coagh,' Hagan told Northern Ireland world in 2024.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance (L) shakes hands with Irish Taoiseach MicheAl Martin

US Vice President JD Vance during a bilateral meeting with Taoiseach Micheal Martin ahead of the White House St Patrick's Day reception i

John Vance first obtained a lease for land in the province and his eldest son Andrew emigrated to America 1733 with his wife and 18-year-old son Ephraim.

The Vance family settled in Lancaster County Pennsylvania and Ephraim Vance established Fort Vause to help defend their farm during the French and Indian war.

Irish Communities Minister Gordon Lyons was expected to present Vance with an official history of his ancestral links to Ireland but the vice president's office did not confirm that he received it.
Women in the military who are unable to lock their doors will be moved to hotels for their safety, the Mail can reveal.

Top brass are checking locks and spy holes are fitted as standard on female single rooms in Army, Navy and RAF barracks.

And any woman without access to lockable accommodation will be housed off-base.

The drastic measures, reflecting the severity of the threat towards female personnel, are backed by the Army Servicewomen's Network. Abuse of women serving is understood to be on the rise.

The Mail uncovered the policy following an inquest last month into the death of teenage Gunner Jaysley Beck. She took her own life at Larkhill camp in Wiltshire after being relentlessly harassed and sexually assaulted by male colleagues.

Gunner Beck had to sleep in her car because she was unable to protect herself while serving in the Royal Artillery.

Last night, former Tory MP Sarah Atherton, who has campaigned for the forces to improve its welfare provisions to women, said: 'It is disturbing that such measures are required and indicates so much more needs to be done to improve behaviours.

'Boozed-up male soldiers going looking for women in their accommodation blocks is known as the 'two o'clock knock'. It is a well-known problem in the military.

The Mail uncovered the policy following an inquest last month into the death of teenage Gunner Jaysley Beck

Beck took her own life at Larkhill camp in Wiltshire after being relentlessly harassed and sexually assaulted by male colleagues

Gunner Beck had to sleep in her car because she was unable to protect herself while serving in the Royal Artillery

'So it is imperative the Ministry of Defence takes it seriously.' The latest direction on secure rooms was signed off by the Army's director of basing and infrastructure, Major General Richard Clements, and is also due to apply to women in the Royal Navy and RAF.

An official source said: 'This is a reiteration of standing Armed Forces accommodation policy, rather than a sudden change.

'Defence minimum standard is a lockable door. If it breaks 48 hours is the maximum time allowed to fix it.

'If it can't be fixed, the service person, male or female, should be put in another room. Only if that can't be done does hotel accommodation get booked.'

Multiple reports have indicated women in the Armed Forces are being let down by abuse and sexual violence.

They have found an urgent need to overhaul the military's misogynistic culture and to support women who often feel betrayed by the chain of command's response to their experiences.

The Mail previously reported the abuse of female ground crew by RAF Red Arrows pilots and women on submarines.

Last year a Navy investigation concluded that women in the submarine service suffered 'misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviour'.

And two Red Arrows pilots were sacked by the RAF for their mistreatment of female colleagues, while predatory behaviour towards women was found to be 'widespread and normalised' across the display squadron.

The Ministry of Defence was approached for comment.
John Bolton has revealed that Vladimir Putin likely wants to negotiate peace in Ukraine directly with president Trump so he can manipulate him.

The former national security advisor for Trump during his first term gave his analysis on peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine on DailyMail's Welcome to MAGAland podcast.

'I think that what Putin wants is a conversation directly with Trump rather than having it worked out by subordinates,' Bolton told DailyMail's Welcome to MAGAland podcast.

'I think the reason for that is that Putin thinks he can get more from Trump directly. By manipulating him, which he's pretty good at, than by allowing subordinates to work the issue through.'

However, Bolton added that 'even a 30 day ceasefire is a complicated operational thing to carry out, because you've got troops that are engaged in combat.'

'I think that phone conversation has to happen,' Bolton added. Putin has said publicly he agrees in principle but he's got some specifics he wants to talk about.'

John Bolton has revealed that Vladimir Putin likely wants to negotiate peace in Ukraine directly with president Trump so he can manipulate him

Bolton said Putin believes in his ability to manipulate Trump and get a better deal than he would with intermediaries

Trump has repeatedly said he is ready to speak with Putin about peace in Ukraine

Putin said Thursday that he agrees in principle with a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, but he emphasized that the terms are yet to be worked out and added that any truce should pave the way to lasting peace.

'The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it,' Putin told a news conference in Moscow. 'But there are issues that we need to discuss, and I think that we need to talk about it with our American colleagues and partners and, perhaps, have a call with President Trump and discuss it with him.'

Putin, who launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, noted the need to control possible breaches of the truce and signaled that Russia would seek guarantees that Ukraine would not use the break in hostilities to rearm and continue mobilization.

'We agree with the proposals to halt the fighting, but we proceed from the assumption that the ceasefire should lead to lasting peace and remove the root causes of the crisis,' Putin said.

Trump has said there have been 'good signals' coming out of Russia and offered guarded optimism about Putins statement. He reiterated that hes ready to speak with Putin and underscored that it was time to end the war.

While Bolton worked for Trump during his first term, the two have since had a fallout over their views on foreign policy.

He's described the ex-president as unfit for office and accused him of only caring about his own self-interests.

As one of his first actions during his second term, Trump removed Bolton's Secret Service protection - even though Bolton has credible threats against his life from the Iranian regime.

Bolton, who was fired during the presidents first term in 2019, later wrote a book whose publication the Trump administration unsuccessfully sought to block on grounds that it disclosed national security information.

Bolton previously said he wrote in Dick Cheney went he cast his ballot in 2020 and 2024.

To listen to the full interview and get all the latest news from the Trump administration, search for Welcome to MAGAland wherever you get your podcasts now.
Judges are being told to consider how migrants are maligned by the media when deciding cases, it has emerged.

The 'Equal Treatment Bench Book' states that 'negative perceptions of migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum are fuelled by parts of the Press and some political debate'.

But critics say this interpretation of society is another step towards a 'two-tier' justice system.

The 352-page guide is published by the Judicial College, which is led by Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, and responsible for training the judiciary in England and Wales.

It seeks to aid understanding of the circumstances of those who appear in courts and tribunals, but has prompted new concerns regarding the judiciary's role in political issues, the Times has reported.

The handbook states that 'Western psychological concepts' should not be universally applied to those seeking asylum from varying cultures.

Judges are also advised against making 'unnecessary objections' to full-face veils, and should 'show understanding' when defendants are unable to attend court due to an 'important holy day' or when needing time to pray.

The 352-page guide is published by the Judicial College, which is led by Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, and responsible for training the judiciary in England and Wales

The 'Equal Treatment Bench Book' states that 'negative perceptions of migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum are fuelled by parts of the Press and some political debate'. Pictured: Migrants leave a smuggler's boat after it was punctured with a knife by French police officers in April 2024

An inflatable dinghy carrying around 65 migrants crosses the English Channel in March 2024

A group of people thought to be migrants leave Gravelines in France onboard a small boat in an attempt to cross the Channel in July 2024

The latest version of the handbook  published in July 2024 and due to be updated  also includes data from the Muslim Council of Britain, an organisation banned from official engagement with the Government, indicating that anti-Muslim hatred in the UK is underestimated.

Tory justice spokesman Robert Jenrick said the guidance served as 'another concerning example of the politicisation of the judiciary', generating a 'two-tier system'.

Official guidelines from the Sentencing Council recommend all ethnic minorities and transgender people convicted of a crime should be treated differently by judges and magistrates.

The Judicial Office was approached for comment.
Doctors are no longer opposed to a change in the law to legalise assisted dying.

The professional membership body for GPs yesterday formally moved its position on the controversial subject to 'neutral'.

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) confirmed the decision after a consultation with its members and a decision by its council.

It had adopted a position of opposition in 2005 and had held that stance since then.

The change comes as MPs in England and Wales consider legislation which could see assisted dying legalised in the two nations.

Around six in ten (61 per cent) of the college's council voted for a move to a position of neither supporting nor opposing legalising assisted dying.

Almost four in ten (39 per cent) voted to maintain the position of opposition. This followed a non-binding survey of 8,779 GPs and GP registrars, which saw a third (33.7 per cent) state that the college should support assisted dying being legalised.

Around one in ten (13.6 per cent) favoured a position of neutrality, while just under half (47.6 per cent) said the opposition stance should remain.

Kim Leadbeater reacts after the bill was passed on November 29, 2024

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairman of the RCGP, which has formally moved its position to 'neutral'

The decision on the new stance was taken by the council, which has 64 voting members, rather than the college's membership.

No council members voted to move to a position of supporting legalising assisted dying, the RCGP said.

The consultation results showed 'widely differing and strongly-held views about assisted dying', said RCGP chairman Professor Kamila Hawthorne.

Professor Hawthorne added: 'This is a highly sensitive personal, societal and legislative issue, and we need to be in a position to represent the views of all of our members and patients; shifting to a position of neither opposing nor supporting assisted dying being legal will allow us to do this best.'

Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the assisted dying Bill, said: 'The decision by the Royal College of GPs to drop its opposition to offering the choice of an assisted death to terminally ill adults is welcome and reflects the many conversations I have had with GPs during the progress of this Bill.'

A vote is expected on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill in the coming weeks.
Celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz bore a close resemblance to President Donald Trump as he looked unrecognizable while sitting before the Senate on Friday.

The well-known celebrity and television doctor unveiled a new 'Trump-like' hairdo as he pitched his qualifications for the top role of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) - an appointment made by the president back in November.

With white-blond hair, styled in typical Trump fashion, Oz, 64, promised senators that he'd fight healthcare fraud and push to make Americans healthier if he becomes the next leader of the federal agency.

However, the former heart surgeon and TV personality, who used to sport a darker brown-colored hairstyle, dodged several opportunities to say whether he would oppose cuts to Medicaid - the government-funded program for people with low incomes.

The president's pick also said technology like artificial intelligence and telemedicine could be a key in making care more efficient and accessible as he spoke before the governing body.

'We have a generational opportunity to fix our health care system and help people stay healthy for longer,' he said.

The 64-year-old was a respected heart surgeon who turned into a popular TV pitchman.

Celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz (left) bore a close resemblance to President Donald Trump (right) looking unrecognizable as he sat before the Senate on Friday

With white-blond hair, styled in typical Trump fashion, Oz promised senators that he'd fight healthcare fraud and push to make Americans healthier if he becomes the next leader of the federal agency

The 64-year-old was a respected heart surgeon who turned into a popular TV pitchman. Pictured: Mehmet Oz with Donald Trump during his brief run for the US Senate seat in Pennsylvania in 2022

He hawked everything from supplements to private health insurance plans on 'The Dr. Oz Show,' which ran for 13 seasons and helped him amass a fortune.

Now he has his sights on overseeing health insurance for about 150 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or Affordable Care Act coverage.

As CMS administrator, Oz could wield significant power over most health companies operating in the country because he can make decisions about who and what is covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

Oz faced over two and a half hours of questioning before the Republican-controlled Senate Finance Committee, which will vote later on whether to forward his nomination to the full Senate for consideration.

Leading the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services presents a 'monumental opportunity' to make the country healthier, Oz told senators on Friday.

He talked about how a healthy population cuts down on expensive chronic diseases, and he offered suggestions of ways to help with that.

He noted, for instance, that most Medicare Advantage plans - privately run versions of the federally funded Medicare program - provide an allowance for food purchases.

However, he added that they give no 'real advice' on how to use it wisely.

'We dont have to order people to eat healthy, we have to make it easier for people to be healthy,' adding that he considered maintaining good health a 'patriotic duty.'

Republicans, who have notably coalesced around Trump's nominees for the health agencies, asked Oz about his plans for eliminating fraud from the $1 trillion programs.

As CMS administrator, Oz could wield significant power over most health companies operating in the country because he can make decisions about who and what is covered by Medicare and Medicaid

During the tense confirmation hearing, the former heart surgeon and TV personality, who used to sport a darker brown-colored hairstyle (pictured), dodged several opportunities to say whether he would oppose cuts to Medicaid

The former doctor then talked about 'going after insurers' that bill for diagnoses that never lead to treatment.

He also said technology like telemedicine can be used to help close gaps in care access, particularly in rural areas as several senators mentioned concerns about the closure of rural hospitals in their states.

To this, Oz said rural hospitals could form partnerships with bigger institutions in nearby cities.

'We have to revisit how we deliver rural care in America,' he said. 'We cant depend on 100-bed hospitals that do one delivery a day to provide state-of-the-art care.'

In response to a question about whether he would support Medicaid cuts if they lead to rural hospital closures, Oz said he didn't want those hospitals to close 'unless we have a better option.'

Oz also would like to see limits on insurer care pre-approvals in Medicare Advantage, he claimed.

He called that practice, known as prior authorization, 'a pox on the system' that hikes administrative costs.

Oz also told senators that he favored work requirements for Medicaid recipients, but paperwork shouldn't be used to reaffirm that they are working, or to block people from staying enrolled.

During the tense confirmation hearing, Democrats tried to pin down Oz on potential cuts to the state - and federally funded Medicaid program that Republicans are considering.

The TV doctor noted that doctors dislike the program for its relatively low payments and some don't want to take those patients.

On Thursday, Senate committees voted to advance the nominations of Marty Makary, poised to lead the Food and Drug Administration, and Jay Bhattacharya, set to helm the National Institutes for Health, for a full Senate vote.

Those men have all leaned into Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s (pictured) call to 'Make America Healthy Again,' an effort to redesign the nation's food supply, reject vaccine mandates and cast doubt on some long-established scientific research

He added that when Medicaid eligibility was expanded without improving resources for doctors, that made care options even thinner for the program's core patients, which include children, pregnant women and people with disabilities.

'We have to make some important decisions to improve the quality of care,' he said.

Oz's hearing came as the Trump administration seeks to finalize leadership posts for the nations top health agencies.

On Thursday, Senate committees voted to advance the nominations of Marty Makary, poised to lead the Food and Drug Administration, and Jay Bhattacharya, set to helm the National Institutes for Health, for a full Senate vote.

The nomination of Dave Weldon to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was abruptly withdrawn Thursday.

Those men have all leaned into Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 's call to 'Make America Healthy Again,' an effort to redesign the nation's food supply, reject vaccine mandates and cast doubt on some long-established scientific research.
The number of ex-MPs still holding exclusive passes for Parliament has surged to a new high.

Some 449 former politicians are listed as having privileged access rights to the Westminster estate  up more than a third since the election.

That is thought to be the most on record despite promises of a crackdown, and outnumbers the 404 current members on the Labour benches.

Some 328 passes had been allocated as of July last year. Former ministers Penny Mordaunt, Alex Chalk, Andrea Leadsom and Shailesh Vara are among the names now on the list. Labour veterans retaining passes include Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Jon Cruddas and Kevin Brennan.

There is no suggestion that any have breached anti-lobbying rules.

In recent years the system has been tightened in a bid to bring down numbers holding so-called Category X passes. The previous peak, in records going back to 2015, is believed to be 431 in January 2020.

Ex-MPs are meant to have served at least two parliamentary terms or six years  whichever is longer  to apply for the privilege, which has no time limit.

However, Aidan Burley appears on the Commons list despite only serving a single term between 2010 and 2015. The former Tory MP resigned as a ministerial aide after being embroiled in a scandal about attending a Nazi-themed stag event and recently joined Reform UK.

Former Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt is among ex-MPs to have a parliamentary pass

Former minister Andrea Leadsom is on the list of 449 former politicians with privileged access rights

Former MPs are meant to have served at least two terms or six years, whichever is longest, to apply for special access to the parliamentary estate (file photo)

Emma Dent Coad, who was a Labour MP between 2017 and 2019, also has a pass, according to the list. Passholders are able to enter the estate unescorted, have meetings and use subsidised bars and restaurants within certain hours.

The scheme is intended to smooth the process of returning to civilian life  but questions have been raised about the potential for lobbying of former colleagues and whether individuals should retain access to the estate.

A Commons spokesman said: Eligibility is rigorously scrutinised and processes are in place to ensure applications can only be made by those with an approved requirement. There are limits on the facilities former members may use within Parliament, and they are forbidden from using their pass in connection with lobbying activity.

John OConnell, chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Brits will be sceptical at the number of former MPs now holding parliamentary passes.

While many former MPs still have a role to play, its not a stretch to think that many simply miss the taxpayer-funded bars and restaurants. Parliament needs to ensure that access to the estate is used to continue engaging with the legislative process, not to simply allow ex-MPs to reminisce over subsidised booze.
Andrew Walsh's grief-stricken family listened for weeks as a court heard the horrific details of how the young man was executed and his battered body encased in a concrete tomb.

But after her son's killers were sentenced to life in prison, the thoughts of Mr Walsh's distraught mother Liz Ryan soon turned to another missing man.

Police discovered Mr Walsh's body in March 2022, covered in oil and buried in a concrete-sealed pit at a warehouse in Coopers Plains in Brisbane's south.

After following the fly swarm and stench inside the transport depot, officers drilled into the tomb thinking they had just uncovered the remains of a different 35-year-old, Lachlan James Griffiths.

To their surprise, they instead found Mr Walsh.

A Supreme Court jury on Wednesday found Joshua Searston, 27, and Dewald De Klerk, 30, guilty of the 'vile and inhumane' murder on or about November 8, 2021.

Outside, Ms Ryan declared the trial 'jarring and scarring' for all involved.

'The jury have had to sit through some of the most horrific evidence and they did it graciously and came back with the result we needed,' she said.

Two men were found guilty of the 'vile and inhumane' murder of Andrew Walsh

Mr Walsh's mother Liz Ryan is seen outside court after her son's killers were sentenced

However, her attention turned immediately to Mr Griffiths' family.

'Andrew was only found because they were looking for another young man,' she said.

'Lachlan Griffiths is still missing. His parents don't have the closure that we were able to get.

'So if anyone has information please speak with the investigators.'

Mr Griffiths was last seen alive in Brisbane CBD on January 16, 2022. His mother reported him missing 10 days later, on Australia Day.

Crown prosecutor Chris Cook told Searston and De Klerk's trial they assaulted and stabbed Mr Walsh believing he had drugged and sexually abused someone.

Chief Justice Helen Bowskill said the pair shared a 'chilling' phone conversation in which they laughed about the killing and contempt with which they'd treated his corpse.

Searston will serve 20 years without parole and De Klerk 22.

Lachlan Griffiths' mother Bernie has pleaded for help in locating his remains

Mr Walsh's father Patrick said the verdicts provided a measure of comfort.

'We extend our sincere gratitude to her Honour and the jury for their time and dedication and careful consideration of the evidence,' he told reporters.

'We also wish to thank Queensland police for their tireless and thorough investigation.

'Our deepest appreciation goes to the prosecution team.'

De Klerk initially pleaded guilty to interfering with a corpse, while Jessica Noy was convicted of being an accessory after the fact. She later testified as a prosecution witness.

The verdicts for Searston and De Klerk bring to a close a three-year legal saga involving multiple court cases around the two men murdered at the same warehouse just over nine weeks apart.

Detectives charged a total of six people over one or both murders but there is still the unanswered question of what happened to Mr Griffiths' body.

His family appealed for public assistance late last year following the last of multiple legal proceedings.

Father Chris Griffiths said it was emotionally difficult to sit through the court case

Billy Lee Bornstein was sentenced in October after pleading guilty to Mr Griffiths' manslaughter.

Mr Cook at the time told Justice Frances Williams the 30-year-old decided to take part in 'retaliation' after claims a person close to his friend, Filip Grbavac, had been abused by Mr Griffiths.

'Instead of letting authorities deal with any allegations, Grbavac and Bornstein thought they would get involved themselves, that they could play God,' Mr Cook said.

He said Bornstein told Mr Griffiths to travel to the warehouse to be paid for a drug deal.

Mr Griffiths' last communication was a text message sent at 3.03am the next day: 'Bro, I think I'm being set up.' Attached was a link to his phone's location.

Mr Cook said police had obtained a photo of Mr Griffiths' body wrapped in plastic.

'What occurred was a brutal, and must have been prolonged, attack to kill Mr Griffiths,' Mr Cook said.

He said Bornstein was not present when Mr Griffiths was killed but had known Grbavac intended to cause serious harm.

The judge described the death of Andrew Walsh was despicable. Pictured are Queensland Police investigators Robert Lavallee and Jason Kitto attending court during the trial

Described as the 'prime offender', Grbavac died of critical head injuries after a confrontation with another prison inmate in February 2024.

Bornstein was sentenced to nine years' jail.

Outside court, Mr Griffiths' mother Bernie issued a plea for help so he could be buried at their local church.

'We beg anyone who may know where he is to come forward and give us this small measure of peace,' she said.

The warehouse where Mr Walsh and Mr Griffiths was killed was connected to a transport business owned by David Lee Tan.

Just days before he was due to stand trial in October, the 42-year-old pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Griffiths and to being an accessory after the fact to the Walsh murder.

Justice Frances Williams said Tan had provided significant assistance in a cover-up after Mr Walsh was killed, helping place his body at the bottom of an oil drainage pit and weighing him down with a wooden pallet.

'Cleaning products and chemicals were used to try to melt the deceased's body,' Justice Williams said, causing Mr Walsh's family members to gasp.

'You knew Mr Griffiths was being assaulted and in pain. You were aware of this and did nothing,' Justice Williams told Tan and Bornstein at sentencing in November.

Tan was jailed for 15 and a half years in total.

Prisoners in Queensland can be denied parole if a victim's body has not been located and the applicant is uncooperative.

Francescos Sebastian Giorgi, 43, pleaded guilty to deprivation of liberty and assaulting Mr Griffiths.

He was sentenced to two-and-half-years' imprisonment but paroled due to time served.
The son of a magistrate has been charged with nine child abuse offences including grooming, raping and filming.

Cooper Mitchell Bamberry was detained at his Helensvale home, on the Gold Coast, on Thursday by the Child Protection and Investigation Unit.

The 22-year-old is the son of Queensland magistrate Mark Bamberry and he was arrested after police asked the public for help.

Police released a limited picture of him on March 2, and the next day authorities seized a number of Bamberrys electronic devices for their investigations.

He was charged with four counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, two counts of engaging in penile intercourse with a child under 16, and one count each of grooming child under 16, involving a child in making exploitation material, and distributing child exploitation material.

He fronted to Brisbane Arrests Court on Friday where he was granted bail by a magistrate.

It was likely moved up north to Brisbane because Magistrate Bamberry was based at Southport on the Gold Coast.

The matter will go before Brisbane Magistrates Court again on April 7.

The partial photo of Cooper Mitchell Bamberry helped police arrest him

Police investigations are still ongoing.

His father founded the Gold Coast law firm Bamberry Lawyers which has been operational for 12 years.

Mark Bamberry was appointed as a magistrate to Southport Magistrates Court in 2022 after more than 20 years as a lawyer working in criminal law, traffic law, commercial and property law.

He presided over cases including that of former Gold Coast City Councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden who was charged in 2024 with murdering his stepfather.
A senior civil servant with security vetting was allegedly paid for three full-time jobs by different Government departments  at the same time.

The mandarin who, it is understood, was able to work from home, is said to have duped his bosses to secure the taxpayer-funded roles.

He then worked at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and at least one other department, on two occasions.

This was despite him going through the Government's vetting procedures, designed to ensure rogue agents do not make it into Whitehall.

An internal audit in 2022-23 discovered the worker had withheld his employment history when applying for the roles.

The National Fraud Initiative (NFI), the Cabinet Office unit which carried out the investigation into the worker, was so alarmed by its findings that police were called in.

The civil servant no longer works for the Government and has been charged with one count of fraud. He has not indicated a plea.

Callum McGoldrick, of the TaxPayers' Alliance campaign group, said: 'Taxpayers will be absolutely gobsmacked that a civil servant managed to wing their way through multiple full-time jobs at taxpayers' expense. This isn't just a case of bureaucratic bungling, it's outright negligence.'

The mandarin is said to have duped his bosses to secure the taxpayer-funded roles at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) (pictured)

He then worked at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) (pictured) and at least one other department, on two occasions

It is understood that the employee was able to work from home (stock image)

According to the report, the worker was investigated two years ago when it emerged he was working for Defra and DHSC, both in a full-time capacity.

It was then established that he held at least one other role in government simultaneously, during two separate time frames.

It emerged he held two different vetting clearances concurrently with different departments, unbeknown to the vettings team or the departments he was working for.

Investigators discovered he withheld his civil service employment history to get a new job each time. He was sacked from all three when his deception was uncovered.

The NFI report looked into remote working practices following the pandemic. It found there was 'even more opportunity for individuals to commit fraud by gaining employment with several local authorities at the same time but failing to fulfil all of the roles'.

A government spokesman said it had 'stepped up efforts' to improve detection processes and prevent public sector fraud.

He said: 'We have expanded the use of data analytics within the National Fraud Initiative, which helped to identify 510million in fraud and errors across the public sector between 2022 and 2024.'

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer this week unveiled plans to use artificial intelligence to radically digitise the civil service in a bid to save up to 45billion.

The Prime Minister said no person's 'substantive time' should be spent on a task where technology can 'do it better, quicker and to the same high quality and standard'.

But Downing Street was forced to deny that it plans to take a 'chainsaw' to the state after reports that reform proposals had been dubbed 'project chainsaw'.
Home > 2025 > Story of Raj Narain, the Indian Scocialist | Suresh Khairnar

After reading the 512 page book titled "Rajnarayan is not a name but history" edited by my Lucknow friend Shahnawaz Ahmad Qadri, I am writing this article as a self-confession and to review the book. Although Shahnawaz ji had been urging me for a long time to write something on Rajnarayan ji. But whatever I had heard about Rajnarayan ji from the leaders of the Praja Socialist Party of Maharashtra since childhood, he was nothing more than a ridiculous person. But after reading this book, I have no hesitation in accepting that the image I had about Rajnarayan ji was wrong. And after Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Rajnarayan ji was one of the people who truly lived up to his "prison, vote and shovel principle".

Raj Narayan ji, born 30 years before independence (23 November 1917), lived a total of 69 years. (Died 31 December 1986) Born in a royal family of Kashi, Raj Narayan ji lived a life like a fakir. Although being the father of four sons and a daughter and being born in a feudal family himself, in the era of so-called political successors, none of his family members are in politics. All of them lived a normal life, that too on their own strength, educated and got jobs. Recently, the third son Mr. Jai Prakash, who retired from the job of Uttar Pradesh Government and lived in Allahabad, died. The eldest son Bhuvaneshwar Prakash died of illness in his youth. The second son Mohanji lives in the village and does farming. And the younger son Om Prakash, retired from the job of a bank and lives in Varanasi. And daughter Savitri Devi is married in Azamgarh. The reason for giving all this in detail is that what was the image of Raj Narayan ji in our own eyes? And what is the real situation? People should know this, so I am giving it.

Raj Narayans political career started when he was 13 years old (1930). He started his life as a student leader of Banaras University. And he was first arrested in 1939 for anti-war protests. So, he was imprisoned for five years before the age of 30, until independence was achieved as per Lohias jail, shovel and vote.

After independence, as per the slogan of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia "He who tills the land and sows it is its owner", all the people who were Jyothidar (owners) of their ancestral land were declared owners of their share of the land.

The Satyagraha movement for Dalits entry into Vitthal temple of Pandharpur in Maharashtra was started in 1948 under the leadership of Saneguruji. And there is a lot of discussion about it. But in 1956, the Satyagraha movement for Dalits entry into Kashi Vishwanath temple was led by Rajnarayanji. And during that Satyagraha, police and army were deployed. But Rajnarayanji did Satyagraha without caring about the army and police. In which the police beat him till he was covered in blood. And he was imprisoned for six months in an injured state. But he took rest only after Dalits were allowed to enter the temple and digging out the plaque outside the temple that read "Entry of Dalits is prohibited".

And in the same way, the British rule was removed, but in 1957, despite ten years of independence, the statues of the British were present everywhere. Rajnarayan ji was the first leader who, on this issue, regarding the statue of Queen Victoria in Benia Bagh of Banaras, first requested the government in a way that "now the native people have come in place of the British, so these statues, which are symbols of slavery, should be removed." But when the government rejected the demand to remove the statue, how was Rajnarayan ji going to agree? So he started a movement in a hallabol style. And despite heavy police arrangements, he reached the statue with his companions and stopped only after demolishing it.

However, during his act, the police were continuously lathi-charging him. And after that, he was put in jail for 27 months. This means that Raj Narayan ji has been in jail for a longer period after independence than before independence. Apart from the 19 months of emergency.

And in that too, in the light of the 1971 Bangladesh war of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, no leader from all opposition parties, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was ready to contest the election against her. Raj Narayan ji alone accepted this challenge and contested the election from Rae Bareli. And even after losing, he did not give up. Because he filed a petition in Allahabad High Court against Indira Gandhi ji on the charge of rigging in the election. And despite everyone making fun of him (even the socialists), Raj Narayan ji did not give up. He said that "Mrs. Indira Gandhi has rigged the election." And surprisingly, Raj Narayan ji won his case against Mrs. Indira Gandhi in Allahabad High Court.

And anyway, there was a student movement going on in India from Gujarat to Bihar. And it was being led by Jayaprakash Narayan. On 12 June 1975, a judge named Jagmohan Lal Sinha of Allahabad High Court said in his judgment that "Mrs. Indira Gandhi won the election because of using corrupt methods in her election. Therefore, she is disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha". And there was an earthquake-like atmosphere in the whole world. And mainly after the independence of India, for the first time in the history of our court, a judge raised the prestige of the court by giving a judgment against the person sitting on the highest post in the country. And the people who considered Rajnarayan ji a clown suddenly started considering him a national level leader. And since then, the word Netaji in front of Rajnarayan jis name has continued even after his death.

Indira Gandhi, fed up with the movement of Jayaprakash Narayan and the defeat of Raj Narainjis case and the strike of railway employees led by George Fernandes, declared emergency on 25 June 1975.

And after nineteen months, on the basis of reports of various agencies, the fifth Lok Sabha was dissolved in January 1977 and elections were announced. And Raj Narayan ji announced from jail itself, "that I will contest the elections against Mrs. Indira Gandhi." Although he was released on the 8th of February, he remained firm on his decision. His well-wishers said "that you should contest elections from two places." For this, he was asked to contest from Pratapgarh. (Because out of the five assembly seats from that parliamentary constituency, three were with the Socialists!). Therefore, all the comrades insisted that he should contest from both the places. But he did not agree. And he stood only from Rae Bareli. And won against Mrs. Indira Gandhi by 52 thousand votes.

And that is why Raj Narayans name was written in golden letters in the history of Indian democracy. He was given titles ranging from the Jimmy Carter of India to the Giant Killer. The media of India and the world have given him great respect. I mean, what all sentences did the same media not use about Raj Narayan as a clown a few days ago? And today the same media is praising him and building a pool of praise for him.

In 1977, as Health Minister in the Janata Government, he took the decision to give equal status to Homeopathy, Ayurveda, Unani, and other traditional systems of medicine, which were neglected in India, with Allopathy for the first time.

I had tried a lot for this in my days in Homeopathy College as the colleges GS. I had gone to Delhi (1971-72) and met the then President Shri V.V. Giri at Rashtrapati Bhawan with a delegation. I had demanded that Homeopathy and Ayurvedic systems of medicine, Unani and some other traditional systems of medicine which have been in practice for more than thousands of years, should be given the same status as Allopathy, taking classical cognizance of them. And within five years of my demand, Raj Narayan ji took this decision immediately after taking charge of the Health Ministry, so I went to Delhi and handed over a special thank you memorandum to him.

For me, the most important thing is that, considering the relationship of Jansangh with RSS, I had told respected S.M. Joshi ji during the Emergency, "that we can form an alliance with Jansangh for the elections for the time being, but by merging Socialist Party with this party, the Socialists will suffer a great loss. Because Jansangh is the political unit of RSS. Therefore, it will be a very wrong decision for the Socialists to form a party with a party whose ideological commitment is Hindutva, which is against socialism and secularism and which supports the capitalist system. And in this process, the Socialists will suffer the most. Therefore, an electoral alliance for the time being is fine. But forming a party with Jansangh is absolutely wrong." And that is why I personally was not on the side of Janata Party. And I was made the President of Maharashtra Janata Party for Amravati Lok Sabha on the insistence of JP. So, in that capacity, respected S. M. Joshi ji said that "In your election, I myself will bring JP, Jagjivan Ram and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit to Amravati for campaigning with all my might." But when I did not agree, he requested me to become the General Secretary as the President of Maharashtra Janata Party.. I refused that too. Because today there is no need to tell how wrong the experiment of Janata Party with Jansangh was.

This is why when, within a few days, Raj Narayan ji saw the people of the Sangh interfering with the ministers of the Jana Sangh, he became alert and raised this issue before the formal Prime Minister Morarji Desai. But Morarji Bhai, who had worked as a collector in the British Raj before independence and considered himself more Gandhian than Jawaharlal Nehru and Vinoba Jaiprakash, simply ignored it. As, just before the Gandhi assassination, a police officer named Nagarwala, who was the Home Minister of Mumbai state, had written to Morarji Desai on 30 January 1948, a few days before, "I find the activities of barrister Vinayak Damodar Savarkar suspicious and this man is conspiring to kill Mahatma Gandhi. Therefore, please allow me to arrest him". So Murarji Desai got angry at Nagarwala and scolded him saying "Beware if you touch Savarkar, riots will start in Maharashtra." To bring out how old is Murarji Desais sympathy for Hindutvaists, I am quoting from Manohar Mulgaonkars book The men who killed Gandhi. Anyway, since the Congress was an old religious party, it had an affinity towards RSS.

Rajnarayan ji was the first to raise the issue of dual membership within the party. But some people, in their greed for power, did not like what Rajnarayan ji said. So Rajnarayan ji resigned from his ministerial post. And came into the role of opposition against the government of his own party. And was trying to create public awareness on the issue of dual membership in the entire country. But since the media was full of RSS people from the very beginning, a special, fast-paced campaign was launched to tarnish the image of Rajnarayan ji. And seeing all this, he raised the flag of rebellion in July 1979 and broke the Janata Party and formed Janata Party Secular. And brought down the government of Morarji Desai. However, Madhu Limaye was fighting the battle intellectually regarding RSS in this work. And in the initial days, George Fernandes was supporting him. Who later went on to play the role of Hanumanji of RSS. And he has supported the Gujarat riots in the Lok Sabha. And he has given a clean chit to the incident of burning of Father Graham Staines and his two children, who had come from Australia and was serving the lepers of Manoharpukur of Kandhamal district of Orissa 25 years ago. I am shocked to see this phase of political downfall of George Fernandes in the last political innings of his life. Because I have seen with my own eyes the dissolution of the party of secular, socialist and more famous than Rajnarayan ji, socialist party in the presence of the last president of Samajwadi Party, George, in the lawn of Vitthalbhai Patel in Delhi with Acharya Kelkarji. And I myself was present in Gandhinagar from 27 February 2002 to 2 March, right from becoming the president of NDA in the new century to the state sponsored riots in Gujarat. And Narendra Modi, despite George being the defense minister, did not allow the army to come out of Ahmedabad airport for 24 hours. What responsibility was our countrys defense minister discharging in Gujarat when he told this to three thousand soldiers and their commander, Lieutenant General Zameeruddin Shah? And George Fernandes, who saw the Gujarat program with his own eyes, giving a speech in support of the Gujarat riots in the Lok Sabha, I felt that this was the beginning of George Fernandes political suicide. Therefore, in the fight against dual membership, Raj Narayan and Madhu Limaye both put their political careers at stake and fought against the Sangh. And the media wing of the Sangh has tried to tarnish the image of these two socialist leaders by running a program to destroy their idols. Therefore, our dear friend Shahnawaz Qadri sahab has spent money from his own pocket on Raj Narayan ji, which is a sign of his loyalty and commitment towards Raj Narayan ji. In this 512 page book, apart from memoirs, ideological articles, interviews given by Raj Narayan ji, articles written by Raj Narayan ji himself, and 144 pages of information have been given on the issues raised on 31 important issues about his parliamentary work from the Parliamentary Library. He has played a historic role in his parliamentary life on very important and important issues of the country. Any amount of praise for Shahnawaz Qadri sahab for providing very important information in the form of documents is less. Special heartfelt thanks to our friend Shahnawazi for doing the important work of highlighting the neglected swan of Indian politics.

I myself was present with Acharya Kelkar in the conference organized at Vithalbhai Patel Lawn, Delhi, for the merger of Socialist Party into Janata Party. The party was dissolved under the chairmanship of George Fernandes. Perhaps Acharya Kelkar would have been there at the time of the formation of the party (in 1934 in Nasik). I came into this world nineteen years later (in 1953) and hence I did not get a chance to be present at the time of its establishment. But I want to say that it is the irony of time that since the childhood of my heart, due to Rashtra Seva Dal, I was watching with my own eyes the conference of the merger of a party close to me. And I and Acharya Kelkar were forced to see that immersion in a very sad state of mind, as if seeing the dearest person of our life being burnt in fire.

13 March 2025, Nagpur.
An Indian student at Columbia University who had their visa revoked was seen 'self-deporting' after the Trump administration cracked down on students believed to be supporting terrorist groups.

The Justice Department is investigating whether Columbia concealed 'illegal aliens' on its campus, as the Trump administration intensified its campaign to deport foreigners who participated in anti-Israel protests that plagued the school last year.

Earlier this week, Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian man with a green card, was detained by ICE for his role in the demonstrations.

The Trump administration said Friday it had revoked the visa of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian citizen and doctoral student at Columbia, for 'advocating for violence and terrorism.'

Srinivasan entered the United States on a F-1 student visa as doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University.

They were involved in activities supporting Hamas, a terrorist organization. On March 5, 2025, the Department of State revoked her visa.

The Department of Homeland Security obtained video footage of Srinivasan using the CBP Home App to self-deport on March 11.

Officials didnt say what evidence they had that Srinivasan had advocated violence.

An Indian student at Columbia University who had their visa revoked was seen 'self-deporting' after the Trump administration cracked down on students believed to be supporting terrorist groups

The Trump administration said Friday it had revoked the visa of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian citizen and doctoral student at Columbia, for 'advocating for violence and terrorism'

'It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live & study in the United States of America,' DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said.

'When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked and you should not be in this country. I'm glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathizers use the CBP Home app to self deport.'

CBP Home is 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 administration's campaign to encourage 'self-deportations,' touted as an easy and cost-effective way to nudge along President Donald Trump's push to deport millions of immigrants without legal status.

'The app provides illegal aliens in the United States with a straightforward way to declare their intent to voluntarily depart, offering them the chance to leave before facing harsher consequences,' Pete Flores, the acting commissioner for U.S Customs and Border Protection, said in a statement.

A third Columbia student, West Bank native Leqaa Kordia, was arrested by ICE officers in Newark, New Jersey for overstaying an expire F-1 student visa.

Her visa terminated on January 26, 2022, for lack of attendance.

Previously, in April 2024 Kordia was arrested for her involvement in what DHS termed 'pro-Hamas' protests at Columbia University in New York City.

'It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live & study in the United States of America,' DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said

Agents with the Department of Homeland Security searched two Columbia residences with a warrant Thursday evening.

No one was arrested and it was unclear whom the authorities were searching for, but by Friday afternoon U.S. officials had announced developments related to the two people they had pursued in connection with the demonstrations.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, speaking at the Justice Department, said it was all part of the president's 'mission to end antisemitism in this country.'

'Just last night, we worked with the Department of Homeland Security to execute search warrants from an investigation into Columbia University for harboring and concealing illegal aliens on its campus,' Blanche said.

'That investigation is ongoing, and we are also looking at whether Columbias handling of earlier incidents violated civil rights laws and included terrorism crimes.'

Blanche didn't say what evidence agents had of wrongdoing by the university. It was unclear whether he was accusing the school itself of 'terrorism crimes' or saying that people involved in the protests had committed such crimes.

Khalil, 29, a Palestinian who was born and raised in Syria, helped to lead protests against Israel at Columbia last year.

He also acted as a negotiator between students and university officials.

Mahmoud Khalil, 29, a Palestinian who was born and raised in Syria, helped to lead protests against Israel at Columbia last year

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.

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.'

The president accused Khalil of being 'pro-Hamas' and Rubio declared the U.S. would revoke visas and green cards of 'Hamas supporters in America.'

Khalil's supporters say his arrest is an attack on free speech, and have been staging protests in the city and across the country.

He was being detained at an immigration detention center in Louisiana, where he has remained after a brief stop at a New Jersey lockup.

Khalil has not been charged with a crime. He is also married to a U.S. citizen. His wife is eight months pregnant.

His arrest has ignited a fierce debate over whether the Trump administration violated his First Amendment rights by detaining him and trying to deport him.

A brief hearing on Wednesday largely focused on jurisdiction, but one of Khalil's lawyers told the judge that they have not been able to have a single attorney-client protected phone call with him.

Rubio fired back at critics of Khalil's arrest, saying that it is 'not about free speech.'

'When you come to the United States as a visitor, which is what a visa is, which is how this individual entered this country, on a visitor's visa, you are here as a visitor. We can deny you that visa,' the U.S. top diplomat argued.

If someone said they intended to come to the U.S. as a student 'and rile up all kinds of anti-Jewish student, anti-Semitic activities' and shut down universities, they would be denied the visa, Rubio said.

He added: 'If you actually end up doing that once you're in this country on such a visa, we will revoke it.'

Rubio also said if they end up on a green card with such activities, the U.S. will kick someone out.

'This is not about free speech. This is about people who don't have the right to be in the United States to begin with,' the secretary of state said.

'No one has a right to a student visa. No one has a right to a green card,' Rubio added.

He said the U.S. can deny one for 'virtually any reason.'

That included 'being a supporter of Hamas and coming into our universities and turning them upside down, and being complicit in what are clearly crimes of vandalization, complicit in shutting down learning institutions.'
A South Carolina businessman accused by Rep. Nancy Mace of being part of a group of 'sexual predators' is now suing her for defamation.

Brian Musgrave, one of four businessmen whom the South Carolina congresswoman claimed were involved in sex trafficking and in filming non-consensual nude videos of women - including herself - filed a scathing lawsuit against the politician on Thursday.

The complaint, filed in a South Carolina federal district court, denied all of Mace's previous allegations.

'These men didnt just harm their victims; they recorded their depravity as if it were a badge of honor,' Mace alleged during a blistering House floor speech on February 10. 'These men arent just criminals  theyre predators.'

Mace, 47, made a series of allegations of sexual abuse and voyeurism against the four 'predators,' Musgrave, her ex-fiance, Patrick Bryant, and two other South Carolina men.

All of the men have denied any wrongdoing.

'Now, it is with unbridled disgust that Brian Musgrave through this lawsuit is forced to utter the words: "I am not a rapist." "I am not a predator." "I am not a sex trafficker," the complaint states, according to The Hill.

'Through this action, Brian Musgrave seeks to recover that which has been wrongfully taken from him  his good name and reputation,' the lawsuit continues.

Brian Musgrave (right), 51, filed a scathing lawsuit against Rep. Nancy Mace on Thursday

Nancy Mace, 47, a South Carolina congresswoman, claimed the four men were involved in sex trafficking and in filming non-consensual nude videos of women - including herself

Musgrave is the Chief Executive Officer at Teamphoria - an employee engagement software company

The Republican politician claimed to have found a hidden camera on a property owned by Bryant and Musgrave which had intimate photos of women, allegedly taken without their knowledge or consent.

Mace also claimed that she 'blacked out' for the first and only time in her life after being served 'two small vodka sodas' by her ex and one of his business partners at a property co-owned by Musgrave.

The complaint acknowledges that Musgrave jointly owns the South Carolina condo with the congresswomans ex-fiance, who is described as Musgraves longtime friend.

However, the suit claims that Musgrave did not place the camera, never had access to it and was not present for any of what Mace alleged.

Musgrave however was not accused of the most serious offenses that Mace listed in the blistering House floor speech, such as being raped after having 'blacked out' one night, believing she was 'purposefully incapacitated.'

But she listed Musgrave along with the other three men and their photos on a sign she displayed on the House floor that read: 'Predators.'

Filed in federal court in Charleston, the lawsuit names Mace and five unnamed people - who are alleged to have conspired with her - as defendants.

The businessman seeks damages in an amount to be determined by a jury.

The damages he seeks would be 'sufficient to impress upon the defendant the seriousness of her conduct and to deter such similar conduct in the future,' the suit reads.

Mace made a series of allegations of sexual abuse and voyeurism against the four 'predators,' Musgrave, her ex-fiance, Patrick Bryant, and two other South Carolina men, during a blistering House floor on February 10

The Republican politician claimed to have found a hidden camera on a property owned by Bryant and Musgrave which had intimate photos of women, allegedly taken without their knowledge or consent

Mace, who presented no evidence during her remarks, is shielded from potential criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits by the Constitutions speech and debate clause, which provides lawmakers with immunity for 'acts taken within the legislative sphere.'

Musgrave's lawsuit, however, will be a major test for the Speech and Debate protections granted to lawmakers.

The law firm representing Musgrave in his complaint, Bland Richter, acknowledged the constitutional protection, but said it aims to 'test the legal limits of that protection.'

'Musgrave contends the mere fact Ms. Mace was elected to serve as a United States Congresswoman does not grant her the power to destroy a mans reputation with impunity and use the hallowed floor of the House of Representatives as a sanctuary to destroy him,' a statement released by Bland Richter reads.

The law firm added that Mace 'rejected the repeated offers simply to retract her allegations against Brian Musgrave and apologize' before the lawsuit was filed.

'She has elected instead to litigate these matters. Truth is the defense to defamation. Brian Musgrave welcomes the truth,' Bland Richter said, the New York Post reported.
A partially buried body has been identified as a man suspected to have been involved in the drug trade.

Johnny Birch's body was discovered on Gleness Place, Glenorie, in Sydney's northwest on Friday.

His family reported the 40-year-old missing on Thursday morning before he was found in a paddock wrapped in a tarp. Detectives arrested two men and a woman at the property the following day.

The two men, aged 24 and 34, and the 35-year-old woman were taken to Castle Hill Police Station where they still remain despite no charges being laid.

Police said there may be charges once the post-mortem of Birch's body is done in the next few days.

The forensics team was at the scene on Saturday morning, as well as the dog squad but it's still not clear how long the body was in the paddock or when Birch was killed.

Detective Superintendent Naomi Moore said police found the body when they went to the address while investigating Birch's disappearance.

'We had information from the family,' Detective-Supt Moore said.

The body of Johnny Birch's body was discovered in Sydney's northwest on Friday.

Police said items covering Birch's body had delayed attempts to exhume him.

An unidentified relative said a cousin of Birch had found his body after becoming worried about him.

'He'd been missing for a short time and they went looking for him,' the relative said.

'They obviously knew something about where he was going.'

The family said Birch had been to prison a few times and was likely involved in the drug trade.

'He had a few issues,' a relative said. 'He was a good family man but what he did [outside] of family was a bit shaky.'

Strike Force Halderen has been formed to investigate the death and detectives are looking at CCTV footage from around Gleness Place.

It's believed Birch was trying to break into an associate's car at the Glenorie property before his death.

Anyone with information about Birch's death is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
One million people are set to lose their disability payments amid Labour's cost-cutting crackdown on benefits - causing uproar within the party.

The huge changes to the welfare system, due to be announced next week, are tipped to see only the most severely disabled people qualify for support amid an overhaul of eligibility criteria.

Cuts to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), for those with a long-term condition which causes them to struggle with mobility or every tasks, will account for the bulk of the 5billion savings.

The upheaval will also see payments slashed for many people with mental health conditions, those needing a hearing aid and people who struggle with basic daily processes like eating, washing and dressing themselves.

The changes are expected to affect around one million people - and will be applied both to people claiming disability payments for the first time and existing recipients, as reported by the Times.

Sir Keir Starmer insists benefits cuts are urgently needed as the welfare bill is 'going through the roof', while Chancellor Rachel Reeves said on Friday the government must 'get a grip' on the system. Ministers say savings will be used to bolster employment support and the basic rate of universal credit.

But Labour MPs have reportedly criticised the move - including deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and energy secretary Ed Miliband, who raised concerns in cabinet.

Even work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall is said to be 'unhappy with the scale of proposed cuts', the New Statesman reported earlier this week.

An announcement on the measures had been expected last Wednesday - but has been delayed until next week amid a major operation to win over backbench sceptics. Many have spoken out against cuts to PIPs in particular, which disability charity bosses have called 'deeply damaging', 'devastating' and 'a disastrous move'.

One million people are set to lose their disability payments amid Labour 's cost-cutting crackdown on benefits - causing uproar within the party. Pictured: File photo

Sir Keir Starmer insists benefits cuts are urgently needed as the welfare bill is 'going through the roof'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said on Friday the government must 'get a grip' on the system

The reforms also include getting rid of the 'work capability assessment' for benefits based on incapacity for work and preparing people with long-term sickness for work.

Ms Kendall is also expected to cut the top rate of benefits for those deemed unfit to work, which currently stands at more than 800 per month - twice the jobseekers' rate.

But sweeping changes to the eligibility criteria for PIPs, paid out regardless of whether the person is working, will account for the bulk of the changes.

Around 3.2million people claim PIPs - up by more than a million since 2019. Roughly five million people are expected to be claiming them by the end of the decade.

The government has suggested making those changes in particular is not desirable but nevertheless necessary - the cost of PIPs is forecast to increase by 15billion in real terms by 2030.

Ministers are still battling the budget watchdog as they work out how much of the 5billion savings can be used so the government does not need to make any more cuts or raise taxes any further this month.

But it is known that some of the savings will be used to raise the basic rate of universal credit and create a bumper 1billion package of employment support.

This is a 'moral' move, the government has said, to facilitate and incentivise people getting into work.

But Labour MPs have criticised the move - including deputy prime minister Angela Rayner (pictured), who raised concerns in cabinet

Even work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall (pictured) is said to be 'unhappy with the scale of proposed cuts'

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PIPs - the major controversy of the package - are currently awarded on a points system, with applicants getting scored based on how difficult they find certain everyday and mobility-related activities.

The number of points they get determines the grant they receive. Amounts range between 1,500 and 9,600 a year.

But from now on, applicants will need to score at least four points on at least one activity to qualify for being considered for a payment. The need for a hearing aid does not meet the threshold.

Those who need help to wash their hair or body below the waist would not qualify for support - but those who need help to wash their upper body would. Needing help going to the toilet would meet the threshold - but those who need reminding to use it would not.

Those who need help cooking a meal would qualify for support - but those who could use a microwave would not. Needing to be reminded to see people face-to-face would not be supported - but needing help to actually have those interactions would.

Applicants who get the four points needed to qualify for being considered would then need to get another four points on top of that to get the lower rate - and another eight to get the higher one.

Making the eligibility criteria more exclusive in this way is also expected to hit those with mental health problems hard, who account for 37 per cent of new PIP awards - up from 28 per cent pre-pandemic.

Mental health problems are thought to be the reason behind a doubling in the number of under-40s claiming disability benefits.

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An announcement on the measures was expected on Wednesday - but has been delayed until next week amid a major operation to win over backbench sceptics. Pictured: File photo

While the Conservatives focussed on making it harder for those with mental health problems to get a PIP, Labour is not expected to do this.

But Tom Pollard, head of social policy at thinktank New Economics Foundation, said there is 'concern' among ministers that burgeoning PIP numbers are being partly driven by people claiming for 'less severe mental health conditions and neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and ADHD'.

So, he thought it was 'likely' changes to eligibility criteria would 'target this group'.

Campaign director of disability charity Scope, James Taylor, called the PIP proposal 'deeply damaging': 'Tightening the assessment would be a disastrous move and result in hundreds of thousands more disabled people being pushed into poverty.'

He added that it would 'have a devastating effect on disabled people's health, ability to live independently or work'.

Speaking on a visit to Hull earlier this week, Sir Keir said: 'The welfare system as it's set up, it can't be defended on economic terms or moral terms.

'Economically, the cost is going through the roof. So if we don't do anything, the cost of welfare is going to go to 70 billion per year. That's a third of the cost of the NHS.

'That's more than the Home Office and our prisons combined. So we're making choices here.'

Speaking on a visit to Hull earlier this week (pictured), Sir Keir said: 'The welfare system as it's set up, it can't be defended on economic terms or moral terms'

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Rachel Reeves said, on a visit to Scotland yesterday morning (pictured), that it was 'absolutely clear that the current system is not working for anyone'

Rachel Reeves said, on a visit to Scotland yesterday morning, that it was 'absolutely clear that the current system is not working for anyone'.

She said: 'It is not working for people who need support, it's not working to get people into work so that more people can fulfil their potential, and it's not working for the taxpayer when the bill for welfare is going up by billions of pounds in the next few years.'

She added: 'So, we do need to get a grip. We need to spend more on national defence, but we need to reform our public services, and we need to reform our broken welfare system.'

But No10 has been 'shocked' by the scale of Labour opposition to the proposal to cut disability benefits to save 5bn and get hundreds of thousands of people who can work into jobs.

An announcement on the welfare system reforms was expected on Wednesday - but was delayed until next week to make time to win over sceptics in the party.

Dozens are said to have used private meetings in No10 to lay out their shock at the level of the cuts planned and urge a rethink.

In Hull, the PM said: 'We've set up a system that basically says, "If you try the journey from where you are into work and anything goes wrong, you'll probably end up in a worse position when you started". And so understandably, many people say, "Well, I'm a bit scared about making that journey". Therefore we're baking in too many people not being able to get into work.'

He denied that the combination of slashing the welfare bill and reducing NHS bureaucracy amounted to a return to the huge cuts of the Coalition government.

Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell (pictured), who now sits as an independent MP after rebelling against the Labour whip, told Times Radio: 'There are a number of people and I can understand their concerns completely to say, actually, we're not operating like a Labour government'

His predecessor Ed Balls (pictured) added: 'Cutting the benefits of the most vulnerable in our society who can't work to pay for that - is not going to work'

Rachel Reeves said, on a visit to Scotland yesterday: 'The bill for welfare is going up by billions of pounds in the next few years'

'There is no return to austerity. I said that to you before the election, and we're not going to austerity,' the PM told Sky News.

But former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who now sits as an independent MP after rebelling against the Labour whip, told Times Radio: 'There are a number of people and I can understand their concerns completely to say, actually, we're not operating like a Labour government.

'And that by introducing cuts in welfare, some people are saying, well, we're going back to austerity. They say it's almost like George Osborne all over again.'

His predecessor Ed Balls added: 'Cutting the benefits of the most vulnerable in our society who can't work to pay for that - is not going to work. And it's not a Labour thing to do... It's not what they're for.'

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.'

Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan (pictured) warned against a rerun of 'austerity' suggesting the government should 'tax the super-rich' instead

Energy secretary Ed Miliband (pictured) has expressed his concerns about the move in cabinet

Leader of the commons Lucy Powell (pictured) has joined him in expressing worries over the scheme

Sir Keir has been inviting all Labour MPs into No 10 to explain the 'future of the welfare system' in roundtable talks hosted by the Downing Street Policy Unit aimed at heading off a Commons rebellion.

But one former frontbencher told the Mail the meeting was unhelpful and 'contained no details'.

'It's hard to say what the proposals actually are or whether the roundtables will have an effect on them. I'll have to wait for the detail,' the MP said.

Ms Angela Rayner, Mr Miliband and leader of the Commons Lucy Powell are said to have expressed their concerns in cabinet about the proposed changes too.

Sir Keir was faced with grumbling at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday night, as he argued that Brits were being incentivised not to work.

Although the government's huge majority means Sir Keir can force through measures a big rebellion would still be damaging.

During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir was told by Labour backbencher Richard Burgon to make the 'moral' choice and introduce a wealth tax.

This was instead of 'making the poor and vulnerable pay' by cutting benefits for disabled people, the left-wing MP added.

During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir was told by Labour backbencher Richard Burgon (pictured) to make the 'moral' choice and introduce a wealth tax

Sir Keir replied: 'The party opposite left a broken welfare system, which locks millions out of work, that is indefensible, in my view, economically and morally'

'Disabled people in my constituency are frightened,' Mr Burgon told the PM.

'And they're frightened because they're again hearing politicians use the language of tough choices.

'They know, from bitter experience, when politicians talk about tough choices it means the easy option of making the poor and vulnerable pay.

'So instead of cutting benefits for disabled people, wouldn't the moral thing to do, the courageous thing to do, be to make a real tough choice and introduce a wealth tax on the very wealthiest people in our society?'

Sir Keir replied: 'The party opposite left a broken welfare system, which locks millions out of work, that is indefensible, in my view, economically and morally.

'Of course, we need to support people who need support, we need to help those who want to work to get back into work, and I think there's a moral imperative in that.

'He talks about a wealth tax, we have raised money  the energy profits levy, taxing non-doms, and air passenger duty on private jets.

'But this isn't a bottomless pit, and we must kick-start growth to get the economic stability that we need.'

11-time Paralympic gold medallist Tanni Grey-Thompson (pictured) has been among those to criticise the upheaval to the benefits system too

Rachael Maskell (pictured), the Labour MP leading a rebellion against cuts to welfare, has also expressed fears about disabled people feeling pressure to end their lives

11-time Paralympic gold medallist Tanni Grey-Thompson has been among those to criticise the upheaval to the benefits system too.

Mentioning the assisted dying bill currently under scrutiny by a committee of MPs before returning to the Commons for further debate and a vote, she said combining it with the welfare squeeze was 'extremely worrying'.

Baroness Grey-Thompson, a crossbench peer, told Times Radio: 'If you are disabled and terminally ill and your benefits are cut, making life intolerable, it's obvious more people will feel forced down this route to end their lives early.'

Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP leading a rebellion against cuts to welfare, also expressed fears about disabled people feeling pressure to end their lives.

She said: 'I'm deeply concerned about the intersection we have about hearing that the social security is going to be cut for people whilst at the same time we're talking about legislation.'

Similarly, Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney, who sits on the committee scrutinising the assisted dying legislation, warned combining it with welfare cuts would create a 'perfect storm' for the disabled.

Downing Street on Thursday refused to guarantee that the welfare changes would not adversely affect people who are unable to work because of severe disabilities, in comments likely to add to Labour MPs' fears.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'I think we've always been clear that clearly we need a system that protects those who cannot work but we also need to fix the broken welfare system that has put welfare spending on an unsustainable path.'

Similarly, Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney, who sits on the committee scrutinising the assisted dying legislation, warned combining it with welfare cuts would create a 'perfect storm' for the disabled

The sickness and disability bill for working-age adults has already risen by 20bn since the pandemic. Pictured: File photo

Pressed again, the spokesman said: 'You'll see the changes shortly, but we will always have a system that protects people who need protecting and we will always have a system that ensures that those who cannot work get the support they need, but I'm not going to get ahead of the reforms that we're set to bring forward.'

The sickness and disability bill for working-age adults has already risen by 20bn since the pandemic and the Office for Budget Responsibility has predicted that the annual cost is on course to reach 100.7bn by 2029-30, up from 64.7bn in 2023-24.

Sir Keir lashed out at the current 'indefensible' welfare system as he was challenged over potential cuts during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.

He told MPs: 'I come from a family that dealt with a disability through my mother and brother over many years.

'So I do understand the concerns that have been raised... but we inherited a system which is broken.

'It is indefensible, economically and morally, and we must and we will reform it. We will have clear principles, we will protect those who need protecting.

'We will also support those who can work, back to work, but Labour is the party of work, we're also the party of equality and fairness.'

The DWP has described the welfare system as 'broken', saying: 'We have a duty to get the welfare bill on a more sustainable path and we will achieve that through meaningful, principled reforms rather than arbitrary cuts to spending.'

A DWP spokesperson said: 'We have been clear that the current welfare system is broken and needs reform, so it [is] fairer on the taxpayer, helps long-term sick and disabled people who can work to find employment, whilst ensuring it provides support for those who need it most.

'We have a duty to get the welfare bill on a more sustainable path and we will achieve that through meaningful, principled reforms rather than arbitrary cuts to spending.

'Thats why as part of our Plan for Change we will bring forward our proposals for reform shortly that will unlock work to help us reach our ambition of an 80 per cent employment rate and is fairer for all.'
The Prime Minister has accused Vladimir Putin of 'playing games' by delaying a ceasefire deal.

Sir Keir Starmer said the Russian President was 'not serious about peace', evidenced by his apparent disregard for Donald Trump's proposed ceasefire plan.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky accused Putin on Friday of procrastinating ceasefire talks to enable Russia to make further advances on the front line.

And Putin has spoken of Russia's advancement across 'practically' the whole front line, claiming his soldiers have surrounded thousands of Ukraine's troops in Russia's Kursk region.

'We can't allow President Putin to play games with President Trump's deal,' Sir Keir said.

'The Kremlin's complete disregard for President Trump's ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace.

'If Russia finally comes to the table, then we must be ready to monitor a ceasefire to ensure it is a serious and enduring peace.

'If they don't, then we need to strain every sinew to ramp up economic pressure on Russia to secure an end to this war.'

Keir Starmer (pictured on Thursday) has accused Vladimir Putin of 'playing games' in ceasefire talks

The Kremlin has rejected ceasefire proposals put forward by Ukraine and the US (Putin pictured in March)

The PM will host further talks on a peacekeeping force for Ukraine on Saturday.

He is expected to hold a video call with as many as 25 potential members of the 'coalition of the willing' - nations that have agreed to take part in a peace plan.

The meeting comes as Russia continues to resist proposals for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire put forward by Ukraine and the US earlier in the week.

While Putin has agreed to the 'correct' principle of a ceasefire, he insisted that it must come with a promise from Ukraine to abandon attempts to join Nato and give up control of Russia-controlled regions.

Sir Keir said: 'Putin is trying to delay, saying there must be a painstaking study before a ceasefire can take place, but the world needs to see action, not a study or empty words and pointless conditions.

'My message to the Kremlin could not be clearer: stop the barbaric attacks on Ukraine once and for all and agree to a ceasefire now.

'Until then we will keep working around the clock to deliver peace.'

As the negotiations continued, Trump claimed he was 'getting pretty good vibes' from Russia on the prospect of a ceasefire.

Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump in a disaster meeting at the White House in February

Trump (pictured this month) said he had asked Moscow to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region

He said on Friday that he had asked Moscow to 'spare' the lives of Ukrainian soldiers who are 'surrounded' in Russia's Kursk region.

The Ukrainian armed forces have firmly denied that their troops have been encircled in Kursk, where Kyiv staged an incursion last year in a bid to secure a bargaining chip for possible talks and change the dynamic of the conflict.

Ukrainian troops fighting in Kursk have been urged to surrender by Putin after Trump urged Russia not to kill them.

Moscow has recaptured the vast majority of territory seized by Kyiv in its cross-border assault into Kursk last August, including in a rapid counteroffensive over the last week.

Putin insisted that Ukrainian forces in Kursk would be 'guaranteed life and dignified treatment' if they laid down their arms.

He said in a televised address: 'We are sympathetic to President Trump's call.

'If they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment.'

But he added: 'In order to effectively implement the US president's call, (there needs to be) a corresponding order from Ukraine's military-political leadership to its military to lay down their arms and surrender.'

Zelensky (pictured on Wednesday) accused Putin of procrastinating ceasefire talks to enable Russia to make advances on the front line

Putin (pictured on Thursday) insisted Ukrainian troops in Kursk would be guaranteed life if they laid down their arms

During Saturday's call hosted by Starmer, leaders will receive updates from countries regarding the aid they could provide.

G7 allies are united in calling for a ceasefire with 'no conditions' to halt the fighting in Ukraine in a bid to pile pressure on the Kremlin, Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said.

Lammy demanded Russia accept a Ukraine ceasefire with 'no conditions' on Friday as he attended the summit in Canada.

But while a joint statement by G7 foreign ministers on Friday 'reaffirmed' support for Ukrainian sovereignty and emphasised the need for security guarantees, it stopped short of condemning Russia's invasion or attributing acts of 'aggression' to Moscow.

It comes after Trump hinted on Friday that World War III could 'very easily' erupt and would prove to be 'a war like no other' involving nuclear weapons if peace talks over Ukraine failed.

Speaking to the Justice Department he said: 'I think we have it, I think we have it, but this could lead to World War III, very easily, could very easily lead to World War III.

'But I think we're in pretty good shape, a lot better than where we were before we got involved.

'That was heading into World War III territory. That would've been a war like no other because of nuclear weapons and other types of weapons that you don't even wanna know about.'

David Lammy (pictured on Thursday) demanded Russia accept a Ukraine ceasefire with no conditions

The PM will host further talks on a peacekeeping force for Ukraine on Saturday (Pictured in 2024)

Amid the peace talks, Britain has been cast as public enemy number one in Russia as relations between Washington and Moscow appear to be thawing.

Furious rhetoric against London is ramping up at the same time as experts have warned that Putin could attack the UK.

The war of words has seen Russia's intelligence agency label Britain a 'warmonger' and 'perfidious Albion', while top Kremlin officials have blamed Sir Keir and his government for trying to derail Trump's efforts at a peace deal.

Meanwhile a diplomatic war is also being waged, with Moscow expelling a British Embassy official and the spouse of another diplomat after accusing them of spying - allegations London called 'baseless'.

The head of Britain's MI6 Secret Intelligence Service has warned that Moscow is using 'staggeringly reckless' sabotage methods on British soil.

And earlier this month three Bulgarians were found guilty of being part of a Russian spy unit operating in the UK.
Australia's youngest-ever murderer issued a withering, defiant stare to onlookers as he strode free from prison on Saturday morning - less than 24 hours after a judge dismissed a last-ditch legal bid to keep the child-killer locked up.

The now 37-year-old was just 13 when he murdered three-year-old toddler Courtney Morley-Clarke on the NSW Central Coast in January 2001.

SLD - as he is now known - has been granted lifetime anonymity to prevent the public from being able to identify him despite his horrific crime.

After serving a 20-year sentence, SLD was briefly released in Wollongong NSW in September 2023 before he swiftly returned to custody after breaching conditions.

But with the current interim detention order ending this Saturday, an official bid to keep him in jail was heard in NSW Supreme Court this week.

On Friday, Justice Mark Ierace sparked confusion when he delivered a two word verdict that sparked chaos: 'Application denied.'

It was initially unclear exactly what was meant by the decision, triggering chaotic scenes as officials clarified that he had refused the NSW Government's application for extended detention, and was releasing SLD, subject to his original supervision order.

SLD walked free from Long Bay Prison, in Sydney's inner-south, at 10.18am on Saturday, wearing a red flannel shirt and blue trousers and accompanied by two other men.

Australia's youngest-ever murdered (pictured in the red chequered shirt) has walked free from prison after killing three-year-old toddler Courtney Morley-Clarke on the NSW Central Coast in January 2001

The 37-year-old child-killer - who has been granted anonymity for life - strode to a waiting car while staring down news photographers and other onlookers

Courtney Morley-Clarke was just three-years-old when she was murdered

He stared down news cameras as they captured his first moments of freedom while walking to a waiting car with his personal effects - and what appeared to be a bundle of legal papers - in a clear plastic bag.

After clambering into the sedan's back seat next to one of the men, he continued to glare at photographers and other onlookers before he was driven away from the prison.

While SLD did not speak during the last-minute two-day hearing leading up to his release, he did send a chilling warning to his lawyer from his Long Bay holding cell.

On Wednesday morning, his lawyer wished SLD a happy birthday as the killer sat solemnly in front of the video link.

After a brief pause, he bowed his head towards the microphone.

'Better get out,' he replied ominously, before returning to the same expressionless pose he maintained throughout the day.

During the hearing, psychiatrists noted that the killer, who is fixated with getting revenge for perceived wrongs, could act violently if he felt he was unfairly treated.

Murderer SLD, who later boasted about the killing, was released on Saturday more than two decades after his evil crime sent shockwaves through the country

SLD carried his meagre personal items in a clear plastic bag after being released from Long Bail jail in Sydney's inner-south

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.

On Tuesday, Justice 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.

Justice Ierace had options to impose a continuing detention order to keep him behind bars for another 12 months, or granting the extended supervision order.

While there are conditions around his release, SLD has previously admitted that he would be prepared to kill again if something 'big' took place.

In a chilling warning, he added: 'If I kill someone, it won't be a child.'

His frightening confession and string of violent offences, which includes choking a nurse while jailed, were all considered by Justice Ierace.

After SLD was last released in September 2023, he was back behind bars after just a few weeks later after he was caught approaching women with young children at Bulli Beach in Wollongong, NSW claiming he wanted a date.

Aged 13 years and 10 months, SLD snatched Courtney in the middle of the night and stabbed her through the heart before leaving her body in long grass 300m from her home (pictured)

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.

SLD had issued a chilling prison cell warning in the days leading up to his release: 'Better get out'

Justice Mark Ierace refused the state's application for detention, reverting to his original supervision order

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.

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.
Donald Trump spent some quality time with Elon Musk's son X as the two boarded Marine Force One together.

The president was spotted walking side-by-side with the exuberant four-year-old on the White House's South Lawn on Friday.

He then helped the youngster, whose full name is X  A-Xii, up the stairs onto the aircraft.

X was joined by his father Musk, a senior adviser to the president who spearheads the Department of Government Efficiency.

The group were on their way to Palm Beach, Florida where the president is expected to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

Donald Trump spent some quality time with Elon Musk son's X as they boarded Marine Force One

Trump was on his way to Palm Beach, Florida where he was expected to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort

X was joined on the presidential aircraft by his father Elon Musk, a senior adviser to the president

The four-year-old, whose full name is X  A-Xii, looked at home as he bounded up the stairs on Friday

Elon Musk was spotted chatting to Trump before they departed the White House and the Tesla boss boarded Marine One shortly after the president and X

Elon Musk chats with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick as they walk with White House Communications Director Steven Cheung and White House deputy chief of staff for policy and US homeland security advisor Stephen Miller on the south lawn of the White House on their way to board Marine One

The president took off as NASA's beleaguered mission to rescue two stranded astronauts finally launched, setting the stage for a happy ending to the nine-month-long saga.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully took off Friday night from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, on a mission to deliver four new astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

The new team is scheduled to arrive at the station on late on Saturday. Once there, astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will finally be able to return to Earth at some point on or shortly after March 19.
Swathes of private schools are being forced to cut staff, reduce bursaries and narrow the range of subjects they teach in a bid to keep the books balanced following Labour's VAT raid on fees, a new poll shows.

Some of the country's most prestigious private schools are being hit hard with cost cutting measures seeing pay, pensions and jobs being axed.

The policy means private schools must pay a 20 per cent VAT tax on their fees with the knock-on consequence that less popular subjects such as Latin are being removed from the curriculum to save money.

Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed in her Budget speech in October that the policy would be introduced this year despite bitter opposition branding it a 'tax on education'.

Now a straw poll has revealed the measure's impact on private schools since it was introduced.

The majority of 84 schools polled said they had applied at least 11 per cent of VAT onto fees since January.

Nineteen revealed they had reduced the range of subjects taught, while 24 had changed or withdrawn contributions into the Teacher Pension Scheme.

Meanwhile, more than a third said they were making staff redundant, while 50 were not renewing contracts.

Swathes of private schools are being forced to cut staff, reduce bursaries and narrow the range of subjects they teach in a bid to keep the books balanced following Labour 's VAT raid on fees, a new poll shows (file pic)

Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed in her Budget speech in October that the policy would be introduced this year despite bitter opposition branding it a 'tax on education'

Some of the country's most prestigious private schools are being hit hard with cost cutting measures seeing pay, pensions and jobs being axed (file pic)

Some private schools were partnering less with state schools or reducing the number of trips offered to pupils as a result of the VAT charge.

Elsewhere, two-thirds (53) were reducing bursaries and 52 were putting new facilities or building projects on hold, the survey conducted by The Times showed.

St Joseph's School, an independent school located in Reading, said the number of Year 7 pupils accepting places were 20 per cent down on last year, adding: 'As a school that has worked to maintain its fees below the rest of the market, to try and keep independent education within reach of as many families as possible, it seems that this policy is hitting our parents the hardest.'

Westbourne House, a prep school in West Sussex, predicted that pupil numbers would fall as a result of the VAT changes.

Many schools are also bracing themselves for the coming months, with headteachers predicting parents will pay up this year but may well be considering alternatives for their children next year.

Critics of the VAT charge, which will hit parents 2,000 each per pupil on average, have branded it a 'tax on aspiration' and warned it will simply force more parents to send their children to the already overburdened state sector.

Official data suggests an exodus is already underway, with 124 local councils in England, Scotland and Wales receiving 3,011 applications from private school pupils to move to a state school between June 1 and September 9.

The figures, obtained in Freedom of Information requests, are likely to understate the scale of private school exits given a further 83 councils either did not respond or said they did not have the data.

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Independent Schools Council (ISC) chief executive Julie Robinson has accused Labour of 'underestimating' how many privately educated pupils would leave as a result of the policy, with the Treasury previously predicting the figure would be 3,000 for the entire 2024-25 academic year.

Prince William's old school Eton put fees up by 20 per cent from 17,583 to 21,100 per term, while at Harrow and Marlborough fees are roughly 60,000.

Sir Keir Starmer's government justifies the VAT tax by arguing the money raised from it can be reinvested in the state school system.

However, if parents with pupils at private schools decide they cannot afford the fees, they are likely to move their children into state schools which will increase already overly large class sizes.

In January, Godolphin Prep, in Salisbury, Wiltshire, announced it would be shutting at the end of the school year.

The private school, which opened in 1993 and charges 12,196 per year, told parents that surviving had become 'particularly precarious' due to the introduction of VAT on school fees.

A letter to parents seen by the Salisbury Journal said: 'The future for stand-alone prep schools is particularly precarious at present; not only due to the introduction of VAT on fees but also in terms of ensuring we remain at the cutting edge.'

Pupills, made up of girls aged between three and 11, will transfer to the nearby Chafyn Grove and will be automatically handed places at the senior school at Godolphin.

Maidwell Hall (pictured), a co-educational prep school in Northamptonshire that Princess Diana's brother went to, announced it would be shutting in July

Loughborough Amherst School, a Catholic boarding school for boys and girls aged 4 to 18 that began in 1850, said the 'economic reality' made it no longer viable

The school blamed declining pupil numbers too, telling parents: 'In the current climate, ensuring each pupil is able to enjoy the full range of learning and socialising opportunities becomes much harder to deliver.'

In December, Immanuel College Prep School, a private Jewish school in Hertfordshire, said it was closing in light of 'unprecedented financial pressures'.

Dominic Norrish, the chief executive of the Independent Association of Prep Schools, said: 'The true impact will take several years to fully surface and will see more of the smallest and affordable schools close.'

A government spokesman said: 'Through our Plan for Change we are determined to break down the barriers to opportunity children face, driving high and rising standards across education. Our teachers are integral to that mission.

'Ending tax breaks for private schools will raise 1.8bn a year by 2029-30 to help deliver 6,500 new teachers and raise school standards, supporting the 94pc of children in state schools to achieve and thrive.'
A former Miami school police officer is set to spend up to 30 years in prison for shooting her cop ex-boyfriend in the head outside of his home in November 2022.

Yessenia Sanchez, 35, who had a history of domestic violence with her ex-boyfriend, Damian Colon, pleaded guilty to stalking and first-degree attempted murder in the November 2022 shooting of the since-retired Miami-Dade Police officer.

As part of the plea deal, Sanchez was sentenced to 30 years in prison with a maximum of 25 years.

In addition, Sanchez must undergo 30 years of probation following her release and must stay away from Colon.

Sanchez admittedly used an app to stalk her estranged boyfriend, who was off-duty at the time, to his family's home in the 1200 block of West 79th Street in Hialeah on November 1, 2022.

The pair, who had been in a seven-year relationship at the time, had been arguing before home surveillance footage shows the then 32-year-old unholster a gun and shoot her ex-boyfriend in the head before taking off.

While attempting to escape, Sanchez crashed her car, abandoned it and fled on foot before being apprehended, the Miami Herald reported.

Sanchez was charged with attempted first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking and leaving the scene of an accident.

Yessenia Sanchez, 35, who had a history of domestic violence with her ex-boyfriend, pleaded guilty to stalking and first-degree attempted murder in the November 2022 shooting of the since-retired Miami-Dade Police officer

Sanchez and her ex, Damain Colon (pictured), who had been in a seven-year relationship at the time, had been arguing before home surveillance footage shows the then 32-year-old unholster a gun and shoot him in the head before taking off

Police identified her through the video surveillance and she later confessed to the shooting, admitting she had used GPS to track her ex-lover.

The former school officer had been arrested the year before, in September 2021, on domestic violence charges related to an altercation with Colon.

During the heated altercation Sanchez reportedly threatened herself with a gun and a knife, threw a ceramic object at Colon, before punching and scratching him and slashing his car tires.

Sanchez reportedly resigned from her school officer position later that month, in lieu of termination, according to the Miami-Dade School District.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle issued a statement after Friday's sentencing, claiming no one is immune to the 'horror' of domestic violence, not even law enforcement officers.

'No one is immune to the terror and horror of domestic violence,' Rundle said in a statement after the sentencing. 'Former police officer Yessenia Sanchez's shooting of her ex-boyfriend, another police officer, sadly proves this point.'

Sanchez was charged with attempted first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking and leaving the scene of an accident. Pictured: Yessenia Sanchez in court on Friday

Home surveillance footage shows the then 32-year-old unholster a gun and shoot her ex-boyfriend in the head before taking off

While attempting to escape, Sanchez crashed her car, abandoned it and fled on foot before being apprehended, the Miami Herald reported

'Her violent act displayed the sheer explosion of aggression inherent in every incident of domestic violence,' she continued.

'Sanchez's 30-year sentence cannot restore the physical damage she did while trying to kill the man she once claimed to have loved. Sadly, those scars will last forever.'

Colon, who retired from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office last week, was in the courtroom when Sanchez accepted the plea deal, along with his family members and friends.

'They ended my career. I wouldn't have ended my career, but she ended my career and she knows that very well. My career wasn't going to be ending,' he said through tears.

Colon added that while justice may have been served, Sanchez destroyed his life and that of his family.

'I think justice is served,' he said. 'She got what she deserved and she should've gotten more, but I'll take what she got.

The former school officer had been arrested the year before, in September 2021, on domestic violence charges related to an altercation with Colon.

Colon (in blue), who retired from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office last week, was in the courtroom when Sanchez accepted the plea deal, along with his family members and friends

'Thank God for my family, for everyone who has been there for me. It's been tough. But without them I probably wouldn't have gotten through this,' he added.

Colon's brother, David Colon, also spoke out in court, addressing the woman who nearly took his brother's life.

'I want to tell you that you have destroyed our family. You have destroyed someone full of life, [and] full of plans with a bright future. You did that,' he said.

'I hope you don't have one day of peace,' the furious brother continued. 'I hope you suffer every single day for the rest of your life and may God make you live a very long life so you could suffer for what you've done.'
Tesco's new anti-shoplifting devices have left customers bewildered as they question how a piece of plastic could deter would-be thieves.

The contraptions are positioned loosely in front of store items and in footage uploaded to social media are seen being freely slid from left to right to uncover the goods.

A strange creaking noise is also a feature of the appliances which in the video shield boxes of chocolate like Ferrero Rocher and Milk Tray.

Taking to TikTok, many users had strong opinions on Tesco's latest initiative.

One person said: 'How does this stop shoplifting?'

Another added: 'So you can slide it over and get what you need. So how is going to stop shop lifters?'

Others said they believed a solution would be to make the items more 'affordable' rather than upping the security.

Someone said sarcastically: 'Let's not try and just simply make this affordable so people buy instead of stealing.'

The contraptions are positioned loosely in front of store items and in footage uploaded to social media are seen being freely slid from left to right to uncover the goods

Tesco 's new anti-shoplifting devices have left customers bewildered as they question how a piece of plastic could deter would-be thieves

Others feared the devices looked flimsy and that they could easily 'snap'.

One person commented: 'Thieves don't care, they'll just break them off or take longer to take things. Doesn't matter whether barriers, gates, these, tags. They'll steal if they want to steal.'

But not everyone was so critical. George Young claimed he used to have the devices in his store and they 'definitely work'.

He explained: 'They definitely work as someone who had these in their store it takes the thieves longer to get to everything so they might steal 10 bars instead of 30 and if they do go for more it gives security time.'

Another added: 'It's a deterrence mechanism, individuals are less likely to come in and make a quick theft from Tesco because of those stupid slidey things so they will go elsewhere.'

Earlier this week, fuming shoppers complained they felt like criminals as they were 'herded like cattle' through Tesco's new giant trolley scales - another anti-shopping lifting initiative.

The British Retail Consortium says theft from stores is 'out of control' costing shops 2billion a year.

But the scales idea went down badly in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, when MailOnline visited in the first UK store where they were being trialled.

New 'anti-shoplifter' trolley scales are being trialled at a Tesco in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear

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One shopper emerged close to tears after the weight of the trolley did not match her self-scan receipt and she suffered the 'humiliation' of having her bags re-scanned.

She told MailOnline: 'I felt like a criminal. It was completely humiliating and I won't be using that service again.'

A study this week found nearly a quarter of the UK population have witnessed shoplifting in the last 12 months.

The figure is the equivalent of more than 16 million people seeing such an event, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Opinium poll.

It is perhaps no surprise as the statistic follows figures revealed by the Mail on Sunday in September 2023 that theft takes place every two seconds in Britain.

MailOnline has contacted Tesco for comment.
A state-owned water supplier has been accused of wasting more than $8million on advertising and sponsorships - at the same time it claims it needs to up bills by 50 per cent.

Figures released in state parliament showed Sydney Water spent just over $7million on advertising campaigns and sponsorships in 2023-24 and more than $1.5million so far this financial year.

The splurge came as the organisation, which is owned by the NSW government, sought to increase water bills by 18 per cent in the next financial year.

It also wanted to add seven per cent in prices rises each year after that.

Sydney Water is allowed to spend $5million on water conservation but a campaign starring Olympic gold medallist Jess Fox focused on its work rather than helping households conserve water.

The corporation defended its price hike when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.

'Sydney Water is one of the cheapest water utilities of any capital city in Australia and we remain committed to ensuring we keep costs as low as possible while continuing to provide world-class water to customers,' a spokesperson said.

'A litre of tap water costs $0.002 compared to bottled water at around $3 per litre.'

Olympian Jess Fox (far right) has featuring in advertisements for Sydney Water

Sydney Water says it's had to spend money on advertisments due the fear of 'forever chemicals' discovered in the city's water catchments

But Independent MLC Rod Roberts quizzed the need for all the advertising given Sydney Water had no business competition.

'Sydney Water is a monopoly so why does it need to advertise,' he told News Corp.

'That money would be better used in the reduction of bills or replacing ageing infrastructure.'

In ads, Fox explained to taxpayers how Sydney's water was filtered, cleaned and tested by experts.

Sydney Water spent more than $3million on water conservation campaigns last year and $261,000 on 'water literacy communications'.

It also splurged $2.1million on a wastewater campaign and $442,000 on 'sponsorships'.

In 2025, more than $1million has been spent on water conservation and $414,000 on sponsorships.

Sydney Water has also had to deal with a stack of complaints after the discovery of 'forever chemicals' in the city's water catchments.

Jess Fox has been an ambassador for Sydney Water since 2021

Sydney Water said the cancer-linked chemicals, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), were below acceptable levels for safe drinking water and met Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

PFAS are called forever chemicals because they don't break down.

In defending the advertising spend, Sydney Water said the reporting of PFAS had an impact on public's trust in its tap water.

'The current campaign focuses on the quality of Sydney's water and the high level of filtration, treatment, and testing which occurs to ensure our water is fresh, clean and safe,' a spokesperson said.

'It is also crucial to communicate the safety of Sydney's tap water to customers and visitors who come from countries where tap water is not safe.

'The current Jess Fox campaign has been tailored for radio and social ads, showcasing multiple families from diverse culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, all united by their journey with water.'
Donald Trump had to shake off a bizarre moment when a boom microphone whacked him in the face during a press gaggle at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

Trump was addressing the media before leaving the DC-area following his speech at the Department of Justice Friday in which he slammed the press.

However, Trump was in high spirits as he got ready to leave the area and took a question about the situation in the Middle East.

All of the sudden, the reporter's boom microphone - a mobile, soft, fuzzy but large mic that allows reporters to get sound when people are moving around - hit Trump in the mouth.

Trump had to close his eyes to avoid further contact and leaned away from the boom.

Eventually, however, he was able to see the funny side as it got moved further back from the president.

'She just made television tonight. She just became a big story tonight,' Trump said of the mic operator.

He asked while unable to stop from laughing: 'Did you see that?'

Donald Trump had to shake off a bizarre moment when a boom microphone hit him in the face during a press gaggle at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland

Trump was in high spirits as he got ready to leave the area as he took a question about the situation in the Middle East. All of a sudden, the boom microphone - a mobile, soft, fuzzy but large mic that allows reporters to get sound when people are moving around - hit Trump in the mouth

Trump was praised by his supporters for how he dealt with the awkward scenario on camera.

'A reporter just HIT President Trump with a microphone. But 47 handled it like a PRO,' wrote one.

Others were a little more concerned that the mic was able to get so close to the president.

'President Trump was just smacked in the face by a reporter's boom mic. Unreal these people. Have some respect,' said Trump booster Charlie Kirk, who added that the president handled it 'gracefully.'

'How on earth did a reporter get that boom mic so close to Trumps face? This just doesnt seem right. Security should tighten up. Embarrassing for the press,' wrote Laura Loomer.

It came after Trump's speech at the Department of Justice in Washington was clear that the media had been biased against him, complaining at one point that some reporting by the news media is 'illegal.'

'These networks and these newspapers are really no different than the highly paid political operative. And it has to stop. It has to be illegal. It is influencing judges and it is really changing law and that just cannot be illegal. I don't believe it is legal,' he said.

Trump specifically had it out for the cable news networks like MSNBC, which he referred to with his traditional disdain.

Trump had to close his eyes to avoid further contact and leaned away from the boom. Eventually, however, he was able to see the funny side as it got moved further back from the president

Trump was praised by his supporters for how he dealt with the awkward scenario on camera, although others were a little more concerned that the mic was able to get so close to the president

'I believe that CNN and MSDNC, who literally write 97.6% bad about me, are political arms of the Democrat Party. And in my opinion, they are really corrupt and they are illegal. What they do is illegal.'

There were a few hundred people in the audience for his remarks - all of them ardent Trump supporters.

He often railed against the 'weaponization' of the government against him, referring to the federal investigations into him.

Trump has felt empowered by a Supreme Court ruling that gives presidents immunity for any act conducted while they are in office.

He has filled the Justice Department top ranks with loyalists and his own personal defense attorneys.

These include Pam Bondi, who defended him at his impeachment trial in his first term, and two of his lawyers in the porn star hush money trial that saw Trump convicted by a New York judge last year.

In one of her first directives following her confirmation, Bondi ordered DOJ officials to 'zealously defend' the interests of the presidency.

She escorted Trump into the department when he arrived to give his remarks. She showed him his official portrait on the wall.

President Donald Trump speaks at the Department of Justice

Attorney General Pam Bondi escorted President Donald Trump into the Justice Department and showed him his official portrait on the wall

'That's a nice picture,' Trump said.

The president and the other speakers delivered their remarks beside a pile of boxes and packages labeled as 'DEA Evidence.' The podium was flanked by signs with the message: 'Fighting Fentanyl in America.'

The packages represented 180 kgs of fentanyl, which Bondi noted could kill 90 million people - the population of Texas, California and Florida - in its pure form.

More than 200 local sheriffs, law enforcement officials, staff from Capitol Hill offices, families impacted by the fentanyl epidemic and others wearing red 'Make America Great Again' caps gathered to hear from Trump.

Two angel moms - families of victims killed by illegal immigrants - were also present.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Senator Bill Cassidy were spotted in the crowd.

The crowd was asked to sit in the hall for hours before Trumps' arrival, but they were provided a table of deli sandwiches, pretzels, chips and popcorn to help pass the time.

Some of Trump's favorite rally music also filled the space with hits from Elvis, the Beach Boys, the musicals Grease and Phantom of the Opera and the Luciano Pavarotti and James Brown version of It's A Man's World blaring as guests waited for the president.
Authorities have warned millions of residents of the increased threat of bushfires over the weekend as large swathes of the country swelter amid an early autumn heatwave.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the blistering conditions were driven by hot winds emanating from the centre of the continent.

Temperatures are 6C above the March average and parts of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia could go past 40C.

Adelaide is set to cop the worst of the heat with tops of 39C on Saturday while it will surge past 41C in it's outer northern suburbs.

The bureau warned the combination of the heat and windy conditions across SA made the threat of bushfires real.

'It could be quite dangerous in some areas,' the bureau's Jonathan How said.

High fire danger warnings have also been put in place for Victoria and southeastern parts of NSW.

'Multiple bushfires are burning across the state this morning, particularly in the southwest, with a number of advice warnings in place,' a VicEmergency statement read.

The Bureau of Meteorology says heat was driven by hot winds coming from the centre of the country

Residents have been told to 'stay informed' as a heatwave brings the right bushfire conditions

'An Air quality warning is also current for smoke from fires burning at Budj Bim National Park and Lower Glenelg National Park.'

Bushfire warnings have been issued for Breakaway Creek, Lake Condah and Macarthur in Victoria's west.

A bushfire was reported near Marysville, northeast of Melbourne, on Saturday morning, which was not under control.

Residents in Buragwonduc, Crookayan, Glencairn, Glenfalloch, Koorool, Licola, Licola North, Nap Nap Marra, Sargood, Tamboritha, Worrowing, Wrathung, Wrixon have been told to 'stay informed' as an out of control bushfire was reported at the Mt Margaret Walking Track in the Alpine National Park.

'There is currently no threat to local communities, but you should continue to stay informed and monitor weather conditions and warnings,' VicEmergency said.

Despite the bushfire threat, Victoria will be slightly cooler than SA with temperatures forecast to reach 34C in Melbourne and up to 37C in the outer suburbs on Saturday before cooling off on Sunday.

Temperatures will get to 32C in Sydney on Saturday, but edge towards 40 (37C) in Richmond and Penrith.

On Sunday the city is expected to reach 37C as is western Sydney but it should be just 23C on Monday as the heatwave eases.

Canberra will cop warm weather with temperatures anticipated to get to 35C on Saturday and 33C on Sunday.
As JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon pushes forward with an uncompromising return-to-office mandate, hundreds of JPMorgan employees have quietly banded together in what is shaping up to be a full-blown corporate mutiny.

But the workers are not gathering in boardrooms or on the office floor but in secret encrypted chat groups in a kind of digital underground.

A growing network of frustrated bankers and managers are plotting a response to the company's strict return-to-office (RTO) orders.

It all began shortly after JPMorgan's January announcement that all employees would be required to return to office five days a week, beginning in March.

Within days, employees created private group chats on encrypted apps such as Signal, with one chat ballooning to several hundred members, all venting and strategizing on what to do next.

The group, described as 'extremely active', buzzes with over 100 messages a day, as employees share what little they know about how Dimon's RTO demands will be enforced.

'There's a depressingly small amount of official information within JPMC,' one participant in the group said to Business Insider. 'We have to go find the information, it is not being broadcast.'

Last week a six-page document bearing JPMorgan branding surfaced in the chat, causing immediate uproar.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is pushing forward with an uncompromising return-to-office mandate that started earlier this month

Hundreds of JPMorgan employees have quietly banded together in what is shaping up to be a full-blown corporate mutiny against Dimon

The document appeared to outline a harsh system of escalating punishments for employees who defy the five-day in-office rule, including possible termination after a limited number of absences.

Insiders say the tool is already being used to spot and target employees who don't toe the line.

The discontent is rampant across departments and seniority levels, with employees sharing concerns about surveillance, privacy, and the feasibility of a five-day office mandate, particularly in offices that don't even have enough desks or parking spaces to accommodate everyone.

Some offices, overwhelmed by capacity issues, are still quietly maintaining hybrid schedules, even as Dimon, 68, publicly insists on full-time attendance.

Some JPMorgan workers are now considering more aggressive steps, including unionizing.

Some employees are said discussions with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the same labor group that successfully unionized two dozen Wells Fargo branches in a historic move for Wall Street.

JPMorgan declined to comment on the document's specifics, but a spokesperson confirmed to Insider: 'If employees are not meeting the expectations, there will be ramifications  just like any other performance issue.'

The bank has also introduced sophisticated employee surveillance tactics that have only added a new layer of anxiety.

Employees have created private group chats on encrypted apps such as Signal, with one chat ballooning to several hundred members, all venting and strategizing on what to do next

Dimon has made it clear he does not care if his employees protest, he wants them in the office

Employees in the group chat have exchanged alarming details about internal tracking tools that monitor their every move, from color-coded calendars that flag suspicious patterns (such calling in sick every Friday) to heat maps showing productivity metrics measured hour by hour.

'It's impossible to put a number on productivity on a minute-by-minute basis,' one software engineer in the group chat stated. 'So much of what we do is about communication, learning, planning, and investing. The only quantifiable measures take weeks to materialize.'

JPMorgan insists there is no 'firmwide heat map' tracking individual productivity, but confirmed the use of an 'attendance tool'.

'For several years now, we have had a transparent attendance tool that is available for all employees and managers to view and record their time, including vacation days, sick days, work from home, and travel,' a bank spokesperson said.

In public, Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase for the last two decades, has made no secret of his tough stance on returning to the office.

In a February interview with CNBC, he acknowledged that the mandate could drive employees away and appeared unfazed, signaling that he's willing to lose talent to enforce his vision of office culture.

While speaking at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business last week, Jamie Dimon, 68, said he's 'had enough' of working from home and that it 'doesn't work' in his business

'I've listened to the leaked audio clip that was circulating on X about your opinions on remote work,' the student divulged before probing the chairman on his much-disputed stance

Last week, while speaking at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business DImon said he's 'had enough' of staff working from home and that it simply 'doesn't work' in his business.

A graduate student asked Dimon 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 X 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?'

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.'

Dimon also said one reason he wanted people back in the office was that 'younger people are being left behind.'

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

'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.'

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 more polite take on remote work comes after audio leaked of him shouting down an employee who asked a question about the return-to-office mandate at the February 12 town hall.

Among other things, Dimon was furious that 950 staffers had signed a petition against the new five-day in-office policy.

'Don't waste time on it. I don't care how many people sign that f***ing petition,' he said.

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.
The rescue of an emaciated man from inside the burning home where he had allegedly been locked up by his stepmom for 20 years was captured in a harrowing video.

The footage shows the moment the 32-year-old was carried to safety from the flaming building in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Police said the man deliberately started the fire on February 17 as a means of escape from the 8-foot-by-9-foot room he had allegedly been shut in since he was in the fourth grade.

His stepmom Kimberly Sullivan, 56, has been accused of inflicting 'prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment' on the man, who weighed just 69 pounds, while standing at 5 feet, 9 inches, according to authorities.

Prosecutors said he was 'akin to a survivor of Auschwitz's death camp' at the time he was rescued.

The clip shows the heartbreaking moment he was rescued from the flames as Sullivan looked on.

'Who else is in the house?' a first responder can be heard asking her.

'My stepson is in here, I'm trying to have them help him out,' she replies. 'I have two cats.'

Harrowing footage shows the moment an emaciated son was rescued from a burning house where he had allegedly been locked up by his stepmom

He weighed just 69 pounds, while standing at 5 feet, 9 inches, when rescued according to the authorities

Kimberly Sullivan, 56, posted $300,000 bail on Thursday and was released from custody after appearing in Waterbury Superior Court, Connecticut

The officer then ushers her down the road out of harms way as she yells back towards the house.

'My dog is shaking,' she says while stumbling down the street. 'My dog, my dog...'

'I know, I know,' the first responder interjects as he keeps trying to get her out of the way.

At that moment a firefighter appears carrying the limp body of her stepson into a waiting ambulance where he is bundled inside.

Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said at a press conference on Thursday that the man faces a long road of physical and mental treatment.

He told authorities he was given two cups of water a day, but was sometimes forced to drink out of the toilet.

He said police are supporting him, including taking up a collection to buy him clothes and other items.

The man told police that he was constantly hungry. When he was in school, he would ask classmates for food, steal food and eat out of the garbage.

Sullivan subjected the man to 'prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment' officials said

Authorities say the man, who is now 32, was held captive for over 20 years inside this home

According to medical personnel the man was near starvation and had wasting syndrome a condition of weight loss and muscle deterioration. The inside of the home is seen here

In later years when he was out of school and confined to the house, he would get two sandwiches a day and some water while locked in his room.

The warrant also adds that the victim's living conditions deteriorated when his father died last year.

The police's only interactions with the family were in 2005, the chief said. One was a welfare check after children who attended school with him before he was pulled out expressed concern about him.

Sullivan's lawyer Ioannis Kaloidis said she denies any wrongdoing.

'She completely maintains her innocence, from our perspective. These allegations are not true. They are outlandish. She was blown away when she heard these allegations,' Kaloidis told NBC Connecticut.

'We look forward to being able to vindicate her and show that shes done nothing wrong.'

Sullivan, 56, posted $300,000 bail on Thursday and was released from custody after appearing in Waterbury Superior Court. Her next court date is March 26.
Tucker Carlson says he believes InfoWars reporter Jamie White may have been assassinated by Ukraine and thinks that Donald Trump could be next on the list.

Carlson's grave concerns emerged during a conversation with retired US Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor.

The pair dissected the rapidly escalating global tensions surrounding the Ukraine conflict, recent drone strikes in Moscow, and noted a disturbing pattern of alleged Ukrainian covert operations, including the assassinations of critics.

Earlier this week it was revealed how journalist White's brutal killing outside his Austin, Texas home occurred while he was trying to stop thieves breaking into his car.

But Carlson and Macgregor suggested there may be far more sinister forces at work than random criminals.

'It feels like we're on the brink of something really catastrophic,' Carlson said. 'Some kind of global war.'

While official police reports have described White's killing as a violent robbery gone wrong, Carlson and Macgregor pointed to a darker possibility that White, an outspoken critic of the Ukrainian government, may have been targeted for the killing.

'An Alex Jones staffer was just murdered two days ago, who was on some list put together by the Ukrainian government or its supporters of critics,' Carlson explained.

'He was murdered outside of his house. I don't think it's crazy to think, given the number of assassinations they've pulled off or attempted, that he was killed by them.'

Tucker Carlson says he believes InfoWars reporter Jamie White may have been assassinated by Ukraine and thinks that Donald Trump could be next on the list

Carlson's grave concerns emerged during a conversation with retired US Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor

White, 36, was a veteran reporter at Alex Jones' InfoWars, had frequently criticized American involvement in the Ukraine war and slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

White, 36, a veteran reporter at Alex Jones' InfoWars, had frequently criticized American involvement in the Ukraine war and slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

According to Macgregor, this outspokenness may have put him directly in the crosshairs of Ukraine's shadowy intelligence services - namely the SBU, Ukraine's secret police, which he described as 'running around threatening everyone who has criticized Ukraine.'

While Austin Police have not confirmed any link to Ukraine, and White's own family has said they don't believe he was targeted for his work, but White's boss Alex Jones disagrees.

'It could have been a hit,' Jones said earlier this week. 'We need to investigate. This is a journalist that has been killed, it should be investigated. I think Pam Bondi [United States attorney general] should look into it.

'The Austin Police Department admitted they are totally overwhelmed, I am asking the Trump administration. It's a good chance it could have been the more I am talking about it. We need to investigate, I am asking the Justice Department to investigate.'

In perhaps the most chilling moment of the discussion, Carlson asked whether such brazen attacks on American soil could extend to US leadership - and Macgregor did not hesitate to say yes.

'I would be very worried about our president,' Macgregor responded gravely. 'These people seem to know no sense of limitation. They are capable of anything. I am sure the Secret Service knows and Kash Patel and the FBI.'

Throughout their exchange, Carlson and Macgregor painted a grim picture of a rogue Ukrainian state operating outside of US control, lashing out violently as it faces a looming defeat on the battlefield.

Macgregor argued that the Ukrainian government, realizing its war with Russia is lost, has turned to 'acts of vengeance' including terror attacks inside Russia, and possibly the assassinations of Western critics.

In perhaps the most chilling moment of the discussion, Carlson asked whether such brazen attacks on American soil could extend to US leadership - and retired US Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor, pictured, did not hesitate to say 'yes'

Tucker Carlson's grave concerns emerged during a conversation with retired US Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor in which the pair suggested Trump could be on 'a list' to be assassinated

Smoke and flames rise from a car after Russian airstrike on Kherson, Ukraine on Friday. Russia dropped a guided aerial bomb on the central part of the city. A medical institution, social infrastructure facilities and shops were damaged as a result of the attack. One person was hurt

'It could have been a hit,' Jones said earlier this week. 'We need to investigate. This is a journalist that has been killed, it should be investigated. I think Pam Bondi should look into it

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'

'The Ukrainians are not in the same category as the Russians - they seem to be a rogue organization now,' Macgregor said, suggesting Ukraine's tactics may have now shifted into desperation and chaos.

Both Carlson and Macgregor expressed disbelief the US has not stepped in to end the war and remove Zelensky, whom they portrayed as a puppet propped up by Western intelligence agencies.

The pair went further as they suggesting that US political figures critical of Ukraine may now be in real danger.

Carlson, never one to shy away from controversy, did not downplay the idea either and instead encouraging viewers to consider the disturbing possibility that Ukraine's reach may already extend into the heart of America's political system.

His warnings appear to resonate with a growing segment of Americans who believe something far darker is unfolding.

'A truly wise man. Such an important perspective. Thank you,' wrote one user.

'Macgregor is a true patriot that drops brutal truth bombs in every interview he's in,' added another.
A Melbourne restaurant worker has described the harrowing moment her colleagues tried in vain to save the life of a wounded machete attack victim.

It was about 8.30pm on Friday evening when a 24-year-old man from Clyde was attacked by about 10 men armed with edged weapons including machetes.

Police said the man was chased on foot before being assaulted and stabbed repeatedly in a loading zone of a Lyndhurst shopping centre.

After suffering what would prove to be fatal injuries, the bruised and bloodied man stumbled to a nearby restaurant for help.

Workers at Crust Pizza in the Marriott Waters Shopping Centre offered what medical assistance they could despite knowing the man's wounds were likely fatal.

'They tried to help but the cuts were so big there was not much they could do,' an employee who was not working at the time told Daily Mail Australia.

'He was bleeding so much.'

Workers immediately called emergency services and told dine-in customers to evacuate, the employee said.

Forensic investigators were pictured examining a car outside the shopping centre on Friday

CCTV footage obtained by the Herald Sun depicts men running across the street on Friday

The man had suffered 'big cuts' to his stomach and groin and was lying unmoving on the ground by the time the ambulance arrived, she said.

Asked whether her colleagues had been affected by the incident, the employee said they had all been 'shaken up'.

The victim, whose full name has not yet been released, is believed to have been alone in a parked silver Honda Civic when the men approached his vehicle.

Police said he attempted to drive away after a brief 'dispute' with the men before crashing his car into another vehicle.

The 24-year-old then attempted to flee on foot before being caught by the armed assailants.

Police believe the attack was targeted, sparking fears of a retaliatory attack.

Armed Crime Squad detective inspector Adam Tilley told reporters on Saturday police were investigating whether the attack was gang-related.

'There is always a concern when someone is harmed in the community  if they are affiliated to a gang or a group, there is always a concern of retribution, retaliation,' he said.

A Crust Pizza employee said her colleagues had tried to help the injured victim (stock)

Police believe the 24-year-old was likely targeted, sparking fears of a retaliatory attack

'Im not saying that this incident is linked to two gangs but any incident that plays out in this nature involving machetes or edged weapons is a concern to us.'

A crime scene was established around the Marriott Waters Shopping Centre carpark where investigators were pictured examining a silver sedan.

Mr Tilley said some of the alleged attackers fled the scene in the Hyundai which drove north on Society Avenue.

'We are seeking the public's assistance to please come forward with any information and to contact Crime Stoppers,' he said

'We do believe at this stage  this was a targeted attack and that the parties were known to each other.'

Mr Tilley said the victim's family had been left 'traumatised' by the attack.

Witness and Lyndhurst resident Abhijeet Singh, 35, told the Herald Sun he had seen a 'group of ten to 20 young people gathered around a silver sedan.'

'Within seconds, something happened and they were running in every direction, all screaming the same word.'

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen announced a proposed ban on machetes at a Victoria Police Headquarters presentation on Thursday

'That's when I saw two guys running towards the Subway, one of them had a machete in his hand.'

The detective inspector said the incident was 'extremely confronting' for residents of the rapidly-developing south Melbourne suburb.

He said he was unable to comment on the extent of the injuries but added they were likely 'horrific' based on the weapons involved in the attack.

Asked whether any arrests had yet been made, Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia they had 'nothing to add'.

The attack comes within days of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen announcing plans to ban machetes with penalties of two years in prison or fines over $47,000.

If passed into law, the ban would take effect from September 2025 along with expanded knife search powers.

'Machetes are destroying lives so we will destroy machetes. The places we meet cant become the places we fear,' Ms Allen said.

'I am listening and I am acting, with Australias toughest bail laws and Australias first machete ban.

'Under my government, community safety comes first and there are consequences for breaking the rules.'
Donald Trump is set to ban people from 43 countries from travelling to the US - with visas from Russia being 'sharply restricted'.

The dramatic memo also sees key allies of Moscow placed under heavy sanctions as Belarusian travellers could see their dreams of travelling Stateside slashed, the New York Times reports.

The explosive immigration proposals come as the US president is wrestling with Putin and Zelensky over a ceasefire in Ukraine - warning last night that World War III could 'very easily' erupt if peace talks failed.

Alongside the warring state a vast swathe of nations from across the globe have been told their governments have 60 days to address deficiencies or they will remain on the list.

A memo shows countries divided into three separate groups - including full visa suspensions and partial suspensions.

Many are from the Middle East and Africa, with Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran and North Korea among the 11 who face the most drastic measures.

In the second group, 10 countries would face partial suspensions that would impact tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions.

And in a third group, a total of 22 countries would be considered for a partial suspension of US visa issuance if their governments 'do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days', the memo said.

A US official cautioned there could be changes on the list and that it was yet to be approved by the administration, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after it was reported on by the New York Times.

For many in America, the policy will hark back to Trump's explosive 'Muslim ban' during his first term in office. Some of the countries in the new proposal were also on the 2017 list, but many more are new.

The dramatic memo also sees key allies of Moscow placed under heavy sanctions as Belarusian travellers could see their dreams of travelling Stateside slashed, the New York Times reports

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The explosive immigration proposals come as the US president is wrestling with Putin and Zelensky over a ceasefire in Ukraine - warning last night that World War III could 'very easily' erupt if peace talks failed

Alongside the warring state a vast swathe of nations from across the globe have been told their governments have 60 days to address deficiencies or they will remain on the list

A group of migrants wait at a border point in Juarez City, Chihuahua, Mexico in December last year

The list of countries that could be banned in full: All travel banned: Afghanistan Bhutan Cuba Iran Libya North Korea Somalia Sudan Syria Venezuela Yemen Visas sharply restricted: Belarus Eritrea Haiti Laos Myanmar Pakistan Russia Sierra Leone South Sudan Turkmenistan Countries have 60 days to address concerns: Angola Antigua and Barbuda Benin Burkina Faso Cambodia Cameroon Cape Verde Chad Republic of Congo Democratic Republic of Congo Dominica Equatorial Guinea Gambia Liberia Malawi Mali Mauritania St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia Sao Tome and Principe Vanuatu Zimbabwe Advertisement

Some of the new additions share similar characteristics with the previous list, in that they are Muslim-majority or nonwhite, poor and are considered to be corrupt, the American newspaper adds.

Critics of the Trump presidency have been left baffled by some of the list, including Bhutan, from which travel is banned. Crime rates are considered to be low in the small Buddhist and Hindu nation, situated between China and India - neither of which appear on the list.

Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the U.S. to detect national security threats.

That order directed several cabinet members to submit by March 21 a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their 'vetting and screening information is so deficient.'

Trump's directive is part of an immigration crackdown that he launched at the start of his second term.

He previewed his plan in an October 2023 speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and 'anywhere else that threatens our security.'

The list is said to have been drawn up several weeks ago by the State Department and had already been reviewed by embassies and regional bureaus.

Their advice is said to include whether the attitudes towards the countries on the memo are based in fact and whether there are policy reasons for not restricting immigration from any.

Rich businessmen or people on immigrant and tourist visas could still be allowed to enter the US on the 'orange' list, where visas are restricted.

But they would first be made to attend mandatory in-person interviews to obtain a travel pass, the New York Times reports.

It is not clear whether people with existing visas or green cards would be exempt from the ban.

The further category includes 22 nations who would be given 60 days to address their supposed deficiencies, before potentially being moved onto the other lists.

These issues are said to include not having enough security in issuing passports, failing to give enough information about travellers or selling citizenships to people from banned countries.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The dramatic new plans come as Trump escalated global tensions as he warned World War III could 'very easily' erupt and would prove to be 'a war like no other' with catastrophic nuclear weapons if peace talks over Ukraine failed.

The US president issued the stark warning last night, while revealing ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine are progressing - but devastation could yet be unleashed if the two nations cannot agree peace terms.

Speaking to the Justice Department he said: 'I think we have it, I think we have it, but this could lead to World War III, very easily, could very easily lead to World War III.

'But I think we're in pretty good shape, a lot better than where we were before we got involved.

'That was heading into World War III territory, that would've been a war like no other because of nuclear weapons, and other types of weapons that you don't even wanna know about.'

Claiming much of the progress had been made since he became president, Trump went on to say that he had been speaking with the Russian premier 'to get the war over'.

He said: 'I think we're doing well with Russia, we're speaking with President Putin, we want to get the war over.'

For many in America, the policy will spark memories of Trump's explosive ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations during his first term in office

Migrants form a caravan in Tapachula, Chiapas state, headed for the US border on January 20, 2025

In a televised address, Vladimir Putin said he would spare Ukrainian forces in Kursk if they laid down their arms

Trump's comments come as Russia continues to pound Ukraine. Pictured: The rubble of destroyed buildings in the frontline city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region

Trump also told his audience that 'maybe' $350billion had been sent to Europe - a figure that analysts believe to be higher than accurate - and that he was on the pathway to a deal where he would be 'getting that back'.

He added: 'We've had some very good calls today with Russia, and with Ukraine, they've agreed to a ceasefire if we can get it with Russia. And it's not easy. It's a tough one.'

The US President continued to claim that at one point 'there would have been no war had I been president. It just 100 per cent would not have happened.'

Trump's comments on Friday came as Ukrainian troops fighting in Kursk were urged to surrender by Vladimir Putin after Donald Trump urged Russia to 'spare' their lives.

Moscow has recaptured the vast majority of territory seized by Kyiv in its cross-border assault into Kursk last August, including in a rapid counteroffensive over the last week.

Putin insisted that Ukrainian forces in Kursk would be 'guaranteed life and dignified treatment' if they laid down their arms.

He said in a televised address: 'We are sympathetic to President Trump's call.

'If they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment.'

But he added: 'In order to effectively implement the US president's call, (there needs to be) a corresponding order from Ukraine's military-political leadership to its military to lay down their arms and surrender.'

Russian forces walk down a street in Kursk region, which was recently retaken from Kyiv

In a social media post, the US President had called on Putin to avoid a 'horrible massacre' and spare the lives of 'thousands' of vulnerable Ukrainian soldiers who he said were 'completely surrounded'.

Mr Trump wrote: 'I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II.'

Kyiv denied Mr Trump's claims that units had been encircled. However Volodymyr Zelensky admitted the situation in Kursk was 'very difficult'.

President Trump's comments on Ukraine and Russia came as he announced earlier on Friday a 'proud new chapter' of the Justice Department that would end the 'weaponization' of government in rambling speech that revisited his old wounds and allowed him to gloat.

'We are turning the page on four long years of corruption, weaponization and surrender to violent criminals and we are restoring fair, equal and impartial justice under the law,' Trump said, standing before the seal of the Department of Justice.

But the main point of his speech was to declare victory over his political rivals and the federal officials who tried to prosecute him.

It was yet another setting for him to repeat his complaints about the cases against him and to mock his vanquished rival, Joe Biden.

Trump described the federal cases against him as 'bulls***,' admitting he was breaking a promise to wife Melania Trump in using the word.

Kyiv denied Mr Trump's claims that units had been encircled. However Volodymyr Zelensky admitted the situation in Kursk was 'very difficult'

'I will not use a bad word. I promised my wife I would never use a bad word,' he said before going on to use an expletive: 'The case against me was bulls***.'

From the campaign onwards, Trump has demonstrated his interest in having control over the department and which investigations it pursues.

The visit is the first by Trump and the first by any president in a decade. The last president to visit the department was Barack Obama, who attended then Attorney General Eric Holder's departure ceremony.

The new ban comes after Trump pledged in his election campaign to order the 'largest deportation effort in American history.'

He vowed to make the border 'strong and powerful,' and said the financial costs  which some immigrant rights groups projected could cost hundreds of billions of dollars  would not be an obstacle.

'It's not a question of a price tag. It's not  really, we have no choice,' Trump told NBC News in November when asked about his plan.

'When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they're going to go back to those countries because they're not staying here. There is no price tag.'

He campaigned heavily on the immigration issue, even featuring grim testimony at his rallies from parents who had children killed by people who weren't in the country legally.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk speak before departing the White House on his way to his South Florida home in Mar-a-Lago yesterday

In his previous time in office Trump banned citizens from eight nations, six of which were predominantly Muslim after a battle with the courts.

Biden revoked these shortly after becoming president in January 2021, calling the so-called 'Muslim ban' a 'stain on our national conscience'.

Trump has since taken action to carry through on his threats, and last week cancelled the green card of Mahmoud Khalil, the Syrian-born Columbia University graduate who led campus protests against the war in Gaza.

Khalil, who is of Palestinian descent, was arrested in one of the first efforts by the Trump Administration to fulfill his promise to seek deportation of some foreign students involved in the pro-Palestinian protest movement, which he has called anti-Semitic.

His arrest has ignited a fierce debate over whether the Trump administration violated his First Amendment rights by detaining him and trying to deport him.

The president accused Khalil of being 'pro-Hamas' and Rubio declared the U.S. would revoke visas and green cards of 'Hamas supporters in America.'

A judge on Monday blocked his immediate deportation, so his legal challenge could be considered.

Khalil has not been charged with a crime. He is also married to a U.S. citizen. His wife is eight months pregnant.

A brief hearing on Wednesday largely focused on jurisdiction, but one of Khalil's lawyers told the judge that they have not been able to have a single attorney-client protected phone call with him.

Hundreds of people have come out in protest of his arrest this week, and Democrats have raised alarms after he was arrested but not charged with a crime.
EXCLUSIVE

A refugee has argued he shouldn't be sent home because of his 'queer identity', after he was caught trying to smuggle more than 10kg of methamphetamine into Australia.

The man is now facing deportation after then Minister of Immigration Andrew Giles cancelled his visa and the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) refused to revoke the decision.

The 33-year-old is serving a jail sentence of four years and nine months for his attempted drug trafficking.

It comes after, 10 years ago, Australia offered him a new life when he arrived by boat at the age of 20.

He spent a year in a detention centre in South Australia and then moved to Sydney, according to court documents. He was granted a Safe Haven Enterprise visa (SHEV) allowing him to remain in the country.

Initially he thrived, meeting a female partner - a fellow refugee - with whom he has a three-year-old son who is an Australian citizen. The couple bought a home while he worked as a security guard, an Uber driver and then a carpenter.

But in 2019 he suffered a workplace injury to his back and had to stop work.

Andrew Giles, then Immigration Minister, cancelled the man's visa in July 2024

In October 2023 the man was convicted in the NSW District Court, Campbelltown, of trying to import 10.21 kg of methamphetamine into Australia

He became addicted to pain medication and started using heroin.

In October 2023 he was caught in a police sting and convicted of trying to bring 10.21 kg of methamphetamine into Australia, with a street value of about $10million - in what he said was a desperate act to help his family.

During sentencing however, he took no accountability for the offending, saying 'Not responsible not my drugs (sic)'.

He was jailed, and in June 2024, Mr Giles carried out the mandatory cancellation of his visa.

But the man challenged Mr Giles' decision in the ART, and last month he was transported from prison to attend the Sydney hearing in person.

His evidence included that he regretted his offending and he needed to support his son, who had autism, and his partner, who suffered from depression, anxiety and obesity.

The ART noted that the man said he was fearful of returning to Iran because of his 'queer identity', and he would be in danger if he went back.

He originally fled Iran because he had a relationship with a man whose mother reported them to the police. He believed if he returned he would be tortured, or even killed, by the Iranian authorities.

In October 2023 he was caught in a police sting and convicted of trying to bring 10.21 kg of methamphetamine into Australia (pictured stock image)

In a decision on Monday, the ART ruled that he did not pass the character test under the Migration Act.

Weighing the guidance of Ministerial Direction 110, the controversial legacy of Mr Giles, the ART could not find any other reason to revoke the visa cancellation.

It found that the 'protection of the Australian community and the expectations of the Australian community' outweighed the interests of the man's partner and child.

The decision will hamper the man's ability to secure another visa, and he may be deported in future.

A previous protection order means he cannot be removed to Iran, but only to a 'safe third country', the decision said.
This is the incredible moment a Ukrainian sniper shot dead a Russian soldier from more than two kilometres away - recording one of the longest confirmed kills in history.

The gunman, known as Lektor, stalked his target for more than four days in heavy rain and strong winds, before eliminating him at a distance of 2,069 metres.

He cleanly took out the Russian soldier with a single bullet from his 338 Lapua Magnum-caliber rifle last December.

Lektor and his team had been camping out for several days when they noticed Russian drones flying overhead as the weather conditions cleared.

They were spying on an enemy unit with high-tech machinery - suggesting the group included high-ranking officers or special forces.

Speaking for the first time this week about his 'extremely difficult' kill, Lektor claimed the hit was a record for the specific weapon and ammunition he used.

Wearing a mask to protect his identity, he told the Kyiv Post: 'Pulling the trigger is all about pure shooting skills and you don't think about anything else.

'Shots like that are rare, especially in real combat conditions, especially with this calibre.

This is the incredible moment a Ukrainian sniper shot dead a Russian soldier from more than two kilometres away

Speaking for the first time this week about his 'extremely difficult' kill, Lektor claimed the hit was a record for the specific weapon and ammunition he had been using

The gunman, known as Lektor, stalked his target for more than four days in heavy rain and strong winds, before eliminating him at a distance of 2,069 metres

'The hit probability was extremely low, but I took the shot and it worked. You have to know your bullet's trajectory inside and out.'

He added that there is no 'room for error' and that if you twitch, a drone will shoot you.

Kyiv's top intelligence chiefs praised Lektor's 'tremendous achievement' this week.

The head of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov said: 'This will go down in the history of our fight for freedom.

'Our snipers are a model of professionalism and focus.'

The longest confirmed kill in history is thought to have been recorded two years ago by fellow Ukrainian sniper Viacheslav Kovalskyi.

He shot a Russian dead from over 3,800 metres away after sitting for hours in poor weather conditions.

Briton Craig Harrison, a sergeant who served with the Blues and Royals in Afghanistan, held the record for the longest confirmed kill from 2009 to 2017 and is the only sniper among that elite club to talk about his experience.

Sgt. Harrison told how he was driven to take the shot while fighting in Helmand province in 2009, when a patrol he was part of came under fire from Taliban fighters.

MailOnline graphic shows the longest confirmed snip shots in history as of November 2022

Firefighters put out the fire at the private houses following a Russian guided air bombs attack in Kherson, Ukraine





During a three-hour shooting match, Sgt. Harrison recalled seeing his friends get stuck in a gulley under heavy fire from a Taliban machine gun that he could see  though the target was well outside his rifle's effective range.

Conditions that day were perfect for long-range shooting: No wind, mild weather, and clear visibility. With eight men at risk of being wounded or killed if he didn't do anything, Sgt. Harrison decided to give it a crack.

After running his calculations, Sgt. Harrison aimed his L115A3 and opened fire  waiting six long seconds to find out if he was right.

He wasn't. The first bullet missed but the Taliban fighters heard it whistle past and broke off their attack to try and work out where it had come from  though, at that distance, it would have been hard to spot Sgt. Harrison even if he had been standing upright.

Making some corrections, he opened fire a second time and after another agonising wait saw one of the jihadists slump to the floor. He was hit by a burst of adrenaline but knew he needed to take out the second man or else the patrol could still be slaughtered.

Somehow, Sgt. Harrison repeated the impossible: Two more shots, and the second fighter was down. The patrol was safe. Later, an Apache helicopter with a rangefinder was sent up over his firing position to measure the distance to the target and came up with 8,120ft  the longest ever confirmed kill at that time.

It was a record that Sgt. Harrison would hold until 2017, when a Canadian sniper fighting ISIS in Iraq bested his effort in spectacular fashion - taking out a militant at 11,319ft.
Refugees granted asylum and now learning to drive have cost taxpayers nearly 30,000 in three years.

More than 20,000 was spent by Kent County Council alone on lessons and tests for refugees in the past 12 months.

The amount was four times higher than the previous year when 5,028 was spent and in 2022/23, 3,567 was spent taking the total over three years to 28,740.

More than 150,000 migrants have arrived in Kent via the Channel, with 4,000 this year.

One local described the figures as 'disgraceful' while protestors have called for the council to stop the payments.

He told the Sun: 'I find it absolutely disgraceful that refugees are being taught to drive at our expense.

'Not only is our council tax rising by five per cent this year, Kent is the front line when it comes to illegal channel crossings. Just how much more will be frittered away?'

More than 20,000 was spent by Kent County Council alone on lessons and tests for refugees in the past 12 months

The amount was four times higher than the previous year when 5,028 was spent and in 2022/23, 3,567 was spent taking the total over three years to 28,740

Benjamin Elks, of the TaxPayers' Alliance, added: 'While working Brits pay through the nose for their own lessons, refugees are having their bill covered.

'Kent County Council should put an immediate end to this scheme, as should any other town hall offering this.'

Kent County Council said only those granted asylum status are eligible for the driving lesson funding.

The council added that care leavers aged 18 to 24 are also supported if they need to learn to drive and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are legally entitled to lessons.
In 2011 Elon Musk said he would put a man on Mars within 10 years. Then he claimed he would send a manned mission by 2024.

Today, he once again scaled back that ambition - promising to send a SpaceX Starship rocket containing one of his Tesla Optimus robots to the Red Planet by the end of next year.

And if that is successful, he predicts he will finally send a human to Mars by as early as 2029 - but admitted that 2031 'is more likely' in a new post on X today.

In order to do that, Musk - last seen at a de facto Tesla sales event in the grounds of the White House with US President Donald Trump - will need to sort the problems haunting Starship, the world's most powerful and theoretically re-usable rocket.

Posting on X to mark the 23rd anniversary of SpaceX's founding in March 2002, he once again made a fresh promise as to when man might finally expect to reach Mars.

'Starship departs for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus,' he wrote, quoting a fawning video made by another X user showing SpaceX rockets exploding during several failed launches.

'If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely.'

But SpaceX faced setbacks earlier this month when its latest Starship prototype exploded minutes after liftoff after the booster separated.

Elon Musk - seen in an 'Occupy Mars' t-shirt at a pre-election event in support of Donald Trump - says he will send a rocket to Mars by the end of next year

Starship seen in a launch earlier this month. The top half of the rocket went into a spin and broke up eight minutes after launch

Musk has made multiple commitments to creating a human colony on Mars - gradually pushing the date back year by year

The Starship rocket is made up of two parts: its Super Heavy booster, designed to send the rocket into the atmosphere, and the Starship spacecraft carrying passengers or payloads.

Both are designed to be reusable, engineered to be 'caught' by the launch pad or splashing down into the ocean - bringing themselves gently back down to Earth with their own rocket boosters.

But eight minutes into lift-off on March 6, SpaceX's live webcast data suggested four of the main ship's six engines had shut down.

The upper stage rocket tumbled uncontrollably before breaking up - with burning pieces of the rocket streaking across the sky.

It was a near identical failure to one experienced in January, despite the firm making a number of changes in a bid to avoid a repeat.

'During Starship's ascent burn, the vehicle experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly and contact was lost,' the firm said, deploying its preferred parlance for a rocket exploding.

'Our team immediately began coordination with safety officials to implement pre-planned contingency responses.

'We will review the data from today's flight test to better understand root cause. As always, success comes from what we learn, and today's flight will offer additional lessons to improve Starship's reliability.'

Tesla is building the Optimus robots - seen here serving drinks at an event in October. It later emerged the automatons were being remote controlled by humans

SpaceX's Starship during what the firm termed a 'rapid unscheduled disassembly' - meaning it blew up - earlier this month

We just saw the SpaceX Starship 8 blow up.  Seen from Turks and Caicos. pic.twitter.com/1AyGANrBfE  Mark OHenly (@SeeClickFlash) March 6, 2025

The US Federal Aviation Administration launched a mishap investigation after flights at a number of Florida airports were grounded due to the risk of what SpaceX might have termed 'rapid unscheduled falling debris'.

To date, Starship has a 50 per cent launch success rate. The project is critical to both Musk's firm and NASA, with whom it has a contract to supply Starship to carry astronauts to the moon.

Responding to one tweet about the explosion, Musk replied: 'Today was a minor setback. Progress is measured by time. The next ship will be ready in 4 to 6 weeks.'

He added: 'Rockets are hard.'

Musk will also have to prove his Optimus robots can be truly autonomous. When they were unveiled at a Tesla event in October, the $30,000 machines were seen serving drinks and interacting with attendees.

But it later emerged the robots were not acting on their own - instead being remote controlled by a human elsewhere in the venue.
Australian health authorities have issued urgent medical alerts following a measles outbreak linked to hotspots in Bali and South East Asia.

Five new measles cases have been recorded in Victoria bringing the state's total to 13 new cases in 2025 while New South Wales has recorded one new case.

In Victoria, three of the new cases are believed to have been contracted in Bali while two stemmed from earlier recorded local cases.

'Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can lead to uncommon but serious complications, such as pneumonia and brain inflammation (encephalitis),' Victoria's chief health officer Dr Tarun Weeramanthri said.

Up to one-third of people with measles experience complications and may require hospitalisation, while symptoms can take up to 18 days to present following exposure.

Symptoms include sore eyes, runny nose, fever and coughing usually followed within a few days by a fast-spreading rash.

Victorian officials released a list of potential exposure sites including a number of popular health facilities, hospitality venues and retailers in Melbourne and its surrounds.

Prahran's Revolver Bar, Taylors Lakes Hotel, Kmart and Big W Highpoint and the Royal Melbourne Hospital were included in the list.

Victoria has recorded 13 new measles cases in 2015 including five cases in recent days

Three of the five recently recorded Victorian measles cases originated in Bali, Indonesia

Anyone who visited the sites on dates between 24 February and 13 March have been advised to monitor for symptoms and to seek medical advice where necessary.

Health authorities in NSW similarly put out an alert on Friday following reports of a single case of measles contracted by a returned traveller from Vietnam.

Potential exposure sites include Vietnam Airlines flight VN773 arriving in Sydney on 10 March at 9.50am, Sydney International Airport arrivals terminal and baggage claim from 10am to midday that day and the Westmead Emergency Department on 13 March.

Measles cases are on the rise globally, including in Europe which recently announced a 25-year-high in reported cases across the continent.

Meanwhile the US has recorded more cases in the opening months of 2025 than it did across the entire year prior.

While Australia's measles vaccination rate is high by international standards, national coverage has recently dipped below the target rate of 95 per cent.

Similar outbreaks have been recorded across Europe and the UK, the USA, the Middle East and Asia.

A number of Australians are particularly susceptible to the illness, including people who are not vaccinated, infants under 12 months of age, adults born between 1966 and 1992 who may not have received two vaccines and immunocompromised people.
Against a backdrop of plunging donations and plunging morale, Kemi Badenoch is ready to wield the axe again at Conservative headquarters, where a round of compulsory redundancies is planned.

A month after job losses across the campaign, voter insight and finance and operations teams, plans are reportedly afoot to reduce the headcount at Conservative campaign headquarters (CCHQ) by a further 12.5 percent.

According to a report in the Times, the cuts come hard on the heels of a voluntary redundancy scheme that has already seen 32 staff exit.

Combined with three resignations, those departures are understood to have reduced staff numbers from 188 to 153.

And despite a 250,000 donation from Lord Ashcroft, a former Conservative deputy chairman who has come to the party's rescue on several occasions in the past, staff numbers are now expected to fall to 134.

The move will be keenly felt among several teams already deeply impacted by cutbacks.

While it seems the party chairman's team will survive unscathed, the number of campaign staff working in Westminster and regionally, already diminished following 11 voluntary redundancies, is expected to lose a further five members, bringing the total down to 32.

The insight and voter communications team, which has lost six members in the space of a month, is now expected to lose a further four people, bringing the total to 18.

Despite reported plans to make further job cuts at CCHQ, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, seen here on the BBC show Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, says the party's finances are healthy

Lord Ashcroft, a former Conservative deputy chairman who recently donated 250,000 to the party, is seen posing with a collection of Victoria Crosses at the Imperial War Museum in 2010

Against a backdrop of plunging donations, resignations and redundancies, morale is increasingly low at Conservative campaign headquarters

And in finance and operations, a headcount that previously stood at 41 is now anticipated to contract further, from 34 staff to 29.

The Tories' latest attempt to shore up finances is unlikely to do much for morale at a time when esprit de corps is already at a premium.

While Lord Ashcroft's attempt to bolster the coffers bucks a wider trend of dwindling donor funding, Reform UK is snapping at the Conservatives' heels.

Insiders have suggested there is a lack of confidence that Badenoch will be in situ for the long haul, prompting donors to heed advice that they should hang fire until a new leader emerges.

Behind-the-scenes demands from Badenoch that staff do better or consider their positions have done little to help, and the mood if one of anger among some Conservative MPs.

'CCHQ is hardly flush with cash if were having to make all these cutbacks,' one senior figure told the Times. 'Its a joke and no one could justifiably say: "Were all in this together."

The cull of staff at CCHQ is expected to be a prelude to a wholesale remodelling of the organisation.

But while Badenoch has insisted that reports of dwindling donations are 'far from the truth', ministers paint a different picture, with one complaining: 'Were chronically understaffed.'

The Conservative party had not responded to a request for comment at the time of writing.
One of Islamic State's top leaders in Iraq was 'relentlessly hunted down' and killed in a US-led airstrike on Friday, President Donald Trump has boasted.

Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadijah, was considered one of the 'most dangerous terrorists in the world', according to Iraqi prime minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

The jihadist, sanctioned by the United States in 2023, was IS's so-called governor of the group's Syrian and Iraqi provinces and was responsible for foreign operations, he added.

Sudani did not say when Rifai was killed but praised the operation by Iraqi intelligence that was carried out in cooperation with the US-led anti-jihadist coalition in Iraq.

Trump then took to social media to boast of the killing, saying Rifai's 'miserable life had been ended'.

'Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed,' Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

'He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters.

'His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government.'

Footage shared by US military shows the airstrike that reportedly killed a ISIS leader in Iraq

Trump (pictured on Friday) then took to social media to boast of the killing, saying Rifai's 'miserable life had been ended'

The US Central Command posted on X what appeared to be a video of the strike, which it said 'killed the Global ISIS #2 leader... and one other ISIS operative'

The US Central Command posted on X what appeared to be a video of the strike, which it said 'killed the Global ISIS #2 leader... and one other ISIS operative.'

It said that both fighters had been wearing unexploded 'suicide vests' and that it had identified Rifai through a DNA match.

The killing comes after Iraqi forces said it had eliminated nine IS group commanders in October last year.

General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of the US Central Command, said: 'Abu Khadijah was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organization.

'We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle their organizations that threaten our homeland and US, allied and partner personnel in the region and beyond.'

They included the so-called governor of Iraq for IS, Jassim al-Mazrouei Abu Abdel Qader, Iraq's Joint Operations Command said at the time.

A masked Islamic State soldier poses holding the ISIL banner somewhere in the deserts of Iraq or Syria

Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (pictured) announced that the ISIS leader had been killed

IS in 2014 declared a 'caliphate' after capturing large parts of Iraq and Syria, beginning a rule marked by atrocities.

Iraqi forces backed by the international coalition defeated IS in late 2017. The group lost its last territory in Syria two years later.

The group has, however, maintained a presence in Syria's vast desert, and in Iraq largely carries out attacks in rural areas.

About 2,500 American troops are deployed in Iraq, which now considers its security forces capable of confronting the jihadists.

The US and Iraq announced in late September that the international coalition would end its decade-long military mission in federal Iraq within a year, and by September 2026 in the autonomous Kurdistan region.
This is the moment an armed robber tried to return to a house he 'frequented' - only to find police inside waiting to arrest him.

Jack Holland-Batt, 31, was nicked after using a knife to threaten staff at three different shops in Gillingham, Kent in November last year.

He was in for the shock of his life when Kent police went straight to the house he often visited and arrested him as he rang the doorbell.

The criminal's face was a picture after being surprised by the officers, and gave a fake name but couldn't dodge his arrest.

Following the robberies, Holland-Batt contacted Kent Police confessing to his crimes but did not say where he was.

Officers immediately attended an address he 'frequented' and arrested him as he approached the front door.

Bodycam footage shows police rushing down the stairs of the property to greet Holland-Batt as he tries to enter.

The stunned robber was dressed in a black beanine and a navy jacket with the hood up. He can be heard giving officers the fake name of Luke before being taken into custody.

Armed robber Jack Holland-Batt, 31, tried to return to a house he 'frequented' - only to find police inside waiting to arrest him

He was nicked after using a knife to threaten staff at three different shops in Gillingham, Kent in November last year.

He was in for the shock of his life when Kent police went straight to the house he often visited and arrested him as he rang the doorbell

The stunned robber was dressed in a black beanine and a navy jacket with the hood up.

The arresting officer said: 'For the time being, Luke, you're under arrest for suspicion of robbery.'

The crook was then cuffed and taken away.

The spree began at a pharmacy where he used the weapon to demand cash from a member of staff and was handed 20 from the till.

After being told there was no more cash available, he moved on to an amusement arcade where he pulled the knife from his waistband and threatened an employee.

Holland-Batt demanded that the member of staff bring him money from the safe - but was told that there wasn't any.

He then repeated his actions at a final location in the town's high street where a 'distressed' shop worker went to the back to get the keys for the till.

But, when she returned, he was gone.

Holland-Batt, of no fixed address, was later charged with two robberies, an attempted robbery and possessing a bladed article in a public place.

The criminal's face was a picture after being surprised by the officers, and gave a fake name but couldn't dodge his arrest

Following the robberies, Holland-Batt contacted Kent Police confessing to his crimes but did not say where he was

Bodycam footage shows police rushing down the stairs of the property to greet Holland-Batt as he tries to enter

The crook was later charged with two robberies, an attempted robbery and possessing a bladed article in a public place. He pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and on Tuesday was sentenced to six years' imprisonment

He pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and on Tuesday was sentenced to six years' imprisonment.

Detective Constable Emma Laimbeer, said: 'This criminal pulled a knife on three people who feared they were in real danger of being stabbed.

'His reprehensible actions led to a swift response by local officers who tracked him down to a town centre address.

'Nobody should suffer violence whilst at work and I would like to thank the victims who assisted our investigation and ensured this criminal has been brought to justice.'
Keir Starmer says Vladimir Putin will have to negotiate on Ukraine 'sooner or later' as the Prime Minister begins fresh talks with coalition partners - with military chiefs set to meet this week to discuss 'operational' plans for a peacekeeping force.

Speaking after a video call with 25 world leaders, the PM said the Russian despot would need to 'come to the table', adding: 'This is the moment - let the guns fall silent... and agree to the ceasefire now.'

He outlined the importance of Britain's interest in the ceasefire, recapping how the invasion of Ukraine had pushed up the cost of living and energy prices.

But the PM - who stood at a lectern labelled with the slogan 'Securing Our Future' - he failed to answer questions today on whether he has a 'Plan B': on what happens if Putin fails to come to the table.

Attacking the 'dithering' of Russian officials, Sir Keir said military leaders would meet in the UK on Thursday as plans for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine move into an 'operational phase' that could see British 'troops on the ground and planes in the sky'.

He told a press conference in Downing Street: 'We agreed to accelerate our practical work to support a potential deal. So, we will now move into an operational phase.

'Our militaries will meet on Thursday this week here in the United Kingdom to put strong and robust plans in place to swing in behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraine's future security.'

Asked if he had a 'Plan B' should Putin not negotiate, the PM failed to give a straight answer.

He said: 'We need to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for whatever comes next... it reinforces why we need as many countries as possible moving forward together as a group.'

Sir Keir Starmer speaking to journalists at a press conference on Saturday as he said military chiefs from the 'coalition of the willing' would meet on Thursday to discuss peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine

Sir Keir condemned Moscow's 'barbaric attacks on Ukraine' and accused Putin (pictured) of 'trying to delay' negotiations, suggesting he was not serious about peace

The PM added that the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine had been discussed - but declined to commit to the move.

'We discussed further sanctions that have got nothing to do with the assets, which we will take forward as a result of this morning's discussion, but also a continuing discussion about what more can be done on the assets themselves,' he said.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has urged the Prime Minister to be more decisive, saying: 'The PM must now commit to seizing the frozen Russian assets in the UK and forge an agreement to do the same across Europe, to help strengthen Ukraine's hand and ensure we can achieve real peace.'

Sir Keir suggested that the 'coalition of the willing' was growing by the day - having staged a larger virtual summit today than that held two weeks ago.

Earlier, the PM had addressed a video call with world leaders, in which he told Putin the 'world is watching' after Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to a 30-day ceasefire - pending Russian agreement.

'There was a wider agreement this morning, which was that the 'yes, but' from Russia is not good enough, and we agreed our collective pressure will be put on Russia from all of us who are in the meeting this morning.'

During the video call the PM condemned Moscow's 'barbaric attacks on Ukraine' and accused Putin of 'trying to delay' negotiations, suggesting that he was not serious about peace.

Addressing the call from the Cabinet room in 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister said the Ukrainian president - who joined Saturday's call - had 'shown once again that Ukraine is the party of peace' by agreeing to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

He continued: 'Now, what we see, and this is centerpiece for our discussions today, is that Putin is the one trying to delay, and in a sense that you all know this.

'If Putin is serious about peace, it's very simple. He has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire.

'The world is watching. My feeling is that sooner or later he is going to have to come to the table and engage in serious discussions.'

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky shared images of himself on the call on X - as he called on nations to squeeze Russia further until it agreed to a ceasefire

Starmer assembled a press conference at Downing Street shortly after taking part in the call among 25 other world leaders

The PM's video call was staged with 25 world leaders as he discussed how best to establish a peacekeeping force for Ukraine

President Zelensky shared images of himself taking part in the call in a post on X, in which he called for allies to ramp up their pressure on Russia.

'This is Russia's war  more than three years of full-scale fighting and destruction. To stop this, active pressure is needed, not just talks. Pressure on Russia,' he wrote.

He also said that any peacekeeping force 'must' be stationed in Ukraine after Russia indicated it would not accept Nato or European soldiers in the country.

'The contingent must be stationed on Ukrainian soil. This is a security guarantee for Ukraine and a security guarantee for Europe,' Zelensky said.

'For many years, Putin has been lying to the world, claiming that he did not provoke or prolong this war. But now, with the ceasefire situation, everything is clear.

'Whoever imposes unnecessary conditions that complicate and delay everything  that is the true cause of the war. Putin does it.'

Sir Keir told his counterparts they could not 'sit back and simply wait' for a ceasefire, adding: 'We have to keep pushing ahead, pushing forward and preparing for peace, and a peace that will be secure and that will last.'

In the face of Russian refusal to allow European or Nato troops into Ukraine, Zelensky said of any peacekeeping force: 'The contingent must be stationed on Ukrainian soil'

A Ukraine Emergency Service-issued image of firefighters tackling blazes cause by air strikes in Kherson, southern Ukraine last night

Rescuers cover a body of a person killed during a Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kherson last night

French president Emmanuel Macron, flanked by military and political officials, during the video call with Sir Keir Starmer on Saturday morning

It comes after Trump issued a stark warning of ongoing conflict, while revealing ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine are progressing

He continued: 'And I think that means strengthening Ukraine so they can defend themselves and strengthening obviously, in terms of military capability, in terms of funding, in terms of, the provision of further support from all of us to Ukraine.

'Secondly, being prepared to defend the deal ourselves through a coalition of the willing. We've begun that process on this morning. We can take it forward.

'And then thirdly, and really importantly, given the developments of the last few days to keep the pressure on Putin to come to the table. And I think collectively, we've got a number of ways that we can do that.'

Following the Prime Minister's address, the meeting heard from French President Emmanuel Macron, Zelensky and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte.

The discussions follow a week in which American officials took a US-Ukraine proposal for a 30-day ceasefire to Moscow following talks in Saudi Arabia. But the Kremlin has resisted calls for an unconditional ceasefire.

While Putin has described the principle of a ceasefire as 'correct', he insists it must come with a promise from Ukraine to abandon attempts to join Nato and give up control of regions seized by Russia.

This morning, Putin's first prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov, who now opposes the Russian president, said his former boss would not accept Nato or European troops being deployed to Ukraine but might agree to soldiers from 'friendly countries' such as India and Brazil.

Last night Trump issued a stark warning of looming war, saying ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine are progressing - but devastation could yet be unleashed if the two nations cannot agree peace terms.

Sir Keir spoke surrounded by banners pledging he was 'securing our future' - but failed to give a straight answer on what happens if Putin refuses to negotiate

In a televised address, Vladimir Putin said he would spare Ukrainian forces in Kursk if they laid down their arms

Russia continues to pound Ukraine. Pictured: The rubble of destroyed buildings in the frontline city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region

Today, a memo revealed that the US president is set to ban people from 43 countries from travelling to the US, with visas from Russia and key ally Belarus being 'sharply restricted'.

Speaking to the Justice Department he said: 'I think we have it, I think we have it, but this could lead to World War III, very easily, could very easily lead to World War III.

'But I think we're in pretty good shape, a lot better than where we were before we got involved.

'That was heading into World War III territory, that would've been a war like no other because of nuclear weapons, and other types of weapons that you don't even wanna know about.'

Claiming much of the progress had been made since he became president, Trump went on to say that he had been speaking with the Russian premier 'to get the war over'.

He said: 'I think we're doing well with Russia, we're speaking with President Putin, we want to get the war over.'

Trump also told his audience that 'maybe' $350billion had been sent to Europe - a figure that analysts believe to be higher than accurate - and that he was on the pathway to a deal where he would be 'getting that back'.

He added: 'We've had some very good calls today with Russia, and with Ukraine, they've agreed to a ceasefire if we can get it with Russia. And it's not easy. It's a tough one.'

The US President continued to claim that at one point 'there would have been no war had I been president. It just 100 per cent would not have happened.'

Trump's comments on Friday came as Ukrainian troops fighting in Kursk were urged to surrender by Vladimir Putin after Donald Trump urged Russia to 'spare' their lives.

Moscow has recaptured the vast majority of territory seized by Kyiv in its cross-border assault into Kursk last August, including in a rapid counteroffensive over the last week.

Russian forces walk down a street in Kursk region, which was recently retaken from Kyiv

Putin insisted that Ukrainian forces in Kursk would be 'guaranteed life and dignified treatment' if they laid down their arms.

He said in a televised address: 'We are sympathetic to President Trump's call.

'If they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment.'

But he added: 'In order to effectively implement the US president's call, (there needs to be) a corresponding order from Ukraine's military-political leadership to its military to lay down their arms and surrender.'

In a social media post, the US President had called on Putin to avoid a 'horrible massacre' and spare the lives of 'thousands' of vulnerable Ukrainian soldiers who he said were 'completely surrounded'.

Mr Trump wrote: 'I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II.'

Kyiv denied Mr Trump's claims that units had been encircled. However Volodymyr Zelensky admitted the situation in Kursk was 'very difficult'.
The Russian captain of a container ship which crashed into a US oil tanker and killed a 38-year-old crew member has been remanded in custody after being charged with gross negligence manslaughter.

Master of the MV Solong, Vladimir Motin, 59, appeared at Hull Magistrates Court on Saturday in relation to the collision between the two vessels in the North Sea on Monday.

Motin, from the Primorsky District of St Petersburg, stood in the glass-front dock at the court for the 35-minute long hearing, which was told how his vessel, the Solong container ship, collided with the US oil tanker Stena Immaculate off the east coast of Yorkshire earlier this week.

The Stena Immaculate was carrying 142,000 barrels of jet fuel which led to a 'massive fireball' following the crash and potentially devastating environmental consequences.

The court heard how all 23 people on the tanker were rescued along with 13 of 14 crew members from the Solong but Mark Angelo Pernia - a 38-year-old Filipino national - could not be located.

The Crown Prosecution Service previously confirmed that Mr Pernia died following the collision between the two vessels.

There was no application for bail and Motin was remanded in custody by deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram, who appeared via videolink.

No pleas were entered. Motin will appear next at the Old Bailey on April 14.

The Russian captain of the Solong container ship which crashed into a US oil tanker Stena Immaculate has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter

Smoke is seen billowing from the MV Solong cargo ship in the North Sea, off the Yorkshire coast earlier this week following the collision

Water can be seen flowing through the torn and damaged hull of the Immaculate on Tuesday

A statement from Humberside Police on Friday said: 'An investigation by Humberside Police supported by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) into the collision between a tanker and a cargo vessel in the North Sea, off the coast of East Yorkshire, has resulted in a man being charged.

'The captain of the Solong vessel, Vladimir Motin, 59 years old, of Primorsky, St Petersburg, Russia, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and been remanded in police custody to appear at Hull Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

'On Monday, 10 March, Humberside Police received a report at around 11am that a collision had occurred between the two vessels, resulting in one crew member being reported missing.

'Extensive searches were carried out by HM Coastguard to locate the missing crew member, now presumed deceased.

'The family are being supported by specialist trained officers and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.'

Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: 'We have authorised Humberside Police to charge a Russian national in relation to a collision involving two vessels in the North Sea off the east coast of England.

'The Portuguese-registered cargo ship, the Solong, collided with the American-registered oil tanker, the Stena Immaculate, just before 10am on Monday, 10 March 2025.

'Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, died.

'Vladimir Motin, 59, from St Petersburg, Russia, who was the vessel's captain, is due to be charged with one count of gross negligence manslaughter.'

Earlier on Friday the force confirmed magistrates had granted a further extension to the time detectives could hold the captain 'due to the complexities of the incident'.

Motin was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter on Monday evening, hours after the collision.

Ernst Ross, the company that owns the Solong, said earlier this week that Motin had been 'actively assisting with the investigations'.

All five Russians onboard the Salong at the time of the crash are 'alive', according to Russian sources.

The fact that the Stella Immaculate was stationary at the time of the crash and was transporting jet fuel for the US military led a White House source to reportedly tell a US news outlet that they could not rule out foul play, but such speculations have been repeatedly rejected by the UK authorities.

UK transport minister Mike Kane told MPs that 'something did go terribly wrong' but added: 'Whether there was foul play I think is speculation. There is no evidence to suggest that at the moment.'

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The Stena Immaculate is still at anchor at the point where the collision happened, which is about 12 miles off the East Yorkshire coast, near Withernsea.

Meanwhile the Solong drifted south of this location, to a point where it could be seen off the Lincolnshire coast.

Also on Friday, chief coastguard Paddy O'Callaghan said the vessels are 'stable' and salvors have boarded them both to continue damage assessments.

He said: 'There are now only small periodic pockets of fire on the Solong which are not causing undue concern.

'Specialist tugs with firefighting capability remain at both vessels' locations.

'Regular aerial surveillance flights continue to monitor the vessels and confirm that there continues to be no cause for concern from pollution from either the Stena Immaculate or from the Solong.'

Mr O'Callaghan said: 'The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is also assisting in the response, and continues to advise that any public health risk on shore is deemed to be very low.

'The UKSHA will keep risk assessments under continual review as further information becomes available.'

Pictured are the charred remains of cargo ship MV Solong was completely destroyed by Monday's fire. The ship was captained by a Russian national

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Thursday the situation was 'reasonably contained'.

Pressed on calls for a Cobra meeting to assess the potential environmental damage, he said: 'We are absolutely monitoring this 24/7 and I've got teams doing that and assuring me of what's going on.

'At the moment, the situation is reasonably contained. And, obviously, we will do whatever is necessary.'

The CPS said it 'reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and that he has the right to a fair trial.

'It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.'

The US-flagged 50,000-ton MV Stena Immaculate was engulfed by a huge fireball after Solong 'came out the blue' and allegedly ploughed into it.

Solong sliced through the hull of the tanker, causing thousands of litres of jet fuel to spill into the sea and forcing sailors from both vessels to abandon ship.

The Russian embassy in London earlier said: 'The embassy has been monitoring the situation around the collision of two ships in the North Sea on March 10 from the very first minutes .

'Consular staff are in close contact with the British competent authorities.

'During this time, local authorities have not received any information about the presence of Russian citizens on board these vessels, or about other Russians injured as a result of this accident.'

The Russian embassy in London said: 'As of March 14, additional information has emerged regarding the Russian citizens from the crew of the Solong vessel, flying the Portuguese flag, which collided with the Stena Immaculate tanker flying the US flag in the North Sea on March 10.

'According to the ship owner, the Solong crew includes five citizens of the Russian Federation.

'Among them is the ship's captain, who was detained by the competent authorities of the United Kingdom and is currently under investigation.

All crew members from among Russian citizens are alive, they did not receive injuries as a result of the incident, and the sailors' condition does not cause concern.

'On the evening of March 13, diplomats from the consular section of the Embassy held a detailed telephone conversation with the captain of the vessel. According to him, he feels well.

'The Russian citizen has been provided with an interpreter and a lawyer, with whom our employees also maintain constant contact.

The captain of the cargo ship has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter after it smashed into an oil tanker (Pictured: Billowing smoke emerging from the MV Solong cargo ship)

'The Embassy is in close contact with the British competent authorities, including with the police station where the ship's captain is currently being held, as well as with the wife of our compatriot.'

Salvage companies boarded the two vessels on Thursday and were carrying out initial damage assessments, the coastguard said, adding that small fires were still being reported on the Solong's top deck.

Police said extensive lines of inquiry were continuing but it was taking time given the vessels were still at sea and there were a large number of witnesses involved.

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.'

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

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, according to witnesses.
A man has been denied bail after flipping an allegedly stolen vehicle in a 40-minute high-speed chase along busy Perth roadways.

Footage released by Western Australian Police depicted the man driving a white SUV through Warnbro, Waikiki and Rockingham on Thursday morning.

Police will allege the man drove on the wrong side of the road and breached red traffic lights 'at high speeds' before colliding with a tree.

After flipping his vehicle, the 30-year-old Warnbro man emerged from the wrecked vehicle in a cloud of dust before fleeing into sparse tree cover.

The man appeared to be wearing a white singlet and shorts with a black bag and sneakers.

A short while later, the man returned in view of the overflying helicopter where police had pinned him to the ground beside a chain-link fence.

In a particularly shocking scene, the vehicle was captured driving along a major median strip before darting onto a busy onramp.

The vehicle appeared to swerve while correcting after a near miss with an oncoming semi-trailer before another vehicle drove offroad to avoid a collision.

A 30-year-old Perth man was filmed fleeing on foot after crashing a car in a high-speed chase

Police allege the man drove on the wrong side of the road while breaching red traffic lights

The 40-minute chase culminated in an arrest after an on-foot pursuit beside an industrial area

Shortly after, the vehicle crossed several lanes of traffic before flattening a street sign to the rear of a carwash.

Officers first observed the stolen vehicle while driving along The Avenue in Warnbro at about 9.20am, police will allege.

It was about 10am by the time the man flipped his vehicle and fled on foot.

'Officers activated emergency lights and sirens calling on the accused to stop the vehicle, however; it will be alleged the accused failed to stop and accelerated away from police,' WA Police said.

The Warnbro resident was charged with a range of offences including one count of steal motor vehicle and drive recklessly, one count of failed to comply with a direction to stop and reckless driving to escape pursuit by police.

He was also charged with no authority to drive, drove caused or permitted a vehicle with forged, replica or false place to be driven on a road, property damage and possession of stolen or unlawfully obtained property.

The 30-year-old faced court on Friday where he was denied bail to appear in Rockingham Magistrates Court on 11 April.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted WA Police for further comment.
Newly released footage shows the moment a Columbia University student accused of being pro Hamas by Donald Trump was arrested - sparking protesters to storm Trump Tower demanding his release.

Mahmoud Khalil, an activist for Palestinian rights, was detained by immigration agents in the lobby of their apartment building in New York City last Saturday.

In the video filmed by his wife Noor Adballa, Khalil can be heard saying, 'I'm coming with you, don't worry,' while the agents inform him that he's 'going to be under arrest'.

Confirming his detention on Sunday, the Department of Homeland Security, claimed Khalil had 'led activities aligned' to the terrorist organisation.

President Trump also accused him of being 'pro-Hamas' and Marco Rubio declared the US would revoke visas and green cards of 'Hamas supporters in America.'

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.

Newly-released footage shows the moment Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student accused of being pro Hamas was arrested

Mahmoud Khalil, seen here last year, was taken into custody at his university-owned apartment on Saturday night by ICE agents

Khalil, 29, a Palestinian who was born and raised in Syria , helped to lead protests against Israel at Columbia University last year

Following Khalil's arrest, demonstrators filled the lobby of Trump Tower in Manhattan on Thursday demanding his release.

The NYPD said at a news briefing that they arrested a total of 98 protesters on various charges including trespassing, obstruction and resisting arrest.

Those with the Jewish Voice for Peace wore red shirts that read 'Jews say stop arming Israel' and carried banners reading 'Opposing fascism is a Jewish tradition'.

Others said 'fight Nazis not students' while also chanting out 'bring Mahmoud home now'.

In a statement, Abdalla branded her husband's arrest as 'the most terrifying moment of my life.'

She compared the agents' actions to a kidnapping, stating that they did not provide a warrant, refused to speak with their attorney, and didn't disclose their identities.

Furthermore, she alleges that her husband was forcibly taken in an unmarked car and held in an undisclosed location for 38 hours.

Separately, Khalil's lawyers have asked a federal judge to release him from immigration detention in Louisiana, arguing that Trump's administration targeted him for arrest and deportation.

In the video filmed by his wife Noor Adballa, Khalil can be heard saying, 'I'm coming with you, don't worry,' while the agents inform him that he's 'going to be under arrest'

Demonstrators from the group, Jewish Voice for Peace, protest inside Trump Tower

New York Police officers arrest a demonstrator from the group Jewish Voice for Peace following the protest

Khalil's case has become a flashpoint for Trump's pledge to deport activists who participated in the wave of protests on US college campuses against Israel's military assault on Gaza.

Trump's administration has said pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, including at Columbia, have included support for Hamas and anti-Semitic harassment of Jewish students.

The administration last week said it canceled grants and contracts worth about $400 million to Columbia because of what it describes as anti-Semitic harassment on and near the school's campus.

Khalil's supporters say his arrest is an attack on free speech, and have been staging protests in the city and across the country.

Outside of a Manhattan courthouse on Wednesday hundreds gathered during a brief hearing on the case.

Khalil was being detained at an immigration detention center in Louisiana, where he has remained after a brief stop at a New Jersey lockup.

He has not been charged with a crime. He is also married to a U.S. citizen. His wife is eight months pregnant.

His arrest has ignited a fierce debate over whether the Trump administration violated his First Amendment rights by detaining him and trying to deport him.

New York Police officers arrest a demonstrator from the group on Thursday

Demonstrators are detained during a rally against the ICE detention of Mahmoud Khalil

A brief hearing on Wednesday largely focused on jurisdiction, but one of Khalil's lawyers told the judge that they have not been able to have a single attorney-client protected phone call with him.

Rubio fired back at critics of Khalil's arrest, saying that it is 'not about free speech.'

'When you come to the United States as a visitor, which is what a visa is, which is how this individual entered this country, on a visitor's visa, you are here as a visitor. We can deny you that visa,' the U.S. top diplomat argued.

If someone said they intended to come to the U.S. as a student 'and rile up all kinds of anti-Jewish student, anti-Semitic activities' and shut down universities, they would be denied the visa, Rubio said.

He added: 'If you actually end up doing that once you're in this country on such a visa, we will revoke it.'

Rubio also said if they end up on a green card with such activities, the U.S. will kick someone out.

'This is not about free speech. This is about people who don't have the right to be in the United States to begin with,' the secretary of state said.

'No one has a right to a student visa. No one has a right to a green card,' Rubio added.

He said the U.S. can deny one for 'virtually any reason.'

That included 'being a supporter of Hamas and coming into our universities and turning them upside down, and being complicit in what are clearly crimes of vandalization, complicit in shutting down learning institutions.'